the media observer magazine january-march 2013

1The Media Observer

OBSERVERA PUBLICATION OF MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

JANUARY - MARCH 2013THE MEDIA

MEDIA&ELECTIONSMEDIA &

ELECTIONS:Lessons for Politicians

Are Women Candidates

Covered Differently?

Shrinking Space for Journalists in

Kenya

To Endorse or not to Endorse

Presidential Candidates

The Media Council of Kenya is an independent national institution established by the Media Act 2007 as the leading institution in the regulation of media and in the conduct and discipline of journalists.

Vision

A professional and free media accountable to the public.

Mission

To safeguard media freedom, enhance professionalism and arbitrate media disputes.

Our Core Values

• Integrity

• Independence

• Professionalism

• Transparency and Accountability

Council’s Role, Mandate, Functions and Authority

The Council draws its mandate and authority from the Media Act CAP 411B. Its functions are to:

• Mediate or arbitrate in disputes between the government and the media, between the public and the media and intra-media.

• Promote and protect freedom and independence of the media.

• Promote high professional standards amongst journalists.

• Enhance professional collaboration among media practitioners.

• Promote ethical standards among journalists and in the media.

• Ensure the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the performance of their duties.

• Advise the government or the relevant authority on matters pertaining to professional, education and the training of journalists and other media practitioners.

• Make recommendations on the employment criteria for journalists.

• Uphold and maintain the ethics and discipline of journalists.

• Do all matters that appertain to the effective implementation of this Act.

• Compile and maintain a register of journalists, media practitioners, media enterprises and such other related registers.

• Conduct an annual review of the performance and the general public opinion of the media, and publish the results.

About Us

2 The Media Observer

3The Media Observer

Media Council of KenyaP.O.Box43132-00100Nairobi

Tel:(+25420)2737058,2725032

Mobile:(+254727)735252

Email:[email protected]

Editorial Team:Chief Executive Officer

HaronMwangi

Editorial Board:

JosephOdindo

MitchOdero

LeviObonyo

MarthaMbugguss

OtsienoNamwaya

Consulting Editor

GathenyaNjaramba

Editorial Coordinators

VictorBwire

JerryAbuga

Contributors

JerryAbuga

JoeKadhi

EdwardMwasi

PeterMwaura

RoyGachuhi

CalebAtemi

VictorBwire

JaneThuo

MarthaMbugguss

NsambaMorris

MarkOloo

TomOlang’

WellingtoneNyongesa

OlooJanak

OthienoNyanjom

Design & Layout

BrettCommunicationsLimited

Tel:0204453730

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.brettcom.net

The Media Observer is publishedquarterly by the Media Council ofKenya with assistance from FordFoundation. The views expressed inarticlespublished in thispublicationare those of the writers and do notnecessarilyreflectthoseoftheMediaCouncilofKenya.

CONTENTS

15

26

38

06

Media Council Gets New Chairman 5

To Endorse or not to Endorse Presidential Candidates 7

The Visuals, the Painful Truth 10

The Harm Principle in the use of Surreptitious News 13 Gathering Techniques

Editorial Independence In modern-day Journalism 17

The Shrinking Space for Journalists in Kenya 24

Gender Representation in the Media 29

Of Media Coverage, Ethnic Calculations & Electoral 32 Choices

Why Journalists Must Shun the ‘Brown Envelope’ 35in this Election

Media Coverage of Polls Critical for Smooth 41Change of Guard

Media Ownership and the Link to Political Power 44


OnMarch4,2013,Kenyanshaveadatewithdestinyandwhat-evertheoutcomeoftheGeneralElection,wewillmakehistory.

Theelectionswillbethefirstunderanewconstitutionaldispensationhailedbymanyasoneofthemostprogressive,notonlyinAfrica,buttheworldover.ThevoterswillforthefirsttimevoteforsixpositionsunlikeinthepastwhereweonlyelectedthePresident,MemberofParlia-mentandtheCouncillor.

Thistime,wewillalsoelecttheGovernor,SenatorandWomenRepresentative.Electionsdeterminethedirectionacoun-trytakesongovernance,developmentandfreedom,oftenguidedbytheConstitution.Electedleadersgetthemandatefromvot-erstogovernthecitizensinthenextfiveyears.Assuch,whenavoterisinsidethatlonelyballotbox,heorsheshouldmaketherightchoiceforthecountry’sfuture.

FormerUnitedStatesPresidentRonaldReaganonceremarked,“Apeoplefreetochoosewillalwayschoosepeace.”

Now,inourhighlypolarisedpresidentialcontest,everyvotershouldbefreeofinhibitions,fearorthreattolife.Thevotermustalsobearmedwithinformationonallthecandidatesontheballotpaper.Andthatispreciselywherethe‘FourthEstate’comesintothepicture.Themediahaveadutytoinformtheelectorateonthepoli-ciesespousedbythecandidates.Journal-

ists are expected to be objective, accurate and fair in their reporting.

Withthehindsightontheunfortunatehappenstanceafterthe2007disputedpresidentialelection,themediamustalsobemoresensitiveandavoidfuellingtensionamongcommunities.

Indeed,severalcommissionsthatinvestigatedthe2008post-electionviolenceinwhichover1,300liveswerelostandsome600,000Kenyansuprootedfromtheirhomes,didnotabsolvethemediaoferrorsofcommissionoromis-sion.Theypointedfingersatthe‘messenger’andsaidme-diahousescouldhavedonebettertoavertthebloodbath.Indeed,KassFMpresenterJoshuaarapSangisamongthefourKenyansfacingcrimesagainsthumanitychargesattheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)overthe2008madness.Journalistsplaythekeywatchdogroleofcheckingexcessesingovernment,andduringelections,theymustshowahighsenseofresponsibility.

Inthisfirstissueof‘The Media Observer’forthisyear,vet-eranjournalists,someofwhomhavecoverednearlythreeGeneralElections,sharetheirexperiencesandofferafewlessons.

Theytackleissueslikemediaownershipandthelinktopo-liticalpower,corruptioninthemedia,coverageofelections,impartialityorlackofitinthemedia,journalists’safetywhilecoveringpollsandethicalconductamongjournal-ists.WehopeitmakesacrucialreadasKenyadecideswhotakesoverpowerforthenextfiveyears.Asalways,wewelcomeyourfeedback.

Gathenya Njaramba,Consulting Editor

Heavy burden on the 4th Estate as Kenyans troop to the ballot box

Editor’s Note

5The Media Observer

Media Council Gets New Chairman

TheEditorialDirectoroftheNationMediaGroupMr.JosephOdindoisthenewchairmanoftheMedia

CouncilofKenya.MrOdindowaselectedduringthe13-memberCouncil’ssittingattheCouncilon15thJanuary2013.

Ms.SarahNkathawhorepresentstheKenyaUnionofJournalists(KUJ)attheCouncilhasretainedherposi-tionastheViceChairpersonoftheCouncil.

Mr.Odindo,whoisalsoamemberoftheBoardoftheWorldEditorsForum,isalong-servingmediapracti-tionerandrepresentstheKenyaEdi-torsGuildattheCouncil.HereplacesProf.LeviObonyo.Mr.OdindohasbeenamemberoftheEthicsandPublicInformationCommitteeoftheCouncilaswellastheChairmanoftheEditorialBoardoftheCouncil’squarterlymagazine,“TheMediaObserver”.

InDecemberlastyear,newmemberswereappointedtotheMediaCouncilofKenya.ThenewmemberswereswornintoofficeattheMilimaniLawCourtsinNairobibyHighCourtPrin-cipalJudgeMbogholiMsagha.TheyincludedMsNkatha,NationMediaGroupCEOMrLinusGitahirepresent-ingtheMediaOwnersAssociation,

Ms.MercyAchiengOdadarepresent-ingtheKenyaCorrespondents’Asso-ciation,Ms.GraceMunjurirepresent-ingthePublicRelationsSocietyofKenya,UniversityofNairobilecturerDr.MuiruMungairepresentingpublicuniversities,DaystarUniversitylec-turerDr.RosemaryNyaole-KowuorrepresentingprivateuniversitiesandMr.PeterWakolifromtheKenyaInstituteofMassCommunication(KIMC).

“IthasbeennotedthatsectionsofthemediacontravenetheCodeofConductforthePracticeofJournal-ismasenshrinedintheMediaAct.Itismyhopethatinyournewcapacityyouwillprovideguidanceontheworkofthemedia”,saidJusticeMsa-gha.AlsoattheceremonywastheMediaCouncilofKenyaChiefExecutiveOfficerHaronMwangiwhoaffirmedthatself-regulationofthemediainKenyahastakenroot.HesaidtheCouncilwillcontinueun-dertakingitsrole,includingboostingitsmediaarbitra-tionfunction.

OthermembersoftheCouncilinclude:Mr.EzekielMutuarep-resentingKenyaNewsAgency,Mrs.NellyMatheka,represent-

ingtheMediaOwners’Association,Mr.EricOrinaandMr.KipronoKittonyrepresentingtheKenyaUnionofJournalistsandMediaOwners’As-sociationrespectively.

TheMediaCouncilofKenyaiscomposedof13Councilmembersrepresentingthefollowingmediastakeholders:MediaOwnersAsso-ciation,KenyaUnionofJournalists,KenyaEditorsGuild,PublicRelationsSocietyofKenya,KenyaCorrespon-dents’Association,LawSocietyofKenya,KenyaNewsAgency,KenyaInstituteofMassCommunicationsandpublicandprivateuniversities.

By Jerry Abuga

Mr Joseph Odindo, the Editorial Director of the Nation Media Group.

Some of the new Council Members upon being sworn in. (From right) Media Council of Kenya CEO Mr. Haron Mwangi, Mr. Linus Gitahi, Ms. Grace Munjuri, Ms. Sarah Nkatha, Ms. Mercy Achieng Odada and acting Director of Information Mr. Olewe Owiti.


IneffortstopromoteprofessionalisminthepracticeofjournalisminKenya,theMediaCouncilofKenyawillholdits

secondmediaexcellenceawards.TheMediaCouncilofKenya’ssecondAnnualJournalistsExcellenceAwards[AJEA]willbeheldon4thMay2013aspartofcelebrationstomarkthisyear’sWorldPressFreedomDay.TheawardsalsoseektoencourageDevelopmentJournalisminKenyainrespecttoVision2030.

By Jerry Abuga

TheCouncilhasplacedacallwelcomingKenyanjournaliststosubmitworkpublishedorbroadcastinthelocalmediawithinthelastyear,includingupto15thMarch2013.

The17awardscategoriestobecompetedforwillbe:TheICTandTelecommunications’ReportingAward,theChildrenandYouthAffairsReportingAward,theGenderReportingAward,theEnvironmentReportingAward,theSportsReportingAward,theTourismReportingAward,thePhotographeroftheYearAward,theCartoonistoftheYearAward,theBusinessReportingAward,theGoodGovernanceReportingAward,theYoungJournalistoftheYearAward,theReporteroftheYearAward,theCameramanoftheYearAward,theHealthReportingAward,theDigitalJournalismAward,theFreePressKenyaAward,theTelevisionandNewsBulletinAwardandtheJournalistoftheYearAward.

AnewcategoryhasbeenintroducedinlinewiththeCouncil’smandateofpromotingpressfreedom.The Free Press Kenya Awardwillseekto

recogniseeffortsmadebyjournaliststopromote,contributeandpropagatepressfreedominthecountry.

Othernewcategoriesare:TheTourismReportingAward,theDigitalJournalismAwardandtheTelevisionandNewsBulletinAwardwhichwillreplacelastyear’sBestNewsAnchoroftheYear–TelevisionAward.

TheCouncilhasalsointroducedtheDigitalJournalismAwardinrecognitionthatnewandemergingtechnologyhasgreatlyimpactedonmoderndayjournalism.Theawardwillrecognisejournalistswhoshowtheabilitytocreativelyusenewmediaoronlineplatformstopackageandpresentpowerfulstoriesthataffectpeoples’lives.

Therewillbetwoentrycategoriesfortheawardsnamely:IndividualandGroupnewsproduction(ProducersandCameramen).

OnlyjournalistsaccreditedbytheMediaCouncilofKenyaareeligibletosubmitentriesfortheawards.EntryformscanbeobtainedattheMediaCouncilofKenyaofficesordownloadedfromourwebsite:www.mediacouncil.or.ke.

MediaCounciltohold2nd Journalism

Awards

7The Media Observer

To Endorse or...

...not to Endorse

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Whether Kenyan media houses should openly declare support for certain candidates or political parties remains a main item of debate. JOE KADHI

explores this contentious topic

MediaownersandtheireditorsaretodayfacingaHerculeantask.Theyhavetomakeuptheir

mindsprettysoononwhetherornottoendorseapresidentialcandidateinthecurrentelectionsinKenya.Pastexperiencemusthaveshownthemthatdoingsobyjumpingonthebandwagonoftribalbalkanisationcanbeextremelycostly;andmayevenleadtoamassiveboycottbyreaders,viewersandlistenerswhofeeltheircandidateisbeingmarginalisedbyanyindividualmediahouse.Yetfailuretoendorseacandidatemayalsobeinterpretedasanindicationofprofessionalmyopiawhichlacksvisionaryagenda-settingproficientresponsibility.

Mediaendorsementinelectioncoverageistodayacceptedbymanyjournalismscholarsinmanypartsoftheworldasacompletelydifferentapproachofelectioncoveragefromtheonecamouflagedinmediabias.

supporttherecommendedcandidateafterpublicationoftheendorsement.

Accordingtothemthedegreeofthisinfluence,however,dependeduponthecredibilityoftheendorsement.AndthatisthemainproblemnowfacingtheKenyanmediaownersandeditorswhomaywishtoendorseanyoftheeightcandidatesseekingtobecomeMwaiKibaki’ssuccessorasthecountryfourthPresident.ThemajorquestionthattheKenyanreaders,viewersandlistenersarelikelytoaskwillprobablybehowcrediblethepoliticalendorsementsbythemediaforanyofthecandidatewillactuallybe.

TheotherimportantquestionforjournaliststoaskiswhetherornotitisatallpossibletomakeacredibleendorsementforanyofthecurrentpoliticalcandidatesforanyofthemanyofficesinthecomplicatedmultiplicityofelectionsinKenyatoday.Andyetanotheradditional

Whereastheformerisbasedonathoroughexaminationofpartymanifestosostensiblydesignedbytheconcernedcandidates;thelatterisanemotionalexercisefoundedonpartyaffiliationortriballoyaltyofwhoeverispowerfulenoughtodeterminetheendorsementofapoliticalcandidatebyamediahouse.

TwoofthemosthighlyrespectedscholarswhohaveseriouslystudiesthesubjectofmediabiasandpoliticalendorsementofpresidentialcandidateareProf.BrianG.KnightandDr.Chun-FangChiangofBrownUniversityinRhodeIsland.Inastudyconductedin2008thetwoscholarsconcludedthatwhenjournalistsarepotentiallybiasedinfavourofoneofthecandidatestheyalwayssucceedinmakingvoterswhoaretheirreaders,viewersorlistenersacceptthecandidatestheyendorse.Theirempiricalfindingwasthatendorsementswereinfluentialinthesensethatvotersweremorelikelyto


unpalatablequestionthatmanyareboundtoaskiswhetherthecurrentbreedofleaders,particularlythosewhoweremembersofthejustendedtenthParliament,areworthendorsingatall.

VotersinKenyawillalwaysrememberthatitwasthesesameleaderswholastyearamendedboththePoliticalPartiesAct2011andtheElectionsAct2011todilutethedemocraticelectoralprocessinsuchamannerastofavourthepoliticalpartiestheyown;andprotecttheirguaranteedleadershipinthosesamepoliticalparties.RecenteventsinthecurrentelectionshaveclearlyshownthatitisalmostimpossibletoconductfreeandfairpartynominationsinKenyamainlybecauseoftheamendedlaws.Howthencouldanyjournalistscallfortheendorsementofanyleaderwhoserecordsshowlittlerespectfordemocracy?

AccordingtothejustpublishedKNDR(KenyaNationalDialogueandReconciliation)whichexamineshowpreparedKenyaisfortheelectionswehaveembarkedonpoliticalpartiescontinueintheiroldways;andsomeareallegedlyrecruitingmembersthroughfraud.Thereportexposeshowpartiesarestilltiedtoindividualswhofoundedthem,andsomearestillbasedonethnicidentitiesandloyalties.Asaresultofthis,thereportsays,partyprimariesconductedinJanuaryfailedtodemonstrateanyclearbreakwiththepast.ItconcludesthatthebehaviourofpoliticalpartieshasdetractedfromrequirementsofthePoliticalPartiesAct,2011,andtheElectionsAct,2011,whichlegislatorshavemutilatedorwatereddowntoservetheirpoliticalsurvivalinterests.

Bethatasitmay,theeffortsthatthemediafraternity,ledbytheMediaCouncilofKenya,madetochangetheelectoralprocess,particularlytheelectioncampaignsthemselves,frombeingpredominantlytribalorientedintobecomingissueorientedoperations,arecommendable.Thatbeingthecasethestandstakenbyvariouspoliticalgroupingsonimportantpolicyissuesareworthexaminingbeforemakinganysuggestionaboutcrediblemediaendorsementofthesaidgroupings.AtarecentNaivashaworkshopforeditorstheissueofmediaendorsementwasbrieflydiscussed

whenMachariaGaithopointedoutthedifficultieseditorsgothroughtodeterminetheideologicaldifferencesbetweenanypoliticalgroupsinKenya.

AccordingtohimmostoftheideologiespurportedtobesupportedbyvariouspoliticalgroupsinKenyahappentobeidenticalbecauseoflackoforiginality.Heclaimedanyseriousexaminationsoftheseso-calledideologieswouldrevealsimilaritiesthatwouldexposetheabsenceofanyseriousnessinbasingpoliticalpartiesonspecificsocio-politicalconceptualprinciples.ThatwasbeforeRailaOdingastartedarigorouscampaignonthelandissue.TodaythetwomajorpoliticalgroupsofCordandJubileehavesuchdifferentideologicalapproachesonthelandissuethatthosedivergencescouldinfactformthefoundationofmediachoicesofwhichgrouptoendorse.TalkingoflandpoliciesRailaOdingaseemstohavemadeuphismindtomakeitanelectionissueaslongagoasJuly2009whenhetabledalistof49veryhighlyrespectedindividualswho,accordingtohim,hadbeenirregularlyallocatedlandintheMauforestbyPresidentDanielarapMoi.Callingit“thelistofshame”thePrimeMinistermanagedtodetonateenoughpoliticalmissilesthatdisturbedtheconscienceofmanydogmaticleaderswhocameoutstronglyinhissupport.AmongthemwastheprincipledandrespectedNobelPeacePrizelaureateWangariMaathaiandthethenforthrightEnvironmentMinisterJohnMichuki.

Mentioningthelandissueateveryopportunetimesince2009,RailablewupthemattertoamajorcrescendosoonafterhisnominationpaperwereacceptedbytheIEBCastheofficialPresidentialcandidatefortheCordalliance.MovinginhischaracteristicstyleofpompandsplendourhemadeahugecrowdofsupportersdefyheavyrainsinNairobi’sUhuruParkwhenhelaunchedapersonalattackagainsttheJubileealliance’sPresidentialcandidateUhuruKenyattaandhisrunningmateWilliamRuto.Accusingthemofwhatamountedtolandgrabbingandowninghugetractsoflandwhenordinarywananchiwerecuttingeachother’sthroatsoveraslittleashalfanacreofland,Railacalleduponhisrivalstosurrendersomeofwhattheyownedtothelandlesspeople.

AllhellbrokeloosefollowingRaila’sbombshell.NosoonerdidhetrytowalkwhereangelsfeartotreadthantheshithitthefanignitingawarofwordsbetweentheCordallianceandtheJubileecoalition.Journalistshadtocallaspadeaspadeandengageinreportorialpresentationofthesensationalrunningstory.Theycouldnottakesidesastheideologicaldifferencesonlandissuewerenotquiteclear.AsthehotfireofwordswasquicklyspreadingindifferentpartsofthecountryboththeChairpersonoftheNationalCohesionandIntegrationCommission,Dr.MzalendoKibunjia,andtheInspectorGeneralofPolice,DavidKimaiyo,steppedintostopthedebateonthelandissue.Asamatteroffacttheytriedinfutilitytoremovethewholesubjectoflandreformsfromtheelectioncampaign.

BoththeJubileeallianceandtheCordcoalitionconsideredthelandissueofsuchimportanceastoincludeitintheirmanifestos.AccordingtotheCordgroupRaila’sAdministrationwilladdresshistoricalinjusticesonland,including,butnotlimitedto,squatterproblems,displacementofindigenouscommunitiesandinvoluntaryresettlementofpopulations.ThemanifestosaysRailawillestablishandenforcesustainableland-usestandardsandbenchmarks.NaturallymediahouseswouldinsistonmakingthePresidentialcandidate

Naturally media houses would insist on

making the Presidential candidate backing

these principles expound on them to not only make them easy to understand but also to enable

editors to thoroughly examine them in

comparison with those offered by rival groups before using them as

the benchmarks for endorsement.

