The African Trumpet: Recent Episodes
by The Elephant
The African Trumpet is a podcast run by The Elephant, a platform for engaging citizens to reflect, re-member and re-envision their society by interrogating the past, the present, to fashion a future.
We are hostages of this venal, idiotic class that harps on sovereignty and independence because all they can do now is enclose us in these colonial borders in the name of Handshakes and Handouts.
In recent years, Generation Z has garnered a reputation for being both entitled and woke, but what does this mean for the future? This conversation explores the nuances of Gen Z's identity, questioning whether their perceived entitlement clashes with their woke ideals or if it's a manifestation of their desire for a more equitable world.
Generation Z has emerged as a population increasingly worthy of attention, especially now as its older members are in their 20s and have become a politically engaged force in recent elections.
Fresh controversy is swirling over Kenya's ballooning debt crisis even as President William Ruto prescribes painful tax measures to fund his 3.68 trillion debut budget that has been squeezed by debt service costs.
More than 90% of Kenyans have rejected the Finance Bill 2023, which includes the government’s taxation plan for the financial year starting in July 2023, a new survey has shown. The courts have extended the conservatory orders on the Bill. The Elephant speaks to Abraham Rugo, PhD, the International Budget Partnership's Country Manager. He has a passion for homegrown solutions to society's problems and works to localize and personalize policy matters that are otherwise complicated.
The Kenya Finance Bill 2023 is an unfair and regressive legislation favouring the wealthy and corporations at the expense of the working-class and poor majority. The Elephant in conversation with Diana Gichengo, National Coordinator at The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
The rise of movements such as Feminism and the Men’s Rights Movement in a landscape long divided raise valid concerns regarding gender-specific issues that as a society need to be addressed.
Failing to examine youth engagement trends may be a serious blind spot— and thus a threat to democracy. It is a question that merits closer examination. When youth disengage, they are often saying they don’t have a high level of confidence or trust in existing economic, political, or social entities. Nerima Wako is the Executive Director at Siasa Place.
The Kenyan government's new tax proposals that seek to boost revenue collection and cut public borrowing have been met with much opposition, especially from Kenyans who already fill the burden of a high cost of living. Former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi speaks to The Elephant.
The Kenyan government's new tax proposals that seek to boost revenue collection and cut public borrowing have been met with much opposition, especially from Kenyans who already fill the burden of a high cost of living.
Kenya’s cost of living demonstrations has as much to do with popular discontent as they do with the opposition capitalizing on frustrations. The Elephant in conversation with Zein Abubakar, a director at the Orature Collective and former Member of Parliament at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
In recent weeks, lawmakers and politicians in Kenya, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have decried the alleged spectre of widespread alcoholism and sparked a nationwide hysteria. There is only one problem; all available data from state agencies, civil society, and global health firms do not back up their alarming claims about an alcoholism problem in Kenya. So what is the so-called war on alcoholism really masking? In this episode, The Elephant is in conversation with Patrick Gathara, a Kenyan journalist, cartoonist, blogger, author and social commentator.
This government faces significant political risk in the middle of an economic crisis. Lucky governments are those that are able to avoid having both, at least concurrently. President Ruto's decisions as he tries to balance political deal-making versus economic risks are creating the impression of an overwhelmed regime and the public is getting agitated. How is this likely to play out in the short term? The Elephant's Joe Kobuthi speaks to economist and former Laikipia governor Nderitu Muriithi.
Property invasion has emerged as a core facet of the recent demonstrations including the Northlands in Nairobi, and Kedong ranch in Isiolo. Is our failure to implement Agenda 4 of the 2007 National Accord coming back to bite us? What is the future of the land question in Kenya? The Elephant's Joe Kobuthi talks to conservationist Mordecai Ogada.
How the myth of ‘institutions’ has shaped the fight against graft and wasted precious time and money. The Elephant in conversation with Sheila Masinde, Executive Director at Transparency International Kenya.
Despite the enormous burden that mental ill-health imposes on individuals, their families, society, health systems and the economy, mental health care remains a neglected area of public policy in Kenya. Dannish Odongo speaks.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labour leaders, faith-based organizations, religious leaders and other civil society representatives play a critical and diverse set of roles in societal development. Will the shifting external environment for civil society have any place in civil society? The Elephant in conversation with Dr Wandia Njoya, a scholar and a social and political communicator.
Dr Wandia Njoya explores developments in Kenya’s education sector since independence. She explains that the initial 7-6-3 system was designed to recreate a British style elite; 8-4-4 created more rounded Kenyans who were better critical thinkers; now we head into the uncertainties of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which seems to be a throwback to the original 7-6-3 system. Dr Njoya also explores the implications of these developments.
In Kenya, the question of who, what and when the civil society started and evolved remains a contentious issue. The nature, scope and operations of the civil society tend to be bandied to the identity of the few known stalwarts while many key parts of the sector remain relatively obscure. And as Muthoni Wanyeki explains, these sins of omission and commissions take away interesting and insightful histories which need to be properly told.
In the 1990s, a group of intelligentsia arose to partner with the then civil society, and the new crop of firs-time politicians in parliament. The three different factions were all conflated to be part of the civil society. But as senior economist David Ndii clarifies, these three groups were distinct yet cooperative in expanding the political space in the country's democracy.
As long as we focus on the tribe, we will lose the nation and be stuck in the tribal mire. Kenya will cease to be a society. We will lose our sense of collective responsibility and find in its place a culture of competitive victimhood. The Elephant in conversation with Rev. Canon Francis Omondi, a Priest of All Saints Cathedral Diocese of the ACK, a Canon of the All-Saints Kampala Cathedral of the Church of Uganda, Adjunct Lecturer at St. Paul’s University, Limuru, and Research Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life.
Kenyan youth are not to blame for their election apathy. For decades, elections have hardly made a difference in curbing violent plunder by Kenya’s ruling class. The youth are wondering whether this would be any different. The Elephant in conversation with Dr Alex Awiti, Associate Professor and Vice Provost - Aga Khan University, East Africa.
For tax justice to truly work on behalf of the citizen, it must be founded on the principles of human rights. This demands that the fiscal architecture in place allows for citizen participation; non-discrimination, and empowering processes that enhance social mobility. The Elephant in conversation with Leonard Wanyama, regional coordinator of the East African Tax and Governance Network (EATGN).
Kenya’s agro-economy accounts for about 24 per cent of GDP and 74% of jobs (GoK, 2008). On 4th March 2013, the central government transferred much of the at least 10 separate sub-sectors to county governments. These are crops (both industrial and food), horticulture, livestock, fisheries, land, water, cooperatives and marketing, environment and natural resources, regional development, and development of arid and semi-arid land (ASAL). Has it been a hit? Miss? Mixed bag? The Elephant in conversation with Dr Abraham Rugo Muriu, Country Director, International Budget Partnership Kenya.
Its government is virtual, borderless, blockchained, and secure. An early, sustained and deliberate adoption of digital tools to provide government services to its citizens. Has this tiny post-Soviet nation found the way of the future? The Elephant in conversation with Kadri Humal Ayal, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia in Kenya.
