By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Following his country’s poor ranking in the global press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders, Kenyan President William Ruto has assured that his government will do more to strengthen the freedom of the media.
According to the Kenyan leader, media as the watchdog has the right to criticise the government provided such is done within the shore of extant laws.
Reporters Without Borders’ ranking indicates a declining trend in freedom of press in Kenya.
Initially, Kenya stood at position 69 globally when it comes to press freedom in 2022 but is now at position 116 in 2023.
Reacting to the development during an interdenominational church service in Kajiado County, President Ruto affirmed that he will defend the freedom of the media, noting that they have a right to criticise and write about anything they want.
“I want to give assurance to everyone in Kenya that we will continue to be a free country. We will continue to respect the rights and freedoms of everybody to say whatever they want, to write whatever opinion they want,” Ruto said.
The Head of State said no one will be gagged except when the sector contravenes the law.
He insisted that the government has no plan to restrict anyone’s rights and freedoms.
“We believe in the freedom of the media to write whatever they want, to criticise however they want. To write even if we don’t agree with what they write. We will defend their right to say it and to write it,” Ruto said.
He added that right extends to everybody. “Even the things the media don’t want to be said can be said as everyone has the freedom of speech.”
The media in the country has in recent times come under severe criticism from political actors.
In the Reporters Without Borders’ ranking, African countries leading in press freedom include Namibia which ranked at position 22.
South Africa was at position 25 while Cape Verde was at position 33.
Among countries with less freedom for their media was Sudan at position 148, Djibouti at position 162 and Eritrea standing at 174.
“Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea are the least ranked in the continent which is now described as the ‘new disinformation and propaganda laboratory’, ” Reporters Without Borders said.
Countries that ranked top were Norway. Ireland ranked second, while Denmark ranked third globally in press freedom.
