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  • Industrializing a Nation is an Art of War

    Posted: March 14, 2010, 1:00 pm by Taabu
    By Mwarang'ethe

    Kenyans have agonised over many years why we are unable to develop with all the manpower and resources in our hands. With a religious conviction, we have convinced ourselves that, if only we were less corrupt, we would have ended our poverty and attendant social miseries. We are also convinced that, all will be well if we utilise “donors” funds well, have free primary education, and “fight” diseases like AIDS and malaria.

    These are myths and delusions fostered by the propaganda from the media, donors, NGOs and our schools. As thus, this common wisdom is totally baseless. The other side of the story that is left deliberately untold is this. Nations do not develop or industrialize and maintaining their prosperity, by fighting corruption, diseases and such mumbo jumbo.

    In truth, these are lullabies given to Africans to ensure their continued deep sleep as others f#%£% them. Excuse that French please. So, how do nations develop? Well developing a nation IS AN ART OF WAR.

    Industrialising a nation is an art of what, is what the Japanese Prince cannot tell Raila. (See Japanese Prince Dinner with Kenyan PM Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ITzlWOqYc4&feature=channel.

    Among other lullabies, the Japanese Prince did mention how Japan has helped us grow more rice (yes, a Malthusian activity we have mentioned many times). In his remarks, the Kenyan Prime Minister said there are a number of Japanese companies in Kenya. He seemed very pleased with that.

    In this article, we wish to dispel these delusions and myths, not with mere speculations, but with factual evidence of what Japan has been doing since 1945. Armed with these facts, you will decide whether we know what we are doing or not.

    After the 2WW, the remaining imperial centre of capital, i.e. USA was desperate to stop the spread of socialism. To do so, it had to assist countries like Japan that had lost that war. So, USA provided Japan with:

     Industrial technology.
     Finance capital.
     Dropped import barriers while permitting Japan and Germany to protect their industries and markets. This was the same formula USA had used in building its industry and wealth.

    Question

    (a) Did Kenya/Africa get access to technology, finance, markets and more crucially, are we able to protect our industry and market?
    (b) If no, it means that, we believe we will develop under free trade regime. We will be very happy to get any example of a nation that has ever developed under free trade regime as we have embraced it.

    As Japan rebuilt under the above conditions, it developed long term strategies for entering existing high tech markets (Schumpeterian activities, the opposite of Malthusian activities like rice growing the lullaby the Japanese Prince sung to us). These strategies were composed in detailed plans spanning 20 – 50 years for getting a share of existing markets. At first, it started by introducing new and highly refined versions of existing products and then slowly upgraded these products.

    It begun with CRUDE copies of advanced German cameras like Leica and Rolliflex. They then honed their skills by continually upgrading their entries into these markets until their level of quality and technology began to equal that of Germans and then surpassed them. In a span of less than 20 years, using such long range managerial approach, the Japanese were able to gain by far the largest share of the worldwide camera and optical goods market and thereby, edging Germans to the sidelines.

    Having taken this market, they now took aim of other existing markets which they could use their advanced optical skills. These were small copying machines, professional video devices, computerised silicon chip etching equipment. They now dominate this market as well and have edged the Americans who plan 24 months ahead.

    As Japanese chanted free trade and laissez faire lullabies to Africa, the Japanese Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the International Trade and Industry (MITI) controlled the government’s budget, set monetary policy, collected taxes, supervised banks, brokers, and insurers and established parameters for credit, asset values, capitalization and lending.

    More so, through cross shareholding, they ensured no outsider takeover (remember how Raila is happy about presence of Japanese companies in Kenya?). To further these mercantile schemes under the banner of laissez faire for the foolish, they ensured Japanese corporations are primarily owned by each other.

    Questions for you

    (a) Does Kenya have any long term plans for entering any high technology market? Please do not tell us about tea branding and tourism marketing in Germany.
    (b) How coordinated is ownership of Kenyan companies like Kenya Railway, Safaricom, Telkom, Ken Gen etc?

    To further protect its markets, Japan came up with very complicated high product prices which were protected from imports by arbitrary health, safety and quality standards. These “standards” permitted charging Japanese consumers 3 times the price for consumer products as that paid by the rest of the world. Through these "standards" which are never met, instead of TARIFF, the Japanese prevented others from selling on its home front. See the irony, in Kenya/Africa; a Minister proudly launches a new foreign product as you can see here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVC4OcWFf9U&feature=player_embedded#.

    These high prices were nothing but hidden taxes along with other dictated policies and creative accounting which gave Japanese industry the same finance capital as it has received 100 years earlier. In other words, government financed industry and protected home market created a comparative advantage which permitted the Japanese industry to sell, for a period of time, at what would be a loss for a free enterprise corporation. Having built the world’s most modern industry and captured markets around the world, so long as trade surpluses are maintained, losses can be absorbed up to a point by those high domestic prices taxing back a part of the economic multiplier gains.

    When Japanese government tried to deflate cautiously the land and stock bubbles by raising interest rates, the Wall Street bankers went on the attack using their new weapons of mass destruction, i.e. derivatives to sell the market short and bring it crashing down.

    In other words, Japanese formula is this. Buy RAW RESOURCES cheap (from Kenya/Africa), build and maintain the most efficient industry in the world, educate its citizens, pay Japanese labour well (remember SAPS from IMF telling us to pay badly?) charge Japanese consumers above export prices, price exports just under the products of other nations and sell enough on the world market to pay for it all with a substantial cushion to spare. It may appear that, these policies contravene the Most Favoured Nation clause in free trade treaties. Well, that’s a small deal. As long as all nations face same arbitrary standards, the problem is “solved.”

    So, why don’t the rich nations force Japanese to comply with the laws Kenya/Africa must comply with? Very simple. In 1987 when Japanese sold its bonds, the global liquidity was lowered such that, America experienced the worst one day stock collapse. So, if they are forced to, they will liquidate these investments, properties and dollar will crush. This is jiu jitsu economics at its best because USA and Japan, China etc, are now locked in debt – equity embrace that no knows how to get out of it. Remember that, these nations have very old art of art of war skills.

    When the Western capital withdrew finance capital from Asian Tigers (this is a story for another day) they shattered (deliberately) these economies and then bought the best industries for pennies on the dollar. When they turned these derivatives as we noted above on Japan, they met their match. Japanese never permitted outside finance capital to gain TITLE to their industrial wealth. How so? They simply kept all bankrupt banks and industries running by ABANDONING capitalism’s bankruptcy rules. This enabled Japan to maintain trade surplus, expand savings, and thereby avoid DROP IN LIVING STANDARDS. We see the entire world now trying these formulae’s. We will see the end of this soon.

    We have cut short a very long story, but, we hope short as it is, we are able to show that, developing a nation is more than fighting corruption, inviting foreign investors, “bringing development,” new constitutions etc as we are told. It requires leaders who understand the art of war.Kumekucha


People I admire

  • Cess Mutungi

    Posted: March 14, 2010, 12:26 pm
     She was down and out but now she is back. She has dusted herself off and is back on track ready to be more responsible with less controversies. She has great advise for anyone and everyone who may be listening. Yes she is, Nairobi's former bad gal, is back.
    If you didn't know her then, here is a picture of her before the transformations.





Opalo's weblog

the-xposer

  • Quote of the day

    Posted: March 13, 2010, 1:52 am by ombui
    a good smile is not when it is only on your face, but when it is reflected on others ~ Jared Ombui

Mary Baker Eddy Illustrated Quotes

  • The harvest

    Posted: March 13, 2010, 12:30 am by ajgks
    The temporal and unreal never touch the eternal and real. The mutable and imperfect never touch the immutable and perfect. The inharmonious and self-destructive never touch the harmonious and self-existent. These opposite qualities are the tares and wheat, which never really mingle, though (to mortal sight) they grow side by side until the harvest; then, Science separates the wheat from the tares, through the realization of God as ever present and of man as reflecting the divine likeness. Pg 300
    - Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy

Gathara's World

  • How Tanzanian Justice Fails to See the Wood for Trees

    Posted: March 13, 2010, 11:43 pm
    The East African Development Bank’s search for justice and self-preservation in the courtrooms of Tanzania has been as trivialised as it has been convoluted. Throughout the litigation, the courts have systematically focused on technicalities and blocked any attempt to interrogate the merits of the $61 million arbitral award that threatens the viability of the bank.

    Between March 1990 and June 1992, the Bank provided a total of $2.2 million in loans to Blueline Enterprises Ltd, a Tanzanian transporter, for the purchase of to 10 heavy-duty trucks and other equipment. However, in November 1995, the Bank placed the company under receivership for non-payment. Following a successful arbitration process the Bank’s initial victory was overturned by the courts, which ordered new arbitration proceedings. The award, which some have termed “obscene,” stemmed from this latter process.

    The EADB’s numerous attempts to have its day in court have been bogged down in legal minutiae. Not once has it had the opportunity to tell its side of the story. And as it stares bankruptcy in the face, what has been forgotten is that it was the Bank that actually lent money to Blueline, which with interest, would now amount to over $40 million. And since the Bank belongs to the governments of the EAC, it is their citizens who stand to lose this sum.

    Below is a timeline of the case:

    March 7, 1990: East African Development Bank advances a loan of approximately $1.86 million to Blueline Enterprises Ltd of Tanzania to purchase 10 heavy duty trucks and other equipment.

    June 16, 1992: The EADB gives Blueline a supplemental loan of $340,000.

    November 24, 1995: The Bank appoints Coopers and Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) as Receiver and Manager of Blueline
.

    December 4, 1995: Blueline procures an injunction from the High Court restraining the Bank from permitting its Receiver and Manager to “take over and run” Blueline’s business.

    February 14, 2001: The Bank and Blueline file a Compromise Order appointing Hon. Francis L. Nyalali (the former Chief Justice of Tanzania) Sole Arbitrator and A. T. H. Mwakyusa as his substitute.

    September 30, 2002: Hon. Mr Nyalali finds in favour of Bank and dismisses Blueline’s claim on the basis that it lacked legal merit. Hon. Nyalali dies shortly thereafter and Blueline files a petition challenging the award.

    July 30, 2003: Mr Justice Luanda sets aside Hon. Mr Nyalali’s award and orders the Arbitration proceedings to commence afresh before Mr Mwakyusa.

    The bank appeals on the grounds that Mr Mwakyusa could only have been appointed if Mr Nyalali had not acted as arbitrator.

    November 21, 2003: The Court of Appeal of Tanzania strikes out the appeal because the Bank has failed to obtain Leave to Appeal.

    To rectify the error, the Bank files an Application in the High Court seeking an extension of time to file a new Notice of Appeal and an extension of time to seek Leave to Appeal to the Court of Appeal .

    July 9, 2004: Mr Justice Mihayo of the High Court refuses to grant the extensions of time.

    Following commencement of arbitration before Mr Mwakyusa, the Bank applies afresh to the High Court for the removal of Mr Mwakyusa as the Sole Arbitrator and for the Arbitration proceedings to be stayed pending determination of its petition.

    May 11, 2004: The Bank’s Application is dismissed by the Hon. Justice Massati because it has not annexed the Loan Agreement containing the Arbitration clause to the Application.

