Ruto - I had powers to shut down media during protests

President William Ruto has affirmed his commitment to upholding the Constitution and protecting media freedom.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Mombasa, Ruto emphasized his dedication to the Constitution, citing examples of other countries that have restricted media and internet freedoms during crises.

"I am a great believer in the Constitution. Many countries that have gone through what Kenya has experienced, such as Bangladesh, switched off the internet, turned off the TVs, and took other measures," he said. "Despite similar challenges in Kenya, I have not curtailed media freedom. The internet remains available daily, allowing people to communicate freely."

Ruto highlighted that television stations continue to broadcast live events, and newspapers remain free to publish as they wish. "I have the power to switch them off, but I did not because I believe in the rule of law and free media," he stated.

He further commented, "The media can protest and call me names; it doesn't bother me. That's what freedom and democracy are about."

His remarks come amidst ongoing citizen-led protests against the Finance Bill 2024 and the Kenya Kwanza government. The media has played a critical role in covering these protests, exposing instances of police brutality against demonstrators and journalists.

Recently, the media staged peaceful demonstrations to protest the excessive use of force by police, which has resulted in severe injuries to several journalists. One Nakuru-based TV journalist was shot three times in the thigh by police despite wearing a media jacket during the demonstrations. Veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho also narrowly escaped a botched police abduction at the Karen police station, with the police later claiming it was a case of mistaken identity.

Journalists have raised grievances over alleged harassment by police, which they see as a direct assault on media freedom and independent reporting. They have called for action against officers who have overstepped their mandates and used excessive force on clearly identified journalists covering the protests.