Kenyan Govt. Threatens To Shut Radio Station

Nairobi, Kenya - The Kenyan government has threatened to shut down a vern acular radio station for allegedly stoking ethnic tensions that culminated in the post-election violence earlier in the year.

In a statement to the press, the information ministry threatened to revoke the Kass FM’s broadcasting licence, ostensibly for airing material deemed prejudicial to national security.

In a query to the station that broadcasts in Kalenjin, the government asked it to show cause why its licence should not be cancelled.

The permanent secretary in the information and communication ministry, Bitange Ndemo, alleged that on 31 May, 2008, the station aired a programme that suggested that members of certain communities were fighting for their democratic rights during post-election skirmishes and did not require amnesty.

He accused the station of “failing to live up to journalistic standards,” saying “you are required to show cause, within 72 hours of the date thereof, why your b roadcasting licence should not be withdrawn.”

The post-election violence was precipitated by the disputed 27 December elections in which incumbent President Mwai Kibaki and then chief opposition challenger, Raila Odinga, claimed victory.

It culminated in the skirmishes which left 1,200 people dead and 250,000 others displaced.

The violence took a tribal turn as supporters of Kibaki, whom the opposition claimed rigged the elections, clashed with Odinga’s supporters.

Hundreds of people, mainly youths, were arrested as police quelled the violence.

Today, the country is divided down the middle over calls for amnesty for the suspects in custody.

Leaders allied to Odinga, now the Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition Government, are demanding the release of the suspects, saying most of them were innocent young men who were protesting the rigging of elections.

But other leaders and the police maintained that those in custody were criminals who raped, destroyed property and unleashed violence on fellow Kenyans and should face the law.

Those demanding the release of the suspects also argued that granting the youth amnesty would help heal the nation.

They are also challenging the police to arraign them in court or release, instead of keeping them in custody perpetually.

The failure of the police to take them to court is an abuse of their human rights, said those demanding the release of the suspects.

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