Dear Sir/Madam,
Going by what transpired in Bungoma this week, honorable Eugene Wamalwa has to quickly figure out what political tune to sing and how to effectively reach his audience or be decimated by the raging political undertones. Miffed by his political antics, the Ford Kenya stalwarts unflinchingly told him to first take Simama Kenya to his Saboti constituency before embarking on a political tour to the larger Bungoma region. In simple terms the genuine Ford Kenya stalwarts told him that it had become extremely difficult for them to recognize his musical or party affiliation.
His democratic ideals were questioned when he resorted to using unorthodox methods to clinch Ford Kenya`s chairmanship. Couldn`t the Simama Kenya endorsement have waited for the conclusion of the internal democratic process in Ford Kenya? Why for instance would he opt to be endorsed as Ford Kenya`s de facto party chairperson by the nebulous “Simama Kenya” rather than the Ford Kenya party itself? These were the kind of questions that made Wamalwa dither and dither. He finally he made a tactical retreat and conveniently blamed the police for the cancellation.
After this brushfire that burned through his political fortunes he frantically searched for a political function that could help him escape the searing political heat in the Ford Kenya home turf. He later own found himself in the brigade of the Agriculture Minister William Ruto who was presiding over the opening of a teachers training college in Kapenguria.
Predictably, politics took the centre stage. Honorable Wamalwa yet again transported the Ford Kenya wrangles to Kapenguria. Dispensing off with gentility, he was not only offending and condescending but also down right annoying. In what political pundits say is a strategy to chip away Raila`s popularity in the Ford Kenya`s political turf, honorable Wamalwa brazenly blamed ODM for the cancellation of the Simama Kenya rally that was to ostensibly endorse him for presidency. In an apparent reference to the Prime Minister Eugene said, “The politics of a half loaf are behind the cancellation of the Simama Kenya rally in Bungoma.” I bet that he himself was surprised that people believed this lie. Yet without adducing an iota of evidence, Wamalwa knows too well that he stands to be accused of peddling empty rhetoric.
You see, rhetoric is cheap and because of its cheapness Wamalwa can afford plenty of it. Expect a lot of it from him. The politics of 2012 has no doubt given him a curse of opportunity to reveal himself ruinously. It is hard to imagine that the hitherto nice guy has fallen so low and is fighting tooth and nail to remain relevant in Kenya`s political theatre.
In solidarity with the Agriculture Minister, they entered a pact that will ostensibly see them support each other to clinch the country`s presidency. And in this very function, a new buzzword found its place in Kenya`s political theatre of absurdity. Frustrated that Kenyans are not too benighted to wholly swallow the “transformational leadership” banner, they invoked the phrase “generational change.”
I find this phrase illiberal in the sense that what Kenyans are yearning for is transformative leadership which is neither a preserve of the youthful politicians. Transformative leadership does not preclude age. I know so many among the current youthful political leaders who do not deserve to lead this country because they have nothing in common with the generation they fervently seek to be the voice of. I stand to be corrected but I believe that the reason for the change of phrase is based on the realization that few if any among them have transformative abilities.
I do not begrudge Wamalwa (aka the boda boda MP) for his new found wisdom. However, I wish to remind him that in elective politics, images are symbolic, and symbolism matters when it reflects a deeper truth. His new found company bespeaks volumes. I doubt whether being a pseudo populist will do him any good.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
FUND SCAM: DO NOT PLAY POLITICAL PING PONG BY SHORTCHANGING CHILDREN.
Dear Sir/Madam,
The implementation of the Free Primary Education (FPE) and Subsidized Secondary Education (SSE) programme was seen as a final bright star falling into alignment. The public as well as donors hailed the programme and supported it morally and financially.
However, eight years down the line, this dream is on the verge of being shattered. A huge chunk of the funds injected into this programme have instead been embezzled by corrupt bureaucrats in the Ministry of Basic Education.
Regrettably but predictably, the Ministry deliberately failed to have in- built mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation that would have provided Kenyans with consistent information regarding the state of the FPE and SSE. Everything just went awry.
Amid all these scandals, it is perhaps the ability of top technocrats to brazenly deny the obvious that is startling. Already, the Permanent Secretary and the Government Spokesperson (aka, the spin doctor) are furiously spinning strange tales in a bid to evenly cover up this muck. They are wondering why a donor who contributes less than five percent of the FPE and SSE should complain when corruption rears its ugly head in the Ministry. To them, these donors are akin to an outsider who sheds more tears than the bereaved. The worst is when they allege that the money stolen did not even come from the donors. These gentlemen seem to think that stealing donors’ money is what constitutes theft; however, stealing from the Kenyan tax payers is not theft at all! By the way, it doesn`t matter whether it is FPE or SSE money that was stolen; the bottom-line is that a punishable crime was committed.
It is therefore sickening to see some top civil servants play political ping pong by shortchanging our kids. For how long shall such individuals continue to hide behind ethnicity or party politics while destroying the future of our children? It is even worse for the public to be subjected to a tirade by some MPS for merely calling upon the resignation of the Minister and the PS. These MPs know that the Minister and the PS cannot be investigated while in office. Don`t they know that the office sanctifies its holder?
Moreover, it is nauseating for the PS to tell the public that it should not worry since the FPE and SSE programmes would be unaffected by the scandal that has docked in the Ministry. Could this imply that the Ministry has somehow backfilled its budget deficit? Where did all this money come from? Could treasury have used the consolidated fund in frantically filling the gaping budget holes in the Basic Education Ministry? Or were there budgetary cutbacks from other sectors? Were such action(s) approved by the full cabinet and parliament? In my considered view, such an action would only make treasury a partner in crime. If that be the case then the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) must censure the Finance Minister for operating outside his jurisdiction.
Yet it is the President`s loud silence that has perhaps had the public wondering whether he still has the welfare of the Kenyan child at heart. Kenyans never expected this audacity of inaction. I have prayed that the president takes a decisive action to save this country from this cancerous growth that is cutting a swath through his brainchild. To begin with, the Minister for Basic Education and his “Permanent” Secretary must have their services suspended, if not terminated. As Kuan Yew Lee opines “once a political system has been corrupted right from the very top leaders to the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy, the problem is very complicated. The cleansing has to start from top and go downwards in a thorough and systematic way.”
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
The implementation of the Free Primary Education (FPE) and Subsidized Secondary Education (SSE) programme was seen as a final bright star falling into alignment. The public as well as donors hailed the programme and supported it morally and financially.
However, eight years down the line, this dream is on the verge of being shattered. A huge chunk of the funds injected into this programme have instead been embezzled by corrupt bureaucrats in the Ministry of Basic Education.
Regrettably but predictably, the Ministry deliberately failed to have in- built mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation that would have provided Kenyans with consistent information regarding the state of the FPE and SSE. Everything just went awry.
