Author: Mwenda Gitonga

Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi has announced plans to spearhead a constitutional amendment aimed at tightening regulation of social media platforms in Kenya, citing rising concerns over cyberbullying, pornography, and moral decay among youth. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Daybreak program on Thursday, Elachi decried what she termed as the unchecked “digital rot” festering across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook — with women, children, and grieving families increasingly becoming targets. “Social media is good, but it was not made for you to send me your manhood and nakedness,” Elachi said. “We cannot wake up every day…

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has dismissed President William Ruto’s recent apology to Kenyan youth, insisting that true remorse must come with action — specifically, compensation for victims of the 2024 anti-tax protests. Speaking to Citizen TV on Thursday, Maanzo said the Finance Bill demonstrations led to the deaths and maiming of many young people, and the President’s words at Wednesday’s National Prayer Breakfast did not begin to address that pain. “There are about 600 bodies at the City Mortuary of young people who were known from that time. If you go to Kenyatta Hospital, there are those who have spinal…

President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki have paid glowing tributes to the late Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the celebrated Kenyan writer, scholar, and revolutionary who died on Tuesday, May 28, 2025, in Buford, Georgia, USA at the age of 87. Ngũgĩ, whose literary legacy spans over six decades, was lauded by the President as a courageous intellectual and a pillar of African thought who shaped the nation’s moral and political consciousness. “He made an indelible impact on how we think about our independence, social justice as well as the uses and abuses of political and economic power,” President…

President William Ruto will on Thursday begin a high-profile tour of Homa Bay County to launch and inspect a series of development projects ahead of the national Madaraka Day celebrations set for Sunday, June 1, at the Raila Odinga Stadium. The tour, which underscores the government’s push for national inclusivity and grassroots development, kicks off in Ndhiwa Constituency, where the President is expected to: Focus on Development and Economic Growth On Friday, President Ruto will preside over the closing ceremony of the Blue Economy Conference at Tom Mboya University, before heading out to inspect and commission additional projects across various…

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has urged Kenyan football fans to let go of past disappointments and rally behind a “new dawn” for the national team, as he set his sights firmly on a strong showing at the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) set to be held in Kenya. The South African tactician, appointed earlier this year, said his leadership would usher in a bold era of ambition, pride, and results — declaring that the Harambee Stars will aim for nothing less than a spot in the CHAN final. “Harambee Stars have often grappled with unfulfilled potential, and my…

President William Ruto has begun a four-day development tour of the Nyanza region ahead of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2025. The national event will be held at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County. The Head of State’s itinerary includes a series of project launches and inspections in Kisumu and Homa Bay Counties, underscoring the government’s focus on infrastructure, housing, education, and the blue economy. Kisumu County Launches On Thursday morning, President Ruto commissioned 901 housing units under the LAPFUND Makasembo Affordable Housing Project in Kisumu, followed by the launch of the Lake…

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the legendary Kenyan novelist, playwright, and theorist who redefined African literature and championed the power of indigenous languages, has died at the age of 87. His passing marks the end of a formidable chapter in the struggle for cultural and linguistic liberation across the African continent. Ngũgĩ, born James Thiong’o Ngũgĩ in 1938, spent much of his life challenging the legacies of colonialism—not just through politics, but through the written word. From his acclaimed early novels like Weep Not, Child and A Grain of Wheat, to his revolutionary essays and bold linguistic shifts, Ngũgĩ’s mission was clear:…

The World Bank has raised the alarm over Kenya’s worsening economic outlook under President William Ruto, warning that the country is failing to generate enough jobs for its youthful population while poverty continues to rise. In its latest Kenya Economic Update published on Monday, the global lender said the country is experiencing “a deepening youth employment crisis,” with the rate of job creation failing to keep pace with the growing number of young Kenyans entering the labour market. “Job creation, especially for youth, remains insufficient. The pace of economic growth has not translated into meaningful employment opportunities for the expanding…

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has addressed the recent transfer of musician and police officer Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu, popularly known as Samidoh, amid speculation linking the move to a viral video in which he was seen chanting a politically charged slogan. Samidoh, who was stationed at the Anti-Stock Theft Unit headquarters in Gilgil, has reportedly been reassigned to Baringo County, a region plagued by banditry and insecurity. The transfer sparked debate online, with many Kenyans suggesting it was a punitive response to his chanting of “Wantam”—a slogan widely associated with the opposition and viewed as politically provocative. During a…

President William Ruto has publicly apologised to the people and government of Tanzania, following a diplomatic strain triggered by the detention of Kenyan leaders and activists in Dar es Salaam and a subsequent war of words on social media. Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast on May 28, 2025, President Ruto extended an olive branch to Kenya’s East African neighbours, calling for forgiveness and regional unity. “Our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us. Our friends from Uganda, if there’s anything that Kenyans have done that’s not right, we want to apologise,” said Ruto.…