RE: PROTEST ON AIRING OF PARTISAN DOCUMENTARY ON CORD PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HON. RAILA ODINGA BY NATION TV

Friends of Raila 2012

We would like to protest in the strongest terms possible the airing by NTV this afternoon of ‘documentaries’ on Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

These ‘documentaries’ are thinly disguised campaign vehicles and we object most strongly to their airing within 24 hours of the opening of polling stations and also bearing in mind the fact that the official campaign period ended yesterday the 2nd day of March 2013,which is a blatant violation of the Electoral Laws of Kenya.

The documentary on Raila Odinga is extremely partisan and deliberately designed to reduce his standing among the electorate. We have certainly not commissioned the airing of the said documentary and strongly object to its continuous airing. Consequently, we demand that IEBC moves with speed and diligence to have the same stopped forthwith, severely censure and discipline NTV for this violation of electoral laws and principles.

The films have raked over old, adversarial and painful episodes of the past few years and the decision to air such material in close proximity to the elections is most ill-judged as it may escalate negative ethnicity.

By a copy of this letter, we have expressed our concerns and strong protest to the Nation Media Group and notify further that we reserve the right to take the appropriate legal action against the media house.

DATED AT NAIROBI THIS SUNDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF MARCH, 2013.

ELIUD OWALO