The underlying logic of Kenyan schools is that of the ‘competitive academic curriculum’, in which students compete with each other as individuals and their success or failure is attributed to their individual intelligence, ability and commitment. The brightest students are selected to join national high schools and eventually the best courses at the universities. The remaining students are selected to join county and district schools with some failing to gain admission into high school altogether. One of the major consequences of this selectivity is that schooling is a profoundly hurtful and...
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The Ranking Of Schools And Students Goes On Covertly
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Remembering Nigerian professor of pidgin poetry
My meeting with the now departed Nigerian literary scholar Prof Kayode Animasaun was dramatic. I remember the events leading to our meeting as though they happened last night… The pinging sound in my breast pocket was unexpected. Early morn was grudgingly giving way to noon, and I was right out running away from the city bustle. I picked the phone anyway, and guess what, a baritone voice that was unmistakably familiar. “Khainga, are you in town?” University of Nairobi literary scholar Dr Godwin Siundu intimated. “Why?” I said. “I am here with Zimbabwean poet Tendai Maduwa, you must know him...
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Uhuru Regime Secures Itself From Its Citizens
Kenyans are a peculiar lot. Even though we love to condemn and demonise the ruling class, we are forever reluctant to accept that any of the individuals making up that class may themselves be individually bad or inept. Therefore, we are constantly making up excuses for their failures. For example, during the Nyayo regime, it was common to hear President Moi described as a kindly and wise old man who had unfortunately been misled by his coterie of advisers. President Kibaki similarly escaped much of the blame for the deadly rifts his administrative choices deepened within society and which set...
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No Good Deed
Film Review: No Good Deed Starring: Idris Elba, Taraji P Henson Genre: Crime Duration: 84 minutes Director: Sam Miller In this film, Idris Elba takes the character of an escaped prisoner called Colin, who smooth talks himself into the house of Terri (Taraji P Henson)- a devoted mother and wife. The movie begins with Colin’s parole hearing for his manslaughter charge. It also comes with a series of news clips that he was a suspect in the murder of five women but was never charged. It is from these clips that he is declared as a “malignant narcissist.” On his way back to prison, Colin escapes...
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Impounding graffiti PSVs is petty policing
THE seizure by Traffic police in Mombasa of two matatus emblazoned with the President’s image is an incredibly petty action (see story on Page 3). Being featured in technicolour on PSVs is a sign of popularity, not disrespect. Indeed, in this respect, President Uhuru Kenyatta is in good company alongside Christ, President Barack Obama and the singer Beyonce, to name only three. When Uhuru travelled by matatu from State House to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in early November to launch the PSV Cashless Fare 1963 Card, he lifted the ban on matatu and bus graffiti. Among other...
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Five minutes – I could win an Oscar for my ability to procrastinate
I’m good at..........writing, knitting, making jewelry; basically anything that involves the use of hands. ?I’m very bad at........doing what I’m supposed to do when I’m supposed to do it. I could win an Oscar for my ability to procrastinate!?. The last book l enjoyed reading is...........The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. ?? The most surprising thing that happened to me is..........working as a presenter in a radio station without experience. ? A common misconception of me is.........I’m a gentle and delicate flower because I’m dainty and petite. ?? One of my worst childhood fears was...
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Limits To Free Speech If We're to Be United
About two months ago, a prominent African American columnist wrote that since the Obamas moved into the White House, he has more or less stopped reading the online comments he gets from his newspaper readers. This, he explained, was because so many of these comments were not about whatever he may have written about current affairs in the US. Rather there was a steady stream of vile insults directed, not at him, but at Mr and Mrs Obama. His point then was that there are some white Americans whose intrinsic racism makes it impossible for them to reconcile themselves to the fact that there is a...
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Kisumu tells government to heed teachers' demands
PARENTS in Kisumu county have urged the government to heed to teachers' pay hike demands to end the national strike. They said the strike has paralysed learning in public schools. The parents said the strike will also affect education standards and pupils' perfromance in national examinations. The parents representative Joshua Muga said the government should have allocated adequate funds in the current budget to increase teachers' salaries. "T eachers deserve better salaries and working conditions like other civil servants. The government should listen to their demands to end the stalemate,"...
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Learning on as Kakamega teachers ignore strike
STUDENTS in some public secondary schools in Kakamega county have reported schools despite the three-day-old national teachers’ strike. A spot check by the Star yesterday revealed that only a few secondary schools remained closed. In schools where students turned up, school heads and support staff were present. In some cases, teachers reported to schools but there were no students while in others students were taught by board of governors' employed teachers. Learning was uninterrupted at Ivinzo and Ematetie secondary schools while at Eshisiru and Mwangaza secondary schools in Lurambi...
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TNA, ODM to involve youth
TNA and ODM parties have said they will involve the youth in political decisions. TNA chairman John Sakaja and his ODM counterpart John Mbadi said the parties will change their approach to politics by incorporating the youth in key decision-making organs. “We want a situation where politics is done in a different away from the daily approach,” Mbadi said. They were speaking on Wednesday during a Citizen TV morning talk Show, Cheche. They said their parties will engage constructively in national matters for the benefit of Kenyans.
