- Kenya
David Nderitu
Moi University, Philosophy, Graduate Student
Informed by evidence from past studies and experiences with epidemics, an intervention combining quarantine, lockdowns, curfews, social distancing, and washing of hands has been adopted as “international best practice” in COVID-19... more
Informed by evidence from past studies and experiences with epidemics, an intervention combining quarantine, lockdowns, curfews, social distancing, and washing of hands has been adopted as “international best practice” in COVID-19 response. With massive total lockdowns complemented by electronic surveillance, China successfully controlled the pandemic in country within a few months. But would this work for Africa and other communalistic resource-poor settings where social togetherness translates to effective sharing of basic needs? What ethical and practical challenges would this pose? How would communalism be translated in special contexts to be useful in contributing to the ultimate common good? This paper uses examples from the current situation of COVID-19 in Kenya to address these questions.
Research Interests:
The diverse global sociocultural world views pre-empt difficulty in the standard conceptualization of a human person. Often, the Western world view is contestably perceived as the yardstick for personhood. In Africa, despite the... more
The diverse global sociocultural world views pre-empt difficulty in the standard conceptualization of a human person. Often, the Western world view is contestably perceived as the yardstick for personhood. In Africa, despite the heterogeneity of culture and diversity in perception of reality, there has been more or less common conceptualization of personhood. The African anthropocentric ontology of nature is perceived in this chapter as the foundation of personhood. By and large, the chapter dwells on the fundamental African understanding of a human person from communalism world view. The limitation of African communalism to the ethnic boundaries and the consequences associated with this limitation are argued to be a setback in the conceptualization of personhood in Africa.
This paper explores the unique realities and effects of Covid-19 as experienced in the global North and global South with special reference to Canada and sub-Saharan Africa; it also examines the moral responsibilities countries have... more
This paper explores the unique realities and effects of Covid-19 as experienced in the global North and global South with special reference to Canada and sub-Saharan Africa; it also examines the moral responsibilities countries have towards their own people and the duty they have to work together to minimise and mitigate the devastating effects of the pandemic worldwide. We illuminate the importance of countries sharing their own world views, strengths, and expertise, and learning from one another in order to better situate all in tackling the pandemic. We argue that it is only insofar as all countries work collaboratively commensurate to each party’s capacity to contribute towards the tackling of the Covid-19 pandemic that we may truly be said to be “all in this together”.
In this commentary on Section 9 (Social and Behavioural Sciences Research for Health) of the National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017) by the Indian Council of Medical Research... more
In this commentary on Section 9 (Social and Behavioural Sciences Research for Health) of the National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017) by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), we appreciate that the guidelines clarify that human beings are "research participants" and not merely "subjects". Further, we appreciate and commend the ICMR for: i) contextualising the guidelines to India's unique sociocultural and economic situation and ii) affirming the multidisciplinary nature of health research and the wide scope of social and behavioural research. However, we question the prominence given to the difference between biomedical research and other aspects of health research and the description of social and psychological risks and discomforts as minor risks. Finally, we suggest that the guidelines would express greater value and diversity of the social aspects of health if they recommended wider representation of these aspects in the composition of research ethics committees.
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
Research Interests:
Digital migration is a process in which broadcasting services offered on the traditional analogue technology are migrated to digital based networks over a specific period of time. The benefits of digital programming include; the digital... more
Digital migration is a process in which broadcasting services offered on the traditional analogue technology are migrated to digital based networks over a specific period of time. The benefits of digital programming include; the digital broadcasting experience offers a sharper, brighter picture, with reduced interference. With the advent of digital migration worldwide, we witness the emergence of Televangelism. Televangelism is a term first used by Jeffrey K. Hadden and Charles E. Swann in Prime Time Preachers. In the work, "The Rising Power of Televangelism" (Addison-Wesley 1981) televangelism is described as a new form of religious broadcasting combining television and evangelism. Televangelism is also referred to as "the electric church" by religious broadcasters, especially Ben Armstrong (The Electric Church, Nelson 1979), or "the electronic church" by mainline Christian critics. In Kenya, digital migration has encouraged the rise of"the electronic church" as witnessed by an implosion of religious activities on television. Famous televangelists in Kenya include: Pastor Allan Kiuna of Jubilee Christian Centre (JCC), Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, the proprietor of Jesus is Alive Ministry she is also a former Member of Parliament and an Assistant Minister and Pius Muiru the Pastor of Maximum Miracle Centre. Around the world, Joyce Meyer is one of the best-known televangelists; she teaches that personal wealth can be attained through a strong faith in God and a strict adherence to the Bible. Generally DSTV offers its viewers an assortment of religious programming. The faith channel is home to a variety of protestant televangelists, Islam channel domiciles Islamic teachings and traditions, and the Emmanuel TV is dedicated to the global mission of Prophet T.B. Joshua. Al-huda TV and Horizon channels contain local Islamic contents. This is addition to local religious programming in local channels every at the weekends. All these explosion of religion on the silver screens imply that that the idea of the "Electronic Church" has led to a decline in attending the traditional Churches and other places of worship. Many people can now access God in the comfort of their homes. However, televangelists have continued to argue that they are doing God's work in whatever form and place. The study adopts a descriptive research design which entails describing the concept of digital migration and its impact on televangelism using available literature. The qualitative nature of the study covers the nature of the global interest in the study and seeks to unearth the challenges and correlates between digital migration and televangelism in selected regions of the around the globe. It is hoped that the outcomes of this study will benefit practitioners in religion and media.