How Kenyan MPs’ lavish lifestyle set off a revolution by ‘social media tribe’ that consumed parliament, forced president to fire cabinet
In April and May during the build-up to the protests, ruling party MP Zaheer Jhanda posted videos of himself on TikTok admiring his gleaming Range Rover, a Mercedes G Wagon and a Lexus, triggering angry online commentary.
Protesters have since tried to storm his home, southwest of the capital Nairobi, in Kisii town. Jhanda did not respond to requests for comment.
‘You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, revolutionary Gen-Z are ready to storm State House and uproot Kenya’s corrupt president’
The opposition, meanwhile, has been surprised by its newfound irrelevance. Like the 19th century French politician Alexandre Ledru-Rollin, who during the French revolution is said to have declared, “There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader”, opposition leaders are belatedly rushing to hitch their wagon to the movement. How far their light has dimmed is illustrated by contrasting today’s movement with their attempt last year to capitalise on popular discontent over tax hikes, which failed to generate much lasting political pressure.
Republicans unleash flurry of videos to sway voter opinion on Biden’s mental capacity to be US president
A growing body of misleading online videos isn’t helping President Joe Biden and Democratic Party campaign. In one clip, Biden stands very still during a Juneteenth musical performance at the White House, leading to talk he had “frozen.” But Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, was standing next to the president...
Why Democrats are worried about Biden’s often sharp and focused but at times confused and forgetful mind
Biden’s occasional struggles with focus may not be unusual for someone his age. But at 81 years old and seeking another four years in the White House, the moments when he’s off his game have taken on a fresh resonance following his disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. The president appeared pale, gave nonsensical answers, stared blankly and lost his train of thought.
Youth revolution in Kenya and aborted putsch in Bolivia are grim pointers to perils of unnecessary foreign debts
Now, the crisis is reverberating in Kenya, Bolivia and other middle-income nations bearing the brunt of a surge in inflation and the rapid global interest rate rises that followed the pandemic. Borrowing costs soared and Russia’s war in Ukraine exacerbated a rise in prices of fuel and food.
Kenya’s youth revolution: How affinity for lies, arrogance and opulence of jet-setting Ruto stoked anger against him
The U-turn has exposed the gulf between the image of President William Ruto as the jet-setting global voice not just of Kenya but the wider continent, and the grinding realities his nation faces – weighed down by debt, corruption and security threats.
Who has authority in Haiti? Kenya police history of human rights abuses looms over Haiti mission
Ahead of the deployment, the International Committee of the Red Cross started reaching out to the PNH and the Kenyan police to convey its humanitarian concerns to the stakeholders. According to Marisela Silva Chau, head of the ICRC in Haiti, the PNH has been taking part in some meetings held by the HCT and a liaison cell created several months ago by the UN’s emergency aid coordination body, OCHA.
Why irate Kenyan youth unleashed their economic frustrations on President Ruto, burned parliament
Young Kenyans have been organising on social media, organising peaceful street demonstrations meant to force authorities to drop this finance bill altogether. The protests started on June 18 after the bill was made public for the first time.
‘Media colonialism’ gets out of hand when local journalists are reduced to bystanders by foreign correspondents
Events in Gaza, however, have exposed and upended this system. With international journalists locked out of the enclave by Israel, reporting on the horrific assault on the population has fallen to Palestinian journalists, who, despite being targeted by the Israeli military – more than 120 have been killed according to the UN – have carried out their task with awe-inspiring bravery, dedication, and professionalism.
How India PM Modi BJP’s complacency propped opposition in fierce caste, constitution politics
After a decade of electoral near-invincibility that combined economic success with a narrative of Hindu supremacy, Modi’s party was reduced to 240 seats nationwide. He was able to form a third government only with the help of allies, some of whom have a reputation for political fickleness.
