[Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid o n STANDARD AND KTN Offices

[James Nguo]

Dear ALL,
I take Wainaina's sentiments that KICTANet should issue a statement but we
need to consult and agree on some facts in the statements. 

James Nguo
Regional Director

Arid Lands Information Network-Eastern Africa (ALIN-EA),
P.O. Box 10098, 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, Kenya, 
AAYMCA Building, Along State House Crescent, Off State House Avenue. 
Tel +254 20 2731557 
Telefax +254 20 2737813 
Email: james at alin.or.ke
Website: www.alin.or.ke 
------------------------------------------------------------- 
Enriched livelihoods of the people in arid areas of Eastern Africa through
targeted information support and facilitation of information exchange



-----Original Message-----
From: Made in Kenya.org [mailto:info at madeinkenya.org]
Sent: 03 March 2006 14:38
To: james at alin.or.ke
Cc: KIPlist
Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid
on STANDARD AND KTN Offices


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 at 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
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  We the members of the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), a multi
>  stakeholder group of organisations and networks from civil society,
private
>  sector, media, academia, and development partners 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 at email.kictanet.or.ke
>  

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