The Elders Podcast

Join host Wairu Kinyori as the Elders Podcast panel tackles "Kenya's Healthcare Crisis," featuring public finance expert Dr. Abraham Rugo and health systems specialist Dr. Anne Musuva. They analyze the health system's evolution, noting that donor funding has sharply declined to 16-18% of total expenditure. The discussion covers the critical impact of recent aid cuts, which led to "total chaos and crisis," including drug stockouts, the shutdown of the national health data repository, and job losses for potentially over 30,000 aid sector workers. Furthermore, Kenya's national debt absorbs 60-65% of ordinary revenue, crowding out essential health spending. The experts conclude that Kenya can fund its health system but must "spend better," addressing high inefficiencies (estimated 20-40% waste) and prioritizing primary healthcare reforms.Remember to Subscribe so that you don't miss any future episodes.

The Makonde, who reside in the coastal region of Kenya, arrived from Mozambique in the 1920s to provide labor on plantations. They were rendered classically stateless because Kenya's 1963 independence constitution focused citizenship articulation around established ethnic communities, which the Makonde were not. This powerlessness meant thousands of people couldn't get IDs, open bank accounts, buy land, or access basic services like healthcare and schooling.The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), along with partners, supported the Makonde's agitation, which culminated in a symbolic trek of about 200 people from Kwale to Nairobi to meet the President. The key turning point came when the group was arrested in Voi. This arrest drew massive attention on social media, forcing the issue into the government's consciousnessRemember to Subscribe so that you don't miss any future episodes.

In this insightful episode of the Elders Podcast, we sit down with Esther Muiru, founder emerita of Groots Kenya, a pivotal grassroots women's rights movement that unites women across Kenya to enhance their lives. Esther provides a deep dive into the inception of the women's rights movement in Kenya, focusing particularly on the monumental 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference and its lasting implications.Remember to Subscribe so that you don't miss any future episodes.

Welcome to the Elders Podcast! In this insightful episode, we sit down with Ezra Mbogori, an elder in the social development and international development aid sector, who brings over 40 years of experience to the conversation. Ezra shares his compelling life story and unpacks the complex legislative journey of civil society in Kenya, moving from the restrictive NGO Coordination Act all the way to the progressive Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act. We also delve into the tensions between grassroots organizations and international organizations, and the vital role of philanthropy.Ezra recounts his early exposure to poverty during an internship with the World Council of Churches in Geneva and his travels, including spending time in the largest slum area in the Philippines, Tondo. His path was significantly shaped by experiences with racism while engaging in drama at Kenyatta University and navigating the complexities of his first job at Catholic Relief Services (CRS).Remember to Subscribe so that you don't miss any future episodes.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF OVERSEES DEVELOPMENT AID.