Review Mitumba duty for second-rate citizens’ sake - Point Blank

By Njoroge Kinuthia

Some second-hand clothes dealers at the sprawling Gikomba market are reported to have closed shop following the government’s decision to increase duty on mitumba.

The traders have been complaining that they have been unable to clear their cargo at the port of Mombasa since tax on imported second hand clothes was increased from Sh1.1 million per container to Sh1.9 million.

PointBlank is yet to establish what motivated the decision to hike the duty. While it is indisputable that mitumba will never be a panacea for our clothing and economic needs, some feel the current move was ill-timed.

lose immensely

The country is facing very hard times, economically, and most basic commodities are out of reach for ordinary Kenyans. New clothes are, to say the least, a luxury that majority of Kenyans cannot afford.

In addition, thousands of people are employed directly in the mitumba industry and stand to lose immensely if this decision is not reviewed.

That’s why we must not kill this industry yet.

Safaricom’s elusive signal in Subukia

Mr Michael Njugunah K says he read with a lot interest Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore’s response to Kisumu Town West MP’s question on the poor mobile signal over Riat Hills.

He commends Mr Collymore for taking action and notes that it’s always reassuaring when top managers take their time to respond to clients’ queries.

Besides the commendation, Njugunah also has a request that he hopes Safaricom will address with speed just as in the case of mheshimiwa.

"I request Mr Collymore to direct his engineers to also adjust Safaricom’s base station at Munanda, Subukia all the way to Sidai Primary School, which have nil coverage." Area residents, he says, are forced to walk several kilometres and climb trees ‘just to say hello’. Residents, he claims are ready to donate land to build a mast.

Meanwhile, Mr Jitu Haria would like to know why Safaricom will not reinstate his old mobile line 0722626350, which he claims was deleted from the firm’s system after he forgot his sim card abroad. "This number is very special to me and I would be very grateful if you can help me," he pleads. He can be contacted on 0722640780.

Forgotten road to Kangundo

Ruai resident Lucas Kimanthi wonders why Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu and his Kangundo counterpart Johnstone Muthama ‘are not concerned’ by the poor state of Kangundo Road which, he says, has become a daily nightmare for their subjects. Kimanthi claims he has never heard either of the MPs making noise about the poor state of the road particularly the stretch from Outering Road to Kayole Junction.

"Commuters have to contend with longer hours on the road and their heads being banged against the roof as matatus hit the craters," he says.

The rough stretch, he adds, is also a favourite hunting ground for criminals especially at night when they target slow-moving vehicles.

Kimanthi who describes himself as a faithful taxpayer is demanding that the Kenya Urban Roads Board and the city council gives him value for his taxes by fixing the road.

wrecked vehicles

Still from Ruai, Mr David Ndegwa wonders why no one has taken note of the pathetic state of the access road from Ruai centre (junction) to Sewage. The road, he says, has wrecked many vehicles and is unfit even for pedestrians.

Washing machine that won’t wash

Those, like Mr Sam Ng’ang’a, who understand the nuts and bolts of running a successful business know that aftersales support is critical to establishing market foothold. However, according to him, the local distributor for LG products doesn’t seem to understand this point. For close to two years Ng’ang’a’s LG washing machine (model WD-80134T) has been lying idle because the distributor has been unable to provide a rubber seal spare part number 4986ER1005A/3A. "Whenever I enquire, their response always is: ‘We will contact you when we receive the part’". His email is [email protected].

DON’T YOU FORGET

Did Nakuru council clear roadside dumpsite?

On August 10, Ms Hilda Cheshari wrote to PointBlank from Nakuru complaining that the town, once touted as being the cleanest in East Africa, was sinking under the weight of garbage.

She was particularly concerned with the state of affairs in the town along the Nakuru-Eldama Ravine Road where she said a roadside dumpsite had become an eyesore.

"The area is littered with solid waste products that normally produce an unpleasant smell.

On a windy day, it is common to see paper bags flying all over. Never mind there is a primary school a stone-throw away," she said.

Did the Municipal Council of Nakuru clear this mess, Mayor Mohammed Suraw?