The new media regulations are nothing but a calculated move to kill freedom of expression, remarks broadcaster Willie Mwangi.

But the height of irony, he adds, is that the MPs who passed "this repugnant piece of legislation are people who know too well they are where they are today because of a free press".

Mwangi sees no other motivation than "fear of being exposed for their role in corruption". He concludes: "A free press is the pillar of democracy and good governance."

*****

The Pyrethrum Board of Kenya's bid to bar brokers from buying the crop directly from farmers is ill-advised, says Jackson Selasini, adding: "Instead of vilifying these people, the board should actually thank them for sustaining the industry for more than 10 years when the organisation wallowed in mismanagement and corruption."

He goes on: "Archaic colonial laws should not be used to lock out those, who have, over the years, kept the industry going."

*****

The British colonialists are to blame, says Dr Ashbell Macharia, volunteering an explanation as to how President Kibaki's home turf of Othaya got its "O", which is characteristic of names in western Kenya.

According to Dr Macharia, it should actually be Uthaya, "but it was mistakenly written as Othaya due to English interference.

Uthaya is derived from guthaya, meaning sitting idle, since the town is located where mostly idle men used to meet".

*****

What is going on at CFC Life? asks a customer, disappointed that a pre-policy maturity payment for his son, Brian Wafula, which was due last November, has not been paid to date.

"They've also ignored my email. Is this how you treat your long-time customers? Please pay up. Brian needs it for his fees. After all, isn't this what the policy was intended for?"

*****

A resident of Rongai near Nakuru, Tony Gobanga, and his neighbours, should be celebrating the rains, being in a farming area, but they dread any signs of the skies opening up.

Says he: "Any time we have even a drizzle, what follows is a power blackout. And we consider ourselves lucky if electricity is restored the same day. Can KPLC ensure that we've constant power supply even when it rains?"

*****

Dirt is creeping back into Nairobi, which Town Clerk Philip Kisia's predecessor, John Gakuo, had spruced up before his exit, says John Njau, adding:

"The city is back in the sorry state it was before Gakuo came to our rescue. Where is Kisia? Doesn't he ever walk around? If not, he should do so and I know he will concur with me that council workers are sleeping on the job. We need a clean city!"

*****

Motorists waving hands out of windows in thanks for being given way spread a lot more cheer than blaring horns and aggressive driving, remarks Lynne Leakey.

She adds: "We are all in the same situation, so let's try extending kindness rather than rudeness and remember that pedestrians and cart-pushers would also prefer to be speeding along in big shiny cars. So, let's be thoughtful."

Have a warm-hearted day, won't you!