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

Fri Mar 29 16:44:27 EAT 2013

There is no law, principle or human right that safeguards anyone from
'being offended'. However, I have seen some of the posts by these bloggers
and they are not in good taste! It appears to me that being a blogger in
Kenya gives one the licence to make statements without minding the
consequences! All the same, let  the courts decide...

On 28 March 2013 10:17, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:

> 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
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> 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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> 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.
>

-- 
Kind Regards,

Moses M.G.
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