Clueless Twenties

  Dear Brother, I don’t always know how to say this without fumbling over my own silence, but I love you. Deeply, endlessly, quietly. We don’t talk much. Life pulls us in different directions, and the days roll on faster than either of us can catch them. But even in the space between our conversations, you’re there, in the memories, in the soft corners of my heart that still see you as the little boy who once reached for my hand without thinking. Now you’re this grown man. Twenty-something and carrying the weight of the world in a way I wish you didn’t have to. I see it, even if I don't always say it. I see the tiredness in your eyes that you try to blink away, the strength you wear like a second skin, and the softness underneath that the world doesn’t always deserve. And maybe I don’t say this enough, but you are doing okay. More than okay. Even in your quiet, even when you feel like you’re falling behind or unsure of your next step, I’m proud of you. There’s a version of love tha...

  Dear Reader, Today I open up about something that is really hard for me to speak about, but for the purposes of this article, I feel it's important to share it. For so long, I carried the weight of silence, convinced that my story was too difficult to tell or that it wouldn't be understood. But as I reflect on the world we live in, I realise how crucial it is to break that silence. To let others know they’re not alone. So, with hesitation but also hope, I want to shed light on something that many may not fully grasp, an experience that, though often hidden in the shadows, affects far too many. But before that, let us define a few things. GBV is an abbreviation for gender-based violence, which is harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. This can include physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse and is often rooted in power imbalances, discrimination, and societal norms regarding gender, according to WHO & UN. Victim blaming refers to the tend...

  Wambui (not her real name) awoke before the sun. As she sipped her tea, she reflected on her job interview from earlier that week. The one that seemed like the ideal chance was a marketing position with a well-known company in Nairobi. She had aced the interview, or so she thought. However, the phone hadn't rung yet, and her inbox remained empty. A part of her wanted to believe it was just a question of time, but another part couldn't shake the sensation of doubt. Another week of waiting and many applications... This may be the story of many Kenyans in today's employment market: navigating the highs and lows of job hunting, hoping for that one break, while dealing with the angst of uncertainty. The game of work, like any other game, may be unpredictable, unjust, and, at times, tiring. While Wambui's experience may sound similar to many, it also underscores an important fact: Kenya's work market is changing. The way we play the game is also evolving. 1. Job Seekers...

  Dear Reader, I am not sure how I can illustrate this, but the pieces of the puzzle will start to come together, and the web of deception becomes clearer with each passing moment you read this article. By the end of this article, I hope to have convinced you of the elaborate ruse that has been perpetuated right under our noses. In ancient days, rulers, whether emperors, kings, or other leaders, have often used various forms of distraction or spectacle to maintain control over their populations, especially during times of crisis, instability, or decline. This kind of strategy is sometimes referred to as bread and circuses (from the Latin panem et circenses), a concept famously associated with the Roman Empire. The idea was that by providing people with free food (bread) and entertainment (circuses or public spectacles), rulers could pacify the masses and distract them from the underlying political, social, or economic problems that were threatening the stability of the state. The R...

  Dear Reader, I don't know if I speak for all of us or for myself when I say this year has been okay. But I am grateful for all of the readers that have read my work and supported me along the way. Without your reads, this would just be a public diary. Thank you for believing in me. But back to the year, 2024 has been a rollercoaster of emotions; one day everything is well, and the next everything is going to hell. So grab a drink or snack, sit down, and let me yap and overshare about my year in this public diary. The year began so well, with high hopes and exciting plans for the future. Well, that went to shit really quick (sorry for the cursing; it's the only way I can describe it well), but I guess that's just life sometimes. In all truth, my dance with death gave me a new perspective in life. And if I am being honest, it was the highlight of the year. It is different when you are suicidal, and when death itself comes knocking, you no longer have control over the situat...

  Dear Reader, The majority of us have been in love with someone who can't reciprocate. Well dear reader, this writer has been in such a situation sadly, and some of the time the other person doesn't know the feelings exist. This writer was once in love with a friend. I was so blindly in love with the other party, but I was so good at hiding it. Long story short, I decided I had to move on because nothing was going to come to fruition, and also I couldn't be friends with him anymore, so I ended our friendship and cried myself to sleep. Months later, I saw him, and I felt nothing and got the chance to actually tell him I was in love with him the whole time. For those who haven't yet caught on to what unrequited love is, here is a proper definition: It is a one-sided emotional investment, romantically, of course, often characterized by longing, hope, and frustration. It can feel like you are the only person going through it, but on the contrary, it is a universal thing an...

  Dear Reader, Like fate would have it, we got tired of the BS being fed to us by the older generation and mostly the government and all the governmental institutions that were supposed to protect us. We decided to take matters into our own hands and fight for change. But if we really want to make a difference, unlike our other counterparts or every youth-led movement, our approach needs to change. So here is my unrequited advice. The 1975 student protests, also known as the Kenya National Union of Students (KNUS) protests, occurred before Daniel Arap Moi's election as president of Kenya in 1978. These protests were part of a larger wave of student unhappiness with then-President Jomo Kenyatta's government. The student protests were primarily motivated by dissatisfaction with government policies, such as education, political persecution, and the country's overall economic difficulties. Sounds familiar? But let's get to case study 2. On Saba Saba 1990, opposition groups...