[kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Kenya communications (amendment) Bill: Is media overacting?

Sun Dec 14 23:51:07 EAT 2008

Murigi,

I stand correct........

Thanks for the assurance that all is well, really thats what we all want
so we can build our Africa.

Have a goodnight.

Eric here

> Eric,
>
> To the contrary, things are very good in Kenya. Two unrestrained animals
> (parliament and the media) are tying a noose around each others neck.
> Few of us have little sympathy for either side and expect them to tame
> each other.
>
> Murigi
>
> emko at internetresearch.com.gh wrote:
>> Good people,
>>
>> At this point, finger pointing does not help and really "two wrongs does
>> not make a right" because tempers are going high and Bill established
>> what
>> i was driving at, things could get back like before and you dont want
>> that.
>>
>> Please lets appeal to the voice of reasoning and apply measures that
>> would
>> retract this track because all you need is like what happened in Greece
>> the other day, a police officer deliberately or not shot a teenager and
>> that country has not known peace.
>>
>> For Kenya, we dont even have the luxury of the Greece situation given
>> the
>> legacy so please i would put my weight behind Bill's proposals below,
>> lets
>> move quickly to calm tempers and defuse the tension.
>>
>> I left Nairobi this morning for Accra and trust me, the atmosphere was
>> not
>> good for my liking.
>>
>> Eric here
>>
>>
>>
>>> Wainaina/Alice et al,
>>>
>>> 1. How can Kictanet help package the following for consumption in the
>>> public
>>> domain??
>>> 2. How can stakeholders in this forum help guide this paradigm
>>> shift...i.e...that there is a different school of thought that cares
>>> about
>>> the rest of the bill and is willing to champion dialogue rather than
>>> fighting the Media??
>>> 3. At Mediacorp, we can support Kictanet with 1/2page space in a
>>> leading
>>> daily (if need be) to pioneer dialogue and consensus building
>>> activities.
>>> We
>>> believe that kictanet can help cool temparatures before our businesses
>>> are
>>> affected for the second time this year.
>>>
>>> Bill
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 8:15 PM, Wainaina Mungai
>>> <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> To add to Alice's point, it is clear the media is determined to
>>>> exclude content that would inform and empower the public...if the said
>>>> content does not serve short-term interests of the media owners. The
>>>> freedom of the media should not be at the expense of public interests.
>>>>
>>>> For instance, it is common knowledge that many objective and
>>>> professional editors find themselves at the mercy of their employers
>>>> whenever a news piece does not favour a friend of the owner. That is
>>>> how we ended up with a media with blood in it's hands during the
>>>> post-election crisis. It's all about the biased reporting the media
>>>> has resorted to in fighting the Bill.
>>>>
>>>> So who should determine the direction and nature of content? An
>>>> independent government regulator or the media owners? Maybe a mix of
>>>> the two would be a step forward...which is what the amendments would
>>>> result in.
>>>>
>>>> If the President passes the Bill, the big change for media would be on
>>>> matters of programming codes. The other big issue of Section 88 is
>>>> neither here nor there because failure by the President to ascent will
>>>> leave us with the same provision under KCA (1998).
>>>>
>>>> Wainaina
>>>>
>>>> On 12/14/08, alice <alice at apc.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> David,
>>>>>
>>>>> Perhaps the media could start by reporting accurately. Some of the
>>>>> sections the media find so offensive already exist in the 1998
>>>>> communications act. So why not present the  big full  picture to all
>>>>> and
>>>>> especially the public?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> alice
>>>>>
>>>>> (Views expressed are personal and not a reflection of any of the
>>>>> organizations I am affiliated with)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> dmakali at yahoo.com wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Wainaina
>>>>>> I can't argue against your sources but am certain that stage of
>>>>>> black
>>>>>>
>>> out
>>>
>>>>>> for mps hasn't been reached at all. In fact we are meeting tue to
>>>>>>
>>> evaluate
>>>
>>>>>> exactly the import of the passage of that bill and bring every1 on
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> same page.
>>>>>> Of course blacking out not just some 25 mps but all is very much a
>>>>>> possible line of action. And for good reason- these mps did not
>>>>>> consider
>>>>>> ANY of the changes we proposed. That gang approach doesn't lend
>>>>>> itself
>>>>>>
>>> to
>>>
>>>>>> decent engagement frm the media. They have abused their power and
>>>>>>
>>> ignored
>>>
>>>>>> our views, not reasonably but glibly.
>>>>>> I am totally in agrment with thoz who argue the broadcast media
>>>>>> needs
>>>>>> regulation, because it is true. I don't even share some defensive
>>>>>> views
>>>>>> about ownership held by moa- I see no value in nmg getting more
>>>>>> radio
>>>>>> or
>>>>>> tv frequencies for eg coz they already have too many, or royal media
>>>>>> having all thoz frequencies. Its simply obscene. But that is a diff
>>>>>>
>>> story
>>>
