The Powel's Journal

Privacy Policy Last Updated: August 26, 2026 Welcome to Powel’s Journal . Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit or interact with our website. 1. Information We Collect Powel’s Journal may collect limited information automatically when you visit our website. This may include your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, time spent on the website, and other technical information. If you voluntarily contact us, leave a comment, or submit information through our website, we may receive information that you choose to provide, such as your name and email address. 2. How We Use Information Information collected may be used to: Operate and maintain our website. Improve our content and user experience. Understand how visitors use our website. Respond to enquiries, comments, and messages. Monitor website performance and security. Display relevant advertisements. We do not sell ...

“Ukifika Archives, ningojee hapo…” If you have lived in Nairobi long enough, you have probably heard those words: When you get to Archives, wait for me there.                  The Kenya National Archives  For years, the Kenya National Archives has been that place for me too—a familiar landmark in the heart of Nairobi, a reference point when giving directions, a place you pass without necessarily wondering what lies behind its walls. For me, this Sunday was different. My love for history took me through those doors and suddenly, Archives was no longer just a place where people wait for someone. It became a place where Kenya waits for you to discover her story Aerial view of the interior of the National Archives. |Photo Credits: John Ayodi  The building itself has a story. The present structure was built in 1931 and originally served as the headquarters of the National Bank of India. The bank had started operating in Kenya...

There is something about emotional quotes and reels. You watch one casually while scrolling, and suddenly a few words seem to know exactly where to touch. You pause, replay it, and for a moment, you find yourself thinking about your own life. It made me think about the mind. That strange, beautiful place within us that is constantly talking, remembering, imagining, questioning and hoping. There is a conversation happening inside every person, every day, yet nobody else can completely hear it. Sometimes your mind reminds you, look how far you have come. It tells you to keep going, that things can change, that there is still something ahead of you. But sometimes it asks difficult questions: What if I am not good enough? What if I fail? What if things never change? The danger is that repeated thoughts can begin to sound like facts. But a thought is not always the truth. Sometimes the mind speaks from fear, exhaustion, disappointment or an old wound. One failure is not your identity. One r...

At first glance, the proposal may sound like a return to fully government-sponsored higher education. But a closer look tells a different story. The government says scholarships will mainly go to top-performing students. While that sounds fair on paper, the reality is that many top performers come from high-performing schools, especially national schools, where students from relatively well-off families are more common. Of course, there are bright students from humble backgrounds in these schools, but they are not the majority. Higher education becoming expensive for a bigger majority. The proposal also promises scholarships for poor and vulnerable students—the walalahoi. But here's the big question: what new method will be used to identify them that the 2023 student-centred funding model failed to use? If that system struggled to accurately identify genuinely needy students, why should Kenyans believe this one will suddenly get it right? Then there is the financial rea...

Burdens of the electorate momentarily traded for campaign handouts. I sometimes wonder if there has ever been a moment in Kenya's history when everyone agreed and said, "Our government is doing a great job." I've never heard it. Not in the post-independence governments or the coalition years, the handshake era or the broad-based government. Every administration has faced criticism. Only the slogans change. Today it's "One term!" Tomorrow it's "Two terms!" The chants grow louder and the debates become fiercer. ​Here is the question that keeps crossing my mind, how many of those shouting are actually registered voters? How many will wake up early, queue patiently and cast a ballot when election day arrives? Social media has given everyone a voice. Timelines are filled with political analyses, hashtags, memes, live streams and passionate debates. Governments are praised, condemned, and sometimes "changed" in comment sections before...

Mobile phone users exchange contacts For years, starting a conversation on WhatsApp has required one thing: exchanging phone numbers. Whether you met someone at a conference, a networking event or through a mutual friend, sharing your personal number was the only way to connect. That is about to change. WhatsApp is introducing usernames, allowing people to find and message each other without exchanging phone numbers. Instead, users will be able to share a unique username, similar to how people connect on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram and Telegram. Each username can be up to 35 characters long and can be changed or removed at any time. The feature is designed to give users greater control over their privacy by keeping their phone numbers hidden while still allowing them to communicate. Users will also continue to have the option to block or report unwanted contacts. The update marks one of WhatsApp's biggest changes in years, bringing the messaging platform closer to th...

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, with companies increasingly relying on automation to improve efficiency, reduce costs and streamline production. Yet Ford's latest experience serves as a reminder that technology has not replaced the value of human expertise. According to the BBC , the American automaker has rehired more than 300 veteran quality engineers after its AI-powered inspection systems failed to consistently match the judgment and experience of seasoned professionals. The company says the returning engineers will help strengthen quality control while also training the very AI systems designed to support manufacturing. The development highlights a broader lesson for businesses investing heavily in artificial intelligence. While AI is proving to be a powerful tool, its effectiveness still depends on the knowledge, data and experience provided by people. Rather than replacing skilled workers, the future of manufacturing may lie in c...