Premium
The paradox of falling prices in a broke economy
More taxes or higher tax rates get money from us, and we have less to spend, reducing the demand for goods and services.
By 8 days ago
The paradox of falling prices in a broke economy
Trump is back, should we lose sleep?
In the US, it all boiled down to the economy; other issues such as reproductive rights and fear of Trump II were muted.
By 10 days ago
Trump is back, should we lose sleep?
Trump vs Kamala: Who will take it in cliffhanger US polls?
Why can’t we introduce early voting in Kenya? It would reduce crowds and make voting easier, and Americans do not take a holiday to vote.
By 15 days ago
Trump vs Kamala: Who will take it in cliffhanger US polls?
Reparations: Will it ever happen?
The members of the commonwealth were former British colonies and felt it was time Britain paid reparations for the suffering of colonies before their independence.
By 17 days ago
Reparations: Will it ever happen?
Why there's no hawking in Kyrgyzstan and Serbia
I noted there is no hawking in Kyrgyzstan‘s capital Bishkek and Serbia’s Belgrade - the two countries that were once under communism.
By 21 days ago
Why there's no hawking in Kyrgyzstan and Serbia
Premium
DP impeachment: My two cents on the law, lawyers and economics
Lawyers will not admit this, but there are good incentives to prolong a case. Every case is a captive market, economically speaking. 
By 22 days ago
DP impeachment: My two cents on the law, lawyers and economics
Letter from the city of Belgrade, Serbia
The lasting image of Serbia is the Balkan wars in the 1990s as the former Yugoslavia broke up violently.
By 25 days ago
Letter from the city of Belgrade, Serbia
'Do you know someone', and difficulties that hustlers face
Hustlers know few people working in such strategic places, usually government institutions. They have to follow the queue.
By 28 days ago
'Do you know someone', and difficulties that hustlers face
Nobel Prize 2024: Key economics lessons for Kenya, rest of Africa
Could there be another factor X beyond institutions that explain economic growth? How will AI and other emerging technologies upend economic growth models like Solow’s?
By 29 days ago
Nobel Prize 2024: Key economics lessons for Kenya, rest of Africa
Who makes it on my list of heroes?
Today we celebrate Mashujaa Day, heroes’ day. Every society has had a place for heroes. Our folklore is full of heroes and so does the modern age.
By 1 month ago
Who makes it on my list of heroes?
Life is hard but hustlers have put their ingenuity into use
One mandazi seller mixed cheaper maize flour with wheat flour and then added spices. Customers queued for spicy mandazi! 
By 1 month ago
Life is hard but hustlers have put their ingenuity into use
Why Kenya won't be spared if war escalates in the Middle East
Conflicts in the Middle East have repercussions that reverberate across the globe. That is why everyone must be concerned and involved in getting a permanent solution. 
By 1 month ago
Why Kenya won't be spared if war escalates in the Middle East
Is Nairobi becoming a five-star city?
Is Nairobi slowly becoming a five-star city, out of reach for ordinary Kenyans? It has better roads, power connections, water, schools, and universities (too few!).
By 1 month ago
Is Nairobi becoming a five-star city?
Trees have memory that offers us lessons
As we think of reversing climatic change, we must plant appropriate trees, more at home with our climate
By 1 month ago
Trees have memory that offers us lessons
Why Kenya should be renamed Dramastan or Sarakasistan
If it’s not Gen Z demonstrating or disappearing, it’s drama over airport leasing, national health insurance, university funding, housing fund, new Cabinet and now impeachment
By 1 month ago
Why Kenya should be renamed Dramastan or Sarakasistan
China at 75: Any lessons for Kenya?
China has used history and past experiences to fire patriotism and national pride, while we use history to mine grudges and belittle others
By 1 month ago
China at 75: Any lessons for Kenya?
Trees have memory that offers some lessons
Like trees, changing is hard. Look at our politics, our workplace, our homes, and even ourselves. Even when change is positive, we resist it.
By 1 month ago
Trees have memory that offers some lessons
Why we should give an award to this hustler
This hustler, or better entrepreneur selling loofahs along Koinange Street should be rewarded for creativity and innovation. 
By 1 month ago
Why we should give an award to this hustler
There's more to JKIA-Adani saga than the money
The country has always been a magnet for foreigners and their interests because there is a widely held belief that other people are better than us and have superior managerial skills
By 1 month ago
There's more to JKIA-Adani saga than the money
Religion is an enigma in political, economic power
Religion was a big factor in Kenya’s 2022 polls and many pundits believe the results would have been different without religion, mostly Christianity
By 1 month ago
Religion is an enigma in political, economic power
Car models an indicator of our state of economy
The rise in the value of the dollar made the cars more expensive, and buyers simply downgraded to smaller cars
By 1 month ago
Car models an indicator of our state of economy
No quick fixes for education sector woes
Industrial action is not just about money and singing “Solidarity forever,” It’s about real people, their families and their future.
