Nairobi News

Lower charges

The threat by matatu men to collect a million signatures, initiating the process of removing Governor Evans Kidero from office was a sign that they had their backs against the wall, said Alex Mutuku.

It would be folly for Dr Kidero to dismiss the threat as isolated and empty, he cautioned adding that every Nairobian was feeling the weight of the extra charges introduced by the county government.

“It seems to me that the calls by the operators for the governor to lower the charges to enable them walk home with some money to feed their families at the end of the day is not unreasonable,” Mr Mutuku said.

“If Dr Kidero insists on taxing all of us to abject poverty, then soon he will have more than just matatu men calling for his sacking.”

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Surrender value

Anthony Thiong’o said he was a bitter man after he diligently saved with Britam only to be denied a refund of his money when he put up a request. He took out a policy in 2008 and for a year paid a monthly Sh15,000 premium.

In the second year the amount was increased to Sh16,500. “It did not make sense to continue paying when the amount I had contributed so far had hardly earned an interest worth two-months contribution.

I stopped depositing money into my account,” he said. In 2010, he approached the firm for a refund or surrender value, but was asked to pay Sh400,000 in premium arrears.

When he checked in January, the amount had increased to Sh800,000. “Is this how insurance firms make their huge profits?” he asked.

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Automatic refund

Stephen Kimani said he was frustrated by University of Nairobi’s reluctance to refund his caution fee, close to seven months after he graduated from Upper Kabete campus.

In September last year he applied for  the Sh2,000 fee. The secretary at the bursar’s office informed him that it would only take one week to process the dues. On checking with her after a week, she promised to get back to him.

He was yet to receive a call from the institution. “I have since confirmed that other graduates received their caution money. Why can’t the same happen in Kabete?” he asked adding, “this is rightfully my money, and it should have been automatically refunded.”

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Seek court orders

Not unless Senator Mike Sonko has just landed on earth from planet Mars, he should not cry foul for not being consulted before the oppressive Nairobi County Finance Act was passed, said Janet Nandwa.

There was a lot of public outcry over the law even before it was passed and if Mr Sonko was sincere about fighting for the welfare of Nairobians, as he claimed, he should have raised his objections then, she said.

“To now turn around and claim he was side lined by the county administration is unfair,” pointed out Janet. The senator, she advised, should overlook his wounded ego and seek court orders suspending the law.