Our Reporter, Lagos
Foremost Kenyan humorist and brain behind the XYZ Show, George Mwampembwa, popularly called Gado, has revealed why the Kenyan media suppressed information regarding the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu from the country. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was abducted in Kenya and subsequently flown to Nigeria in June 2021 to face trial on charges bordering on treasonable felony.
Speaking on the show 90MinutesAfrica hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo and Chido Onumah on Sunday, July 17, 2022. Gado said that Kenyans don’t know much about the event because it was barely reported by the country’s media.
“It (Kanu’s extradition) is an issue in which the media has kept quiet about. Very little has been said and that is the sad reality. We haven’t been able to know exactly what happened. This shows the coercion within African governments,” Gado said.
He added that this was because of the absence of a strong civil society and independent media that can raise such issues in the public space.
“The media and civil society have abdicated their roles and become part of the political division rather than being watchful independent institutions,” Gado noted.
Commenting on the forthcoming presidential election in Kenya, Gado said it was bizarre that a sitting President would support an opposition candidate against his own deputy.
“We have an election in which the President backs the opposition candidate and then you have the Deputy President who is the opposition within the government. That is as bizarre as it gets,” he said.
Kenyans will be going to the polls to elect a new president next month. The election is expected to be a two-horse race between the former Prime Minister and opposition party candidate, Raila Odinga, and the incumbent Deputy President, William Ruto, but the entrance of Georgia Wajackoyah has added further excitement to the contest.
“It is important to note that this year’s election has been re-energized by the entrance of the third horse, George Wajackoyah. He has excited the race further by introducing some bizarre proposals and ideas which have clearly excited many people, especially the youths. He is advocating the legalization of marijuana and the introduction of the death penalty,” the humourist noted.
Gado said that though he did not foresee any widespread violence during the election, he called on civil society and the media to monitor the process to ensure a free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