In this conversation, we talk about tax justice and the 15% minimum corporate tax proposal by the G7. What is it about, why is it important for Africa and what can we do? Crystal Simeoni, Director at NAWI, in conversation with Chenai Mukumba, Policy Research and Advocacy Manager at the Tax Justice Network Africa.
The Northern Rangelands Trust has been active in the pastoralist region, setting up "Community Wildlife." Some have argued that these conservancies are a trojan horse for taking away pastoralist land. With the coming into force of the Community Land Act 2016, securing pastoralist land has become even more urgent. The Elephant in conversation with Adam Dalacha, a lawyer and human rights activist.
Socially, the pastoralists are patriarchally organized; men take most of the powers, and women are to be seen and not heard. That combined with the climatic shocks, where women are disproportionately affected, has made them incredibly vulnerable. However, economic empowerment through programs like Ushanga - an endeavour that was mostly undertaken by women, is improving their lot. The Elephant in conversation with Kulamo Bullo Ikimire, CEC - Tourism, Culture and Social Services in Marsabit County, Kenya.
The Community Land Act, No. 27 of 2016 (the Act) came into force on 21 September 2016. The Act gives effect to Article 63 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (The Constitution) which provides for the classification of land known as community land. While the law is progressive on paper- it enables local communities to register and own their communal lands legally, its application has been slow. The Elephant in conversation with Dr Hussein Wario, Executive Director at the Center for Research and Development in Drylands, Kenya.
Pre-independence, Kenya's Northern Frontier Districts fought to be part of Somalia during Shifta War or Gaf Daba (1963–1967). The post-1963 Kenya war against the "Shifta," securitized the relationship between the state, the region, and the people. Since then a series of massacres- the Wagala (1984), Bagala (1998), and Malka Mari (1982), and the advent of the war on terror saw the rise of the label, terrorists. The result is a huge difficulty in accessing state services, National Identity Card, passports., and title deeds.
Increasingly, elders in the north play a critical role in determining who gets elected for political offices, especially county offices. However, how do traditional/cultural institutions interact with the new formal political institutions? The relationship between these institutions is not always unidirectional, but they mutually influence each other. Do women have a role since most of the elders are male? The Elephant talks to Ms Bilach Jimale.
The Constitution of Kenya, in Article 53 (1) (b) states that every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education, yet since Kenya’s independence, the arid north has continued to exhibit extensively lower access, participation, completion, and achievement rates thanks to insecurity. The Elephant in conversation with Fatuma Ali Saman, a Kenyan educationist and women's rights campaigner.
The young people are central to how the current election will shape up. Their contribution as voters, aspirants, citizens, policymakers and experts makes them a central cog in our electoral machinery. But how has the current crop of leaders approached the youth issue, especially the urban youth voter? The Elephant talks to youth mobilizer, Mr Rasat.
In this episode, we quantify through numbers, narratives, and anecdotes what was lost, how it was lost and where they are or could be located. We talk about the museums, private collections, secret vaults, altered stories, and canaries.
Do farmers owe the nation food or do they owe themselves a profit? Should youths join the farming craze? Our country is primarily agricultural as it contributes about 26 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), another 27 per cent of GDP indirectly through linkages with other sectors and value addition. The sector employs more than 40 percent of Kenya’s 30 million adults and more than 70 percent of Kenya's rural people.
The contest between traditional seeds and IP patented industrially produced seeds runs apace. Seed savers Kenya believes their seed preservation techniques are great and ought to be preserved. Meanwhile, the industry seems to try and edge them out. That contest pits farmers against industrialists has immediate effects on consumers, farmers, seeds outlets and agro-inputs sellers across the country.
Around a third of Kenyans live in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (ASAL), which is 80 % of Kenya's landmass. The region temperatures have risen 0.34 degrees C (.6 F) per decade since 1985, which is fueling more severe cycles of drought. The drought cycle has been reduced from ten years to five years, with increasing intensity and frequency of drought. How are the counties dealing with these sets of challenges?
Devolution, access occasioned by new highways, a rise of local elites, has created a boon for sub-counties and towns within the counties in the North. The growth of LAPPSET is promising to more than triple the transport and communication infrastructure. And even though the northern counties are still reeling from decades of exclusion, a new hope emerges as modernization gradually takes root.
Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.
Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.
Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.
Elections in some ways have been great drivers of conflict and tools of authoritarianism but they also bring about positive incremental change and provide some form of accountability. Our moderator Patrick Gathara, and discussants Rashid Abdi, Justin Willis and Samira Gaid reflect on the progress made in democratizing the East African region and what needs to be done to secure long-term gains. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation, The Elephant and The Rift Valley Institute.
Every day, hundreds of millions of people go to bed hungry. Three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Two billion are overweight or obese. Yet 462 million are underweight. Nearly a third of all food that is produced, is lost or wasted. How does a world of so much plenty struggle to feed so many of its inhabitants? The Elephant talks to Greenpeace Africa's Claire Nasike.
How are the respective players preparing for the upcoming elections? What role have they played in the past and how is that likely to change or evolve in the coming months? What will shape voter decision making and how does that feed the need for civic education? The Elephant speaks to the founder of Accountability Demand Net (ADN), Cyprian Nyamwamu.
Between COVID-19 and resultant issues, an approaching debt cliff, a new crop of young voters and a wobbly economy, Kenyans seem to have a clear set of the issues that will define the upcoming elections. How will Kenyans go about ranking their respective pressing issues and how will that shape the upcoming elections? The Elephant in conversation with Cyprian Nyamwamu.
As the current debates about the Competency-Based Curriculum rage on, Dr Wandia Njoya and Elephant Curator John Githongo walk down the memory lane of Kenya's education system since the pre-colonial days to the present.
A community is only as honest as the stories it tells itself. Who are we? What makes us a country or nation? How did we arrive at our stories? How does what we tell ourselves about our origin, and self-existence say about us? The Elephant joins Dr Wandia, Mshai Mwangola, Ngala Chome and Oyunga Pala to elucidate on how we arrived at the stories we tell ourselves as a community and a nation.
Successive issues around land, reparations, colonial violence, and policing structures throughout Kenya's life span have created a leash on the capacity of the Kenya public to imagine and build forward. How do we set free the soul of the Kenyan people? The Elephant joins Dr Wandia, Mshai Mwangola, Ngala Chome and Oyunga Pala to elucidate on how best to fix ourselves as a community.
What is a state and what is a nation? How have the two co-existed within our country and especially within the last few decades? The impact that the two structures have on the everyday lives of citizens and households is immense. The Elephant joins Dr Wandia, Mshai Mwangola, Ngala Chome and Oyunga Pala to elucidate on how best to fix ourselves as a community.
On May 14th the Kenyan High Court declared the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2021 unconstitutional. The proponent moved to the Court of Appeal who affirmed the decision of the high court. The proponents have decided to move to the Supreme Court. How has the process panned out and what will the Supreme Court decide on issues that touch on Section 255 and 257 that are quite sacred to the constitution? A conversation between The Elephant and Gautam Bhatia.
It is now 11 years since we voted in the current Constitution. Its implementation has been a case of hits and misses. Now a new wind of political disquiet is driving the call for a referendum. Is it too soon to try and change a document we have barely implemented? A conversation between The Elephant and Mutemi Wa Kiama.
