Nairobi, September 7

The Media Council of Kenya has warned politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto against attacking media houses and their employees.

MCK - in a statement to newsrooms - accused politicians of making allegations against media houses and journalists, noting that most of those accusations are baseless.

The Monday, September 6 evening statement by MCK, was in response to calls by a section of leaders leaning towards Mr Ruto who had called for boycott of the SK Macharia owned television station on claims that it was propagating negative information about the Deputy President.

Led by Soy Member of Parliament, Caleb Kositany, and Hustler Nation spokesman, Dennis Itumbi, Mr Ruto’s allies accused Citizen TV of distorting facts with an aim of creating a rift among the electorate.

The Media watchdog now says the statements by the politicians amount to threat of media freedom and a clear sign of intimidation to the media houses.

“The contents of the post by the politician are an affront to media freedom and a clear sign of intimidation by politicians to the media house and journalism at large,” wrote MCK in the statement. 

While agreeing that politicians have the right to disagree on what the editorial policies of the media houses are, MCK warned that the manner in which the politicians acted was unacceptable.

“Whereas the politician has the right to disagree with the editorial policies of any media house, it is unacceptable to incite the public against any media house,” warned the media council.

The body has challenged the politicians to follow the right channels in filing their complaints against any media house or journalist.

“While the Council recognises the right of any individual to demand for upholding of ethical standards in journalism, it expects that the same shall be demanded of the politicians and leaders for violating freedom of expression, press freedom and access information as provided for in the Constitution and the Media Council Act, 2013,” added MCK.

The media watchdog further warned politicians against defaming the media by referring to media houses as GITHERI MEDIA or GUTTER PRESS without any justification or evidence.

MCK also wants the politicians to apologize to Citizen TV.