I remain convinced that *Ketepa/Kahawa Q&A Session *will help us all see the light. Daktari and colleagues, let us spare some coffee/tea time and iron the issues out openly instead of the edited/otherwise versions of opinions. *NOTE:* This is mail sent as an individual and not representative of Royal Media. On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 9:28 PM, Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com>wrote:
Dakitari and Macharia,
I've got to read them both, then make my own conclusion.
If there is a way I can access the Right of Reply from the Nation and the Star, I would be grateful [a link would be appreciated], as I'm in the Great Rift Valley Lodge for a retreat.
Asanteni
Daktari,
First, just to clarify that I contribute in this forum as a individual and as a professional, not as an employee of NMG or as representative of Kenya Editors' Guild -- unless expressly stated.
Anyway, following your complaint below, I was appalled that any self-respecting newspaper would willfully distort the argument of a contributor; especially where it has a vested interest in the debate at hand.
I therefore took the trouble to get the original article you submitted. I compared it closely with the one eventually published in the Daily Nation of today, July 27.
While the published version did go through an editors pen, like everything else that finds space in the newspaper, I am pretty satisfied that there were no distortions or dilution of your submission.
However you gave us some 1,140 words, and the article had to be condensed to fit in a space that takes just under 700 words.
Obviously some of your comments had to give way, but I think anyone would agree that there were no material changes.
Regards,
Kindest Macharia
-----Original Message----- From: bitange@jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke] Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 8:28 PM To: Macharia Gaitho Cc: Eng. Wainaina Mungai; ke-users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: RE: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Coverage of migration licence issue by a few media houses unreasonable
Macharia, Please read the Star one and see that some issues were removed for some reason.
Regards
Ndemo.
Bitange, Perhaps you could point out any areas where Daily Nation substantially altered the gist of your response. The editor usually reserves the right to edit contributions for space, brevity, typographical errors etc.
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange@jambo.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:58 PM To: Macharia Gaitho Cc: Eng. Wainaina Mungai; ke-users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Coverage of migration licence issue by a few media houses unreasonable
Solomon, It is actually my right of reply that is in the new constitution which is working but NMG decided to edit my response. The correct record was published by the Star.
Regards
Ndemo.
On 27 July 2011 00:17, Eng. Wainaina Mungai <wainaina@madeinkenya.org>wrote:
This is a good step by Nation in giving coverage to the "other side" of the debate.....Note also that it is not only media houses that have opposed the decision. Mayfox Company Ltd (one more of the 4 bidders) went on TV today to make their position known. In time, all these little bits of data from concerned parties are beginning to form the building blocks of 'the big picture' we all must be scratching pur heads to unravel.
For now, maybe a Q&A session involving media, CCK and civil society on this fora over copious cups of Kenyan arabica coffee or Ketepa at one of our fancy hotels will ease the tension and allow us to have a healthier debate.
Any takers?
I agree. The NMG, has done great to give an ear to the 'other side' of the debate.
The next thing is for MOIC, to convene a Q&A Session so as to make the playing ground level enough.
Dakitari, this is not only crucial, but imperative to let us not understand that there is no any form of blackmail!!!
On Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru@gmail.com>
wrote:
By BITANGE NDEMO 26 July, 2011
I have followed the debate on the failure by a consortium of local media firms to win the award for a digital migration licence with dismay.
The impression created by the media firms is that the award of the licence to a Chinese firm is ill thought-out on the grounds of probity and press freedom.
The facts about digital migration speak for themselves. When Kenya decided to pursue it, the Ministry of Information established a Digital Migration Committee to oversee all processes including the licensing of backbone infrastructure developers.
The committee offered a licence to media owners with interest in the broadcast sub-sector as a means of mitigating their investments.
However, as soon as the licence was offered, the media houses disagreed on how to share this national resource. As a result, a tender process was seen as the best way to address the disagreements.
But even when they disagreed, our doors were wide open, but the media houses decided not to negotiate with the tender committee, opting instead for the competitive tender process.
With the doors thrown wide open to local and international bidders, the Chinese firm that has been the subject of controversy won the contract.
Taken aback, the media houses sought the intervention of the Procurement Appeals Tribunal, which eventually confirmed that the Chinese firm had won fairly.
In the criticism levelled at the government, the media houses have sought to portray the process as riddled with impropriety.
While it is true that corruption has not been completely rooted out of the Kenyan society, there is no iota of evidence to suggest that the licence is not above-board.
If there were any underhand dealings, the media houses should point them out.
Indeed, this latest case of crying foul after losing a competitive bid mirrors what happened a while ago when the selfsame media houses took legal action when a Swedish firm, Smart TV, was allowed to broadcast through the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
Eventually, the court ruled there was no irregularity in the process. But the continued attacks on Smart TV led to its exit from the Kenya market.
To say the least, the message being sent to potential investors in the dynamic media sector is that local media have ring-fenced the industry and will do anything to frustrate entry by other players.
The departure of Smart TV will, for instance, deny Kenya 100 jobs, not to mention other economic benefits, all because a few media enterprises want to maintain monopolies.
The articles published and radio programmes broadcast over the last couple of days insinuate that it is China, the country, that won the licence, when the truth is that the licensee is a locally registered company with Chinese origins.
Dragging in the name of a country that enjoys cordial diplomatic relations with Kenya is bad for diplomacy and international relations.
The claim that the Kenyan media will suffer loss of freedom because a Chinese firm has won a backbone infrastructure licence is to suggest that the licence is for content generation or control, which is far from the truth.
If the truth be told, the government has always wanted a situation where there is a multiplicity of channels and voices in the media.
This inclination towards plurality and liberalisation of the media is what is under siege by those opposed to anybody else controlling outlets.
The digital migration era provides a great opportunity for addressing the imbalances in the media sector, where some operatives have a suffocating control of the airwaves.
The media houses seeking to influence public opinion in their favour have refused to acknowledge that the ministry and the Communications Commission of Kenya have agreed to issue another licence for the industry in view of the investments they have made.
Why the focus is not on this window is anybody's guess. It would appear that our media are utterly averse to fair play and competition.
Sooner or later, we shall be in the era of web broadcasting with very little control by the government, meaning that Kenyans will be able to broadcast even from their bedrooms. Those stuck in the past will be quickly by-passed.
Dr Ndemo is permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.
www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Coverage+of+migration+licence+issue+unreasonable+/-/440808/1208244/-/item/0/-/uh53l1/-/index.html
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