It is barely 350 days to the next decisive general elections. The fluidity of the current political setup leaves a lot of room for negotiation but also increasingly narrows the choices available both for the political players and the voter. So, what gives. An Interview between The Elephant and Griffins Makokha.
We are within 350 days to the next elections in Kenya. The calendar for nominations, resignations, coalition building and political lines have been drawn. What are some of the key issues to look out for between now and the next election? An interview between The Elephant and advocate Patrick Kilonzo.
Kenya is about 60% youth with the median age of the country being 19.7 years. Recent calls for a referendum have very real and direct implications on the fate of the young. The question then remains; does the call for a referendum has the welfare of the youth at heart? as discussed by Joe Kobuthi, Ngala Chome, Darius Okolla and Shiko Kihika.
Kenya is about 60% youth with the median age of the country being 19.7 years. Recent calls for a referendum have very real and direct implications on the fate of the young. The question then remains; does the call for a referendum has the welfare of the youth at heart? as discussed by Joe Kobuthi, Ngala Chome, Darius Okolla and Shiko Kihika.
Kenya is about 60% youth with the median age of the country being 19.7 years. Recent calls for a referendum have very real and direct implications on the fate of the young. The question then remains; does the call for a referendum has the welfare of the youth at heart? as discussed by Joe Kobuthi, Ngala Chome, Darius Okolla and Shiko Kihika.
In recent years under President Farmaajo, Somali has tried to steer away from the indirect election in the respective elections for the lower and upper houses. Failure to fix the issues that led to the indirect elections have come back to haunt and as Lead Now co-founder Ruqia Botan spells out, this may just prove to be the journey into the political unknown for a rather versatile and complex Somali society.
Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A partnership Forum between The Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.
Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A partnership Forum between The Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.
Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A partnership Forum between The Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.
The pandemic measures taken by the state have hit the young quite hard and denied them jobs and opportunities. This feeds into pre-existing labour issues and if not properly and urgently addressed we risk losing a chunk of the 18-29 as they fall through the economic cracks. An interview with Mr James Owaka.
It is a year to the next general elections and second presidential transition under the 2010 constitution. How have we fared? Can the counties do better? and how does that fit with the current calls for a constitutional change? The Elephant in conversation with public scholar Viscount K'owuor.
The postponed election and Tigrayan crisis following in the wake of the Oromo crisis have left critical aspects of the Ethiopian democracy in trouble. The future holds so much possibility yet remains very fluid. The question therefore remains, who will blink first, and what is the state of the warring regions? A conversation between The Elephant and Heinrich Boll Foundation.
The postponed election and Tigrayan crisis following in the wake of the Oromo crisis have left critical aspects of the Ethiopian democracy in trouble. The future holds so much possibility yet remains very fluid. The question therefore remains, who will blink first, and what is the state of the warring regions? A conversation between The Elephant and Heinrich Boll Foundation.
The postponed election and Tigrayan crisis following in the wake of the Oromo crisis have left critical aspects of the Ethiopian democracy in trouble. The future holds so much possibility yet remains very fluid. The question therefore remains, who will blink first, and what is the state of the warring regions? A conversation between The Elephant and Heinrich Boll Foundation.
This new series seeks to interrogate the effects of the historic May 13, 2021 judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional. This means a lot for Kenya’s constitutional path. In this context, we what does the doctrine of Basic structure, rule of law and succession politics means for the Kenya public and its respective structures. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBS) Nairobi Office, and The Elephant, invite you to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Judgement Series.
This new series seeks to interrogate the effects of the historic May 13, 2021 judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional. This means a lot for Kenya’s constitutional path. In this context, we what does the doctrine of Basic structure, rule of law and succession politics means for the Kenya public and its respective structures. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBS) Nairobi Office, and The Elephant, invite you to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Judgement Series.
Listener Gĩtaũ has a serious problem: every so often his home in Kiambu is invaded by an army of ants. They coat the floors, climb the walls, and rain down on Gĩtaũ and his family while they sleep. Gĩtaũ wants to know: Why are these ants torturing us? Entomologists Dino Martins and Piotr Naskrecki have answers. Special thanks to Caswell Munyai, Caspar Schöning, and Daniel Kronauer.This episode was initially posted on the eltshow.
This week we celebrate World Ocean Day and we reflect on the journey towards understanding marine life taken by experts, students, researchers, and the wider public. and as Michael G. Mwang’ombe, the Project Coordinator at Kenya Marine Mammal Research & Conservation explains much remains to be understood about our Marine life that will help us have harmonious coexistence with our coastal marine life.
Kenya's estimated Ksh. 50 billion 'bee industry' comprising many of the nearly 20,000 global bee species is about to come under strong regulations. Bees control everything from food production, pollination, ecological balance, controlling pests, and recycling nutrients. and as Kenyan entomologist Dr Dino Martins breaks it down, our recent industrial growth, modernity and regulations have wiped out the entire insect clusters putting both our ecology, food security and economy at risk. This piece was initially featured on the Chakula podcast by Route to Food Initiative.
To commemorate Africa Day 2021 we take a look at how the continent has framed its place in the world and how that image has evolved to match the changing times, politics, economics, identity and history. What does it mean to educate with the vision of Pan Africanism in mind? Panellists are Wandia Njoya, Jennifer Tosch and Lewis Gordon. Moderated by Mshai Mwangola.
The recent elections in Somaliland, alongside local district elections, marks a key point for the electoral calendar in the region. On 12 July 2020, Somaliland's three main political parties reached an agreement to hold parliamentary and local elections by the end of the year. In this conversation with The Elephant, Mr Nasir M. Ali highlights keys issues to look out for in this election cycle.
Since 1948, Israel has maintained a system that treats Palestinians unequally in a decades-long occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. This has been effected through rights abuses, collective punishment, excessive lethal force, and prolonged detention without charge or trial for hundreds. Does the latest fight give any new revelations and is there a solution in sight for the oppressed Palestinians? The Elephant in conversation with Mr Ahmed Benchemsi, the Advocacy and Communications Director for HRW-Middle East and North Africa division.
In the last 25 years, the nations in the horn of Africa have enjoyed a winding path towards perfecting free and fair models of choosing leaders. This has direct implications for the legitimacy of the leaders that emerge and their ability to navigate the security challenges they face. Abdullahi Boru Halakhe reflects.
On this Labour Day week, we reflect on how income, wealth and opportunity are skewed in ways that marginalize so many Kenyans across the board. This curtails their social mobility and perpetuates general struggles. and as Dr Mshai Mwangola, Abubakar Zein and Dr Wangui Kimari reflect, the current scourge may just be the catalyst that compels us to change hopefully for the better.
On this Labour Day week, we reflect on how income, wealth and opportunity are skewed in ways that marginalize so many Kenyans across the board. This curtails their social mobility and perpetuates general struggles. and as Dr Mshai Mwangola, Abubakar Zein and Dr Wangui Kimari reflect, the current scourge may just be the catalyst that compels us to change hopefully for the better.
On this Labour Day weekend, we reflect on how income, wealth and opportunity are skewed in ways that marginalize so many Kenyans across the board. This curtails their social mobility and perpetuates general struggles. and as Dr Mshai Mwangola, Abubakar Zein and Dr Wangui Kimari reflect, the current scourge may just be the catalyst that compels us to change hopefully for the better.
