The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has come out to publicly condemn Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha for his disrespectful comments directed at a Muslim journalist.
According to the human rights lobby, the broadcast journalist from Nation Media Group had uncivil remarks allegedly thrown at her by the CS.
“The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) condemns in the strongest terms possible the unpalatable remarks uttered by the Cabinet Secretary for Education Professor George Magoha and directed to a Nation Media Group’s Broadcast Journalist during a media briefing session,” stated the human rights body.
According to the commission, the journalist deserves to be treated with dignity, and respect and be addressed and referred to in a manner that is not demeaning.
The commission further described Magoha’s utterances as a representation of arrogance and equivalent to media persecution and intimidation.
“The Education head’s comments were inappropriate considering his position in government and how his words as a top government official in a very important docket in the cabinet could have serious repercussions.
“The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights considers such utterances as the epitome of arrogance and tantamount to media harassment and intimidation. Such stigmatization by a high-ranking Government official, and one in charge of the Education System in the country, creates social exclusion and exacerbates mental and psychosocial distress to targeted individuals and their community,” said KNCHR.
The commission lastly emphasized the importance of leaders in government to do what is expected of them in accordance with the constitution. It urged executive figureheads to respect media freedom and not try to impede media operations in any way.
It implored the CS to own up for his mistake and apologize to the lady journalist.