The cutting edge

NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY. While agreeing with S. Khan that the United Nations Avenue at Gigiri, Nairobi, which hosts two of the top UN agencies, could do with some urgent repairs, Town Clerk Philip Kisia says it’s beyond the council’s jurisdiction. The maintenance of that road, Kisia adds, is the responsibility of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, and it’s that organisation that is in a better position to explain to Khan and others what plans it has for the area.

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CLEAR ROUNDABOUT. A regular user of Landhies Road, Nairobi, Francis Kambo, is pleased to note that repairs have begun in earnest to what has been one of the worst stretches of the roads in the entire city. And he hopes the contractor will do a good job of rehabilitating this road, which has a high volume of traffic. As he lauds the City Council for the good work it’s doing, he hopes the Jogoo-Landhies roundabout will be cleared of all the obstacles around it to ensure a smooth traffic flow.

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ESTIMATED BILLS. Nairobi Water Company can do better, says Dr Jigisha P. Jani, disappointed that water meters at their two houses in Thigiri Road, on LR Nos 17/151 and 17/150, are never read on time. All they receive are estimated bills for three to four months, with arbitrary consumption figures, ranging from 0 to 30 units. “And when they finally come to read the meters, we’re billed for 300 to 400 units, making a mockery of the pro-rata system.” And at their Kitsuru house, LR 7741/ 270, the faulty meter case reported last October has not been solved. Dr Jani’s contact is 0733624623 or janipg@wananchi.com.

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ON THE RIGHT PATH. Thanks to the referendum, Allan Maseghe says, he’s now convinced that the country is on the right path as far as Information Communication Technology is concerned. He was particularly impressed by Interim Independent Electoral Commission official Davis Chirchir’s assurance in an NTV programme about the security of their network for the electronic relaying of the results. Says Allan: “The IIEC guys really know what they are talking about.”

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IS IT PUNISHMENT? A resident of Nairobi’s Ziwani estate, Joy Wambura, says their taps have been dry for the past one year and counting, but their appeals to the city water firm have not elicited any help. “We are being denied a basic right that other city residents are enjoying. As a result, we have to go around looking for water and often pay Sh30 for a 20-litre jerrican. Are we being punished for the decision taken by the City Council some time back to remove our meters? The council advised us then that the water bills would be included in rent.” Her contact is joygitz@yahoo.com.

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NOT ON THE RIGHT, TINGA. Soccer star Bonface Ambani, who plays for top Tanzanian team Yanga in Dar es Salaam, was among those excited to see Prime Minister Raila Odinga back on the referendum campaign trail in Kisumu where he was handed the captain’s arm-band by deputy Premier Musalia Mudavadi. However, Ambani couldn’t help noticing “a foul committed” in that symbolic gesture. Says he: “We know you love football, Mr PM, but the arm-band is usually worn on the left and you also had yours facing upside down.”

Have an enthralling day, won’t you!