Kenya's President Reaches Out to Somali Minority

 Foreign Policy published on 25 June 2026 an article titled "Will Kenya's Ruto Finally Reconcile with the Country's Somali Minority?" by Joseph Maina. 

Kenyan President William Ruto has reached out to the country's minority Somali population to bring them more effectively into Kenyan society.  Some Kenyans are skeptical that Ruto's outreach to the Somalis is sincere.  

Following Kenyan Elections Will There Be Any Change in Relations with China?

 China Global Television Network (CGTN) published on 16 August 2022 an article titled "Why China-Kenya Relations Won't Change Post August 9 Elections" by Stephen Ndegwa.

Former deputy president William Ruto has been declared the winner over Raila Odinga in a very close presidential election contest.  The CGTN author concluded that regardless who wins, "China-Kenya relations will not veer off the current progressive path that they have already assumed since December 2002."  

The Nation published on 21 June 2022 an article titled "Ruto Promises to Deport Chinese in Retail Trade" by Collins Omulu.  Ruto said he would deport Chinese doing retail business that can also be done by Kenyans.

Reuters published on 20 July 2022 an article titled "Kenya Presidential Hopeful Ruto Promises to Publish Contracts with China" by Katharine Houreld and Duncan Miriri.  Ruto said he would make public all government contracts with China, something Kenya has been unwilling to do.  

Kenya's Controversial Chinese-financed and Built Railway

 The New York Times published on 7 August 2022 an article titled "'Jewel in the Crown of Corruption': The Troubles of Kenya's China--Funded Train" by Abdi Latif Dahir.  

Five years after its launch, the Chinese-designed, funded, and built railroad from Mombasa on the coast to Nairobi and beyond to a vacant field has become associated with debt, dysfunction, and criminal inquiries.  It is now a hot-button issue in the presidential election on 9 August.  

Kenya's President Says Don't Ask Us to Choose US or China

The Atlantic Council posted on 5 February 2020 a summary of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's remarks on that date titled "Kenyan President Says Global Leaders Must See Africa as 'the World's Biggest Opportunity'" by David A. Wemer.

In wide ranging remarks in Washington, President Kenyatta also commented on US-China relations as they concern Africa. He said "we don't want to be forced to choose" between Beijing and Washington; "we want to work with everybody." Kenyatta added that Beijing and Washington both offer important economic advantages for Kenya and can both be worked with to achieve strong sustainable growth.

Extension of Chinese-built Railway from Mombasa to Nairobi Up in Air

Tanzania's The Citizen published on 23 June 2019 an article titled "China Keeps Uganda, Kenya Guessing on SGR Loan" by Frederic Musisi.

Chinese financing has resulted in completion of the standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Nairobi in Kenya. The project was to extend to Kampala, Uganda, and then to Kigali in Rwanda and Juba in South Sudan. Subsequent concerns about the economic viability of the project and the ability of countries to pay off the loan to China have put the expansion of the railway in doubt.

Kenya: Kenyatta-Odinga Deal

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) posted on 23 March 2018 a commentary titled "Raila Odinga Makes Another Dubious Deal" by Peter Fabricius, ISS consultant.

The author suggests that the 9 March reconciliation between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga has obvious advantages for Kenyatta but less obvious ones for Odinga. The proof of the deal is whether the joint office Kenyatta and Odinga set up really tackles fundamental challenges identified in the agreement.

Kenyan Leaders Reconcile: Will It Last?

The International Crisis Group published on 13 March 2018 an analysis titled "After Kenya's Leaders Reconcile, a Tough Path Ahead."

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga agreed on 9 March to address the deterioration of relationships between communities and aggressive antagonism and competition that has blighted repeated elections in Kenya. While this step is welcome, the hard part comes next.

Time for US To Speak Frankly with Kenyan Government

African Arguments published on 27 February 2018 a commentary titled "How and Why the US Should Intervene in Kenya" by Mark Bellamy and Johnnie Carson, both former US ambassadors to Kenya.

Bellamy and Carson argue that the US must make crystal clear privately to the government of Kenya that there are limits to what the US will tolerate if Kenya continues to flaunt the rule of law.

Kenya's 2017 Election Results in New Activism

The Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 12 February 2018 an assessment titled "Kenya's 2017 Election and New Wave of Activism" by Adams Oloo, University of Nairobi.

The author argues that the fraught 2017 electoral process intensified tensions between Kenyan civil society and the country's political and state institutions, even as it empowered a new wave of activists determined to keep their leaders in check. New activist groups have ratcheted up the pressure on the Uhuru Kenyatta government and sharpened their criticism of its perceived electoral indiscretions.

