Shows
Panel 54 PodcastA New Security Order - Frederick GroundsWhat does conflict actually look like up close, long before headlines catch up?In this episode of Panel 54, Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with Frederick Grounds, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army with over three decades of service, much of it spent training and working alongside African armed forces across the continent.
Now based in Nairobi, Grounds offers a rare practitioner’s view of what happens when diplomacy fails and violence becomes inevitable.
The conversation moves from Sudan’s humanitarian collapse to Africa's role in multinational military exercises, unpacking how wars begi...
2026-02-0644 min
Panel 54 PodcastThe New Power Game - Peter KagwanjaAfrica is no longer peripheral to global power. It is central to it. The problem is that influence does not always translate into control.In this episode of Panel 54, Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh are joined by Prof. Peter Kagwanja, one of East Africa’s most influential geopolitical thinkers, to examine how power is exercised, defended, and contested across the continent.
The conversation moves through Uganda’s role as a regional security anchor, Kenya’s strategic alignment with Western partners, and Nigeria’s struggle to convert size and influence into coherent foreign policy leverage. Kagwanja also reflects on Sudan...
2026-01-301h 13
Panel 54 PodcastTsepiso, James, Theophilus & Mbugua - Year in Review- Part 1In Part One of Panel 54’s end-of-year special, Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with some of Africa’s most influential editors to interrogate a hard question: who controls Africa’s story at a moment of global upheaval?
Joining the conversation are Theophilus Yardy from Ghana, Tsepiso Makwetla from South Africa, James Muyanwa from Zambia, and James Mbugua from Kenya. The editors unpack collapsing trust in legacy media, the rise of social platforms as primary news sources, and the economic pressures hollowing out African newsrooms.
They reflect on underreported security crises, democratic erosion, and the sh...
2025-12-3150 min
Panel 54 PodcastH.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Matsuura: Japan and AfricaJapan and Africa meet at a critical moment in a changing world. One is navigating demographic pressure, technological transition and a complex security environment. The other is rising in strategic importance as the global order shifts toward multipolarity.
In this episode of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with His Excellency Ambassador Hiroshi Matsuura, Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya, to explore the future of Japan Africa relations beyond aid and assistance.
The conversation traces Japan’s six decade partnership with Kenya and the continent, from early development cooperation to today’s focus on ind...
2025-12-1244 min
Panel 54 PodcastMichael Lenaimado - Poachers, Politics & The Battle for Survival.Poaching networks, shrinking habitats, foreign market demand and political neglect are reshaping conservation across the region. And rangers are paying the highest price. In this episode of Panel 54, veteran ranger Michael Lenaimado joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to break down what’s really happening on the front lines.
He exposes how organised poaching networks operate, why demand in China for rhino horn and pangolin scales continues to drive killings, and how weak policy and blocked wildlife corridors are pushing entire ecosystems to the brink. Michael also reveals the human cost: armed confrontations, poor equipment, low pay, no...
2025-12-051h 01Panel 54 PodcastNdu and Waweru - China, Gen Z and Africa’s FutureAfter twenty-one episodes across politics, diplomacy, security, mining, protests, soft power and geopolitics, Ndu Okoh and Waweru Njoroge step away from the guest chair and turn the lens on themselves.In this special introspective episode of Panel 54, the hosts reflect on the conversations that shaped the season: interviewing former President Kufuor in Accra, unpacking debt and foreign influence, confronting Africa’s security dilemmas, exploring culture and soft diplomacy, and navigating the realities of protest movements and leadership across the continent.
They revisit the moments that challenged them, surprised them and stayed with them long after the cameras we...
2025-11-2843 min
Panel 54 PodcastSeth Bokpe - Money and the Mining Mafia in GhanaWest Africa’s gold is enriching the world — but devastating the people who live closest to it. Illegal mining has become an environmental catastrophe, a political flashpoint and a lucrative gateway for foreign interests. And at the centre of it all is the uncomfortable truth: exploitation thrives when governance fails.
In this episode of Panel 54, Seth Bokpe, one of Ghana’s leading investigative journalists, joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to expose how illegal mining has reshaped Ghana and the wider region. From Chinese-backed operations to local political collaborators, Seth breaks down how corruption, weak regulation and foreig...
