Africa: Refugee free press at a crossroads

Beginnings and development

In October 2008, several refugee and Kenyan journalists met in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, to discuss the development of a press in Kakuma using the Kanere Free Press. In previous years, they had been involved in a camp newsletter, produced by the refugee journalists, but edited by humanitarian agency staff and only intended for local in-camp circulation. That newsletter had eventually collapsed, but the journalists had continued to meet together and analyze the news events in their local milieu.

The journalists now conceived of an independent news publication that would be directly owned by refugees—not censored by humanitarian staff—and would reach an international audience. The goal of the news forum was not merely to inform—it was also to counter the monopoly on information enjoyed by humanitarian organizations which largely controlled access to information to and from refugee camps. As an alternative source of news authored by the intended “beneficiaries” of humanitarian aid, they believed a refugee free press could potentially open new spaces for public debate and action on refugee encampment.

In collaboration with an American Fulbright researcher, Bethany Ojalehto, the refugee and Kenyan journalists developed an online news blog (www.kakuma.wordpress.com) and christened their news magazine the Kakuma News Reflector (or KANERE). While only one KANERE journalist has been a professional reporter, several writers hold advanced university degrees while others studied journalism in their home countries before their degree programs were interrupted by their flight. Together, the journalists established a monthly system of news reporting, pooling their skills in investigating and reporting on events around the camp.

Reaching out to the international community

The maiden issue of the Kakuma News Reflector was published online on December 22, 2008. Over the months, the news blog attracted international attention and received thousands of hits from viewers around the globe. The unique venture was profiled in a number of reports by human rights organizations and news publications, with international journalists covering KANERE’s story and sharing it via media outlets and the ICVA Conference in January 2009.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants hailed the free press as an “invaluable resource” that “follows in the footsteps of many other civil and human rights efforts and empowers refugees to shape their own story and better inform and organize their community” (USCRI 2009). It was hailed as in “unfiltered refugee voice” (Currion, 2009), and noted by the Humanitarian Futures Programme as “an absolutely fantastic example of citizen journalism, empowered by the web, completely changing the game of humanitarian business” (HFP, 2009). In unpublished papers, several researchers have analyzed KANERE’s significance as an example of citizen journalism and truly rights-based “empowerment.”

Challenges with local humanitarian agencies

But as international interest in KANERE grew, so did the problems facing refugee journalists. Soon after the first online publication, it became clear that local humanitarian agencies did not fully support the refugee free press. UNHCR officials cited concerns over confidentiality of information, protection of refugee identities, and ethical standards of reporting. In response to these concerns, KANERE deleted two sensitive articles and ceased to use refugees’ real names or journalist bylines in their publication.

The relationship between KANERE and agencies grew tense and KANERE’s attempt to register as a community-based organization was halted by local government officials. Although UNHCR officials dispute this account, KANERE journalists were informed by local government officials that they could not register KANERE as a community-based organization until UNHCR “approved” the refugees’ operation of a free press. Citing these concerns, the District Officer confiscated KANERE’s registration forms and refused to release them until KANERE brought a letter of support from UNHCR.

Faced with increasing hostility from local humanitarian agencies, KANERE sought the support of outside advocates. A network of support for KANERE formed among international NGOs. But the turning point in KANERE’s struggle for independence came with the arrival of Dr. Ekuru Aukot, a human rights lawyer and then director of the Kenyan legal advocacy group, Kituo Cha Sheria. At a joint meeting with KANERE and humanitarian agencies in February 2009, Dr. Aukot affirmed that refugees have the right to exercise a free press and cannot be prevented from exercising this right for any reason except those under law. He later summarized his position in an article for KANERE’s news blog (Aukot, 2009).

At this meeting, humanitarian agencies resolved to support KANERE’s registration as a community-based organization while reaffirming their desire that KANERE be held to the highest standards of ethical reporting. At a subsequent meeting, a UNHCR official invited KANERE to submit a proposal for material assistance from UNHCR and NGOs. KANERE has submitted the requested proposal and other documents to UNHCR officials, but the process of discussions have been stalled since March, 2009.

Current situation: An uncertain future

Little has changed in KANERE’s official status since Dr. Aukot’s visit to Kakuma in February. Local government officials say they will not move forward with registration until UNHCR supports the initiative. KANERE has submitted all requested documents to UNHCR officials, but no meetings have been called despite several requests by the editors. The status of the working relationship between KANERE and humanitarian agencies remains vague, and KANERE continues to operate entirely independently without support or recognition from agencies.

KANERE currently operates with minimal resources. The group has no source of permanent funding, instead relying on occasional donations from private individuals. The initial development of the project was almost entirely funded through a Fulbright Grant from the U.S. Institute of International Education, but the grant has now reached its end.

Print publication of the newsletter is nearly impossible due to lack of funds and material support from local humanitarian agencies. A few copies of the first two issues have been printed and are available in tea rooms around the refugee camp, but access to resources for further publications is now threatened.

Journalists supply their own materials for writing and reporting. Those journalists who wish to browse the web and read their own articles must pay for cybercafé usage. KANERE currently owns one donated laptop computer for use by the editor, but must still rely on the refugee camp cybercafé for internet access to maintain the blog. One digital camera means that journalists must juggle schedules to photograph events.

June marked the transition of KANERE to an entirely refugee-run activity as Bethany completed her Fulbright research and departed Kakuma Camp. In April 2009, KANERE held elections for a new editor and executive director to take over KANERE, enabling a smooth transition of editorial duties and looking towards a sustainable future for KANERE. At the moment, an Ethiopian refugee and former second-year journalism student at Addis Ababa University is serving as editor. A Rwandan refugee, school teacher, and current distance-learning university student is serving as executive director.

Since March 2009, the membership of KANERE journalists has dwindled from over 20 active members to ten. Many journalists seem to have lost their commitment to KANERE as they became disheartened by the lack of funding, non-publication (of print issues), and fear of opposition from humanitarian agencies.

While the operating costs of KANERE were always humble, even these costs will soon drain the group’s remaining funds from private donations. The bare minimum monthly operating costs are about $100 per month (covering phone communications, internet access, scanning, camera batteries, and local transport), but this does not include the publication of print issues or, of course, any compensation for journalists.. To print 1000 copies of the paper monthly at a local government printing press, KANERE would require 50,000 Ksh (or about $670) per issue. Ideally, journalists would also appreciate a monthly compensation for their work. But what is most important is that without their work, no information from Kakuma will filter out beyond the confines of this camp.

Works Cited

Aukot, Ekuru (2009). “Who Believes in the Rights of Immigrants? Do Refugees in Kenya Have the Right to a Free Press?” Kakuma News Reflector, Volume 1 Issue 3, February 2009. (http://kakuma.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/who-believes-in-the-rights-of-im…).

Currion, Paul (2009). “The Refugee Voice.” 4 February 2009 blog posting at Humanitarian.info (http://www.humanitarian.info/tag/unhcr/).

Humanitarian Futures Programme (HFP) (2009). “Kakuma Refugee Newsletter.” 2 February 2009 blog posting at HFP (http://humanitarianfutures.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/kakuma-refugee-news…).

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) (2009). “Refugees in Kenya Now Speak With Their Own Voice.” 18 February 2009 web posting at USCRI (http://www.refugees.org/article.aspx?id=2286&subm=33&area=About%20Refug…).