Grand Regency saga displays rot in Kenya’s elite

The sale of the Grand Regency Hotel by Kenya’s government is yet another sordid chapter in a corruption scandal that began 18 years ago and which has enmeshed Kenya’s ruling class in a morass of rot.

There is deafening chorus for the resignation of Finance Minister, Amos Kimunya after he admitted last week that his ministry [...]

News blackout for Kisumu cholera epidemic

A cholera outbreak in Kisumu is being hushed by Kenyan media, afraid of getting in the wrong books of the country’s political leaders.
There is scant news in Kenya’s electronic and print media over the health crisis that has seen increased congestion in local public hospitals. However, with Kisumu’s leaders eager to attract investment for reconstruction, [...]

Moi’s treachery against Raila: The KANU – NDP merger

There was an important political milestone after the 1997 elections: President Daniel arap Moi was in his last term of office. Kenya’s constitution states that an individual can become president for only two elected terms.

Former President Daniel arap Moi (right) with some ministers in this 1999 photo. Picture by East African Standard.
With an ethnically fragmented [...]

National divisions in Kenya growing deeper

Kenya came close to catastrophe early this year, as violence sparked by disputed elections caused 1,500 deaths. Neighbour turned against neighbour, husband against wife. With the formation of a giant coalition government between the main protagonists, it was assumed that the experience would put Kenyans towards a journey of tolerance, peace and reconciliation.

A supporter of [...]

Celtel Kenya fires executives amidst declining fortunes

Celtel Kenya fired its top managers, cementing a notoriety for high staff turnover, as its performance fails to impress in the lucrative mobile phone industry.

Celtel Kenya head office in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi
This week, Celtel announced that its head of corporate and regulatory affairs, Dr Claire Ruto and the corporate affairs manager, Janet Kabue had, [...]

Refugee leader tortured in Nakuru

A refugee leader in Nakuru was last weekend abducted and tortured for allegedly frustrating government efforts to close the camp.
While protesting the disappearance of their leader, two male refugees were shot by police on Saturday and are admitted to a Nakuru hospital in critical condition. The abducted man, Mr Peter Kariuki, re-emerged on Monday bearing [...]

Hostage to Fate: A Story of Raila Odinga

Immensely popular to some, widely reviled by others, Raila Odinga’s every act and speech undoubtedly stirs up differing emotions across Kenya’s people. So divisive is his character that the terms, “Raila mania” and “Raila phobia” have emerged to describe the emotions associated with the man who is now Kenya’s Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing [...]

Water restored to Umoja amidst demolitions row

Water supply has been restored to Umoja Innercore, a month after water and sewer lines got entangled in a city planning mishap.

Part of the fast growing Umoja Innercore suburb of Nairobi.
Residents of Innercore are now getting clean water after more than a month of dry taps. The Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company (NCWSC) shut [...]

Land should have been collectivized – Raila says

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga says that former white highlands should have been collectivized after independence to avert present day ethnic clashes.
“What should have happened was that you should have isolated particular areas for residential purposes, and then left the farm itself as a large estate,” explained Raila. The Prime Minister was speaking at a [...]

Kenyan youth hooked to sex trade

The sex industry in Kenya is playing a greater role in the economy as a lack of jobs pushes youths into the vice. Interestingly enough, the trade is not growing in the familiar sense of twilight girls but assuming legitimacy through massage parlours, e-commerce websites, tourism, strip clubs and international dating.
A cursory survey by the [...]