Robert Alai
| Robert Alai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Other names | Robert Alai Onyango |
| Occupation | Blogger |
| Website |
www |
Robert Alai is a Kenyan blogger, internet entrepreneur and cyber-activist. Alai, who runs his own information technology weblog at Techmtaa.com[1] has earned notoriety for his relentless stream of social media opinions that inform, entertain and, not unusually, embarrass public officials in Nairobi. He has been sued and briefly incarcerated for his highly opinionated political and sometimes personal attacks on politicians, government officials and business leaders.[2][3][4] A self-styled screamer and voice of the voiceless, Alai's intrepid and gung-ho pursuit for positive action, and his almost rabid distaste for slow processes or corporate bureaucracy has turned him into an icon for justice, albeit in a fashion different from common civil society.
Robert Alai has been engaged in political causes, organizing and leading demonstrations against the excesses of Kenyan parliamentarians, as well as openly supporting the presidential campaigns of the Cord Coalition in the 2013 general elections. Alai also led the opinion of Cord supporters, accepting the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Coalition, and asking other Kenyans of goodwill to respect and support the new government. He also contributed to social causes, such as offering financial support to the ailing former Kenyan woman boxing legend Conjestina Achieng.
In the wake of the Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi where over 65 people were killed, Alai was praised, both by local and international media for his timely and creative use of social media, mainly Twitter, to provide updates of what was happening at the mall. In a world of virtual media shut down by a government keen to spin the narrative to its own public image purposes, Alai virtually became the go-to person for the alternative, more accurate view. He was constant in his tweeting, all day and night long, reporting each and every significant happening. His accounts were considered as being more accurate than - and sometimes contradicting - the updates provided by the authorities.[5][6]
The mainstream media, and public discourse was largely formed and directed around his reports and views, including the emergence of the alleged disagreement among the security agencies that had resulted in the deaths of several security operatives, as well as the widely condemned looting of the besieged mall. Only much later did the Government acknowledge the stories he had broken to the Kenyan public.
Alai's social media footprint is huge, by average African standards. He estimates that he makes 50 million weekly social media impressions, making him perhaps Africa's most visible private citizen on the internet.[7]
In December 2014, Ndegwa Muhoro, the Kenya CID Chief, ordered the arrest of Robert Alai for allegedly sharing President Uhuru Kenyatta's contacts on Twitter.[8] He was consequently charged "with undermining Uhuru".[9] Alai's twitter handle @robertalai was suspended on 18 December 2014, but was later reinstated.[10]
References
- ↑ "Techmtaa". Techmtaa.
- ↑ "The-Star.co.ke". The-Star.co.ke. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ↑ Correspondent, Nation. "Nation.co.ke". Nation.co.ke. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ↑ "Standardmedia.co.ke". Standardmedia.co.ke. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ↑ www.standardmedia.co.ke (2013-09-24). "SDE". Standardmedia.co.ke. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ↑ "BBC". BBC. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ↑ "Standard Digital News - Mobile Site | Kenya ::". Standardmedia.co.ke. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
- ↑ http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/ndegwa-muhoro-orders-arrest-blogger-robert-alai-allegedly-sharing-uhurus-contacts-twitter
- ↑ "Blogger Alai charged with undermining Uhuru - Nairobi News". nairobinews.co.ke.
- ↑ "Twitter / Account Suspended". twitter.com.