Palaver

Folks, stay away from your housekeeper, hotel maid or any other maiden for that matter. See all the trouble it has brought married former IMF chief and presidential hopeful Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now if only their wives could sue for divorce, they could be making a very smart move towards upward mobility. And of course, a not-so-tiny fortune. Should Schwarzenegger’s wife Maria Shriver steer herself onto Fortune Street by filing for divorce, not-so-poor Arnie’s little romp with former housekeeper Mildred Baena will set him back £155 million (don’t bother converting this into Kenya Shillings).Avid Palaverite PW was horrified to read in this newspaper last week that a former traffic boss, appeared in court, charged with — hold your breath — committing eight traffic offences! Isn’t it strange he has achieved what some British comedian once referred to, chillingly, as appointing an arsonist a fire chief? Just a thought! So, did he start committing such offences after leaving the police force (for whatever reason!) or is it disdain for the laws he does not enforce any more? More like the chicken and egg conundrum...
Evergreen Gichugu MP Martha Karua is not one to mince her words when caught in any debate, but the Iron Lady seems to be mellowing as she eyes that seat on the Hill. Last week, she burst into Eldoret town, alighted from her car and walked into the stalls along the Oginga Odinga Road. As the mob of excited traders grew, she even had time to gulp down a glass of fresh juice one trader offered her. Remember Moi’s kiosk meal? Kalonzo’s IDP camp tincup tea? Njonjo’s Kosewe fish lunch? Folks, these are Man-of-the-People statements.
And finally…
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to seize the moment as revolution fever sweeps the Arab world and is appealing for a vote at the UN on Palestinian independence. He wants international recognition of an independent Palestinian state, saying "Palestinians cannot wait indefinitely" for their own state. Wonder whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares Abbas’ optimism.
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