Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) Executive Director Nick Omito addressing the press in Eldoret town on Thursday, February 1, 2018. [Photo/Elvanis Ronoh]
Human Rights activists in Eldoret have urged the Cabinet secretary for Interior Fred Matiangi to lift the media ban on the three media stations with immediate effect.
Led by the Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) Executive Director Nick Omito, they said the move was uncalled for, an act of impunity and a threat to the hard-fought media freedom.
“As human rights activists from the region, we are really disappointed with the Jubilee administration for shutting down some media stations in the name of airing Raila Odinga’s swearing-in ceremony. Why are they denying people right to information yet it is enshrined in the constitution?” he asked.
He was speaking in Eldoret town on Thursday.
“We cannot allow some few individuals to take us back to the old dark days where we only had on propaganda station, why were they shut down yet it is their duty to inform, educate and entertain their audience? We are calling upon Matiang'i to lift the ban with immediate effect since Kenyans are suffering,” he added.
They urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene before things get out of hand.
“We are not happy with the way things are going and President Kenyatta urgently needs to reverse this trend,” noted Omito.