Dispatch from Mombasa

Trust me if Mr. Eutychus Ndirangu was the discipline master in one of the Nyeri and Kirinyaga schools in which students were found in a bus with all manner of contraband, he would have been in that bus. Source: Standard Media Let me introduce you to Mr. Eutychus Ndirangu. He was the no nonsense discipline master at Michinda Secondary school Elburgon during its heydays. Mr. Ndirangu was a shiny black, seven foot plus, straight as a ruler, impeccably dressed male who also doubled up as the English Literature master. He walked with the grace of a cat, ready to pounce on any misbehaving student. His arrival was always unnoticed and students believed that even if there were rats around, they would not notice his arrival. Mr. Ndirangu nicknamed Simmer by students was as mythical as he was real. Students’ spurn yarns and yarns of stories about him that it was difficult to know who the real Mr. Ndirangu was. For example it was believed that besides God, the only other omnipresent ind...

Mandera Senator: Hon. Billow Kerrow Source:www.kenya-today.com On Tuesday 7 th July 2015, the country woke up to news of the cold blood murder of 14 people in Soko Mbuzi area in Mandera County by the Alshabab  militia group. An MCA who was interviewed by the BBC said the attackers may have exploited some simmering inter clan conflict in the area to conduct the attack. Later in the day, leaders from the area were to address a Press Conference in which they blamed the government for the ever deteriorating state of security in the area. The leaders were led by Senator Billow Kerrow whom I must admit I have too much respect and admiration for especially when it comes to his understanding of public finance matters and his incisive contribution during the government’s budgeting cycle. However, Senator Kerrow let me down by his lack of understanding of what needs to be done to resolve the insecurity issue in Mandera and the entire NFD.  Senator Kerrow, and other leaders ...

Just a thought: The World Press Freedom day was celebrated on March 3 rd 2015 in the backlight of the attack on three journalists from the Nation and Royal Media Services at Galana Kulalu Ranch in Tana River County. The three were said to be in the company of Tana River County officials who had gone to seek for the release of cattle that had “trespassed” into the ranch. Outrage and condemnation greeted the attack on the “team” in equal measure but there was less probing of what may have led to the attack. Is there anything that the journalists did wrong which warranted the attack? Did the officers just descend on them the very moment they saw cameras trained on them? Were the journalists independent messengers or they had already taken a position in regard to the unfolding story? So far only the journalist’s side has been told and any attempt by security officers to tell their side of the story is half-hearted as the media has already taken a position on the issue. I must...