The government’s Deputy Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga has called out Kenyan media to refrain from engaging in activism.
In an exclusive interview with TV47’s Andrine Kilemi on prime time, Mwanaisha Chidzuga stated that the Kenyan media is goose-stepping towards activism.
Mwanaisha elaborated that the media is willingly breaching codes of conduct to sensationalize the news.
She went on to state that this form of sensationalizing is diluting the actual information Kenyans should be getting from the media.
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Mwanaisha on injured protestors
In the heated discussion between DP Spokesperson Mwanaisha and journalist Andrine Kilemi, the two differed on whether the government cared for those injured during the protests.
Mwanaisha went on to clarify that the government was bothered and concerned over any life lost during the protest but had reservations about why lives were lost.
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“Tuwe wakweli, wale waliojeruhiwa, walikuwa wanachukuwa hatua gani?” Mwanaisha focused on those who lost their lives.
Mwanaisha reiterated that investigations were underway on the lives that were lost during the protest.
However, she was quick to highlight that there was no excuse for the vandalism and looting of property witnessed during the protests.
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Police maiming journalist
Another heated point between Andrine and Mwanaisha was on the recently witnessed targeting of journalists in the country.
Mawaisha categorically stated that the government has no business fighting with the media in the country.
When pressed on the incident highlighted by officers openly shooting directly at journalists, she disputed the accuracy of the video circulating online.
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She reiterated that journalists on the ground covering protests have been keen on disregarding rules on engagement with officers while covering protests.
In a show of goodwill, Mwanaisha reiterated that investigations were steadily underway to establish if indeed officers had been targetting journalists covering protests.
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Media Freedom in Kenya
In a rejoinder on the stance between Kenyan media and the government, Mwanaisha highlighted that Kenyan media enjoys unparalleled freedoms.
In the sitdown with Ms. Kilemi, she highlighted that none of the East African countries have media outlets as free as the Kenyan media.
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She emphasized that the Kenyan media enjoys liberties which enable it to talk about broad issues on governance without fear of the government of the day.
However, Mwanaisha did emphasize that media freedom does not and should never translate to gaslighting the Kenyan people.
She highlighted that media should not use their platforms to peddle lies as she reference the Kware dumpsite death toll numbers which in the government’s view, had been inflated by the media.
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