Kenya Media and Bloggers Fight Back Against Ban on Riot Coverage

Kenya’s government attempted a crackdown on the media shortly after the election results were announced by banning live coverage of events in Kenya.  The ban did not work.

The Media Council of Kenya and the Media Owners Association termed the order “draconian, impractical and an affront to the press freedom in the country.”

Bloggers are also fighting back as well.  Some of the most accurate and up-to-date information is coming from bloggers and citizen journalists living in Kenya.  Kenya Pundit is reporting that the government also cracked down against bulk SMS messages from cell phones.  SMS messages could be used by the opposition to give information about the January 3rd rally or to provide updates in the absence of live television.  Stores have run low on cell phone credit cards but you can purchase them online for someone in kenya.  Cell phones are important for citizen journalists to capture and email video and still images to blogs and reporters outside Kenya.

The violence has still not concluded.  The AP is now reporting there are at least 145 confirmed dead.  Since Kenya TV and radio coverage have been limited, its own citizens are relying on news from independent sources on the Internet for their information and safety.