Amid all these scandals, it is perhaps the ability of top technocrats to brazenly deny the obvious that is startling. Already, the Permanent Secretary and the Government Spokesperson (aka, the spin doctor) are furiously spinning strange tales in a bid to evenly cover up this muck. They are wondering why a donor who contributes less than five percent of the FPE and SSE should complain when corruption rears its ugly head in the Ministry. To them, these donors are akin to an outsider who sheds more tears than the bereaved. The worst is when they allege that the money stolen did not even come from the donors. These gentlemen seem to think that stealing donors’ money is what constitutes theft; however, stealing from the Kenyan tax payers is not theft at all! By the way, it doesn`t matter whether it is FPE or SSE money that was stolen; the bottom-line is that a punishable crime was committed.
It is therefore sickening to see some top civil servants play political ping pong by shortchanging our kids. For how long shall such individuals continue to hide behind ethnicity or party politics while destroying the future of our children? It is even worse for the public to be subjected to a tirade by some MPS for merely calling upon the resignation of the Minister and the PS. These MPs know that the Minister and the PS cannot be investigated while in office. Don`t they know that the office sanctifies its holder?
Moreover, it is nauseating for the PS to tell the public that it should not worry since the FPE and SSE programmes would be unaffected by the scandal that has docked in the Ministry. Could this imply that the Ministry has somehow backfilled its budget deficit? Where did all this money come from? Could treasury have used the consolidated fund in frantically filling the gaping budget holes in the Basic Education Ministry? Or were there budgetary cutbacks from other sectors? Were such action(s) approved by the full cabinet and parliament? In my considered view, such an action would only make treasury a partner in crime. If that be the case then the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) must censure the Finance Minister for operating outside his jurisdiction.
Yet it is the President`s loud silence that has perhaps had the public wondering whether he still has the welfare of the Kenyan child at heart. Kenyans never expected this audacity of inaction. I have prayed that the president takes a decisive action to save this country from this cancerous growth that is cutting a swath through his brainchild. To begin with, the Minister for Basic Education and his “Permanent” Secretary must have their services suspended, if not terminated. As Kuan Yew Lee opines “once a political system has been corrupted right from the very top leaders to the lowest rungs of the bureaucracy, the problem is very complicated. The cleansing has to start from top and go downwards in a thorough and systematic way.”
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
SOCIETY MUST CULL SEX DEVIANT TEACHERS.
Dear Sir/Madam,
By virtue of their profession, society has placed much trust in teachers. They are expected to inspire freedom of thought and expression and a rigorous pursuit of knowledge among pupils. In such a crucible, ideas are supposed to be wrought. Indeed each and every one of us is a proud product of teachers. The environment within which knowledge was churned gave each of us an equal opportunity to shine according to his or her gifts. However, this enabling environment has since then drastically changed.
There have been unfortunate reports that some students have been sexually assaulted, touched inappropriately or courted in suggestive manner by their teachers. It is also worrying that the cases so far reported may just be a tip of the ice berg given that many offenders are not reported because their targets do not want to alert their parents or relevant authorities. This trend spells doom for the children as well as the society bearing in mind that the children`s chances of achievement in life is seriously compromised from the first minute they set foot in the classrooms of these perverts.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has had to suspend, dismiss and even deregister such pedophiles in accordance with the code of regulations. The fact that there has been an increase in the number of teachers found guilty of misconduct should be seen as an encouraging sign that TSC has detection systems in place which are having an effect.
It must be noted albeit sadly that any occupation with children as its clientele will attract a proportion of people who are predators or simply morally weak. And, since these people do not have permanent tattoos on their foreheads, detection and prevention mechanisms will never be 100% effective. Hence, reports that TSC has tolerated endless deviance from sex pests are inaccurate. The day the mainstream media reports that no teachers have been interdicted, suspended, dismissed and even deregistered is the day the country should truly be worried!
Having said that, I must quickly add that there is genuine concern that the punishment meted to pedophiles by TSC is not deterrent enough. In my considered opinion such teachers ought not to be disciplined by TSC alone. After dispensing with them, TSC should then haul such offenders before the courts of law to be culled.
However, in calling for stiffer penalties, it must be understood that there are two sides for every story. So until and unless the claims have been corroborated beyond any reasonable doubt, it would be naïve for anyone to expect TSC to hastily take punitive measures (other than an interdiction pending investigations) against any of its employees. We have seen quite a number of teachers terribly suffer from false accusations.
Moreover, suffice to say that it hurts the lot of the over 240,000 teachers who are doing excellent work when the public and the mainstream media make unfortunate generalizations about teachers in entirety. Such ill informed comments will only serve the purpose of demoralizing the many diligent teachers. We must accept the fact that individuals roused by pubescent desires are not only a preserve of the teaching profession. They are everywhere. We have seen priests, policemen, doctors, lawyers, businessmen among others. Rather than engage in selective criminalization, it is time that the Government and all stakeholders came up with far reaching policies to stamp out this malady in the society.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
By virtue of their profession, society has placed much trust in teachers. They are expected to inspire freedom of thought and expression and a rigorous pursuit of knowledge among pupils. In such a crucible, ideas are supposed to be wrought. Indeed each and every one of us is a proud product of teachers. The environment within which knowledge was churned gave each of us an equal opportunity to shine according to his or her gifts. However, this enabling environment has since then drastically changed.
There have been unfortunate reports that some students have been sexually assaulted, touched inappropriately or courted in suggestive manner by their teachers. It is also worrying that the cases so far reported may just be a tip of the ice berg given that many offenders are not reported because their targets do not want to alert their parents or relevant authorities. This trend spells doom for the children as well as the society bearing in mind that the children`s chances of achievement in life is seriously compromised from the first minute they set foot in the classrooms of these perverts.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has had to suspend, dismiss and even deregister such pedophiles in accordance with the code of regulations. The fact that there has been an increase in the number of teachers found guilty of misconduct should be seen as an encouraging sign that TSC has detection systems in place which are having an effect.
It must be noted albeit sadly that any occupation with children as its clientele will attract a proportion of people who are predators or simply morally weak. And, since these people do not have permanent tattoos on their foreheads, detection and prevention mechanisms will never be 100% effective. Hence, reports that TSC has tolerated endless deviance from sex pests are inaccurate. The day the mainstream media reports that no teachers have been interdicted, suspended, dismissed and even deregistered is the day the country should truly be worried!
Having said that, I must quickly add that there is genuine concern that the punishment meted to pedophiles by TSC is not deterrent enough. In my considered opinion such teachers ought not to be disciplined by TSC alone. After dispensing with them, TSC should then haul such offenders before the courts of law to be culled.
However, in calling for stiffer penalties, it must be understood that there are two sides for every story. So until and unless the claims have been corroborated beyond any reasonable doubt, it would be naïve for anyone to expect TSC to hastily take punitive measures (other than an interdiction pending investigations) against any of its employees. We have seen quite a number of teachers terribly suffer from false accusations.
