may 07

Funding hitch as schools reopenP.8 State yet to release cash for free learning as second term starts

He kicked me out after 40 yearsDN2 Philip Kitoto answers your relationship questions

Nairobi | Monday, May 7, 2012

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No. 17208

Mudavadi asks PM to quit with KibakiDPM kicks o bid for presidency and tells Raila to retire with the president before next pollsBY MUCHEMI [email protected]

POLITICS | Raila accuses his former deputy of disresepct, says rival not reformist

HEALTH SCANDAL

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Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi addresses a UDF rally at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru yesterday.

SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION

eputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi yesterday asked Prime Minister Raila Odinga to start preparing for retirement. President Kibaki is supposed to retire according to the Constitution and since we are in a coalition government, the two principals should retire together in solidarity for Kenyans to have a fresh start, Mr Mudavadi said in Nakuru where he held his rst presidential campaign rally since CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Now Nyongo lifts sacking of NHIF bossesBY NATION [email protected] Medical Services minister Prof Anyang Nyongo yesterday reinstated the NHIF board and its chief executive sacked by acting Civil Service head Francis Kimemia. But board chairman Richard Muga remains on suspension, he said. On Saturday, Mr Kimemia sent the board packing to pave way for investigations into alleged malpractice at the national health insurer. This came amid reports that 33 medical facilities owned by Clinix Healthcare Limited that was given Sh202 million for treatment of civil servants had not been licensed by January 20. Clinix is one of the two health providers MPs said did not have the capacity to serve civil servants. Yesterday, Prof Nyongo said Mr Kimemia had no powers to micro-manage his ministry. I therefore want to state very clearly, as the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

ON OTHER PAGESCRISIS DEVOLUTION AFTER THE WAR INDEX

TWO CHILDREN DROWN AS FLOODS DEATH TOLL RISESChildren aged 13 and seven swept away in Nyanza as heavy rains wreak havoc countrywide. NATION, P. 3

MPS BACK CRITERIA FOR SHARING COUNTY FUNDSPopulation is crucial in the allocation of revenue to devolved governments, say leaders. NATION, P. 6

SOMALIA RUSHES TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIMEMogadishu is enjoying its new found peace and recently held the rst bicycle race in 20 years. NATION, P. 9

News P. 2-9, Back County P. 10-11, 16 Opinion P. 12-13 Letters P. 14 International P. 18-26 Business P. 28-29 Pictorial P. 30 Sport P. 50-55

2 | National NewsPOLITICS | Mudavadi launches his presidential campaign in Nakuru

DAILY NATION Monday May 7, 2012

Leader says ODM ferried youths from Kibera to disrupt funeralCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 he left ODM to join the United Democratic Front (UDF) on whose ticket he intends to vie for the top seat. He said the mood in the country was for the two principals to leave together. President Kibaki is serving his last term and recently pledged to oversee a peaceful transition to a new leader after the General Election scheduled for March 4, 2013. Mr Odinga, on the other hand, has launched his third bid for the presidency and opinion polls rank him as the man to beat at the ballot. Mr Mudavai says he quit ODM after the party machinery denied him an opportunity to contest for the partys ticket against Mr Odinga. The ODM constitution says the party leader is its automatic presidential candidate, but the party last month gave notice to review the clause. This is the rst time Mr Mudavadi is taking about his former boss directly since he abandoned ODM. But in a swift rejoinder, Mr Odingas campaign secretariat accused Mr Mudavadi of mischief and ingratitude. If there is any wrong the Premier has previously committed, it has been to redeem and polish up a conservative ingrate who had been dumped in the dustbin of history and given him a fresh lease of political life, said Mr Barrack Muluka, the secretariats spokesman in a statement. On Saturday supporters of the two leaders clashed at the burial of Mr Jason Omwera Muhoro, the father of Nairobi mayor George Aladwa. The pair did not meet as expected because Mr Mudavadi left before Mr Odinga arrived. Yesterday, Mr Mudavadi described

GUIDE TO YOUR DAYRegional highlightsNairobi: Prime Minister Raila Odinga to preside over the opening ceremony of the rst National Science, Technology and Innovation week organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology at the KICC -National Tax Payers Association release audit report of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for 34 constituencies at the Hilton Hotel

Free education funds

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi addresses a rally at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru yesterday. He asked Prime Minister Raila Odinga to retire with President Kibaki.the incident as sad and blamed it on ODM, claiming they ferried youths from Kibera in Nairobi to disrupt the funeral. I am appealing to the security agencies to step up their surveillance and intelligence to avoid such incidents in future, the Sabatia MP said at the Rift Valley Sports Club where he addressed journalists before attending a church service at the ACK Cathedral. Mr Mudavadi said he was launching his campaign in Nakuru because it was the epicentre of the post-election chaos. After this meeting we want to go and tell other Kenyans that people of Nakuru have agreed to live together and they will never ght again, he told the cheering crowd. He warned his critics not to misconstrue his humility for weakness. Humility is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength, he said. After the service, the DPM met MPs Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru Town) and Joseph


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Kiuna (Molo) and councillors at the Railway Grounds before going to Afraha Stadium where he addressed a rally. The rally was attended by Housing minister Soita Shitanda, assistant ministers Katoo ole Metito, Nderitu Mureithi and George Khaniri. Others were MPs Abdikadir Mohammed (Mandera Central), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), Najib Balala (Mvita), Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani), Abdi Bahari (Isiolo South) and George Nyamweya (nominated). Asked whether Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto will support him, Mr Mudavadi said: Uhuru and Ruto are MPs and they are not my enemies, they are major players in the politics of this country and if they are not running and decide to support me I will be a happy man. Additional reporting by Francis Mureithi

What is important to note here is that free learning programmes are ring-fenced in the budget and the government will ultimately release the money to the schoolsEducation secretary George Godia. Page 8

In the newsNairobi: The Judiciary will almost double its revenue collection to Sh1.5 billion in the next nancial year, helped by increased ne thresholds.T he trac department, which is one of the biggest contributors in nes, has already witnessed a rise in nes following the new trac rules. Page 28 Kimilili: Five MPs yesterday supported the counties revenue sharing formula, saying it would bring development to marginalised areas. Cabinet ministers Moses Wetangula,

Noah wekesa and MPs Eseli Simiyu, Bifwoli Wakoli and Cyrus Jirongo have thrown their weight behind the proposal by the revenue allocation, terming it the best for the country. Page 6 Voi: Narc Kenya presidential hopeful Martha Karua has urged the government to listen to the grievances raised by the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council. Ms Karua said there was need for the government to be keen on listening and attending to the cry of its people for peace and harmony to prevail. Page 5

This tuk tuk was involved in an accident with a matatu on Moi Avenue, Nairobi, yesterday. Three people were injured, one of them seriously, and were taken to hospital.

STEPHEN MUDIARI | NATION

WEATHER FORECAST

16 23 22 150600 1200 1800 2300Nairobi will be cold with high humidity and chance of rain in the morning Temperatures will rise to 23 degrees at midday with more showers Slight drop in temperatures with thunderstorms in the evening Minimum temperatures of 14 degrees at night with chance of rain


National News 3

FLOODS | At least 50 Kenyans have died following heavy rains since March

A man walks on a ooded area in Kitengelas New Valley where rains continued to cause havoc at the weekend.

COSMAS MUTINDA | NATION

Children killed by swollen rivers as rains wreak havocVillagers lose chicken, goats and sheep after river bursts its banksBY MAURICE KALUOCH AND BARNABAS [email protected] [email protected] of a tree. He was later taken to Homa Bay District Hospital where he was treated for shock. A similar tragedy happened in Kanam B Location in Rachuonyo North District where 7-year-old boy was swept away together with three cows which he had gone to herd. In Wahambla area, villagers lost chicken, goats and sheep after they were washed away by the swollen river Rangwena that had burst its banks. Traders at Nyalkinyi junction also lost merchandise after their kiosks were submerged. Villagers also counted losses on their farms after oods washed away crops. In Nyakoyo Village, ve homes were swept away forcing families to spend the night in the cold. Kenya Red Cross Society ocials have already moved to the Homa Bay County to access the devastation. In parts of North Rift, oods led to the suspension of relief food distribution after roads became impassable. Trucks carrying the relief food are unable to reach families in need of the supplies due to dilapidated roads, said Joseph Kanyiri, Turkana South district commissioner. Disaster management teams are however on the ground to help avert catastrophes such as landslides likely to be caused by the oods, said Mr Kanyiri. The rains have rendered most roads in Kerio Valley impassable making it impossible for farmers to reach markets for their food crops. And due to heavy rains in Mt Kenya region, the Kenya Red Cross Society has issued an alert to families living in the low lands along the Tana River in Garissa and Tana Delta to move to higher grounds. Both Kindaruma and Masinga dams are already. At least 50 people have lost their lives countrywide as a result of ooding since March.

People wade through oodwaters at the Starehe Government Quarters in Nairobi following a downpour.