9The Media Observer

backingtheseprinciplesexpoundonthemtonotonlymakethemeasytounderstandbutalsotoenableeditorstothoroughlyexaminethemincomparisonwiththoseofferedbyrivalgroupsbeforeusingthemasthebenchmarksforendorsement.

BeforeanymediahouseendorsesRaila’scandidatureonthebasisofhislandpolicies,forexample,itwouldhavetoconvinceitsreaders,listenersandviewersthatittookthatdeliberatestepafterweighingtheprosandconsofthepolicyascomparedtothelandpoliciesofferedbyalltheotherpresidentialcandidatesespeciallythoseofferedbyUhuruKenyattawhohappenstobeRaila’smainopponent.ThatwouldentailexaminingUhuru’slandpolicieswhichclaimsthatmillionsofKenyanstodayhavenopropertytocalltheirown,yetremarkably,only20%ofKenya’slandisprivatelyowned.

AccordingtoUhuru’sgrouppubliclandis13%ofthelandinthecountrywith67%beingcommunitylandwhichhasbeentraditionallymanagedbylocalauthorities,withcommunitieswhoactuallyliveonithavinglittlebenefit.AsfarastheJubileecoalitionisconcernedasignificantportionofprivatelandisuntitled,withpoorrecordsofownershipwhichinsomeareasismadeworsebyabsenteelandlords.Themanifestosays,asitisnow,communitylandhaslittleornocommercialbenefitfortheindividualsandcommunitiesthatliveonit.This,accordingtothegroup,hasbeenmadeworsebypoorbasicinfrastructureandunclearlandrightswhichhavefuelledinter-communityconflict.

Themanifestofurtherclaimsthatbyadjudicatingandissuingtitlesforcommunityland,Uhuru’sAdministrationwillunlockit’spotentialasacommercialassetinadditiontoprovidingcommunitiesasecureplacetolive.This,itclaims,willresultinincreaseinfoodproduction,improvedsecurityforindividualsandcommunities,enhancedinvestmentinanddevelopmentoflandandimportantlyminimiseconflictsthatarisefromownershipdisputes.Jubileeallianceconcludesthatbyimprovingtheskillsofouryouthandexpandingeconomicopportunitiesavailabletothem,itwillreducepressuretoownlandandeconomicrelianceonsubsistencefarmingactivities.

Theeditors’maintaskistocompareandcontrastthetwopoliciesandexpertlyconvincetheirreaders,viewersandlistenersthatoneofthemiswhatthecountryneeds.Onlyaftertakingsuchstepscananymediahouseexpectitsendorsementofanycandidatetobetakenseriously.AtthetimeofwritingthisanalysisMusaliaMudavadi’sAmaniManifestowaslaunchedwhichmeansthisexercisewouldhavetoberepeatedtoincludeitintheexaminationofitslandpolicies.FortheendorsementtobeascredibleasProf.BrianG.KnightandDr.Chun-FangChiangwouldrecommendtheentirecontentofeverymanifestoavailablewouldhavetobesubjectedtothoroughexaminationfollowedbyintensepersonalinterviewswiththeconcernedcandidates.Therearemanyotherstudiesthathavebeenconductedbyscholarsonmediaendorsement,especiallynewspaperendorsementofcandidatesinAmericanelections.Amongthemostrespectedistheoneconducted

lastyearbyKyleA.Dropp,aPh.D.candidateintheDepartmentofPoliticalScienceatStanfordUniversityandProf.ChristopherWarshawoftheDepartmentofPoliticalScience,MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,whoinvestigatedhowpoliticalendorsementsinfluenceelectionoutcomes.Theyconductedtheirstudythroughaseriesoflarge,nationallyrepresentativesurveyexperimentsinwhichtheyestablishedthatanendorsement’simpactdependsonthelevelofideologicalcongruencebetweenthevoterandthemediahousemakingtheendorsement.

AccordingtothesetwoscholarsAmericanvotersrewardCongressionalcandidateswhentheyperceivethatanendorsingnewspaperisideologicallysimilartotheirpreferencesbutpunishendorsedcandidateswhentheyperceivethatthesourceisideologicallydistal.NaturallythesefindingsarenotthatrelevantintheKenyansituationasKenyanreaders,viewersandlistenersdonotknowtheideologicalstandsofanygivenmediahousevis-à-visthepoliticalcandidatestheycover.ApartfromS.K.MachariaofRoyalMediaHouse,whohascomeoutopenlyinsupportofRailaOdinga,othermediahousesclaimtobeneutralandimpartialincoveringallthecandidates.IndeedeventheRoyalMediahouseitselfclaimstobeprofessionallyaccurateandfairinitselectioncoverageandthereforeethicallyimpartial.IftheideologicalstandofeverymediahousewaspubliclyknownasisthecaseintheUSitisdifficulttoknowhowinfluentialtothereaders,viewersandlistenerstheywouldbeafterofficiallyendorsingcandidate.

WhatisworthnotingfromKyleA.DroppandProf.ChristopherWarshaw’sstudiesisthatendorsementscanhavetheoppositeeffectandevenboomerang.Lastbutnotleastitisworthpointingoutthatevenafterendorsingcandidates,journalistsareexpectedtostrictlyadheretotheethicalstandardsinallthestoriestheywriteaboutelectioncampaignsexceptwhatispublishedonop-edpagesorspecificallybroadcastascommentaries.

Mr. Joe Kadhi

makes a contribution

at a Media Council of

Kenya media monitoring

briefing.Mr. Joe Kadhi is a former Managing Editor of the Daily Nation and currently a journalism lecturer at the United States International University.


Citystreetsandothershoppingcentresaroundthecountryareawashwithnewspapersandotherprintmedia.What

iseye-catchingthough,isthemannerinwhichthevendorsdisplaytheirmerchandise.Theydoitinsuchamannerthateventhosethatarenotintentonbuyingthemreadilygetthemselvescopies.Theurgetobuyisdriveninpart,bythemannerinwhichthenewsispackagedbythevariousmediahouses.

Thepublisherunderstandshisreaderverywellandtherefore,woulddoeverythingpossibletocajolehimorherthroughstrongcontentandexcellentprojection.Withthe

emergenceofmodern,sophisticatedsoftwareandtechnology,allisalmostpossible.

Acursoryglanceofanewsroomwillobviouslyprovideusefulinsights.Newsroomsareusuallybusywhereeveryindividualintheproductionchainwantstodeliverthebestforthemarket.Awriterorreportercomposesastorywithaviewofcatchingtheeditor’seye.Therefore,unrefinedstoriesare,innewsroomparlance,spiked.It’stheaspirationofeverywritertosecuresomespaceinthepaperobviouslywiththemuchcovetedbyline.Photographersontheotherhand,applyallthetricksinthebooktocapturethebestphoto,

toearnaprominentpositioninapublication,abylineandsomefeeforit.Cartoonistsandillustratorsontheirpartwouldworkintotheweehoursofthenightlampooningsomeofthepopularpublicfigureswhilecaricaturingothersinalightheartedway.Itis,tosaytheleast,averycompetitiveindustry.

Fromtimetotime,thesubjectonmediaresponsibilitypopsupandattentionisdrawntothewrittenword.Verylittleonimagestakenbyphotographersortheinputofthegraphicdesignerissaid.Thisisinspiteoftheage-oldsayingthatapicturespeaksathousandwords.Therallyingcallis:Foraslongasthereisnothingobviouslywrong,wearesafe.

Whatisthisthatisnotobviouslywrong?Howmuchisnotwrong?Whatisthemeasurable?Evenadrugaddictwouldtellyoutheystartedtakinginlittlebylittlesubstancewiththehopeofnottakinginexcess.

The Visuals,the Painful Truth

The adage “A picture is worth a thousand words “denotes to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image. Sounds too obvious? EDWARD MWASI explores the subject that has been ignored by many.

11The Media Observer

Theyenduplockedupinacage.Thisiswhatmediapublicationsandnewscastsdotoreadersandviewersrespectively.Whenphotographywasfirststarted,itsvalueandpoweremergedfromthefactthatitrecordednaturemoreaccuratelythananartist’sbrush.Becauseofthis,peopletrustedit.Theybelieveditportrayedrealityandthetruth.Therecamemotionpicturesandeventuallytelevision.Thepublicsawsomethingevenmoreaccuratecomparedtotheinitialphoto.Thiswasdefinitelyarevolutionespeciallywhenaudioaccompanieditandpicturesmoved.Atsomepointitwasinblackandwhiteandlatercolored.Thispuzzledmankind.

Mostrecently,the3Dmoviewhichwaslargelyregardedastheendofinventionwasintroduced.Weobviouslyknowthisisnottheend.Thefactis,allthesedonotrepresentnaturefully.Thefurthestmanhasgonesofaristomimicnature,evenwiththelatestmotions.Nonehasbeenabletocapturenaturenaturally.

Ifwhatmankindhasbeenabletoproduceinimagesisstillnotgoodenoughtobetermedasnature,itfollowsthereforethatmoreattentionneedstobedrawntographicsandpicturesincommunicationespeciallyduringimportantfunctionsandeventssuchaselectiontime.

Discussingcontentsofaphotoandhowtheviewermayeasilymisunderstanditmakesmostphotojournalistsquiteuncomfortable.Somedramaticpicturesoftentelladifferentstoryfromwhattheyaresupposedtoproject.Forexampleaphotographofapersonlaughingmaybecapturedatapointwhereitlookslikethesubjectiscrying.

Croppingaphotographofapoliticalrallyisnowadaysconsideredabominable.Politicianstakeissuewiththis.Mediahousesareslowlybyslowlybecomingprisonersofpolitics.Thishasencouragedpoliticianstotransportfollowerstotheirralliesaroundthecountryforthatspecialphotooftheday.Itisbelievedthatitisawayofrallyingunsteadyvoterstobelievetheyhaveastrongfollowingandthereforechangetheirminds.Tothephotojournalist,isthatcreativityorjustapicture?Remember,

suchphotoscanalmostbetakenbyanyonewhocanclickacameraandthisisbecauseofthesophisticatedequipmentavailable.

Sometimes,thephotojournalistisnotabletocapturethatmomentouspictureand,incaseitdoesnotmeetthethresholdPhotoshopcomesinhandytoachieveddesiredresults.Editors,photographersandgraphicdesignersoperatewithallsortsofapplicationswiththeattendantriskofprojectingthejournalistinvolvedunfavourably.Mediahouseshavespenthugesumsofmoneytrainingtheirgraphicsteams,purchasedverysophisticatedmachinerytoachievethedesiredresults,butinsomecasesneglectedethicalconcernsintheoperations.

Agoodquestiononemightask:‘Whatiswrongwithwantingtopublishanimagethatlookssharpanddetailed,onethatwasnotmanipulatedasmuch?’Manipulationofimages,bypractice,needstobedisclosedanddiscussedwiththeeditorialandproductionteams.Inthiscase,aclearlineneedstobedrawnonwhatisrightandwhatiswrong.Doestheeffectintroducechangesandthustheoverallmeaningoftheimage?Doesitintroduceanythingforeign?Whatwouldthereaderreadoutofthesubject?

Manipulationofpictureshasbeentheresincetheadventofthecamera.Whethertheviewersknewaboutitornot,adoctoredphotodistortsinformationfromtheoriginal.

Therefore,ifarawimagedoesnotgivethetruereflectionofnature,whatwouldamanipulatedonedo?

TherearefundamentalaspectsthathavebeentakenupintheindustrythatincludeEthicsversusAestheticsandArtversusJournalism.Whensomethingis‘ethical,’bydefinitionitconformstoprofessionalstandardsofconduct.Thesearemoralprinciplesorvaluesthatguidetheindustry.

Asdiscussedearlier,thepictureswetakedonotmakeaperfectlyobjectiverecordingofreality.Theyarejustbutaninterpretationofrealityandit’sproventhatnocamerawouldperfectlyandaccuratelyrecordnaturetoanundisputedlevel.Livecoverageonvideosgetclosertothatbut,withsomelapsesoftimetotheseconds,theystillfindthemselvesinthatclassification.

MediaHouseshavealwaystowalkthethinlineofportrayingthetruthofeventsthroughthecamera,sothattheviewergetsthetruthasmuchaspossible.ImagesarenolongerusedasevidencebeforethecourtoflawespeciallywiththeintroductionofPhotoshopandmanyothereditingtools.This,therefore,impliesthatthemediahastoplayamajorroleinguardingtheirreputationbycontrollingthewayprofessionalphotographersworkwiththeirtoolsoftrade.

Let’snotignoredeliberateset-upsorposesofsubjectsbydesperatephotographers.It’sbeenwitnessedbeforethatsomephotographers


andcameramenrequesttheirsubjectstoenacttheevents.Somedemonstrationsthatfiddledoutbeforetheprofessionalsarrivedhavebeingre-ignitedforthecamera,someendingupbeingworsethanbefore.Thistoofallsundermanipulationofthecamera.

Evenaphotothathasnotbeendistortedthroughtheexistingtoolsoncomputermayendupgivingthewrongmessage.Thephotographersmaynotagreetothisbutitisafact.Theangleandcameracontrolsmaysendadistortedstorytotheviewer.Takeforinstance,wherepeoplearehuggingandthephototakeninshortclipsfromtheside.Thereexistsamomentwhenthefacesarerightateachotherandtightlycloseastoportraythesubjectsaskissing.Thetwodimensionalcamerawouldnotshowthenecessarylevelsforeverythingwouldbeononeplane.Theuseofflashinshootingoffacesmayagainintroducearedeyeeffecttothesubjectandthephotographerneedstoanticipatethat,butsomeobviouslydon’t.Ifthisisnotdistortion,whatis?Theredeyeonthesubjectmayintroduceotherinterpretationbythereader.Itmayinsinuatethatthepersoninquestionconsumessomehardstuffandsoon.Awide-anglelenswouldbringascatteredcrowdtoasmallareaandgiveatotallydifferentperspective.Allthesearequalitiesthatmediahousesmustwatchoutfor.

Theabilitytotakeanewsworthypicturenolongerlieswithaphotojournalist.Theemergenceofconvergenceinthemediahasmadeitpossibleforasimpleoperatortotakeprofessionalpictures;consumingeachphototosuitthesituation.Inthepast,photore-touchingtookhoursandhighlevelskills.Nowadays,somecomputersoftwaredoesitforyouinaflashandtherearemanywebsiteswherelearnersgetfreetutorials.Itisnolongeratradeofafewbutanartthateveryotherpersoncanparticipatein.

Duringanelectioneeringyear,mediahousesseemtoclosetheireyestothosefundamentaldetailsontheimagestheyuse.Manipulatedimagesarepublishedallthetimewiththeintentiontoincreasereadershipandsales.Evenreputableorganisationsarenotsparedinthismalaise.

Naturally,personnelinthemediacouldbehavingtheirbiasestosomepoliticalcamps.Thisisareality

althoughsomewouldalwaysdisputethis.Thisisthereasonwhysomeimagesandstorieswouldbedefendedevenwhentheyareclearlynotconformingtowrittencodeofconduct.Allsortsofexcuseswouldbebroughtuptoexplainsuchamisrepresentation.Ididnotseethis,Ididthinkso,andsoon.

Detailedevaluationproceduresneedtobedrawnandspecialattentionmadetootherhiddenimplications.Thisisafactandmustbehandledwithalotofcareand,ifpossible,shouldbediscussedamongstthekeyplayersinthenewsroom.ItisnolongerthedutyofthePhotoEditortostartandendanevaluationprocess.Thisrequirescollectiveresponsibilityandconstantrevisionoftheparametersused.Also,itisnotthedutyofthephotographertodecidewhatimagestheywantused.Healthydebatesandobjectiveanalysisarevital.Whilemanyoftheseguidelinesareusedbymediahouses,thequestionishowmuchcomesintoplay.Isitrighttouseimagesthatdistorttheeventoranindividual?Howmanyoftheconsumersoutthereunderstandphotomanipulationandtowhatextentdotheygetmislead?Itiseasytosaynotosomedetail,butwhenthesemethodshavebeenusedforyears,andincreasedsales,thequestionisnotwhetheritisright,butwhatandwherearetheguidelines?

Itisveryimportantformediahousestoopenuptheirscopeofanalysisofthepublishedmaterialandaskthemselveswhethertheyhaveplayedaroleinshapingtheopinionpositivelyordistortedinformation.Issuesarisingincludewhetheritissafetobelievethephotographsthatweseeeveryday?

Mediaownersmustembracealltheethicsrelatedmatteracrosstheboard.

Thosecomingintothebusinessmustdrawalotofattentiontothatdetail.‘Mostpeoplehaven’tnoticed,butit’sgettingmoreandmoredifficulttorecogniserealityinphotographicjournalism.Duetotheintricatenatureofthesoftwareemployed,ithasbecomealmostimpossibletonotethedistortionsfoundinmostmedia.Evenfictionisseenasreality.

Mediahouseshavearoletoplayandshouldprovidephotographerswithstrictguidelinesonhowtotakeandenhancetheirphotographs.Magazinesandotherpublicationsarenotsparedeitherandparametersmustbeputinplace.Asmediahousesalsorelyonthepublictohelpthemcapturenews,itisimportanttoknowandunderstandtheethicalissuesbehindeverycomponenttheyuse.

Whenoneunderstandsandbelievesthatphotographyisnotthecorrectinterpretationofnature,thentheywouldbecarefulonhowthatimageaffectsthesociety.Itisgoodtohaveadramaticpicturebutitisevenmoreimportanttounderstandthecontentsofacompositionatthatpointofapplicationandwhatmessagecomesout.Yes,wewanttomakethatextracoin,butatwhatcost?

Edward Mwasi is a Newspaper and Graphics Consultant.


The Harm Principlein the use of Surreptitious News Gathering Techniques

Theuseofhiddencameras,secretvoicerecordingandotherJamesBond007-typetechniques,hasbecomecommonininvestigativereportinginKenya.However,theCodeofConductforthe

PracticeofJournalisminKenyacontainsclausesthatseemtoruleout,exceptinexceptionalcircumstances,theuseofsuchspyingdevices.

Article 3statesthatjournalistsshouldpresentnewswithintegrityanddecency.Theyshouldavoid“techniquesthatskewfacts,distortreality,orsensationalizeevents”.Journalistsshouldusesurreptitiousnewsgatheringtech-niques,includinghiddencamerasormicrophones,onlyifthereisnootherwayofobtainingstoriesofsignificantpublicimportance,andifthetechniqueisexplainedtotheaudience.

Article 7alsostatesthatjournalistshaveaprofessionalobligationtoprotectconfidentialsourcesofinforma-tion.ButitisArticle8thatdealsthebiggestblowtothepracticeofespionageinjournalism.“Journalistsshould

generallyidentifythemselvesandnotobtainorseektoobtaininformationorpicturesthroughmisrepresenta-tionorsubterfuge.Subterfugecanbejustifiedonlyinthepublicinterestandonlywhenmaterialcannotbeobtainedbyanyothermeans.”

Article 12alsoforbidsjournal-istsfromrecordinginterviewsandtelephoneconversationswithouttheperson’sknowledge:“Exceptinjustifiablecases,journalistsshouldnottapeorrecordanyonewithouttheperson’sknowledge.Anexceptionmaybemadeonlyiftherecordingisnecessarytoprotectthejournalistinalegalactionorforsomeothercom-pellingreason.Inthiscontextthesestandardsalsoapplytoelectronicmedia.”

Journalists have been accused of applying unorthodox techniques as they pursue stories, mostly investigative pieces. PETER MWAURA explores this in reference to the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism.


Article 13weighsinwiththeis-sueofprivacy.Thepublic’srighttoknowshouldbeweighedagainsttheprivacyrightsofpeopleinthenews,thearticlestates.“Intrusionandinquiriesintoanindividual’sprivatelifewithouttheperson’sconsentarenotgenerallyacceptableunlesspublicinterestisinvolved.Publicinterestshoulditselfbelegitimateandnotmerelyprurientormorbidcuriosity.Thingsconcerningaperson’shome,family,religion,tribe,health,sexual-ity,personallifeandprivateaffairsarecoveredbytheconceptofprivacyexceptwheretheseimpingesuponthepublic.”

Further,article 20statesthatasageneralrulethemediashouldapplycautionintheuseofpicturesandnamesandshouldavoidpublicationwhenthereisapossibilityofharmingthepersonsconcerned.Thiscouldbeinterpretedastheharmprinciple--articulatedbyJohnStuartMillinhisbookOn Liberty--whichholdsthattheactionsofindividualsshouldonlybelimitedtopreventharmtootherindividuals.

Indeed,theCode,initsadmonition

againstjournalisticsubterfugeandtrickery,seemstobeconcernedwiththeharmthatsuchinvestigativemethodscancausetotheirsubjects.Ittriestobalancetheharmwithpublicinterestortherightofthepublictobeinformedofimportantmatters.Unfortunately,theCodedoesnotdefinewhatpublicinterestisandtheinterpretationislefttotheinvestigativejournalistandultimatelyhiseditor.

