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<div>Indeed Barrak. The 2010 constitution, despite its weaknesses, is a great starting point for establishing our national values (Article 10). I think the implementation is where things really got mixed up. </div><div><br></div><div>For example:</div><div><br></div><div>1. At some point Article 10 compliance got associated solely with government jobs / tenders</div><div><br></div><div>2. National values have been "844-rized" and are measured primarily via paid-for certificates from different issuers (extrinsic indicators) - rather than having a track record within the society that shows consistent values-aligned behavior (intrinsic indicators). Were national values demonstrated and maintained by person X even when it would have been inconvenient or unprofitable? - for example...</div><div><br></div><div>3. The fact that corruption continues unabated means that the certification system is a failure - which is not surprising as values are held in the heart - not on paper.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the things that contributes to lack of political will in implementing the national value system is our society's support of elitist leadership (which creates a <b>parallel society </b>for elites which <b>insulates</b> them from consequences of broken values systems). </div><div><br></div><div>To solve the parallel society problem, what would happen if:</div><div><br></div><div>1. All staff in the ministry of housing had to live in Kibera / mukuru / dandora etc with all their families until the problem of housing was solved? </div><div><br></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">2. All staff in the ministry of education were compelled to enroll all their children in public schools? Would public education improve?</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span><br></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">3. All government staff (at all levels) were reimbursed for medical *only when* they use public hospitals, and Government not to cover private medical care? Would health sector problems be solved?</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">4. All government officers (except the President and deputy) to experience traffic jam without resorting to privilege shortcuts? Would urban planning improve?</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br></span></span></div><div><br></div><div><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;">etc.. etc...</span></span></div><div><br></div><div><u>Our leaders don't live in the same Kenya as everyone else</u> - and the people seem to be very satisfied with that arrangement yet that is a big contributor of the problems and misplaced priorities that we experience in Kenya!</div><div><br></div><div>Patrick.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
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On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 2:58:34 PM GMT+3, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
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<div><div dir="ltr">Hi Patrick,<br clear="none"><br clear="none">Many thanks for the thought provoking write up. Propaganda or fake<br clear="none">news as we would want to marinate it nowadays is as old as the media.<br clear="none">It has always been used to gain advantage over real or imaginary<br clear="none">adversaries. What holds nations together and propels nations forward<br clear="none">are value systems. Most countries that have solid economies have very<br clear="none">strong value systems. Unfortunately , it is not cool to talk about<br clear="none">values in the current century. Values are needed to maintain the<br clear="none">discipline required to achieve Strategic Plans and Vision. Look at<br clear="none">Vision 2030, there are three main pillars (www.vision2030.go.ke)<br clear="none">1. The Economic Pillar<br clear="none">2. The Social Pillar<br clear="none">3. The Political pillar<br clear="none"><br clear="none">Do we have values that can help us achieve any of the aspirations<br clear="none">listed under the pillars?, your answer is as good as mine. Someone has<br clear="none">to place the reset button.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">Regards<br clear="none"><br clear="none">On 1/15/19, Victor bwire via kictanet <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br clear="none">> Interesting views..<br clear="none">> The media is not rogue...they are laws to deal with excesses by the<br clear="none">> media.....<br clear="none">> And when it's fake, it's not news<br clear="none">><br clear="none">> On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 23:42 Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <<br clear="none">> <a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a> wrote:<br clear="none">><br clear="none">>> [long post - but interesting topic]<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Hi Listers, There is a new target for weaponised information (i.e. fake<br clear="none">>> news / propaganda): The Economy.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> It is increasingly apparent that "Fake news" can be (and is being) used<br clear="none">>> to<br clear="none">>> sabotage and/or derail an entire country or region's economic agenda by<br clear="none">>> (local and/or foreign) parties intent on furthering their own interests<br clear="none">>> at<br clear="none">>> any cost to the targeted country or region, and the media seems to be an<br clear="none">>> unwitting (or unconcerned?) participant.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Some of us may have already noticed a critical flaw in the "free media"<br clear="none">>> business model. It is viewership (not the quality of stories) that drives<br clear="none">>> their revenue. Now one would expect viewership and quality to be strongly<br clear="none">>> correlated but that thought does not factor human nature.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Majority of people gravitate towards entertaining / controversial /<br clear="none">>> shocking / shaming subjects. Very few people care for deep, broad or<br clear="none">>> complex analysis of the real issues especially if the conclusions are not<br clear="none">>> sensational.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Even fewer search for multiple viewpoints before drawing their own<br clear="none">>> conclusions. They would rather trust the author to have done sufficient<br clear="none">>> balanced research and analysis (which is often far from reality e.g. due<br clear="none">>> to<br clear="none">>> time constraints associated with "breaking" or "exclusive" news models).<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> So *controversy* (not information) is what sustains media houses in<br clear="none">>> democratic countries globally. Consequently this has made them easy<br clear="none">>> targets<br clear="none">>> for targeted disinformation campaigns. As much as the media claims to<br clear="none">>> have<br clear="none">>> a code of conduct or editorial policies, we see all over the world<br clear="none">>> evidence<br clear="none">>> that media (and/or journalism) is not free of overt/covert bias. In Kenya<br clear="none">>> we have the open secret of "envelope" or "eWallet" journalism for<br clear="none">>> example...