We have 16 more days to the end of 2016 - congratulations on making it this far! Like most people, I am running a countdown, and looking back at the year that has been and taking stock of both the good and the bad times, and what I have learned. This episode, we do the same for Kenya - we take a look at the hilarious, the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is our last episode in 2016, so have a fantastic holiday friends, and see you all (hopefully) again in January!
Resources
How whistleblower's secret note to investors brought Chase Bank to its knees
Revealed: Taxpayers lose Sh5bn in NYS-style Afya House theft
Media players demand axing of Muraguri for threatening journalist over Sh5bn fraud
Imported mobile clinics lying at NYS yard
President Kenyatta rebukes agencies for failure to tame corruption
Episode 5: Why Do We Hate Our Women?
Outrage Is The New Black: On Vera Sidika and The Campus Diva
{PHOTOS} Tanker explosion kills 40 along Nairobi-Nakuru Highway
Motorists blame Naivasha tragedy on irregularly erected bumps
Everlast • Naiboi • Kristoff - Gudi Gudi (Official Video)
Schools calendar overhauled in new war against exam cheating
CS Matiang’i reforms curb KCPE cheating
[VIDEO] Kenyans taking bribe money from a police officer
Police officers sacked for blocking Uhuru’s motorcade while allegedly taking bribe
It's official - in what almost surely qualifies as a miracle, Yahya Jammeh, the dictator who has ruled The Gambia for 22 years, was voted out of power in a free and fair election, and Adama Barrow, the opposition coalition candidate, was voted in. What was even more surprising? Jammeh conceded defeat and said he would not be contesting the election result. Given that this happened just before Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola announced that he would not be running for president next year, I was prompted to ask what is going on with African dictators. Are we finally seeing the last of them? I hope so. Press play! Resources The marbles have spoken: Gambians party after voting out 22yr ruler in shock election upset Gambia president-elect Adama Barrow talks to Al Jazeera Gambia's Adama Barrow says shock win heralds 'new hope' The Gambia's Yahya Jammeh The Gambian Dictator Who Kills His Own Family Members To Stay In Power Witchcraft and execution: the darker side of Gambia Bitter medicine: how Gambian president claims to cure Aids Gambian President to Build Controversial Herbal Medicine Hospital for HIV Patients Gambia election: Government shuts down internet as President Yahya Jammeh faces threat to 22-year rule Gambia's president warns against protests after elections Gambia vote a roll of the marbles Gambians cast votes with marbles instead of ballots The Gambia: seven facts about the country leaving the Commonwealth The 7 worst things Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh has ever said about gay people Gambia’s president threatens to slit the throats of gay men
Many Kenyans will tell you that whenever they see our national flag, or hear the national anthem, they feel their hearts swell with pride. Why? Because the flag and our anthem make them feel patriotic - proud to be Kenyan. This is possibly what Boniface Mwangi, a well known activist, felt when he went to the cinema on 27th November 2016, only to look around and see some people not standing for the national anthem. So he yelled at them until they stood. I found this odd - so I decided to dissect this phenomena in this episode. Is patriotism a good or bad thing? Press play to find out!
Resources
Constitution of Kenya - Chapter One - Sovereignty of the People and Supremacy of this Constitution Constitution of Kenya - Chapter Two - The Republic Nyumba Kumi And Institutional Failure In Kenya Corruption and Terror: Somali Community in Kenya Caught in the CrossfireNational Anthems: A Call to Arms
My Land Is Not Kenya: The Folly Of Patriotism
Image Credit: Pond5
Title Credit: Daima Kenya (a song by Eric Wainaina)
After the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the USA, many people have remarked that we are living in a post truth economy/post factual world - it doesn't matter what the facts present, it only matters what you believe, and how strongly you can get others to believe it too. It doesn't matter what the truth is. Which is why we have Trump and others denying climate change when it can easily be proven. How does this dynamic play out in Kenya? What does it mean for us in the run up to our 2017 general election? And, what can you do to nip it in the bud? Press play!
Resources
Episode 15: It's President Trump!
