histry in the making

The further back the history one goes the further away west one gets the more the massive the neglect and cruelty one finds. In several occasions many individual around the country travels long distances in search for jobs. Most if not all end up getting odd jobs. Nowadays even the leaned are facing the same challenges. What kind of jobs do the less learned and the illiterate do? I think the answer you have it. Some of them undergo finding themselves in difficult working conditions and very low salaries. It is not only in the European countries where the Africans are despised but even in their own countries; there is great cry from brothers and sisters who work for the Indians. it is shameful to see dark skinned people both in the same roofs of the some of this flats. I strongly believe that in these big bungalows there are bathrooms for their families but not for their servants who make sure that everything in their houses alright. The servants who works all the day are forced to both squatting to avoid being seen by the passerby, Is it fair for a human being to be treated as animals in the jungles or birds in the nests as though they have no homes and parent? It is high time the dark skinned people express there grievances and expose the many social ills in our society.

TEACHERS STRIKE MARK ITS THIRD DAY

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

For the third day yesterday the teachers are still adamant that they will not call off the country wide strike till the government heeds to their demand for a 300 percent pay rise. The teachers say that they won`t be intimidated by neither the Chief justice nor the minister of education or even the two principals Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki. “We are ready to go on with the strike until the government takes action. We will lose nothing except poverty. “The teaching sector is a competitive sector like any other because it is made up of qualified people so itshall not be intimidated by any civil service,” said the chairman Knut Mombasa Johnson Kibuga. “We have checked all schools and confirmed that no teacher has attended classes. The teachers should be steadfast and should not shy away from the strike or give up in any way because we are fighting for our right,” Mr Kibuga added. The teachers in Mombasa demanded that the Education Minister to be sacked or they be given what they are demanding that’s when they will stop the industrial action. The recent demonstration of teachers in other counties in Kenya caused havoc and the police were forced to interrupt and used force to scatter the rowdy teachers. The action of the police was condemned by the secretary KNUT Mombasa Mr Stephen Ouma. “I condemn with the strongest term possible the beating of harmless teachers. How do you expect such teachers who were beaten up to attend to students? The police should be respectful in their operation and should not go as far as beating up innocent teachers,” Mr Ouma said. The bitter teachers appealed to the teachers of Machakos that they should not vote for the Mutula Kilonzo as governor in the coming elections. “We are appealing to the teachers of Machakos particularly Makueni,Mbooni where Mr Mutula kilonzo is vying to be the governor`s position. The teachers in that area should do the needful because they are in the rural area and Mr Mutula Kilonzo cannot be a leader,” the KNUT treasurer Mombasa Mr David Mulei said. Furthermore the teachers do not allow the graduates and retired teachers to go and teach. This was also backed by a parent of Burhania primary school Ms Khadija Muadham “The ones who are losing are the children the teachers should be paid fully in order to resume classes,” said Ms Muadham whose child is now in class 8 “If anyone knows of any graduates or retired teachers who has taken the responsibility of teaching let us know so that we can go and flash them out. We do not allow our children to be taught by people who will mislead them. We are promising our children that once we are paid properly we will resume classes and teach you,” Mr Kibuga said. The teachers threatened to disrupt the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) conference that will take place in Mombasa. The Head teachers are also KNUT members. When there is an industrial action only the instructions from the KNUT headquarter is taken. We have strategized that all teachers from Kwale Mombasa Taita Lamu Kilifi will head there to make sure the conference does not take place. Every teacher should be united and no one should be used as a project to disrupt the teachers’ demonstration,” Mr Mulei said. “This year 101 billion shillings was returned to the treasury the teachers only need only 43 billion so that children can learn. So we should not be fooled that there is no money,” Mr Mulei added.

CLERICS AT THE COAST

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC) yesterday resolved to use events within the calendars to promote peaceful cohesion in Mombasa. The clerics have also resolved to attend each other`s festivals as an Inter-Faith venture. This is with the motive of restoring peace in Mombasa. The media was also urged to consider the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (Supkem), Council of Imams and Preachers in Kenya (CIPK), CICC, Hindu Council and Mombasa Church (MCF) as the organs to give the official religious position because they have been consistent in condemning the recent violence in Mombasa. Furthermore, the clerics advised their followers not to heed to provocation and divisive preaching of extremists in all religions who use houses of worship to propagate their misguided ideologies. The religious leaders added that the public is skeptical about the outcome effectiveness and outcome about the establishment of a team to investigate the death of Sheikh Aboud Rogo by the Director of Public Prosecution. However, they called out to anyone with evidence to cooperate with investigation team and demand that the report be made public within the scheduled time. The public was requested to heed to the National Cohesion and Integration Act Articles 13 and 62 regarding hate speech and incitement. It was also noted that the FM stations should also be prudent in their reporting and in their live talk shows many of which are not helping to reduce tension in Mombasa. “The government has to honor its part of the deal by quickly and promptly keeping its promise and duty to compensate and repair those churches that were destroyed in last week`s violence because it has an obligation to protect the lives and property of its citizens,” the CICC chairman Fr. Wilybard Lagho said. The Clerics in Mombasa were speaking under the auspices of the Coast Inter-Faith Council of Clerics together with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC). The CICC will establish a hotline to report hate speech and incitement to violence. A rapid response team (RRT) is also to be established within CICC to monitor and respond to any religious or political tension. Fr. Lagho added that the CICC is determined to maintain the spirit of respect and harmony in the coastal religion for it has always been a diverse, cosmopolitan multi-ethnic and multi-religious area.