Theuseofhiddentechniquesinnewsgatheringisalsoamatterofethicalstandards.TheEditors’CodeofPractice,theBritishequivalentofourCodeofConductforthePracticeofJournalisminKenya,isamuchmorerobustinstrumentwhichseekstomaintainthehighestprofessionalstandards.TheEditors’CodeofPracticesetsthebenchmarkforthoseethicalstandards,protectingboththerightsoftheindividualandthepublic’srighttoknow.

SpecificallyonclandestinedevicesandsubterfugetheEditors’Codestates:“Thepressmustnotseektoobtainorpublishmaterialacquiredbyusinghiddencamerasorclandestine

A battery of cameramen focusing on capturing the best at a press conference.

listeningdevices;orbyinterceptingprivateormobiletelephonecalls,messagesoremails;orbytheunauthorisedremovalofdocuments,orphotographs;orbyaccessingdigitally-heldprivateinformationwithoutconsent.Engaginginmisrepresentationorsubterfuge,includingbyagentsorintermediaries,cangenerallybejustifiedonlyinthepublicinterestandthenonlywhenthematerialcannotbeobtainedbyothermeans.”

WhatisclearfromtheemergingtrendinKenyaisthatsubterfugeandmisrepresentationisokayaslongasoneonecanclaimpublicinterest.Butitwouldseemthatwithoutcommitmenttoethicalstandardsthereisadangerofgoingtoofarwiththesetoolsofdeceit.Amorecautiousapproachisrequiredtoensurethatthereisaproperbalancebetweentheharmprincipleandthepublicinterest.

Mr Peter Mwaura is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Communication and Journalism, Kenya Methodist University and a member of the Media Council of Kenya’s Complaints Commission.


DuringamediatrainingworkshopIconductedinNairobilatelastyear,aparticipantmadethe

followingcontribution:Overthelasttwodecadesorso,Kenya’smediaestablishmenthasevolvedfollowingacourseinwhichtheEditor-in-ChiefhasbeenburiedandtheChiefExecutiveOfficerhasgainedthepre-imminentleadershiprole.TheEditor,sheobserved,isajournalistwhiletheCEOisabusinessman.Asaresultofthisevolution,themainstreammediainKenyahasshiftedfrombeingawatchdogforthepublic–whichthejournalistchampions–tobeingacorporateentitythatisjustinterestedinahealthybalancesheet–whichisthebusinessman’soverridingconcern.

This,shesaid,hasresultedinthedeathofpublic-spiritedjournalism,especiallyinvestigativejournalismbecausewheretheEditorsawastoryaboutacorporatewrong-doer,theCEOseesanadvertiser,agoosethatlaysthegoldeneggs.Suchagoosemustbeprotectedatallcosts,thepublicinterestnotwithstanding.

ThephysicalsizeofKenya’snewspaperhasthusbecomebiggerandbiggerbutintermsofqualityjournalism,ithasbecomeworseandworse.Eye-catchinggraphicscannoterasethisfact,sheinsisted.Finally,tocompoundtheproblemofthedeathofeditorialleadershipisthephenomenonofcross-mediaownership.Almostallthemajormediahouseshavenewspapers,televisionandradio

stationsundertheirroofs.Thishasgiventhebusinessmeninordinatepower.Shesaidshefeltsuffocated.

Iopenedthefloortoherobservationsandwassurprisedabouthowmanypeopleagreedwithher.Theonlypeoplewhohadnothingtosayaboutthiswerethosewhohadnorecollectionoftheerashewasreferringto.Aftertheworkshop,Itookthefirstopportunitytosharehersentiments,andthoseofherbackers,withasenioreditorattheNationMediaGroup.Hedismissedthemoutofhand.Inhisexperience,hesaid,theCEOdoesnotinterferewithEditorialoperations.Infact,thiseditorsaid,heisconstantlyinquiringaboutwhereallthegoodstorieswent.Hewantedtoreadtheminthegroup’splatforms,howeverhardtheyrubbedthecorporateworldorGovernmentthewrongway.

Asfarasthiseditorwasconcerned,thescarcityofqualityinvestigativestoriesinthemainstreammediaisduetotheriseofwhathecalled“Googlejournalism”.Hesaid:“Theseyoungreportersaretoolazyoraretooinadequatelytrainedtoundertakehardwork.Forthem,inresearch,ifitisn’tinGoogle,itdoesn’texist.Unfortunately,theycomprisealmosttheentireeditorialworkforce.”

Sowhoisright,theconsumerofthemedia’sofferingsortheeditor?ThereisnodoubtthatduringtheformativeyearsofKenya’smedia,theeditorwasking.Shortlyafterindependence,the27-year-oldHilaryNg’wenoeditedtheDailyNationandattainediconicstatusasthefirstAfricanandyoungestpersontodoso.Heremainsalegendduringhislifetime,amanwhostudiedscience,notjournalism,butwholatermentoredawholegenerationofnewsmenandwomeninhisStellascopeGrouppublicationsyearslater.

OnewouldhavetodoalotofdiggingtofindoutwhotheNationnewspapersManagingDirectorwasduringNg’weno’stime.Eventhepro-establishmentEastAfricanStandard,abroadsheetatthetime,wasknownbyitshard-nosedEditor,KennethEwartBolton,andnotbywhoeverwasthebusinesschief.

Thispatterncontinuedwellintothe1980s.HenryGathigira,whowas

Has the CEO supplanted the Editor as the EDITORIAL BOSS?Questions over who calls the shots in media establishments not only in Kenya but the world over have gone unanswered. ROY GACHUHI looks at the Kenyan scenario.


Who is really in charge of the news churned from a studio?

toKenyanjournalismwhatPeterOlooAringowastopoliticsduringtheKanuera,wasEditor-in-ChiefatTheStandard.HissycophancytotheMoiregimeledProfPeterKareithi,onceKenya’stop-notchinvestigativereporterandnewseditor,todescribeitasself-abuse.Amongotherthings,itishewhosuggestedina1983editorialcommentthatthenewly-constructedstadiumatNairobiWestbecalledNyayoNationalStadium.NoonehadthenervetocontradictthatsuggestionandNyayoitbecameandhassincebeen.Butforwhateverhewas,itwasGathigirathatTheStandardreadersknew,notevenTinyRowlandwhoseLonrhoGroupownedthepaperandwhowasnotaninfrequentvisitortoKenya.

GeorgeGithii,knownasthestormypetrelofKenyanjournalismandwhowalkedaroundthenewsroomwithagun,editedtheDailyNationduringthe1970s.GithiiwasatonetimePresidentJomoKenyatta’sprivatesecretarybeforebeingreleasedbecausehardlyanybodyinthePresident’scourtcouldcopewithhisvolatiletemperament.Aseditor,hedrovetheNationtoitslowestmomentsinceitsfoundationin1959.

WhenJMKariuki,thepopularMemberofParliamentforNyandaruaNorthwasmurderedandhisbodyleftforhyenastoeatinthethicketsofNgongForestinMarch1975,GithiiblithelytoldKenyansinaNationpageonesplashthatJMKariukiwasinZambia.AparliamentaryselectcommitteefoundthathedeliberatelyliedtoKenyansandwaspartandparcelofanofficialcover-uptothecrime.WhowastheNationManagingDirectorduringGithii’stime?Again,itwouldtakequiteabitofresearchtofindout.

Therehavebeenothereditorswhopersonifiedtheircompany’seditorialproduct.JoeRodrigues,fiercelyindependentandprofessionaltoafault,GeorgeMbuguss,whorosefromtea-boytoEditorandwhocouldsniffagoodstoryfrommanykilometresawayandseeroundthebend,andPeterMwaura,thescholarlyprowithasophisticatedsenseofhumour,allhadstintsattheNationanditistheythatthepublicknew.IfyoumentionedmanagingdirectorslikeStanDenmanandStanNjagiwhoheadedthecompanyduringthoseyears,youwoulddrawablank.Onlyemployeesandtheirbusinesscolleaguesknewthem.

Thishassincechanged.SinceChiefExecutiveOfficerWilfredKiboroassumedahighprofileroleattheNationMediaGroupandEditorialDirectorWangethiMwangioperatedfromtheshadows,thepublicpersonaofthemediabecamedifferent.PaulMellyatTheStandardfollowedsuitandsodidPatrickQuarcooatRadioAfrica.AnotherhighprofilebusinesspersonalitywithnojournalismbackgroundisRoyalMedia’schairman,SKMacharia,variouslyreferredtoas“mediatycoon”or“prominentbusinessman”.InRoyalMedia’stravailswiththeCommunicationsCommissionofKenyaregardingtheswitchingoffitstransmittersinvariouspartsofthecountryinFebruarythisyear–somethingthatdirectlyimpactsontheflowofinformation-itisinstructivethatthevoiceheardisthatoftheManagingDirector,MrWachiraWaruru,andnotthatoftheEditor.

Yet,whenallissaidanddone,itisnotwhobetweentheEditorortheCEOisthepublicfaceofthemediahousesthatmatters.Thechargethatthebossistheretoholdbriefforhiscolleaguesinthebusinessworldand

giveshortshrifttothetraditionofpublicwatchdogshouldbegiventhefullestattention.

Dostoriesinfactgetkilledbecausetheythreatenadvertising?Arethereexamplestobackthischarge?Anyempiricalstudyontheobservationsmadebythatworkshopparticipantwoulddoubtlessmakesomefascinatingreading.

Finally,awordabout“Googlejournalism”.ImustsaythatwhenthatseniorNationeditortoldmeaboutit,ImustsayIimmediatelyempathisedwithhim.TherehasneverexistedamoreshambolicelectionnominationprocessinKenya’s50-yearhistorythanwhattookplacein1988.Thecountrythenexperimentedwiththequeuevotingmethodofpickingitsleadersandtheresultwasacatastrophe.

Theshortestqueuesnearlyalwayswonandtherewasonlyonearbitrationauthority–PresidentMoihimself.ImagineanaggrievedcandidatetryingtoreachthePresidentinsuchofjustice.Howdoyougethim?Yetthecountryhasjustgonethroughashambolicnominationsprocessandhardlyawordofreferencewasmadetothe1988debacle.Ifthosewhothelessonsofhistoryareboundtorepeatthem,thenominationsdisasterisaclassicexample.Whydidthemedianotdelveintothehappeningsof1988?WillitsimilarlyforgetwhathappenedinJanuary2013?Isitsmemorythatshort?

Thegreatissuesthatengageourjournalismremain.Issuessuchashumanrightsandgoodgovernance,individualandnationalsecurity,foodselfsufficiency,politicalstability,corruption,employment–alltheseandamyriadothersareconstantlyinthenationalagenda.Theyareourprofession’sraisond’être.ButtheinabilitytocomprehensivelyresearchstoriesbecausejournalistsaretoolazytogobeyondGoogle,thenthatisnothingshortofaprofessionaltragedy.Andifitmightbeaccentuatedbyasystematicstrategytokillstoriessothatcorporateentitiescancontinuetoreapprofitswithoutbeingdisturbed,thepublicwatchdog,aswehavealwaysknownhim,hasbreathedhislast.

Roy Gachuhi writes for The Content House.


Whilemanyjournalistshavequestionedtheveryexistenceof‘independence’itself,

debatestillragesonwhethereditorialdecision-makingcanevertakeplacewithoutinternalorexternalinfluence.Opinionalsoremainssharplydividedonwhichbetweenmediahouses’commercialinterestsandeditorialautonomyshouldcomefirst,whatwiththetoughbusinessenvironmentthemedia,especiallyinthethirdworld,havetocontendwith.

InKenyaforinstance,recentpublicrevelationthatmediamogulSamuelMachariawasdeeplyembeddedintheongoingpresidentialcampaignscameasashockertomanymediapractitioners.ThebiggestquestionwaswhetherhispositionasakeymemberofCoalitionforReformsandDemocracy(CORD)presidentialcandidateRailaOdinga’scampaignsummitcouldaffecttheindependenceofhismediaempire—RoyalMediaServicestowhichCitizenTVandahostofradiostationsbelong.

ItwasStephenKalonzoMusyoka,Vice-President

It is strikinghow often

Kenyan and indeed most

African journalists fail to

live up to thehigh standards

they often prescribe

for everyone else in their

respectivesocieties.”

The concept of editorial independence has a keen friendship with controversy in modern-day journalism. As MARK OLOO explains, the debate on editorial independence is not about to end soon.

In modern-day Journalism


andRaila’srunningmate,whopubliclyannouncedtoapackedrallyatNairobi’sUhuruParkthatMrMachariawasamemberoftheCORDSummitandoneofthepremier’sbiggestsupporters.Thissenttongueswagging.Macharia’smoveturnedintoahotbedofpolitics,withsomequartersreadingmischiefinadecisionbytheCommunicationsCommissionofKenya(CCK)todisableRoyalMediamastsandotherbroadcastingequipmentofallegedbreachoflicensingrequirements.PoliticiansclaimedCCKwas‘punishing’Machariabecauseofhispoliticalaffiliation.

IfitwereintheUSandevenEuropewheredemocracyisatitsapex,Macharia’sinvolvementinpoliticswouldnothavebeenasurprisebecauseitroutineformediahousestotakesidesduringpresidentialelectionsoronvariousissuesoftopnationalconcern.

Hereathome,Macharia’sboldbutsurprisemovehassetaprecedenceandsparkeddebateovereditorialindependenceinmediahouses.Formanyyears,Kenya’smediahouseshavetriedtoportrayaneutralface,eventhoughsomesenioreditorsandwritershaveopenlyflirtedwithcertainpowerfulpoliticiansandbigcompanies.

AsKenyanscounttheremainingdaystoaGeneralElectionbilledtobethelargestandthemostcomplex,themediaisonsharpfocus.Willthenewsroomsremainindependentorwilltheytakesides?

Itisnotlosttokeenmediamonitorsthatallthethreemainpoliticalcontenders—RailaOdinga(CORD),UhuruKenyatta(Jubilee)andMusaliaMudavadi(Amani)havesetasidemillionsofshillingsforpublicitypurposes.AspindoctorinoneofthealliancesissaidtobegivinghisbossesamediabudgetofKsh300,000perweek.Hesaysheusesthemoneyoneditorsandwriters.Sowheredoesthismoneygoandcanitinfluencetheeditorialindependenceofthemainstreammediahouses?

VeteranmediatrainerandformerDailyNationManagingEditorJoeKadhisaysitnotunusualforjournalistsandeditorsinAfricatogetcaughtupinethicaldilemmasduringelections.Inoneofhismanymediapresentations,Kadhisayslocalmediahousescannottotallyexerciseeditorialindependence,especiallyduringelections.Thatthemediafacesimmensechallengesisinnodoubtandwithrathershakyfinancesandlowsalaries,manynewsorganisationsareleftvulnerabletointimidationandcorruption.

“TherearemanyethicsrelatedscandalsinvolvingtopjournalistsinEnglishspeakingAfricancountriesthatonehearsaboutallthetimebutneverreadsaboutinthepapers”,hesaysinoneofhispapers—Anglophone Africa: Journalists - puppets of the proprietors?

Headds:“Therangeofethicalproblemsencounteredbymediareportersinmostofthese

countriesissomewhatstartling.Theyincludeconflictsofinterest,freebies,junkets,intellectualtheft,deception,carelessness,kowtowingtoadvertisersandpoliticians,useofdubiousevidenceandoutrightbias.”Kadhigoeson:“ItisstrikinghowoftenKenyanandindeedmostAfricanjournalistsfailtoliveuptothehighstandardstheyoftenprescribeforeveryoneelseintheirrespectivesocieties.”

Likeothersenioreditorsinterviewedforthisarticlebutwhorequestedanonymityforfearofsparkingabacklashfromcolleagues,Kadhisaysthatforanewspaper,TVorradiostationtobereallyindependent,ithastobefreefromgovernmental,commercialandproprietorialinterferenceineditorialdecisionmaking.

“AnglophoneAfricaseemstohavesucceededinmakingpuppetsoutoftheireditors.Theyseemtohavealsosucceededincommandingtotalcontroloftheirnewspapers,”hesays.Heexplains:“Invariably,newspaperownersintheregionhavebeenmenandwomenofgreatwealthbutnotalenttoproducenewspapers;andeditorshavebeenmenandwomenofgreatjournalistictalentbutnotenoughwealthtoproducenewspapers.KenyaandotherEnglishspeakingcountriesofAfricahaveseenafewmenandwomenoftalentstarttheirownnewspapersandsucceed.Mostofthemseemtofinditdifficulttosurviveonthemarket.”

A media monitoring brief by the Media Council of Kenya at a Nairobi hotel.

Anglophone Africa seems to have succeeded in

making puppets outof their editors.

They seem to have also succeeded in commanding total

control of their newspapers,”


Althoughthefourmainnewspapers—The Daily Nation, The Standard, The StarandThe People Dailynormallyappeartobeoperatingindependentlyfromownershipinfluence,sourcesinthesenewsroomsadmitithasbeenhardtomaintaineditorialindependencebecausevariouseditorshavetheirownpoliticalbiases.“Thereasonthepresidentialcandidateshavehiredmediaconsultantsandsetasidemillionsofshillingstowardsthiscauseistoinfluencethenewcoverageandopinionpiecestotheirfavour.Theconsultantsaresupposedtoensurethecoverageistiltedtowardstheirman”,saysMartinKioko,areaderandabloggeronpoliticalissues.

Althoughthemainstreammediahouseshaveputstringentethicalrulesfortheirstafftohelpmaintainasemblanceofeditorialindependence,somejournalistsandeditorsstilltwiststoriestosuitcertaincandidates.The StandardandThe Daily Nationhaveoftencarrieddisclaimers,sayingtheirmediahousesareneutralintheon-goingpresidentialcampaigns.Butsomeeditorsalsokillcertainstories,whichtheyfearmayannoytheiremployers.

“Onceyouknowthattheownerofamediahouseissupportingaparticularcandidate,writingorairinganegativestoryaboutsuchapersonwouldbesuicidal.Thisappliestomajorcorporatefirmswhichpaymillionsinadvertisements,”saysajournalistwithalocalTVstation,whorequestedforanonymity.Headds:“Inmostcasesyouhavetouseyourcommonsenseonceyouknowyourpaymasteroreditorisafriendtothepoliticianyouwanttoprofile.”

Althoughtherehavebeencasesofnewsroominterference,allhasnotbeenlostasthemainstreammediahouseshavetriedtoexposetherot

insocietybyexposingthoseinvolvedindrugtraffickingandothercorruptdeals.VeteranjournalistOkechKendobelieveseditorshavetojudgestoriesonthebasisofthenewsvaluesinthemwithouthavingtocompromisetheethicalrequirementstoaccommodateinterestotherthanthatofthepublic.“Therulesaretheretobefollowedandprofessionalethicsshouldneverbesecondary.Plantedstoriesmustneverbetoleratedbyanyresponsibleeditor,especiallynowthatweareheadingtotheelections”,Kendo,amanagingeditoratThe Standard,says.

FreedomHouse,aninternationalNon-GovernmentalOrganisationthat

thatisunfavorabletothegovernment.However,communitybroadcastingisunderdeveloped.”

Itis,however,worthnotingthatalthoughsomeoftheseFMstationsarecriticaloftheGovernment,theyhavealwaysaddressedtheinterestsoftheirowners.Thewatchdogsaystheuseofbriberybypoliticalactorstoinfluencenewscoverageremainsaconcern,asdoestheallocationorwithdrawalofadvertisingtocontrolcontent.

TheNGOsaystheextra-judicialthreatsandattacksagainstthemediabystateandnonstateactorsisathreattomediaindependencebutaddsthatthelocalmediahasdefiedthisandproducedorpublishedsome

investigativepieces.

Butastheelectionfeverhotsup,itwillbeimportantforthemediahousestosticktotheireditorialpoliciesoffaircoverage.AccordingtoKadhi,editorsinAfricaveryoftensolemnlydeclarethattheownersoftheirpublicationsallowededitorialfreedomandwouldnotfiddlewiththenews.Butinwhatislikelytosparkdebate,hesays:“I

knewthattheirownersdidn’treallymeanitwhentheytalkedofeditorialindependence.Probablywhennewspaperownerstalkofeditorialindependencetheymeansomethingdifferenttowhateditorsthinkofthosewords.Editorsatthevariousworkshopsverifiedthatownersweretotheirpublicationswhatgeneralsaretoarmies.”

Theonusisonjournalistsandeditors,withmediascholarssayingnewspapers,commercialandcommunitybroadcasters,bloggersandonlinenewsservicesshouldriseaboveparochialintereststorepresentadrivingforceinKenya’stransitiontoamoreopenpoliticalsystem.

Journalists at work.

conductsresearchondemocracy,humanrightsandmediacensorship,saysKenyanmediahastriedtooperateindependencydespitesomedegreeofinterferencefrominterestedparties.Inits2012reportonKenya,theUSA-basedorganisationsays:“Kenya’sleadingmediaoutlets,especiallyintheprintsector,areoftencriticalofpoliticiansandgovernmentactions.Theyremainpluralistic,rigorous,andboldintheirreporting,althoughtheyalsofrequentlypandertotheinterestsofmajoradvertisers.”

