Hi all,

...and I am fully in agreement with Wainaina.  Before any joint (or "members'") statement is issued, we should first understand why, and if there a need for such to be issued. Secondly, we should understand the statement itself, its weight, cones, and relevance. I again disagree with the statement, "Some events do not provide us with adequate opportunity to consult each other". The only events which may not provide enough time for consultation may only be those to do with organisation/office running, which need quick decision of which the return/results are expected.

Though we should be free to discuss any issue, we should realise that ours is not a political tool but rather, a business tool. It is interesting to see how some people and/or organisations are quick to accuse, by following others before understanding everything. On the issue of the KTN/Standard, no one has ever bothered to ask why the  two house were attacked. Some say it is because of the Kalonzo story. If I may ask, between "Kalonzo/Kibaki" and the "Anglo Leasing" stories, which one of the two was more likely to hurt the government? Which one was more damning. If it is the Anglo Leasing story which was released by the nation Media Group, then why is it that nation did not come under attack. The minister for internal security said he was responsible and that the attack was necessitated by a threat in national security. Full stop!

What I hear everybody say is that Press Freedom is very important, and I fully agree with them. Very very important. But why on earth should a newspaper write on its front (or back) page that Mr. XXX is a bank robber and a rapist, and when followed, start crying out about press freedom and freedom of expression? This freedom does not mean telling lies e.g. working for particular politicians to insult others and so on.  We know, (and I have a case in point where) journalists are paid to accompany politicians. that way, wherever they are and whatever they say is always covered by the media. Anyway, what I am saying is don't pass judgement because others are doing so. We shouldn't follow blindly. Before doing so, we should always strive to understand the case first, by gathering all the evidence and listening to all parties. That way, we may be armed to give a "fair judgement"

Anyway, these are my thought and not those of the KICTNet. I guess the network is a discussion forum.

Hunja



At 02:25 PM 04/03/2006 +0300, Wainaina Mungai wrote:
Hi Malaba,

I was under the impression that a "KICTANET statement" is a joint statement that needs wider consultation so as to legitimise the words below....because KICTANet does not exist without its membership. I may have been wrong.

>  > >  We the members of the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), a multistakeholder group of organisations >  > >  and networks from civil society, private
>  > >  sector, media, academia, and development partners

Wainaina


>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: David Sparrow Malaba <sdmalaba@yahoo.com>
>  Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices
>  Sent: 04 Mar '06 11:31
> 
>  Dear Colleagues,
>  I feel that as members of KICTANET, each one of us is
>  free including our organizations to take a particular
>  stand on any issue or issues at any time as they
>  arise. But if Mr. Mungai is suggesting that in future
>  we make joint press statements, then that is something
>  else, that may perhaps require consultation from
>  members. Some events do not provide us with adequate
>  opportunity to consult each other.
> 
>  Let us play our roles even if it means commenting on
>  any issue without fear of contradiction or even being
>  labeled or  victimised by members.
> 
>  Kind regards
>  David Malaba
>  The Computer Society of Kenya
> 
> 
>  --- "Made in Kenya.org" <info@madeinkenya.org> wrote:
> 
>  > Dear all,
>  >
>  > Just out of curiousity, who was consulted in the
>  > drafting of this statement? As a member, I am
>  > totally in the dark on this one.  AS much as I
>  > support the condemnation of the police action, I
>  > must distance myself from this one-sided and
>  > apparently unilaterally drafted statement that seems
>  > to be in denial of the reality in Kenya today. Media
>  > freedom is not absolute and Kenyan consumers have a
>  > right to access accurate and unbiased information
>  > from the media and other sources.
>  >
>  > The statement will only serve to sanitise misconduct
>  > by the local media. KICTANet should not be seen as a
>  > trade association where irresponsible media finds
>  > solace.  I hope that will not be the message
>  > KICTANet will pass on to participants at the planned
>  > "Media and ICTs workshop next week (March 10-13) in
>  > Mombasa. All freedoms, especially the freedom of the
>  > press must be exercised with restraint. Media
>  > freedom carries with it alot of power and power has
>  > corrupted a significant section of our media.
>  >
>  > The unilateral decision to draft and circulate a
>  > statement on behalf of KICTANet despite protests
>  > from some members  (no matter how few) should not be
>  > presented in a manner to imply that it is the
>  > collective view of the network.
>  >
>  > Even the Media Owners Association did a much better
>  > job by demanding that its membership exercise
>  > responsible journalism. For that, I must
>  > congratulate the MoA for exercising objectivity and
>  > advice KICTANet to make an honest attempt at such
>  > objectivity in future.
>  >
>  > Sincerely,
>  >
>  > Wainaina Mungai
>  >
>  > >  -------Original Message-------
>  > >  From: alice@apc.org
>  > >  Subject: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network
>  > Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices
>  > >  Sent: 03 Mar '06 10:27
>  > > 
>  > >  Press Release
>  > > 
>  > >  Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid
>  > on STANDARD AND KTN Offices
>  > > 
>  > >  3 March 2006
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 

