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Kenya: The Cutting Edge
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The Nation (Nairobi)
COLUMN
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Nairobi
Last December 30, David Jasondu recalls Electoral Commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu waxing lyrical about his determination "to die in the big ship that is Kenya" if chaos erupted after the announcement of the disputed presidential election results. David adds: "And sure enough, he announced the results and instantly, violence broke out. Not only did he disappear from the scene, he has also kept away from the Kriegler Commission on the post-election violence, preferring to send junior representatives."
With Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his ODM brigade having been so busy trying to secure their share of the cake, notes Njoki Mburu, they couldn't pay full attention to the KCSE exam debacle. With the grand coalition Cabinet now running, Njoki says she expects Raila to supervise and make a difference in the ministries that have let Kenyans down. And the best place to begin is to get the Education minister to swear that Kenyans will never again hear of exam leaks.
The Rift Valley MPs grumbling about the resettlement of fellow Kenyans driven out of their homes by the post-election violence, D. Munyua says, should be appealing to their supporters to welcome their former neighbours back to their farms. "If they refuse, the MPs should ask them to swap places with the displaced for a while. After a day in the camps, I'm sure they will not want to hear anyone talking about negotiations delaying the resettlement of the victims of the poll violence."
Whereas X. N. Iraki is right about the beauty of Karatina Township on the foothills of Mt Kenya, he's mistaken on several other things, says Kariuki Muiri. The name is not a corruption of any English word, as it comes from a tree, muratina. "It's around a muratina tree that the biggest open-air market in East and Central Africa started. The melodious Kikuyu spoken in Mathira is believed to have started when the Laikipia Maasai integrated into the local community to escape genocide by other clans."
Tuskys Supermarket risks losing loyal customers over the enthusiasm with which their cashiers dish out 50-cent coins in change. Says she: "Some of us may be discouraged. I dread going there because they give too much change in 50-cent coins, yet even kiosks won't accept them. Why can't they take the 50-cent coins to the Central Bank and exchange them for Sh1 coins?"
Ahero Girls School in Nyanza, Boaz Oyengo reports, has a tough job, having admitted five blind girls who are having a nightmare moving around as they have no guides. The girls' situation is aggravated by the fact that the conditions at the school are not the best, what with a blocked sewerage system discharging muck. Boaz is urging well-wishers to help the school cater for the girls.
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The Government should no longer claim that it lacks funds to implement projects, having just sold its stake in the Safaricom IPO, says Fred Ademba. According to Fred, there are still a few more public companies, including the wines and spirits supplier, Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd, which should be sold immediately to raise money to repair Enterprise and Outering roads, build bypasses, and ease water shortages.Have a capable day, won't you!
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