Troubles in Kenya part 2 or Freedom of the Press

If there is one bright spot to the political situation in Kenya it is the freedom of the press. In the mid-70s, during my first time in Kenya, to criticize Mzee Kenyatta, the highly revered leader and symbol of the fight for independence, was tantamount to treason. Criticism of minor government officials and quasi-governmental organizations was tolerated provided it didn’t get too close to Kenyatta and his family clan. It was left to “Joe”, a satirical comic strip magazine, to provide any real criticism, and then one had to be able to read between the lines and make inferences as to object of the barb. Not so now.

The two major dailies frequently publish scathing critics of Kibaki, the President, and Odinga, the Prime Minister (a position not officially provided for in the country’s constitution). Regardless of their frequent speeches condemning corruption and tribalism, both remain rampant (Transparency International just rated Kenya third worst in sub-Saharan Africa *); cronyism from the top down is all too evident. Following establishment of the coalition government the number of ministerial positions virtually doubled to find places for Odinga’s associates. Corruption today is far more pervasive - a situation most Kenyans attribute to the Moi years following Kenyatta’s death. The farmer cooperatives, beacons of Kenyatta’s “Harrambee” (help one another) movement are now mismanaged with funds frequently siphoned off into the managers’ pockets rather than returned to the farmers. The other legacy of the Moi, and to some extent Kenyatta, presidencies is the indiscriminate land redistribution to political supporters. As a consequence, in spite of the vast amounts of aid poured into the country, poverty is endemic and naturally a major source of discontent. Which brings me full circle to freedom of expression.

The Nairobi Museum just closed an exhibit titled Kenya Burning. An exhibit not for the faint hearted! An extensive collection of photographs and video footage by local and foreign photojournalists of last year’s riots. A large notice outside made it clear the content was not suitable for children. An understatement, it contained some truly gruesome scenes. Every Kenyan I have spoken with was horrified by the events, and by the fact that the current political situation is doing nothing toward reducing the likelihood of a repeat when the next elections roll around in 2012.

As one of the local reporters featured on the video said “we (the local news media) will take some responsibility if we allow a repeat of the violence”. They are trying! Unlike the poor state of political reporting in the US, here reporting is an equal opportunity affair here – every politician is fair game, no Fox-like one-sided reporting here.

* The TI ranking is somewhat misleading as there are no “failed states” high in the list. Obviously a country has to have some level of prosperity for bribery and corruption to be even possible.