African men foot ladies’ bills, white men don’t

Standard Group’s new kid on the block, The Nairobian, has an interesting story. It is about three typical Kenyan girls, university students at that, who accompanied their friend to a restaurant to meet her mzungu boyfriend.

They ate their fill (and the food was  worth a staggering Sh11,000!) and expected the man to foot the bill. He didn’t. He only paid for his girlfriend. 

That obviously taught the joyriders a tough lesson: Mzungus are not Africans!  Those who have been to Europe understand this. A mzungu will plead with you, “let’s go have a beer”. Of course, few Kenyans would let such an offer slip off their fingers.

In the pub, the mzungu will even prod you further: “You sure you don’t wan another?” And then you’ll ask for another and another — Kenya-style. Then when you are drunk and about to thank the donor, the mzungu will pay his bill and wait for you to do the same. Woe unto you if you have no cash. Mzungus are not as generous as Africans. Just ask the three varsity girls.

If they ever ask you out for coffee, just ask this simple question: “We’ll you pay?” That might  save you a lot of humiliation.

Co-op Bank’s clever cash machine

Nakuru Co-operative Bank customer Kenneth Alumasa is strongly convinced that a local automated cash machine is mischievous and has defrauded him on several occasions.

The first time this happened, he alleges, was in December last year when he requested the machine to give him Sh10,000. It declined to do so and quickly ejected his card. And to confirm its refusal, it gave him a receipt  written “can’t complete transaction”, which he interpreted to mean it won’t part with any cash. Later he checked his balance “only to notice some difference” with what he had.  He assumed that he withdrew at a time he couldn’t remember.

The in February, a similar incident happened and Alumasa  lost Sh3,000. Then in  early March, the mischievous ATM struck again. But this time, Alumasa, tired of the rip-off, had grown wiser. He protested to the customer care. He was asked to request for a refund in writing, which he did. Alumasa claimed Sh16,000 and was immediately refunded Sh3,000 and told to wait for the machine to be fixed to get the balance.

He’s been waiting patiently but hasn’t got a penny more. His contact is 0731811006.

Why Uhuru should visit Murang’a

President Uhuru Kenyatta is in high demand in Murang’a and should consider paying the town a visit as soon as possible. The invitation is being extended by Mr Fameen Yusuf who certainly has a hidden motive besides wanting to see the new Head of State.

As the road from Kenol to Murang’a town has been destroyed by ongoing rains, Fameen believes a visit by Mr Uhuru is all that is needed to have it fixed, fast.

“Whenever the President comes to Murang’a, the road is repaired very fast,” he explains.

But Fameen wouldn’t be inviting the President had the contractor who tarmacked the road two years ago, done a good job. He hopes the new government will do things differently and such shoddy jobs will become part of Kenya’s dark history. “The Government should repair this road before we have serious accidents,” he pleads. 

From Eldoret, Eliud Akanga complains that the road diversion between Timboroa and Burnt Forest has become impassable, and the contractor is not in a hurry to improve it. “Last weekend, travellers were stranded for over four hours at this forested section.”

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?

Tech-savvy vehicle thieves  

Digital-Age car owners beware. Car thieves have also gone digital, and they seem to be a step ahead. This is according to Nairobi resident Allan Kinyua, who claims that the only way to be safe is for motorists to swallow their pride and go back to “analogue”. Kinyua alleges that criminals have invented a way of opening locked doors with remote devices. “Someone at a distance could be watching you locking your car and the locking sound is intercepted via airwaves by a cloning device s/he has. They unlock your car and steal valuables.” Is this real or mere scare-mongering, Inspector General David Kimaiyo.

Right of Reply
Do not blame Machakos Naivas guards; they did what was expected of them
Although I am not the spokesman for Naivas supermarket in Machakos I would like to respond to last Friday’s story by Gladys Gichuki titled; “Naivas staff who should know people ”.

The complaint lacked merit and if it were in a legal environment, it  would be regarded as having “failed to display material facts”.

I say this because in the underground parking, where I believe she parked, there are clear notices on the walls indicating that those parking beyond two hours will pay Sh500.

In addition, she should also know that the parking does not belong to Naivas. It is even awkward that ‘she parked to go to church!’

Peter Mutua,

Nairobi

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I read Gladys Gichuki’s complaint last week and as a reader I empathise with her. However, I feel she was on the wrong. Security guards are not trained to be close to customers.

Believe me, it is standard procedure. The management has its rules too and they are all meant ensure your safety.

Gladys took two hours of their time and perhaps did ten minutes of shopping. This was rude, whether from a regular customer  or not. How would you feel if you found out the store would remain closed for two hours after waiting for ten minutes outside the gates? If you put logic, respect and etiquette in the same shopping basket then it becomes “common sense.”

Wanjau Wilson,

Ruai, Nairobi

Kabendera sub-location has a local assistant chief

This is in response to the article published on March 28 and April 25, 2013 titled, “Did Kabendera finally get a chief, Mr Iringo? Allegations that the assistant chief does not come from Kabendera sub-location, does not know the residents well and that he does not own any piece of land in that sub-location are false and baseless.

The true position is that Kabendera has an assistant chief who is a local, owns property and resides in the sub location.

The Government advertised the position of assistant chief, Kabendera, on June 9, 2011, and like any other resident of the sub-location he applied. Interviews were conducted on October 5, 2011 and he emerged the best candidate out of five applicants.

 VG Okioma,

Secretary Provincial Administration

For: Permanent Secretary