Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir. [Photo/Nassir]
Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has expressed his anger over the ongoing media crackdown in the country and urged the government to immediately stop media oppression.
Speaking in his Mvita Constituency on Saturday, Nassir said that cracking down on the media was unworthy of a democratic country under a different constitution and urged the government to value the constitution.
He said that the government was acting totally against the constitution and was purely denying Kenyans the right to information.
He said that the media has immensely contributed to the country’s democracy and economic growth and shutting down some media outlets was a violation of the people’s rights and against the constitution.
He criticized government agencies harassing journalists and shutting down media houses, adding that the country’s leadership was getting it wrong.
He said that Kenyans should not keep quiet while the government carries on with its oppressive measures.
“We are fully backing up the ‘Not in my country’ Monday’s protests all over the country announced by civil societies, this is not something we should condone as Kenyans,” he said.
Nassir said that opposition leaders with different ideologies should not be victimized since there were free democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
“We are wondering what actually is happening in our country, the county is divided with many Kenyans opposing what the government was doing” he added.
He appealed to all Kenyans to oppose the media crackdown and arrest of opposition political leaders, asking the government to publicly explain its motive.
He asked journalists not to feel intimidated and stop imparting what is rightfully for Kenyans but instead pursue justice.
Nassir demanded the government to switch on all the four television stations, KTN News, NTV, CITIZEN and Inooro TV shut down on 30th of January after airing the opposition leader Raila Odinga’s swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.
The civil societies are already planning major nationwide protest dubbed ‘Not in my country’ to pressurize the government to cease crackdown on the media and arrest of opposition leaders.
Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Mombasa County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by Joining this group, and have it published.* https://chat.whatsapp.com/5K1mGBnRVB46Mixhdh5caF