Al Shabaab pleads for respect of human rights

Point Blank

By Njoroge Kinuthia

In just a matter of days, Al Shabaab has been pounded by KDF and Somali forces in Kismayu. They are now on the run, looking for safe havens in thickets outside the port city. Al Shabaab says their leaving Kismayu is a “tactical retreat” to avoid civilian casualties. There we go — Al Shabaab does care for human life!

This wasn’t the first time Al Shabaab was talking human rights. Recently, it condemned the killing of civilians, allegedly by a Kenyan soldier, an incident which was also condemned by the UN. On Sunday, the militia accused KDF of killing two children in airstrikes saying this was prove that the “war wasn’t against Al Shabaab but against the Muslims of Somalia”.

moral ground

But why would the militia condemn what it has perfected? Notably, Al Shabaab has been behind fatal terrorist attacks in Kenya, the latest one being last Sunday. The militia’s human rights talk can’t fool anyone. They hope to attract sympathy and support from Somalis (and foolish Kenyans) to turn the tide against Amisom. In a nutshell, Al Shabaab has no moral ground to preach about human rights.

Hiring of IEBC clerks ‘not free and fair’

Kenyans have a lot of faith in IEBC and since the infamous days of Mlolongo, Mr Cheruo Levi Cheptora believes that the country will for the first time have free and fair elections.

But on matters of fairness in the recruitment of Biometric Registration Voter clerks, the University of Nairobi student claims that IEBC has failed the test. Dozens of applicants, he says, were left out after they were “intentionally not informed about the date of the interviews”. If there was no hidden motive, can IEBC do justice to distraught, prospective clerks and invite them for interviews? Cheptora may be reached at [email protected].

From Kisumu, Phelix Guda is also disappointed with IEBC. He claims to have received a phone call from a purported IEBC official on September 25 at 11.03pm informing him that the interviews would take place the next day in Kisumu. When Guda called him the following day, the person was very rude.

When his father called him, he was informed that the interviews would be held in Homa Bay. “How can official communication be done late at night?” demands Guda whose email is [email protected].

Bulb dims client’s light prospects

After using the Chinese made rechargeable torches for a long time, Kisumu resident S Kanyinya concluded that they are not as economical as claimed.

He decided to switch back to the old and trusted ways and therefore on September 23 walked into Nakumatt Nyanza on Oginga Odinga Street and purchased a red Eveready spotlight torch with a pair of dry cells attached to it.

To his surprise, its light was dim despite the fact that it was new and had of the new batteries. “I decided to check on the bulb after purchasing a new pair of dry cells and giving the same results and found out that the bulb was 2.5V and not 1.5V required for a two dry cell torch.”

He decided to replace the bulb but sadly could find none in his estate’s retail shops. “It looks as if people stopped using ‘ancient’ dry cells torches long time ago,” he says.

Eveready

And he pleads: “Can you advice me where to get a 1.5V bulb now that shops do not stock ordinary bulbs because of the Chinese made torches?”

He advises Eveready or whoever is concerned to put the right bulb in the right torch. Kanyinya can be reached on 0720073272.

‘Delay diseases just like exams’

Prof Anyang Nyong’o has needlessly been feeding striking doctors with a lot of nyongo (bile), charges Gachiengo Gitau. He wishes Nyong’o has the luxury that Mutula had in re-arranging messed up time-frames of school calendar and exams.

“I wish he could postpone ailments to next year for patients in public hospitals or postpone emergencies to December like his colleague did with ‘his’ exams.”

He advises: “Since he can’t, can he descend from his high pedestal and talk to medics? It’s shameful for him to face cameras and say services in hospitals are going on as usual”.