DEAR CITIZEN,THROW AWAY THE GUMBOOTS!

Its another season similar to Elnino which was last experienced over a decade ago. The rain is pouring very fast and furiously. Its also another day in the month of April that by fate and default  President Mwai Kibaki had to be in town.


It is all dreadful as the clouds get so dark and thick in a warning sight. In a cold breeze  Trafic Police seem to tighten security in all corners more than any other day. This is unusual to the common mans eye in any other normal day .


Traffic holds tight for all roads that lead in and out of town. People on foot seek for shelter and run around in helter and skelter within Nairobi's Central Business District.
Some fall into puddles of mud with trickles of leaked sewer streaming on the roads. While others loose their shoes over flooded drain systems that are clogged with debris.


At the tick of  5pm , President Kibaki slowly concludes and mesmerizes on the good deeds and efforts he initiated for the country's development during power. Among this was stabilizing "proper infrastructure" ; he mentions it with a pause and adds to the list of major highways and linking roads.


As a routine for appreciation, nearly all MP's stamp their feet in jubilation . Within the hard concrete of Parliament walls, they gleam through the TV screen in excitement .They are excited on the mention of infrastructure. Haiyaa!Our MP's seem content with their contributions for making the Kenyan roads a success.


I do not blame the president for those dreadful roads commonly pictured and seen in the media . Kudos to Kibaki for setting a visioned pace for development and still surviving an incompetent cabinet.


He has done his part but most definatley the representatives of those troubled Zones have done very little to make the road plague go away.


Its over a decade down the road but to date the "middle-class" citizens of SouthC are still swimming if not drowning along SouthC roads. Seriously?! what are the Councillors,MP's of that area doing? What is the community doing to complain about their situation?


Its become useless to use gamboots in some parts of Eastlands. The car sinks below the pot hole and the drainage system does not exist. Sewage has formed a natural cocktail with NWC's water from broken pipes and mud combined.


In  all roads that lead to Kayole, Umoja, Kangundo road, Embakasi estates and Donholm vehicles literally stall in potholed waters. Buses crowd  through narrow roads and hustling Kenyans glide deep through sewer cocktails, with no use of raincoats and boots in the rainy season.


The majority of Nairobi's population suffer the consequence of officials neglecting their duties. A problem that could be solved by the area MP, Councillor, NWC and  Nairobi City Council.  Poor drainage systems, unskilled city planning, harsh roads and neglected water services that mix with sewage are all in the hands of selected government officials in respective offices.



As President Kibaki wishes his next successor the best in governance, I wish citizens good luck in throwing away their gumboots and learning how to swim ,for this season and years to come. Roho juu!


Article: Opinion
All Photos: Courtesy of Senji Photos

WEEKEND BUS TRAGEDY

At least five people died on the spot and 23 other passengers were
seriously injured after a bus lost control and caused an accident over the
weekend.

The bus lost control while avoiding to hit a man crossing the road
and immediately landed into a nearby ditch in the process along Jogoo road.

Unfortunately a wheel from the Double M flew off the base of the bus
and hit the unidentified man to the ground.

Four passengers died instantly as the Double M skid and landed into the
ditch with heavy impact just a few meters near Makadara DC.

Some loose metallic sheets inside the bus located at the front
section, were among the objects that seriously injured the 23
survivors.

The bus was on its way from town and left Ambassador at around 10.00
pm on Saturday night, most of the passengers were residents of
Komarock estate.

According to eyewitnesses the Double M had low brakes and poor control
which caused the accident. An ambulance arrived at the scene about 20
minutes later and rescued a few to its capacity. They were taken to
various government clinics and hospitals.

Another spectator who was in a separate bus missed boarding the Double
M by five minutes. 
“The bus was on its way from town with high speed but during the accident it rapidly 
changed lanes to avoid hitting a man crossing the road.” Said Mwikulu Mwanzia .

The driver is still at large since the accident and police are
searching for the man.

Some survivors were discharged yesterday evening while others switched
to private hospitals.

ETHIOPIANS RELEASED TO FREEDOM

Five Ethiopians were finally released from custody after a court
confirmed their status to be legal in the country.

Samuguage Acheko, Dana Bulamo, Ayai Erjabu, Aneyo Ashore and Dawet
Markose were released after spending seven days in custody within Nairobi police cells.

The visiting foreigners were represented by a lawyer from Kituo cha
Sheria for free and debated for their freedom. This was after the
court postponed their case on three different mention dates.

