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Story by Dickens Wasonga

The government want  emloyers,especially those of the Asian descent to cultivate good working reletions between themselves and their employees.

Nyanza deputy PC Mr. David  Irungu observed that the recent skirmishes exposed the deep sitted bad blood that exists between the workers and their empolyers.

The administrator recalled how  some workers took advantage of the violence witnessed in Kisumu city to loot and in some cases helped the agacers to identify which firms to destroy.

Some of them helped looters to track down their employers even within the estates where they reside so as to settle scores which they had with them at their places of work.

Mr. Irungu told a workshop organised by the Kenya association of manufactures in a Kisumu hotel that the region had many pending labour related cases the bulk of which were reported by the employees.

Complaints have been raised in the past by workers especially the unskilled ones who feel they are being exploited by the Asians.

Such greivances range from being kept as casuals for many years,working long hours with no over time,working in poor conditions and high handedness.

Those who have fallen victims have accussed the ministry of labour officials of turning a blind eye on their suffering after being comromised.

The one day meeting to review progress made by KAM since late last year was attended by business community representatives and manufactures from the region.

The author Dickens  Wasonga, is a freelance journalist in Kisumu, Kenya
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<Story by Charles Onyango-Obbo.

Apart from a few people like former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, I have great difficulty finding politicians who excite me.

When the buzz about Kenya-descended US Senator Barack Obama started with his entry into the race to be the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, I didn’t join the party.  I checked with a long-time friend in the US, a deeply intelligent Clinton-leaning champion cynic whom it is difficult to fool, how he sized up Obama. He was unenthusiastic, telling me the man was untested, and for a politician of his age and background, disappointingly small-minded about free trade.

I knew Obama had a shot not just at bagging the Democratic Party nomination, but a bankable chance of winning the US presidency when two months ago, I asked the same friend in the US how the Democratic Party contest was going, and he replied, “Obama is looking good.”  Then he revealed, with a lot of embarrassment on his part, that in fact he had contributed some money to the senator’s campaign! First I couldn’t believe him, but it was enough to force me to give Obama a second look. After all, his ancestral home in Nyanza is just a river and a few hills away from our home in eastern Uganda.

So what will an Obama (Right photo speaking – seated is Raila Odinga, the newly appointed Premier) presidency mean for Africa? Or to be a little sectarian, for East Africa?  There are quite a few people in Africa who believe that because he is black and his father was Kenyan, a President Obama’s policies will favour Africa.  In reality, it can’t be that easy. A few years ago, I read an interview with the American singer Toni Braxton, at a time when she was the most happening musician. Towards the end, she was asked what it meant to be a successful artist in America.

She said that if you are a black woman, to survive in the American popular entertainment industry, you had to spend a lot of money on things few white women had to: For example, on very expensive hair extensions and weaves, and so on. “It is tough being a black woman,” she said.

If truth be told, it is tough being a black politician too. Not only America will judge Obama as a black man if he ever gets to be president, but Africa and the rest of the world too will do the same.  If Obama fails, it won’t be one man who fails. It will be every black person in the world.  And one can imagine that there will be people who will say that it explains why Africa, with its Robert Mugabes, is in its current mess. It will be because we just can’t hack it. It’s a prospect that’s enough to scare Africans who are thin-skinned about racism into praying for Obama to lose the Democratic party nomination.

That said, I think the best thing that would happen to Africa is for Obama to win the presidency — and do absolutely nothing for the continent. In fact, it would be better if he adopted the most unfavourable policies towards Africa of any recent American president. That would be a shocker, but it would help clarify to Africa that, ultimately, politics is about interests, no matter your tribe or race.  Right now, if a white president of a Western country refuses to send his army to stop genocide in some African country or to give money to feed the starving of Darfur, we all suspect that it’s racism at work.

But if Obama became president and did that, it would help many more see that the first duty of a leader is to take care of his or her own people. And Africa would finally appreciate that the world owes it nothing. That we have to feed and save ourselves.

*Charles Onyango-Obbo is Nation Media Group’s managing editor for convergence and new products.

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Kenya’s defending champion Robert Cheruiyot won his fourth Boston Marathon in six years on Monday.

Cheruiyot, 29, finished in an unofficial time of two hours, seven minutes and 46 seconds, followed in second place by  Abderrahime Bouramdane in 2:09:04 and Khalid El Boumlili of Morocco third 2:10:35.

Cheruiyot, the first Kenyan man to win four Boston Marathons after victories in 2003, 2006 and 2007, controlled the pace through the hilly Boston suburbs.

