Gender Relations And The Economy: Why empowering women is first step to...
Several items have come to my notice in my daily reading of the newspapers: Kenyan men are not happy with the state of marriage – or at least those who have come to our attention aren’t. They want nice...
View ArticleThe Civilised World And Tyranny Of Distance
The other day I was in a fit of rage when I came across a journalist casually making the distinction between the “civilised” world and the rest. Naturally he included this country as one of the former....
View ArticleAre South Africans Having Weird Nolstalgia For Apartheid
Is it possible that South Africans are looking back to the long harsh years of apartheid rule and feeling nostalgia? This is what a young academic who hails from Johannesburg believes. Admittedly,...
View ArticleRupert Murdoch: Is he a true Australian hero?
Australia was much too small for Rupert Murdoch so he moved to greener pasture and took up American citizenship in the 1960s. Now that his empire has hit the news due to its no-holds-barred tactics in...
View ArticleEternal lessons from London’s burning
These British “hoodlums” are Thatcher’s children: they grew up with the motto “there is no such thing as society, there are only individuals.” Now that they’ve got the message they’re taking it...
View ArticleMy first impression of secular Turkey
As I was packing to come to Istanbul, Turkey, my friends urged me to leave jeans, shorts, and skimpy tops at home. One brought me a little modest outfit that covered my arms and shoulders. Imagine then...
View ArticleThe Great English Language Scam
The teaching of the English language has become an international business bolstered by recent requirements by the British, EU, and Australian governments that aspiring immigrants should have minimal...
View ArticleWainaina Has No Right To Speak For All Africans
I am treading in dangerous waters here as I know that Binyavanga Wainaina has become an icon and a standard-bearer for Kenyan if not African writing and a spokesman for the way that Africans want to be...
View ArticleComing Face To Face With Madness: A Warning About Social Media
“If I want to see my second cousin’s new baby, I will call her to arrange a visit,” wrote some celebrity or other recently, in answer to a question about why she wasn’t on Facebook. Much fuss has been...
View ArticleThe Family Under Siege
One can easily become dewy-eyed here in Istanbul imagining that families have stayed close because of bonds of affection. The truth is often different: young people stay at home until they get married...
View ArticleWho creates female stereotypes?
The article on April 17 edition of the Star (ET pullout) titled 'Bid for Power: Why Women Leaders Should Work on their Media Image' begins with the premise that women are ridiculous in whatever they...
View ArticleMutula Kilonzo's team should consider minimally invasive education
I beg to differ with Bwana Kennedy Buhere, the Communications Officer at the Ministry of Education, in his article “How to Make Pupils Good at Communication.” (Star, October 18.) He omits the key...
View ArticleChild abuse is universal
Recently two people posted on Facebook the most shocking video clips I have ever seen. The first was shot in Kenya and had apparently (unbelievably) been viewed on national television. It showed a girl...
View ArticleThe New Young Turks of Taksim Square
By now you will have seen pictures of police battles, burning tyres, riot shields and tear-gas-stricken protesters. These images have become so familiar to us over the past few years that we are almost...
View ArticleIsrael now more divided than ever
It is 21 years since I last visited Israel and what I found was a very different country. For a start there were immigrants who did not exist then, and who have now grown into youth. The airlift of the...
View ArticleTeaching Has Lost Its Way With Technology
I have lately been wondering why I am so lacking in enthusiasm for my new job. I am part of a small team setting up a brand new university in the middle of Turkey where no expense has been spared. Day...
View ArticleThe Donald and climate change
[field_converge_image]Donald Trump’s election as the 45th President of the United States has stunned many. Trump’s triumph has caused despondency among hundreds of millions in America and the rest of...
View ArticleIs evil on victory lap in Kenya?
[field_converge_image]Are corruption and other forms of moral depravity the new normal in our society? Has common decency been bludgeoned out of existence? Are we afraid to stand up for what is...
View ArticleExam credibility restored
[field_converge_image]In John 2: 13-16, the Bible explains Jesus’ visit to the temple in Jerusalem. He found livestock, poultry traders and money changers doing business. Jesus made a whip of cords and...
View ArticleInvest in mothers and the unborn to secure Africa’s future
[field_converge_image]Later this week, Uwezo will launch the annual learning assessment report. Previous reports have shown learning levels are low and remained static, less than one-third of children...
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