When this happens, they go back to their rural areas to solicit the support of their ignorant villagers who never benefited from the vast resources these people looted when they were in high public offices. 

Recently, something happened in South Africa which I hope will teach Kenyans the way things should be in that rainbow nation. Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, one of the greatest heroines in Africa, was convicted and jailed for misusing public funds [She is still out pending appeal]. 

Winnie is widely acknowledged for her epic role in fighting apartheid. She is the darling of youth and the broad masses of the deprived in that country. 

Since South Africa freed itself from the yoke of apartheid, she has gone through nasty tribulations. But she has never whined that she was being finished. This amazing heroine has never solicited any support from her people. 

It is astounding, considering what an Africa National Congress (ANC) spokesman said the other day Ñ that Winnie gave the money in question to poor people who went to her for financial assistance. 

However, in South Africa, the law is allowed to take its course without interference from even the ANC. Those who benefited from her are also letting the law take its course. 

My sincere prayer is that Kenyans should learn from this incident. I hope that in future, those who miscalculate will carry their own crosses without dragging their tribespeople into their problems. 

I can just imagine the kind of hullabaloo Winnie's case would have provoked in Kenya. Probably the whole Zulu nation would have accompanied her to court. 

KIMANI NJUGUNA, 
Ruiru. 

Recently, I lost my four-month old daughter at Kenyatta National Hospital due to professional and tribal negligence. My daughter was to be taken for an echo test and we were told the lady doctor responsible comes once a week. 

When she eventually came, she performed the test on the first baby (talking to the mother in vernacular) and gave a report, but when it came to my baby, she told us that the machine was not working well and that she would come back later to repeat the test. For the next 10 days, she never returned and my daughter never made it. 

This was also tribal negligence because the two ladies were speaking the same language, and so I understood she felt it was better to deal with the other child and not mine. In other word, the life of my daughter meant nothing to her. The other child was given prescription and her health improved drastically. 

Now, the question is: Do I have to speak the same language as a public officer to get any service? I thought such behaviour died with Kanu. 

Secondly, is the minister aware that doctors on KNH pay roll go to work once a week? 

MICHAEL ODONGO, 
Nairobi. 

Comments\Views about this article