Shows
Otherwise?Episode 115: A Letter To YouHello friends! This episode is a dedication to you, who has walked this journey with me and my team for the last three years of creating Otherwise?! I am off to graduate school (The London School of Economics and Political Science) for a Masters in Public Policy and Administration, and I wanted to do one last episode before I left! :) This episode answers the questions many of you have asked me since the inception of Otherwise?. Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me. We will be taking a break while I pursue my...
2019-09-1913 min
Otherwise?Episode 114: Towards Universal Health CoverageThe Constitution in Article 43, sub-article 1 (a) states that "Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare". Article 43 sub-article 2 also states that a person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment. The Jubilee government, as part of its Big Four Agenda, plans to roll out universal health coverage to all Kenyans by 2022, guaranteeing quality and affordable healthcare to all Kenyans. In the 2018/2019 budget, universal health coverage received a provision KES 2.5 billion. The government plans to reconfigure the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and reform...
2019-09-1236 min
Otherwise?Episode 113: Human - Wildlife Conflict in KenyaHuman-wildlife conflict is a growing problem in Kenya today, and it has a huge negative impact on both human and wildlife populations. It happens when there is close interaction between wild animals and human beings, which leads to injury, death, predation and transmission of diseases. In February 2019, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) issued a notice to the public that the dry spell being experienced in most parts of the country was displacing wildlife from their traditional habitats in search of pasture and water. This had increased conflict as the wildlife came into contact with the public and human activities. They...
2019-09-0543 min
Otherwise?Episode 112: Consumer Protection in KenyaThe Constitution of Kenya (2010) in Article 46 gives consumers the right - to goods and services of reasonable quality; to the information necessary for them to gain full benefit from goods and services; to the protection of their health, safety, and economic interests; and to compensation for loss or injury arising from defects in goods or services. It states that parliament shall enact legislation to provide for consumer protection and for fair, honest and decent advertising (which is the Consumer Protection Act, 2012). It applies to goods and services offered by public entities or private persons. We're joined by...
2019-08-2930 min
Otherwise?Episode 111: Women and Public TransportIn a survey carried out by Women's Empowerment Link (WEL) in 2015, in the wake of the #MyDressMyChoice protest in 2014, it was found that 54% of women had experienced gender based violence (physical, sexual or psychological harm) while using public transport. The women shared that they been harassed, with the abuse ranging from derogatory comments to rape. Many witnessed female passengers being stripped naked, but the female survivors neither received any help nor reported the violation, and they reported a culture of silence held up by both male and female passengers. We also have a Geopoll survey from 2016 that highlighted that...
2019-08-2228 min
Otherwise?Episode 110: Non-Communicable DiseasesThe conversation on cancer and other non-communicable diseases has taken centre stage after the death of high profile Kenyans in recent weeks – Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso, and Kibra MP Ken Okoth. According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya in undergoing an epidemiological transition marked by a decline in morbidity and mortality due to communicable conditions, and an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include diseases such as diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory infections. We're joined by Dr. Laura Muambayi, a medical doctor with experience treating NCDs, as well as...
2019-08-1551 min
Otherwise?Episode 109: Kenya's Cultural HeritageThis week, we're joined by Tayiana Chao, a digital heritage specialist and digital humanities scholar, of African Digital Heritage, the Museum of British Colonialism, Save the Railway and Skills 4 Culture to discuss the importance of having a digital cultural heritage for the African continent. What is the current situation in Kenya when it comes to cultural heritage? Why is it important to have conversations about cultural heritage in Kenya, especially at this moment? How do we ensure that the collection, curation, conservation, exhibition and marketing of our cultural heritage centres Kenyans? What role does technology have to...
2019-08-081h 03
Otherwise?Episode 108: Otherwise? Q&AThis week, we're throwing it back to the old school format, where I take topic suggestions from the pod's community and address them in around 15 minutes. The first question is on foreign investors in Kenya. Should we set stricter criteria to attract quality investors and protect our SMEs? The second question asks what we as citizens can do to fight the Huduma Bill, and the final one asks about Mike Sonko's behaviour at Ken Okoth's funeral, and his blatant admission of guilt when he said that he nominated the late MP's alleged second wife to the Nairobi County Assembly...
2019-08-0114 min
Otherwise?Episode 107: Food Safety in KenyaOn July 14th 2019, NTV aired a feature titled Red Alert, which revealed that Kenyan supermarkets and retail outlets were using sodium metabisulfite to increase the shelf life of meat products by making them look fresher for longer, so as to prevent losses. They were also found to repackage these products and change the dates so as to dupe their customers into buying these products past their sell-by date. The conversation that arose after was intense, pointing out that supermarkets were using excess quantities of the compound, without disclosing it to consumers, which was exacerbated by changing the dates on...
2019-07-2540 min
Otherwise?Episode 106: How Do We Fix Sports in Kenya?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
2019-06-2737 min
Otherwise?Episode 105: Social Protection in KenyaAccording 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...
2019-06-2047 min
Otherwise?Episode 104: Demonetization 101In 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...
2019-06-1324 min
Otherwise?Episode 103: Otherwise? Live - LGBTQI+ Organizing in KenyaIn 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...
2019-06-061h 24
Otherwise?Episode 102: Maternal Healthcare in KenyaKenya's maternal mortality rate is 362 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 states that: Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive health care. Kenya adopted the Millennium Development Goals, which had set a target of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to 147 per 100,000 by 2015. We have also adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, whose target is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to...
2019-05-3035 min
Otherwise?Episode 101: The Kenyan Labour MovementWe celebrate Labour Day/International Worker's Day each year on the 1st of May. Celebrations are organized by trade unions and their members, and they take time to highlight the labour environment in the country, and how it can be improved. Trade unions in Kenya are inextricably linked with our struggle for independence. Makhan Singh is considered the father of the labour movement, having formed the Labour Trade Union of Kenya in 1935, and the East African Trade Union Congress in 1949. To mark this year's occasion belatedly, we're joined by Dr. Emily Odhong, a lecturer at Kiriri Women's...
