"THE DEEP DIVE" 12TH EDITION

We're diving into hot button topics and exposing online scamming trends

September has been a busy month for us at Africa Uncensored! We've published two new documentaries and held really important and insightful conversations with you; and we want to end the month with a bang! This Thursday, 30th September, our monthly conversation, "Join the Newsroom" is back. This time we are discussing election preparedness. In under a year, Kenyans will be going to the polls for a transitional election that already promises to be one worth preparing well for. It will be held under unique if not difficult conditions; the COVID-19 pandemic will likely still be with us, the country will be in the midst of excruciating foreign debt repayments, and amidst all of this, we will be electing a new president. Kenya is the last country in East Africa to be holding elections in the 2022-2022 cycle, so we'll also be inviting friends from the East African region to tell us what Kenya may need to prepare for. Lot's to think about, lots to prepare for. So please join us on Twitter Spaces from 7pm to 8pm as we discuss election preparedness.

In this edition, you'll also find the intense discussion held about our documentary, "Crooks and Wombs", which spotlights the issue of unsafe abortions in Kenya. It is worth the watch, so make time for it!

Linda Ngari from our Piga Firimbi fact-checking desk has an update on the schemes that online hackers are using to harvest your data, so read on for her post in this newsletter.

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Dive in!

Behind the making of "Crooks and Wombs"

Producer Peris Gachahi tells the story of unsafe abortions in Kenya

Our new documentary, “Crooks and Wombs” brings to light the harsh realities some of Kenya’s women and young girls in their reproductive ages across Kenya are facing to procure quick fix abortions. It also explores the social, medical, and legal gaps that are allowing quacks to thrive in our communities, sometimes with very devastating outcomes.

Due to stigma, information on safe abortion cannot be shared freely and ignorance is therefore rampant. Women who need abortion are also under pressure to keep it secret, increasing the pressure to turn to unqualified persons in unsafe environments. The stigma has also been extended to qualified healthcare professionals. There have been calls from different quarters to streamline the existing laws I.e align the 2010 constitution with the penal code. Others have been pushing for the legalisation of abortion on demand, like in South Africa.

In the photo is: Peris Gachahi (Africa Uncensored Producer) and Elijah Kanyi ( Africa Uncensored Film Maker)

The sexual reproductive health bill (2014 & 2019 )has attempted to push for expanded access to abortion services with no success, largely due to backlash from conservative groups. Ultimately, the real cost of unsafe abortions continues to be paid by our young girls and women. This is an important subject on sexual and reproductive health rights we cannot afford to ignore. Producing this story was hard but necessary and I’m glad I got to experience this journey with Elijah Kanyi, a gifted filmmaker with a good eye and a heart for stories that matter. Watch part one of the story here and visit www.shaharavideos.com for the full documentary.

A conversation about unsafe abortions

Our documentary "Crooks and wombs" surfaced a lot of things to talk about!

The Crooks and Wombs webinar, comprising Dr. Jean Kagia- Obstetrician Gynaecologist, Charles Kanjama- Advocate of the High court, Victor-Rasugu- Executive Director, Network for Adolescent & Youth Africa and Nelly Munyasia- Executive Director, Reproductive Health Network was a testament to just how important the subject of unsafe abortions is. If the comments are anything to go by, women are especially at the heart of the matter and want to see changes both in policy and practice on access to safe abortions in Kenya. The panelists offered different perspectives and possible solutions that could save the situation going forward. Not even the technical hitches and our four moderators could stop this conversation from going down!

SCAM ALERT! Beware of online tricksters

Scammers, posing as well known brands, are trying to harvest your data

This fact-check by Piga Firimbi features a report which found that in 2019, Kenyans lost as much as Sh2.15 million per person to fraudsters who promised non-existent jobs in Canada. Recently, scams duplicating Safaricom and Naivas brands resurfaced online. It also emerged that by sheer coincidence, both scams claimed that the two companies were allegedly celebrating their 30th anniversary hence justifying the hoax that they were giving out cash prizes. The scams seem to follow a pattern.

Weeks earlier, the Piga Firimbi team debunked a similar promotion purporting that the Shell company in Kenya was issuing Ksh9,000 in its 130th anniversary. This exact scam also circulated in the Philipines. We are certain that we have seen them before, probably fallen victim, or know someone who has, but online scams have always found a way to creep back. Even when they can be blatantly identical. Someone will still forward them to your WhatsApp group. So, are we so gullible? Once bitten, never shy? Are the scammers simply so idle? Read Linda Ngari article here to find out more!

Editorial Director: John-Allan Namu

Assignment Editor: Sam Munia

Social Media Manager: Cecilia Ashioya

Contributors: Linda Ngari, Peris Gachahi and Elijah Kanyi.

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