This week, you guys wanted to talk about democracy and development from a Kenyan lens (to vote on what we discuss, follow us on Twitter @thisisotherwise, we run a poll each week). Is democracy the best form of government for countries like ours? Why is it that it is the form of government most associated with development? Is it because democracy is inherently and instrumentally good? Does democracy lead to development? And if so, how is Kenya doing on the democracy vs development scale, seeing as there is a positive correlation between wealth and democracy? Press play!

Resources

Aristotle's Political Theory Democracy and Development Analysing The Relationship Between Democracy And Development: Defining Basic Concepts And Assessing Key Linkages

One of the most iconic things to happen on our continent is when Thomas Sankara came to power and changed the name of Upper Volta to Burkina Faso - the land of upright men. How may we best carry out Sankara's vision for Africa? This week, I wish to share a pet topic of mine with you - the continuing debate on the role of Africanization and Decolonization on our lives. Are these two movements still relevant? Still necessary? Must we Africanize or decolonize, or must we do both? Press play!

Resources

Revisiting the debate on the Africanisation of higher education: an appeal for a conceptual shift Africanisation: A rich environment for active learning on a global platform The danger of a single story "Concerning Violence," by Frantz Fanon Mau Mau torture victims to receive compensation THE FINAL REPORT OF THE TRUTH JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION OF KENYA (2013) Image credit

On March 31st 2017, a video went viral on social media of two men, said to be plainclothes policemen, having a scuffle with a young man. Shots are heard, and understandably there is screaming and scampering. Then, we see the young man on the ground. One of the men then shoots the young man again, and again. Then the video fades to black. In the days after, there was polarized debate on extrajudicial killing, with some people strongly supporting it, and others strongly condemning it. So we’ll talk about that in this episode. Press play! Resources Cops caught on camera killing suspected Eastleigh gang members Officer in alleged extrajudicial killing a ‘darling of residents’ Was Extra-Judicial Killing of Eastleigh 'Thugs' Justified? Kenyans Divided Police criticised as extrajudicial killings increase Amnesty report says Kenya tops Africa in extrajudicial killings Track, Capture, Kill: Inside Communications Surveillance and Counterterrorism in Kenya What Do We Tell the Families?: Killings and Disappearances in the Coastal Region of Kenya, 2012 - 2016 Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery reveals 90 deadly criminal gangs in Kenya

Kenya's longest serving Finance Cabinet Secretary (this position was formerly known as Finance Minister) read the budget statement for 2017/2018 on the 30th of March 2017. This is a special reading since it is this government's last budget in their first term, and this being an election year, there is a possibility that they may or may not be re-elected. It is also full of interesting-ness, in as far as budgets can be interesting, so we think it's a good idea to take a closer look at it. Press play!

Resources

Budget Statement for the Fiscal Year 2017/2018 Episode 24: Drought Begins With You Episode 28: Why is Food So Expensive? Episode 25: An Opposition Scorecard Episode 23: Fascism is The New Black Episode 31: The Political Con Episode 1: The Gambler