Teacher’s Strike to start on Thursday says defiant Sossion

KNUT Secretary genaral Wilson Sosion has defied Employment and Labour Relations Court which temporarily halted teachers’ strike set to begin on Thursday, January 3, 2019.
The Teachers Service commission (TSC) had gone to court in a bid to stop the strike scheduled for January 3.

Through their secretary general, teachers allied to KNUT have said that the strike is still on unless TSC tackles issues around promotion of teachers, contentious transfers of head teachers and performance contracting policy.

In the order, the court has directed that the two parties continue to negotiate and consult on the issues, with KNUT now required to supply TSC with a list of teachers that they claim have not been promoted in accordance with terms of employment.

However, the court has directed TSC not to victimize any teacher who seeks transfer review.

TSC and KNUT representatives are still holding discussions in a bid to thwart the strike which threatens to cripple learning across the country.

Earlier, rival union the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had dismissed the strike call by KNUT.

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Celebrities who have lost weight in 2018

Most people would want to have an average body but there are those who have gone an extra mile to achieve it. We take a look at our celebrities who have achieved the weight loss this year.

1. Senator Johnson Sakaja

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has been looking a lot trimmer recently and there is a reason for that, exercise and a better diet.

The Senator has been hitting the gym on a regular, watching his portion size and reducing his carbohydrate intake.

Factors which he revealed helped him lose 24 Kgs. Speaking on Milele FM, he advised against excessive alcohol consumption as it contributes to calorie intake. “Adui sio nyama ni pombe, that’s what adds calories mingi sana, kama lazma unywe unapunguza tu. Afya ni muhimu.”

2. Willis Raburu

The once towering TV personality now boasts of a much trimmer figure after hitting the gym following worrying news by the doctor about his cholesterol levels. But it’s not only his body that has gained from this but his mind too as he has a much higher self-esteem after losing the excess weight.

“I am more confident now. My esteem is way up, I know it’s hard to believe it was down. It made a difference in my pocket too because now I have to shop for new clothes, but it is a good problem hahaha!” he said.

3. Miss Mandi

The Throwdown Queen showed that she can also throw down in the gym after losing a couple of pounds.

Her decision to hit the gym was as a birthday gift to herself plus she wanted to revel in looking at herself in the mirror and enjoy her body

Posting a picture of her new bod, Mandi wrote “New body, who dis? Every year for my birthday (April 25th) I usually gift myself with a little something something. This year going back to the gym was the gift…When I was younger I used to be so full of myself because my genes were loyal af but the older I got my genes decided it’s time to betray me! See, I had mastered the art of wearing things that hid my thickness. As much as I hid my thickness ppl felt the need to remind me of how I’ve put on weight. I found the comments to be very unnecessary. Matter of fact, ppl need to stop minding other ppls bodies. Anywho, what bothered & motivated me was I wanted to enjoy looking at myself naked or just in the mirror & be in love with my bod. To make this long story short, I WANTED TO BE MY OWN BODY GOALS. It’s been 4 months now & man I’m just getting started.”

4. Jane Mukami

The Fit Kenyan girl lost her brother to suicide last year and as a way of coping with her grief, she turned to her favourite carb-heavy comfort food leading to a weight gain of 7.5 kilos in less than 4 weeks.

In addition, she quit working out compounding the weight gain situation.

As she edged closer to her birthday, she re-committed herself to working out and clean eating, giving herself time to slowly lose the weight.

“I paced myself because I had a lot of internal reconciling to do. With a body type that is quick to gain, yet very slow to lose weight, I had to find a goal, something that would motivate me to raise from my ashes. I boxed myself in by promising to be at my best by my next birthday. 6 months later I turned 38, had met my goal and ditched 20 pounds/ 10 kilos 2 weeks prior. I was back to my old self,” she wrote.

5. Yummy Mummy

Yummy Mummy also known as Joan Munyi boasts of a 30 Kg weight loss. The hilarious lifestyle blogger/YouTube personality went on a low carb diet as she wanted to feel confident and sexy and feel good while wearing clothes. In addition, she wanted to be in the best physical shape for her family.

