Tuesday, June 26, 2012

National Geographic issues....

The following Nairobi address which distributes National Geographic magazine to its various subscribers in the country seems to be very inefficient in doing its work ....


National Geographic

c/o P.O. Box 36389
City Square - 00200
Nairobi
KENYA.

While, at least, one book store in Mombasa (Paper Connections, City Mall), has the June 2012 issue on its shelves, why is it that I being one of the subscribers since YEARS, have got neither the June issue or the coming July one. Btw, I usually get my issues in the 2nd or 3rd week of the preceding month, i.e. I should have got my June issue in May. This still has not arrived!

The reason I'm sending this to all the POSTA addresses is because, one of their senior staff in the GPO Mombasa, after getting the the distributor's address from me (it's always printed on the cover), tried getting their phone and/or email address from the City Square branch of POSTA so that we could follow this matter up, but, despite being a fellow senior staff here, they refused to give him this information. Why such secrecy?

And then POSTA has the temerity to increase it's rental rates in leaps and bounds. How dare they when their 'services' leave a lot to be desired!

Hence, my copying this email to the NG International customer service, too, so they know all the circumstances behind late and missing issues. The last time I'd missed my issue was April 2012 and the following was their response when I'd reported the matter online at their website. That one has mercifully already arrived, the one that was resent, not the original one. That one is still somewhere 'out there'!!!

So, why is POSTA, City Square, Nairobi, being so uncooperative?

Can the people concerned, please, deal with this problem, asap?!

Fed up of missing issues,
Raziya

On 4/26/2012 5:47 PM, NGS Customer Service wrote:

Amsterdam, 26/04/2012                                                                                     Your membership number: 419308887           Dear MS RAZIYA MOHAMEDALI           Thank you for your e-mail.          We are sorry to hear that you have missed an issue of the magazine. On checking our records    it appears as though all of the magazines due to you have been dispatched in routine. As    requested, we have arranged to dispatch a replacement issue today. Please allow 2-3 weeks    for delivery. Should the original eventually arrive this may be kept with our compliments.          Thank you for your interest in National Geographic. If we can be of any further assistance,    do not hesitate to contact us or consult your online customer service page at www.ngmservice.   com.           Exceptional customer service is our number one priority. If at anytime you feel you're not    receiving this level of service, please feel free to contact my supervisor Paul Wilson, by    email at ngmsupervisor@custserv.com.          Yours Sincerely            National Geographic Society           You can access your account information online, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week, at www.   ngmservice.com.  You can change an address, check on your expiration date, report missing    issues, renew an account and refer to a complete set of Frequently Asked Questions.   Just    go to www.ngmservice.com and click on MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE US AND CANADA. You may gain access    by using your account number or entering your name and address as it appears on the    addressing label.  Be sure to include your email address to complete the sign on.          Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/natgeo      or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/natgeosociety

Monday, June 4, 2012

WALK by Nipun Mehta, Founder Of Service Space, Delivers Inspiring Graduation Speech To Students At The University Of Pennsylvania


Nipun Mehta, Founder Of Service Space, Delivers Inspiring Graduation Speech To Students At The University Of Pennsylvania

Posted: 05/16/2012 1:36 pm Updated: 05/18/2012 7:46 pm

This is a transcript of the Baccalaureate address to the University of Pennsylvania's graduating class of 2012, delivered by Nipun Mehta [originally published on Daily Good].

Thank you to my distinguished friends, President Amy Gutmann, Provost Vincent Price and Rev. Charles Howard for inviting me to share a few reflections on this joyous occasion. It is an honor and privilege to congratulate you -- UPenn's class of 2012. 

Right now each one of you is sitting on the runway of life primed for takeoff. You are some of the world's most gifted, elite, and driven college graduates – and you are undeniably ready to fly. So what I'm about to say next may sound a bit crazy. I want to urge you, not to fly, but to – walk. Four years ago, you walked into this marvelous laboratory of higher learning. Today, heads held high, you walk to receive your diplomas. Tomorrow, you will walk into a world of infinite possibilities.

But walking, in our high-speed world, has unfortunately fallen out of favor. The word "pedestrian" itself is used to describe something ordinary and commonplace. Yet, walking with intention has deep roots. Australia's aboriginal youth go on walkabouts as a rite of passage; Native American tribes conduct vision quests in the wilderness; in Europe, for centuries, people have walked the Camino de Santiago, which spans the breadth of Spain. Such pilgrims place one foot firmly in front of the other, to fall in step with the rhythms of the universe and the cadence of their own hearts. 

