Daily Nation and The Star newspapers are on the spotlight following a story that irked businessmen in Nairobi's Eastleigh area.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Eastleigh Business Community Leader Hussein disclosed that the team was outraged by a story of a deceased resident, which they claimed had been sensationalized.
He further accused the media houses of being biased against the Islam community, others citing examples of Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi and the Siaya priest who died of Covid-19.
"Our biggest enemy is the media because of sensational headlines. When they said that an Imam died, yet it was a shopkeeper, and when you keep talking of religion saying that (the outbreak in Eastleigh) is a culture, therefore, implying that we are dirty and indisciplined. That one we will not accept.
"It is particularly Daily Nation. If Daily Nation and The Star continue like that, we will appeal to our members not to buy them," stated Hussein.
He further noted that the community was contemplating legal action and a boycott against the two dailies.
"We are contemplating legal action because no Imam died yet Daily Nation said the Muslims are dirty and indisciplined.
"When the priest came from Italy, and the DG of Kilifi, they were treated as individuals," he added.
A report published by The Star on Wednesday, May 6, indicated that an Imam, who knew his status well, had spread the virus in the area before succumbing to it on April 16.
Quoting Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, the article titled How an Imam Spread Coronavirus in Eastleigh indicated that the Imam had interacted freely despite carrying the virus.
"This was a reckless and irresponsible act by the Imam," stated Kagwe at the time.
Daily Nation, on the other hand, in a Thursday, May 7, an article titled Old Habits Die hard in Eastleigh as Virus Spreads, noted that the spread of the virus was largely influenced communal living.
"The spike in infections in Eastleigh and Mombasa Old Town is communal, and it is partly because of the Ramadhan period, during which people gather for prayers and breaking the fast," indicated the Daily Nation.