The 29-year-old Kenyan put distance between himself and a thinning pack of runners at about one-and-a-half hours into the race but slowed in the final stretch to miss by 32 seconds his own 2006 course record.

“It was a tough race. Boston is not that easy. The course is very difficult,” he told a news conference after winning the $150,000 winner’s prize and a likely chance to represent Kenya at the Beijing Olympics in August.

It was the 16th time since 1991 that a Kenyan has won the world’s oldest annually contested marathon.

The real drama was in the women’s field, where Tune and Russia’s Alevtina Biktimirova battled shoulder-to-shoulder through the final stages with both runners sprinting ahead of the other in the final yards in the closest finish in the history of the women’s race in Boston.

“I am happy to be winning in Boston,” said Tune, 22, who placed second in last year’s Olympic Commemoration Marathon in Nagano, Japan.

Biktimirova, 25, said she simply lacked enough power.

“I wanted to win very badly. I was fighting until the end,” she said. “In the end I just didn’t have enough speed.”

In the men’s race, Cheruiyot finished the 112th edition of the Boston Marathon in an official time of two hours, seven minutes and 46 seconds, in ideal race conditions with temperatures around 50 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius), partly cloudy skies and little wind.

Only one American finished in the top 10, Nicholas Arciniaga taking 10th place. The last American to win the Boston Marathon was Greg Myer in 1983.

No elite U.S. women runners entered this year because the race came a day after the nation’s top women competed in Boston for three spots on the U.S. Olympic team.

Deena Kastor, who won bronze at the 2004 Athens Games, won the U.S. Olympic women’s trials on Sunday, securing her spot at the Beijing Olympics.

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Story by C. Musonda

Countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) have been commended for not allowing their territories used as transit of military hardware the Zimbabwean government bought from China.

A Chinese ship, An Yue Jiang, was not allowed on Mozambique waters last week while in South Africa the vessel was turned away and is reported heading for Angola in hope for docking.

On Sunday, Zimbabwe announced a further delay in a partial recount of the vote in the March 29 parliamentary election the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) declared to have out-rightly won.

The SADC chair and President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, said China could play a more useful role in the Zimbabwe crisis than supply the weaponry.

“I hope this will be the case with all the countries because we don’t want a situation which will escalate the situation in Zimbabwe more than it is,” President Mwanawasa told reporters in Lusaka.

The SADC chairman said he was happy South Africa and Mozambique had refused to have the weapons off-loaded on their territories saying the answer to the situation in Zimbabwe was dialogue.

The vessel, An Yue Jiang, left South African waters Friday after the court declined permission of transporting the arms across that country.

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Everybody expected him to go but Kibaki decided otherwise. The president, by doing so, has shown his trust towards Muthaura and wants him to be around for sometime in order to continue taming the ODM new-comers who think a government is run as in active politicking where one can say things but does not have the responsibility to follow up.

19 new PSs named as Muthaura remains

Story by NATION TEAM

President Kibaki has appointed 19 new Permanent Secretaries and dropped nine others as he put final touches to the grand coalition government unveiled last week. 

Francis Muthaura Secretary to the Cabinet, and Head of Public Service

The team will be headed by long-serving Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, who was widely expected to retire from the Civil Service on account of his age.  

Also notable is the return of Dr Mohamed Isahakia to public service as Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Dr Isahakia has been Personal Secretary to Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Pentagon office and was a key member of the ODM team that negotiated sharing of Cabinet positions in the grand coalition government. 

The line-up seemed to reward party loyalty as some of those appointed played a key role in the General Election as well as events that followed the disputed presidential election results.

Also in the team are university professors from the public universities, including a deputy vice-chancellor. 

The 19 new PSs are among a total of 56 appointees who include key sectional secretaries in the government, the State House Comptroller Hyslop Ipu, Investment Secretary Esther Koimett, Economic Secretary Dr Kamau Thuge and Financial Secretary Mutua Kilaka, who have all retained their jobs.

But contrary to speculation some of those who have attained the retirement age of 55 years were retained in the new line-up.

Those dropped were Dr Gerishon Ikiara of Transport, Cyrus Gituai of Internal Security, Solomon Boit of Local Government, Mahboub Mohamed of Water and Irrigation, Zachary Mwaura of Defence and Ms Joyce Nyamweya who was in charge of Structural Reforms.

Others are Mrs Rachael Arunga of Special Programmes, Rachael Dzombo of Gender, Sports and Social Services and Alice Mayaka of Home Affairs.