Back in 2005, six months into our marriage, my wife and I decided to "step it up" ourselves and go on a walking pilgrimage. At the peak of our efforts with ServiceSpace, we wondered if we had the capacity to put aside our worldly success and seek higher truths. Have you ever thought of something and then just known that it had to happen? It was one of those things. So we sold all our major belongings, and bought a one-way ticket to India. Our plan was to head to Mahatma Gandhi's ashram, since he had always been an inspiration to us, and then walk South. Between the two of us, we budgeted a dollar a day, mostly for incidentals -- which meant that for our survival we had to depend utterly on the kindness of strangers. We ate whatever food was offered and slept wherever place was offered. 

Now, I do have to say, such ideas come with a warning: Do not try this at home, because your partner might not exactly welcome this kind of honeymoon. :-)

For us, this walk was a pilgrimage -- and our goal was simply to be in a space larger than our egos, and to allow that compassion to guide us in unscripted acts of service along the way. Stripped entirely of our comfort zone and accustomed identities, could we still "keep it real"? That was our challenge.

We ended up walking 1000 kilometers over three months. In that period, we encountered the very best and the very worst of human nature -- not just in others, but also within ourselves.

Soon after we ended the pilgrimage, my uncle casually popped the million dollar question at the dinner table: "So, Nipun, what did you learn from this walk?" 

I didn't know where to begin. But quite spontaneously, an acronym -- W-A-L-K -- came to mind, which encompassed the key lessons we had learned, and continue to relearn, even to this day. As you start the next phase of your journey, I want to share those nuggets with the hope that it might illuminate your path in some small way too.

W - Witness
A - Accept
L - Love
K - Know yourself

The W in WALK stands for Witness. When you walk, you quite literally see more. Your field of vision is nearly 180 degrees, compared to 40 degrees when you're traveling at 62 mph. Higher speeds smudge our peripheral vision, whereas walking actually broadens your canvas and dramatically shifts the objects of your attention. For instance, on our pilgrimage, we would notice the sunrise everyday, and how, at sunset, the birds would congregate for a little party of their own. Instead of adding Facebook friends online, we were actually making friends in person, often over a cup of hot "chai". Life around us came alive in a new way. 

A walking pace is the speed of community. Where high speeds facilitate separation, a slower pace gifts us an opportunity to commune. 

As we traversed rural India at the speed of a couple of miles per hour, it became clear how much we could learn simply by bearing witness to the villagers' way of life. Their entire mental model is different -- the multiplication of wants is replaced by the basic fulfillment of human needs.When you are no longer preoccupied with asking for more and more stuff; then you just take what is given and give what is taken. Life is simple again. A farmer explained it to us this way: "You cannot make the clouds rain more, you cannot make the sun shine less. They are just nature's gifts -- take it or leave it." 

When the things around you are seen as gifts, they are no longer a means to an end; they are the means and the end. And thus, a cow-herder will tend to his animals with the compassion of a father, a village woman will wait 3 hours for a delayed bus without a trace of anger, a child will spend countless hours fascinated by stars in the galaxy, and finding his place in the vast cosmos.

So with today's modernized tools at your ready disposal, don't let yourself zoom obliviously from point A to point B on the highways of life; try walking the backroads of the world, where you will witness a profoundly inextricable connection with all living things. 

The A in WALK stands for Accept. When walking in this way, you place yourself in the palm of the universe, and face its realities head on. We walked at the peak of summer, in merciless temperatures hovering above 120 degrees. Sometimes we were hungry, exhausted and even frustrated. Our bodies ached for just that extra drink of water, a few more moments in the shade, or just that little spark of human kindness. Many times we received that extra bit, and our hearts would overflow with gratitude. But sometimes we were abruptly refused, and we had to cultivate the capacity to accept the gifts hidden in even the most challenging of moments.

I remember one such day, when we approached a rest house along a barren highway. As heavy trucks whizzed past, we saw a sign, announcing that guests were hosted at no charge. "Ah, our lucky day," we thought in delight. I stepped inside eagerly. The man behind the desk looked up and asked sharply, "Are you here to see the temple?" A simple yes from my lips would have instantly granted us a full meal and a room for the night. But it wouldn't have been the truth. So instead, I said, "Well, technically, no sir. We're on a walking pilgrimage to become better people. But we would be glad to visit the temple." Rather abruptly, he retorted: "Um, sorry, we can't host you." Something about his curt arrogance triggered a slew of negative emotions. I wanted to make a snide remark in return and slam the door on my way out. Instead, I held my raging ego in check. In that state of physical and mental exhaustion, it felt like a Herculean task-- but through the inner turmoil a voice surfaced within, telling me to accept the reality of this moment.

