Viral Tea Ke - : Opinion & Editorial

Breaking the Silence: Living, Working and Healing With Schizoaffective Disorder

Ooro George — Tue, 26 May 2026 01:52:42 +0300

There is a version of me the public and my social circle has always known: the journalist, the storyteller, the cultural critic constantly observing society and documenting the lives of others with clarity and conviction.

But behind the deadlines, the LinkedIn posts, the newsroom conversations and the polished professionalism, there has also been another reality I have carried quietly for years — my experience with mental illness.

This is the first time I am publicly saying it: I live with schizoaffective disorder.

For a long time, silence felt safer. In our society, mental illness is still treated as something shameful, dangerous or career-ending. As someone working within a healthcare environment while also navigating journalism and public-facing work, I worried about perception.

I worried people would reduce me to a diagnosis instead of seeing the disciplined, ambitious and creative person I have always fought to remain. So I mastered the art of appearing “fine” even when internally, I was struggling.

One of the hardest chapters of that struggle came between August 2025 and January 2026, when I was on antipsychotic injections as part of treatment. The medication may have been clinically necessary at the time, but the experience was deeply difficult for me.

I struggled constantly with waking up in the morning. At work, I often felt overwhelmingly sleepy and physically exhausted. My productivity suffered. Conversations became difficult because I no longer had the emotional energy or motivation to engage the way I normally would. I became quieter, slower, emotionally withdrawn — almost like I was watching my own life from a distance.

What made that period particularly painful was that many people around me could see the exhaustion, but very few understood what was happening beneath it. Mental illness is already isolating. Medication side effects can deepen that isolation further. There were days I questioned whether I would ever fully feel like myself again.

And yet, amid all of this, something else happened too: I experienced support.

Working in a healthcare environment exposed me not only to medicine, but also to humanity. Some colleagues offered emotional support. Others showed psychological understanding without judgment.

Some extended professional grace during moments when I was clearly struggling to function at my usual capacity. They may never fully know how much those acts mattered to me. In a world where mental illness is often met with mockery, suspicion or silence, compassion can become life-saving.

Over time, after stopping the injections in January 2026, I slowly began reclaiming parts of myself again.

The improvement was gradual. First came slightly easier mornings. Then clearer thinking. Then the return of emotional presence, conversation, motivation and energy. Recovery did not arrive dramatically; it arrived quietly, piece by piece.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, I no longer want to hide behind silence. Not because sharing is easy, but because secrecy can become another form of suffering.

Too many people are carrying invisible battles while trying to appear functional to the world. Too many professionals fear being honest about their mental health because they think vulnerability will erase their competence. Too many Africans still grow up believing psychiatric conditions are moral failures instead of health conditions deserving care, dignity and support.

I am learning that living with schizoaffective disorder does not erase my intelligence, creativity, professionalism or future. It simply means I am human — a human being navigating a complicated condition while still trying to build a meaningful life and contribute to society.

And perhaps that is the message I most want people to understand: mental illness does not automatically destroy a person’s humanity, ambition or value. Sometimes the people smiling in meetings, writing headlines, caring for patients, creating art or showing up to work every day are also quietly fighting battles nobody sees.

For months, I kept this part of my life hidden from the public. Today, I choose honesty over fear. Not for sympathy. Not for attention. But for freedom.

Ooro George is a journalist, editor-at-large, cross-cultural curator and PR practitioner.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at vantage254@hotmail.com

NATARAJAN: Kenya’s M-Pesa Moment Holds the Key to Africa’s AI Future

admin — Fri, 22 May 2026 13:16:23 +0300

by Veerakumar Natarajan

Africa has always found its own way around barriers. When fixed-line banking proved too slow and too exclusionary, Kenya did not wait for the infrastructure to catch up. It built M-Pesa instead, a mobile payments platform that by 2022 had 50 million customers across seven African countries and processed nearly 20 billion individual transactions annually.

That story is now so well-worn that it risks becoming a cliché. But it contains a genuinely instructive logic: constrained circumstances, properly understood, can become a design brief.

Today, Africa faces a new set of constraints, around software development capacity, technical talent, and the cost of building digital tools, demands exactly the same creative leap. Meeting these challenges will require the same kind of practical innovation that previously reshaped financial inclusion across the continent.

The numbers make the challenge plain. Africa's internet economy was projected to contribute $180 billion, or 5.2% of aggregate GDP, by 2025. Meanwhile, cloud adoption is expanding at 25 to 30% annually, outpacing Europe and North America, while thousands of African companies are already experimenting with AI-enabled operations.Yet, the human infrastructure required to sustain this momentum is not keeping pace.

Unless the continent finds smarter and more scalable ways to build digital systems, Africa risks becoming the world's largest consumer of a digital future it did not help design.

The build gap is structural, not incidental

Africa’s AI challenge is not a lack of ambition or demand, but the widening gap between the pace of technological change and the availability of skills needed to support it. Across the continent, organisations are under growing pressure to build AI capability quickly, as shortages in specialised talent increasingly affect innovation, competitiveness, and the ability to fully participate in the global digital economy.

A 2024 ICT Skills Survey found that more than 28,000 high-end developer and cybersecurity roles in South Africa had to be outsourced because local talent was simply unavailable, with enterprises poaching the same scarce professionals from one another in a cycle that drives up costs and squeezes out the SMEs that form the backbone of most African economies. Nigeria and Kenya, despite recording developer population growth of 28% and 33% respectively between 2023 and 2024, still represent only a fraction of the global developer community.

The challenge is further intensified by the continued loss of skilled talent to more developed markets, limiting the continent’s ability to build and retain the expertise needed for long-term digital growth. However, this is not simply a pipeline issue that can be solved through education alone. It reflects deeper structural constraints, from uneven investment in technical infrastructure and digital training to the high cost of reliable connectivity and power instability. Across African markets, many businesses and communities are still forced to operate within systems that make full participation in the digital economy significantly harder. These are not isolated operational challenges. They are systemic barriers that risk slowing Africa’s ability to fully realise the opportunities of the AI era.

Intelligent tools as strategic infrastructure

This is precisely why the emergence of AI-assisted low-code and vibe coding approaches represents something more than a developer trend. It represents a potential structural response to a structural challenge.

Vibe coding, a term popularised by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy in 2025, refers to building functional applications through natural language descriptions rather than conventional code. You describe what you want; the system generates the structure, logic, and connections required to make it work.

For the continent’s millions of entrepreneurs operating without a developer on staff, this creates a genuine shortcut to working software, whether it is a South African small business looking to digitise operations, a Kenyan agritech startup building supply chain tools, or a Nigerian SME trying to automate customer approvals and customer service workflows.

Consider a small logistics company trying to manage deliveries across multiple regions without the resources to hire a full development team. AI-assisted low-code tools can help build routing dashboards, automate customer notifications, and digitise inventory tracking in days rather than months.

AI-assisted low-code development goes further still, bringing machine learning, predictive analytics, and self-learning algorithms into the development process, making it suitable not merely for quick prototypes but for the scalable, data-intensive applications that banking, healthcare, and logistics at continental scale genuinely require.

Recent research found that Kenya's approach to digital adoption, characterised by grassroots digital literacy programmes and simplified onboarding, demonstrates that informality need not be a barrier to digital innovation. That finding points toward something important: the tools that matter most in Africa are not necessarily the most sophisticated ones. They are the ones that meet builders where they actually are. A fast-moving startup operating out of a co-working space in Lagos's Yabacon Valley has different needs from an established financial services firm in Cape Town navigating compliance requirements, and both have different needs from the first-time builder in a smaller city with no developer network at all.

What connects all three contexts is the principle that lowering the cost and complexity of building software expands who gets to shape Africa's digital future. Africa requires massive scaling of its digital workforce, with reports indicating that 650 million training opportunities will be needed to meet the demand for digital skills across the continent by 2030. Traditional pipelines cannot close that gap at the required speed. Tools that extend the productive capacity of existing builders and draw non-technical entrepreneurs into the act of building are critical.

Leapfrogging requires foundations, not just shortcuts

The risk, and it is a real one, is mistaking these tools for a substitute for the deeper investments Africa still needs to make. As analysts have argued, mobile money dramatically increased financial inclusion but did not replace the need for a stable, well-regulated banking sector, a tension that Nigeria's rapidly maturing fintech ecosystem is navigating in real time as it moves beyond its breakout years.

The same logic applies here. Vibe coding and AI-assisted development cannot paper over the infrastructure deficits that still constrain the continent. Across many parts of Africa, inconsistent access to reliable electricity and high-quality connectivity continues to shape who can fully participate in the digital economy. While AI-powered tools may lower technical barriers to innovation, their impact will ultimately depend on broader progress in digital infrastructure, energy reliability, and equitable access to technology and stronger governance frameworks around cyber security and data sovereignty.

McKinsey has observed that Africa has a proven track record of leapfrogging traditional development pathways, from mobile payments to cloud adoption, often outpacing what established markets achieved through slower, incremental routes.

What Africa needs, then, is not a choice between vibe coding and AI-assisted development, nor between either of those and conventional software engineering. It needs an intelligent layering of all three: accessible, prompt-driven tools for the entrepreneurs and administrators who need working solutions now; robust AI-assisted platforms for the developers and institutions building systems that must scale across borders and regulatory environments; and sustained investment in producing and retaining the senior technical talent that no tool, however intelligent, can fully substitute.

Africa's AI market will be worth $16.5 billion by 2030. Whether African organisations are building that future or merely consuming it will depend on whether the means to build it are genuinely within reach, across the continent's established tech hubs and deep into the cities and towns that sit beyond them.

Veerakumar Natarajan is the Country Head of Zoho Kenya

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at vantage254@hotmail.com

MBUGUA: Why More Kenyans Are Turning Their Homes Into Cocktail Lounges

admin — Sun, 17 May 2026 19:40:29 +0300

by Lilian Mbugua

There was a time when enjoying a great cocktail felt reserved for upscale bars, luxury lounges, or occasions important enough to justify calling in a mixologist.

Today, however, cocktails have moved far beyond the bar counter. They have found a new home in our living rooms, balconies, rooftops, game nights, and brunches.

Kenya’s cocktail culture is evolving and fast. What was once considered niche has now become part of everyday social experiences, especially among young consumers seeking more personalized, experiential, and premium ways to connect. Cocktails are increasingly becoming social currency and expressions of lifestyle.

Scroll through social media, and you will notice it immediately: aesthetically poured drinks, curated hosting moments, playlist culture, and groups of friends recreating elevated experiences from the comfort of their homes.

And perhaps that is what makes this moment so exciting. Cocktail culture in Kenya is no longer confined to nightlife alone; it is becoming more democratized.

A photo of Lushasha, a mixologist.

Consumers today want premium experiences, but they also want convenience. They want drinks that fit naturally into their lifestyles without feeling complicated or intimidating. This shift is redefining not just what people drink, but how they drink.

At the centre of this evolution is a growing appreciation for effortless cocktail experiences. Ready-to-drink cocktails, for instance, are increasingly resonating with consumers because they remove the barriers that once came with cocktail enjoyment. You no longer need a fully stocked bar cart, advanced mixology skills, or a bartender on standby to enjoy a quality cocktail experience.

That is where innovations like Gilbey’s Berry Bramble are finding their moment. Gilbey’s Berry Bramble represents a new generation of cocktail experiences designed for today’s consumer: vibrant, flavourful, convenient, and social. Whether it is a spontaneous catch-up with friends, a chilled evening indoors, or a hosted dinner at home, consumers are embracing products that allow them to elevate everyday moments with ease.

The beauty of pre-mixed cocktails lies in their simplicity. Open, pour, serve, and enjoy. No complicated recipes. No pressure to “get it right”. Just consistent, refreshing flavour that fits effortlessly into modern social occasions.

More importantly, this shift speaks to a broader cultural movement: the rise of at-home socializing. Consumers are increasingly investing in creating memorable experiences within their own spaces. The living room has become the new lounge.

House parties are becoming more curated. The hosting culture is becoming more expressive. Music, food, décor, and drinks are all part of crafting intentional moments with friends and loved ones. Cocktails naturally fit into this evolution because they bring a sense of occasion to ordinary moments.

At the same time, consumers are also becoming more adventurous. They are exploring flavors, experimenting with serves, and discovering that cocktail culture does not have to feel exclusive.

For those who enjoy adding a personal touch to their drinks, Gilbey’s Special Dry Gin continues to offer a versatile foundation for simple yet timeless cocktail experiences such as the classic Gin & Tonic. It is proof that creating enjoyable cocktail moments at home does not need to feel overly technical or expensive.

In many ways, the Gin & Tonic perfectly reflects where modern cocktail culture is headed: simple, refreshing, customizable, and social.

Consumers today appreciate experiences that feel authentic and easy to replicate within their everyday lives. Whether it is adding fresh citrus, berries, herbs, or experimenting with garnish combinations, people are finding joy in making cocktails their own.

Social media has also accelerated this culture significantly. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have transformed cocktail-making into shareable entertainment content. Consumers are no longer just drinking cocktails; they are engaging with the culture around them, from discovering new serves to hosting aesthetically driven social moments.

But beyond trends and aesthetics, what we are witnessing is a deeper shift in consumer mindset. People are prioritizing connection and shared experiences.

After increasingly busy schedules and digitally dominated lives, social moments have become more intentional. Consumers want products and experiences that help facilitate those moments effortlessly. Convenience, therefore, is no longer viewed as compromising quality. If anything, convenience has become part of the premium experience itself.

That is why the future of cocktail culture in Kenya looks incredibly exciting. We are seeing a generation of consumers who are curious, expressive, and open to discovering new ways to socialize. They are seeking brands that understand their lifestyles and evolve alongside them. They are embracing experiences that feel accessible yet elevated.

Cocktails are no longer reserved for special occasions alone. They are becoming part of everyday rituals: the Friday unwind after work, the Sunday brunch soundtrack, the spontaneous link-up with friends, or the quiet solo reset after a long week. And perhaps that is the magic of modern cocktail culture: its ability to transform ordinary moments into memorable ones.

As this culture continues to evolve, Gilbey’s remains committed to creating experiences that feel contemporary, enjoyable, and accessible for today’s consumer, whether through convenient ready-to-drink innovations like Gilbey’s Berry Bramble or timeless classics crafted with Gilbey’s Special Dry Gin.

Consumers can explore Gilbey’s cocktail experiences by purchasing Gilbey’s Berry Bramble and Gilbey’s Special Dry Gin from Ke.thebar.com or stores near them and create their own magic at home. We are currently running offers on the Gilbey’s Special Dry Gin, going for Ksh999 for the 750ml.

Alcohol consumption is not for persons under the age of 18. Please drink responsibly.

Lilian Mbugua is the Brand Manager for Gilbeys Kenya.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at vantage254@hotmail.com

A photo of Gilbeys Special Dry Gin in a bar

KINYUA: How Fuel Transport Chaos Is Quietly Costing Kenya Millions & Lives

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:38:00 +0300

by Eng. Edward Kinyua, PE, OGW

Reported accidents and incidents in the petroleum sector cost the Country’s economy more than Ksh197 million in direct losses between July and December 2025.

According to statistics analysed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), 83% of these accidents occurred during the transportation of petroleum products. These losses translate to severe consequences that extend far beyond the consignor and the consignee. They ripple across communities and public systems, revealing a shared vulnerability that demands collective responsibility.

Accidents involving petroleum can result in significant financial losses, including damaged infrastructure, lost product, business interruptions, and legal liabilities. Further, the environment suffers serious degradation due to soil, surface, and groundwater contamination.

Most tragically, lives are lost, and families are permanently altered through life-threatening injuries, fatalities, and long-term disabilities. These human costs translate into broader economic burdens, including disrupted supply chains, job losses, increased insurance premiums, and strain on healthcare facilities.

Safety is a shared responsibility of the petroleum transport company, the driver, the consignee, regulatory entities, and the public in general.

EPRA’s Director of Petroleum and Gas, Eng. Edward Kinyua, making a presentation on the Draft Petroleum (Operation of Common User Petroleum Facilities) Regulations, 2020 & Petroleum (Information and Statistics) Regulations, 2020 on February 23, 2021. /EPRA

Accidents will more often result from unsafe incidents ignored over time and ultimately progress to actual occurrences. These incidents are technically classified as near misses. It is a regulatory requirement for licensees in the sector to keep a record of near misses, the main objective being the development and implementation of robust mitigation measures aimed at preventing real occurrences.

Human factors remain one of the leading causes of accidents involving petroleum transportation. To this end, petroleum transport companies are required by the Petroleum (Licensing of Petroleum Road Transportation Business) Regulations, 2025, to implement structured journey management plans for petroleum deliveries.

The plans outline safe routes based on risk assessment, designated rest points, communication protocols, and contingency measures in the event of an accident. Route planning and documentation to a great extent, reduce the likelihood of accidents and poor response during emergencies.

Monitoring driver behaviour is a key emphasis in the Regulations, and hence, petroleum transporters are required to put in place resilient Transport Safety Management Systems (TSMS). These systems require companies engaged in petroleum road transportation to institutionalise safety across their operations, including the use of tracking systems that are GPS-enabled for their fleets.

Drivers are expected to adhere to approved routes, comply with speed limits and rest requirements, and follow operational safety procedures at loading, transit, and offloading points. This moves the sector away from informal, ad-hoc driving practices to a disciplined, accountable transport system where safety decisions are deliberate, documented, and auditable.

A TSMS typically includes policies on risk assessment, incident reporting, preventive maintenance, driver training, fatigue management, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement. By embedding safety into corporate governance structures, the Regulations shift responsibility from the driver alone to the company, ensuring that safety is managed systematically rather than reactively.

Transport Safety Management Systems also strengthen regulatory oversight. Operators must demonstrate compliance through documentation, audits, and reporting, enabling EPRA and other regulators to identify systemic risks, enforce corrective actions, and benchmark industry performance. This data-driven approach allows safety interventions to be proactive, reducing the probability and severity of incidents before they escalate into disasters.

Journey management requirements and safety management systems represent a paradigm shift in derisking petroleum transportation by road. The two enable recognition that accidents are rarely isolated events but often the result of cumulative failures across several components spanning from planning, behaviour, equipment, and organisational culture.

Investigations conducted on the various accidents involving petroleum transportation reveal the need for stakeholder collaboration to implement safety practices throughout the value chain. Such collaboration can be achieved through capacity building for individual petroleum transport companies and sector players to achieve enhanced surveillance. The consignees, often Oil Marketing Companies, must also demand compliance from their logistics partners, while insurance companies should incentivise safe practices through strict policies.

The Petroleum (Licensing of Petroleum Road Transportation Business) Regulations, 2025 provide a structured approach to enhancing safety in the petroleum road transportation setting, clear requirements for licensing, vehicle standards, driver competence, including requirements for defensive driving, operational procedures, and compliance monitoring. The Regulations formalise accountability across transporters, marketers, and other operators, while empowering the regulator to enforce standards that reduce systemic risk.

The duty of care is upon all of us: policymakers, Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies, petroleum transportation companies, other road users, and members of the public to ensure effectiveness in the implementation of the Regulations. Bottom line: Do not ignore any unsafe practice on the road; it may affect you directly or indirectly.

The writer is the Director, Petroleum and Gas at the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at vantage254@hotmail.com

Viral Tea Rebrands After 5 Years: From A Vantage Point

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:56:26 +0300

For a long time, Viral Tea Ke was sometimes erroneously referred to as a gossip website or tabloid. This is no longer the case because for the first time in its five-year history, Viral Tea has a new name.

Kenya’s fast-rising digital media platform has officially rebranded to Vantage Ke, marking a bold transition from what was once perceived as a gossip digital publisher to a more expansive, forward-looking news and multimedia identity aimed at the next generation.

The move signals a deliberate evolution for the platform, which launched in February 2021 and quickly built a loyal Gen Z and young millennial audience by blending breaking news with sharp, internet-native storytelling.

With the new name, Vantage Ke positions itself as more than just a viral content hub—leaning into authority, perspective, and depth across multiple coverage areas, from current affairs to politics, business, entertainment, sports, and aviation, a first for any digital publisher in Kenya.

From Viral Hits to Strategic Storytelling

Since its inception, Viral Tea has carved out a niche as a fast, bold, and culturally tuned-in media outlet. Its content strategy—mixing news, politics, entertainment, business, and sports with digestible explainers and trend-driven angles—allowed it to punch above its weight in Kenya’s crowded digital news space.

Data from analytics platforms consistently placed it among the most visited news sites by audiences aged 18 to 34, a demographic increasingly shaping how news is consumed, shared, and monetized.

Collage of the new Vantage Ke logos

The rebrand to Vantage Ke reflects a shift in editorial ambition: less focus on unverified gossip for its own sake, more emphasis on perspective-driven journalism that still moves at the speed of the internet.

"In other words, we're a serious brand, attractive to everyone even in the corporate space. While we still maintain the virality that shot us up to popularity in the first place, we are officially one of the most respected digital publishers in the country, and the nature of the content has motivated us to go an overall level higher," Vantage Ke's founder and editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege, explained the reason for the rebrand.

Award-Winning Growth Meets Reinvention

The transition comes on the back of a major industry recognition. In 2025, the platform was named Best News & Entertainment Platform in Kenya at the eighth Annual African Excellence Awards hosted by UK-based MEA Markets.

That win effectively validated its influence and credibility, reinforcing its status as a serious player in Kenya’s digital media ecosystem—not just a social media-driven outlet. With that milestone secured, the rebrand reads as a calculated next step rather than a reset.

"While the media space, not just in Kenya but globally, is going through tough times, and we're not spared, we've not killed Viral Tea necessarily but rather made it better, maybe fixing the one thing that was preventing us from being supercharged in this ever-changing media environment," Chege adds.

AvKenya Still in the Cockpit

One of the platform’s standout innovations—AvKenya, launched in 2023—remains central to its identity even under the new brand.

As Kenya’s first aviation-focused segment by a digital-native outlet, AvKenya has built authority in a niche often overlooked by mainstream media. From breaking aviation incidents to simplifying aircraft technology and explaining the sector’s role in national events, the segment has consistently delivered specialist coverage in an accessible format.

Its success highlights Vantage Ke’s broader editorial play: own underserved beats, explain them better, and make them relevant to a younger audience who make up the majority of Kenya's population.

A Name That Signals Perspective

The shift from “Viral Tea” to “Vantage” is more than cosmetic. It reflects a repositioning from reactive, buzz-driven content to a platform that frames stories with context, insight, and clarity. In media terms, it’s a pivot from amplification to interpretation, and as Chege quips, "kuoga na kurudi soko (taking a shower and going back to the market)

The new identity suggests a platform that not only reports what’s happening but also explains why it matters—especially to a generation navigating information overload, misinformation, and rapidly shifting social narratives.

This transition, as of now, is only a soft one, with readers and followers already seeing changes to the profile icons across the website and social media platforms. The rest of the transition consists of domain name changes to come in the course of the year.

The Bigger Picture

Kenya’s digital media space is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation, with younger audiences demanding speed without sacrificing credibility. Platforms that fail to balance both risk fade into irrelevance.

Vantage Ke is betting on a hybrid model: high-velocity publishing paired with sharper editorial framing. If executed well, the rebrand could cement its role as a bridge between traditional journalism and the algorithm-driven content economy—where attention is currency, but trust is the real long game.

For a platform that built its name on virality, the pivot to vantage might be exactly what keeps it ahead of the curve in its quest to inform, educate, and entertain...from a vantage point!

WAMBUA: Kenyan Music Is Booming, So Why Aren’t Artists Cashing In?

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:27:07 +0300

by Brigid Wambua

Kenya’s music audience is more engaged than ever. By the end of 2025, Kenyan listeners had streamed over 200 million hours of music and built millions of personalised playlists.

On average, a 26-year-old streams 124 different artists every month, with interest in indigenous languages surging by 101 percent locally, according to the latest data by Spotify. These numbers reveal a curious, highly active audience, one that is eager to discover, support, and celebrate local talent.

Despite this impressive engagement, the industry continues to struggle to match the creative and commercial impact of African powerhouses like Nigeria and South Africa. Only a handful of local music artists rise to international recognition or earn enough to sustain their careers. Part of the reason is structural.

The music industry lacks mentorship and professional pathways needed to turn talent into stardom. This leaves most artists to navigate it alone, relying on social media buzz or viral hits to break through. Without structured support, even the most promising talent struggles to sustain visibility, engage audiences, and achieve financial stability.

Photo of Brigid Wambua, who is the Tusker Senior Brand Manager, KBL.

Business knowledge is another barrier. Many Kenyan artists lack understanding of royalties, publishing rights, and distribution deals. To thrive in Kenya’s vibrant creative economy, valued at approximately Ksh240 billion according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), artists must go beyond raw talent and embrace the business mechanisms, like contracts, licensing, and royalty systems, that turn their art into sustainable income.

Without this knowledge, artists cannot fully capitalise on streaming platforms, live performances, or brand partnerships, opportunities that Nigerian and South African musicians exploit effectively to generate substantial income.

Equally important is that artists understand what is expected of them as professionals in the modern music industry. Beyond creating music, they must consistently engage with their audience, maintain a strong personal brand, and strategically plan releases to sustain momentum. Success requires discipline, commitment, and an awareness of industry timelines, promotional cycles, and audience expectations.

Artists also need to recognise the value of collaboration, both with peers and industry stakeholders, and to actively seek mentorship and guidance. Understanding their role in a larger ecosystem, from managers and producers to distributors and media partners, enables them to make informed decisions, protect their rights, and maximize the potential of every opportunity. Knowledge of these responsibilities is as critical as musical talent itself.

The gap between Kenya and countries like Nigeria and South Africa is not about talent; it is about support, structure, and opportunity. Initiatives like Base to Billboardz (B2B) by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), the Tusker brand, provide the needed ecosystem to help artists navigate the industry with confidence and clarity for sustainable career growth.

This means that if we are to position our artists on global platforms, structured development programs like B2B are no longer optional, but a catalyst for sustainable music careers. By providing mentorship, business guidance, and professional networks, we will equip artists with the tools to turn talent into long-term success. With an engaged audience, a growing creative economy, and the right support, local musicians are ready to claim their place on the international stage.

The country has everything it needs to become East Africa’s music hub. That is, a talented pool of musicians, enthusiastic audiences, and a thriving creative economy.

By combining creative coaching with practical guidance on royalties, contracts, and brand partnerships, artists can build lasting careers rather than chase fleeting fame. They will learn to cultivate loyal fan bases, protect their work, and develop a distinct identity in a competitive industry.

The foundation is in place, the momentum is real, and the opportunity to shape the nation’s music future has never been greater.

Brigid Wambua is the Tusker Senior Brand Manager, KBL.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at viraltea254@gmail.com or opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Photo of the inside of a music studio. /MUSIC SCHOOL NAIROBI

MBUGUA: Why Investing in Women Could Be Kenya’s Biggest Economic Power Move Yet

admin — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:29:37 +0300

by Lilian Mbugua

As we stand on the cusp of International Women's Day 2026, it's impossible to ignore the profound transformation etched by Kenyan women across every facet of our nation.

Their influence isn't just growing; it's charting new territories, painting a future for Kenya that is undeniably brighter and more equitable than ever before. This isn't just progress; it's a testament to an indomitable spirit that consistently turns adversity into opportunity.

This year, as the world unites under the theme "Give to Gain," Kenya finds itself at the forefront of this profound philosophy.

Collage of Judy Astariko-Gilbeys Quality Analyst, and Isabella Wambui -Gilbeys Team Lead

The theme is a reflection of the Harambee spirit that has sustained our communities for generations. It’s a theme that resonates deeply with our understanding of progress: that true societal advancement isn't about individual accumulation, but about collective empowerment.

The idea is simple, yet revolutionary in its implications: by investing intentionally in women, providing them with mentorship, allocating essential resources, and creating equitable spaces for them to thrive, we don't just uplift individuals; we ignite a ripple effect of prosperity that touches every corner of our community.

At Gilbeys, the theme is woven into the fabric of our operations and partnerships. For us, International Women's Day is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength, creativity, and leadership that women bring to every level of our value chain and beyond.

When a woman is empowered, she doesn't just empower herself; she invests in her family, her community, and ultimately, the nation’s future. Studies consistently show that economies flourish, and societies become more stable and equitable when women are at the heart of decision-making and economic activity.

This year’s theme is an economic imperative and a moral compass. It calls upon institutions, leaders, and individuals alike to actively dismantle barriers and consciously build bridges for women. It goes beyond celebrating achievements to actively contributing to the creation of an environment where those achievements become the norm, not the exception.

The vibrancy of Kenyan women in business, arts, and leadership today is a testament to the initial seeds of investment planted and a powerful indicator of the exponential growth yet to come.

As a brand rooted in celebrations and shared moments, we believe in the importance of pausing to celebrate our wins together. It's about acknowledging the journeys taken, recognizing the hands that build, and toasting to the collective future we are building. Moments like International Women's Day are perfect opportunities for connection, shared joy, and heartfelt recognition.

In this spirit of shared achievement and looking forward, Gilbeys invites you to raise a glass to the extraordinary women who inspire us daily, to their resilience, their vision, and their invaluable contributions to our nation.

We also raise a special toast to all the women across our extensive value chain, whose hard work and dedication fuel not just our brand, but the very spirit of Give to Gain in Kenya. To mark this impactful occasion and facilitate those moments of celebration, we're offering Gilbey’s Special Dry Gin 750ml for just Ksh 999. This special offer is available every Thursday to Sunday exclusively on ke.thebar.com.

As we move forward into the rest of 2026, let us carry the Give to Gain philosophy with us. Let us be generous with our knowledge, our support, and our encouragement. When we give to women, we all gain a brighter, more equitable future.

Lilian Mbugua is the Brand Manager for Gilbeys at East African Breweries Plc (EABL).

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at viraltea254@gmail.com or opinion@viraltea.co.ke

A moment to toast with Gilbeys

KENDRICK COX: By 2030, 1 in 3 Gen Alphas Will Call Africa Home, Are You Ready?

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:46:08 +0300

by Emma Kendrick Cox

This year, the eldest Gen Alpha turns 16. That means they aren't just the future of our work anymore. They are officially calling for a seat at the table, and they’ve brought their own chairs.

And if you’re still calling this generation born between 2010 and 2025 the iPad generation, then I hate to break it to you, but you’re already obsolete.

To the uninitiated, they look like a screen-addicted mystery. To those of us paying attention, they are the most sophisticated, commercially potent, and culturally fluent architects Africa has ever seen.

Why? Because Alphas were not born alongside the internet. They were born inside it. And by 2030, Africa will be home to one in every three Gen Alphas on the planet.

QWERTY the Dinosaur

We are witnessing the rise of a generation that writes via Siri and speech-to-text before they can even hold a pencil.

With 63% of these kids navigating smartphones by age five, they don’t see a QWERTY keyboard as a tool. They see it as a speed bump, the long route, an inefficient use of their bandwidth. They don't need to learn how to use tech because they were born with the ability to command their entire environment with a voice note or a swipe.

Photo of Emma Kendrick Cox, Executive Creative Director at Irvine Partners. /IRVINE PARTNERS

They are platform agnostic by instinct. They don't see boundaries between devices. They’ll migrate from an Android phone to a Smart TV to an iPhone without breaking their stride. To them, the hardware is invisible…it’s the experience that matters.

They recognise brand identities long before they know the alphabet. I share a home with a peak Gen Alpha, age six and a half (don't I dare forget that half). When she hears the ding-ding-ding-ding-ding of South Africa’s largest bank, Capitec’s POS machine, she calls it out instantly: "Mum! Someone just paid with Capitec!" It suddenly gives a whole new meaning to the theory of brand recall, in a case like this, extending it into a mental map of the financial world drawn long before Grade 2.

And it ultimately lands on this: This generation doesn't want to just view your brand from behind a glass screen. They want to touch it, hear it, inhabit it, and remix it. If they can’t live inside your world, you’re literally just static.

The Uno Reverse card

Unlike any generation we’ve seen to date, households from Lagos to Johannesburg and beyond now see Alphas hold the ultimate Uno Reverse card on purchasing power.

With 80% of parents admitting their kids dictate what the family buys, these Alphas are the unofficial CTOs and Procurement Officers of the home:

The hardware veto: Parents pay the bill, but Alphas pick the ISP based on Roblox latency and YouTube 4K buffers.
The Urban/Rural bridge: In the cities, they’re barking orders at Alexa. In rural areas, they are the ones translating tech for their families and narrowing the digital divide from the inside out.
The death of passive: I’ll fall on my sword when I say that with this generation, the word consumer is dead. It implies they just sit there and take what you give them, when, on the contrary, it is the total opposite. Alphas are Architectural. They are not going to buy your product unless they can co-author the experience from end to end.

As this generation creeps closer and closer to our bullseye, the team here at Irvine Partners has stopped looking at Gen Alpha as a demographic and started seeing them as the new infrastructure of the African market. They are mega-precise, fast, and surgically informed.

Believe me when I say they’ve already moved into your industry and started knocking down the walls. The only question is: are you building something they actually want to live in, or are you just a FaceTime call they are about to decline?

Pay attention. Big moves are coming. The architects are here.

Emma Kendrick Cox is the Executive Creative Director at Irvine Partners.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at viraltea254@gmail.com or opinion@viraltea.co.ke

ISABOKE: Why Your Next LPG Gas Cylinder Might Just Text You Before It Runs Out

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:18:16 +0300

by Dorcas Isaboke-Aloo

When Esther’s phone buzzes with a “low gas” alert from the small sensor on her kitchen regulator, it is a reassurance. The message, generated by a digital system tied to her LPG cylinder, informs her that the gas in her cylinder is at 10 percent, allowing her to plan for its replacement.

This technology takes away the headache of running out of gas mid-cooking, a scenario that many are familiar with. It is an innovation that is emerging in pockets across Africa through smart technology applications and devices that are modernising how LPG is refilled, delivered, tracked, and paid for.

For decades, LPG adoption has been slow across the region. Many households still rely on biomass fuels such as wood, charcoal, or cow dung, with all the health, environmental, and safety risks that entail. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), roughly four out of five households in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to modern clean cooking fuels and technologies.

This scenario is changing, with 13 million people across sub-Saharan Africa gaining access to clean cooking annually, and 12 million acquiring LPG annually. In 2023 alone, total investment in clean cooking infrastructure rose to Ksh87.2 billion (USD 675 million), nearly a 10 percent increase from the previous year, and most of that investment went into LPG-related distribution infrastructure.

Photo of Dorcas Isaboke, a communications expert

The IEA’s modelling predicts that under a realistic “access-for-all” scenario, LPG will account for over 60 percent of the new clean-cooking access in Africa through 2040, with most of the remainder supplied by electricity or improved biomass stoves.

However, switching millions of households to LPG is only meaningful if the cylinders, distribution, and service are safe, reliable, and trusted. That is where technology plays a crucial role.

Emerging digital tools such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, smart meters, and remote telemetry are beginning to plug the safety and trust gaps in the LPG value chain.

In technical research contexts, smart-meter systems have proven capable of real-time monitoring of LPG or CO gas concentrations and alerting to leaks or dangerous gas accumulations. In regions where these technologies are paired with disciplined distribution and maintenance, they offer a path to much safer use.

Pay-as-you-go (PayGo) LPG platforms combine sensor-fitted cylinders with mobile payments and on-demand delivery. Customers pay small amounts according to their budget and receive cylinders topped up as needed, monitored by digital meters.

While there is limited published data measuring leak rates or accident reductions tied specifically to these systems in Africa, the conceptual advantage is clear. Households no longer rely on informal refilling or unverified cylinder sellers, both of which are among the leading causes of LPG-related accidents.

Beyond safety, traceability is gaining ground. Digital tagging (QR codes, Radio Frequency Identification Tags) and registry systems let suppliers track each cylinder’s history, such as refill cycles, maintenance records, and movement across distribution chains. This can significantly curb the circulation of counterfeit or dangerously worn-out cylinders, a long-standing safety concern in many LPG markets.

Take Kenya as a focal example. Historically, a large share of households depended on biomass. A 2025 national survey by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) reports that 41% of Kenyan households overall now use firewood as their main cooking fuel.

The survey also indicates that about 66% of urban households reportedly use LPG as their primary cooking fuel, versus only 23% of rural households, with uptake even higher (89%) among urban high-income families.

According to the Energy and Petroleum Bi-annual Statistics Report, LPG consumption increased by 15% in 2024, rising from 360,594 metric tonnes in 2023 to 414,861 metric tonnes in 2024. Per-capita consumption also grew, reaching 7.9 kg per person, the highest ever recorded in the country. This upward trend reflects growing household adoption, improved supply chains, and potentially rising trust in LPG as a viable, safe, and dependable cooking fuel.

LPG, combined with IoT-based monitoring, digital track-and-trace, mobile payments, and efficient delivery systems, is emerging not just as a fuel but as a service. A service built on transparency, accountability, and continuous oversight.

If policymakers, suppliers, and innovators maintain the momentum through scaling access, lowering costs, tightening regulation, and expanding data collection, tomorrow’s clean-cooking household may be safer, healthier, and more trusting than ever before.

Dorcas Isaboke-Aloo is a communications expert at Apex Porter Novelli

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

A person using his smartphone. /FILE

MBUGUA: Laugh, Cry & Conquer; How A Girl Squad Keeps You Sane

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:52:25 +0300

by Lilian Mbugua

Picture this: a sun-drenched afternoon, the gentle clinking of glasses, the warm hum of laughter filling the air. For many, this conjures the image of Galentine’s as a vibrant, often mimosa-fueled celebration of female friendship.

That’s Galentine’s, right? A day we carve out to raise a glass to our favorite people. But let’s be honest, the profound importance of these friendships goes far beyond one mimosa-fueled brunch.

Female friendships, in their truest essence, are far more than just social gatherings. They are the essential, often invisible, infrastructure for our mental health, our emotional resilience, and our radical joy in a world that constantly demands more.

Photo of Lilian Mbugua, the Brand Manager for Gilbeys at East African Breweries Plc (EABL).

This unique space, forged in trust and empathy, is where women can truly be their unfiltered selves. It’s where the masks drop, societal expectations dissipate, and vulnerability isn’t just permitted; it’s celebrated. Here, shared secrets become shared strength, and a knowing glance can communicate volumes that words never could.

Navigating the currents of modern life often feels like an unending marathon. The relentless pursuit of career goals, the invisible weight of the mental load, these pressures can leave us feeling stretched, depleted, and utterly alone. In this high-stakes environment, a circle of friends isn’t merely a pleasant diversion; it’s a vital lifeline.

It’s in these circles that resilience is quietly and fiercely built. When one of you stumbles, bruised by a setback or overwhelmed by exhaustion, it’s the collective spirit of your squad that rallies around you.

It’s the late-night call, the impromptu coffee, the shared silence of understanding, the roar of collective laughter that cleans the soul. These are the Real Moments that mend spirits, recalibrate perspectives, and remind us that we are never truly alone in our struggles or our triumphs.

Your friendships also protect something crucial: your sense of self. In a landscape that constantly demands you be more, do more, have it all, your friends are the ones who remind you that you're enough.

You're allowed to be human. You're allowed to rest. You're allowed to change your mind. That constant, gentle affirmation is not weakness; it’s survival.

And the beauty? You don’t need a grand plan or a fancy venue. These powerful connections can happen anywhere: in living rooms, over a coffee date, or on a nature walk. What matters is the intention: choosing connection on purpose, making time for the people who truly fill your cup.

For those occasions, the drink should always enhance the moment, not overshadow it. At Gilbey’s, we understand that these Real Moments of Connection are the true currency of life. We believe that every meaningful conversation, every heartfelt confession, every burst of joy deserves a setting that allows it to flourish. It's why we see Gilbey's not just as a spirit, but as an invitation, a quiet companion to the beautiful ritual of reconnection.

To help make those meet-ups a little easier to plan, Gilbey’s is running a Happy Hour offer: from Thursday to Sunday, Gilbey’s Special Dry Gin 750ml is available for Ksh 999 on ke.thebar.com Whether it’s for a Galentine’s catch-up, a weekend visit, or a well-earned evening of stories and laughter, the real point remains the same: showing up for each other.

So, here’s to the women who hold us up quietly, consistently, and without asking for credit. The friends who remind us of who we are, who we can be, and who we don’t have to face life alone. Here’s to sisterhood, the everyday architecture of resilience.

Lilian Mbugua is the Brand Manager for Gilbeys at East African Breweries Plc (EABL).

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Gilbeys Brand Ambassadors pose for a photo

JUMA: Everyone Wants to 'Save' Kenya Airways But Most Are Getting The Facts Wrong

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:14:08 +0300

by Fred Juma

In times of crisis, national institutions like Kenya Airways (KQ) attract no shortage of opinions—many well-meaning, some emotional, and others dangerously detached from fact.

Healthy debate is not only welcome; it is necessary. But when commentary is framed as expert analysis while resting on half-truths and misrepresentations, it risks misleading the public and undermining a fragile recovery. A recent article by a former pilot purporting to diagnose how “KQ’s fortunes sank” and proposing a rescue plan fits squarely into this category.

While the intention may have been noble, the arguments presented collapse under basic scrutiny. Aviation is a highly regulated, capital-intensive, and globally interconnected industry. Any serious analysis must therefore be grounded in industry realities, not nostalgia or conjecture.

Screengrab of the front page of The Standard newspaper on January 15, 2026. /THE STANDARD

First, the portrayal of Kenya Airways’ regulatory fine by COMESA as an unprecedented African failure is misleading. Airlines across the world—from Europe to North America and Africa—are routinely fined by regulators for competition or consumer-rights breaches.

Such penalties are enforcement tools, not unique markers of institutional decay. To single out KQ as exceptional in this regard betrays either selective analysis or a misunderstanding of global aviation governance.

Equally flawed is the claim that KQ’s fleet restructuring signals strategic confusion or abandonment of long-haul ambition. In truth, fleet resizing and lease renegotiations were survival measures adopted by virtually every airline during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenya Airways still operates Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners as the backbone of its long-haul network and is in the process of restoring grounded aircraft affected by global engine-part shortages—a problem that has crippled airlines worldwide, not just KQ.

Assertions that the airline lacks cargo capacity are demonstrably false. Cargo has, in fact, been one of Kenya Airways’ brighter spots. Freight and mail revenues have grown significantly, supported by the introduction of dedicated freighter aircraft and increased tonnage. In a period when passenger demand was volatile, cargo provided much-needed revenue stability—hardly the profile of an airline “without cargo capability.”

Some of the proposals advanced, such as transforming KQ into a vast aviation-industrial hub through partnerships with American manufacturing giants, sound ambitious but are strategically unrealistic.

Airlines are not industrial conglomerates. Their margins are thin, their capital requirements enormous, and their focus necessarily narrow. Successful diversification in aviation happens close to the core—cargo, maintenance, training—not through speculative industrial overreach.

The argument that KQ must own simulators for every aircraft type and build massive new cargo centres similarly ignores economic reality.

Full-flight simulators cost billions of shillings and only make sense with consistently high utilization. Kenya Airways already operates simulators and maintenance facilities where it is economically viable, while outsourcing the rest—standard global practice. Building redundant infrastructure is not a strategy; it is a waste.

Perhaps most concerning is the tendency to conflate governance with sectoral representation. A board is not meant to be a microcosm of tourism, horticulture, or aviation operations. Its mandate is fiduciary oversight, risk management, and strategic direction.

Operational expertise resides in management, supported by advisors. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand basic principles of corporate governance.

Claims that KQ has exited the North American market are also inaccurate. The airline has expanded, not retreated, increasing frequencies on its New York route—one of its most strategically important intercontinental links. Financial engineering tools such as sale-and-leaseback arrangements should not be confused with market withdrawal.

Even more misleading is the presentation of a non-binding letter of intent in the emerging air mobility space as a multi-billion-shilling investment already incurred. Letters of intent secure future options; they are not capital expenditures. Treating them as such inflates figures and distorts financial reality.

Finally, comparisons between Kenya Airways and global giants like Delta Air Lines ignore scale, balance-sheet strength, and market context. Delta’s fleet decisions cannot be transplanted wholesale onto a smaller African carrier navigating legacy debt and post-pandemic recovery. Such analogies may sound compelling, but they add more heat than light.

Kenya Airways is not without its challenges. Legacy debt, historical missteps, and external shocks have left deep scars. But the airline has also recorded operational improvements, stabilized key routes, and strengthened cargo performance. Constructive criticism must acknowledge both sides of this ledger.

National carriers matter—not as symbols of blind patriotism, but as strategic economic assets. Their recovery deserves rigorous analysis grounded in fact, not the seductive simplicity of aviation folklore dressed up as expertise.

Kenya Airways does not need saviors armed with speculation. It needs informed debate, disciplined execution, and patience grounded in reality.

Fred Juma is the CEO of Soko Directory

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Kenya Airways planes at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on August 1, 2020. /REUTERS.MONICAH MWANGI

10 Most Read Stories On Viral Tea In 2025

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:13:01 +0300

Records tumble every year, or so as they say. 2025 was no different as Kenyans' love for Viral Tea's stories grew...and so did our quality.

In 2025, Kenyans were more online than ever, and we can say without doubt that this was the year that some of our stories made history, all as we went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest media brands in the country.

Our online fans searched for it all: expressways, exam results, media personalities, Raila Odinga, among others...anything that sparked nationwide conversation, we were there, or we drove them.

You showed so much love and support for us since 2021 that a United Kingdom (UK)-based publication, MEA Markets, voted us as the Best News & Entertainment Platform in Kenya 2025 at the prestigious eighth Annual African Excellence Awards, and in 2025, we want to give you something back.

We have compiled 10 of our most-read stories on Viral Tea's website in 2025, a ranking that takes into consideration the number of pageviews. As aforementioned, some of them broke historical records;

A person using his smartphone. /FILE

US Company Gives Update On Construction Of Ksh466B Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway

Taking the lead is our story on Everstrong Capital, a US-owned infrastructure investment manager with a presence in both the United States (US) and Kenya, announcing plans to commence the construction of the Nairobi to Mombasa Expressway in 2026.

The company, through its Senior Advisor Kyle McCarter, announced on Friday, April 25, that construction of the 440-kilometre highway is set to kick off in the first quarter of 2026.

McCarter also shared that Everstrong Capital plans to submit an official feasibility study to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for approval in May this year.

"Update on delivery: submitting feasibility study in May, looking for on-time approval from Kenha & PPP, financial close by end of year & construction beginning Q1 2026," McCarter announced.

This story trended for close to four days and garnered a total of 11,806 pageviews, earning its place as the most popular story on our website...ever!

OUT NOW: How To Check KJSEA Results 2025

Even before the Ministry of Education officially announced the release of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), we got wind of a section of Kenyans receiving Short Messaging Service (SMS) texts on how to check the results.

On Thursday, December 4, teachers, parents, and learners were instructed to retrieve the results by sending the candidate’s assessment number to 22263, a service that cost Ksh30. Once the SMS was sent, users received the full KJSEA report, including the learner’s selected schools aligned to their career pathway.

"To check a KJSEA learner's selected schools, send their assessment number to 22263. The SMS costs Ksh30," stated a notice issued by Kenya’s main telecommunications provider, Safaricom.

This story, another record breaker with 8,495 pageviews, spread like wildfire across WhatsApp groups and social media, to the point of even overwhelming our servers. It taught us one thing: that Kenyans demand vital information such as exam results for their children, their friends, and loved ones, and they want it...like now!

Ruto: How Those Who Failed In KCSE 2024 Will Join University In September

We have to confess that this was one story that bewildered us. Usually...or what the elders used to tell us, anytime you fail in KCSE 2024, your chances of joining a university are slim. The Head of State, however, thought differently.

President William Ruto explained on Monday, January 13, how the mid-year Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) exam series will allow students who failed or missed them to join universities and tertiary institutions in September.

Speaking at Lenana School Primary, Ruto stated that the exam would be conducted in the middle of the year, between June and July.

He also expressed that the government was working on ensuring that the exams are marked on time to allow those who attain the required grades to join their colleagues during the September intakes.

The Head of State went on to reveal that the exams will target those who did not sit for the exams, those who performed dismally in some subjects, and those who were sick during the exam period, thus unable to take the exams.

"Even those who sat for the exams and may have failed in one or two subjects, and they want to repeat the exam, they will be given another chance," he stated, adding, "We will expedite the process so that those who perform well can join their colleagues who are joining universities in September."

KCSE 2024 Results Released: How To Check

Viral Tea provided simple steps for checking the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam results after they were released by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Thursday, January 9, at the Mitihani House in Nairobi. According to CS Ogamba, 962,512 sat for the national examinations that concluded on November 22, 2024.

According to Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) CEO David Njegere, this represented a 7.19 per cent increase for the first time since 2020. This number is an increase from 899,453 students who sat for the same examination in 2023.

In his announcement, Ogamba announced that 17 subjects, including Maths, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, recorded improvements, while 10 subjects, including English and Home Science, recorded drops in performance.

The guide quickly became an essential read, and the abrupt spike in traffic was an indication that the release caught the country by surprise. Only the online method was available as candidates were not able to access their KCSE results through SMS code. This was after it was discontinued before the release of the 2023 results, following complaints by parents and students over the years.

How To Check KJSEA Results 2025 Online

In this article, we provided a guide on checking the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results online, as announced by the Ministry of Education on December 11.

Parents accessed the results online through the Ministry’s designated portal. By visiting https://kjsea.knec.ac.ke, they entered the learner’s assessment number and submitted it to view the full outcome, including subject scores and placement information.

The platform allowed users to download or print the result slip, and schools would also issue physical copies. Although the portal supported both mobile and desktop access, heavy traffic had potentially caused delays, and users were advised to retry if loading issues occur.

How To Check Grade 10 Placement for KJSEA Candidates 2025

Informing Kenyans is our motto and ahead of the reopening of schools in 2026, we provided another guide of checking the Grade 10 school placements for students who took the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).

Parents can find their child's placement by sending the KNEC assessment number via SMS to 22263 or by visiting the ministry's portal at placements.education.go.ke.

It is worth reminding that students must report to their assigned senior secondary schools by Monday, January 12, 2026.

What Happened To Jeff Koinange? Citizen TV Star Responds To Disturbing Rumours

The absence of renowned media personality Jeff Koinange from Citizen TV's prime time news bulletins sparked nationwide speculation, with disturbing online rumours claiming he had passed away.

Social media lit up after a wave of TikTok accounts posted claims that the veteran broadcaster had died. The unfounded rumours sparked panic among millions of his supporters and industry peers, several of whom reached out privately to confirm whether anything had happened.

Media personality Xtian Dela was among those seeking answers. In a WhatsApp chat he made public on his social media handles, Dela asked Koinange to verify he was okay as the online speculation escalated.

“Bro bro bro! You’re good? You’re safe? TikTok has me worried. They’re spreading rumors about your death. Just confirm you’re still here,” Dela wrote. Koinange responded almost immediately, dismissing the hoax with a short but calming reply, typing “Bro bro. I’m alive and kicking.”

Koinange’s absence from his Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) show on the country's most-watched TV station had been the talk of Kenya's digital space, with speculation rife regarding his status at the station, under Royal Media Services (RMS).

We reached out to sources at RMS, who told us that he had taken some personal time off, but did not disclose further details. They note that he still works for the media company. On December 10, he made his comeback to the station.

Arsenal Mourns Raila Odinga

The death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga brought the country to its lowest point this year, because this meant the loss of a political icon who has been present in Kenya for generations.

Odinga was a known and ardent supporter of English Premier League side Arsenal Football Club (FC), which joined millions around the world in mourning the death of Odinga, describing him as a “visionary leader and passionate supporter of progress and unity.”

In an official condolence message dated Wednesday, October 15, Arsenal extended its sympathies to the people of Kenya and Odinga’s family, lauding his “lifelong dedication to democracy and justice” as an enduring inspiration.

The late Raila was a staunch Arsenal fan and had attended the Gunners' home games at the Emirates Stadium in North London, United Kingdom (UK), on several occasions. However, his last visit, per his social media posts, was in March 2022 when the Gunners lost 2-0 to Liverpool.

US Govt Invites Kenyans To Teach Kiswahili In America; How To Apply

The United States (US) President Donald Trump administration introduced a rare opportunity for Kenyans interested in teaching in the American superpower. On Wednesday, April 23, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi announced that the program was specifically for Kenyans who wanted to teach Kiswahili.

Through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program, selected individuals were to get the chance to teach Kiswahili in U.S. colleges and universities for one academic year, from 2026 to 2027.

The initiative aimed to expose American students to different cultures and languages by bringing in foreign language instructors to U.S. higher education institutions.

In the announcement, the U.S. Embassy urged interested candidates to submit their applications by May 16 this year. However, applicants must first verify that they meet the eligibility requirements for the program.

County Official Sonnia Nzilani Found Dead At Home

Makueni County was thrown into mourning following the passing of Sonnia Nzilani Musyoka, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism.

This was confirmed by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior. In a statement released on Saturday, November 22, the county boss revealed that she was found unresponsive at her home.

Nzilani gained nationwide attention after she came under fire for making controversial remarks that linked a girl’s death to her menstrual cycle. The controversy emerged earlier this year during the funeral of a 17-year-old girl who tragically lost her life in a crocodile attack while fetching water from the Athi River in Kithaayoni, Kathonzweni sub-county.

During the burial ceremony on Friday, January 17, Dr Nzilani suggested that the crocodile had attacked the girl because she was menstruating, claiming that crocodiles are drawn to the scent of menstruating women.

Not every story made it into the list of 10 to have drawn the most eyes in 2025; those that Kenyans searched for, shared widely, and kept referring back to. But some still sparked conversation.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) released the list of over 3,000 shortlisted candidates for various positions following its nationwide recruitment exercise held in October 2025. KNEC issued its warning to parents over a scam in which individuals were encouraging parents to reach out for supposed exam results manipulation.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi stunned the country through his admission that returns from Money Market Funds (MMFs) are on the decline and aren’t likely to recover soon, just as Kenyans were embracing MMFs as a method of saving.

After more than two years of uncertainty, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was eventually reconstituted, with its first major assignment being the management of by-elections across several constituencies.

The contests in Mbeere North, Malava, and Kasipul, among other areas, quickly turned into an early measure of the opposition’s political muscle against the dominance of the broad-based government as the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election.

See you in 2026!

Photo of a laptop and a phone at an office. /BUSINESS RADAR

ONYANGO: Why 2025 Could Go Down as Kenya’s Biggest Tech Year Yet

admin — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:08:24 +0300

by Jacob Onyango

There is a good reason Kenya is recognised as the Silicon Savannah of Africa. It’s a befitting nickname for a leading tech and innovation hub, one that created M-Pesa, DigiFarm, M-KOPA, Wasoko, and Sendy, and many other impactful projects.

This list goes on because Kenya for years has been recognised as a leader in impact investing across the region and a central player on the continent. This means that the country's entrepreneurship climate and infrastructure manage to drive investment that delivers not only financial returns but also real social impact. The same trend holds in the tech sector, where Kenya, alongside Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, continues to dominate the investment landscape.

Technology is evolving rapidly and demanding more resources than ever. AI has changed the game, pushing government and businesses in Kenya to unite around major challenges. In 2025, infrastructure, structured AI governance, and institutional support for innovation have moved to the forefront. Let’s briefly examine the major technology-driven efforts that shaped the country this year.

Artificial Intelligence took center stage

Three major tech-driven development projects stood out. Cognisant of the increasing adoption of AI and other new technologies, the Kenyan government responded by launching the country’s first-ever National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy in March 2025.

A photo description of human beings interacting with Artificial Intelligence (AI). /FORBES

This is a roadmap on how Kenya will engage with and manage AI over the long term. It consists of three key pillars:

building AI digital infrastructure,
establishing a robust data ecosystem, and
fostering AI research and innovation to utilise this technology to its full potential

Around the same time the government unveiled the AI strategy, much of the debate evolved around fear of AI taking over people’s jobs. This fear is justified. Therefore, it makes sense that institutional efforts focus on positioning Kenya as an AI innovator rather than just a passive adopter.

The AI strategy will equip Kenyans with the technical know-hows needed to effectively leverage AI to produce homegrown solutions for different sectors of the economy, including public service, education, health, agriculture, creative industries, and many other sectors.

If successfully implemented, the Strategy will foster the growth of job opportunities, and address the youth unemployment crisis. It is also aimed at improving the business environment and making Kenya more attractive to international investors.

Kenya is thinking global

The year 2025 also witnessed the launch of TechPlomacy Connective, a first of its kind innovation platform designed to integrate diplomacy with emerging technologies.

The initiative is anchored on digital inclusion, AI governance, and public-private partnerships. The main goal is to position Kenya as a leading global tech powerhouse, and not just the Silicon Savannah of Africa. It will be another huge leap.

Embedding tech diplomacy into the country’s foreign policy and development agenda does something else: it communicates to the world that Kenya is ready to be part of the consequential conversations, negotiations and policy decisions that will reshape the global tech landscape.

This is a good thing on many fronts. For one, building a solid diplomatic relationship with the global tech ecosystems opens up Kenya to better investment opportunities, knowledge transfer, and more bilateral agreements that can benefit the citizens back home and abroad. It ensures Kenyan tech innovations are not confined to its borders.

Beyond diplomacy, Kenya gets infrastructure

In September 2025, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy presided over the ground-breaking of Nxtra, which will become East Africa’s largest data centre.

Nxtra, a 44-megawatt facility by Airtel Africa Data Centre, is designed to provide secure and scalable infrastructure, namely manage and store huge amounts of data for businesses and governmental purposes. Its task is to handle complex, resource-intensive tasks, including AI workloads, graphics-heavy applications, and cloud computing operations.

The facility will strengthen Kenya's digital resilience, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, while creating hundreds of jobs and boosting the region’s tech ecosystem.

Data centres are needed to power technologies such as AI, fintech, ecommerce, cloud computing, government digital services, startup ecosystems and much more. Our data sovereignty and security depends on building large-scale and powerful data centres like Nxtra, which will enhance security and reduce the cost of cloud services for businesses. More importantly, Kenya will become the investment destination of choice.

Media too has a role play

As technologies like artificial intelligence reshape industries and economies, the media plays a crucial role in keeping citizens informed and the business community engaged.

Kenya belongs to the leading countries in terms of ChatGPT adoption, and one of the states where people spend the most time on social media. This shows that technologies have already become a significant part of everyday life.

However, because AI can spread misinformation and poses certain risks in a largely unregulated digital space, media organisations must take responsibility for the content they produce and act as trustworthy mediators.

Read also: In Age of AI & Deepfakes, Trust In Local News Matters More Than Numbers

By clearly explaining what AI is and how it affects daily life, media outlets help audiences better understand and adapt to rapid technological change. Outlets such as Tuko.co.ke, Daily Nation, Techweez, Viral Tea etc have been actively working to guide readers on how technologies, including AI, can be navigated responsibly and used for positive impact.

Media sources should keep highlighting these developments to make citizens well informed and the business community engaged.

Looking back, Kenya made big leaps in its ambitious journey to become a global tech hub. We set the stage by launching the first-ever AI strategy, and scaled it up by unveiling the TechPlomacy Connective to integrate diplomacy with emerging technologies, another first. And to top it all, we witnessed the groundbreaking of East Africa’s largest data centre.

Jacob Onyango is the Editor-in-Chief at TUKO.co.ke

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A person using his smartphone. /FILE

MBUGUA: Why Corporate Kenya Can No Longer Ignore The Podcast Wave

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:24:51 +0300

By Lilian Mbugua

The air at Masshouse on Saturday, November 1, was electric as the Mic Cheque Podcast wrapped up their successful ‘Cheque Mates Tour’ with a grand finale live recording. This event was a quiet victory for the entire Kenyan podcasting scene, all thanks to a forward-thinking partnership with Gilbey’s, a brand built on celebrating "Made for Real Moments."

In a market often dominated by traditional media, local podcasters have struggled to find significant corporate backing. Their growth, built on raw talent, authenticity, and a grassroots connection with their "cheque mates," has often been organic but financially lean.

The "Cheque Mates Tour," which successfully took the podcast from the screen to live stages in multiple cities before the Nairobi climax at a modern, dynamic venue like Masshouse, was a bold testament to their rising influence.

This is where the partner steps in, not as a peripheral sponsor, but as a genuine enabler, living up to its brand promise by backing truly authentic moments.

Mic Cheque's Cheque Mates Tour held at Masshouse. /PHOTO

The choice to align with Mic Cheque is a powerful demonstration of corporate commitment to authentic, unscripted content. The podcast's success is rooted in its candid, humorous, and sometimes chaotic conversations, the kind of genuine, unpolished human interactions that the brand champions under its "Made For Real Moments" banner.

The live show at Masshouse embodied this perfectly. It was a shared, in-person moment of community. The sponsor provided the platform and the resources for the real moments to happen live, amplifying the podcasters' existing connection with their audience.

The financial support provided goes beyond mere branding; it represents a vital infusion of capital that allows content creators like the Mic Cheque team to authentically engage with their audiences.

A national tour is an expensive undertaking, but the backing made the multi-city Cheque Mates Tour a reality, proving that Kenyan podcasts have a national audience willing to pay for live experiences. Corporate support elevates the entire event, ensuring the production quality matches the passion.

