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