>>>>>> frm govt getting into micro management of media conent or , the
>>>>>> minister
>>>>>> having power to raid and confiscate equipment or occupy or take over
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> media house. There was no emergency wen michuki used mercenaries to
>>>>>> raid
>>>>>> standard.
>>>>>> Plus the ethical issues being raised about content can and are
>>>>>> already
>>>>>> addressed under the media act. The worst thing you want is to invite
>>>>>>
>>> govt
>>>
>>>>>> fiat into content matters. You will rue the day you get a
>>>>>> dictatorial
>>>>>> govt. Examples are many.
>>>>>> Similarly, how do you allow the minister to give directions to a
>>>>>> commission that's supposd to be independent? He shud take its advice
>>>>>> not
>>>>>> rubber stamp his decisions. And how do you have a commission
>>>>>> appointed
>>>>>> solely by the minister without any guidelines? Criteria to follow?
>>>>>> Finally did you see the clause about kbc? Nothing about its roles,
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> obligations? Even the principal act is beta!
>>>>>> Well, wainaina and other kictanets, it would be useful to speak to
>>>>>> these
>>>>>> issues even as you condemn the media for obviously lopsided
>>>>>> reporting
>>>>>>
>>> and
>>>
>>>>>> wailing.
>>>>>> David
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my BlackBerry(R) wireless device
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: "Wainaina Mungai" <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:53:55
>>>>>> To: <dmakali at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy
>>>>>> Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Kenya communications (amendment)
>>>>>> Bill:
>>>>>>
>>> Is
>>>
>>>>>> media overacting?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> David,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am very much involved the media and you & I know that it was
>>>>>> agreed
>>>>>> that the Action Plan includes a "blackout to..." as well as all the
>>>>>> issues I indicated.The point is clear. I have told the truth
>>>>>> relating
>>>>>> to the content of the Action Plan.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The question of execution is separate. Ndemo having been on K24 is
>>>>>> does not change much but it is not in line with the Action
>>>>>> Plan....meaning, we need to complement K24 for that step.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Let's be honest in our submissions especially concerning such
>>>>>>
>>> revelations.
>>>
>>>>>> Wainaina
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12/14/08, dmakali at yahoo.com <dmakali at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That's not true. You have obviously exaggerated in trying to put
>>>>>>> across
>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>> cheap propaganda. Ndemo was on k24 this morning and he was of
>>>>>>> course
>>>>>>>
>>> not
>>>
>>>>>>> opposing the bill. Plus, you should ask yourself, who has come out
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> support the bill and not been given airtime.
>>>>>>> Yes, the media is campaigning, but it has not yet agreed or
>>>>>>> employed
>>>>>>>
>>> any
>>>
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> the strategies you have listed. Their time is coming.  And we don't
>>>>>>>
>>> need
>>>
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> go to previous regimes to show brutal attacks against the media.
>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>> worst
>>>>>>> have taken place under the current regime!
>>>>>>> You have more to be grateful than disgusted with the media. Be just
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> little
>>>>>>> more reflective and considerate otherwise your diabolical hatred of
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> media lacks foundation.
>>>>>>> David
>>>>>>> Sent from my BlackBerry(R) wireless device
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: "Wainaina Mungai" <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:08:09
>>>>>>> To: <dmakali at yahoo.com>
>>>>>>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Kenya communications
>>>>>>> (amendment)
>>>>>>>     Bill: Is media overacting?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The truth is that the "supporters" you see on TV, hear on radio,
>>>>>>> read
>>>>>>> in papers are not by accident. The Media Owners Association (MoA)
>>>>>>> crafted a campaign strategy that includes the "media blackout to
>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>> MPs who supported the Bill and The Ministry of Information &
>>>>>>> Communications".
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> According to persons privy to the media campaign strategy, we have
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> big problem here and it's about time Kenyans were told the
>>>>>>> objective
>>>>>>> truth. Unfortunately, the people who own the media houses are
>>>>>>> determined to use every possible means to ensure the Bill is not
>>>>>>> signed. You will not hear a supporter of the Bill being given
>>>>>>> coverage.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The strategy is clearly not intended to yield an objective result.
>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>> intention is to shape public opinion even through biased reporting.
