Summary: Daily Nation (Kenya’s top tabloid) published a story by columnist and former President Kibaki Government official John Githongo citing/referencing sources from Kenya’s spy agency as a source.
The Star, also a leading tabloid has cited the National Intelligence Service in some of their past and most recent articles.
These events foretell a trend. Columnists and journalists citing the spy agency classified reports as references is a threat to national security.
De-Classified Intelligence reports can be referenced. However, a red flag is raised when classified reports some of which are privileged only for the National Security Council (NASC) or the President are cited by journalist.
Analysis
Military intelligence officers are concerned counter terrorism operations will be jeopardized by overzealous media. “In military doctrine, you can allow an enemy to set camp somewhere. You even use proxies to facilitate this. Then once he has brought all his resources to this place, you conduct operations to completely destroy that enemy and all his resources and capability” KDF-DMI
The Directorate of Military Intelligence further warns “We are getting concerned about information being used by journalists and columnists to pen sensational stories in our national newspapers. .”
According the National Intelligence Service “First of all it’s foolhardy to publish your government’s secrets. Most of these reports don’t even exists, as such cant be referenced whatsoever as works of the service. Our analysts haven’t read them to produce actionable intelligence and reports for our clients” .
Forecast
Use of classified information by journalists has a long history. The US Spy Agency Central Intelligence Agency CIA and the Soviet Intelligence KGB grappled with infiltration during the cold war. Infiltrators used couriers to pass data mined to the press.
Kenya’s media houses must authenticate classified information. The role of intelligence services is to identify threats on a country’s national security. If information gathered by the intelligence service is procured by journalists and used by media houses as newsy items, then the threats multiply since the enemy simply improves his capability and strategy to cause harm to the particular country.
Classified Intelligence Reports are a preserve of the clients of the National Intelligence Service and not the media houses.
It’s treason to betray a country or make threats to its national security. In coming day’s the National Intelligence Service will put in place raft measures to protect its integrity.
The service, while remaining reliable, available, and capable to preempt threats on Kenya’s National Security is warning journalists against citing the agency as a reference.
The Kenya National Intelligence Service is not a source of information for media neither does it publish documents or publications for the same.
Stupid reporters act as if they don’t live in Kenya. .
Media poses alot of infiltration to intelligence report
i support nis on that. stupid reporters the other day exposed stories abt Nis purchasing a software to monitor any suspicious communication b2n alshababs. this was supposed to be a secret weapon not national news. now the enemy knows all whats happening and they r abt tk change their tactis
What power does the govt have to stop this infiltration by some journalists
It’s for the same reason they are falling over themselves trawling the Internet about Obama’s car,
right now security is somhow good in Kenya coz Obama is coming,but after he leaves with his security the Kenyan agency will probaly relax thus creating a security lapse,the militants are waiting the advantage
There are moles within the establishment. How can unauthorized person get classified info? Clean your house of them moles
i said this before anf sat aside to see the inteligence that comes frm the know it all’s in Kenya…. see … you cant pump a punctured tube n expect to complete your safari…
Integrity issues at recruitment like any other in Kenya that puts the purpose aside .They need head hunters
What do you expect of the Kenyan Media? Very irresponsible can report or publish anything regardless of the outcomes
… clamp down on the leaks …
the gava need to control media seriously
The fact that something is classified means that it should not see the light outside the confines of Agency’s walls. The Agency should put its house in order, apply professionalism. Mediocrity has no room in the intelligence world. Seal the loopholes so that we feel safe.
Our media for sure has been proving to be irresponsible indeed bt again the agency too seems to be having unprofessional staff who leak crucial infomatn to the media.They hav xposed too much to the possible attackers of the US boss.
Our biggest enemy is from within led by our media.
i couldnt agree any more with nsic.
Kutaka sifa za kishenzi. We betray our own country for personal gains in the name freedom and democracy
you take care of the country .we need to take of selves
Well if they don’t want them cited then they need to get their act together to keep privileged documents privileged.
How does the media get classified information unless The Intelligence Agency agents leak or sell it. The problem is not the media, it’s the officers entrusted with state secretes.
Nonsense close the top of your lid
This is because the intelligence service is full of unqualified personnel employed on invisible qualifications
Nyinyi tulieni hadi monday secret service,cia and fbi are in town mlishindwa kucounter mashambulizi uko garissa na mandera
Why blame the media ? The media only gets the information from the horse’s mouth. Nab the horse.
The leak is in nis
Instead of attacking and calling reputable newspapers tabloids,why don’t you first start with the NIS agents who pass such information to the media? If an NIS agent gives out any information to the media then it is only prudent to have it as a news worthy item and have the agency as source. The third estate acts not only as a dispenser of information but as a public watch dog too.
If you are patriotic you will not publish but report the spy. That’s espionage agent who should be identified. Kenya is our country and we need to protect it. They exist all over the world
I am equally concerned. It is just not right
That why classified documents should have a level of clearance.That why politicians should never be allowed to be custodian of such information.
They are sell out lot.