Re: kictanet Digest, Vol 13, Issue 11
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Today's Topics:
1. RE: Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices ( Wainaina Mungai ) 2. Fwd: [Idlelo2] Re: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May (Bill Kagai) 3. Re: Fwd: [Idlelo2] Re: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May (Brian Longwe)
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Message: 1 Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:44:11 +0300 From: " Wainaina Mungai " <wainaina@madeinkenya.org> Subject: RE: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices To: "KIPlist" <kiplist-cl@lyris.idrc.ca>, "KIPlist" <kiplist-cl@lyris.idrc.ca> Cc: kictanet@kictanet.or.ke Message-ID: <20060306114411.4526.qmail@domain50.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
1. Is the media in Kenya without blame? I have the likes of Standard/KTN/Kass FM/Inooro & Weekly Citizen et. al. in mind?
2. If not, then why do we find it hard to demand better services to the Kenyan consumer? Why do we find it so hard to say "and we demand that the media report accurately and without bias in their service to Kenyans". Just
It took a passive and conformist clergy and a VERY FREED but biased media to ignite the chaos that resulted in the genocide that was witnessed not soo long ago in Rwanda.Now if only they had some "kanga squad" somewhere to preempt hate and devisive plots designed by people who are still enjoying their own liberties up to now as well as a free media here with us.Going by the reputation of some of these media houses i would only comment that at times the end does justify the means when a lot it at stake. ----- Original Message ----- From: <kictanet-request@kictanet.or.ke> To: "mutua" <emutua@ngocouncil.org> Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 3:38 PM Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 13, Issue 11 that, and we would have moved a step forward in objectivity.
3. The Nation did not publish the Kalonzo/StateHouse story because "it
could not be verified" even after they objectively checked with their own sources - http://allafrica.com/stories/200603030414.html . The Nation did not find the story plausible and all parties (Kalonzo, Raila and State House) claimed it was a fabrication. Who is telling untruths here and why should KICTANet so readily believe The Standard story. Since when did it become ok to fabricate strories? If the story was true, did State House LIE to Kenyans? We cannot escape from putting the media to task here because a fabricated story would be a dangerous precedent that KICTANet and Kenyans in general must protest. The same applies if State-House told Kenyans a lie. We should not allow this story to go away because it imply that the highest office in the land has resorted to outright fabrication of which we must protest.
4. Do we all remember that one of the senior editors at the The Standard
was fired from Nation for taking a bribes so as to publish falsehoods? Why are we so convinced that the same would not recur in any media house? Don't we leavbe with the reality of Inooro and Citizen's biased coverage everyday? Is this the media Walu is asking us to defend?
5. KTN or Citizen are not the "Kenyan consumer" of media products. Kenyans
are helpless receipient of fabrticated stories while the media is teh offending party here. These media houses are not devoid of political bias and in some extreme cases, tribal bias. The days of people hiding behind an attack on "our people" when they are caught misconduct went in December 2002. No-one in government or outside it should use Kenyans as his defence when he has offended the ethical dmands of his/her vocation or even the laws of the land.
Walu, the days of irresponsible media must come to an end as much as the
days of draconian action. Neither the state nor the media has a right to abuse what freedoms and powers Kenyan (citizens and consumers) accord them.
The Kenyan consumer comes first.
Wainaina
-------Original Message------- From: John Walubengo <jwalubengo@kcct.ac.ke> Subject: RE: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight
Sent: 06 Mar '06 11:16
Anthony,
This is the fundamental issue. That this raid (whatever the justified reasons) was totally out of order. It does set a very dangerous precedence. If something like this is not condemned with the contempt it deserves, these 'Kanga' squads would soon get orders to move from the Media, and graduate into the other aspects of our lives...including your homes.
I shudder when I imagine that a time shall come when fathers and mothers shall get ripped from their childrens arms, and then disappear into
It is a proven physcological concept. That if you want to boil a frog
in hot water, dont drop it directly into hot water, because it will jump out and escape. What u do instead is to put it in cold water and then slowly and steadily increase the heat. Within 15min the frog never gets to know how it died. Kenyans must never for a moment agree to these types of assualt. They must not get accustomed to this kind of treatment.
To me this raid goes beyond an attack on the media. It is an attack
my fifty cents.
walu.
