[kictanet] Are we throwing the baby with the bath water?

Thu Mar 28 10:17:50 EAT 2013

George

Agreed.

Thanks for the lesson in History..:-) I guess that usually does happen.
Like the statement that is mostly attributed to JFK - Ask not what your
country can do for you but what you can do for your country - That was
actually made by Khalil Jibran, A Christian Arab philosopher.

*Ali Hussein*

*CEO, 3mice interactive media ltd*

*Partner, Telemedia Africa Ltd
*

Tel: +254713601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

Blog: www.alyhussein.com

On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 8:56 AM, George Nyabuga <george at afrinic.net> wrote:

> Thanks Ali for posting this. I have always wondered whether there is a
> crime called 'posting annoying statements'? Any statute or case law that we
> can rely on? I think the DPP should give direction on this as this wastes a
> lot of court time and ultimately our money (paying for investigations,
> prosecution etc.). But could be wrong but not aware of any statute or case
> law (common law) that makes it a crime to make annoying statements? I also
> saw the guy involved with Tuju being charged with making statements to
> 'annoy' him. I am about to sue so many people for making statements that
> 'annoy' me  including he director of Public Communications, Ms Mary
> Ombara and Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia (the latter has also
> 'annoyed' VP Kalonzo Musyoka and PM Raila Odinga). Take my last statement
> with a pinch of salt but you can see how the charges are annoying to those
> of us who cherish free speech.****
>
>
>
> On a lighter note, the statement that 'I disapprove of what you say, but I
> will defend to the death your right to say it' is often wrongly attributed
> to Voltaire but was in fact first made by S.G. Tallentyre (real name Evelyn
> Beatrice Hall) who wrote Voltaire’s biography.****
>
> Dr George Nyabuga                                                 Tel:
> +230 403 51 00
> Head, Communications and PR, AFRINIC           Fax:  +230 466 67 58
> george at afrinic.net - www.afrinic.net
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please join us at the Africa Internet Summit, Lusaka, Zambia, 9 – 21 June
> 2013
>
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>
> On Mar 28, 2013, at 9:27 AM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>
> Listers
>
> Voltaire, the Famour French Historian and Philosopher once said
>
> "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death
> your right to say it.<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/voltaire109645.html>
> "
>
> I am writing this post due to the interesting times that we live in.
>  There is a lot of emotions, bigotry, outright tribalism and jingoism being
> bandied around the country in many channels - Online responses to media
> stories, FM Station talk shows, social media, work places, bars etc. Whilst
> I abore the very nature of some of the discussions we have fought too hard
> for freedom of expression and association to blanketly condemn everything
> whole sale.
>
> I have just read a story in today's nation titled *'14 Bloggers linked to
> hate messages'*.
>
>
> http://www.nation.co.ke/News/14-bloggers-linked-to-hate-messages/-/1056/1732288/-/cut5kvz/-/index.html
>
> The gist of the story is that the bloggers are using the anonymity of the
> internet to spread hate, tribalism etc.and they are being 'hunted down'
> like rabid dogs.  What  I found interesting is this particular paragraph:-
>
> *Mr Robert Alai, a well-known blogger was on Tuesday charged with posting
> “annoying” statements on social media sites, Twitter and Facebook.*
>
> For those of us who follow Robert on Social Media you may be forgiven if
> you think he is the 'Village Mad Man'. However he is a Kenyan and has a
> right to free speech. I do not excuse some of the stuff being posted online
> but I sincerely do hope that when one is being charged at our law courts
> the charge sheet does not say that he or she is charged in court for
> posting 'Annoying Statements'!!
>
> A few months ago Eric Hershman (whiteafrican.com) posted a blog defending
> Robert's right to his unique brand of 'journalism' and I am one of those
> who commented on the blog saying that one needs to take responsibility for
> his actions.
>
> http://whiteafrican.com/2012/08/22/kenyas-slippery-censorship-slope/
>
> Now I see where Eric was going... Oh the power of Retrospection.
>
> I urge the Powers That Be to delicately balance and be circumspect on how
> they use the tools of state lest we run rough shod on the very freedoms
> that allow us to freely comment, post online our opinions. As Voltaire said
> - I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your
> right to say it.
>
> Let us all take a step back and ensure that we do not fall victim to the
> tyranny of the few who have decided to interpret for us what is good or bad
> for our beloved nation.
>
> *Ali Hussein*
> *CEO, 3mice interactive media ltd*
> *Partner, Telemedia Africa Ltd
> *
>
>
> Tel: +254713601113
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
> Skype: abu-jomo
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>
> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
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