Radio presenters ordered to apologise to MP

BY NANCY AKINYI

Two radio presenters, Caroline Mutoko and Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as ‘Jalang’o, have been ordered to apologise to Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru.

Judge Kihara Kariuki had summoned the Kiss FM duo last week to explain to the election court why they commented on the Starehe election petition before it was concluded.

Mutoko and Odiwuor appeared today afternoon and apologised for making the said comments.

They told court that their comments were made fairly and with no intention to hurt Bishop Margaret Wanjiru.

The two were told to verbally apologise to Bishop Wanjiru who was present in court over the prejudicial remarks.

Last week, Justice Kihara took issue with comments which appeared in sections of the press regarding Starehe elections.

The court concluded the scrutiny of votes cast during the 2007 parliamentary polls and Maina Kamanda emerged winner but the case is yet to be concluded.

Justice Kihara said he was the final authority in the Starehe case and it was prejudicial for the press to comment just after the scrutiny of the votes.

The judge warned that the end of the scrutiny was not the end of the petition.

He said the matter was still pending with several witnesses waiting to give evidence and no one was allowed to make any conclusion regarding how the Starehe elections were conducted.

Mr Maina Kamanda secured 49, 306 votes against Bishop Wanjiru’s 34, 871 votes, a difference of over 14,000 votes in the concluded scrutiny and recount.

The returning officer and other witnesses will testify from May 4-13.

Then advocates for both parties will be expected to make their final submissions before the judge gives a ruling.