Powerful politicians close to Deputy President William Ruto (pictured) were overheard last weekend complaining at a city hotel that an adviser on their team could be a liability. The lot complained that the self-styled expert had reduced himself to a tribal street-level blogger complete with foul language. They are concerned that the man keeps undermining their team's effort to package their candidate as a non-tribal crusader out to unify citizens in every corner of the country. They said it was time to limit the man's access to the big man in the interests of their political strategy as the 2022 polls fast approaches.
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Is a top politician eying the presidency having trouble with his communications? There have been protests from a section of his party’s allied team that some of the communicators are sleeping on the job. Some have claimed some employees are doing the work as though it’s a birthright. There are claims of lethargy and inability to adopt modern ways of communications. There is a push for the politician to overhaul his team. However, it remains to be seen, as some of those blamed are said to have the backing of the politician’s family.
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A senior education official in Busia county humiliated teachers who arrived late at a primary school on the reopening day by locking them out of the institution, much to the amusement of pupils. The teachers became the laughing stock of pupils as they sneaked into the school through panya routes (secret passageways), usually used by the learners when they arrive late. The official is said to have argued that it would be hard for the teachers to plan for the new term if they report late on the first day. The teachers on the other hand said they should be treated as adults and not kids.
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It appears Kenyan politicians will go to extremes to ensure one of their own holds a powerful position in government. Some MPs were overheard saying their colleague was pushing hard to have his son secure a top job as a state officer. They said the legislator is using his wealth and connections in government and business circles to influence the appointment of his son to the office. Interestingly, they said not many of the people he is engaging to secure the job are aware that the man he wants to take the job is actually his son, sired with his lover.
(Edited by V. Graham)
