By John Njoroge, Nairobi, 26th February, 2020.
Today, along side other senior media practitioner in Nairobi, we set out, at a local restaurant, to un wind and share a myriad of discussions on unguided topics; from global sports, Kenyan politics to regional flashing news.
We finally settled into an article titled “No Justice for Tanzanian journalist freed after seven months in jail” publish by the UK Guardian Online.
The article is about a Tanzanian investigative journalist Erick Kabendera who has been set free after spending seven months in remand prison. Kabendera was set free after he confessed to the charges of money laundering, tax evasion and other related offences.
To my personal and a couple of others surprise, the Guardian's article offered no critical analysis of the case and facts on the ground. Instead, the article written by one Kate Hodal claims that Kabendera has been released from prison after pleading guilty to charges "widely considered as politically motivated."
Here lies my growing problem with the Western media. Their lack of concentration on truth seeking is really flabbergasting. Contrary to the media ethics gospel of most Western media scholars, it is abundantly clear that their own media is always missing the class.
Sensationalism, propaganda and repeatedly citing politically charge acticists as expert sources when it comes to the analysis and portrait of Africa and other developing countries, are now becoming new norms.
Contrary to the Guardian's sensational article, Kabendera was released from prison after voluntariry confessing and pleading guilty to the high crime charges
As we kept exchanging a pocket full of popcorns, I wondered at the level of lack of appreciation of Africa by the Western media; now adays everything an African organization or political system does is wrong and untrusted.
It is "politically motivated" for Tanzania to charge someone who moved from a credible reporter to one used by the powers that be, through three pieces of rupee, to commit crimes, but it is a "normal judicial procedure" when the UK court charges and imprisons Snowden!
Kabendera is one of the young and authoritative journalists I know in the EAC region. Most of us craved to wait and listen to what evidence the prosecution in Tanzania had against him so that justice can be seen to be done; but he chose to confess.
The journalist confessed and pleaded guilty as charged and was fined Tsh172 million ($74,000) for tax evasion, which he agreed to pay in six months in several instalments, and Tsh100 million ($43,000) for money laundering. Senior Resident Magistrate Janeth Mtega also ordered him to pay Tsh250, 000 ($108) for his release.
It is very astonishing to see a reputable newspaper like the Guardian making full of guess-work on Kabendera's chosen plea; alluding that he confessed because of a health issue. While that may sound good but lacks the merit of a strong arguement to come from the Guardian.
Speaking to people close to Kabendera, the reasons for his chosen path are plain and understandable; why go into the rigours of evidence and struggle to pull your pants up while you can just say sorry, be accepted and go a free man of the world?
Today, along side other senior media practitioner in Nairobi, we set out, at a local restaurant, to un wind and share a myriad of discussions on unguided topics; from global sports, Kenyan politics to regional flashing news.
We finally settled into an article titled “No Justice for Tanzanian journalist freed after seven months in jail” publish by the UK Guardian Online.
The article is about a Tanzanian investigative journalist Erick Kabendera who has been set free after spending seven months in remand prison. Kabendera was set free after he confessed to the charges of money laundering, tax evasion and other related offences.
To my personal and a couple of others surprise, the Guardian's article offered no critical analysis of the case and facts on the ground. Instead, the article written by one Kate Hodal claims that Kabendera has been released from prison after pleading guilty to charges "widely considered as politically motivated."
Here lies my growing problem with the Western media. Their lack of concentration on truth seeking is really flabbergasting. Contrary to the media ethics gospel of most Western media scholars, it is abundantly clear that their own media is always missing the class.
Sensationalism, propaganda and repeatedly citing politically charge acticists as expert sources when it comes to the analysis and portrait of Africa and other developing countries, are now becoming new norms.
Contrary to the Guardian's sensational article, Kabendera was released from prison after voluntariry confessing and pleading guilty to the high crime charges
As we kept exchanging a pocket full of popcorns, I wondered at the level of lack of appreciation of Africa by the Western media; now adays everything an African organization or political system does is wrong and untrusted.
It is "politically motivated" for Tanzania to charge someone who moved from a credible reporter to one used by the powers that be, through three pieces of rupee, to commit crimes, but it is a "normal judicial procedure" when the UK court charges and imprisons Snowden!
Kabendera is one of the young and authoritative journalists I know in the EAC region. Most of us craved to wait and listen to what evidence the prosecution in Tanzania had against him so that justice can be seen to be done; but he chose to confess.
The journalist confessed and pleaded guilty as charged and was fined Tsh172 million ($74,000) for tax evasion, which he agreed to pay in six months in several instalments, and Tsh100 million ($43,000) for money laundering. Senior Resident Magistrate Janeth Mtega also ordered him to pay Tsh250, 000 ($108) for his release.
It is very astonishing to see a reputable newspaper like the Guardian making full of guess-work on Kabendera's chosen plea; alluding that he confessed because of a health issue. While that may sound good but lacks the merit of a strong arguement to come from the Guardian.
Speaking to people close to Kabendera, the reasons for his chosen path are plain and understandable; why go into the rigours of evidence and struggle to pull your pants up while you can just say sorry, be accepted and go a free man of the world?
Kabendera's money laundering allegations from a local tabloid
ReplyDeleteA very very nice Analysis Ne. Njoroge. Mungu akubariki na kukiinua kipaji chako kaka.