Itadds:“TherehasbeenasignificantexpansionofFMradio,particularlyethnicstations,andtheircall-inshowshavefosteredincreasingpublicparticipationaswellascommentary

Mark Oloo works for the Standard newspaper.


“ThePressmaynotbesuccessfulmuchofthetimeintellingpeoplewhattothink,butit

isstunninglysuccessfulintellingitsreaderswhattothinkabout.”-BernardCohen(1963)

ThemediainKenyamediahaslongbeenaccusedofconcentratingoncoveringpersonalitiesandeventsat

theexpenseofplayingthecriticalroleofsettingtheagendaforthenationanditsleadership.However,thisaccusationmaynotbeentirelytrue,asthemediahasonmanyoccasionsbeenthechampionofsomeofthemomentousachievementsthecountryhaswitnessed,especiallyinthelast30orsoyears.Butmoreoftenthannot,ithasbeentheexceptionratherthatthenorm.

Criticsavertherehasbeenminimalinvestmentininvestigativeandspecialisedjournalisminmajorityofthenewsroomsleavingthemediaatthemercyofpoliticians,theirhatchetmenandpublicrelationspractitioners,todecidewhatgoesintothenextday’snewspaperorprimetimenewsonradioandtelevision.TheneedfortheKenyanmedia

Kenyan media outlets have borne the brunt of somewhat ungrateful public. ERIC NYAKAGWA implores the media to play its rightful role as a way of winning public

confidence.

Why the Media Must Help set the Agenda in this Election


Eric Nyakagwa is the Political Editor at The People newspaper.

A news reader at a Narok-based radio station.

togiveimpetustoagendasettinghasbeenmadeevenmoreurgentbytheevolvingconstitutionaldispensation.WhileimplementationoftheConstitutionhasbeenongoingandthemediahasstrivedtokeepKenyansabreastofwhatishappeningandraisingtheredflagwhenthosemandatedtodoappeartobeslowingdownormanipulatingtheprocess,thegreatestchallengenowisposedbytheupcoming,historic,March4GeneralElection.

HowthemediacoverstheelectioncampaignsandthemanagementoftheelectoralprocesswilllargelydeterminewhetherKenyanswillsurmountthechallengesposedbythebiggestelectionever.Forthefirsttime,KenyanswillgototheballottoelectsixsetsofleadersfollowingthereintroductionoftheSenateandcomingintobeingofcountygovernments.

Whiletraditionally,Kenyanshavebeenvotingforthepresident,MemberofParliamentandCouncillor(nowwardrepresentative),thistime,theywillinaddition,chosethegovernor,senatorandwomenrepresentativeallononeday.Withoutproperciviceducation,thereislikelytobeconfusionatthepollingstationsandinsteadoftheaverage10minutesonevoterisexpectedtospendintheballotbox,thismaygoupto20minuteshencecreatingunnecessarydelays.

WhiletheIndependentElectoralandBoundariesCommission(IEBC)hasembarkedonciviceducation,themediashouldplayamajorrolebycomplementingtheseefforts.Inaddition,whethervoterscasttheirballotdependingonone’sethnicityorhisorheragendaforthenextfiveyearswilllargelydependonhowthemediacoverthecampaignsintheleaduptoMarch4.

Already,theindustrydeservesaccoladesfororganisingtwopresidentialdebates,thefirstofwhichtookplaceonFebruary11,wherecandidatesfacedaliveaudiencetoanswerquestionsregardingtheirpositionsonvariousissuesrangingfromethnicity,theInternationalCriminalCourtcasesfacingtwoleadingaspirants,corruption,thehugesalariesfortopstateofficerstotheirblueprintsforsocialandeconomicgrowth,educationandhealthcare.

ThoughlargelyborrowedfromtheAmericanexperience,theeventattheBrookhouseInternationalSchoolwasepoch-makingandhassetthestageforevolutionofissue-basedratherthanpersonalityorethnic-basedpoliticsintheyearstocome.

Whatisneededofthemediaandotherentitiesthatwouldinfuturebeinvolvedinsuchdebatesistorefinethesetofissuessothatonlythosethatrankhighinacandidate’sagendaandcriticalissuesofthedayaregivenprominence.

ModeratorsLinusKaikaiandJulieGichuru,whooversawthefirstdebate,maynothavemeasuredtotheirUScounterparts,butbyconfrontingissuesthatmayaswelldefinethiselectionsuchasICCandethnicity;theysettheagendaforfurtherdebateontheseissuesinamoresoberway.

Intheend,itisthevoterswhowilldecidehowthedebateaffectstheirchoicecomeMarch4.Butthemediaplayeditsroleinamorerobustwaythantheone-sidedcoveragewegetfromthecampaigntrail.

Theforthcomingelectionsalsocomeatatimewhenthecountryisontheedgeoverthepossiblerecurrenceoftheviolencewitnessedafterthedisputed2007presidentialvotecount.Whilepresidentialcontendershavepledgedtoacceptdefeatandfollowthejudicialprocessincaseofanydisputes,themediacanplayamajorrolebypursuingapeaceagendaandavoidingreportagethatcanfantensionsandresultinviolentconflicts.

Thesecurityagents,tobedeployedacrossthecountry,canalsobenefitheavilyfromearlywarningmessagesfromthemediawithregardtowhathappensinvarioushotspots.In2008,themediacametogethertocallforanendtothebloodlettinggoingoninvariouspartsofthecountry.

Forthefirsttime,newspapersdroppedtheircompetitivepoliciestorunasimilarheadline,“SaveourCountry”,andtherearethosewhosayitwentalongwayinboostingtheeffortsthatwereunderwaytoendtheviolenceandfindapoliticalsolutiontothecrisisthathadclaimedover1,300people,displacedandmaimedthousandsofothers,stalledtheeconomyandledtowidespreaddestructionofproperty.Thistimeround,itisincumbentuponthemediatobemoreproactivesoasnottohavetodealwiththeadverseconsequencesofanotherpost-electioncrisis.


Themedia,intheirsplendidcoverageofthepartyprimariesonJanuary17and18,confirmedthatpoliticians,intheirwisdom,havecontinuouslyplacedtheiranatomiesonthehistoricalrailsoftimetobesmashedbythefailureorrefusaltoimbibefromexperience.

TheDailyNationeditorialofFriday,January18titled; “Party nominations were a total debacle”vividlycapturedtheweaknesseswithinthepoliticalpartysystem:“Theconfusionanddisorganisationwitnessedattheongoingparty

FormerUnitesStatesarmygeneraland34thPresidentDwightD.Eisenhowerwouldhavesmiledwithpleasure

andsatisfactionduringtherecentpoliticalpartyprimariesinKenya.HadthismilitarygeniusobservedtheprecisionandefficiencytheKenyanmediaemployedincoveringthepartyprimaries;hewouldhaveunleashedoneofhismemorablequotes.Eisenhowerwouldhaveopined:“Neitherawisenorabravemanliesonthetracksofhistorytowaitforthetrainofthefuturetorunhimover.”

nominationswasnotentirelyunexpected.Wehavealonghistoryofpoliticalpartiesthataresingularlyunsuitedtoorganisinganythingwitheventheminimumlevelofefficiencyandintegrity.”

NationColumnistMutumaMathiupennedanopinionpiecetitled:“If how we conducted primaries is how we’ll hold elections, God save Kenya”.Mathiuwonderedhowpartiesexpectedtodeliverinadaywhattakestheelectoralcommissionmonthsofplanningandbillionsofshillings.“Thepartiesbelievedtheirowndelusionsofadequacyandthoughtthattheyhadthemechanismstocarryoutanationwideelectionandhaveacredibleresultinacoupleofhours”,postulatedMathiu.

IntheSundayNationofJanuary20,FrancisoleKaparo,theChairmanoftheUnitedRepublicanPartyattemptedtoexplainthedebacle:Kaparo blames poll chaos on ‘difficult’ law.Kaparosaid:“Wehavehadaverydifficultlaw.Thelawmustbefacilitativenotpunishingtheelectorateandaspirants….Manyregulationsdonotfacilitatetheelectoralprocess.Theyhinderandmakeitprohibitive.Wehavehadsleeplessnightsbecauseoftheselaws.ThecurrentregimeoflawswilldenymanyKenyansanopportunitytovote.AndIdon’tthinkthisisdemocracy.”

Itisclearthatpoliticalpartieshavemanylessonstolearnfromthemedia.ThemediaglimpseonhowtheyintendtocovertheMarch4GeneralElection.

TheRoyalMediaServicesdeployedallitstroops.Fromthegroundtotheair,CitizenTVgaveadetailedaccountofthedisturbances,confusionandexcitementthatcharacterisedtheprimaries.TVjournalistMrAlexChamwadacapturedasmanypollingstationscountrywideasthehelicoptercouldflyhimto.Ittookplentyofplanning,rehearsalsandresourcestoexecutethekindofcoveragetheRoyalMediaServicesanditsmultipleradiosdisplayed.

MsNjeriRugene,theNationMediaGroup’sParliamentaryEditorsaid

Lessons for Politicians from Primaries Coverage It was all systems go as the country’s major political groupings conducted their primaries. As CALEB ATEMI reports, the coverage of the primaries provided critical learning points.


Caleb Atemi is a veteran journalist and currently a media trainer at Internews.

The media brought to the fore cases such as lawlessness during campaigns and party nominations. Photo/George Mulala.

ittookweeksofplanningandstrategisingtosuccessfullycovertheprimaries:“Itmeantdeployinganetworkofreporters,sensitisingthemtoreportonallourplatforms,puttinginplacesupportinglogisticslikephones,andencouragingreporterstoverifyreportsfromsources.”

AttheStandardGroup,thesleeplessnightsborefruits.“Thebulkoftheworkandplanningwasdonebyourdedicatednewsdeskteam.Earlyplanningandteamworkhavebeenthetwokeywordsthatwehaveapplied,”saidMrAndyKagwa,theGroup’sProductionEditor.

KTNstationedstaffcountrywide.MrEmmanuelTalam,theKTNDeputyManagingEditor,saidthat:“Despitenothavingachopperlikethecompetition,CitizenTV,oureffortsandsuccessisproofthatwithadvanceplanningitcanbedone.Machineswon’tthinkforyou,itisuptothenewsroomtoadequatelyplan”.

Mr.MainaMuiruri,theManagingEditorofThePeoplesaidtheMediamaxGroupemployedstrategy,seriousplanningandteamwork.ThegroupsetupitsElectionsDeskamonthago.ThedeskmanagedThePeople,K24televisionandKamemeRadio.Correspondentswereineverycounty.

“Thedeskwasfacilitatedwithabudgetcateringforalllogistical

expenses.Operationsforotherdeskswerereducedtoaminimum.StaffswereborrowedtobeefuptheElectionsDesk.Contingencyplansweremadeforeditors,reportersanddesignerstoworkona24-hourshift.ThiswasourdressrehearsalfortheGeneralElection.Webriefedalltheteamstoprovidefairandbalancedcoverageofallthepartynominations”,saidMaina.

Meanwhile,asthemediadisplayedorganisationalandmanagerialskills,theynarratedtheconfusionwithinthepoliticalparties.Someoftheirheadlinesvividlycapturedthescenario:Eyeonpollhotspots;shoutedtheStandardonThursday,January17.Initsinnerpagesitcried:“Chaos rocks Kisumu as officer shot by gunman”.

OnSaturday,January19,TheStandardstated:“Winners, losers on day of controversy’’ whileonSunday,itread:“How the battle is shaping up”.PerhapstheDailyNationofJanuary19hadamostintriguingheadline:“A lesson in vote chaos”.Thesplashcapturedthesorrystateofconfusion,angerandfrustrationthatwasthecountrywidepartyprimaries.TheinsidepagesofSundayNationread:“Big names fall by wayside in chaotic party primaries rocked by delays and violence and confusion and anger as voters kept waiting”.

ItisclearspeakingtojournalistsandeditorsthatKenyansshouldexpectgreat,balancedandpeoplepoweredcoverageoftheMarch4GeneralElection.TheeditorsmusthaveinternalisedCollinPowel’swisdomwhenhesaid:“Thereisnosecrettosuccess.Itistheresultofpreparation,hardwork,andlearningfromfailure.”

Despite not having a chopper like

the competition, Citizen TV, our

efforts and success is proof that with

advance planning it can be done.Machines won’t

think for you, it is up to the newsroom to

adequately plan


AnumberofjournalistshaverecentlybeenharassedandtheirequipmentconfiscatedeitherbyStateagenciesorhiredgoons,whilesomemediahouseshavebeenintimidated

againstcoveringparticularindividuals.Insomeinstances,somejournalistshavebeenforcedtofleetheirworkplaces.RobertWanyonyi,OsindeObarePaulGitau(The Standard),WalterBarasa,DavidWainaina(Mediamax),MathewsNdanyi(Radio Africa Group),SuleimanMbatia (Nation)andVincentMusundi(Royal Media Services),andJoelEshikumutonamejustafew,haveexperiencednastyaltercationsfromcriminalgoons,politicalactivistsorsecurityagencies.

As the body charged with ensuring the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the performance of their duties, the Media Council of Kenya has initiated programmes to address rising cases of intimidation of journalists. Media Council of Kenya’s VICTOR BWIRE reports.

The Shrinking Spacefor Journalists in Kenya


Victor Bwire is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Programmes Manager at the Media Council of Kenya.

DuringthepoliticalpartyprimariesinJanuarythisyear,securityagenciescriticallyinjuredtwojournalistsat-tachedtotheDaily NationwhileTheNationalPartyAlliance(TNA)attackedRoyalMediaServicesreportersinNairobi.

Safetyandprotectionofjournalistsisnowamajorconcern.SinceNovember2012,theMediaCouncilofKenyahasreceivedabout30casesofharass-ment,intimidationandviolentattacksofjournalists.Untilnow,noneofthecaseshasbeenfullyinvestigatednorperpetratorsprosecuted.Inadditiontophysicalthreatsandattacksagainstjournalists,somecasesarereportedwheretheJudiciaryhashandedheavyfinesagainstjournalistsoverdefama-tion.Somemediahouseshaveevenfailedtorespondtocourtsermonsandignoredtheplightoftheirjournalists.

Thissadstateofthesafetyandse-curityofjournalistswascorroboratedfurtherbytheStatusoftheMediainKenya2009-2011reportfindingslaunchedinSeptember2012.Itisscarythatifsomethingisnotdoneurgently,harassmentofjournalistswillbecomethenormandleadtoself-cen-sorshipandeventuallythwartmediafreedomandfreedomofexpression.

WiththeMarch4electionsbeckoning,casesofpartyactivists,hiredgoons,informalreligiousgroups,politiciansandbusinessbaronsandcommuni-tiesinvariouspartsofthecountryaretargetingjournalistsperceivednottorepresenttheirinterestswellinthemedia.Someareasareano-gozoneforcertainmedia,simplybecausepeo-plearenothappywiththeownership

ofsuchstations.Thegeographicalzoningisadangeroustrendformediafreedomandfreedomofexpression.

AsthestatutorybodyentrustedwiththemandatetoprotectjournalistsandpromotetheirrightsthroughtheMediaAct2007,theMediaCouncilofKenya(MCK)isconcernedaboutincreasingcasesofattacksandintimidationofjournalists.HarassmentofjournalistsisaviolationoftheConstitutionandinternationaltreatiesKenyaispartyto.Thelawguaranteespressfreedomandaccesstoinformation.

TheConstitutionalsoprovidesforthesafetyandsecurityofallKenyansandtheprotectionoffreedomofexpressionviaARTICLE34.

TheUNESCOResolution29adoptedin1997dubbed,“Condemnationofviolenceagainstjournalists”urgesauthoritiesofStatestodischargetheirdutyofpreventing,investigatingandpunishingsuchcrimesandremedy-ingtheirconsequences;anditurgesmemberstatestorefinetheirlegisla-tiontomakeitpossibletoprosecuteandsentencethosewhoinstigatetheassassinationofpersonsexercisingtherighttofreedomofexpression.

UNSecurityCouncilResolution1738(2006)condemnsattacksagainstjournalistsinconflictsituationsandrecalledthatjournalistsengagedindangerousmissionsinareasofarmedconflictshallbeconsideredcivilians,andprotectedassuch.

The African Charter on Human and People’s Rightsguaranteesindividu-alsagainstarbitrarydeprivationof

therighttolife(Article4)establishesanabsoluteprohibitionoftortureandotherinhumanordegradingtreat-ment(Article5),guaranteestherighttolibertyandsecurityoftheperson(Article6),andfreedomofexpression(Article9).TheMediaCouncilofKenyahasiniti-atedseveralinterventionsincludingmeetingswithmediaowners,senioreditorsandcountrywidetrainingsonsafetyandprotectionofjournalists.Throughtheinitiative,weheldourfirstmeetingwithmediahousesonSeptember12.

TheMCKhasproposedanumberofmeasurestoaddressthisissue.

TheCounciliscarryingoutabaselinesurveytomapoutthetypesofrestric-tions,attacks,harassment,andintimi-dationofmediaworkersaswellasthecreationofawarenessoftheproblemamongstdifferentconstituents.TheCouncilisundertakingastudyonworkingconditionsofjournalistsincludingremunerationtoestablishhowitrelatestosafetyandsecurityofjournalistsamongothers.

TheCouncilisalsourgingmediahousestotakesafetyandsecurityofjournalistsmoreseriouslyinclud-ingprovisionoflifeinsurancecover,provisionofprotectivegears,coun-sellingjournalistswhohavecoveredtraumatisingcasesaswellasadoptingactionableapproachtodealingwiththeplightofjournalists.

Otherongoingeffortsincludetrainingofjournalistsontheirroleandper-sonalresponsibilityonsafetyandse-curityaswellassensitisingindividualjournalistsandmediahousestoraiseawarenessandheightentheissuesofsafetycrisesincludingidentifyingandshamingtheculprits.

TheCouncilisalsoreachingouttootherplayersonsecurityincludingthepolice,theDirectorofPublicProsecu-tions,politicalpartiesandJudiciaryamongothers.

Withthecooperationofmediahouses,theCouncilhasenvisionedestablish-ingacommonfundtodealwithissuesofsafetyandsecurity.

A practical training session on safety and protection of journalists conducted by the Media Council of Kenya in Naivasha.


Debateoverhowmediacoverswomenalwayselicitspassionandemotionswithaccusationsthatmedia

discriminatesagainstwomen.Ontheotherhand,mediaisalwaysquicktodefendtheirpositionandenumeratesalonglistastowhywomenreceivethekindofcoveragetheyget.Thesedebatesnotwithstanding,mediacoverageofwomengenerallyhasalwaysraisedconcernnotonlyonthelocalscenebutalsointernationally.

Thetopichasbecomesubjectofresearchandscholarlyworkstryingtodeterminewhethertherearegenderdifferencesinthewaymediacoverswomenandmen.Narrowingdowntopolitics,theconcernisheightenedbythefactthatthemannerandstyleofcoveragehaveadirectandindirectbearingofwhobecomeplayersinthepoliticalscenegiventhemediatednatureofpolitics.ImmediateformerUnitedStatesSecretaryofStateHillaryRodhamClintononce

AreWomen CandidatesCoveredDifferently?

famouslysaid,“Therecannotbetruedemocracyunlesswomen’svoicesareheard.Mediastillwriteofthe‘pastelhues’inwomenleaders’wardrobesevenwhentheyaretalkingaboutdefencepolicymakingwomensufferfromtheglassceilinginpolitics”.

Aquestionthathasalwaysbaffledwomencandidatesiswhytheyappearnottomakeittothenewsheadline.Amajorconcernraisedinforumsrecentlyorganisedby

The electioneering period is here and female candidates are up in arms over what they claim is unfavourable coverage compared to their male competitors. JANE THUO examines the grievances

Narc-Kenya presidential candidate Martha Karua at a campaign rally.


theAssociationofMediaWomeninKenyaforwomencandidatesonhowtoengagewiththemedia,iswhatittakesforonetogetmediacoverage.Acommonmisconceptionamongthewomencandidatesisthattheyareprobablysupposedtopayor‘induce’journalistssothattheirstoriesarecarriedinthelocaldailiesoronbroadcastmedia.Thereisageneralfearthatmediahasthe‘makeordestroy’apoliticianeffectandforthewomencandidates,theywouldratherplayitsafebyshunningmediacoverageiftheyarenotassuredthatitwouldbepositive.Ofcourseseveralinstancesaregivenofpoliticiansin-cludingmalewhosepoliticalcareershavebeendestroyedbytheapparentnegativemediacoverage.

Forthewomenpoliticians,theyfeelthatmediaisevenmoreharshtowomencomparedtomeninin-stanceswhenthewomanpoliticianisinvolvedinascandalorcontroversy.Suchcoverage,itissaiddestroystheirprivatelivesandfamiliesandgiventhekindofhighpedestaland

culturalexpectationsthatsocietyplacesonwomen,thentheimpactintheirlivesisenormousandhardtowithstand.