2025-11-2149 min
Panel 54 PodcastHassan Khannaje - Chaos in the Horn of AfricaWars without victory, alliances without trust, and peace that profits the few. The Horn of Africa remains one of the most strategic yet unstable regions in the world, and understanding why means following the money. In this episode of Panel 54, Prof. Hassan Khannaje, Director of the Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to unpack the business of chaos — how instability has become a system, not a symptom.
The conversation explores how foreign powers, regional elites, and institutional weakness have turned conflict into profit, from Sudan’s gold trade to foreign bases in D...
2025-11-1450 min
Panel 54 PodcastTed Kwaka - The Soft Power of Cultural DiplomacyAfrica’s influence on the world isn’t just political or economic; it’s cultural. From music and fashion to film and festivals, soft power is becoming the new diplomacy.
In this nineteenth episode of Panel 54, Ted Kwaka, cultural envoy and former Consul General for Kenya in Los Angeles, joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to explore how Africa can use its creative industries to shape global perception, strengthen identity, and build influence abroad.The conversation unpacks the power of cultural diplomacy, the lessons Africa can draw from the US and UK, and why storytelling, art, and entert...
2025-11-0759 min
Panel 54 PodcastKevin Kigima - The Chinese Debt Trap- Real or ImaginedAfrica’s debt crisis is no longer just about economics — it’s about power, sovereignty, and the politics of influence.
In this episode of Panel 54, economist Kevin Kigima Ng’ang’a joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to unpack China’s “debt trap” and what it really means for the continent’s independence and future growth.
From Zambia’s default to Kenya’s SGR repayments, Kevin separates myth from reality — showing how Chinese loans, often commercial and asset-backed, differ from Western debt tied to governance and politics. The conversation explores how borrowing, negotiation, and leadership choices shape Africa’s a...
2025-10-3148 min
Panel 54 PodcastRalph Goff & Seth Shava – Drones, AI and the Future of WarfareIn Episode 17 of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with Retired KAF Colonel, Seth Shava and former CIA Station Chief, Ralph Goff to unpack how artificial intelligence and drone warfare are reshaping security, sovereignty, and the future of conflict.
The conversation explores the new face of war, where drones, data, and algorithms are as powerful as armies. From the battlefields of Ukraine to the skies over Sudan, from intelligence operations to information warfare, the guests reveal how technology has redrawn the rules of engagement.
Drawing from decades of military and intelligence experience...
2025-10-241h 02
Panel 54 PodcastTom Amolo - A Seat at The Table.In Episode 16 of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with veteran Kenyan diplomat, Tom Amolo and former Ambassador to Germany and US, to unpack Africa’s missing seat at the world’s top table.
The conversation explores how diplomacy became one of Africa’s quiet strengths yet lost its strategic edge. From Kenya’s evolving foreign policy to Nigeria’s regional ambitions, from South Africa’s moral authority to the larger influence of smaller nations like Qatar and Norway, Ambassador Amolo examines why Africa wields moral capital but struggles to turn it into real global power...
2025-10-1750 min
Panel 54 PodcastStella Agara: Power, Protest & the New Price of Influence in AfricaIn Episode 15 of Panel 54, Stella Agara a Governance and Youth Development Specialist joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to unpack a continent at a crossroads, where young Africans are pushing back against corruption, foreign influence, and the quiet capture of democracy.
From Kenya’s Gen Z protests to Malawi’s ballot revolution, from China’s growing economic footprint to the shadow of global interests shaping local politics, Stella breaks down how governance, debt, and dependency collide with a new generation unwilling to be silent. The discussion digs into accountability, leadership, and what it means to demand sovereignty in a w...
2025-10-1053 min
Panel 54 PodcastCharles Murito - Africa in the Age of AIArtificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction , it’s already reshaping how we learn, heal, farm, and tell stories. In this episode of Panel 54, Somoina Kimojino, Kenyan media and radio veteran, steps in to host while Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh are on assignment. She sits down with Charles Murito, Google’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Government Affairs & Public Policy, and Interim Country Director, to explore what AI means for Africa.
