Kenya: Beijing Notebook
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The Nation (Nairobi)
COLUMN
22 August 2008
Posted to the web 23 August 2008
Elias Makori
Beijing
Life for African journalists in far flung locations of assignment, like Asia, can be an expensive affair. Most of them settle for budget accommodation and, sometimes, do on a one meal-a day. But there's this Nigerian journalist who has taken the idea of cost-cutting to a whole new embarrassing level.
He has been lodging at the Main Press Centre's press working room for the last three weeks, turning the centre's lounge seats into his bed for the night.
For his ablutions, the showers in the gym next door do just fine The press centre has all you need, from showers to a chemist and restaurants.
With official media hotels here charging, on average, 200 Euros (Sh20,000) a night, this scribe is hell bent on saving 6,000 Euros (Sh600,000) from his month's tour of duty, never mind the embarrassment he has caused his African colleagues.
Stipend delays agony for Kenyan students
China is becoming a popular destination for Kenyan students. Their profile here would lead one to but commend education permanent secretary Karega Mutahi and his team at Jogoo House.
The Kenyans on government scholarship are deserving 'A' students taking up, mainly, graduate and undergraduate courses in medicine.
This is unlike students from other African nations, largely undeserving sons and daughters of diplomats, government ministers and even heads of state on government scholarships.
The only blot in the Kenyan story is that the students here get their stipend from Nairobi late, sometimes not at all, making life here somewhat unbearable.
I know Mutahi, an avid sportsman, is reading and will celebrate the bouquet and ward off the barb by addressing the issue.
Catchy headlines spice up sole English Daily
The standards of journalism in China are quite high, at least judging from China Daily the only English language newspaper on offer here. It publishes The Olympian- a daily tabloid pullout dedicated to the Games.
Here are some of its catchy headlines. "Turkish delight", was one describing Turkey's first gold from wrestling while another: "Mexican puts breaks on Mercedes" describes Mexico's Guillermo Perez's taekwondo final win over Dominica's Yulis Gabriel Mercedes.
"Wariner must win on Merritt" screams another, previewing Thursday's 400m final in which LeShawn Meritt won and rival Jeremy Wariner the silver.
"America vows to spoil China beach party" is another, on the hosts' chances in the beach volleyball women's final which the USA won.
China's Anti-corruption drive in full swing
The anti-graft drive here is in top gear. China's National Bureau of Corruption Prevention is putting tighter controls on officials' overseas trips.
These include restricting expenses for business trips and carrying out pre-auditing as officials capitalise on the economic and cultural change here to pocket public funds.
Relevant Links
One wonders if a pre-audit was done on the number of shopping mall-happy state officials here, allegedly to back Kenya's Olympic dream.
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This is unlike students from other African nations, largely undeserving sons and daughters of diplomats, government ministers and even heads of state on government scholarships.
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Please get your facts right before making foolish statements such at the one above. Oh, so in your mind Kenya is the only country in Africa with deserving "A" students in China? I won't even comment on that. From Patrick A. Former Togolese scholarship student in China (and yes, definitely not the son of a minister, president etc.)