Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
where the presence of journalists became controversial, resulting in attempts to lynch, have
been reported. 185
The editorial departments in media houses in East Africa are not protected from
interference by its owners. The owners can influence editorial matters and single articles. If
a journalist objects, he or she is vulnerable because of the high unemployment. The lucky
ones who got a journalist’s job will not jeopardise it. To get fired means unemployment.
To be safe, journalists do not challenge the bosses or owners. 186 Although the Nation
Media Group has a declared policy that the editor has complete editorial control, that has
not prevented editors from being dismissed when Muslim fellows of the dominant owner
Aga Khan have been offended. 187
“Mr Moneybags” is a case study in this aspect. It is a conflict between the press
versus Kenyan cabinet ministers and other powerful individuals concerning use of criminal
libel. It started when The Standard used four pages on a story called “Mr Moneybags”. It
detailed how an economic elite controls politics and the economy. Many prominent people
were mentioned. 188 The reactions were strong from people indirectly accused of corrupt
behaviour which they rejected. The writer, Kamau Ngotho, was charged with publishing
defamatory matter contrary to the Kenyan Penal Code. Even an Associate Editor of the
same newspaper was questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department. 189 It was the
press’ turn to raise voices, supported by foreign donors and NGOs concerned with press
freedom and human rights. In an editorial Daily Nation wrote:
“It is shameful that Kenya under Narc still retains such repressive laws as
criminal defamation, publishing false information and the ridiculous
185
For instance: Daily Nation, “ ‘Nation’ writer’s ordeal at GSU officer’s home” in Daily Nation (Nairobi:
Nation Media Group), news article, 24 th February, 2005.
186
Kadhi, “Anglophone Africa: Puppets of the proprietors?”, p. 123.
187
Ochieng, I Accuse the Press, pp. 60-61; and Odero, “Press in Kenya: an overview”, p. 13.
188
Ngotho, Kamau, “Mr Moneybags : EXCLUSIVE: In Kenya, politics and high finance are two sides of the
same coin. And the game is played by the same people” in The Standard (Nairobi: The Standard Ltd.),
news article, 8 th January, 2005.
189
Murimi, Joseph, “ ‘Standard’ writer faces libel charge” in The Standard (Nairobi: The Standard Ltd.),
news article, 14 th January, 2005.
109