By Fred Allan Nyankuru Kenyans are emotional people, and rightly so. Politics here is not just about policies; it is about survival, bread, rent, school fees, and dignity. So every election cycle, when the economy bites and pressure rises, we naturally start looking for an alternative. We ask ourselves: Who can do it better? Who can remove the sitting president? That question is now being asked about Fred Matiang’i and the so-called United Opposition. But if we are honest with ourselves —brutally honest, the kind of honesty you only hear late at night when politics is put aside, we must admit something uncomfortable: At the moment, they don’t have what it takes to unseat William Ruto. Not because Ruto is perfect. Not because Kenyans are not hurting. But because Ruto is a political titan, and titans are not removed by noise, anger, or nostalgia. You don’t rock a ship by blowing wind into the sea using your mouth. Ruto understands power deeply. He is not learning on the job. He is not gu...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru Kenya has always explained its politics through metaphor. It is how we make sense of the extraordinary figures who walk our national stage. Now, as the country reflects on the life and legacy of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the imagery becomes even more poignant. If Raila, the enigma, was the phoenix who rose again and again from political trials, then William Ruto, the fox, is the nine-lived cat who has survived and adapted through every storm. These metaphors do not diminish either man. They highlight two powerful and distinct strengths that Kenya has produced. Raila and Ruto represent parallel narratives that, together, reveal the depth of Kenya’s political character: a blend of idealism and pragmatism, conviction and adaptability, sacrifice and survival. The Phoenix Remembered: Raila Odinga and the Enduring Spirit of Reform Raila’s passing has left the nation in a reflective mood, contemplating a life that shaped Kenya’s democratic identity. Born into privile...

 By Fred Allan Nyankuru Within many Christian communities today, the phrase “one man, one woman” carries the weight of unquestioned truth. It is treated not merely as a recommendation for order and peace, but as a moral commandment whose violation is branded sinful. Yet when examined with calm honesty and deeper theological reflection, this principle struggles to hold up without contradictions. In fact, the tensions it creates, especially in real-life situations, suggest that the stance is grounded more in cultural preference than in divine prohibition. This is not an attempt to romanticize polygamy, nor to deny the genuine challenges it brings. It is, instead, a call to be frank with Scripture, consistent with logic, compassionate toward people, and humble about where God has spoken clearly and where we may have spoken for Him. The Conversion Dilemma: A Principle That Buckles Under Its Own Weight Let us begin with a simple but revealing scenario: A man lives as many men in various...

By Fred Nyankuru When the news of Raila Amolo Odinga’s passing broke, a heavy silence fell over the nation —the kind that swallows even the loudest of political slogans. It wasn’t merely the death of a man. It was the closing of a political chapter that has, for more than half a century, defined Kenya’s struggle for democracy, justice, and reform. Whether you adored him or opposed him, you could not ignore him. Raila Odinga was, in every sense, an enigma; one whose shadow loomed large over Kenya’s political landscape for decades. I confess, I never voted for him. I often disagreed with his approach, his rhetoric, and sometimes his methods. Yet, in the stillness of reflection, one cannot deny that Raila Odinga was a good soldier —perhaps the best Kenya has ever had in the long, winding battle for the country’s democratic soul. He may not have worn the crown of the presidency, but his fingerprints are on every milestone Kenya has achieved since the reintroduction of multi-party politics....

Fred Allan Nyankuru When I first heard that Charlie Kirk had been gunned down at a Turning Point USA event, my heart broke. I may not be an American, but from far away I counted myself among his listeners, his readers, and his students in the fight for truth. The man who killed Charlie thought he was ending a voice he didn’t like. But violence never achieves that. If anything, it does the opposite. In death, Charlie Kirk has become louder than ever. Charlie was more than an American commentator. For people like me, watching from outside the United States, he represented courage in defending faith, family, and freedom. His unapologetic way of speaking truth drew in millions across borders. He gave Christians, conservatives, and ordinary people who still believe in common sense the courage to stand up. The shooter may have believed he was silencing an irritant. But in reality, he has given birth to something stronger: conviction. Today, conservative Christians and free-speech advocates a...

By Fred Nyankuru Let’s not be fooled. The political whispers are getting louder, and they should send a chill down the spine of every Kenyan who cares about this country’s future. The news that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is preparing to hand over the Jubilee Party to Fred Matiang’i isn’t a simple power transfer. It’s a brazen attempt to repackage the past and sell it to us as something new. This confirms a truth many of us have felt in our bones for months: Matiang’i is not the reformer he’s painted to be. He is a meticulously crafted project, a Trojan horse built and polished by the very elite who have held our nation hostage for decades. Think about it. Uhuru Kenyatta is the undeniable face of Kenya’s oligarchy —the system that hollowed out our economy, buried us under a mountain of debt, and made “state capture” a household term. And now, he wants to gift-wrap his entire political machine and hand it to his former enforcer. This isn’t a partnership; it’s a master passing the ke...

