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Kibaki signs the “Media” bill, Media continues to play war. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Neema Ngwatilo   
Monday, 05 January 2009

I've just tried to watch the 9pm news tonight and mostly failed, the first twenty minutes went to the media bill, choreographed a little with an interview type session within the news talking about how draconian and evil the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill, now Act, 2008 is.

The interviewee has been pitched as someone close to President Kibaki or to the Government. He begins by saying that the lengthy statement issued by Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua in today's dailies was a waste of public funds.

Of course, I agree completely. This because there is clearly only one side to this story and the Media has told it all exhaustively from all angles not least during tonight's 20 minute example of thorough, investigative, objective and "comprehensive" journalism (that last adjective provided by NTV's Janet Kanini), not to mention the many prime time minutes taken up over the last 14 business days (and holidays) to "discuss" the issue. 

So tonight, after the 20 minute expose, Janet goes, "In other news" ODM leaders shall have an emergency meeting to discuss the growing divide between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

This sounds like Odinga doesn't have access to the president.  NTV says that they've learned that Raila was not actually consulted by the President over the "Media" bill and "other issues" ...and now there is some concern that the marriage is (again!) not sitting on rose petals after all. A clip shows Lands Minister and Ugenya MP James Orengo at a rally or somewhere is provided, he's saying that the two should not be kept apart. Literally that no one (the charge is against Head of Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura) should sit between them.

This sounds like code for "someone" is working to cause a rift between Raila and Kibaki, which rift already crippled this country once, for months, exactly one year ago. 

Whether or not Kibaki and Raila are getting along at the moment is not critical, but the idea that they are not, especially when reinforced by the notion of a gagged media (and especially when you think about the sequential positioning of the particular stories) can only serve to isolate Kibaki and if properly developed, can be the pretext for some demonstration somewhere, at best and likely worse.

I don't know how any law can make the media think beyond it's own self-interest, truly. If Mainstream Media wants to be subversive (which is someone else's role), or manipulative, it would take a lot of effort from government to stop this effort, in fact more than is in the interest of government, at least at this moment in our history, and as we try to move towards some sort of progress and a reverse of last January's setbacks. 

The government and its approach to the passage of this law it is true is far from flawless. That goes without saying. What is far more interesting in this picture is that the Media at this point is thought to be flawless, or is behaving as if it has no blood on its hands, which is far more dangerous, as it may draw the country into a tumult at any point. Kenya does not seem to be watching to expect this.

9.36pm; Janet's just been reading the International news on the Gaza situation, she goes: "News just in: Hislop  Ipu, State House Comptroller has been sent on an "indefinite leave..." "a close friend to Kibaki" has taken over his duties etc... I'm feeling like this is only important information if you are trying to either construct or expose a conspiracy.

Editors' Note. This article was written yesterday, Sunday 4th January. Apologies for the delay in its publication. Neema has previously written this article on an earlier discussion of this law on Kenyan Television.


Neema Ngwatilo
About the author:

Neema Ngwatilo is a Kenyan writer and poet. She publishes online at the Ngwatilo blog and is Editor of ImagineCulture.






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so true
written by abu , January 06, 2009
This media people whoever they are , cause they don't have specific names , they just go as a collective... like CIA or M15 , they are doing this nation no good spreading their venomous and exaggerated stories about the coalition and a looming rift between the president and prime minister all because they want attention.

Anyone who would use the premise of what happened in the days following the December 27 2007 election to get noticed should be deemed as being an enemy of the state if not worse.

We lost a lot , people died others got displaced , it was hell on earth for Kenyans for those days following the December elections.

Mr Raila Odinga is a very reasonable man if not a very out going person , if he sensed that he was being left out of the loop at any stage while sitting in office , I am sure he wouldn't hesitate to rattle some noise to know what is going on, after all he is the prime minister of this nation .

To assume on the prime ministers behalf that he is "miserable" and "neglected" by the president is something i would say is borderline stupid and probably a reckless assumption being made in order to stir a conflict.

I think it's time that the media really experienced draconian laws , they have been too free and it seems they have forgotten that the only reason they can do what they are doing is because the government affords them the luxury to do so.

China certainly knows how to deal with such...possibly we can adopt their laws on information and communication in order to chain this media monster before it eats us all up.

I miss the MOI days , that guy certainly knew his work.They say that two heads are better than one... I think that is a palindrome considering our current situation.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 January 2009 )
 
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