BBC news executives ‘step aside’

The BBC’s director of news, Helen Boaden, and her deputy have “stepped aside” pending the outcome of an internal review.
The move by Ms Boaden and Steve Mitchell comes after director general George Entwistle quit on Saturday.

The BBC said it was not commenting yet, but there will be an announcement within hours.

Mr Entwistle resigned after a Newsnight report led to a former Tory treasurer being wrongly accused of child abuse.

BBC boss resigns

He had also commissioned two inquiries into an earlier Newsnight decision not to broadcast a report on allegations of abuse by former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile. The DJ died last year and tribute programmes were aired over the Christmas and New Year period.
Clear line of control

Ms Boaden was director of BBC News and Mr Entwistle was director of BBC Vision at the time of the decision not to broadcast the Savile allegations late last year.

Mr Entwistle said the pair had a brief discussion about the Newsnight investigation but he did not ask Ms Boaden for further details, he told MPs during an appearance.

One of the inquiries into the Newsnight Savile report is being headed by former Sky News head Nick Pollard. He is looking into why the six-week investigation was shelved.

Ms Boaden and Mr Mitchell have been asked to surrender all their responsibilities as head and deputy head of BBC News, pending the results of the Pollard inquiry.

Ms Boaden has overall editorial and managerial responsibility for UK-wide and global news and current affairs on radio, television and online.

Fran Unsworth, head of newsgathering, and Ceri Thomas, editor of BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme have been asked to fill their respective roles, for the time being.

The acting director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, and the chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, have concluded that BBC News needs a new clear line of management control, BBC business editor Robert Peston reported.

Mr Davie and Lord Patten are understood to believe that Ms Boaden’s and Mr Mitchell’s decision to withdraw from all decision-making on the way the BBC reports the Jimmy Savile scandal has created confusion at BBC News about who is in charge, our correspondent added.

He said the decision to ask Ms Boaden and Mr Mitchell to stand aside would have been rooted in the results of this weekend’s investigation into a later journalistic mistake by Newsnight, it broadcast 10 days ago of allegations that a senior Tory was involved in child abuse.

However neither Ms Boaden or Mr Mitchell were in the decision-making chain that led to Newsnight’s broadcast.

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WILL RAILA WIN IN THE FIRST ROUND WITH KALONZO AS RUNNING MATE??

New poll predicts if Odinga manages to get Kalonzo or Mudavadi to be running mate he will triumph over Kenyatta-Ruto coalition

The latest opinion poll released by  paints a picture where to get to State House Uhuru Kenyatta must cling to Eldoret North MP William Ruto for running mate at whatever cost.

Like the polls on last week’s US election between President Barack Obama and Republican’s Mitt Romney, Infotrak’s research says the race will be very close with the winner and loser separated by between two and four percentage points; but only if the other three aspirants, Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Ruto — switch their support for either of Raila or Uhuru, but not all of them behind one candidate.

It also showed that despite the hiccup that beset procurement of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits, 77 per cent of Kenyans still believe that Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is prepared for the national exercise on March 4 next year.

But the Infotrak poll also forecasts that if elections were held today, Prime Minister Raila Odinga would beat Uhuru were he to pick Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi or Ruto as a running mate by taking 52 per cent of the vote.

However, in all the cases the win will be dependent on whether these aspirants, who have declared they would remain in the race to the end, will agree to drop their bid for State House.

But if Raila teams up with Musalia and Uhuru’s running mate is Kalonzo, the PM will win by 52 per cent against Uhuru’s 48 per cent even if the Gatundu South MP teams up with Kalonzo or Ruto.

The Infotrak poll carried out in October also revealed a Raila-Ruto ticket would also beat the one featuring Uhuru and Kalonzo by a similar margin, while Raila-Mudavadi will get 52 per cent as opposed to Uhuru-Ruto at 48 per cent.

