THE STANDARD GROUP:
APOLOGIZE AND WITHDRAW MALICIOUS ARTICLE
John 8: 32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free
The National Council of Churches of Kenya has noted with concern the article published in your newspaper on Sunday 15th September 2019 under the heading “Revealed: Deals that have left NCCK with Sh 1.8 billion debts”. We demand that this article is withdrawn and an apology, given the same weight and prominence, be published.
This is because the article is malicious, misleading and was developed purely to tarnish the reputation of the Council and its leadership.
The article you caused to be published purports to present figures and quotes from an audit report that does not exist.
For avoidance of doubt, all financial decisions of the NCCK are approved by the Executive Committee, with day to day activities overseen by the Finance and Administration Committee. The accounts are audited by an audit firm selected by the Executive Committee every year. In line with the NCCK operating procedures, PKF Kenya presented an audit report for the year January – December 2018 to the Finance and Administration Committee. The report was then presented to the Executive Committee and adopted during the meeting held on 18th June 2019.
It is therefore malicious, insidious, libelous and slanderous for The Standard to purport to discuss matters touching on NCCK financial operations and decisions outside of the audit report presented by the auditors and adopted by the Executive Committee.
If The Standard fails to publish an apology and withdrawal of the article, including deleting it from all online platforms, the NCCK will institute a legal process to clear its name.
We once again state that the National Council of Churches of Kenya recognizes and supports the role that media plays in the society, and urges journalists to always ascertain the accuracy of the content of news they publish in order to foster good order and national wellbeing.
Signed on this 15th day of September 2019 at Nairobi.
Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki
Chairman
Rev Canon Peter Karanja
General Secretary
