Ken Opalo - The Standard

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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Digital News

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Ken Opalo

Kenya Kwanza has clearly lost narrative wars

It is now clear that the Kenya Kwanza administration has completely lost the war of narratives about its performance.

Kenya Kwanza has clearly lost narrative wars

The world won't wait for us as we suffer mediocrity

The world won't wait for us as we suffer mediocrity

Rebuilding public trust will require actions, not words

Rebuilding public trust will require actions, not words

May 2025 be a year of setting better standards

May 2025 be a year of setting better standards

Why Ruto's hustler revolution has finally died

With Thursday’s Cabinet appointments, President William Ruto effectively concluded his drawn-out surrender to Kenya’s establishment, the so-called dynasties.

Why Ruto's hustler revolution has finally died

Yes, the President's word should be our bond at all times

The president should genuinely focus on delivering for Kenyans and resist the temptation to only believe the praise-singers around him.

Yes, the President's word should be our bond at all times

Leaders are not merely reflection of whole society

It is true that leaders often reflect the societies where they come from. However, this is not the full story.

Leaders are not merely reflection of whole society

Kenya Kwanza's only path to restoring legitimacy

No government can sustain its legitimacy on the basis of appearing to do new things or diffusing crises. The only sure currency of legitimacy is doing the boring work of everyday maintenance.

Kenya Kwanza's only path to restoring legitimacy

Why is everything around President Ruto falling apart?

Most of Ruto's senior advisers are little more than recycled failed politicians. The same goes for the hordes of appointments to various state institutions.

Why is everything around President Ruto falling apart?

The government cannot hide from the truth

No amount of statements can make Kenyans forget the failures they see in our schools, hospitals, government offices, and on our roads.

By 2 months ago

The government cannot hide from the truth

Deputy President Kindiki is about to face a serious political test

During Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's tenure as Interior Cabinet Secretary dozens of Kenyans were reportedly abducted and killed, some allegedly by the state.

By 2 months ago

Deputy President Kindiki is about to face a serious political test

William Ruto risks falling into the trap of not getting the truth

If these trends continue, the biggest loser will be President Ruto. In political science, we have a concept called “the dictator’s information problem.”

By 2 months ago

William Ruto risks falling into the trap of not getting the truth

Gachagua was failed mostly by those close to him

Unfortunately for the Deputy President, this epiphany came a little late in the game. Why did he not hire competent political strategists and advisers before he took office?

By 2 months ago

Gachagua was failed mostly by those close to him

Gachagua ouster raises important legal questions

This week’s impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the National Assembly was a lesson in Kenyan political elites’ complete lack of seriousness.

By 3 months ago

Gachagua ouster raises important legal questions

SHIF migration fiasco shows no regard for quality

In other words, the shift from NHIF to SHIF was about optimising revenue generation and not improving the quality of public health services.

By 3 months ago

SHIF migration fiasco shows no regard for quality

Yes, community is everything when one is grieving

Experiencing tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one, is painful beyond belief. However, tragedy also enables us to experience community at its best.

By 3 months ago

Yes, community is everything when one is grieving

Why new farm regulations are recipe for disaster

The government’s planned “food safety” regulations that target vegetable farmers will be a disaster for more than three million farmers.

By 3 months ago

Why new farm regulations are recipe for disaster

Public officials must take blame for fire deaths

It is astonishing that no public resignations or sackings followed the fire accident that killed dozens of students at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

By 4 months ago

Public officials must take blame for fire deaths

Can Kuria and Owalo reform service delivery?

Kuria and Owalo have the background to potentially force a reorientation in how we run the Public Service, with specific attention to boring day-to-day work.

By 4 months ago

Can Kuria and Owalo reform service delivery?

Homa Bay has let down devolution in factory saga

The unseriousness of the Homa Bay County leadership is a betrayal of the spirit of devolution. And it is betrayal far too common among our leaders.

By 4 months ago

Homa Bay has let down devolution in factory saga

How Eldoret's statue mirrors mediocrity in our leadership

Exactly how much money was spent on this effort? How can we cycle out of this culture of mediocrity among our governing elites?

By 5 months ago

How Eldoret's statue mirrors mediocrity in our leadership

President Ruto needs a coherent growth strategy

The only thing the president has focused on since taking office is avoiding default, mostly through highly erratic tax hikes.

By 5 months ago

President Ruto needs a coherent growth strategy

The new Cabinet falls far short of our expectations

The overarching mental model of how the Cabinet is supposed to work and the expectations from Parliament have not changed.

