GOVERNMENT THREAT TO SHUT DOWN KASS FM KALENJIN RADIO STATION HAS PROVOKED SHARP REACTION FROM LUO AND KALENIN LEADERS.
By Leo Odera Omolo
THE threat to close down the popular Kass FM by Kenya’s Ministry of information for allegedly airing and broadcasting subversive materials which are prejudicial;l to law and order, peace, reconciliation and cohesiveness has taken a new political dimension.
Many leaders in western Kenya have read a hidden malice attitude on the paert of the grand coalition government.
A group members of the Luo Council of Elders who meet in Kisumu yesterday condemned the government. They told the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Dr. Bitanger Ndemo that the country’s airwaves was liberalized during the reign of President Moi’s KANU and therefore there is no way of allowing the country to plunge back to the old draconian days of dictatorial tende
The group challenged the government to come out with specific materials allegedly aired by KASS FM which are likely to cause despondency and undermine the good governance. In ther absence of such materials, we cannot accept to see the government frustrating and persecuting the Kass FM simply because of the earsay related issues.
The Luo Council of elders meeting was held under the chairmanship of Ker Meshack Riag a Ogalo..
.The LUO Elders also pleaded with the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga to abandon the idea of going to Nyeri for the planned installation of him as a “kikuyu elderâ€, arguing that the already controversial ceremony would not add any value to Raila’s political and social standing within the society.
They said Raila’s leadership role has already been recognized internationally therefore bending and stooping low to some tribal installation was uncalled for.
Ker Riaga, however, made it clear that their opposition to the planned ceremony was not motivated by any ill-feeling against the kikuyu community as such.
“We Luos once installed the late president Jomo Kenyatta as a Luo elder immediately he was released from prison and detention. But then there was no much hue and cry surrounding it. The. community had used the occasion to unanimously recognize the leadership quality of Kenyatta on political implications it has had on Kenyans.
The planned installation of Mr. Odinga as a Kikuyu elder in Nyeri, the backyard of President Mwai Kibaki. Has generated a lot of heat and speculation on its political implications.
In Kericho and its environs, the alleged threat by the government to shut-down Kass FM radio station has became the popular talks of the town. Civic leaders, teachers, opinion leaders and local branches officials of both ODM and KANU were united in vehemently opposing the threat of closing the station.
A prominent kericho and London based businessman-cum-politician Mr. Joel Kirui made a long phone call the way from London to this correspondent and told the information ministry to leave Kass FM station a lone
Mr Kirui who contested the kipkellion parliamentary seat during the last general election on an ODM ticket, but who is also believed within the locality to have won the party’s primary nomination, but was robbed of the victory through political intrigues said Kass FM was doing a good job in sensitizing members of the larger Kalenjin ethnic group. He pleaded with the retired president Daniel Arap Moi to stop vilifying the vernacular station for personal reasons.
It could be true that the Kass FM might have offended the former president in one way or the other through its bold and well presented programmes, but that does not imply that the station is prejudicial to good governance in the country.
Mr. Kirui who runs chains of businesses both in London and Kericho lost the ODM ticket to Hon Lang’at Magerer is a close political association of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga..He said despite having lost the election in a much flawed ODM nomination exercises, he was still a very loyal member of the party. H wanted the retired president Daniel Arap moi to stand tall against stooping too low oin petty matters concerning a local vernacular radion station.
The airwaves was liberalized during Moi;s reign of power, and I was unable to stop its waves, therefore it is now too late to try to take the Kalenjin back to the old days of dictatorship and police state. “let Moi establish another Kalenjin speaking radio n station and compete honourably with Kass FM, because business competition is very much allowed in country.†But he should not try to gag the station using the government facilities, said MR Kirui.
In Kericho, the chairman of the Small Scale Tea Owners Association in the region Mr. Joel Chepkwony “Bwana Maendeleo†defended the Kass FM saying has had been a keen listener of the station ever since its inception, but has never heard it broadcasting any sedition materials, which could lead Kenyans to hating one another.
Mr. Chepkwony a staunch supporter of the grand coalition government said the Kass FM was a good station because it has been highlighting good programmes for the farming frantenity. Anyone having grudge with the station should seek dialogue and have the matter sorted peacefully and amicably.
Last week the PS for information Dr, Ndemo had given Kass FM a seventy two hours altimatum to state why its station should not be shut down for broadcasting materials which could jeopardize the existing peace and tranquility in the country.
But yesterday twelve MPs came to the defence of the station saying it has done nothing wrong to warrant such a harsh action. The MPs who addressed the poress and spoke in favor of the station were Zakayo K,. Cheruiyot {Kuresoi}Dr. Julius Kones {KONOIN} Franklin Bett {Buret} Joshua Kutuny{Cheranbganyi} Fred Kapondi {Mt. Elgon} Jakoyo Midiwo{Gem} Peris Chepchumba, Kiema Kiuloonzo, MusaLesonet and Lukas Kigen of Rongai.
The MPs said the position the government had taken amounted to raw threats and offend the bill of rights which guarantees the right to secure protection of law and the freedom of the press.
Hundreds of Kass FM fans in Kapsabet, Kericho, Sotik, Litein have been gluing themselves to radio stations fearing that the worse could befall the popular Kass FM at anytime of the expiry of the 72 hour deadline given last week by the PS>
In some places, the youth have threatened to take to the street should the popular Radio station be taken out of the air by the government. “We shall demonstrate in the streets against the government should dare to close the KASS fm, “Retorted a KANU youth in Kericho.
Another politician who highly praised the Kass FM is the Lt. Gen{rtd}John Koech, the former Deputy CGS who is now a politician. Koech said he was fond of the station because it promotes Kalenjin cultural value and educating the youth on the value of their mother’s tongue.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
– – –
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:58:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: LEADERS IN WESTERN KENYA DEFEND KASS FM KALENJIN RADIO STATION
The accusations gainst kass fm are borne out of the fear of those who have benefited from Kalenjin ignorance that the honeymoon is over! Most of the accusations are flimsy and without any thread of truth. If we were to rank the ‘incitement potential’ of the call-in content across Kenya’s vernacular stations kass fm would rank last. Some well known fm stations (mostly pro gava) should have been shut down years ago. Just listen to Royal Media Vernacular call-ins: they’d take the cake!
Give us a break
why are these other people yawning for the Kass FM closure? this is unfair terms of condition and every justified Kenyan should few the matter as unlawful. the group which has been dirtyfying the station should come out and state the core problem that have been irritating their minds when this beautiful station is in air. LONG LIVE KASS FM.