The live broadcast from Masshouse became a high-quality spectacle, raising the bar for all local digital creators. Crucially, a major brand partnership sends a powerful message to the wider corporate landscape: podcasting is a serious, legitimate, and highly engaged advertising and entertainment platform. By backing this "real moment" in local media history, Gilbey’s legitimizes the digital space.

By supporting the tour, the brand has essentially sent out a clarion call for the industry, signaling confidence in the ability of authentic, local voices to build communities and deliver real value.

The strategy is a masterclass in modern marketing. They are not chasing the largest, most generic audience; they are tapping into a deeply engaged, digitally native community that values honesty and authenticity. Podcasting audiences, known for their loyalty and trust in their hosts, are the ideal consumers for a brand looking to build a genuine, long-term relationship.

The success of the "Cheque Mates Tour" grand finale at Masshouse is a clear indicator that the podcasting space is ripe for investment. We have the talent, the audience, and the compelling content.

What we often lack is the initial capital and corporate validation to scale these ventures. The brand has shown the way, proving that a major company can truly align with and celebrate an authentic, youth-driven culture.

Now, other corporations should follow suit.They must recognize that supporting local podcasters is not charity; it's a strategic investment in the future of Kenyan media, culture, and real moments of consumer engagement.

The next great Kenyan story, conversation, or comedy skit is being recorded right now. Who will step up to write the next "cheque" and help bring it to the world?

Lilian Mbugua is the Brand Manager for Gilbeys.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Gilbey's brand ambassadors during Mic Cheque's Cheque Mates Tour held at Masshouse. /PHOTO

Kenya’s Energy Shake-Up: Big Savings for Businesses, Big Wins for You

admin — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:32:43 +0300

by Eustace Njeru, Ronald Keter, and Dr. Eng. Fenwicks Musonye

Energy costs, such as the cost of electricity and fossil fuels, directly contribute to the aggregate output of a country. Energy costs affect manufacturing, agriculture, transport, domestic, and commercial sectors by contributing to the operating costs.

Higher costs translate to a reduction in profits and or an increase in the prices of goods and services. Low-middle-income countries like Kenya, which are working towards upper-middle-income status, should establish measures to lower the cost of energy.

Energy efficiency processes can reduce the cost of energy. In Kenya, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (the Authority) has the mandate to entrench energy efficiency and conservation in the energy market.

The Authority executes this through two major programs: energy management and standards and labeling programs. In February 2025, the Energy (Energy Management) Regulations 2025 were published, with the aim of improving energy efficiency in designated facilities.

The Energy (Energy Management) Regulations 2025 require that any facility (commercial, industrial, or institutional) that consumes more than 180,000 kWh of thermal and electrical energy should institute energy management programs.

A photo of EPRA's logo. /FILE

The designated facilities are required to conduct energy audits at least once every four years. Thereafter, the facilities are expected to implement the energy audit recommendations to achieve at least fifty (50) percent of the recommended energy savings.

In addition, the regulations require designated facilities to embed energy management practices into their day-to-day activities. These practices include appointment of a licensed energy manager; development of an energy management policy; undertaking energy audits; and preparation of an energy investment and implementation plan to prioritize and guide the implementation of the identified energy conservation measures.

Establishment of energy performance benchmarks for various sectors is another energy efficiency initiative that has been instituted by the regulations. Designated facilities will be expected to meet their sectors’ energy performance benchmarks as published by the Authority.

Designated facilities that meet the energy performance benchmarks may apply to the Authority for an energy savings certificate. The certificate will indicate the tradable energy savings credits that can be sold to facilities that do not meet their benchmarks.

The regulations will also facilitate the licensing of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in Kenya. The ESCOs are expected to unlock the potential for the implementation of energy efficiency projects through the provision of structured financial products and technical expertise to the facilities. ESCOs will therefore play an important role in boosting private investments in the implementation of energy efficiency projects.

In addition, the establishment of a Super ESCO by the African Development Bank will foster the growth of the ESCO industry in Kenya. It is expected that the Super ESCO will facilitate the development and implementation of energy efficiency projects (including the financing), but subcontract implementation to private-sector ESCOs.

The public sector entities have generally lagged their private sector peers in undertaking energy efficiency projects, and the super ESCO could play an important role by establishing a revolving fund to support the implementation of these projects.

The Authority expects that the resulting reduction in the cost of production, from the energy savings realized, will be passed on to consumers through reduced prices of products. This could enhance Kenya’s competitiveness both regionally and globally.

Furthermore, the attendant reduction in GHG emissions will contribute to the achievement of Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The writers are energy efficiency specialists at the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

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SMITH: How Digital Platforms Are Helping In Tackling The 'Big Five'

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:41:19 +0300

by Andy Smith

Global travel is booming again, while at the same time, border threats are increasing. This dual problem is putting government border agencies under tremendous pressure: they need to maintain national security while providing smooth and efficient travel flows.

Yet outdated manual and analogue systems cannot keep up. This is where modern border tech comes in. Today’s modern digital platforms bring together travel authorisations, biometrics and real-time risk checks to keep things secure and moving fast.

It is not just about speed. Governments need the tools to act quickly, confidently, and smartly. These are the “Big Five” challenges border agencies face - and how digital tools are helping them stay ahead.

1. Doing more with less

Budgets are tight. Staff are stretched thin. And the tech is often outdated. Meanwhile, traveller numbers keep climbing while various threats are increasing and evolving.

Digital tools help address these problems. For instance, online electronic travel authorisations and e-Visas let travellers apply online from anywhere with no need for in-person consular visits.

A photo of Andy Smith, the Director, Industry and Innovation at SITA (Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques)

Real-time updates to entry rules become easy to do with Advance Passenger Processing (APP), and it does not require systems overhauls. Biometric automated border control gates (a.k.a. eGates or ABC gates) and kiosks speed up ID checks, so border agency officers can focus their attention on the high-risk travellers.

The results are lower costs, faster passenger processing, stronger security and smoother traveller journeys through airport and cruise terminal passport checkpoints.

2. Keeping up with changing rules

Border policies can shift fast—thanks to politics, global events, and new rules. Agencies must stay in step with international standards, industry frameworks and regulations from the likes of the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) One ID, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its Entry/Exit System.

Rigid systems cannot keep pace. But more flexible digital ones can. Dynamic Advance Passenger Processing lets governments change entry criteria easily and share information with airlines to approve or deny boarding based on identity, documentation and risk profiles. This allows government agencies to be flexible, compliant and ready for whatever comes next.

3. Staying ahead of health risks

COVID-19 showed just how vulnerable manual border checks can be. The health threats created long lines, lots of contact between border agents and passengers, along with slow health screenings.

Now, digital systems are built with health in mind. Travellers can upload test results or vaccine records before they fly for verification.

Self-service eGates and kiosks with facial recognition make for fast, contactless entry or exit processing, and everything updates in real time. It’s safer, faster, more accurate and gives travellers peace of mind.

4. Responding to mass migration/displacement

Wars, natural disasters, and economic crises are forcing millions to move. Borders need to handle sudden surges while treating these people with care and dignity.

Digital tools help make that possible. In a digital clearance process, Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) serve as the first layer, pre-screening travellers before they begin their journey. At departure, APP links to this data, allowing airlines to verify authorisation and to approve or deny boarding in real-time.

Upon arrival, eGates use biometric checks to match travellers with their cleared records by automating and efficiently finalising the clearance process. Together, these systems create a continuous, risk-based control flow from pre-travel to arrival.

For border agencies, it’s about staying in control, knowing who's coming and going, while being compassionate, even while under time pressure.

5. Stopping organised crime

Transnational Criminal Organisations exploit border weaknesses to illicitly move drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods and to traffic people. Manual checks alone can’t stop them.

Digital platforms offer a smarter defence. Governments can conduct real-time risk profiling using Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, APP integration with watchlists, biometric collection with ETAs, and travel histories to flag suspicious travellers.

Integrated biometric clearance links eGates and kiosks with digital travel applications, so only verified travellers can use automated lanes. This enables instant watchlist checks.

This strategic transformation empowers governments to intercept threats before they arrive.

The future of Borders is smart, safe, and seamless

The right tech will provide enhanced security, together with smooth and fast travel. Modern border solutions help governments protect people, stay compliant, respond to health and humanitarian needs, and help economies to be competitive, attracting investments, trade, travel and tourism, while enhancing the traveller experience.

This isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a whole new strategic way of thinking about modern borders - built for today but ready for tomorrow.

Andy Smith is the Director, Industry and Innovation at SITA (Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques), the global airline industry-owned IT-tech and solutions provider. He is an expert on border management, immigration, digital identities, digital travel and aviation security.

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SEDELLAR: In Age of AI & Deepfakes, Trust In Local News Matters More Than Numbers

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:30:15 +0300

by Righa Sedellar

Imagine waking up to a viral video of your president announcing an abrupt change in national policy, only to discover later it never happened. Or a widely shared clip of an influencer endorsing a scam investment, created entirely by artificial intelligence.

In a world where deepfakes can look more convincing than reality, the question isn’t just what’s true, it’s who you can trust.

We are living through a historic turning point in information. AI can now create realistic audio, video, and images that are nearly impossible for the untrained eye to distinguish from the real thing. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and dozens of open-source video generators are advancing so fast that yesterday’s “impossible” is today’s “downloadable.”

In much of Africa, where access is mobile-first and apps like WhatsApp are central to news sharing, falsehoods can spread rapidly. The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2025 finds that global trust in news remains near 40 per cent, while social platforms and online personalities, e.g, influencers, continue to be key vectors of misinformation.

For many media outlets, the race for survival has been measured in clicks, views, and impressions. But here’s the truth: in an AI-saturated world, numbers mean nothing if audiences stop believing you.

A person using his smartphone. /FILE

When trust erodes, everything else follows: ad revenue, audience loyalty and even a community’s shared sense of reality. This isn’t just a media industry problem; it’s a societal risk.

Local newsrooms are uniquely positioned to counter AI-driven misinformation because of their proximity, networks, and cultural literacy. TUKO.co.ke has demonstrated this strength firsthand. Its journalists verify every story before publication, calling sources directly, cross-checking facts, and reviewing content to ensure it meets the highest journalistic standards.

This commitment to accuracy and credibility has earned TUKO.co.ke significant recognition. In 2025, it was named the Top Digital Publisher with the Most Weekly Online Reach in Kenya by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

The Media Council of Kenya also recognised the platform as the Most Popular News Website in the Country in the 2023/2024 State of the Media Report. Most recently, TUKO.co.ke received the Bobea Leadership Award, where it was honoured as one of the most trusted news sources in Kenya.

Yet trust alone cannot defend against the emerging threats of AI-driven misinformation. In Nigeria’s 2023 elections, deepfake audio falsely depicting a candidate conceding defeat went viral, potentially influencing voter behaviour. In Kenya, coordinated campaigns circulated AI-generated images, ranging from protestors waving flags to staged scenes, that distorted public perception before authorities could intervene.

Without credible local media to step in, these fakes can and do spread unchecked. Yes, algorithms can help detect fake content, but the real battle will be won with trust capital. That means doubling down on verification and showing audiences how stories are vetted to build transparency and loyalty.

It also means investing in media literacy, because helping readers recognise AI-generated content is now part of public service journalism. And it means collaborating across outlets, since a united fact-checking ecosystem makes it harder for misinformation to survive.

In the age of AI and deepfakes, audiences have a new civic duty: to value accuracy over virality and to support the outlets that consistently deliver truth. AI can imitate voices, faces and emotions, but it cannot fake the bond between a newsroom and the community it serves.

That relationship, built through years of accurate, transparent and responsible reporting, is what will carry us through the misinformation storms ahead.

More than ever, trust in local news matters far more than numbers.

Righa Sedellar is a PR Officer at TUKO.co.ke

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

A person browsing the internet on his phone. /CONTEXT NEWS

Viral Tea Named Kenya's Best News & Entertainment Platform In 2025

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:08:32 +0300

Viral Tea, Kenya's leading Gen Z digital platform, has been crowned the Best News & Entertainment Platform in Kenya 2025 at the prestigious eighth Annual African Excellence Awards, hosted by United Kingdom (UK)-based publication MEA Markets.

The award recognises Viral Tea's commitment to delivering timely, engaging, and credible news and entertainment content tailored to the modern Kenyan audience.

Competing against top-tier media brands from across the continent, the platform stood out in Kenya for its innovative approach to digital storytelling, audience engagement, and trend-focused reporting. Find the listing here.

Speaking after the win, Viral Tea’s editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege, hailed the recognition as a testament to the platform’s growth and impact since its inception in 2021.

Screengrab of Viral Tea being recognised as the best news and entertainment platform in Kenya in 2025. /MEA MARKETS

“In an era where Kenya's young people are demanding real-time content from media platforms to keep themselves up to date with the country's current affairs, this award is proof that authentic, quality-driven content still wins in the digital era. We’re proud to be shaping the conversation in Kenya’s news and entertainment space,” he remarked.

"This recognition for a very young media platform is indicative of us breaking barriers with bolder content, be it storytelling or regular news reporting that seeks to hold those in power and fame to account, providing an alternative voice to what isn't frequently covered in mainstream media."

The African Excellence Awards celebrate businesses and organisations driving progress and innovation across Africa.

MEA Markets noted that winners are selected through a rigorous process combining public nominations, market research, and assessment by an independent judging panel.

"The African Excellence Awards 2025 are a celebration of the businesses that are redefining industries and setting new benchmarks. From mining and manufacturing to healthcare and creative arts, Africa is teeming with excellence. The award highlights industries that have seen remarkable growth and innovation," states MEA Markets on its official website.

Awards Coordinator Kaven Cooper, in a press release, commented on the success of this year’s issue: “We’re delighted to present such a fine selection of updates and success stories as our winners – and the region’s stars – continue to improve business in their clients’ companies, professional development, and the future of enterprises everywhere. Congratulations on your well-deserved win in our esteemed awards programme for 2025!”

Founded with a mission to deliver fresh, relatable, and unfiltered reporting, Viral Tea has built a loyal following by blending news accuracy with a contemporary, youthful voice.

Rising from a digital startup to one of the most respected digital media platforms, the platform covers breaking news, politics, current affairs, entertainment, business, sports, and trending social topics, resonating with Kenya’s vibrant digital generation.

Moreover, Viral Tea holds pride in being the only media platform in Kenya, be it mainstream or digital, to have a segment dedicated exclusively to aviation. In it, coverage on one of Kenya's most underreported sectors ranges from breaking news, industry developments, human interest and politics tied to aviation, as well as explainers on the aviation sector.

On May 15, Viral Tea was recognised amongst Kenya's most popular news websites by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), grouped in the 'Others' category at 2 per cent readership, a rise from the 0.4 per cent readership in 2023.

There was some significance as the platform beat renowned players such as Ghafla and Mpasho, which garnered a 1 per cent readership compared to 3 per cent and 7 per cent respectively in 2023.

In 2023, Viral Tea was ranked second-best among 14 online media platforms nominated for the awards in the 'Online Media of the Year' category during the Pride of Kenya Awards (POKA).

With this latest accolade, Viral Tea now joins a select group of African media leaders recognised for their excellence and influence in shaping the continent’s news and storytelling landscape from a digital point of view.

Graphic of the State of Media Survey Report 2024 ranking Viral Tea among most visited news websites in Kenya. /VIRAL TEA KE

KIOKO: Heat And Pests Are Creating A Deadly Cocktail For Our Foods

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:15:32 +0300

by Anthony M. Kioko

At the end of 2023, the government announced Kenya had just lived its hottest year on record, up 0.37 degrees on the year before, only to be topped by 2024, which was hotter still.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has not released the country’s average temperature for 2024, but it now seems likely that the country is gaining a degree every 3 to 5 years, which is generating an explosion in crop pests and disease-carrying insects. Under these conditions, insects, viruses and bacterial diseases all grow faster at higher temperatures: they spread further, breed faster, survive better, and grow larger.

At base, scientists calculate that each 1 degree rise in temperature causes an extra 10 to 20 per cent of crop destruction by pests. But that assumes a mix of ordinary pests and ongoing pest control.

Certainly, up until and including 2023, Kenyan farmers were just about coping: maize production was ahead that year despite the heat, with official reports saying this was due to the improved rain. A nationwide survey of farmers found two-thirds faced varying degrees of Fall Armyworm (FAW) infestation, but they were reporting it was under control.

A photo of Anthony M. Kioko, the CEO of Cereal Growers Association. /PHOTO

Only then, the government banned a set of its approved pesticides, including the two most robust and affordable pesticides for FAW control, and that is where climate change and government policy collided.

Maize production fell by 6 per cent in 2024, on average and better than average rainfall. The government has been at pains to ascribe this to erratic rainfall, which did affect some areas, as they also had in previous years. But it has not been quite so diligent in reporting last year’s resurgence in FAW..

Yet a study in Egypt, published in 2020, foundthat at an average temperature of 20 degrees, the life cycle of FAW, from egg to laying eggs of the next generation, was 72 days. At 25 degrees, it fell to 40 degrees.

This makes an unbelievably large difference. Each FAW moth lays 1000 - 2000 eggs. At 40 days, and nine generations in a year, the member of FAW in a year from one female rises to 38.4 septillion, which almost has no meaning except that it is followed by 27 zeros, versus the 15 zeros from one female at 20 degrees.

Similar accelerations happen for other pests, like chafer grubs, cutworms and aphids. That puts huge pressure on pest control. Yet there are few alternatives to pesticides that are able to control some of these.

For FAW, biological controls include parasitic wasps that consume the worm. But only 140,000 of these have ever been released and so far protect less than 2 per cent of Kenya’s maize farmers.

There are also organic pesticides, but none that have been found to clear more than 55 per cent of the worm, leaving the other 45 per cent to destroy the crop and generate quadrillions of new FAW each year.

Yet, because the government has framed pest control as an ideological battle, the science and facts have themselves become contentious. This has seen those who report that pests are harming production cast as ‘cartels’, ‘infecting’ the regulator and Ministry of Agriculture officials’, according to government.

But this seeming shift to an ideological battle has seen the government step away from managing the intended transition in a structured manner, and this poses a danger to our food system.

The government decided not to conduct an assessment of which pests the banned chemicals were controlling, or any assessment of which alternatives were available to (all) farmers and how effective they are. Yet the World Health Organisation and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation guide that these assessments are vital ahead of any pesticide ban.

As it is, the majority of Kenyan farmers want to use fewer pesticides, which saves them costs, and are keen on alternatives. But without information, or any regard for gaps where there are no alternatives, this approach is just cutting food production needlessly and painfully.

We need to now review what pests were being controlled and the alternatives and manage this transition so it does not keep building maize and food blights and shortages.

Anthony M. Kioko is the CEO of Cereal Growers Association.

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OORO: In Age Of AI & TikTok, Former Vogue Editor’s Blueprint Still Holds

Ooro George — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:23:52 +0300

On June 26, 2025, the media world paused. Anna Wintour—the formidable force who has defined Vogue US, a highly esteemed and influential fashion magazine, for nearly four decades—announced her decision to step down as its Editor-in-Chief.

Dame Anna announced to staff that a new role, head of editorial content, would be introduced at Vogue.

According to an account published by the company, Dame Anna told staff she wanted to help "the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas" as she announced her departure from the editor-in-chief role.

She said she would continue with many of her responsibilities, and that "it goes without saying that I plan to remain Vogue's tennis and theatre editor in perpetuity".

Cover art for 'The Devil Wears Prada'. /SHORT NORTH CIVIC ASSOCIATION

This isn't just a leadership change; it’s a cultural earthquake. Her departure marks the end of an era while simultaneously solidifying her legacy as an icon who knows exactly when to make her next power move—an archetype so enduring, it arguably helped shape one of Hollywood’s most iconic fashion figures.

With her signature pageboy haircut and famously unflinching editorial eye, Wintour is widely believed to have inspired the character of Miranda Priestly in Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 best-seller The Devil Wears Prada.

The 2006 film adaptation, directed by David Frankel and starring Meryl Streep, became an instant cultural touchstone. It offered a sharply satirical yet deeply human glimpse into the cutthroat, glittering realm of high fashion—a world long dominated by figures like Wintour.

Streep’s performance, which earned her an Academy Award nomination, captured the icy perfection and quiet torment of a woman at the top of her field. The Devil Wears Prada wasn’t just a movie—it was a mirror held up to an industry in flux.

Through the fictional Runway Magazine—a clear stand-in for Vogue—the film explored the stakes of surviving (and thriving) in an era where glossy print was colliding with a rising digital tide.

Miranda’s razor-sharp wit and wardrobe conveyed more than style; they spoke a language of control, legacy, and ambition. Characters like Andy Sachs, Nigel, and Emily revealed the human cost of that pursuit.

More than a satire, the film continues to spark conversations about gender, leadership, and work-life balance in high-pressure careers. Miranda Priestly personified the paradox of power and isolation—an echo of what many real-world women leaders have faced in breaking glass ceilings during the early 21st century.

But while Miranda Priestly is fictional, Anna Wintour’s influence is very real—and still evolving. She was made a dame by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to fashion and journalism in 2017, and was made a Companion of Honour by King Charles earlier this year.

Her decision to step aside as Editor-in-Chief while remaining Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast and Global Editorial Director of Vogue isn’t a retreat. It’s a strategic evolution.

Far too often, leaders cling to their positions until their relevance fades. Not Anna. She’s choosing transformation over stagnation, ensuring Vogue remains vital by making space for new vision while retaining her unmatched global authority. It’s a case study in knowing when to let go without letting go of power.

As a young journalist, I am profoundly inspired by Anna Wintour. Her journey—from a school dropout to one of the most influential media executives in the world—is a testament to vision, resilience, and the power of instinct.

Her move proves that true success isn't just about how long you stay at the helm. It’s about knowing how to evolve, when to exit, and how to leave behind a legacy that empowers the future.

Ooro George is a journalist, editor-at-large, cross-cultural curator and corporate media professional.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Anna Wintour poses for a photo at her New York City office located at One World Trade Centre. /VOGUE

KEMBOI: We Need To Invest In The DJ Economy

admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:31:41 +0300

by Jonathan Kemboi

Kenya is a nation pulsating with creativity, a vibrant cultural heritage, and an undeniable youthful energy. While we often discuss traditional economic drivers like agriculture and technology, it's increasingly clear that our creative sector holds immense, yet largely untapped, potential. It's not just "art"; it's an economic powerhouse that we, as the private sector, must harness to ensure inclusive growth, leaving no one behind.

Globally, the creative economy is proving to be a dynamic engine for trade and development. Its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranges from 0.5% to 7.3% across different countries, employing between 0.5% and 12.5% of the workforce.

In 2022 alone, creative services exports surged by 29% to $1.4 trillion (Ksh180.9 trillion), with creative goods exports reaching $713 billion (Ksh92.1 trillion), a 19% increase. Digitalisation, driven by advancements like Artificial Intelligence (AI), is transforming this landscape, making global markets more accessible for individual creators and revolutionising content creation and distribution.

Kenya's creative economy is growing at an impressive rate, 60% faster than other global economies, with projections suggesting it could double its economic output. Currently, the arts, recreation, and entertainment industry accounts for 5% of our nation's GDP and 0.25% of total wage employment. This signifies a critical opportunity, especially given Kenya's burgeoning youthful population seeking job creation and employment.

At Smirnoff, we recognise the profound connection between cultural vibrancy and economic prosperity. This recognition is at the heart of our investment in homegrown talent, particularly through initiatives like the Smirnoff Battle of the Beats (SBOB). Far more than just a competition, SBOB has evolved into a powerful creative movement and a platform for culture, creativity, and connection.

Portrait photo of Jonathan Kemboi-Shopper Marketing Manager, Smirnoff TM. /PHOTO

Over the past two years, SBOB has consciously reached every corner of Kenya – from the Lake to the Coast, Rift Valley, Mt. Kenya, and Nairobi – to tap into the diverse talent present nationwide. Each audition round saw over 20 contestants, with more than 100 DJs showcasing their skills, dreams, and unique energy. This nationwide reach is deliberate: it amplifies voices that might otherwise go unheard, ensuring that talent in every corner of this country finds a stage.

A crucial aspect of SBOB's impact is its commitment to career building. By partnering with prominent media outlets like Viral Tea, the competition's five-week finale series reached a broad audience, providing vital visibility for these emerging artists.

Winners, like DJ Insta from the Lake Region, receive not just recognition but a comprehensive prize package including top-tier DJ equipment, ongoing brand support, and future performance opportunities through Smirnoff’s experiences. We also take the time to honour other top DJs, applauding their creativity and fan followings. This multifaceted support reflects our dedication to elevating and celebrating exceptional talent within the Kenyan DJing community, positioning music as a core cultural pillar.

This commitment aligns with the broader national agenda to transform the creative sector into a sustainable industry that supports decent livelihoods, as highlighted by the State Department for Culture, Arts, and Heritage. Efforts to formalise arts education, such as the Kenya Cultural Centre's pioneering work in developing a formal curriculum for poetry, further underscore the move towards recognising creative fields as viable career paths.

By equipping artists with skills in performance, production, marketing, and intellectual property management, we formalise creative careers and broaden the scope of technical education. Smirnoff's initiatives, while in the informal sector, parallel this ambition by providing structured pathways for professional growth and recognition.

Hosted under our overarching "We Do We" campaign, SBOB Season 3 powerfully underscores Smirnoff’s deep dedication to diversity, inclusion, and collective creativity. It embodies the boldness and authenticity that we champion, showcasing how the brand truly lives inside culture. Our goal is to create spaces and experiences where "we all can experience inclusive joy," thereby fostering self-expression, empowering emerging talent, and creating lasting cultural impact.

The creative economy's significance extends beyond purely economic metrics. It is a powerful tool for national cohesion, innovation, and addressing critical societal issues like climate change and social justice. Young people are already leveraging their creativity to raise awareness and drive action on pressing issues, demonstrating the sector’s capacity to shape public discourse and mobilise communities.

However, government support and one-off funding are not enough. As the creative economy faces global challenges like market concentration, fostering a resilient ecosystem demands long-term relationships and strategic partnerships from creative investors and stakeholders, alongside exploring alternative, sector-responsive funding mechanisms.

Smirnoff remains steadfastly committed to expanding these cultural touchpoints, continuing to amplify the voices, flavours, and beats that make Kenya special. Through sustained investment in formalising arts education, offering robust capacity-building programmes, fostering sustainable partnerships, and creating competitive markets, we can collectively unlock the full potential of our creative industries.

This will not only transform the arts into a dynamic and sustainable economic sector but also enhance employability and enrich our cultural and social fabric, ensuring that the beat of progress continues for all Kenyans.

Jonathan Kemboi is the Shopper Marketing Manager for Smirnoff TM

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

DJ Insta (Dennis Odari), Smirnoff Battle of the Beats (SBOB) Season 3 winner, fuels the crowd's excitement with an engaging performance during the Smirnoff Battle of the Beats (SBOB) Season 3 Winner Announcement Party at the EABL Hq, Ruaraka. /HANDOUT

OKISEGERE: Throwing Away Scientists Is Delivering A Growing Food Crisis

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 16:14:04 +0300

by Ojepat Okisegere

In 2025, Kenya, its farmers, and its consumers will be delivering a world demonstration of why scientists have been pleading for government policies on pest control to be evidence-based, as they instead get swept up into a tide of misinformation.

For, with its ban of eight pesticides on political grounds now ravaging its exports, slashing its domestic food production, and sparking a surge in food prices that will be greater, this year, than for any other country in Africa, it has set out on a path that recently took Sri Lanka to famine and near-complete economic collapse.

Yet it is now so ‘groomed’ by a group of extravagantly funded activists that it shows no sign of stopping..

It has been an imperative for these activists to present themselves as ‘saviours’ of the people from mass poisoning in order to raise huge private donations, but what no one has confronted is the degree to which this has moved them into dishonesty.

Photo of Ojepat Okisegere, Farmer and CEO of Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya.

A case in point is a pesticide called Chlorothalonil, one of the world’s most widely used fungicides. In Kenya, it has been the crop protection of choice for diseases from potato and tomato blight to mildew, botrytis, and black spot; as well as stem, yellow, and leaf rust on wheat, and coffee berry disease.

The campaign against pesticides in Kenya homed in on Chlorothalonil precisely because it is so widely used, with moves such as testing vegetables to show they have detectable residues.

However, no one would care about residues less toxic than a cup of coffee, so they needed to present Chlorothalonil as poisonous. Thus, in rounds of press releases, reports, and briefings, the group deceived journalists and the public alike, claiming the residues were from a highly hazardous pesticide (HHP).

Highly hazardous pesticides, classed as 1b by the World Health Organisation (WHO), are not allowed to be sold to the public in Kenya, except rat poisons. For crops, the Pest Control Products Board deems them an excessive risk because so few farmers follow the application instructions.

But Chlorothalonil is not an HHP. When it is ingested, as in eaten and drunk, it has been found through extensive testing to be non-toxic, but it can cause eye irritation if it gets into people’s eyes - less than the irritation caused by laundry detergent, but still painful - which sees it classified by the World Health Organisation as a Class 2 Moderately Hazardous Pesticide.

However, protecting people from chemicals that are ‘toxic’ HHPs brings in far greater donations, so the activists made up their classification and reclassified Chlorothalonil as an HHP.

To make it poisonous too, when it has a clean card on poisoning anyone, they turned to cancer. Chlorathalonil is not a carcinogen, nor even a probable carcinogen. It sits in a cancer risk classification by the International Agency for Cancer Research, Class 2b, where there is no actual linkage to cancer risks, but it remains a possibility - coffee was similarly classified by the IARC as a Class 2b cancer risk for 25 years.

By contrast, hot beverages are Class 2a ‘probable’ carcinogens, as is red meat, while in Class 1, which covers established carcinogens, sit both sausages and bacon.

So the toxic cancer risk the activists saved us all from is equivalent to coffee, except if you drink it hot, in which case, coffee is more risky than Chlorothalonil.

And, for this, our fresh vegetable exports have halved as producers are left without control of powdery mildew, downy mildew, botrytis and a host of other diseases. Our coffee exports are plummeting as coffee berry disease and coffee berry borer savage our cherries. Fall Armyworm is resurging, so too is the Maize Lethal Necrosis virus, carried by the leafhoppers and aphids, whose protection has also been removed.

Nor has the deceit ended there. The activists frequently cite bans in Europe as proving that pesticides are dangerous, knowing full well that in 2019, the European Union adopted a Green Deal climate change strategy that committed to phasing out half of all pesticides, regardless of health and safety data. Moreover, in 2009, Europe had adopted a regulation removing the need for any evidence of harm (from the compulsory tests) to trigger pesticide bans, and allowing precautionary bans where there was no such evidence.

Chlorothalonil is one of now dozens of EU precautionary bans that have sparked sometimes violent protests by farmers as it works to meet its 50% strategic banning target - which is why, to this day, Chlorothalonil is still protecting US farmers and farmers all over the world based on its actual levels of health and environmental impact.

And then there is the fourth pillar of deceit, which has made a mockery of our elected politicians. The activists in 2019 petitioned parliament to have Chlorothalonil and a bevvy of similarly faked ‘toxins’ banned, thus forcing consideration by the parliamentary health committee.

The committee’s honourable members, being elected politicians, were moved by the horror of Kenyans eating all that toxic, carcinogenic food every day. But, as non-scientists, they did not probe into the scientific facts, nor even the oddity of all those HHPs knocking around in a country that doesn’t allow HHP sales to farmers.

Instead, they pressurised the PCPB to ban the ‘horrifically toxic’ Chlorothalonil, and seven other pesticides too. Moreover, they decided against any impact assessment on food security, because the activists told them the bans would have no impact on food production.

That breached FAO and WHO guidance in ensuring alternatives exist before banning, and left dozens of pests for which there is no organic control in existence, without protection in Kenya.

As ever more farmers and groups working with smallholders report the consequently mounting food losses, the truth will come out. The only remaining question is whether we are going to have to be like Sri Lanka, as far as spiralling food prices, starving families, and havoc to lives, human health, and livelihoods, to realise that pests destroy food.

After that, maybe we can look at the deceit those fundraisers inflicted on everyone and ensure their claims, too, are properly checked.

Ojepat Okisegere is a farmer and the CEO of Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Power Blackouts Silencing Kenya's Remote Work, And No One Seems To Care

Marvin Chege — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:15:52 +0300

We claim that Kenya is a Silicon Savannah, or at least trying to be, but we cannot keep our power on consistently.

I'm typing this in the middle of a five-day blackout that's crippled operations at my digital platform. Yes, I run it alone.

During that period, I've had to leave my house more often than necessary just to charge my phone and my laptop, as well as find a WiFi spot that's been mainly coffee restaurants, because the majority of co-working spaces are priced beyond my reach (I've never seen one that's affordable to the ordinary Kenyan).

Using money that I've not budgeted for, and struggling to catch up to the day's developments. I've hit my lowest point in five years, all because of Kenya Power.

Five days of sitting in darkness non-stop, consigned to the fact that I probably lost clients, potential paid partnerships and the ability plus morale to keep up to date with the stories of this long weekend, Madaraka Day included. What is worse is that my rivals and critics have probably thought they've won.

Photo of a laptop and a phone at an office. /BUSINESS RADAR

Anywho, working from home has gained prominence since the COVID-19 period, but Kenya Power makes it as if we are still living like we're in 2010!

In recent years, Kenya has witnessed a surge in remote work, driven by technological advancement, rising internet penetration, and a global shift toward flexible work models. From Nairobi to Nakuru, professionals have slowly embraced the home office as a viable alternative to the traditional 9-to-5 workplace.

Freelancers, online journalists and editors, digital marketers, developers, and virtual assistants are reshaping the workforce, proving that productivity doesn’t have to be tethered to physical office spaces. But this transformation is under threat — not from a lack of talent or ambition, but from something as basic as electricity.

Kenya’s unreliable power supply has emerged as a silent yet crippling enemy of remote work. Frequent blackouts, often lasting hours, days, weeks, even months, are killing productivity, morale, and the dream of a digitally empowered workforce.

Despite the push for digital transformation and innovation hubs, millions of Kenyans working from home face the daily uncertainty of when — or if — they’ll have power.

It is not uncommon for neighbourhoods to go dark multiple times a week, without prior notice. For many, these outages happen during peak working hours, cutting off access to the internet, disrupting meetings, and rendering laptops and mobile devices useless once the battery dies.

The most affected are independent workers — freelancers, online business owners, and journalists — who don’t have the luxury of office generators or institutional support. They operate from their homes or modest setups where the only power backup might be a power bank or candlelight. Each blackout doesn't just pause work; it unravels plans, deadlines, and income.

One of the greatest casualties of these frequent power outages is productivity. Deadlines slip. Clients grow impatient. Stories go unwritten. Emails go unsent. Momentum is lost. In remote work, where time is directly tied to income and reputation, every hour without electricity is a tangible loss.

But the cost is not just professional — it is psychological. Imagine working on a story or project only for your laptop to shut down mid-sentence because there's no power and your backup battery has died.

Imagine missing a job interview because your router went off five minutes before the call.

The frustration builds. The helplessness eats away at your morale.

For many remote workers, burnout no longer stems from overworking but from trying to work and failing because of infrastructure failure. The mental toll of knowing that your future and success are vulnerable to the whims of an unreliable power grid is exhausting.

Government narratives often celebrate Kenya as a tech-savvy nation — the Silicon Savannah. Mobile money innovation, tech hubs and the spread of fibre-optic connectivity are all rightly praised. But this optimism often ignores a foundational flaw: electricity is still a luxury for many. The irony is glaring.

You can have the best laptop, the fastest internet plan, and a strong work ethic, but none of it matters when your socket has no power.

In a digital economy, power is oxygen. Without it, the talk of online entrepreneurship, remote opportunities, and a vibrant creator economy becomes performative, at least for those outside privileged urban bubbles with backup power and inverters.

Power blackouts don’t affect everyone equally. While large companies and wealthier individuals can afford generators, inverters, and solar systems, most Kenyans cannot. This turns access to consistent electricity into a class issue.

Young people in informal settlements, rural towns, or middle-class estates are often locked out of digital opportunities not because they lack skill or ambition, but because they simply can’t stay online long enough to participate. The dream of remote work becomes a privilege rather than an equaliser.

Women, who are more likely to work from home due to caregiving responsibilities, are disproportionately affected. For a single mother trying to freelance or build an online brand from home, a day without power can mean losing clients, gigs, or even the motivation to continue.

Online forums and social media are full of stories that rarely make it to mainstream headlines. A video editor in Kisumu who lost a client because he couldn’t deliver a project on time. A content creator in Meru who missed a scheduled YouTube premiere. I, a digital journalist in Nairobi who had to kill a breaking news story because the power went out and mobile data was too weak to upload it on time.

These are not rare exceptions — they are daily realities for thousands of Kenyan professionals whose careers now depend on steady electricity.

If Kenya truly wants to embrace the future of work, the government, Kenya Power and the private sector must prioritise power stability as a core part of the remote work infrastructure. This isn’t just about lighting homes — it’s about enabling economic participation.

Here are a few recommendations to the monopoly power firm (because there's no one out there to challenge them):

Upgrade the national grid with investments aimed at reducing unplanned outages, especially in high-density residential areas.
Expand access to affordable solar solutions, especially for low-income earners and remote workers.
Create incentives for co-working spaces to serve as power-secure hubs for remote workers in underserved towns, sub-counties, counties and cities.
Increase transparency and communication from Kenya Power, including timely updates on blackouts and estimated restoration times, if they even care to listen.
Support local manufacturing and distribution of small, affordable inverters and battery packs suited for single-person use.

Kenya has the talent, tools, and ambition to thrive in a remote-first world. But without stable electricity, we are sabotaging our potential.

Power blackout in Kenya. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Every blackout isn’t just a flicker in the grid — it’s a dimming of someone’s dream, someone’s deadline, someone’s dignity.

The future of work is digital, but it cannot run on hope alone. It needs power. And until Kenya solves the blackout crisis, working from home will remain an uphill battle for those who dare to build outside the traditional systems.

Marvin Chege is the founder and editor-in-chief of Viral Tea. He is a self-taught digital journalist and a young digital media expert with over 5 years of experience creating content that mainly concerns the youth: zillennials and Gen Z.

**DISCLAIMER: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by this writer are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of Viral Tea.**

Media Council Ranks Viral Tea Among Most Popular News Websites

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 16 May 2025 13:49:46 +0300

Leading Gen Z digital platform Viral Tea has been recognised amongst Kenya's most popular news websites by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), four years since its establishment.

According to the State of Media Survey Report 2024 released on Thursday, May 15, Viral Tea was grouped in the 'Others' category at 2 per cent readership, a rise from the 0.4 per cent readership in 2023.

There is some significance as the platform beat renowned players such as Ghafla and Mpasho, which garnered a 1 per cent readership compared to 3 per cent and 7 per cent respectively in 2023.

Viral Tea's founder and editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege, expressed elation on the platform's increase in readership between 2023 and 2024, acknowledging it as a testament to the Viral Team's dedication and the unwavering support from its readers.

Screengrab of the State of Media Survey Report 2024 ranking the most visited news websites in Kenya. /MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

"Since our inception in February 2021, we've aimed to deliver timely, relevant, and engaging content that resonates with our audience, particularly the youth. Being recognised by the MCK, an independent, national institution established to regulate and develop the media sector in Kenya, is another huge milestone ticked," he remarked, reminiscing about the far we have come in the four years.

"Our commitment to innovation and storytelling has also earned us a spot among Feedspot's top 20 news blogs and websites in Kenyan politics. This recognition places us alongside established media houses like NTV, Nation, and Citizen Digital."

He added that the achievements underscore our mission to provide authentic and impactful journalism. "We're grateful for the trust our readers place in us and remain committed to delivering news that informs, educates, and inspires. Thank you for being part of our journey. Here's to reaching even greater heights together," he concluded.

The study targeted Kenyans aged 15 and above and included all 47 counties across eight regions, with the survey sample proportionally distributed nationwide.

Findings revealed that social media has become the main source of news for most Kenyans, highlighting a shift in media consumption trends and the growing influence of digital platforms.

Statistically, 37 per cent of Kenyans used social media as their main source of news, followed by 31 percent who relied on TV. 26 per cent relied on radio to stay up to date and the rest included family/friends/colleagues at 3 per cent, online news websites at 2 per cent and newspapers at 1 per cent.

Viral Tea writes original news and informative articles covering local news, politics, entertainment, business and sports as well as unique features curated to satisfy the needs of the general public, especially the youth (the Millennials and Gen Z).

Demographics from Google Analytics and Similarweb, among others, indicate that Viral Tea is among the most-preferred news websites among users aged 18-39 who consume content in real-time, a shift from mainstream, where Kenyans had to wait for prime-time news bulletins to stay informed.

In September 2023, Viral Tea became the first digital native media house in Kenya to have a segment dedicated exclusively to aviation. Currently, it is the only digital platform in the country to have such a segment.

From this, we have broken major aviation news as well as provided evergreen content regarding how aircraft systems work, and how helicopters are used during events, among others, particularly those that have caught the eye of Kenyans.

Our articles have moreover been published in easy-to-understand language and details derived from research via respected aviation news websites and the internet, and are catchy enough for our readers to consume as much information as possible and be 'in-the-know' about aeroplanes

We have recently rebranded the segment to Sky Tea, mixing aviation journalism with our typical Viral Tea flair, aiming to serve turbulence with a side of truth.

In 2023, Viral Tea was ranked second-best among 14 online media platforms nominated for the awards in the 'Online Media of the Year' category during the Pride of Kenya Awards (POKA).

Graphic of the State of Media Survey Report 2024 ranking Viral Tea among most visited news websites in Kenya. /VIRAL TEA KE

ASSETA: How Africa’s Soil Could End Hunger & Save The Planet

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:25:10 +0300

by Dr Diallo Asseta

Africa holds 60 percent of the world’s untapped arable land, a resource that could not only nourish our growing population but also position the continent as a global breadbasket.

As we continually reflect on our planet's health, we must recognise soils as renewable powerhouses, akin to solar and wind energy, demanding a parallel revolution in sustainable agriculture. Healthy soils sequester carbon, enhance biodiversity, and build climate resilience.

Yet systemic gaps in supply services of farm inputs, inappropriate agronomic advisory services, and inadequate local fertiliser production perpetuate degraded soils, stagnant yields, and climate vulnerability. Africa’s smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of food systems only apply just 18kg of fertiliser per hectare in average in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 13 percent of the global average.

The Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit Declaration, endorsed by heads of state in May 2024 in Nairobi, sets bold targets of tripling domestic fertiliser production, rehabilitating 30 percent of degraded land, and equipping 70 percent of smallholders with tailored guidance by 2034.

Photo of Dr Diallo Asseta, a Senior Program Officer, Soil Fertility and Fertiliser Systems at AGRA. /HANDOUT

Several countries have begun integrating the declaration’s commitments into their National Agricultural Investment Plans, with governments like Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Ethiopia initiating policy reviews to prioritise domestic fertiliser production and soil health investments.

The imperative is clear: investing in soil health is not just an agricultural strategy; it is a fundamental pillar for food security, economic growth, and climate adaptation across Africa. Actionable investments are therefore critical at the National level to empower local fertiliser ventures, digital soil health platforms, and last-mile input distribution networks, which can ignite rural economies.

Just as the ongoing shift towards renewable energy is lifting communities from poverty, a sustained commitment to sustainable farming practices will reduce malnutrition, build resilience against environmental shocks, and curb emissions for generations to come.

The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), co-convened by AGRA in 2023, emphasises the need for policy coherence and collaboration. Governments must fund soil labs, soil mapping, extension services, and rural infrastructure, while partners align initiatives with national priorities to avoid fragmentation.

This transition requires going beyond external aid to grow domestic resource mobilisation and innovative financing models. Africa’s digital revolution, with 60 percent of farmers owning mobile phones, can democratize access to agronomic advice and market data, bridging critical gaps.

These solutions must respect local knowledge and ecology. The “4 Rs” of nutrient stewardship—right source, right rate, right time, and right place—must adapt to contexts from Kenya’s highlands to Senegal’s drylands, ensuring practices are both scalable and sustainable.

Africa’s soil revolution is a strategic imperative. Continuous commitment to restoring degraded soils could vastly boost yields, shifting Africa from food importer to agricultural leader. Each dollar invested in soil health is estimated to yield $10 (Ksh1,299) in economic returns via nutrition, jobs, and environmental benefits. By blending innovation with tradition, and global expertise with local leadership, we can cultivate thriving ecosystems alongside prosperous communities.

AGRA and its partners are poised to advance this vision, but success demands unity. Governments, businesses, NGOs, and farmers must all rally around this movement, recognising soil health as the core of Africa’s green growth. Just as sunlight fuels solar panels, healthy soils energise societies.

Let us harness this renewable force to forge a resilient, nourished, healthy and equitable future for Africa and the world.

Dr Diallo Asseta is a Senior Program Officer, Soil Fertility and Fertiliser Systems at AGRA

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Bird's eye view of a farm in Kenya. /AGFUNDER NEWS

MUSOLA: How Air Cargo Is Quietly Rewiring Africa’s Economy

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:53:33 +0300

By Peter Musola

When most people think about aviation, they imagine passengers boarding planes, business travellers in transit, or families reunited.

What they rarely consider is what lies beneath—the tonnes of goods that move through the belly of aircraft, silently powering global trade and driving economic transformation.

However, the numbers tell a compelling story. According to Boeing’s World Air Cargo Forecast (WACF) (2022 -2041) - a biennial addendum to the Commercial Market Outlook, air cargo represents less than one percent of total trade volume but accounts for over 35 percent of trade by value globally. Yet, this sector’s strategic importance is often underappreciated.

Africa’s aspirations—be it through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), food security targets, or digital transformation agendas—essentially hinge on the free and fast movement of goods. Air cargo, therefore, is not merely a logistics function for the continent; it is the lifeblood of modern commerce, a vital trade facilitator, and an economic equaliser.

A Kenya Airways Cargo plane taxiing at an airport. /KENYA AIRWAYS

In a continent where land transport can be slow or inefficient and maritime routes often bypass key inland markets, air cargo offers a crucial link to regional and global supply chains.

It connects farmers to export markets, empowers Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through e-commerce platforms, and integrates manufacturers into just-in-time global supply chains, effectively transforming geographical distance into a competitive advantage.

From Nairobi to Amsterdam, from Accra to Guangzhou, the freighters and aircraft of carriers like Kenya Airways are conduits of possibility, not just for people, but for goods. Consider fresh flowers from Naivasha - Kemya reaching European florists in under 24 hours, sensitive pharmaceuticals transported across the continent with required precision, or urgent medical supplies delivered in times of crisis.

In 2024, African carriers recorded an 8.5 percent increase in cargo volumes, with capacity growing by 13.6 percent according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This growth was largely linked to the continent’s agricultural exports, especially perishables. As fresh produce fuels this growth, this unseen world of air cargo deserves a front-row seat in conversations about Africa’s economic growth

To advance regional trade and meet growing demand for air cargo services across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Kenya Airways expanded its cargo operations in the year ended with the addition of two Boeing 737-800 freighters and investments in infrastructure such as Pharma cold room which is certified by IATA(CEIV) and Cold storage facility for perishable cargo.

These strategic interventions resulted in a 25 percent increase in cargo capacity and expanded the airline’s operational reach to key destinations, including the Middle East, India, Eldoret (Kenya), and several cities in West Africa.

However, realising the full potential of air cargo in Africa requires a concerted effort. Governments, regulators, and private sector actors must align to prioritise their development.

This necessitates investing in airport infrastructure, digitising customs processes, harmonising regulatory frameworks, and providing support for local producers to scale to international markets. Fundamentally, it means treating cargo as a strategic lever of trade.

Furthermore, building a robust air cargo ecosystem demands a focus on capacity building. Skilled manpower, from handlers and logistics experts to data analysts, is essential. As demand grows for integrated, tech-enabled logistics solutions, Africa must proactively train a workforce ready to seize these opportunities. This is not solely about aircraft; it’s about people, skills, and systems working harmoniously to deliver excellence.

Environmental sustainability is another critical dimension. As global cargo demand increases, so too does scrutiny on emissions. Airlines are increasingly adopting sustainable practices, including fuel-efficient routing, digitised documentation to reduce paper waste, and exploring green partnerships.

Ultimately, the conversation about air cargo transcends mere freight. It is primarily about trade and Africa’s ability to compete and thrive in the global marketplace. It is about empowering our entrepreneurs with the tools they need to scale, ensuring that a farmer in Kenya or a designer in Lagos can reach customers in Dubai, London, or New York.

If we are truly serious about unlocking Africa’s economic potential, then we must be equally serious about investing in the systems that move its goods, and air cargo must be a central pillar of that investment.

Peter Musola is the Head of Cargo Commercial at Kenya Airways

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Aerial view of aircraft at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. /BUSINESS DAY

OORO: Why Are Our Boys So Angry? Netflix's ‘Adolescence’ Has a Chilling Answer

Ooro George — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 15:27:46 +0300

In the face of shocking revelations, particularly those involving their children, many parents instinctively respond with denial: “Not my daughter,” “Can’t be my son,” or “This is insane.” Such defensive reactions are often a natural reflex to protect their child’s image and their own sense of identity. But what happens when the truth is undeniable, and the walls of denial begin to crack?

This dynamic is at the heart of Adolescence, the latest British hit mini series currently streaming on Netflix, which explores the turbulent, raw emotions of teen—rage, rebellion, and the painful transition from innocence to the harsh realities of justice system.

Through its gripping portrayal of a 13-year-old male caught in a situation beyond his control, the show delves deep into the complexities of family, identity, and how we confront the darker sides of ourselves.

By far Netflix’s most harrowing release of 2025, Adolescence is shot in a single continuous motion, and pulls viewers into the unraveling world of Jamie Miller, who is accused of murdering his classmate, Katie.

Erin Doherty and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'. /NETFLIX

Directed by Philip Barantini, the show begins with police storming into the bedroom of 13-year-old Jamie (Owen Cooper) in a northern English town, arresting him on suspicion of stabbing his classmate, Katie, to death. Co-creator Stephen Graham stars as Jamie’s father, Eddie, whose family is devastated by the shocking allegations.

While the first episode centers on Jamie’s arrest and entry into the criminal justice system, the second shifts focus to the investigation. Authorities search for the murder weapon and comb through Jamie and Katie’s social media messages to piece together the nature of their relationship. The gripping third episode centers on an intense exchange between Jamie and psychologist Briony Ariston.

The entire story unfolds over 13 months and concludes in the fourth and final episode, where Jamie makes an unexpected confession to his father.

So, why Did Jamie Kill Kate? Jamie killed Katie because of a combination of factors, including his lack of self-esteem, perceived bullying at school, and access to online incel propaganda.

During a counseling session, Jamie tells the therapist that he asked Katie out after a topless photo of her was sent among classmates on Snapchat as an act of revenge porn. But Katie rejected him and later sent emojis mocking him for asking. However, it’s after she publicly called him an incel on Instagram that pushes him over the edge. He stabs her shortly after.

The writers previously shared that the series was inspired by the knife-crime epidemic in the U.K. and an exploration of male rage.

Stephen Graham told Vanity Fair, a US culture magazine, that he was initially unfamiliar with the 'manosphere'—a controversial network of websites, blogs, forums, and online communities centered on men’s rights, male interests, and opposition to feminism.

Jack Thorne, another co-creator of the show, told a US newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, that he wanted to move beyond the typical narrative of blaming the parents. Instead, he sought to examine other factors that could influence Jamie’s behavior, including the rise of incel culture online. The Anti-Defamation League, defines incels as “heterosexual men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success.

After Jamie admits his guilty plea, his parents have a heartfelt conversation about where they went wrong. Manda raises questions about Jamie’s temper and regrets not monitoring his computer usage more closely, while Eddie is still traumatized by the CCTV footage of the murder.

In the final scene, Jamie’s father steps into his son's untouched room and breaks down, burying his face in his pillow. He apologizes to Jamie’s teddy bear, a symbolic stand-in for his son. “I’m sorry, son, I should’ve done better,” he says.

Thorne added that the series was also driven by an exploration of male rage. As he, Graham, and director Philip Barantini reflected on their own identities as men, fathers, partners, and friends, they found themselves “questioning with some intensity” who they were as people, and specifically, as men.

“That is a journey I’ve never gone on as a writer before, and it scared me and excited me because it felt like we had something to say," he said.

Graham told Vanity Fair that he was initially unfamiliar with the concept of the manosphere—a controversial network of websites, blogs, forums, and online communities centered on men’s rights, male interests, and opposition to feminism.

Over the last three decades, the Kenyan boychild has been left behind in Kenya’s economic and cultural development, and this has perpetuated local discourses about the ‘neglect of the boychild’. Most development aid interventions have always targeted the girlchild, and women have increasingly been empowered economically.

As a result and in retaliation to the world becoming more 'femicentric', the masculinity consultancy scene has become a booming business with controversial figures such as Andrew Kibe, Amerix, Jacob Aliet, Silas Nyanchwani, who give 'masculine' advice to Kenyan men on Twitter and through their books and social media channels.

Collage of Amerix (left) and Andrew Kibe (right). /X

While all four align with the global red pill movement, part of a global backlash against feminism or some of feminism’s social consequences, they do so to different degrees. Amerix and Andrew have a more radical take on Kenya’s gender relations and offer answers that aim at changing not only the totality of his adepts’ daily lives but also openly admire Paul Kagame’s autocratic style of leadership and dreams of a world where strong ‘Afrikan’ men subdue obedient women.

Such radical anti-feminist rage via social media is doing more harm than good to society. Male children, as young as 10, are now bossing their female counterparts in schools, churches and other social gatherings -- saying hurtful things, excluding peers, and acting in other unkind ways.

They are not acting mean on purpose. By and large, these kids are struggling with difficult feelings of insecurity/self-doubt and anxiety perpetuated by the self-awareness campaign propagated by the likes of Amerix.

These complex emotions are uncomfortable and hard to make sense of and cope with, even for adults, no less young children who don’t have the self-awareness or skills to deal with these emotions effectively; so, they act them out via projection—attributing uncomfortable emotions to others.

They project these difficult emotions that are hard for them to tolerate onto others, moreso the weaker opposite sex. It's a coping mechanism, albeit an unhealthy one.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, blogger, editor-at-large, art critic, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us at opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Manifest Your Best Self: Harness The Power Of Vision Boarding For Personal Growth

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:55:56 +0300

By Wanjiru Murage - Mutahi

Last year, some of those ambitious goals you set—a 35km run, a regular wellness routine, or even conquering Mount Kenya—might have remained stubbornly out of reach.

Throughout the year, you may have experienced a series of false starts in your fitness journey. Despite coming up with a schedule for the gym, or a morning hour jog. You just didn't manage to get it going.

But you aren’t alone. By mid-February, that initial optimism most of us embrace at the start of the year often fades, leaving a familiar sense of disappointment. From a wardrobe overhaul, mastering a new skill, learning a new course, cruising on that epic road trip, or shedding those extra kilos—the aspirations remain a pipedream.

This year let’s conquer our goals and break the cycle of broken promises and unmet targets.

In Kenya, where wellness and mindful living are increasingly valued, vision boarding is gaining popularity. It's a simple yet profound practice that can transform your aspirations into tangible achievements.

What’s a vision board?

A vision board visually represents your goals and dreams using images, words, and affirmations to inspire and motivate. It connects you with your aspirations, fostering personal growth and lasting change by articulating your vision for the future.

A photo of Wanjiru Murage-Mutahi, Marketing Manager White Cap Crisp. /LINKEDIN

Understanding the power of vision boards

A TD Bank survey found that one in five successful entrepreneurs use vision boards when starting their business and about 76% reported that their progress so far has aligned with their vision. 82% of these small business owners found that they have accomplished over half of their business goals since they began.

Creating your vision board

Here are some types of goals that you may want to include in a vision board, Career, Money, Wellness, Travel and Social Goals.

Ready to create your own vision board? It's a fun and deeply personal process!

Gather Your Materials: You'll need a board (physical or digital), magazines, art supplies, and anything else that sparks your creativity. Consider incorporating elements of Kenyan heritage for a personal touch.
Digital Options: Tech-savvy individuals can use apps like Pinterest, Canva, or dedicated vision board apps for easy creation and updates.
Self-Reflection: Identify your core values and the goals that truly resonate with you. Be specific! Instead of "lose weight," write "lose 10kg by June."
Curate and Arrange: Gather inspiring images, quotes, and words that represent your goals. Arrange them on your board in a visually appealing and meaningful way.

Using Your Vision Board for Growth

Strategic Placement: Place your vision board where you'll see it multiple times a day – your bedroom, office, or bathroom mirror. For digital boards, use them as your phone or computer wallpaper.
Tech Integration: Display your digital vision board on smart home devices or set reminders to view it throughout the day, combining them with affirmations.
Consistent Interaction: Regularly visualize your goals while looking at your board, connecting with the positive feelings of achievement. Pair this with consistent action towards your goals.
Track and Evolve: Track your progress towards vision board goals using a journal or by regularly photographing the board to visualise achievements. Update your board as goals evolve, maintaining momentum and celebrating milestones.

Some people also like to revisit their boards regularly, adding new images and affirmations as their goals evolve.

A Vision Board Template

If prioritizing mindful living is one goal this year—start searching for balanced choices complementing this lifestyle early on! Welcome WhiteCap Crisp into this journey—a low-alcohol beer best served chilled honouring the balance between living fully & connecting meaningfully!

Start creating your vision board today and manifest your best self in 2025! What are you waiting for? Seize the moment.

Wanjiru Murage-Mutahi is a Marketing Manager at White Cap Crisp.

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OORO: Tyler Perry's War Film A Call to Rediscover Posta Kenya's Lost Glory

Ooro George — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 15:51:30 +0300

There’s prestige aplenty in Tyler Perry’s latest World War II drama, The Six Triple Eight, about the only Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps unit serving in Europe: the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. But it is Kerry Washington as Maj. Charity Adams who commands my attention.

Major Adams leads 855 women on a six-month mission to move 17 million mouldering, rat-gnawed, bloodstained parcels and letters. The movie, with its emphasis on teamwork, dedication, and the impact of reliable communication, deeply resonated with me as a budding communications professional.

The story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black, all-female unit tasked with clearing a massive backlog of undelivered mail during World War II, is a powerful reminder of the importance of communication to the morale of an organization and the morale of an organization being crucial to delivering on the mission.

I watched. I cried. I reminisced about my industrial attachment days at The Postal Corporation of Kenya, Kakamega GPO. The grim-reaping COVID pandemic severely disrupted traditional internship opportunities, with many organizations shifting to remote work models. I was lucky to secure one of the few in-person internships available at Posta Kenya.

Posta Kenya employees at work. /FILE

As a communications and PR student at Masinde Muliro University, my decision to undertake an industrial attachment at Posta Kenya's Kakamega GPO in January 2021 raised eyebrows among my predominantly Gen Z classmates. Many viewed Posta Kenya as a relic of the past – an inefficient enterprise struggling to compete in the era of emails and the rise of tech-savvy private courier services.

But watching the onscreen journey of the cast unfold, I could not help but draw parallels between their mission and the work postmasters do every day since time immemorial -- often in the background, sorting out parcels to keep the engines of connection and progress running.

Team working in a multigenerational team offered a unique opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. While generational differences presented challenges, they also enriched my overall internship experience at the great Postal Corporation of Kenya.

By the end of my intensive three-month experience, I not only injected a genZ spirit in the offices but also learnt that while communication continues to evolve and shift from traditional to digital tactics to a calculated mix of both, the relevance of postal services continues to show strength and agility when used strategically in logistics and cargo transportation. And all this is evidenced in the Netflix hit film helmed by Tyler Perry.

These lessons not only highlight the parallels between the 6888th mission and the work communicators and courier service providers do but also flow together as a reminder of how different aspects of communication work in harmony. One of the first parallels that struck me was the relentless, round-the-clock effort required to ensure no gaps in the battalion’s mission. The women of the 6888th worked in shifts, around the clock, to process millions of letters within just 90 days. Their dedication ensured that soldiers received messages of hope and connection from home, an essential morale boost on the frontlines.

Similarly, in the world of communications, the work never truly stops. Whether managing crises, aligning stakeholders, or crafting narratives that move audiences, communicators are always "on." It’s a 24/7 responsibility that demands both agility and endurance, especially in today’s fast-paced, interconnected world. Just as the 6888th ensured that no letter was left behind, I watched postmasters work tirelessly to ensure that no parcel was lost or misunderstood.

I saw how critical communication could be, and also how much room there was to improve. Looking back, I realize that consistent communication was the missing piece we needed to maintain alignment and morale. New technology, competition and uncertainty often left staffers feeling disconnected. Much like the women of the 6888th, who worked tirelessly in shifts to ensure no letter went undelivered, the staffers at Kakamega GPO strived to embrace a more structured and proactive approach to communication. This experience was a lesson in the power of constant, intentional messaging, a necessity for navigating change effectively.

One of my favourite scenes in Six Triple Eight is when Major Charity Adams Earley confidently walks an inspecting officer through the battalion’s operations, responding to his scrutiny with an explanation of the thought and strategy behind their work. She made it clear that their processes were meticulous, rooted in strategy, and driven by data.

