Author: NLM Correspondent

Saudia to open up to the world, a movie at a time Saudi Arabia is set to open its first public cinema in 35 years with the Hollywood Blockbuster Black Panther in line to be screened first at an AMC entertainment theatre in Riyadh. AMC, America’s biggest movie theatre chain has signed a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Information ministry; together they plan to open 40 cinemas in 15 cities over the next 5 years. In return, Saudi Arabia is sponsoring a stand at the Cannes film festival to showcase short Saudi films. This is all a part of the Kingdom’s…

The Commonwealth University, London, recently awarded Justice Dr Smokin Wanjala an Honorary Doctorate degree in recognition of his service to humanity. An associate justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Wanjala was actively involved in the struggle for constitutional reform, during his time in civil society in the 1990s. Together with others including Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, and the late Prof. Kichamu Akivaga, he founded the Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION) that accelerated civic education activities in the country at the height of the Kanu regime’s ruthless crackdown on dissent. Justice Wanjala holds a Bachelor of Law from the University…

When the Libyan crisis began in 2011, the African Union wanted to use a political strategy to facilitate a transition of power, and by any means necessary, avoid war. Yet that policy approach was overridden by Western powers by way of the United Nations Security Council, leading to a military intervention, the overthrow and demise of Muammar Gaddafi, and the eventual conflagration of Libya. Cognizant of that watershed moment and others, African decision-makers last month gathered in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia for the high-level Tana Forum on security in Africa. The theme this year is about how the AU could better…

Rwanda’s government closed thousands of churches and dozens of mosques last month as it sought to assert more control over a vibrant religious community whose sometimes makeshift operations, the country’s administration says, are often a threat to the lives of followers. President Paul Kagame, alarmed at the number of churches in the capital alone (as many as 700), did not hide his disdain at the revelation: “700 churches in Kigali?” he posed. “Are these boreholes that give people water? I don’t think we have as many boreholes. Do we even have as many factories?” His move, although criticised by most…

After Raila ‘s much-publicised visit to retired President Moi last month, his erstwhile deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka, made spirited attempts to secure a similar trip to no avail. Those in the know say Moi is a man who knows what he wants, which happens to be Raila at this point, and what he doesn’t need, which happens to be Kalonzo Musyoka. The Wiper leader was reportedly told in no uncertain terms that the former President was not looking to offer him any mileage, let alone blessing for any aspirations he may have, and that he best spend his energies elsewhere. It…

After the expose by The Nation on the rot at City Hall, it is understood that snitches within the newsroom and some actual spies from intelligence agencies have been deployed at the county leadership’s behest to find out those responsible for the exposé. An editor who spoke with The Nairobi Law Monthly explained that despite doing brisk business with the Nation Media Group’s broadcast division, it had been decided that the print segment, and particularly Sunday Nation, would expose the rot in Nairobi county, both as a form of the bold journalism it is famed for, and partly so that…

When three IEBC commissioners resigned last month on account of what they termed as incompetence and lack of leadership from Chair Wafula Chebukati, a series of events happened in quick succession. Commission chief executive Ezra Chiloba had just been sent on compulsory leave – ostensibly Connie Maina, Margaret Mwachanya and Paul Kurgat resigned in solidarity with the CEO. Soon after, the security detail of the remaining commissioners, including the Chair was withdrawn for inexplicable reasons, to be quietly reinstated a few days later. Our source at the Harambee House intimates that the resignation of the three, a well-orchestrated move meant…

A local bank with operations in over twenty countries lost hundreds of millions of shillings in ensuing confusion after changing its core banking system eight years ago. The financial institution’s move to improve its internal control system instead resulted in massive fraud, with millions of shillings paid by clients as tax for over five years disappearing without a trace. Over five thousand clients remain unaware of the status of their tax positions during that period, although several people have been prosecuted for theft of the millions of shillings from the bank. The confusion caused an accumulation of unclaimed funds amounting to…

By John Harbeson For all its central importance to Africa’s modern political history, especially from the mid-19th Century to the present, the Horn of Africa has seemed rarely to get the kind of in-depth treatment – and I would add healing it has deserved – and needs more than ever right now. The current and still unpredictable course of change in Ethiopia makes in-depth policy and scholarly understanding of the region’s requirements urgent, for they inescapably impact each of her neighbours, notably the thousands of Ethiopians who have fled across the border at Moyale into Kenya, sparked initially by a…

BY Ahmednasir Abdullahi It is easy to associate the ongoing Executive-Judiciary war with Uhuru Kenyatta’s promise to “revisit”, upon his contested re-election. The truth, however, is that the standoff is merely symptomatic of a great malady. More than anything, it brings into question the efficacy of Liberal Democracy as a system of government. That politicians are suddenly alive to their diminished roles is also testament of a country that did not internalise the Constitution it overwhelmingly voted for. It may seem a harsh indictment, but how else does one explain Wanjiku’s lethargy in punishing errant politicians? Similarly, what would be…