How Twitter bots played a role in electing Donald Trump
How Pro-Trump Twitter Bots Spread Fake News
How Twitter bots affected the US presidential campaign
How Teens In The Balkans Are Duping Trump Supporters With Fake News
Fake News in U.S. Election? Elsewhere, That’s Nothing New
Mark Zuckerberg Says Fake News On Facebook Didn’t Change The Election
This Analysis Shows How Fake Election News Stories Outperformed Real News On Facebook
Facebook’s design is quietly training us all to be conspiracy theorists
Facebook's New Plan to Deal With Fake News Is Too Vague and Too Late
Facebook and the Digital Virus Called Fake News
Image Credit: Cheerful Egg
Protests are a key part of democracy - they are a way for citizens to act directly to show their support or disapproval regarding a course of action, statement or thing. After Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the USA, protests began, led by citizens who are against what he stands for. In Kenya, on 12th December 2016, we will be having the Take Kenya Back protest against the corruption that is destroying our country. So, I thought, why not talk about the how, when, where, why, who and what of protests? Press play!
Resources
Episode 15: It's President Trump! Episode 14: Dear Kenyans Weekend brings more anti-Trump protests across nation Protest in a liberal democracy The importance of protests Protest Movements as Political Strategy People protest for many reasons, yet we don’t know how effective protests are Protest is vital to a thriving democracy Take Back Kenya: Beyond Zero Corruption Image credit: Al Jazeera
I think I speak for many people when I say I'm relieved the US election is over - you couldn't look anywhere and fail to be bombarded by Trump vs Clinton news, and now, the forces of tribalism and prejudice have spoken - the US, and the rest of the world, shall endure a President Trump from next year onward, for four years! At this point, anyone speaking about what happens next will be conjecturing, but I am willing to join in speculating what this means for Kenya, and for Africa. Press play!
Resources
White and wealthy voters gave victory to Donald Trump, exit polls show
U.S. Dropped 23,144 Bombs on Muslim-Majority Countries in 2015
Slavoj Zizek on Clinton, Trump and the Left's Dilemma
The danger of America’s declining moral authority
White riot: How racism and immigration gave us Trump, Brexit, and a whole new kind of politics
What Donald Trump's presidency means for Africa
Europe in Crisis: The Elections to Watch for Political Risk
Image credit: Inverse
As you may know by now, we are in the throes of a new national scandal in which it is alleged that KES 5.3 billion was stolen from the Ministry of Health, based on an interim audit report that was obtained by the Nation Media Group. Scandals of this nature are not new to us - we have had the Goldenberg scandal, the Anglo Leasing Scandal and the NYS scandal - however, what is new this time is that we have decided to put our feet down, and hold our leaders accountable. This is a rallying cry. Let us come together and save our country. Press play.
Resources
Revealed: Taxpayers lose Sh5bn in NYS-style Afya House theft
Senior ministry official threatens reporter over stolen funds story
The Blindspots of STEM-Focused Education Reform
What Is The Value Of A Kenyan Life?
Each Kenyan owes the world Sh79,000, thanks to Jubilee's borrowing
A fifth of Kenya's budget committed to repaying loans
Anger as Kabura Fails to Answer Sh1.6bn NYS Scandal Query By MPs
Pyramid schemes seem to be back in fashion, with Russian fraudster Sergey Mavrodi having brought his Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox (or, MMM Global) to Kenya with a serious recruitment offensive. It's as if Kenyans never learn! We've seen this before with Deci, where thousands of people lost billions of shillings. So why are people buying into MMM Global? We dig into it this episode. Press play!
