Council kiosks too expensive

The Nairobi City Council has recently embarked on a demolition exercise targeting roadside kiosks in various estates.

Nairobi Mayor Geoffrey Majiwa cited insecurity as the reason behind the demolitions. While it may be true that a few kiosks harbour criminals, it still does not justify condemning everyone.

The mayor said the council has come up with a prototype kiosk to replace the existing makeshift ones. The estimated cost of such a kiosk is Sh140,000, a fortune for small- scale traders.

The council should allow traders to build affordable structures like the ones adopted by most traders in Ruaka.

They have built shops from old transport containers that are not only durable but also attractive.

{James Kanyi, Nairobi}

Published on 21/01/2009

Government should prepare for El Nino

According to the meteorological department forecasts, it’s just a matter of days before El Nino rains ravage.

The expected rains are sure to be a blessing to many farmers. However, the infrastructure will be the most adversely affected.

This has happened before during the first El Nino rains of 1997/98 and no doubt the same or worse will happen again.

Although the Government has been on the right track in trying to maintain the infrastructure in relatively good condition, the rains will certainly deal a blow to the multi-billion shilling road projects under way across the country.

The Government needs to come up with sustainable long-term mechanisms to deal with this event and others of similar or larger magnitude.

This is also the right time to deal with the persistent water and electricity problems that have long bedeviled us.

With a little planning, the vicious cycle of flooding in Budalang’i, Nyando and Kano plains could be sorted out.

{James Kanyi, Juba}