[kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections

[Sammy Buruchara]

Edith,

With due respect, I disagree with you.
Western governments always preach this kind of liberty that gives license to
all kinds of inflammatory information that agitate people yielding the 2007
type of reactions.

Whatever the views of people, we must not use the tools of mass
communications to incite people to wanton killings in the name of liberty.
Even the Western media in their home countries have a code of conduct that
includes delayed transmissions during major event such as Super Bowls or
even their own elections.

How was the media call for peace a tool of "oppression"?
I frankly hold a different view and believe that our media has done us
proud. Kenya has structures of government and communication and any
aggrieved party has avenues for redress without spread of malicious and
unconfirmed rumors that lead to violence and loss of life.

Sammy Buruchara

From:  Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca>
Date:  Monday, March 11, 2013 11:34 AM
To:  Sammy Buruchara <Buruchara at me.com>
Cc:  KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum <mediaeditors at lists.kictanet.or.ke>,
KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Subject:  [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections

Listers,
 
For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET) condemning
the role of the media in fueling the violence.
 
In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back ­ deep
and hard ­ it occurred to me that  the over-rated, over-hyped, over-done
"call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!!
 
Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and
voicelessŠ.you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to question, to
freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the going ons.  You were
promptly slapped with the "peace call² which immediately silenced you! Why
should I feel silenced by ³a call for peace²? Our national anthem talks of
³peace and liberty², what happened to ³liberty² during this period?
 
Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the unknown.
Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool".
 
In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God¹s birth of a NEW KENYA. It is
NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT get me wrong ­
I don¹t mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for Kenya that
is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially during this
Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as we enter into the
next 50 years ­ the next Jubilee).
 
>From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will truly be
our SHIELD and DEFENDER.
 
Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of TRUTH
(righteousness) and JUSTICE.
 
Reflective Edith
 
Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice
(Albert Camus)
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