By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Journalists and media organisations in Kenya have condemned the decision of the President-elect, William Ruto to bar local TV stations from covering his inauguration slated to take place on Tuesday.
The communication team of the President-elect has instead offered exclusive broadcast rights to Multichoice Kenya Ltd, an affiliate of South African pay-TV group.
Multichoice by the instruction of the media team will “provide a channel for the rest of Africa”. The state-owned broadcast organisation, the KBC has a minority shareholding at Multichoice Kenya Ltd.
Local media has reported that 20 heads of state have been invited to attend the ceremony.
The outgoing President, Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to hand over the instruments of power including a ceremonial sword and a copy of Kenya’s Constitution to the new President.
Ruto who will be the fifth President of Kenya since Independence will be the first to take the Oath of Office, before his Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The assumption of the office President Act provides that the Deputy President-elect “shall take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of allegiance and oath or affirmation for the execution of the functions of the office in accordance with the Constitution”.
The Kenyan Treasury Department has provided 200 million shillings or about 1.6 million dollars for the inauguration ceremony. It will be less costly than Kenyatta’s 2017 inauguration for which taxpayers paid over 300 million shillings.
