Inconveniences by the Nairobi Water Company

'Afternoon!

Late this morning at about 11.20 am, we were going to collect my nephew from his school, Montessori Learning Centre on Gravellia Grove and found a closed pick-up KAU 849G, blocking our road. And this is to put it mildly!

On the other side of this car there was an earth mover digging a ditch across the road with the usual layabouts hanging around. It was difficult to figure out the difference between employees of the Nairobi Water Company and these layabouts as there was very little physical difference to show between the two. They were collectively and with little care watching this one guy in the earth mover calmly and insolently digging up the road.

It would seem that moronic and insolent behaviour pervades our so-called service providers, countrywide! I reach this conclusion for the following reasons....

1. At no place had a notice been put up earlier to warn the residents and others using this road that it would be closed to traffic. When we had passed there earlier to drop my nephew off we had found no warning that we would have a problem when picking him up, later.

2. I asked the residents who passed by, if they had been informed of this inconvenience, and they all told me the same thing, NO!

3. This being a Saturday and a half working day, and a long weekend where none of these people are going to work till Tuesday, next week, what was/is the urgency to block access to this road and it's many residences?

4. Why can't these 'service' providers be more organized and inform people in advance so they can plan their lives and activities in a sane manner? There was another lady who had just a little while before gone out to get something, leaving her small baby at home which needed feeding and on returning, found that these horrors, without any explanation had blocked access to her hungry baby! The only way she could get to it was to cross this uneven and dug up road and being a mother, she braved this to feed her child.

Only very fit people are/were capable of crossing this ditch.

5. When I asked them for an explanation, there was none forthcoming other than, that one of these so-called employees of the Nairobi Water Company (I think), who all seemed to have trouble with their voices, holding up his index finger and mouthing one hour with his lips. We, the public, must also be lip readers, to accommodate these insolent people! And would they really be through with their work in an hour or leave the work half done and disappear for the rest of the long weekend leaving the whole neighbourhood and other road users in a dilemma.

6. Why weren't road notices put up at distances approaching this 'road/water works', to warn the public about what they would encounter further on? And why weren't the resident's informed in good time, in writing, preferably about this inconvenience?

I was also told by many of the passers-by that this insolent behaviour on the part of 'officialdom' is quite common in Nairobi. Why?

Only God, it seems, can help us against such people in our country.

Re: Civilain harassment with Police protection.

Hi, Musa!

I've just read your disturbing account and it kind of confirms my earlier email re police harassment, doesn't it? In your case one wonders who the thugs really are. They seem to be aided and abetted by our police who should be impartial where investigations are concerned.

I wonder what the reaction of the cops would be, should this ex-reservist who still is in possession of his arms and why, if he suddenly one day decided to shoot someone? Would the people or person concerned really get justice? It raises more questions than answers, doesn't it?

Personally, I would suggest, that, the neighbours concerned should immediately see a lawyer with eye witnesses and written accounts. And the various 'workers' concerned be prevailed upon to speak the truth, too, and not be intimidated by this character.

If, this gets no justice, then, I fear for this country for it will prove that we not only have very few applicable laws, but, can get not justice, either! Is it any wonder that so many don't bother or take the law into their own hands out of sheer hopelessness?

Salaams & best wishes with prayers for yours and everybody else's safety in your neighbourhood,
Razia.

Protecting & Indemnity Kenya Ltd. wrote:

Attention Razia.

Talking about brandishing guns, we have a mad man in our neighbourhood. A mad Asian gentleman who boast of having been an ex-Police Reservist, with a gun. He used his gun several time harassing our house boys and shamba boys in the neighbourhood. He even took the liberty to have one of the neighbour's shamba boy and his own shamba boy into Police custody on the trumped-up charges of the two being accomplices in the theft of his 40,000/- personal mobile phone. The two shamba boys did not know each other well, but they languished in police custody for three days before the neighbour's shamba boy was let out, not by paying the legal security bond or bail, but by paying the Asian 10,000/- in two instalments, as a recovery for his stolen mobile phone.