The Kenya Manufacturers Association (KAM) and Bar Owners Association filed a case against Minimum tax, and Justice Odunga has issued conservatory orders pending hearing from all the parties in the suit. What does this mean for firms in an already strained economy? As narrated by Khadija Mohamed-Churchill.
Having a 'free and fair' election within an unjust society is a myth that helps perpetuate violence through silence and the power of a skewed ballot. Elections are critical but they have to be anchored and calibrated against the freedoms, justice, and rule of law during the period in between the elections. as debated by Ms Nanjala, Mr Gathara, attorney Muriithi, and Ms Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership forum between Heinrich Boll and The Rift Valley Institute.
Having a 'free and fair' election within an unjust society is a myth that helps perpetuate violence through silence and the power of a skewed ballot. Elections are critical but they have to be anchored and calibrated against the freedoms, justice, and rule of law during the period in between the elections. as debated by Ms Nanjala, Mr Gathara, attorney Muriithi, and Ms Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership forum between Heinrich Boll and The Rift Valley Institute.
The nations around the great lakes, that is Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia tend to mirror each other in numerous ways. The older voters are taking stock of the democratic journey as the younger, restless voters come to terms with the cyclical and often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice, and voter power. as debated Fatma Karume, Kalundi Serumaga, Adam Abebe, Omar Mahood, moderator Patrick Gathara and host Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership Forum between Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.
The nations around the great lakes, that is Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia tend to mirror each other in numerous ways. The older voters are taking stock of the democratic journey as the younger, restless voters come to terms with the cyclical and often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice, and voter power. as debated Fatma Karume, Kalundi Serumaga, Adam Abebe, Omar Mahood, moderator Patrick Gathara and host Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership Forum between Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.
The nations around the great lakes, that is Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia tend to mirror each other in numerous ways. The older voters are taking stock of the democratic journey as the younger, restless voters come to terms with the cyclical and often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice, and voter power. as debated Fatma Karume, Kalundi Serumaga, Adam Abebe, Omar Mahood, moderator Patrick Gathara and host Pauline Otieno-Skaper. A partnership Forum between Heinrich Boll Foundation, Rift Valley Institute, and The Elephant.
Ethiopia is one of the earliest civilizations in the region and a crucible for the tension between ethnonationalism and modern statehood. The country combines a rich history, geostrategic issues, regional limitations and a shifting global order. and as moderator Pauline Otieno-Skaper, Musar Baba, analyst Rashid Abdi, Mr Peter Kamalingin, lawyer Kibreb Abrerra, and Rita Musachi explain, the realities facing wide swaths of the Ethiopian society have immediate interventions but no easy long term answers.
Ethiopia is one of the earliest civilizations in the region and a crucible for the tension between ethnonationalism and modern statehood. The country combines a rich history, geostrategic issues, regional limitations and a shifting global order. and as moderator Pauline Otieno-Skaper, Musar Baba, analyst Rashid Abdi, Mr Peter Kamalingin, lawyer Kibreb Abrerra, and Rita Musachi explain, the realities facing wide swaths of the Ethiopian society have immediate interventions but no easy long term answers.
Popular Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagualnyi is the first formidable challenge to the current Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni since he took power in 1986. He represents both an ideological, generational, ethnic and regional challenge to Museveni's long stranglehold on thew Ugandan society. As Moderator Irene Ikomu, lawyer Irene Ovonji Odida, Makerere lecturer Daniel Ruhweza, journalist Raymond Mujuni, and scholar John Keshon Muhindo admit, Bobi Wine's effect will last long past this election and unleash a new evolving era of inevitable shift in Ugandan and regional politics.
Popular Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagualnyi is the first formidable challenge to the current Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni since he took power in 1986. He represents both an ideological, generational, ethnic and regional challenge to Museveni's long stranglehold on thew Ugandan society. As Moderator Irene Ikomu, lawyer Irene Ovonji Odida, Makerere lecturer Daniel Ruhweza, journalist Raymond Mujuni, and scholar John Keshon Muhindo admit, Bobi Wine's effect will last long past this election and unleash a new evolving era of inevitable shift in Ugandan and regional politics.
Popular Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagualnyi is the first formidable challenge to the current Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni since he took power in 1986. He represents both an ideological, generational, ethnic and regional challenge to Museveni's long stranglehold on thew Ugandan society. As Moderator Irene Ikomu, lawyer Irene Ovonji Odida, Makerere lecturer Daniel Ruhweza, journalist Raymond Mujuni, and scholar John Keshon Muhindo admit, Bobi Wine's effect will last long past this election and unleash a new evolving era of inevitable shift in Ugandan and regional politics.
The leadership of Somalia have in recent years juggled different electoral postures that accounts for its ethnic, clan and geopolitical issues. In the end, though each of these political set-ups fray just before or soon after the election as is currently being witnessed through the 2020/2021 electoral cycle. As Pauline Otieno-Skaper, moderator Mr Peter Chonka, Mahad Wasuge of Somali Public Agenda, and Islamic Finance Expert Dr Issa elaborate, this may just prove to be the country's eternal posture of agility, dynamism, and deal-making. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation and Rift Valley Institute.
The leadership of Somalia have in recent years juggled different electoral postures that accounts for its ethnic, clan and geopolitical issues. In the end, though each of these political set-ups fray just before or soon after the election as is currently being witnessed through the 2020/2021 electoral cycle. As Pauline Otieno-Skaper, moderator Mr Peter Chonka, Mahad Wasuge of Somali Public Agenda, and Islamic Finance Expert Dr Issa elaborate, this may just prove to be the country's eternal posture of agility, dynamism, and deal-making. A partnership between Heinrich Boll Foundation and Rift Valley Institute.
Recorded in 2020. In this episode, moderator Pauline Otieno Skaper, interviewer Oryem Nyeko, panellists Jenerali Ulimwengu, Advocate. James Massawwe and Shangazi Fatma Karume tackle crucial legislative, social and demographic implication of Maghufuli-ism. They also explain what it means to be Tanzanian, how to legally, socially and politically challenge the autocracy and what the future holds for Tanzanian and Zanzibari citizens.
Since March 6th 2021, when former president Magufuli fell ill, apparently, four camps have developed around the power transition. There is The Magufuli deep state, The Samia Suluhu Camp, The Tanzanian securocrats, and lastly, patriots emblemized by former premier Ali Hassan Mwinyi. As moderator Pauline Otieno Skaper, interviewer Iroyem Nyeko, and as panellists Jenerali Ulimwengu, Advocate. James Massawwe, and Shangazi Fatma Karume explain in this 2020 interview, what is emerging in Tanzania though, has roots to a number of forces that have been shaping up over the past 30 years many of which are beyond the influence of the current political players. A Partnership Forum of Rift Valley Institute and Heinrich Boll Foundation.
Given how language is such a core part of our daily existence; its aliveness infuses our music, our talk, our social lives, and instructs in all manner of ways. Bi-, and multilingual skills help us to achieve so much within modern civilization. And as Prof. Wangui wa Goro, Prof. Bachir Diagne, and Dr Mshai Mwangola clarify the plurality, nuance, diversity of expression, tone, accents and usage is the best case for the preservation and nurture of every tongue around us. A Partnership forum between The Elephant, IFRA-Nairobi, and Alliance Francaise.