Instead, he appointed Mr Francis Kimemia, who has been a deputy secretary, the new Internal Security PS while Mr Kenneth Lusaka, the Murang’a South District Commissioner, was named the Secretary, Provincial Administration.

Mr Abdulrazak Aden Ali, the Managing Director of Uaso Nyiro Development Authority, will be the new PS at Transport while Mr Samuel Kirui, a former Telkom managing director, is the new Local Government PS.

Ms Nancy Kirui has been switched from Home Affairs to Defence and her place taken by Dr Ludeki Chweya, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi who has lately been consulting for the government on political issues.

Global award

Ms Nyamweya’s position has been taken over by Mr Richard Ndubai who has been instrumental in civil service reform and is credited with the civil service global award that the government won last year.

The surprise retentions include Energy PS Patrick Nyoike, Prof Karega Mutahi of Education and Dr David Stower of Water and Irrigation. They are all said to be past retirement age.

The new PS for Labour is Ms Beatrice Naliaka Wasike, a PNU supporter who was dropped from being nominated to Parliament in preference for former Local Government minister Musikari Kombo.

The Director of Medical Services, Dr James Nyikal, has been elevated to PS Public Health and Sanitation and his place taken by his deputy, Dr Francis Kimani.

The new PS for National Heritage and Culture, Mr Seno Nyakenyanya, is a former diplomat and lately deputy secretary in the ministry of Youth Affairs.

Dr Silas Njiru, the new PS for Trade, has been working for the African Development Bank in Tunisia. He previously worked for the government.

The PS Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, Ms Amina Mohammed, has been Kenya’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Switzerland.

Been teaching

The new Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Industrialisation is Prof John Krop Lonyangapuo, who has been teaching Mathematics at the University of Nairobi.

The PS Gender and Children Development, Ms Leah Adda Gwiyo, is a career civil servant who was a senior deputy secretary in the Public Service Commission.

The trend of creating Secretaries to head key departments in ministries continued as more were appointed, including Mr Daniel Maanzo, the chairman of ODM-Kenya to head Sports. 

Mr Gideon Mulyungi, the chairman of the Architectural Association of Kenya, is the Secretary for Works while Dr Kithure Kindiki, the head of Public Law at the University of Nairobi, is the Secretary for National Cohesion.

Others in the same category are: Prof George Godia, in Education and Prof Abdirazak Shaukat who has been a deputy vice-chancellor at Egerton University and has been appointed Secretary National Council for Science and Technology.

Others appointed Secretaries are: Mr Caroli Omondi (PM’s Office, Administration), Mr Simon Chacha Nyangi (External Trade), Mr Said Athman (Culture), Prof Jacqueline Oduol (Gender and Children), Mr John Ndirangu Maina (Nairobi Metropolitan, Physical Planning), Dr Julius Monzi Muia (National Economic and Social Council) and Mr Sam Mwale, who is the Principal Administrative Secretary in OP.

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It was known to many. There was no way Kibaki was going to accept to be dictated by ODM when the government was going to appoint the PSs and diplomats. ODM wanted to politicise everything but they have now seen the reality and must face it as a party with mature leadership.

May be ODM will again call for mass demonstrations because of loosing out to PNU on this. ODM is a party known to enjoy demonstrating every time things does not go their way. This time however, Ruto and Raila are busy in the ministries and may not have time to rally their supporters. Ruto is busy with the farmers. He shouldlsknow that farmers demonstrate when prices are high so he will have to be ready to deal with that in the near future. He will be on the receiving end.

For Raila, who asked Mungiki to go to round table talks, it was a shock to see that when Mungiki people went to him they were teargassed by police and Raila has not come out to condemn that.

President Kibaki retains 24 PSs

By Ben Agina

Raila appeared to have pushed for the elevation of Dr Mohammed Isahakia as PS in the PM’s office and Mr Caroli Omondi, who becomes Administration Secretary in the same office.

Isahakia served as ODM head of secretariat and personal assistant to Raila, while Omondi was the liaison officer for the Orange party at the mediation talks. He is also understood to be a benefactor of the party.

University of Nairobi don, Dr Ludeki Chweya, may also not shake off the political appointee tag, having been in PNU’s think-tank in the campaigns and electioneering period last year. He is now the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State for Home Affairs in the Office of the Vice-President.

ODM-Kenya’s Mr Daniel Maanzo was also rewarded after waging a war of attrition with party boss and Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, over the failure to nominate him to Parliament.

