The Cutting Edge

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By THE WATCHMAN 
Posted Wednesday, March 16 2011 at 17:28

THEY ARE SHYLOCKS. Central Bank governor Njuguna Ndung’u should do something about the exorbitant charges commercial banks are levying on customers, urges N. Ibrahim. The banks, he adds, charge between Sh2,400 and Sh4,000 as a penalty for a bounced cheque. “If a customer, for instance, draws a cheque for Sh6,000 and after it is lodged, it’s found that he or she has only Sh5,000 in his or her account, the cheque will be dishonoured. Then the bank will promptly debit the account by Sh4,000. This is simply how the system continues to keep the poor poorer.”

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MUSIC TOO LOUD. There is some urgent work for Nema and the City Council to do on Limuru Road, opposite Regal Plaza, where, Dr Wans moans, their weekends have for quite some time now been a nightmare because of deafeningly loud music. And with no sanctions coming from the authorities, the noise-makers have been emboldened into extending the terrible rumpus until late in the evenings. “We have complained to Nema and the City Council since last year, but none has come to our rescue,” says Dr Wans, whose contact is Tel 0710821555.

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EQUITY, BE SENSITIVE. A customer at Equity Bank’s Githunguri town branch, Henry Kanyi, has absolutely no complaints about the banking services he has been getting from time to time. However, he feels that they need to do a little more for elderly customers and others with special needs. The best way to go about it would be to establish a special counter to cater for the elderly and also serve expectant mothers and the physically handicapped. Says he: “This way, I won’t have to feel guilty about a senior citizen queuing behind me in the banking hall.”

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DANGER LOOMS. Compliant Management Company is doing a good job providing commuter service, but it should rein in the unruly drivers of their buses plying Route 111 (Ngong), urges Anthony Muraguri, appalled at their disregard for public safety. Says he: “The drivers are always in a wild rush, overlapping and overtaking recklessly. In a two-week period, I’ve been involved in three minor accidents and a near-fatal one. Can the management restore some sanity?” For details, his contact is Anthony_muraguri@yahoo.com.

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NOT HIS FAN. Confessing that he has never been a fan of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Kelli Wambua says his rating of the Kitui North MP has plummeted thanks to the so-called shuttle diplomacy. Kelli adds: “My disapproval of his antics increased when I saw TV news footage of him arguing that Kenyans should rally behind his infamous shuttle diplomacy on account of what he called a ‘strip’ (read marquee) running on a screen in the plane, saying, ‘Kenya challenges ICC’. That was so kindergarten!”

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ENFORCE SMOKING BAN. A casino at Westlands, Nairobi, has been blatantly flouting the anti-smoking ban and yet the City Council’s public health officers have not taken any action, says Jay Jay. “These people have taken impunity to new levels. Smoking in non-designated areas is not only a health hazard, but also attracts a Sh50,000 fine. Maybe they are so rich they don’t mind paying the fine, but public health officers must enforce the ban.” For more details, he can be reached at macquee@excite.com.

Have a healthy day, won’t you!