By 1 month ago
No quick fixes for education sector woes
Kyrgyzstan and Kenya have much in common
Kyrgiz citizens are very courteous, extreme poverty and inequality are not noticeable even in the rural areas
By 1 month ago
Kyrgyzstan and Kenya have much in common
Long shadow of fear stalking the country will ruin economy
In the aftermath of Gen Z protests, a long shadow of fear stalks our no longer young nation.
By 2 months ago
Long shadow of fear stalking the country will ruin economy
The long shadow of fear stalking the country will ruin economy
The fear seems to compete favourably with Covid-19 or the floods earlier in the year, the two other disasters that recently shocked our faith in science and ourselves.
By 2 months ago
The long shadow of fear stalking the country will ruin economy
Hustling in old age: Let's learn from developed nations
We have to think of the elderly more than in the past. We love talking of the youth bulge in Africa, which will one day turn into an elderly bulge. We better prepare for it.
By 2 months ago
Hustling in old age: Let's learn from developed nations
Want to motivate the next generation? Good luck with that
Parents give children what they never had, in plenty. The problem with this approach is that material things never satisfy.
By 2 months ago
Want to motivate the next generation? Good luck with that
Will China outdo the West in transforming Africa?
Africa has been babysat for too long, it’s time we stood on our own like other countries. We have the resources and the brains.
By 2 months ago
Will China outdo the West in transforming Africa?
Forum on China-Africa cooperation: What's there for Kenya and Africa?
China wants to engage Africa through partnerships, cooperation and shared prosperity to outdo the West, which is often seen as more paternalistic.
By 2 months ago
Forum on China-Africa cooperation: What's there for Kenya and Africa?
Tough world: Let's spare a thought for elderly hustlers
The elderly deserve to age gracefully for the great job they have done for their country and their children.
By 2 months ago
Tough world: Let's spare a thought for elderly hustlers
City status craze should translate into tangible benefits for regions
Kenya now boasts five cities. Nairobi is no longer lonely at the top. It is assumed that attaining city status attracts investors. That calls for more than a change in status.
By 2 months ago
City status craze should translate into tangible benefits for regions
As Raila Odinga goes global, his political shadow will still loom large locally
Raila is like water which can exist in liquid, solid, or gas depending on the circumstances. Anytime political circumstances change, he also changes, ensuring his longevity.
By 2 months ago
As Raila Odinga goes global, his political shadow will still loom large locally
Bottlenecks: why It's more than just bottles
Think of the bottlenecks M-Pesa removed. What bottlenecks do we need to remove in your sector? Are you a victim or perpetrator of bottlenecks?
By 3 months ago
Bottlenecks: why It's more than just bottles
How digital revolution sent the post office on its deathbed
Think of it: Amazon, for all its success, has mimicked the post office. Amazon delivers your shopping just like the post office delivers letters.
By 3 months ago
How digital revolution sent the post office on its deathbed
On investment, the missing link is local
Being a foreign investor shields you from local issues like harambees, negative publicity and petty jealousy. They are placed on a higher pedestal courted in palaces.
By 3 months ago
On investment, the missing link is local
Nane Nane demos: An eye witness account and its likely impact on economy
While there were no riots, the economy felt it. Many Kenyans stayed at home. Empty roads and closed shops mean lost sales and an economic slowdown.
By 3 months ago
Nane Nane demos: An eye witness account and its likely impact on economy
Truth be told, Social sciences have their soft underbelly too
Can we remove early human studies from the syllabus? Why should I know what early humans ate but not why tribalism and racism thrive in the age of the internet and space travel?
By 3 months ago
Truth be told, Social sciences have their soft underbelly too
Why Kenya feels like the year 1938
One thing seems to us hostage; tribalism. I have agonised to understand tribalism and why it has co-existed with modernism. Why are we so modern but still tied to our tribal roots?
By 3 months ago
Why Kenya feels like the year 1938
When will Kenyan hustlers start owning electric cars?
Electric cars are the future; everyone seems to agree. Their adoption is driven by climatic change and the reality we rarely want to face, one day the world will run out of oil. 
By 3 months ago
When will Kenyan hustlers start owning electric cars?
We have changed Constitution, why not our teaching styles?
Failing to link subject areas is a major flaw in our education system. Another issue is failing to show practical applications.
By 3 months ago
We have changed Constitution, why not our teaching styles?