Ofcoursealltheseconcernsandfearscannotbedismissedbecausethereisahistory.Feministsandgenderproponentshavepostulatedthatthemediaportrayastereotypicalimageoffemalecandidates,atrendthathashadnegativeconsequencesnotonlyinthecampaignsbutalsoatthepolls.Themediahasbeensaidtofo-cusontrivialissuesaboutthewomencandidatessuchashighlightingtheirmaritalstatus,theirbirthandmaritalhomesinrelationtowhethertheyshouldcontestinareaswheretheyarebornorwheretheyaremarried,whethertheircandidacyandpartici-pationinpoliticshasreceivedsupportbytheirfamilyandcommunity.Theseissuesareraisedjustbecauseoftheirgendermorethancapability.Otherconcernsthathavebeenraisedarethatthemediagenerallygiveslowvisibilitytowomen.

AccordingtotheGlobalMediaMonitoringProject’s(GMMP)reportfor2010fromaresearchcommis-sionedbyWorldAssociationofChristianCommunicators(WACC)documentinghowmediaportrayswomenin78countriesworldwide,women’svisibilityinnewscontentisuniformlylowacrosscontinents.

Thereportindicatedthat;only13percentofallstories(politics,government,econo-my)focusedonwomen;only24percentofthepeopleheardorreadaboutinprint,radioandtelevisionnewswerefemale.;only6percentofstorieshighlightedissuesofgenderequalityorinequal-ity;morethan46percentofthetotalstoriesreinforcedgenderstereotypes,withhigherproportionsonpeace(64%),development(59%),war(56%)andgender-basedviolence(56%)relyingongenderstereotypes;morethan80percentofthe“experts”interviewedweremen;andthatonly10percentofthestoriesquotedorreferredtorelevantlocal,national,regionalorinter-nationallegalinstrumentsongenderequalityand/orhumanrights.

TheGMMP’sfiguresshowanunbalancedpictureoftheworldwithwomenabsentfromcommunity,economy,politicsandmediaprofes-sions.GMMPconcludesthatthesefiguresserveasa“reminderthatinthe‘mirroroftheworld’depictedbythenewsmedia,thefacesseenandthevoicesheardremainoverwhelminglythoseofmen.”Withtheincreasingnumberofwomenparticipat-inginpoliticsandascendingtopoliticalpositionsinKe-nya,theconcernontheroleofmediainensuringthatwomencandidatesreceivevisibilitycannotbesweptundertherug.

Supporters of the Restore and Build Kenya (RBK) presidential candidate James ole Kiyiapi.


Why Should Media Cover Women Candidates?

Theuseofmediahasbeenhigh-lightedasoneoftheimportanttooltowardsachievingpoliticalleadershipworldover.Inordertowagesuccess-fulcampaigns,candidatesneedtogarnerfavourablenewscoveragefortheirchosenmessages.

Mediacoverageofcandidatesinflu-encesvoters’viewsofthecandidatesinnumerousways,includingrecogni-tionofthecandidates,assessmentsofthecandidates’personality,viewsofthecandidates’messages,aswellasoverallevaluationsofthecompet-ingcontestants.Thestrengthofthesemedia-performativecriteriaareoftensuchastodisqualifycertaincandi-dateseitherfrombecomingpublicpoliticalfiguresatalloratleastfromcompetingforhighoffice.

Consequently,genderbiasesdissemi-natedbythemediaaresignificantbecausetheyhaveelectoralconse-quences.Itispublicknowledgethatmediaisanagenda-settingtoolandthatthemediaselectivelydeter-mineanagendaforwhat’snews.Byselecting,excluding,emphasisingandelaboratingcertainaspectsofthenews,publicopinionsareinevitablyshapedandinfluenced.

Thismayarguablybethecasewhenitcomestomediacoveringcon-tentonwomenpoliticians-thatthemediaaresettingtheiragendaonthewomencandidatesandperhapscouldbeinfluencedbythealreadypre-conceivednotionsoftheroleofthewomanasamotherandcarerandnotapoliticalactivist.

Insteadofactingasmeremirrorsofthesocialandculturaltraditionalpatterns,themediashouldbecomeanagentofchangethroughtheirap-proachtowomenorrathertogenderatlarge.Bridging the Gap

Editorsandjournalistscitetheirfrus-trationswhentryingtocoverwomencandidates.

Afactorthatcontributestothelowcoverageisthatthewomencandi-datesareofteninaccessible,hostileandsuspiciousofmediaandthisonlymakesthesituationworse.“Wedo

notpracticeaffirmativeactionwhenitcomestonewsmakinginpolitics.

Womencandidatesshouldcomeoutoftheircocoonsandstopthink-ingthattheyareentitledtomediacoveragejustbecausetheyarewomen.Theymustalsoseekcover-agebyforexamplecommentingontopicalpublicissuesinamannerthatmakenews.”Thiscommentbyseniorpoliticalreporterillustratesthefrustrations.Allsaidanddone,mediahasacriticalroletoensurethatthereisgenderbalanceintheircoverageofpoliticalplayers.

Mediaactorswieldpowerbecausetheydeterminewhogetscovered,whogetstospeakinthenewsandinwhatcapacities.Althoughthemassmediaaregenerallyperceivedastheepitomeofmoderndaypublicsphere,itallowstheso-calledpubliconlyalimitedroleindecidingwhatshouldtakeplaceonitsplatform.Whotheeditorsselecttopartakeinthenewsprocesseitherassubjectsorsources,istherefore,ofcriticalconcernasitsayscruciallyimportantthingsaboutwhocountsinsociety,whosevoiceshavelegitimacyandstatus.

Peace(64%)

Development(59%)

War(56%)

Gender-basedviolence(56%)

Studiesoneffectsonmediacontentthatis,newsandtheconstructionofrealitiesbythemediaindicatethatwhere,repeatedly,thenewscov-erswomeninlesssignificantrolesandtreatsthemwithrelativelylessprominencethanmen,isitpossiblethattheaudiences,includingwomenthemselves,wouldinternalisesuchportrayalsandlimittheirexpectationsofwomen’srelevanceandabilities.Mediahavingbeenattheforefrontinpushingfordemocracy,ruleoflaw,respectofhumanrights,includingthemarginalisedandminorityshouldnotthereforewishawaygenderbalancedreportingincludingthatofwomencandidates.Therightsofthemediaaremostfrequentlycitedwhentalkingaboutfreedomofopinionandexpression.Discussionsfocusdisproportionatelyonfreedomofthepress,therightsofjournalistsandthesuppressionofindependentmedia.

Verylittleconcern,ifany,israisedonthegenderimbalanceandneutralityeveninmediacoverage.Themediarunsthedangerofbecomingathreattothesefreedomsifnospaceandac-cessforwomen’sfreedomofexpres-sionandopinionaswellasspacetoawidemajorityofthepopulationwhoarenotinpositionsofpowerorformalauthority.Ontheotherhand,thewomencandidateshavearespon-sibilityaspublicfigurestoopenuptomedia.

AstheMarch2013electionsnear,itisnotlateforthewomencandidatestoensurethattheyareaccessibleandareworkingtowardsenhancingtheirrelationswiththemedia.Inaddition,theyshouldhavemediastrategiesaspartoftheircampaignstrategiesandwherepossibleinvestinhiringmediaexpertstoadvisethemonhowtoengagewiththemedia.

Very little concern, if

any, is raised on the gender

imbalance and neutrality even in media

coverage.

Jane Thuo is the Executive Director of the Association of Media Women in Kenya.


TheCollinsDictionarydefinitionoftheword“gender”issimpleandstraightforward,thatis;itis

anounthatstandsforsex;maleorfemale.Thesimplicityofthewordendsatitsdefinitioninthatthewordhas,overtheyearsachievedalifeofitsown.Itsmentionsometimesraisestempersandtemperaturesaswellasfullblownexchangeofnastywordsbetweenmenandwomen.Moreover,thetermisperceived,wronglyofcourse,torefertowomenandwomeninterests.

Genderdebatecontinuestogainprominencethankstomediacoverage.Themediaespeciallythemassmediaarelargelyentrustedwiththerolesofinforming,educatingandentertainingsociety.Theapportioningofthesaidrolesisdebatableinthecontemporarysociety.Somepeoplefeelthatthemediahavespecializedintheartoftheabsurdity.

Inhiswrite-uponcommunicationperspectiveofculture,Martin-BarberoJesus(1987)forexamplediscussesmediathatisdeprivedofanyculturaldepthorinstitutionalstructurewhichmakesthemediameretoolsofideologicalaction;thatismediathatexiststoservetheinterestsofwhoeverisdominatingit,maybeowner(s),andnottheinterestofthedominated,thatisaudience(s).Ideologycouldinthisregardbeinterpretedtomean“intheserviceofpower.”

Ideologicalapproachtomediaisacontroversialandhighlycontestedconcept.Itgenerallyholdsitthatthepopularcultureperpetuatedbythemediahasanideologicalforcethatconceals,misrepresentsandsecuresanorderofdomination.Itfurtherstatesthattheconcealmentisintheinterestofaparticularrulinggroup,socialformationorformofsociety.

Asweengageinthedebateofgenderrepresentationinthemediawecannotignoretheideologicalperspective,neithercanweoverlookafewcriticalfactorsthatarelikelytocometoplay.Thefactorsincludebutarenotlimitedtoculture,socialcomplexityofthecontemporarysocialsystems,thecommunicator’sgenderandexperience.Socialcomplexitywhichhasinparticularbecomeamajorconcerninthesocialsciencesreferstosociety’sdifferentiationandsegmentationintoanexpandingnumberofsubsystems,eachofwhichtendstoincreaseinautonomy,andthishassomeconsequenceswhichinfluenceandareinfluencedbypublicopinion.

Discussingsocialcomplexityandpublicopinion,Richeri,Giuseppe(1988)mentionedsomeofthecomplexity’soutcomesaslossofacommonhorizonofreferencefortheentiresocietyorlargesegmentsofit.Thatistosaythatthecomplexityleadstoascenariowherebyitisimpossibletohaveacommondenominatorthatrepresentssocietyasawhole.

GENDER representation in the MEDIA

Gender debate continues gaining eminence in the media. MARTHA MBUGGUSS provides an in-depth analysis of gender, power struggles and the media.


Thecomplexityfurtherleadstoaweakeningofthetiesthatbringsocialsubgroupsintorelationshipwithuniversallysharedandacceptednormswhichfurtherenhancesautonomyonthepartofthesubgroups.Richeripositsthatsuchautonomycausesorcallsforrespectfora“ahighercenterofcoordination,”suchastheState.ThisargumentseemstoholdwaterespeciallyinKenyatodaywheretheGovernmentmustofnecessityaddressissuesofgender,youth,peoplewithdisabilities,themarginalizedgroupsamongothers.

Althoughautonomycausedbythecomplexityisnotnecessarilyabadthing,scholarsseeaneedofreducingthecomplexitysothatsocietycanlivetogether.AccordingtoaGermansociologist,NiklasLuhmann(1978)thephenomenonofpublicopinion,givenaforum,canbeabasiccomplexityreducingmechanism.Themediaeasilyprovidessuchaforumwherebytopicsofsharedimportanceareselected,defined,attentiontoissuesregulatedandcommunicationpermittedamongindividuals.Besidesindividualandcollectiveconcernsandcommonproblemsaredelvedinto.Themediaisabletocarryoutthetaskthroughitsprocessofproducing,distributingandconsuminginformationthatisbasictoshapingpublicopinion.

Inordertotesttheargumentsproposedabove,i.e.whetherthereisanideologicalbenttomediatext,andthetypeofcomplexityinherentinmediarepresentation,itisimportanttoanalysemediacontentwithanopenmind.Suchananalysishelpstodeterminetheintentionandcharacteristicsofthecommunicators,detecttheexistenceoflatentpropagandaorideology,reflectculturalpatternsofgroupsanddeterminewhetherthemediahaveanideologicalrolethathelpsperpetuateandsustainunequalrelationshipofpowerandwhetherthecontentischallengingorreinforcingtherelationship.

Discoursesrelatingtopowerhavetodowithsubsystemsmentionedearlier,perhaps

betweenmenandwomen,betweenthesocialclassesorethnicgroups.Whileanalyzingcontentinsuchregard,itisimportantalsotothinkabouttheaudienceandwhethertheyaccept,rejectorappropriatetheideas(Devereux,Eoin2003).

AnanalysisoftwonewspaperstoriesappearingintheSundayNation,onJanuary27,2013thathadsomebearingongendercangiveusageneralideaofthekindofgenderrepresentationthemediaoffersinKenya.Onpage15isastoryheaded“Chaoticpartynominationsrobwomenofdreamsanddignity.”Andhowisthewomen’sdignityrobbed?Itisdoneinvariousways.Asubheadingontopofthatstoryexposesoneoftheways,thatisthroughdiscrimination.Thesubheadingreads:“EldersdeclareawinbyfemalecandidateinKajiadoacursefortheMaasaicommunity.”

ThestoryfurtherrevealsthatelderswhometinSultanHamudtookissueswiththe“victoryofawomanmarriedinanotherdistrict.”Theywentontowarnthattheywouldcursewhoeversupportsher.

Herethenisaninvocationofculture,superstitionandgenderrelatedchauvinismusedtocreatefear,anduncertaintygearedtodenyawomanpoliticalleadership.Thequestionoftherespectivewoman’sability,talentsorpassiontoservethepeopledonotariseatall.TheMaasaicultureisconvenientlyusedandpoliticizedtopreservepowerinmen’shands.

TheNationrecountedwhatitdescribedasvariousunorthodoxtacticsthatwereemployedbymalerivalsagainstwomenaspirantswhichincludedactualrapeofawomanaspirantinEmbakasi,trailingandthreateningofanaspirantinNakurutownanduseofarmedgangstoforcehertoleaveherhomeandforcinghertoquittherace.Inthesamelocality,anoutgoingmaleMemberofParliamentwasreportedashavingslappedawomanvoter.

OthercrudemethodsincludedprintingthenameofawomancandidateoncondomsinKandara.ThesamecandidatewasaccusedofbeinganalienintheareainthatsheismarriedintheneighbouringNyericounty.

Themediaaresometimesdescribedasamirrorofsocietythatshowspeoplejustwhotheyare.Theaccountsnarratedaboveshowjusthowdeepand“legalized”discriminationagainstwomengoes.SomewomenforexamplewerereportedtohavewontheprimarieshadtheirrevealsnamesforwardedtotheIEBCbytheirpartiesasthepeoplewhohadwoninstead.Somewomenaspirants’agentswereejectedfromapollingstatingduringthepartyprimaries.

Inanotherstoryappearingonpage5,anaspirantinKomorockwasreportedtohavebeenbeatennotonlybyoneofheropponentsbut

Female journalists are equally excelling in the profession like their male counterparts.


alsobythepolice.Shewasinjured,andattendedthehearingofhercaselimping,withaswollenfaceandaslingonherhand.

TheExecutiveDirectoroftheCentreforMultipartyDemocracyMs.NjeriKabeberisummarizedthegenderrelatedpoliticalhappeningsverywellwhenshesaidthatpartieswereonarobberyspreeagainstwomen.

Onalighternoteandawayfrompoliticswasanotherstoryondressingappearingonpage3onthesamenewspaperheaded“Whatisinadress?Newgroomingrulesdividelawyers.”ThestorywasaresponsetoanewdirectivebytheLawSocietyofKenya(LSK)onmembers’dresscode.Althoughthedirectivewasmeanttogiveguidelinesonhowalllawyers,thatismaleandfemalelawyers,thefocusofthestoryismainlyonwomenlawyersandmostlyfocusesontheminiskirts.Thepicturechosentoillustratethestoryisthatofwomenlawyers,makingthedressissuemoreofafemalethanamaleissue.Rememberthatapictureisoftenequatedtomorethanathousandwords.

AlthoughthecontentbrieflymentionstheChiefJusticeWillyMutungaandhisfamousearstudthathadcausedafuroreduringhisvetting,thewriterwhoisamanquicklyswitchesbacktowomen,miniskirts,blousesandshoesplustheirrecommendedcolours.Hisintervieweesforthestoryareapparentlywomen

Oneoftheintervieweespointsoutthataminiskirtortightclothing(feminine)areboundtodistractnotjustthejudgebutalsoothermalelawyers.Thepresumptionhereisthatthejudgehastobeaman,eveninthisdispensationofagraduallybalancedbench.Thesecondconcernisonmalelawyerswhilenomentionismadeonotherwomenlawyers:Doesaminiskirtwornbyoneoftheircolleagueshaveanyeffectonthem?

Inaresponsetotheinnuendothatwomen‘shoulddresstoprotectmen’,oneoftheinterviewees“dismissedthedirectiveasdefeatist,sayingthat,insteadofbanningminiskirtsmenshouldbedisciplinedandpracticeselfcontrol.”Onemaywishpushthatargumentfurtherandproposethatthejudiciaryemployonlywomenjudges.

Jokesasideandpresumingthatdresscodesareimportant,theremaybemaledressingstylesthatshouldhavebeenincludedinthatarticle.Maledressingstylesarealsochangingandsomemaycauseattractionorrevulsiontosocietygenerallyandtofemalesinparticular.Thelistrunsallthewayfrombraids,dreadlocks,earstuds,saggingtrousers,style,sizeandcolourofbeardstotattoos.Asdemonstratedbysomewould-beyouthmentorsemerginginthepoliticalarena,dressingcouldincludewordsfashionedinaman’shairdo.Thisistosaythatthedressingstyleneednotbeonesided.

Thereadermaywanttoknowhowallthisdressingrelatetoadebateonthemediaandmediarepresentationofgenderandbyextensionmediarepresentationofculture.Inhiscontributiontothedebate,WebsterFrank(2006)suggeststhatadornmentofthebody,clothingandmakeuphavebeenimportantwaysofsignalingstatus,powerandaffiliation.Theyhadmeaninginthepastcenturieswhentheydistinguishedtheindustrialworkingclassandpeasants.

However,heargues,therehasbeenanexplosionofmeaningintermsofdress,thankstotheemergenceofTVandcreationofan“informationsociety”asaresultofthenewInformationCommunicationTechnologies.Toomanysignshavecontributedtomoreinformationbut

ledtothecollapseofmeaning.“Signscomefromsomanydirectionsandaresodiverse,fastchangingandcontradictorythattheirpowertosignifyisdimmed.Instead,theyarechaoticandconfusing.”

Headdsthataudiencesarecreative,selfawareandreflectivetotheeffectthatallsignsaregreetedwithskepticismandaquizzicaleye.Inthatcase,theintendedmeaningrefracted.Signsthereforelosewhateverrealitytheymayhavestoodforandbecomepartofsomeofthethingsthemediaisaccusedofsuchasmediaglitzor‘hyper-reality.’Theyhelpaudiencestomaketheirownmeaningsthatsuitthem.Howdoesallthishelptheaudience?

Citingotherscholars,Webstersaysthattheyhelpaudiencestomaketheirownmeaningsthatsuitthem.Theythen“revelintheirartificiality,‘playfully’mixingdifferentimagestopresentnodistinctmeaning,butinsteadtoderive‘pleasureinparodyorpastiche.”PastichemeanstheworkofartthatmixesorcopiesstylesandcouldverywelldescribewhatgoesoninthefashionandbehaviourinKenya.Justbecausesomefamousfootballcoachchewsguminfrontofcamera,itbecomesacrazefortheyoungandtheold.IttookKenyansjustafewdaysofsightingsomefellowsknownastheAturbrothersformentobeginwearingbling.WebsterquotesPoster,1990,whostatesthatinthisinformationsociety,wehave,asetofmeaningswhichiscommunicatedbutwhichhavenomeaning.

Theabovesentimentsmaynotbeaverygoodwayofendingastorysinceitcouldcreateasenseofhelplessnessanddespairformediapractitionersandtheiraudiences.ButthetruthofWebster’sargumentsnotwithstanding,Iwouldproposeforseriousanalysisandamoreinclusiveinformationgatheringapproachtoissuesofcultureorrespectivecultureundercoverage,genderandthepowerstrugglesinherentingenderrelationships.

The reader may want to know how all this

dressing relate to a debate on the

media and media representation of gender and by

extension media representation of

culture.

Martha Mbugguss is a lecturer of Mass Communication at Africa Nazarene University and a member of the Editorial Board of the Media Observer magazine.


OnMarch4,Kenyawillholditsfirstelectionunderthe2010Constitution.Thiselectionwillbedifferent

frompreviousonesinthatKenyanswillelectsixleadersonthesameday.ItisalsopeculiarinthatoneofthepoliticalalliancesispresentingpersonsfacingcrimechargesattheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC).Theotherinterestingaspectisthatthereisnoincumbentrunningforthepresidency.TheICCcaseshaveattractedmoreattentionand

framedhowthemediareportsandcoverspoliticalcampaigns.MediamonitoringreportsbytheMediaCouncilofKenyaindicateradiostationsratherthannewspapersaremorebalancedintheircoverageandairspacegiventothepresidentialcandidates.

ThemostfrequentlycoveredcandidatesbytheNewspapersandTVareRailaOdinga,UhuruKenyatta,andMusaliaMudavadirespectively.Thereareemergingperceptions

withinsectionsofthepopulationtosupposethatmediacoverageislikelytoinfluenceelectoralchoicesandoutcomesespeciallytheundecidedvoters.Despite,thisisbeingaplausibleargumentitpayslessattentiontothecultural-politicaldynamicsinKenya.