Moreover, suffice to say that it hurts the lot of the over 240,000 teachers who are doing excellent work when the public and the mainstream media make unfortunate generalizations about teachers in entirety. Such ill informed comments will only serve the purpose of demoralizing the many diligent teachers. We must accept the fact that individuals roused by pubescent desires are not only a preserve of the teaching profession. They are everywhere. We have seen priests, policemen, doctors, lawyers, businessmen among others. Rather than engage in selective criminalization, it is time that the Government and all stakeholders came up with far reaching policies to stamp out this malady in the society.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Monday, January 25, 2010
PLEASE, NOT ANOTHER FLIGHT TO POLITICAL INCINERATION.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Judging by what transpired in a political rally in Kipkelion this week, it seems as though the maverick brigade that presided over that rally is determined to once more put this country on a flight to political incineration. Otherwise why would they be so much interested in taking the nation back to the painful memories of the post election violence? Their incessant and callous talk about incited youths having killed, raped and maimed in the name of the Prime Minister does not augur well with the conscientious public that is reeling from horrendous post election violence. This brunt of politics is brutally dishonest and only serves to expose the brigade`s comprehensive incompetence.
It must be made abundantly clear to them that they cannot hope to gather public goodwill to propel them to the helm of this country`s political leadership in 2012 through such unfortunate emotional trickery. We have not forgotten that some among this servile brigade are today obsessed with misusing “truth and reconciliation" to evade justice. Some among them are probably fully responsible for the multiple debacles currently going on in the country.
The least we expect from them is remorse and for them to spearhead a genuine healing campaign. However, it appears as though hubris has defeated caution once again. We are again witnessing parochial politicians traversing this country on a mission to magnify distrust among the people of this nation. Do they think that Kenyans are too benighted to understand what is good for them!
I expected that since some among them have already declared their presidential ambitions, they would be prudent enough to preoccupy themselves with selling their vision to the electorate. Instead, it appears to me that their ambition to presidency is hinged on their venomous hatred against the PM and by extension other ethnic groups that seem to be gravitating towards the PM. Hatred alone can never be reason for one to seek the presidency of this country. The worst mistake that the electorate can do is to allow such an individual to take the mantle of leadership of this country. Rather than divine healing, expect revenge. Expect discrimination against certain individuals and ethnic groups in the country. Consequently, there would be skirmishes upon skirmishes ad infinitum.
It is also totally absurd they are squandering a tremendous opportunity of advancing their political ideology by using threats to try to buttress bovine obedience from a section of MPs from Rift Valley Province who are supposedly not in their camp. Inciting voters against a popularly elected leader just because he does not champion one`s political cause is a very shameful act.
Finally, it is pathetic for any elected leader to spend his every waking hour trying to get even with the PM instead of dispensing services to Kenyans. Such obsession will only make them dither and dither and finally self destruct themselves.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Judging by what transpired in a political rally in Kipkelion this week, it seems as though the maverick brigade that presided over that rally is determined to once more put this country on a flight to political incineration. Otherwise why would they be so much interested in taking the nation back to the painful memories of the post election violence? Their incessant and callous talk about incited youths having killed, raped and maimed in the name of the Prime Minister does not augur well with the conscientious public that is reeling from horrendous post election violence. This brunt of politics is brutally dishonest and only serves to expose the brigade`s comprehensive incompetence.
It must be made abundantly clear to them that they cannot hope to gather public goodwill to propel them to the helm of this country`s political leadership in 2012 through such unfortunate emotional trickery. We have not forgotten that some among this servile brigade are today obsessed with misusing “truth and reconciliation" to evade justice. Some among them are probably fully responsible for the multiple debacles currently going on in the country.
The least we expect from them is remorse and for them to spearhead a genuine healing campaign. However, it appears as though hubris has defeated caution once again. We are again witnessing parochial politicians traversing this country on a mission to magnify distrust among the people of this nation. Do they think that Kenyans are too benighted to understand what is good for them!
I expected that since some among them have already declared their presidential ambitions, they would be prudent enough to preoccupy themselves with selling their vision to the electorate. Instead, it appears to me that their ambition to presidency is hinged on their venomous hatred against the PM and by extension other ethnic groups that seem to be gravitating towards the PM. Hatred alone can never be reason for one to seek the presidency of this country. The worst mistake that the electorate can do is to allow such an individual to take the mantle of leadership of this country. Rather than divine healing, expect revenge. Expect discrimination against certain individuals and ethnic groups in the country. Consequently, there would be skirmishes upon skirmishes ad infinitum.
It is also totally absurd they are squandering a tremendous opportunity of advancing their political ideology by using threats to try to buttress bovine obedience from a section of MPs from Rift Valley Province who are supposedly not in their camp. Inciting voters against a popularly elected leader just because he does not champion one`s political cause is a very shameful act.
Finally, it is pathetic for any elected leader to spend his every waking hour trying to get even with the PM instead of dispensing services to Kenyans. Such obsession will only make them dither and dither and finally self destruct themselves.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Sunday, January 24, 2010
ABSENCE OF GUIDING AND COUNSELING IN SCHOOLS PORTENDS.
Dear Sir/Madam,
The public relies entirely on teachers and educational institutions to provide the basis for a fully functional society. Schools have therefore to constantly grapple with providing for a diversity of cultures and learning styles. The physical, social and emotional needs of students have to be effectively addressed. These accelerating social and cultural dynamics within the educational system continue to have a huge impact on the working lives of teachers. Amid all these changes, the parents` “magic touch” on the lives of their children has increasingly become a missing link. Once parents literally damp their children in school; they heave a sigh of relief and from there on they become absentee parents.
Even after schools close for the vacations, parents will hastily arrange for their children to be enrolled in various private centers offering holiday tuition thus limiting the chance of spending quality time with their children. They mistakenly think that more classroom instruction would some how make up for their absence. This behavior is observed in both boarding and day schools. In day schools for instance, there is not much time for the children after the parent(s) arrive home from work. They are tired, and therefore the homework and other concerns of the child are often neglected or done in haste.
This is trend is obviously doing a great disservice to our youth. Given that they will be the future of this nation, many of them will be ill prepared for the real world of work, bills, and household duties and responsibilities because of a poor education and poor role models. What parents and teachers fail to understand is that classroom instruction is just but a piece of a jig saw puzzle in the provision of a holistic education.
As for teachers, very few of them have received essential skills in guiding and counseling. A look at the education courses offered in the leading public universities and primary teacher colleges reveal that the graduates in education do not take guiding and counseling as a core course. This means that when they are absorbed as teachers in schools, the child is no doubt expected to struggle alone to find a footing amid the numerous vulnerabilities. Indiscipline and the resultant underperformance in examinations cannot be avoided in such an environment.
Cognizant of this challenge the government must quickly come up with a tailored programme that will see to it that all teachers are trained in guiding and counseling so that they can in turn reverse this trend and encourage parental involvement. This will be the first step towards creating a more positive attitude towards teaching and learning. In so doing, teachers, parents and students will ultimately be helped in achieving their goals of a top quality education without unnecessary distractions such as excessive indiscipline. Some diligent teachers are already going back to universities and other colleges to horn their skills, but most of them are struggling with families and high costs of living and cannot therefore afford this essential course.
