Media blamed over poll

• Speakers say reports should have been fairer as Kriegler clarifies meeting with President.
• Some media houses produced reports that favoured certain political parties, ‘polarising an already inflamed political environment’
• ECK commissioner singles out vernacular radio stations, blogs, Short Message Services (SMS) and the Internet as platforms on which rumours were circulated.

The media’s coverage of last year’s General Election and its aftermath came under sharp focus as the Kriegler commission held its last technical workshop on Wednesday.

Most speakers agreed that the media coverage should have been fairer and more balanced.

They said that some media houses produced reports that favoured certain political parties, thereby ‘polarising an already inflamed political environment’.

Spread propaganda

Ms Mildred Owuor of the Electoral Commission of Kenya said that the media were extensively manipulated by politicians to spread propaganda, such as alleged plans to rig the elections and interference with voters’ registers.

“The media failed in their duty to investigate the veracity of these accusations in the interest of fairness, balance, truth, accuracy and objectivity,” said the ECK official.

She specifically singled out vernacular radio stations, blogs, Short Message Services (SMS) and the Internet as platforms on which rumours were circulated.

Mr Vitalis Musebe of the Independent Review Commission faulted the media for not investigating claims made by different political leaders in the run-up to the elections. “Political utterances that begged serious investigations were virtually left to go unchallenged,” he said.

At Wednesday’s meeting, which focused on the role of the media, Justice Johann Kriegler, the chairman of the commission, denied reports that he received the green light from President Kibaki to make adverse proposals against ECK if they were eventually deemed necessary.

He clarified that Tuesday’s meeting with the President was simply a courtesy call aimed at updating him on the commission’s progress, adding that he had made similar visits to Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Justice Kriegler also denied reports that he visited Harambee House following presentations by the Law Society of Kenya and the Institute for Education in Democracy.

The Law Society suggested that ECK be disbanded because it has suffered irreparable damage, while the Institute said the elections watchdog body lacks autonomy. In addition, Justice Kriegler faulted reports that the commission’s term had been extended by the President.

Mr Jack Tumwa of Electoral Commission of Kenya also raised concern over the newspaper reports and called them misleading.

“We are glad that Justice Kriegler has cleared the air on the matter,” he said.