Yesterday we talked about Kenyans and their peculiar ways. Today, let’s talk about the West and its peculiar ways. If you didn’t know, Britain is head over heels with joy. Why? The Duchess of Cambridge is expectant. Prince William’s wife has been preggers – can you believe it – for three long month! It’s difficult to handle the stream of congratulations to the royal couple.
Prime Minister David Cameron says he is delighted by the “absolutely wonderful news”. President Obama has also joined the congraturations bandwagon. Well, President Kibaki is yet to do so but PointBlank can bet that he won’t. Meanwhile, the press is dedicating acres of space to the story.
But wait a moment. What’s the excitement all about? We know a blue-blooded kid is in the pipeline, but so what? And congratulations when there’s not even a tiny bump on the stomach? Not in our corner of the world. Here we pretend not to notice it even when she is heading to the maternity. Congratulations flood in when the baby is born. But this is Kenya. Kate Middleton lives in Britain, folks.
“I may be wrong,” says AM Asad, “but I think owning land does not qualify the owner to do as he or she wishes at the expense of neighbours.”
But, ironically, Mr Asad claims that his neighbour, the Royal Golf Course, off Ngong Road at Mimosa is doing exactly that.
In order to ‘drain-off, their expansive golf track, he says the they have dug a two-metre-deep trench right next to Nera and Golf-Course Phase II wall “and actually directed the storm water channel towards the residential walls”.
Even before this trench was dug, Asad alleges that water from the field had brought down several walls.
“Now that the water will be concentrated in volume and momentum, several houses could be at risk of damage,” he says.
Asad wants the National Environment Management to spare a few minutes and visit the area “before real damage occurs”.
Does your trench pose any danger to your neighbours, Royal Golf Course?
Asad can be reached at amakenya66@gmail.com.
Urgent case for Case Traders
Ms Wini Kamene has a bone to pick with proprietors of Case Traders, a real estate firm, that sold her property at Waterside Apartments, Nairobi in 2010.
Before she took possession of the apartment in 2011, she noticed that some areas needed repairs. She entered into agreement with the developer that the repairs would be done in a year’s time as per the contract. This hasn’t been done.
Consequently, her tenant has had to put up without power in two bedrooms, as no wiring was done there. When Kamene told the caretaker about it, she was informed that “some other units” had the same problem and that they would find a solution. Alternatively, she was advised to fix the problem as “the other owners had done”.
Leakage
The tenant also reported that there was leakage from the apartment above, owned by the developer. “My requests to the developer through the caretaker to make the necessary repairs have not been responded to a year later,” reveals Kamene, who was forced to seal the leak with water-proof cement as temporary measure. When will Case Traders meet their part of the bargain. Her contact is +21191553 5579.
DON’T YOU FORGET
Any plans Nema to silence political noisemakers?
Mombasa resident Justin Osey Peter wrote to PointBlank on October 24 pleading with the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to silence the political din in Mombasa. As the campaign mood sets in, Osey noted that politicians were increasingly “polluting the air” with their noise. “Caravans of vehicles with politicians and their supporters dancing to very loud music and powerful, noisy generators make the earth to tremor in Mombasa,” he said.
Osey noted that business in towns and market places usually come to a standstill whenever politicians make a stopover. As the General Election edges closer, he predicted that political caravans would increase and and so would their ear drum-splitting noise. Does Nema have any plans to protect our ear drums from the rising noise from politicians on campaign trail?
Honourable lawbreakers
Cabinet ministers are busy people, but that should never be used as an excuse to break the law, according to David, a city resident. On Monday, the third day of ‘Kimunya laws’(or is it Midowo?) crackdown, when most drivers were cowering behind the wheel, David claims to have witnessed a road maneuver that left him shocked. He saw a green minister’s car (he has the registration number), complete with a pennant, crossing from one side of the road to other by jumping over the mid kerb. Now, that’s more daring and reckless than our matatu. Seems you have to hike the fines further, Mr Kimunya.
Point of Order
Nyamira town thrown back to dark ages of tin lamps
For the last two months power cuts have become the order of the day in Nyamira, reports Ginn Mecha.
Power, says Mecha, goes off three to four times a day, lasting for at least three to four hours and laments, “It is just like they are not providing power at all to Nyamira and its environs.”
He enumerates the ramifications of this: “Businesses are losing an average of Sh10,000 a day due to power cuts. If there are 1,000 businesses in and around Nyamira, then we lose about Sh10 million a day,” he says.
These, he mourns, are gigantic economic losses for such a small town. Mecha further warns that might spread the darkness into the future. “If Kenya wants to achieve Vision 2030, power is a key driver and if it is not reliable and stable, then Vision 2030 is a mirage,” he says.
His prayer? “Kenya Power should give the people of Nyamira a permanent solution to this problem”. Mecha can be reached at ginnmecha@gmail.com.
What became of JOJ’s Zilizopendwa, KBC?
Karatina resident John Kamau wonders whether KBC Kiswahili Service still airs his favourite musical programme, Zilizopendwa.
From early 80s to early 2000, the programme was aired every Tuesday from 10pm by veteran broadcaster James Onyango Joel, a.k.a JOJ.
But for a long time now, Kamau hasn’t been able to tune to his favourite programme. He would like to know whether the programme is still on and if so, when it is aired.
How soon is soon? Student asks Maseno University
Maseno University graduate Bonken Kelvin is confused about the meaning of the word soon. He claims the university promised that students fees refund would be in their account in a month’s time. That was in April, but the students are yet to get their money.
“Every time you ask the Finance Department, they say that the cash will be released very soon.”
He adds: “When exactly are we getting the cash because nine months is long enough?”
You will surely get your money soon Kelvin; you have complained too soon!
Lost and found ID card
At this time when the Government is urging all adult Kenyans to go out and vote Mr Ignatius Reagan Otieno might be happy to know that Mr Omulo Okoth has got his lost Identity card. Omulo is ready to give it back but he must be ready to confirm its serial, among other details. He can be contacted on 0721598999.