Suffice it to say that no amount of policy reforms in education will effectively work without first addressing the component of guiding and counseling in schools. The Government should therefore commit itself to putting proper money and time into training the existing teaching workforce in both primary and secondary schools in guiding and counseling. It should partner with universities and primary teacher colleges to offer this course through school based programmes that can be offered in selected centers countrywide.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
The public relies entirely on teachers and educational institutions to provide the basis for a fully functional society. Schools have therefore to constantly grapple with providing for a diversity of cultures and learning styles. The physical, social and emotional needs of students have to be effectively addressed. These accelerating social and cultural dynamics within the educational system continue to have a huge impact on the working lives of teachers. Amid all these changes, the parents` “magic touch” on the lives of their children has increasingly become a missing link. Once parents literally damp their children in school; they heave a sigh of relief and from there on they become absentee parents.
Even after schools close for the vacations, parents will hastily arrange for their children to be enrolled in various private centers offering holiday tuition thus limiting the chance of spending quality time with their children. They mistakenly think that more classroom instruction would some how make up for their absence. This behavior is observed in both boarding and day schools. In day schools for instance, there is not much time for the children after the parent(s) arrive home from work. They are tired, and therefore the homework and other concerns of the child are often neglected or done in haste.
This is trend is obviously doing a great disservice to our youth. Given that they will be the future of this nation, many of them will be ill prepared for the real world of work, bills, and household duties and responsibilities because of a poor education and poor role models. What parents and teachers fail to understand is that classroom instruction is just but a piece of a jig saw puzzle in the provision of a holistic education.
As for teachers, very few of them have received essential skills in guiding and counseling. A look at the education courses offered in the leading public universities and primary teacher colleges reveal that the graduates in education do not take guiding and counseling as a core course. This means that when they are absorbed as teachers in schools, the child is no doubt expected to struggle alone to find a footing amid the numerous vulnerabilities. Indiscipline and the resultant underperformance in examinations cannot be avoided in such an environment.
Cognizant of this challenge the government must quickly come up with a tailored programme that will see to it that all teachers are trained in guiding and counseling so that they can in turn reverse this trend and encourage parental involvement. This will be the first step towards creating a more positive attitude towards teaching and learning. In so doing, teachers, parents and students will ultimately be helped in achieving their goals of a top quality education without unnecessary distractions such as excessive indiscipline. Some diligent teachers are already going back to universities and other colleges to horn their skills, but most of them are struggling with families and high costs of living and cannot therefore afford this essential course.
Suffice it to say that no amount of policy reforms in education will effectively work without first addressing the component of guiding and counseling in schools. The Government should therefore commit itself to putting proper money and time into training the existing teaching workforce in both primary and secondary schools in guiding and counseling. It should partner with universities and primary teacher colleges to offer this course through school based programmes that can be offered in selected centers countrywide.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Thursday, January 21, 2010
PSCs PROCEDURAL CYNICISM IS CATALYTIC OF THE COUNTRY`S CONSTITUTIONAL IMBROGLIO.
Dear Sir/Madam,
A couple of weeks ago, I was satisfied with the fact that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution (PSC) regarded with great respect the guaranteed constitutional rights of the electorate. However, going by what is transpiring in the Naivasha grand retreat, I have now modified my position, changing it so slightly so that "satisfied" becomes "dissatisfied," which is just a difference of three letters, but of course with a gulf between them.
In its hurry towards the thrill of a “breakthrough” it has left the public in a catatonic stupor. PSC is exhibiting its arrogance and malfeasance by brazenly frittering away the draft constitution. We have seen it arrogate itself the power to determine the number of MPS that this country needs. (I am informed that PSC is wagging hopeful on a figure of 325!). It is also ominously aiding the miscarriage of article 35, to mention but a few. Shifting attention to that which is beyond its mandate is exactly what is making the public gripe about.
Given that it has allowed political fiefdoms to hold it at ransom, it would have been difficult for it not to dither. That is why it is not surprising that after the counterfactual discussions and concessions it has come up with a Hobson’s choice; a pure presidential system of governance. That is democracy- the PSC style.
Whereas I have no qualms with those who support the pure presidential system, I feel that an equally large section of the electorate has been terribly disenfranchised by being denied the constitutional right to vote for a pure parliamentary system. It would be naïve of the PSC to try to buttress bovine obedience in the electorate when it is very clear that their over- the- counter prescription is unconstitutional. It smacks of dictatorship.
According to the constitution, national sovereignty belongs to the people; not a 26 member PSC. Not even to the 222 members of parliament! Under the principle of universal suffrage, the constitution gives the electorate the right to exercise their political will in periodic elections and referenda.
Therefore, in order to avoid this unfortunate disenfranchisement, parliament should vouch for a “Yes- Yes” referendum. This will ensure that either a parliamentary or presidential system of government is adopted by the country depending on the outcome of the referendum. This will of course mean that parliament amends the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008 to allow IIEC to present two draft constitutions to the electorate; the pure presidential or pure parliamentary systems of Government.
The argument that presenting two draft constitutions to the electorate would paralyze the country flies in the face of logic. A referendum, whether based on a single issue or multiple issues is not a wedding ceremony. Acrimony and even paralysis is not unexpected. However, the worst form of crime is the deliberate disenfranchisement of a section of the electorate. This will create a perfect flight to this country`s incineration. We must refuse to be made the butts of PSC`s procedural cynicism. Neither should we allow it to leaven its strategy of gerrymandering. It is now time that the conscientious public repudiated PSC`s actions.
What pray thee will happen if we fail to garner the necessary threshold on a single draft that would have been subjected to the much awaited referendum? It would mean that we head to the 2012 polls without a new constitution. It would mean another round of an acrimonious election. We must avoid this pitfall at all costs. We can't get this halfway right or three-quarters of the way right. We have to get this really, really right. Unless this is urgently and meticulously done, I have no doubt in my mind that the unsuccessful decades long constitutional imbroglio will persist. We must as a country learn from the 2005 referendum.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
A couple of weeks ago, I was satisfied with the fact that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution (PSC) regarded with great respect the guaranteed constitutional rights of the electorate. However, going by what is transpiring in the Naivasha grand retreat, I have now modified my position, changing it so slightly so that "satisfied" becomes "dissatisfied," which is just a difference of three letters, but of course with a gulf between them.
In its hurry towards the thrill of a “breakthrough” it has left the public in a catatonic stupor. PSC is exhibiting its arrogance and malfeasance by brazenly frittering away the draft constitution. We have seen it arrogate itself the power to determine the number of MPS that this country needs. (I am informed that PSC is wagging hopeful on a figure of 325!). It is also ominously aiding the miscarriage of article 35, to mention but a few. Shifting attention to that which is beyond its mandate is exactly what is making the public gripe about.
Given that it has allowed political fiefdoms to hold it at ransom, it would have been difficult for it not to dither. That is why it is not surprising that after the counterfactual discussions and concessions it has come up with a Hobson’s choice; a pure presidential system of governance. That is democracy- the PSC style.
