The president of the USA visited Saudi Arabia on his recent international mission. Aisha Anne Habiba, 27, a Correspondent from Mombasa in Kenya, looks at what that visit might mean for future relations between the two countries. Following the omission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from US President Donald Trump’s infamous executive order limiting …

“Trump’s historic visit to Saudi Arabia” Read More »

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is creating headlines around the world. Aisha Anne Habiba, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Mombasa in Kenya, looks at the history of the conflict and examines some of the broader politics involved. The Yemeni Civil War began in 2015 as a Houthi-led revolution against the de jure Yemeni Government.  The …

“Teetering on the brink: Yemeni crisis” Read More »

The media’s job is to challenge institutions on behalf of the public interest. But Aisha Anne Habiba, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Mombasa in Kenya, raises concern about restrictions on media curtail that ability. Media houses in Kenya are facing increasing pressure from ordinances that interfere with the concept of media freedom. Though Kenya has …

“Censorship as antithetical to public interest” Read More »

Discrediting reporting by journalists has become the norm rather than the exception in Kenya, as the government keeps placing roadblocks on the work of journalists, writes Aisha Anne Habiba, 27, a Correspondent from Mombasa in Kenya.  Media houses in Kenya are facing increasing unorthodox ordinances in an attempt to gag them. Draconian laws enacted by …

“Censorship in Kenya: A nation plunged into information darkness” Read More »

Major shifts in global politics are fast shaping the refugee protection regime in Africa in a way that threatens to negatively affect humanitarian action towards refugee populations in the region, writes Joshua Orawo, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya. Two recent happenings have substantially affected and continue to affect funding for refugee protection programmes in the …

“Need to rethink refugee protection programming in Africa” Read More »

Venturing overseas for work can be a fraught experience, writes Eric Omwanda Nehemiah, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nairobi in Kenya. He makes the case for growing opportunity by investing in Africa. After a long day of work, my friend Darius from Lithuania engages me in a conversation. He tells me that the majority of …

“For careers and the future: It is time for Africa” Read More »

At this point in the 21st century, the right to vote as a fundamental cornerstone of democracy appears to be beyond debate, writes Brian Dan Migowe, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya. However, those with disabilities may face obstacles in casting a ballot. For many persons with psycho-social and physical disabilities, the right to vote remains …

“Voting rights for those with disabilities” Read More »

International election observers praised the handling of Kenya’s August election, but the Supreme Court later annulled the results. Folmi Yohanna, 28, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bauchi State in Nigeria, looks at what that means for future election observer missions. Results of Kenya’s general election in August 2017 indicated incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was re-elected with …

“Observer missions in election monitoring” Read More »

Politics in African countries are based on tribalism, writes Paul Odhiambo, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nairobi in Kenya, who argues for adherence to democratic practice. In moving toward general elections in Africa, leaders from different tribes come together to form coalitions or parties based on tribalism but not ideologies. They often convince citizens that their …

“Will bad politics end in African countries?” Read More »

A prolonged election process created a state of tension for Kenya. Sunday Memba, 21, a Correspondent from Matete in Kenya, examines the core of the problem and suggests how to move forward. Chinua Achebe, the eminent African writer and critic, stated the problem on page one of his 1984 book, “The Trouble with Nigeria”. “The trouble …

“Examining the trouble with Kenya” Read More »