We Will Protect You: Wamalwa To Media After Aaron Cheruiyot's Remarks

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eugene Wamalwa came to the rescue of the media which was subjected to accusations by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot of the country's Fourth Estate being a 'powerful and influential cartel'.

Speaking on Tuesday, March 7 at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters following the release of former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i after hours of being grilled by detectives, Wamalwa praised the media as one of Kenya's essential service providers as it is the bridge between the public and the government.

Wamalwa, the DAP-K party boss, had accompanied Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga to the DCI headquarters to check on Matiang'i after he was held for longer than anticipated. The former CS was summoned for questioning over the alleged raid at his Karen home on Wednesday night, February 8.

He expressed doubts regarding President William Ruto's ability to "crush" the media as expressed by Cheruiyot on Monday, March 6 as it is the only source of the truth for members of the public.

"We are saying they can crush Dr Matiang’i, they can crush Wamalwa, they can crush Azimio, Parliament or the Judiciary. But they must never crush the media because you are the cornerstone of our democracy, you are the ones who tell Kenyans the truth," he stated.

He added that they had looked at the charges since imposed on Matiang'i; conspiracy to commit a felony and publication of false information regarding the alleged raid, which he claimed didn't happen.

Wamalwa appreciated the media for standing firm against threats by politicians to undermine freedom of expression, adding that he would protect members of the Fourth Estate as they carry out their duties. 

"Now, this is injustice. We have looked at charges against Dr Matiangi for lying to the police and all sort of things which aren't true. We know they want to crush the media.

"We thank you for staying steadfast. You cannot crush messengers of truth. We will protect your cause," he added.

The Senator had expressed President Ruto's confidence in crushing the cartels in Kenya but feared that he might struggle with two he termed as extremely powerful; the Kenyan banks and the Kenyan media.

His sentiments drew sharp criticism from the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) to NTV under the Nation Media Group (NMG), whose news anchor, Smriti Vidyarthi, took the first four minutes of the 9 pm news bulletin to express concerns regarding Cheruiyot's remarks deemed a threat to press freedoms.

“We choose to understand the word crushing on its plain meaning which is compressing or squeezing something forcefully to break, damage or distort its shape.

“If crushing things is a government policy, then there is surely no shortage of things to crush like the high cost of living, high fuel prices, the price of unga, the free fall of the shilling. That would be a good place to start,” the news anchor stated.

The journalist went on to remind Cheruiyot about how the media is protected in the country as provided for in the Constitution of Kenya, and how the same provisions also advocate for media freedoms.

She noted however that this was not an isolated incident, referring to scenarios whereby “Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has never hidden his impatience with the media that he saw as an inconvenience rather than a legitimate player in Kenya's democratisation journey.”

Vidyarthi thus called on President Ruto to distance himself from the remarks, adding that he would otherwise seem to agree with the remarks which have the potential of taking away the country's freedom of expression.

Cheruiyot remained firm however, singling out NMG and the Royal Media Services (RMS) for dragging the practice of journalism to its lowest ethical standards ever.