<Anthony.MUSUNJI@cec.eu.int> 03/06/06 11:58AM >>> In a civilised society of which I believed we lived in until last
Thursday
there are clear mechanisms to mitigate such issues .The attack on KTN /Standard sets a dangerous precedence and I cannot believe anyone can support such actions
Anthony Musunji
-----Original Message----- From: bounce-kiplist-cl-102759@lyris.idrc.ca [mailto:benmakai@yahoo.com] Sent: 06 March 2006 11:25 To: KIPlist Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices
Charles has raised very important points and i beleive list members should ask themselves why the raid other than condeming...why was nation not raided
Charles Hunja <chunja@idrc.or.ke> wrote:
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 re! alise 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. X! XX 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.
Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices the night never to be seen, courtesy of the Kanga Squad - all in the name of 'national security'. Seems far fetched, but possible. All it needs is for one, two or more raids to happen without Kenyans complaining and suddenly it will become an acceptable way of resolving issues. that goes directly into our collective ability as a nation to tolerate abuse from the high and mighty. We must chose to jump out of the hot water NOW...or slowly boil to our death. 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 s! tatement" 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 freed! om 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
by the recent actions meted by the government on
are shocked and outraged the standard group.
On Wednesday, 1 March 2006, the Government of
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
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 &g! t; > objective is " transforming Kenya's economy
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
custodian of law and order is not committed to
foundation for a modern and civilised society.
Whereas the Government may be validly aggrieved,
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 dem! ocracy is
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
Kenya launched an that a leading opposition through promoting and the Government, which is the the rule of law as the basic there are established and the right to information 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
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Message: 2 Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 15:02:32 +0300 From: "Bill Kagai" <billkagai@gmail.com> Subject: [Kictanet] Fwd: [Idlelo2] Re: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May To: "Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet" <kictanet@kictanet.or.ke> Message-ID: <5c0c81830603060402o3c67f699j84ac5bde5b7a738@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Still on media and distorted information...read on..
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nii Quaynor <quaynor@ghana.com> Date: Mar 6, 2006 2:27 PM Subject: [Idlelo2] Re: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May To: eric@afrispa.org, AfriNIC Discuss <afrinic-discuss@afrinic.net>, discuss@afrispa.org, committee@afrispa.org, afnog-admin@psg.com Cc: africasource2-l@lists.tacticaltech.org, Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet <kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>, En-ISPA_Team@afrispa.org, tier@tier.cs.berkeley.edu, afix@afrispa.org, IDLELO <idlelo2@fossfa.net>
Hi All,
The announcement had listed AfNOG and AfriNIC meetings as part of the AIF. This is the first time AfNOG organizers have heard of the AIF and wish all to know that AfNOG is not part of the AIF activities. The announced activity also conflicts with scheduled coordinated programs including ISOC INET Africa day on the 18th of May in Nairobi. We consider this announcement as an unfortunate attempt to hijack an event without playing a part nor coordinating with event organizers. And to mention AfNOG as part of AIF is outright dishonest even under the auspices of AfrISPA.
Sincerely, Nii.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric@afrispa.org> To: <discuss@afrispa.org>; <committee@afrispa.org>; <afrinic-discuss@afrinic.net> Cc: <africasource2-l@lists.tacticaltech.org>; "Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet" <kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>; <afix@afrispa.org>; <En-ISPA_Team@afrispa.org>; "IDLELO" <idlelo2@fossfa.net>; <tier@tier.cs.berkeley.edu> Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 4:51 PM Subject: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May
Press Release For Immediate Release (Contact; Eric M.K Osiakwan - eric@afrispa.org, +233.244.386792)
Africa's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May
4th March 2006 - the annual African Internet Forum will this year be held in Nairobi over 18-19 May and is expected to be the largest gathering of Africa's expanding Internet community.
The African Internet Forum provides an annual platform for ISPs, telecom operators, Internet users, developers, regulators, policy-makers and development agencies to share knowledge on the strategic and business issues related to the Internet's development in Africa.
