As a trained journalist, I was taught the discipline of Media Law and Ethics by the legendary Joe Kadhi. I still keep my notebook not only as a reminder of the valuable lessons but for the sheer golden information the legendary professor passed on to his students.
Even as the media struggles with the digital disruption, I believe my colleagues and I in the industry feel very strongly about our positions, our work and our dignity.
This article is not going to be fair and balanced for three reasons. Firstly, it is an opinion column and boy, do I have a lot on my mind. Secondly, my industry and my colleagues have been attacked, so it’s time to hit back. And lastly as an alumnus of The Aga Khan schools (not a Shia or from the Ismaili community), I won’t tolerate tainting the name of His Highness for clout.
I try to stay out of Kenyan politics as much as possible as it’s an exhausting game. Kenyan politics has always been incendiary, divisive and sensational. It’s too hard to keep up with the game. My aim is to focus on the socioeconomic developments of the country regardless of the government of the day.
Seeing politicians say crazy things in today’s world is not news. I personally believe former US President Donald Trump set the bar incredibly low with his ridiculous campaign and his contemptible term as president. Donald Trump set the bar really low for politicians on a global scale. When people saw just how sensationalism worked in the former president’s favour, many decided to adopt the style for their own political campaigns. It is quite normal to hear Trump’s sentiments being echoed by right wingers across Europe and Central Asia.
Some African leaders have adopted a similar style of being obscene and contemptuous in the media to get some notoriety. There is not a single Kenyan politician who would not love to trend on Twitter, even if it was for the wrong reasons. Politicians and public figures revel in free publicity. In the immortal words of PT Barnum, “There is no such thing as bad publicity.”
This is why I believe a certain Cabinet Secretary has chosen to regurgitate profanities against the media and media personalities. I choose not to name the individual as I wish to deny the person the one thing they need most, free publicity. The only way to deal with such persons in the future is to give them a blackout. Completely ignore their absurdities as they desperately try to get a public outcry. #blackoutthename
When a person calls attention to themselves by shouting profanities and absurdities, it is one of the two aims that he wishes to achieve. Either to call attention to himself or to divert attention from something else. It’s not rocket science. We know that nothing is ever really what it seems.
Journalists and the media have been called far much worse than what our delightful Member of Parliament called us last week. In fact, I have been called much worse for simply being a woman. It hardly matters to us what someone calls us as members of the press, but it matters to us what a civil servant who represents the people of Kenya says about the people of Kenya.
Our politicians suffer from short-term memory loss. They completely forget that they pleaded for votes from the people during the elections so they can better represent their constituencies. By the time they occupy the big offices in government buildings, they have completely forgotten that their jobs are to serve the people of Kenya.
Politicians are not only representatives of their communities but also representatives of the current government as well as the people of Kenya on a global scale. We do not expect them to do better, we DEMAND them to be better!
The watchdogs of the Fourth Estate will always be alert, whether you like what we have to report or not. Our responsibility (much like yours) is to the public.
