Latest articles (100)

Johnnnie Mtembezi

The Godfather

  • Laughter .....

    Posted: October 11, 2008, 3:40 am by ABW
    THE WHY’S OF MEN 1. WHY DO MEN BECOME SMARTER DURING SEX? (Because they are plugged into a genius) 2. WHY DON'T WOMEN BLINK DURING SEX? (They don't have enough time) 3. WHY DOES IT TAKE 1 MILLION SPERM TO FERTILIZE ONE EGG? (They don't stop to ask directions) 4. WHY DO MEN SNORE WHEN THEY LIE ON THEIR BACKS? (Because their balls fall over their butt-hole and they vapor lock) 5. WHY WERE

Kenyan Pundit

  • Amnesia: an art installation

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 1:41 am by Ory Okolloh
    APPEAL FOR AN ART INSTALLATION (by Prina Shah) My name is Prina Shah and I am a Visual Artist in Kenya. Currently, I am working on an Art Installation (art that is created for a specific site/venue, often incorporating materials or physical features of the site), for an exhibition project called AMNESIA, taking place this Nov [...]

For Love and Money

Seinlife

  • MIA but Am Back!

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 10:43 pm by Seinlife

    So needless to say, I have been rather neglectful of this here blog and it just might be time to return to business as usual!

     

    So summer is officially over and autumn is upon us like a fly on blue cheese. The awesome part of this season is the beautiful color change we get to enjoy for the next couple of weeks - more so for us in the heartland. What is the worst part, you might ask? the emninent danger of the looming mounds of snow that are bound to fall any time after thanksgiving or who knows even sooner - yikes!
    So much for optimism!

     

    So in an effort to contain my rumblings and trying to keep in context with the subject of blog, I should perhaps give you all an update on my health and physical well being.

     

    First things first, am now a member of a gym (which btw I haven’t been to in like 5 weeks or so ). The gym is awesome - it sort of like a curves rip-off or rather the structure and modus operandi is the same. The 4 weeks or so that I deligently found myself in it were suprisingly very enjoyable, perhaps more so because it only stole 30 minutes of my life:-). Mental note to returneth to the gym…

     

    Second, I decided to give the Master Cleanse a try and can you believe I stuck it out for 11 days? Yes 11 days of just the lemonade mix and the most disgusting flushes ever. I lost 15 lbs and my skin was unbelievably clearer than I have ever seen it. The only glitch was when I returned to regular eating I was hit with crazy acid reflux for days which I suppressed with licorice. After the cleanse I have maintained a diet of mostly raw food and the occassional cooked meal at an indian restaurant. I have continued losing weight with minimal exercise as the only exercise I get is walking my dogs and occassionally a stroll around my work campus after lunch.

     

    Third, I have also altered what my dogs eat to try and avoid as much unnatural food as possible. I had them try Nature’s Variety Instinct line which has no grain and that only lasted 2 days before they turned up their noses at it. So now I have them on the Prairie line which they still seem to enjoy. Some of the things I have noticed that I like is they have less poop and less stinky poop (TMI). So let’s all cross our toes and fingers that they will continue to love this food:-)

     

    So that is where I am health-wise…..

     

    Oh yes - I splurged a little this summer and bought a vespa - Yay! I will post pictures shortly. I don’t have a name for her yet so perhaps you all can suggest some cool names for my fire red hot ride….

     

    Hey how about this freaking financial mess - my retirement account is nose diving like crazy…I guess I can kiss it all goodbye

     

    I told you I would be rumbling…..How was your summer?

     

    ShareThis

Kenya Christian

Only in Kenya

  • It Came by Ship Pt 9

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 10:08 pm by mwangee
    Kenyans.

    We've rubbished the Queen's dialect so much that the Chinese have decided to join in.

    I have no doubt that the nomenclature for this food appliance was greatly influenced by a lady from Central Province.

SCI-CULTURA

  • Our Stories Told By Us

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 3:53 pm by sci-culturist
    As we evolve and define, reassess, re-evaluate and re-define our identity as a nation, the thing called Kenya (46 years old this December and therefore relatively young), it is crucial that we grapple with our contradictions and influences, both ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’ that may be internal and/or external both on a micro and macro level, [...]

SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

  • Ni starehe KUANGALIA video/picha za NYUCHI au taarifa za MJUMBE wa NYUMBA kumikumi kwenye INTERNET Tanzania?

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 3:49 pm by SIMON KITURURU


    Starehe ya kumuangalia MNENGUAJI wa SEBENE katika Video ni kuangalia ANAVYOPEKECHA mpaka moto unawaka na SIO kuangalia AKIPEKECHA NUSUNUSU kwa sababu video ina kwamakwama.

    Kwa mtafuta elimu isemekayo hutafutwa zaidi na WATUMIA internet Bongo na DUNIANI, watumiao GOOGLE kutafuta busara kwa kuandika neno kama; 'MATAKO, uke(kwa jina lake maarufu) , Uume (kwa kale kajina kake) au hata kwa jina la kitundu kitoleacho mabaki ya chakula katika mwili wa binadamu, mbele ya neno SEARCH, nafikiri elimu inanoga zaidi kama unachotafuta KITAKUJA Haraka au MARA MOJA mbele ya macho yako ili ukitolee macho, kuliko ukae kukisubiria huku ukiwa na wasiwasi na mtu aliyekaa kwenye komputa ya pembeni yako, asije akastukia kuwa unasoma BIBLIA , KORANI na sio staili za MIKAO kwenye KAMASUTRA.

    Nacho jaribu kusema ni kwamba........


    1. Internet Tanzania, kwa ujumla inakwenda mwendo wa KONOKONO(Very slow)
    2. Internet Tanzania, bado ni ghali sana kwa mtu wa kawaida.

    Unaweza kubisha!

    Lakini, watumiaji wazuri wa internet Tanzania, wanatumia katika maofisi walikoajiriwa au wanakofanyia kazi. Kwenye internet cafe, labda kama ndio ofisi yenyewe au kwa adoado sana.

    Kama huna Laptop yako na unategemea Internet cafe ,basi uwe na bahati sana kupata sehemu ambayo uki ''CLICK'' tu e-mail yako inafunguka bila kusubiria sana au kuanza kuangaika labda FIREWALL ndio inazingua kwanini hii picha KITOVU tu ndio kinaonekana, lakini huoni mpaka kule chini NJIA PANDA.

    DUH!

    Kwa ujumla......

    Tanzania inazidi kuwa nchi ya ajabu kwa jinsi matabaka yanavyojengeka.

    Sasa hivi unaweza ukajisahau kuwa uko Tanzania upande mmoja wa barabara kwa kusikia watu wanalalamika jinsi walivyokula PIZZA mbaya , halafu ukivuka tu barabara ukakuta wanao lalamika hawajui watakula wapi.

    Kuna watakaokuambia kuwa ukitaka kuongea na watu watakaokuelewa , uende vijiwe fulani fulani siku hizi, hasa kama wewe ndio wale ambao moja ya tatizo lako, ni kujua nini kinaendelea New York , London au hata Beijing sasa hivi kama tu uangaikavyo kutafuta CIDER kwa sababu hupendi BIA Morogoro.


    Unaweza kubisha!

    Hasa wewe ambaye unanisoma hapa kwenye net hivi sasa hivi, lakini Internet bado si jambo linalojulikana na hata kutumiwa na asilimia kubwa ya watu Tanzania.

    Unaweza kubisha!

    Asilimia kubwa ya yaandikwayo kwenye net kuhusu Tanzania ni mambo ambayo hayawafikiii Watanzania walio wengi Tanzania.

    Unaweza kubisha!


    Kwa walalamikao kuwa wengi watumiao internet Tanzania hutumia kutafuta mambo ya sio kuwa na maana, ukweli ni kwamba asilimia kubwa ya hao watu ni hao waitwao watu wa maana, wenye akili kama vile wanafunzi wa vyuo, walimu , maprofesa na wenye unafuu katika maisha . Na kama sikosei labda ni mimi na wewe ndio mabingwa wa kutaka kujua;'' hakuna picha za uchi za Rais kwenye net na wala sio hivi sera za Rais na Chama chake za kuendesha nchi zinatupeleka wapi. ''

    Swali:

    • Haujawahi kutafuta picha za uchi kwenye net?
    • Hivi kutafuta maswala ya ngono kwenye net ni UJINGA?
    • Ukiandika mtandaoni unafikiri ni nani anasoma?

