Somebody tell Mbadi we're sick and dying as a nation, so let's die in private dignity

John Mbadi, the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, is the maverick who has reportedly cast a magic wand on the economy

By 8 days ago

Rare Valentine's shopping outing marred by a mannerless little girl

By shopping, I mean patiently pushing the trolley and trailing the woman of the house (yes, it’s Valentine’s season, so I can disclose that I can be meek and submissive).

By 8 days ago

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Matiang'i's 'sarakasi' is brainy and riveting and crosses many 'red lines'

Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i wears many hats, although he wore none to church last Sunday in Othaya

By 14 days ago

The politics and poetics of Kiraitu Murungi in his new found quest for lasting happiness

Politician Kiraitu Murungi has quit active politics, a rarity for politicians on this side of the world, at the tender age of 74.

By 15 days ago

After 15 years of waiting for book royalties, the spoils are rolling in dribs and drabs

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a princely sum of 11k from a phone number I didn’t recognise

By 15 days ago

A praise song for Samsung, even though this piper wasn't paid to call any particular tune

No disrespect to those who live in Ndundori

By 22 days ago

Mystery of flush buttons on SGR, and the bitter-sweet drink of classes

Mystery of flush buttons on SGR, and the bitter-sweet drink of classes

By 22 days ago

Prezzo Ruto prances the stage in new brown shoes in a prosperity showcase

It was delightful to see Prezzo Bill Ruto stepping out in spanking new brown shoes as the rest of us endure the dreadfully long month of January

By 22 days ago

At Mageuzi, a refreshingly sexy take on history and marginalisation

I attended a book launch last Saturday at Mageuzi, the official seat of the potential next Prezzo of the Republic of Kenya, Bonnie Mwangi.

By 1 month ago

After 'cowardly' attack, Governor Wamatangi retreats for 40 days of prayer and fasting

First, the numbers: 2027, 1994, 65, and 40. The first numbers refer to March next year, when Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi purports he will keep off politics

By 1 month ago

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Tall tales of toads and political chameleons hiding in plain sight

In our boyhood, once upon a time, when backbreaking work was considered noble, and we were happy to receive nothing more than morsels of food,

By 1 month ago

Brace yourself, season of anomie is upon us, again, like it really never ended

The road to Kenya’s Singapore is littered with a collapsed and collapsing infrastructure, the latest edifice to tumble down being that building in South C that was designed as a ladder to heaven.

By 1 month ago

Near 'poetic justice' as MP Babu looks down the barrel of Alai's misfiring gun

Had Babu been shot, and I’m glad he was not, it’d have been a case of poetic justice, because a few years ago, Babu was charged with shooting and maiming one DJ Evolve. 

By 1 month ago

Pains of growing up and old, then retreating into the twilight in these lean times

When a birthday milestone serves to remind one of recent deaths is not morbid humour, it means one has matured sufficiently to start confronting their own mortality.

By 1 month ago

I'm a phone call away, so keep dialling even when network claims I am 'mteja'

One brash technician said I should have gone to Samsung, not Safcom, if it’s the handset that had a problem.

By 1 month ago

A torch-bearer, yes, a hawker is bit of a stretch, after failing at first attempt

People believe torches have psychic powers and that when the battery cells dim, so will the nefarious characters who had a hand in the killing of Jirongo.

By 1 month ago

With the New Year, let's try a little gentleness to survive these hard times

The fortunes of the “hustler” narrative that was propounded for four years, have dimmed irredeemably over the last three years.

By 1 month ago

Yes, Kenyans should rejoice if dust tracks lead to Kalonzo's rural home

President Ruto is no longer pleading with Kalonzo to join his government, which he did in previous months, he is now criticizing his development track record.

By 2 months ago

Gatundu weeps for a generation of sons who see their future in drinking day and night

Gatundu is bearing the perils of a generation that sees no hope out of their squalor and has taken to alcoholism.

