Gachagua Hits Out At Media In Response To Matiang'i Night Raid

Gachagua asked media houses to do some soul-searching within themselves...

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Feb 12, 2023 - 12:53 Updated: Feb 12, 2023 - 13:05
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Gachagua Hits Out At Media In Response To Matiang'i Night Raid
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking during a church service at Kerugoya Stadium, Kirinyaga County on January 22, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused the media of publishing what he termed lies without doing their due diligence while responding to the alleged raid on former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i's Karen home.

Speaking during an interdenominational Church service at the Nakuru Athletic Club Grounds, Nakuru County on Sunday, February 12, Gachagua asked media houses to do some soul-searching within themselves while affirming that the National Police Service (NPS) is an independent institution as compared to the puppet it was subjected to by the previous government.

"We would like to tell the press, when you go and write lies, think about it. The police force that was led previously is different from this one.

"The police service we have is professional and has no time for politics or to go and raid a house at night. We have no time to deploy our police for nonsense," he stated.

Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i. /NAIROBI NEWS

Turning to Matiang'i, Gachagua dismissed Matiang'i's claims of the raid, noting that he was being tormented by his actions during his tenure as the Ministry of Interior boss.

"Do not mind those pretending that they have been arrested. These people are having hallucinations and nightmares; they cannot sleep because they used police officers to frustrate people.

"Now, when they see an officer, they have nightmares. The prayer of the widows, orphans and families of those who were found dead in River Yala and those who were taken to Arberdares is what is haunting them," he added.

His sentiments come after the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) wrote to several media houses requesting information around coverage of the alleged raid by police and other law enforcement agencies that happened on Wednesday night, February 8.

In a statement on Saturday, February 11, MCK revealed that it was carrying out its monitoring function on the evening of Wednesday, February 8 when it stumbled upon live coverage of the police raid which immediately grabbed the attention of members of the public.

MCK CEO David Omwoyo thus wrote to media houses including the Royal Media Services (RMS), Nation Media Group (NMG) and Standard Media Group (SMG) among others requesting to be provided with video evidence of the raid as well as the names of reporters and editors sent to Matiang'i's Karen home.

"While carrying out our monitoring function on the evening of February 8, 2023, the Media Council came across your station's coverage of the police raid. We request you to provide the Council with actual footage collected by your crew at the scene and the identity of the editors/reporters who were sent there," the letter by Omwoyo read in part.

The MCK further noted the limited or non-availability of photographs or videos from the alleged police raid and was concerned by the denial of such a raid by the government agencies alleged to have been involved, which it added presents a serious moral and ethical dilemma for the media.

It further expressed concern regarding the media refusing to provide it with the said footage from an event which triggered all manner of conversation, including within political circles.

"The Council is concerned by the refusal by the media to provide actual footage or photos from such a highly- publicised event yet they were at the scene. Providing this information will clarify the matter to the public.

"Providing only statements by lawyers and allies of Dr Matiang'i on one side and denials by government officials the next day creates confusion as to who is speaking the truth. The situation may cause unnecessary tension between the media and the government and anxiety and confusion among Kenyans," warned MCK.

The Council further announced that it will decide the next course of action after the media houses respond to the information request.

The media was mentioned during the release of the findings of the investigations carried out on the alleged police raid by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss, Mohamed Amin, when it was alerted by Raila's team on the raid on Matiang'i's house.

A file image of Citizen TV studios. /FILE

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