The cutting edge

By  THE WATCHMAN Posted Friday, February 25 2011 at 19:23

Roadblock. The 10 police roadblocks between Meru and Nairobi, a distance of less than 200 kilometres, are merely ‘toll collection points’ for the benefit of the many officers seen milling around them day and night, reports Alvqta Mugendi. To Mugendi, that explains why overloaded matatus continue to cruise along the highway. “The police are given 100 bob or sometimes as little as Sh50 by every matatu crew and they are promptly waved on. Can the Police Commandant, please, stop the racket?” Mugendi pleads.

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Dead lines. Reciprocating Dr A. Waris’s loyalty, Telkom Orange has moved promptly to restore service on his two lines, Nos. 3748550 and 340853, says corporate communications boss Anne Ng’ang’a-Mumo. However, she clarifies, Tel 340853, is a pre-paid line that the doctor, who has confirmed that he’s been reconnected, should not forget to top up to enable the service. Once again, Anne is appealing to customers to report their faulty lines to customer care on Tel: 2221000 or 100 from an Orange for faster action.

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Poor network. Safaricom, indeed, has a network problem a Mukarara in Gatanga, which has been exacerbated by the topography of the area and the distance from the nearest site at Thare, says CEO Bob Collymore. “As a permanent solution to the problem, we plan to set up a site to serve this part of the Gatanga-Ndakaini road. We have already been in touch with Mr George Ndirangu to inform him about these plans. We thank him for his valuable feedback and assure him of our commitment to providing the best service.”

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City smell. The stench emanating from Wakulima Market and the Hakati Road bus stage poses a health hazard to people operating from the neighbourhood and passers-by, moans Lucy Kimani. She says Town Clerk Philip Kisia and acting Mayor George Aladwa should tour these two vital facilities. The stench from the rotting garbage strewn all over is being blown by wind around the central business district. There are also pools of dirty stagnant water. “Why should our city stink like a dumpsite?”

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Mute au. The African Union’s deafening silence on the political crises in North Africa is shocking, says J. Mwema Mwalimu. To him, this has brought home the irony of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s shuttle diplomacy against the ICC, as the “AU was very vocal about deferring the justice process in Kenya”. He adds: “Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, and Ethiopia, which supported the VP’s initiative, are saying nothing about the revolts in North Africa and the human rights abuses. Is the AU ready for a leadership revolt?”

Have a just day, won’t you!