The African Trumpet

There is a cross-cutting sense of dysfunction that defines the public life in ways that drain the public imagination and sap the national spirit. What does it take to dream of better outcomes and the courage to follow through and actualize them? The Elephant in conversation with Gleh the Poet, an award-winning poet, teacher, and spoken-word activist.

Prof. Anneeth Kaur Hundle and Dr. Mshai Mwangola outline and analyze the intersecting drivers of migration and displacement—conflict, racialization, economic precarity, and governance failures—with rigor and compassion and amplify the voices of the displaced Asian communities, centering their experiences, agency, and aspirations rather than reducing them to victims or statistics.

We are 3 days away from the Gen Z revolution anniversary and close to within a year of the consequential 2027 elections. How are the youths faring so far as a political constituency and a civic cluster? The Elephant talks to Jeff Ian.

Kenya Kwanza: The war on graft is dead — in this bruising account, John Githongo traces how anti-corruption institutions were hollowed out, and explores who filled the vacuum, and asks what ordinary Kenyans stand to lose as graft reasserts itself across public life.

From aid and youth labor issues to democracy and cross-border trade, East Africa’s fate is deeply intertwined, and that may be the spark needed to bring about cross-border mutual support and collaboration. The Elephant talks to Malong Awan.

From Kenya to Brazil, South Africa to the US, there seems to exist a multiplicity of issues driving a wedge across race, gender, and national identities. What are the unresolved questions and unaddressed realities driving this divergence of ideals and ideas? The Elephant's John Githongo in conversation with Tara O'Connor.

So what does it mean to be young, aspirational, driven, yet caught up in a country with so much potential yet so few results? Who benefits from the structural deficiency built into public life, and how do young people navigate these conundrums when trying to paint a picture of success? The Elephant in conversation with Mark Antony.

Kenya’s economy stands at a crossroads: outwardly resilient, with projected growth hovering around 4.5–5.0 percent and a relatively stable macro‑environment, yet weighed down by persistent fiscal fragility, high debt‑servicing costs, and a stubbornly weak labour market. The question “Whither the economy?” cuts to the core of whether the country can translate this modest growth into broad‑based job...

What happens to younger folks when society fails to account for and plan long-term? How does the consequence compound over time, and who pays the price? The Elephant in conversation with Trevor Munga.

There is a generational conversation to be had that points to a generational split in the potential youth vote; millennials versus Gen Z. How is it likely to play out in the next 15 months? The Elephant in Conversation with Andréas Otieno.

Kenya's baronial class—a tight-knit elite of political dynasties, business moguls, and landed gentry—has entrenched itself since independence, perpetuating backwardness through systemic plunder. The Elephant in conversation with Chief Justice Emeritus, Willy Mutunga.

Kenya's crisis stems from elites disconnected from our societal roots. Imported from global neoliberal templates, they prioritize foreign debt traps, IMF dictates, and elite capture over organic, people-driven solutions. This alienation fuels inequality, erodes trust, and stifles authentic African agency—demanding we reclaim leadership grounded in our lived realities.

The economy continues to reflect a complex and ambiguous dynamic with a very vivid lived reality for the citizens. What will it take for Kenya to build proper safeguards that ensure the public finance fundamentals are representative and productive for every citizen? The Elephant in conversation with Bajeti Hub CEO, Dr. Abraham Rugo.

Despite the numbers quoted by leaders, Mwanachi's life across health, education, agriculture, and daily sustenance continues to be tough with little ease in sight. At what point will Mwanachi say, " Enough"? The Elephant in conversation with grassroots mobilizer Mary Gichuki.

Kenya has 40 million adults but only 22 million registered voters, with 8 million abstaining. Voter apathy is evident as few register. The typical voter is disengaged, raising concerns for future elections. The Elephant in conversation with Charity, aka Gen Z Baddie, a teacher and political activist.

Young men are active participants in our politics as citizens, aspirants, voters, goons, and facilitators. In this chat, Alfred Abuka joins Yusuf Wanjala to audit how young men show up in politics.

Joe Kobuthi chats with Darius Okolla about millennials’ dashed dreams. From the 2010s optimism—youth innovation, democratic hopes—to today’s authoritarian backslide, debt traps, stalled reforms, and failed dreams.

Muthoni Drummer Queen, Kenya's genre-bending rapper and Blankets & Wine founder, channels the Gen Z uprising in her latest reflections. "We the people shall rise," she declares, amplifying youth-led protests against corruption and inequality that rocked Kenya since 2024

They were born into a nascent democracy, weaned on the rhetoric of liberalisation, Structural Adjustment Programs, and globalisation. Theirs was to be the dividend of the new constitution, a generation unshackled from the ghosts of the past, poised to inherit a “digital” nation on the rise. Kenyan millennials have become a generation in limbo—the defining cohort of a betrayed promise. Agneta Asitw...

African millennials, born roughly 1981-1996, navigate a continent of rapid urbanization, digital connectivity, and economic volatility, facing high unemployment, social exhaustion, and a profound sense of identity crisis. The Elephant in conversation with artist Hezbon 'Baba Taifa' Bahati.

As we come to the close of the year 2025, we have had an interesting year full of notable events, major wins, and big losses, especially the elders we lost in the public sphere. Our guest Zahid Rajan walks us through the key highlights of the year just to recap what has been a very eventful year 2025 and what these events have meant for the citizens and the country.

What happens after the protests? How do you translate protests into policy? In this episode, Shakira Wafula walks us through the various strands that give the active citizen a pathway to reform, even as they build on the recent Gen Z revolution.

Edwin Shamir joins Yusuf Wanjala to discuss why Gen Z must move from street protests to shaping policy, exploring how their energy, frustrations, and aspirations can drive meaningful public debate and future leadership.

As Gen Z looks ahead, the focus is shifting toward consolidating the gains of the revolution and translating momentum into lasting political power. In this episode, we speak with Sophie Mugure, a Gen Z leader preparing to vie for the Thika Town seat in the 2027 elections. She breaks down what it will take to get more young people on the ballot and the steps needed to make that vision a reality.

At the height of the Gen Z protests, a network of dedicated professionals came together to meet the movement’s diverse and evolving needs. In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Okayo, a leader, lawyer, and activist, who shares his insights on the movement’s wins, losses, gains, and the direction it is poised to take.