Former Chief Justice David Maraga addresses the media in Nairobi on October 21, 2025. He has promised to ensure that all public offices have 50/50 gender representation if elected president in 2027 elections. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] A few days ago, Former Chief Justice David Maraga made a stunning declaration. Maraga, who is now running as a 2027 presidential candidate under the United Green Movement Party, said should he be elected, he will ensure that all public offices have 50/50 gender representation. He assured that he was already walking the talk, and that his party has already applied this rule. His…
Author: By Njahira Gitahi
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga’s remarks on the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga stoked long-standing tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu. [File, Standard]. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga came under fire last week for making disparaging comments about the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. His comments stoked long-standing tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu ethnic groups, and thousands of people took the bait. Prior to this, the online space was ablaze with comments from people far removed from the communities of western Kenya, who expressed shock and disdain at how Luo people mourned the icon. These ignorant comments…
Police lob teargas canisters at mourners during the public viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, on October 16, 2025. [David Gichuru, Standard] As Kenya mourns the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, some families have been mourning for entirely different, yet related reasons. On Friday, during the planned viewing of Raila’s body at Kasarani Stadium, police opened fire on the unsuspecting public, leading to the deaths of a number of people. Similar incidences of police brutality have been reported in other parts of the country. These incidences are sadly not…
Environment CS Deborah Barasa during World Bamboo Day celebration, on September 18, 2025. [File, Standard] Kenya has been marking the October 10 Mazingira Day for some years now, and with much success. Every year, a good number of Kenyans plant trees on this day to preserve the environment. This year, the President planted seedlings and promised to produce 2 billion seedlings every year so as to reach a target of 15 billion trees by 2032. But when there are so many larger forces working to destroy our environment, can the individual actions of a few once a year be enough…
KMPDU national executive members, led by Secretary General Davji Atellah address a media briefing on the Kiambu healthcare crisis, on October 4, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard] The ongoing doctor’s strike in Kiambu County has once again exposed the dark underbelly of neglect of the Kenyan healthcare sector. And following news that 136 newborn babies have died during 127 days of doctors strike in Kiambu County, Kenyans must confront the fact that the situation is dire, and turning all the more violent. Denying mothers and their newborn babies the health services that they need is classified as obstetric violence. Already, sexual and reproductive…
Assata Shakur. [Photo/AFP] Assata Shakur, the world’s most famous Black fugitive revolutionary, passed away this past week in Cuba. Shakur, perhaps more than even the Black Panthers, was through her life able to keep the collective Black imagination alive and hopeful for the future, even under increasingly oppressive conditions. Her death in Cuba as a free woman stands testament to the fact that with a little grit and determination, and a whole lot of solidarity, we all might be able to outwit the system that is out to crush us. Even so, it was not all roses with the life of…
A billboard showing an image of US President Donald Trump (left) and prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, on a building in Tel Aviv, on September 13, 2025. [AFP] The shooting of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing podcaster and debater, at a university in Utah has dominated international news, leading even to the loss of jobs for those who have dared to speak against the life that the man lived. Kirk had, even before the election of Donald Trump, been hailed as a darling of the Right generally, and the Republican Party specifically. In his many speaking engagements, he was known to…
Burkina Faso leader Captain Ibrahim Traore. [AFP] Over the years, the African continent has had a brave few leaders come forward and forge the way for their people, away from imperial interests. Always, the leaders have their short leadership spans ended by death or military coup. The first and most famous of these movements for liberation was the brotherly coalition between Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Ahmed Sekou Toure of Guinea. As the first leaders of their independent nations, they worked tirelessly to ensure the liberation of the rest of the continent from the shackles of Western hegemony. Naturally, the…
Caption Kenya’s shift from 8-4-4 system to competency-based education (CBE) in 2017 continues to be marred with confusion and controversy. The new system changed reliance on rote learning to a more holistic approach, combining teaching with practical application of skills and development of problem-solving capabilities. On paper, this was an excellent idea as the 8-4-4 system did not encourage critical thinking or practical action. It focused on high grades that would churn out white collar workers. Those who failed KCSE were left behind without further institutional support. The CBE envisions a life even for those who end up in blue-collar…
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018, which was amended at the end of last year, has come under scrutiny as it is being used by the government to target those it views as utilising online spaces and apps to speak up against it. During the recent anti-government protests, Rose Njeri was arrested under the Act for creating an app that would make it easier to submit comments regarding the Finance Bill 2025. Later the same month, Albert Ojwang was arrested under the same Act for purportedly publishing anti-government content online, resulting in his sudden death at the hands of…
