Corruption is the glue that holds this Coalition together

Mike Owuor

The Grand Coalition Government has a scary trait that may leave the public purse empty by 2012 — the year we hope this awkward political marriage of convenience will end. For a Government that is barely two years old, it appears eat and let eat is the way to go.

From junior provincial administrators stealing relief food to top officials skirting rules to loot public funds, wananchi’s sense of shock may soon be numbed by the many corruption revelations.

Expensive habit

The latest ‘minor’ scandal involves the alleged stealing of supplies meant for those displaced from Mau Forest while the big one is the suspected loss of donor cash for the Free Primary Education Programme.

What bothers PointBlank is the unwillingness of ministers and senior officials to take responsibility when things go wrong under their watch. Then there is the apparent reluctance to investigate and provide answers, let alone prosecute.

It is as though the Coalition is so fragile that it may break if the fight against graft goes beyond scratching the surface. We say, this free-for-all must stop.

Educate us on certificate decree, Ongeri

Born in "a humble family" in Shauri Village, Kiriita Location, Ndaragwa Division, Nyandarua District, Boniface Mwangi Ndegwa, 24, says getting education was never easy.

For example, he says he had to twice sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations to mark time for lack of secondary school fees. He eventually joined Nyahururu High School and, despite always being sent home for fees, completed secondary education in 2003. Since he owed Sh18,000, his KCSE certificate was retained.

Ndegwa joined Kenyatta University for a Bachelor of Science degree in 2005, but his final year was disrupted a few months ago when the university was closed after student unrest. Ndegwa says each student was asked to pay Sh5,000 upon return, "further adding to my arrears".

Armed with university transcripts and no secondary school or degree certificate, getting a job has been difficult for Ndegwa.

"My former school has refused to give me my certificate. What next?" he wonders.

Well, what next is to ask Education Minister Sam Ongeri if a previous order that schools must release certificates retained due to fees arrears is still valid.

Unimpressed by ferry tale

Making one’s way to and from the Likoni ferry is usually not the easiest of tasks. And with the occasional midstream ferry breakdowns, one is never sure of crossing to the opposite side without a hitch.

All this would be tolerable, says Mr TJ Okoth, were it not for an unnecessary nuisance which Kenya Ferry Services Ltd (KFSL) does not seem keen to remove.

"I wish to enlist PointBlank’s help in solving a problem ferry passengers experience at the waiting sheds, where a man usually makes speeches," he says.

The man’s verbal trips would be condoned if, adds Okoth, his language was not "extremely lewd", including insulting women who wear trousers. But the man is not all talk as Okoth claims his presence and movements in the narrow corridor block smooth flow of commuter traffic.

End nuisance

Okoth claims he has e-mailed KFSL complaining about the nuisance. But he says despite promises that action would be taken "months have now gone" yet the lewd speeches and obstruction continues.

"Please, please, help remove this daily nuisance," Okoth tells KFSL.

Restore parking order in estate

Paul, a resident of Nyayo Estate in Embakasi, Nairobi, says he is weary of the carelessness of truck divers who park on pavements. He wants City Hall to stop the risky practice.

"It is an obvious danger and one really wonders why no action has been taken. The trucks not only hamper movement along this busy street but also create a safe haven for robbers," he says.

Paul claims that to walk safely and avoid oncoming vehicles, pedestrians have to squeeze in the little space left by trucks between the road and the pavement. He wants the danger and inconvenience removed.

Does Lands ministry have a digital plot, Mr Orengo?

Since he first raised the issue on September 10, Mr Kariuki Muiri in Karatina has been waiting for assurances from Lands Minister James Orengo that plans to get an electronic registry were on course (Digital plot for Lands ministry). PointBlank is yet to hear from the ministry despite a reminder on October 21 (Don’t You Forget: When is Lands ministry going electronic, Orengo?).

Muiri had argued that rampant grabbing and issuing of fake title deeds would be solved by digitising land records, which might in the long term prove cheaper. Although he noted powerful cartels would resist the move Muiri thought they would be no match for a determined Government. So, Mr Orengo, are there plans to embrace technology?