Opinionated: Keithi's predicament

Drama is what we can now call the Makueni by-election after the series of court battles that have seen the Independent Electoral and Boundaries commission (IEBC) put again to test over it's competence in governing the Election affairs of a country that is now on a devolution evolution.

In a quizzical twist the IEBC has nullified the candidature of Nairobi Lawyer Keithi Kilonzo in a tribunal conducted by the commission itself which is now pitting the public against it as being the judge, the witness, the respondent and final authority in a matter that it stands accused of.

This comes at a time when public confidence with the National electoral body has waned considerably with an estimated 22% of Kenyans lacking total faith in the commission as an Opinion poll conducted by Infotrak. The scenario depicted here is a commission uncertain of its word as it is a complaint by ruling ruling Jubilee coalition that led it to reconsider the issue and more revelations ensued. Critics find it ironical that the party was aware of Ms. Kilonzo's unregistered state before even the commission!

Despite that huge hurdle to Keithi's Blossoming carer in Politics she strikes a personality of a strong and willful leader whose experience at the bar could be an invaluable asset for a first female Senator. Judging from the performance of her Father who was a high-flying Lawyer and most big names in parliament being from the same profession she would prove a worthy contestant for the seat.

Talking about lawyers, I am of the impression that we stand a better chance of implementing the constitution with a lot more law scholars in parliament than 'prominent businessmen'. After all aren't they law-makers?

Hawkers Count Losses as City Council Reigns

With the entry of the county Government mobile businessmen are crying foul as city council askaris have magnified their vigilance and duty of eliminating their crowding effect from the CBD.

Hawkers have numerously found thgemselves walking the unbeaten path of loss-making as their business activities face the wrath of the council officials who are hot on tgheir heels tio ensure they get permanent premises or close shop and relocate to ther less-busier towns.

The are around Globe Cinema Roundabout which is favorite for hawkers' merchandise has been a battleground between hawkers and Council Askaris with constant tear-gas fumes emanating from the place even during the day.

Hawkers along Moi Avenue, Nairobi

Without refuting the fact that they  cause lots of mayhem and discomfort in our perennially busy streets causing constant navigation hitches, these sons and daughters of Kenyans are out to offer themselves better lives rather than result to Crime.

Additionally they provide supplementary ware at ridiculously cheaper prices and also conveniently place them within reach of passer-by. They actually have a large customer base which is peculiarly dynamic, with people literally locating them even with their ever-changing locations. A good example is popular egg and meat-pie hawkers at Nairobi bus station area.

In retrospect chasing these people out of the streets isn't the real solution but rather finding alternative permanent strategic solutions to them would reduce their encroachment. although some will argue that settling the current will only give birth to a new breed of other enthusiasts the latter is yet to be seen.

This comes during an erawhere the government commits to create a myriad job opportunities to its citizens manhandlingof these risk-takers doesn't reflect the same. This is juxtaposed with the constant whining of our Honourables(MP's, Governors, Senators and now very recently County Representatives!) for car grants and pay rises! Conditions of places like 'Tsunami' alias "Grogon",adjacent to Nairobi river are quite sorry if we were to talk of decent examples of resettling hawkers.

related
two hawkers killed in police battle
Nairobi Hawkers 'ingenious' tactics

Newspapers of Doom

Kenyan newspapers have been running a stream of headlines that all read to one theme that seemsdrather scripted than coincidental;Gloom.

it's quite uncanny that only bad news get to hit the headlines of our dearly cherished Newspapers with some being powerhouses of East and Central Africa and a force to reckon on in the region.

They will argue that their role is to report things as they happen and if bad things are happening everywhere then it's not their fault that their headline4s are always gloomy!

Or, is it that Kenyans are so interested in bad news  that the more Heart-itching the stiory is the better the sales of the day? so we say Give the people what they need!

And actually this might prove true because headlines such as CONSPIRACY, DOCTORS DETECT FOUL PLAY, FINANCIAL CRISIS AT THE REFINERY! and so on|, attract large crowds around newspaper vendors in streets compared to stories like, NEW HOPE FOR CANCER VICTIMS, BREAKTHROUGH TRANSPORT INDUSTRY-which rarely make it to the headlines rarely stir much attention!

A screenshot of a local news site

With the ongoing Conference on media freedom I guess one of the issues to be addressed instead of whining aboout media restrictions, journalists should provide for how they are going to match their theming in news and gatekeeping to ensure that our country doesn't sound diabolical

I think Kenyans would love Happier news