Language is such a core part of our daily existence; its aliveness infuses our music, our talk, our social lives, and instructs in all manner of ways. This allows us to structure, question, and audit language and what it says about ourselves. And as Prof. Wangui wa Goro, Prof. Bachir Diagne, and Dr Mshai Mwangola clarify the plurality, nuance, diversity of expression, tone, accents and usage is the best case for the preservation and nurture of every tongue around us. A Partnership forum between The Elephant, IFRA-Nairobi, and Alliance Francaise.
Language is such a core part of our daily existence; its aliveness infuses our music, our talk, our social lives, and instructs in all manner of ways. This allows us to structure, question, and audit language and what it says about ourselves. And as Prof. Wangui wa Goro, Prof. Bachir Diagne, and Dr Mshai Mwangola clarify, this nature of language allows for teaching among musicians, archaeologists, students, poets in ways that enrich our overall human experience. A Partnership forum between The Elephant, IFRA-Nairobi, and Alliance Francaise.
In their closing remarks and Q&A Mr Osagie Obayuwana, Omotoye Olorode, and Esther Uzoma show critical links between the struggles of the past and the likely issues of the future. They also elaborate on the abundance of tools and networks that can help different facets of Nigerian leaders to create a better society. In the end, the Nigerian story of progress needs a long term view and audit. This content was originally published at the Coalition for Revolution (CORE).
Nigeria's 200M populous masses have consistently pursued social, economic and cultural freedoms in their journey to establish a free, prosperous and independent society. This journey however has been fraught with false starts, promising wins, and an ever-expanding list of challenges to overcome. and as Mr Osagie Obayuwana, Omotoye Olorode, and Esther Uzoma elaborate, the Nigerian story of progress needs a long term view and audit. This content was initially published at the Coalition for Revolution (CORE).
Nigeria's 200M populous masses have consistently pursued social, economic and cultural freedoms in their journey to establish a free, prosperous and independent society. This journey however has been fraught with false starts, promising wins, and an ever-expanding list of challenges to overcome. And as Mr Osagie Obayuwana, Omotoye Olorode, and Esther Uzoma elaborate, the Nigerian story of progress needs a long term view and audit.
The state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country’s history. As narrated byJohn Githongo and Ms Reem Abbas.
The state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. As narrated byJohn Githongo and Ayn Verjee.
The state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. As narrated by Magdi El Ghizouli, Salma Abdalla, Zhuhair Bashar, and Kholood Khair. This content was originally hosted by our partner ROAPE.
The state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. Narrated by Magdi El Ghizouli, Salma Abdalla, Zhuhair Bashar, Kholood Khair and moderated by Lisa Mann. This content was originally hosted by our partner ROAPE.
The state of Sudan has consistently and often precariously juggled its cocktail of historical, ethnic, religious and cultural history the sum total of which has been hits and misses of major proportions. Now a younger generation of restless women and men are demanding a total reckoning that would hopefully usher in a whole new chapter in the country's history. As narrated by Magdi El Ghizouli, Salma Abdalla, Zhuhair Bashar and Kholood Khair. This content was originally hosted by our partner ROAPE.
How do over 3 million Kenyans abroad navigate life in foreign lands? We will be running this series over the next 8 months in a bid to put life abroad into context. The aim is to add nuance, debunk, and explain what it is like to leave the country and navigate your way in a foreign country while keeping tabs of life and relations back at home in Kenya. Today we are joined by Ms Victoria Ng'eno from Doha, Qatar in our fourth episode on this podcast series.
Two years ago economist David Ndii broke down the duality within the Kenyan economy, the power of political choices to shape economic reality and the economic boycott as a political strategy. and as he further elaborated to Ms Khadija Churchill, great economics rarely survive bad politics which should be the fundamental reason everyone should safeguard political freedom as a buffer against repression and possible economic decline in the country.
The current calls for a referendum have been proven anomalous to the journey of constitution-making that has been on in the last 20 years. The players, the interests and the motive of enacting such sovereign and sacred documents always ought to be reflective of a society's needs and as eminent lawyer Atsango Chesoni reiterates such decisions require careful deliberations.
How do over 3 million Kenyans abroad navigate life in foreign lands? What is it like settling in the respective country? What’s the immigration process like? How’s the food, culture, accents, and language like? How do you navigate racial complexities? How do you keep abreast of news from home? How do you process Kenyan news from that far away? What’s interaction with their foods? events? Local nuances? Residency? Today we are joined by Ms. Dani Maroma from Amsterdam, Netherlands, in our third episode on this podcast series.
The central government has ceaselessly insisted that part of the increase in national debt and spending is due to devolution. However, broken down by numbers the nearly Ksh. 9 trillion debt accrued and mismanaged by the national government cannot be possibly accounted for by mere devolution. and as lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo, analyst Abraham Rugo and economist David Ndii explain to host John Allan Namu, that lie is becoming increasingly harder to sell, which still leaves us with the original question; where did the money go?
Ksh. 7 Trillion later and countless promises, the Kenyan Treasury finds itself stuck with spiralling debt, depressed demand and resultant business downsizing and job losses. The president and Treasury boss have gone on a begging bowl diplomacy and the creditors have put stringent measures that will no doubt worsen the state of household economics. As John-Allan Namu, Economist David Ndii, IBP-Kenya's Abraham Rugo and lawyer Kamotho Waignajo explain, we just might be staring at unpopular choices made necessary by an incompetent regime.
How do over 3 million Kenyans abroad navigate life in foreign lands? What is it like settling in the respective country? What’s the immigration process like? How’s the food, culture, accents, and language like? How do you navigate racial complexities? How do you keep abreast of news from home? How do you process Kenyan news from that far away? What’s interaction with their foods? events? Local nuances? Residency? Today we are joined by Mr Njanja Mwangi from Sydney, Australia, 'the land down under' in our second episode on this podcast series.
The current crop of politicians is demanding for a constitutional change barely 10 years into the 2010 constitutional era. These calls for constitutional change are being made in the middle of spiralling debt, worst pandemic in modern history, and a wobbly economy which makes certain quarters to question the urgency of a referendum amidst these other pressing national issues. The Elephant in conversation with constitutional lawyer Prof. Yash Pal Ghai.
The year 2020 Marks the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing Platform for Action), a pivotal agenda towards achieving gender equity. Significant progress have been made to this end and as Crystal Simeoni, Director at Nawi: Afrifem Macroeconomics Collective and Memory Kachambwa of FEMNET clarify major work is still yet to be done that in the end can ensure equal access to justice, equity, mobility and resources.
The Kenyan coastal strip has had a 1000 year history, rich culture and heritage that has been overshadowed by the colonial entrenchment of Nairobi. and as scholars Munga Mwachiro and Muturi Katana explain, for coasterians the competing reality of their Kenyan identity, therefore, lies at the heart of contestation around language, history, pride, and stereotypes that have in recent years ended up in controversy.
The 2010 Kenyan constitution has been hailed as a governing masterpiece. Now in light of possible changes through the BBI referendum critical questions about the necessity of amendments have been fronted. As Prof. Issa Shivji says constitutions don't make revolutions, rather revolutions make a constitution and that sequence is rarely upstaged.
