The cutting edge

By THE WATCHMAN
Posted  Friday, March 25 2011 at 17:29

Priorities. The best proof of confused national priorities, Bryan Thairu says, is the splashing of millions of shillings on Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s shuttle diplomacy for the Ocampo Six when Kenyatta National Hospital lacks vital equipment. “I’ve been reading in the Daily Nation about cancer and felt downright sad about the hopeless situation in the country, with only one radiotherapy machine at Kenyatta. It costs only Sh150 million and yet the VP spent Sh30 million on a single trip for the suspects.”

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Corruption. The driver of a government minibus in Nairobi is reaping where he never sowed, says Peter Njogu. Every evening, he ferries passengers along the Kasarani-Mwiki road, charging Sh50 each, adds Peter, who used the illegal service recently. “With a sitting capacity of 25, the driver makes Sh1,250 a day on his way home, or a tidy Sh37,500 a month tax-free as the bus is fuelled by the government. I hope his superiors will take action,” says Peter. His contact is petrem2003@yahoo.co.uk.

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Potholes. Though he feels sorry for Janet Wangui, who wrecked her car, when she drove into a pothole in Nairobi’s Lavington area, Town Clerk Philip Kisia says it just happens to fall within another organisation’s jurisdiction. Says he: “While I concur with her observation that there are two potholes on James Gichuru Road, near the Strathmore School junction that make driving along that stretch dangerous, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority is better placed to comment. The road is under their mandate.”

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Apology. Telkom Kenya apologises to Robert Muriithi, whose phone, No. 2718056, has been out of order since December. Says Angela Ng’ang’a-Mumo, the head of Corporate Communications: “We’re committed to ensuring that our customers remain connected. We hope to give better service to Mr Muriithi.” Also sorted out are Maiyo and Mbatia Advocates, whose lines, Nos. 2711087/97/61 and 2711057, are now operational. But service on Tel. 2711057 will be restored after they fix an internal wiring problem.

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Dog bait. Why let the dogs out? poses Peters Gilbert, in response to Ephraim Kinyua, who lost two after they ate baits placed along paths in Ngong. Writing from Juba, the capital of the newly born South Sudan nation, Gilbert says: “It’s illegal and the county council has no liability for the dogs, which died of poisoning. They all fall under the category of ‘stray dogs’, period. I’m against such people because one time as I was jogging in the morning and I was chased by dogs that had been left out by the owner.”

Have doggy day, won’t you!