MAKABURI DECIDES TO SURRENDER TO THE POLICE

By EMMANUEL BOAZ Mr Said Abubakar Shariff Ahmed alias Makaburi Ahmed yesterday denied charges of violence and disobedience of the law. The prosecutor Mr Peter Munguti read the charges as on the 27th of august at Masjid Musa Mosque in Majengo Area of Mombasa County within lawful excuse uttered words that all Sheikhs associated to the government agent to be slaughtered, all churches within the region should be burnt down and any Police Officer on sight should be killed which words indicated to bring death or physical injury to any person or any person or to any class, community or body of person or destruction of properties. Warrant of arrest of Mr Said Abubakar Shariff Ahmed alias Makaburi was today lifted by the chief magistrate Mr Elvis Micheka as applied by his lawyer Mr Mbugua Mureithi. A debate was also raised between the prosecutor and Mr Ahmeds` lawyer about following the legal court procedure. The prosecutor also said that Mr Ahmed was to help the police in the pending investigation. “We have the process which is followed before the accused is brought to court. We need at least two full working days to complete these investigations. I apply this case to be mentioned in this case on the 6th and the accused person to be remanded in police custody,” the prosecutor said “On the 30th of august when the case was filed against Mr Ahmed, no allegations were made by the prosecution that the accused was at large or a fugitive of the law. All that the prosecutor said was application of warrant of arrest. The accused has clearly demonstrated that he is not fugitive of the law he has brought himself to court despite not having being served formally the requirement to come to court,” Mr Mureithi said. “He is not to be subjected to detention orders because the constitution under article 49 clauses 1 (h) says such a person when he appears before the court has a right to be freed on bond. I urge a bail to be granted and direct that he report to the OC flying squad Makupa to be subjected to the formal process as soon as the bail is granted,” Mr Mureithi added. Application to the release the accused on bail was rejected by the magistrate. Mr Salim was however remanded at central police station awaiting hearing of his case on the 5th of September.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE COUNTRY WIDE TEACHERS STRIKE IN KENYA.

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

Students from different public primary and secondary schools in Mombasa County were today left stranded as teachers went on strike as they had promised. Public Primary and Secondary school students from all schools in Mombasa County forced to head back home on their first day at school after the august holidays. The secretary of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in Kilindini branch Mombasa County Mr Dan Aloo said that the strike is in progress as planned. “We are ready to fight with this oppressive government till 2014. The salary given to us is peanuts and we have a right to demand our payment. We are also sure that even private schools will join us because the exams will not be undertaken in Kenya without the teachers education internationally only recognizes the teacher given a license.” Mr Aloo lamented. The teachers are on strike demanding an increment in their salaries and called for all Head teachers and stakeholders to join in the fight against oppression. “We have agreed between teachers, students, parents leaders and all unions that teachers have a right to demand the increment in their salary,” he said “The teachers are educated and hardworking. We want our members of parliament to demonstrate on our behalf and to demand for ministerial statement in parliament,” he added “We are sending a message to the government that we shall not go back to class until all our demands are met and we are ready to continue with the strike for as long as the government has not heeded to our demands,” said the Chairman of KNUT Mombasa County Mr Johnson Kibuga. “Nobody is going to be seen within the vicinity of any public school until the secretary general commands and demands the teachers to go back to school,” Mr Kibuga said. The minister of Education Mr Mutula Kilonzo said that the strike is illegal but the order was neglected by the teachers saying that the strike is very much legal because the new constitution allows us to go on strike if the employer and employee do not agree. “Teachers are ready to fight for your rights because It is only in teaching profession where big negotiations have to be made. Other sectors people do not negotiate they are given salaries just on a silver platter. But for us, since independence we have had to go on strike to get what is rightfully ours. ,” the Chairman added. All the teachers cried out Solidarity power, solidarity pesa, and solidarity forever. However education went on as usual in private schools. “Your students are not learning but the children from the rich families in private schools are in progress.” Mr Aloo called for students to demonstrate to the District Commissioners office and parents to head to the courts. Education is the key in this country.

NEW GOVERNOR VYING FOR LAMU COUNTY.

