By Kabakua Mbogori There is a famous quote associated with the former Peruvian field marshal, diplomat, and politician General Óscar Benavides, who also served as the 38th President of Peru that: “For my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law.” While this was first uttered in Peru many decades ago, it is in modern-day Russia where the twisted philosophy has found its most fervent expression. Vladimir Putin, the ferocious Russian strongman, has deployed this philosophy against his political opponents with considerable success. The judicial system of Russia is famous for its efficiency against dissidents and Putin’s political competitors. Professor Maria…
Author: NLM writer
By NLM Writer In June, a ‘Nation’ survey found that a first round win in the August presidential election can only be achieved if the winner gets at least 8.63 million votes, assuming a voter turnout of at least 80 per cent. If this month’s turnout climbs to the highs of the 2013 polls at 86 per cent, a winner will have to garner at least 9.511 million. Allies and strategists of both DP Ruto and his main challenger Odinga have often boasted of what they said are numbers to hit the required 50 per cent plus one vote mark,…
By Special Correspondent Kenyans head to the polls this month amid acute intra-elite tensions. President Uhuru Kenyatta has united with opposition leader Raila Odinga against the campaign of Deputy President William Ruto, who is bitterly at odds with Kenyatta. There are huge political and economic interests at stake. To Deputy President Ruto, the issue lies in the Hustler vs. Dynasty paradigm. Those who belong to the dynasty – Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, and Gideon Moi – have regrouped to ensure a Hustler – William Ruto – does not ascend to the highest seat in the land. While this narrative has…
By Peter Wanyonyi In March 1991, incumbent US President George H.W Bush was riding a crest of popularity that other politicians then and since could only ever dream of. Bush had led America resolutely in the then-just-ended Gulf War, routing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and kicking Iraq out of Kuwait. As the 1992 US Presidential elections drew near, Bush’s job approval rating was a staggering 90%. In comparison, the doddering Joe Biden today enjoys an approval rating of 36% with the midterm elections looming. Bush was up against Bill Clinton, a formidable campaigner whose ability to charm voters is second…
The old order of ethnic coalitions has run its course. While Odinga, a stalwart of self-righteous politics, is fluently harnessing the diametrical profiles of ‘progressive’ and ‘reformer’ on one hand, and ‘corrupt’ and ‘anti-reformer’ on the other, a determined reformist wave is ushering in issue-based politics. By Eric Ng’eno Like all time-bound affairs, the spectacular denouement to Kenya’s relentless political drama, by way of an implacable epistemological ebb, will shortly expose the tremendously reckless bluff called by those quixotic punters who have been splashing in the political high tide in a state of scandalous dishabille. Because, at the present rate,…
They may be little travelled but Africa’s burgeoning youth population expresses knowledge and understanding of their continent and most are eager to tap into opportunities that unite them more, according to a report. By Conrad Onyango, bird Young people in Africa look forward to travelling more to other African countries to explore, expand their friendship network, build new working relations and possibly meet a marriage partner, according to a new report. The “One Africa” report from Africa No Filter found that the majority of the 4,500 youths polled across nine countries feel positive being identified as Africans and express appreciation…
It takes guts to launch a presidential campaign against the wishes of the country’s oldest and best funded dynasties – the Kenyattas and the Odinga clan. But that is precisely what Deputy President William Ruto is doing. By Son Gatitu It is an inside job. Ruto has been an ally of both President Uhuru Kenyatta and erstwhile opposition leader Raila Odinga, lending his brand of aggressive and energetic politics to support their presidential ambitions in the past. But not anymore. As Ruto stakes out his claim to the presidency – with his populist campaign promoting the ‘hustler nation’ – he believes he…
A new report by the Internet Society outlines the state of Internet interconnection in Africa and the critical role Internet Exchange Points (IXP) play in improving access and lowering costs. The report, entitled “Moving towards an interconnected Africa: the 80/20 Initiative,” examines the Internet ecosystem in Africa. There is an urgent need to increase Internet access across the continent, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, fewer than 1 in 5 households have Internet access. Reliable and affordable Internet access also fuels economic growth. A recent study estimates that the…
By Clarisse Juompan-Yakam From the 1930s onwards, several African women who were ahead of their time made their mark in a fiercely male-dominated society. In her remarkable essay, Géraldine Faladé Touadé revives the memory of these pioneers who have been unjustly forgotten by history for far too long. Madeleine Ly, Marie Madoé Sivomey, Jeanne Martin Cissé, Sita Bella… Do you recognise any of these women’s names? You probably don’t, though you should. These are women who worked as doctors, mayors, teachers and journalists; professions which, prior to the 1930s, had been exclusively held by men. Géraldine Faladé Touadé, a former journalist, paid…
By Marie Toulemond Over the last 20 years, upwards of 35m hectares of land in Africa have been sold to foreign investors. Who are the buyers, where are they investing their money and what do they produce on the land they acquire? According to the Land Matrix public database, Africa is targeted by large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) more than any other world region. Since 2000, many Chinese, Emirati, Lebanese, American and European investors have acquired several tens of millions of hectares of arable land in Africa – covering a surface area slightly larger than Côte d’Ivoire – through concession agreements.…