From healthcare gaps to personalised education, food security to digital infrastructure, Murito shows how AI can drive transformation, but also warns of risks around security, jobs...
2025-09-2638 min
Panel 54 PodcastEdgar Wamalwa - Africa’s Debt, Dependency, and "Africapitalism"Africa fuels the world with cobalt, cocoa, oil, and gold , yet still carries over $1.1 trillion in external debt. In this episode of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit with Edgar Wamalwa, a strategic consultant and project finance expert with over three decades in banking and infrastructure, to unpack Africa’s paradox of plenty.
From Kenya’s ballooning public debt to the DRC’s cobalt wealth and South Africa’s models of industrial financing, the conversation dives into dependency, leadership, and the short-termism holding the continent back. Wamalwa challenges the “begging bowl” mindset, weighs whether Africa can rewrite...
2025-09-1945 min
Panel 54 PodcastTom Mukhwana & Babior Newton - Telling Africa's StoryIn this episode of Panel 54, hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with journalist Tom Mukhwana and author Babior Newton to tackle one of the biggest questions of our time: who gets to tell Africa’s story?
We dive deep into the media and power dynamics that shape the global narrative, asking the tough questions: Why do conflicts in Sudan and the DRC go largely ignored while Ukraine and Gaza dominate headlines? How do foreign powers like China influence African sovereignty through mining deals and arms shipments?
Can African writers and journalists reclaim their vo...
2025-09-1257 min
Panel 54 PodcastJerotich Seii - China in Africa: Progress or Plunder?China in Africa: Progress or Plunder?
They call it development. hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh sit down with Jerotich Seii — humanitarian, social justice advocate, and active citizen to rip open the myth of China’s “partnership” with Africa.
From ports in Djibouti to debt-laden railways in Nairobi, Jerotich asks what no leader will: are we selling our sovereignty for shiny infrastructure, letting forests fall for freight corridors, and locking future generations into chains disguised as contracts?
This is not just about bricks and steel. It’s about power, identity, and the dangero...
2025-08-2250 min
Panel 54 PodcastCynthia, Musa , Chris Ochieng & Elly - The Beautiful Game!In this special conversation, Panel 54 brings together sports manager Cynthia Mumbo, sports scientist and broadcaster Musa Abdi, Chris Ochieng (Gor Mahia striker), and Elly Asiete (Mathare FC captain) with hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to explore football’s grip on Africa, from CHAN pride to Premier League passion.
The discussion moves beyond the game itself into identity, business, and politics, asking why millions of Africans pledge loyalty to clubs they have never visited, how local leagues can rise to rival global giants, and what it will take for African football to inspire the next generation. They ex...
2025-08-1548 min
Panel 54 PodcastPanel 54 Podcast - Pres. John Kufuor, Pt 2In Part Two of this conversation with His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Ghana, the discussion moves beyond the early years and into the heart of his presidency, from ushering in Ghana’s golden age of business to striking oil, reforming health and education, and navigating diplomacy across Africa.
He reflects on the challenges of leadership, Africa’s economic future, and the lessons he believes the next generation must learn to shape the continent’s destiny. This is the conclusion of this special two-part series with one of Africa’s most respected statesmen.
Lagos to...
2025-08-1059 min
Panel 54 PodcastPanel 54 Podcast - Pres. John Kufuor, Pt 1In this special two-part, on-location interview, Waweru Njoroge sits down in Accra, Ghana with His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of the Republic of Ghana and one of Africa’s most respected statesmen.
Part One traces his journey from Kumasi’s royal roots to Oxford’s law halls, to Ghana’s presidency and beyond. We explore the early life that shaped “The Gentle Giant,” his role in guiding Ghana through democratic transition, and his candid views on Generation Z, Pan-Africanism, and Africa’s place on the world stage.
From Accra to the African Union, from the law c...
2025-07-2535 min
Panel 54 PodcastPeter Kagwanja - Violence in Africa!In this episode of Panel 54, public intellectual and scholar Prof. Peter Kagwanja joins Waweru and Nduh for an unflinching conversation on the nature and function of violence in Africa. From colonial brutality to the tactics of modern regimes and resistance movements, Kagwanja explores how violence has become a tool — not just for survival or protest, but for control, manipulation, and power.
