Why Former KTN News Anchor Bonney Tunya Is Annoyed With Kenyan Media Including His Former Employer Standard

He is not one to be caught up in a scandal or scurry to social media for a heated outburst, he is among the calm ones that do not like to turn up and cause a scene.

But despite his silence, the now CNBC news anchor Bonney Tunya likes to speak up when things go wrong.

Like for example how mainstream media ignored the selfless acts of some Kenyan Muslims who stood by the Christian passengers and refused to be separated from them when the Al-Shabaab militants wanted to kill the Christians and spare the Muslims. Putting their lives on the line in a rare show of gallantry, this is despite how they were ill-treated last year and put in a Kasarani concentration camp during a crackdown on ethnic Somalis in Kenya.

Bonney penned this open letter to his comrades:

Dear Kenyan Media,

I know I live in a glass house, but please allow me throw stones, nay, I have to throw stones. After yesterday’s remarkable show of unity and nationhood by Muslim passengers not to allow terror mongers harm their non-Muslim co-travelers out in Mandera. It was a rare moment to built on the narrative that indeed we are one Nation. The media had a chance to drive this important national conversation seeing as how the fight against terror in some instances has polarized Kenyan Muslim especially those of Somali extraction. I was however scandalized that no leading newspaper saw this vital, unique, timely and remarkable show of courage and nationhood worth their coveted headline slots. News judgment gatekeepers However in their infinite wisdom thought they should devote their headline to gossip, hearsay and petty politics. Were we waiting for the Mandera incident to turn into a (God forbid) massacre to earn a headline slot? Come on! We (Kenyan media) dropped the ball with this myopic / naive news judgment. I dare say those gallant Muslim travelers have earned a place in Kenya’s history better yet someone give them presidential commendation for courage.

Yours truthfully,
fellow Journalist.

Bonney Tunya
NEWS Anchor CNBC Africa.