KTN & NTV Bosses Reveal why “They Gave Saba Saba Rally Media Blackout”

Media owners have dismissed opposition’s allegations that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto, with the help of security chiefs, coerced them to give Saba Saba rally a media blackout.

Speaking last week, Chairman of the Media Owners Association Sam Shollei and Editors Guild counterpart, Linus Kaikai, absolved Media Houses from blame saying CORD is to blame for the media blackout on Saba Saba.

They said CORD did not request the media to cover his Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park and
as such they could not do it without CORD’s permission.

Besides, Kaikai and Shollei denied there ever being a media blackout on Saba Saba in the first place because the event was covered widely by the print media and afternoon bulletins.

(L-R) Linus Kaikai, Sam Shollei & Speaker of National Assembly, Justin Muturi (Photo|Standard Group)

“There was no media blackout on the event at Uhuru Park, as the rally was widely covered by print media and given airtime during the afternoon bulletins. The decision not to air the event live was taken by the media owners and there was no coercion. There was no requirement or request for the continuous live coverage by CORD,” said Kaikai.

They were speaking when media owners, editors and parliamentary reporters met Parliament officials last week.