The cutting edge

By THE WATCHMAN
Posted  Monday, June 27 2011 at 15:16

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SACK THEM ALL. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga would do their fellow Kenyans a great service by sacking all the Cabinet ministers and their assistants and appointing professionals to run those portfolios in line with the new Constitution, Mwai Githinji urges. The politically-appointed ministers, he says “have totally failed us”. And the best proof, he adds, is the fact that there is an acute shortage of maize flour. Instead of seeking solutions to the problems facing the people, the politicians are “only concentrating on the 2012 elections and tax evasion”.

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WHY SHOULD I PAY? After he took over a bar and restaurant business recently, Nigel Henson went to Kenya Power to apply for electricity, but was advised he would have to take over the previous occupants’ meter and clear the outstanding bill, a whopping Sh38,000. Says he: “I am a resident with a permit to run a business. How is this old bill my responsibility! What if it were Sh1 million? Surely, I would start from zero? I did not give credit to the previous people but I am now expected to pay for them?” his contact is Tel. 0715786811 or NigelHenson@aol.com.

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GIVE US AN ATM. Being a National Bank customer in Kitengela township, Kajiado District, is not fun, says Hezron Michieka Momanyi, who travels all the way to Nairobi for services. It was a little better when those who have Visa cards could go to Pesapoint outlets at Kitengela or Tuskys at Athi River, but they were removed last December. Michieka can’t understand why NBK can’t establish a presence in the township by installing an ATM or opening a branch to tap the huge potential. His contact is hmomanyi2002@yahoo.com.

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QUEUES DISTRESSING. Nothing disgusts Gloria Anampiu like the long queues at the Safaricom service centres at Sarit Centre at Westlands, Nairobi. “What they may not now is that for every seven people in the queues, three will have given up and left. The last time I waited for 40 minutes. I was third after the person ahead of me gave up after 20 minutes. And this is not the first time I am complaining.” Her number is 0720463723 or gloriaanampiu@yahoo.co.uk.

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USHINDI A WINNER. Contrary to Maureen Mumbi’s claim, the Ushindi bar soap and detergent pack sizes have not been changed for the past two years, PZ Cussons East Africa MD Dimitris Kostianis clarifies. However, he appreciates her feedback on Ushindi which is the choice of many because of its lather and other attributes.”We have been trying hard to cushion consumers from the rising cost of materials and operations. While we have managed to absorb some of that cost, we have had to make a slight price increase. Ushindi is widely available in most retail outlets.

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WHAT'S THIS OBSESSION? Man shall not live on ugali alone, remarks Michael Mukiri, alluding to the current maize flour shortage. He poses: “Why are Kenyans so obsessed with ugali? There are plenty of potatoes which are retailing at Sh50 for a 2kg tin, compared to maize flour at over Sh140 for a two-kg packet. Potatoes have a higher nutritional value, and the savings can used to buy vegetables and fruit.” Michael, who works for an NGO, Feed the Children, says Kenyans should diversify their menu to prevent malnutrition. His email: Michael.mukiri@feedthechildren.co.ke.

Have a diversified day, won’t you!