Palaver - 12/11/09

The Vatican is said to be searching for extra-terrestrial life or life on other planets. The church organised a five-day gathering of 30 leading scientists to debate whether the "Truth is really out there" to mark the International Year of Astronomy.

And staying with matters transcendental, Michael Jackson’s funeral cost Sh76 million in terms attorneys said were "entirely commensurate with the decedent’s worldwide status as an entertainer and the world’s grief over his death."

A real thriller, this king has turned out to be.

There is talk in Ukraine — of the T72 battle tank fame — to delay a January election because of flu fears after the H1N1 (swine flu) killed more than 100 people in the past three weeks. The home of the 2004 "Orange Revolution" is actually thinking of declaring a state of emergency. Detect any election-phobia?

"Kenya’s economy loses Sh29 billion due to traffic jams" screamed our headline this week. And if Nairobi Metropolitan Minister, Njeru Githae is to be believed, some of the Michuki Rules were ‘bad’ and will need to be revised.

Could the review please include roundabouts that were to be removed and address the matter of green pebbles ... And while we are still on Money Losing Avenue, just who is going to pay for Amos Wako’s suit against the US? Remember it was his visa that was revoked.

If you are a civil servant working in Lodwar, Magadi, Eldoret, Mt Elgon or even Samburu and you need to see your provincial supervisor, you have to travel to Nakuru, the Rift Valley Provincial Headquarters.

It may be hundreds of kilometres away from where you are but that is where the PC and all other provincial heads sit. From Magadi you will have to plough through Nairobi and Central provinces. But still Rift leaders do not want this province divided.

Can civil servants working in the Rift tell their story.

And finally...

Forget ‘Nairobbery’, TripAdvisor declares thus: "Pickpocketing is a true art and whilst thieves can strike anywhere, home or abroad, tourist hot-spots often yield far richer-pickings.

Topping the list of 10 worst cities is Barcelona, followed by Rome, Prague, Madrid, Paris, Florence (Italy), Buenos Aires, Athens and Hanoi in Vietnam.

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