[Freedom of the Press? Real Freedom of Speech? This exists in Africa? You’ve got to be kidding me… This is an article by a black academic… Jan]

The grilling of Standard™s Associate Editor, Kwamchetsi Makokha, last week for (152)˜criminal defamation™ is inconceivable, and a distress to journalists in East Africa.

It is a reflection of the true the state of Freedom of the Press in Africa, which seems to be mere hallucination. It showed that those in authority don™t seem interested in changing this trend.

The Press can™t be underestimated in its important roles in the society as the public watchdog, voice of the voiceless and agent of positive change.

Even with all these in mind, journalists continue to be harassed even by the educated and supposedly (152)˜popular™ governments.

However bitter and uncomfortable the truth is, the media should fearlessly expose corruption, tribalism, social crimes, political oppressions and environmental degradation for the good of the public.

I give credit to The Standard and The Monitor for successfully attaining these despite the cruel political climates. Unless the public is aware, it will suffer in silence and shall never rise against the ills.

Kenya, a nation thought worth emulating in East and Central Africa not only in economy, technology, democracy, human rights and environmental advocacy media freedom losing its coveted position at a fast rate and reverting to era of darkness.

It is ironical that governments that come into power riding on anti-corruption horse amidst profuse praises and international acclamation can take an about-turn and shamelessly begin to burn down their bridges.

This is why I share the same sentiments with Mwalimu Mati, of transparency International, who was quoted recently as saying: “Amazing how swiftly Kenyans have become cynical about graft.”

In the recent past, many journalists have been unfairly subjected to intimidation and harassment.

To mention just but a few,The Standard and The Monitor Newspapers, Simba FM and Kiss FM Radio stations.

We would like to encourage the affected journalists to be strong and not cower.

Be it intimidation or arrests; never look back because you are not serving the few and the powerful, but the common public.

They say that the worst is yet to come.

Nonetheless, all the media houses should come together and support each other where possible against the hammers on the heads of their faithful journalists.

You never know whose head will be the next landing ground.

Borwo K K,
Dept of Mass
Communication
Makerere University.

URL: http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news_s.php?…/p>