    DUH!


    Naacha topiki basi!


    Ingawa cha kusikitisha ni kwamba ,hapa huwa napenda kuunga video kutoka YOUTUBE na kwa mmtandao bongo , KUFUNGUKA KWAKE, KAZI IPO.

    Usinielewe vibaya!
    Tanzania BOMBA!

    Usije ukadhani nalalamika tu kwa sababu CHUNGU inazidi TAMUTAMU . Tamutamu ni nyingi kuliko chungu Tanzania. Na naamini ni mimi na wewe tunaotakiwa kuendeleza kuongeza TAMUTAMU Tanzania.

    UKWELI ni kwamba maswala ya INTERNET hapa bongo bado yanazingua !:-(



    AU?
    Lakini pata MOTIVATION na TONY ROBBINS



    Au pumzika na Henri Salvador akupe Jazz Méditerranée




    Nakuacha na BAADHI ya picha za NDUGU na MARAFIKI kiduchu tena, ambao ni baadhi ya wanisaidiao katika Shida na Raha!


    ASANTENI SANA!

    Unaweza kuziangalia kama huzinguki!
    Samahani lakini kama unazinguka!


    Eli


    Kusirie



    Hassan na CO


    Paul


    Gayo na Katizu

    FJ na Masandika


    FJ na Nderima



    Mrinde

    Mr DJ


    Master Marcus


    Sisi


    Irioko , Manento na KIKI


    Adelino



    Luta



    Mchezo wa kuigiza Kale KAKUKU


    Mimi , Maya , Davie na Mari

    WIKIENDI NJEMA!

Black Looks

  • Migration management center in Mali

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 3:44 pm by Sokari
    Just over two years ago the Spanish government desperate to stop migrant workers from crossing into Spain from the Sahara, came to an agreement with the Senegalese government to deploy their coast guard off the coast. They also agreed to set up a school for youths in the hope that would stop them [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Migration management center in Mali", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/migration_management_center_in_mali.html" });

Kenya Environmental & Political News Weblog

  • Kenya Government Launches Anti-malaria Campaign

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 2:35 pm by Phil
    Photo: Zofeen Ebrahim/IRIN The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide campaign to retreat at least 1.8 million bed nets with long-lasting insecticide to control the spread of malaria as the rainy season sets in NAIROBI, 10 October 2008 (IRIN) - Kenya’s Ministry of Health has launched a four-day nationwide campaign to retreat at least [...]

  • Rising Demand for Male Circumcision

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 2:35 pm by Phil
    Photo: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN Boys wait to be circumcised at Migosi health centre in Kisumu KISUMU, 9 October 2008 (PlusNews) - Health facilities in Nyanza Province in western Kenya are struggling to meet the demand for medical male circumcisions since politicians threw their weight behind efforts to promote the procedure as a way of reducing HIV [...]

Mwariwadavid...a re-invention

  • Book Review: ‘The Appeal’

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 2:00 pm by Mwari Wa David
    Has anyone read it, by John Grisham? Wow, what a lovely page turner. I was left wanting more. I love, love love, John Grisham’s books! The book’s plot is on modern day American corruption in the judicial circles. Fiction yes, but at the very end of the novel, John Grisham puts a diclaimer whereby he points out [...]

Black Looks

  • “An everyday psychopathic murder”.

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 1:09 pm by Sokari
    This is a story of the hundred of thousands invisible people - the “illegals” who feed the underbelly of Britain. Apparently there are up to 200,000 Chinese undocumented slave workers in Britain and god knows how many from other countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Xiao Mei Guo was a 29 [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "\"An everyday psychopathic murder\".", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/an_everyday_psychopathic_murder.html" });

Kenya Christian

Mara Triangle

  • BBC Big Cat Diaries: The Return of Notch?

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 11:29 am by William

    Sarah Skinner has been a great friend and visitor to the Mara Triangle for many years now, and wrote recently to Wilson Naitoi with identification of Notch from the BBC show Big Cat Diaries as the old male in our coalition of 'Six Boys'.

    Notch in September 2008, by Sarah Skinner.

    Certainly some of the strongest males we have in the Mara Triangle, with Notch the strongest of the group, Sarah tells us:

    it was so nice to see them, and I am almost 100% they are the males that were kicked out of the pride over the river near the Marsh/paradise plains in Set 2007,  that as you say used to and do cross over the river. One of them I think used to feature on the BBC big cat diary. We have done an ID on the ear patterns and whisker patterns on the dark maned boy (our favourite) and almost sure that it is the old Marsh pride male (Notch) and his sons, quite strange that he is still with his boys, they are obviously all very tolerant, more than normal!

    I have attached for you to see. See what you think, we last photographed him 2 years ago so he is looking much older now. There are now 3 males in the Marsh pride (nr Gov) that took over Notch last Sept, so I can’t see him being in a hurry to cross back over, especially all the time the migration is in swing.

    Notch 2006

    Notch 2008?

    Notch 2006

    Notch 2008?

    Notch 2006

    Notch 2008?

    Andy and I were over the moon to find him, thanks to you, and was so special that he sat and roared, that’s one cat that’s not giving up! Amazing if so as he has just been overthrown and he must be 9/10 by now - look after him, he's an old boy now!

    Long live Notch and his boys!

     

  • Yesterday's patrol brought many obstacles, but team still managed to make two arrests.

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 11:08 am by Naiguran

    The Iseyia patrol team teamed up with Ngiro-Are and Tanapa rangers to patrol areas of Limana, Nyakitapembe and the island along Mara River in Serengeti.

    No  poaching signs were seen in places first patrolled, but as they were approaching island a very big group of poachers ever seen woke up from their hidings at the other side of the river and started to run back, heading to their village. Nothing could rangers do since the river is full, hence difficult to cross. They therefore decided to go to Kokatende to find a bridge, which they did so successfully and went to the scene, tracked the poachers and managed to arrest two. This activity caused our rangers the whole of the day, up until 9pm.

    Thank you everyone for your donations so far. If you are pleased with our work we appreciate you making a donation towards our anti-poaching efforts. Thank you.

You Missed This

  • Should Parliament Abolish Moi Day?

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 10:24 am by Phil
    Today is Moi Day in Kenya. Under Chapter 110 of the laws of the country, October 10 of each year is recognised as a public holiday since the year 1989 when it was passed into law by parliament during KANU's rule.

    However, since Moi’s retirement in 2002, the day has become a low key event without the traditional military marches, fly-overs and traditional choirs at all provincial and district headquarters.

    Instead, most Kenyans stay away from school, work and their businesses or stay at home even as they wait for yet another public holiday on October 20 known as Kenyatta Day. Moi himself says Kenyans should reflect on this day by helping the less fortunate in society (sic). Walking through Nairobi Wests' Birongo Square today, the picture one gets looks more like a car wash / beer drinking day.

    This month alone Kenya will have three public holidays given that Muslims celebrated they Idd Ul Fitr just last last week. Hindis also have their Diwali in October. The Hindi faith is a major employer in Kenya.

    Whereas it is quite in order for humans to have adequate rest periods for purposes of health and safety and also to allow necessary participation in family, recreational, social and political activities, I have tried to figure out the relevance of these two public holidays and to be quite honest, I cannot see any benefit Kenyans get out of them.

    Not only are the two October holidays a regrettable waste of resources and man-hours, they are also complete waste of time which is a tragic reality considering the gigantic task involved in turning this country around. I believe it is high time parliament relieved Kenyans of the huge burden arising out of these two holidays. If parliament sees it necessary that Kenyatta Day be retained because of historical significance, then I can only suggest that it be renamed Heroes Day or Wazalendo Day or whatever, but just not to name it to one individual who caused Kenya more harm than good in their life time.

    On the other hand, the origins and current purpose of Moi Day does not provide any value addition to the Kenyan of today. Moi Day was made legal as a result of the egoistic nature of the then President who wanted to feel at par with his own predecessor (Kenyatta) who had a day (October 20) named after him. Moi even went as far as christening just about any public institution in his own name.