The Asian's shamba boy later admited to the fact that he did not steal the mobile phone, nor did her implicate the neighbour's shamba boy, when the mobile phone was finally found in the Asian's daughter's school bag. By this time, the Asian had already received the first payment of 5000/- and a written statement was signed by the raletive of a very ignorant neighbour's shamba boy, the balance to be paid at the end of the month.

What we were concerned with most, was the bandishing of the gun in the face of the neighbour's shamba boy, to force him to go to the Police station, at the time when he was innocent of the accusation. When this complaint was presented to the Police corporal, the Deputy OCS and the OCS himself, they did not apper to be very keen to investigate the matter, as their OB was opened with the statement from the Asian claiming theft of his 40,000/- mobile phone, which turned out to be hoax.

The Police were not interested in investigating the harassment of innocent civilians by brandishing a gun in their faces. The Asian reinstated his shamba boy.

We are well aware of the large number of guns in circulation in Kenya, and the gun culturer that is already with us, but the last thing we need is an agressive or mad neighbour on the loose with a gun. I wiil be interested to know what the law says about this, if there is any lawyer, somewhere, worth his salt to comment on this matter.

Concerned neighbour.

The 167th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED

I wonder what our 'water officials' are doing with all the rain water that God in His infinite Mercy has been sending to Mombasa/Coast province of late? Have they put in the infrastructure to capture this precious commodity and supply it to this very thirsty province? Or are they, as they are wont to do, sitting on their lazy backsides, letting this manna from heaven go to waste?

While they are slowly wasting the public's money by laying a pipeline from Mzima to Mombasa instead of redirecting this to other drier places with little option, like Ukambani, etc., and using the precious money they have been allocated for Coast Province, to build a desalination plant.

What is the matter with our planners? Why don't they take into consideration the fact that these 'natural' water systems are soon going to dry up due to our forest cover which is the water cachement area, is disappearing and add to that, the very noticeable global warming which is also making the snow, another water reservoir, disappear from our mountains. All of this can be observed very easily by everybody even remotely interested in our water future.

Yet, and despite an overloaded cabinet which is 'eating' into our precious funds, etc., these 'officialdom' cannot see and do something about our fast approaching waterless future! It seems to be a case of 'too many cooks spoil the broth'.

And time continues to pass with no water in our taps......

Police harassment

On the 26th of May, 2008, at about 3.35 pm, along Uhuru Highway approaching the Waiyaki Way/Museum Hill roundabout, we experienced another kind of police harassment/intimidation.

Considering Nairobi's infamous traffic conditions and the fact that this car, a VW Passat, metallic silver coloured with license number KAU 415L came weaving through quite orderly traffic with a 'person' (cop?), in the back seat waving something which at first glance could be mistaken for a gun, at nearby cars, ours among them, to give them way!

At second glance, it turned out that the 'thing' being waved at us had an aerial sticking out and that it was one of those unwieldy walkie talkies that our cops use. Of course, as soon as drivers noticed this man intimidating them and the way the driver of this Passat was weaving through traffic, they braked and let them pass.

There was probably an emergency that these cops were heading to, but, why wasn't it an official 'GK' vehicle and/or have a siren on? And, when one takes into consideration the security situation in our capital, waving something out of the window at other drivers, which at first glance looked like a gun, is not very nice and this is putting it mildly!

Is there no end to our fast approaching 'police state'? Instead of 'serving' the public, these cops of ours are behaving no better than the thugs they are supposed to be protecting us from. Only the Almighty can help us, with such cops in our midst!

And with regard to the above, will anybody do any investigations given the details and an explanation as to what it was all about? Or will it be 'classified' information hidden from public view?

Scared,
Razia.

The 166th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED

While sitting in a hospital's waiting room for some tests, I couldn't help noticing the t.v. footage of Citizen's t.v. which was showing that Mombasa and Kitale were having a severe water shortage. This is no big news. We NOT been getting water, anyway, since YEARS! No reason given for this state of affairs, as usual, of course.

This is the usual insolent kind of notification that we get in this country. Nairobi, also, is in the same 'boat', too!

Of course, these so-called water shortages started decades ago. Soon after our so-called Independence and have been getting worse since then. Officialdom, seems to be under the mistaken impression that this is the price we have to pay for 'development' and 'Independence'! What crap!

