Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader has announced that he has rescinded the boycott order he had given his supporters against the Star Newspaper.
In a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, Raila said Azimio had made the decision after consultations with stakeholders in the Kenyan media industry over the issues they had with the Star.
The former Prime Minister says he has instead filed a complaint with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) against the newspaper, which is owned and managed by Radio Africa Group.
“Following consultations with stakeholders we have agreed to call off our boycott of The Star newspaper. Instead we have filed a complaint with the media Council of Kenya on the paper’s biases,” said Raila.
Raila on Tuesday asked his supporters to boycott The Star, Kenya Commercial Bank and Safaricom accusing the Radio Africa Group (RAG) newspaper of being biased against Azimio.
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However, Raila’s boycott appeal was met with condemnation by media stakeholders led by MCK CEO David Omwoyo, terming it an affront to the freedom of the media in Kenya.
“Such attacks undermine the freedom of the press and are attempts to undermine the role of the press in freely informing the electorates based on the editorial judgments,” said Omwoyo.
RAG CEO Patrick Quarcoo termed Raila’s boycott directive “unfortunate, unjustified and irresponsible” saying The Star had remained neutral since it was launched 15 years ago.
“Raila knows, only too well, the importance of a free and independent press in promoting good governance and transparency in the management of public affairs, which he is fighting for,” stated Quarcoo.
Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) also echoed those remarks saying the position by Azimio saying it endangered the lives and livehlihoods of journalists.