Ihowever,believethatmediacoverageisnotaKeydeterminantofelectoralchoices.Myargumentispremisedonsimplybutveryrealisticreasons.

First,sectionsoftheelectoratewhobuyandreadthenewspapershardlytrustthemediaasasourceofobjectivepoliticalinformation.Mostofthemareawareofthepoliticalrelationshipsbetweenmediahousesandtheindividualpresidentialcandidates.Second,sectionsoftheelectorateespeciallyinthehighermiddleclassclearlyunderstand

Of Media Coverage, Ethnic Calculations & Electoral Choices

Jubilee Coalition presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta on the campaign trail in Meru. Photo/George Mulala..

The media has for a long time been seen as playing a key role in shaping politics, especially in swaying votes during elections. However, NSAMBA A MORRIS argues that media coverage neither reflects nor substantially influences electoral choices.


Safina party presidential candidate Paul Muite at a campaign rally in Kisii.

Amani coalition presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi on a vote-hunting mission.

thattheprimarymotivationforthemediainthecurrentelectionsisshorttermprofitsnotproductionofaninformedvoter.Third,thoseinruralareashavelimitedaccesstothemainstreammedialiketheTVandnewspaper.Fourth,comparedtootherEastAfricanCommunitystates,Kenyahasthelargestpercentageofthemiddleclass.Whereas,thisisgoodforthecountryintermsofeconomicdevelopment,whenitcomestopoliticsthemannerinwhichthisclassbehavesissometimeproblematic.Fifth,politicalcontestsinKenyaarenotprimarilyissuebased.Assuchtheroleofinformationandinformationdisseminationisnotsubstantial.Thisisreflectedbyextenttowhichpoliticalplayersinvestinmediaoutcomeandcommunicationcampaigns.Becausepoliticalcampaignsarenotissuebasedpoliticianshardlyinvestmuchtimeandresourcesininformationdisseminationchannelslikethemedia.Mostoftheresourcesareinvestedintangibleeffectsthatmayinfluencevoterchoices.

Butitisimportantalsotonotethatforthefirsttimethemediahasorganisedjointinitiativesforexamplethepresidentialdebates.Astowhethersuchinitiativeswillhaveanimpactonelectoraloutcomesitisyettobeseen.Sowhatinfluenceselectoralchoices?ThereareotherconsiderationsKenyanstakeintoaccountincludingbutnotlimitedtotheethnicidentityofacandidate,opinionpolls–fortheundecidedvoters–policyproposalsofthe

candidates–forasmallsectionoftheelectorateandpersonalgainsandinterestsintheleadershipofthecandidates.

Political ethnic calculations

Accordingtothe2009populationcensus,thelargestethniccommunitiesaretheKikuyu17%,Luhya14%,Kalenjin13%andLuoandKambaat10%each.Intherunuptothenominationpresidentialaspirantssoughttocreatealliancesacrossandwithinethniccommunities.Sowhatistheethnicmathematicsanddoesitmatteratall?EachpresidentialcandidatesoughttocreatepoliticalcapitalandinthecaseofCordithadtoteamupwiththeWiperpartyandFord-Kenyaamongothers.TotheLuocandidate–RailaOdinga–thisallianceisveryfundamental.

First,hecomesfromthefourthlargestethniccommunityassuchFord-Kenyaleadercomeswithnumericaladvantage.TheFord-KenyaleadercomesfromtheLuhyasub-ethniccommunityoftheBukusu.TheBukusuarethelargestLuhyasub-ethniccommunity.Intermsofpoliticalmathematics

thisallianceaffordsOdingaachancetoeatintotheLuhyavote.TheotheralliancememberWiperleadercomesfromtheKambacommunity.TheKambaare10%ofthepopulation.However,theleaderofNARC-KenyaalsocomesfromtheKambacommunity.ThepresenceofWiperleaderintheCordallianceiscrucialinneutralisingtheeffectofJubileeallianceamongtheKambas.

ThemathematicsoftheJubileeallianceisinterestingandreflectstheextenttowhichelectoralchoicesandoutcomesarebasedonethnicconsiderations.TheNationalAlliancepartyandtheUnitedRepublicPartyarelessthanayearoldyettheyhavegarneredsupportwithinthecountry.Itsleadersshouldbecreditedforthatbutalsowehavetoaskourselveswhetherthatsupportisbecauseoftheirgoodpoliticalmanifestosorbecausetheyhavepresentedthemselvesasethniccandidates?

ThetwoleadingindividualsintheJubileealliancecomefromtheKikuyuandKalenjincommunities.Combined,thesetwocommunitiesare30%ofthepopulation,theJubileeallianceahugeedge.Butitisnotaseasysincewithinthesecommunitiesareleadingindividualsinotheralliancesandequallyimportantarethehistoricalsocio-culturalandsocio-economicrelationshipsbetweenthetwocommunities.TherearesimilaritiesthatURPandTNAsharewhichmayacttotheiradvantagebutalsoverymuchreflectiveofODMpoliticsinNyanza.ODMhascreatedpoliticalhegemonyinNyanzacreatingaperceptionintheregionthatonceyouhaveODMnominationyouhave


alreadywonanypoliticalcontestintheregion.Othercommunitiesareequallytryingtocreateaswellaslearnfromthatexperience;assuchTNAandURPwanttocreateapoliticalhegemonyincentralandriftvalleyprovincesrespectively.ItisthisthinkinganddesiretocreatearegionalpoliticalhegemonysimilartothatoftheODMinNyanza,theleadersoftheJubileealliancearguewillautomaticallyleadtoanelectoralvictory.However,thesocio-culturalandsocio-politicaldynamicsintheregionsarecompletelydifferentfromthoseofcontextofNyanza.WhereasODMhasmanagedovertimetocreatepoliticalhegemonyitmaybedifficultfortheleadingJubileealliancepoliticalpartiestocraftasimilarhegemony.

itisdifficulttogetablocvote.Evenwhereyouexpectblocvotingthecurrentpoliticalallianceshaveaffectedsuchvotingpatterns;

Mediacoveragewillhardlyinfluenceelectoralchoicesandoutcomes;-themediahasfailedtoportrayitselfasasourceofobjectiveandcreditableandnon-partisaninformation.Sectionsoftheelectoratewillvoteindividualsonthebasisoftheirethnicidentityratherthanpolicyproposalstheyputacross

Inmostoftheliteratureandcommentaryitisarguedthatitisvotersintheruralareasratherthantheelitesintheurbancentreswhowillvoteforindividualsbasedon

AmaniallianceisequallyinthesameethnicmathematicsanditsleadersintheUnitedDemocraticForum(UDF)areinterestedincreatingaLuhyapoliticalhegemony.AmaniandJubileesharethesamepoliticalmathematics.TheAmanileader,comingfromLuhyalandthereisaperceptionthathecancommandaconsiderableamountofvotesfromtheregion.IfhisrunningmatecangarneraconsiderableamountofvotesinCentral,theallianceshouldbeabletowin.

Therearenumberofconclusionsdrawnfromtheanalysis.

ThefirstisthateachandeverypoliticalcoalitionhassupportersacrossallethniccommunitiesinKenyaandthatethnicgroupsinKenyaaredifferentiatedandtherefore

twoleadingcoalitionsareCordandJubileerespectively.JubileeallianceischampionedbytwoICCsuspects.InasocietywhereelectoralchoicesarebasedonissuesyouwouldnotexpectmuchsupportforanybodywithanyrelationshipwhatsoeverwithICC;yetinKenyathereverseistrue.Thiscertainlytellsusalotaboutwhatpeopleconsiderandlookatinpoliticalleadership.ItalsotellsuswhatmakessensetopeopleinKenya.

ThemediahasdonewellbywayofpopularisingtheICCcasestotheextentthatalmostveryKenyanvoterhashadachancetoeitherreadorlistentocommentariesabouttheICC.ButthisinformationhasalsohelpedtheICCsuspectsgainpoliticalcapital.Theyhaveinsomecasespresentedthecasesascommunalandarequicktopresentthemselvesasthesacrificiallambfortheircommunities.

Conclusion

Mediacoverageinanypoliticalcontestisimportant,howevertomakesensethemediahastobefashionedinmannerabletoofferobjectiveandbalancedopinion.Wherethemediaisunabletobalanceitsshort-termprofitinterestsanditslongtermeditorialpolicyandobjectiveofinformingthepublic,itislikelythatitmaynotbetrustedbythepublic.InKenya,thestructureofthemediadoesnotallowittoproduceaninformedvoteroreveninfluencepoliticalprocesses.Itismostlyamarketdrivenmedia,moreresponsivetodemandsratherthanshapingopinion.

Socio-culturalratherthansocio-economicidentitiesarestrongandplayakeyroleinpeople’sperceptionsofidentity.Assuch,politicalchoicesarealsoaboutsomeone’ssocio-culturalidentity.Thisreflectsapeople’sperceptionsofthestateasaninstitutionaswellasstate-societyrelations.ThestateasaninstitutionhasremainedforeignandabstracttomanyKenyans.Thestateisyettomanifestitselfasaframeworkabletorespondandmanageclaimsanddemandsputontoitinarationalmanner.

theirethnicidentity.However,itisimportanttonotethateveninUrbancentreslikeNairobi,over60percentofthepopulationsharealmostthesamecharacteristicswiththeirruralfolks.Butdoesvotingsomeoneofyouethniccommunityimproveyourlivingconditions?Theanswertothisquestionisnoandyes.Butashumanbeingthereisalwayspsychologicalcomfortandsenseofattachmentthatindividualsgetwhentheycanethnicallyidentifywiththoseinpower.Thetendencyistothinkofthemselvesasbeingpartoftherulingclass;

WhereastheICChasbeenandcontinuestobeakeyissueduringthecampaigns,itwillnothaveastronginfluenceonhowthelargestsectionofthepopulationvotes.Accordingtotheopinionpollsthe

Nsamba A Morris is the acting Programmes Coordinator and Research Fellow at the African Research and Resource Forum.

The CORD team at a campaign rally in Embu.


Intheearly1990s,yourstrulywasverypassionateonpursuingacareerinjournalism.Iadmiredtheloftyroleofthemedia:to

inform,toeducate,entertain,and,well,makemoney(it’sbusiness,afterall).Ineverquitegotthechancetobeacareerjournalist,butendedupbeingafreelancewriterandmediatrainertwodecadeslater.IhavesincerealisedKenyaisindireneedofresponsiblejournalists.Torespondtothisgap,Ioptedforthelecturetheatreasopposedtothenewsroom.Therearehundredsofjournalistsinthecountrybutresponsibleonesarecountable.

TheotherdayIposedafundamentalquestiontomystudentsattheTechnicalUniversityofKenya,whereIteachthebasicsofWritingandEditing

coveringagubernatorialcandidateattheNyayoNationalStadium.Beingastrugglingstudentwhocanhardlyaffordasquaremealatlunchtime,hepocketedthekitu kidogothatcandidategavetothe‘ladiesandgentlemenofthepress’fromvariousmediahouses.Guiltwaswrittenalloverhisfaceasheexperiencedcognitivedissonance.Thecandidate’saidesreportedlyhurdledthejournalistsintoaroom,toldthemtoswitchoffthecamerasandrecorders,anddishedouttheinfamousbrownenvelopes.Mystudentsaiditwasdifficulttoresistsince‘everybodywastakingit.’Afterall,itiselectionstimeandaharvestingseasonforthoseinthemedia!

IhaveoftentoldmediatraineesandthosewhoaspiretojointheindustrythatanidealjournalistisakintoCaesar’swife:beyondreproach.Torisetothecallofamediajobcallsfortruesacrificeandagreatsenseofresponsibility.Ifyouneedtopursueacareerthatisintellectuallyandmorallyfulfilling,thenyoucanbeascribe.Butifyourprimarymotivationismaking‘aquickbuck,’asitwere,thenthenewsroomisthewrongplace.It

Why Journalists Must Shun the ‘Brown Envelope’ in this Election

As with other issues bedeviling the society, the media has not been spared the corruption bug. TOM OLANG’ persuades Kenyan media to keep off the vice at this crucial time.

forPrintMedia:Why have you chosen to train as a media practitioner?Theanswerswereasvariedasthestudents.Somesaidtheywantedtobecelebrities,somesaidtheywantedtocrusadeforcertaincausesaffectingsociety,somesimplywantedtoimprovetheircommunicationskillstouseinothertrades,whileafewseemednotquitesurewhytheywerepursuingthecourse.

ThenIdigressedthelecturefromtheclassical‘InvertedPyramid’formatofpackaging‘hardnews’tosomeofthechallengesandmalpracticesinthefield.Attheendofthelesson,onestudentoninternshipwiththeMinistryofInformationandCommunicationsconfidedinmethatherecentlybecamevictim(orisitbeneficiary?)ofthe‘BrownEnvelopeSyndrome’while


isunsettlingthatmajorityofnew-generationjournalistsjointhemediaforprestigeandothertrappingsthatcomewiththejob,butnotoutofapassionforchampioningajustcauseaffectingthedowntrodden.Thetradeiswroughtwithchallengesandfullofmasqueradersandcartels.Schoolsofjournalismoftenteachtheoriesbuthardlypreparetraineesforthechallengesandintriguesinthefield.

Tomakemattersworse,corporatepower,withallitsattendantintriguesandevilmachinationshasdeeplyinfiltratedthemedia,eventakenitover.Somuchsothattheso-called‘independentmedia’isameremiragenotonlyinAfrica,butevenintheWest,whichisostensiblythebedrockofdemocracyandotherfreedoms.InJuly2011,journalistJanetDaleyoftheUK’sSundayTelegraphdeclaredthatBritishpoliticaljournalismisbasicallyaclubtowhichpoliticiansandjournalistsbothbelong.’

Shewrote:“Itisthisfamiliarity,thisintimacy,thissetofsharedassumptions…whichistherealcorruptorofpoliticallife.Theself-limitingspectrumofwhatcanandcannotbesaid…theself-reinforcingcowardicewhichtakesforgrantedthatcertainvestedinterestsaretoopowerfultobeworthconfronting.Allofthesethingsareconstantdangersinthepoliticallifeofanydemocracy.”

Thereisaseriousconflictofinterestbetweentheconductofconventionaljournalismandthewhimsofmediaowners.Theinterestsoftheownerandthecorporateclasstowhichhebelongsworkagainstthecriticalfunctionsofanostensiblyindependentmedium,especiallyinsituationswheretheproprietorappointseditorsinhisownimage–whoimpresstheirviewsontheirstaff.Inthiscontext,journalistscouldaswellbe‘puppetsoftheproprietors,’asMr.JoeKadhiwouldputit.

TheKenyanscenarioisnodifferent.IhaveusedBritainasaparallelbecauseourmediapracticeheavilyborrowsfromitsprecursor,theEnglishPress.Nevermindthefactthatweattained‘independencefromcolonialism’andstarteddoingthings‘ourownway.’What’sthatage-oldadageagain?Ohyes,“theforestmaychange,butthemonkeysofoldwillremainthesame!’Thelocalsthattookovermediamanagement

andownershipstillbearthesameinclination;vestedinterests.

Showmeamediahouseorownerwhohasnopoliticalorquasi-politicalinterests,andIwillshowyouanindependentmedium.Itiscommonknowledgethatmediapersonnelandpoliticians“hopintobed”attheslightestopportunity.Itisactuallyamismatch;amarriageofconvenience.Thetwoarestrangebedfellowsatbest.Inanelectioneeringperiodlikethis,journalistshaveafielddaylaughingallthewaytothebank,especiallythosewhopen‘hardnews’andcommentariesoncorporateandpoliticalissues.

Inviewoftheforegoing,therearetwinproblemsbedevilingtheKenyanmedia:poorlytrainedpractitionerswholackmoralsandignoreorfloutmediaethicswithimpunity,andacorporatemonsterthathaschosentopocketthepress.Inthebackgroundliethepoliticalelitewhoworkincahootswiththecorporatestocompromisethemedia.TheUchumiSupermarket’scollapsebeforeitsrescuebytheExchequerisaclassicexampleofacasethatcouldhavebeensalvagedintimehadthePressnotchosentolooktheotherway.Therewerestrongindicatorsatonepointthatthepublic-ownedchainstorewasheadedfortherocks,butsincetherewerevestedpoliticalandcorporateinterests,andafewpalmsallegedlygreased,itwasbusinessasusual.Thetaxpayershadtobearthebruntofcorruptionasblamegamecontinuedunabated.

WhichmediahousecouldquestionthemismanagementofUchumi,whenitwasamajoradvertiser?Woeuntoyouifyoubitethehandthatfeedsyou!CrusadingjournalistswhoattemptedtopoketheirlongnosesintotheUchumifiascowerepromptly,albeitdiscreetly,warnedtoshutuporfacethesack!Somekeypoliticalplayersprobablyheldhugestakesinthecrumblingparastatal,butbythetimethearkwassinking,theyhadswumashoreastheyhadintelligenceinformationattheirdisposal.

ThecultureofimpunityisaviciouscircleinKenya,andmuchasthelocalPressattemptstograndstandasawhistle-blower,ithasnotbeensuccessfulinkeepingthepowersthatbeincheckandholdingleaderstoaccount.Thelocalmediahousesandpractitionersappeartobereadingfromthesamescriptastheir‘forefathers’-theEnglishPress-whoareactuallycorruptandpronetopoliticalmanipulation.Picturethisscenario:TheGuardianofMonday11July2011hadaheadlinethatscreamed,‘Thismediaiscorrupt-weneedaHippocraticOathforjournalists.’TheHippocraticOathismeanttoensuremedicsremaintruetothetenetsoftheirprofession.

Inthearticle,thewriter,GeorgeMobit,opined:“Mostnationaljournalistsareembedded,immersedinthesociety,beliefsandcultureofthepeopletheyaremeanttoholdtoaccount.Theyarefascinatedbypowerstrugglesamongtheelitebuthavelittleinterestintheconflictbetweentheeliteandthosetheydominate.Theycelebratethosewithagencyandignorethosewithout.”

Closerhome,therecentpoliticalpartyprimarieswereashamandmediaconsumersmaynotknowtheblatantbreachofdemocraticidealsandcriminalactivitiesnotexposedbythemediasimplybecausemoneyreportedlychangedhands.AsmembersoftheFourthEstate,ourprimarycallingistoholdthoseinpowertoaccount.Butwhat’stherealityoutthere?Instead,mostjournalistssimplyservetheconcernsoftheelite.

IhaveinteractedwithjournalistsfortwodecadesinvariousforaandpartofwhatIhavewitnessediswhatpropelledmetooptfortheclassroomtoproducescrupulouspressmenand

The culture of impunity is a vicious circle

in Kenya, and much as the local

Press attempts to grandstand as a whistle-blower,

it has not been successful in

keeping the powers that be in check

and holding leaders to account.


presswomen.Corruptionisacancerthathaspermeatedeverysectoroftheeconomy,includingthemedia,whichshouldknowbetter.Whattheniscorruption?TransparencyInternational(TI),ananti-corruptionwatchdog,definesthetermsas,“theabuseofentrustedpowerforprivategain.”TIassertsthatthemalaisehurtseveryonewhodependsontheintegrityofpeopleinapositionofauthority.Intheirpeptalks,disgruntledjournalistsoftenrecountthedirtydealsofcartelsinthemediawhichhamperstheprevalenceoffair,accurateandunbiasedreportageonmattersofpublicinterest.Ononehand,thereisabreedofjournalistsknownas‘ambulancechasers.’Thisisoftenthepoorlypaidcorrespondentwhopursuespoliticianslikegadflieseitherto‘pitchastory’or‘seekclarification’wheninactualfacttheyonlyseekcheapfavours.

Somejournalistsevenextortmoneyfromnewssourcesandwillthreatento‘kill’astoryiftheyarenotgiven‘something.’Theunfortunateresultispartisanreporting,withholdingofcrucialinformation,unsubstantiatednews,andsheersensationalism.Gotoanypoliticalfunctionandyouwillfindmanystrangersmasqueradingasjournalists;theydonotevenhavelegalaccreditationprovidedbytheMediaCouncilofKenya.Interestingincidentshaveoccurredwhereevenaccreditedreporterspubliclydisowntheimposterswhenthecontentsofthe‘brownenvelope’arebeingshared.Thelesserthebeneficiaries,thebiggertheloot,andtheyslowlybecometheslavesandmouthpiecesofthe

paymaster.Consequently,accuracyandobjectivitybecomesapipedream.

Ontheotherhand,therearetycoonswithpoliticallinkswhosimply‘buy’thePress.Theirreasoningis:‘Whyhirealawyerwhenyoucanbuythejudge?’Onememorableincidentiswhenretiredpolitician,KennethMatiba,oncespilledthebeansthathehadboughtacarforasenioreditorinaleadingdailysothattheeditorwouldactasagatekeeperinhisfavour.Othersenioreditorsreportedlydolucrative‘consultancy’forpoliticalparties,contrarytocompanypolicy.Withoutnamingnames,anumberofeditorshaveendedtheircareersprematurelyforsuchmalpractices.Theviceisacuteduringtheelectioneeringperiod.Itwasrampantduringthe2007GeneralElectionandthestakesareevenhigherthistime.Thisseasonhasseenmoreseniorjournalistsquittingthenewsroomtoworkforpresidentialcandidatesasspokespersonsorpresssecretaries.ToparaphraseNigerianauthor,ChinuaAchebe,ifyouwanttoeatatoad,goforafatandjuicyone.

