Why cowardly cyber-attack is not going to dissuade NMG from discharging its public curiosity mandate

The Nation Centre constructing on Kimathi Avenue. For six-and-a-half a long time now, NMG has pursued public curiosity journalism with the clear intention of impacting our society positively.

For the previous few days, the nation has witnessed a well-cordinated, vicious, malicious and unsubstantiated on-line marketing campaign in opposition to the Nation Media Group.

If the faceless purveyors of the sponsored mud-smear would have their method, NMG can be lifeless and ‘Resting in Peace’. #RIPNationMedia is the hashtag that the shadowy propagandists used within the newest on-line campaign in opposition to the Nation on the X platform (previously often known as Twitter).

The cyber warriors on Friday crafted a faux letter alleging that as much as 600 NMG staff can be declared redundant by April this 12 months. They then enlisted their surrogates to unfold a full-blown hate marketing campaign that includes video clips of senior officers within the present authorities who’ve made public pronouncements undermining press freedom. It’s straightforward to see by means of this cowardly scheme.

The present wave of on-line disinformation began on Tuesday, January 30 2024. It’s troublesome to see it as a coincidence that this is identical day the Nation launched the investigative sequence “Damaged System”, an editorial undertaking meant to shine a highlight on the performance of primary authorities companies by means of experiential monitoring of extraordinary Kenyans who interface with state companies every day.

The primary version of the Damaged System sequence featured inefficiencies on the greatest public well being referral facility on this nation, Kenyatta Nationwide Hospital (KNH).

Additionally Learn: A damaged system – The demise corridors of KNH

It captured the neglect and useless deaths that happen every day alongside KNH corridors, majorly impacting the poor who can not afford costly personal hospitals.    

Our journalists additionally visited the passports issuance company on the Ministry of Inside and Nationwide Administration, highlighting the lengthy struggling of Kenyans looking for the all-important journey doc.

At Bima Home our journalists witnessed the struggling of pensioners pursuing the processing of their retirement dues from torpid bureaucrats who frustrate them habitually with the purpose of extorting bribes from their payoff.

Additionally Learn: A damaged system – Nyayo Home, the playground of cartels

Additionally Learn: A damaged system – Pension mirage at Bima Home the place retirees hope in useless

The second version of the investigative undertaking revealed on Tuesday, February 6, highlighted the plight of greater than 600,000 Kenyans who’ve been ready for issuance of nationwide id playing cards since mid-November with none readability as to when they’re more likely to obtain the important doc.

As a accountable media home, NMG sought responses from authorities officers accountable for the federal government companies that have been the topic of focus within the editorial articles, and their rejoinders have been duly included within the revealed tales.     

As well as, NMG journalists went to nice lengths to contextualise challenges past the management of presidency officers that will have affected the supply of companies.

The story on delayed issuance of id playing cards, for instance, indicated {that a} court docket order stopping the printing of third-generation ID playing cards was responsible for the unfolding disaster.

Additionally Learn: A damaged system – Inside Kenya’s ID disaster

On Tuesday this week, a faux letter was posted on X claiming that the ink used to publish Nation newspapers might have antagonistic well being results on our readers.

The Kenya Bureau of Requirements (Kebs) disowned the assertion on its official X account, however not earlier than it had been shared many occasions by on-line social media customers.

Curiously, some people claiming to be Kebs officers visited the Nation printing press alongside Mombasa Highway, ostensibly “to examine the standard of our ink.” 

This sustained barrage of baseless assaults in opposition to NMG as an establishment in addition to its particular person journalists is as baffling as it’s unacceptable.

NMG has at all times opened itself to scrutiny and embraced criticism of its journalism. The Nation is, certainly, the one media home in Kenya that has employed an ombudsman; a Public Editor who straight receives and publishes suggestions, complaints and criticisms from our audiences.

The place we have now fallen in need of our excessive requirements, we have now not hesitated to publish clarifications, corrections and apologies because the scenario has demanded.

The Media Council of Kenya can also be an company that events aggrieved by our protection have engaged to adjudicate their instances. Additional, courts of regulation have over time made landmark selections for and in opposition to our journalism.

This, due to this fact, signifies that there isn’t any scarcity of avenues to deal with grievances in opposition to the Nation Media Group’s publications.  

The present on-line guerilla warfare, nonetheless, has not afforded NMG an opportunity to interact the seemingly aggrieved events in a civil method in line with the fundamental tenets of a democratic and free society.

NMG as a agency believer within the rule of regulation, has reported these incidents to the Directorate of Legal Investigations (DCI), along with submitting complaints with X.

It’s our hope that DCI will examine and convey to justice the purveyors of those false and malicious narratives.

We have now additionally demonstrated to X that its platform is getting used to unfold hate and lies in opposition to a legit media organisation.

For six-and-a-half a long time now, NMG has pursued public curiosity journalism with the clear intention of impacting our society positively.

We guarantee all audiences that we stay steadfast on this mission.