Of miracle husbands and single women of little faith

Nigerian pastor Chris Ojigbani was not a very happy man last Sunday going by the media reports. For some reason, most singles decided to give his “find-a-husband” function at the KICC a wide berth. Why?

For reasons best known to him, Ojigbani reportedly blamed the media for the poor attendance. While PointBlank has no intention of defending the media, it is privy to one simple fact. Kenyans are increasingly growing weary of miracles, nay, (some) miracle workers.

Well, that is what happens when pastors promise miracles that never come to pass. They will assure you that you’ll be blessed with a car in a matter of weeks (when you don’t even have a job). What will happen when a year or two down the line you still have nothing that  resembles a car — not even a bicycle? Your faith in pastors and miracles will suffer a big blow.

You will become a doubting Thomas who can’t believe even in a simple miracle like the one performed by a man of God who straightened a woman’s twisted mouth pap! — with a prayer. But Ojigbani can still turn the tide if he can give miracle-skeptic women husbands pap!

Swimming pools in city road

About eight months ago, a group of men stormed Mbane Road, off James Gichuru Road in Nairobi with huge machines  and started digging and cutting beautiful trees and greenery on both sides of the road.

According to Mrs Nazneen Karim, the men who were obviously on someone’s payroll left after some time, but came back to dig up more holes, this time huge ones that could pass for swimming pools. They then, you guessed it right, disappeared, yet again.

With the ongoing rains, Nazneen reports the “holes”  are now full of water (see our main picture) but their owners haven’t bothered to come and swim. Meanwhile, road users are having daymares.

“A few workers occasionally  come and dig (we never understand what they are doing and by the looks of things they don’t either) and then sit to admire cars and chat on their mobile phones,” says Nazneen.

She adds: “Can the Kenya Urban Roads Authority or the construction company responsible for this kindly tell us what they  are doing here and when they plan to complete whatever they  are doing?”

Taxman’s ‘taxing’ rules irk exporter

On April 8 this year, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) published a raft of new rules governing exportation of goods from Kenya.

This is  according to Mr Jefferson Gacene who reveals that one these rules requires exporters to obtain a certificate from customs authorities of the destination country to prove that goods actually reached there.

KRA, says Gacene, needs to know that Kenyan exporters have no powers to force customs authorities of other countries to give them any documents.

“If they (KRA) are in doubt of any export transaction, it is them who can make a formal,   friendly request from their counterparts in other countries,” he says.

Gacene alleges that this “impossible rule”, among others, is aimed at denying Kenyan businesses VAT refunds related to their operations.

“Already, KRA is instituting obnoxious tax audits on all businesses claiming VAT refunds.These audits are being extended beyond the legal period that businesses keep their accounts records, a true testimony of witch-hunt,” charges Gacene.

What says you in mitigation, KRA? Gacene’s contact is [email protected].

DON’T YOU FORGET

Is DRC Nairobi embassy too tough on Kenyans?    

On March 15, Susan Kathenya complained here that the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Nairobi had come up with very stringent rules for Kenyans wishing to travel to the DRC. Ms Kathenya alleged that Kenyans were being asked to produce invitation letters duly certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kinshasa or notarised by a notary public in DRC. Her biggest concern was the fact that Kenyans were allegedly not eligible to get multiple entry visa to DRC unlike other nationalities.

“We can therefore conclude that the embassy is discriminating against Kenyans,” she said wondering whether this was the official position of the government of DRC or the brainchild of the embassy. Is the embassy discriminating against Kenyans?

Where art thou, Mr Jaguar?

Although Mr Githuku Mungai has grey hair mixed with some black ones, he believes he is at his creative best. We have no reason to doubt him as grey hair is a sign of wisdom, although grey heads have become rare nowadays, thanks to miracle working chemical composations. Interestingly, Mungai’s wisdom-age creativity is musical in nature. That’s why he would like to get in touch with popular musian Jaguar. As his voice is anything but musical, PointBlank assumes Mungai  would like to compose a song for Jaguar and perhaps earn cash to buy a Jaguar. His contact is [email protected].