<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Dear Daktari Bitange,<br>
<br>
I understand where you are coming from especially the media ignoring that big
chunk in section 88 that the 'gagging' only applies during a STATE OF
EMERGENCY. To understand the magnitude of this term, even during the post
election violence, the President never declared a state of emergency. Many ICT
bills in Europe and the US have this provision especially after the Yugoslavia
crisis. Particular reference I have in mind is Sweden where our Energy and
Communication Committee of Parliament headed by Eng. James Rege visited less
than a month ago.<br>
<br>
In my humble submission, I think we need a paradigm shift. It is no longer an
issue of whether, we did our best in the stakeholder meetings or the media sent
junior officers who did not have teeth to bite as you suggest. We do not have
to get to a point where we need Koffi Anan to come and also mediate a crisis
prompted by a bill recently passed in parliament. To be bold, its actually
making a fool out of Kenyans.<br>
<br>
These Media guys are part and parcel of society, and besides the Executive,
Judiciary and Parliament, the fourth estate lurks somewhere within but with no
jurisdiction cast in any constitution of any country. We need to engage rather
than apportion blame. Shelving the bill will just inculcate more anxiety in
society. A small crisis at NCPB, such as flour getting finished when there are
still a few hundreds lined to buy, can easily trigger a food riot as Egypt
witnessed in 1984. And history will judge that the Media Bill prompted this. Its
foolhardy to allow ourselves to get there.<br>
<br>
I suggest we solve this problem without letting the President have to make the
decision of signing/not signing or shelving the bill since he relies on all
Kenyans input before making a decisison of this magnitude.<br>
<br>
Let us also not forget that the bill also has significant clauses besides
Section 88 that make alot of sense for us in the ICT industry. Business and
Middleclass have always been blamed of watching as crisis unfold without
contributing any tangible ideas in the thought process. The paradigm shift is
that we (ICT) sit down with our brothers and sisters in Media, consider their
grievances and come up with a middle ground to pass to the Minister for further
consideration with His Excellency and then maybe bringing the bill back to
parliament for consensus building. <br>
<br>
Conclusion:<br>
Its a no-brainer, we need to act now, or wait for Kofi Annan to come and solve
another problem just becuase Kenyans cannot sit together. I, for one, volunteer
to be be in the center of this process and be counted as part of the
solution to this problem.</span></p>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 4:20 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex">
Dear Crystal,<br>
I would be the first person to resign from my position if I know that we are putting forth a bad law. During the consultative fora I raised issues on the now contetious section 88 my intetion then and even today was to have it struck out. The stakeholders refused and because media had sent junior officials, we could not manage to remove it. Although it was not one of the substantive amendment, we asked that parliament strikes it out. MPs in their wisdom brought the sectiom back. If you know our legislative process, I have do not have power over parliament.<br>
<br>
I had hoped that media and Government could restrategize but instead media started propaganda and distorting facts at the same time inciting Kenyans to violence similar to what they did in january.<br>
<br>
As for the WB funds and computers, I shall have the Board's response. We have not procured any computers yet.<br>
<br>
Ndemo.<br>
Sent from my BlackBerry®<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: "Crystal Watley" <<a href="mailto:crystal@voicesofafrica.org" target="_blank">crystal@voicesofafrica.org</a>><br>
<br>
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:01:11<br>
To: <<a href="mailto:bitange@jambo.co.ke" target="_blank">bitange@jambo.co.ke</a>><br>
Cc: <<a href="mailto:skunkworks@my.co.ke" target="_blank">skunkworks@my.co.ke</a>>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] 1 million Laptops for who?<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Bildad Kagai<br>MD - MediaCorp Limited<br>Nairobi Stock Exchange Authorised Information Vendor<br>Suite B2, Tetu Court, State House Avenue<br>P. O. Box 20311 - 00200<br>Nairobi, Kenya<br>
Tel. 254 20 272 8332<br>Fax. Rendered Obsolete<br>S - 1°17'13.8" <br>E - 36°48'22.7"<br><a href="http://www.mediacorp.co.ke" target="_blank">www.mediacorp.co.ke</a> <br>---<br>