[kictanet] TV signals turned off

Thu Feb 1 13:12:02 EAT 2018

@Kiama, a point of correction. The longest switch off in 2015 was
actually self imposed by the big media houses in protest (or should I
say they kicked a tantrum) over the dispute of the digital migration
dispute. See one of the many articles at the time:
Kenyan TV channels off air after digital migration
row: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31485671

@ Dorcas, in as much as the content of news is dominated by politics,
there is also lots of great development content. Blame it on our
environment which is dominated by politics.  Look at the issues we
agitate for: electricity/blackouts, clean and enough water, food...all
these are political issues. @ Kiama points out these concerns
clearly.  And in his contribution yesterday, @Wakaba did bring out
(maybe he was subtle) the 'other' role that the media has. Infact,
local productions have huge audience following. And now as innocent
audiences, we are now the 'grass' that has to suffer.  There must be
alternate ways of solving the impasse without dragging innocent
audiences into this! And a shut down is harsh!

@Wambui, great insight. We forgot that  the FoI became an Act in
2016. I like the fact that you outlined the process of requesting
information from the State. This provides a great opportunity for the
affected media houses to test it. @ Wakaba, will you guys do it? 

Best regards

Githaiga, Grace

On Thursday, 01-02-2018 at 09:50 Mutemi wa Kiama via kictanet wrote:

Dorcas?

Don't report politics? Don't report corruption, mismanagement, theft
of public resources, abuse of office? Don't report LIFE in Kenya is
what you are saying. You want to stay in your ignorance perch and
enjoy your comfort zones. Thing is, you won't know what hits you when
it crumbles.

#LestWeForget: When local TV stations were arbitrary switched off
during digital migration, notwithstanding that the global deadline was
over a year away providing room for negotiation & structured
migration, the CS in charge of information/ICT was... drum roll...
incidentally, one Fred Matiang'i!!! YaHoo!

Let's keep feeding the pet python by doing nothing, after all, we are
not media. No way internet can be shut down surely!

Ni mimi,

Edwin Kiama

Thoughts become things... choose the good ones!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Innovator, Social Justice Entrepreneur, Catalyst, Human Rights
Defender,Social Accountability Champion, Rhize Coach

#DevolutionIsRevolution Champion

TheWanjikuAgenda Kenya Foundation (WAKenya)
Ordinary, Fearless Kenyans.

Sauti Ya Wanjiku Social Movement www.sautiyawanjiku.com

https://www.facebook.com/wanjikurevolutionkenya

https://twitter.com/WanjikuRevolt

https://plus.google.com/u/1/+WanjikuMapinduzi/posts

http://www.scribd.com/wmkenya

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has."~MargaretMead

On 1 Feb 2018 09:02, "Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet"  wrote:

@Peter

This is very true and I know to survive in the media business today is
not business as usual.

Instead of focusing on politricks, claiming it sells why not wake to
the call of disruption.

We have all lost government business across many sectors, many bills
remain unpaid in public procurement, now it's time to create new value
propositions to the undeserved or new relevant content.

If you check the Google search statistics on top Kenyan user searches,
that would provide a pointer on some content areas worth airtime with
relevant local context.

By the way, why is KTN HOME still broadcasting? Because they focus is
on family entertainment? I am sure several others are on air.

Wake up call to your mainstream media houses producers? Over emphasis
on politricks especially during the news hours will eventually cost
the media.

On Jan 31, 2018 4:38 PM, "Peter Wakaba via kictanet"  wrote:

Let me give a bit of background on why media owners may be taking
the quiet road on this one. After President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn
in in 2013, and thereafter he named his cabinet, the Ministry of
information moved forward with an idea that had been floating around
for a while. To streamline government spending on advertising and
several associated areas under one body. Meant to create synergy
through bulk and then save government money, the move saw
government then channel all advertising cash through the Government
Advertising Agency.

Between January and April of 2016, this body billed just over a cool
ksh.4B.

