Today is an important day! Kenyans around the country will turn out to vote on whether or not to adopt the proposed draft constitution. This is the first time Kenyans will cast their votes since the disputed election of 2007, which led to post-election violence in pockets around the country – such as Kibera, where violence claimed the lives of many. Kibera has been recently designated as a potential “hotspot” of tension – along with 28 other sites in the country. However, residents of Kibera are optimistic that today will signal a more peaceful future.
The Voice of Kibera platform, a community information sharing website by and for Kibera residents, is using SMS, photos and video to document the Referendum process in the villages of Kibera. The Kibera News Network video reporters will providing special coverage around the clock. Join us and watch Voice of Kibera and KNN today and over the next few days for local coverage by our team!
Both the Voice of Kibera and the Kibera News Network teams will be reporting “live” today and throughout the week. Watch for KNN’s updates several times daily and SMS reporting continuously.
Members of KNN checking out their Youtube channel
Ten of the new KNN video reporters and four editors will be covering the experiences, thoughts, and predictions of Kibera voters while looking out for signs of any disturbance or intimidation. Videos will appear on the Voice of Kibera site as well as the KNN Youtube channel.
An important piece of the Referendum focus is the links to the larger Uchaguzi project. Read more about Uchaguzi and Ushahidi here.
Yesterday, four members of Editorial Board of Voice of Kibera participated in a administrator’s training for the Uchaguzi platform, which is set to crowdsource reports, as well as information from 520 official poll monitors around the country. Reports coming through the Voice of Kibera shortcode (3002), including those from our SMS reporters and the Editorial Board, will feed into the larger Uchaguzi platform. The team is excited to roll their sleeves up, report their hearts out and be able to share their experiences through Voice of Kibera!
Voice of Kibera Editorial Board in deep deliberations about the Uchaguzi platform (Gerry, Fredrick, Sande and Josphat)
Josphat (front left) is excited about Voice of Kibera's role in Referendum reporting!
The videographers are also using the 3002 shortcode to quickly report any newsworthy events, and we in the situation room will forward SMS we receive to the video team to investigate. Those with internet access via computer or phone can also follow the SMS streams and video newsfeeds or post their own reports, photos and video. A complete news loop! Feel free to add your comments as well and submit your reports if you are here in Kenya.
Post by Jamie & Erica – photos of Editorial Board by Jonathan Schuler