Otherwise?

Hello friends! This episode is a dedication to you, who has walked this journey with me and my team for the last three years of creating Otherwise?! I am off to graduate school (The London School of Economics and Political Science) for a Masters in Public Policy and Administration, and I wanted to do one last episode before I left! :) This episode answers the questions many of you have asked me since the inception of Otherwise?. Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me. We will be taking a break while I pursue my graduate studies, but we will be back when I'm done; bigger, better, and bolder. Kwaheri ya kuonana!

The Constitution in Article 43, sub-article 1 (a) states that “Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare”. Article 43 sub-article 2 also states that a person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment. The Jubilee government, as part of its Big Four Agenda, plans to roll out universal health coverage to all Kenyans by 2022, guaranteeing quality and affordable healthcare to all Kenyans. In the 2018/2019 budget, universal health coverage received a provision KES 2.5 billion. The government plans to reconfigure the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and reform the governance of private insurance companies. They also plan to have 100% of the poor covered by government, 9 million people covered by KES 32 billion formal member contributions, 12 million people covered by KES 28 billion informal member contributions, and a 50% decrease in out of pocket medical expenses. We're joined by Dr. Amakove Wala, Programme Director - Health Systems Strengthening at Amref in Kenya, to talk about how we can achieve universal health coverage in Kenya. Resources Constitution of Kenya - Article 43: Economic and social rights 2018 Budget Policy Statement Big Four Agenda at core of Kenya spending, to spur economic growth Refocusing on quality of care and increasing demand for services; Essential elements in attaining universal health coverage in Kenya Towards Universal Health Coverage in Kenya: Are We On The Right Path? Kenya National Hospital Insurance Fund Reforms: Implications and Lessons for Universal Health Coverage County Governments At The Centre of Achieving Universal Health Care Universal Health Care As Inspired By The Kenya Vision 2030 President Uhuru launches Universal Health Coverage Pilot Program Nairobi, (KENYA) December 13, 2018 How Kenya can attain universal health care Universal Health Coverage: What you need to know The Path to Universal Health Coverage in Kenya : Repositioning the Role of the National Hospital Insurance Fund Domestic Resource Mobilization for Health: National Health Financing Dialogue for Implementation of the Health Sector Domestic Financing Sustainability Plan [UHC Delivery for Kenya – Issue Paper] Universal Health Coverage Advocacy Guide Linda Mama, Boresha Jamii: Implementation Manual for Programme Managers Only 20% Kenyans have medical cover Start of a new era of health care in Makueni County Universal Social Protection Coverage for All: A Case Study of Makueni County, Kenya What makes Makaueni's Sh 500-a year universal Health Care Programme tick How to achieve universal health coverage? Focus on primary care Episode 21: #LipaKamaTender Episode 70: Financing the Kenyan Government Episode 105: Social Protection in Kenya Episode 110: Non-Communicable Diseases Image Credit: AFIDEP

Human-wildlife conflict is a growing problem in Kenya today, and it has a huge negative impact on both human and wildlife populations. It happens when there is close interaction between wild animals and human beings, which leads to injury, death, predation and transmission of diseases. In February 2019, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) issued a notice to the public that the dry spell being experienced in most parts of the country was displacing wildlife from their traditional habitats in search of pasture and water. This had increased conflict as the wildlife came into contact with the public and human activities. They said that as the dry spell progressed, the risk of human wildlife conflict was expected to increase until the country received the long rains. Areas that have experienced increased incidence of human wildlife conflict were in Narok, Taita Taveta, Laikipia, Kajiado, Meru, Mau, Marsabit, Lamu and the Mt. Kenya region. We can assume that such warnings will become more frequent in coming years. We’re joined by Susanna Maingi, a research scientist and wildlife ecologist with expertise in human-wildlife conflict, antipoaching and conservation outreach, to discuss the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in Kenya. Press play! Resources KENYA’S ORIGINAL SIN: Root causes of rising human-wildlife conflicts Characteristics of Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Kenya: Examples of Tsavo and Maasai Mara Regions 77 people killed in human-wildlife conflicts in 2018: Balala Alert on Increased Incidence of Human - Wildlife Conflict Collapse of Wildlife migratory corridors as 100 mapped areas threatened KWS says SGR affecting wildlife movement in Tsavo Human-wildlife payment claims hit Sh15bn in last 5 years: PS Human-Wildlife Conflicts and compensation for losses in Kenya Why wildlife is critical for human existence Human–Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Illegal Hunting and the Bushmeat Trade in Savanna Africa KWS unearths illegal bushmeat trade Report Of The Taskforce On Consumptive Wildlife Utilization in Kenya The ugly truth about wildlife conservation in Kenya The 2017 Shooting of Kuki Gallmann and the Politics of Conservation in Northern Kenya How Conservation Became Colonialism When WWF's conservation looks like colonialism, it's time for a new approach A Leaked Report Shows WWF Was Warned Years Ago Of “Frightening” Abuses Conservation's Biggest Challenge? The Legacy of Colonialism (Op-Ed) Is Conservation a New Form of Colonialism? Why are we not seeing many black faces in conservation? Saving the world's wildlife is not just "a white person thing" Analyzing collective action Exploring the Hidden Costs of Human–Wildlife Conflict in Northern Kenya Public land, historical land injustices and the new Constitution Invasive alien species in Kenya: status and management Invasive alien species in Kenya (PDF) Episode 24: Drought Begins With You Episode 60: Na Ni Who? Episode 65: The Oil in Turkana Episode 66: The Politics of Food in Nairobi Episode 78: Public Finance and the Right to Food [Part 1] Episode 79: Public Finance and the Right to Food [Part 2] Episode 93: Global Warming at The Equator Image Credit: World Wildlife

The Constitution of Kenya (2010) in Article 46 gives consumers the right - to goods and services of reasonable quality; to the information necessary for them to gain full benefit from goods and services; to the protection of their health, safety, and economic interests; and to compensation for loss or injury arising from defects in goods or services. It states that parliament shall enact legislation to provide for consumer protection and for fair, honest and decent advertising (which is the Consumer Protection Act, 2012). It applies to goods and services offered by public entities or private persons. We’re joined by Nzilani Mweu, founder of Rilani Advocates, to talk about consumer protection in Kenya. Press play! Resources Constitution of Kenya (2010) - Article 46 The Consumer Protection Act (2012) The Competition Act (2010) The Competition Authority of Kenya Kenya Information and Communications (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2010. Consumer protection diagnostic study – Kenya Consumer Protection Law in Kenya Protecting Consumers Means Thinking Like Consumers Insurance Regulatory Authority - Consumer Protection Central Bank of Kenya: Guidelines on Consumer Protection It’s Time to Change the Equation on Consumer Protection Financial consumer protection in Kenya: Key research findings and policy recommendations Intersections between Intellectual Property, Consumer Protection and Competition Law in Kenya Printing Out The Privacy Policies Of Facebook, Snap, And Others State not committed to protecting consumer rights Competition enforcement and consumer protection in a digital economy Image Credit: FSD Kenya

In a survey carried out by Women’s Empowerment Link (WEL) in 2015, in the wake of the #MyDressMyChoice protest in 2014, it was found that 54% of women had experienced gender based violence (physical, sexual or psychological harm) while using public transport. The women shared that they been harassed, with the abuse ranging from derogatory comments to rape. Many witnessed female passengers being stripped naked, but the female survivors neither received any help nor reported the violation, and they reported a culture of silence held up by both male and female passengers. We also have a Geopoll survey from 2016 that highlighted that at least 46% of women in Kenya have been harassed by matatu crews. We’re joined by Mary Mwangi, Programs Manager at Flone Initiative, to discuss the relationship between women and public transport. Resources Eastern Africa Women in Transportation Conference Report Gender Sensitive Mini-Bus Services & Transport Infrastructure for African Cities: A Practical Toolkit How to Ease Women’s Fear of Transportation Environments: Case Studies and Best Practices Gender and Urban Transport Gender in Public Transportation: A Perspective of Women Users of Public Transportation Approaches for Gender Responsive Urban Mobility Women in the Transport Sector Women and Urban Transport: Draft Policy [India] Safety In Kenya’s Public Transport Vehicles (Matatu) I Just Wanted To Go Home Women and transportation in East Africa Women are changing the narrative in East Africa’s public transport sector Violence against Women and Girls in Public Road Transport and Connected Spaces in Nairobi County, Kenya Report on Mobility of Care Assessment of Nairobi’s Public Minibus Transport Services Report on Gender Equity Assessment of Nairobi’s Public Minibus Transport Services Why your Public Transportation Sucks - Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj 2019 Women and Transport Africa Conference Tumi’s 5 Principles to Empower Women in Transport Episode 77: The Problem With Our Roads Image Credit: East Africa Women In Transport Conference