Then they moved a step further and created the 'My Gov' pullout which
initially ran in the two national dailies, plus the people and the
star. Henceforth all government advertising apart from very critical
adverts were channel into this project with the news being delivered
by the Kenya News Agency. The ministry then pays one of the newspapers
to print and distribute as a pullout.

Needless to say, over this period, advertising revenue has shrunk
dramatically to the point of crippling operations in some newsrooms.
To turn the screws even further, the Ministry has then stopped
printing and publishing this pullout regularly but is now doing so in
'random' fashion on a weekly basis in any of the said newspapers. The
last I saw it was in the Star Newspaper.

While no doubt the above move has helped with government austerity,
the media is having to tighten its belt tighter every day. (Not that
anyone owes us anything)

>From a team of ten just five years ago, I often have to work with just
one person and maybe an intern to deliver hours of news. (and
companies, like our are all looking to shrink their traditional
businesses).

When you mix the above issues with the general corporate governance
issues that majority of the Kenyan economy faces, there is cause for
worry. And while companies are indeed innovating in order to stay
relevant, I daresay the level of attrition is way faster.

Then through in lack of depth, lack of experience (because
inexperience is easier to hire and pay) and the rise of fake news and
you have a melting pot that should have everyone worried.

And while I agree with Ali Hussein that our diligence will eventually
pay off, I fear for the hordes of millennials who may not be as
patient.

In closing, very few companies are willing to take on Government, or
even larger corporates like Safaricom anymore

On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 4:35 PM, Grace Githaiga via kictanet  wrote:

@ Victor

It is not clear if any of the media houses has taken legal action.
However, the media attended a press briefing this afternoon where they
were informed that the stations would "remain off air until the
government has completed investigations into the "swearing-in" of
Opposition leader Raila Odinga."

Read on: TV stations will remain shut until investigations end, says
Matiang'i
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/01/31/tv-stations-will-remain-shut-until-investigations-end-says-matiangi_c1706915

Video footage:VIDEO: 3 media houses to remain off-air until government
concludes investigations - Interior CS Fred Matiang'i
https://twitter.com/ntvkenya/status/958674927405580289

Best regards

Githaiga, Grace

On Wednesday, 31-01-2018 at 15:40 Victor Kapiyo via kictanet wrote:

Has any media station gone to court on this?

Or are they perhaps pursuing ADR methods to resolve the issue?

Victor Kapiyo

Partner | _Lawmark Partners LLP_

Advocate of the High Court of Kenya,Commissioner for Oaths & Notary
Public

_Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi |__Web:
www.lawmark.co.ke_

====================================================
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”
Zig Ziglar

On 31 January 2018 at 14:53, Harry Delano via kictanet  wrote:

Actually, Ali am equally outraged that am not seeing sufficient,
copiou, outpouring amounts of outrage from the mainstream media, or we
being hoodwinked..?

We seem to be the ones who look more outraged at this, strangely..!

Harry

On 31 Jan 2018 14:46, "Admin CampusCiti via kictanet"  wrote:

Kevin

Kuwa mpole Ndugu. :-)

Ali Hussein

Hussein & Associates

+254 0713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

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

Blog:www.alyhussein.com

"Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi

Sent from my iPad

On 31 Jan 2018, at 1:50 PM, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet  wrote:

Peter. I hope you wrote us this email while in a highly charged
meeting with your colleagues and those from the other houses as
regards to how you are going to march to both the CA and the MoICT to
demand the restoration of your transmissions and an explanation.

You just tell me where and when we are to start.

If not, I have no sympathy for you guys.

Regards,

Kevin

On 31 January 2018 at 11:53, Peter Wakaba via kictanet  wrote:

Good morning,

My conundrum for the day.

I work for KTN NEWS
I had scheduled two interviews today afternoon.

One on modern commercial large scale farming and another on T-vet
(Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and youth.

