Mombasa County Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi. [Photo|Dr William Kingi]
Below is a statement by Mombasa County Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi, following closure of three privately owned television stations by the government on January 30.
"Statement on the Closure of Private Television Stations to Bar Live Coverage of the Swearing in of Hon Raila OdingaIt is with much apprehension that we have received news of the continued shut down of Private television stations who were barred from live coverage of the swearing in of Honourable Raila Odinga as the Peoples President at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
The unlawful actions taken against licenced operators is draconian, intemperate and totally uncalled for. The drastic act is an attack on basic freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. It is a violation of the freedom of the press ingrained in our Constitution. It is an attack on the freedom of expression and a futile attempt to curtail our right to information.
By scapegoating the media, the Jubilee Administration is only demonstrating its incompetence in dealing with matters of national interest. The action is tantamount to the proverbial ostrich burying its head in the sand to escape responsibility.
The matters that have brought us to this state will not go away simply because live television is barred. It should be recalled that the struggle for independence happened without the benefit of live TV, the internet or modern technology.
The freedoms enshrined in the constitution are ours as sovereigns of this nation. Any attempt to curtail them is treasonable and an attack on the sovereignty of this nation.
Dr. William Kingi
Deputy Governor
County 001"