Nyong'o: Government gagged media on Saba Saba rally

Kisumu Senator Anyang' Nyong'o has claimed that media owners and editors were prevailed on by the Government to give the Monday Saba Saba rally a live coverage black-out.

Substantiating his Tuesday claims before the Senate that the Government had gagged the media on the rally, Nyong'o tabled details of a meeting convened by the Media Council of Kenya that brought together security bosses and media personalities. The senator argued that it was at this meeting that the decision was made.

He claimed that the editors and security officials, who included Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, attended the meeting at a Nairobi hotel and agreed to block the live coverage on grounds of national security.

Nyong'o claimed that the managers attended the meeting convened by the Media Council of Kenya in which plans were laid to deny the CORD coalition live coverage.

The senator retracted an earlier statement that the meeting was also attended by Chief of General Staff General Julius Karangi and Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.

He, however, said the two were represented by Lt General Mwathathe and Information PS Joseph Tiampati respectively.

Nyong'o said Mahsoud Mwinyi (AP spokesman), Interior PS Mutea Iringo and MPs Jamleck Kamau and Ndungu Githenji also attended the meeting.