THE DEEP DIVE 22ND EDITION
We're looking into Ukraine, leaks from Switzerland and Eco-theology
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced the world to reconsider the progress it claims to have made. Global condemnation for Russia's acts of war may be dominating the United Nations, but news of the mistreatment of Africans fleeing the Russia-Ukraine conflict have (finally) caught the attention of the African Union. Short clips purportedly showing Africans being held back from boarding trains out of Ukraine seem to reconfirm the serious systemic problems with immigration in Europe. Political analyst and author Nanjala Nyabola has stated, European border policy has consistently written about this. We highly recommend that you read her 2020 article "The sea that eats our children" for deeper context into the black and brown experience when navigating European borders. A week before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, another seismic event coming out of Europe also took place; journalists collaborated to report on yet more seeming malfeisance in the global financial system, this time coming from inside Switzerland's second largest bank, Credit Suisse. Africa Uncensored collaborated with OCCRP on an article revealing about the money stashed in Credit Suisse by a number of politically exposed persons, including suspects in the Anglo-leasing scandal. Read on for that story.
One more thing...
Episode 5 of our continuing story on money, "THAO" is out today! Thank you for watching, recommending and critiquing every episode. We aim to please! Check out this week's episode; if you are concerned about debt and loans in Kenya, this one's for you!
As always, dive in!
THAO EPISODE FIVE:
The "Soft life" on loan episode
To borrow or not to borrow? That is the increasingly popular question in Kenya. From digital loans to debt from foreign nations, Kenyans of all walks of life have taken out loans, some for business credit, others for the "soft life"!. In this episode, "THAO" tells a tale of two scenarios, one that millions will be familiar with, the other that is now a hot-button issue; how do you use your national debt?
SUISSE LEAKS:
At the height of the scandal, Anglo-leasing suspects held over 5m USD in Credit Suisse
Kenyan Anti-corruption crusader John Githongo described the Anglo-leasing scandal as “Kenya’s corruption zombie”, for obvious reasons. The scandal, which became emblematic of corrupt networks’ influence in transitional politics in Kenya, is now 18 years old. In this time, Kenya has held three elections and has borne witness to countless other scandals. Yet, the anglo-leasing scandal, which was centered around procurement-led graft in 18 security contracts, is still without resolution. Monies stolen from Kenya are yet to be refunded to the state, and there are no noteworthy convictions related to the scandal. However, a stunning new revelation, based on leaked records from Switerlands’s second-largest bank, Credit Suisse, may shed some more light on the scandal. Journalists have obtained leaked records identifying more than 18,000 accounts belonging to foreign customers who stashed their money at Credit Suisse. The records are nowhere near a complete list of the bank’s clients, but they provide a revealing glimpse behind the curtain of Swiss banking secrecy.
Three Kenyan Anglo-leasing suspects and an aide to former President Mwai Kibaki are some of the people who held bank accounts at Credit Suisse during the period when the scandal broke in Kenya. Compliance experts who spoke to journalists at the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP said that the bank should have had a keen eye on the provenance of funds banked with the institution.
The investigation was led by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and OCCRP, with 160 journalists from 48 publications poring over the data for months. Africa Uncensored was one of these publications. Here’s our report, produced in collaboration with OCCRP.
ECO-THEOLOGY:
How the Anglican Church is helping communities to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Sometimes church is not all about giving bread and fish; they teach you how to bake and where to fish. Read about how the church is using the pulpit to help communities in arid and semi-arid regions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Through a concept called Eco-Theology, residents of Chemolingot, in Tiaty sub-county have learned how to grow vegetables on conical gardens for domestic and commercial purposes. As Cynthia Gichiri narrates, other churches are joining in the fight renew nature call to obey God’s first command-to take care of creation. Here's the article to read more!
KENYANS LOOK TO THE TREATMENT OF LYING POLITICIANS ABROAD, TO INFORM LOCAL DECISIONS PERHAPS?
Hungry Kenyans make for angry Kenyans. The former was recently confirmed to be the situation via the recent trending hashtag #LowerFoodPrices.
As established in the previous edition of the Deep Dive, the season of political fakes is nigh. Since then, Kenya's social media saw the trending of a Mexican Minister who was tied up to a tree for delivering a washed up, low quality water tank. This claim is actually true as found in the fact-check published here. The residents of Frontera Comalapa municipality had no tolerance for mediocre leadership and empty promises.
Around the same time, a video claimed to show a Mongolian Minister set himself on fire allegedly out of remorse after failing to deliver 30,000 of the 100,000 houses he promised. While events shown in the video indeed took place in Mongolia, the claim is false. As established in the fact-check here, this was a 2015 ordeal that happened at a trade union leader's press conference in protests regarding grievances faced by workers in Mongolia's mining industry.
Well, here's to hoping that union leader got what he wanted. But also wondering whether these videos trending in Kenya during a politically sensitive season are meant to pass a message and to whom.
YOUR FEEDBACK: THE “THAO” SERIES
Kini Okash: Maan many leaders are going to have many questions to answer during judgment day, believe!!
Elvis Ngenoh: Reckoning is brewing towards Kenya!
Shiku Githinji: Until when…I cry for my country and the many Achieng's out there.
Toni Adams: No comment can explain the emotions I feel right now. Only God can save us now.
Mathew: Kenyans vote wisely!
Arnold Ogutu: The true cost of greed and corruption.
Rose Shchwinn: Heartbreaking….so disappointed with the greedy politicians.
Nathan Ngumi: So heartbreaking that Achieng passed away, she had a bright future! Healthcare in Kenya is in crisis.
Jack Atambo: This is totally heartbreaking and really annoying! A wake up call too. Corruption kills literally!
Editorial Director: John-Allan Namu
Assignment Editor: Sam Munia
Social Media Manager: Cecilia Ashioya
Contributors: OCCRP, Linda Ngari, Clement Kumalija and Cynthia Gichiri
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