THE CONCUBINE AUTHOR PASSED ON AT 82

By Courtesy

One of Africa’s finest writers Elechi Amadi is dead.

The renowned Nigerian author of The Concubine passed away at a hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on Wednesday. This comes a week after he became ill and was hospitalized. 

The hospital had just settled on referring him to seek further treatment abroad but he unfortunately passed on before that materialized. 

The 82-year-old author was scheduled to attend an annual book reading programme but fell ill.

Some of his other famous books are Isiburu, Sunset in Biafra, Pepper Soup and The Road to Ibadan. Others are Speaking and Singing, Estrangement of the woman of Calaber, the slave, the great Ponds, the concubine, among others.

The literature guru was born on May 12, 1934 and had a degree in physics and mathematics.

He also served in the Nigerian army during the Nigerian Civil War and retired at the rank of a captain.

 The literary pioneer will be remembered for vividly capturing the African village before the colonial period. Amadi leaves a legacy and aspirations foretold in his books yet to be established.

WERE THE KILLINGS DELIBERATE, OR AN ACT OF A HUMAN ERROR?

OPINION PAGE

By Adow Jubat - Senior Reporter/Media Consultant

Firstly, I send my heartfelt condolences, to the families of my in laws, who had their young human Angels, decimated in yesterdays aerial bombardments, allegedly carried out by our uniformed external defenders.

Before we condemn our military officers, for the painful killings, we must appreciate the facts that, Mandera County is facing a serious security threats from cannibals hiding on the other side of our porous border. 

These vampires are determined to rip our beautiful country into a shreds worse than what they did to our neigbouring country, Somalia.

Fighting this war, so as to get our county and country free from this ragtag, that has made our travelling on our roads between Mandera – Elwak – Wajir- Garissa – Nairobi equal to crossing a hell on earth, will understandably have some innocent casualties like the ones we had in El-Ram.

This is not to say that, the military or any other state security agency, should run berserk plundering properties, or murder innocent people in cold blood, under the aegis of engaging terrorists elements, but as Kenyans we must remain vigilant to the truth that, such collateral damages, is unavoidable occurrences during a conflict with a heavily armed enemy like al-Shabaab.

On their side, the state security machinery, must avoid their routine knee-jerk bombardments, whenever there is attack by our cowardly enemies and instead must invest heavily in local intelligent gathering to forestall any further incursion into the country to thwart any form of counter engagements, that would possibly led into civilians sufferings.

Any security reactions to respond to terror attacks, like ones in this week which has led to the butchery of five security officers scouting a passengers bus in Mandera and a driver of ambulance speeding to save a life in Hullgho in Garissa County, must be done carefully to eschew civilians casualties on both sides of the border.

And whenever, the inevitable erroneous human casualty occurs, the government must be quick to intervene and provide all humanly supports which the victims’ families may require. 

These should include but not limited to covering burial expenses, medical bills and generous compensation, where and when necessary.

Its in my suggestion that the government must recruit the local youth with clean records into police reservists and motivating them through healthy monthly stipends, so that they could be involved in 24 hours round the clock patrols along the border.

The local youth are more knowledgeable about the terrains in the area than any other person. They should also be made sufficiently mobile so that they could respond swiftly to confront wherever the presences of our enemies are reported.

The local populace in Mandera and their political leadership must support wholeheartedly any state approaches aimed at freeing their county from external jiggers, which are working tirelessly to defeat the gains they were expecting from devolved systems.

As a sovereignty country, we can’t live under the intimidation of foreign cowards and it is incumbent upon all Kenyans to jointly vanquish terror and their pipelines.

DOES BEAUTY MATTER IN POLITICS?

By Adow Jubat – Senior Writer/Communication consultant

Two female candidates are causing a political storm in the social sphere and among voters in far-flung villages since they have thrown their towel into the county political ring in Northeastern region. 

The two youthful ladies - Fatuma Kinsi Abass and Nimo Omar Hajji has attracted historical electrified talks and attentions, that is unforeseen in the region since they declared their interest for Garissa and Wajir counties woman rep seats respectively.

                     Fatuma Kinsi - Garissa

The twin ladies, both philanthropists by their own special ways seem to enjoy a rare popularity with vote’s rich groups: youth, women and the less privileged section of the community. 

But the question in many people lips is why are the two ladies becoming an instant hit with the prospective votes? The answer to this question can be explained by scientific theories.

                               Nimo Omar - Wajir

Scientists had previously theorized that the general preference for attractive leaders was just another example of a “halo effect.” In other words, we attribute all kinds of positive characteristics to attractive people, and this tendency leads to more votes for politicians who look like Hollywood stars.

Does politicians' looks affect voters’ perception of their abilities to lead? Research from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., says politicians' facial images are a great factor in how voters cast their votes.

The study called "The Political Gender Gap: Gender Bias in Facial Inference that Predict Voting Behavior," asked 73 participants -- 38 women and 35 men -- to rate the faces of Congressional candidates from the 2006 election. 

Participants were given a headshot of each candidate. They then had one second to decide how competent, attractive, approachable and dominant the candidate seemed, based on the photograph. The participant also had to note which candidate they would vote for in a theoretical presidential election.

The results showed that male politicians' faces were rated as more competent and dominant, whereas female politicians' faces were more attractive and approachable. The study also found that competence alone will not give women the upper hand when it comes voting time. Women are expected to be attractive, as well. For male candidates, competence is enough.

Another study led by Professor Rosenberg, indicated that candidates could exert some control over the appearance factor. Researchers first recruited 210 volunteers to rate head-and-shoulder shots of hundreds of women in terms of how “able looking” they were. 

