JAK World Press Freedom Day press statement

*Kindly find a Press Statement by the Journalist Association of Kenya on the
eve of the World Press Freedom Day for your publication.*
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*Sound Bytes for Radio journalists will be forwarded in a separate email.*
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*In summary JAK is demanding immediate prioritization of the Freedom of
Information Bill by the House Business Committtee and pledging to revive the
annual Kenya Journalism awards.*
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*Regards,*
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*Martin Gitau*
*JAK Secretary General*
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May 2nd, 2008

A STATEMENT BY THE JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION OF KENYA (JAK) ON THE EVE OF THE
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2008

RE: PRIORITIZE PASSAGE OF KENYA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL AS A COMMITMENT
TO PRESS FREEDOM

We salute our fellow brothers and sisters in our esteemed profession of
journalism as we celebrate the annual Press Freedom Day.

Further, we salute the Inter-Media Council that during the year under review
managed to organize a silent match that eventually stopped the adoption of
draconian laws by parliament.

Friends, this year our collegues globally are celebrating the unique link
between the effectiveness of our profession and information access, we as an
organization of professionals do wish to point out that time has come for
our political leaders to adopt the Freedom of Information bill 2007.

The bill was first brought to parliament in 2005, a move that was seen as a
landmark step towards scrapping the now retrogressive Official Secrets Act,
however, due to political machinations it was never granted priority and
instead sector players were forced to go back and draft an Information
policy that eventually led to the current form of the Information Bill.

We, The Journalists Association of Kenya (JAK) with a membership drawn from
all media houses do call upon the House Business Committee to prioritize the
passage of the Information Bill, especially now that we have a Grand
coalition government and the onus is on the fourth estate to sharpen its
investigative role as a check to any government excesses in the absence of a
powerful opposition.

Access to information is a crucial element for a free media alongside media
professionals adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards
designed by practitioners, serve as the fundamental infrastructure on which
freedom of expression can prevail.

On this basis media serves as a watchdog, civil society engages with
authorities and decision-makers, as information flows through and between
communities.

The fuel that drives this engine is information and therefore access to
information is critical. Freedom of information laws, which permit access to
public information are essential, but so are the means by which information
is made available, be it through ICTs or the simple sharing of documents.

Open and pluralistic media are, perhaps, most precious when they simply
provide the mirror for society to see itself. The mirror of a society is
credibly visible when the information of that community is not shrouded in
lock and key especially when it does not threaten any security of state as
defined in international protocols.

As we celebrate the Freedom of press we call upon the government to
translate its verbal commitment to press freedom from mere euphoric
eloquence to practical implementation.

The Journalist Association of Kenya wishes all of us in this humble
profession a great day of reflection and a renewed vigour in the discharge
of duties.

Towards that end as an organization, we are in the process of restoring the
annual Journalism awards so as to motivate journalists to deliver the best
stories in print, electronic and new media which includes mobile phone
reporting, citizen journalism and internet based reportage.

We will strive to ensure the controversy and open bias that dogged the event
in the past will never be repeated again, already we are setting up a
credible jury to judge the entries of our peers.

Further we will remain commited to our goals of empowering individual
journalists in our continuing membership through international exchange
programmes, exclusive trainings and workshops so as to produce journalism
whose output is excellence.

Lets all have an information full World Press Day.

Together in the fourth Estate,

JAK President – Jacque Ooko (0733428991)

JAK Secretary General – Martin Gitau (0721702488)

JAK Financial Secretary – Eric Odour

JAK Organizing Secretary – Nick Waigwa

JAK acting Programme and Research officer – Dennis Itumbi

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A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground.
Then its finished, no matter how brave its warriors or how strong their
weapons.
Cheyenne Tsistsistas