The frequent power cuts and lack of internet has affected the coverage of the seventh edition of the World Social Forum. The following are voices of journalists on the ground at the Kasarani Media Centre, in Nairobi. Read the exclusive comments by journalists on the ground.
The frequent power cuts and lack of internet has affected the coverage of the seventh edition of the World Social Forum (WSF). The following are voices of journalists on the ground at the Kasarani Media Centre, in Nairobi.
Saidou Djbril from Niger
I work for a news agency and my work has been affected very much since I must send stories every day but I have not been able to send my reports. Yesterday I sent stories as a letter and when we had the so called internet here at the media centre, it was slow and I have not been able to send my pictures.
Anna Morin from Sweden
I work for a website and I really need internet for my work. My pictures have not been sent out yet, though I managed to send some text from the hotel.
Christelle Terreblanchi from South Africa
I have not filed any story yet and I think they will fire me. I could not even file from the hotel because there were power cuts on three occasions. I loved the linux desktop although it was new to me. It’s very simple but keyboards are in French. It is unfortunate to struggle so much with the hardware when there are so many things to cover at any given time.
Camille Bauer from France
I work for a French daily newspaper and internet is really essential for journalists if they are to cover such a big event. Last time I sent stories, I sent them from a hotel.
Julien Babin from Canada
Internet is absolutely essential to my work. A few minutes before it was cut off I had managed to send my work. My only luck is that I don’t work for a daily newspaper. It is frustrating and kind of a waste of resources because I can imagine the organisers of the World Social Forum (WSF) have spent a lot of money on setting up the media centre, filled with a lot of computers.
Jacob Otieno from Kenya
It is sad that people spent a lot of money on being registered for press accreditation, in order to use the facilities of the Media Centre at Kasarani, of which nothing is working.
Kariuki Muburi form Kenya, IT Volunteer
I think the problem is the service providers. I think it is Kenya Data Network (KDN) but am not sure and the problem is being worked on and I hope the situation improves.
As a volunteer this is one of the biggest projects I have ever been part of and it is a challenge. The wireless access is also down because the main one is down.
The only wireless network at the moment is for people using the Celtel GPRS.