Daunting task of housing, taxing impoverished Kenyans
The government has unwittingly borrowed from the hut tax which was introduced by the colonial government to force Africans to seek jobs from the settlers.
By 1 month ago
Daunting task of housing, taxing impoverished Kenyans
Widow's woes as she battles schemes to disinherit her
Wanjiru’s life was turned upside down after her husband, Eliud Ndirangu Macharia, died in 2014 in mysterious circumstances. Macharia was later buried in a controversial manner.
By 1 month ago
Widow's woes as she battles schemes to disinherit her
Ray of hope for peasants' 50-year battle to claim ranch
Gucokaniriria Kihato Farmers and Traders Company held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) since 2006 on Thursday last week, after years of protracted legal battles between rival camps.
By 1 month ago
Ray of hope for peasants' 50-year battle to claim ranch
'Patriot' who formed militia but was accused of treason
Besides recruiting 50 highly trained military officers to neutralise the political threat he perceived to be facing the country, Muthemba also used his own money to buy specialised guns
By 1 month ago
'Patriot' who formed militia but was accused of treason
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Hangman who hanged criminals for £5, gave discounts
Robert Marshal outsmarted other hangmen after he presented a tender of £5 (Sh911) for every white person he hanged and Sh£1 (Sh140) for an African. He offered to hang Asians for free.
By 1 month ago
Hangman who hanged criminals for £5, gave discounts
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Big bang that scarred Kenya and changed city's skyline
When explosions went off at around 10.30 am on August 7, 1998, the ensuing chaos united the country in grief and the world in fear.
By 1 month ago
Big bang that scarred Kenya and changed city's skyline
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Choruses and amen chants once reigned at Parliament
Kenya's most heavily secured square, where more than 400 honourable members earn a living by shouting ayes and nays to make laws was once holy grounds.
By 1 month ago
Choruses and amen chants once reigned at Parliament
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How Bob Marley's reggae music sustained 1982 coup
The reggae music from Voice of Kenya, studios was, however, unceremoniously halted when the plotters who lacked firepower and proper planning were overwhelmed.
By 1 month ago
How Bob Marley's reggae music sustained 1982 coup
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Why State banned chiefs from joining political parties
Such was the predicament the government found itself in when a cabal of influential chiefs with the backing of rich families from Kiambu formed an association.
By 1 month ago
Why State banned chiefs from joining political parties
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How chief licensing officer helped Njonjo smuggle guns
Charles Mugane Njonjo, while serving as the constitutional minister, was exposed to public ridicule after he was accused of using his office to help his friends import guns.
By 1 month ago
How chief licensing officer helped Njonjo smuggle guns
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How Mwea was immortalised as Kenya's headquarters of torture
Mwea, conjures up images of tortured freedom fighters being stripped naked by overbearing white colonial officers hell-bent to make them disown their freedom struggle.
By 1 month ago
How Mwea was immortalised as Kenya's headquarters of torture
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Sending errant children to South Africa to be reformed
Juveniles found guilty in Kenya could be transported to South Africa where they could serve their time and later brought back home once they were reformed.
By 2 months ago
Sending errant children to South Africa to be reformed
How some chiefs morphed into powerful politicians
There was a time chief could dare dream of becoming senior government officers away from the drinking dens where they spent most of their time battling with chan'gaa brewers
By 2 months ago
How some chiefs morphed into powerful politicians
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When the government organised its demonstration
It was quite a cinema as the president witnessed a flypast by the Kenya Air Force.
By 2 months ago
When the government organised its demonstration
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Bulgaria trip: Genesis of Kenya's first scholarship scam
A senior minister, who Matiba does not name, conspired with the Bulgarian government to carry out the scheme, leaving the Kenya government with an egg on its face.
By 2 months ago
Bulgaria trip: Genesis of Kenya's first scholarship scam
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How family acquired land in Thika for pineapple empire
After waiting for 119 years, the locals feel that it is time to reclaim part of the ancestral land they lost to colonial settlers.
By 2 months ago
How family acquired land in Thika for pineapple empire
Return to original police brutality scene a century later
Teargassing an 87-year-old lawyer, Dr John Khaminwa and former Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga (77) inside a police station was quite a spectacle!
By 2 months ago
Return to original police brutality scene a century later
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Love, Waiyaki and ensuing massacre over dowry dispute
When an angry Waiyaki went to Fort Smith to confront Purkis over the massacre of his people in Githiiga, he was overpowered and chained to a pole. He later died on his way to Mombasa.
By 2 months ago
Love, Waiyaki and ensuing massacre over dowry dispute
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How violent campaigns were nurtured 60 years ago
When a self-taught teacher, Shompole Leroka, signed up with Kanu and declared his interest for the Kajiado North seat, little did he know that he had unwittingly signed his death warrant.
By 2 months ago
How violent campaigns were nurtured 60 years ago
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Students caught in the middle as professors battle for Sh9b hospital
A fight between the head of Kenyatta University and his former boss chairing the board of the KUTRRH is jeopardising the fate of about 2,000 students pursuing medicine courses.
By 2 months ago
Students caught in the middle as professors battle for Sh9b hospital
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Let down till death: No place for Miceere at Uhuru Park
Like Kimathi and other heroes and heroines, Miceere was tried by the State and found undeserving of any state honour.
By 2 months ago
Let down till death: No place for Miceere at Uhuru Park
Boyhood fantasy that grew into a business empire
Mandatally’s quest for financial independence started when he realised he could increase his 50 cents pocket money instead of squandering it by buying candies and cookies.
