Episode 115: A Letter To You
Otherwise?
Hello friends! This episode is a dedication to you, who has walked this journey with me and my team for the last three years of creating Otherwise?! I am off to graduate school (The London School of Economics and Political Science) for a Masters in Public Policy and Administration, and I wanted to do one last episode before I left! :) This episode answers the questions many of you have asked me since the inception of Otherwise?. Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me. We will be taking a break while I pursue my graduate studies, but we will be back when I'm done; bigger, better,...
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Episode 114: Towards Universal Health Coverage
Otherwise?
The Constitution in Article 43, 1 (a) states that “Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare”. The Jubilee government, as part of its Big Four Agenda, plans to roll out universal health coverage to all Kenyans by 2022.
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Episode 113: Human - Wildlife Conflict in Kenya
Otherwise?
Human-wildlife conflict is a growing problem in Kenya today, and it has a huge negative impact on both human and wildlife populations. It happens when there is close interaction between wild animals and human beings, which leads to injury, death, predation and transmission of diseases.
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Episode 112: Consumer Protection in Kenya
Otherwise?
The Constitution of Kenya (2010) in Article 46 gives consumers the right - to goods and services of reasonable quality; to the information necessary for them to gain full benefit from goods and services; to the protection of their health, safety, and economic interests; and to compensation for loss or injury arising from defects in goods or services.
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Episode 111: Women and Public Transport
Otherwise?
In a survey carried out by Women’s Empowerment Link (WEL) in 2015, in the wake of the #MyDressMyChoice protest in 2014, it was found that 54% of women had experienced gender based violence (physical, sexual or psychological harm) while using public transport. The women shared that they been harassed, with the abuse ranging from derogatory comments to rape.
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Episode 110: Non-Communicable Diseases
Otherwise?
The conversation on cancer and other non-communicable diseases has taken centre stage after the death of high profile Kenyans in recent weeks. According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya in undergoing an epidemiological transition marked by a decline in morbidity and mortality due to communicable conditions, and an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
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Episode 109: Kenya's Cultural Heritage
Otherwise?
This week, we’re joined by Tayiana Chao, a digital heritage specialist and digital humanities scholar, of African Digital Heritage, the Museum of British Colonialism, Save the Railway and Skills 4 Culture to discuss the importance of having a digital cultural heritage for the African continent.
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Episode 108: Otherwise? Q&A
Otherwise?
This week, we're throwing it back to the old school format, where I take topic suggestions from the pod's community. Should we set stricter criteria to attract quality investors and protect our SMEs? What can we as citizens can do to fight the Huduma Bill? What about Mike Sonko’s behaviour at Ken Okoth’s funeral, and his blatant admission of guilt when he said that he nominated the late MP’s alleged second wife to the Nairobi County Assembly as an MCA? Press play to hear the answers!
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Episode 107: Food Safety in Kenya
Otherwise?
On July 14th 2019, NTV aired a feature titled Red Alert, which revealed that Kenyan supermarkets and retail outlets were using sodium metabisulfite to increase the shelf life of meat products by making them look fresher for longer, so as to prevent losses. The conversation that arose after was intense.
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Episode 106: How Do We Fix Sports in Kenya?
Otherwise?
On 27th June 2019, Kenya beat Tanzania 3-2 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), moving us to second place in Group F, right behind Ghana. This renewed the conversation around sports reform in Kenya. This is the first time Kenya has qualified for AFCON since 2004. We're joined by Ng'arua Kamuya, a lawyer, advocate of the High Court of Kenya and sports pundit, for a fun chat on what we can do to reform sports in Kenya. Press play!
info_outlineMobile lending in Kenya has experienced a boom in recent years. Customers are able to apply for and receive loans through their mobile phones, and this has drastically changed Kenya’s financial landscape. Mobile lending is made possible through mobile money transfer technology, which was introduced in Kenya by Safaricom in 2007 via MPesa. There are three primary ways that it works: The first is bank backed, the second is mobile lending by non-bank finance institutions such as microfinance institutions and SACCOs, and the third is mobile lending by financial technology firms which do it through their mobile apps.
We’re joined by Geraldine Lukania, Project Manager of FSD Kenya's Market Information Project to discuss mobile lending/credit, what makes it so popular, and whether it needs to be regulated. Press play!
Resources
Kenya moves to regulate fintech-fuelled lending craze
M-Shwari leads Mobile lending industry
The Draft Financial Markets Conduct Bill, 2018
The 2019 FinAccess household survey
The 2016 FinAccess household survey
Digital Market Overview: Kenya
The digital credit revolution in Kenya: an assessment of market demand, 5 years on
A Digital Credit Revolution: Insights from Borrowers in Kenya and Tanzania
Kenya’s Digital Credit Revolution Five Years On
How Regulators Can Foster More Responsible Digital Credit