The cutting edge

PAY FOR TEXTS. Nyahururu-based subscriber Ambrose K. Gathogo is accusing Yu Mobile of sending messages to him, “asking some funny and uncalled for questions” and debiting his airtime credit to pay for the SMS.

Unless they stop this and refund all the airtime they have deducted from his account, he warns, they stand to lose a customer soon. His telephone number is 0750783760.

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SUBSCRIBER UNHAPPY. Also unhappy with his mobile phone service provider is Dr Y.S. Saeed of Mombasa. He says if Airtel’s chief accountant had bothered to scrutinise the May 2011 invoice sent to him, he would have noted two debits of Sh3,680 and Sh3,316.45 and Sh5,000 credit.

“This should add up to Sh1,996.45, and not Sh11,996.45. I expect a refund of Sh10,000.” Though his number, 0733473333, has been out of service since May last year, they continue to charge him Sh277.78 a month. He can be reached on Tel 0733223399 or yusufsaeed@africaonline.co.ke.

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WE HAVE IMPROVED. The National Bank of Kenya has taken note of Grace Amoding’s concerns about customer service at the Kenyatta Avenue branch in Nairobi, says corporate affairs manager Rebecca.

“The problem of unmanned counters, which she raised, was temporary, and has since been resolved. We thank her for bringing this to our attention. The branch is now offering the usual fast and efficient service.” Rebecca’s contact is Tel 2828630 or 2226471 corporateaffairs@nationalbank.co.ke. 

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CEMENT A POLLUTER. The use of wooden electricity poles is more environmentally friendly than the concrete ones for which Phaustin Karani has commended Kenya Power. According to Preeyesh Shah, the amount of energy used to make cement, which is the primary ingredient in concrete, involves burning the equivalent of many trees.

Cement production, he adds, also contributes to global warming. And Dennis Oketch chips in saying cement production is the second most significant environment pollutant. He doesn’t say which the first is.

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CHAOS IN KILELESHWA. The contractor carrying out road repairs has messed up Nairobi’s Kileleshwa roundabout and Ring Road towards the Arboretum, charges Frank Houdt.

“Drivers now just go left, right and centre – led, of course, by the notorious matatus – and avoid going round the roundabout, thus creating the daily chaos right under the nose of Kileleshwa Police Station.

Further chaos is up the road where the Hurlingham-Lavington road under construction joins Nyeri Road. Who will end these nightmares?” asks Frank, whose contact is fhoudt@gmail.com.

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A NIGHTMARISH DRIVE. Nairobi resident Zoeb Tayebjee says that during the downpour last Tuesday, it took him a good seven hours to drive from the JKIA to his home in the Kilimani area, a distance of less than 20km.

He adds: “Kenya Airways would fly you from Nairobi to Rome in six hours. Why was Rome closer on that day? Simple. At 33,000ft above sea level, there are no presidents to block the traffic, no matatus, no rain and, above all, no Chinese contractors.” His contact is zoeb-tayebjee@topseltrading.com.