Standard Reporter, Editors Nabbed Over Kalonzo

[Onyango Oloo]

An impeccable source has just informed me (approximately 9:15 pm Kenyan time, Tuesday, February 28th, 2006) that two Standard editors and a reporter are cooling their heels in police cells tonight.



Standard editors Dennis Onyango (left) and Chaacha Mwita (right) and reporter Ayub Savula at the Central Police Station

The same person informs me that these Standard scribes have been arrested over the "Kalonzo meets Kibaki" story

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=36965

which headlined their Saturday edition this last weekend.

So much for Dr. Alfred Mutua's much vaunted "Democratic Space" that President Kibaki so graciously gifted to Kenyans out of the goodness of his heart.

I mean how insecure can a regime be that they move in with a sledge hammer to stifle a story- especially if it is allegedly "not true".

The way the NAK-Kibaki posse deals with "sensitive" coverage reminds me of the Nyayo era of errors where the mere suscpicion that you may be even contemplating writing a critical story was enough to earn you a trip to Carpet House opposite the Nairobi University main campus to chat with the Special Branch.

So FREAKING WHAT if Kalonzo Musyoka met with Mwai Kibaki? The duo are mainstream politicians and the only language they know is horse trading- certainly not an offence under Kenyan laws.

Both Kalonzo and Kibaki should have dealt with the matter POLITICALLY rather than this crude exhibition of primitive neo-colonial fascism.

The NAK regime cannot have it both ways. They cannot and should not be issuing inspid propaganda pap ululating about "democratic space" and increased fundamental freedoms if they think the only way to suppress the truth is send in the police to zip the lips of journalists with questions on their minds and courage in their hearts.

My solidarity goes out to all the arrested journalists from the Standard- a particular target of state repression since the year 2003.

Ironically the more the Kenyan state bumbles about like this, the more they give credence to the alleged meeting between the ODM luminary and the NAK lame duck.

My suggestion to Dr. Alfred Mutua:

Please instigate MORE arrests of peace loving, truth seeking, democracy hankering Kenyans. Sooner or later all this will most certainly come back and bite you in your plump derriere. At least you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your over-reaction and panicky knee-jerk crisis management response to simple newspaper articles eventually ended up costing you that plum disiniformation gig.

In the meantime, I call on all my fellow Kenyans and friends of Kenya to find creative, non-violent ways of exposing, resisting and decrying censorship, intimidation, harassment and silencing of critical, candid media voices.

Perhaps as a spur to this clamour for justice and fairness, it may be a good idea for the Standard to write an editorial defending their colleagues and maybe the Nation newspaper in a show of solidarity that transcends the quest for advertising revenue- perhaps the Daily Nation should also denounce the politically motivated arrests of journalists who were only doing their jobs.

Onyango Oloo
Nairobi

POST SCRIPT:

Just received more 411 that the Daily Nation IS running an editorial for their tomorrow edition. KUDOS NATION, WAY TO GO!

PSS: The Daily Nation did NOT after all, write their editorial on press freedom. Interesting....

[mossad]

This is the most sickenig thing Kibaki has so far done. Anyway just as you ask up there, what's wrong with Kalonzo meeting Kibaki. I mean is kalonzo such a bad thing that meetimg kibaki is considered a taboo.
One thing i've come to observe is that if Kibaki was in Moi shoes during the strugle for Multi patiysm, iam certain he couln't have given inn and infact mistreatment of kenyans could have been rampant under Kibaki more than Moi's tenure. So whats wrong really with meeting Kibaki and if it's a lie, then where's the problem.
Kibaki is just sickening.

Mossad.

[abdulmote]

Whats wrong with the two men meeting? I'd say there was something wrong wit it! Don't you see, they were said to have met 'secretly'! That was to imply that Kalonzo had attempted to betray his LDP comrades by going behing their back. Simply put, Kalonzo was being prtrayed as a hypocrit not worthy of anybody's trust, period! Ah, it may be complicated for you you see!

In my opinion, I think the statehouse was only trying to trace the 'spy' in the house! Otherwise what the heck? If the meeting did not take place, then there is nothing to worry about, PR wise. But only if it did take place, who would that 'mole' be? That should be their potential concern!

[politicalmaniac]

Why so much heat about this story? eh? There must be more than meet the eye!

[Onyango Oloo]

eastandard.net/hm_news/news_s.php?articleid=37151

[Onyango Oloo]

eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=37168

[Onyango Oloo]

www.timesnews.co.ke/01mar06/editorials/edtorial1.html

[kamalet]

According to Abdulmote, if the story had been true, it would have portrayed Kalonzo as a flip flopping politician without msimamo in the eyes of right thinking Kenyans. Now add this to the inclusion of the president of Kenya in the plot....

Now look at the reaction of one of the contributors to these forums who I think falls within the ranks of right thinking Kenyans.
www.mashada.com/forums/index/show_topic/22/88512/index.php


How many other Kenyans believed the story and how much damage would it have done to Kalonzo politically if say Statehouse had not denied the meeting?

What we have seen is a string of IRRESPONSIBLE journalism by the media who either create stories so that people can comment on them and raise a brou haha or write absolute lies!

So what is the best way of dealing with a media that is happy to print lies and still lact the courage to acknowledge its mistake? The editorial in the Standard suggests that carrying denials by Kalonzo and Statehouse is sufficient retraction and there was no need for subsequent apology! Its subsequent claim that the arrests are as a result of its stand in recent events that go against the government is just childish and not worthy of consideration.

Anyone that refuses to see the danger of a media that thrives on lies can surely not understand the long term implications. If society comes to believe everything the media tells them, then with a corrupt political class, a lot of damage can be done to individuals and institutions by the same media. And this destruction could be extended to people we think are our pesent day Moses!

So should jailing of lying journalists be the solution to the excesses of today? Maybe not. But sadly, self-regulation has not in my view worked in the past despite the media craving for self regulation.

Can you imagine what a Page 1 apology to Kalonzo and statehouse would have done? Of course being of limited imagination, a lot of us are happy with the chst thumping theatrics of the Standard!!

[Onyango Oloo]

www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=35358