Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

A lot of Kenyans died or put their lives in danger in the fight for the 2010 Constitution.

Veterans of the struggle for the freedoms enshrined in the supreme law still bear the scars while wounds are yet to heal for others. 

They remain witness to a tedious journey of sacrifice by a people committed to free themselves from the yoke of a constitutional order that limited democracy, human rights and rule of law. 

Having suffered under the dictatorial Kanu regime, Kenyans were keen to ensure the 2010 Constitution becomes the strongest fortress in defence of their rights.

It has been pointed out that our Bill of Rights is one of the most progressive in the world. 

But without enforcement, a good constitution would only remain on paper.

One of its cardinal proclamations is in Article 35 that gives every citizen the right of access to information held by the State or by another person and required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom.  

Then there is Article, 34 which guarantees freedom of the media. It says that nobody should exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium.

That is why we are deeply disturbed by the decision by the Senate Security committee to lock out journalists covering its proceedings when Interior Cabinet minister Fred Matiang’i appeared before the team.

It was not only a violation of the Constitution but a stark reminder of the dark days that Kenyans want to forget.  

The CS had been summoned to respond to matters relating to another unfortunate happening that has drawn widespread condemnation: The controversial arrest of three senators on a day they were scheduled to make a critical vote on distribution of national resources. 

The unfortunate decision not only defeated the spirit of transparency, but it ended up hindering media freedom in violation of the very Constitution the senators swore to defend and protect.  The act was archaic, shameful and unacceptable. 

Press freedom and access to information are key pillars of democracy. As one respected American paper says, democracy dies in darkness.

We are calling on Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka to ensure there shall not be such violation of the Constitution again on his watch.