<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Is "Free press" an illusion? How can a media house be free when its<br clear="none">>> shareholders demand endless growth in profits - something that can only<br clear="none">>> be<br clear="none">>> achieved by "giving people what they want" (not what they need)?<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Which media house will publish a story that potentially upsets a major<br clear="none">>> advertiser? Can they refuse millions from deep pocketed international<br clear="none">>> lobbyists to spread propaganda (provided there are legal loopholes to<br clear="none">>> evade<br clear="none">>> treason, libel or other forms of accountability)?<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Critical thinkers will agree that nowadays the media (worldwide) are<br clear="none">>> informing less and manipulating more...and it almost looks deliberate (no<br clear="none">>> wonder the uptick in conspiracy theories globally!).<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> The hidden (but harmful) impact of this is increased *mass ignorance*<br clear="none">>> within populations at the very least, with other potentially worse<br clear="none">>> implications (e.g. spread of unfounded fears or hate targeted at certain<br clear="none">>> groups).<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Fake news is particularly insidious and destructive when the economy or<br clear="none">>> development agenda is targeted for sabotage. To the average person, it<br clear="none">>> looks like harmless gossip or sensational chatter from "concerned<br clear="none">>> (usually<br clear="none">>> faceless) groups" but if you consider the consequences in monetary terms,<br clear="none">>> e.g. if truly beneficial projects be abandoned, delayed or scaled down<br clear="none">>> for<br clear="none">>> invalid or unjustifiable reasons, then there is a massive cost that the<br clear="none">>> taxpayer will ultimately have to foot. What looks like fierce competition<br clear="none">>> between geopolitical power players in pursuit of *their* interests can<br clear="none">>> end<br clear="none">>> up completely derailing an otherwise promising economic agenda of the<br clear="none">>> targeted country/region.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Should local media be held accountable for the consequences of<br clear="none">>> facilitating economic sabotage that is commensurate with any harmful<br clear="none">>> impact of the fake/distorted/half-truth stories being told?<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> I value press freedom but I think all freedoms are balanced with some<br clear="none">>> kind<br clear="none">>> of equitable accountability (such that A's freedoms don't harm B's<br clear="none">>> rights).<br clear="none">>> It is not the media that feels the pain of irresponsible reporting, its<br clear="none">>> the<br clear="none">>> MSME business people whose opportunities for growth get limited, or<br clear="none">>> hardworking employees whose taxes (or costs of living) go up as<br clear="none">>> government<br clear="none">>> scrambles to raise funds in a booby trapped economy. Meanwhile the<br clear="none">>> controversy / fake news fuelled media shareholders laugh all the way to<br clear="none">>> the<br clear="none">>> bank.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> The bigger picture for all of us, no matter our role in society, is to<br clear="none">>> try<br clear="none">>> contribute (within our abilities) towards peace, progress, democratic<br clear="none">>> ideals, better standards of living and economic prosperity. I think it is<br clear="none">>> irresponsible for one party to exercise its rights just for the sake of<br clear="none">>> it,<br clear="none">>> without regard to impact on other people's rights (e. g. to have a<br clear="none">>> stable,<br clear="none">>> predictable and growing economy).<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> What do you think? Is the western model of "press freedom" failing? Share<br clear="none">>> your thoughts.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Brgds<br clear="none">>> Patrick A. M. Maina<br clear="none">>> (Independent Public Policy Analyst)<br clear="none">>> _______________________________________________<br clear="none">>> kictanet mailing list<br clear="none">>> <a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br clear="none">>> <a shape="rect" href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br clear="none">>> Twitter: <a shape="rect" href="http://twitter.com/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/kictanet</a><br clear="none">>> Facebook: <a shape="rect" href="https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/</a><br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br clear="none">>> <a shape="rect" href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/vicbwire%40gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/vicbwire%40gmail.com</a><br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform<br clear="none">>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and<br clear="none">>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT<br clear="none">>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and<br clear="none">>> development.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors<br clear="none">>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and<br clear="none">>> bandwidth,<br clear="none">>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do<br clear="none">>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br clear="none">>><br clear="none">><br clear="none"><br clear="none"><br clear="none">-- <br clear="none">Barrack O. Otieno<br clear="none">+254721325277<br clear="none">+254733206359<br clear="none">Skype: barrack.otieno<br clear="none">PGP ID: 0x2611D86A<br clear="none"><br clear="none">_______________________________________________<br clear="none">kictanet mailing list<br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br clear="none">Twitter: <a shape="rect" href="http://twitter.com/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/kictanet</a><br clear="none">Facebook: <a shape="rect" href="https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/</a><br clear="none"><br clear="none">Unsubscribe or change your options at <a shape="rect" href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pmaina2000%40yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pmaina2000%40yahoo.com</a><div class="ydp820ec9b0yqt2736108394" id="ydp820ec9b0yqtfd49649"><br clear="none"><br clear="none">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.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">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.<br clear="none"></div></div></div>
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