Universities Academic Staff Union members protest at the University of Nairobi in the ongoing nationwide lecturers strike, on September 17, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Once upon a time in Kenya, education was the sacred altar where dreams were sacrificed for a better tomorrow. Teachers were priests, parents were faithful, and pupils were little disciples. But alas! The altar now reeks of rot, a decayed relic of greed, deception, and showmanship. Today, education in Kenya has become a full-blown tragicomedy, part soap opera, part horror film, with a soundtrack composed by the ghosts of our national conscience. Let us begin with…
Author: By Chang'orok Joel
Among the few PhDs in the village, I often sit at the front row during academic days in schools, called upon to give motivational speeches to young dreamers. I wear my best suit—polished shoes, and carry a worn-out briefcase filled with hope, and a voice tempered by the fires of research. I talk about resilience, hard work, and the value of education. They call me “Daktari!” with pride. Yet now, I stand at a crossroads of brutal irony. In one hand, an invitations to pre-university parties; in the other, a redundancy letter—cold, impersonal, and final. My walking style has changed—less…