The Cutting Edge

Eldoret resident Jay Jay is baffled that there is no longer any mention of the dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the one-acre rocky island in Lake Victoria that some time back soured relations between the two.

“How did the Migingo affair eventually pan out? Did Uganda concede that both the island and the waters around it belong to Kenya? If so, can President Yoweri Museveni go back to the BBC and withdraw his infamous ‘Wajaruo are mad’ remark?”

*****

While he accepts the abortion clause in the Draft Constitution, which is meant to protect a mother’s life and would urge others to support it, Dr Silvester Gitau says there is one hitch:

“Who is a ‘trained health professional’? This reference to doctors is risky, and is what church leaders should be contesting. A laboratory technician, pharmacist, nutritionist, or radiographer are all trained health professionals. Should we allow them to make that decision?”

*****

Since 2007, when he filed his tax returns, indicating that he qualified for a refund of Sh19,149, George Angira says KRA is yet to pay up.

He says he not only included his bank account number, as advised by the KRA, but has called at their headquarters in Times Tower, Nairobi, and made numerous phone calls following up the payment, in vain.

His PIN is A002728349H. He can be reached through email angirageo-rge@yahoo.com.

*****

Custody & Registrar Services Ltd issued a dividend cheque for Sh12,021.30 from EABL, dated November 5, 2007, in William Kilonzo’s name clearly marked “Account payee” and “Not negotiable”, but it never reached him.

It was later found to have been deposited in a bank in Kisumu on November 14, 2007. The registrar then wrote to the bank on August 22, 2008, seeking an explanation and to date, William is still waiting.

His email is wmkilonzo@asc.co.ke.

*****

Rallying to Kenafric Industries’ defence over a reader’s query as to whether the company gives back something to the local community, Sr Helen Creed, who is in charge of Nyumba ya Wazee at Ruaraka, Nairobi, says they are among the beneficiaries.

“We’ve 65 elderly poor to cater for. Kenafric has been helping us for years. That companies should give back to society is beyond debate, but the choice of how they do so is entirely theirs.”

*****

As he goes about tackling Nairobi’s numerous problems, Evans Macharia Mwangi wishes to draw Town Clerk Philip Kisia’s attention to the stunning irony of a rural-type school right in the capital city, which is woefully lacking in basic facilities.

It’s Mararui Primary School, which has more than 600 pupils, but no playing ground. Like schools in the rural areas, it has pit latrines on a road reserve that are an eyesore to the people living nearby, says Evans.

*****

The sickening transformation of Kirichwa Kubwa River in the city into what George Khojallah described as a river of sewage is alarming, says Edwin Muga, who remembers fishing in it in the 1980s.

“We always went with bowls to catch fish. I simply can’t imagine the loss of the rich biodiversity due to the muck! Our children will never have a chance to experience this due to our shameful disregard of the environment."

Have a caring day, won’t you!

E-mail: watchman@nation.co.ke or write to Watchman, POB 49010, Nairobi 00100. Faxes 214531, 213846.