The Star 01/23/2017

Talks to end the strike by doctors are expected to resume early this week. The union officials have only three days from today to reach an agreement with the government and call off the strike or risk going to jail for 30 days, beginning Thursday. The negotiations ended abruptly on Wednesday last week. Health CS Cleopa Mailu yesterday invited the doctors to talks, but insisted the government cannot pay the high salaries they are demanding. He said the government is keen on resolving the strike before Thursday, but doctors have maintained their hard-line stance and lack interest in any solution. “It is apparent the doctors’ union has engaged side shows and use of diversionary tactics to frustrate the efforts and intentions by the government to resolve the current impasse,” he…

KEPHA OMBACHO State has drugs to treat bird flu The director of Public Health has said Kenya has enough medicine to treat bird flu in case humans get infected. He urged Kenyans to avoid eating suspect chickens. The disease has not been reported in Kenya, but was confirmed in Uganda two weeks ago. Kenya has since banned the importation of all bird and chicken products from Uganda. See page 12 ISAAC RUTTO Says he won’t release tea cash The Bomet governor has said failure by nine tea factories to put in place structures has delayed the release of Sh63 million by his government. He denied claims by some legislators that he wants to divert the money to other functions. Rutto said directors representing the factories should help tea buying centres…

Six lions within the Nairobi National Park will be collared from today. Kenya Wildlife Service spokesperson Paul Gathitu in a statement said the drive to be led by KWS director general Kitili Mbathi will help in the management of the big cats. “We have liaised with other conservation partners and five lions have been fitted with satellite radio collars to monitor their movement and location,” he said. The park, which is one of the smallest in Africa, has abundant wildlife. But the park is now faced with challenges after the SGR was allowed to cut through it. KWS has been struggling to conserve wildlife, but efforts are hampered by lack of funds. At least six lions escaped from the Nairobi National Park in February last year, a situation KWS attributed…

IS Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua (pictured) aware that his officials have forced a resident to close down a Sh1 million poultry business in Mutituni? Mwenga Mavuo has not been able to run his poultry farm and other businesses due to frustrations and frequent arrests of his workers by county government officials on flimsy allegations of operating without a licence, despite having acquired the document. In addition, Mavuo has spent about Sh100,000 bailing out his workers after arrests by Machakos government officers. The old man has also closed two business premises on orders from the same officials, who claimed they were built on road reserves. Mavuo suspects that his son-in-law, a Machakos MCA who is eying his land, is using the county officers to intimidate him. STILL on matters do with…

A visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s mother, Mama Ngina, to retired President Daniel arap Moi may have been more political than spokespeople for either side admitted. The Saturday meeting came to light through leaked photos of the two after they had lunch at Moi’s Kabarak home in Nakuru county. Mama Ngina said that she visited Moi to check up on a friend and Moi asked her to visit again in the near future. “I am here to check on you as a friend,” she said. Moi said he was happy to meet with Mama Ngina Kenyatta, adding that the friendship between the two families is growing stronger. With neither of the sides willing to give official details of the meeting, it is believed that the two may have talked about…

Mama Ngina was born Ngina Muhoho in 1933, daughter of Chief Muhoho wa Gathecha, in Kiambu District, Central Province. In 1951, at age 18, Ngina was married by Jomo Kenyatta, who was 61, as his fourth wife. When Kenya gained Independence in 1963, she started being referred to as Mama wa Taifa (Mother of the Nation), hence her name became Mama Ngina Kenyatta. Mama Ngina bore Kenyatta four children - Kristina Wambui (1952), Uhuru Kenyatta (1961), Anna Nyokabi Kenyatta (1963) and Muhoho Kenyatta (1964). She often accompanied Jomo in public, and had some streets in Nairobi and Mombasa, as well as a children’s home, named after her. Mama Ngina became a Roman Catholic, and was known to attend Mass every Sunday with some of their children. She also became one…