John S. Khabamba

Whenever the media is invited for a Presidential Presser you know headline pronouncements are in the offing and those headlines are often with far reaching repurcussions. In the run-up to the  address the fourth estate and Kenyans alike speculate on what might the content of the presser. Well, they are not always off the mark because the addresses are always a culmination of   ubiquitous event (s) of national concern or should I say of heavy political consequence. The latest one called on 3rd May  was no different. Apart from tragically ending lives of hapless Kenyans, the devastating downpour has left the country in a turmoil as the the frail infrastructural establishments are being swept away by the raging waters which have stopped at nothing in ravaging down  all corners of the nation. The raging floods have plunged the country into a  serious humanitarian crisis last seen in the Covid-19 era where lives became couldn't be more fragile. Such predicaments...

If CBC was my nemesis, I will be spoilt for choices to attack. There are  infinite fronts of which I can dismantle, deconstruct and debunk some of the supposed basis of it's roll out. These article will strictly be objective. Before we delve deeper, it's essential to start we the basics.  Let's roll back and see how we got here.  Photo credit:Cardinal Education Network  The Competency Based Curriculum dubbed CBC (2-6-3-3) was rolled out in 2017 to replace the 8-4-4 system which has been in the existence since 1985. The curriculum framework encompasses 2 years in pre-primary, 6 years in primary, 3 years in junior school and finally 3 years in senior school. As of today, the pioneer cohort is already in Junior School. The pretext for the departure from the 'exam oriented' 8-4-4 system was to 'combat' the unemployment crisis which has been heavily linked with the former curriculum. The mantra that CBC will significantly reduce joblessness is hoax; an escapist n...

A section of senior interns have have been shocked after TSC left them out of January pay! The commission paid teachers in 23rd but some interns did not receive their stipend as usual leaving them with questions as to what may have transpired. " I was expecting the stipend to hit my  account as normal but I was dumb-founded when I found empty offers every time I checked the account balance," lamented one teacher who sought anonymity. The affected interns who claimed to have reported procedurely to their stations feel the commission is adding salt to injury with its latest move.  " Despite not being comfortable working with the meager pay  for second year running, I decided to renew the contract," added the disgruntled teacher.  "Am now wondering how I ended up missing out while colleagues got theirs, he sadly noted.  Senior interns were fiercely agitating for confirmation to PnP terms but the commission stood firm with their earlier pronouncement which declared...

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...