News, Briefs, making headlines ahead of the new week

• Show me who steals babies and get a cash Prize of Kshs. 50,000

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has offered a cash reward of Kshs. 50,000 to any doctor or officer at Pumwani Maternity hospital who will catch the thieves stealing new born babies at the largest Maternity hospital in Nairobi.

• Mo Farah and Brigid Kosgei triumph at Chicago Marathon

Mo Farah and Brigid Kosgei produced excellent performances to claim victories at the 41st edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label road race on Sunday, 7 October 2018.

Britain’s Mo Farah recorded a 2.05.11 performance to smash the European record and take his first marathon victory by 13 seconds to win the Men’s race. In the women category, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei crossed the line in 2.18.35.

• The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, CUEA, on the spotlight.

The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, CUEA, is in the media for all the wrong reasons:

1. Only 500 out of the 1,200 students of the class of 2018 got all their marks ready. This means that the others, over 700, are unsure of their graduation
2. Sex and money are exchanged for good grades from the unqualified & unprofessional lecturers
3. Some students pay to get grade As
4. Some Lecturers attend a paltry 2-5 lectures in the whole semester
5. Most of the Lecturers do not meet the minimum requirements to be lecturers as stipulated by the Commission for University Education. Most only have Masters and no PHDs.
6. Sexual harassment and physical assault of both students and other female lecturers by incompetent and unqualified heads of departments.
7. Setting of Sub- standard Examinations.

• These are the issues we will be tackling this coming week- Education CS says:

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has said her ministry will be highlighting the following issues, this week:

1. Preparations for the 2018 National, KCPE & KCSE, Examinations
2. Schools’ title deeds
3. Greening schools
4. New Competency Based Curriculum implementation.

• Migori Decides in Senatorial poll

Migori county voters will go to polls tomorrow to elect a new Senator. IEBC has distributed all polling materials ahead of polling. The seat fell vacant after Hon. Ben Oluoch’s death. 6 contestants are garnering for the seat. IEBC officials say security has been heighetened in Migori, ahead of the poll tomorrow.

• KNUT issues strike threat.

The Kenya National Union Of Teachers, KNUT, has issued a two weeks ultimatum to the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, to either resolve contentious issues or they call for a nation wide teachers’ strike. The union is demanding for immediate stop to delocalization, stoppage of the Teacher Performance and Appraisal Development (TPAD) and promotion of the over 30,000 teachers who have attained higher qualifications. On its side, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers Education (KUPPET) is demanding for the termination of the AON Minet medical insurance scheme procured by the TSC for all teachers. The current stand off may hamper administration and execution of the forth coming National tests.

• The Referendum Debate:

A section of leaders want the number of Members of Parliament reduced to 147. Raila Odinga wants creation of a 3 tier government structure and introduction of 14 regions of governance. He also wants creation of a Prime Minister’s post and 2 Deputy Prime Ministers’ posts. Deputy President, Hon. William Ruto, is strongly opposed to the section of the referendum rooting for formation of more national posts.

• Embezzlement at the Thika Technical Training Institute- 6 top officials arrested

Six top officials of Thika Technical Training Institute have been arrested and will be charged in court on Monday for misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds through irregular payments amounting to Ksh.27,981,233; funds meant to promote technical innovation in Information Communication Technology, ICT.
The 6 are:-

• Mary Mumbua Kyengo Micheni~ Current Principal
• Jefferson Kariuki ~Former Principal
• John Mwangi~ Former Principal
• Samuel Gakumo~Former Finance Officer
• Johnson Kihumba Ichugu~Internal Auditor
• Eunice Njuguna Wairimu ~Ministry of Education Auditor(Thika)

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, DCI, the Technical Institute had been nominated to spearhead the Big Four agenda on Technical Innovation in ICT, but the donor and government funds were misappropriated for personal use.

The DCI’s George Kinoti now sends a strong warning to the rest of the learning institutions that any coin meant for public or children’s future must be protected and used for the purpose for which it was intended, to enable our country to be industrialized.