The day after “Super Tuesday” 23 February 2021 when the BBI constitutional amendment bill achieved the minimum 24 counties needed to call for a referendum, I was at the famous Gikomba Market by 7 a.m. and as usual, the day’s business had already started well before the break of dawn. But a lot has changed at the market in recent times: the coronavirus pandemic has gravely affected the flow of business, the economic downturn that started in 2018 has hurt many traders and the midnight fires have returned.
“Those fires are set by arsonists,” said one of traders that I had gone to see. “They are meant to drive us out from this area, but we’ve been resilient because we’ve refused to give up the land and business.” The last fire that completely gutted the traders’ goods was on 25 June 2020. Two days later, just after the traders had finished rebuilding their semi-permanent structures that are constructed with timber and iron sheets, they were “welcomed very early
THE STANDARD By
Patrick Beja |
January 17th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Last Tuesday, Deputy President William Ruto exuded confidence in his strategy to eclipse governor Hassan Ali Joho
(pictured) and ODM dominance in Mombasa.
In a meeting with Nyali MP Mohamed Ali and former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar in Karen, Nairobi, Dr Ruto said his team was focused on transforming Mombasa . Impressed by the insightful brief on behalf of our Mombasa Team on the progress and prospects of the county strategy and advancement planning for various engagement, said Ruto.
Since 2017, Ruto has made several forays to the Coast. The visits appear to have gained traction with several ODM MPs now supporting his presidential ambitions.
THE STANDARD
Deputy President William Ruto and former Bomet governor Isaac Ruto. [DPPS]
The shift by former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto to his fierce critic William Ruto s camp on Friday marked the heightened re-alignment linked to the fight for political survival as the 2022 General Election nears.
Friday s move by Isaac, a point man of the BBI campaigns in Rift Valley region, is reminiscent of past elections where top leaders sought refuge in parties perceived to be dominant in their regions to make a return to mainstream politics.
The former governor, in his speech, made no secret of the fact that he was making a strategic move to preserve his political ambition even though he said it was informed by a desire to unite the Kalenjin community .
THE STANDARD By
Michael Ndonye |
January 15th 2021 at 09:12:58 GMT +0300
ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Truly, I tell you when baba is happy, Kenya is happy; when he’s disenfranchised, we can’t breathe. That is why today I’m entertaining an outlier thought that Raila Odinga should be the fifth president of Kenya come 2022.
Two reasons birthed this thinking. One, Raila has overtly implied that in 2022, he will be in the ballot and two, Uhuru Kenyatta, during the burial of Mama Hannah Mudavadi, said it is time for another tribe to rule Kenya. Should political heavens heed Uhuru’s baddish, then a Kikuyu or a Kalenjin presidency is damned come 2022.
Rich Nairobians who’ve disowned, neglected their poor parents
Some parents have to make do with threadbare clothes and others still walk barefoot.
It is the dream of most Kenyans (and other East Africans) in rural outposts to make it to Nairobi city a hotbed of opportunities. But once most people get to Nairobi and make money, they neglect their parents, and some even disown them. It’s sad that the lives of most urbanites especially Nairobians are characterised with glamour, pomp and colour, but their parents back in their rural homes wallow in poverty. It’s amazing how some of these ‘lost’ characters are more than willing to take selfies with fellow flashy friends, celebs and show off on social media, but can never ever risk doing the same with their parents. Reason? They are ashamed of their parents because they are doing badly.