Kenyan Newspapers Review, May 9: Woman Seeks Ruto's Intervention As Son Faces Death Row In Gulf

On Thursday, May 9, the local newspapers majorly covered the deal between the government and doctors that ended the latter's 56-day strike.

The newspapers also covered the plea of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, whose son is facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia, where he is accused of killing his workmate.

1. People Daily

The publication reported on the end of the doctors' strike following a deal inked between the medics' union and the two tiers of government.

The parties met on Wednesday, May 8, following an order by the Employment and Labour Relations Court where the doctors went for redress.

They had until Wednesday afternoon to decide on the way forward, or the court would decide on the matter.

Ranking officials from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Council of Governors (CoG), Ministry of Health officials and other members of the national executive engaged for the better of Tuesday without a definite solution to the standoff until Wednesday evening.

Each party's representative appended their signatures to the return-to-work formula to be observed by the medical practitioners.

Preceding the deal was the telling move by KMPDU, which addressed a letter to its members postponing scheduled peaceful demonstrations on Thursday, May 9, to pave the way for the negotiations.

The posting of interns and their remuneration, which were among the key issues the doctors based their 56-day strike on, remained unsettled with the KMPDU arguing the matter was still in court.

Both the government and the KMPDU officials held onto their respective stances, with the former holding that it was insolvent to honour the demand for interns.

On their part, the doctors vowed not to loosen their stance until that particular demand is met.

2. Daily Nation

The daily reported on the plight of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu's family whose son is on the verge of being hanged to death.

Stephen Munyakho has been behind bars in Saudi Arabia for 13 years after he was found guilty of stabbing his workmate to death.

The 50-year-old was handed a death sentence by Saudi's Sharia law which is to be executed on May 15.

His lifeline is 3.5 million Saudi Riyals (equivalent to KSh 123 million) blood money which his family is to raise to save his life.

With the task of raising the money being a gigantic one, Stephen's family called on President William Ruto to intervene with his authority.

"We urge him (Ruto) to apply his authority and influence to help secure the release of Stephen Munyakho or plead for an extension of the May 15 deadline to give the family more time to raise the money," said Joe Odindo, the chair of the Bring Back Stevo Campaign committee.

3. Taifa Leo

The newspaper covered the new date for school reopening announced by the government.

Learning will be resuming for the second term on Monday, May 13, the president declared on Wednesday, May 8.

The announcement was a resolution by President William Ruto following counsel from the Meteorological Department and other stakeholders.

Ruto said the weatherman had confirmed that the rains would subside in the coming days, adding that the weather experts had concluded that it was safe for the learners to return to class.

He gave the update during his meeting with Maa leaders at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday, May 8.

On May 3, the president indefinitely suspended the reopening of the schools across the country as a precaution against the flooding disaster.

He further called on MPs to allocate more National Government Constituencies Development Funds (NG-CDF) to help schools in the reconstruction process after being ravaged by the floodwaters.

Earlier, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had revealed that the Exchequer would allocate KSh 4 billion to tackle the crises caused by flooding, including rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and installations.

Gachagua noted that the heavy torrential downpours had affected over 200,000 households in the country.

Government data indicated that as of Tuesday, May 7, the number of people killed by flooding and other impacts of the heavy rains had risen to 238 after 10 more bodies were recovered from Sunday, May 5.

4. The Standard

The Standard covered the woes faced by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi who is facing an ouster.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka instituted the process to impeach the CS following the fake fertiliser saga in his docket.

Wamboka's motion was adopted by a majority of National Assembly members. A special committee was then created to probe the allegations that informed the motion for impeachment.

The CS still insisted on his innocence amid the probe. While fertiliser should be 70% organic matter, the one in question was only 40% organic and contained diatomaceous elements.

Over 5,800 bags of the product were later recalled from the market by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

An 11-member committee is probing the allegations.

Linturi is being questioned over, among other things, breach of law in procurement and distribution of the substandard fertiliser.

The committee, which began the hearings on Wednesday, May 8, has 14 days to determine the CS's fate.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.