2019-05-2347 min
Otherwise?Episode 100: The Journey to Constitutional ReformThe Constitution of Kenya (2010) was promulgated almost nine years ago, on 27th August 2010. This was after it was presented to the Attorney General on 7th April 2010, officially published on 6th May 2010, subjected to a referendum on 4th August 2010, and approved by 68.55% of the people who participated in the referendum. We're joined by Atsango Chesoni, former Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review, to discuss how this constitution has changed Kenya almost nine years later. Resources The Constitution of Kenya (2010) [Web Version] The Constitution of Kenya (2010) [PDF Version]
2019-05-161h 03
Otherwise?Episode 99: Manufacturing ProsperityThe Big 4 Agenda, unveiled on 12th December 2017, has identified manufacturing as one of its pillars (alongside universal healthcare, food security and affordable housing), with the goal of increasing its contribution to Kenya's economy to 15% by 2022. The agenda has identified 8 priority sectors under its manufacturing pillar: agro-processing, textile, leather, construction, materials, oil and mining, iron and steel, and ICT. In recent years, according to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya has experienced deindustrialization as evidenced by the reduction in manufacturing's contribution to our GDP. We are joined by Navalayo Osembo, CEO and co-founder of Enda Sportswear, to...
2019-05-0954 min
Otherwise?Episode 98: Going GreenAt the Paris Peace Forum in November 2018, Uhuru Kenyatta committed to Kenya's transition to 100% green energy by 2020, noting that green energy made up 70% of Kenya's installed electric capacity at the time. According to the Ministry of Energy, as at December 2018, Kenya had achieved 75% household access to electricity, through both on-grid and off-grid solutions, and we plan to achieve universal access to electricity by 2022. We're joined by Anne Wambugu, an electrical engineer working in the renewable energy sector, to discuss Kenya's current state electricity-wise, what it means for Kenya to go green, and the possibilities that lie ahead...
2019-05-0244 min
Otherwise?Episode 97: Rebuilding SomaliaIn January 1991, Mohammed Siad Barre's government was toppled when rebels from the United Somali Congress toppled the Red Berets, in a culmination of a struggle that began in 1986. Since then, Somalia has been in a state of civil war. It has displaced over 1 million people within the country, and over 1 million more are living abroad in the Somali diaspora, either as registered refugees or undocumented migrants. We're joined by Fadumo Dayib, a social justice activist, Somali politician and the first woman to vie for president of Somalia (in November 2016) to discuss being Somali in Somalia, as well as the...
2019-04-1853 min
Otherwise?Episode 96: Mobile Lending in KenyaMobile lending in Kenya has experienced a boom in recent years. Customers are able to apply for and receive loans through their mobile phones, and this has drastically changed Kenya's financial landscape. Mobile lending is made possible through mobile money transfer technology, which was introduced in Kenya by Safaricom in 2007 via MPesa. There are three primary ways that it works: The first is bank backed, the second is mobile lending by non-bank finance institutions such as microfinance institutions and SACCOs, and the third is mobile lending by financial technology firms which do it through their mobile apps. W...
2019-04-1132 min
Otherwise?Episode 95: A Matter Of FactWe hear a lot about fake news, but that is a very broad and misleading term. According to the Ethical Journalism Network, "fake news is information deliberately fabricated and published with the intention to deceive and mislead others into believing falsehoods or doubting verifiable facts." This term conflates three types of information disorder: misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. In the spirit of International Fact Checking Day, celebrated annually on April 2nd, we're joined by Eric Mugendi, Managing Editor of Pesacheck, to discuss fact checking in general, and within the Kenyan context. What exactly is fact checking, and why i...
2019-04-0457 min
Otherwise?Episode 94: The Age Of ConsentOn Tuesday the 26th of March 2019, the Standard reported that a three judge bench at the Court of Appeal, constituted by Justices Roselyn Nambuye, Daniel Musinga and Patrick Kiage, proposed that the age of consent be lowered to 16 by amending the Sexual Offences Act, citing lengthy jail terms imposed on young men convicted of defilement. We're joined by Judy Gitau, the Africa Regional Co-ordinator of Equality Now to discuss consent, the age of consent, its importance, and the potential impact of lowering it. Resources Criminal Appeal 102 of 2016 [The Ruling that proposed the lowering...
2019-03-2844 min
Otherwise?Episode 93: Global Warming at the EquatorMuch of the conversation about global warming and climate change focuses on the Earth's poles and the areas outside the tropics. We understand that ice caps and glaciers are melting. However, it is urgent that we understand the effects of global warming in the tropics in general, and at the equator in particular. Normal temperature ranges in the tropics fall within a narrower range than those outside them, so any change will have more significant effects. We're joined by Jessica Mukiri, an Environmental Modeler at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, to discuss global warming at the...
2019-03-2158 min
Otherwise?Episode 92: Where Does Our Stolen Money Go?According to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and National Treasury reports in 2016, it was estimated that a third of Kenya's national budget was lost through corrupt dealings annually. That would mean that in 2018/19, we can reasonably expect to lose KES 1 trillion, if not more, to corruption. Much of this money ends up in offshore accounts in countries that are tax havens. As at 2007, economists at the American research firm National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) estimated that about 70% of Kenya's GDP (KES 1.83 trillion in 2007) was stashed abroad, while the think-tank Global Financial Integrity (GFI) estimated in an October 2018 report...
2019-03-1445 min
Otherwise?Episode 91: A Roadmap to Affordable HousingAs part of its Big Four Agenda, the Jubilee government aims to focus on the provision of affordable housing units to be bought on mortgage by formally employed Kenyans. In the 2018/2019 budget, affordable housing received a provision KES 6.5 billion. By 2022, the government aims to have constructed 500,000 affordable housing units, with four types being available. The housing projects have been divided into five lots, with one lot covered in each financial year. Each lot is then broken down into flagship projects, flagship social housing projects, counties and towns and Nairobi County projects. We're joined by Njeri Cerere, a...
2019-03-0741 min
Otherwise?Episode 90: On Femicide and Women At The FrontlineCaroline Mwatha. Sharon Otieno. Mercy Keino. Fiona Kasuya. Mary Wambui. Beryl Adhiambo. These are some of the women we have lost to Kenya's femicide crisis, wither due to their work, or men in their lives. This week, we're joined by Rachael Mwikali, the convenor of the Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders to discuss the work of human rights defenders in Kenya, with a focus on women, as well as Kenya's femicide crisis. Resources #TotalShutdownKE #SayHerNameKE Missing Voices Kenya Hounded to the point of exile, human rights activists now...
