[Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices
Dorcas Muthoni
dmuthoni at kenet.or.ke
Mon Mar 6 17:27:35 EAT 2006
Dear Members,
Please lets not loose focus here. Lets go purely to the issues. I
believe it will be more objective if we focus on the issues at hand.
My observation is:
1. Self-regulation within the media is WEAK. The media council has to
wake up and be seen to be effective.
2. The press freedom MUST be entrenched into the highest law of this
land and observed.
Muthoni
Wainaina Mungai wrote:
>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 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 at kcct.ac.ke>
>> Subject: RE: [Kictanet] Kenya ICT Action Network Condemns Overnight Raid on STANDARD AND KTN Offices
>> 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 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.
>>
>> 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 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.
>>
>> my fifty cents.
>>
>> walu.
>>
>>
>> >>> <Anthony.MUSUNJI at 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 at lyris.idrc.ca [mailto:benmakai at 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 at 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. 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 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 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 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
>> > &g! t; > 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 dem! ocracy 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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>> > ---
>> > Submitted by: Sparrow David Malaba - KITC <sdmalaba at yahoo.com> 2006-03-04
>> 03:40:01 EST5
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>> ---
>> Submitted by: Wainaina Mungai (One World) <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>
>> 2006-03-04 06:33:46 EST5
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>>
>>
>>
>> ================================
>> Charles M.M. Hunja, IT Manager
>> International Development Research Centre
>> P.O. Box 62084 - City Square,
>> Nairobi, Kenya
>> Tel 254 020 2713160/1: Fax: 254 020 2711063
>>
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