What justification does the Central Bank have for blocking nearly 100 metres of the pavement at its headquarters, off Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road? asks E. Otieno. And as if that is not bad enough, mean-looking policemen wielding AK-47 rifles have been deployed to ensure no one approaches it. “Is it because of the new paving blocks or sheer contempt for taxpayers? Someone should move the flowerpots and give pedestrians more space.”
The Central Bank, responding to E. Otieno’s criticism about blocking pavements, says it’s about security.
“The Central Bank’s responsibilities, include safeguarding public money. We’ve entered into agreements with councils to secure the pavements at our buildings countrywide. Being a strategic national institution serving banks and the public, this is vital. The stringent security measures are not meant to scare away people,” says the communications office.
The Central Bank’s defence of its blocking of pavements at its headquarters building in Nairobi as a means to enhance security, is not entirely true, says Martin Tairo Maseghe.
He adds: “As architects, we provide for designs that ensure security and leave public spaces (pavements and walkways) to the public. If they feel the space is too limited for their security requirements, they should buy land elsewhere and put up a building to their standards.”
The Constitutional Debate Continues.....
The Parliamentary Select Committee on constitution reform, which is meeting in Naivasha to forge a consensus, has impressed Wamahiu Muya, who has been keenly following reports from his base in Edison, New Jersey, US. Says he: “The PSC has done Kenya proud by expeditiously and deftly handling the document with a non-partisan approach, enabling it to resolve contentious issues, unlike the polarised Committee of Experts, who have rooted either for their party or civil society positions, completely ignoring wananchi’s contributions.”
But not so impressed is Martin Tairo Maseghe, who is convinced that the PSC has taken everybody for a ride by agreeing to have an executive president checked by Parliament and the Judiciary. Says he: “These two institutions have been there all along and only aided the Executive in oppressing Kenyans. What they should have done is provide for ‘real power sharing’, as this has worked since the chaotic 2008 elections, despite the sabotage by those unhappy with it. We need to tame the presidency. That’s why we are changing the Constitution in the first place.”
Published in the Saturday Nation of 30th January, 2010.
But not so impressed is Martin Tairo Maseghe, who is convinced that the PSC has taken everybody for a ride by agreeing to have an executive president checked by Parliament and the Judiciary. Says he: “These two institutions have been there all along and only aided the Executive in oppressing Kenyans. What they should have done is provide for ‘real power sharing’, as this has worked since the chaotic 2008 elections, despite the sabotage by those unhappy with it. We need to tame the presidency. That’s why we are changing the Constitution in the first place.”
Published in the Saturday Nation of 30th January, 2010.
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