Being off air on most platforms and under government shutdown, one of
my interviewees, parastatal Chief, no less, has developed cold feet
and cancelled or postponed. He is not sure how to behave and whether
his turning up would be misconstrued. (Two weeks of work out of the
window).

My second interviewee, a focused and passionate lady PS. we have been
planning and cancelling for 3 months now. When I last got her into
studio, what was supposed to be a one hour insightful discussion was
interrupted by a presidential rally by the current President. She got
just 3 minutes on TV for her trouble and left veeeery angry.

After much haggling, we finally rescheduled. AND THEN YESTERDAY
HAPPENED. Despite the switch off her handlers insist we keep our end
of the bargain.

If I host her, will I still be 'kow towing' to the same government
that is trying to literally throttle my bread and butter ( if I may
borrow from two expressions).

For both them and I, there is a lacuna on how to behave in these
instances.

And yet, my audience still needs to be educated and entertained. Oh
what interesting times we live in.

On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:25 AM, Eric David via kictanet  wrote:

We are living a lie. The Channels are off. Who's answerable?

-------------------------

From: kictanet  on behalf of Kevin Kamonye via kictanet 
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 10:45 AM
To: Eric Mwau
Cc: Kevin Kamonye

Subject: Re: [kictanet] TV signals turned off

A good and insightful read Wangari.

The rising power of Facebook, Google and Twitter and their
opportunistic business models.

I can directly correlate the challenges that the world media is facing
to these corporations. They have basically invalidated the current
media company model in such a way that they sell content that they do
not produce themselves and to sweeten the deal further - they do not
have to pay for any operator licenses.They need to be classified as
media companies - at the very least.

That is why you see our media here being so desperate to the point
that they almost have no choice but to cooperate with the government
because it is the biggest source of their revenue.

Next in line to be cannibalized is the Telecom industry bu this is a
discussion for another day.

On another note, it is shameful for Kenya to be mentioned with the
below countries, and in such a context. Does anyone have specific
information on what the Soros foundation is doing in Kenya.

That leaves the local battlegrounds in Africa, the Middle East and
Central Asia. My foundations are actively engaged in all of them. We
are particularly focused on Africa, where would-be dictators in Kenya,
Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo have perpetrated
electoral fraud on an unprecedented scale and citizens are literally
risking their lives to resist the slide into dictatorship.

Regards,

Kevin

On 30 January 2018 at 23:30, WANGARI KABIRU via kictanet wrote:

While haggling here on democracy using the lens of TV media, yes, the
cyber is also on the spotlight.

https://www.georgesoros.com/2018/01/25/remarks-delivered-at-the-world-economic-forum/

The IT monopolies

I want to spend the bulk of my remaining time on another global
problem: the rise and monopolistic behavior of the giant IT platform
companies. These companies have often played an innovative and
liberating role. But as Facebook and Google have grown into ever more
powerful monopolies, they have become obstacles to innovation, and
they have caused a variety of problems of which we are only now
beginning to become aware.

Companies earn their profits by exploiting their environment. Mining
and oil companies exploit the physical environment; social media
companies exploit the social environment. This is particularly
nefarious because social media companies influence how people think
and behave without them even being aware of it. This has far-reaching
adverse consequences on the functioning of democracy, particularly on
the integrity of elections.

Might it be possible to replace with TV companies, aka broadcasters

"This is particularly nefarious because (social media companies)TV
companies, aka broadcastersinfluence how people think and behave
without them even being aware of it. This has far-reaching adverse
consequences on the functioning of democracy, particularly on the
integrity of elections.

Be blessed.

Regards/Wangari

---
Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa -"Being of the Light, We are
Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The
Kingdom of God on Earth".

On Tuesday, 30 January 2018, 20:25, Harry Delano via kictanet  wrote:

Hey Dorcas,

There could be specific qualms against the media fraternity, but how
about effective checks and balances which I suppose a majority of us
would agree are in place to quite a degree including costs for
breach..