Our so-called 'service providers' seem to be under the impression that they are doing us a favour when they give any of these 'services' (IF, they do), and that they are doing us a great obligation. As if, it's free of charge.

The truth of the matter is that they charge us heavily for every 'service' that they supposedly 'provide', and don't! Hence, we, the public end up 'paying twice' or even more, for nearly everything imaginable. Not to mention also being taxed heavily, which in turn, mostly goes into paying salaries and perks of these 'parasites' and the story keeps perpetuating itself, ad infinitum. Why? Why should we pay and be charged so much, so many times? It's a complete and official daylight ROBBERY and totally unacceptable!

We, in this country, are so FED UP of this state of affairs that had it been at all possible, the entire population of this country would migrate to greener (literally), pastures and left these horrible crooks to live here with each other!

Re: FW: FW: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139 and now another Tel. No. - 2226115

I went to see the Regional Manager, Mr. Kamande yesterday, in desperation, and for some reason he seemed to be under the impression that I'd given a bribe to somebody in Telkoms. I don't know why he seemed to assume that I had, but, he started warning me that both the giver and the taker of a bribe would be in big problems as it's against the law.

I kept insisting that I HATE such an insinuation and that I've NEVER personally EVER been guilty of doing such a thing, but, I think it had little effect.

Anyway, he had led me into Sood's office where all the above took place. And thank you for passing on his email address as most Telkom staff seem to be very averse to using this means of communication! Very strange attitude considering we live in the 21st Century where worldwide people do mega business using this means and the fact that Telkom Kenya Ltd., is, after all in the business of communications.

Many thanks, again, for fwding this email to the 'right' people,
God bless,
Razia.

George T. Nderitu wrote at 7:58 AM:

Jambo Mr. Maina,

Please assist in sorting this customer out.

Kind Regards,

Nderitu

My prepaid line - 041-2228655

When I checked my post box yesterday, I got a notification with a 14 day's notice (ambiguous), telling me that I have an outstanding account of 1114/10 dating back some years and that this 'offer' lapses after 14 days! Whatever that means.

Now, I keep getting these notices nearly every year despite being assured by the, then, Mr. Boriga, that this was settled at the time that I opted for becoming prepaid. Specifically for this reason - that I get ridiculous bills despite using the calling card 0844 for making all my calls.

Therefore, the above amount is contentious due to the fact that my phone line would 'die' for a while and then come 'alive', again, for no apparent reason. In fact, it still does, nearly everyday! But, previously, before the prepaid 'service' was available in Mombasa, one could go round the bend and dry in the mouth, trying to convince Telkom staff, that you'd not made those calls. After all, they were made from your line, and therefore, it was and is assumed that we made them.

Doesn't matter that some of the 'technicians', were/are capable of 'allocating' phone lines to other people. Hence, it would become very difficult for the holder of a number to prove otherwise.

This is the problem in my case, unfortunately, and yesterday when I went to see the signatory of that notification, a Miss Baimo, she was not ready to listen to any excuse and passed me on to a Mr. Farid who unsmilingly insisted and told me to pay or else my line would be cut off at the expiry of the 14 day period....., unless I wrote to them disputing this. I asked him for an email address and he told me that they don't recognize emailed responses and that I would HAVE to write a regular letter! How strange that this comes from somebody who is working for a telecommunications company!!!

I then, went to the the Chief Accountant, Mr. Irungu, who was equally unfriendly and didn't like my attitude and told me so. It seems that none of these people in the accounts section are customer friendly or have had any training in dealing with irate ones like me. In fact, they sounded more like the proverbial mafia.

Due to lack of time, I'm writing this email, despite being told otherwise, as it's more convenient and prompt.

To show how 'efficient' Telkom Kenya Ltd., really is, one just has to see the address at the top of this notification which says that the physical address is Telkom House/Nkrumah Rd. This is shoddy work as their offices are no longer housed at that address. Please, correct this anomaly and then 'threaten' customers with cutting off their phones for supposed non-payment.

Re: FW: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139 and now another Tel. No. - 2226115

I don't know how many times, it takes for Telkom Kenya Ltd., to do a simple job of relocating a phone. It would seem 'many ages', as the above number has still not been moved to where it was requested that it be taken!