This moment resonated deeply. In communications, it's common to have external stakeholders bring their perspectives to the table, and collaboration often strengthens the work. However, as a communicator, it’s important to help stakeholders recognize the strategic rigour you put behind effective messaging. From research to competitive analysis to data-driven decisions, communicators balance creativity with expertise to craft narratives that resonate. While outside feedback is vital, understanding the process and relying on your subject matter expertise will elevate the outcome.

It’s a reminder that, just as in the 6888th Battalion’s operations, collaboration is the key to achieving clarity and cohesion. The 6888th Battalion’s success was a testament to teamwork. Over 800 women worked together, processing millions of pieces of mail in just three months. While 800 is larger than any communications team I’ve seen, the analogy holds: achieving scale in communications requires a highly collaborative and coordinated effort. Much like the 6888th Battalion, we relied on the coordination of many moving parts to ensure success.

What fueled the 6888th Battalion’s tireless efforts? It wasn’t just duty; it was purpose and passion. Their motivation came from understanding the impact of their work. A pivotal moment in the film shows Charity finding renewed resolve through Lena, a private grieving the loss of her significant other who was lost at war. This personal connection reminded the battalion, and the audience, that their work was about more than mail; it was about preserving humanity during war.

Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams and Milauna Jackson as Lt. Campbell in "The Six Triple Eight.". /NETFLIX

In the same way, the heart of the Postal Corporation of Kenya has been about touching lives. ‘Six Triple Eight’ is a powerful reminder of the often invisible labour that keeps systems running. The battalion’s story challenges us to recognize the unsung heroes not only at Posta Kenya but in every field of service delivery. In venture capital, these heroes may be the platform and communications professionals who work tirelessly to ensure that portfolio companies succeed post-investment.

The film left me with this question: What stories, messages, and connections are we leaving undelivered? As communicators, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to bridge gaps, inspire action, and deliver hope. The story of the 6888th Battalion serves as a powerful reminder that every act of service, no matter how small, has the potential to make a significant difference. By recognizing and appreciating the unsung heroes in our communities, we can build a stronger and more connected society.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, blogger, editor-at-large, art critic, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

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OORO: From Instagram To School: The Benefits of Celebrity Studies in Education

Ooro George — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:20:17 +0300

In June 2014, Rutgers University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in America, affirmed that celebrity culture is a serious subject for serious study – by taking its first intake of students studying Feminist Perspectives: Politicising Beyoncé, as part of its Women and Gender studies course.

As part of the Politicising Beyoncé course, students learn about American race, gender and sexual politics. The class will include an analysis of Beyoncé's videos and lyrics as well as readings from black feminists. According to Kevin Allred, the lecturer at Rutgers running the course, "When students don't respond to theory or dense readings, it's often easier to see things play out in the world around them."

The same year, Skidmore College, a liberal arts institution in New York State, opened its doors for a summer course on the Sociology of Miley Cyrus.

Still, in 2014, James Bennett, a leading professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, said that students can learn about politics, morality and the economy from celebrity culture. “From Angelina Jolie's breast cancer surgery to Madonna adopting children from Malawi, celebrities are constantly used to tell stories that spark important conversations and debates about moral, political, economic and cultural issues,” he said.

Similarly, the Sociology of Miley Cyrus classes aim to use the controversial American pop star as a gateway to discuss core sociological theory. Carolyn Chernoff, who wrote the syllabus, said "Miley Cyrus is a rich example of how race, class and gender are performed in the media. She's a great case study.

Beyoncé performs onstage on June 27, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. /GETTY IMAGES

Jonathan Baldwin, a director of teaching and learning in Cambridge, previously ran a course based on the Simpsons at the University of Brighton. He pointed out that Dickens and Shakespeare were also celebrities. "Using current figures as a way to unpick our current way of life is entirely appropriate," he says. "How else would you do it?"

Fast forward to November 2024, Yale University, another private Ivy League research university in the US, recently announced a new course that dives into the profound influence of songstress Beyoncé on contemporary society.

Daphne Brooks, professor of African American Studies and music, will teach the new class titled Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music.

In the class, students will examine Beyoncé’s artistic work from 2013 to 2024 as a lens to study Black history, intellectual thought and performance. The course is a byproduct of Brooks’ previous class at Princeton University titled Black Women in Popular Music Culture.

While at Princeton, Brooks served as a faculty member in the English and African American Studies Departments. Much of the content in her Yale course draws from the section in her Princeton course which focused on Beyoncé’s cultural impact.

According to Brooks, those classes were always overenrolled “and there was so much energy around the focus on Beyoncé, even though it was a class that starts in the late 19th century and moves through the present day. I always thought I should come back to focusing on her and centring her work pedagogically at some point.”

Brooks believes that following the 2024 election and the events preceding it, it’s important to recognize Beyoncé’s unprecedented contributions to American culture, popular culture and global culture for the past two decades.

The course primarily centres around Beyoncé’s sonic, fashion and visual media following her 2013 self-titled album through 2024’s Cowboy Carter. It also delves into the multifarious Black female experience in media and politics.

Students will participate in discussions surrounding readings from scholars such as Hortense Spillers, the Combahee River Collective, Cedric Robinson and Karl Hagstrom Miller.

In terms of projects, students will participate in screenings of her visual albums, work with archives in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and engage with public humanities projects designed to study Beyoncé’s physical impact on the Black community. Students will also be encouraged to create playlists connecting Beyoncé’s music to those of her influences.

When asked why the class centres around Beyoncé’s musical catalogue such as her most recent albums: Lemonade, Renaissance and Cowboy Carter as opposed to her earlier bodies of work such as Dangerously in Love and B’Day, Brooks said it’s because she wanted to highlight Beyoncé’s break from certain dimensions of a “typical pop repertoire.”

"2013 was such a watershed moment in which she articulated her beliefs in Black feminism,” Brooks said. In the song Flawless, it was the first time a pop artist like Beyonce had used sound bites from a Black feminist like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It became more about ‘We are going to produce club bangers that are also galvanizing our ability to think radically about the state of liberation.”

Brooks said that the study of Beyoncé will work as scaffolding for engaging contributions of other performers such as Harlem Renaissance entertainer Josephine Baker, acclaimed singer Diana Ross, Black sexual revolutionary Betty Davis and queer icon Grace Jones.

The course is cross-listed between the Department of African American Studies, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, American Studies and Music. Brooks says that such interdisciplinary engagement will help students at Yale think about American history and the way culture acts as a site of refuge for marginalized and minoritized groups.

Other courses that have used celebrities as case studies include a course in Jay-Z and Kanye West at the University of Missouri, which looks at the rappers in relation to poets and the American dream, and a course in the sociology of Lady Gaga in South Carolina.

In the UK, one can enrol for a master's degree that focuses on the Beatles, at Liverpool Hope University, and analyze the significance of the music of the Beatles in the construction of identities, audiences, ethnicities and localities.

However, not everyone will be convinced that university courses focused on celebrities are worth signing up for. One may ask "Why Beyoncé? Why not someone iconic in the suffragette movement who's been influential in gender movements?

Yale University Art Gallery. /YALE UNIVERSITY

Are university courses that focus on pop stars a fresh way to dissect broader topics, or are they just a savvy marketing move? Critics have labelled such moves as a symptom of a competitive commercialized education market. They argue that nowadays, colleges and universities treat students like customers.

Mainstream learning institutions want to ensure their product has the most appealing packaging, including modules with cool names. They are taking the "easy way out" by using celebrities to attract students. That they do it to seem more current and to create a buzz. Perhaps mentioning celebrities as examples in topics is better suited than creating an entire course module on them.

Focusing on current pop stars doesn't have to lead to the neglect of other important figures. It's important to keep things current as it's more relatable. This doesn't mean the neglect of people from the past, but rather the amalgamation of those from the past and those of today.

Dismissal of courses like this as 'useless' depicts sheer arrogance and no understanding of what courses are useful in the first place. We’re in the 21st century and not everyone fancies engineering, law, architecture, agriculture or medicine. Regardless of the intellectual value that celebrity studies entail, rigid conservative conventionality will discriminate constantly, and at the end of the day, it's how you look on paper.

If it sees an academic case study on Simba and Les Wanyika; Them Mushrooms; Les Mangelepa; Nyashinski; AliKiba; Diamond Platnumz; Lady Jaydee; Eric Wainaina; Suzanna Owiyo; Rose Muhando; SautiSol; Christina Shusho or Wahu and Nameless, it won't think about the depth and issues that have gone into the course, it will just think 'next please'.

Celebrity culture is a serious subject for serious study. Let’s think beyond the glitz and glamour and tap into the intellectual value of celebrity studies. It can foster critical thinking and empower the next generation.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

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OORO: Why Regenerative Farming Should Take Center Stage in Sustainable Conversation

Ooro George — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:06:06 +0300

I recently attended a day-long report launch workshop on strategies and business cases for scaling the manufacturing of organic fertilizers in Kenya at a city hotel in Nairobi. The event ignited a newfound passion for agriculture journalism, a beat I am relatively new to.

From keenly listening to the presentations, arguments and counterarguments, by key stakeholders in the industry, I came up with my journalistic angle for the story I was to write about.

The natural disasters bedevilling us are symptomatic of our fast-paced lifestyles and one-sided relationship with the planet. We have forgotten that we are nature, and because of that, we’ve extracted from the earth without giving back. How do we give back? How do we restore degraded soils using practices such as adaptive grazing, no-till planting and zero use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers? I thought to myself.

Regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture strives to work with nature rather than against it. Regenerative agriculture is more than just being sustainable. It is about reversing degradation and building up the soil to make it healthier than its current state.

A rice farmer in Mwea. /FILE

In the context of food and modern-day agriculture, this type of farming is essentially the new organic or sustainable farming, but it goes a few steps further. In addition to omitting chemicals, regenerative agriculture replenishes and strengthens the plants, the soil, and the nature surrounding it.

And because most of what we consume are actually plants, “regenerative ag” should become a shiny new buzzword in the sustainable conversation.

I chose this as my angle because this is one of the places where we can make a positive impact. Rather than just pollute less or do less harm, we can actually kind of revive the earth through our day-to-day activities.

Most young journalists in my age bracket eschew agriculture journalism as a beat and have never set foot on a farm, and the conventional-versus-regenerative agriculture debate doesn’t often come up at most editorial meetings moreso of digital publications.

The easiest way to understand regenerative agriculture is to first picture what you think of as a “typical farm”: It’s probably hundreds of acres of a single crop, like maize or beans. It probably looks normal to your eye, though not entirely natural, because it isn’t: Most of those farms use pesticides and other conventional methods, like deep tilling.

A regenerative farm is the complete inverse of that: Imagine acre upon acre of different crops, many of them strategically planted to help each other grow and flourish. On a coffee farm, there might be rows of snap peas planted as “cover crops” to shade the soil so it stays cool, absorbs more water, and thus grows more microbiomes.

Regenerative farms also implement “pollinator strips” of crops that attract bees and butterflies to the area, or they’ll add “trap crops” to divert pests from their hero crops in place of chemical pesticides. It’s mimicking what nature does already. You never see just one crop in nature, you see a vast diversity. There’s a reason for that.

Regenerative farming produces stronger crops and provides a healthier way of life for farmers, but it’s the impact on soil that’s making it an environmental movement. Rich, nutrient-dense soil sequesters carbon from the atmosphere through a process we all learned as primary school pupils: photosynthesis. When plants photosynthesize, they capture carbon in the air and draw it back into the earth, where it becomes food for microorganisms and mycelia.

It’s all part of earth’s natural cycle—the atmosphere has always traded carbon with the soil—but after the Industrial Revolution, humans have been releasing disproportionate amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The cycle is no longer in harmony, and the carbon trapped in the atmosphere is now warming the planet. To make matters worse, modern-day farming practices have led to massive areas of stripped, barren land that can’t effectively absorb carbon.

We constantly hear about reducing our carbon emissions or new technology that captures carbon, but if the earth could just return to its natural, abundant state, it could fix the problem of global warming on its own.

Soil has lost close to 140 billion tons of CO2e through tillage, overgrazing, and churning it up to develop urban and suburban sprawl. Of the available landmass that is not picked over, we can sink all of the carbon in our atmosphere, which is 109 billion tons. So we owe the soil MORE carbon than we need to sequester.

Our land is bare and essentially devoid of life, with an intentional collective zeal by the government and the private sector, transforming conventional maize, beans and other crop farms into regenerative is possible.

Amid economic turmoil, it’s unlikely that many brands have set aside an agriculture budget. Some might be cutting their sustainability budgets altogether. But if they’re willing to think long-term and leap, investing in regenerative farming methods is the best thing they can do for the planet.

A rice farm in Nyando. /TAALAMU NEWS

It may not be big enough to change the whole world, but it’s big enough to change our country. And it’s big enough that if we do it well and get more journalists writing and screaming about it, much bigger brands will jump on board, and consumers and farmers deep in the villages will demand it.

In other words, it’s doable. And while it sounds scientific, it’s also radically simple.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on opinion@viraltea.co.ke

OORO: Lupita & Tyla Are Redefining the Narrative of Authentic Cultural Representation

Ooro George — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 18:39:46 +0300

The idea that full success for entertainers in Hollywood can only be achieved by conforming to American culture and accent is charming but misguided. At least according to Oscar-winning Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong'o and Grammy-winning South African songstress, Tyla.

For the first episode of her new podcast, movie star, Lupita Nyong’o opened up about her intimate journey to fully accepting her identity and battling the "complicated relationship with the way I speak” for years.

Early in her career, the globally acclaimed actress just wanted to blend into Hollywood, but she soon realized standing out was a hidden gift. Born in Mexico to Kenyan parents, but was raised in Kenya from the age of three, Lupita identifies as a Kenyan-Mexican and is fluent in Spanish. Despite currently living in the United States for twenty years now, she revealed that “to create this podcast, I had to get very comfortable with my voice.”

Although she embraced her Kenyan accent while enrolled at Massachusetts' Hampshire College, Lupita recalled the shift happening when she joined the Yale School of Drama to pursue acting. To ensure she mastered talking like an American, Lupita dedicated several days out of her week to voice lessons.

But a compliment from a casting director about her accent only left her feeling bittersweet: “She said, ‘Oh my goodness, you don't have an accent.’ And I was at once so elated and also so crushed. I had ridden myself of myself, kind of.”

Lupita Nyong'o wins the Supporting Actress Academy Award during the 2014 Oscar Awards. /FILE

So, in 2014, before starting the press tour for 12 Years a Slave (the debut feature film that instantly made her a global household name), Lupita decided to make a change. She called her publicist and said, "I've decided that from tomorrow, I am going to return to my original accent. I want to send a message that being an African is enough. They had never heard me speak in a Kenyan accent.”

When Tyla exploded into global music stardom with her hit song Water, the South African singer did not just gain attention for her silky R&B vocals, viral dance moves and accent. Tyla’s proud description of herself as “Coloured” also caused controversy, particularly in the US, where the word has a painful racist history and is no longer in use.

During her first international TV interview, she appeared on a Swedish talk show and was praised for sticking to her South African accent. Before her rise to fame, the 2023 breakout star made a video proudly talking about her mixed-raced heritage on TikTok. In it, she slicks her coily hair into Bantu knots, while donning a traditional beaded necklace, with the words, "I am a coloured South African" splashed across the clip like a badge of honour.

The singer says this means that she "comes from a lot of different cultures". It was a simple video intended to share a part of herself with her audience. But instead, her racial identity has stoked flames across the internet, most notably, in the US.

Americans see the word as a slur, unlike Tyla's South African community, who see it as a part of their culture. In South Africa, it is a distinct identity that is officially recognised.

One US user on X said: "We are not gonna call her coloured here and if she demands it, her career will end before it begins."She's trying to cross over into an American market, she won't be able to use that word here, she can use it somewhere else though."

In the US, the word harks back to the Jim Crow era, when segregationist laws were instituted in the southern states to oppress black Americans after slavery was banned. Water fountains, toilets and bus seats were marked "whites only" or "coloured only".

This dark history of racial segregation mirrors that in South Africa before white-minority rule ended in 1994. Apartheid was a political system with a racial hierarchy privileging white South Africans. The Population Registration Act of 1950 required people to be registered into one of four racial categories - white, black, Indian or coloured. Another law designated residential areas according to race.

According to Michael Morris, head of media at the South African Institute of Race Relations, the history of the coloured community is complex, but "quintessentially South African". The community has disparate origins but was brought together under apartheid rules.

"Being a mixture of black, white, Asian, it was forged in the southern African geography in a way that no other can claim," Morris told the BBC.

But because of this mixed heritage, the community was sometimes derided and dismissed in a system obsessed with categorisation. Marike de Klerk, the late wife of apartheid South Africa's last president, once said of the coloured community concerning the regime's segregation laws: "They are the people that were left after the nations were sorted out. They are the rest."

But this pressure of accent adoption and ‘want-to-belong’ has not only been felt by immigrant Hollywood stars but also the natives. Have you ever watched an old movie and been thrown off by the strange half-British, half-American accents employed by actors in the thirties and forties?

Why were Native American stars cultivating faux-British accents? Starting at the beginning of the twentieth century, classical theatre actors were in the habit of imitating upper-class British accents onstage. Many of them followed the teachings of Australian phonetician William Tilly, who introduced a phonetically consistent standard of English – called World English – that would eventually come to “define the sound of American classical acting for almost a century (Knight).” Interestingly, Tilly himself had little interest in acting. A linguistic prescriptivist, he boldly labelled World English a ‘class-based accent.’ In other words, it was meant to be used as a marker of an ‘educated,’ ‘cultivated,’ or ‘cultured’ person.

In 1927, Warner Bros and the Vitaphone Corporation released the very first feature-length ‘talkie’ – a black and white film called The Jazz Singer. Its release signalled the end of the silent film era and the ushering in of sound films. For the first time, the voices of onscreen cinema superstars started to be heard on the big screen.

And many actors were less than thrilled by the added pressures of vocal performance. Clara Bow, a superstar of the twenties, famously hated ‘talkies,’ and in 1930, at only twenty-five years old, her career came to an abrupt end when she was admitted to a sanatorium. Katherine Hepburn, another actress, also struggled with the transition. As a result of nervously blurting out her lines again and again, she was fired from her first production in 1928.

Soon many actors, including Hepburn, were enrolling for elocution classes to train their voices for the big screen. Then, in 1942, Edith Skinner – a Broadway Consultant and student of William Tilly – published a book called Speak with Distinction, which was the first codification of Tilly’s teachings and quickly became the manual for Hollywood’s standard English.

Directors liked the accent for its neutrality and sophistication, which made it easy to use in films that weren’t setting-specific. Soon enough, mastery of the accent became a prerequisite for actors trying to break into the industry.

The Trans-Atlantic accent (a nickname for various accents of English that are perceived as blending features from both American and British English), made it difficult to tell what street someone grew up on. While film executives adore the accent for its trilling, all-treble sound, on-screen cast and audiences alike abhorred the accent for its woeful pretentiousness. By the mid-forties, native Americans were no longer buying the neutrality argument.

Through the success of a couple of breakthrough actors notably lacking the Trans-Atlantic accent – including Jimmy Stewart and Humphrey Bogart – Americans finally began to see themselves reflected on the big screen. Soon, the accent’s inherent classism began to be rejected. By the late fifties, it had all but disappeared.

Despite the complex history of cultural representation, celebrated pop culture icons like Lupita and Tyla, who identify as Black or people of colour, have woven a rich cultural tapestry. They have not only defied the odds but also served as inspiring role models for young girls with dreams of making it big in the global media and entertainment industry.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Songstress Tyla. /FILE

OORO: Media Bosses Should Create Room for Content Distinction Inclusive of LGBTQIA+ Consumers

Ooro George — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 23:12:35 +0300

Rotten Tomatoes, an American review-aggregation website for film and television, recently announced a significant addition to its film and ranking system, introducing a new and elevated distinction to its Verified Audience Score: “Verified Hot.”

The company is the world’s most trusted recommendation resource for quality entertainment. As the leading online aggregator of movie and TV show reviews from thousands of critics, it provides fans with a comprehensive guide to what’s ‘Fresh’ – and what’s ‘Rotten’ – in theatres and at home.

In 2024, it celebrated Pride Month with brand-new editorial content including a spotlight on LGBTQIA+ publications from archival curations and a look at trans and non-binary rising stars.

For the past few years, the American media company has used its archives to spotlight queer outlets amplifying what LGBTQIA+ critics have said about movies and television since the industry’s inception. It has featured LGBTQIA+ Outlets from regional archives across the US.

An LGBTQIA+ flag. /WIKI FANDOM

These outlets include Boston’s Gay Community News, created in 1973 by eight activists and ran until 1999, and OUT FRONT Magazine, one of America's oldest remaining active LGBTQIA+ outlets since its debut publication in 1976, to name a few. While many may believe that queer publications are a more contemporary type of journalism, these outlets have been here all along, proudly providing a unique inclusive perspective on the latest entertainment offerings.

Just like in the US, Kenyan media executives should strive to equally accord LGBTQIA+ talent fair coverage through featuring editorial pieces spotlighting queer voices, news features, TV shows, films and documentaries.

Our local and regional media houses and film studios must conduct themselves ethically. They must remain champions of family values, sanctity of life, equality, inclusion, and common ethical standards.

The LGBTQI+ community is here to stay, they are all over the newsrooms and even film studios too, but very afraid to pitch the brilliant creative content ideas they have. Stories about them for editorial consideration. Why? Because the moral card only stands in the way their ‘morally upright’ colleagues will perceive them as fellow human beings who deserve love and compassion.

In many cases, most of the conservative Kenyan journalists have been using their platforms to promote partisan agendas rather than uphold the principles of unbiased reporting. This shift from neutral observer to ‘moral corps’ undermines the media's credibility and distorts the information being presented to the public. This worrisome trend has become increasingly pronounced, leading to widespread concern.

This so-called morality often comes tightly packaged in good intentions but overall, it often serves to fortify feelings of intolerance and prejudice.

While it’s not inherently wrong for a journalist to have ideological leanings, the issue arises when these affiliations compromise their objectivity and integrity as storytellers. These ethical lapses compromise the media’s role as the fourth estate, meant to hold power to account and inform the public.

“What’s the moral of the story?” is a common question asked at the end of almost every story told. It doesn’t matter if the story is conveyed by the fireside, in books, magazines, newspapers, websites, radio, film or television. This question always comes up inviting the consumer with virtues the story teaches. The kind of virtues that pass the litmus test of morality.

Where do compassion and basic humanity lie on the spectrum of good storytelling? Looking at editorial content from a societal moral angle all the time stops film and media executives from practising objectivity. It stops media practitioners from exercising humanity as life is not just what’s right or wrong.

The consequences of this canker are far-reaching, as a compromised media landscape can weaken democratic institutions and hinder informed public discourse. Addressing this issue requires a renewed commitment to the core values of journalism, such as accuracy, fairness, and independence, to restore the integrity of the profession and safeguard its crucial role in society.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on opinion@viraltea.co.ke

A photo of various media microphones. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Keep The Faith: Era Of Broad-Based Cabinet Begins

Marvin Chege — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:47:19 +0300

Welcome to a sporty episode of 'Spill The Tea' where this week, we kept the Faith.

President William Ruto finally constituted his new and broad-based Cabinet. Plus amidst 'Nane Nane' protests, a major TV station closed down for the first time. Keep reading to find out

On Episode 23:

Faith Kipyegon & Night Of Drama At 2024 Olympics
End Of KTN News [THE SCOOP]
Ruto’s Broad-Based Cabinet...Minus One!
Police At Jimi Wanjigi’s House

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Heads Up: Kenya is set to hold a social event to celebrate Haiti's culture on August 24, 2024. This is attributed to an initiative by the Government of Kenya, through the State Department for Foreign Affairs and in collaboration with the Africa for Haiti (A4H) Initiative.

Faith Kipyegon & Night Of Drama At 2024 Olympics

We begin at Paris, France where what looked like a medal-winning moment for Team Kenya on Monday night introduced a chain of events that no one was prepared for...not even us.

After a dismal first week, Kenya's Beatrice Chebet ended the country's wait for a medal in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning gold in the women's 5000m final.

Chebet on Monday, August 5 won at a time of 14:28.56, beating her fellow countrywoman, Faith Kipyegon, who finished second. However, a controversial incident saw Kipyegon disqualified, denying Kenya a 1-2 finish.

Kipyegon lost the silver medal to immediate defending champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands. This is after she was accused of pushing Ethiopia's Tsegay Gudaf.

How Did This Happen?

The world silver medallist saved the best for last in what was an ill-tempered race that had a quality field.

With all eyes on Kipyegon, world record holder Guday Tsegay of Ethiopia and Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, Chebet ran without pressure and waited for the right opportunity to go for the kill.

Faith Kipyegon in a tussle with Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay on August 5, 2024.

Hassan briefly surged forward before retreating while Ethiopian runners also took the lead after which Kipyegon raced ahead.

There was a moment of worry when the world champion was boxed in and had a go at Tsegay with two laps to go. She then sprinted forward after the bell and it appeared she was set to claim gold.

However, Chebet kept pace with her and in the final 60m, the double world cross-country champion went past Kipyegon to claim her first Olympics title and the first gold for Kenya at the 2024 Games.

Chebet clocked 14:28.56 as Kipeygon finished second but there would be a further shocker for her as she was disqualified with Hassan elevated to second place in 14.30.61 while Italian Nadia Battocletti was awarded a bronze medal.

It was not immediately clear why Kipyegon was disqualified but it appeared that her altercation on the track could have led to the shocking decision with obstruction cited as the main reason.

The Appeal

This kept the country awake the whole night. Just moments after the disqualification, Team Kenya right away appealed the decision, the ruling taking longer than expected and even leading to a post-race press conference being put on hold.

Then, Kenya had the last laugh as the Athletics powerhouse successfully won Faith Kipyegon’s silver medal appeal.

Kipyegon, who crossed the line second after being outsprinted by compatriot Beatrice Chebet with 50 meters to go, had been disqualified for obstruction with her medal given to Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands while Italian Nadia Battocletti was elevated to fourth.

The Reaction

An emotional Kipyegon disappointingly learnt of her disqualification on her way to the media mixed zone, lamenting Ethiopia’s Tsegay’s unsporting behaviour after the two big wigs tussled with two laps to go.

“I am disappointed with what has just happened, I am told I was disqualified, and I have no idea why…I do not know what happened,” an emotional Kipyegon said.

She added, “What happened between me and Gudaf is that I was in front and she was trying to overtake me, but I told her that she would push me outside the lane, but she kept on pushing and was wondering where was I to run to? We hope for the best after the appeal.”

With tempers still flaring, Kipyegon burst into tears walking past the vast media mixed zone as Team Kenya technical officials lodged an appeal that took more than 30 minutes to successfully go through.

Team-mates, newly crowned Olympic champion Chebet and Margaret Chelimo said Gudaf deserved to be punished and not Kipyegon since she is the one who shoved the double Olympic champion in 1500m.

“There was some shoving with two laps to go because everyone wanted to go in front, but Gudaf was elbowing us…so it was not easy. Although I did not get a medal, I am happy for Faith and Beatrice,” Chelimo revealed.

For the newly crowned Olympic champion Chebet, she said, ” The mistake was not Faith’s it was Gudaf’s. I was behind them… Faith was in the first lane and the Ethiopian was trying to go there, so Faith had to tell her not to shove her, so she (Faith) was trying to balance not go out of the lane,” Chebet, who is the 10,000m world record holder said.

Aftermath

Early Tuesday morning, social media platforms were abuzz with messages of encouragement and admiration for the runner's steadfastness in the face of adversity. The community support seemed to have bolstered her spirits, providing her with renewed energy to compete in her signature event, the 1500m, where she is the defending champion.

The following day, she got past the heats and as of Thursday, August 8, she breezed through the semi-final into the final set for Saturday.

"To be honest, I feel tired after last night but I am feeling good. This is a different race and my traditional race. My focus is fully on making Kenyans proud. I have no comment after yesterday as it was hard. This is sport and I am Faith, I’ve always participated fairly and all in all, I am now focused on 1500m. I have to keep going, It will be beautiful," Kipyegon stated.

She now seeks to do what no woman has ever done in the 1500m...win three successive Olympic gold medals. We're keeping the Faith!

End Of KTN News [THE SCOOP]

On a dramatic Monday in our digital newsroom, we received a tip from insiders at the Standard Group Limited...that both KTN News and KTN Farmers TV had gone off air.

We did a spot check on the former's live broadcast and found out that even though its 1.00 pm news bulletin ran without interference on Monday, August 5, the rest of it was completely different from the 24-hour news cycle that was synonymous with the TV station.

Instead, the KTN News logo featured at the top left-hand side of your screen has a logo of KTN Home. Established as Kenya's first private, independent TV station, KTN Home has over the years built a strong reputation for bold, objective and exciting entertainment.

A live KTN News broadcast with the KTN Home logo in place instead of the KTN News logo. /VIRAL TEA KE

A quick check on its social media platforms showed no snippet videos from its live broadcast shared, the last one posted at 10.19 pm on Sunday, August 4. We learnt that KTN News had indeed gone off air yesterday.

Insiders privy to the matter confirmed that both KTN News and KTN Farmers TV have now been merged with KTN Home, amidst perceived plans to do away with the news channel completely.

Rebranding

Two years ago, KTN News rebranded with a new station identity, including a new logo, look and feel to ensure it speaks to the brand’s value of ‘Setting the standard in journalism to make the news count’, and changing the look and feel to bring in vibrancy. This was a change from its red and blue logo.

KTN News History

Since its launch in 2015, KTN News has been the number one 24-hour news channel in Kenya and has been associated with current events and affairs facing Kenya.

It has been mostly news, updates and stories coverage and was one of the fastest-growing TV stations in Kenya. It had content that included sports, documentaries and investigative series, notably including Jicho Pevu and Inside Story as well as hard-hitting, exclusive interviews.

Then CEO, Sam Shollei, said KTN would break new ground in TV programming because it would give Kenyans a variety of news channels to watch. Indeed, it has broken new ground, covering news and analysis round the clock, but found it hard to break even.

It also offered Standard Group an alternative channel for live broadcasts as KTN Home maintained normal programming. KTN News has been broadcasting in both English and Kiswahili.

KTN Farmers TV was a 24-hour TV channel specialising in agricultural content through feature documentaries, news, demonstration videos and talk shows.

This switching off of the TV stations comes almost a week after Standard Group announced its intention to declare over 300 employees across various departments redundant.

Reactions & Implications

Most of the KTN News employees have since been let go, except a few who have been absorbed by KTN Home in its various departments. The closure of KTN News marked the beginning of a restructuring of the media company’s operations away from retrenching staff.

Logo of the defunct KTN News and KTN Home

Cutting off KTN News, with other operations in radio and TV expected to follow, is hoped to make Standard leaner and agile enough to recover from its current financial mess.

Standard Group announced Marion Gathoga-Mwangi as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on July 4. Ms Mwangi took over from Joe Munene who has held the position on interim since July 6, 2023, after Orlando Lyomu left. Other TV stations likely to be closed include KTN Burudani, with a focus also on the Spice FM and Vybez radio stations.

As the media industry continues to evolve, the shutdown of these channels highlights the ongoing challenges faced by news organisations in balancing financial sustainability with their role in public information dissemination.

Ruto’s Broad-Based Cabinet...Minus One!

They were approved by Parliament after vetting, appointed by President Ruto and sworn in during an elaborate ceremony at State House. 19 Cabinet Secretaries, four of whom came from the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, have assumed office.

The Head of State gazetted the appointment of the CSs late on Wednesday, August 7, thus formally appointing them to serve in his broad-based Cabinet.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 152 (2) of the Constitution, I, William Samoci Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint [the following] to be Cabinet Secretaries of the Government of the Republic of Kenya," the gazetted notice read in part.

Among those formally appointed now include Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Debra Barasa (Health) Alice Wahome (Lands), Julius Migos Ogamba (Education), Soipan Tuya (Defence), Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture), Aden Duale (Environment), Eric Mugaa (Water), Davis Chirchir (Roads) and Margaret Ndung'u (ICT).

Others were John Mbadi (Treasury) Salim Mvurya (Trade), Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports), Hassan Joho (Mining), Alfred Mutua (Labour), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives) and Justin Muturi (Public Service).

Lang'at Rejected

However, the nomination of Stella Lang’at for the Gender Ministry docket was rejected, a headline in the developments. In a 243-page report, the National Assembly Committee on Appointments revealed that Lang'at had failed to demonstrate adequate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolio to which she had been nominated.

Stella Soi Lang'at appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, August 4, 2024.

Furthermore, Lang'at was revealed to have lacked the requisite abilities and qualities to be approved for appointment to the highly publicized docket.

The rejection was also informed by deep concerns regarding her suitability for the role, with frequent job transitions also playing a part in a perceived lack of in-depth understanding of the gender docket she was nominated to run.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, in representation of the views of the committee, further cited Lang'at’s career trajectory consisting of multiple short-term roles, thus her failure to demonstrate the stability and strategic vision necessary for a high-level ministerial position.

The committee's report was in agreement with Ichung'wah's findings that Lang'at's wielding of experience in roles that range from Director of Administration at the State Department of Housing and Urban Development to Senior Deputy County Commissioner in Nyamira rendered her unfit to take the helm of the Gender Ministry.

“The result of this frequent role-switching is a lack of grounding in any one area of leadership,” Ichung’wa elaborated, adding “Moreover, the nominee struggled to demonstrate an adequate understanding of the administrative and technical issues crucial to the ministry she was set to oversee.”

President Ruto will have to nominate another individual to the CS post for the Gender Ministry to replace Aisha Jumwa who spearheaded the Ministry before she was dismissed on July 11, along with 21 CSs when the Head of State dissolved his entire Cabinet 27 days ago.

Swearing In

On August 8, President Ruto put his newly appointed Cabinet Secretaries on their toes during their swearing-in ceremony at State House, Nairobi, emphasising the importance of integrity, efficiency, and transparency in their service to the nation.

Almost a month after disbanding his Cabinet following nationwide protests against the Finance Bill 2024, Ruto reconstituted his Cabinet on a broad-based government approach, bringing together familiar and new faces as well as individuals who have been prominent in the opposition.

During his address, Ruto assured the new CSs of their full support in discharging their mandates and executing a reimagined and catalysed transformation agenda.

Collage of Cabinet Secretaries formally from the opposition taking their oath on August 8.

However, he urged them to work with him in doing the right thing, noting that by doing so, they would collectively ensure success, warning this time round that his support for the cabinet would end if it conflicted with his accountability to the public.

"I have already given my undertaking to be the foremost steward of public resources and embraced my accountability for its proper use. Therefore, it is important to make it clear that my support for you ends if it conflicts with my accountability to the people of Kenya. Let us therefore work together in doing the right thing, and we shall be assured of success," he stated.

He called on the CSs to focus on service delivery and put Kenyans first in discharging their mandate.

"I urge you, therefore, to go forth and from this day, focus on delivery, and dedicate your time and effort to the implementation of the various strategies, programmes, and projects that the nation’s transformation demands. I encourage you to make the people of Kenya your first and only priority and to never let your own interests come in the way of your duties," he stated.

The reconstitution of Ruto's Cabinet was in line with demands by the Gen Zs who have been staging protests for the better part of two months. Now, all eyes will be on the new CSs in delivering their mandate.

Police At Jimi Wanjigi’s House

While all eyes were on the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) during the 'Nane Nane' protests, something was cooking in Muthaiga...

Businessman Jimi Wanjigi’s residence in the lush neighbourhood of Muthaiga Estate in Nairobi on Thursday, August 8 was turned into a dramatic scene as a contingent of police officers surrounded the residence in what he claimed was a raid.

Police cordoned off his residence with yellow tape reading 'CRIME SCENE, DO NOT CROSS' as a means of deterring people from interfering with crime scenes.

Clips shared by the businessman showed police officers in full combat gear at the gate of his residence. A live broadcast by Citizen TV showed the police conducting a search on a Toyota Land Cruiser TX vehicle outside the business mogul’s home.

CCTV footage of police outside Wanjigi's residence in Mutahiga on August 8, 2024. /JIMI WANJIGI

According to witnesses, a suspicious vehicle came speeding and parked right outside the gate to Wanjigi’s home, after which the occupants disembarked and went inside the compound.

The officers, alongside a forensics team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), were also spotted screening items from the vehicle including a walkie-talkie, a pair of binoculars, a bottle of water and assorted electronic items.

“The police have decided to raid my home,” the renowned businessman stated.

The businessman reported that the police were demanding entry into his home, a move he believed was an uncalled-for invasion.

According to reports, Wanjigi was allegedly spotted along Limuru Road earlier in the day, accompanied by a group of individuals and supposedly dishing out money.

Authorities claimed that when they tried to arrest him, he fled and with police hot on his heels, he vanished into Karura Forest, accusations Wanjigi denied.

The businessman condemned the raid as a blatant act of harassment, suggesting that the authorities were attempting to intimidate him due to his political stance.

His Son & Family Lawyer Speak

Speaking to reporters, Maina Wanjigi, Jimi's son, expressed his disappointment at the events but revealed that he was not surprised.

“It is not shocking; it is not the first time we’ve been raided. It seems whenever we are a threat to them, they decide to raid us. But this is all in the spirit of political freedom. Why is it that when you express an opinion against the government, you have to be victimized like this?” Maina lamented.

The family's lawyer, Nelson Osiemo, condemned the police action as a witch hunt, saying “It is just police harassment, he has faced this before so we are prepared for any eventuality. I believe this is all politics."

“I arrived 10 minutes ago, and they have not told me anything. They are still doing their work. I asked where the vehicle was taken, and they said Central Police Station,” he added.

When questioned about whether the police action was connected to the ongoing Nane Nane protests, Osiemo could not confirm as the police had not formally charged Wanjigi. He stated that he would address the media once the police filed charges against his client.

“We are waiting to see. We are giving them time to clear here, then we will go see them at the police station. We want to understand what the OB being written is so that we can address you (the media) about why they have taken that vehicle away,” Osiemo added.

Recap

This incident is not the first time Wanjigi’s properties have been the focus of police attention. In January 2022, heavily armed officers stormed his Westlands office in a similar raid. The most infamous episode occurred in October 2017 when his Muthaiga home was besieged by police, leading to a dramatic standoff that saw opposition leader Raila Odinga and his allies camp outside his home in solidarity.

During the 2017 raid, police claimed to have recovered five AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from Wanjigi’s residence. However, attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful as he managed to evade capture. The businessman was later accused of being involved in the illegal importation of firearms, allegations that he has consistently denied.

Police's Side Of The Story

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli on Thursday, August 8 called upon the former Presidential Aspirant to surrender himself to any police station, linking him to the 'Nane Nane' demonstrations.

While addressing the press, Masengeli revealed that Wanjigi was wanted by the police to record a statement after several items linked to criminals believed to have infiltrated the Nane Nane protests were recovered from his car.

“As we informed the public yesterday, our intelligence had indicated that there were security threats to our country with criminals who had planned to infiltrate today’s demonstrations and cause havoc,” Masengeli stated.

“We wish to inform the public that today we intercepted a personal motor vehicle in Muthaiga at the residence of Jimi Wanjigi. In the vehicle, we recovered four teargas canisters, two Motorola gadgets, seven assorted chargers for the pocket phones and one mobile phone. There is one arrest that has happened."

Masengeli however revealed that another motor vehicle managed to enter Jimi Wanjigi’s compound, with police unable to intercept it as the gate was immediately closed after it managed to sneak in.

He emphasized that investigations were still ongoing, with officers on the ground working to uncover further details. Last night, the police managed to break into his home.

Footage of police breaking into Jimi Wanjigi's home

Here are other stories that we served hot for you this week:

The dream for Kenyan passengers enjoying internet connections during their flights is set to become reality after national airline Kenya Airways on Monday, August 5 signed a strategic partnership with leading telecommunications provider, Safaricom PLC . Among the perks offered by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in-flight WiFi, which is set to be introduced to KQ passengers for the very first time.
The Kenya High Commission in the United Kingdom (UK) announced that it was closely monitoring ongoing social unrest across major cities in the country. This is as the UK continues to grapple with its most severe riots in over 10 years, which began after a 17-year-old with a knife attacked a children's dance class in the seaside town of Southport, near Liverpool. Three children were killed and eight injured in the attack, but before the suspect's identity was confirmed, false claims circulated online that he was a Muslim asylum seeker in the UK. The rumours led to thousands of UK residents taking to the streets, some shouting anti-immigration and Islamophobic slogans.
Content creators on Facebook will now be able to earn money from the platform after Meta on Tuesday, August 6 announced the roll-out of in-stream Ads and Ads on reels. Read more to find out how you can earn from this initiative.
On Wednesday, August 7, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) unveiled changes to the Kenyan banknotes affecting denominations from Ksh50 up to Ksh1,000. They come with new features such as the signatures of the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Dr Kamau Thugge, and that of the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury, Dr Chris Kiptoo and the year of print - 2024, with new security threads with colour-changing effects that are specific to each denomination.
A new bill is set to give the National Treasury powers to determine the cost of essential goods which include eight basic food products, following the trend it does on fuel products including super petrol, diesel, and Kerosene. The Senate introduced the Price Control (Essential Goods) (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which aims to regulate the price of essential commodities and ensure that Kenyans afford the products, including those with a low income. The proposal wants the Treasury Cabinet Secretary to be accorded power to determine the minimum and maximum retail prices of the products.
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza was impeached for the third time by the Meru County Assembly. On Thursday, August 8, MCAs voted to impeach her on charges of abuse of office, gross misconduct and gross violation of the Constitution and other laws. 40 out of 69 members of the county assembly voted in favour of the impeachment motion tabled by Deputy Majority Party Leader Zipporah Kinya, meeting the two-thirds threshold. Another 17 voted against the impeachment motion, while three did not vote.

News Graphic Of The Week

News graphic of Kenyan-born Winfred Mutile Yavi winning gold for Bahrain in women's 3000m steeplechase.

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Cabinet Secretary Nominees On The Hot Seat Ft. Break Ups & Job Losses

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:12:15 +0300

Welcome to this week's edition of 'Spill The Tea' newsletter where President William Ruto's Cabinet Secretary nominees were in the national spotlight...live in Parliament.

Plus, a Kenyan media house is letting go of 300 employees...or more. And rumour has it that the famous celebrity couple are no longer a celebrity couple.

On Episode 22:

The Grilling- What Ruto’s CS Nominees Said
Invasion At UDA Party
Standard Group Shedding 300 Jobs
Size 8 Dumps DJ Mo

Join our fast-growing community of over 7,000 subscribers and get a recap of the week's top stories by subscribing here
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We noticed that LinkedIn has made some changes to how it is sending newsletters via email. Previously, the newsletter would display once you opened the mail, but for the new changes, you have to click on the ‘view entire message’ to access the newsletter.

The Grilling- What Ruto’s CS Nominees Said

On July 24, President William Ruto nominated the second batch of Cabinet Secretaries in his broad-based Cabinet. On Thursday, August 1, they faced the National Assembly Appointments Committee.

Let's take a look at the first 5:

Kithure Kindiki

In what would set the tone for eyebrows to be raised regarding recalled CS nominees, Kithure Kindiki, nominated for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, revealed that his net worth rose by Ksh 150 million in the 21 months he has been in government.

According to Kindiki, his net worth has risen from Ksh544 million in 2022 to Ksh694 million at the current vetting.

Under intense examination by the Committee, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetangula, Kindiki was thrust into the spotlight once again at a time when demands for rigorous investigations into the financial dealings of public figures are at an all-time high.

As he faced questioning from the committee, Kindiki was adamant that his wealth increase was attributable to his legal practice and not to any government dealings.

“The increase in my net worth comes primarily from my law practice. I have not engaged in any business with the government or applied for any tenders directly or indirectly,” he declared.

News graphic of Kithure Kindiki's net worth in 20 months

The nominee explained that a substantial portion of the rise in his net worth followed the settlement of a long-standing debt by a client of his legal firm, a notable development that contributed to the substantial leap in his wealth.

He maintained that his financial gains are exclusively derived from his legal fees and consulting work. “None of my wealth has come from public funds except my official salary and allowances,” Kindiki emphasised.

Back in 2022, during his previous vetting, Kindiki had stated that his net worth of Ksh544 million was comprised of land and buildings valued at approximately Ksh165 million, along with bank deposits and investments in shares and various savings cooperatives amounting to around Ksh50 million.

What He Promised When Appointed

Kindiki revealed details of new and drafted Public Order Act regulations that will compel organisers of protests to declare the exact number of people expected to attend demonstrations. He disclosed that he was waiting for Cabinet approval regarding the drafted Act before presenting it to Parliament, before his dismissal when President Ruto dissolved his Cabinet on July 11.

The drafted Act would make protesters declare the exact number of expected participants to help in security planning purposes. If approved, Prof Kindiki said, the regulations will provide clear guidelines on how demonstrations should be conducted to ensure that both police and protesters abide by the Constitution.

Furthermore, Kindiki noted that the proposed rules will clearly outline the role and conduct of the police, while protesters will be required to declare the exact number of those who will be demonstrating for security purposes.

Prof Kindiki also told MPs that the regulations would require all public institutions to designate places where members of the public can picket and even present their petitions to ensure that the rest of the public who do not participate in the protests are not inconvenienced.

Passport Headache

At the same time, he postponed the promised reduction in passport processing times from three days to November 1, 2024, a massive blow to Kenyans who had eagerly anticipated swift passport services.

Initially set for September 1, 2024, the new timeline comes as a blow to many who had anticipated a quicker turnaround. Already, at the moment, passports are being processed within seven days, according to Kindiki.

"We have successfully addressed the previous backlog, which once peaked at 784,000. Today, there are no outstanding applications," Kindiki assured the committee. The ministry now processes passports within a week, according to the new schedule.

Kindiki added, “We are issuing passports within seven days.”

The original promise, made in April 2024, was that passport applications would be processed within three days starting September 1. This was to be preceded by a three-week processing period starting May 1, with a reduction to seven days from August 1.

“The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to process all passport applications within 21 days from May 1, 2024, with the aim of reducing this to seven days by August 1, 2024, and three days by September 1, 2024,” Kindiki stated at the time.

Despite Kindiki’s pledge to meet the August 1 deadline, the State Department of Immigration is still issuing passports within a week. The Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) has also reported that 110,059 passports remain uncollected, adding to the frustration of many applicants.

Debra Barasa

Dr Debra Mlongo Barasa, the nominee for the position of Health Cabinet Secretary, revealed that her net worth is Ksh455,845,320. While appearing before the Committee for vetting, she expounded by saying "My net worth is a combination of mine and my husband and it is Ksh455,845,320."

The nominee further stated that she is a qualified medical doctor with 18 years of experience in the medical field. She also revealed details of her family life.

"I am a wife, a mother of four lovely children and also a twin. I have vast experience in terms of policy advice, strategic direction, technical advice and clinical practice," Barasa explained.

At the same time, Barasa disclosed that she has been working with several Health Ministry focal points in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, which covers 22 countries, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), to support their infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes.

In addition, the Cabinet nominee indicated that she has been involved in global strategies and action plans, as well as the development of guidelines at the global level.

What She Promised

During the vetting, Barasa was pressed to address the matter of the doctors' strike, but she stated that she would ensure that she worked together with the doctors' unions to ensure that there would be no more strikes.

"I believe that the long-term solutions are with us. We need to work together with the unions, doctors themselves, the interns, the bodies among other stakeholders to come up with a solution," she said.

She said she did not have a solution but she proposed situational analysis to develop action plans following that, which included a doctors'/ interns' Act, and the Return to Work Formulas which need implementation with help from the Ministry of Treasury.

Alice Wahome

The Cabinet Secretary nominee for the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development disclosed a significant increase in her net worth, now standing at Ksh327 million. In 2022, Wahome stated that her net worth stood at Ksh218 million. Wahome revealed that her net worth has grown by Ksh109 million in the last 21 months.

During the vetting, the controversial Land Laws (Amendment) (Number 2) Bill, 2023, which had proposed to force freehold land owners, property owners who enjoy free ownership for perpetuity and can use the land for any purpose, to pay land rent, tormented her and she was put to task regarding the proposed Bill which also targeted ancestral land intending to change to leasehold land.

The CS nominee however clarified that the proposal, which was tabled in Parliament, would have compelled her to make an appearance to deliberate on the areas that would be designated under the proposed Bill.

Lands CS Nominee, Alice Wahome, during vetting at Parliament on August 1, 2024. /PARLIAMENT KENYA

"The provision was saying that the Minister will be able to designate the areas which then means you designate through regulations and I would still have had to come to Parliament to allow the designated areas that we would have picked and therefore the proposal by Parliament improved the provision," she responded.

Reminder: On June 13, 2024, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah revealed that he wrote to Speaker Moses Wetangula announcing the withdrawal of the Bill.

According to the letter, Ichung'wah revealed that there was a myriad of constitutional and legal issues arising from the Bill and that the Executive arm of government had recommended the need for those issues to be addressed.

What She Promised

Wahome stressed the need to amend certain sections of the Land Act to stop land cartels in their tracks. This is in the wake of rampant land grabbing across the country.

She revealed that she was willing to take the war to the roots, accusing cartels of going to the extent of disrespecting title deeds, which are supposed to be definitive proof of land ownership.

“I am willing to take the fight to the crime scenes. These people have stolen land left, right, and centre. Government, institutions have lost land to people working within.

"I think we need to work on the amendments very quickly to the Land Act so that the minute the technical information on the land record is known to be interfered with or to have been fraudulently secured or changed, then the registrar should be able to immediately effect a cancellation,” she said.

In terms of land records, Wahome revealed that the Ministry needed up to Ksh40 billion to digitise land records under the National Land Information Management System also known as Ardhisasa.

Julius Migosi Ogamba

The Cabinet Secretary Nominee for the Ministry of Education declared his net worth at Ksh790 million, to which he revealed that the amount comprises "land, tea, trees, vehicles, farm equipment, and my law firm."

Migosi is a legal professional with over 25 years of experience and is set to lead the Ministry of Education, taking over from Ezekiel Machogu, should he be approved for appointment.

Our reporter Lindwe Danflow covered what to expect from Machogu's successor:

What He Promised

Migosi opened up on plans to ring-fence the capitation budget if approved to the docket, saying this is because education is a vital sector in the country, adding that delays in disbursing capitation funds which turn out to be inadequate hinder activities in schools.

To solve this, Migosi recommended that the ministry ought to have a discussion with the National Treasury to have capitation funds ring-fenced.

“The Ministry through Parliament can agree with the Treasury that the budget of the ministry be ring-fenced because it is a sensitive ministry. So that capitation can be released on time and in totality,” he said.

Issues of delayed capitation this year caused some schools to close earlier than expected in the first term as principals no longer had resources to sustain the learners.

This led to the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) threatening to hold a strike in April that would cripple learning over capitation.

Migosi termed inadequate funding as the biggest problem in the education sector, saying “There is not sufficient money to cover all the programs and all the students in the country."

Furthermore, he promised to change any policies he deems to be poor the moment he is approved by Parliament for the position. He was responding to queries by MPs during his vetting who noted that newly appointed leaders have recently adopted a behaviour of undoing functional policies their predecessors had in place.

He assured that he will not change any policy in the education sector that has been functioning perfectly. “However, it is good to give room for changes in policy that are not working,” Migosi said.

He also revealed that he is hoping teachers will not hold their planned September strike over budgetary cuts that will affect their salary increments, revealing he would bring together the teachers’ unions as well as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to discuss a way forward.

He affirmed that the situation must be controlled to ensure learning is not compromised come the Third Term in September.

Soipan Tuya

The Defence Cabinet Secretary nominee revealed that she is worth Ksh243 million, a significant increase from the Ksh156 million she reported in October 2022 when she was being vetted for the Environment CS position.

"It is largely from the appreciation of assets, private business and one asset acquired within Nairobi," she told the Speaker Moses Wetangula-led committee.

In 2022, Tuya told the same committee that her assets comprised three homes based in Nairobi, Narok and another in her village. She also mentioned owning motor vehicles, apartments, plots of land and a dairy business.

Quote by CS nominee Soipan Tuya during her vetting on August 1, 2024

What She Promised

Tuya revealed that should she be appointed, she would re-examine the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to civilian streets in line with the security status within the country. She disclosed that two options would be laid on the table; whether to extend the duration of the KDF deployment to civilian streets in light of a volatile situation as a result of the protests or to recall the military officers if normalcy resumes.

She however noted that the Gazette notice by her predecessor, Duale, which authorised the deployment of the military, is still active.

"The question on the Gazette notice deploying the KDF, it is still live and the time duration is until the normalcy is restored.

"I think it is an issue that upon confirmation is to go back and assess the situation with a view to lay the utility of whether to keep on having the deployment subsisting or to bring it to a halt given that a fair amount of normalcy actually has been restored with regard to the recent unrest in the country," she revealed.

The deployment of the military amidst the anti-Finance Bill protests was challenged by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) at the High Court which however ruled that the intervention was justified, though finding that it was clear that the public had not been fully appraised of the extent of the military involvement.

Duale on June 25 gazetted military deployment to support the National Police Service (NPS) in restoring normalcy in the country. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah thereafter tabled a motion to legally ratify the government's decision to deploy military troops on Kenyan soil.

Three days later, another Gazette notice released by Duale gave specifics of the deployment, including to all the 47 counties and the duration being unspecified, though indicating that it would continue until normalcy is restored.

Subsequent protests have seen the KDF deployed only once to patrol the streets of Nairobi, this being on June 27. The officers were thereafter not spotted on civilian streets, despite some of the protests turning violent. With more protests planned for Thursday, August 8, it could be a while until the KDF is recalled.

The rest of the CSs are set to be vetted from August 2-4. Check out our website and social media platforms for more coverage on the vetting of the nominees.

Invasion At UDA Party

On Tuesday, July 30, one Joe Khalende showed up at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party headquarters, declared himself Secretary-General and announced that Cleophas Malala was ousted from the position.

The lawyer, during a press briefing, accused Malala of abdicating his role and his duty as the SG of the ruling party. The SG is the spokesperson of the party and is charged with communicating as well as initiating meetings on behalf of the party.

Khalende further accused Malala of dumping the party in favour of the opposition and supporting the agendas which go against the ruling party.

"He has gone against our party leader. He is at the forefront against the formation of a broad-based government. I'm here to confirm that he is no longer the Secretary General of the UDA party," Khalende announced, adding that he would take over as the SG.

"Going forward, the UDA party is going back to its members. It was formed as a people-centred party, it was not formed on an individual within the party. We were formed as UDA to ensure that if we take over power, we initiate the bottom-up economic principle, but clearly, Cleophas Malala has gone against the UDA party."

Furthermore, according to Khalende, the opportunity was ripe for UDA members to extend an olive branch to members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party "and tell them that we are welcoming them in government, they come so that we can build the government together, we lift the lives of Kenyans from the bottom going up in the plan that the President and Raila Odinga have formulated in the broad-based government."

"Going forward, anybody who will transact business, who will do business with one Cleophas Malala, he will be doing business on his own, not as the Secretary General of UDA," Khalende added.

The founding member further claimed that the party had issued Malala a show-cause letter last month on why he has persistently failed to honour the party ideals, which he failed to honour, and allegedly frustrated the process of disciplining him within the party.

"They have gone ahead with other cartels within the party to be getting fake court orders to stop the party grassroots elections. So clearly, he has been a man on the run but trying to hide his plans by frustrating the true process of ensuring that we have a good election and new leadership within the party," Khalende added.

Repercussions

Khalende was injured on Wednesday, July 31 as chaos ensued at the party headquarters along Ndong Road in Nairobi. According to videos observed by us, a group of supporters believed to be allied to Cleophas Malala invaded the party's offices along Ngong Road chanting songs in support of the former Kakamega Senator.

Police were forced to intervene to save Khalende from the wrath of the crowd, believed to have injured him during the squabbles at the offices.

Videos showed him receiving treatment after suffering a cut on his head, and he emerged from the premises with bandages wrapped around his head and his white shirt soaked in blood.

He stood to face the crowd still in song in favour of Malala after they were barred from entering the premises by police. They could be heard shouting 'tunataka Malala' as some of them carried placards with the words 'bila Malala ni taabu kubwa'.

UDA's Next Course Of Action

UDA National Chairperson Cecily Mbarire has announced that the party will have an emergency National Executive Meeting (NEC) on Friday, August 2, 2024, which will address the recent wrangles in the UDA party between Cleophas Malala and lawyer Joe Khalende.

“I wish to announce that we are going to have an emergency national executive committee (NEC) meeting on Friday to resolve the matters that have emerged in the party since yesterday. I wish to assure all our members that as the NEC we shall make sure we solve those matters in a fair and best way possible and the party will be back on its feet and we will not allow what we have seen happen to continue,” said Mbarire.

The Embu Governor also faulted Khalende for declaring himself the UDA Secretary General noting that the party has a well-laid structure on how one occupies the position.

She further faulted the hiring of goons to storm the UDA Party headquarters in Ngong Road to beat up Khalende, stating that the party believes in the rule of law and has a clear way and means of dealing with conflicts.

Standard Group Shedding 300 Jobs

The media is just another sector coming to terms with the harsh economic times which have been characterised by mass job losses. But this is a twist, the mass firings have happened to the prominent mainstream media houses almost constantly.

Barely a month after the Nation Media Group (NMG) announced mass layoffs, the Standard Group has revealed its intentions to declare redundancies. On Tuesday night, July 30, it announced that it intends to declare over 300 employees across various departments redundant.

The Mombasa Road-based media house revealed that as part of its compliance procedure, The Standard Group PLC issued a notice of Intention to declare redundancy to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection as stipulated in section 40 (1) of the Employment Act, 2007.

The media house explained that in reaching this decision, it took into consideration, the difficult operating environment and its long-drawn effect on revenue generation.

"This situation has been witnessed on the back of shifting trends in media consumption, occasioned by technological changes in the digital media landscape and emerging consumer preferences which have necessitated a rethink of our business model," the statement read in part.

"We remain confident that the reorganization of the business through restructuring will place us in good stead by adopting a leaner, more efficient structure for better performance and growth."

Standard Group added that coupled with the new leadership that is coming on board, it considers the reorganization of its business as a necessary step intended to ensure business stability and continuity in the coming months as the Group strives to sustain and enhance the quality of journalism it offers.

A collage of Standard Media Group's newsroom and KTN News studios. /VIRALTEAKE

Next Steps

"Additionally, we shall rationalize our products to ensure that they remain aligned with the media landscape," added the statement.

Standard Group however noted that all the affected employees will be compensated as follows:

Payment for days worked until the date of exit.
Severance of pay of 15 days (or as indicated in the CBA for employees who are members of a union) for every completed year of service.
Notice of pay as per the contract of employment;
Payment of leave days accrued and not taken at the time of exit, and
Pension dues or gratuity in accordance with the Scheme Rules Contract of employment respectively.

"The redundancy notice takes effect upon expiry of the one-month notice issued today (31" July 2024) and is expected to affect more than 300 employees across various departments. All the affected employees will be duly informed in writing," the media house informed.

Has This Happened Before?

Standard Group has had a history of initiating frequent mass firings, which have exposed the media house to rampant poaching of stellar talent by rival mainstream media houses in the country.

The latest notice is a culmination of the group's longstanding financial woes with employees from the media company going more than half an entire year without receiving their salaries. From four months to six months to even 10 months and beyond, the salary woes sparked a backlash from the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), which issued several ultimatums over the matter.

The redundancies have created a sense of uncertainty within its workforce for months on end and media experts fear that more mass firings could scare off potential talent wanting to utilise the media house, known for brands such as The Standard Newspaper, KTN Home, KTN News, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Berur FM, and Vybez Radio to grow their careers.

Reminder: we became the first digital media house to officially confirm rumours of alleged financial constraints at the century-old media house in 2022 which saw staff experience delays in receiving their monthly salaries.

Among the popular names that left the media house over the two years for greener pastures include Sophia Wanuna, Mercy Korir, news anchor Sharon Momanyi, seasoned Foreign Affairs editor, Lilian Odera, seasoned journalist Frank Otieno and editor Ted Malanda as well as Sheila Kwamboka, Nazizi Hirji, Fredrick Odeo Sirari, Lynda Oriaso, Geoffrey Mung'ou Jasmine Wambui, Jimmy Mbogoh, Francis Odee, Emmanuel Too, among others.

Job Losses Elsewhere

Many sectors of the economy are expected to witness mass job cuts in the coming months owing to the economic struggles facing many businesses. This was revealed in the May 2024 Chief Executive Officer's Survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) which detailed that many businesses would aim to reduce their operation costs as they undertake other austerity measures.

Out of 1,000 CEOs from various sectors, 234 bosses indicated that they would reduce their workforce between July and September. 654 others noted that they would be maintaining their current workforce.

Mainstream In The Red

Many mainstream media houses are struggling to meet the salary demands of their employees owing to delays in the release of advertising charges by the government.

The government is one of the biggest advertisers in mainstream media. As of January 2024, the government owed various media houses Ksh1.7 billion in debt, a demand that found its way to the recent protests led by members of the Fourth Estate.

