African press review 23 May 2015

The Kenyan press celebrates a beatification event in the central highlands, while the South African media says Johannesburg is illegally cutting off residents’ water supply.

Kenya’s Standard leads with a story on a beatification event Saturday in Nyeri which is located in the central highlands of the country.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was to be present at the event to see the beatification of the Italian nun Irene Stefani, who nursed soldiers during the First World War.

The publication says that a number of VIP guests would attend the event which is a first of its kind in Africa.

Among those to gather at the Dedan Kimathi University ground include John Cardinal Njue of Kenya and Polycarp Cardinal Pengo of Tanzania.

The Daily Nation is reporting on how the beatification event has put Gikondi village under the spotlight for the past few weeks.

According to the publication, the local Catholic church in Nyeri has seen many visitors.

The paper quotes the Gikondi Catholic parish chairman Daniel Njigua as saying that in addition to the good roads, the village has been connected to the main power grid.

South Africa’s Mail and Guardian reports on how even the African National Congress faithful aren’t happy with the party.

The paper states that the party discovered this bitter truth in its own survey which was conducted in all municipalities after last year’s general elections.

According to the authors of this survey, the voters think that the ruling party is performing badly in combating crime and corruption, and in creating jobs.

The document further states that dysfunctional state services, corrupt leaders and lack of contact cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of votes.

Continuing with the press coverage from South Africa, The Star reports on how the city of Johannesburg is illegally cutting off residents’ water supply.

It says that the paper received numerous complaints from residents, some of whom are in arrears and others who have a dispute on the water bills.

It cites the example of Dave Shackleton who was left without water for two weeks after he received a water bill for over 109 000 rand (8,330 euros) following a leak he said was caused when the city administration replaced water pipes.

It also mentions the case of one Geraldine Fillis who was without water for almost four months.

The paper states that it amounts to flouting the constitution which states that everyone is entitled to water.