Former Prime Minister and Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga is at a crossroads in his political career. He has to choose between leading the Opposition from outside Parliament or walking away from politics and into some form of retirement. This week, he appeared to swing

The next few days will be critical, and it is not only political watchers who should have their eyes on the Supreme Court, where the petition challenging the election of William Ruto as President will be heard.  Raila Odinga’s coalition has asked for a cocktail

William Ruto this week took to his new status with authority and political wiliness. In his first meeting with elected leaders and representatives from his coalition, he made assurances on the freedom of expression and association and sought to bring everybody together. Dr Ruto also

The Sentiment this week sought to analyse some of the institutions and individuals involved in the General Election and how they have emerged from the process. WINNERS IEBC Wafula Chebukati, the commission’s chairman, had a twinkle in his eye as he encouraged the public and

A combination of changes to electoral laws made after the elections in 2017 and the emphasis on traceability and verifiability of the polls have changed the way the results will be made public. In the week before the elections, the institution in charge has ramped

The electoral commission on Thursday invited the four presidential candidates for a consultative meeting over the printing of results forms. At the same time, rumours surfaced on social media and were subsequently shared through messaging apps, that the police had raided the headquarters of a

Nothing political on Twitter is spontaneous and it was therefore evident the Azimio Coalition was unhappy with the electoral commission on Friday.  Singled out for criticism by affiliated individuals was Wafula Chebukati, the chairman of the commission, over the handling of three men who were

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission and interested stakeholders has ramped up activities to campaign for peace in areas of potential election-related violence.  These activities are centred around Nakuru, Kisumu, Nandi, Isiolo and Marsabit counties and have the generous backing of non-governmental organisations, many of

One of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s targets, as he sought to establish his legacy after 10 years in charge, was to enhance the war on corruption. This week, about three weeks to the election, he appeared to make several steps back in that effort. First was

Despite its best efforts, and more than four years to get its act together, the electoral commission faces the same challenges it did in 2017 when it bore the embarrassment of the presidential election annulled. Perhaps the greatest failure has been in the management of

A combination of decisions this week have provided some relief and could reduce the political pressure on the administration as it sees out its last days in office. Via the Finance Act, the Treasury reduced the tax on cooking gas, giving consumers relief in the

A bank official testified this week that a company owned by former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu received kickbacks from a contractor. Using statements, cheques and other documentation, the Equity Bank employee said he helped investigators piece together the transactions showing Waititu received the money from

The Petroleum Principal Secretary, Mr Andrew Kamau, forgot that you “don’t joke with a hungry man” after his assertion this week that Kenyans are practically paying no taxes for fuel due to the subsidy to oil marketing funds caused an uproar. Still, the authorities have

There was a hint of desperation in Johnson Sakaja’s voice as he sought to drag President Kenyatta into the troubles over his degree that have bedevilled him to no end this week. Although he insisted that the President, who was once his benefactor, was behind

It will take a special process for the National Assembly to hold a sitting following last Thursday’s adjournment of its sittings indefinitely. Among the institutions that had hoped to have its issues resolved before the legislators effectively closed shop was the electoral commission, which had

The public camaraderie exhibited by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his estranged deputy William Ruto, during the annual National Prayer Breakfast on May 26, 2022, flickered out just four days later, during the Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1. During the annual National Prayer Breakfast day,

Rigathi Gachagua, William Ruto’s running mate, is reported to have caused disquiet within the Deputy President’s campaign team over a series of tactless remarks he has made since his appointment.  The latest was made on Inooro FM earlier this week, where he suggested that a

In the days after they unveiled their choice of running mate, Raila Odinga and William Ruto have had the opportunity to sit back, watch the reactions and listen to feedback on their choices. Mr Odinga will be happy about what has been said of his

Impeached Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been the cause of a small-scale storm in Raila Odinga’s Azimio coalition. It initially seemed that Sonko had retired to Mombasa as an entrepreneur. He runs a club in the coastal city that he has worked to popularize on

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission this week announced the start of the verification of the voters’ register, more than two months behind schedule.  The commission, abbreviated IEBC, is traditionally kept on its toes by the political parties through their party leaders and stakeholders such