    These are some of the favours that Hon Linturi and Hon Ababu should be extending to Kenyans in the 10th parliament au sio jamaa?

Pharmacy newsletter....for Kenyan pharmacists

Opalo's weblog

  • isn’t it time we split this country up?

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 4:52 am by kenopp
    One of the defining characteristics of a legitimate state is that it ought to have a monopoly over the use of violence. The army, the police and all physical security apparatus belong to the state. When a state cannot command enough authority and support to have this monopoly - for more than a decade - then the question of whether such a state is legitimate ought to be seriously considered.

For Love and Money

Opalo's weblog

  • a critique of african culture

    Posted: October 10, 2008, 4:18 am by kenopp
    “A way of life which made it possible for our ancestors to be subjugated by a handful of Europeans cannot be described as totally glorious.” Professor Peter Bodunrin I am no Western apologist. I am a proud son of the soil (as Wahome Mutahi of the Whispers fame used to say) and a believer in the fundamentals [...]

SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

  • KAMA wewe ni PROFESA, unaweza pia KUKUBALI kusema ; ''ZIDUMU KAULI za Rais KIKWETE '',kama ZINAKUKUNA.

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 9:02 pm by SIMON KITURURU
    Naamini binadamu hupenda asikilizwe na ikiwezekana aeleweke.
    Bahati mbaya si wote tumebarikiwa KUJUA KITU na kuweza kufikisha ujumbe ukaeleweka na kukubalika.Ndio maana tuko wengi tunajua kuwa TUNAMPENDA na KUMTAKA yule NANIHINO, lakini jinsi yakumtupia KAULI au hata kumsababisha aje nawe migombani kwa hiari kulionja TUNDA , inakuwa SHUGHULI.

    Labda ndio maana utasikia fulani kwa KUTONGOZA au mwanadada yule KWA......KIBOKO , kutokana na kuwa wengine siye, KAULI ZETU hazifiki kwa tumlengae, au zikifika, hazisababishi MTU MZIMA na akili zake aamue kuwa atakuvulia nguo, mpaka KIFICHA MBILIMBI wewe BINADAMU mwenziye BILA HAYA.

    LOOOOH!

    Swali:
    • Unauhakika ujumbe wako unataka umfikie nani?
    • Wewe kama Bloga unafikiri UJUMBE wako unamfikia nani?
    Katika pitapita zangu ndani ya BONGO, hasa katika siku ambazo Rais KIKWETE anaongea, nimefanikiwa kugundua kuwa kuna matabaka mawili yanayo sikia tofauti kauli za huyu Mheshimiwa.

    Kuna kundi la waitwao WASOMI na Kuna WASIOTAJWA JINA liashiriyo uhusiano wao na shule au masomo ya shule ambayo sio Elimu Dunia. (Sina maana kuwa kuna UKUTA unaotenganisha makundi haya mawili)

    Mara nyingi Kikwete akiongea, nimestukia kuwa kuna ambao watadai kitu kama 'HE DOESN'T SOUND PRESIDENTIAL' na ambao watasikia , ' Umemsikia Kikwete mwenyewe kakuambia KABLA HUJALA lazima ULIWE!'


    Kuna kitu ambacho naamini kuwa hata kama humpendi Kikwete inabidi ukichukulie maanani.
    JARIBU.... Ujiulize kuwa;
    1. ' Hivi KIKWETE akiongea, anaongea na nani na anayemlenga anafikiria nini?'
    2. Je, anafikisha ujumbe atakao kwa anaowalenga?


    Kabla sijaendelea......
    ' Kuna Rafiki yangu KWEBA pale UHOLANZI alishanikalia kooni kuhusu swala hili, kwa kudai kuwa tokea niko TANZANIA, nimegeuka CCM kutokana na mtazamo wangu kuhusu Kikwete akiongea.'


    DUH!
    Tuendelee....

    Mimi naamini Kikwete ni Rais wa pili Tanzania baada ya Nyerere ambaye anajua jinsi ya kufikisha ujumbe wake kwa anaowalenga.
    Lakini KUMBUKA ANAOWALENGA INAWEZA KUWA SIO WEWE.


    Na naamini kama wewe ni mwanasiasa Tanzania au tu ni Mtongozaji , jifunze kitu kutoka kwa Kikwete , hasa katika kuchagua unamlenga nani na kujua ni kauli gani utumie ili upewe kifuko cha DHAMBARAU.

    Simsifii Kikwete, lakini, asilimia kubwa ya watu kwa uchunguzi wangu ambao wanampigia kura Kikwete , Kikwete anajua jinsi ya kuongea nao na kuwafikishia kauli au hata ujumbe ambao kawaandalia.

    Naamini kabisa pamoja na kuwa Kikwete yuko ndani ya Mashine Kubwa iitwayo CCM , ila bado ni mtu ambaye akikupania kuja kukukopa unaweza kumpa pesa yako ya kodi ya mwezi ujayo kwa kuamini kuwa baadaye kidogo atairudisha.


    Asilimia kubwa ya niliokuwa nawatolea macho na kuwadadisi ambao ndio wapiga kura , watakuambia , hakuna mwanasiasa ambaye amebakiza Uraisi/Raisi au amelikuwa Raisi, ambaye yuko hai Tanzania, ambaye anaongea lugha yao na wanamuelewa kuliko Kikwete hivi sasa.

    Profesa Lipumba na wengine wengi , kuna watu kibao niliokutana nao na kuwasikiliza kutoka vijiwe vya kila aina vya watu wa kawaida ambao ndio wapiga kura ,watakuambia husikika kama MWALIMU FULANI ambaye unasubiri tu kipindi chake kiishe anaongea na anachoongea hakikuingii MUKICHWA.

    Ndio kuna watu kama Kabwe ambao wanajua kulistukia kundi walilengalo na wakajua nini na kwa staili gani watafikisha ujumbe, lakini staili ya Kabwe imekaamkao wa kunoga ukiwa nje ya Mfumo . Inaweza ikawa ngumu Kabwe akiwa Rais Kabwe au kama tu Mchungaji Mtikila baada ya kamuda fulani kuongezea maji juisi.

    KUMBUKA sijasema FIKIRA za Raisi KIKWETE zidumu, lakini nafikiri kuwa unaweza kujifunza kitu hata kama wewe ni mtaalamu wa mambo ya siasa hapo Chuo kikuu kwa kumsoma tu Kikwete Hata kama ni kweli hukubaliani na aidia ya RAIS MSHIKAJI!

    Sina uhakika lakini kuwa wanasiasa Tanzania huwa wanatumia WATAALAMU au UTAALAMU katika kujaribu kuangalia kundi walitakalo na jinsi ya kulifikishia UONGO au huwa wanabahatisha tu .

    Naanza kuamini Mchungaji Mtikila hatumii utaalamu ndio maana kwa navyojua uwezo wake WAKUFIKISHA UJUMBE ulivyokuwa mkubwa , UJUMBE wake hata kama ule wa chuki kwa aliowaita jina ambalo laweza kuchukuliwa kama tusi ,'MAGABACHORI 'hauwafikii tena walengwa na makali yake kutokana na KUBAHATISHA KWINGI , kutegemea sana HISIA na kutokuwa na kundi maalumu lilengwalo.

    Sawa, unaweza kusema kuwa ukiwa mwanasiasa Tanzania ,WALENGWA wako ni Watanzania wote.


    Lakini jiulize kitu ......
    • Unafikiri Watanzania wote ni sawa?
    • Unafikiri Kikwete anaathirika nyie wasomi mkidai kuwa anapigaalinacha na anaongea kama mtoto wa kijiweni tu ?
    • Unafikiri Watanzania waliowengi wanaelewa hata kuwa Rais ni timu na sio mtu mmoja?
    • Unafikiri Watanzania wangapi wana DATA ambazo zinaweza kuwajulisha kuwa unawadanganya hata UKIWA unajulikana kama Mengi na unadai utawajaza MAPESA?

    DUH!

    Ngojea niache hii topiki.

    BAADAYE BASI!


    Lakini kama unanguvu kidogo ......

    Katika pitapita nilikutana na hawa Taifa la kesho...

    Mitaa ya Sinza

    Huyu Dogo aliniua kwa jinsi alivyo zama kwenye kitabu. Mpaka msamaria mwema akamuomba aende akasome nyumbani maana atagongwa na magari.


