Does Education ministry silently condone caning?

By Njoroge Kinuthia

It has been difficult to catch the attention of Sam Ongeri. Parents have complained of rising cases of corporal punishment in schools. But this has not, in our judgement, bothered him. Could the good Prof be part of the school of thought whose motto is: Spare the rod, spoil the child?

Well, now we have a new Minister for Education, Mutula Kilonzo. We hope he’ll show some concern. A parent of a Form Two student at Kaimosi Girls High School, Christopher Okengo, reports his daughter was caned and expelled for "failing to concentrate on her preps on March 14".

Alternative school

As she did not have fare, she had to beg in the streets to go home. Mr Okengo claims to have sought the help of the Ministry of Education, but was told to first talk to the school’s Board of Governors, District Education Officer, and Provincial Education Officer. He views this as unnecessary bureaucracy, which will keep his daughter at home forever. "Can the Education minister, meanwhile give my daughter an alternative school?" Okengo can be contacted on 0723954210.

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Club member appeals to AG over woes

As the Registrar of Societies has allegedly been unable to resolve numerous complaints from Impala Club Nairobi members, Kihara Muigai is seeking Attorney General, Githu Muigai’s intervention.

Muigai (member no. M613) claims that over the past few years, officials of the club have engaged in "gross mismanagement".

He says that members have repeatedly complained about open defiance of club’s constitution, including refusal to publicly release their register for scrutiny and opaque financial transactions running into millions of shillings.

"The Registrar is only concerned with holding of annual election rituals which are attended by many people who are not genuine members, thus allowing a small clique to entrench themselves, further increasing the level of complaints and dissatisfaction," he says.

As the Registrar has failed to address their grievances, Muigai suggests that the AG should "shake-up this docket" and appoint effective and vibrant officials who are ready to serve societies effectively and diligently." He can be reached at [email protected].

　

　

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Suffocating welcome to Voi town

Planning to visit Voi? Justin Njagi warns you to expect an unwelcome welcome at the town’s gate. According to him, visitors to Voi or those just about to leave the town via the northern road have to contend with a foul smell near the railway crossing.

"Those acquainted to the smell warned us to hold our breath a little longer as we were about to smell rotten filth near the railway crossing," says Njagi who was in the town recently. The car windows were also rolled up in an effort to keep the stench out.

Njagi doesn’t know what the source of the odour is but claims its smells like rotten eggs. If they are eggs, PointBlank suspects they must be in their thousands. "I am asking the Voi Town Council to remove the smell that disturbs those entering and leaving the town," says Njagi.

Dusty Mlolongo

From Nairobi, Ms Patricia Libasia "totally agrees" with John Muthusi’s comments last Friday about Mlolongo bus terminus. Libasia says dust at the terminus is terrible. "We are forced to walk around with wet cloths in our handbags to dust our feet and shoes after boarding matatus". There you have it again, Mavoko Council.

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Moses manifests self in Wetangula

Just like the biblical Moses (by the way, what was his second name?), Trade minister, Moses Wetangula has become a saviour of sorts, according to Mr Robert Amalemba. Anyone, notes Amalemba, would have jumped into the plane which came to the rescue of those stranded in the burning Bamako, and had one seat reserved for Wetangula. Moses, however, declined to and instead let another Kenyan brethren escape from the inferno. The Kenyan Moses played his ‘brothers’ keeper’ just like his biblical namesake. Is there any other Kenyan politician who would do what Moses did?

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DON’T YOU FORGET

Did Nakuru council clear roadside dumpsite?

On August 10, Ms Hilda Cheshari wrote to PointBlank from Nakuru complaining that the town, once touted as being the cleanest in East Africa, was sinking under the weight of garbage.

She was particularly concerned with the state of affairs in the town along the Nakuru-Eldama Ravine Road where she said a roadside dumpsite had become a big eyesore.

"The area is littered with solid waste products that normally produce an unpleasant smell.

On a windy day, it is common to see paper bags flying all over. Never mind there is a primary school a stone-throw away," she said.

Did the Municipal Council of Nakuru clear the unsightly mess, Mayor Mohammed Suraw?