CNN Stands Firm on The Kenyan Story

Five days ago, CNN made a damning report about residents of Rift Valley arming themselves ahead of anticipated post-poll violence and the Kenyan Government quickly dismissed the story saying that it had been stage managed.

However, CNN was quick to refute the allegations and stood by its reporting and declined to reveal its sources after the Government asked the reporter (Nima Elbagir) who filed the report to do so. Yesterday, the international media house issued a statement on the same maintaining that theirs was a genuine story. Take a look;

“CNN absolutely denies any allegation that our correspondent Nima Elbagir’s report on militia in Kenya’s Rift Valley was in any way ‘stage managed’.

“Given that the potential threat of violence around the election has been well documented by Human Rights Watch and the Kenyan Police it was entirely appropriate that the actions of local Kikuyu militia were scrutinised. We stand by our decision to report this story and have taken great care to place it in context. We will not reveal our sources on this or any story and strongly resist any attempt to force us to do so.

“We will continue with balanced and accurate reporting of these important elections. This coverage has directly referenced peace rallies in Kenya and includes interviews with Kenyan political figures and satirists, a look at the hopes of Kenyan children for the future, a view of political street art, and several other pieces – on TV and online – that illustrate all sides of the election picture.”