The hustlers narrative is simply the tag thrown at Kenya's current class struggle which has been at play since the hut tax in 1920. The successive Kenyan elites have failed to reform the colonial political economy and inclusive despite its gradual decay. The class struggle under the hustlers narrative is now pitting those whom the system was never meant to serve vs those who feel entitled to run the country. as narrated by Joe Kobuthi and Darius Okolla.
For a country laden with lots of unresolved high and low profile homicides, the need for better forensic models, better cooperations, and a seamless judicial system will expedite a closure for families. Even then that will demand a more deliberate involvement of communities, the indictment of culprits and engendering a culture of valuing human life and our approaches to justice. A conversation by activist Njoki Gachanja, state pathologist Johannssen Oduor, lawyer Kariuki Karanja, state legal advisor Emily Chweya, and police oversight director David Nderitu.
The victims of extrajudicial killings tend to be largely male, largely poor, largely from informal settlements. The classism implicit in the murder speaks into how our society ranks lives based on their socio-economic fate. The mantra seems to be, whatever you do, don't be poor, as told by activist Njoki Gachanja, state pathologist Johannssen Oduor, lawyer Kariuki Karanja, state legal advisor Emily Chweya, and police oversight director David Nderitu.
The National Coroner Service Act 2017 availed an opportunity for independent forensic documentation and reporting by qualified pathologists in the case of extrajudicial killings by police. It hasn't yielded much fruit though and as panellists; activist Njoki Gachanja, state pathologist Johannssen Oduor, lawyer Kariuki Karanja, state legal advisor Emily Chweya, and police oversight director David Nderitu attest, a lot remains to be desired in the manner in which this Act has been operationalized.
How do over 3 million Kenyans abroad navigate life in foreign lands? What is it like settling in their respective country? What's the immigration process like? How's the food, culture, accents, and language like? How do you navigate racial complexities? How do you keep abreast of news from home? How do you process Kenyan news from that far away? What's interaction with their foods? events? Local nuances? Residency? We are joined by Ms Sharon Inuani from Germany in our first episode on this podcast series.
In recent years we've seen corruption move form the fringe to become the unofficial operational policy of those close to the president. Kenyan politicians, in turn, have abandoned all pretence of legitimacy as industrial-scale lotting has messed the economy, spiralled national debt and compromised our judicial and penal philosophies. The Elephant in conversation with Hon. Martha Karua, former presidential candidate, NARC Kenya leader, former Gichugu MP and a stalwart of the struggle for a new constitution in Kenya.
Night-time raids, assassinations, muzzled reporting, and clandestine paramilitary unit have been the reality for dozens of Kenya's coastal residents since the 9/11 terror attack. As The elephant producer John Githongo and investigative reporter Namir Shabibi recall, 19 years since the 'War on Terror' began the terrain looks ever more precarious with heroes turning into villains, innocent people have paid the ultimate cost and the lines get blurred by the day.
The impact of the COVID virus on production, demand, supply, credit market and labour demand continues to be felt differently by different sectors. This calls for a halfway review of its respective effects and how best we can craft the path towards full recovery. As narrated by Darius Okolla.
The centrality of affordable, available, variety of food to the peace infrastructure of the horn of Africa cannot be underestimated. And as food expert Guled Ahmed clarifies the regional governments have to prioritize the political and economic aspects of food security to guarantee the stability of their respective nations.
The higher-ed and the wider economy feed off each 0other through a knowledge economy loop that has been severely disrupted. It's now up to the scholars in institutions of higher learning to reorient the models of disseminating knowledge even as they help the wider economy reconfigure itself for a new emerging world under the pandemic. As narrated by Dr Joy Mueni Kiiru.
The church has impressive infrastructural inroads into the social aspect of the society. This embeds them into society in ways that also make them easier to be co-opted by the state systems, and as Father Dolan elucidates, the church has to address the question on the injustices of history and the implicit imbalance in our societal structures.
The Kenyan society has sustained critical limitations around the economy mostly occasioned by policy and leadership failures. Corona has simply amplified this challenge and as researchers, Aly-Khan Satchu and Julian Rowan elaborate on how the state's reaction isn't making the situation any easier for Kenyans.
This Corona pandemic has shifted the nature of terror in the horn of Africa through stretching state resources, redeployment of security infrastructure, policy focus and movement of both people and cash. The impact of these shifts will in the coming months reorient the capability of both the state and the terror networks to operate optimally and precipitate creation of new networks and the death of some of the older networks as narrated by Joe Kobuthi and Ngala Chome.
Knowledge and education are never neutral. What we understand, how we understand it and the process leading to the validation of that knowledge is filtered through prisms and biases some of which we never give much thought to. Given that the state will keep children stuck at home till 2021, we'll need to advocate for a better philosophy of knowledge, even as we advocate for more schooling opportunities outside of school; in art centres, museums, libraries, grandma stories and festivals. We need an education that reflects the country that we desire, as narrated by Dr Wandia Njoya and Prof. Lewis Gordon.
The Kenyan state is trying to recreate the 1990s and send us back into the days of the dreaded special branch as it loses grip of the Kenyan society through its incompetence, dysfunction and unimaginable corruption. Public spirited citizens, as we witnessed during the Saba saba rallies, find themselves accosted by a well-oiled infrastructure of violence which is the last resort for a regime that has lost its legitimacy, willpower and capacity to lead, as narrated by Kiama Mutemi.
The 2020 COVID scare has accelerated certain forces within the local and global societies and put into question age-old beliefs including the idea of the infallibility of the market. The state, we were told, is corrupt, inefficient and stuck. But as Prof. Tiyambe Zeleza explains, the magnitude of the pandemic is demanding from us massive logistical, infrastructural, and systemic responses which only the state machinery is large and rich enough to pull off.
The COVID-19 has upset the basic economic relationship that existed between different sectors in the wider economy. As Dr Mariam Omollo and Dr Charles Warria explain, this heightens the need for new data on the evolving relationships between known variables and market indicators, as moderated by Wanjiru Gikonyo.
The modern Africa city and state with their colonial origins are finding it harder to evolve in way that allow them to meet the needs of their urban populace. Gathara says this is the best time to question their structural limitations and to reform them in ways that ensure continuity of human organization.
Lockdowns may have made sense in the initial civilizational panic but their efficacy, and sustainability are now being put into question. Now that the pandemic evolves its time for regimes to take into account the unique aspects of their respective nations and regions.
The year 2020 is evolving at a pace that overwhelms the creative synergies of the artists, and the creatives. But what opportunities, growth areas and anxieties define this age artistically.
Dr. Chambi Chachage: Pandemics evolve from being a clinical health issue, to public health issue before becoming a public order issue. At that point urban anthropology, city dynamics, and historical accidents become amplified as different players in the urban space try to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Alex Awiti: We’re living in the new dispensation in which COVID-19 will become part and parcel of our clinical and public health realities. How then do we embrace the plus COVID world and what adjustments will it require of us?
Dr. Adia Benton: Pandemics are not new to human civilization. In light of that certain lessons picked up from dealing with previous calamities and pandemics become part of the institutional memory and social fabric and can be successfully deployed to help tackle upcoming viruses.
