MCK Wants Citizen TV, NTV, KTN To Produce Photos, Footage Of Matiang'i Raid

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has written to several media houses requesting information around coverage of the alleged raid by police and other law enforcement agencies at the home of former Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i.

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.

"The DCI confirms that this was a deliberate and malicious attempt to spread false information and incite fear, and is nothing more than the highest form of fake news. DCI will leave the media to its own self-introspection. In our view, it should hold itself accountable for its role in spreading this false information and should apologize to the public," he said.

Amin further revealed that preliminary investigations indicated that there was a deliberate attempt to spread false information.

"We have managed to interview several witnesses & our preliminary findings have uncovered evidence of a well-coordinated & deliberate attempt to spread false information and incite public fear. Unfortunately, it was spearheaded by a person of the standing of a former Interior CS.

"According to our investigations, activity began building up at Dr Matiangi's home on Wednesday at 8 pm. Initially, He (Matiang'i) informed his guards some of whom have been interviewed by DCI that he was expecting guests who are lawyers and instructed them to grant access upon their arrival... they (lawyers) arrived shortly after and proceeded to a meeting inside the house of Dr Fred Matiang'i. They were later joined by other politicians, led by none other than Raila Odinga," he went on.

The lawyers would later disappear in three vehicles, leaving the other three in the compound while informing security guards that they would address the media, and would be joined by Azimio party leader, Raila Odinga.

"After another few minutes, the lawyers drove off in three vehicles, leaving three other cars in the compound. As they left, they informed the guards that they were going to address the press. At around 9.30 pm, Mr Odinga and the team left the home to go and join the lawyers in the press conference. Dr Matiang'i then informed the guards that police would be arriving, accompanied by the media to arrest him, and instructed them to allow the police access to the home but to lock out the media," he added.