The Star 09/27/2017

Girls in rural areas start having sex earlier than those in urban areas. But girls in rural areas begin using contraceptives much later, a survey indicates. The girls in rural areas start having sex at an average of 16.8 years. But they only start using contraceptives at age 22.9 years on average, when many of them have two children. The survey indicates rural girls lack access to information and in the 12 months preceding the study, only three in 10 had received family planning information from health providers. On the other hand, girls in urban areas start having sex at about 18.6 years, and start using contraceptives sooner at about 21.6 years. They end up with only one unintended pregnancy. “The gap between first sex and first contraceptive use among…

GRANTON SAMBOJA Forms team to tackle nurses strike The Taita Taveta Governor has formed a committee to help solve problems in the health sector. Nurses are on strike and are pushing for their CBA to be implemented. The team will comprise the county executives for Finance and Health, the county chief officer for Health and three members from the Kenya National Union of Nurses. See page 30 CHARITY NGILU Rejects flamboyant lifestyle The Kitui Govenor has instructed county staff to shift from the old practice of laxity, bureaucracy, red tape and the big-man syndrome. Ngilu departs from the ostentation of former Governor Julius Malombe’s administration of red-carpet treatment, a throne-like chair and mobile toilet. See page 34 BABU OWINO Risks losing his MP seat The Embakasi East MP risks losing…

The Kajiado assembly was turned into a laugh industry by the responses of a nominee for the position of county executive committee member. Joseph Sankale, the governor’s nominee for the Water docket, rocked the House with unending rib-cracking jokes on Monday that left panelists with dry throats. It all started when the panelists asked Sankale to say something about himself. His response was, “Sankale is a male adult from Amboseli. I’m done.” Speaker Johnson Osoi, who also chairs the County Assembly Vetting Committee, appeared suspicious of the candidate and removed his spectacles to get a closer look at who they were interviewing. Sankale was also asked the difference between a chief officer and the executive committee member and he said, “The ladder. I’m done.” When asked to expound on his…

THAT Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu (pictured) did not open the annual Law Society of Kenya Legal Awareness Week as expected is not news. What is news is what her handlers have told us. They say she did not refuse to attend the event in bad faith; the invite was sent to her very late, when she had already made arrangements to travel to Tanzania for an international conference. YESTERDAY we told you about how everyone around the President and his immediate family are getting involved in campaigning for him. State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu has told us that there is nothing strange with the First Lady, her children and all those supporting the head of state campaigning for him in public. AN insurance company associated with a senior Jubilee…

‘IF THEY WANT TO RESTORE MY SECURITY, IT IS UP TO THEM. I AM NOT GOING TO BEG THEM. AS YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE ME MY PENSION FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND I AM NOT GOING TO BEG. IT IS NOT IN OUR NATURE TO DO SO’ MOBS OF HOOLIGANS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PROTESTS BY THE OPPOSITION, ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY PROPERTY, HENCE, DISRUPTING BUSINESS IN THE CITY The government has recalled 20 security guards attached to NASA leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi and yesterday Raila said their lives may be in danger. “I have a good reason to believe they want to do harm to us. And rather than trying to do physical harm to us, they should just arrest us…

We have noted with concern that NASA’s anti-IEBC protests deviated from what is acceptable in an open democratic society, where the rule of law and human rights are observed. As witnessed, mobs of hooligans are taking advantage of the protests by the opposition, attempting to destroy property, hence disrupting business in the city. So far, the police have arrested and detained a number of criminals who were caught breaking the law. They will be produced in court and charged in accordance with the law. It cannot be termed a peaceful protest as the opposition has stated, when protesters bring with them crude weapons and are seen charging at the police, whose role is to ensure law and order are maintained. We congratulate the police for their restraint and professional conduct,…