The Fourth Estate fraternity has unanimously condemned pronouncements by opposition leader and Azimio One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga’s sentiments calling for boycott of the Star Newspaper terming them as an affront to press freedom and safety of media practitioners.
The Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG), Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) have disparaged Raila’s utternaces demanding immediate withdrawal of the same.
He asked Kenyans to boycott the Radio Africa Group media and particularly the Star Newspaper.
Kenya Editors’ Guild Chairperson Churchill Otieno has this evening said the remarks by Raila a are “an attack on the news media and a direct affront to media freedom” and exposes journalists to harm.
“The Kenya Editors’ Guild is alarmed by a statement by Azimio One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga directly attacking a media house in a manner that undermines democratic principles and threatens an already overly vulnerable media ecosystem.” A statement by KEG reads in part.
The media stakeholders now want political leaders to use the clearly defined channels available to air their grievances on media excesses where they exist.
“Kenya Editors’ Guild sees the statement by Odinga as an attack on the news media and a direct affront to media freedom, an act that would have the effect of exposing journalists to harm and in the process subvert democracy.” KEG added.
The opposition chief also rallied his supporters to boycott Safaricom, KCB Bank and Radio Africa media particularly the Star Newspaper, accusing the three brands of being “enablers and facilitators of this brutal regime.”
However, Raila did not elaborate on the alleged partisanship by the three entities, but only insisted that “we have the details why are saying so and our supporters will understand.” He said.
