Panel 54 Podcast

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, an...

In 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 com...

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 majori...

In 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. ...

In 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...

EPISODE 2: The War Is Ours, But the Blueprint Isn’t

In 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, Afric...

Welcome 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 journa...