Media personality fears for his life after alleged threats by MP

By Titus Murithi

Meru, Kenya: A local FM radio presenter in Meru has alleged that a Member of Parliament (MP) has threatened him.

While addressing the media in Meru town, Jamlik Kirai, a presenter with Mwariama FM radio said an MP called him and threatened to send him a ‘very good gift’ soon for ‘the good work’ he was doing. Kirai has already recorded statements with the police and will seek legal redress against the MP after he allegedly threatened him with dire consequences.

Kirai says on November 1, during his talk show which starts at 8pm to midnight, he had requested listeners to air their views about the pledges made by their MPs during the last polls and say if they had been fulfilled or not.

 He says many callers during the talk show called from all over Meru and Tharaka-Nithi either commending or criticising their MPs. Majority of the callers criticised the MP. Kirai denounced the claims that he was biased against the MP and claimed that his programme gave the listeners an opportunity to air their grievances against their MPs.

“I am not the one who determined where listeners called from. He was not the only MP from Meru who was criticised. The fact that his constituents felt embittered by his leadership is none of my business.

“He called and told me to be prepared because my gift is on the way,” said Kirai. “I want to go to court and have him clarify the kind of gift he is going to share with me because he has never called me to discuss anything,” Kirai confessed.