>  > are shocked and outraged
>  > >  by the recent actions meted by the government on
>  > the standard group.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  On Wednesday, 1 March 2006, the Government of
>  > Kenya launched an
>  > >  unprecedented and vicious attack on the STANDARD
>  > GROUP premises, harassed
>  > >  the journalists, confiscated equipment,
>  > interrupted TV transmission and
>  > >  burned copies of the day?s newspaper edition.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  The Government has detained and continues to hold
>  > in detention three
>  > >  Standard journalists apparently for misreporting
>  > that a leading opposition
>  > >  politician had secretly met the President at
>  > State House.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  When interviewed, the Internal Security Minister
>  > Hon. Muchuki did not deny
>  > >  the government?s involvement in this horrifying
>  > event of March 1st stating
>  > >  state security as the reason behind the
>  > government?s actions.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  We see this as crude and gross abuse of power and
>  > our constitution.
>  > > 
>  > >  At a recent ICT strategy conference held at the
>  > safari park hotel his
>  > >  Excellency the president of Kenya unveiled
>  > Kenya?s ICT strategy, whose main
>  > >  objective is ? transforming Kenya?s economy
>  > through promoting and
>  > >  facilitating the private sector to serve as the
>  > driver for economic
>  > >  development?. This crude action contradicts the
>  > government?s recent
>  > >  objectives to maintain a favourable climate for
>  > investment and creation of
>  > >  jobs for Kenyan?s.  No investor would place their
>  > money in an environment
>  > >  where the rule of law and order is disregarded
>  > with utmost impunity.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  This action is also reminiscent of the dark days
>  > in Kenya when the media was
>  > >  constantly harassed in order to suppress the
>  > freedom of expression, thought
>  > >  and association.  The action demonstrates that
>  > the Government, which is the
>  > >  custodian of law and order is not committed to
>  > the rule of law as the basic
>  > >  foundation for a modern and civilised society.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  Whereas the Government may be validly aggrieved,
>  > there are established and
>  > >  internationally acceptable mechanisms for seeking
>  > redress through the courts
>  > >  of law.  The Kenya Telecommunication Act (1998
>  > revised 2001) clearly spells
>  > >  out the procedures that should be followed in the
>  > event that a Media House
>  > >  needs to be shutdown.
>  > > 
>  > >  KICATNet translates this action as an attempt to
>  > frighten the independent
>  > >  media, limit Kenyan?s political space and erode
>  > our human rights. It is also
>  > >  a gross violation of our constitution.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  KICTANet therefore strongly condemns the
>  > government?s actions and stands in
>  > >  solidarity with the Kenyan media and particularly
>  > our colleagues at the
>  > >  standard media group.  We take this opportunity
>  > to remind the government of
>  > >  Kenya that the foundation of a sound democracy is
>  > the right to information
>  > >  and freedom of press.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  It is therefore imperative that the Government
>  > quickly moves to restore not
>  > >  just investor confidence but also citizens?
>  > confidence in protection of our
>  > >  fundamental human rights and democratic space
>  > that has been gained largely
>  > >  due to a free press.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  KICTANet is appalled by the actions and urges the
>  > Minister(s) and the
>  > >  Agency/ies involved to publicly apologise and
>  > expeditiously restore the
>  > >  services of the Media House as well as paying for
>  > all the losses that the
>  > >  standard group have incurred.
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)
>  > > 
>  > > 
>  > >  Contact Details for the network
>  > > 
>  > >  Judy Kimiti
>  > > 
>  > >  jkimiti@email.kictanet.or.ke
>  > > 
>  >
>  > _______________________________________________
>  > kictanet mailing list
>  > kictanet@kictanet.or.ke
>  > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>  >
>  > Please unsubscribe or change your options at
>  >
>  http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sdmalaba%40yahoo.com
>  >
>  === message truncated ===
> 
> 
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>  ---
>  Submitted by: Sparrow David Malaba - KITC <sdmalaba@yahoo.com> 2006-03-04 03:40:01 EST5
>  (Please reply to original submitter for private communication)
>  ---
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> 

---
Submitted by: Wainaina Mungai (One World) <wainaina@madeinkenya.org> 2006-03-04 06:33:46 EST5
(Please reply to original submitter for private communication)
---
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International Development Research Centre
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