31 Mar 2023

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has lauded the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for recognising accredited journalists as essential service providers in utilisation of the Likoni Ferry crossing.

MCK Mombasa Regional Coordinator Ms Maureen Mudi says the move is a guarantee to enable media workers to perform their rightful duties.

 Ms Mudi notes that the move will facilitate the movements of journalists while using the ferry while at the same time ensuring safety of their personal property.

“The Council is very pleased with the decision to include journalists in the essential services category while using the ferry. This will not only aid in facilitating their movement but also ensure security of their tools of trade”, said Ms Mudi.

She also asked the Authority to remain vigilant while checking the press cards and informed them of the enhanced security features to look out for, adding that such collaborations will assist in the fight to weed out imposters in the industry.

“We recently launched new press cards that bear multiple security features. This has made the verification process easy and faster. I call upon the security team to exercise caution while authenticating the cards and report journalists who have expired or suspicious looking cards”, said Ms Mudi when she met head of ferry security Mr Hamadi Kamanya.

Mr Kamanya noted crowd control as the biggest challenge at the channel and called for cooperation and understanding from the journalists as they engage the security officers.

“Regulation for journalists is needed even with privileges granted to you. There are procedures at the ferry that need to be enforced. We have asked our security personnel to implement the directive while adhering to our working arrangement with the media”, he said.

The ferry security team was taken through the security features on the press cards and were further advised to take advantage of the MCK Toll Free Number to enhance the verification process.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has lauded the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for recognising accredited journalists as essential service providers in utilisation of the Likoni Ferry crossing.

MCK Mombasa Regional Coordinator Ms Maureen Mudi says the move is a guarantee to enable media workers to perform their rightful duties.

 Ms Mudi notes that the move will facilitate the movements of journalists while using the ferry while at the same time ensuring safety of their personal property.

“The Council is very pleased with the decision to include journalists in the essential services category while using the ferry. This will not only aid in facilitating their movement but also ensure security of their tools of trade”, said Ms Mudi.

She also asked the Authority to remain vigilant while checking the press cards and informed them of the enhanced security features to look out for, adding that such collaborations will assist in the fight to weed out imposters in the industry.

“We recently launched new press cards that bear multiple security features. This has made the verification process easy and faster. I call upon the security team to exercise caution while authenticating the cards and report journalists who have expired or suspicious looking cards”, said Ms Mudi when she met head of ferry security Mr Hamadi Kamanya.

Mr Kamanya noted crowd control as the biggest challenge at the channel and called for cooperation and understanding from the journalists as they engage the security officers.

“Regulation for journalists is needed even with privileges granted to you. There are procedures at the ferry that need to be enforced. We have asked our security personnel to implement the directive while adhering to our working arrangement with the media”, he said.

The ferry security team was taken through the security features on the press cards and were further advised to take advantage of the MCK Toll Free Number to enhance the verification process.