Muthoni Wanyeki, executive director of the Kenya Himan Rights Commission (KHRC) feels that kenyans have a right to protest without being harassed by the police.
She says,"Freedoms of assembly. asociation and expression continue to be severly compromised several months into the poilitical settlement. Not a single publicdemonstrationhas occured without interference from the police since the signing of the political agreement."
A protesting against the size of the grand coalition cabinet was broken up as the protesters tried to march from Freedom Corner to parliament.
A demonstration againg rising food prices was also prevented and some arrested and charged in court. Last week, colleagues intending to protest against former fincance minister Amos Kimunya were not only arrested and charged, they were beaten and assaulted while in the custody of police, Wanyeki said.
The police has a capacity to understand that protest, if expressed peacefuly, is entrely legitimate.
Purie 4 Kenya A tale of love between a lioness and a lamb. This tale is recounted over and over again in the evenings around fires in the manyattas of the Samburu people. Kenya post office produced a stamp in memory of this event. January 7, 2002 Samburu National Reserve, a lioness adopted a young oryx baby, lay next to it and licked it. People who heard this found it impossible to believe. Stories were published; tourists and game rangers photographed the strange phenomenon.
July 14, 2008
June 17, 2008
Zimbabwe is crying out for help
The situation in Zimbabwe is critical. Robert Mugabe is ready for anything at all costs. Activists from Zimbabwe are appeling for international organisations to intervene and help protect the peopel of Zimbabwe.
The activists said this at aNairobi hotel today at a press conference at 10.00am.
The activists said this at aNairobi hotel today at a press conference at 10.00am.
June 12, 2008
Activists Campaign, Women Reproductive Health
Reproductive activists have launched a campaign recently and want any existing legal or informal barriers that prevent women from accesing affordable sexual health care removed.
The campaign was launched last week in NAirobi by Grace MAingi Kimani of Coalition on Violence Against Women-KEnya (COVAW).
A report by The KEnya MEdiacl Association, KEnyan chapter of the Federation of Women LAwyers (FIDA-K), Ministry of HEalth and International Projects Assistacne Services (IPAS), a United states based organisation that lobbies for women's reproductive rights indicates that about 300,000 abortions are performed in the country each year, causing 20,000 women and girls to be hospitalised with related complications.
This translates to daily abortion rate of about 800 procedures and the death of 2,600 women every year.
Attempts by activitsts to legalise abortion as a contraceptive measure have always faced restistance in the country.
Pro-life organisations claim that preventing unwanted pregnancies is a better way of reducing these deaths, Chairman of the Protecting Life Movement of KEnya JEan KAggi said.
She said advocating for utilisation of family planning facilities and making sure they are accessible to every woman or girl who is sexually active.
The campaign was launched last week in NAirobi by Grace MAingi Kimani of Coalition on Violence Against Women-KEnya (COVAW).
A report by The KEnya MEdiacl Association, KEnyan chapter of the Federation of Women LAwyers (FIDA-K), Ministry of HEalth and International Projects Assistacne Services (IPAS), a United states based organisation that lobbies for women's reproductive rights indicates that about 300,000 abortions are performed in the country each year, causing 20,000 women and girls to be hospitalised with related complications.
This translates to daily abortion rate of about 800 procedures and the death of 2,600 women every year.
Attempts by activitsts to legalise abortion as a contraceptive measure have always faced restistance in the country.
Pro-life organisations claim that preventing unwanted pregnancies is a better way of reducing these deaths, Chairman of the Protecting Life Movement of KEnya JEan KAggi said.
She said advocating for utilisation of family planning facilities and making sure they are accessible to every woman or girl who is sexually active.
Day of African Child
The Day of African Child is coming the 16 of this June. It is encouraging to see that the government has launched a free toll number helpline 116 here in Kenya for children in distress. According to reports by the Child line Kenya and Department of Children Services cases of abused children is increasing.
