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Thorns in the flesh: Multiple forces fighting Ruto's re-election bid

The youth are President William Ruto's most formidable opposition courtesy of their numbers. The civil society has also kept the pressure high, swiftly calling out rights abuses.

By Brian Otieno 21 days ago

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Samidoh goes from keeping exes coming back for more to serenading bandits

Samidoh, a police officer who prefers the guitar to the gun, will be serenading bandits in the troubled North Rift for the foreseeable future.

By Brian Otieno 21 days ago

Ruto meets Somaliland President as new Nairobi office sparks storm

Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdillahi meets President Ruto, a day after opening liaison office in Nairobi, though Kenya maintains launch was not 'approved.'

By Brian Otieno 23 days ago

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Leaders, activists hail Ngugi's fight against tyranny, literary genius

The President said the literary giant deserved the Nobel Prize for Literature. Activist Mwangi said Ngugi empowered his readers "with language to resist tyranny.

By Brian Otieno 23 days ago

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Supremacy wars force Ruto into shelving Migori trip

President William Ruto returns to Nyanza on Thursday, for a four-day tour of the region amid wrangles that have forced a change of plans.

By Brian Otieno 25 days ago

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Gachagua bullies Mt Kenya musicians into submission after visit

Former DP boycott call mirrors cancel culture, raising concerns about freedom and intimidation tactics.Artistes' apologies reflect political pressure.

By Brian Otieno 25 days ago

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Kanja under pressure to arrest Gachagua over incitement claims

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja is under growing pressure to arrest former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over alleged inflammatory remarks.

By Brian Otieno and Fidelis Mogaka 25 days ago

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Senator Orwoba in court yet again, where her political dreams died!

After badmouthing her colleagues, accusing some of sexual harassment, she had hoped the courts would overturn her suspension from the Senate last year.

By Maryann Muganda and Brian Otieno 29 days ago

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Concerns as rise in strong-arm rule in East Africa goes unabated

A fresh wave of growing intolerance is sweeping across governments in East Africa, a region that has historically seemed half-hearted about embracing democratic principles.

By Brian Otieno and Fiddelis Mogaka 29 days ago

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We're not shifting loyalty to China, MP assures US

A US senator said it is time for the country to review its relationship with Nairobi

By Brian Otieno 29 days ago

Koech: Kenya not changing allegiance to China

Belgut lawmaker Nelson Koech has moved to assure the United States that Kenya is not switching allegiance to China.

By Brian Otieno 30 days ago

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Ruto travels back to Nyanza on a strategy that won him Mt Kenya

President William Ruto will launch road and electric infrastructure projects, as well as commission some affordable housing units, among other State-sponsored programmes.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

No Job? Don't worry! Pack your bags, Waziri Alfie has a plan majuu

Alfie has a strange fetish for "abroad" stuff. As governor of Machakos, he constructed an office that resembles the United States' White House.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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Selfish interests, thirst for power is the glue that holds coalitions

Opposition coalitions feature principals, deemed to be equals, but are never really equals.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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Matiang'i joins Gachagua, Kalonzo team in talks for new coalition

A host of opposition politicians on Tuesday met in Nairobi, signalling the formation of a new coalition to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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UDA has ghost workers on State payroll, former SG Malala claims

Former United Democratic Alliance Secretary General Cleophas Malala now claims he was "forced" by the party's leadership to pay "ghost workers" during his tenure at the party.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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Revealed: UDA's tax evasion

Former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala has sensationally placed President William Ruto's party at the centre of a multi-million-shilling tax evasion scandal involving unremitted taxes.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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'UDA poll materials smuggled into country'

Election gadgets used in the UDA grassroots elections held last year were "smuggled" into the country, the party's former Secretary General, Cleophas Malala claims.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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Waziri Ruku: Giant who talks big and might just run every ministry

New Public Service CS's huge steps and fiery tongue are lighting up ministries faster than dry firewood.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

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Critics predict clouds over State House, Ruto forecasts long reign

Perhaps the strongest evidence that Ruto is no pushover is the fact that he defeated Raila, a State-backed candidate, in the last election.