A Raila-Mudavadi ticket will still win, albeit with a reduced victory margin of 51 per cent as opposed to the one of Uhuru and Kalonzo at 49 per cent in a two horse race.

But it is the scenario featuring Raila and Kalonzo that will generate a lot of interest; now that talk is rife the two are geared towards presenting a joint ticket with the latter as the running mate. With the falling out of the Wiper Democratic Party with the G7 Alliance, Kalonzo seems to be heading for a possible merger with either Raila or Mudavadi.

The poll also revealed Kalonzo would boost Raila’s support in the Coast and North Eastern regions, while votes in Nairobi and Nyanza remained constantly high for PM regardless of who his running mate is.

Another poll released by Infotrak on Friday, showed that a Raila-Kalonzo coalition would gain 66 per cent and 63 per cent against an Uhuru-Ruto coalition in Nairobi and Nyanza respectively.

A Raila-Ruto coalition would garner 80 per cent and 65 per cent against an Uhuru-Kalonzo ticket in the regions respectively.

The same poll indicated that a Raila-Musalia ticket would be at 74 per cent and 65 per cent against Uhuru-Ruto ticket and a Raila- Musalia coalition would get 76 per cent and 64 per cent against Uhuru Kalonzo coalition.

In yesterday’s poll, it was revealed that should Uhuru and Ruto face Raila, it would only capture 28 per cent of the total votes in Coast Province, North Eastern (17), Nyanza (34), Eastern (46) and Nairobi at 37 per cent respectively.

But interestingly, the poll predicted Uhuru would win a two-horse race with Raila if the PM has Speaker Kenneth Marende, Kenya National Congress aspirant Peter Kenneth or Water Minister Charity Ngilu by between four and eight percentage points.

It goes ahead to predict that if Uhuru and Ruto aren’t running and Raila teams up with Kalonzo, while on the Uhuru-Ruto axis, Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa is the candidate and Ngilu the running mate, Odinga will win at 67 per cent against the Wamalwa-Ngilu ticket projected 33 per cent of the votes cast.

Raila would also beat a Mudavadi-Ngilu combination if he picks ODM chairman Henry Kosgey as running mate by 56 per cent against the other pair’s 44 per cent.

The biggest beneficiary of votes if any of the top three presidential candidates do not run would be Mudavadi who would gain 27, 20 and 13 per cent from Raila, Ruto and Uhuru respectively.

The poll showed in case of Uhuru’s absence his votes would go to Ruto, Kalonzo, Musalia, Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Kenneth and Raila at 34, 12, 12, 9, 5 and 2 per cent respectively. Ruto’s 10.3 per cent votes would be shared among Uhuru (28 per cent), Mudavadi (20), Raila (16), Kalonzo (11) and Wamalwa (2) in that order. Raila, who has the highest presidential percentage at 35.4 per cent, would have his majority votes go to Mudavadi at 27 per cent and Uhuru would get the least votes from him at 5 per cent.

Infotrak polls last Friday indicated PM maintained his lead with 35.4 per cent. will kalonzo merge with the ODM leader in a bid to secure his interests??? only time will tell.

Nation Media Group Guidelines for Political Advertising

Candidates, Political parties, support and lobby groups and agencies intending to take out political advertising in any Nation Media Group medium are advised that the following guidelines shall apply:

1. Any political ad/advertorial submitted for publication or as an infomercial for TV, radio, or Online, shall be vetted and published or aired only when it passes Nation Media Group’s Guidelines for Political Advertising.

2. Any material designed as advertorials or infomercials shall be clearly branded or signposted as Advertising Feature or Advertiser’s Announcement or Advertising Documentary. If the advertisement is from a political party, it shall carry an identifying logo for the party that has been registered with the Electoral Commission of Kenya, or is being used consistently by the party. The logo or other identifier should be displayed in a clearly visible or legible manner in print and online, and for at least three seconds, either at the beginning or end of each television message.