In report by the Tuesday's Daily Nation June 10, 2008, cases of incesty are on the rise in the Nyandarua North district with at leats five reported cases of fathers who have defiled their daughters. Statistics in Nyandarua Law court show that hardly a fortnight passes without a case of defilement of rape involving blood relatives being filed with the police.
In report by the Tuesday's Daily Nation June 10, 2008, cases of incesty are on the rise in the Nyandarua North district with at leats five reported cases of fathers who have defiled their daughters. Statistics in Nyandarua Law court show that hardly a fortnight passes without a case of defilement of rape involving blood relatives being filed with the police.
June 9, 2008
Blanket Amnesty
US Ambassador, Michael Ranneberger has said that those that committed serioius crimes such murder, arson during the post election violence should face the law to discourage impunity.
He also said that both President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are not divided on this matter as potrayed by the media.
He also said that both President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are not divided on this matter as potrayed by the media.
New Constitution
Cardinal John Njue of Catholic Church in Kenya has said amnesty debate and other divisive arguments are undermining the quest for a new constitution within a year.
He said this in Nyeri at Our Lady of Consolata Cathedral during the farewell party hosted for him by the Catholic Men Association.
He said this in Nyeri at Our Lady of Consolata Cathedral during the farewell party hosted for him by the Catholic Men Association.
June 6, 2008
IDPs
Yesterday i was saddened by what i saw at one of the IDPs camps, Waithaka. Listening to their stories really made me wish i had the capacity to help them relocate and start life afresh.
All i can do is just pray for them and highlight their plight in those camps.
All i can do is just pray for them and highlight their plight in those camps.
May 9, 2008
Journalism Tips
Editorial Requirements for TEXT: Tips and Trics
Written by Peter Vlam, www.africanews.com
A good news article needs to meet these requirements:
- Simple and direct writing is key. Use short sentences and simple structures.
- Use an active voice. A good news story is not too long. In max. 600 words you should be able to do the trick. 400 words is good too.
- Do not start by explaining the background. Start with the news.
- Regarding a news article: Start by asking yourself: what has happened? Then continue: When, Who, Where, How and Why. To make your article bright, you add context, history and a future perspective if possible.
- Do not start with names and full credits of that person. Start with the news.
- Don't plagiarise other people’s work.
- Use the enter button, please no blocks of text more than five lines. Keep your text readable.
- Use quotes. Quotation brings your article to life. When you do so, make sure you do so accurately. Quote people exactly. Do not rephrase too enthusiastically. Write quotes down immediately or tape the conversation.
- Share your sources. How do you know all this, your readers want to know.
- Write your news in an objective, neutral tone of voice. Be original and distinctive. Try to write in ‘helicopter view’ style (looking at things from a distance, with detachment). Keep distance. Do not be arrogant or biased.
- Sensitive subjects need special approach and handling. Get experts involved in your work when you think you do not have full control of the subject.
- An anonymous source is not a source at all. Three anonymous sources, might be trustworthy. Contact the editorial team.
- News is True. A reporter has great responsibility. When you are not sure of a fact, do not write it down as a fact. When in doubt, leave it out. Check your facts! Double check names. Try to be as informed as you can be. Be aware of the internet as a valuable –though also dangerous - source of information. Do no believe everything you read on the net!
- Be very careful with internet sources. Authoritativeness is key.
- Use a spelling check when ever possible.
Editorial Requirements for PHOTO’s: Tips and Trics
A photos often meet these requirements:
- Take sharp pictures, hold the camera steady
- Be original
- For portraits, come close to the portrayed person. Ask for permission
- Put The Sun Behind You. A photograph is all about light so always think of how the light is striking your subject. The best bet is to move around so that the sun is behind you and to one side.
- Get Closer, the best shots are simple so move closer and remove any clutter from the picture. If you look at most 'people shots’ they don't show the whole body so you don't need to either.
