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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Many thanks Kurubo/Grace,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I suppose then, in light of the foregoing, State must at all
costs avail "information" under it's possession.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Citing the "Freedom of information" clause within this context
however, makes it imperative for State to </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>do so within universally adopted
benchmarks. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>But within the same context, what is the
citizen's </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>responsibility?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I could check this out. But does the clause in the same vein
confer a mandatory responsibility upon the </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>citizen </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>to </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>ensure their
exercise of this "Right to access" does not go to waste, or d</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>oes he/she have
the </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>freedom </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>to </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>exercise
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>this right/liberty liberally.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>One can argue that for instance, a mother who fails
to vaccinate her child against polio, because of
"<STRONG>failure"</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>to access information as opposed
to "<STRONG>lack"</STRONG> of </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>access to
information should be held responsible. Is this </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>enforceable in law..? How?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Lastly but not least, State has only a tiny custody of
information consumable by the public. I dare say that</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>a lot of information/knowledge sought after by information
consumers fall well outside the State domain.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>How do we police those outside, who hoard information
desperately needed by consumers...? And what</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>of those who deliberately avail misleading
information/knowledge, including state..?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=515513010-18102011><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Harry</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> Kerubo Ombati [mailto:kaykerubo@gmail.com]
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 18, 2011 12:35 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
harry@comtelsys.co.ke<BR><B>Cc:</B> KICTAnet ICT Policy
Discussions<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [kictanet] Freedom of Information laws/ e-
discussion continued<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Hi Listers,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Harry, the 'Freedom of Information' clause in the constitution is designed
to give citizens free access to public information held by the state,it
generally does not impose a positive obligation on the state to impart such
information on the individual.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>However,in certain instances, failure to provide the information to an
individual can be considered to constitute an interference with their private
rights and a breach of the state's human rights obligations. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Although, freedom of information legislation is reluctant to impose a
positive obligation on the state,the considered view as adopted
is that the freedom of information legislation should impose a duty on the
state to impart information to the
public.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Kerubo<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Harry Delano <SPAN
dir=ltr><<A href="mailto:harry@comtelsys.co.ke"
target=_blank>harry@comtelsys.co.ke</A>></SPAN> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex"
class=gmail_quote><U></U>
<DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>Hey Grace &
Kerubo,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>Thanks
for your summary overview. I wonder aloud whether it should only be the
state that maintains this monopoly over </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>accessibility to
basic </FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>information in as far
as "<B>Freedom </B>of information" is concerned.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>Whereas state has
the instruments it can use to either promote or curtail such freedoms, I
suppose it would also be safe </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>to say that in
quite a number of </FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>instances, state might be deemed a "lame duck".
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>How about a
remote Island sequestered somewhere, about 200 miles off the
shores of Lake Victoria with no basic </FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>access </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>to
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>communication?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>Would the
populace there's lack thereof, of basic information access be considered an
infringement on this fundamental</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial>right/liberty by
the state...?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial>Harry</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us align=left>
<HR>
<FONT face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> kictanet-bounces+harry=<A
href="mailto:comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke"
target=_blank>comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke</A> [mailto:<A
href="mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bharry"
target=_blank>kictanet-bounces+harry</A>=<A
href="mailto:comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke"
target=_blank>comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke</A>] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Grace Githaiga<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 18, <A
href="tel:2011%2012" target=_blank value="+254201112">2011 12</A>:57
AM<BR><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:harry@comtelsys.co.ke"
target=_blank>harry@comtelsys.co.ke</A><BR><B>Cc:</B> <A
href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke"
target=_blank>kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</A><BR><B>Subject:</B> [kictanet]
Freedom of Information laws/ e- discussion continued<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Thanks Harry Delano, Washington, Cleophas and Kerubo.
<BR> <BR>Harry you raise a good question on what these terms mean
and whether they are interchangeable. <BR> <BR>Washington, you make an
important point about freedom of expression/speech not being absolute, and
Cleophas affirms your point. <BR> <BR>Thanks Kerubo for the
definitions. Yes, freedom of information simply means the
freedom to get certain basic information held by the state, which can enable
one to for example bring a case of human rights violation or any other cause.
<BR> <BR>Freedom of expression can mean many things, say freedom to air
your ideas, take a stand, artistic creativity--simply freedom to express
how you feel. And of course as Washington and Cleophas rightly point
out, all these freedoms are subject to limitations and therefore not
carte blanche. <BR> <BR>In this case then:<BR>
<UL>
<LI>Is there conflict between laws on freedom of information and what
citizens demand/require?</LI></UL> <BR>Lets hear it from
you.<BR> <BR>Rgds<BR>Grace<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>kictanet
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