Rebecca Wanjiku

I am a journalist and blogger (beckyit.blogspot.com). I believe in using technology and information to develop our society.

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Latest posts by Rebecca Wanjiku

Kenya: Media protests communication bill

  18 December 2008

During Kenya’s 45th independence celebrations on December 12th, the media protested against the government's proposted Communication Amendment bill, a law that if passed will give them rights to regulate the content of electronic media. Bloggers react to the confrontations between the media and the government.

Kenyan bloggers on Kenya's most famous son, Barack Obama

  10 June 2008

Kenya's most famous son! Great day for Kenya! Duel of the century! These were some of the headlines that Kenyan newspapers ran a day after Barrack Obama clinched the Democratic Party nomination. The electronic media also kicked into a frenzy, asking Kenyans to predict whether Obama will win. The Kenyan blogosphere also went on with the debate.

Kenya Back to Normal

  27 March 2008

Residents of Nairobi, who were adversaries and concerned about their ethnic background, are now united in attacking the local government minister for changing the public transport routes and forcing people to walk long distances. The ethnic hatred seems to have been pushed aside and now people are pushing a common agenda and pursuing economic survival. Online discussions also reflect the diversity, bloggers are concerned about the Initial Public Offer (IPO) of East Africa's largest and most successful Mobile phone company- Safaricom.

Kenya: Thank you Annan and team

  29 February 2008

After the power-sharing deal was announced, a caller to a local radio station was ecstatic and invited Kofi Annan and team to "nyama choma" (barbeque), another caller offered him two beers and another pronounced that Annan was the best angel God had sent to the people of Kenya. The level of excitement in the streets of Nairobi and Kisumu demonstrated that the worst is over, and that Kenya will possibly not tilt over the edge like it did in the last two months. The Kenyan blogosphere also paints a similiar picture.

Kenya: Dear Kofi Annan…

  28 February 2008

Following the decision by Kofi Annan to suspend peace talks in Kenya, Kenyan blogger, wheremadnessresides decided to write a letter to him: “Dear Kofi Annan: There's a rumour that you're thinking of leaving Kenya. That you're fed up with our leaders and their madness. That you're up to here and beyond with all this nonsense. I can certainly understand why you would be sorely tempted. But please please please don't. Leave Kenya that is. You can't anyway. You promised, remember?"

Kenyan Bloggers Outline Political Solutions

  21 February 2008

From the high street cafes to the dark alleys in Nairobi's river road (down town), Kenyans can be heard discussing what former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan should prescribe as the compromise. There are voices of hope and optimism as well as prophets of doom who see the current exercise as mere puppetry. The role of the international community has also been discussed accross the divide. This situation is also reflected in the blogosphere.

Kenya: Bloggers hopeful of Kofi Annan mediation

  11 February 2008

When Ghana's President John Kuffour handed the peace batton to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, few people in Kenya had hope that there would be breakthrough in the negotiations. That was a month ago, when the political temparatures were so high and threatening to boil over to a full blown civil war. But with a month of continued engagement, there is renewed confidence that there will be a lasting peace deal. This confidence in the streets of Nairobi is also reflected in the blogosphere.

Kenya: Tribal hatred claims its first online casualty

  4 February 2008

When conflicts erupted in Kenya after the elections, many fingers pointed at the newspapers and radio as the sources of hatred and fanning the fires of tribal hatred that have been lit over time. None focussed much on blogs and online forums. But it has proved that even online forums...