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 When Kenya president William Ruto was almost overwhelmed with gen z revolt, his landmark decision was to dismiss the entire cabinet. This occurred immediately after his refusal to sign the Finance Bill 2024/2025. Ruto endeavored to reconstitute a new cabinet, dubbed broad-based executive. He incorporated key opposition figures drawn from the ODM Party - a move that appeased the doyen of opposition Raila Amollo Odinga. Cabinet Secretaries drawn from ODM included: Hassan Ali Joho, Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, John Mbadi Ng'onga and James Opiyo Wandayi. ODM is as good as dead, and Raila's age factor limits him from flying the Party's presidential flag again and has opted out by contesting as Africa Union Commission (AUC) chairman. President Ruto will heavily rely on two members of his cabinet in his reelection bid. Both Musalia Mudavadi and Hassan Ali Joho are billionaires going by their own assertion while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments. President...

 Like the proverbial cat, Raila Amollo Odinga has nine political lives. Despite losing 5 presidential elections, he has always manoeuvred his way to government. It beats common logic how the ODM leader managed to sneak 4 allies to holding key cabinet positions in Ruto's government. The nomination of Ali Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi as Cabinet Secretaries got Kenyans unaware and left mixed reactions among citizens. The mystery that merged the two political giants occurred amidst widespread protests drawn from Generation Z popularly dubbed as Gen Z. Gen Z, comprising a group of youths born in the late 90s and early 2000s, who were dissatisfied with punitive tax measures imposed on Kenyans by Kenya Kwanza government storm the streets demanding change. The protests that culminated into a section of Gen Z youths storming the precincts of parliament led to the withdrawal of the 2024 Finance Bill and dissolution of the Cabinet by President William Ruto. Owi...

  Ever heard about the history of multiparty democracy and how several African countries succumbed to pressure that thrashed one-party dictatorship. Multiparty politics was majorly influenced by countries with established democracies such as the West led by Britain and America. Raila Amollo Odinga is one of the most powerful politicians in Kenya. He is revered both locally and abroad. He enjoys a wider political network, superseding those of his political detractors, with an edge. The doyen of opposition politics staged a series of street protests rejecting to recognize the legitimacy of William Ruto as Kenya's validly elected president. How Raila's impact resonates with other African countries In 2007, Raila Odinga protested the outcome of the presidential election which placed Mwai Kibaki ahead of him. The spontaneous election violence that ensued the 2007 General Elections in Kenya remains one of the darkest moment in Kenya's history. Incidences of almost a similar natu...

As Nigeria outgoing president Buhari would have it, "the best person for the job," a perfect description that befits newly elected Nigeria president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu was announced as Nigeria president elect by INEC after winning in the just concluded Nigeria presidential elections. Opposition Parties have disputed the election results and termed the exercise as shambolic. Who won Nigeria Presidential Election Independent Nigeria Election Commission (INEC) chairman Mahmoud Yakubu declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Party (APP) as winner. The winner was announced on Wednesday at 04:00am. The timing of the announcement has raised international eyebrows on whether the elections were free and fair. As results started trickling in, Nigeria police cautioned citizens against incitement. Tinubu on his part has called for tolerance and appealed for unity. People's Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and ADC demanded the resignation of INEC Chai...

  COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has disclosed a highly classified detail on how President Uhuru Kenyatta might have his way back to presidency after the exhaustion of his two-term tenure limit in August 2022. The firebrand COTU boss has been reported on numerous occasions stating that Uhuru is too young to retire. Atwoli was speaking in a presser ahead of Labor Day celebrations, where he stated that the president can still contest for presidency after 10 years from his retirement. “President Uhuru’s labor day speech may not be the last one because he is retiring as a young person, he may stay for 10 years then be back in leadership, and it has happened in many countries in the world, so we can’t rule out President Uhuru cannot come back,” Atwoli said on Saturday. President Uhuru Kenyatta will retire this year on August. His succession has sparked some bitter rivalry between opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto, who are presumed to be top contende...

K enyans have been resigning from lucrative positions in both the private and public sector to seek elective seats. As Uhuru Kenyatta ’s term approaches a tumultuous halt, his employees are uncertain of their job security.  What baffles mutual logic is why Kenyans quit lucrative positions to join politics. There are higher stakes in politics than other jobs as politicians have the tendency to attract influence, power and money. There are many politicians who use colossal amounts of money that even exceeds the cumulative salaries to be paid after winning a particular seat.  The Constitution of Kenya 2010 prohibits public officers from active political engagement. Cabinet Secretaries are classified as State officers hence the restraint on their political engagement. However, we have witnessed a number of Cabinet Secretaries hitting the campaign trail. Cabinet Resignations Recently four Cabinet Secretaries resigned to seek gubernatorial positions in the 2022 general elections s...