WILLIAM OERI | NATION

H

eavy rainfall continued to wreak havoc across the country yesterday, claiming the lives of two children. In Homa Bay District a 13-year-old girl was killed by the swollen River Arujo as she walked back home with her brother after selling vegetable in Homa Bay town. The pupil at Maguti Primary School had attempted to cross the swollen river. Her body was recovered 500 metres away. Her brother Victor Omondi Oyoo escaped by clinging onto the branches

Kiosks submerged

This matatu got stuck on the Kapenguria-Kacheliba Road as heavy rains pounded most parts of the area at the weekend.

JARED NYATAYA | NATION

4 | National News


SCANDAL | Civil Service head had suspended the board to pave the way for investigations into allegations of corruption

Minister tells o Kimemia in NHIF rowCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Minister for Medical Services, that the status quo remains in NHIF following my decision on Thursday. The board and the CEO are under instructions to continue with their work without any interference by any other person, he told journalists in Nairobi yesterday. He wondered why Mr Kimemia had not taken similar action when the Kenya Ports Authority, De La Rue and the National Housing Corporation were embroiled in scandals. Similar allegations have been made in other ministries in this government and I have not seen Mr Kimemia taking over the responsibility of the ministers, he said. Prof Nyong o claimed Mr Kimemia acted after meeting with Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretarygeneral Francis Atwoli, Prof Muga and his assistant minister Kambi Kazungu. He said the three alleged the new NHIF rates were a scheme by ODM to raise money for its election campaign. The minister said he was also accused of conniving with NHIF chief executive Richard Kerich to embezzle funds. On Thursday, drama unfolded at NHIF when Mr Kerich was sent packing by Prof Muga, but was reinstated minutes later by Prof Nyongo. Prof Muga also suspended four other top managers and appointed Mr George Midiwo, a brother of Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, to act as CEO. But Prof Nyongo revoked the orders and instead suspended Prof Muga. Mr Kimemia sus-

Sh4mMoney allocated to two Clinix health facilities in Eldoret, but only one was operational

May 3Date when Medical Services minister suspended NHIF board chairman Richard Mugaexplain to Kenyans what is actually going on, he said. Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando called for Prof Nyongos resignation. Prof Nyong o has clearly shown his defensive hand. He should resign or be sacked for abetting fraud. Objective investigation cannot be done while he sits at Afya House, said Mr Kabando, who is also the Sports assistant minister. Mr Atwoli supported the suspension of the NHIF board and the chief executive ocer. It is the governments duty as a custodian of public funds at the NHIF to ensure that workers hard earned contributions do not end up in the pockets of a few individuals, said the Cotu boss. Reported by Peter Ngetich, Patrick Mayoyo, Dennis Odunga, Tom Matoke, Eric Wainaina, Philemon Suter, Jonathan Manyindo, Zahra Rashid, George Kikami, Samuel Karanja, Antony Kitimo, Peter Obuya, Elisha Otieno, Stella Cherono and Charles Wanyoro

A branch of Clinix Healthcare Limited, which is at the centre of the NHIF funding crisis, in Eldoret.pended Mr Kerich and the board in what he described as an attempt to restore order. This will pave the way for the appointment of a caretaker management board and conducting of investigations into the alleged malpractices at the institution, he said. Meanwhile, the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (MPDB) says some of the clinics contracted by the NHIF started operating before being licensed and registered by the board. Kindly note that information received in this oce indicates that you are using letters of acknowledgement of applications as a licence to operate some of your unlicensed facilities. Kindly stop that practice, says a letter by the MPDB chief executive Daniel Yumbya. The management of Clinix Healthcare Limited was asked to ensure that all its facilities were inspected by respective medical ocers of health and reports submitted to the board together with names and certied copies of professional certicates of doctors or clinical ocers in charge. A spot check by the Nation yesterday could not locate some of the Clinix Healthcare Limited clinics allocated millions of shillings. In Kiambu, the Nation did not nd any Clinix premises despite a list issued by NHIF showing that there are two in the town. One of them was given Sh3.26 million. Mr Joseph Kimani, a resident , said he has never heard of Clinix. In Nandi, there was no Clinix centre in the town, contrary to NHIF claims. The centre was allocated Sh521,328. In Kapsabet town, theres no Clinix Healthcare facility or Ketan Building as claimed by

JARED NYATAYA | NATION

Similar allegations have been made in other ministries and I have not seen Mr Kimemia taking over the responsibility of the ministersProf Nyongo

Never heard of Clinix

the insurer. We dont have such a building in this town and I have not come across such a hospital. I just heard about it in the news when the NHIF scandal was at its peak, said Mr Georey Kirui, a trader in the town. In Eldoret, only one clinic was operating, though records show two such facilities were allocated Sh4,07 million. The rm is refurbishing a building in Migori, while in Kisumu, the Clinix centre said to be located at Rift Valley Railways Building has moved to another building. According to the RVR Kisumu station master Dishon Omina, the centre moved two months ago to Nar-Naryan building, where it provides outpatient services. At the same time, Party of Action leader Raphael Tuju asked Prof Nyongo to come clean on the scandal. The buck denitely stops somewhere because even the board is appointed by some authority. These people should


National News 5POLITICS | Premier insists PNU is ODMs main challenger

HUNT FOR VOTES | GNU leaders hold rally

Raila says next poll a two-horse contestODM leader also denies claims that he is wooing Ruto back to the partyBY JOHN SHILITSAJOSEPH KANYI | NATION

[email protected] he next General Election will be a two-horse race between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Party of National Unity (PNU), Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said. Addressing a public rally at Bomani grounds in Mumias town, Mr Odinga rubbished other political outts as inconsequential and lacking the ability to put up a ght in the elections. Mimi ninajua vyama mbili vitakavyokutana kwa debe, hiyo ingine yote ni takataka tu (There are only two parties, all the rest are rubbish, said the PM. Mr Odinga reiterated that his party was not shaken despite the recent defection by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

GNU party Nyeri county council chairman Wachira Ken (left), chairman Mwangi Kiunjuri (centre) and secretary-general Nderitu Gachagua during a campaign rally at Karatina stadium in Mathira at the weekend.

T

He said ODM was reloaded and ready to take on PNU in the State House race and was optimistic his party would form the next government. We are like a millipede whose multiple legs allow it to keep on moving even if one is amputated, he argued. Mr Odinga also denied claims that he is wooing former Cabinet minister Wil-

Kiyiapi targets Sh360m for pollsBY NATION CORRESPONDENTPresidential hopeful Prof James Ole Kiyiapi on Friday night took his campaigns to Eldoret town as his party seeks to raise Sh360 million to fund his campaign. Speaking in Eldoret during a fundraising dinner, Prof Kiyiapi insisted that the current politicians who are seeking the presidency must declare the source of their wealth adding that most were using dirty means to ensure they get to State House next year. We must have credible leaders so that they do not use State House to enrich themselves, he said adding that he will not enter into any tribal alliance. The former PS revealed that his party, Restore and Build Kenya needs about Sh360 million for the next general election. The funds will be used for nominations and other logistics. Prof Kiyiapi said the money will be raised from party supporters. The person to be elected as the president should earn the trust and respect of all Kenyans, he added. Prof Kiyiapi challenged professionals in the country to join politics saying their inaction had allowed politicians to run the show. I understand the problems facing Kenyans as I have worked in both Health and Education ministries , he told his supporters.

We are like a millipede whose multiple legs allow it to keep on moving even if one is amputatedPM Raila Odinga

liam Ruto back to ODM. He instead accused a media house of being a propagandist in two of its headlines which claimed that his wife Ida Odinga has been visiting Mr Rutos home. In a statement sent to the Nation by his press secretary Dennis Onyango, the PM urged Kenyans to treat the stories and the anonymity of their sources, as fabricated lies that fail the test of credible journalism. In Mumias, the PM steered clear of demands by the locals to have the local MP Benjamin Washiali replace Mr Mudavadi as the Local Government minister. Since time immemorial, Mumias has never known a ag and we ask you to make Mr Washiali a minister as an appreciation to the support we have accorded you all these years, Mr Odinga was told by ODM youth leader Rashid Mohammed amid cheers. Conspicuously missing was Mr Washiali, who was said to be recuperating at a Nairobi hospital and could not make it to the rally.

Musyimi pegs win on reform credentialsBY NATION CORRESPONDENTGachoka MP Mutava Musyimi has said he will be counting on his track record as a reformist to win the presidency. The MP said he would focus on promoting reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among all communities. He said his strong credentials as a reformist gave him a good chance to clinch the presidency at the next election. Kenyans need a leader with strong credentials to promote reconciliation and unite dierent communities to co-exist peacefully, said Rev Musyimi. He said his campaigns will focus on plans to improve the economy to ensure a poor Kenyans are able to improve their livelihood. He would also address poor access to health and challenges facing the education sector. The MP, who will run on a DP party picket, urged voters to give a chance to leadership that will create opportunities for the youth by enhancing their skills through technical training. He spoke when he met DP delegates from Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and Bungoma ahead of the National Delegates conference. What Kenyans need is a leader who is competent and above reproach in terms of integrity, he said.

