It's not only Somaliland, Israel is equally desperate for recognition

Israel controls Palestine, comprising Gaza and West Bank which it annexed from Egypt and Jordan, and would like its claims recognised as part of Greater Israel without the Palestinians.

By Macharia Munene 1 month ago

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Command publishing and the need for creative awakening

Book publishers have of late found themselves under pressure to deliver scripts to support Competency-Based Education needs.

By Henry Munene 1 month ago

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How negatives outweighed positives in 2025

As the year 2024 slid into history, there was the usual end-of-year exuberance, "Happy New Year" chants and resolutions to improve. However, 2025 has ended in disappointing ways.

By Macharia Munene 1 month ago

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Embracing renewal and lessons from life as we step into 2026

The year 2025 has been a tough one for the literary community in Kenya and Africa

By Henry Munene 1 month ago

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Why Ruto and Trump are in a unique political pod

Trump and Ruto are 'dealers' and, being extremely rich, have easy access to world luxuries, and each has extreme self-confidence, and tends to bulldoze his way.

By Macharia Munene 1 month ago

Of Xmas, literature and endless search for meaning in life

It is that time of the year when many people in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa travel upcountry to commune with family for Christmas festivities.

By Henry Munene 1 month ago

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How Christianity became a religion in conflict with itself and with other beliefs

The growth of Christianity makes Jesus a religious grand strategist and he probably envisioned the subsequent conflicts.

By Macharia Munene 1 month ago

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Meja Mwangi: Reclusive novelist who took readers across the world

He grew up near ranches and wildlife reserves in Nanyuki, a setting that influenced his writing. Meja was publicity-shy and avoided the media and photo opportunities.

By Henry Munene 1 month ago

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How Trump disrupts geopolitics while shouting 'America First'

President Reagan's strategy pressured Soviets, combining preemption with diplomatic financial incentives. US Precedent's America First doctrine prioritises dominance.

By Macharia Munene 1 month ago

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Versatile Mulwa has rested, but the show he loved will carry on

It is Chinua Achebe who says that some people (are so lucky that they) have their kolanuts broken for them by the gods. And when it comes to talent and versatility it is David Kakuta Mulwa.

By Kamau Muthoni, Henry Munene 1 month ago

Algiers shows Africa's struggle between radical zeal and dependency

Kenya appears to have surrendered its sovereignty to the Conceptual West while Algeria, in contrast, is increasingly self-reliant and is seemingly succeeding in reducing dependency.

By Macharia Munene 1 month ago

Of Mbeere, magical realism and the rich African literary world

Over the past couple of weeks, the political discourse in Kenya has been dominated, in part, by Mbeere, a Bantu community found in the southeastern part of Embu County.

By Henry Munene 2 months ago

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Spheres of influence: How Putin, XI, and Trump have divided up the world

The trio, Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Jinping, and America's Donald Trump, have similar orientation towards society and their regions.

By Macharia Munene 2 months ago

African journals offer writers a sure path toward literary fame

Africa urgently needs journals sponsored by regional agencies.

By Henry Munene 2 months ago

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The glue that held ODM together melted after Raila's death

Raila Odinga's death exposed deep fractures within ODM, as competing factions, family ambitions, and differing alliances with Ruto revealed the party's reliance on his unifying personality.

By Macharia Munene 2 months ago

Autofiction: Thin line between private lives and great literature

This week, I found myself reflecting on the relationship between fiction and reality.

By Henry Munene 2 months ago

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Why Uhuru Kenyatta is the man to watch

Uhuru Kenyatta, emerging from political isolation and past missteps, is positioning himself as a national pacifier while quietly rebuilding influence and shaping new alliances.

By Macharia Munene 2 months ago

Of self-hatred, mimic men and fallacy of detesting your ways

For the so-called urban dwellers, some children have been taken upcountry to spend time with their extended family and, hopefully, to learn a bit about their cultural roots.

By Henry Munene 2 months ago

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Why university's attempt to revive oral tradition and history is important

Besides rejuvenating Embu, it appears to be deliberately cutting an intellectual niche for itself.

