Two news stories early this week brought home just how much Kenya is mired in scandal. On Sunday night KTN aired two documentaries that revealed how unscrupulous foreign investors had conspired with prominent politicians and government officials to set up a lead smelter near a slum in the Changamwe area of Mombasa thereby poisoning residents and heaping more misery on an already impoverished area.
“Survey: Kenya heading in the wrong direction” blared the front page of the Kenya’s newspaper of record the Daily Nation on Monday. According to the Ipsos survey on which the lead story was based, 52 percent of Kenyans currently feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction due to corruption, high cost of living and the spike in unemployment.
Today’s @dailynationhttp://t.co/H5iWuTHbfJpic.twitter.com/SJaCTwrN27
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) April 27, 2015
Amid these gloomy stories a group of Kenyans have tapped into some local pride and taken to social media to try and look at the positive side of the country using the hashtag #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya
World’s most powerful man, beautiful woman, iconic athletes & best coffee come from Kenya #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya pic.twitter.com/OnQKTyuIN9
— KENYA (@KENYAPICS) April 28, 2015
#SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya The only city with National PARK pic.twitter.com/SKVkhb5SXe
— #254TeamBlue (@sande_miss) April 28, 2015
Resilience and optimism in the face of challenges. #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya — Kahara Kubai (@CyrusKublai) April 28, 2015
We have nakuru town, the cleanest town in Africa #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenyapic.twitter.com/L8rQIUwahl — peter kipturu (@PeterKipturu) April 28, 2015
But the stench of scandal is too overpowering for some.
The easiest way to apply for a job in GoK; vie for an elective post>lose>wait for a big appointment. #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya — Bernard Oginga (@boginga) April 28, 2015
Done being forced to #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya when all I can think of is the headlines in the local dailies today
— Pauline (@paulinekikii) April 28, 2015
#SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya if you got money and power you are recycled
— mugure ngunyi (@NgunyiMugure) April 28, 2015
We have world class politicians who sneak back to the system hata uwaangushe na kura zimejaa lorry tano #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya — cliff ochomo (@cliffochomo) April 28, 2015
The hashtag has also put Kenya’s classic humour on display.
“@Elijahkyama: #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya people here think ‘big’ pic.twitter.com/i8R3ewrv73“👍👍💩👍
— IG:G_MatesotuPu (@G_Matesotupu) April 28, 2015
Kabla mshahara iingie: #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya pic.twitter.com/f6l4szXGbV
— chura.co.ke (@chura_co_ke) April 28, 2015
“@Elijahkyama: #SaySomethingNiceAboutKenya We protect our property by all means… pic.twitter.com/VztBpR5Z9Z” 😜😝😝
— IG:G_MatesotuPu (@G_Matesotupu) April 28, 2015
It’s not good to always dwell on the negative. Looking at the positive side of matters however reminds us how great this country could be if we get our act together.
I think everything published was actually very logical. However, what about this? suppose you added a little content? I am not saying your information isn’t solid., however suppose you added something that makes people desire more? I mean %BLOG_TITLE% is kinda plain. You should look at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create news titles to grab people interested. You might add a related video or a pic or two to grab readers excited about what you’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it would bring your posts a little livelier.