Clearly, nuclear energy isn't the best of options

The nuclear debate is back on the front burner. And while the Government still insists that nuclear is the weapon to drive darkness and poverty out of the country opposition to the so touted clean energy is growing. But are nuclear reactors the panacea to our power woes?

Last year (2011), PointBlank criticised Kenyafs ambition to acquire nuclear energy in a story titled, "As others shy off, Kenyafs unclear nuclear love grows". Our position, remains the same.

While we appreciate the fact that nuclear energy could help accelerate growth and attainment of Vision 2030, we are alive to the dangers posed by same and exhort those charged with charting our countryfs future to trend with care.

Hasty retreat

Japan is currently writhing in pain and is carrying out a clean-up, which is expected to cost over Sh1 trillion over 30 years. The country now plans to shut down its nuclear reactors. Italy, Germany and Switzerland are just some of the other countries planning to phase our nuclear. One can only marvel at Kenyafs courage to go where others are hastily retreating from.

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Busy cottage for learners in Kahawa

Students, parents and teachers of schools that performed well in last yearfs national examinations are still in a celebratory mood. And it is not hard to understand why. Beating thousands of students to lead a national examination is not an easy task. But what does it take for these students to excel? Of course, a lot of hard work.

But how much effort should students make to succeed? This question is bothering a parent of a pupil at Green Cottage Academy in Kahawa West. Although she is happy with the schoolfs exemplary academic performance, she believes the school is overworking the children to achieve the good grades.

She says the pupils, even in lower classes are "pressured" to attend Saturday tuition "where a fee is paid". Those in the upper classes especially the candidates, she reveals, attend tuition even on Sundays.

"Is it really healthy to attend school from Monday to Monday? I commend their good performance, but canft they come up with other tactics to achieve that?" The school, she advises, should not emphasise academic performance at the expense of the welfare of the children.

Car burglars have motorist worried

Mr Richard Kaplelach has useful advice for visitors and residents of Eldoret. "While in the town be very careful where you park your car and what you leave inside it".

Kaplelach claims thieves are having a field day in the town and "no one seems to be concerned even if you report to the police".

He alleges to have lost most of his valuables on December 19, last year, when he stopped briefly in the town to buy food.

"I had stepped out of my car for not more than 15 minutes and coming back found my 21" television set, digital camera, video camera, new tractor battery and shoes, among others missing," he says. He says he lost goods worth Sh207,000.

What annoyed him most, however, was the attitude of police officers that he describes as "reluctant".

morning thieves

And from Nairobifs Mlango Kubwa, Nathan Wawire is urging police officers to patrol the area more frequently in the mornings. He says a gang of youths has been attacking and robbing people going to work in the morning especially between 4.30am and 6am. There you have it from the horsefs mouth, Mr Mathew Iteere.

Strange love from the State

The Government is showing Kenyans how much it cares by "failing to do something quickly about the nursesf salary demands", says Fiddy Macharia. Ms Macharia is accusing the Government of handling the strike casually and of not being moved by the suffering and needless deaths of patients. She wants the State to address the matter with the seriousness it deserves immediately. Meanwhile, Justin Njagi, who claims to have witnessed a motor cycle rider die due to lack of medical attention after he was involved in a road crash in Mombasa, also wants quick action to end the paralysing strike.

DONfT YOU FORGET

Did Orange Kenya revive customerfs dead lines?

On November 24, 2011, Orange Kenya customer HR Shah accused the company of enot being botheredf to revive his dead telephone lines (numbers 4181072 and 4183041). He claimed to have reported the matter to Orange several times but no action was taken.

Despite the lines being dysfunctional, Mr Shah claimed he was still being sent bills by Orange without fail.

"What am I supposed to do with the bills? If I do not pay by the due date, what will you do - disconnect already dead lines?" he asked then.

He pleaded with the companyfs CEO Mickael Ghossein to intervene and ensure that the lines were reconnected. Did this happen, Mr Ghossein?