This reminds me of the "public vetting" processes we have witnessed under the new constitution. The political class needs to go through the same type of vetting - open, non-partisan, public debates and scrutiny. That's the style to follow and the voters will chose for themselves! Edith ________________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edwin Onchari [eonchari@lynxbits.com] Sent: 09 May 2012 19:47 To: Edith Adera Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] The role of Media in political developement Listers/Daktari, I agree that indeed, it is time that the forum took the center stage in generating issues that media can use to create such "town hall" style meetings. Just like in the US for instance, media houses such as NBC, ABC CBS, etc host shows such as "State of the nation, etc" In these shows politicians are taken to task and asked tough questions on where they stand on several issues. They go further and interrogate past political stands of their leaders such as "How & why they voted on certain bills", etc. If this forum spearheaded such an initiative with the support of the media, the political class will stand on notice that they must to steer clear of empty, not so useful and dangerous rhetoric in favor of progressive leadership. I say we go for it, we owe the next generations at least this much...we can do it! Best Regards, Edwin -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange@jambo.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 6:02 PM To: Edwin Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] The role of Media in political developement Barrack, In the front page of the New York Times is Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana bowing out after his defeat in the Republican primary. Sen. Lugar has been in the Senate close to 40 years shaping the US policy. His sins are that he is a moderate as fae as the divide between conservatives and democrats. He was defeated by a far right candidate under the banner of Tea Party within the conservative party. Although the Tea Party is popular, they did not split to form a new party. They are simply re defining the conservative agenda. Our politics has not changed much since we. have never looked beyond our ethnicity. In defence of a single party Moi said multi party will divide the country. And true to his word we are more divided today than we were at independence. At independence we more ideological to the extent that Kaggia leaned more to Odinga than Mboya who was a Kenyatta protege. The younger generation must begin to change this a round issues. This however is not happening. Youth who should be our hope are being used to advance separatist movements such as MRC, Mungiki, Chinkororo etc. These organisations are threatening the economic gains we have made under President Kibaki. To hang on to this momentum, we must not allow self seekers to destroy the country, to misuse the youth and above all to create division among ourselves. We have the greatest opportunity today to create employment like never before but unfortunately politics is taking centre stage. We must refuse and take individual responsibility on that which is happening as we watch. I am challenging this Forum to take its rightful responsibility and seek for an issue based debate among all declared candidates. Let us know what they plan to do with: Youth Unemployment Food security Education Health and more. In the US Media has a responsibility to organise town hall debates to allow every citizen to be heard. We are the New Media. We can generate the issues here then use the forum to enhance the political debates. In the absence of anything politicians will always revert to siasa ya kumalizana. Regards Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerryR -----Original Message----- From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Wed, 9 May 2012 14:09:04 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] The role of Media in political developement Listers, Having watched a couple of programmes focusing on current political happenings i am left wondering on the role of the media, are some of this media houses engaged in political activism or are they educating the masses?. Why cant media houses be more innovative and focus on debates such as what we had on this list (Ndemo for president). This populist debates centered around opinions are a recipe for chaos. One just needs to look at what happened in Sabatia to know what can happen when this opinion contests are not handled well. We need to evaluate the possible impact of some of this opinion based discussions, they may shore up profits for media houses but divide the country. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eonchari%40lynxbits.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2171 / Virus Database: 2425/4986 - Release Date: 05/08/12 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eadera%40idrc.or.ke The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.