Jamila Mohamed
74 Articles
JAMILA’S MEMO: A lesson in power and humility — From Luanda to the Vatican
As a society, we often confuse leadership with entitlement. We forget that it is a season, not a lifetime. A chance to serve, not a license to indulge. When their time in office ends, many leaders — especially those without patronage networks — are left to navigate life as ordinary citizens.
JAMILA'S MEMO: The price of protecting 'our thief'
How many times have we seen leaders accused of corruption arriving at Integrity Centre accompanied by cheering crowds of supporters? Too many to count. The arrest of a county governor and nine of his officials on corruption allegations, with millions in Kenyan sh...
JAMILA'S MEMO: Forced savings or forced suffering?
But when news of the minister’s statement hit social media, the reactions were swift — and ranged from disbelief to outright ridicule. Many Kenyans found the idea not only absurd but painfully out of touch with the economic realities facing millions of citizens.
JAMILA’S MEMO: Jobs for loyalty
Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Njeri Maina made headlines after speaking in her county following a visit to State House.She implied that those who were not part of that delegation did not receive employment letters from the Teachers Service Commission.
JAMILA'S MEMO: No to 'Baba na Mama' orders
The Constitution of Kenya 2010, enacted in 2010 as the name suggests, contains a robust bill of rights that includes Article 43 that provides for rights to, among other things, healthcare services and adequate food.
JAMILA'S MEMO: Hey leaders, do you listen?
Sometimes, as a leader, you may find it challenging to hear what people truly think—perhaps because they are afraid to speak up. That is why it is crucial to have competent people around you—individuals who can listen on your behalf and relay the truth to you....
JAMILA’S MEMO: Chapati in one million ways
For many of us, growing up, chapati was a special occasion meal—aspirational, something to look forward to. Even today, not much has changed.Chapatis are still not an everyday meal for most families. In many ways, they remain a Victorian cake—a luxury rather than a staple....
JAMILA'S MEMO: Toa ndugu, toa dada...
In Islam, we are told that when giving charity, we should do so in a way that our left hand doesn’t know what our right hand has given.In the Kenyan context, we are not following what we were taught.
JAMILA’S MEMO: SHA struggles to deliver as system faces major hurdles
These challenges are so bad that there are worries that the health financing may ground to a halt. There have even been concerns that the transition to SHA was rushed, with the government pushing for the roll out before putting in place important transitional frameworks....
JAMILA’S MEMO: Patriotism in broad terms
Let’s be clear—people should be allowed to feel however they want without being gagged. Instead of lecturing Kenyans on how they should have reacted, leaders should have taken the time to understand why people responded that way.