BROADCAST & FILM 2008: Kenya Government Committed to Media Freedom

The Kenya government has no intentions of standing in the way of the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill currently before parliament and wants to see the Bill enacted as a proof of its commitment to the realization of the country’s press freedom.

Giving the key note speech at the opening session of the first African Broadcast, Film and Convergence Conference in Nairobi today, Kenya’s Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga said that the coalition government has “no intentions of standing in the way of this vital law.”

Mr Odinga said that the government, through the minister of Information and Communications has already stated its commitment to introduce the Bill to the House for debate when parliament reconvenes from recess next month.

“The Bill will potentially open up to citizens all functions of government. It would henceforth be illegal to shield from public scrutiny systems like government procurement that in the past may have become fertile grounds for shady deals,” said Mr Odinga.

With the enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill, said the premier, “Kenyans would enjoy the right to information on issues regarding how money from the exchequer is spent.”

Emphasizing the watchdog role of the media, Mr Odinga said that in Kenya’s current dispensation of a grand coalition government where there is no official opposition in parliament, the media would be better placed and facilitated to act as an effective check on the three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary.

However, he said that the country would be looking to the media to set for itself high standards of integrity and reliability as a “free press without responsibility is a contradiction.” He praised the broadcast media for keeping the world informed during the post-election crisis early this year.

The prime minister commended the conference organizers as the event comes when Kenya is marking the Freedom of Information Week which would culminate to the celebrations of the ‘International Right to Know day’ on 28 September.

On the country’s ICT sector, Mr Odinga announced that Kenya is in the process of expanding cable services to offer for the first time “triple play” services which comprise of Internet, television and telephony in a single cost effective package.

“With these developments, the broadcast media will presently be able to better utilize broadband Internet facilities while Kenyans abroad and the world at large will then stay abreast of affairs here practically in real time,” he said.

He urged the conference delegates to aim at how to spur more research in local film production and content development adding that “there is need to tap local talent and develop it to create relevant content that can be better appreciated by local audiences.”