As a teenager, I burnt a CD from a cyber cafe for a TV series called Revolution. I only got to see the pilot episode, either our DVD player got spoilt or the CD got a scratch. I hardly recall. In the show, an unknown phenomenon leads to the shutdown of electricity, the internet, and eventually, civilisation. There is panic all over the city as people try to figure out what’s happening and how long the blackout will last.

I’ve spent a significant amount of time wondering how those people survived and the other half wondering if I’d survive an apocalypse. To even think of a post-apocalyptic world. I should have burnt another CD to find out if I was curious enough.

At the time I am not sure if streaming in Kenya was as popular then, as it is now. It was after the digital migration, that we discarded the bulky analogue TVs for the slim flat-screen TVs that needed a decoder to operate. The only streaming platform that mattered to me then was YouTube, where I discovered I didn’t have to wait until 5 O’clock to watch The Beat. All that was needed was to type the music video I wanted, and instantly watch and dance to it. I found out about this and spent most of the time recreating the dance styles in Justin Bieber’s Sorry on some days and acting out The Heart Wants What It Wants by Selena Gomez on other days. Well, what can I say, I am a child of divorce. [All respect to their respective partners of course]

On most evenings, I try to microdose the post-apocalyptic world by staying offline until the next morning, unless there’s an emergency that requires my immediate attention. It’s important to note that an emergency is yet to occur. It’s partly by choice to get some time offline and touch some grass and partly because I’ve slept off two consecutive Saturdays when the WiFi guys did the installation. Mostly it’s my choice.

On one particular day, I was in the matatu thinking. Planning ahead. Just normal stuff like thinking of what activity I’d do to occupy me, what I’d have for dinner, and what I’d watch while at it. Outside a grey cloud was forming and it smelled like it was going to rain. I wondered too, if I’d unhung my clothes from the hanging line. I couldn’t remember folding them so I added that to my to-do list, for when I’d get home.

I knew for a fact that I was sick of my playlist so listening to music was not something I wanted to do. I didn’t have a new show I was watching and repeating my comfort shows didn’t sound exciting. Then it occurred to me that I’d been listening to the Senate proceedings on the motion to impeach the then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the man who had fallen sick in the afternoon and couldn’t be physically available to defend himself. I’d learned this from X then decided to follow through the rest of the afternoon on Citizen Live.

I was interested in following these proceedings which were resuming at 5, but was conflicted about where I’d tune in from since I couldn’t watch them online anymore. I then briefly had a billion-dollar idea on why Citizen TV should have a podcast that I could listen to. I know, I know. I thought of Spotify, but then again Spotify would require data so the podcast had to be offline. This was then followed by a light bulb moment when I realized that Citizen TV actually had an offline podcast—Radio Citizen. A whole running radio station. Hahaha! I’m still laughing at myself.

With the dilution of the essence of breaking news, I was sure I would get the results as soon as the Senate made the decision. Either from a tweet or from watching my WhatsApp statuses. I’m in awe of the constant bombardment by new information which can take a toll on people, making them desensitized. This is noticeable through the memeification of terrible news, despite its urgency and at times, the memes seem to cross the line. But then again, what or where is the line exactly as we know it?

I recall watching the video of the plane crash of the then Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla crashing on X before the media outlets broke the news. We seem to get news from social media, and then wait for confirmation from major news outlets. But who can we blame when the freedom of the press, itself, is compromised as we know it? It’s obvious through the bias in the reportage of stories. Some media houses even end up entirely omitting information so depending on them to always be truthful is naive.

As I sit in the matatu, I’m thinking of how overwhelming social media can be. One person will be tweeting about their new job, or about moving out to their highrise apartments, or moving abroad. You are proud of them and want to be happy for them. Then there’ll be someone quoting their own tweet where they said a month or two ago that they’d found their person. Lol. You will laugh at them. Or rather, they’ll be quoting an old tweet with a photo of an engagement post, or a marriage post that they indeed are happy and found love on social media and are indeed happy. Just below this post, you’ll see a body of someone burning to death in Gaza, or piles of dead human bodies stashed in green sacks. This post will be sandwiched by a go-fund-me plea of relocation from either Sudan or Gaza and a post about the deserted domestic workers in Lebanon. The insides of your stomach will tighten at this. In the comment section, an unrelated sex bot will be the first comment you see, “Free OF in my bio!” That’ll be it you. You’ll log off and decide then, that that’s enough internet for the day.

I remember that I know Radio Citizen’s frequency without having to google it. Wonder why? Well, back in primary school we had a bus driver who would religiously listen to Muhtasari Wa Dira na citizen during our morning trip. It’s been years but the song is still stuck in my head. “Radio Citizen Citizen, chemi chemi ya ukweli. 106.7… Radio number one.”

I tune into the radio station and forty-five minutes later, the Deputy president’s legal team still insists that he has taken ill and requests for time until he is well then he can defend himself. The counsels argue about different articles in the constitution on the matter. The opposing counsel argues that the matter is time-bound by the Constitution, hence no prejudice should be shown. At this point I wish I was on X following the conversation, weighing in on it, and waiting for the jokes that’ll come out of it as well as the interpretations of what the articles and clauses mean. But I resist the urge to go online. I sit with myself, with the intention to form my own opinion and wait for my mom to explain to herself and her friends what is happening as well.

By morning, there’s been a number of breaking news headlines. The Senate agrees with The National Assembly on the impeachment motion of the former D.P Rigathi Gachagua. The president has appointed a new Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. The National Assembly has vetted and approved the replacement. The former D.P. has filed a petition to stop Kindiki’s appointment. The High Court of Kenya orders against the replacement of Rigathi Gachagua until October 24.

Well anyway, if a revolution were to happen, where there was a blackout, I would miss eating ice cream the most!