People protest against US President Donald Trump’s decision to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2025. [AFP] Following the announcement by the United Kingdom that it will cut its foreign aid to Third World countries, fresh fears have arisen over what this means for social programmes in Kenya. The new round of foreign aid cuts has come after suggestions from the United States that European countries need to de-prioritise foreign aid and development, and focus instead on bolstering support towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and other local defence…
Youths during Gen-Z anniversary protests in Kitengela, on June 25, 2025. [ Jenipher Wachie, Standard] Days ago, a tribunal in Bangladesh indicted former Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in absentia for crimes against humanity, following a leaked audio of the PM ordering for the shooting of protestors. Hasina fled the country for India in August 2024 after student protests overthrew her government and installed a transitional one. These protests began in 2022 when the youths demanded for reforms in the allocation of government jobs to younger people. But instead of addressing these concerns, Hasina used violence to quash the protests,…
US President Donald Trump meets with unseen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 7, 2025. [AFP] Before running for the office of President of the United States, Donald Trump had fashioned himself as an astute businessman, one who understood The Art of the Deal (this would later become the title of one of his books), and used it to his advantage to make billions. Building on this reputation, even before assuming office for his second term, he had sent envoys to Israel to secure a peace deal that…
Youths during the Gen Z anniversary protests in Kisii town, on June 25, 2025. [Sammy Omingo, Standard] In these days of rapid movement building, we can fail to notice how language and propaganda might be used to derail a movement for progress. In Kenya’s case, the youth are bogged down with trying to survive, mourning their dead peers, keeping track of government activities and organising the next mass action. The government, on the other hand, is infinitely resourced, capable of clamping down on movement building from several directions. One effective way to ensure there is little to no progress in…
Protestors demand justice for the late teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, along Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, on June 17, 2025. Ojwang died in custody at Central Police Station. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard] With the first anniversary of the June 25 demonstrations being Wednesday, many youths as well as older generations are in a state of mourning, even as they recognise the monumental day last year when they dared to march into Parliament and have their voices heard. In the long year since this day, however, it has felt as if the more things have changed, the more they have remained the same.…
President William Ruto is welcomed by Raila Odinga during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay County on June 01, 2025. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard] What is the purpose of the prison system at large? Theoretically speaking, we are taught that prisons exist for reform and rehabilitation, with those sentenced to a prison term taking the time there to understand the gravity of their actions and working to change. In reality, however, there might be a deeper part of the human psyche that views the prison as a place where the unwanted of society go to rot away, much like Britain sent off…
Former Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba when the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare summoned Labour CS Alfred Mutua over foreign jobs, at Mini Chambers, County Hall, Nairobi. May 6, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard In the past couple of weeks, Senator Gloria Orwoba’s political career has been in a state of upheaval, with her political party withdrawing her nomination to the Senate, the Speaker of the Senate officially declaring her position vacant, and the High Court putting a stay on this ouster as the matter is resolved. Ms Orwoba’s time in the Senate has been nothing short of colourful. In…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, providing us with an opportunity to discuss mental illness openly and candidly. More than any other illnesses, mental conditions are looked upon with the most stigma, even though many people are struggling in one form or another. Rising levels of stress and anxiety, owing to the current living conditions of our societies, means that more people are suffering than ever, making it vital that we take mental health more seriously. The need to have a Mental Health Awareness Month is couched in the overwhelming stigma that exists around mental illness. Stigma is a great…
Cardinals during the fifth congregation meeting in the Vatican, on April 28, 2025. [AFP] Pope Francis is being mourned the world over by believers and non-believers of the Catholic faith alike. The Pope stood up as a beacon of light, change and progressivism for many. Notably, in his final years, he stood firm against the genocide in Gaza. While leaders across the rest of the world continue to hedge around the question of the genocide, the Pope chose to spend his every day commiserating with the people of Gaza, calling the Catholic Church there to speak with and pray for…
Hanna Wendot Cheptumo Nominee for Cabinet Secretary, Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage during her vetting process before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments at County Hall, Nairobi on April 14, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] The appointment of Hanna Wendot Cheptumo as the incoming Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs sparked a great deal of ire in women’s spaces in the last week. This followed her comments while being interviewed for the position when she implied that a leading reason behind femicide was young women’s greed for money. Ms Cheptumo sparked outrage for blaming…