3. Advertisement scripts must provide contact details, i.e. name of sponsoring individual, group, organization or institution and an address.

4. In the event that NMG has any doubts about the identity of the sponsoring organization or group, it will insist on a telephone contact to verify sponsors’ bon fides. A letter of authority from the party accompanying the advertisement will suffice.

5. Advertisements shall be rejected outright if they contain the following:

(a) Obscene or profane language or pictorial representation that, when taken in context, tends to or is likely to expose an individual or a group or class of individuals to hatred or contempt on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability.

(b) Unwarranted attacks on the election agendas of rivals. Candidates/parties, sponsors, lobbyists shall, however, be allowed to promote their own election agendas.

(c) If they are obscure and touting bizarre messages, and invoking the name of God.

(d) Press cut-outs/rug-outs and archived footage shall be rejected except where they are used to rebut or clarify claims that have been made publicly and were reported in mainstream media.

6. Advertisements shall avoid exposing innocent relatives or friends of candidates to unwarranted political ridicule or hostility.

7. Political advertisements shall avoid projecting material out of context for purposes of driving a propagandist point home.

8. Reasoned and factual comments on parties’ or candidates manifestos should confine themselves to the issues actually raised by rivals, and maintain a moderate tone and language.

9. Placement: Political advertisements in NMG newspapers shall only appear after the Opinion – Editorial pages.

10. Advertisements should be sent to NMG for at least 24 hours in advance, but certainly no less than 12 hours before the time of the scheduled broadcast or print.

11. Political advertising shall not be aired or published in NMG outlets 24 hours prior to Election Day, and most definitely not on polling date itself.

Kenyans must embrace progressive leadership

The country is now set for the next general election probably in March 2013. It will be the first general election under the new constitution.

It shall be imperative that Kenyans give chance to emergency of new brand of leaders and style of governance. This onus must be exercised in voting of leaders at all levels, from the counties representatives to the presidency

Kenyans must stamp their constitutional authority in determining the calibre of leadership they deserve. They must interrogate the aspirant’s integrity, moral values, and academic qualifications, past engagements, performance and competence.

Kenyans must discard traditional retrogressive considerations such as negative ethnicity,nepotism,regionalism, violence, materialism and general corrupt tendencies while electing their leaders. These vices have been a curse to the country and a major enemy to realization of a just, equitable and progressive society for all.

A golden opportunity to reject political manipulations, brinkmanship and conman ship by political brokers is in the hands of Kenyans. Wananchi must redefine the political destiny the country navigates to achieve cohesion, economic development, technological advancement and quality life for all.

Rejecting outdated leaders who have patronized the political arena courtesy of corruption, tribalism, nepotism and negative isms will be the turning for the rebirth of the nation. The existing clique of selfish elitist politicians must be dismantled and monopolization of political

power by a few shall be history.

It is imperative that Kenyans of all walks of lives take the time prior to the voting day to reflect soberly on the political events this country has witnessed. It would be worthy to recall regrettable political betrayals and injustices occasioned to Kenyans and vow never to have the same repeated.

Excommunication of leaders who have in the past used unorthodox means to earn power is not debatable. Leaders who court leadership riding on primitive considerations should be disowned.

Voters must discuss amongst themselves and realize that poverty, unemployment, denial of national opportunities, landlessness, disease, illiteracy, underdevelopment, infrastructure backwardness and other maladies have not spared them on the basis that their tribesmen have

been in power. Tribal chief’s leaders elevated to big offices on platform of negative isms benefits their kith and kin .They only run back to their cocoons when their interests are threatened or faced with extinction.

There is absolutely no sense to elect a governors, senators, and legislators etc who have no capacity to spearhead social economic development for betterment of lives of the citizens. Leadership must be rated on basis of achievements and development track record

I have not heard of anyone who inquired of the tribal, racial, financial muscle or such irrelevant attributes of founders or managers of vital public institutions as preconditions to seeking services thereat.The value of the services offered by such institutions overshadows any other partisan considerations.

