Caroline Mutoko supports gay bashing DJ's on Classic FM

Friends,

This is another post about gay bashing in Kenya – listen to the previous podcast here . I’m speechless at the response from Caroline Mutoko to my letter (see below). Caroline is one of Kenyas most listened to and respected radio personalities and she runs the morning show on Capital FM which is a sister company of Classic FM.  I wrote to her to complain about the gay bashing program. I expected at the very least for these folk to air a public apology. What I got was far from it, indeed it seems Caroline isn’t quite as  moral as she had me think.

Here how she responded.  Judge for yourself why we have such a homophobic society. If leaders like Caroline think that gay bashing is fair game in Kenya, then perhaps we need a totally new crew of radio presenters in the country. People who think before they present, and use their intelligence to move society away from the negative and hurtful. At this time more than ever before, Kenya needs healing, not more divisions. Radio is such a powerful medium through which our presenters can catalyze change – sadly they are just having ‘a good Time’ as Caroline puts it.

Well if gay bshing is fair game then so is sharing her letter. Friend please write to Paul Illado and air your complaints

Paul Ilado – paul@classic105.com (In charge of Classic FM)

Also write to the having too much of a good time gay bashing Marcus Kwikiriza – marcus@classic105.com

27 Oct 2009

Dear Caroline,

I am disgusted with the way that Kenyan journalists have covered the marriage between Charles Ngengi and Daniel Gichia, the two Kenyan men who married in London.

Nick and Marcus of Classic FM, your sister company were for calling Kenyans to ‘slap gays’. This is the most irresponsible journalism that I’ve heard in a long time – it smells awfully similar to what happened during the election crisis.

Please send me Paul Illados phone and email address so that I can complain.

Thanks

Paula

–

Paula Kahumbu

Executive Director WildlifeDirect

P.O. Box 24467 Nairobi

Kenya

Dear Paula;

Please find Marcus’s response below and I have listened back to the session and wile I accept that they had too much of a good

Time, at the expense of the gay people amongst us, they handled the issue pretty well.

Let’s also not be pretentious, this is Kenya and we are more homophobic that any other nation in the region.

Marcus and Nick are simply exerting their masculinity above all other men and standing to be counted.

The majority of their audience expect nothing less and yes the majority of their audience is the average Kenyan

who finds the whole gay marriage issue unpalatable.

Caroline Mutoko.

—— Forwarded Message

From: Marcus Kwikiriza

Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:20:10 +0300

To: Caroline Mutoko <

Subject: RE: Gay bashing on Classic FM MUST STOP

Well, I guess they are listening.

Plus the question was, Is it a natural thing(which we shall respect) or is it ujinga that can be cured by a slap? It was a question opened to the public. She could have called and given her two cents……FYI