Nairobi — Journalists from the public media powerhouse, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), shunned a demonstration by their colleagues against the controversial Media Bill.

As journalists and editors from other media houses hit the streets, their national broadcaster - which houses KBC TV, Metro TV, Coro FM, KBC radio and Metro TV - only sent a cameraman to cover the demonstration.

Efforts to get a comment from the station were futile as the top management was said to be out of office. The public station has consistently suffered from State influence through successive governments.

During the last General Election, KBC was compelled to broadcast only content favouring the sitting government. Meanwhile, Catholic bishops have condemned the controversial Media Bill.

The chairman of the Episcopal Conference, Archbishop John Njue, said the media should be allowed room to operate professionally without interference. "As the bishops of the Catholic Church, we don't want to hear a situation where the Press is not free.

They must be made to be free," Njue said.