KENYAN JOURNALISTS EMBRACE PEACE JOURNALISM

As the country prepares for the forthcoming general elections, Kenyan journalists are among stakeholders eager to preach peace while undertaking their work. While attending three day training on peace and electoral journalism, the journalists drawn from various media houses in Nairobi realized that there was need to relay stories that promoted peace to avoid the country from plunging into election violence. The journalists noted that media houses were a contributing factor to the violence and called on the need to have policies that would control what goes on air. The lead trainer, Professor Steven Youngblood, director for Center for Global Peace Journalism, Park University US urged journalists to promote peace through their stories. “We can make choices in our stories that can make peace possible. It’s all about considering the consequences of what we do before the stories go on air,” he said. The professors reiterated that there was need for media houses to put in place guidelines or policies and codes of ethics that would endeavor to promote peace during the elections. Meanwhile, the journalists were in agreement that inflammatory and propaganda statements that were published or aired by various media houses helped fuel the violence, among other factors. Currently one journalist is facing criminal charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. The court’s prosecution considers him as one of the principal planners of the crimes against humanity. During the 2007/2008 post election violence in the country, following the disputed election results, at least 1,000 people lost their lives while over 250,000 people were displaced from their homes. Youngblood said promoting peace through stories and by working with other stakeholders would lead to no violence or minimal. “Let’s work with stakeholders to ensure if no violence then minimal as some things may be beyond our control,” he said. And the assistant trainer Mrs. Gloria Laker, project Co-coordinator Peace Journalism Foundation East Africa called on journalists to change their style of reporting and focus on the common man. “When violence breaks out, politicians will never suffer. It is the common mwananchi that suffers and that is why we need to give him maximum attention and try to concentrate on issues affecting him,” she said. She called on media houses to be critical of leaders’ comments before they went on air. “During campaigns, politicians will say anything to discredit or destroy their opponents. Let’s be vigilant and critical on these to avoid airing stories that may raise people’s anger,” she added. Topics discussed, among others included peace and conflict journalism, reporting fundamentals and codes of ethics, impacts of hate radio and development journalism. The journalists agreed that there was need to practice responsible journalism by educating citizens through what they publish, holding leaders accountable of what they say and do and remaining objective, among other actions. The training, was sponsored by the US embassy.