The publicity Deputy President William Ruto is receiving in local media outlets has worried a senior political stalwart, among others. The latest was the dramatic downgrading of his security, which was front-page news. At a recent strategy meeting with a group of scribes, a source whispered to Corridors of Power, the stalwart urged them to 'go slow' on Ruto. He said both positive and negative stories were giving the defiant No.2 undue mileage and sympathy as he's been shoved out of the Jubilee administration. Ruto's camp is monitoring coverage of their candidate, saying any publicity is good publicity.
***
A woman MP from Mt Kenya region has been accused by residents of trying to sabotage police operations in her hometown. Corridors is informed the MP recently ordered the transfer of the OCS after he arrested her son who was caught peddling bhang. The cases of abuse of bhang and chang'aa have reached high levels in her county. Residents wonder what kind of example the MP is setting for her constituents. They are now pldanning to hold demonstration to denounce her for interfering with police operations. They also want the Office of the President to take note of the unbecoming behavior of the outspoken MP.
***
Some state functionaries are said to be scheming to break the law. Which law? The Mwongozo Code of Conduct governing appointments to state corporations. This follows recent court rulings nullifying appointments to state parastatals. A former board chairman of a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade is reportedly bragging that he has the backing of influential individuals and will soon be reappointed as chairman of the parastatal for a third term. Those in the know claim the former chairman has been claiming that he has connections with the powers that be and it is only a matter of time before he makes his way back to the office. However, the law is clear that a chairman of a parastatal cannot serve for more than two terms.
***
A first-term MP from a county in Nyanza region is under pressure from his constituents to clear the air over allegations that he has sold his private home in the area and bought a new one at an upmarket estate in Nairobi. The man is said to have trebled the amount for the construction of a local school, funds which he reportedly used to top up for the purchase of his new home in the city. Elders in his constituency have now told him to forget reelection until he refunds the public money and puts up another home in the village.
(Edited by V. Graham)
