Kalonzo Musyoka apologises for gross remark

By WILFRED AYAGA

Nairobi, Kenya: Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka was a man under siege Thursday. This came following reports he had made insulting remarks against a journalist at a media briefing.

Kalonzo was forced to clarify his remarks in which he told the journalist that a question he had asked suggested political leanings based on his ethnic background.

“Indeed, it was with a light touch but I wish to apologise to him, the entire journalistic fraternity and anybody else who might feel the comments were offensive,” Kalonzo said, adding  “I did have tea with Murithi and duly apologised for any hurt my remark would have caused.”

But the Nation Media Group journalist Kennedy Murithi posted on Twitter that “nobody has apologised to me...I have NOT had tea with him, contrary to what his statement says.”

In his clarification, Kalonzo said  his response had been prompted by failure by the journalist to identify himself and the media house he works for.

“I felt he had asked a misleading question and my answer to him was that his assumed political leaning was evident and reflective of the very polarised society that Kenya has become.

Kalonzo said that his statement had been taken out of context.