Working to track the violent crimes in Kenya

The post election period in Kenya has seen a number of violent crimes take place. In trying to monitor the situation there are a number of initiatives working to document events on the ground.

The aim is to not only have a better understanding of what has/is happening but to see how we can spread the information.

Erik let me know about a new website called Ushahidi.com (witness in Swahili).

The people involved in putting it together:

Ory Okolloh – www.kenyanpundit.com
David Kobia – www.kobiainteractive.com & www.mashada.com
Erik Hersman – www.whiteafrican.com
Daudi Were – www.mentalacrobatics.com/think
Juliana Chebet – www.afromusing.com/blog
Ashok Hariharan
Riyaz Bachani – www.skunkworks-ke.blogspot.com

This is certainly a useful tool so please pass the word.
I also extend my compliments to the team.

Mobile Reporting being used to bring perspective in Kenya

Yesterday on the main news channels they showed the protests in Kenya. The coverage made it look like there were major events taking place across the country. In fact there were a few hundred people standing across a thousand police officers. I spoke to many people today in Nairobi and most people are in the office working as always. The schools are open and people are going on with their day to day lives. Even a report that the night life is still kicking into the late evening.

Please see some of the mobile reports on the subject.

Kenya still tourist destination despite crisis

Tourism sites safe despite political unrest

Kenya: Locals rescuing declining tourism

Don’t stay away, Kenya still enjoyable

Although the election crisis is serious, I think this is the other side of the story that is important to take into the situation. To read more on the subject see an article written by the White African.

http://whiteafrican.com/

Kenya shuts down media – Mobile Reporting offers a viable solution

A number of reports have outlined efforts to shut down various media in Kenya.

This ‘black out’ of sorts has played a role in limiting the collection and spread of information. People on the ground are working to try and change the situation. As AfricaNews.com we see a viable solution in mobile technology.

We have given a number of our journalists internet enabled phones. In the past few months with ALIN and Media Focus on Africa we were able to organize a number of workshops and trainings. This was in lead to the elections without knowing they would take such a turn.

Mobile has been given extensive attention in 2007 but nowhere have we seen it play such a simple, yet important, role. Moving forward, we are convinced that in this type of situation new technology offers viable solutions.

What is interesting with mobile is that we can collect information otherwise missed by the larger media i.e. interviews with shop keepers and short videos of the situation in rural areas. This brings a new context to the situation and helps improve people’s understanding of events. What would be ideal is to see how mobile can play an increased role in helping people to communicate on a local level as well.

And we know there are more initiatives out there. We ask everyone to post anything they have about similar projects and invite people and organizations to open a brainstorm on the subject. Combining expertise and knowledge we hope to make even more progress in 2008.

See an overview of mobile reports: Kenya Elections

p.s. a photo sent by our friend Dipesh