Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has bowed down to pressure and apologized for profiling a Muslim journalist.
For the better part of the week, the CS has been under pressure for verbally attacking NTV journalist, Rukia Bulle.
CS Magoha meets Rukia Bulle
Following pressure from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM), the CS accepted to retract his statement.
The CS apologized to Bulle on Thursday, July 28 in a meeting attended bythe Muslim Community leadership from Supkem, Muslim Woman Caucas and DPP Noordin Haji.
‘Yesterday we met with CS Mogoha who requested to meet with the Muslim leaders with the affected girl- we met with him at the office of the DPP. CS apologized to the lady journalist and regretted having used the term he used,” SUPKEM Chairman Hassan Ole Naado said.
AlShabaab remarks
While speaking to journalists at a function at Pumwani Girls and Boys Secondary Schools on Tuesday, July 26, CS Magoha found himself on the receiving end after ethnically profiling the journalist.
Bulle asked CS Magoha a question and instead of the CS answering, he demanded to know where the reporter came from.
“I come from Nairobi,” the lady answered politely.
The CS went ahead to demand to know if the scribe was not part of terrorism group al-Shabaab.
“Where in Nairobi? How do I know I am not talking to al-Shabaab?” CS Magoha said.
The remarks drew backlash with the Media Council of Kenya demanding an unconditional apology from the CS over the same.
In a statement, MCK CEO David Omwoyo said such utterance coming from a senior government official exposes journalists to unnecessary harassment, ridicule and victimization in the line of duty.
“The Media Council of Kenya calls on the National Commission for Cohesion and Integration (NCIC) to ensure the Cabinet Secretary issues unconditional apology, withdraws the unfortunate remarks and rescinds his directives against the smooth operation of the media,” Omwoyo stated.
Rukia Bulle reacts to the video
Bulle has since reacted to the viral video that sparked outrage, noting that it would not derail her career in any way.
In a TikTok video, the scribe also thanked her friends and followers for the nice messages and support.
“I just wanted to come on here and say thank you to anyone who took the time out of their day to send me nice messages or to check up on me
“All your support does not go unnoticed. We’ll keep thriving regardless of anything thrown our way,” Bulle stated.