Althoughthelawandconventionrequiresthatthemediagivesequalcoveragetothepresidentialcontenders,disparityaboundsincoveragebyvariousmediahousesorindividualjournalists.OnemonthtotheGeneralElection,RestoreandBuildKenya(RBK)presidentialcontenderProfJamesoleKiyiapilamentedthatthemediakeptgivinghisralliesablackout.“Themediahavebeenthebiggestletdownforusbecausetheydonotcoverour

campaigns.Whentheydo,itisnotwiththesameprominencegivenourcompetitors.Itissadthatthemediahavetakensides,”TheStandardquotedhimassaying.Whethertheskewedcoveragewasaresultof‘brownenvelope’or‘ambulancechasing’remainsaquestionofconjecture.Article2oftheCodeofConductforthePracticeofJournalisminKenya(MediaAct,2007)saysinpartthatjournalistsshould‘determinenewscontentsolelythrougheditorialjudgmentandnottheresultofoutsideinfluence.’Again,theagenda-settingroleofthemediastrategicallypositionsthemtoswaypublicopinion,forbetterorforworse.Inthebook,MediaDebates:GreatIssuesfortheDigitalAge,mediacriticsandscholars,JohnMerrillandEveretteDennis,arguethat‘heavyexposureforacandidatethroughpositivenewscoverageandeffectiveplacementofadvertisingisdeemedimportantindecidingwhowinselections.AccordingtotheAsia-PacificInstituteforBroadcastingDevelopment,“Theprofessionalnormthatjournalistsmustnotacceptanygiftsorotherkindsoffavoursfrompoliticalpartiesorcandidatesisavitalpartoftheresponsibilityandcredibilityimperative.”Thus,itisimportantduringelectioncoverage,whenpartiesandcandidatesmaybeinclinedtobeparticularlygenerousinthehopeoffavourablemediaexposure.

Corruptioninthemediaduringelectionsrearsitsuglyheadinsubtleways.Whilejournalistsshouldnotevenaccepttransportationfrompartiesorcandidates,thisiscommonpractice.Itismoreethicalforjournaliststotraveltogetherinaprivatevehicleandsharethecostthanbeassociatedwithanypartyorcandidate.Weevenhearofdisturbingtalkofjournalistswhohavearegulartokenfromcertainpoliticians.Itshouldnotbelostonmediapersonnelthatanelectionismorethanjustamajor,intense,long-runningnewsstory.Weareobligedtoprovideinformationandanalysis,functioningaswatchdogsandbeingaconduitforvoters’voices.Ifwemusttradeourintegrityandthevoxpopuliwithablood-stained‘brownenvelope,’thenweareinthewrongcareerandthesoonerwequitthebetter!

Tom Olang’ is a freelance journalist and Mass Communication lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya.

Kenya News Agency journalists interviewing the Media Council of Kenya CEO Mr Haron Mwangi.


Itiselectiontimeyetagainandjournalismisundergoinganotherhugetest.Followingtheuglyeventsofthelast(2007)electionandtherepercussionsthereof,journalistshavebeenexercisingcautionsaveforafewinstancesofpartialitypickedoutbyaudiencesand

independentobservers.

ThisisbecausemediawasnamedbykeycommissionsthatinvestigatedthePost-ElectionViolenceashavingplayedkeyrolesinthelastelectionandtheaftermath.Whilethethreekeyplatforms:Print,TelevisionandRadiowereblamedforcontraveningtheircodeofethicsandespeciallytheprinciplesofimpartiality,independenceandaccuracy,Radio,especiallyvernacularstationswererecommendedforfurtherinvestigations.

TheJusticePhilipWakicommissionincludedonebroadcasteramongkeyperpetratorsoftheviolenceinRiftValley–KassFMJoshuaarapSang,oneoffourKenyanswithacasetoansweratTheInternationalCriminalCourtICC.Thatis,tosaytheleast,anindictmentoftheentireprofession.Media,therefore,joinedotherindictedprofessions,whicharepolitics(WilliamRuto,UhuruKenyatta,andHenryKosgey)andSecurity(MohamedHusseinAliandFrancisMuthaurabyvirtueofbeingchairmanoftheNationalSecurityAdvisoryCommittee).Onapositivenote,thisshowsthepowerofmediainsociety,thatitisjustaspowerfulassecurityorgansofstate,hencetheneedforstrictprofessionalism.

WHAT IMPAIRS

IMPARTIALITY IN THE

KENYAN MEDIA

DURING POLLS?

The Kenyan media practitioners have been castigated for breaching several articles in the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism as spelt out in the Second Schedule of the Media Act 2007. WELLINGTONE NYONGESA looks at three key issues that compromise journalistic standards.


ButhowhardisittoplayyourroleasajournalistinKenya?HowpossibleisittoworkwithintheCodeofConductforthePracticeofJournalismasisspeltoutintheMediaAct2007?

Thereareseveralchallengesthatimpairobjectivitywithinthepractice.IbeginwithwhatIperceivetobethemostinfluential.

Media ownership

Atatimewhenpoliticaltemperatureswererising,afewmonthstothelastelection(2007),IwashiredbyWestMediaLimitedtorestructuretheirbuddingnewmediainvestmentinWesternKenya.Theyhadlaunchedavernacularradiostationandgivenitanamethatresonatedwellwiththeentirewesternregionratherthanafewethnicgroups.Theywantedtorestructuretheiroperationsandcontenttobeinsyncwithaudiencesacrosstheregion.Myrolewastoensurethatgoalisachieved.Iwastogiveprofessionaladvicetotheboardofthree-alawyer,asurgeonandaretiredpharmacist,onpositioning,overallsoundofthestation,anditseditorialstand.

DuringmyfirstweekIwitnessedaninterestingscenethathasnotleftmymindfiveyearsdowntheline.Anewsreporterhadinvitedasourceintothestudioforaninterviewtogivehisstorysomeattributionandthus,objectivity.Soonafterhehadescortedthesource,thestation’smanagingdirector,apharmacistbyprofession,retiredthough,summonedthereportertohisofficeandaskedhimhowmuchthemanhadpaidtobeheardinthenews.TheyoungmanwhohadsometraininginjournalismtriedtoexplaintotheMDthathewasgatheringnewsandsourcesdon’tpay‘tobeheard’.

TheMDsaidhewasrunningabusinessandallbusinessesareinittomakemoney.ThereporterreceivednoprotectionfromhisEditoreventhoughhehadassignedhimthestory.AfterthematterhadpassedIaskedtheMDforampletimewhereIexplainedindetailhowbroadcastmediamakesitsmoney;thatitwasbysellingairtimebutnotinthatmanner.

DuringmyinductionweekIhadlearntthatmosteditorialassignmentsatthestationweregivenunderinstructionsfromthe‘owner’.Ihadtomakehimunderstand,reluctantlythough,thatbroadcastingwasanartgovernedbywrittenlawsandtheunwrittenlaws;thatweentertainandinformtowinaudiences,butmakemoneywhenthecorporateworldseektoreachtheaudiences(clientsandcustomers)through‘us’.That’swhenwesellthemairtime.Theyusethat‘space’toadvertisetheirproductsorservices.

However,forhimbusinessmustmakemoneyandthroughoutthecampaignsof2007,alltalkshowsonthestationwerearrangedbyhimandpaidforbypoliticianstomarketthemselves.

Therewasnosingleshowthatmetthejournalisticprinciplesofinformationdissemination(Balance,objectivityandopportunitytoreply).

Thisincidentandmanyothersthatmayneverbereported,clearlyshowthatoneofthedisturbinginterferencestoajournalist’sobjectivityinKenyaisinfluencesbymediaowners.Theinfluencesaremorepronouncedwhentheownersarepoliticiansorbusinessmenwhoinvestinmediasolelyforprofits.Therearethosewhounderstandjournalisticpracticesandwillevenactonadvicefromeditorialmanagers.However,nowandthentheywillbedrivenbythebelieftheyareemployersofjournalistsandthereforehavemoralauthorityoverthemand,canorderthemtotakeaparticulardirectionoveraneditorialmatter.

ItisonthisnotethatIwillalludetoaregularanalogygivenbyveteranjournalistandrespectedtrainerJoeKadhiinhistrainingsessionsacrossthecountry.TheformerManagingEditorofDailyNationhasonseveraloccasionschallengedsittingsessionsthus:“Journalismisaprofessionthatmustberunbyitsownprofessionals.Tryingtointerferewithourpracticeisgoingagainstourcodeofethics.Let’simaginethatthishallisturnedintoahospitalandfundedbywellendowedinvestors.Theywillhireexpertsindifferentfieldsofmedicine:Surgeons,dentists,gaenecologists,pharmacistsandsoon.NowIaskyou,willtheownerswalkintothehospitalonedayandsay,’Operateonthatone,giveaninjectiontothisone,dischargethatone?IftheanswerisNOwhythendomediaprofessionalsallowownerstobehaveasthoughtheyknowourprofessionbetter?Whyshouldtheytell


By Wellingtone Nyongesa is the Radio News Editor at the Standard Group.

you,atrainedjournalist,towritethisandnotthat?”

EveryotherdayKenyansaretreatedtosweepingstatementsfromlargemediaorganisationsboastingoftheirindependence,balanceandputtingpublicinterestfirst.Butakeenlookattheireditorialproductsandthetweaksintheircoveragesendsadifferentmassage.Alookattopmanagersatkeymediahousesandhowtheyarehiredindicatesthatowningmediainthecountryistheenvyofmanyapowerfulindividualsespeciallypoliticians.Whatcomesoutisthatbyhavingakeystakeinmediaonewouldhavefoundhimselfthesurestwayofshapingandevencontrollingpublicopinion.

InhisreportFactually True, Legally Untrue researcherOthienoNyanjomrightlyobservesinhisexecutivesummarythat;‘OntheeveofKenya’sfirstGeneralElectionunderthenewConstitution,itissignificantthattwoaspiringpresidents,whoareamongthefourKenyansindictedattheInternationalCriminalCourt-ICCforPost-ElectionViolence,arealsomajormediainvestors.Kenya’slegislationformediamanagementhasnotbeenfullyoperationalisedduetoahistoryofweakgovernanceandimpunity.Thishasspawnedweakprofessionalism,withmanymediapractitionersbeingpoorlypaidand/orremunerated,andworkingunderunsatisfactoryconditionsofemployment.Thismakesthemamenabletomanipulationbypolitician–ownersofmediaoutlets,politiciansingeneral,andthecorporatesector.

Kenya’stwoforemostmediahouses–NationMediaGroup(NMG)andStandardGroup(SG)-areonthedomesticstockexchange.WhileNMG’sdominantshareholder,theAgaKhan,hastraditionallydeferredtothegovernment,SG’sdominantshareholdinginvolvesformerPresidentMoi,evenifindirectlyso.HowevertheelectronicmediaisdominatedbytheRoyalMediaServices,whichhasbeenpartialtoPresidentKibaki.PrimeMinisterRailaOdingaisassociatedwithNeuralDigitalMultipleradiostations,whileICC–bound;presidentialaspirants;DeputyPrimeMinisterUhuruKenyattaandMrWilliamRutoarerespectivelyassociatedwithMediamaxGroupandKassMediaGroup.Othernational

politicianswithmediainterestsincludeVicePresidentKalonzoMusyoka,MinisterCharityNgiluandex-ministerRaphaelTuju.SeveralimmediateformerparliamentariansandaspiringpoliticiansalsohavedirectorindirectmediainterestsmostnotablyFMstations.’’

FollowingthiswellresearchedexpositionbyNyanjom,Istatethereasonwhykeypoliticalfigureshaveinvestedinmediaisnotsimplyforpurposesofbusinessandprofits.Itevenpassesforfaircommenttosayofalltheinfluencesandinterferencestojournalists’objectivity,mediaownershiptakestheleadinKenya.Allthisisguidedbytheoldadagethatyoudonotbitethehandthatfeedsyou.

Tribalism and Nepotism

Whileithasbeenclaimedpoliticiansandleadersinthecorporateworldinfluencepublicdebateandshapepublicopinionbybuyingoffjournalists,IwillsafelyarguethatinmostnewsroomsjournalistsarevictimsofthegreatKenyanmalady;Tribalismandnepotism.

It’snotstrangetofindjournalistskeepingonlycontactsofpoliticiansorcorporatemanagerswhoaremembersoftheirethnicgroup.Letitbeunderstoodthatitisnotacrimetonetworkwellwithsourcesfromonesbackyard,neitherisitwrongtohaveanidentity;whatneedstobeunderstoodisthattheinterestofthegreaterpubliccomesfirsttoaprofessionaljournalist.

ThiswithoutdoubtgoesagainstmostkeyethicalprinciplessuchasIndependenceandimpartiality.ItisthereforetosaythatwhileMediaownershipcanbeconsideredthegreatestinfluenceinbendingthejournalistcodeofethics,ethnicidentitiesappeartoholdsuchstronginfluencesonjournalistsandbroadcasterswhichnegativelyaffectethicalstandardsinKenyanmedia.

‘Brown envelope’

ThereisacommonbeliefinKenyaandtheworldthatmonetaryhandouts(famouslyreferredtoasthebrownenvelope)influencejournaliststotweakfactsinfavourofaparticularside.However,fromexperiencethisfactorcarriesthelittlestofinfluencesonjournalists-atleastthoseIworkwith.Somepoliticianshavealsobeenknowntogivesuchhandouts.However,inmostKenyannewsroomstherearejournalistsworkingatdifferentlevelsoftheirorganisations-managementandnon-management,whoaresaidtoreceiveallowancesfrompoliticiansforpurposesofensuringfavorablecoverage.Thiscanbeseenthroughthestandstheytakeineditorialmeetings.

The ideal situation

Everythingsaidanddone,itmustbeunderstoodthatattheheartofeveryelectionarethreesetsofrights;therightofthevoterstomakeafullyinformedchoice,therightofthecandidatestoputtheirpoliciesacrossandtherightofthemediatofreelyreportandexpresstheirviewsonmattersofpublicinterest.Mediamuststrivetofulfilltheserights.Thekeyrolesofjournalistsduringanelectionthereforearetoensurethecitizenisempoweredtomakeaninformedchoice.

A journalist admires Media Council of Kenya publications.


ThespotlightisagainonthemediaasKenyansheadtotheballotboxandalready,mediareportingofthe

electioneeringactivitieshasbeenriveting,peakingwiththepioneeringPresidentialDebate,bringingtogetheralltheeightpresidentialaspirants.Themediaenvironmenthasimprovedsignificantlyoverthelastfiveyearsbutglaringgapsandchallengesremain,whichhavecontinuedtoattractdebateandcriticismfrommediaproductconsumers,industrystakeholdersandGovernmentagencies.

Thefocusontheroleofthemediainshapingeventsof2007/8andtheperceptionthatsomemediachannelsfuelledthehostilitiesand

Post-ElectionViolenceatthetime,haveledtosustainedsoulsearchingamongindustrystakeholders,almostcontinuouslyforthelastfiveyears.

OneoftheearliestattemptsatassessingtheroleofthemediacameonFebruary12,2008whenArticle19,incollaborationwiththeInternationalFederationofJournalists(IFJ),InternationalNewsSafetyInstitute(INSI),InternationalMediaSupport(IMS)andlocalmediastakeholders–TheKenyaEditorsGuild(KEG),KenyaUnionofJournalists(KUJ)andtheKenyaCorrespondentsAssociation,convened“TheNairobiRoundTable”.TheforumalsosupportedbyWorldAssociationofNewspapersandInternationalPressInstitute,

concludedthattheKenyanmediahadcomeunderintolerablepressure.

Theemotionalspeechesandexperiencesfromanumberofspeakers,includingeditorsandjournalistswasacleartestimonytothefactthatmediaoutlets,andindeed,individualjournalistshadgonethroughalotofpressure.TheRoundtableanalysedtheroleofthemediaduringtheelectionandmadeanumberofconclusionsandrecommendations,publishedinasmallbookletwithsupportfromIMS–Kenya Media under Pressure, The Nairobi Round Table Recommendations.

Anumberofchallengesthatfacedthemediaandjournalistswereidentifiedandincludedsecurityconcerns,traumaandpoorpayamongothers.

Journalists facing numerous challenges:

• Journalistsandothermediapractitionerssufferedtraumabutlackedcounselingtodealwiththesituation;

• Thesafetyandsecurityofjournalistshadnotbeenaddressedandlittleefforthadbeenmadepriortotheelections,toprovidebasicsafetyequipmentandkits;

• Therehadbeennoattempttotrainjournaliststoappreciatetheimportanceofconflictsensitivejournalismandmostwerecoveringconflictsforthefirsttime;

• Mediapractitionersoperatedinaclimateoffearandintimidationwithmanyjournalistsreceivingthreatseitherdirectly,orthroughtheircellphonesorhateemails.Therewerethreats

Media Coverage of Polls Critical for Smooth Change of Guard

His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., M.P., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces registers as a voter using the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) machine.

Being the society’s watchdog and opinion shaper, the crucial role of the media in the forthcoming general election cannot be undervalued. As OLOO JANAK reports, all eyes are on the media to clear its name on the ambivalent role it played in the last general election.


tomediainstitutions,banonlivebroadcastingandthreatsofwithdrawalofadvertising,amongothers;

• Therehadbeenminimalpracticeofprofessionalconductamongjournalistsandmediainstitutionsintermsofaccuracy,balanceandfaircoverage,leadingtoperceptionofpartisanshipbothattheindividualandinstitutionallevels;

• Lackofprofessionaltrainingamongmostjournalists,butmoresoamongthoseworkinginFMradiostations,withemploymentbeingbasedonnonprofessionalconsiderations;

• Rampantcorruptionwascitedamongindividualjournalistsinthefieldandnewsrooms,andthiswasfearedtohavepermeatedtheindustryuptothetoplevels.

• Thethenexistinglegalandconstitutionalframeworkdidnotguaranteefreedomofexpressionandrespectforhumanrights.Thelabourlawswereweakleadingtoexploitationofjournalistsandthreatsagainstjoiningunionsandassociations;

• Themediacommunitysufferedfromweakinstitutionsintermsofmembership,financialandorganizationalcapacity.Deliberateeffortsamongmediaownerstoweakenjournalists’institutionswerecitedandlackofsolidarityamongjournalistsinthewakeofviolationoftheirrights.

TheRoundTablemaderecommendationsonhowtodealwitheachofthesegapsandchallenges.Fiveyearsdowntheline,andwithKenyansholdinganotherGeneralElection,thistimemorecomplexinitsstructureandperhapsmorecontestedthanin2007,itmaybesaidmostrecommendationshavebeenhavebeenfollowedthrough,withvaryingdegreesofsuccess.

Aspartoftherecommendations,abookletonConflict Sensitive Journalismwasdeveloped,andpublishedwiththesupportofIMSbyMay2008.ThishaswidelybeenusedbytheMediaCouncilofKenyaandothermediaorganizationstotrainjournalists.

Inthefirstquarterof2008,KenyaCorrespondentsAssociation(KCA),KenyaAssociationofPhotographersandDesignersAssociation(KAPIDE)andtheKenyaUnionofJournalists(KUJ)conductedtraumacounselingforjournalistswhosufferedfromthePost-ElectionViolence.ThiseffortwassupportedbyIMSforthreemonthsandbenefittedabout150journalists,mostlyfieldbasedcorrespondentsculminatinginthepublicationandlaunchoftheHealing the Messenger, a journalist’s trauma handbook in May/June of 2008.

Thebooklethasalsobeenusedwidelyasareferenceandtrainingmaterialforjournalists.Thiseffortforthefirsttimemainstreamedtraumacounselingforjournalists.ThenewConstitutionhasstrongprovisions

Industrystakeholdershaveengagedintacklingkeyissues,holdingnumerousconsultations,trainingjournalistsatvariouslevelsandconsultingwiththeGovernmentandotherstakeholdersinamoreopenwaythanbefore.

LedbytheMediaCouncilofKenya(MCK),muchgroundhasbeencoveredwithvariouspracticalguidelinesdevelopedoncoveringelections,trainingonconflictsensitivereporting,monitoringmediareportingandgivingfeedbackviapublicationsandpublicforums.Onecansaytheself-regulatingroleoftheMediaCouncilofKenyahasbeenworkingbuttherehavebeenchallengeswithinandoutsidetheindustry,whichmustbeaddressed.Theseincludemoreadherencetoand

onmediafreedomandaccesstoinformationbutchallengesremainintheslowpassageofrequisitelegislationtomakethemoperational.VariousBillstouchingonthemediaregulationhavebeendiscussedbymediaindustrystakeholdersbutremaininclusivepartlyduetothepackedlegislativeagendaofthelastParliamentandpartlyduetosuspicionamongmediastakeholdersandGovernment,especiallyinrespecttore-structuringoftheCommunicationsCommissionofKenya(CCK)andthebroadcastsector.

respectforitspoliciesandverdictsorrulingthroughtheComplaintsCommission.

