From the archive

The skirmish ended as suddenly as it began. The police came, collected broken bones and issued stern warnings that were rudely ignored.

For the past few months, President William Ruto has been explaining his vision to resolutely march his people into a Singapore - a land of untold wealth and comfort. The president swears that we could create millions of nice jobs, flatten our slums, build public housing for everyone and haul 20 million people out of grinding poverty in 20 years flat.

Ever visited a household and got served a meal so crappy you felt like dragging the family to the nearest police station? Perhaps, it wasn't even something fancy.

First, a moment of silence for our brothers, police constables Samuel Kaetuai Tompoi, who fell in Haiti, and Benedict Kabiru, who is still missing in action. To be honest, Kenyans expected worse.

I used to wonder what was special about the late Bishop Philip Sulumeti, the retired and founding bishop of the Kakamega Catholic Diocese who was laid to rest last month. Whenever politicians wanted to murder each other, and it was all the time, it was that son of Teso who stepped into the melee and called everyone to order.

This week, Kenyans on social media laughed themselves senseless, amused that the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) kicked out 1,500 recruits from army training school for walking into a military establishment with traces of marijuana in their veins. The army, they giggled, would quickly run out of recruits to train if they insisted on enlisting only marijuana-free lads because, hey, weed smoking is now more widespread…

Africans rode into independence weighed down by unrealistic promise and expectations. Freedom fighters crawled out of forests bubbling with excitement.

Prophet Victor Kanyari could not stay married to the vivacious gospel singer, Betty Bayo (may her soul rest in eternal peace) resulting in their children calling two men "father". Kanyari may not be your conventional clergyman, but his divorce signaled the challenges plaguing the institution of marriage.

We all know the rage and sense of loss that engulfs those who find their homes sacked by burglars. Even thieves, ironically, have been known to bristle with fury when they, too, fall victim.

The once-delicious 'kienyeji' chicken has become long on the beak and short on muscle Kienyeji (traditional) chicken is one of God's finest creations. Easy to hunt and breed, delicate on the tongue, good for the soul, money in the bank.

If founding President Jomo Kenyatta woke up from the dead and heard that John Harun Mwau single-handedly stopped a police recruitment drive as the government merely coiled tail and watched, he would summon certain people to Gatundu and whip them a good one. How?

If President William Ruto were to posthumously bestow the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (CGH) upon Raila Odinga, on December 12, 2025, the 61st celebration of Jamhuri, it would be a befitting honour for Kenya's fallen son and illustrious champion of the second liberation. The CGH, Kenya's highest-ranked civilian honour traditionally preserved for sitting and former heads of state and other luminaries, is…