‘Open the Servers’: The Implications of Electoral Technology for Kenya’s Democratisation Process

Digital technologies for elections were introduced in Kenya with a vision that they would bring election reforms through increasing administrative efficiency, reducing long-term costs, and by enhancing transparency in the electoral process would enhance citizenry inclusivity. Despite the voting exercise taking place without a hitch, the 2017 General Election results were dismissed by various stakeholders who called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ‘open the servers’, with witnesses, to use the results inside the servers to verify the ballot papers in the ballot boxes. Promises by IEBC that counting, transmission and verification of results would promote citizens’ rights during the electoral process were not met hence the Swahili phrase, ‘Fungua server’ (Open the servers) was coined. The server became the Holy Grail, the gadget of hope for free and fair elections. Chants of ‘Fungua server’ unveiled the dreaded side of Kenya’s democratisation; of flawed elections and violence that followed. ‘Fungua server’ was a call to free and fair elections. The paradox of technology this article seeks to interrogate was how technology has subverted democratic elections in Kenya; arguing that there is need to demystify the server and focus on electoral transparency as a yardstick of democracy

A comparative human rights analysis of laws and policies for adolescent contraception in Uganda and Kenya

BACKGROUND: Improving access to adolescent contraception information and services is essential to reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancies and maternal mortality in Uganda and Kenya, and attain the SDGs on health and gender equality. This research studies to what degree national laws and policies for adolescent contraception in Uganda and Kenya are consistent with WHO standards and human rights law. METHODS: This is a comparative content analysis of law and policy documents in force between 2010 and 2018 governing adolescent (age 10–19 years) contraception. Between and within country differences were analysed using WHO’s guidelines “Ensuring human rights in the provision of contraceptive information and services”. RESULTS: Of the 93 laws and policies screened, 26 documents were included (13 policies in Uganda, 13 policies in Kenya). Ugandan policies include a median of 1 WHO recommendation for adolescent contraception per policy (range 0–4) that most frequently concerns contraception accessibility. Ugandan policies have 6/9 WHO recommendations (14/24 sub-recommendations) and miss entirely WHO’s recommendations for adolescent contraception availability, quality, and accountability. On the other hand, most Kenyan policies consistently address multiple WHO recommendations (median 2 recommendations/policy, range 0–6), most frequently for contraception availability and accessibility for adolescents. Kenyan policies cover 8/9 WHO recommendations (16/24 sub-recommendations) except for accountability. CONCLUSIONS: The current policy landscapes for adolescent contraception in Uganda and Kenya include important references to human rights and evidence-based practice (in WHO’s recommendations); however, there is still room for improvement. Aligning national laws and policies with WHO’s recommendations on contraceptive information and services for adolescents may support interventions to improve health outcomes, provided these frameworks are effectively implemented. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-021-01303-8

Talk radio and the public sphere: Jambo Kenya's role in democratization

This thesis illuminates the talk radio phenomenon in Kenya and its increased usage as a tool for participation towards democratization. It illustrates the sometimes tenuous relationship between radio and democracy more broadly, and deepens our understanding of how talk radio shows in Kenya open up spaces for Kenyan citizens to air their views and opinions about matters that concern them as a people; through public opinion expressions on democratic participation and political discussion. Adopting Jürgen Habermas’ (1974) concept of the public sphere as a realm of our social life in which something approaching public opinion can be formed and is guaranteed to all citizens; this research seeks to understand the democratic role of the media, by exploring how Radio Citizen, specifically through its talk show program Jambo Kenya, mediates public discussion, through components such as the talk radio genre and hosts, interviews, commentary and audience call-in. The interrogation of whether Jambo Kenya provides content or procedures on important associated democratic principles such as: informed participants, freedom of expression, and right of access to public information, rule of law, checks and balances on power, human rights, and respect for minorities in the society seeks to find out how talk radio content contributes to the democratic life of society and how it acts as a tool for achieving democratic aims. The study takes a thematic content analysis of the occurring comments and suggestions made by the listeners regarding Kenya’s governance through Jambo Kenya; interrogating how the program constructs and reflects power struggles and the way these aspects are likely to enhance mediated deliberative democratic practices. Findings from the study reveal that talk show Jambo Kenya promotes citizen participation and public discourse where call-in listeners compare agendas. The interpretations of the findings foreground an understanding that the talk radio genre as taking a lead role in fostering a nexus between citizens and politics, and its audiences participate significantly in shaping public opinion

A comparative human rights analysis of laws and policies for adolescent contraception in Uganda and Kenya

Background: Improving access to adolescent contraception information and services is essential to reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancies and maternal mortality in Uganda and Kenya, and attain the SDGs on health and gender equality. This research studies to what degree national laws and policies for adolescent contraception in Uganda and Kenya are consistent with WHO standards and human rights law. Methods: This is a comparative content analysis of law and policy documents in force between 2010 and 2018 governing adolescent (age 10–19 years) contraception. Between and within country differences were analysed using WHO’s guidelines “Ensuring human rights in the provision of contraceptive information and services”. Results: Of the 93 laws and policies screened, 26 documents were included (13 policies in Uganda, 13 policies in Kenya). Ugandan policies include a median of 1 WHO recommendation for adolescent contraception per policy (range 0–4) that most frequently concerns contraception accessibility. Ugandan policies have 6/9 WHO recommendations (14/24 sub-recommendations) and miss entirely WHO’s recommendations for adolescent contraception availability, quality, and accountability. On the other hand, most Kenyan policies consistently address multiple WHO recommendations (median 2 recommendations/policy, range 0–6), most frequently for contraception availability and accessibility for adolescents. Kenyan policies cover 8/9 WHO recommendations (16/24 sub-recommendations) except for accountability. Conclusions: The current policy landscapes for adolescent contraception in Uganda and Kenya include important references to human rights and evidence-based practice (in WHO’s recommendations); however, there is still room for improvement. Aligning national laws and policies with WHO’s recommendations on contraceptive information and services for adolescents may support interventions to improve health outcomes, provided these frameworks are effectively implemented