Media Council of Kenya castigates newsrooms over Matiangi’s raid

Media Council of Kenya castigates newsrooms over Matiangi’s raid.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has faulted newsrooms that reported the alleged raid on former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi’s home for failing to meet the accountability threshold. According to the MCK, the newsrooms did not adhere to the norms of accuracy, fairness and balance in their reporting. The Council has further faulted the newsrooms for not verifying the information they received before going to air.
On Monday, MCK CEO David Omwoyo made a statement regarding the lack of coverage from mainstream media outlets of the raid that security agencies had denied. He noted how frustrating it was that there was no photographic or video evidence to support what had happened. By not providing any coverage, these media outlets were effectively perpetuating the cycle of violence and lack of accountability that has plagued the region for far too long.
On February 11, 2023, MCK, through its lawyer, demanded that local media outlets provide images and videos documenting the forced entry into Cabinet Secretary Matiangi’s home on February 9. The demand came after witnesses alleged that MCK members had violently forced their way into the home, causing property damage. MCK has denied these claims, alleging that they were merely conducting a peaceful protest.
“Unfortunately, despite the MCK media monitoring system capturing 26 news articles by mainstream media on the event, none showed either Dr. [Matiang’i] himself or his home or even the alleged security officials. The media have failed to provide any photos or videos,” Omwoyo stated.
In a bid to protect the integrity of media from the widespread condemnation by the public over the coverage of the raid which is said to have been falsified, MCK says the mainstream ought to have apologised.
Threat to democracy
Omwoyo insisted that the failure of the mainstream media to apologise for ‘misleading’ the public over the situation amounted to a violation of the Code of Conduct.
MCK denounced the stance as a threat to democracy.
Omwoyo castigated the media for “rejecting accountability” over the alleged raid saying the matter was putting the credibility of the media at stake.
“By failing to adhere to their own Code of Conduct and rejecting any form of peer review or established regulations and practice, the media becomes a threat to democracy and press freedom and instead become agents of impunity who are resisting any form of accountability,” Omwoyo stated.
The Council mentioned that it is committed to fearlessly defending media freedom.
“MCK reiterates that being reminded of your ethical responsibility and professional obligation to adhere to the code of ethics is not a threat to press freedom but protecting the public interest and citizen exposure to misleading media content,” Omwoyo said.
Staged
No evidence has been provided either by the police officers or from Matiangi and his lawyer to unearth the real details of what unfolded during the incident that occurred on February 9, 2023.
There were also questions on why no images or surveillance footage had emerged on the said incident.
News crews that rushed to Matiangi’s home equally had no footage or images of the alleged deployment of elite police officers.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki dismissed claims that security agencies raided the home of his predecessor who openly backed night raids during his tenure.
He termed claims by Matiangi’s lawyers as false.
The Interior CS said no law enforcement agencies had orders to pursue Matiangi dismissing assertions the National Police Service (NPS), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) may have raided his home at the time.