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Of politics and the health of presidents
President Daniel Moi was such a heath freak, if one coughed or sneezed violently during cabinet meetings, he could be requested to take leave and return once fully recovered.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Of politics and the health of presidents
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Malala joining Cabinet: A case of trusted presidents' allies whose word became law
Ruto is following in the footsteps of his predecessors, who surrounded themselves with men and women that were strangers in government, but had massive clout and say on matters of national importance
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Malala joining Cabinet: A case of trusted presidents' allies whose word became law
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Murders, detentions and armed raids: Wars that media has fought across the decades
Since independence, Kenya has had its fair share of the likes of Kuria; men foaming at the mouth, spewing venom and vomiting threats.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Murders, detentions and armed raids: Wars that media has fought across the decades
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Drunks, brewers, and chiefs: Politics of illicit brews and the curse of colonial laws
Since colonial days, poor Kenyans have suffered in the name of the fight against alcoholism. Violence, discrimination, and primitive methods have been used to fight brews.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Drunks, brewers, and chiefs: Politics of illicit brews and the curse of colonial laws
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What Ruto can learn from his predecessors on how to manage precarious situations
Ruto being a strategist who learned from Daniel arap Moi, will not allow the Finance Bill to fail. Most MPs know that if the bill fails in totality, the country will shut down.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
What Ruto can learn from his predecessors on how to manage precarious situations
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Why, Like others before him, Ruto will have a hard time dealing a killer blow to graft
Ruto, who packaged a hustler's champion campaign, is promising to tackle the vice whose flames made my father weep during his last days. He must first contend with the private owners of Kenya.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Why, Like others before him, Ruto will have a hard time dealing a killer blow to graft
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Trump before court: Similarities between US and African countries on power and wealth
After many years of violent street protests, battles and deaths, long after the Cold War had fizzled out, Kenya ushered in multiparty democracy. But did this mean anything to the citizens?
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Trump before court: Similarities between US and African countries on power and wealth
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First on scene! Telling stories about the pain of others and living with the consequences
Journalists are among the most traumatised professionals. Like doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers, journalists are neglected and taken for granted.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
First on scene! Telling stories about the pain of others and living with the consequences
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Combating religious cults is timely, but let us also get rid of cultic politicians
The Shakahola massacre opens national wounds oozing with pus and maggots of religious cults and cultic leaders, who prey on people's weaknesses.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Combating religious cults is timely, but let us also get rid of cultic politicians
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Economic genius but bad politician; why Kenyans still miss Kibaki's leadership
Kibaki introduced performance contracting, each government ministry, agency and parastatal, had to put in place measurable programmes with clear goals and deliverables.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Economic genius but bad politician; why Kenyans still miss Kibaki's leadership
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How Kamlesh Pattni's charm held Kenya's rich and mighty captive in his Goldenberg scandal
The year was 1993. After pressure from donors and western governments, Pattni was arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud the government of billions of shillings.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
How Kamlesh Pattni's charm held Kenya's rich and mighty captive in his Goldenberg scandal
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How handshakes became part of Kenya's political history, will Ruto follow suit?
Kenyatta set the stage and pace of power sharing, his actions prepared the behavioural pattern of subsequent leaders to make promises and proclamations they knew couldn't be achieved.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
How handshakes became part of Kenya's political history, will Ruto follow suit?
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From Jaramogi to Matiang'i: Tales of Kenya's dark past of impunity involving police power
Today, our policemen are still being used by those with money, influence and power. Even a transformed Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is caught up in political intrigues.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
From Jaramogi to Matiang'i: Tales of Kenya's dark past of impunity involving police power
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Matiang'i woes: Vital lessons from Kenya's chequered history on power and influence
Matiang''i was an all-powerful minister in the government of Uhuru Kenyatta. He wielded massive power. He issued threats against the then Deputy President William Ruto and his supporters.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Matiang'i woes: Vital lessons from Kenya's chequered history on power and influence
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The silent message in recent visit to Kenya by America's First Lady Jill Biden
America is gently elbowing its way back to Kenya and Africa. For years now, China has occupied the place that the US and other Western powers had fought hard to retain since the Cold War era.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
The silent message in recent visit to Kenya by America's First Lady Jill Biden
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Why US doesn't leave anything to chance whenever top officials go abroad
Whenever the US president visits, especially in developing nations, the Secret Service and US military take over the country's airspace, and takes full control of the security.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Why US doesn't leave anything to chance whenever top officials go abroad
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Winning the war on cattle rustling needs more than police and army
As President William Ruto seeks a permanent solution to banditry, he might consider reestablishing the anti-stock theft unit which should be run professionally.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Winning the war on cattle rustling needs more than police and army
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They killed Robert Ouko and let the GSU loose on the people
Robert Ouko death: How GSU brutalised innocent locals to quell demos
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
They killed Robert Ouko and let the GSU loose on the people
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Covering Ouko murder mystery: Reflections of a journalist
There lay remains of a human being with black and dry skull. The neck, shoulders and torso had been eaten by the flames and all that remained were thick lumps of black ash.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Covering Ouko murder mystery: Reflections of a journalist
Transitions come with fair share of problems
Kenya's first president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta took over leadership from a brutal, racist British regime. The white colonialists grudgingly handed over power.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Transitions come with fair share of problems
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Kenya has some cleaning up to do, avoid falsehoods that create poll tension
The Kenyan electoral system has undergone a major evolution. In 1974, candidates couldn't be elected to Parliament without an election symbol.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Kenya has some cleaning up to do, avoid falsehoods that create poll tension
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Pele's football was art and dance; this is how
The absolute King of Football, has gone to join his two friends. Pele, just like Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali, was in his discipline, The Chosen One.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Pele's football was art and dance; this is how
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How founding president and Moi set the precedent for closing and opening the new year
President William Ruto follows in the footsteps of his political teacher Daniel arap Moi. He’s a teetotaler and marks his events with prayers.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
How founding president and Moi set the precedent for closing and opening the new year
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The politics of betrayal and how Ruto broke jinx that has plagued vice presidency
Ruto's detractors forgot one thing, he was a student of multiple political chess masters. He had worked with and studied them all, writes biographer and editor Caleb Atemi
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
The politics of betrayal and how Ruto broke jinx that has plagued vice presidency
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How the vice presidency is Kenya's most challenging job
When the colonialists wanted to offer Kenyans early independence with Odinga taking charge, Jaramogi said there can be no Uhuru without Kenyatta.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
How the vice presidency is Kenya's most challenging job
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Lessons for Ruto: What it took past presidents to make their disloyal ministers toe the line
If President William Ruto intends to run his government in an orderly fashion, he needs to learn some critical lessons from his predecessors.
