Raila WARNS Uhuru Against SOCIAL MEDIA SHUT DOWN

RAILA OPPOSES SOCIAL MEDIA SHUT DOWN BY JUBILEE GOVERNMENT.

ODM Leader Mr. Raila Odinga says any attempts to muzzle the freedom of the press and that of expression by the Jubilee government shall be resisted by all means possible.

He says, these freedoms are embedded in the constitution which is the supreme law of the land and which all sectors including the government must respect.
Mr. Odinga says it is irresponsible for the government to spend taxpayer’s money holding symposia and conferences involving senior government officials to discuss on how to gag the media.

“They have already compromised the print and electronic media and now want to muzzle the use of social media, that they are going to introduce regulations to regulate it, we won’t allow this to happen” said Mr. Odinga.

Speaking at Orange House today after meeting a delegation of Maasai elders, leaders, women and youth, Mr. Odinga criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Mr. Joseph Nkaissery, Inspector General of Police Mr. Joseph Boinett, Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Keriako Tobiko and Chairman of National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Mr. Francis Ole Kaparo for trying to gag freedom of expression. “Social Media is what Kenyans are left with, now they want to muzzle it in the guise of taming hate speech, which is funny” said Mr. Odinga.

He said people should be allowed to speak freely. “What is this animal called hate speech, it has not been defined” said Mr. Odinga adding that if what Mr. Kaparo is trying to advance were to happen in the US, then the Republican Presidential candidate Mr. Donald Trump would be in jail today. “Mr. Trump speaks freely and posts anything on social media, President Obama and Hilary Clinton only criticize him, but they respect free speech”.

Mr. Odinga said Kenyans have fought so hard to open the democratic space adding that they will defend it at all costs. “People write so much rubbish about me on social media, but there is nothing I can do, it is the democratic right” quipped Mr. Odinga.

He told Mr. Kaparo to stop wasting Kenyans time and concentrate on other meaningful things.

Mr. Odinga said today’s meeting was planned a month ago by a team of professionals and opinion leaders from Narok County who suggested it to be held in Nairobi before heading to Narok for a major one. “We are not reacting to anything. We are not scared of Jubilee at all. We are strong and the Maa community is strongly behind ODM” he added.

During the meeting, former ICT Principal Secretary and a gubernatorial candidate for Narok County in the 2013 general election Mr. Joseph Musuni Ole Tiampati defected to the ODM from Jubilee affiliate Kenya National Congress (KNC) party. “After consultations with various stakeholders in Narok County, they have urged me to go for the Governor’s seat on ODM ticket in next year’s general election” said Mr. Tiampati.

Mr. Tiampati said ODM was very strong in Maasai land and that he had made the right choice. He said he will work round the clock to continue popularizing the party in all corners of Narok County ahead of the general election.

Kajiado Central MP Mr. Elijah Memusi said yesterday’s meeting at State House involving some leaders from Narok County had not in any way affected the popularity of ODM in Maasai land adding that the masses were solidly in ODM.

“We are strongly in ODM. When some people meet the President at State House, they do it on their own, not on behalf of the community” said Mr. Memusi.
Others who defected to the ODM are former Chairman of the Narok County Council Mr. Sadera Kerimpoti (KSC) and Mr. Tirkoshi Ole Nampaso (KANU). The delegation was led by Chairman of ODM Narok County Mr. Charles Ole Nampaso.
Ends…
ODM Communications Department.
10th August 2016

Filed Under: NEWS Wednesday, August 10, 2016