Dear all,
After the aborted Grand Coalition ‘bonding session’ at Kilaguni, two of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s statements stuck in my head: ‘We’re not gay’ and ‘The first item on the agenda was to agree the agenda’.Now the term ‘bonding session’ has irritated me for the longest time since I have little patience for such emotional frailties from people who refer to post-election murder, rape and looting as ‘a legitimate,spontaneous political protest’. But other than that, this intriguing Nairobi Star headline predictably only sidetracked things into anuneasily tittering debate about entirely the wrong subject.It is the second statement that rubbed me up the wrong way entirely:So taxpayers pay for all these already expensive people to go on a retreat to discuss some things that they should have sorted out months ago, and they travel there without a mutually agreed agenda and an independent moderator? The contradictory presidential and primeministerial conferences afterwards were an expressive, if unnecessary, confirmation that this Grand Coalition government may be doing a lot of things, but getting on with their jobs isn’t one of them.Aside from the worrying political risk outlook – and Martha Karua’s resignation just added an interesting new twist to it - I feel a niggling irritation with some people’s apparent inability to do their work at their, well, work place. I’m tired of hearing all these sob stories about a ‘more conducive work environment’ and ‘getting awayfrom everything’. If you’re serious about something, you can get it hashed out at your kitchen table, and in most conferences that I’ve been to, everyone constantly plays with their phone anyway, even at, believe it or not, upmarket coastal resorts.I got into an online debate with a staff member of the ICT Board about the perceived need to hold the Connected Government (or Con Government, as he helpfully abbreviated it) conference in Mombasa rather than Nairobi, where most of the participants were located. Intriguingly, the kind people from Telkom Orange provided a connection to link in those people IN Nairobi who were deemed essential andcouldn’t make it to Mombasa. Why not do it at the KICC and put the money saved on flights and hotels into, say, famine relief? My debate partner said that only 20% of the conference costs had been financed by government, but most starving people will tell you – every little helps.And now, get yourself a cup of Kenyan coffee, or a glass of Kenyan passion fruit juice, and have a look at some of our stories – the latest titles are below, so just click on the link to jump right into them.Happy clicking and a fantastic Easter holidays!
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After the aborted Grand Coalition ‘bonding session’ at Kilaguni, two of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s statements stuck in my head: ‘We’re not gay’ and ‘The first item on the agenda was to agree the agenda’.Now the term ‘bonding session’ has irritated me for the longest time since I have little patience for such emotional frailties from people who refer to post-election murder, rape and looting as ‘a legitimate,spontaneous political protest’. But other than that, this intriguing Nairobi Star headline predictably only sidetracked things into anuneasily tittering debate about entirely the wrong subject.It is the second statement that rubbed me up the wrong way entirely:So taxpayers pay for all these already expensive people to go on a retreat to discuss some things that they should have sorted out months ago, and they travel there without a mutually agreed agenda and an independent moderator? The contradictory presidential and primeministerial conferences afterwards were an expressive, if unnecessary, confirmation that this Grand Coalition government may be doing a lot of things, but getting on with their jobs isn’t one of them.Aside from the worrying political risk outlook – and Martha Karua’s resignation just added an interesting new twist to it - I feel a niggling irritation with some people’s apparent inability to do their work at their, well, work place. I’m tired of hearing all these sob stories about a ‘more conducive work environment’ and ‘getting awayfrom everything’. If you’re serious about something, you can get it hashed out at your kitchen table, and in most conferences that I’ve been to, everyone constantly plays with their phone anyway, even at, believe it or not, upmarket coastal resorts.I got into an online debate with a staff member of the ICT Board about the perceived need to hold the Connected Government (or Con Government, as he helpfully abbreviated it) conference in Mombasa rather than Nairobi, where most of the participants were located. Intriguingly, the kind people from Telkom Orange provided a connection to link in those people IN Nairobi who were deemed essential andcouldn’t make it to Mombasa. Why not do it at the KICC and put the money saved on flights and hotels into, say, famine relief? My debate partner said that only 20% of the conference costs had been financed by government, but most starving people will tell you – every little helps.And now, get yourself a cup of Kenyan coffee, or a glass of Kenyan passion fruit juice, and have a look at some of our stories – the latest titles are below, so just click on the link to jump right into them.Happy clicking and a fantastic Easter holidays!
TOP STORIES
Kenya: Repealed Sections of the Work Injury Benefits Act a Win for Lawyers
Justice Jackton Boma Ojwang nullified several sections of the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA), an indication of poor drafting by the AG’s office. This effectively takes labour legislation back to the state before WIBA’s enactment, much to the commercial benefit of lawyers who had made a thriving business of these compensation suits. By Albert Muriuki. read more...
Kenya: Zain Kenya Retrenches 141 Staff with New Business Management Model
Alongside a restructuring, centralisation and standardisation of its operations across its networks in the Africa and the Middle East is run, Zain also announced that it would let 141 staff go in order to make operations more efficient. By Andrea Bohnstedt. read more...
Kenya: Safaricom Confident on Investor Interest
At a recent briefing, Safaricom’s senior management were confident that the company would remain fundamentally attractive to investors as much as subscribers. Investments in technology and customer service will counter competitors’ efforts to drag Kenya’s largest operator into a price war. By Andrea Bohnstedt. read more...
Kenya Gazette Highlights for 3 April 2009
In this issue: GTV creditors meeting. read more...
Kenya Gazette Highlights for 27 March 2009
In this issue: Local Income Tax Committees appointed for Mombasa and Nyeri, Minister for Labour orders deductions for unions, license applications for courier and postal services, statutory manager for Standard Assurance Ltd appointed, environmental assessment for new dump site in Ruai Area, and Makueni and Kiambu District Liquor Licensing Courts announce meetings. read more...
MORE STORIES
Kenya Gazette Highlights for 20 March 2009
Kenya: How to Invest When the Market Recovers
Kenya: Imposition of Maximum Fines Restricted
Kenya Gazette Highlights for 13 March 2009
Kenya: Skepticism over Prospects for New Anti-Counterfeit Agency
Kenya: Next GSM Academy in Germany Again After Delays with Kenyan Partners
CORPORATE NEWS
Kenya: Press Releases: Zain launches Rewardz Loyalty Programme
Kenya:Press Releases: Yu in Distributor Partnership with Matatu Owners Association
Africa Agenda: Press Releases:Standard Bank Receives USD400m from IFC to Boost Trade in Africa
Africa Agenda: Press Releases: Ayton Young & Rubicam Group Rebrands for Further Pan-African Growth
Kenya: Press Releases: Econet Wireless Changes Name to Essar Telecom