Is violence always irrational? Or is it calculated — deployed with purpose and often misunderstood? The conversation traces the evolution of violence across history, media, and statecraft, revealing how both local and foreign actors shape its meaning to s...
2025-07-1845 min
Panel 54 PodcastMbugua Ng'anga - Media For SaleIn this episode of Panel 54, investigative journalist and editor Mbugua Ng'anga joins Waweru and Nduh for a revealing conversation about the slow death of media neutrality in Africa. As global powers like China invest heavily in newsrooms and training programs, soft power—not censorship—is reshaping what counts as news.
Sponsored content is no longer the exception; it is becoming the default. They unpack how journalism is being compromised by funding pressures, how state-aligned narratives slip into editorial decisions, and why many African outlets are struggling to draw the line between coverage and influence. This is a sobering look...
2025-07-0343 min
Panel 54 PodcastWinnie Kabintie - Is Pan-Africanism Relevant Now?In this episode of Panel 54, youth advocate and policy analyst Winnie Kabinti joins Waweru and Ndu for a sharp and unfiltered look at the promise and problems of Pan-Africanism today. From Nkrumah’s original vision to the fragmented realities of modern leadership, they explore whether unity still means something or if it has become just a convenient slogan. As Africa’s under-27 majority grows more connected and vocal, questions emerge
Who truly owns the Pan-African agenda? And are foreign actors quietly steering the narrative to serve their own interests? It is a bold conversation about power, identity, and t...
2025-06-2035 min
Panel 54 PodcastDr Willy Mutunga - Death of LibertyIn this episode of Panel 54, former Kenyan Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga joins Waweru and Nduh for a powerful conversation on how civic space is being dismantled across East Africa. From protest bans in Uganda and press crackdowns in Tanzania to Kenya’s quiet rise in surveillance, Dr. Mutunga breaks down how governments are using legal systems and fear—not force—to control citizens.
Together, they explore how dissent is criminalised without changing constitutions, why silence is becoming a survival tactic, and what’s really at stake when rights shrink in the name of order. It’s a timely r...
2025-06-1249 min
Panel 54 PodcastTom Mukhwana - Gen Z ActivismIn this third episode of Panel 54, investigative journalist Tom Mukhwana joins Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh for a sharp, unfiltered conversation on Gen Z activism across Africa. From Nigeria’s #EndSARS to Kenya’s anti-finance bill protests and South Africa’s Fees Must Fall, we explore how a digital first generation is reshaping the idea of youth power.
Are social led movements a genuine political force or just algorithm-driven moments? We unpack why digital protest doesn’t always become political change, how Gen-Z became the unofficial opposition, and whether leaderless movements are a feature or a flaw.
Mukhwana...
2025-06-0536 min
Panel 54 PodcastCol (Rtd) Seth Shava - Security in AfricaIn this powerful second episode of Panel 54, former Kenya Air Force Commander and Top Gun graduate Colonel Seth Shava joins hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to expose the truth behind Africa’s role in global defence. From foreign military bases to joint drills and surveillance ops, Africa is hosting the war but not writing the rules. So we ask: is the continent building real capacity, or just executing someone else’s mission plan?
Colonel Shava takes us deep inside the realities of modern warfare, radicalisation, and the link between broken governance and broken security. We break down...
2025-05-2839 min
Panel 54 PodcastKhainga O’Okwemba - Rise and Fall of African mediaWelcome to the debut episode of Panel 54, where real power meets real perspective. Hosts Waweru Njoroge, a seasoned Kenyan journalist media disruptor and strategist, and Ndu Okoh, a fearless cultural critic, media maven and journalist take you beyond the headlines into the heart of Africa’s most urgent conversations.
In this first episode, they unpack the rise and fall of media trust in Africa. Is journalism still holding power to account, or just amplifying whoever pays? With legendary author, writer and journalist Khainga O’Okwemba, they explore how commercial pressure, collapsing credibility, and foreign influence, especially now from...
2025-05-2136 min