What’s going on around Kenya – Friday 07/08/2015
Former Education CS backs bill seeking to ban exams
Former Education assistant minister, Kilemi Mwiria, has said that he supports a bill that seeks to abolish national examinations in schools.
Mwiria, who is the Presidential Adviser on Education, said he agrees with the provisions of Karachuoyo MP, James Rege’s Basic Education Amendment Bill, 2014.
In the bill, Rege wants KCPE and KCSE exams scrapped off and be replaced with mandatory end-year progress exams for the learners, a point that Mwiria totally agrees with.
“Our system of education is just about exams. You do the exams in a very short time, yet you spent so many years studying. It is not fair to determine the fate of learners in one or two weeks,” Mwiria said.
The bill also obliges Education Cabinet Secretary to ensure that all pupils who finish primary school join secondary schools, while those who complete secondary be able to access higher education.
Rege is expected to table the bill in Parliament for debate by MPs.
ODM: Raila will win 2017 polls by a landslide
An ODM official has predicted that former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga will win the 2017 general elections by a huge margin.
“We shall win the next polls even in the vast Rift Valley region which is perceived to be a Jubilee stronghold,” said Karani, who is also Peace Initiative leader.
She said that Kenyans have now realized that Jubilee government has failed to fulfill the promises they made to them during the campaign period.
“It is sad that many people are still wallowing in abject poverty after close to five decades of independence and yet this government has done nothing to improve the lives of Kenyans,” she said.
The ODM official urged Kenyans not to support parties centered on tribalism but one with a national outlook and that cuts across other communities.
Fraudulent land dealers on the loose in Gilgil
Gilgil MP, Mathenge Nderitu has told his constituents to be on the lookout as a gang purporting to be selling land belonging to the Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation (Karlo) has invaded the constituency.
“Karlo is a government land which plays a key role in agricultural research and there is no way the government can put it for sale as this will lead to food insecurity,” Nderitu said.
“I will launch a probe with the help of police and in due course, we will take the necessary action against those behind the scheme and have them arrested.”
He was speaking on Thursday at his office in Gilgil town when he met a group of residents who have fallen prey to the fraudulent gang.
Residents of Gilgil town last week raised the alarm over the existence of a gang purporting to be selling land belonging to Karlo.
Jubilee and CORD legislators back planned teachers’ strike
A section of MPs from both the ruling Jubilee and opposition CORD coalitions have backed the planned September teachers’ strike if the government fails to grant them a pay rise as ordered by the court.
The five legislators accused the government of attempting to frustrate teachers following its decision to appeal in the Supreme Court as a tactic of delaying implementation of the Labor Relation’s Court order for teachers to be given a salary increase of between 50 to 60 percent.
Addressing the media at Parliament Buildings, the Jubilee MPs, who included Ronald Tonui (Bomet Central), Benard Bett (Bomet East), Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok East) and their CORD counterparts Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) assured teachers of their support and urged them to remained united until the government meets their demands.
“Parliament allocated the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Sh 170 billion for payment of salaries. TSC should use these funds to pay adjusted salaries as Parliament and National Treasury consult on incorporation of additional funds in the supplementary budget,” said Tonui.
MCA grilled over stock theft in Tana River
CID officers in Tana River County on Thursday grilled a member of Tana River County.
Mohamed Buya Yusa, the MCA for Mikinduni ward in Galole constituency was questioned for about two hours over his alleged involvement in the disappearance and slaughter of cattle and goats in his ward.
The politician was escorted to the Tana River Divisional Headquarters by fellow MCAs Manasseh Guyo and Linah Maya Jara and a number of his supporters.
The grilling session was led by Chief Inspector Calist Mauko, the Tana River sub-County Criminal Investigation Officer in the presence of the two other MCAs and supporters, although reporters were kept out.
After the interrogations, Buya said he would issue a statement later over the matter, although he had pleaded innocent.