The camps of both leading presidential candidates put aside their rivalry this week to push a pliable electoral commission to extend the deadline for the submission of their running mates by 20 days.  While the names of the candidates and their mates were originally scheduled

Faced with pressure from different directions over a decision on his running mate, Raila Odinga this week resorted to a politically secure method – having the decision determined by a committee. While it had always seemed like Kalonzo Musyoka would return to the spot beside

The reporting on the United Democratic Alliance nominations suggested that there was widespread chaos in parts of the 36 counties where the party headed by Deputy President William Ruto was holding its primaries.  The party’s top officials and communication team were however happy that they

Raila Odinga endured a tough day on Thursday as he worked to convince parties in the coalition that he would continue to cater to their interests as the nominations ahead of the General Election begin. Mr Odinga would end up making a U-turn on a

Every party took something from the judgement by the Supreme Court that ended the journey for the bid to amend the Constitution that started with the Building Bridges Initiative.    Those opposed to the bid, Deputy President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza group, took the

Martha Karua this week announced her decision to join Raila Odinga’s Azimio movement, ending weeks of speculation about her political direction.  It was evident from Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s reaction that they had hoped to work with Ms Karua to deliver support for Deputy

As he travelled to the United Kingdom this week, Raila Odinga was hoping to outdo his main competitor, Deputy President William Ruto, but left behind a campaign in trouble just months to the elections.  Mr Odinga’s biggest headaches come from:  His running mate, Kalonzo Musyoka,

Deputy President William Ruto and his allies spent the past week in the Kiambu East region, starting from Thika earlier in the week and traversing through both Gatundu constituencies later.  Dr Ruto has decided to take the President head-on after his erstwhile ally openly showed

Nick Salat, Kanu’s secretary-general, is not a diplomat. This was evident this week as he chided Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka for his apparent indecision over whether to join Raila Odinga’s Azimio. Mr Musyoka was initially thought to be a shoo-in to join Mr Odinga,

With less than six months to the General Election, peace stakeholders have sprung into action in efforts to prevent election-related violence. Last Tuesday, the National Cohesion and Integrated Commission and the United Nations hosted the Uwiano Platform for Peace; Strategic Coordination and Peace. The event

All along, it had seemed to Raila Odinga and his supporters that Kalonzo Musyoka would easily agree to cross over and accept to be his running mate, but things have changed drastically. This week, Mr Musyoka revealed to the public an agreement struck between the

Deputy President William Ruto has rattled his competitors with the news that he will this weekend embark on a 10-day tour of the United States of America and the United Kingdom.  According to his Head of International Relations, Ababu Namwamba, Dr Ruto is scheduled to

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s third big meeting at Sagana State Lodge went as widely expected.  He castigated his deputy for starting his campaigns earlier than necessary, denying knowledge of the Handshake before it happened and then suggested that he had been involved in corruption before he

Raila Odinga returned from a 10-day tour to an opinion poll saying that Peter Kenneth would be his best bet for running mate.  On the other hand, according to a poll by The Star, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua is the right man for Deputy President

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was earlier this week given the greenlight by his Wiper party to negotiate pre-election deals.  Not that he needed permission, as he has nevertheless been approached and is still in the One Kenya Alliance (OKA), but he has over time

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has sparked a fresh round of controversy in political circles just after the fight over the law determining how coalitions are formed ended.  The electoral commission has proposed changes to the Elections Act, with the apparently most controversial

In the months before he announced an alliance with Deputy President William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi had been working to change his profile.  He had become more assertive and angled his messaging towards the economy and reminding Kenyans that it was when he joined the Treasury

Jimi Wanjigi has since mid-2021 been vocal about his bid to become a presidential candidate, but the last week has made that ambitious idea fade into the background. The decision by a court to free him as it verifies the orders of another court preventing

While The Standard had published a story about it before, the visit by activists Boniface Mwangi and Hussein Khalid to the banks of River Yala have once again thrown the spotlight on suspected extrajudicial killings in Kenya. The activists reported that since July 2021, a

Journalists have been wary about exploring the story of the abduction, torture and hospitalization of Dennis Itumbi, who now works as a digital strategist for Deputy President William Ruto. Keen to use the opportunity provided by his story, Mr Itumbi has decided to dole out

