Wanderi Kamau

Nairobi

Political Correspondent at The Africa Report

Journalist/Lover of the written word/Kenya's Political Correspondent for @TheAfricaReport

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Articles

Kenya: Growing expansion of Chinese-owned stores stirs unease

Jan 22, 2025 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

The rapid mushrooming of Chinese-owned chain stores in Kenya has rattled local retailers and street vendors, popularly known as ‘hustlers’, threatening to push them out of business. The trend, according to the worried hustlers, threatens the fulfilment of President William Ruto’s promise to economically empower ordinary Kenyans at the bottom of the economic ladder. Get full access to The Africa Report
Is Kenya the new haven for international abductions?

Jan 17, 2025 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

Sarungi’s abduction comes less than two months after Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi and later produced in a military court in his country. Besigye, a long-time political rival of President Yoweri Museveni, was charged in a military court with illegal possession of ammunition, a crime he allegedly committed while in Kenya. Turkish arms Africa Insights Wake up to the essential with the Editor's picks.
Kenya: Ruto, Gachagua devise parallel political strategies to win Mt Kenya support

Jan 15, 2025 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

As the political scramble for Mt Kenya heats up, President William Ruto and his impeached deputy Rigathi Gachagua are laying out parallel political strategies to win the support of the populous, vote-rich region ahead of the 2027 polls. Gachagua has formed a new political movement composed of allies in the legislature.
The IEBC gridlock: How Kenya is courting an electoral crisis

Dec 10, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

A tussle over the appointment of members of a panel for the reconstitution of Kenya’s elections body is threatening to plunge Kenya into an electoral crisis. New commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) were supposed to be recruited by a special panel that emanated from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which led talks between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Kenya: Can Ruto’s new mining minister Joho rally the Coast?

Nov 27, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

Ali Hassan Joho, Kenya’s new mining minister, faces a difficult political task in rallying the Coast region behind the ruling Kenya Kwanza regime ahead of the 2027 election. The region, a stronghold of Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has lacked a uniting political figure for decades. Joho, a youthful, outspoken, opulent and powerful former governor of the coastal city of Get full access to The Africa Report
Where is Kenya’s Gen Z now?

Nov 25, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

At the height of the youth-led anti-tax countrywide protests in Kenya in June and July, several individuals rose to prominence, emerging as the faces of defiance. The demonstrations propelled individuals such as Kasmuel McOure, Morara Kebaso, Mercy Tarus and Hanifah Adan, who were unheard of before the protests, to stardom. Get full access to The Africa Report
Kenya: Why Ruto cancelled the Adani deals

Nov 21, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

President William Ruto, in a surprise move, has cancelled the planned Adani Group takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO). In his State of the Nation Address at Kenya’s Parliament Thursday, Ruto said his decision was informed by new evidence from local investigative agencies and information from partner states linking the conglomerate to graft. Get full access to The Africa Report
Kenya: Raila to win big as Ruto replaces Gachagua allies in legislative committees

Nov 20, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

By Kamau Wanderi Reserved for subscribers Posted on November 20, 2024 14:31
Ruto rivals form new political alliance ahead of Kenya’s 2027 elections

Nov 19, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

New political alliances are beginning to take shape in Kenya, with recently ousted deputy president Rigathi Gachagua reportedly planning to join forces with Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 elections. Several allies of Gachagua have confidentially informed The Africa Report that he is in discussions with Kalonzo about the possibility of forming Get full access to The Africa Report
Kenya: Can Ruto work with Trump?

Nov 7, 2024 | theafricareport.com | Wanderi Kamau

Kenya’s President William Ruto has been a close ally of President Joe Biden since taking office in 2022, with the peak of their relationship marked by Ruto’s historic four-day state visit to the US in May, celebrating the deepening ties between Kenya and the US. The visit affirmed the strategic partnership between the two nations, as the leaders discussed key issues including democracy, health partnerships, and people-to-people connections.