Vol 66 No 6 | KENYA Ex-rivals Ruto and Odinga tussle for power in new alliance 18th March 2025 A pact with his erstwhile foe may be the President’s best chance of winning the 2027 elections The great survivor of Kenyan politics, Raila Odinga, has an uncanny ability to turn every electoral defeat into a strategic victory. His failure to secure the position of...
Vol 66 No 6 | KENYA The queue to run the Commission 21st March 2025 Running the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has been a poisoned chalice for those in the hot seat, but that did not stop a flood of applications that...
Vol 66 No 5 | KENYASUDANUNITED ARAB EMIRATES Hemeti struggles to launch in Nairobi, again 21st February 2025 As its ties strengthen with the United Arab Emirates, President Ruto’s government is helping Sudan’s RSF militia Kenyan diplomats and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al Burhan have waded into a new diplomatic row over plans by his rival General Mohamed...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 5 | KENYAUNITED STATES Why Washington’s aid freeze could cost tens of thousands of lives and livelihoods 3rd March 2025 Almost 40,000 people working on HIV-AIDS prevention have been put on unpaid leave and free drugs treatment stopped The follow-on effects of the United States’ foreign aid freeze are set to include patients with HIV/AIDs and tuberculosis in Kenya. Those patients will now have to pay... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 5 | KENYA The anti-Ruto alliance 7th March 2025 Rarely do rival politicians celebrate new competition. Yet the launch of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), the new party led by Martha Karua – Raila Odinga’s running mate...
Vol 66 No 4 | KENYA Making enemies of the press 21st February 2025 The country’s leading media group faces financial struggles and competition from social platforms, while foreign outlets expand in Nairobi A highly competitive and – by the region’s standards – vibrant media culture is among the legacies of Nation Media Group (NMG) founder and owner, Prince Shah Karim...
Vol 66 No 4 | KENYAAFRICAN UNION How diplomat Youssouf triumphed over politician Odinga in AU race 19th February 2025 Kenya’s hopes of chairing the AU were thwarted – a blow to its candidate and to President Ruto’s prospects of re-election in 2027 In the end, African leaders chose the diplomat over the politician. Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf held off veteran Kenyan presidential candidate and dealmaker Raila Odinga to...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 4 | KENYA Treasury increases borrowing after admitting defeat on tax targets 18th February 2025 Mbadi has managed to reintroduce revenue measures from the Finance Bill without reigniting street activism but more than half of the expected gains have been lost Treasury ministers are paving the way to take on more debt in the coming months, starting with a US$1.5 billion supplementary budget to make up for missed tax... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 4 | KENYAUNITED STATESHAITI Confusion over future of Haiti police mission 11th February 2025 Despite assurances, the Kenya-led operation faces uncertainty due to funding issues and the need for UN support The long-term status of the Kenya-led police mission to combat gang warfare in Haiti remains under threat, despite President William Ruto and United States Secretary of State Marco... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 3 | KENYA Still the kingmaker 7th February 2025 The coalition building ahead of 2027 may be shaped by Raila Odinga’s fate in the AU elections in Addis Ababa in mid-February The coalitions that will contest Kenya’s general elections in August 2027 are rapidly taking shape. For President William Ruto, the first step involves integrating the Amani National Congress...