Senate to Summon Mining CS Ali Hassan Joho Over Social Media Remarks

The Senate has announced plans to summon Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho to explain his controversial remarks targeting social media critics of President William Ruto’s administration. The remarks, perceived as threats to free speech, have sparked public outcry and condemnation from various quarters.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, a key proponent of the summons, described Joho’s comments as an attempt to intimidate Kenyans expressing their opinions about the government. He warned that such behavior from a Cabinet Secretary is unacceptable and must be addressed to safeguard constitutional freedoms.

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“The utterances by CS Joho are not only reckless but also an affront to the rights of Kenyans to freely express themselves. The Senate will ensure that no public officer uses their position to infringe upon these fundamental freedoms,” Sifuna said in a statement.

Joho had reportedly threatened to “go after” individuals criticizing him and the government on social media, remarks that drew widespread criticism and accusations of suppressing dissent.

The planned Senate summons reflect growing concerns about the conduct of government officials and their approach to public scrutiny. Senator Sifuna underscored the importance of accountability, particularly for high-ranking officials entrusted with upholding the Constitution.

“Kenya is a democracy, and freedom of expression is at the heart of it. We cannot allow any government official to undermine this right through intimidation,” Sifuna added.

Political analysts note that the upcoming Senate session could set a significant precedent for how public officials are held accountable for their statements. Observers are also keen to see how Joho responds to the summons and whether the government takes steps to reassure citizens of their right to free expression.

Efforts to obtain a comment from CS Joho or his office were unsuccessful, but the remarks continue to generate heated debate nationwide.