    Mitaa ya Mikocheni.



    Ndio, nilikuwa na Bajaji kama kawa.......





    Nilifika Bagamoyo kwa JHIKOMAN pia.
    Mpate kidogo akiwa nyumbani na marafiki.


    Ilibidi niguse bahari kwa upande wa Bagamoyo kiduchu pia.....




    Nilikutana na Ogola .-Holiday Inn




    Michuzi -kwa Wachina akiwa na LadyJAYDEE



    Lady

    Machozi Band






    Agapiti



    Magusa




    Machozi Band


    Swali:
    • Hivi unauhakika Profesa unayemuita Profesa anajua nini?
    • Ushawahi kukutana na Profesa mjinga?


    Nakuacha na Talib Kweli akikupa kitu Hostile Gospel

The Night Book

Rugby in Kenya

  • Nakuru Prinsloo Sevens

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 7:25 pm by DataMiner
    POOL A POOL B POOL C POOL D POOL E POOL F MWAMBA IMPALA NAKURU KCB BLAKBLAD STRATHMORE USIU DAYSTAR JKUAT MACHINE NONDIES QUINS MASINDE MUL NAZARENE KABARAK KCA EGERTON UN UGANDA KIMATHI UNI R.BUFFALOES ELD EXILES BUNGOMA R CATHOLIC U MT KENYA UN The draw is as above. Seeding for the pools is based

  • Nakuru Prinsloo Sevens

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 6:54 pm by DataMiner
    POOL A POOL B POOL C POOL D POOL E POOL F MWAMBA IMPALA NAKURU KCB BLAKBLAD STRATHMORE USIU DAYSTAR JKUAT MACHINE NONDIES QUINS MASINDE MUL NAZARENE KABARAK KCA EGERTON UN UGANDA KIMATHI UNI R.BUFFALOES ELD EXILES BUNGOMA R CATHOLIC U MT KENYA UN The draw is as above. Seeding for the pools is based on final standings during last year's Sevens Circuit. The non participating teams are drawn

Kenyan Pundit

  • Kwani Litfest on Africa Journal

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 6:27 pm by Ory Okolloh
    For those you missed the Litfest, catch a glimpse of the goings on via this report. And speaking of a reading culture in Kenya, I’d be curious to see your thoughts on this post about promoting reading in Kenya (hat tip Dipesh!).

SportsKenya

  • Campus Vybe-Sports News

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 6:15 pm
    As part of my initiative to support the growth of sports in Kenya, I have decided to include stories and posts from one of the ingenious institutional websites featuring various sections of Campus life in Kenya. Our mainstay though will be Sports. Enjoy !


    .quote {width:350px; padding: 6px; border: solid 1px #456B8F; font: 10px helvetica, verdana, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff}
    .quote a {font: 13px arial, serif; color: #003399; text-decoration: underline}
    .quote a:hover {color: #FF9900; }
    -->
    CUEA shines at Strath Tourney
    Campusvybe - Thursday, 09 October 2008
    © Campusvybe

Sukuma Kenya

  • THE ECK must GO NOW!!!!

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 5:38 pm
    Spontaneous thoughts from Philo Ikonya, a Concerned Kenyan Writer...

    "This morning's Citizen Power Breakfast did a great thing. I got back to catch up with Mutegi Njau interviewing Riunga Raiji and Ng'eny Commissioners of ECK. Many people were already calling in but I could not get through..The callers were not amused.

    For me, I thank PBreakfast for the chance to sit with a cup of tea that became more and more bitter as I listened and tried the phone. It dried up. The ECK must go. And though they quote constitutional matters and the judges having tenure and an institution already tattered being in place after they leave, Kivuitu and his team must just pack and go... It is bad enough for us to be caught up on all this at at time when CS seems unable to move and make the point persistently for the ECK to proceed to town with a PR agenda for themselves ( today's Nation too). I do not mind going down in history as irrational when I say that it is not time to quote the constitition ( it never helped us when violence broke out and Raila and others rejected the courts because we could not trust them), it is time for a radical move to change all beginning with throwing out the ECK. Before Kriegler and during Kriegler we should have had the tribunal that is supposedly to
    be appointed in place also investigating ECK.

    It is wrong and blatant and a la Edward Clay a real throwing up in my face to come back on the screeen with the law on the one hand and lies that Commissioners were innocent in what we saw in December. It is unbearable and unforgiveable.. it is not tenable. They must go. They must go with the bible they hastily allowed to be used by Kivuitu doing what they did on the one hand - not Bible- and the constition of Kenya ( not Constitution) that they could not use to rescue us... in the other hand. They must kick their way out of their surrendering. It is our Nation that they helped ruin and if that was the role they were to play we must be angry enough to let them know they had to play it so that we can bring in change radically. It is a matter of conscience now not of law; They just must go!

    They know and said that they were appointed by one side without consultation with the other. Raila and many others cried foul then. Something must give now and change must come.

    In the end if the Prime Minister cannot bring us this radical change and Kenya cannot go, then he must not promise us the change we need and soon we will have to say he too must go! And of course if Kibaki cannot and did not do anything about this commission up to now... he too must go. Kenya cannot go anywhere and it is unbwogable. Change must come to our courts, judges but so that we can just breathe... "

    THE ECK Must go now!!!

bankelele

  • Safaricom 3s

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 3:49 pm by bankelele
    Tracking the storm at 7, 6, 5, 4 and now Safaricom at Kshs. 3.70 Mobile notes - Communications is perhaps the only significant sector that has gotten cheaper this year. Oh yeah also NSE shares are much cheaper this year - Safaricom is fundamentally sound and performance on the stock market should not translate to the business side - But Safaricom now has new competition from Zain, Orange and

Skunkworks

  • skunkworks@innovation event recap

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 3:19 pm by Teal'c
    note - new blog is here: blog.my.co.ke

    Visit Erik's blog and Alex Gakuru's blog for more coverage of the event.




    (Special thanks to Ngaara Nelson (ngaara (at) yahoo.com) for the logo design)


    Part 1 of Demos:

    John Maina kicked off the presentations with a talk on Education Tourism. He made the argument that Kenya loses so much money as people seek education abroad (even if its in next door Uganda), yet Kenya has arguably the best equipped educational institutions. However Kenya's marketing itself as an educational destination is hardly done. Quite thought provoking. Download the entire presentation in Microsoft PPT 2003 format.








    John Maina.View full album online

    Kenneth Mwangi, a final year student at Strathmore University next made a presentation on Tulipe, an E-Commerce Framework for Payments. He quoted Isaac Newton - 'Standing on the Shoulders' of giants, to refer to how his prototype rides on existing systems that are widely in use, for instance Safaricom's MPESA and the highly successful Equity Bank. The prototype is intended to be operator agnostic and merchant (bank) agnostic which would indeed be a novel achievement, and something that the market has been waiting for. Erik's blog also covers this presentation. Download the entire presentation in PDF format. (Image courtesy of whiteafrican.com)



    Fabian Owuor and Andrew Ketoyo of Metrocomia EA then made a presentation on an E-Book based solution that aims to ease the collection and dissemination of information. Some of the problems that they identified as being solvable with this E-Book, include national examinations (keeping in mind the number of subjects people study as well as the popularity of past papers), a staff training handbook and publications - for instance the Kenya Gazette. Download the entire presentation in Microsoft PPT 2003 format.








    Fabian Owuor View full album online

    Sam Kitonyi (UON) and Victor Murage (Africa Nazarene University) nexted presented Kikwe, a way to send airtime across Africa. Kikwe allows anyone to send airtime to a loved one online from the comfort of one's desk. It allows sending of airtime to any network and provides an easy to use interface. Some of the challenges that the team has identified include the risk of fraud and the development of partnerships in Africa. Download the entire presentation in Microsoft PPT 2007 format.








    Sam and Victor. View full album online

    Ken Kasina started by running a video demo of Wesley Kiriinya's Game, The Adventures of Nyangi. This was a show case of the talent and potential available locally, especially as game development requires a high level of technical skill. During the question and answer session after this demo, Wesley (who was not present) and other game developers were challenged to enhance the quality of their games to bring them up to par with other internationally available games. Ken Kasina also talked about the localization of software, particularly FOSS applications. He has been heavily involved in several localization projects including that of KDE. Being also a highly skilled developer, he's also an active contributor to various FOSS projects. He urged those present to consider contributing to localisation of various software as this would enhance the adoption of information technology countrywide.