The potential to create conflict and its harmful effects was evident this week when Meru Senator Mithika Linturi used a metaphor that was previously used to mark subjects for elimination at a public rally. For those who can remember, “madoadoa” in a political context refers

Every day over the past two weeks, the Deputy President’s schedule is sent out by his communication team. His weekly schedule is released at the start of every week to media houses and also distributed via WhatsApp, mostly to journalists’ groups, which ensures that any

Plans by the Jubilee Party to hold a National Delegates Convention late November died with a whimper and without an explanation.  It was reported that the plans collapsed after a consideration was made that with more than 100 MPs having left the party for the

Orange Democratic Movement head Raila Odinga is scheduled to make a major announcement on December 10, but observers expect no surprises as he has pointed in the direction already.  Barring a change of heart, the former Prime Minister will be making official his fifth attempt

Chief Justice Martha Koome has been handed yet another test in the form of a protest letter over her membership in a committee connected with the elections. The protest is from Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance party and was issued after Justice Koome

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party is set to hold its National Delegates Congress on November 30, a significant meeting for the party whose future has been in doubt since the fallout of its principals. Orange Democratic Movement boss Raila Odinga will be joined by Kalonzo

Chief Justice Martha Koome has appealed against a ruling by the High Court that the President can be sidestepped in the process of appointing judges, effectively casting her lot with the Executive. Details of her reasoning will emerge as the appeal progresses, submissions are filed

The electoral commission this week announced that it had rejected the rules to govern nominations submitted by 89 parties, amongst them the two backing the biggest candidates – Raila Odinga and William Ruto. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati suggested the parties had

Kenyans were this week reminded of the Building Bridges Initiative in two ways.  The first was the publication of a Bill to amend the Constitution being pushed by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua. One of the main, and controversial, features of the Bill is the provision

Deputy President William Ruto is on a mission to visit every constituency in Kenya before the General Election.  He has, so far, held 133 meetings in 20 counties, which means that he is likely to meet and probably surpass his target.  The decision to open

Going by his latest statements, Dr Willy Mutunga’s stint at the Judiciary was a five-year break from activism, for he is right back where he started, with more fire and actions that will test the leadership of the institution he left. Dr Mutunga has announced

The relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary is seen in some quarters to have soured starting September 2017 when the Supreme Court annulled the re-election of President Kenyatta. That moment woke the current administration to the magnitude of the choices made in not only

From now onwards, every public holiday whose celebrations he presides over will be labelled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s last, and as the end of his term draws closer, the expectations grow heavier. He spent the most of his Mashujaa Day speech outlining the things done over

The electoral commission this week gave the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs a wish list of laws it wants changed to make it easier to manage the General Election in August 2022. They include provisions to allow a complementary mechanism to transmit presidential election

Compared to how they handled Raila Odinga, there was a different tone in the conversation when the Mt Kenya Foundation met the One Kenya Alliance earlier this week.  Where the former Prime Minister was assured of support, the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) was given the

Raila Odinga, the head of the Orange Democratic Movement, this week made his biggest moves yet to harness the votes he anticipates will be the reward of his rapprochement with President Uhuru Kenyatta. He toured Central Kenya, met and received the approval of the powerful

A sit-down with the President always offers interesting insights and is no doubt a good deal for the media, as it is bound to produce headlines as the country is given a rare chance to examine the thinking of its Head of State. President Uhuru

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga surprised many, their allies especially, when they reached a truce and marked it with The Handshake on the steps of Harambee House on March 9, 2018.  Part of the agreements reached that day were to resolve the issues they

The press conference by Moses Kuria, Martha Karua and Mwangi Kiunjuri on Thursday was advertised as a significant moment for development in Kenya’s politics ahead of the General Election. At the end, a hot mic on the table at the venue picked up an interesting

When they emerged from their Parliamentary Group meeting, MPs supporting Deputy President William Ruto came out with a bold statement.  They declared: “The governing Jubilee Party has collapsed. The opposition NASA coalition has disintegrated. The Hustler Nation has found a new home in the United

