Panel 54 Podcast

Dr Willy Mutunga - Death of Liberty

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 survival tactic, and what’s really at stake when rights shrink in the name of order. It’s a timely reminder that the fight for freedom doesn’t always happen in the streets—it often begins with refusing to stay silent. 
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Tom Mukhwana - Gen Z Activism

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 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 draws from years covering corruption and human rights to explain the tensions between voice, visibility, and lasting impact and why some movements risk being co-opted or steered by foreign powers, unseen political actors, or digital operatives who understand the algorithm better than the activists do. From civic education to strategy and survival, this episode confronts the myth of the social media saviour and the blurred line between resistance and manipulation.This is Panel 54 , a global perspective through an African lens. 📩 Let’s talk: hello[@]panel54[dot]com

Col (Rtd) Seth Shava - Security in Africa

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, 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 why foreign powers often shape the agenda, how disenfranchised youth become targets, and why real safety starts with local leadership, not outside influence. Plus, the unbelievable story of ejecting from a fighter jet, crash-landing in a village, and being mistaken for Jesus. Yes, really.
👉 If you care about sovereignty, power, and what real security should look like for Africans, this episode is a must-watch.
This is Panel 54, a global perspective through an African lens.
 
📩 Let’s talk: hello[@]panel54[dot]com
 
 

Khainga O’Okwemba - Rise and Fall of African media

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 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 China, are reshaping what we read, watch, and believe.
The street has something to say too, and the answers might surprise you
Lagos to Lamu. Cape Town to Cairo. This is Panel 54, a global perspective through an African lens.
📩 Let’s talk: hello@panel54pod.com