By Correspondent
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has reiterated that the Government supports freedom of speech and is not in the business of censorship.
Speaking to journalists on the fifth day of his Jukwaa La Usalama county tours in Tana River, the CS said he was only concerned about the involvement of political activists using the drama festival for political reasons.
He denied condemning the play ‘Echoes of War’ by Butere Girls students, which has elicited national uproar.
During the 63rd Kenya National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru County, the students staged a peaceful protest.
He said the Government was not in any way threatened by ‘Echoes of War’ or “any script, for that matter.”
“Some of us studied literature and I know the important role it plays in our children’s mental growth. Let us allow the teachers to handle students according to the regulations,” he said.
He warned politicians against using students to engage in political activities.
“I am a supporter of freedom of speech and media so long as there is no hate, insults, or glorification of crime in it,” he said.
Yesterday, the CS apologised following the tear-gassing of journalists covering rehearsals of Butere Girls’ play, ‘Echoes of War’.
He also vowed to take action against security officials who might have used excessive force to deal with the matter.
While in Tana River, the CS assessed the delivery of government services including the ongoing mobile registration of IDs. The CS also assessed the implementation of new policies such as the removal of the discriminatory extra vetting of ID applicants from border counties and the scrapping of fees for first-time applicants of IDs.
The CS is also set to hold a town hall, where resource-related conflicts and disaster preparedness, among other issues, are expected to feature.
“Tana River is one of the counties most affected by climate change and we will be deliberating on ways of mitigating the effects, among other challenges,” he told journalists ahead of the meeting.
The CS was accompanied by Tana River County Governor Dr Dhadho Godhana, Senator Danson Mungatana, MPs Abdullahi Amina Dika (Woman Rep), Hiribae Said Buya (Galole), Ali Wario (Garsen), Yakub Adow Kuno (Bura), Deputy Inspector General of Police (APS) Gilbert Masengeli, PS Dr Idris Salim Dokota (Cabinet Affairs – ODP), and Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha,
among other leaders and officials.
