Otherwise?

It'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!

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Kenya 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.

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If 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.

This week, we discuss the ins and outs of fascism, why it is so dangerous, and what you can do to stop it. Press play!

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It'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!

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On Voting

Political Rights

Voting is a right, but it's not a duty

If you don't vote, you still have every right to complain

There's no such thing as a 'wasted vote'

Why Do The Poor Vote For The Rich? Trump, Berlusconi, And The Empire Of Lies

Welcome 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 speak with Dr. Judy Karagania, who takes us through the history of the CBA, what it means for them as doctors and for us as their patients, and how we can support them in their quest to improve our public healthcare. Press play!

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Presspass: Are the doctors stubborn on the CBA issue or is the government insincere?

Musyimi Task Force Report

Collective Bargaining Agreement between KMPDU and the Ministry of Health

One Page Version of the CBA

We 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!

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How whistleblower's secret note to investors brought Chase Bank to its knees

Why Kenyan Banks Fail

Revealed: Taxpayers lose Sh5bn in NYS-style Afya House theft

Media players demand axing of Muraguri for threatening journalist over Sh5bn fraud

Imported mobile clinics lying at NYS yard

#LipaKamaTender

President Kenyatta rebukes agencies for failure to tame corruption

Dear Uhuru Kenyatta

Episode 5: Why Do We Hate Our Women?

Outrage Is The New Black: On Vera Sidika and The Campus Diva

{PHOTOS} Tanker explosion kills 40 along Nairobi-Nakuru Highway

Motorists blame Naivasha tragedy on irregularly erected bumps

Everlast • Naiboi • Kristoff - Gudi Gudi (Official Video)

Schools calendar overhauled in new war against exam cheating

CS Matiang'i reforms curb KCPE cheating

[VIDEO] Kenyans taking bribe money from a police officer

Police officers sacked for blocking Uhuru's motorcade while allegedly taking bribe

#theTrend - Meet Akothee Kenya's richest musician

#TakeBackKenya

It'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 the last of them? I hope so. Press play! Resources The marbles have spoken: Gambians party after voting out 22yr ruler in shock election upset Gambia president-elect Adama Barrow talks to Al Jazeera Gambia's Adama Barrow says shock win heralds 'new hope' The Gambia's Yahya Jammeh The Gambian Dictator Who Kills His Own Family Members To Stay In Power Witchcraft and execution: the darker side of Gambia Bitter medicine: how Gambian president claims to cure Aids Gambian President to Build Controversial Herbal Medicine Hospital for HIV Patients Gambia election: Government shuts down internet as President Yahya Jammeh faces threat to 22-year rule Gambia's president warns against protests after elections Gambia vote a roll of the marbles Gambians cast votes with marbles instead of ballots The Gambia: seven facts about the country leaving the Commonwealth The 7 worst things Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh has ever said about gay people Gambia's president threatens to slit the throats of gay men

Many 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 a good or bad thing? Press play to find out!

Resources

Boniface Mwangi's Tweets

What is Patriotism?

National Anthems: A Call to Arms

Notes on Nationalism

My Land Is Not Kenya: The Folly Of Patriotism

Image Credit: Pond5

Title Credit: Daima Kenya (a song by Eric Wainaina)

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!

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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!

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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