Dr Dina N Krigha Writing in the forward to the book “A Lawyer for our times”, recently retired Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga wrote the following about Dr Fackson W. Kagwe: “…it is a meticulously researched account, a compelling story of a fascinating take-charge professional and his equally stirring times.” This biography reminds me of the “Happy Lawyer”, a book by the writing team of Nancy Levit and Doug Linder, law professors at the University of Missouri, who tackled the crucially important subject of “how to have a happy life in law”. After interviewing more than two hundred lawyers about…
Author: Guest Writer
By Kenyatta Otieno The 2022 elections had two outcomes that have informed this article. One is an assumed ideological base for the first time in Kenyan elections and the fact that younger people either kept away from the ballot or did not vote along tribal lines. The ‘Hustlers-Dynasty’ narrative is like the British Labour versus Conservative political ideology. William Ruto and UDA campaigned on a platform of an ordinary man against Raila of Azimio, the child of Kenya’s first Vice President, supported by the son of Kenya’s first President. If you look again, you realise that Raila is more hustler…
The story of Eric Aniva and his extraordinary occupation made world headlines after a BBC interview in July 2016. He said he was a ‘hyena’, someone whose job, in the culture of southern Malawi, involved having sex with girls at puberty and with new widows, as a ritual sexual cleansing. He was subsequently arrested, charged, convicted and then sentenced to two years hard labour. But now a senior legal academic is questioning whether Aniva had a fair trial, or whether he simply took a hit for local cultural practices that embarrass Malawi. By Carmel Rickard Much about Eric Aniva’s story,…
The Law Society stands as a bulwark against creasingly iron-fisted Executive, and their next representative at the Judicial Service Commission will determine how eloquently they can articulate independence and rule of law. By Franklin Mbogori In a properly functioning democratic system of Government, the principle of judicial independence towers above all else. Due to the constitutional design of modern governments, the Executive branch invariably retains monumental powers of the state. In a presidential system like ours, there are endless opportunities for mischief if a regime hostile to constitutional checks assumes control. Hence, the Constitution and the judiciary – the organ…
The Conversation Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a non-communicable disease that occurs when there is a sustained elevation in the pressure of the blood that flows through the arteries. Adults in low- and middle-income countries account for around 75% of the global cases. High blood pressure is a manageable condition through regular monitoring, lifestyle changes and treatment. However, untreated blood pressure, also known as uncontrolled hypertension, can lead to damage to organs such as the kidneys, heart and brain. All this increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and other serious health issues. Globally, uncontrolled hypertension is a leading contributor…
We’re never going back the way we were — and this will be to the benefit of firms, profitability, clients and lawyers if we make the right technology investments.
By James Osiema Opiyo The ascendancy of Kenya to become a regional economic powerhouse can be linked back to the administration of the late President Mwai Kibaki, Kenya’s third president. The Kenyan economic renaissance began in the early 2003 and lasted for about 10 years albeit with some turbulence and headwinds that slowed down the velocity of progress. Some of Kibaki’s key accomplishments included the launch of Kenya Vision 2030, free primary education, promulgation of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and creation of conducive environment for free market competition. Free market competition, for example, provided an environment where banks were free to…
By Gilbert Muyumbu Members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) are expected to elect new leadership for the organisation in February 2024, when the tenure of current LSK president, Eric Theuri comes to an end. The organisation is an important player in the rule of law terrain in Kenya. But the terrain faces two consistent realities. On the one hand, the executive arm of government is always a reluctant adherent to the rule of law. If the rule of law was a hospital and the executive arm a patient, the executive would have to always be dragged to the…
I recently spent a week with students and faculty at the University of Nairobi and was blown away by their energy, ideas, and enthusiasm. The generation now reaching adulthood is the best educated to date and as a result, demand for university studies is exploding. But Kenyan universities are struggling to meet this surge in demand. I understand the same is true in many African countries. The root of the problem is a finance gap. Universities all over the world struggle to raise money, but the problem is particularly pressing in Africa, with its hunger for education and the urgent…
Renowned playwright and film maker Mbongeni Ngema was given a hero’s send-off during a State funeral in his home town of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa, on January 5 BY ABBEY MAKOE Mbogeni Ngema, the film producer who put South Africa and Africa on the artistic international map, will be remembered for his seminal movie, Sarafina, if not for its stage prequel by the same title. Ngema’s music and iconic productions have dominated social media and mainstream news across SA and beyond. He died suddenly in a car accident on December 27, 2023 and was buried on January 5, 2024.…