By EMMANUEL BOAZ The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Museum of Kenya (NMK) has officially declared his candidature for the position of Lamu County Governor. Mr Issa Timamy who has today resigned said that he believes for the 9 years he has served as the chairman of NMK he has served to the best of his capacity and his achievements and successes are there for all to see. Mr Timamy is vying for the governor`s seat using the the United Democratic Forum (UDF) party ticket. “I’ve transformed the NMK from a moribund to a vibrant, relevant and effective institution,” he said. Mr Timamy has tones of promises for residents Lamu County. He will first deal with education sector. “Lamu County has been tailing when it comes to education and no leader has raised an eye brow and questioned the reason behind this. This is the chance for Lamu to shine when it comes to education,” He will also deal with economic empowerment where he will initiate small projects in agriculture and fishing. “Lamu has been ranked seventh resource wise but it is currently ranked one of the poorest Counties in Kenya. It is a contradiction in terms and this is indeed a reflection of poor leadership where resources do not benefit the citizens,” he said Mr Timamy will deal with drug abuse because Lamu has a dubious reputation of being drug den unemployment is rampant, poverty and inequality has increased. “In 90 days we will be able to scrape away drug abuse in Lamu once he is governor because he feels the current Government is not taking any action to curb drug abuse,” He added. With the construction of the new port at Lamu the Culture and heritage Concert is not affected and Mr Timamy will see to it that those who will be affected by the construction will be compensated fully and handsomely. Ends.

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM OF KENYA EYES TO BEING THE GOVERNOR FOR LAMU COUNTY

By EMMANUEL BOAZ The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Museum of Kenya (NMK) has today resigned and officially declared his candidature for the position of Lamu County Governor using the United Democratic Forum (UDF) party ticket. Mr Issa Timamy said that he believes for the 9 years he has served as the chairman of NMK he has served to the best of his capacity and his achievements and successes are there for all to see. “I’ve transformed the NMK from a moribund to a vibrant, relevant and effective institution,” he said. Mr Timamy has tones of promises for residents Lamu County. He will first deal with education sector. “Lamu County has been tailing when it comes to education and no leader has raised an eye brow and questioned the reason behind this. This is the chance for Lamu to shine when it comes to education,” He will also deal with economic empowerment where he will initiate small projects in agriculture and fishing. “Lamu has been ranked seventh resource wise but it is currently ranked one of the poorest Counties in Kenya. It is a contradiction in terms and this is indeed a reflection of poor leadership where resources do not benefit the citizens,” he said Mr Timamy will deal with drug abuse because Lamu has a dubious reputation of being drug den unemployment is rampant, poverty and inequality has increased. “In 90 days we will be able to scrape away drug abuse in Lamu once he is governor because he feels the current Government is not taking any action to curb drug abuse,” He added. With the construction of the new port at Lamu the Culture and heritage Concert is not affected and Mr Timamy will see to it that those who will be affected by the construction will be compensated fully and handsomely. Ends.

MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN CLERICS TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE PEACE iIN MOMBASA

By EMMANUEL BOAZ The Muslims and Christians clerics in Mombasa have been urged to come work together and preach peace. The chairman of the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (Kemnac) Sheikh Juma Ngao said that those who bomb churches break and destroy business premises in the name if Islam must be arrested and taken to court because they are criminals.

“As the chairman of (Kemnac) we strongly condemn the violence and burning of churches. In order for peace to prevail where as it shall be easy for Christians and Muslims to go to houses of prayer the perpetrators of the criminal activities should be arrested and taken to court.” He said. He further urged the government to form a committee to investigate all people who participated in one way or another in the killing of Sheikh Aboud Rogo, to bomb churches in Nairobi northeastern, the bombing of the crusade in Mtwapa, the killing of Orma and Pokomo in Tana River. Saying that the ones involved should be arrested and face the law. Sheikh Ngao who is pursuing a degree in theology and has read both the Bible and the Quran spoke against the Muslim preachers who parade themselves by the road side and criticize the Christians and the bible saying that Christians are pagans should stop doing that since it raises inter religious conflict. “I have read the holy Bible for 4 years and the holy Quran for 7 years. I have also preached the both for 7 years. The Muslim preachers who come together to criticize the bible and calling the Christians pagans should stop politics of criticism in religion because there is no one has the right to judge the other,” he said While quoting verses from the Bible and Quran he congratulated the Christians for not taking the law into their own hands even after many churches were looted and burnt. The act of turning into a religious war is not good because it has brought consequences for Nigeria by the Boko Haram, Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda. “We should come together Muslims and Christians as brothers and sisters in order to know the ones who killed Sheikh Aboud Rogo and the ones who burnt down Churches.” he added. The Chairman of Kenya National Inter Religion Network (KENIN) Rev Alfred Obaya said that they are bring together religious leaders to promote inter religious interaction and provide civil education in order to bring amicable resolutions of promoting peace in Kenya. “As Christians feel like we are being looked down on because our churches are being burnt, we are bombed while conducting crusades and we do not know the reason why. The government should provide maximum security,” Rev Obaya said. We seem to blame the Muslims but as we see the perpetrators are the youth who are criminals. The criminals and their criminal act can be ended by providing security and bringing to book these criminals,” he added Sheikh Ngao concluded by saying that the ones who are participating in the criminal activities are not Muslims but just pagans who have no sense of belonging and they are out to tarnish the Muslim religion because the holy Quran preaches against burning and looting of places of worship. They should be arrested and taken to court. He also urged all Mosques to call off the demonstration by Muslims meant for tomorrow after the afternoon prayers.

