Jeff Koinange in trouble over Atwoli's interview

 Jeff Koinange and Francis Atwoli during the Interview [Photo: Courtesy]

The Media Council of Kenya has cautioned Citizen TV and Jeff Koinange over some of the questions they had for COTU boss Francis Atwoli on Wednesday night during JKL Show. 

In a letter sent to the broadcaster, Media Council of Kenya (MCK) CEO David Omwoyo stated that, Koinange went out of line by asking the COTU boss about his private and sex life on live TV.

Omwoyo also added Koinange was obscene during the show and breached clause 13 of the code of conduct that warns journalists against intruding someone's privacy.

"Jeff started by asking Francis Atwoli to clear the air about his marriage with TV anchor. Atwoli confidently admits he is married to Mary Kilobi but the host goes ahead to ask questions touching on private aspects like age difference between the two and Atwoli’s performance in bed,” read Omwoyo's letter. 

In the interview, Koinange pushed Atwoli into a direction that saw him open up about his marriage to sassy KTN news anchor Mary Kilobi after his second wife defiled his directive not to venture into politics.

Koinange also probed him for getting a younger wife at his age, questioning his bedroom skills in the process. 

"The questions Lakini bado kazi unafanya, (You still perform well), Katiba bado unasoma (you still read the Constitution) and Kazi unaweza (You can manage the job) are repeated severally in the interview. At one point Atwoli dismisses Koinange reminding him it’s important to be cautious about disclosing private issues for the sake of his children and audience,” went on the letter. 

MCK concluded by asking the broadcaster to always keep their employees on check.  

"By this letter MCK wishes to inform you that it reserves the right to take disciplinary action against the host of the programme and the media in view of the above contravened clauses. In the meantime urgently furnish the council with steps taken to avoid such occurrences in future,” MCK said.