Going by the short Kenyan tradition as far as parties go, the National Super Alliance was never meant to last. Still, its imminent dissolution has been dramatized and televised, with Raila Odinga, its erstwhile presidential candidate, this week announcing the decision by his Orange Democratic

Two incidents on Thursday and another one on Friday morning have swung the spotlight back on corruption.  The Thursday ones involved Justices Aggrey Muchelule and Said Juma Chitembwe, whose officers were stormed and searched by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations before they were

In the cycle of Kenyan politics, every new party needs a confidence-booster ahead of its first major General Election. William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance got theirs with a narrow win over Jubilee Party in the Kiambaa Constituency by-election.  Uhuru Kenyatta was there in September 2012,

President Uhuru Kenyatta is reported to have made an attempt this week at uniting the heads of the now-dead National Super Alliance, the coalition Raila Odinga used to make his last attempt at the presidency. The President is reported to have initiated a meeting between

The public phase of the appeal against the High Court decision that sought to end the Building Bridges Initiative has ended. There were two days in which the proponents of the Bill to amend the Constitution clothed their bid in the finest clothes, and two

The latest salvo from Deputy President William Ruto will add to the sentiment that the Jubilee Party is in its last days.  In an interview on KTN News, Mr Ruto criticized the suggestion that the ruling party could merge with the Orange Democratic Movement but

Politicians from the east of Mt Kenya were last week angered by the suggestion from their counterparts from the west of the mountain that there could yet be a candidate from that side fit for the presidency. Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi is arguably the most

Budgeting for an election usually starts before the year in which the election is held, which would make an allocation in the Budget normal, but there is more this year.  The allocation has been tripled, from KSh4.6 billion to KSh15 billion, and this has been

In the week he fired a broadside at the Judiciary, President Uhuru Kenyatta also dared the same arm of Government to what will be a long debate by appointing a section of the 41 judges he had refused to do.  He left out six of

At the National Prayer Breakfast held at Parliament on Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked MPs to fast track and approve the Bill for the implementation of Universal Health Coverage.  The National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill seeks to make it mandatory for any Kenyan who

A week after five judges delivered a scathing verdict of the Building Bridges Initiative, President Uhuru Kenyatta is yet to make a statement on the matter.  There has been plenty of sentiment from the people around him, from what was perceived as a veiled threat

The Building Bridges Initiative gained more momentum this week with the approval from the Senate of its Bill to amend the Constitution. Proponents of the initiative have been counting their achievements: easily getting four million signatures to support the initiative, getting an overwhelming majority of

There were two politically significant events touching on Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, two prominent candidates for the presidency next year.  First, Mr Odinga had to call in his loyal troops in the National Assembly to deal with Rarieda MP

The desire by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition Leader Raila Odinga to introduce constitutional amendments under the Building Bridges Initiative has run into new headwinds of a political and legal nature. The political ripples have been created by two important moves made by Kakamega Governor

Emerging issues threaten BBI in a real way  After a deadlock on whether they can amend the Bill to amend the Constitution, Parliament’s two committees scrutinizing the bid reported a farcical issue that could derail the efforts backed by the Handshake proponents.  Up to 34

Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday night admitted that his boss has abandoned him and suggested that he had done nothing to stop the individuals and civil servants who frustrate him. In his interview with Linus Kaikai of Citizen TV, he named the individuals, made

On vaccination, the Sputnik V saga demonstrates much On Friday, the Daily Nation reported that Dinlas Pharma EPZ Ltd, the importers of the Sputnik V vaccine, is seeking authorization to export it from Kenya after the Government threw roadblocks in its way. The exportation of

Today on the 1st of April 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation at State House, Nairobi. In his address the President gave assurance to those who had taken their first dose (COVID-19 vaccine) and that they will not miss out on their second dose.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was on Friday discharged from Nairobi Hospital and allowed to continue the rest of his recovery at home. His lawyer, John Khaminwa, was keen to add that he remains mentally unfit to stand trial. The end of his stay at

It has been an interesting week one year since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Tanzanian President John Pombe Maghufuli rumoured to have been hospitalized in Nairobi and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirmed positive. At the end of the week, President Uhuru Kenyatta

