Lost art of letter writing in a world hankering for real human creativity

Authentic human writing carries a quality that cannot be faked, not by AI nor by any technological invention.

By Munene 19 days ago

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External, internal factors that have sunk Kenyans deep into desperation

Kenya's growing desperation stems from a volatile mix of internal instability and external pressures such as digital disruption, insecurity, and climate shocks.

By Munene 24 days ago

1966, the year independence euphoria in Africa started evaporating

Kenyatta, consistent in political opportunism, disillusioned followers by discarding his Mau Mau 'revolutionary' past while embracing the very colonialists that he had fought.

By Munene 2 months ago

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Gachagua lost, Lamu Woman Rep gained from 'tutam' booing incident

Gachagua showed poor political judgment by not seizing the opportunity to appear like a reconciler and peacemaker by properly guiding his 'Wantam' followers.

By Munene 3 months ago

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Why Venezuela became pawn in Trump's global power play era

Apart from craving for power, within and outside the United States, Trump's desire to outdo other presidents is the inadvertent reason for his behaviour.

By Munene 3 months ago

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Literary criticism is not about trashing other people's intellectual effort

Today, if you review a book and cast it in a positive light, you risk being gaslighted for doing public relations, perhaps on grounds unrelated to the merits of the work.

By Munene 3 months ago

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 Munene 3 months 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 Munene 3 months 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 Munene 3 months 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 Munene 3 months 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 Munene 3 months 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 Munene 3 months 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 Munene 4 months 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 Munene 4 months 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 Munene 4 months 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 Munene 4 months 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 Munene 4 months 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 Munene 4 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 Munene 4 months ago

African journals offer writers a sure path toward literary fame

Africa urgently needs journals sponsored by regional agencies.

By Munene 4 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 Munene 4 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 Munene 4 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 Munene 4 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 5 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 Munene 6 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 Munene 6 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 Munene 6 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 Munene 6 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 Munene 6 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 Munene 6 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 Munene 6 months ago