President William Ruto on Sunday assured the nation that the government has no intention of silencing the media or shutting down the internet in anticipation of anti-government protests on Monday.
The President addressed the nation from the State House and indicated that Kenya has progressed to the point where the media cannot be silenced.
The Kenya Media Sector Working Group had previously expressed concerns about rumors of plans to stifle the media, disconnect internet services, and thrust the country into “information darkness.” President Ruto allayed these concerns by stating that the days of turning off the media are long gone.
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The President also stated that his administration would uphold the media’s right to carry out its duties and that the media has his full support, regardless of any bias against him. He acknowledged that the media has placed him in a difficult position, but he assured the public that there are no plans for a media blackout.
Additionally, President Ruto urged opposition leader Raila Odinga to cancel the scheduled protests, arguing that most of the concerns raised by the former Prime Minister could be resolved through a bipartisan parliamentary process. The President emphasized that recent protests had almost thrown the country into turmoil, resulting in three fatalities, including a police officer, and at least 400 injuries.