From these ratings they determined that certain factors contributed to this appearance: for example, eyes with more curvature on the top than the bottom; hair that is short and parted on the side or combed back; a hairline that comes to a slight widow’s peak; a broad or round face; and a smile.

These studies could explain why Kinsi and Nimo candidature has attracted huge following even before they seriously launched their campaigns for their respective seats. The two poses regal wide smiles and are disarmingly beauty.

In last general election a sample research conducted by Frontierleaks revealed that, an aspirant for Garissa county women rep got overwhelming supports from all corners of the county effortlessly due to her facial attraction. The candidate garnered superb votes courtesy of her good looking images in her campaign posters.

RAILA TAKES MESSAGE OF ANTI-IEBC PROTESTS TO HASSAN’S BACKYARD

Raila takes message of IEBC protest to Issack Hassan backyard

Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Saturday clarified that Cord leadership is not targeted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman as individual as the opposition took message of vacating office at home ground IEBC chair.

Speaking in Garissa, the home turf of IEBC Chairman Issack Hassan the Cord Principal explained that they are not after individual commissioners but only call for changed of guard at the electoral agency so as to have clean and transparent body that can be trust with the conduct of the forthcoming 2017 general poll.

While addressing a mammoth crowd at Garissa Primary playground, cord leadership at the same time insisted they will continue with their street protest until the current Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission commissioners are out of office or the Jubilee agrees to a dialogue that will see a watertight reform at the agency.

Mr Odinga told Garissa resident that he was the one who had influenced the nomination of Isack Hassan n at the chairperson of IEBC an indication that he had nothing personal against him as person.

While refuting claims recently made by Majority leader in the national assembly Aden Duale that he was against Muslims, Mr Odinga said he the electoral Commission is comprised of all Kenyans adding that the current commissioners have become partisan to the ruling coalition.

The cord Principal at the same time refuted claims by the government that some neigbouring countries are helping cord to destabilize the government saying that what will the foreign countries have to do with Kenyans demanding for reforms in their electoral commission which has lost credibility with them.

Raila who brought the message at the home convinced locals that the current IEBC have wore same uniform with their rivals which are the ruling coalition.

"I nominated Issack Hassan at the Ghai commission and also during IIEC, we also nominated Mohamed Alawi and Ms Mahiri Zaja after they were nominated by Hassan Joho and Farah Maalim, when we say they should go we are not after individuals but as IEBC Commissioners," said the opposition leader.

He was accompanied by Senators James Orengo (Siaya) Johnston Muthama (Machakos), Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), and Nathif Jama (Garissa), several members of parliament including Mohamed Dahiye, Rashid Sumra Embakasi, Busia women Rep.

Mr Odinga faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta by visiting Garissa 14 months after the deadly Garissa university attack that claimed 147 people including students of the institution.

Hundreds of people in Garissa who attended the rally were uncontrollable as they surge forward towards the podium, the police had hard time controlling them, and they eventfully seemingly tired of the crowed leave them to surround only to leave small space for the media

The cord leadership also poked holes at the recent visit and opening of projects by the President Uhuru and his Deputy to Northeastern Region saying there was no major jubilee projects in the region that warrant the president visit noting only opening projects initiated by grand coalition government or county government.

"When the President visited he opened he opened substation which was actually initiated when I was prime minister, there is no any projects by jubilee government," Said Raila.

He drummed up support for the former Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim saying he can represent them in parliament far from the current Mp and Majority leader in Parliament

GARISSA COUNTY CORRUPTION CASES TO BEGIN ON 15TH, JUNE

By Adow Jubat

Corruption case facing Garissa Governor Nathif Jama and six of his former tender Committee members failed to taking off today at Garissa magistrate court.

 Judge Victor Asiyo said he has no jurisdiction to hear corruption matter until the Chief Magistrate Margaret Wachira who is on leave resumes.  

Now the case will officially commence June 15^th when the Governor and co-accused will be expected to take plea.

All six former tender committee Rahma Dekow, Jawahir Keinan, Abdi Sahal, Safia Mohamed, Mohamed Hassan and Mohamud Hassan Mohamed were in the dock and the judge extended their cash bail for two weeks.

The county officials are accused of leasing ambulances from Emergency Plus (Eplus) Medical Services, A company that is fully owned by the Kenya Red Cross.

The Governor who didn’t appeared in the court to take the plea, but his lawyer Chunga  Unono said his client is in Nairobi to for official to meet the visiting President Tayyip Erdoğan who brought with him donations for the county government.

“The Governor has public duty and will be receiving donation from a visiting president which is taking place today at 2.30pm in Nairobi and he will obey any date by the this court because  he is a law abiding citizen,” Lawyer Unono told court.

John Wanyonyi, Senior Assistant Director of public Prosecution for EACC told the court that the Mr Jama should issue with warrant of arrest to compel him to appear before the court for failing to show up saying he was duly summoned before given cash bail.

He also said the sh100,000 cash bail given by the governor be forfeited to the state for deliberate absconding the court proceedings.

Wanyonyi said the governor should be compelled to produce official documents that he was actually attending a visiting presidential function adding that the governor has the machinery to attend the court proceedings and at the same time be in Nairobi because of time difference.

However the lawyer for the county officials said the governor has not absconded the proceedings only asked to be requested for a later date for plea taking.

Earlier on members of the public thronged to Garissa high court to have glimpse of ongoing court proceedings which involved the Governor and county officials but were denied entry at the court’s compound with police condoning the area.

At one time the accused were blocked by security officials at the gate even after showing documents from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and equally media personnel were treated the same.