Ruto Interview: Ezekiel Mutua Remarks That Drew Wrath Of Journalists
According to the former Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO, interviewing a President especially one with a doctorate degree is a difficult assignment that requires extensive preparations.
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Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ezekiel Mutua on Sunday, December 17 questioned the choice of journalists who held a media roundtable interview with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
Among those who interviewed Ruto included Citizen TV's Sam Gituku, TV47's Grace Kuria Kanja, Ken Mijungu and Ali Manzu from KTN News and Kamuche Menza from the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
In a statement, Mutua wondered why Citizen TV Editorial Director Linus Kaikai was not picked for a high-octane interview with the Head of State who would have forced Ruto to delve deeper into pertinent issues due to his thorough grilling.
President William Ruto engaging journalists at State House on December 17, 2023. /PCS
"Journalists of the calibre of John Simbi Okumu, Louis Otieno, Julie Gichuru et al. The media should give such interviews respect by bringing forth their best.
"Why is Linus Kakai, for example, not here? We need seasoned, skilled, charismatic and deeply knowledgeable journalists for such moments," he remarked.
According to the former Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO, interviewing a President especially one with a doctorate degree is a difficult assignment that requires extensive preparations.
"An interview with a President with a PhD is no walk in the park. It requires preparation and skill, even the ability to think on one's feet.
"For the media to reclaim its place, Media Owners must invest in the human resources, not buildings!" Mutua advised.
His sentiments, though igniting a heated debate, were echoed by Former Education Permanent Secretary James Ole Kiyiapi who felt that the "media team asked questions everyone is asking without the ability for deeper interrogation, philosophical underpinnings - the President had a great time explaining his Programmes & underlying reasoning."
However, others, including journalists and media practitioners slammed Mutua for berating their colleagues at State House presumably on the basis of experience and youth given that it was Gituku who stole the show with his ability to pin down the President.
"You have had such a disdain for Kenyan journalists for such a long time, I'm not shocked. And no, those journalists did us all proud.
"Journalists don't necessarily ask questions to satisfy their curiosity or Ph.D. holders, they ask on behalf of their audiences. Basic rules. Chill," NTV Swahili anchor, Frederick Muitiriri wrote.
Manzu on his part wrote "I was not taught to reply to elders, but please allow me to say this. You came, you saw and did nothing.
"While others (John Sibi Okumu) were trying to build the media space for us, you were busy awarding TV sets and taking pictures. With due respect, allow us to try and delete that kind of absurdity. I’m still searching for wisdom from you during your term, I can’t find any useful one," the Swahili news anchor clapped back.
Mutua nonetheless praised Ruto for answering the questions with superlative brilliance and claimed that the President was not frustrated by the journalists coming after him with all manner of tough questions.
"The success of an interview is not predicated on how the person being interviewed was pinned down. Of course, the President had a field day and dealt with every question with unmatched sagacity and clarity," he remarked.
"He was at ease and looked believable. And ultimately, the media team tried despite the initial stuttering. I choose to be an optimist!"
Mutua is on record criticising the youth for remaining oblivious to significant events, including on Tuesday, September 5 when he called them out for spending more time on social media platforms such as TikTok than engaging in discussions surrounding climate change and the future of the African continent during the Africa Climate Summit (ACS).
He expressed concern that many youths are unfamiliar with critical terms like "decarbonisation" and "carbon credits."
Here is what he was quoted as saying below:
