[kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections

[Andrea Bohnstedt]

Sammy, I don't understand why you reference Western media - this had little
to do with them.
Edith raised the important point that many Kenyans found themselves
speechless and voiceless. It's an issue worth addressing, I think. I fully
understand that in the Kenyan context, the media houses agreed not to
broadcast political party statements live. But between that, and a
wholesale silencing of any critical voice, there might have been some
ground to look at claims, check if you can find anything to debunk them
instantly or substantiate them, and then report on this.

Have a good week, everyone,
Andrea

On 11 March 2013 12:18, Sammy Buruchara <buruchara at me.com> wrote:

> 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
> voiceless….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 call” which immediately silenced you! Why
> should I feel silenced by “a call for peace”? Our national anthem talks of
> “peace and liberty”, what happened to “liberty” 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 God’s birth of a NEW KENYA. It is
> NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT get me wrong
> – I don’t 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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> 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,
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-- 
Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt>
Publisher

www.ratio-magazine.com
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