Senate announces action against Citizen, The Star, K24 and Kameme TV

Speaker Ken Lusaka on Tuesday announced that Citizen, The Star, K24 and Kameme TV stand reprimanded by the Senate over the clip on Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata.

He stated that the reprimand will act as a first warning to the media stations adding that should they violate the rules on broadcasting Parliament proceedings, more severe action would be taken on them.

"The Star digital, Citizen digital, K24 TV and Kameme TV either pulled down, and/or apologised to Senator Irungu Kang'ata and the Senate for the complaint on the recording. These media houses acknowledged that they had aired a manipulated video and went on to broadcast the correct version of the proceedings. These are acts of contrition and I will take them into account as mitigating factors.

Speaker of the Senate Kenneth Lusaka Speaker of the Senate Kenneth Lusaka Pulse Live Kenya

"It needs to be noted that the conduct of the media houses in breaching the rules on broadcasting was serious and should be treated as such. This conduct is particularly worrying and must be nipped in the bud coming, as it does, in the electioneering season," Speaker Lusaka explained.

He added that the media houses had admitted to broadcasting a falsified video clip of Senate proceedings, the matter did not need to be escalated to the Senate Powers and Privileges Committee.

"Taking all the relevant factors into consideration, including the apology and retraction I have referred to earlier, I consider that a reprimand issued to the four media houses for contravening the Rule 5 & 6 of the Broadcasting Rules, the media houses are reprimanded and cautioned that a repeat of the offending conduct will invite far more severe action," Speaker Lusaka announced.

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I have never tasted alcohol - Kang'ata

Senator Kang'ata denied claims that he logged into a Senate session from the popular Nairobi cathouse, Sabina Joy.

While addressing the Senate last Tuesday, Senator Kang'ata discredited a widely shared video in which it seemed that he had attended a Senate sitting virtually from a bar.

"Mr Speaker, for the record, yours truly has never touched any drop of beer, wine or any form of alcohol since the time yours truly was born.

"Yours truly has never smoked and has never taken any sort of drug and that is based on my strong religious upbringing and, therefore, anyone who wanted to show me in that light has insulted me personally and my religion as a Catholic faithful," the Senator stated.