Category Archives: Media censorship

2006 Nation AGM

The Nation Media Group held their 2006 AGM at their plant, located just after JKIA Airport in Mlolongo. The company had a very good 2005, during which its profits passed the 1 billion shilling threshold and its newspapers, television, radio and other divisions all showed impressive growth and significant market leadership.

Media censorship referendum
The Chairman Mr. H. Awori and the CEO Mr. W. Kiboro clearly stated that the company’s investment future was at risk if a draconian media bill drafted by the Ministry of Information is passed by Parliament. The bill would among other things;
– Limit media ownership e.g. nation newspapers would not be able to own more than 10&% of a radio or TV station. They currently own all 3 outlets.
– CCK board would loose its independence, and be packed by political appointees who will regulate the sector at the whim of the executive.
– A “content advisory committee” would determine what is acceptable to be broadcast, and also determine what can be screened, at specific times of the day.
– Rolls back media gains even further than during the dark autocratic days of previous government.

Future plans
– Will engage other bodies and the public to challenge the media bill.
– Company may soon increase the price of Daily Nation and Sunday Nation (first since 2001) to offset increased newsprint costs.
– To meet the demands for increased financial information by Kenyans, they will start a business daily paper
– New offices? MD Kiboro complained to his staff that there is too much noise on Kimathi Street (from nightclubs) and it’s difficult to work after 7 PM.

Kengen take note: With 200,000+ shareholders, Kengen can limit their AGM crowd capacity by holding their meeting at Masinga or Turkwell dams, far from Nairobi – The Nation has about 8,000 shareholders and hired over 10 Akamba buses to ferry shareholders 15 km to their plant.

Goodies Pleasant lunch in an open tent preceded the AGM. All shareholders received small gym bags, nation polo shirt, and copes of nation, taifa leo, east African and weekly advertiser. Lunch was “wedding food” – pilau, chichken, beef, and soda.

Shareholders questions
– First two shareholders to speak were AGM veterans who did not perform well today – each spoke for longer than the Chairman had before applauding paper’s coverage of Anglo leasing and other corruption.
– Asked for more dividend (which was the same as last year but puffed up by bonus share)
– Nation to mobilize the public against media bill
– Nation should consider offshore borrowing since the company is averse to borrowing locally and funds projects using internally generated cash (also to increase dividend payout)
– More complaints about BARS.

Standard Top 10

Top ten offensive items in the Standard today and reasons why it may have been shut down A few copies of the paper are on sale in the streets today despite the mysetrious early-morning burnings.

10. (Tie) Headlines: “Two prisoners qualify for varsity,” and “why only 3 students from North Eastern Province might join university.”
9. Former minister Mwiraria pleads for more time to properly answer questions from the public accounts committee on Anglo Leasing.
8. Headline: “Court bars CDF team from withdrawing cash.”
7. (Tie) Headlines: “Kenya Railways drags in transport sector” and “Construction of road (Mai Mahiu – Naivasha – Lanet) remains behind schedule.”
6. (Tie) Headlines: “Politicians greed will break us, says Ndingi” and “We paid lawyers 72 million shillings says government.”
5. Celtel paid 2 billion shillings in taxes in 2005.
4. Headline: “Teacher to sue over caning.”
3. Former minister Saitoti had lunch brought to him by a catering firm during his interrogation at CID headquarters.
2. Top KCSE student called a ‘genius of sorts’ by his former teachers who invite maths professors to verify a formula he invented. (Even am I am insulted by that, what nerve)
1. Headline: “Women excel in bus management.”

Government to Control Kenyan Broadcast Media

Cross-ownership may be banned, meaning that Nation and Standard may have to give up their TV and Radio stations (KTN, Nation TV & Radio) I hope this does not mean that any millionaire can walk up and get a TV license – otherwise get ready for Deya TV, or the “9 O’clock read news by DJ CK”

On the plus side, I hope “minimum professional standards” mean that the low-grade home- made music video’s on EATV will become a thing of the past.