The Cutting Edge

By THE WATCHMAN
Posted  Sunday, June 12 2011 at 18:33

SHE ‘S TO BLAME. Cynthia Carol, who accused the passport control section of the Ministry of Immigration of delaying the issuance of her child’s passport, didn’t tell the whole story, says public communications officer Njeru Elias, adding: “It is the duty of applicants to provide the required documents to expedite the process.” Cynthia, Elias claims, had not given “vital information”. After a long search, the details were eventually found and passport No A 1662114, issued. Elias can be reached on info@mirp.go.ke.

----------------------

I MISSED EVERYTHING. Wednesday, June 8, is a day Bob Okoth, a resident of Onyonka estate in Lang’ata, Nairobi, will not forget soon due to the frustration he suffered, thanks to a power blackout that started at 2.45pm, denying him a chance to watch the grilling of Keriako Tobiko. He also missed the Budget and his favourite evening TV news bulletins, as power was restored after midnight. Calls to KPLC emergency numbers 0711031680 and 0732111680 went unanswered.

----------------------

DUMPERS WARNED. Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia, reiterating his warning to those who have been dumping soil on the fire access lane near Winners’ Church, off Mombasa Road, to stop it or face the music, clarifies, in response to Isaac Awinyo’s complaint that this was not meant to be developed as a road. Says he: “The lane was planned for use as a footpath and not a road. It is, therefore, open for its intended purpose. However, I wish to warn all those people dumping the soil on the lane to desist forthwith.”

----------------------

GRAFT IS EVERYWHERE. On the recent saga of the posh motor vehicles stolen far away in Europe and sold to some people in Kenya, Tony Gee, writing from the North Coast, begs to differ with TBM, who lives in Naro Moru. Says Tony: “Considering his remarks on those who unwittingly (maybe) buy stolen cars, would he be of the same view if his phone was stolen and sold? These vehicles can only arrive here through collusion with corrupt ports and Customs officers in the country of origin. And this confirms that corruption is not only an African problem.”

----------------------

WE ARE SECURE. A spokesman for Gem Villas in the Karen suburb, is not convinced about the 15 robberies Cheryl Sonnichsen claims have occurred in a four-week period, though he doesn’t say if there have been any such incidents in their premises. The villas, he adds, are properly secured with 24-hour CCTV surveillance manned by G4S guards. According to him, the robberies have probably occurred in the nearby properties that are not as well secured as Gem Villas, which are guarded day and night.

----------------------

KANU HANGOVER. Can anybody explain to K. Macharia why the National Emblem, which still has the cockerel, the symbol of the former ruling party, Kanu, cannot be rejigged or overhauled to reflect the reality of the multiparty governance the country has enjoyed for nearly two decades? Since the reintroduction of multipartyism and the emergence of opposition parties, which culminated in Kanu’s ouster from power in the 2002 General Election, the vital national insignia still carries the mark of the Independence party, somewhat perpetuating its place at the heart of the nation.

Have a democratic day, won’t you!