    Ken Kasina & Erik Hersmann. View full album online

    Mugambi Kimathi, CEO of VST Studios made a presentation on Jahazi. Jahazi aims at enabling people who are not familiar with the internet to be able to take advantage of what the internet has to offer from an easy to use interface. Mugambi took those present through the various features of jahazi, which currently is available for Windows based systems. One other key feature of jahazi is its ability to allow any software developer to create applications for any use (e.g. online booking for an airline like KQ, or a stocks watchlist) thus opening up the platform for any individual or user to tap into. The full presentation is available online here.








    The Jahazi.com team. View full album online

    Charles Gathii, the MD of Microhouse Technologies next talked about his company. Microhouse provide solutions to various enterprises, among them various companies (like the hosts Sarova Panafrica) and educational institutions. Majority of the software development is done locally by local developers. Charles urged students interested in doing database development to learn and master oracle, and get certified as there is a shortage of skilled labour in this area in Kenya.








    Charles Gathii. View full album online

    Bonn Ndegwa of Unwired Technologies next made a presentation on Time Tabler, a low cost timetabler tat is designed for use by institutions that do not have a large budget for information technology products. Interesting to note was the fact that the company is not based in Nairobi, like majority of IT firms in Kneya, but in Western Kenya. They specialize in developing solutions for rural communities. Download the entire presentation in Microsoft PPT 2003 format.








    Bonn Ndegwa. View full album online

    Josh Jingo then made a presentation on and the possibilities locally. Using tools like blender and having the right amount of skill, one could easily come up with high quality animations (as was aptly demonstated). He however noted that one of the greatest challenges facing them was the fact that many media houses, and those seeking to have animations created for television opt to go abroad (for instance to India and South Africa), yet there was sufficient talent and ability locally.

    -

    We then broke for lunch, which was co-sponsored by Safaricom, Kenya ICT Board and the Ministry of Information and Communications. (KICTB promised lunches for everyone (skunkworks..) who comes to the next such meeting)
    -

    After lunch, there was a brief lightning round session of 2-3 minute random talks from participants for about 15 minutes.

    Alex Gakuru then came up to talk about the main purpose of the event which was to enhance linkages between software developers and solution providers, and those in need of solutions as well as industry leaders. He then welcomed representatives of the sponsors of the event to give brief speeches. The sponsors of the event where the KENIC, Wananchi Group, Strathmore University, Kenya ICT Board and Safaricom. Many thanks go to them for enabling this event to be a success.








    Alex Gakuru View full album online

    Alex then welcomed Telkom Kenya CEO Dominique Saint-Jean to make some remarks. Mr Dominique was pleasantly surprised by the 'positive energy' he experienced when entering the room, which is a testament to the enthusiasm of those present at the event. He emphasised on the importance of local content saying that it is imperative that more local content be developed. He also promised to listen serious proposals from local developers within a 'reasonable time frame'. Many thanks to Dominique Saint-Jean for sparing time to grace the event.








    Mr. Dominique Saint-JeanView full album online

    Finally, the PS, Information and Technology, Dr. Bitange Ndemo made his keynote address. He mentioned that he would have loved to be present from the beginning of the forum but was not able to . He said that more opportunities and forums are needed for exchange of ideas and proposed that every two months, a forum similar to this take place. He also mentioned that there is going to be a huge demand for talent in the outsourcing and software development arenas, something in the region of 5000-10000 new people over the next five years. He challenged local developers to come up with a local game - like 'ajua' that is unique to Kenya. Many thanks to the PS for taking time out of his busy schedule to come to the event, and also for the support he has been.








    PS Dr Bitange Ndemo View full album online

    Part two of demos then commenced:

    Ngigi Waithaka of Alliance Technologies got the second part of presentations going. Alliance Technologies specializes enterprise grade solutions for companies, NGO's and educational institutions. Ngigi has also been at the forefront in promoting FOSS based solutions, and Alliance Technologies also conducts the deployment of open source systems such as ERPs. Ultima Gratis, a grant management system was show cased. Download the entire presentation in Microsoft PPT 2003 format.








    Ngigi Waithaka. View full album online

    Laban Mwangi, Penguin Labs - An Electronic Top-Up system using a terminal running an embedded version of Linux and capable of connecting to multiple operators by simply switching sim cards, and features a web browser among other things. The aim of this demonstration was to show an easy way of performing airtime distribution. It also show cased a practical application of Linux in an embedded device. Remote top up of airtime is also possible with this device. Download the entire presentation in PDF format.








    Laban (centre). View full album online

    Steve Mutinda next made a presentation on Mobile Social Networking and a Mobile Finance application. Steve is a talented mobile applications developer and has come up with a framework that allows various applications to be installed on a supported mobile device and range from social networking, chat, news and mobile finance. What he has come up with for the mobile phone is very much similar to what Mugambi has done with Jahazi. He also demostrated his Mobile Finance application which easily plugged in to the framework. Steve is also a member of the ushahidi dev team. Download the Social Networking presentation and the Mobile Finance presentation, both in PDF format.








    Steve. View full album online

    Mbugua Njihia, CEO Symbiotic Media Consortium next demonstrated some of their products; tumasms, zunguka, kelelemobile among others. Symbiotic aims to converge mobile and the web, and provide services and applications that any ordinary person can use. Some of these include sync services for mobile phone contacts and notes, bulk sms, mobile phone ring tones, and later on, possibly video on demand services. Download his presention here in PDF format.








    Timothy Mbugua. View full album online

    Evans Ikua representing the LPA Kenya and LANet Consulting made the final presentation. He gave a brief history of the LPA kenya, as well as some of the activities they are involved in. Currently LPA Kenya has been instrumental in constructively engaging the Government, specifically regarding the procurement of software so as to ensure that there is a level playing ground, and thus allow local software development houses, especially those utilizing Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) to be able to pitch for Government contracts. Government is the largest employer, and offers the largest number of contracts, therefore it is important for the Public Procument process to be as transparent as possible. Download his entire presentation in OpenOffice ODP format.








    Evans View full album online

    -

    Finally, Paul Kukubo the CEO of the Kenya ICT Board had some final words for developers. He promised that, as an ICT Board initiative he intends in 6-8 months that a CEO s - Skunkworks partnership forum take place. This would go a long way in bridging the gap between developers/solution providers and industry leaders. He also mentioned that a fund to support local content development is being setup. He challenged skunkworks to come up with a Directory/Portal of developers, solutioneers etc on skunkworks for easy access by CEO s, and those seeking solutions. He mentioned some challenges from his experience for ICT startups:

    • No framework to govern Venture Capital

    • Cultural divide - where no chance is given to young people (developers etc)










    Paul Kukubo View full album online

Black Looks

  • Dream graphics from Anansi

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 3:04 pm by Sokari
    Selected images from Lance Tooks new graphic novel, Anansi’s Dreams Tags: Lance Tooks Anansi’s Dreams Graphic Novel SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dream graphics from Anansi", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/dream_graphics_from_anansi.html" });

  • Black History Season or 64 years of a lot of things

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 2:28 pm by Sokari
    This year’s Black History Month died and Black History Season was born - it’s not quite clear how long the season lasts but most events are in October and November. The Inner London Borough’s have really made an attempt to put on a diverse range of events covering our hidden his/herstories [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Black History Season or 64 years of a lot of things", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/black_history_season_or_64_years_of_a_lot_of_things.html" });

Wanjiku Unlimited

  • Doomsday Guesswork

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 1:43 pm by Shiko-Msa

    We hear doomsday warnings and predictions every once in a while. According to one Mr. Charles Mwangi Gichichio, a Kenyan lawyer-cum-prophet, the world as we know it will end on July, 18th 2010. This message was communicated to him by God on 9th December 2006. He has since embarked on a mission to spread the doomsday warning using different methods, the most noticeable being wearing a sack cloth with the message ‘Jesus is coming back on July 18th 2010’ printed boldly at the front.

