The recent protests have brought Kenya’s governance trajectory into sharp focus. As the dust settles, many questions are begging for answers. In this episode, Wanjiru Gikonyo breaks down how the personal is political and the political is personal. She takes us through political participation, Bills in parliament, the debt crisis, and the possible f…

The 2010 constitution turns 14 years today and has been observed in breach more than in observance. Key among these is the implementation of the rights of people with disabilities. In this conversation between The Elephant's Joe Kobuthi and Helen Mudora explore the nexus between the PWD statutes and the bill of rights.…

This podcast features psychologist and wellness coach Salima Macharia as we explore the unique characteristics of each generation’s protest movements. We shed light on the evolving landscape of social change. What did Gen X do right and what could they have done better during protests? What about Gen Zs? Listen In.…

To mark the 14th anniversary of the promulgation of Kenya’s new constitution, we speak to Dr John Mutakha Kangu, a constitutional law expert. As a key person involved in the constitution-making nitty gritty, he walks us through the journey from the clamour to the actual realization and what has happened since Kenyans voted for the new constitution.…

People who are involved or directly exposed to the protests may have experienced emotional trauma, anxiety, and stress disorders. Some protesters report feeling anxious and reliving the certain intrusive and distressing, involuntary memories, dreams or flashbacks. How does one handle post-maandamno blues, and decompress? Psychologist Kamau Mwangi w…

People who are involved or directly exposed to the protests may have experienced emotional trauma, anxiety, and stress disorders. Some protesters report feeling anxious and reliving the certain intrusive and distressing, involuntary memories, dreams or flashbacks. How does one handle post-maandamno blues, and decompress? Psychologist Kamau Mwangi w…

Kenyans have always exercised their rights to protest as enshrined in the Constitution. The safety, dynamics, respect for rule of law between the protesters and the police and the state has undergone significant changes. Wambua Kawive breaks down what is similar vs what has changed in the nature of protests in Kenya.…

The Gen Z protests have provided an interesting crucible with which citizens interact with spatial spaces as they air their grievances. In this episode, we discuss how the various parties make sense of this political moment out in the streets.

Join us in this compelling episode as we delve into the intricacies of Kenya's recent Finance Bill protests, exploring the pivotal role of fact-checking journalism. Our esteemed guest, Linda Ngari, an award-winning freelance journalist and fact-checker, illuminates the critical intersections of information integrity and public dissent, unravelling …

Gen Z shows the power of digital activism - driving change from screens to the streets.

How was your relationship with your dad and how has fatherhood shaped you? On this Father's Day, we honour grandfathers, foster dads, adoptive dads, stepdads, Godfathers, Father figures, and all the men who uphold paternal bonds. Happy Father's Day.

Madaraka Day is a special occasion in Kenya's calendar. But beyond the festivities, Madaraka Day is also a time for reflection and unity. Do you feel Kenyans still attend national events, and what drives them to attend or not? What would you want the leaders to address on Madaraka Day? And what would you want older Kenyan folks to tell you about th…

For a long time, very few used to talk a lot about mental health, and thankfully many more people do now. In this episode, we explore what has changed, because these days everyone, everywhere is mental health this and that. Still, do we have a generational gap between Gen Z, Millennials and our folks on the attitudes towards seeking mental health s…

We are hostages of this venal, idiotic class that harps on sovereignty and independence because all they can do now is enclose us in these colonial borders in the name of Handshakes and Handouts.

In recent years, Generation Z has garnered a reputation for being both entitled and woke, but what does this mean for the future? This conversation explores the nuances of Gen Z's identity, questioning whether their perceived entitlement clashes with their woke ideals or if it's a manifestation of their desire for a more equitable world.…

Gen­er­a­tion Z has emerged as a pop­u­la­tion increas­ing­ly wor­thy of atten­tion, espe­cial­ly now as its old­er mem­bers are in their 20s and have become a polit­i­cal­ly engaged force in recent elec­tions.

