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The Kenyan 2007 Elections and Their Aftermath: the Role of Media and Communication

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The Kenyan 2007 Elections and Their Aftermath: the Role of Media and Communication Policy Briefing YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES POLICY BRIEFING #1 APRIL 2008 The Kenyan 2007 elections and their aftermath: the role of media and communication Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter: bbcworldservicetrust.org THE KENYAN 2007 ELECTIONS AND THEIR AFTERMATH: THE ROLE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION Front cover image Introduction way take the place of that process. It is rather designed to Sympathisers of enable those not familiar with the media scene in Kenya Kenya’s opposition In the late afternoon of 30 December 2007, the Election to develop an understanding of what has happened. It is leader Raila Odinga Commission of Kenya declared Mwai Kibaki to be the produced in the belief that these issues have important celebrate on the winner of the country’s election, the count of which was policy learnings and consequences not only in Kenya, but streets of Kisumu as considered by both national and international observers in many other countries (including in the West). they hear a radio as fl awed, possibly rigged. transmission saying Policy conclusions relevant to development policymakers that Odinga had signed Within an hour, as Kibaki was sworn in as President in the include: an agreement to form capital, Nairobi, smoke could be seen rising from homes The media have shaped and will continue to play a central a coalition government being burned in Kibera, the biggest slum in Africa. Within • with Kenyan President six weeks, more than 1,000 people across the country role in shaping Kenya’s democracy. The recent record Mwai Kibaki. had been killed, and perhaps 500,0001 others driven from of the media, according to many within it, is that media their homes or fl ed in fear. has undermined as well as invigorated that democracy. An understanding of democracy and democratic On January 22, 2008, international reports began to appear, governance in Kenya is not possible without a strong claiming that media, and particularly local language (com- understanding of the media’s role in the country. We monly called vernacular) radio stations in Kenya, were 2 would urge development actors to be better engaged responsible for fanning ethnic hatred and fuelling violence. and more supportive of media in the future. The reports echoed previous such allegations, including The problem facing Kenya’s media is not an excess of around the 2005 referendum campaign in Kenya. While the • mainstream media has been praised for trying to calm the media freedom. It is a lack of it. Media freedom cannot, situation, people within and outside the media argue that however, be described simply in terms of independence it has failed to live up to professional and ethical standards from government. Journalists and broadcasters face and has contributed to the crisis. immense commercial and political constraints which are constraining their journalistic independence and The government is seeking a formal review of the integrity. media, a move resisted by the Media Council of Kenya Some local language radio stations have incited fear and which acknowledges major failures and is instituting its • own review. hatred particularly at the height of the violence. Local language radio stations are routinely partisan and fl out This Policy Briefi ng, compiled for development policymak- codes of ethics. Talk shows have provided the greatest ers, has been put together by the BBC World Service opportunities for hate speech and talk show hosts are Trust to provide a briefi ng on a complex and fast moving not trained in confl ict reporting or moderation. Nearly series of events. all we spoke to on the subject felt this was a priority. The role of the media and communication in democratic More recently, most local language stations (and much governance is the subject of increasing attention from • of the rest of the media) appear to have been playing international development actors. The situation in Kenya an important role in calming tension and promoting has potentially profound implications for and lessons relevant to many other countries. The Briefi ng is an early dialogue. A strengthening of such a role by a genuinely contribution to a process of learning those lessons and independent media will form a critical contribution as particularly situates its analysis within debates on demo- Kenya navigates the turbulent waters ahead of it. cratic governance and poverty. Training in general remains a major priority, although • The crisis in Kenya has deep historical roots and many this is less a challenge of traditional journalistic training, 1 complex factors – political, cultural, economic, historical and more one of training talk show hosts and others OCHA, Kenya Weekly and colonial – and is rooted in long standing grievances. engaged in facilitating public debate. Training on confl ict Humanitarian Update, The role of the media