Here Is How Kenyans On Twitter Are Responding To CNN's Coverage Of Obama's First Presidential Visit To Kenya
Kenyans on Twitter are using the hashtag #SomeoneTellCNN in response to CNN calling Kenya a "hotbed of terror" ahead of Obama's Nairobi trip
<p>After a few weeks of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/11/barack-obama-visit-kenya-jfk-ireland" target="_blank">anticipation</a>, <strong>President Barack Obama</strong> is headed to Kenya this week for the <strong><a href="http://www.gistnetwork.org/events/global-entrepreneurship-summit-2015" target="_blank">Global Entrepreneurship Summit</a></strong> in Nairobi. The trip marks the President's first time visiting his father's country of origin since coming into office.</p><p><strong>CNN</strong> set off a national conversation amongst <strong>Kenyans on Twitter</strong> (<a href="https://youtu.be/3HByoIrv5_s" target="_blank">#KOT</a>) today when they referred to the country as a "hotbed of terror." "President Barack Obama is not just heading to his father's homeland, but to a hotbed of terror," a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/politics/obama-kenya-visit-al-shabaab-threat/" target="_blank">CNN web report</a> read (that opening line has since been edited to say "a region that's a hotbed of terror"). The report went on to quote Rand Corporation security analyst <strong>Seth Jones</strong>, who suggested that although an Al-Shabaab attack on the President himself was unlikely, the group would look for more vulnerable "soft targets." Said Jones, "What's most likely is not an attack against a U.S. government official like the President, but an attack that happens while the President is there."</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>Using the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN" target="_blank"><strong>#SomeoneTellCNN</strong></a>, Kenyans have been using their 120 characters to mobilize against the network. In addition to the wave of tweets from around #KOT, Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary <strong>Joseph Nkaissery</strong> referred to the broadcast as a "sustained campaign" to portray Kenya in bad light, according to <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Joseph-Nkaissery-CNN-of-smear-campaign-against-Kenya/-/1056/2804434/-/3cwtme/-/index.html" target="_blank">Daily Nation</a>. “This announcement is based on lies. It demonstrates heightened irresponsibility by the media network and smacks of arrogance," he told journalists at Harambee House in Nairobi.</p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p></p><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Real Nairobi vs how CNN sees Nairobi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> <a href="http://t.co/U1ElT6rX4g">pic.twitter.com/U1ElT6rX4g</a></p><p>— Masaku (@masaku_) <a href="https://twitter.com/masaku_/status/624238535843938304">July 23, 2015</a></p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> the only thing that will be 'terrorising' <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS">@POTUS</a> is the sweet taste of nyama choma in his mouth! <a href="http://t.co/A19jEPPBgd">pic.twitter.com/A19jEPPBgd</a> — EatOut (@EatOutKenya) <a href="https://twitter.com/EatOutKenya/status/624127295595409409">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p></p><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> If you have to do negative stories start with your own <a href="http://t.co/1OK06XZeiD">pic.twitter.com/1OK06XZeiD</a></p><p>— Joe Ndungu (@AnchoredCloud) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnchoredCloud/status/624125137693081600">July 23, 2015</a></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN">@CNN</a> if u cannot make proper research on African countries;please spare us ur ignorance <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/camanpour">@camanpour</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BeckyCNN">@BeckyCNN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ErrolCNN">@ErrolCNN</a> — lizzie ntonjira (@lizzientonjira) <a href="https://twitter.com/lizzientonjira/status/624212131454562304">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p></p><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> that I have security concerns when I travel to the US as a black man.</p><p>— chief entrepreneur (@Jorammwinamo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jorammwinamo/status/624182899571585024">July 23, 2015</a></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p></p><p dir="ltr" lang="en">CNN should drop the extra letter N on their name, CN for Cartoon News fits them really well <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a></p><p>— President Gitz (@iGitz_) <a href="https://twitter.com/iGitz_/status/624285724716724224">July 23, 2015</a></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> that we can smell them from veeeeery far! <a href="http://t.co/z0H9eHywzK">pic.twitter.com/z0H9eHywzK</a> — Francis Gachuri (@Fchurii) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fchurii/status/624195433162756096">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">U want CNN to change. Stop Watching. They do this every time. U scream on twitter every time. They don't reply. They know who they work 4. — Binyavanga Wainaina (@BinyavangaW) <a href="https://twitter.com/BinyavangaW/status/624215687159021568">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> they need to change their strapline. Poor in storytelling..extremely poor in Geography! <a href="http://t.co/XzA01KKqtl">pic.twitter.com/XzA01KKqtl</a> — Jimmi Gathu (@JimmiGathu) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmiGathu/status/624218386168434688">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> they have their own agenda in bringing Africa down.If you have nothing to report we'll help you.You won't derail our vision — Chris Kirubi (@CKirubi) <a href="https://twitter.com/CKirubi/status/624188177415315456">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Nairobi. Capital of <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN">@CNN</a>'s 'hotbed of terror'! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> <a href="http://t.co/gvFVifyy6G">pic.twitter.com/gvFVifyy6G</a> — KENYA PICS (@KENYAPICS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KENYAPICS/status/624162242720870401">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> that there more killings in one day in NYC than the whole year in Nairobi, and our Police don't kill blacks for sport! — Donald B Kipkorir (@DBK017) <a href="https://twitter.com/DBK017/status/624122449521676289">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> I dont need to look too hard to spot the hotbed of terror <a href="http://t.co/UC1RDVyn5p">pic.twitter.com/UC1RDVyn5p</a> — lucy mwangi (@lnmwangi) <a href="https://twitter.com/lnmwangi/status/624105256356589568">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> they need to change their strapline. Poor in storytelling..extremely poor in Geography! <a href="http://t.co/XzA01KKqtl">pic.twitter.com/XzA01KKqtl</a> — Jimmi Gathu (@JimmiGathu) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmiGathu/status/624218386168434688">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Dear CNN, It would be prudent to note that we are not a backward banana republic but a highly informed & analytical nation. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SomeoneTellCNN?src=hash">#SomeoneTellCNN</a> — Julie Gichuru (@JulieGichuru) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulieGichuru/status/624179987839627264">July 23, 2015</a></blockquote><p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
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