Am afraid yours is sanctioning a ' throw-out-the-baby-with-the-
bath-water' approach. When done with media, next will be this very
cyber space me and you are thriving on that will be switched off. Then
what..??

Harry

On 30 Jan 2018 19:13, "Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet"  wrote:

Media freedom must come with responsibility which currently is not the
case.

Call me when you organize a forum to hold the media to account.

On Jan 30, 2018 6:55 PM, "Liz Orembo via kictanet"  wrote:

@Dorcas,

We missed a step forward towards media freedom and freedom to access
information.

Politics aside, I also felt for those who had to keep calling people
who had internet or could afford bundles to stream the event. There
are other ways of making the media accountable other than denying
citizen access to information.

On Jan 30, 2018 18:43, "Denis Mutinda via kictanet"  wrote:

So I’m assuming they will turn off those signals forever?

Media will be on Govts case for the next few weeks. Extinguish one
fire, start another one.

Denis Mutinda

President, ISACA Kenya

Sent from my iPhone

On 30 Jan 2018, at 18:31, Dorcas Muthoni via kictanet  wrote:

Other than the perceived illegality, what did we actually miss.

I stopped watching these stations two years ago. Most journalists
agenda set based on personal or paid interests and there is tonnes of
evidence to this.

I am surprised at how so many pretend not to know this 😔

By the way, my business and customers are gravely tired of this
political crap. I assure many people are.

And subscribers are paying to serve the kind of delusional content
screened (I feel especially for kids).

Kenyans, if you want a better country, fix yourself first. Complaining
about the less 500 senior government officials many of whom you would
be pleased to replace and benefit like they do is the highest level of
hypocrisy.

Controversial as this may sound, it's the high time each of us took
ownership by fixing yourself first.

On Jan 30, 2018 6:02 PM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet"  wrote:

Kevin and all

I won't dwell on the tribal or ethnic part of this issue. Let's rather
address the illegality and unprecedented nature of what is going on
right now.

ALL MAJOR TV STATIONS HAVE GONE DARK.

Why? Is it because of a technical issue? Or was it a deliberate
attempt to muzzle free speech and expression.

I understand some goons even went to a particular ISP and tried to
block certain IP addresses.

This level of intimidation and muzzling of the press is unprecedented.
Any Kenyan of sound mind and body will be against it. Irrespective of
the political divide.

Not even in the darkest days of the KANU Dictatorship has the press
been treated in such a cavalier manner while the supposedly 'friendly'
press continue with their business as usual. As I write this Citizen,
NTV and KTN News are still dark. The rest are operating. WHY?

One day someone will be held responsible for this. Impunity cannot
last forever.

Ali Hussein

Principal

Hussein & Associates

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn:http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alih kassim

13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,

Chiromo Road, Westlands,

Nairobi, Kenya.

Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are
purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of
the organizations that I work with.

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 5:38 PM, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet wrote:

This may explain why Wangusi had to go. There is a Kemei who is acting
DG. 

Mwendwa, to me this reads like ethnic profiling. Not acceptable.

Regards,

Kevin

On 30 January 2018 at 16:47, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet  wrote:

This may explain why Wangusi had to go. There is a Kemei who is acting
DG.

We thought Kenya is ahead of other countries to experience a shutdown.
Think again. We are still in January, and 2022 is 5 years away.

The media too thought they were above board and could not be harassed
like normal Kenyans. Now the tide has turned. They were complacent in
many ways before, during, and after the elections.

"... and when they finally came for the media, there was nobody to
speak up for them"

On Jan 30, 2018 2:46 PM, "Tracy Kadesa Adolwa via kictanet"  wrote:

I have been unable to livestream since Baba arrived, is it me only?

-Regards

Tracy Kadesa,

LL.B ,University of Nairobi.