THOSE WHO LOST PROPERTY IN THE MOMBASA CLASHESMUST BE COMPENSATED

By EMMANUEL BOAZ.

The Prime Minister Raila Odinga today condemned the assassination of Sheikh Aboud Rogo. The destruction of property particularly churches, the targeting of innocent people and use of grenade attacks was further condemned by the prime minister. “I condemns the hidden hand behind the killing of Sheikh Aboud Rogo and the act of trying to create inter religious strives in the country,” the pm said Speaking to the press Mr Odinga said that the current situation at the coast can be controlled if the evil actions are condemned and the perpetrators isolated because their intention is to create war between the Christian and Muslim religions. The Pm said the way forward is to compartmentalize the communities that are the Christians and Muslims. Speaking to the press at the Nyali beach resort after attending to a meeting of coastal leaders to agree on the way forward after the experienced chaos in Mombasa following the death of Sheikh Aboud Rogo, the PM said that the Muslims and Christians must work together in harmony and send a message of unity to all the supporters. “The Muslim and Christian communities must work together in harmony and a message of unity must be send and leaders must also overcome leadership crisis,” the pm said. However those whose property was destroyed particularly churches will be compensated whereby their property will be reconstructed and restored, promised the Prime Minister.

GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED OVER BEING RELUCTANT IN RESPONDING TO THE TANA RIVER MASSACRE

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

Peace and security for development (PSD) network that comprises five organizations yesterday condemned the government for being reluctant in responding to the massacre killing in Tana River County. Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC), Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance (KMYA), Likoni Community Development Program (LICODEP) and Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI) have come together to make sure there is justice, security and prosperity in the community. “We feel that there is discrimination. If there are other tragedies in other areas, the government reacts faster and sends appeal, emissaries, martialing government resources bur now that about 50 people have been killed in tanariver, many losing their homes and livestock but nothing has been done not even an official statement from the government over this issue has been heard. Is it because this is a marginalized area?” said the executive director MUHURI Mr Hussein Khalid. Why has the government done completely nothing about the worsening situation in Tana River County? Is it because the area is densely populated and gathers not so many votes or is it because the residents are poor so as to be killed and massacred in a cold blooded manner? Where is the prime minister the president and the minister of internal security? He added. The vice chairman CICC Sheikh Ahmed Said that laxity in the part of security authority bearers hence making helpless children and women become a victim of such kind of skirmishes if the government takes more interest in ensuring security is beefed up such kind of massacres would be either controlled of kept to a minimum or avoided altogether. Bishop Kinoyah a CICC member said that it is perturbing that from the year 1998 we have an infiltration of small fire arms and this has been well known to the authorities we have had skirmishes on and off in various areas well known to the authorities some of these pastoralists need to bring their cattle to water points we wonder if these water points were availed so that they would not have a need or reason for the cattle to pass through the farms they were supposed to have areas where they would get to water points without interfering with the farms. If this was taken care of and availed, the skirmishes would have been maintained at a minimum. “All this happened despite the fact that information on the ground was made available to the authorities. Several meetings were held prior to the violence but the authorities downplayed the concerns and instead assured the public that all was well,” Said the human Right Officer Tana River County Ms Kupesha Mohammed. “We insist that our good government portrays a picture of concern which so far has really lacked. Some of the people have been housed by their relatives while others are in the bush. She added The network demands that the tanariver people must be treated like human beings. The government’s inaction and failure to address the concerns of the people in tanariver has brought all these actions to take place. The PSD networkalso demanded that swift action to be taken by the minister of internal security and special programs and set aside funds to help thebereaved familiesand those injured, dead buried and those that are hurt taken to hospital. Homes that were destroyed should also be rebuilt. “We appeal to the public to get concerned over the state of affair in the region and also contribute funds, foodstuffs and medicine to the affected communities” The group has already dispatched a strong team of human rights activists, religious leaders, peace makers, social workers and conflict managers to TanaRiver County to assist our officers on the ground to restore peace They urged the people of Tana River County in particular those from the Orma and Pokomo communities to exercise restraint and soberness. “We urge the three Members of Parliament of Tana River County, Honorable Danson Mungatana, Nuh Nassir and Dado Godana to personally see to it that peace prevails in the region.” This reaction comes a day after there were massacre killing in of 50 residents of Riketa in Tana River County most of them being women and children. Ends

