Conflict of Business interest

There was exchange of hot blows between a grocery vendor and a paint hardware attendant in Juja town this morning.

John Kinuthia holding a bucket

The vendor’s goods were sprung with filthy water which was poured by this attendant. The fight started as a confrontation when the vendor who was seeking the reason for the act was responded with heart wrecking words.

“I was just asking the reason for destroying my vegetables but the hardware attendant started hurling insults on me,” said Mr. Kinuthia John. The fight was so aggressive that other attendants from the hardware, about two intercepted. One of them was striking Mr. Kinuthia on the head using a mob stick.

The hardware attendant said that the vendor’s business is obstructing their shop given that the vegetables are aligned in front of their paint business. “These vendors are an obstruction to our businesses and we have been trying to squeeze them out to no avail,” lamented Mr. Mwangi Jacob who was burning with anger.

filthy paint water

Asking Kinuthia how long they have been operating in the spot he said that he have been in these place way before the paint hardware was opened. “I have been operating in this place for over one year and a half, even before the shop was opened. More so, I have been paying fee to Kiambu County Council so I lack the reason why this attendant is pouring paint left overs on my veges.

angered mob in front of the hardware

The angry mob who were witnessing the drama started throwing words towards the shop asking that the attendant be sacked by doing such a heinous act to another business person.

 Mr. Muchangi Njeri who is a mechanic next to Kinuthia said, “This is poisoning the people by pouring paint left overs on human food, this attendant should be sacked, hii ni madharau bwana.”

8-4-4 curriculum

As a toddler I was lucky to have grown under strict watch of brother to my mother, that is my uncle, needless to say my biological father never took the initiative to take the responsibilities. That aside, this man, my uncle molded me to the lad I can take pride of today. He inflicted in me the right morals and discipline in order to blend in a society that so discriminate single parented kids, thanks to Uncle Njau Mwaniki.

courtesy of think stock

Now the last time we had a very engaging dialogue was when we were figuring out which college my cousin who was straight from high school could join. She had a bunch of brochure ranging from private to government colleges. The twist was what course she would undertake.

Mr. Njau Mwaniki took over, he pointed out a number of issues that I so felt he would have addressed the Cabinet Secretary of education. “The problem with this 8-4-4 system is that you people tend to be so indecisive what career path to take.” He pointed out.

He felt the urge for the government to review the syllabus and include a lot of craft in the system. “Now I do agree and congratulate you for the good grades, but you are stuck not knowing which profession you would take path. I mean for me I did have a chance to join high school but yet am multi-skilled given that I have done a lot of hands on work.”

He didn’t mean to intimidate us but overall after listening I came to agree that the subjects that were so relevant should be back. That remands me the last time I was in an art and craft class in standard four. We were taught how to make a pair of spectacles where we would bend a wire then use transparent paper for the lenses.

students in a library

What do I mean? Right now it is painfully bad that a mere fourth form graduate cannot mend a torn pair of panties, simply no skills. This was part of primary school curriculum that would have helped those in this era want to venture into fashion design, Home science to those in hospitality industry and many more subjects like music, wood work, electricity and any other relevant life skill subject.

Back to my point which is if these subjects can be brought forth to our 8-4-4 system we would have spirited professions who chose career path out of passion but not out of mere speculation of job industry. Anyway why would one worry of a job more than doing what they do have a passion for more so a hobby translates to a satisfying career!