Now, I have another very close friend who told me yesterday, that, their pre-paid number, 041-2226115 has been 'off', dead, since over 2 months. Despite having reported, there's no sign of life, either from Telkom Kenya Ltd., or the phone! I wonder, how much revenue Telkom Kenya Ltd., is losing due to such behaviour?

There seems to be so end to this insolence and taking customers for granted. As I mentioned before, while this awful company might have got privatized, it is highly unfortunate, that the people populating it, still work in the same old lackadaisical manner. In other words, they don't care.

Last week, I went to see Mr. Sood, and he is a Senior Asst. Manager, who behaved like this was completely unacceptable and promptly (at least that's the impression he gave me), sat at his computer and 'pretended' to write an email to 'everybody' in Telkom including the Regional Manager, Mr. Kamande with a BCC to me (I thought), but, to date, I still haven't got anything nor has the phone been relocated! So, all that Mr. Sood was claiming and telling me, was nothing but hot air! Typical of our officialdom.

Razia.

Raziya wrote on 06-May-08 8:18 PM:

Nyatia, Nderitu!

How are you? And how's Nbi?

Thanks for fwding my email to the 'right' guy. I called my friend on her mobile this morning and was told that they still haven't got their phone problem solved nor has ANYBODY, despite my email to many at TELKOM KENYA LTD., contacted them about it.

Seriously, is anybody doing any work out there?!!!! I really have my suspicions. In fact, I'm also CC'ing this email to both my friend and her husband, Vinay Shah, so that they, too, are in the picture.

Salaams from Msa,
Razia.

George T. Nderitu wrote

Please note !

Regards, Nderitu

-----Original Message-----

From: Raziya
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:05 PM
To: George T. Nderitu; J K. Mugo; Customerrelationscoast; Oscar R. Juma; Patrick W. Masimba; Khalid Salim; Julius K. Rukaria; Philip Nyakwaka; Mfaume Bakary; Vinay SHAH Cc: Presidential Press Service; moses baya; Mwende Mwinzi; Kenya Times; British Broadcasting Corporation - News Online; British Broadcasting Corporation - Outlook; Sunny Bindra; The Public Watchdog; comms@comms.go.ke">comms@comms.go.ke; East African Standard; East African Standard, Editorial; THE WATCHMAN; FACE THE FACTS - East African Standard; GIKONYO Macharia; Yusuf Ali; Imre Loefler; Jacque Ooko; John Mulaa; KamemeFM Radio; oketch kendo; palaver; Nation TV; Salama Radio; send2kj@yahoo.com; KTN; Vip Ogola; Letters To The Editor; radiowaumini@wananchi.com
Subject: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139
Importance: High

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Telkom Kenya Ltd in Mombasa had been informed by the subscriber, Mr. Vinay C. Shah, over a month ago to move their line to another location within Ganjoni, not far from it's original one. He was given the above reference number. I personally, also, went to see them about it, over a month ago, and was referred to a Mr. Maina, who took all my contact numbers as well as my friends', who are still waiting for a call (on the mobile), from him. At the time, he had promised me that this simple moving of the phone line would be done in a couple of days, but, it is now over a month, since these people have moved to their new place and nobody from Telkom Kenya has contacted them nor showed themselves, there! Why? It would seem that while Telkom Kenya might be reducing it's staff, etc., the ones who are still populating those offices are still of the old bent of mind. They try and make a simple matter very complicated and in the process nothing gets done......, unless of course, we get fed up and either end up paying 'something small' or forget about the whole issue and to hell with Telkom Kenya and it's awful (dis)services! Short of going to their offices every other day and following the matter up, nothing gets done in this country without wasting our time, money and energy in fruitless pursuits. Why should this be, so? Can Telkom Kenya answer this question, please? And how many more visits, reminders and emails will it take to get them to move this line? One gets the impression that its a herculean task way above and beyond their simple minded capacities. No wonder that mobile telephony is making such progress in leaps and bounds. With such 'services' from our only fixed line company, it's not surprising.

Razia.

