Author: NLM Correspondent

By Prof John Harbeson The United Nations-sponsored Sustainable Development Goals were established in 2015 with its clearly articulated overall objective of “leaving no one behind” in the quest to overcome all dimensions of poverty to the maximum extent possible by 2030. The SDG project has been a greatly expanded successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the same objective during the first fifteen years of the new century. In mid-2022, the life of the SDG project is at its midpoint, an appropriate time for a review of the project’s achievements, remaining challenges and prospects for meeting the seventeen over-arching…

It is silly season again. Next month, Kenyans head to the polls to elect their political leaders for the next five years. It is the season that common sense takes leave from us. We shall conduct the periodic ritual of sending all manner of characters to represent us in the august houses, both in the counties and at the national level. As is the norm, Kenyans will pick their worst sons and daughters, and then cry until the next cycle. Someone lied to us that democracy is an end in itself. Is it? For democracy has turned Africa into the…

By Paul Okanda The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many economic sectors and allowed a number of them to accelerate their hitherto slow adoption of information technology systems for efficient service delivery. One of the showcase emerging sectors remains the education industry with the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in education systems, popularly known as “EdTech”. Global bodies such as the World Bank Group have stepped up engagements and support to help countries leverage EdTech investments to develop resilient hybrid learning systems. Locally, due to pressures occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly evident that the…

BY JACOB OKETCH The Gift of the Night by Joseph Situma is not only a story with an intricate plot but also multiplicity of characters and an elaborate thematic concern. The author seemingly wanted to address a number of issues in one piece. It is a story centered on Jacob Mwambu, the main character whose life takes a turn for the worst after he is accused of murdering his parents and two other people. Readers are glued to the story because of the twists and turns that occur in Mwambu’s relationship with his Russian wife and his wife’s relationship with…

By Prof Hubert Gijzen The United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development offers an ambitious vision for achieving “Sustainable Development” by eradicating poverty, fighting inequalities and tackling climate change through the 17 integrated goals that cover a wide range of social, economic and ecological issues the world faces today. Key among these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is goal number 4 which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning. SDG 4 plays a strategic and catalytic role for the advancement of all other SDGs. At the global level, UNESCO coordinates the international community to achieve the “education…

By Anthony Mutunga Things got worse for the healthcare industry across the world because of Covid-19 crisis. A Reuters’ May 2020 survey established that African nations, for instance, faced a surge of coronavirus cases with most hospitals having less than one intensive care bed and one ventilator per 100,000 people. It needed a miracle to get out of the ugly situation. For months, most countries lacked the capacity to nit only test for the virus but also trace contacts and isolate the confirmed, and suspected cases. Vaccines were also hard to come by – African countries were forced to depend…

Shareholders of agricultural firm, Kakuzi, have begun to enjoy the company’s diversification fruits as plans to broaden revenue streams continue to be scaled up, chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a says. Speaking at the firm’s 94th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually last month (May), Mr Ng’ang’a assured the shareholders that strategic plans had been activated to accelerate and enhance shareholder returns by diversifying the variety of produce delivered to both the domestic and international markets. Shareholders unanimously voted for a Sh22 dividends per share, representing a 22% growth from the Sh18 per share paid out the previous year, continuing to make the…

Nairobians greeted the opening in May of the Nairobi Expressway for drive test with excitement. It is understandable. BY OUMA OJANGO The City has been a construction site for the last two years courtesy of the works on the expressway and with the ensuing inconvenience to traffic flow that resulted in long traffic gridlocks, news about winding up the road works was bound to be greeted with smiles. The finer works are still going on and might take a little longer to bring the construction on the road to a complete halt. The test drive is, however, going to help…

In May, President Uhuru Kenyatta opened the Nairobi Express Way on a trial basis but for some Kenyans, everything about the elevated highway, from its construction to use, is nothing but an enduring nightmare. By Victor Adar Time to break from work and head home is generally a relief for many after a long day’s work. That used to be the case for Edward Wasonga, a technician who works at Simba Corp situated along Mombasa Road. But the good old experience has since changed and turned into something he and his colleagues have to endure, even considering the traffic jam…

By Robert Ojwang’ and Chris Mahandara The decision to revive counties, urban towns, local governments, and municipalities across the continent was adopted at the end of the 9th edition of Africities summit held in Kisumu City, Kenya. Over 9,000 delegates from Africa and other parts of the world including former Heads of State, ministers, governors, mayors, corporate heads, researchers and innovators attended the May 17 to 21 summit. Kisumu County was privileged to be the first intermediary city to host the continental summit that is usually hosted in Africa’s capital cities. Delegates deliberated on thematic topics underpinning economic growth in…