The Forum is held under the auspices of the African ISP Association (AfrISPA) and is organized by AITEC in association with Balancing Act. The theme of this year's Forum will be "Survival of the fittest: How to thrive in the African Internet jungle"
Announcing the Forum, Russell Southwood CEO of Balancing Act and the forum programme co-ordinator, said: "Africa's Internet sector is simultaneously facing challenges that could make many of its players more marginal, whilst at the same time seeing enormous potential opportunities opening up for it. This Internet Forum seeks to let participants know what might be about to happen and to offer a briefing on how to avoid being crushed by the larger players."
Brian Longwe, GM of AfrISPA, said "Time has come for Africa's Internet community to take their futures - and livelihoods - into their own hands. For too long Africa has been dependent on overseas infrastructure and facilities to provide inter-country (and sometimes intra-country) connectivity. A key item on this year Internet Forum agenda will be the issue of Africa's ISPs finding ways of making the African backbone network a reality"
The Forum will follow the Internet training workshops, tutorials and related events being held by AfriNIC and AfNOG in Nairobi in May. AfNOG and AfriNIC are jointly organizing a two-week event that includes the AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology (offering advanced training in a week-long hands-on workshop), several half-day Tutorials, a one-day AfNOG meeting, and a two-day AfriNIC meeting. Further information about the event may be found at <http://www.afnog.org/afnog2006/> and <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/>.
AfNOG Workshop: 7-12 May 2006 (Sunday - Friday) AfNOG Tutorials: 14 May (Sunday) AfNOG Meeting: 15 May (Monday) AfriNIC Meeting: 16-17 May (Tuesday - Wednesday) African Internet Forum: 18-19 May (Thursday - Friday) AfrISPA AGM: 19 May (Friday)
-- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --
_______________________________________________ afrinic-discuss mailing list afrinic-discuss@afrinic.net http://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/afrinic-discuss
_______________________________________________ Idlelo2 mailing list Idlelo2@fossfa.net http://www.fossfa.net/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2
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Message: 3 Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 15:40:54 +0300 From: Brian Longwe <brian@pure-id.com> Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Fwd: [Idlelo2] Re: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May To: Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet <kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>, discuss@afrispa.org Message-ID: <FA03BE79-7465-44F5-AE6E-8B0E8E3FB07E@pure-id.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Wow Bill, you're really one to sniff out controversy.... :-)
IMHO It is unfortunate to see such a harsh response sent to the whole world - I wonder ...... why overlook the very clear statement that the Forum WILL FOLLOW the other events. There was no attempt to claim that the Forum was the convenor of these events - in fact it was clearly pointed out that "AFNOG and AfriNIC are jointly organizing...." But having said that maybe it would have been better to seek consent from any named organisations before mentioning them in the announcement - a lesson for the future.
On the ISOC thing I don't see it as a conflict but as an opportunity for synergistic scheduling. We are already in discussions with the NEPAD Council who are having an event over the same period after they saw that our dates COINCIDE (not conflict) with theirs.... it's all a matter of point of view -
.... is the cup half empty, or half full?
Anyway from past experience I know that this is probably a precursor to a power-play and possibly village politics that I think we need to steer clear of.... so let's get practical and make proactive proposals rather than start ripping each other's guts out.
Brian
On 6 Mar 2006, at 15:02, Bill Kagai wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nii Quaynor <quaynor@ghana.com> Date: Mar 6, 2006 2:27 PM Subject: [Idlelo2] Re: [afrinic-discuss] Africa 's Internet Community to gather in Nairobi in May To: eric@afrispa.org, AfriNIC Discuss <afrinic-discuss@afrinic.net>, discuss@afrispa.org, committee@afrispa.org, afnog-admin@psg.com Cc: africasource2-l@lists.tacticaltech.org, Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet <kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>, En-ISPA_Team@afrispa.org, tier@tier.cs.berkeley.edu, afix@afrispa.org, IDLELO <idlelo2@fossfa.net>
The Forum will follow the Internet training workshops, tutorials and related events being held by AfriNIC and AfNOG in Nairobi in May. AfNOG and AfriNIC are jointly organizing a two-week event that includes the AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology (offering advanced training in a week-long hands-on workshop), several half-day Tutorials, a one-day AfNOG meeting, and a two-day AfriNIC meeting. Further information about the event may be found at <http://www.afnog.org/afnog2006/> and <http://www.afrinic.net/ meeting/>.
participants (1)
-
mutua