A tale of (not) silencing the messenger
This is why The Weekly Perspective has been silent for months
It has taken a lot of thought to finally put pen to paper on this one - months of thought and soul searching, to be somehow specific. As readers of this newsletter, I think it is time that I gave you an explanation on why the pen dried up here. My last post on August 16, 2020, was not that well-received in some quarters. It appeared to have triggered some people in political circles, and especially government, who made a complaint to my newsroom about it and I had to rethink on how to go about this. I still need my paycheck, for now.
If you read that piece, you would then agree that it just provided a historical context on what was the hottest topic in Kenya at the time. And that's the sole purpose of this Weekly Perspective - to give perspective and context to Kenyan news and current affairs. This was therefore lost to me on why the article triggered so many individuals, especially in the current administration. I was accused of bias and taking sides and therefore I had to take a step back, re-evaluate and seek the best path to do what I love most - journalism - without creating “enemies” within and without the newsroom.
And so I sat down and re-evaluated my personal principle as a journalist. For many years, I have said that we journalists will one day have to apologise to Kenyans. The media industry in Kenya has given more emphasis on balance and neutrality at the expense of the truth. We have been reduced into echo chambers and conveyor belts who just report off the mill news and leave it at that. Unfortunately, this has dealt a blow to the profession as the industry gets captured by the State and Corporates mostly due to the advertising billions that help the newsrooms run. Media firms in Kenya are therefore held captive and there seems to be no way out.
But even with this, journalists have no reason to compromise the main tenet of journalism which is TRUTH. It does not matter who we are reporting one but as long as we are not guided by the truth, then we have lost our cause. Journalists, like myself, who take positions on issues or who analyse matters to the discomfort of State, Corporates, Politicians and even media owners are branded as compromised or impartial. In my 14 years in the industry, I have learnt that you have to conform for you to retain your job regardless of whether you say is true or not.
I have resisted being boxed into this conformity practice as I believe that journalists have a bigger role than just reporting the news. Journalists are supposed to trigger debate, offer context and perspectives, guide political as well as social conversations and most importantly ensure that the audiences have the true picture of what is happening. However, if one takes this path, you will find them being branded all sort of names not only by politicos and State bureaucrats but also colleagues.
Fortunately, I know my worth and have created a brand that people believe in but even more importantly, I believe in journalism - which I keep saying we need to save. Therefore, I do believe that I have a duty to ensure that Kenyan audiences are well informed and that they get the whole story for them to make informed choices. This is why I am writing this newsletter every week from now on. To ensure that those who believe in journalism are better informed and never lack context on what is happening. I know that this may not sit well with many people but to quote one of my favourite TV shows - Madam Secretary: "It's easy to lash out when your blood is up. Easier still to talk tough when no one's life hangs in the balance. But when leading, whether a platoon of marines or an entire nation, history judges us by the wisdom of our actions."
The media is the leader in informing the public and ensuring that they get the whole story. If we fail in doing this, we fail not only the audience but the entire nation and thus history will judge us harshly. I am not ready for that and will therefore continue to objectively share my news analysis in its truthful perspective and context on this other platforms. As a journalist, I believe that I have influence beyond my current newsroom of practice. If I was to leave the newsroom today, I would still want my audience to trust that I will give them the contextual and truthful information they need about the news around them.
I did not intend to make this too long. But it was important that I put everything context so that we meet up next Sunday for my next piece depending on what happens in Kenya in the coming week.