By MERCY KADZO JOSEPH

Second Year BA Journalism and Mass Communication Student, Chuka University 

Over time, AI has been targeted to aim for an idealised, ethical standard while using the reflection of societal flaws as a diagnostic tool for improvement-- which makes invisible systematic biases visible, thereby providing a data driven foundation for ethical correction.If left unmanaged,  it will inevitably reflect society flaws, amplify them at a scale and perpetuate inequalities in areas like criminal justice and hiring.

AI use confronts human biases reducing reducing subjective evaluation of complex situations.

The argument for reflecting on society flaws is still debated as AI models are trained to be able to uncover deep-seated prejudices that might otherwise remain opaque, allowing society to confront its own biases. Highlighting societal flaws through AI help raise awareness about issues such as bias, inequality thus prompting efforts for societal improvement. 

During decision making process  it acts as a corrective tool by reminding human decision makers of objective criteria when they might be leaning on unfounded assumptions.The important role of AI is not to operate in isolation but as a Human-in-the-loop system thus highlighting flaws in frame work and human experts use that reflection to redesign more equitable societal and technical systems.

The strive for an ideal in AI is defined by the shift from high level ethical principles to enforceable governance framework and technical alignment. Systems are built to serve human dignity and rights thus ensuring technology complements rather than replaces human judgement. AI serves as a benchmark for societal improvement providing a vision of a more equitable and just society.

By DOROTHY ATIENO 

Second Year BA Journalism and Mass Communication Student,  Chuka University 

In the grand tapestry of Kenya’s post-independence story, the Office of the First Lady has never been written into the Constitution, yet it has steadily woven itself into the nation’s political and social fabric. From the quiet dignity of the independence era to today’s data-driven campaigns on climate and economic empowerment, each First Lady has reflected her time and, in subtle and overt ways, shaped it. 

By examining their initiatives in healthcare, education, environmental advocacy and women’s empowerment, this article argues that Kenya’s First Ladies have exercised a form of “soft power” that has quietly influenced national priorities beyond formal political office.

The Pioneering Matriarch: Mama Ngina Kenyatta (1963–1978)

 When Kenya attained independence in 1963 under Jomo Kenyatta, the nation was fragile politically young, ethnically diverse, and emerging from colonial rule. In this uncertain climate, Mama Ngina Kenyatta stepped into public life not as a policy advocate, but as a symbol of continuity and cultural grounding.

Her title, “Mother of the Nation,” was more than ceremonial. In African political thought, motherhood is associated with moral authority and unity. As Kenya navigated land resettlement schemes, the consolidation of state power, and the forging of a national identity, Mama Ngina embodied stability. She accompanied the president on diplomatic tours, hosted foreign dignitaries, and presided over women’s gatherings that promoted Harambee (pulling together), a philosophy central to the Kenyatta administration.

Though critics argue that her influence was largely symbolic, historical accounts suggest she exercised considerable “quiet power.” Women’s groups affiliated with KANU (Kenya African National Union) found patronage and legitimacy through her presence. In an era when women were rarely visible in governance, her public role subtly normalized female presence in national leadership circles. Her tenure set the template: The First Lady as custodian of culture, faith, and national cohesion. 

The Absent Presence: Lena Moi (1978–2002)

When President Daniel Arap Moi assumed power in 1978, Kenya entered a new chapter marked by centralized authority and, eventually, political turbulence. Lena Moi’s tenure was historically unusual. Following her separation from the president in the mid-1970s, she withdrew from public life, making Kenya one of the few nations where the First Lady was largely absent from State House ceremonies.

 Yet absence is also historical evidence. Lena Moi’s retreat coincided with a deeply conservative and church-influenced political culture. A devout Christian, she devoted her energy to private religious and charitable work rather than public advocacy. While she did not spearhead national campaigns, her influence shaped the personal and moral upbringing of her children several of whom, including Gideon Moi, would later enter politics. Her era underscored an important truth: The Office of the First Lady was not yet institutionalized. It could expand or shrink depending on personal circumstance and presidential preference. In a time when political dissent was curtailed and the state tightly controlled public discourse, there was little room for independent spousal activism.

