The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has demanded an immediate apology from Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha concerning the alleged offensive remarks he made to a Nation Media journalist.
The council stated that the CS had a tendency of disrespecting media personnel and thus it was necessary for him to retract his disrespectful comments.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council, David Omwoyo insisted that Magoha not only expressed his regrets concerning the matter but also revoke the regulations disrupting the effective functioning of the media.
“The Media Council of Kenya calls on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NICC) to ensure the Cabinet Secretary issues an unconditional apology, withdraws the unfortunate remark, and rescinds his directives against the smooth operation of the media,” said Omwoyo.
The council’s boss further stated how such comments were unwarranted from a government official and had a profound impact on the lady journalist.
“The council is disturbed that such comments, actions and directives by a senior government official can expose members of the Fourth Estate to unnecessary harassment, ridicule, and victimisation in the line of duty,” continued the chief executive.
Magoha’s comments which also sparked outrage from the Muslim clergy and groups, occurred on Tuesday when the education head seemingly characterized the journalist as an agent of an illegal terrorist group.
This took place at a ceremony to set the foundation for the second phase of building junior high classrooms for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at Nairobi’s Pumwani Girls and Pumwani Boys Secondary School.
Member of Parliament for Garissa township Aden Duale also condemned Magoha’s words, terming them as religious stereotyping, and demanding an apology letter from the Education Cabinet Secretary, failure to which should result in him being fired by the president.