By Fred Nyankuru Kenya is in a season of political turbulence. Discontent with President William Ruto’s administration is palpable; high cost of living, broken promises, and a disillusioned citizenry have created fertile ground for opposition politics. In this climate of anger, Rigathi Gachagua has emerged as a loud, self-styled critic of the very government he served. But make no mistake: behind his noise lies not statesmanship, but a grave danger. Rigathi’s rise as the “alternative” voice to Ruto is not built on vision, reform, or a credible plan for the nation. It is built on tantrums, tribal entitlement, and above all, reckless talk. His loose tongue, once dismissed as mere bluster, is fast becoming a national security concern, and the opposition must recognise the peril of entertaining him as a potential leader. Rigathi has repeatedly hinted that he could expose “government secrets” from his time in office. He frames this as a form of honesty or bravery. But let us be clear: threa...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru Once upon a time we looked to progressives as the ultimate champions of freedom. They were the ones on the front lines, fighting for your right to speak your mind without looking over your shoulder, to simply walk down the street as you are, to choose your own path in life. They stood for the idea that true liberty requires space for all kinds of thought; that my conscience is mine, and yours is yours, and tolerance is the only glue that can hold a diverse society together. But something has shifted. Slowly, almost without us noticing, that noble mission has curdled into its opposite: control. The very voices that once screamed for unfettered expression now build the case for censorship, cancellation, and silence. And the most painful irony? It’s all done in the name of “keeping us safe” or “promoting freedom.” It feels like we’re losing the plot. Let’s be honest with each other: freedom of opinion was never meant to be clean, comfortable, or convenient. By its v...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru Kenya has a dangerous habit. We cheer noise instead of results. We mistake fear for discipline. We confuse intimidation with leadership. Few people illustrate this national weakness better than Dr. Fred Matiang’i —the “super minister” who, in truth, left the education sector wounded, humiliated, and poorer. Behind his image of a “no-nonsense reformer” was not a saviour, but a bully. His reign was not about building an education system for the future, it was about stamping authority, silencing dissent, and turning public institutions into stages for his own performance. Teachers remember Matiang’i’s school visits not as opportunities to improve, but as days of terror. Head teachers who had dedicated decades to moulding young lives were paraded like criminals for the smallest of mistakes, sometimes over things beyond their control. These inspections were not about accountability; they were about humiliation. They destroyed morale and dignity, reducing professionals...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru Ask any police officer in Kenya, and they will tell you that when Dr. Fred Matiang’i was appointed Cabinet Secretary for the Interior Ministry, there was hope in the air. At last, they thought, reforms were coming. At last, the years of stagnation, poor pay, and neglect would be addressed. But instead of reforms, what police officers received was betrayal. Matiang’i presided over one of the darkest chapters for the National Police Service. He sold efficiency to the public, but what he gave the officers was oppression, corruption, and career destruction. Kenya’s police officers are some of the most self-driven and self-taught men and women in public service. Many have pursued further education in criminology, law, psychology, forensic science, ICT, and other relevant fields while still serving in uniform. They did this hoping that one day merit would count. They did this believing that reforms would reward their effort and sacrifice. But Matiang’i dashed those hop...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru Some have accused me of contradicting myself when I say two things about Dr. Fred Matiang’i. One, that he neglected the Kisii people when he held immense power in government. Two, that he is a tribalist for choosing Kisii as the launchpad for his political campaigns. But these two truths are not contradictions. They are, in fact, complementary. They reveal the essence of Matiang’i’s political character: a man who abandoned his people when it mattered, only to come back later to exploit them as a political shield. When Matiang’i sat in the powerful seat of Interior CS, he had every opportunity to lift Kisii. But what did we get? No new industries. No revived agriculture. No better roads or hospitals. No economic empowerment for our youth. He spoke loudly in Nairobi, flexed power against political opponents, and projected himself as a “national leader.” Yet, in all that noise, Kisii was forgotten. Our sons and daughters got nothing more than empty rhetoric. His loy...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru There is a dangerous myth circulating in our beloved Kisii: that because Dr. Fred Matiang’i is “one of our own,” we must blindly support him for higher office. That his surname alone, his birthplace, his shared heritage with us, is enough reason to overlook his deeds or misdeeds. I reject this myth, and so should every thinking Kisii. Ethnicity Is Not a Free Pass for Tyranny. Let us ask the hard question: What did Fred Matiang’i ever do for Kisii when he held immense power in government? Did he bring industries? No. Did he improve our infrastructure? No. Did he lift our schools, or hospitals, or farmers? No. Did he champion our youth languishing in unemployment? No. And if anyone dares show me even a single tangible achievement for Kisii under his watch, then I will say that rain can fall in the form of milk. Zero. Because the truth is simple: Matiang’i did nothing for Kisii. What he did instead was to protect the interests of his masters in Nairobi. He became th...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru In today’s cultural climate, we are witnessing an alarming trend where the dissolution of marriages and relationships is increasingly rationalised under the mantra of “personal happiness.” Social media feeds are filled with posts —sometimes veiled threats, sometimes outright blackmail, where one parent, usually the mother, calls out the father for not being present in the lives of children after a breakup. The message often reads the same: “Men must care for their children even if they separate from the mothers, because tomorrow’s children will not search for absentee fathers.” At face value, this sounds like a noble admonition. But scratch beneath the surface, and one uncovers an uncomfortable truth that society is reluctant to acknowledge: many fathers are rendered “absent” not because of indifference, but because of systematic manipulation, exclusion, and alienation, even when they continue to provide financially and attempt to fulfil their fatherly role. Par...