The situation was worsened when Broadcasting Principal Secretary Edward Kisiang'ani directed government institutions to exclusively advertise with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

Size 8 Dumps DJ Mo

Let's assume it was bound to happen. Gospel singer Linet Munyali alias Size 8 Reborn claimed on Thursday, August 1 that she is single, a matter that brought an end to her 11-year marriage to Samuel Muraya, alias DJ Mo.

The musician, known for her powerful songs and uplifting messages, shared a heartfelt message on Thursday, August 1 expressing her acceptance of the situation and her unwavering faith in God's plan.

The message began "Sometimes marriage works by God's grace and sometimes it does not work but all in all, God is still on the throne!"

Adding that she is embarking on a new chapter in her life, she added "I've been married for 11 years and now I start the Journey of singlehood! But God is still on the throne, I worship you. Yahweh!"

Her announcement appeared to carry emotional weight, though she expressed her commitment to being steadfast in her faith.

The post was accompanied by emojis that conveyed a mix of sadness and hope, reflecting the complex emotions she was experiencing during this transition.

This announcement comes as a shock to many of her fans and followers, who have followed her journey as a wife, mother, and artist. Size 8 and her husband, DJ Mo, have been a beloved couple in the Kenyan entertainment industry, often sharing moments from their life on social media and television.

Size 8 and DJ Mo. /INSTAGRAM

While Size 8 did not delve into the details of what led to the end of their marriage, her message indicates a deep reliance on her faith to navigate this challenging period. DJ Mo is yet to respond to her announcement by the time of publishing.

Some Kenyans claimed that she could be taking advantage of the announcement to chase clout, as has been a common case with Kenyan celebrities, though it does come as a surprise given that the couple has a show on TV47 dubbed 'Love In The Wild'.

Have They Broken Up Before?

Rumours of their separation are nothing new. In 2022, media reports revealed that the couple parted ways, with Size 8 alleged to have moved out of their matrimonial home with her children. They had friction with each other which was revealed to have lasted a while.

The couple who in 2020 shared on YouTube some of their marital issues via their 20-minute segment ‘Dine with the Murayas,’ were joined by another couple to discuss matters of sex while in the institution of marriage.

In the discussion, Size 8 noted that she was not getting enough sex from her husband; pointing out that her husband was too busy to meet her needs.

However, the Mateke hitmaker in a YouTube video on August 31, 2022, revealed that she was angry at DJ Mo and had to give herself some space to calm down.

Here are other stories we served for you this week:

President William Ruto denounced reports of plans to sell the iconic Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to an Indian-based multinational conglomerate, Adani Airport Holdings Limited. During a Presidential Town Hall held in Mombasa County on Sunday, July 28, Ruto said "We need to work with investors to give us a new airport in Nairobi. I have seen people saying that William Ruto wants to sell the airport. Am I a madman? How do you sell a strategic national asset? You have to be insane."
Residents of Thindigua along Kiambu Road in Kiambu County earlier this week proposed stringent measures to curb the rising cases of insecurity that have seen four residential apartments attacked in the space of one week. Read the proposals here.
In the midst of reports that surfaced on Tuesday, July 30 of a section of Mt Kenya politicians plotting an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, one Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba believed that the plot is a distraction meted out on Kenyans to prevent them from focusing on real issues, including wanton corruption in the government.
After the downfall of the Finance Act 2024, the 2023 version was declared unconstitutional, null and void by the Court of Appeal. This means that President Ruto's government DOES NOT have a Finance Act to govern taxation and related financial issues.
The Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Mpox in Kenya. On Wednesday, July 31, Kenyans were cautioned of an outbreak of the deadly disease. Read more about the symptoms and treatment.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominated Suna East MP Junet Mohamed as the Minority Leader, replacing Opiyo Wandayi who was nominated to President William Ruto's Cabinet. Owing to Junet's new role, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo was nominated as the Minority Whip.
Kelvin Kang'ethe, who was accused of killing Kenyan nurse Margaret Mbitu at a US-based airport in 2023 will face first-degree murder charges in the United States (US). Milimani Law Courts Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Wednesday, July 31 approved an extradition order, ruling in favour of the prosecution's application, directing that Kang’ethe be extradited to the Chelsea District Court in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, for the prosecution of an alleged first-degree murder offence, in accordance with Massachusetts General Law, chapter 265, section 1.

Photo Of The Week

Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala and fencer Alexandra Ndolo carrying the Olympic torch

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Did You Consult Them? Why Nairobi Cat Owners Could Join Gen Z In Protests

Marvin Chege — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:54:18 +0300

Welcome to a 'purring' episode of Spill The Tea where the Nairobi County government has this week angered cat owners!

Plus, we are gathered here to mourn the demise of the controversial Finance Bill 2024...and President William Ruto's winning over the opposition in his quest for a broad-based government has claimed a major casualty.

On Episode 21:

Nairobi Govt Proposing CAT-astrophe In Form Of Mandatory Licences
Finance Bill 2024 (Born May 12, Died Jul 25)
Ruto Woos Raila Allies With Cabinet Slots
Martha Karua Dumps Azimio

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Nairobi Govt Proposing CAT-astrophe In Form Of Mandatory Licences

(angry cat hisses, screams and lunges)

I showed my cat the story that was published on the website. We first broke the news that the Nairobi County government proposed to impose mandatory licences on cat owners, making them pay Ksh200 for every cat they own!

I obtained a digital copy of proposals contained in the Nairobi City County Animal Control and Welfare Bill 2024 introduced in the Nairobi City County Assembly which addresses various aspects of animal care, control, and welfare, aiming to create a harmonious coexistence between residents and animals.

The bill, which is set to come into effect upon approval by Governor Johnson Sakaja, is set to undergo public participation on August 2.

Among the key sections of the Bill touch on the welfare and control of cats, with proposals seeking to make it more difficult for anyone to just own a cat. In one of them, a person will not be able to keep or have in his possession within the City any cat unless a license under the Bill has been first obtained in respect of that cat and the applicable fee paid.

Image of a cat. /REDDIT

A license for a cat may only be issued or renewed under the Bill if the applicant makes an application to the County Government and provides proof that the owner has premises fit to control the cat.

The Bill also proposes that every cat in the capital city aged over three months shall be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinary surgeon at least once a year and a vaccination certificate issued by the veterinary surgeon which shall be retained by the owner at all times.

"Every cat license issued under this Bill, unless cancelled under the provisions of this Bill, shall expire on the thirty-first (31) day of December next following the date on which the license is issued and shall be valid only in respect of the cat for which it was issued," the Bill reads in part.

The County government further proposed that a cat license fee shall be Ksh200 and shall be subjected to revision in the current Finance Act and shall become due upon the issue or renewal of a license.

For cases of replacement of a cat license, a replacement license or license tag may be issued upon payment of the fee of Ksh100 or as specified in the current Finance Act, when; written evidence has been adduced to the Head of County Veterinary Services that the original license has been lost, destroyed or stolen, or a valid license for the cat has been issued in another jurisdiction and the license and receipt are surrendered to the County Government.

Furthermore, one license shall be issued free of charge for a cat which has been neutered during the twelve months immediately preceding the application for the license subject to the owner providing a copy of a certificate from the veterinary surgeon that the cat has been neutered.

"If the ownership of a licensed cat changes hands, the new owner may be issued a new license by the Head of County Veterinary Services upon payment of the transfer fee of Ksh100 or as specified in the current Finance Act," adds the Bill.

"Provided that the license issued to the previous owner of a cat shall be surrendered to the County Government when a new one is issued. The County Government may waive the license fees for a cat at its discretion."

The Head of County Veterinary Services shall keep a record of the name and address of the owner of every cat licensed under the provisions of the proposed Bill, the date the license was issued, a description of the cat, and the amount of fees paid.

The Furr-ious Reactions

When we shared a news graphic on this on Instagram, we never thought we'd get so many reactions. At over 126,000 impressions, this is one of our most engaged platforms. Check it out here

Anywho, from the comments, Kenyans who are ardent cat owners were infuriated, with a section of them threatening to call for protests as cat owners in Nairobi, christened 'meowndamano'. Let's sample some below:

Naomi Mutua (Cat Lovers Kenya Facebook Page)

OK. I've read the proposed #AnimalWelfareBill

I already have some questions.

Mostly around

✓ the licensing, structure and fees

✓ rabies vaccines at 3 months?

✓ limitations to how many cats one can have ????????

✓ agricultural zones for kennels

✓ more than four cats except for 'purebreds' TF is that discriminatory sh*t, aren't local cats good enough? ????

✓ not cause a cat to scream. These folks need to meet a cat yowling at another one just because. Also, who tells a cat what to do or not to do?

Muthoni Wakinaniri

Faith Njoki: Tuandamane, it's costly to have them vaccinated, spayed and neutered, food is expensive. If they are taxing us to take care of strays and help the animal shelters I will do it without question, but tacing us to put them in their pockets is where I draw the line.

Jane Molly

We have given homeless cats homes, and now you want to tax us for that, do you have homes for them tuwalete ama you want them to keep roaming out in the cold with no shelter or guaranteed meals?

Then you guys keep asking why Genz are not listening or doesn't want to talk to you guys, most of us if not all Kenyans are tired, Kila mtu amechoka na nyinyi malizeni muende.

Myself: Cat owners tunaoccupy CBD lini?

Patience Nangila: Now this, is what we call a cat-astrophe

Nairobi Feline Sanctuary

Nairobi County has proposed a new regulation requiring cat owners to pay 200/- for keeping a cat. While this fee might seem manageable to some, it poses a significant burden to many cat owners who may struggle to afford it.

What does this mean for our beloved feline friends?

Unfortunately, This fee could lead to an increase in the abandonment of cats, as owners who cannot pay may feel forced to give up their pets. The result? A surge in stray cats roaming our streets brings numerous challenges including:

- Overpopulation: More stray cats mean increased breeding, leading to a greater population that can overwhelm our neighbourhoods.

- Animal Welfare: Stray cats often face harsh conditions and lack of food and medical care, leading to suffering and disease.

- Community Impact: An influx of stray cats can affect public health and sanitation, as well as the cats' well-being.

We believe there's a better way!

Animal Welfare Groups in Kenya are calling on Nairobi County to reconsider this proposal. Instead of imposing a fee that could harm our feline friends and our communities, let's explore more humane solutions, such as:

- Support for Spay and Neuter Programs: These programs can help control the cat population humanely.

- Education and Awareness: Informing the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of caring for their pets.

- Community Support: Providing resources and support to cat owners who may be struggling financially.

Join us in making a difference!

Solution: The Nairobi County government may have to reconsider such a proposal given the intense criticism it has incurred, and following the public participation set to take place on August 2, 2024.

My cat has purred now.

Finance Bill 2024 (Born May 12, Died Jul 25)

Birth

More than two months ago, the Finance Bill 2024 was introduced to members of the public, on a weekend.

The proposed amendments were likely to impact a wide array of products and services, potentially reshaping consumer spending patterns across the country and forcing Kenyans to rethink their budgets.

Some of the proposals that attracted intense uproar included the Motor Vehicle Tax, pegged at 2.5 per cent of the value of the vehicle and was to not be less than Ksh5,000 and not be more than Ksh100,000, with other factors coming into play including the make, model, engine capacity and year of manufacture.

Another proposal threatened the increase in the price of bread, with the Treasury proposing to impose a 16 per cent VAT on the product, a matter which will force bakers to raise the costs of the staple product.

Other proposals threatened increases in the cost of airtime, mobile money transfers, wines and spirits, VAT on mosquito repellents, tea packaging material, foliar feeds and bio-stimulants as well as agricultural pest control products.

Death

On July 25, 2024, following intense protests which forced President Ruto to decline to sign the Finance Bill, members of Kenya's National Assembly voted to delete it in its entirety.

The lawmakers voted to delete all 69 clauses of the controversial bill. This followed a Committee of the Whole House which voted in agreement with President Ruto's reservations and recommendations to delete all clauses.

They include clauses 2-26 relating to the Income Tax Act (Cap 470), clauses 27-35 relating to the Value Added Tax Act and clauses 36-42 relating to the Excise Duty Act.

Other clauses deleted included (43-49) relating to the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act, clauses (50-62) relating to the Tax Procedures Act and clauses (63-69) relating to the Miscellaneous Act.

A bird's eye view of Parliament as of June 6, 2024. /PARLIAMENT OF KENYA

"I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole House has considered the President's recommendations to the Finance Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 30 of 2024) and its approval thereof, without amendments. Therefore, deleting all clauses of the Bill," National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Gladys Shollei announced.

Following this, none of the clauses proposed in the Bill which ultimately triggered nationwide protests, shall have legal effect.

"The House has voted in agreement with the President's reservations and recommendations to delete all clauses of the Finance Bill 2024. Following this decision the Bill has been rejected in its entirety.

"I wish to clarify that the import of the decision of the House is that the Bill is lost... In this regard strictly speaking there is no Bill for the Speaker to present to the President for assent as contemplated under Article 115(5) of the Constitution. To signify the decision that the House has taken on the Bill I shall only convey the effect of the decision which is that the Finance Bill 2024 has been rejected. The House is accordingly guided," the Speaker, Moses Wetangula, communicated to the House.

Any move to negate the deletion of all 69 clauses would have required the support of at least 233 members, that is, a two-thirds majority.

Ruto Woos Raila Allies With Cabinet Slots

His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua 'set traps at State House', in his own words, and vowed that he would never bring confusion in their shareholder government.

He said he would never entertain a handshake with the opposition...whom he beat in the 2022 general elections.

But if you thought nominating Soipan Tuya as Cabinet Secretary for Defence was surprising enough, President William Ruto did what was thought impossible two years ago and nominated not one...not two..but FOUR members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to his Cabinet. Yes, FOUR!

The Head of State while addressing the press at State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 24, nominated ODM’s John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) Ali Hassan Joho to Mining and Wycliffe Oparanya to the Ministry of Co-operatives.

Full list of President Ruto's Cabinet nominees (part 1)

It came as a surprise to many given that the ODM party had earlier stated that its members would not accept any ministerial appointments from President Ruto.

"A narrative has been woven that ODM is desperate to join the government when all along we have been clear that what we seek is a national conversation preceded by the creation of the necessary environment through the implementation of the conditions above.

"Some of our members have also fallen for the campaign of lies and misinterpreted our stance as a license to engage the Kenya Kwanza leadership and canvass for ministerial and/or other positions in the Ruto government," read a statement in part from the party on Tuesday, July 23.

In the new lineup, ODM Chairman John Mbadi will be in charge of the nation's public coffers, a docket largely responsible for the recent nationwide protests, while deputy party leaders Joho and Oparanya will be in charge of Mining and Cooperative dockets respectively.

Additionally, Ugenya MP Wandayi will have to relinquish his position as the National Assembly Minority Leader to take up the position of Energy and Petroleum previously headed by Davis Chirchir.

On Friday, July 19, President Ruto nominated the first batch of cabinet secretaries and attorney general, which was initially given to Miano but now hangs in the balance.

The nominees were; Prof Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Aden Duale (Defence), Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Urban Development and Housing), Soipan Tuya (Environment, Climate Change and Forestry) and Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport).

Others were; Dr Debra Mulongo Barasa (Health), Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education), Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication and Digital Economy).

Full list of President Ruto's Cabinet nominees (part 2)

What ODM Members Said On Nomination Of Colleagues

Edwin Sifuna

"They do not have blessings of the party. The position that we gave is that they are going to join the government in their individual capacity. We don't begrudge them in fact I wish them well," he said.

"I can assure you that Mbadi doesn't understand the bottom-up transformative manifesto. Can John Mbadi reduce taxes as the Treasury Cabinet Secretary?"

"I expect that by the end of the day or before they go for vetting we will receive resignations of these people from their positions in the party. This is my expectation because the law is that they cannot go into Cabinet as parties and members of political parties," Sifuna said.

Raila Odinga

“I have taken note of President William Ruto's announcement yesterday regarding the reconstitution of the cabinet to include four members from ODM.

“As articulated in our statement on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, neither the ODM Party nor Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party has entered into any coalition agreement with President Ruto's UDA party,” Odinga remarked.

Other Azimio Members (ODM is part of Azimio)

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni: We will not take part in the proposed broad-based government of national unity as it is a betrayal of Kenyans especially Gen Z and millennials.

Kalonzo Musyoka: Unless that new cabinet takes place after what our leader Odinga called a convention, not a dialogue then there can be an arrangement of a government of national unity. Should any of our members opt to join the proposed Kenya Kwanza-led Broad-Based Government of National Unity, we SHALL NOT be a party to that decision

Little did they know that a huge shocker was waiting:

Martha Karua Dumps Azimio

Two years ago this month, she was Azimio la Umoja's presidential running mate, going toe to toe with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the deputy presidential debate. Then, Gachagua and Ruto defeated her and Raila Odinga in the 2022 polls.

Now, she and her party, NARC Kenya, exited the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Karua took to her social media platforms to share a letter from the party dated Thursday, July 25, which reads "Kindly take note that our stay in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is not tenable due to the prevailing political developments."

"As NARC Kenya by way of this letter, we are giving notice to exit the Coalition as stipulated in the exit clause (s) in the Coalition Agreement. This notice is effective from the date of this letter," read the letter in part.

Her later came in the backdrop of political turbulence within the Azimio la Umoja Coalition over courting the Kenya Kwanza government, one the coalition had opposed for close to two years, and even before they lost the 2022 general elections.

In an earlier interview with Ghetto Radio, Karua offered a hint that the coalition is walking on a tightrope in terms of its lifespan and it is only a matter of time before it is dissolved for good.

Karua asserted that the coalition had been pulling in different directions since the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) began its talks.

"Azimio is shaky and I think after yesterday, it's done. I'm saying shaky because, since the NADCO talks, we've been pulling in different directions.

"The only thing that has saved us is that we said at the beginning of this year, let every party go and build itself. So I've been busy with Narc-Kenya and not busy with Azimio," Karua remarked.

Was That It?

Karua on Tuesday, July 9 dismissed the recent calls for national dialogue by forming a multi-sectoral forum to address issues raised by Gen Z during the recent anti-government demonstrations, another sign that all was not well in Azimio.

In a series of statements on X, Karua claimed that the government intends to use the talks to divert Kenyans from actual issues facing the country.

"Dialogue can only be meaningful if the players have good faith and are guided by the best interests of the people. This is a trap period," she wrote.

On the same day, Raila welcomed the move saying it was the way forward to get out of the current crisis in the country.

“I can confirm that we have had consultations and after the consultations, we have agreed that a dialogue is the way forward out of the crisis that we have had as a country,” Raila stated.

“We have agreed we give people an opportunity to be heard, express themselves and come out with the grievances that are ailing our country today so that a lasting solution can be found."

What Next: With Karua's exit and Raila playing coy over the broad-based government, only Kalonzo and Kioni remain with the responsibility of keeping Azimio afloat with three years to the next general elections, however, predictions certainly aren't making for good reading for the coalition fanatics.

Here are other stories that made OUR headlines this week:

On Sunday, July 21, Ethiopian Airlines issued a statement a day after a video went viral showing a disgruntled female passenger being forcibly ejected from one of its flights that was bound for the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya from Addis Ababa. As the only media house in Kenya with a main segment dedicated exclusively to aviation, we fact-checked extensively some two key terms that were misinterpreted in the airline company's explanation.
Kenya Railways (KR) on Monday, July 22 introduced a new Premium class coach that will reportedly set one back Ksh12,000 on a single trip from Nairobi to Mombasa and Ksh20,000 on return trips, despite some of the features resembling those of business class on passenger aircraft.
On SGR, Kenya Railways also unveiled new features of the new wagon for the Ksh1,500 economy class of Standard Guage Railway (SGR) trains, including a new seating arrangement.
With reports of an alleged takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) assured members of the public that it is not planning to sell the iconic airport to an Indian-based multinational conglomerate, Adani Airport Holdings Limited, instead stating that the deal was an investment on a new passenger terminal building, second runway and refurbishment of the existing facilities at JKIA.
With reports going rife about the night of terror at Zimmerman on July 23, I spoke to a resident who gave a true account of what transpired when police officers invited chaos on residents. Read my exclusive here.
From acting capacity to nomination as President Ruto nominated Douglas Kanja as the next Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS). Gilbert Masengeli is now the Acting Inspector General of Police, pending the consideration of Kanja’s nomination as the substantive IG.
The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee on Thursday, July 25 rejected plans by President William Ruto to scrap the Offices of the First and Second Lady. The Ndindi Nyoro-led committee poked holes into the National Treasury's plan to fold up the two offices, despite mounting pressure over cost-cutting measures, and the move sees the extension of the offices that Kenyans had demanded that they be scrapped.
In the spirit of Wycliffe Oparanya's nomination as Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), my newly recruited colleague, Lindwe Danflow, revealed that Oparanya two years ago "was supposed to be the Minister in charge of the Treasury" in Azimio's government, if it won the election. A case of your wish being granted but in different circumstances.

News Graphic Of The Week

News graphic of Martha Karua's remarks made hours before her party announced its intention to leave Azimio on July 25, 2024.

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Don’t Kill The Messenger: As Kenyan Media, We’re Tired Of Your Attacks

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:23:55 +0300

Hello and welcome to our 20th episode of 'Spill The Tea' where we are angry, we have had enough, and we ARE draining the swamp this week. End of.

On Episode 20:

Leave Us Alone- Kenyan Media [EDITORIAL]
Mukuru’s Serial Killer With 42 Body Count
Ford Foundation vs Ruto

Join our fast-growing community of over 7,000 subscribers and get a recap of the week's top stories by subscribing here
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Leave Us Alone- Kenyan Media [EDITORIAL]

This week, darkness befell Kenya's media space. We didn't intend on penning another editorial, but because of the harrowing events from Tuesday till now, we had no choice.

N.B: We would like to caution our readers that the following we are about to state is brutal, and not for the faint-hearted.

It all began on Tuesday when in the midst of fresh anti-government protests, two of Citizen TV's most prominent reporters, Seth Olale and Stephen Letoo, were BANNED from Parliament.

"Reliable sources within Parliament Kenya confirm that indeed I have been BANNED from Parliament alongside my colleague Stephen Letoo because of our role in highlighting #OccupyParliament. This reported move by PSC is ill-advised & against Media Freedom," he wrote on X.

Letoo however stated that "Other than the relocation of Parliamentary Journalists to Outside Parliament, there is a resolution to BAN some journalists myself included who Covered #OccupyParliament from stepping into the new area. Seth Olale who exposed the MPs' escape tunnel also banned."

From face value, this looked like a solvable problem and we would all go back to our normal schedules, but what followed next on the same day would set the tone for the ENTIRE WEEK.

Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki, a K24 reporter based in Nakuru, was shot and injured by police officers while covering the ongoing anti-government protests in the city. Kariuki was in the company of a fellow journalist before she was shot three times in the thigh by police officers.

K24 journalist Wanjeri Kariuki is carried away by colleagues after sustaining a gunshot wound while covering anti-government protests in Nakuru on July 16, 2024. /THE STAR

After being rushed to hospital for treatment, Kariuki stated that she was targeted by police during the protests.

The Nakuru-based journalist was admitted at the Annex Hospital, with Thursday being her third day in hospital. Doctors stated that she is out of the woods after she was shot at by police four times; three rubber bullets were lodged in her body and one hit her.

Wanjeri gave an account of Tuesday’s protests in Nakuru and claimed that police officers had singled her out, as this was not an isolated case.

“Nobody would convince me that I was not a target, I had been hit with a tear gas canister but I did not report, I did not even escalate it, I showed my colleagues the scar on the same leg that I was shot at,” narrated the journalist.

Moments before she was shot, Wanjeri was captured giving a police officer who was seated in a police vehicle toothpaste, which she believed would help her ease the effects of tear gas. What followed was an officer in a police vehicle who shot at her; the bullets struck her in the thigh.

The following day, a moment of madness ensued when police, instead of arresting one Francis Gaitho, went for veteran journalist and former Nation Media editor Macharia Gaitho, in a case of mistaken identity as narrated by the National Police Service (NPS) BUT:

"They did not explain how it was a mistaken identity. They did not explain how they could have trailed me near my home. As far as I am concerned, those are still criminals," Gaitho faulted the police's subsequent clarification of the arrest.

"They brought me back to Karen Police Station where they had abducted me in the first place and they went away. They were telling me now I could go home but I said no. First, I will report an attempted abduction, this is a criminal offence. I have already recorded an incident, reported a crime and it is in the occurrence book."

You would think the madness against the media would be over after that, then the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), under Director General David Mugonyi, who previously served as the Head of the Presidential Communication Service (PCS), entered the chat, accusing a majority of the mainstream Kenyan media stations of going overboard and violating the confines within which media practitioners are expected to remain.

It threatened to take decisive action on mainstream as well as digital media platforms found to have broadcast content against the laws of the Constitution, targeting their coverage of the anti-government protests...a direct attack on press freedoms by far!

To make matters worse, a section of Kenyans began targeting individual media stations and companies, most prominently the Royal Media Services (RMS) which owns Citizen TV. This is after reports surfaced on social media that unknown individuals were planning to 'occupy' the media house...which is another language for threatening, and planning to attack the media house.

The last one has GROSSLY offended us, that's why we're issuing this editorial. Here's why: the media house did run a news bulletin on October 12, 2023 of a suspected security threat which saw a Kenya Airways flight bound for London Heathrow from Nairobi intercepted by the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF).

Photos that you will see below feature our watermark being visible on screengrabs of the news bulletin, which our hawk-eyes managed to catch:

Original Photo Collage

Collage From Citizen TV screenshots

We'd like to state that we DID NOT HAVE any issue with the country's biggest TV station highlighting a bit of our watermarked photos...as a matter of fact, this is a WIN for us!

Not only does it show our testament to deliver quality journalism in real-time but also offers a hint that media collaborations/partnerships in our country are still possible. Do it, someone's watching.

So when a keyboard warrior thinks they can threaten and plan to attack Citizen TV, they threaten/attack all of us! The targeting and attacks on journalists are therefore UNACCEPTABLE and MUST be condemned, and punished in the greatest form possible!

To the government of the day, we are not those children that you pick on as a bully in primary or high school...this upcoming media house for example started a year before you were elected into power.

The media has been in existence and has been through all four regimes...and almost a half if you count this one. So messing with us is the greatest mistake you can make. Trust us, we are worse than the Gen Zs who are like "we are not your parents, we will mess you up".

When we get reports of journalists under attack while on duty...protests or otherwise, sometimes we feel like slamming our laptop shut and march towards all those offices of authorities that are supposed to take action and give them a piece of our mind. We have been here before...in 2023 it was the same story, but the media bodies and the rest of us condemned and kept quiet.

Not anymore.

"We have got to a point that we will now issue a 7-day notice if no action is taken against those responsible. We will not need to go on the field because it seems like that is the language that the government understands. It has got to a point that I have no idea what is being hidden when we try to explain to Kenyans what is going on, what are they fearing?" Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) President Zubeida Kananu communicated the fury on behalf of all of us media folk; journalists, editors, media executives, media owners etc.

A nationwide protest for journalists is since planned for Wednesday next week but we felt it wise first to express our words on the matter here.

Media serves as a crucial platform for holding the government of the day accountable to members of the public. All the media stations you see here are run by human beings who are prone to error because they're human...not machines, so give us a break!

Second, it is wrong to habitually target journalists. No government, institution or any entity has ever managed to silence them...not even social media platforms.

Without the media, you wouldn't hear about the numerous scandals in government including the fake fertilizer scandal, would you?

Without us, you wouldn't have heard it first about the shutdown of Look Up TV after six years, would you?

Without us, you wouldn't have heard about the Shakahola Massacre, would you?

Article 34 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of the media. Media freedom is non negotiable and interfering with such freedom is basically breaking the law. The same rule of law the President promised to uphold.

First, they teargassed our journalists. Then, they shot at our journalists. This week, they abducted our journalists. What will they do to our journalists tomorrow?

Journalists operate under very difficult conditions, including digital journalists who log on to and monitor social media platforms to source for story ideas, at times encountering gruesome imagery shared online and using various online tech to supplement our work...all that btw on a monthly internet connection charged at less than Ksh2,000 a month, and with just a laptop and power connection. That's it!

Field reporters have it much worse, going to tough environments to cover stories, including in real-time. Encountering hostile crowds at times. Interacting with newsmakers from politicians to CEOs to sportspersons, celebrites etc...and then go back home to rented single rooms, bedsitters or one-bedroom. Our profession, depending on the position, is not as moneyed as you think right now.

You may not agree with what we air or publish on a daily but our right to do so MUST be respected. Those paid on social media for example to target a media house and mobilise the masses to attack that media house belong in the same category as some politicians who have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons, for incitement.

Any police officer, uniform or plain-clothed who attacks a journalist is the same as a weak man. When does this all stop? When will the media be respected in this country?

Other than the now-obvious hazards, we'd like to also call out the bloggers. On Thursday, one prominent one attempted a smear campaign targeted at John-Allan Namu , one of the most respected journalists of our time. The very same blogger Kenyans worshipped when he first broke the news of the helicopter crash that killed former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla...hours before the President officially announced this to the nation.

John Allan Namu is the brains behind Africa Uncensored , a media house that blew the lid open regarding the fake fertiliser scandal. So to try to smear such a journalist because the media house benefited from a grant courtesy of a foundation which was recently mentioned by the President is an act of madness!

Since the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests began, journalism has been the most DISRESPECTED institution in the whole country. Everyone ranging from police to lawyers, Kenyans, government officials attacking us offline and online, trying to gag us and what not and dividing us from the public...and it's even worse, journalists are dividing each other too.

We put our mental health and our lives on the line to give you real-time updates but what do we get? Mudslinging and dictating what to report, no thank yous at all. This MUST STOP!

STOP trying to gag us, dictate us what news to disseminate, attack us on the field, shoot at us, threaten us, attack us or, God forbid, kill us. However, some will choose to ignore this and continue to torment us anyway...they're not afraid to rattle the Constitution of Kenya.

STOP trying to incite Kenyans against us through social media platforms, using bloggers and influencers who either don't know, don't want to know or don't care about ethics. Please don't try to pick on us when you see this, we will call you out in public and spread the word that you did...without fear or favour.

Right now, all we need is your support. We are NOT in bed with the government, most of us are independent. So, pitch to us all those story ideas about scandals in government, in the entertainment space, in sports etc for consideration...pitch those feel good stories too. We may not consider all of them but we will run some on our platforms to the best of our capability.

Our founder and editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege , talked about supporting upcoming media houses like ourselves, extensively. We are the new guard that aims to sit in the table alongside the adaptable old guard and we will be here for a very long time into the future.

But if you don't support us, what's the need to be here? We can always close shop and move on, watch as you rely on social media to keep you updated, even if A and B is unverified.

A little caveat: we are ethically BOLDER than some of the other mainstream media channels and publish content that sometimes, you won't get anywhere else, another good reason to support us. If it ain't from Viral Tea Ke , the kings of viral news, it's not news.

Mukuru’s Serial Killer With 42 Body Count

A shocking discovery was made on Friday, July 12 at Kware Dumpsite after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) unearthed six bodies mutilated and decomposing.

In a short four days since, the authorities tracked down Collins Jomaisi Khalisia, the main suspect in the killing, who confessed to hacking 42 women to death, making his case the most problematic in Kenya's crime history.

The suspect, Collins Jomaisi Khalisia, arrested over Mukuru killings (left) and onlookers at Kware Dumpsite. /DCI.PHOTO

Here's why:

Clashing Numbers

DCI reported that it had unearthed six bodies even though private players participating in the excavation reported more 10 bodies. The dismembered bodies were found wrapped in nylon and tied with ropes.

Soon after, DCI Director Mohamed Amin announced that investigations into the incident was launched to last 21 days and bring closure to the families of the deceased. A group of youth raised the alarm after spotting a single body.

The Reactions

DPP: Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Mulele Ingonga directed the police bodies including the DCI and the National Police Service (NPS) to expedite investigations into the discovery of the bodies. DCI was directed to submit a detailed report in 21 days.

Raila Odinga: "It’s a sad and dark moment for Kenya, what we have witnessed in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, pains me deeply," he stated, demanding a thorough probe to the discovery.

President William Ruto directed that "Those who are charged with investigating the matter witnessed in Kware where many Kenyans including young women must be found, that process must be expedited and the truth must be found so that those who are involved in this heinous act must be punished and must be taken to court and the law must be applied to its fullest extent."

Rachel Ruto, who broke her social media silence for the first time in nearly a month, condemned the shocking events that witnessed close to 15 bodies recovered from the dumpsite in the space of 24 hours, with reports emerging that most of the recovered bodies were female. She said "The discovery of the mutilated bodies of young women dumped in Kware, Nairobi, is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. Each of these women was someone's child, sister or friend and no one should undergo such cruelty. Violence against women must end in our country."

Transfer & Possible Angles

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin on Sunday, July 14 revealed that his agency probing the mystery of the Kware dumpsite bodies recovery had explored three possible angles; either instances of cults, serial killers or rogue medical practitioners.

“The modus operandi was almost the same. If you look at the age, it was between 18-30. These are all female. If you look at how the bodies have been disguised and packaged - all the same,” the DCI boss stated.

“Are we dealing with a cult that is associated with criminal activities? Are we dealing with serial killers that are also associated with criminal activities? Or even, could we be dealing with rogue medical practitioners who are dealing with criminal activities? All these are hypotheses we have tried to bring on board."

At the same time, Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced the transfer of all police officers based at Kware Police Station.

"To ensure fair and unbiased investigations, I have moved the officers from Kware Police Station. In this difficult time, we stand with the community and we remain committed to uncovering the truth and bringing those responsible to justice," he announced.

The Arrest: How It Unfolded

On Monday, Amin confirmed the arrest of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha. The 33-year-old was arrested in the morning hours at Soweto in Kayole Sub-County at around 3 am in a joint operation by the DCI Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau and Operations directorates.

He was revealed to have been at a club where he had gone to watch the Euro 2024 football finals between Spain and England when the detectives outside the premises accosted him.

His pursuit and subsequent arrest followed forensic analysis of a mobile phone belonging to one of the victims, Josphine Mulongo Owino, where mobile money transactions conducted on the day she went missing pointed to the suspect.

"Upon his arrest, the suspect led officers to his single-room rented house in Kware, which is located about 100m from the crime scene where the bodies and body parts have been recovered," read the statement in part.

A quick search was conducted in the house, which led to the recovery of the following crucial exhibits:

1. 24 SIM cardholders with new SIM cards

2. 8 smartphones, two feature phones

3. One Laptop and one hard drive

4. Two flash drives and one phone memory card

5. One Machete

6. 12 Nylon Sacks

7. One pair of industrial rubber gloves

8. 6 ID cards for men and 2 ID cards for women

9. One pink female handbag

10. 2 female panties

11. 5 rolls of bhang

12. 4 huge clear sellotape

13. One nylon rope

14. One reflector Jacket

15. 2 title deeds

16. 2 notebooks

17. Assorted documents

On interrogation, the suspect confessed to having lured, killed, and disposed of 42 female bodies at the dumping site, all murdered between 2022 and Thursday, July 11, 2024.

Some of the exhibits recovered by DCI detectives from Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the main suspect in the heinous Kware killings. /DCI

"The suspect alleges that his first victim was his wife namely Imelda Judith Khalenya whom he strangled to death before dismembering her body and disposing it at the site," added Amin.

He Was What?

At the Makadara Law Courts, Khalusha, through defence lawyer John Maina Ndegwa, asserted that he was subjected to extreme forms of torture, compelling him to confess to crimes he vehemently denied.

Speaking before the courts, Ndegwa pleaded for urgent medical care for Khalusha, highlighting the urgent need for attention due to his alleged maltreatment while in custody. “My client is in dire need of urgent medical attention,” he declared.

The attorney dismissed the notion that Khalusha could be behind such brutal acts, labelling the confession “laughable” and “alien” to his client’s character.

Ndegwa’s impassioned plea painted a chilling picture of Khalusha’s ordeal, claiming he has endured “horrendous inhuman mistreatment” during his time in custody, raising serious concerns about the methods employed during the interrogation process.

However, the DCI denied these allegations, insisting that only a single police officer was assigned to record Khalusha's statements. The court nonetheless granted the investigators 30 days custodial orders to complete their investigations.

More Suspects Nabbed

DCI arrested two other persons who are serving as individuals of interest to assist in the ongoing investigation.

They included one Amos Momanyi Mogusu who was found with the mobile phone belonging to the slain Roselyn Akoth, and Moses Ogembo who sold the handset to Momanyi.

"Upon arrest of Amos Momanyi Mogusu at City Cabanas and recovery of the mobile phone yesterday, he led detectives to Ogembo's house at Mukuru kwa Reuben, who was found with a total of 154 used mobile phones stashed in his house. Moses Ogembo has admitted to having been sold used phones previously by the prime suspect in the murder," added the DCI.

What Next?

DCI is determined to conclude investigations in 21 days and arrest more individuals believed to be co-conspirators in the macabre murders. The agency, therefore, appealed to individuals with more information to volunteer.

Ford Foundation vs Ruto

A Recap

In March this year, the US-based Ford Foundation announced two Kenyans among its international 26-member 2024 Ford Global Fellowship cohort, that is, Ashura Michael and Willie Oeba.

The fellowship is a program which aims to connect and support the next generation of leaders from around the world who are advancing innovative solutions to end inequality.

"The Ford Global Fellowship focuses on shared learning across issue areas, building and strengthening connections across borders, and developing a supportive, interconnected cohort from across a wide variety of sectors and regions. It aims to build a powerful network of 240 fellows over the course of the program and serve as a catalyst for the fellows to accelerate the impact of their work, individually and collectively," a press release that had announced the duo read in part.

Michael was picked owing to her role as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Free a Girl’s World Network while Oeba was selected in his capacity as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ISM Academy.

Free a Girl’s World Network CEO Ashura Michael (left) and ISM Academy CEO Willie Oeba (right). /VIRAL TEA KE

According to the foundation, each new fellow received a no-strings-attached Ksh3.31 million ($25,000) stipend, alongside individualized coaching, to help grow leadership skills and reach new audiences.

And then...President William Ruto happened!

You Funded Protests- Ruto To Ford Foundation

He pointed a bold accusing finger at the Ford Foundation, an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare, of financing the recent anti-government protests in Kenya.

While addressing residents at Keringet Market in Nakuru County, Ruto threw a stern warning in his bid to restore peace in Kenya and proceeded to allege that some parties were financially benefiting from the protests.

"Those who are sponsoring the violence, we know them and I want to call out those who are behind the anarchy in Kenya, those who are behind the sponsoring, the chaos in the Republic of Kenya, shame on them because they are sponsoring violence against our democratic nation," Ruto stated.

Ruto went on to sensationally claim that the organisation held sinister motives and was operating against the best interests and the democracy of the country.

"I want to ask the people at the Ford Foundation what benefit do they gain from giving out money to cause violence?" Ruto questioned.

Ruto warned that the government will ask the Ford Foundation to leave the country if they continue sponsoring the protests.

“We are going to call them out and we are going to tell them if they are not interested in democracy in Kenya. if they are going to sponsor violence and anarchy, we are going to tell them they either style up or they leave,” President Ruto added.

Not A First

On Wednesday, July 10, the Head of State accused some foreign powers and Kenyans abroad of using the Gen Z-led demonstrations to force him out of power.

He also claimed that some unidentified individuals were running schemes aimed at discrediting his reputation and causing a new kind of division in the country, one not involving tribal lines.

This is as reports emerged that the police are investigating six politicians, two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and a businessman believed to be financing the protests.

The suspects were accused of financing some protesters, mobilizing youth from slum areas, giving them cash handouts, directing them to infiltrate the peaceful protests and turn them violent.

They were also accused of providing transport to the protestors to the epicentres of the anti-government demos.

Umm...No We Did Not- Ford Foundation Responds To Ruto

The Foundation however denied ‘sponsoring’ violence during the recent anti-government protests, as alleged by President Ruto.

In a statement shared online late on Monday night, July 15, the organisation reiterated that since 1963, it has had a rich history of commitment to ensuring the independence of East Africa's democratic institutions, which includes its support for civil servants and technical experts who helped establish an independent Kenya.

The foundation went on to remind President Ruto that it had offered its support for the Africa Climate Summit in 2023, which he hosted in Nairobi and which brought together world leaders.

"We retain an ongoing commitment to supporting work in support of Kenya's development and Kenya's leadership on an African and global stage, exemplified by our support for the inaugural African Climate Summit held in 2023 in Nairobi and Kenya's current leadership as co-chair of the Open Government Partnership," read the statement in part.

The United States (US)-based foundation further condemned any actions or speech that have the potential to spread hate or incite violence against any sector ranging from individual to community.

"While we acknowledge the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, we repudiate any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community.

"We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grantmaking," it asserted.

In another reminder, the Ford Foundation also reminded the Kenyan President that "As we noted during the Kenyan state visit to the United States this past May, we are committed to building on the legacy of the Ford Foundation's more than 60 years in the region so that Kenyans can unlock opportunities that extend to all."

Ford Foundation In A Nutshell

The Ford Foundation makes grants through its headquarters and 10 international field offices. It has had operations in Kenya and the larger East Africa region for decades, with its Nairobi office opened in 1963.

As of now, it has grown to become one of the world’s top philanthropic organisations with operations in 11 regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America.

Prominently known for its grants, the Ford Foundation credits itself with having helped establish the University of Nairobi in 1963 and giving significant grants to universities in Eastern Africa “to invest in the region’s future.”

It has also been at the forefront of advocating for civic justice to protect social justice activists, artists, and marginalised groups.

Here are other stories we served for you this week:

President William Ruto on Monday, July 15 announced the return of Kazi Mtaani, a programme he disbanded two years ago after it was started by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta.
President Ruto also announced that fresh negotiations had begun with Remotasks, an international online tasking platform which thousands of Kenyans had relied on for earning an income to support their livelihoods so that operations can resume in the country.
Nakuru Doctor and law student, Dr Magare Gikenyi, moved to court to challenge the dismissal of Attorney-General Justin Muturi by President Ruto. Muturi was among those dismissed by the Head of State who announced the dissolution of the entire Cabinet, a move that saw 21 Cabinet Secretaries sent home on the spot on Thursday, July 11.
On that note on CSs, President Ruto assigned Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi the responsibility of the acting Cabinet Secretary in all 21 ministries.
The National Police Service announced that it banned protests in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and its environs, which were meant to take place on July 18. However, the High Court issued a conservatory order suspending the directive.
Despite President William Ruto's stunning decision to dissolve his entire Cabinet and send home 21 Cabinet Secretaries (CS), except Musalia Mudavadi, a majority of Kenyans now believe that three of them should be reappointed to the Head of State's new-look Cabinet, according to a report released by Trends and Insights For Africa (TIFA). Click here to read who those three ex-CSs are.
As Patrick Quarcoo prepares to exit as Radio Africa Group (RAG) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder, the media house has announced potential staff firings, possibly the last action he is expected to take before his retirement later this month. However, though the exercise is set to target mainly correspondents, it is yet to be clear if the exercise in the media conglomerate famous for huge radio brands such as Kiss 100 FM, Radio Jambo, Smooth 105.5 and Classic 105 among others, could target its employees, who operate from its offices at Lions Place along Waiyaki Way.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura on Thursday, July 18 threw a significant plot twist in the exit of Japhet Koome as the Inspector General of Police. Speaking during a press briefing, Mwaura stated that President William Ruto had to let go of the police boss, contrary to State House's announcement that the Head of State had accepted Koome's resignation.
Situational Awareness: The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has warned Kenyans against the purchase and use of Ozempic Pens (Semaglutide) to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This is after it had received an alert from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) regarding the falsification of Ozempic Pens (Semaglutide) where Apidra Solostar pens (glulisine) used to treat both types 1 and type 2 diabetes has been falsely relabelled as Ozempic (Semaglutide) Pens.
Francis Ng’ang’a Gaitho, a controversial politician and social media influencer, was on Thursday, July 18 charged with False Publications and Cyber Harassment. Gaitho was arrested on July 17, 2024, and faced charges of false publications contrary to Section 22(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act No. 5 of 2018, and Cyber Harassment Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the same Act.

Photo Of The Week

A woman looking at a police officer during anti-government demonstrations. /STEPHEN LETOO

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OORO: Rachel Ruto Should Strike Balance in Faith, Public Service & Fashion

Ooro George — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:52:42 +0300

The president’s wife, officially known as the first lady of the country – holds a peculiar role in national politics. She is not an elected leader and has no official duties, but whoever is in the role never fails to command the public's attention.

These women are thrust into the spotlight not by choice, but simply because of their husbands' ambitions. They are then expected to represent the country at home and abroad.

Dolley Madison, wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States of America – had a tremendous impact on her husband's administration, not just because he valued her political acumen – but also because she worked to create a public image as a fashionable woman and a consummate White House host. She dressed extravagantly for some events but knew when to scale it back so as not to overshadow her husband.

She was known for wearing turbans with empire-cut gowns from Paris. Her reputation for being stylish set the standard for what a first lady of the then young new country, the USA, should be and how her fashion and image related to her husband's presidency.

Photoshop reconstruction of the 1825 life mask of 4th U.S. President James Madison and Daguerreotype of Dolley Payne Todd Madison. /JOHN HENRI BROWERE

By wearing dresses that were reminiscent of the Greek Republic, she was reminding people of the ideals America represented. This use of clothing as symbolism would inform the first ladies to come, including modern-day global style and fashion icon, Michelle Obama.

Rachel Ruto assumed the office of the First Lady, in September 2022 after a 10-year stint as a Second Lady.

Since way back, Mrs Ruto has portrayed herself as a prayerful woman – and whenever the country was going through a major problem, she would take the initiative of leading prayers. A point in time is when she led National Prayers to cleanse the Salgaa black spot along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway in 2017.

In 2019, she made a major amendment to the Official Deputy President’s residence in Karen by launching the National Prayer Altar where the family has been conducting church services and even invited friends and acquaintances to worship with them. According to the First Lady, it is her prayers that were pivotal in securing her husband’s presidency.

The First Lady, in her own right, is a public figure who is celebrated by the masses as the woman behind the wheel, she wields considerable influence and garners widespread interest in her clothing, appearance, and actions.

Her contributions to her husband's political journey, whether through prayer or other means, are often acknowledged and appreciated by the masses. However, it is essential to recognize that her role extends far beyond the confines of her husband's political success.

Fashion can be a powerful tool for someone in the public eye to communicate and relate to a broad audience, and when successful, a first lady can use her interest in her clothes to her advantage.

She has shaped perceptions, inspired change, and championed causes close to her heart. The trained teacher has been involved in activities to uplift the lives of women in Kenya.

She is an active player in the Inua Mama initiative and also the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO). According to the First Lady, the motivation to help support women through such initiatives was inspired by an incident in 1997, when she met a woman who was the age of her mother without shoes. Rachel aimed to break the barrier of women having financial freedom.

“I started having a dream of going to the rural areas and talking to women, and telling them it is possible,” she’s been quoted saying.

And it is also very possible to be fashionable while serving as the nation’s 'Mom-in-Chief'. She has been the subject of numerous wardrobe choices that have sparked discussions. The most recent one being during King Charles III's visit to Kenya earlier this year.

Known for her signature short hair, the president’s wife left tongues wagging by rocking a stylish blue kitenge skirt suit, clutch bag, and low-heeled shoes. The beautiful mother accessorized her look with a stylish watch, a silver necklace, and earrings. Her wedding ring was intact.

Her diehard supporters always come out guns blazing in her defence alluding to the difficulty the first lady grapples with in mitigating expectations about her wardrobe on top of other duties, but fashion is also an important way for the first lady to connect with people.

Far from being a frivolous pursuit, fashion serves as a potent means of communication, enabling individuals to connect with diverse audiences fast. It can effectively convey confidence, empathy, and cultural resonance.

A stylish first lady can not only be a fashion icon, she can project an image of a fairly stable, prosperous, liberal, and modern fashion-forward Kenya. Her fashion choices can inspire her people, and be seen as a reflection of the country's cultural identity and its position in the global fashion scene.

Being both stylish and accomplished portrays how fashion taste and intellectual capability or political influence can go hand-in-hand. And just like the global icon, Michelle Obama, wearing clothing by local designers brings significant attention and business to a nation's fashion industry. This leads to job creation thus bolstering the economy.

Former United States (US) First Lady, Michelle Obama in a purple silk suit from Sergio Hudson and sequined bustier by Christy Rilling Studio at a speaking engagement about her book Becoming in Atlanta. May 11, 2019. /GETTY IMAGES

As such, dear First Lady, your fashion choices are not merely matters of personal preference but bear significance in the broader narrative of national identity and representation. Your image can be a powerful tool for public connection.

Have you considered collaborating with a stylist to elevate your public image while maintaining your personal style? To dismiss such considerations as trivial or inconsequential is to overlook the potential for fashion to serve as a conduit for meaningful dialogue and engagement.

Yes. And whether thought to be warranted or not, the public will always inevitably focus on what you are wearing.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on opinion@viraltea.co.ke

A Media Platform For Gen Zs? Move Aside Mainstream, Give Upcoming Platfoms A Chance

Marvin Chege — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:42:29 +0300

I had covered this in Episode 19 of our ongoing 'Spill The Tea' weekly newsletter, which you can find here and on LinkedIn. However, I felt as though I didn't do much justice on it, hence this extended editorial.

On Monday, July 8, the Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) announced its bid to enhance coverage of what has been viewed as a critical segment of Kenya's vibrant society through various media platforms. According to a press statement, the group is mulling plans to set up a platform where Gen Zs, among all Kenyans, will engage on how best to shape the country, moving forward.

My point of interest is the following quote: "We will shortly announce a comprehensive plan to develop a platform where Kenyans including Gen-Zs will engage on critical issues affecting the nation."

Let's go down further to what I reported; "However, it is yet to be determined if the platform will operate through both mainstream and digital media platforms as well as social media and whether established media channels, upcoming ones, or both, will be considered in its development."

President William Ruto during a conversation with journalists from digital media outlets at State House, Nairobi on June 30, 2024. /PHOTO

What KMSWG needs to answer in their comprehensive plan to develop the platform is what is there above...will the platform be hosted on social media, like X Spaces, Facebook...or TikTok, or will media platforms be considered?

The protests that were started on Tuesday, June 18 brought Gen Z to the national limelight for the very first time. Thousands of Kenyans, mainly the youth (Millennials and Gen Z), took to the streets of Nairobi to protest against the 2024 Finance Bill, showcasing the real power of the biggest population demographic in the whole country.

You're talking about the very same group that forms our largest audience across our website and our social media accounts, and the numbers show. Photos and short videos covering the protests alone were shared across all social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram...and for the first time, baddies suspended breaking men's necks offline and on Instagram, to protest against the Finance Bill.

June 20 and then June 25 (which I attended), and the Finance Bill was dropped. The power of Kenya's youth worked to the point that political figures who dismissed their demands for action ate their words. President Ruto then held more pressers at State House than possibly any other Head of State in Kenya, with radical changes, including the big one you began to read here.

How Did We Get Here?

Back to that 'platform'. Social media has become the main environment for millennials and Gen Z and while KMSWG might be on to something proper, there's the question of who should host/talk about that platform to the masses.

For more than a decade, mainstream media and the leading digital media platforms have been ruling the media space, but the turbulent times, especially among the former, have led to a decline in advertising revenue and ultimately, drastic decisions such as doing away with departments and firing journalists...hug anyone you see in media.

The space has become so saturated...like owning a boda boda...that people still don't believe me when I tell them that I run Viral Tea in a tough environment, competing against more than 5,000-10,000 news websites in Kenya.

Despite being an upcoming digital media house, Viral Tea, a rapidly rising platform in the 2020s decade, has told numerous stories of Gen Zs making their mark in whatever sector in the country, from entrepreneurship to the media space itself while building a platform that caters to the demands of Gen Zs and millennials- our biggest audience. So far, I'm proud that we've established a connection with the biggest digital media platform in the country, but it doesn't stop there.

For the extended part. Nobody has said this, but I'll say it...we are under fire. Take a look at this clip:

Was posted earlier somewhere but allow me to address this...it looks like a threat to reporters on the ground.

If only these ones knew the bureaucracy that goes on in Kenyan media newsrooms...especially mainstream pic.twitter.com/cnCORAWCDK
— Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) July 13, 2024

When I watched it, the first thing that came to mind is what I've done wrong. My platform had been following up on the Kware killings from the moment news broke out from it, relying on real-time media reports to get the tally on the number of bodies recovered and the first thing that someone who only watches TV and listens to radio is...we are lying. How I wish he knew what goes on in newsrooms of the leading media houses...there will come a time where journalists too will 'drain the swamp'.

But therein lies the problem. We've become so used to expecting so much from mainstream because we follow them every single day, which isn't a bad thing...and worshipping social media as a disruptor but failed to see that digital news and media platforms exist, which I can say without fear or favour, do more than three times what mainstream guys do.

There's no doubt that the leading digital media platforms such as TUKO.co.ke have done wonders in raising the bar for digital media, as they started when many Gen Zs were in high school or university...when social media in the country was starting to gain serious momentum.

COVID-19 changed everything and with digital disruption, mass layoffs across the media space and financial difficulties that could not allow media houses to hire and train new journalists, upcoming ones such as Viral Tea were born.

For four years, since the start of the 2020s, these platforms have been ignored by many, hence my bold call that it is time for upcoming digital media platforms to take over, be empowered more and for the big boys to step aside for once, mainstream included. They are already big platforms, so it would be insane for them to keep being empowered while the upcoming ones are left to waste away.

I'm saying that if KMSWG chooses the media in terms of what they want to do with the platform, they should first come to the newcomers like Viral Tea to get the word out there. First of all, we are the fastest-growing Kenyan digital media house on LinkedIn, doubling to more than 20,000 followers...three years after beginning in 2021...covering content that at times you will get nowhere else.

There is a saying that when you empower your underperforming employees at work, you'll get the best out of them compared to giving the star performers more work which brings devastating results; you lose your best performers AND your underperformers. That's the same case here.

Why Pay Attention To Us?

Kenyans deserve to pay more attention to the upcoming digital news and media platforms, not just because that's where the real juice is. I have seen Kenyan media being accused of being biased, and sleeping with the ruling political class among others...but this is because they have been so used to consuming content from leading platforms and ignoring the rest...others turn to bloggers and influencers who have a large following and think they're 'credible'...without training, even if it is 'self-taught'.

I can proudly say that since my stint at Kenyans.co.ke as an intern in 2020 for two months, I've been a self-taught digital journalist...learning from online sources, not really someone to hold my hand as a mentor since February of that year. I'm still learning, despite some 'plause', as I feel I still have a long way to go.

For me to pen an opinion/editorial (in this case) article on my very own platform instead of through the newspapers which to be honest take a lot of time to approve and publish shows the value of taking upcoming platforms in Kenya seriously.

However, just because the upcoming media platforms are small doesn't mean they don't have their own policies. For instance, we at Viral Tea check each and EVERY single pitch that comes our way, verify and use it in our stories or social media content, all at once...even though we are independent, we prize credibility as our 'main bae'. Truth is as staple as a plate of ugali in this country and just a note; we do not consider pitches on anything that we find to be defamatory. I gave you those tips for free today lol.

A good way to empower the upcoming digital media platforms is through collaborations/partnerships. To quote my fellow digital media friend Oliver Mathenge in one of his newsletters:

"There will be a wave of consolidation in Kenyan media, as smaller publications team up or merge to take on bigger competitors. While there may be employment losses as a result of this, there may also be chances for creative cross-platform content development and collaboration."

In one of my comments, I indicated that Kenyan media houses have shown how allergic they are to collaborations or partnerships on a consistent basis, hence the only hope for such is within the smaller publications. And no, the Presidential Debates series is not enough.

A person browsing the internet on his phone. /CONTEXT NEWS

The conflicting numbers across media platforms and even government authorities such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regarding the Kware bodies discovery have caused distrust between the media and members of the public, the latter threatening to 'occupy media houses', which to me is a dangerous precedent. If only we teamed up to give the real numbers...

Also to note, the division is also internal in the media space; that is mainstream vs digital, young journalists vs old veterans...Kenyan media is as unstable internally as it is externally. Why can't we just get along here?

Anywho, the call involves than just teaming up, it's time for the big companies in other sectors to give more attention to the smaller publications and for stakeholders to invest in them so that they can grow their craft as well as hire and train the upcoming Gen Z journalists to not just align them with modern office and work culture but to also adapt to the fast-paced news environment which we have seen of late is full of content, some of which is masked in misinformation to the point of catching even the best of us off-guard.

Should anything unfortunate happen to the big media houses and leading digital media channels, as we almost saw with KTN News on June 25, it will be those upcoming publications that will be standing, some of which will have strengthened themselves in terms of accuracy, credibility and my favourite one...creativity mixed with professionalism, one that bloggers and influencers cannot match, no matter what they do.

Imagine taking the humour of Justine Wanda and mixing it up with the professionalism and knowledge of the likes of Linus Kaikai, and Sam Gituku among others. That's your homework...tell us your results!

Allowing the leading media houses to run away with all the fame...and all the big money would force the upcoming ones to fold/shut down because of lack of funds to sustain their operations...and that clips the democratization of the media down to several sizes, hence we as the media cannot hold the government of the day, celebrity or any other newsmaker to account in a no-holds-barred way...how the Gen Z are doing it right now, and how they want the media to do it in this country...truthfully and objectively.

Marvin Chege is the founder and editor-in-chief of Viral Tea and a self-taught digital journalist and a young digital media expert with over 4 years of experience creating content with special focus on the youth: millenials and Gen Z.

**DISCLAIMER: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by this writer are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of Viral Tea.**

The Fired; Ruto Sacks 21 Cabinet Secretaries

Marvin Chege — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:33:48 +0300

Hello and welcome to another weekly episode of 'Spill The Tea' where right now, your fellow job seeker is a former Cabinet Secretary.

Earlier this week, President William Ruto and Raila Odinga reunited during the signing of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Bill, but how did the latter's cronies take this perceived new form of dialogue?

Plus, I have something brutal for the big media houses...make sure you read till the end.

On Episode 19:

GO HOME- Ruto Tells All Cabinet Secretaries
Ruto-Gen Z Talks, Raila Says ‘Yes’
MP Farah Maalim's Insensitive Remarks, A Ban & A No-Show
Journalists For Gen Zs + EDITORIAL

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GO HOME- Ruto Tells All Cabinet Secretaries

For the first time since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, President William Ruto dismissed his whole Cabinet, except one, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, who doubles up as the Foreign Affairs CS. Also retained is Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Ruto, who addressed the nation at State House on Thursday, July 11, revealed that the drastic move came following pressure from Kenyans, moreso during the nationwide demonstrations.

The Head of State also cited a holistic appraisal of his Cabinet as the reason for this radical decision.

"Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs," he announced.

"I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government that will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary, urgent and irreversible, implementation of radical programmes to deal with the burden of debt, raising domestic resources, expanding job opportunities, eliminate wastage and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies and slay the dragon of corruption consequently making the government lean, inexpensive, effective and efficient."

Despite outlining several achievements made by his government, Ruto acknowledged that Kenyans were displeased with the performance of his government, thus sending home all CSs, including Attorney General, Justin Muturi.

Below is the last photo President Ruto took with his Cabinet. The two men flanking him are the ones who remain.

President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS

Immediately after, all the profiles of the former government officials were deleted from the State House website.

Who Are The Sacked Cabinet Secretaries?

Rebecca Miano - Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
Kithure Kindiki - Interior and National Administration
Alice Wahome - Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Developments
Susan Nakhumicha - Ministry of Health
Peninah Malonza - Ministry of East African Community, The ASALs and Regional Developments.
Alfred Mutua - Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife
Moses Kuria - Ministry of Public Service Performance, and Delivery Management.
Aisha Jumwa - Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage
Njuguna Ndung’u - National Treasury and Planning
Aden Duale - Defence
Rebecca Miano - Investments, Trade & Industry
Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen - Roads and Transport
Rosalinda Soipan Tuya - Environment and Forestry
Zachariah Mwangi Njeru - Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
Mithika Linturi - Agriculture and Livestock Development
Ezekiel Machogu - Education
Salim Mvurya - Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
Eliud Owalo - Information, Communications and the Digital Economy
Simon Chelugui - Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
Ababu Namwamba - Youth Affairs and Sports
Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection.

What Happens Next?

President Ruto instructed his Principal Secretaries to continue running the government's operations, adding that the PSs and other government officials would undertake ministry operations.

"During this process, the operations of government will continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials," he announced, adding "I will be announcing additional measures and steps in due course."

It is however worth noting that there are 51 Principal Secretaries, more than twice the number of their (now former) Cabinet counterparts.

Read also: List Of Cabinet Secretaries Fired By Ruto & Principal Secretaries Taking Over For Now

Has Any Kenyan President Dissolved a Whole Cabinet Before?

As much as this is a rare occurrence and as much as this is a move that might tone down the rage of the country's Gen Zs who had threatened more dire action, this is not the first time in Kenya's history that a sitting President has disbanded his entire Cabinet.

However, this is the first time this has happened in 19 years. You'd have to go back to 2005 when the late former President Mwai Kibaki sacked his entire Cabinet, though this came days after a national referendum.

In the 2005 referendum, over 3.5 million Kenyans rejected the draft constitution that Kibaki had strongly supported. On November 23, he took action, and just like Ruto, Kibaki spared Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

"Following the results of the referendum, it has become necessary for me, as the President of the Republic, to re-organize my Government to make it more cohesive and better able to serve the people of Kenya," Kibaki said then.

