Justice Aaron Ringera could easily pass as the luckiest Kenyan alive. He earns a monthly salary of close to Shs 2 million for doing absolutely nothing save for clearing top government officials from corruption allegations or any wrongdoing (the hardest work he puts in to do this is to declare some very audible tapes inaudible or damaged).
It is now common knowledge among Kenyans that sacred cows are still very much alive and well in this country despite the careless-whispers-sweet-nothing-promises the president made to Kenya during "courtship". We still live in a country where we are supposed to be proud to be Kenyans even as those involved in multi million shilling scandals go scot-free while petty offenders are the ones who face justice swiftly.
Yesterday, Ringera violently slapped Kenyans in the face yet again by clearing all the senior government officials including one cabinet minister from corruption allegations while recommending the prosecution of a mere chief for allegations of receiving a Shs 1,000 bribe.
If Kenyans had their way, Ringera himself would be investigated for corruption and double standards not to mention having him return the money he has received in salary and allowances from the time he took up the job.
Known for talking tough and failing to provide results, Ringera is among those who have tarnished the image of the Kibaki administration most by failing to prosecute those involved in high level corruption and choosing to instead chase traffic policemen soliciting Sh 50 bribes from motorists (as they try to copy their role models in government and the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission). Wrong as it is for a traffic policeman to solicit a shs 50 bribe, it hardly constitutes an economic crime, which is what Ringera was mandated to deal with. I stand to be corrected but if parliament passed the bill that created Ringera's job for him to chase 50-bob-bribes-traffic-policemen, then this parliament and the president who signed the bill into law should have their brains examined.
The usual story told to gullible Kenyans about the big fish is that corruption files have been released to the attorney general for prosecution only for the AG to say that they don’t have sufficient evidence to sustain prosecution.
Never mind the fact that Ringera is a former judge and should know whether the evidence before him is sufficient or not to sustain a prosecution prior to sending the files to the ever smiling AG who like Ringera, seems to have long reached his sell by date.
Meet the man who can give you a dream holiday safari in Kenya.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Government Promises Heaven On Earth As General Elections Beckon
First it was the youth enterprise fund which will see the government release Sh 210 million in the coming week to enable the youth start their own small businesses.
Now the same corrupt government says it is formulating a policy for free secondary school education which is almost impossible considering that the education ministry is currently consuming almost 30% of the total budget.
Never mind, this is an election year and the government will soon provide heaven on earth for the 30 million plus population (70 per cent of them living below the poverty line.)
President Kibaki and his retinue of arrogant advisors are upbeat that the odds will tilt in their favor and the Othaya legislator will make it back to State house to finish his second term amid stiff resistance from a disjointed opposition.
Swimming in the glory of free primary education and the constituency development fund, the Kibaki administration is even talking of doubling the youth enterprise fund to Sh 2 billion next year.
But these promises are coming rather late in the day and Kenyans would prefer to see those involved in the multi million Anglo Leasing scandal convicted before the government disburses money to the youth to start their own businesses.
The government is stretched to unbearable limits as they still seek to deal with free primary education and making secondary school free is a most noble idea but it is practically impossible now.
When Kibaki and Narc took over in 2002, their signature tune was a corrupted gospel number, which said everything was possible without Moi but they are about to realize that not everything is possible with or without Moi.
Meet the man who can give you a dream holiday safari in Kenya.
Now the same corrupt government says it is formulating a policy for free secondary school education which is almost impossible considering that the education ministry is currently consuming almost 30% of the total budget.
Never mind, this is an election year and the government will soon provide heaven on earth for the 30 million plus population (70 per cent of them living below the poverty line.)
President Kibaki and his retinue of arrogant advisors are upbeat that the odds will tilt in their favor and the Othaya legislator will make it back to State house to finish his second term amid stiff resistance from a disjointed opposition.
Swimming in the glory of free primary education and the constituency development fund, the Kibaki administration is even talking of doubling the youth enterprise fund to Sh 2 billion next year.
But these promises are coming rather late in the day and Kenyans would prefer to see those involved in the multi million Anglo Leasing scandal convicted before the government disburses money to the youth to start their own businesses.
The government is stretched to unbearable limits as they still seek to deal with free primary education and making secondary school free is a most noble idea but it is practically impossible now.
When Kibaki and Narc took over in 2002, their signature tune was a corrupted gospel number, which said everything was possible without Moi but they are about to realize that not everything is possible with or without Moi.
Meet the man who can give you a dream holiday safari in Kenya.
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