Kenya may shut radio station
2008-06-25 21:38
Nairobi - The Kenyan government threatened on Wednesday to shut down a radio station for allegedly stoking ethnic tensions that led to deadly post-election violence earlier this year.
Kass FM urged the Kalenjin tribe in a recent broadcast to "gear up for serious confrontation" with a rival ethnic group, a letter on Wednesday from the information ministry alleged.
The station, which broadcasts in the Kalenjin language, was given three days to show why its license should not be withdrawn "for endangering peace and tranquility".
Julius Lamaon, finance director for Kass, denied the station incited violence.
Kenya's election dispute earlier this year took an ugly ethnic twist that pitted President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu people against tribes loyal to Raila Odinga, including the Kalenjin.
More than 1 000 people were killed and 600 000 forced from their homes in the weeks after the election.
Odinga was named prime minister under a power-sharing deal.
- SAPA