Kenya’s consumer advocacy group the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has turned the tables on information ministry permanent secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo, criticising him on social media.
Weeks after COFEK complained in court over Ndemo’s utterances on social media, the consumer rights group has appeared to target the PS on Facebook and Twitter, most recently accusing him of acting like a majority shareholder on the CCK board, of which he is a member.
“DIGITAL TV: Lies and deception by PS Dr Ndemo on CCK – COFEK talks. Lies because CCK and COFEK held very fruitful discussions at the Serena Hotel, Nairobi. A major announcement is expected anytime. Ndemo, is a board member at CCK but speaks as though he is the majority shareholder of a private company called CCK,” reads a comment posted on Facebook today.
This is in response to an article by Citizen Online that reported Ndemo as having stated that the CCK board, while negotiating the analogue TV broadcasting switch-off deadline on behalf of the government, was unable to settle on a deal with the consumer group.
Ndemo is accused of appearing to suggest the court should go ahead and rule on the matter even with the two parties expected to go back to court next week. Last month, Judge Isaac Lenaola ordered that the two reach an agreement on the switchoff deadline outside court, with the court making a ruling should they fail to do so.
With the two parties taking the fight from the negotiation room to social media, it seems highly unlikely that they will reach an agreement by Wednesday next week.
On February 5, COFEK on Facebook urged members of the public to sign a petition ‘to confirm that real “latitude” for COFEK is the Constitution and not from Government or individuals’, also targeting Ndemo.
The attacks have also taken place on Twitter, where the COFEK has used its large following to fight Ndemo.
