Kenyans on Twitter (#KOT) are such a great lot. They will do anything to push a cause they believe in. They have helped the sick in hospital, raised money for the hungry or just disciplined politicians and other leaders through Tweets.
On Friday, the country was rocked by suspected grenade attacks killing six and injuring over 70 at the busy Machakos Country Bus station in Nairobi. After the attack, details started filtering in through Twitter and Facebook with the international media and agencies relying on the platforms for details.
In their coverage of the attacks, CNN used the by-line “Violence in Kenya” with the country’s flag in the background. That image drew the wrath of Kenyans on Twitter who immediately launched a campaign through the hashtag #SomeoneTellCNN which was meant to inform the CNN how misinformed they are about Kenya. This campaign gained traction and later went viral leading to the tag trending worldwide on Twitter.
The Start:
#SomeoneTellCNN to do their homework!
— Winnie Michelle © (@winmitch) March 11, 2012
Another campaign was launched, #CNNapologise, to have CNN issue unreserved apology. CNN Nairobi correspondent, David McKenzie, later apologised but Kenyans on twitter are yet to be contented with the apology. The netizens are still campaigning to have CNN issue apology on TV.
It is going to be a tall order to achieve this but CNN and other international media organisations will think twice before treating citizens of developing countries as very ignorant.
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