By Caleb Atemi 1 year ago
Lessons for Ruto: What it took past presidents to make their disloyal ministers toe the line
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Moses Kuria's hard punching and lessons for Ruto about loyalists
President William Ruto is looking to be a good student of Moi. He must be aware that some of the men and women he has appointed to the Cabinet will act like skunks and give his government a bad name.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Moses Kuria's hard punching and lessons for Ruto about loyalists
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How past presidents treated their ministers
During the recent vetting of Cabinet Secretary nominees, I saw men and women receive punches and kicks they could not deflect. Some hit the ground as the committee tore through them.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
How past presidents treated their ministers
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Rogue police: Looking back at era when forced disappearances, killings were rife
Victims would be placed in a container within a police station before transportation to their death place. They would then be strangled using electric wires and their fingers chopped off.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Rogue police: Looking back at era when forced disappearances, killings were rife
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Of presidents and false promises: Will Ruto stay the course in quest to grow economy?
These interventions coming in under 30 days of taking power have received a major applause from his supporters who have said he is taking care of the hustler's interests.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Of presidents and false promises: Will Ruto stay the course in quest to grow economy?
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William Ruto using democratic ways to amass power, but will he wield it wisely?
Almost all arms of government from the Council of Governors, to Speakers of both the National Assembly and the Senate, to the Leader of Majority, are aligned to him.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
William Ruto using democratic ways to amass power, but will he wield it wisely?
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Kabuga's tragic history intertwined with Kenya's political, ethnic cleansing
He is alleged to have supplied the militia with machetes said to have originated from Kenya. Fortunately, Kenya didn't have a Felicien Kabuga with a powerful and popular radio station.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Kabuga's tragic history intertwined with Kenya's political, ethnic cleansing
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Same script in intrigues that thrust Ruto and Moi into power
The ascendance to the presidency by Ruto stirred in me a historical and spiritual fire that was already burning quietly
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Same script in intrigues that thrust Ruto and Moi into power
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Covering violent 92, 97 multiparty elections was no walk in the park
Kanu controlled the security apparatus. However, resilience was growing rapidly among the youth in opposition strongholds. By the time the 1992 elections came, the opposition had grown in strength.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Covering violent 92, 97 multiparty elections was no walk in the park
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When Bwana DC counted imaginary voters
In the 1980s and early 90s, journalism was an adventure. You would be arrested for covering anyone opposing Kanu. Voting was by mlolongo and District Commissioners were the returning officers.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
When Bwana DC counted imaginary voters
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How Uhuru's leadership style differs from three presidents before him
Jomo looks at his son from his grave and smiles, sometimes shudders and wants to cry. To tame their deputies, Moi and Kibaki would not have employed Uhuru's abrasive tactics.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
How Uhuru's leadership style differs from three presidents before him
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Kenyan journalism is poorer without Joe Kadhi
Joe was among the first crop of indigenous journalists to be on the driver's seat. He was also a great writer with compelling points on whatever subject.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Kenyan journalism is poorer without Joe Kadhi
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If corruption thrives, Martha Karua will walk away from the government
Inflammatory utterances from 2005 referendum campaigns set the stage for 2007 contest. In 1997, Karua walked out on President Moi at a national meeting in Kirinyaga.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
If corruption thrives, Martha Karua will walk away from the government
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How VP Mwai Kibaki once poured his heart out to press
Mwai Kibaki, then Minister for Health, knew that every political function would be invaded by security personnel from the dreaded Special Branch squad.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
How VP Mwai Kibaki once poured his heart out to press
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Ken Lusaka: Uhuru call that changed my life after losing governor's seat
One of his most difficult assignments as Speaker was the removal of Kipchumba Murkomen as Leader of Majority and Majority Chief Whip, Susan Kihika.
By Caleb Atemi 2 years ago
Ken Lusaka: Uhuru call that changed my life after losing governor's seat
Kenya is on the right track, says Kindiki
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Gachagua: Limuru attack was an attempt on my life
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