Mestowoot Media Services: Shepherding the News for Life, Dignity, and Unity in Kenya

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you all to the Website of Mestowoot Media Services Limited. Mestowoot Media Services Limited is a registered company in Kenya. The word mestowoot is from the Kalenjin dialect which means shepherd. I choose this word for the registration of this new media services because of the following reasons:
1. I happened to be born in the Kalenjin Nation. Shepherding of cattle is very important cultural and economic business.
2. In order for me to get money to buy school uniform and pay school fees in order start schooling, I was advised by my father Kiptonui Arap Kilel Thomas (RIP) to be employed as a shepherd. Which I did. And able start my educational life.
3. Being a Catholic priest, I was inspired by the words of Jesus Christ in Chapter 10 of the Gospel of St. John that talks about the Good shepherd.
I established Mestowoot Media Services to shepherd the news in Kenya that enhances human dignity and human life. Mestowoot Media Services Limited will engage in news that help people of Kenya to love life, love others’ lives and dignity. In short, it is about the news that wants the people Kenya to live.
I read somewhere that the great psychologist, Erich Fromm, while in his deathbed asked his friend, Robert Fox, this question: Why is it that the human race prefers necrophilia to biophilia? Why do we prefer love of death to love of life? The same question can be asked of some main media and some social media users in Kenya: why are you disseminating necrophilia news to biophilia?
Freedom of expression and freedom of the media are enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 under Articles 33 and 34. Some media users in Kenya appear to have not adhered to Article 33 (2) and (3) in the process of exercising their right of freedom of expression. This section states:
(2) The right to freedom of expression does not extend to-
(a) Propaganda for war;
(b) Incitement to violence;
(c) Hate speech; or
(d) Advocacy of hatred that-
(i) Constitute ethnic incitement, vilification of others or incitement to cause harm; or
(ii) Is based on any ground of discrimination specified or contemplated in Article 27 (4).
(3) In the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, every person shall respect the rights and reputation of others.
Since 1992, we have all witnessed in Rift Valley region of Kenya barbaric inter ethnic clashes. Several Kenyans lost their lives through intercommunity violence. The reports of the Commissions that were established by the Government to look into the causes of these interethnic clashes stated very clearly that the media contributed to them by writing articles that promoted ethnic incitement.
In Mestowoot Media Services Limited, biophilia news will be promoted in our website through Liteito Radio online and newsprint: Leteito News in English and Kalenjin. The word liteito is from the Kalenjin dialect and it means sharpener. Liteito radio online and Liteito News are to educate people of Kenya to love life and live with dignity as stipulated in Articles 26 and 28 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
Furthermore, our diversity that we witness in our country is not sign of our weakness but our strength. This has been articulated very well in the Preamble of the Constitution of Kenya 2010: “We, the people of Kenya-…. PROUD of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity and determined to live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation.”
In addition, our languages and cultures are natural riches that Kenyans have been endowed by Creator God for the benefits of all. This has been acknowledged in Article 11 (1) of the Kenyan Constitution 2010: “This Constitution recognizes culture as the foundation of the nation and as the accumulative civilization of the Kenyan people and nation.”
The contribution of the Kalenjin warriors towards resistance to the establishment of British colonial administration in Kenya and alienation of their fertile lands in Rift valley region of Kenya has been documented by the historians. Several prominent and talented Kalenjin politicians contributed constructive ideas during the making of the first constitution for the new independent state of Kenya at Lancaster House in Great Britain. One of those leaders was Hon. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi who became the second president of Kenya and managed to rule Kenya for 24 years.
The contributions of our talented Kalenjin athletes to the Kenyan nation and the entire world are well known. These patriotic talented Kalenjin have made all Kenyans be proud of their country especially that moment of waving Kenyan flag during Olympic Games and in any other international athletic competition.
I now welcome all those people from the Kalenjin community and other Kenyans who have the talents as writers and journalists to contribute freely in the newsprint Liteito News; where you will choose freely where to publish your article: opinion/column, politics, church, etc. let us unite in this noble duty of contributing creatively to the Kenyan national heritage. I invite you also to contribute yours ideas through Liteito Radio online.
It is my hope Mestowoot Media Services Limited will contribute positively towards promoting the means of social communication that promotes healthy human living in Kenya.

Fr. Kimutai Arap Tonui Ambrose
The Director
Mestowoot Media Services Limited