Palaver

Palaver

When father of four, Atlanta bishop Eddie Long was accused of seducing four young men into sexual relationships in exchange for cars, clothes and trips, his New Birth Missionary Baptist congregation and wife Vanessa rallied around him and his wife stood by his side. One year on, Vanessa has filed for divorce. And if you thought Kenyan pastors and Bishop Gilbert Deya live it up, think of Bishop Long first. He owns a Sh31 million car and private jet, lives in a Sh126 million house with six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, wears diamond jewellery and reads his sermons on an iPad.

Mr Jerome Randy Babbitt is 65, and a veteran pilot who flew for 25 years for Eastern Airlines in the US. Fellow, is, however, better known as the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (US equivalent of Kenya Airports Authority). He broke Mututho rules and drove while drunk last Saturday night and is cooling his heels in a Fairfax City police station. Luckily he was alone and not flying anyone. A certain president up North might deem such a fellow so senior that Obama’s State House should make a curt phone call to secure his freedom. But alas, the law is an ass. Even in the US.

Nigeria is one very strange place indeed. Imagine what would happen if Environment minister John Michuki were to ban two-stroke engine machines in order to curtail pollution. In Abuja, the government banned importation of two-stroke engine machines such as motorcycles, marine outboard motors, and lawn mowers since December 1, since their continued use has adverse effects on public health and the environment. Such a pronouncement could cause civil disobedience hitherto unseen in Kenya, but then again, unlike Nigeria, Kenya has no oil wells, and with the perennial shortages and sky-high pump prices, there is no pollution worth banning around here!

And finally...

Mr ‘Sonko’ is never one to miss a trick. His Valliant efforts to see at least one hearty handshake between Ukambani titans Wiper and Mama Masaa came a cropper. Sonko himself knows how hard it is to reconcile adversaries, and his run-in with the Iron Lady of Gichugu is ample testament.

"There are no permanent enemies in politics, just interests." Really now?

—editorial@standardmedia co.ke

Related Topics