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Showing posts from March, 2017

Let Parliament be dissolved if gender law is not passed in 60 days

Let Parliament be dissolved if gender law is not passed in 60 days The chicken have come home to roost. The  orders that A) A declaration that the National Assembly and Senate have failed to enact legislation to ensure Gender Equality and have failed and abdicated their constitutional mandate, B) The failure of  Parliament to comply with Article 27(6) and Article 81(b)  amounts to serious violations of women right and have been held by constitutional court justice that parliament's failure to enact laws to realise the implementation of the two-third gender rule violated rights to equality and women 's freedom against discrimination.  (C) The National Assembly and Senate and the Attorney General should enact legislation on the gender rule in 60 days,(D) If parliament fails to enact legislation, the petitioner or any other person can petition the High Court under Article 23(1)  to have the Chief Justice advice the President to dissolve Parliament. Let women organizati

Let the 2017 budget be mwananchi driven

Let the 2017 budget be mwananchi driven The budget for 2017 is to be read this year early and very many items have proven to be very expensive in the market. Let Finance cabinet secretary Henry Rotich  consider the common mwananchi's need when he prepares the 2017/2018 budget. Food items like sugar,maize,rice,water,beans,potatoes should be exempted from high taxes. At the moment beans, which last year was costing 50/- per kilo is now double the price (100/-) now. This has led to importation of beans from the neighboring countries thus making kenya lose foreign exchange. The price of maize has also risen and that is Kenya's staple food. This is being felt by the common mwananchi  who cannot afford it.In Uganda they cannot raise the price of bananas because that is Uganda's staple food.  And petrol prices should also come down.  PAYE as you earn is also very high and Kenyans are the most taxed people in the world. Let CS Henry Rotich reduce the percentage,considering t

Companies which use the internet should pay taxes to KRA

Companies which use the internet should pay taxes to KRA The Kenya revenue Authority presentation in Parliament has revealed that companies that use the internet are not paying taxes. Since the inception of globalization anybody and anyone can transact business anywhere in the world. This has come with challenges of Government taxing these companies. And it seems it is proving difficult to net these companies. The Kenya Revenue Authority is seeking the right to access individual and companies’ mobile money transactions in a new war against tax cheats. The plans are part of the authority’s plan to expand its tax payer base by roping in individuals and businesses trading at the retail level. The initial plan targets merchant transactions, the taxman will be able to see deals in over 36,000 active till numbers, according to the latest data from Safaricom. The Lipa Na M-Pesa service  transacted over  Sh15 billion, indicating a huge opening for KRA to seize tax evaders. The information

Where do children who attain 18yrs in homes go

Where do children who attain 18yrs in homes go In Kenya we have many children homes. There those that were established very  many years ago like SOS,Mamangina,mji wa salama and mama Fatima children homes. They take care of children as young as a month or a day old till they reach the age of 18yrs old.The catch 22 situation comes about when these children/teens attain the age of 18 yrs. These children according to the laws of Kenya have never seen any other  home or parents and being let go at the age of 18yrs old while still young is not prudent. This may cause insecurity,unstable adults  and bitter adults who will ask themselves in the first place why did they come to this world? It is a high time Parliament enacted a law which will protect these young adults when they attain the age of 18yrs.Although one organization has a program where the young adult can fall back to and remain till they can start college, but this is just a drop in the ocean. There are very many children homes in

These politicians defecting are telling Kenyans a lot

These politicians defecting are telling Kenyans a lot We have seen defections and counter defection of MP 's,Governors,senators,Mca's and other ordinary Kenyans who garnering for political seats. Why is majority of defectors men? What drives a man to defect yesterday to one party,the next day another party and the next day return to the party they were. What lures people to this and this party? Is Kenya's politics made of pesa nane. Someone has mentioned money being a deciding factor. Women and the youth are watching what is unfolding very keenly and these defectors maybe in for shocks come 8th August 2017.Are the defection beneficial to the defectors or the people who elected them? Kenyans have said enough is enough. (Tukutane kwa debe) as time will tell. By Veronica Onjoro Mombasa

Let Mombasa county take good care of Mbaraki cemetery

Let Mombasa county take good care of Mbaraki cemetery When people go to cemeteries they always go to bury their dead or visit graves. But a visit to Mbaraki cemetery reveals that there is wanton neglect. There is no standard wall,which is broken in very many parts and there is no gate. There is no one to officially oversee what goes on in the cemetery. There are broken slabs strewn all over. Let the Mombasa county take good care of Mbaraki cemetery by building a wall and employing guards who will maintain law and order in the cemetery. Other cemeteries of other denominations are very clean and are taken care of well. By Veronica Onjoro Mombasa

