President Marcos has recently found himself battling a particularly nasty storm—not of political opponents, but of rumors and outright fabrications circulating online. Imagine waking up to find breathless social media posts claiming you have late-stage colon cancer, that your public appearances are mere “throwback” photos, and that trusted news organizations are in cahoots to cover up your supposed serious illness. This is precisely what President Marcos has faced. He’s tried to brush them off as “playful” posts, assuring everyone he’s back to his usual routine after a bout of diverticulitis in January. But the sheer volume and venom of these…

For a long time in Kenya, there were specific people who held the keys to what was considered true and worth sharing. Think of the journalists diligently noting down facts, the editors carefully refining stories, and the broadcasters whose voices filled living rooms across the nation at dinnertime. These were the gatekeepers of information. They weren’t perfect, of course – sometimes a bit slow, sometimes overly cautious – but they carried a crucial burden: ensuring that what they shared was verified and factual, making sure truth wasn’t drowned out by mere rumors before it reached the public. Their role was…