By 2 months ago
Boyhood fantasy that grew into a business empire
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How pioneer road almost led the country to bankruptcy
MacKinnon Road was the longest road from Mombasa extending for about 100 kilometres past Taru to a station that would later be used as a depot for the rail line
By 2 months ago
How pioneer road almost led the country to bankruptcy
Kenya paying huge price for neglecting Northern region
For 60 years, the north, like a sore toe, has been aching from neglect and marginalisation. Kenya continues to bleed whenever civilians and police officers die in the crossfire of bandits.
By 2 months ago
Kenya paying huge price for neglecting Northern region
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Why formation of East Africa Federation rattled London
The idea that Kenya was thinking of surrendering its sovereignty and its leaders surrendering the trappings of power to a new entity, the East Africa Federation was unfathomable
By 3 months ago
Why formation of East Africa Federation rattled London
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Murder mystery that defied science, detectives for decades
Not even three books, fictionalised films and a hundred trips in three decades has offered any answers to the mystery of what happened to Julie Ward.
By 3 months ago
Murder mystery that defied science, detectives for decades
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When government could not afford to fund education
The situation at the time was so bad that the governor, Conway Belfield, gave up pretending that the government was doing anything for schools.
By 3 months ago
When government could not afford to fund education
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Why MPs branded Jaramogi Oginga a 'hard parent'
His qualities as a 'soft parent' were however subject of a parliamentary debate when he demanded that tough conditions be imposed on Kenya Meat Commission
By 3 months ago
Why MPs branded Jaramogi Oginga a 'hard parent'
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Sabina's Jubilee coup mirrors Gema takeover in Jomo era
52 years ago, there was a bitter struggle between two groups that wanted to control Mt Kenya politics. Members of parliament from Mt Kenya formed GEMA.
By 3 months ago
Sabina's Jubilee coup mirrors Gema takeover in Jomo era
Why MP wanted Britons screened to lock out criminals
MP Arthur Bottomley, who represented Chatham, saw some of his countrymen as the trigger to the violence that had engulfed Kenya from 1952.
By 3 months ago
Why MP wanted Britons screened to lock out criminals
Insult missiles and white solders' escapes in World Wars
When the Germans were routed out of Kenya’s Namanga town by the British soldiers, their soldiers surrendered their big guns but used a more lethal arsenal; the mouth.
By 3 months ago
Insult missiles and white solders' escapes in World Wars
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Why State paid Achieng Oneko Sh100 monthly for violation of rights
Unlike the five other political prisoners, Oneko successfully appealed his sentence and was set free by the Supreme Court in 1954.
By 3 months ago
Why State paid Achieng Oneko Sh100 monthly for violation of rights
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Why Kibaki okayed taxes on harambee contributions
The CDF too has been under attack while the State’s appetite to levy taxes even on some mundane items like fake nails and beards continues to outrage sections of its citizenry.
By 3 months ago
Why Kibaki okayed taxes on harambee contributions
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Tom Mboya's unholy procession on a sacred Good Friday
Mboya, representing Nairobi in the Legislative Council had planned a protest march in the streets of Nairobi to present a petition to the governor’s residence at State House.
By 3 months ago
Tom Mboya's unholy procession on a sacred Good Friday
Sixty years of Independence, and the freedoms we dreamed of remain a mirage
After suffering for more than 70 years under the cracking whip of the colonialists who overworked, underpaid and over-taxed them, millions of Kenyans hoped that things would brighten
By 3 months ago
Sixty years of Independence, and the freedoms we dreamed of remain a mirage
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How Somalia humiliation of Jomo led to frosty relations
This escalated the hostilities that would climax with an open secession bid by parts of Northern Kenya, leading to warfare between Kenya and secessionists.
By 3 months ago
How Somalia humiliation of Jomo led to frosty relations
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When KCB flew to the bush to serve Maasai herders
Gone are the days when a Kenyan had to know a bank worker or a reputable person to be allowed to open a bank account.
By 3 months ago
When KCB flew to the bush to serve Maasai herders
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Why a bankrupt government once scrapped income tax
There have been times Kenya has been forced to resort to unconventional approaches to bridge financial gaps when revenue collection dips.
By 3 months ago
Why a bankrupt government once scrapped income tax
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When Kenya almost had two national Identity cards
The whites who had demanded that all Africans be issued with IDs, containing their bio data and records of employment, could not fathom carrying around a similar document.
By 3 months ago
When Kenya almost had two national Identity cards
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When power of science triumphed over witchdoctors
A small pox epidemic swept across North Eastern, Tana River and coastal region where it killed hundreds.
By 3 months ago
When power of science triumphed over witchdoctors
MERS-CoV : 'Camel disease' that is related to Covid
Health & Science
By Mercy Kahenda
12 mins ago
This is what it's like to be ageing with HIV
Health & Science
By Beldeen Waliaula
12 mins ago
A day wasted in the long queues at Nyayo House for my passport
National
By Special Correspondent
12 mins ago
Kakamega assembly on the spot over Sh122m dubious payments
Western
By Nathan Ochunge
12 mins ago
Eliud Kipchoge: A glimpse into life, mind of greatest marathoner
National
By Persil Telewa
12 mins ago
Ruto could serve for 19 years if a proposal by Cherargei is adopted
Politics
By Brian Otieno and Jacob Ng’etich
12 mins ago