Nairobi — Whereas supervisors and enumerators who carried out the recent national census in Githurai 45, Nairobi, have already smiled all the way to the bank, the village elders who assisted them to make the count a success have not yet been paid, says Derbie Njane. "Despite numerous visits to the DO's office our queries have gone unanswered. Can the authorities come to our rescue, so we, too, can smile?"

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While appreciating that KPLC's colossal losses daily through transformer vandalism are hampering the company's ability to supply electricity, residents of Kombo Munyiri Road at Kariokor, Nairobi, have been literally in the dark for over a week, says Paul Kaimenyi. Their appeals at the Stima Plaza headquarters, he adds, have yielded nothing. Instead, the KPLC technicians turned up and pulled down what remained of the vandalised transformer.

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As the ably managed Kenya Rugby Football Union gets ready for the new Safaricom sponsorship, replacing Breweries, J.K. Karanja would like chairman Richard Omwela to know he's unhappy, having not been paid for services to the Sevens team last March. "As our team did the country proud, I was contracted to supply computer software, which I installed and issued an invoice. I've not been paid despite numerous demands," he says.

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Safaricom's new Supa Ongea tariff is perhaps not meant for ordinary Kenyans or why would the nice charges apply only between midnight and 8 o'clock in the morning? poses George Muriithi. If the intention was to have the majority benefit, he adds, then the company should have effected this throughout the day, when most are awake and in need of making calls.

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Retired teacher Benaiah O. Omedo has had it pretty rough since he hung up the chalk last year, as not a single coin of his dues has been paid. To make it worse, a man who has several obligations, including paying school fees for his children, has no idea when this puzzle will be solved, so he can also enjoy retirement. Neither the TSC nor the Pensions Department has explained why his dues have been withheld and what he needs to do to unravel this.

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After being assured at Posta's Express Mail Service it would take four days to deliver his parcel to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the UK, Nelson Marufu paid the required charges. However, the item was received 11 days later, causing him to suffer a penalty to make the December exams. As a result, he paid an extra Sh2,680 and is now demanding compensation from the postmaster-general.

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So, Family Life International-Kenya has introduced the use of beads in a rosary-type gadget to assist women to identify their "safe" days and thus plan their families? asks a rather sceptical Wambua Musembi, writing from Nakuru. However, Wambua wishes to caution that this may not work without getting their partners fully involved, "as some crafty men might shift the beads to suit their needs".

Have a reliable day, won't you!