THE DEEP DIVE 24TH EDITION

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Hello there. As the clock runs down to Kenya's August 9th general election, there are lots of things to pay attention to. Inflation, driven by a weakening shilling to the dollar and skyrocketing oil prices is hitting Kenyans where it hurts the most, in the pocket. Debt repayments have for the first time in over two decades surpassed government expenditure. With these very serious challenges stalking us, Kenyans also have an election to pay attention to. We'd like your help in making this easier: we want to know two things:

1. What would you like covered ahead of the election?

2. What DONT YOU LIKE about how corruption is covered in Kenya?

Let us know through our socials and we'll be sure to integrate your feedback in our election related content.

Ahead of the BBI Supreme court ruling, we've got a great piece from Morris "Owaah" Kirugi on public interest litigation in Kenya. Litigants have shared so much of our public freedoms that at this important juncture, it's only fair to highlight some of the key cases that shaped Kenya.

Also, have a sneak peek onto a piece on the Twala Tenebo Women's Group in Doldol which has found alternative use for the prickly pear cactus. This story is an example of solutions journalism, showing how the cactus invasion has turned into innovation.

This week we've also got our twitter space, so do join in for a great conversation.

One last thing. If you like the work that we do and would like to support it, you can now become an Africa Uncensored Patreon! Click on this link, choose the amount you'd like to contribute and you're all set.

Dive in!

“They might not be the heroes we want, but they are among the very few we have”

By Morris Kiruga

If Okiya Omtatah, the prolific public interest litigator, had had his way, Kenya would have held its seventh multiparty elections in August 2021. In 2018, he and another activist filed a case arguing that the August 2022 date would be too late.

They focused primarily on how to count the calendar. Our decade-old constitution clearly states when elections are to be held, down to the day of the week and the exact month. And that was where everyone else was wrong, according to the activists. Or at least whether “the second Tuesday in August in every fifth year” fell in 2021 or 2022. The second Tuesday of August 2022, they argued, would give the current elected leaders a few days over their five year term limit.

Read the rest of the article here

HOW A CACTUS INVASION IN DOL DOL LAIKIPIA HAS TURNED INTO INNOVATION.

By Peris Gachahi

The prickly pear cactus scientifically known as Opuntia Stricta has been the bane of pastoralist communities in Laikipia County. The invase plant, believed to be a colonial misadventure, has purplish succulent fruits which livestock have been feeding on and, in the process, they ingest the spikes on the cactus. This has caused injuries and ultimately death of many animals.

In an effort to limit the spread of the cactus on their grazing lands, the Twala Tenebo Women's Group in Doldol has found alternative use for the cactus. This story is an example of solutions journalism, showing how the cactus invasion has turned into innovation.

Here’s a preview of the piece.

SAUTI SOL JOINS SHAHARA AS THE CREATIVE CO-FOUNDERS

On 17th of March 2022, Sauti Sol officially joined #Shahara as the creative Co founders. Shahara is a content platform helping African creators earn from their work directly from their fans and subscribers.

YOUR FEEDBACK ON SHAHARA

• @MarvinGakunyi - Attended the official launch of #Shahara. A platform for content creators to publish their work and earn.

• @danaceda - Extremely excited for this show!!! Exclusively on @Shaharake  @ only 100/-

• @kJonte254 - Content creators you can now earn from your work, simply by signing up with  @Shaharake a platform aiming to help build Africa's creative economy and you can start earning from your audience.....

• @tonynzaka I think it's more like YouTube but by an African and mainly for an African audience (thus African content creators being asked to join). Whether like YT or Patreon, this is a big vision for both parties and solution for creatives. I hope @Shaharake stands tall at the global mkt.

• @Depril001 -Content creators tumekumbukwa🤗😊 @shaharake  gives us a platform to earn from our creative work

Editorial Director: John-Allan Namu

Assignment Editor: Sam Munia

Social Media Manager: Muraguri Gitahi

Contributors: Tebby Otieno

Before you go…

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