One would be crazy to decline treatment at Kenyatta hospital on the basis that it came up during rule of a Kikuyu linguistic president. Moi University an idea of a Kalenjin speaking president continues to make positive contribution to many, irrespective of their affiliations. Russia Hospital in Kisumu a brain child of Jaramogi Oginga has rendered medical care to all irrespective of their tribes. Similarly Thika road is for all tribes irrespective of ethnic histories of the leaders who initiated and oversaw its construction

The celebrated Hire Purchase Act, CDF Act, Donde Bill etc were initiative of gallant former legislators JM Kariuki, Muriuki Karue and Joe Donde. The innovativeness and visionary leadership of these legislators dwarfs any partisan considerations or enquiries about their ethnicity orpersuasions.

The bottom line is that Kenyans must demand service oriented leadership and not tribal chiefs or money baggers. Empty political rhetoric and panganga should be rubbished in the next elections. It will be backward to vote a presidential, gubernatorial, senate, parliamentary candidate etc on the basis of ethnic semblance.

In the final analysis Kenyans must embrace leaders who appreciate the country heritage and are committed to sustain it. This heritage revolves around our nation hood and the mistakes the nation has made with a view to correct the same. Kenyans must resolve to elect leaders who

sincerely talk of us instead of me, me and my people. They must be strong leaders of conviction, who will courageously talk of the mutual interests of the citizens.

The country has no shortage of men and women of honor to provide the much needed leadership. The media, religious institutions, interest groups and the general public must partner in identifying individuals who the country future shall rest. Constitutional demand for integrity

and the recent enacted Political Parties Act 2010 must be treated sacredly. Honest men and women must step forward and reclaim the public offices.

George N Kimani, the writer is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya

Kenya’s abysmal politics a direct import of our choice

A rare species of a politician, a leader in the contemporary world, Jesse Ventura is in a class of his own, apart from being brutally honest with his political views, he remains the only leader of the independent party who won election when he got elected to the key post of governor in Minnesota. Away from his achievements, I find the following words he spoke recently very educative and timely for the Kenyan folks. Ventura had quipped, “When the power of love overtakes the love of power, we shall be one and united as a Country”. Kenya is one place that needs unity on many fronts and mine really is to expressly share views to revitalize the need for a concerted effort in seeking able leadership at all levels, National and devolved levels.

Economic growth and prosperity is dependent upon good governance, secure, stable environment, and political will from the executive for the citizens to pursue meaningful economic activities, to create wealth and employment in order to stimulate national development. To move all working parts of a nation, Kenya needs a capable leader, one who is able to synchronize the vision and aspiration of the people and deliver goods and services needed to steer the nation towards a steady path of growth and development.

Going by the current trends of political affairs in Kenya, the criteria used in choosing national leaders and representatives is seriously flawed and misguided at the very least, not for lack of legislative capacity but because of a big gap in civic education.

It is sad to note that all persons aspiring to lead in Kenya has to come from a closely knit segment of society, extremely wealthy and or traditionally connected to a politically powerful entity or, be part of a cartel always determined to ruthlessly defend vested interests to the detriment of public good, common welfare.

Great leadership acumen such as those exemplified by heroes like Nelson Mandela of our time and Mahatma Gandhi of yester-year is not about oneself but about certain key value sets and beliefs, powerful enough to assert authority, garner popular support and influence to provide direction and hopes for the people. Hence, without a unified theme of beliefs and values to rally and influence people, our present-day leaders are going to fail miserably in their quest to transform the society.

As it is now, we are left with our institutions as the only conduit left to save Kenyans from the tyranny of an archaic political system that is overly immoral, has no regard for merit, ethics or profession whatsoever but feeds on corruption and exclusively depends on mediocre ethnic jingoism amidst classic scheme pitting factional class interest. It is no wonder our presidential aspirants are too contented to sidestep real issues, challenges facing Kenya today. None of them have tabled any real tangible plan to grow the economy, to rein in mounting security threats or deal with widespread poverty, diseases and unemployment.