Listen to MRC, Karua tells StateBY NATION CORRESPONDENTNarc Kenya presidential hopeful Martha Karua has urged the government to listen to the grievances raised by the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council. Ms Karua said there was need for the government to be keen on listening and attending to the cry of its people for peace and harmony to prevail. The government must learn to listen and should not use a big stick to whip them (MRC members) away since that will not be a solution to the brewing problem, she said. She made the remarks at St Johns Pro-Cathedral Anglican Church in Voi yesterday. Ms Karua was on a twoday tour of Taita-Taveta where she opened Narc-Ks county oces in Mwatate and met delegates from the four constituencies. During her tour of the county, the Narc-K leader urged voters to consider electing leaders who are not corrupt if they are to enjoy the benets of the Constitution. She said the party strives for a corrupt-free country. Ms Karua said the corruption in the government led her to quit her Cabinet post. My conscience could not allow me to sit in a government that was riddled with mega-corruption while the rest of Kenyans languished in abject poverty, she said. She said had it not been for corruption in the government, no one would be thinking of forming an illegal group to demand a share of the national cake. Groupings like MRC are emerging because corruption has denied the Coast residents good infrastructure, employment and land, she added. Ms Karua said it would be wrong for some people in other parts of the country to feel they are not in Kenya because of underdevelopment in the areas.

INSURANCE REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Actuarial Science Scholarships For Academic Year 2012/2013The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), a state corporation with the mandate to supervise, regulate and develop the insurance industry in Kenya is offering five (5) scholarships to Kenyans interested in pursuing Actuarial Science courses at the Cass Business School, United Kingdom. The scholarship will cater for tuition, travel, accommodation, and any other incidental expenses.

1. Scholarship for Master of Science Degree in Actuarial Management/ ScienceEligible candidates must meet the following requirements: Should have obtained Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science (First Class Honours) or an equivalent Actuarial Science qualification. Should have graduated not more than five years ago. Should have obtained a mean grade of Ain the KCSE exams Should have made significant progress towards becoming Associate Members of the Institute/Faculty of Actuaries (Minimum 5 professional papers). Preliminary application forms are available and can be downloaded from the IRA website i.e. www.ira.go.ke . Completed application forms together with copies of identification, result slips/ transcripts, academic certificate, birth certificate and school leaving certificate should be sent to: The Chief Executive Officer Insurance Regulatory Authority P.O.Box 43505-00100 NAIROBI The applications should reach IRA offices not later than 18th May 2012.

Improve economy

Ms Martha Karua

6 | National NewsDEVOLUTION | Debate splits lawmakers


MPs back criteria for sharing county fundsThey say population should be crucial in the allocation of revenue for zonesBY ERICK [email protected] ive MPs yesterday supported the counties revenue sharing formula, saying it would bring development to marginalised areas. Cabinet ministers Moses Wetangula, Noah wekesa and MPs Eseli Simiyu, Bifwoli Wakoli and Cyrus Jirongo have thrown their weight behind the proposal by the revenue allocation, terming it the best for the country. The leaders supported the proposal to allocate huge funds to densely-populated areas, saying population should be the key issue to determine how much each county should get. They explained that marginalised areas will benet from the equalisation fund which is factored in the Constitution. The MPs argued that it would be hypocritical to say a county

RALLY | Ruto steps up hunt for votes

BRIEFLYKIRINYAGA

Cleric blames graft for road accidentsAn Anglican priest yesterday blamed the rise in the number of road accidents in the country on corruption. Archdeacon Samuel Kanjobe said graft was so rampant that there was no proper enforcement of trac rules. Trac ocers are being compromised by drivers and cant perform their duties as required, he told a congregation at St Emmanuel Mutira Anglican Church in Kirinyaga.

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They are the same ones opposing revenue allocation formula. This is hypocriticalKimilili MP, Eseli Simiyu

with more than 1.6 million people like Bungoma should get equal funds with Lamu which has about 70,000 people. They added that counties from western should be allocated more funds because they are densely-populated. Dr Simiyu said colleagues opposed to the proposed formula are the same ones who

rejected the splitting of counties with a large population into more counties. They opposed us when we were pushing for counties like Bungoma to be split. They are the same ones opposing revenue allocation formula. This is hypocritical, said Dr Simiyu. The Kimilili MP said the only issue to be looked at should be census gures. The legislators were speaking at the burial of former Nzoia county council chairman Samson Bunyasi in Kimilili over the weekend. A group of MPs: Danson Mungatana (Garsen), Adan Duale (Dujis), Abdul Bahari (Isiolo South) and Chachu Ganya of North Horr, have indicated they will lobby their colleagues to reject the formula in Parliament. The lawmakers say the proposals deny marginalised areas enough resources. Last week, seven MPs rejected the criteria used by the CRA to allocate funds to the 47 counties and vowed to shoot down the formula that will see the ve biggest counties pocket the bulk of the funds set aside for devolved governments.

NAIROBI

French envoy advises Kenya on run-o pollThe Kenyan electorate needs to be prepared adequately for a run-o in the next General Election, French ambassador to Kenya Etienne de Poncins said in Nairobi yesterday. Mr Poncins said from the experience of his countrys elections that went to a run-o yesterday, a lot of planning and preparation is required if credible results are to be achieved.

United Republican Party presidential candidate William Ruto joins supporters in dancing to Taarab music before addressing them at the Likoni Primary School grounds yesterday.

GIDEON MAUNDU | NATION

KISUMU

Man killed as car ploughs into tractorA man died while another suffered a broken hand when the car they were travelling in ploughed into a tractor yesterday. An eyewitness said the driver of the car was trying to avoid tractors that were overtaking each other near Mwitoti trading centre on the Kakamega-Bungoma road when the accident happened. The tractors did not have lights, said the witness.

PUBLIC NOTICETHE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT NO. 11 OF 2011

Shaban seeks more support for orphansBY NATION REPORTERHIV/Aids remains the major cause of orphans in the country, Gender, Children and Social Development minister Naomi Shaban has said. The disease is followed closely by poverty and modernisation, which the minister added had increased the number of orphans. As Kenya today joins the globe in marking World Orphans Day, the government has warned individuals and organisations that work with orphans and vulnerable children against mistreating this group. Those running orphanages should also operate within the existing guidelines. The government will not tolerate piecemeal support to orphans or initiatives that benet only a selected few, Dr Shaban (pictured) said in a press statement to mark the globally recognised day. This years theme is Strengthening networking to promote participation of orphans in development processes. It aims to raise awareness and advocate for the needs of the group. It is estimated that there are 2.5 million orphans in Kenya, most of whom are children living in poor households headed by elderly care givers and other younglings. The government has set up a cash transfer programme to build the capacity of poor households to take care of orphans and vulnerable children. The programme is currently being implemented in some selected locations and covers 130,000 households in 47 counties across the country.

NOTICE OF FULL REGISTRATION OF A POLITICAL PARTYIN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Section 5 (4) of the Political Parties Act, 2011, the Registrar of Political Parties gives notice that the following parties have applied for full registration under section 7 of the Political Parties Act, 2011 with their symbols and colours as tabulated below:1. 2. 3. 4. SYMBOLS An African Traditional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Banjo New Democrats Bridge A milk can with two United Democratic Movement (UDM) Large Kudu horns Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) Shark An Egg Crocodile A train PARTY COLOURS Pale, Orange, White and Royal Blue Red, White & Blue Blue, White, Yellow and Green Navy Blue, Green & White Sky Blue, Yellow & Gold with red highlights Black, Green, Red, White strip & Brown Blue, Green, Red and Black

NAIROBI

UN ocial to visit S.Sudan over rightsA high-ranking United Nations ocial is set to visit South Sudan tomorrow over protection of civilians. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will be in the country until May 12. She will discuss issues relating to the protection of civilians amid the violence that periodically ares up between Sudan and South Sudan. During her mission, Ms Pillay will meet President Salva Kiir Mayardit, other ocials and civil society groups.

5. Unity Party of Kenya (UPK) 6. Party of Democratic Unity (PDU) 7. Sisi Kwa Sisi

SIAYA

Any person or any other political party with objections to the registration of the names, symbols or colours of the above parties or any other issue relating to the registration of the political parties shall within 7 days make their written submissions to the Registrar of Political Parties. For further information, please contact: Office of the Registrar of Political Parties P.O. Box 45371 00100 Nairobi Anniversary Towers, 21st Floor (8.00am to 5.00pm Weekdays) Dated the 27th of April, 2012. LUCY K. NDUNGU (Mrs) Registrar of Political Parties

Years theme

Mob beats up and kills suspected thiefA 38-year-old suspected thief was yesterday beaten up and burnt to death by a mob in Siaya. Mr Evans Otieno is alleged to have attempted to steal from a house on Saturday night but the owner raised the alarm. Those who responded to the distress call beat Mr Otieno before setting him ablaze. Siaya police boss Stephen Cheteka conrmed the incident and warned the public against taking the law into their own hands.

