Palaver

Even before dealing with IDPs from the post-election violence of four years ago, the Government is suddenly saddled with another lot from the Sinai fire tragedy: different circumstances, same end result. Now that the Ministry of Special Programmes has promised to pay rent for the new set currently camped at the Tom Mboya Social Hall, what, pray, does Minister Esther Murugi have to tell the post-election IDPs who have been waiting for four years for the Government to attend to their plight?

Still on the Sinai disaster, a correspondent says if the Government opts to resettle those displaced by the Monday fire, and others now living in the way leaves for the pipeline, it will become an expensive exercise that opens the door to ambulance chasing lawyers and multiple litigation by a variety of aggrieved groups.
What, for instance, will stop those squatters living just metres from the railway line in Kibera from demanding compensation in order to move? Furthermore, he asks, is it right for the Government to use taxpayers’ money to reward people for breaking the law? After all squatting inside the reserved 60-metre radius of strategic installations like power lines the railway and oil pipeline is illegal.

Sections of the local media (not The Standard) chose a slippery path when they published graphic photos of charred bodies with their blackened flesh, white skeletons and skulls clearly visible. The intent may have been to shock the Government and those living near the scene of the oil pipeline out of their lethargy. Their defence probably is that consumers have a choice not to buy their newspapers. However, testing the limits of taste in this manner opens a Pandora’s box that might prove difficult to shut. 
The silence from the Media Council over the matter is extremely loud. Palaver suspects the watchdog will do absolutely nothing, all in the spirit of freedom of choice and the media.

And finally...
Tuskys at T-Mall in Langata, is a great place to shop. Unfortunately, a group permanently stationed at its entrance, and which aggressively solicits cash donations for children from shoppers is a real nuisance!
—editorial@standardmedia co.ke