Spending nights on Nairobi roads good test for 24-hour economy

The last time I checked, there was a committee established – with full perks like sitting and driving allowances – to map out all blocked sewers and drains that lead to constant flooding.

And I hailed it as a thoughtful way of spending our money because there is plenty of it going down the drain, quite literally.

Then the rains came, sweeping cars off the roads and guiding them in the direction where our Drains and Sewer men should have looked in the first place, only that they were busy sitting – to draw their allowances, no doubt – instead of driving around town.

But all is not lost. As sure as the sun rises, the rains shall come again and deluge our roads, trap students in buses, even when they can see their homes and keep city workers on the road till dawn. This is what a 24-hour economy is all about.

As for those complaining that beloved city Governor Kidero is somewhat responsible for the flooding, they should be reminded this was an act of God. Nobody has control over the rains; it pours from the skies, as one politician declared some moons ago.

In any case, I suspect Kidero would have waded through the city in gumboots helping stalled motorists had he been in town. And those claiming he had been conveniently out of town should definitely give him a break. The man, after all, has no experience in meteorology and neither is he a rainmaker.

In any case, the onus is on the relevant government agencies to harvest the plentiful waters for long-time use. Surely, Kidero cannot do everything, so let him be!