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A resounding NO! Until, and unless the public's confidence is won by arresting ,charging and convicting the corrupt high profile members in the society,irrespective of status, elimination of corruption will not be over. The arraignment will set precedent for future public servants with regard to en ...

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Uproar as Kibaki signs controversial Bill

Brief:

President Kibaki has signed into law the controversial Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008, which the media and human rights groups say is draconian and retrogressive. ...more

User comments(21)

1. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 16:51 PM , Arap Kolomiy, Canada wrote:
  I blame Kenyans. What do you expect when you elect thugs to represent you in parliament? Most of the MPs bribe their way to parliament and they don't care about the common mwanachi after being elected. Where were ODM MPs? Wait till 2012 when they will cry foul demanding press freedom and those Askaris will clobber. Will cheer each an every time a boot or rungu ya askari hits an MP.

 
2. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 15:16 PM , Samuel okoth, Ethiopia wrote:
  The media should just boycot all political functions including presidential functions and the live coverage of parliamentary proceedings!

 
3. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 9:36 AM , George Nyamono, United Kingdom wrote:
  The media has only themselves to blame. The industry is full of quacks and those masquarading as professionals are ill equiped and are have reduced themselves to third rate reporters. The FM stations in the country have reduced themselves to broadcasting filth in the name of press freedom. The media indutry in kenya is simply not resposible period!

 
4. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 8:45 AM , Jebiwot Bischof, Switzerland wrote:
  ThePpresident should elaborate on what he means by 'state of emergency'. In Kenya as we know, it is possible that the president with the powers he has can call anything a 'state of emergency', thus justifying the closure of media houses as he did during the post election violence. A law should be instituted to ensure that this is not misused or even an independent institution entrusted.

 
5. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 8:40 AM , frederick wabwaya, Burundi wrote:
  Those who thought kibaki would not sign the bill were day dreaming. Kibaki is a graduate of single party dictatorship and is backed by former president Moi. Their dream is making Kenya a single party state again. Anything that can reveal corrupt deals, the press, is their single enemy.

 
6. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 8:34 AM , frederick wabwaya, Burundi wrote:
  If democracy comes with responsibility as the President stated, then what happens when you suppress democracy? Are you not supressing responsibility also? And where there is no sense of responsibility there is disorder, and we saw it early last year, and it was the same press we are trying to gag that brought back that responsibility.

 
7. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 6:52 AM , Peter Mbugua, Kenya wrote:
  I believe that the presidents decision was based on serious consideration of all facors at hand. The KTN aired some very inflamattory article about the 2007 elections last week which brought to the fore the danger that lucks with an all out press. Do not forget that this is the same media that was very partisan in the same elections. The regulation should have come as soons as YESTERDAY.

 
8. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 5:45 AM , Isaac Kuria, Kenya wrote:
  Let's face the reality? The Media Council failed in self-regulating mechanism and as a result the media fuelled rather than abating the post-election violence. This is a blanket statement because indeed they were those who did the right advocacy. But to the extent the good didn't raise a finger to their brother and sisters in the fourth estate who allowed live broadcasting of ethnic hatred?

 
9. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 5:16 AM , Richard Limera, Kenya wrote:
  If the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, Raila come on, let ODM get out of the coalition and we go for election and we choose leaders for common mwananchi. We Kenyans are not babies to be lectured with lies some of us are more enlightened than u may think, 'WE CAN DIFFERENTIATE POISON AND NON POISON'.

 
10. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 5:10 AM , Timothy Macharia, Canada wrote:
  Who said that those in PNU and ODM were sensitive to the plight of the common people? Kenyans ought to know who these people really are. The immediate and most central in their minds is their survival in the money minting industry regardless of the state of the common man, teachers, pressmen and any other professionals or cadres. Nothing meaningfull will be produced by this form of government.

 
11. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 4:30 AM , Kiplangat Rop, Kenya wrote:
  I can see KANU system of ruling is back.

 
12. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 3:51 AM , mwangi_ngamate, Kenya wrote:
  When the Standard Group dared President Mwai Kibaki saying he cannot do anything, we believed them. Today he has shown us that indeed he has a backbone. We have constantly thought Kibaki to Jelly fish. We now know he is not as weak as we have always thought. Be strong when wrong than weak when right as you have always been.

 
13. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 2:34 AM , john njora, Kenya wrote:
  This bill should have been signed long time ago. We know that Kenyan media is the most unprofessional in the region job, they work on behalf of foreigners and not kenyan pple. I personally consider the signing of this bill the only achievement the president and the Govt. has made so far.

 
14. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 0:54 AM , petro mbuko, Kenya wrote:
  YES! we need media society that is responsible. All that happened last year was due to media being used as a political platform to fuel hatred among innocent wananchi. We can not be like any other region in the world , this is the best in this region.

 
15. On Saturday January 3, 2009, 0:02 AM , Kilel Kipkemoi Benard, Germany wrote:
  Thank you Mr. President for taking us back. These are the fruits you are enjoying after forcing yourself into power. Be ready for the consequences sir.

 
16. On Friday January 2, 2009, 23:32 PM , Henry Kariuki, United States wrote:
  Yes, the President signed into law the Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008. I support the President. The media could help build Kenya. But as things stand today, the three main enemies of democracy and development in Kenya are the media, the rabid and visionless MPs, and our so called learned friends. Take it or trash it, but that is the way it is.

 
17. On Friday January 2, 2009, 23:31 PM , Henry Kariuki, United States wrote:
  Yes, the President signed into law the Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008. I support the President. The media could help build Kenya. But as things stand today, the three main enemies of democracy and development in Kenya are the media, the rabid and visionless MPs, and our so called learned friends. Take it or trash it, but that is the way it is.

 
18. On Friday January 2, 2009, 23:22 PM , kett, United States wrote:
  Kenyan in US. Give this people a black out for sometime and then they will know they need you more than you need them. When are you going to stand up for your freedom and say enough is enough.

 
19. On Friday January 2, 2009, 22:18 PM , Clement Onyono, United States wrote:
  What president Kibaki has done sends this country back into dark ages. This is equivalent to taking one step forward and two steps backwards. Very strange type of development. What next for the Kenyan law makers who voted for this bill? To send us back into the days of One Party State? When you are scared of the Media it means you have some gabbage you dont want be exposed.

 
20. On Friday January 2, 2009, 19:17 PM , Eeric Seda, United States wrote:
  Law abiding citizens of Kenya are totally disappointed by the action of President Kibaki. We were brutalized, tortured and lock in jails by the oppresive Moi regime over the same freedom of the media.They failed misarably. Does Kibaki think he can succeed in suppressing the will of Kenyans. Let him him be reminded what we did to him Kibaki in Maringo. ODM must work to repeal this retrogressive bill.

 
21. On Friday January 2, 2009, 19:12 PM , paul olunga agutu, Kenya wrote:
  The media stil can decide what to do to cut down on the monsters they created. Lets see how brave we are to demand our rights.

 

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