The Star 01/21/2017

Governors have brokered a deal to stop Monday’s strike by some 5,000 clinical officers across the country. They have formed a task force to draft higher salaries for clinicians in public hospitals within 14 days. A strike by the clinical officers would have devastated hospitals because they have stepped in for striking doctors and taken up many clinical roles, including dialysis, C-sections and prescriptions. Yesterday’s morning meeting at the Council of Governors offices in Nairobi lasted four hours. It was attended by governors James Ongwae (Kisii), Samuel Ranguma (Kisumu), Kinuthia Mbugua (Nakuru) and CoG chief executive Jacqueline Mogeni. Officials of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the Kenya Health Professional Society were also invited. Governor Ongwae said there is goodwill to compensate clinical officers and nurses. He praised them…

ELIUD WABUKALA EACC to probe firms over NYS Two more companies have come under the scrutiny of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission investigators following their transactions with the NYS. EACC detectives want to establish if Jumbo Commodities Ltd and OM Millers Ltd had any role in the National Youth Service scandal in which taxpayers’ lost millions of shillings. See Page 11 EVANS KIDERO Youths refuse to close car washes Several thousand youths have defied the government’s order to close all car washes until April 10 during the acute water shortage. They said on Thursday they would fight to keep their businesses open so they can earn a living. They dared askaris to shut them down. Their spokesman said unemplooyed youths would turn to armed robbery. See Page 16 UBAH ABDI…

Nzioa Sugar Company managing director Godfrey Wanyonyi and six other managers will next week be arraigned in court for fraud charges after their arrest on Thursday morning. Wanyonyi was arrested in Nairobi and taken to the EACC Eldoret office, before being released on bail in preparation for his court appearance. According to EACC spokesman Yasin Amaro, Wanyonyi and his accomplices will be charged with embezzlement of Nzioa Sugar Company funds running into millions of shillings. “He has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement. He and six other managers from the finance department will be charged for various offences including abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery and violations of public finance laws and regulations,” Amaro said. Meanwhile, EACC detectives are also investigating the Taita Taveta government’s Sh4 million…

THE move by University of Nairobi VC Peter Mbithi (pictured) to expel staff and students found engaging in political activity this year has angered many in the institution. Word has it that both staffers and students are unhappy with Mbithi, accusing him of being a dictator and undermining their democratic right of associating with any political party. The VC on Friday last week, presiding over the new student orientation ceremony, told all members of the university engaging in active politics to “think twice” or face his wrath. The aggrieved members, particularly students, are said to defy Mbithi’s warning on grounds UoN has produced many politicians in the country, it continues to produce them and that he should not interfere in its political legacy. Whether Mbithi will stand by his word…

 The general election could well be a rematch between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga, despite much talk and deliberate suspense about another joint opposition flagbearer. ‘I HAVE SACRIFICED BEFORE AND I AM READY TO SACRIFICE AGAIN BECAUSE I LOVE THIS COUNTRY SO MUCH. I EXPECT THIS KIND OF SACRIFICE ALSO FROM MY COLLEAGUES’ The Star has established Raila has quietly put together a presidential campaign team headed by university don Dr Adams Oloo. None of the other Cord co-principals has a full-fledged presidential secretariat. And the presence of the former Prime Minister loomed large at the first joint opposition convention at the Bomas of Kenya on January 11, giving a strong suggestion he could fly the flag for a fourth time. This time for NASA. Raila spoke…

ONE of the most fiercely debated aspects of Kenyan opinion polls at a time like this is whether or not surveys published prior to the final three months before a general election are of any value. Taking, for example, the current election cycle, the point in contention is this: How can we really know the extent of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s popularity when we do not know yet who his principal rival will be? For depending on who will eventually face him – as the candidate supported by the united opposition – he may find it even easier than expected to win reelection, especially if the opposition National Super Alliance breaks up over the selection of that single presidential candidate. Or it may turn out the opposition candidate proves to be…