John S. Khabamba

In politics, there exists a thin line between facts and fiction, truth and lies, real and artificial, right and wrong . Infact the definitions of the aforementioned terms are extremely relative. It depends who is asking who. Politicians have mastered the art of verbal charm in wooing the electorate. In the run-up to any political duel, aspirants chiefly employ verbal tact. Indeed they say successful seduction depends on the effectiveness of the verbal allure.  For the Kenyan electorate, politicians always have a field day during the campaign trails. They freely stretch the truth-which of course erode their validity - and add more questionable statements in form of promises which the citizenry sieze as the gospel truth. Apart from the intentional image obliteration of the opponents, the promise card is always at the center of political show downs. It's no coincidence that most successful politicians also happen to be excellent orators - a case in point is the current president. Ke...

If there is a crop of people at cross roads right now, it's individuals known as JSS interns. The difficult decision they have to make concerning their fate is weighing heavy on them. To renew or not? Well.. It's a few-lettered question but the ramifications that come of either of the two choices remain mystery. And that is what makes it even harder to pick either of the two choices. Image:LinkedIn Earlier this month, TSC directed interns in both primary and JSS to renew contracts which are expiring in ten days. Some adhered, some are yet. The immediate consequence of not heeding to the directive cannot be determined as at now because the existing contract is legally binding, at least for the next few days. The TSC directive was bound to crop up two factions:, the obeying ones and the defiant ones. Both sides have reasons for the reaction. The consequence of both actions are hypothetical at this point.  Let's have a look at them. Those renewing may not doing it jovially but...

President Ruto has affirmed that JSS interns must serve for two years before being eligible for permanent employment. Speaking during a round table live interview to a host of journalists from mainstream media houses, the Head of State said it was now  a government policy for state employees to undergo two year internshp before consideration for permanent terms. President William Ruto addressing journalists during a roundtable interview at State House, Nairobi, December 17th, 2023.  Image: PCS "JSS teachers will report to work in January because we rolled out a policy that requires a two-year internshp before being employed permanently," the President said. The President revealed that the policy  is currently being implemented in other government sectors, not that just TSC. " We are not doing internships  with teachers only, we are doing internships with many other sectors. In  fact, we have gotten a cohort of interns at Public Service Commission (PSC) because i...

Despite staging demos for weeks  demanding for confirmation to Permanent and Pensionable terms, JSS interns have been seen in masses rushing for contract renewals. Moments after TSC ordered the tutors to visit the Subcounty offices for contract renewal, huge numbers were seen in banks across the country acquiring the Personal Accident Cover (PAC) which is necessary for contract renewal. Photo credit :123RF The 26k interns have been for agitating for confirmation from their employer after the  contract expiry but TSC revealed that the contracts will renewed. This rubbed the interns the wrong way. They  took to social media and demonstrations to deliver their disappointment. Counties have witnessed demos mostly led by KUPPET members . The issue  has  also dominated newsrooms  conversations with plight of the jss teachers being highlighted in major news rooms. The interns have being thinking their efforts will sway the TSC but they were wrong at least going by...

Teacher Service Commission (TSC) has  now ordered Primary and JSS interns to  renew their contracts. Through the county directors, the commission has began to renew the contracts which are due to expire at the end of this month. The disgruntled interns have been directed to visit their Subcounty offices with new Personal Accident Cover to facilitate the renewal process.,  "...advice your INTERN teachers both JSS and primary whose contract was ending 31/12/2023 to go for PERSONAL INSURANCE Cover for renewal of their contract. The should be for one year. Let them bring to the Subcounty office TSC  by midday on 13/12/2023. Kindly please." read part of the the message  sent to the interns in one of the counties.  Photo:TSC CEO Dr Nancy Macharia at a past event.  Photo credit: Courtesy .  The directive now leaves the interns at cross roads as they may potentially face joblessness if they defy the order or sign the renewal and bury their hopes of ...

The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) continues to remain mum even as the  jss interns demonstrations intensify. The tutors who are running down their contracts have demanded their employer to confirm them to Permanent and Pensionable terms but the TSC wants them to renew for another one year. Photo credit : The Star: Kwale JSS intern teachers hold protests on   December 5, 2023. Earlier this year, the TSC CEO Dr Nancy Macharia told Parliament Education Committee that the jss interns  will be confirmed in 2025 subject to availability of funds.  This sparked an outrage amongst the contract teachers who were hoping for confirmation at the end of their contract in 2023.  The rage simmered down with time as they banked on a change of mind come December. As we approach the end of the contract, it has become clearer that the TSC isn't going to change their mind, at least going by the silent approach to the demos. Appearing before the Education committee last month...

