Kenyan Pundit

…I think some kind of active follow up with the Standard is necessary.

I have no problems with tabloid newspapers. In fact I regularly read them when I’m in Nairobi. I do have problems with a supposedly serious newspaper that has “tabloidish” tendencies - and I don’t think it’s not enough for us to say but “hasn’t the Standard always been like that” etc. For some reason (and this is a whole other post), we are content to be a citizens who have our agenda defined by us by other people - politicians make tribe “the” quintessential factor in politics and we buy it; non-tabloid newspapers push trashy stories and we buy it; ISPs give us crappy service and we buy it. I could go on and on…

My point is we need to start exhibiting a bit of pushback as individuals - at some point our small (and perhaps meaningless to some) individual actions become a collective voice that says we are tired of this [fill in the blank] crap. I refuse to believe the all these people and institutions that are driving us crazy are above being influenced, the key question is who is trying to do the influencing…so far most of us with the intellect, the passion, the influence, the abilities etc. to get things going in a different direction are nowhere to be seen…we just want things to be “normal.”

Back to the Standard…perhaps we could write letters to the editor expressing our disappointment with their quality of reporting. The letters probably won’t see the light of the day, but at least my rants (and maybe yours) won’t be restricted to this blog. I agree with the commenter who has called for constructive criticism.

But first, I need to find an email address where letters to the editor can be submitted. The website wasn’t very helpful. Can anyone who has access to the hard copy of the Standard share the info?

Popularity: 26% [?]

I have yet another post cooking, but I need to go and grapple with dinner for a one-year old who will chew only certain foods, depending on her mood. So I’ll just put up these links and wonder how Kenyan newspapers are managing to outdo themselves when it comes to crappy, and yes, irresponsible journalism given what the country has just gone through. It’s bad enough that they are pushing the lets all forget about things and move on meme. And this is the profession that supposed to play a critical role in helping Kenyans make sure that the politicians stick to their end of the bargain?

1. Nice to know just how splendid the opening of Parliament was (Marende’s “frizzy” wig included). Half the article is about the guard of honor. In my wildest dreams there would be just as detailed reports about the attendance records of MPs in future sessions.

2. Even better to know about Raila’s new security detail (what I really want to know is whether they wear RayBans?). This is power-sharing 101 my friends. You have your security detail and I have mine. Thank you Standard for breaking it down for us. And of course the big headache of where the new PM will live…much more important than where 600,000 + IDPs will go..we are moving on.

3. The speaker’s wife outdoes her husband with colorful headgear.

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I know there are readers who have issues with my posting of “humanitarian” efforts, and who doubt the efficacy of these efforts, and who feel that what is needed is more “political” ways to engage the “people/masses.” I have a response cooking in my mind. In the meantime, I will keep the info. coming.

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE?
1 Minute message of peace beginning with self-introduction.

Suggested Topics:
1. Congratulate Kenyans for the power sharing agreement and the end of
violence.

2. Stress the importance of reconciliation and non-violence as the
nation begins to heal.

3. Encourage Kenyans to keep working for sustainable peace in their
communities and nation.

4. Express your dreams and hopes for Kenya in the future

HOW?

Call EASY FM at + 254 20 251964 and ask for Sam or Davis

DATE: Saturday, March 8th
TIME: 4pm to 8pm Nairobi time i.e.
- 8am-noon US Eastern time
- 5am-9am US Western time
- 1pm-5pm London time

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On International Women’s Day
Saturday, 8 March 2008
WOMEN FOR KENYA
Invite All Kenyan Women to Join Together in a Peaceful March
As mothers, wives and daughters, Kenyan women have endured tragedy in the past two months. Too many of us have lost family members and homes. Others of us have done what we can to help them. Regardless of how we have fared, none of us feel we have done enough to ease the anguish of our nation. It is time to stand up and be counted. No matter who we are or which part of Kenya we come from. Put your best foot
forward to unite in solidarity and march for peace.
Many Voices Speaking as One can Change the Course of the Future

Guest Speakers:
Dekha Ibrahim, Concerned Citizens for Peace
Rahab Muiu, Maendeleo ya Wanawake

Entertainment & Music:
The CHAPS Puppeteers & Arise and Shine

March Route:
Impala Club to Jamhuri Park stadium (3 km)

Meeting Point:
Impala Club, Ngong Road at 8.00 a.m.

Speakers at Jamhuri Park Stadium:
10:00 a.m.

Please dress in white if possible
We ask you to help the women who are in IDP camps by donating a pack of sanitary pads and
underwear. There are collection boxes outside Nakumatt and Uchumi outlets.

Organisers: Honorine Kiplagat, Atia Yayha, Jane Babsa, Evelyn Mungai & others
We are multi-ethnic, non-partisan women concerned for Kenya’s future.

For further info contact:: Wacuka Mungai 0723-108 384 or Mary Anne Fitzgerald 0723 106 117

Popularity: 15% [?]

- Bankelele has a great write-up of this years first Skunkworks meeting held at the Google offices in Kenya. For more about Skunkworks, click here. There’s 3 points that resonate with me in Bankelele’s write-up:

1. The fear of sharing content online - or really just sharing information in Kenya. From government, to private sector, to NGOs they are all terrible. Google’s advantage (and stick which they should use with abandon) is that they can leverage their brand to convince (bully?) organizations to share information. Like the Nation-You tube idea, I’m sure some young techie within Nation had broached it before but was told that clips just can’t be shared for free. Enter Google and the possibility of other forms of monetization become apparent. And it should also really be about the futility of hoarding information - it drives me nuts. Why is everything so secret? I’ve been tearing my afro out trying to get biographical information for the new members of Parliament to upload onto Mzalendo…I might as well be searching for the Holy Grail.

2. The lack of cooperation among organizations regarding ethernet. Everyone thinks you are out to get them, or you have an angle (and from the way I’ve seen biashara guys operate in Kenya this is generally true, the deal is cut with the other guys after you leave the meeting..hehe). The idea of working together so that we can all benefit seems to be foreign. And we wonder why our leaders operate the way they do…

3. The point about companies shortchanging people as far as connectivity. I’ve heard numerous stories about people being lured to company xyz with promises of high speed and after a month or two, the high speed disappears. I agree that the shortchanging companies should be named and shamed. Maybe a Kenyan version of this website would help, though we don’t generally have a culture of consumer activism in Kenya - except when you asked for a cold beer and you are brought a warm one.

- Interesting idea - the Question Box.

- On a few rare occasions I question my decision to abandon practicing law in the U.S., this prompted one of those occasions. Frigging 29?

- Nice feature by Andrew Heavens on gay Africans and Arabs coming out online.

Popularity: 16% [?]