TANA RIVER CLASHES

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

68 people Riket village in Tana delta were yesterday killed. Many of which are women and children. Speaking outside the provincial commissioner’s (pc`s) office, the councilor of Tanariver who also doubles up as the chairman of the council of tanariver ward Mr Salim Ngolo said that the 200 villagers were attacked during the night by an outlawed group of Pokomos. Their houses locked from outside before they were set ablaze and those who attempted to escape were sliced into pieced. “This is a peaceful village 40 kilometers away from where the clashes happened between the pastoralists and farmersit is a day of great sorrow because 200 villagers lost their homes and 500 livestock were all murdered by the gang of around 100 Pokomos. I have come to the pc`s office in order to give him the full details of the situation in the ground in order for him to help,” Mr Ngolo said. “There is a hidden agenda of the illegal group spreading the war all over Tana River County and they want to involve the whole community the government should come in and give a helping hand,” he added. Coast province commissioner Samuel Kilele said that he is yet to get the full details on the situation because his officers have not reached the area yet. He has GSU and Aps have been deployed in the area. “The attack took place in an area that is swampy so it has taken time for our officers on the ground to reach the place. Our officers have been forced to go back to Tarasaa and find another root to Ricket, from what I know it is a conflict and I do not have an idea of what has happened,” he said. “We had a very good meeting last time and everybody agreed to keep peacethe locals were advised to come together and talk, whereby they came to a conclusion with village elders that a Sh 10,000 fine for those who kill livestock and those who feed crops to livestock.The whole problem is not about government providing security but about the villagers revenging, “The way forward is to conduct peace forums with the clashing communities,” He added This incident comes barely two weeks after there were skirmishes in the Kau village in tanariver delta that left 110 families homeless, 190 heads of cattle dead.

End.

