In this blog, Natalie Moss explores Kenya’s 2013 electoral debates and their coverage in the media: what can we learn from the ways in which these debates were conducted? How were they presented in the media? In whose interests were the media acting? Natalie is a PhD student at Durham University, her research examines the history of […]
In his latest column for the Daily Nation, our Co-editor, Nic Cheeseman, asks what Kenya can learn from Nigeria’s attempts to tackle Boko Haram. The abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok may prove to be a turning point in the ongoing conflict with Boko Haram, with a recognition of the need for better intelligence, international […]
In his column for the Daily Nation, our Co-Editor Nic Cheeseman argues that rebasing Kenya’s GDP is a positive move, which allows the country to more accurately appraise its economic progress. However, this move comes with costs, and the government must ensure that it is not the country’s poorest citizens who pay.
In his biweekly column for the Daily Nation, our Co-editor Nic Cheeseman explores the results of his latest poll, conducted with Ipsos Synovate. This survey canvassed Kenyans to see how they felt about the institutions that are meant to serve them. The results make for interesting reading, and show that citizens are still not entirely […]
With a new series on media and democracy in the pipeline at DiA, our co-editor ponders the future of newspapers in Kenya and beyond.
In this post, Martin Skrydstrup tells us about ‘My First Election Day’, a project that he conceived and directed around Kenya’s 2013 elections. As part of the project, 10 young Kenyans who were voting for the first time were given cameras and tasked with recording their election-day experiences. Martin has a PhD in cultural anthropology […]
In this article our Co-editor, Nic Cheeseman, reflects back on Kenya’s experiences in 2013. He argues that the country is currently at a cross-roads, with signposts pointing both towards ethnic manipulation and civil conflict, as well as democratic consolidation and peace against-the-odds. The country’s recent elections also bear signs of these divergent paths. The future […]
In his article our Co-editor, Nic Cheeseman, turns his attention to the cabinet in Kenya. He argues that cabinets that provide places for technocrats can work well – as seen in the examples of South Korea and Botswana – but Uhuru Kenyatta’s cabinet is not. Although the individuals involved explain part of the problem, the […]
Professor David Anderson and others are considering mounting a legal challenge to the FCO following their intransigence over the ‘Special Collections’ they are currently holding. Despite assurances to the contrary, these 1.2 million historical files are still inaccessible to the public and no clear timetable for their release is currently available.
Is rise of middle class good for democracy?
In his fortnightly column for the Daily Nation, Nic Cheeseman asks how we should define ‘middle class’ – is the common definition of $2 a day a robust measure? Should we be looking at a much higher bar? Focusing in on Kenya, he also explores the attitudes of middle class Kenyans towards democracy.