2019-02-2831 min
Otherwise?Episode 89: The Air We BreatheIn Kenya, according to the 2018 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), diseases of the respiratory system are the leading cause of morbidity, followed by malaria. They accounted for 34% of all incidences in 2017, compared to malaria's 18.7%. Kenya experiences 19,112 deaths annually because of air pollution, and of these, 6,672 are children. These are diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and lung cancer, among others. The 2017 survey estimated that 19.9 million Kenyans suffer from respiratory ailments that are exacerbated by poor air quality. We're joined by Dr. Kanyiva Muindi of the Africa Population Health Research Centre (APHRC) to talk...
2019-02-2141 min
Otherwise?Episode 88: Human Trafficking in KenyaKenya is flagged as a source, transit, and destination country for persons subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking in East Africa by the Trafficking in Persons Report of 2018. We continue to host illegal recruiters who maintain networks in Uganda and Ethiopia. They recruit Kenyan, Rwandan, Ethiopian and Ugandan workers through fraudulent offers of employment in the Middle East and Asia. This happens despite a directive by the government to register all agencies linking Kenyans to employment opportunities overseas. This week, we're joined by Sophie Otiende of HAART Kenya (Awareness Against Human Trafficking) to talk about how...
2019-02-1443 min
Otherwise?Episode 87: GMOs and Food SafetyKenya is set to begin open field trials of GMO cotton in March 2019, following the approval for national performance trials by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in 2018. [In June 2018, it was reported that Kenya would start growing GMO cotton on a commercial basis in 2019.] This would make us the first in East Africa to grow GMOs in open fields, and fourth in Africa after South Africa, Burkina Faso and Sudan. BT cotton is among six crops that have been under confined field trials. The others are drought-tolerant maize, biofortified sorghum, viral resistant cassava, nutritionally enhanced cassava...
2019-02-0744 min
Otherwise?Episode 86: The New CurriculumAfter 32 years of the 8-4-4 curriculum, the new 2-6-3-3-3 curriculum rolled out early in January 2019. Its goal is to provide quality education and training policies for all. It aims to improve access, quality, relevance and equity in line with international, regional and national policies, as well as legal commitments, and move us closer towards our education for all goals. It also aims to ensure that all learners acquire competencies and qualifications capable of promoting national values, inspiring individual innovation and life-long learning; and that learners are not unnecessarily delayed at any level of education.
2019-01-3153 min
Otherwise?Episode 85: Persons of InterestOn 20th January 2019, we found out that while we were busy enjoying our holidays, Uhuru Kenyatta was busy passing new laws, and changes to old ones through a Miscellaneous Amendment Act. One of the most controversial amendments was the one to the Registration of Persons Act, which added new requirements for both location data (such as GPS coordinates) and biometric data (such as DNA). This comes up after the attack on 14 Riverside, and it is said that it's for crime fighting purposes, especially now that terrorism is a key concern. We're joined by Mercy Mutemi, an advocate...
2019-01-2446 min
Otherwise?Episode 84: Disaster Response 101In the aftermath of the attack on 14th Riverside on 15th January 2019, many citizens asked how they could help ease the situation, as well as assist the victims of the disaster. Today we're joined by Naomi Mutua, a digital PR specialist and a citizen responder who has been at the front-lines of organizing responses to crises, to discuss this. Press play! Resources Disaster Preparedness Disaster Preparedness Plan How to prepare for emergencies Community Preparedness and Risk Reduction Institutional and Legal Readiness Response & Recovery ...
2019-01-1723 min
Otherwise?Episode 83: Separation of Church and StateThe Constitution of Kenya (2010) in Article 8 states that there shall be no state religion. Yet, our national anthem, one of our national symbols (listed in Article 9), begins with "Eh Mungu Nguvu Yetu," or "Oh God of all creation." The preamble to the constitution states that "We, the people of Kenya – Acknowledging the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation honour..." We're joined by Elizabeth Kabari, an advocate of the High Court and consultant, to talk about separation of church and state in Kenya, and the seeming contradictions and what they mean for us as Kenyans. ...
2019-01-1041 min
Otherwise?Episode 82: Debunking Mental Health MythsThis past weekend, it was reported that universities had noted a worrying trend of students dying by suicide, with at least 12 cases having been recorded since January. Many more cases go unrecorded, but the causes were depression and other mental illnesses, family problems, intimate relationship problems, examination and fees stress, drug use among others. We're joined by Anita Awuor, a clinical psychologist, to discuss mental health and well-being in Kenya, and to debunk common myths around mental health. Pres play! Resources Kenya Mental Health Policy [2015 - 2030] Worrying trend of university students...
2018-12-1323 min
Otherwise?Episode 81: Abortion and Reproductive HealthcareOn November 18th 2018, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) banned international health organization Marie Stopes from offering any form of abortion services after alleged complaints from the "public" that their radio adverts were promoting abortion. Abortion is a very emotive topic because it cuts across healthcare, sexual intercourse, religion, gender and sexuality, as well as policy. These are the lenses we will use to look not just at abortion, but reproductive healthcare as a whole. Today, we're joined by Dr. Stellah Bosire, a physician and human rights activist, to talk about abortion and reproductive healthcare...
2018-12-0644 min
Otherwise?Episode 80: The Two-Thirds Gender PrincipleThe Constitution of Kenya (2010) has multiple provisions that govern representation, but the two-thirds gender principle has been the most difficult to implement. Article 27(8) states that the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 81(b) states that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 175(c) also states that no more than two-thirds of the members of representative bodies in each county government shall be of...
2018-11-2946 min
Otherwise?Episode 79: Otherwise? Live - Public Finance and the Right to Food [Part 2]In our first ever live event, we were joined by Joy Ndubai, Kwame Owino and Alex Owino to discuss how public finance and tax justice intersect with our right to food in Kenya. What is tax justice and public finance, and how do they interact with our access to affordable food? What current circumstances/challenges do we face as a country that make us food insecure? In which ways do the current policy frameworks and systems in Kenya undermine food security and the right to food and how does our public finance system alleviate or contribute to...