JUDICIARY MARCHES WEEK

By EMMANUEL BOAZ Yesterday marked the first day of a country wide program dabbed Judiciary Marches week that is to be conducted annually between the 21st and 26th august. In Mombasa the marches were launched by the Mombasa Law Court resident magistrate Mr Stephen Riech and the resident judge Mr John Mwera. “We are launching the judiciary marches week, an event to be held once every year around the country, as part of our transformation program. Through the judicial matches’ week, we seek not only to make the judiciary more accessible to the public, but also to remind ourselves of the constitutional edict that judicial authority comes from the people,” said the chief justice Mr Willy Mutunga in his speech that was read by the Mombasa resident judge Mr John Mwera. The program is meant for the judiciary to carry out a series of activities that place its officials in all courts stations around the country from the judges, magistrates and kadhis, in order to be in direct contact with the mwananchi. “Judiciary staff are marching, proud of the fact that they are in the service of the public, and appreciative of the fact that it is this public that pays our salaries, pays our allowances, and buts our cars, and they do this despite the fact that 50 per cent of the Kenyan population live below the poverty line. We are bonded to serve Kenyans foot the bill for justice and we have a duty to explain ourselves to them,” said Mr Mutunga. This comes due to the expectation by the new constitution on the judiciary. It requires the judiciary to meaningfully engage with the public and all stakeholders. The judiciary is therefore transforming into a more open and accessible institution. “The constitution requires a recreation of public needs and continuous accountability in the execution of their mandate. This is part of the mental shift that public institutions and servants need to make as part of the Kenya`s new constitution dispensation. We live in an age where power must be accountable including judicial power. So we, as the judiciary, are marching as part of this accountability,” Mr Mutunga said. This is the first time the judiciary is making ties directly with the public by holding meetings at public places to explain how the courts work, and how the public can access and use them. They will visit various groups to receive public feedback, engage with education institutions and professional associations to explain the role of the judiciary and the staff will take part in charitable activities as part of the institution`s social responsibility action. Through the platform of dialogue and feedback the judiciary will nurture and sustain public support by responding directly to them and ultimately build faith in the institution and better deliver its mandate by delivering its own voice. In the next couple of months the chief justice will be joining colleagues and the public in the marches. “I shall join colleagues and the public in areas long marginalized to be a part of this conversation. No place is too remote for the reach of justice. The judiciary is for Kenyans there is no more favored and none discriminated against, “We are to establish court user committee at national, county and court station level, which give all the actors in the justice chain from the prosecution directorate, the attorney general, the police to the prisons to civil society organizations a forum to work together to resolve issues that prevent them from delivering on their mandates,” said the chief justice. A representative of the court users committee Mr Jackson Ondari asked more staff to be hired in the office of the dpp in order to fast track backlog of cases. “We must assist the courts in achieving its dream it takes two to tangle. As court users, we trust all players, the challenge of inadequate staff in the dpp`s office should be addressed to remove backload of cases this way we will be able to realize our dream in the short way possible,” Mr Ondari said. The Mombasa law court serves the greater Mombasa district and has several courts under it. We have the main law court housing both the high court and the chief magistrate`s court. A special court which is administered in compliance with the children`s act is the Tononoka children`s court handles all cases involving children and also handles child custody and maintenance disputes. There are 7 judges of the high court 15 magistrates, 2 kadhis and 165 judicial staff in the Mombasa Law Court. The Mombasa court also has the kadhis court presided over by the chief kadhi hence making Mombasa the headquarters of the kadhis court in the country and it handles civil cases in which one or both parties profess Muslim faith. It also handles marriage and divorce cases. The judiciary has also opened the municipal court to handle offences under the municipal by laws. “In order to make it more effective we are consulting with other stake holders to have the courts handle disputes and claims against bodies established under the Local Authorities Act which will include licensing approvals and rates defaults. With the aid of giving strengthening the capacity of the court to give rate payers value for their money, the municipal law courts will also handle suits brought by dissatisfied rate payers against the municipal council,” said the Mombasa resident magistrate Mr Stephen Riech. Lastly the Shanzu Law Courts which was inaugurated over two months ago; serves Bamburi, Kiembeni, Mtwapa, and Kijipwa police station in Kilifi. The Mombasa resident magistrate says that the establishment of the shanzu courts has gone a long way into decongesting the Mombasa Law courts and a source of convenience to litigants who used to travel long distance to come to Mombasa Island. In the next few years, we intend to open courts in Likoni and Changamwe, in order to take justice closer to the people. “It is a moment for us who are privileged to serve in the judiciary to open up to the public; explain to them how we work; and get feedback from the people on how to improve our services.” “We have embarked on an elaborate program to transform to transform the judiciary by making it people centered and services and service oriented. Indeed, this is the first pillar of the judiciary transformation framework, launched a little over two months ago.” “The new judiciary is becoming more open, accessible, modern, efficient and effective.” Challenges The resident magistrate Mr Stephen Riech says that the main challenge in Mombasa is the existence of backlog of cases which have been brought up by lack of adequate number of Judicial Officers. With the aid of solving the backlog of cases, Mr Riech said that 10 magistrates have been hired by the judicial service commission 6 of which have reported and 4 others are yet to report. The high court has 6969 civil cases, 41 criminal cases, and 75 criminal appeal cases which are lying pending. The chief magistrate court has 46,580 civil cases and 3,305 criminal cases that are lying pending. Way forward Strategies have been adopted in order to determine the cases these being reduction of the hearing of criminal cases for those charged with ordinary offences and are in remand to a maximum of 6 months. For those charged with capital offences, a 9 months target period has been set to finalize the cases. In civil cases, all cases will have hearing dates fixed by courts instead of relying on parties to initiate the process. “From next year there will be no civil cases filed without a hearing date. If on that date for hearing parties who have been notified and are not present, the cases will be dismissed,” the resident magistrate said. 7,390 civil cases in the high court and 7,280 civil cases in the chief magistrate court old cases where action has not been taken by parties will be dismissed for lack of prosecution in the next two months. Judgment will be delivered on due date and no orders for judgment to be deliveredon notice. Lastly provision of civil procedure act order 3 rule 3 will be implemented faithfully, Which includes small claims cases that involve not more than two parties and whose monetary value does not exceed Sh 49,999, fast track cases which are cases with undisputed facts and legal issues relatively few parties and would likely be concluded within 180 days after the pretrial directions and multi-track cases which are cases with complex facts and legal issues or several parties and which would likely be concluded within 240 days from the date of pretrial direction. In order to address the problem of lost or misplaced files, the Mombasa Law courts will in the next one month enter into partnership with Kenya Transitional Initiative of the USAID to digitize all files in Mombasa and save them in soft copy for easy retrieval. The Mombasa Law Courts have also set up an information and customer care desk to guide one when he or she comes into the premises, a hot mail number 0711 347 207 was provided were one can call or send sms giving the case number name and the question one needs to ask. The Mombasa law courts will get back to the person within 16 hours. An email address mombasacourt@judiciary.go.ke was set up in the aid to enhance interactiveness with clients. “We urge all of you to use the above avenues to communicate to us or better still you can sms your argument to 5834 for the ombudsperson,” said Mr Riech. However, to address the challenge of inadequate court rooms and chambers, the judiciary is putting up a modern court premises to house the court of appeal and all divisions of high with the help of the World Bank. To confirm the judiciary commitment, A Mombasa Law Court staff pledge was made publicly by the Mombasa judicial staff that they pledge to cordially great clients and welcome them to the courts, treat clients with courtesy, dignity and respect, they will explain the court and registry processes to clients with patience and understanding, they will accept and respond to clients` complaints and comments in written, verbal, or electronic form, they will provide reasonable assistance due to delay or inability to locate files and reconstruct any missing file with a sense of urgency and lastly that they will take all due and deliberate steps to expedite the finalization of cases.

Ends

majistrates and judges in a photo session with the chief juctice at bamburi beach hotel.