"Accordingly, in accordance with the powers conferred upon me under the Constitution of Kenya, I have directed that the offices of all Ministers and all Assistant Ministers become vacant. Consequently, the occupants of the said offices cease to hold their respective offices with immediate effect."

Ruto's move to dissolve the Cabinet is a landmark event in the country's history. This now allows him to appoint a new team that has the right competence and know-how to deliver on his manifesto at the end of his term.

It is yet to be known if he will consider re-hiring some of the sacked Cabinet Secretaries.

Sample Reactions From CSs

Kipchumba Murkomen

It has been my greatest privilege and honour to serve my country as a Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads & Transport. Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity.

Alfred Mutua

I sincerely thank His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto for the confidence he demonstrated by entrusting me with the role of Cabinet Secretary in his government.

During my tenure, I have witnessed firsthand President Ruto's genuine commitment to the rapid transformation of our country. His vision and dedication to progress are clear and unwavering.

Ababu Namwamba

It is a special honour, privilege and blessing to serve one's nation, more so in Cabinet, the country's highest policy-making organ. I thank His Excellency President William Ruto for the trust and confidence that informed my appointment to serve in the Cabinet for the second time in my public service life. God bless Kenya and grant the President grace and wisdom to navigate our country into a safe harbour.

Mithika Linturi

I’m profoundly thankful to H.E. President William Ruto for the trust and confidence he placed in me by appointing me as the CS for Agriculture & Livestock Development. Your decision to entrust me with this significant responsibility is both a privilege & a humbling experience.

Eliud Owalo

“I thank H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto for granting me the opportunity to serve my Country as Cabinet Secretary. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for the same,” he stated.

Aden Duale reacts after being fired as Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS)

Soipan Tuya

“Anything that paves the way for the best interest of our Nation, at this point in time, is preeminent. I most sincerely thank H.E President William Ruto for the privilege, honour and opportunity to serve my country at the helm of the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket, for the last 21 months. My heart is full of gratitude”

Ruto-Gen Z Talks, Raila Says ‘Yes’

Meanwhile, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi...

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga hold a press briefing outside KICC.

On Tuesday, July 9, opposition leader, Raila Odinga, witnessed President Ruto sign the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Bill into law...the matter of IEBC seeing the duo being at loggerheads since the 2022 general elections.

The IEBC Bill: The Bill was initially introduced and passed in the National Assembly in May. It was later sent to the Senate which subsequently passed it on June 11. The amendments were done on June 20.

The new law gives a roadmap to the formation of the IEBC. The IEBC selection panel will now consist of nine persons. 2 nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission, 3 by the political parties liaison committee, 1 will represent the Law Society of Kenya and 1 will represent the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICAK). The Inter-religious council will front two people.
The new provisions have emphasized the need to consider a two-thirds gender quota in the constitution of the selection panel.

Later, the two held a press conference where President Ruto announced the commencement of the National Multi-Sectoral Forum (NMSF) set to engage with all stakeholders in addressing the concerns raised by the youth. The forum will begin from Monday, July 15, all the way to Saturday, July 20.

Ruto called on representatives from various sectors of the country including religious groups, civil societies, political parties and even professional groups to submit their recommendations.

What Ruto Said: "This will be a six-day forum and will propose the way forward for the country. In the interest that we live within our means, all participants will bear their costs of attendance," Ruto stated.

The Head of State further asked Parliament to expedite the Conflict of Interest Bill 2023 for it to be passed promptly arguing that it would present a chance to hold everyone accountable over corruption.

Raila's Stance

The formation of the NMSF received the backing of Raila, who stated that he approved the formation of the multi-sectoral forum following a consultative meeting with the Head of State.

He encouraged Kenyans from different sectors including the youth to utilize the opportunity and raise their grievances for a lasting solution to be reached.

“I can confirm that we have had consultations and after the consultations, we have agreed that a dialogue is the way forward out of the crisis that we have had as a country,” Raila stated.

“We have agreed we give people an opportunity to be heard, express themselves and come out with the grievances that are ailing our country today so that a lasting solution can be found."

Siding with Ruto, the former Prime Minister agreed that everybody would bear their costs for coming to the forum.

The Reactions

While the attendees and high-ranking officials celebrated the move, outside and on social media, a multitude of Kenyans from different sectors appeared apprehensive over the perceived dialogue and outcomes. For instance:

Raila's son Raila Odinga Jr broke his silence with a social media post seemingly distancing himself from his father's political move. "Everybody is an individual, please! Even people with the same exact names," he poignantly stated
Other Kenyans, especially Gen Z and millennials, however, disavowed the dialogue to be held arguing that all they needed from the government was the delivery of their mandate.
"Dialogue tena? Si ata last year kulikuwa na dialogue?... We cannot use an old map to navigate new territory!" wondered Pauline Njoroge.
"The dialogue is between two individuals: William Ruto and Raila Odinga. We refuse to be controlled by selfish politicians who only value their stomachs. Gen Zs and Millennials are now taking the bull by the horns," lamented Cornelius Ronoh.
"We told Raila Odinga to rest and let us handle our own matters. We are not going to dialogue with President William Ruto. We know how it ends and Baba is a clear example of how dialogue never works!" Added another.
NARC- Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua penned a series of statements on X, one notable one read "Dialogue can only be meaningful if the players have good faith and are guided by the best interests of the people. This is a trap period."

Now all eyes are on the forum next week to fulfill the promises.

Of note: Raila, in response to rumours of a handshake in the offing, wrote on X that "Nimeambiwa na hawa viongozi kwamba mumesema hamtaki handshake. Ujumbe umefika (These leaders have told me that you don't want a handshake. I have received your message.)"

MP Farah Maalim's Insensitive Remarks, A Ban & A No-Show

It's one thing for a Member of Parliament to utter insensitive remarks asking a whole President to deal with Gen Z protesters. But not to show up for summons on those remarks?

How It Began

A viral clip emerged capturing Daadab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim allegedly telling President Ruto to rein in Gen Z protesters who have been exercising their constitutional rights in opposition to the Finance Bill 2024.

The translated clip showed Maalim claiming sensationally that if he were the Head of State, he would never allow Gen Z to stage protests in the first place.

"This was an attempted coup, a clear attempted coup. Children of wealthy business owners, wealthy parents and kids raised on ill-gotten wealth, 80% from one tribe were dropped off in downtown and told to riot and take over State House and Parliament buildings," he said.

Maalim blatantly noted that if he reigned over the nation he would have wiped them out in their thousands.

Dadaab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim. /NATION MEDIA GROUP

"God forbid if I was president I would have slaughtered them, 5,000 of them daily. Serious, there is no two ways about it," he said.

However, the lawmaker in defence of the video that went viral, claimed that the video was manipulated as a political weapon to be used against him.

Backing up his claims, Maalim further accused unidentified people from Somalia of digitally altering the clip in response to chiming in on the politics of Somalia.

“The video making the rounds has been edited. It's all cutting and pasting, taking a word from here and putting it together.

“It is Somalis who basically would do that, for other reasons, because I also weighed in on the politics of Somalia,” the Wiper Party elected legislator claimed during an interview with KTN News.

The Reaction

Amidst the uproar, KTN News anchor, Ken Mijungu, on Tuesday, July 9 announced that Maalim was banned from being hosted on his show permanently.

"A member of Parliament is on camera saying if he was the president the day demonstrators breached parliament he would have killed 5,000 of them!

"A LAWMAKER said this! A SEASONED Legislator. As a patriotic Kenyan, I will never host him on my show again! Never," he wrote on X.

Despite Maalim's defence, the seasoned journalist vowed not to invite the legislator to the KTN studios within the Standard Group Limited based on Mombasa Road. It is worth noting that this is Mijungu's personal reference, with Standard Group reserving the right to invite the legislator to interviews and talk shows.

Then, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) summoned Maalim over the remarks, instructing him to appear before the commission on Thursday, July 11 at 11.00 am at its offices on the 17th Floor, Britam Tower, Hospital Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi.

Did He Show Up At NCIC?

No. Maalim's failure to appear before the NCIC on the scheduled date has only added fuel to the fire.

However, NCIC chairperson Samuel Kobia confirmed that the MP requested to reschedule his appearance to Monday, July 15.

His Party Acts

The Wiper Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to kick out Maalim. The Kalonzo Musyoka-led party distanced itself from the lawmaker's remarks in which he was captured vowing that he would have taken some of the most drastic and punitive measures against the protesters, including mass killings because their actions amounted to a coup attempt.

The party also called for the MP, who is also the deputy party leader, to be removed from all Parliament committees. Its National Delegates Convention (NDC) is set to make a decision on the NEC’s recommendations.

Maalim was also flagged among other Wiper lawmakers for going against the party decision in the controversial Finance Bill, 2024 vote when it came on the floor of the House, by voting 'Yes' in favour of the Bill.

“On the conduct of party members, first, we believe strongly in the fidelity of political parties, their mission, vision and identity. It is in the public domain that three of our members, namely, Farah Maalim – MP for Dadaab, Doris Donya Toto - Kisii Women Rep, John Okano Bwire – MP for Taveta and Abubakar Ahmed - Nominated MP, have repeatedly gone against the party position,” the party's statement read in part.

“Their latest transgression was voting 'Yes' and Abstaining – in the case of Donya - for the now withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024. The four received invitations to attend today’s NEC meeting. They all failed to attend nor have offered their apologies. Their cases have been referred to the Party’s Disciplinary Committee.”

This may also put Maalim at risk of being recalled as a lawmaker, among MPs targeted for recalls for ignoring the plight of Kenyans regarding the Finance Bill 2024. Should he be recalled, fresh elections will be held for an individual to take his place.

Journalists For Gen Zs + EDITORIAL

With the rise of the Generation Z group of Kenyans who have been leading the charge in demanding accountability from President Ruto's government, there has been however an underreporting of the young people of our country across media platforms for a while...until now.

According to a press statement sent to us, the group is mulling plans to set up a platform where Gen Zs, among all Kenyans, will engage on how best to shape the country, moving forward.

"We will shortly announce a comprehensive plan to develop a platform where Kenyans including Gen-Zs will engage on critical issues affecting the nation," the statement read in part.

I provided my very honest opinion on the matter. Read below:

My point of interest is the following quote: "We will shortly announce a comprehensive plan to develop a platform where Kenyans including Gen-Zs will engage on critical issues affecting the nation."

Let's go down further to what I reported on Monday, July 8; "However, it is yet to be determined if the platform will operate through both mainstream and digital media platforms as well as social media and whether established media channels, upcoming ones, or both, will be considered in its development."

Stakeholders from the Kenya Media Sector Working Group addressing the media on March 13, 2024. /KENYA EDITORS GUILD

Freezing hirings or opting not to advertise job openings (if so, they come with weird requirements that show how your numbers on social media are like your CV) has made established journalists set up their own media platforms, mostly digital. The space has become so saturated...like owning a boda boda...that people still don't believe me when I tell them that I run Viral Tea in a tough environment, competing against more than 5,000-10,000 news websites in Kenya.

I'd like to come out and say that it is time for upcoming digital media platforms to take over, be empowered more and for the big boys to step aside for once. They are already big platforms, so it would be insane for them to keep being empowered while the upcoming ones are left to waste away.

I'm saying that if KMSWG chooses the media in terms of what they want to do with the platform, they should first come to the newcomers like Viral Tea to get the word out there. First of all, we are the fastest-growing Kenyan digital media house on LinkedIn, doubling to more than 20,000 followers...three years after beginning in 2021...covering content that at times you will get nowhere else.

As a matter of fact, Kenyans deserve to pay more attention to the upcoming digital news and media platforms, not just because that's where the real juice is. I have seen Kenyan media being accused of being biased, and sleeping with the ruling political class among others...but this is because they have been so used to consuming content from leading platforms and ignoring the rest...others turn to bloggers who have a large following and think they're 'credible'.

Just because the upcoming media platforms are small doesn't mean they don't have their own policies. Yes, we check each and EVERY single pitch that comes our way, verify and use it in our stories or social media content...even though we are independent, we prize credibility as our 'main bae'. Truth is as staple as a plate of ugali in this country and just a note; we do not consider pitches on anything that we find to be defamatory. I gave you those tips for free today lol.

A good way to empower the upcoming digital media platforms is through collaborations/partnerships. To quote my fellow digital media friend Oliver Mathenge in one of his newsletters:

There will be a wave of consolidation in Kenyan media, as smaller publications team up or merge to take on bigger competitors. While there may be employment losses as a result of this, there may also be chances for creative cross-platform content development and collaboration.

More than just teaming up, it's time for the big companies in other sectors to give more attention to the smaller publications and for stakeholders to invest in them so that they can grow their craft as well as hire and train the upcoming Gen Z journalists to not just align them with modern office and work culture but to also adapt to the fast-paced news environment which we have seen of late is full of content, some of which is masked in misinformation to the point of catching even the best of us off-guard.

Should anything unfortunate happen to the big media houses and channels, as we almost saw with KTN News on June 25, it will be those upcoming publications that will be standing, some of which will have strengthened themselves in terms of accuracy, credibility and my favourite one...creativity mixed with professionalism. Imagine taking the humour of Justine Wanda and mixing it up with the professionalism and knowledge of the likes of Linus Kaikai, and Sam Gituku among others. That's your homework...tell us your results!

Allowing the leading media houses to run away with all the fame...and all the big money would force the upcoming ones to fold/shut down because of lack of funds to sustain their operations...and that clips the democratization of the media, hence we as the media cannot hold the government of the day, celebrity or any other newsmaker to account in a no-holds-barred way...how the Gen Z are doing it and how they want the media to do it today...truthfully and objectively.

Here are other stories we kept hot for you this week:

An unfortunate week of deaths from Bishop Allan Kiuna, the founder and preacher of Jubilee Christian Church (JCC) to High Court Judge David Majanja. May they Rest In Peace (RIP) and may God comfort their families as they go through this difficult time.
Before that 'purge', Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei directed that all Cabinet Secretaries (CS) select at least one advisor to be retained, thus paving the way for the rest to be fired. Following the directive, the number of advisors assigned to each Cabinet Secretary was revised from two to one.
Roots Party Leader George Luchiri Wajackoyah’s 2022 presidential running mate Justina Wamae on Monday, July 8 turned down her appointment by President William Ruto as part of a 20-member task force to address human resources for health in the country as she was on maternity leave which prevented her from working to the best of her abilities in the task force.
Three activists, among them popular Nairobi-based chips mwitu vendor, Bevalyne Kwamboka, had demanded that former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba reveal the full details regarding the delegation of non-athletes accompanying the official Kenyan delegation to the prestigious event. Later, word went around that Kenyans in France swore to assist in deporting individuals back home following revelations that the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) had extended an invitation to 11 Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to the Olympics as part of the cheering squad.
The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) on Tuesday announced the immediate reinstatement of Vincent Chepkwony, a private security officer who demonstrated exceptional bravery during the recent protests at a popular restaurant at Kimathi Street, Nairobi after being recorded on camera opening the doors of the restaurant to protestors at the height of the Anti-Finance Bill protests.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday, July 10 revealed shocking statistics regarding the death toll among Kenyans working in the Gulf States since 2002. Across the Gulf States, 316 Kenyans have lost their lives over the past 12 years, 166 of them from Saudi Arabia alone!
Based on 4, Kenyan TikTok star, radio host and influencer, Azziad Nasenya on Thursday, June 11 denounced reports that she is part of the delegation of non-athletes accompanying the official Kenyan delegation to Paris, France for the 2024 Olympic Games.

News Graphic Of The Week

News graphic showing the number of Kenyans who have died in Gulf countries

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Who Let The Goons Out? How Peaceful Gen Z Protests Turned...(Device Stolen)

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 17:30:24 +0300

Hello and welcome to Episode 18 of 'Spill The Tea' where one of us was typing this in Nairobi CBD when her device got snatched by goons who marauded the city during the anti-government protests. We found it somehow.

Plus President William Ruto held a roundtable interview with both mainstream and digital media outlets. And before you ask, we were not invited.

On Episode 18:

Ruto Meets Journalists At State House
Goons On Rampage
No Salary Hike For You, No Job For You Either
The Standard Group Strike...Before The Big Strike

Checkpoint

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We noticed that LinkedIn has made some changes to how it is sending newsletters via email. Previously, the newsletter would display once you opened the mail, but for the new changes, you have to click on the ‘view entire message’ to access the newsletter.

Housekeeping: Over the past weekend, we made an overall change to one of our colours. Instead of the red colour scheme, we now have a mixture of amber brown and fawn, mainly to reflect the colour of Kenyan tea with milk...however it appears on your cup.

Ruto Meets Journalists At State House

On Sunday evening, June 30, the country was glued to TV screens and the radio to listen to the highly-anticipated interview with President William Ruto at State House, which we later learnt was requested by his team.

This was in relation to the anti-Finance Bill protests that rocked the country for more than two weeks, and claiming lives as well as leading to casualties in the process. We picked some key areas from the interview with mainstream media houses:

President William Ruto speaking to journalists at State House, Nairobi on June 30, 2024. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

Githurai Massacre

President Ruto denied reports of a massacre in Githurai on Tuesday, June 25 following the anti-Finance Bill protests, referencing an investigation done by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which found no evidence of mass killings in Githurai. Read it here

"BBC on that account went to investigate in Githurai, and of course, you know, you have read. BBC has said there was no massacre in Githurai. There was 1 person who was shot by the police," he revealed.

The report published over the weekend came from fact-finding investigations by the BBC following reports of the massacre which saw conflicting reports of people killed surfacing all over the internet and news platforms.

BBC had found that old videos filmed in 2022 were being reshared on social media, purporting to show protesters walking along a street carrying flaming torches at the protests.

"The BBC Global Disinformation Unit had previously investigated the clip and discovered that it was recorded in Ghana two years ago. This is not the first time it has been misrepresented.

"Despite the incomplete understanding of what happened in Githurai, as Kenyans woke up on Wednesday morning reports began to spread of an alleged massacre," read the report in part.

A police report seen by Viral Tea from the Githurai-Mwiki Police Station indicated that a protest that began peacefully turned riotous when an alleged group of about 6,000 became violent and lit a bonfire on a road in the area.

"Police officers led by the sub-county commander tried to negotiate with them to peaceably disperse but they refused and started pelting the officers with stones. A proclamation was read by the sub-county commander but they did not disperse instead turned very violent," stated the report filed under OB Number 46/25/06/2024 at 9.15 pm.

The KDF Deployment

President Ruto also spoke about the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on civilian streets to assist the police in quelling unrest as a result of the anti-Finance Bill protests.

Speaking during a roundtable interview with top journalists at State House, Nairobi, Ruto claimed that he was out of options, adding that the situation would have been worse had he not resorted to deploying the military.

"In my first statement, I clearly said innocent lives were lost and in my second statement I said the same. If I hadn’t done what I did, things would have been much worse," he stated.

According to the Head of State, it would have been a reckless move had he not directed the deployment of the military, which was largely criticised by Kenyans from all corners and within opposition political circles.

"Many people asked me Mr President, why did you call in the army? What choice did I have?

"It would have been very reckless of me not to mobilize every arm of government and every arm of our security agencies to protect the country and to protect lives," he added.

The deployment of the military was challenged by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) at the High Court which however ruled that the intervention was justified, though finding that it was clear that the public had not been fully appraised of the extent of the military involvement.

Ruto also claimed that since the onset of the anti-Finance Bill protests, declared property worth Ksh2.4 billion had been destroyed, adding that the damage had been caused by criminals who allegedly infiltrated the peaceful protests to cause atrocities such as burning down a section of the Parliament Buildings.

President William Ruto during the KDF pass-out parade in Uasin Gishu County on May 15, 2024. /PCS

"I have no blood in my hands. 19 people to the record that I have from the security agencies are dead. Very unfortunate," he stated.

"As a democracy, that should not be part of our conversation. Ksh2.4 billion of the property had been destroyed. The office of the Chief Justice has been burnt. City Hall has been burnt. Parliament has been burnt," he added.

His Assurance To Protest Victims

He however assured families of the deceased that investigations into the incidents were underway with a report set to be revealed to the public.

"I am telling every parent, I have kids like they do and I care when there are issues in town where criminals can take advantage of situations and create a situation where the police have to use rubber bullets and live bullets in some cases because that is what an independent police service has to do. I am sure the police have a record and explanation for every incident that they were engaged in," he added.

"Any life that is lost is something that must bother anybody beginning with myself. When I came into office I said there would be no extrajudicial killing in Kenya and I have made sure that there is no extrajudicial killing in Kenya. It is true that children got into situations where they became victims of the demonstrations. These great young people who have stepped forward to prosecute their agenda, I am certain that they did not burn Parliament."

Getting Rid Of Offices, Including Rachel Ruto's

President William Ruto then announced that his administration would scrap off the Offices of the First and Second Lady, revealing that the two offices will cease being part and parcel of the Kenya Kwanza administration beginning Monday, July 1 when the Financial Year 2024/25 began.

"I know citizens have said there is no need for the office of the first lady and second lady but these are offices that have been there but because we have to live within our means, those offices from tomorrow will not be part of our equation because, in the face of what has happened, we have to trim down every other area," the Head of State explained.

The scrapping of offices, he added, would extend to the Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS).

He said "On CASs, the court declared themselves on that and we have respected that. We are not going to appoint a CAS until our economy can sustain that."

The X Space: President Ruto gave the Kenyan youth a chance to be heard through an invitation to a direct dialogue via X (Twitter) Space on Thursday, July 4, or Friday, July 5 in a bid to improve his communication with the young people, for which his administration has been largely criticised of. He said "I hear the young people are saying they don’t want a multisectoral forum. Maybe we should have an engagement with the President on X. I’m open to having an engagement with the young people on a forum they are comfortable with. If they want me to engage with them on X, I will be there." We have since learnt that this space will be held on Friday, July 5, from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm though a parallel one is planned for the same time, until late.

President William Ruto during a conversation with journalists from digital media outlets at State House, Nairobi on June 30, 2024. /PHOTO

Editor's Note: a reader asked us why we were not part of the interview with digital journalists despite being a fast-growing digital media house in the country. It was simple, 'we were not invited'. Probably this current regime hasn't recognised us yet and it will take the next one to discover us...anyway, there's a next time.

IEBC: President Ruto promised the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in 10 days, revealing that he received a parliamentary report authorising him to appoint new commissioners for the IEBC. This is in adherence to the demands set forth by the Gen Zs.

Threats to KTN: President Ruto addressed a report by Standard Group Limited TV station, KTN News on Tuesday, June 25 which revealed that the government had threatened to shut them down, directing the TV station that "KTN should make a formal report of who threatened them so that they can be dealt with in accordance with the law. Nobody should threaten any media personality for whatever reason either on account of what they reported or on account of what they did and if I have a complaint with a media house or a media personality, I know where to take them in terms of reporting them to the right agencies and have the matter sorted out within the parameters of the law."

Goons On Rampage

What was witnessed during chaotic scenes on Tuesday, June 25 grew a shade worse with goons going on the rampage during anti-government protests in Nairobi and other major towns in the country.

In Nairobi, protesters brought Waiyaki Way to a standstill at Kangemi as they faced off against police officers who tried to prevent them from marching to the Central Business District (CBD).

Protesters in Mlolongo vandalised a section of the Nairobi Expressway, resulting in severe traffic disruptions to and from Nairobi CBD.

In Nairobi's CBD, specifically at Odeon, clashes between protestors and police manifested into running battles, with reports of stone-throwing and property destruction. One shoe-shinning stall at Odeon was set ablaze with Tom Mboya Avenue closed with stones as youths and protestors faced off.

The unrest extended to various parts of the capital, where additional protests were reported, all without the presence of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers.

In, Mombasa, peaceful protests escalated into violence. Protesters clashed with police, who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds. A shooting had occurred at the Ganjoni area of Mombasa by a civilian firearm holder and the alleged owner of Qaffee Point Hotel that left some persons injured, and chaos that led to the torching of some vehicles.

Some business owners resolved to protect their businesses amid reports of looting and break-ins by some protestors. Speaking on live television, a group of businessmen along Tom Mboya Street said they thwarted an attempt by protestors to torch a Shell petrol station on Latema Road.

Owners of buildings in Nairobi CBD hire private alternatives to protect their premises from any planned looting on July 2, 2024. /CHRIS SAMBU

Officers from the Recce squad arrived at Hamburg House along Tom Mboya Street to flush out a man believed to have been armed and shot a police officer from the top of the building during the protests.

The lone gunman was reported to be on the second floor of the building. Police officers noticed gunshots coming from the top of the building housing a local bank along Moi Avenue.

Govt Response

On Tuesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki announced that the government will crack down on those who are found to have planned and orchestrated the infiltration of the anti-government protests using criminal gangs who caused havoc on public and private property.

Kindiki disclosed that upon completion of the ongoing evidential analysis, the government, in assurance to members of the public, will embark on arresting the planners, executors and financiers of large-scale arson, violent robberies and other felonious crimes.

"The organizers of today's orgy of violence in parts of Nairobi, Mombasa and several other parts of the Country are reportedly planning to repeat their anarchic chaos and cruel plunder again on Thursday and Sunday this week, and perhaps much more frequently in the future.

"This reign of terror against the people of Kenya and the impunity of dangerous criminal gangs must end at whatever cost. The Government is determined to stop criminals aiming to terrorize the public and harm Kenya, notwithstanding attempts to politicize crime," he stated.

Business Owners React

The following day, business owners in Nairobi vowed to protect their own premises at all costs from goons infiltrating the demonstrations to cause chaos.

The traders under the Nairobi Business Community who spoke during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 3 called out Adamson Bungei, who is reported to have been reassigned from the Nairobi police boss position, for declining to order his police officers to intervene to prevent the goons from mass-raiding and looting shops in the Central Business District (CBD).

"I want to ask you Bungei, with all honesty, will those children raid the shops of their mothers? Will those children raid the shops of their fathers? It cannot happen," a female trader lamented in a press briefing, indicating that some unknown individuals were part and parcel of a well-organized criminal syndicate.

The trader announced that the business owners would resort to protecting their premises from any future break-ins, thefts, and arson, even if they had to put their lives on the line. Fortunately, no protests took place in Nairobi on Thursday.

No Salary Hike For You, No Job For You Either

Meanwhile, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) came under heavy fire for its proposal to increase salaries for not just Members of Parliament but also various state officers from the President to Members of the County Assembly.

As detailed in the Gazette Notice published by SRC in August 2023, the increments were reported to have taken effect on July 1. Per the new rates, speakers of both houses in Parliament were to get an increase from Ksh1,185,327 to Ksh1,208,362.

Furthermore, their deputies would get a pay rise from Ksh948,261 to Ksh966,690 while Majority Leaders would see a Ksh15,251 increase. The leaders who include Kimani Ichung'wah, Opiyo Wandayi, Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Stewart Madzayo were set to earn Ksh800,019 from Ksh784,768.

New salaries for MPs and Senators were to be Ksh739,600 from the past Ksh725,502.

In the executive, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney General got a salary raise of Ksh33,000, with the officers taking home Ksh990,000 from Ksh957,000 last month.

However, only President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were revealed to have their salaries retained. Ruto will continue earning Ksh1,443,750 as Gachagua continues to earn Ksh1,227,188.

The Response From Parliament

During a Senate session, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot on Wednesday, July 3 faulted the SRC for being silent during the anti-government protests instead of coming up with solutions to salvage the country's woes.

SRC was also called out by Kenyans for being insensitive to the current situation by enforcing pay raises that cut across the leadership in government, amidst anti-government protests by Kenyans over the high cost of living and punitive taxes.

"SRC has been silent during these protests. They have to speak and tell us what is it that we do to reduce the wage bill from 46 per cent to mandatory 35 per cent. If it means taking a pay cut, we as members of parliament have been told that we will never do it. We don’t have an option, we must do it," he said.

"The yearly increment that is being discussed, I saw it being reported or misreported that we are now going to earn more; SRC continues to be silent about it. We must make a resolution and say that we reject even that one in light of the financial situation."

What They Said

Esther Passaris: I reject any salary increments. It's the exact opposite of what we're calling for; austerity. It's fiscally unsustainable and our current economic situation can't absorb it. Let's work towards living within our means.
Babu Owino: MPs and other state officers should not be added even a coin. It’s sad to increase salary while Kenyans have no jobs, Kenyans have no capital to start businesses, Kenyans have no money to pay school fees, No money for medication. Say no to salary increments.
Edwin Sifuna: The SRC is proposing to add Ksh14,000 to my salary. I didn’t ask for it. I don’t need it. It’s still money, in a country where many have no income, but for perspective, I pay close to 300k in income tax every month.
Governor James Orengo: The salary increases for state officers including governors are absolutely unwarranted at this time
Millicent Omanga: a betrayal to Kenyans for salaries and other benefits of state officers to be increased at this point in time when there's agitation for the same to be reduced. We can't always take Kenyans for fools. Reduce, not increase. That's what Kenyans are demanding!

Government Action

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria wrote to SRC declaring that he would not implement its Gazette Notice on salary increments for public servants.

In a letter to SRC, the CS noted that while he recognized that SRC is within its Constitutional mandate to set and regularly review the remuneration and benefits of all State Officers, he made reference to the Resolutions of the Third National Wage Bill Conference held on April 15-17, 2024 to reduce the Wage bill to 35 per cent of revenue as provided in the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and the prevailing austerity measures announced by President William Ruto occasioned by the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.

"As the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management therefore, I decline to implement the gazette notice on increased salaries as applies to the Executive arm of National Government and urge the Commission to degazette the implementation of the new salary structure, in its entirety, across all levels of Government," he stated.

The Council of Governors on its part urged SRC to immediately withdraw the proposed salary increments for all County State Officers including; Governors, Deputy Governors and County Executive Committee Members.

President William Ruto directed the National Treasury to review the Gazette Notice dated August 9, 2023, from the SRC regarding the remuneration & benefits for State officers in the Executive of the National Government, the Senate and the National Assembly, in light of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 and the fiscal constraints expected this financial year.

"The President has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the Executive & all arms of government to live within their means," State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed stated on X.

SRC Bows

Addressing the press on Wednesday, July 3, Commission chairperson Lyn Mengich termed the recent budget cuts and the current economic situation in the country as the reasons for the decision to freeze the upward salary review for all state officers following consultations with the National Treasury.

SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich. /FILE

"In consultation with the Treasury, SRC hereby freezes the upward review of salaries for all State officers, and will review the advice for all other public officers, taking into account the current realities of the economy, and a reduced budget to ensure affordability and fiscal sustainability of the wage bill," she announced.

Furthermore, the SRC boss noted that whatever was frozen would have been implemented in the current financial year 2024/25, but the commission took into account the fiscal constraints and the budgetary cuts.

Budget Cuts = No Jobs

A double-edged sword. As of Thursday night, CS Kuria announced that the government suspended all new and ongoing public service recruitment in a move that threatens to worsen the unemployment crisis in the country.

This was revealed on Wednesday, July 4 when Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria wrote to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to suspend new and ongoing staff hiring, including ongoing interviews, due to anticipated budget cuts.

"Our current expenditure on salaries, allowances, and benefits for public servants exceeds sustainable levels, placing undue strain on our national finances and hindering our ability to allocate resources towards essential national priorities.

"In view of expected budget cuts in the ongoing budget rationalization, therefore, I urge you to halt any new recruitment and any that is ongoing and has not been concluded," he directed.

CS Kuria further announced that during the suspension of employment, the government will conduct an audit and clean all public payrolls.

Unemployment Statistics

The unemployment situation in the country has been so dire with the number of Kenyans without jobs increasing to more than 2.97 million in the quarter to December 2022 as per data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

More than half of Kenyans without jobs, or 1.54 million people, were between 20 and 29 years old, underlining the growing crisis of youth unemployment.

The Standard Group Strike...Before The Big Strike

Last week, one of Standard Group Limited's TV station branches, KTN News, faced threats by the government to shut them down. This week, the media house had to clean up its own affairs...and they were getting more messy!

Standard Group employees from Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Berur FM and Vybez Radio on Thursday morning, July 4 downed their tools, making good their earlier threat to do so over salary arrears going as far back as June 2023.

The employees had on June 28 threatened to go off air starting July 3 if the company had failed to clear outstanding salaries.

The presenters, who host some of the most popular shows on stations under the media conglomerate, walked out of their studios, leaving their listeners listening only to music, demanding that the management honour their contractual obligation.

With management not heeding their plea, the journalists staged a walkout from their respective workstations and converged at the staff cafeteria.

We were informed that the staffers had been at the cafeteria since 7 am waiting for the management to address their concerns.

According to the radio employees, they have not been paid for the months between June to August 2023. In 2024, the employees had allegedly only been paid for the month of February.

Inside Spice FM studios at Standard Group. /FILE

Reply...With Sacking Threats

In response, the media house threatened to fire all radio presenters from the radio stations following the walkout, with the management addressing the journalists who had converged at the staff cafeteria, and threatened to terminate contracts should they not go back to their workstations.

Staff at the media house have been vocal about their plight, using organisations such as the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to air their grievances and demand immediate action from the management.

Even on their social media channels, many of the stations under the Standard Group umbrella did not have updates as is usual for presenters to drum up fans to tune in.

The media house based along Mombasa Road has been suffering economic challenges with frequent mass layoffs and retrenchment.

The Big Strike Is Coming

Meanwhile, Standard Group has another problem on its way after KUJ on Sunday, June 30 issued a 14-day strike notice to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour on its intentions to stage a work boycott should the company fail to meet four of its demands, a matter that could lead to a total shutdown of operations at the country's oldest media house.

KUJ had demanded that the media house based along Mombasa Road settle salary arrears owed to its staff, some of whom have reportedly gone unpaid for more than seven months.

The union also called on the company to devise a concrete plan to restore the Sacco by providing Sacco savings contributed by its employees.

This is after it accused Standard Group of defying a directive from Sacco's regulator, The Sacco Societies Regulatory (SASRA), to prioritise this matter in its debt-settling plan.

"For seven months now, staff at the Standard Group PLC, the oldest media house in this part of the world, have gone through untold sufferings due to unpaid salaries despite hard economic times in the country," KUJ's statement read in part.

"The Kenya Union of Journalists, therefore, is demanding an immediate response from the following issues failure to which we shall force a total shutdown of operations of Standard Group PLC in the next 14 days. In this regard, we have issued a 14-day strike notice to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour on our intention to stage a work boycott over the following issues."

KUJ also called upon the company to remove a cap on medical claims and cease capturing the biometric data of staff to enforce a new directive of reporting time.

Standard Group was also compelled to come up with an acceptable payment plan to clear the arrears, failure to which the staff will not only withdraw their services but also begin auctioning prime assets of the company to recover the funds.

News Graphic Of The Week

News graphic of President William Ruto speaking during a Cabinet meeting on July 4, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

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KINYANJUI: We Need More Digital & Innovative Financial Solutions For MSMEs Beyond Credit

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:11:03 +0300

By Eunice Kinyanjui

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Kenya's economy, contributing significantly to innovation and economic growth.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2022, MSMEs account for 33.8% of the national output and are pivotal in realizing Vision 2030 development aspirations, particularly in trade, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and financial services.

MSMEs account for over 90 percent of private sector enterprises in Kenya, playing a crucial role in the decentralized economic development model promoted by devolution that aims to achieve equitable social and economic development across the country.

As we marked World MSME Day on June 27, the significance of these enterprises was highlighted. Despite their critical role in economic growth and job creation, MSMEs face significant challenges, including high rates of business closure within the first year of operation.

Image of a fruit market in Kenya. /BUSINESS TODAY

To address these challenges and ensure sustainable growth, there is a pressing need for digital and innovative financial products and services beyond traditional credit offerings. These solutions can provide MSMEs with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

MSMEs are essential for economic development, providing employment opportunities and contributing to poverty alleviation and inclusive growth. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 underscores the importance of MSMEs in creating decent work and economic growth.

The Government’s economic Transformation initiative further highlights the potential of MSMEs to generate employment and livelihood opportunities, especially for marginalized groups.

However, despite the introduction of favourable policies over the years, a significant proportion of MSMEs continue to face financial constraints, limiting their ability to thrive and expand.

I&M Bank's initiatives to support MSMEs through flexible working capital solutions illustrate the need for financial products that go beyond traditional credit.

I&M Bank's initiative to waive transaction fees for transfers between bank accounts and mobile wallets demonstrates the potential of digital payments to reduce operational costs and deepen financial inclusion. This integration allows MSMEs to conduct seamless financial transactions, enhancing their operational efficiency and reducing the cost of doing business.

These solutions help MSMEs manage cash flows and invest in the supply chain, enhancing their operational efficiency and scalability.

By offering business insurance products and supply chain financing, banks can provide comprehensive financial support that addresses various aspects of business operations.

The introduction of unsecured digital lending products by banks in recent years has revolutionized access to finance for MSMEs.

These products, accessible via mobile apps, offer faster and more efficient loan application and renewal processes, enabling businesses to access funds quickly and conveniently. Such innovations are crucial in a digital era where speed and accessibility can significantly impact business success.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of MSMEs to external shocks. Digital insurance products and risk management solutions can provide a safety net for these businesses, protecting them from unforeseen events and ensuring business continuity.

These products are particularly beneficial for women and youth entrepreneurs who may face additional challenges in accessing traditional financial services.

Technology today plays a pivotal role in the provision of innovative financial services. Digital platforms enable financial institutions to interact with MSMEs efficiently, from application and onboarding to monitoring and fund disbursement.

This digital transformation not only strengthens the connection between financial institutions and MSMEs but also empowers businesses with digital intelligence, enhancing their decision-making capabilities.

The expansion of the financial ecosystem for MSMEs requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including financial institutions, fintech companies, government bodies, and international organizations. By fostering partnerships and leveraging the strengths of each stakeholder, we can create a more inclusive and supportive financial environment for MSMEs.

The integration of mobile money platforms with banking systems is one such collaborative effort that has revolutionized financial transactions in Kenya, providing MSMEs with greater flexibility and accessibility.

Left to Right, I&M Head, Small Businesses Eunice Kinyanjui, Chairman MSME Alliance of Kenya Benson Mutahi, Group Head Products I&M Group Evans Odhiambo, GM, Personal and Business Banking I&M Bank Shameer Patel and Group GM, Marketing and Communication I&M Group Mwaniki Wachira officially launch the NiSareKabisa product at Sarova Stanley Hotel on April 8, 2024. /I&M BANK

Leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence can provide MSMEs with valuable insights into their financial health and market trends that financial institutions can use to offer personalized financial products and advisory services, helping MSMEs make informed decisions and improve their business strategies.

The need for digital and innovative financial products and services for MSMEs must extend far beyond traditional credit products. By providing flexible working capital solutions, integrating mobile wallets, offering digital insurance and leveraging technology, financial institutions can create a conducive environment for MSMEs to thrive.

These innovations are essential for addressing the financial access gap and ensuring the sustainable growth of MSMEs, ultimately driving economic development and reducing inequality.

As we move towards a more digital and data-driven financial landscape, it is crucial to continue developing and implementing financial solutions that cater to the diverse needs of MSMEs, ensuring their resilience and success in an ever-changing economic environment.

Eunice Kinyanjui is the Head of Small Business at I&M Bank Ltd.

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Parliament On Fire; Weekly Roundup Of Reject Finance Bill Protests

Marvin Chege — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:01:14 +0300

Hello and welcome to Episode 17 of Spill The Tea where our editor-in-chief gives his account of the week-long anti-Finance Bill protests, which witnessed a historic event.

Plus Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took on the National Intelligence Service (NIS) head-on over intelligence regarding the protests. Meanwhile, his senior, President William Ruto, finally said NO to the Finance Bill 2024.

On Episode 17:

Protests: Good, Bad & Ugly [IN MY OWN EYES]
The Internet Shutdown?
Ruto Rejects Finance Bill...Finally!
Gachagua Picks Fight With NIS

Checkpoint

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Protests: Good, Bad & Ugly [IN MY OWN EYES]

An account of this writer's experience of the anti-Finance Bill protests on Tuesday, June 27:

Out of the times that my career as a digital journalist has been put on litmus tests, this will probably rank in the top 2. But let's begin from last week:

The anti-Finance Bill protests gained significant momentum on Thursday (June 20), but I was still nursing my tonsilitis which led to a few crazy fever episodes, but with medication, I managed to make it out of the ordeal and promised that I would catch the Tuesday (June 25) one...the biggest of them all.

Having read a series of tips to follow during the protests, and knowing that nearly all of Nairobi's youth would be there, I called a friend of mine because I needed company for the protests. She agreed to attend, and the days leading up to Tuesday were spent answering the big question; where are we going to meet?

D-day. I was nervous as hell. First of all, I've never been to a protest (before that day). The numerous ones I've covered digitally have all been riddled with chaos and police battles, with gunshot wounds, injuries and deaths. However, the feminist march earlier this year showed us that peaceful protests were very possible.

Protesters near Nation Centre on June 25, 2024. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

June 25 felt like a public holiday. From where I stayed, a lot of kids had remained home, despite the mid-term break for most schools set for the following day. It was a total shutdown and many of my young peers (not much in the media) had the companies they were working for grant them leaves just to attend the protests.

This meant that traffic along major roads leading to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) was non-existent. In my case, Thika Road leading to town was deserted by cars, meaning the Gen Z protesters would have to walk from their destinations to town...that also meant those in Roysambu.

A daunting task that wouldn't matter to the Gen Zs...but a few matatus operating the route opted to pick up passengers just to cash in...as long as the final stop would be Ngara, from which it is a 5-10 minute walk to the city. I ran into such matatus.

Getting there, I called my friend...she hadn't reached the city yet, and so as I waited for her arrival, I proceeded with hundreds of protesters into the city.

Hundreds of peaceful, joyous protesters, generating an atmosphere I only see in popular music concerts. I buy a whistle to join the hype, cost me just Ksh50. On my way through the Globe Roundabout fly over to the CBD...with my phone intact.

As I wait to print a flyer in one of the cyber cafes near Khoja Matatu terminus, breaking news flashes: Members of the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2024 after the Third Reading, paving the way for President Ruto to assent.

In a record TWO HOURS! Despite the uproar from Kenyans, the controversial Finance Bill sailed through again, with 195 Members of Parliament voting to pass it while 106 others rejected it. Three votes were spoiled.

As I was done printing, I thought to myself; what's the push to have it rejected at the August House?

While still searching for my friend, my eyes were slightly stinging. The effects of teargas that dissipated in the air from the morning protesters vs police were evident. The search nonetheless took me past Nation Centre, I&M building, GPO and back to I&M...where I found her, with another friend.

As we moved to the vicinity of City Hall, I went right past my former business partner who's an editorial lead for a local media house. Kweli, Nairobi ni ndogo. I stopped to greet her, ignoring the bad blood we unfortunately had two years ago.

In her soft-spoken voice "Don't go to Parliament, it's bad...". I thought she was saying it to keep me away from the action, but from the year I've worked together with her, she doesn't lie.

Following the little scare of police advancing to our location, we paused outside the 680 Hotel. I checked my X and saw the following major headlines:

The Government Threatens To Shut Down KTN News

Standard Group's KTN reported that the government threatened to shut them down. Through an announcement during their live coverage at 4:09 pm, it was announced that there were threats to shut down the media house based along Mombasa Road.

"In the wake of our detailed coverage of the ongoing protests that has been organised by Gen Z protesters, we would like to inform our viewers that we have received threats from authorities of intention to shut us down. We would like to inform the public of our commitment to defend the public interest and we shall not be cowed by any threats,” the broadcaster announced.

The media house did not detail the specific office or the individual who had threatened to shut them. However, it was noted that the threats emerged as a result of the live coverage of the Tuesday protests.

Parliament On Fire & Invasion

Those were two eventualities that no one in Kenya would ever think they'd happen.

The anti-Finance Bill protests which, at the break of dawn, seemed peaceful turned chaotic in the hours succeeding mid-day on Tuesday as a section of the protesters attempted to break into Parliament buildings.

Parliament buildings on fire as of June 25, 2024. /BBC

Members of the National Assembly, who were preparing for the third reading of the Finance Bill, were forced to scamper for safety as the situation worsened.

Video clips shared online and broadcast live on TV showed ruins within a section of Parliamentary precincts. The ruins showed broken window panes, damaged furniture and broken office fittings.

Lawmakers, some of whom were inside Parliament, sought refuge inside the building's upper floors and secure basements. In the afternoon, some of the protesters aggressively made their way to Parliament and broke into the buildings.

Deaths: The police officers guarding the buildings opened live fire on the protesters instantly killing an unidentified number of them. Reporters counted up to three bodies lying outside Parliament.

One of the clips shared by Citizen TV's Seth Olale on X showed just how the break-in took place, with police firing automatic guns to scare away the protesters who defied the danger. Like a scene...of walking dead!

According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), police officers manning the parliament buildings reportedly shot five protestors.

"Police have shot four protesters, as witnessed by KHRC, killing one. We strongly condemn the police killing. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of human rights. "Justice and accountability are imperative. We will vigorously push for police accountability," the Kenya Human Rights Commission noted in a statement.

Shortly after, a section of the Parliament buildings, broadcasted live, was on fire with smoke seen billowing. This was after some protestors managed to gain access to the buildings after overpowering the police who had barricaded the barriers.

Earlier, a police truck was set on fire outside Parliament.

Aftermath

"Occupying Parliament...that has never happened in our nation's history," another friend who joined us for the protests, revealed.

Not only was Parliament occupied, but it was on fire! From photos and videos going around, one protester was captured wearing a jacket belonging to the Speaker of the Senate (the office that is). Other photos showed protesters feasting on what was probably beforehand lunch for the MPs.

We could see smoke coming from Parliament buildings, but more of it came from the direction of the Nairobi Expressway. That's when we learnt that the dummy plane at Uhuru Park which was meant to be some kind of restaurant was also torched.

In the midst of taking memorable pictures and watching the Gen Zs smoke bangi (weed in our lingo), we got intel that the military was going to be deployed thanks to that eye-popping fiasco at Parliament...a famous government institution which isn't a protected area because it gets visitors who sit at the House regularly.

Three words; deployment of military (Kenya Defence Forces [KDF] these days)...the last time we had military on Kenyan civilian streets was during the 1982 coup. You know it's possibly bad news when the military has to be deployed to contain otherwise peaceful protests.

More intel was coming in that police would start cracking down on protesters as the timeline for the protests was fast approaching. Rumours had it that they would trap everyone still in the city and round them up...thus the message was clear...get out now!

My best bet out of the city was the same way I came in...via Thika Road. As other Kenyans marched towards their homes, I luckily caught a matatu.

Rocks strewn along Uhuru Highway as of June 25, 2024. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

The Internet Shutdown?

The other issue I was forced to deal with was the internet disruption. On one Saturday, a friend I met in Roysambu shared with me the possibility of the internet being shut down, despite an assurance by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) that this would not happen.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority has no intention whatsoever to shut down internet traffic or interfere with the quality of connectivity,” the statement read in part, adding “Such actions would be a betrayal of the Constitution as a whole, the freedom of expression in particular and our own ethos.”

Getting a story through back at home was impossible. Posting on social media was difficult...felt like my powers as a digital journalist were cut to size.

What was even worse was that the most affected platform by this outage was X...the very same platform that mobilised Gen Z to protest in the street.

Global internet observatory NetBlocks confirmed the internet outage at around 5 pm, on the same platform.

NetBlocks reported, "Confirmed: Live network data show a major disruption to internet connectivity in Kenya," sparking widespread concern and frustration among Kenyans.

The blackout coincided with escalating anti-finance bill protests, which relied heavily on online mobilisation and live streaming by media and influencers.

That Tense Ruto Speech

Meanwhile, as June 25 inched to a close, I and other journalists received an alert that President Ruto was set to address the nation following the 'chaotic' events of Tuesday.

Before that, Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale gazetted the deployment of KDF in different parts of the country to help police quell the anti-Finance Bill protests...your official confirmation of KDF being deployed on Instagram baddies with iPhones and looks that could kill...who were protesting peacefully.

By the way, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenged this in court but lost in their bid to have their deployment declared unconstitutional.

Back to the speech...and in all my years in digital media, never have I heard a speech as insensitive as that of President Ruto, who stated that "legitimate" protests against his policies had been "hijacked by a group of organised criminals," he warned his government would use all means at its disposal to prevent a repeat of the violence – "at whatever cost".

“I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators, and abettors of violence and anarchy, that these security infrastructures established to protect our republic and its sovereignty, will be deployed to secure the country and restore normalcy.”

“The government will therefore uphold its constitutional mandate to secure our nation and its development and shall treat every threat to national security and the integrity of our state as an existential danger to our Republic. Accordingly, I assure Kenyans that we shall provide a full, effective and expeditious response to today's treasonous events,” stated Ruto.

I sit stunned at the fact that the President of the Republic of Kenya might have referred to peaceful Gen Z protesters as 'criminals'. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking "Is my university crush a criminal? Maybe a freaky one..."

Ruto Rejects Finance Bill...Finally!

After a week of protests and intense uproar from members of the public regarding the Finance Bill, President Ruto finally conceded.

The Head of State, while speaking during a press briefing at State House on Wednesday, June 26, announced that he has returned the bill to Parliament for further amendments.

"Having reflected on the conversation surrounding the bill and listening to the people of Kenyan who have said they want nothing to do with the bill. I concede and therefore I will not sign the bill. It will be subsequently withdrawn and that becomes our position," he stated.

What Happens Next?

Moses Wetangula, the Speaker of the National Assembly, issued a Notification to the Members and the general public in relation to President Ruto's Memorandum which saw the rejection of the Finance Bill.

In the Notification, Wetangula on Thursday, June 27 indicated that he had referred the Memorandum to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

The notice came after the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 25 passed the Finance Bill 2024 after the third reading, after 195 Members of Parliament voted to pass it while 106 others rejected it and three votes were spoiled, paving the way for Ruto to assent it into law before Ruto's announcement that he rejected the Bill.

"Further whereas, in accordance with Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, H.E. the President, vide a Memorandum dated 26th June 2024, referred the Finance Bill, 2024 back to the National Assembly for reconsideration with reservations recommending deletion of all clauses of the Bill.

"Cognizant that, the President's Memorandum constitutes a rejection of the bill in its entirety; and that the decision is informed by the need to reflect the voice of the people of Kenya who have rejected the Bill," the statement read in part.

The notification however revealed that in accordance with Article 115(4)(a) of the Constitution, any Member desirous of negating the President's reservations or reviving any of the 69 Clauses of the Bill is required to marshal the votes of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members of the National Assembly, being 233 MPs.

Furthermore, Standing Order 42(3) provides that a Message received from the President at a time when the House is not in session is to be transmitted to every Member and reported to the House on the day the House next sits. Currently, the House is on recess until July 23, 2024.

As a result, Wetangula referred President Ruto's Memorandum of Referral in respect of the Finance Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 30 of 2024) to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

"That the Committee is required to expeditiously commence consideration of the President's Memorandum, its reservations and recommendation, and report to the House at the next regular sitting upon its resumption; and that the Clerk is directed to circulate this Notification to all Members of the National Assembly, and accordingly facilitate the Committee to undertake the exercise; and prepare the necessary Message for formal conveyance to the House upon its resumption," the statement added.

Constitutional Procedure for Returning a Bill

According to Kenya's constitution, the process of returning a bill to Parliament involves several critical steps:

After a bill is passed by Parliament, it is presented to the President for assent. The President has 14 days to either assent to the bill or refer it back to Parliament with a memorandum outlining specific concerns.

In this case, President Ruto has exercised his constitutional right to refer the Finance Bill 2024 back to Parliament. The memorandum should detail the particular clauses or provisions the President disagrees with and suggest necessary amendments.

Upon receiving the President's memorandum, Parliament must reconsider the bill. According to Article 115 of the Constitution, if the President refers a bill back, Parliament can either accept the proposed amendments or reject them.

If Parliament agrees with the President's recommendations, the bill is amended accordingly and sent back to the President for assent. However, if Parliament disagrees with the President's amendments, it can override the President's veto.

To do this, the National Assembly must pass the bill again with a two-thirds majority. If successful, the bill becomes law even without the President's assent.

Since the bill cannot be withdrawn at this stage, in his memorandum, President Ruto directed the National Assembly to delete all clauses in the bill.

Gachagua Picks Fight With NIS

As President Ruto gave his speech regarding the rejection of the Finance Bill, something else was brewing in the Office of the Deputy President.

DP Rigathi Gachagua emerged with a bombshell press conference where he demanded that National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji should resign over what he termed as laxity in disseminating intelligence to President William Ruto.

Speaking during a live press conference in Mombasa, Gachagua on Thursday, June 26 claimed that the country's intelligence system was faulty, blaming the NIS for failing to gather enough intelligence that could have been used to avert the fatal demonstrations on Tuesday.

Gachagua pinned the blame on Haji, the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for failing to gather accurate intelligence which led to Ruto receiving unactionable information.

Collage of NIS Director-General, Noordin Haji and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. /NMG.DPPS

"Noordin Haji must take responsibility for the deaths, mayhem, failing President Ruto and Kenya for not doing his job. He must do the honourable thing, not just taking responsibility but resign," Gachagua stated.

"We have a dysfunctional NIS that has exposed the government and the people of Kenya. Had the NIS briefed the president two months ago about how the people of Kenya feel about the Finance Bill 2024, so many Kenyans would not have died. There would have been no mayhem, but they slept on the job."

Gachagua further claimed that the brewing rage that led to Kenyans storming Parliament was the most evident sign of failure since such actions had never been witnessed before in Kenya's history.

He also claimed that a day before his press conference, Noordin Haji was trying to put up a team together to drive propaganda and attribute the chaos to a section of targeted leaders including him and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"Yesterday, Noordin Haji was trying to put up a team together and propaganda and attribute the chaos to leaders including myself and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. It is very clear and the President has admitted that the protests were caused by the anger of Kenyans on the Finance Bill," Gachagua added.

He also blamed the NIS for what he termed as incompetence in the briefing of security officers leading to the breach in Parliament, an event never seen before in the country's history.

"Senior officers have told me in confidence they did not have an advance intelligence brief so that they prepare in advance," stated Gachagua.

The Response

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir: These unbecoming utterances go against the solemn oath that Mr. Gachagua took. It exposes our nation, the institution of the Presidency, and our security agencies to ridicule, ethnic division, and potential exploitation by our country's enemies. At a time when the young generation has lost faith in the direction the country is moving, such remarks only serve to fuel confusion and public anger. It is regrettable that the Deputy President would casually discuss sensitive security matters in public instead of in the constitutional body - the National Security Council of which he is a member.

Northern Kenya MPs: The unfortunate utterances of the Deputy president demean and undermine the sanctity and honour of the presidency and the government he serves. Following his attacks on the Director General, Noordin Haji, and his open sabotage of President Ruto, it is untenable for Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, to continue serving as Deputy President. We therefore call on him to resign immediately. Failure to do so will compel us as members of the parliament to pursue impeachment proceedings against him.

Moses Kuria: He is in the National Security Council yet complains about the Director of the National Intelligence Service. It was enough to have a President who is a teetotaller.

News Graphic Of The Week

News graphic of over 120,000 users joining a space on X on June 26, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

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Gen Zs Have Arrived!

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:55:15 +0300

Welcome to Episode 16 of 'Spill The Tea', the second episode in Season 2 where the revolution is being led...by Gen Z!

They are fearless. They are loud. They shut down almost the whole country and left some Members of Parliament (MP) shaking, so let's just wait and see what will happen next after they ignored everything and voted in favour of the Finance Bill.

On Episode 16:

The Gen Z Maandamano
How Your MPs ACTUALLY Voted On Finance Bill 2024 [DATA]
Ruto Lied About Kenya Airways Being ‘Expensive’
Finance Bill 2024: Some Proposals Dropped But Not The WHOLE THING

Checkpoint

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The Gen Z Maandamano

Last year, the anti-government protests were led by the opposition Azimio la Umoja coalition...but this time round, those protests took a new face:

Kenya is witnessing a remarkable shift in political activism, driven largely by the fervent activism of Generation Z. This generation, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, is coming of age in a time of significant socio-economic challenges and rapid technological advancements.

Gen Z in Kenya have become increasingly vocal and active in the political discourse, driven by a unique set of factors that compel them to demand change. We picked out some of them:

A protester perching atop a traffic light in Nairobi during #REJECTFINANCEBILL2024 protests

High taxation

A critical issue that has galvanised Gen Z in Kenya, the burden of punitive taxes on individuals and businesses has been a significant point of contention.

Young professionals and entrepreneurs have found themselves overwhelmed by taxes that eat into their earnings and profits, making it difficult to save, invest, or expand their businesses.

Gen Z activists are therefore calling for tax reforms that ensure a more equitable distribution of the tax burden, encourage business growth, and make it easier for young entrepreneurs to thrive, with calls for a more favourable tax regime that could stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and ultimately generate more revenue for the government through a broader tax base

Limited employment opportunities

One of the primary catalysts for political activism among Gen Z in Kenya is the severe shortage of employment opportunities. Despite high levels of education, many young Kenyans find themselves unemployed or underemployed, which is a huge problem if you don't add the job crisis in the county.

The unemployment rate for youth is alarmingly high, with a significant portion of this demographic struggling to secure stable and meaningful employment.

Additionally, the slow growth of the formal sector has failed to keep pace with the burgeoning youth population.

This disparity has led to frustration and disillusionment among young people, who feel that their potential is being squandered.

3. High costs of doing business

Young entrepreneurs face numerous barriers, including bureaucratic red tape, exorbitant licensing fees, and inadequate access to financing whenever they think of doing business and starting new ventures.

These challenges stifle innovation and entrepreneurship, which are crucial for economic growth and job creation, and disproportionately affect young people, who often lack the financial resources and networks to navigate such complexities.

Add cost of living, corruption & governance issues, environmental issues and so on...and the country's leadership ignited a powder keg that was bound to blow up eventually.

For three days straight, Gen Zs overtook Nairobi and major towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nanyuki among others, marching with determination in opposition to the Finance Bill. A notable difference? There was NO destruction of property and NO looting of businesses.

The police, many argue, should have stayed out of this one and ensured protection, but when Nairobi Region Police Commander Adamson Bungei deemed the protests illegal, it became a battle of cops vs protesters which should not have happened. In his words:

"We have heightened our patrols within the CBD to ensure there is no disruption of businesses. Nobody applied for any license or permit to do the protests."

Teargas, water cannons, and live bullets (in some instances) were on protesters who demonstrated peacefully and enjoyed themselves while at it. Now we know who the real buzzkill was.

March to Parliament, made almost. To catch them off-guard, some made their way to the entrance of State House...no recent protest had ever got to that point.

Protesters making their way towards State House

If you liked the three days of protests, word has it that they will continue next week.

How Your MPs ACTUALLY Voted On Finance Bill 2024 [DATA]

It was initially announced that 204 MPs voted in favour of progressing the Finance Bill to the Third Reading and 115 voted against it, with zero abstentions.

Mzalendo Watch made public the identities of the lawmakers and their stance on the Finance Bill. We would later collate this data and found out that there were a few absentees when voting took place on Thursday afternoon...the protests in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and across the country led by Gen Zs notwithstanding.

From our findings using the Mzalendo Watch data, 198 MPs voted in favour of the Finance Bill while 112 voted against it, an increase from last year's voting on the Finance Bill 2023 which saw 162 MPs voting in favour of the Bill and 74 against it.

21 MPs were absent from the voting this year, a drop from 24 last year. One MP was unwell, Tubi Mohamed, though it was indicated that he communicated with Speaker Moses Wetangula.

Visual of how MPs voted on the Finance Bill

And in true, digital and Gen Z fashion, we created an interactive table where you can easily search for the name of your MP who was present for the voting.

Access it here: How Your MPs Actually Voted For Finance Bill 2024 [NUMBERS & NAMES]

Ruto Lied About Kenya Airways Being ‘Expensive’

Long ago, it used to be difficult to tell if a Head of State was lying. Then President William Ruto came in.

It was on Sunday, May 26 that President Ruto stirred conversation across different quarters following his explanation on deciding to hire a luxurious private jet to the United States (US) for his visit as compared to flying commercially with Kenya Airways (KQ).

Ruto argued that the jet presented the cheapest option compared to using commercial means, saying on his X account that;

"As a responsible steward of public resources and in keeping with my determination for us to live within our means and that I should lead from the front in so doing, the cost was less than travelling on KQ."

However, on Monday morning June 17, the Head of State jetted into the country from Switzerland using...wait for it...a Kenya Airways flight.

President William Ruto jets into Kenya from Switzerland on June 17, 2024. /PCS

The President earlier travelled to Italy and later Switzerland using what was reported to be private means before returning to Kenya.

Ruto arrived in the country aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This is one of nine aircraft in KQ's fleet and despite its smaller size compared to the Boeing 777s operated by other airlines, it is used for long-haul to ultra-long-haul trips from Kenya to various countries including the US.

Following criticism over his decision to fly with private means compared to using commercial, President Ruto on Thursday, May 30 narrated how he came to hire the luxurious plane he used to travel to the US, as he revealed that the aircraft cost taxpaying Kenyans about Ksh10 million.

"When I was told the cheapest plane was Ksh70 million, I told my office to go book Kenya Airways.