Joan disclosed that she added 27 Kilograms during her pregnancy and was 107 Kgs when she gave birth to her daughter. But she is now much lighter after losing 30 Kilograms in a year thanks to a change in lifestyle.

“I decided to go on a low carb diet, the Keto diet. I don’t talk about it like a diet but a lifestyle as it’s something that I want to do my whole life and basically what it involves is I cut out all sugar, I cut out all refined carbohydrates. I cut out all carbohydrates that are not gotten from green vegetables so now my diet consists of is meat and veggies, ” she disclosed on her YouTube Channel.

6. Maureen Kunga

The lovely singer has had a long battle with the bulge that involved horrible ‘quick-result’ methods of weight loss where she would lose weight in a fleeting moment then gain it back. She finally succeeded in getting to a much healthier weight by embracing a healthy lifestyle.

Taking to social media, Maureen surprised fans with a before and after picture before opening up about her weight loss journey.

“I achieved something I had never thought possible and I’m proud of myself for it. For years, my weight was a genuine cause of pain – something I never openly discussed, maybe because of fear of insult, maybe because it was truly something that I thought I would never be able to overcome. Maybe because I was truly embarrassed and ashamed to be so heavy. I tried and failed, used horrible ‘quick-result’ methods of weight loss that never stuck. I broke myself down in my mind and could not see myself as anything other than a “’fat girl’. I destroyed my own self-esteem. But in 2016 I made the decision that I would stop punishing myself and I would give myself permission to take my weight-loss into my own hands and find something I can commit to. And here we are! 16kgs (and a few to go), and a whole lot of self-esteem later, I am happy, and I am proud,” read part of Maureen’s post.

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Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi’s cyclonic tour of Nyanza leaves rivals Orengo, Gumbo gasping for air

Fast rising Public Accounts Committee Chairman Opiyo Wandayi has come under increasing pressure to declare his interest in the coveted Siaya Gubernatorial post.

The development conscious Ugunja MP faced a barrage of calls to gun for the governor’s seat during a recent whirlwind woking tour of his constituency and the region during which he avoided the topic but underscored his vision for Ugunja Constituency saying that he would not relent on his development politics.

So far the Siaya governor’s seat appears to have attracted the county Senator James Orengo and former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo. But it is Wandayi’s potential run that is eliciting excitement from the vast vote-rich county which is rural home to ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga.

Wandayi with Raila during the Ndhiwa Sports and Cultural Day in Homa Bay County

In messages delivered at various stops during one week Christmas working tour on Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay Counties, the affable Wandayi emphasized that he would continue to focus on his legislative mandate which required him to deliver in representation, oversight and socio-economic development to the people of Ugunja.

“The year 2019 shall be the year of a constitutional referendum, the year of tackling corruption and the year of delivering on development,” repeatedly said Hon Wandayi in remarks that were widely cheered in each stop he made.

He also added that the Nyanza region must take advantage of the tranquility and working relations resulting from the Raila-Uhuru handshake to facilitate development in Nyanza.

Wandayi also condemned politicians going around the county of Siaya in premature and misplaced campaigns for fishing out leadership positions for 2022, saying the focus should be on delivery of 2017 mandate.

The Ugunja Constituency legislator attended numerous religious, cultural and social ceremonies in a week long tour that started on December 22.

His soaring popularity saw him bag the inagural Umarufu MP of the year award 2018 which was announced at a hotel in his constituency on New year’s eve. Wandayi beat strong challenge for the award from Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands), Babu Owino (Embakasi East), Junet’s Mohammed (Migori East) and John Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale).

As PAC chairman, Wandayi has made anti-corruption campaign a national pet subject, a campaign he promised to devolve to due to increased impunity, graft and mismanagement of public resources at the counties.

