HOW POLITICIANS ENSURE THERE IS A POLITICAL TOPIC EVERY SEASON

By Maritim Evans
In political world, there must be a topic of discussion from the day elections end until the time elections will be held again.

Politicians know how to play cards well even in a scenario where there is no political talk they make sure they have one.

In Kenya, this is common and opposition leaders are good in doing this. They make sure that everything that government does is criticised.  Let me substantiate this by bringing in a myriad of political talks that were obviously generated by the opposition just from no where and become the talk of the day for months. Let me reflect on political talks that have taken place for the past 15 months.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga went to the United States for two months in May last year, a period considered by some people as his political interlude. He came back while he was reloaded and demanded various things from the Jubilee one being dialogue to address a ‘key’ issues among them security and disbandment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

The government did not give in to opposition’s demands and that led to the political talk that took some months, referendum titled Okoa Kenya. It gained momentum when governors also launched their referendum beat dubbed Pesa Mashinani. This also went silent after sometimes.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre) and Cord Co-principals when they launched a referendum move dubbed 'Okoa Kenya'. PHOTO/COURTESY

Also in December last year, the government announced that 500 acres of illegally acquired land in Lamu County be revoked and land be given back to the locals. That rekindled a hot debate with opposition questioning the motive behind the revocation of the said land titles.

Security has been a standby topic of discussion incase another issue fails to emerge. What has been capturing opposition’s attention is the manner in which the government is failing to tell possible terror threat through its intelligent.

Land grabbing is another big political issue that has been discussed for quite a while now with opposition accusing Deputy President William Ruto for being a ‘key player in land grabbing’ in the country.

The recent sugar deal between Kenya and Uganda has not just been a political talk, but an opportunity seized by the opposition leader Raila Odinga to attack the DP William Ruto.

NAIROBIANS HAVING HARD TIME OBSERVING BEAUTIFICATION RULES

By Maritim Evans

Nairobians thought they were not supposed to step on grass just because United States President Barack Obama was expected in town.

Nairobians did not know that Nairobi County Government under the leadership of Governor Evans Kidero had decided to embellish the city and revive its previous name, the City in the Sun.

About ten days before the United States President landed in the country, Nairobi County Government embarked on a serious beautification process that saw every space on the main highways filled with overnight-flower-beds.

The beautification captured the attention of international media houses with Ugandan leading newspapers, The New Vision and Daily Monitor, reporting that Nairobi was running against time to embellish the city before the world most powerful man landed in the city. 

The county government has not relented in making sure that the city is clean perhaps to shield the debate that went viral just before the arrival of Obama that the city was being beautified just because he was coming to Kenya.

Yesterday, 71 people were arrested by county Askaris because they were found stepping on the grass or crossing restricted flower gardens on major highways in Nairobi.

This man was caught stepping on grass planted along Uhuru Highway, Nairobi.

The arrest of the people rekindled a heated debate on social media with many supporting the move by the county government to arrest the law-breakers and some questioning the logic behind arrest of several individuals just because they stepped on grass.

It may not be business as usual at the city as long as the grass is still intact.

In the past, no one was allowed to sit on benches meant to safeguard flowers from being stepped on.  That ended after sometimes after the county government took charge of the city cleanness. That was Nairobi of five years ago.

There was a time Nairobi was ranked the cleanest city in Africa. That name really portrayed Nairobi well, but after sometimes the city became one of the dirtiest cities in the world. Even places near parliament buildings and office of the president were just equal to some places at the outskirts of the city.