[Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight

Mon Mar 6 17:47:09 EAT 2006

IN TOTAL AGGREEMENT WITH WALU.
REGARDS,
ALARI ALARE KENNETH

John Walubengo said:
> I for one was consulted and fully support the general spirit of the Press
> Release -which is basically:
>
> 1)  Irrespective of who is guilty and who is not, both parties should
> agree to resolve grievances  in a civilised manner (not by use of force)
> 2) This Forceful action can only paint the Government in bad light (which
> unfortunately doesnt seem to be something to worry about...)
> 3) The crime alluded  to have been committed does  not seem to match the
> method and the  'punishment' dispensed.
>
> I will also try to react using the '< >'  signs to some of your comments
> below.
>
>>>> "Made in Kenya.org" <info at madeinkenya.org> 03/03/06 02:38PM >>>
> 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.
> <I was...>
>   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.
>
> <Absolutely true.  That is why u must support the press release...the
> risks of getting 'wrong' information are far better than getting 'NO'
> information --which would be the state of play if this becomes the
> standard reaction for dealing with misreporting from journalists...>
>
> The statement will only serve to sanitise misconduct by the local media.
> <not necessary. I dont think the statement passes the 'NOT-Guilty'
> verdict. It simply says the Government action was uncalled for. Guilt and
> not guilty is for the courts to judge (and not even the Governmet should
> simoultaneously accuse, prosecute and punish)>
>
>  KICTANet should not be seen as a trade association <I didnt get this
> bit..> 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.
> < the program for next week focuses on what and how  the  Media can
> enhance ICT coverage>
>
>  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.
>
> <This could be highly true. But again, the question is. Was this the most
> appropriate reaction to dealing  with this? I am sure there are more
> 'sophisticated' (and still illegal ;-)) methods of dealing with
> this-Surely!>
>
> The unilateral
> <I don't think it was unilateral. As I said, I was consulted, possibly
> others too may have been consulted, that makes it at least 'Bi-lateral'
> ;-)>
>  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.
> <Good point, I am sure a paragraph to remind the media on this would have
> been appropriate>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Wainaina Mungai
>
> <--walu.>
>
>>  -------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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Kenneth Alari Alare
cell +254 722 465 998
     +254 735 66 21 91
alternative email: watoyi at yahoo.com
aka JAGDISH SODHA 'book maker'