By Fred Nyankuru In this Republic, we hold elections like weddings of fools, Led by headlines birthed in a gossip-thirsty media, With prophets of plunder sold as saviours of the nation, While saints, too calm to shout, are buried in silence, And citizens cheer old thieves with renewed applause, Drunk on recycled promises by men we once cursed. Oh, how quickly we forget those we rightly cursed— Now we re-elect them with blessings like blissful fools, Their stale pledges garnished for our loud applause, Their lies endorsed by a headline-hunting media, As hope dies quietly in the corners of our silence, And history weeps for this forgetful nation. Every five years, we dance as a deluded nation, Pretending not to remember the rot we once cursed. Our memory is bribed into festive silence, And we hand our power to professional fools, Polished by makeovers from a crooked media, Then clap like seals for another round of applause. What is applause but noise without cause? Applause for men with ...

By Fred Nyankuru In the ever-evolving chessboard of Kenyan politics, the emergence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as a self-styled opposition leader is no mere coincidence —it is a meticulously crafted political stratagem, fuelled by tribal oligarchy, economic muscle, and the manipulation of public discontent. As the nation simmers with frustration at President William Ruto’s administration, a new threat quietly emerges —not from a reformist front, but from within the same establishment it seeks to replace. Gachagua’s recent manoeuvres are revealing. From fiery speeches veiled as “truth-telling” to his well-calculated American tour, the Mathira politician is not just seeking to be heard; he is strategically positioning himself as the only alternative. But this is not the emergence of a visionary; it is the rise of a tribal strongman, repackaged as a people’s champion. Rigathi’s Strategy is Power Through Intimidation and Patronage. Gachagua is no fool. He understands Kenya’...

By Fred Nyankuru In today’s world, few concepts ignite moral outrage as quickly as “cheating.” But have we ever paused to question the origins, assumptions, and ideological underpinnings of this term? In particular, when applied to men, “cheating” may not be as universally immoral as we are conditioned to believe. In fact, it is increasingly evident that the modern idea of cheating especially within male-female dynamics, is a cultural construct rooted in Western individualism, not a universal truth. Let us examine the deeper argument: that the moral condemnation of men who have more than one woman is not only ahistorical and unnatural, but a product of a monogamy-obsessed cultural system that views possessiveness as virtue and self-restraint as the only path to goodness. This view, however, runs contrary to nature, anthropology, history, and even many religious doctrines. The idea that a man with multiple women is inherently immoral, deceptive, or “cheating”—is a manufactured notion. I...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru A nation does not always collapse in the loud clang of war or the sudden strike of foreign invasion. Sometimes, it dies quietly —decaying slowly from within, corroded not by bombs or bullets, but by the betrayal of its own people. Kenya today stands at such a dangerous crossroads, where ethnic loyalty is fast replacing national identity, and truth is routinely sacrificed at the altar of tribal narratives. We are witnessing a worrying trend: the ethnicisation of everything —from political corruption to criminal stupidity. A rogue police officer acts with brutality, and within moments, social media lights up, not with a demand for justice, but with reckless speculation about the tribes involved. The officer is given a tribal name. So is the victim. And the country descends into its predictable tribal trenches —facts be damned. When a hawker was recently shot by a thoughtless police officer, opportunistic individuals quickly assigned tribal identities to both the sh...

By Fred Allan Nyankuru When Dr. Fred Matiang’i recently emerged to comment on the brutal murder of a teacher and blogger, calling for justice and accountability, his words were met not with applause, but with widespread public backlash. Kenyans, in their sharp collective memory, reminded him of the many lives lost, bruised, or broken under his own tenure as Cabinet Secretary for Interior. From the horrific bodies retrieved from River Yala, to the Kianjokoma brothers killed by police, to the countless incidents of state brutality, enforced disappearances, and judicial disregard, Matiang’i’s legacy is etched not in reform or compassion, but in blood and intimidation. And now, this same man seeks to re-enter the public sphere not just as a commentator—but as a potential presidential contender? We must say No—firmly, clearly, and finally. While time moves on, truth remains stubborn. The Kenyan people are not forgetful. They are forgiving, yes—but not to be taken for fools. Dr. Matiang’i pr...

CHAINED  What Country Is This?  What country is this, where silence buys the grave, And words are crimes that beg for iron chains? Where power strikes the weak it swore to save, And truth once free now trembles bound in pains? We built our hopes on law, on justice blind, Yet see with open eyes her turned away. The torch once passed to guide the lost and kind Now lights the path where shadows rule the day. Is this the soil where youth must bleed for speech? Where questions cost more dearly than deceit? Where arms that swore to guard instead outreach To cage the heart and drag it to defeat? Yet still we dream — for dream we must to mend — A land where might shall learn to serve, not end.