Cord coalition leader Kalonzo Musyoka apologises over remark to journalist

By Standard Digital Reporter

Cord coalition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has apologised over a remark he made to a journalist during a press briefing Thursday morning.

Mr Musyoka made the remark after a journalist asked a question and he declined to reply after the journalist identified himself as "Kennedy Murithi" of QTV.

Following the press briefing, Mr Musyoka's remarks raised a ruckus on social media after a journalist who was present after the press briefing expressed his disappointment. The news of Kalonzo's outburst quickly spread on social media and Kenyans demanded an apology from the former deputy vice president.

Mr Musyoka responded with a written apology sent to newsrooms.

"I wish to clarify the following: That this morning during a press briefing in response to Jicho Pevu and to the State of the Nation address by the President a few weeks ago, a journalist asked a question without identifying himself and/or the media house he works for," the statement read, "I felt he had asked a misleading question and my answer to him was that his assumed political tilt was evident and reflective of the very polarised society that Kenya has become.

"I in no way intended to neither demean the young man, nor do I or would I harbor any animosity toward him. To the contrary I have tirelessly worked for cohesion in this country and in my lifetime supported many leaders from various communities to include the Kalenjin, Luo, Kikuyu, Coast and this is common knowledge.

"I did have tea with Mureithi and duly apologised for any hurt my remark would have caused, indeed it was with a light touch but I wish to apologize to him, the entire journalistic fraternity and anybody else who might feel the comments were offensive.

"I remain committed to a united Kenya and a vibrant democracy," read the statement which was signed, "H. E.  HON. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka through Media Aide Dennis Kavisu."

The apology was evidently not received well by Kenyans on social media who continued to rant under the hashtags #SomeoneTellKalonzoMusyoka and #EthnicityInKenya

In response to Kalonzo's statement, a Twitter user registered as "Kennedy murithi@bamboomuri1" tweeted, "Nobody has apologised to me...I have NOT had tea with @skmusyoka contrary to what his statement says."

The hashtags #SomeoneTellKalonzoMusyoka and #EthnicityInKenya are currrently trending on Twitter.