Editors gather in Nakuru to brainstorm on innovative storytelling
The convention is organised by the Kenya Editors Guild
17d agoEMMANUEL WANJALARealtime
The government has asked the media to engage in constructive criticism acknowledging that state actors are not perfect and would occassionally need alternative perspectives.
Speaking on Friday when he officially opened the 7th edition of the Annual Editors’ Convention at the Sarova Woodlands hotel in Nakuru, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the media should, however, in its criticsm guard against being too extreem in calling out the government.
"Government as a human enterprise is not perfect, it keeps onimporving and leraning all the time. So I want to encourage you to avail yourselves for consultations, collaborations and constructive criticisms," Kindiki said.
The DP said Kenya as a democratic entitity needs plurality of opinion where there's freedom and space for alternative opinion to that of the government.
He, however, said this freedom should not be disabused such that those alternative voices end up jeopardising national interests and security.
"We should not, for example, disagree violently and use violence on each other," the DP said.
His remarks were prompted by concerns raised by Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu, who pointed out that journalists have in recent times faced harassment and near-death experiences at the hands of state agencies in their line of duty.
Kananu singled out the recent Gen Z-led protests where some journalists were injured and others shot as police tried to manage crowds in the streets.
“We cannot ignore the storm clouds that hover over our industry. Journalists in Kenya face serious threats, both online & offline. The year 2024 saw increased harassment, trolling, and cyberbullying targeting media professionals,” Kananu said.
“The Gen Z protests earlier this year served as a stark reminder of the risks journalists take to serve the public. Many of our colleagues were injured, harassed, and humiliated,” she added and played footage to support her claims.
The DP, in response, said he had no defence over the accusations, saying with a light touch, "That clip was deliberately prepared, and the message is home."
Kindiki, however, said it's a delicate balancing act between allowing citizens to exercise their democratic freedoms and protecting national interests.
He said he could in his current position as DP see things differently from when he was in charge of national security, a sensitive assignment that occasionally demands that certain measures be taken to safeguard the country.
"Other than the current role, you know I'm the immediate security minister of the country, so some of the things you are saying I'm familiar with them. Maybe because we were in different positions and roles, I could have a perspective that you may not have. But I also admit there are perspectives that you could have that we don't have as government.
"The thin line therefore of how we articulate our differences of opinion in the transaction of our national life...we must make sure that in those transactions we don't hurt our national interests, especially extential foundational circumstances that assure the longterm sustainability of our country," Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said there must be a balance between media freedom, freedom of expression, assembly, picketing, and access to information as enshrined in the Bill of Rights on the one hand and public safety on the other hand to make sure that the constitutional order is not overturned by extreme expression of democratic ideals.
"And those balances are in the constitution; we don't need to go too far," he said.
Let's only hold each other to account when either of us is on the extreme fringes of those balances. That is my plea."
The editors convention will close on Sunday, preceded by the 2024 Editors' Ball and KEG Media Awards on Saturday.