The conversation on cancer and other non-communicable diseases has taken centre stage after the death of high profile Kenyans in recent weeks – Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso, and Kibra MP Ken Okoth. According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya in undergoing an epidemiological transition marked by a decline in morbidity and mortality due to communicable conditions, and an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include diseases such as diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory infections. We’re joined by Dr. Laura Muambayi, a medical doctor with experience treating NCDs, as well as a primary healthcare giver, to discuss non-communicable diseases and their health implications in Kenya. Resources Kenya National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2015 - 2020) Lifestyle Diseases - An Increasing Cause Of Health Loss (Policy Brief) Kenya Case Study: NCD Situation Analysis of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Policies in Kenya Noncommunicable diseases: Fact Sheet (WHO) Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2018 Kenya: Cancer Profile National Cancer Screening Guidelines National Guidelines for Cancer Management Why many Kenyans are dying of cancer Woman with breast cancer commits suicide in Naivasha In East Africa, a cancer diagnosis means a death sentence Pancreatic tumour fastest-growing cause of Kenya’s cancer deaths IDF Diabetes Atlas - 8th Edition Taking Diabetes to Heart - Report Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease - executive summary Cost-effective solutions for the prevention of type 2 diabetes Kenya National Diabetes Strategy (2010 - 2015) Kenya faces rising burden of diabetes Cases of diabetes have doubled in Kenya, warn experts The Sugar Wars How the Sugar Industry Shifted Blame to Fat How Big Business Got Brazil Hooked on Junk Food Kenya National Guidelines for Cardiovascular Diseases Management The emerging problem of coronary heart disease in Kenya Ignorance fueling spread of heart diseases in Kenya The danger that rheumatic heart disease poses in Kenya Kenyans at risk of heart disease due to unhealthy lifestyles Addressing NCDs to Fast-Track Achievement of Universal Health Coverage Episode 10: Dereva, Chunga Maisha! Episode 82: Debunking Mental Health Myths Episode 89: The Air We Breathe Image Credit: Roche

This week, we’re joined by Tayiana Chao, a digital heritage specialist and digital humanities scholar, of African Digital Heritage, the Museum of British Colonialism, Save the Railway and Skills 4 Culture to discuss the importance of having a digital cultural heritage for the African continent. What is the current situation in Kenya when it comes to cultural heritage? Why is it important to have conversations about cultural heritage in Kenya, especially at this moment? How do we ensure that the collection, curation, conservation, exhibition and marketing of our cultural heritage centres Kenyans? What role does technology have to play in our archiving, exploring and understanding our cultural heritage? What gaps currently exist in terms of the skills required in this sector? What gaps exist in the collection, curation, conservation, exhibition and marketing of our heritage? How can we bridge these gaps? What role will cultural heritage will play in the Kenyan socio-political experience in the coming years? Press play to find out! Resources National Museums and Heritage Act (2006) National Museums of Kenya Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service Kenya National Library Service Museum of British Colonialism African Digital Heritage Save The Railway Mau Mau Detention Camp - Field Work International Inventories Program Skills 4 Culture Book Bunk Grand history of the lunatic express End of Lunatic Express Museums are hiding their imperial pasts – which is why my tours are needed Museums and Empire: Natural History, Human Cultures and Colonial Identities Museums have long overlooked the violence of empire Anthropology and Colonialism Radio Lab: Mau Mau Kenya lifts ban on Mau Mau Operation Legacy’: Britain’s Destruction and Concealment of Colonial Records Worldwide Revealed: the bonfire of papers at the end of Empire Britain destroyed records of colonial crimes Foreign Office hoarding 1m historic files in secret archive Sins of colonialists lay concealed for decades in secret archive Mau Mau torture claim Kenyans win right to sue British government Kenyan torture victims give evidence in high court compensation case Kenya: UK expresses regret over abuse as Mau Mau promised payout Kenyan Mau Mau victims in talks with UK government over legal settlement The Mau Mau may rewrite the history of the British empire Britain's Gulag : The Brutal End of Empire in Kenya Joseph Murumbi's Legacy African Heritage House The house at the end of history: The little city gem that is the Murumbi Gallery Ethical Issues In Digitization Of Cultural Heritage Digitization of Cultural Heritage Digitisation of Cultural Heritage Understanding the Impact of Digitisation on Culture Image Credit: Magical Kenya

This week, we're throwing it back to the old school format, where I take topic suggestions from the pod's community and address them in around 15 minutes. The first question is on foreign investors in Kenya. Should we set stricter criteria to attract quality investors and protect our SMEs? The second question asks what we as citizens can do to fight the Huduma Bill, and the final one asks about Mike Sonko’s behaviour at Ken Okoth’s funeral, and his blatant admission of guilt when he said that he nominated the late MP’s alleged second wife to the Nairobi County Assembly as an MCA. If this is true, what redress can we seek as Kenyans to stop this nonsense? Press play to find out! Resources World Investment Report (2019) Ease of Doing Business Rankings (2019) Foreign Investment Survey Report 2018 The Investment Promotion Act (2004) 2016 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survey Basic Report Cheap imports, high costs: Why many businesses are closing shop StanChart branch closure signals banking job losses Deacons blames tough business environment for Sh180 mn loss The Huduma Bill (2019) No healthcare, voting without Huduma Namba, Bill proposes Parliamentary dictatorship a frontal assault on democracy Episode 49: Women and Youth in Kenyan Politics Episode 62: Tax Justice in Kenya Episode 68: Women and the 2017 Elections Episode 80: The Two-Thirds Gender Principle Episode 85: Persons of Interest Episode 90: On Femicide and Women at the Frontline Episode 99: Manufacturing Prosperity Episode 100: The Journey to Constitutional Reform Image Credit: Techweez

On July 14th 2019, NTV aired a feature titled Red Alert, which revealed that Kenyan supermarkets and retail outlets were using sodium metabisulfite to increase the shelf life of meat products by making them look fresher for longer, so as to prevent losses. They were also found to repackage these products and change the dates so as to dupe their customers into buying these products past their sell-by date. The conversation that arose after was intense, pointing out that supermarkets were using excess quantities of the compound, without disclosing it to consumers, which was exacerbated by changing the dates on products to deceive customers. This is not the first time we have had widespread panic and anxiety over food in Kenya. We have had reports of sukuma wiki and spinach being grown next to sewers and being toxic and containing heavy metals, water containing microplastics, chicken being fattened using antibiotics, formalin being used to preserve meat, maize with aflatoxin, sugar containing mercury, and fruits being ripened using calcium carbide. This is in addition to pesticide use in farm products that elicits the same concerns. We’re joined by Wanjiru Kamau, an agricultural and environmental policy expert, to discuss food safety in general in Kenya. Resources The Kenya Food Control System The Kenya Food and Drugs Authority Bill (2019) Kenya National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2015 - 2020) Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) Dietary risk factors for non-communicable diseases in Kenya: findings of the STEPS survey, 2015 Food safety and quality management in Kenya: An overview of the roles played by various stakeholders Food Safety in Kenya: Focus on fruits and vegetables SBS Senior Lecturer Publishes Case Study on Food Safety Concerns in Kenya Why food safety is a major national issue Lifestyle Diseases: An Increasing Cause Of Health Loss Heavy Metal Concentration in Vegetables Grown around Dumpsites in Nairobi City County, Kenya Coca-Cola admits presence of plastic in Dasani Antibiotics in meat: why Kenya needs to do more Keep birds free from antibiotics, use supplements Kenya's 'contaminated sugar' row: What we know Report reveals seized sugar contains Mercury Tests show dangerous levels of toxins in foods sold in Nairobi Could your fruit vendor be selling you poison?   Experts poke holes in proposed food and drugs law How safe is your food? Be careful what you eat Conversation on food safety is long overdue Study warns of highly contaminated fruits,vegetables in open markets and supermarkets How safe is your sukuma wiki? The local food revolution in Brazil's schools Learning from Brazil’s Food and Nutrition Security Policies The road to restoration: Cuba’s modern farming revolution Cuba's organic revolution How does organic agriculture contribute to food security of small land holders?: A case study in the North of Thailand Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

On 27th June 2019, Kenya beat Tanzania 3-2 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), moving us to third place in Group C, right behind Algeria and Senegal. This renewed the conversation around sports reform in Kenya. This is the first time Kenya has qualified for AFCON since 2004. We're joined by Ng'arua Kamuya, a lawyer, advocate of the High Court of Kenya and sports pundit, for a fun chat on what we can do to reform sports in Kenya. Press play! Resources Dennis Ombachi's Thread Image Credit: The Guardian

