A Week in a Minute: 5 Stories That Made Headlines This Week

Remember back in March when the Coronavirus pandemic struck, and we were all so uncertain of the future?

Experts advised us to get used to living in the “new normal,” and as much as that scared us back then, we seem to have adapted quite well now, haven’t we?

The following sum up of the stories that made headlines this week is proof enough that we have, across most divides:

Schools reopening

A student in class

We have to admit that seeing our roads dotted with school buses and school going kids is a sight for sore eyes.

With the successful resumption of learning for exam candidates, we are now pretty sure that the rest of the classes will be back to school sooner than we thought.

There were only two cases of Coronavirus scares reported during the week in learning institutions, and only one of the cases, at a teachers’ training college, was confirmed to be a Coronavirus infection.

Second wave of Coronavirus?

Medics in protective gear

This week, the daily reported Coronavirus cases shot back up to scary figures.

Are we currently experiencing the Coronavirus second wave, that scientists warned about when our infection numbers started dropping?

The good thing is, experts said we would experience this second wave before the curve actually flattened, so let us keep fighting.

Ruto, Matiang’i and the Manyani hullabaloo

President Uhuru is received by CS Matiang’i as DP Ruto looks on

As we accept that wearing masks and sanitizing is the new way of life, it seems it is also time we accepted that our Deputy President William Ruto is no longer a government bigwig.

So on Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta attended a cabinet meeting at Manyani in Taita Taveta County. What caught the attention of Kenyans, was that, the Head of State was received by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, as the DP spectated from a “social distance”.

Does it really matter who greets the President first though? According to Kenyans, this was the greatest humiliation for Ruto so far.

Uhuru’s controversial promotions

President Kenyatta

While Uhuru seems to be punishing those who defy him, this week, he went on a promotions spree, rewarding ambassadorial nominations to ex-IEBC commissioners Margaret Mwachanya, Paul Kurgat and Connie Nkatha.

If you understand Kenyan politics and the dynamics of the 2017 Election, you will also understand why Kenyans were embittered by this move. Generally, the IEBC became the enemy of the opposition after the election, with claims of rigging and manipulation of votes emerging’, after Uhuruto scooped victory.

Uhuru, therefore, appointing ex-IEBC bosses to plush positions, has been interpreted by some as him rewarding them for their “service”.

Interestingly, he also appointed the son of his new unlikely political ally Francis Atwoli, Lukoye, to the board of the Mathari Referral Hospital.

Dark humor to end the week

The deceased chief with CS Matiang’i at a past event

As we all know, Kenyans are a weird lot and their sense of humor goes to even beyond the grave.

On Friday, a Homabay chief, who rose to fame due to his weight passed away, and instead of respectfully bidding him farewell, netizens took the chance to mock him on his weight.

They insensitively joked that he probably ate criminals, given his position in law enforcement! Others accused him of ”eating too many bribes during his civil leadership tenure.

It should be noted that the deceased was battling a health disorder, hence his body size.

Only in Kenya do people make fun of the dead.

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