2.5m

The number of orphans living in Kenya, most in poor households


7

8 | National NewsEDUCATION | PS says the funds will be released later


Cash hitch hits free learning programmeSchools are yet to receive money from government at a time they are opening for the second termBY BENJAMIN [email protected] chools countrywide open for their second term this year with no funds to run the free learning programme. Education Permanent Secretary George Godia said the money will be released later in the term. What is important to note here is that free learning programmes are ring-fenced in the budget and denitely the government will ultimately release the money to schools, said Prof Godia. A part of the funds, he said, have been factored in the recently revised government budgetary estimates presented to Parliament a week ago. This may also delay the FIGURES

BOOM | Cold snap boosts sales

BRIEFLYNANDI

Nine arrested over links to terror groupNine suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists from Somalia have been arrested while trying to enter the country through Uganda, police said yesterday. Police said they were also pursing other Somali foreigners. The arrested suspects ew from Mogadishu and landed at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda before entering Kenya through the Busia border, Nandi Central OCPD Nelson Okioga said. Police intercepted them at a road block on the Kapsabet-Chavakali-Kakamega high way.

Taskforce wants allocation raisedA taskforce re-aligning education with the Constitution suggested that the Sh1,020 per child in primary schools be raised to Sh7,781. It also proposed the Sh10,265 for each secondary school student be raised to Sh58,585. Prof Godia (below) said the government was studying the report.

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processing of the funds from the Treasury, he added. Already, schools across the country have complained about the delay, saying it inconvenienced their operations as supplies needed to be bought before the start of the term.

Prof Godia, however, said that the Ministry of Education was not the cause of the delay, adding that they will relay the money to schools as soon as the Treasury releases it. He remained non-committal on when the government would increase the amount allocated to individual learners in light of ination and high cost of living. The learners are allocated Sh1,020 and Sh10,265 each in primary and secondary schools respectively under the programme. Free Primary Education (FPE) and Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) have been hampered by non-remittance of funds to schools on time due to budgetary arrangements of the governments nancial year. The Sh1,020 for FPE was instituted in 2003 and has not been increased to keep pace with ination and cost of living, and so is the Sh10,265 for the FDSE that was started in 2008. Consequently, schools have resorted to charging parents for a range of activities, including supplementary assessment exams, additional tuition and development levies.

LAIKIPIA

Teachers ask TSC to stop hiring directorsTeachers have asked their employer to stop the recruitment of county directors of education until a Bill is passed. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Laikipia branch executive ocer Wangenye Ndungu said the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Bill 2012 should be passed before the hiring starts. He threatened to stop the hiring process in court if TSC goes ahead with the plan before the Bill is passed. The union also wants TSC commissioners who have retired to be replaced with new ocials.

Residents of Kakamega town shopping for second hand jackets on the streets. The biting cold has led to rising demand for warm clothing.

ISAAC WALE | NATION


National News 9

LIFESTYLE | The city is enjoying its new-found peace and recently held the rst bicycle race in 20 years

Somalia rushes to make up for lost timeNow that normalcy is returning, Mogadishu looks set to have the worlds most unusual energy and water sectorsBY CHARLES [email protected] s the samosa the devils food? Is the stu inside it kosher? Is its triangle shape Zionist? These are unusual questions to ask about the humble samosa, but the Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia did. Their verdict was that there was something suspiciously indel about the samosa, so this worldwide favourite and age-old snack was banned in the areas under their control. In most of the Somali capital Mogadishu, there was no samosa on sale. Now that all the 16 districts of Mogadishu are under the control of the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM, the samosa is back. We were driving by a thriving market in Mogadishu when a Kenyan consultant with AMISOM told me the story of the close call the samosa had. Its comeback has been bold. At the corner of the market I saw a vendor sitting behind the largest piles of samosa and mandazi I have ever seen. They basked in their glittering brown majesty under Mogadishus unforgiving sun. It was another example of the fascinating tales of Mogadishu and Somalia. In the night, there are quite many places that are lit. However, we all know that there is nothing like KenGen or Kenya Power in Somalia. Trust the Somali, they have come up with a new energy and utilities model. Every street or neighbourhood in Mogadishu has a wealthy and shrewd businessman who has a generator and/or a massive underground water tank, who supplies anything between 20 to 50 homes and establishments near him. That close proximity means you can literarily shout over the fence to your electricity provider if your power is o. Because of this proximity, customer care is intimate and excellent. I gather these electricity suppliers provide a service that is several times better than the big utility companies anywhere else in East Africa. Now that things are beginning to normalise in Mogadishu, I was told the government is holding talks with dozens of these mini water and electricity providers for a publicprivate partnership to provide the services. Somalia looks set to have the worlds most unusual energy and water sectors. But will Somalia ever normalise enough for this experiment to happen? At a minimum, the Al-Shabaab would rst have to be totally defeated. One cannot be sure that all the pronouncements about the militants being on the run are not borne out of hope, rather than reality. One man who thinks Al-Shabaab is in its dying stages is AMISOMs Col Kayanja Muhanga. Col. Muhanga heads a battle group of the Uganda troops in AMISOM based at the once fabulous but now bullet-riddled Mogadishu Stadium. He explained that part of the Al-Shabaabs strength used to be its technical competence at bomb making, battleeld tactics, and such things. A lot of that was provided by nearly 600 foreigners Americans, Britons, Kenyans, Ugandans, Nigerians, Afghanis, Iraqis, and Pakistanis in its ranks. Most of these had either ed, been killed, or captured, he said. The most objective measure of the Al Shabaabs decline, he oered, was that since the beginning of the year there had been 15 premature bombs that killed suicide bombers before they got to their targets. The old Shabaab, he said, wouldnt have been that sloppy. I thought he had

I

Mogadishu residents have returned to the beaches with renewed passion. And unlike in the past when women were barred from swimming in the ocean by Al-Shabaab, today they frolic in the waters in designer burkhinis.a point. He should know. In the stadium there is a giant thick metal plate. It is the kind of metal used to build the bodies of the casspir armoured cars and the tanks AMISOM uses in Mogadishu. The Shabaab used it to test the most effective bullets at piercing through the casspirs and tanks. There are a couple of bullets that had made clean holes through the thick metal plate. These Shabaab chaps were not boy scouts. Meanwhile, the city is enjoying its newfound peace. A few weeks ago, it had its rst bicycle race in 20 years. Mogadishuans have also returned to the beaches, the rst time they have been able to do so in 10 years. The men are free to frolic in the water in shorts and bare chest. Not so the womenthis is not Mombasa. Because of strict dress code, the women have to cover their hair and upper body parts, but the younger ones are permitted to wear knee-high leggings. Apparently in the Middle Eastern countries where there are similar dress rules, some clever designers have developed some elegant beach wear for women that the mullahs and sheikhs approve of. I was told it is called the burkini (a combination of burka and bikini). The best measure of sentiment in places like Mogadishu, of course, is not from the soldiers or politicians, but businessmen. I spoke to a Somali working with an international NGO, who doubles as a real estate developer and land speculator. He told me that properties that were selling for $50,000 (Sh4.1 million) a year ago in Mogadishu are now going for $500,000 (Sh41 million)ten times higher. It was getting dicult to nd good land to buy in Mogadishu, he mourned. However, opportunities had opened further aeld. There was a rush for land in Baidoa, which was captured by the Ethiopians in February, and is now being taken over by Uganda

FAISAL ISSE | XINHUA

Ingenuous power suppliers

70

contingent. He had bought 10 acres there recently, he told me with a satised grin. Business is booming at Mogadishu seaport too. About 70 ships and big boats dock at the port every month. The buildings at the port were hollowed out over the years of war. The port authority has rebuilt them. However, it still doesnt have money to buy the expensive loading equipment and cranes. Where then did all the loading equipment at the port come from, we ask a port ocial. From Somali businessmen, he said. Where did they get them from? we asked. Oh, some of it was looted from the port during the wars. We are happy to hire them back from them, he said, it is more important to keep the peace. Indeed. twitter@cobbo3 Related story Page 18

The estimated number of vessels docking at Mogadishu port monthly

10 |


COUNTY NEWSRESETTLEMENT | Minister gave out cash to those displaced by the 2008 poll chaos

ATHLETE WANJIRUS PATHOLOGIST SPEAKS OUT Njue denies accusations by Wanjirus mother he withheld postmortem results. P. 16

BRIEFLYNAKURU

Showdown looms as IDPs accuse ocers of blocking payment planOcials says some were paid and the names submitted were not genuineBY HENRY [email protected] ore than 1,000 internally displaced persons who were not compensated by the government have accused the provincial administration of blocking their inclusion in the payment plan. The IDPs, who are from Nyamira South district, were not among those who beneted from the Sh55m distributed by Special Programmes minister Esther Mirugi at Gusii stadium recently. It has now emerged that out of IDPs from the 13 districts in the region, only those from Nyamira South were left out of the plan. The funds were paid to integrated persons who were uprooted from their homes during the 2008 post-election skirmishes. IDPs blame the provincial administration for the exclusion but administrators deny the allegations. A showdown is looming tomorrow when the aected IDPs meet Nyamira DC Esther Lukwei. Speaking on behalf of West Mugirango MP James Gesami, his constituency manager Jared Nyagwoka blamed the DC for the IDPs predicament. She did not assist them to get

Teachers to pray for peaceful electionsHundreds of teachers will converge in Nakuru town on Friday to pray for peaceful elections. According to the Kenya Union of Post primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Nakuru branch ocials the prayers will be preceeded by a peaceful procession in town. During the post-election violence we lost so many of our members and as we approach the elections we want tp pray that we have a peaceful elections, said Kuppet branct executive ocer Gakau Mbugua.