There was a quiet metamorphosis in me. I humbly let go of my defenses, accepted my fate that day, and turned to leave without a murmur. Perhaps the man behind the counter sensed this shift in me, because he yelled out just then, "So what exactly are you doing again?" After my brief explanation he said, "Look, I can't feed you or host you, because rules are rules. But there are restrooms out in the back. You could sleep outside the male restroom and your wife can sleep outside the female restroom." Though he was being kind, his offer felt like salt in my wounds. We had no choice but to accept. 

That day we fasted and that night, we slept by the bathrooms. A small lie could've bought us an upgrade, but that would've been no pilgrimage. As I went to sleep with a wall separating me from my wife, I had this beautiful, unbidden vision of a couple climbing to the top of a mountain from two different sides. Midway through this difficult ascent, as the man contemplated giving up, a small sparrow flew by with this counsel, "Don't quit now, friend. Your wife is eager to see you at the top." He kept climbing. A few days later, when the wife found herself on the brink of quitting, the little sparrow showed up with the same message. Step by step, their love sustained their journey all the way to the mountaintop. Visited by the timely grace of this vision, I shed a few grateful tears -- and this story became a touchstone not only in our relationship, but many other noble friendships as well.

So I encourage you to cultivate equanimity and accept whatever life tosses into your laps -- when you do that, you will be blessed with the insight of an inner transformation that is yours to keep for all of time.

The L in WALK stands for Love. The more we learned from nature, and built a kind of inner resilience to external circumstances, the more we fell into our natural state -- which was to be loving. In our dominant paradigm, Hollywood has insidiously co-opted the word, but the love I'm talking about here is the kind of love that only knows one thing -- to give with no strings attached. Purely. Selflessly. 

Most of us believe that to give, we first need to have something to give. The trouble with that is, that when we are taking stock of what we have, we almost always make accounting errors. Oscar Wilde once quipped, "Now-a-days, people know the price of everything, but the value of nothing." We have forgotten how to value things without a price tag. Hence, when we get to our most abundant gifts -- like attention, insight, compassion -- we confuse their worth because they're, well, priceless. 

On our walking pilgrimage, we noticed that those who had the least were most readily equipped to honor the priceless. In urban cities, the people we encountered began with an unspoken wariness: "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?" In the countryside, on the other hand, villagers almost always met us with an open-hearted curiosity launching straight in with: "Hey buddy, you don't look local. What's your story?" 

In the villages, your worth wasn't assessed by your business card, professional network or your salary. That innate simplicity allowed them to love life and cherish all its connections. 

Extremely poor villagers, who couldn't even afford their own meals, would often borrow food from their neighbors to feed us. When we tried to refuse, they would simply explain: "To us, the guest is God. This is our offering to the divine in you that connects us to each other." Now, how could one refuse that? Street vendors often gifted us vegetables; in a very touching moment, an armless fruit-seller once insisted on giving us a slice of watermelon. Everyone, no matter how old, would be overjoyed to give us directions, even when they weren't fully sure of them. :) And I still remember the woman who generously gave us water when we were extremely thirsty -- only to later discover that she had to walk 10 kilometers at 4AM to get that one bucket of water. These people knew how to give, not because they had a lot, but because they knew how to love life. They didn't need any credit or assurance that you would ever return to pay them back. Rather, they just trusted in the pay-it-forward circle of giving.

When you come alive in this way, you'll realize that true generosity doesn't start when you have some thing to give, but rather when there's nothing in you that's trying to take. So I hope that you will make all your precious moments an expression of loving life.

And lastly, the K in WALK stands for Know Thyself. 

Sages have long informed us that when we serve others unconditionally, we shift from the me-to-the-we and connect more deeply with the other. That matrix of inter-connections allows for a profound quality of mental quietude. Like a still lake undisturbed by waves or ripples, we are then able to see clearly into who we are and how we can live in deep harmony with the environment around us.

When one foot walks, the other rests. Doing and being have to be in balance. 

Our rational mind wants to rightfully ensure progress, but our intuitive mind also needs space for the emergent, unknown and unplanned to arise. Doing is certainly important, but when we aren't aware of our internal ecosystem, we get so vested in our plans and actions, that we don't notice the buildup of mental residue. Over time, that unconscious internal noise starts polluting our motivations, our ethics and our spirit. And so, it is critical to still the mind. A melody, after all, can only be created with the silence in between the notes. 