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i declared on Friday that politicians involved in the skirmishes that accompanied by-elections in Nakuru and parts of the Western region would lose their firearm licences.  Politicians who get involved in such activities will also no longer be taken to

A story earlier in the week stating that private companies will be allowed to import and administer Covid-19 vaccines caused concerns online about the Government’s plans. Coming as revelations rolled out of Parliament about the apparently shady procurement at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency as

Deputy President William Ruto has had plenty of opportunities this week to think about his next moves after County Assemblies across the country approved the Bill to amend the Constitution prompted by the Building Bridges Initiative. The Tangatanga camp he leads had pegged their hopes

President Uhuru Kenyatta is setting the stage for the final leg of his two terms in charge, the latest signs being a mini-reshuffle of the Executive and the apparent adoption of a take-no-prisoners policy.   The changes in the Cabinet announced earlier in the week were

The heat in the Jubilee Party has been building up and this week, the beginnings of the end of the vehicle President Uhuru Kenyatta used to win two elections could be seen. It started with a meeting by more than 100 MPs supporting the faction

The State’s determination to put away former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was evident in the manner he was escorted to the new court next to Kamiti Prison for the latest barrage of charges.  He was Tcharged with terror-related offences, and the State asked that he

One of the main beneficiaries
of the meeting was the Building
Bridges Initiative, which is
currently being considered by
the county assemblies.

Ahead of his meeting with a section of elected representatives from his Mt Kenya region, MPs from the Tangatanga faction of the Jubilee Party wrote a letter of defiance and lamentations to President Uhuru Kenyatta. The letter had been written not only for the President

Anyone who has
been captured
as a supporter
without their
consent can
report to the
Commission by
writing to the
Acting Commission
Secretary/CEO
indicating their
objections.”

In an interview with Citizen TV after his retirement as Chief Justice, David Maraga retraced the history of the dispute over the nomination of 41 judges that President Uhuru Kenyatta has refused to appoint.  President Kenyatta’s refusal has been on the basis that there were

After a long-forgotten case challenging her nomination was speedily ended, Anne Kananu Mwenda was quickly vetted and sworn in as Nairobi’s Deputy Governor on Friday afternoon.  She is now in line to succeed Mike Sonko as Nairobi Governor, negating the need to have a costly

TIFA Research has conducted a survey on Sentiments in the nation regarding BBI. The TIFA survey was designed and the data collected several weeks before the writing/release of the “letter” authored by Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata on various aspects of the BBI Report and referendum

Anyone who knows anything about Mike Sonko would know it is naïve not to expect that he would have a record of any interaction with him. The latest proof has been in the form of a recording of a conversation he alleges to have had

The defeat of the ODM candidate in Msambweni earlier in the week was seen by some as a triumph of the people against the system.  A few days later, as former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was shown the door and quickly replaced, albeit short-term, some

As Chief Justice David Maraga prepared to go on his terminal leave, activist Okiya Omtatah filed a case to stop Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu taking over.  Mwilu has seven issues hanging over head: three charges in court and four petitions, one jointly by her

Deputy President William Ruto thrives in contests. He was in the winning team that rejected the draft Constitution in 2005, used the No movement to build his influence and political mobilization in 2010 and has revelled in taking on rivals at the General Elections in

When the motion for his impeachment was delivered this week, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s supporters said that the 86 Members of the County Assembly who backed it were simply on an extortion mission. It has however emerged that the move could have the blessings of

As President Uhuru Kenyatta gathered proponents of the Building Bridges Initiative to launch the collection of signatures, his deputy took to his new favourite medium of communication, Twitter. “Even with the SIGNATURE launch there is still a real chance at CONSENSUS for a NON-DIVISIVE referendum

Mr Ruto and his
supporters appear
to have succeeded
in confusing the
pro-BBI team: they
have continuously
poked holes in
the report and its
recommendations
and Mr Ruto

Relations will be defined by advancing the course of democracy, peace and security, economic growth, trade and investment, and supporting sustainable development. At exactly two minutes to 11 a.m. on June 9, 2010, United States Vice President Joe Biden stood at the podium at the