Wajibu Magazine is out: Digitizing Kenya

Now Available in all major bookstores in Nairobi.

Content:

• Digitizing Kenya: some cracks in the digital divide
• Preventing collective amnesia: The challenge of preserving digital materials in the age of the internet
• Tourism and the Internet: what prospects for the small operator?
• Blogging About Kenya: National Discourse in a Transnational Space
• Digitally Networked Technology in Kenya's 2007-2008 Post-Election Crisis
  

Features:

• Making a difference: Africa Yoga Project – Journey into Power with Baron Baptiste
• Youth Speaks: Daring to live anew / Rose Njeri Ng’anga /
• Book review: It’s our turn to eat / Michaela Wrong /
  
• Poetry by Philo Ikonya

For more information email: gwakuraya (at) gmail (dot) com

Towards a Just Society...

Last call for submissions on "Digitizing Kenya"!

Wajibu Magazine is calling again for submissions of articles for an issue entitled, "Digitizing Kenya – The impact of multimedia on the socio-cultural and political landscape in Kenya". This was supposed to be the first issue of the year but the editorial team felt it was important to have a special issue on, "Kenya - One Year later" which has just come out. Click HERE for more details on the content and where you can purchase.

The Wajibu team is opening up the calling for submissions again for the second issue this year on all aspects of how digital technology is shaping public discourse, culture, politics and economy in Kenya. Topics of particular (but not exclusive) interest are:

· The internet and social justice
· How development operates within the new face of communications
· Integrating digital technologies into mainstream media
· Trade and economy
· Civil society interactions
· ‘Good governance’ and human rights discourses
· Cultural interactions
· The evolution of content

Words: 1200 – 2000

Deadline: April 25^th 2009

Publication Date: Early June

WAJIBU: a journal of social and ethical concern, is a Kenyan journal that has been published in Kenya for the past 22 years and has subscribers not only in Kenya but in various other countries in Africa and abroad. Every three months readers are treated to an array of in-depth analytical coverage of issues such as “Peacebuilding: gaining or losing?” “The Millennium development goals,” “Education: a constant challenge,” “Roadmap to a just society,” “Culture and values,” “Traditional African wisdom and modern life,” “Human dignity and the value of one life,” and other issues of major concern to Africans and those who love Africa .

For further information or to submit: dpinkenya (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk

Wajibu Magazine: Kenya - One Year On and 4 to go...

In this issue:

• Editorial: Shailja Patel
• Ethnicity abounds: Kenya's Identity Crisis by Mugambi Kiai
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS FROM KRIEGLER'S IREC by Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ)
• BATTERED, BRUISED AND BROKEN by Ann Njogu
• ENDING IMPUNITY: The WAKI report by Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ)
• On the frontlines of the struggle: Diary of an imprisoned activist by Patrick Kamotho Githinji
• The Truth, Justice And Reconciliation Commission: A flawed law by Ndung'u Wainaina
• Grassroots activists take on the coalition government: Out of touch with reality by George Nyongesa
• A strategy for change: Maina Kiai speaks to Kwamchetsi Makokha
• TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW: Lessons from the Truth Commissions in Africa by George Wachira
• Kenya in Darkness: Excerpts from the diary of an activist by Philo Ikonya
  

PLUS: Free 12 page insert from the Partnership for Change (MARS Group) entitled, "From Dictatorial Impunity to Democractic Accountability in Kenya (Issue 2)



WAJIBU can be obtained for Ksh. 200/= at the following outlets: Stanley Kiosk, Simply Books, University of Nairobi Bookshop, Catholic Bookshop, LISS library at the Rahimtulla Trust Building on Mfangano Street, Books First (Yaya Centre) and Monty's (Sarit Centre). Or email dpinkenya (@) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk

Special thanks to Kenyans for Peace Truth and Justice and Media Focus on Africa for supporting this print run.

Coming Soon...

Click on image to view table of content

If you would like to place your order for this special edition of Wajibu Magazine, email dpinkenya (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk

Calling for Submissions

Wajibu: Volume 24, Issue I

Digitizing Kenya – The impact of multimedia on the socio-cultural and political landscape in Kenya


Words: 1200 – 2000
Deadline: February 25th 2009
Publication Date: Mid-March

“To many in the developed world, the ‘networked public sphere’ connotes the potential for a more public discourse, increased transparency, and positive cooperation of all kinds. Throughout sub-Saharan Africa where artificial borders and legacies of ethnic strife have yet to solidify many countries into nations, the narrative is more complicated…The internet and mobile phone have lowered barriers to participations and increased opportunities for many-to-many communication…” (Goldstein and Rotich: Digitally Networked Technology in Kenya’s 2007-2008 Post-Election Crises)

We invite submissions on all aspects of how digital technology is shaping public discourse, culture, politics and economy in Kenya. Topics of particular (but not exclusive) interest are:

· The internet and social justice
· How development operates within the new face of communications
· Integrating digital technologies into mainstream media
· Trade and economy
· Civil society interactions
· ‘Good governance’ and human rights discourses
· Cultural interactions
· The evolution of content


WAJIBU: a journal of social and ethical concern, is a Kenyan journal that has been published in Kenya for the past 22 years and has subscribers not only in Kenya but in various other countries in Africa and abroad. Every three months readers are treated to an array of in-depth analytical coverage of issues such as “Peacebuilding: gaining or losing?” “The Millennium development goals,” “Education: a constant challenge,” “Roadmap to a just society,” “Culture and values,” “Traditional African wisdom and modern life,” “Human dignity and the value of one life,” and other issues of major concern to Africans and those who love Africa .

