world view - Al Kags — Strategist, Social Entrepreneur, Writer

April 12, 2018

She works: How do we recognise and value domestic work?

In recent years, as I have continued to grow older, I have endeavoured to eat healthier consistently. The journey started when I attended a 10 week lifestyle modification course called Eat, Live & Be Well, that is ran by Dr. Dennis Nturibi and the team ...

March 9, 2018

My hopes and fears of the Uhuru-Raila meeting

I read today that Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga today had a meeting, in which they agreed to work towards healing the deep rifts between us as Kenyans. I posted my fears and hopes and desires in this Facebook post. I really hope this works. My ...

March 7, 2018

When I was the only man in a gender discussion…

This week I am in Mexico City, Mexico. I am attending a learning exchange meeting between organisations from Mexico, Senegal, Kenya and a few international organisations that work globally like Publish What You Pay (UK, Global), Oxfam West Africa and Article 19. During our time ...

October 30, 2017

The challenges of being non-partisan and the pursuit of objectivity

Throughout this electioneering period I have remained generally silent. I have allowed this blog to go quiet and I have generally kept my views to myself. In matters politics, I have strived to maintain a balanced stance within myself - and in these partisan times, ...

June 11, 2017

Why I oppose the Coal Plant in Lamu (and everywhere else in the world)

Over the last few days, I have come out and spoken strongly and publicly against the Coal plant in Lamu. I have enjoined myself with other like minded Kenyans who have used the hashtag #deCOALonise. I have engaged in rigorous debate on my social media ...

May 30, 2017

Instead of Universal Basic Incomes, Lets try Universal Basic Outcomes.

Economists globally (but especially in the west) are increasingly having a debate about a potentially world changing idea, dubbed Universal Basic Incomes. In a nutshell, UBI is touted as one way of providing literally everyone with a no strings attached cash payment every month to ...

January 18, 2017

To vote or not… that is not the question.

Chances are reasonably high that I will vote in Kenya's general election this year. In all other elections at which I cast my ballot, there has never been doubt that I would go to the polls bright and early, enthusiastically queue in the hot sun and ...

December 12, 2016

Naivasha Tragedy: We are full of shit.

40 people lost their lives in one place, at almost the same time - for most of them, minutes apart. Their lives literally went up in smoke at Karai, leaving countless others bereft. From that horrific event, the news took a predictable turn. That road ...

September 25, 2016

Do we have the same dream?

I watch a lot of American TV and Movies. In fact I watch them enough to recognise their influence on my language - I was brought up on the Queen's (Elizabeth II) english, but now I am just as likely to say "kerb"as I am ...

August 26, 2016

Last year, I attended the very successful Africa Open Data Conference and there I said some things that I was later told are unpopular within the Open Data industry - particularly in the civil society. On reflection, I find that I still stand by what ...

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