Whereas I have no qualms with those who support the pure presidential system, I feel that an equally large section of the electorate has been terribly disenfranchised by being denied the constitutional right to vote for a pure parliamentary system. It would be naïve of the PSC to try to buttress bovine obedience in the electorate when it is very clear that their over- the- counter prescription is unconstitutional. It smacks of dictatorship.
According to the constitution, national sovereignty belongs to the people; not a 26 member PSC. Not even to the 222 members of parliament! Under the principle of universal suffrage, the constitution gives the electorate the right to exercise their political will in periodic elections and referenda.
Therefore, in order to avoid this unfortunate disenfranchisement, parliament should vouch for a “Yes- Yes” referendum. This will ensure that either a parliamentary or presidential system of government is adopted by the country depending on the outcome of the referendum. This will of course mean that parliament amends the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008 to allow IIEC to present two draft constitutions to the electorate; the pure presidential or pure parliamentary systems of Government.
The argument that presenting two draft constitutions to the electorate would paralyze the country flies in the face of logic. A referendum, whether based on a single issue or multiple issues is not a wedding ceremony. Acrimony and even paralysis is not unexpected. However, the worst form of crime is the deliberate disenfranchisement of a section of the electorate. This will create a perfect flight to this country`s incineration. We must refuse to be made the butts of PSC`s procedural cynicism. Neither should we allow it to leaven its strategy of gerrymandering. It is now time that the conscientious public repudiated PSC`s actions.
What pray thee will happen if we fail to garner the necessary threshold on a single draft that would have been subjected to the much awaited referendum? It would mean that we head to the 2012 polls without a new constitution. It would mean another round of an acrimonious election. We must avoid this pitfall at all costs. We can't get this halfway right or three-quarters of the way right. We have to get this really, really right. Unless this is urgently and meticulously done, I have no doubt in my mind that the unsuccessful decades long constitutional imbroglio will persist. We must as a country learn from the 2005 referendum.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Monday, January 18, 2010
HON. WAMALWA AND THE ART OF SPINNING TALES THAT ARE AN ABYSS OF MYSTERY.
Dear Sir/Madam,
With 2012 nigh, the electorate should expect many a politician to spin tales that are an abyss of mystery even to a seasoned psychologist. In fact, I do not think that there will be an appropriate scale available with which to weigh absurdity in Kenya`s political theatre.
Already politicians have begun spinning strange tales to the electorate to win their favor. Never mind whether such tales are invalid, illegitimate or absolutely meaningless. One such politician scrambling into this political gravy train is honorable Eugene Wamalwa.
Not only has he joined the rank and file of those who have placed their faith in creative imagination rather than reason, but he has also fast and furiously outdone the rest. You see, it is understandable for him to discard gentility and embrace opportunism in a bid to remain afloat rather than risk going to the bottom with his burning political ambitions and principles hanging around his neck. Nonetheless, his modus operandi to State House is hilarious as it is wanting. As part of his scheme to endear himself to the electorate; he dresses, walks, talks and even smiles like his late brother. But more importantly, he now wants to inherit a political pact ostensibly made between his late brother and the incumbent as his most valuable ticket to state house! And therein lies the rib cracking humor.
It is hilarious for a person of his stature to entertain the notion that he is his late brother`s heir apparent. (Perhaps, it is time the electorate demanded to see the last will and testament of his late brother. It would be interesting to see whether such a claim is part of the will or is codicil). The will and testament aside, I can bet with certainty that the much hyped pact is not binding to the electorate. For if it were then it would presuppose an end to democracy!
It is with this in mind that I have to be brutally honest with him. I wish to remind him that such rhetoric is likely to ruin his reputation. But I am also not oblivious to the fact that one has a democratic right to talk himself out of reputation. As one among the few youthful politicians whom the electorate thought to be a transformational leader, I am surprised that he is unaware of the fact that the Kenyan electorate is itching to break out once and for all from the discredited straight-jacket of the past.
He must therefore know that no amount of cajolery nor seduction can eradicate the deep burning hatred that Kenyans have developed against political pacts and ethnic liaisons. The electorate will view anyone with such vile intentions to be as “intelligent” as one who thinks that hanging the baby on the clothes line to dry rather than changing the diapers, is a worthy innovation.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
With 2012 nigh, the electorate should expect many a politician to spin tales that are an abyss of mystery even to a seasoned psychologist. In fact, I do not think that there will be an appropriate scale available with which to weigh absurdity in Kenya`s political theatre.
Already politicians have begun spinning strange tales to the electorate to win their favor. Never mind whether such tales are invalid, illegitimate or absolutely meaningless. One such politician scrambling into this political gravy train is honorable Eugene Wamalwa.
Not only has he joined the rank and file of those who have placed their faith in creative imagination rather than reason, but he has also fast and furiously outdone the rest. You see, it is understandable for him to discard gentility and embrace opportunism in a bid to remain afloat rather than risk going to the bottom with his burning political ambitions and principles hanging around his neck. Nonetheless, his modus operandi to State House is hilarious as it is wanting. As part of his scheme to endear himself to the electorate; he dresses, walks, talks and even smiles like his late brother. But more importantly, he now wants to inherit a political pact ostensibly made between his late brother and the incumbent as his most valuable ticket to state house! And therein lies the rib cracking humor.
It is hilarious for a person of his stature to entertain the notion that he is his late brother`s heir apparent. (Perhaps, it is time the electorate demanded to see the last will and testament of his late brother. It would be interesting to see whether such a claim is part of the will or is codicil). The will and testament aside, I can bet with certainty that the much hyped pact is not binding to the electorate. For if it were then it would presuppose an end to democracy!
It is with this in mind that I have to be brutally honest with him. I wish to remind him that such rhetoric is likely to ruin his reputation. But I am also not oblivious to the fact that one has a democratic right to talk himself out of reputation. As one among the few youthful politicians whom the electorate thought to be a transformational leader, I am surprised that he is unaware of the fact that the Kenyan electorate is itching to break out once and for all from the discredited straight-jacket of the past.
He must therefore know that no amount of cajolery nor seduction can eradicate the deep burning hatred that Kenyans have developed against political pacts and ethnic liaisons. The electorate will view anyone with such vile intentions to be as “intelligent” as one who thinks that hanging the baby on the clothes line to dry rather than changing the diapers, is a worthy innovation.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Thursday, January 14, 2010
MAU CONSERVATION: LEADERS MUST STOP EMBELLISHING POLITICAL BIGOTRY AND DIATRIBE.
Dear Sir/madam,
Absurdity is fast unfolding in Kenya`s political arena. First, we saw how a section of the political class obsessed with self elected to engage in diplomatic diatribe in a bid to block the President from taking a leading role in the protection of our national heritage.
Shortly after, some dilettantes demanded that the Prime Minister must resettle the illegal Mau evictees first as a condition for them participating in the Mau tree planting exercise. (As if the PM has to resettle them on his personal land!).
