KENYAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT APPRECIATE THE WORK OF JOURNALISTS SAYING NEWSPAPERS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR WRAPPING MEAT

People demanding freedom of the press. Photo/Courtesy

By Maritim Kipngetich
I usually don't like to write controversial stories, but sometimes situations force me to do so.
As one of the members of the fourth estate, the president has convinced me beyond any doubt that Kenya is not a democratic country.
The press started well with the president after 2013 elections, but things have since changed. The people who used to share cup of coffee together and exchange pleasantries at the state house are nowadays enemies to an extend the president saying "the newspaper is only good for wrapping meat".
This is so unfortunate in a country where a new constitution defending freedom of the media was promulgated hardly five years ago.
For the first time in Kenyan history, Kenyan leaders were asked during African Union summit in Ethiopia last year why they were interfering with freedom of the media by introducing controversial laws. That was a big embarrassment and it is even bigger now because Kenya is wrangled at number 100 of 190 counties across the world when it comes to safeguarding freedom of the media.
Any government will start to fail if it criticises the works of the media. The media has capability to tarnish the image of any individual by saying the truth of many matters happening in their lives.This can also happen in government. Jubilee government should strive to corporate with journalists and try to support them by defending their rights.

PRESIDENT KENYATTA WOOS BOMET RESIDENTS

From right: Deputy President William Ruto with Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and former Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwot after a  fund drive in aid of an AGC Church in Bomet yesterday.

The Power of the Presidency

By Maritim Kipngetich

It seems “obey the president” rule is happening in other parts of the country but not in Migori and several parts of Nyanza region.

This was evidenced yesterday in Bomet County where the president woo the masses even after his deputy  came under sharp criticism after his party, United Republic Party (URP), sent home nine nominated Members of County Assembly (MCA) in the county.

Although it is difficult to understand the wananchi, it is clear that the president has the support of Bomet residents.

Not even the county governor Isaac Ruto had contrary opinion to that of the president. He stood and told the growth that dialogue is important for national development and skipped his constant opposition of the deputy president William Ruto’s leadership especially when it comes to management of URP party.

Hardly a week ago, Isaac made his mind clear and told the deputy president not to beat around the bush telling him “he should come straight and mobilize the MCAs to impeach me.”

Isaac teaming up with Gedion Moi and Kericho Governor Prof Chekwony has threatened William Ruto’s political popularity in Rift Valley, although William is confident that they will join hands with them before 2017 elections.

It is said no permanent enemies in politics. This may be true to some extents, but it is an elusive task to bring back someone who had opposed you before to support you. A big price must be sacrificed and the deputy president should prepare for that.

RUTO SHOULD BE A WORRIED MAN:

Ruto Losing Support in his Backyard

By Maritim Kipngetich

William Ruto’s political mileage in the former Rift Valley Province is slowly fading away basing on the current political happenings in the region.

Deputy President William Ruto. PHOTO/COURTESY

Although Ruto is a national figure considering his position as the Deputy President (DP), he has lost more support in his backyard than what he lost when he was just a member parliament of Eldoret North constituency.

It seems the famous say “a prophet does not have support in his background” can be applied here.  It is important to note that Ruto still have the capability to woo his supporters since he had gained a lot of trust among the residents of the region.

In politics, it is said you should not spare those who supported you to gain power since whatever you give them may not satisfy them and they will always end up complaining and begging for more. It seems Ruto is using this ideology since he has broken ties with many of his former supporters in the former Rift Valley Province due to regularly complaints.

It goes without saying that Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has been supporting the DP since and he has never gone in contrary to his plans, but this changed barely two months after 2013 elections.

Things started going wrong between the two just after Isaac demanded more money to counties. The DP looked at the Pesha Mashinani referendum drive as if it was Isaac’s agenda forgetting the fact that Isaac is the Chair of Council of Governors and his mandate is to voice the grievances of his colleagues.

Although the government interpreted Isaac’s move for a referendum just the way it interpreted the Cord’s move for the same that should not be used to curtail the relationship of the former allies.

Losing ground support in politics is a dangerous thing and DP should learn from the cooperation the Central Kenya  has. No one from the central region has ever opposed the president’s proposal. I can base my argument from two premises. One, the Gatundu South legislative seat went vacant last year after the death of the area MP and the region did not have any election. The current MP of the region Moses Kuria was endorsed by the president and no one had a contrary say.

Two, the JAP candidate for the Kabete legislative seat Ferdinand Waittu also almost won unopposed since he garnered more than 95% of the total votes cast. I dare say if a seat in the Rift Valley became vacant today, JAP will have a big task to claim it.

It is high time the DP should go back to his backyard and ask his supporters what they want. He should avoid making some crucial decisions of the party in Nairobi alone with the president and some legislators from the central region.

He should not have merged the URP and TNA without consulting all the members of the party. This may implicate negatively and he will be eying for presidential seat in 2022.

FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA AND LIMITS:

Ruto Speaks to Journalists

By Maritim Kipngetich

Deputy President William Ruto. PHOTO/COURTESY

Kenyan journalists converged today at a Nairobi hotel to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day a day after the day was celebrated across the world.

Speaking during the occasion, Deputy President William Ruto said Jubilee government is committed to ensuring freedom of the media is guarded noting that he has heard reports saying Jubilee government is not friendly to the media.

“The laws we passed were meant to assist Kenyans and we are happy to note that since those laws were passed, journalists covered subsequent insecurity events in a descent manner,” he said adding that the media coverage of the Garissa attack was proper and did not inflict much fear on the parents of the victims.

 Ruto said corruption has been a threat to freedom of the media and journalists should resist this for the betterment of the nation.

“Corruption in the media makes the media not to deliver the society from the problems it faces,” he said.

H e commented National Media Group for publishing an article that criticized brown journalism adding that journalists should strive to feed the public with information that does not uphold the image of particular individuals, but that uphold the image of the nation at large.

“I call upon journalists to undertake their duties with integrity and watch performance of different sectors of the economy including the government,” Ruto said.

The DP also admitted that there is security challenge in the country, but the media should not concentrate only on that. He said there are many good things that are happening in the country including the 25% increase in power connectivity across the country since the jubilee government took power two years ago.

Ruto said digital migration in the media is vital especially now when millions of youth are adapting ICT systems adding that digital media also helps in keeping information for a longer time.

He also asked media houses not to be used by few individuals to channel their own views.

“The press should concentrate on stories that develop the nation; the media is the major driving force of the economy,” he said.