Premium

Why turning Kenya into a construction site won't deliver lasting economic returns

Hersi wondered why there are so many developers across the country building apartments and petrol stations and no factories.

By Patrick Muinde 1 month ago

Premium

Current sale of State firms raises concerns similar to those of 1970s

Let us walk back in time to January 1970. Kenyans are still excited with their new found freedom from the yoke of colonialism.

By Patrick Muinde 1 month ago

Mwea Township may pass as a good case study of the National Economy:

This week we turn into one of the townships in Kirinyaga County that probably best represents our national economic system.

By Patrick Muinde 1 month ago

Premium

Kenya's deepening wealth divide exposes leadership failures

Just days after Ruto shared a glamorous picture of the economy that he has delivered in his first three years in office, the chilling contrast of reality has come from the most unlikely quarters.

By Patrick Muinde 2 months ago

Premium

State of the Nation: President's own account contradicts reality by far

Conceptually, the Constitution demands that the President present an annual State of the Nation Address to a joint House of Parliament.

By Patrick Muinde 2 months ago

Premium

How bureaucrats, politicians steal billions through tender cancellation

New administrations at both the national and county governments would cancel a contract on very flimsy grounds, only to re-tender the same project months later.

By Patrick Muinde 2 months ago

Premium

Why survival of EAC now hangs in the balance

The survival of the East African Community probably faces one of its biggest tests due to ideological differences of the current crop of leaders in the region.

By Patrick Muinde 2 months ago

Premium

Why Kenya's 30 pc development budget is not delivering

In theory, there is no country that can realise meaningful economic growth and development without reasonable investments on infrastructure.

By Patrick Muinde 3 months ago

Premium

A life of service and fight for freedom: Raila's everlasting great gift to Kenya

This week the author of the universe has once more reminded us of the inevitability of our mortality, regardless of power and rank in society.

By Patrick Muinde 3 months ago

Premium

Why government can't borrow its way to prosperity

Trying to understand the Kenya's economic system under conventional economic models is a painful and often confusing endeavor.

By Patrick Muinde 3 months ago

Premium

How economic numbers betray Ruto ahead of 2027 polls

The debt binge of the Jubilee administration equally stinks as that of the current administration. The plunder of public coffers has only grown bigger in the spirit of it is our time to eat.

By Patrick Muinde 3 months ago

Premium

How vote-buying is now disguised as empowerment handouts

In a strange twist of fate, Friday's edition of The Standard pre-emptied my opening punchlines for today, moments before I released the article to the editor.

By Patrick Muinde 4 months ago

Premium

E-procurement will spell doom for thieves and promote accountability

In its own unique way, history provides rare moments to a few individuals to rewrite it in a fundamental way for the betterment of a society.

By Patrick Muinde 4 months ago

Premium

Is the wheel of devolved governance enroute to its destination or a stop?

The proclamation of a Katiba Day to allow the nation reflect on the promulgation of the Constitution is another surprise twist into our never ending drama.

By Patrick Muinde 5 months ago

Premium

Unspoken truths laid bare as hard questions on corruption intensify

One of the questions in the minds of Kenyans is whether the so-called broad-based duo of President William Ruto and Raila Odinga bit too much.

By Patrick Muinde 5 months ago

Premium

Dancing and ululations at State House won't revive the economy

Lining up thousands of young people at State House to receive campaign bribes in the form of agrarian age tools in a modern economic system is pushing the joke too far.

By Patrick Muinde 5 months ago

Premium

Chan tourney offers Ruto respite from e-Citizen heist, other mega scandals

The thrilling exploits of the national team, Harambee Stars, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is a welcome distraction from the annoying e-citizen and other mega scandals.

By Patrick Muinde 5 months ago

Oginde's prayer: When prayer dared to confront power

Can a single prayer be the master stroke that eventually slays the dragon of plunder of public coffers in this country?

By Patrick Muinde 5 months ago

Premium

Tax hikes can't satisfy thieves' greed or plug holes of wasteful spending

What we have in this country is not a problem of revenues to warrant the toxic taxes and levies of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

By Patrick Muinde 6 months ago

Premium

Fraud in education sector exposes failures in Nemis, digitization push

The failure of NEMIS to curb fraud in government capitation to public schools raises more questions than answers.

By Patrick Muinde 6 months ago

Premium

Violent demos dim hope for economic recovery before Ruto's first term ends

No one can quantify the economic losses that the country continues to suffer as a result of the violent protests.

