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Chaos as Standard/KTN raided by police
Police raided the offices of the East African Standard, Kenya’s oldest newspaper, in the early hours of Thursday morning (March 02). Staff were reportedly beaten by masked police combatants in an aggressive operation of the kind typically used on armed criminal gangs. Computers were seized, thousands of newspaper copies were set alight, and some members of staff were taken to a nearby police station, and shortly after the premises of KTN (the Kenya Television Network) were similarly raided by police. The police raid was not authorised by any warrant or court writ.
KTN broadcasting down for hours
Following raids, by police, of KTN premises, Kenya’s leading television station went off air for approximately twelve hours. It is reported that broadcasting ceased because of the police combatants’ seizure of vital computer equipment.
Raid police claim they were preventing ‘ethnic tension’ story
A statement by Nairobi police reportedly claimed that the raids on Standard offices were in the interests of national security. The statement claimed that the Standard/KTN media group were planning to publish or broadcast a story which posed a risk to national unity by stirring up ethnic discord. These claims were denied by the Standard media group.
Standard journalists released on bail
The three standard journalists held for three days in police custody were freed on bond by court ruling. The journalists were arrested on charges of libel, following a story published by the paper claiming that President Mwai Kibaki held a private meeting with one of his political rivals.
Internal security minister claims responsibility for raids
Internal security minister John Michuki claimed responsibility for the police raids on Standard and KTN offices. He announced that the raids had been sanctioned by the government in the interest of nationals security. Numerous lobby groups, political opponents, members of the public, and international spokespeople have strongly criticised the raids and the government’s role in them. The raids are said to be a grievous attack on press freedom.
Mass demonstrations in protest at raids
Countless Nairobians gathered in impromptu protests against police raids which shut down the Standard’s printing plant and which suspended KTN broadcasting. The demonstrations were seen as a mark of solidarity for press freedom. The Kenyan media has flourished since 2002, when the Kenyan electorate voted in a new government in the hope of a new beginning for the nation. Although the relationship between the media and the government has not always been smooth, media freedom in Kenya has so far set the nation apart as an exemplary African country. Many have therefore expressed shock at the raids.
*picture (burning of Standard newspapers during police raid) by BBC
Several secondary schools that have held winning positions in KCSE results lost their place to surprise winners. Traditionally, schools such as Alliance, Starehe, Precious Blood, and Strathmore have interchanged the top five positions. This time, private school Kianda overtook Precious Blood, relegating the latter to fourth place. Strathmore was beaten by surprise climber Pangani girls; Pangani narrowly missed being in the top ten, taking position eleven. The success of private schools and formerly lagging provincial secondary schools illustrates the changing façade of education in Nairobi. However, there are fears that the growing success of private schools in Nairobi is detrimental to the educational welfare of pupils who cannot afford the fees.
Birds in Kasarani raise bird flu fears
Dead chickens mysteriously dumped in Kasarani raised fears that the bird flu pandemic has hit the country. There were gory scenes as scientists clad in white suits and masks engaged in a disposal of the dead birds in the Kasarani area.
City hall owed 15 billion
Unpaid rates in Nairobi now amount to about 15 billion Kenya shillings. Nairobi city council has been trying to recover the money from Nairobians who have not paid their rates. Many land owners who have not paid their rates are said to have exploited the council’s frazzled bureaucracy; others own land without putting their names on plot numbers, whilst others claim to own less land than is the case. For instance, one Lavington land owner claimed to own 1 square metre of land, when the land actually measures 5 acres. Exasperated Nairobian rate payers complain that the situation has descended into a farce.
Film premiere raises money for drought
A film premiere at a popular Nairobi mall reportedly raised money for the catastrophic drought in northern Kenya. Severe drought in parts of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia has affected approximately 3 million people. Nomadic peoples who depend on livestock for their livelihood are in danger of long term poverty, even if rains finally arrive in April, because of expansive amounts of livestock deaths due to the drought.
Millions of shillings sitting in KPT&C
The Kenya Posts and Tele-communications company is reportedly hoarding millions of shillings, apparently not knowing what to do with it. Customers and would-be customers frustrated with KPTC services are urging the company to use the millions to improve its installation and power delivery services.
‘Outsourcing’ jobs promised in March
A number of international telecom companies have earmarked Nairobi as a major outsourcing post in Africa. Outsourcing typically involves maintaining a call centre in an overseas country where labour costs are cheaper. India has been a major outsourcing destination, and countries such as Ghana have been keen to benefit from similar arrangements. Thousands of job openings were said to be on course for March/April, when a new outsourcing plant in Nairobi is completed. For the long term, undersea cables are in the process of being constructed, to maximise Nairobi’s potential as an outsourcing destination.
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