The lawyer told the court that they were unfairly arrested and
detained in custody for long.  The court denied their release from the
first appearance in at the dock because there was no interpreter in
court.

He told the court their status in the country was supported by legal
documents and produced them as evidence before a Makadara court.

 They were in the country legally but lacked a representative that
could clearly express their position,they neither spoke English or
Kiswahili.

On their arrest they were charged on April 3  rd for being in the
country illegally while residing at Komarock Estate in Nairobi's Eastlands.

Senior Principal Magistrate Timothy Okello released the foreigners in
the country on proof of supporting documents.

ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF CRIME.

Three suspects were arraigned before a court for possessing a toy pistol suspected for anticipated crimes in Nairobi.

One of the suspects was granted a higher bond because of a previous warrant of arrest and crimes committed.

Joseph Mbote was denied a lenient bond and was granted sh 70,000 after prosecution alerted the court of his criminal record.

Jacob Mutua and Stephen Wainaina were each granted sh 50,000 cash bail  before a Makadara court.

The three suspects were all charged for jointly being armed with a dangerous weapon at Korogocho slums on April 16 th.

The men aged between 30 and 18 years were found with a toy pistol late in the night in circumstance that indicated the intent to commit a felony such as robbery.

The Chief Prosecutor notified the court that Mbote failed to appear before court twice in a separate case involving stealing and breaking into a building  in March this year.

Jacob Mutua told the magistrate that two of his mobile phones and sh 4,000 cash was missing since his arrest by officers.

District Magistrate Nyongesa summoned an investigating officer to appear before court .

The case will be heard on July 17 th this year.

MOTHER CHARGES SON IN COURT

A 17 year old boy was fined sh 20,000 for stealing personal items from his mothers house at Githurai estate in Nairobi.

The boy was charged before a Makdara court while the complainant was his Mother. He  represented himself during the plea and affirmed to the charges.

The boy stole his mothers floor carpet and their house helps mobile phone all valued at ksh 9,000. He pleaded guilty to committing the offense between 5 th and 7th April the property of Beatrice Muthoni, contrary to section 268 of the penal code.

District Magistrate Nyongesa inquired if there was any mitigation before proceeding with the sentence. But the boy said he was fine without  any personal problem.


Before he was fined the court made confirmations that he was a first offender. He fined ksh 20,000 with 14 days to submit failure of which he will face one year imprisonment.

ONE YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR DRUGS.

A man was sentenced to one year in jail after confessing that he intentionally and frequently abused drugs in Nairobi.

John Mwangi ,22, told a Makadara court that he used canabis sativa because of his disturbing job.

He affirmed to charges of being in possesion of  bhang  which was not in medicinal preparation on 16th April at pangani police station.

Police did a search on him and found  rolls of bhang with the street value of sh 100, contrary to section 3(1) as read with section 3(2) of the penal code and psychotropic substances control act.

He said the nature of his job entailed washing filthy toilets and could not function without taking bhang  at least a few minutes before the task.

On the said date he was arrested by a mob that accused him of stealing from a civilian. He was frog marched tot he police station until the complainant withdrew the charge at pangani station.

After a search by officers he was found with the substance that was produced as exhibits before court.

District Magistrate Hon. Nyongesa said he was a first offender and sentenced him to one year in jail.

DRUNKARD MOTHER REGAINS CUSTODY

A 30 year old mother was set free with a personal bond of sh 100,000 after facing charges of neglecting her six month old baby .

Monica Wairimu was arrested and charged for being cruel and neglecting her child.She was accused of denying the child food while being drunk and careless for three months.

She was released by a Makadara court after denying the charges and defending herself  and her husband in court. She told the court her family was facing financial crisis and were forced to seek shelter at a friends place.

Wairimu allegedly neglected the baby and caused the child's health to suffer between February 1st and April 4th at Zimmerman estate.

But she told the magistrate the case was a conspiracy by a female friend to separate her from her husband. The court heard that the parents were denied access to the baby since the mothers arrest on April 4th. The baby was in the care of officers at Kasarani station without a children s officer representative in court.

Senior Principal Magistrate Timothy Okello released the mother from custody because there was no child officer in court or prosecution witnesses . He further ordered for the child to be brought in court on 19 th April this month.The magistrate emphasised that children's officer should appear in court at all times because of children's safety.

The free bond was for the child's interest as there was no clear indication of the babies custody by police officers.