As we walked -- witnessed, accepted, loved -- our vision of the world indeed grew clearer. That clarity, paradoxically enough, blurred our previous distinctions between me versus we, inner transformation versus external impact, and selfishness versus selflessness. They were inextricably connected. When a poor farmer gave me a tomato as a parting gift, with tears rolling down his eyes, was I receiving or giving? When sat for hours in silent meditation, was the benefit solely mine or would it ripple out into the world? When I lifted the haystack off an old man's head and carried it for a kilometer, was I serving him or serving myself?

Which is to say, don't just go through life -- grow through life. It will be easy and tempting for you to arrive at reflexive answers -- but make it a point, instead, to acknowledge mystery and welcome rich questions ... questions that nudge you towards a greater understanding of this world and your place in it.

That's W-A-L-K. And today, at this momentous milestone of your life, you came in walking and you will go out walking. As you walk on into a world that is increasingly aiming to move beyond the speed of thought, I hope you will each remember the importance of traveling at the speed of thoughtfulness. I hope that you will take time to witness our magnificent interconnections. That you will accept the beautiful gifts of life even when they aren't pretty, that you will practice loving selflessly and strive to know your deepest nature. 

I want to close with a story about my great grandfather. He was a man of little wealth who still managed to give every single day of his life. Each morning, he had a ritual of going on a walk -- and as he walked, he diligently fed the ant hills along his path with small pinches of wheat flour. Now that is an act of micro generosity so small that it might seem utterly negligible, in the grand scheme of the universe. How does it matter? It matters in that it changed him inside. And my great grandfather's goodness shaped the worldview of my grandparents who in turn influenced that of their children -- my parents. Today those ants and the ant hills are gone, but my great grandpa's spirit is very much embedded in all my actions and their future ripples. It is precisely these small, often invisible, acts of inner transformation that mold the stuff of our being, and bend the arc of our shared destiny. 

On your walk, today and always, I wish you the eyes to see the anthills and the heart to feed them with joy. 

May you be blessed. Change yourself -- change the world.

As Nipun Mehta closed this one-of-a-kind Graduation Day speech, the sea of cap and gowned UPenn students rose to their feet for a standing ovation. Nipun is the founder of ServiceSpace.org, a nonprofit that works at the intersection of gift-economy, technology and volunteerism. His popular TED talk Designing for Generosity provides an overview of their work and guiding principles.

Cult Girl | Ahmadiyya: SISTA'S SUNDAYS: Ahmadi Muslim Martyrs

Cult Girl | Ahmadiyya: SISTA'S SUNDAYS: Ahmadi Muslim Martyrs: A photo which was widely circulated by the media of two family members of the 28th May martyr s Tomorrow will mark two years since the ...

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Re: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...

Assalamu alaikum!

I don't know why you can't stick to English when responding to my emails. I think I've told you previously that when I went to school, Swahili had not been introduced yet and hence, do not speak or understand the language properly.

I would appreciate it if you would keep this in mind when corresponding with me.

Your latest email is mostly written in Swahili and therefore am totally at sea as to what you're trying to say.

I do not believe in tribalism as we are all first and foremost KENYANS and then anything else. Now, regarding our so-called representatives in govt., - that is totally our problem (Coast Province), and we have nobody to blame but ourselves for electing half baked (both in literacy and morals), people. Despite knowing what and who were trying to stand for 'office', we still got carried away and put them there! I for one have been writing about this issue even supported by photographic evidence, but, NOBODY has paid any attention to what I wrote.

If you'll visit my blog and get to the election years, you'll find all of this info, there. Please visit my blog and read what I've photographed and written over the YEARS!!!

Btw, my blog address is - http://kenyanjustice.blogspot.com/

Do people at the Coast Province, especially, really have a criteria as to whom they will stand behind, i.e. what the person's moral standing is, his/her education, his/her working history, etc.? Or are they just going for loud mouths, i.e. people claiming what they can do for us? What proof can they offer us?

Btw, what is Suleiman Shahbal by profession? And how is he in that profession, I mean his reputation, etc. First, does he have a respect for time? And what has he delivered till now other than promises like all the others?

Believe me, I refuse totally to go and grovel at these people's feet or doors to ask for favours and that's probably the reason that our useless Council literally stole my council flat and everything that it contained on the 31st of Dec 2009. You'll find that account, too, in my blog. And did you know that this Council still has not answered the lawyer's letter that was sent to them, i.e. the current Town Clerk, Mr. Tubman Otieno?

