The Political Economist

Following the historic launch of the African climate summit in Nairobi in 2023, which yielded the Nairobi Declaration, the government  of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission  hosted the second round of the summit, which once again provided another  chance for African countries to collectively redefine their stance on climate action as they refreshed their commitments and strengthened their unity ahead of COP 30 in a few months to come, to be held in Brazil.  The Second Africa Climate Summit, dubbed #ACS 2, held in Addis Ababa from September 8–10, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in Africa's climate leadership. The summit brought together heads of state and government, partners, financiers, policymakers, civil societies, and activists to forge a collective path and practical Climate Action Plan for the continent for the next two years. The conclusion of the summit was marked with a significant document, the Addis Ababa Declaration. The declaration symbolizes the ag...

  The FY 2024/25 Appropriation Bill reflects Kenya’s ongoing efforts to align fiscal policy with the regime’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda ( BETA ) and the Fourth Medium-Term Plan (MTP IV) of Vision 2030. The distribution of resources demonstrates a deliberate prioritization of education, healthcare, infrastructure, social welfare, and, importantly, devolution as the key ambitions of Kenya Vision 2030.                       Below is a sectoral breakdown of the allocations : 1. Education – Ksh 718.8 Billion   As the largest beneficiary of the budget, the education sector underscores the government’s recognition of human capital development as a driver of long-term growth. Funds will go toward: ·        Expansion of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), hiring more teachers, and building more class rooms.  ·         Recruit...

Former President Donald Trump has made his first visit to the Middle East since the beginning of his second term—an important geopolitical move in an increasingly multipolar world. His itinerary, which included stops in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, marks a calculated return to a region whose strategic value remains undeniable. Trump’s objectives are ambitious: Promote peace in a region rife with tension—between Arab states and Iran, and more intensely, between Israel and Iran. 1. Deepen US ties with key allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 2.Support the emergence of a new Syrian leadership, signaling a shift in US posture in the Levant. 3. Reassert US influence amid growing presence of China and Russia. Trump has been warmly received by regional powers. In both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he was honored with state ceremonies and welcomed with investment agreements that signal economic as well as political alignment. These deals are not just symbolic; they reflect mutual interests in energy...

For Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) professionals overseeing construction or infrastructure projects, the essence of your role revolves around three pivotal dimensions: Time, Cost, and Technical Quality . However, before delving into metrics and progress reports, it’s crucial to establish your reference points: Your primary guides are the Project Contract and the Logical Framework (Logframe). These documents delineate scope, timelines, roles and responsibilities, performance indicators, and anticipated outcomes. They form the backbone of effective monitoring and provide the standard against which project performance is measured.   1. Time – Assessing Schedule Adherence Monitoring timelines goes beyond simply tracking calendar dates. It involves a nuanced understanding of project progress and pace. Key questions include: Is the project advancing according to the planned schedule? Are activities experiencing delays or progressing unusually fast? What facto...

  World commerce have been traditionally since ancient times organized through cooperation and unions. Countries, especially those that share political, social and economic contexts prefer transacting trade as bloc not as individual countries. These economic alliances shape global trade, boost regional cooperation, and drive prosperity. Below are world’s top 5 strongest regional blocs. 1.       European Union.      The EU is the world’s most integrated trade bloc, with 27 member countries fostering free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. Its trade estimate as 2025 $16 trillion (combined imports and exports).   The EU’s single market and the Euro as a shared currency make it a global trade giant. From tech to agriculture, it’s a leader in innovation and sustainability. 2.       Regional Comprehensive   Economic partnership(RCEP) RCEP is a massive trade bloc with 15 Asia-Pacific nations, including C...

  Did you know that the continent of has Africa has five trade corridors that are critical for global commerce. These trade routes don’t just move goods; they’re economic backbones that African countries can leverage to boost their global influence. Just to mention them; North-South Corridor (Southern and Eastern Africa) This route stretches from Durban, South Africa, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and beyond, this corridor connects landlocked countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi to major ports. It handles an estimated $20–30 billion annually in goods like minerals (copper, cobalt), agricultural products, and manufactured items. It’s a key artery for Southern Africa’s $100 billion+ export market. It is very crucial because it links Africa’s resource-rich interior to global markets, especially Asia and Europe. If the infrastructure is upgraded (roads, rail, ports) and harmonizing customs, African nations can cut trade costs, attract investment, and position themselve...

  Advancing Water and Sewerage Access and Sustainability The Athi Water Works Development Agency ( AWWDA ) is one of nine water works development agencies established under Kenya Water Act 2016 serving the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu, and Murang’a, with a population of approximately 9 million. Driven with a mission to increase water and sewerage coverage through informed innovation, sustainable development and management of the associated infrastructure , its fifth generation five-year strategic plan 2023-2027, is yet another blueprint that reflect its consistent determination to mitigate Kenya’s status as a water scarce country in line with UN SDG(6). AWWDA plays a fundamental role in alleviating water supply challenges within its areas of jurisdiction. The Agency's mandate as enshrined in the Act includes developing, maintaining and managing national public waterworks, sewerage infrastructures, providing technical support to water service providers within the areas of jurisd...