2018-11-2249 min
Otherwise?Episode 78: Otherwise? Live - Public Finance and the Right to Food [Part 1]In our first ever live event, we were joined by Joy Ndubai, Kwame Owino and Alex Owino to discuss how public finance and tax justice intersect with our right to food in Kenya. What is tax justice and public finance, and how do they interact with our access to affordable food? What current circumstances/challenges do we face as a country that make us food insecure? In which ways do the current policy frameworks and systems in Kenya undermine food security and the right to food and how does our public finance system alleviate or contribute to...
2018-11-221h 10
Otherwise?Episode 77: The Problem With Our RoadsOn Monday, 12th November, 2018, commuters woke up to a matatu "strike" that saw fares rise to almost double (or even triple) what they normally are. The cause of the strike? The government's declaration that it would once again begin enforcing the "Michuki Rules" commencing that day. Many were left stranded as matatus were pulled off the road to comply with the rules, which had never been revoked in the first place. This was the government's response to a bus accident at Fort Ternan that claimed 58 lives. Today, we're joined by Constant Cap, an urban planner, to talk...
2018-11-1541 min
Otherwise?Episode 76: The Sound of ProtestThe Blankets and Wine Festival, a pioneer in the Kenyan live music scene, turned 10 years old on 3rd November 2018. We are joined by its founder, Muthoni Drummer Queen, to talk about its journey, the growth of live music in Kenya and how it has evolved in the past decade, as well as what the future holds for Kenyan music. Press play! Image Credit: Blankets and Wine
2018-11-0842 min
Otherwise?Episode 75: Intellectual Property 101Intellectual Property (IP) is intangible property that arises from the mind/human intellect – it could be anything from inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names and images used in commerce. Legal rights are derived from this intellectual activity in industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields. There are two main types of IP – industrial property and copyright. We are joined by June Okal,a technology, media and telecommunications lawyer passionate about the law and technology, to discuss intellectual property in Kenya. Resources The Copyright Act (2001) The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2017 The...
2018-11-0147 min
Otherwise?Episode 74: Exam CheatingKCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations kicked off on Monday 22nd October, 2018. 664, 586 students will be taking the exams, which test what they have studied in their four years of secondary education in three to four weeks. This year, the state has undertaken many tyrannical measures to stop exam cheating, including threatening to send parents of children caught cheating to jail. We're joined by Nyambura Mutanyi, a multi-disciplinary artist who has been active in crafting education policy, to discuss what causes exam cheating, how prevalent it is (less than 1% of candidates are caught cheating), and what we...
2018-10-251h 02
Otherwise?Episode 73: When Technology Meets ViolenceTechnology Assisted Violence Against Women (TAVAW) comprises acts of gender-based violence that are committed through the use of Information and Communication Technologies(ICTs), such as phones, the Internet, social media platforms, and email. Many questions arise: is online violence really violence? Why is TAVAW such an important issue to address? What are the ways in which women experience technology assisted violence? What are its consequences, and how can we stop it? We're joined by Muthoni Maingi, a digital media strategist, to talk about this. Press play! Resources Ending Technology-Assisted Violence Against Women in...
2018-10-1835 min
Otherwise?Episode 72: The Impact of Interest Rate CappingIn September 2016, Kenya passed the Banking Amendment Act, creating interest rate controls where there were none before. It sets the maximum lending rate at no more than 4% above the Central Bank base rate; and the minimum interest rate granted on a deposit held in interest earning accounts with commercial banks to at least 70% of the same rate. There has been an ongoing debate in the two years since on whether we should remove these controls because of their perverse effect on our economy. Today, we're joined by Elizabeth Wangechi, the Head of Research at Genghis Capital, to...
2018-10-1141 min
Otherwise?Episode 71: In Data We TrustKenya currently has two draft Data Protection bills both tabled in 2018. One is a Senate Bill sponsored by senator Gideon Moi, while the other is a National Assembly Bill sponsored by the Ministry of ICT. The right to privacy is a fundamental human right. In Article 31, our constitution says that every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have - their person, home or property searched; their possessions seized; information relating to their family or private affairs unnecessarily required or revealed; or the privacy of their communications infringed. Today we're joined by L...
2018-10-0445 min
Otherwise?Episode 70: Financing the Kenyan GovernmentThe 2018 Finance Act, one of the most controversial in recent times, was passed into law on 21st September 2018 despite public opposition. Today we're joined by Mokeira Nyagaka, a research analyst at the International Budget Partnership Kenya, to talk about public finance, which is the management of a country's revenue, expenditure and debt through government institutions. Do our public finance policies help us achieve growth, stability, equity and efficiency? Are they in line with our constitution? What is a finance bill, and what is its role in public finance? What are the other laws that govern public finance...
2018-09-271h 03
Otherwise?Episode 69: Fuelling Our NightmaresBeginning September 1st 2018, 16% VAT was applied on petroleum products, sparking nationwide uproar. This tax on petroleum products was first proposed by the VAT Act (2013) and scheduled to kick in in September 2016. However, in 2016, it was postponed by another 2 years. Before the price increase, petrol was KES 113.73, diesel was KES 102.74 and kerosene was KES 84.95 in Nairobi. After VAT was applied on September 1st, the price of petrol became KES 127.80, diesel KES 115.00 and kerosene KES 97.41. Kenyans are now paying 44% in taxes per litre of fuel. We're joined by Ramah Nyang, a journalist, to discuss this increase in tax and t...
2018-09-2049 min
Otherwise?Episode 68: Women and the 2017 ElectionsIn the August 2017 general election, we had 9 women running for Governor, 25 for Senate, 115 for Member of National Assembly (MNA), and 261 for Member of County Assembly (MCA). That was a total of 410 women aspirants, which was even lower than the number in the 2013 election, which was 449. To compare, the total number of candidates for these positions was: 210 for Governor, 1,893 for both MNA and Senate, 11,858 for MCA, and 8 men are running for president. Only 9% of the candidates were women. Three women made history by becoming Kenya's first female governors, and three others became the first elected female senators (in 2013...
