When Special Branch trailed journalist over Koigi witness
During the morning hours of July 17 1991, my Group Managing Editor came to my desk and asked me to follow him to his office immediately. He wore a stern face and I had a foreboding that all was not well.
By BY JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
When Special Branch trailed journalist over Koigi witness
A solar eclipse and fears of an apocalypse
Though tourists visited Kenya to witness a total solar eclipse, some people thought it heralded the end of the world
By BY JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
A solar eclipse and fears of an apocalypse
Casual CHAT with Kenyatta that scared secretary
A telephone call that came through to a district officer’s office in Thika changed her life forever
By By Joseph Karimi 11 years ago
Casual CHAT with Kenyatta  that scared secretary
Stone comes in handy where bullets failed
The 1971 mid-morning battle in Uhuru Estate between armed robbers and police was a stunning scene that brought insecurity right to the doorsteps of residents of Nairobi’s Eastlands.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
Stone comes in handy where bullets failed
Powerful disciplinary committee that terrorised leaders
So influential was the Kanu team that it ruined careers and ignored protection accorded to MPs by law.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
Powerful disciplinary committee that terrorised leaders
Chiefs the little village tyrants who just won’t go away
Chiefs were a symbol of authority and lorded over villagers with an iron fist, confiscating chicken and torturing law breakers.
By By Joseph Karimi 11 years ago
Chiefs the little village tyrants who just won’t go away
How provincial administration was used to rig elections
On September 19, 1988, Mwai Kibaki demonstrated that despite his calm, laid back demeanor, he too could get angry.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
How provincial administration was used to rig elections
How Mau Mau war interrupted learning for African children
Schooling during the State of Emergency was no walk in the park, as Joseph Karimi recalls.
By By Joseph Karimi 11 years ago
How Mau Mau war interrupted learning for African children
Harambee: A tale of bees, greed and corruption
While the harambee spirit introduced by Jomo Kenyatta helped to pool resources, it was also abused by those in power to enrich themselves.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
Harambee: A tale of bees, greed and corruption
Efforts to end corruption in harambees
Harambee, although a noble concept, was turned into a tool for settling political scores. Sometime in 1970, a politician from Nyeri was invited to preside over a harambee in Muhoya’s Location, Tetu. The host project committee had bought a huge he-goat at Sh200 to be presented to the guest of honour.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
Efforts to end corruption in harambees
Long walk to school for African children
Joseph Karimi recalls school days during the colonial period when different races could not mix but attended institutions that practiced ‘colour bar’.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
Long walk to school for African children
National shock as Kenyatta takes final bow
The President was sickly with reported heart problems and had suffered a mild stroke, he went into a coma several times before he succumbed.
By By JOSEPH KARIMI 11 years ago
National shock as Kenyatta takes final bow
What makes Iten Marathon a show to remember
Athletics
By Stephen Rutto
19 mins ago