According to Kenya's Social Protection Policy, poverty, disease, and ignorance were identified at the time of independence in 1963 as the critical challenges facing the new nation of Kenya. While some degree of success has been achieved in the area of education, progress in reducing poverty and providing healthcare has barely been made. 56 years after independence, “poverty and vulnerability remain major challenges, with almost one in every two Kenyans trapped in a long-term, chronic and inter-generational cycle of poverty." Our Constitution in Article 43 guarantees all Kenyans their economic, social, and cultural rights. It asserts the "right for every person...to social security and binds the state to provide appropriate social security to persons who are unable to support themselves and their dependents." This right is closely linked to other social protection rights, including the right to healthcare, human dignity, reasonable working conditions, and access to justice. Article 21 establishes the progressive realization of social and economic rights and obligates the state to "observe, respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights.” We’re joined by Pauline Vata, Executive Director of Hakijamii Trust, to discuss social protection in Kenya. Resources Kenya National Social Protection Policy (2012) Article 43, Constitution of Kenya (2010) National Social Security Fund Act (2013) National Hospital Insurance Fund Act (2013) Social Assistance Act (2013) Analytical Review of the Pension System in Kenya Social security reforms in Kenya: Towards a workerist or a citizenship-based system? Policy Brief on National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) NHIF Strategic Plan 2014 - 2018: Sustainable Financing Towards Universal Health Coverage in Kenya HEALTHY AMBITIONS? KENYA’S NATIONAL HOSPITAL INSURANCE FUND (NHIF) MUST BECOME MORE TRANSPARENT IF IT IS TO ANCHOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE Extending Social Security and Fighting Poverty: Two reform proposals to extend social security in Kenya The Right to Social Security in Kenya: The gap between international human rights and domestic law and policy PARTICIPATION OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES: THE CASH TRANSFERS IN KENYA Political Economy of Cash Transfers In Kenya Kenya’s Social Cash Transfer Program From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub-Saharan Africa The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor: Experimental Evidence from Kenya The Long-Term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from Kenya. Income Changes and Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Unconditional Cash Transfers in Kenya Scaling up Cash Transfer Programmes in Kenya The Evolution of the Government of Kenya Cash Transfer Programme for Vulnerable Children between 2002 to 2006 and prospects for nationwide scale-up Episode 44: The State of Kenya's Healthcare Episode 21: #LipaKamaTender Image Credit: Business Insider

In June 2019, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced that it would be phasing out the current generation KES 1,000 note by 1st October 2019. On that date, it will cease to be legal tender. This is in an effort to curb illicit financial transactions, including money laundering; address the problem of counterfeit notes; and fight corruption. They also announced new generation notes alongside the new KES 1,000 note (KES 50, 100, 200 and 500), but these do not have a deadline for exchange. According to the CBK, we currently have in circulation 217.6 million pieces of KES 1,000, 30.8 million pieces of KES 500, 54.8 million pieces of KES 200, 126.4 million pieces of KES 100, 100.5 million pieces of KES 50 and 9.9 million pieces of KES 20. We’re joined by Ken Gichinga, the Chief Economist at Mentoria Economics, to discuss the demonetization process as it is planned in Kenya. Resources Kenya is introducing new banknotes in a bid to fight corruption For demonetization to be successful, adequate remonetization necessary Behind Central Bank move to change notes Ensure roll-out of new currency does not hurt weak economy There is more than meets the eye in demonetisation Tedious journey to new currency that kicked off in 2010 Demonetization Of Currency Notes: Significance And Challenges Demonetisation: The end of Zimbabwean dollar What can you buy for $100 trillion in Zimbabwe? Not even a candy bar Here's The Full Text Of Modi's Speech On The Discontinuation Of ₹500 And ₹1,000 Bank Notes Demonetisation: What India gained, and lost Two years of demonetisation: What did the fight against black money achieve? Demonetization Anniversary: Decoding the Effects of Indian Currency Notes Ban  India election 2019: Did the ban on high-value banknotes work? Despite hype, demonetization missed all goals Few Hits and Many Misses From India's Cash Ban After 2 Years Payments are a-changin’ but cash still rules Image Credit: Nairobi Wire

In our second live recording, we're joined by Njeri Gateru, Lorna Dias and Pastor David Ochar to discuss LGBTQI+ organizing in Kenya in light of the High Court ruling on the decriminalization of same sex conduct. On May 24th 2019, the High Court ruled against two petitions filed against the Attorney General of Kenya in his capacity as the government’s legal advisor: Petition 150 of 2016, and Petition 234 of 2016, which had been consolidated by the court due to their similarity. The petitions sought to repeal Sections 162 (a) and (c) and 165 of the Penal Code because they are unconstitutional on grounds of vagueness and uncertainty. The petitioners also stated that the sections violated Articles 27, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 43 of the Constitution of Kenya. What is the environment/background in terms of organizing that brought us to this point? Why this, and why now? Why is it that the greatest strides the community has made towards equal rights and freedoms have been in the courts? Given the court ruling, and the fact that the judicial process in Kenya tends to take many years, how can we augment judicial action with organizing within the society/various communities? How is this currently happening? How do we respond to people who claim that same sex conduct or relationships are against religion? How about those who say they are unAfrican? What are the ways in which allies in Kenya, and around the world, can support LGBTQI+ organizing here? And, what will LGBTQI+ organizing in Kenya look like in the future? Press play to find out! Resources Petition 150 & 234 of 2016 (Consolidated) The Constitution of Kenya (2010) The Penal Code (CAP 63) Petition 266 of 2013 Petition 440 of 2013 Judicial Review 147 of 2013 Petition 51 of 2015 Civil Appeal 56 of 2016 India's Ruling on the Repeal of Section 377 of their Penal Code The Wolfenden Report - Summary The Wolfenden Report - Conclusion Letter from Birmingham City Jail Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies of African Homosexualities Episode 64: Repeal 162 Episode 59: Rafiki Episode 83: Separation of Church and State Before Straight and Gay A Theory of Scandal: Victorians, Homosexuality, and the Fall of Oscar Wilde Image Credit: Kanga Love TRTL

Kenya’s maternal mortality rate is 362 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 states that: Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive health care. Kenya adopted the Millennium Development Goals, which had set a target of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to 147 per 100,000 by 2015. We have also adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, whose target is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births between 2016 and 2030. Today, we're joined by Caroline Wainaina, a research officer working on maternal and child well-being at APHRC, to discuss maternal healthcare in Kenya. Resources 2014 Kenya Demographic And Health Survey Women and Men in Kenya Facts and Figures 2017 Reducing Maternal Deaths in Kenya Tackling High Maternal Deaths in Kenya The effect of Kenya’s free maternal health care policy on the utilization of health facility delivery services and maternal and neonatal mortality in public health facilities Ministry of Health implements free maternity services nationwide Are There Really 1.2 Million Mothers on the Free Maternity Programme? Which way for mothers after five years of free maternal care Has Access To Free Maternity Care In Kenya Doubled Since 2013? Implementing Free Maternal Health Care in Kenya: Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations Examining the Implementation of the Free Maternity Services Policy in Kenya: A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation Implementation of the free maternity services policy and its implications for health system governance in Kenya Reproductive Health and Family Planning Financing in Kenya: A mapping of the resource flows Maternal Education and Immunization Status Among Children in Kenya From Paper to Practice: Sexuality Education Policies and Their Implementation in Kenya Reality check: Why it’s time to introduce sex education in schools The #LipaKamaTender Movement UNFPA Kenya Annual Report 2017 The Reproductive Health Care Bill (2014) Image Credit: COMO Foundation

We celebrate Labour Day/International Worker’s Day each year on the 1st of May. Celebrations are organized by trade unions and their members, and they take time to highlight the labour environment in the country, and how it can be improved. Trade unions in Kenya are inextricably linked with our struggle for independence. Makhan Singh is considered the father of the labour movement, having formed the Labour Trade Union of Kenya in 1935, and the East African Trade Union Congress in 1949. To mark this year's occasion belatedly, we’re joined by Dr. Emily Odhong, a lecturer at Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology, and a labour relations consultant, to discuss the importance of the labour movement in Kenya. Press play! Resources The Employment Act (2007) The Labour Relations Act (2007) Industrial Relations Charter (1984) Assessment Of The State Of Trade Unions in Kenya Trade Unions in Transformation - Developing and Utilizing Power Resources: The Case of Kenya National Private Security Workers’ Union Re-thinking Industrial Relations for Enhanced Organizational Performance in Kenya Trade union movement leads the way in Kenya KNUT joins COTU in drive for stronger labour union Image credit: Africa Times

The Constitution of Kenya (2010) was promulgated almost nine years ago, on 27th August 2010. This was after it was presented to the Attorney General on 7th April 2010, officially published on 6th May 2010, subjected to a referendum on 4th August 2010, and approved by 68.55% of the people who participated in the referendum. We’re joined by Atsango Chesoni, former Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review, to discuss how this constitution has changed Kenya almost nine years later. Resources The Constitution of Kenya (2010) [Web Version] The Constitution of Kenya (2010) [PDF Version] The Repealed Constitution [first passed in 1969] The 1963 Constitution 1962 Lancaster House Conference About the 2010 Constitution About the Committee of Experts Process About the Constitution Drafts About the 2005 Referendum Constitutional Transitions and Territorial Cleavages: The Kenyan Case Kenya: 36 reasons why we needed a new constitution All you need to know about independent commissions, offices The Rationale for the Existence of Independent Constitutional Commissions It is the politics, stupid: (Not) Kenya Style Prof. Yash Pal Ghai’s Submission to the Building Bridges Initiative Task Force Committee Ethnicity and the Kenyan System of Governance Why we cannot change the Constitution without violating it Episode 80: The Two-Thirds Gender Principle Episode 70: Financing the Kenyan Government Episode 68: Women and the 2017 Elections Episode 60: Nai Ni Who? Episode 18: Daima Kenya