2018-09-131h 10
Otherwise?Episode 67: Sex and the Sugar Daddy Last Week, BBC Africa Eye released a three part series titled Sex and the Sugar Daddy (or Sugar in short) that has driven a lot of conversation about sponsors both online and offline. Today we're joined by the film-maker behind the series, Nyasha Kadandara, to talk about why she made the series, what she learned, and what she thinks the way forward is. Press play! Resources Sex and the Sugar Daddy Bridget Achieng: "Baby girl, nothing goes for nothing" - BBC Africa Eye "If he's asking me to sleep w...
2018-09-0651 min
Otherwise?Episode 66: The Politics of Food in NairobiThe Kenyan Constitution states that every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality. This means that the people of Kenya are entitled to food security, which is when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient,, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences. This week, we are joined by Grace Githiri, an urban planner and Geographical Information Systems expert, to look at food security in Nairobi, where 63 - 70% of the population lives in informal settlements which occupy...
2018-08-3050 min
Otherwise?Episode 65: The Oil in TurkanaThe Lake Turkana basin is an over 70,000-square-kilometer region that is home to Lake Turkana, East Africa's most saline lake, and the largest desert lake in the world. The area is home to pastoral communities like the Turkana, Samburu, El Molo, Rendille, Gabra and Dassanach. It is also a breeding ground for Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and many snakes. On 26th March 2012, Mwai Kibaki announced the discovery of oil in Turkana County by Tullow Oil, a British company. Three wells had been discovered, holding at least 250 million barrels. Since then, more oil has been discovered, and it is estimated hat w...
2018-08-2345 min
Otherwise?Episode 64: #Repeal162The #Repeal162 movement is a part of a long struggle for the recognition and protection of the rights of the LGBTQI community in Kenya. It consists of 2 ongoing court cases: Eric Gitari v Attorney General & another (Petition no. 150 of 2016) and John Mathenge and 7 others v Attorney General (Petition no. 234 of 2016). These petitions ask the court to declare Section 162 (a) and (c) and section 165 of the Penal Code (Cap 63) as unconstitutional, and therefore inapplicable, in Kenya. We're joined by Kari Mugo of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) to talk about #Repeal162 as well as...
2018-08-1536 min
Otherwise?Episode 63: The Business of MusicIn 2017, the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) had its license refuse to be renewed by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) for failure to submit its audited financial statements and amounts paid in royalties to its members. MCSK is a membership organization that has existed since 1983 (for music authors, publishers, composers, and arrangers), and it is supposed to collect royalties derived from mechanical/reproduction rights, performing rights and synchronization rights and distribute at least 70% to its members. This has not been the case in recent years. We are joined by Dan Aceda, a musician and director at t...
2018-08-0947 min
Otherwise?Episode 62: Tax Justice in KenyaThis week, we explore tax justice, which looks at the intersection between taxation, inequality and human rights. Why do we pay taxes? We have a social contract with the state. We give up some freedoms to it, and in return we receive security, healthcare, education, infrastructure and other services that enable us to become a functional and prosperous society. To invest in these social programs and in public property, which enables our goal, the government needs steady/sustainable financing from taxes. Taxes are also used to re-distribute money that is concentrated in the upper classes to the middle and lo...
2018-08-021h 19
Otherwise?Episode 61: Stop Killing Us7th July in Kenya is Saba Saba Day, a historic day on which Kenyans protested successfully for multiparty democracy in 1990, with many losing their lives and getting beaten and tortured by the police. This year, there was the Saba Saba March for Our Lives, organized by the Social Justice Centres Working Group, which consists groups from Mathare, Dandora, Kayole, Mukuru, Kibra, Kamukunji and Githurai. The demand? An end to extrajudicial killings, investigations into the ones that have occurred, and most importantly, justice. We're joined by Wangui Kimari, Urban Anthropologist and Participatory Action Research Coordinator, Mathare Social Justice Centre, to d...
2018-07-2650 min
Otherwise?Episode 60: Nai Ni Who?This episode is dedicated to everyone who lives and loves in Nairobi, as well as everyone who's been in the city. We're joined by Mutheu Mbondo, one of the organizers of Nai Ni Who?, a festival which explores of Nairobi, celebrating the good, the bad & the possibilities. This year, the festival is from July 3rd to August 8th, and the neighbourhoods include the Jua Kali area and Burma Market, which are both in Kamukunji; Kibra, Eastleigh, Mukuru and Huruma; there are inter-neighbourhood games in Lang'ata, a crafts tour as well as a game tour in Karen; a city parade i...
2018-07-1944 min
Otherwise?Episode 59: RafikiRafiki, a film by Wanuri Kahiu, is a story about two young women who fall in love, despite their families being on opposing sides of the Kenyan political divide. It is adapted from the 2007 Caine Prize-winning short story, Jambula Tree, by Ugandan writer Monica Arac de Nyeko. On 12th April 2018, it was announced that it would debut at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category in May 2018. This made it the first Kenyan feature film to achieve this feat. On 27th April 2018, the head of Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), Ezekiel Mutua, announced that...
2018-07-1230 min
Otherwise?Episode 58: The Cybercrimes ActOn 16th May 2018, Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, despite critiques from multiple parties, including the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), Article 19, and the Kenyan Union of Journalists, among others. As a result, BAKE moved to court to challenge this law, and 26 out of 46 sections were suspended, and this was upheld earlier this week until a later hearing in October 2018. While some people think it does the important work of protecting our country against cybercrime and protecting the digital economy, others rightfully believe it is an attack on internet freedoms, constitutional rights...
2018-07-0536 min
Otherwise?Episode 57: #SwitchOffKPLCBetween October 2017 and January 2018, many Kenyans came online to complain about electricity bills that were double, and in some cases triple, what they normally pay. These were, in essence, backdated electricity bills intended to recover KES 10.1 billion in fuel costs that Kenya Power had included in their financial statements for the year ending June 30 2017 with the intent to recover from consumers. As a result, Apollo Mboya and the Electricity Consumers Society of Kenya moved to court to stop this action. This marked the beginning of the #SwitchOffKPLC Campaign. We are joined by Jerotich Seii, a humanitarian and...
