Media role in Kenyan chaos

Jerry Nguwa

After what we have witnessed during this post election period in Kenya, I think THE MEDIA MUST ALSO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHAOS IN KENYA

I am not a big name in the media world, I have never been hired as an editor in a big media house and I have never won any award in the media field. But I believe that I have the capability of telling when a media house is bias because of its house policy or a ownership factor that makes it become a rota agency.
Sometimes back toward the end of the year 2007, I was one among the short listed applicant retained for the position of media expert assistant with the European Union’s Election Observation mission EU/EOM in Kenya. I can recall that on the 15th of November at 10h30’ I presented myself for a test to the International Organisation for Migration head office – IOM- where EU/EOM was operating. I presume you are wondering why I have to write about all this.
The reason why I’m writing this is because among the three test questions asked to me, two were clearly foreseen the current situation here in Kenya. I wish I could remember the exact formulation of the questions and the exposé I did. Unfortunately I can’t. I only remember that one of the questions was to talk on the fairness of news reporting in Kenya and the second was about the clashes in kuresoi.
As I mentioned earlier, I am just an unidentified small fish in the media ocean but I can judge the media and particularly in Kenya where I am based. As you know, the media is a helpful tool and also a dangerous one if not well managed. Many can remember the destruction power of the media that lit the flame of hatred in Rwanda in 1994.
Back to Kenya, after what I observed during the campaign season and the post elections period, I can allow myself to say that all media houses are bias. This sounds better than ROTA agencies (formal or informal). I’m afraid that the laying down of my arguments won’t be possible in this column but I am ready to prove it to whoever would doubt. Putting all media houses in one box seems a bit rude, but what would you say of a television presenter clearly showing his/her sides on live transmission? Did he/she jump the house policy and went ahead for more than 48 hours. What about historical televisions series and political actor’s biographies that went ahead and dug up some old issues. Even foreign broadcasters received in Kenya were trying to influence voter’s preferences a few days before the election exercise.
Now that the situation is becoming untenable, so many things are happening. The media is broadcasting advertorial peace messages and gospel lyrics to calm down the citizen spirit. News anchor are reciting peace appeals, church leaders are investing themselves thoroughly in attempts to bring Kenyans to reason.
Honestly, I see nothing wrong with all these initiatives that deserve praises but where were all these good ideas when the fire was being lit? One should know that after you have set your house into fire, trying or putting it off does not restore your house to the original state. The same should apply to the Kenyan situation where several people have lost their lives and properties.
I think that apart of blaming politician about the current chaos, and complain about the roughness with which we were ousted out of the KICC(Kenya International Conference Centre) where the ECK(Electoral Commission of Kenya)media centre was, the Kenyan media community should accept it’s part of responsibility and blame so that it focuses to the future in dignity.
I might be wrong in my judgment, I think sometimes but just looking at a large growing number of listener tuned to foreign broadcasters gives me confidence.

Kenya: Creation of new countries?

