[kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Coverage of migration licence issue by a few media houses unreasonable

Wed Jul 27 20:27:36 EAT 2011

Macharia,
Please read the Star one and see that some issues were removed for some
reason.

Regards

Ndemo.

> Bitange,
> Perhaps you could point out any areas where Daily Nation substantially
> altered the gist of your response. The editor usually reserves the right
> to edit contributions for space, brevity, typographical errors etc.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mgaitho=nation.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
> Behalf Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
> Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:58 PM
> To: Macharia Gaitho
> Cc: Eng. Wainaina Mungai; ke-users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Coverage of migration licence
> issue by a few media houses unreasonable
>
> Solomon,
> It is actually my right of reply that is in the new constitution which is
> working but NMG decided to edit my response.  The correct record was
> published by the Star.
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>
>
>> On 27 July 2011 00:17, Eng. Wainaina Mungai
>> <wainaina at madeinkenya.org>wrote:
>>
>>> This is a good step by Nation in giving coverage to the "other side" of
>>> the
>>> debate.....Note also that it is not only media houses that have opposed
>>> the
>>> decision. Mayfox Company Ltd (one more of the 4 bidders) went on TV
>>> today to
>>> make their position known. In time, all these little bits of data from
>>> concerned parties are beginning to form the building blocks of 'the big
>>> picture' we all must be scratching pur heads to unravel.
>>>
>>> For now, maybe a Q&A session involving media, CCK and civil society on
>>> this
>>> fora over copious cups of Kenyan arabica coffee or Ketepa at one of our
>>> fancy hotels will ease the tension and allow us to have a healthier
>>> debate.
>>>
>>> Any takers?
>>>
>>
>> I agree. The NMG, has done great to give an ear to the 'other side' of
>> the
>> debate.
>>
>> The next thing is for MOIC, to convene a Q&A Session so as to make the
>> playing ground level enough.
>>
>> Dakitari, this is not only crucial, but imperative to let us not
>> understand
>> that there is no any form of blackmail!!!
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> By BITANGE NDEMO
>>>> 26 July, 2011
>>>>
>>>> I have followed the debate on the failure by a
>>>> consortium of local media firms to win the award
>>>> for a digital migration licence with dismay.
>>>>
>>>> The impression created by the media firms is that
>>>> the award of the licence to a Chinese firm is ill
>>>> thought-out on the grounds of probity and press
>>>> freedom.
>>>>
>>>> The facts about digital migration speak for
>>>> themselves. When Kenya decided to pursue it, the
>>>> Ministry of Information established a Digital
>>>> Migration Committee to oversee all processes
>>>> including the licensing of backbone infrastructure
>>>> developers.
>>>>
>>>> The committee offered a licence to media owners
>>>> with interest in the broadcast sub-sector as a means
>>>> of mitigating their investments.
>>>>
>>>> However, as soon as the licence was offered, the
>>>> media houses disagreed on how to share this
>>>> national resource. As a result, a tender process was
>>>> seen as the best way to address the disagreements.
>>>>
>>>> But even when they disagreed, our doors were wide
>>>> open, but the media houses decided not to negotiate
>>>> with the tender committee, opting instead for the
>>>> competitive tender process.
>>>>
>>>> With the doors thrown wide open to local and
>>>> international bidders, the Chinese firm that has been
>>>> the subject of controversy won the contract.
>>>>
>>>> Taken aback, the media houses sought the
>>>> intervention of the Procurement Appeals Tribunal,
>>>> which eventually confirmed that the Chinese firm
>>>> had won fairly.
>>>>
>>>> In the criticism levelled at the government, the
>>>> media houses have sought to portray the process as
>>>> riddled with impropriety.
>>>>
>>>> While it is true that corruption has not been
>>>> completely rooted out of the Kenyan society, there is
>>>> no iota of evidence to suggest that the licence is not
>>>> above-board.
>>>>
>>>> If there were any underhand dealings, the media
>>>> houses should point them out.
>>>>
>>>> Indeed, this latest case of crying foul after losing a
>>>> competitive bid mirrors what happened a while ago
>>>> when the selfsame media houses took legal action
>>>> when a Swedish firm, Smart TV, was allowed to
>>>> broadcast through the Kenya Broadcasting
>>>> Corporation.
>>>>
>>>> Eventually, the court ruled there was no irregularity
>>>> in the process. But the continued attacks on Smart
>>>> TV led to its exit from the Kenya market.
>>>>
>>>> To say the least, the message being sent to potential
>>>> investors in the dynamic media sector is that local
>>>> media have ring-fenced the industry and will do
>>>> anything to frustrate entry by other players.
>>>>
>>>> The departure of Smart TV will, for instance, deny
>>>> Kenya 100 jobs, not to mention other economic
>>>> benefits, all because a few media enterprises want to
>>>> maintain monopolies.
>>>>
>>>> The articles published and radio programmes
>>>> broadcast over the last couple of days insinuate that
>>>> it is China, the country, that won the licence, when
>>>> the truth is that the licensee is a locally registered
>>>> company with Chinese origins.
>>>>
>>>> Dragging in the name of a country that enjoys cordial
>>>> diplomatic relations with Kenya is bad for diplomacy
>>>> and international relations.
>>>>
>>>> The claim that the Kenyan media will suffer loss of
>>>> freedom because a Chinese firm has won a backbone
>>>> infrastructure licence is to suggest that the licence is
>>>> for content generation or control, which is far from
>>>> the truth.
>>>>
>>>> If the truth be told, the government has always
>>>> wanted a situation where there is a multiplicity of
>>>> channels and voices in the media.
>>>>
>>>> This inclination towards plurality and liberalisation of
>>>> the media is what is under siege by those opposed to
>>>> anybody else controlling outlets.
>>>>
>>>> The digital migration era provides a great
>>>> opportunity for addressing the imbalances in the
>>>> media sector, where some operatives have a
>>>> suffocating control of the airwaves.
>>>>
>>>> The media houses seeking to influence public opinion
>>>> in their favour have refused to acknowledge that the
>>>> ministry and the Communications Commission of
>>>> Kenya have agreed to issue another licence for the
>>>> industry in view of the investments they have made.
>>>>
>>>> Why the focus is not on this window is anybody's
>>>> guess. It would appear that our media are utterly
>>>> averse to fair play and competition.
>>>>
>>>> Sooner or later, we shall be in the era of web
>>>> broadcasting with very little control by the
>>>> government, meaning that Kenyans will be able to
>>>> broadcast even from their bedrooms. Those stuck in
>>>> the past will be quickly by-passed.
>>>>
>>>> Dr Ndemo is permanent secretary, Ministry of
>>>> Information and Communications.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Coverage+of+migration+licence+issue+unreasonable+/-/440808/1208244/-/item/0/-/uh53l1/-/index.html
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> ke-internetusers mailing list
>>>> ke-internetusers at bdix.net
>>>> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *
>>>
>>> Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in
>>> our
>>> Creator who loves us.
>>> *
>>>
>>>
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