    The Bank files a Notice of its intention to appeal to the Court of Appeal as well as an Application for Leave to Appeal. Simultaneously the Bank files an application to prevent the Arbitration proceedings from continuing pending the determination of its Appeal. The Court of Appeal strikes out the latter application on the ground that the order of the High Court was not capable of execution, and therefore a stay order relating to it could not be issued.

    The Bank subsequently appealed to the Arbitrator to remove himself, but he declined to do so.
    In light of the dismissal of the application for a stay order, the Bank abandons its intended Appeal against M. Justice Massati’s decision and as a result, Mr Mwakyusa, commences the Arbitration proceedings.

    August 31, 2005: Mr Mwakyusa delivers his award awarding Blueline $61,386,853 in relation to Blueline’s claims against the Bank. No award is made in respect of the Bank’s claim for the outstanding loan.

    The Bank files a Petition and Application in the High Court seeking to set aside the award; a declaration that Arbitration proceedings have failed and consequently the dispute should be determined by a Court of law; and a stay of execution of the arbitral award pending the final determination of the Bank’s petition.

    Mr Justice Shangwa sustains Blueline’s objections that the Bank has omitted to annex a certified copy of the arbitral award even though the original was, at that time, before the High Court, and particularly, before the judge handling the matter, having been sent there directly by the arbitrator.

    The Bank files a further Application to the High Court for extension of time in order to file another Petition to set aside the Arbitral award. However on the day fixed for the hearing of the said Application, the Bank withdraws the application upon advice of Counsel that the time limit has not lapsed after all. This advice is based on a previous decision made by the Court of Appeal that implies that the petition, being a “suit,” could be filed up to six years from the date of the award.

    Immediately thereafter, the bank files a new petition in the High Court.

    Blueline raise a preliminary objection that the petition is time-barred and should be struck out, relying on a 2002 Court of Appeal decision that a petition to set aside an award is an “application” (and not a “suit”) and was therefore still subject to the 60 days limitation.

    June 22, 2007: Justice Mandia delivers his ruling noting that there are two conflicting decisions of the Court of Appeal on the matter. He, however, decides to rely upon the earlier decision, that a petition is an “application” and declares it time-barred.

    July 5, 2007: EADB files a Notice of Appeal against the ruling of the Court together with an application for Leave to Appeal.

    April 11, 2008: The Bank’s application for leave to appeal Justice Mandia’s decision is struck out with costs.

    December 17, 2007: EADB files an application seeking an order from the court for extending the limitation period on the grounds that there is reasonable cause for the court to exercise its discretion.

    March 26, 2009: Justice Sheikh of the High Court dismisses the Bank’s application because EADB had previously filed and withdrawn a similar application for the same order (for extension of time) without seeking liberty to reinstitute it.

    May 12, 2009:Justice Shangwa dismisses the Bank’s application to vacate the garnishee order by way of which Blueline sought execution of the arbitral award declaring that the Bank’s immunity from attachment of its assets did not extend to its cash.

    September 22, 2009: Leave is granted to appeal against Justice Shangwa’s ruling. Subsequently, Blueline consents to the grant of leave by the High Court for the appeal against the decision of Justice Sheikh.

    March 8, 2010: A three-judge panel dismisses the Bank’s appeal on the grounds that since Justice Mandia had dismissed the petition previously brought by the Bank, it was not open to the Bank to go back before the same Court with an application for enlargement of time.

    March 11, 2010: The hearing on the appeal against the decision by Justice Shangwa relating to the Bank’s immunity is adjourned after one of the judges recuses himself.

Rugby in Kenya

Gathara's World

  • Banking on the EADB

    Posted: March 13, 2010, 11:20 pm

    As the East African Development Bank fights for its life in Tanzanian courts, its role as the East African Community’s Bank has come under fire. The Permanent Secretary at Kenya’s Ministry of East African Community blames a lack of vision by the leadership of the East African Development Bank for the failure to mobilize resources for cross-border infrastructure projects. Speaking to The East African, David Nalo stressed that the bank “needed to be reformed yesterday”, citing the example of the Athi River-Arusha road. The project took over ten years to kick off because each country was separately negotiating with donors to finance its chunk of tarmac. “The EADB should have repositioned itself to offer solutions as the Bank of the EAC to source the funds and execute the project,” the PS says.

    The bank is appealing a $61 million arbitral award given against it to Tanzanian transporters, Blueline Enterprises Ltd. Its numerous attempts to have the award set aside have been dismissed on technicalities. According to lawyer Kibe Mungai, in 5 years of litigation, the case has never been heard on its merits.

    Though its lawyers have warned that the institution may not have the resources to pay and may face the prospect of liquidation if all its appeals are unsuccessful, the bank is now seeking to reassure “all stakeholders” that its operations will continue. In a Press release, the bank declares that the EAC Partner States, who own over 80% of the bank as well as non-state shareholders “remain firmly committed to the EADB and will continue to support it.” This is despite the fact that the member states have already eschewed the idea of shelling out taxpayer cash to “pay a private businessman”.

    The African Development Bank, which owns close to 7% of the EADB has declared that it is 100% behind the Bank. Though he would not be drawn out on the subject of a bailout, Bhargav Purohit, who represents the African Development Bank on the EADB’s Board of Directors, said the AfDB would support the EADB in its time of need. “We will be here to work with them as we have been for the last 40 years,” he declared.

    PS Nalo believes East Africa must make a strategic choice between the proposed the East Africa Community Development Fund and restructuring the EADB to avoid “duplication.” Declaring that the EADB is potentially “an extremely useful instrument,” he advised the Bank’s management to start thinking about funding infrastructure projects such as a fibre optic cable from Mombasa to the DRC or a nuclear power plant, or mobilising equity and capital for renovating the railway system.

    Purohit, though, observes that the Bank’s role is still defined by the 1980 Charter and any changes in its mandate would need to be reflected there. He believes that to properly perform its new role, the EADB would need to be restructured and adequately capitalized. He further adds that a strategic plan is currently being worked on by the Director-General and her team and it will include recommendations on the requisite level of capitalization.

    Interestingly, in 2008, The EastAfrican reported that a $135 million recapitalisation package was yet to be realized and Nalo feels that partner states will remain unwilling to recapitalize it until it is restructured and shows readiness to delve into regional issues.

    The bank has had a troubled history, having undergone at least three bouts of restructuring within the last two decades, mostly following losses. It was first restructured in 1993. Between 1994 and 1998, it had a good run, doubling its profits. This was followed by a period of deterioration which culminated in a $2.9 million loss in 2002, prompting another restructuring and the departure of 5 top managers. The latest facelift comes on the back of an $8 million loss in 2008 which led to the removal of its top brass including the Director-General.

    One of the few remaining vestiges of the original East African Community, the Bank was created by Article 21 of the Treaty for East African Co-operation of 6 June 1967 and its Charter was set out in Annex VI of the Treaty. Its main purpose was to promote the equitable industrial development of the three member countries, Kenya Uganda and Tanzania. While the three countries contributed equally to its capital base, the bank was required to devote 38.75 per cent of its investments in each Tanzania and Uganda, against 22.5 per cent in Kenya.

    However, under its statutes, it could only finance “viable” projects, most of which were in Kenya, especially during the 1971-73 period. This, and the absence of coordinated industrial planning in EAC, greatly limited the bank’s ability to effectively redistribute the benefits of the integration.

    The EADB survived the dissolution of the EAC in 1977 largely because it did not rely on the EAC for funding. Headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, the bank was revitalized by a then rare show of unity when Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda momentarily set aside their differences in an effort to bolster the bank's activities.

    The Treaty Amending and Re-enacting the Charter of the East African Development Bank,which came into force on 23rd July 1980, rescued it from legal limbo. It provided that the EADB Charter would henceforth draw its legal validity from the 1980 agreement and not the 1967 Treaty which founded it. Under the new charter, in addition to promoting industrial development, the bank could also provide funding and technical assistance for agricultural, forestry, tourism, transportation, and infrastructure development projects. It had an authorised capital stock of US$ 1.08 billion though to date it’s actual paid-up capital remains at less than 10% of that figure.

    In 1984 the International Monetary Fund agreed to provide further financial backing and by the late 1980s the African Development Bank and the Japanese government agreed to channel $56.4 million in credit through the EADB for regional projects. By 1990 the EADB had lent $28 million for 19 separate projects, but many of these and other loans were soon in arrears. Many of the bank's problems were blamed on currency devaluations and various technical financial adjustments. In 1993, the EADB agreed to a complete restructuring under the guidance of a new director general.

    That same year, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania took another crack at regional integration by forming the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation. The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community was signed in November 1999 and entered into force in July 2000. The EADB, along with other remnants of the 1967 Treaty, was declared an Autonomous Institution of the Community. The bank was charged with catalyzing regional integration through the provision of development finance.

    The 2nd EAC Development Strategy which covered the years 2001-2005, recognized a gap in regional financing for regional projects, citing low savings and incomplete financial reforms. To plug this hole, the Strategy recommended establishing a Regional Development Fund with the EADB used as a transitional vehicle for raising funds for regional projects before the Fund is up and running.

    While this seems to suggest that the Bank is of limited value, at least as far as EAC integration is concerned, a paper tabled at the July 2008 UN Conference on Trade and Development notes that given the important imperfections of private international capital markets, especially in the provision of long-term funding – such as is required for infrastructure – Regional Development Banks and Sub- Regional Development Banks such as the EADB need to play an ever increasing role in financing regional infrastructure.

    Financing from Multilateral Development Banks such as the World Bank tends to come with strict conditionalities, give little regard to the views of developing countries, and are heavily influenced by the agendas of their shareholders’ domestic constituencies. RDBs and SRDBs on the other hand, can rely on informal peer pressure rather than imposing conditionality allowing for faster and more flexible disbursements of resources. There is also little danger of countries’ voices been drowned out in a bank they themselves own, or their being held hostage to foreign agendas.

    RDBs and SRDBs can also help ameliorate the vagaries of international private finance by providing counter-cyclical finance when private flows dry up and developing innovative market instruments, such as GDP-linked bonds, that better spread risks and reduce the likelihood of costly and disruptive defaults and debt crises.

    Therefore, while the EADB has financed numerous projects in different sectors within the region including education, agriculture, agro-processing, construction and real estate, health, transport and telecommunications,it needs to expand its portfolio to include financing regional integration efforts and especially the cross-border infrastructure. Just as the EAC is following the EU integration model, so the EADB should look carefully at the example set by its counterpart in Europe, the European Investment Bank.

    The EIB was central to the process of European integration since the beginning. Indeed, just like the Treaty of East Africa Cooperation created the EADB, the 1957 Treaty of Rome that created the European Economic Community also created the EIB. The EIB, the most powerful instrument in the Treaty, was established in order to support the European integration process. It had a three-fold mandate: to ensure equitable development by channeling savings from the more developed parts of the Community to the less developed parts; to help modernize or replace “senile industries”; and to develop cross-border infrastructure by transforming Europe’s essentially national infrastructure into an integratedEuropean infrastructure.

    To fulfill a similar role, the EADB needs to extend its portfolio to include financing of regional infrastructure projects. As the Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda, Dr. Louis Austin Kasekende notes, “the EADB… lends money to commercial enterprises to fund their capital investment and working capital. Most of these enterprises are in the private sector although a few are public enterprises and joint ventures.” In contrast, in its first ten years, the EIB lent almost exclusively to infrastructure and industry with the former accounting for nearly half (48%) of its total disbursements. In the SADC region, the Development Bank of South Africa also focuses primarily on its core mandate of infrastructure funding.

