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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

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Ken Opalo

Kenya Kwanza already steeped in grand sleaze

The Sh16.5 billion edible oils scandals, which allegedly implicates members of President William Ruto’s Cabinet, is a slap in the face of Kenyans.

Kenya Kwanza already steeped in grand sleaze

Is Kenya Kwanza economic agenda avoiding default?

Is Kenya Kwanza economic agenda avoiding default?

Meru leaders must stop fighting the governor and get down to hard work

Meru leaders must stop fighting the governor and get down to hard work

Kenyans have no more room for extra taxes

Kenyans have no more room for extra taxes

KRA's punitive tax bid at JKIA is ill-advised

As the government seeks to raise enough revenue to pay for public goods and services and interest on our debts, the medicine should not be worse than the disease.

KRA's punitive tax bid at JKIA is ill-advised

We should avoid short-termism in varsity reforms

Most reasonable people would agree there is a need to rationalise the higher education sector.

We should avoid short-termism in varsity reforms

President must do more to sell healthcare plan

How does the new plan fit with county-level primacy over the sector? Is the government intent on re-nationalising the health sector?

President must do more to sell healthcare plan

Gachagua gets tough political lessons in doses

President William Ruto is on record castigating the idea of “shareholders in government,” principally championed by his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, as “primitive and backward.”

Gachagua gets tough political lessons in doses

Why President Ruto is held hostage by his brand of politics

This week’s Cabinet reshuffle was, in effect, an admission by President William Ruto that he selected a sub-par cabinet.

President Ruto wants to eat his cake and have it

While reasonable people may quibble with specific tactics or policy positions, it is generally a good thing that the President is out there selling Brand Kenya.

By 2 months ago

President Ruto wants to eat his cake and have it

Ethiopia's regional construction sector giant brilliant idea

The idea, based on the limited available information, appears to be to crowd in as much of the sourcing of materials and skills as possible within the Ethiopian economy.

By 2 months ago

Ethiopia's regional construction sector giant brilliant idea

ODM justified to expel MPs but it exposes weakness

Our parties are poorly institutionalised. They are also personalist. A party that has to expel members for disloyalty lacks the organisational mechanisms for screening candidates

By 2 months ago

ODM justified to expel MPs but it exposes weakness

We should all be level-headed on climate policies

President William Ruto hosted our region and the world and in so doing established our position as a serious stakeholder in the global discourse on climate change and potential solutions.

By 2 months ago

We should all be level-headed on climate policies

We must embrace all Kenyans from diverse ethnicities

Who exactly is scared of Somalis? As a country, we need to ask this uncomfortable question and then educate our fellow citizens.

By 3 months ago

We must embrace all Kenyans from diverse ethnicities

Middle East oil deal shows need for bold policy formulation

We still lack a coherent process of policy communication. Most people, including “experts” appear not fully aware of what prompted the policy moves.

By 3 months ago

Middle East oil deal shows need for bold policy formulation

Let's focus on next ten years of devolution

The past is gone, so we must focus on the future. When looking ahead at the next ten years of devolution, two things come to mind that ought to be the focus of governments in the devolved units.

By 3 months ago

Let's focus on next ten years of devolution

Let Uasin Gishu airlift scammers face justice now

The bravery of the youth to confront their leaders who swindled them is commendable evidence that future generations will not take misgovernance in silence.

By 3 months ago

Let Uasin Gishu airlift scammers face justice now

Don't forget to root for devolution in upcoming talks

If UDA wants to keep winning national elections, it is in their best interest to visibly champion devolution.

By 4 months ago

Don't forget to root for devolution in upcoming talks

How we risk being caught up in the middle-income trap

We run the risk of falling into the middle-income trap, a situation whereby economies stagnate at a certain level of income on account of a lack of innovation and endemic inequality.

By 4 months ago

How we risk being caught up in the middle-income trap

How protests erode Kenya Kwanza's legitimacy and plan

In politics, legitimacy is a currency. It allows losers of elections to accept to be governed by their competitors.

By 4 months ago

How protests erode Kenya Kwanza's legitimacy and plan

We have come a long way since first Saba Saba

The journey has not always been smooth. The first two multiparty elections in 1992 and 1997 involved significant levels of state-sponsored violence that left thousands dead.

By 4 months ago

We have come a long way since first Saba Saba

Why next fiscal year will define Ruto's legacy

When Kenyans are evaluating Ruto, they will judge him not against what other presidents did but based on how well he addresses our contemporary problems.

By 5 months ago

Why next fiscal year will define Ruto's legacy

Ruto must reform State machinery to deliver pledges

A strong administrative state that can implement his directives would make up for wishy-washy cabinet secretaries. It is fair to say service delivery by our government is far from ideal.

