Seek legal redress in stadium loss, kin told

posted by mike muatha

Families of the seven people killed in last Saturday’s stampede at Nyayo Stadium have been urged to sue event organisers for negligence.

A section of lawyers and human rights activists said the families of the deceased had a good case against the organisers, who they blamed for not taking fans’ safety seriously.

Executive Director of Kituo cha Sheria Priscilla Nyokabi said officials of Gor Mahia, host and organisers of the match, their supervisors and Kenya Premier League were to blame for opening only two of 15 gates.

“They knew many fans would come, but did not put the required safety and security measures in place. First aid services were inadequate and the ambulances were stuck in the parking,” she said.

Lawyer James Mwamu said negligence by the organisers was “very glaring. By buying a ticket, a fan has entered an agreement with the club or the organiser of the match that his safety is assured. In this case, one party breached the agreement”.

He criticised Sports Stadia Management Board for not bringing the stadium to safety standards as required by FIFA. Hassan Omar of the Kenya Human Rights and Equality Commission said the victims’ families should sue the organisers, as they were victims of poor planning.

“Everyone knew the game would attract many people, but the logistical and security arrangements did not match up,” he said.

Aggrey Awandu, a brother-in-law to Victor Juma Otieno, the university student who lost his life, indicated yesterday that legal action was in the cards, but said they were seeking a joint case with other victims’ kin.

A cousin of Winfred Karimi, the female killed, said the family was considering legal action.

MASAIBU YA WANAKABUMBU HAPA DAYSTAR

Na Mwanza Martin.

Timu ya kabumbu ya chuo kikuu cha Daystar ililazwa mabao mawili kwa moja na chuo cha Kenyatta wikendi ilopita uwanjani USIU. Timu hiyo ambayo inashiriki dimba ya ligi kuu ya vyuo awali ilikuwa imepoteza mechi yake kwa bao moja dhidi ya chuo cha KCA. Naodha wa Timu Hillary akiongea na wachezaji baada ya mechi alionyesha gadhabu zake hadharani alipomfokea mlinda lango Kiprich Mtiriri kwa kutomakinika chumani.

Mabao ya vijana wa KU yalifungwa na kijana machachari Munga Joseph ambaye aliunganisha pasi mrwa kutoka kwa kiungo wa kati Juma Abdalla. Bao la pili lilipachikwa wavuni na Moses Odhiambo (Rooney). Katika kipindi cha lala salama, vijana wa Daystar walipata la kuvutia machozi kupitia mchezaji Sunday Mwiruri ambaye alifunga penati.

Masaibu ya timu ya Daystar hayaonekani kuisha hata baada ya mkutano baina ya mkufunzi Bwana James Nadwa na wachezaji wiki mbili zilizopita. Kwenya mkutano huo, kocha aliwahimiza vijana kumakinika kwa anjili ya timu.

Baada ya matokeo hayo ya wikendi, kocha alisema kwamba ana imani na timu yake na akawasihi wasife moyo. Aliapa kuizaba timu watakayopatana nayo wikendi ijayo mabao matano kwa bila.

KENYANS VOTED THE UGLIEST IN AFRICA.

By Martin Mwanza 07-1257

Kenyans are not only corrupt, they are also the ugliest. Kenya may have toppled Zambia on the top spot to claim the trophy, but definitely not for the good reasons according to many. At the Gregor Theater in Bloemfontein South Africa, Kenyans were declared the most ugliest in Africa.

This report has elicited a lot of reactions from the Kenyan fraternity who feel the judges were unfair. Quoting from http://www.kenyanlist.com, the report said that “Women from the Kikuyu community have small legs, totally no figures, and a little exaggerated heads. They lack good behinds and those who have them look like inflated baloons.They are shaped like pyramids turned upside down.A big upper frame and an almost inviscible lower bit.

Luo men on the other side have distorted facial features..say big lips and huge noses or should we call them knobs. Kikuyu men are also unproportional, and most of them are stunted. They walk leaning foward. Plus they have long rusty teeth.”

The question lingering in many peoples minds is what kind of criteria the judges used to give such findings. ‘If anything it sounds  like a very kenyan judgement,’ quoted the website.

The judges said they gave their points based on presentation, physical appearance, grooming, communication and other areas.

The reports however seem to have united Kenyans regardless of the fact that only a few communities have been mentioned.

Fraud games on land aquirement

story by Martin Kuria 06-0589

Thika road region has been a notorious place where all forms of lands conmen seem to operate .thika ocpd paul letting admits that land fraud is rampant in the area but he was reluctant to release figures of the crime saying it is confidential.he admits to seeing that many people are dupped into buying title deeds and other forms of documents that look like legal paper for aquiring and claiming land .
Thika region has been hyped as the ultimate destination for property developers once the construction of the Thika-Nairobi superhighway is complete. Consequently, demand for land in Thika and adjoining areas has also gone up with potential buyers touring the area daily for land deals.
But the advent of the new road and the expected economic windfall has come with its woes. Land fraudsters have positioned themselves to fleece unsuspecting buyers and residents. Many buyers have no qualms risking their money, as the economic outlook appears bright. At the same time fraudsters have become sly.
According to the residents of thika town in feburuay this year
, Thika town residents protested the subdivision of the Moi Gardens into tiny plots, which had allegedly been sold to traders allied to some civic leaders. However, the construction has since been stopped by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) under whose custody the garden lies.
Despite suspected fraudsters being arraigned in court and the government putting up notices warning would be buyers, Thika West Senior District Officer, Ms Dorcas Rono says cases of land fraud are on the rise.never the less residents and all kinds of buyers are asked to take caution .