2018-06-2849 min
Otherwise?Episode 56: Women's Lives MatterBetween May 2017 and June 2018, 47 Ugandan women have been found brutally murdered; having been kidnapped and sexually assaulted or raped. Only three suspects have been arrested in relation to these kidnappings and murders, and none of them has been convicted or jailed. The investigations have been slow, and as a result, Ugandan women have decided to protest against the slow response by the police on the 30th of June 2018. Today, we're joined by Godiva Akullo, Deputy Director of Chapter Four Uganda and one of the conveners of the Women's Protest Working Group. We talk about femicide, violence against women, and...
2018-06-2130 min
Otherwise?Episode 55: #DeCOALonizeKenya is currently in the middle of a heavy debate about the proposed 1050 megawatt coal power plant in Lamu. This plant will cost us 2 billion dollars, which is about 202 billion Kenya Shillings. We also seek to start the mining of coal at the Mui Basin in Kitui, where Africa's largest coal reserves are located. This has been met with much protest, due to the harmful effects of coal to people and the environment. We are joined by Omar Elmawi, a coordinator of the #deCOALonize movement, to talk about why we must resist the setup of this power...
2018-06-1322 min
Otherwise?Episode 54: The Cost of CorruptionThe last few weeks have been jarring for Kenyans as we found out that we'd had yet another maize scandal, and this time we lost KES 2 billion at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to 21 people. We also found out that we lost KES 9 billion to 10 companies that were irregularly awarded National Youth Service (NYS) tenders. That's a total of KES 11 billion. A few days ago, it also came to light that we had lost between KES 70 - 95 billion at the Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC). This scandal is still unfolding. Today, were joined by Anzetse Were (@An...
2018-06-0729 min
Otherwise?Episode 53: Iko Nini?Welcome back to Season 2 of Otherwise?! We're so happy to be back. Today, we're going to be looking at some of the legal issues that may be pertinent in Kenya in 2018, including freedom of expression, press freedom, fake news, data protection, cyberterrorism, the two-thirds gender principle, and the #Repeal162 movement. We're joined by Jeptum Bullut, a lawyer and partner at BMN Advocates, to discuss them. Press play! Resources Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018 Court suspends Cybercrime Act pending bloggers' case High Court suspends portions of cybercrime law ...
2018-05-3126 min
Otherwise?Episode 52: The Kenyan ExperimentIt's been a year of podcasting here at Otherwise?, and to mark this occasion we have Owaahh of Owaahh.com with us this week to discuss what we call the Kenyan experiment. In what order did the communities currently settled in Kenya arrive? How did they interact? What impact did colonialism have on tribe/ethnicity in Kenya? How did this change or remain the same at independence? Why have we entrenched ethnocentrism as a means of organization in our successive governments? What do we know about secessionist movements in Kenya? Has the Kenyan experiment failed? Do we have any h...
2017-08-242h 11
Otherwise?Episode 51: #KenyaDecidesThe 2017 general election is now behind us, and we are still asking ourselves questions and processing how it went. This week, we are joined by Mark Kaigwa of Nendo and Odanga Madung of OdipoDev to discuss how the election season played out online. How many Kenyans are there on social media? How does the diaspora feature in conversation? Is fake news new to the Kenyan scene? What role did Cambridge Analytica play in this election? What can we learn from the April Primaries? Were there any missed opportunities in the vice-presidential and presidential debates? What did a robot learn...
2017-08-173h 14
Otherwise?Episode 50 (Part 1): As You Head To The BallotTomorrow is D-day – we will have our second election since we got the 2010 constitution, and our sixth as a multi-party democracy. What do you need to be aware of as you head to the ballot? We've got you covered, press play! Resources FACTSHEET: What you need to know about Kenya's 2017 general election Women gear up for elections in Kenya Why Are Kenyan Elections So Expensive? UchaguziBot PigaKura.com How to be a citizen Observer without hanging around the polling station all day Patrick Gat...
2017-08-0710 min
Otherwise?Episode 49: Women and Youth in Kenyan PoliticsNOTE: the figures quoted for the number of women running were from UN women and UNDP. According to Africa Check, however, we have 9 women running for Governor, 131 women running for Member of National Assembly, 21 running for Senator, 299 running for County Woman Representative, and 900 running for Member of County Assembly. That comes to a total of 1,360, out of a total of 14,523 candidates, coming to 9.36%. We are now four days away from the 2017 general election. This week, we are joined by Nerima Wako, Executive Director of Siasa Place, to discuss the role of women and youth in Kenyan politics, a...
2017-08-031h 24
Otherwise?Episode 48: Arts & Culture and The Kenyan IdentityWe are only 11 days away from the 2017 general election, and this week, we are joined by Dr. Njoki Ngumi of The Nest Collective and HEVA Fund to discuss sports, arts and culture, and what it means to be Kenyan. Has the Jubilee Coalition delivered on its promises that were focused on bolstering sports, arts and culture? Why is Kenya so hostile to its artists? What can we learn from the closure of Phoenix Theatre? What challenges does our sports sector face that prevent it from being as vibrant as we'd want it to be? What role does culture play...
2017-07-271h 28
Otherwise?Episode 47: Digital Citizenship In The Silicon SavannahWe are 18 days away from Kenya's 2017 general election, and this week, we are joined by Nanjira Sambuli, Digital Equality Advocacy Manager at the Web Foundation and awesome digital citizen to talk about ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in Kenya, which is billed as the Silicon Savannah. Has the Jubilee Coalition delivered on its 2013 manifesto promises? Will we have an internet shutdown during/after this election? How is Kenya's tech ecosystem doing? How does it compare to the rest of Africa? Is the KFCB overstepping its mandate? Is what Ezekiel Mutua is doing censorship? How about the NCIC and its...
2017-07-201h 53
Otherwise?Episode 46: A Look At Kenya's EconomyNOTE: The Isiolo International Airport has since been completed and is operational. We are now 25 days away from the general election, scheduled for 8th August 2017. This week, we talk about Kenya's economy with Kwame Owino, the CEO of the Institute of Economic Affairs. Has the Jubilee Coalition delivered on the promises in its 2013 manifesto? Is our approach to infrastructure such as roads and rail the correct one? Have we managed to make Kenya a manufacturing hub as we envisioned? Do Kenyans have access to decent and affordable housing? If not, why is that? Why don't we have...
