The African Trumpet

John Githongo - Kenya Kwanza: The War on Graft Is Dead - Corruption’s Seductive Comeback?

Kenya Kwanza: The war on graft is dead — in this bruising account, John Githongo traces how anti-corruption institutions were hollowed out, and explores who filled the vacuum, and asks what ordinary Kenyans stand to lose as graft reasserts itself across public life.

Malong Awan – East Africa’s Need For Cross-Cutting Solidarity

From aid and youth labor issues to democracy and cross-border trade, East Africa’s fate is deeply intertwined, and that may be the spark needed to bring about cross-border mutual support and collaboration. The Elephant talks to Malong Awan.

The Latent Fissures Dividing Our Worlds

From Kenya to Brazil, South Africa to the US, there seems to exist a multiplicity of issues driving a wedge across race, gender, and national identities. What are the unresolved questions and unaddressed realities driving this divergence of ideals and ideas? The Elephant's John Githongo in conversation with Tara O'Connor.

Mark Antony: May the New Native Rise Up

So what does it mean to be young, aspirational, driven, yet caught up in a country with so much potential yet so few results? Who benefits from the structural deficiency built into public life, and how do young people navigate these conundrums when trying to paint a picture of success? The Elephant in conversation with Mark Antony.

Kwame Owino: Fuel Hikes and False Promises: An Economy That Refuses to Grow for the People

Kenya’s economy stands at a crossroads: outwardly resilient, with projected growth hovering around 4.5–5.0 percent and a relatively stable macro‑environment, yet weighed down by persistent fiscal fragility, high debt‑servicing costs, and a stubbornly weak labour market. The question “Whither the economy?” cuts to the core of whether the country can translate this modest growth into broad‑based jobs, inclusive industrialisation, and genuine citizen‑facing prosperity—or remain trapped in a cycle of debt‑led spending and uneven structural transformation. Kwame Owino tells us why.