University of Nairobi

• I haven’t selected elections, assassinations or other moments that have enjoyed much coverage over the years.
• Instead, I turn to often-forgotten moments that shed light on the country’s key steps forward – and backwards – and the role of agency and institutions.

1964: The Lanet mutiny

• A regiment based at Lanet in Nakuru did stage an unsuccessful mutiny in 1964.
• In response, Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta – as Kenyan political scholar Musambayi Katumanga has detailed – opted to keep the military small.
• It was a strategy copied by Kenyatta’s successor, Daniel arap Moi, after a coup attempt in 1982.
• Kenya’s third president, Mwai Kibaki, also adopted it after the country’s 2007/8 post-election crisis.

1976: The Change the Constitution Movement

By the mid-1970s, Kenyatta was unwell. To prevent the automatic succession of his vice-president, Moi, a group of prominent Kikuyu politicians attempted to change the constitution. Their efforts were unsuccessful. Power transferred peacefully to Moi upon Kenyatta’s death in 1978. Nevertheless, the attempt had three important legacies:

1980: The crackdown begins

• He blocked any real opposition but left space for broader political debate.
• He banned the Nairobi University Students’ Organisation and deregistered the University Academic Staff Union and Kenya Civil Servants Union.

1990: Timothy Njoya’s new year speech

• The following month, a constitutional amendment was rushed through parliament, paving the way for a return to multi-party elections.
• This timeline could mistakenly be taken to suggest that it was donor pressure that forced constitutional reform.
• A tidal change occurred at the dawn of 1990 when, in a new year speech, theologian Timothy Njoya speculated on how much longer Kenya would be a one-party state.

2005: The constitutional referendum

• Popular frustration showed when Kenyans rejected the draft constitution in the 2005 referendum.
• The referendum and general elections that followed meant that Kenya was in intense campaign period for over two years.
• Finally, the referendum fostered a sense that the opposition would win the 2007 election unless it was rigged.

2011: A new chief justice

• It also established a new bill of rights and created the supreme court.
• The latter has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine presidential election petitions, and determine appeals from the court of appeal.
• It marked a turning point when Willy Mutunga –- a highly respected human rights advocate –- was appointed as the court’s first chief justice.

• Arlington, Va., March 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is expanding its initiative to diversify the social and behavioral science fields through partnerships with two universities in East Africa—the University of Nairobi in Kenya and the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
• The two universities will join AIR’s Pipeline Partnership Program , which provides guidance, mentoring and learning opportunities for the next generation of research and technical assistance professionals.
• The Pipeline Partnership Program launched in 2020 with three U.S. universities–Howard University in Washington, D.C.; the University of Texas at San Antonio; and Georgia State University in Atlanta.
• Graduate students can also join AIR project teams in the International Development division as paid interns to gain hands-on experience in applied policy research.

• Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Center on Adaptation CEO, Professor Patrick Verkooijen, was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Nairobi at the institutions 2022 Commencement Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Stephen Kiama, presented the award, describing Professor Verkooijen as a champion of causesthat make the world a better place.
• Today, the University of Nairobi is proud to confer the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, to Professor Patrick Verkooijen in recognition of his distinguished academic and leadership career in climate change and adaptation Professor Kiama said.
• Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, congratulated Professor Verkooijen on his award.

• BOSTON, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Algorand ,the pure proof-of-stake, carbon-negative Layer-1 blockchain network,today announced the appointment of Michele Quintaglie as its Chief Marketing Officer, effective Sept. 19.
• "It's exciting to bring an experienced leader like Michele into the role of CMO," said Sean Ford, Interim CEO at Algorand.
• Quintaglie brings an extensive background in the corporate communications, brand and marketing profession having led teams for several Fortune 100 companies.
• "I've had a passion for blockchain and Web3 for some time now, which is why I couldn't be more excited to join the Algorand team," said Quintaglie.