Author: NLM Correspondent

BY NLM writer In apartheid South Africa, Parliament was sovereign. Judges had no authority to review or overturn parliamentary decisions – no matter how morally reprehensible or legally decadent they were. In short, says law professor Penelope Andrews of the University of Cape Town, public power under apartheid was not subject to review by the courts. But this ended with the enactment of the post-apartheid constitution that made judges the final arbiters in exercise of all public power. The courts have been a significant shield and bulwark for South Africa’s constitutional democracy since then. “Through their creative and courageous decision-making,…

By Antony Mutunga Because most of African countries were colonised, they are bound to their colonial masters. As a result, development is tied to the extent the masters allow. Many of the continent relies on the international trade more than it trades with itself. According to the African Economic Outlook 2017, the European Union remained the continent’s largest trading partner with 30% of trade in 2015 while intra-African trade stood at 15%. However, this has started to change as Africans realise that trading more with each other they can break them free of these bonds, to enable them realise their…

BY Payton Mathau Controversy of the ownership of ninety-seven acres of land in Ruaraka for which a businessman has been compensated is as confusing as its history. While one indenture document indicates that the land, which retains its original number, L.R. No.7978/4, was purchased by Afrison Imports Exports and Huelands Ltd from Joreth Limited on December 29, 1981. Another transaction dated November 30, 1982 is purported to have been conducted between Edward Whittaker and Afrison Imports Exports Limited. “This indenture is made the 29th day of December One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty One between Joreth Limited, a liability company…

By Emeka-Mayaka Gekara Had he not studied law, attorney-general Paul Kihara Kariuki would probably have ended up as an actor, and would likely be a frequent show at the Kenya National Theatre or Alliance Française. He was a decent thespian during his college days. In fact, as he told the House committee vetting him for his new job, he met his wife – Sarah – while playing the role of sheep on stage. Son to one of the pioneer African Anglican bishops, Kariuki could have also ended up as a man of the collar – and here, his oratory skills…

BY Fuad Abdirahman Relation between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates are at their lowest in the two countries histories. In the aftermath of a recent diplomatic tiff, the Dubai has recently suspended all military cooperation with Mogadishu, including financial assistance to over three thousands troops who have been on the UAE’s payroll. In a quick but perhaps not so well thought our rejoinder, the Somalia government has said they are ready to take over paying the salaries of its own personnel. It all started when United Arab Emirates entered a deal with the self-declared republic of Somaliland. DP World,…

By Janek Sunga What if that July had turned out to be just any other ordinary day? The handsome man walks into the chemist. He hands in his prescription. The proprietor, a nice Asian lady, chats with him while she takes care of his order. The man leaves shortly. He is a popular guy with friends everywhere, so it’s no surprise he meets one outside the street. They talk for a few minutes. Then he gets into his car drives home after finishing his errand. What if that July day had happened this way? Instead history is different.  On July…

By Alexander Opicho The US has chosen to punish Rwanda by suspending the AGOA pact for duty-free access to Rwanda’s textile imports on the premise that the tiny nation has refused to lower trade tariffs and barriers for American-made clothing and shoes. This punitive suspension applies to all AGOA-eligible clothing products from Rwanda. America is doing this under a raft of new policies executed by the USTR (United States Trade Representative). The USTR, under the hegemony of Trump, last year began an out-of-cycle review to determine the submissive eligibility of the East African countries to keep their trade benefits under…

By KENYATTA OTIENO A good man died in Kigali on 31 May 1994, two months into the Rwandan genocide as the world looked the other way. Two weeks before he was scheduled to go back home to Senegal, Captain Mbaye Diagne was killed at a road block in his UN truck. He was driving alone back to the U.N. base in Kigali from one of his many trips around Rwanda when a shell landed behind his truck. Shrapnel cut through the back window and hit him in the back of the head; he died instantly. On April 6, 1994, the plane…

By Kenyatta Otieno In the 2013 General Election, several counties went for guided democracy. In Mandera, lawyer Abdikadir Mohammed did not defend his parliamentary seat because elders had worked out how to share the posts between clans. Sospeter Ojaamong’ from minority Teso won the Busia governor’s seat. In Migori, the minority Kuria were given the Senate and Woman Representative seats, as a bargain for presidential votes for Raila Odinga, who is a Luo – they are the majority in the county. The Luo kept their side of the deal while Kuria’s gave Uhuru Kenyatta more votes than Raila Odinga. In…

His Twitter handle has an auxiliary verb in it; it had to be an auxiliary because a doing verb would be too politically incorrect and controversial, especially because the surname he bears is his fathers. It helps remind him he has to do what he says. He hopes to own a media house one day. The way to go about it, he reckons, is to build his credibility on social media, where he has a big following. Cyprian, Is Nyakundi spoke with TNLM’s Kevin Motaroki about his activism online, and why he isn’t afraid of stirring up controversy, as long…