The Star 01/13/2017

Doctors’ union officials yesterday chose to be jailed for one month rather than negotiate with the government within the next two weeks. Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union secretary general Ouma Oluga said they cannot negotiate under duress and will serve their jail terms beginning January 26. “We cannot negotiate with a noose on our necks,” he told striking doctors and students at Railways Club, Nairobi. Oluga compared the seven officials to freedom campaigners such as Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta and Mahatma Gandhi, who were jailed. “On [January] 26th if the government does not implement the collective bargaining agreement, hospitals will still be closed,” he told striking doctors and students. Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Hellen Wasilwa sentenced the seven national officials to a one-month suspended sentence to…

KELSON KIMANI Rescued, kidnappers in court The four-year-old was kidnapped on Friday last week in Thika and rescued by police on Tuesday in Kasarani. The abductors asked for a Sh2.2 million ransom. Five kidnap suspects were taken to court yesterday, but did not take a plea. Seven suspects were arrested this week. A court remanded them for five days for police to conclude investigations. See page 28 EUGENE WAMALWA Little water for Nairobi The Water CS has asked Nairobi residents to use water sparingly during the drought and even recycle it where possible. Water rationing started this month and will run until April, when the rains are expected, because the city’s largest source - the Ndakaini Dam - is only 40 per cent full. Wamalwa warned cartels against hiking water…

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has for the second time criticised Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama for demanding smaller parties in Ukambani fold up and join Wiper. During a Wiper caravan on Mombasa Road last year, Kalonzo told off Muthama after he made similar calls. Addressing mourners yesterday at the burial of former paramount chief Savano Maveke in Matungulu constituency, the Wiper leader described other political parties in Ukambani as “part of the larger family”. This elicited applause from the crowd. “I want to correct Senator Muthama here on the issue of those other parties ... We all belong to the same family as they also have the right to exist,” he said. In his address to the mourners, Muthama yesterday urged voters to reject leaders running for election on other…

THE meeting of Nairobi aspirants at Deputy President William Ruto’s (pictured) residence this week revealed the mischief of one of the city’s female politicians. She had collected money from one of the aspirants for governor with the promise that she would deliver the party nomination. She then called several other governor aspirants to say President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed that they step down from the race in favour of her benefactor. However, things turned against her when the DP told the aspirants that he and the President have no preferred candidates and all seats are open for competition. “There is nothing like that”, the DP said when asked about the directive for some to step down. MOMBASA Senator Hassan Omar’s prolonged attacks and supporting the withdrawal of Governor Ali Joho’s…

WE DON’T BELIEVE IT IS OUR INTENTION TO DETER PEOPLE FROM COMMUNICATING AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CALLED YOU HERE TO START ALERTING YOU ON HOW WE CAN ... FREELY COMMUNICATE WITHOUT HAVING TO BRING A LOT OF TENSION WE EXPECT MEDIA OPERATIONS TO BE ABOVE BOARD. MEDIA OWNERS AND JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE A POLITICAL STAND HAVE TO DE-LINK FROM MEDIA HOUSE OPERATIONS Kenya has no plans to shut down the internet before, during or after the general election in August, the Communications Authority said yesterday. The Authority officials made the statement in response to reporters’ questions at a briefing on what is expected of broadcasters covering the August 8 polls. “We are using all possible means not to reach a level where the country can be in…

THE Internet is the life of communication. It has changed so many things in Kenya, from the way we shop, eat, sleep, work, bank, learn, research and even how we vote. The Internet in Kenya and around the world is indeed a powerful force for good and, sadly, also evil. It is blamed for everything, from sex predators to the recruitment of terrorists. The Internet played its part in fuelling the Arab Spring and has been responsible for all manner of evil including human trafficking, child abuse, sexual exploitation of women and minors and hate speech. Fear of the Internet’s power has precipitated tight controls around the world. China, for instance, has some of the strictest Internet rules and restrictions, as do many other countries. Kenyans enjoys unlimited access to…