Diligent acts from these Kenyans making a huge difference, even in their small ways

Diligent acts from these Kenyans making a huge difference, even in their small ways

Still on public service, allow me to reflect on recent experiences in government offices. It’s something that I rarely do, besides the occasional passport renewal, once every ten years. I try not to lose my national ID.

But I have been hovering in government offices lately, first in a family succession case at the Office of the Public Trustee, where I arrived one rainy Friday afternoon, last month, even though one of my relations was sceptical about finding anyone there, “being a Friday afternoon.” That meant a half-day of work.

To our surprise, not only did we find a full house at the Public Trustee, but none of those workers also appeared in any rush to leave. We were assisted by a diligent officer who walked up and down the stairs swiftly to locate the proper respondent to our query.

My nephew and sister, both much younger and heavier, opted to use the lift but it appeared overwhelmed by their weight. So, instead of the contraption moving up, it buckled and plunged downwards, before spitting them out on a lower floor! Shaken, but unharmed, they ambled up the stairs.

And early this week, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Officer in Charge of Land Fraud at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, some chap called Kimutai, was still signing documents close to 6pm, even as his assistant, Judy, received late guests with a smile.

And there was nothing more affirming than receiving a warm smile from KQ attendant, Everlene, on KQ flight 482 to Dar on Wednesday morning, providing a much-needed cheer to grumpy, sleep-deprived travellers like me. These small acts from diligent Kenyans made my week.