By Patrick Muinde 6 months ago

Beyond the deals: Are Kenya's trade agreements delivering real value?

Economic speak, the key highlight of this week was President William Ruto's tour in Europe.

By Patrick Muinde 6 months ago

Premium

Mr President, take responsibility of Wednesday's deaths, destruction

The aftermath of what was meant to be a sacred day to remember and honour tens of young people senselessly killed during the Gen Z protest against Finance Bill 2024.

By Patrick Muinde 7 months ago

Premium

A third of Sh4.2 trillion national budget will go to waste or stolen

The annual budget process is an official ritual that Kenyans cannot avoid courtesy of the country's established constitutional and democratic order.

By Patrick Muinde 7 months ago

Premium

Why Treasury's appetite for paying failed projects can't be satisfied

The Nairobi-Nakuru -Mau Summit road contract, famously referred to as the Rironi-Mau Summit project, seems to have taken the same familiar and well-trodden path.

By Patrick Muinde 7 months ago

Premium

Universal health care sabotaged by greed and ignorance of the law

One of the sad realities emerging from the 2025/26 budget proceedings in Parliament is that our budgets are prepared first and foremost to serve the big people in the Executive and Parliament.

By Patrick Muinde 8 months ago

Premium

Economic reality doesn't align with narrative touted by Kenya Kwanza

2024 Economic Survey is probably the single most important economic document that presents key economic trends of the past five years.

By Patrick Muinde 8 months ago

Parliament can redeem its image by proving it isn't part of the Executive

Parliament must stamp its authority to ensure debt sustainability, compliance with approved debt ceilings and clear the cloud on odious debts.

By Patrick Muinde 8 months ago

Premium

Ruto in China: A toast to future ties or strategic game against the West?

For those that may not be in the know, the Chinese people and culture emphasises on building a friendship as a precursor to their diplomatic, trade and social engagements.

By Patrick Muinde 9 months ago

US vs China trade war projected to drag global economy into recession

Easter season would be a time for businesses to reap big as consumers loosen their wallets to make merry as they reflect on the crucifixion of Christ.

By Patrick Muinde 9 months ago

US China trade war to drag global economy into recession

Chinese suppliers this week have been exposing the actual wholesale prices for world-renowned brands, appealing for US consumers to order their products directly from them online

By Patrick Muinde 9 months ago

Premium

'Echoes of War' debacle has shred Ruto's creative economy agenda

The National Drama and Film Festivals would ordinarily pass as a thrilling season for art lovers and a moment for young people to demonstrate their raw and pure talent.

By Patrick Muinde 9 months ago

Trump's tariffs on Kenyan exports further weaken a wobbling economy

On Wednesday this week, I ventured into the once busy Buruburu shopping centre, nestled within Makadara and Embakasi West constituencies of Nairobi.

By Patrick Muinde 9 months ago

Mbadi sends mixed signals on the economy amid rising debt concerns

This past week, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury was caught publicly warning key stakeholders on the high external debt risks that the country is facing.

By Patrick Muinde 10 months ago

Constitutional amendments to save CDF expose MPs conflict of interest

The Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 2025, that seeks to amend Article 204 of the Constitution to introduce three other funds has been published in Parliament.

By Patrick Muinde 10 months ago

Dear Mr President, tough times call you to reflect on your leadership

Ruto's comments indicate he has accurate information of what Kenyans trolling him on media think and feel about his leadership and state of the economy.

By Patrick Muinde 10 months ago

Executive should stop sideshows and address Auditor's sticky issues

In practice, the Auditor's opinion cannot be retracted nor re-explained in any other version, other than in the form in which it was issued.

By Patrick Muinde 10 months ago

Recurring audit queries expose MPs as weak link in public funds control

One of the emphatic issues raised by the auditor general is the lack of resolute action on audit queries that have consistently been recurring on her reports.

By Patrick Muinde 10 months ago

Premium

Policy Statement promises nothing unusual in CS Mbadi's first Budget

There are no discernible drastic proposals in the entire document. The tone, structure and texture of the plan are similar to any other that has come before it.

By Patrick Muinde 11 months ago

SHIF's low contributor rate exposes deep flaws in the plan, needs rethink

SHIF will chronically be deprived of cash to meet the huge healthcare burden unless alternative sources of funding are found.

By Patrick Muinde 11 months ago