Category: Public Square
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Show Me Your Friends
Remember those multiple choice questions in school? Here is one for you. The difference is, it does not require a correct answer, just an honest response. If you lost your closest friend today, who would you share the news with first? We will not ask why you picked the option you did. Instead, we will…
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We Are Debating Everything, Including County Boundaries!
Since the commencement of the 13th Kenyan Parliament, it has been raining constitutional amendment bills. The hangover from the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional review (mis)adventure seems not to have dissipated. Parliamentarians, both rookies (trying to make their dramatic legislative debuts) and seasoned (trying to flex to rookies) have swiftly suggested amendments. Not in censure…
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“We Just Hope For The Best.”
At the time of writing this, I have been in Kenya for 72 days. Contrary to popular belief, I am neither Kenyan nor do I have any roots in this country (well, I could be growing them). However, I have visited Kenya numerous times over the last few years on journalistic assignments, and I’m currently…
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There Is No Shame, Beloveds
A few weeks ago, a Kenyan social media influencer advertised break up classes. Ms Lydia Mukami, having recently gone through a break up herself, partnered up with Dr Caroline Vundi, a psychiatrist, to offer a workshop called “A Better Break up” where for the price of Ksh 3000, one would learn “the science and psychiatry…
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Somalia’s Famines Not A Product Of Food Scarcity
Almost every year, the United Nations and humanitarian agencies declare a ‘famine’ in Somalia. This year is no different. The UN has warned that prolonged drought threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis who may face starvation if they are not supplied with food and water. The UN and other humanitarian agencies have…
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The Fire Next Door: Electoral Justice and the NSAC Allegations
Still remaining uncontroverted are grave allegations in sworn affidavits by soon to be retired (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati and two outgoing Commissioners, Prof Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, that four IEBC Commissioners (Vice-Chairperson Julianna Cherera, Justus Nyang’aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi) attempted, in concert with members of the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC), to…
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For Women Who Love The World Cup
A riot of colorful hats and flags, exuberant dancing, and the Vuvuzelas, (those rasping, meter-long plastic horns) blaring relentlessly with zest but much less melody, capped the deafening sounds that greeted us at the entrance of the K1 Klub House, along Ojijo road in Parklands, Nairobi, that Friday the 2nd of July 2010. “Ni Ngapi?”,…
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A Playlist For Every Grief
I shouldn’t be writing about this with such brevity – because it deserves a solid long read – but when my family’s matriarch, my stoic maternal grandmother who I’m named after died, my mother, being the practical planner that she is and having made peace with her mortality like every good Muslim should, bought an…
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If You Don’t Make Clothes For Us, Gikomba Will, By Way Of IG.
Instagram boutiques have me in a chokehold. I can’t help it, I spend an embarrassing amount of time everyday scrolling through fashion deals on IG, placing orders for this wrap skirt, or that swanky fedora hat, and wow, have you seen the t-shirt with that edgy line drawing on the front? I want that too.…
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CBC, The Second Coming Of 844 And Other Short Stories
Why does it seem like we have been here before? Students being given homework to make things, do things, rather than just answer questions in a book. Parents scratching their heads trying to find time to do their day job and work with and supervise their children as they do their homework. Parents still scratching…