Resources
Don't Get Caught in a Pyramid Scheme I lost Sh31m and brother to the pyramid schemes How the masterminds of pyramid schemes duped thousands into parting with their money 26,000 pyramid scheme victims sue for lost cash Russian fraudster sets up pyramid scheme in KenyaEveryone's favourite public servant, Ezekiel Mutua, was back in the news this week as he proposed a Bill that would enable him (and his friends at the Kenya Film Classification Board) to regulate, control and censor basically everything in the country. Ezekiel is nothing if not ambitious, we guess. Is he the Kenyan Donald Trump? This week, we take a peek into the (possible) thoughts of Ezekiel - the banner in chief - and see what it means for us as moving forward. Press play! :)
Resources
Films, Stage Plays and Publications Draft Bill
Why Kenya banned 'The Wolf of Wall street'
Ezekiel Mutua Appointed As New CEO of Kenya Film Classification Board
Ezekiel Mutua: Unmasking Kenya's morality police
7 Banned TV Adverts That Are “Pornographic In Nature"
Ezekiel Mutua bans 'girls only' party, terms it 'orgy of lesbians'
We can block Netflix for inappropriate content - Kenyan films board
National values and principles of governance
Google is hosting Kenya’s most notorious anti-LGBT official at a conference in California
Immigration Department's statement on Ezekiel Mutua's diplomatic passport
Film board chief faults move to revoke diplomatic passport
Meet ‘Nollywood’: The second largest movie industry in the world
Road safety has been on the tip of our tongues and the top of our minds after a matatu (KCG 748M) serving the Ongata Rongai route crashed in late September killing four people on the spot and injuring six others. We protested online and offline, the NTSA, Ongata Line Transporters Company and the police engaged in finger pointing, and we yet again found ourselves asking the question we've asked so many times before: what is wrong with Kenyan roads, and can it be fixed? We explore that this week. Press play!
Resources
Four killed in Langata Road matatu accident
Ongata Line Sacco banned over Sunday accident
Multimedia University students block road in protest after accident
Rongai residents march to protest reckless driving
Pedestrian killed by school bus as residents prepare to march to Lang'ata Road
Driver of killer Rongai matatu slapped with multiple charges
Umoinner Sacco bus crash claims 10 lives
Killer Umoinner Sacco fleet licences revoked
National Transport and Safety Authority
World Health Organization: Global status report on road safety 2015
NTSA targets private cars as Saturdays death toll rises
Image credit: Wambururu's Blog
The Federation of Women Lawyers, better known as FIDA Kenya, has been in the news lately for its petition to the courts to have matrimonial property split 50-50 upon the dissolution of a marriage, and to have sections of the Matrimonial Property Act (2013) declared unconstitutional. They have been called malicious and greedy, and been accused of trying to commercialize marriage. This week, we find out whether this is true. Press play!
Resources
Married Women's Property Act, 1882
Matrimonial Property Act, 2013
The Constitution of Kenya, 2010
Outrage Is The New Black: On Vera Sidika and The Campus Diva
The ride hailing/taxi app market in Nairobi, and the rest of Kenya, seems to be the in-thing right now for multinational and local organizations, attracting an ever-growing list of players – Uber, Little, Sendy, Mondo Ride, Taxify among others. The most dominant operator at the moment, Uber, seems to be learning the hard way about the peculiarities of this market – they slashed their rates dramatically and now the customer experience has deteriorated. We talk about that this week – should Uber have slashed their rates? And, if this was a mistake, what should they do next? Press play.
Resources
Why Taxi Apps are the Next Big Thing in Nairobi’s Move Forward
The battle for Kenya – Uber vs. Easy Taxi
Uber in Kenya is upsetting the taxi industry?
Twitter feud over Uber in Kenya
Easy Taxi opts out of Kenya, Africa after common investor leans towards rival Uber
Easy Taxi Leaving Kenya, Africa after Stiff Competition from Rival Uber
Uber and Little Cabs battle to control the streets of Nairobi
Safaricom’s Little Cab triggers price war with Uber
The Little Chance for Safaricom’s Little Cab
Uber slashes taxi charges by 35pc in Nairobi
Uber taxi fare cut triggers drivers’ go-slow in Nairobi
Uber guarantees drivers peak-hour pay after price cut
Jewels’ Nasty Experiences with Uber
Complaints about poor service on Uber from Kenyans
Uber’s Response after Their Driver Was Accused of Stealing from a Client at JKIA
Nairobi taxi drivers are trying to shut down Uber with protests and intimidation
Uber Drivers in Nairobi Discover Not All Taxi Drivers Welcome Competition
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, recently visited Kenya and Nigeria in what was his first visit to the continent. He hung out with start-up founders, spent time at hubs in both countries, walked (and jogged) around without security, ate with his hands, did not post white-saviour-type things on his Facebook page, and caused a media stir for more or less behaving like a normal person. This week, we look at his visit, what it means for African countries, and Facebook's possible agenda for the continent.
