The Cutting Edge

The height of irony in the Mau Forest saga, says Serede Geoffrey, is that some Rift Valley politicians suspected to have played a role in the removal of some farmers from their land in the 2007 election chaos, are now demanding compensation for “squatters” who were illegally allocated government forest land. He adds: “I also wonder, based on the Rift Valley MPs’ wisdom, will it rain on only Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s land when we conserve forests?”

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As Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s reported fallout with Rift Valley MPs over the Mau continues, the man is winning more admirers. Says Mercy Ndungu: “We should stand behind the prime minister who seems to be the lone ranger in the fight to save the forest. Other politicians are trying to gain mileage by making him look like he is heartless. This is our country and it is about time we stood for what is right and shunned selfish crocodile tear-shedding politicians.”

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Saddened about the fatal cholera outbreak at the Kamiti prison in Nairobi, Mungai Kihanya wonders what became of the simple “one-one-one” formula that was popular in the early to mid-1970s in fighting the disease. “It was simple: In one glassful of boiled (and cooled) water add one teaspoonful of sugar and one pinch of salt. Give this to the patient by teaspoon and take him/her to the nearest hospital. I remember radio commercials in the early 1970s, but I never hear them any more.”

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Nairobi resident JCK is stunned by his October electricity bill. Says he: “It’s evident KPLC has used the failed rains excuse to enter into dubious electricity supply contracts, and is transferring its inefficiency to consumers. The total consumption is Sh6,732.30, while the fuel charge is Sh8,397.70, with Sh1,041.74 as forex adjustment. Why should consumers pay the price for poor forward planning and power supply deals?” His account number is 232797-04.

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Also having issues with his current bill is Dr Bernard Abwoga. He wants an explanation from the KPLC as to how his residential consumption shot up from an average Sh5,200 to Sh24,905, a whopping 500 per cent increment. “Is this fuel adjustment cost for real? I have heard similar complaints from a lot of friends and neighbours. Or should we look for alternative sources of electricity?” asks Dr Abwoga, whose account is No. 2477683-01. His email is abwoga@yahoo.com.

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Call this splitting hairs or whatever you will, but to Herbling David it’s crucial, indeed. He poses: “I may have learnt never to judge a book by its cover, but as an English language student; I can’t help point out a spelling mistake on the Draft Constitution’s cover.
Well, for your information, Kenyan English is modelled on the Queen’s English. Thus, it is a “Harmonised”, and not “Harmonized”, draft constitution. Could the pages be carrying more spelling mistakes or other mistakes?”

Have a grammatical day, will you!