Nakuru based Journalist cum blogger Elijah Kinyanjui has recorded a statement with the Nakuru DCIO following a complaint raised over a story he recently published on social media touching on Nakuru’s Victonel Academy school head identified as Ms Mary.
According to Kinyanjui’s write-up on social media,he stated, “A highly reliable source puts one Madam Mary, who’s headteacher at Victonell Academy, Pangani, on spot, alleging she’s been playing several fundraising games to get the bucks.The most horrifying is the tact she reportedly used for that… claiming that her own mother had died.”
In the write-up, Kinyanjui added that parents at the school have been trying to get the school owners to act on her but to no avail despite what they’re saying is glaring evidence that she doesn’t deserve to remain school head.
It is in this context that the said teacher moved to DCIO in Nakuru to launch a complaint against Kinyanjui’s publication refuting the claims raised.
This saw Kinyanjui summoned by DCIO and on Monday morning, he together with his lawyer Steve Kabita reported and recorded a statement.
Lawyer Kabita differed with the investigating officers over their move to have Kinyanjui’s phone to help them trace the source of the information.According to the Lawyer, Journalists as whistle-blowers have a right not to reveal their news sources.
Addressing media after recording the statement with DCIO, Kabita maintained that the law on media freedom is clear and should not be compromised by any quota.
“There is a procedure in the law where anyone who has a complain on journalists should do so through Media Council of Kenya and not police. However we honored the summons and we have recorded a statement. We expect investigations to be conducted on the authenticity of what he posted” said Kabita.
Kinyanjui on his part maintains that what he posted was genuine complaints from parents of the school.
He called on the investigating officers to play their part for he was only a whistle blower on the ills in the society.
“Let the officers conducted independent Investigations and they’ll unearth that this is the truth. But in as far as disclosing my sources, that I won’t do and it’s a cardinal rule in journalism to protect one’s sources even before court’ said Kinyanjui.