    Gichichio’s prophesy however does not seem to generate as much interest as was generated by the House of Yahwe group whose world was supposed to end in a hail of nuclear warfare on September, 12th 2006. There are many other predictions by murderous doomsday cults, some of which have ended with massive loss of lives. Few people can forget the mass suicide in Uganda of over 200 members of The Movement Of The Restoration Of The Ten Commandments who set themselves on fire after hours of singing and chanting. Also with the vast possibilities that the Internet brings along, now there are sites teaching distressed kids how to commit suicide.

    Times Online has a chronology of Armageddon predictions dating as far back as 1st Century AD to as recently as this year. Despite their varied beliefs, the common thread running through them all is that they never quite come true. The world is still around. Nobody knows for sure but chances are July 18 the world will wake up and go about their businesses as usual – including Charles Mwangi Gichichio. He’ll probably give a few excuses and a new end of the world date before moving on with life. In the end it all seems like a guessing game.

    From The Past: Of Holy Noise And Kenyan Churches

A Nairobian's Perspective !

  • British Banks Stock Crises: Jitters World Stock Markets

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 12:30 pm

    Watching CNBC yesterday i was just amazed at how fragile the world economy is as i witnessed the effects of the British Banks Stock crises and its rippling effect to other world stock markets.Yesterday morning British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Lord Chancellor Alastair Darling announced a $ 88 billion bail out plan to marshal the credit crises that was affecting the British banking sector.

    I am not an expert on these things i would rather leave that to my friend Bankelele but what amazed me is how the other world stock markets were being immediately affected due to the financial crunch, for example:
    • The Tokyo Stock exchange closed at 9.38 % down
    • Russia,Indonesia,Ukraine suspended trading on its stock exchange
    • European markets suffered losses of up to eight per cent, including a 5.18 per cent fall on the FTSE, followed quickly by falls on the New York Stock Exchange.
    • In London, the FTSE 100 shed 5.18 per cent to finish at 4,366 while in Paris the CAC 40 fell 6.39 per cent and Frankfurt DAX was down 5.88 per cent. There were declines of 5.51 per cent on the Swiss Market Index, 5.20 per cent in Madrid, 5.71 per cent in Milan, 7.36 per cent in Brussels and 7.68 per cent in Amsterdam.
    The State bailout plan is similar to the $700 billion fund to purchase defunct mortgage assets from troubled financial institutions proposed by the U.S. Treasury secretary, Henry Paulson Jr.The American Government had to recently step in and nationalize companies like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and American International Group(AIG), which were on the verge of collapse.

    I wonder what the effect is for the Nairobi Stock Exchange....but im sure its not good especially for Companies such as Barclay's Bank of Kenya.Oops just seen Mr. Chris Mwebesa 's Nairobi NSE CEO' s statement indicating that trading at the NSE' s floors was suspended yesterday after the market almost lost 5% of its value.

KCB Rugby Football Club

  • Focus shifts to the Sevens Circuit

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 12:26 pm by KCBRFC
    With the curtain having fallen on the league and cup competitions, focus now shifts to the Western Union National Sevens Circuit ( NSC) with kicks off with the Prinsloo Nakuru Sevens at the Nakuru Athletic Club from Friday 10th October through to Saturday 11th October.

    The Lions resume their hunt for silverware in Nakuru where they have been seed first in pool D that features Mean Machine, KCA and Maseno. Dennis Mwanja, Samwel "Waves" Wefwafwa and Collins Kimani are some of the players expected to lead the Lions challenge in this year's NSC. Under the tutelage of Bill Githinji, the man who led Kenya to a first ever RWC Sevens appearance at Mar de Plata, Argentina in 2001, a lot is expected from the Lions.

    Prinsloo Sevens draw

    Pool A: Mwamba, USIU, Moi University, Kenya Methodist University
    Pool B: Impala, Daystar, Nazarene, R. Buffaloes
    Pool C: Nakuru, JKUAT, Kabarak, Eldoret Exiles
    Pool D: KCB, Mean Machine, KCA, Maseno
    Pool E: Blakblad, Nondies, Egerton, Catholic University
    Pool F: Strathmore, Quins, Uganda, Mt. Kenya University
         







You Missed This

  • Who Killed James Kamangu?

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 12:23 pm by Chris
    Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} I received numerous alerts and SMS messages to the effect that James “went to court to get his conjugal rights back from Televangelist Margaret Wanjiru” Kamangu was dead.

    The news spread like wildfire around town and the country at large long before any news media had reported it. On many people’s minds were some unspoken questions which I will dare voice here.


    Was Kamangu killed by the God of Bishop Hon. Margaret Wanjiru for trying to frustrate her and her work for God? Especially when the woman of God was looking for happiness in marriage?


    Or was Kamangu’s death something to do with the fact that the good Bishop admits that she used to be a serious witch who made a certain woman who annoyed her go insane?


    Mostly those who fear God will be asking the first question while those who do not will be asking the second.


    Was Kamangu’s death an ordinary death for a man who was said to have loved his changaa a wee bit too much before fortune shone on his door and money poured in from still mysterious sources which changed his life even as he was thrust into national limelight? Or does his death have something to do with him getting mixed up with people whom the good book warns we should not point fingers to?


    Suspicion was further raised by a clip shown on the TV news last night of the deceased man's angry brother storming his residence to try and find answers of why Kamangu had died so suddenly and under such mysterious circumstances.


    His current wife (how was he going to get conjugal rights from the Bishop when he has another woman?) says that the man complained of abdominal pains and was rushed to a nearby clinic where he was promptly referred to Kenyatta National Hospital. She took him there and he was admitted and she went back home. Only to return the next morning to be told that her husband was no more. Sources close to the late Kamangu say that he suffered from ulcers for a long time. But stomach ulcers ordinarily do NOT kill people. And surely not as suddenly as the way in which Kamangu expired.


    Well we also know that in many African cultures people do not die. They are killed. Even when they are over 100 years old and with every bone and organ in the body creaking for rest.


    Whatever you think of this post, one thing is for sure. As the civilized, well educated Kumekucha readers read this post and laugh their heads off in sarcasm, ordinary folks in villages, small illicit brew dens and women cutting sukuma wiki next to smelly, overflowing drainage in some slum, are busy this minute discussing and speculating on one question; who killed James Ndimu Kamangu?


    P.S. I have just remembered that the good Bishop spoke some deadly words about conducting the funeral of Kamangu when he was still alive. That will surely add fuel to the already burning fire. Ama?

Kenyanpoet

  • DVD Launch: My Safari by Suzanna Owiyo at 10th Oct, Carnivore

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 11:30 am by N.W
    Suzanna Owiyo will be launching her DVD under the title 'My Safari' at the Carnivore- Simba Saloon on 10th October, 8pm.
    There will also be a guest appearance by Eric Wainana, Kayamba Africa and others.
    Gate charges are :- Ksh. 500
    The event is sponsored by General Motors EA

  • Spanish Language & Cultural Festival, 14th - 19th Oct, Alliance Francaise

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 11:27 am by N.W
    The Spanish Embassy in Kenya will hold a Spanish Language & Cultural festival at the Alliance Francaise from 14th – 19th Oct. Among the cultural showcased items during the festival will be:- Films, Music, Spanish food and a photo exhibition.
    On the 14th, they will also announce the winner of the Spanish Short Story Competition in the various levels of learners. Entries for the competition closed on 7th Oct.