Religious and incessant other noise - the 18th reminder

The neighbourhood church/es, are as noisy as ever, this morning. They carry on with their noisy services for hours on end and sometimes even continue later in the afternoons with a brief reprieve for a couple of hours after the lunch hour! This is really getting crazy.

I cannot understand the need for these people, to be heard outside their churches, mosques, temples, etc. Why cannot, officialdom, enforce this rule? That all of these 'religious' people confine their respective noises within the walls of their buildings? This, in no way infringes on anybody's right to worship, of course. They can do this without disturbing people in the area.

I definitely do not support the conclusion that some people seem to have jumped to. That I am against religion. I'm all for the freedom of religion. I practice it myself. My bone of contention is the noise that results in the various acts of worship, of every noisy religion, for I know of none that promotes disturbing others. They all preach PEACE, ironically, yet do not practice this.

Van Campen Aluminium - noise barriers, bending technology, architecture, profile systems

I found this link on the Internet - http://www.campen.nl/uk/Infrastructure/default.asp?lan=uk

Are our Municipalities , at all, capable of 'planning' this far? I very much doubt this. When you take into account that our various local authorities' town planning is null and void. And the fact that they allow the most noisy things anywhere, to come up, they couldn't care less about anything other than their bottomless and corrupt pockets.

Terrible noise..... all the time - day and night, the 17th reminder....

Well, it's another weekend and there's a racket going on at MWA Hall, I think of the wedding kind. Why isn't officialdom doing anything about this pollution?

In fact, this is the case all over the country, not just regarding noisy weddings in our midst at all sorts of hours of the day and night, but, anybody who wants to 'promote' something, does this at the most ear-splitting decibels.

Even banks have got into this noisy act! Then, our two mobile telephone companies, are notorious for this, too. Why? It seems to have become a kind of 'culture' to do everything in the noisiest possible manner. The louder the better, one gets the impression.

Ironically, among some of our numerous 'cultures', death is a very noisy event, i.e. the funeral 'services'/arrangements. Instead of giving the departed soul a dignified farewell, as one would have thought, it is one crazy, drinking, eating and fighting (due to the drinking, I think), orgy. Why? And all this in the name of 'culture'. Does anybody think of the family of the recently departed and what they might be going through? And again ironically, this bereaved family is the one who is supposed to foot the expenses of the many 'guests' who show up to give their condolences.

It seems that starting from our births into this noisy country, till we depart, we are being forced to endure unbearable noise. Our various religions, that we purport to follow, are also into adding to this din.

Is it any wonder that we have a severe shortage of scholars and principled, ethical and moral people in this country. Most of us are too busy making noise and most of it is so loud that it interferes with our thinking processes! And is that one of the reasons that our so-called 'officialdom', is doing nothing about this unending racket?

What a country full of thick heads....

The 165th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED

Still no water:((((( Not getting this necessity to life, liquid, creates a lot of problems. I'll try to list them, below....

1. As mentioned many times previously, there's the matter of hygiene and health.

2. It is playing havoc with our ground water system due to innumerable wells and bore-holes being dug all over the place with no end in sight, nor any control. Anybody can dig anywhere as there is no particular regulation that one has to abide by. E.g., if I had a high walled house and there, decided to dig a bore-hole or well, nobody in officialdom will know about it, unless somebody informs them. And even then, these 'officials' are liable to pass it due to their inability to provide a service and/or they are corrupt! Nobody is going to do a proper survey to see if it's environmentally and health wise a sound undertaking.

3. These water kiosks have water which is a mystery, while others don't. Why?

4. The numbers of mkokotenis, most of which are transporting water, on our already awfully narrow and pot-holed roads, are becoming added pests to the learner drivers and the matatus. Not to mention suicidal pedestrians and cyclists. Total chaos is the result!

For now, let the above suffice....., more will probably follow in a later 'reminder'...

Re: FW: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139

Nyatia, Nderitu!

How are you? And how's Nbi?

Thanks for fwding my email to the 'right' guy. I called my friend on her mobile this morning and was told that they still haven't got their phone problem solved nor has ANYBODY, despite my email to many at TELKOM KENYA LTD., contacted them about it.