    In some ways, though, the EADB is already set up to finance infrastructure. Such funding typically requires long-term loans. While the liberalization of financial markets and the rapid increase in the number of commercial banks in the financial system has largely improved availability of short-term as opposed to long-term credit, the latter accounts for well over 80% of the loans approved by the EADB in any given year. However, it needs to ramp up the scale of its lending. After a relatively modest start while it found its financial feet, the EIB now shells out more credit than the other multilateral banks put together. The EADB’s annual disbursement, on the other hand, is woefully small -in 2008 it was less that the amount Kenya’s Higher Education Loans Board advanced to the country’s students!

    The EADB must also attend to its redistributive function just as the EIB funneled resources to the poorer sections of Europe. In fact, before joining the European Economic Community, Italy pressed for the creation of the EIB largely to help fund infrastructure in its Southern region. In contrast, between 1995 and 2006, the EADB’s approved investments were evenly split between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The bank must revisit its roots and especially the requirement to ensure the fruits of integration are equitably distributed. Though Nalo is opposed to this, preferring policy incentives that encourage private sector investors to view the region as a single entity, he acknowledges that the EACDF does contemplate a mechanism of compensation for losses incurred due to the integration project and proposes that such mechanisms be included in a revised EADB Charter.

Rugby in Kenya

White African

  • Geeking out on a Motorcycle Trip

    Posted: March 13, 2010, 10:52 pm by HASH

    Today I had a lot of fun, one of my old schoolmates (Markus) from here in Kenya asked me if I wanted to get out of Nairobi and hit the trails on our motorcycles. Of course, the answer was yes. We headed out towards Naivasha early this morning and then took a side road off towards the escarpment.

    The roads are dirt and with the recent rains they’re really quite rugged and beyond most normal vehicles. Markus is an experienced trail rider on a KTM 450 (kitted out), I’ve ridden a lot of trails, but years ago and not nearly as experienced as Markus – and I’m riding an offroad/onroad Suzuki DR 650 (stock).

    We ended up having to run through, and beside, a lot of 5-10 acre farms that sit at the base of the escarpment in order to find a road up to the top of the escarpment. A lot of this was on cow paths and required some fine-tuned leveraging of our bikes through gates and streams. The road to the top of the escarpment, when found was a fun ride, minus the part where I wiped out on a simple turn (the one below)…

    Bruises (and bruised ego) aside, we kept going up into small-farm, where quite a few more people live, and which is almost entirely denuded of trees that were there just 15 years ago.

    After talking to some of the local community, we were advised to head down a certain road, with assurances that it would lead us to the bottom of the escarpment. It did, eventually, but not until we had backtracked, sidetracked, followed animal trails (in buffalo country), and then realized that the washed out gully we were in was supposed to be the road.

    3.5 hours of wrestling a mammoth 650cc bike through this terrain left me exhausted. This type of bike is not made for that level of technical riding down boulder strewn gully’s and game trails. However, it was also hugely rewarding when we finally found our way to the bottom of the escarpment and much easier riding.

    Mapping the Malewa Motorcycle Trip

    I also brought my Android Nexus One along for the ride, hoping that the battery life would allow me to use it for tracking our trip. The Nexus One has a GPS, and there’s an Android app called My Tracks, that tracks your trip, allows you to add waypoints, then easily shares it to Google’s MyMaps.

    Here is the result:


    View Malewa Motorcycle Trip in a larger map

    It doesn’t look very exciting like that, but it does give you the exact data for having your own challenging ride if you’re in Kenya.

Rafiki Kenya

  • Do you swallow or spit?

    Posted: March 13, 2010, 10:44 pm
    So you have a mouthful and you are not sure what to do? After timidly holding the liquid in your mouth, you stop to re-examine a question that had been on your mind before: to spit or to swallow? Well, some girls swallow, others don't. Whether you spit or swallow is completely up to you - tastes and preferences differ. When I announced the 3rd Annual Nairobi Wine Festival on Twitter, I indeed got some mixed reactions from my twiends:
    • RookieKE @RafikiKenya I'll taste, not swallow.
    • Queen_Lucky @RafikiKenya Problem is when tasting... I don't spit. I actually swallow. So imagine how drunk I get...
      So @RookieKe doesn't swallow, but @Queen_Lucky swallows. To swallow or not to swallow, that's the question. Some people are advising to spit if you're tasting more than one liquid, and swallow if you are tasting that one unique vintage you always wanted to order.

      The 3rd Annual Nairobi Wine Festival will be an opportunity to swallow or spit over 90 liquids from around the world, whilst enjoying live music and delicious bitings around the fabulous poolside at the Holiday Inn:
        Event: 3rd Annual Nairobi Wine Festival
        Venue: Holiday Inn, Westlands, Nairobi
        Dates: Friday 19th March, 5 – 9pm; and Saturday 20th March, 3 – 7pm
        Cost: Kshs 1,400/- per person.
          Tickets are valid for one day only, and include unlimited swallowing or spitting, bitings and a branded wine glass to take home. Tickets available from The Holiday Inn and The Wine Shop in Kileleshwa. Tickets are limited, buy yours in advance to avoid disappointment! For more information call: 0716 555 118.

          You can find some excellent reviews of last year's wine festival here and here.

          And if you are still not sure which option to go for, here is a video that could help you in your decision:



          And finally, here are my two questions to you:
          1. Are you going to this year's wine festival or not?
          2. And do you actually swallow or spit?

        KCB Rugby Football Club

        • Nakuru stun Impala while Quins stay top with big win at the Lions Den

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 10:30 pm by KCBRFC
          In what is arguably the result of the weekend,Nakuru stunned hostsImpala 8-6. Strathmore remained winless, going down 5-15 to Mwamba RFCwhile Nondies picked up a 24-20 win over visiting Mean Machine.The featured match saw Nivea for Men Quins stay top of the Kenya Cupwith an imperious display of rugby in their 37-12 away win over arather tame Kenya Commercial Bank RFC at the Lions Den inRuaraka...

        SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

        • SANAA ya KUAHIRISHA ugomvi mpaka WAGENI WAONDOKE!

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 6:27 pm by SIMON KITURURU
          Ni sanaa kuutafutia UGOMVI muda na MAHALI pake,...

          ....NA labda  uaminivyo MAJIRANI ZAKO daima WANAFURAHA  ni kwa kuwa tu WANAPATIA  kuahirisha MUDA WA ugomvi  au tu hualikwi KATIKA sehemu yao MAALUMU  wapendeleayo kutekenyea UGOMVI.
          Swali:
          • Unabisha?

          Kwa bahati MBAYA,...
          ....wakati unatembea na ugomvi KICHWANI unaweza mpaka ukawa mchoyo  wa NANIHII kwa hata wasiohusika na UGOMVI wako na NANIHINO.
          Na  kwa bahati MBAYA,...
          ....ni sanaa kuahirisha UGOMVI mpaka wageni waondoke kwa kuwa  yaweza kusababisha TOPIKI zote uongeazo na wageni zijae KUBARAGUZA tu na wala hazikuchokonoi KUMAANISHA kweli kuwa nanihiii ina.NANIHINO.:-(
          Swali:

          • AU?


          Na kwabahati MBAYA,...
          .... labda kama WEWE unaweza kukaa MKAO  wa kusubiri WAGENI waondoke ili UGOMVI uendelee yawezekana ndicho kipimo kikubwa kuhusu USTAARABU wako.:-(

          Swali:
          • Unakumbuka sentensi ya kurudishia UGOMVI palepale ULIPOKUWEPO kabla WAGENI HAWAJAJA uitumiayo  baada ya wageni kuondoka?





          NIMEACHA hili wazo MHESHIMIWA na labda wala topiki haikuhusu na usikonde HASA  kama hujawahi kuahirisha UGOMVI kwa kuwa SHEKHE na PADRI au TU uwaheshimuo pamoja na MAMA wamekuja kukutembelea.:-(


          Hebu GEORGE MICHAEL abadili tena kwa -Careless Whispers



          Au Elton John amuongelee tena -NIKITA



          Na JIM REEVES akaribishe katika-Welcome to my WORLD

        Black Looks

        SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

        • TATIZO la MJANJA akichumbia mtu AMUHISIYE ni MSHAMBA!:-(

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 4:12 pm by SIMON KITURURU
          Kirahisi MJANJA anaweza kujigeuza MWALIMU badala ya kuwa MPENZI kisa anahisi MAHUDUSHI -pangala wake ni MSHAMBA.:-(
          Swali:
          • AU?


          Ukihisiwa MSHAMBA waweza kujikuta unafundishwa mpaka unayojua,....
          .... na wanaokufunza WAJIDHANIAO NI WAJANJA kusahau kujifunza KUONA MAMBO kwa jicho lako kitu ambacho chaweza kuwa ndio KITATUA tatizo.

          Na tatizo la yeyote ajifikiriaye ni MJANJA na ndiye anayejua,.......LABDA  ni kujipa UALIMU kitu ambacho chaweza kuwa ndicho tatizo.
          Swali:
          • Unabisha?


          Ndio kila siku ni SHULE,....... lakini kuna sababu kila mtu SHULENI huwa kuna  MWALIMU amkumbukaye kwa UALIMU mzuri wa kusifika,.....
          .... na labda MAISHANI ukichumbia MSHAMBA jaribu kuchanganua kama ni kweli hilo lakufanya UFUDHU kuwa MWALIMU na si mwanafunzi katika PENZI.:-(


          Swali:
          • Hivi unafikiri UJANJA sio USHAMBA?
          • Hivi USHAMBA ni nini vile?


          NI WAZO TU HILI MHESHIMIWA!
          Hebu SIMBA WANYIKA katika kubadili wamwage ndude-SHILINGI YAUA tena ni MAUA




          Au tu Buena Vista Social Club warudie tena pia - Chan Chan

        Black Looks

        • Senegalese film director, Mahaman Johnson Traore: – RIP

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 3:46 pm by Sokari
          Senegalese film director and one of the founders of the Pan-African Film festival [FESPACO], Mahaman Johnson Traore, died last Monday. Mark Coles talks to Keith Shire on the work of Johnson Traore, particularly his films which addressed “the politics of women’s position in their societies”. Listen to the interview below. Via Bombastic Element

        Githush

        • Since the ...

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 3:28 pm by Githush


          Since the 1970’s the American federal system has experienced a significant realignment of revenue raising and spending responsibilities. From the New Federalism era of the 70’s and 80’s, to the “Fend-for-yourself”[1] federalism of the late 80’s, more and more is expected of local government, with less and less assistance from the higher tiers of government. Gone is the era of General Revenue Sharing, replaced by “unfunded mandates” and categorical grants; a marked shift has occurred in the tax and spending responsibility, away from the Federal level toward the state and local level, this shift has increased pressures on the revenue-raising resources of these governments, which have been further hamstrung by tax-payer revolts and competing more aggressively for firms and residents. Today, Local governments are expected to provide an increasing number of services from: police and fire services; planning, zoning and building inspections; parks and recreation facilities; garbage collection; libraries; road maintenance; water and sewer systems; economic development and mass transit.[2]In Arizona, Local authorities rely on a number of own-source revenues to perform these tasks: property taxes, sales taxes, franchise taxes, business license taxes, bed taxes, user and permit fees, service charges, fines and issuing bonds.[3] However, there exist limits to the array of potential sources available to Arizona Local governments, as opposed to other American cities (for example, there are prohibitions against levying income, fuel and luxury taxes).

