MANDERA— The Northern Kenya Media Practitioners (NKMP) has condemned Mandera North Member of Parliament Bashir Abdullahi for describing bloggers as “people with no specific job,” calling the remarks an arrogant and elitist attack on democratic accountability.
The MP made the “derogatory” statement on February 13 during a public event in Rhamu town, Mandera North Constituency, Mandera County. The comments came amid sustained demands from bloggers and online activists for greater transparency from elected leaders, including scrutiny of constituency development funds and governance issues.
“Kwani Bloggers ni nini? Kwani kuna kazi inaitwa blogging…”
Nothern Kenya Media Practitioners (NKMP) Condemns Mandera North MP’s Attack on Bloggers Following Accountability Demands. @Honeyfarsafi pic.twitter.com/fPaMPnjMDC
— Parrot Times (@ParrotTimes) February 16, 2026
NKMP described the MP’s words as a deliberate attempt to undermine independent voices that expose corruption and hold public officials accountable. “Bloggers are active media practitioners engaging in citizen journalism, often at great personal risk and with limited resources,” the organization stated. “Dismissing them as ‘jobless’ is not only ignorant but a calculated effort to silence oversight that democracy depends on.”
Nothern Kenya Media Practitioners (NKMP) Condemns Mandera North MP’s Attack on Bloggers Following Accountability Demands.@MediaObserverK @MediaCouncilK @major_bashir pic.twitter.com/WavHU6uS6Y
— Northern Kenya Media Practitioners (NKMP) (@nkmpkenya) February 15, 2026
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) officially recognizes bloggers as part of the media industry. Its Code of Conduct for Digital Media Practitioners explicitly includes journalists, bloggers, vloggers, influencers, and online publishers, affirming their professional role in ethical information dissemination.
NKMP termed the MP’s condescension unacceptable particularly from an elected leader sworn to uphold constitutional principles including freedom of expression and media freedom.
The organization demanded that Bashir Abdullahi immediately retract the remarks and issue a full, unqualified public apology to bloggers, the wider media fraternity and all Kenyans who value independent scrutiny. “Failure to do so would only confirm his disdain for the democratic principles he is bound to protect,” NKMP warned.
