KTN Sends Apology to South Sudan After Panelists Remarks

_KTN News studios pictured in October 2021. .jpg
A photo of KTN News studios along Mombasa Road in October 2021.
Nicholas Wambua

The Kenya Television Network (KTN) has issued an apology to South Sudan following remarks made by a panelist reportedly directed at President Salva Kiir.

In the apology published by Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, May 11, Standard Group, which owns KTN,  described the words uttered by renowned activist Peter Biar Ajak as inaccurate.

"Sir, on behalf of the Standard Group PLC management and employees, I take this early opportunity to sincerely apologize to you personally for the agony and anguish our mistake has caused you, the government, and the people of South Sudan," partly read the apology extended to Sudan Tribune.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir attended the state funeral of former president Mwai Kibaki on April 29, 2022.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir attended the state funeral of former president Mwai Kibaki on April 29, 2022.
Courtesy

The letter signed by Standard Group's editor-in-chief Ochieng Rapuro further promised to remain open to President Kiir’s government and the people of South Sudan to engage in conversations that advance the cause of human progress in the region.

"We proposed to offer an official retraction to you on air this Wednesday morning when the weekly program in which the mistake was made will run. Further, we are taking substantive internal measures to ensure such as incident does not happen again," the letter added.

The panelist appeared on KTN News which detailed why President Kiir did not speak during the state funeral of the late former President Mwai Kibaki that was held at Nyayo International Sports Center.

His sentiments compelled South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hand a protest letter to the Kenyan envoy in Juba, Samuel Nandwa.

But according to Sudan Tribune, South Sudan has welcomed KTN's apology noting that there is no diplomatic row.

"We received a positive response from the government of Kenya. They ensured an apology is issued and offered to the government of South Sudan to use the same platform to make clarifications. They also assured us that such an incident will not repeat itself in the future.  These are positive measures that we have welcomed as the government," South Sudan’s Deputy Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Deng Dau Malek stated.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka while concluding his tour in South Sudan further passed the government's apology promising to engage the media upon his return.

"I take this time to apologise to Southern Sudanese and we will take time to talk to our media as well," Kalonzo stated.

In 2020, Citizen TV was forced to run an apology to Tanzania for a week following demands by the late President John Pombe Magufuli.

Various media stations have now stepped up their gatekeeping to ensure information published is factual, especially during and after elections.

In partnership with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), and other stakeholders, the Fourth Estate remains the undisputed people's watchdog.

Microphones set up for a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Microphones set up for a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Kenyans.co.ke