Press harrasement Kibaki style

March 1, 2006 in Kenya, Politics by Mentalacrobatics | 7 comments

Two Standard editors and a reporter were yesterday questioned and detained by police for hours over a story, which claimed that Kalonzo Musyoka had met Kibaki at State House two weeks ago, published last Saturday … Afterwards, the three said they were not questioned but were asked to record what they knew about the story and disclose their source … they were then told to wait for instructions “from above” on the way forward.

This is ridiculous. The one thing that drives me mad about Kenya is the stupid, “orders from above” nonsense. Here we have professionals doing their job and they get harassed by police for no reason other than, “orders from above”. If anyone feels that the journalists have broken the law then let him follow due process and take them to court. Kenya Democracy Project asks, “… how insecure can a regime be that they move in with a sledge hammer to stifle a story- especially if it is allegedly “not true”.”

Do not forget that this comes hot on the heels of last week’s move to muzzle the press when thirteen employees of the Weekly Citizen were arrested as dozens of police officers swooped on vendors and confiscated copies of the newspaper. The 43 newspaper vendors who were also arrested for selling the newspapers were behind bars for 3 days and then released without being charged. Kumekucha observers, “Reading between the lines, the whole objective was just to intimidate the poor newspaper vendors so that they’ll be frightened to sell the next issue of the Weekly Citizen.” I agree with him. All this at a time when the government spokesman is busy spending tax payers money on adverts about “Democratic Space” that President Kibaki has so kindly given us.

Kalonzo Musyoka should stand up and voice his disapproval with these latest arrests. That would be true leadership.

  1. Ms K’s avatar

    Ms K on March 1, 2006 at 3:49 pm

    You’ll be happy to hear that he has.

    Its such a shame that Kibaki’s government has resorted to the same dark, archaic and brutish tactics. The irony for me is, History really does repeat itself.

  2. Whispering Inn’s avatar

    Whispering Inn on March 1, 2006 at 6:24 pm

    I am besides myself with fury!

    This is unbelievable!

  4. Kenyangal’s avatar

    Kenyangal on March 2, 2006 at 9:35 am

    I am really shocked at the raiding of the standard offices… i seriously though those days were behind us… anyway, Kibaki should know that nowadays acts like these don’t bother kenyan journalists, just makes them more vocal.. hawatishiki

  5. Guessaurus’s avatar

    Guessaurus on March 2, 2006 at 11:02 am

    If you have nothing to hide, then resulting to intimidation, destruction and other such acts just makes you look far guilty. If Kibaki has nothing to hide, he should just stand up and be counted – but we all know how such stories go in Kenya.

    This is appalling.

  7. IV’s avatar

    IV on March 2, 2006 at 5:49 pm

    What the hell is going on with the Kibaki government? Have they totally lost their minds??

    This is not Zimbabwe, where us citizens are just going to sit around and accept whatever comes. We have fought long and hard for the freedoms that we enjoy, and shame on to us if we just sit around and let this atrocity continue.

    For those back at home: what is the public take on this matter? Kibaki better not even be thinking of running for another term, regardless of what Lucy tells him. Otherwise, I will personally fly back home and throw an egg on his and Lucy’s face.

    This whole incident is utterly shocking! And to think that we thought these were stories of the early 90’s and eras gone by.