The Big 4 Agenda, unveiled on 12th December 2017, has identified manufacturing as one of its pillars (alongside universal healthcare, food security and affordable housing), with the goal of increasing its contribution to Kenya’s economy to 15% by 2022. The agenda has identified 8 priority sectors under its manufacturing pillar: agro-processing, textile, leather, construction, materials, oil and mining, iron and steel, and ICT. In recent years, according to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya has experienced deindustrialization as evidenced by the reduction in manufacturing’s contribution to our GDP. We are joined by Navalayo Osembo, CEO and co-founder of Enda Sportswear, to discuss this pillar further. Resources KAM - Manufacturing in Kenya Under the ‘Big 4 Agenda’ A Sector Deep-dive Report KAM - Manufacturing Priority Agenda 2019 Manufacturing in Kenya: Features, Challenges and Opportunities Special Economic Zones Act (2015) Export Processing Zones Act (1990) Export Processing Zones Act - Subsidiary Legislation Want Big Four to work? Bring down cost of doing business Manufacturing can be the engine for Uhuru’s Big Four pillars need What manufacturers need to drive Kenya’s Big Four growth agenda Image Credit: Brookings

At the Paris Peace Forum in November 2018, Uhuru Kenyatta committed to Kenya’s transition to 100% green energy by 2020, noting that green energy made up 70% of Kenya’s installed electric capacity at the time. According to the Ministry of Energy, as at December 2018, Kenya had achieved 75% household access to electricity, through both on-grid and off-grid solutions, and we plan to achieve universal access to electricity by 2022. We’re joined by Anne Wambugu, an electrical engineer working in the renewable energy sector, to discuss Kenya's current state electricity-wise, what it means for Kenya to go green, and the possibilities that lie ahead. Press play! NOTE: The targeted installed capacity by the year 2030 is 7,213.88 MW, not 26,000 MW. Where Anne says people who have low usage of electricity averaging about KES 300 per day, she meant to say KES 300 per month. Resources [Updated] Least Cost Power Development Plan Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project [All Downloads] Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project: Vulnerable & Marginalized Groups Framework Kenya Electricity System Improvement Project: Environmental & Social Management Framework Kenya Electricity Modernization Project Global Off-Grid Solar Market Report: Semi-Annual Sales and Impact Data Renewables 2018: Global Status Report Development of Kenya’s power sector: 2015-2020 Kenya Power Sh4.8bn diesel order signals long wait for cheap electricity Eyes on ERC as wind surpasses diesel electricity Ending 3 thermal power plants to cost Sh 9 billion Kenya Launches Ambitious Plan to Provide Electricity to All Citizens by 2022 Off-grid solar power comes of age in Kenya Market for the integration of smaller wind turbines in minigrids in Kenya Off-grid solutions cure for power deficit in Kenya Kenya is aiming to be powered entirely by green energy by 2020 Kenya targets green energy sufficiency by 2020, Uhuru says Image Credit: Vox.com

In January 1991, Mohammed Siad Barre’s government was toppled when rebels from the United Somali Congress toppled the Red Berets, in a culmination of a struggle that began in 1986. Since then, Somalia has been in a state of civil war. It has displaced over 1 million people within the country, and over 1 million more are living abroad in the Somali diaspora, either as registered refugees or undocumented migrants. We’re joined by Fadumo Dayib, a social justice activist, Somali politician and the first woman to vie for president of Somalia (in November 2016) to discuss being Somali in Somalia, as well as the diaspora. What was the cause of the civil war, and what factors have allowed it to continue for almost 30 years? What has the effect of having international intervention been? What factors make it possible for Al Shabaab to exist within Somalia and East Africa, and recruit from throughout the region? What has this conflict meant for the rights of Somali women and girls? How has it affected their rights, freedoms and access to opportunities? And, what is the way forward when it comes to resolving this conflict? Press play to find out! Resources Siad Barre’s Fall Blamed for Somalia’s Collapse into Civil War Understanding Civil Militia Groups in Somalia Somalia: a history of events from 1950 to the present - in pictures Somalia: The Forgotten Story The 4.5 Formula Somalia's Clan Politics The Rotation Convention: the real scandal of Somalia’s 4.5 power sharing system The Business of Fear in Boomtown Mogadishu Ethiopian Invasion of Somalia Ethiopia ends Somalia occupation WikiLeaks Reveals U.S. Twisted Ethiopia’s Arm to Invade Somalia Ethiopian troop withdrawal from Somalia exposes peacekeeping problems Explaining the differences in Al-Shabaab expansion into Ethiopia and Kenya Al-Shabab [an explainer] Understanding Drivers of Violent Extremism: The Case of al-Shabab and Somali Youth Explaining Transborder Terrorist Attacks: The Cases of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab History of Al-Shabaab and its link with Kenya The Unseen War The Unseen War - Part 2 Somali militants al-Shabab threaten Kenya retaliation Somalia: Why is Al-Shabaab Still A Potent Threat? Why is Al Shabab making inroads into Kenya? Why is Kenya an al-Shabab target? Somalia's Al Shabaab: Clans vs Islamist nationalism What Kenya has to show for sending troops into Somalia seven years ago PROXY WARS: The intrigues leading to Kenya’s invasion of Somalia What's Wrong With Kenya's Invasion of Somalia Kenya and Somalia: landscape of tension The Road to Garissa Corruption and Terror: Somali Community in Kenya Caught in the Crossfire Women’s Rights in Somalia: Women’s Role in Conflict Resolution Human Rights Brief: Women in Somalia GIRLS AND GIRLHOOD INTERRUPTED: TWO DECADES OF STATELESSNESS AND MILITARIZED VIOLENCE IN WAR-TORN SOMALIA Somalia: A state of male power, insecurity and inequality Women Needs in Somalia after Civil War Image Credit: VQR Online

Mobile lending in Kenya has experienced a boom in recent years. Customers are able to apply for and receive loans through their mobile phones, and this has drastically changed Kenya’s financial landscape. Mobile lending is made possible through mobile money transfer technology, which was introduced in Kenya by Safaricom in 2007 via MPesa. There are three primary ways that it works: The first is bank backed, the second is mobile lending by non-bank finance institutions such as microfinance institutions and SACCOs, and the third is mobile lending by financial technology firms which do it through their mobile apps. We’re joined by Geraldine Lukania, Project Manager of FSD Kenya's Market Information Project to discuss mobile lending/credit, what makes it so popular, and whether it needs to be regulated. Press play! Resources Kenya moves to regulate fintech-fuelled lending craze M-Shwari leads Mobile lending industry The Draft Financial Markets Conduct Bill, 2018 The 2019 FinAccess household survey The 2016 FinAccess household survey Digital Market Overview: Kenya The digital credit revolution in Kenya: an assessment of market demand, 5 years on A Digital Credit Revolution: Insights from Borrowers in Kenya and Tanzania Kenya’s Digital Credit Revolution Five Years On How Regulators Can Foster More Responsible Digital Credit It's Time to Slow Digital Credit's Growth in East Africa Image Credit: Mambo Zuri

We hear a lot about fake news, but that is a very broad and misleading term. According to the Ethical Journalism Network, "fake news is information deliberately fabricated and published with the intention to deceive and mislead others into believing falsehoods or doubting verifiable facts." This term conflates three types of information disorder: misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. In the spirit of International Fact Checking Day, celebrated annually on April 2nd, we're joined by Eric Mugendi, Managing Editor of Pesacheck, to discuss fact checking in general, and within the Kenyan context. What exactly is fact checking, and why is it important, especially in this digital age? What establishes something as a “fact” vis a vis an opinion? What exactly is information disorder? And what is the difference between these three types of disorder? What kinds of challenges do misinformation, disinformation and malinformation pose to modern day journalism? What is the role of media organizations when it comes to fact checking? Press play to find out!  Resources Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training Thinking about 'Information Disorder': Formats of Misinformation, Disinformation and Mal-Information  INFORMATION DISORDER: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making Understanding and Addressing the Disinformation Ecosystem Improving Media’s Ability To Check The Facts: We Need A Media Culture That Double Checks Numbers How to Fact Check: Tips and Advice Africa Check: Sorting Fact from Fiction The Reality of Fake News in Kenya Information Disorder, Part 1: The Essential Glossary Information Disorder, Part 2: Mapping the Landscape Information Disorder, Part 3: Useful Graphics 10 questions to ask before covering mis- and dis-information Media Manipulation and Disinformation Online Image credit: VOA News

On Tuesday the 26th of March 2019, the Standard reported that a three judge bench at the Court of Appeal, constituted by Justices Roselyn Nambuye, Daniel Musinga and Patrick Kiage, proposed that the age of consent be lowered to 16 by amending the Sexual Offences Act, citing lengthy jail terms imposed on young men convicted of defilement. We’re joined by Judy Gitau, the Africa Regional Co-ordinator of Equality Now to discuss consent, the age of consent, its importance, and the potential impact of lowering it. Resources Criminal Appeal 102 of 2016 [The Ruling that proposed the lowering of the age of consent] Court proposes lowering sex consent age to 16 years Sexual Offences Act (2006) What is sexual consent? Why the age of sexual consent continues to be a worldwide challenge Close in Age Exemptions / Romeo and Juliet Laws What are the Romeo and Juliet Laws Episode 81: Abortion and Reproductive Healthcare Episode 88: Human Trafficking in Kenya Image Credit: Social Documentary Centre