Posted on Thursday 17 January 2008 – 14:58

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jerrynguwa

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In this column, I once said that politicians are not enemies, they only differ in their opinions. I also wrote about ethnic hatred in Kenya and the following days I was congratulated with insulting mails and abusive telephone messages. If I was wrong, where are we now?
In school I used to be the darling of about half of the students in my class. This was influenced by my proficiency in subjects like Latin, philosophy, geography and history and of course general knowledge. The latter made me famous because I could answer any question about African countries and their president even when taking a nap.
Nowadays, I think I’m the dumbest ever of my generation. I don’t know how many countries are in Africa. I no longer know presidents names the way I used to.
This doesn’t mean that I am losing my mind or regressing. Lack of update for my memory is the main problem. But how am I supposed to do it when countries are created every now and then and presidents thrown out on a daily basis? On top of these all, when I learn that some guys have declared their compound a country, economical giants of this world are divided. Some recognize it and others not. So I decided not to bother myself anymore.
With the current situation in Kenya, I foresee eight newly created African countries unless something is done. I might look foolish, heartless, cruel etc. but that the sad truth. When former Kenyan president Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi stepped down with no blood pouring in 2002, I said this is an example to follow. When Professor Wangari Maathai received the Nobel peace prize in 2004, I called Kenya the pride of the region. Then 2007 came, we saw what we saw, we heard what we heard and it is not going to stop there today. It is with us till we change business.
The reason why I say that ethnic hatred is here to stay is not that I’m enjoying the current situation in Kenya. But because I say openly what people want and do not want to say. Many would think that General elections were the cause to the current situation. Believe me you are dead wrong. Petrol was already poured on Kenya, only fire remained to be put. Unfortunately a passer by littered a cigarette’s filter (elections) that had fire.
I’m not a Kenyan but I live and work in Kenya, I understand the Kenyan society and I have seen these elections outcome coming with or without elections. I heard and overheard hatred speeches and conversation, I witnessed thorough discrimination. This is the reason why I am saying that Kenya is heading to balkanization if nothing is done. It was ironical to see politicians who are the cause to all of these, shaking hands, hugging and laughing together on the opening day of parliament.
The Kenyan constitution says that for a candidate to be declared winner to the presidential race, one needs to get at least 25 percent of votes in the eight provinces. I believe that it is an act of Kenyan unity. But now that Kenyan opted to be voting only for theirs, what will happen to that constitutional recommendation? Kenyans, why do you want to throw your civility out the window for politician’s selfish interests? If you decide to vote all your ethnic men what is it going to happen? Who will ever lead Kenyans?
If none of the presidential candidate manages to gain votes from other regions, who will rule who? That were Kenya will give change its stability to eight unstable enemy countries in one region. To avoid this to happen, you should know that you don’t elect people for them to serve only you (province) but the all country.
Kenyans, you are great farmers and I would ask you to continue with that noble business but this time round, I ask you to cultivate LOVE, PEACE and UNITY for a better tomorrow.

Kenya exiles’ fate during post-election chaos

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KENYA: EXILED FATE’S ON THE POST ELECTIONS CHAOS
It is 6 am, I’m driving to the UNHCR offices in Westlands Nairobi. The weather is very called despite the fact that it is January. The reason why I am out at this right moment is because I want to witness what I have been told. Amid reception of rumors saying that exiled people in Kenya are among victims, I have never taken it seriously till I came face to face with Mama Tantine.
Mama Tantine is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, when hell broke loose in the eastern part of the DRC; she sought refuge in Rwanda where she spent more than 6 years. Having not yet felt secure in Rwanda, she decided to move to Kenya, the place that used to be called “The most stable Country in Africa” by then.
Mama Tantine is mother to seven, the eldest son is hospitalized for quiet a while in a Nairobi public hospital, the second born is a lady(Tantine) that has just given birth, the rest are under 15 years, her husband a former Congolese military officer has already left to our ancestral lands.
She used to live in an area called Kangemi – GICHAGI (a kikuyu name that means village). Since she can’t or simply, she is not allowed to work in Kenya, Mama Tantine lives with her family in a house that the UNHCR pays sometimes if Great lake solidarities group do not do so. Gichagi is the only place the woman can afford to live.
But yesterday something happened, local vigilantes groups turned militia asked everybody who is not theirs to leave the area in 12 hours. Regardless of your nationality of course! Those with relatives outside the area did not hesitate to leave the place so did mama Tantine and her family. But the only relative that Mama Tantine has is the UNHCR and this relative does not have houses to accommodate her. The woman in her forties and her grandchild who is just two months old spent the chilly night of Nairobi at the UNHCR’s gate.
When I met Mama Tantine, tears came out of my eyes but I was not crying. I still tell to myself that it was just the effect of the wind in the morning. On return from running my daily errands, I managed to steal some fifteen minutes from my schedule to see her. She was busy cooking super for her family and she got a neighbor of Somali origins who seems not to like the presence of a voice recorder.
I have just realized that the little things that we take for granted are blessings as I read in today’s paper. Please visit these people at the UNHCR’s gate.