This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
On Saturday, Deputy President William Ruto was at the Ilchamus traditional wedding ceremony in Baringo County, where he was met with a surprise request from the press corps.
As Ruto began his speech, he suddenly asked the journalists to move back, stating that he was there to address the public, not the press.
“Na nyinyi watu wa nini, mumekuwa wengi hapa ketini chini watu wanataka kuangalia huko nyuma. Nyinyi tokeni hapa. Msonge nyuma. Wakae mbali mbali ndio wananchi waone. Kwani mnafikiri nimekuja kuongea na nyinyi ama nimekuja kuongea na wananchi,” Ruto said.
According to a shaky video captured during the event, the journalists complied with Ruto's request, moving to the side to allow the public to view the ceremony.
This incident is not the first time Kenyan journalists have been subjected to such treatment by the presidency.
As recently as February 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered journalists covering a National Police Service function to pack and leave, citing that their work was done.
