Speedy action long overdue to end ‘road rage’ by users

Residents of Taita-Taveta County got a reprieve after the Governement pledged to repair the Voi-Taveta-Mwatate road.

Complaints over poor state of roads in different parts of the country continue to feature in PointBlank.

"For the past two decades, all sorts of promises have been made to the effect that this vital road would be rehabilitated to the international standards. Each financial year, funds are ‘allocated’ to repair the road. But at the end of the day, nothing is done," says Mr Pascal Mwandambo of Voi.

Gapping potholes

He adds: "The huge success of the strike is a clear pointer that people are fed up with empty promises."

And Psirmoi Daniel of Moi University, Eldoret, is appalled by the state of the Webuye-Kakamega road.

"It’s a crying shame that this road is in incredibly bad shape with gaping potholes all over. It’s a poor excuse of a road, a cattle track is the correct word," he reports.

The Government should not wait until protests jolt it to act on poor roads.

　

End ‘noise’, tackle causes of accidents

For Mr Eugene Mwenda, the current "noise and efforts" over road safety are cosmetic and will come to nought.

He tells PointBlank this is because the authorities concerned are addressing symptoms of the disease and not the root cause.

"It is well known that careless and dangerous drivers ignorant of even the basic traffic laws cause majority of accidents," says Mwenda.

He claims corruption has made it possible for would-be drivers to obtain driving licenses without a test.

Public safety

"I suggest that all driving test centres be removed from the ambit of the Traffic Police to another body, say the National Road Safety Council. It is not prudent for the traffic police to be the regulator and enforcer of traffic laws at the same time," says he.

Mwenda proposes such an institution should also be charged with regular vetting, licensing of driving schools and developing the driving curriculum.

"Public service vehicle license holders should also be re-examined every three years to check competency and ensure they could be entrusted with public safety," he suggests.

　

Amend bias in benefits Act

When Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta published a gazette notice to amend the Retirement Benefits Act, Mr J Mitau gave the Finance Minister a thumbs up on November 4 (Well done Uhuru, retirees can smile).

But since then pensioners have been poking holes into the new rules.

"On August 4, we passed a new Constitution to serve all on equal basis," says the latest pensioner to raise concern over the Act. The retiree emphasises the recently published Retirement Benefits Act is biased.

"The Act has segmented pensioners yet these are the issues we want to be buried and forgotten with the old Constitution," adds the concerned pensioner.

He says former workers are exposed to pecuniary embarrassment given they are unable to access 50 per cent benefits of their individual retirement funds.

"Pensioners should be given equal treatment especially as far as financial matters are concerned."

The retiree wants the Act amended afresh to level the playing field for all workers.

"I request the Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa to table this ‘ambiguity’ back to Parliament for proper harmonisation as soon as possible," he tells PointBlank.

　

Fraud victims seek justice from KACC

While complimenting the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director PLO Lumumba for his war on graft, Ms Nancy Kapsoot has few queries over pyramid schemes fraud.

"Will victims of the scams recover the money they lost two years ago? We are told the Government holds some of the money. Are the perpetrators going to be brought to book and pay back the money?" she poses.

Pleads Kapsoot: "Please Prof Lumumba, many have died or are on their death beds because of these monies, which they had borrowed from banks or retirement benefits."