Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli in a past event. He has hit out at Interior CS Fred Matiang’i over TV shut down during Raila’s Tuesday swearing in. (Photo/nation.co.ke)
Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has hit out at the Jubilee government for shutting down TV station over Raila Odinga’s swearing in on Tuesday.
Atwoli in a briefing with journalists at his office in Gikomba on Wednesday, said that the government ban on TV stations infringed on media freedom.
The Cotu boss said that the constitution is clear on media freedom and privileges adding that shutting them down was too harsh.
Atwoli said that the government will be trading on dangerous route if it infringes on the rights of the media. He said that while the government has a right to regulate and monitor the media, it has no right to undermine media freedom.
The Cotu boss said that many jobs are at stake following the Tuesday media shutdown.
“The government was too harsh in shutting down some TV stations for airing Raila’s swearing in at Uhuru Park and we ask Matiang’i to ensure the affected stations are back on air,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Cotu boss has hailed NASA supporters for maintaining peace during their swearing in at Uhuru Park.