Former Kenyan CNN News Anchor Speaks Out Over ‘Hotbed of Terror’ Insult After CNN Stoically Refused To Apologize

One thing is for sure Kenyans and Africa at large is sick and tired of the horrible depiction of Africa by western media. The famished children mobbed by flies reaching for aid, sprawling slums, the mud huts and tattered clothes and war-thirsty men wielding guns is an unfair not forgetting messed-up depiction of our continent.

Yes we have all these things but I think it’s a gross misrepresentation of Africa, it’s akin to using morbidly obese people and racially prejudiced people in representing the U.S.A .

The representation of Kenya as a ‘terror-hotbed’ has had Kenyans hot under the colour and we have used the #someonetellCNN to demand an apology. And it seems that an apology is not forthcoming.

Zain Verjee goes at lengths to explain the whole situation in her blog.

“CNN USA is a very different beast to CNN international.   It’s like two separate worlds really. CNN USA is driven by much more by short-term gain, higher drama with a daily pressure of ratings and the need to win the minute. CNN international is more nuanced, not driven by the business of daily ratings. There is there’s a much more sophisticated internal approach to Africa programming and reporting.” she writes explaining why Kenya was described as a hotbed.

And she goes on to caution Western media covering Kenya telling them “Please. Kenya is not a hotbed of terror.  We are not Iraq. Afghanistan or Libya.  We have some major security problems. Very serious. Yes.  I am not sidestepping that. I have covered many attacks myself.  The security issue should be covered, criticized, and the security apparatus’ effectiveness questioned.  Terrorism has been awful for Kenya, and for our tourist industry.   But during the Obama trip, also leave a few minutes or 30 seconds before a break or a kicker to show some cool Kenyans doing cool stuff, spotlight the innovation, the humor, the technology, the style, creativity and the vibrant political debate.  Lots of awesome stuff is going on. It’s not a whitewash. It’s the real other side of the story that does not get told in a 90 second piece or three minute live interview.”

She further adds “The entire CNN network should not be slammed for a ‘font’ that popped up on one package: “hotbed.” That font was generated by a single writer, or producer, who didn’t know better, or should have known better.  I’ve worked at CNN most of my life.  There are anchors, producers, writers, reporters and managers that are excellent journalists, that I respect greatly, who have visited Kenya, like Kenya and get the nuances, and gave me personally, a lot of freedom to tell great Kenya stories over 14 years. “

In addition she urges Kenyan s to tell their own story, to change the narrative Kenya is known for, after all no one can write the Kenyan story as well as Kenyans can