Kenyan blogs

October 21, 2011

Kenya has seen a dramatic increase not only in the number of bloggers but also people who visit the sites with wide varieties of content. Focus on major issues of interest varied according to the unfolding situation at the point in time.

For example the disputed post election results in 2007 dominated debate on the country’s blog and online forums. At the moment political issues and the country’s state of security are the priorities.

The dominating discussion at the moment is the decision by the Kenyan government to deploy troops to hunt down Al-shabaab terror groups who have threatened to target focal installations in Nairobi following abduction of two European tourists in the coastal town of Lamu.

Among other Kenyan blogs are Afrigadget, Gathara’s World, Mentalacrobatics, Kenyan Pundit, Thinker’s Room, Kenyan Urban Narrative among others.

Through internet survey it has been established that issues raised for social media include music gospel and other hits, education, power crisis, health, women matters, economy, Loving Football, African Entrepreneurs and the like.

Other blogs continue to report the unfolding situation at Kibera where the largest slums in Africa are located. The aim was not to put the residents to shame but to remind authorities of the obligation to provide decent settlements to the people.

As for blogs in Tanzania, first of all they are limited in number but also reporting on various issues like their Kenyan counterparts. However, strength of issues presented differ basically with less intensity in terms of criticism.

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Damisa Moyo

October 20, 2011

The name of Dr Dambisa Moyo goes down in record among many other female world economists who have proved extra efforts to help the world find solution(s) to economic challenges equally facing rich and poor nations.

Born in Zambia in 1969 and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. Dambisa holds a Doctorate (DPhil) that promoted her to the title of an international economist and New York Times best-selling author.

Educated at the prestigious American Harvard University, she served in her career at as consultant for the World Bank among other duties. Two major publications that drew the attention of thousands of readers were entitled; “Dead Aid” explaining why Aid is not working and proposed a better way for Africa published in 2009. Another best seller was entitled “How the West Was Lost” explaining about fifty Years of Economic Madness.

For example in the publication “Dead Aid” versions available in Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese and Dutch, the author argues that foreign aid has harmed Africa and that it should be phased out because there was another way of supporting developing nations. It became a New York Times bestseller.

The book offers proposals for developing countries to finance development, instead of relying on foreign aid. Moyo. The Financial Times summarized the book's argument: "Limitless development assistance to African governments, she argues, has fostered dependency, encouraged corruption and ultimately perpetuated poor governance and poverty. She argues that foreign aid helps perpetuate the cycle of poverty and hinders economic growth in Africa.

 Moyo's ideas are similar to those held by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda who says "Dead Aid had cultivated the aid culture in Africa. Kagame also invited Moyo to Rwanda to discuss her thesis and bought copies of the book for his entire cabinet.

During recent China-Africa Cooperation summit in Egypt, he said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao confessed to have read a book titled Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo and was pleased as the author talks about her personal experiences and draws the conclusion that China's assistance to Africa was sincere, credible, practical and efficient and is welcomed by the African people.

On Commonwealth day in March, 2011 Moyo spoke about "Women as Agents of Change" in the presence of the Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister David Cameron and 2000 guests. In the same month The Daily Beast selected her as one of "150 Extraordinary Women Who Shake the World" along with Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright and others.

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The first day of investigative journalism on internet in Dar es Salaam marked wonderful absorption of new ideas regarding the essence of data collection from multiple sources.

It was an interactive session conducted by the instructor Mr Peik Joansson and all participants to the training developed interest in the information put across. For example it was interesting to learn that investigative journalism should not necessarily focused on negative aspects but rather the urge to expose what others want to keep as secret for the benefit of the general public.

The issue of online publication was discussed at some length putting emphasis on the use of social media to ‘break news’ or rather speak out what editors might not want to come up for publication.

The real concept of investigative journalism which involves undercover reporting and analysis of documents of public record was internalized. These could involve crime, political corruption, corporate wrong doing and the like.

An extensive internet survey was carried out on various investigative stories written by different journalists across the world. Interestingly the participants dwelt in a debate whether it was right to bribe sources in order to receive secret information. Some said the initiative would not be a bribe but rather an incentive to ‘pave’ way to meet the objective

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