An Open Letter to President UHURU KENYATTA



Dear Sir,

I have been dreaming of a nation with huge freedom of the press... but what am getting from the Social Media today is shocking.

Today, i enjoy the practice of my career not because it pays me but because thats what i Dreamt of attaining. i have seen the evolution of the media freedom in kenya through the last 15years to what we have attained in the recent past.

As a journalist i am forced to pose this serious question, Is it necessary for the government of the day to impose turf rules and regulations to this field that involves self denial and compassion to undertake? Is the 4th arm of the government under threat and eventual attack?

As a journalist who has worked in Both Kenya and Uganda, I have come to believe that however we embark on professionalism there are certain busy bodies in the leadership who would love to use the pre existing laws and legislations to hide their dirty profiles.

At 24years i Managed to do many stories for my country and the region, I follow the canons of the journalism and to few who i have had chance to work with know what it takes to be a journalist. Do we have to be flocking the Midnight clubs and restaurants to do stories about the drunkard Mheshimiwa who beat up the Bouncers and was protected by the government paid bodyguard? thats not necessary at all.

under article 34 of the supreme Law, its clear that the constitution safeguards the media and its staff from interference from the state.

Article 34. (1) Freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other types of media is guaranteed, but does not extend to any expression specified in Article 33 (2).
(2) The State shall not—
(a) exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in
broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication
or the dissemination of information by any medium; or
(b) penalise any person for any opinion or view or the content
of any broadcast, publication or dissemination.

Whether the Parliament acted to safeguard article 35 [2] of the constitution is subject that requires deliberation but the fundamental freedoms and practice by journalists both local and international in kenya remains at stake as its dragging the country back to square one.

Ever imagined the KANU days? The only news angle was more of Public Relations article told kenyans every night over the national Broadcaster. Is it Right to let our people languish in hidden news for fear of Government intimidation to the poorly paid journalist who struggle not to earn much money but to earn Kenya respect as a mature and democratic state.

For those of us who worked outside Kenya, We well know what the new law means to the future of kenya. Government propagandist shall be the only source of credible informations and those journalists who think they are hardcore they gonna face the wrath of the African media siege as it was witnessed recently in Uganda when Redpepper Ug and Nation Media Group owned Monitor Publication Limited.

From time to time i have challenged the Ugandan and Kenyan Parliaments to come of age and respect the few words written at the entrance of the Debate chambers, "A Just Government of Men".

I opposed the Kill the Gays Bill in Uganda and today i do so to Kenya, Please president Kenyatta Do not sign that bill to Law. Do not allow your name to go into history as the president who allowed impunity back to kenya after 20years of fight by the members of the fourth estate to have a space to work freely without kissing the asses of corrupt individuals.

We fight for you and its the time you help us fight for the space to tell the story without fear or favour.

If you read this article... Leave a short message for it to go viral and reach President Uhuru Kenyatta.... without your support i am nothing, with you we will convince the president not to sign.

God Bless Kenya My Nation

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