Stifling the Free Press in Kenya

The Conversation published on 7 February 2018 a commentary titled "How Kenyatta Has Gone About Stifling the Free Press in Kenya" by George Ogola, University of Central Lancashire.

The author concludes there are ominous signs that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is on a mission to silence the press as he consolidates his power.

Averting a Political Crisis in Kenya

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 29 January 2018 a statement titled "Kenya: Averting an Avoidable Crisis."

The ICG is calling on opposition political leader Raila Odinga to call off his 30 January swearing-in ceremony as the "people's president" and President Uhuru Kenyatta to agree to an audit of Kenya's electoral authorities. The ICG adds that Kenyan leaders should also consider some form of national convention to discuss reforms to lower the stakes of political competition.

US Urged to Support Kenya in Aftermath of Contentious Election

Foreign Policy published on 21 November 2017 a commentary titled "As Kenya Struggles to Recover from a Tumultuous Election, America Must Stand by Its Side" by John Tomaszewski, regional director for the International Republican Institute (IRI), and Daniel Twining, president of IRI.

In spite of the controversial election that recently took place, the authors urge that the United States work closely with Kenya to build a more effective democracy.

Kenya Headed for Disastrous Election

Foreign Policy published on 23 October 2017 a commentary titled "Kenya Braces for a Disaster of an Election" by Nanjala Nyabola.

The author argues that if the election goes forward on 26 October it has the possibility of destabilizing Kenya.

Kenya's Presidential Election

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 2 October 2017 a commentary titled "How to Ensure a Credible, Peaceful Presidential Vote in Kenya."

The ICG argues that it is essential the election take place by the 1 November 2017 deadline. In addition, both political parties must accept important electoral reforms worked out with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Kenya's Election: Failure of Technology or Governance?

World Politics Review published on 3 October 2017 an analysis titled "Is Kenya's Election Debacle a Failure of Technology or Good Governance?" by Jeffrey Smith, executive director of Vanguard Africa, and Arthur Gwagwa, Sub-Saharan Africa Cyber Regionalism and Elections project.

The authors suggest the argument that technological challenges doomed the Kenyan election overlooks the lack of good governance and respect for democratic rights in Kenya, which caused the election to fall well short of democratic standards in the first place.

Rerun of Kenya's Presidential Election

The International Crisis Group published on 2 October 2017 a brief titled "How to Ensure a Credible, Peaceful Presidential Vote in Kenya."

Following the surprise annulment of August's presidential election, Kenya must hold a new election by 1 November. But rising tensions and the threat of a boycott by Raila Odinga's National Super Alliance could result in missing the vote's deadline and risk a constitutional crisis.

Kenya's Repeated Election

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 4 September 2017 a statement titled "Kenya: A Historic Decision, A Tough Road Ahead."

The ICG concluded that the Supreme Court's decision represents a victory for the independence of Kenya's judiciary and the rule of law. The onus now shifts to the country's politicians, and to those in the international community with influence over them, to act responsibly so that Kenyans can witness a smooth, peaceful and credible vote by the the of October.

Kenya's Historic New Election

Foreign Policy published on 1 September 2017 an article titled "In Unprecedented Reversal, Kenya's Top Court Throws Out Election Result" by Ty McCormick.

Kenya's Supreme Court has invalidated due to vote counting irregularities Kenya's recent election that resulted in a victory for incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has accepted the Court's decision. A new election is to take place within 60 days.

Reaction to Kenya's Election

The Atlantic Council published on 14 August 2017 a commentary titled "The Kenyan Elections: Too Soon to Relax" by Bronwyn Bruton, Atlantic Council's Africa Center.

The author noted, perhaps perversely, that the recurrence of post-election violence is a testament to the strength rather than the weakness of Kenya's democracy when compared to wining outcomes in the high ninety percentiles in certain other countries.

African Arguments published on 18 August 2017 a commentary titled "Kenya Voted for Change and Got It . . . at the Local Level" by Hannah Waddilove, University of Warwick.

The author points out that while the incumbent president was reelected, over half of Kenya's incumbent governors and 62 percent of its members in the National Assembly lost their seats.

Kenya after the Presidential Election

World Politics Review published on 17 August 2017 a commentary titled "Kenya's Presidential Election Avoided the Worst, but Tensions Still Simmer" by Julian Hattem, journalist based in Uganda.

The author concludes that while the ghost of nationwide unrest failed to materialize after Kenya's presidential election, ethnic divisions and mistrust still haunt Kenya's political system.