Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has demanded an apology from a local newspaper over what she deems a misleading headline implicating her in a land row.
The headline of a story published on March 31, 2024, suggested that Governor Mbarire was embroiled in a Ksh2bn land dispute alongside another governor.
However, Cecily Mbarire contends that the story misrepresented facts and failed to demonstrate her lack of involvement in the alleged land dispute.
“The headline is not only inaccurate but misleading to the public,” she said.
“Further the story carried by the same newspaper on pages 6 and 7 is inconsistent with the headline and fails to demonstrate how I am “caught up” in the land row.”
Governor Mbarire Disappointed
In response to the publication by Sunday Nation, Governor Mbarire issued a statement expressing her disappointment on how the story in question was handled.
She highlighted the inconsistency between the headline and the content of the article, emphasizing that the story corroborated her position that she had no personal interest in the disputed land and had merely sought to facilitate a fair resolution for one of the parties involved.
The Embu County governor disputed prime property in Nairobi’s lush Loresho suburb has been the subject of court cases and confrontations for 16 years, involving multiple parties vying for ownership rights.
Governor Mbarire clarified that while she had reached out to the Lands PS a few months ago to advocate for one of the claimants, she had no direct involvement in the legal proceedings surrounding the land dispute.
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According to the article, Governor Mbarire had attempted to arrange a meeting between the Lands PS and one of the claimants, Mr. Chelogoi, to present his side of the story.
However, Mr. Chelogoi failed to attend the scheduled appointment, leading to Governor Mbarire denying any meddling in the issue.
She reiterated that her intention was merely to facilitate dialogue and ensure that all parties were given a fair hearing.
In her statement, Governor Mbarire expressed frustration with the sensationalized nature of the headline, which she believes unfairly tarnished her reputation.
“It is therefore appalling for the Sunday Nation to carry such a sensational headline that I am caught up in the land row, yet I provided my position and clarified that I am not part of the complicated case and I have no personal interest on the matter,” read the statement from Governor.
Governor Mbarire Calls for Public Apology and Retraction
As such, she demanded that the media house retract the headline and issue a public apology.
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“I therefore demand for a retraction of the headline, and an apology from the Sunday Nation for misreporting facts and misleading the public which defames my name,” she said.
Governor Mbarire emphasized the importance of responsible journalism in upholding the truth and safeguarding the integrity of public figures.
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