Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunication Prof Edward Kisiang’ani has assured a smooth relationship between the media and the government of President William Ruto.
Speaking after taking over from Esther Koimett on Tuesday, December 6, he stated that his tenure would not consider revenge as a way of operation but would push for reconciliation.
“Under my stewardship, there would be no victimization of the media. We have no space to even exact revenge on the media. We would like to make peace with the media,” he stated.
Referring to the campaign period before the August general election, Kisiang’ani noted that it was a phase that was expected as everything had been politicized.
Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani, the Permanent Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications and former PS Esther Koimett on December 2, 2022
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Esther Koimett “Those who disagreed with Kenya Kwanza policies were right, it’s how democracy works. People disagree, but in the end, we sit down and agree. The president has said it, and we agree.
Don’t look at the government as an instrument that will start revenge; that was politics. You have nothing to worry about,” he noted.
On behalf of the government, the PS urged the media to be free to get involved in whatever they want as no one would in the future be discriminated not unless in a situation related to the spreading of fake news.
“Let me send a special appeal to the media. On behalf of the government, we would like to make peace. We are serving the same people. If you have any issues, especially content that is not true just come to my office,” he uttered.
Citing an example, the PS exposed a journalist from one of the media stations who confronted him with allegations of returning Kenyan to the Nyayo era.
“I was called by one of the media houses last week asking “now that you are giving the chiefs five police officers, are you not taking us back to Nyayo days, that is a dictatorship,” Kisiang’ani stated, urging the media always to be factual.
His words come at a time when reports are rife that government is mounting pressure on media owners to retrench journalists who were seen to be against President Ruto’s bid for State House.
After the Supreme Court upheld his win, Ruto delivered a celebratory speech at his residential home, Karen.
He assured the media that his government would see a smooth relationship and would not interfere with their operations.
“We can have the last question and by the way, where are my good friends from Citizen TV? I think it is a fair question. How is my good friend Stephen Letoo and Chemutai Goin?” Ruto asked, referencing the pre-election period when he accused the station of bias in media coverage.
Kisiang’ani, a former resident analyst at Citizen TV, was among 51 PSs appointed by President Ruto to drive the hustler agenda.
President William Ruto during an interdenominational service in Embu county on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
William Ruto
