- In a statement on Tuesday, KEG President Churchill Otieno regretted that the statement comes at a time when the media is overly vulnerable.
- He also noted that the utterances could expose journalists to harm and in the process subvert democracy.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Editors' Guild has described the statement made by chief opposition leader Raila Odinga on boycotting the Star newspaper as an insult to media freedom.
In a statement on Tuesday, KEG President Churchill Otieno regretted that the statement comes at a time when the media is overly vulnerable.
He also noted that the utterances could expose journalists to harm and in the process subvert democracy.
"We wish to remind Mr Odinga that, as an influential leader with a huge following in our country. His utterances are taken seriously and where they potentially affect the safety and security of journalists then they become most unhelpful," Otieno said.
KEG further urged all leaders who are aggrieved by the media to use the right channels to report the same.
"The Media Complaints Commission has competently handled previous cases against the media, including from the highest office in the land."
This comes after chief opposition leader Raila Odinga asked his supporters to boycott the Star newspaper, alleging that it had become "enablers and facilitators of this brutal regime".
He however did not provide evidence to back up the allegations.
Giving his address in Nairobi, Raila also called for the boycott of other services including Safaricom and Kenya Commercial Bank.
Other media organisations have condemned the move, including the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
Commenting on the same, Star Head of Content Paul Ilado described the utterances as unfortunate, unjustified and uncalled for.
"In the last election, The Star was the only media house that carried out objective opinion polls consistently that showed a tight race."
"We think that the call to boycott The Star is misinformed, and Azimio Leaders need to reconsider, especially because freedom of the media is guaranteed in the Constitution," Ilado said