By Macharia Munene 2 months ago

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Why Ruto does not understand his first call is to Kenyans

Each member of the UN is expected to adhere to particular principles which include looking after, and protecting, the welfare of its citizens.

By Macharia Munene 2 months ago

Popular and serious literature are two sides of the same coin

One of the hottest literary issues of my youth was the supremacy war between two types of fiction writing in Africa.

By Henry Munene 2 months ago

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How Uhuru helped to turn Raila's grave into a shrine

The closest to Raila, in terms of post-death public interest, was Kimathi whose grave remains an official mystery probably for fear that admirers might turn it into a shrine.

By Macharia Munene 3 months ago

Muthoni Likimani: 100-year-old Mau Mau veteran still going strong

Being the only African medic allowed to visit detention camps, Muthoni Likimani found herself accompanying her husband Jason Clement Likimani and ended up facilitating Mau Mau activities.

By Macharia Munene 3 months ago

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From defence to offence: Trump's quest to revive the warrior spirit

US President Donald Trump's politics of confrontation recast the global order, unsettling allies and empowering the New Right worldwide.

By Macharia Munene 3 months ago

EA golden age of popular fiction lives on, beautifully reimagined

Every generation has its passions. And every generation in East Africa has had its own literary watershed

By Henry Munene 3 months ago

Fallen opposition leader's life was never short of political drama

Raila Odinga lost elections and still regenerated himself by applying pressure on the winner who, in desperation, conceded power.

By Macharia Munene 3 months ago

Of heroism and the Odingas' rich literary legacy

Books whisper nuggets of wisdom to people you have never seen - and who will probably be living in a world that would be alien to you.

By Henry Munene 3 months ago

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This is the legacy that Chief Justice Koome would like to leave behind

Chief Justice Martha Koome wants a legacy of good performance, uplifting the reputation of the Judiciary in the public arena, and as a person who simplified justice.

By Macharia Munene 3 months ago

Unified learning shows 'town games' for what they really are

Linguists have differed on many things, but they are unanimous that no language is primitive or superior to another.

By Henry Munene 3 months ago

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Why President Ruto is now a very happy man

President Ruto appears to be happy because his domestic political rivals are in a state of confusion, while his UDA and ODM cheer leaders appear to be on the upswing.

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

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Why William Ruto's influence is getting eroded

Those trying to limit access to education because they hold office ignore the fact that power is transient

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

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How Raila mastered art of winning even when he loses

Raila is a political superstar, assertive and ready to sacrifice others to get what he desires. No other politician has had that rare 'gift' of repeatedly winning by losing.

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

'God gave us Canaan' and other justifications for Israel's bloody attacks

There are countries, including the United States and Israel, that are 'free' to attack others and to break international law with impunity.

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

Mirror, lamp and why those broken souls in books are us

One of the oldest and most enduring debates in world literary thought concerns the role of literature in society.

By Henry Munene 4 months ago

Despite prevailing difficulties, Gen Zs give us hope for a better tomorrow

The Gen Zs seemingly have fresh vigour and purpose that is political, socio-economic, intellectual, and techno savvy.

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

Power parades reflect Xi, Putin and Trump's battle for global influence

In 2025, each of the three leading world powers, the Russians, the Americans, and the Chinese, held military parades to showcase their strength.

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

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How UhuRuto revived 'Iregi spirit' in Mount Kenya

In the recent times, the Iregi spirit in the Mountain arose largely as an UhuRuto affair with their Kumi Kumi dream

By Macharia Munene 4 months ago

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The unspoken deal: Trump and Putin have split the world

Trump wants to control the western hemisphere while Putin has interest in Eurasia.

By Macharia Munene 5 months ago

Cyborgs, advertising men and how poets could buy Ferraris

Sudanese poet and literary scholar Taban lo Liyong is one of the earliest and most virulent African critics of the consumerist world we live in today.

By Henry Munene 5 months ago

Why Adam Smith and Karl Marx's ideologies aren't so relevant today

US President Donald Trump has little interest in Smith's prescription on how to create national wealth or Andrew Jackson's desire to spread 'democracy.'

By Macharia Munene 5 months ago