The Charcoal sellers saga, continues.....

At just before 2.30 am this morning, a Canter arrived here, full of sacks of charcoal. At around the same time, all the lights in the neighbourhood, including the street ones, went off, and the mosque's generator started it's noise! In fact, the neighbourhood erupted with various types of noises, the loudest being the generator's and the remainder coming from the Canter which started it's off-loading of the sacks in a very clandestine manner. Unfortunately, I couldn't make out the Canter's registration number, this time, since it was pitch dark and the headlights of the canter were on.

Anyway, I immediately called the 112 emergency number from my mobile to activate the cops, but, I don't think anybody came despite the cop answering, assured me that he would send somebody here.

Now, it amazes me that these cops who answer the emergency calls are totally at sea when one is trying to give them directions to any place that needs their attention. Add to this the fact, about how this Canter full of charcoal sacks managed to avoid the many road blocks on it's way here from wherever! One gets the feeling that the traffic cops as well as various other 'officialdom' are in cahoots with these crooks. And therefore, their fellow cops are very averse to doing anything about stopping or investigating such incidences. All the while, our forest cover keeps getting destroyed and by extension so does our water catchment areas.

I last wrote about this issue on 6th February 2008 when this neighbourhood charcoal seller got his last consignment. And I thought, 'officialdom' had taken action since then and stopped him getting anymore. He's not got any, all these past months. But, it would seem that nothing has been done about the issue, still.

Does anybody out there care about this country, anymore? Enough to take 'action'? I truly fear for our country's future and it's so-called future leaders and citizens! This charcoal seller (hawker?), has befriended a glue-sniffing street 'man', to do his bidding and who 'squats' under our staircase. Everytime I get a visitor, he asks for money in exchange for keeping an eye on their car, if they have any. And when they leave (especially the female ones), follows them in a kind of daze! How safe are we in such a neighbourhood?

The 181st reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED - Re: Reishi Water Plea

To continue from where I'd left off the 180th 'reminder', last week....

I'd mentioned a Water Petition with over 900 signatures to the various water bodies including the Council and the following email gives added weight to the solution that has been suggested there - Desalination.

This Province would never have a water problem IF, starting from the ministry level going all the way down, the officialdom concerned, would really get to work and put our hard earned money (tax and what we pay them in phantom water bills), was put to constructive use instead of paying 'sitting' allowances and all those countless meetings that these people attend but which result in absolutely NOTHING.

Years have gone by with no improvement in water delivery services while the sector has 'expanded' to unbelievable proportions, like a many headed monster, yet, still no water coming through our taps! So, what is being done about it? Why does nobody out there answer our query?

What an insult to the people of Coast Province and especially the signatories of the Water Petition! The so-called 'service' providers in this sector can be called highly INSOLENT!!!

Raziya.

Reishi Arun Parikh wrote:

TO BE KINDLY FORWARDED TO THE PRESIDENT OR THE PRIME MINISTER OF KENYA

Your Excellency(s),

My warmest greetings to you. I send you this Email with the hope and prayer that it reaches you and that you read it with the understanding as you always do in other matters. WATER is the reason for my Email. Daily, all around our Country, Kenyans struggle to get WATER. Some get it illegally through corrupting Water Authorities with wrong pipe connections, some steal, some hoard, some misuse where there is plenty.... the Poor Kenyan at the end of all this suffers. Health wise it's a hazard as people resort to borehole and well water, even in Urban areas.

If KENYANS have enough clean WATER, the overall sentiment to Life changes positively.

Mr. President / Mr. Prime Minister, Sirs, I suggest a DESALIATION Water Plant to be installed at the Coast - Mombasa. This Water Plant can then supply and Store the surplus Water to other parts of our Country through the existing Water Pipeline Network.

Dubai, Oman, Saudi Arabia etc never have a Water Shortage... their Water Desalination Plants can Desalinate 150 Billion Litres of Clean Water Daily! We just need a small fraction of this.

I Trust you shall put a thought on this matter during your very hectic schedule at the moment.

Your Excellency(s), my deepest and sincere good wishes to you. Asante.

I earnestly await your reply to my Email...i do!

Your's Truely,
Mr. Reishi Arun Parikh

The 180th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED - Re: Reishi - Letter to the Editor

Now, if 'proof' is needed about the diverting of our precious water (little as it is), to the show ground during the month of August, then, this email below, is one.

Why are the umpteen water bodies 'created' for 'efficient' delivery of it, so very suspiciously silent, of late? Do these people think that the residents will forget that they exist and might leave them alone? Never! Our water problems are still there, and I, for one will not leave them alone.

