Obama is wise to skip Kenya in his Africa visit

Kenyans are a peculiar people. In parts of the country they are discussing in hushed tones about the ignominy visited upon them by ‘one of our own’, US President Barrack Obama.

Obama won’t be visiting Kenya during his trip to Africa in June (of course in his luxury jet fuelled by US taxpayers). Instead, he will be visiting our neighbour Tanzania—never mind he has no blood brothers there. Phew, what a brother! But weep not Kenyans. Blame not Obama as choices have consequences. Who would want to visit Kenya?

If you never knew, Obama reads The Standard daily. He knows some peculiar people have been hacking others in western Kenya. He knows some weirdos have shooting innocent people in Mandera. And of course he knows a terror suspect was killed in Githurai the other day. Do you think Obama would want to risk his life to visit his grandmother? Who knows, he might have been handed a travel advisory by his minders.

And if you still think Obama is the silver bullet to our woes, remember (the last time I heard about it) his half brother is holed up in pitiable Huruma estate.

IEBC’s ‘unfinished business’

PointBlank received a rare call from an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officer based in Kisii yesterday morning. The officer, a Mr Kamwati, was calling us regarding a story we have been publishing about some people who claim to have worked for IEBC during the General Election but have allegedly not been paid their dues. Kamwati insisted all officials in the area have been paid their dues.

Coincidentally, one of the officials copied a letter he was sending to IEBC Nyanza South Region coordinator to PointBlank  yesterday in which he alleged he was paid only half his pay after working for 60 days. Mr Hesbon Shikuku Kionge (mobile [phone]) said he was paid Sh71,000 instead of Sh150,000.

Meanwhile, Philimon Marsh who claimed to have worked as a voter educator in Kuria West District, also complained that he was yet to be paid his dues. His contact is [email protected].

PointBlank requests the IEBC top brass to get to the bottom of these allegations, and if these persons haven’t been paid, ensure they get their dues.

Tuskys loses faithful customer

It appears that customers nowadays value loyalty cards more than their shopping. Tuskys Supermarket loyal customer AO Pauline has been a very reluctant shopper for the past three months or so.

This is because her temporary loyalty card (No 1015630 ), which she has been using since December 2011 was taken away by staff at Tuskys’ Pioneer branch in February this year ostensibly because the “numbers had faded”.

Pauline wonders why in this  digital era, it is taking Tuskys  too long to print her card.

“Efforts to get my loyalty card for almost three years now have borne no fruits.  I have recorded my details on several occasions with different staff at the reception until I have stopped shopping at Tuskys over the disappointment.”

Pauline, who laments that the waiting period was “ridiculous” reveals she has been forced to move to a rival shop, which is quick at issuing reward cards.

She, however, would not mind going back to her former shop but on condition Tuskys gives her card without much ado. Do you want your former loyal customer back, Tuskys?

DON’T YOU FORGET

Did PSC fill top staff positions in prisons?  

A prisons officer wrote to PointBlank on March 12, 2013 lamenting that part of the prisons’ reforms agenda had been forgotten. He was concerned about the failure to promote senior officers, who he claimed had stagnated in “one position” for years and yet there were many vacancies in the top echelons of the prison service. The officer said that according to the workload analysis as recommended by the Madoka Report, there were about 32 vacant positions within these top ranks.

The officer further noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs gazetted the new position of Commissioner General of Prisons and Deputy Commissioner General (CG) in February.  While Isaiah Osugo took over as the CG, he lamented that the position of his deputy was yet to be filled. Were these positions filled Mr Osugo, Public Service Commission?

Roadblock to progress

Mr Sam Oyugi would like to  salute Dr Alfred Mutua, the Governor  of Machakos. In addition, the resident of Syokimau has a plea to the Governor. He would like him to facilitate completion of Mombasa Road-Syokimau-Katani-Utawala road, a project he says was initiated by former MP Wavinya Ndeti.

“The road is a nightmare during rainy and dry seasons due to its black cotton soil.” Oyugi says Syokimau and Katani estates are prime areas within Machakos, with potential to generate billions for the  county through real estate revenue if the road is opened up. Over to you, Governor Mutua.

Right of Reply
NSSF to swing into action soon in Tassia estate
 

This is in reference to the article titled, “NSSF’s inertia in Tassia Estate” published in PointBlank on May 14, 2013 regarding NSSF’s promise to coordinate infrastructural plans for the Tassia Estate developers.

We would like to clarify to Mr Livinzu and the other tenants that NSSF is in the process of seeking infrastructural plan approval from the Nairobi City County. 

As soon as the approvals are obtained, NSSF will advise tenants on the next course of action.

 In the meantime, tenants are advised to immediately clear any outstanding liabilities against their plots where the re-surveying exercise has been finalised.

We thank you for your continued support and vigilance.

Christopher S Khisa,

Manager, Public Relations & Communications

Point of Order

 

Moi University student’s returned donations that never reached donors

Ms Befrey Jumba has a bone to pick with Moi University School of Law’s Finance office.

The former parallel programme student at the university confesses that during her studies, she had problems raising fees.

Consequently, during her second year, she applied for a bursary from Lurambi CDF, the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) as well.

As she did not get immediate response from the three sources, she pleaded with her uncle to pay her fees and he agreed to do so.

However, after he had paid, Befrey got positive responses from the three sources, and was awarded Sh5000 by Lurambi CDF and Sh20,000 by the Ministry of Education and Sh44,000 by Helb.

By the time she cleared studies in 2011, the university owed her Sh69,000.  She applied for a refund. However, the Finance office allegedly insisted that she could only be refunded Sh44,000.

She was informed that the bursary cash had been returned to respective offices.

Unhappy, she directed the office to also return the Helb cash instead of giving the money to her.

“I checked with the Lurambi CDF offices, the Ministry of Education and Helb and no money was returned,” says Befrey who wonders: “Where did the money go? Her contact is [email protected].