The MP has won the admiration of NASA leader Raila Odinga who presently enjoys a close working relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In an unprecedented move, the two foremost political leaders in Kenya recently visited Ugunja to launch the Ugunja-Ukwala-Rwambua highway, making the constituency the first rural one in which the president visited to commission a road. During the historic tour, the president also consented to addressing a myriad of pending issues affecting the region at the request of Hon Wandayi.

During many of his stops in the past one week, Wandayi downplayed any discussion on positioning for 2022 general elections saying his conscience could not allow him to betray voters who only last year gave him a fresh five-year mandate.

Since he was elected to parliament in 2013, Ugunja Constituency has since seen unprecedented levels of socio-economic development including in new tarmac roads, electrical power uptake, several new secondary schools, and clinics and hospitals enhanced with capacity to provide twenty-four hour services to Ugunja residents.

Due to his development record in Ugunja, the MP has formulated an impressive development and legislative portfolio that seen him come under pressure from residents to run for Governor.

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Banana Peddler Rains Big English ‘Lamba Lolo’ Letter to DP Ruto

My Birthday Message To DP WILLIAM RUTO (PhD)

By Albert Nyakundi Amenya aka The Banana Peddler

Sir, as you commence a new journey into another brand new year of your patriotism, we the great people of Kenya felicitate with you and with your unscathed persona as well. As we approach 2022, providence has granted you a unique opportunity to rewrite the ugly history of our nation. My Excellency Sir, history beckons on you to bail this nation from the ocean of hopelessness and rescue this wrecked ship of Kenya from capsizing. On behalf of my fellow compatriots, I want to reassure you that WE THE PEOPLE will help you achieve your envisioned and laudable goals for the dehumanized, deprived and the voiceless oppressed Kenyans.

Sir, as you keenly seek divine intervention with your unmatched dint of hard work at your age to solve the mundane problems of Kenyans, kindly take heed of political vultures popularly as political opportunists. My Excellency Sir, listen carefully to constructive criticism and pieces of advice. Stay focused on your great dreams of for our great nation. We don’t underestimate the fact that you are a man with a vision for Kenya’s future. When the time comes and the people elevate you one step up from second to past, use our ugly past to shape our present and future.

Be our guiding light as we approach our promised future. It is my hope and prayer that God will make you Kenya’s replica and epitome of the founding father of Singapore, the late Lee Kuan Yew. Sir, I want to remind you that as you embark on this journey to become Kenya’s “Giant of history” and Africa’s unique influential statesman, your road to glory will continue to be rougher. But as a victorious warrior, your victory for Kenya is assured.

Kenyan citizens in the Diaspora are your great ambassadors. They have given you their word that they will continue to represent you adequately in their various capacities and professional callings. They are your icon of inspiration and a mirror to our core values. Your birthday is a reminder of your stewardship and service to your fatherland. Remember, you are now a beckon of hope to millions of Kenyans; a mirror and a good example to other African leaders.

I will use this medium and opportunity to remind you sir that the immediate problems of Kenya are the basic necessities of life. They are, as you already know: Food security, good roads, good healthcare, security, jobs and other basic amenities for the common Mwananchi.

We pray to Almighty God, to give you more strength, unalloyed bliss and power to your elbows, to be able to shoulder us victoriously to victory, and solve our multifarious and multifaceted problems in Kenya.
On Behalf of the entire Team-Tangatanga, I say happy birthday our Deputy President Dr. William Ruto.

albertamenya@yahoo.com
(The writer sells bananas in the streets of Kisii Town)

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There’s nothing like a New Year ,Stop exergeratting celebrations

My father always told me there’s nothing like a New Year. There are those who benchmark their New Year from their birthdays. Others wait for January 1st. Others take every day as it comes.

I am in that third category.

I belong to that group of people who don’t bring the house down on their birthdays. I have never had a candle blown on my birthday, the only cake I ever ate in my honor came when I broke my leg and someone brought a cake to my hospital bed a million years ago.

It must be the effects of growing up in the village. In the village, people won’t sleep hungry because it’s your birthday and so you will have to choose whether you will go to the posho mill to grind maize or we eat you on your birthday.

