This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
As Nairobi's roads undergo rapid transformation, residents of Kawangware 46 are left with unfinished business - the lack of kerbs and drains. Paul Bura, a concerned citizen, notes that hundreds of thousands of people walk daily to and from work, only to be denied the right to do so due to the absence of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
"People get knocked down by motor vehicles while taxpayers' money has been used to build facilities for them," Bura laments, highlighting the need for traffic police and cameras to monitor and expose culprits.
Meanwhile, Lilian Kangani is urging the government to carry out mass education before the next national census in 10 years. Kangani reflects on the challenges that have dogged the national count since it started on August 24, citing reports of people refusing to be counted due to supposed religious beliefs and others providing false information to enumerators.
"The authorities should have explained the aims and importance of the census to the public, especially the illiterate people in remote areas," Kangani advises.
Joseph Kamau Mburu is also sounding the alarm on river pollution, citing the example of Ruiru River, which flows through Kiambu County and onwards to the Ukambani lowland. Mburu expresses concern over the river's pollution, which he believes could be linked to the Nairobi River's woes.
Lastly, F. Mukembu is urging parents to be rational in their expectations of their children as the third term school reopening date approaches. Mukembu warns that imposing high performance targets on students can lead to frustration and unrest in schools.
