Kenya may not be perfect but it is certainly not a failed state, asserts Gichuki Githae, angered by S. Mugenyi's negative characterisation of the country. He adds: "His justification was definitely a blow below the belt. There is no country that does not have its own dirty linen." Gichuki, who is based in Italy, says that the Mafia is still a menace in certain towns, "just like the gangs back at home".

While describing Kenya as a failed state, Mugenyi cited Botswana as an example of an African country that has done quite well, and praised the development of its roads network. And Sam Owuor, in an attempt to grab some of that credit for his country, says the fellow in charge of Botswana's road development programme, Patrick Mungou, is a Kenyan. And even if this is so, Sam does not volunteer an explanation as to why the country that has produced some of the best road engineers can't build some of those excellent roads for itself.

Going through the list of winners of the Top Up and Win at Nakumatt! raffle, Abdi O. Adan says he noted that one lady was either too lucky or somebody made a mistake. Rosemary O. Opel, he adds, was not only the winner of the top prize, a Philips DVD Home Theatre, but also bagged an LG Vacuum cleaner. She was also listed as having won a Ramtons 4 Gas Cooker, and an 11 cubic-foot Samsung fridge. "If this was not a mistake, congratulations, Rosemary!"

Can Nairobi water company rush to the rescue of the residents of Huruma Site and Service Scheme, who are reading ulterior motives in the failure to supply them with water since the height of the post-election violence? Bakari Amina says that despite numerous calls, visits and e-mails sent to the company, their taps remain dry and that the local MP and councillor, who belong to a party they are perceived not to have voted for in the last elections, have not bothered to help solve the problem.

Seven years since the death of her mother, who was a teacher at Xaverian Secondary School in Kisumu (TSC No. 205023), AO says that TSC is still withholding her terminal dues, subjecting her children to untold suffering. "Though I've given them every detail, I'm yet to be shown where her death gratuity, pension and delayed salary increments were. It has been agonising taking care of my younger siblings." AO can be reached on Tel. 0722758465.

Ken Wanyua, the landlord at Nairobi's Huruma, shouldn't wonder how come his bus conductor tenant can pay his rent on time while his own manager can't, remarks Peter Nderitu, adding: "The conductor probably steals some of the fare. Some conductors don't issue receipts to passengers, stealing a sizeable amount from the bus owner. The manager just pushes paper all day and waits for a monthly salary, which I suspect is peanuts. The conductor can thus meet his daily needs from the stolen cash, and save his salary for rent."

Why is it that people who demonstrate on our streets burn tyres? asks Kairu Kamuri. "This does not only mess up our roads, but also leaves ugly patches. No matter how aggrieved we may be, we should look for other ways of venting our anger," says Kairu, who would like the culprits severely punished to deter them from damaging public property. "Don't forget, you and I pay dearly to fix the mess!" he concludes.

Have a responsible day, won't you!