Muzzling the press is not the solution to insecurity and bad governance problems

It makes a lot of sense to argue that journalists as nationals or citizens should be pragmatic, patriotic and should not be seen to be promoting issues which can inflame or give credit to terrorism, conflicts or tensions among the people or in a society.

However it should also be very clear that journalism is a profession just like any other profession. Journalism is studied in schools and colleges just like law, medicine, engineering etc. It has its own code of ethics to guide in the practice just like other professions do and therefore should be allowed and given freedom to operate without interferences or intimidation. It defeats logic to allow journalists to practice but on the other hand create conditions contradicting and limiting the same practice.

Muzzling the press is a recipe for chaos for any developing or developed nations. The media plays a key role in shaping governance, promoting democracy and development. Mass media is the leading medium for learning and provides opportunities for people across the world not only to get and share information but also to learn from other peoples experiences and also to exchange information.

I have no problem with being pragmatic and patriotic as citizens but that should be an individual's own discipline and not a State enforcement. Patriotism comes in with integrity, satisfaction and contentment and not just a directive imposed by a government either to hide its failures and tracks or protect certain information. News is news no matter how bad or sensitive it can be and also no matter whether it affects personal interest or not.

It is a pity that as much as nations whether developed or developing preach liberal values such as democracy, free speech, freedom of expression, liberty etc. they don’t actually mean it in terms of putting it in practice .

Christine Nguku a veteran journalist and a Communication expert and lecturer at the Kenya Methodist University (KEMU) strongly feels that many times journalists do not know when to draw the line in their reporting. According to her, there is no country in the world where 100% press freedom is exercised including America and other developed nations. To some extent I may agree with Christine but to a large extent I do not simply because politicians all over the world are always looking for legislations and avenues to oppress and to cover if not get away with their failures especially in Africa.

Most of the time it is not about pragmatisms and patriotism but more of protecting interests either by the State or the media owners. The connection between the media owners and the State is what is killing press freedom and freedom of expression which are fundamental human rights principles enshrined in the constitutions world over.

What Kenyans have witnessed in the past few weeks after the tragedy in Somalia when the Kenya Defense Forces were attacked by the Alshabaab, could be seen in the light of an indication of what is to come. Very soon it may become illegal for journalists in Kenya to report on such issues such as corruption, tribalism and nepotism.

Kenyans automatically and naturally respect and honor their fallen heroes. The slained soldiers are heroes of the nation. They lost their lives while protecting the nation but still family members and citizens have a right as enshrined in the constitution to know what happened and how it happened. As is always said ' it is only fools who do not learn from their mistakes' As a nation it is important to understand what happened and to improve on it so that we don’t continue to lose our sons, brothers and sisters. Muzzling the press and trying to intimidate everybody like is happening with the ministry of interior will not help the country.

What the government is trying to do by controlling the press is a short term strategy which may have long term implications on the future of the nation. International media is out of there with lots of freedom to report on issues the way they see and interpret them and through social media the information still circulates. Arresting bloggers and the likes is not a solution to our threats and other insecurity issues.

Denying Kenyans information or opportunity to be informed is not justified at all. As a legacy, President Uhuru Kenyatta should repeal the law which was enacted intentionally to gag the media. Alshabaab like other criminal gangs have their own ways of articulating, championing and popularizing their unjustified actions and propaganda not necessarily through the Kenyan media.

What is important is to create awareness among the people and to alert them of the dangers facing them by giving them more accurate information to understand the enemy. The action by the government is causing more harm than good. It is creating panic and is a torture to the victims of the slained soldiers who are still desperate to know and come to terms with what really happened to their sons, daughters, relatives and friends.

In the late 1990's or there about, the world would not have known the magnitude of the famine and hunger which claimed millions of lives in Ethiopia had it not been because of the media through the late veteran journalist Mohammed Amin. Equally, the situation in Kenya during the post-election violence of 2007-08 drew the attention of the international community because of coverage by the media.

Unlike in Burundi where the situation is worsening day by day because of media blackout by President Pierre Nkurunzinza who has sealed off the country so that he can continue with blood-letting and  committing atrocities on the people of Burundi opposed to his dictatorial and oppressive regime.

 

Denise Kodhe is the Executive Director, Institute for Democracy & Leadership in Africa- IDEA