M

MOMBASA

MPs discuss Bills to set up major agencyThe government will set up one agriculture agency to regulate the sector in a move that will also do away with many parastatals. The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture John Muthutho said the Agriculture, Livestock and Food Authority (ALFA) will have powers to arrest those contravening the sectors laws. Mr Mututho was speaking in Mombasa during a meeting to discuss a Bill setting up the body.

Integrated IDPs wait outside the Nakuru Law Courts in February during a hearing of their case. Those in Nyamira South have accused the provincial administration of not submitting their names for compensation.the money like the other DCs did, he said. Nyamira IDPs coordinator Joseph Onduko also accused the DC of failing to submit a list of their names. Unlike other DCs, she adamantly declined to accept a list of IDPs we submitted to her despite being asked to do so by Special Programmes Permanent Secretary, Mr Onduko said. He accused Ms Lukwei of failing to attend a meeting the PS convened for DCs in Kisii town where the administrators were asked to submit names of IDPs who had not been compensated . Since I attended the meeting , I submitted names of the would-be beneciaries to ve DCs in the region as required but I was surprised when the Nyamira DC refused to accept a list we presented to her, Mr Onduko said. But Ms Lukwei defended herself from the allegations saying the issue was being handled by her Nyamira North counterpart

FILE | NATION

REASONS

Why the displaced are annoyed with DCsList not given on time : The IDPs say that a list containing the names of integrated IDPs was supposed to be handed to the Special Programmes ministry but the DC rejected the names Failure to attend meeting: They accuse her of failing to attend a meeting the PS convened for DCs in Kisii town where the administrators were asked to submit names of IDPs who had not been compensated. Administrators defence: They say some were compensated and have called for a meeting tomorrow to discuss the issues.

Thomas Sakah. The DC explained that she rejected a list of IDPs presented to her because she was not sure whether they were genuine. Another group had also been paid by her predecessor. The issue of IDPs is very sensitive and that is why I left it to the Nyamira North DC because this is where the IDP camp was located. Her sentiments were shared by Eastern Nyanza PC Lydia Muriuki who said IDPs from Nyamira district were under the jurisdiction of the Nyamira North DC. However, Ms Muriuki asked the IDPs left out of the compensation to meet their DC for further direction. That meeting is slated for tomorrow.

EMBU

High school dropout rate blamed on graftPublic Works assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri has blamed corruption for the rising cost of living and high school dropout rate. Mr Kiunjuri, who is also the leader of the Grand National Union, said successive leadership tolerated corruption, making it hard to wipe out the problem. Speaking at Nembure market in Embu County where he attended a birthday party for the Embu County women representative aspirant, Ms Mary Marigu, Mr Kiunjuri said the stolen cash was enough to oer free education and lower the cost of living.

NYERI

Freighters want members included in KPA boardBY NATION CORRESPONDENTMombasaExperts in cargo logistics want professionals appointed to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) board for better operations at the Mombasa Port. The Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (Kifwa) said appointments to the board were handled unprofessionally, leading to poor management of the port. You do not expect the port to be run efficiently if the board does not have professionals from the shipping industry. The managing director and other port managers, who are members of the board need support from people from the industry who will give them ideas on how to manage the facility, said Kifwa national chairman Hezron Awiti. The appointment of new directors in the KPA board has divided leaders and residents at the coast.. Fisheries minister Amason Kingi and Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu said the Mijikenda people were not represented in the board and threatened to mobilise coast residents in rejecting new appointees. However, other leaders noted that the region was more than represented in the KPA board with three appointees coming from the coast. According to Mr Awiti, lack of fresh ideas in the running of the port was to blame for the challenges it was facing, including constant congestion of cargo. There is no way you will appoint friends and cronies into the board of such a facility that depends on technical support from the industry players and expect good results. We are appealing to the minister to involve experts in the running of Mombasa Port, he said at the weekend.

Education of women key to family stabilityEducating women will help save families from disintegration as they will be in a position to fend for their children better, Kenyan Ambassador to Somalia Yvonne Khamati has said. Speaking Othaya yesterday, Ms Khamati said the family would be safer if women are given a chance to provide for members, instead of relying on men. She noted that alcoholism among the youth could be tackled if their mothers gave them resources with which to become economically active.


County News 11DIVINE | Praying for peaceful polls

DANGER LURKS | Geologists raise the alarm

Families yet to move after volcano warningPS ordered villagers living at the foot of mountain to leave for safer areas over fears of eruptionBY MUCHEMI WACHIRA AND JOYCE [email protected] [email protected] ologist who teaches at the University of Nairobi, said the rains are only deepening the trench, which started developing from a crack. His colleague, Dr Daniel Olago, said that the rains might be the cause of the trench but

Couple to be arrested over jabsBY NATION CORRESPONDENTEmbuAn administrator has ordered the arrest of a couple that declined to have their children vaccinated because it goes against the parents religious beliefs. Embu West district commissioner Maalim Mohammed said vaccination was a basic children right and ordered chiefs in the district to ensure every child received the jabs. Mr Mohammed said the Kabonokia sect had dealt a blow to access of health care especially among children. He said the sects members alleged that the vaccine were laced with family planning ingredients. He was speaking at Kithiimu health centre over the weekend when he launched the districts Malezi Bora vaccination campaign. Some members of the group are spreading rumours that the vaccine are meant for family planning. Although we have freedom of worship, we will not tolerate some retrogressive religious beliefs, he warned. Mr Mohammed said vaccination rates in the district had improved from 74 per cent to 82 per cent. He attributed the increase to chiefs who were ordered to intervene when parents declined to have their children immunized.

500

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amilies living at the foot of Mount Longonot are yet to leave the area despite warnings of a volcanic eruption by geologists. Special Programmes permanent secretary Andrew Mondo last week directed the 500 families to move following formation of a deep trench, which some geologists say is due to pressure from magma trying to force its way out. The experts warned that a serious volcanic eruption could occur, causing extreme damage in areas around Naivasha where the mountain is located. But government officials who visited the area led by Mr Mondo insisted that the gully was due to heavy rains pounding Naivasha and Mai Mahiu. The PS, however, directed the Naivasha district disaster management team to start evacuating the families to safer areas. Dr Charles Gichaba, a ge-

Number of families directed by PS to move from their homes at the foot of Mount Longonot

Imaging of Kenyas Mount Longonot suggests it is being pushed up by magma signalling a possible eruption. Envisat showed a 9cm uplift over two years in the volcano, which was previously thought dormantFinancial Times, April 14

he did not rule out volcanic eruption, adding that further research must be carried out before making conclusions. Possibility of a volcanic eruption at Mount Longonot was rst reported in the Financial Times, a UK business newspaper, on April 14. Imaging of Kenyas Mount Longonot suggests it is being pushed up by magma signalling a possible eruption, the paper reported. It went further to say: A recent review of InSAR technology in the journal Science gave Mount Longonot, Kenya, as an example. Radar data from Envisat showed a 9cm uplift over two years in the volcano, which was previously thought dormant.

Measure accurately

Breast feeding

InSAR technology uses images acquired from airborne radar systems to measure accurately the topography of the ground surface and its changes with time. Mr Mondo had announced that geologists would move to the mountain to start analysing possibilities of a volcanic eruption. Naivasha district commissioner Helen Kiilu said geologists were expected to visit the area today. Ms Kiilu visited the place on Friday to distribute relief food supplies and tents to the affected families, which she said would be moved later.

A man sells crucixes at the Subukia Shrine in Nakuru County at the weekend. Pilgrims from various denominations converged for prayers for a peaceful election at the site where they urged leaders to refrain from tribal politics.


