×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Truth Without Fear
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Beyond Gen Z protest, Kenya still remains land of promise

A burning police vehicle during demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 in Nairobi on June 24, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

This has been a stress-filled week but one in which, in true Kenyan fashion, the country avoided a precipice. In Kenya's short history, we have managed to avoid such abysses in ways that can only be termed miraculous.

In 1982, Kenya almost joined the family of failed states through a military coup. The years that followed were not democratically or economically progressive, but from Africa's experience with coups, the continent is on the whole better off with incompetent civilian administrations than "revolutionary" military takeovers. The latter easily mutate into permanent and incompetent dictatorships.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in
Football
Nairobi United sign former highly-rated Kenya U-20 midfielder Kevin Wang'aya
By AFP 10 hrs ago
Football
Nagelsmann backs Ter Stegen for World Cup despite 'cruel' injury
By AFP 10 hrs ago
Football
Guardiola 'hurt' by suffering caused in global conflicts
By AFP 11 hrs ago
Football
Arteta backs Arsenal to build on 'magical' place in EFL Cup final