- Use the beauty of morning and evening light.
- Be reluctant with flash
- Include People
- Add Depth
- Search For Details
- Position The Horizon. Where you place the horizon in your shot affects what is emphasized. To show the land, use a high hhorizon. To show the sky, use a low horizon. Be creative.
Three websites full of ‘tips and trics’ about digital photography.
- http://www.1milliondollarphoto.com/
- http://www.popphoto.com/howto/
- Ten tips by Kodak: www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=317&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=5926
Written by Peter Vlam, www.africanews.com
A good news article needs to meet these requirements:
- Simple and direct writing is key. Use short sentences and simple structures.
- Use an active voice. A good news story is not too long. In max. 600 words you should be able to do the trick. 400 words is good too.
- Do not start by explaining the background. Start with the news.
- Regarding a news article: Start by asking yourself: what has happened? Then continue: When, Who, Where, How and Why. To make your article bright, you add context, history and a future perspective if possible.
- Do not start with names and full credits of that person. Start with the news.
- Don't plagiarise other people’s work.
- Use the enter button, please no blocks of text more than five lines. Keep your text readable.
- Use quotes. Quotation brings your article to life. When you do so, make sure you do so accurately. Quote people exactly. Do not rephrase too enthusiastically. Write quotes down immediately or tape the conversation.
- Share your sources. How do you know all this, your readers want to know.
- Write your news in an objective, neutral tone of voice. Be original and distinctive. Try to write in ‘helicopter view’ style (looking at things from a distance, with detachment). Keep distance. Do not be arrogant or biased.
- Sensitive subjects need special approach and handling. Get experts involved in your work when you think you do not have full control of the subject.
- An anonymous source is not a source at all. Three anonymous sources, might be trustworthy. Contact the editorial team.
- News is True. A reporter has great responsibility. When you are not sure of a fact, do not write it down as a fact. When in doubt, leave it out. Check your facts! Double check names. Try to be as informed as you can be. Be aware of the internet as a valuable –though also dangerous - source of information. Do no believe everything you read on the net!
- Be very careful with internet sources. Authoritativeness is key.
- Use a spelling check when ever possible.
Editorial Requirements for PHOTO’s: Tips and Trics
A photos often meet these requirements:
- Take sharp pictures, hold the camera steady
- Be original
- For portraits, come close to the portrayed person. Ask for permission
- Put The Sun Behind You. A photograph is all about light so always think of how the light is striking your subject. The best bet is to move around so that the sun is behind you and to one side.
- Get Closer, the best shots are simple so move closer and remove any clutter from the picture. If you look at most 'people shots’ they don't show the whole body so you don't need to either.
- Use the beauty of morning and evening light.
- Be reluctant with flash
- Include People
- Add Depth
- Search For Details
- Position The Horizon. Where you place the horizon in your shot affects what is emphasized. To show the land, use a high hhorizon. To show the sky, use a low horizon. Be creative.
Three websites full of ‘tips and trics’ about digital photography.
- http://www.1milliondollarphoto.com/
- http://www.popphoto.com/howto/
- Ten tips by Kodak: www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=317&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=5926
May 5, 2008
Where is Kenya in terms of Press Freedom?
A report on freedom of the press 2008: A Global Survey of Media Independence shows that Freedom of Press in Kenya is under threat. The report said that political conflict and misuse of libel laws were key factors behind decline of press freedom in sub-saharan countries.
World Press Freedom Day
"A free, secure and independent media is one of the foundations of peace and democracy," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on the world Press Freedom Day marked on May 3, 2008. The World Press Freedom Day is designated by by the UN to raise awareness of the importacne of freedom of the press. It was proclaimed in 1993 by the UN General Assembly.
It is intended to remind governemnts of their duty to respect and uphold the right to this freedom as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is intended to remind governemnts of their duty to respect and uphold the right to this freedom as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
May 2, 2008
April 30, 2008
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