We must take charge to end road carnage and save lives

We must take charge to end road carnage and save lives

A recent report indicates that eight Kenyans die every day due to road accidents.

This is a big number and the question remains, what are we doing to reduce these accidents? Has anyone established the causes of these accidents and found a lasting solution?

Many causes of road accidents have been given, but very little has been said about the driving schools. These institutions are meant to give proper driving skills, but this is lacking, something that could be the main cause of accidents on our roads.

The number of driving schools is increasing every day and one wonders if licences are given to genuine institutions. Some people learn how to drive at bus parks and later join driving schools for only a few weeks to get driving licences after only a few lessons.

After receiving the licences, these are the same drivers who we entrust on our roads.

Can such a person drive effectively on the new Thika Superhighway or even on the Nairobi-Mombasa Road? On the other hand, Traffic police are meant to be keen on all road users by taking action against those who flout traffic rules.

We still see cases where the officers flag down a speeding public service vehicle which is overloaded and has no seat belts. But after only a few minutes, the vehicle speeds away. Of course, one does not need to be told that the driver bribed the police officers to win his freedom.

Pedestrians too, as road users, become victims of the accidents simply because they are not cautious. They, too, have to uphold road safety measures to avoid being knocked down by vehicles.

Some of the careless drivers on our roads are poorly trained and do not understand why they should not drive under the influence of alcohol. In fact, some drivers argue that they are more stable when drunk than when sober.

Kenyans must speak out against bad driving as a first step towards ending road carnage. Careless drivers must not be allowed on our roads.

As passengers, it is our right to ensure we are comfortable while traveling and should be ready to assist the traffic police along the roads to take action against drivers contravening traffic rules. Life is precious and we should do everything possible all the time to ensure lives are not lost.

Phenny Odera, Maseno University

 

Government must do more for teachers

The obsession with salary increments for teachers has overshadowed and pushed into oblivion other issues that are core to teachers’ welfare.

The hardship allowance is still not given to the deserving cases. Politics has given rise to the current skewed allocation of hardship allowance.

Teachers who deserve hardship allowance don’t get it. Take for example, a teacher in a school like Mageta Mixed, located right in the middle of Lake Victoria, where the means of transport is the dreaded canoes, does not dream of ever getting this allowance.

There is need for vetting of the schools that deserve these allowances and the unions should spearhead this.

That aside, promotion of teachers is another important aspect of welfare that the unions have given little attention. Transition from Job Group ‘L’ to ‘M’ has become a nightmare.

Some have stagnated in Job Group ‘L’ for over 15 years while their counterparts in the civil service, with all factors similar, have moved to Job Group ‘N’.

In the civil service, employees are taken for trainings and prepared for the job requirements of the next job group. In the teaching service, members are subjected to stage-managed and primordial interviews that are not in tandem with the job requirements.

 Stakeholders should develop a training programme for teachers so that once they mature for the next job group.

Cosmas Maruko, Usenge-Bondo

 

Ensure Baraza’s successor has the skills, competence

The fact that the Judiciary under the stewardship of Wily Mutunga has made great strides in institutional reforms cannot be gainsaid.

Barely one year into office, Dr Mutunga has effectively sent cold chills down the spine of merchants and mercenaries of impunity.

And the ripples have been felt within and beyond the judicial corridors. Names like Nancy Baraza, Rebecca Nabutola, Achieng’ Ong’onga and Mumo Matemu bring to mind the sweeping effects of the rejuvenated Judiciary.

It must however, be remembered the Judiciary could not perform optimally due to absence of the Deputy Chief Justice and the Vice-President of the Supreme Court, Nancy Baraza.

And now we are in search of a DCJ: one of equal competence and agility but perhaps less temperamental and steadier.

Adhere Cavince