Caption for the landscape image: Sweet bribes and school oligarchs Thursday, June 18, 2026 Scroll down to read the article Schools mirror the corruption and bribery of adult politics. Photo credit: Shutterstock By Charles Onyango-Obbo Columnist Article Related Uganda’s Daily Monitor, sister paper to Kenya’s Daily Nation, just published a disturbing investigation into secondary school elections. It revealed how schools mirror the corruption and bribery of adult politics. Gone are the days of nervous speeches in assembly halls, the popularity contests of the playground, and humble posters taped to corridor walls. PREMIUM Irungu Kang'ata: Kenya should not take a hen to a cow market The cow today is a battery made in Murang’a, charged by our geothermal and Ethiopian hydro, assembled by Kenyan youth, and sold to Uganda. PREMIUM Hanifa Adan: Somalis in Kenya belonging is not up for debate It is difficult to demand that people trust a society that has repeatedly treated them as outsiders. PREMIUM Makau Mutua: NCIC must bite, not just bark Since its founding, the NCIC has failed to develop a spine. PREMIUM Wanjira Mathai: What COP31 must do for Africa For Africa, COP31 is a question of whether the promises made in Belém will ever reach the communities dealing with a fast-changing climate. PREMIUM Mutuma Mathiu: Trump, come back to the room, sir People bend the knee when America calls because it feeds them today. Stop, and see how quickly they quit picking your calls. . Recommended for you PREMIUM Cash-strapped TUK given 30 days to pay Sh6.4bn pension debt PREMIUM Vincent Ongore: Kenya holds up its economic ranking despite scepticism PREMIUM Joe Ageyo: El Niño and Rift Valley Fever; why we must act now, not later PREMIUM Sit up and listen, experience is talking PREMIUM Why 7,000 land disputes remain stuck at NLC Login to join the discussion Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. In the headlines Elections News Counties Business Opinion Sports Life & Style Health Podcasts Photos Newsletters Puzzles Tanzania arrest leads to Sh3.6bn drug haul recovery in Kwale Two Tanzanians, Ugandan arrested in Sh3.6bn drug bust. PREMIUM Why MPs want a say in village elders’ selection MPs' push exposes battle for control of 106,000-strong grassroots army ahead of 2027 elections. PREMIUM What next for Matiang’i as Ongwae’s new party raises stakes in Gusii Ongwae says his party believes in neither the “one-term” nor the “two-term” narrative.
PREMIUM Irungu Kang'ata: Kenya should not take a hen to a cow market The cow today is a battery made in Murang’a, charged by our geothermal and Ethiopian hydro, assembled by Kenyan youth, and sold to Uganda.
PREMIUM Hanifa Adan: Somalis in Kenya belonging is not up for debate It is difficult to demand that people trust a society that has repeatedly treated them as outsiders.
PREMIUM Makau Mutua: NCIC must bite, not just bark Since its founding, the NCIC has failed to develop a spine.
PREMIUM Wanjira Mathai: What COP31 must do for Africa For Africa, COP31 is a question of whether the promises made in Belém will ever reach the communities dealing with a fast-changing climate.
PREMIUM Mutuma Mathiu: Trump, come back to the room, sir People bend the knee when America calls because it feeds them today. Stop, and see how quickly they quit picking your calls.
Tanzania arrest leads to Sh3.6bn drug haul recovery in Kwale Two Tanzanians, Ugandan arrested in Sh3.6bn drug bust.
PREMIUM Why MPs want a say in village elders’ selection MPs' push exposes battle for control of 106,000-strong grassroots army ahead of 2027 elections.
PREMIUM What next for Matiang’i as Ongwae’s new party raises stakes in Gusii Ongwae says his party believes in neither the “one-term” nor the “two-term” narrative.
