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Kenya: Railway Services Must Change to Boost Kenya's Economy
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The Nation (Nairobi)
OPINION
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Nairobi
A railway system that works is an essential, if not integral, part of economic development of any nation.
This is even more crucial for a developing nation like ours. There is no dispute that there are too many heavy trucks on our roads. This should not be the case in a fledgling economy like ours.
That is why I fully support the announcement recently made by the chairman of the Kenya Railways board, Mr J. Mturi, that they are looking for ways of not only modernising the railway system, but expanding it too.
I, however, wish to ask one question to Mr Mturi: Is Kenya Railways, as a regulator of rail services in Kenya, aware that rail services are getting worse by the day?
I would suggest to Mr Mturi to start by making Kenya Railways partners, the Rift Valley Railway, to pull up their socks before embarking on any ambitious programmes.
If the issue of efficiency is not tackled now, Kenyans may never have a railway to talk about in the next few years.
I am not a pessimist though. Let our government wake up or they regret when it is already too late.
CONCERNED KENYAN,
President Kibaki should hear the cries of the majority Kenyans and give Mr John Michuki the Transport docket.
The President will have done Kenyans a great favour.
It seems that everybody admires John Njoroge Michuki.
Which ever ministry Mr Michuki is given, what is left behind is a mark which makes everybody yearn for his services. Then, why can't we have all other ministers working the same way?
Why don't they borrow a leaf from the no-nonsense MP from Kangema? Recently we saw him on television telling us how he plans to make our environment clean and I am very sure if given full support, things will never be the same again.
Bravo Mr Michuki. Keep it up and if every minister can emulate you, Kenya will be different from what it is now.
SUSAN MBURU NGARACHU,
The Eldoret-Ziwa road is in pathetic condition and is crying for urgent attention.
The once tarmac road is worse especially from Jerusalem trading centre.
The condition of the road must surely be a priority project for the newly-elected mayor, if he has a vision to improve the town.
The other area where the road is at its worst is near Kuinet trading centre. This is where a bad accident occurred last Tuesday. Perhaps the tyre burst that preceded the accident was due to the vehicle hitting a pot hole.
The concerned authorities should take appropriate action to avert similar occurrences.
The local Eldoret Traffic police must also guard against vehicles carrying excess passengers.
MICKLEM K. KOGO
Can the Government hasten the repairs works on Nairobi's Outer Ring Road?
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For an important road like this one to be in such a deplorable state, is a great embarrassment for the entire nation.
Serious wananchi want services and if I were the country's chief executive officer, I would give them just that.
Noises of this or that other community not being in the Cabinet would be the least of my worries.
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