Dear Linus, If you do a bit of research on the interaction of government and media, you will find that there are more violent incidences in countries that have no clear laws. As part of reducing these incidences in Kenya, we came up with a policy and a legal framework on electronic media whose objective was to introduce regulation. Regulation per se is not a bad thing. I think by now you must have learnt from the American's financial crisis. Today's papers have the proposed legal framework and without mixing issues the proposals did not include the controversial sec. 88. In this country, we have all sinned when it comes to the subject of impunity. When you plan and execute a strategy to black out government officials from explaining to Kenyans the reasoning behind the bill you are indeed curtailing freedom of expression through public resources that you hold. This is illegal if you read the Media Act. This is an offence if you read the licence agreement that all electronic media signed. Does it mean that freedom of expression is only for media? After the dust settles down, you will be proud of this legal framework because throughout the world, it is only Kenya and Somalia that does not regulate electronic content. Please read it then call me to have a cup of coffee. I will be highly honoured if you accept my invitation. Regards Ndemo.
Dr. Ndemo,
It is puzzling that throughout your meetings with us we never got to hear of some of the issues you are now raising on Kictanet like 'Media impunity' and 'corrupting children minds.' The latter was of course the very same line used by Mao and later Deng Xiaoping to cut off information flow to the Chinese masses, and that is having concluded the entire population is made up of children! There's a great deal of dishonesty around this whole issue. The contentious clauses in my view are an extension of your ban of live broadcast on the evening of December 30; a ban that neither worked nor helped in way in pushing through suspect election results. Bwana PS the larger picture is the country is walking down a retrogressive path and the clauses in the Communication Bill are only part of a number of things that are going wrong especially with politics and governance. Bwana PS sections of this Bill are not anything you would be proud of 5 years from now.
For the rest of the media-bashing crowd on Kictanet, yours is the hypocrisy killing our country. When Moi was president the media and outspoken diplomats were your heroes. Now they are villains. How convenient!
About the bill, I am so keen to hear your take on the March 2, 2006 raid on the Standard and KTN for such are the actions the new bill would make perfectly legal!
Linus
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+lkaikai=ktnkenya.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+lkaikai=ktnkenya.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange@jambo.co.ke Sent: 14 December 2008 22:04 To: lkaikai@ktnkenya.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Kenya communications(amendment)Bill: Is media overacting?
Mike, Thank you for your objective views. You know very well that there are thousands of youth out there who have patiently waited for this bill to allow them trade on-line. Now Media calls theirs.
The outcomes of the Kriegler and Waki would hopefully deal with political impunity. Who will deal with media impunity? In my view we must push this Bill to ensure that electronic media does not continue to corrupt our children's minds.
Ndemo.
Dr. Ndemo,
I hope that the media note that they are on the wrong path and move to change their approach. In hindsight they might realize that the issues at hand could have been tackled differently.The media's most recent actions only make it more difficult to resolve the very same issues they are protesting.
The Nation's editorial perhaps represents the divergence in views between the media owners, their supporters and responsible journalists who may have seen that things are steering in a dangerous direction. As the matter drags on, various elements will try to take advantage and jump onto the bandwagon to further certain agendas. It is this catalyst that is worrisome, as there is the possibility that just as the media issue has somehow been tied to economic issues, the media issue could easily be misused by those who have little to do with the media.
The country has many volatile problems that should not be exploited, some of those jumping onto the media bandwagon may be seeking to detract from matters facing them, others have personal agendas in mind that can only progress if they are disguised as media and economic issues. The media hopefully is looking at these issues in a responsible manner, will exercise diplomacy and engage the Government in a civil way as the best way to resolve the impasse. There are many Kenyans suffering today from matters not within their control, it is a dangerous thing for the media to act in a way that could easily stir these masses to non-civil action as measures are being taken to alleviate these problems. The media has a corporate responsibility in ensuring that it exhausts all civil means of ensuring the matters are resolved.
It is encouraging to know that the Government is open for discussion, but there is only so much that the Government can do on legislative matters. The Government can draft, prepare and adjust laws but it cannot pass the same in parliament. The media must do more on its own in approaching not just key leaders but ultimately the legislators who actually vote to pass the same laws.
On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 5:11 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
Thanks Theuri, Since Government is open for discussion, diplomacy would yield better results. I have seen their action plan which by the way violates cck licence agreement it is not the best rout to take. Having spent all weekend using public resources (frequencies) to propagate violence, they should at least wait to hear from cck.
If you read today's Nation editorial on how to end impunity including media impunity you wonder if they are the same people inciting the public to violence.
Ndemo Sent from my BlackBerry(R)
-----Original Message----- From: "Mike Theuri" <mike.theuri@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:19:01 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Kenya communications (amendment)Bill: Is media overacting?
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