FAKE BEGGARS:

FAKE DISABLES BEGGING ON THE STREETS OF NAIROBI

By Maritim Kipngetich

Panhandlers we see on the streets of the Kenyan Capital, Nairobi, may not be physically handicapped as they appear to be.

Some have come to the city streets and pretend to be physically challenged, so that they may get assistance from good Samaritans.

A beggar on the street. Some people have pretended to be physically challenged in order to get assistance.

This morning, a man who has been begging for money along the State House Road near St. Paul Catholic University Chapel, had a rough time after he was forced to stand and move by the city security officers.

The man has been sitting on a dilapidated stretched cotton box from morning to evening everyday for close to two years and begging University of Nairobi (UoN) students and other passersby money, a pedestrian said.

The city Askaris caught him today in the morning and asked him if he was really physically handicapped. After being forced to stand and walk, he was an able man.

The man who identified himself as Jeremiah Kariuki said he has been begging because he has no other job to do.

He said his search for work reached stalemate about four years ago and he had to look for another way of getting money, begging.

“I have been doing this for sometimes now. I manage to go home every evening with some money, though it is hard to get someone who can really help,” Kariuki said.

Kariuki, who said he lives alone in Kibra, leaves his house very early in the morning for town and go back late in the evening every day.

The passersby, who were mainly students from the UoN, were surprised when they witnessed the man they have always known as disable walking comfortably.

Gedison Rono could not hide his laughter. He said the county government should be checking beggars on the streets and it should try to unmask those who are pretending to be physically challenged, yet they are not.

“I didn’t know this man is health and physically fit. The county government should do something to oust this kind of people out of the city, especially out of the city centre,” Rono said.

Kariuki was arrested and taken to police station by county security officers. The officers said they will arraign him in court so that his case can serve as an example to those who pretend to be physically handicapped in order to get assistance from the public.

WASTE BINS:

WASTE BIN, ITS WORK IN VAIN

By Maritim Kipngetich

WASTE BINS: People do not use waste bins in towns. They prefer drawing waste beside them.

Waste bins that have been placed in strategic places in towns may not be serving the purpose they were intended for.

Most people ignore it and most of them are fond of not placing the wastes into the bin. They just walk near it and drop the waste beside the container.

This raises a question, why do people ignore these containers that are meant to make our towns cleaner? Is it true that people do not want their towns clean?

Meet Josphat Kinyanjui, a Nairobi resident, who said some people are just ignoring waste bins intentionally.

“How can you ignore a waste bin and drop whatever you want to draw just besides the container? Some people need to be taught manners. They do this here (Nairobi) intentionally,“ he says.

Kinyanjui says he is impressed about the steps county government has taken so far to deal with those people who draw waste in open places.

“There are these county workers called “kanjo”. They have really assisted in arresting and fining those who break the law of cabbage collection. Most of them are normally caught and taken to police station or they are told to pay instant fine of Ksh500,” Kinyajui says.

Containers that people should use to keep waste. Most people ignore these containers.

Nairobi County has invested millions of money in cabbage collection to make sure that the city is clean. In November last year Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero launched a new waste collection initiative dubbed Nairobi Integrated Urban Government Master plan.

The master was meant to improve the collection, transportation and disposal of wastes.

Cabbage collection project that was meant to eliminate waste within the city was not embraced positively by all people with some saying the bins are not evenly spread within the city.

“You find that waste bins are only concentrated within the city centre. In other parts of the city, one cannot find even one waste bin within a radius of 500 metres,” Elijah Obegi, a businessman in the outskirt of the city, says.

Obegi, however, encouraged people to use the bins if they are near where they are. In his view, if one cannot find the bin after covering some metres one can just dispose whatever waste one is carrying anywhere. He said, this is what is happening on the streets of suburb.

Cabbage collection has been encouraged across all the towns in Kenya and the county governments are the one in charge. This has greatly assisted in cleanness of the towns, although a lot of money is being used in this.

REASONS WHY ONE SHOULD MARRY A TEACHER:

WHY TEACHERS MAKE THE BEST WIVES

By Maritim Kipngetich

A teacher attending to pupils. Kenyan men prefer marrying teachers to ladies from other professions.

When it comes to looking for a lady to marry, men are always careful and those who are intelligent enough must be wary about the profession of a wife one wants to marry.

Naturally, men need a wife who must be at home by 5pm to attend to other chores of the family. Attending kids and preparing food are the topmost duties of a working lady.

Forget statistics and consider anecdotal evidence that has persistently shown that marrying a journalist is more risky in terms of divorce than marrying a teacher or a doctor.

Careers that do not expose women to life in the fast lane are generally preferred. Men also perceive certain careers to have a higher promiscuity index than others. They thus prefer careers where they can easily monitor their wives.

The most favoured career by Kenyan men is teaching. Naturally all men went through the hands of teachers when they were in school. Male teachers are always caring and they play mother role when they are teaching children. Disciplinary actions of female teachers will make one’s children to walk in the straight and narrow way.