  • Know Kenya Course 2008, 27th Oct - 1st Nov:Kenya Museum Society

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 11:06 am by N.W
    The Kenya Museum Society of Kenya presents: Know Kenya Course Programme from 27th Oct - 1st Nov, 2008.
    The Know Kenya  Course (KKC) is an annual event of the Kenya Museum Society, open to everyone living in Kenya, newcomers and residents alike targeted at those  keen to learn more about Kenya. The event has attracted many embassies and international organisations who have made the Know Kenya Course part of their newcomer orientation programme.  It is a chance for professional tour guides  to broaden their knowledge of the country. The KKC presents a varied programme of morning and evening lectures, behind-the-scenes visits to Museum departments and an all-day field trip on the final day.  One can attend one or all of the activities, depending on their schedule.
    This year’s topics and presenters offer a diverse look at lesser-known and better-known aspects of Kenya, including:
    • Sacred Sites and Monuments – Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia
    • Prehistory in Kenya – Dr. Meave Leakey
    • Challenges of Nationhood and Identity in Kenya – Mr. John Sibi- Okumu
    • Whose Kenya?: Debunking the Gaze, Reimagining the Space – Ms. Joyce Nyairo
    • Human Rights/Gender Issues – Ms. Muthoni Wanyeki and the Honourable Njoki Ndung’u
    • Political Cartoons and the Media - Gado 
    • Economic Development in Kenya: The Real Issues – Mr. Sunny Bindra 
    • Elephant Conservation – Ms. Paula Kahumbu
    • The African Baobab Tree – Mr. Rupert Watson
    • Kenya: A Country in the Making 1880-1940 – Mr. Nigel Pavitt
    • Birds in Kenya – Mr. Munir Virani
    • Sports Panel - Moderated by Martin Keino and featuring Mr. Paul Tergat and Ms. Tegla Lorupe
    • 'The Building of the Uganda Railway -   Otherwise known as the Lunatic Line' -  Mr. Bryan Harris
    The Films The films include:
    • Queen of the Trees – presented by the film makers Victoria and Mark Deeble,
    • Echo of the Elephants: The Last Chapter to be introduced by Dr. Cynthia Moss and
    • World on a String: The Eternal Bead - introduced by Mr. Alan Donavan.
     The Know Kenya Course is a major fund raising event of the Museum Society, and the speakers, lecturers and presenters all generously share their knowledge free of charge.  The funds raised support the National Museums through the KMS grant programme. All proceeds from the Know Kenya Course will go to the National Museums of Kenya.
    Full course participation at the Know Kenya Course is for KMS members only. 
    As a full course participant you get the benefit of an inclusive price for day and evening lectures, field trip with buffet lunch and information folders. You can join the society  when you come to the KMS office to register.
    Download a course outline and final timetable

Urbane'

  • QLC Realities

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 11:02 am by Zax
    It has been a number of years since I started working/ completed my graduate studies, not many though. Many of the people I went to school with fall in the 24-30 year olds age bracket. A lot of water has gone under the bridge with some realities finally hitting most of us as of what [...]

Mara Triangle

  • Migration back in Triangle, big crossings expected.

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 9:45 am by William

    Since the beginning of the week the wildebeest have been coming up from Serengeti, especially concentrating around the Sand River area down towards Purungat (Mara Bridge), and have made their way up to the Salt Lick and Milima Tatu area. 

    Yesterday we also saw many wildebeest coming towards the Mara River from the Narok side, and there was a big crossing in the afternoon. We expect more crossings today and maybe for the rest of the week.

    Wildebeest start to gather on the Narok side of the river.

Al Kags

Kenya Imagine

  • Part 1: Uganda's Aloe Vera Industry

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 9:16 am

    This is the first of a series on Aloe Vera farming in Masindi District, in Uganda. Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that is mostly used for medicinal, and cosmetic purposes.

    “What’s this?”

    I thought it was an innocent question and I was expecting a simple answer, you know, one of those that make you slap your forehead and go, “Duh! I knew that!”.

    Read more from TMS Ruge here.

  • Virginity Testing?

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 9:15 am
    I don't remember when I first read about the culture of testing the virginity of women. Lately, the news has been on the Zulu. However, I seem to remember something about new brides being given "the bleeding" test to prove that they were virgins. Something about someone checking to see if white sheets had blood-- the breaking of a woman's hymen. Note, its just brides.

    Read more from Amina's blog.

Gerald Baraza

  • The Discipline of Teams: What Kenyans Need to Learn

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 7:33 am
    A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. The difference between teams that perform and other groups that don't is a subject to which most of us pay far too little attention. Teams and good performance are inseparable; you cannot have one without the other. Most executives advocate teamwork. And they should. Teamwork represents a set of values that encourage listening and responding constructively to views expressed by others, giving others the benefit of doubt, providing support, and recognizing the interests and achievements of others.

    Committees, councils, and task forces are not necessarily teams. To understand how teams deliver extra performance, we must distinguish between teams and other forms of working groups. That distinction turns on performance results. A team's performance includes both individual results and "collective work-products". Teams differ fundamentally from working groups because they require both individual and mutual accountability. Teams produce discrete work-products through the joint contributions of their members. The first step in developing a disciplined approach to team management is to think about teams as discrete units of performance and not just as positive sets of values.

    The essence of a team is a common commitment. Without it, groups perform as individuals; with it, they become a powerful unit of collective performance. Teams develop direction, momentum, and commitment by working to shape a meaningful purpose. Most successful teams shape their purposes in response to a demand or opportunity put in their path, usually by higher management. The best teams invest a tremendous amount of time and effort exploring, shaping, and agreeing on a purpose that belongs to them both collectively and individually.

    The best teams also translate their common purpose into specific performance goals, such as reducing the reject rate from suppliers by 50% or increasing the math scores of graduates from 40% to 95%. Specific team performance goals help to define a set of work-products that are different both from an organizationwide mission and from individual job objectives. The specificity of performance objectives facilitates clear communication and constructive conflict within the team. The attainability of specific goals helps teams maintain their focus on getting results. Specific objectives have a leveling effect conducive to team behavior. Specific goals allow a team to achieve small wins as it pursues its broader purpose.
    Performance goals are compelling. They are symbols of accomplishment that motivate and energize. They challenge the people on a team to commit themselves, as a team, to make a difference.

    Goals help a team to keep track of progress, while a broader purpose supplies meaning and emotional energy. In addition to finding the right size, teams must develop the right mix of skills, that is, each of the complementary skills necessary to do the team's job. Skill requirements fall into the technical or functional expertise, problem-solving and decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.

    Organizational Behavior Class- By Gerald Baraza
    Gleaned from Katzenbach, Jon R. McKinsey & Company; Smith, Douglas K.

Kenya Christian

The Afropolitan Network:::

  • Rwanda

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 7:10 am by Beve

     

    Some cool news from Rwanda last week that hasn't been reported much. The small African nation now officially has the largest female majority parliament---in the world! The Speaker of the House is also a woman, Ms Mukantabana Rose and all were sworn in by President Kagame.


    So, Rwanda is also the first African country to meet the 50% quota requirement for women. Cool.

ME = FIXATED

  • Gunner Talk

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 5:34 am by Fixated


    Look at that! Cesc Fabregas beating four Sunderland men to the ball to power in a last gasp equaliser. Proof, if it were ever required, that aerial challenges are as much about ‘wanting it’ as height, heading ability, or experience. Given how frequently we concede or fail to score from set-pieces, there’s plenty we could learn from young Cesc’s example.


    That said, a draw is not a disastrous result. And however late our equaliser came, it wasn’t a lucky escape. Losing would have represented the most extraordinary bad luck, especially after suffering defeat at the hands of two wonder goals just a week earlier. And as for us being ‘in’ or ‘out’ of the title race at this insanely early stage… well, it’s just nonsense. The BBC’s live-text service exemplifies just how jerky and knee-orientated these reactions are:

    1644: GOAL Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
    Title over for Arsenal and it’s another unbelievable hit they’ve gone down to.

    1650: “This probably wont be posted for obvious reasons. ‘Title over for Arsenal’? Are you for real? After seven games… get a grip.”
    Sean, London, via text on 81111

    Three defeats in seven games, to Fulham, Hull and Sunderland? Yeah, it’s title over mate. Sorry.

    1651: GOAL Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal
    OK, so maybe they are still in the title race.

    Idiotic, really. At this stage it’s still very much ‘a game at a time’.

Opalo's weblog

  • time for the kenyan government to come clean on arms

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 4:56 am by kenopp
    So this is turning into child play. It is out there, government of Kenya. Everybody knows that the arms are not for sure yours and that they might be destined for Southern Sudan in complete contradistinction to a UN embargo against selling arms to Sudan. Denying it only makes you look stupid and clueless. Give [...]

You Missed This

  • RIP: James Ndimu Kamangu

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 4:43 am by kalamari
    The talented expert cobbler in whose briefcase of royal character lay the master plan of the Men’s Liberation Movement.
    Only a man of unbridled courage and strong conviction can attempt to fill the large shoes you leave behind.

    May your soul rest in perpetual peace.