Now, I hope and pray that you will begin to understand why I have no time for politicians, especially the Kenyan variety!

Salaams,
Raziya

On 6/2/2012 11:29 AM, Hussein A Abbas Al Hussein wrote:

Waalaykum Salam ,

Dear Raziya ,

Am with you 100% but some times we have to face them as when you go to those
who are suppose to service us they will tell you why don't you go to your area leader etc .

One thing I want you to know is that , we are going to face them on such problems
and ask them what have they done ???. Am keeping all the informations and then fire
them when the day comes and they stand to ask for our votes .

Raziya , I said Gov to be Suleman Shahbal Inshallah , cause when you look at the person
face you can judge him/her . We are grown up people . The way how he talks what in
short period he has done . Well we are not sure he will do the job as required , but we
have to change them all the old ones they go and rest now even though they have done
nothing . We have suffer allot its really shame to them when they stand am the MP of
so and so while for the last foru 4 years they have not had any meeting to face their
people and know what is their problems . Sasa now they have start to shower some funds
come to the meeting so and so is coming to hear them . Just imagine who is coming a
person from up Country and representing us here in Mombasa or Coast Province what
they need is their people to vote for them . The problem we as Coast People don't come
out in force to vote so we will be like this suffering and no one to help us .

Just look like Mombasa now chafu haina maana hatta niaibu na look who are the leaders
most of them jamaa zetu lakini hawana maana kazi zao kufuwata matajiri ku renew licence
zao na kupasisha majumba yao wajenge watakavo . leo nyumba ghorofa 4 hatta lift haina
shariya ile ya Council kuwa nyumba onlyghorofa 3 ndiyo ambayo hazina haja kuwa na Lift.
leo mtu aumwa na yuko ghorofa ya 4 hatta akifika chini jee atakuwa hai kama ni serious ???.
Haya twendeni tutafika .   

Rgds

Hussein Abbas    

Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 22:34:07 +0300
From: rmohamedali@gmail.com
To: alhussein656@msn.com
CC: amutua@comms.go.ke; ss@gcaf.co; muhammaddor@yahoo.com; customercaremombasa@kplc.co.ke; h.khalid@muhuri.org; info@oldtownyouth.org; mtondoniyouth@hotmail.com; tubmun@gmail.com
Subject: Re: FW: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...

Assalamu alaikum!

Why should we ask politicians' help in solving our perpetual power or any other service problem? This is exactly why they seem to be under the impression that they are indispensable and get a big head like they are God's gift to us!

This is also why every service provision in this country gets politicized, too. Until and unless these questionable politicos get involved NOTHING gets done and that too if they think that the people demanding service are on their side. If, God forbid, they are not, then, no service or justice for them!!!

The so-called service providers should and MUST, as part of their work and profession deliver the service. Not because of some overly paid, useless politician, most of whom are out there simply spewing hot air and polluting the atmosphere with all talk and hardly any actual ACTION!!!

I simply have no use for them. The upcoming ones (who are not re-cycled), will have to really work hard, before, during and after (if they get elected), to convince me, at least, that they are any different from all the current ones. Also, why are you calling Mr. Suleiman Shahbal, Governor? He's not one, yet! And I think most Kenyans have now come of age regarding this and I have lots of company in my way of thinking.

As I've said many, many times, I'm very, very tired and FED UP of what we currently have out there.

Salaams,
Raziya

On 6/1/2012 8:35 PM, Hussein A Abbas Al Hussein wrote:

Dear Dr. Alfred Mutua ,

We need your help please its really too much now .

We also kindly request Gov. to be Suleman Shahbal and Hon Shk Dor 
to follow up with KPLC what's going on with them they know how
to charge and bring Bills for 3 months at one go . Delay in payment
the power goes out without any delays . This problem is because
of the building coming up on daily basis and also buildings going
high to 4/5 without lifts . How come this Municipality approved such
buildings ???. No plan nor thinking even kwa inside areas like Old Town
let them visit and see how the buildings are coming .

We also kindly request the Human Rights expert to do the same .
Let all of them come back with the report . What are they doing in such
situations .

