Maandamano Season 2: Kenya’s Protests Against Police Brutality Intensify

Maandamano Season 2: Kenya’s Protests Against Police Brutality Intensify

Kenya is witnessing a resurgence of widespread protests, dubbed Maandamano Season 2, a powerful echo of the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. Sparked by the brutal death of 31-year-old teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang in police custody, these protests shifted focus from economic grievances to a searing demand for justice against police brutality. The organic movement returning to the streets was aptly captured by an X user going by […]

June 16, 2025 5

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U.S. Kenya Creative Economy Forum 2025: A Game-Changer for Kenyan Music

Last Thursday, Nairobi buzzed with creativity as the U.S.-Kenya Creative Economy Forum 2025 kicked off at the plush Emara Ole-Sereni hotel. Organized by the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya (AmCham), this landmark event brought together over 300 industry heavyweights, policymakers, and artists to unlock the potential of Kenya’s creative sector. For Kenyan music lovers, the forum’s ripple effects could reshape the industry, with stars […]

June 11, 2025 20

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Keeping Up With The Discourse : Is the Kenya Police Service Devoid of Humanity?

The tragic death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and social media influencer from Voi, has ignited a firestorm of grief, outrage, and questions across Kenya. On June 7, 2025, Ojwang was arrested at his family home in Kakot, Homa Bay, for allegedly posting “defamatory” content about Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Eliud Lagat on X. Less than 24 hours later, he was dead in a cell at Nairobi’s […]

June 9, 2025 11

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Keeping Up with the Discourse: A New IEBC, Old Challenges, and a Restless Youth

Kenya stands at a pivotal moment in its democratic journey with the National Assembly’s approval of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on June 4, 2025, alongside six commissioners. This long-overdue reconstitution aims to restore a crippled institution tasked with safeguarding the nation’s electoral integrity. Yet, the shadow of history looms large—decades of politicized commissions, electoral malpractices, and a rising tide […]

June 5, 2025 4

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June 25th: Octopizzo Recalls History Through Sound

On May 30, 2025, Kenyan rap heavyweight Octopizzo released June 25th, a searing protest anthem that turns raw memory into art, recounting the youth-led anti-finance bill protests of 2024 and the brutal government crackdown that followed. Known for his evolution from braggadocious street rapper to a master of layered, socially conscious production, Octopizzo uses this latest release to craft a sonic historical record. This article offers an in-depth exploration of […]

June 2, 2025 21 2

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Keeping Up with the Discourse: Kenya’s New Internet Bill Sparks Debate on Freedom and Control

Keeping Up with the Discourse is a Radio 254 series, exploring the issues shaping Kenya’s public conversation. In the latest chapter of Kenya’s evolving digital landscape, a new bill tabled by Aldai MP Marianne Kitany has ignited a firestorm of debate. The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to overhaul how Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and internet users are regulated, raising critical questions about the balance between cybersecurity […]

May 29, 2025 11

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Keeping Up with the Discourse: Kenya’s Endless Cycle of Political Repressing Anti Regime Politicians

On Sunday May 18 the Karen and Wamunyoro homes of Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua were surrounded. By armed officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), backed by General Service Unit (GSU) and National Intelligence Service (NIS) operatives who descended after a week in which the former Mathira MP dominated headlines with the launch of his party and a viral interview on the Oga Obinna show. […]

May 21, 2025 14 1

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Breaking Down Kenya’s Proposed Finance Bill 2025

As Kenya steps into the second half of the 2020s, the government faces the daunting task of navigating a turbulent economic landscape marked by high public debt, rising living costs, and simmering political discontent. The draft Finance Bill 2025, approved by Cabinet in April but yet to be tabled in Parliament, is the first full attempt by the Kenya Kwanza administration to reset fiscal policy after the seismic upheaval […]

May 13, 2025 133

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Keeping Up with the Discourse: Blood Parliament and Kenya’s Reckoning

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Keeping Up with the Discourse, a recurring column dedicated to unpacking the stories, debates, and undercurrents shaping our country. This week, we dive into Blood Parliament, the latest BBC Africa Eye documentary that has reignited Kenya’s collective grief and outrage over the violent crackdown on anti-tax protesters in June 2024. The film, released on April 28, 2025, exposes the lethal actions of security forces […]

May 8, 2025 12