Here Is The Offer CORD Leader Raila Odinga Will Make In Sh5B Afya House Scandal

CORD leader Raila Odinga has offered to help the Nation Media Group following the complaints made against it at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) regarding coverage of the Sh5 Billion Scandal at Afya House. 

In a letter written by the CORD secretariat boss Norman Magaya and directed at MCK Chairman Charles Kerich, the Orange party offered to be enjoined in the case as an interested party. Magaya was writing on behalf of Odinga and the CORD coalition in reaction to a complaint that ICT CS Joe Mucheru made against NTV and the Business Daily over reportage of the interim audit report that highlighted possible fraud at the Ministry of Health.

 Mucheru complained to the media regulation body that the two outlets depicted the entire government as comprising of "corrupt, inept and made up of thieves". "Business Daily and NTV must be compelled to show where, in the interim report, it is stated that Health ministry officials stole more than Sh5.3 billion...We hope they will table any proof they have," the CS stated. 

In defending the Aga Khan-owned company, Magaya sought to persuade the MCK that the Jubilee government had no reputation that could be defamed. "This is a government that has embalmed corruption as part of its DNA and celebrates the corrupt in its ranks," Magaya, who is also CORD’s lawyer in the matter, claimed.

 He continued "The government is a property belonging to all Kenyans and no single individual can arrogate himself the monopoly of purporting to feel infringed and raise a claim to defamation." While submitting that the complaint did not warrant a hearing, Magaya offered to help the council preside over the matter in a fair manner. "In the unlikely event that the complaints commission decides to set this matter down for a hearing, we wish to inform you that we will come on record as interested parties."

credit:kenyans.co.ke