Parliament should amend auctioneers law

Parliament should amend auctioneers law When an auctioneers serves a demand notice from his client, who may be your debtor or landlord,the law does not require the auctioneer to make a background check if it is indeed true,there is a debt owed. Auctioneers have been known to reign terror by attaching goods at the whim of either the landlord or debtor without verification. The problem of auctioneers is,they do not do a follow-up to authenticate if it is true their client is owed what is on paper. Those who send auctioneers tend to exaggerate the amount owed,so that it covers the auctioneers fee and render a debtor badly dented. The auctioneers fee should be met by the client. This is happening in Kenya and many Kenyan are loosing their properties through this fraudulent means. Let Parliament reign on these auctioneers by changing auctioneers law so that they are forced to sit with the debtors and client, to verify the debts owed before serving a demand notice for their client and 

All governors from pastoral communities should sink boreholes in every sub locatio

All governors from pastoral communities should sink boreholes in every sub location The picture of starving Kenyans from the North are still haunting Kenyans.The rains have now started. Although keeping of cattle and sheep is a way of life some adjustment must be done. Lack of rain has caused conflicts,death and mistrust among neighbouring communities. It is a high time governors  in pastoral communities strategize, by sinking boreholes in every location,so that fighting can be minimized. The other day 10 people died in lsiolo as a result of pasture. Let us respect rain and do what it pertains to conserve and store any rain which falls on the ground. ln Uganda and Ethiopia we do not hear of famine and drought as they have dug underground tanks. Let us mitigate the effects of famine and rain and let us say never again. There is a saying that the last drop of water will be our tears. We have learnt many lessons.Water is life ! By Veronica Onjoro Mombasa

Let's look for solution in this bullying saga

Let's look for solution in this bullying saga The recent reports of bullying in Alliance high school has caught many parents with surprise. Bullying has been going on unabated in secondary as well as colleges and it is a high time it was stopped. A lady was once admitted at a teacher training college and in that  college there was a tradition of welcoming first years. The first years had been nicknamed "mraru" and the first day was the day of inducting them in the college. The very day they were admitted they were informed that there was a meeting in one of the dorm,so the smartly clad first year were all herded in one dorm and escorted to the cold shower room and showered with their clothes on plus the hair, done usually after 10.00 pm that is when they received the showers of blessing and in the morning parade the song "showers of blessing" is sung to the chagrin of the second years. This used to happen to both men and women. That year it caused a furore

Let Tanzanian doctors treat their patients first

Let Tanzanian doctors treat their patients first The ratio of Tanzanian doctors to patients is much less than Kenyan counterparts,meaning in Tanzania there are fewer doctors than in Kenya. The Kenya crisis of doctors being on strike seems not ending soon. The Tanzanian doctors have said they will not come to work in Kenya. I wonder if it is a relief or a loss?In Tanzania the language used is kiswahili in schools and most of the bombastic medical jargon have been translated to kiswahili language. Now l can imagine a Kenyan woman in the rural areas being treated by a Tanzanian doctor. This may be a disaster because the Tanzanian doctors will utter the bombastic Tanzanian words while the Kenyan will be floating in the air. Tanzanian kiswahili is total different from Kenyan. When they will be writing the prescription, the pharmacist will be wondering how to translate the prescription to the recommended medicine and the ailment of the patient into English. We may be jumping from hot

Can Kenya road engineers stand up to be counted

Can Kenya road engineers stand up to be counted Our roads have gone to the Chinese. Kenyan road engineers  do not build Kenyan roads but are employed to do other duties during road construction. I was particularly touched by an article by Shem Ochuodo "Challenge for engineers and scholars" How come Kenyan road engineers do not win road  tenders? A close look at roads in Mombasa county,reveal that those who have build them or repaired them fly aeroplane. Because they are riddled with gullies,disjoints and holes at the side. Kenyan engineers do not own cars as it attest. They would have noticed the state of the roads in Kenya. Are there stringent measures which discourage engineers from universities to register as members of engineer board? What benefit do members who are registered by the engineers board get which benefit members ? Why doesn't the board advice those who float road tenders and also determine who get road tenders in Kenya,so that sanity prevails? By

