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{
    "id": 403521,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/403521/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 308,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ogalo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2679,
        "legal_name": "George Oner Ogalo",
        "slug": "george-oner-ogalo"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the freedom of the media, however important, also has obligations. I think this Bill helps us create a mechanism through with the freedom of the media will be regulated by themselves in a manner that they do not go rogue. Media can build and media can also destroy. We know how the media was used in certain countries. It fuelled situations that those countries did not desire. So, in this country we must work with the media in a way that the media will help us develop and be cohesive. The media should help us more to progress as a country than take us back. If we allow the media freedom to be freedom without obligation, we will, of course, have a problem. I support the provisions in this Bill, for example, creating the Complaints Commission – whatever name we call it. I appreciate the provision that creates that body that will enable innocent Kenyans or members of the public or members of the media to have a channel of raising concerns and of having recourse to whatever action is taken by the media. I have heard my colleagues here complain about the mechanism of appointing the Media Council. Looking at the system, we have a panel created by bodies that are currently practising in the media. These are the institutions that train journalists. These include the Editors Guild, the Media Owners Association, the writers and so on. If you bring all these people together to help decide who is supposed to be in the Council, you cannot turn again and say that if they choose three possible candidates for the chairmanship of the Council and the Cabinet Secretary picks one of those then the Cabinet Secretary will be making a mistake. Even if the third person in the line is The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}