Kwani iko nini

In recent weeks, Kenya has witnessed a disturbing turn in its democratic trajectory—one where power appears increasingly intolerant to divergent voices, especially those that emerge with promise and boldness. The most recent target of this governmental clampdown is none other than Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, a leader whose vocal and fearless approach to governance has captivated not just his county but has signaled a possible shift in the political compass of the Luhya community and Kenya at large. Today’s raid on Natembeya by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), without clear reasons or transparency, has sparked suspicion, rage, and protests among the residents of Kitale who view the governor as a beacon of accountability and hope. Though the government insists on fighting corruption, this raid has all the hallmarks of a politically motivated act, one aimed at quelling an emerging threat to the established political class rather than pursuing just...

The leasing of Nzoia Sugar Company Ltd, a critical public asset in Bungoma County, Western Kenya, to Rai Group for over 30 years marks yet another painful chapter in the systematic economic sabotage of Western Kenya by both the state and complicit local leadership. This decision, framed as part of a national sugar sector revitalization plan, is neither revitalizing nor reformative — it is a death sentence to a company that for decades sustained thousands of families, supported public schools, maintained a sports stadium for Nzoia Sugar FC, and powered nuclear farms in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties. This move comes with echoes of betrayal from the past. Kenyans in the region vividly remember how Pan Paper Mills in Webuye — once the industrial heartbeat of Western Kenya — was handed over to the same Rai family under the guise of revival. More than a decade later, the mill remains a shadow of its former self. The promises of jobs, economic rejuvenation, and ...