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A Rebuttal to Alarmist Headlines and Intellectual Arrogance

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Nyakundi Report

Newsroom 2 min read

This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.

As I flipped through the pages of the Sunday Nation on November 10, 2019, one headline caught my attention: 'How ugali is slowly killing you.' The article claimed that scientists had discovered a harmful component in maize grain, which is used to make ugali flour.

However, as I read on, I realized that the problem was not with the maize grain itself, but with some millers who were selling flour produced from improperly dried or stored maize.

I couldn't help but think that the headline was alarmist and unnecessary. Journalists often exaggerate, but this time, they went too far.

Speaking of exaggeration, I also took issue with a column by Prof Makau Mutua, who claimed that Eliud Kipchoge's marathon run under two hours in Vienna was 'fake.' While I agree that the race was aided by technology and a made-to-measure track, I think Prof Mutua's opinion was based on a lack of understanding of the sport.

As an avid sports fan and founder of the Ndakaini Marathon, I was disappointed by Prof Mutua's intellectual arrogance. He wrote about a subject he knows little about, and his opinion was not based on facts.

Finally, I wanted to comment on the Monday issue of the Daily Nation. I find it to be the easiest to read, as the editors seem to understand the concept of 'Monday blues.' Unfortunately, I also noticed that Chege Mbitiru's column was discontinued, which is a shame, as he always wrote in a relaxed and enjoyable manner.

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