Katiba Institute, Media Council train Journalists on Access to Information

KatibaInstitute (KI) partnered with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to train journalists on Access to Information. The training took place on 25th and 26th July 2019 in Machakos. During the workshop, journalists were taken through the use of Access to Information law to promote good governance and human rights.

Katiba Institute regularly makes use of Article 35 on Access to Information (ATI) to give effect to the constitutional principles of transparency, accountabilityand freedom of expression.  KI also assists other civil society organizations and individuals to prepare ATI requests, especially when the information sought relates to a matter of great public interest.

Speaking during the workshop, Christine Nkonge, the Katiba Institute Executive Director, outlined the critical role that media play in ensuring transparency and accountability through investigative journalism.

“Journalists can help the country realize a mature democracy through enhanced good governance, accountability and accountability in public and private entities.”said Christine.

She noted that with the enactment of the Access to information Act of 2016, journalists are better placed to access information that would benefit the public.

Kumar Sambav, an award winning journalist from India, took journalists through his personal experiences on access to information as a tool for journalists toadvocate for good governance. Mr. Sambav urged journalists to utilize the act by filing several requests and making follow-ups.

Other presentations made at the workshop include salient features of the Access to Information Act; ATI, Good governance (transparency and accountability), and human rights by KI; The ATI Act implementation experience by the Commission on Administrative Justice; Safety and security of journalists in accessing and using information by the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders – Kenya and The Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism by the Media Council of Kenya.

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