The African Trumpet

What is a state and what is a nation? How have the two co-existed within our country and especially within the last few decades? The impact that the two structures have on the everyday lives of citizens and households is immense. The Elephant joins Dr Wandia, Mshai Mwangola, Ngala Chome and Oyunga Pala to elucidate on how best to fix ourselves as a community.

On May 14th the Kenyan High Court declared the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2021 unconstitutional. The proponent moved to the Court of Appeal who affirmed the decision of the high court. The proponents have decided to move to the Supreme Court. How has the process panned out and what will the Supreme Court decide on issues that touch on Section 255 and 257 that are quite sacred to the constitutio...

It is now 11 years since we voted in the current Constitution. Its implementation has been a case of hits and misses. Now a new wind of political disquiet is driving the call for a referendum. Is it too soon to try and change a document we have barely implemented? A conversation between The Elephant and Mutemi Wa Kiama.

It is barely 350 days to the next decisive general elections. The fluidity of the current political setup leaves a lot of room for negotiation but also increasingly narrows the choices available both for the political players and the voter. So, what gives. An Interview between The Elephant and Griffins Makokha.

We are within 350 days to the next elections in Kenya. The calendar for nominations, resignations, coalition building and political lines have been drawn. What are some of the key issues to look out for between now and the next election? An interview between The Elephant and advocate Patrick Kilonzo.

Kenya is about 60% youth with the median age of the country being 19.7 years. Recent calls for a referendum have very real and direct implications on the fate of the young. The question then remains; does the call for a referendum has the welfare of the youth at heart? as discussed by Joe Kobuthi, Ngala Chome, Darius Okolla and Shiko Kihika.

Kenya is about 60% youth with the median age of the country being 19.7 years. Recent calls for a referendum have very real and direct implications on the fate of the young. The question then remains; does the call for a referendum has the welfare of the youth at heart? as discussed by Joe Kobuthi, Ngala Chome, Darius Okolla and Shiko Kihika.

Kenya is about 60% youth with the median age of the country being 19.7 years. Recent calls for a referendum have very real and direct implications on the fate of the young. The question then remains; does the call for a referendum has the welfare of the youth at heart? as discussed by Joe Kobuthi, Ngala Chome, Darius Okolla and Shiko Kihika.

In recent years under President Farmaajo, Somali has tried to steer away from the indirect election in the respective elections for the lower and upper houses. Failure to fix the issues that led to the indirect elections have come back to haunt and as Lead Now co-founder Ruqia Botan spells out, this may just prove to be the journey into the political unknown for a rather versatile and complex Soma...

Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A...

Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A...

Somali's regional and presidential elections and both the lower and upper houses are happening amidst evolving clan, security and regional issues. What is the place of AMISOM, American presence, Al Shabaab, and new electoral systems in this upcoming election? Somali citizens, experts and watchers Ms Rukia Mohammed, Idil Ibrahim, AbdiNassir Yusuf, and Omar Mahmoud, elaborate on what is at stake. A...

The pandemic measures taken by the state have hit the young quite hard and denied them jobs and opportunities. This feeds into pre-existing labour issues and if not properly and urgently addressed we risk losing a chunk of the 18-29 as they fall through the economic cracks. An interview with Mr James Owaka.

It is a year to the next general elections and second presidential transition under the 2010 constitution. How have we fared? Can the counties do better? and how does that fit with the current calls for a constitutional change? The Elephant in conversation with public scholar Viscount K'owuor.

The postponed election and Tigrayan crisis following in the wake of the Oromo crisis have left critical aspects of the Ethiopian democracy in trouble. The future holds so much possibility yet remains very fluid. The question therefore remains, who will blink first, and what is the state of the warring regions? A conversation between The Elephant and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

The postponed election and Tigrayan crisis following in the wake of the Oromo crisis have left critical aspects of the Ethiopian democracy in trouble. The future holds so much possibility yet remains very fluid. The question therefore remains, who will blink first, and what is the state of the warring regions? A conversation between The Elephant and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

The postponed election and Tigrayan crisis following in the wake of the Oromo crisis have left critical aspects of the Ethiopian democracy in trouble. The future holds so much possibility yet remains very fluid. The question therefore remains, who will blink first, and what is the state of the warring regions? A conversation between The Elephant and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

This new series seeks to interrogate the effects of the historic May 13, 2021 judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional. This means a lot for Kenya’s constitutional path. In this context, we what does the doctrine of Basic structure, rule of law and succession politics means for the Kenya public and its respective structures. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBS) Nairobi Off...

This new series seeks to interrogate the effects of the historic May 13, 2021 judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unconstitutional. This means a lot for Kenya’s constitutional path. In this context, we what does the doctrine of Basic structure, rule of law and succession politics means for the Kenya public and its respective structures. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBS) Nairobi Off...

Listener Gĩtaũ has a serious problem: every so often his home in Kiambu is invaded by an army of ants. They coat the floors, climb the walls, and rain down on Gĩtaũ and his family while they sleep. Gĩtaũ wants to know: Why are these ants torturing us? Entomologists Dino Martins and Piotr Naskrecki have answers. Special thanks to Caswell Munyai, Caspar Schöning, and Daniel Kronauer. This episode wa...

This week we celebrate World Ocean Day and we reflect on the journey towards understanding marine life taken by experts, students, researchers, and the wider public. and as Michael G. Mwang’ombe, the Project Coordinator at Kenya Marine Mammal Research & Conservation explains much remains to be understood about our Marine life that will help us have harmonious coexistence with our coastal marine li...

Kenya's estimated Ksh. 50 billion 'bee industry' comprising many of the nearly 20,000 global bee species is about to come under strong regulations. Bees control everything from food production, pollination, ecological balance, controlling pests, and recycling nutrients. and as Kenyan entomologist Dr Dino Martins breaks it down, our recent industrial growth, modernity and regulations have wiped out...

To commemorate Africa Day 2021 we take a look at how the continent has framed its place in the world and how that image has evolved to match the changing times, politics, economics, identity and history. What does it mean to educate with the vision of Pan Africanism in mind? Panellists are Wandia Njoya, Jennifer Tosch and Lewis Gordon. Moderated by Mshai Mwangola.

The recent elections in Somaliland, alongside local district elections, marks a key point for the electoral calendar in the region. On 12 July 2020, Somaliland's three main political parties reached an agreement to hold parliamentary and local elections by the end of the year. In this conversation with The Elephant, Mr Nasir M. Ali highlights keys issues to look out for in this election cycle.

Since 1948, Israel has maintained a system that treats Palestinians unequally in a decades-long occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. This has been effected through rights abuses, collective punishment, excessive lethal force, and prolonged detention without charge or trial for hundreds. Does the latest fight give any new revelations and is there a solution in sight for the oppressed Palestinians?...