And now the same cabal disparages the PM for showing the courage to do that which the president is constitutionally mandated to do but for reasons only better known to the president and themselves; he is somehow not doing it.
Yet this is not unexpected. In the words of Lillian Hellman “truth made you a traitor as it often does in a time of scoundrels.” Her words lend a sharp poignancy in the Kenyan political landscape. In their quest to turn the PM in to political mince meat they have robbed off politics any decency. Have we not continually witnessed them brazenly engage in chicanery in a bid to asphyxiate the Mau conservation efforts? After all, such crime never seemed impossible in retrospect. And neither will it be now that they are hell bent on ensuring that the PM becomes political mince meat come 2012.
However, the PM has on the other hand shown all and sundry that unlike these politicians, he is steadfast and well meaning. He knows to well of the ecological disaster that awaits this nation were we to rest on our laurels and let havoc continue to visit on our national heritage. He also knows too well that there is nothing immoral or unjust in eradicating evil. What is immoral is allowing evil to fester and spread when it is within our power to oppose it and defeat it. For this reason, he has clearly demonstrated that he has placed himself at the service of the public as opposed to the cabal that wants to place the nation at its service. Indeed, all his energies and planning initiatives alongside his management style have won him broad favor in the opinion of the conscientious public.
As for those embracing political bigotry somebody must tell them now that their cause smacks of betrayal to the common good of this country. What they are doing is far from heroism. It is reckless foolishness. And public opinion shall just hang them when the right time comes. This country will never waltz into their kind of music. Never will their odious political side shows triumph over the good of this nation.
The public will therefore regard their diatribe and dilettante as unfortunate footnotes in this country`s political history. As many a politician can spite the PM but that will not sway the conscientious public from whole heartedly supporting him over the noble conservation exercise. Kenyans are dog-tired of politicians who want to continually let their selfish political fears and desires hold captive the collective conscience of this nation.
Let these politicians realize that Kenya is more important than the sum total of its politicians. In the meantime I salute Prime Minister for showing what true statesmanship is.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Absurdity is fast unfolding in Kenya`s political arena. First, we saw how a section of the political class obsessed with self elected to engage in diplomatic diatribe in a bid to block the President from taking a leading role in the protection of our national heritage.
Shortly after, some dilettantes demanded that the Prime Minister must resettle the illegal Mau evictees first as a condition for them participating in the Mau tree planting exercise. (As if the PM has to resettle them on his personal land!).
And now the same cabal disparages the PM for showing the courage to do that which the president is constitutionally mandated to do but for reasons only better known to the president and themselves; he is somehow not doing it.
Yet this is not unexpected. In the words of Lillian Hellman “truth made you a traitor as it often does in a time of scoundrels.” Her words lend a sharp poignancy in the Kenyan political landscape. In their quest to turn the PM in to political mince meat they have robbed off politics any decency. Have we not continually witnessed them brazenly engage in chicanery in a bid to asphyxiate the Mau conservation efforts? After all, such crime never seemed impossible in retrospect. And neither will it be now that they are hell bent on ensuring that the PM becomes political mince meat come 2012.
However, the PM has on the other hand shown all and sundry that unlike these politicians, he is steadfast and well meaning. He knows to well of the ecological disaster that awaits this nation were we to rest on our laurels and let havoc continue to visit on our national heritage. He also knows too well that there is nothing immoral or unjust in eradicating evil. What is immoral is allowing evil to fester and spread when it is within our power to oppose it and defeat it. For this reason, he has clearly demonstrated that he has placed himself at the service of the public as opposed to the cabal that wants to place the nation at its service. Indeed, all his energies and planning initiatives alongside his management style have won him broad favor in the opinion of the conscientious public.
As for those embracing political bigotry somebody must tell them now that their cause smacks of betrayal to the common good of this country. What they are doing is far from heroism. It is reckless foolishness. And public opinion shall just hang them when the right time comes. This country will never waltz into their kind of music. Never will their odious political side shows triumph over the good of this nation.
The public will therefore regard their diatribe and dilettante as unfortunate footnotes in this country`s political history. As many a politician can spite the PM but that will not sway the conscientious public from whole heartedly supporting him over the noble conservation exercise. Kenyans are dog-tired of politicians who want to continually let their selfish political fears and desires hold captive the collective conscience of this nation.
Let these politicians realize that Kenya is more important than the sum total of its politicians. In the meantime I salute Prime Minister for showing what true statesmanship is.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
PROSPECTIVE REFERENDUM EMBLEMATIC OF KENYA`S PROCLIVITY FOR PARTISAN POLITICS.
Dear sir/Madam,
That the prospective referendum is emblematic of Kenya`s proclivity for partisan politics is obvious. This being the case, we expect the politics of the referendum to be big and murky as party interests ominously play out the Kenyan style. Forget about the constitution making process being about ideological struggles. Instead, expect to see politicians hurl colorful insults at each other. With the referendum nigh; duplicity, treachery, impatience, spinelessness and sheer lack of integrity would henceforth be the hallmark of our politics. A horde of terrible blunders would be committed all in the name of party loyalty. That we risk flunking for the second consecutive time if snowballing partisan interests are not in abeyance is undeniable. Unfortunately, that is the price we pay for being naïve as to leave the sacrosanct duty of mid-wifing a new constitution in the hands of callous politicians.
Thomas Jefferson could not have been more judicious when he stated that “every country degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are its only safe depositories.” And true to his words, politicians are more often than not the bane of our nationhood. Ever since the country expressed desire for a new constitutional order, politicians were hell bent on crafting a constitution that would best serve their selfish interests rather than that which would dispassionately serve the country. Time and again they have made it their collective passion to spread confusion and deceit in order to achieve their selfish ends. At times I am tempted to believe that they have the ingenious knack of doing everything the wrong way. That is why disappointment waits upon all affairs in which they take part. It is least surprising that they are now telling the electorate that a pure presidential system is what this country desperately needs.
Haven’t we often decried the fact that the Government is too centralized? We cannot wish away the fact that the presidency is a quasi kingdom, with extensive powers beyond the reach of the people! In view of this odious reality, the electorate wanted a new constitution that would buttress them against the state`s power. The panacea does not lie in pretending to panel beat it. Rather, it is found in creating checks and balances vide an empowered parliament. This would easily guard against a rogue executive. That was our sole objective as a country when we embarked on a journey to a constitutional dispensation immediately after the Moi era. Such were the high expectations. However, hopes soon dissipated when it became apparent that the incumbent became also too cozy with raw power and its appurtenances.
Procrastination and shilly shallying set in. Later own, the Government of the day presented a hotchpotch of draft to the electorate. It flunked. This move saw emotional build up that culminated in the 2007 post election violence.
Today, having been saved from the jaws of death; and in the spirit of national healing and reconciliation we hoped that our next attempt at a referendum needs to be full of honesty, passion and confidence. But going by the rhetoric of our politicians, it would be impossible for the country not to be sullied again.
