There's a cloud of fear hanging over our nation

Democracy ensures the 'right people' get the mandate to instill fear in us. This fear should be moderated by justice. That is the work of the government and its institutions.

By 12 days ago

Monetising data: Africa should not be left behind

Monetising data would attract more entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, innovators and jobs.

By 17 days ago

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Harness the dreams of Gen Z to power Kenya's innovation

Gen Zs are seen as an enigma. They are not. I think we have failed to understand them and their world. I have tried to understand them both in my house and in class.

By 16 days ago

Gen Z protests: Let's deflate the national anger

The failure to solve the economic problem is fueling anger among Kenyans particularly when promises were during the polls.

By 19 days ago

Is customer service a victim of economic hard times?

My search for Vitz tyres not only revealed the dominance of Chinese brands in the local market but also became an unexpected lesson in customer service.

By 23 days ago

Beyond IPOs: Time to end firms ownership limitations

The change in law gave the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary the power to prescribe ownership limitations during IPOs or later to protect strategic industries.

By 24 days ago

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Israel-Iran war spells new world order

One wishes the Iran-Israel war would end soon. The world has enough troubles, even here at home.

By 25 days ago

Dad's wisdom and strange economics of the toilet

My dad shared with me two nuggets of wisdom, but they are related. One was that when looking for a wife, visit her home and pay special attention to the toilet.

By 1 month ago

New education system: Key pathways to the future lit

The Internet has not ended tourism. Out of curiosity, will day streams open a can of worms; a child being driven and picked from Kenya High or Alliance as borders eat githeri. 

By 1 month ago

It isn't shocking there were no surprises in this year's Budget

The much-anticipated 2025-26 budget yielded no surprises or hidden taxes.

By 1 month ago

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Is the Finance Bill 2025 about boxing or dancing?

The Bill has now been put under a microscope, scrutinised clause by clause and the implications for our pockets and corporate bottom lines. 

By 1 month ago

Global wars: When will they cease?

We must ask why conflicts and wars continue to define our planet instead of peace and tranquillity.

By 1 month ago

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Luggage charges: Will passengers go the Dundori way?

Most airlines have started charging for check-in bags. The latest is the US-based Southwest Airlines, a budget carrier used as a case study in strategy and operations.

By 1 month ago

A tribute to the giant of African literature Ngugi wa Thiong'o

Ngugi wa Thiong’o can easily be called the Chinua Achebe of Eastern Africa or Shakespeare of the same, but with less inclination to plays.

By 1 month ago

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Promotion path: Shock for State firm's employees

Workers must apply for vacancies even after getting new qualifications. Filing a vacant post should be competitive and transparent.

By 1 month ago

Varsities row: What's Trump afraid of?

Many young men and women from across the globe harbour a dream of studying in the US.

By 1 month ago

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It's high time local foods found their rightful place on five-star hotel menus

I doubt if our visitors want to pay top dollars to come and eat what they have in their own homes. They want something exotic. Do we offer them that?

By 1 month ago

How long will Swahili and English dance together?

As long as the elite switch to Swahili when angry, joking or abusing someone, Swahili will continue being overshadowed by English. 

By 1 month ago

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Let's keep fire of EAC dream burning

Taking a bus or a train to Makerere or Dar es Salaam to attend university would have been one of the greatest moments of my life.

By 1 month ago

The age of nail bars and parlours is upon us, and it's booming, big time

Have you noticed the many nail parlours and bars in small and big towns?

By 1 month ago

Kenya's GDP growth, budget and policy nightmares

Unlike in the past when we blamed the external factors, the decline this time is attributed to internal factors too, such as Gen Z riots.

By 1 month ago

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Kenyan link in Afrikaners' land woes

The common name for Afrikaners is Boers or kaburu in Swahili. I wonder how the Afrikaners feel resettling in the US, just like their descendants in South Africa did 373 years ago.

By 2 months ago

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Pangani design exemplifies what is wrong with Kenya

The superness of the Thika superhighway is debatable. The superhighway is now 13 years old.

By 2 months ago

Let the State open up the roads and we'll do the rest

The easiest way to appreciate why we need roads and rails is that it’s not trains or cars that travel, it’s people and their ideas that travel, seeking opportunities that transform the economy.

By 2 months ago

India, Pakistan row impact for Kenya

After independence in 1947, India was violently partitioned based on religion, with Pakistan being predominantly Muslim and India Hindu. 

By 2 months ago

What makes Kenya a major entrepreneurs' paradise

One, we are a relatively open market. It’s easy to enter the Kenyan market at any level. You can start a side hustle at home, in the streets or even online.

By 2 months ago

Arts and crafts of Magna, the emergence of pseudo-elitism

In the past mwikos were never bought, boys made them at home, including other things like scarves, combs and ladles.

By 2 months ago

Why end of WW II deserves a holiday

The wars in Ukraine, Gaza, DR Congo, Sudan, Yemen and many other places remind us that we must never let our guard down.  

By 2 months ago

Kariamu: We should all make money in Nairobi and spend it in rural areas

We should all make money in Nairobi and spend it in rural areas.

By 2 months ago

Nurturing village innovators can help tap into their ingenuity

The rise of China, Japan or USA was driven by innovations from universities, research institutes and even ordinary men and women experimenting as they seek solutions to their problems.

By 2 months ago

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China visit: Beyond trade, investment

The entry of China into Africa is not just about economic growth; it’s also about the socio-cultural transformation of the continent and who will get the dividends.

By 2 months ago

Hustlenomics - How to beat inflation during hard economic times

The rise in the cost of living or inflation was a political issue for the new government, leading to violent demonstrations last year. The prices have now stabilised.

By 2 months ago

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Kenya's strategic bet to flirt with both the Eagle and the Dragon

Many interpreted President Ruto’s US visit as a coup, getting Kenya into US orbit after dalliance with China.

By 2 months ago

The inconvenient truth about devolution, the environment

Rain came as predicted, the rivers were crystal clear, and cancer was rare. Climate change or global warming were intellectual discussions, not mainstream. Not anymore.

By 2 months ago

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Why Kenya remains a giant economics lab globally

You rarely find hawkers in developed countries. There are designated places to trade. That creates order and cleanliness.

By 3 months ago

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Agriculture and devolution: Time to close missing links

Agriculture contributes about 20 per cent of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP) according to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) 2023) and is a key employer in the rural areas.

By 3 months ago

Berlin, a quiet city with loud lessons for Kenya's workforce future

One mystery I resolved by visiting the city is why Germans got the “colonial leftovers” despite hosting the conference.

By 3 months ago

More expressways will help increase Kenya's productivity

The expressway, except for the exit near the University of Nairobi, saves plenty of time. You get value for your money.

By 3 months ago

Trump and tariffs: Finally, it's a moment of truth for all

Countries with a big trade surplus with the US or those that charge America imports higher tariffs got the bigger hit.

By 3 months ago

Trump's tariffs on car imports leave American allies guessing

US President Donald Trump once said tariffs are his favourite word and he meant it, given the number of countries reeling from new or higher tariffs.

By 3 months ago