State House was on Thursday forced to respond after vicious attacks were lodged against Nation Media Group.
According to Daily Nation, the internet trolls were accusing the media house of critically covering the government while missing the positive news entirely.
The war was reportedly started by a Nairobi-based public relations firms before other bloggers claiming to be associated with State House jumped on to the bandwagon and made some unflattering comments about the Kimathi street-based media house.
So dire was the situation that the State House had to come clean over claims that they were behind the attacks.
In a statement made by Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, State House explained that they would not scuttle their previous efforts that saw them build lasting relationships.
“I can assure you this did not come from State House.
“It would be counterintuitive (for us) to engage in such an attack after all the work we have done building relationships… The attacks are coming from elsewhere, and we all know who uses such attacks — and it is not the presidency, and the presidency is not collective,” explained Waita.
The bloggers behind the troll which was started by Mwangi Francis and Polycarp Hinga, have previously attacked other leaders including Chief Justice David Maraga, the Judiciary, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, governors Mike Sonko, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Wycliffe Oparanya among others.
The attacks caused ripples in the media industry that the Media Council of Kenya issued a statement condemning the attacks.
“While the media is subject to public criticism and feedback, the council has noted that the originators of the campaign have not cited any specific issues on contravention of the code of ethics on the practice of journalism in Kenya,” council CEO David Omwoyo retorted.
