In its reporting Sky News attacked the integrity of President Uhuru in a story headlined ‘Criminal’ President Invited To UK.
The PS questioned the objectivity and fairness of such an article owing to the status of Uhuru as the duly elected President of Kenya.
“The Government of Kenya is perturbed by a malicious and defamatory comment by the Sky News regarding President Kenyatta’s scheduled visit to the United Kingdom,” he said.
“The attack by Sky News on the character and integrity of the person of President Kenyatta is in bad taste, ill informed and outright libelous. It militates against the cardinal tenets of professional journalism, particularly the principles of accuracy, objectivity and fairness.”
Ndemo stated that the government of Kenya upholds the Common Law practice and doctrine of ‘Innocent Until Proven Guilty’ which is espoused in most jurisprudence of the world, Britain included. As such the ongoing ICC debate is simply on alleged crimes as the President has not been convicted of wrong doing.
He said Kenya and Britain enjoy very cordial bilateral relations. Upon the election of President Kenyatta, the House of Commons debated the issue of Britain’s ties with Kenya and pledged to work with President Kenyatta if the Supreme Court upheld his election.
“The Government of Kenya therefore demands unreserved apology from the Sky News TV and urges for objective and fair reporting on President Kenyatta’s visit to the UK. President Kenyatta is the legally and democratically elected President of Kenya and any attack on his person on the basis of the ICC matter is an affront to the Kenyan people.”
-The Standard
