In early October, Kenya’s national assembly voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, citing corruption, ethnically divisive politics and insubordination. It’s the first time the impeachment process for a deputy president has been used following constitutional reforms in 2010. Gachagua’s case now moves to the senate, where a two-thirds majority could vote to remove him from office. But, as political scientist Gabrielle Lynch explains, this is a familiar pattern in Kenya’s history – presidents and their deputies tend to fall out. She explains why this relationship is so volatile.

It’s not easy to find South African politicians who command widespread respect, admiration as well as affection. Tito Mboweni, who has died at the age of 65 after a short illness, is one. Mboweni served as labour minister in Nelson Mandela’s first government, went on to become central bank governor before returning to government as finance minister. As Jannie Rossouw writes, Mboweni’s career from his years in exile to becoming a trusted and popular public figure should serve as an enduring example to others in leadership.

Kagure Gacheche

Commissioning Editor, East Africa

Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment would be no surprise

Gabrielle Lynch, University of Warwick

Gachagua could make history as Kenya’s first deputy leader to be impeached.

The remarkable career of Tito Mboweni: from South African freedom fighter to central bank governor and trusted politician

Jannie Rossouw, University of the Witwatersrand

Mboweni leaves a legacy of a successful transformation from a freedom fighter to a businessman, central banker and politician.

Ghana needs to stop households from using firewood: what must be done

Kwame Adjei-Mantey, University of Pretoria; Roula Inglesi-Lotz, University of Pretoria

Environmental consciousness means people are less likely to cook using firewood.

Social media as a teaching tool: South African teachers talk about the new reality

Zane Davids, University of Cape Town; Lisa Seymour, University of Cape Town; Rafeeq Jaffer, University of Cape Town

To get maximum benefits from using social media for teaching in South Africa schools, many things should be put in place.

Africa’s Great Green Wall will only combat desertification and poverty by harnessing local solutions

Jeremy Allouche, Institute of Development Studies; Élie Pédarros, Newcastle University

The Great Green Wall is great in theory but too complicated to achieve without more localised planning.

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