IntherunuptotheGeneralElection,themediahavetoalargeextentdonegoodwork,demonstratingmorecapacitytocoverthecampaignsandcandidates,withasemblanceoffairnessandaccuracy.Thedesiretosticktoissueshasbeentherebutclearlyithasbeendifficultforthemediatoavoidfocusingonpersonalities,withthemoredominantpoliticalfiguresstillremainingPrimeMinisterRailaOdingathepresidentialcandidateoftheCoalitionforReforms

The launch of the presidential bid by the Restore and Build Kenya (RBK) presidential candidate James ole Kiyiapi was well covered by the media.


andDemocracy(CORD),DeputyPrimeMinisterUhuruKenyaoftheJubileeallianceandAmaniCoalition’sMusaliaMudavadi.

Themediahavealsoremainedfixatedonethnicityasakeycampaignissue.Keyissuesasinequalityinresourceallocation,thelandquestion,theInternationalCriminalCourtchargesfacingfourprominentKenyans,constitutionalandinstitutionalreformsincludingthatofthepolice,oftengetcoveredbutwithbutwithanethnicsentiment.

Differentmediaoutletsappeartohavetakenpositionsinsupportofdifferentcompetingpoliticalsideswhile,inprinciple,declaring“free,fairbalanced…”etc.Individualjournalistsalsoappeartohavetakensides,justlikein2007/8.MediaownershippatternsinKenyaandcommercialinterestsmakeitdifficultforthemediatoafairroleinreportingelectioneeringprocesses.ThedeepethnicpolarizationthatKenyahassufferedfromovertheyearscompoundstheproblemasthisoftenmarrieswiththeothertwo.

Thechallengesidentifiedin2007/8duringtheNairobiRoundTablehavenotallbeenrespondedtowelloraddressed.Corruptionremainsrifewithinthemediasectorandamongjournalists.DuringthepartynominationsinmidJanuary,2013,itwasevidentthatcorruptionandotherelementsofpartisanshiptookoverandthemedianearlylostitcompletely,focusinginordinatelyoncertainareas,politicalparties

andindividualpoliticiansbothinanegativeandpositiveway.Thepartynominations,itwasgenerallyagreedwerechaoticandasham.Butthereportingofthechaosappeareddeliberatelyselective–mutedandperhapsmanagedinsomeareaswhilerobustandgleefulinotherareas.Inretrospectandbasedoninterviewsbothwithjournalistsandothersources,ithasemergedtherewasalotofinfluencefromdifferentquartersonthereportingatdifferentlevelsofthemedia.

Nyanzawasportrayedasthemostchaotic,withscenesofdemonstratorsburningtyresandblockingroads.Manypeoplehavequestionedthelineofinterviewsandquestionsposedduringsomeofthoselivereportingsessions,someofthembyseniorreportersdispatchedfromNairobi.

SomepeopleinNyanzahavecomplainedofadeliberateattempttoonlyinterviewthosedisgruntledandinsomecases,journalistswerereportedtohaveeithermanipulatedscenesoncameraorworkedwithdisgruntledpoliticianswhoclaimedtheywereriggedouttomanagethescenesofdemonstrationsthatwereseenonTV.

InpartsofNyanza,RiftValley,CentralandCoastRegions,anumberofjournalistshavereportedfearsovertheirsafetydueanumberoffactors.Someofthemarerelatedtotheperceivedpositionstheirmediahousestookwhileinsomecases,itwasduetotheirownperceived

leaningsorsupportfordifferentpartiesandpersonalities.Thepoliticalenvironmenthascreatedafertilegroundforcorruptionandinfluencewithinthemediasector.Mediaownershiphasalsomadeitpossibleforcertainissuestobesweptunderthecarpetincertainregions,eitherdeliberatelyorduetofearbyjournalistsworkinginthosemediahouses.

Themediaindustryshouldideallyhavehadaseriesofreviewforumstotakestockofthereportingatthetimeandalsoplanhowtoimprovetowardstheelections.Itistruethatindividualmediahouseshavebeendoinginternalreviews.Themediahavedonefairlywellintheirreportingofthepresidentialcandidatesthathavebeendeliberateeffortstogivespacetoeachofthem,ofcourseexceptthelatecomersAbdubaDidaandPaulMuite.

TheFMradiostationshavedonetheirpartbutmanyofthemhavenotchangedmuchandstillcarryrecklessandincitingtalk.Indeedsomeofthecommentsafterthenominationsontheradioswouldpassoffassponsoredmessagesbycertainpoliticiansbutclothedincarefulwords.

Insomeregions,itwasunderstoodspecifictalkshowhostswereretainedbycertainpoliticiansorwereactivelysupportingsomecandidates.Whenpreferredcandidateslost,theypouredvitriolonthenominationprocessinwholeregionsoragainstcertainpartiesandpersonalities.Themediamustremainrestrainedtohelpthecountrynavigatethisdelicatetransitionandtransformation.Moresoifasispredicted,wegointoapresidentialrun-off.ThereinresidesthegreatestchallengestothesurvivalofKenya.

Therearefearsovertherun-offmanagementandthewholetransitionsinceitisnewandwealsohaveelementsnotnecessarilykeenonasmoothchangeofguard.Ifthemediagetco-optedintothegame,wewillgothroughamostpainfulperiodagain.

Oloo Janak is the Chairman of the Kenya Correspondents Association.


ThecontemporarydiscussionofKenyanpoliticalownershipofthemedia–hereinafterPMO–islikelytotracethe

originsofthephenomenontotheperiodimmediatelyafterthe1991returntomulti-partypolitics.ThatapproachislikelytoidentifyKennethMatibaasapioneeringpoliticalmediaowner.Yet,keenermediaanalystswillknowthatPMOdatesbacktotheearlyexplicitnationalistactivitiesofthelikesofHarryThuku,JomoKenyattaandOgingaOdinga–whoearlyappreciatedtheevangelisingscopeofthemissionarymedia,andtotheimplicitinitiativesofAsianslikeJevanjee(1901),Achariar(1920s)andtheVidyarathis(mid-1940s).IntotheNewMillennium,KenyahasexperiencedaproliferationofPMOs,notablytheFM(radio)stations,arecentresearch–Factually True, Legally Untrue–acceptingprevioushypothesesthatthePMOphenomenoncouldbedrivenbycommercialorpoliticalmotives,or

MediaGroup[NMG]accountedfor53%oftheprintrevenuesofSh1.2billion.Intermsofmarketand/oraudienceshares,RMS–whoseshareofelectronicfrequenciesisonlyexceededbynationalbroadcaster,theKenyaBroadcastingCorporation[KBC]–alsodominatesradio(witheightlocallanguagestations)andTV,whileNMGaccountedformorethandoublethepast-7-daysreadershipduring2011/12ofitsnearestrival,theStandardGroup.

Twoimportantfactorsarise:theRMSentrepreneurhasrecentlydeclaredhissupportforCORDpresidentialcandidateRailaOdinga.NMGjoinsRMSasthepre-emptivemediashapersofpoliticalopinion,andasthecurrentbackboneoftheinfluentialMediaOwnersAssociation[MOA].ThesepowersoverthesectorinvokememoriesofthetyrannyofstatemediaintotheNewMillenniumthatdeifiedformerpresidentsKenyattaandDanielMoi,andtheirexclusive

Media Ownership and the Link to Political Power

both(Nyanjom,2012).Yet,adeeperhistoricalreviewofmediacontrolinKenyamightatleastemphasiseapoliticaloveracommercialPMOmotive;andmightalsounderscoreaseemingconservatismamongKenyanpoliticiansthatdoesnotallowthemtoappreciatethechangedPMOcontextbroughtaboutbytheConstitutionanditsimpactsonthelegalandinstitutionalcontextswithinwhichthemedia(should)nowoperate.

ReelforgeMediadatacitedbytheMediaCouncilofKenya[MCK](2012)showthegrandrevenuesgeneratedbyprintandelectronicmediaadvertising.Kenyantelevision[TV],radioandprintadvertisingrevenuesrosebyrespectiveratesof45%,37%and63%percentbetween2010and2011.RoyalMediaServices[RMS]dominatedrevenuesinthefirstquarterof2012,accountingforatleast47%oftheSh7.7billioninTVrevenuesandatleast20%oftheSh8.5billioninradiorevenues,whiletheNation

The world over, political power or the search for it has been strongly linked to the ownership and or control of the powerful tool that is the media. OTHIENO NYANJOM dichotomises the Kenyan case.

Media Council of Kenya members confer when they met the Joint Committee on Administration and National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, Justice and Legal Affairs and Equal Opportunity at parliament buildings.

From left, Mr. Ezekiel Mutua, Mr. Linus Gitahi, Mr. Haron Mwangi and Mr. Kiprono Kittony.


rulingparty,KANU.Thus,Articles33,34and35respectiveconstitutionalprovisionsforfreedomsofexpression,themediaandinformation,wouldseemtostrengthenthehandsoftheKenyanwould-bemediaoligarchs,RMSandNMG,makingmediaownershipattractiveforpoliticians.Yet,thesesameconstitutionalprovisionsandlegalandinstitutionalframeworkstheyspawnshouldmakePMOsthinktwiceabouttheactualpoliticalopportunitiesofferedbymediaownership.

Reviewing media history

Thefinancialattractionofmediaownershipisself-evidentforactiveandprospectivePMOsandnon-politicalmediaowners,andthegeneralpublic,andneedslittlefurtherelaboration.ThegreaterattentionishoweverdueforunderstandingtheKenyanpoliticallureofthemedia,arguablyunprecedentedinSub-SaharanAfrica.ThisKenyanphenomenonhasasoundhistoricalbasiswhichhasshapedtheconstitutional,legalandinstitutionalreformsalludedtoabove.

Anenduringobjectiveofthepre-colonialandcolonialmediainKenyawasindoctrinationagainst‘indigenousvalues’.Traditional,pre-colonialsocietyhaditsmedia;soonecanqualifythemissionaryinitiativesofthelate1800stohavemerelypioneeredthemodernmediainKenya,evangelizingagainst‘atavism’,andforChrist.Duringcolonialism,themainstreammediaprimarilyglorifiedallthatwasEuropean,whilealsodenigratingindigenousAfricanvalues.ThecolonialgovernmentrepeatedlyrepressedattemptsatevolvinganindependentAfricanmodernmedia,thesituationoftenonlybeingsavedbythesurreptitiousinitiativesofIndianmediaentrepreneursexploitingtheirprivilegedracialstatusbetweentheEuropeansandAfricans.Butoftentoo,theEuropeansettlersdemandedevenmoredraconiancolonialgovernmentmeasuresagainsttheemergentindigenousmediawhichtheysawtothreatentheirlong-terminterestofaneventualapartheidstateinKenya.

Thus,atindependence,theGovernmentinheritedarepressivemediamanagementframeworkprimarilyintheserviceoftherulingminority.Whiletheprintmedialargelyconstitutedprivateforeigninvestment,theGovernmentmonopoly

oftheelectronicmediaenableditsdevelopmentintoamediumforthepropagationprimarilyofstateinterests,ofteninconflictwithpublicinterests.

Consequently,Kenyawasbereftof‘developmentjournalism’,theprintandelectronicmediachampioning‘foreignvalues’throughthelikesofAndy Capp, Modesty Blaise,theUK/USTopTen,William TellandBonanza,evenasJamii ya MzeePembestruggledtoemergefromobscurity.Thenewsbroadcastsinvariablyattractedprimeaudiences,evenifthedominantcontentwasarehashofwhatthePresidentdid,withmarginalattentiontootherpoliticians.

Andifonemissedthebroadcasts,thenYaliyotokeagladlyrepeateditweekly.IntoMoi’spresidency,eventhechurchhymnssungduringtheservicesheattendedreligiously–thepunintended–becamenews.Notwithstandingitsprivateownership,theprintmediatoocameonboardthissycophancy,findingfront-pagespaceforthePresidentineveryedition.Thus,alongsidetheubiquitouspresidentialportraitineverybusinesspremisesandonlegaltender,thePresidentwasperpetuallyinthepublicdomain.

Theneteffectofthisstateofaffairswasthatwhiletheaveragepoliticianonlycampaignsduringbriefelectioneeringperiods,thePresidentandfavouredindividualswereinperpetualcampaignmode.

ThissituationreportedlypromptedRMSentrepreneurSKMacharia’senduringambitiontoinvestinthemedia,KBChavingdeclinedtocarryadvertsMachariahadpaidforonbehalfofOdinga’s1992campaign(Nyanjom,2012:13).ButpresidentialcontenderMatiba’seffectiveownuseofhisweeklypaper,ThePeople,inpopularizinghimselfwasalsonotlostonthelikesofMachariaandotherpoliticians.ThuswaslaunchedMacharia’slong,dramaticandoftenunrewardingstruggleagainsttheMoiregimetownandoperateamediaoutlet.OnKibaki’saccessionin2003,Macharialaunchedhissuccessfuldrivetomediamogul-hood.Inthe2010promulgationofthenewKenyanconstitutionthatcurtailedtheimperialpresidenciesofKenyatta,MoiandKibaki,muchspacehasbeen

createdformediafreedom,hencetheattractionofPMOforindividualswishinguponthemselvesthemediaglorificationofKenyanpresidentstodate.

Yet,PMOsneedtoappreciatetheextenttowhichthatsameConstitutionandresultinglegalandinstitutionalframeworkshaveprovidedagainstimpunitybymediaownersingeneral,MCK’sGuidelines for Election Coverage–hereinafter,Guidelines–requiringastakeholders’acknowledgementthat‘freedomscomewithresponsibilities’.

Media management frameworks

UndertheConstitution’sBillofRights(ChapterFour),Article31safeguardstheprivacyofcitizens(suchasfromtheglareofthemedia),whileArticle32provides,inter alia,forthefreedomsofconscience,beliefsandreligion.Article33providesforfreedomofmediapractice(fromstateinterference),butnotesatsub-section(2)thatsuchfreedomdoesnotcondone(thepublicationof)hatespeech,hatredanddiscrimination(asdefinedbyArticle27).SinceaprimeobjectiveofPMOsiselectoralmileage,itisapttocitethecorevaluesandprinciplesofjournalismlistedbytheGuidelines,whichincludetheaccuracy and impartialityofreporting,protectionofinformationsources, distinction between editorials and news,andtheright of reply.Awareofthepotentialmisuseofmediaoutletsagainstopponents,theGuidelinesdefine‘hatespeech’toinclude:

“any form of communication that disparages, degrades,

dehumanises and/or demeans individuals or a

group by promoting hatred and encouraging violence against an individual or

group on the basis of factors including, but not limited to religion, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, age,

political and/or any other opinion, national or any other

social origin.


TheGuidelinesalsonotewhilemediahousesmayallowpoliticaladvertisingwhosecontentisprimarilyresponsibilityoftheadvertiser,thebuckstopswiththemediaowneroverobservanceoflegality,accuracy,tasteanddecency.Finally,theMediaActrequirespractitioneradherencetotheCodeofConduct.

Meanwhile,reviewstotheBooksandNewspapersAct(1989),KenyaInformationandCommunicationsAct(1999)andMediaAct(2007)aredesignedtostrengthentheirprovisions,especiallywithrespecttooversightofthesector.ThusMCKandtheCommunicationsCommissionofKenya[ICCK]shouldbebetterequippedtooverseethesector.

Discussion: ‘freedoms… with responsibilities…’

ThehistoryofthemodernKenyanmediahasbeenoneofminoritycontrolintotaldisregardofmajorityinterests.Themissionariesdroveanagendathatdisparagedindigenousreligiousbeliefs;thecolonialgovernmentchampionedthealienationofAfricanfromtheirrights–especiallyoverland;andthepioneeringcommercialmedialargelychampionedsettlerandEuropeaninvestorinterests,strugglingtosubvertemergingconcernsofhumanrightsandjusticechampionedbytheIndianandAfricanmedia.ThisrepressivemediamodelwasconvenientlycarriedintotheindependenceyearsbyaKenyattagovernmentwhosebetrayaloftheidealsofthenationaliststrugglerequiredthatitstiflethekindofdebatesthatledtothe1966launchoftheleft-leaningKenyaPeople’sUnionasacountertoKANU’semergingdictatorship.Thusthemediawasatbestover-ladenwithspuriouscontentunrelatedtoemergingdevelopment

needs,butbecameatitsworst,thesycophanticmouth-pieceofincumbentpresidents.

AwarenessoftheliberatingpotentialofthemediarunsthroughKenya’shistory;anditscommercialpotentialhasbecomeevidentsincetheearly2000’sliberalisationoftheKenyanairwaves.ThegrowingdesirebyKenyanpoliticiansforsomecontrolofthemediahasbeenheightenedbytheevidenceofitseffectivenessinperenniallykeepingsuchpoliticians’agendainthefaceofthepublic.Whilevariouspost-Moichangesopenedupspaceforprivatemediainvestments,itwassoonevidentthattheconstitutional,legalandinstitutionalframeworkswereanachronisms.The2010promulgationofthenewconstitutionopenedupfreedoms,includingforthemedia,whichhassincebeenprogressivelyrationalizedbylegalandinstitutionalreforms.

Kenyanregimestodatehaveneitherslanderednorlibeledpoliticalopponents–forthesimplereasonthatchangestotheold,independenceconstitutionmadesuchavenuesof‘containment’unnecessarygiventheimperialpresidentialpowersthatliterallytransformedwishesinfiats.Thataside,successivepresidentsalsoemployedthemediafortheirownextensivepoliticalself-aggrandisement.Thiswasmanagedthroughtheextensivepracticeofimpunity,amongthemorerecentinstancesbeingthe2007raidontheStandardGroup.Itislikelythatsuchpowersenhancedtheimageofthemediaasachannelforpoliticalgain,alongsidethecommercialgainarisingfromtheon-goingrevivaloftheKenyaneconomy.However,actualandprospectivePMOs(andotherprospectivemediainvestors)mustplacetheirinitiativesinthecontextof

thechangessincethepromulgationoftheConstitution.

Forone,theConstitutionhasgenerally–andspecificallythroughitsChapter6onLeadershipandIntegrity–curtailedthescopeforimpunity.Indeed,sincethe1991returntomulti-partyism,KenyanspartlymanagedtoenforceadistinctionbetweenthegovernmentandthestateinhavingKBCdeclaredthepublicbroadcaster.Variousotherissuesweresubsequentlyremovedfromtherealmofpresidentialdiscretionintolaw;butenforcementhasbeenslow.Thus,a2002attemptatimpartialpoliticalcoveragebyaKBCchiefexecutiveledtohisouster.AndwhiletheCCKhasbeenstatutorilyindependentsince1999,itsexecutivehasconstantlyhadtoaccommodate‘directivesfromabove’.Thishasforinstanceledtoasituationwherebroadcastersareoperatingwithoutduelicenses.

Suchcircumstanceshaveledtothedemandsforlegislativereformstoenhancethecapacitiesofthemediaoversightbodies–RegistrarBooksandNewspapers,CCKandMCK–tocontrolmediapractitioners.Whilethereformsframeworksandtheirimplementationareyettobefinalised,theoutlookisthatthereisgoingtobemuchtighterregulationofmediaowners,whichmightrationalizetheattractionofmediaownership.Whilemediaownershipwillcontinuetobearewardingenterprise,actualandprospectivePMOsmustfamiliarizethemselveswiththeresponsibilitiesbroughtonboardbytheConstitutionandtheemerginglegislativeandinstitutionalframeworks.

Othieno Nyanjom is a researcher and consultant on development issues including media, public spending and governance.


Inaccordancetosections4(k),13(2),19(1)and36oftheMediaAct2007,theMediaCouncilofKenyaundertakesAnnualAccreditationofjournalistspracticinginKenya.

• OneofitsmainaimsistoimproveprofessionalismamongjournalistsasitensuresthatallaccreditedjournalistshavetherightskillstocarryouttheirdutiesinaprofessionalmannerasaccordedtobytheCodeofConductforthePracticeofJournalisminKenya.

• ItalsofulfilstheCouncil’smandatetocompileandmaintainaregisterofjournalists,mediapractitioners,mediaenterprisesandsuchotherrelatedregisters.

Benefits of Accreditation

1. Helpsinprofessionalisationinjournalism.

2. It helps journalists to access information by allowing participation inconferences,workshops,trainingsandothergatherings.

3. Itenhancestheprotectionoftherightsandprivilegesofjournalistsintheperformanceoftheirduties.

Requirements for Accreditation

1. Aletterfromtheemployer

2. Freelancejournalistsarerequiredtoproducealetterofreferencefromtheorganisation they correspond for, a portfolio of work done and proof ofprofessionaltraining.

3. Aclearpassportphotographtakenonawhitebackground.

4. AnaccreditationfeeofKsh2,000forpractisingjournalistsandKsh300forstudents.

Accreditation



Promoting press freedom & responsible journalism

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