Union urges ministry to harmonise tuition feesBY NATION CORRESPONDENTNandiThe government has been asked to harmonise fees in public secondary schools to protect parents from exploitation. The Kenya Union Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) national vice-chairman Julius Korir warned schools against increasing tuition fees, saying it would subject parents to a lot of hardship. Mr Korir also asked the government to increase funds allocated to each student for free education because of the high cost of living. Kuppet wants the government to harmonise school fees in all public secondary schools and ensure parents are not exploited. Funds allocated to every student for free education should also be doubled due to high cost of living, he said at the weekend. He noted that most parents had more than two students in schools and were unable to make ends meet. The union, Mr Korir added, wants the Education ministry to send funds to schools without delay. He protested that increasing the school term to 16 weeks was torturing students. Speaking to the Nation on phone, Mr Korir said a lot of resources meant for education was misused through corruption. At the same time, secondary school heads in Nandi County said they have not received circulars asking them to increase school fees. The principal of Kapsabet Boys, Mr Kipchumba Maiyo, assured parents that the school had not increased its fees. Twelve other school heads interviewed also said they had not received any notice for fee increment as schools re-open for the second term. PHYSICAL PLANNING ACT (CAP 286)

WATERFORD KAMHLABAUnited World College of Southern AfricaA leading African school since 1963, situated in Mbabane, Swaziland

Entrance Testing for 20139am, Saturday 19th May 2012, Pan Afric Hotel - NairobiApplications are welcomed for entry to all courses but particularly to Forms 1 and 2 and the IB. WK IB Diploma Class of 2011 Waterford had another bumper year in terms of University entrance and scholarships. Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, Brown and Dartmouth all made offers with scholarship, together with the top universities in Canada, including UBC, McGill and Trent. We also have graduates going to top ten universities in the UK including London and Edinburgh and the leading universities in South Africa including UCT, WITS and Rhodes. Please see our website for the full list of our 116 graduates who already have multiple university offers and scholarships. Entrance test fee = $US 30 Please bring a copy of your most recent school report and transcript together with a fully completed application form which is downloadable from our website www.waterford.sz Please contact the school at [email protected] if you require further information PO Box 52 Tel +268 4220866/7/8 Mbabane Fax +268 4220088 Kingdom of Swaziland Cell +268 6021566 Web www.waterford.sz Email [email protected]

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO PLAN WAJIR INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2012-2032).Notice is hereby given to all residents and stakeholders of Wajir Township and its environs, that in pursuant of the Physical Planning Act Cap 286, and the Local Government Act Cap 265, the County Council of Wajir, with support/funding from the Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands and in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning Department, intend to prepare an Integrated Strategic Development Plan that will guide the growth of Wajir Town and its environs for a period of 20 years. The plan will cover approximately 78km2. This will include the Wajir Township and its environs. The purpose of the plan is to prepare a framework that will promote integrated socio economic development of the town and its surrounding area. The plan will endeavor to organize and allocate sufficient space for all land uses. The plan preparation will be participatory. We are pleased to invite all stakeholders to the planning process. Stakeholders who wish to make comments or suggestions on the same may do so in writing within 30 days of publication of this notice. Comments or views should be addressed to: I.M. Muhamud The County Clerk, County Council of Wajir, P.O Box 9, Wajir. Dated: 7th day of May 2012.

Circulars not received

12 | Opinion


Why raging oods are killing Kenyanshe rains have led to loss of lives and destruction of vast amounts of property, as well as leaving thousands homeless in almost all parts of the country. According to the weatherman, Kenyans may have to endure another two to three weeks of the rains before season ends. The deaths and destruction have not come as a surprise since it has become a ritual that whenever the rains come, they must be accompanied by such losses. The ritual starts with a warning from the weatherman followed by an assurance of government preparedness and then catastrophe strikes, season after season. This years long rains season started late and the precipitation has intensied for only a few weeks, but the weatherman continues forecasting that the volume will be generally low. The increasing levels of destruction irrespective of the volume and intensity of the rain points to the increasing rate of environmental destruction. The unprecedented ooding in Nairobi and other towns in recent weeks points to clogged and blocked waterways. Also, the construction boom in the city has totally ignored building regulations, with whole waterways either being blocked or diverted, creating no room for runo. Deforestation remains a contributory factor to the intensity of ooding. So does the increased volume of infrastructure development mainly nanced by Constituency Development Fund cash that has left yawning quarries all over the country. It is time the National Environment Management Agency took rm action against all those responsible for killing fellow Kenyans and destroying their property.

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ITS SWEAT, STUPID! | Rasna warah

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Cricket: Priorities wrong

he hiring of a foreign national, Robin Brown of Zimbabwe, as head of elite development has raised eyebrows. The decision to engage the former Zimbabwean international comes at a time when Cricket Kenya chief executive ocer Tom Sears is preparing to leave for another job in Ireland. It is also a time when there is an election in the ong to replace Samir Inamdar. Many people feel that Cricket Kenya should have waited for a new team to come into oce before engaging an elite development ocer. The new oce-bearers should have been the ones to come up with ways of streamlining the games growth. There is a general feeling that former players have been ignored as far as coaching and development of the game is concerned. Three foreign coaches, Roger Harper (West Indies), Eldine Bapstite (West Indies) and Mike Hesson (New Zeland), have in turn handled the national team but without much success. Martin Suji, who is currently shaping up cricket in Uganda, former internationals Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo are some of the personalities that Cricket Kenya has ignored, yet they have the capacity to shape the local game.A PUBLICATION OF NATION MEDIA GROUPLINUS GITAHI: Chief Executive Ocer JOSEPH ODINDO: Editorial Director MUTUMA MATHIU: Managing Editor Published at Nation Centre, Kimathi Street and printed at Mombasa Road, Nairobi by Nation Media Group Limited POB 49010, Nairobi 00100 Tel: 3288000, 0719038000. Fax 221396 [email protected] Registered at the GPO as a newspaper

he prospect of Kenyan athletes winning most of the long-distance races at the Olympics this year has generated discussion about whether Kenyans in particular, the Kalenjin are genetically predisposed to running. The latest of these discussions appeared in The Atlantic last month, where associate editor Max Fisher made an elaborate but unconvincing claim that supported earlier research by the Danish Sports Science Institute that concluded that Kalenjins must have an inborn, physical, genetic advantage. He cites the researchers who noticed that Kalenjins had a higher number of red blood cells (which, as any medic will tell you, is normal in people who live in high-altitude environments) and that their bird-like legs made their running less energy-intensive and give their stride exceptional eciency. Fisher admits that his assertions may be misconstrued because racial politics can make the genetics of African athleticism dicult to talk about in the West. However, he fails to convince the reader that his analysis is not based on the idea that biology is destiny an assertion that has been used for centuries to keep

Training and discipline (not genes) the reason for our athletes success Tlesser races in their place. After all, no one would dare do a gene-based analysis to determine why Jews dominate the media and entertainment industries in the US or why Indian and Chinese children do so well in science (though the latter studies have been attempted, but never quite succeeded, in convincing people that Indian and Chinese brains are dierent from the rest of the worlds people). Fisher just cannot fathom why this medium-sized country of 41 million dominates the world in competitive running or why 20 of the 25 rstplace men in the Boston Marathon have been from Kenya and why of the top 25 male record-holders for the 3,000-metre steeplechase race, 18 are Kenyan. Kenyan writer Jackie Lebo who also happens to be a Kalenjin provides an explanation. Lebo spent a lot of time studying a top training camp in Iten where she discovered that Kenyas most successful runners dont just wake up one morning and decide to run a marathon, but that they undergo vigorous and intense training that can be all-consuming. Kenyas marathon runners dont owe their success to their bird-like legs, but to their sheer hard work, discipline and dedication. In a recent article titled Running, Lebo writes that the typical day for a runner begins at 5.30 am, when the athletes run for about an hour, followed by breakfast, and then more training. At 9.30 or 10, they have dayspecic training for six days of the week. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, an easy to moderate run. Tuesdays, speed-work at Kamariny track, Thursdays are alternated between hill-work and Fartlek training and Saturday, a long run of 30 to 40 kilometres, where they reach as far as Moiben. Sunday is the only day of rest, with most of the trainees going to church and the family men leaving, perhaps once a month, to visit wives and children in other towns. Betty WamalwaMuragori, who was a tennis champion in her youth, says that it is socialisation

No one would do a gene-based analysis to determine why Jews dominate the media and entertainment in the US

and the presence of good role models within the community not genetics that determine athletic success. She told me that in the days when she played tennis, 90 per cent of the team were Luhya like her. It turned out that many of the team members parents knew each other and tended to imitate each other, including sending their children for tennis training. The children soon learnt about the nancial and social benets of winning and competed even harder. Now if they had measured the length of our limbs, what would they have found? she quipped. Many of Kenyas winning runners come from humble and similar backgrounds. They see their fellow villagers coming home with big prizes and they want to be like them. So they train very hard to achieve similar success. Potential athletes in other parts of the country see that running can be a way out of poverty and they begin training and winning. That is what brought success to non-Kalenjins such as the late Sammy Wanjiru and John Ngugi. Interestingly, most of the winners have ordinary legs that dont look anything like a birds. [email protected]