Fresh controversy is swirling over Kenya's ballooning debt crisis even as President William Ruto prescribes painful tax measures to fund his 3.68 trillion debut budget that has been squeezed by debt service costs.By by The Elephant

More than 90% of Kenyans have rejected the Finance Bill 2023, which includes the government’s taxation plan for the financial year starting in July 2023, a new survey has shown. The courts have extended the conservatory orders on the Bill. The Elephant speaks to Abraham Rugo, PhD, the International Budget Partnership's Country Manager. He has a pas…

The Kenya Finance Bill 2023 is an unfair and regressive legislation favouring the wealthy and corporations at the expense of the working-class and poor majority. The Elephant in conversation with Diana Gichengo, National Coordinator at The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA).By by The Elephant

The rise of movements such as Feminism and the Men’s Rights Movement in a landscape long divided raise valid concerns regarding gender-specific issues that as a society need to be addressed.By by The Elephant

Failing to examine youth engagement trends may be a serious blind spot— and thus a threat to democracy. It is a question that merits closer examination. When youth disengage, they are often saying they don’t have a high level of confidence or trust in existing economic, political, or social entities. Nerima Wako is the Executive Director at Siasa P…

The Kenyan government's new tax proposals that seek to boost revenue collection and cut public borrowing have been met with much opposition, especially from Kenyans who already fill the burden of a high cost of living. Former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi speaks to The Elephant.By by The Elephant

The Kenyan government's new tax proposals that seek to boost revenue collection and cut public borrowing have been met with much opposition, especially from Kenyans who already fill the burden of a high cost of living.By by The Elephant

Kenya’s cost of living demonstrations has as much to do with popular discontent as they do with the opposition capitalizing on frustrations. The Elephant in conversation with Zein Abubakar, a director at the Orature Collective and former Member of Parliament at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).…

In recent weeks, lawmakers and politicians in Kenya, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have decried the alleged spectre of widespread alcoholism and sparked a nationwide hysteria. There is only one problem; all available data from state agencies, civil society, and global health firms do not back up their alarming claims about an alcoholi…

This government faces significant political risk in the middle of an economic crisis. Lucky governments are those that are able to avoid having both, at least concurrently. President Ruto's decisions as he tries to balance political deal-making versus economic risks are creating the impression of an overwhelmed regime and the public is getting agit…

Property invasion has emerged as a core facet of the recent demonstrations including the Northlands in Nairobi, and Kedong ranch in Isiolo. Is our failure to implement Agenda 4 of the 2007 National Accord coming back to bite us? What is the future of the land question in Kenya? The Elephant's Joe Kobuthi talks to conservationist Mordecai Ogada.…

How the myth of ‘institutions’ has shaped the fight against graft and wasted precious time and money. The Elephant in conversation with Sheila Masinde, Executive Director at Transparency International Kenya.By by The Elephant

Despite the enormous burden that mental ill-health imposes on individuals, their families, society, health systems and the economy, mental health care remains a neglected area of public policy in Kenya. Dannish Odongo speaks.By by The Elephant

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labour leaders, faith-based organizations, religious leaders and other civil society representatives play a critical and diverse set of roles in societal development. Will the shifting external environment for civil society have any place in civil society? The Elephant in conversation with Dr Wandia Njoya, a s…

Dr Wandia Njoya explores developments in Kenya’s education sector since independence. She explains that the initial 7-6-3 system was designed to recreate a British style elite; 8-4-4 created more rounded Kenyans who were better critical thinkers; now we head into the uncertainties of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which seems to be a throwb…

In Kenya, the question of who, what and when the civil society started and evolved remains a contentious issue. The nature, scope and operations of the civil society tend to be bandied to the identity of the few known stalwarts while many key parts of the sector remain relatively obscure. And as Muthoni Wanyeki explains, these sins of omission and …

In the 1990s, a group of intelligentsia arose to partner with the then civil society, and the new crop of firs-time politicians in parliament. The three different factions were all conflated to be part of the civil society. But as senior economist David Ndii clarifies, these three groups were distinct yet cooperative in expanding the political spac…

As long as we focus on the tribe, we will lose the nation and be stuck in the tribal mire. Kenya will cease to be a society. We will lose our sense of collective responsibility and find in its place a culture of competitive victimhood. The Elephant in conversation with Rev. Canon Francis Omondi, a Priest of All Saints Cathedral Diocese of the ACK, …

Kenyan youth are not to blame for their election apathy. For decades, elections have hardly made a difference in curbing violent plunder by Kenya’s ruling class. The youth are wondering whether this would be any different. The Elephant in conversation with Dr Alex Awiti, Associate Professor and Vice Provost - Aga Khan University, East Africa.…

