Eddie Butita Defends SPM Buzz State House Interview
Key takeaways
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- Eddie Butita is a Kenyan creative, founder and CEO of Stage Presence Media (SPM), a popular online media house in Kenya.
- SPM Buzz joined a host of other online media houses for a State House interview with President Ruto.
- President Ruto held what was termed a digital media representatives meeting which featured young media reporters.
- SPM’s presence at the interview once again placed Butita on the spot for his alleged loyalty to the government.
Also read: Netizens praise Larry Madowo for exposing Anti-Finance Bill shootings
President Ruto’s sitdown with media houses at State House
A seemingly defensive President Ruto faced journalists on Sunday evening to discuss the state of the nation.
In an interview conducted by seasoned mainstream media journalists Joe Ageyo, Linus KaiKai, and Eric Latiff, the president defended his government’s track record and its handling of the current wave of protests.
Kenyans sat glued to their TV screens as the president answered accusations of violent police conduct and wasteful government expenditure.
The president also expressed readiness to engage with the youth (now popular as Gen Z), particularly in the now-popular X spaces.
His meeting with young online media journalists has been seen as a move by the president to connect with Gen Z, who were widely acknowledged for their role in the momentous #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests.
Netizens react to Butita’s role at State House
The president’s latest media interview with digital media did not get the best reaction if sentiments on social media are anything to go by.
A wide section of netizens expressed serious doubts about the meeting, where Ruto again applauded young people for making their voices heard.
Butita was singled out for allegedly using his media platform to polish the regime’s image due to his friendly ties with the government.
Below are some of the mixed reactions to the interview by X users:
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- “Lol…Butita just lie low… otherwise Gen Z is your customer base na kitakuramba”
- “Hapo Kwa kujifanya our leaders,you people must STOP!”
- “You are free to support the oppressors for now, but what I can tell you is that history will judge you harshly. It’s only a matter of time”
- “The more you explain, the more you spoil everything rafiki.”
- “No one should attack you Butita. I believe online media as the same rights as mainstream media. youths should support each other”
Eddie Butita fires back at detractors on X
Despite ongoing accusations of being a sellout, the prominent Kenyan creative defended himself by stating that his company participated in the interview like any other media outlet.
He also cautioned Kenyan netizens against bringing down the youth on the pretext of defending them.
Butita listed other prominent online media that attended the interview, suggesting that there was no cause for alarm about SPM’s presence.
“SPM BUZZ was present, as well as Tuko, Kenyans, Uliza Link, among others. I see no issue with digital media entities conducting interviews just like mainstream outlets,” Butita’s tweet reads in part.
Also read: Activist Hanifa and Khalif Kairo in hot soup for ditching State House march
The government finds itself in an awkward position in quelling the protests, as Gen Z demonstrators insist they have no leader.
Ruto’s team, however, is stepping up its engagement with young Kenyans to restore order and retain investor confidence.
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