After Thika road, Chinese should build estate roads

It is an open secret that local road contractors have failed this country in its quest to become a middle-income economy.

Most roads built by the contractors are not worth talking about. They degenerate as soon as they are completed. In fact, most contractors start to re-patch sections they have built even before the work stretches more than a kilometre. The just concluded long rain season helped to ‘peel back the mask’ on the work of the contractors.

But entered the Chinese, and Kenya seems to be making headway in building world-class infrastructure. A look at Thika Superhighway and other roads built by Chinese shows first-class workmanship. One wishes that all our major highways could be like the superhighway.

However, the sad thing about this roads affair is that our contractors seem not to have learned anything from the Chinese when it comes to workmanship. Perhaps this arises from the fact that they are assured of winning contracts despite their “work”.

PointBlank is happy that China has promised to strengthen its bilateral trade with Kenya. This means we will get a few more good roads, even in the estates.

Holiday tuition ghost haunting poor parents

Holiday tuition, a programme that tires children and fleeces parents, notes Mr Mutua, is alive and vibrant.

Mutua would like to inform Education minister Mutula Kilonzo that parents are currently being ‘forced’ to pay money for the programme.

“In the school my child learns, we have been asked to pay Sh4,000 per child for the two-week programme that will start next month,” Mutua recounts.

The school has about 100 pupils and a simple calculation, according to Mutua, shows teachers will pocket Sh400,000.

“If this is not robbing poor parents, what is it? Minister Mutula needs to take immediate measures to stop this exploitation,” he laments.

Mutua says after the ministry extended first and second terms to 16 weeks, it was noted that teachers will have enough time to cover syllabus, thus eliminate holiday tuition.

“It is now clear that some school heads are not only going out of their way to enrich themselves but also to deny our children time to rest,” he observes. Mutua wants Mutula to crack the whip.

Bett, this road needs 1,000 bumps

So many lives have been lost along Standkisa-Khumusalaba Road, claims Mr Chesibe, who would like Roads Minister Franklin Bett to hear his cries.

Mr Chesibe says since the road was tarmacked, accidents have increased with residents being the biggest sufferers.

“Carnage has increased on the road. We have lost about 15 lives in a span of three months. Most of those who have been killed and injured are school children, who usually cross the road to and from school,” he notes. The accidents, according to Chesibe happen because the road does not have bumps, which reduce vehicles speed.

“My appeal to the minister is to have several bumps erected starting from Viyalo to Katsombero,” he says.

The concerned resident points out that the area has several markets and schools that include Hamuyundi, Kilingili and Katsombero.

“In February, an old man was killed by a motorist near Kilingili Police Station. The same month, a school bus knocked a boda boda rider killing his passenger on spot at Ibona corner,” he recounts.

“At the same spot, a lady was killed by a speeding saloon car in March. Recently near Kilingili Police Station, a matatu overturned killing six people,” he tells PointBlank.

DON’T YOU FORGET

Did KRA fix Tradex Simba 2005 customs system?

Mr John Mulawa, a Customs agent, wrote to PointBlank on June 10 noting Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) custom service system known as Tradex Simba 2005 was causing delay at Mombasa Port.

“The system has been giving us a hard time since March. It is always on and off. We fail to understand what is going on since no one has explained what the problem is and when it will be rectified,” he said. Mulawa noted that they use Tradex to lodge documents for cargo on transit by road, rail, air as well sea but this system is so slow.

“Sometimes it can take the whole day to download or to lodge an entry. A lot of business is held up due to this system. Some trucks have to wait even for two days,” he recounted. Mulawa appealed to KRA boss John Njiraini to intervene. Did KRA fix Tradex?

NHIF penalties are punitive

 

National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) member number 2250683 believes the institution wants every Kenyan to get better healthcare. The member notes it is for this reason NHIF rolled out a scheme that allows the self-employed to pay for their health cover.

However, according to the member, the charges for late payment are too punitive.

“I missed paying my May contribution and when I visited NHIF Buruburu office to clear the money and pay for June, I was told late payment attracts Sh800 penalty each month,” recounts the member, who does not think this is fair.

Right of Reply

KNH upgrading lifts

Reference is made to an article that appeared in PointBlank on challenges visitors encounter while using lifts at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

We are happy to report that the hospital has embarked on a project to modernise its nine lifts in two phases.

The first phase, which targets six lifts, has already commenced. Four modern lifts have already been installed and are fully operational.

We wish to appeal to the public to bear with us as we endeavour to modernise the important facilities. KNH lifts serve over 20,000 people daily, which means the available lifts are inadequate to cater for the high numbers. In the effort to manage traffic, the hospital has assigned a permanent officer tasked with manning the new lifts. 

 

Kibet Mengich

Ag. Corporate Affairs and Communication Manager

Sacco disbursed money, but they should improve

I would like to thank PointBlank for highlighting my complaint against Ukulima Sacco. I have checked and confirmed that the money is now in my bank account. I appreciate the gesture from Ukulima but the loan took so long to be processed. I urge them next time to stick to their timeline, which in the first place is long.

Collins Omondi

Ukulima should process loans faster

The article Ukulima Sacco ruins member’s development plans reminded me of my predicament last year.

As a member number 48505I, I underwent similar frustrations when I applied for school fees loan in November 2011 as I was preparing to take my children to school in January. By the time schools were opening, the loan had not been processed and all manner of excuses were given, including the loan form was returned to me because it was improperly filled and a G4S parcel delivery man could not trace the PC’s offices where I work. It was later processed when I vented anger on both the staff and some officials of the Sacco. After the encounter, I have opted not to apply for any loan from the Sacco.

The Commissioner for Co-operatives, who is also a member, should move with speed and remedy the situation. Otherwise, I would like to congratulate the member for not keeping quiet.