Notable trending topics seen online by our monitoring team in the past week included: Tom Osinde, #PresidentRutoChallenge, Finnce Act 2023 & Okiya Omtatah, #GavaMkononi, #KenyaVsUSA, Londiani, and Elon & #RIPTwitter.
This review covers two trending topics and how the media reported the events.
- #PresidentRutoChallenge
The hashtag #PresidentRutoChallenge took social media by storm on June 28 after photos emerged of President William Ruto inspecting the progress of maize crop on his farm in Trans Mara. A series of photos were shared widely across various platforms capturing Ruto holding maize stems during the inspection. In April the Head of State actively participated in planting maize on his Eldoret farm, even assisting workers in seed planting and harrowing. Ruto’s administration distributed subsidised fertiliser to boost food production, and this visit aimed to assess the impact of the fertilizer use on the crops. The photos of President Ruto’s farm inspection were often compared with Jubilee Party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni taking part in opposition, protests over the hight cost of living.
The hashtag sparked discussions around agricultural policies, particularly the implementation of subsidised fertiliser. President Ruto’s visit to inspect the effect of subsidised fertiliser on his crops drew attention to the government’s efforts to boost food production. Users expressed their views on the effectiveness and impact of such initiatives, generating conversations about agricultural practices and policies in Kenya. This is good fodder for media to further investigate and share the impact of the subsidised farm inputs and enlighten the public.
The hashtag encouraged active engagement and participation from social media users. People shared their opinions, reactions, and comparisons, contributing to a vibrant and interactive online discourse surrounding the topic. This high level of engagement demonstrated the significance of agricultural issues and political affiliations in the public consciousness.
- Londiani accident
A road accident happened on July 1 at Londiani, along the Nakuru-Kericho highway, resulting in multiple fatalities. Media reports indicated that more than 50 people perished during the accident. According to witnesses and the police, the accident occurred when a truck heading to Kericho lost control and ran over pedestrians, businesspeople, and parked matatus along the roadside.
Given the tragic nature of the accident, the media maintained a sensitive approach in their reporting. They avoided graphic details or explicit descriptions that could cause distress or harm to the victims’ families and the public.
Media coverage focused on informing the public about the incident, emphasizing the importance of road safety, and encouraging caution on the roads. They provided updates on the investigation, highlighting any potential causes or factors contributing to the accident.
Media outlets ensured accurate information about the incident was gathered and disseminated, including the number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the accident. They relied on official sources such as the regional police boss, Tom Odera, to verify the facts before reporting.
Social media on the other hand was a buzz with individuals sharing the gruesome details of the accident.
It is the opinion of the Media Observer, there is a need for the public to be educated on responsible use of social media. Media information and digital literacy must be prioritized. The Media Council of Kenya being both a regulator and a media development agency runs a robust programme that helps in the development of a responsible media and responsible consumption of media content.
The MIDL aims at creating understanding on the role and functions of media and other information providers in democratic societies. It helps the public to critically evaluate information and the content of media and other information providers, including those on the Internet in terms of authority, credibility and current purpose.
