The Cutting Edge

By THE WATCHMAN Posted Saturday, January 1 2011 at 17:14

TRIBAL SOCIETY: The public reactions to the naming of the post-2007 election chaos suspects by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo confirm just how tribal Kenyan society is, says H.O. Maalim, writing from Sweden. He poses: “When is our country ever going shed tribalism? After the names of The Hague 6 were unveiled, the people of central Kenya rallied in support of Uhuru Kenyatta, the Rift Valley for ODM’s William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, and the Meru for Francis Muthaura. That leaves poor Mohamed Hussein Ali isolated, though he was born in Eldoret.”

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CALLING POLICE: Have security personnel in Nairobi, especially police, also gone on holiday? asks Daniel Wesonga, alarmed at the high incidence of insecurity in Langat’a. The worst affected area, he says, is the neighbourhood opposite Uhuru Gardens. “Residents walking around as early as 7 p.m., risk being assaulted by a group of ragged young men. To scare their would-be victims even more, you will hear them talking about their previous exploits. They will be boast about the people they mugged the previous day. Who will come to our rescue?”

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NEW PROBLEM: Since switching to the new red Safaricom SIM card, which is meant to safeguard and also ease M-Pesa transactions, Purity Kinyua has encountered a new problem. She says she’s now unable to buy airtime from M-Pesa to her phone, which has always been her most convenient method. She called Safaricom’s Customer Care on December 17, 22 and 24, and was promised the matter would be referred to the M-Pesa manager to sort out but nothing of the sort has happened. Her contact is mwarypkinyua@gmail.com.

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POOR SERVICE: Going by the nickname of Keen Boy, the Airtel subscriber on Tel 0738379192 says his home district of Kathiani in Machakos County has the worst coverage not only on that network but also on those of all the other mobile phone service providers. To start with, he adds, Yu and Orange are non-existent, as the two firms have never even bothered to put up boosters in the area. “Safaricom’s coverage is 50 per cent, and Airtel, which has only one booster in the area, has a very poor network. We demand better service,” says he.

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SAFETY MEASURES: Since the recent expansion of Mombasa Road, Nairobi, into three lanes on both sides, crossing the highway has become a nightmare for many pedestrians living or working in the neighbourhood, moans Willis O. Aguko. “Whoever implemented this project forgot one vital issue in its design, which is safety. With two major bus stages on the Nairobi South ‘B’ side and at South ‘C’, at Bellevue, and a number of government institutions, there is always a large number of pedestrians crossing the highway daily. We need a footbridge.”

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SOCCER GIFT: The Under-17 national soccer team lads have made our country proud, bringing home the regional cup from the tournament in Kigali, says Andrew Mwadime, urging Sports minister Paul Otuoma to fete the boys. “This victory, coming at a time when the minister is working with Fifa to reform the national soccer administration, is the best Christmas and New Year gift to fellow Kenyans. Unlike the seniors, who badly flopped in the Dar es Salaam tourney, these kids have confirmed that we have the potential to excel in the game.”

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BEER WOES: The enforcement of the new alcohol law during the current holidays has confirmed that it has glaring shortcomings, especially the regulation on opening hours for bars, which are bound to have negative consequences and defeat the purpose of having such legislation, says Joe Wafula. “During such festivities, many companies close for long periods. Therefore, bars and other entertainment places should open earlier. A deserted Nairobi West shopping centre means that the bar and restaurant employees and car wash men will starve.”

Have a joyous day, won’t you!

Email: watchman@nation.co.ke or mail: The Watchman POB 49010, GPO 00100, Nairobi. Fax 2213946.