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

Fri Feb 8 10:30:07 EAT 2013

Hi all,

While many are concerned about the tribal monster, and with good reason for
this concern, I am troubled by what I'm beginning to see on social media
(esp Facebook) in the form of religious propaganda.

I have began to see people sharing updates about so called prophesies that
have been made by men/women of God - upon reading and interpretation these
so called prophesies are actually eliminating or targetted at one
particular candidate.

I wonder whether the monitoring that the police and other authorities are
doing will also filter out such?

Brian

On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 9:44 AM, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca> wrote:

>  Well said Wainaina, as someone who has worked in mainstream media…we
> hear you.****
>
> ** **
>
> Can we hear from Bwana Ndemo and Minister on this?****
>
> ** **
>
> Edith****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=
> idrc.ca at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Eng. Wainaina Mungai
> *Sent:* February 8, 2013 2:15 AM
> *To:* Edith Adera
> *Cc:* KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] [mediaeditors] Slaying the Tribal Monster! -
> The media again!****
>
> ** **
>
> Exactly five years ago, in February 2008, we had this thread on Kictanet -
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/2008-February/003789.html**
> **
>
> ** **
>
> As you can tell from the thread, the role of the media during elections is
> a delicate topic. However, we need to curve a new reality for Kenyan media.
> I believe in an enabling environment through regulation that tames vested
> interests of individual media owners. I speak as one who has worked in the
> management teams of two private media houses after having been
> significantly involved in the National ICT Policy process, WSIS process and
> the digital migration debate. From experience, we need regulation at all
> levels including ensuring media houses taking responsibility for content
> that goes through the airwaves licensed to them and legislating the
> requirement for *privately-owned media houses*. to be impartial in
> coverage and responsible for their content. The Constitutional and legal
> provisions may be a powerful way for us to ensure responsible media. As
> such, we need to revisit *Section 34* of the new Constitution which may
> hold the answer to the *loopholes* and barriers we created in the
> Constitutional review process. ****
>
> ** **
>
> See below:****
>
> ** **
>   SECTION 34: FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA****
>
> (1) Freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other
> types of media is guaranteed, but does not extend to any
> expression specified in Article 33 (2).****
>
>
> (2) The State shall not—
> (a) exercise control over or interfere with any person
> engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation
> of any publication or the dissemination of information
> by any medium; or
> *(b) penalise any person for any opinion or view or the
> content of any broadcast, publication or dissemination.*****
>
> (3) Broadcasting and other electronic media have freedom of
> establishment, subject only to licensing procedures that—
> (a) are necessary to regulate the airwaves and other forms
> of signal distribution; and
> (b) are independent of control by government, political
> interests or commercial interests.****
>
> *(4) All State-owned media *shall—
> (a) be free to determine independently the editorial content
> of their broadcasts or other communications;
> (b) be impartial; and
> (c) afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent
> views and dissenting opinions.****
>
> (5) Parliament shall enact legislation that provides for the
> establishment of a body, which shall—
> (a) be independent of control by government, political
> interests or commercial interests;
> (b) reflect the interests of all sections of the society; and
> *(c) set media standards and regulate and monitor
> compliance with those standards.*****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 7:50 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe at gmail.com>
> wrote:****
>
> Thanks for sharing this Bwana Oloo,
>
> This raises some very serious issues around the integrity of our media
> houses, the selfishness of our political aspirants, and the gullibility of
> our populace.
>
> What measures can be taken to guard against further abuses?
>
> Brian****
>
> On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 12:12 AM, william janak <williamjanak at yahoo.com>
> wrote:****
>
>   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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> >
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> >
> > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
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>
>
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
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> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.****
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> ****
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> ** **
>
> -- ****
>
> *Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our
> Creator who loves us. *
>
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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