Seriously, is anybody doing any work out there?!!!! I really have my suspicions. In fact, I'm also CC'ing this email to both my friend and her husband, Vinay Shah, so that they, too, are in the picture.

Salaams from Msa,
Razia.

George T. Nderitu wrote:

Please note !

Regards,
Nderitu

-----Original Message-----
From: Raziya 
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:05 PM
To: George T. Nderitu; J K. Mugo; Customerrelationscoast; Oscar R. Juma; Patrick W. Masimba; Khalid Salim; Julius K. Rukaria; Philip Nyakwaka; Mfaume Bakary; Vinay SHAH Cc: Presidential Press Service; moses baya; Mwende Mwinzi; Kenya Times; British Broadcasting Corporation - News Online; British Broadcasting Corporation - Outlook; Sunny Bindra; The Public Watchdog; comms@comms.go.ke; East African Standard; East African Standard, Editorial; THE WATCHMAN; FACE THE FACTS - East African Standard; GIKONYO Macharia; Yusuf Ali; Imre Loefler; Jacque Ooko; John Mulaa; KamemeFM Radio; oketch kendo; palaver; Nation TV; Salama Radio; send2kj@yahoo.com; KTN; Vip Ogola; Letters To The Editor; radiowaumini@wananchi.com
Subject: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139
Importance: High

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN 

Telkom Kenya Ltd in Mombasa had been informed by the subscriber, Mr. Vinay C. Shah, over a month ago to move their line to another location within Ganjoni, not far from it's original one. He was given the above reference number.   I personally, also, went to see them about it, over a month ago, and was referred to a Mr. Maina, who took all my contact numbers as well as my friends', who are still waiting for a call (on the mobile), from him. At the time, he had promised me that this simple moving of the phone line would be done in a couple of days, but, it is now over a month, since these people have moved to their new place and nobody from Telkom Kenya has contacted them nor showed themselves, there! Why?  It would seem that while Telkom Kenya might be reducing it's staff, etc., the ones who are still populating those offices are still of the old bent of mind. They try and make a simple matter very complicated and in the process nothing gets done......, unless of course, we get fed up and either end up paying 'something small' or forget about the whole issue and to hell with Telkom Kenya and it's awful (dis)services!  Short of going to their offices every other day and following the matter up, nothing gets done in this country without wasting our time, money and energy in fruitless pursuits. Why should this be, so? Can Telkom Kenya answer this question, please? And how many more visits, reminders and emails will it take to get them to move this line? One gets the impression that its a herculean task way above and beyond their simple minded capacities.  No wonder that mobile telephony is making such progress in leaps and bounds. With such 'services' from our only fixed line company, it's not surprising. 

Razia. 

Re: Social Event with NEMA on Tuesday- any agenda? & Terrible noise..... all the time - day and night, the 16th reminder....

Thank you very much for your encouraging and complimentary reply which I really appreciate.

Unfortunately, I cannot be in Nairobi on Tuesday. I wish, I could, though.

In fact, this email is a combination one, i.e. the 16th reminder is also included with it.

Since Friday night as well as currently as I write this, the people of this neighbourhood have been inundated with noise of one kind or another, yet, NOBODY charged with this responsibility of maintaining the peace (noise wise), feels like doing their job! Starting with NEMA, our many government bodies and ministries which are overflowing with 'ministers' and their so-called 'assistants and permanent secretaries', who are paid salaries at the tax-payers hard earned sweat, are really up to the task, it seems. Then, the police, who very well know about this 'noise law' passed by NEMA sometime ago, are also not too keen on applying it.

One would imagine that there was a mega conspiracy in noise making to drive the objecting public round the bend! Some of those many churches and mosques that have sprouted all around this country yet, have little to show in terms of their respective congregations being God fearing, make noise that is inversely proportional to their God consciousness.

Last night, the neighbour, who was trying to keep us all awake the night before with their obnoxious and insensitive noise making, was at it, again. My first call to the emergency wireless number (999 or 112 mostly doesn't work), got the response from the officer answering he would get the duty officer to come here. When I enquired, when, he wouldn't commit himself and when I pushed him to at least give me a time scale, he told me to ring the OCS directly. I tried calling her on her mobile, but, she wouldn't answer.

