Musing over the Kenya Times again

[aeichener]

I really wonder. For a long time, the Kenya Times was regarded as the lower relative of the two large papers; as the ugly duckling. I mean, the KT even *looked* plain ugly and unkempt. But within two years, no, less than two years, some feeling of a creeping change sneaks up to me whenever I read it via the online edition.

I do not know what happened; but it sometimes appears to me as if some truly democratic space in that publication has been negotiated (oblique quotation: you who wrote this know whence I got the expression *bows politely*). We see many differing, sometimes strongly opposing voices. We see crap, but also excellent, powerful articles. We see the KT often being the first to publish a scoop (online, that is). Just today, Abdillahi Alawy has impressed me with a powerful opinion piece "Justice system to blame for high corruption":
www.timesnews.co.ke/15feb06/nwsstory/opinion.html
Here is one person who is not afraid to call the emperor naked.

So, what is happening to the former ugly duckling? Where will KT develop? If I may dream for a moment: will they finally get their act together and actually communicate with their readers ? (Which would be totally unheard of, and a truly scandalous concept in the patronising, conceited profession, that are Kenyan newspaper editors).

Wow. Suspense. Let us expect more from the Kenya Times, and let us hope - we shall hold our breath.

Alexander

[politicalmaniac]

I noticed that too quite some time back. The diverse ethnic backgrounds of the writters also helps give it a lot of credibility.

As for this abdillahi fellow he vaccillates quite a bit and only recently has he seen the light. He seemed to me, he was a Kibaki apologist to boot.

Of the KT writters/contributors, Miguna is hands down tops. He has the easy prose stlye that is still intellectually stimulating, he is factual, has learned legal opinions and is politically adept and incisive. He is a joy to read, and many guys with whom we went to Giligil, and UoN simply marvel at his ability to communicate with such clarity and power, let alone intelluctual honesty. He has the ability to keep his cool something that I dont, and thats also a reason why he is so much admired. Miguna would make an excellent "presidential counsellor" a la Rove, except that knowing him he wont operate in the background.

The next GOVT should strongly consider allowing Miguna to take up an active role as a policy shaper. One thing with him he aint a coward! His intellectual honesty is what will allow him to be successful despite of what may appear to be an abrasive hard hitting personality.

Adongo used to be the premier scribe but I guess he is too busy whereever he is.

KT has other excellent writters like Mbothu, Komurgor, tanui, okungu etc. It the first paper I go through when I arrive at my place of bussiness.

By the way this was not meant to push Miguna for anything.
I just admire his talents so.......

[kamalet]

mmm.....sucking up par excellence!!

Kanu Sometimes will never rise above the morass it is stuck in - and that can only be an indicator of the quality of its writers and contributors

[aeichener]

Everybody likes different writers - and that is a good thing. To balance the obvious sycophantism, I could now try to criticize several of KT's authors, but why should I... I have done so in other places.

The important thing for me would be that the newspaper continues to offer a variety of opinions, and continues to give good freelancers their chance of publication. And that they eventually would hire a final print editor who knows more ENGLISH than an absconding primary school pupil turned herdsboy. This should not be a very hard task. I still have hope.

Alexander

[politicalmaniac]

There is always room for improvement!

If you look at where it has been and where it is now....huge difference!

[politicalmaniac]

By the way Kamale talking of scibes you write well too.
In fact this forum here has excellent writers with hard hitting opinions, starting from the illustrious OO, job and the originator of this thread etc.


Kamale, Its only your defense of the indefensible that is illogical. Channel your talents positively my fellow mwaninchi. Learn to give credit where it is trully due, and barbs to whomever deserves it.

[kamalet]

Pmaniac,

Let me defend what I think is right irrespective of how illogical and wrong I appear to you. That is why I respect your views despite them being opposed to mine!!!

Cheers

Kamale

[politicalmaniac]

Kamale,
I on the other hand absolutely despise illogical defense of the indefensible, inability and/or lack of desire to even find deficits/faults with your home boy, while on the other hand NEVER giving credit to opposing politicians for anything.

I however defend your right to espouse your illogical positions. I however dont respect them an iota! They dont make sense and as far as I am concerned they belong in the sewer.

[kamalet]

Pmaniac,

That was totally unnecessary!! Remember that what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

Little lessons of life....little lessons of life!

[aeichener]

Could we concentrate on the newspapers, please?

Question: why will a decent and altruistic Kenyan turn into an egoistic swine as soon as s/he accedes to political power?

Why will a good journalist transfigure into a conceited sloth once s/he becomes editor?

That is the question that ails me...
:-(

Alexander

[politicalmaniac]

seems like you are not the only one asking the same question

www.timesnews.co.ke/19feb06/nwsstory/opinion1.html

By the way where is Professor Ali Mazrui to talk about his hero Kibaki? What wrong, evil has Kibaki not done? What happened to Mazrui’s pen? Or he just wanted a job in Kenya?

[e-mail],
.
To some Kibaki apologists he is infallible!
Drives me nuts! illogical logic?

[aeichener]

This thread has now made it into Kenyaimagine, too :

www.kenyaimagine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=218&Itemid=32

[roughrider]

What riles me with Kenyan papers? Poor sentence construction, spelling mistakes and columnists who can’t write opinions. There is a glaring lack of depth.

I excuse mistakes, propaganda and even outright lies in a forum like this one, but a newspaper supposedly manned by trained journalists!

The Daily Nation is the most disappointing – not merely because of the poor quality of the product and the compromised independence of the content. But for utter lack of spine or originality; same old writers churning same old garbage in same old phraseology. There is also unbelievable confusion and wishy washy editorial policy. For example, several times last year I read editorials in the Nation that totally opposed each other albeit on different dates!

I delight, perhaps pathologically, in using such papers to wrap raw meat.

The Standard? I do not expect much from the Standard for its ownership and resource limitations are clear for all to see.

Turning to this here post – and away from what was fast becoming a rant: the last paragraph of the posting in the link unveils the issue. There is no editing at the Kenya Times. No editing means better material hence KT’s increasing appeal. But this also means we got to take the good, the bad and what the writer describes as ‘diasporic flatulences, shameless plagiarizing, and shallow political propaganda’. This journalistic buffet appeals to minds that can pick and chose. If you are clever and discerning, read KT – you will find utmost pleasure in doing your own editing....