There’s more than meets the eye in Tana River conflict

It’s simply unbelievable. It is hard to believe what’s going on in Tana River delta is happening in modern day Kenya. How can the tit-for-tat attacks (be allowed to) go on for so long? 100 people dead including eight police officers. It tugs at the heartstrings.

The police and the entire security machinery has, understandably, been on the receiving end. Their response to the violence has been wanting. It is obvious that they grossly under estimated the strength and resolve of the combatants.

But there is something is disturbing about the violence. There is more than meets the eye, and that’s why the government must give the conflict the seriousness it deserves. Apparently, the militias are armed to the tooth with guns and even grenades, are well trained and have the power and audacity to kill even police officers. These  are not ordinary Pokomo farmers and Orma pastoralists.

Some people have speculated that groups such as Al Shabaab have joined the fray. Whether this is the case or not,  we are dealing with dangerous, organised gangs Tana River.

Githurai’s Chinese-made toilet

Good manners, notes Fred Makana, have taken the backseat at the busy Githurai 45 market. Some men who see nothing ‘super’ about the Thika superhighway shamelessly relieve themselves on the walls of the bridge next to the market.

The walls of the bridge, says Makana, reek of foul ammonia. The stench also wafts to the nearby market, disturbing the peace of buyers and sellers and possibly posing a health risk.

Unfortunately, the smelly acts of the brazen men never seem to bother Ruiru Municipal Council, which collects millions of shillings from the overcowded market.

The wall irrigators also never bother askaris on patrol as he has never seen any of them being arrested.

“Who is in charge of sanitation  in this usually overcrowded market?” wonders Mr Makana.

Doctors

He wants the  council to swing into action, arrest the culprits and consider conducting a public health awareness workshop at the busy market or relocate it altogether. 

He also urges the council to consider putting up more public toilets in the area, pointing out that the few that exist are inadequate.

Letter to new Somalia President

Dear Mr President,

“Allow me to congratulate you. The journey for our nation has just begun. You must shoulder your responsibility to the best of your ability. Tonight Somalis are celebrating and happy from Ras caser to Raskiamboni, from Washington to Wellington you are the hope of this nation, and your leadership can make or break our hope. Please, don’t fail us. Let us begin the healing process of our nation.

“Carefully, choose your Cabinet and staff from the best and brightest Somalia can offer. You are lucky, unlike your predecessor as you have  a number of highly educated MPs.

“We understand the hardships you will encounter in our fragile and unruly society. This nation, this land and these people are all yours. You must be just and understanding in order to succeed in your goals.

“Your excellency, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia are not only our neighbours but also our brothers. Respect them.

“O Allah bless the Nation and our new President Hassan Sheihk Mohamud of Somalia.”

Mohamed Osman,

[email protected],

Thika

First and second class citizens

What is happening in the Tana River is sad, notes Gachiengo Gitau, who are wonders whether the Government is unable to do more. Gitau supports Garsen MP Danson  Mungatana’s view that “if the massacres happened in Nairobi, Kisumu,Nakuru or Nyeri,the reaction would have been different.

“Now if attacks in your area are always reported to be by bandit, tribesmen, militia, armed rustlers, raiders and not gangsters, thieves and robbers,you could easily be on class “B” of Government priorities, and one would be forgiven for thinking you are pretty much on your own!”he concludes.

Did Karatina clear the mounds soiling its name?   

On August 16, Mr Kariuki Muiri wrote to PointBlank from Karatina complaining that the town was in a sorry state. He was especially concerned about some huge mounds of soil that he said were dumped on the street off Kanisa Road about two years ago by a developer but no one has ever bothered to clear the mess. Muiri further said that Karatina Town Council is not bothered by the eyesore either. He wondered how a council worth its salt can accept to lose revenue (in terms of parking fees) for two years without doing anything about it.

“Residents who have had to put up with this nonsense for over two years now know that the offending developer is taking advantage of the fact that he is a relative of an influential politician,” he alleged.  Did the council finally remove the eye-sore?