Resources
Mark Zuckerberg makes first-ever visit to Sub-Saharan Africa
Zuckerberg backs Andela, a startup more elite than Harvard
Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg Regarding Internet.org, Net Neutrality, Privacy, and Security
Facebook’s Internet.org Isn’t the Internet, It’s Facebooknet
What Mark Zuckerberg didn’t say about Internet.org
Free Basics protects net neutrality [Op-ed by Zuckerberg]
Dear Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook is not, and should not be the internet
Here’s How Free Basics Is Actually Being Sold Around The World
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services
After 16 years and three failed attempts at passing a bill to cap interest rates in Kenya, former MP Joe Donde's dream has now become a reality. This week, we take a look at the Banking Amendment Act 2015, what it has changed about our banking and financial industry, the critique that has been leveled against it, and the possible outcomes moving forward.
Resources
The Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2015
Donde happy after MPs pass bill to cap interest rates
Larry Liza's Viral Facebook Post
Controlling Interest: Are Ceilings On Interest Rates a Good Idea?
The Impact of Interest Rate Ceilings on Microfinance
Consider pros and cons of interest rates cap before passing banking Bill in haste
The Impact of Capping Interest Rates on the Kenyan Economy
Kenya should prepare for crisis and economic slowdown after capping interest rates
2015 Economic Survey Report Highlights
The oppression of women in Kenya, and worldwide, has become a frequent topic of discussion, with the advent of universal human rights, and with women being clearly oppressed in their societies via female genital mutilation, lack of education, early childhood marriage, denial of property rights, sexual violence, street and sexual harassment, among many others. Which begs the question: why do we hate our women? And, if we don't (the evidence says otherwise), what can we do about it? We explore that this week.
Resources
Battered woman says why she remained in abusive marriage
The question to ask is why does a man abuse the woman he loves
Why Women Stay: The Paradox of Abusive Relationships
Behind the Veil: Inside the Mind of Men "That Abuse"
#WhyIStayed: How some churches support spousal abuse
Nairobi County Governor, Evans Kidero, recently said that to eliminate the effects of voter importation into the county, people with muddy or dusty shoes would not be allowed into polling stations during the 2017 General Elections. Naturally, this made me want to assess Nairobi under his tenure - are all roads really tarmacked? Are we living in a modern-day metropolis? We find out this episode.
Resources
Kidero vows to block ‘imported’ voters in city election
What Is A Road ? Kenyans On Twitter Are Mapping Out Potholes
Kidero: Nairobi Has Improved Under My Reign
Sh18 billion wage bill to blame for Nairobi's slow growth - Kidero
Rachel Shebesh slapped after scuffle in Governor Kidero's office
Kidero in fist fight with Sonko after 'murderer' claim during Senate grilling
This has been such a cringe worthy Summer Olympics for Kenya - it seems like every other day we get embarrassing news. Why are we like this? Listen to this episode to find out.
Resources
Julius Yego's Plane Ticket to Rio Goes Missing The Scandal of Kenya's Rio Olympics
Kipchoge Keino receives historic Olympic Laurel award
Kenya faces fresh anti-doping crisis following surprise Wada move
Rio 2016: Kenya removed from World Anti-Doping Agency's 'non-compliant' list
Today on the show we discuss school fires in Kenya - since June 2016 over 120 schools have had their property burned by students. Why? And, what can we do? Resources
Students, Arson, and Protest Politics in Kenya: School Fires as Political Action
St. Patrick's Iten School On Fire
CS Matiang’i presents report on school fires to Senate committee
Education Stakeholders Hold Consultative Meetings Over School Fires
President Uhuru's message on the ongoing school fires in Kenya's schools
I've always been interested in understanding, and perhaps changing, the nature of Kenya through my work, which until now has consisted of writing and speaking. This has been edifying, but I've come to appreciate how hard it is to keep up with. Every week there is something new to expose, learn or discover, and unless your line of work requires that you keep updated, it becomes difficult to do so.
So I thought, what if there was a place we could go and ask whatever we want, and have it explained to us in a succinct way, while not being too reductive - avoiding a lecture, and gaining a perspective that was outside that on mainstream traditional and new media? Then I asked myself, what if I built that place? So I did.
Welcome to Otherwise, a weekly show that will explore Kenyan current affairs issues as chosen by you.
This week's episode looks into the sports betting fad that has taken over Kenya, asking - is it really that bad for us, and if it is, how can we make it better?
Resources:
Sunday Nation: It's a Gambling Nation