A State House official has lauded the police after they harassed journalists who were covering the return of Miguna Miguna at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Dennis Itumbi, who is the State House Secretary Digital, Innovations and Diaspora Communications said the police did well harassing journalists at JKIA.

“Kenyan Police have done well. We cannot have such kind of scenes in an International Airport anywhere in the world. Journalism is not an absolute right. If a police order is lawfully given, you leave and if you believe it was wrong, challenge it in court,” he said.

He said that Airport filming guidelines say that the filming process must not disrupt passenger or staff movements and any direction from Airport staff and security personnel on the day must be obeyed.

“You cannot openly defy a police order on live TV. On that I must say police did well. You will never see such stuff in other Airports. It took a bit long, but great decision. To sum it a bit more bluntly, our economy is far more important than a News item. We cannot allow the broadcast of our Airport in such terms as happened today. Strict filming, photography and filming procedures as contained on airport guidelines should be enforced,” he added.

Itumbi’s sentiments come after police harassed Journalists who provided live coverage at JKIA, after self-declared NRM General Miguna Miguna arrived but was detained at the airport clearance area.

Citizen TV reporter Stephen Letoo was clobbered as GSU police officers chased away journalists from covering the occurrences on Monday evening.