Brown teeth lock out jobseekers
An AP officer checks the teeth of a youth at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on July 14, 2014. Leaders in Nakuru have accused the government of discriminating against people with discoloured teeth. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA
What you need to know:
- Nakuru Senator James Kiarie Mungai said people with brown teeth should not be discriminated against during police hiring because the condition was caused by too much fluoride in the water they drink.
- “The government is to blame as it is mandated to treat water and ensure it is safe for consumption. It cannot then turn around and blame the people for the condition,” he said.
- Water companies in the region say removing the fluoride is expensive and instead ask residents to do it themselves at home.
Nakuru Senator James Kiarie Mungai on Wednesday protested to the government over discrimination against people with stained teeth during the recent police recruitment.
He said hundreds of young people who turned up for the just concluded recruitment in Nakuru County — especially in Naivasha and Rongai sub-counties — were turned away because they had brown teeth.
Mr Mungai said people with brown teeth should not be discriminated against during police hiring because the condition was caused by too much fluoride in the water they drink.
“It is not their fault that the water they consume colours their teeth,” he said.
“The government is to blame as it is mandated to treat water and ensure it is safe for consumption. It cannot then turn around and blame the people for the condition,” he said.
Mr Mungai urged the government to repeat the recruitment to give a chance to those who were disqualified because of having brown teeth.
Water companies in the region say removing the fluoride is expensive and instead ask residents to do it themselves at home.
RIDDLED WITH CORRUPTION
In Migori and Bomet, leaders on Wednesday also demanded a repeat of the police recruitment in their areas.
Bomet deputy governor Stephen Mutai and Migori Woman Representative Denitah Ghatti said the hiring was riddled with corruption and favouritism and should be nullified.
Mr Mutai said the recruitment panel, under the lead of Bomet deputy county commissioner Josphat Mutisya, did not do a good job. He asked Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to investigate the malpractices.
“If senior officers charged with the responsibly of recruiting the youth to join the services are demanding bribes, then what will be the fate of children from poor families whose parents cannot afford to raise the cash demanded?” he asked.
In West Pokot, residents of Lomut in Sigor Constituency on Wednesday demonstrated over the recruitment, saying it was marred by corruption.
At the head of the demonstration was Lomut member of the county assembly Hellen Madio. (READ: GARISSA - Recruitment was flawed, says cleric)
Reported by Philip Bwayo, Oscar Kakai, Wanjiru Macharia, Elisha Otieno and Geoffrey Rono