For years public health suffered as clinical health flourished because clinical medicine is much easier to marketize, privatize and monetize. Now COVID is demanding a public health response through auditing the social construction of health, disease, economics, rural-urban life, and human relations; basically the kind of stuff that can't privatize, commoditize or privatize easily. A conversation between Madina Wa Chege and Darius Okolla.
This pandemic is an economically unique trouble in that it has affected both demand and supply while notoriously failing to respond to the usual fiscal and monetary options. The international policy cooperation is the shorter route out of this. However, as Dr Ndii and Dr Stiglitz discuss, an immediate downturn is all but inevitable before the global world picks up again.
The African governments are notoriously averse to expert advice often preferring the simplistic solutions and perspectives of the court jesters. This time though the complexity of the issues facing regional, local and global societies are forcing the experts and scholars back into the frontline. How will the insecure regimes coexist with these rising intellectuals?
The nation-states across Africa are so caught up in self-preservation through securitization of the COVID-19 responses. As policy expert, Zein Abubakar explains this was entirely predictable and obviously short-sighted and ineffective.
The economic impact of the global pandemic will last longer and affect much more than the medical virus has so far. This will definitely call for a reorientation of the world of finance and ethno-capital as elaborated by Rahma Hersi.
The world has shifted irreparably in ways that will fundamentally human organization. Prof. Larry Diamond urges the world to move forward with boldness embracing new paradigms and seeking opportunities for growth in this brave new world.
After years of sidelining and marginalizing its scholars, African societies and the wider public are increasingly turning their ears towards their learned sons and daughters. This according to Prof. Kanyinga is an opportune time and place to recalibrate the place of the African scholar in the problem-solving and power matrix of the society.
Africa’s pandemic prospects is a mixed bag of learned and missed lessons as well as countervailing factors which in the end produce a less than stellar response from a pretty knowledgeable African intelligentsia. This pandemic gives African research scholars, and policymakers an effective chance to prove their mettle at the continental and world stage.
COVID-19 it is said has only highlighted and in some instances exasperated long-standing regime habits in Africa. Despite their unique sociopolitical architectures and situations, the regimes have been predictably tenuous in their approach a decision-making model that has produced interesting outcomes in terms of the economic and political impact of the pandemic.
Conservation is a principle; tourism is a business, so says leading conservation scholar Dr. Mordecai Ogada. The conservation politics are laden with racial hierarchies, lies, violence and misinformation used to subjugate locals in a bid to wrestle precious; and space from them in ways that upset human-wildlife coexistence.
The post-pandemic world will be every bit different from the world we've known all our lives. The human society therefore has to reimagine a new way of economic, social and cultural existence unlike anything he's ever previously conceived.
Kenya it is said has invested heavily in clinical health sector to the exclusion of public health hence gutting the efficiency of the healthcare sector to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. But as Dr. Ayah explains we might just have to learn to co-exist with this pandemic as we’ve been doing with other diseases like HIV, Flu, Pneumonia and Cholera. By Dr. Richard Ayah and Dr. David Ndii.
The authenticity of modern theologies, the concept of God and the visible church which have come into sharp focus as people grapple with the pandemic. No doubt this could mark the end of the institutional church but as Canon Omondi explains the future and place of faith is complex. By Joe Kobuthi and Canon Omondi.
COVID-19 has necessitated closure of schools and with that closure has come classist contestations about the future of education and learning. Dr. Wandia Njoya unpacks what is and isn’t education and how best to recalibrate our approach to education as a society. By Joe Kobuthi and Dr. Wandia Njoya
Even in its early stages the COVID-19 is unleashing deadly economic consequences on production, trading, stock markets and supply chains. Dr. David Ndii and Elephant curator Joe Kobuthi explores just what would be the economic impact of this pandemic on global economics. By Joe Kobuthi and Dr. David Ndii
As the pandemic continues to inflict problems on global populations different countries have implemented certain measures with wide-ranging results. Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram takes us through the lesson that Asian states have learnt from dealing with SARS and other previous pandemics.
Luo Nyanza, it is said, manufactures democracy, but strictly for export not for local use. This truism arises from the weak stint by the local governors, senators and MPs who ironically drive the region's fiery national political posture. As narrated by Viscount K'owuor.
The legalities of government decisions that seek to combat the Corona pandemic have to balance between privacy and freedoms. In this interview with Ms. Daki Galgalo, the Law Society of Kenya chair Nelson Havi takes us through what is constitutional and what is not, in the recent decisions made by the state.
Away from the urban spaces, life has had to internalize anthropologies, cultures and rites are getting disrupted with people's ways of life coming apart. Life has changed significantly, ushering in new cultures an rituals in a world where the tension between the old and the new the state and the society abound. As narrated by Robert Kemboi.
The immediate image of the nationally declared curfews has been police beating up hapless citizens at the ferry crossing. The local counties therefore presents a complex tapestry of beliefs, and maneuvers between the state, religion, information asymmetry and interventions at the coastal strip. As narrated by Gideon Kadu.
The recent decision to impose curfews in the country has different impact in different counties thanks to their unique socioeconomic architectures. Hence, the possibility of an escalated lockdown will likely unleash a wide variety of unintended consequences catalyzed by preexisting views about law, survival, and succession politics.
The millennial bashing script often reads like capitalism’s disappointment that we did not turn into the reckless consumer cluster that they anticipated we will be when they branded us in 1991. The millennial narrative-for the most part-ignores the existential pain of being young in a flailing society, and the attendant youthful anxiety, grief, struggle and fears while amplifying the trivial and dehumanizing aspects of generational clustering such as tastes, habits and preferences. A round-table talk between Darius Okolla, Kingwa Kamencu and Joe Kobuthi.
We are a generation that seeks closure yet the death of a father figure only seems to have opened an old wound that we thought had healed. As the father figures collapsed at the private front, his political masculinity shrewdly dominated our hunger and fascination with fatherhood. From the article "Nyayo: The Passing of a Father Figure" written by Oyunga Pala.
Moi is dead, long live Moism. As he towered over the nations, dark concrete hallways masked screams of those his insecurities deemed as threats. His demise can in no way erase this dark chapter in Kenyan history.
Since this new Gen Z music that blends urban slang, cringeworthy lyrics, and novel dancing, it's divided opinion both across age, moral and social divides. Are we too quick to take sides and what could we be missing? From an article titled "How Kenyan Gospel Pop Birthed the Odi-Pop Craze" by Dan Aceda, published on The Elephant.
There are three main concerns Kenyans from all walks of life have during illness or any manner of a health crisis: 1) Who is going to pay for the options I take? Is it going to have to be me, and what does that mean for my budget and my life? 2) Who is going to take care of me, and where do I have to go to access that care? 3) Will all the options I need for full care be available to me, and are they the best ones there are? From an article titled "Health For All: A Reflection on the Current State of Healthcare in Kenya" written by Njoki Ngumi.
Kenya’s elite is founded primarily on corruption and conflict of interest. In Kenya, a sort of consensus has held sway among the elite since independence: during his tenure, the president’s tribe “eats” more than the others while they await their turn. The tribe “in power”—even if not in office—has the greatest access to economic opportunity and justice. From the article "The Tribesman’s Dread Of Fighting Corruption – A Kikuyu Conundrum" written by John Githongo.