By 2 months ago

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Road to Singapore: Ruto's wheelbarrow gains wings to fly

The “development” agenda is swinging from one extreme to another; three years ago, we were promised that so-called “hustlers” would be wheeled in barrows to unprecedented prosperity.

By 2 months ago

Let me tell you: Kikamba goes global at VFS, as attendants keep it real

Quite honestly, I can’t tell the difference between VFS Kenya and VFS Global.

By 2 months ago

People can't eat markets, even though Prezzo Ruto has built 400 of them countrywide

I will not speculate what could be the motivation for such a high markets turnover—a perfect example being the Ndaragwa town in central Kenya.

By 2 months ago

A narrow escape, a black Christmas, and merits of finally getting grounded

It was late evening, near Gateway Mall, and I caught a glimpse of its driver on the phone, calling desperately.

By 2 months ago

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'Faya si faya': All fired up as roadblocks mounted to screen voters in Mbeere

For those who have forgotten, Riggy G was ousted last year and replaced by Kindiki.

By 2 months ago

Yes, we could turn Singapore into Kenya, just by running its mega port for one day

First off, the data that Prezzo Ruto quotes about Singapore is mostly fictional

By 2 months ago

After cancelling Uhuru Day fete, Suluhu retreats to solitary confinement in Dar

I’d assume even the officers who gunned down protesters were also foreigners as proper Tanzanians wouldn’t do such things.

By 2 months ago

The muted return of Baba Yao and the enduring lesson of politics and accountability

Baba Yao’s smelt a rat and sought his freedom using the formal route, assuring the court that he’d secure a bank guarantee of Sh53 million as bail.

By 3 months ago

Yeah man, let's legalize the holy herb, and just don't criticise it

The hard part will be developing a legal framework to regulate the sale and consumption of bangi.

By 2 months ago

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Elements of 'State of the Nation' speech that Ruto ought to have delivered

Let me now turn to the elephant in the room: job creation.

By 3 months ago

Sagana is famous for fishers of men, but also for the diligent, honest mechanics at Rubis

The man of the moment was Samuel Mwing’alya, a diligent mechanic at the fuel station who accurately diagnosed the problem

By 3 months ago

Yes, Kenya is poised for 'First World" status, because Prezzo Ruto says so

Africa is first world, because its resources were plundered through slavery and colonialism to prop and subsidise life in so-called First World.

By 3 months ago

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Give King Kaguta 100-mile strip, or risk Kenyans being kept in the cooler for keeps

M7 has expressed a grand vision of annihilating Kenya from the face of the earth by annexing its land

By 3 months ago

Hooray, the Nanyuki-Rumuruti road is getting paved, we'll monitor closely

Of course, we know what is written on paper and what happens on the ground often vary, because of something called tenderpreneurs.

By 3 months ago

The occupational hazards of dealing with thieves, and idiots with overdrawn accounts

Before me was a bowl of fruit, the pink from the dragon fruit flavouring my mood with a certain cheerfulness.

By 3 months ago

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Prezzo Suluhu's solution to Tz's manufactured crisis is to blame alien 'creatures'

There are certain things that Mama Suluhu has assured the world are un-Tanzanian.

By 3 months ago

Getting an early taste of electoral politics, and genesis of our deformed democratic cultures

The youngest man of the house recently got an early taste of elective politics after he declared that he’d run for captainship of his House.

By 3 months ago

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Praise song for the dead, who clarify our purpose and meaning in this life

President William Ruto assented to the new draconian Bills, while praising the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the embodiment of our freedom.

By 3 months ago

Debunking norms and customs, and folly of right hand knowing what the left does

Mbuzi ya wazee has a cultural significance, It’s how menfolk in central Kenya are getting together and learning about their cultural past.

By 3 months ago

A man for all seasons, bearing new name in every cycle of political life

Say his name: Raila Amolo Odinga. It was the identity that he was given at birth, sealed with baptism by near fire

By 4 months ago

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Raila was larger than life, in his death, humanising him reveals his meaning

One of the nation’s most charismatic politicians was on the stage, performing his political shows that oscillated from riddles to ribaldry.

By 4 months ago