Our garbage problem, too, is getting impossible. What is our redoubtable Council doing about the burgeoning garbage bins all over? And why are they getting involved in water delivery when they can't even deal effectively and efficiently with garbage collection and disposal? And what exactly to these people do with all the money that they collect from all over? When were the Council's accounts last audited, anyway? Most likely decades ago!

Remember, that the residents of Mombasa and Coast Province at large, are having a mega water problem which can be solved by having a desalination plant/s, IF, these 'water officials' will only think outside the proverbial box. And what is officialdom doing about the water petition I sent them a couple of years ago with over 900 signatures?

Please, can somebody in authority, answer the questions above?

Raziya.


Reishi Arun Parikh wrote:

Dear Editor,

Kindly publish in the interest of the Mombasa residents

RE: Mombasa ASK Show 2008

I was personally traumatised and dejected during my visit for this years Mombasa ASK Show. After deciding to visit the show, the apprehension was high. On the Friday at around 2:00 p.m we were abruptly stopped at the Bamburi Cement Silos at Mkomani by few "Officials" saying the entrance fee for cars is Ksh 500/-. When i politely protested the "Official" rudely gestured me to return in the direction i came from with some verbal additives with his physical gesture.

The Ag. Chairman - Mr. Antony Mrima needs to answer me on my very unpleasant experience.

I am thinking aloud, who cares for these shows anymore? People visit paying Ksh 150/- to enter spend more on Food and drinks, little entertainment and go home. Where is the Business Crowd who will trade goods and build contacts? No one is interested! Where are the International Exibitors?

To add to all this every year Mombasa residents have to cope without water as its always diverted to the Show for "Exibition Needs". Leave alone the uncarpeted Internal Roads, the Dusty Environment and smart pickpockets!

The Mombasa ASK Show is a dying horse and should be scrapped from the National ASK Show Calender. I am very sure the Nairobi and upcountry Shows are by far better. What is the Management of the Show thinking?

Any unrhetoric and logical answer for me?

Mr. Reishi Arun Parikh
Mombasa - Kenya

The 179th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED

Well, the very strangely very dry month of August has gone, and we still don't have water and some areas like Kizingo haven't had water in YEARS!!!! With no explanation from our questionable water providers (umpteen numbers of them, in fact, giving a whole new meaning to the adage, 'too many cooks spoil the broth'), for this state of affairs.

This kind of irresponsible behaviour gives rise to a whole lot of environmental problems mainly to our ground water system and playing havoc with it. These days wherever one goes or is planning on renting a house or even buying one (this goes for offices, too), this is a major issue. Everybody who can afford it makes sure that wherever they move, there's water available and consistently. In fact, it's one of main selling/renting point for any house or building.

Now, when one considers that there are so many bore-holes and wells all over the place, which means that there are fewer people making demands on the piped 'fresh' water system, it's highly strange that despite this, our various water authorities can still not supply this precious fluid. Why?

Hence, my allegations that our Coast Water (Dis)Services Board is doing nothing to lay, expand and maintain the water infrastructure and therefore there is no reason for their existence! Please, get rid of these horrors as well as any connection to our equally useless and unaccountable council and by extension all the politicians involved in this very important sector.

These last politicize everything imaginable for their own personal benefit and aggrandizement while the Council is directly interfered with by these same politicians and service delivery to the residents is minimal if at all. Some glaring examples are the overflowing garbage cans all over town, street lights are kept on day and night and some are in a time warp where they are on during the day and off during the night! The crow problem is back with us, too, thanks to the overflowing garbage bins all over and so are the other scavengers in human skin, the glue sniffing street 'boys'. In fact, one of them has been 'befriended' by one of my neighbours and overlooked by a Councillor living in the same block and this guy is now a squatter under the stairs! Informing the Council's housing manager, has brought no action, of course. He was harassing a visitor of mine, yesterday.

Is there EVER going to be any change for the better of which the residents (not politicians), approve? At least in our lifetime?

Religious and incessant other noise - the 34th reminder

This country is going from bad to worse and all the while our over-flowing cabinet and our equally insolent and rude cops do NOTHING to make it better. They all believe in talking BIG when making useless 'speeches, throwing mud at each other', while they do scant little about walking their talk! They politicize every issue imaginable while the country burns!

The Muslims, who should be what the Holy Qur'an calls them, 'the best of people evolved for Mankind who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong', themselves are some of the biggest law breakers, unfortunately, and pests. While the Christians are no better and think nothing of competing with their other fellows in faith as well as the Muslims, in making as much racket as is possible.

