ITS CHRISTMAS AGAIN…

Celebrating Christ, reciting Bible verses, blowing balloons, wearing new clothes and shoes was the order of the D-day when I used to be young (now am old)…..Simply, it was lots of fun, partying and merry making. Generation Y parties goes an extra mile when it comes to celebrating festive seasons. 

But is Christmas becoming an expensive burden? I talked with some of my friends over facebook over last week. Let’s get if all from our esteemed readers…

Linah Linzy Wanjiku 
21, Student

This season I will have the opportunity to be with my family, have fun with my siblings, go to church and party with my peers. I usually spent around 8000/= for my clothing, presents, traveling, which leaves me broke at the end of the festive season. This time I plan to work on my spending to ensure I got some cash as I resume school early next January.

Cyrus Mathecx
 25,Medical student

Christmas gives me a good break from books. I spent most of my time with mom at home. I will also go to church and have a day with my friends. Being a doctor to me is like a calling and so I can’t fail to extent love to the less fortunate. I usually spent over 20,000/= most of which is channeled to the needy. To me Christmas is more than a spending and parting spree. It’s a time to show love and love.

Fred Matheka

 22, student

“Christmas is day to remember birth of Christ. It comes with cerebrations, buying presents to loved ones as well as extending love to the underprivileged.  I plan to spent 5000/= over this period to offer an offering to my God, buy drinks to my friends, and also buy a present to mom, dad, shushu and girlfriend. Am exited dad has never failed to take us for some nyama choma and also slaughter a goat for us. I don’t plan to go to a new place due to financial constraints but I also plan to spend most of the time with my girlfriend.”

Flylynn Sweetbebz 
 22, student

To me, the Christmas season has never been long enough due to the many activities I plan for. Some of the activities I’d do is visit my grandparents and spent time with them after a whole year of being away. I will also go for church camps and other youth events
Places I’d visit are beautiful sceneries like the Rift valley, visit the country side to reduce the urban boredom, go partying with friends. I will also be taking food and clothes to the less fortunate, which to me is the greatest love I can show to anybody this season. I will also make sure I buy my closest friends a Christmas gift.. It doesn’t have to b expensive, do according to your capability to avoid going too much out of your way to please them yet u remain extremely broke...


whats your game plan this season?
lets tweet @fredbursar

On the New Traffic Laws

The New Traffic Amendment Act gazetted by the Minister for Transport, Amos Kimunya, took effect on Monday. 10 million shillings in traffic violation fines has been collected in little more than a week since the Act was gazetted.

It’s probably unsurprising then that the Act has elicited varied reactions from the public some: are in favour of it, others vehemently oppose the new traffic laws, and the more cynical see the laws as having the effect of increasing bribery.

The Act provides for steeper offenses for traffic violations. For instance driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is an offense and upon conviction one is liable to imprisonment of up to ten years or a 500,000-shilling fine or both. A similar fine and term of imprisonment is also applicable to a person drinking while driving a public service vehicle.

The Act prohibits the driving of motor vehicles on the pavement for the purposes of avoiding traffic. This offense if one is convicted of it will incur a term of imprisonment of not less than three months (so it could be more) and a fine of not less than 30,000 shillings or both.

The Act also address speeding violations, the maximum number of passengers allowed on the various kinds of public service vehicles, the weight and type of goods allowed on various types of public service vehicles. The Act provides that if any public service vehicle carries more persons, baggage or goods than it is licensed to carry, the driver, the conductor and the owner of such vehicle; shall be upon conviction liable, to a fine of up to 20,000 shillings and an additional fine of 5,000 shillings for each person in excess of the licensed capacity.

Other provisions include the requirement for owners of public service vehicles to employ at least one driver and one conductor both of who a required to be holders of certificates of good conduct issued by the relevant authority. The penalty for the contravention of this provision is a fine of 10, 000 shillings and/or imprisonment not exceeding 12 months. The violation of the requirement for all passengers to wear helmets incurs the same penalty.

Most of the violations outlined in the new traffic law are already sanctioned in law, despite this  these offenses are committed with alarming regularity i.e. cars driving on pavements to avoid traffic, overloading of public service vehicles with both passengers, driving while under the influence etc. It is probably the impunity with which we break road rules and increasing incidents of road carnage that has necessitated stiffer penalties for traffic violations. But whether the new traffic laws will have the desired impact still remains to be seen.

Over the past week owners of, and public service vehicle operators have been on strike, or offering only intermittent services leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. Protestors want the law shelved for further consultation between the government and public service vehicle owners. In the meantime truck drivers have threatened to join the protest against the new laws.

What are your thoughts on the new traffic laws will the new stiffer penalties deter offenders, and reduce road carnage or are the new rules too punitive?