According to psychologists, blessing of a father over his children is critical in shaping their independent life.
Olkeri community elder Nicholas Ndung’u Njoroge did not hesitate to bless his daughter Mary Wanjiru when she recently paid him a visit.
Experts also affirms that it is a father’s blessing that empowers the son or daughter to stand in their own gender with confidence.
Ngong road commuters will benefit from Rapid Bus Transport (BRT) services starting November 2024 if plans by The Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the county government of Kajiado succeeds.
The BRT Pilot project will see 40 buses from 10 operators plying a route named CHUI which will serve Ngong road commuters to Nairobi enroute to Tala, Njiru and Dandora through Juja road once the whole project is complete.
Bus terminals will be established in Ngong town, karen, junction mall, prestige, Kenyatta hospital and Nairobi CBD for the initial pilot project.
The buses which are are expected to be available to commuters every 5 minutes during peak hours and every 10 minutes during off peak hours will operate from 4am to 9pm every day.
Drivers, conductors and stage managers will be trained on operations, hospitality and safety.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) was established by an Executive Order through Legal Notice No.18 of 17 February 2017 with the main mandate of overseeing the establishment of an integrated, efficient, effective and sustainable public transport system within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA).
The NMA is made up of Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos, Murang’a and Nairobi City counties.
Photo: BRT project in Dar-esalaam Tanzania.
For decades, politicians have used the ‘loudest of all in the village’ to heckle opponents during political rallies and shamelessly during funerals.
The loudest hecklers are slowly being replaced by a youthful, educated and digital literate online political bloggers who are doing it purposely to make money.
The political bloggers engage in publicity, information manipulation and smear campaigns against anyone who dares to speak the truth, challenge or question the actions of their sponsors who are usually political actors. Most of political bloggers will focus their campaigns on winning the next election for their sponsors.
Elveza Media interviewed several youthful political bloggers who blamed lack of employment opportunities for their choice of work.
“I’m doing it purposely to make money” Dennis (not his real name) who has been blogging for the last two years told Elveza Media.
Even though Dennis refused to disclose how much he is paid, it is estimated most bloggers earn between 100 and 300 shillings per assignment. Those with direct links to their sponsors keep most of the money for themselves and then subcontract upcoming bloggers.
“Some politicians in low level positions receive funds from politicians who are higher in leadership hierarchy for publicity purposes and end up keeping a huge chunk of the money for themselves and their close allies. It’s a very exploitative working environment but less risky than stealing” Dennis said
One interesting observation from our team during the interview is that Dennis was not aware some of the activities he had been engaging in, such as smear campaigns, are outright criminal activities.
Smear campaigns which are mostly ordered by political actors or by their close allies, use various tactics including spreading false information, launching personal attacks, or attempting to damage an opponent’s reputation through misleading or character assassination. Journalists, human rights defenders and political opponents who refuse to be ‘bought’ are regular targets by smear campaigners.
Tactics used by political bloggers include propaganda, trolling, misinformation, Malinformation and disinformation.
A research conducted in Austria in 2020, found that perceived dirty campaigning increases anger, frustration, and disgust towards campaigns. Over time, it increased distrust towards politicians and decreased trust in democracy.
“This method of campaigning is just noise, lies and deceit by politicians who don’t want to articulate what they have done for the people and also don’t want to have a responsibility to come up with real practical ideas that will solve problems affecting their electorates. It is an attack on our democracy and it is sad to see those who we entrusted with our votes to protect democracy are the ones funding this corrupt and unethical business model.” Agnes Wanjira who is human rights activist and a resident of Ngong told Elveza Media.
What everyone we interviewed agreed is that, civic education must be made available to educate electorates on the new emerging trends being used by politicians to influence elections outcome.
By Teresa Magenya
Impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has publicly praised the media during his recent impeachment session in the national assembly despite having been a vocal critic of journalists in the past. Gachagua’s admiration for the media comes after a series of controversies that have led to increased scrutiny of his office.
Gachagua had previously condemned media outlets on several occasions for perceived bias and misinformation. During the 40 the graduation at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT), Gachagua criticized the media got their portrayal of the political class.
“For a long time the media have criticized the political class and it is high time they are also be held accountable for the things they write.” said Gachagua.
During his trial at the national assembly, Gachagua used excerpts from the media as part of his defense expressing his appreciation for the role of journalists in shaping public discourse.
“The media serves as the backbone of democracy. In these challenging times, it is crucial for us to recognize the media’s role in informing the public and fostering dialogue.” Gachagua said during an adress to the nation through the media.
Allegations of tribalism, corruption, misuse of public funds, and unethical conduct have surfaced, prompting a motion for his removal from office to be tabled in parliament and senate. While Gachagua’s praise for the media may be an attempt to mitigate the fallout from the impeachment proceedings, it also reflects a broader challenge faced by many leaders in Kenya. As public scrutiny intensifies, the relationship between politicians and the press remains complex, often marked by tension and distrust.
As the political climate continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether Gachagua’s new found appreciation for the media will translate into a more constructive relationship moving forward or if it will be seen as a mere tactical maneuver in the face of impending political consequences.
What could have caused the accident according to experts? 
