In Kenya, journalists, judges and activists are popular targets of blackmail, it’ll get nastier with 2022 elections coming
On May 18 of this year, the insidious hashtag #AnarchistJudges appeared on Kenyan Twitter timelines. Apparently driven by a number of faceless bots, and retweeted by a series of sock puppet accounts, the deluge of tweets cast suspicion on both the competence and integrity of senior High Court of Kenya...
Job references: They’re mostly ghost-written, always glowing but often meaningless
Five years into my research career, I have a folder on my computer that will be familiar to many scientists: a place where I store 30 or so letters of recommendation I have written. These aren’t recommendation letters for others, but for myself – requested by academics and colleagues whom...
Ronaldo won’t earn Man United EPL title, it’s Lukaku and Chelsea’s to lose, maybe to Man City
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly the signing of the summer in the Premier League. Obviously, I was happy for my friend Jack Grealish getting his record-breaking move to Manchester City, but it’s Ronaldo. Nothing tops his move back to Manchester United. He is 36, but make no mistake. He is still...
Guys, pause for a moment and listen to what our sisters want: ‘Give me a place to stand, to speak…’
One can forgive our parents for this monumental ignorance and its devastating consequences. I hear voices among some of my male colleagues now saying ‘I could never do that!’ But guys, let’s just pause and consider how we treat our sisters today. I will not even speak of those men...
Remaking a republic: The political and religious challenges young leaders face in refreshing Kenya
Should men and women be treated equally, or should they be treated as equals? What is the difference, and does it matter? To commemorate International Women’s Day on March8, 2009, one man shares his perspective. This memoir of personal reflection is dedicated to my dear wife, Katindi, my sisters and...
Tackling post-PhD imposter syndrome: Struggle is normal, but accepting reality gives you a sense of control
As a PhD student, my research involved doctoral education as well as postdoctoral careers. In the literature and in interviews with PhD holders, I learnt about the precarity of academic-research careers, the often-toxic culture and the lack of work-life balance. I was also aware of the low salaries and high...
Get rid of Arteta and Edu, a bunch of chickens can manage Arsenal better than the two jokers
I think Arsenal and Arteta don’t understand the word excitement and it’s meaning in the English language. What happened was predictable. It’s sad knowing your team will lose a game of football. I’m sure there’s an excuse. This time it’s illness and the youth of our squad, tomorrow it will...
Euphoric reopening of countries was ill-timed as it occurred as Delta variant was rampaging
Your chance of being crushed in bed tonight by a falling satellite is minuscule. It is also non-zero. Ronald Howard, a Stanford engineering professor and founder of a discipline called decision analysis, made a point of noting the latter, the risk of splat. Perhaps best known for studying questions of...
Pakistan’s ‘No more refugees’ stance can only worsen dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan
No more refugees – this is the dangerous rhetoric emerging in Pakistan as instability escalates across the border in Afghanistan. The Taliban have gained territory at a shocking pace since the US and Nato allies accelerated troop withdrawals earlier this year. As the violence builds, the rhetoric about Afghans and...
Myanmar: Side-lining local aid agencies represents continued colonisation of humanitarian practices
Myanmar’s people have clearly and universally rejected the coup and the military junta. Will international governments, donors and aid agencies do the same? Six months after the February 1 coup, my country is locked in a humanitarian and Covid-19 crises. The military junta has terrorised Myanmar, committing war crimes and...
