Kenya’s transition from a de facto one-party state to a formally recognized multiparty democracy was the result of decades of political struggle, civic activism, and constitutional reform. After independence in 1963, the Kenya African National Union (KANU) gradually eliminated meaningful opposition. By the early 1980s, President Daniel arap Moi had tightened KANU’s grip through constitutional … Read more
If you’ve seen images or headlines about massive youth-led protests in Kenya and wondered, “Why is this happening?” you’re not alone. For anyone new to Kenya’s history, the recent Gen Z uprising might seem sudden or confusing. But in reality, what’s happening today is part of a much longer, ongoing story—a struggle over change that … Read more
In early April 1971 a group of military officers and civilians in Kenya conspired to overthrow President Jomo Kenyatta’s government. The plotters included serving officers, opposition politicians, and at least one member of the judiciary. Their aim was to remove Kenyatta and install a new regime by force, mirroring coups that had recently occurred in … Read more
Kenya’s current political environment presents a chilling question: Are words and symbols potent enough to rival physical violence in their capacity to harm? The disappearance of critics like Kibet Bull, alongside the vanishing of several others amid allegations of a “psychological warfare” aimed at the presidency, brings this question to the forefront. The ongoing struggle … Read more