Much of the conversation about global warming and climate change focuses on the Earth’s poles and the areas outside the tropics. We understand that ice caps and glaciers are melting. However, it is urgent that we understand the effects of global warming in the tropics in general, and at the equator in particular. Normal temperature ranges in the tropics fall within a narrower range than those outside them, so any change will have more significant effects. We’re joined by Jessica Mukiri, an Environmental Modeler at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, to discuss global warming at the equator, with a focus on Kenya. Which human activities make us more vulnerable to climate change? What are its effects in this region? And, how can we mitigate it? Press play to find out! Resources Effects of global warming Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 ºC Climate Change: Why the Tropical Poor Will Suffer Most Why Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change Vulnerability to Climate Change in Africa: Challenges and Recommendations for Africa Africa is particularly vulnerable to the expected impacts of global warming Global warming: Why Kenya is among countries at crossroads Climate Risks, Vulnerability and Governance in Kenya: A review Modeling Kenya's Vulnerability to Climate Change – A Multifactor Approach Climate change making storms like Idai more severe, say experts Cyclone Idai reveals the fundamental injustice at the heart of climate change Analysis of Climate Change and Variability Risks in the Smallholder Sector Climate Change and Health in Africa: Issues and Options Climate Change Deadly Health Risk and Global Health Opportunity – Lancet Commission Climate drivers of vector-borne diseases in Africa and their relevance to control programmes Climate change and population health in Africa: where are the scientists? Herders: Why we invade Laikipia ranches Are Kenya ranch invasions driven by drought or politics? Rapid Range Shifts of Species Associated with High Levels of Climate Warming Climate change could force huge migrations for people and animals living near the equator Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota Migration and Climate Change UN compact recognizes climate change as driver of migration for first time Study finds that global warming exacerbates refugee crises Seeds of war: Global warming helped trigger Syria's bloody civil war Climate change and the Syrian civil war revisited Making the Links: Refugees, Climate Change, and Poverty Who takes responsibility for the climate refugees? Climate Justice for a Changing Planet: A Primer for Policy Makers and NGOs Image Credit: Ventures Africa

According to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and National Treasury reports in 2016, it was estimated that a third of Kenya’s national budget was lost through corrupt dealings annually. That would mean that in 2018/19, we can reasonably expect to lose KES 1 trillion, if not more, to corruption. Much of this money ends up in offshore accounts in countries that are tax havens. As at 2007, economists at the American research firm National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) estimated that about 70% of Kenya’s GDP (KES 1.83 trillion in 2007) was stashed abroad, while the think-tank Global Financial Integrity (GFI) estimated in an October 2018 report that Kenya loses about 8% of government revenues annually (above USD 907 million, or KES 78.41 billion, based on the historical exchange rate) to trade misinvoicing by multinationals. We’re joined by Will Fitzgibbon, an investigative journalist at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), who has worked on the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers and Swiss Leaks, to talk about where our stolen money goes. Press play! Resources The Panama Papers - Exposing the Rogue Offshore Finance Industry The Panama Papers - Power Players Paradise Papers - Secrets of the Global Elite Swiss Leaks - Murky Cash Sheltered By Bank Secrecy Swiss Leaks - Kenya Country Profile Offshore Leaks Database: Kenya What are the 'Paradise Papers' and why should you care? Paradise papers: a special investigation HSBC files Kenya: Potential Revenue Losses Associated with Trade Misinvoicing Wealthy Kenyans hiding Sh5trn in foreign banks Concern as wealthy Kenyans stash their riches in tax havens Leaks reveal Kenyan judge a director of multiple offshore companies More Kenyans on Panama Papers list What leaked Paradise Papers mean for Kenya Inside the havens, where super rich people hide their billions Third of Kenyan budget lost to corruption: anti-graft chief Understanding the economic cost of corruption in Kenya Experts: Theft, waste likely to silence calls for austerity Episode 54: The Cost of Corruption Episode 62: Tax Justice in Kenya Image Credit: ICIJ

As part of its Big Four Agenda, the Jubilee government aims to focus on the provision of affordable housing units to be bought on mortgage by formally employed Kenyans. In the 2018/2019 budget, affordable housing received a provision KES 6.5 billion. By 2022, the government aims to have constructed 500,000 affordable housing units, with four types being available. The housing projects have been divided into five lots, with one lot covered in each financial year. Each lot is then broken down into flagship projects, flagship social housing projects, counties and towns and Nairobi County projects. We're joined by Njeri Cerere, a Planning, Development and Environmental Consultant, and the co-convenor of Naipolitans, to discuss a roadmap to affordable housing in Kenya. Press play! Resources Kenya economic update : housing - unavailable and unaffordable Kenya 1999 Population and Housing Census: Analytical Report On Housing Conditions and Social Amenities - Volume X Road To Affordable Housing Agenda, Health For All, Now Clear State of Housing in Kenya: Will Government Strategy Deliver on Social Housing How feasible is the Housing component of Kenya’s Big Four Agenda? The Home Ownership Survey - January 2015 The KPDA Affordable Housing Report, June 2018 The 500, 000 Affordable Housing Program – Project Delivery and Finance Framework, May 2018 Kenya Affordable Housing Programme – Development Framework Guidelines – Release Version, Oct 2018 Housing Policy as an Agenda for Elections 2017 Nairobi 1948 Master Plan “A Plan for a Colonial Capital” Nairobi Metropolitan Growth Strategy (1973 Plan) The Project on Integrated Urban Development Master Plan for the City of Nairobi in the Republic of Kenya Housing levy with lots of grey areas How the National Housing Development Fund affects you NDEMO: Africa’s Poverty Contradictions and Dead Capital Kenya’s mortgage rate 6 times more than rent compared to S.Africa’s 1:1 ratio Why the proposed 10pc roof on mortgage is still too high for Kenyan buyers Number of mortgage accounts declines for first time in decade Trouble brewing in Kenya’s house loans market Kenyans shun mortgages, prefer building own homes Some buildings in Nairobi have not been occupied more than a year after completion. Episode 60: Nai Ni Who? Episode 62: Tax Justice in Kenya Episode 70: Financing the Kenyan Government Episode 72: The Impact of Interest Rate Capping Episode 77: The Problem With Our Roads Episode 88: Human Trafficking in Kenya Image Credit: Baraka Mwau

Caroline Mwatha. Sharon Otieno. Mercy Keino. Fiona Kasuya. Mary Wambui. Beryl Adhiambo. These are some of the women we have lost to Kenya's femicide crisis, wither due to their work, or men in their lives. This week, we’re joined by Rachael Mwikali, the convenor of the Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders to discuss the work of human rights defenders in Kenya, with a focus on women, as well as Kenya’s femicide crisis. Resources #TotalShutdownKE #SayHerNameKE Missing Voices Kenya Hounded to the point of exile, human rights activists now appreciated KNCHR And Human Rights Defenders Work (HRD’s) Defend Defenders: Kenya Country Profile Body of missing Dandora activist Caroline Mwatha found at City Mortuary Haki Africa demands quick probe on missing activist Caroline Mwatha Police on the spot over missing Dandora activist Police link Caroline Mwathe's death to 'botched abortion' Five horrific cases of domestic violence against women in Kenya in the past three months Man stabs girlfriend to death, attempts suicide Rongai woman dies after husband tortures, sets her ablaze Lucy Njambi's killers forced her to swallow acid Former city MCA plotted attack on slain wife, court told Man brutally kills wife, stuffs body parts into a drum Man accused of beating wife to death in Kahawa Sukari, Nairobi Migori man kills sister-in-law over his wife's alleged cheating Prevalence Data on Different Forms of Violence against Women Episode 5: Why Do We Hate Our Women? Episode 56: Women's Lives Matter Episode 61: Stop Killing Us Episode 68: Women and the 2017 Elections Episode 73: When Technology Meets Violence Image Credit: Vice News

In Kenya, according to the 2018 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), diseases of the respiratory system are the leading cause of morbidity, followed by malaria. They accounted for 34% of all incidences in 2017, compared to malaria’s 18.7%. Kenya experiences 19,112 deaths annually because of air pollution, and of these, 6,672 are children. These are diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and lung cancer, among others. The 2017 survey estimated that 19.9 million Kenyans suffer from respiratory ailments that are exacerbated by poor air quality. We're joined by Dr. Kanyiva Muindi of the Africa Population Health Research Centre (APHRC) to talk about air quality in Kenya at large, and Nairobi in particular. Press play! Resources Economic Survey 2018 - Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Air Quality Regulations (2014) Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999) (Amended) Environmental Management and Coordination Act (2015) Air Pollution in Nairobi Slums: Sources, Levels and Lay Perceptions Invisible and ignored: air pollution inside the homes of Nairobi’s residents There is no escape: Nairobi's air pollution sparks Africa health warning EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE: Who is monitoring air quality in Kenya? Why Nairobi’s air pollution is deadly Nairobi Air Quality Monitoring Sensor Network Report - April 2017 The Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya Measuring Nairobi’s air quality using locally assembled low-cost sensors WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality - household fuel combustion (2014) WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality - selected pollutants (2010) WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide - Global update 2005 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air, but more countries are taking action Image Credit: Environmental Justice Atlas

