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

Wed Jul 27 21:28:39 EAT 2011

Dakitari and Macharia,

I've got to read them both, then make my own conclusion.

If there is a way I  can access the Right of Reply from the Nation and
the Star, I would be grateful [a link would be appreciated], as I'm in
the Great Rift Valley Lodge for a retreat.

Asanteni

On 27/07/2011, Macharia Gaitho <mgaitho at ke.nationmedia.com> wrote:
> Daktari,
>
> First, just to clarify that I contribute in this forum as a individual and
> as a professional, not as an employee of NMG or as representative of Kenya
> Editors' Guild -- unless expressly stated.
>
> Anyway, following your complaint below, I was appalled that any
> self-respecting newspaper would willfully distort the argument of a
> contributor; especially where it has a vested interest in the debate at
> hand.
>
> I therefore took the trouble to get the original article you submitted. I
> compared it closely with the one eventually published in the Daily Nation of
> today, July 27.
>
> While the published version did go through an editors pen, like everything
> else that finds space in the newspaper, I am pretty satisfied that there
> were no distortions or dilution of your submission.
>
> However you gave us some 1,140 words, and the article had to be condensed to
> fit in a space that takes just under 700 words.
>
> Obviously some of your comments had to give way, but I think anyone would
> agree that there were no material changes.
>
> Regards,
>
> Kindest Macharia
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke [mailto:bitange at jambo.co.ke]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 8:28 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
>
> 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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