Three weeks ago I stirred the hornet’s nest and my message was heard loud and clear. I was simply echoing the concerns of restless smarters who had jammed myinbox with their cries for action.
The answer was fast and furious, for in less than 24 hours after our publication, Izzo had ordered the immediate release of the names of those who had made the cut.
Its smiles galore as they revel in their new ranks courtesy of the biggest single award of promotions ever witnessed in the history of disciplined forces in the country since independence.
Flashing thongs
Izzo’s popularity ratings have shot up and many are the commemorative watoto wa laini born nine months hence who will be named “Osugo”. Newfound power is an aphrodisiac and love is in the air as chaps celebrate with lusty leg lifts. Alcohol sales in the neti canteens as well as in neighbouring pubs are up and banks hawking their new promotions are zeroing in for the kill.
CP Izzo, Madame Rose Muturi and the entire team who worked the final list deserve plaudits even though malalamishi hayakosi. What l have on the table is that there are those who had stayed for over two decades in one post without promotion who have been remembered.
Ladies did not have to flash their thongs to get promos unlike kitambo. In fact a new benchmark has been set by neti on gender parity which should be emulated by all sectors of our Government.
This could be attributed to a very influential troika of reformists at HQ and at the provincial and station levels. These ladies eschew pettiness, reward hard work and have earned the respect of their male juniors. Allow me to mention Madames Moturi, Khaemba, Omundi, Wanini, Chuma, Olivia, Wanja and Ngunjiri amongst others.
The brief l have with me shows that practically all long servers and wasomi have climbed the ladder.
Those who have a degree, diploma or Grade 1 and 2 in the Government Trade tests with clean records and have unjustly been left out... nichapie pap!
I have received complaints about regional imbalance with a senior politician’s home region claimed to have got a disproportionate share of promos. Let me play the devil’s advocate here. In the late 70s to late 90s neti service was such a derided career that some elitist ethnic chauvinists gave it a wide berth.
Blaming ‘wiper’
It is also a fact that to cover that shortfall, the late reformist Commish Mutua picked willing dudes from shags and thrust them into the service, so it follows that majority of long serving officers would definitely come from that lot. Blaming “Wiper” is simply being escapist my friends. Hapo nimekataa.
What we are awaiting is a publication of the names of promoted Chief Officers so that we can sort out jokers in the event that a constitutional reference is sought.
However the biggest challenge will now lie in getting suitable houses for the new Sonkos commensurate with their ranks.
With the promos running into thousands, building houses would require billions of shillings from our hamstrung gava so that is out for now. Sharing quarters with their juniors is also a no-no while staying out of kambi has its own security implications. The second issue that should gravely worry some of the newly promoted should be pending disciplinary matters.
As l file this piece, we have already received damning dossiers from three netis pointing to dudes who have been promoted while under the hammer. We have told the aggrieved parties to direct their grievances to lzzo as we cannot use this page to settle unverified scores.
However should our Paruwanja la Neti unravel any hanky panky, watu watalia for real.
Eclectic lot
I am waiting to see an improvement in service delivery, handling of inmates and their visitors as well as a reduction in marufuku now that mshahara iko yuuu.
The promoted lot is an eclectic mix of learned administrators and functionally illiterate, but technically gifted artisans.
And now that smarters are smiling, what about the hard working but neglected netizens? Over to you lzzo.
The writer is a commentator on prison matters.