Kenya is flagged as a source, transit, and destination country for persons subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking in East Africa by the Trafficking in Persons Report of 2018. We continue to host illegal recruiters who maintain networks in Uganda and Ethiopia. They recruit Kenyan, Rwandan, Ethiopian and Ugandan workers through fraudulent offers of employment in the Middle East and Asia. This happens despite a directive by the government to register all agencies linking Kenyans to employment opportunities overseas. This week, we're joined by Sophie Otiende of HAART Kenya (Awareness Against Human Trafficking) to talk about how human trafficking manifests in Kenya, and how to combat it. Press play! Resources Trafficking in Persons Report - June 2018 Kenya - Trafficking in Persons Report 2018 Human Trafficking in Kenya  - National Crime Research Centre Assessment Report On The Human Trafficking Situation In The Coastal Region of Kenya Why human trafficking is still rife in Kenya Human trafficking probe: CS Echesa on spot over Pakistani girls Exposed: Serial paedophile who ran an ‘orphanage’ Image Credit: Matilde Simas

Kenya is set to begin open field trials of GMO cotton in March 2019, following the approval for national performance trials by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in 2018. [In June 2018, it was reported that Kenya would start growing GMO cotton on a commercial basis in 2019.] This would make us the first in East Africa to grow GMOs in open fields, and fourth in Africa after South Africa, Burkina Faso and Sudan. BT cotton is among six crops that have been under confined field trials. The others are drought-tolerant maize, biofortified sorghum, viral resistant cassava, nutritionally enhanced cassava and gypsophila paniculata cut flowers. We’re joined by Anne Maina, co-ordinator of the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition, to discuss GMOs and food safety. Resources Kenya gears up for GMO cotton from next year Biotech maize field trials fail to get crop agency green light US seeks to push Kenya, other African countries to adopt GM crops Genetically modified Bt cotton not worth the hype Kenya soon to lift ban on production of genetically modified cotton, maize The future of cotton is not in genetically modified version Kenya rules out open trials on genetically modified crops Scientists say growing genetically-modified crop will revive local textile sector Why lifting GMO ban remains contentious despite attempts to introduce it in Kenya Feeding 9 Billion The biggest hurdle genetically engineered food faces isn’t science—it’s us Genetically Modified Foods: Breeding Uncertainty The Monsanto GMO Story: Adding a Fish Gene Into Tomatoes The GE Process Republished study: long-term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Genetically modified crops safety assessments: present limits and possible improvements Resource Guide to Organic Insect and Disease Management Kenya Apparel and Textile Industry: Diagnosis, Strategy and Action Plan How Monsanto’s GM cotton sowed trouble in Africa Burkina Faso calls time on Monsanto's GM cotton, demands $280m damages The Environmental Costs of Fast Fashion Fast fashion: Inside the fight to end the silence on waste Fast Fashion Is Killing People (Seriously!) Monsanto ordered to pay $289m as jury rules weedkiller caused man's cancer 'The world is against them': new era of cancer lawsuits threaten Monsanto The man who beat Monsanto: 'They have to pay for not being honest' Roundup weed killer lawsuit hits a snag, but Monsanto is not off the hook Integrated Pest Management (IPM) How to practice Integrated Pest Management? Biodiversity and Its Importance Episode 66: The Politics of Food in Nairobi Episode 78: Public Finance and the Right to Food [Part 1] Episode 79: Public Finance and the Right to Food [Part 2] Image Credit: Cornell Alliance for Science

After 32 years of the 8-4-4 curriculum, the new 2-6-3-3-3 curriculum rolled out early in January 2019. Its goal is to provide quality education and training policies for all. It aims to improve access, quality, relevance and equity in line with international, regional and national policies, as well as legal commitments, and move us closer towards our education for all goals. It also aims to ensure that all learners acquire competencies and qualifications capable of promoting national values, inspiring individual innovation and life-long learning; and that learners are not unnecessarily delayed at any level of education. The curriculum hopes to fix the gaps left by 8-4-4 according to the team, and put more emphasis on practical and vocational education, nurturing of talents, inclusion of critical life skills and de-emphasize the focus on the cognitive domain. We're joined by Angela Kabari, co-founder of the life skills program School Series, to discuss the curriculum and its implementation. Press play! Resources Curriculum Reform Policy Basic Education Curriculum Framework Curriculum Designs SNE Competency Based Curriculum Support Materials Basic Education Statistical Booklet Curriculum Development Cycle Addendum to the Orange Book on Competency Based Curriculum Episode 45: Reforming Kenya's Education System Episode 74: Exam Cheating Image Credit: Aga Khan Development Network

On 20th January 2019, we found out that while we were busy enjoying our holidays, Uhuru Kenyatta was busy passing new laws, and changes to old ones through a Miscellaneous Amendment Act. One of the most controversial amendments was the one to the Registration of Persons Act, which added new requirements for both location data (such as GPS coordinates) and biometric data (such as DNA). This comes up after the attack on 14 Riverside, and it is said that it’s for crime fighting purposes, especially now that terrorism is a key concern. We’re joined by Mercy Mutemi, an advocate of the high court who specializes in Internet law and policy advisory, to discuss the legal, human rights and ethical implications of this amendment. Press play! Resources Uhuru backs law change to start listing of Kenyans’ DNA Gov’t to collect your DNA, more personal info in new registration system Uhuru assents to seven Bills including one to revamp NYS Uhuru signs law to reform scandal-ridden youth service The Registration of Persons Act (before amendment) The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2018 State to partner with Israeli firm to create online database of Kenyans EDAPS introduces biometric portal in Kenya State of Privacy Kenya In Kenya, Communications Surveillance Is A Matter of Life and Death India: Identification Project Threatens Rights 210 govt websites had made Aadhaar details public: UIDAI Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details By making Aadhaar mandatory, Delhi’s government schools are shutting their doors to migrant children Excluded by Aadhaar How India's Welfare Revolution Is Starving Citizens The Ethics of Surveillance From Fingerprints to DNA: Biometric Data Collection in U.S. Immigrant Communities and Beyond Episode 23: Fascism is The New Black Episode 47: Digital Citizenship in the Silicon Savannah Episode 58: The Cybercrimes Act Episode 71: In Data We Trust Image Credit: Kenya Monitor

In the aftermath of the attack on 14th Riverside on 15th January 2019, many citizens asked how they could help ease the situation, as well as assist the victims of the disaster. Today we’re joined by Naomi Mutua, a digital PR specialist and a citizen responder who has been at the front-lines of organizing responses to crises, to discuss this. Press play! Resources Disaster Preparedness Disaster Preparedness Plan How to prepare for emergencies Community Preparedness and Risk Reduction Institutional and Legal Readiness Response & Recovery Image Credit: Mercy Juma

The Constitution of Kenya (2010) in Article 8 states that there shall be no state religion. Yet, our national anthem, one of our national symbols (listed in Article 9), begins with “Eh Mungu Nguvu Yetu,” or “Oh God of all creation.” The preamble to the constitution states that “We, the people of Kenya – Acknowledging the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation honour..." We’re joined by Elizabeth Kabari, an advocate of the High Court and consultant, to talk about separation of church and state in Kenya, and the seeming contradictions and what they mean for us as Kenyans. Resources The Constitution of Kenya (2010) The Constitution of Kenya (2001) The Constitution of Kenya (1963) Jesse Kamau & 25 others v Attorney General [2010] The Ubiquity of Religion in Kenya It's rule of law, not religion, that protects human rights in Kenya How To Balance The Separation Of Church And State Image Credit: Tuko

This past weekend, it was reported that universities had noted a worrying trend of students dying by suicide, with at least 12 cases having been recorded since January. Many more cases go unrecorded, but the causes were depression and other mental illnesses, family problems, intimate relationship problems, examination and fees stress, drug use among others. We're joined by Anita Awuor, a clinical psychologist, to discuss mental health and well-being in Kenya, and to debunk common myths around mental health. Pres play! Resources Kenya Mental Health Policy [2015 - 2030] Worrying trend of university students committing suicide Mental health issues trigger suicides among students Kenya suicide rate hits ten-year high Health experts warn of mental illness crisis People with mental illnesses struggle to find treatment Mental health problems in Kenya and Africa and how their perception negatively impacts the provision of care The taboo of mental illness in Kenya This is how expensive it is to access mental healthcare in Kenya Kenya's mental health law Providing Sustainable Mental and Neurological Health Care in Ghana and Kenya: Workshop Summary Image Credit: The Conversation

