Press Freedom and Globalisation - International Press Institute

Press Freedom and Globalisation
suppressing of critical voices within the press after the assassination of the Planning and
Economic Affairs Minister Tom Mboya in 1969. President Kenyatta used the political
crises to force on performance of media that ensured the victory in the election the same
year. 39 Banning of media became common. Newspapers and magazines had to support
government to survive. During the presidencies of both Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi
there were periods where the press had no space to perform any democratic role. 40 Yet, the
1970s and up to 1982, the end of Kenyatta’s and beginning of Moi’s eras, was a period
where the press had some breathing space. Several newspapers were established, but poor
markets made it difficult to keep on. 41
The attempt of coup d’état in 1982 marked a change in press freedom. President
Moi emphasised his ‘nyayo’ philosophy. That means that anyone, media included, had to
subordinate themselves to the Head of State who acted as the nation’s father figure. Kenya
entered an era of dictatorship. 42 The underground alternative press recurred as the
opposition’s channel of information. Further, some critical magazines set standards of
courage in this hostile era where media often were banned. Nairobi Law Monthly, Finance,
Financial Review, Society, Beyond and Development Agenda were capable to express
opinions towards the dictatorship, and became pioneers for renewed democratisation
including an independent press. 43 Due to human rights offences, Kenya was under
international pressure. Foreign correspondents in Nairobi were carefully watched. 44
Foreign funding of critical magazines indicated how international actors were concerned
39 Kamau, John, “How Kenyatte gagged the press to manage the Mboya crisis” in Sunday Standard (Nairobi:
The Standard Ltd.), news article, 25 th April, 2004.
40 Kamau, John, “When You Had to Shut up or Languish in Prison for Years” in Media Review, a pull-out in
eXpression today (Nairobi: The Media Institute), May 1999, p. 38-41.
41 Odero, “Press in Kenya: an overview”, pp. 15-17; and Makali (ed.), Media Law and Practice, pp. 74-75.
42
Ochieng, I Accuse the Press, pp. 58 and 118; and Makali (ed.), Media Law and Practice, p. 75.
43
Karanja, “Growth of print media in Kenya”, pp. 38-39; and Makali (ed.), Media Law and Practice, pp. 75-
79 and 302-303.
44
Odero, “Press in Kenya: an overview”, pp. 19-22.
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