Raila Odinga campaigns spokesperson Prof.Makau Mutua has condemned the United Democratic Alliance Party after the media was kicked out of the party’s NDC on Tuesday at Kasarani indoor gymnasium.
According to Makau the deputy president led party’s actions revealed that he would switch off the light of democracy if given a chance to have the power.
“In most important public function to date, deliberation of coronation. Mr. Ruto decided to remove the media from the venue where the deliberation were done,” he said.
The journalists were however allowed back after the conclusion of deliberations on the UDA party agenda.
In his sentiments he said that Ruto’s endorsement as the party’s presidential candidate was not open as the public did not get the opportunity to see how and why they took the decision they did.
“The decision to choose a party candidate for president of the republic must be open, accountable and transparent,” read his statement in part.
Makau noted that the media acts as the eyes of the public and also work together with the government and thus should be allowed to cover public events for credibility.
In support for the Azimio la Umoja coalition, he further argued that its NDC was done in public and nothing was kept away from the public.
“As we all saw last Saturday ,Azimio conducted its nomination of Raila Odinga in full view of the media and the public,nothing was kept away,,,”
“Over two hours today, Ruto and his circle of UDA apparatchiks shut Kenyans out of a decision that’s central to democracy. It’s a sad day for democracy but we at Azimio aren’t surprised,” he added.