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Two blazes ruin school
HOMA BAY Property worth millions of shillings has been burnt at Nyalkinyi Mixed Secondary School. Two mysterious fires engulfed the school over the last three days. Property burnt on Sunday include the school’s laboratory. On Tuesday, another fire burned the school’s science laboratory, principal Charles Ober said.
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40 vehicles to boost services
KISUMU The government on Tuesday unveiled 40 vehicles bought to improve services. The vehicles were presented before religious leaders and the public during a prayer session. Governor Jack Ranguma said the cars, which include ambulances, SUVs and trucks will be allocated to different departments to serve subcounties.
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Ranguma asks doctors to observe medical ethics
DOCTORS in Kisumu county have been warned against negligence. Speaking yesterday during the Kisumu county Prayer Day yesterday, Governor Jack Ranguma said doctors should professionally discharge their duties. He warned that the county will apprehend and dismiss doctors extorting money from patients at public hospitals. “Those doctors prescribing drugs available at public hospitals and directing patients to but them from private chemists and pharmacies will lose their jobs," Ranguma said. He said the county bought eight ambulance to improve healthcare.
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Dairy training for 100 farmers
HOMA BAY The government plans to introduce new dairy farming techniques to boost production. The Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council has trained more than 100 farmers in embryo transfer technology. The revelation was made on Tuesday during a farmers’ workshop in Rawinji, Oyugis town.
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10,000 mourners to attend Fidel's burial
ABOUT 10, 000 mourners are expected to grace the burial of Cord leader Raila Odinga's son Fidel. Siaya Deputy Governor Ouma Onyango who is the burial committee chairman said preparations for the funeral have been completed. "We will ensure Fidel is accorded a befitting send off," he said. Onyango said several bulls and chicken will be slaughtered to feed mourners. Elders from Kang'o Ka Jaramogi village have identified the spot where Fidel will be buried on Saturday. Onyango said Fidel's body will spend Friday night at Raila's Opoda home for a vigil before it is moved to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga...
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Odinga family and friends question police arms leak
RELATIVES and close friends of Cord leader Raila Odinga’s family have criticised the police for exposing licensed cache of firearms and ammunition at Fidel’s Karen home in Nairobi. They said police have been diverting attention over the cause of Fidel's death by resorting to sideshows. Relatives who spoke to the Star said police had no reason to tell the public that Fidel was a licenced gun holder. “It is a matter we did not take in good faith for the police officers to make such a pronouncement, knowing very well that Fidel was a licensed firearm holder,” a relative said in Kisumu yesterday...
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Three criticise choice of Boinett as Inspector General
LEADERS from Kakamega county yesterday criticised the appointment of Joseph Boinett as the Inspector General of Police. “This is not a heritable position for the Kalenjin community,” Butere engineer Tindi Mwale said. He spoke on Sunday at Buchenya grounds during the Mwale tournament. “Government appointments should reflect the national image,” ODM Kakamega secretary Paul Posho said. “The President should not have picked someone from the same village as outgoing IG,” Bishop Rashid Nanjira said.
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I am not fighting speaker, says Kisii assembly clerk
KISII assembly clerk James Nyaoga yesterday denied a report in Tuesday Star's corridors column that he is fighting speaker Kerosi Ondieki. “We have been consulting on how best we can deliver services to the people who are our employers,” Nyaoga said. Speaking to the Star in his office yesterday, he said the speaker has never suspended him as reported, saying the Industrial court vindicated him on May 5, 2014. “When I resumed office, the speaker and my deputy assumed my roles. That is the time they over-employed staff with the latter signing appointment letters in disregard of my advice,” he...
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Rally behind Mudavadi, Washiali tells the Luhya
MUMIAS East MP Benjamin Washiali has asked the Luhya community to rally behind Amani coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi ahead of the 2017 general election. Addressing journalists at Shianda market on Sunday, Washiali said Mudavadi is the most senior politician in Western and deserves to carry the region’s leadership mantle. “Having been an MP, a minister, a Deputy Prime Minister and a Vice President, Musalia Mudavadi is only remaining with ascending to the Presidency to achieve the leadership helm.” Washiali said the muchdiscussed Luhya unity cannot be achieved when every leader wants to be...
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Shitanda to sue Kakamega over Sh200m sugar levy
FORMER Housing minister Soita Shitanda plans to sue the Kakamega government over collection and usage of cess levy from two sugar millers. Shitanda wants the county government compelled to account for the "more than Sh200 million" it collects in cess levy from West Kenya and Butali sugar mills. “We hope that this is not the money they are using for beauty pageants,” he said. Treasury executive Paul Otsola on Monday asked Shitanda to provide evidence. He said the county operates on approved budgets and development plans. Shitanda said feeder roads in Malava subcounty, where the firms are...
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