Kenyas interior minister, Joseph Nkaissery, has demanded an apology from CNN for referring to Kenya as hotbed of terror following a news report from the country ahead of US President Barack Obamas visit on 24 July 2015.
In a news conference in the capital Nairobi, Nkaissery said that the CNN report was inaccurate and based on lies.
Our attention has been drawn to a media report by CNN earlier today seeking to discredit the status of Kenya as a secure nation. This announcement is based on lies and without verification. It demonstrates heightened irresponsibility by the media network and smacks of arrogance, Nkaissery said.
Nkaisserry also said that CNN broadcast pictures of militia members training in a forest prior to the 2013 general elections.
I take this opportunity to condemn this negative campaign by CNN and strongly protest at what is becoming a pattern of an anti-Kenya propaganda by CNN. Kenya, like any other country in the world, is at risk of terrorist attacks. Owing to our proximity to Somalia, a country that has been used by international terrorist networks and agents to recruit, train and plan attacks against Kenya and the region, we have suffered terror attacks. However, while these attacks are tragic and unacceptable, they do not turn Kenya into a terror hotbed, as alleged by the CNN.
He added: If they are civilised enough they should apologise.
The CNN report, entitled Obamas Trip Raises Security Concerns, focused on the al-Shabaab threat in east Africa.
The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab has made a series of deadly incursions into Kenya, saying it will continue until Nairobi withdraws troops from an African Union force fighting the militants in Somalia.
During his trip, Obama will be co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit with Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenyatta said on 21 July that improving security cooperation and trade links between Kenya and the United States was at the top of the agenda.
