Are We Any Better?

The committee on privileges, Absence and Support Services from Zambia visited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices in Nairobi on Monday to ‘benchmark’ the body on how to fight corruption. This sounds ridiculous right? But the delegation of Zambian Members of Parliament is here, the question is why not other countries like Finland, Tanzania but Kenya. The answer is well known to them

According to the commissioner Mwaniki Gachoka he said the study tour by Zambian National Assembly is meant to share the experiences as a commission when it comes to corruption and promotion of ethics in Kenya, but this is somehow strange considering position we are in as a state with the high number of graft cases yet to be resolved.

Over the past years it has been noted with a lot of concern that the anti-graft body has been going for the petty offences committed by small fish leaving the tumbocratic officials walking escort free on our streets with no legal action taken against them.

Domestic Wrangles a Major Cause

Life is a precious gift that the Almighty God gave to human beings. In his commandments in the Holy book He forbade murder. According to New King James Version Bible and I quote, “You shall not murder” but today’s world has turned into a monster and does not value the meaning of life. Most human beings no longer have compassion. Human beings are not humane, instead they have turned to be inhumane.

They group themselves according to races and tribal lines. Today’s family has groups. It’s not like the olden days when family could involve a community. The digital family has come up with seclusions, people live individualistic lives and all this has led to couple wrangles which have become rampant today leading to divorce and break-ups in most families and relationships. Some even lead to heinous acts such as family murder and sexual assaults.

In the past few months suicide, murder and sexual assault cases have been on the rise and all around the news headlines. The recent act of murder being in Boe Lokesheni  village in Elgeyo Marakwet County where a man killed his five-month expectant wife and a one and a-half year old son after a minor disagreement.

Misunderstandings never miss in relationships but all this should have an amicable way of resolving them either by using community elders, religious leaders or family therapy sessions instead of resolving by brutally killing family members.

There are several other causes that can lead to domestic issues for example drunkenness. This has led to fights in many families as the man will abandon his family and even fail to provide for it yet when he comes home he will want something to put in the stomach.

All these, puts one thing clear, the Kenyan family needs help. Parents need to step up their fight against substance abuse; fathers need to become role models to their sons, mothers needs to seek for a more friendly relationship with their daughters; and maybe just on a brighter horizon, the family will mold a better society.

Jobless Youths …What Next?

For the longest time the society has tailored youths into white collar people. However, as things stand now it’s changing. With the changing times and the advent of corruption, youths have put aside the mentality of sending applications to discourteous bosses. With technology and population growth playing a major role in all these, jobless youths are now self employing their means of earning income.

Many youths strive to make a difference in the society and for themselves, some youths engage in agribusiness as a source of income. This has been specifically easy because of the strategic importance of agribusiness in the country. Some have chosen to pursue technological means of employment.  For instance, Brian, a student who we will publish in our later publications, is a third year student who is now a barber in the suburbs of Kitale town, making at least Ksh.35000 per month. Some computer and IT tech guys are now freelancers working and selling their work to media houses and organizations.

Job Posters|Photo Courtesy

It is people like these that make the difference for themselves and others.  The challenge to any person or youth is the starting capital. Funds like Uwezo rarely trickle down to ambitious visionary youths. Most youths have claimed that there are too many unnecessary questions that are asked and (or) their applications never go through. It therefore remains to be a challenge on the government to avail funds for youths, to ensure that the funds allocated for self businesses and startup capital is utilized well.

Corporates have now seen the importance of young businesses and their growth. Safaricom recently launched the blaze youth network which empowers self-growth under the slogan ‘Be Your own Boss’. Youths and generally unemployed people who seek to venture into self businesses have found a breakthrough through some of these initiatives provided by non governmental institutions.

Giving up therefore should not be an option for you in your quest to venture into the deep. Challenges are there to make they that are walking to be successful runners. Only thing to remember is to make better decisions, grab better opportunities and present the right footing towards sponsors. Perhaps the local county governments can set up a way of providing solutions to youths and small business empowerment?

A Tech- World

The world is radically changing from analog to digital, since the time of our great grandparents until now, there has been a millennial change. There has been the use of Motorola and Nokia 1210 which are now in the past. Today’s generation has a lot at stake to be proud of as communication has been easier hence making the world a small village.

Nowadays, scholars attend classes online making it easier for people to do a number of courses. Research and online jobs in this era is also done at the comfort of your couch.

Even though the use of internet has its challenges, it is one of the transformations that the current world is moving to. Recently, the Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko made a declaration to supply computers and internet connection in all public and secondary school. The move will see our children in school engage in research and computer classes. He has also become the first governor to launch free Early Childhood Development Program aiming at increasing enrollment of students in ECD.

Perhaps one disadvantage of the move is that pupils may slowly have an immoral psyche. Without supervision the majority's curious minds will lead them to wonder in dirty sites, immoral sites and even lead to some of them being bullied as witnessed in recent years in the United States over online gaming sites.This therefore presents an opportunity and a challenge; it will be interesting to see how the oncoming events pans out.

Soccer Match Postponed as Millions Disappear

Increased rate of graft cases in Vihiga County continues to derail the county government’s plan spear headed by Governor Wilber Otichilo. The most recent one being postponement of a football match in one of the wards in the county after the money set for the match worth 18 million was bungled.

Gavernor Wilber Otichilo

According to the chairman in charge of sports and gender Erick Odei the postponement is as a result of some officers who have failed to explain how the Ksh. 18 million was used.

“We want to be sure that the money is there, we have told them to bring forth the statement together with a letter showing that they were given a go ahead with the county finance secretary or the chief officer for finance,"He remarked.

Earlier Governor Otichilo issued a stern warning to those hindering his performance in office saying that action will be taken against them.

