Political dilemma

Mrs.Charity Ngilu is one of the best women politicians in Kenya; she has been in the forefront of fighting for democracy in Kenya and was part of the team that removed Kanu from power after 24 years. She is regarded as a role model for upcoming women politicians in Kenya being the first woman presidential candidate in Kenyan history.

She is the Chairperson of Narc the party that removed Kanu from power in 2002 and refused to give it up to Dr. Noah Wekesa’s group, who wanted to take it from her, revive it probably to be used by the president again. It was said she is walking around with Narc in her handbag, they gave up decided to leave it with her and moved on to PNU.

Mama Rainbow, may be she should now be referred to as Mama Machungwa (orange), has openly supported ODM presidential candidate Mr. Raila Odinga and urged people to vote for Mr. Raila, she has tried to convince ODM-K presidential candidate Mr. Kalonzo to mend ways with Raila but it is not working.

Her defection to ODM to join Mr. Raila Odinga has been anticipated but it seems not forthcoming. I think its because of the dilemma she is in, being an MP from her home constituency in Eastern Province which is Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka’s strong hold, she has no choice but to support ODM-K to capture her seat back. Her people will hear nothing about Mr. Raila Odinga being better than their son Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka.

The political alignments and tribalism have put people like Mrs. Charity Ngilu with no option but so support people they do not want. On the other hand there is still time for her to make a choice. I read in the news this week that she has been promised a top post by ODM. She may decide to join ODM but will loose her MP seat to an opponent of ODM-K. Alternatively she can defect, loose her seat but get nominated by ODM next year.

What are the chances of Charity Ngilu defecting to ODM?

Political promises and betrayals

Political parties are currently working in groups. You bring your small party and I bring mine. You can no longer win it all alone in Kenyan politics. The coming together of these parties has promises; some are as empty as the original NARC’s MOU that haunts the current regime to date. I have not read the much talked about MOU but I know it was full of promises that turned out to be betrayals.

The regrouping under the current campaigns is also full of promises. Politicians are good at both promises and betrayal. The most crowded group is the PNU (Narc K, Shirikisho, Ford People, old Ford Kenya, new Ford Kenya, DP and TIP). It has many people that have been promised things here and there and we expect as many betrayals as the promises.

Why are Kenyans convinced by politicians’ empty promises yet we know they are excellent in breaking them?

Let us be wise in these elections.

Teachers impregnating schoolgirls? Shameful……….

Cases of schoolgirls dropping out of school due to pregnancy are currently alarming in Kenya. Most of these cases are found in the rural areas and teachers are the suspects.

The same has been in the news for years and was also in yesterday’s news by both KTN and NTV. They showed girls from a school read more in Garsen, Tana River district who are now at home taking care of their babies. In another incident a girl was slashed with a Panga (metal rod) by his father in Western Kenya for getting impregnated by a teacher. In some cases parents give their daughters who get impregnated by teachers for marriage in exchange of some dowry.

This has become a major hindrance to girls education and the development of female human resource has come down.

Parents send their children to school (girls inclusive) so that when they are old the children may take care of them. At the same time schooling is viewed as an investment in that the educated persons are expected to uplift the economic life of the parents and other brothers/sisters in the family. The decision to take that girl to school had an objective and an expectation from the parents that no one should come to spoil.

I normally wonder what drives the male teachers to get intimate with female pupils that should be under their care. There are many theories and justification that have been put to this men behavior, but all of them are wrong.

Poverty in the rural areas plays a major role in girls dropping out of school. From the story on the link above, they say the school is an old school but the structure is in a bad shape. Most homes where these girls come from are not any better. So when a teacher who leaves in a better condition approaches a girl from a poverty stricken home they get tempted and accept thinking of a better life ahead is beckoning. But the one to be blamed is the teacher who uses his position and wealth to “terminate” the economic life of such girls.

I also imagine a teacher who has been transferred from a town or Nairobi with better infrastructure, moving to a school in a remote area and living his family behind not to subject them in such a condition. The teacher gets tempted to sleep with schoolgirls because this could be the only girls available in the area, the rest are married off early.

I think the government should investigate why this is happening; arresting the teachers over the years has not solved the problem.

Can politics be said this other way?

I applaud the move by Nation Media Group’s introduction of another daily newspaper, Daily Metro (The paper that brings news to life). It is colorful with big headlines; I can say it is a comparison to Nairobi Star but of better content and cheaper.

Nation media group are experts in this field and more experienced, hence know how to introduce a new product in the market, considering consumers interests and competition factor. The paper only costs 20/- because it has lesser contents compared to their normal daily (The Nation) newspaper. I think they realize that there is no need of starting a newspaper with flashy headlines but very little contents and charge the same as other normal dailies that have a lot of contents.

Today’s Daily Metro headlines caught my attention, it was about Girl Power. I thought it was about women issues and not politics. By the way I did not know it was by Nation Media group at first because; I had missed the launch if there was one. I also thought it doesn’t look like gutter press and could be an interesting change from too much politics we have been digesting. The top story in the issue was about two ladies connected to politicians dictating the political debate in Kenya. The daughter of the current President, Judy Kibaki and ODM Presidential aspirant’s daughter, Rosemary Odinga. That is a moderate way of politicking.

I urge Kenyans to promote this good idea and read the paper which is more affordable.