KONGOWEA RAMPAGE

By EMMANUEL BOAZ It was business as usual at Kongowea market yesterday after the angry Market operators broke into the market without paying for the usual levy at the gate. The hawkers complain about the exorbitant prices put in place by the council. The business men are bickering about the increase in the charges of different equipments in the market as levy. The chairman of the Kongowea Wholesale Market Mr Peter Nyaga claimed the council had put in place a 400 percent increase before it consulted the hawkers at the market. We do not refuse the increment but the rates are too high and to add onto it we were not consulted before the sudden increase,” Mr Nyaga said. The hawkers said in one voice that they are not against the increment but the way the exercise was conducted. “We were forced to pay the imposed exorbitant prices yesterday. A bag of tomatoes which we were charged at sh 20 is now increased to sh 50,” Mrs Biasha Hamisi said. The market is in a pathetic state the road leading to the market has a lot of pot holes, there is a lot of garbage all over that has not been collected and lastly there are no lavatories in the market and the ones available are dirty. Mr Suleiman Shabal a Mombasa business man and aspirant for the governors position come the next general elections said they have gone to court as concerned citizens to appeal against the increase in the rates and the issue of the identity cards when one is getting into the market. “We feel that politicians want to bring their political interests into picture,” added Mr Shabal. Speaking to the town clerk of Mombasa Mr Tubmun Otieno at his offices he said that the increase of the price was reached after an extensive consultation between the concerned parties. “We have tried our best to keep the marked clean in spite of the low rates that we charge,” said Mr Tubmun urging the hawkers not to expect a lot after giving little to the council. “However we have talked it out with the hawkers and have decided to continue paying the old gazette rate till the end of Ramathan.” The town clerk concluded.

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INCITMENT OF STUDENTS BY PARENTS

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

The Waa high school board chairman Mr Mohammed Mwakweli accused the form four parents of inciting their children. About 80 Parents of the Waa high school were forced to go back home with their children that had strikedafter the interrogative talks between the parent teacher and the student, they were supposed to have with the school board refused to bear fruits. The parents were very bitter saying that they wanted a collective discussion of all the parents together with their children since they have stayed at home for three weeks now and they are losing a lot as far as education is concerned since they are form four students. “These are cases and cases can not to be done in the open we have to interrogate these children and the parents to hear out the problems. We are not the first school to do interrogation in Kwale county around 11 schools which have strikes have practiced interrogation policy,” Said the Board chairman. Among the parents grievances was the school imposing an additional amount of Sh 3,500 on the school fee in order to cater for buying a generator. Mr Mwinyi Mohammed a parent said that the performance of the school has been depreciating due to the board serving for a long time in the secondary school. “Mwafungo has stayed in the school for such a long time and he is accustomed to the board and the P.T.A and takes the school like it belongs to him. We all want the P.T.A and the board to be dissolved. We also want the head master to be sent away and another head teacher brought in.” added Mr Mohammed. On the 14th of July there was a meeting with parents and they agreed unanimously to buy a generator because of frequent blackouts in the region. “The 80 form four students on the 19th July walked out of school at around 2:00 am to the provincial education officer and that was before the start of the mock exams leaving behind 35 students behind. The P.D answered by saying that they do not solve problems of account the problem is to be solved by the board,” Said the board Chairman. “The generator issue was passed by the parents through the P.T.A chairman Mr Raymond Nyamawi. We as the committee think that what caused the students unrest was because of exams,the school was under tension on the 19th of July and they further disrupted classes for other students by throwing stones before we decided to take them home.” The students were expected to report back to school on the 25thJuly to talk about the issue but it was postponed to the 3rd of august because part of the teachers and the school head teacher had gone for the district games. Our aim was to solve the problem today so that all the children so as to decide whether the students are to commence their tuition or not. “The coast province is poor when it comes to education matters there is lack of communication between the teachers and the students, these are teenagers growing up and need cancelling sessions and recreation activities. These are adults and need not to be forced into anything but the teachers should instead reason with them,” Mrs Faith Mgaza lamented. “We do not say that our children are always right but there are things that need to be rectified so as to improve the education standards in the coast.” Mrs Mgaza added. Cases of incitement of students by parents and throwing blames was spoken against by the board chairman “We have discovered that we have incitements from parents. Kwale county and any other county within coast province will not prosper in education if the parents will not dedicate to work with the school administration,” said Mr Mwakweli “The board chairman called for proper understanding between the he parents and the administration in order to achieve good performance,” he added. Mr Mwakali said that the 80 students did not sit for their mock examination and the decision of them coming back to the school remains with the board. However, the form four students are to accompany their parents back to the school on the 15th of August as the K.C.S.E exams commence in October.

