East Africa and the Great Lakes·COLUMNIST

Great Lakes Desk

KenyaUganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the politics of the lakes.

Dispatches & Briefings Filed (3)

Analysis · East Africa and the Great Lakes7 min read

Shanta Gold’s Ramula mine now turns on every landowner’s signature, not the ministry’s licence

A Siaya court ruled on 29 October that Kenya cannot license Shanta Gold’s Ramula open pit until every registered owner of private land in the area has consented in writing. The mining ministry says the prospecting licence still stands. That is true, and it misses the point: power over one of Kenya’s most advanced gold projects has moved to individual landowners.

Nairobi·14 Nov 2026·By Great Lakes Desk

Analysis · East Africa and the Great Lakes5 min read

Kenya’s opposition closes ranks—but 2027 still hinges on living costs, not rallies

Gachagua, Kalonzo and Matiang’i publicly patched over a week of open sparring with a Nairobi meeting and a Kitengela rally. President Ruto answered in Nyamira with roads, tea money and a dare to show development plans—while October inflation at 7.3% keeps the cost of living at the centre of the race.

Nairobi·9 Nov 2026·By Great Lakes Desk

Analysis · East Africa and the Great Lakes4 min read

Lissu’s treason acquittal leaves a prison sentence—and a dispute over political speech

Tanzania’s High Court cleared the CHADEMA leader of treason but imposed four years for incitement. His party plans an appeal and a bail application, keeping the legal treatment of opposition speech at the centre of a wider accountability dispute.

Dar es Salaam·7 Nov 2026·By Great Lakes Desk