The public has a Hobson`s choice: It must do everything in its power to marginalize and attack the wicked form of opportunism and propaganda at play or else this window of opportunity for enacting a new constitution would yet again be squandered. We will also rue the billions of the tax payers’ money sunk in the process. We can eschew this unfortunate scenario by forcing parliament to amend the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008 that would then allow IIEC to present two draft constitutions to the electorate; the pure presidential or pure parliamentary systems of Government. Upon one of them garnering the majority vote it must be adopted as the new constitution.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
That the prospective referendum is emblematic of Kenya`s proclivity for partisan politics is obvious. This being the case, we expect the politics of the referendum to be big and murky as party interests ominously play out the Kenyan style. Forget about the constitution making process being about ideological struggles. Instead, expect to see politicians hurl colorful insults at each other. With the referendum nigh; duplicity, treachery, impatience, spinelessness and sheer lack of integrity would henceforth be the hallmark of our politics. A horde of terrible blunders would be committed all in the name of party loyalty. That we risk flunking for the second consecutive time if snowballing partisan interests are not in abeyance is undeniable. Unfortunately, that is the price we pay for being naïve as to leave the sacrosanct duty of mid-wifing a new constitution in the hands of callous politicians.
Thomas Jefferson could not have been more judicious when he stated that “every country degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are its only safe depositories.” And true to his words, politicians are more often than not the bane of our nationhood. Ever since the country expressed desire for a new constitutional order, politicians were hell bent on crafting a constitution that would best serve their selfish interests rather than that which would dispassionately serve the country. Time and again they have made it their collective passion to spread confusion and deceit in order to achieve their selfish ends. At times I am tempted to believe that they have the ingenious knack of doing everything the wrong way. That is why disappointment waits upon all affairs in which they take part. It is least surprising that they are now telling the electorate that a pure presidential system is what this country desperately needs.
Haven’t we often decried the fact that the Government is too centralized? We cannot wish away the fact that the presidency is a quasi kingdom, with extensive powers beyond the reach of the people! In view of this odious reality, the electorate wanted a new constitution that would buttress them against the state`s power. The panacea does not lie in pretending to panel beat it. Rather, it is found in creating checks and balances vide an empowered parliament. This would easily guard against a rogue executive. That was our sole objective as a country when we embarked on a journey to a constitutional dispensation immediately after the Moi era. Such were the high expectations. However, hopes soon dissipated when it became apparent that the incumbent became also too cozy with raw power and its appurtenances.
Procrastination and shilly shallying set in. Later own, the Government of the day presented a hotchpotch of draft to the electorate. It flunked. This move saw emotional build up that culminated in the 2007 post election violence.
Today, having been saved from the jaws of death; and in the spirit of national healing and reconciliation we hoped that our next attempt at a referendum needs to be full of honesty, passion and confidence. But going by the rhetoric of our politicians, it would be impossible for the country not to be sullied again.
The public has a Hobson`s choice: It must do everything in its power to marginalize and attack the wicked form of opportunism and propaganda at play or else this window of opportunity for enacting a new constitution would yet again be squandered. We will also rue the billions of the tax payers’ money sunk in the process. We can eschew this unfortunate scenario by forcing parliament to amend the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, 2008 that would then allow IIEC to present two draft constitutions to the electorate; the pure presidential or pure parliamentary systems of Government. Upon one of them garnering the majority vote it must be adopted as the new constitution.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Sunday, January 10, 2010
LET BASIC EDUCATION PS TAKE A PLEA DEAL AND GO QUIETLY TO PRISON.
Dear Sir/Madam,
In Kenya, gubernatorial appointees censored by the public for their incompetency or corruption allegations would rather die than resign. This is because there is nothing like resigning in the interest of the public. That is just hot air. Until and unless the appointing authority sacks or forces such an incompetent or pilfering appointee to resign ,he or she would deride the tax payers and continue to draw huge perks courtesy of the same tax payers.
It is therefore easy for one to understand why the Basic Education PS insists on the presumption of innocence. He believes that public opinion is unfairly hanging him. Yet all and sundry know that it is his incompetency that has bred “lootocracy” in the ministry. But even as he cries fowl, cryptic details of the FPE scandal continue to emerge and so do the calls for his resignation increase by the hour.
Surely, the PS must know that management of the public funds is too sacrosanct a duty to be anybody`s partisan or ideological play thing! In the absence of sound management systems, the public`s interest is sure to be deeply hurt. It does hurt really badly when the future of the children of the hoi polloi is auctioned.
And there is no denying that the Basic Education Ministry has not put in place any of these checks and balances. His spell in office as the CEO has and is still totally devoid of Efficient Management Information System (EMIS). To say that his tenure is continually plagued by a litany of questions about financial impropriety would be an understatement.
FPE which is the President`s brain child and which is a component of the larger Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP), became a cropper immediately after its operationalization. If it is not the loss of FPE funds, it is subsidized secondary education funds, infrastructure development funds, capacity building funds or funds meant for procurement of science equipment in schools et cetra. He has been unable to reign in on rogue functionaries in the ministry. Every time a red flag was raised, the PS truly struck his stride in demonstrating his penchant for rubbishing claims of the muck docking in his ministry.
He seems to believe that he can continually abuse public trust and get away with it. This explains why in spite of being advised that the interest of the nation must always come before any personal considerations he has emphatically declared that there is no question of him resigning in response to the current snowballing corruption.
Yet there is no doubt even in his own mind that his legacy is a negative one, and that he has done far more harm to the country than good. When he comically denies that no FPE funds have been lost, he himself knows too well that there is a great mountain between what his heart knows and what his tongue says!
Lest the President forces him to resign now, or sacks him, he too like the PS will have no legacy to protect. The President would be deluding himself were he to think that the constant barrage of criticism leveled against the PS is about to wane. It will not wane now nor in the near future.
As for the PS, he has a simple choice but one that will at least leave him with some level of respectability; and that is for him to leave office quickly, take a plea deal, and go quietly to prison.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
In Kenya, gubernatorial appointees censored by the public for their incompetency or corruption allegations would rather die than resign. This is because there is nothing like resigning in the interest of the public. That is just hot air. Until and unless the appointing authority sacks or forces such an incompetent or pilfering appointee to resign ,he or she would deride the tax payers and continue to draw huge perks courtesy of the same tax payers.
It is therefore easy for one to understand why the Basic Education PS insists on the presumption of innocence. He believes that public opinion is unfairly hanging him. Yet all and sundry know that it is his incompetency that has bred “lootocracy” in the ministry. But even as he cries fowl, cryptic details of the FPE scandal continue to emerge and so do the calls for his resignation increase by the hour.
Surely, the PS must know that management of the public funds is too sacrosanct a duty to be anybody`s partisan or ideological play thing! In the absence of sound management systems, the public`s interest is sure to be deeply hurt. It does hurt really badly when the future of the children of the hoi polloi is auctioned.
