Onjalazbroz- Testing the Foundation of Knowledge

 In Part 1, we examined how the election of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto in 2013 entrenched impunity and normalized corruption in Kenya. Now, we turn to Ruto’s presidency—a regime that promised transformation but has instead deepened the country’s crises through hypocrisy, repression, and the same old tribal politics. Ruto’s Questionable Past: From Mau Evictions to Poisonous Maize Long before becoming president, Ruto’s political career was marred by controversies. One of the most telling was his opposition to the evictions from the Mau Forest—a critical water tower that feeds multiple rivers across Kenya. As then-Prime Minister Raila Odinga led efforts to reclaim the forest from illegal settlers, Ruto and his allies, including Isaac Ruto, shamelessly opposed the move. Isaac Ruto’s infamous statement—"I have never seen rain fall from trees. We all know rains fall from the skies"—was not just ignorant but a deliberate exploitation of public gullibility. Yet, instead of being...

 Kenya, a nation endowed with immense potential, continues to struggle under the weight of tribalism, corruption, and failed leadership. The hope for a better future dims with each passing administration, as those entrusted with power prioritize self-enrichment over national progress. To understand why Kenya’s situation appears hopeless, we must revisit the mistakes of the past—beginning with the election of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto in 2013. A Nation That Rewards Impunity In 2013, Kenyans made a grave mistake: electing two individuals facing charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their alleged roles in the 2007-2008 post-election violence, which claimed over 1,000 lives. Despite Kenyan law barring individuals with criminal charges from vying for office, Uhuru and Ruto were allowed to run—a clear disregard for the rule of law. Worse, they won, signaling that a majority of Kenyans were willing to overlook serious allegations if it meant their "tribal champions...

 The Middle East is once again engulfed in flames as Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on June 13, 2025, further destabilizing an already volatile region. This latest act of aggression is not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing pattern of Zionist expansionism, backed by Western powers, particularly the United States. For decades, Israel has justified its military campaigns under the guise of "self-defense," while simultaneously being the primary aggressor in the region. The time has come for the world to wake up and recognize the truth: Israel is not a victim but a perpetrator of violence, and its continued belligerence threatens global peace. This article will dismantle three key myths that sustain Western support for Israeli aggression: The False Narrative of Israel’s "Right to Defend Itself" The Dangerous Religious Myth of Jewish Exceptionalism The Geopolitical Strategy to Weaken the Middle East By the end of this piece, it will be clear that s...

 Introduction Recently, I engaged in a heated debate with a colleague, Mr. Ian, who argued that had colonialists stayed longer in Africa, the continent would be more developed today. His argument hinged on the case of South Africa, where apartheid-era infrastructure—such as Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport—appears more advanced than what many African countries have today. According to him, colonialism, if prolonged, would have accelerated development. I vehemently disagreed. While it is true that colonial powers built railways, ports, and administrative systems, these were never designed for African prosperity. They were extraction tools—meant to exploit resources and labor for European benefit. The real question is not whether colonialism built infrastructure, but for whom it was built, and at what cost to African dignity, opportunity, and self-determination. This article dismantles the myth of “beneficial colonialism” and argues that Africa’s future lies not in nos...

The United States has long portrayed itself as the global leader in democracy, freedom, and human rights. Yet, beneath this self-righteous façade lies a nation steeped in historical amnesia, political hypocrisy, and willful ignorance. Americans, despite having access to vast educational resources, remain shockingly unaware of their own history and their government’s role in global oppression. From rewriting the causes of their Civil War to manipulating foreign democracies while claiming to uphold them, the U.S. thrives on selective memory and double standards. 1. The American Civil War: A Deliberate Erasure of Slavery’s Central Role Ask an average American why the Civil War was fought, and you will likely hear vague answers about "states' rights" or "economic differences." Few acknowledge that slavery was the primary cause of the war. The Confederate states explicitly stated in their secession declarations that they were leaving the Union to preserve slavery. So...

The passing of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is not just the loss of a great writer; it is the silencing of a voice that spoke truth to power, a voice that shaped my understanding of history, resistance, and the enduring struggle against oppression. To me, Ngũgĩ was more than an author—he was a teacher, a historian, and a revolutionary whose works ignited in me a fierce opposition to neocolonialism. His novels, essays, and plays were not just stories; they were weapons of truth, exposing the brutality of colonialism and the betrayal of Africa’s independence dreams. A Grain of Wheat: Unmasking the Mau Mau and the Cost of Freedom Of all his works, A Grain of Wheat stands out as the novel that most profoundly shaped my political consciousness. In it, Ngũgĩ does not just recount Kenya’s struggle for independence; he humanizes it. He shows how the so-called "Mau Mau" (a derogatory label imposed by the British) were, in truth, the Kenya Land and Freedom Army—freedom fighters who sacrificed eve...

Mahatma Gandhi once said that the only language the poor people understand is bread and butter. He was right with this observation. Poverty limits people’s thinking and endurance and makes them susceptible to manipulation and misguidance. That is why the African continent remains colonized even today. We are peasants. Imperialists know this fact and use it to make us eat our people. They know that the only language we understand is bread and butter. A few years ago, colonialists conquered our lands and stirred divisions among us. They separated relatives and friends. They created boundaries in a continent that people traversed with ease. That's why a Luo in Kenya calls himself a Kenyan while a Luo in Uganda calls himself a Ugandan. A Tutsi in Burundi calls himself Burundian, while a Tutsi in Rwanda calls himself Rwandese. There are Zulus and other similar tribes spread across southern Africa, yet they call themselves South Africans, Zambians, Zimbabweans, Malawians and much more. U...