The extent of consultation between Kibaki and Raila in picking the new-look Civil Service remained unclear. It came ahead of a crucial meeting today between the two leaders and Rift Valley MPs, where there were loud murmurs over the manner in which the coalition Cabinet was picked.

In the new line up, Ms Nancy Kirui replaces Mwaura at Defence, while Mr Francis Kimemia takes over the mantle from Gituai at Internal Security and Provincial Administration.

Former DC, Mr Kenneth Lusaka, is the Secretary in charge of Administration in the Internal Security ministry. The head of Presidential Press Service (PPS) has also been elevated from a directorship to the level of Permanent Secretary. Mr Isaiah Kabira stays in charge.

There were no changes at the Ministry of Finance as Mr Joseph Kinyua is still the PS, Mr Mutua Kilaka (Finance Secretary), Ms Esther Koimett (Investment Secretary) and Dr Kamau Thuge (Economic Secretary).

The Public Communications Secretary and Government Spokesman, Dr Alfred Mutua, was also retained.

Former Director of Medical Services, Dr James Nyikal, was promoted to PS in the Public Health and Sanitation ministry. The new DMS is Dr Francis Kimani.

In the Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture, the PS is Mr Seno Nyakenyanya, while the Secretary of Culture is Mr Said Athman.

Also rewarded after her name was removed from the Ford-Kenya nomination list to Parliament is Ms Beatrice Naliaka Wasike, who is now the PS in the Ministry of Labour. Mr Murugu Kinuthia has been retained in the Youth and Sports ministry.

The PS in the Ministry of Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 is Dr Edward Sambili. Mr Titus Ndambuki has also retained his position in the Ministry of State for Public Service. Permanent Secretary, Public Sector Reforms and Performance Contracting is Mr Richard Ndubia.

In the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Trade, the PS is Mr Silas Njiru, while the Secretary of External Trade is Mr Simon Chacha Nyangi.

Former Telkom Managing Director, Mr Samuel Kirui, is now the PS in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government. Mr Kirui takes over from Mr Solomon Boit who was dropped.

Mr David Nalo is now the East African Community PS, while Mr Thuita Mwangi has been retained in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minsitry has a new PS in Ms Amina Mohammed. She replaces Ms Dorothy Angote, who has been moved to the Ministry of Lands in the same capacity.

Dr Kithure Kindiki becomes the Secretary, National Cohesion.

The former Chief Architect at the Ministry of Public Works, Mr Philip Onyango, has been promoted to PS in the new Ministry of National Metropolitan Development. The Secretary of Physical Planning in the ministry is Mr John Ndirangu Maina.

Mr Michael Kamau has been confirmed as the PS Ministry of Roads. The PS of Public Works is Mr Mark Bor, while Mr Gideon Mulyungi is the Secretary of Works.

The Ministry of Transport has a new PS in Mr Abdulrazak Aden Ali, replacing Mr Gerishon Ikiara who has been retired.

The PS for Water and Irrigation is Mr David Stower. He has been taken back to his old ministry after a stint at the Ministry of Regional Development.

Dr Bitange Ndemo has been retained as the PS of the Information and Communication ministry, while Mr Patrick Nyoike remained at the Ministry of Energy.

The PS in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is Mr Kombo Mwero, while his counterpart at the Ministry of Livestock Development is Dr Jacob ole Miaron.

Other retained in their positions are Prof James ole Kiyiapi (Environment and Mineral Resources), Ms Rebecca Nabutola (Tourism), Dr Romano Kiome (Agriculture), Prof Karega Mutahi (Education), Prof Crispus Kiamba (Higher Education, Science and Technology), Mr Tirop Kosgey (Housing), Mr Emannuel Kisombe (Immigration and Registration of Persons) and Mr Wanjuki Muchemi (Solicitor-General).

Prof Micheni Ntiba is the PS in the Ministry of Fisheries Development, while Mr Carey Orege, who was formerly Chief Engineer Roads, is the PS in the Ministry of Regional Development Authorities.

The PS Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands is Dr Hukka Wario, while PS Ministry of Industrialisation is Prof Krop Lonyangapuo. The Secretary for Industrialisation is Dr John Musonik.

The PS for Special programmes is Mr Ali Dawood.

The Ministry of Gender and Children Development PS is Ms Leah Adda Gwiyo, while Prof Jacqueline Oduol is the Secretary for Children Affairs.

Mr Hyslop Ipu remains the Private Secretary/Comptroller of State House, while Dr Julius Monzi Muia is the Secretary, National Economic and Social Council.

The principal Administrative Secretary in the Cabinet Office is Mr Sam Mwale.

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