allAfrica.com

Kenya: New Media Law Provokes Protest, Arrests

Katy Gabel

12 December 2008


staff blog

Nairobi — Kenyan police on Friday arrested several well-known media personalities who had gathered in Nairobi to demonstrate against a new media bill passed by Parliament this week.

The bill, which is now awaiting presidential ratification, would allow the government greater freedom to seize journalists' equipment and would empower government agents to open and search postal mail.

The arrests occurred shortly before the official celebration of Jamhuri Day, the Kenyan national holiday marking the end of British colonial rule.

During the official celebrations at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, a well-known comedian was arrested while attempting to pass a note to a person on the main stage, and a ruckus broke out in the stands. Later, spectators booed President Mwai Kibaki's speech, which addressed food prices, technology development and fuel prices, promised more funds for youth education and expressed commitment to a new constitution.

In a live broadcast of proceedings, KTN television, which is owned by the East African Standard media group, ran an advertisement over Kibaki's image which read "Protect Media Freedom. Protect Your Right To Know." The broadcast also showed a demonstrator being arrested and removed from the stadium. Kibaki ended his speech shortly thereafter.

Protesters are demonstrating their general dissatisfaction with the coalition government, formed in March to appease the country's two largest political parties after ethnic violence and widespread rigging of polls following the December 2007 presidential elections. Earlier this week, American Ambassador Michael Ranneberger called for the immediate implementation of reforms and urged MPs to pass "relevant legislation that is in the interest of all Kenyans."

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Author: paddo
Fri Dec 12 16:04:20 2008

A Moment Of Truth For Kenya And Africa by Peter E Adotey Addo .

The violence that rocked the world Reached horrific levels resulting everywhere With loss of children, women, and men for days Burned in a church as they were seeking sanctuary And sanctuary was denied In flames by mobs infuriated by votes. The innocent victims faced their rage Seeking help from locked doors and homes ending As charred bodies and trash in the once silent streets No water from kinfolks and no food from neighbors With nothing gained to be sure. Only we can save ourselves from this… [Read Full Text]

Author: putdown08
Sun Dec 14 14:54:14 2008

If dismantling all the media houses will save our contry from the events of last january never occuring again just do it. If it will help our children from seing all the filth in our tv screens nowadays just do it

Author: jallohlaw
Mon Dec 15 21:58:33 2008

What a morbid OPINION?

What happened to parental control? Or, did the children buy the the television sets?

It is the responsibility of parents to determine what their children watch on television. Or, do you disagree?

Author: putdown08
Tue Dec 16 10:23:28 2008

We have seen parental control how it works wonders in the west.

Author: jallohlaw
Tue Dec 16 12:01:43 2008

Your sentence is meaningless. Please rewrite it.

Cheers from the Language Crew.

Author: putdown08
Tue Dec 16 13:22:54 2008

Check out this headline from the sun (SEAN Mercer, 18, has been found guilty of killing innocent schoolboy Rhys Jones) This is the link

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2026708.ece?#EMC-Bltn Sir this is what you are calling parental control i suppose. We dont want our kids to be like yours.

Author: jallohlaw
Tue Dec 16 17:25:47 2008

Your post plainly circumvents my position. Moreover, it is completely unresponsive to the averments in my post.

Thus, I stand by my original thesis.

Author: native
Tue Dec 16 17:40:03 2008

I sympathize with the media on their concern on the Kenya Communication Amendment, Bill 2008 (not Media Bill) and agree with those calling for a rethink of the Kenya Communication Act,1998. However, is the media not being a little bit melodramatic and outright hypocritical? The media has the responsibility of analyzing issues for the wananchi-not to incite animosity between them and their elected leaders for media’s selfish reasons. The “holier than thou” Kenyan media have very short memory! They are engaging in chicanery. The Ministry of information in the print media… [Read Full Text]



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