[kictanet] Slaying the Tribal Monster! - The media again!

Thu Feb 7 00:12:07 EAT 2013

Hello out there!

All the discussions and commitments we have been making within the media industry about the need for restraint have been lost, more so with the coverage of the recent party primaries.  For instance, the undue focus and exaggeration of certain situations by the media on Nyanza during the nominations and even now as we go towards the elections point to lack of restraint and a sense of responsibility. Of course there are other examples from other parts of the country. 

There are credible reports that a number of candidates massively bribed individual journalists and  continue to retain some ahead of the elections to skew the reporting in their favour. Some of the demonstration arising from the nominations were manipulated by the media and candidates. The demos, some of which were not necessarily spontaneous,  were in some cases reported with glee as if that was what was expected. 

For instance, I was in Kisumu on Sunday January 20, 2013 when the media reported that "Kisumu was paralyzed" and that Kondele was a "no go zone" and people were asked to avoid the Kisumu-Kakamega road. I went up to Kondele and saw the less than 20 youths who had lit fire on the Kondele -Kibos road. Traffic from Kakamega and Kibos was flowing and I used the route.

Most people simply watched them and went about their businesses as usual. The police came within less than ten minutes (actually Kondele Police Station is a stone throw away from the scene) and the youths helped the police to clear the road. Beyond the place- less than 300 hundred metres away, people did not even notice anything was happening. Those (I included) who later watched the TV footage on the incident could not believe both the way the images were presented and the comments.

More than ten of my friends who knew I was in Kisumu called me - alarmed - and my assurances that Kisumu was calm fell on deaf years. A number cancelled their trips to Kisumu and also advise others that Kisumu was unsafe. A friend of mine who runs a hotel reported more 5 of his regular guests who were due to arrive that day, canceling their bookings.

A two-day meeting with senior journalists and correspondents from all the six counties in Nyanza gave the clearest picture of the extent to which the reporting was manipulated both from Nairobi and locally and the interests and influences that attended to the period and which apparently continue, and will into the actual polling day. 

Two journalists in one of the counties, were at one time virtually coerced -in the night - by two contesting sides to announce incomplete results and got virtually held hostage when they refused to take the bribe money they were offered. The same groups bribed returning officers and threatened others. 

In some areas, including Nyatike, some journalists have been completely barred or face such threats due to their perceived support for some candidates. Indeed most of the reports currently being carried by the media are actually sourced from on phone and from sources, both within the government and others that cannot be cannot be described as credible, or capable of giving the true picture of the situation. 

There is an initiative I am involved in with others, to compile some information on these trends. Journalists were also under pressure or became victims of bribery in other parts of the country including Mombasa, Nairobi, Rift Valley, Central among others. The attitude and interests of some editors and media houses is not encouraging or helpful at all.

Some candidates had unfettered access to some media houses to declare themselves winners or "thank" people in their regions for electing them even when they did not win! Talk show hosts in some stations acted and continue to act as party activists in their comments, declaring which candidate will win and the others who will be "taught a lesson".

I think we are not being honest and we are going to again debate the role of the media in fueling conflicts after the elections. More ominously, the safety and security of some journalists across the country will be compromised.

Oloo Janak.

________________________________
 From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
To: williamjanak at yahoo.com 
Cc: KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum <mediaeditors at lists.kictanet.or.ke>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 7:03 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Slaying the Tribal Monster!

Edith,
We had a press conference today about the same but everytime we raise
these issues we get abused by very educated people.  Politicians are
supposed to expound on their Manifesto in public rallies and on TV but
what we have seen is actually an attempt to fan violence through lies.  We
must refuse this as a people if we love this country.  Politicians are
ordinarily followers such that if we refuse to listen to their inciting
messages, they will revert to something else possibly issues.

Ndemo.

> Listers,
>
> I can't resist but share my pain....that indeed the media can entertain
> "raw tribal discussions" on live TV! While one may argue that it's reality
> and we must deal with it, if it divides us and tears us apart, why not
> pursue other alternatives?...why not take advantage of this defining
> moment in our history (backed by the current constitution) to build a NEW
> FOUNDATION and help the country "unlearn" these bad habits that we've been
> socialized into over the years and has taken us no-where? It's possible to
> "unlearn"!!
>
> The good bible tells us "teach thy children the ways of the Lord and they
> shall never depart from it"....in the same vein "feed Kenyans with
> positive vibes and we shall build a stronger and more united country"
>
> Media (which forms this important industry represented on this list) is
> well aware that by their very nature, they "set the agenda and shape
> public opinion". You have a huge responsibility to play in carving a great
> future for Kenya, stand up and resist ethnic division in this country. We
> must build our nation based on development concerns and address issues
> dear to the hearts of Kenyans.
>
> When last time (2007/2008), Bwana Ndemo gave his opinion (official or
> non-official) about the role the media played in 2007, I wonder if he
> wasn't right? Where is NCIC? Where is the Media Council?
>
> This madness has to stop!
>
> Edith (my heart is bleeding for Kenya).
>
>
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