The Cutting Edge

By THE WATCHMAN Posted Friday, December 31 2010 at 18:08

Crucial number. The number 6 has now taken on an overwhelming significance as far as the delivery of justice is concerned, remarks Francis Ngigi. For him, it goes back to the pre-independence days of the Kapenguria Six – freedom fighters Kenyatta, Kubai, Ngei, Oneko, Karumba and Ngei. Then there is the King’ong’o Six case of the prison warders convicted for murder, and lately, the Ocampo Six suspects of the post-2007 election chaos. “Is there another lot of six coming soon?” he asks.

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Justice. As the brand new year begins, there is plenty of unfinished business on the political front, says Jim Webo, who hopes 2011 will be the year to enhance the fight against impunity. “The MPs never consulted us before making the decision to pull Kenya out of the ICC that has shamed the country. And the hasty move was made just because some top people had been named by prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. Are these six suspects more important than the millions of Kenyans to benefit from entrenching justice?”

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Dead line. Process Insurance Company official Mumtaz Mohammad says his vital Orange Telkom landline, No 444164, has been out of order for nearly a month despite numerous reports to the Customer Care Desk. “In the past 25 days, they have made all manner of promises, which are never fulfilled,” says Mumtaza, who applied for back-up line a month ago. The reference is N/1210/54106 and the back-up application, No D 49540. “If they can’t provide the service refund the deposit.” His contact is processinsurance@yahoo.com.

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Kenyan player. Soccer fan Allan Kemboi, writing from Eldama Ravine, says he has been keenly following the local and international soccer leagues. He was, therefore, pleasantly surprised to come across a Kenyan name, E. Odhiambo, in the Scottish Premier League. Odhiambo is a striker playing with the currently fourth placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle. “Can someone, anyone, please, confirm that he’s, indeed, a Kenyan and give me more information on him.” His contact is akigenmoi@yahoo.com.

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Swamp of corruption. The WikiLeaks saga of the secret cables by American diplomats, in which they used unflattering language against Kenyan leaders, including President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, should serve as a lesson to us not to be too trusting in dealing with foreigners, says Dave Tumbula. “While pretending to be nice to the Kenyan politicians, the American diplomats duly filed their cables, dragging our country through the mud as the ‘swamp of corruption’. We should never forget that diplomats are their countries’ spies.”

Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!