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Parents sue Brookhouse for over-charging online classes

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Parents with children in an international private school in Nairobi are seeking the court’s intervention citing hardships caused by Covid-19.
After failing to come up with an amicable solution, Brookhouse parents have sued the school for charging full term fees yet they bear the bulk of work to ensure their children are learning at home.
In the case filed by lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi, parents complain they are being forced to also shoulder the cost of electricity, food, internet, printing assignments, teaching, and supervising children although the school is charging for the same. The fees vary with classes. Parents in the senior classes shoulder more fees than those in junior classes.
Fees schedule posted on the school’s website indicate that ‘little brookies’ who are in their early years pay at least Sh 150,000 per term while those in year 13, which is the senior school, pay Sh 1.5 million a term. The parents code-named BPA, argue that Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha had issued a circular closing all schools due to Covid-19.
They claim that the school, without consulting them, commenced online classes for three weeks thereafter and closed on April 3, 2020. They then “re-opened” the schools on April 21 and continued to offer “virtual classes” and levied full fees for the new term.
A day for a Brookhouse student starts at 8 am when he or she is expected to take the first lesson via free software zoom. It emerges that they have ‘online parades’ each morning after which they retreat to an online class.
If a parent has more than one child, he or she will have to buy each child a computer as the lessons run simultaneously. At the end of the lesson, which takes 20 minutes, the teacher sends the day’s assignment, which the parent is expected to print, sit with the child to supervise, scan the assignment and send back to the school.
Children are also getting online physical exercise classes that include swimming although they are practically glued to their computers.
Documents filed before the High Court yesterday read that other private schools with the same status as Brook house reduced their fees for the online program. “Owing to the events caused by Covid-19 pandemic, other schools of same parity in systems, curriculum, and fees structure have considered requests by distressed parents and have granted considerable fee discounts of up to 50 per cent whilst some on their own volition without the intervention of parents have issued generous fee concessions,” court papers read.
In the case, parents want the court to order Brookhouse to lower its fees by at least 30 per cent. They argue that the school is forcing them to pay full fees for online classes without them agreeing to have their children learn through that system. They also sued Prof Magoha, arguing there are no regulations providing for online classes.
According to the documents, the parents want court to inquire whether online classes meet basic education requirements.

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He is a very dangerous man! Sonko’s daughter accuses senator of attempting to kill her

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Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip and Saumu Mbuvi, daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, have announced their separation following wrangles and disagreement.

The reports were fuelled by photos and videos of Senator Loitiptip hanging out with a female friend.

Saumu, on Instagram, announced that the two have separated, claiming that she has undergone domestic violence under Loitiptip.

“These are the things he did to me,” wrote Saumu, in one of her photos showing a swollen face and bruised lips.

“He almost killed me. I will forever fight for women to stand for their rights. Never allow a man to be violent to you.”

She also claimed that the senator had neglected their child, leaving Saumu as the primary caregiver.

Loitiptip told Kenyans.co.ke that Saumu shared her father’s traits and was suffering from bipolar disorder, threatening to expose her past to prove his claim.

The two have been dating for months and at one point planned to get married. However, Sonko’s daughter clarified that the two had split before officiating their union.

“Wedding date confirmed,” she captioned a picture of herself and the senator in June 2020.

Her previous relationship with businessman cum politician Ben Gatu also ended after she accused him of being violent.

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US raises alarm over Covid-19 cases surge in Tanzania

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The US government has revealed that there are significant cases of Covid-19 in Tanzania.

This is just a week after it advised its citizens against travelling to the East African country.

“The US Embassy is aware of a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases since January 2021,” the Embassy said.

In a Health alert, the US said the practice of Covid-19 mitigation and prevention measures remains limited.

The Tanzanian government has not released aggregate numbers on Covid-19 cases or deaths since April 2020.

“Healthcare facilities in Tanzania can become quickly overwhelmed in a healthcare crisis. Limited hospital capacity throughout Tanzania could result in life-threatening delays for emergency medical care,” US said.

The Department of State’s travel advisory level for Tanzania is Level 3.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that travellers should avoid all travel to Tanzania.

The Embassy continues to recommend that all individuals take caution in day-to-day activities.

President John Magufuli assured the 58 million inhabitants that they need not worry about observing Covid-19 preventative measures.

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Siwachii wezi! Uhuru vows not to leave the country to thieves in 2022

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President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday made a surprising stop to lecture Nairobi residents after finishing his engagement at the National Cargo Deconsolidation Centre (NCDC-Nairobi).

The Head of State said he was angry at Nairobians for being against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill stating that the report has given Nairobi more constituencies.

“If we have a BBI that says the people of Nairobi will have more constituencies and if it’s bursaries a child in Mathare who today receives Ksh500, how will that child study up to university level,” President Kenyatta said.

“But there is another child who gets Ksh100,000 in Busury per year is that right?… BBI is not for helping Raila or Uhuru it is for you,” he continued.

Uhuru went on to disclose that he has no plans to rule after his term is over and his interest is in finishing the job that Kenyans elected him to do.

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