Dip KSL

legalwalk.wordpress.com

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 2:26 PM, Peter Wakaba via kictanet wrote:

The government simply did not want Kenyans to witness the huge crowds
that have turned up. AND they are huge.

The BBC and Aljazeerah are offering periodical updates live as well.

KTN NEWS livestream is also still on, though intermittent.

And at this point, it is out of Both Raila and Kalonzo's hands.

Politics aside, the CA physically disconnected terrestrial links at
Limuru before then systematically switching off most other channels of
broadcast, fibre connections and satellite are intermittent.

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 2:07 PM, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet  wrote:

This is so sad to see happen in my country Kenya. And at so many
levels.

I will set aside the constitution and the illegality of the situation
because am not a constitutional expert of any kind. What I can comment
on is that this is such a strategic failure by the perpetrators. It is
actually so shocking that they cannot actually see that this only
serves to add more fuel to the fire.

Is this the caliber of people that we have at the top of our Industry?
Are they not able to advise the government of how futile it is to
attempt to shutdown communication in today's world???

As for the Kenyan Media - you deserve this. You are a greedy and self
serving lot. Just the other day we heard recordings of a certain
journalist being threatened. Where was the collective response? Shame
on you too.

Regards,

Kevin

On 30 January 2018 at 13:34, Wathagi Ndungu via kictanet  wrote:

A creeping back of autocracy. This is outside the perimeter of the
constitution.

Best Regards,

Joy Wathagi Ndungu

Co-Founder, Digital Grassrootswww.digitalgrassroo ts.org

Phone number :+254706690282

Alternate Email 1:
joy.w at digitalgrassroots.orgAlternateEmail2:jndungu at stu
dentsforliberty.org

8638-00300 Nairobi, Kenya

www.digitalgrassroots.org

https://www.facebook.com/digit algrassroots/

https://twitter.com/digigrassr oots

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 1:20 PM, Odhiambo Washington via kictanet 
wrote:

Jubilee can go ahead and switch off the Sun, FaceBook & Twitter.

At the height of the protests in Egypt, the dictator president, Hosni
Mubarak, decided to shut down the Internet as well. That did not stop
Egyptians from remaining Egyptians.

Who triumphed?

Just because an ostrich decides to bury its head in the sand so as not
to see what is happening around doesn't make it safe for the ostrich.

No need to

On 30 January 2018 at 11:48, Deborah via kictanet  wrote:

My apologies. I now understand the situation. I'm working away from
the TV most of the time. This last time I went by I was corrected that
the decoder has a subscription, and even then NTV, KTN and Citizen
were off. It seems they defied the ban on broadcasting live political
events. My question would now be on the justification of the ban.

-------------------------
From:Keith Andere via kictanet
Sent:‎30/‎01/‎2018 11:09
To:deborah.wanjugu at gmail.com
Cc:Keith Andere
Subject:Re: [kictanet] TV signals turned off

KTN News too. Channels are off on all free to air platforms.

KTN News and NTV are available on DSTV.

Regards,

Keith.

On 30 Jan 2018 10:53, "Sidney Ochieng via kictanet"  wrote:

Citizen and NTV.

On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 at 10:33, Deborah  wrote:

Hey Sidney,

Which signals have been turned off? I went to check and found them all
on and transmitting normally with the exception of Citizen. It usually
has issues on the Startimes decoder.

Deborah

-------------------------
From:Sidney Ochieng via kictanet
Sent:‎30/‎01/‎2018 10:26
To:deborah.wanjugu at gmail.com
Cc:Sidney Ochieng
Subject:[kictanet] TV signals turned off

Listers,

How long before they come for the internet? I’m so disappointed in
the CA

-- 

Regards,

Sidney

Twitter:@princelySid|Web:s idneyochieng.co.ke
Skype: sidney.ochieng | Github: princelySid

-- 

Regards,

Sidney

Twitter:@princelySid|Web:s idneyochieng.co.ke
Skype: sidney.ochieng | Github: princelySid

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