The Assertive Reformer: Lucy Kibaki (2002–2013)

 The election of Mwai Kibaki in 2002 ended KANU’s 24-year rule and ushered in an era of reform and constitutional change. Lucy Kibaki entered State House during a wave of public optimism and institutional restructuring.

 Unlike her predecessors, she was outspoken and unapologetically visible. Her fiery defence of the presidency often made headlines, challenging journalists and critics alike. While some viewed her assertiveness as controversial, historians now interpret it as a turning point: The First Lady was no longer merely ceremonial. 

Lucy Kibaki’s most enduring contribution was in public health. As chair of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), she championed anti-stigma campaigns at a time when HIV/AIDS remained heavily stigmatized in Kenya. Government data from the 2000s shows expanded testing centres and increased national awareness campaigns during this period. 

Her legacy is physically etched into Nairobi’s landscape in the form of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Embakasi the first major public hospital named after a First Lady. Commissioned to serve low-income communities, the facility symbolized a shift toward tangible, infrastructure-based impact rather than symbolic presence.

 The Marathon Diplomat: Margaret Kenyatta (2013–2022)

 When Uhuru Kenyatta assumed office in 2013, Kenya had a new Constitution (2010) that emphasized devolution and healthcare rights. Margaret Kenyatta seized this constitutional moment to professionalize the Office of the First Lady.

Her Beyond Zero Campaign, launched in 2014, addressed maternal and child mortality a pressing issue documented in Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys. At the time, maternal mortality ratios remained high, particularly in marginalized counties. 

Margaret Kenyatta’s strategy was innovative: she ran annual half-marathons to raise funds. Through public-private partnerships, the campaign purchased 52 mobile clinics distributed across all 47 counties. Ministry of Health statistics during her tenure showed increased uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, with HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral therapy rising dramatically.

 Beyond Zero institutionalized results-based advocacy. The First Lady’s office became structured, strategic, and aligned with measurable health indicators marking a new era of professional governance within an unofficial office.

 The Modern Strategist: Rachel Ruto (2022–Present)

 With the election of William Ruto in 2022, Kenya entered a bottom-up economic era emphasizing small enterprise and climate resilience. Rachel Ruto’s agenda mirrors these priorities. 

Her Joyful Women Organization, founded before she entered State House, scaled nationally under her tenure. Through Table Banking a micro-finance model where women pool savings and lend to one another thousands have accessed credit without traditional collateral. Development economists point to such grassroots finance systems as critical to increasing women’s land ownership and small business formation in rural Kenya.

 Equally significant is her environmental focus. Kenya has pledged to plant billions of trees as part of its climate commitments. Rachel Ruto’s Mama Doing Good initiative links tree planting with women’s economic empowerment, framing environmental stewardship as both ecological duty and livelihood strategy. Her promotion of kitchen gardens in schools and homes supports food security amid rising climate shocks. In contrast to earlier donation-based philanthropy, her approach emphasizes sustainability and economic independence reflecting a Kenya grappling with climate change, debt pressures, and youth unemployment.

 Across six decades, the evolution of Kenya’s First Ladies tells a parallel story to the nation itself. Mama Ngina’s quiet symbolism suited a fragile post-colonial republic. Lena Moi’s retreat reflected an era of centralized power and conservative social norms. Lucy Kibaki’s assertiveness paralleled constitutional reform and expanding media freedom. Margaret Kenyatta’s structured health campaigns aligned with devolution and data-driven governance. Rachel Ruto’s focus on climate and micro-finance mirrors a generation confronting economic inequality and environmental urgency.

