This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
On the first day of the Safari Sevens rugby tournament at the RFUEA grounds in Nairobi, journalists were met with a makeshift press centre that fell short of their expectations.
Organisers had converted a container meant for a gymnasium into a press centre, but it was empty and lacked electricity, leaving journalists struggling to set up their equipment.
‘This is a disgrace. These people appear not to value the media,’ a disgruntled journalist told Nairobi News on Saturday.
Several journalists took to social media to express their frustration, with some vowing to stay away from the tournament in protest.
However, by Sunday, the organisers had upgraded the press centre, providing chairs and a power source for the journalists.
The Safari Sevens rugby tournament, which features teams from Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Russia, and Burundi, has become a major event in the region, known for its party atmosphere and fanfare.