It is another dark day for the African continent. Another fallen hero. The last hero that we will ever see for years to come. The demise of President Mugabe reminds me of the painful losses we have suffered in the past. The death of President Ghaddafi. The end of President Sankara. The death of Patrice Lumumba. The demise of Kwame Nkurumah. True Pan-Africanists. True fighters for and liberators of their people. True defenders of the African continent. Visionaries. Legends. They were brought down by Western greed and capitalism. Tears roll down my eyes.    We have seen leaders come and go. Nobody has been brave enough to solve the land question in Africa as Mugabe did. It is disheartening that the African remains colonized today in his own country. Look at South Africa. Look at Kenya. The descendants of colonialists are the significant owners of lands in these countries. Yet, praises of Mandela and Jomo Kenyatta are sung everywhere- leaders who lacked the steel needed to free t...

  One of the most remarkable works of Prof. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o is the novel titled " Weep Not, Child ." This novel traces the life of a young boy called Njoroge. The novel is set in colonial Kenya after the Second World War and a few years before Kenya's independence. Freedom fighters, especially from the Gikuyu tribe, have waged war against the colonial government. This novel depicts how innocent people, Njoroge being one of them, suffer from the endless struggle between the colonialists and the African freedom fighters. This article analyzes the themes present in “ Weep Not, Child .” Summary of the Plot The novel begins when Njoroge, a very aspiring young boy, gets the opportunity to go to school. As young as he is, Njoroge is aware of his demanding environment. His father is a labourer at Mr Howland's farm. His brother Kamau is an apprentice at Ng'ang' a's carpentry workshop. Njoroge’s eldest brother-Boro is a disillusioned young man damaged by his invol...

  As the world marks 100 years since the end of World War I, there are fears of the rising demand for monoculturalism in the US and Europe. People must remember that monoculturalism was a principal cause of the rampant wars raving Europe in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Most importantly, people have forgotten that monoculturalism was a primary cause of the first and second world wars. Even today, the primary force behind the many global conflicts is monoculturalism, the inability to tolerate and respect other people and their different cultures. Fortunately, today, 11th November 2018, serves as a reminder that monoculturalism and a high-spirited nationalism are the critical ingredients for international wars, as they did over 100 years ago. Over 20 million people died in the first world war, virtually wiping out the young generations of that time. Proposition for monoculturalism  Proponents of monoculturalism argue that it is the only way to create peaceful coexistence in...

    I have keenly observed Donald Trump and his confrontation with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un. Unlike most observers, blinded by the controversy over nuclear weapons, a post-colonial African can read the struggle between imperialism and sovereignty that has dogged this controversy. Ultimately, the imperialist (Trump) wins the battle as Kim promises to abandon his country's nuclear program, creating the latest example of how imperialism always subdues the struggle for sovereignty. That aside, the questions raised by Trump's victory are: is the rest of the non-nuclear world safe by the US and its nuclear company of friends having loads of atomic weapons? Are Western efforts to prevent the rest of the world from acquiring atomic weapons measures of safety or standards of maintaining imperialism? Why should the non-nuclear countries believe that owning nuclear weapons is dangerous when the US and the West have stockpiles of atomic weapons with rumors of plans to increase...

The electioneering period is fun in most developing countries' calendars. Unfortunately, it is also marked by uncertainty due to the violence accompanying it. For example, In Kenya, since the post-election violence that claimed the lives of about 1000 people and displaced about 100,000, elections come here with mixed feelings of joy and uncertainty.  The electioneering period is particularly joyous in the African continent because people celebrate the wealth of their languages and learn more about their traditions and culture, which currently face erosion due to the rapid adoption of western culture and languages. Mark, you, any person who vies for a post and does not possess the rich vocabularies and sayings of our mother tongue, stand no chance of getting elected to office. Chinua Achebe states, "Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten" in his book, "Things Fall Apart," to elaborate on the importance of language mastery, especially in politics and...

Divide and rule was a strategy Britain used in many colonies to prevent and suppress liberation movements that rose or attempted to rise. Divide and rule are grounded on the concept that if an oppressor keeps the many oppressed people divided, the oppressed fight one another while ignoring the failures and malpractices of the oppressor who continues to rule them. In short, division weakens people and makes oppressors have or gain the power to rule and control them. There are many examples of the application of divide and rule strategy globally. They are discussed below.  British India British India comprised two major religious groups: the Hindus and the Muslims. The Hindus were characterized by their caste system and intolerance towards other religious groups. They lowly regarded the Muslims who lived with them in British India. The British, who knew this fact, worked towards creating further division between these two religious groups to maintain their rule of India. Their policy...

Definition of terms: Capitalist- Rich legal persons focused on profit making. Nearly 100 years ago, Vladimir Lenin predicted the collapse of capitalism and the rise of communism across the globe. His main argument was that capitalists' accumulation of financial capital would reach a saturation point, leading to the collapse of economies and, finally, the destruction of capitalism. Many economists agree that the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis marked the saturation point of the accumulation of financial capital by capitalists that Lenin had predicted, almost leading to the collapse of the major capitalist economies. Several government interventions that led to the bailing out of capitalists made capitalism survive this predicted collapse. However, many middle and low-class people felt disappointed by their governments because they bailed out these capitalists who had dug their graves by driving their economies into this crisis. They were disappointed because their states quickly gave the...