Standard reacts to KRA boss

Business

By Standard Reporter

The Standard Group has expressed concern over what it termed intimidation of KTN senior reporter and anchor, John Allan Namu, by the Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General Michael Waweru.

This followed Waweru’s communication to people close to Namu last week in which, among other things, he is alleged to have made veiled threats concerning a five-month investigative report, Port of Impunity that aired on KTN last month.

Sought comments

Waweru is reported to have claimed that in the story, Namu lied he had sought the KRA boss’ comments prior to broadcasting the expose. But on Monday, KTN stood by Namu and maintained he and colleague Mohamed Ali, of Jicho Pevu, had actually sought comment from Waweru at his Times Towers office but he declined.

Further, Waweru is said to have termed the investigative report both "inaccurate and defamatory to KRA", and indicated he would file a complaint with the Media Council of Kenya, which would "destroy Namu’s career".

Award winner

Namu, an acclaimed investigative reporter, is the CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year and has won many awards, including most recently the Head of State Commendation.

On Monday, the Standard Group management said it found the action of Commissioner-General "reckless, wanting and unprofessional".

The Group reiterated the subject matter of the three-part series was of compelling public interest and was not targeted at the person of the Commissioner-General, KRA or any other institution.

"Instead of making the matter personal and resorting to intimidation, Commissioner-General Michael Waweru would better be advised to direct his efforts to dealing with the enormity of the matter, knowing his remains a public position, and KRA is a public institution that must be subject to scrutiny and interrogation on matters of public interest," said the statement.

The Group raised concerns over efforts by the taxman to link favourable editorial content to advertising.

"Such an action will be a dangerous precedent in the country, especially on matters touching on freedom of the press to defend public interests," the company said.

And owing to this development and allegations by KRA, the Group said KTN would on Tuesday revisit the story to lay down the facts as they are.

Direct communication

Earlier, Namu had taken exception to the manner in which the Commissioner-General had communicated the message, saying dragging in people close to him, but who were in no way journalists nor involved in the production of the story, was solely meant to intimidate "me and those close to me".

He added: "This is the sort of communication that can be made to the company directly".

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