Hussein Abbas
KADDU , NEC Member and Rep. for Coast Province
Mobile : 0720612905
Mombasa , Kenya

 


Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 23:56:01 +0300
From: rmohamedali@gmail.com
To:
Subject: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...
Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 23:53:40 +0300
From: Raziya <rmohamedali@gmail.com>
To: Harry M. Vidzo <hvidzo@kplc.co.ke>, Aggrey Machasio <amachasio@kplc.co.ke>, Ben Chumo <bchumo@kplc.co.ke>, Bomba Mahaga <rmahaga@kplc.co.ke>, Eng. John Ombui <jombui@kplc.co.ke>, Eng. Joseph K. Njoroge <jnjoroge@kplc.co.ke>, Haid Yusuf <yhaid@kplc.co.ke>, David Cheloti <DCheloti@KPLC.co.ke>, Florence Obura <FObura@KPLC.co.ke>, Kimeu Mbaluka <KMbaluka@KPLC.co.ke>, Loice Ngugi <LNgugi@KPLC.co.ke>, Migwi Theuri <MTheuri@KPLC.co.ke>, pwambua@kplc.co.ke, Benson Muriithi <BMuriithi@KPLC.co.ke>, Faith Njuguna <fnjuguna@kplc.co.ke>, Fanuel Tsuma <FTsuma@kplc.co.ke>, Rosemary Gitonga <RGitonga@KPLC.co.ke>, National Assembly <bunge@swiftkenya.com>
CC: Sisuel Ong'era <sidobosire@yahoo.com>, K24 Television - Dihoff Mukoto <di_ho_ff@yahoo.com>, sundaynation@nation.co.ke, weekend@nairobistar.com, COASTWEEK <coastwk@africaonline.co.ke>, kenyatimesonline@yahoo.com, mmwende@yahoo.com, Catherine Gicheru <catherine.gicheru@the-star.co.ke>, mwangiayub@gmail.com, vipslit@yahoo.ca, ntv@nation.co.ke, ronklif@yahoo.com, The Star <newsdesk@nairobistar.com>, Wanjiru <wanjiru.kinoti@nairobistar.com>, "Oscar - Editor, Fountain Media (The Speaker Newspaper)" <fountainmedia@fep-group.com>, Maria/Fakhru Kaderbhai <maria@civiconkenya.com>, 'Ann Wambua' <holwg@yahoo.com>, 'Steven Ogwapit' <steven@architronic-ke.com>, 'Dan Abwao' <danabwao@hotmail.com>, 'Timothy Mugo' <timothymugoh@yahoo.com>, 'Dhiru Shah' <jj@wananchi.com>, 'Donato Fonseca' <marajani@marajani.com>, "'Dr. Hemant Patel'" <hemantpatel@kioskafrica.com>, "'Dr. R S Marjan'" <drrsmarjan@yahoo.com>, "'Dr. S. S. Dhillon'" <dhillon@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Sarah Spacer' <coco@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Faiyaz Anjarwalla' <faiyaz@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Timothy Mugo' <t.mugo@mombasawater.co.ke>, 'Gurdeep Nayer' <pirates@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Heinz muller' <heinz.mueller@interfreight2000.com>, 'Sadiq Ghalia' <law@ghalia.com>, 'Jenny Somji' <somco@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Kuldip Soar' <kuldip@africaonline.co.ke>, 'kuldipsoar' <kuldipsoar@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Lisa Nesbitt' <lawnes@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Mahesh Dhutia' <mahesh@dhutia.com>, 'Marwan Mishah' <info@solarteknowledge.com>, 'Ravi Bhagat' <urjadistributors@gmail.com>, Toby <refcoservices@gmail.com>, jazzpolo@yahoo.com, Christine Obiya <info@amazingspace.co.ke>, Caroline Gommans <carolgommans@yahoo.com>, Gulsun Ahmed - Standard Newspapers <Gulsunahmed@gmail.com>, Miriam Shivachi <Macleanlaundry@gmail.com>, Insiya <inzo_04@hotmail.co.uk>, vnmulji@africaonline.co.ke


'Evening!

Since the beginning of this week, our redoubtable 'power' company has again started it's obnoxious business of plunging most of North Coast into darkness without a word of warning, apology or explanation.

As usual, their phones go unanswered for HOURS on end and when finally, one is picked up, they can offer no explanation or even be able to tell us when we'll return to the 21st Century, again from the dark ages!

It seems that Kenya Power, like the National Security, has a policy of being highly secretive about it's operations. The last time (about a week ago), when they gave a full page advert/explanation by their CEO in the Weekend Star, I even felt a twinge of guilt for picking on them everytime we have an outage, but, not anymore. Not after the past couple of days and especially today.

