Analysis and commentary from diplomats, scholars and columnists.
BY PAUL KURGAT For a truck driver waiting to move cargo from Mombasa, a farmer in Naivasha trying to reach overseas markets, or a nurse in a rural clinic without reliable internet, geopolitics can seem distant. Yet the struggle for influence between Europe, China and emerging powers is increasingly being fought through the roads, power
By GWYNNNE DYER Another October coming up, and still the Nobel Peace Prize Committee refuses to give Donald Trump his Prize. They even gave one to Barak Obama, who was Black and a Democratic and had only been in office for twenty minutes. Meanwhile, they ignore a man truly worthy of the Prize, a man
By GWYNE DYER Making predictions in print is rarely a good idea, and saying ‘I told you so’ is always rude, but rules are made to be broken. On 10 June, one week before the short-lived ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ on the Middle East war was signed, I wrote a piece on that war that predicted
BY DENNIS MUNENE The recent cancellation of a planned visit to Eswatini by Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s purported leader, has reignited the debate on the Taiwan question and China’s reunification process. To date, about 183 countries, including Kenya, have established diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the one-China principle, which represent the universal consensus
BY FAITH SUDI Artificial Intelligence has long been painted as a threat to jobs. Whenever it comes up outside tech circles, the first reaction is often fear: “Will it replace me?” While some professions may be disrupted, AI also opens new doors for creativity, efficiency and innovation. Whether it is a threat or an opportunity
BY MICHAEL ADIADO Kenya is presenting a candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson role for the second time. The first candidate was former Cabinet Minister in the Uhuru administration Amb.Amina Mohamed in 2017. Interestingly, the person who was at the cornerstone of Amina’s campaign bid is current President William Ruto, at one point taking
By ABDIRIZACK ABDIRAHMAN OSMAN Imagine Nairobi plunging into devastation overnight. Paramilitary militias and military forces—say, the Kenya Defence Forces and General Service Unit—clash violently on the city’s highways. Explosions shatter the dawn, businesses shut down, and families scramble desperately for safety. Within weeks, the city stands nearly abandoned, its streets littered with bodies as millions
BY MICHAEL ADIADO The Kenyan Cabinet held its last meeting in 2024 on December 17. Among the issues discussed was the approval of Defense Cooperation Agreement between Kenya and three other countries: Ghana, France and Türkiye. Kenya – Türkiye relations have blossomed in the recent past, and here are key timelines that have led to
BY AGNES GITAU Amid geopolitical shifts, economic headwinds, and social upheaval, Africa’s resilience continues —proving that even in the uncertainty, there is room for growth and renewed hope. Sub-Saharan Africa enters 2025 with a cautious sense of optimism, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasting 4% GDP growth. This signals a modest recovery from last
BY FRED NGUSILO The Sasimwani Ogiek Community in Narok are in deep grief following the tragic death of 18-year-old Francis Mailoji. On the afternoon of December 16, 2024, Mailoji and his colleague were tending to their livestock in the Sasimwani forest when they were suddenly frightened and chased by Kenya Forest Rangers. While Mailoji’s kin
BY GABRIELLE LYNCH The process of removing Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is part of a long history, dating back to independence, of fallouts between the president and his deputy. The difference this time around is the process. Historically, presidents have fired their deputies. But the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, saw the introduction of a
BY RUZAIMI MOHAMAD Malaysia’s growing engagement with Kenya highlights its commitment to South-South cooperation, bringing strategic benefits that align with Malaysia’s high-growth and high-value objectives. This partnership allows Malaysia to contribute to global development, while creating substantial opportunities for its economic growth, technological innovation, and international influence. Kenya serves as a crucial gateway to the
BY WAWERU PETERSON With every new government administration comes expectations for transformative change that not only improves the current state of affairs but one that inspires hope and confidence of better days to the public. Fundamentally, I believe a nation’s development and transformation rests largely on the shoulders of its industrial sector. Correspondingly, the United
