Nairobi Star Tuesday, 27 January 2009
15
Hyour letters
Regency sale
report not
convincing
The report on the sale of the
Grand Regency Hotel (now
Laico Regency) that was
published by the media at
the weekend was not only
baffling, but to say the least
strange.
Assuming that what the
media published was the
same report that the Cockar
Commission presented to
President Mwai Kibaki, then
this report leaves a lot to be
desired.
There is a rumour that
what was published by the
media was a ‘doctored’
report.
Right from the start of the
commission’s hearings,
it was clear that its find-
ings would be used to settle
political scores.
The report is contradic-
tory and can be faulted for a
number of reasons.
In its findings, the com-
mission has stated that the
Public Procurement and
Disposals Act (PPOA) does
not govern the procurement
of real property.
It further states that CBK
could have circumvented the
said Act in the sale of the
hotel.
If there is no law by PPOA
governing the sale of public
real property, how could
CBK have circumvented a
non-existent law?
In a country where politi-
cal and economic lynching
has become a way of life, it
would appear that the report
that the media published is
part of this new culture.
NICHOLAS MUE,
Via E-Mail.
We should not advocate for
capital punishment. Those
who are for it are enemies
of humanity. If one makes a
mistake, we need to reha-
bilitate him or her using the
right means. Everybody has
a right to life and we cannot
compromise this. We need
to come up with rules and
regulations on how to reha-
bilitate death-row inmates.
Life imprisonment may do.
The process of rehabilitat-
ing the inmates must be
reform-oriented.
Zadock Odhiambo,
45, Manager, Nairobi.
Expanding the harmonization committee is unlikely to stop feuding between the two coalition partners.
Instant fines can stop traffic cops bribery
We all expect that the very
day we give our policemen
power to impose instant
fines on traffic offenders is
the day we will have given
them licence to demand more
bribes. But will we just sit
there and condemn the traffic
police as the No.1 most cor-
rupt state department in the
country every year? No. We
must move forward and find
better ways of rehabilitating
corrupt police officers.
One way of reforming our
traffic police is to entrust
them with greater respon-
sibility. And that is why I
support the introduction of
on-the-spot fines.
Capital punishment should be
upheld in Kenya. It will help us
wipe out criminals who are
always terrorising us. If one
is a murderer, he should also
be murdered. The President
should order the hanging of
all those in prison because
of murder. If he does that,
we will have a society free of
wrong-doers. For those in jail
because they were wrongly
convicted, let them just
accept the way things are
because nothing good comes
without sacrifice.
Josephine Kathambi,
26, Banker, Kayole.
Write to us at: The Nairobi Star, Lion Place, Waiyaki Way. Nairobi or e-mail to letters@nairobistar.com Fax 4447410
Thriving: Traffic police collected Sh434m as fines last year.
In fact, we will not even posed on motorists last year
necessarily have to recruit was Sh434 million. Instant
more policemen but employ fines have the potential of
our many youths to serve as raising more revenue.
traffic wardens. According
to police records, the total Esther Kirotwa,
amount of traffic fines im- Adams Arcade.
Should Kenya abolish
capital punishment?
Hnew voices
HSTAR COMMENT Capital punishment should not be
exercised in Kenya. This is an inhuman and unnatural
practice. It is wrong to punish some
one by hanging him or by life im-
prisonment no matter the gravity
of the matter. We should look for
a way to correct wrong-doers
and not to kill them as they are
an integral part of the society.
Capital punishment does not also
help minimise crime as one can
commit a crime and escape. It also
does not give the victim a chance to
change. It can also be used mali-
ciously by one’s enemy.
Joseph Wanyoike, 27,
Economist, Nairobi.
Who muffled
clerics’ voices?
Where are the clergy? Were
they silenced by the shock
of the post-election violence.
Our church leaders have so
far not commented on the
rampant corruption within
the coalition government?
Are the clerics no longer our
crusaders of justice? In 2007,
they were always holding
meetings declaring their
stance on national matters.
What has happened now?
Can they even speak about
famine?
Winnie Zaweda,
Lamu.
We should not go to the
extent of killing our brothers
and sisters in the name of
capital punishment. This will
be opening up an avenue for
human rights abuse. Capital
punishment should be applied
selectively. The incorrigible
ones should be hanged and
those who can be corrected
rehabilitated. I believe if we do
it this way, we will have a fair
and just society. The President
should sign a selective law
where only bad people are
killed.
Dianna Musyoka,
24, Secretary, Nairobi.
STAR POINTS
H
Kenya will be truly
an accountable and
transparent state
the day we stop appoint-
ing ministers to balance the
tribal equation rather than
on the basis of merit. I have
given up hoping that one day
this country will have leaders
who value meritocracy.
Rose Kiilu,
Ziwani.
H
I thank President
Kibaki for appoint-
ing Beatrice Kones to
replace the late assistant min-
ister Lorna Laboso. How-
ever, Kibaki should do more
to increase appointments of
women to top seats.
Joylin Chemutai,
Westlands.
H
Was the Jua Kali in-
dustry another failed
Nyayo project? I say
this because it has clearly
been ignored since President
Kibaki came to power. Our
artisans innovate various
implements everyday yet
they are not recognised by
the government.
Victor Kibor,
Highrise.
H
What’s the use of
having useless com-
missions of inquiry
when all we get are empty
reports? Aren’t wananchi
being cheated everyday that
problems are being solved
when it’s clear the state
wants to hush up things.
What was the use of the
Cockar commission?
Eunice Moraa,
Karen.
He who lives by the sword
dies by the sword. Capital
punishment should be
championed for it helps
wipe out criminal activities.
Imagine the serial killers
and murderers who have
killed innocent people and
made others orphans and
widows. Strangle all these
bad people. The President
should order all the death-
row inmates in Kamiti and
other maximum security
prisons to be hanged with-
out further delay.
Maurice Evelia,
25, Accountant, Nairobi.