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State House defends Uhuru’s address to a ‘caged’ audience


State House has defended a widely circulated photo that showed President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing Wajir residents who were cordoned off by a mesh wire fence.

The President was pictured addressing residents at Wajir Stadium with a fence separating him and the audience during his recently concluded tour of the North Eastern counties.

The photo immediately sparked debate on social media of a presidency that is fearful of its own electorate.

PHOTO | PSCU
PHOTO | PSCU

But State House digital director Dennis Itumbi took to Facebook on Monday to dismiss the critics as ignorant of the state of most stadiums in the country.

SECURITY FEATURE

He argued that most stadiums have a fence separating the terraces from the pitch as security feature to prevent hooliganism.

“I have seen and read many requests for me to comment on a picture showing the President addressing citizens through what looks like a fence barrier.The problem is that those circulating that propaganda rarely leave their desks in Nairobi or even google from their desks,” wrote Mr Itumbi.

He went on to attach photos of seven other stadiums that have mesh wires round the pitch as a security feature.

“Most Stadiums in Kenya are constructed with a fence around the dias. From Nyayo Stadium, to Embu, Kisumu, Mombasa, Kinoru and even Afraha Stadium,” said Mr Itumbi.

PHOTO | PSCU
PHOTO | PSCU

MIXED REACTIONS

Mr Itumbi’s post was however met with mixed reactions. Some users said the presidential dias should have been set up inside of the pitch.

Walter Atito Onyango attached a photo of a past presidential event posing, “Wapi fence Hapa Nanyuki stadium? Defending the indefensible…”

Other users advised Mr Itumbi not to respond to every critic as the Presidential team was not answerable to anyone on decisions made.

Milka Thumbi commented; “Some people will complain about everything, they aren’t worth your airtime Dennis Itumbi.”