President Uhuru Kenyatta meets CNN’s Global Executive VP and MD, Tony Maddox at State House, Nairobi on August 13, 2015. Maddox apologized on behalf of CNN for referring to Kenya as a hotbed of terror before Obama’s visit to Kenya on July 23, 2015. Photo|PSCU
After the phrase that caused a storm, CNN could have apologized for their ‘hotbed of terror’ reference to Kenya. According to Presidential Strategic Communications Unit, (PSCU) CNN International VP and MD Tonny Maddox regrets the reference.
PSCU said: Executive VP&MD, Tonny Maddox, “what we did was regrettable. I will not qualify or defend that. We are sorry,” The apology was given in a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Maddox in State House.
Read Also: Kenyans infuriated by CNN for referring to Kenya as a ‘terror hotbed’
“ We don’t expect to be showered with praise, we accept honest criticism.That is how we grow” a tweet on Uhuru Kenyatta’s twitter handle said as he commented on the issue.
The President also defended the dignity of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers who have and continue to risk life and limb to secure Kenya from the Alshabaab threat.
The apology has sparked reactions from Kenyans as many acknowledge the apology and recognize power that Kenyans on Twitter have. Before Obamas’s visit to Kenya, CNN had mentioned in their news that the US president was visit a country that was was hotbed of terror, a report that saw Kenyans lash out at the International news outlet.
#SomeoneTellCNN was a worldwide trend for days and it is perhaps for this reason that Maddox has come to the rescue.
Read Also: Kenyans take down Uganda in epic twitter showdown
This development comes just a few days after the Ministry of Tourism cancelled advertising on the international news outlet.
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