As a young Kenyan leader, I am compelled to share this agony – the disenfranchisement of journalists in my country. Of course I am aware that the media more often than not, shapes the destiny of a nation by the content of their work.
I will highlight a few areas of concern that my young colleagues in TIG and other interested parties can rally behind me to hold our government accountable – not only to the people but also to their right to access the right information.
The presidential guard – who take care of H.E President Mwai Kibaki’s security details – have not been any better to these young journalists. It has on several occasions used the bizarre excuses of State security to harass journalists covering the President’s functions. The Standard Group has particularly bore the brunt of unnecessary harassment from the Government. By the way, I do not write or associate with the profits of these media houses. Well, I take this as an initiative to protect our fellow citizens in the fourth estate against state machinations. They are our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, cousins; the list is endless. Above all, they are citizens whose rights must be protected at all cost by all and sundry.
On March 2, 2006, Kenyans woke up to the shocking news of a Government attack on The Standard Group, during which KTN (Kenya Television Network) was switched off air, the printing plant disabled and tens of thousands of newspapers set ablaze. This had a negative impact on our economy and foreign investors.
At presidential functions, it has become almost impossible to photograph or film the President, yet Kenyans demand to know what and where their Chief Executive is. He was employed to serve us not himself and those milling around him – holding onto his political coat for survival, for I know, their days are numbered. But we do not have to wait for the end time. Action is now from all stakeholders. It is time we all owned up and reconciled for the good of tomorrow’s generation.
Various political leaders and civil society organizations have regularly condemned the physical harassment of journalists covering presidential functions but this seems to fall on deaf ears. Is a revolution the way out?
Last September 13, security officers roughed up journalists at a presidential function in Nairobi. In fact, three presidential guards manhandled Standard photojournalist, Ms Rebecca Nduku, and confiscated her camera, accusing her of taking pictures of the president’s limousine. This is a very young journalist just learning her best ropes to availing information to the people. Should we at TIG keep silent when the rights of one of our own are violated? We cannot pick arms in retaliation but we can let the truth flow around the world on these abuse. Where are the youth to speak out for their peers? At TIG, we are the voice of the voiceless wherever they are regardless of their colour, sex, status, nationality or creed. Must the old finish the young in name of protecting the positions “we” bestowed upon them to govern? These are hard questions that need concrete answers now not tomorrow.
This infection from the state harassment law enforcing clique against the fourth estate has caught up with all the leaders who initially won the heart of Kenyans. As if learning new lessons from their colleagues moments later, the security detail of Internal Security minister, Hon. John Michuki, physically assaulted NTV cameraman, Mr Eric Okoth, for trying to interview their boss. This is blatant abuse of office by any words!
Later that month, the State terminated charges against three Standard journalists accused of publishing an alarming report. The decision to was seen as victory for freedom of the Press but only for a while. Group Managing Editor, Mr Chaacha Mwita, Alternate News Editor Weekend editions, Mr Dennis Onyango, and reporter, Mr Ayub Savula, had been put on trial for allegedly publishing an article on a meeting at State House between President Kibaki and Mwingi North MP and ODM Presidential Aspirant Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka. The article in question appeared in The Saturday Standard of February 25 last year.
Standard journalist, Ms Evelyn Kwamboka, was last year in court being compelled to disclose the source of her story headlined "Deya miracle babies adopted by a German couple". According to the story, one of the miracle babies at Nest Children’s Home, which is subject of a court case, had been given to a German couple.
And last October, KTN’s award-winning newscaster, Mr Swaleh Mdoe, was arrested. He was taken into custody on the orders of the Immigration Department, which is said to have had questions regarding his immigration status. The popular KTN Leo news anchor was at first held at Kilimani Police Station before being transferred to Kileleshwa. He was released days later, and only after public outcry. Yes, public outcry. We at TIG can also stage an international outcry for the protection of our journalists. They surely ensure flow of information. I know, responsible journalism is key, but the state must not overlook the rights of her citizens – the right to a fair hearing in the court of law without interference.
The Kenya government’s relationship with the media perhaps began to deteriorate when the First Lady Lucy Kibaki dramatically stormed into the Nairobi premises of the Nation Media Group shortly before midnight on May 2, 2005, accompanied by her bodyguards and the then Nairobi police boss, King’ori Mwangi. She stayed for several hours in the offices of the Daily Nation, insulting and threatening journalists because of their "unfair" reports about her and demanding their immediate arrest. To me, this is also abuse of her office. In fact, she owes Kenyans an apology.
When she realised that KTN cameraman Clifford Derrick had been filming the scene, she leaped at him, slapping him hard and trying unsuccessfully to snatch his camera. Derrick filed a complaint with police in that month while the First Lady filed a request for sanctions with the Media Council, whose job it is to regulate the press. The suit against Lucy was, however, thrown out by the Attorney General.
Wonders never cease and hard ears never heal by any medicine. Shroud people never learn from the mistakes of others. On May 6, Stephen Orwenyo, the director of the Sangany tea plant in Kisii town physically attacked Angwenyi Gichani, Nation’s correspondent in Nyamira. In the presence of his company’s chairman, Migiro Ongwae, Orwenyo hit Gichani with a chair after accusing him of covering his activities in a "negative" manner. Security guards at the hotel where the incident took place rescued Gichani. For information of all
In the face of this numerous incidents of media harassment, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) last year called on the Kenyan authorities to apologise for violent attacks on the Press. No answer! IFJ asked the Government to reassure journalists that there would be no more acts of intimidation and violence against reporters and media staff.
All these heinous acts against Kenyans’ right to information, freedom of expression and the right to security that legal entities are entitled to need more answers. The big question is “What makes our leaders so paranoid and insecure about the media?” The media do not exist to rattle the State or pander to its whims. They exist solely to inform, entertain, educate and objectively provide a platform for debate on burning issues of the day so that the public can make informed decisions and choices.
My dear young colleagues and people of good will know that a free media is like a torch that shines within the country, keeping darker forces away — or at least in the periphery. The enduring lesson is that the enjoyment of rights always has a price — and we as citizens are ready to defend it to the hilt. More importantly, however, it is a lesson we at TIG should never forget and tire of reminding the people at whose pleasure governments are formed. Press freedom is freedom to the citizens. Aluta Continua! TIG moves on with information like a bush fire. (Kokonya O Patrick, Young Political Leader from Kenya working in Youth Development based in Juba, South Sudan).
« return.