A week before US President, Barack Obama touched down in Kenya, CNN referred to Kenya as ‘A hotbed of terror’ in what was seen by Kenyans as an attempt to discourage him from visiting his ancestral home.
This tag left many Kenyans enraged particularly social media users who wasted no time in firing back at CNN with the hashtag, #SomoneTellCNN.
Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta who remained mum the whole time, has finally spoken about the matter. In a series of tweets dubbed UhuruTellsCNN, the Kenyatta goes on to explain to the international broadcaster how Kenyans were angered by saying Kenyans would have accepted it if it was anything close to honest criticism.
Uhuru shared tweets while he was with the MD of CNN Mr. Tonny Maddox.
See his tweets below…
I held a meeting with CNN’s Global Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Tony Maddox, who called on me. pic.twitter.com/hswzsa7UAG
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) August 13, 2015
He delivered an apology on behalf of @cnni and expressed deep regret after portraying Kenya as a ‘hotbed of terror’ pic.twitter.com/eTwIxkjueY
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) August 13, 2015
He admitted that the description of Kenya as a ‘hotbed of terror’ was both ill fitting and undeserved pic.twitter.com/AaM7DBTOSY
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) August 13, 2015
I reiterated that the war on terror was a global threat not exclusive to Kenya & that Kenya’s troops & her people have made great sacrifices
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) August 13, 2015
In one stroke, @cnn’s description undermined the sacrifices made by our troops and the value of lives lost, and relegated them to nothing
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) August 13, 2015
That’s why Kenyans, as expressed by #KOT, were so angry. There was no reason to portray Kenya in that way. pic.twitter.com/4Cjova3CBD
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) August 13, 2015