A TRUCK THAT WAS TRAPPED BY THE ELECTRICITY WIRES CABLES AS IT WAS FERRYING A FIRE BRIGADGE CAR TO THE MOMBASA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

PROTESTS BY WATER KIOSK VENDERS AS THE MOMBASA SEWERAGE COMPANY PUTS IN PLACE NEW POLICIES

By EMMANUEL BOAZ

Coast Water kiosk venders yesterday went on protest opposing the new policy that was put in place by the Mombasa Sewerage company. The Mombasa water sewerage company managing director Engineer Moses Kinya responded to the protest saying that Water services regulatory board requires had to come in between to regularize and streamline water vending business. The new kiosk management policy was developed by the board of directors and management and implementation of the policy is currently in place. The policies require that the kiosks are placed in hygienic conditions. Moreover, operators should also observe required off take so as not to deny water to customers downstream who have connections to their houses However, the kiosk operators should also control and ensure that they sell water at the gazette prices so as not to sell at exorbitant prices and not exploit consumers. Furthermore the malpractice of kiosk venders interfering with meters thereby denying the company revenue required for operation and holding water awaiting low supply was discouraged by Mr Kinya. The water services providing company has been selling water to its consumers by rationing because of inadequate water in the reserves.

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CRY OF INTERNS AT THE COAST GENERAL HOSPITAL OVER DELAYED PEYMENT

By Emmanuel Boaz The interns are planning to call a nationwide protest on the 7th of this month for delayed payment of their wages. Around 900 interns now owe the government over sh 500,000. The interns were selectedby the ministry of medical services in March and commenced work on the first of April. At the coast general hospital around 40 interns are calling out for the payment of their salaries.

“Many of us have been having debts and we were waiting for the payment by the governmentand have areas for 5 months now. We are taking our cries to all Kenyans because we have been pushed too much to the wall and we are not able to take it anymore,” Said Dr Mohammed Sudi “If the government will not have given us the payment by the 7th, we will not have an option butall doctors, nurses and other hospital operators will down our tools,” Dr Mohammed Sudi concluded. This is a country wide problem.

KENYA DEFENCE FORCE (KDF) RECRUITMENT MOVES TO KWALE COUNTY

By EMMANUEL BOAZ There was a large turnout at the kwale high school grounds where the Kenya Defense Force (KDF) was conducting recruitment yesterday. Joblessness and idleness of the youth in this county caused the large turn up said Hassan Magoti a participant in the exercise. Lt Col Dk Njema who is in charge of the recruitment that started in Msambweni said that Matters of inconsistencies of names in the identity cards caused many recruits to lose a chance because their names in ID cards never marched those in the birth certificate. Three women managed to have a ticket into out of the thirteen that were participated in the exercise. Mwanaisha Fikirini and Mealii Ndaro took the first and second position consecutively. “It was hard because I was firsting and I had not practiced too, but the exercise was conducted competently,” said Binti Rashid one of the recruits that participated. The recruitment in Kwale, seen as the stronghold of secessionist Mombasa Republican Council, passed off without any incident. Armed soldiers stood guard as the potential recruits were taken through physical exercises and other medical checks. Some 2,200 service men and women, 150 cadets and 25 specialists will join the KDF by the end of the month long recruitment across the country. “The public should rectify their documents and they should also avoid having initials in their registration letters in order to manage a chance in the recruitment,” urgedLt Col DK. Njema. Tomorrow the recruitment will be conducted in Kinango.

kibarani road accident involving a loorry and a masho company bus

three dead and twelve injured in kibarani road crush.

GRUESOME ACCIDENT IN KIBARANI AT AROUND 5:30 AM

By EMMANUEL BOAZ Three fatalities are reported dead and 12 seriously injured in a fatal road accident involving a mash company bus and a lorry at Kibarani. The Mash bus was from Kitui headed to Mombasa and it was just minutes away to their Mombasa station when it was involved in the accident. The lorry belonged to Multiple Haulers “The bus and the lorry were headed towards the same direction whereby the bus rammed into the lorry on the rear side after swerving to the lorry’s side hence causing the accident. One lady and two men are dead while injured have been taken to various hospitals” the coast province deputy traffic police commander Mr Robert Kitur Kepkembor said. A bodaboda operator Mr Suleiman Shanga Chitumbo who was heading to town at the moment the accident happened said that the lorry was in front of the bus when he saw the bus swerving to the Lorries lane causing an impact that forced the lorry onto the pavement. At the hospital the culprits were being attended to. Speaking to Rev Johanah Songok a relative of Reuben Mwadime who is now in critical condition at coast general hospital, he said that they had a rough time trying to get medicine at the hospital. “I had to go and buy intravenous infusion from the chemist in order for my patient to get treated,” Rev Songok said. “I am to take my patient to Jocham hospital or Aghakhan hospital later because he will not be attended to properly while he is here but I must recommend the nurses here for the good work they have done so far,” Songok added. There have been frequent accidents in coast province and the deputy traffic police commander urged all the drivers to be take precautions while driving in order to ensure the safety of their passengers. At the same time there was another accident at Bamburi that claimed one life.