We mustn't let Sudan, S Sudan go back into abyss

By Njoroge Kinuthia

The two uneasy neighbours are at loggerheads again. Several clashes have been reported in the recent past along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. Juba accuses Sudan of conducting air raids in Unity State, South Sudan. Khartoum accuses her neighbour of violating its borders and committing aggression against Sudan.

Predictably, the conflict centres on the major oil field of Heglig, which both countries  claim.

Security Council

The UN Security Council, according to IRIN, has called for restraint and warned that the clashes could worsen the humanitarian situation.

There are reports already that Sudanese refugees are trickling back to Kakuma camp–at the rate of 150 per day.

Commendably, Kenya has pledged that it will make diplomatic efforts to help end the sabre-rattling. The world must not let the two countries slide back into the abyss. Something must be done speedily to resolve the key issues, among them land demarcation and sharing of oil revenues, left pending during the 2005 accord.

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Spotlight turns on KP  in dark coast

Some places in Likoni, Mombasa, have been experiencing constant power blackouts in the past two years, according to a resident Ibrahim Jaafar Olum.

Commercial activities in Dudus West, Majengo Mapya area and its environs, he reports, usually suffer the brunt of the power failure.

“This situation has compelled many residents, small-scale businesses, mosques and churches to resort to using generators which is costly as an alternative.”

“I am appealing to Coast Kenya Power regional manager  Joseph Mukomba to come out and assure electricity consumers he will find a lasting solution to this problem,” says Mr Jaafar.

Another Mombasa resident Justin Njagi is accusing Kenya Power of spoiling his Easter celebrations due to “prolonged blackouts”.

Njagi claims since Thursday last week Mombasa and its environs has been experiencing intermittent unexplained power failures and prolonged blackouts.

“Kenya Power has made a dull, dark and black Easter for their clientele. What a let down!” he charges.

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How do parties recruit members?

There is heightened activity at the political parties’ front, notes, advocate Gachiengo Gitau, with the  fast approaching deadline to file for full registration.

One conspicuous requirement for political parties is to have an office and at least 1,000 members at least 24 of 47 counties. That makes for a minimum 24,000 individual members per party.

But something doesn’t quite add up. When you factor in all the parties seeking registration in an election year, you would be expecting a hive of activity with daily recruitment drives in every crook and cranny. However, besides Gema, Kamatusa and Hague politics, party recruitment appears to have been relegated to the back-burner.

Rallies of yore

“Am I to believe that all parties have gone so high-tech that registration is being done quietly and electronically as opposed to the noisy rallies of yore and Sh10 party cards being sold in the marketplace,” he asks.

He adds: “Or could some of us already be unwitting members of some parties, thanks to all manner of electronic services seeking our private bio-data and party secretariats deciding to make a quick save by relying on ghost members?”

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Water vendors get quick wealth

Ms Mary Ajwang, a ‘disgruntled’ resident of Juja Road estate near Pangani Girls High School claims water has become the scarcest commodity in the area. She claims that the estate never gets water as it used to and residents have to rely on water vendors who charge Sh40 for a 20-litre container. “Water trickles on Saturday evening and before you can fill a 50-litre container its gone,” she says and adds: “This is a grave situation now that the holidays are here and children will be home.” Mary suspects that someone could be interfering with the piped water in order to give the water hawking business a boost.

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DON’T YOU FORGET

When will Mavoko make terminus shoe-friendly? 

On March 23, Mr John Muthusi wrote to PointBlank wondering whether County Council of Mavoko  was justified to keep on collecting levy fees from buses and matatus at Mlolongo bus terminus.

Muthusi alleged that for a long time, the terminus has been dirty and filthy, but the council never seems to notice.

“You leave your house looking sparkling clean but when you get to the bus stop, your shoes get dusty and filthy. If you are unlucky, you also develop a running nose.” When it rains, he adds, “the mess doubles due to mud”.

Muthusi pleaded with the council to tarmack  the terminus to save residents the agony. Will the council heed Muthusi’s advice?