In 1989, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, then in the capacity of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, sought to have Nation Media Group banned from covering proceedings in Parliament.
Kalonzo engineered the historic censure motion against the media company due to what he referred as being “disrespectful” to the KANU government.
However, Kalonzo has been recently vocal against the recent shutdown of NTV, Citizen TV and KTN by the Ministry of Interior after the stations defied orders from the government.
During a press briefing following Raila Odinga's oathing ceremony at Uhuru Park, Kalonzo condemned the actions of the government that saw four TV stations off-air for seven days.
In the Wiper leader's words, the continued media shutdown demonstrated high-handedness on the part of the government.
"Ni vibaya kabisa kwa Communication Authority kufanya yale ambayo wamefanya tusiwe na mawasiliano." (It is wrong for the Communication Authority to shut down the TV signals and hinder communication,)" Kalonzo expressed.
Asked whether the shutdown demonstrated a slide back into dictatorship, Kalonzo answered: "Absolutely. That is what it is. Unmitigated. Unmitigated."
The NASA leader called the clampdown on the media community an act of panic that was unwarranted.
"What do you do when there is a complete shutdown (of the media)?" Kalonzo querried. His assertion greatly differed from what he voiced as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in 1989.
Here is the video courtesy of NTV.
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