On November 18th 2018, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) banned international health organization Marie Stopes from offering any form of abortion services after alleged complaints from the “public” that their radio adverts were promoting abortion. Abortion is a very emotive topic because it cuts across healthcare, sexual intercourse, religion, gender and sexuality, as well as policy. These are the lenses we will use to look not just at abortion, but reproductive healthcare as a whole. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Stellah Bosire, a physician and human rights activist, to talk about abortion and reproductive healthcare in Kenya. Press play! Resources Board orders Marie Stopes to stop offering abortion services Kenya bans Marie Stopes from offering abortion services The Reproductive Health Care Bill (2014) Kenya’s Abortion Provisions In Harm's Way: The Impact of Kenya's Restrictive Abortion Law Abortion in Kenya Women’s Lives Matter: Preventing Unsafe Abortion in Kenya Unsafe abortion in Kenya: a cross-sectional study of abortion complication severity and associated factors Contraceptive Use among Women of Reproductive Age in Kenya’s City Slums A System in Crisis from Contraception to Post-Abortion Care Measurement, Learning & Evaluation of the Kenya Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (Tupange): Kenya Endline Service Delivery Point Survey 2014 2011 Kenya Urban Reproductive Health Service Delivery Report Religious Affiliation and Contraceptive use in Kenya Separating the Church from State: The Kenyan High Court's Decision in "Jesse Kamau and 25 Others v Attorney General" (Judgment of 24 May 2010) Five facts about birth control in Kenya Depo-Provera and HIV New PRI Study Shows Depo-Provera Increases Risk of HIV Infection Sexuality Education in Kenya: New Evidence from Three Counties The reality of sexuality: Schools are taking the wrong approach on sex education Women and The Law: A Spotlight On Recent Kenyan Legislation What About Nerea? Mollis and the Troubling Attitude Towards Sex in Kenya What About The Girl Child? The Elephant in Kenya’s Room Image Credit: Focus Africa

The Constitution of Kenya (2010) has multiple provisions that govern representation, but the two-thirds gender principle has been the most difficult to implement. Article 27(8) states that the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 81(b) states that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender. Article 175(c) also states that no more than two-thirds of the members of representative bodies in each county government shall be of the same gender. It has been 8 years now since we passed the constitution, but we have yet to enact legislation that enforces these constitutional provisions. Today, we're joined by Marilyn Kamuru, a lawyer, writer and consultant, to talk about how this refusal to enact this principle has put Kenya in a constitutional crisis. Press play! Resources Where Women Are: Gender & The 2017 Kenyan Elections MPs divided over Bill as lobbying steps up Uhuru urges MPs to pass the two-thirds gender Bill tomorrow Uhuru, Raila appeal to MPs as gender bill goes to the vote A Gender Analysis of the 2017 Kenya General Elections OUR UNLAWFUL LAWMAKERS: Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Gender Principle Why we cannot change the Constitution without violating it The Elephant in Kenya’s Room Flower Girls, Girlfriends and Sexist Discourse: The Politics of the Two-Thirds Gender Bill The F-word: The Place of Feminism In Contemporary Kenya In The Name Of Freedom Are Kenyans Over-represented? Episode 49: Women and Youth in Kenyan Politics Episode 68: Women and the 2017 Elections Image Credit: The Informer

In our first ever live event, we were joined by Joy Ndubai, Kwame Owino and Alex Owino to discuss how public finance and tax justice intersect with our right to food in Kenya. What is tax justice and public finance, and how do they interact with our access to affordable food? What current circumstances/challenges do we face as a country that make us food insecure? In which ways do the current policy frameworks and systems in Kenya undermine food security and the right to food and how does our public finance system alleviate or contribute to these challenges? What steps should the Kenyan state take towards achieving the food security and right to food? How can we better use our taxes and craft financial systems/frameworks to make sure that we have adequate food that is accessible and affordable for all? How about citizens? How can we get to know how public money is used, hold our government(s) accountable, and build expectations of service delivery re: clean and safe food? Press play to find out!

In our first ever live event, we were joined by Joy Ndubai, Kwame Owino and Alex Owino to discuss how public finance and tax justice intersect with our right to food in Kenya. What is tax justice and public finance, and how do they interact with our access to affordable food? What current circumstances/challenges do we face as a country that make us food insecure? In which ways do the current policy frameworks and systems in Kenya undermine food security and the right to food and how does our public finance system alleviate or contribute to these challenges? What steps should the Kenyan state take towards achieving the food security and right to food? How can we better use our taxes and craft financial systems/frameworks to make sure that we have adequate food that is accessible and affordable for all? How about citizens? How can we get to know how public money is used, hold our government(s) accountable, and build expectations of service delivery re: clean and safe food? Press play to find out!

On Monday, 12th November, 2018, commuters woke up to a matatu "strike" that saw fares rise to almost double (or even triple) what they normally are. The cause of the strike? The government’s declaration that it would once again begin enforcing the “Michuki Rules” commencing that day. Many were left stranded as matatus were pulled off the road to comply with the rules, which had never been revoked in the first place. This was the government's response to a bus accident at Fort Ternan that claimed 58 lives. Today, we're joined by Constant Cap, an urban planner, to talk about why the lack of road safety in Kenya is actually a planning issue, and what we can do to remedy the situation. Press play! Resources 10 bodies yet to be claimed after Fort Ternan road accident Matatus' mad rush to comply with Michuki rules Michuki Rules: Kenya back to square one The Traffic Act (2013) The Organization, Issues and the Future Role of the Matatu Industry in Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi County Non-Motorized Transport Policy Planning and Road Safety: Opportunities and Barriers The Influence of Urban Planning on Road Safety Digital Matatus Naipolitans: Facebook, Twitter Critical Mass: Facebook, Twitter Re-imagining Nairobi Open Streets Cape Town [Rwanda] Car-free day: What is the impact? Image Credit: Nairobi News

The Blankets and Wine Festival, a pioneer in the Kenyan live music scene, turned 10 years old on 3rd November 2018. We are joined by its founder, Muthoni Drummer Queen, to talk about its journey, the growth of live music in Kenya and how it has evolved in the past decade, as well as what the future holds for Kenyan music. Press play! Image Credit: Blankets and Wine

Intellectual Property (IP) is intangible property that arises from the mind/human intellect – it could be anything from inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names and images used in commerce. Legal rights are derived from this intellectual activity in industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields. There are two main types of IP – industrial property and copyright. We are joined by June Okal,a technology, media and telecommunications lawyer passionate about the law and technology, to discuss intellectual property in Kenya. Resources The Copyright Act (2001) The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2017 The Industrial Property Act (2001) The Movable Property Security Rights Act (2017) The Trade Marks Act (2002) Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) Intellectual Property Rights in Kenya: Towards a More Effective Dispute Resolution Framework The Legitimacy of Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights’ claims Episode 63: The Business of Music Episode 71: In Data We Trust Image Credit: Cookswell

KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations kicked off on Monday 22nd October, 2018. 664, 586 students will be taking the exams, which test what they have studied in their four years of secondary education in three to four weeks. This year, the state has undertaken many tyrannical measures to stop exam cheating, including threatening to send parents of children caught cheating to jail. We're joined by Nyambura Mutanyi, a multi-disciplinary artist who has been active in crafting education policy, to discuss what causes exam cheating, how prevalent it is (less than 1% of candidates are caught cheating), and what we can do to improve the state of examinations and education in general in Kenya. Press play! Resources Why Kenyan students are cheating in their exams and what can be done Factors Influencing Recurrence Examination Irregularities in Public Secondary Schools in Kisii County, Kenya [2016] New formula crafted to curb exam cheating [2016] National school candidates among 5,101 KSCE exam cheats [2016] Report reveals how teachers, students used phones to cheat in KCSE [2016] Schools calendar overhauled in new war against exam cheating [2017] Exam cheats to be fined Sh5 million [2017] Boarding schools to be audited and why many may be closed 30 schools on State watchlist for collecting exam cheating money Knec names national exam cheating hotspots Tight security as KCSE exams begin 200 schools targeted in exam cheating probe Teachers asking for Sh10,000 to buy exams, warns KNEC Meeting on cheating in exams scheduled KCSE begins today as Government puts in tough exam measures 'Militant’ handling of exams worries parents and learners Image Credit: Mpasho

Technology Assisted Violence Against Women (TAVAW) comprises acts of gender-based violence that are committed through the use of Information and Communication Technologies(ICTs), such as phones, the Internet, social media platforms, and email. Many questions arise: is online violence really violence? Why is TAVAW such an important issue to address? What are the ways in which women experience technology assisted violence? What are its consequences, and how can we stop it? We’re joined by Muthoni Maingi, a digital media strategist, to talk about this. Press play! Resources Ending Technology-Assisted Violence Against Women in Kenya #Toxictwitter: Violence and Abuse Against Women Online Cyber Violence Against Women and Girls: a World-Wide Wake-Up Call Understanding Technology-Related Violence Against Women: Types of Violence and Women’s Experiences From Impunity to Justice: Domestic Legal Remedies for Cases of Technology-Related Violence Against Women From Impunity to Justice: Improving Corporate Policies to End Technology-Related Violence Against Women Technology-Related Violence Against Women – Recent Legislative Trends Internet Intermediaries and Violence Against Women Online: User Policies and Redress Framework of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube UNHRC Submission (Online Violence Against Women) Image Credit: Amnesty International

