Why I Bought the Newspaper Today?
A while back as I was
walking with a group of friends along Kenyatta Avenue at the
intersection to Kimathi Street, I stopped my friends and told them to
check something out. It was not the occasional police chasing gangs. It
was not a politicians passing by whom at times make people stop in their
tracks to admire them for their capacity to build the nation, rather it
was something substantial, something that more often we take for
granted and never take a moment to think over. I had stopped at a
newspaper vendor. Yes, he had lined all kinds of newspapers, journals,
tabloids, magazines and anything that people look to buy.
As I talked to the vendor on the latest news in the country, my friends were surprised that I was going to the depth of asking vendor what certain writers had penned for the day. They were amused that instead of buying a newspaper that says it’s the leading in the country, I was looking to see what the people who make it so had penned on that day. They were surprised that instead of liking a newspaper that proclaims standards, I was looking out to read not from the face value of it, but from specific individuals. But what irked me is their narrow minded thinking that I cannot associate myself to what they thought was gutter press.
Why did you buy that newspaper today, I may pose. Is it because of the fancy name it goes by or is it because it has been in the market for so many decades or is it because it is associated with a certain politician?
Today, I bought a newspaper. I did so not because of the pocket friendly price or because it had a certain ‘exclusive’. I bought it because I like reading from writers I can trust. I love reading from someone I can associate thinking with, someone who I believe would not use the opportunity he or she has working with the media as a wedge to divide the people along any kind of line. I like associating myself with such writers because I know they set the agenda for day and shape my thinking.
I bought the newspaper today because Macharia Gaitho writes with so much maturity and his content is adorned with wit. I bought the newspaper today because I believe in the sources that gave Denis Itumbi the story for in years of reading him; he has shown his ability to be meticulous. I bought the newspaper today because I loved a piece on the environment by John Muchangi. I bought this newspaper as opposed to that newspaper because today Ayumba Ayodi and Fred Maingi were excellent in the sports columns. Today I did not feel like reading so much politics and that’s why I was looking for some business writing from Jaindi Kisero. At times though my mind is all politics and I make sure I read what Francis Mureithi, Kwamchetsi Makhoha or Kiruri Kamau have in mind!
When parliament is doing good business, I trust Njeri Rugene or Bernard Namunane to tell me nothing but the truth.
Moreover, there are those times I feel I want to know what is happening in the courts. On such a day Paul Muhoho works best for me. But such stories are not always necessary told by the pen. The photographers do an amazing job too. Needless to say that a photo is worth a thousand words, some images by Suleiman Mbatia, Elizabeth Muthoni, Collins Kweyu or Chris Omollo are just out of this world.
There are just too many good writers out there who I owe a big debt for always inspiring my day. Kinfrey Kiberenge, LuciAnne Limo, Sarah Ndung’u, Caroline Wafula Ondido Ayieko to name a few are classy writers.
On this particular day, the newspaper vendor tells me that there are very good commentaries by Elijah Okwena, Fwamba nc Fwamba and Silas Nyanchwani. My friends have already left me thinking that this is taking it too far. But I just don’t want a newspaper just because it is online or offline; my desire is that such a newspaper is in line to shape me and more importantly shape the destiny of Kenya.
Next time you buy that newspaper, care to know the name behind the article!
As I talked to the vendor on the latest news in the country, my friends were surprised that I was going to the depth of asking vendor what certain writers had penned for the day. They were amused that instead of buying a newspaper that says it’s the leading in the country, I was looking to see what the people who make it so had penned on that day. They were surprised that instead of liking a newspaper that proclaims standards, I was looking out to read not from the face value of it, but from specific individuals. But what irked me is their narrow minded thinking that I cannot associate myself to what they thought was gutter press.
Why did you buy that newspaper today, I may pose. Is it because of the fancy name it goes by or is it because it has been in the market for so many decades or is it because it is associated with a certain politician?
Today, I bought a newspaper. I did so not because of the pocket friendly price or because it had a certain ‘exclusive’. I bought it because I like reading from writers I can trust. I love reading from someone I can associate thinking with, someone who I believe would not use the opportunity he or she has working with the media as a wedge to divide the people along any kind of line. I like associating myself with such writers because I know they set the agenda for day and shape my thinking.
I bought the newspaper today because Macharia Gaitho writes with so much maturity and his content is adorned with wit. I bought the newspaper today because I believe in the sources that gave Denis Itumbi the story for in years of reading him; he has shown his ability to be meticulous. I bought the newspaper today because I loved a piece on the environment by John Muchangi. I bought this newspaper as opposed to that newspaper because today Ayumba Ayodi and Fred Maingi were excellent in the sports columns. Today I did not feel like reading so much politics and that’s why I was looking for some business writing from Jaindi Kisero. At times though my mind is all politics and I make sure I read what Francis Mureithi, Kwamchetsi Makhoha or Kiruri Kamau have in mind!
When parliament is doing good business, I trust Njeri Rugene or Bernard Namunane to tell me nothing but the truth.
Moreover, there are those times I feel I want to know what is happening in the courts. On such a day Paul Muhoho works best for me. But such stories are not always necessary told by the pen. The photographers do an amazing job too. Needless to say that a photo is worth a thousand words, some images by Suleiman Mbatia, Elizabeth Muthoni, Collins Kweyu or Chris Omollo are just out of this world.
There are just too many good writers out there who I owe a big debt for always inspiring my day. Kinfrey Kiberenge, LuciAnne Limo, Sarah Ndung’u, Caroline Wafula Ondido Ayieko to name a few are classy writers.
On this particular day, the newspaper vendor tells me that there are very good commentaries by Elijah Okwena, Fwamba nc Fwamba and Silas Nyanchwani. My friends have already left me thinking that this is taking it too far. But I just don’t want a newspaper just because it is online or offline; my desire is that such a newspaper is in line to shape me and more importantly shape the destiny of Kenya.
Next time you buy that newspaper, care to know the name behind the article!