          To supplement own-source revenue, and partly as a consequence of voter imposed limits on own-source revenue streams, cities and towns in Arizona must rely on State Shared Revenues. This paper aims to provide an introduction to these programs; it shall begin by looking at the political, social and philosophical underpinnings for intergovernmental transfers, followed by an articulation of economic rationales for the same. This shall be followed by an exposition of the various revenue sharing programs in Arizona, with particular attention paid to the sharing of income taxes (urban revenue sharing). The final portion shall briefly assess the impact of these transfers and particularly there importance to local government finances.

          As with many other states, the State of Arizona has – for economic and political reasons – placed restrictions on the revenue raising ability of its constituent entities. To minimize individual tax burdens, eliminate inter-jurisdictional tax competition, streamline tax structures and ease tax administration[4]: the state prohibits localities from levying an income tax (ARS 43-201), luxury tax (ARS 42-3002) and limits property tax levels (AZ Constitution Article IX Sections 18(1), 19 and 24), as well as, provides for expenditure limits (AZ Constitution Article IX section 20).[5] Considering the limitations placed on revenue generating schemes, and the fact that the survival of localities is (in the final analysis) the responsibility of the state, revenue sharing has been developed as a schema to ensure the economic and political survival of these sub-state entities: “The state is ultimately accountable for the bulk of domestic services. It has the power to establish local units of government and delegate to them some of its sovereignty in particular areas. The state is obligated (a) to delegate only those functions that can be efficiently performed by the particular unit and that are predominantly local in character and (b) to provide sufficient resources to each unit so that it can fulfill its responsibilities adequately without overburdening its taxpayers in relation to taxpayers in similar circumstances in other areas of the state.”[6]Therefore, from a constitutional and political perspective, the State of Arizona (as the creator of local government) is obliged to ensure the survival and viability of its local entities.

          In addition to the political rationale noted above, we can add demographic shifts, which have occasioned an expansion of urban areas in Arizona, this shift has led to more and more individuals moving into urban areas from Rural Arizona or migrating to the state from other States and nations. This expanded population has put additional strain on local resources, necessitating continued state aid.[7] It has also been argued, that since a majority of the states economic activity occurs within Urban areas: “83 percent of the state’s population lives within a city or town, more than 91 percent of the tax revenue collected by the state originates from financial activities within incorporated communities.”[8], it is only fair that Cities and town receive a portion of state revenues, accrued to the state from activities happening in the localities, this arguments forms the foundation of the “point of origin” rational for revenue sharing, monies should be returned to a jurisdiction in proportion to the contribution that locale makes to the state treasury.[9]

          There also exist economic rationales for intergovernmental transfers Pattengill and Uppal[10] and Bell (1990)[11] identify the following economic rationales for supporting state shared revenue: (I) Externalities, (II) Fiscal Equalization, (III) Equity. Intergovernmental transfers can be used to correct for positive “interjurisdictional spillovers,”[12] which occur when the benefits of a locally provided public good or services accrue to non-residents. In this case, the jurisdiction shall under produce the beneficial good or service, as it does not account for the broader positive externalities. For the locality to produce the optimal amount, a subsidy may need to be provided, to subsidize the provision of said product at the optimal societal level. Fiscal Equalization maybe necessary to ensure that all jurisdictions have the necessary finances to provide a standard quantity and level of service across the state, as localities have varying resources and wealth, intergovernmental transfers may be necessary for poorer localities. Fiscal equalization also accounts for the latter Equity concerns, whereby, citizens within the state, who are at the same economic strata should largely receive similar services regardless of there residence: “On equity grounds, intergovernmental assistance may be desirable if the tax price faced by individuals of equal income in different jurisdictions providing a standard level and quantity of service differ because one jurisdiction is less wealthy than another.”[13]

          As can be seen above, there exist a multitude of reasons, economic and non-economic for intergovernmental fiscal transfers and the development of a state shared revenue system in particular, to ensure that localities are providing the appropriate level and quality of services and are sustainable sub-state entities: “An essential part of keeping Arizona cities whole and operating is our system of revenue sharing. Established decades ago as a trust between Arizona residents and their state government, the revenue-sharing system is based on the belief that the state prospers only when its component parts prosper.”[14]

          There are two broad categories of intergovernmental transfers in Arizona: (i) State Shared revenue and (ii) State appropriated funds. The former, are state aid to local governments from earmarked revenue sources. That is, the funds come from state revenue sources, local governments have no control over the amount of revenue collected, and the funds are distributed by formula rather than returned to the jurisdiction of origin. These funds are typically governed by statute. Examples of such programs include sharing of state income taxes, sales taxes, motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle taxes. The latter are transfers that are provided to localities via the budget appropriations. Programs in this category include school equalization assistance programs, health and hospital aid, law enforcement and justice grants, flood control aid, library grants and disaster aid.[15] Intergovernmental funds can either be categorical (that is earmarked for a specific purpose or general (for general use), and may also require matching commitments from the local government.[16]

          The focus of this paper is necessarily on State-Shared revenue, of which there are a number of programs in Arizona:

          I) Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT):

          A portion of the State’s collected sales tax (or TPT) is designated by statute for distribution to a “distribution base.” According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, the division of the TPT between the “distribution base” and “non-shared base” varies from one category of the tax to the next: “For example retail sales is 40% distribution and 60% non-shared.”[17] Of the monies in the “distribution base” 25% goes to cities, 40.5% to counties and 34.49% to the state.[18] An estimate by the Arizona League of Cities and Towns put the 2009 TPT transfer to cities and town at $374,000,000.[19] This intergovernmental transfer is non-categorical and non-matching; the funds go directly to the general funds of the local authority to be utilized as desired.

          II) Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF)

          These monies come from state gasoline and use fuel taxes, motor vehicle carrier fees, motor vehicle registration fees and other miscellaneous fees.[20] Monies are first allocated to the Arizona Department of Safety and the Economic Strength Project Fund, as well as, any additional allocations as may be deemed necessary by the legislature. The balance of the monies is divided as follows: counties (19%), Cities and town (27.5%), Cities with over 300,000 residents (3%) and the State Highway Fund (50.5%). According to AZ League of Cities and Towns, this accounted for $319,944,000 in state transfers for the year 2009.[21] Article IX section 14 of the State Constitution requires that these funds only be used “solely for highway and street purposes.”[22] This is a non-matching fund.

          III) Local Transportation Assistance Fund (LTAF)

          Funding for this program comes from the State Lottery and Vehicle License Tax (VLT). This is a categorical, matching grant focused on the development of transit services (in cities with more than 50,000 residents) and general transportation (cities with less than 50,000 residents)[23]. It requires a 1:1 matching commitment from the former and a 1:4 commitment for the latter cities. The Arizona League of Cities and Towns estimated the 2009 transfer to have been $23,000,000[24].

          IV) Urban Revenue Sharing.

          This is the final and most significant Revenue Sharing program in Arizona, according to AZ League; transfers were $628,644,630 in 2009 or approximately 47% of the major state transfers to cities. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), but the FY 2009 transfers at $727,662,400.[25] The fund was established in 1972 via a voter initiative, it was enacted as ARS 43-206, which states in part: “There is established an Urban Revenue Fund. The Fund shall consist of an amount equal to fifteen percent of the net proceeds of the state income taxes for the fiscal year two years preceding the current fiscal year.”[26] As noted, the statute provides for the distribution of 15% (though the percentages has been varied through legislation) of the states individual and corporate tax receipts. The statute is a necessary corollary to the Constitutional provisions barring local income taxation. Monies are distributed each year based on receipts from two years prior, thus, FY 09’ transfers were based on FY 07’ revenues. This allows for better planning and revenue management on the part of the revenue department and allows localities to better-forecast revenues. However, basing transfers on two-year-old revenue figures may strain current state resources. Case in point, though state income tax revenues declined by 14% and 25% in FY 08’ and FY 09’ respectively, Urban Revenue Sharing for those two years rose by 24% and 6% respectively, tied as they were to the State’s better fiscal and economic situation in FY 06’ and 07’.[27] Conversely, transfers are likely to experience downward pressure in the next couple of years, based, as they shall be on the poor fiscal and economic situation in FY 08 ‘and FY 09’.

          Urban Revenue Sharing funds are distributed to the localities on a monthly basis, based on their individual share of the “incorporated population” in Arizona.[28] A complicating factor in these methodology, is that the “incorporated population” is based off the decennial census or special census certified by the Census Bureau. Therefore, Cities have an added impetus to continually outdo each other in “population counts.” A situation that is likely to favor rapidly expanding jurisdictions at the expense of smaller ones.

          CONCLUSION:

          Assessing the effectiveness of Revenue Sharing in mitigating fiscal disparities, or ensuring equitable provision of services and its impact on externalities was beyond the scope of this paper. However, it is possible to gauge the importance of State Shared Revenue as compared to own-source revenue. According to the Census Bureau’s report on Government Finance[29] Arizona cities received approximately $2.1 billion dollars in State Transfers in 2007 (latest data), this is against $6.1 billion in own-source revenue. The census data, however, includes $2.5 billion in sales taxes as own-source tax revenue; it is not clear whether or not this includes TPT transfers. Regardless, it is clear that state transfers do form an important and significant portion of local government financing in Arizona, anecdotal evidence of this can be found in the reaction of cities to any attempts at the legislature to reconfigure state shared revenue.[30]

          There are also some larger concerns to be raised about the Intergovernmental transfers in general and Revenue Sharing in particular, these concerns revolve around the effect that such transfers have on the accountability of those who spend the money (being as it is that there is a separation between the revenue-raisers and spenders), as well as, potential unintended spending consequences at the local level, again due to the fact that the spenders do not have to raise the money, and expect it no matter what. A final concern relates to the tying of revenue sharing to the economic conditions of the state (by pegging them to income taxes), this ties the local authorities to the whims of the state economy and may lead to a dependency on the part of localities to State Shared Revenues.

          State-shared revenue programs’ are an important tool to the State government, providing it with an opportunity to ensure that services are provided in an effective, efficient and equitable manner throughout the state. As well as ensuring the viability of these sub-state entities.


          [1] Morgan, David, England, Robert and Pelissero, John: Managing Urban America 6th Edition. CQ Press 2007. Pp. 34-37

          [2] Joint Select Committee on State Revenue and Expenditure: “A Fiscal Overview of Local Government in Arizona.” 1989. This document shall henceforth be referred to as (JSCSRE, Fiscal).

          [3] Ibid, 4

          [4] Poelker, John H: “Local Sources of Revenue” in “Sources of Municipal Revenue” Wright Edward T. ed, Charles C. Thomas Publishing 1971. Pp. 61

          [5] All information regarding Arizona Constitution and Statutes retrieved from: [www.azleg.gov] and [www.azleg.gov]

          [6] Quindry, Kenneth: “State Sources of Local Revenue” in Wright ed. “Sources of Municipal revenue” fn. 4. Pp. 54

          [7] For a brief on the impact of “urbanization” see Baker Benjamin “Economics of Taxation” in Wright ed: “Sources of Municipal revenue” fn. 4. Pp. 3 and Pattengill, Robert and Uppal, Jogindar: “Can Cities Survive? The Fiscal Plight of American Cities” St Martin Press, 1974. Pp. 115.