All this, in the name of their respective faiths, too!

And now that Ramadhan is about to start, these fellow Muslims of mine will make life really impossible by trying to give the impression to everybody that they are some of the holiest people on earth while the reverse is the fact. They, by their behaviour, show the world that they are some of the most despicable, unfortunately. They make unnecessary noise, all in the name of Islam, while the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the holy Prophet (pbuh), teaches the opposite, i.e. not to disturb others, especially non-Muslims, for they in their ignorance might curse the true God (Allah).

Since, even I and many others (who are terrified of giving voice to their objections for the repercussions they fear from these kinds of Muslims), also pray and fast during this holy month, why should we be disturbed in practicing our injunctions? What do these people get out of making noise? And why can't the authorities like NEMA who even have an environmental police unit apply the law in this? Are they afraid of these people's 'fatwas', too? Then, of what use is their law about noise and making nuisances of themselves?

Last night and the night before, the MWA Hall, again had wedding parties and they were making so much noise that it's surprising that the Aga Khan hospital next door didn't take any action on behalf of their suffering patients. These merry makers, on Friday night, carried on and on till after 11.30 pm which is when I couldn't stand it any longer and rang up the cops. The one on duty at and emergency, I think, did do something about it, but, these people have again got only one car and take AGES getting to where they are needed! Also, their toll-free numbers of 999 and 112 are never answered! They ring, but, the cops claim that they are not working....

Last night, there was another noisy party there and when I called the cops this time earlier than 11.00 pm, the one on duty was thoroughly insolent and asked me what I expected him to do! Do these cops really know their jobs and the law? And what do they think is the reason for their existence in the country? He told me this after many calls, which he kept disconnecting as soon as he heard my voice. Then, I was told to go to Central and report the matter! This in complete disregard that it was after 9.00 pm and there would be many inconveniences in getting there and the fact that I don't drive after dark. Not to mention that even if I'd done so, what the cops at Central, if they weren't in a semi-comatose condition, would be capable of doing. Which means that he was just harassing me.

So, what kind of cops do we have? He told me to report the matter to the PPO, but, this man, too is really awful. I'm talking from experience. They do absolutely NOTHING about the many complaints that you make to them - about their subordinates as well as the matter that you're complaining about.

In fact, a year ago, I even went to see the DC and the PC about these noisy mosques and churches, but, to date, they have done NOTHING!!!

Which brings me back to my first allegations about this being a lawless and insolent country, which cares little for the average Mwananchi, but does, in a mega way, about their capacious pockets, ONLY!!!!

The 178th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED

While most of us in Coast Province and in particular, Mombasa, don't get reliable water through our ancient piping systems, the few households that do, also join the rest of the 'dehydrated' lot during the month of August.

Since it's during this month that we have our A.S.K. show, rumours are rife since years among the general public, that the reason we don't get this precious fluid is because, all the available water is diverted to the show ground on the North mainland!

As our numerous water bodies are not the type to tell the truth about why we don't have even the little that a few were getting till showtime. Hence, these rumours doing the rounds that the water is diverted every year for the benefit of the show. The water 'officials', as is their usual way, add to the mystery by keeping quiet - a no comment attitude. They neither deny the allegation nor confirm. Why?

Which brings me to the matter about the water infrastructure that our questionable Water (dis)Services Board (CWSB), is supposed to improve and expand. IF, these 'professionals' were really doing their job, wouldn't our condition, now be improving instead of deteriorating? Therefore, what is their reason for existence? Which further leads one to ask, why are they allowed to continue to exist? They are NOT PERFORMING!

And by extension, and I will keep repeating myself - why is the whole exercise of water delivery so politicized in this particular province? And why isn't the government doing something about this, i.e. de-politicize it, pronto?! After all we are becoming highly allergic to our particular brand of politicians including our useless and unaccountable Council. In case, the powers that be would like evidence of the incompetence of the last mentioned lot, I can avail it to them.

Please, remove politics and politicians from this sector asap.

Religious and incessant other noise - the 33rd reminder

Can somebody clarify this issue about 'rights', to me, please? When does somebody's rights infringe on another's? For, my persistent complaints about religious noises, seem to be falling on very deaf and unfeeling 'official' ears!

While, we have freedom of worship in our constitution, when does this become a nuisance? For, while some of us practice this 'freedom', we disturb other's right to peace and quiet. Does this mean that in the name of practicing this freedom of worship we can disturb those of us who would like to have peace and quiet for various reasons, some of these being that we might not be of the same faith, or we might, ironically, also be praying, or might be ill, or have small children we're trying to put to sleep, or just don't like noise in general?