That’s why you won’t find me making New Year resolutions. In my books, everyday is game day. I won’t wait for 31st December to forgive my enemies ati because I don’t want to begin a New Year with bad stuff. Boss, I will forgive you if I want, and I will not forgive you if I don’t want. A date on a calendar won’t dictate to me what to do with people who don’t like me.

Anyday of the week is the same to me. I work on Sundays, Wednesdays, Alldays. I won’t turn down a job opportunity because it’s January 31st. I walk with my laptop everywhere I go, if you have a job on a Sunday, just send me a text even when I’m in church and I’ll thank God for hearing my prayer for a job opportunity and off I will go to earn that money my family badly needs to run. God works in miraculous ways, doesn’t He?

We will all die. Whether you want to be reminded or not, you will die. You will die on the road, on top of a tree, under the water, some will even choke on their fishbone. You don’t know how your death will come, but you will die. You don’t know when you will die, but you will die. You don’t know whether today is your last day on earth, but you will die.

When I die, because I will die, let it be said on my burial day that I tried to treat each day as it was my last. When I die, and it can be today, let everyone congregating at my grave say that here is a man who never made New Year resolutions because January 1st is just any other day as June 3rd or September 20th. When I die, and I will die, let it be said on my burial day that I made peace with my mortality and I was ready to meet my end at whatever point it found me at. I’m not crazy. Just prepared.

And so should you.

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Here is what Governor Sonko plans for his Nairobi residents

As the new year kicked in, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko said that he looks forward to the continued support from Nairobians as his administration continues to roll out services that transform the lives of Kenyans.

Sonko also highlighted his 2019 plan for the county saying that this year, they will enhance free maternity, Early Childhood Development Education and free school milk programmes. ‘

“We will continue to process title deeds and ground break on our affordable housing agenda that targets to build 200,000 new homes.” he stated

In addition he aid that they intend to break ground for out solid waste recycling plant in Dandora and continue construction of new stadia, markets, fire stations, hospital wards and other critical infrastructure like fixing of our county roads, drainage, water and sanitation.

Sonko also assured that his County Government will build on the successes of 2018 to ensure that the people of Nairobi are proud of their city of choice to invest, work and live in.

“For those who wronged me by stealing from the widows, the poor and the common taxpayers, I forgive you. And if I wronged any Kenyan in one way or the other, I humbly ask for forgiveness ahead of 2019.

May God continue to bless Nairobi county and all Nairobians not forgetting our beloved country Kenya at large and all Kenyans in general.” he concluded.

The governor has done quite much for his county and come 2019 he promised more effort and development.

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2019 is the Year for Luyha to end confusion, Prepare for Raila Succession, Join Musalia’s ANC Party enmass

By Kamasasa Empraim

Abaluhya bwakhera!

We need to disband and bury the political shame which has forever hovered around. The shame of disunity. The shame of being attracted to simple little freebies that influences our political brains to take back seat and the political belly taking center stage.

In rallies, funerals and cultural events we represent the outsiders in our soil. Sing stanzas to praise the outsiders while insulting one of our own. We use heavy derogatory name calling statements in justifying loyalty to an outsider. 2022 is the defining moment. I am convinced, it’s the last chance for son of Jaramogi to give a stab at presidency. This the moment of transition.

Are we prepared for post Raila Odinga’s politics and dominance in Luhya land? Absolutely NO! There is a say; “eshienyu ne eshienyu”; in this respect, let’s embrace Musalia Mudavadi. Let’s embrace ANC. Let’s strategically place ANC ready for post Raila’s politics. Its not just a talk. It’s through actions. We need to own this political entity.

Most of Luhyas are in ODM thanks to the confusion in our leaders. We are in ODM simply because Raila appears more of a MAN in the jungle than our own brothers. Our leaders can learn from Raila. Pick some political lessons from him and strategically prepare for the transition. We must start thinking post Raila’s tenure. Thats post 2022.

ANC is the real ark, the real boat. Let’s start living by this reality. Thank you!

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