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

Wainaina Mungai wainaina at madeinkenya.org
Sat Mar 4 14:25:19 EAT 2006


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 at 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 at 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 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
>  > >  
>  > >  
>  > >  
>  > >  
>  > >  

>  > 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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>  >
>  === message truncated ===
>  
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>  ---
>  Submitted by: Sparrow David Malaba - KITC <sdmalaba at yahoo.com> 2006-03-04 03:40:01 EST5
>  (Please reply to original submitter for private communication)
>  ---
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