Friday, May 18, 2007

END OF WEEK-KENYA BOLITIGS

The more former Kenya's Constitutional Minister Charles Njonjo speaks, the more it convinces that he belongs to a bygone era. His disclosure that he worked overtime for the collapse of the East African Community in 1977 and popped champagne in celebration is a case in point. To Njonjo, Kenya should only link hands with Tanzania and Uganda when each Kenyan has understood the languages of the two nations.
****

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others — even in the British Army. New soldiers will march to death in Iraq, but Prince Harry has been exempted because ‘it would be too dangerous for him’. Don’t the others shed red blood and shouldn’t all die in defence of country? The Great Britain....
****

If you thought political poaching is a Kenyan affair, think bigger. French-elect President Nicolas Sarkozy’s is reaching out to the opposition and has spoken to some over ministerial positions. Yet he promised to reduce ministers by half.
****


Those who shout that they will offer free secondary education had better study the Ugandan experience. The much-touted programme began this year and it’s already in trouble, with the Education ministry stuck with a Sh5 billion deficit. Yet free education is just for Form One students in just 1,000 schools.
****

US envoy Michael Ranneberger climbed the podium on Wednesday to preach the good old values about democrazy. But his government stands as a sore thumb in shielding beleaguered World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz over favours to a sweetheart. Germany says he’s persona non-grata on its soil if he doesn’t thrown in the towel. But the US won’t budge.
****










"KA KAMIRION....


Kenyan Policemen, chiefs and assistant chiefs who have made a career and an extra coin from harassing brewers and drinkers of traditional liquor had better look for something else to do. The law that prohibited the beer has been repealed. And why not? Who said the drunkenness from muratina, busaa and mnazi is criminal and that from Tusker and whisky is not?

****


Believe it or not, with the rains now pounding the coastal region, some of the new roads recarpeted for the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa last March have developed huge potholes, Jane Atieno reports. “The roundabout at the Likoni Nakumatt branch has the biggest pothole, Nyali bridge is pathetic, and a section of Nyerere Avenue has a pool of water, while the Mombasa- Malindi highway at Bombolulu is a quagmire you won’t want to look at twice.” "What a mess!" she exclaims.

****

What Ken Butiko, who is amused that President Kibaki is now showering praise on his predecessor, Mr Daniel arap Moi, whom he berated during his inauguration in 2002, is forgetting is that the two men know each other only too well, remarks Hassan A. Hassan. “Besides having worked together under founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, President Kibaki was also Mr Moi’s deputy for a decade. Secondly, in an election year, expect anything, even Raila Odinga praising Moi and Kalonzo Musyoka lauding Raila.”
****

And Finally,


Not so impressed by the Kenya's public universities is David Aggrey, who says they lag so far behind in the dot-com era that they still insist on job applicants submitting 10 copies of their resumes? “This, when most Universities receive applications online. They should embrace modern technology, where applications and short-listing can be done online, to save time.

No wonder they have such clumsy websites!”
****