THE STANDARD By
Irungu Houghton |
March 13th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
As we mark the first anniversary of coronavirus in Kenya, the third wave is upon us. The virus is mutating, and infections are spiking again among both powerful and the marginalised. As the vaccine roll out accelerates internationally, how could leadership show up in our public and personal lives?
The statistics and conversations are grim. It feels like August 2020 again. Infection rates have shot up from 7.9 per cent in January to 9.7 per cent in March. Intensive care bed capacity is filling up and funeral announcements are being shared widely. Some of Africa’s most powerful public officials including Vice-Presidents and Cabinet Ministers from South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania have become infected or lost their lives.
THE STANDARD By
Irungu Houghton |
March 8th 2021 at 13:32:20 GMT +0300
Irungu Houghton, Amnesty International Executive Director.
Even before the dust settles on the Matungu, Kiamokama and Kabuchai by-elections, a national date with electoral hell looms in 2022. Despite clear laws, procedures and seasoned politicians, the March 4 by-elections seemed to intentionally act out rather than avoid most of the electoral offences.
Article 81 of the Constitution states all elections must be free from violence, intimidation or bribery. The Constitution and at least five laws including the 2011 Acts on Elections, Political Parties and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the 2016 Acts on the Election Laws and the Elections Offences directly govern the electoral process.
THE STANDARD By
Irungu Houghton |
January 23rd 2021 at 00:08:09 GMT +0300
Nairobi County Deputy Governor Anne Kananu [Samson Wire, Standard]
The game of chess is not an exercise in public participation. Neither is the search for elective leaders as it would seem with the installation of Anne Kananu earlier this week. The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris illustrates why this approach is so short-sighted and further stunts our young democratic culture.
The January 20 inauguration of Biden/Harris was remarkable in several ways. Four stood out for me. First, the sight of a 78-year-old President - the oldest person to be sworn in as President in the history of America - being called to serve by 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, America’s youngest inauguration poet. Her poem, “The Hill We Climb” deserves to be presented to all who claim leadership.