Kenyan women should not celebrate the international women day

Kenyan women should not celebrate the international women day I observed without happiness how women in Kenya celebrated the international women day on 8th.In Kenya there is nothing to celebrate about. Women are not empowered politically, economically and socially wise.ln Kenya there is nothing to celebrate. The day came about when the 47 governors were meeting at their fourth devolution conference. Is there a woman governor ? No. ls there  provision for getting one in case none is elected? Who knows? On the political scene how many parties are wholely owned and run by women?Are these parties active in Kenyan political scene?If a day is declared as a day of men,how many  men will be celebrated? A stadium will not be enough. A woman need to be given space,time and support in order to bring change.  Are Kenyan women in control of the economic, political as well as social welfare of the country? We have countless women in all spheres of life who are yet to be recognised, but sti

President Trump must help the poor

President Trump must help the poor There is video circulating in the social media showing President Trump's wealth and it shows that he is extremely wealthy. According to the video, the  president is more wealthy and owns better properties that any individual in America. The white house does not match the buildings he owns or his wealth and he has a better air force jet than what America's Air force one. But when l listened keenly l did not hear of any foundations he has started which help the poor people or any foundation which educate,offer bursaries,research,build houses or feed the poor. l then remembered the  verse in the bible  which said Mathew chapter 10 Jesus said, y ou are lacking in one thing.  Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor  and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement, his face fell,   and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is f

President Trump must help the poor

President Trump must help the poor There is video circulating in the social media showing President Trump's wealth and it shows that he is extremely wealthy. According to the video, the  president is more wealthy and owns better properties that any individual in America. The white house does not match the buildings he owns or his wealth and he has a better air force jet than what America's Air force one. But when l listened keenly l did not hear of any foundations he has started which help the poor people or any foundation which educate,offer bursaries,research,build houses or feed the poor. l then remembered the  verse in the bible  which said Mathew chapter 10 Jesus said, y ou are lacking in one thing.  Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor  and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement, his face fell,   and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is fo

Knec exams have a lot to be desired

Knec exams have a lot to be desired Good questions inspire creativity and thus help in finding solutions and range gradually from general facts finding to complex facts finding. Good questions take 20% of the conversation time,the rest is taken by the answer and should be appropriate in length for the allocated time.  A good question should engage the audience and should neither be too hard nor too easy. Questions  should be progressive in difficulty to reduce stress and tension. Recently there was a report that half of trainee teachers in colleges failed their exams which was administered by knec. Subsequently knec has been administering exams in technical colleges and early childhood programs. The song is the same,mass failures,the million dollar question is,what is not happening? Knec should set exams which are progressive in difficulty to reduce stress and tension. The language of the exams should reflect everyday discourse. The exams should be objective, that if it is marked

Our adolescent are aping the society wrongly

Our adolescent are aping the society wrongly A number of our adolescents suffer from emotional and behavioral problems which have roots in the family environment. The adolescent struggles to develop his individuality while still conforming to societal norms. Rapid urbanization and modernization have exposed them to changes in society. The resultant breakdown in family  structure, excessive or minimal control confuses the adolescent and makes him/her especially vulnerable to maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior.   It first started with the students who had hired a minibus  and were found inside it, drinking liquor and abusing drugs and doing all sorts of bad things. It happened again when students were found to have hired a house and were found indulging in compromising situations. This week students were sent home for half term, but they secretly met in one house for a birthday party which  turned into another sessions of binge drinking and orgy. It is a big challenge

Our adolescent are aping the society wrongly

Our adolescent are aping the society wrongly A number of our adolescents suffer from emotional and behavioral problems which have roots in the family environment. The adolescent struggles to develop his individuality while still conforming to societal norms. Rapid urbanization and modernization have exposed them to changes in society. The resultant breakdown in family  structure, excessive or minimal control confuses the adolescent and makes him/her especially vulnerable to maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior.   It first started with the students who had hired a minibus  and were found inside it, drinking liquor and abusing drugs and doing all sorts of bad things. It happened again when students were found to have hired a house and were found indulging in compromising situations. This week students were sent home for half term, but they secretly met in one house for a birthday party which  turned into another sessions of binge drinking and orgy. It is a big challenge r

Theft of valuable at Likoni ferry should be stopped

Theft of valuable at Likoni ferry should  be stopped I met omar who works in my neighborhood and his spirits were very low. Inquiring further he told me that his phone was stolen from his trousers at the likoni ferry. He is the bread winner and has children in school whom he needs to communicate with constantly. People have said that on average more than 20 people lose their valuables everyday at the Likoni ferry. Woe betide if you lose your fare and you are heading to your place of work and you reach late. This can cause your boss to fire you. This calls for the management of the  ferry to put checks and balance to protect ferry users. They can install CCTV's and employ guards to stand upstairs monitoring and checking those who steal from others. Subsequently where a theft has occurred, let those who were in that area be detained and searched. This will serve those who board the ferry but come to steal from others a lesson they will not forget. People are losing  money and v