This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
As the rains pound most of the country, the Kenya Defence Forces' (KDF) recent efforts to supply water and food to starving people in the remote north have been praised by Job Momanyi. Published on October 22, 2019, this corporate social responsibility by the military is seen as a positive step, especially given the lack of roads in the area. “The KDF can fly in relief supplies to curb the people’s suffering. After all, this kind of service is the standard practice in many other countries,” Momanyi noted.
However, the tourism sector has been criticized for missing marketing opportunities. Geoffrey Sendeu, a tour guiding veteran, lamented that the authorities failed to capitalize on Eliud Kipchoge's historic sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna, Austria. This was the second such missed chance, following First Lady Margaret Kenyatta's participation in the 2014 London Marathon. “The private sector has been in the forefront, aggressively showcasing the country’s tourist attractions. Why have a big marketing budget that is not properly used?” Sendeu asked.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Robert Kochalle's widow, Charity, to the Kenya Film Classification Board has raised eyebrows. Timothy Mwirichia noted that the late politician's name was quickly substituted with hers, sparking questions about her qualifications for the job. “We need to end this culture of recycling some familiar names in public sector appointments as there are many other, younger people who should also be given a chance,” Mwirichia said.
Additionally, William Mbugua has expressed frustration with the poor customer care at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices, including the Times Tower headquarters in Nairobi. Taxpayers often find themselves dealing with unhelpful and gloomy KRA staff, Mbugua claimed. “Sometimes, going to the KRA offices feels like walking into a mortuary, with the staff looking rather demoralised and unwilling to give any meaningful service,” he said.
Finally, local resident Justin N. Nkaranga has urged the authorities to declare the Likoni Channel a major danger zone due to the risks associated with crossing to and from Mombasa Island daily. The recent incident in which a woman and her young daughter drowned after their car slid off a ferry into the Indian Ocean has highlighted the need for extra precautions. “There is a whole yard of some mangled motor vehicle wrecks, which lies right on the sea bed. I hope that, with such a declaration by the authorities, the ferry users will from now on approach this crossing with some extra caution,” Nkaranga said.
