The Watchman
9 July 2009
column
Nairobi — Having successfully driven hawkers out of the town centre, the Mombasa Municipal Council in Kenya should now address the growing problem of parking boys, who have become a nuisance to motorists, urges Sheetal Devani.
They will appear as soon as one parks one's car, and if one refuses to pay them, they will threaten to rip off the side mirrors and indicators. The lasting solution is to shelter, feed and clothe them to make them responsible citizens."
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Ministry of Roads PRO Rachel Keino's explanation about the distance between Naivasha and Nairobi being determined by roads engineers and transporters doesn't make sense, says Isaac Kung'u.
"There must be a standard method of measurement. In the case of Nairobi, distance has been measured from the Galton-Fenzi Memorial at the Koinange Street-Kenyatta Avenue junction."
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Can Telkom Kenya and Nairobi City Council get serious? For nearly five weeks, a large gaping hole dug up by heavy lorries using the way-leave/access road between Budget Car Hire and C&P Company, next to Panari Hotel has remained an eyesore.
"Cables are exposed and may be damaged, if they are not already. Secondly, the residents of Eagle Plains estate using this access road and their visitors are exposed to danger. Please sort out this mess," the residents urge.
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The Higher Education Loans Board is finally on top of its game, says Peter Mathenge. He was promised his loan overpayment refund would be paid within six weeks, but the money was in his account in four weeks.
Says he: "Kudos to Helb for a job well-done." However, Peter is disappointed about delays in effecting loan deductions for his two friends who work in the US.
Nothing has happened since they authorised Helb to recover monthly instalments last August. His email is pemathenge@gmail.com.
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On June 30, M. Kamau sent money from her M-Pesa account and the balance was confirmed as Sh2,213. But on checking on July 2, she was surprised to note that this had dropped to Sh2,212.
Says she: "I'm not a frequent user because I live overseas, with only periodic visits to Kenya. Does Safaricom charge Sh1 to check the M-Pesa balance, or is some fishy business going on? I'm worried. My money could just 'disappear' shilling by shilling."
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Kenya Airways should improve on its handling of the cancellation of flights by informing would-be travellers in time, urges G. Martha.
Her husband had booked a return flight to Lagos on the morning of June 23. But on arriving at JKIA at 5am, he was informed there was no flight! "Why didn't KQ contact him to tell him the flight had been cancelled?
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Having read the informative articles in the Nation on the life and times of Tom Joseph Mboya, coinciding with the anniversary of his July 5, 1969 assassination, Duncan Maina says he now has a pretty good idea of who the flamboyant politician, who died aged only 39, really was.
Says he: "I've concluded that he was a leader before his time, a leader in his own league, and definitely a leader that Kenya will never have."
Have a remarkable day, won't you!
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E-mail: watchman@nation.co.ke or write to Watchman, POB 49010, Nairobi 00100. Faxes 214531, 213846.
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