How can a power company which charges an arm and a leg function in such an unprofessional, unethical, irresponsible and haphazard manner? How dare they have such insolent employees who do not care about answering their phones, who have phantom emergency numbers which hardly ever work or are answered effectively (they have discovered the automated answer system which tells you to wait till a line is free and one can hold on for ages as though one was calling a toll-free number), and satisfactorily from the customer's point of view, of course.

In fact, should we miraculously manage to get through to a human at the emergency number, we will find that they are totally at sea regarding your outage! They are a very frustrating lot while some are quite impertinent, too.

Just before I started writing this email, we had two very quick outages of a couple of minutes. Why? After all, we haven't had power most of the day starting very early in the morning around 4.30 am. Of course, as I mentioned earlier we've been having early morning outages the past couple of days and also later in the evening around sunset. And while today's first outage lasted for nearly 5 hours (it came back at around 10.45 am), we lost it again, after an hour, and it continued that way - off and on for most of the day.

How long is this going to continue and at what point will Kenya Power get its act together and give us a continuous and predictable supply without suddenly without warning force us to travel through time (they've discovered the secret of time travel of science fiction!), when artificial light/electricity had not been discovered, yet?

And yes, those people of yester years were also as uncouth as the employees of Kenya Power in the way they treated others.

Raziya

Re: FW: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...

Assalamu alaikum!

Why should we ask politicians' help in solving our perpetual power or any other service problem? This is exactly why they seem to be under the impression that they are indispensable and get a big head like they are God's gift to us!

This is also why every service provision in this country gets politicized, too. Until and unless these questionable politicos get involved NOTHING gets done and that too if they think that the people demanding service are on their side. If, God forbid, they are not, then, no service or justice for them!!!

The so-called service providers should and MUST, as part of their work and profession deliver the service. Not because of some overly paid, useless politician, most of whom are out there simply spewing hot air and polluting the atmosphere with all talk and hardly any actual ACTION!!!

I simply have no use for them. The upcoming ones (who are not re-cycled), will have to really work hard, before, during and after (if they get elected), to convince me, at least, that they are any different from all the current ones. Also, why are you calling Mr. Suleiman Shahbal, Governor? He's not one, yet! And I think most Kenyans have now come of age regarding this and I have lots of company in my way of thinking.

As I've said many, many times, I'm very, very tired and FED UP of what we currently have out there.

Salaams,
Raziya

On 6/1/2012 8:35 PM, Hussein A Abbas Al Hussein wrote:

Dear Dr. Alfred Mutua ,

We need your help please its really too much now .

We also kindly request Gov. to be Suleman Shahbal and Hon Shk Dor 
to follow up with KPLC what's going on with them they know how
to charge and bring Bills for 3 months at one go . Delay in payment
the power goes out without any delays . This problem is because
of the building coming up on daily basis and also buildings going
high to 4/5 without lifts . How come this Municipality approved such
buildings ???. No plan nor thinking even kwa inside areas like Old Town
let them visit and see how the buildings are coming .

We also kindly request the Human Rights expert to do the same .
Let all of them come back with the report . What are they doing in such
situations .

Hussein Abbas
KADDU , NEC Member and Rep. for Coast Province
Mobile : 0720612905
Mombasa , Kenya

 


Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 23:56:01 +0300
From: rmohamedali@gmail.com
To:
Subject: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: The opaque workings of Kenya Power...
Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 23:53:40 +0300
From: Raziya <rmohamedali@gmail.com>
To: Harry M. Vidzo <hvidzo@kplc.co.ke>, Aggrey Machasio <amachasio@kplc.co.ke>, Ben Chumo <bchumo@kplc.co.ke>, Bomba Mahaga <rmahaga@kplc.co.ke>, Eng. John Ombui <jombui@kplc.co.ke>, Eng. Joseph K. Njoroge <jnjoroge@kplc.co.ke>, Haid Yusuf <yhaid@kplc.co.ke>, David Cheloti <DCheloti@KPLC.co.ke>, Florence Obura <FObura@KPLC.co.ke>, Kimeu Mbaluka <KMbaluka@KPLC.co.ke>, Loice Ngugi <LNgugi@KPLC.co.ke>, Migwi Theuri <MTheuri@KPLC.co.ke>, pwambua@kplc.co.ke, Benson Muriithi <BMuriithi@KPLC.co.ke>, Faith Njuguna <fnjuguna@kplc.co.ke>, Fanuel Tsuma <FTsuma@kplc.co.ke>, Rosemary Gitonga <RGitonga@KPLC.co.ke>, National Assembly <bunge@swiftkenya.com>
CC: Sisuel Ong'era <sidobosire@yahoo.com>, K24 Television - Dihoff Mukoto <di_ho_ff@yahoo.com>, sundaynation@nation.co.ke, weekend@nairobistar.com, COASTWEEK <coastwk@africaonline.co.ke>, kenyatimesonline@yahoo.com, mmwende@yahoo.com, Catherine Gicheru <catherine.gicheru@the-star.co.ke>, mwangiayub@gmail.com, vipslit@yahoo.ca, ntv@nation.co.ke, ronklif@yahoo.com, The Star <newsdesk@nairobistar.com>, Wanjiru <wanjiru.kinoti@nairobistar.com>, "Oscar - Editor, Fountain Media (The Speaker Newspaper)" <fountainmedia@fep-group.com>, Maria/Fakhru Kaderbhai <maria@civiconkenya.com>, 'Ann Wambua' <holwg@yahoo.com>, 'Steven Ogwapit' <steven@architronic-ke.com>, 'Dan Abwao' <danabwao@hotmail.com>, 'Timothy Mugo' <timothymugoh@yahoo.com>, 'Dhiru Shah' <jj@wananchi.com>, 'Donato Fonseca' <marajani@marajani.com>, "'Dr. Hemant Patel'" <hemantpatel@kioskafrica.com>, "'Dr. R S Marjan'" <drrsmarjan@yahoo.com>, "'Dr. S. S. Dhillon'" <dhillon@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Sarah Spacer' <coco@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Faiyaz Anjarwalla' <faiyaz@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Timothy Mugo' <t.mugo@mombasawater.co.ke>, 'Gurdeep Nayer' <pirates@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Heinz muller' <heinz.mueller@interfreight2000.com>, 'Sadiq Ghalia' <law@ghalia.com>, 'Jenny Somji' <somco@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Kuldip Soar' <kuldip@africaonline.co.ke>, 'kuldipsoar' <kuldipsoar@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Lisa Nesbitt' <lawnes@africaonline.co.ke>, 'Mahesh Dhutia' <mahesh@dhutia.com>, 'Marwan Mishah' <info@solarteknowledge.com>, 'Ravi Bhagat' <urjadistributors@gmail.com>, Toby <refcoservices@gmail.com>, jazzpolo@yahoo.com, Christine Obiya <info@amazingspace.co.ke>, Caroline Gommans <carolgommans@yahoo.com>, Gulsun Ahmed - Standard Newspapers <Gulsunahmed@gmail.com>, Miriam Shivachi <Macleanlaundry@gmail.com>, Insiya <inzo_04@hotmail.co.uk>, vnmulji@africaonline.co.ke


'Evening!

Since the beginning of this week, our redoubtable 'power' company has again started it's obnoxious business of plunging most of North Coast into darkness without a word of warning, apology or explanation.

As usual, their phones go unanswered for HOURS on end and when finally, one is picked up, they can offer no explanation or even be able to tell us when we'll return to the 21st Century, again from the dark ages!

It seems that Kenya Power, like the National Security, has a policy of being highly secretive about it's operations. The last time (about a week ago), when they gave a full page advert/explanation by their CEO in the Weekend Star, I even felt a twinge of guilt for picking on them everytime we have an outage, but, not anymore. Not after the past couple of days and especially today.

How can a power company which charges an arm and a leg function in such an unprofessional, unethical, irresponsible and haphazard manner? How dare they have such insolent employees who do not care about answering their phones, who have phantom emergency numbers which hardly ever work or are answered effectively (they have discovered the automated answer system which tells you to wait till a line is free and one can hold on for ages as though one was calling a toll-free number), and satisfactorily from the customer's point of view, of course.

In fact, should we miraculously manage to get through to a human at the emergency number, we will find that they are totally at sea regarding your outage! They are a very frustrating lot while some are quite impertinent, too.

Just before I started writing this email, we had two very quick outages of a couple of minutes. Why? After all, we haven't had power most of the day starting very early in the morning around 4.30 am. Of course, as I mentioned earlier we've been having early morning outages the past couple of days and also later in the evening around sunset. And while today's first outage lasted for nearly 5 hours (it came back at around 10.45 am), we lost it again, after an hour, and it continued that way - off and on for most of the day.

How long is this going to continue and at what point will Kenya Power get its act together and give us a continuous and predictable supply without suddenly without warning force us to travel through time (they've discovered the secret of time travel of science fiction!), when artificial light/electricity had not been discovered, yet?

And yes, those people of yester years were also as uncouth as the employees of Kenya Power in the way they treated others.

Raziya