Mavulture.com is a new online platform launched today November 13 to expose raw truth on and about Kenyan leaders via a network of professional and citizen journalists in real time.
According to the team, “They intend to increase societal surveillance through real-time publication of perspectives that are not always heard.”
Mavulture is Nairobi Slang for ‘Vultures’ to portray greed. The vulture is their brand identity and too represents the greedy elites in the society. The bold red strokes that cancel out the vulture represent the efforts either by Mavulture or Kenyans as a whole. They also show how tough the battle is; with blood, sweat and tears represented.
In a blog post, the Mavulture Team say, “Today marks the beginning of an exciting news venture that aspires to extend our growing democracy. The launch of www.mavulture.com comes at a critical time when our country is poised for a General Election under a new constitutional dispensation.”
They add, “The news site www.mavulture.com provides that forum where deep questions are presented to the citizenry in our quest for answers to pressing social and political issues of the day. We appreciate politicians wield immense influence over the citizenry, yet their only qualification to public office is our trust in them. Yet, the regularity with which that trust has been violated compels us to rethink integrity threshold.”
The news site will expose truth left out by mainstream media and social media due to fear of victimization. The team chose online media citing failure by old methodologies that have failed them in the past. They will therefore follow and expose truth both good and bad about politicians or those who have expressed public interest in running for public office from the county level to the central government.
According to the Mavulture Team, “Many politicians have pending business with the courts, yet others used been exposed for using their positions in the past to entrench their influence and using ill-gotten riches to defeat the cause of justice. Those are the kind of questions that our so-called “independent” media, but who are beholden to self-same politicians through their business an social ties, are reluctant to pose, or expose, and demand accountability from our leaders. This news site www.Mavulture.com seeks to redress that challenge. We shall not shirk from asking those tough questions about the suitability of those who aspire to govern us when their past is questionable.”
This move is welcome and will save several Kenyans several billions of shillings and bad leadership. Mavulture being non-partisan makes it appealing to all in the country and internationally.
Just recently, KOT, Kenyans on Twitter and bloggers staged a demonstration that trounced the MPs plan to drain the public coffers over 2 billion as pension as their term’s expire. Blogs and social media have also been used to call for peace or support whenever need arises,remembering the Kenyans for Kenya iniative and the Bring Zack Back Home.
Mavulture joins Mzalendo and internationally acclaimed Ushahidi already on the forefront of fighting for civil rights in the country. Ipaidabribe has also helped individuals in Kenya report corruption cases anonymously. However, Mavulture will need to have facts and evidence for all their claims and articles as many of the politicians will not sit back and watch a group of individuals expose them.
But if the remain a forum to allow Kenyans engage about issues affecting them, no one will stand against free speech.
Be heard, through SMS number 2540, a: Facebook, Twitter and email. Be that Moran!
