I. Business on the Brink
A Silent Exodus Defies Presidential Promises
Pages 1, 4–5
Ten multinational corporations have pulled out of Kenya. Their reasons? Crushing taxes. Expensive electricity. Crumbling infrastructure. A government that changes the rules mid-game. This is the kind of exit no ribbon-cutting ceremony can distract from — and it’s painting a far different picture than the one broadcast from State House.
II. Institutions Under Pressure
New Faces, Old Expectations
Page 2
The newly constituted IEBC, led by Chairman Erastus, is promising integrity. Twelve by-elections loom. A stalled boundaries review lingers. Skepticism is high. So is the cost of failure.
Funeral or Flashpoint?
Page 8
Boniface Kariuki, a hawker, was laid to rest. His funeral didn’t just bury a man — it raised a movement. Police brutality. Market injustice. A small trader’s death echoes through Nairobi’s streets like a warning shot.
When the Church Speaks, Who Listens?
Page 9
Raila Odinga calls it state-sanctioned violence. The Church demands truth. The President remains silent. The rift between citizens and command grows wider — and deeper.
III. The Slow Unmaking of an Economy
From Kibaki’s Blueprint to Ruto’s Crossroads
Page 6
During Kibaki’s era, manufacturing stood tall — 19% of GDP. Today, it’s a shadow. Vision 2030 has become a rearview dream. The industry that was once a pillar is now a metaphor for national drift.
Counties at Work: Kiambu’s Quiet Efficiency
Page 18
While Nairobi debates, Kiambu executes. By automating tax collection, the county netted Sh5.4 billion in revenue. Governor Wamatangi promises transparency — a word that’s grown rare in Kenya’s political dictionary.
When Tourism Packs Its Bags
Page 5
Kenya once led the safari narrative. Now, it plays catch-up to Rwanda and Tanzania. Tourists go where roads are paved and stories make sense. For now, that’s no longer here.
IV. Voices of Resistance, Whispers of Reform
Protest as Policy
Pages 11–15
Analysts speak plainly: Kenya’s economy is gasping, and political turmoil is the chokehold. The government calls protests a nuisance. Protesters call them necessary. The impasse grows.
A Lifetime of Law: The Pheroze Principle
Page 11
Pheroze Nowrojee, one of Kenya’s last legal lions, is being honored for a career spent challenging tyranny with principle. In a moment of national confusion, his clarity feels radical.
V. The People’s Beat
Festival Fever Hits Day Four
Page 3
Drums, guitars, chants. Regional music festivals reach a crescendo as hopeful artists fight for a chance to perform on the national stage. Amid tension, a different kind of voice rises.
New Conversations Around Old Traditions
Page 10
In pastoral communities, men are joining family planning discussions. Meanwhile, self-injectable contraceptives are giving women quiet control. The future of reproductive health in Kenya is private, personal — and overdue.
Meals, Dignity, and the Forgotten
Page 19
A feeding program for elderly Kenyans does more than fight hunger. It restores dignity to those the economy left behind — and reminds us who development is really for.
VI. Fields of Change
One Farmer, One App, One Revolution
Page 28
Jannette doesn’t farm like her grandparents. Soil testing, fertilizer mapping, remote crop monitoring — all done on her phone. Her farm is smart. Her yield is smarter. The future is in the palm of her hand.
Poultry 101: The Mistakes That Cost Millions
Page 29
From overcrowding to poor feed, poultry farmers are making preventable errors. Experts offer tips — and warnings. One mistake could wipe out months of work.
VII. Borders, Bureaucracy, and Bigger Conversations
The Northern Corridor, Reimagined — Almost
Pages 30–31
East African ministers gather in Nairobi to discuss the Northern Corridor. Promises are made. But customs bottlenecks remain, slowing the region’s most vital trade artery. A dream of open borders clashes with closed systems.
VIII. On the Edge of Greatness
Kenya Prepares to Host CHAN 2024
Pages 36–40
Harambee Stars are in a tough group — DRC, Angola, Morocco, Zambia. The stadiums are nearly ready. So are the fans. Kenya may be in crisis, but football remains a force no government can mute.
Closing Note
A Country in Tension — But Not in Retreat
From boardrooms to border towns, from protest chants to choir notes, Kenya is many things — but quiet is not one of them. Every headline tells a story. Every page of The Standard reflects a pulse. This week, it beats with urgency, unrest, and a faint, stubborn hope.