2017-07-121h 42
Otherwise?Episode 45: Reforming Kenya's Education SystemWe are 32 days away from the 2017 General Election. This week, we are joined by Dr. Wandia Njoya to discuss education in Kenya, with a focus of curriculum reform. What do we want to achieve when we educate our children/citizens? Are we focused on the right things? How did the missionaries and colonialists affect how we still educate our children today? Why did we switch from the 7-4-2-3 curriculum to 8-4-4? What did this switch do to our country? What are we hoping to achieve by switching from 8-4-4 to 2-6-3-3-3? Is...
2017-07-061h 35
Otherwise?Episode 44: The State of Kenya's HealthcareWe are now 39 days away from the 2017 General Election. This week, we speak with Dr. Mercy Korir, a medical doctor and healthcare correspondent, on the state of health services in Kenya, with a focus on the last five years. Has the Jubilee coalition fulfilled the promises they made in their 2013 manifesto regarding healthcare? Why is it that healthcare practitioners have been on strike so much? Are we in the middle of a Cholera outbreak? What role does leadership and governance play when it comes to healthcare? What is the role of NHIF? How can we make Kenya a healthier...
2017-06-291h 33
Otherwise?Episode 43: The State vs The MediaWe are now 46 days away from this year's general election. This week, we talk to Christine Mungai, a writer and journalist, about Kenya's media. We talk about the July 2013 media breakfast at State House, the laws this government has passed to undermine press freedom; the impact media ownership and advertising have on what gets covered; the intimidation of journalists, bloggers and social media users; censorship by Ezekiel Mutua and the KFCB, and the 2017 general election. How are we doing as compared to the rest of the region and the world when it comes to media freedom? How does the...
2017-06-221h 14
Otherwise?Episode 42: A Look At Kenya's Foreign PolicyWe are 53 days away from this year's general election, and this week, we talk to Nanjala Nyabola, a writer and policy analyst, about Kenya's foreign policy. In 2014, for the first time since our independence, we published a written foreign policy document. Its vision is the pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous and globally competitive Kenya, and its mission is to project, promote and protect Kenya's interests and image globally through innovative diplomacy, and contribute towards a just, peaceful and equitable world. How are we doing so far? Press play to find out! Resources Kenya Foreign Policy
2017-06-151h 28
Otherwise?Episode 41: Building The People's Political PartyWe are 60 days away from the 2017 General Election, and this week, we talk to Scheaffer Okore, the vice chairperson of the Ukweli Party, on what it means to be an active citizen, why they founded the party, what challenges they faced when starting it, how they are different from other political parties, how they propose to increase the representation of the youth, women and other marginalized groups in power, why they are crowd-funding chairperson Boniface Mwangi's campaign for Starehe MP, and most importantly, how they want to change Kenya through governance and leadership. Press play! Resources Episode 40: Election 2017 - An...
2017-06-081h 13
Otherwise?Episode 40: Election 2017 - An OverviewWe're now two months away from the 2017 General Election, so we thought we'd do a status check. As we've learnt from past Kenyan elections, and recent elections worldwide, election coverage is very important, and we've seen media coverage get used to results in wild directions. So today, we ask and answer a few questions. Why is this election important? Who are the key players? What is at stake? Press play! Resources Statistics of Voters IEBC Registered Voters Per Constituency 2017 Half of 19mn Kenyan voters are from Rift Valley, Eastern and Central 1,500 Kenyans in diaspora listed as...
2017-06-0109 min
Otherwise?Episode 39: Afropolitanism and Other StoriesThis week, I share some interesting highlights from a daily writing experiment I'm running over at adventuresandexperiments.com where people send me writing prompts on issues that are of interest to them and I respond with my perspective. For example: What are your views regarding the criminalization of attempted suicide [in the Kenyan context]? Shouldn't anyone choose if they want to die? Why do we need borders in today's society? Aren't we all the same people after all? Thoughts on Afropolitanism aka ugali fries, muratina mojitos etc? Press play! :) Resources #13: Should attempted suicide be decriminalized?
2017-05-2516 min
Otherwise?Episode 38: Let's Talk About MaizeYet again, because we are experiencing the effects of a drought, we have a food shortage, and food prices have gone up. 2 kilos of sugar are going for 400 shillings, and until very recently, 2 kilos of maize flour were retailing for 150 to 200 shillings. Recently, to reverse this, KRA lifted the import ban on maize, and opened a window for duty free imports of both yellow and white maize. The first shipment of the maize got here in record short time. People suspect that we are in the middle of yet another maize scandal, so we will talk about this entire...
2017-05-1811 min
Otherwise?Episode 37: Now What?This past week has been a downer for me news-wise, what with the news that the US government (through USAID) is suspending its support of the Ministry of Health's departments due to corruption and weak accounting practices. This support is worth KES 2.1 billion, and affects crucial health services. We also found out that the Jubilee campaign has engaged Cambridge Analytica, a firm said to be behind Donald Trump's victory in the US and the Brexit vote in Britain. I've been asking myself: what does this mean? Press play to find out. Resources USAID suspends funding for health ministry departments...
2017-05-1109 min
Otherwise?Episode 36: Kenya's Middle ClassThis week, we're gonna talk about Kenya's middle class, or what I like to call Schrodinger's middle class – you know, the guys powerful enough to cause the price fluctuation of goods through their tweets, while not being powerful enough at the ballot box to cause change through their votes. What is the middle class? Who is a middle class person? Why does this matter? Press play to find out! Resources Estimation of Size of the Middle Class and Main Characteristics Estimation of the Middle Class (short version) Why middle class Kenyans are living a lie East Africa's growing middle class hit...
2017-05-0412 min
Otherwise?Episode 35: The Kenyan ConditionThis 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! Re...
2017-04-2711 min
Otherwise?Episode 34: The Upright AfricanOne 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...
2017-04-2011 min
Otherwise?Episode 33: Extrajudicial KillingsOn 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 su...
