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 14 days 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 13 days 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 14 days 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 20 days 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 20 days 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 20 days 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 28 days 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 28 days 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 27 days 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month ago

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Raila sought to cut funereal fanfare to 72 hours, but politicos in search of optics stretch it

As if anticipating the drama that would follow upon the event of his death, Raila Amolo Odinga required that his remains be laid to rest within three days.

By 1 month ago

Yes, let's fish seedlings from the air and supplant them to earn carbon-credits

Today is Mazingira Day, so I was expecting the powers that be, to lead in a tree-planting drive.

By 1 month ago

Darkness in Dakar and a belated homecoming as rains wash runways

Like a thief in the night, we had driven into Dakar in the dark, and here I was departing in the dark.

By 1 month ago

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Drinking water and preaching wine: Why Catholic faithful are in for a great treat

There is big news from the Catholic church: Its leadership is switching the altar wine.

By 1 month ago

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What the height of toilet bowls say about the quality of life in Togo and Senegal

A curious distinction is that toilet bowls in the Lome airport are pretty low, almost at small boys’ level, while those in Dakar are pretty high.

By 2 months ago

Travelling around Africa in 36 hours, and marvels of our Kenyan democracy

We were grounded for eight hours, only making it to Dakar 24 hours after I had left Nairobi, sleep-deprived and discombobulated by the experiences of the last dozens of hours. 

By 2 months ago

Attention, the national anthem is playing, but the people are true wielders of power

One highlight of my visit was my friends and I being waved down the street by a hawker because the national anthem was playing at the presidency.

By 2 months ago

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Why moving houses mirrors chaos in government's Affordable Housing

We even have the office of the official opposition in the house!

By 2 months ago

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Why you need eyes that can see in the dark when cruising Laikipia plains on tattered roads

But things did not go as planned. First off, the driver arrived late, so he was nearly fired before being hired.

By 2 months ago

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Tell 'em, Moses, we have evolved from subjects of the Queen to Lady Meg

Riggy G has declared he will run for the high office in 2027, despite his impeachment.

By 2 months ago

Murkomen defends police extortion as Bill on "transport" levy gets under way

Murkomen said most police vehicles run non-stop, day and night, delivering suspects from one location to another, draining the modest fuel allowances.

By 2 months ago

Murkomen defends police extortion as Bill on "transport" levy gets under way

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified that policemen who solicit money for fuel from Kenyans do so to augment modest disbursements from the government.

By 2 months ago

Behold, the crowning glory of a doctorate from Bus Stop Number 9, Lagos, Nigeria

Seeing that ordinary folks can earn doctorates based on resumes shared on WhatsApp, Lagos is light-years ahead of the rest of us in monetising social media. 

By 2 months ago

After years of smooth music streaming, Spotify now insists on ads that I paid to avoid

I am extremely irritated because a week after renewing my subscription, with a six-month advance payment, I am unable to log into the premium option.

By 3 months ago

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Jubaland troops are here on exchange mission, so let's all take deep breath

Locals are pointing us to very specific information, that Jubaland militias have taken over a school and turned it into a training camp.

By 2 months ago

Small ways of catching big thieves could deter minions sharpening their nails

The idea was that the presidency was the gateway to instant riches, influence and affluence.

By 3 months ago

Bonnie Mwangi is running for Prezzo, so I might have friends in high places

Now that Bonnie is staking a claim in high politics, he has to be ready for the rough ride ahead.

By 3 months ago

From the abracadabra of CBC to CBE, we're shifting gears to head back to the old country

I did not feel confident to entrust the lad’s future in folks who wake up one morning saying Math is mandatory.

By 3 months ago

Farewell to a boyhood when the village teemed with life and some swag

Post-high school training consigned us to the four directions of the wind.

By 3 months ago

Walking in the rain at AG's chambers, looking for proof of 'return of seal'

I spent the better part of Monday at the Attorney General’s chambers to “listen to the ground” about that little matter about the government’s seal that was reportedly moved.

By 3 months ago

A guard of honour comes to the rescue, as tech fails to deliver visitors to KU Referral Hospital

Last weekend, I turned on my GPS and punched in the location to Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital but technology failed me.

By 3 months ago

Kenyans can't stay calm now that Riggy G is back, yet they didn't miss him

The government did not send police to disrupt former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's motorcade from JKIA but a chopper hovered around, instead of traditional dancers, to welcome him.

By 3 months ago

Tall tales from the youngest man of the house, now back from Europe

The Under-13 team fared better, losing narrowly 5-6, or something close to that.

By 3 months ago

Harambee Stars are shining brightly, even as others sing: one goal, one million, wantam

The national footie side, the Harambee Stars, are on a roll, even as their success clarifies our incompetence in managing simple matters like ticket sales and stadium safety.

By 3 months ago

Devolution is working just fine, and the years ahead look promising

The real success of devolution has been to stimulate economic activities in areas that the colonial infrastructure like the rail never touched.

By 3 months ago

'Bra' cop on Jogoo Road demands his pound of flesh with menace and daring

Passengers on a matatu destined for Nairobi’s Eastlands were treated to an interesting drama as a cop flagged down the vehicle around the Maziwa area.

By 3 months ago