Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
development of globally accepted principles. In East Africa a common opinion has been
that it is not necessary to invent the wheel again. The Code of Conduct and Practice of
Journalism in Kenya was made after consultations with key players of press freedom in
England, Minnesota and Australia in addition to Tanzania. 32
The United States interferes directly with press freedom affairs. One example is
how such a dominant player even has selected individuals from East Africa who became
prominent international representatives. For instance, it is claimed that Tom Mboya, who
was an early authority about Kenyan press freedom, was brought up as an international
political representative by the British and Americans. 33 Another example is how
Americans connected with Ronald Reagan funded the Nairobi Law Monthly during Moi’s
dictatorship to ensure one of the few critical voices against the regime. 34
Scandinavia and East Africa are subordinated to forces conducting economic
globalisation which include influence over press freedom regimes. Scandinavian countries
are included in international regimes on press freedom. They have a prominent position to
influence and formulate global press freedom as well as influence agents supporting global
spread of press freedom. The East African states have been members of the international
regimes on press freedom. The difference is East Africa’s subordinate client role, and level
of press freedom which reflects a shorter period of democratic rule.
32 Oral interview with Kamweru.
33 Munene, Macharia: “The Colonial Policies of Segregating the Kikuyu, 1920 – 1964” in Chemchemi
(Nairobi: Kenyatta University and Acacia Publishers), volume 2, 2002, number 1, p. 40.
34 Munene, “Africans and Intellectual Adventurism: East African Intellectual Warriors”, p. 8.
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