  • Nigerians Honour Raila Odinga & Chinua Achebe

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 4:34 am by Phil
    PIC: Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga (left) and the Publisher of The Guardian, Dr. Alex Ibru, during Odinga's arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria

    Prime Minister Raila Odinga and legendary Nigerian author Professor Chinua Achebe are today scheduled deliver lectures to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Nigeria's Guardian Newspaper Limited, publishers of the leading Guardian titles.

    In the front page report on the lectures, the Guardian paper ran lengthy biographies on panafricanist, democrat and freedom fighter Odinga and, teacher, critic, poet and essayist Achebe, describing them as 'Africa's illustrious sons'.

    The lectures will be held at the think-tank Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in the economic capital city of Lagos. Raila Odinga is to deliver a lecture entitled "Democracy and the challenge of good government in Africa".

    Speaking to a battery of journalists who thronged the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on Wednesday shortly after his arrival from representing Kenya at the 1st World Policy Congress in Evian – France, Raila said; "I want to basically thank my host for inviting me to Nigeria. I am very happy to be in Nigeria today. I have come with a team of fellow Kenyans. I like the spirit of Nigerians. You asked me about the electoral fraud. Electoral fraud can only be dealt with by reforms, through instituting total reforms of having independent electoral body to preside over elections. We have leaders of yesterday who are resisting change. They do not want to accept the will of the people through democratic process and those new ones who are coming in and are basically democrats like to play by the rule. This is a transition period from the time multi-partism came into Africa that is from the early 1990s up till now. ”

    According to a press statement issued by Guardian Newspapers, Professor Chinua Achebe, best known for his evergreen classic, Things Fall Apart, will deliver a keynote speech at the event. Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’adua will be the Special Guest of Honour while Nigeria’s former military head of state, Yakubu Gowon would serve as the Chairman of the Ceremony.

    This blogger will monitor events in Lagos and update the post at an opportune time.

ME = FIXATED

  • Light bulb moment

    Posted: October 9, 2008, 4:14 am by Fixated

    Have you ever felt like everyone has been telling you something but you you never listened and now you finally realize it on your own as it dawns on you that you are the most conceited, dumbest person in the face of the universe, for you thought you knew better than everyone else, who again, in the first place, told you otherwise?

    Eeiissh

    Ok I totally made that up. Im feeling exactly that way but I have no idea why..

    Id better go back to sleep.

    My dreams make more sense

kipepeo

Al Kags

Kikuyumoja's realm

  • reality mining - as in “let’s face reality”

    Posted: October 8, 2008, 1:36 am by jke

    A rather older news item that triggered my interest, especially since I saw Eagle Eye last night - a Hollywood movie that deals with a super surveillance computer gone wild in a “2001: A Space Odyssey“-sense:

    Mobiles are assigned a temporary anonymous number by the network called a temporary mobile subscriber identity, or TMSI, which the phone periodically transmits to advise of its location.

    As the phone moves through the different regions served by different base stations, that number changes.

    Path Intelligence’s approach, called FootPath, directly detects that TMSI transmission from phones. No access to the mobile networks themselves is necessary, so the information that they glean is specific to a user, but completely anonymous.

    The TMSIs can only be associated with a number by the mobile operators and Path Intelligence encrypt the TMSIs that they acquire as an added level of security.

    …

    It has been approached by humanitarian workers in refugee camps, where a lack of central planning means it is often difficult to site services such as clinics where they can be best used.

    The system will also be useful for researching the layout of, for example, train stations. (source)

    “Reality mining” (Hujambo Nathan :-) - as interesting as it is (I for one would like to use such a system to see where ppl gather in cities to find the ideal location for a public toilet) - tells me that there’s still much more to mobile phone networks than what you may assume it already is. Contrary to the average communication or data connection needs, they also work as passive tracking devices and are constantly carried around by consumers. Meaning?

    Mobile phones are as close as companies will ever get to a customer (unless they find a way of smuggling subliminal messages or ads in our dreams - as seen on Futuruma).

    If you still believe that the mobile communication sector is just a temporary hype, this should open your eyes for the future. Don’t be fooled by current limited technologies (e.g. crippled mobile browsers) - the technology is going to evolve to a much bigger network of services that provide comfort to its users and valuable user data to some few operators who control the data.

    Germany’s T-Mobile recently had a very embarrassing scandal where user data of 17 million (!) customers got “lost” a year ago, including those private numbers of celebrities & other VIPs. And this although there are already very strict data privacy laws in Germany that would normally prevent such a faux-pas.

    So, obviously, it’s not only those big players like T-Mobile or Vodafone who provide the necessary mobile communication networks, but instead the few companies that collect all that gathered user data and use it for their own services. Is this good or bad?

    Coming back to the initial story: the triangulation method with it’s unique user IDs also reminds me of another AfriGadget-hack that’s prolly already out there - but if not, here’s my 2cent-idea: cheap mobile phones with stripped displays and small solar panels attached to the back cover that are then used as (cheaper) mobile tracking devices in nature preserves. Contrary to the old-fashioned Tx units, tracking equipment could be decentralized as it would rely on the base stations of the network (that, fortunately, often also cover nature parks) and consequently use less energy for a signal.

    I sometimes wonder why I went into the water & sanitation business instead of focussing on my old interest from back in the days… :-)

    p.s.: “we are based in the UK and the penetration of cell phones here is 108%, so we pretty much get everybody.” (source)

Al Kags

Mwariwadavid...a re-invention

  • Kenya, in David Mckenzie’s eyes…

    Posted: October 8, 2008, 12:18 am by Mwari Wa David
    Every time he appears on CNN, I have to brace myself for yet another assault, for that is what it feels like. To me, it comes across as a case of a stranger letting himself into our homeland and taking out whatever is in our dirty laundry basket, just to air it to the world. Everybody [...]

For Love and Money

Gukira

  • 10.08.2008

    Posted: October 8, 2008, 9:54 pm by keguro

    The “Situations Vacant” board at Sarit Centre is filled with letters of recommendation given to maids and gardeners and ayahs and drivers and accountants and secretaries and clerks and teachers by former employers, many expatriate, some not.

    Each letter has the same formula: “Name, Id. No. worked for us from 200x-200y. Employee was loyal and hardworking. Please hire them. Signed reassuringly foreign name.”

    For the hapless expatriate, the reassuring foreign name allows a sigh of relief: this is not keeping up with the Joneses, more managing with the Smiths. For the more traveled, the formulaic nature of the letters produces distrust.

    What strikes me about these letters—and official documents such as CVs and employee profiles—is how privacy functions in Kenya. There’s no or little personal space. I’m over this now. Matatu rides cure a lot.

    It is, rather, that ID numbers and passport numbers circulate easily, as ready and worthless forms of currency, though required when one is stopped by a policeman or enters certain buildings. Newspapers regularly print ID and passport numbers. As though to say these state-sanctioned forms of “this is who you are” are always inadequate.

    One’s CV lists one’s age and marital status: one needs no further evidence of heteronormativity. We are single, married, widowed, or divorced. All the time.

    How we relate to how the state names us, produces us, to its persistent hailing, this continues to be thought and negotiated.

    We could read this board in more economic terms: that the “informal” sector on which Kenya, read Sarit Centre going Kenyans, depends on has such a surfeit of labor that “vacant” translates as “available.” This is not a misreading, a misunderstanding of what “vacant” means. It is a commentary on how material conditions re-fashion language.

    In more prosaic terms, we could ask about the distinction between what the board is meant for and how it’s used. As simple as this distinction might seem, it’s possible to write an entire narrative about Kenya based on use and mis-use. One might ask what happened to traffic lights when car hijackers took over our roads in the 1990s.

    The reading of “vacant” as “available” also speaks to how forms of global circulation create a dependent underclass: it is telling that the names on the letters are recognizably expatriate, not signed by Otieno or Macharia, but Smith, Jurgen, Schmidt, Giovanni. Those here on 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 3-year contracts hire, write letters, and pass on.

    What they are passing on is not simply a recommendation, a name and ID number, but a way of life, a mode of being expatriate: one needs a maid, a gardener, a driver, an ayah, a secretary, a clerk.

    This “Situation Vacant” board teaches those who use it, workers and employers, how to reproduce a social order, teaches us who look at it how a social order is created and persis