Principals of One Kenya Alliance (OKA) have issued a joint statement against a local media outlet for what they termed as fake news purveying.

The principals accused the Nation newspaper of fabricating facts in regards to the series of meetings OKA principals have been holding with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

They condemned the newspaper’s reporting with the strongest terms and contempt. They also accused the Nation newspaper of favouring one invitee to the meetings who is also a presidential aspirant.

“Since we started holding consultative meetings with the President, Nation Newspapers have embarked on a crusade to fabricate their own facts of the meetings in favour of one invitee to the meetings and presidential aspirant,” the statement read in part.

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They further stated categorically that their visits to State House are not summons to force them into supporting a particular candidate but rather consultative meetings to deliberate on national matters.

“We hereby state categorically that our visits to State House aren't summons to browbeat us into supporting one candidate or the other, as the distorted Nation narratives suggest. These have been very cordial consultative meetings deliberating on national matters,” the statement continued.

They advised the media to remain focused on reporting facts as they are and not as per their own wishes.

“We call upon news media and especially the print media to remain focused on reporting facts as they are and not what their wishes are,” the statement added.

This comes after Uhuru held a consultative meeting at State House Mombasa with a cross-section of political leaders on Wednesday.

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The leaders in attendance include Raila Odinga (ODM), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka(WIPER), Moses Wetangula (FORD-KENYA) Gideon Moi (KANU).

Also present at the meeting were Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua among other senior government officials

The leaders discussed the country’s COVID-19 containment measures in the wake of rising infections and mortality rates.