THE CUTTING EDGE: 29.06.2020

ENCROACHMENT: The work being done by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to rehabilitate the central business district is commendable, remarks Japheth Amugada. “Roads are being recarpeted and walkways constructed, especially on Kenyatta Avenue. However, the biggest menace in the city centre is the invasion by hawkers and street boys. They will soon take over the walkways and the poor pedestrian will be pushed back to the road.” The street boys “are also a nuisance to motorists, as they pluck side mirrors and headlights off parked cars”. NMS boss Mohammed Badi, he appeals, should rid the city centre of the hawkers and street families. His contact is [email protected].

EXTORTION: They are back in full force, remarks Philemon Wachara, about a gang of crooked traffic police officers in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. Says he: “I wrote a month ago about the 8-10 corrupt traffic police officers who wake up early every morning to do nothing but demand bribes from motorists at the newly refurbished Likoni/Enterprise roads junction. They then disappeared for about three weeks but they are back.” He appeals to Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to crack down on them as they contribute to the traffic jams in the area. His contact is [email protected].

IGNORED KILLERS: What has baffled Mwangi Karuga is that cancer kills more people than the coronavirus disease on a daily basis but has never received as much attention as Covid-19. According to Mwangi, another monster that is worse than the new pandemic is road accidents. So far this year, he adds, 2,600 Kenyans have been slaughtered on the roads while the coronavirus disease has claimed just over 100 lives. Some 15,000 Kenyans have been hospitalised with spinal injuries sustained in road accidents. He wishes the health authorities, who have been giving daily Covid-19 infection updates, could also pay attention to these other killers. His contact is [email protected].

MISSING DUALE: Unhappy about the removal of Garissa Township MP Aden Duale as the majority leader in the National Assembly, Kamichore Mutindira says the country will miss his enthusiasm. “Jubilee has kicked out the man who injected its manifesto into the people’s DNA with the zeal of a missionary. Duale steered the Jubilee ship well in and out of Parliament.” Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya “appears to only fill the gap but not ignite any energy”. And Kamichore wonders whether the country is not drifting back to single-party dictatorship. His contact is [email protected].

DICTATORSHIP FEARS: The recent purge in the ruling Jubilee Party that has thrown leaders from some regions into the political cold and literally brought ODM and other Nasa affiliates into the Jubilee juggernaut has virtually turned Kenya into a de facto one-party state, remarks Wamahiu Muya. Writing from Edison, United States, Wamahiu sees history repeating itself as this is “just like the merger of the independence parties Kanu and Kadu in 1964”. Recalling British historian Lord Acton’s famous quote, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, Wamahiu fears that the country “may be regressing to the bad old days of one-party tyranny”. His contact is [email protected].

CAPTIVATING WRITER. A couple who have followed Diana Ndinda’s Covid-19 diary in the Nation, Tom and Lynette Lichuma, say it’s the exemplification of the “power of optimism and hope”. They add: “As authors of family life books, we admire her prowess in writing and putting facts together. Her simple expression of emotions and mastery of English have left many readers longing for more.” Diana, they add, is a talented writer who should share her ideals in a book — and they “can help her venture into book writing”. Their contact is [email protected].

Have an interesting day, won’t you!