Opinion 13 THE CUTTING EDGEBY THE WATCHMANNARY A DROP TO DRINK. The rains pounding Nairobi have become a nightmare for motorists due to the heavy trac jams they have had to endure daily on most roads. And Fred Kiige says Kindaruma, Ndakaini and Sasamua dams are about to burst their banks. It is, therefore, quite ironical, he adds, that the city water company is unable to supply water to the residents of Mara Savannah estate in the Eastlands, whose taps have remained dry for a long time.ACT ON SCRAP TRADE. The scrap metal scourge is fast becoming a deadly plague that calls for urgent drastic measures, warns Nakuru resident Ray Cook. Because no action has been taken by the authorities since the guard rails at the General Motors bridge on Mombasa Road, Nairobi, were ripped o by vandals three months ago, private property is now being looted and sold as scrap. The vandalising of public facilities is continuing. The rails on the bridge at Gilgil have also been stole. Isnt anybody in the government concerned about this? he asks. REMOVE BODA BODA. Trac police in Mombasa are not enforcing the obstruction rule, laments T. Tadal. As a result, he adds, even the roads leading to hospitals and schools are clogged with boda boda motorcyclists and Tuk Tuks. Apparently anybody can become a rider with no training on the Highway Code. Who will bring back sanity on our roads? asks Tadal. Unless decisive action is taken now, people needing emergency access to hospitals will be exposed to danger, he warns. APS DOING WELL. Administration Police ocers at Kayole North in Nairobis Eastlands deserve kudos, says Amos Kilonzo, delighted at the zeal with which they investigated a mobile phone robbery case and nailed the culprit. On April 28, at about midday, somebody snatched his sons phone and the family immediately reported the incident to the AP Camp. Within three days, they had arrested the suspect and recovered the phone, says Amos, adding that the ocer in charge should be proud of his juniors. ITS YOUR PHONE. Paul W. Kiharas loss of airtime credit every time he switches on his phone might not have anything to do with service provider Airtel, says Tony Law, adding that he could just have bought a stolen Samsung handset. Samsungs mobile tracker surreptitiously sends two SMSes every time the phone is loaded with a strange SIM card. If his phone is a Samsung, Mr Kihara should check and conrm whether the phone was previously owned by another person. Or has he recently acquired a new number not recognised by this handset? Tony asks.

LETS WOO THEM | Richard M. Onyonka

For the sake of Kenyas development, we must invest more in the diaspora Irecently participated in a meeting organised by members of the Kenyan diaspora in the United States to discuss the ways in which they can participate in Kenyas political and economic agenda. This meeting held at Boston University, brought together Kenyans living in the entire North American region. The discussions were candid, intellectual and very educative, and I wished many of my colleagues in Parliament could have been present. The most touted reason for paying attention to the diaspora is economic. The Central Bank says remittances from North America rose by 18.2 per cent from $44.02 million in January this year to $52.02 million in February, and those from Europe increased by 20 per cent from $24.39 million to $29.27 million over the same period. I have heard many accounts about misuse of money sent by Kenyans in the diaspora to relatives for investment. Research shows that the benets of remittances for economic development would be limited without deliberate policy measures to channel them to priority areas. The Central Bank has set up infrastructure bond to tap into savings from the diaspora. It is the rst time that we have developed a formal tool to is absolutely important for economic development. There is also merit in considering the positive contribution of the diaspora to tourism and trade. Kenyans living abroad are our best ambassadors. They can encourage friends, co-workers and families to visit Kenya. We cannot underestimate the role of the diaspora in political change. We remember the contribution of the various diaspora organisations in the 1990s in pushing for political reforms and multiparty politics. Leaders who escaped the repressive single party system nurtured some of our prominent civil society organisations. It is, therefore, imperative that as we prepare for elections, we do more to ensure that this important segment of our society has a voice in dening our political destiny. Kenyans abroad have over the years fought hard for dual citizenship and the right to have overseas voting enshrined in the Constitution. The decision to have the diaspora participate in the presidential vote is the rst step in the right direction. More needs to be done to ensure they are not disenfranchised. The IEBC must listen to their concerns in designating

Kenyans abroad should be given a chance to vote tooattract diaspora investment. Investment companies should oer nancial packages and information so that the remittances are put to good use. But there are many more reasons, beyond remittances, why we need to do more to court the Kenyan diaspora. In these countries, there are highly intelligent and successful Kenyans. The skills they have acquired in their adopted homelands are vital for any countrys economy. Indian citizens in the Silicon Valley have invigorated technological advancements in their motherland. Studies by the Asian Development Bank show that Indians living abroad started 19 out of the 20 software companies in India. Technology transfer

polling centres in all regions with a critical numbers of Kenyans. Limiting polling to only embassies and High Commissions in vast regions such as North America and Europe is unreasonable. While we relish the almost billion-dollar contribution to the GDP, it is equally crucial that we take measures to address the welfare of Kenyans living abroad. They have already established several associations to address this. It is time to consider a dedicated institution that deals with diaspora aairs and link up with these several organisations. One may argue that the Ministry of Foreign Aairs and its diplomatic missions are already doing this. However, the diasporas contribution is multi-faceted and we are not doing enough. It spans sectors such as technology, nance, culture, tourism, education, health and more. Many governments with a large diaspora have dedicated ministries dealing with its citizens abroad. This will not only ensure that their views are incorporated in policy-making, but also that there will be representation in all the key sectors. Mr Onyonka is the assistant minister for Foreign Aairs and MP for Kitutu Chache. ([email protected]).

BIRTHRIGHT | Suba Churchill

Dual citizenship a boon to Kenyans abroadhe recent announcement by Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang that dual citizenship is now tenable is bound to open enormous opportunities for Kenyans. The old Constitution outlawed dual citizenship and required that any Kenyan citizen who wants to acquire the citizenship of another rst renounce their Kenyan citizenship. Indeed, many Kenyans secretly held two passports lest they incur the wrath of the law. With the enactment of the Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, these Kenyans can now emerge from their hiding and lay claim to Kenyan citizenship in addition to being citizens of another country. There are about three million Kenyans in the diaspora, with the United States and the UK hosting the largest numbers at 600, 000 and 300, 000 respectively. The majority of Kenyans in these two countries went to pursue tertiary education but some who have since completed their courses have found wellpaying jobs or engaged in businesses that earn them good returns. Others are in America on account of having won the Green Card and are entitled to live and work in America and even acquire citizenship after some time. Apart from those pursuing studies, Kenyans are also known to be enterprising. The number of Kenyans

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Many a Kenyan parent who had their children while living in the US faced the dilemma of what national identity to bequeath themliving abroad as evangelists is only second to Nigerians. With dwindling numbers of believers in the West, Kenyan evangelists are not being left behind in what appears to be a global concern to save the originators of Christianity from hell. The boon did not come on a silver platter. At the National Constitutional Conference held at the Bomas of Kenya between 2003 and 2004, Kenyans in the diaspora sent a powerful delegation of lobbyists to convince the majority of delegates to accept dual citizenship. The concern of the delegates at the time was the possibility that the opportunity could be abused by criminals to compromise the national security. But when it nally dawned upon them that the majority of well-meaning Kenyans stood to benet, the proposal was removed from the list of contentious issues and adopted with near unanimity.

Also set to benet are Kenyans married to non-nationals. Previously, only male Kenyans could confer citizenship to foreign spouses. The female counterpart remained discriminated against on matters of cross-border marriages as their male spouses had no automatic entitlement to Kenyan citizenship. But all that is now water under the bridge. The Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011 gives equal opportunities to both male and female Kenyan to confer citizenship to a foreign spouse at least after a period of seven years of marriage upon application for citizenship. Children born out of such marriages are also set to benet from the new legal regime. In America, for example, a child born there automatically becomes a citizen even if the parents lay no claim to citizenship. Many a Kenyan parent who had their children while living in the US and who faced the dilemma of what national identity to bequeath them can now breathe a sigh of relief as they, like their children, now have an opportunity to retain Kenyan citizenship as well as acquire American citizenship. Mr Churchill co-chaired the Technical Committee on Citizenship and the Bill of Rights at the Bomas Constitutional Conference.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Too much theftROGUES GALLERY. Luggage theft and rogue porters and taxi operators are giving the JKIA a bad name, laments New Zealand-based Kenyan James Mwangi. On a recent trip, he adds, his suitcase was ripped open at the airport and a laptop, camera and spare mobile phone stolen. The operators of unmarked taxis often follow and persuade travellers at the parking lot to board their vehicles. This can be very risky, especially for women at night, as they could be raped. No wonder Americans are reluctant to start direct ights to Nairobi! His contact is [email protected] a secure day, wont you!

E-mail: [email protected] or write to Watchman, POB 49010, Nairobi 00100. Fax 2213946.

14 | Letters


To the editorUsing Bible to swear loyalty was in bad tasteKenyas political theatrics and circus have taken a rather unfortunate dimension with a section of politicians using the Bible casually as reported yesterday by the Nation. It was puzzling that these senior politicians who should have known better did not appreciate the solemnity of swearing by the Bible. They treated the divine book with contempt. Even though it was their democratic right to campaign for Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and express themselves freely, the public disrespect they showed towards the word of God during the rally was baing Even pagans hold the Bible in awe. DAVID SONYE, Rarieda

The editor welcomes brief letters on topical issues. Write on e-mail to: mailbox@ ke.nationmedia.com. You can also mail to: The Editor, Daily Nation, POB 49010, Nairobi 00100. Letters may be edited for clarity, space or legal considerations.