 Though the Office of the First Lady remains unofficial, its trajectory demonstrates a steady institutionalization of influence. From matriarch to mobilizer, from silent presence to strategic architect, the Kenyan First Lady has become not merely a companion to power, but a participant in shaping the republic’s social contract. In tracing their stories, one does not simply chronicle personalities. One traces Kenya’s transformation from a young nation seeking unity to a complex democracy striving for resilience.

By PURITY NGESA

Second Year BA Journalism and Mass Communication Student,   Chuka University 

In 2017, the Kenyan government introduced C.B.C. known as Competence Based Curriculum to replace the outdated 8-4-4 curriculum.

It was designed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. It was very smooth at first because very few grades had been introduced. At the moment, it was very manageable and promising both to the schools and parents. Its main focus is to shift education from exam-based rote learning to a more holistic, skills-oriented approach. 

It is set to address the perceived failures of the previous system. It focuses on developing specific skills such as collaboration and communication, critical thinking, creativity, citizenship, and digital literacy. Apart from developing skills, C.B.C. is meant to nurture talent, where it provides flexible pathways in Senior School (STEM, Social Sciences or Arts and Sports) so students can specialize based on their unique interests and strengths.

On April 24, 2025, Kenya Ministry of Education shifted the branding and framework from the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) to Competency Based Education (C.B.E.). Among the reasons for the shifting are: system-wide reform, where it not only teaches, but also deliver, assess and support. There is senior school preparation where the transition of the first C.B.E. cohort into Senior School in January 2026, must choose specific career pathways.

The introduction of the system brought about both optimism and intense frustration over its implementation. Parents thought of the financial burdens: described as financial costs, such as buying numerous textbooks, printing materials and sourcing specific items for practical projects. High-profile legal challenges were filed, most notably by the former LSK President Nelson Havi, who argued that the system was unconstitutional and experimenting with children's future.

The reaction is also split by economic class. While some middle-class parents on private schools feel the burden of buying items, parents in low income or rural areas struggle with digital illiteracy requirements and the lack of basic infrastructure (like labs and electricity) in their schools. There is a sense of hope among some that the system would better prepare students for the real world by identifying and nurturing individuals’ talents early.

Schools are also not left behind.  Most public schools have been struggling more than private schools due to a lack of state investment.  Many schools are overcrowded, lack specialized facilities required for the system and the decision to domicile Junior Secondary Schools(JSS) in primary school compounds created further strain and on existing sanitation and classroom facilities. 

Private schools often adapt more smoothly, leveraging their existing resources to market themselves as C.B.C. is ready. Better resourced private schools invested heavily in ICT, practical leaning tools and smaller class sizes leading to better student engagement. Those that complied early with the broader C.B.E. standards reportedly gained a competitive edge in national assessments.

Teachers had mixed reactions too. As the primary implementers, they expressed deep-seated concerns despite seeing values in the new approach. Majority of teachers were feeling that the 5-7 day workshops were too short and hurried to master the complex new system. The Kenya National Union of Teachers(KNUT) was initially vocal critic with leaders like Wilson Sossion, calling it elitist and foreign experiment.

Currently, everyone is in state of cautious adaptation as the system shifts into high stakes senior school phase. While students are the most positive-reporting higher engagement and excitement over talent based pathways, the adults are feeling the strain: parents continue to judge the financial and time heavy demands of co-teaching, teachers are battling burnout from massive increases in paperwork and the pressure of managing large classes with limited resources. Schools are scrambling to build the labs and specialized facilities needed for the new tracks, often relying on improvisation and community support to bridge the gap between the curriculum’s ambitious goals and the reality of the infrastructure available. 

By JEREMIAH AENJI

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Student,  Chuka University 

Across Kenya, a disturbing pattern of violent deaths involving young couples has begun to raise alarm among families, community leaders, and mental health experts. What often begins as an ordinary romantic relationship sometimes ends in tragedy when conflicts escalate beyond control.

In recent years, several shocking incidents reported in different parts of the country have involved lovers turning on each other during heated disputes, sometimes ending in murder and suicide. These painful events have triggered national conversations about emotional pressure, toxic relationships, and the growing mental health challenges facing young people.