And there is no denying that the Basic Education Ministry has not put in place any of these checks and balances. His spell in office as the CEO has and is still totally devoid of Efficient Management Information System (EMIS). To say that his tenure is continually plagued by a litany of questions about financial impropriety would be an understatement.
FPE which is the President`s brain child and which is a component of the larger Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP), became a cropper immediately after its operationalization. If it is not the loss of FPE funds, it is subsidized secondary education funds, infrastructure development funds, capacity building funds or funds meant for procurement of science equipment in schools et cetra. He has been unable to reign in on rogue functionaries in the ministry. Every time a red flag was raised, the PS truly struck his stride in demonstrating his penchant for rubbishing claims of the muck docking in his ministry.
He seems to believe that he can continually abuse public trust and get away with it. This explains why in spite of being advised that the interest of the nation must always come before any personal considerations he has emphatically declared that there is no question of him resigning in response to the current snowballing corruption.
Yet there is no doubt even in his own mind that his legacy is a negative one, and that he has done far more harm to the country than good. When he comically denies that no FPE funds have been lost, he himself knows too well that there is a great mountain between what his heart knows and what his tongue says!
Lest the President forces him to resign now, or sacks him, he too like the PS will have no legacy to protect. The President would be deluding himself were he to think that the constant barrage of criticism leveled against the PS is about to wane. It will not wane now nor in the near future.
As for the PS, he has a simple choice but one that will at least leave him with some level of respectability; and that is for him to leave office quickly, take a plea deal, and go quietly to prison.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Monday, January 4, 2010
PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED MORE RESOURCES OTHER THAN FPE VOUCHERS.
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Government spending on public primary education has over the years increased significantly. Unfortunately this increased funding has not been followed by similar gains by students in public primary schools in terms of performance in national examinations. Students from private academies have eclipsed their counterparts in public schools sparking fears that they will yet again fill a larger proportion of the few available slots in the best secondary schools in the country.
Many have decried the performance based selection system that seems to only favor the private academies whose Social Economic Status (SES) is arguably higher than of most public schools.
However some analysts have rushed to the defense of the private academies arguing that underperformance in public schools cannot be attributed to SES. They opine that with the advent of Free Primary Education (FPE); SES plays an insignificant role in the performance of many poor students performance in public schools.
This view remains highly contentious and it is very unlikely that it can be satisfactorily resolved. It becomes trickier considering the fact that many of its proponents view resources available in schools so much in terms of finances, which is, only but a component of the entire resource base.
If that be the case then one can confidently argue that the bare minimum Government funding of FPE has not in any way, led to increased resource base in public primary schools.
It is because of this reason that policy analysts insist that the critical question in Kenya 's education system is to have far reaching education reforms which must focus on resource allocation.
Take for instance, the availability of qualified teachers to meet the rising enrolment in public primary schools across the country. Unlike many private academies that boast of a teacher- student ratio of 1: 30 or even less; public primary schools have to grapple with a startling ratio of up to 1: 100!
What this means is that whereas the small size class in private academies make substantially faster gains in learning, their counterparts in public schools do not even have that bare minimum individualized attention from the few available teachers. From the foregoing it is highly unlikely to expect public schools to compete favorably with private academies.This will not happen. Not even when we absurdly think that doing away with school vacations will make a difference!.
It is in the same vein that the public is demanding of the Government that "smaller classes, and not FPE vouchers alone, can increase student achievement in public primary schools. Professor Fredrick Moesteller of Harvard University affirms that "there is no longer any argument about whether or not reducing class size in primary grades increases student achievement. It does."
In our context, smaller classes mean hiring or employing more teachers depending with the outcome of the pending court case. It also means building more classrooms. However, with the current budget deficit, it is doubtful whether these problems can be addressed the soonest. What this means is that the glaring inequalities between private and public primary schools shall persist.
Ceteris Paribus, a quota system would be needless, however, given our context, as for now, just as we use it in addressing regional disparities, so must we use it when considering admissions for the few available slots in the top performing secondary schools in the country.
Of course, I am not saying that teacher –student ratio is the only panacea, it is only but a piece of the jig- saw. I also agree in entirety with those who opine that the ministry of basic education must ensure effective and quality assurance exercises in schools are regularly undertaken to prevent laxity taking toll of some of our teachers, managers and administrators. That we need committed manpower in our schools cannot be denied.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter. com/tomefrancis
The Government spending on public primary education has over the years increased significantly. Unfortunately this increased funding has not been followed by similar gains by students in public primary schools in terms of performance in national examinations. Students from private academies have eclipsed their counterparts in public schools sparking fears that they will yet again fill a larger proportion of the few available slots in the best secondary schools in the country.
Many have decried the performance based selection system that seems to only favor the private academies whose Social Economic Status (SES) is arguably higher than of most public schools.
However some analysts have rushed to the defense of the private academies arguing that underperformance in public schools cannot be attributed to SES. They opine that with the advent of Free Primary Education (FPE); SES plays an insignificant role in the performance of many poor students performance in public schools.
This view remains highly contentious and it is very unlikely that it can be satisfactorily resolved. It becomes trickier considering the fact that many of its proponents view resources available in schools so much in terms of finances, which is, only but a component of the entire resource base.
If that be the case then one can confidently argue that the bare minimum Government funding of FPE has not in any way, led to increased resource base in public primary schools.
It is because of this reason that policy analysts insist that the critical question in Kenya 's education system is to have far reaching education reforms which must focus on resource allocation.
Take for instance, the availability of qualified teachers to meet the rising enrolment in public primary schools across the country. Unlike many private academies that boast of a teacher- student ratio of 1: 30 or even less; public primary schools have to grapple with a startling ratio of up to 1: 100!
What this means is that whereas the small size class in private academies make substantially faster gains in learning, their counterparts in public schools do not even have that bare minimum individualized attention from the few available teachers. From the foregoing it is highly unlikely to expect public schools to compete favorably with private academies.This will not happen. Not even when we absurdly think that doing away with school vacations will make a difference!.
It is in the same vein that the public is demanding of the Government that "smaller classes, and not FPE vouchers alone, can increase student achievement in public primary schools. Professor Fredrick Moesteller of Harvard University affirms that "there is no longer any argument about whether or not reducing class size in primary grades increases student achievement. It does."
In our context, smaller classes mean hiring or employing more teachers depending with the outcome of the pending court case. It also means building more classrooms. However, with the current budget deficit, it is doubtful whether these problems can be addressed the soonest. What this means is that the glaring inequalities between private and public primary schools shall persist.
Ceteris Paribus, a quota system would be needless, however, given our context, as for now, just as we use it in addressing regional disparities, so must we use it when considering admissions for the few available slots in the top performing secondary schools in the country.
Of course, I am not saying that teacher –student ratio is the only panacea, it is only but a piece of the jig- saw. I also agree in entirety with those who opine that the ministry of basic education must ensure effective and quality assurance exercises in schools are regularly undertaken to prevent laxity taking toll of some of our teachers, managers and administrators. That we need committed manpower in our schools cannot be denied.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.
http://twitter. com/tomefrancis
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