In September 2016, Kenya passed the Banking Amendment Act, creating interest rate controls where there were none before. It sets the maximum lending rate at no more than 4% above the Central Bank base rate; and the minimum interest rate granted on a deposit held in interest earning accounts with commercial banks to at least 70% of the same rate. There has been an ongoing debate in the two years since on whether we should remove these controls because of their perverse effect on our economy. Today, we're joined by Elizabeth Wangechi, the Head of Research at Genghis Capital, to discuss the impact of these controls. Press play! Resources The Banking (Amendment) Act 2016 The Impact of Interest Rate Capping on the Kenyan Economy - Full The Impact of Interest Rate Capping on the Kenyan Economy - Summary CBK regrets interest rates cap due to negative effects on economy MPs uphold rate cap law, scrap interest on savings CBK spells out loan rules ahead of interest rate cap review Image Credit: FT.com

Kenya currently has two draft Data Protection bills both tabled in 2018. One is a Senate Bill sponsored by senator Gideon Moi, while the other is a National Assembly Bill sponsored by the Ministry of ICT. The right to privacy is a fundamental human right. In Article 31, our constitution says that every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have - their person, home or property searched; their possessions seized; information relating to their family or private affairs unnecessarily required or revealed; or the privacy of their communications infringed. Today we’re joined by Lucy Mwangi, an ICT lawyer, to discuss the importance of data protection and privacy, the pros and cons of each draft bill, as well as best case practices (such as the GDPR - General Data Protection Regulations) we should aim for in our legislation. Press play! Resources Senate Data Protection Bill, 2018 Ministry of ICT Data Protection Bill, 2018 Privacy and Data Protection Policy 2018 – Kenya General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR What is GDPR and how will it affect you? What does GDPR mean for me? An explainer What Is GDPR and Why Should You Care?

The 2018 Finance Act, one of the most controversial in recent times, was passed into law on 21st September 2018 despite public opposition. Today we're joined by Mokeira Nyagaka, a research analyst at the International Budget Partnership Kenya, to talk about public finance, which is the management of a country’s revenue, expenditure and debt through government institutions. Do our public finance policies help us achieve growth, stability, equity and efficiency? Are they in line with our constitution? What is a finance bill, and what is its role in public finance? What are the other laws that govern public finance in Kenya, and how do they interact? Is revenue shared equitably between the national government and county governments? What does Kenya's debt position mean for our future? What is the role of the Kenyan public when it comes to public finance? Press play to find out! Resources The 2018 budget speech in full The Finance Bill (2018) The Public Finance Management Act (2012) The Budget Policy Statement (BPS), 2018 Laws on Devolution The Consolidated Fund Services (CFS) Report by the Controller of Budget Quarterly Economic and Budgetary Review Historical Debt Trends How Much Should Counties in Kenya Receive in 2018/19? How Fair are Revenue Sharing Mechanisms in Fighting Intra-County Inequalities in Kenya? Budget Making in Kenya Budget Transparency: Kenyan Perspective Deliberating Budgets: How Public Deliberation Can Move Us Beyond the Public Participation Rhetoric The Kenyan Public Finance Management Act 2012 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) For Citizens Public Participation Under Kenya’s New Public Financial Management Law and Beyond County Budget and Economic Forums (CBEFs) and Public Participation in Kenya: A Synthesis of Case Studies from Five Counties Image Credit: Nairobi News

Beginning September 1st 2018, 16% VAT was applied on petroleum products, sparking nationwide uproar. This tax on petroleum products was first proposed by the VAT Act (2013) and scheduled to kick in in September 2016. However, in 2016, it was postponed by another 2 years. Before the price increase, petrol was KES 113.73, diesel was KES 102.74 and kerosene was KES 84.95 in Nairobi. After VAT was applied on September 1st, the price of petrol became KES 127.80, diesel KES 115.00 and kerosene KES 97.41. Kenyans are now paying 44% in taxes per litre of fuel. We're joined by Ramah Nyang, a journalist, to discuss this increase in tax and the effects it will have on Kenyans' lives. Press play! Resources Fuel VAT to raise prices by up to Sh17 per litre Treasury to take Sh57.57 for every litre of petrol sold Kenyans big losers if fuel prices rise Tough times ahead as prices of basic goods, services set to rise Minority Whip Junet Mohamed seeks to delay tax plan on fuel Uhuru cuts fuel VAT to 8%, State hospitality expenditure Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Economic Survey 2018 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: INFLATION TRENDS 1961-PRESENT Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Integrated Household Budget Survey Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Consumer Price Indices and Inflation Rates for August 2018 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Report First Quarter, 2018 Death by VAT Taxing for a More Equal Kenya Episode 62: Tax Justice in Kenya Image Credit: Bizna Kenya

In the August 2017 general election, we had 9 women running for Governor, 25 for Senate, 115 for Member of National Assembly (MNA), and 261 for Member of County Assembly (MCA). That was a total of 410 women aspirants, which was even lower than the number in the 2013 election, which was 449. To compare, the total number of candidates for these positions was: 210 for Governor, 1,893 for both MNA and Senate, 11,858 for MCA, and 8 men are running for president. Only 9% of the candidates were women. Three women made history by becoming Kenya's first female governors, and three others became the first elected female senators (in 2013, all women in the Senate had been nominated). We're joined by Nanjala Nyabola, a writer, humanitarian advocate and political analyst, to talk about women and the 2017 elections, and where women are based on the findings of a book she co-edited: "Where Women Are: Gender & The 2017 Kenyan Elections". Press play! Resources Where Women Are: Gender & The 2017 Kenyan Elections A Gender Analysis of the 2017 Kenya General Elections Key Gains and Challenges: A Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process Flower Girls, Girlfriends and Sexist Discourse: The Politics of the Two-Thirds Gender Bill Women Contributions in Parliament Political Party Nominations An Overview of the 2017 General Election On Voting The Election Boycott Of 2017 Women gear up for elections in Kenya “They Were Men in Uniform”: Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Kenya’s 2017 Elections OUR UNLAWFUL LAWMAKERS: Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Gender Principle Why we cannot change the Constitution without violating it Episode 49: Women and Youth in Kenyan Politics Image Credit: Her Story Wins

  Last Week, BBC Africa Eye released a three part series titled Sex and the Sugar Daddy (or Sugar in short) that has driven a lot of conversation about sponsors both online and offline. Today we’re joined by the film-maker behind the series, Nyasha Kadandara, to talk about why she made the series, what she learned, and what she thinks the way forward is. Press play! Resources Sex and the Sugar Daddy Bridget Achieng: "Baby girl, nothing goes for nothing" - BBC Africa Eye "If he's asking me to sleep with him, I will" - BBC Africa Eye "Sometimes, sex ain't wrong at all" - BBC Africa Eye Sugar dating in Kenya: An investigation of ‘Sponsorship’ among female university students in Nairobi Image Credit: BBC

The Kenyan Constitution states that every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality. This means that the people of Kenya are entitled to food security, which is when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient,, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences. This week, we are joined by Grace Githiri, an urban planner and Geographical Information Systems expert, to look at food security in Nairobi, where 63 - 70% of the population lives in informal settlements which occupy only 6% of the land in Nairobi. Press play! Resources Cha Kula: Serving Thought for Food The Route to Food Initiative Nourishing livelihoods: Recognising and supporting food vendors in Nairobi’s informal settlements Slum Almanac 2015/2016: Tracking Improvement in the Lives of Slum Dwellers World Habitat Day 2014 – ‘Voices from Slums’ 2017 Situational Analysis: Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Kwa Reuben & Viwandani Improving Access to Justice and Basic Services: Situational Analysis Report Nairobi: Inventory The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (2017) Episode 60: Nai Ni Who? Episode 61: Stop Killing Us Episode 62: Tax Justice in Kenya Image Credit: Antony Mayunga

The Lake Turkana basin is an over 70,000-square-kilometer region that is home to Lake Turkana, East Africa’s most saline lake, and the largest desert lake in the world. The area is home to pastoral communities like the Turkana, Samburu, El Molo, Rendille, Gabra and Dassanach. It is also a breeding ground for Nile crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and many snakes. On 26th March 2012, Mwai Kibaki announced the discovery of oil in Turkana County by Tullow Oil, a British company. Three wells had been discovered, holding at least 250 million barrels. Since then, more oil has been discovered, and it is estimated hat we have between 600 million - 1 billion barrels. We're joined by Ikal Angelei, coordinator of Friends of Lake Turkana, to discuss the oil in Turkana as well as the other environmental issues affecting the Lake Turkana area. Press play! Resources Early Oil from Turkana – Marginal Benefits/Unacknowledged Costs Report Kenya Civil Society Platform on Oil & Gas (KCSPOG) Statement: Early Oil Pilot Scheme Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Kenya beats odds to become first EA nation to export oil “When I grew up the land was for the community”: Oil troubles in Turkana Oil discovery in Turkana County, Kenya: A source of conflict or development? Cost of Turkana oil stand-off hits Sh1bn Tullow Oil threatens to shut down Turkana operations in two weeks Leaders reach deal to allow trucking of oil from Turkana Image Credit: Turkana Land