Citizen TV's Seth Olale, Stephen Letoo Banned From Parliament
Olale, who took to his X account, revealed on Tuesday, July 16 that he was informed by reliable sources that he was banned from the precincts of Parliament alongside Letoo.
Marvin Chege 
Citizen TV's star reporters Seth Olale and Stephen Letoo have been banned from covering Parliament proceedings following the 'Occupy Parliament' events of June 25, 2024.
Olale, who took to his X account, revealed on Tuesday, July 16 that he was informed by reliable sources that he was banned from the precincts of Parliament alongside Letoo.
He however called out the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) for threatening media freedoms in Kenya through the move.
"Reliable sources within Parliament Kenya confirm that indeed I have been BANNED from Parliament alongside my colleague Stephen Letoo because of our role in highlighting #OccupyParliament. This reported move by PSC is ill-advised & against Media Freedom," he wrote.
Citizen TV's Seth Olale in Parliament during a past coverage. /SETH OLALE
Letoo, in two X posts, accused National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula of barring journalists from the August House on allegations of being a security threat to Members of Parliament (MP).
"So now Wetangula, National Assembly Speaker and PSC Chair want to KICK OUT Journalists Covering Parliament from the Precints (Media Centre) on grounds we are a source of 'insecurity to MPs' following #OccupyParliament coverage! If N. A wants blackout, Senate wants transparency," he stated in one post.
Letoo also believed that Parliament was carrying out a more sinister plot to block media personnel from accessing the premises, confirming that he was informed of plans to have them relocated outside the Parliament buildings.
"Other than the relocation of Parliamentary Journalists to Outside Parliament, there is a resolution to BAN some journalists myself included who Covered #OccupyParliament from stepping into the new area. Seth Olale who exposed the MPs' escape tunnel also banned."
Olale confirmed to Viral Tea that the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) was informed of the developments.
However, the Parliamentary Service Commission was yet to issue a statement on the matter at the time of publication of this article.
This is only the second time the media has come under threat from government agencies. On the very same day that Parliament was breached, Standard Group Limited TV station, KTN News revealed that the government had threatened to shut them down.
Through an announcement during their live coverage at 4:09 pm, it was announced that there were threats to shut down the TV based along Mombasa Road.
"In the wake of our detailed coverage of the ongoing protests that have been organised by Gen Z protesters, we would like to inform our viewers that we have received threats from authorities of intention to shut us down.
"We would like to inform the public of our commitment to defend the public interest and we shall not be cowed by any threats,” the broadcaster announced.
