The Cutting Edge

Some things can only happen in Kenya, says Githuku Mungai, stunned by a bizarre picture on the front page of the Nation, of KCSE candidates taking their exam without sitting on desks. Githuku adds: “It’s things like this that make me want to cry. I know a thing about exams. I have been there before. You need a desk. I pity the candidates of the Koma Rock school. Why are there no desks at the exam centre? Can each get a desk, pronto?

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Why the hullaballoo about Agriculture minister William Ruto’s declaration that he will vie for presidency in 2012? asks Victor Abuka, surprised at the passions the news has aroused. He adds: “Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi announced he would also go for the top seat and nobody said a thing. Why are some MPs challenging Ruto to quit the party? Don’t these two hopefuls belong to same party, or am I seeing two ODMs? Let there be internal democracy or risk losing good members.”

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While travelling by matatu in Mombasa recently, Anthony Njoroge overheard a conversation between the driver and his conductor that police bosses may wish to verify for the good of the force. According to the matatu men, it’s quite easy to tell whether or not a police officer, especially one on the traffic beat, has just graduated from Kiganjo Police College. “The matatu men believe if you come across a very slender officer, he’s either fresh from college or sickly.”

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The completion of the expansion of Forest Road, Nairobi, will be a big relief, as it will ease the unending traffic jams, mostly originating from Thika Road. However, residents of the nearby flats are going through hell, as the construction firm digs trenches all over the place, Monica Ranpara moans. Residents of Swaminarayan Flats, she says, can no longer access their homes by car, and pedestrians have to hop, step and jump.

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There are some angels amongst us, says Chrispus Kimaru, who was mugged on Mombasa Road, Nairobi, and left for dead, on October 21. After he came to, he staggered towards Capital Centre, and bumped into a gentleman, who led him back to the scene of the mugging, but they didn’t recover any of his belongings. But Peter Owino Hongo, of CFC, not only gave him bus fare, but later called to find out if he had reached home safely. “May God open your ways, Mr Hongo,” says Chrispus.

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A regular shopper at Nakumatt outlets in Nairobi, Josephine Githinji, is disappointed that some of her favourite products, Bouncy Diapers, Fresha Milk, and Fresha Yogurt, have been missing from the shelves. “I’ve been forced to use alternatives, which are not as good as what I’m used to. Can Nakumatt and the manufacturers assure me they will be available soon?” she asks.

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On perusing the Kenya Primary Mathematics series for Standard Six to Eight, Isaiah Muchene was amused to note that in this era of Internet transactions, they still found it necessary to include a chapter on sending telegrams. He poses: “Since, currently one in three Kenyans, has access to a mobile phone or at least a sim card, why would the curriculum developers still be insisting on teaching 19th century technology well into the 21st century?”

Have a dotcom-age day, won’t you!