Ngwatilo

There was nothing professional about Kathleen Openda tonight; she was hosting “On The Record” – an NTV debate type of show. Her guests were Information Minister Phogisio, David Makali, the Chair of the Media Industry Committee and Former Kabete MP Paul Muite, I’m not sure what his angle is, but he’s been quite outspoken this past week supporting the media on their issues with the Kenya Communications Amendment Bill. For all intents and purposes, it was three against one, since Ms. Openda hardly took a break from pounding Phogisio to play host.

My main question during and particularly after the show was “What was the purpose of the program?” If they wanted to have a screaming match, they could have excluded him as they’ve done all week. But to invite him suggests that they wanted to hear what he had to say as the relevant minister, or that they wanted to seem like they wanted to hear, or they wanted a new pretext to say what they thought (since the lectures and advertisements have gone stale) or better yet, to prove him weak, unpolished, irrational, illogical and especially Draconian in the face of their accusations.

Tonight Kathleen represented not only the media’s but her own personal brand of ugly, employing sarcasm, irrational language and behavior – it’s a wonder Phogisio did not get visibly frustrated with her, instead going the other way trying to calm her as you would a child having a fit; “Kathleeeeen.”

The one, and I mean, the single point of contention that any of the three were able to clearly get across without concealing it in fear, was that “some sections are worded in generality.” – I believe that spot of brilliance came from Muite and/or Makali at various points. Openda was a star when it came to rather stupid retorts, for example the following when Phogisio mentioned the media blackout he received when we were getting 10-25minutes of hot air about the Bill from all media houses. Openda flippantly said he should have used the national TV station KBC adding “Oh, are there not enough people watching KBC?” then “Did you have to come to Nation Media?!” with such venom and arrogance – yaani! The woman had the gall to suggest that Government does not have an equal responsibility to protect Information and Communications industry and treat them with as much sensitivity as it ought Sports and Culture, on the pretext that Information is more special, that it is power. Indeed information is power, therefore Government must engage with companies wielding such power and responsibily regulate them. In fact, it must regulate every industry as responsibly, protecting every industry from itself and Special Interests be they internal or international. Openda had the greater audacity to accuse government of backdoor deals, as if they do not happen in the media or corporate world. Of course they happen, but with her attitude you’d think the Media was John the Baptist without the humble sheepskin covering.

I finally learned that section 46 h & i are fairly big issues as far as this bill is concerned. I can confirm from this interview and perhaps more usefully with the Family TV one with Paul Njiri, that Section 88 has nothing to do with the present Kenya Communications Amendment bill the President may or may not sign.

Still, the party present made it as much an issue that it wasn’t on the table to be repealed, that the Media Council is the body that should do what the proposed commission that will regulate programming (if “regulate” is the right word). Even if any of them had anything to say beyond the aforementioned important and critical point, it got lost in these voiced fears, imaginations and accusations. Why are you going to bother having a government, acknowledge it, and report on it as it were actually “Government”, if the second they want to make a law that affects you, you want to fail to participate in the process (None of those present could say that Phogisio was lying when he recounted how the media’s every contribution had been incorporated, that no one had said a thing about the now contentious issues when there was room for discussion.)

At the end Openda asks Phogisio if he has changed his position. Phogisio calmly explains that the moment for him to change positions is not here, and why not, and Openda is disgusted that he didn’t quite believe her after all her hard work shouting him down throughout the hour – in the same way that Kenya has believed the media wholeheartedly on this issue.

Straight out, Kathleen Openda was an embarrassment to Presenters, talk show hosts, and regular people who think its important to treat others with due respect.

As you might tell, by the end of it, problems or no problems, there was no love lost between the media and myself. I do not care for anyone trying to shove anything down my throat, or behaving in such a stupid, immature manner. If I thought it would teach the media anything, I would encourage Kibaki to just sign the bleeding Bill. And maybe try to fix it later, if they thought they could do it within the current term. At this point I’m willing to believe the idea that Government is capable of more good than the Media. Or at least more finesse.