          [8] Strobeck, Ken: “Changes to revenue-sharing system would devastate cities” Arizona Capitol Times, February 8th 2010

          [9] Arizona State Senate Issue Brief: “State Shared Revenues” October 2006. Pp. 1

          [10] Fn 7, Pp. 115

          [11] Bell, Michael: “Unrestricted State Aid to Cities and Counties.” in McGuire Therese and Naimark Wolfe ed. “State and Local Finance For the 1990’s: A Case Study of Arizona.” School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, 1991. Pp. 394

          [12] Ibid

          [13] Bell, fn. 11. Pp. 394. See also Pattengill and Uppal, fn 7. Pp. 115-117 and Arizona Joint Select Committee on State Revenues and Expenditures: “State Assistance to Local Governments in Arizona.” 1989. Pp. 30. This latter document shall henceforth be referred to as (JSCSRE, Assistance)

          [14] Fn 8.

          [15] Bell, Pp. 395. Fn 11

          [16] JSCRE, Assistance. Pp. 15

          [17] Arizona Department of revenue “Arizona Tax Facts” February 2010. Pp. 5

          [18] Arizona State Senate fn, 9. Pp. 2

          [19] League of Arizona Cities and Town: “Shared Revenue” March 2009. Pp. 4

          [20] Fn 9 Pp. 3

          [21] Fn 19.

          [22] Fn 5.

          [23] Fn 9.

          [24] Fn 19.

          [25] Joint Legislative Budget Committee: “Historical General Fund Revenue Collection”, 11/18/2009. Pp. 1

          [26] Fn 5.

          [27] Fn 25.

          [28] Bell, Fn 11. Pp. 397.

          [29] Data Retrieved from: [www.census.gov]

          [30] Witness Fn. 8

        HIV in Kenya

        • Solar Cookers: Free or Just Cheap?

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 1:34 pm by Simon
          I want to find community development projects that either make money or reduce costs that are themselves free or almost free. I've started with a simple solar cooker, made by Solar Cookers International (SCI), in Nairobi. But they cost 500 Kenyan shillings (around £4.50), which would also buy you about 12 kilos of the staple food, ground maize meal. That's food for quite a few people, and I wouldn't blame people for saying 'it's a great idea but I can't afford it now'. Especially when you can buy a charcoal burning stove for about 150 shillings.

          Of course, charcoal is a significant expense and people with families can use 15 or more shillings a day worth of it. True, you could point out how much less charcoal you would use if you invested in a solar cooker. But the word 'invest' is the big problem. Many people wouldn't have the amount of money they need to invest all at once. And even if they had the money, they still might use it for something else, such as a solar powered light or a battery powered torch. People use their money as they see fit and make their spending decisions based on their own criteria.

          I love SCI's cookers, I use them myself. I have the luxury of being able to afford several, which is ideal on a sunny day. They are also great for demonstrating the concept because they fold up and I can easily carry three or four, along with the other paraphernalia needed to show people how to use them. They are resilient and so simple, I'd recommend them to anyone. They are cheap, but not free.

          However, when the money available is a hundred or two hundred shillings a day, perhaps less, these cookers are not going to fly off the shelves. I have tried suggesting to people that they could make their own, given that they are simple and require cheap materials. I've said I would come and help them to make cookers so they would have them for a maximum of about 50 shillings. This has been met with some enthusiasm, but not much. I'm not terribly sure why this is, but I'll be looking out for the explanation.

          Anyhow, when you demonstrate the use of solar cookers, people are excited, inspired, even stunned. They start off by dismissing the possibility of cooking with a piece of shiny cardboard, regardless of whether you paint the pots black or any other colour. But when they see their everyday foods cooked they are speechless. Even ugali, the tasteless and almost nutrition-free (it's pure starch) staple, boiled maize meal, cooks far more easily than it does on a charcoal stove. At least some people are interested. But there's still the problem of cost.

          So after demonstrating their use in Salgaa, half an hour West of Nakuru, I said I'd come back and help people to make them. They make all sorts of things themselves, so cutting out a shape in cardboard and sticking on shiny paper shouldn't be a problem. The cardboard can come from large boxes and the shiny paper could be aluminium foil. These are cheap. Compared to the manufactured solar cooker, it's really cheap, almost free. But that doesn't impress people. They have to pay for cardboard boxes, they are very useful. And aluminium foil is not cheap enough for some people, though the amount you'd need for a solar cooker is small.

          Well, it's possible to get large amounts of cardboard very cheaply, perhaps free, if you look in the right places. And it's possible to get very good reflective paper, very durable, much better than aluminium foil. I wandered the streets looking for products that use this material and discovered that new vehicle wheels are wrapped in this untearable material, which is almost shiny enough to see your face in. Also, supermarket products, such as chocolate, sweets, tea and various other things are wrapped in similar materials.

          I knew I would be met with more objections, we don't have a car, we don't eat chocolate, etc. But neither do I have a car nor do I eat most of these products. The thing is, someone does. They are not stacked in the supermarkets for no reason. And when people have finished with things, they throw them away. Over the fence, in a ditch, anywhere. Occasionally, they throw things in a bin and they end up in a dump. But still, this means that this great reflective material is available, you just have to look.

          I looked and enquired and asked whoever I could think of. I was met with complete incomprehension when I said I didn't want to buy vehicle tires. But when it was realised that I placed a value on the material they were wrapped in, availability suddenly dropped. It was clear that I would have to pay money if I wanted this stuff, being white, and therefore incalculably rich. But the people who were going to make the solar cookers, they wouldn't have to pay money. Not much, anyhow. And people here are good at finding things they need or getting them very cheaply. So I left it up to them to collect the materials.

          This hasn't worked so well. On the appointed day, I turned up to find 40 people, 2 cardboard boxes, one too small to be of much use, and three wrappers, around half a square meter of reflective material altogether. But I had brought glue and glue brushes and most of the materials were there to make a start. I said what had to be done and sat down and told people to go ahead. Eventually one person volunteered and a few others joined in. They couldn't complete the cooker, but I think it was clear to everyone there how easy it is to make the cooker. I'm just hoping that they will also see that they have to collect the materials needed, because I can't do that.

          Of course, for less than £200 I could buy every person there a solar cooker. For about £50, I could supply them with all the materials to make their own. But how sustainable is that, for a start? And how many people would use the solar cooker if I presented them with it for free? This would not be sustainable, not at all. And I have given people with plenty of education and free time presents of solar cookers. Not one of them has used it. I know solar cooking is a hard sell, in terms of people actually using the technology. And I also know that you can't just thrust it on people.

          It's going to take more time. There are community leaders in Salgaa who are very keen. Slowly, we will push the issue and hope that even a handful of people will start to find some way of including the solar cooker in their day to day lives. Who knows what the result will be. Solar cookers are not the only example of free or almost free community development projects, but this is the first time that I have tried one of them with the aim of establishing 'free or almost free' as a development model (or micro model). It's early days and I'll report back in due course.

        The 411...

        Thinking Kenyan

        • Caroline Mutoko hits out at Esther Arunga

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 5:58 am by Ernest
          One of Kenya's most popular radio hos Caroline Mutoko has come out hitting hard on Esther Arunga controversial escapades with Hellon's Finger of Church God,and now her alleged marriage to Quincy Timberlake.Carol wrote a piece in the Nairobi star newspaper and dedicated a better part of her morning show castigating Ms Arunga.

          here is a piece from her newspaper article:

          " Watching you and hearing you talk in the last weeks has led me to the conclision that you are just spoilt and shallow.Watching you for the lat couple of weeks has convinced me beyond reasonable doubt that you are an attention hungry, manipulative little wench who's enjoying every minute of this madness.

          If people didn't care,you'd have been run out of town by nowand rightly so- you have the makings of a tragic soap opera and i don't feel sorry for you.

          Curses be upon you.I curse you today as you have indeed been cursed in heaven.You are a spoilt brat and its time we saw you for who you really are."

          These are just small excerpts of the whole article.The rest of the article goes on to say that its media stupidity that created Esthers farce.The article has lots of verbal attacks directed at Esther's personality and her rationality.

          Following Caroline Mutoko's article a couple of days letter,readers responded in defence of Esther and many accused Caroline Mutoko of shoddy journalism in writing such a piece in a well circulated mainstream newspaper.

          Meanwhile Esther Arunga was released on bail after being charged with belonging to an illegal association.

          If she's found guilty,she might serve 1 year in jail or be fined an amount not more than 1 million kshs.

        the-xposer

        • Quote of the week

          Posted: March 13, 2010, 4:38 am by ombui
          ...A wise man never knows that he is wise, but a foolish one knows he is foolish~ Jared Ombui

        Maitũ nĩ Ma Itũ (Our Mother is Our Truth)

        TRUTHSPEAK

        • Dear Esther.....Love Carol

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 1:19 am by Gigee Nyaga
          Dear Esther, SPARE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          DEAR ESTHER,
          THIS letter is not a woiyee "Esther wetu amepotea"missive. Clay Muganda in his article "the Goddess had To Be Crazy" got me thinking last week, and after seeing and hearing you spew out more of your usual rubbish, I came to the conclusion
          that you're just spoilt and shallow and Clay is right. The media created the monster you are today. Watching you over the last couple of days has convinced
          me beyond doubt that you are an attention hungry, manipulative little wench who's enjoying every minute of this madness even as those who really care about you anguish over you and your plight. That you were able to find comfort in the arms and the house of an egomaniac who loves the spotlight and thinks the world of himself, that you would announce to the world that you are married to a man whose name is Frizzle Dog says a lot, that there isn't much to you. Incidentally, stop yelling at everyone who shows a little concern for you - you are fortunate, indeed truly blessed to have this many people give a monkeys about you. If people didn't care, you'd have been laughed out of town by now and rightly so - you have the makings of a tragic soap opera written all over you and I'm
          done feeling sorry for you. I don't even know why anyone was concerned for you, this is what you wanted and to your credit you told us as much three weeks ago. Didn't you say it was media stupidity? How apt. If you find my language harsh, take another hit of whatever you're smoking, you should be fine. That you are a grown woman with a right to do what you please, is not in doubt. Heck I'm sure in my life-time I will do a few things that will have people question my sanity and even my credibility. What concerns all of us is the fact that you seem hell-on-bent on destroying yourself, all the while wearing green eyeshadow and talking crap.
          Woman, get a grip.The Placenta Party? Mel Gibson? Larry King? Are you really buying this crap, because we're not and we're wondering what's wrong with you.
          By the by, stop looking smug... you're not the first woman to go nuts over some
          "Jesus-talking-charismatic- horn-blowing nobody". You just happen to be in the
          spotlight. What baffles me is that you believe in all this lunacy which has caused you to ridicule, shame and curse your parents. Which God do you claim to
          worship? The God of Abraham and Moses who told us to honour our father and our mother or the God of Hell-on (the name says it all)who believes he is better than your parents - God's representatives on earth? Let's go to the Bible:
          Leviticus 20:9 If there is anyone who
          curses his father or his mother, he shall
          surely be put to death; he has cursed
          his father or his mother, his blood
          guiltiness is upon him.
          Proverbs 20:20 He who curses his
          father or his mother, His lamp will go
          out in time of darkness. .
          Matthew 15:4 "For God said, 'honour
          your father and mother,' and, 'he who
          . speaks evil of father or mother is to be
          put to death: ,
          Mark 7:10 "for Moses said, 'honour
          your father and your mother'; and, Speak no evil of your parents.
          He who speaks evil of father or mother, is
          to be put to death'
          Where"in the bible does it say you can break your mother's heart, humiliate your
          father and cast scorn on them? Curses be upon you. I curse you today as you have indeed been cursed in' heaven. I curse you in the name of the very God you claim to worship - you are a fraud. That your parents love you, lavish you with affection and would do anything in their power to have their daughter back is not lost on any of us. How many girls,in this country wish they had your chances, your blessings and above all parents who hold them so dear? You're a spoilt brat, as one of my colleagues said, and it's time we saw you for what you really are.
          Frank Njenga's time was wasted on you - there's nothing wrong with YOU,heck
          you're bionic woman going by your great escape accounts. Watching you over the last couple of days has convinced me without a doubt, that you are very much within your senses, you love the attention, you are shamelessly myopic and arrogant, you bask in the numerous press conferences Hellon calls to stroke his ego and above all you deserve everything you get when this blows over and mark my words it will. Esther, a cute television presenter does not a leader make. To Hell-on with you and touche! It is media stupidity that created the farce that you are and the same media that must have the smarts to step away from it.

