Standard, Nation And Star Editors Maul The Media Council Of Kenya Over Its Threats On Deregistering The Star Newspaper

The Star Newspaper yesterday got a major backing after the Media Council of Kenya, a body entrusted with the authority to regulate the conduct of journalists in Kenya, threatened to deregister the newspaper over what it termed as contravening the code of conduct for the practice of journalism in the country.

Two major media houses in the country, The Standard and Nation jumped to the defense of the Star Newspaper and said that The Media Council of Kenya has no right to do so.

Speaking on Mark Maasai’s Press Pass on NTV, Standard Editor David Ohito and Nation Editor Macharia Gaitho defended their colleague from the Star, Mr. Charles Kerich, as he faced a flurry of questions over their recent publications which have courted controversy.

The Star has of late published information that did not go down well with the public, prompting the Media Council of Kenya to intervene and warn the newspaper over the same.

However, in what was seen as a show of solidarity with their fellow media house, Ohito and Gaitho defended their colleague Kerich saying that the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is politically instigated and wants to join the government to suppress media freedom in Kenya.

Ohito was particularly critical of the government in the manner in which it is making the practice of journalism an uphill task in Kenya.

We are still waiting to see what MCK will do to the Star after the threats.