Author: NLM Correspondent

By Kevin Motaroki Fred Matiang’i is something of an enigma in executive apparel, but there is never ambiguity to his method. He is the most consequential minister in Uhuru Kenyatta’s government. His ascendancy to the echelons of power has been as a result of a schism in a burgeoning nation’s certainties, within a dicey political scenario, which required the ruling Jubilee Party to want to be able to predict, with an appreciable degree of assurance, that certain core foundational and developmental functions, at a time of raised passions, would be adjudicated by a rational, liberal mind. Since his appointment in…

The first-ever Russia-Africa summit was held from October 23-24 in Sochi, Russia, marking the culminating point of the return of Russia to Africa, with more than 50 African leaders and 3,000 delegates attending. That convening was only another illustration of the recent increase in economic, security, and political-diplomatic engagements to foster Russia-Africa relations. Over the last decade there has been a proliferation of Russia-Africa bilateral committees, economic forums, and conferences for economic coordination. In 2011, the Russian Agency on Insurance of Export Credit Investments (EXIAR) was created in order to facilitate Russian companies’ activities and the protection of investments. More recently, the…

BY Shadrack Muyesu It’s almost a decade since we ushered in the new constitutional order and its perhaps time we examined whether the Republic is better served by this system of government we chose for ourselves. How do we score in terms of minimum conflict, sustainable development, the rule of law, market liberalization, equality and equity; have we fed off these fruits of Liberal Democracy or have we regressed? It’s an important question that everyone seems to ignore. Government is the foundation of socio-economic development. It goes beyond the minor problem of whether a country should have a presidential…

Sudan’s transitional government and various opposition groups under the Sudan Revolutionary Front umbrella on Monday signed the political roadmap and Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreements seen as a major breakthrough in the ongoing peace negotiations to end decades of conflict. President Salva Kiir who has been mediating the peace process since October 14, lauded both parties for reaching the agreement and disclosed peace and stability in Sudan also translates into stability of Juba which is seeking recovery from five years of conflict. “I want to thank the new leaders of Sudan for their straightforwardness that they would want to solve…

A new UN study has found that a lack of opportunity is the main motivation for many African migrants trying to reach Europe. “Scaling Fences” gathers the accounts of men and women who make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, which some in Europe believe is driven by extreme deprivation. “The perceived wisdom is that people come to Europe because of extreme deprivation,” explains Mohamed Yahya, the lead author of the report by the United Nations Development Programme. “Our data shows that many of them had jobs before they left, so the perceived wisdom of basic deprivation is not there.…

By Calvine Oredi The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seems to have woken up from slumber and flexed its muscle in hotly pursuing tax evaders. The obvious trigger is the dry coffers at Treasury, compounded by the need to implement the Big 4 Development Agenda, as well as burgeoning public debt. The Government has faced questions on its huge appetite for heavy borrowing which has been an easy but less-than-ideal route to meet the big budget deficit and meet its obligations as outlined in its current budget. Already ministry’s, departments and agencies (MDAs) are reeling from the effects of the 50…

By Agencies Some 800,000 girls across Kenya will be protected against cervical cancer annually following the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the country’s routine immunisation programme, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Sicily Kariuki announced last month at a launch ceremony in Mombasa County. “Scaling up access to quality health services, particularly for women and girls, is a critical part of Kenya’s Big Four Action Plan,” said Sicily Kariuki. “Cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in Kenya. Working with partners like Gavi, UNICEF and WHO to introduce the HPV vaccine into our routine immunisation programme is…

By Prof John Harbeson With all the commentary about democratic backsliding, not only in Africa and other newer democracies but in my own country and elsewhere, it is clear to me that responsibility for this trend lies not just with practitioners in these countries but with others as well. It lies to some extent also with those who have borne major responsibility for promoting global democratisation movement over three decades, including my fellow academics and some in the NGO community as well as influential figures in policymaking communities. One problem has been that democracy, properly understood, has so many important…

It has been four months since the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) nominated 41 individuals for appointment as judges. Curiously, President Uhuru Kenyatta went quiet after the names were forwarded to him, prompting lawyer Adrian Kimotho to sue to compel the Head of State to make the appointments. President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended his decision not to gazette all the 41 judges, citing “adverse reports” on some of them. The President argues it would be irresponsible on his part to appoint the judges who enjoy security of tenure given the integrity concerns he is privy to and reveals he will ask…

When the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement—which has created the world’s largest free trade zone—was first expressed a couple of years ago, I admit I wondered if African leaders were fully committed to achieving this historical milestone. But the progress and enthusiasm around the agreement, as well as its potential to be transformational for all Africans, have eased my reservations. As noted by many experts, including Dr Landry Signé in a recent report on this subject, the AfCFTA has great potential: By 2030, Africa will have a combined consumer and business spending of $6.7 trillion, offering some of the…