and communication is just one reporting has been considered unnecessary in Kenya – vol. 8, 28 Feb – 03 among many other such factors which this briefi ng does many journalists now consider it an urgent need. March, 2008. There not attempt to address. The media policy and regulatory environment in Kenya are various estimates • of the number of The Policy Briefi ng is based on around 20 semi-structured will be the subject of considerable review and debate internally displaced interviews with national and international fi gures, mostly within Kenya in future weeks and months. Such a debate people in Kenya media research and support organisations, and fi gures linked should be encouraged, and particular attention could ranging from around to Kenyan media and civil society organisations. Interviewees usefully be focused on a public interest approach to 3 150,000 to 600,000. were given the option of speaking on or off the record – broadcasting and media. nearly all spoke on the record. The authors are very grateful 2 Media monitoring by civil society and research organisa- for them doing so and for the candour with which many • IRIN, Kenya: Spreading tions has done a good deal to discourage the broadcast the Word of Hate, were prepared to talk about their own profession. of hate speech by media organisations. Such monitoring January 22, 2008. It is also based on a review of much research and monitor- is currently haphazard and could be more systematic ing material, and we are particularly grateful for information and better supported. 3 provided by Strategic Public Relations and Research, UNDP, Community media has, despite its tiny size, emerged The World Bank Internews, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the • Institute is shortly from this crisis with great credit and arguably provides a European Union and BBC Monitoring, News and Swahili publishing a detailed model for the future. It requires better, more strategic guide, Broadcasting, services for their help. engagement and support in Kenya and elsewhere. This Voice and Accountability support is partly a question of policy engagement, partly – A Public Interest Summary of policy conclusions one of fi nancial, funding and sustainability models. Approach to Policy, Law The Media Council of Kenya is undertaking its own review The poor remuneration, status and safety of journalists is and Regulation (the BBC • World Service Trust is and analysis of what has gone right and wrong within the hampering a free and plural media. Substantial progress involved in follow up Kenyan media around the current crisis. This Policy Briefi ng in strengthening the media will not be possible unless activities to this). is designed not to hold the media to account or in any the working conditions of journalists are improved. 2 BBC WORLD SERVICE TRUST POLICY BRIEFING #1 APRIL 2008 SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER: BBCWORLDSERVICETRUST.ORG THE KENYAN 2007 ELECTIONS AND THEIR AFTERMATH: THE ROLE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION There is no independent public service broadcaster in address if it is to regain public trust, and if it is to become • Kenya. If there had been, the scale of the violence and of again a source of pride for those who work in it. The the crisis may well have been much less severe. If there government of Kenya is seeking to conduct its own formal is a debate and a move in the country to transform KBC investigation into the conduct of the media but this is being into one, it could usefully be intensively supported. resisted by the Media Council of Kenya amid fears that it could be used to muzzle media freedom. Kenya faces the most important public debate in its his- • tory. The media will be central to its character, conduct The actions and roles of different media have played out and its outcome. An inclusive and balanced debate may very differently. This Policy Briefi ng looks at each main need fi nancial support. media sector, starting with: Coordination, information sharing and long term claims facing local language media that it has fanned • • strategic planning of media support within Kenya could ethnic hatred and incited violence; be substantially improved, including in ensuring that the role of community media and an examination of external media support is both demand led and strategi- • why there isn’t more of it given its social role; cally coherent. Much capacity building of media over the role of the mainstream media and recent years has been donor led (focused for example • on specifi c health or other issues) rather than addressing examining claims that it has become The problem the core challenges facing media in Kenya. politically co-opted; “facing Kenya’s media • an examination of claims that blogs and is not an excess of The media in Kenya: SMS text messages were used to infl ame the 15 year boom tension and incite ethnic hatred. media freedom. It is the role of the government media, and the The Kenyan media is one of the most respected, thriving, • a lack of it claim that a more credible and independent sophisticated and innovative in Africa.
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