          Carolyne Mutoko

          ****Contact me for the actual article: truthspeakera@gmail.com

        Opalo's weblog

        • those opposed to the creation of an unrepresentative senate have a point

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 1:08 am by kenopp
          The Kenyan Draft Constitution seems to have hit a snag. A section of parliamentarians are opposed to the section of the proposed constitution that gives all counties equal powers via their elected senators. I agree with them. The to-be-formed senate, as currently constituted, grants too much power to sparsely populated counties. Theoretically, this should not [...]

        Queeattitude

        • FOR THE LOVE OF GOD II

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 12:07 am by Naughty feeling
          When he mentioned the local church I was lost for words as we made a quick turn. The smell was nauseating and I was almost panicking as he tried to awaken his friend.

          We drew up the church's short driveway with my aunt getting off the car as if she was some tout. They carried him into the church as I watched in terror wondering if I had been too rush with my decision to be of assistance. I shrugged it off as I brusquely walked into the church.


          The local pastor was bent over the victim dabbing him with antiseptic. He was groaning now (which was a good thing!!). The man we brought with us was now explaining that the villagers had found out that the victim was gay and they were in his own words: 'straightening him out'. His voice droned on as I drifted into thought of the repercussion of my intervention. I chided myself for my selfishness in not being able to see past my nose and the big picture of a life spared. Pastor Eric (that was his name) got on the phone and spoke in hushed tones. In ten minutes a lady dressed as a nurse appeared and attended to Charles (the victim), who was now seated upright drinking a glass of water and seemed to be lucid.

          James (the Saviour) was also in a panic as to his fate. So far he had told us that Charles' jilted lover had sold him out as he had refused to continue their relationship. My young aunt seemed to be absorbing the details without regarding the graveness. Pastor Eric came over and thanked me for bringing Charles over and that This wasn't the first time such a situation had occurred, he proceeded into detail of past events of similarity as I drifted in and out wondering what next.

          Cecilia the nurse gave a clean bill and I explained to the pastor that my aunt and I had to beg leave. As I went to bid this stranger fate had brought into my life, I had a feeling of despondency thinking that it could have been me on the church pew. The only thing that was different were the circumstances of our lives. I took the pastor's number with the intention of following up on the incident.

          James feared to come along with us, and we left him behind. The pastor walked us to the car and bid us farewell. Strangely enough as we drove home in silence my fear abated and resolute confidence replaced it. I had made a difference in my own small way, and I had contributed though out of impulse than thought to the saving of Charles' life. I was sure nothing would make me regret my descision, nothing!

          As we drove into my grandma's home the look on my father's face and his 'ready to pounce' stance changed my resolute confidence into a chilling fear...

        Rugby in Kenya

        • UGANDA RUGBY COUSINS OF KENYA RUGBY

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 11:32 pm by The Real KRFU
          INTRIGUE IN NATIONAL TEAM COACHING ROLES Friday, 12 March 2010 16:04 On June Monday 15th June URU secretariat advertised all national team management posts at all levels from U16 to the senior Rugby Cranes for both men and women. What raised most eyebrows were the stiff minimum requirements for the jobs. We reproduce a copy of the job advert below: Uganda

        Mary Baker Eddy Illustrated Quotes

        Relationship Check-up

        • Baby Interruptus - Marriage After Babies

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 7:49 pm by Relationship Education
          The birth of our first son launched my efforts to help young couples thrive in their first years of marriage. We now have two preschooler boys so the craziness of being a first time parent is waning but boy was it a ride! In between night feedings, mystery burps, checking the color of the baby's rear end 'product' and sleep time drama - romance and sex took a beating!

          If women are honest, we resent men for not needing to recover from child birth. They are unaware of new hormonal changes that make us crave or hate them! We crave their hugs but resent that wondering hand suggesting more. I'm reading the book 'Baby Proofing Your Marriage' and these ladies were reading my mind! Its the most realistic book I've read on how couples act once they become parents.




          Babies are the sweetest creatures on the planet, but they don't encourage romance! 'Baby interruptus' occurs when you are finally getting your groove on and your sleeping baby starts wailing! No 'happy ending' for either of you and that makes one cranky morning! Don't give up just yet, there is hope around the corner.

          With a little humor and planning, you'll discover golden moments when the baby sleeps and you can finally spend some quality time together. Keeping a sense of humor is the greatest asset during your baby's first year. Learn to schedule your romance because spontaneity clashes with baby's little plans.

          We also learnt, you MUST go on a date within a couple of weeks after baby's birth or adoption. Get a trusted friend, relative or a church "parents night out" to watch the baby. You need the sanity of stepping away for a moment and remembering you are a person with grown up needs craving grown up attention.

          A sanity saving idea is to drop unrealistic expectations and welcome the word 'flexibility' to your home. If you are a nursing mom and constantly worried if the little one will take the bottle from someone else, get creative.  Plan to go on a date after the baby's bed time - you will avoid needing the sitter to feed him/her. A date night might also consist of feeding and bringing baby along on the date so she/he can sleep as you chat over your meal. There's no wrong or right way,  find out what works for you and your spouse and take care of your romantic lives!

          Spending time away from the baby will greatly impact how you feel about romance in your marriage. Most husbands want to care for the baby but we cling to the duties like a badge of honor! Communication is the greatest asset you will have during the baby's first year - express what you need in clear specific terms. Your partner cannot read your mind! How have you dealt with your romantic life after giving birth?

        The Mimi Project

        • Its funny

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 6:09 pm by 06mickey
          …or is it weird That I sometimes think there are several of me [I know just how wrong and impossible that statement just sounded] There’s the overly emotional me who is always making decisions for me , like if I’m going to publish this post or not, and the logical, cold, unfeeling me. There’s the me who will [...]

        Valentia

        • Blame theories

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 5:51 pm by Val
          There are two schools of thought that one of my beloveds and I were discussing today. First theory If all the guys/ girls you have dated in the past have fallen in the categories given below, there must be something wrong with you. Note the emphasis is on all (ok or majority). Therefore the sooner you learn [...]

        bankelele

        • Urban Inflation Index: March 2010

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 3:53 pm by bankelele
          Tracking changes in the three month ago in December 2009, as well as to six months as well as one year ago in March 2009 In 2010 government has shifted adjusted inflation basket to have a better measure of inflation that is less weighted on food. Let’s see how they compare Gotten Cheaper Staple Food: Maize flour which is used to make Ugali that is eaten by a majority of Kenyans daily. A 2 kg.

        Still Proud to be Kenyan.

        • Blogging Hiatus and Entrepreneurship Progress

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 3:29 pm by Marvin K. Tumbo
          This is not one of those “I am sorry I have not blogged for a while” kind of posts. God No! This is me coming back to a blog I love to talk about the past few months that I have barely posted here and what I have been up to. So last year I decided

        Rugby in Kenya

        • Weekend Games

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 3:09 pm by DataMiner
          Kenya Cup rugby enters the crucial rounds with jostling for the top four positions. The top seeded teams now meet each other with on of the middle group hoping to sneak into the top four and grab a semi final position. With the league being this short and with the format of a one-off semi final and final, I do not think season form will matter much come the last two games. With that said and

        Martyns in Africa

        • He made it home!

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 2:20 pm by Taylor

          Taylor arrived safe and sound in Nairobi a few hours ago. He got some lunch, a nap and is enjoying a hot shower. Thanks for all your prayers. Updates about his trip will be up soon!

        Black Looks

        • Women of Jos protest in Abuja

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 12:46 pm by Sokari
          Nigerian women dressed in Black marched in Abuja to protest the massacres taking place in Plateau State. The women demanded the removal of the military commander in charge of security, Maj-Gen. Saleh Maina. Once again the Nigerian military, who were supposed to be protecting the women and the villages, [...]

        Kenyan Community Initiative Support

        • Update on Esther

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 12:13 pm by BabaMzungu
          It looks as if the young Gusii girl lodged at an orphanage in Kajiado will be moving back to her homeland.

          We have had an offer of sponsorship from a family in the USA which will cover her daily needs and schooling.

          This is indeed good news and we are very happy of the outcome. The authorities at Kajiado have been informed, so we are hoping that Esther will be repatriated very soon.

          Update on the Update: Esther will be taking the bus on Monday morning to be returned to her homeland of Kisii. By all accounts, she is very excited!

        Kenyan Community Initiative Support

        • Update on Esther

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 12:13 pm
          It looks as if the young Gusii girl lodged at an orphanage in Kajiado will be moving back to her homeland.

          We have had an offer of sponsorship from a family in the USA which will cover her daily needs and schooling.

          This is indeed good news and we are very happy of the outcome. The authorities at Kajiado have been informed, so we are hoping that Esther will be repatriated very soon.

          Update on the Update: Esther will be taking the bus on Monday morning to be returned to her homeland of Kisii. By all accounts, she is very excited!

        The 411...

        Excellent Hands

        • Am Beautiful ; - )

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 11:30 am by Wanjiru
          I missed his call
          Combing my afro....

          I returned his call
          He called me beautiful.....!

          'said I was lovely company....nah, retook the words, asked me to sit...said I was beautiful company....

          White sweet wine, custard and chocolate ripple... usta!....

          Morn' awoke my senses to the aroma of pink....

          Tonight, dinner

          Am sixteen goin' unto seventeen

          I missed his call
          Combing my afro....

          I returned his call
          He called me beautiful....!

          Me.

        The Diary of a Kenyan Campus Girl

        • Wacky Wednesday

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 11:23 am by savvy08
          This post was first published at Butterfly The day started great. Even a bad day starts well. I got to work in time, and met Moneyman at the stairs, waiting and watching as I walked across the expansive lobby that is the reception. He said when I reached the stairs: “I like the way you walk. So [...]

        Wanjiku's Take...

