essays & op-eds

selected essays & opinion pieces covering different aspects of health, policy, gender/violence, education, and development in Africa.

(last update April 2025)

mental health

tackling stigma, workplace support, and lived experience of mental illness.

  • Advocates for structured mental health support systems in Kenyan newsrooms to address trauma and burnout among journalists.
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  • Calls for integrating mental health services into organizational policies to enhance employee well-being and productivity.
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  • Urges the Ministry of Education to implement comprehensive mental health programs in schools to support students' well-being.
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  • Highlights the need for national attention and resources to address mental health issues as a public health priority.
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  • Emphasizes the importance of respecting the rights and dignity of individuals with mental health conditions in Kenya.
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  • Personal reflection on stigma and cultural misconceptions.
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gender & violence

exploring femicide, rape culture, and intergenerational trauma.

  • A public health and human rights crisis in Kenya.
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  • Critiques how victim-blaming narratives shift focus from perpetrators and perpetuate rape culture.
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  • Calls for greater attention to the often-overlooked issue of sexual abuse against elderly individuals, advocating for increased awareness and protective measures.
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  • African women reclaiming agency post-conflict and patriarchy.
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  • Explores the stigma and silence surrounding pregnancy loss in African cultures, highlighting the need for grief support and public awareness.
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education & youth

commentary on youth, scholarships, and educational policy.

  • Reflections on academic freedom and the silencing of dissent.
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  • Highlights the misalignment between a government-endorsed online scholarship and the realities of the youth it claims to empower.
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  • A perspective from an African graduate student navigating U.S. policies.
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addiction, suicide & epilepsy

addressing public health gaps and social stigma.

  • Highlighting intersections of mental health and gun policy.
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  • Advocates for increased public education to combat stigma and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy in Kenya.
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  • A call for coordinated action to curb rising addiction among young Kenyans.
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  • Why policy must include neurological disorders.
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policy, tech & development

perspectives on governance, tech harms, and health systems.

  • Critiques the exploitation of vulnerable patients by unregulated religious figures amid weak health policy enforcement.
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  • Calls for prioritizing foundational health system reforms over redundant or misaligned development initiatives.
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  • Emphasizes the necessity of addressing non-communicable diseases to achieve effective universal health coverage.
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  • Highlights the rise of online harassment with increased internet access and the need for robust cybercrime laws.
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  • Discusses the enduring trauma faced by survivors of Kenya's post-election violence and the lack of adequate support.
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