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PODCAST

Panel 54 Podcast

Panel 54 is where Africa tells its own story. From Lagos to Lamu, Cape Town to Cairo, hosts Waweru Njoroge (Kenya) and Ndu Okoh (Kenya/Nigeria) explore the people, power, and politics shaping the continent. Each episode delivers sharp, evidence-first conversations with leaders, activists, athletes, and cultural voices. From sports and identity to security, media, new foreign influence, youth movements, sovereignty, and Africa’s place in a multipolar world, Panel 54 offers a global perspective

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All Episodes

49:37

Seth Bokpe - Money and the Mining Mafia in Ghana

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/11/21

West 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

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50:07

Hassan Khannaje - Chaos in the Horn of Africa

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/11/14

Wars 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,

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59:04

Ted Kwaka - The Soft Power of Cultural Diplomacy

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/11/07

Africa’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

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48:18

Kevin Kigima - The Chinese Debt Trap- Real or Imagined

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/10/31

Africa’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

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62:46

Ralph Goff & Seth Shava – Drones, AI and the Future...

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/10/24

In 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

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50:32

Tom Amolo - A Seat at The Table.

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/10/17

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

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53:10

Stella Agara: Power, Protest & the New Price of...

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/10/10

In 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

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38:31

Charles Murito - Africa in the Age of AI

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/09/26

Artificial 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

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45:31

Edgar Wamalwa - Africa’s Debt, Dependency, and...

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/09/19

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,

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57:00

Tom Mukhwana & Babior Newton - Telling Africa's Story

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/09/12

In 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

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50:07

Jerotich Seii - China in Africa: Progress or Plunder?

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/08/22

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

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48:59

Panel 54 Podcast - The Beautiful Game!

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/08/15

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

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59:04

Panel 54 Podcast - Pres. John Kufuor, Pt 2

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/08/10

In 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

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35:58

Panel 54 Podcast - Pres. John Kufuor, Pt 1

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/07/25

In 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

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45:31

Panel 54 Podcast - Prof. Peter Kagwanja

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/07/18

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

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43:17

Panel 54 Podcast - Mbugua Ng'anga

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/07/03

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 compromised by funding pressures, how state-aligned narratives slip into

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35:15

Panel 54 Podcast - Winnie Kabintie

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/06/20

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 emergeWho truly owns the Pan-African agenda? And are foreign actors

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49:05

Panel 54 Podcast - Dr Willy Mutunga.

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/06/12

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. Together, they explore how dissent is criminalised without changing constitutions, why silence is becoming a

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36:38

Panel 54 Podcast - Tom Mukhwana

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/06/05

EPISODE 3: Gen Z Rising — Protest, Power, and the Fight to Be HeardAcross the continent, young people are speaking up. But are they changing the game—or just trending for a moment? In this episode, we dive into the heart of Gen Z activism in Africa. From hashtags to hardline protests, we ask: is this a real political awakening or a mirage that fades when the Wi-Fi cuts out? Journalist and investigative reporter Tom Mukhwana joins hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh to explore how social media,

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39:02

Panel 54 Podcast - Col (Rtd) Seth Shava

Panel 54 Podcast ·

2025/05/28

EPISODE 2: The War Is Ours, But the Blueprint Isn’tAfrica is a frontline in global security—but not always a voice in its planning. In this episode, we explore what it means to be a host to military might, but not its mission. Is Africa building capacity or just playing a supporting role in someone else’s war room? Join hosts Waweru Njoroge and Ndu Okoh as they go beyond drills and defence deals to ask: what does true security look like for Africans? Former Kenya Air Force Commander and Top Gun

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21 results

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