A female teacher writing on chalk wall  inside classroom.

Teacher’s paltry monthly income also makes them to make good wives. They are always satisfied with the little amount they get every month.

They have more permanent stations mostly in the countryside, thus one can build a family around their career.

Their profession involves guidance and counselling. This helps in teaching the children virtues, thus they have firsthand impact. Most teachers, especially women will practice what they teach. This makes them the best role models.

By virtue of their career, they have to be upright, so naturally they will make good wives.

They earn paltry monthly income and they are too contented with the job to leave. Generally, they are less materialistic compared to women from other professionals. So as a man if you make less, they will remain faithful and still respect you.

They must become popular around the stations they work in. This reduces the chances of them cheating in marriage. They always strive to build a better image around that community. So as a man, you are likely to be comfortable wherever you are.

HANDKERCHIEFS:

HANDKERCHIEF MAY SEEMS TRIVIAL BUT USEFUL

By Maritim Kipngetich

Handkerchief is one of the things people carry whenever they are moving around. They normally keep it in their pockets or inside a purse. But how functional handkerchief is when it comes to human hygiene? Do people carry it as a show of status or they are carrying it purposely for wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose?

The material of a handkerchief can be symbolic of the social-economic class of the user, not only because some materials are more expensive, but because some materials are more absorbent and practical for those who use a handkerchief for more than style.

In addition to carrying for practical purposes, handkerchiefs have long been displayed in the top pocket of men’s jackets. As a visible fashion item there are a wide variety of ways to fold a pocket square, ranging from the austere to the flamboyant.

Although handkerchief may seem useful and should be part of one’s life, there are people who are never used to carrying handkerchiefs. Meet Gideon Kirui a second year Bachelor of Science student at the University of Nairobi who has never bought a handkerchief in his entire life.

“I don’t see the need of buying a handkerchief. I have stayed without it since I was born and I am living comfortably. In fact people who carry handkerchief in their pockets are dirty since they use it to blow their noses and keep the same handkerchief in their pockets”, Kirui says.

Handkerchief may be used to wipe sweats or it may be socked in cold water and place on the nose to stop nose bleeding.

Disposable paper handkerchiefs are common in developed countries. This kind of handkerchiefs have a long history in Japan where as early as the 17th-century they blew their noses in soft silky papers the size of a hand, which they never use twice and today the use of a cloth handkerchief is considered old-fashioned or unhygienic to blow the nose in some parts of the world, because they are stored in a pocket or a purse after being used.

GOOD HYGIENE:

WASHING HANDS AFTER VISITING TOILET IS IMPORTANT BUT NOT THAT NECESSARY

By Maritim Kipngetich

Research has shown that 65 per cent of the people do not wash their hands after visiting toilet. This revelation is shocking considering the fact that toilet is one of the many places people do consider to be dirty.

Human waste is seen by human beings as the most dirty thing that need not to be touched.

Posters are often placed outside toilets to remind people that they should wash their hands. In places where people are ignorant about washing hands after visiting toilets, these posters have played an important role.

A research conducted in the United States Universities showed that 70 percent of the people who visited latrines washed their hands, but after health officers decided to pin posters that remind them to do so the percentage rose to 86.

The research also showed that men are more likely to wash their hands if they are reminded to do so.

Cleaning ritual: Research shows that men are likely to wash their hands if their are signs reminding them.

In developed countries, people are wary about their health and therefore they are likely to wash their hands after visiting toilets. In other developing countries of the world that is not the case. Some people do not have even pit latrines. They use bushes and these have contributed to pollution of environment.

In last year February during a conference on Sanitation held in Africana Hotel in Uganda, Ugandan Health Minister Ruhakana Rugunda announced that 71 percent of Ugandans do not wash their hands after visiting toilet, cleaning their baby’s bottom and before eating.

He said poor hygiene practices were responsible for many preventable diseases in the country.

Water minister Ephraim Kamuntu (C) receives a plaque of himself from Postbank Board chairperson Grace Bakunda (R) as the bank’s managing director, Mr Stephen Mukweli, looks on. This was during the launch of the Postbank’s Water and Sanitation Loan facility in Kampala.  PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE ( Courtesy of Daily Monitor)

“But most of these diseases are preventable. It is about the hygiene,” said Rugunda. “About 30% of Ugandans have no adequate sanitation facility while 71% do not wash their hands after using a latrine, cleaning the baby’s bottom or before eating.” (Courtesy of New Vision, Feb 19, 2014)

Critics, however, have said washing hands regularly may weaken body immune system making the body vulnerable to diseases brought about by little dirt. They said dirt is everywhere and if people become more concern about washing hands, they will end up washing every minute they touch something because nearly everything we touch contain dirt.

Critics said people who wash their hands and those who do not are alike since people transfer dirt from one person to the other during handshake. They gave an example of people who pick their noses in public using bare hands and they will end up shaking hands with other people.

They further said everywhere has dirt and people should just be wary not to expose their bodies to obvious dirt they can avoid.