Has the former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka hit the end of the road and made an about turn?  The Tseikuru born politician is at crossroads after his former OKA counterparts Musalia Mudavadi of ANC and Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya bolted out of the outfit to join hands with Deputy President Willam Ruto in the quest for 2022 presidency. Kalonzo was once quoted saying that he would be stupid should he support ODM Leader Raila Odinga for the third time.  Wiper Party held a National Executive Meeting on Tuesday that was chaired by the Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.  Kalonzo hinted plans of his Party joining hands with other Parties in the process of battling to be part of the next government. The Wiper Leader accused his former allies of betrayal while at the same time ruling out the option of joining Azimio. “Azimio is not a registered organization; we want to deal with what is registered,” Kalonzo said. 

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula might find it hard finding a soft landing in the County as political heavyweights join the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K). DAP-K is destined to dethrone Ford Kenya from the region and its environs. Seasoned politician doubling as Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and his Tongaren counterpart Dr. Eseli Simiyu were welcomed to DAP-K with aplomb, where they were conferred as Party leader and Secretary General respectively.  DAP-K is associated with Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa . The Party will advance the Azimio La Umoja campaigns in Western and the North Rift Region to countenance Okoa Kenya Alliance (OKA). Former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi and Wetangula are among the OKA co-principals alongside Gideon Moi and Kalonzo Musyoka .  Wetangula’s fortunes have been plummeting in the recent past, since he severed ties with ODM leader Raila Odinga , after the dissolution of NASA . There is no single MP in Bungoma supp...

A s the term of President Uhuru Kenyatta approaches the end, he is not leaving anything to chance. In politics, there are no coincidences. The detention of Judges Aggrey Muchelule and Said Chitembwe coincided with the arrest of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua. Uhuru is proving to be the real political progeny of former president Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. True to Moi’s words, KANU might rule for 100 years and will do so in so many forms depending with the circumstances. The return of the hyped ‘kamata kamata Friday’ is an indication that Uhuru will be more ruthless in dealing with dissenting voices in his last moments in office.  Judiciary is among the three arms of government. The other two are the Executive and Parliament. An MP cannot be arrested at the precincts of Parliament. DCI detectives stormed the judges’ chambers and arrested them on the basis of speculation. Justices Muchelule and Chitembwe were arrested on Thursday outside their chambers. Muchelule was among the judges, wh...

During the 58 th Madaraka Day celebrations held at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Center in Kisumu, President Uhuru Kenyatta bestrode the Lakeside City like a colossus - thanks to the handshake magic. Kisumu City came to a standstill as the scion of Jomo was given a heroic welcome. The region that was perceived to hate him was in full praise of his leadership because of mega projects he had initiated in the area.  Quite strange that Uhuru can receive a more heroic welcome in Kisumu than he can receive in Kiambu, Nyeri or Murang’a.  Deep-rooted tribal bigotry has permeated the kikuyu and luo communities for long. President Uhuru Kenyatta is losing regional grip due to his association with Raila Odinga . Residents are slowly embracing deputy president William Ruto to punish the president over his close ties with the opposition leader whom they don’t like. The recent outcome of by-elections where Jubilee candidates registered dismal performance in Mt Kenya region discloses ...

Opinions are shaped by facts and facts will always remain sacred. As politicians realign ahead of 2022 succession battle, there is emerging a new crop of State influencers out to determine who will succeed President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta .  State House operative Nancy Gitau is touted as the power behind the wheel influencing Uhuru’s succession plans. Nancy is a State House employee since the era of retired president Mwai Kibaki .  The president is using proxies to block the surging popularity of deputy president William Samoei Ruto . Just like in the past when state machineries would be marshaled to countenance the popularity of opposition leader Raila Amollo Odinga . The coronation of national assembly Speaker Justin B Muturi , wasn’t a workout in vanity. Mt Kenya region will soon heed to the reality on the ground and rally behind Muturi.  It’s incipient that Central region, through the Head of State wants to pay the political debt, owed to their counterpart...

Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) went through hell and back. There were so many legal hurdles facing the constitutional amendment process. The Court would later rule that BBI was unconstitutional.  First, it was ratified by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Committee (IEBC) which was underrepresented. The number of commissioners who approved the process after signatures verification failed to meet the minimum threshold. BBI was the key adhesive holding together Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. Uhuru and Raila are scions of Kenya’s founding fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Oginga Odinga respectively. The historic fallout between their fathers trickled to their progenies, which culminated with the landmark ‘presidential oath’ taken by Raila at Uhuru Park early 2018. Raila and his ODM brigade contested Uhuru’s 2017 presidential win, which was nullified by Chief Justice David Maraga.  The President and the Opposition leader surprised the nation when they walked down t...