<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>
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<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" align="left" lang="en-us">
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<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" value="+254201112" target="_blank">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>
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<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>
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