So, then, out of desperation I called the officer who had initially given me the emergency wireless number, officer Ngoche. He, it seems has been moved to Nairobi, but, despite that, the first cop to give me an encouraging response. All the way from Nairobi, he tried getting his fellow officers to act, but, either they were deliberately procrastinating or my noisy neighbour was being insolent, by disobeying them, for the noise continued....

What is officialdom's problem? Why aren't they applying the law? And since when is religious noise allowed? If, all mosques, churches, temples, etc., were to collectively make noise of the religious kind (as some of them do in our neighbourhood), whom would people who are interested in such a racket, listen to?

Do we have enough brainy people out there, who can inform our daft public and by extension these horrible noise makers, about the consequences of being persistently exposed to noise? While the rest of the 'civilized' world is trying to decrease noise of every kind from their midst, we, in this country are letting things get out of hand. Or are these goons trying to torture the public which is averse to this? If so, why? What do they gain out of it?

Razia.


elijah Agevi wrote on 03-May-08 1:22 PM:

Many thanks Raziya!

How I wish we had more people as focused and committed to a cause as you! This country could be very far in terms of development with equity.  I will make sure that these questions are tabled during the Tuesday's event. In case you happen to be in Nairobi, please free feel and come and be my guest.  Once again have a great and hopefully silent and peaceful weekend. 

Warm regards,  Elijah 

On Fri, May 2, 2008 10:47 am, Raziya wrote:   

Dear Elijah,  

Thanks a million for sending me the following and the much appreciated offer, God bless you!  Yes, yes. Please, print out my emails covering the relevant issues about noise, water, etc., that their (NEMA'S), agenda is supposed to cover and please ask them the following questions.... 

1.   Why are they only covering certain areas selectively?  

2.   About the degradation of the natural environment - what is their forestry section doing about the continuing chopping of trees without replacement for  charcoal and providing wood for cooking purposes? And why don't they respond to my numerous emails nor reply to my calls? 

3.   Parts of Mombasa and Coast Province in general, are awash with sewage seeping into wells and bore-holes dug indiscriminately, without the council or the numerous water bodies even being aware of it (nor do they care, it seems!), and structures put up without any planning or so it seems to some of the residents. All this is due to the persistent and chronic water unavailability to the residents, of course, and by extension, the water bodies are to blame for not providing a reliable 'service'. As the residents cannot live without water, they end up digging wells and bore-holes everywhere. Why is there no applicable and enforceable regulation or orderliness in this? 

4.   About the noise pollution - this is not just caused by 'entertainment' venues, but, also by the various sects of Christianity who believe in singing, dancing, etc., and playing loud music and equally loud and ear-splitting sermons every and anywhere, they feel like. Does this kind of noise go under 'entertainment'? Also, of course, the loud calls to prayer and equally loud conducting of prayers in the mosques, which practice is totally invalid from a religious point of view. Why haven't they talked about this and set 'standards'? They seem to allow this 'noise pollution' under the guise of 'freedom' of worship! While I agree wholeheartedly to this freedom, it should be separated from the right of the citizens to have peace and quiet where they live and work. Why hasn't this differentiation been made?  

5.   Will they ever be coming to Coast Province and covering it in the near future? If so, when? I would really like to attend and ask them questions, first hand.  Again, thank you very much for this information.  

Salaams, Razia.  

Terrible noise..... all the time - day and night, the 15th reminder....

While, mercifully, the MWA Hall, remained unoccupied and quiet, last night, some of my neighbours decided to have a function (most likely a wedding), in the already grabbed and over built Municipal estate where I live. The limited space was/is further being used by people who don't want to hire some place to hold their events. They just put up marquees and then, with no thought for the neighbourhood, hold loud musical parties the whole night!!!

Such an event, kept up, those who were not at the place, most of last night. In the end at about 2.00 am, I called the cops, but, they of course, as is their wont, didn't show up till after 3.00 am! This is the assumption I've reached, since, that's when we could get back to bed in peace.

Even now, there's the sound of loud music coming from the same direction as last night. Which means that their merry making is still going on....

