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Kenya’s president William Ruto came to power by tapping into the grievances of young “hustlers”. He promised to bring jobs and lower the cost of living. But young Kenyans continued to struggle, triggering widespread discontent when a finance bill, increasing taxes, was tabled. Economist XN Iraki unpacks the economic tensions that gave rise to the mass protests.
One of the frustrations felt by Kenyans related to the extravagant lifestyles of Kenya’s ruling political elite. Many questioned where taxes would eventually end up. Political researcher Gedion Onyango provides insights into the challenge of corruption in Kenya and why it’s been so hard to address.
Sandiso Mnguni hoped to study towards a medical degree. It took a twist of academic fate, a brilliant introductory lecture and an amazing mentor to set him on an entirely different path: studying and naming fossil insects. Here, he explains how the world’s small community of palaeoentomologists like himself are helping to build a more complete picture of life on our planet in the distant past.
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XN Iraki, University of Nairobi
Kenya’s slow economic growth, large educated youth population and limited job opportunities are some of the factors that gave rise to the protests.
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Gedion Onyango, London School of Economics and Political Science
Corruption in Kenya drains resources that could have been used for services like healthcare or education.
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Sandiso Mnguni, University of the Witwatersrand
New insect treasures are almost certainly just waiting to be found by future palaeonentomologists.
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Henning Melber, University of Pretoria
Liberation was meant to deliver significant change, for the better. But South Africa and Namibia show that the new elites that took power exercised it for their own benefit.
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From our international editions
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Dafydd Townley, University of Portsmouth
US academic Dafyyd Townley watched the debate and gives his rundown of key moments.
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Brian Tang, University at Albany, State University of New York
An atmospheric scientist explains how hail forms and what to do if you’re suddenly being pelted by giant ice chunks falling from the sky.
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Hasan Khatib, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hunger, stress, trauma, inadequate sanitation and other factors are converging to create a widespread humanitarian disaster with consequences that could last for generations.
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Helen Eriksson, Stockholm University
Almost half of children in Sweden with separated parents now split their time equally between the two households.
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Marianne Dehasque, Uppsala University; Love Dalén, Stockholm University
Scientists have long wondered if the wooly mammoth went extinct due to high levels of inbreeding.
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