From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Writes Leo Odera Omolo’
A number of Kalenjin leaders have called upon the government to take a stern disciplinary action against a Kalenjin vernacular Radio Station, Kass FM.
The station, they said, is broadcasting slanderous messages in its latest program called “Lelne ne emet”, which is loosely translating as to mean “What is the latest development in the country”.
The leaders have bitterly complained that they suspect that the station is being used as a propaganda tool to discredit certain political personalities, particularly those with diverse opinion. It is subverting the unity of the community in particular, and that of Kenyans in general.
And yesterday, a Kericho prominent politicians and leader of the tea farmers, Mr William Kipkemoi Kettienya, said in a telephone interview with this writer that the materials being aired by this stations amounted to public incitement. He said the station has been vilifying him and another prominent Kalenjin leader , the nominated MP Musa Sirma, and inciting the public against them.
Kettienya said, although he is a strong supporter of the freedom of conscience and freedom of the press ,the kind of programmes being put into the air for Kalenjin listeners amounted to incitement. “And in this context, there is some amount of abuse of the freedom of the press which Kenyans cherish and is well entrenched in the constitution. Such freedom must not be misused to incite Kenyans against one another”, he said.
The management of Kass Station should take the earliest measure of disciplinary action against the person responsible for this top show. The people expect this station like others in the country to inform,, educate and entertain the public, but not to insult and incite..
A nominated Councilor in Kericho Municipality, Nicholas Tum urged the management of Kass Kalenjin Station not to misuse it, but to use for good measure of educating the public on many contentious issues affecting the Kenya nations. The station must not be used to promote communal hatred or for the purpose of vilifying other leaders. “It must not allow itself to be used as propaganda tool against those with diverse views towards certain issues. The station must be humble and use only the materials that can promote the unity of purpose among the Kalenjin speaking people”, said Tum .
Coun. Tum said that a radio station, particularity that which is broadcasting in a vernacular language, is an important tool to promote human understanding and public relations. It should educate the Wananchi, but not to target few individuals for vilifications”, said Mr.Tum.
He felt that the programme which has elicited controversies and complaints from Kericho, Eldoret, Kapsabet and other Kalenjin regions, is not out for good and cohesive campaign for peaceful co-existence. The station should follow others, by broadcasting only responsible programmes which are devoid of slanderous campaign against community leaders, no matter their stations in life.
Some civic leaders in Kericho said they have put the Kass FM Station on notice. If it continue putting on the air certain programmes which are not in line with peace and tranquility in this country, they would not hesitate from mobilizing their people to boycott its programmes.
One civic leader alleged that the Station narrowly escaped punishment for its inciting programmes in early 2008, especially during the post election violence that engulfed the country, and should not expect to escape unmolested, if it continues broadcasting provocative programmes, which are viewed by the public as aimed at discrediting certain targeted leaders for vilification. The civic leader, who requested for his identity to be hidden, appealed to the management of the station, and reminded them that their audience go beyond the community boundaries and they should work towards bringing people of diverse background together as one members of the Kenyan Society..
Ends
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Subject: KALLENJIN LEADERS WANT KASS FM STATION DISCIPLINED FOR BROADCASTING SADITIOUS AND PROVOCATIVE MATERIALS MEANT TO INCITE PEOPLE TO COMMUNAL HATRED.
In the real sense we Kenyans are the cause of all our problems. We should be very careful with our daily contribution to our environment since the nature of our existence and evolution we are placed under one roof.
One takes identity with the situation he or she is involved.for example, in the last general election what was distinct was a gap between the luos and kikuyus .this was to an extent of odm chased away from a hotel owned by a kikuyu.That never stopped the prime minister`s son from marrying from that tribe.
Actually those who keep crying foul about Kass fm are prophets of doom who had silenced our people for a very long time. They are now worried that the people may get to know them better for what they really are-graft. What else makes one to fear so much when the people get enlightened. It’s true “mjinga akiherevuka mwerevu yumo mashakani”. As for Dishonourable Musa Sirma, even shutting down Kass fm will never safe him from himself. Indeed Musa has every freedom and right of association but his comments are always sycophantic and are meant to incite the people against himself. No one, at least not one i know ever provokes, Sirma. Oftenly he provokes us, all in the name of pleasing Raila Odinga.
Meanwhile keep up the good job, KASS. Knowledge is power. Ignore all the crybabies who are out to make issues out of nothing. You are with the people, therefore, who can be against you!
The birth of KASS FM came in a wonderful blast to the Kalenjin community. But as it is said ” in every market there is a mad man”. Let the two so-called Kalenjin leaders not interupt the progress of our community. They are just ‘a drop on the ocean’, they must not include other Kalenjins on their ‘opinions’. Let them use ‘ I ‘ not ‘WE’!
Kass Fm has made us proud locally and Internationally. Our Brothers in Kass fm Washington, London, etc, have encouraged not only youth but also elders to study abroad! ‘WE ARE HEADING FAR’ through KASS FM INTERNATIONAL!
LONG LIFE KASS!
Any flowing river must encounter debri, rocks, hills, excetera, which often try to block/stop the river’s smooth flow.But the river never relents – it keeps going and going. This river – Kass FM, will keep going and going and the debri in its path, sorry to say will keep being washed away and in times of bigger storms, the rocks and the dykes too cannot dare stand in its way. So let these ‘respectful leaders’ of ours, with all due respect be carefull with what they do or say for the media can make or destroy them. It really hurts when the people who are supposed to be the wise men for the community are they themselves sellouts. They should know that the days of threats are long gone. We are a liberated country and people and through KASS FM the Kalenjin community is more united than ever before. I wonder if these guys expected KASS FM to shower them with accollades for being sellouts. If they really beleive in what they are saying then they should be true leaders, go to Kass FM and let the people hear their case. What they should know is that this station is no longer a station of an individual but this station belongs to the community and by extension Kenyans and even further, beyond kenyan borders and no selfish interest can stop this big river. KASS FM – Kim Naet. Through Kass I must admit that I now know more than I could ever know, especialy now on the matters constitutional, given that all the other media houses seem to have taken a unified stand to offer skewed analysis and coverage in support of the draft constitution. KASS FM, Keep soldiering on and on and on and on……..!. And in hoping that one day we shall have a KASS TV Station as well. Happy 5th Anniversary.
Kass fm is five years old in the field of broadcasting and I don’t understand the reason as to why the said ‘Kalenjin’ leaders are affraid of.If they are men enough they should make true their threaghts, the Kalenjin communitty should not entertain sycophants in their midst. Long life Kass FM, the Kalenjin communitty is you and your employees.
kass walipie io mtagasaji wao fare kwenda hague. Seem inciting ppl is part of their policy.