The Kenya Forest Services has just triggered a fresh controversy for the Kenya Kwanza administration by unilaterally taking control of the 93-year-old Karura Forest. Legitimate public concern now exists, and interest is mounting around who are the vested interests that have come to threaten one of Kenya’s most cherished public spaces once more.

Wednesday’s celebration of one of the nation’s most important teenagers, the Constitution of Kenya (2010), was remarkable. 2024 saw one of the fiercest battles for constitutionalism yet. A renewed focus on the cancer of corruption in all public spaces accompanied this week’s celebrations. Looking past the current Parliament and Executive shouting match, it may be the Gen Z spirit that offers us a new governance culture that is a match for our constitutional values.

President Ruto’s announcement on 6 August to set up a panel to compensate victims of protest-related deaths (2017–2025) marks a new step in Kenya’s transitional justice journey. But does Kenya’s history suggest that reparations for victims of state violence are just a distant dream? They shouldn’t be. Here are some guiding six principles.

The BBC Africa Eye “Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade” documentary is classic investigative journalism. Given the gravity of the findings and the public call for action to be taken to stop the trade in women and girls, the Interior Cabinet Secretary’s reaction was unexpected. How big a problem does Kenya have and what could be done to better protect them?

As we mark the third anniversary of the 2022 General Elections today, Kenya’s governance occurs as fragile and rudderless. Navigating the current turbulence will require new state systems to listen and interact with public concerns. A new opportunity has emerged in the Public Participation Bill (2025) currently before the National Assembly.

Although the arrests during protests and SUPKEM's report release on countering violent extremism may seem unrelated, the report’s findings offer useful lessons.

Hot on the heels of last week’s policy directive on the use of force and firearms, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) released their extensive report on the June and July public protests this week. This week also, the National Council on the Administration of Justice and the Attorney General’s Forum held separate talks to review how Article 37 and the right to assembly could be realised. Could these efforts signal the season of deadly protests might finally b

With close to 1,500 people facing charges of terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, sexual assault and malicious damage, you would be forgiven for thinking Kenya is at war with itself. The last two weeks have seen a shift in police focus from public order and crime to the unprecedented use of anti-terror laws to suppress civil protests. What are the implications of looking at protests, demonstrations and public order through the lens of counter-terrorism?

Post Saba Saba day, allegations of an attempted coup, calls for police to shoot or maim looters, and mass arrests have raised serious concerns about the government's response to public dissent. How can the current tension be de-escalated?

By tabling the Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025, ODM Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has stirred another national beehive. Critics argue the bill curtails the right to assembly and youth are now threatening to salamia her and MPs who support it. With fresh protests planned for Saba Saba Day on Monday, 7 July, what are the bill’s merits and drawbacks?

Tuesday’s street anarchy in Nairobi had me scrambling for dusty copies of the Commission on Inquiry, Ransley and Kriegler reports on 2007/2008 Post Election Violence. Within 72 hours, key figures accused of coordinating the mayhem had criticised the violence, some instigators had apologised, and several national and international voices had condemned the six hours of carnage. What happened to rapidly de-escalate the situation?

As East Africa’s Finance Ministers unveiled their budgets this week, the region’s top philanthropic funders met in Kigali amid growing uncertainty in global development financing. For all that gathered, it was clear that without bold, innovative action, development financing faces an uncertain future.