  For time immemorial, generations in, generations out, Raila Odinga has enjoyed fanatical following from Kenyans of all walks of life. His supporters have religiously stood with him regardless of the circumstances. Let's just they are naturally wired to read from the same script as he does. Photo Credit: Courtesy : Azimio Leader Raila Odinga at an event.  The history of this nation cannot be written to conclusion without the comprehensive inclusion of the long-term time opposition leader. He has had a political career which has outrightly outspanned  and dwarfed the political journeys of other players combined. For some reasons, 'Baba', as he is popularly known by his supporters and rivals alike, has been able to maneuver the tumultuous Kenyan political scene. He always find a way to re-invent, rejuvenate when he's least expected. Show me any other politician who can match his shrewdness. Am waiting... For a person who enjoys massive support - half of the country's...

Photo: Courtesy : Declan Rice celebrating a goal against Manchester United. Arsenal are off to a flying start to the new season. The emphatic thumping of  Manchester United may be  an early statement of intent or it just another case of spark in the dark! For two  decades, the premier league crown has eluded the gunners. For the better part of this period, the club has been under the tutelage of legendary manager Arsene Wenger. 'Le professeur' as popularly dubbed was at the  the helm; guiding the London outfit to the famous invincible's season. After the couping the golden title for going the whole season undefeated, the fortunes of the gunners just petered out into oblivion. After guiding Arsenal to the premier league glory in 2003/04, and overseeing the establishment of the Emirates stadium from a scratch and the transition thereafter, Wenger endured a difficult spell at top of arsenal hierarchy until his inevitable departure in the summer of 2018.  One may ar...

Photo credit:Veronicadana.  Upon seizing the reigns of power. The power to be autonomous from the  colonial dictation, Kenya's founding fathers declared a war. A war with three enemies; poverty, ignorance and dieases. Indeed those three summed up the genesis of our multifaceted    stifles . Major strides have been made since independence. Access to basic education has been made easier to millions who would have other wise languished in ignorance. The question of whether the education has fundamentally changed the fortunes of Kenyans is a story of another day. According to the World Bank, the international poverty line is  $2.15 per person per day. This means anyone earning less than $2.15 (ksh 300) per day is considered as poor. 16.1% of Kenya's population lives below that poverty line. 16.1% translates to a whooping 8million Kenyans who are live in abject poverty. Wikipedia refers to Kenya's poverty situation as severe. Where do you fall? Are you poor? Again th...

  There have been radical changes in the education sector ever since the new administration came into office. Of very much significance has been the decision to domicile Junior Secondary learners in their respective existing primary schools. Whether that was the right call or not remains a subject of debate. As we were still digesting the JSS strife, came a new kid on the block; the new funding model for tertiary institutions. Nothing has been as dividing as the  model which is a sharp departure from the current model. For starters, university education has been funded almost entirely for students admitted through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) which was  formerly known as the Joint Admission Board (JAB). Under the model, the government has been  footing arguably the whole fees, leaving only Ksh 18000  tuition fees p.a for households to take care of, regardless of the course the student is admitted to. The same students h...

  Photo courtesy .  Arsenal has confirmed Jurrien Timber injured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee and will undergo surgery in the coming days. The player will be on the sidelines for a period time as he undergoes rehabilitation program after the surgery. The North Londoners will have to do without the mercurial defender who was poised to be a stand out addition to the Arsenal squad and the premier league at large. 

Photo credit:Arsenal.com: Jurrien Timber in action against Nottingham forest Arsenal summer recruit Jurrien Timber may have sustained a serious injury on his debut against Nottingham forest. The Dutch was unable to continue with play in the second half after feeling some discomfort in his right knee. This came after ostensible soft clash with Brennan Jonhson towards the end first half. He was initially attended to by Arsenal's medical team which enabled him to continue with play.  On returning for the second half, he collapsed to the ground without any contact. He was briefly attended to before limping off injured. Tomiyasu came in as replacement. Photo Credit:Arsenal. Com: Jurrien Timber in distress after challenge with Brennan Jonhson  on his debut.  Speaking to the media after the match in which the gunners won 2-1, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta brushed off suggestions that he may have worsened the center back's fitness by playing him in the second half despite 'obvious'...

Photo Credit: Arsenal.Com:Eddie Nketia celebrating a goal against Forest yesterday at the Emirates Stadium.  Match Report : Arsenal had underwhelming season opener for title challengers with a narrow win of 2- 1 against Nottingham forest. Martinelli's masterclass gifted Nketia a clear opportunity which he converted superbly to give Arsenal the lead before Saka's thunder bolt doubled the gunners lead in the first half.  In the dull second half for the North Londoners, Forest took one back thanks to Taiwo's solo effort in the 82th minute. Arsenal had to nervously hold onto their lead as forest camped in their half for the rest of the match.  Mega-moneysignings Kai Haverzt and Declan Rice had mixed performances on their debuts. Declan Rice showed glimpses of brilliance with a couple of goal efforts. Kai Haverzt onto the other hand may have just have had a debut to forget as he couldn't show any game- changing contribution despite the heavy price tag and wages. Defense recr...