"Some friends asked me, 'how much do you want to pay?' Then I said I was not ready to pay more than Ksh20 million. They said, 'bring Ksh10 million and we will give you the plane,'" the president remarked.

Finance Bill 2024: Some Proposals Dropped But Not The WHOLE THING

The Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group on Tuesday confirmed the removal of several punitive tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024, during a press briefing at State House.

Speaking after the Group’s session, Finance Committee Chair Kimani Kuria announced that the government was able to respond to the feedback of Kenyans through the reduction of taxes.

Top of the list to be struck off is the plan to impose a 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on bread, financial services and foreign exchange transactions.

"We are all in agreement that there are two things we must do. One of them is to protect Kenyans from increased cost of living and therefore the proposed 16 percent VAT on bread has been dropped," Kuria stated.

Molo MP Kuria Kimani speaking during a Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Nairobi on June 18, 2024. /PCS

"To support again on reducing the cost of living, we're doing something about vegetable oil so that we do not make it expensive for Kenyans."

On the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Housing Levy statutory deductions, the MP noted that the deductions would be allowable to Pay As You Earn (PAYE), thus saving salaried Kenyans from paying an additional PAYE on them.

"Levies on the Housing Fund and Social Health Insurance will become income tax deductible. This means the levies will not attract income tax, putting much more money in the pockets of employees," he remarked.

Regarding the Eco Levy, Kuria clarified that it would only apply to imported finished products, thus sparing those manufactured within Kenya. He further specified that diapers and sanitary towels produced domestically would not be subject to this levy.

"Consequently, locally manufactured products, including sanitary towels, diapers, phones, computers, tyres and motorcycles, will not attract the Eco Levy," he stated.

Wait, wait, wait!

Aren't most of the goods Kenyans rely on imported? Including diapers and sanitary pads?

Azimio MPs led by Embakasi East legislator Babu Owino convened a press conference at Parliament Buildings later that day and rebuffed the development as nothing short of a Public Relations gimmick.

Babu said imposing taxes on imported goods will still hurt Kenyans since most other basic items are imported.

“Kenya as a nation depends on 80 per cent of imported goods, including toothpick, tissue paper, foodstuffs, eggs [and] chicken. We are importing all these,” the MP said.

“Therefore, as you purport to only remove the taxation on the locally produced goods but you still raise the tax on imported goods, the person who is going to bear this burden is the common mwananchi.”

According to their reasoning, the Azimio MPs contend that the move by the government is not going to lessen the cost of living for ordinary Kenyans in any way.

News Graphic Of The Week

News graphic of Kimani Ichung'wah responding to Gen Zs making MPs to report to Parliament early on June 20, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

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OORO: Hoping Enos Olik's Latest Directorial Effort Avoids Crime Drama Clichés

Ooro George — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:10:54 +0300

As a journalist covering art, culture and entertainment, I recently received a pitch from one of the many publicists in my contact list, about an upcoming Showmax crime drama show titled Jiji.

According to the publicist, the soon-to-be-released film is a fast-paced youth drama that follows the lives of four young girls in the streets of Jericho, a low-income settlement in Nairobi’s Eastlands, who are forced into a life of crime to make ends meet.

Enos Olik, the regionally-acclaimed music video director behind most of the iconic music visuals is following his directorial debut, Famous, with this new behind-the-camera project. Being still relatively new in film directorial roles, this must be another enchanting journey for him at the helm of Jiji.

So, this is how the plot goes: 18-year-old Julz will do anything to provide for her family. When her younger brother is accepted into a prestigious international school, she and three friends take another job with Jericho’s kingpin, Makali, leading to tragic consequences that change their lives forever.

Poster for the crime drama series 'Jiji'. /HANDOUT

In his own words, director Olik aims to “capture the raw and authentic experiences of life in the ghetto, Jiji delves into the nuanced lives of four young women, each with unique strengths and vulnerabilities, as they navigate a world that constantly pulls them back into crime”.

Olik adds that the intense emotional and moral conflicts, combined with the dynamic setting of Eastlands, promise a gripping and heartfelt narrative that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Crime dramas are known for being full of suspense and intrigue, but can also be prone to recurrent cliches. Crime shows have been and continue to be a popular genre, with something for every viewer available, including thriller crimes, crime sitcoms, comedy-drama, sci-fi crime, crime mystery, and crime drama.

I've watched a lot of single movies and series with common crime tropes that are identifiers of the genre: filming techniques, character arcs, motifs, relationships, criminals, themes, locations, and story arcs. Sometimes the shows break the mould, providing a new take, and expanding the genre, and other times, they stick to what viewers know.

Many crime shows have a main detective who is paired with a consultant through curious circumstances.

They are the ones who often break the rules because they aren't held to the regulations police must follow. They connect to the suspects and have a unique way of investigating. They form a strong bond with their partner.

Examples include psychic Patrick Jane from The Mentalist (2008), crime author Richard Castle from Castle (2009), Dr Mark Sloan from Diagnosis Murder (1993), club owner and demon Lucifer in Lucifer (2016), and mathematician Charlie in Numb3rs (2005).

Locally, we have seen shows like Nairobi Half Life, Pepeta, Kina, and Cobra Squad contributing to the crime drama scene. While these shows have their unique elements, the genre’s high popularity calls for more originality from Kenyan filmmakers.

There is nothing whatsoever wrong with most of these examples. But given the very high popularity of the genre, it would be nice if Kenyan film writers and directors could be more original more often, instead of similar themes and situations cropping up repeatedly. It can be done.

Filmmakers are finding it hard to balance the tried and true with the new, interesting and exciting. While appreciating that staple characters are inevitable, I don’t wish to watch again about the bitchy teenage girl or boy; the sleazy male boss; the alcoholic, cold society woman; the garrulous neighbour; prematurely adult child; hard-as-nails but secretly sensitive editor; snobbish matriarch; arrogant "dude" that the heroine nevertheless falls for; the wisecracking detective; and the town crazy.

I have come across them from time to time, of course, and not just in crime shows. However, there are certainly plenty of over-used situations and characters in the crime films I have binged on, and I hope Enos Olik's latest forthcoming project in the pipeline will be an exception, with an out-of-this-world plot twist. Fingers crossed!

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on opinion@viraltea.co.ke

Still of Fridah Mumbe and Nungari Kiore in the crime drama series 'Jiji'. /HANDOUT

Viral Tea, TUKO.co.ke Unite To Empower Journalism Students On Digital Disruption

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:03:32 +0300

Viral Tea, Kenya's fastest-growing news website in the 2020s, recently joined forces with TUKO.co.ke, Kenya's number 1 News and Entertainment website, to host a masterclass at the United States International University-Africa (USIU) targeting aspiring journalists eager to navigate the era of digital disruption.

The masterclass was courtesy of TUKO.co.ke and was dubbed TUKO Educate Masterclass, which was also held at the Multimedia University of Kenya on April 7, 2024.

Speaking at the session on Wednesday, March 27, Viral Tea's founder and editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege, highlighted the importance of taking charge of your destiny.

Chege, who began the digital native media house in 2021, urged students to create content rather than wait for the perfect job, adding that the real movers and shakers in the industry of today are the ones who take the initiative and create their paths.

Marvin Chege (first-row centre) of Viral Tea and Chris Oyier of TUKO.co.ke (behind him) pose for a photo with students and lecturers after the TUKO Educate masterclass at USIU-Africa on April 27, 2024. /UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA

"Don't wait for opportunities to come knocking; create your own," he told the curious journalism students.

"The future belongs to those willing to roll their sleeves and make things happen. You don’t have to be employed; you can also create opportunities for other journalists to be employed.”

The sessions were led by Jacob Otieno, the Managing Editor, and Chris Oyier, the Social Media Manager at TUKO.co.ke, sessions which showcased real-world experience, sharing wisdom on navigating the media industry's ever-shifting atmosphere and drawing valuable lessons from personal experiences.

Otieno, a seasoned voice in Kenyan media, painted a vivid picture of the digital revolution sweeping through the industry. His message was clear: if you want to stand out, start before you’re ready.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of showcasing your work and continuously learning new skills. With the emergence of new content formats, such as reels and short, bite-sized articles, he urged students to embrace versatility to stay ahead of the curve.

"In today's media landscape, adaptability is non-negotiable. You've got to be willing to evolve with the times, constantly honing your craft and exploring new avenues for storytelling. While journalism can be saturated as a career, the opportunities in digital media are endless," he shared.

Oyier, a social media guru of TUKO.co.ke, shared his secrets for conquering social media as a digital media brand that engages millions of Kenyans daily, something he attributed to practice.

He emphasized the need for consistent learning and staying ahead of the curve, highlighting the importance of using technology and AI to upscale individual skills while maintaining ethical journalism.

"Building a social media brand isn't just about being popular; it's about being responsible. Embrace technology, but always remember the ethical principles that underpin journalism.

"Even on social media, journalists are expected to maintain the highest journalistic standards because a single mistake such as posting unverified information, could lead to tough legal actions."

Chege, Otieno and Oyier were also joined by another media industry veteran, David Indeje in offering valuable advice to eager students, with Indeje completing the discussion with some practical tips for aspiring journalists.

He encouraged students to get involved with media associations and familiarise themselves with media laws.

Indeje also highlighted the importance of internships and accreditation, urging students to take advantage of every opportunity to hone their skills and build their portfolios.

"Success in the media industry isn't just about talent; it's about aligning yourself with the correct media associations that will offer you a competitive advantage and expose you to the right opportunities you need to grow," he stated.

Jacob Otieno, TUKO.co.ke's Managing Editor, during the TUKO Educate masterclass at Multimedia University (MMU). /HANDOUT

OORO: Casting Disabled Talent is a Key Facet of Diversity Worth Embracing

Ooro George — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:38:10 +0300

"The deaf community, the Coda community, the disabled community. This is our moment.”

These were the words of Troy Kotsur after winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022. Kotsur won the coveted accolade for his role as fisherman Frank Rossi in ‘Coda’.

The film’s title is a titular acronym that stands for "child of deaf adults", is a heart-warming coming-of-age comedy-drama about a teenage girl navigating her way through high school, life, and growing up as the only hearing member of a deaf family.

He became only the second deaf actor to win an Oscar, after Marlee Matlin’s best actress award for ‘Children of a Lesser God’ in 1987.

Since its debut, it racked up critical global acclaim and a slew of awards. The film, which was directed by Sian Heder, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Picture – it won all three. Kotsur became the first male deaf actor to win an Oscar.

Actor Troy Kotsur holding his Oscars trophy. /IMDB

Upon accepting his Supporting Actor trophy from actress Youn Yuh-jung, he signed a funny and heartfelt speech.

"This is dedicated to the deaf community, the CODA community and the disabled community. This is our moment," he concluded.

The film also made history at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards earlier the same year, taking home the prizes for Outstanding Cast and Actor in a Supporting Role for Kotsur. It broke ground as the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to receive the award and Kotsur became the first deaf actor to be nominated for and win an acting SAG.

"You are all our peers,” Matlin signed for the cast's acceptance speech then. “We, deaf actors, have come a long way.”

A few weeks later, ‘CODA’ made history again at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) Awards in London, where Kotsur once more became the first deaf actor to win a BAFTA when he bagged the Best Supporting Actor gong.

Accurate depictions are, of course, most reliably achieved by casting disabled actors in the first place. A tendency still exists industry-wide to cast able-bodied actors in disability roles, and in addition to lacking authenticity, this diminishes the unique identity and physicality that accompanies being a disabled person.

So-called “cropping-up” can bring actors like Eddie Redmayne critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the 2014 film ‘The Theory of Everything’ but also prevents disabled actors from building any kind of profile or name value.

‘Sungura’, a short Kenyan film follows a disabled woman grappling with stigma as she goes through the journey of discovery to figure out her sexuality as a young, vibrant woman.

Florence Njeri, the actress who plays the role of “Kemunto”, the main character of the film, is not a wheelchair user like the role she portrays but uses a prosthetic leg that helps her get around.

“When I saw the advert for the Sungura auditions I decided to try it out because it’s so rare to see a film trying to incorporate someone with a disability," she said.

A wheelchair user watching this film is included and represented by the film. Specific aspects of the life of a disabled person are explored; these include inaccessibility to physical spaces, social exclusion, ableism, and assumptions of asexuality under having a disability.

Of course, there are great examples of incidental, non-defining disability depiction as well, such as ‘Lisilojulikana’ (Unknown), a 70-minute dramatic film designed to not only educate but to also inspire and drive attitudinal change towards children with cerebral palsy. It tells the story of Grace, played by 15-year-old Vanessa, who has cerebral palsy herself and is severely physically disabled.

The film was chosen as the best medium to convey this message for several reasons: it’s deadpan and an authoritative depiction of fear and superstition attached to children with cerebral palsy in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa.

In 2019, many leading lights in Hollywood, including Bryan Cranston, Danny DeVito, Edward Norton and Ruth Madeley signed an open letter to executives demanding they “embrace disability as a key facet of diversity.”

The letter further stated, “In the history of the Academy Awards, among the 61 Oscar nominees and 27 winners playing characters with a disability, only two were authentically portrayed by an actor with disability.”

Disabled actors, media professionals and expert contributors have always been grossly underrepresented in the film and TV industry.

In 2020, in what the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) called "the biggest financial investment to on-air inclusion in the industry,” the corporation announced that it was allocating £100 million to the production of “diverse and inclusive content.”

The all-around diversity investment, described as a “big leap” by Director-General Tony Hall, runs up to 2024 and is supplemented by a commitment to ensuring that 20% of off-screen talent comes from under-represented groups.

Cast of the Kenyan short film, 'Sungura'. /KENYAN VIBE

Ultimately, Kenya’s film and TV industry requires a reboot and a shift of mindset when it comes to employing disabled talent both onscreen and behind the scenes.

By telling stories people can relate to, drama can attract large audiences, be easily understood regardless of literacy or education, and is very effective at evoking empathy and inspiring discussion.

Perhaps it will require more effort from industry luminaries and the Kenyan government, to convince local filmmakers to cast more disabled talent to tell their own stories, but without the right level of input from disabled members of the national assembly, government dignitaries, media and corporate executives, such stories will never be as credible or pure as they otherwise might have been.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on X @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

LUESBY: Dangers Of Farmers' Protests In Europe On Kenya Trade

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:09:28 +0300

By Jenny Luesby

As farmers protest across Europe, blockading cities, smashing through police barricades, and dumping manure, European politicians are falling over themselves to promise increased trade barriers against African food and agriculture imports.

But how is it that locking out Kenyan horticulture, South African oranges and Tanzanian sunflower seeds has become such a burning issue for Africa’s biggest agricultural trading partner? The answer lies in pest control.

When the European Union launched its Green Deal climate action plan in 2019, with the noble aim of reducing the emissions driving climate change, it threw in an extra green target of phasing out the use of pesticides.

It seemed a sweet political move for the European Commission at the time, following countless distorted campaigns from environmentalists exploiting the membership and revenue power of claiming food and drink contamination and environmental catastrophe.

A Kisii farmer tending to his crops. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY

Facts weren’t a necessity in this: the point was scary headlines. Just one example, now impacting most of Africa, was claims that one of the world’s newest and cleanest insecticides was wiping out bees, essential to the pollination of human food. It made a powerful narrative, creating images of a future world devoid of pollinated fruits.

It just didn’t happen to be true. The pesticides don’t affect bees and the bee population is rising rapidly everywhere, including in nations still using the targeted pest controls. But the bee campaign, and many others claiming far-fetched health and environmental risks, had, by then, driven public opinion and pseudo-science into a frenzy of opposition to pesticides

The timing couldn’t have been worse, as climate change began inexorably increasing the range and volume of plant pests and diseases.

Thus, as Europe rolled out ever more bans of pesticides deemed low risk elsewhere, its agricultural production began stagnating and declining. It gave farmers rounds of compensation, rising to now half their income. But, as the pest losses mounted, European producers began protesting against ‘unfair’ competition from imports still allowed to use pest protection, very often from Africa.

This saw Europe turn to the mission of enforcing its extra pesticide ‘precautions’ in Africa too. It began by moving most of the Maximum Residue Levels for these risk-approved pesticides to a technical zero. This triggered a World Trade Organisation dispute that is still running, driven by the US and India, but including multiple African nations, decrying the effective pesticide bans as trade barriers.

The EU then additionally introduced new lists of quarantine pests, most of which required the banned pesticides to control.

African agricultural exporters were caught in an effective pincer movement, locked out by pests they could no longer control.

In West Africa, the impact on the cocoa sector, which alone accounts for over a third of all African agricultural exports to the EU, has been so severe, that cocoa prices have now soared. Coffee has also been hurt, while, in Southern Africa, the fruit and nut industries, which account for another 14 per cent of Africa’s total agricultural exports to the EU, are hanging on a thread.

Last year, Europe demanded South Africa chill all oranges for export at below 2 degrees Celsius for 20 days before shipping instead of using pest protection, triggering industry warnings of a 20 per cent fall in exports and thousands of job losses.

But, in Kenya, efforts to maintain flower, fruit and vegetable exports to the EU have triggered even greater extremes, with the local banning of pesticides targeted by Europe drawing warnings from the CEO of the Kenya Fresh Produce Consortium of a $1bn food production loss per year. More recent estimates show the country will move into a food crisis in 2025 as a result.

Africans cannot survive if maize is left for the Fall ArmyWorm that destroys up to 70 per cent of crops, or cocoa is given up to mirids that also damage over 70 per cent of wheat to destroyed from leaf rust, and coffee to coffee berry borer.

African governments are juggling between limiting their export collapse - to maintain import funds without which all development slows - and ensuring food production and food security at home.

It is a dire trade-off - being driven by a policy so divisive in Europe that the European Parliament, last October, voted against a new bill to further halve its own pesticide use, while EU President Ursula von der Leyen has said pesticide withdrawals have now become “a symbol of polarization” for the EU

In Africa, they are creating poverty, hunger and reversed development, and now the solution to Europe’s newest political protests over them is to hit Africa harder still.

Jenny Luesby is a development consultant specialising in climate change and the publisher of FarmBizAfrica.com

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

President William Ruto tours the Galana-Kulalu project on January 3, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

OORO: Vogue's Winter 2024 Cover Falls Short in Celebrating Black Excellence

Ooro George — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:10:15 +0300

In June 2020, Anna Wintour, the longtime editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, admitted to making mistakes and publishing intolerant content, as well as not doing enough to promote black staff and designers at the fashion publication.

In a company-wide internal memo written amid global unrest and protests sparked by the infamous killing of George Floyd, Wintour apologized to staff at the magazine for “publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant”.

She acknowledged there were too few employees of color, and took full responsibility for mistakes made during her 32-year tenure.

“I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators.

"We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes.” she asserted.

Usher wears a Dolce & Gabbana jacket and pants, Bally boots, Kwiat, and David Yurman jewellery. Murphy wears an Altuzarra jacket, top, and skirt, and Schiaparelli shoes. /VOGUE

Fast Forward to January 2024, barely three years after Wintour’s apology, the supposed fashion-forward and approachable legacy magazine seems to have dropped the ball if it wasn’t par for the course.

The publication recently unveiled its 2024 winter digital issue featuring Usher Raymond, a globally acclaimed dancer and musician, as the cover star.

The edition quickly drew backlash for relegating the singer – who recently performed at the Super Bowl halftime show – to the corner behind an all-white youth football team and a little-known white supermodel by the name of Carolyn Murphy.

Fans across the globe expressed their displeasure with the magazine cover. They wondered why Usher, a record-breaking multiple award-winning recording and performing artist, was barely visible on his magazine cover in a pullout highlighting his moment.

They criticized Vogue for not giving Usher a solo cover and making him share the spotlight with seemingly ‘random people’.The model is also photographed alongside Usher in many of the images included in the online Vogue cover story.

Taking to Facebook, one user named Karen Marie Jenkins wrote: “This looks like little league football and I don't know why the model is there and Usher is lost in the crowd. Another case of the magazine not letting folks shine on their own merit….instead watering it down. Tired of Vogue.”

Another Facebooker named Malcolm King Harris ranted by saying “Vogue literally went out of their way to say - ‘USHER is not important enough to be on our cover alone…’ Sadly, THEY ARE WRONG!!! He is as relevant today than former supermodel Carolyn Murphy could ever be in 2024!!! PERIOD!!!”

The latest irksome magazine cover is just one of many instances in which the highly-esteemed publication, which is famously nicknamed the world’s ‘fashion bible’, frames black men in a disrespectful light.

In 2008, the first Black man featured on the cover was LeBron James alongside supermodel Gisele Bündchen. The issue’s theme of “body” justified the pairing of a superstar athlete and a top model.

However, this caused an uproar. Audiences rightfully poked holes in the similarities of the cover – photographed by Annie Lebowitz. Anni – to a distasteful World War Two poster depicting a German soldier as an ape kidnapping a white woman.

The poster uses the imagery of King Kong holding Fay Ray to dehumanize Germans. It was effective as propaganda because it tapped into the allegory for racist white fears of Black and Native people.

Six years later, the magazine was on the receiving end again after bringing on its second Black man on its cover, the then-married celebrity couple, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in 2014.

While it was Kardashian who got a lot of heat for this cover, critics felt she was undeserving and too “trashy” for the editorial. While unfair to her, it did mark a burgeoning pattern by Vogue of putting a fair-skinned white or white-appearing woman next to a Black man as the standard for a Vogue shoot.

“It is no secret that the media industry is experiencing an unprecedented level of disruption. This has upended legacy business models but has also created a wave of new opportunities. To successfully navigate this changing media landscape, the industry needs bold ideas and innovative strategies brought to life by broad and inclusive talent cultures.” Justin B. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg Media Group, opines in a piece published on Bloomberg.com.

“Media organizations must be open to change and uncertainty, and be comfortable in a place where we’re constantly incorporating new perspectives and challenging the status quo. I see this as our primary responsibility and the only way for our business to continue to be successful in the future,” he writes.

The Front Cover Image Matters a lot in Journalism

You may be wondering why I have taken my time to focus on this issue of Vogue magazine's front cover photos. You see, front covers on newspaper and magazine pages greatly stimulate public interest in current events and human-angle stories by attracting and retaining their attention.

A photograph is an instrument of communication. In journalism parlance, we say it tells the story. A photo album tells a story. When sequentially arranged, it promotes a historical picture as good as literature does.

In assessing a leader’s ability, Smith advises that we have to look not only at what they do but how they do it.

Usher wears an Ami tank top. Alexander McQueen pants. Murphy wears a Gucci dress. /VOGUE

“Do they lead from the front? Do they roll up their sleeves? Do they model the type of behaviour essential to creating a work culture that is not just successful and efficient, but also inclusive and tolerant, where respect and selflessness are valued?”

“Leaders have to do this work day in and day out. It’s not enough to talk about what you want the company to be — you must represent it.” he laments.

We also know that a story, no matter the vitality it has, needs a photograph to enhance its strength. Photographs are visual magnets and they arrest the attention of readers.

In modern-day journalism, glossy pictures and even black-and-white pictures of celebrities thrill readers. For these reasons, we say that front cover pictures are entry points to a publication. Readers might first see the loud headlines, but from literature, readers first cast a glance at the picture before continuing with grey matter.

With February being a Black History Month in the US, Vogue and its parent company, Conde Nast, ought to have done better with their winter issue’s front page cover photo.

Usher’s exceptional contribution to modern-day pop culture has enriched the industry through his powerful lyricism, diverse creativity and groundbreaking performances. His success is a sheer depiction of the creativity of Black professionals in the media and arts not only entertains but also challenges societal norms, fostering inclusivity and inspiring future generations.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on Twitter @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

OORO: Will Nameless & Wahu Release Huge New Album In 2024?

Ooro George — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:50:38 +0300

By Ooro George

The Kenyan music industry has indeed grown in leaps and bounds over the last 25 years.

With more and more music being released every single day, it’s a near-impossible task to keep track of everything that’s coming. From gengetone to afro-pop to RnB to Hip Hop, the choices made available feel endless – not to mention vinyl, re-releases and collectable editions.

Musically, the last three years were the best to time being alive- they were all about album releases. We had multiple hit-making Kenyan artistes like Nyashinski, H_art The Band, Avril, Sauti Sol and Femi One releasing their critically-acclaimed studio albums.

Singer Bahati raised eyebrows with a change in musical style, officially ditching gospel music by releasing a contemporary album with a suggestive album cover in which he and a video model pose in a seductive embrace.

Rapper Nyashinski. /FILE

But we’re not done yet, 2024 has some huge unannounced dates for Kenya’s musical diary with releases that we can’t wait to hear.

Of the yet-to-be-launched musical projects, I’ve picked out The MZs album, Nameless and Wahu's joint release that could/should/probably won’t but hopefully will materialize. Fingers crossed!

It’s hard to recall the last time a Kenyan artist generated so much expectation for an album. Quite a lot has changed in the world since Nameless last released an album, with ‘On Fire’, the debut album that catapulted him to stardom, arriving in what now feels like the positively ancient times of 2004.

This is by far the longest shot, but fans have been desperate for King Monski to reclaim his throne. It’s been exactly 20 years since ‘On Fire’, and the speculation that something new is in the works has been pretty much constant ever since his disclosure of project B4iR back in 2014.

It could well have been an indication that a new album was imminent, but all we’ve had has been a handful of singles like ‘African Beauty’, ‘Butterfly’, ‘Letigo’, ‘Inspire’, ‘Voloyum’, ‘Pah’, and airy quotes from those close to the Nairobi-bred crooner that the project might appear soon. Sigh.

As a singing couple, where do you go after being together for a quarter of a century and churning out tens of chart-topping MTV Award-scooping singles? For the Mathengez (Nameless and Wahu), the answer is backwards.

In 2021, the celebrity couple announced they would be co-producing their soon-to-be-released ‘Mz’ album short for Mathengez, not only to signify their two-decade respective music careers but also weave the colourful story of love and relationships.

It will also include the ups and downs, successes and failures, and happy and sad moments. The couple will also share their relationship journey through this album as they tell the story behind the music.

According to the husband-and-wife entertainers, the MZ Album Project carries a variety of sounds and topics and the team will strive to release a single every month or so, as they build up to release the full album. Regardless of whether you love them or loathe them, it's hard to deny their influence stretches far and wide.

Now, it looks like the joint album might finally be on the horizon, with a release in the second half of 2024 almost certain.

'Feeling’, a three-minute love ballad written by up-and-coming artist Brandon Israel, Birech, and produced by acclaimed superstar producer Cedo -- is among the lead singles off the upcoming album that is set to pack in 12 tracks.

With the duo’s ability to wrap dense lyricism around their multifaceted instrumentals, it certainly seems like this will be a collection of songs with plenty to say.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on Twitter @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

Musician Nameless at Vybez Radio studios on September 29, 2022. /INSTAGRAM.NAMELESS KENYA

Viral Tea Among Top 20 News Websites In Kenya- Feedspot Ranking

admin — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:03:52 +0300

Viral Tea, Kenya's fastest-growing news website since the 2020s, achieved another significant milestone in its three-year existence by being ranked among Feedspot's top 20 news blogs and websites in Kenyan politics.

The Founder of Feedspot, Anuj Agarwal in an email addressed to Viral Tea personally congratulated the 'Viral Team' for their outstanding contribution to next-generation online journalism amidst the rise of the Generation Z era.

"I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Viral Tea Ke has been selected by our panellists as one of the Top 25 Kenya Politics Blogs on the web," wrote Anuj in part.

"I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 25 Kenya Politics Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to have you as part of this!

A graphic of Viral Tea Ke website. /VIRAL TEA KE

Access here: 20 Best Kenya Politics Blogs and Websites

The best Kenya Politics blogs, according to Feedspot, feature thousands of blogs on the web and are ranked by traffic, social media followers & freshness.

Feedspot curates content from various websites and podcasts. It boasts an impressive collection of over 250,000 websites and podcasts listed on its site.

With more than 120 million users visiting Feedspot lists and over 30 million users directed to publishers’ websites from these lists, it has become a reliable source for discovering quality content on the web.

Rankings are based on traffic, relevancy, posting frequency, social media followers, engagement, domain authority, site age and Alexa web traffic rankings.

Though ranked 14th, Viral Tea enjoys great company among other major Kenyan news websites such as NTV, Nation, TUKO.co.ke, Kenyans.co.ke, Citizen Digital, People Daily, and Pulse Kenya among others which featured in the top 20 list.

Demographics from Google Analytics and Similarweb among others indicate that Viral Tea is among the most-preferred news websites among users aged 18-39 who consume content in real-time, without having to wait for prime-time news bulletins.

In September 2023, Viral Tea became the first digital native media house in Kenya to have a segment dedicated exclusively to aviation, and from this, it has broken major aviation news as well as provided evergreen content regarding how aircraft systems work, and how helicopters are used during events among others, particularly those that have caught the eye of Kenyans.

Our articles have moreover been published in easy-to-understand language and details derived from research via respected aviation news websites and the internet and catchy enough for our readers to consume as much information as possible and be 'in-the-know' about aeroplanes, or as we like to call it, to #NeverMissAStory.

Projects such as Spill The Tea weekly newsletter available exclusively on LinkedIn and collaborative storytelling projects such as the #KenyaWomenSeries affirmed the digital media house's true testament to deliver high-value content that is creative enough to maintain the loyalty of its current fans and attract new followers.

In 2023, Viral Tea was ranked second-best among 14 online media platforms nominated for the awards in the 'Online Media of The Year' category during the Pride of Kenya Awards (POKA).

"Coming second in itself is still a major milestone for us, even though we were unable to secure victory. It just shows how Kenyans are now recognising the hard work and innovation that we've put in to get Viral Tea to where it is now, a very fast-growing digital native media house in the three-year-old decade," commented Viral Tea's founder and editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege on the achievement.

Viral Tea was ranked second in the Pride Of Kenya Awards. /PRIDE OF KENYA AWARDS

OORO: Story Of Kenya's First News Website & Tough Times For Digital Media

Ooro George — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:10:08 +0300

Niaje, a pioneer digital media website in Kenya was founded by David Mugo in 2006. It published content in the entertainment, lifestyle and sports bits.

Mugo had built Niaje into a traffic juggernaut by being among the first to see the rising social web. The site made a buzz in 2013 as the main photography partner in almost all major entertainment events in Nairobi, including events sponsored by mainstream media like Nation Media Group, capturing moments of partygoers and publishing them on their social media pages.

In 2013, Niaje scooped two gongs at the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) Awards—The Best Entertainment Blog and The Overall Best Blog in 2013.

In 2014, Niaje won the Webfluential African Blog of the Year Award. Niaje also won the 2017 Entertainment Blog of the Year award at the BAKE Awards 2017.

A logo of the Niaje news website. /MDUNDO AFRICA

Until its closure, Niaje was the internet’s newsroom. The viral-baiting, social-media-age-defining news blog, pioneered a business model—and a journalistic ethos—that embodied the digital media dream.

The potential math of converting clicks into cash that would fund hard-hitting investigative journalism felt like the ultimate proof of concept for content-making in that fertile, social media-centric era. It was an opportunity to work in a kind of social compact that transcended the terms of conventional employment.

Tough Times For Digital Media Houses Right Now

“The darling digital upstarts of the 2010s invested heavily in journalism, racking up scoops and awards, but unlike The New York Times, weren’t built to weather industry upheaval,” Jill Abramson, former executive editor of The New York Times, writes in her opinion piece published by Vanity Fair magazine.

This was in the wake of breaking news that BuzzFeed News – a plucky, dossier-publishing American internet media and news company – that shaped public conversion on everything from celebrity gossip-gathering and scandal-mongering to investigative pieces, would soon cease publication.

According to Jonah Peretti, co-founder and CEO of the Pulitzer Prize–winning online news site, the decision to fold was informed by “a fading SPAC market that yielded less capital,” a “decelerating digital advertising market,” and “ongoing audience and platform shifts,” among other reasons. The announcement coincided with broader workforce reductions, involving a 15 per cent cut in jobs “across nearly every division.”

I have written before about how technological disruption in the 2010s made news blogs and websites, in retrospect, the ultimate fantasy of the digital sphere, leaving traditional media organizations clutching for the last straw.

Bloggers, Digital Journalists Taking Over

Most bloggers and vloggers, by dint of their professionalized mastery of virality, have become online brands unto themselves—at least among the media-obsessed set. Because of their role as canaries in the digital media coal mine; the abrupt shuttering of major internet newsrooms like BuzzFeed News and Vice, is likely the clearest-signalled end to the most decorated era of the internet thus far.

While a handful of bloggers and digital media practitioners like Samwel Majani of Ghafla, Marvin Chege (founder & editor-in-chief, Viral Tea), Mario Armando of Perez Hilton, Sandra Rose, Millard Ayo, Linda Ikeji of Linda Ikeji’s blog and Eve Mungai have successfully expanded from quirky offshoots of sub-domain sites to establishing sprawling digital media enterprises with incredible award-winning news features that challenged the dominance of mainstay media institutions, others found themselves lost along the way, leading to either sell-offs, layoffs or complete closures due to an inability to figure out how to turn their platforms into sustainable businesses.

Digital Media Woes In Kenya

Media personality-cum-politican, Jalang’o, reportedly fired his staff whom he entrusted to run his nationally-acclaimed YouTube channel, Jalang’o TV, after he embarked on a political journey.

The former radio presenter later introduced a new set of employees and revealed that the former presenters ended up partying instead of working hard, despite the platform already having a reputable name.

"The boys started playing around yet the channel needed to generate money. The channel currently generates a mediocre income yet it used to make millions," he said.

Facebook, X & Other Social Media Platforms Dumping News Websites

As Facebook and other tech platforms evolved, they became like difficult landlords who would often withhold support.

They simply stopped distributing links to websites. Relying on advertising to sustain bloggers, vloggers and other content creators started seeming less workable as a solution over time.

This is a sheer depiction of betrayal that the realities of digital media have laid bare: For every blogger and vlogger who’s dedicated themselves to news and content creation of the place synonymous with the internet’s optimistic spirit of experimentation comes the realization that such experiments require a great degree of gambling with invested capital with minimal returns.

The folding of prominent digital news sites like BuzzFeed News, Vice, Niaje, and Hivisasa signals a vast shift in digital media that those of us who live inside it are feeling intensely right now, the end of one era and the beginning of another.

A person browsing the internet on his phone. /CONTEXT NEWS

Those of us lucky enough to be re-building or building from scratch in this new phase have to realize that the old way of thinking about news – based on text on the World Wide Web and distributed primarily on social media – is long gone.

But the demand to understand what’s happening in the world – who, when, where, why and how – is still high.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on Twitter @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

OORO: Bobi Wine's Potential Oscar Win Will Offer Reprieve for Local and Global Supporters

Ooro George — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:04:03 +0300

“A grave crisis in the education sector. In almost every district of Uganda, we have children studying under trees. After 36 years of a corrupt, inept regime! What matters to Museveni and his decadent regime is regime perpetuation- nothing else. This is why #WeAreRemovingADictator”

This is a tweet from January 20, 2022, by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine. He was replying to a post by Daily Monitor newspaper that reported primary school pupils in Eastern Uganda studying under trees due to a shortage of classrooms.

Uganda is regarded as the pearl of Africa because of its abundant biodiversity, colour, profusion, brilliant life and serene beauty, all set against the backdrop of a nation decimated by an iron-fisted inept regime and economic downturn.

When he came to power in 1986, President Yoweri Museveni promised to uplift women and spearheaded the enactment of a constitution that would guarantee equality for all Ugandans.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine in Poland on June 22, 2023. /BOBI WINE

Then, he recognised that there was no such thing as a pure African culture. That same African culture he is now "protecting" displaced women from their land, killing innocent children for having disabilities and mutilating women and children's genitalia.

Museveni acknowledged that it was time for Africa to look colonialism in the eye, count her losses and move on. Early in his regime, there was a sexual revolution, the beginning of genuine recovery from Idi Amin's era, when women were not allowed to wear miniskirts and intolerance reigned.

But like most revolutionaries, he lost focus and the benefits of the revolution started to matter less. Museveni clenched his fists and reinforced intolerance from the post-colonial era.

On January 15, 2024, the now world-famous modern-day Uganda liberation champion -- delivered a compelling address that encapsulated a year marked by adversity and resilience -- shedding light on the challenges faced by the opposition in Uganda.

The musician-cum-politician commenced his speech with a symbolic mic check, leading into a reflection on the turbulent events of the past year, 2023. He drew attention to the alleged misappropriation of relief items in Karamoja by top government officials, emphasizing the dire consequences faced by the region’s impoverished population.

With a solemn tone, Bobi Wine recounted the wave of abductions and arbitrary arrests, detailing the unjust imprisonment of his colleagues, Hon. Ssewanyana and Hon. Ssegirinya, for over 500 days without a fair trial.

He then transitioned to the alleged orchestrated attacks on opposition leaders, including himself, expressing concern over a series of shootings that he believes may be a precursor to a government-led crackdown.

He emphasized the significance of upholding Article 3 of the Constitution and urged citizens to mobilize against what he termed “dictation.” His address not only encapsulated the ongoing struggles faced by anti-Museveni politicians but also depicted a picture of a resilient movement striving for justice and democratic values in the face of adversity.

Amidst these challenges, Bobi Wine highlighted the international acclaim received for the documentary, “The People’s President,” which scooped a global cinema gong in New York and is now in contention for an Oscar award at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

The ceremony which will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood will be televised live on America Broadcasting Corporation and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

For Wine, clinching an Oscar accolade would not only mobilize support within the pearl of Africa but also stimulate greater global solidarity for his cause. It would remind the world that the struggle for democracy and human rights in Uganda is part of a larger global movement towards justice and equality.

For local supporters in Uganda, seeing one of their own stand on the biggest artistic stage to receive such a coveted prize, will be incredibly awe-inspiring and empowering.

It could reignite hope and determination within the opposition movement, encouraging them to press on with their fight for freedom and justice despite the challenges they encounter.

Bobi Wine and Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino during a past Citizen TV interview. /FILE

From his acceptance speech to interviews and media appearances, a win will offer him an unprecedented opportunity to advocate for change – allowing him to amplify his message, rally international support, and pressure the rigid-minded President Museveni to address the issues raised in the documentary.

Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: oorojoj@gmail.com and on Twitter @OoroGeorge

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

Viral Tea Ranked Among Leading Digital Media Houses In Pride of Kenya Awards

Marvin Chege — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 14:08:59 +0300

For the first time since launching in February 2021, Viral Tea has been recognised among the top three digital media houses in Kenya in the Pride of Kenya Awards (POKA).

The 2023 edition ranked one of Kenya's fastest-growing and most innovative digital native media houses second among 14 online media platforms nominated for the awards in the 'Online Media of The Year' category.

Furthermore, POKA revealed that Viral Tea garnered 198 votes, behind Wueeh TV which secured victory with 471 votes in a hotly-contested race.

Reflecting on the achievement, Viral Tea's founder and editor-in-chief, Marvin Chege revealed that the milestone feat was achieved thanks to unwavering support from its loyal readers and fans.

Viral Tea was ranked second in the Pride Of Kenya Awards. /PRIDE OF KENYA AWARDS

"The recognition by Pride of Kenya Awards (POKA) serves as a true testament to how far we have come since 2021. We are very grateful for everyone who came out to support us throughout the nomination," he said.

Chege underscored the importance of the achievement, expressing hope that it may open more opportunities for collaborations, partnerships and possibly opportunities for upcoming journalists with a nose for news, especially on social media.

"Hopefully the runner-up finish kicks off a special 2024 and beyond for us as we continue to explore, innovate, understand and adjust to the demands of the digital media landscape.

"We aim to give more Generation Zs a voice after being underrepresented for years and adapt to their needs in terms of news and entertainment consumption. Who knows, this might be the year that we start to challenge the big boys in Kenya's digital media space," he added.

The awards ceremony was held for the winners on Friday, January 12 at Zetech University, Mang'u Campus in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

POKA prides itself on more than just an awards ceremony; it is a testament to the boundless creativity and talent that Kenya possesses.

Its journey began in 2005 with a profound mission - to empower, celebrate, and sponsor untapped talents in Kenya, and it continues to evolve with every passing year.

It aims to empower and celebrate Kenyan talents, recognizing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and providing them with the support and sponsorship they need to flourish.

"We believe that every artist has the potential to achieve greatness, and we are dedicated to nurturing this potential from the grassroots level to international acclaim.

"We envision a Kenya where artistic diversity and excellence are celebrated on the global stage. Our vision is to be the driving force behind Kenya's creative revolution, inspiring the nation to recognize, cherish, and support its talents and fostering an environment where dreams become a reality," states POKA on its website.

**The Viral Tea Story So Far**

Founded in 2021 and on its way to turning three years old in February, Viral Tea writes original news and informative articles covering local news, politics, entertainment, business and sports as well as unique features curated to satisfy the needs of the general public, especially the youth.

On LinkedIn, Viral Tea enjoys its status as the fastest-growing digital native media house, and though it took almost a year to breach the 10,000 followers gap from zero, it amassed close to 18,000 followers on the platform in a shorter time, in a period LinkedIn has emerged as a one-stop shop for Kenyans seeking credible and reliable information.

On WhatsApp, Viral Tea became the first digital native media house in Kenya to have its exclusive WhatsApp group where users join through an invite link sent upon request from the admin and interact with each other as well as catch up on news and multimedia content as it happens.

Projects such as Spill The Tea weekly newsletter available exclusively on LinkedIn and collaborative projects such as the #KenyaWomenSeries affirmed the digital media house's true testament to deliver high-value content that is creative enough to maintain the loyalty of its current fans and attract new followers.

A screenshot of Viral Tea's website. /VIRAL TEA KE

According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2023, trust in news media in Kenya has remained high at 63 per cent compared to other countries, meaning that Kenyans still trust the media because of its independence in a highly polarised political environment.

On social media, WhatsApp emerged second as the top social media app in the country for news at 60 per cent, closely behind Facebook at 61 per cent. Overall, it is the top social media app at 83 per cent followed by YouTube (76 per cent) and Facebook (73 per cent).

Most Read Articles On Viral Tea Website In 2023

admin — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:20:10 +0300

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among others in the three-year-old decade has changed the world as we know it, amidst a shift to the technological era, with the media not being spared through changes set to align with the new age.

As a result, digital journalism has become a staple among readers looking for content to consume in real-time and anywhere, with any device ranging from a budget smartphone to a laptop, even a tablet, meaning journalists have been forced to come up with creative ways of storytelling to maintain and grow a loyal audience.

Viral Tea this year has gone the extra mile of crafting its stories using albeit fewer resources compared to the other bigger media houses during its evolution to being the fastest-growing digital native publisher in Kenya, in the new decade.

We have the latest in social media trends and the internet as our best friends as well as digitally-emerging platforms meant to enhance our storytelling, including visualised content.

We are not saying you ignore the other big media giants with far greater resources...follow them, but remember us too as we are among the first to go the extra mile with bold, fresh, well-packaged news in a timely fashion that you can find nowhere else, meeting your needs and building a loyal audience...all in just two years!

As such, we have compiled 10 of our most-read articles that you have enjoyed in 2023:

King Kalala Goes After Fake X Account Which Leaked Adriana Wanjiku Video

The story published by Viral Tea on October 26, 2023, is our most-read article this year, and a first-ever for lovers of entertainment and gossip.

Side by side of radio presenter King Kalala and Adriana Wanjiku. /INSTAGRAM.KING KALALA.ADRIANA WANJIKU

NRG Radio presenter Prudence Chepkirui Tonui, popularly known as King Kalala, had threatened to take legal action against a parody account on X (formerly Twitter) accused of leaking a series of explicit videos, one of which sparked uproar from Wednesday, October 25.

The video in question had captured a woman named Adriana Wanjiku in a non-consensual encounter with an unidentified man who was recording the whole proceedings. The man was seen undressing Wanjiku who was allegedly intoxicated and having intercourse with her as she helplessly lay on the bed.

The act was castigated by many Kenyans who demanded action to be taken against the male individual. Some netizens had also turned the heat on the parody account posing as King Kalala which leaked the video to the social media platform.

Taking to her official X account, King Kalala urged netizens to promptly report any parody account sharing disturbing content under the guise of her name, while exploring the possibility of taking legal action against the owners of all of them.

"It has come to my attention that some existing parody accounts have been sharing/distributing disturbing content, all while pretending to be me. Kindly help me report all those pages if you come through any of them. I'm currently looking into taking legal action against all," she appealed.

Legendary Radio Presenter Musungu Kyumbe Dies

Anytime a renowned personality in the media industry passes away, it grips the country's media space hard. As such, when a source tipped us regarding the demise of celebrated radio presenter, Musungu Kyumbe, we did not hesitate to report.

Also known as James Malombe, the renowned Mbaitu FM presenter passed away on Tuesday, November 28 at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi.

Former Machakos Senator, Johnson Muthama, was among the high-profile figures to mourn the loss of an icon in the media industry.

"In sorrow, I join the Kamba community in mourning the loss of the esteemed Kamba Radio Presenter, Musungu Kyumbe, whose departure has created a profound void.

"My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and the dedicated fans who cherished him. Poleni sana for this irreplaceable loss," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The news of his passing came as a profound loss to both the broadcasting community and those who tuned in to his distinctive voice. His journey was one marked by resilience and dedication, not only to his craft but also to the listeners who welcomed him into their homes each day.

CS Soipan Tuya Is Having Sexual Affair With Her Driver- Husband Responds

The article showcased Kenyans' unbroken love for gossip and amidst a divorce case pitting Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and estranged husband, former Narok Member of County Assembly (MCA) Stephen Ole Kudate, the latter responded with an alleged confession that shook the country.

Kudate in response to an application filed by Tuya seeking upkeep and child maintenance, began by claiming that the CS had chased him out of their matrimonial home in Kileleshwa, Nairobi when she was appointed to office in 2022 by President William Ruto.

He revealed that they were legally married having observed all traditional marriage rites, further confirming that they sired two children who in his side of the story, have not been neglected as purported by Tuya.

“As the head of the family, I was a man of means who provided adequately, and she knows that I am jobless, but with the little I have, I effectively play my parental role,” he said.

According to Kudate, he was deliberately denied by the CS from seeing the children and excluded from participating in their children's welfare.

Furthermore, the former MCA sensationally claimed that Tuya had been having a romantic and sexual relationship with her official driver, a matter he said he would base on during his cross-examination of Tuya when the matter is heard.

“The sexual relationship between Tuya and her official driver is a mask for other sexual relationships with other high-ranking individuals in the society,” he went on.

Russia Slams 13 Foreign Powers Urging Raila, Ruto To Embrace Dialogue

Russia on Tuesday, July 18 poured cold water on a statement by Ambassadors and High Commissioners offering to provide support in mediation talks between President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the nationwide demonstrations.

The 13 European Ambassadors had earlier delivered a message via a joint statement to Raila and President Ruto saying they should embrace dialogue to avert demonstrations that if not called off, would have led to loss of lives.

They acknowledged the challenges Kenyans face every day and called upon both the Raila and Ruto factions to give dialogue another chance to address issues facing the country in peace.

However, Russia, through its Embassy in Nairobi, accused the foreign powers of meddling with the internal affairs of the country, despite the chaotic protests that have led to the loss of lives and destruction of property.

“If it is not interference in internal affairs, what is it?” the embassy replied in a sentenced statement.

Ex-KTN Reporter Makes Plea After Being Fired From BBC

This article covered former KTN News reporter, Carolyne Bii, who on Wednesday, July 12 announced that she was willing to do media interviews, forums as well as conferences to share her redundancy experience having been laid off from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

In a statement posted on her LinkedIn and Facebook pages, Bii recounted finding herself in an unexpected turn of events in her career journey having been fired from the British state broadcaster after slightly over a year, where she worked as a journalist.

An image of the BBC office in Nairobi. /FILE

She learnt of the redundancy announcement just eight months into her new role at the media house, which also unexpectedly came to her, an announcement which materialised five months thereafter.

"I’ve made a conscious decision: a hard one to talk about my redundancy journey. I’m now branding myself as a redundancy ambassador, its new poster child. Call me for those media interviews, forums and conferences, where you need someone to talk about redundancy. I’m a case study who’s found hope in the ashes," she appealed.

According to Bii, she was a victim of BBC's mass redundancy move triggered by financial decisions and had nothing to do with her work at the media house, though she expressed gratitude to have worked with talented journalists at a media house whereby she developed her skills and knowledge in the competitive industry.

Bulldozers Raid Athi River Homes Hours After Ruto Order

The directive by President William Ruto to revoke the title deeds of those who had not developed land at Athi River for over 10 years shook the country, and a day later, bulldozers raided and demolished several homes, schools and churches.

The Head of State had issued orders over land grabbed from the East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) in the Mavoko sub-county, declaring that land grabbers who had seized the land would be kicked out to pave the way for Export Processing Zones (EPZ) Zone expansion.

Effecting Ruto's directive, more than 20 heavy machinery, under the security of armed General Service Unit (GSU) officers, began flattening permanent and temporary structures on the prime land.

Former Tusker Project Fame contestant Alvan Gatitu alias Alvan Love filmed the exercise which saw activity consisting of a myriad of vehicles coupled with police cars and officers firing teargas to disrupt any form of protests.

Notably, some of the homes were still under construction as the exercise forced residents to seek alternative means of accommodation in a saga that attracted widespread condemnation, including Raila Odinga and his Azimio la Umoja coalition.

UK Military Intercepts Kenya Airways Plane After Detecting Security Threat Mid-Air

Viral Tea's most-read article in its newly launched exclusive aviation segment, a first for any digital media house in Kenya, was a breaking news event covering a Kenya Airways plane which was intercepted by United Kingdom (UK) military aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF) while mid-air.

The plane which was to land at London Heathrow on Thursday morning, October 12 was instead diverted to London Stansted Airport. Kenya Airways responded to the interception by revealing that its headquarters received an alert of a potential security threat aboard the affected plane, KQ100.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, landed safely at Stansted Airport, for security clearance by UK government security personnel.

The Daily Mail first reported that heavy police presence as well as that of emergency first responders surrounded Stansted Airport, with a section of UK media also reporting that a bomb squad were also at the scene.

So huge was our story that a photo we published depicting the passenger plane at Stansted Airport was carried on a 9 pm news bulletin on Citizen TV, Kenya's biggest and most-watched TV station.

Emergency vehicles at the London Stansted Airport where a Kenya Airways plane was intercepted on October 12, 2023. /PLANE AUDITS

US Police Pose As Hitman Going On A Date To Trap Kenyan Top Banker

It seemed like just an ordinary news article capturing the arrest of a Kenyan in the United States (US) but what sparked huge interest was who that Kenyan was.

The Kenyan national who is a former director of a leading bank in the country was arrested for his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme in the US. 52-year-old Leonard Thuo Mwithiga was arrested on Monday, December 4 after being suspected of hiring a hitman to kill one of his family members to bring other family members back to Kenya.

U.S. media house NBC reported that the banker was accosted by state police, two days after a confidential informant went to state police reporting that Mwithiga wanted his help finding a hitman to execute the mission.

Viral Tea dug deeper into Mwithiga's profile and discovered his LinkedIn, depicting his decorated 20-year professional career with 14 of them in senior management of the banking and financial services industry.

On his profile, he describes himself as a "passionate, experienced and transformational professional" with expansive experience in banking operations, technology, Innovation and strategic change management.

Mwithiga attained his Ph.D. in Business Administration in 2017 from the University of Nairobi (UoN) where he specialised in Strategic Information and Banking industry, after attaining his Master of Business Administration in 2002 from the same institution. In 1995, Mwithiga attained his bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics from Egerton University.

Between 2003 and 2006, Mwithiga worked as the Head of IT at the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation before heading to a multinational bank company as the head of change and performance at the COO's office. He served there for 7 years.

In 2013, he moved to a local bank as the General Manager of Group Shared Services, in the Group COO's Office, and served in the position for 6 months, then a call from another bank promoted a move where he worked as the Service Delivery and IT director up to 2015.

He joined another top bank in 2016, starting as the Group Director for IT in the office of the group COO then was promoted in 2019 to be the ICT Executive Director of the bank's subsidiary.

At the start of 2021, he was promoted to serve as the Group Shared Services Director where he has since served. Some reports however revealed that he left the position a few months ago under Voluntary Early Retirement.

Kenyans Share Harrowing Tales Of Going Through JKIA Customs

In a story that sparked uproar nationwide, leading to government allies announcing reforms at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs and Border Control, this article captured Kenyans lamenting their woes at Customs anytime they return to the country via the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

On Monday, October 30, one Maxwell Otieno took to X (formerly Twitter) to warn Kenyans flying into the country through JKIA on carrying electronics from abroad.

"If you are coming to Kenya via JKIA please don't carry electronics. Either you pay 63% of the market value or leave the item. I've seen guys crying in the arrivals section. Imagine being charged 150k," he wrote.

His post sparked a flood of reactions from Kenyans lamenting how they were subjected to punitive measures by KRA officers stationed at the airport which is worse than regulations at other world airports.

Natasha Kimani, a public policy and governance advocate, narrated how the customs officials go to the extent of charging passengers for bringing in more than one bottle of perfume or alcohol, even with duty-free products.

"Apparently duty-free products bought abroad don’t apply here- we must still pay tax. An extremely unnecessary and hostile experience," she slammed.

Despite a user responding by stating that there is a 250ml limit for perfume imposed per person, Kimani stated "Actually they now say anything over 100ml for perfume is taxable now, even if duty-free and anything over 1L of alcohol. You can only have 1 100ml of perfume and not 250ml".

Another user complained that he was forced to boot up his one-year-old work laptop that he had travelled with to prove it was his and it was used, creating tension among foreigners arriving at the airport with the dread that they would be met with the same fate.

KRA thereafter dismissed the confusion that stemmed from its multiple deleted statements that the agency was planning to tax personal luggage valued at Ksh75,425 (USD500) or more.

Immigration desks at JKIA. /KAA

Viral Tea Full-Year Quiz: 20 Questions To Test Your 2023 News Knowledge

Marvin Chege — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:23:27 +0300

The year 2023 has seen it all ranging from politics, local news, entertainment, business, sports...everything viral and we have been keeping you up to date.

MARANGU: Unique Mechanism Helping Kenyan Journalists Report On Climate Projects

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:02:42 +0300

By Nancy Marangu

The Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) addresses complaints by people who believe they are adversely affected or may be affected by projects or programmes funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The IRM works with stakeholders in a flexible and participatory way to resolve issues and address grievances.

Problem-solving can include information sharing and consultation, facilitation, mediation, joint fact-finding, and other tools.

The IRM’s practice is guided by the principles of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The goal of the problem-solving process is to address specific issues that have given rise to the request or complaint and to help identify and agree on solutions that meet the interests of the relevant parties.

Representatives from the Chemichemi Foundation with journalists from ANGAAF Radio Station. /NANCY MARANGU

It encompasses the clarification of issues of concern, understanding the needs and interests of stakeholders, assisting parties in identifying solutions, and helping them reach agreement on the terms of these solutions.

More so, based on discussions with the primary stakeholders in a complaint or request, the IRM supports them in developing a jointly agreed problem-solving process. The intention is to address the issues raised or, where the concern cannot be resolved, it is referred for IRM compliance review.

Furthermore, the IRM conducts independent compliance appraisals and investigations of GCF projects and programmes and their adherence to GCF policies and procedures.

It recommends to the GCF Board based on its review to ensure compliance and provide redress. The goal of the compliance process is to determine whether any GCF policies or procedures have been violated and, if so, make recommendations on how redress or remedy should be provided.

Compliance processes focus on GCF and compliance with its relevant policies and procedures in a specific project. IRM compliance investigations are independent of but complementary to, GCF’s procedures for ensuring project compliance.

To remain abreast with the IRM’s reporting mechanisms, all journalists in Kenya need to be trained on its provision. This is by virtue that, Kenya is implementing the Towards Ending Emergencies (TWENDE) project, being financed by the Green Climate Fund in different counties.

According to journalists who were part of the IRM sensitization carried out by the Chemichemi Foundation in Laikipia, Marsabit, Turkana, Isiolo, West Pokot and Baringo Counties, the journalists recommended that the project implementors, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), to put into consideration to onboard the media/journalists during their stakeholder workshops of the project.

Alternatively, they recommended that the IRM unit consider convening a capacity-building session for them. This is with the appreciation that the media and specifically the journalists are always at the forefront of providing coverage of environmental governance news that affect all.

Nancy Marangu is a Communication and Public Policy Analyst. You can reach her at nancy.marangu@gmail.com

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

How TikTok Era Is Making Kenyans Not Read News Anymore

Marvin Chege — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 15:11:15 +0300

Back in September, I posed the following question on my Facebook page:

“What's the need these days of writing and publishing news articles and sharing them on social media platforms when we know that a lot of you won't read them anyway? Kenyans have become too lazy to read news articles online.

“These days picture posts are getting more engagements than link posts.”

Comments were aplenty, from vague ones such as ‘busy looking for finances’ to informative ones such as a shift in consumer trends, however, one comment struck my attention:

“There's a guy I listened to on TikTok. He was suggesting that stories, news and information should be read out aloud to people. We're becoming lazy when it comes to reading!”

Side-by-side image of TikTok logo and President William Ruto during a virtual meeting at State House on August 24, 2023. /TIKTOK.PCS

Recently, K24 published a news article detailing Tiktok sensation Azziad Nasenya's battle with suicidal thoughts, but what sparked criticism by Kenyans to the point that Azziad herself issued a clarification on Friday, December 1 saying her harrowing experience with cyberbullying and contemplating suicide occurred three years ago when her video to the “Utawezana” song by Femi One went viral was this;

Azziad Nasenya speaks on battling suicidal thoughtshttps://t.co/tstQXA8Un5 pic.twitter.com/oJpt8toGAB
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) November 30, 2023

From the article, you can see two things; a title that many think is clickbait and a recent photo collage of her.

In her video which she published on her social media handles, she said "I'm just wondering why some news outlets decided to report half the story or decide to report something that happened three or four years ago and use a current photo without highlighting the fact that you know what, this was about three years ago when that video went viral

"But you know what, in this country, there are a lot of people who do anything for clickbait or clout, and it's just shameful...it's sad," she goes on.

Digital News vs TikTok

A long time ago, some of us (including myself) would wait for our parents to read the newspaper before we got our turn, mostly focused on youth content and stories that would interest us. Then came the digital news websites which made news consumption in real time possible.

The emergence of TikTok however through short-form videos is just enough to convince anyone that reading has become an alien culture in Kenya.

Simply put, reading online news these days, even the newspaper, does not come naturally to most of us anymore and no longer seems to be in our blood. Kenyans have become too lazy to read, and the numbers on our end confirm it.

While one might argue that K24 was wrong to publish a clickbait headline and use a recent photo of Azziad, this goes to show how news outlets are always coming up with ways to drive traffic to their digital platforms, and since they know Kenyans don't read, they used what I would call a 'viral' headline to make them read.

Traffic translates to revenue...money in simple terms. So when Kenyans don't read our news content, they are denying us an opportunity to earn money, so digital news outlets have to devise ways to keep you coming, and coming back every day.

As stated earlier, picture and video posts are getting more engagement on social media than links to news articles. Kenyans have turned to the easy way of content consumption, even though it is considered one of the most expensive and demanding ways to produce, and download it compared to reading just one article, which takes up kilobytes of your mobile data.

There was a suggestion from my post to ‘TikTok’ news articles. While that may be a good idea, there’s still a huge problem, Kenyans still won’t read because you watch that clip once and a message pops up from Brayo asking ‘My guy, si we do Vasha this weekend?’...distraction.

It is quite sad that Kenyans have become too lazy to read news content when news outlets are stepping up their reporting to include educative articles…whether on their own or within news stories. One of them I read covered how a news anchor fell in love with the HR months into his new job and ended up marrying her…and went on to do an explainer on the pros and cons of office relationships.

It is even worse when the demographics show that men are reading more news content than women, even though stories about women have been on the rise recently. Maybe the question should change from Kenyans to why our beautiful Kenyan women are not reading the news we put out every hour, beating crazy deadlines.

When I started as a writer, there was a suggestion to make my articles shorter, hence my other finding that Kenyans have a super-small attention span that has made journalists in newsrooms compress articles to a few hundred words to summarize everything or break down one report into five short articles to make sure readers accommodate as much content as possible.

I sat down and thought if there would be a need for news websites in the future, especially with monetization on X and journalists sharing their news on socials which could make audiences not see the need to click on links to access information. Without a doubt, the business aspect is why many news organisations still have websites, if not curbing impersonation on social media.

As I exhaust my 700 words, I’ll state just this; it takes 1-2 minutes of your time to read a story and 10 minutes or more to watch someone rant explicit and charged words about the number of taxes the government has introduced.

About 200KBs of mobile data to read a news article and 20MBs to download a video which will unnecessarily fill up your phone’s storage.

The choice is yours.

DISCLAIMER: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by this writer are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of Viral Tea.

A laptop logged in to Viral Tea's website. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRALTEAKE

DENVER B: Debunking 5 Controversial Opinions on Cheating

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:38:34 +0300

Over the past weeks, I’ve handled and discussed relationship stories that relate to money.

However, as I sought to deviate from the now seemingly monotonous subject, I came across a few cheating occurrences. I was to dismiss them (since I handled the topic before) but something else drew me in.