For further information or to submit: dpinkenya (at) yahoo (dot) co (uk)

WAJIBU MAGAZINE: Values for a planet in turmoil

"In this issue of WAJIBU, we seek to interrogate how our values have changed with time; we examine where our traditional values meet with what can be referred to as modern universal values. And never before has there been such an opportune time to reflect on these matters. This year Kenyans witnessed unprecedented inter-community violence following the 2007 presidential election fiasco; we also observed a level of violence in our schools never before seen in our country. And currently the world is facing what might turn out to be its biggest economic meltdown ever. Across from our continent, a country that has for years been a symbol of racial discrimination has elected a man from a minority racial group as its president. In the last few years in Kenya, words and phrases such as ‘the culture of impunity’, ‘corruption’, ‘warlords’ ‘school violence’ ‘greed’ and ‘tribalism’ have become part of our common lexicon, betraying the things that we should value the most. The question is: how have things always been?" (Charles Otieno-Hongo)

· Editorial - Charles Otieno-Hongo
· Traditional African leadership institutions - Betty Wamalwa Muragori
· Can African traditional values be revived? Interview with Rev. Dr. John Gatu - Njeri Kang’ethe
· Performing the self - Chamo Nyadhi - Oby Obyerodhyambo
· A rose by any other name - Shilpa Jain
· Africa and the challenges of development – is religion a help or a hindrance? - Pete Henriot
· Violence in Kenyan schools – is it a question of values? - Isaac Ochieng
· From traditional values to African modern values? - Sally Ireri
· Male circumcision – are we cutting a piece of culture? - Dipesh Pabari
· Are African extended families a blessing or a curse today? - Nicholas Rabach.
· POETRY CORNER - Annetta Miller
· YOUTH SHOUT – Arise from complacent slumber - Christine Mungai.
· BOOK REVIEW – Uwem Akpan: Say you’re one of them - Muthoni Garland
· MAKING A DIFFERENCE – Islamic banking - Cathy Majtenyi

Available at all major book stores in Nairobi or contact: wakurayag (at) yahoo (dot) com

Wajibu Magazine - An Inconvenient Truth: The Challenge for Kenya

"The issues that we are focussing on are not unrelated to the political crisis that hit Kenya at the turn of the year. We are reminded frequently that there are unresolved issues of land. The displacement of many farming families and uncertainty over the future has reduced the acreage planted to food crops. Fertilizer application has been reduced due to the huge increase in prices. The so called “long rains” have been shorter than usual in some parts of the country. Shortage of food in the local market, together with rising prices globally, presents a serious challenge to the Government of Kenya. If Kenya is to come through this crisis, narrow interests of politicians have to be set aside and the coalition between ODM and PNU must be made to work"

(Donald Thomas, Issue Editor)

Articles include:

Interview with Dr. Richard Leakey
Environmental Crises: a Christian View (Prof Jesse Mugambi)
Mau Forest: Reflections of Sir Mohinder Dhillon
Renewable Energy in Kenya (Mark Hankins)

And much more...

WAJIBU can be obtained for Ksh. 100/= at the following outlets: Stanley Kiosk, Simply Books, University of Nairobi Bookshop, Catholic Bookshop, LISS library at the Rahimtulla Trust Building on Mfangano Street, Books First (Yaya Centre) and Monty's (Sarit Centre).

WAJIBU: REDEFINING OURSELVES

“People who ignore their history are bound to repeat it” (Desmond Tutu)

If we really wish never again to see a repetition of the traumatic events that we experienced after the 2007 elections, we CANNOT AND WE MUST NOT bury the memory of what happened in the early months of 2008.

WAJIBU, in this first double first issue of the year brings you not simply the events of that period as lived by many Kenyans but also the reflections of thoughtful writers (many of them young but established) on the underlying reasons for this outbreak of violence. At the same time, we give you the thoughts of religious leaders as well as of social activists on the paths we must choose if we wish to live in “unity, peace and liberty” in the Kenya we love.

Some of the well-known writers and leaders who have contributed to this issue are: Sheikh Said Athman, Muthoni Garland, Shalini Gidoomal, Fr. Patrick Kanja, Mukoma wa Ngugi, Yvonne Owuor, Stephen Partington, Binyavanga Wainaina and Rasna Warah.

WAJIBU can be obtained for Ksh. 100/= at the following outlets: Stanley Kiosk, Simply Books, University of Nairobi Bookshop, Catholic Bookshop, LISS library at the Rahimtulla Trust Building on Mfangano Street, Books First (Yaya Centre) and Monty's (Sarit Centre).

Or contact Editors: Dipesh Pabari (dpinkenya (at) yahoo.co.uk or Wakuraya Wanjohi (wakurayag (at) yahoo.com)