Don’t take advantage of jobless youths during campaigns

Plans are under way to hire about 7,000 police officers and spies.

This comes in the wake of campaigns that are gathering momentum ahead of the General Election.

In addition to this bold step by the State, an order of rubber bullets and tear gas canisters from Israel has been made.

All this is aimed at averting unrest before, during and after the elections.

This may appear a smart move on face value, but an incisive evaluation of things points to the fact that someone at the policy making table could be getting it all wrong.

Does this mean that we have resigned ourselves to the fact that we are a volatile nation during elections?

And if so, what could be the reason for it?

A sober answer to these questions would demonstrate why such a move is the last thing we need.

It is an open secret that the youth are often the executors of election related unrest.

It is important to note that these are idlers who get hired by rogue politicians bent on scoring political mileage at whatever cost.

The youth are manipulated using cash and liquor to disrupt rallies of their masters’ rivals.

They loot, barricade roads, and even fight when the results do not favour itself-serving politicians.

At such a time, the said politician’s family is usually safely tucked at the comfort of their homes in some up market neighbourhood.

The question is, why do politicians resort to using the energetic youngsters?

It is because these young people do not have any meaningful employment?

They are available for hire and do not mind doing a dirty job, provided it guarantees them a day’s meal.

That is why selfish politicians will discreetly dish out handouts and take cover as the rowdy youths cause mayhem and destruction.

Needless to say, this brings the stature of our politics to its knees, eroding any ounce of dignity left to our name.

Short time remedy

The move by the Government to hire additional security is a short time remedy.

With idle and hungry youths still loitering estates and villages, there will always be the possibility of post-poll chaos.

The State should treat the ailment and not the symptoms.

Meaningful programmes to engage the youth in productive activities should be set up to rid them of idleness and frustration that is normally the launching pad of hooliganism.

Antoney Luvinzu, Masinde Muliro

University

Call for credit reference bureau reforms

I commend The Standard on the article on Credit Reference Bureau system. I suggest that the following reforms be considered to streamline operations.

Any banker, credit reference bureau staff (non-approved) and member of public should indicate why they want to access your data. Anyone working in a financial institution should not access or check your records. That is a violation of the Constitution.

There should be explicit criminal and civil sanction for persons who obtain anyone’s credit data without authority. That criminal sanction should extend to journalists too. All persons with or without data held in credit reference system must be told in writing why, and when their records are being searched, and also who is conducting it.

The system is open to abuse, by bankers, finance companies and bureau staff. A law similar to that used in the US where there is a Federal Credit Reporting Act should be adopted.

Dr Nyagudi Musandu, Security Analyst

Museveni’s view on courses wrong

The recent visit to Kenya by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to preside over a fundraiser was welcome. But when addressing guests and the public at the Great Lakes University in Kisumu, the president wondered why some universities were offering ‘irrelevant courses.’ Mr Museveni cited the study of conflict resolution, saying the graduates of this course will become obsolete, and that universities should stop offering the course.

To him, society is headed to a place where no one will be fighting with each other and therefore the conflict resolution graduates would be rendered irrelevant in future. That is a lie. Conflict is as old as mankind, and it is becoming worse, what with leaders like him fuelling it. Museveni argues that people should study security-related courses. Such programmes are commendable, and are being offered in universities. But we must also study conflict resolution.

Fiona Adhiambo, Maseno University

Parties still suffering from Kanu hangovers

Since the advent of multipartism, Kenya has made great strides in widening the democratic space, heralding the overall improvement of the individual rights – the right to freedom of speech, association and movement.

However, political parties have not fared well as they still exhibit retrogressive traits associated with the single party era of the Kenya African National Union.

The parties still portray ethnicity as their bedrock of support, with many of them only represented within their tribal boundaries or regions.

In these regions they even try to zone off their opponents and this has led to political polarisation and inter-ethnic tension.

The parties still remain a one-man-show, making them a mockery of their impressive manifestos, often boasting of parties standing for a united country. There is intolerance to divergent views within the parties.

There are still cliques of individuals, like in the old single party establishment, who run the show.

Those who dare express independent ideas are quickly sidelined or ostracised to a point of submission, or even pushed out. Is it not time to change such kind of thinking?

Onyiego Felix, Nairobi

Matriarchal roots explain battering

The numerous incidences of husband battering in Nyeri have not gone unnoticed. Some people argue that Nyeri women have disturbed the status quo of a hitherto male dominated society.

That their new-found lease of command and power has had a ripple effect, plunging society into disarray. Men have been left struggling to rediscover their bearing.

Others advance the argument that girl child rights and women empowerment crusades have been preached with a ring of rivalry, with many misunderstanding the message.

This said, we have failed to analyse important aspects of culture and tradition, and it is little wonder that we seem to miss the point. A cursory glance at Agikuyu tradition points to the fact that Agikuyu people have had quite ‘peculiar’ traditions. For instance, their myth of creation has it that the very first couple, Mumbi and Gikuyu were blessed with 10 daughters, but they could only be counted to nine.

This is explained by their belief that it is bad omen to mention living things by their exact numbers. The Agikuyu hold their women in high esteem. For instance, the nine Agikuyu clans (they are actually 10) bear feminine names such as Wanjiru, Wairimu, Waambui and Waceera. Besides, whereas most African communities subscribe to the notion that children belong to their fathers, the Agikuyu uphold the contrary. Basically, the Agikuyu are a matriarchal community: Husband battering can thus be traced back to the community set-up.

Antoney Luvinzu, Masinde Muliro

University

Avert health workers strike

Health workers in public hospitals have issued another strike notice if their demands are not met. The Government must do all it can to avert the looming strike. When the same happened late last year, many lives were lost.

Most Kenyans cannot afford private hospital services, and rely on the invaluable service offered by these professionals.

We cannot afford to wait until a time when patients die due to lack of medical attention.

The alarm has been raised. Is the State alert to this rather serious issue? Please do something before it is too late.

Justin Osey, Mombasa

14-seater matatus key to economy

The debate on whether to do away with 14-seater matatus is sensitive, although the Minister for Transport, Amos Kimunya, seems to be taking it lightly. This transport sector employs numerous persons, and phasing out these vehicles will render them jobless. Unemployment is serious, and deliberate measures need to be taken to counter it.

Measures should first be put in place before the matatus are eradicated. They are a source of livelihood for many youth, and if wiped out, social disorder is likely to prevail. Mr Kimunya should analyse why majority of Kenyans, including some of his colleagues in the Cabinet, are against the move. Politics aside, this is a serious matter.