The preposition, if we’re to remind our colleagues again, is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, special relationships or to introduce a subject. We’re talking words like: by, for, to, into, “in to,” which, at and with.
Prepositions are highly idiomatic, so their usage is fixed—that is, you aren’t allowed to alter or use one differently from the way the indigenous speakers use it!
Now on Page 9 of Bongo’s senior-most broadsheet of Friday, April 5, there’s a story whose headline is thus written: ‘South Africa parliament speaker turns herself INTO police.’
A reader who pointed out this goof to us, one Ali Makengo of Dar, said the first impression he got was that the beleaguered SA Parliament boss is interfering with the work of the country’s police!
However, that wasn’t the case, because things became clearer when Makengo checked the intro, for it read:
“South Africa’s Speaker parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngaqula has handed herself OVER to the police a day after she resigned over corruption allegations.”
It means the Speaker freely walked to a police station and said something like this: Hey, cops; here I’m and ready to record a statement in regard to the malicious rumours indicating I’m a bad person!
It means the sub-editor should’ve written the headline to read thus: ‘South Africa parliament turns herself IN (not into) TO police.’
Back to Page 5 of the broadsheet, where there’s a story whose headline is written this way: ‘TARURA constructs 826 kms ROADS’ network in Kagera.’
“Roads’ network” would mean a network belonging to roads, which would be nonsensical, of course! We’re certain the sub-editor meant to write: ‘TARURA constructs 826km ROAD network…’
In Para 3 the scribbler reports: “TARURA Regional Manager…said in the three-YEARS period, the budget allocated for roads improved…”
Three-years period? Nope! We say three-YEAR period, for as we keep noting here, when a noun is used as a qualifier, you don’t pluralise it.
On the same page, there’s another story entitled, ‘REO warns against denying girls education’.
In this story, the scribbler reports in Para 3: “Expounding, he said nowadays most women have become good leaders and bread EARNERS…”
No siree! When someone earns a meaningful income and becomes the key provider of a household, he or she isn’t called the bread earner; he or she is called the BREADWINNER (one word).
Page 8 comprises a picture spread entitled, ‘Samia swears in new Government officials.” One of the pictures has a caption that reads:
“High Court of Tanzania Sylvester Kainda ‘with’ A Bible (sic!) takes oath of office at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday.”
A Bible? Hey, No! We say THE Bible, because this holy book is just one which, according to believers, carries the word of God. You may talk of a “copy of the Bible.” Or a new and different version of the Bible! And Judge Kainda is not “with” the Bible; he’s HOLDING the Bible.
Let’s move on to Saturday, April 6, on which day Bongo’s huge and colourful broadsheet carries a story on Page 5 entitled, ‘Govt to construct four modern facilities for cancer treatment.’
Reporting in regard to what a minister said, the scribbler writes in Para 4:
“She was responding to a question by Tunza Malapo (Special Seats MP) who wanted to know plans by the Government to improve cancer treatment SERVICES in the country.”
The capped word, services, is a qualifier that adds no value the phrase “cancer treatment.” It’s a sheer waste of print paper space!
On Page 14 of the broadsheet, there’s a story headlined, ‘Firm boosts production with advanced hatchery tech,’ in which the scribbler tells readers:
“Information provided to this journalist HAS THAT the Silversands hatchery project included the implementation of cutting-edge technology…”
Information…has that? A-a! We say “…information has IT that…”
Ah, this treacherous language called English!
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Insurer and financial services provider Britam posted a 22.5 percent jump in net earnings for the half-year ended June 2024, to Sh2 billion, buoyed by increased investment income.
The rise in half-year net profit from Sh1.64 billion posted in a similar period last year came on the back of net investment income rising 2.5 times to Sh13.27 billion from Sh5.3 billion.
“We are confident in the growth and performance trend that Britam has achieved, supported by its subsidiaries in Kenya and the region. Our business is expanding its revenue base while effectively managing costs,” Britam Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo said.
“Our customer-centric approach is fueling growth in our customer base and product uptake, particularly through micro-insurance, partnerships, and digital channels.”
The investment income growth was fueled by interest and dividend income rising 34 percent to Sh9.1 billion, which the insurer attributed to growth in revenue and the gains from the realignment of the group’s investment portfolio.
Britam also booked a Sh3.79 billion gain on financial assets at a fair value, compared with a Sh1.8 billion loss posted in a similar period last year.
The increased investment income helped offset the 12.7 percent decline in net insurance service result to Sh2.13 billion in the wake of claims paid out rising at a faster pace than that of premiums received.
Britam said insurance revenue, which is money from written premiums, increased to Sh17.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion, primarily driven by growth in the Kenya insurance business and regional general insurance businesses, which contributed 30 percent of the revenue.
The group has a presence in seven countries in Africa namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Britam’s insurance service expense hit Sh13.6 billion from Sh11.3 billion, while net insurance finance expenses rose 2.6 times to Sh12.3 billion during the same period.
“Net insurance finance expenses increased mainly due to growth in interest cost for the deposit administration business driven by better investment performance. This has also been impacted by a decline in the yield curve, which has led to an increase in the insurance contract liabilities. The increase has been offset by a matching increase in fair value gain on assets,” said Britam.
Britam’s growth in profit is in line with that of other Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurers, which have seen a rise in profits.
Jubilee Holdings net profit in the six months increased by 22.7 percent to Sh2.5 billion on increased income from insurance, helping the insurer maintain Sh2 per share interim dividend.
CIC Insurance Group posted a 0.64 percent rise in net profit to Sh709.99 million in the same period as net earnings of Liberty Kenya nearly tripled to Sh632 million from Sh213 million, while Sanlam Kenya emerged from a loss to post a Sh282.2 million net profit.