While such tragedies once seemed rare, many observers now worry that they are becoming increasingly common. Each new case not only devastates families but also forces society to confront difficult questions about how young people handle love, conflict, and emotional stress.

A Pattern of Tragic Incidents

Police reports and media coverage over the past few years reveal a troubling pattern. In many cases, a disagreement between partners escalates into violence during moments of intense emotion. Some incidents involve one partner attacking the other before turning the weapon on themselves.

In several of these cases, friends and neighbors later say the couple had been experiencing relationship problems for some time. Arguments over jealousy, mistrust, financial difficulties, or personal expectations some times build quietly until they explode into a violent confrontation.

These tragedies often shock communities because the individuals involved are typically young people with promising futures ahead of them. Friends describe them as ordinary couples who appeared happy on the surface, making the sudden violence even harder to understand.

Experts warn that the combination of emotional immaturity, stress, and poor conflict‑resolution skills can make disagreements extremely dangerous when anger takes control.

Understanding the Pressures

Young adults in Kenya today face a wide range of pressures. Economic uncertainty, unemployment, academic expectations, and social comparison through social media can create intense emotional strain.

For many young people, romantic relationships become an important source of comfort and identity. Love provides companionship, support, and a sense of belonging during a period of life that is often filled with uncertainty.

However, when relationships become unhealthy or emotionally intense, the same bond that brings comfort can also produce deep pain. Feelings such as jealousy, betrayal, rejection, and insecurity can trigger strong emotional reactions.

Psychologists explain that many young adults are still learning how to manage these emotions. Without the skills to communicate effectively or resolve conflicts peacefully, arguments can escalate rapidly.

In some situations, individuals react impulsively during moments of extreme anger or emotional distress. When weapons such as knives or other objects are nearby, the consequences can become fatal within minutes.

The Hidden Mental Health Crisis

Mental health professionals say these violent incidents may also reflect a deeper and often overlooked problem: untreated emotional and psychological distress among young people.

Depression, anxiety, trauma, and unresolved personal struggles frequently remain hidden because many people fear being judged if they speak openly about their mental health. As a result, individuals may carry heavy emotional burdens alone.

Counselors note that relationship problems often become the trigger that exposes deeper emotional struggles. When a breakup, betrayal, or intense argument occurs, it may push someone who is already emotionally overwhelmed into a dangerous mental state.

“Mental health challenges among young people are often invisible,” explains one Nairobi-based counselor. “Someone may appear normal on the outside while struggling with serious emotional pain internally. When that pain meets relationship conflict, the results can be devastating.”

Breaking the Silence

Many experts believe that addressing these tragedies requires a broader national conversation about emotional well-being, relationships, and conflict resolution. Families, schools, and communities all play a role in teaching young people how to manage emotions, communicate respectfully, and handle disagreements without violence. Learning how to cope with rejection, heartbreak, and disappointment is an important life skill that is rarely discussed openly.

Public awareness campaigns about mental health could also encourage people to seek help before emotional struggles become overwhelming. Counseling services, peer support groups, and community programs may help individuals process their feelings in healthy ways.

Equally important is reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. When people feel safe discussing their struggles, they are more likely to reach out for support instead of suffering in silence.

A National Wake-Up Call

The rising number of violent relationship tragedies should serve as a wake-up call for the Kenyan society. These incidents are not simply isolated crimes; they are warning signs of deeper emotional and social challenges affecting many young people.

Preventing future tragedies requires collective effort. Parents must maintain open communication with their children, communities should encourage healthy relationship values, and institutions must strengthen mental health support systems.

Love should never become a reason for violence. With better awareness, stronger emotional support, and open conversations about mental health, Kenya can begin to address the pressures that sometimes turn relationships into deadly conflicts.

The hope is that by confronting this issue honestly, the country can protect young lives and ensure that love remains a source of joy and growth rather than tragedy.