Ambassador Macharia Kamau Bashes US Media over 'Myopic and Dark Pen' Reporting on Kenya
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau has bashed American media and journalists, particularly ones in New York for what he termed as "myopic and dark pen" reporting on Kenya
Kamau claimed that the reportage by the New York journalists has painted Kenya as a socially and politically dangerous country.
While giving his last speech as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the envoy said the reports have also portrayed the country as "the least safe of its woeful and compromised neighbours, of which comparatively little if anything is written about".
Kamau, who has served as the Kenya's envoy to UN for the last seven years further noted that he had been reading articles about Kenya on the New York Times and the London Financial Times almost every morning.
He stated that the Kenyan stories by the two outlets have been "horribly negative, woefully biased and sadly misguiding if not entirely misinforming of its readers."
"I’m not sure why Kenya gets so much print in these two newspapers, disproportionate I am sure to it’s size and significance, but whatever the motivation, I have drawn the conclusion that it’s not intended to be positive or uplifting to the country or it’s people," Kamau said in a statement on Monday.
He specifically mentioned Jina Moore’s NYT story and photos of March 15th.
"But I thought I should say my bit anyway in hopes that they might indeed carry out an audit of their stories on the country and maybe even revisit their editorial position on Kenya, a position that I believe is serving a master other than servant journalism, without fear or favor," he said.
"I’ll just leave it at that. I’ll miss New York, NY1 and it’s people and culture. But as for the New York Times and its London cousin, I’ll miss only the none political scribes who are unsurpassed in the world."
On his stay at the United States city, Kamau noted: "New York 1 in particular left me feeling like I was a real New Yorker with all the good and the bad stories driven by excellent journalism and the daily fare of murders or shootings, of traffic, weather and the like, and the uplifting snippets of New York hope and culture."
Comments
Good job mr kamau.Some of us…
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Good job mr kamau.Some of us who have lived in the USA knows what USA is made of n what goes on in there.Its make me sad when I see our Kenyan black folks worship this country like it’s their God.Yes more than 35000 pple die yearly of gun shots every year in USA cities n lots of drugs on the streets n in almost every other home.As I always say every country has its evils n it’s good side but most of this western nations has more evils that goods but it’s sad our pple again r so much brainwashed by mzungu mentality or white skin seeing it/them as their Gods.Good job mr abasandor I hope we get another one like you in that office who will continue to represents Kenyans interests as I did.
Kenya though a small country…
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Kenya though a small country compared to most countries all over the world is very envied by majority of African Countries,Most of other developing countries Worldwide and even some of the so called Developed Countries.What do we expect.They will write and paint us as negative as possible.All we need is to Unite and prosper positively.Kenya belongs to all of US.Ambassador Macharia Congratulations for for speaking your Mind on our behalf.
what we should do is stop…
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In reply to Kenya though a small country… by Silentlistener (not verified)
what we should do is stop worrying about what otbers think of us.remember sometimes we create these negative views ourselves.for example when trasparency internatinal says that our police departments is the most corrupt entity in t he country, we should do something about it instead of ignoring what they are saying.Doping and age cheating is rampant in kenyan athletes.yes other countries may have similar problems,but that's their concern not ours.so lets create agood image for ourselves and dare anybody to say otherwise.
" ...All we need is to Unite…
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" ...All we need is to Unite and prosper positively. Kenya belongs to all of US."
@Silentlistner, Umesema maneno ya kweli.
MKAPA - Make Kenya A Paradise Again.
Macharia why didn't you…
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Macharia why didn't you protest about this for seven years? Now you have the gall to say something about it bcos you are leaving. These newspapers which have nothing much to say having been overtaken by events are obsessed about Kenya. Maybe their point people who sit doing nothing in coffee places like Java in Nairobi should get up walk around and maybe just maybe if they open their eyes might see something positive to talk about. Have you seen how they report about DRC while n Kenya? They are full of it. Perhaps they are high on opioids like their cousins back home.
Most Kikuyu's in America don…
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Most Kikuyu's in America don't go to college.
That is a fact.
When they start writing such articles then you can start presenting your "alternate facts".
@Guest3,There is a…
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In reply to Most Kikuyu's in America don… by Guest3 (not verified)
@Guest3,There is a difference between being learned and being educated. Making generalizations about a certain group of people(alternative facts) does not meet the "learned criteria". @Guest 3 stop cramming the books, try learning from your books least you become an educated fool. Kenya has many of those and Miguna currently is a good example.
Well said and delivered by…
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Well said and delivered by my former school mate,brother,friend and neighbor.
You served us very well at the UN,now we welcome you back to our great country to continue with your servant leadership.
Kenya is lucky to have you,Ambassador Monica Juma and Ababu Namwamba at the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.You are a capable team.
Karibu Nyumbani Balozi.
@Maxiley: You are right…
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@Maxiley: You are right Ndugu:
"...what we should do is stop worrying about what others think of us. Remember sometimes we create these negative views ourselves.For example when transparency international says that our police departments is the most corrupt entity in the country, we should do something about it instead of ignoring what they are saying."
We should use modern and appropriate technology to tame our corrupt members of the police force. It can be done: play your part.
MKAPA - Make Kenya A Paradise Again. We can do it!
@guest3???U said most…
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@guest3???U said most Kikuyus in USA don’t go to college???Is it a must one should go???Hakuna kitu mzuri kama kunjinjua wewe mwenyewe??If going to college is not yr thing so be it??U forgot to quote the same Majority Kikuyus who don’t go to college own big bizness in USA,from trucks,taxis,garages,eating nyamchom dens etc.Just because u have gone to college doesn’t guarantee ones a good life or prosperous life.Look here in Kenya who owns most of the bizness from gikoba small traders,golf clubs,stock exchange n realestate??To answer u it’s kikuyus n majority have good skills not college degree So guest 1 think twice next time!compare with luoz who tend to b educated but they remain poorer coz they haven’t changed their reasoning.U cannot even reason with a degree or masters holder like miguna???But u can make a Good healthy conversation with a kikuyu mama Mboga who is illiterate!!!
@Guest3, what do they do…
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@Guest3, what do they do with their time? Do tell, please!
I am a Luo from Bondo and it…
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I am a Luo from Bondo and it is true and worth mentioning here that our educated folks are obsessed with white collar jobs,nice cars,women, ugali,sukuma wiki and omena but not investments.
Although well educated, they fail to utilize that education to advance their personal advancement due to ignorance and egos.
However, that scenario is gradually changing thanks to the younger generation.
I look forward to the day when that vicious cycle will be broken by the new and young generation.
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