Macharia, Thank you for taking time out to go through the article. Next time I will confine myself to 700 words. It would be nice if MOA takes my offer of a public debate to trash out some of the issues. It will be nice for our future Media. I think we have fundermental issues that affect a free and fair Media in our country. We must be sensitive not only to legal requirement on objectivity but diversity of opinion. Most articles distorted the facts. For example, it was stated the company flouted legal requirement on shares when indeed the policy allows up to three years on this. The Ugandan and Rwanda story did not help although NMG made some apologies in tiny print somewhere far from where it was reported. Once more I thank you for your concern. It shows we actually have responsible journalists. Regards Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Macharia Gaitho <mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:55:01 To: bitange@jambo.co.ke<bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: Eng. Wainaina Mungai<wainaina@madeinkenya.org>; ke-users<ke-internetusers@bdix.net>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: RE: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Coverage of migration licence issue by a few media houses unreasonable 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

-- Sent from my mobile device

_______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers@bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

-- *

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us. *

_______________________________________________ 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/solo.mburu%40gmail.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.

---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

_______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers@bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

_______________________________________________ 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/mgaitho%40nation.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. DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient.

Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group.

'To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://mobile.nation.co.ke to read news on your mobile phone.'

---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world" DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group. ‘To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://mobile.nation.co.ke to read news on your mobile phone.’ ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"