West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin has ordered for the immediate removal of all media correspondents from his County.
The Governor said that journalists were concentrating on negative reportage which had in turn affected the county immensely as investors shunned the area.
Kachapin further criticised the press for soliciting bribes for coverage, stating that if they were not ready to cover him they ought not to attend his functions.
The County boss directed editors from the media houses to transfer the correspondents to other locations adding the county did not need negative publicity.
“Journalists are busy concentrating on negative issues about this county. How long is media going to tarnish the name of the county? Those who want to concentrate on negative issues should leave this county,” Citizen Digital quotes Kachapin.
The Governor was angered by the media for depicting West Pokot as backward, pointing out a story aired in one of the media houses exposing men and women bathing together in the open.
“How can you continue marginalizing this county? Those taking their time to cover such stories should move to other counties,” the enraged Governor said.
This comes as the latest clash between Journalists and government agencies, which has led to the proposal of measures to contain the seemingly liberal press.
Parliament has in the past come up with contentious bills seeking to cap media freedom, a move that was highly protested by members of the fourth estate.
Fines of upto Sh20 Million were proposed for journalists found reporting what was considered defamatory.
