On 27th June 2019, Kenya beat Tanzania 3-2 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), moving us to third place in Group C, right behind Algeria and Senegal. This renewed the conversation around sports reform in Kenya. This is the first time Kenya has qualified for AFCON since 2004. We're joined by Ng'arua Kamuya, a lawyer, advocate of the High Court of Kenya and sports pundit, for a fun chat on what we can do to reform sports in Kenya. Press play!
Resources
According to Kenya's Social Protection Policy, poverty, disease, and ignorance were identified at the time of independence in 1963 as the critical challenges facing the new nation of Kenya. While some degree of success has been achieved in the area of education, progress in reducing poverty and providing healthcare has barely been made. 56 years after independence, “poverty and vulnerability remain major challenges, with almost one in every two Kenyans trapped in a long-term, chronic and inter-generational cycle of poverty."
Our Constitution in Article 43 guarantees all Kenyans their economic, social, and cultural rights. It asserts the "right for every person...to social security and binds the state to provide appropriate social security to persons who are unable to support themselves and their dependents." This right is closely linked to other social protection rights, including the right to healthcare, human dignity, reasonable working conditions, and access to justice. Article 21 establishes the progressive realization of social and economic rights and obligates the state to "observe, respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights.”
We’re joined by Pauline Vata, Executive Director of Hakijamii Trust, to discuss social protection in Kenya.
Resources
Kenya National Social Protection Policy (2012)
Article 43, Constitution of Kenya (2010)
National Social Security Fund Act (2013)
National Hospital Insurance Fund Act (2013)
Analytical Review of the Pension System in Kenya
Social security reforms in Kenya: Towards a workerist or a citizenship-based system?
Policy Brief on National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)
NHIF Strategic Plan 2014 - 2018: Sustainable Financing Towards Universal Health Coverage in Kenya
PARTICIPATION OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THEIR OWN PROGRAMMES: THE CASH TRANSFERS IN KENYA
Political Economy of Cash Transfers In Kenya
Kenya’s Social Cash Transfer Program
From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor: Experimental Evidence from Kenya
The Long-Term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from Kenya.
Income Changes and Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Unconditional Cash Transfers in Kenya
Scaling up Cash Transfer Programmes in Kenya
In June 2019, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced that it would be phasing out the current generation KES 1,000 note by 1st October 2019. On that date, it will cease to be legal tender. This is in an effort to curb illicit financial transactions, including money laundering; address the problem of counterfeit notes; and fight corruption. They also announced new generation notes alongside the new KES 1,000 note (KES 50, 100, 200 and 500), but these do not have a deadline for exchange.
According to the CBK, we currently have in circulation 217.6 million pieces of KES 1,000, 30.8 million pieces of KES 500, 54.8 million pieces of KES 200, 126.4 million pieces of KES 100, 100.5 million pieces of KES 50 and 9.9 million pieces of KES 20. We’re joined by Ken Gichinga, the Chief Economist at Mentoria Economics, to discuss the demonetization process as it is planned in Kenya.
Resources
Kenya is introducing new banknotes in a bid to fight corruption
For demonetization to be successful, adequate remonetization necessary
Behind Central Bank move to change notes
Ensure roll-out of new currency does not hurt weak economy
There is more than meets the eye in demonetisation
Tedious journey to new currency that kicked off in 2010
Demonetization Of Currency Notes: Significance And Challenges
Demonetisation: The end of Zimbabwean dollar
What can you buy for $100 trillion in Zimbabwe? Not even a candy bar
Here's The Full Text Of Modi's Speech On The Discontinuation Of ₹500 And ₹1,000 Bank Notes
Demonetisation: What India gained, and lost
Two years of demonetisation: What did the fight against black money achieve?
Demonetization Anniversary: Decoding the Effects of Indian Currency Notes Ban
India election 2019: Did the ban on high-value banknotes work?
Despite hype, demonetization missed all goals
Few Hits and Many Misses From India's Cash Ban After 2 Years
In our second live recording, we're joined by Njeri Gateru, Lorna Dias and Pastor David Ochar to discuss LGBTQI+ organizing in Kenya in light of the High Court ruling on the decriminalization of same sex conduct.
On May 24th 2019, the High Court ruled against two petitions filed against the Attorney General of Kenya in his capacity as the government’s legal advisor: Petition 150 of 2016, and Petition 234 of 2016, which had been consolidated by the court due to their similarity. The petitions sought to repeal Sections 162 (a) and (c) and 165 of the Penal Code because they are unconstitutional on grounds of vagueness and uncertainty. The petitioners also stated that the sections violated Articles 27, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 43 of the Constitution of Kenya.
What is the environment/background in terms of organizing that brought us to this point? Why this, and why now? Why is it that the greatest strides the community has made towards equal rights and freedoms have been in the courts? Given the court ruling, and the fact that the judicial process in Kenya tends to take many years, how can we augment judicial action with organizing within the society/various communities? How is this currently happening? How do we respond to people who claim that same sex conduct or relationships are against religion? How about those who say they are unAfrican? What are the ways in which allies in Kenya, and around the world, can support LGBTQI+ organizing here? And, what will LGBTQI+ organizing in Kenya look like in the future? Press play to find out!
Resources
Petition 150 & 234 of 2016 (Consolidated)
The Constitution of Kenya (2010)
India's Ruling on the Repeal of Section 377 of their Penal Code
The Wolfenden Report - Summary
The Wolfenden Report - Conclusion
Letter from Birmingham City Jail
Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies of African Homosexualities
Episode 83: Separation of Church and State
A Theory of Scandal: Victorians, Homosexuality, and the Fall of Oscar Wilde