The cutting edge

By THE WATCHMAN
Posted  Sunday, May 1 2011 at 19:27

THEY ARE HYPOCRITES. The height of hypocrisy is the idea of some MPs naming Constituency Development Fund projects after themselves, says Nicholas Ireri. The magnificent projects that have made a difference in many constituencies around the country, he adds, are funded with taxpayers’ money, and the politicians should be ashamed of giving themselves credit they do not deserve, as they have flatly refused to pay tax on their hefty salaries. “If they must put their names to the projects, then they should fund them. Shame on them!” yells Nicholas.

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WHY HE WASN’T PAID. The Pensions Department has not paid Andrew A. Kirui the pension for the period January to June 2005 because there is no trace of the returns for that period, says public relations officer Michael J. Obonyo. This is probably because his bank did not return the payments in question. “The department is, however, going through the manual records for the period, after which we will liaise with Kirui’s bank to establish the whereabouts of the payments which he claims he did not receive.”

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PAY THIS PENSION. Some two years since his mother, a former employee of the Government Chemist died, John Kamau has been chasing her terminal dues, in vain. With his mother gone, life has been quite challenging for the young man. He is, therefore, appealing to the Pensions Director to establish why Kagendo John’s dues can’t be paid to him. The reference is No. 1980060917 and John is ready to provide whatever additional information may be required. His contact is jkamau34@yahoo.com.

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REPAIR LANDLINES. Laser Eye Centre at Sarit Centre has been terribly inconvenienced for the past two months because its landlines, Nos. 4449487/8, have been out of order. An official says several complaints to Telkom Orange have yielded nothing. “Our patients are suffering as they can’t reach us. Telkom says new cables have arrived and they are going to repair the lines. When?” asks the official, who can be reached on Tel 0722526698/0735678870.

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SHEER BARBARISM. The violent drama unfolding in Uganda, with opposition leaders targeted by police for allegedly inciting protests over the high cost of living, is giving a bad name to President Yoweri Museveni, threatening his impeccable legacy as a freedom fighter, says Felix Andeka. “The police have been acting like hired goons,” Felix adds, appalled at the brutality meted out on unsuccessful presidential candidate Kiiza Besigye. “Only Ugandans themselves can prevent the situation from deteriorating to the level of our own post-2007 election mayhem,” he concludes.

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ARREST SHAMEFUL. The heavy-handed treatment of opposition leader Besigye is a big blot on Uganda’s leadership, says Elias Oyaro. In this era of multiparty democracy, he adds, it’s unbelievable that a top opposition leader could be subjected to such extreme violence. “Museveni, a man who fought dictatorship, should exercise political tolerance. With these shameful acts, it is Museveni who is coming across as the real comedian and not Besigye. Shame on Uganda’s civil society for keeping silent when human rights are being so blatantly violated in their country!”

Have a tolerant day, won’t you!