Editorials and analysis, clearly labeled.
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's health insurance framework should shift its focus from primarily covering hospital bills during illness to emphasizing prevention when people are still well, framing healthcare financing as a planning issue that begins before medical emergencies arise.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's health insurance framework should shift its focus from primarily covering hospital bills during illness to emphasizing prevention when people are still well, framing healthcare financing as a planning issue that begins before medical emergencies arise.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
An obstetrician and KOGS chairman argues that healthcare systems should prioritize accountability mechanisms over punitive approaches when maternal deaths occur, drawing on personal experience of managing an unexpected death during routine Caesarean delivery.
14 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
An opinion piece argues that political violence has become normalised in Kenya, citing Saturday's chaos in Embu where a meeting attended by Deputy President Kindiki descended into stone-throwing and arson that killed one person and torched six vehicles, along with multiple other incidents targeting opposition and government officials. The author contends that police inaction has emboldened perpetrators and calls for urgent intervention to stop the trend.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece reflects on the Kenyan public's confusion when academics like Prof Stephen Kiama return to university teaching after holding senior administrative posts, arguing that professors view the classroom as their core identity rather than a demotion.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that President Trump's campaign promises—including lower inflation, sealed borders, and restored global respect—have gone largely unfulfilled nearly two years into his term, with millions of Americans still facing high inflation, spiking gas prices, and rising costs of living for groceries, rent, and medical care.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that President William Ruto's declining public popularity makes him likely to lose the next election in less than 11 months, and positions Kalonzo as best positioned to win, while discussing various other presidential aspirants.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's meteorological department has flagged elevated risks of El Niño bringing above-normal rainfall and extreme flooding from October onwards. The article argues that Kenyan businesses should consider insurance to manage this risk, citing the 1997–1998 El Niño's devastating impact on roads, buildings, crops, and supply chains.
14 September 2026 · The Standard →
A Standard opinion piece draws on Lord Acton's maxim about power corrupting to argue that both Trump and Ruto follow a similar playbook of consolidating authority without adequate checks and balances.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
A Standard opinion piece compares US President Trump and Kenyan President Ruto, arguing both leaders follow a pattern of unchecked authority that erodes moral standards and accountability, invoking Lord Acton's principle that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that political disagreement and opposition should not be treated as insult to government, and that criticising the state and seeking reforms is not treason. The writer laments the personalisation of political discourse and the prevalence of goonism directed at opposition supporters in Kenya.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Standard editorial describes President Ruto's directive on foreign workers as xenophobia, arguing that immigrants from neighbouring countries who take low-wage jobs in construction, sanitation, and street vending are unfairly blamed for economic problems despite their precarious circumstances.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that power corrupts those who hold it, citing Lord Acton's famous maxim and examples of officials who abuse their authority before facing consequences once they leave office.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Standard editorial criticises a presidential directive on foreign workers as "low class xenophobia," arguing that migrants from neighbouring countries who perform undesirable labour are being scapegoated for the government's failure to deliver on promises.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that President William Ruto's hostile rhetoric towards foreigners in small businesses and low-paying jobs in Kenya, presented as a defence of Kenyan workers, warrants deeper scrutiny of the underlying policy.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece commends the Nairobi Rivers Commission for convening partners to address river pollution and flooding through cross-institutional coordination. A government-funded project covering 27.2km from Naivasha Road to Dandora Waterfall is estimated to be 60–70 per cent complete, with riverbank protection, sewer construction, bridges, and public amenities advancing.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece examines France's shifting engagement in the Sahel following its military withdrawal from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, citing unverified allegations of a "Phoenix operation" that allegedly sought to weaken Niger's military and leadership after France was expelled from the country in 2023.
13 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that East African nations must protect and strengthen their regional integration project, cautioning against policies and actions that undermine the shared dream of cooperation and unity across the region.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
President Ruto's administration marks four years in office on Sunday, September 13, amid criticism over controversies and inconsistent policymaking.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that literature serves as a powerful mirror for countries to examine themselves and challenge injustice, functioning alongside laws, history, newspapers, and speeches.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
The author, a university literature instructor, reflects on teaching a course that explores how East African literary narratives and shared cultural stories extend beyond political boundaries, suggesting a common regional identity rooted in literature and heritage.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece in The Standard critiques President Ruto's administration as it approaches its fourth anniversary, arguing that poor policies are damaging Kenya's economy and affecting citizens.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Africa must prioritize agriculture and trade to escape poverty and overcome aid dependency, citing former AfDB president Donald Kaberuka's view that the continent should "farm and trade" its way out of poverty rather than rely on external assistance.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece examines President Ruto's argument that politicians and businesspeople operate with different skills and that business leaders should focus on their trade rather than pursue politics as an ultimate goal. The author traces Kenya's historical debate on mixing private sector practice with public office, from colonial times through the 1971 Ndegwa Commission recommendation that officially sanctioned civil servants engaging in private business.
12 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that the Church should not align itself with politicians or political candidates, as doing so compromises its moral authority and witness. The piece criticizes a portion of the Church that aligned with William Ruto, citing expected material benefits and government appointments as the motivation.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's fiscal environment is characterized by chaotic annual tax cycles, with budget promises made in February undermined by Finance Bills in June and sudden policy changes like the KRA's customs benchmark shift in August, creating unsustainable uncertainty for businesses.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's Constitution extends fundamental rights protections to all persons on Kenyan soil, not only citizens. The article contends that Article 20 and Article 260 of the Constitution deliberately apply protections to "every person" rather than "every citizen," and that recent hostility toward foreigners raises constitutional concerns beyond immigration law.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Standard editorial warns that thousands of foreign nationals illegally reside in Kenya using fraudulently acquired identity papers and passports, with some using compromised Kenyan documents to travel abroad. It argues the government must identify and purge corrupt officials facilitating this trade to address the systemic rot underlying the recent immigration crisis.
11 September 2026 · The Standard →
Yvonne Okwara's opinion column criticises the Kisii County Governor's apparent normalisation of police killings, questioning whether an administration's performance should be measured by death tolls and challenging the logic of accepting endorsement from a previous administration blamed for more killings.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Columnist Linus Kaikai compares Kenya's frenzied preparations for presidential visits to Nikolai Gogol's satirical play about a town frantically preparing for a feared government inspector's arrival, suggesting a pattern of performative development.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
An opinion piece argues that President William Ruto has honoured his 2022 campaign pledges, citing economic improvements including inflation falling to 2.7 per cent (the lowest in 18 years) and the shilling gaining over 20 per cent value against the dollar since 2022.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa represent a departure from Pan-Africanism's founding principle that African people share a common history and destiny. The author contends that understanding the historical objectives of Pan-Africanism, particularly its identification of colonialism as the primary oppressor, is necessary to address the current wave of violence.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Ministry of Health has confirmed 1,298 Mpox cases and 19 deaths across 40 counties, but The Standard editorial argues that the government's failure to maintain sustained public communication—unlike its approach during Covid-19—leaves citizens uninformed and unable to exercise vigilance against the disease.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →