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

Wed Jul 27 22:20:34 EAT 2011

I remain convinced that *Ketepa/Kahawa Q&A Session *will help us all see the
light. Daktari and colleagues, let us spare some coffee/tea time and iron
the issues out openly instead of the edited/otherwise versions of opinions.

*NOTE:* This is mail sent as an individual and not representative of Royal
Media.

On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 9:28 PM, Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau
<solo.mburu at gmail.com>wrote:

> 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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-- 
*

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our
Creator who loves us.
*
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