To many people in the West, Africa is one big country. Nairobi is host to most of the International bureau chiefs due to various reasons from location to ease of accessibility , connectivity and comfort.
Terror is a global concern for any traveller and the continuous reporting from Nairobi on terror attacks happening in places like Mali which is 6700KM+ away from Nairobi is making our own recovery a difficult one. As Kenya and Nairobi we have had our own share of grief and this continuous tagging of Nairobi is not doing us any justice.
The distance from Atlanta the home of CNN to Mali is very similar to the distance from Nairobi to Mali . They might as well report from Atlanta.
If you must report from Nairobi by all means you are welcome to do it but for heaven’s sake can you take off the name Nairobi on the screen. You may sign off as Nairobi at the end of your report but the continuous display of Nairobi is simply unacceptable.
The continued display of Nairobi means that anyone seeing it at a glance will conclude that another terror attack is underway in Nairobi. We have had cancellations in hotel bookings in the past from The US, Canada, Australia et al when such screen shots are displayed for hours. Our agents in New York, Sydney, London, Tokyo etc are always complaining.
We shall be reaching out to the International correspondents forum in Nairobi with a view of emphasising this point. I am afraid if we don’t make any headways we shall also engage our good goverment and Media council in Kenya to address the same . We also have the courts and laws of the land.
We are no longer prepared to choose to look the other way when leading media houses like CNN continue to undermine our tourism recovery efforts. CNN may consider this a trivial issue , for tourism players in Kenya it is a big deal.
We are keenly watching on your next report lest you are forced to leave and report from wherever.
Mohammed Hersi
Chairman
Kenya Tourism Federation
I adore your passion and zeal for whatever you put your hands on. You are so pasisionate and optimistic of our great Kenya and all I can say is thank you and God bless you always. Keep up the good work
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Thanks
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I have to disagree with this guys… Remember the CNN Africa offices are in Nairobi, most of the CNN Reporters in African do their live links in Nairobi, Kenya. I know because I’ve worked for the company managing CNN Africa offices Vivid Features Nairobi Kenya.
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You are missing the point. Having the office in Nairobi is fine . Sign off reporting from Nairobi but pull down the Naiorbi Kenya live. That is our beef . We never said close the office. You are so concerned about 5 or so jobs at the expense of No 1 or No2 forex earner for this country.
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I celebrate you sir and your good work…I also choose to remain an optimist…
#SomeoneTellCNN
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