KENYA BURNING UNDER

The fire tragedy that claimed two students at Endarasha Secondary School in Nyeri may soon be forgotten by most Kenyans.

On 17 July 2008, students of Nairobi’s Upper Hill woke up at 3am to find one of their dormitories on fire. Abdi Noor, the deputy school captain, died in the inferno. This is just one of the past stories of such a tragedy that not many remember.

In an article dated July 2008; by Fredrick Nzwili for Nairobi Ecumenical News International; “In July 2008 students had gone on the rampage at 300 schools, prompting a crisis meeting in the Ministry of Education and a call from the Anglican church for students to end the riots.”

March 29, 2009 students of Kenyatta University went on a strike that paved way for increased loss of lives, casualties, rapes and mass property destruction.

Now in 2008, the entire country was on fire as we experienced one of the worst times in our history during the post election violence.

Kenya as a Nation is clearly burning under, from the youth to the adult society. The biggest tragedy is that the root issues that seem to be killing the Nation slowly are not being addressed. Or maybe, even worse they are not known. It is only be a matter of time before we see or hear of yet another Kenyan in a Secondary school, University or even simply next door turning on their neighbor for reasons unknown.

Talking has been done, condolences sent, investigations carried out. What now?

By: Portia Opondo    08-0897

 

Your Health, your life.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) (also referred to in America as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM)) is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

Daystar University has teamed up with Doctors from variouos hospitals to take part in this health campaign.This campaign is really informative( I attended the checkup). Both men and women need to examine their  breasts religiously to avoid malignant cancer. Well, for those who have not attended the checkup, take it from me, its not scary at all-after all, its your body,take care of it and start walking tall.

Beatrice Mwangi (08-0408)

 

NEW CONSTITUTION: BIG WIN FOR WOMEN? By Sharon Momanyi

The recently ratified Kenyan constitution carries with it hope for a blissful future for the Kenyan woman. We are awaiting emancipation and empowerment when the new constitution takes effect. The document asserts that there shall be equal treatment among men and women,including job opportunities. Women whose husbands die will no longer be disinherited. Hmm, sounds like the constitution was just written for us!
But really, i can’t help wondering whether this is just another too-good-to-be true case. Call me a pessimist, but let us look at this critically. This looks to me like a battle between deep-seated and rooted traditional African culture, and a just-adopted law. Just how prepared are for this? Do we even recognize that it is, in fact, a battle? Kenya, like many African countries,is a highly patriarchal society. Putting a woman in a second place comes as naturally to many as taking a step. Therefore, we should either anticipate and get prepared for flooding court cases where these laws are defied, or deal with the root problem. Chauvinism, patriarchy, gender inequality, you name it. We need a complete mental overhaul, in the society and in our systems, as far as this subject is concerned. Perhaps the biblical “transformation by renewal of mind” is an angle to take in seeking to win this battle.
In the constitution,women further stand to benefit from representation, as each county is required to elect a woman representative to the National Assembly.In addition, at least six of the 12 members nominated to the National Assembly shall be women. There will be 18 women in the Senate under reserved seats.Women will be free to contest the remaining seats in the Senate and National Assembly. Correct me if i am wrong, but doesn’t this go against the very principles of gender equity preached in the document? If we are demanding equal treatment; career-wise and in all aspects, then isn’t the act of creating special positions for women, just because of our gender breaching this principle? If we jubilantly accept affirmative action on us, aren’t we labelling ourselves a minority?

I am definately not blind to the good things that can come out of these affirmative actions. More women in parliamentary seats,and the conscious effort by all to not discriminate us on the basis of our gender. But this is infact a risk on our part; how the women who are nominated for the special positions work, and their effectiveness, will determine whether other women who will in future be selected for such positions will be accorded respect or viewed as “another charity case”. Another disadvantage of affirmative action is that it has brought out subordination of women especially in decision making. They are not at liberty to oppose or insist on change because they were nominated or given special seats.
My challenge to fellow women is this. Are we satisfied that with the provisions in the new constitution our cries for respect have been met? Are we comfortable with the idea of everyone being puppeted to act in our favor, or do we want respectful treatment that comes logically and naturally,with due noting of the differences between the man and the woman? What do we really need to do,and to get done? Let’s think, Ladies.

By Sharon Momanyi
07-0342

Sharon Momanyi 07-0342

Better Believe this Ladies!

help!

need to get group members for the news feature, ASAP. If you don’t have a group yet please inform me

(CATHERINE NJOKI-07-0112)

Welcome back

For those of you who have not come to terms with it i hate to be the bearer of bad news but yes recess is over, back to the second leg of the semester i wish you all the best and remember kusomea CAT. have a nice one.

Kimacia

MASHUJAA DAY SPEECH-By Alice Neumbe 06-0215

President Mwai Kibaki Yesterday led Kenyan’s in celebrating the first Mashujaa Day at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.He gave a very optimistic speech which left Many kenyans with a sence of belonging and hope.First he acknowledged the freedom fighter heroes like Mekatilili wa Menza,Arap Samoei ,Harry Thuku and Mzee Jomo Kenyatta among others.

Moreover, he encouraged the citizens to uphold the the new constitutional dispensation as it includes prospertiy sharing.He also emphasised that the New Generation Mashujaa are the people working hard to create Agricultural,Industrial and service enterprses which provide income and job opportunities to Kenyans.

On Education he acknowledged the presence of free tuition for both primary and secondary schools.Finally the president said that eevryone has democratic space and is a hero,in other words a shujaa. 

Refernces

1. KTN News and Live TRANSMISSION the Mashujaa Day

2.KBC Website