By Brian Otieno 1 month ago

Being female, educated doesn't make one fit for Gender docket

Victim shaming only does one thing: Embolden perpetrators and discourage victims from seeking help.

By Brian Otieno, Faith Wekesa 1 month ago

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Cheruiyot: Ruto's court poet who weeps more than the bereaved

Since Kenyatta's fallout with Ruto, Cheruiyot earned his major role involves telling his master whatever he wants to hear and branding critics haters.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Mounting rebellion tests the unity pillars of Ruto-Raila's broad-based union

ODM leaders are at loggerheads over support for broad-based government.Raila says he is observing the debate before they can deliberate on matter.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Gachagua claims his life in danger

Former DP says attempts on his life began after his impeachment last October. He points at planned attacks at his homes in Nairobi and Nyeri.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Waziri retreated to pristine beaches, but his ears foiled the vacation

Our good Waziri has yet to issue a statement about whether 13 to 17-year-olds would be tear-gassed for staging a play "in any other country."

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Ruto, Gachagua treat Kenyans to circus with wild claims

President Ruto and former DP Gachagua are rolling in the mud, each trying as hard as possible to get the other dirtier.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Echoes of oppression: Play that ruffled government a sneak peek into current realities

The echoes of a play whose performance for a national audience aborted has captivated the nation and exposed the fissures between the government its critics and the general citizenry.

By Brian Otieno and Esther Nyambura 2 months ago

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Regulating net: Tug of war between online freedoms and societal order

Pronouncements from officials suggest the internet has become a den of goons. Curing the headache, however, is splitting opinion, with worries over stifling freedoms.

By Brian Otieno and Winfrey Owino 2 months ago

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Are Kenyans judging Ruto too harshly or has he just failed?

President William Ruto was the portrait of an optimist who believed he would achieve lofty promises. But now there is public discontent over a seemingly broken system.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

LSK to Kanja: Resign if you cannot apologise for addressing rally

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja is under siege following his decision to attend and address a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, on Tuesday.

By Brian Otieno and Okumu Modachi 2 months ago

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Queries as police boss IG Kanja addresses Ruto political rally

The Standard challenged him on the video clip that shows Kanja address the Kieni rally, which has since circulated online.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Feuding Ruto, Gachagua and the transactional Kenyan politics

President William Ruto's sensationally claimed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua demanded Sh10 billion to champion his cause in the Mount Kenya region.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Are Raila and his men in Ruto's Cabinet breaking their oath of secrecy?

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a stranger to the Kenya Kwanza administration, has recently seemed like a man deep within the government.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

Opposition could be digging own grave by underestimating Dr Ruto

Raila bagged 1.9 million votes from Nyanza, the majority of which he could hand to Ruto. This could plug the Mt Kenya region deficit, which gave him 1.6 million votes in 2022.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Justin Muturi is 'just out' of a job, walks tall than swallow his pride

JB had openly challenged his boss, enough to earn him a sacking. He may now celebrate his exit from a 'toxic' relationship, where he was labelled 'incompetent

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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From cheers to jeers: How Mt Kenya crumbled on Ruto's feet

At the height of his popularity, Ruto could show up anywhere in the region unannounced and draw joyful crowds.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Muturi's AG tenure: Legal blunders, ignored advice and bitter exit

To some, former Public Service CS Justin Muturi might seem unafraid of goading the Head of State into sacking him while to others, he could pass off as eager to prop himself in the Mt Kenya region.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

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Kisiang'ani's tea with media comes to the end with a bitter aftertaste

He earned a spot as a regular on morning TV shows and wrote a column in Kenya's bold newspaper - The Standard. later he turn on the media.

By Brian Otieno 2 months ago

Raila's influence in government grows as allies clinch key posts

The latest hand in government by the opposition leader is the PSs appointment. He has also assumed the second in command during presidential functions.

By Brian Otieno 3 months ago

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Raila allies gain ground in new PS reshuffle

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has won big in the latest shake-up of Principal Secretaries some of his allies landed nominations as heads of newly created departments.

By Brian Otieno and Benjamin Imende 3 months ago