“I want to support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s effort to fight corruption; hence we will not tolerate corruption. Anyone in my government found asking for something small should be reported,” He said.

Homabay Governor’s fate.

On Thursday Homabay governor Cyprian Awiti will know his fate if he will serve his second term. The court of appeal is set to rule over a petition he filed seeking to overturn his victory after it was nullified by the High court.

 

Homabay Governor Cyprian Awiti

Former Kasipul Member of parliament Oyugi Magwanga  succesfully challenged the validity of the election.He came second with a total of 189,060 votes against his opponent  Awiti, who took the lead with 210,173 votes.

Other Luo Nyanza governors waiting for their petition include James Ongwae for Kisii, John Nyagarama for Nyamira and Okoth Obado from Migori.

NASA Is Not Dead

Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi has said that Nasa is not dead. Speaking at Ikolomani in Kakamega County Mudavadi reiterated that the coalition is there to stay.

Mudavadi vowed to ensure that NASA still exists adding that if it fails there will be no strong  opposition party to champion intrest of kenyans.

ANC Part Leader Musalia Mudavadi|Photo Courtesy

His sentiment follows Ford kenya withdrawal from the coalition .Speaking at Mtwapa  Kilifi County , party leader Moses wetangula said he is looking forward to strengten his party and vie for presidency in 2022.

The Bungoma Senator also criticized the ODM party leader Raila Odinga, for betraying his co-principals among them Kalonzo Musyok( Wiper) and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) for  agreeing to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Miss Langa’ata 2016 Sentenced To Death

By Sifuma N. Lilian-sifumalilian@gmail.com

The 2016 Miss Lang’ata prison Ruth Wanjiru Kamande has been sentenced to death for the murder of her boyfriend Farid Mohamed.Kamande was convicted of murder after she stubbed his boyfriend 22 times in the year 2015 in Buruburu, Nairobi leading to his death.

In her ruling on Thursday Judge Jessie Lesiit warned young people against doing ill acts after relationship breakups, hence the sentence for them to learn from her judgment.“I want young people to know that it is not cool to kill your boyfriend or girlfriend even if you are disappointed or frustrated. Don’t do it, it is good to walk away and thereafter forgive,” Said the judge.

Ruth Kamande(Left) while in Court

Judge Lessit noted that in her mitigation Ms. Kamande did not show anguish, despair or sadness. “The Accused has not set before this court anything that will lead to a finding that there was an aspect of the case which remained unclear at the trial, which mitigation could have eliminated. The accused person has not alleged that she acted out of any despair or anguish. I find that the accused person deliberately stabbed the deceased with a clear intention to cause him pain, suffering and death.” She said while giving the judgment.

In her defense Ms Kamande alleged that his boyfriend had sex with her knowing that he was HIV positive. She added that the argument got out of hand when she discovered love letters the deceased had long after she broke up with his former girlfriends.

In her submission ,Ms Kamande’s advocate lawyer Joynor Okonyo argued that the accused when arrested had been enrolled in JKUAT to study business an argument which the court dismissed terming it as not persuasive adding that the prison service aids inmates to undergo courses and studies.

Kenya Woman Tries To Rob A Bank In The States

By Sifuma N. Lilian-sifumalilian@gmail.com

This may come as a shocker but this happened in one of the banks in United States where a Kenyan woman was arrested on Wednesday in attempts to rob a bank. A 36 years old identified by police as Everlyn Misumi was armed with a hammer, gasoline and lighter fluid.

A report indicates that Ms Misumi poured the gasoline and lighter fluid at the bank reception and demanded the bank clerks to issue her with the cash while waving the hammer in her hand.

Photo of Everlyn Misumi|Photo Courtesy

However, the woman’s mission failed when the teller dialed 911 alerting the Murphy police who arrived at the scene an incident. The woman’s effort to use a child as a shield failed as the police  took the baby away from her. The lady tried to flee the scene but the police sprayed pepper on her leading to her apprehension.

The woman has been taken to Collin County jail as she awaits to be arraigned in court to be charged with robbery and child endangerment.

Fire Campaign Rages On

By Sifuma N. Lilian-sifumalilian@gmail.com

Uhuru Secondary School in Buruburu estate Nairobi has been the latest school to be affected by a fire. The inferno torched down a 394 capacity dormitory. The school now joins over 40 schools that have been affected with the increased fire incidences reported in various parts of the country.

According to reports from teachers at school the fire began at around 9:20am and 10:00am when students were in class but the fire was later contained by the fire brigade from the county who responded quickly to the incident.

Badge for Uhuru Secondary|Photo Courtesy

The course of the fire is still unknown as everything in the dormitory has been brought down. The increased fire incidences in schools has been attributed to forthcoming national examination, but the National Examination Council warned that exams will not be postponed and it will go on as scheduled.

This comes barely four weeks since the Education Ministry gave a directive to all boarding schools to add the number of teachers on duty to help curb the ongoing fires

Buy Tokens Early ,Says KPLC

By Sifuma N. Lilian

Kenya Power and Lightning Company will for two days halt its provision for prepaid token service. This is scheduled to take effect as from 10:00am on 3rd July up to 4^th July at 10:00pm due to routine maintenance.

Speaking yesterday, the Managing Director in the Science and Technology Unit Engineer Samuel Ndiragu said that the company plans to carry out routine maintenance at IT Prepaid System so as to ensure efficient delivery to customers.

In a statement, Kenya Power advised its prepaid customers to buy tokens before the end of the day through Pay Bill 888880. Also to be affected are prepaid buying outlets including banking halls and vendor outlets.

On the other hand, the services postpaid Bills Payment via 888888 and other payment outlets including banking halls will not be affected.