Dadaab MP Farah Maalim delivered a fiery tirade that left news editors scratching their heads. How do we report that?
Taifa Leo branded him “kibaraka hatari” but could not print his insults. The editors at Kimathi Street described Maalim’s outburst as “matamshi yaliyojaa maneno ambayo hatuwezi kuchapisha ili kulinda maadili yetu kama gazeti la kitaifa na familia.”
The Standard wrote in an editorial that the MP used “unprintable words.” The irony is Maalim spewed the insults at a public rally. Kenyans present heard him. The President heard him. The video clip of Mheshimiwa’s expletives was widely circulated on social media.
Is it realistic for the media to cover up Maalim’s insults? Isn’t it the duty of journalism to hold people in power to account regarding how they conduct themselves in public? Doesn’t editing out such insults protect foul-mouthed politicians who should never hold public office in the first place?
Well, the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya stipulates that media should not “publish obscene or vulgar material unless such material contains news.”
“Quoting persons making derogatory remarks based on ethnicity, race, creed, colour and sex shall not be allowed.”
Maybe these provisions should be reviewed for (a) journalists to exercise their watchdog role fully and (b) in view of pervasive social media that publishes everything.
The use of social media for political dissent and mobilisation will not stop. “Where two or three Kenyans are gathered, you are likely to hear ‘Ruto must go’, the slogan that has become as Kenyan as the bracelet,” Citizen Digital reported.
And now the government is worried. President William Ruto and his officials have sustained their condemnation of relentless use of social media for dissent. Stung by the criticism, some of the President’s allies like Maalim are beating the “drums of war” (Nation, January 14).
The media must remain vigilant to expose war-mongers and the alarming state attempts to restrict constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens.
“Kenya’s human rights trajectory deteriorated over the past year,” Human Rights Watch says in its world report released last week. “The authorities restricted the right to peaceful protest in heavy handed crackdowns against nationwide protests over the high cost of living.”
The media was not spared. “In July, some media outlets reported that the authorities summoned their editors and threatened them over live coverage of the protests. Kenyan media subsequently stopped live coverage of the protests. President Ruto said he had the power to shut down media over live coverage of protests but he opted not to do so.”
Journalist and cartoonist Patrick Gathara commenting for Al Jazeera about the abduction of Gideon Kibet aka Kibet Bull over his viral silhouettes writes that, “Even during the worst days of the 24-year Daniel arap Moi dictatorship, the “Nyayo Error” which ravaged the country from 1978 to 2002, cartoonists were not directly targeted by the State.”
This is the State of the nation. The young Kenyans President Ruto’s economic adviser David Ndii dismissed arrogantly as “digital wankers” have turned out to be a powerful force.
They have realised their power. The fear is gone. Nothing better demonstrates this newfound courage than the iconoclastic resistance art on social media that depicts politicians in coffins.
Instead of the State trying to understand why Kenyans have resorted to this level of unprecedented profanity, young people have been abducted, detained without trial, tortured or even killed by kidnappers believed to be security officers.
Is depicting politicians in coffins distasteful? Yes. Is it illegal? Well, we are yet to see a single caricaturist arraigned and convicted for pushing the boundaries of free speech.
Oppressed people do not have the luxury of choosing their weapons and methods of resistance. By any means necessary, Malcolm X said.
The government appears to reluctantly admit it is losing the information war. “The digital revolution has had a far-reaching effect on how we express ourselves, how we make and consume news, how we relate to each other and has stretched the concept of sovereignty to personal levels beyond the physical boundaries,” writes Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura. “New youth voices may not fully appreciate the damage that they are causing, thus reducing investor confidence that will eventually impact negatively on our country’s progress.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on January 16 that online campaigns “have evolved into cyber attacks by a few social media influencers that seek to delegitimise government initiatives, discourage high-level visits, de-campaign Kenya’s candidates for international and regional positions, while sending intimidatory messages to members of the international community.”
We are in a period of significant social and political change. It’s important to remember that true power resides with the people. Let us all remain informed and engaged.
With that said, for every freedom comes responsibility. Users on any platform must ensure strict adherence to the law.
See you next week!
