[kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row

[Wamuyu Gatheru]

I think arguing only the merits of the bids in the context of telcoms  
(a strategic/security issue) will only provide half the answers. The  
country is in political transition and headed into another election  
where the jury on peace is still out. In the last few weeks, I have  
noticed political bias starting to appear in TV coverage depending on  
the political affiliations of the owners. The media may forget itself  
again in the heat of the election competition and I would not be  
suprised if someone in govt. wants the power to switch stations off -  
the Chinese can do this but local media houses would find this  
unacceptable.

Hopefully, if media demonstrate maturity next year, govt. may cease to  
be concerned about who controls the signals.

Its not a nice picture for media freedoms or harnessing local capacity  
for that matter. But there may hard realities the govt. may need to be  
ready to deal with.

On the other hand, I may be entirely wrong and it may well be that the  
Chinese bribe was the biggest!..(another of our hard realities)

Wamuyu