Murugi fights back in row over Aids remarks

A Cabinet minister has defended herself over allegations of undermining the war on Aids Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi accused the media of misrepresenting her off the cuff comments during an Aids workshop for parliamentarians at the Coast.

During the seminar, Ms Murugi was quoted suggested that perhaps people living with the disease should be isolated to curb the spread of the virus.
On Thursday, the minister said the remarks were only meant to trigger debate on the prevention and control of the scourge. She claimed that the media was only misleading Kenyans by replaying bits of her statement.

“I was shocked by the misinterpretation of my remarks. I don’t understand why the media picked and hyped on my example which was only intended to trigger debate. But if I have offended anybody, I apologise,” said Ms Murugi.
She said other MPs at the workshop also made their suggestions, including that all boys be circumcised at birth and that men be allowed to marry more than one wife.

“But these were only suggestions,” she said.
Ms Murugi said that by using the example of Cuba, she was not proposing that Kenya follow the same line in fighting the disease.
“In Cuba, when President Castro was still very strong, anybody who was tested with HIV/Aids was actually locked somewhere, and once you went in, you did not come out. I don’t know whether we should be that drastic,” Ms Murugi had said during the workshop.

Lock in
“But, sometimes, I think maybe that is what we should do so that those who are ill are locked in, I’m just suggesting it, it is up to you to tell me whether we should do that or not,” she had added.
Ms Murugi has come under a barrage of criticism from people living with HIV and Aids, lobby groups and most recently First Lady Lucy Kibaki since she made the remarks.

There are 1.5 million people living with HIV/Aids in Kenya.

Comments  

 

0 #5 Weru Ngatia 2011-02-13 04:15

I agree with Mùrugi's bravery in triggering debate on tough issues like HIV and homesexuality.I think before we start throwing rocks at her let us debate the issues and not personalize it.Her marital status should not feature anywhere otherwise that will reduce us to hecklers.Starting with Warùru Kanja,all Nyeri MPs have been known to face issues head-on,whatever the consequences and Mùrugi is keeping to this tradition.Hebu tushauriane kuhusu mambo yetu ya jamii.Only a mature public debate will help us find a solution to the real problems that afflict us in Nyeri and elsewhere in our great nation.

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0 #4 2011-02-11 18:58

Miriam-Judging the MP on her marital status is a sharrow way of reasoning. Central, Eastern, Nairobi and Coast provinces has lost 70% their men and boy's to cheap drugs, alcohol and crime. The rest are not even doing anything good with their lives.
Those men who are married are not sure whether they want to son's of their wives or husbands.
No wonder marriage is no longer attractive to the educated and financially stable woman.
Instead of ranting at women who reject marriage proposal, men should work at improving themselves inorder to be relevant.
As per remarks on HIV, she was only prompting debate as everyone else was not much bothered.

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-2 #3 2011-02-06 14:28

Wrong person to lead Nyeri people

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-2 #2 2011-02-06 14:26

Murugi should be locked first.She is no married she can spread the disease first than anybody else.So Murugi,think twice.

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+2 #1 2011-02-04 10:38

Let them give Mhesimiwa a'"breathing space".Some people just dont want to listen her side of story. Uyo ninjamba ya wira na arutaga wira Mwega. Atimia arai marutagira bururi wira mwega mahuragwo niki. Tiganani nake arute wira wake riu.

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