A water canon disperses protesters in the CBD during the protests on finance bill and the killing of Albert Ojwang on National budget day on 12th June 2025. [David Gichuru,Standard] This week, several people arrested during the June-July protests – including boda boda riders, fisherfolk, politicians, and security officers – were charged in Kenya’s counterterrorism Kahawa Law Courts. The Supreme Council of Muslims (Supkem) also released its report on how the criminal justice system responds to religious extremism. While these two events may seem unrelated, Supkem’s findings shed light on a worrying trend, the growing use of harsh legal measures to silence dissent.…
Author: By Irungu Houghton
The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja (left) and The current chairman of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Ahmed Issack Hassan briefing the press following Albert Omondi Ojwang’s death in police custody at Central Police station, Nairobi. June 9, 2025. [Jonah Onyango,Standard]. June 9, 2025. [Jonah Onyango/Standard] Hot on the heels of last week’s policy directive on the use of force and firearms, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) released its extensive report on the June and July public protests this week. This week, the National Council on the Administration of Justice and the Attorney General’s Forum held separate…
Post-Saba Saba Day, allegations of an attempted coup, calls for police to shoot or maim looters, and mass arrests have raised serious concerns about the government’s response to public dissent. How can the current tension be de-escalated? With 34 fatalities, over 500 civilian and police injuries, and economic losses possibly as much as Sh1.8 billion ($14 million), the Saba Saba demonstrations have been the deadliest this year. This time, it is Bridget Njoki (12) shot watching TV at home that shook the nation most. However, the nation grieves not just for one child, but a generation caught in the crossfire.…
A Boda Boda rider holding a matchbox ready to touch a suspected goon during Justice For Albert Ojwang Protests on June 17, 2025. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard] Tuesday’s street anarchy in Nairobi had me scrambling for dusty copies of the Commission on Inquiry, Ransley and Kriegler reports on 2007/2008 Post Election Violence. /* Container styling */ .fade-out-overlay { position: absolute; top: -80px; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 60px; z-index: 1; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)); } .paywall-container { position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; padding: 25px; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,…
National Treasury CS John Mbadi(3rd left) is received by National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed as Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Samuel Atandi(right) and other leaders looks on at Parliament on June 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] As East Africa’s Finance Ministers unveiled their budgets this week, the region’s top philanthropic funders met in Kigali amid growing uncertainty in global development financing. For all that gathered, it was clear that without bold and innovative action, development financing faces an uncertain future. Except in Kenya, where protests over the savage police killing of Albert Ojwang’ shifted focus from the budget, East African Finance…
World Press Freedom Day and the Media Council Annual Summit this week highlighted the resilience of Kenya’s fourth estate. The publication of a new media code of conduct is timely, given the regular criticism and current challenges the industry faces. The annual summit provides journalists, the government, media agencies and allies with an opportunity to reflect on the state of the media. This year, it is interesting to note that social media (24 per cent) is catching up with television (26 per cent) and radio (23 per cent) as the most consumed news medium. One in three Kenyans watch TV…
The world marks the United Nations International Day of Families next Thursday May 15. How can we ensure we all stay focused on what ails the Kenyan family and not be hijacked by narrow agendas financed by foreigners? As the cradle of humanity, Kenya has had several millions of years of indigenous family values and family-making experience. The arrival of Zanzibari Arabs in the 18th century brought the Islamic faith and new family values along the coast. The second foreign influence imposed Christian values and an Anglo-centric definition of “The Family”. With the British missionaries and colonialism, came hut taxes…
KDF officers leave Nyayo National Stadium aboard their vehicles heading into the Nairobi CBD for Gen Z protests on June 27, 2024. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] The release of BBC “Blood Parliament” documentary and the Amnesty International 2024-2025 Kenya report whipped up a political storm this week. Accusations of bad faith completely miss the point. Victim-centred thinking knows, only justice, not amnesia, heals national wounds. Wairimu Muthoni knew this when she took on Super Metro SACCO for her assault in 2018. Initially seeking criminal prosecution by her government, she shifted to a civil public interest suit when state agencies disappointed her.…
While some attempted to downplay the danger of using state security agencies to muzzle the Butere Girls High School play recently, most recognised the threat it posed to our academic and artistic freedoms. This issue continues to play out dramatically in the United States, a country with a long history of academic freedom, in ways we can admire and emulate. In just over 90 days, the US administration has revoked over 1,700 student visas and pulled or threatened to pull federal funding for several universities and other tertiary institutions. The crackdown has targeted international students from at least 260 universities…
Sudan Conflict Refugees, near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan’s western Darfur region on April 13, 2025. [AFP] On Wednesday, one of the world’s worst conflicts entered its third year with no end in sight. At the Sudan London conference this week, the Kenyan government struggled to refute accusations of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and pursuing economic interests in Sudan. Sudan has become a casualty of global leaders’ focus on Ukraine and Palestine. The international community has largely ignored the crisis, enabling one of the world’s biggest humanitarian disasters. 150,000 people have been killed, more than double…
Butere girls students joined by other students in protest in solidarity at Melvin Jones in Nakuru during the 63rd edition of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival on April 10,2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] History judges harshly those who try to crush freedom of expression in children. The scenes from Butere Girls High School this week were appalling. The poet in Pheroze Nowrojee, who died recently, would have been incensed. I also suspect he would have been deeply proud of the girls’ principled stand. “Echoes of war” was a little-known play before the Butere High School Principal was instructed to…