Kibaki lauds Kenyans using Twitter, Facebook

By David Ohito

President Kibaki has lauded the use of social networks by Kenyans and called for the use of the platforms to promote development, peace and cohesion.

The President said he said was pleased to learn that Kenya is ranked second on the African continent in the use of Twitter while Facebook users in Kenya was approaching two million.

Kibaki, however, challenged users of these new media platforms across Africa to exercise their freedoms responsibly and use these them to promote development, peace and cohesion.

"This rapid growth of technology use is promising to transform societies in ways perhaps unthinkable only a few years ago. It has enabled the emergence of new ways to communicate, to share information and knowledge, and for people to widen their sense of participation, identity and belonging," he said on Wednesday at the East African Journalistsf convention at KICC, Nairobi.

The president singled out how technological leaps have fortified democracy and freedom of expression in recent times with Kenya taking a leading position in Africa.

"Convergence of press freedom and freedom of expression, through various traditional as well as new media, has given rise to an extraordinary level of media freedom. It has enabled citizens to bring about massive social and political transformations," he said.

He lauded how information and telecommunications technology has enabled the diffusion of vital information to reach a large number of people in a very short span of time.

There have been concerns about rise in hate speech and offensive pictures on such social media platforms.

President Kibaki similarly expressed concern over vulgar talk on some radio stations and challenged the media to be more responsible.

He decried "vulgar talk on some radio programmes as well as obscene scenes on television during family viewing time."

He appealed to the Media Council of Kenya and relevant agencies to provide leadership by discouraging negative and immoral content and promoting positive and intellectually uplifting programmes instead.

Describing Kenyan media as one of the most vibrant in the world with diversity of content, plurality of ownership and cultural materials that socialise our people to take responsibility in development of our nation.

"As we approach the forthcoming elections, we expect the media to be at the forefront in informing and educating Kenyans on various electoral matters so that they can make informed choices of leaders," Kibaki added.

He reiterated his regime will ensure greater press freedom. His administration was blotted by the infamous raid on The Standard Group media house in March 2006.

On Wednesday, he issued fresh commitment. "My Government will continue to support the media to be free, fair and responsible in conducting their business as laid out in our new Constitution," the president said.