He who laughs last, laughs best, so goes an old English saying. And so Oscar Pistorius, the South African Paralympics athletics sensation had the last laugh in the dying minutes of the London Paralympics 2012. The “Blade Runner”, who perhaps was the symbol of the games, had been beaten twice, but finally prevailed in the final event, which he confessed was his favourite – 400m.
Pistorius, a double amputee, runs on metallic legs known as blades. His speed cannot be matched by many who claim to be ‘able-bodied’.
Eyes closed
We had our athletes at paralympics, including Abraham Tarbei and Samuel Muchai, both who ran off with gold. Mary Nakhumicha also won a major award during the games.
Watching the games on YouTube (sadly local media didn’t show much of the action) PointBlank concluded Paralympians are greatest sportspeople of all times. Actually, what the Paralympians can do no Olympians can. If you don’t believe me, just ask athletics great David Rudisha to run with his eyes closed and see what will happen.
Helb should help poor graduates
Is it in order for the Higher Education Loans Board to “punish” jobless, penniless graduates demanding they repay their loans?
Thomas Ongeri argues that this should not be the case. Ongeri says that Helb is usually quick to slap a Sh5,000 monthly fine on ex-students for unserviced loans without considering whether they have a source of income.
To aggravate matters, he adds, the Minister for Higher Education is on record saying the loanees should not be considered for public jobs.
Mr Ongeri wants Helb and the government to do the following to lessen the pain of needy graduates:
• Helb should consider individual cases instead of fining “everyone”.
• The Government should come up with a low-interest loan system for unemployed graduates to enable them open business.