What is the matter with the people of this country? They seem to have little regard for others and impose their racket on unwilling ears, by force. And the people who are in charge of maintaining law and order seem to be very averse to doing so. Why? Especially when there's a law/s (?), to back them up.

Everywhere one goes these days there's something very loud being played or announced. Yesterday morning, I passed by Nakumatt Likoni just before noon and was immediately surrounded by noise. One was coming from the ferry's direction and the other was loud music being played by the Book First restaurant. These noisy places might attract the young crowd, but, the older people, would avoid them like the plague. One can't hold a decent conversation in such a place. So, are people going there just listen to this awfully loud music or for a social purpose?

If they are frequenting such places for the music, they might as well, get to a nightclub or disco where people who don't like loud noise would avoid going. Instead, nearly everywhere one goes these days, we encounter terrible and loud noise. Also, loud 'anything' is damaging to the ears. Or don't these people know or care? Can we have peace, please?

And I don't know whether we'll have any peace tonight, either. I really dread these noises and the subsequent repeated calls to the cops to get them to apply the law.

Re: Social Event with NEMA on Tuesday- any agenda?

Dear Elijah,

Thanks a million for sending me the following and the much appreciated offer, God bless you!

Yes, yes. Please, print out my emails covering the relevant issues about noise, water, etc., that their (NEMA'S), agenda is supposed to cover and please ask them the following questions....

1. Why are they only covering certain areas selectively?

2. About the degradation of the natural environment - what is their forestry section doing about the continuing chopping of trees without replacement for charcoal and providing wood for cooking purposes? And why don't they respond to my numerous emails nor reply to my calls?

3. Parts of Mombasa and Coast Province in general, are awash with sewage seeping into wells and bore-holes dug indiscriminately, without the council or the numerous water bodies even being aware of it (nor do they care, it seems!), and structures put up without any planning or so it seems to some of the residents. All this is due to the persistent and chronic water unavailability to the residents, of course, and by extension, the water bodies are to blame for not providing a reliable 'service'. As the residents cannot live without water, they end up digging wells and bore-holes everywhere. Why is there no applicable and enforceable regulation or orderliness in this?

4. About the noise pollution - this is not just caused by 'entertainment' venues, but, also by the various sects of Christianity who believe in singing, dancing, etc., and playing loud music and equally loud and ear-splitting sermons every and anywhere, they feel like. Does this kind of noise go under 'entertainment'? Also, of course, the loud calls to prayer and equally loud conducting of prayers in the mosques, which practice is totally invalid from a religious point of view. Why haven't they talked about this and set 'standards'? They seem to allow this 'noise pollution' under the guise of 'freedom' of worship! While I agree wholeheartedly to this freedom, it should be separated from the right of the citizens to have peace and quiet where they live and work. Why hasn't this differentiation been made?

5. Will they ever be coming to Coast Province and covering it in the near future? If so, when? I would really like to attend and ask them questions, first hand.

Again, thank you very much for this information.

Salaams,
Razia.

elijah Agevi wrote:

Dear Raziya,  Thanks for sharing.  I will be attending and co-facilitating the event organised by Karen-Langata Ditrict Association, as indicated below at which NEMA will be the main actor. As you see the event will cover some of the issues that you are very passinate about. Is there anything that you would like me to raise at the event? I will be more than happy to do so. Elijah ...............................................

Dear member, 

NEMA PRESENTATION AT KLDA SOCIAL - TUESDAY 6TH MAY  KLDA members are rightly concerned about the degradation of the natural environment. 

Issues include: *        

Rapid development affecting the sustainability of water resources and pollution from sewerage and solid waste. *       

Noise pollution from 'entertainment' venues  The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is responsible for protecting our environment.  NEMA will be making a presentation on their work followed by a question and answer session on Tuesday 6th May at the Karen Country Club from 6.30pm.  We expect a large turnout as we will be discussing the future of Karen and Langata. 

See you there! 
Muthoni   

On Wed, April 30, 2008 1:56 pm, Raziya wrote:   

A friend just sent me the following link which I've also attached as a solution to our persistent noise problems, not just in our neighbourhood but, the country as a whole.

Razia.  

The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/resources/catdetails/3350.pdf - Noise Controlling Devise - 3350