A Twitter (now X) user had quote-replied to a tweet asking for debatable opinions on cheating, and hers was debunked quite easily. This drove me into the rabbit hole of beliefs had about infidelity.

You can’t love somebody and cheat i’m sorry. The 2 can’t co-exist https://t.co/vnteJJnSxy
— ????????????✞✞✞ (@WhoTFissim) September 22, 2023

As a podcaster who’s spent years talking about relationships and cheating, my interest was piqued.

I took a few of the common beliefs about cheating and put them to the test, which you can listen to here if you prefer audio but here’s the written version below.

Opinions on Cheating

Before I start tearing into people’s beliefs and questioning their logic, I need to give a disclaimer:

What I say about cheating may seem to relate to men alone but for the most part, it will be unisex.

This may be because I’m a man and thus have a better understanding of a man’s mind or because many believe that men will be the de facto cheaters (which we know is a lie, but oh well) in most relationships plagued by infidelity.

Since I got that out of the way, I can now address some beliefs without fear or remorse so:

You can’t cheat and still love your partner

While this belief does make sense for some people, I can argue that for most men, this is wrong. Cheating has a lot less to do with love and a lot more to do with a combination of choice and discipline.

It’s not as common for a man to fall in love with the woman he’s cheating with, with most doing it for sexual variety (statistically speaking). In simpler terms, we chase because it’s fun and because we see getting sex as a win.

Women on the other hand are a lot more susceptible to falling into the love trap with their side-piece. Statistically, most women fall in love with their side and will also not circulate multiple men. Some men do this too, but it’s usually due to internal issues within the relationship that cause a sense of dissatisfaction.

Once a cheat, always a cheat

This is one of those beliefs that is debatable as it is true on an individual level as opposed to being collectively true.

There’s no concrete evidence that it’s true for every cheater and there have been many examples of people who’ve stuck to their one partner after the fact.

What we do know is that those who cheat for sexual variety tend to be the least likely to settle down. This is more of a logical assumption than fact, mainly because people who are used to and enjoy having ‘choice’ dread the lack of it so giving it up is a hard task in and of itself. It’s not impossible, just hard.

It’s in a man’s nature to cheat

This is wrong and is mostly a large stack of BS. This belief has been used for years and works to reinforce the behaviour of men who prefer to participate in the act.

What science says is that men are wired to desire sexual variety, which was an evolutionary advantage when we roamed the jungle (“reproduce and fill the earth” type s***).

Arguments have been made speaking of our forefathers choosing to be polygamous, which only serves to blur the idea in favour of the cheater. Many cite how Christianity brought about monogamy which isn’t ‘natural’ and tried to take us away from our natural roots.

I’d argue that infidelity is more a case of nurture than nature, considering that in places where it’s shunned by society, fewer people practice and in places where it’s normalized, many treat it as a normality.

Things like testosterone levels in men can also affect the possibility of cheating as well but it’s not a guarantee that it enables/disables the behaviour.

Cheaters should be in open or poly relationships

This is a belief that I’ve been hearing a lot more regularly which is wrong.

Its uptick in belief and resonance with many mainly stems from the widespread awareness of alternative relationship types such as open and poly (short for polyamorous) relationships. This gives a sense of belief that there’s some arrangement out there for those who don’t do well with monogamy.

The problem is that many fail to understand the intricacies of such relationships which may often require more trust and transparency than is required to maintain your typical closed relationship.

Boundaries and rules such as vetting of sex partners by your significant other, always using a condom, just doing it with a sex worker etc. are things that may hinder many people from fulfilling their fantasy of sleeping with a colleague and/or friend. Most cheaters also don’t like it when their partner gets some action as well so there’s that too.

Women cheat better/worse than men

This is a very debatable but easy-to-debunk belief. Many believe that women can cheat for years and go undiscovered yet men can cheat today and get discovered today. This isn’t a matter of prowess but a matter of attention to detail.

Women are more geared towards it with their partner than men, which skews things in their favour. A woman will detect another woman’s perfume on you or even how different you are in the bedroom and have question marks.

A man will mostly focus on the most important things (highlights) so long as he’s well fed, and respected and balls are drained, he’ll be oblivious to many things.

Some men can pay attention to detail but rarely ever to the woman’s level. This makes it harder for men to identify a woman cheating as opposed to when the tables are turned.

Conclusion

So in short, not everything is as it seems. Many have believed one thing or another about cheating and a lot think they’re right.

While these were a few pointers, they should help realign some ideas on the subject. I still don’t endorse cheating, and I’m hoping that you don’t either.

For those who do, bring back some data so we can make some more conclusions, okay? Thanks.

Denver B is a TV personality on the show Men’s Conference and a podcaster on the Break Time on Westside podcast which speaks on love, sex & relationships spanning over 360 episodes. You can reach him through his email denversonline@gmail.com

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

Couples arguing with each other. /FILE

MATHEKA: NTV, Apologise For Lying About St Peter's Hospital

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:21:42 +0300

By Grace Matheka

I first interacted with Dr. Wasena Angira in early 2019 when I secured a job at the St. Peter’s Orthopedic and Surgical Specialty Centre (Kinoo, Kiambu County). Doc, as many call him, has a very calm demeanour.

He is not loud. At all. He carries himself with grace and treats everyone equally.

As staff at the Hospital, we felt proud to be associated with him. We liked working with him. He was easy to talk to, dealt with misunderstandings in a fair manner and often spoke to the staff, assuring us of our contribution to the success of the hospital.

I worked as a cashier at the hospital back then, coupled with a few tasks in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) department.

A building at St Peter's Orthopaedic and Surgical Speciality Centre in Kinoo, Kiambu County. /STPETERS.CO.KE

Before starting on NHIF services, I was given about a month’s worth of training from one of the administrators of the hospital and a colleague nurse who had over five years of experience dealing with NHIF claims and services.

I had previously worked as an NHIF clerk in a public level 4 hospital, but this was different. I remember how much they emphasized double-checking every patient’s details.

Every NHIF form submission passed through about three people before being fed into the system, for the sole purpose of making sure nothing was incorrect. Being an orthopaedic hospital, we attached every claim with Doctor reports, recommendations, surgical procedures to be done and even X-ray copies.

From the get-go, it was made very clear that the claim forms were to be verified and free of errors.

The few times we noticed errors in patient documents, unpaid premiums, etc, we forwarded them to the hospital administrator who would then advise the families on what to correct, etc. Nothing was left to chance.

I eventually left St Peter’s after about a year of working there. While I worked in other areas while growing my career, my former colleagues would inform me that a new, much bigger hospital building had been completed and that the hospital had grown in leaps and bounds.

I was genuinely happy for them, remembering how tirelessly everyone there worked to ensure that patients were well taken care of.

Fast forward to mid this year, a few people who knew I’d worked at the hospital sent me a news item by NTV about an NHIF scandal. St Peter’s was on the list of hospitals “exposed” by Nation.

I remember feeling sad and angry seeing that report. The most annoying part was the calibre of hospitals in the same list, in comparison with St. Peter’s. I wondered how this could be true, having served at the very core of the issue in contention, NHIF.

As a person who has personally seen hundreds of patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, getting help and eventually going back to good health, it irks me that such a story would be aired.

The hospital had started its services in a small building in Uthiru a few years prior. Back then, a lot of Kenyans would have to pay an arm and a leg for orthopaedic services in mostly Level 5 and Level 6 hospitals.

St Peter’s came through by offering quite affordable medical services, mostly and almost entirely reliant on NHIF cards. I witnessed patients coming in from Mombasa, Garissa, Embu, Kitale, Nakuru, Nairobi, and every part of Kenya to access these services.

And in all that time, I never witnessed any complaints of mishandling or claims of fraud or theft. If anything, St Peter’s encouraged a lot of people to pay their NHIF premiums, noting how those with serious orthopaedic issues got assistance.

Speaking now, I do not speak as a biased individual. I speak for the thousands of families across the country who have benefitted first-hand from St Peter’s Hospital.

For the last few months, a lot of families have been forced to stay with their sick patients in the hope that their beloved hospital will resume services.

Circulating a false narrative based on a few unfortunate scenarios which are a possibility in every major surgery, is the utmost misuse of influence.

The Nation should apologize to St Peter’s. It has cost people jobs, livelihoods, months of pain and loss of hope.

Grace Matheka is a brand communicator and entrepreneur. She has written over 1,000 articles on various topics covering health, gender equality, diversity and the arts. You can reach her at grcmurugi1@gmail.com

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A photo of Nation Media Group. /BUSINESS TODAY

DENVER B: Why Dating Sucks, Whether Aging Like Wine Or Milk

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:27:33 +0300

So depending on when you’re reading this, I just turned 27 years old (Happy Birthday to me) and I’m a little closer to calling cougars agemates.

Whilst contemplating my new year as a more experienced member of humanity, I started to contemplate my eventful yet single life.

I’m growing wiser by the day and spending my 23 hours fearing women and saving the last hour to fear Nairobi women even more. Even then I wondered if dating would get easier for me now that I know more about it.

Then I remembered a recent tweet I covered in an episode which said:

Dating in your 30s as a man is no joke. You'll be doing your best to make a relationship work, because you know how hard it is - based on previous experiences - to find a connection. But it'll register to them as a desperation - the absence of options.

A man has to be…
— T. R. Okuna (@XivTroy) August 23, 2023

It started to hit me that the saying “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” may have to apply to my dating life but since I’m not 30 yet I’d have to check later to confirm.

Either way, I discussed its possibility here but there’s more to it than the few minutes I gave it.

Listen to it below:

Initial thoughts; it doesn’t change much, at least not in your early 30s

When I first thought it through, it seemed like a lie as opposed to what I’d heard online. I’ve been fortunate to interact with both genders in their 30s and on asking, I have received mixed opinions on the belief of ageing and dating.

Some men believe that 30 is when their dating life starts to look up as they start making more money and can afford to be and do better.

Some women have spoken about how they view 30 as the time they get serious with life, giving priority to settling down and setting up their present for a better future.

This new seriousness that the women give to dating is what inevitably becomes the biggest boundary and flag (don’t ask which colour) in dating.

Women: Value then vs. Value now

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: men bang who they can and marry who they want, and women bang who they want and marry who they can.

As crude as the statement sounds, it carries a lot of truth in today’s world. Many women carry a perceived value that allows them to act and live a certain way due to the lustful or intimate desires of men being sent their way.

This is what gets them free drinks, favours, free trips, and calls to events at another man’s expense. This man is rarely ever their boyfriend(s).

This value often changes as they grow (and don’t want free drinks anymore) and the next batch of young, impressionable and free-spirited women join the fray, adding to the numbers in the dating market. As both genders grow older, their earning capacities grow and this affects their options.

Men (who are mostly driven by quantity) can get more women now. Women (who are mostly built on quality) can get better men, or so they believe.

The quality is lower than ever

The problem with the belief system I stated earlier is that it is fundamentally flawed due to the ideas coming from the gender generating them.

Men believing that they make more money and thus have more options gives the belief that an increase in choice guarantees the best one. This eventually increases ego and makes choosing harder as there is a larger pool to confuse your desires for an overall package.

A photo of a couple in an open relationship. /FILE

One would think the women will do better but you’d also be wrong there as well.

An increase in quality standards of choice will almost immediately reduce the number of options you have. This is meant to filter out the bad seed to leave room for the better, to which you’ll choose the best.

That’s what women think, which is also flawed. What they find is that those men are almost no different from the ones they weeded out, save for good Public Relations (PR) and more expensive tastes.

They are eventually left in the conundrum that is higher status but men of the same character as the ones they disposed of. Think of dropping a problematic (Mazda) Demio for a problematic Maserati.

Dating based on value, not desire

What is left as people grow whilst still in the dating market is a sense of value-driven dating and start refining their strategies and filters to adjust to it.

Men see their value based on their capability to provide but will want someone to domesticate and (possibly) start a family with. Women understand that time isn’t on their side and may have the intention to have kids or simply have a long-term partner. This is reflected in their dating strategies.

Men will start to date with an inclination towards showing their financial capabilities while women will choose dates based on perceived character and with a filter adjusted towards higher EQ (emotional intelligence) as opposed to financial intelligence or where they rank on a pyramid amongst other men.

Both genders tend to retain their traits thus they may not attract each other. The man who wants to show he has money/capabilities meets the woman who wants a caring and affectionate man.

The two repel each other or get together with friction on either side throughout their relationships. The younger entrants into the market end up profiting from both in one way or another.

Conclusion

So now we’re at an impasse. The older man wants to show he is capable and the older woman wants a man who can sustainably care and be considerate.

Both were driven to their destinations by life today. Maybe if they settled down earlier then maybe it wouldn’t be as annoying, or as hard, but I can’t say for sure.

The conclusion remains the same: adjust to what the opposite sex wants or suffer the consequences of trial and error till you tire and resent the process. Then, rinse and repeat.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A woman rejects a man's marriage proposal as the public watches. /FILE

Viral Tea Makes History With Launch Of Exclusive Segment

admin — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 13:25:25 +0300

When most of us were young, one of the occupations that we really wanted to become while growing up was we wanted to become 'a pilot'.

Anytime an aeroplane flies over our skies, we used to have that instinct of looking up to see which airline was flying over; be it Emirates, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways etc, but we always used to see them at face value.

When our parents took us on our first flight, we were awed, amazed by the rumbling of the twin engines (four for some aircraft) and the roar they make while sprinting down the runway, preparing to take flight to altitudes hitting over 38,000 feet, no matter whether it was flying to Mombasa from Nairobi for holiday, or flying abroad to see your family.

Then, we grew up. The more we got to travel on aeroplanes, the more curious we were about how they work, how airports operate and the profiles of the nice-looking pilots, air hostesses and air stewards among others who work together to ensure that everything from the airport to the aircraft works in tip-top shape every single day.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta enjoying himself inside a cockpit of the first Kenya Airways Dreamliner during it's official reception at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on April 5, 2014. /DAILY NATION

Have you ever wondered what type of engine the plane you're travelling in is composed of? What goes behind the scenes among cabin crews? Or how Immigration at airports is able to bust that woman trying to smuggle cocaine through the arrivals gate? That's why we are here.

Space For Aviation Content

Owing to the increasing demand for aviation content, Viral Tea has created an exclusive space starting today for aviation content remaining true to our principle to 'inform, entertain and educate' our vibrant young audience, anywhere and anytime.

We have done so by creating a special page on our website (www.viraltea.co.ke) and we will publish everything aviation content be it news, features, informative pieces and those wild facts that you did not know related to aviation. Access it here

According to Careers in Aerospace, aviation journalism entails researching and chasing down leads that come across via the various news articles and regulatory documents that land on our desks from around the world on a daily basis.

“You will be responsible for using the leads, information, and sources to build up articles for an English-speaking B2B audience. The other part of your job will require you to build and maintain relationships with people from across the world who will then help you in corroborating stories as well as breaking news," the definition reveals.

What Motivated Us To Start An Aviation Segment?

The popular Netflix documentary dubbed MH370 regarding the events that led up to and followed one of the most mysterious air disasters in aviation history involving Malaysia Airlines 370, which disappeared from the skies in 2014, sparked our mission to bring more content regarding aviation.

If you might have noticed, aviation experts worked hand in hand with journalists specialised in that field to come up with theories surrounding the crash with such passion and knowledge, with the nine-year-old mystery unravelling a new twist.

A 229-page report released on Wednesday, August 30 as reported by UK's The Daily Mail suggested that the missing wreckage could be located about 1,560km west of Perth in Australia, a revelation attributed to 'groundbreaking' amateur radio technology known as a weak signal propagation reporter or WSPR to help detect and track the plane's flight path.

Popularising Aviation Journalism

As aviation journalists have been commonly found in developed countries, barely have we seen any in Kenya and a small number, not less than 10 approximately, are currently making positive strides in boosting aviation journalism in the country for the very first time, one of them being the recently-launched AviHub Network.

"So why doesn’t Kenya have aviation journalism? What can be done to introduce that field? Are we waiting for something major to happen, for example, the Kenya Airways plane crash of 2007 for every Ali, Kamau and Onyango to show his expertise in aviation? (I’m told coverage surrounding it lasted more than a week—constantly.)

"I asked my fellow scribes about this and out of the unsatisfactory answers I got, the only solid one was that there’s a course in journalism at an aviation college in Kenya. But how far does this go?" this writer posed in his opinion article published in The Star newspaper.

The rise and rise in digital journalism has seen increased demand for news coverage on the spot instead of having to wait for prime-time news bulletins at the end of every day, and with that came the rise of digital media platforms with one age-old goal and a few extras; to inform, entertain and educate not just any audience but a target audience.

Collage image of a WRC helicopter in action during the Safari Rally on June 25, 2023. /ITSMILLER_G.TROPIC AIR KENYA

Simply put, Kenyans these days want more than just traditional media reporting losses a local airline has made businesswise as well as flights to Nairobi and beyond, something which prevents users from gratifying their needs.

Traditional Media Vs Viral Tea

A traditional media house would report a major plane crash as breaking news first then other news items that don't necessarily border on aviation.

Viral Tea however promises to use the aviation segment to exhaustively cover the plane crash ranging from technicalities, possible causes, systems of focus and exclusives among others aside from the top stories and breaking news surrounding that plane crash.

Not just plane crashes, Viral Tea has also published explainers regarding how aircraft systems work, and how helicopters are used during events among others, particularly those that have caught the eye of Kenyans, leading to articles like this (that even emerged prior to the creation of this segment):

Small Media House Doing Big Tings

This finding serves as a daily reminder that Viral Tea is committed to bringing you timely and credible news and content at any time of the day, be it articles, social media posts or videos.

With close to 1 million pageviews one year since we launched in February 2021 and averaging tens of thousands of readers every month (and growing), Viral Tea has produced all manner of articles ranging from original pieces to news, entertainment & gossip, business, sports among others and has become without a doubt Kenya's fastest-growing digital native media house since the 2020s began.

With the launch of the aviation segment, Viral Tea became the first digital native media house in the country to have a space dedicated exclusively to aviation content, so much so that we moved our fact-check segment to news content in our small reorganisation process to enhance the experience for you who takes a lunch break to read one of our hottest stories of the day.

Images of planes leaving white trails in their wake. /TWITTER.AIRPLANE CENTRAL/FILE

DENVER B: Women Today Leaving Good Men For Bad Boys

Denver Bagaka — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:35:11 +0300

It's been a while since I had to reconsider my stance on something so just know I had to think this through a lot.

It all started with a podcast clip posted by Maurice Matheka (a Sex Therapist) speaking on women enjoying the cake and eating it too, his largest set of clients and why that demographic makes for the largest client base. It then moved into a thought battle about women today vs. 20+ years ago and their different outlooks on dating.

As I pondered on the differences between the two, I tried to focus on their issues with mate compatibility today. Then I came to a wild conclusion: We're looking through the 'partner checklist' in the wrong order today as opposed to before.

This realization made for a particularly interesting episode so I figured I should bring some of it here.

Matured Preferences

Maurice spoke of the difference in preferences which made more sense given that the outspoken desires of women have changed over the past 20 years. From a desire for comfort and financial stability taking the top spot to sex ranking higher than ever before, the 'checklist' could not be more flipped over.

A man and woman as a couple. /HIVISASA.COM

The desires of today's 20–30-year-old woman starkly contrast with what was asked for 20-30 years ago. The talk of a good man with good values who worked hard believed in God and knew how to treat a woman well/was a gentleman are ever rarer today than ever before.

There's a replacement in terms of the order of requirements which has been set in an ever more interesting way.

The Unusual Flip

If you asked the typical woman to describe her checklist for a man 15-20 years ago, you'd have gotten an order that looked something like this:

A good man with good values
God fearing
Dependable
Good-looking/financially stable
Funny/fun to be around
Good in bed (if she had experience and was outspoken enough)

The idea behind this was simply finding a good enough man that you can start a family, have a few kids and relate comfortably. Even if you'd miss on a few things, as long as priorities were met, he'd pass with flying colours.

Today's example of the fairer sex's desires takes a more reversed view of the situation, leaning more towards vibes than anything else.

The idea of comfort when with a particular person is used as opposed to the pre-existing checklist which prioritises perceived longevity of the relationship based on who the people are. The list is then reversed and looks something like this:

Funny/fun to be around
Good in bed (interchangeable)
Good-looking/financially stable (interchangeable)
Dependable
God fearing
A good man with good values

Good Boys Ain't No Fun

Stop me if you've heard this before," Bad boys ain't no good, good boys ain't no fun". The idea of the bad boy who treats you right has almost become an ideal for a lot of women craving the charisma and the vibes that would keep them entertained and happy.

This has (in turn) degraded the idea of the good, honest, hardworking man as it's brought them out as nothing more than straightforward and boring.

A couple posing for a photo. /CAPITAL LIFESTYLE

The idea of being a fun partner isn't bad, but it does put emphasis on the need to be entertained. While some men are quite adept at the task, many suffer from a lack of charisma and narrow information bandwidths which make them unsuitable for the task of being fun.

This puts them on the back while Mr. Funloving (Bwana Vaibu) gets a catapult to a level where he has more options than he can handle at a go. So what do you think the other guy does?

Bad Boys Ain't No Good

Adapt. He adapts to the environment as best as he can. The shift from trying to take things slow to getting it all at once becomes the goal.

No more trying to be chivalrous because the only reward is the friendzone. Be foul and/or try to be funny, that's what seems to work these days. It may not be true but the ones who are getting some seem to do that and it works.

The idea of being the bad boy has been pushed as the ladies' man by both media (via content) and society (via results). The resulting reaction is having multiple men who aren't built for the role of a bad boy or a ladies' man act in that role.

This has bred bad role models, assholes, and deadbeats among other examples. We can blame this on not having better role models (if any) but the issue is really the women. Ironically enough, they speak ill of these men, but they created them.

Authors of Their Own Downfall

Women fell for the bad boys. Women left good men for bad boys. Women let the bad boys hit it while the good ones waited. This has been the biggest issue.

Men simply saw the blueprint of being a good guy as lacking in results and chose to adapt to the strategy with the most optimal results on a sexual level. If the man gets sex from a woman, there's not much more he can get from her physically.

Previously, there used to be a checklist and challenges before you got some but today you can get it with barely any barriers to entry, and that's thanks to the women. They advocated for no shame for having faster sex.

Using role-model couples like Chrissy Teigen & John Legend (who had sex on the first date) as patrons of sorts, they sought the abolition of shame. Men didn't care and saw it as a win, so they championed it too. Can you see the results now?

Conclusion

I never end these things without a solution, so I thought of one. It's definitely not bringing back shaming, since I doubt that will work. I do think that bringing back those barriers to entry should do the trick though.

Women hold the keys to sex, and as a man, I know I can only access it after she says yes. If I have to be something/someone better to get the approval, then I just might.

Maybe we need to start doing more good to get sex from the women. Maybe then, after having become better men should we get the goods. Probably at that point, we'll start making for better husbands, boyfriends and even partners.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A couple holding hands. /FILE

MESH: Barbie The Movie Is A Joke, Doesn't Take Itself Seriously

Marvin Chege — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:24:52 +0300

By Otieno Arudo (Mesh Mwandishi)

Barbie the movie is a comic movie, that is comfortable with making fun of itself, its makers, its sponsors and its audience.

It is a plot with silly and goofy jokes that are enjoyable if taken in good grace. However, the discourse that followed its July 21 premiere came in different shades, from simple tweets to lengthy think pieces to prime-time discussions on TV- showing something about the jokes did not go down well with some people, or that the satire cut so deep, it rattled many.

I think the second reason is much more plausible, and I prefer to make it the centre of this piece.

Art is not made by neutral beings, neither are its consumers and so it would not be false to accuse both sets of people as harbouring an agenda. But even with the reality of these politicized times, it is worth pointing out that satire is the glass that makes the mirror that shows us our true selves.

Ken and Barbie, played by Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie respectively. /FILE

A Plot Of Two Worlds- Barbie Land & The Real World

The plot for me is not the most important thing in the movie, it is the various powerful scenes that I will point out in a minute.

The movie starts in Barbie Land, where we meet Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) and her friends, and she faces a malfunction. Therefore she decides to go to the real world to find the girl who plays with her because her emotional downturn is affecting her.

She gets to the real world with her Ken (Ryan Gosling) who hid in her car, to be shocked by the culture of patriarchy that they find in the real world which is the opposite of the order in Barbie Land where women run everything and men are in the underclass.

While Barbie is saddened by this, Ken becomes alive realizing he has inherent power as a man, he goes on a mission to try and find a job because he thinks being a man(and having a horse) is enough, but realizes he needs qualifications to work in some sectors. However, he goes back to Barbie Land to institute the patriarchy.

Barbie on the hand connects with the girl she saw in her visions to try and cheer her only to learn that she has not only located the wrong person but that Barbie dolls are not liked as well as she thought.

Soon, she discovers the emotionally distressed human is the girl's mother played by America Ferrera and they take a trip to Barbie Land to cheer her up, only to find the Kens have instituted a patriarchy.

With the help of Gloria (the character played by America Ferrera) and her daughter, Barbie goes on a mission to return to Barbie Land under the stewardship of the Barbies, and away from the Kens.

The scene that represents a turning point and one of the most powerful in the movie (if not the most)- is when Gloria goes on a rant about how the expectations of womanhood are not only hard but often inconsistent," you have to be nice or are you are difficult. Not too nice though or you are naive" goes on the rant in listing these contradictions.

This rant makes the Barbies that were under a trance placed on them by the Kens snap out of it. Barbie in this scene then utters a statement about the cognitive dissonance that is required to make sense of living under oppressive systems.

After the Barbies take over, Gloria's daughter asks what is Barbie's ending- another meta-joke, as the writers acknowledge the audience is asking itself that question. The answer is given by the character Ruth Mattel, who says Barbie has no ending and explains to the doll that she is an idea and ideas live forever over many human lifespans.

This scene is also another powerful moment as Barbie is made to understand what it is to be a human, it means eventual death first and foremost, but also suffering and existential anguish before that. Despite this, Barbie still chooses to be human, saying she doesn't just want to be an idea.

Lessons From The Punchlines & Satire

Going into Barbie (2023), every watcher knew two things to be true- that Barbie was made by an outspoken woman (Writer & Director Greta Gerwig) and that the picture is an advert strategy by the makers of the doll, Mattel.

Never at one point was the movie pretentious about these two things, the writing owned them, even crafting some punchlines in reference to them. Indeed, the style of comedy in the film is self-referential and very meta-modern, in a way that reminded me of Family Guy or Rick & Morty jokes.

Promo poster for the Barbie movie. /FILE

For example in one instance, a narrator voices out the fact that the directors' decision to cast Margot Robbie sabotages their intended message about women not being pressured to feel beautiful. This type of humour allows them to keep their credibility, abandoning a veil of 'pure intentions' that the audience would see right through, and call them out on.

The movie was made as an investment and merch campaign based on existing Intellectual Property (IP) to boost sales, and this is not brushed aside either. A couple of outfits are advertised in the middle of the scenes, as the characters casually mention them.

When I mean advertised, I mean for the couple of minutes these outfits are being talked about the graphics on the screen resemble those of a proper commercial advertisement. This works because the movie, having made fun of itself puts everyone at ease so that this absurdity feels like an extension of the comic.

The film also uses self-referencing to further the plot when it voices the questions that the audience is always asking. For example, as mentioned in the section above, a character asks the double-entendre question "What is the ending for Barbie?"

Now let's get into the satire, Barbie Land is that it is not an equitable society. Although the characters rail about the patriarchy, most of them are living in a system that actively oppresses men.

Even when the Barbies take power back, they still relegate the Kens to second-class citizens, only conceding one seat in the local council. This ending for the Kens, forces feminists to question whether their goal is really equality or subjugation of men.

Conversely, it also forces men to confront how it would feel to be denied a meaningful seat at the table

The other instance of satire occurs when Ken encounters patriarchy for the first time and is immediately enamoured by it. He makes the mistake of linking the correlation between most men having powerful jobs as the sole causality.

This common cognitive bias is made fun of by his saying patriarchy is about men and horses, as that is what he has observed. He however finds out the hard way, when he goes to apply for a series of high-level jobs in fields like medicine and finance, thinking that he will get them, just by virtue of being a man- after all that is what he saw.

The point of that scene is to let the audience question whether the patriarchy works for all men in a blanket sort of way. The real corporate world requires competence, especially the visible, high-paying jobs that are usually quoted in these types of debates.

Conclusion

Is Barbie woke? No, not at all, that is lazy reading in my view. The punchlines are aimed at feminists and chauvinists alike, and the satire deeply buries harsh truths about the relationships between men and women, when you look beneath the pink veneer that covers it.

Satire is a stylistic device that is eminent, its esoterism elevating it above the banal and those seeking commonality. Those with a wiser understanding are able to see the joke, those without miss out, unfortunately.

Barbie the movie is too layered to dismiss as a movie about dolls for girls, a movie about feminism for women, or a movie about horses for men. Rather, it is a movie about selling merch to be bought by everyone executed in a funny way, with an ethos of not compromising on the quality and dedication to pink.

It is also about stepping away from our doll-like perceptions and embracing the messiness of being actual human beings.

Mesh Mwandishi is a young writer based in Nairobi Kenya. He has a keen interest in pop culture analysis and started by doing reviews on Kenyan music. He has since extended into film and other media as well. You can follow him on the handle @meshmwandishi on all social media platforms.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

Margot Robbie posing for a photo while playing the character Barbie in the Barbie movie. /VOGUE

DENVER B: Areas Where Viral Body Positivity Movement Failed

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:39:10 +0300

While I was on hiatus and moonwalking my way through the inter-web about a month or two back, I stumbled across a death report.

A lady who went by the name Jacky Oh! (wife to celebrity DC Young Fly) had passed away after travelling to Miami for a “mommy make-over” surgery. This death was a shock to many African Americans and soon ignited a discussion on Twitter on the exponential proliferation of female enhancement surgeries, commonly thrown under the abbreviation BBL.

About a week later, a clip circulated on Twitter which featured Nicki Minaj speaking on how her time as a young protégé under Lil Wayne influenced her decision to go under the knife during an interview with the Joe Budden Podcast.

She attributed it to the fact that ‘Wayne’ would come to the studio with a girl every time and would make jokes about women and big butts. The women Lil Wayne would bring would also have big butts as well which in turn made her feel incomplete, pushing her to get plastic surgery done.

Nicki Minaj posing for a past photo with Lil Wayne. /EW.COM

Where Body Positivity Movement All Started

The body positivity is believed to have sprung in the 2010s yet its true origins date back to the 1960s when it was called fat acceptance.

The term ‘Body Positive’ came into life in 1996 when a psychotherapist and an individual who had been through treatment for an eating disorder founded the website thebodypositive.org. The site sought to assist those struggling to lose weight by taking their focus off of it, according to verywellmind.com

What we have today is more of a modern resurgence in the matter rather than a new existence. This began in 2012 challenging the premise of unrealistic feminine beauty standards.

This new wave ended up encompassing women as a whole over time, running by the line ‘All bodies are beautiful’. This movement was aimed at giving the women and girls of today a sense of confidence for they believed that they were uniquely beautiful, despite their perceived flaws and social image issues.

It was a way to tell each woman/girl that they were beautiful, regardless of how they looked.

Where Are We Today?

This recent version of the body positivity movement in the light of social media has flourished beyond most people’s imaginations, with many larger-bodied individuals falling under that umbrella, becoming influencers (fatfluencers) and speaking for their large counterparts as well as those who believe they are expected to look a certain way.

The unfortunate reality is that while they speak under the umbrella of all bodies being beautiful, many thrive on the dislike for smaller, skinny women and now rampant fetishization of fat and large women.

With celebrities like Lizzo championing the movement, there has been a widespread disdain for calling fat people fat and using words that are considered ‘less hurtful’ such as big-boned and plus size among others.

This has in turn, pushed the envelope on what’s considered too much and, on the flip side, made smaller, skinnier women self-conscious due to their lack of size in specific regions of the body, namely the tatas (breasts) and bunda (buttocks).

This change is mostly due to the change in Western beauty standards (more so American) whereby the definition of beauty is a slim waist, big breasts and a large behind.

I theorize that this took hold with the proliferation of Hip-hop in the late 2000s, which was characterized by the increase in the number of African American women with large (sometimes enhanced) features that were synonymous with strip clubs in the more African-American-populated areas.

A Blended Social Standard

Even those with moderately sized bodies have been affected negatively. In the age of knowing the destructive capabilities of social standards, more women are speaking on the effects of the ‘Instagram body’ which is an example of the same but taken to near extremes for some.

The rise of cosmetic procedures which would include lip fillers, breast enlargement, tummy tucks and the infamous Brazilian butt lift (BBL) didn’t help the situation but rather worsened it.

Vera Sidika before and after her buttocks reduction surgery. /VIRALTEAKE

This new desirable image that became the norm online depressed many. This had led many to body-altering procedures, with many of them unsafe, and others catastrophic.

The age where women were supposed to see the beauty in themselves and each other is the same age where mothers feel the need to get tummy tucks, gastric procedures and liposuction so as to get them back to their original look.

The look that wasn’t changed by a process so monumentally special that their ability to look as they do after should be inherently negligible. And this is all existent in the era of body positivity.

Fat Renamed, Standards Reframed

Amongst some of the working class of today, there are a silent many that are opting for cosmetic procedures to help rid themselves of the ‘excess body’ that doesn’t give them the look they desire (or assume others desire). Many of them are celebrities, influencers and even politicians.

As the icons that many young people look up to, their bodies and their unchanged shapes are the goals of many, most of whom cannot achieve the same naturally within whatever period they claim they sized down to.

Many have gone under the knife but speak of amazing diets and gym workouts/trainers that range from okay to borderline garbage. Their body positivity has led them to the extremes to get the body they’d positively agree to have.

On the flip side, we have another class of body positivity: Those that let themselves go. They were called fat/unhealthy before, and as a result, chose to embrace it wholly.

They call those who speak about going to the gym and/or working on their bodies for self-improvement stuck-up, insensitive and fat-phobic.

They believe that their conditions are a result of nature and trying to change that isn’t their problem, so they should be accepted as is. Saying differently is fat-phobic and insensitive to their current life situation.

Did It Work?

In a day and time where calling someone fat is insensitive, we have more women with body dysmorphia because someone spoke about their size or worse still, didn’t say anything about it (rejection).

In a time when it’s supposedly okay to be fat (there I’ve said it), there are more women lining up for cosmetic procedures ranging from additive (breast and butt enlargement, fillers) to subtractive (tummy tucks, gastric bypass and liposuction) and even combos of the two (lipo + BBL).

We live in a time where body size is a sensitive discussion issue yet we’re more affected by it than ever, pushing the extremes of medicine and reshaping the English language to suit it. So in short, did the body positivity movement work?

Conclusion

With a lot tabled and critiqued, I’d argue yes and no.

Yes, because there are more women that aren’t trying to make themselves skinny by any means necessary. They have a better appreciation for their bodies and have a support system in case the appreciation wanes.

No, because they chose not to make positive improvements to their bodies but ask society to not judge them for their negative choices. Body positivity, in that case, was a success and a failure in its own right.

Maybe the idea should’ve been an appreciation with a sense of self-improvement, or maybe we shouldn’t have been asked to just simply stop using the word ‘fat’.

Either way, there are consequences for being alive in our time as a woman. Some can run, others just run their mouth.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A group of people in a gym. /LINKEDIN

How Well Do You Know Us? Viral Tea Tests You With 10 Half-Year Questions

Marvin Chege — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:36:33 +0300

For the whole first half of 2023, we kept you up to date with what was happening across the country and around the world, but how well do you know us, or followed us?

DENVER B: 7 Things Women Today Want In Responsible Kenyan Men

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 17 May 2023 13:48:01 +0300

It’s a boring day at the office. It was one of those weekends where I was required to come to work and the workload wasn’t anything to smile or cry about.

As I’m trying to do some online fact-finding, I stumbled upon an interesting article which was titled Kenyan Man Lists 7 Things Women Must Demand from Man Before Agreeing to Date that Prove He's Responsible. You can read that here.

As a Kenyan man, I’m interested. Kenyan men haven’t been considered (by our women on social media) to be the crème of the crop and we’ve been compared with our West African brethren, mostly with us being considered the lesser equivalent. So I had to see if this ‘advice’ was worth it.

What I read was about as appealing as a glass of water on a rainy day, but I made an episode discussing its contents here.

Listen below:

But for context, here’s what the contents were:

A Checklist for Women

The article was drawn from a TikTok video which had a man speak of how men have dropped the ball in terms of our responsibility to our families.

This means that women now need to be more critical of the men they were dating/courting. Women today need to have their potential suitors present some things (to be listed below) to ensure they have a chance with the women themselves.

These things are supposed to show that the man is responsible enough to settle down with. The requirements are:

A certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
Diploma/Degree certificate from a reputable college/university
Title Deed
One-year bank statement
Pay slip
Appointment letter/contract
Proof of renting/owning the property he resides

With a list this extensive, there surely can’t be any issues, right?

What You Can Get For Less

Before I go off on its usefulness (or lack thereof), the first thing I noticed was that you could apply for a bank loan with about half the things here.

Whilst a lot of us can argue on its need, let’s get one thing clear; after you get the loan, it won’t stop you from having a good time with the boys, and neither will it have a problem with you sleeping with another woman. But that part was mostly a joke.

The last place I needed a good conduct certificate was when I was starting my job. The last time I was required to present a bank statement and/or title deed was during a declaration of wealth for an audit.

What tells you (or anyone for that matter) that any guy with means would be willing to show a random stranger such information simply because they’re hot? Do you even need post-nut clarity to see this as a bad idea?

Worth it's Salt?

We also need to debate what all these things show.

The certificate of good conduct only shows that you’ve got no criminal record, which a lot of ‘criminals’ have. The degree/diploma carries very little besides a higher education and some level of qualification and teachability.

Officers outside the entrance of DCI headquarters. /FILE

A title deed, bank statement and pay slip only show how much you own and earn, things you’re not supposed to ask a man. It’s the equivalent of asking for a breakdown of a woman’s weight with body fat percentages, as well as sexual partners (probably add their reviews for good measure haha).

Then we have the proof of renting/owning the house you live in. This can show responsibility, but I’d argue the setup and organization inside would hold more weight.

Is It Even Useful?

By now you’ve seen how useful any of these requirements are in showing responsibility. It gets funnier if you decide to remove the degree and see how much better it gets.

A recent statistic revealed that the majority of real estate owners in Kenya didn’t have a degree. So you’re effectively reducing the dating pool by ridding the larger owners of real estate by asking for a degree.

Most drug lords and money launderers are free and have never seen prison, and none of these requirements proves that the man won’t walk out on you and your child(ren) for another woman.

So, if he’s got all of the above but is a narcissist and/or has no ‘member discipline’ let alone EQ, then would you still consider him of good quality? Wouldn’t something as simple as dependability or consistency be more crucial than someone’s bank statement?

How does any of this show real responsibility? Does any of this substantiate the claim that men have dropped the ball in familial responsibility? Does it even fix anything?

Conclusion

The majority of the ‘advice’ of male partner selection today has inclined itself heavily on finances and wealth that it fails to highlight key attributes such as good communication, a sense of vision, dependability and courtesy, among others.

It’s become a game of speaking towards the desires and interests of young impressionable women, all to garner their approval. This proves itself in this article, speaking on responsibility yet centring on assets and acquiring them before marriage.

So maybe next time you’re looking for a checklist for man to live up to, you’ll look for things that are not only good but practical too!

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A couple posing for a photo. /CAPITAL LIFESTYLE

DENVER B: Why Men Stopped Offering Women Their Jackets When It's Cold

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 10 May 2023 13:23:22 +0300

Chivalry: very polite, honest, and kind behaviour, especially by men towards women.

Let’s start this off with a question: Is chivalry dead?

It’s a chilled weekend and I’m on my phone scrolling social media when I stumble upon a video. The woman looked pretty, so as is the case with any straight man, I clicked. What followed was something that seemed very mundane to me and very annoying to most men.

The woman was giving a story of how some guys came over to her (and her friend’s, they’re roommates) place and upon noticing her TV on the floor, proceeded to make fun of her.

She then after having them over called a guy she knew who came with tools and wall-mounted her TV for her. He didn’t ask for anything but only got water and some snacks.

A couple holding hands. /FILE

She used this story to describe how real men will do things for you (like the ‘repair’ guy did) without expecting anything in return. She complained of how other men will always want something in return, which was bad.

While her story and beliefs weren’t all bad, they did bring out a small itch I needed to scratch: this idea of ‘real men’ and how people use it poorly.

I managed to do so here but it went further than that. I noticed something interesting as I thought about the phrase a lot more.

Listen to it below:

The Concept of ‘Real Men’

Every so often, someone online will talk about how real men do one thing or another. The idea of being a ‘real man’ has been taken to mean something odd over the years.

The concept of real men has been made to look like the current model of masculinity, which is mostly founded on a mixture of traditional roles and things that suit women. This idea has made it such that it’s usually the women who end up using the term, mostly to shame men for not doing/being something that benefits said woman.

About 90 per cent of people who use the term are women when speaking of a man they’d like to have (for purposes of having things done for them) or they’d expect to want in the future.

Five per cent of the other users are simps and the remaining five per cent use the term to speak on something they’re capable of which they believe most men should be capable of e.g. providing fully, pedestalizing women, being a stepfather etc.

This term in retrospect, seeks to please some ideal that is held by some, and I don’t like that. I’m not a fan of pleasing strangers for fake pleasure points. But what I did realize after a bit of thought into this is how the idea of real men bore the same actions that were held by a less often used term; chivalry.

Except for financial muscle and capability, everything attached to the 'real men' moniker spoke towards the old idea of chivalry.

Where Does The Ideal of Chivalry Come From?

While real men are an ideal borne recently, chivalry dates back to medieval times as a code of conduct for those who joined the knighthood. It spoke of bravery and service to others, before being adopted amongst the general public.

This meant that some aspects were stripped off for good measure and what was left related to service to others, mostly women. As such, it became a must-have trait for men. The code itself was good and was an aspiring ideal, but its realities were a lot different.

The knights that were supposedly governed by this code of conduct were mostly anything but chivalrous. They were the same people who while speaking of code, pillaged villages and harassed prisoners of war.

Their code spoke of an ideal to live by but the ideal itself didn’t have much life amongst its followers. Brutal, aggressive and often mannerless were the terms by many to describe knights under most social circumstances.

So if the people this code was meant for barely followed it, who are we to try the same?

Is it Beneficial to us men? (Or even useful)

The question of its usefulness or even life today is a matter of debate for most men on an internal level almost every day. The question of whether to be of service to the girl you like yet it put you deeper into the friend zone is a tricky one, but many men are drawn into it regularly.

The knowledge that another man will do less and get more is a baffling thought for us, but it’s the truth we must be comfortable with as men. This truth has been the one to dictate whether we want to do a task and whether we’re doing it for the right reasons, whatever they may be.

If you were to ask some, they would say that we should do it because it is good to do so. But if you interrogate that mentality for a minute, you realize that the good you speak of involves being a doormat.

A man during an argument with a woman. /FILE

Also, if you’re going to help a beautiful woman you’re crushing on with some painstaking tasks, are you doing it because it’s good, because she wanted you to help (she could be taking advantage of you) or because you just like her and wish she’d let you have more of her?

So Who Killed Chivalry?

Someone once asked me the first question I started with. Is chivalry dead?

While I can’t remember my answer at that time, I thought it through later and came to an interesting conclusion: Chivalry didn’t die, it just changed clothes. But if indeed it did die, it’s the women who killed it.

Men in days past were chivalrous because they were good, but it was mostly because they wanted a good woman.

Being chivalrous increased their reputation amongst their social circles, increasing public approval. This was important if you were young, single and looking to marry, as it would increase the approval of getting a fine dame you fancied. This isn’t the same situation today.

Men today know that they don’t need to do this to get the girl. The advent of the pill and the isolation of sex from marriage did give women a lot of newfound freedom, but it also made it such that men didn’t have to do as much to get sex.

Today, that has taken a wilder outlook since you don’t need to take a girl to dinner to sleep with them. The men that choose to do good to the girl with the hope of getting ‘some’ are out of luck today as their tactics are obvious to the women and they take advantage of this strategy.

Those with less care and even lesser manners are having the time of their lives with the same women, as they are the current pick by many. So if they’re winning without being chivalrous, why do it?

Conclusion

When women speak of chivalry dying, they speak of the traditional treatment based on an ideal not followed by its creators.

But chivalry itself didn’t die. It isn’t the same chivalry you heard of either, but it’s not dead. It simply changed looks to live with the times.

It swapped the oversized three-piece suit for the t-shirt and sweatpants. It saw that it didn’t require the suit to be seen, and wore the sweatpants instead because the print is what women today like to see.

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A man holds the door open for a woman. /YOUTUBE.YELLOW PAGES

DENVER B: 4 Reasons Men Leave 10-Yr-Old Relationships & Marry After 6 Months

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 03 May 2023 16:04:14 +0300

It’s interesting being in the relationships space. The wild ideas of love, the ever-changing priorities of people and the way people will never have the same ideas have always fascinated me.

It always allows us to question certain situations based on the circumstances so that we can understand and reflect on how we’d do things differently. It’s a tricky situation but I guess that’s why I like it so much.

The parts that I don’t like are the ones where people treat every situation like it’s the same or there’s a one-stop solution for most of their problems. That’s what I normally try to avoid and debunk most of the time.

This issue has become a little more rampant for all the wrong reasons. Usually attached to some course or some program, some characters online have seen the market for simple relationship solutions and have sought to profit by selling BS ‘tips and tricks’ which usually include basic information.

One such character did so and as is expected, I had to debunk the statements said. I did all that here if you’d like to listen but I’ll debunk it here as well.

The Case

So I stumbled onto a post from an Instagram page specializing in “mature relationship quotes” and promising to “Unlock the mysterious world of men”. It was a post that said:

I’ve seen men leave 5-10 year relationships, turn around and get married to a woman he’s known for 6 months. He does all the things his ex begged him to do. Word of advice, stop preaching to these men, they hear you. He’s not going to ever be the man you want him to be because you’re not the woman he wants to be with. People change for who they want, period!

Of course, it’s true, right? Would someone give bad advice knowing that it’s bad?

The Breakdown

Well, yes. Both those questions have the same answer. This is ironic considering that the answer(s) to the situation given above are anything but the same.

And guess what, it’s a lot less about the person as it is their behaviour. But what gives me the credibility to refute such ‘advice’?

A man during an argument with a woman. /FILE

Maybe just the fact that I’m a man and I have a pretty good idea of how many men think. If he’s been with you for over five years, there are very few things that can make him leave and do a complete 180 and marry someone else after just six months. So let’s break that down:

It’s Got Nothing To Do With Looks

If you think that it’s because of your looks then you’re probably right. If he’s been with you for over five years, your looks are probably the least of his considerations.

He’d have to have been very comfortable in that relationship that his desires for other women were put on the back burner until he woke up one day and decided to chase looks again.

You’d have to drastically increase/decrease in weight and looks for him to decide to leave. Most men are very comfortable with a woman gaining a few pounds and would still love them regardless.

The Desire for Change

The concept of change is thrown around quite a bit, and even in the statement, it’s been linked to changing for the person.

The issue is that most people look at the change in a relationship from the wrong angle. There’s a belief that a person will change for an individual, which is wrong.

Most people change for themselves or to become an ideal that gets them towards a desired goal. Women will mostly change for relationship(s) and men will mostly change for circumstances.

The idea of ‘moulding your partner’ has also been passed around quite a bit and it’s particularly common to hear such in men’s groups. This has given a lot of men the false hope that they can change a woman they’re infatuated with into their ideal woman.

This leads many to attempt this throughout a relationship where they may try to make their partner act/behave a certain way (to his liking) even though that goes against who the woman is.

This leads to short bursts of successful changes before reverting to ‘factory settings’, which creates a cycle that can engulf the relationship. Give this time and you can very easily waste months (years even) trying to turn a whore into a housewife (a bit extreme but you get the point).

So maybe what’s needed is the man seeing everything he wants in someone else to force him to leave and move on.

It's About The What

Most times when such a situation happens, it’s usually because of what the woman has done/not done that influences the man’s desire to leave and move on so quickly. These actions/inactions will be very specific and must have been mentioned by him at some point.

This usually stems from a desire to settle down and/or marry, which cannot be done without an inner comfort with the behaviours of the person you’ll be settling down with.

It can be something as simple and mundane as housework and hygiene to something as largely conflicted as getting married or choosing to have children. Those can change the course of the relationship, especially if the man wishes to do so within a particular timeline.

The most common ones I’ve heard are the marriage decision and the 'having children' decision.

Men have left people they loved for years in favour of having children with someone. It could be anything like being attached to an inheritance package they’re to receive or because of a white picket fence ideal that they’re after.

The point is, they’re not getting what they need from you so they’ll get it from elsewhere.

It's Not As Common As You Think

Although, contrary to what some people think, these situations are particularly rare in today’s day and age for one simple reason: Time carries a greater weight than most think.

If you’re with your man for multiple years, this threat is a lot less imminent than you’d think. If he’s been with you all through, he probably sees the idea of looking for something better as too much work with too much risk.

Conclusion

So the long and short of it is that there’s less to worry about in such and it’s a lot less to do with the superficial than it is the deeper issues/desires.

This is why you won’t hear people leaving long-term situations because of looks or sub-par sex. Because if you’ve been with your partner that long, then either you’re comfortable with the sex (subpar or not) or it just doesn’t bother you that much.

A man and a woman on a date. /iSTOCK

So maybe you shouldn’t be listening to some things said, whether they appeal to you or not. Either way, there’s a bunch of bad advice that needs to be extinguished, and someone needs to get the ball rolling.

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DENVER B: 3 Useful Tips For Women After Achraf Hakimi Divorce Saga

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:11:50 +0300

It may be considered old news but some of us are still reeling from the most controversial news of April. I'm talking about the divorce case of Achraf Hakimi and his soon-to-be ex-wife.

While in today's fast-paced environment news like this becomes old very quickly, the novelty of his story has been so controversial that it may end up being a part of history for days to come. The short of it is the ex-wife expected half of his wealth but will instead be splitting hers in half as 80 per cent of his wealth is under his mother's name thus putting the court system in his favour.

The men were all up calling his move legendary due to his ability to beat and turn a system notorious for hurting men towards his side, hurting his spouse in the process. Some women were up in arms, claiming the move unfair and spectating that the wife wasn't even after the money.

One woman did something different though. She decided to speak on how such a scenario can be avoided using a prenuptial agreement (or prenup) and outlined some steps and why they're relevant.

I happened to discuss this earlier and figured there's no reason not to share her insights here as well.

Listen below:

What was said

She starts off by mentioning the Hakimi divorce and voices how she feels some type of way regarding his moving of assets to the mother's name but opts to discuss it later.

She then moves to give women tips on how to avoid such a scenario. She gives the following pointers:

Get a prenup

This should be done even if you (the woman) don't have a massive asset portfolio. This is due to its mandate requiring both parties to declare their wealth in the initial stage.

This will not only include the assets they have but also include where they're located and whose name they're in. If Hakimi's wife did this, she'd know there's nothing to his name.

Have a Provision Giving a Payout For Being a Housewife

This is done due to the sacrifice made in favour of staying home to raise the children instead of remaining in the workforce, getting promoted and/or making (more) money.

This is because society and/or your love for your family will pressure you to do so thus you need a payout since going back to the same job will be hard due to the gap in your CV.

Have a Payout for Every Child You Bear

This may not be seen as necessary because it's not such a big deal but there is a mental, physical and emotional toll taken on your body which will change you forever.

Also, in the event of separation/divorce, you will be treated differently once you go back into the dating market since you're a single mother as opposed to the rich, divorced single father your spouse is. As it won't impact him but impacts you, you should be compensated for it.

A divorce decree. /FILE

Advocating for Prenups

To be honest, I was laughing while hearing all this. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd hear a woman advising other women to go for a prenup, but here we are.

This made me happy, not because of what was being said but rather the fact that women were suddenly seeing what it's like for a lot of men today.

For the first time in a while, the tables were turned (publicly) and the loss was given to the woman. The men were rejoicing and woke women were scrambling for straws to come out on top.

This prenup idea was a response to the current scenario but I figured there may still be issues with it, so I figured I'd question a few things.

Declaration of Wealth?

The reality of assets owned being declared sounds like a nightmare for most men, even though most of us don't own much to hide in the first place. It is akin to telling your date how much you earn, both gross and net.

However, I wonder if anything is prohibiting the transfer of assets after the fact or simply declaring the assets under your own, but not joint family assets or assets owned by another party that you have access to.

Paid for Nothing

The second part was the part I took issue with more than any other. The idea that I'm to pay my partner for staying home to take care of the kids seemed a bit weird to me.

Firstly, we're both sacrificing for the sake of the children. Yet she'll be loved more for her sacrifice later on whilst I may be ignored/looked down upon as the parent that was rarely around.

Secondly, why is her external/internal pressure any of my problems?

The option to quit and become a housewife (unless I forced her to do it) is entirely hers and thus should be her burden to bear, not mine. So why incur consequences for her choices?

Single Mum Insurance

The third step is probably the most contentious one in my opinion. The idea of a payout in the event of childbirth is something that's been done with/without a prenup by many people.

The idea of a 'push gift' has been something many modern-day women hope for in their partner, which embodies the same principle. That's the part I agree with.

The issue I had was the idea of returning to the dating market as a single mum. Firstly, why should that be my problem?

I'm not trying to be heartless here but her value to me ends once we're no longer together, so why care beyond that? But most importantly, how exactly does the money help her?

Being a single mother in the dating market is tough but having a lot of money added on top does nothing but make you a rich single mother. Having a booty or a curvy body does more for you in such a situation.

Conclusion

It's probably too late to say that I didn't agree with much of what she said. I really do believe in prenups, but not to such a degree that it seems almost predatory to one party over another.

I believe in the prenup from a sense of concern. It's rooted in the realization that people are more individualistic today than ever before, and many people are willing to gain wealth at the expense of another and an important bond.

So in short, get a prenup if you can, just be weary of the clauses and see if it works for you. Also, consult a lawyer that will have your individual interests at heart.

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A man and a woman in marriage. /FILE

DENVER B: Would The Divorce Rate Reduce If Men Didn’t Lose Everything?

Denver Bagaka — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:51:49 +0300

If you’re a man browsing the internet today, targeted red pill content isn’t new, particularly ones relating to marriage.

This is why I’ve seen a lot of posts on why men should avoid marriage and why it’s such a bad idea today, particularly for men.

But while I ignore most of it, I was surprised to find something worth debating. I was randomly scrolling through IG when I stumbled onto a post by Spiritual Word which read: "Less divorce would happen if divorce didn’t rip everything away from men. True or False?"

I loved this question so much that I ended up discussing it here because we’ve been forced to not only think about how bad divorce is for men but also get to question the possibilities if the losses are reduced.

Listen to it below:

But before we start hypothesizing, let’s see what we currently know about divorce:

Divorce Stats

First off, let me give a disclaimer: Most of the statistics given are from the US. This means that the accuracy of the information may vary in terms of your region/location.

According to early statistics, about 40-50 per cent of marriages ended in divorce, with the chances increasing every time a person remarried (although marriages stand a greater chance of survival today as per recent stats).

Women dominate the initiation of divorces in both the US and the UK at roughly 70 per cent with 50 per cent of all divorces being attributed to money (this has recently gone down to 22 per cent).

These statistics paint a grim picture for every man looking at marriage and the ever-elusive happily ever after. From there, you link the ever-falling numbers of suitable mates into the mix and the hope for marriage without divorce seems more like a pipe dream than reality.

So now we ask the question: what if it didn’t look so bleak? What if the possibility of heavy losses for men from divorce were reduced significantly?

What it would look like

I decided to contemplate such a reality and honestly, I believe it would likely increase the chances of marriage, as the reduction of losses from the man’s side would reduce the perceived challenges young men would have that would deter them from committing to the bond.

Some would argue about whether women would affect the rate of marriage, but I’d argue that since men carry the keys to the relationship, it’s the men that carry the greater decision-making power in relation to entering a marriage.

Vindictive women would find less satisfaction in divorce as the thought of “Taking him for all his money” will be a thing of the past for many due to the lowered losses from divorces. This may make some relationships last longer although in thinking again, such women’s husbands may very well be the ones initiating the divorces, albeit for a different reason- being tired of their partner.

Some women will still take the option of divorce (of course) as a weapon against their partner, akin to a double-edged sword due to the desire to see their partner fall. This can also affect the man in other ways due to the reputational damage.

The increased freedom for men opens the possibility for more men to initiate divorce due to unhappiness. This would work well for the typical runner who instead ‘getting the milk’ may instead opt for the ending of the relationship as a more permanent means.

The cases of secret families and/or polygamy could reduce as there would be no need for secrecy. But, are you seeing a can of worms being opened here?

It's worse.

Evidentially, the reduction of losses incurred for men during divorce would probably do the opposite of its intended purpose, as the rate of divorce would probably stay the same if not get worse.

For many, due to the low numbers of men initiating a divorce, this idea seemed to be a good solution as it could reduce the number of women who initiate divorce, especially those who divorce intending to gain from the man or wreck his life. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.

The rise of re-marriage would occur due to the lowered risks of divorce, because if it’s so easy to get out, why not go in and out at will? Think of it like a tall, barbed-wire fence; if it’s lowered, even children will jump in and out testing out their high jump skills for fun.

Divorces initiated by women may decrease by a bit, but divorces initiated by men would increase. If there’s less risk for the same, the option will almost always be taken.

It’s already easy enough to get married, so if you make it easier to get divorced, what stops people from breaking the knot just as fast?

Conclusion

The truth of it is that the benefits of such a reality don’t particularly hold more water than its detriments.

The barriers of entry and exit are what help people determine whether to get into any commitment, be it business or personal. Once you lower both, expect a lot of players both in and out.

After pondering this, I concluded that the best solution is not to decrease the losses faced but rather to increase the losses faced by the woman.

A man and woman during a wedding. /FILE

This would either reduce the number of women getting into commitments for anything besides long-term reasons and would also force more people to be increasingly selective in their options of life partners as the consequences would be direr.

Point is, the solutions sought are two-sided and require a more careful approach to not achieve the same result, just on the opposite end. It’s a lot like weight loss; you can cut out junk food and replace it with healthier options but if you’re not observant of the amounts consumed, you’ll still end up with the same result.

Argue all you want but I’ve never seen a Panda eat a burger yet it’s still fat.

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DENVER B: Why Young Men Are Struggling To Date Right Now

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:34:36 +0300

So, about a week ago I stumbled onto a video of an older man berating a young man who was reviewing the statements of a young woman who claimed that she wants a nice guy.

His thoughts spoke of the way women say this and often will choose the exact opposite from the ‘nice guy’ persona, which he is. And the older man was brutal with his criticisms; so much so that I ended up discussing it.

From saying that the young man felt entitled to women/sex by saying such to stating that his frustrations and role-playing were part of “incel behaviour” because their nice-guy approach wasn’t reciprocated with affection and/or sex, this older man tore into this young, frustrated man in a way I haven’t seen in a while.

Listen to the audio here:

And while I may have my reservations about speaking on what men should do in the face of female rejection, I didn’t like the kind of criticism here.

It was almost as if the man had never struggled in his approach to the fairer sex or he had forgotten the struggles it comes with. Also, why of all things refer to his behaviour as that of an incel?

What is an Incel?

Okay, first let’s understand what the term means for the sake of context and understanding: The term incel is short for involuntary celibate.

The term is given to an online clique of men (and in rare cases, women) who are unable to find sexual or dating partners and thus by involuntary means, cannot copulate.

They do not have partners out of choice, but rather out of circumstance. They are perceived to be angry, reserved and sometimes hostile to sexually active ‘normal’ people.

But is this what he was or is there something more here?

Dating Today is Frustrating

Dating can be a challenging and confusing experience for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for young men who are still trying to figure out the nuances of relationships and attraction.

In today's world, where social media and hookup culture reign supreme, it can be hard to know what women want and how to approach them in a way that is respectful and effective. This can lead to frustration, confusion, and even mislabeling as an incel, which can be detrimental to a young man's self-esteem and mental health.

What some women (and a few men) may see as an incel here, I see someone who is frustrated with the dating market today, as is the case with a lot of us today.

One of the main sources of confusion for young men is the gap between what women say they want and what they actually want.

Many women will say that they want a man who is kind, respectful, and treats them well, but then seem to go for guys who are more aloof, confident, and even arrogant. This can leave young men feeling like they are doing everything "right" but still not getting the results they want.

Drawing of a man who is angry after seeing a couple together. /WIKIMEDIA

Their listening to the market demands and responding only to face rejection is also frustrating. It’s like they’ve known that 1+1=2 yet in this case 1+1 doesn’t equal the same thing as the rules of this game are very different.

This can lead to frustration, confusion, and even mislabeling as an incel, which can be detrimental to a young man's self-esteem

Approaching Made Different

While this reality is true for a lot of young men, it’s not as hopeless as some may see it.

Some men learn this over time and as such can impart the same knowledge to the uninitiated. This should even things out for most young men except for one thing: Not all advice is good advice.

