Nairobi News

All-inclusive policy

Agatha Kilonzo feels that the Ministry of Education erred in making a leeway for lower primary school pupils in urban areas to be taught in Kiswahili as their colleagues in rural areas are taught in their local languages.

This is discriminative and it will put the urban learners at a disadvantage. “Don’t our pupils deserve to nurture their mother tongues like their counterparts?” asks Agatha.

She says they should not be denied the chance just because they learn in a cosmopolitan set up.

“The ministry should go back to the drawing board and come up with an all-inclusive educational policy,” she said adding, “If that is not possible, the entire plan should be shelved or all pupils taught in Kiswahili which is the official language.”

**********

Drinking wine

Elias Boza appeals to Nairobi Women Representative Rachel Shebesh to stop preaching water only to drink wine.

He said the MP stood before a church congregation in Dandora and hinted that she was willing to make the saga between her and Governor Evans Kidero fade like a bad dream, if only Dr Kidero would make a public apology to not only her, but other women who felt the sting of her alleged slap.

Apparently, she added,  her mother impressed on her the value of forgiveness as she was growing up. “I find this admission to be at odds with the demands she is making,” he said.

“Surely, Ms Shebesh must be aware that she is not the holier one in the whole debacle hence the need to seek the governor’s forgiveness as well,” he said.

**********

Mind games

Both inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security, Joseph Ole Lenku could use a lesson in crisis management, says Peter Mwai who is concerned that conflicting reports on the county’s state of security are causing anxiety.

“The JKIA blast that a fortnight ago Kimaiyo dismissed as nothing more than an electrical bulb breaking has today turned out to have been caused by suspected terrorists, now in police custody,” he said.

Mwai noted that matters concerning the security were too serious to be the subject of Kimaiyo and Ole Lenku’s apparent mind games. Nairobians could do without the two men toying with their intelligence, he said.

**********

Solicit bribes

As a motorist, being stopped by a police officer who then proceeds to solicit a bribe in the most indiscreet manner has become the norm rather than the exception nowadays, said Adrian Juma.

He said he was recently appalled by an officer who flagged him down on the busy Mombasa Road, checked his insurance and licence details and then asked, “Hata kitu kidogo ya ofisa haiko?”’ (Don’t you have something small for a police officer?”).

Juma pointed out that these up front officers are not only confined to Mombasa Road, but are on all major roads. “It used to be that they targeted matatus, but now it appears they have set their sights on private motorists as well,” he said.