        • ICANN security concerns may have benefitted all parties

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 10:48 am by rebecca

          For the ICANN local organizing committee, today is a great day, it is the last day of the meeting, which by any standards can be considered a success considering the security video produced by ICANN just before the meeting.

          From December last year, the LOC was involved more in answering security questions, whether the ruling coalition will break and whether the Al Shabab terrorist group will get away from the lucrative piracy along the gulf of Aden to attack KICC. No one denied that there were security concerns but thats a common denominator for many countries, rich or poor.

          In retrospect, I think the whole security debate benefitted Kenya and to some extent the continent. ICANN meetings have geographical rotation and am sure issues of security will come up the next time Africa is meant to host the meeting.

          For Kenya, the successful meeting is vital, given that the Internet Governance Forum will be held in the country next year. If the IGF raises the security issues, Kenya can point to ICANN and the security video, and the success that was achieved.

          To ICANN, the remote participation was good, the online participation matrix was shared before the meeting started and the parallel meetings in the US now look a bit ill advised.

          The 100mb bandwidth at the conference venue was very stable, I did not experience any hitches, even during the opening ceremony, where there were at least 100 laptops on; everyone at ICANN at least carries a laptop but not all were on at the time.

          For the ICANN participants who danced at the Carnivore till 4am, it just shows that they were enjoying the hospitality and the good things that the country has to offer. For those who took the Safaris, that is better than the caged animals out there.

          The meeting was optional for many people but for those in the new gTLD debate, it was important to have the two minutes on the mic in the public forum. Even members of the Government Advisory Committee took the mic, led by Bertrard De La Chapelle from France, who took the 2 minute Mic like 20 times, just to emphasize the importance of public sessions.

          For the ICM guys, the Independent Review Committee and those interested in matters of transparency in ICANN, the .xxx debate was important and their presence is vital, even in the face of security concerns.

          So, the meeting had lessons and successes for everyone; with more than 1000 people picking their conference bags, I think the meeting was a success and offers vital lessons to others holding meetings in Nairobi.

          Ends


        Kenyantykoon's Blog

        • DOCUMENTS NEEDED IN SECURITY ANALYSIS

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 9:43 am by kt
          When one wants to seriously invest in stocks, one just doesn’t google “best media hyped stocks for 2009” and the first option that comes up is what he/she will put his money in. No. That is when the work begins because the has to find the stocks that have the best chance of giving him [...]

        Let's Explore!

        • Taxi Driver In India Uses Youtube to Find Customers

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 9:06 am by wham

          So, I read this over at Alootechie and felt that I had to share it with you, dear readers.

          Apparently, Divesh Mishra, an Indian taxi driver was worried that his business was going down. This was in January 2008 when the Indian travel industry was experiencing a downturn. Divesh knew he had to do something to keep his business going.

          “I wanted to advertise about my services but could not do that as I did not have much funds,” Mishra said. “This was the time when I met a friend from Singapore. He was one of my customers and I discussed my problems with him. He then suggested me to upload a video on YouTube. Though I knew about internet, I had never heard about YouTube before.” (Source)

          The rest, as they say, is history. Divesh’s video has been viewed 24,000+ times and he reportedly gets hundreds of emails a week – from foreigners asking about his services for when they visit India. According to Mishra it was amazing to get such response and this made him understand the power of internet. “It was a wise decision as I eventually understood that I could not have reached those consumers if I had advertised on some other media. Internet helped me to reach out to foreign customers,” he said.

          Embracing the internet changes lives, and businesses. What about you, though? What are you doing to tap onto the opportunities provided by the internet?

          Similar Posts:


        Thinking Kenyan

        • Telkom Orange broadband is a rip off

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 8:38 am by Ernest
          After signing forms for a telkom landline,it took telkom a month to do a survey,almost two months to fix for me the landline,and another 2 weeks to come and connect me to their broadband internet using the livebox!

          I had applied for a 1mb connection,but ended up with a 512kbps since according to them,the telephone lines in my area only support 512kbps.

          Its been now 3 days since i have been using their service.I must say that it has good times and bad times!
          I have been forced to reset my connections on the livebox several times because of timeouts and disconnections.
          I did a speedtest on the connection and i was surprised that i was only getting 384kbps.a 20 Mb file takes me somewhere between 10-15 minutes to download.Youtube takes forever to stream and am forced to download the file.

          The worst part is non of the other ISP's have a service for where i live.I would advice anyone who is thinking of Telkom Broadband o just forget it.Customer care is virtually non-existent,so if you encounter problems,you will be forced to sort it out on your own.

        • Back to blogging!

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 8:35 am by Ernest
          I am officially back to blogging.When i started my first post,i never knew how much time consuming blogging can be.many people would send me emails asking for clarification on certain posts,and i was simply unprepared.But after a long absence.I am gonna be more serious.I promise!

          So hope you all welcome me back to the world of blogging!

        SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

        • Asante SHAHAWA,...

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 6:00 am by SIMON KITURURU
          ...kwa kusababisha hata MAMBA MKALI kutaga MAYAI  mbayo hayatakuwa  VIZA kwa kukosa VIRUTUBISHO!:-(

          Ndio,...
          ...kuna wasahauo KUMSHUKURU  JOGOO na kushukuru TU kimiminika cha jogoo kimuingiacho KUKU kwa kuwa kimerutubisha MAYAI YA KUKU  ili mayai YAPATE ujauzito yazae VIFARANGA  kwa kuwa kimiminika cha JOGOO kilisaidia , ingawa JOGOO MWENYEWE ndiye aliye shikilia  kiuno ambacho katika SHUGHULI ndio siri ya mafanikio ya mayai ya kuku kupata  VIRUTUBISHO.:-(

          Swali:
          • Si unajua kishukuriwacho MIMBA YA BATA IKIPATIKANA  labda kimsaada wala sio kilichokuwa muhimu ZAIDI katika swala la BATA kupata mimba?


          NDIO,......kwa bahati mbaya kuna WASHUKURUO kimiminika cha JOGOO na kumsahau KUKU na  punje zake   za kizazi ,...
          ... na katika hilo  KUSAHAU bila KUKU hakuna kitakachototoleka kwa kuwa bila KUKU mwenye  sehemu  za ZA SIRI za kuingizwa kimiminika cha JOGOO MWENYE NYEGE  ,... kile cha kuku chenye mchepuo wenye NANIIHII hakitajazwa mimba ambayo ili ijazwe ujanja,... UJANJA  unahitaji KUKU NA MARINGO YAKE ili  mayai yapate KIRUTUBISHO.:-(




          Swali:
          • Unauhakika unapatia kulenga kihitajiwacho na ahitajiwaye  KUSHUKURIWA?
          • ASANTE zako unauhakika  HUWA unashukuru kukatiwa kiuno au kisababishacho UWEZO wa  kukata kiuno UWEPO  uletao maana katika faraja zako?

          • Ni mara ngapi kama wewe unaamini MUNGU umemshukuru MAJALIWA kwa kukuwezesha kupata nyege?
          • SI unakumbuka labda sio  MKULIMA aliyesababisha kulikuwa na chakula ulichokula leo?

          NAKATIZA WAZO!:-(
          ASANTE kwa yote  WEYE na WOTE lakini,....... kwa kuwa labda naandika huu UjingaBUSARA  kwakuwa LABDA NAHISI KUNA mtu anasoma!:-(

          NIMEACHA na samahani kwa kupindisha WAZO na kwa matumizi ya LUGHA ambayo  kwa MHESHIMIWA asiye ita BELESHI -beleshi ni NYOKO!:-(
          IJUMAA na WIKIENDI NJEMA Mheshimiwa !


          Au NGOJEA tubadili na twende kusikiliza ya  MUNGU kikiristo  kwa kupata wimbo mwanana kutoka kwa  ROSE MUHANDO akitonya ndude-Mungu Wangu nitakushukuru




          Au Zain Bhikha atonye kwa mkao wa KIISLAMU katika -A is for Allah



          Na   MAKASSY arudishe KITU NYUTRO  nilivyo katika  ndude -MAMBO BADO

        • KAMA unakumbuka BUSARA YA ulichofundishwa SHULE YA VIDUDU!:-(

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 5:59 am by SIMON KITURURU


          Labda ,......SHULE ya kuishi na WATU KATIKA MAISHA ulishaIMALIZA kwa ULIYOJIFUNZA shule  ya VIDUDU a.k.a CHEKECHEA.:-(


          Swali:

          • Unakumbuka CHEKECHEA wanafundishwa nini hata kama wewe hukuenda hizo shule ziitwazo za VIDUDU?

          TWAWEZA KUJIKUMBUSHA lakini kuwa busara za chekechea  hazina maringo katika KUTEKENYA UMUHIMU kwa kuwa  ukiwa chekechea UTAFUNZWA yaleyale ya muhimu  sana MAISHANI kama:
          • KABLA ya kula OSHA mikono
          • UKIMALIZA kula osha MIKONO
          • KABLA ya kuvuka barabara angalia pande zote uhakikishe hakuna gari


          • KABLA ya kunya vua chupi na usinye pembeni ya choo
          • UKIMALIZA kunya chamba na osha mikono


          • USIMFINYE mwenzio

          • KUJAMBA mbele za wenzio ni tabia MBAYA

          • USIMUIBIE penseli, peremende AU KARANGA mwenzio


          • KAMA unaumwa sema
          • Waheshimu BABA na MAMA

          • Na kama.....NA kadhalika kadhaa za nk...



          SWALI

          • Umeanza kukumbuka MAFUNDISHO hayo?
          • Unafikiri ukifuata hayo tu uwezi kula BINGO maishani hasa ukikumbuka digirii zako huruka somo la USIMFINYE MWENZIO?



          NAACHA!
          Lakini ni wazo tu hili MHESHIMIWA!:-(




          Lakini LABDA endelea nami KUSIKILIZA HAWA ambao wasemacho  kama umefundwa  weye  utaendelea tu kuwa MHESHIMIWA hata wakati uwasikilizao ni  DAS EFX kama tu enzi zile za ndude -ALRIGHT


          AU Fu-Schnickens waendelee tu na wajanja wajuao hizi ndude wakiri kama wanajua nani ni - True Fuschnick



          AU tu MAD LION abadili kidogo lakini AACHIE mchezo uleule katika  -REAL TING

        Opalo's weblog

        • jeffrey gettleman is back

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 5:55 am by kenopp
          Texas in Africa has a piece on Gettleman’s style of journalism. Mr. Gettleman is of course not new to this type of criticism. I have voiced my opinion on his reporting style a few times before. This is not an argument for the mis-representation of the goings on on the Continent. (By all means tell [...]

        SCHOOL FOR THE GIRLS

        • Power of SIlence

          Posted: March 12, 2010, 4:34 am by school for the girls
          this is what I learned today:

          Silence heals
          it is not a weakness as we think

          Silence is a strong weapon

          I know silence is a gift.

          if you are troubled rake a moment and reflect in silence and you will be healed.Girls (member of school for the girls) Have started some income generating programes, where they sale some African Kikoy fabrics (check on the side bar). you can buy one Kikoy fabric for 20 us dollars to support the Girls or pay school fee for one girl ang get one kikoy free!!!

