Citizen TV’s Mike Okinyi has accused AFC Leopards of jeorpadising the work of the media by blocking sports journalists from covering its matches without prior clearance.
Okinyi, through a social media post, noted that they were barred from accessing the Kasarani Stadium for the AFC Leopards vs Wazito clash.
AFC Leopard were playing Wazito in a FKF Premier League fixture on Monday, April 18, with the match ending with a 1-1 draw.
Okinyi noted that they were blocked from accessing the stadium, further claiming that they were asked to pay in order to cover the match.
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“AFC Leopards kindly let us know if this is your new policy; that the media must pay to gather news content,” part of his tweet read.
He further noted that despite the pleas with the team's management to allow them in, they we denied the access, forcing them to go back.
“Dear AFC Leopards, the media is your friend. When you chase cameramen and insist that the media pays to cover your games, that doesn't look good on you. We understand you have the rights to your home match, so we walk away politely. Maurice Chichi, you are hurting the club with this.”
In a video clip making rounds on social media, AFC Leopards Treasurer, Maurice Chichi, is heard telling the media that they should have arrived earlier if they wanted to cover the match.
Standard media journalist, Hassan Juma, insinuated that the media will not cover AFC's home matches again without an invite.
"We ask for forgiveness, we won't gate crash on your party,” Juma stated.
AFC Leopards has, however, denied blocking the media, noting that the affected journalists had been directed to use a different entrance. AFC's head of digital operations, Mbakaya Milimu, noted that that particular gate had been closed and everyone was being referred to use the other gates.
Journalists are only required to present their Media Council of Kenya badge or media house's badge in order to access any stadium.
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