What Wanjiku never seems to understand is that GDP growth doesn't always automatically translate into higher incomes. In fact, GDP growth can be achieved while salaries, wages, commissions are declining. This is Wanjiku's tough economic paradox.
Arror and Kimwarer Dam projects promised to deliver water infrastructure amidst forged documents, sleaze, collusion and outright theft. What really happened, as told by Lorenzo Bagnoli.
A pervasive narrative defines Northern Kenya’s relationship with Southern Kenya. Northern Kenya is viewed as a land of misery, of death and of terror where Kenya’s hardships go to school – an area of darkness, this Kenyan “apocalypse” is by some ingenious design almost always shadowed by “potential”.
Kenya's social scene is stuck with competing and often conflicting notions of female bodily freedom. One sees ratchetness as unfettered body autonomy while the other sees the display as psychically harmful. Which is which?
Food prices keep rising, 16 million Kenyans are poor, 7.5 million live in extreme poverty and over 10 million suffer food insecurity. What the story beyond the numbers?
Homeschooling is not a specific curriculum but simply one alternative to state schooling. It's also popularly seen as an escape from the violent academic experimentation unleashed by state structures.
Suicide is a sensitive topic, befuddling and wrenching at the same time. What's the story beyond the shock and grief?
A new empire reemerges after going under in the 1750s. This means a lot for Africa, its resources, histories and economic future.
The easiest way to rob a bank in Kenya is to own one. Maybe in their 100 year history beginning in the 1900s lies the answer as to why this is possible. By Juliet Atellah
On the pain - and relief - of an ADHD diagnosis after years of searching for answers, by Lena Grace Ayuolo.
On millennials refusing to be silent or to 'accept and move on', from an article by Saiton Righa.
How depression puts one's religious convictions in peril, from an article by Amy Mjema.
A conversation questioning the strident arguments that foreclose the possibility of queer acceptance. Written by Shingai N. Kagunda.
A look into how the media has perpetuated single narratives about queer existence in Kenya. Written by Kevin Mwachiro.
An analysis of the crafty yet imperfect theatrics of undercover intelligence agents on Nairobi's streets, written by Alexander Ikawah.
On dating white men and looking for that knight in shining armour, from an article by Mark Karanja
On yellow fever card cartels at Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, from an article written by Juliet Atellah.
On tea as a marker of social mobility for one Kenyan family, from an article written by Lutivini Majanja.
A podcast of Wanjeri Gakuru's article "You Only Leave When Home Is the Mouth of a Shark" published on The Elephant
A podcast of Jeremy L Williams' article "I Know It Was The Blood" published on The Elephant
A podcast of Bulimu Chole's article "Red Earth: The Killing of Carilton David Maina" published on The Elephant
A podcast of Zukiswa Wanner's article "Tanzania: Warm on the Inside, Cold at Exit" published on The Elephant
A podcast of Oyunga Pala's article "The Making of a Fatherless Nation" published on The Elephant
A podcast of Sitawa Namwalie's article "No African Women Allowed: Equality in the Age of Terrorism" published on The Elephant
A podcast of Lutivini Majanja's article "Erased: That Farm in Africa, at the Foot of the Ngong Hills" published on The Elephant.
The Elephant in conversation with Aly-Khan Satchu, the Founder/CEO of investment advisory firm Rich Management.
The Elephant in conversation with Aly-Khan Satchu, the Founder/CEO of investment advisory firm Rich Management.
The Elephant in conversation with Aly-Khan Satchu, the Founder/CEO of investment advisory firm Rich Management.
The Elephant in conversation with Aly-Khan Satchu, the Founder/CEO of investment advisory firm Rich Management.
The Elephant in conversation with Aly-Khan Satchu, the Founder/CEO of investment advisory firm Rich Management.
Dr Willy Mutunga in conversation with The Elephant on the rule of law in Kenya, citizenship, nationality and the Third Liberation.
Dr Willy Mutunga in conversation with The Elephant on the rule of law in Kenya, citizenship, nationality and the Third Liberation.
Dr Willy Mutunga in conversation with The Elephant on the rule of law in Kenya, citizenship, nationality and the Third Liberation
Audio version of Dauti Kahura's article "Central Kenya's Biting Poverty" published by The Elephant.
Audio version of Kevin Mwachiro's article "You Were Only Seven" published by The Elephant.
Audio version of Julie Masiga's article "The Grief Of Freedom That Never Came" published by The Elephant.
Audio version of James Wariero's article "Counting People In A Broken Health System" published by The Elephant.
The Elephant in conversation with Wachira Maina, a Constitutional Lawyer and Wanjiru Gikonyo the Executive Director for The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
The Elephant in conversation with Wachira Maina, a Constitutional Lawyer and Wanjiru Gikonyo the Executive Director for The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
The Elephant in conversation with Wachira Maina, a Constitutional Lawyer and Wanjiru Gikonyo the Executive Director for The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
The Elephant in conversation with Wachira Maina, a Constitutional Lawyer and Wanjiru Gikonyo the Executive Director for The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
Audio version of Dauti Kahura's "The Telephone Conversation" published by The Elephant.
An audio recording of Kevin Mwachiro's article "A Healthy Serving of Reality" published by The Elephant.
An audio version of Sam Opondo's poem "Fishers-of-Men: A Lamentation by Sam Opondo" published on The Elephant.
Patrick Gathara, from theElephant.info, speaks to Kawive Wambua, author, activist, governance specialist and former Makueni County Executive for Devolution and Public Service.
Audio version of Ekim Namloh's article "From ‘Rust Belt’ to ‘Dust Veldt’: Waiting for an African Trump" published in The Elephant.
The Elephant in conversation with Andrew Franklin, a security consultant and former US Marine.
The Elephant in conversation with Mshai Mwangola, a performance scholar and researcher, Dr. Alex Awiti, Director at East African Institute, Dr. Wandia Njoya, Senior Lecturer at a Kenyan university and Owaahh, a Kenyan writer.
The Elephant in conversation with Mshai Mwangola, a performance scholar and researcher, Dr. Alex Awiti, Director at East African Institute, Dr. Wandia Njoya, Senior Lecturer at a Kenyan university and Owaahh, a Kenyan writer.
The Elephant in conversation with Mshai Mwangola, a performance scholar and researcher, Dr. Alex Awiti, Director at East African Institute, Dr. Wandia Njoya, Senior Lecturer at a Kenyan university and Owaahh, a Kenyan writer.
The Elephant in conversation with George Kegoro, Executive Director of Kenya Human Rights Commission.
The Elephant in conversation with Edward Ouko, Auditor General of the Republic of Kenya
The Elephant in conversation with Prof. Yash Ghai, a constitutional lawyer and academic.
The Elephant in conversation with Wachira Maina, a Constitutional Lawyer and Wanjiru Gikonyo the Executive Director for The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).
Tom Mboya, Governance Specialist & Chairman, Democratic Congress Party and John Githongo, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi
In this episode, Mshai Mwangola, a performance scholar, speaks to Godwin Murunga a historian and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi, setting the context for a series of conversations on National Culture.