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Otherwise?

Otherwise is a weekly show that explores Kenyan current affairs issues as chosen by you. Visit our site at www.otherwisepodcast.com
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Now displaying: June, 2019
Jun 27, 2019

On 27th June 2019, Kenya beat Tanzania 3-2 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), moving us to third place in Group C, right behind Algeria and Senegal. This renewed the conversation around sports reform in Kenya. This is the first time Kenya has qualified for AFCON since 2004. We're joined by Ng'arua Kamuya, a lawyer, advocate of the High Court of Kenya and sports pundit, for a fun chat on what we can do to reform sports in Kenya. Press play!

Resources

Dennis Ombachi's Thread

Image Credit: The Guardian

Jun 20, 2019

According to Kenya's Social Protection Policy, poverty, disease, and ignorance were identified at the time of independence in 1963 as the critical challenges facing the new nation of Kenya. While some degree of success has been achieved in the area of education, progress in reducing poverty and providing healthcare has barely been made. 56 years after independence, “poverty and vulnerability remain major challenges, with almost one in every two Kenyans trapped in a long-term, chronic and inter-generational cycle of poverty."

Our Constitution in Article 43 guarantees all Kenyans their economic, social, and cultural rights. It asserts the "right for every person...to social security and binds the state to provide appropriate social security to persons who are unable to support themselves and their dependents." This right is closely linked to other social protection rights, including the right to healthcare, human dignity, reasonable working conditions, and access to justice. Article 21 establishes the progressive realization of social and economic rights and obligates the state to "observe, respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights.”

We’re joined by Pauline Vata, Executive Director of Hakijamii Trust, to discuss social protection in Kenya.

Resources

Kenya National Social Protection Policy (2012)

Article 43, Constitution of Kenya (2010)

National Social Security Fund Act (2013)

National Hospital Insurance Fund Act (2013)

Social Assistance Act (2013)

Analytical Review of the Pension System in Kenya

Social security reforms in Kenya: Towards a workerist or a citizenship-based system?

Policy Brief on National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)

NHIF Strategic Plan 2014 - 2018: Sustainable Financing Towards Universal Health Coverage in Kenya

HEALTHY AMBITIONS? KENYA’S NATIONAL HOSPITAL INSURANCE FUND (NHIF) MUST BECOME MORE TRANSPARENT IF IT IS TO ANCHOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

Extending Social Security and Fighting Poverty: Two reform proposals to extend social security in Kenya

The Right to Social Security in Kenya: The gap between international human rights and domestic law and policy

PARTICIPATION OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES: THE CASH TRANSFERS IN KENYA

Political Economy of Cash Transfers In Kenya

Kenya’s Social Cash Transfer Program

From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor: Experimental Evidence from Kenya

The Long-Term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from Kenya.

Income Changes and Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Unconditional Cash Transfers in Kenya

Scaling up Cash Transfer Programmes in Kenya

The Evolution of the Government of Kenya Cash Transfer Programme for Vulnerable Children between 2002 to 2006 and prospects for nationwide scale-up

Episode 44: The State of Kenya's Healthcare

Episode 21: #LipaKamaTender

Image Credit: Business Insider

Jun 13, 2019

In June 2019, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced that it would be phasing out the current generation KES 1,000 note by 1st October 2019. On that date, it will cease to be legal tender. This is in an effort to curb illicit financial transactions, including money laundering; address the problem of counterfeit notes; and fight corruption. They also announced new generation notes alongside the new KES 1,000 note (KES 50, 100, 200 and 500), but these do not have a deadline for exchange.

According to the CBK, we currently have in circulation 217.6 million pieces of KES 1,000, 30.8 million pieces of KES 500, 54.8 million pieces of KES 200, 126.4 million pieces of KES 100, 100.5 million pieces of KES 50 and 9.9 million pieces of KES 20. We’re joined by Ken Gichinga, the Chief Economist at Mentoria Economics, to discuss the demonetization process as it is planned in Kenya.

Resources

Kenya is introducing new banknotes in a bid to fight corruption

For demonetization to be successful, adequate remonetization necessary

Behind Central Bank move to change notes

Ensure roll-out of new currency does not hurt weak economy

There is more than meets the eye in demonetisation

Tedious journey to new currency that kicked off in 2010

Demonetization Of Currency Notes: Significance And Challenges

Demonetisation: The end of Zimbabwean dollar

What can you buy for $100 trillion in Zimbabwe? Not even a candy bar

Here's The Full Text Of Modi's Speech On The Discontinuation Of ₹500 And ₹1,000 Bank Notes

Demonetisation: What India gained, and lost

Two years of demonetisation: What did the fight against black money achieve?

Demonetization Anniversary: Decoding the Effects of Indian Currency Notes Ban 

India election 2019: Did the ban on high-value banknotes work?

Despite hype, demonetization missed all goals

Few Hits and Many Misses From India's Cash Ban After 2 Years

Payments are a-changin’ but cash still rules

Image Credit: Nairobi Wire

Jun 6, 2019

In our second live recording, we're joined by Njeri Gateru, Lorna Dias and Pastor David Ochar to discuss LGBTQI+ organizing in Kenya in light of the High Court ruling on the decriminalization of same sex conduct.

On May 24th 2019, the High Court ruled against two petitions filed against the Attorney General of Kenya in his capacity as the government’s legal advisor: Petition 150 of 2016, and Petition 234 of 2016, which had been consolidated by the court due to their similarity. The petitions sought to repeal Sections 162 (a) and (c) and 165 of the Penal Code because they are unconstitutional on grounds of vagueness and uncertainty. The petitioners also stated that the sections violated Articles 27, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 43 of the Constitution of Kenya.

What is the environment/background in terms of organizing that brought us to this point? Why this, and why now? Why is it that the greatest strides the community has made towards equal rights and freedoms have been in the courts? Given the court ruling, and the fact that the judicial process in Kenya tends to take many years, how can we augment judicial action with organizing within the society/various communities? How is this currently happening? How do we respond to people who claim that same sex conduct or relationships are against religion? How about those who say they are unAfrican? What are the ways in which allies in Kenya, and around the world, can support LGBTQI+ organizing here? And, what will LGBTQI+ organizing in Kenya look like in the future? Press play to find out!

Resources

Petition 150 & 234 of 2016 (Consolidated)

The Constitution of Kenya (2010)

The Penal Code (CAP 63)

Petition 266 of 2013

Petition 440 of 2013

Judicial Review 147 of 2013

Petition 51 of 2015

Civil Appeal 56 of 2016

India's Ruling on the Repeal of Section 377 of their Penal Code

The Wolfenden Report - Summary

The Wolfenden Report - Conclusion

Letter from Birmingham City Jail

Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies of African Homosexualities

Episode 64: Repeal 162

Episode 59: Rafiki

Episode 83: Separation of Church and State

Before Straight and Gay

A Theory of Scandal: Victorians, Homosexuality, and the Fall of Oscar Wilde

Image Credit: Kanga Love TRTL

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