TALKING POINT

Supporters of the PM and his deputy showed scant regard for the bereavedhe ugly verbal exchange that marred the funeral of Nairobi mayor George Aladwas father in Sabatia over the weekend is regrettable. Supporters of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadis supporters clashing with those of Prime Minister Raila Odinga showed disregard for the deceased and his family. It was a clear indication they had no recollection of the aftermath of the bungled 2007 General Election. Sadly, instead of the host, Mr Aladwa, reconciling the supporters by deating the tension, he reiterated his solid support for ODM. Since the onset of campaigns, politicians have unabashedly been invading all possible sources of support including churches. Fortunately, some clergy have banned politicians from their territories. But a lot more needs to be done. Even though Kenyans may be ardent followers of certain politicians, they should never allow personal differences of politicians to divide them as witnessed in Sabatia. DENNIS MBAE, Nairobi

Emails from correspondents

SHORT TAKES

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POOR POWER SUPPLY: I recall with vividly the day the Kenya power CEO Joseph Njoroge speaking proudly in a TV commercial last month, that it would now take a day to restore faulty power lines. This has not been possible. The company has no capacity to give this nation services as claimed in its vision statement. It is high time the Government came up with a competitor in the energy sector so as to spur service delivery. Kenya is losing a lot when there is no guarantee of power services and rampant vandalism JOE GACHOKA , Kagwe TEACHERS WELCOME: I wish to thank the Cabinet for approving the funds towards employing more teachers and the harmonisation of civil servants salaries. The shortage of teachers has seriously compromised standards of education. I that this time, part of the money will be used to employ Early Childhood Development teachers in public schools. The issue of disparities in civil servants salaries has also been a contentious issue for a long time and now the Salaries and Remuneration Commission should x it. PHILIP MBINDYO, Sawagongo CLINGING MUSALIA: I have come to admire Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi so much and I think he can make a good president of this country given a chance. But I would wish to remind him that the position he is clinging onto DPM does not belong to his new political party but to ODM hence he should relinquish the post because he no longer represents the interests of the latter. Secondly, he ditched ODM because it lacked internal democracy So when did he . get the nod of the delegates of UDF to run on its ticket? RONNIE ONYANGO, Nakuru JKIA FLOODS: Residents of Utawala in Nairobi have been suocating due to the heavy ood waters emanating from JKIA. We understand that rain waters trapped by JKIA is released into the village in order to avoid ooding of the airport. The result has been destruction of homes, drowning of people and damage of vehicles.The roads have been rendered impassable. I have written to Kenya Airports Authority and a number of government agencies in vain. I could verify this information by providing you with photos taken of the ood situation. School children are also hard-hit. HANNINGTONE AMOL, Nairobi

Rights team support for gay rights ungodlySo KNHRC wants buggery and scrubbery de-criminalised in the name of ghting for the rights of the sexual minorities? (Nation, May 4). My foot! This must be a very hard-working commission that has done everything else and the only item remaining in their in-tray is legalising perversion and immorality . For their information, God rained down burning sulphur on Sodom and Gomorrah because of what these over-zealous commissioners want our country to become. (Genesis 19: 24-25). KIARIE PETER, Laikipia West

Riot police contain a clash between supporters of Prime Minister Raila Odinga and those of his Deputy Musalia Mudavadi at the weekend.Of course, this would need an intelligent approach that rules out the political class, unfortunately. ANTHONY GITTENS, Kili

ISAAC AWALE | NATION

Investigate NHIF sta over health scandalIt is clear that the new NHIF scheme has turned into a scam. It beats logic that only two private healthcare providers pocketed more than half of the funds in the rst quarter. Claims from the Francis Atwoliled Cotu that some ministers approached them speaks volumes. It is safe to conclude that the money was to be channelled into a campaign kitty. That was a clear case of stealing using the right hand and giving back, in way of bribes, through the left hand. The drama from the issue so far is enough. All the mentioned ocials need to record statements. NICHOLAS CHERUIYOT, Bomet

Why do politicians from Nyanza and Western always choose funerals to express their partisan views? These are sombre events. Surely democracy would be better expressed during joyful days, such as weddings and baptisms?

Sombre events

Anyone who has lost a dear one appreciates that the day of the funeral is perhaps the most emotional day for the family and close relatives of the departed. So it is quite heartless of politicians to add to their pain by bringing in unnecessary ghts. Politicians disrupt the funeral programme, at times causing delays that force the body to be interred

Heartless politicians

in darkness and worse, they steal the limelight from the departed who should actually be the days guest of honour as it were. Some politicians dont even mention the departed in their speeches. Kenyans do hold their political leaders in reverence but respect is two-way. If the politicians cant respect them and their funerals they dont deserve to be respected. We must learn to put our feet down against politicians and rmly impose a no politics rule at funerals and have the microphone switched o on politicians who do not respect the departed. MARTIN MAKUNDi, Mombasa

Health insurance scandal calls Keep trucks and lorries o the for a day of national mourning road at night to curb accidentsRevelations about the rot in NHIF calls for a day of national mourning for a nation besieged by the greed of its own. That non-operational private clinics were allocated millions while well established national hospitals got so little is the height of shamelessness. It makes it clear that the proposed scheme has little to do with the health of workers and their families. Corruption scandals in the country are not new but what we are witnessing now is corruption gone overboard. EMMA KABIRU, Nyeri To continuously get news of grisly road accidents is sickening. The death toll is alarming and we all must nd the will to contain it fast. Most accidents occur at night, often involving heavy trucks, trailers and matatus. Trucks and lorries should not be allowed to move beyond 6pm to free our roads of giant sluggish vehicles when visibility is impaired. The trac department has to ensure that speed governors are not tted on matatus alone but lorries as well. ALEXANDER CHAGEMA, Kakamega

SATURDAYS QUESTION

DEBATE TOPIC

Was the minister for Health right to suspend the chairman of the NHIF board?DENNIS WAHOME: Yes, because the body he controls has raised a lot of questions for irregularities and corruption to fund politicians. ROBERT GESORA: The minister was right to suspend the chairman of the board because he could not raise an alarm when things were falling apart. STANLEY LAGAT: If the minister believes that NHIF is rotten, then he should resign and pave the way for investigation the same way his colleagues in other ministries did. JOAB OGALLO OGWENO: This was a step worth emulating. DENNIS JOHNSTONE ONYINO: If the allegations are true then the minister had the right to do so. NICHOLAS KITHUVA: No, he was supposed to suspend the entire board including himself.

Comment on the clash between supporters of the PM and his deputySend your comments to mailbo [email protected]


15

16 | National NewsCONTROVERSY | Champion died after falling from balcony of his house in Nyahururu


Wanjiru pathologist speaks outAthletes mother told medical board that Njue withheld results on the cause of her sons deathBY JAMES [email protected] ormer government pathologist Dr Moses Njue has denied accusations that he withheld the postmortem results of the late marathon star Samuel Wanjiru . Speaking a week to the rst anniversary of Wanjirus death, Dr Njue said he completed his work on time and handed over the report to the police. Wanjiru died after falling from the balcony of his double-storey palatial home in Nyahururu town. In a letter to the Kenya Medical and Dentists Practitioners Board, the pathologist came out ghting against accusations of unprofessional conduct, saying he had not been hired

BRIEFLYKISII

Police ocer found dead in his houseAn Administration Police ofcer killed himself at Riokindo in Kenyenya District over the weekend. The ocer who was attached to Riokindo DOs oce was found dead on his bed with a bullet wound under his chin that also went through the head. According to the DO, Mr Wyclie Ayoyi, the constable locked himself in the house from inside and slept on his bed. He sneaked o duty for unknown reasons to his house and failed to return work. He then shot himself once under the chin, said Mr Ayoyi.

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by the athletes mother Hannah Wanjiru or his wife Triza Njeri. He said police approached him to perform the procedure to establish the cause of death of Kenyas rst 42kilometre marathon gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. But Wanjirus mother had written a protest letter to the board in February accusing Dr Njue of inappropriate behaviour. She also claimed that she paid Sh120,000 at Lee Funeral Home to enable the government pathologist conduct the procedure and questioned why she was denied a report she paid for. Mama Wanjiru has portrayed me in bad light by issuing an incorrect position about my work as the Chief Government Pathologist, a position I relinquished on February 12 this year. For her to assert that I deliberately withheld the report is malicious, said Dr Njue. Last week, Ms Wanjiru accused Dr Njue and other government ocials

Sh120,000The amount of money that the athletes mother claims she paid for the postmortem report.

In bad light

Mama Wanjiru has portrayed me in bad light by issuing an incorrect position about my work. For her to assert that I deliberately withheld the report is maliciousFormer government pathologist Moses Njueof withholding the report, saying this proved her son had been murdered

on May 15 last year at his home in Muthaiga estate in Nyahururu. There was no blood on the spot where he fell and I fail to understand why police took away his body before taking measurements at the scene, she said. In his defence addressed to the board, Dr Njue said he had released his ndings promptly to the appointing authority (Criminal Investigations Department headquarters), who identied the body and had requested him to perform the postmortem. I have no access to police records or powers to release such ndings which are protected by the law, said Dr Njue. The boards chief executive Davi

may 07

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