Where is Mr. Poop?

Kenyan journalism is often celebrated – for good reason. Our mediascape boasts some of the best newsmen and
women on the continent and globally. We have the stars and the scars – to prove it. Certain names among us are
instantly recognizable anywhere. Yet, upon closer scrutiny, much of our journalism remains frustratingly unsophisticated, run of the mill, shallow, lazy Churnalism.
On Christmas week, news broke that residents of Ocean Park apartments in Nairobi’s Lang’ata area were fleeing their homes. The landlord had allegedly hired goons to pour out pails of feaces in the premises to force them out.   The man had issued a two-week notice raising rent from Sh.25,000 to Sh.30,000. The tenants would not take it. The showdown ended up in the courts. The tenants obtained an order restraining the landlord or his agents from arbitrarily increasing rent or harassing them.
Apparently, the landlord ignored the court order – such impunity surprises no one in Kenya nowadays. So the man,
it was reported, went ahead to not only pour raw sewage at Ocean Park apartments under the cover of darkness but to also cut water, electricity and to deny the tenants parking, security and garbage collection services in attempts to force them out. Some of the hired goons actually terrorized the tenants, attempting to break into the apartments at night. At least three national TV stations  NTV, KTN and K24 -carried reports on this smelly tale of brazen impunity. All the reports, quite predictably, dwelt on describing the harrowing experiences of the tenants of Ocean Park. In NTV’s first report on the saga, reporter Steve Juma identified the landlord as a Mr. George Munge. He manages the apartments through Pearl River Agency. Yet the NTV reporter contacted neither Mr. Munge nor Pearl River to
hear their version of what was going on. That is not just lazy journalism. At the level of ethics, it is unacceptable. Article 1 of the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya (2013) deals with accuracy and fairness. Part 3 of the Article stipulates that: “Comments should be sought from anyone who is mentioned in an unfavourable context and evidence of such attempts to seek comments shall be kept.” In the second report, Steve Juma recounts the earlier tale. Residents tell him they had recorded several statements at Lang’ata Police Station but nothing had happened. Juma is satisfied with that and doesn’t bother to talk to the police. Why didn’t the good reporter go to Lang’ata Police Station and ask the big cop there: Sir, we have these reports from Ocean Park apartments, what action have you taken? The premises should by now have been cordoned off as a crime scene, what is happening? Where is Mr. Poop, George Munge? Etc, etc. In any case, if Juma or the other TV reporters on the story wanted to catch Mr. Poop, would it be so difficult? We are certain George Munge doesn’t live in the sky. But they did not try. The reporters did not say they tried and failed. What about other relevant authorities? Public health officials? None of the reporters appeared to think it was important to talk to the officials about a matter that could have serious implications beyond Ocean Park apartments. You have raw sewage poured all over the place and journalists worth the name can’t see the public health risks? The report by K24’s Franklin Macharia was no better. But at least he made some effort to speak to the Urban Tenants Association Secretary-General Ephraim Murigu. Yet, as to the whereabouts of Mr. Poop, Franklin Macharia lazily told his viewers that he was still “at large”. Come on, brother!
Nor did KTN’s George Maringa attempt anything beyond a clinical description of the mess at Ocean Park and recording of the views of the tenants. And then KTN dragged in some lawyer to pontificate on the law on tenancy.Well, at the end of the day none of the TV stations attempted to pursue Mr. Poop. Or to put Lang’ata Police
Station on the spot. Or to find out anything from public health officers. The TV reporters failed to hold to account the authorities relevant to this saga. All they did was treat their viewers to the hapless cries of the Ocean Park tenants. Indeed at least two of those tenants invoked God’s wrath upon the landlord –a very Kenyan thing – obviously having given up on the possibility of getting justice here on Earth. And wherever he was, Mr. George Poop Munge must have
smiled to himself with satisfaction, knowing full well that media coverage of his shitty antics changed nothing. Nada.
He ruled the roost.