For tax justice to truly work on behalf of the citizen, it must be founded on the principles of human rights. This demands that the fiscal architecture in place allows for citizen participation; non-discrimination, and empowering processes that enhance social mobility. The Elephant in conversation with Leonard Wanyama, regional coordinator of the E…

Kenya’s agro-economy accounts for about 24 per cent of GDP and 74% of jobs (GoK, 2008). On 4th March 2013, the central government transferred much of the at least 10 separate sub-sectors to county governments. These are crops (both industrial and food), horticulture, livestock, fisheries, land, water, cooperatives and marketing, environment and nat…

Its government is virtual, borderless, blockchained, and secure. An early, sustained and deliberate adoption of digital tools to provide government services to its citizens. Has this tiny post-Soviet nation found the way of the future? The Elephant in conversation with Kadri Humal Ayal, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia in Kenya.…

In this conversation, we talk about tax justice and the 15% minimum corporate tax proposal by the G7. What is it about, why is it important for Africa and what can we do? Crystal Simeoni, Director at NAWI, in conversation with Chenai Mukumba, Policy Research and Advocacy Manager at the Tax Justice Network Africa.…

The Northern Rangelands Trust has been active in the pastoralist region, setting up "Community Wildlife." Some have argued that these conservancies are a trojan horse for taking away pastoralist land. With the coming into force of the Community Land Act 2016, securing pastoralist land has become even more urgent. The Elephant in conversation with A…

Socially, the pastoralists are patriarchally organized; men take most of the powers, and women are to be seen and not heard. That combined with the climatic shocks, where women are disproportionately affected, has made them incredibly vulnerable. However, economic empowerment through programs like Ushanga - an endeavour that was mostly undertaken b…

The Community Land Act, No. 27 of 2016 (the Act) came into force on 21 September 2016. The Act gives effect to Article 63 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (The Constitution) which provides for the classification of land known as community land. While the law is progressive on paper- it enables local communities to register and own their communal …

Pre-independence, Kenya's Northern Frontier Districts fought to be part of Somalia during Shifta War or Gaf Daba (1963–1967). The post-1963 Kenya war against the "Shifta," securitized the relationship between the state, the region, and the people. Since then a series of massacres- the Wagala (1984), Bagala (1998), and Malka Mari (1982), and the adv…

Increasingly, elders in the north play a critical role in determining who gets elected for political offices, especially county offices. However, how do traditional/cultural institutions interact with the new formal political institutions? The relationship between these institutions is not always unidirectional, but they mutually influence each oth…

The Constitution of Kenya, in Article 53 (1) (b) states that every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education, yet since Kenya’s independence, the arid north has continued to exhibit extensively lower access, participation, completion, and achievement rates thanks to insecurity. The Elephant in conversation with Fatuma Ali Saman, a Ke…

The young people are central to how the current election will shape up. Their contribution as voters, aspirants, citizens, policymakers and experts makes them a central cog in our electoral machinery. But how has the current crop of leaders approached the youth issue, especially the urban youth voter? The Elephant talks to youth mobilizer, Mr Rasat…

In this episode, we quantify through numbers, narratives, and anecdotes what was lost, how it was lost and where they are or could be located. We talk about the museums, private collections, secret vaults, altered stories, and canaries.By by The Elephant

Do farmers owe the nation food or do they owe themselves a profit? Should youths join the farming craze? Our country is primarily agricultural as it contributes about 26 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), another 27 per cent of GDP indirectly through linkages with other sectors and value addition. The sector employs more than 40 perc…

The contest between traditional seeds and IP patented industrially produced seeds runs apace. Seed savers Kenya believes their seed preservation techniques are great and ought to be preserved. Meanwhile, the industry seems to try and edge them out. That contest pits farmers against industrialists has immediate effects on consumers, farmers, seeds o…

Around a third of Kenyans live in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (ASAL), which is 80 % of Kenya's landmass. The region temperatures have risen 0.34 degrees C (.6 F) per decade since 1985, which is fueling more severe cycles of drought. The drought cycle has been reduced from ten years to five years, with increasing intensity and frequency of drough…