Since success with approaching women will vary based on physiological qualities as well as personal biases, the advice given can sometimes cause more harm than good.

An extrovert with broad knowledge and interest in trending topics can have greater success with advice such as “Just be yourself” but the introvert with an interest in gaming and astrophysics will suck with such advice. This makes it hard for any uneducated young man trying to work their way into approaching women with success.

Fortunately, there are pick-up artists that give solid advice on approaching women that tends to cut across most biases. However, their advice has been termed by some as manipulative which can make them seem a type of way and thus harder to follow.

Although, while following their advice may be debatable on whether to follow or not, there seems to be one piece of advice that has worked for most men without fail.

Become Better

The idea of constant improvement has been touted as the best advice you can give a man in his hopes of attracting a fine dame over time. While general, it relates to what makes many people stand out and seem more attractive even before/without approaching.

It’s a simple combination of self-improvement that is always used to hammer this point home. It requires acceptance of dissatisfaction with the person you are now in favour of the person you can be in the future, and working towards making that future a reality.

From there, you focus on four key areas: Physical, mental, social and financial. If you can leverage your strengths and combine the improvement of the four factors (no matter how small), your attractiveness will elevate regularly.

Conclusion

In many words, what I’ve been trying to say is that the young man isn’t an incel. If he is, he’s simply there due to frustration from the dating market.

It’s something that many of both genders face on a day-to-day basis, so why ostracize some and leave others? Yes, some may be unable to get a partner, but in most cases, it isn’t terminal.

In conclusion, dating can be a confusing and frustrating experience for young men, but it doesn't have to be. By recognizing the complexities of attraction and relationships and constantly trying to improve, you’re more than halfway past your goal of being with a potential mate.

So while some may be further than others, a little bit of leeway and advice in the right direction will go a very long way.

Denver B is a TV personality on the show Men’s Conference and a podcaster on the Break Time on Westside podcast which speaks on love, sex & relationships spanning over 360 episodes. You can reach him through his email denversonline@gmail.com

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Image of a woman rejecting a man. /THE MAN EFFECT

DENVER B: Real Reason Women Keep Going For Rich Men

Denver Bagaka — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:35:51 +0300

Waking up to write this article, I stumbled upon a gossip post on IG about a radio presenter who asked guys to stop DM-ing her as she only wants ‘billionaires’.

Of course, as is the unsurprising reaction of the public on reading this, people went off in the comments section. I being a speaker against cyberbullying, went into the comments to get entertained by what was being said.

But on reading the first few, I closed the app and sought to continue my day, seeing the clout chase in the post and electing not to be a participant in it.

We’ve seen and heard similar statements made on live TV, radio, social media and podcasts. They’re not new. The idea of a woman online wanting a high-earning, high-status individual is all too common today and that shock and awe tactic is overused, to say the least.

A man during an argument with a woman. /FILE

The unfortunate reality is that whilst some of us may understand that what is being said may not reflect what is felt by the horse, others believe that if it has come from the horse’s mouth, it represents the beliefs of all horses.

Horse or not, this has affected people and their relationships, or lack thereof. So much so that I ended up making a two-part episode set addressing the same.

Listen to both of them below:

An Old Ideal

The days when a woman would be asked about their potentially desirable partner’s main qualities and would keep it simple are almost forgotten.

The days of tall, dark and handsome are being left to the books and the simplest a woman has told me her ideal man’s qualities are were the earlier three, plus financially stable. The list of requirements is growing, and mandatory.

The idea of compromise has become synonymous with ‘settling for less’ a term used to describe below bare minimum and possibly abusive partners, to which no woman today will give a chance.

Ever since women were told online that they should see themselves as beautiful and that they’re all 10s, the desire for the top tier of men has been pushed as a must, if not deserved. So, if that’s the case, what happens to the average Joes?

Hypergamy on Steroids

If you’re a young man today, I bet you’ve probably heard the statement ‘Women are hypergamous’ about as much as you’ve heard someone speak of getting what you want through manifesting.

‘The man’s role is to provide’ has become a leaning point for a lot of talkers on relationship topics and your favourite content creators have told you that if you don’t make money, you don’t make sense. This is further hammered in by the women’s remarks.

From questions on who gets to pay on the first date, to what a man should be doing for his woman as a show of love, to being told that their woman always deserves ‘baby girl’ treatment, young men are being reduced to workers whose only role is to find satisfaction in the women they lust over.

By being able to afford their desires, match up camera-happy standards and still do so while remaining faithful, they may be able to secure their woman. This is understandable, except that the standards required are not within arms’ reach for most young men until they’re in their mid-thirties or forties and by then, where will the standards have gotten?

There’s been an ever-increasing standard that’s been set online for men to live up to as a ‘modern show of love’ which has forced me to wonder: Could this idea of hypergamy have been taken a little too seriously?

A Quality Argument?

“If guy X got his girlfriend of 3 months a bouquet wrapped in money, what’s stopping you from giving your girlfriend of 2 years the same?”

I’ve heard this before and it’s never been taken as seriously in the social setting, or so we think.

People have been dumped for not being/doing enough for another person and as such, feelings of inadequacy plague young men trying to date.

Their pockets aren’t as fat, their disposable income isn’t for two (even one is arguable sometimes) and the girls their age that they like don’t seem to care about them since they’re punching at a weight class that can only be satiated by their more fortunate, well-to-do counterparts. So why attempt to get into the dating market as a young man?

A collage of popular celebrity couples in Kenya. /VIRALTEAKE

While we ask this question, a new question arises from the dick-swinging side of the table: If they ask for more than their mothers did, do they give more than what their mothers gave?

A new expectations argument is set, pitting the past against the present while the women’s argument pits the present against a dream. The stories of women who cooked and cleaned for their boyfriends are served around before someone questions what the women of today offer instead and it becomes a funny discussion.

Talks of sending fare before she comes, lying down waiting for first-class hospitality, and giving nothing more than the opportunity to get your rocks off are awash and the young men conclude that the quality of women found in today’s dating market is nothing like the mothers that gave birth to them.

The Disconnect Between the Times

While such discussions go on, a realization has come to mind; we live in very different times. Of course, there are more social platforms and we even have dedicated dating sites/apps but it’s more than that.

We came from a world where people viewed relationships as a giving enterprise and were thrown into a world where people view relationships from a receiving POV.

People in the 80s, 90s and even 2000s went into relationships armed with a desire for good companionship first and a better life for both moving forward before looking at the niceties and what the cost of an engagement ring should be. Young people today are trying to get into relationships with a desire to receive good treatment as opposed to some of the predecessors and former patrons of the market.

They want lavish treatment without having felt that they have worked for it, they want to have a deep connection after a few deep strokes and want constant unconditional affection yet the relationships that have stood beyond the era of Motorola and Nokia’s domination speak less on that than anything. This has given the impression that there are little to no good mates and the market is chock full of garbage, and maybe by some criteria, it is.

Conclusion

There’s an argument to be made for treating a woman you love/care about like a princess (metaphorically speaking).

No man wants their significant other to suffer, and neither do they want to rob them or lack the ability to give them the finer things in life. There’s also an argument about giving to receive in a relationship, and that holds water too.

I can’t call people’s desires bad and yet I have my own, but I also can’t say that some are the most sustainable or the most realistic for the environment they’re in. So we must ask if the problem lies in the people or maybe we also look for the wrong things in each other today.

As the Psychologist, Adam Lane Smith states,” People today use the wrong strategies trying to secure the right mate.” If we don’t discuss these expectations of ours very soon, a lot of us are going to look back twenty years from now and be angry because we messed up two or more generations of people.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A woman on her phone. /FILE

DENVER B: Settling For Less Vs Settling Down

Denver Bagaka — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 06:21:48 +0300

While planning one of my episodes last week, I stumbled upon a tweet that I found peculiar.

My Friday episodes of the podcast involve me making Tweets made by random people about the subject matter of the podcast. This particular time was one of the rare occasions when I stick to one tweet and use the replies, as it was a collection of unpopular opinions on relationships.

I already had my 3 for the episode but one more caught my eye, and upon reading it, decided it warranted its own episode. It didn’t trigger any emotions as do many other tweets, although it did trigger my thought process for a bit. Here’s the Tweet:

most people end up with people they settled for because they didn’t do the work to be with the kind of person they actually want to be with https://t.co/CgizbeFhhU
— GURU J (@GURUJAHRA) March 16, 2023

Initial Thoughts

My very first thought as I read the tweet was that it was written by a woman.

I was 100% sure of it, even before I checked on the bio (which I did later on and confirmed it was indeed a woman). The thought seemed so clear yet the nature of what was being said is something that men usually say to each other.

Listen to the episode below:

The idea of self-improvement to get a mate has always been a predominantly male mindset as the concept of self-improvement has mostly leaned on building physical muscles, financial muscles and social muscles.

It’s been every now-confident man’s hero journey; a movement from where they seemed unseen/unnoticed, from being passed up on the opportunity of being with a beautiful crush to the point of being able to speak to any woman and have multiple women be interested in pursuing a relationship with you or at the very least, copulating.

But even then, to succinctly read a tweet and conclude that it was a woman’s writing was a bit odd. So why?

An Options Game?

The thought that if one improved themselves then it would lead to better results in terms of partners indicated that there were already options, albeit low-quality. This is unlike men as they speak about having options first before speaking of the quality.

This is because most men rarely get approached by women, let alone get their attention.

So you’d have to be a serious catch to speak on the quality of options since most men just want a chance or two with a woman, regardless of quality. But no, this wasn’t what drew me toward my fast conclusion.

Settling Down or Settling For Less?

Not to drag this on forever, I’ll say it: The concept of settling here seemed to indicate that the person was settling down at one point and then showed that they were settling for less after going on further. Men only know how to settle down.

Most millennial women speak of settling for less, and their idea of settling for less tends to equate to their idea of settling down quite often. And I can prove this by example:

If a man was to explain the concept of settling down to a woman, it would very easily be taken as going for the bare minimum. The idea that you decided to have a long-term relationship with a woman you know isn’t the most beautiful or the smartest, isn’t the best cook of the best in the sheets may seem like you’ve settled for a lower quality partner in some women’s eyes, as their partner must see them as the best they’ve got.

Men on the other hand view it very differently. We understand that she may not be the best at a lot of things but she’s pretty good at most things.

She can be a 7 with a nice bum, cooks well, has an adventurous mindset, be respectful and does not cause trouble 99 per cent of the time, and maybe like biting the pillow thrice a week and she’ll be considered a keeper (I’ve probably described some guy’s perfect woman actually).

A collage of popular celebrity couples in Kenya. /VIRALTEAKE

You can even take the adventurous mindset out of this equation, and she’ll still be considered a solid catch. Even drop her looks to a 6 and it still flies as good enough.

Make her cooking skills moderate and we’re still good. Take that to the other gender and see them dispose of the partner from the looks perspective if he’s under 5 ft 7 inches (if not 9).

Glass Half Full vs Glass Half Empty

Settling down for men has always been the final move before marriage.

It’s an acceptance that you’ve gotten the best (or the best option at the time) and you’re ousting yourself from the dating market completely as you try to build something with your current partner. So it’s an idea that always carried a positive connotation as it marked a progression of life.

The concept of settling with women today is told with a less optimistic outlook.

Married and previously married mothers, both young and old, opened up about their challenges in matrimony. From the constant pains felt from spousal treatment to the hurting experienced by unsupportive, uncooperative and loveless spouses, the concept of settling from a woman’s view, especially after hearing their older counterparts open up, seems like a tunnel, with the light at the end turned off.

So Is There a Difference?

Actually, there is. You’d have to read the fine print, but both concepts are quite different. Both concepts speak towards getting off the dating market to be with someone, but that’s where the similarities end.

Settling down takes the best of what’s there and tries to make the best of what it's got. It is armed with the knowledge that perfection doesn’t exist, but a close representation of that is with you, and worth betting on.

Settling for less knows that the partner is terrible in some way, and has red flags which may be glaring but don’t diminish the spirit that chooses to stay. Eventually, over time, the red flag represents a normal reality that was once frowned upon but has now been assimilated into their daily lifestyle.

Conclusion

The reality is that both sides look at settling differently. For the liberal woman, settling isn’t an idea they’d hold dear as they’ve been shown the unhappy ‘glass half-empty' side to it.

For the young man who was lucky enough to get one woman, he’s willing to bet on, he sees settling as his chance to have a solid nuclear family, so his is a glass half-full.

To the mature and experienced folk, the glass is fully visible. While the pros and cons are weighed, the important thing is the water, and the person is thirsty so the glass isn’t worth thinking about.

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DENVER B: Why Single Men Aren’t Dating Anymore

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:31:54 +0300

While stumbling my way through Instagram this past weekend, I stumbled upon this video where someone revealed that 63 per cent of men under 30 years of age are choosing not to date as per a recent article.

The reasons given for the result of this study which originated from the Pew Research Center were cited by ‘experts’ as pornography and social media which meant that men were ‘having a lot of their needs met’ and as such didn’t desire to go out looking for dates from young impressionable single women.

Hearing about the stats wasn’t too surprising, but the reasons given did hit a spot for me, owing to the fact that I fell under that category in nearly every way (save for the fact that I’m a Kenyan man in Kenya). It hit so close to the chest that I ended up making an episode on it.

Listen below:

Because for some, this part of the world doesn’t face the same problems but for others, the problems in the west are always imminent for us. So are the statistics true?

Something Else?

The honest answer is yes, but not here (Kenya). The statistics on Kenyan men and their singlehood is still up in the air but I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t far off. However, the reasons given were debatable.

As a young single man who interacts with other young single men, it seemed like a bit of a reach thinking that porn was that widely consumed. Then I remembered that Kenyans’ most searched sites mostly include porn and gambling.

So maybe porn could be a culprit, but is that the only or even the main thing?

I decided to ask that question and as a part of the statistic, took down some points as to what the case for a lot of us young men could be. I chose to be as impartial as possible and took the question to both genders and what the reasons may shock you.

Why Aren’t Men Up for it?

I decided to start by pointing the finger back at the men and put the blame on our shoulders to cite reasons why we’re not approaching or dating women anymore.

The reality of the situation is that most men under 30 today aren’t choosing to date because they can’t/won’t be able to date (right now) or the women they’d want to date aren’t worth dating.

The first dose of reality that hit me was that men nowadays just don’t approach women any more. In an age of social media and group activities being the norm, it seemed rare that any of my female friends would have some guy coming to start a conversation with them out of the blue.

I can also say that it’s been years (now that I think of it) since I randomly walked up to a woman and tried to spark some inkling of a conversation. While there are reasons for that, I needed to start by accepting that before I asked why.

Then I remembered how many times people were referred to as creeps/weird online and in person, as well as when the woman drugged and robbed the man and I stopped wondering why I haven’t approached in a while. From office workplace romances being frowned upon to the #MenAreTrash movement making men weary of cold approaching women, there’s not much room for a guy today to be confident that approaching a woman in a public setting won’t be taken with a livid response.

Couples arguing with each other. /FILE

Reinforcing that in a world where it’s easier to survive as a murderer than as a supposed sex offender, it just doesn’t seem like a good idea to approach a woman in public today.

Are Women Also To Blame?

But while the blame was sent the men’s way, the women didn’t make approaching them any easier either.

A steady string of growing expectations from the fairer sex in their 20s has made the idea of dating a beautiful young woman today seem harder than ever for most men.

The economy hasn’t spared most of us youth and the with the cost of dining increasing, the concept of dating just doesn’t seem as feasible for most men…at least not as frequently as some may think. This makes it harder to match the standard of a good place to take her on a date as the Bambinos and the INTIs of the world seem ever more elusive to the average Nairobi man living paycheck to paycheck and nursing a loan on the side.

These expectations make it harder for a lot of young men to not only date but commit to, with many opting to avoid the potential heartbreak that might ensue should they miss a payday once and end up in the financial red.

Most young men are one late paycheck away from financial disaster and the burden of accommodating another soul on that paycheck makes it even harder. This comes as the man’s role as a potential provider becomes ever-emphasized as the babes want ‘baby girl’ treatment and have been told not to settle for less. But what do we (men) get from all that?

When we dive below that top layer of demands lies a new problem: value earned versus value given. Not to make a comparison but what our fathers got in the name of girlfriends leaves a lot to desire in our current crop.

While some of our mothers abstained till marriage, they more than made up for it by demonstrating their immaculate cooking, organization and hygiene skills.

If we told them what their daughters do instead, some would be mortified. From camping and leaving a more disorganized mess to simply screwing and napping, what we receive today is nothing short of below the bare minimum.

We may have the sex that some of our fathers lacked, but we don’t get much else besides that. So if that’s all that we’re getting yet we’re giving more to be with them, then why bother trying to commit or even going out to date in the first place?

Conclusion

Okay, maybe when I said I’d be impartial I wasn’t entirely honest.

When I embarked on the journey to answer this question, I did it knowing that the outcomes may be subjective or may seem just plain hateful. The truth of it is that it comes from a place of concern, listening and observation.

The truth behind why we (men) aren’t dating anymore can be summed up with one word: Confidence. The confidence to approach women is probably the easiest target of this, yet beyond that paper-thin wall, we find something totally different.

Young men today aren’t dating because they aren’t confident that they CAN find a good match for commitment. And even if they are, they’re not confident that they WILL, given that the crop of women they’ve encountered doesn’t seem sustainable let alone dateable.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A woman rejects a man's marriage proposal as the public watches. /FILE

DENVER B: Why Finding A Mate Is Harder For Women Today

Denver Bagaka — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:57:48 +0300

While doing my podcast this week, I mentioned something that seemed easy enough to say but carried more weight afterwards. With the current dating market, it's easier to get sex than it is to get a relationship.

This was said as I was addressing the main topic of discussion, which you can listen to here.

To summarize, a lady had written to the newspaper asking for advice regarding retaining a boyfriend. She mentioned having been in multiple relationships with great guys but hadn't had anything serious/long-term with any.

While the statement was used as an explainer for the case-at-hand, the reality as it relates to dating, in general, today and the current mating crisis that exists.

A couple cuddling in bed. /FILE

Is Dating Becoming Harder?

There's a growing body of research that shows that more people are refraining from the idea of dating for multiple reasons. For women, many state the lack of a good mate while many men state a gap between what women want and what men can provide.

This has pushed the idea of dating further away from people who would've otherwise been with a partner and (possibly) with children would they have dated during our parents' time.

So in light of us being the most connected society today, having dating apps and singles events, why does it feel harder to get a mate than ever before?

Quality of Men Today

To quote Samuel L. Jackson's character Shaft from the movie of the same name "Men used to be men..." The idea of what man is/was supposed to be has been an evolving thing for years and what made the man in terms of character in the 60s has evolved.

Today the idea, having been moulded by mainstream media and other agents, has created a caricature that either appeals to the fantasy & desires of women or a sexualized, muscular, high-earning 'Chad' that is the 'complete' image for a lot of men.

This created a conflicted idea for a lot of boys and young men on what the man is supposed to be, where their experiences and environment have eventually shaped what they become based on primary requirements and personal benefit. While such doesn't look like much, the results have highlighted a quality of men that isn't what their fathers and grandfathers envisioned a good young man would be in the future.

Whether you agree with my previous statement or not, a lot of women have suffered as a result. From men they have deemed weak, uninteresting, too nice or too rude, the list of good, kind, well-mannered, monogamous and confident men has been an ever-decreasing cohort of men that match this description.

This has led many women to settle for less than ideally desired partners or bow out of the dating market almost completely with the occasional dip in once they see something they like for a quick second. Some would say that the remedy to this issue is that standards need to be adjusted but we'd need to know what standards we'd need to adjust before making any overhauls that can set us back centuries.

The Desires of Women

"If you were to ask a woman today what they'd want their dream guy to be today, you'd end up with about 3-4 different men."

That was a quote I read about 1-2 years back which made me question the reality of the claim. So I asked some women what they'd want in their version of a dream man, and I found it hard to refute the claims.

The idea of the dream man to a lot of women's desires is almost a contradicting image of an 'every man'. This man is a King in the streets, a beast in the sheets, a caregiver in the living room and the object of desire to other women. He must be wanted by others but not want any other besides his woman.

Succinctly, this man is unattainable by realistic standards. Thus, as is human nature, women will go for the closest representation of those desires based on their priorities.

Those priorities, which have become superficial as social media has taken a stronghold, have made them more unattainable to average men and have caused resentment toward the idea of going for women who voice such expectations as realistic for most.

Intersexual & Intrasexual Competition

The rise of woke feminism and the red pill community has created a new social situation where men and women are not only competing against their fellow sex but also against each other.

This has pushed women to encourage other women to scale up higher, have more sexual partners and embrace their beauty with a sense of perfection without a case for self-improvement, which reduces their mate choices dramatically. The #MeToo movement didn't make things any better either, making workplace romances a scary idea that should be avoided by many.

The red pill movement with reinforcement from uneducated, traumatized content creators using bro-science has told men that women only want them for their money and power.

They've told them that they are not worthy of a woman's love unless they're high-performing muscular men. And even then, the women want to take advantage of them, thus they must be careful. So, what's the point of dating?

The Fix: Adjust the Product or Adjust the Market?

As a rule, let's not forget, "Women hold the keys to sex, men hold the keys to the relationship" and as such the men are the ones we need to pay attention to now.

The generation of men during the Boomer stage and Gen X came up at a time when you almost certainly needed to get into a relationship to get sex. Thus they had to be marketable enough that they'd be considered potential mates.

The dating market then made the relationship easier to acquire than the sex, which isn't the case now. So maybe for once, we need to ask if the women should be the ones making themselves marketable enough as potential mates, even if the men may be caricatures of different desires.

Eventually, at some point, we'll have to cut out the noise and allow ourselves to think. Think not for your pleasure and short-term goal/comfort but for your future.

We are social creatures and we can act like we don't want each other for long but at some point, something will have to give. We will either have to change how we look at dating or how we select our partners.

Either way, there's a mating crisis at hand, and we're ill-equipped to handle it right now.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A woman on her phone. /FILE

SOSSI MAY: Importance Of Safe Spaces For Women In A Digital World

Marvin Chege — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:06:54 +0300

As a digital community manager, I am acutely aware of the need for safe online spaces for women to thrive.

The internet can be a powerful tool for women to connect, share ideas, and build communities, but it can also be a breeding ground for harassment and abuse.

That's why this year's International Women's Day theme of "Embrace Equity" is so important. It reminds us that creating a more inclusive and equitable society means ensuring that women have a safe and supportive environment to express themselves online.

Portraits of Soila Mayiani. /VIRALTEAKE

Unfortunately, women often face harassment and abuse online simply for daring to express their opinions or take up space in a male-dominated digital world. This can have a chilling effect on their ability to participate fully in online communities and can even drive them away from social media altogether.

As digital community managers, it's our responsibility to create and maintain online spaces that are welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all.

Sexual harassment is a significant problem for women in the digital world in Kenya. According to a 2019 report by Plan International, 60 per cent of girls in Kenya have experienced some form of sexual harassment online.

The report also found that girls between the ages of 15 and 19 were particularly vulnerable to online sexual harassment, with 54 per cent reporting that they had received sexual comments or messages online.

Furthermore, a 2020 survey conducted by Women at Web found that 42 per cent of women in Kenya have experienced cyber harassment, which includes cyberstalking, online abuse, and unwanted sexual advances.

The study also revealed that women in Kenya often face barriers in reporting online harassment, with only 9 per cnet of respondents reporting the harassment they experienced to the police.

These statistics demonstrate the urgent need for safe online spaces for women in Kenya to thrive. Women should not have to fear for their safety or well-being when they use the internet.

As digital community managers, we have a responsibility to create and maintain safe and inclusive online communities where everyone, regardless of their gender, can participate freely and without fear of harassment or abuse.

To do this, we need to be proactive in addressing harassment and abuse. This means setting clear community guidelines and enforcing them consistently.

It means taking reports of harassment seriously and responding promptly and compassionately. It also means creating a culture of respect and empathy within our communities, where differences of opinion are celebrated rather than attacked.

But creating safe online spaces for women is about more than just preventing harassment and abuse. It's also about empowering women to share their unique gifts and talents with the world.

When women feel supported and respected online, they are more likely to share their ideas, build meaningful connections, and contribute to the digital world in meaningful ways.

This International Women's Day, let's commit to creating safe and inclusive online spaces for women to thrive. Let's embrace equity by recognizing and celebrating the unique gifts and talents that women bring to the table. And let's work together to build a more equitable and just digital world for all.

Soila Mayiani (Sossi May) is the Assistant Digital Lead at Trace Eastern Africa

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A screenshot regarding infographics on harassment online amongst girls. /PLAN INTERNATIONAL

DENVER B: Pros, Cons Of Open Relationships In Gen Z Era

Denver Bagaka — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 16:48:37 +0300

By Denver Bagaka

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Instead of cheating, why not just get into an open relationship?

Unsurprisingly, in a world where liberal sexual and relationship practices are becoming somewhat common, the adventurous millennial and the growing Gen Z have heard the concept mentioned at least a few times amongst peers and idols alike.

Talk of the open relationship has started becoming more common as the widespread talk and near normalization of cheating has become incredibly apparent among the current youth. Whilst such talk would be considered taboo in some relationships/situationships, its tolerance in open spaces of communication on social topics has given it room to breathe.

That said, it still hasn’t received its full understanding as it has been perceived to be a relationship where it’s okay to cheat yet the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

Women walking together in a city. /COSMOPOLITAN

To explain why let’s start by giving a deep dive into the idea of the open relationship.

What is an open relationship?

An open relationship (OR in short) is a mutual commitment between two individuals which goes against the grain of monogamy through the adoption of a non-monogamous lifestyle.

It creates a situation where the partners get to unburden themselves from being bound to one person, thus allowing their needs and wants to be fulfilled by another partner consensually. The most common of them is the sexually open relationship, so I’ll focus on that today.

Whereas the idea of sexual promiscuity is allowed in the OR, its allowance requires a well-concocted mixture of both trust, rules and boundaries between the committed individuals to allow the relationship to exist and thrive. The breaking of this special mixture can spell the end of the relationship as the connective tissue between the individuals is broken.

To ensure its health, this ‘tissue’ must be maintained through an incredible level of transparency, a phenomenon that has very recently become a scarcity for many relationships today.

The idea of trust has been a mainstay for relationships for hundreds & thousands of years past, but the idea of the open relationship takes the idea of trust to a whole new level. Trust is created and enforced through the creation of rules (both general and specific) which ensure that the bond is maintained and that monogamy remains, albeit non-traditional.

The Idea of Boundaries

The concept of boundaries in traditional and monogamous relationships isn’t anything new and thus doesn’t remain a thought for most when getting into a commitment with the opposite sex. This is due to them being tied to the question of should/would a committed person do this.

The Yes/No answer your moral code would give you would almost surely determine whether the action would be deemed inappropriate and if the continued practice would be termed as cheating.

For example, letting a man hold a committed woman by the backside would be deemed inappropriate by most, thus would imply that continued action would deem the woman to be cheating as she is exposing her more intimate access to another man.

This idea of access being synonymous with the boundaries of commitment makes the idea of monogamy simple and understandable. That changes with open relationships.

With an open relationship, there’s a slight disconnect between the two as more physical access to the committed partners is given, which requires that a different set of boundaries are set to ensure that lines aren’t crossed.

This ensures that it remains a committed couple’s affair, not just two people professing love to each other while moaning other people’s names. This is contrary to many people’s idea that people in open relationships don’t/can’t cheat.

The boundaries/rules in open relationships will vary from person to person but drive towards the same goal; ensuring sexual variety for both people whilst still being able to come back to each other for intimacy and emotional support.

While there are more specific rules between some couples such as no kissing and/or use of protection there are some rules that are more widely adopted as part of an OR. I’ll look at two of them:

Open Transparency

As was said earlier, the idea of an open relationship is built on trust and thus requires a high degree of trust. This means that transparency is key in most OR partnerships.

While some will seek approval on potential partners, others may select sex partners based on the deliberations done with their committed partner.

The details of the entire experience may not be necessary, but some may be open to listening about it while others may even have the desire to watch the whole thing happen (the voyeurism fetish).

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at a basketball game. /GETTY IMAGES

The sexual partner must be made known to the committed partner in some way, but physical interaction is not necessary. The entire idea is simply that there are no secret affairs between the two committed partners.

Partner Repetition

While the idea of having multiple sexual partners sounds great to some and even necessary to others, the concept of repetition with the same person, especially over short periods or even consistently, is frowned upon by many OR practitioners.

This is mostly due to the attempted avoidance to develop some sort of attachment/pair bond with the sexual partner. Once such develops due to continued sexual contact, this can lead to dishonesty and reduced transparency between the couple.

This can also spring up feelings of jealousy and create/enhance insecurities that can cause the end of the relationship.

Why It Seems Like A Good Idea

The thought of non-monogamy has been a dream for some, and maybe reading this will encourage them to chase it as a reality. The pros are there and are mostly easy to see. If it’s sex with multiple partners you want, then it’s a plus for you.

You don’t get to worry about whether having a lustful interest in someone else will jeopardize the relationship and there’s an acceptance of your desire for sexual variety.

The more unseen benefit of OR is the increased trust and transparency between partners. This, while debatable by some, could indicate a better and healthier relationship than most monogamous relationships. The additional reinforcement of trust can boost open communication between the couple, making their bond stronger.

All these mean that the OR may be one of the most ideal relationship types for a lot of people, so why isn’t it as common?

Why It’s Not

While the idea of an OR has been seen as the best option for the sexually adventurous, there exist cons that many who advise the cheater to indulge may be unaware of. The detachment of boundaries and the idea of commitment is fun until it isn’t, and there are clear issues present.

The first and clearest issue lies in what OR partnerships are built on, which is trust. While you can argue that the minimal trust levels are due to the lack of openness in the relationship, there’s more to cheating to disprove this.

According to a study by evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss, 70 per cent of the women who cheated on their partner reported falling in love with the person they cheated with. While the numbers on this are lower with men, the fact remains that a lot of people do fall in love with their sex partners, meaning that an OR could eventually still lead to the same case(s) of dishonesty and infidelity.

The most obvious con of all amongst cheaters is the one that most who consider the option of OR and turn it down consider; the fact that their partner will sleep with others besides them. There’s a joke on exes about how ‘when it slipped out, she put it back in’ that sometimes can hurt a lot of men.

Now imagine the same men subjected to that reality in the present with multiple other men, all with your knowledge. Sounds like a nightmare, huh?

Conclusion

The long and short of it is that the OR is an option for the liberal and adventurous but only containable to those who can maintain transparency. They’d also have to not mind being mutually okay with the idea that their partner is being sexually active with someone else besides them.

That said, I don’t think most people today are built for it. The thought of it may seem good in concept but in practice isn’t for the faint of heart. Most simply don’t trust each other to the degree that would make OR viable for them.

Also, they can barely keep things in check with one partner. Do you really think they’d be able to handle themselves with more people in the mix?

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

A man and woman sharing a kiss. /MEN'S HEALTH

AYUKO: Media Council's New Changes Will Hurt Bloggers Relied On For News

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 10:49:48 +0300

By Clive Ayuko

On January 28, 2023, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) announced that it would recall all press cards issued to media practitioners across the country and issue new ones with new security features in an effort to limit the influx of men and women masquerading as journalists.

The move while commendable put the work of bloggers, vloggers, and citizen journalists in limbo. Additionally, it is a move that will likely have far-reaching consequences on the growth rate of the Kenyan economy in decades to come.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 stipulates that “Everyone has the right of access to any information held by the state; and any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.”

An image of the current press cards which will be phased out for new ones. /TWITTER.MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

Further articulating the importance of timely and accurate information streams to enable the public to make informed choices. Most of this information is found in social media platforms as well as the internet blogosphere space and is regularly made available through the work of these individuals.

One of the core functions of the media apart from entertainment and reporting on new information is education, and the media is also listed as a core socialization agency by various sociologists.

Improvements in inventions and innovations in the Information and Communications sectors and the resultant proliferation of citizen journalists, bloggers and vloggers across the country is an important milestone for our country which should not be rolled back with unsound government policy.

The flow of knowledge arguably presents opportunities for Africa’s economic development. As acclaimed in the book The Great Convergence by Richard Baldwin “knowledge flows consisting of data, information searches, communications, transactions and video that dominate the new globalization.”

The global flow of knowledge he continues to argue; "gives lagging countries a chance to catch up through investments in information and communications technologies creating forward and backward benefits in manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy.”

This ICT-led globalization and associated knowledge flows are undermining the competitive advantage that industrialised countries once had and changing the outlook of the global value chains.

This also provides developing countries with a window of opportunity for countries in Africa and Asia to leapfrog in the achievement of their development objectives.

The cross-border flow of data and knowledge had broken the monopoly that workers in wealthy nations once had on the use of advanced industrial manufacturing intellectual property.

The MCK and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) should therefore create policies which enable ease of operations for media practitioners and journalists to operate and not be seen as an impediment to such growth.

MCK can in turn wait to reap benefits through a media fund charged as a percentage of the annual revenues of the online media platforms when they become profitable. This will ensure a win for all media stakeholders including the public, the practitioners and the regulator.

Individuals found masquerading as journalists should be charged in our courts of law.

Clive Ayuko is the Founder and Editor of the Whistling African.

Do you have an opinion article to share with us? Reach us on info@viraltea.co.ke

Journalists covering the swearing-in ceremony of President William Ruto at Kasarani Stadium on September 13, 2022. /MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

Githeri Media: Story Of Controversial Term That Grew Digital Journalism

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 09:14:28 +0300

The term 'Githeri Media' has been used for nearly five years to refer to Kenyan media houses' obsession with covering what Viral Tea views as 'viral' content instead of the usual serious issues Kenyans have for years been used to.

A long time ago, headlines such as 'President Kibaki opens Thika Superhighway' or 'President Uhuru opens the second phase of SGR line' were taken with utmost seriousness by members of the public as transport issues were expected to be resolved. Nobody noticed the unusual titbits, until the 2017 general elections.

Amidst the voting exercise, a man named Martin Kimotho was captured on camera eating githeri, a mix of boiled maize and beans, from a polythene bag as he queued to cast his vote. The photo was shared on social media platforms that day and it went viral, turning him into an overnight celebrity.

Martin Kimotho captured eating githeri while queueing to vote in the 2017 general elections and a man taking a selfie with him. /FILE

The photo was then picked up by mainstream media platforms and stories were made, which enhanced Kimotho's celebrity status. For days, local TV stations and newspapers gave him extensive coverage as he was nicknamed 'Githeri Man' and eventually handed a Head of State Commendation (HSC) by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

What however shocked the public was the nature at which Kimotho was awarded, as the media was largely accused of giving airtime to Kimotho who was doing what an ordinary citizen would do, as well as his delicacy which is enjoyed by many communities across the country, despite its origins being the Central region. The coded message was that the mainstream media was controlled by – and therefore supported – Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

The labelling of Kenya's mainstream media as 'githeri media' underscored two important issues; one, the public had lost its faith in mainstream media and two, many moved to alternative platforms for news, including social media, where the serious issues regarding the elections were discussed.

Memes At 2022 General Elections

A similar case was witnessed in the 2022 general elections where daring Kenyans followed in Kimotho's footsteps to test out various stunts of their own, ranging from 'Sina Maoni' man to 'Towel man' and one which captured a man eating a loaf of bread as he queued to vote.

There were 23.35 million internet users in Kenya in January 2022. Kenya's internet penetration rate stood at 42.0 per cent of the total population at the start of 2022, and a past report by Portland Communications, a UK-based political and public relations consultancy firm, revealed that Kenya has arguably one of the most active online communities on the continent after Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

Significant social and political issues are discussed by Kenyans on Twitter (KOT). The platform has become a powerful source of information, a point of reference for those disillusioned with the country’s mainstream media (which is true for the Kenyan media too.) as well as a force for reprimanding bad behaviour, as was recently evidenced in the case of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni.

Why Githeri Media?

Kenyans believed that digital media platforms specialised in what they viewed as sensational reports, but would not expect mainstream media houses to follow suit. One Kenyan for instance took fault with NTV's coverage of former President Uhuru Kenyatta driving himself in a pickup truck on Friday, October 21, despite being covered by numerous media houses.

"How is this news? What's he supposed to be doing? This is how the media lost relevance in Kenya because of concentrating on sensational issues. Yet the key challenges facing Kenyans are rarely highlighted," Ephraim Njenga wrote.

Journalists who spoke to Viral Tea believe that Kenyans are yet to get used to the new dimension of reporting; viral news which is simply defined as networked news stories that spread online mostly through social media in a much faster and wider manner than other news stories.

"But people use githeri media phrases without knowing the history or when they don't agree with what is being reported including when they think news should just be about "serious" issues," one of them told Viral Tea.

He adds that these days, the criteria for what makes a newsworthy story include the prominence of a subject. President Ruto driving himself? The Queen's dog giving birth? Azziad Nasenya dating a famous politician's son? Those are today's news items.

This writer opines that the news atmosphere in the digital environment these days has almost no room to focus on just the serious items; that is no one will spend a minute of their time reading something normal and out of the ordinary. Kenyans are actively looking for solutions even to their everyday life problems and among the ways they can easily get it is through the media.

Another misunderstood subject is journalists affiliated with digital media platforms being labelled as 'bloggers'. How many times have you heard an honest, hard-working Digital Journalist being called a blogger by a disgruntled Kenyan?

"Digital journalism is NOT blogging. Journalism today composes of Digital (the internet) on top of other mediums that they use which includes Print (newspapers, magazines, periodicals) as well as Broadcast (TV, radio)," this writer states.

At the end of the day, journalists serve to inform their audiences and do the hard work of getting facts together and assessing what would interest the majority of Kenyans and leave the decision to the audience.

At times, journalists have missed one of the steps or been otherwise misled. And because credibility is the major currency of their profession, all journalists worth their weight in gold will always set the record straight.

Cut Above The Rest

One these days gets their news from platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp among others before the same news items are relayed across TV and radio stations.

With the popularization of social media came the rise of digital media houses complete with online publications, social media posts and videos, all shared in real-time. Viral Tea was established officially in February 2021 and within a year has given the legacy media houses, both mainstream and digital, a run for their money thanks to its timely news updates.

Viral Tea thrives under the Rule of Majority in producing news and multimedia content that is of interest to a majority of Kenyans. A majority of Kenyans online are between the ages of 20 and 40 years and use platforms such as Facebook and Twitter more due to the limited data bundles they have within a short period.

A screenshot of Viral Tea's homepage. /FILE

They have a short attention span and scroll through but pause to read what catches their eyes. Assuming that they have already read the story being written and aren't looking particularly for the same information, our work is to give them new angles.

As a purely online-based publication, we don’t have the luxury of having reporters/correspondents in the field interacting with sources and attending press conferences. We, however, do have the advantage of accessing multiple sources from one location (remotely) and evaluating the newsworthiness of the information we find.

As such, part of our news content comes from curating news from all online publishers, creating new angles that make an otherwise bland story, interesting to many Kenyans online and shareable.

To My 26-Year-Old Self: From Intern To Digital Media Guru

Marvin Chege — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 10:28:13 +0300

Contrary to popular belief that men don't really celebrate their birthdays, we do...we just don't make it as obvious as our female counterparts with lavish parties and special social media posts, and not because the economy is as Riggy G (DP Rigathi Gachagua) said is 'dilapidated'.

On a day like this, Saturday, October 19, 1996, I was born. I was added to the billions of people around the world, which is as of now around 8 billion.

My mother keeps describing to me how I'm still her special one, even though we're two of us (myself and my younger sister) as well as the struggles she had to endure with me, given that my father was not present at the time I was born and surface some years later.

Since then, it's been somewhat of a mixed childhood that mostly centred around being picked on a lot because in the eyes of bullies, 'I was small'.

A collage of myself as I turn 26 years old on October 19, 2022. /FACEBOOK

I've been to two high schools from my whole preparatory and primary school life at Happyland Preparatory; St Mary's School in Lavington, Nairobi and Juja Preparatory & Senior School in Kalimoni, Kiambu County. I really enjoyed the former and have to honestly say that I'm glad I came out of the latter still strong after one year and a half.

It was my campus life at the United States International University-Africa (USIU) that I enjoyed the most. Four years of quality education coupled with meeting some of the most gorgeous women on any campus (not that I dated any of them) as well as great personalities and specially-executed events made my experience one I just cannot forget.

I have a Bachelors' degree in Psychology but what those at USIU might tell you is that I have a penchant for writing which I can now admit is a natural talent that 'just happened'. Little did I know that it was going to lead to something bigger.

'Baptism Of Fire' In Digital Journalism

A friend of mine at the campus had informed me of an opportunity for writers at Kenyans.co.ke, a digital media house. I had only sought an internship and submitted my application, expressing a mix of emotions between hope and fear that I might be rejected like anyone else...only to be informed that my 'shooting my shot' went through.

At Kenyans.co.ke, the vibe was right; the journalists were great, and the editorial lead is still my good friend. The only downside was the crazy pressure, which I shall one day explain in detail in a book (and I won't hide). Some of the journalists I worked with have since moved on to other opportunities.

Leaving Kenyans after nearly two months was hard. The months after that were harder; just how was a then-24-year-old meant to move on to a bigger opportunity than the one that gave me the skills to advance to the next stage of my career; possibly my biggest one?

Anywho, after working with upcoming news websites and waiting for media jobs that never came, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try a risky move I had planned for after years of tasting the Kenyan media industry. In the midst of fighting one of my toughest battles and living in the proper 'ghetto' residential area, I started Viral Tea (www.viraltea.co.ke)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Viral Tea Ke (@viralteakegram)

The baby within its first year of commencement in February 2021 grew rapidly into a real force in the digital media industry, and it's even more special because I'm running it all by myself as of now.

How do you tell someone that a). You're a CEO & founder in your early 20s and b). You've grown the website to over 1 million pageviews and visitors in its first year?

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A post shared by Viral Tea Ke (@viralteakegram)

I defied critics, naysayers, and even my own father who at one point was discrediting what I was trying to achieve in my career because I don't have a journalism degree, as he was still with the belief that without a journalism educational background, Kenyan media houses (even mainstream) were not considering my subsequent applications because "I don't know about journalism".

I ignored them and single-handedly grew the digital media house to what you see today and which is still growing stronger every single day (bring PARTNERSHIP MONIES, I'm READY!)

I had partners whom I worked well with for almost the entire year until we parted ways because the chemistry in my view "was not adding up and smelt of real danger". I shall still explain this in my book but this is a risk I took with consequences because "if you don't take risks, you don't grow".

Though the growth process has been a bit slow in recent months, the drive has never stopped. The August 9, 2022, general elections were arguably Viral Tea's finest time to reinforce itself as a next-generation startup, and it remains to date the most demanding time of my two-and-a-half-year journalism career.

The new website you see here was launched in July, with a one-month countdown to the elections on the horizon. Preparations for what was to be an intense period of election coverage for not just myself, but local media houses were something that I had planned for from the word go.

But because I was alone compared to other media houses, I had to carefully plan how I was to ensure my audience (the ones ALWAYS on their phones) doesn't miss a single bit of live action, especially during voting day. I thus planned to come up with one big live blog for the voting day, the tallying and the grand announcement.

Residents queue to cast their votes at the Kenyatta Sports Ground polling station in Kisumu County. /DAILY NATION

As compared to the traditional method of news coverage which has failed to meet the needs of users, Viral Tea morphed into multiple forms of content, especially to satisfy Kenyan users who are in the youth category and almost always on their phones surfing social media and doing 1...2...3.

The Crazy August Polls

Our content is divided into three divisions, all of which were kept busy during the intense election period. Social media was arguably our complement but our main driver was the editorial, with videos capturing special events and two of the grand announcements, William Ruto as president-elect and Raila Odinga rejecting his election.

I knew very well to countercheck every source bombing me with information before relaying it across social media channels. Some of our readers did call/message me several times to confirm if the results were true if things like Form 34C were uploaded to the IEBC portal, and so on.

The response has always been the same, "wait for IEBC to announce the results officially", much to their disappointment. Even the smallest of media startups can have information that could trigger chaos, so we cannot please everyone (speaking as the media house now).

On Monday, August 15, we got a few articles over the line, then paused to wait for the biggest story of the elections; who would win? By then, we readied our graphics for social media coupled with downloading pictures and portraits of the top two candidates and planned on how we would break the big story and disseminate it across our channels and networks with breakneck speed and sniper accuracy plus precision.

However, neither of us was expecting the four IEBC commissioners to stage a parallel press conference which found one of us focusing on that story and the other ready to break the announcement from the IEBC headquarters. That Monday was massive, from Chebukati being attacked to Azimio la Umoja taking fault over the results to Ruto stepping out and leaving...and it didn't stop there after that announcement.

While the whole country stepped out of their houses to celebrate Ruto's win, we were no doubt kept very busy. Ruto's address to journalists followed and we were on cue to provide content touching on the highlights of that presser with local and international media houses.

We were dealing with several congratulatory messages, some we admittedly missed, from Heads of State to politicians to celebrities to prominent Kenyans. You could tell this was one of our most intense periods since we began as I was retiring to bed some minutes before 1 am, making sure everything was running smoothly.

Supreme Court petition, the verdict and President Ruto's swearing-in on Tuesday, September 13 marked the end of a crazy election period and the start of 'planning for the future, not just the next five years'.

Going Viral

During the time I've run Viral Tea, I've nurtured almost seven journalists under my wing, both young and experienced (old), giving them a platform to show their skills. On my part, Viral Tea has been my biggest eye-opener.

I've attended music concerts, including one by Luciano and successfully covered them, been to a few press conferences and remotely covered grassroots stories. I've made so many friends in the digital media space, including former Taita Taveta County gubernatorial candidate, Patience Nyange, whose #KenyaWomenSeries was published successfully by Viral Tea.

The gala dinner on December 2021 helped me interact with prominent personalities such as Agnes Nonsizi and Cynthia Mwangi (Hot 96) as well as Esther Kiragu, the series' editor. In case you were wondering, I met men too ranging from Martin Wachira (Nairobi Leo) to Mac Otani (Swala Nyeti), both of whom we share fruitful ideas on a changing digital atmosphere.

Meeting fellow media men at the #KenyaWomenSeries gala dinner in December 2021. /COURTESY

Accolades

I do also have to credit the likes of Eric Njiru, Mukami Wambora, Caren Kibbett, Lotan among other sports journalists whom we connect well in terms of sports, even though I'm the outsider among them as I'm a Chelsea fan.
I could say that I'm one of those who wanted President Ruto to be elected as his manifesto resonated well with what I hoped for; an economical recovery plan from the previous administration. Now, if I could just meet him one on one, or brush shoulders with his new State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed...
To the woman journalist who helped me come up with the name Viral Tea and helped me with tips to enhance my brand, here's a glass (raises toast) just for you.
To those who like to criticise me for being ahead of everyone else in terms of reports and not showering me with praises for good work, I'm not going anywhere.
To the bosses I've worked with, keep up your crafts. If I have ever wronged any of you, I apologise in sincerity.
To the human beings on the internet and those I've met in my entire life, I want the best for you (really).
To those who've asked me to feature their stories on Viral Tea and those whom I've surprised with feature articles, thank you for your patience and free will.
To my two special women; my mother and younger sister who've stood by me through it all, I'm deeply grateful.
To those who have so far wished me a Happy Birthday today (Wednesday, October 19), thank you and God bless. To those yet to, October is still a birthday month, so keep them coming.

Finally, to my future in digital journalism, I will entice you to my space just as I entice gorgeous women to my circle. Freedom is here.

Yours,
Marvin Chege
Founder & Managing Editor, Viral Tea (viraltea.co.ke)

11 Stories Viral Tea Covered During Elections That You Missed

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:39:49 +0300

"Please let there not be a repeat election...," this writer whispers to himself as he writes this article.

The August 9, 2022, general elections were arguably Viral Tea's finest time to reinforce itself as a next-generation startup.

The new website you see here was launched in July, with a one-month countdown to the elections on the horizon. Preparations for what was to be an intense period of election coverage for not just us, but local media houses were something we planned for from the word go.

But because we were understaffed compared to other media houses, we had to carefully plan how we were to ensure our audience doesn't miss a single bit of live action, especially during voting day. We thus planned to come up with one big live blog for the voting day, the tallying and the grand announcement, with rotations on all those occasions on who will cover what.

Residents queue to cast their votes at the Kenyatta Sports Ground polling station in Kisumu County. /DAILY NATION

During the elections period, we did keep to our promise to ensure that our readers "Never Miss A Story" and almost all of our categories were populated with content, some of which Kenyans didn't notice happened.

Therefore, Viral Tea covers the stories you might have missed during the election period:

Carrol Sonie Uncovers Identity Of Married Man Threatening Mulamwah

Kenyan model, actress and social media personality Caroline Muthoni (Carrol Sonie) responded to comedian Mulamwah's uncovering of her new lover by stating that he was her pastor.

Speaking in an Instagram live, Sonie affirmed that she was raised by her family with good principles and that she would never at one point be involved with a married man.

“My parents have raised me well, I want what is good and I have my own principles and I know what is right and what is wrong.

"Whoever was posted his name is pastor Eric Bingez. He's a pastor of mine, he's a friend of mine. He's a counsellor, I would say together with his beautiful wife Evelyne, they are my friend," Sonie narrated.

According to the actress, she had reached out to the pastor when she began having suicidal thoughts and was almost giving up before she turned to him for help.

“I reached out to pastor Eric when I was suicidal and I was tired with life and I was messed up and I said let me talk to some and the person I could talk to that time was pastor Eric. I called him, explained and thank God he was seeing everything that was happening on social media and I told him personally, that I’m tired and done with life.

“Eric together with his wife have been walking with me through all this. Eric is someone I respect together with his family. If I call him when I have an issue he is someone who will come together with his wife and help me and today I wake and I’m being told am dating him,” she added.

A collage of an unknown man hugging Mulamwah's baby mama, Carrol Sonie. /INSTAGRAM

Sonie further accused Mulamwah of being violent to her on multiple occasions while claiming that he sired a child with another woman, outside their relationship.

On Monday, August 8, Mulamwah used his Instagram stories to claim that Sonie was in a relationship with a married man while unleashing the face of her new man as well as that of his wife.

Low Turnout, Memes, KIEMS Kits: Highlights Of August 9 Elections

This was one of those stories that took quite the toll on us given that several sideshows had occurred during the August 9 general elections.

Five years since the controversy that forced Kenyans to vote twice in the 2017 general elections, the Tuesday, August 9, 2022, general elections took place with several eventualities quite a number would like to forget and others remember.

Much of the conversation was surrounding the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits before even the polls began and the issue of the KIEMS kits' functionality was brought to the limelight again.

Also, the earliest to vote in the echelons of the political space included the likes of Martha Karua of the Azimio la Umoja and Deputy President William Ruto, now the President-elect, who turned up at their polling stations within the 6 am opening day.

A general election in Kenya doesn't go by without its fair share of memes, which began in 2017 with the 'Githeri Man' trend. By then, Kenyans were experiencing the peak of their powers on social media as you might recall, the Saudi Arabian social networking service, Sarahah, gained prominence in the country where Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) shared the anonymous messages they received from thousands of their followers.

This year had Towel Man, Mkate Man and the 'Sina Maoni' man who lightened up an elections exercise marred with low turnout.

Click here to read the comprehensive article

Police Launch Manhunt For Didmus Barasa

This was our first live-breaking story since the election exercise began that was reported at night. Typically, Viral Tea has a rule that we steer clear of covering stories past 9 pm-10 pm unless it is really necessary.

Police in Bungoma County launched a manhunt for Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa following a shooting incident at a polling station that left a rival's aide dead.

The incident took place at 6 pm at Chebukhwabi Primary School in Kibingei ward and it left a security guard of his closest rival, Brian Khaemba of the Democratic Action Party (DAP-K), dead, according to a police report seen by Viral Tea.

Khaemba had gone to the polling station to witness the counting of votes following the Tuesday, August 9, 2022, general elections and encountered Barasa on his way in. After about three minutes, Khaemba decided to leave the station and headed to his car with Barasa following him in the company of four men.

He had ordered them not to allow Khaemba to leave the place but his driver, Joshua Nasokho defied the order and switched on the vehicle.

"Hon. Didmus Barasa withdrew a pistol and aimed at Khaemba's aide namely Brian Olunga and shot him on the forehead where profusely bled. He was rushed to Kimilili sub-county hospital where he succumbed while undergoing treatment. Body lying at the hospital," added the police report.

Barasa has since been arrested and as of Tuesday, August 16, he was placed in custody for 10 more days. An autopsy carried out on Khaemba revealed that he was killed by a bullet that was aimed at his head.

Juliani Welcomes Baby With Lillian Nganga

The story of musician and rapper Julius 'Juliani' Owino and former Machakos County First Lady Lillian Nganga has been dominating local headlines that Kenyans barely noticed that the couple sired a baby boy.

Juliani disclosed to Presenter Ali on Wednesday, August 10 that he was pleased with his newfound experience as a father of his son, which is different from when he was raising his daughter.

The Utawala hitmaker noted that the couple had welcomed the newborn a few days before. He wanted to keep the good news a secret from the public eye until he was ready to announce it.

Juliani with Lillian Nganga. /FILE

It is worth it to note that Juliani has a first-born girl, Amor, whom he welcomed with actress Brenda Wairimu. The couple tied the knot at a private wedding in Paradise Lost, Kiambu on February 2, 2022.

The guest list had less than 50 people, including close family and friends.

Statement By Kenya's Youngest MP Candidate After Conceding Defeat

22-year-old environmentalist Anita Soina announced on Wednesday, August 10 that she conceded defeat in her hopes of clinching the Kajiado North parliamentary seat, among the many politicians who declared that they conceded defeat. To simplify it, this has never happened in a common fashion in Kenyan elections before.

Anita, also known as 'The Green MP', announced her plans to vie for the seat in December 2021, saying she understands the challenges of her people. She became the youngest person in the country to contest a seat in the National Assembly.

"It's here. People over profits. Every day it hurts me to see what the people go through. Born to a Maasai dad from Kajiado North, as I trace back to my roots to understand my culture and as a young leader who understands some of the challenges facing the people.

"I have decided to do this. To me, the first step towards solving a problem is getting to that position of a problem solver. Twende Bunge tupiganie haki za wapiga kura!” she stated.

Before her stint in politics, she was the founder of Soina Foundation and Spice Warriors.

Amber Ray's Ex Clinches MP Seat Under UDA Ticket

Socialite Amber Ray's ex and Deputy President William Ruto's ally Zaheer Jhanda is the Member of Parliament elect for Nyaribari Chache Constituency in Kisii County.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate was officially declared as the MP-elect after he garnered 31,684 votes. He was competing against 11 other candidates his long-time political nemesis Richard Tong'i.

Tong'i, a Jubilee leader, who has already conceded defeat had served for two terms. He garnered 10,039 votes and was followed by James Kenani(ODM) who managed 5,086 votes. Journalist Erick Obino of Kanu came a distant fourth with 3,529 votes.

Amber had once dated Jhanda, who married her thereafter for a period of almost three years, but their relationship was mired by many issues, including his first wife accusing her of using evil spirits to break their marriage. The socialite even went to the extent of denouncing her Muslim faith following the divorce.

"I apologize to my son and my family for all the insults they have had to bear in the past because of my decisions," she said.

Willy Paul Snubs Bahati In Elections Congratulatory Message

Nairobi-based musician and songwriter, Wilson Abubakar Radido, alias Willy Paul ignited mixed reactions when he congratulated Mathare Member of Parliament (MP)-elect, Anthony Oluoch at the expense of compatriot Bahati.

In a statement on Instagram on Friday, August 12, the Toto hitmaker lauded Oluoch as the right candidate to lead the people of the Nairobi-based constituency.

"First, congratulations to the one Antony Oluoch for Winning the Mathare MP seat. You are what the people of Mathare need sir.

"You must have really done a good job, sir, retaining that seat is not easy! Keep pushing, Mathare is my home and I'm glad it's in safe hands again," he wrote.

He also congratulated Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang'o, who clinched the Lang'ata parliamentary seat

"Jalang'o congratulations, you are a living legend and you inspire me a lot. Now take the people of Lang'ata to the next level mheshimiwa (legislator)," he noted.

However, a section of his fans commented by stating that he was subtly mocking Bahati, his long-time rival, who finished third in the parliamentary race.

Watch Evans Kidero Blast Citizen TV Journalist [VIDEO]

A video emerged showing former Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero telling off a female Citizen TV reporter to the point of turning down her request for an interview.

The 17-second clip seen by Viral Tea showed Kidero stepping to the front for the interview but he took notice of the actions of the reporter, Laura Otieno, which he did not like.

He accused her of taking her job for granted and questioned her on why she was doing it from the start.

Kidero then turned down her request for an interview after expressing displeasure in terms of her attitude.

Watch the video:

I don't want you to interview me- Evans Kidero to Citizen TV reporter#KenyaDecides2022 pic.twitter.com/NvAipzp1kv
— Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) August 13, 2022

Truth About Standard, RMS Statement On Election Results

Our fact check desk was very busy during the elections period as we were getting numerous reports of false information circulating the internet, especially the vote tallying. This was one of them.

A statement by the Standard Media Group (SMG) and Royal Media Services (RMS) with regards to the tallying of the presidential results in the 2022 general elections had been doing rounds on social media since Saturday, August 13.

The statement signed by RMS chairman, S.K. Macharia and ousted Baringo Senator, Gideon Moi indicated that the two media houses had tallying teams for the presidential elections based on Form 34A, with each carrying out their own tallying exercise.

RMS added that it has been tallying results of the previous elections from 2003 to 2017 (both rounds) and displayed the outcome on its screens for purposes of public viewing.

A fact check by Viral Tea confirmed that the alleged statement was false. RMS has had its own platform where Kenyans had access to presidential results as they streamed in, drawn from the Form 34As from the IEBC portal.

Govt Probes 3 Police Misconduct Cases During Elections

The Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) is now investigating cases of misconduct amongst police officers deployed across the country for security during the August 9 general elections.

In a statement by the chairperson, Anne Makori on Saturday, August 13, IPOA revealed that despite the generally commendable conduct of the officers during the period, it took note of three isolated cases that it has since commenced investigations on.

Among the cases include an incident whereby two men were shot and a woman assaulted allegedly by the police in Eldas in Wajir County. All sustained non-fatal injuries.

It also flagged an incident whereby an officer attached to the Matisi Police Station in Bungoma County attempted to rape a citizen on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

The agency is also investigating a third incident where a police officer in Uasin Gishu County allegedly shot and injured a political aspirant’s bodyguard on the eve of voting day, Monday, August 8, 2022.

Little-Known Trick By Natalie Tewa To Ward Off Thirsty Men

Kenyan influencer and content creator, Natalie Tewa Wanjiru, dismissed recent reports insinuating that she is engaged.

Photos on social media had captured her wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring, which further stoked curiosity amongst her followers especially after she stopped wearing the ring for a while.

However, she explained in a recent YouTube video that she wears the engagement ring for different reasons, one of them being that she uses it to ward off advances from men.

“I have this thing where I will wear an engagement ring every now and then because I like the aesthetic. Number two, it helps as a woman,” she explained.

“I came up with this idea when I was 22/23 because men are disgusting, honestly some men are doing the most, so you don’t want to be disturbed or bother and when you wear a ring, it will not bring all the respect that you want but they will respect that you have a ring.”

Tewa added that she started wearing rings just to chase men away. At the time, she was working with a jewellery company which sent her a package to market for them and she chose an engagement ring.

A photo collage of Mombasa Governor, Hassan Joho and Natalie Tewa. /GHAFLA

On pregnancy rumours, she dismissed them by revealing that she was approached by a friend who asked her to market her baby shop on social media.

Conclusion

As compared to the traditional method of news coverage which has failed to meet the needs of users, Viral Tea morphed into multiple forms of content, especially to satisfy our Kenyan users who are in the youth category and almost always on their phones surfing social media and doing 1...2...3.

We knew very well to countercheck every source sending us information before relaying it across our channels. Some of our readers did call/message us several times to confirm if the results were true if things like Form 34C were uploaded to the IEBC portal, and so on.

At Viral Tea, we all know this would be over, but we all feared that Raila Odinga would challenge the results at the Supreme Court, one way or another, just like he did in 2013 and 2017 (the latter his petition passed through). With the 2017 memories, we thought "Crap, we might be heading to another intense period thanks to the repeat election."

Raila Odinga speaking at the Azimio media centre on August 16, 2022. /RAILA ODINGA

As if it was not enough, Cherera and Chebukati have been trading blows against each other over the presidential results, but much of the content focused on Cherera's 0.01 per cent Mathematical error, which we calculated carefully.

If Raila files his petition before Monday, August 22, this will mean 14 days of coverage and anxiously waiting for it to fail, because a repeat of 2017 could lead us to 60 days of election coverage, inclusive of campaigns...more intense work on our hands if it comes to pass.

As for now, we wait for our next challenge, the swearing-in of Ruto as president on Tuesday, August 30. A LinkedIn user typed this and was so gracious to tag us in the comments alongside established media personalities such as James Smart and Idah Waringa as well as media houses such as Capital FM.

Comments like these always keep us grinding and growing to bring you vibrant and credible information on a daily basis. Read it below: