Mil
Inciting Kenyans against their leaders with misleading headlines. “Eti Puzzle Ruto meeting with ex-US prisoner.”
Ex Congressman Siljander was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent of a charity. He was later pardoned by his friend Donald Trump. He served as a Republican U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan.
While the journalist chose to focus on this part of Siljander’s life, he failed to conduct simple research and discover that Siljander was also one of the chief negotiators in resolving Sudan’s Darfur Crisis
In fact, the then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his memoirs titled ‘Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World’, narrates in a chapter titled ‘The Breakthrough’ how Siljander personally pleaded with Omar Al Bashir to negotiate with the UN.
Moon wrote in part: “That night Siljander convinced President Omar al-Bashir to work closely with the United Nations,”
Another so-called questionable character in the delegation was Ambassador Albino Mathol Ayuel, who the newspaper say was mentioned in a questionable deal with Jirongo.
That aside, until two months ago (Nov 2024), Ambassador Mathol was President Salva Kiirr’s Special Envoy and the Chairman of South Sudan Nairobi Peace Deal Negotiations. Even though President Kiir relieved him of his duties, he still continues to act in that capacity until his replacement is found.
Mathol also continues to serve as a member of parliament in the Revitalised Transitional National Legislative Assembly. A graduate of UoN, Mathol previously served as the peace negotiator during the Central African Republic Civil War. To put it in a simple way, he is a peace negotiator.
“Eti Puzzle Ruto meeting with ex-US prison.” Which puzzle?
A good journalist who possesses good research and analytical skills would not be bothering US Embassy Nairobi with endless messages demanding answers on what the delegation was doing at State House. He would add one plus one and conclude that the talks were most definitely about peace in the Sudan.
Furthermore, the accusations against the two diplomats do not come anywhere close to the crimes committed by a simple Kenyan MCA. Their crimes are very minor compared to what Kenyan politicians have committed. In fact, if they were to vie for political seats in Kenya, nobody would elect them because Kenyans only elect very experienced criminals.
A good editor wouldn’t have commissioned such a half-baked and biased report. Journalists must be objective.