As I've written countless times before, till now, I've started writing 'reminders', just to keep a log of how many times I have to write about this issue before somebody in officialdom, if they ever do, will do something about this persistent and highly irritating pollution.

Now, that Ramadhan is about to start next week, the Muslims among us will suddenly make more noise that they are already doing. I mean the religious variety. They will try to give the impression to the rest of the country that there is no one as holy as them. While the reverse is the fact. For as soon as the Blessed month is over and even before it - remember, those loud and rowdy wedding parties they hold at other times especially just before Ramadhan? This, of course, is not part and parcel of our faith yet, that's their practice. So, where is their holiness during that time? And I again challenge all these so-called self proclaimed 'ulema' and sheikhs - where in Islamic history or in the Seerat of the holy Prophet (pbuh) and his illustrious companions (r.a), was this the practice? Of holding such loud prayers in the mosques, that they can be heard outside? And of reciting the Holy Qur'an so loud after the mid-afternoon prayers, that others who are trying to do their own recitations get disturbed. Yes, we are supposed to read our holy book more that usual, but, not in the manner that is done at present by these imams and others in mosques.

And if these people cannot give a valid reason with references (legitimate ones), please, do us a favour and fear Allah's wrath and observe peace during this holy month subsequently, too, and let us pray to our Maker without getting disturbed by all this 'religious' noise.

Which brings me to the Christian noise. This continues, too, every single workday lunch time at the MWA Hall. These supposed holy ones, give no thought to the residents in the area and are cruel enough to disturb the very ill in the hospital next door to them! And these people call themselves 'religious'! What irony!!!

The 177th reminder.... to the PERSON/S CONCERNED - Affordable and environmental friendly desalination

The following is a link an affordable and environmental friendly way to desalination which will relieve the whole of Coast Province from it's persistent and severe water problems forever!

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/blogs/283/Wind-powered-desalination.html

Will our various non-performing and politically infested water bodies take the time to act, please? As has been written in my many reminders of late - we do not want a single politician, even a 'diluted' one, anywhere within sight or sound of ANY of our service provision and in particular, WATER, except for the water minister.

And whoever is working in this sector, should be employed with a performance contract in mind and be fully qualified for the job, too, of course! As well as, we want only one outfit to deal with, not countless ones who tend to pass the buck to each other and the public never gets a satisfactory answer. WE ARE VERY FED UP with the current attitude of these 'officials' and the way they 'don't work'!

water & environment friendly, affordable desalination

The following with the attachment is a very environment friendly and affordable way of desalination and very little excuse, now, for our 'officialdom' to ignore our pleas.

If only 'officialdom', i.e. the various relevant recipients who are responsible for our water delivery, could pay heed to this and contact Mr. Charlie Madden for more details, it would be a step towards us, in the Coast Province being able to get this precious, essential to life fluid.

Raziya.


On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 7:12 AM, Charlie Madden wrote:

Hi Razia

Chris Dickenson emailed me and gave me your details..

The attached water boatman is still just a dream. Barges are planned moored 1/4 mile offshore to harvest the sea breezes and fill their hulls with fresh water distilled from sea water.

Would they suit your part of the world, and who there is responsible for the water?

Best regards

Charlie

Sir Charles Madden Bt BSc MTech MBA – mech eng design marketing
79 Birksgate Dr, Urrbrae SA 5064
Australia

WindWater Pty Ltd
Dealer Four Seasons Windpower - www.fswturbines.com

P: 0433 565 039

water & environment friendly, affordable desalination

The following with the attachment is a very environment friendly and affordable way of desalination and very little excuse, now, for our 'officialdom' to ignore our pleas.

If only 'officialdom', i.e. the various relevant recipients who are responsible for our water delivery, could pay heed to this and contact Mr. Charlie Madden for more details, it would be a step towards us, in the Coast Province being able to get this precious, essential to life fluid.

Raziya.


On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 7:12 AM, Charlie Madden wrote:

Hi Razia

Chris Dickenson emailed me and gave me your details..

The attached water boatman is still just a dream. Barges are planned moored 1/4 mile offshore to harvest the sea breezes and fill their hulls with fresh water distilled from sea water.

Would they suit your part of the world, and who there is responsible for the water?

Best regards

Charlie

Sir Charles Madden Bt BSc MTech MBA – mech eng design marketing
79 Birksgate Dr, Urrbrae SA 5064
Australia

WindWater Pty Ltd
Dealer Four Seasons Windpower - www.fswturbines.com

P: 0433 565 039