In a country where ethnic groups appoint their tribal chieftains, and where gangsters, lords of impunity equally appoint or endorse their representatives, there can never be hope for a prospect of transformative change in sight. The people are owners of change and our situation is basically a matter of choice.

Mohamed Wato is a Retired Kenya Army Major, Aspiring Senate candidate for Marsabit County and Author; Walking a Tight Rope amidst Kenya Post election violence

Koki Muli: Let’s be prepared to die defending the right to freedom of expression

Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic rights and freedoms. It is extremely sad and outrageous that I have to defend this right. We won our right to freedom of expression and enshrined it in our hard won Constitution. 

However, eternal vigilance is necessary; nothing exemplifies this fact as the Miguna Miguna situation. He wrote his memoirs and exercised his freedom of expression, which he and many others fought and suffered for. Yet, some Kenyans will not allow him the right to hold a different opinion from theirs or to criticise.

Since I have not finished reading the memoires, I shall not venture to comment on their substance for now. I will comment on what we can learn from peoples’ reactions, after its release. It is normal for those who feel aggrieved by the contents of the book to seek legal redress. It is, however, illegal and untenable for anyone to issue death threats against Miguna by burning his effigy or a coffin with his photograph – it is against the constitution and the law. The police should take action against such people. 

We fought for our new Constitution so that we can live in safety and security and not in fear. No Kenyan is above the law or below it. Human rights activists understand, the price many have had to pay to win all of us the freedom of expression and hold opinions even if they differ from ours.

The level of intolerance and indignation in Kenya is shocking. I am still awaiting action from the Police and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. There are clearly “hate speech” and death threats being expressed against Miguna Miguna; why has no one done anything to protect the “messenger,” even if they don’t like the message?

We may not agree with what Miguna says but we must be prepared to die defending his right to say it. This is what freedom of expression and opinion are all about and those who claim to be human rights defenders should know and practice this. We should also know that, injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere as Martin Luther King Junior said. 

Also, when one of us suffers insecurity, all of us potentially suffer; if a group of people can threaten the security of Miguna and get away with it; then we should be afraid that our Constitution and the institutions it establishes cannot protect us.

We learn also that we are far from being a mature democracy. The right to freedom of expression upholds the rights of all to express their views and opinions freely. It is essentially a right, which should be promoted to the maximum extent possible given its critical role in democracy and public participation in political life. 

True democrats must allow this right to thrive; this is the measure of greatness.

Sometimes, it is painful to be the recipient of severe criticism but leaders must open themselves to this kind of scrutiny, that is why in “Invictus”, the character playing Mandela questions his own capacity to meet the expectations of the people – that is called “servant leadership” – when you genuinely serve others and put others before yourself, even when they don’t think you are a god.

The amount of hate and resentment directed towards Miguna is also unhealthy for those who direct it – as one Hollywood writer put it: “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die”.

Curtailing some extreme forms of expression, in order to guarantee protection of other human rights is always a necessary and fine balancing act. Extreme forms of expression include “hate speech”, incitement to violence, intimidation, and threats. As we are witnessing them, I still can’t believe how far we have regressed!

The writer is an elections and constitutional law expert and lecturer, South Eastern University College

peter Kenneth's son plagiarized??

 when KNC presidential aspirant, Peter Kenneth was launching his officially launching his presidential bid, he introduced his son ostensibly good-looking son, Andrew Kenneth, to the public. Andrew even went ahead to give one of those Obama speeches pouring praises on his father and effectively supporting him.

So now, a section of Kenyans online decided to run with Andrew’s fame (which is typical of them by the way) to create fake Facebook pages and Twitter handles.  Peter Kenneth himself has come out rubbishing the pages and giving the legit pages of his 19 year old son.