- November 12, 2018
- Posted by:
- Category:
Caption: Former Senator Johnstone Muthama/File Picture
By Masscomkenya Reporter
Former Machakos Senator, Johnstone Muthama has now declared local mainstream newspaper journalists unwelcome to his functions, saying their output has never been felt.
On Sunday, Muthama made good his threats and invited all local radio and television journalists at Thinu Catholic church in Kathiani constituency where he and dozens of MCAs attended Sunday Mass but gave firm instructions that newspaper journalists must not be invited.
Muthama, who has been publicly complaining over what he terms as ‘blatant blackout’ on the region’s news in the two leading newspapers-The Standard and Daily Nation, threatened to lead a boycott call against the companies’ products if the trend is not reversed.
“These young men you are seeing here will file their stories today (Thursday) and the earliest they will be published is next week Friday if they are lucky,” Muthama said while addressing mourners in Tala, Machakos County.
He said it was unrealistic for the giant media houses to expect sales and advertising revenue from the region yet residents do not read any news from the region.
“There has been a consistent scheme by these companies to marginalize Ukambani as if nothing good can come from here. Tomorrow you will see ‘very weak stories’ from different parts of the country as ours here go down the drain. This is completely unacceptable,” Muthama declared amid cheers from audience.
He said the region’s only hope in terms of news coverage remains local FM and national radio stations as well as some TV stations.
“Hata hii maneno tunaongea hapa kina (Erastus) Mulwa wa Standard na (Gastone) Valusi wa Nation wataandika na haitakuwa kwa magazeti. Kwa sababu wao wanafanya Ukambani,” (Even these issues we are talking here today Erastus Mulwa of The Standard and Gastone Valusi of Daily Nation will cover but won’t appear in their newspapers just because they are covering Ukambani region,” Muthama said.