>>>>>>> The strategy includes:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1. Ensure President dioesn't sign the Bill, by publicly petitioning
>>>>>>>
>>> him.
>>>
>>>>>>> 2. Take advantage of Jamhuri Day to show images of raids conducted
>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>> previous regimes.
>>>>>>> 3. Run a media campaign that includes 'same headline' in all papers
>>>>>>> and similar headlines on electronic media.
>>>>>>> 4. Shape public opinion through campains and show that the Bill is
>>>>>>> unconstitutional...etc etc
>>>>>>> 5. Blackout all supporters of the Bill, Ministry & only invite
>>>>>>> civil
>>>>>>> society players who support the interests of the media. Keep
>>>>>>> watching
>>>>>>> and you'll notice the biased reporting.
>>>>>>> 6. The coverage of the issue in the weekend papers (circulation) is
>>>>>>> also part of the strategy. This will not stop until the President
>>>>>>> yields to the Media's agenda.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The media has the right to petition the President but the problem
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> their campaign is that Media Owners have actually agreed not to
>>>>>>> cover
>>>>>>> the issue objectively. They have conspired to shape public opinion
>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>> all possible means including excluding all those who have a
>>>>>>> different
>>>>>>> opinion.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In doing so, they demonstrate the need for legislative regulation.
>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>> nation is now at the mercy of the media and the public will only be
>>>>>>> fed with one side of the story.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Over to you.
>>>>>>> Wainaina
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 12/14/08, Kinuthia Muchane <muchanek at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Habari,
>>>>>>>> Maybe the media is overacting, maybe the the MPs are wrong... But
>>>>>>>> one
>>>>>>>> interesting thing about this issue is the timidity of the MPs, to
>>>>>>>>
>>> begin
>>>
>>>>>>>> with, in the news all I am hearing are our dear elected
>>>>>>>>
>>> representatives
>>>
>>>>>>>> vowing their undying support for all sorts of freedom, including
>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>
>>> of
>>>
>>>>>>>> Press, so my question is, isn't there one, single MP who supported
>>>>>>>> passing of the Bill who can come out in defence of his or her
>>>>>>>> stand?
>>>>>>>>
>>> Or
>>>
>>>>>>>> is it because they always pander to the Press, they do not want to
>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>> seen in 'bad' light .
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On the other hand, most of us take what we hear on the radio or
>>>>>>>> watch
>>>>>>>>
>>> on
>>>
>>>>>>>> TV as gospel truth, and the unfortunate fact of life is that the
>>>>>>>> majority of us have no other source of  information, or do not
>>>>>>>> seek
>>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>> avenues of
>>>>>>>> getting information, a fact very well
>>>>>>>> known by members of the so called "Fourth Estate". So when they
>>>>>>>> drench
>>>>>>>> us with "details" about the dangers of the bill's amendment no
>>>>>>>> matter
>>>>>>>> how
>>>>>>>> skewed their
>>>>>>>> opinion is, we will believe them hook, line and sinker!
>>>>>>>> If you ask me, in a country like ours with a very shaky social,
>>>>>>>> political and economic foundation, these merchants of
>>>>>>>> "information" should be very closely and regularly monitored, a
>>>>>>>> Radio
>>>>>>>> Mille Collines can happen here very easily...
>>>>>>>> In any case, ain't all these media 'houses' just commercial
>>>>>>>>
>>> enterprises
>>>
>>>>>>>> out to make a tidy profit?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Kinuthia...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> ke-internetusers mailing list
>>>>>>>> ke-internetusers at bdix.net
>>>>>>>> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>> http://www.bungesms.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> TWITTER - http://www.twitter.com/bungesms
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> KABISSA.org -
>>>>>>> http://www.kabissa.org/about/news/member-spotlight-made-kenya-network
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> KAMPALA Workshop presentation -
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>> http://m4d.kcl.co.ug/sites/default/files/presentations/BungeSMS_MadeinKenyaNetwork.pdf
>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
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>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>>
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>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>> http://www.bungesms.com
>>>>
>>>> TWITTER - http://www.twitter.com/bungesms
>>>>
>>>> KABISSA.org -
>>>>
>>> http://www.kabissa.org/about/news/member-spotlight-made-kenya-network
>>>
>>>> KAMPALA Workshop presentation -
>>>>
>>>>
>>> http://m4d.kcl.co.ug/sites/default/files/presentations/BungeSMS_MadeinKenyaNetwork.pdf
>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Bildad Kagai
>>> MD - MediaCorp Limited
>>> Nairobi Stock Exchange Authorised Information Vendor
>>> Suite B2, Tetu Court, State House Avenue
>>> P. O. Box 20311 - 00200
>>> Nairobi, Kenya
>>> Tel. 254 20 272 8332
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>