The Cutting Edge

By THE WATCHMAN
Posted  Saturday, May 21 2011 at 17:06

DYING YOUNG: Marathon star Samuel Kamau Wanjiru has joined other superstars who died young, remarks X.N. Iraki, adding: “They include Aaliyah, Notorius BIG, Tupac Shakur, Mozart and Bob Marley. It’s a paradox that the rich and famous die so young.” For Wanjiru, he goes on, “it’s even more paradoxical because we’ve always been told that life is a marathon. In his short life, he achieved more than many will in their long lives. But we need a deeper meaning in life beyond money, wealth and relationships.”

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BIZARRE KENYAN HABIT: Some Kenyans have a bizarre habit of blaming others when misfortune strikes, as happened when Wanjiru plunged to his death at his Nyahururu home, says Maina Gathu. “As we condole with his family, I have heard some accusing others over his death. He lived in a free country, spending his money freely, choosing and making his friends freely. What are we supposed to have done other than to leave him alone to live his life freely? Could we possibly have prevented his death, yet it occurred in his own house?”

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REMOVE THIS EARRING: Drop that ear stud, Dr Willy Mutunga, urges Domi Gathuru, exhorting him to read the story of Kwame Kilpatrick, the youngest African-American to ever win the post of mayor of a big city, Detroit, in 2001. “He used to wear a diamond earring but people made a big deal of it. In 2005, he decided to do away with it. He said: ‘This little insignificant thing in my ear gave off a bad spirit of rebellion and it overshadows the fact that I have a law degree. As long as I am mayor of this town, I’ll never put it back’.”

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IRRESPONSIBLE MOTORISTS: At Mombasa’s scenic Mama Ngina Drive, the authorities have established a paved parking lot for motor vehicles, leaving a grassy patch for people to sit, lie on or stand on, notes Martin Makundi, upset with the rogue motorists who have been shamelessly parking on the grass, destroying it. “This has left muddy patches and badly inconvenienced people who love to lounge on the grass,” says Martin, calling on the municipal council to impose heavy penalties on “these inconsiderate and irresponsible drivers”.

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CITY HALL’S PLEDGE: The felling of trees on Grevillea Grove, towards Kyuna Crescent, Nairobi, which has alarmed Jane Hitchcock, was meant to pave the way for a new road reserve, Town Clerk Philip Kisia clarifies. “Much as the City Council understands the immense value of trees, some, especially within planned development areas, shall be selectively removed. However, we have instructed the concerned developers to adhere to the policy that requires the planting of three trees to replace each of the ones cut down.”

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BY-ELECTION EYESORE: The campaign posters that characterise the Kamukunji and Ikolomani by-elections are a sneak preview of what awaits the country in next year’s General Election, warns Patrick Majanja. The candidates’ agents have plastered the walls of residential houses and business premises, billboards and any other place that catches their fancy. “No wall or space is sacred. Signboards to hospitals have been covered. There is a need for legislation to impose heavy fines on the culprits,” says Patrick. His contact is trackers05@yahoo.com.

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SPARE ME YOUR LOVE: Those behind the Love SMS code 5282 should realise that they are not only wasting their time and effort bombarding Ashiembi Wa Ndukwe with messages seeking to recruit him, he also finds their persistence a nuisance he can no longer put up with. Says he: “I keep on getting text requests to subscribe. But since I already love and I am very loved, could they, please, stop sending me those outdated messages daily to subscribe to their service, which I don’t need?” His contact isbiz@africapoint.com.

Have a romantic day, won’t you!

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