The Azimio One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has defended the media against biasness claims by his presidential arch rival Deputy President William Ruto of Kenya Kwanza saying the Forth Estate has an obligation to play its rightful role to censor, educate and inform the public without intimidation.
He took a swipe at Ruto and his brigade who have launched deliberate onslaught on some sections of the media accusing them of partiality and even threatening to boycott the Presidential Debate 2022 slated for July this year.
“The Media can censor, the Media can critique, the Media can educate, the Media can also oppose. So we really have no issue with that.” Raila said.
Tomorrow Raila is scheduled to launch the Azimio One Kenya Coalition party manifesto at Nyayo National Stadium.
At the same time, Raila reminded the media to continue upholding objectivity in their reporting on the forthcoming General Elections scheduled for August 9.
Raila spoke at the Bomas of Kenya this morning moments after being cleared by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to run for the presidency alongside his running mate Martha Karua.
The former Prime Minister pointed out that the call for objectivity isn’t an infringement on media’s freedom to praise or vilify in its quest to inform.
This, he said, is all geared towards ensuring society’s freedom of expression isn’t curtailed.
Raila is making his fifth stab at the presidency after four unsuccessful times in the 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017 polls.
Together with his running mate Martha Karua, the ODM leader is counting on the influence of President Uhuru Kenyatta to boost his quest of occupying State House after the August 8 polls.
Other than Uhuru’s support, Raila’s choice of a woman as his deputy has been seen as a calculated move to boost his presidential bid.
After leaving the Bomas, Raila and his campaign team headed straight to Lang’ata for a rally at the Undugu grounds.
They will then proceed to Nakuru for roadside rallies this afternoon in Mazembe grounds, Bondeni area in Nakuru.