First was Trump’s Triumph. Then UhuRuto had the last laugh. Clearly; the biased Media has a sour taste on its fore Teeth and Tongue!

188
1391
President Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto celebrate after receiving their re-election certificates from IEBC.

Solomon Lule.

To all objective and fair journalists out there, I salute you for the matchless services you offer to this world. For the fact that journalism is not a very rewarding profession, your keeping in there must never be taken for granted.

Having said that, allow me address the other side of the divide. The section that makes the journalism profession smelly and somewhat rotten. The section that is doing the exact opposite of the rightful journalism calling. The unethical, biased and disaster-prone section of the media.

Those that followed the 2016 USA presidential elections will agree with me that from the word go; the American and global media at large was an ‘unapologetic-ally’ biased in its reporting. In the race, the media had both a darling and an unwanted. Hillary Clinton was for all the right and wrong reasons the darling while Donald Trump was for everything the unwanted.

The latter knew it and publically attacked the media for what was gross unfair coverage of elections. The bias never stopped with the media as opinion polls were equally bent more on the side of Hillary Clinton. From both the opinion polls and media coverage, it was clearly that Hillary Clinton would win the American elections.

However, something unexpected happened. Within hours after casting and counting votes, it was clearly that the unwanted Donald Trump had taken the day. Hillary Clinton and her campaign reluctantly conceded defeat as Trump was declared president of USA.  While Trump triumphed, the media not Hillary Clinton was the villain. The Media was the biggest loser and until now, it’s yet to come to terms with what happened.

Whatever happened in USA in 2016, was supposed to be a clear lesson to the media across the world. But like many people out there, even most of the media players never learn.

In neighboring Kenya, a national election was held on 8th August 2017. Kenyans went to the poll to cast votes on 6 seats; member of county assembly, Member of Parliament, women representative, member of the senate, county governor and President.

Much focus was on the presidency. Just like what happened in the USA in 2016, majority of Kenyan media took sides. During the campaign period, most of the media houses in Kenya unashamedly campaigned for Raila Odinga and his NASA outfit while unfairly covered President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee campaign.

From coverage minutes, to political panelists interviewed, majority of the Kenyan media was leaning more to the opposition side, even though they all denied this observation. The media then came together and organized presidential debates, with an alleged purpose of giving all presidential candidates and their running matters a chance to sell their agenda during prime media time.

Even though the debates happened, they registered little success, as majority of the players shunned them. The biggest names to shun the debates were President Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate, also deputy president, William Ruto. On their part, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee outfit reasoned that the media had taken sides and thus Jubilee couldn’t take part in the debates. The decision by both Ruto and later Uhuru to shun the debates received several backlashes as many argued that, if the two couldn’t appear for a public debate then why would they be elected for presidency.

However, on their part, Uhuru and Ruto reasoned that instead of taking part in debates organized by the biased media, they would spend more time meeting and interacting with the 45 million Kenyans from their homes and places of work. This was later supported with live Social Media interviews in which the president would answer questions as asked by the people on Facebook and Twitter.

On 8th August, the Kenyan elections were held. The results as declared by the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) indicated that Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto had been re-elected by the Kenyans. In winning, Kenyatta garnered 8,203,290 votes (54.27 percent) against Odinga’s 6,762,224 votes (44.74 percent).

What happened in America in 2016 had now happened in Kenya. Uhuru Kenyatta won while both the Media and Raila Odinga lost.

Clearly, main stream media more than ever before needs to do some serious soul searching, if they are to remain relevant in the face of the surging influence of Social Media coupled with the former’s own misdeeds.

NOTE : As an update, Nasa has appealed UhuRuto’s victory in the Kenya Supreme Court. However, it is least likely that Nasa will have this election nullified as it doesn’t seem to have sufficient evidence if any for a strong case. Supreme Court will rule on this matter on 1st September 2017.

I rest my case!

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

188 COMMENTS

  9. I simply want to tell you that I am just new to blogging and site-building and certainly savored you’re website. Likely I’m likely to bookmark your website . You really come with terrific well written articles. Thanks a bunch for sharing with us your website.

  58. Taxi moto line
    128 Rue la Boétie
    75008 Paris
    +33 6 51 612 712  

    Taxi moto paris

    Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so
    I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m
    thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything.
    Do you have any points for beginner blog writers?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

  61. I absolutely love your website.. Excellent colors &
    theme. Did you create this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to
    create my own blog and would like to learn where you got this from or what the theme is
    called. Thanks!

  63. I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all
    web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

  65. I truly love your website.. Great colors & theme. Did you develop this web site yourself?
    Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own website and would love to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called.
    Many thanks!

  72. I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any
    interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
    In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did,
    the net will be much more useful than ever before.

  76. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours nowadays,
    but I by no means found any fascinating article
    like yours. It’s beautiful worth sufficient for me. In my opinion,
    if all web owners and bloggers made just
    right content as you did, the internet will probably be a lot more useful than ever
    before.

  92. It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
    I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you
    some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to
    this article. I want to read even more things about it!

  108. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be
    happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to
    suggest you few interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
    I wish to read more things about it!

  110. I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I
    never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty
    worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good
    content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

  115. Hi there, just turned into alert to your blog through Google, and located that it is truly informative. I’m gonna be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate for those who continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  117. Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to grasp so much about this, like you wrote the guide in it or something.
    I feel that you simply can do with some p.c. to drive the message home a bit,
    however other than that, that is wonderful blog. A great read.

    I’ll definitely be back.

  122. Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to take a look.
    I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
    Excellent blog and wonderful design and style.

  126. I have been surfing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting
    article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will
    be a lot more useful than ever before.

  129. Hi! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d figured I’d ask.
    Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing
    a blog post or vice-versa? My website goes over a lot of the same subjects as yours and I
    think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might
    be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!
    Wonderful blog by the way!

  130. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.

    The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
    I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with
    web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
    The design look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Kudos

  132. Hello there, I found your site by way of Google even as searching for a similar topic, your website came up, it looks good.
    I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

    Hi there, just turned into aware of your weblog
    via Google, and located that it is really informative.
    I’m going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate in the event you proceed
    this in future. Many folks will likely be benefited out of your writing.

    Cheers!

  140. Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this blog.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to
    get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and
    visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a awesome job with this.
    In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Internet explorer.
    Outstanding Blog!

  149. I just couldn’t depart your website prior to suggesting that
    I actually enjoyed the usual information a person provide in your guests?

    Is gonna be back frequently in order to check up on new posts

  155. You made some really good points there. I looked on the net to learn more about the issue
    and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.

  166. I really lie what yoou guyss are upp too.
    Thiss kind oof cllever work andd exposure! Keep upp the
    awexome works uys I’ve incorporatrd yyou guys tto my oown blogroll.

  169. Hello there! This post could not be written any better!
    Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate!

    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him.
    Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here