2017-04-1311 min
Otherwise?Episode 32: Kenya's Budget 2017/18Kenya'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...
2017-04-0611 min
Otherwise?Episode 31: The Political ConLike many other Kenyans, I find myself constantly wondering about the hold our political class has on us, and why they continue to hoodwink and oppress us with impunity and consistency. I have analyzed our systems, institutions and approach to governance for over five years in my work – yet somehow I still find myself coming back to this. This past week, my run in with a street con artist gave me insight as to how and why this happens. Press play! Resources The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time Can You Spot A Lia...
2017-03-3008 min
Otherwise?Episode 30: The Dangers Of MilitarizationLast week, on March 18th 2017, Uhuru Kenyatta traveled to Dhobley Military camp in Somalia to visit the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops stationed there as part of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission stationed there. He wore his military fatigues (they come with his role as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces). This happened just a few weeks after a US Congressman blew the whistle on a US$ 418 million arms deal that Kenya has with a US based company to buy 12 weaponized crop dusters and two other weapons that he claims involved faulty contracting practices, fraud and unfair...
2017-03-2312 min
Otherwise?Episode 29: Political Party NominationsThis week, we begin to focus on our upcoming general election, starting with the political party nominations that are in the near future. Our representatives have been making many promises and inflammatory statements across the board, and there has also been a lot of party hopping. We take a look at why the nominations are so important, why there is so much party hopping, and what we can expect of the nominations. Press play! Resources Uhuru signs new law allowing politicians to merge parties Basic requirements for political parties Elections Act ...
2017-03-1708 min
Otherwise?Episode 28: Why Is Food So Expensive?This week, you guys said you wanted to talk about food inflation - that is, the increase in the prices of food in Kenya. Between February 2016 and February 2017, the cost of food and non alcoholic beverages has gone up by 16.5%. The cost of making a meal has gone up by as much as 30%, and this week, we ask why. Why is food so expensive, and what can be done to make sure that we reverse this trend? Press play! Resources Episode 24: Drought Begins With You Food Inflation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Causes and Policy Implications Kenya Inflation Rate Kenya Food Inflation...
2017-03-0912 min
Otherwise?Episode 27: How Do We Heal?It's 2017, and the world feels like it's falling apart. The gains that we have made as a people feel like they are being erased - instead of love, acceptance and growth, we have hatred, intolerance and division. The fight against fascism, racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia feels like it's about to be lost. Is it too late? No, not if we arm ourselves with the right knowledge and tools, and fight against this wave. There is hope on the other end of this tunnel. Press play! Resources Winning Arguments: Interaction Dynamics and Persuasion Strategies in Good-faith...
2017-03-0211 min
Otherwise?Episode 26: Kenya In 3 WordsWe made it to episode 26! That's half a year of podcasting guys, let's pat ourselves on the back! :D This episode, I ran my first experiment. Recently, I sat down and a thought jumped into my mind - wouldn't it be nice if we (Kenyans) could map a course between where we are now as a country, and where we wanna be? And, wouldn't it be nice if this were a simple exercise that anyone could do in less than 3 minutes? I wanted to know: 1. If you could describe Kenya as it is n...
2017-02-2412 min
Otherwise?Episode 25: An Opposition ScorecardIt's an election year, and that means that the usual suspects are jostling for your votes, and ultimately, power. In a lot of my work, I focus on governance and socio-cultural issues, and when it comes to governance, the spotlight is usually on the incumbent government. We are able to measure their effectiveness and performance based on the promises they made and the state of the country as is. But what about the opposition? How may we rate them? We answer this question today. Press play! Resources Effective Opposition Strategies: A Foundation for Improved Quality of...
2017-02-1609 min
Otherwise?Episode 24: Drought Begins With YouKenya is being ravaged by drought this year - this should not come as a surprise, since we are a drought prone country where 80% of the land is arid and semi arid. Yet, from the reaction of our government, you would think that the drought is indeed a surprise. So, this week, we look at the effects that drought has on our economy, and why our government should take it more seriously. Resources Drought conditions and management strategies in Kenya Hundreds of thousands face hunger in Kenya Drought in Kenya: Climatic, Economic and Socio-Political Factors WFP...
2017-02-0913 min
Otherwise?Episode 23: Fascism Is The New BlackIf it feels like we're on the verge of the breakdown of democracy as we know it, it's because we are. World over, it's like the rug has been pulled from underneath our feet. Far right nationalism, racism, sexism, xenophobia, classism and other strata are being used to divide us. The word fascism is experiencing a resurgence - it keeps flying around, and not many people know exactly what it is. People are rebelling against it. But for Kenyans, this is nothing new. It's just more pronounced now that everyone else is living how we've been living. ...
2017-02-0219 min
Otherwise?Episode 22: 5 Myths About VotingIt's that time of the year again! Election season is upon us, and you know what this comes with - all manner of scaremongering to get you to register to vote, and vote for specific candidates. Some candidates will beg for your vote, others will ask, and others will lie and issue threats. This week, we explore popular myths around elections and voting in Kenya. Is it true that voting is your duty as a citizen? If you don't, do you have a right to complain? Press play! Resources On Voting Political Rights
2017-01-2607 min
Otherwise?Episode 21: #LipaKamaTenderWelcome to Kenya, where doctors signed a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Ministry of Health in 2013, and the employer has yet to register or implement it, yet we have enough money to grant our MPs a KES 36 billion send off package while claiming we have no money to pay the doctors. It has been 45 days since the strike began (however, this episode was recorded on day 43), and the government shows no sign of taking seriously the suffering that Kenyans have undergone because of their refusal to treat our healthcare providers like human beings. This week, we...
2017-01-1951 min
Otherwise?Episode 20: Best And Worst Of 2016We 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...
2016-12-1523 min
Otherwise?Episode 19: The Gambian MiracleIt'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...
2016-12-0812 min
Otherwise?Episode 18: Daima KenyaMany 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...
2016-12-0117 min
Otherwise?Episode 17: Social Media vs The TruthAfter 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...
2016-11-2414 min
Otherwise?Episode 16: The Art Of ProtestProtests 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
2016-11-1714 min