Harry The right is worded in a way that guarantees every citizen access to information held by the state - in most cases it is the state that holds certan infromation like on census or statistics. The State has a monopoly in some cases - for example commissions and Inquiries - which historically in Kenya, the state has at times witheld the findings of such commissions. The right extends to getting information held by another person, which is useful for a person to exercise his/her fundamental rights and freedoms. I am sure there are other views out there. Rgds Grace ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World! From: harry@comtelsys.co.ke To: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke CC: ggithaiga@hotmail.com Subject: RE: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws/ e- discussion continued Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:10:31 +0300 Hey Grace & Kerubo, Thanks for your summary overview. I wonder aloud whether it should only be the state that maintains this monopoly over accessibility to basic information in as far as "Freedom of information" is concerned. Whereas state has the instruments it can use to either promote or curtail such freedoms, I suppose it would also be safe to say that in quite a number of instances, state might be deemed a "lame duck". How about a remote Island sequestered somewhere, about 200 miles off the shores of Lake Victoria with no basic access to communication? Would the populace there's lack thereof, of basic information access be considered an infringement on this fundamental right/liberty by the state...? Harry From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Grace Githaiga Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 12:57 AM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke Subject: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws/ e- discussion continued Thanks Harry Delano, Washington, Cleophas and Kerubo. Harry you raise a good question on what these terms mean and whether they are interchangeable. Washington, you make an important point about freedom of expression/speech not being absolute, and Cleophas affirms your point. Thanks Kerubo for the definitions. Yes, freedom of information simply means the freedom to get certain basic information held by the state, which can enable one to for example bring a case of human rights violation or any other cause. Freedom of expression can mean many things, say freedom to air your ideas, take a stand, artistic creativity--simply freedom to express how you feel. And of course as Washington and Cleophas rightly point out, all these freedoms are subject to limitations and therefore not carte blanche. In this case then: Is there conflict between laws on freedom of information and what citizens demand/require? Lets hear it from you. Rgds Grace