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{
    "id": 216046,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/216046/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 397,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Capt. Nakitare",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 348,
        "legal_name": "Davis Wafula Nakitare",
        "slug": "davis-nakitare"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is a clear indication that this Bill has attracted a legal argument, but what I was saying is that, notwithstanding the fact that we have come into a new generation of invention, our journalists should endeavour to pursue the profession without fear and/or favour. We should be proud of Jeff Koinange, a Kenyan who excelled up to the international status and worked for the CNN. We would like to produce a Larry King or a Peter Jennings in this country. It is not a way of controlling the media, but media houses misuse the journalists and undermine their intellectual capacity. This is one area where the Government has to be an overseer. It is not that they are clipping the wings of the media, but it is just a matter of introducing checks and balances. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have seen the effect of the paparazzi. They have caused chaos in the country. They have caused deaths of human beings because of looking for information that would probably cause defamation or bring money to their profession. In this Bill, their is no clause that talks about dialogue between the Government, the private sector and the media. That is why the media has come up to suggest that they would want to have autonomy. If they can guarantee this House that they will be able to finance their autonomous privileges, then that can be considered. However, on the other hand, you spare the rod and spoil the child. If we allow excessive freedom of speech, we have seen that, with regard to communications, a tongue is a double-edged weapon. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, journalism is a creation of harmony and love. So, while we consider the effect of the law on the media, we also have to consider the professionalism of the media, that the personnel will be counter-checked by the organisations themselves and make sure that they will not have liberal cases or complaints of misquotations or abuse or character assassination and so forth. This is the reason why the society is scared of even talking to the media because of misinterpretation. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there has to be a distinct line. This is a scholarly area where hon. Members know that professionalism is an elite's area. This is a profession where journalists themselves have to embark on book writing. They are authors! The stories they write in the newspapers and the oratory work they produce in announcements are all a section of the brain that should be brought into the books. Let them docket and produce books like Larry King in TheMemoirs . We will then allow the Kenya Media Council and tell them, \"Yes, you are autonomous and qualified to stand on your own. You can concession a media house like the Government wants to have its own voice piece\". The private sector and the politicians too would want to have their own media. This is not an area where we should manipulate our school of thought. So, I would suggest that we should support this Bill for the benefit of this country. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}