Hallo and welcome to ‘The Kenyanist’ hosted by Kamau Wairuri.
In this show, we step back from the rush of current affairs to take a broader and deeper view of issues that Kenyans fight about.
In each episode, I speak to an expert who will help us understand a particular social or political issue better and hopefully propose how we can address some of our most pressing challenges as a society.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guests on the show are not necessarily those of the host.
The History of Social Protection in Kenya
The aim of social protection policies is to protect the social wellbeing of people. Thistakes many forms including cash transfer programs to vulnerable groups, universal healthcare, feeding programs, and others. In Kenya, and...
How Should We Think About Kenya's Future?
Scenario planning is a concept that helps us to make predictions about the future. It is often used in corporate strategy to analyse key factors that may impact and influence the business objectives from the operating environ...
Land disputes in Gusiiland: Witchcraft Accusations and violence against Elderly Women
In traditionally patriarchal societies, land ownership becomes a big cause of conflict especially when women hold the rights to ownership. In the recent past, Kenya has faced cases of violence against women as a result of lan...
Kenya's Slow Move from Food Aid to Food Security
Food security is an issue that Kenya continues to struggle with. Kenya is often ranked poorly in food security, primarily due to the cost of this food. This in spite of agriculture’s contribution to the economy - 21.8% this y...
How Do We Change Kenya Into A Better Place?
Sparked by the punitive Finance Bill and need for better governance, Kenya has been facing nation-wide protests since mid-June led by the Gen Z and youth in the country demanding for accountability from their leaders. Relat...
Taking Stock of the EAC: Leadership, Competition and Security
Somalia was recently formally admitted into the East African Community, a regional bloc with aspirations for deeper economic and political union. Somalia joins a more expanded bloc with members Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda...
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Recent Blog Posts
Kamau's commentary on the popular support for brutal policing in Kenya
Seminar: Smart Cities and African Urbanism by Prince Guma
Book Review: Power, Politics and the Law by Githu Muigai
About the Host
Kamau Wairuri
Host
Kamau Wairuri is an academic researcher, educator and public affairs consultant with expertise in security & justice (criminal justice systems), human rights, youth empowerment and gender in Africa. Presently, he is a Lecturer in Criminology at Edinburgh Napier University (UK) and a Director of the Institute of Public Policy and Governance (IPPG) at the Strathmore University Business School (Kenya).
Kamau is an experienced academic researcher whose work has been published in respected academic journals and books. He has also presented his research work in various conferences in Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa), Paris (France), Edinburgh and Cambridge (UK).
Kamau is an experienced educator in the Higher Education sector having delivered lectures and classroom teaching at Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Edinburgh and Strathmore University. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).
As a public affairs consultant, Kamau has extensive experience advising leaders and organisations in the public, private and development sector on matters relating to politics, public policy and governance. Previously, he worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co, where he advised senior government leaders in Africa on various areas of development. Beyond that, he has advised various local and international agencies in the development sector including the Danish Agency for Human Rights (DIGNITY), the Election Observation Group (ELOG), the Economic and Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii) and Equality Now. He has also work… Read More