By 5 months ago

Ruto must reform State machinery to deliver pledges

Opinion polling on Finance Bill could have upped debate

While the discussion mostly focused on the proposed housing levy, Kenyans also discussed the Finance Bill’s implications on manufacturing, small and medium businesses, and costs of tax administration

By 5 months ago

Opinion polling on Finance Bill could have upped debate

State's messaging failures go beyond housing levy bid

Every drop of the drip of information from Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga erodes government credibility on the housing levy.

By 5 months ago

State's messaging failures go beyond housing levy bid

How the President is playing class politics all wrong

The hustlers may have had the votes, but they contribute precious little in direct income taxes. They are also largely unreachable via existing policy levers.

By 6 months ago

How the President is playing class politics all wrong

Reshuffles won't fix fundamental governance gaps

How did Kibaki do it? He appointed competent people in key offices, then substantively delegated to them with clear instructions on outcomes.

By 6 months ago

Reshuffles won't fix fundamental governance gaps

Parliament can't be a watchdog if clueless on policy

Since publication of the Finance Bill and its raft of taxing proposals, Ruto's camp has struggled to provide a coherent message on what the government intends to do with our taxes.

By 6 months ago

Parliament can't be a watchdog if clueless on policy

Ruto owes us an honest debate on the Finance Bill

To illustrate the importance of having honest discussions in attempts to answer these two questions, let us consider the proposal to levy taxes for an affordable housing fund.

By 6 months ago

Ruto owes us an honest debate on the Finance Bill

Emigration can be source of economic dynamism in Kenya

Notice that this would be akin to investing in high-end service exports in which case aiming to be globally competitive would have positive spillover effects in our own domestic economy.

By 6 months ago

Emigration can be source of economic dynamism in Kenya

Ruto owes nation explanation on Shakahola tragedy

Will President Ruto rise to the occasion in his administration’s handling of this case and its aftermath?

By 7 months ago

Ruto owes nation explanation on Shakahola tragedy

How the economic crisis has broken our social fabric

Desperation in the face of uncontrollable precarity will force ever more people to resort to bizarre means to make sense of the world.

By 7 months ago

How the economic crisis has broken our social fabric

Hustlers must ask Ruto to deliver on campaign pledges

We were to throw out the leachy cartels and rent-seekers that monopolised important chokepoints of the economy under Jubilee by investing in welfare of boda boda riders, mama mboga.

By 7 months ago

Hustlers must ask Ruto to deliver on campaign pledges

Strong devolution would be Raila's illustrious legacy

Raila's Azimio should ensure devolution is an important part of the agenda should a window open for structural reforms.

By 7 months ago

Strong devolution would be Raila's illustrious legacy

Protests organisers must ensure peace and clear message

Government officials are alleged to have been behind the organised looting of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s private farm in Kiambu County as a counter-protest against Azimio demos.

By 8 months ago

Protests organisers must ensure peace and clear message

KRA's punitive tax bid at JKIA is ill-advised

As the government seeks to raise enough revenue to pay for public goods and services and interest on our debts, the medicine should not be worse than the disease.

KRA's punitive tax bid at JKIA is ill-advised

We should avoid short-termism in varsity reforms

Most reasonable people would agree there is a need to rationalise the higher education sector.

We should avoid short-termism in varsity reforms

President must do more to sell healthcare plan

How does the new plan fit with county-level primacy over the sector? Is the government intent on re-nationalising the health sector?

President must do more to sell healthcare plan

Gachagua gets tough political lessons in doses

President William Ruto is on record castigating the idea of “shareholders in government,” principally championed by his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, as “primitive and backward.”

Gachagua gets tough political lessons in doses

Why President Ruto is held hostage by his brand of politics

This week’s Cabinet reshuffle was, in effect, an admission by President William Ruto that he selected a sub-par cabinet.

President Ruto wants to eat his cake and have it

While reasonable people may quibble with specific tactics or policy positions, it is generally a good thing that the President is out there selling Brand Kenya.

By 2 months ago

President Ruto wants to eat his cake and have it

Ethiopia's regional construction sector giant brilliant idea

The idea, based on the limited available information, appears to be to crowd in as much of the sourcing of materials and skills as possible within the Ethiopian economy.

By 2 months ago

Ethiopia's regional construction sector giant brilliant idea

ODM justified to expel MPs but it exposes weakness

Our parties are poorly institutionalised. They are also personalist. A party that has to expel members for disloyalty lacks the organisational mechanisms for screening candidates

By 2 months ago

ODM justified to expel MPs but it exposes weakness

We should all be level-headed on climate policies

President William Ruto hosted our region and the world and in so doing established our position as a serious stakeholder in the global discourse on climate change and potential solutions.

By 2 months ago

We should all be level-headed on climate policies

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