By 5 months ago

The new Cabinet falls far short of our expectations

Somalis are as Kenyan as it gets, stop whispering

Somalis are Kenyan. They have no apology to make for being Kenyan. And have the right to live and work anywhere in the Republic and to occupy any public office.

By 5 months ago

Somalis are as Kenyan as it gets, stop whispering

Here's Ruto's huge chance to improve governance quality

Anti-corruption and service delivery reforms targeting counties would also provide important lessons that could inform similar efforts at the national level.

By 5 months ago

Here's Ruto's huge chance to improve governance quality

The political class has panicked about ongoing protests

President Ruto must understand that now is not the time to try old tricks.

By 6 months ago

The political class has panicked about ongoing protests

President should know good leaders don't waste crises

President Ruto must change course. He must reconstitute his Cabinet and senior levels of the Public Service to bring in competent people. He must prioritise service delivery.

By 6 months ago

President should know good leaders don't waste crises

All compromised politicians should remain locked away in social jail

Thieves and murderous should not be celebrated.

By 6 months ago

All compromised politicians should remain locked away in social jail

Anti-tax protests pose legitimacy test to Kenya Kwanza

Rex Masai’s murder presents a clear moral test to the government. First, his family and the general public deserve a swift investigation and punishment of those responsible.

By 6 months ago

Anti-tax protests pose legitimacy test to Kenya Kwanza

The state exists to protect the most vulnerable

The state exists not to provide public goods and services and take care of the vulnerable, but to pamper the political class.

By 7 months ago

The state exists to protect the most vulnerable

UDA battles must not distract us from the Finance Bill

The ongoing wrangles within UDA are a reminder of this legacy of Potemkin parties.

By 7 months ago

UDA battles must not distract us from the Finance Bill

Taxes and more firefighting will not grow Kenya

It is good that the administration was willing to experiment on policy to stem the shilling’s slide. These are commendable efforts.

By 8 months ago

Taxes and more firefighting will not grow Kenya

Why CS Linturi should resign or just be fired

In normal jurisdictions, Mr Linturi would have resigned even if he had nothing to do with the scam.

By 8 months ago

Why CS Linturi should resign or just be fired

Lack of disaster preparedness quite shameful

Crises expose the unprepared. As torrential rain drenched much of the country this past week, both national and county governments were exposed for their total lack of disaster preparedness.

By 8 months ago

Lack of disaster preparedness quite shameful

Put priorities right to provide urgent solutions to crisis

For this reason, the best antidote to failure – especially when it comes to public affairs – is actual demonstrable success.

By 8 months ago

Put priorities right to provide urgent solutions to crisis

Let's take Jirongo's claim of toxic waste dumping seriously

It would be ideal if the government swiftly helped the country get to the bottom of the matter. The accusations are too great to simply sweep under the carpet.

By 9 months ago

Let's take Jirongo's claim of toxic waste dumping seriously

Why Ruto's hustler revolution has finally died

With Thursday’s Cabinet appointments, President William Ruto effectively concluded his drawn-out surrender to Kenya’s establishment, the so-called dynasties.

Why Ruto's hustler revolution has finally died

Yes, the President's word should be our bond at all times

The president should genuinely focus on delivering for Kenyans and resist the temptation to only believe the praise-singers around him.

Yes, the President's word should be our bond at all times

Leaders are not merely reflection of whole society

It is true that leaders often reflect the societies where they come from. However, this is not the full story.

Leaders are not merely reflection of whole society

Kenya Kwanza's only path to restoring legitimacy

No government can sustain its legitimacy on the basis of appearing to do new things or diffusing crises. The only sure currency of legitimacy is doing the boring work of everyday maintenance.

Kenya Kwanza's only path to restoring legitimacy

Why is everything around President Ruto falling apart?

Most of Ruto's senior advisers are little more than recycled failed politicians. The same goes for the hordes of appointments to various state institutions.

Why is everything around President Ruto falling apart?

The government cannot hide from the truth

No amount of statements can make Kenyans forget the failures they see in our schools, hospitals, government offices, and on our roads.

By 2 months ago

The government cannot hide from the truth

Deputy President Kindiki is about to face a serious political test

During Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's tenure as Interior Cabinet Secretary dozens of Kenyans were reportedly abducted and killed, some allegedly by the state.

By 2 months ago

Deputy President Kindiki is about to face a serious political test

William Ruto risks falling into the trap of not getting the truth

If these trends continue, the biggest loser will be President Ruto. In political science, we have a concept called “the dictator’s information problem.”

By 2 months ago

William Ruto risks falling into the trap of not getting the truth

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