Street protests ‘are not good’
Two vehicles torched amid protests on June 12th 2025 along Nkrumah Lane in Nairobi.
Protests • Street protests “are not good at all”, says Alnashir D. Walji. “As people engage police in running battles, live bullets are fired, tear gas canisters lobbed and water cannons used to quell riots. There is destruction of property, injuries and deaths. Peaceful demos are allowed for grievances to be aired. It’s the epitome of democracy, but let peace prevail!” His contact is [email protected].
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Police reform • Police should try to regain the respect and public confidence they enjoyed in the 1960s and 1970s before corruption took root, says Jim Webo. “Growing up in Nairobi’s Eastlands in Jericho, I recall police summoning suspects to Jogoo Road Police Station for questioning. If someone had a grievance against another, he simply reported to them and it would be amicably resolved.”
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Potholed road • Sections of the Kakamega-Mumias highway under the Kenya National Highways Authority are in a horrible state, says Charles Akelo. “At Shibuli trading centre, the huge potholes that are posing a grave danger to motorists should be repaired. Some years ago, a contractor used to carry out routine maintenance. This is no longer the case nowadays.” His contact is [email protected].
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Disorder • The Kitengela-Isinya route matatu crews overload despite the presence of traffic police at the termini and along the road, says M. Kariuki. “The touts are rude and drivers flout traffic rules. Can the National Transport and Safety Authority and Kenya National Highways Authority bring about some order if the traffic officers have all been pocketed?” His contact is [email protected].
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Honouring Ngugi • Dying to see Ngugi wa Thiong’o honoured posthumously in Nairobi, Fred Njuki says he first read his novel The River Between while he was in primary school. “Ngugi made me fall in love with literature. I later read A Grain of Wheat, Devil on the Cross and nearly all his other books. A befitting tribute would be to name a major road after him.” His contact is [email protected].
Have a memorable day, won’t you!