        Kenya Christian

        • Movie Seen! Soul Boy

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 1:43 am by KenyaChristian
          Soul Boy is a film by Ghanian-Kenyan director Hawa Essuman, shot in the famous Nairobi slum Kibera. This film by German production company One Fine Day Films and Goethe-Institut revolves around Abila (Samson Odhiambo), a fourteen year old boy growing up and experiencing life’s lessons in this poor environment. Kibera is a place that has just experienced post-election violence and Abila has to navigate his way through this environment, while at the same time just trying to be a normal teenager.

          Abila wakes up on what seems like just another day to find that his father is bed-ridden with illness; his soul has been stolen he tells his teenage son. Troubled and worried as there is no one to run their kiosk, Abila sets off to find out how he can help his father. Through the help of his friend Ciku (Leila Dayan Opou) he goes to see a witch who gives him seven tasks to complete if he wants to see his father recover. The film then progresses from here with Abila having various encounters in this modern day Nairobi adventure.
          Soul Boy immediately a present day tale, with the teenage protagonist encountering the various issues in the slums; including tribalism, violence, crime and superstition.  Soul Boy lays the issue of tribalism on the table and shows how tribes are distrustful of each other especially after the 2007/08 post-election violence. We all know that young Kenyans are being tribalized by politicians and elders, but it is still troubling to watch it portrayed on screen. You feel very angry when you watch Abila (a Luo) trying to balance his friendship with his boys, while still hanging out with his girl-friend Ciku(a Kikuyu).  It is sad that Kenyans have to make such choices in their everyday lives because of tribal myths and mistrust. Ciku in one scene asks Abila “why didn’t you want to be seen walking with me?” and it is heartbreaking.
          The aspect of spirituality (occult if you will) and myths is also potrayed in a refreshingly non-judgmental way. Abila hears of a witch called Nyawawa (Krysteen Savane) and bravely goes to see her to see if she can help him. If you thought traditional superstitions are dead in modern-day city life then Soul Boy does away with that notion as it defly makes the idea of consulting a witch just another aspect of slum life. The scene where Abila meets the witch and she is giving him the tasks is quite original if only for the camera work and lighting.
          Perhaps the theme of this movie that most hits you upside the head is that of poverty. Soul Boy has one the most vivid and troubling showing of the rich-poor divide that I have seen in a Kenyan made film so far. Abila, while following someone one day finds himself in a white-owned household (presumably settlers’ descendants) in the leafy suburb of Karen. I felt genuinely angry at the contrast between the slums of Kibera and the opulence of protected Karen life, and audibly sighed once or twice. While at this house he finds himself completing one of the tasks and this is the best scene of the film.
          Soul Boy is a movie that was completed in six weeks, and was written by local writer Billy Kahora who does a great job with a first-class and engaging script. There are some lovely performances by all the actors, but a favourite is Abila’s girlfriend Ciku, who potrays a fiercely independent and intelligent teenage girl, not afraid to speak her mind . In one scene, she laments on how all the boys in the neighbourhood are idiots during an argument with Abila. Hawa Essuman clearly did a great job with these two main characters. You really believe that they are best friends who would do anything for each other, and this shows Hawa’s good casting choices. The camera work in this film is also top-notch and the beauty of Nairobi, which many of us may miss in our daily hustle is tenderly captured here. Soul Boy manages to create a touching tale of slum life in Kenya and how people still find hope, adventure, love, friendship and family amid the squalor.


          A positive aspect of Soul Boy is that 80% of those involved with the film are Kenyans, but one still cannot ignore the fact that it is funded by a German company. It is a sad indictment of this country’s arts industry that we still have to rely on foreign funding to create our own stories. Maybe those involved in the Kenyan film-industry need to be more forceful and united in getting local funding and support for their projects. Soul Boy is a good film (it won audience award at Rotterdam Film Festival) but there is no reason this could not have been a 100% Kenyan-made film. All in all, Soul Boy a step in the right direction and announces the arrival of Hawa Essuman, a talented filmmaker who could become a force to be reckoned with in the Kenyan film industry.
          "One of the best Kenyan films I have seen in a long time, maybe ever. Go see it, support Kenyan talent."
          KC  rating: 4 /5 Stars
          (Soul Boy is now playing at Silverbird Prestige Plaza for a limited two week run. Also look out for the DVD.)


        The Godfather

        • Kenya Police in cold-blooded murder action....AGAIN.....

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 1:05 am by Abantu
          DONT MESS WITH KENYAN COPS.... Now the Kenyan Police Force is becoming ridiculously notorious for being a totally trigger happy lot. Imagine this scenario as reported by Daily Nation. Some chaps doing genuine business on their 'boda boda' bikes (motorcycle public service vehicular mode) and in direct competition with cab drivers somehow come to some misunderstanding and a scuffle between both

        • My daddy was......

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 12:47 am by Abantu
          My daddy was.....  left to right: Wuod Raila, Mr. World Bank MD and Mutongoria Kenyatta..... all sons of.....

        Mary Baker Eddy Illustrated Quotes

        The 411...

        • A Total Different Look At Abortion…

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 8:21 pm by kipsang
          A worried woman went to her gynecologist & said, “Doctor, I’ve a serious problem & desperately need your help! My baby isn’t even one year old & I’m pregnant again. I don’t want kids so close together.” So the doctor said, “OK & what do you want me to do?” She replied, “I want you [...]

        SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

        • Kikubwa kifikiriwacho CHOONI,....

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 8:10 pm by SIMON KITURURU
          ...kwa kawaida sio kile KIFANYIKACHO chooni.


          Ndio,........kuna uwezekano ufanyacho chooni ULIKIFIKIRIA kabla hujaingia chooni.:-(


          NI HILO tu na NI WAZO TU lisilo na uhusiano na CHOO Mheshimiwa!:-(

          Ngojea KARAMA REGESU na MSONDO NGOMA wabadili kwa ndude -Nimebadilika Nini?


          Au tu tena Jill Scott arudie ambavyo KIDUME angependa kukumbukwa katika ndude -CROSS My MIND

        • Ilivyo sura ya MAJUNGU KABLA hujapigwa MAJUNGU yanayokorokochoa KUNAKO!

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 7:45 pm by SIMON KITURURU
           Vitu vingi KUHUSU WEWE  vinasemwa kila siku,....
          ..... na waweza kuvidharau kama  VISEMWAVYO kivitendo   havikuathiri na KISAIKOLOJIA uko ngangari kukabili ya watu maoni.
          Na katika vinavyosemwa kila siku,....
          ..... vyaweza kuwa NI AMBAVYO UNAWEZA KUVIPUUZIA lakini yote hayo ni kwa kuwa ni VYA AINA zile zile ambazo UMEZOEA  kusikiaWAKWARE    WAKiPIGANIA mpaka kuchaniana  chupi na gwaguro na ndio siri  YAKO ya kujiandaa kuzoea na  KUVIPUUZIA na labda umeshashiriki pia KATIKA KUTATUA mishemishe hiyo ISIYOKUGUSA ya aina hiyo  kwa wahusika kuwapa VIDONGE VYAO  angalau kwa maoni.

          Swali:
          • Lakini si inasemekana ni kweli KABLA hujalogwa UCHAWI ni porojo?
          • Na si inajulikana kila MTU ukimjulia huhitaji FIMBO kumpa adhabu?



          Kila mtu ,....
          .... ana kaudhaifu kake  na kuna MWENYE SURA MBAYA ambaye watu wamezoea kumtukania SURA kitu alichozoea NA KIRAHISI ANAKIPUUZIA ,....
          ....wakati  udhaifu wake uko kwenye MATEGE YA MIGUU ambayo bado hajazoea kutaniwa hasa kwa kuwa alikua NA KUKUZWA  afikiri anabonge la USAFIRI na hilo lilifanikiwa mpaka alivyopenda MTU na huyo mtu akamuacha akimwambia hawezi kuwa na kishtobe MWENYE  MATEGE  na mwendo kama MJUSI mjamzito.:-(

          Kila mtu,....
          ...... ana kaudhaifu kake na kuna adhaniwaye ni  JASIRI KWA YOTE  na MAJUNGU  karibu yote yale ya kuwa yeye MWIZI , malaya, ANA kibiongo , NI JIRANI MBAYA kwa kuwa ni kweli  anajambaovyo  ananguvu  za kukabili na ANAYAPUUZIA,...

          .... lakini  haki yanani akipigwa MAJUNGU yamuhusianishayo na kuwa yeye MCHAWI anakuwa kaguswa KIPELE cha UDHAIFU kwa kuwa hata yeye mwenye labda alihisi BABU YAKE alikuwa MCHAWI na maishani mpaka kilichomfanya  KAOKOKA au tu kuwa MSWAHILINA , yote ni katika kuhakikishia UMATI kuwa yeye ni BONGE LA MTU MZURI na  sio MCHAWI na kwa kumpiga MAJUNGU kuhusu uchawi kitu kihusianishwacho na kabila lake  ambalo KAMODIFAI JINA usilistukie kabila lake , KWAKE unakuwa kama UNAFANYA watu wageuke kwa KWAKO  kumpiga teke HADHARANI mjamzito.:-(
          Swali:
          • Hujawahi kushuhudia jasiri wa kutania dini za wengine  siku akisikia dini yake inatukaniwa au AKISIKIA tu stori za kujambiwa kwa  kitabu  aaminicho ni kitakatifu katika DINI yake ?



          Ndio,....
          .....KABLA hujalogwa labda  stori za UCHAWI ni porojo,...
          ....NA kabla HUJABAGULIWA labda ubaguzi wa rangi ni porojo.:-(

          Na kila mtu ana kaudhaifu kake,.......

          ....kama ni MWANAMKE usidanganyike ,...
          ....DUNIANI hakuna tako LAINI labda ndio maana MWANAMKE kwa MWANAMKE wakibwengana KATIKA KUTAFUTIANA MAUMIVU hushuhudii tako likilengwa kama vile NYWELE  ZIVUTWAVYO na kikubwa husikii ugomvi wa wanawake ukosao matusi na kelele za maneno kwa kuwa UDHAIFU wa mwanamke ili kuuchokonoa vizuri MAUMIVU wahitaji kutumia neno .
          Swali:
          • AU?

          Kila mtu ana kaudhaifu  kake,...
          .... na kumbuka kwenye MWILI wa mwenye mijinguvu kama SIMBA ,...kwa kawaida kama ni DUME lazima kuna maeneo yenye KORODANI au  MAKENDE  laini na yenye kusikilizia MAUMIVU VIZURI  tu hata kabla hujasema neno.:-(
          Swali:
          • AU?


          Na kama HUJAPIGWA majungu yakakuingia vizuri ,....... labda tu ZAMU yako bado na wakupigao MAJUNGU kuna kitu hawajui kuhusu WEYE.:-(

          Na inaweza kuwa KIMAJUNGU KIMGUSACHO umjuaye kwa kuwa na mpenzi MWANANA WA JINSIA TOFAUTI  yaweza kuwa ni kigumu kukibuni kwa  kuwa HUAMINI  kwake KIUDHAIFU  BENDERA yake ni HUYO MPENZI MWANANA ALIYENAYE na ukweli  ni kuwa BAFUNI akioga anamichezo yakujichezea mwenyewe KUNAKO ili  KUTUNZA NGUVU za kutunzia siri yake kuwa anahusudu watu WA JINSIA YAKE,....
          ......na kamwe hastuki kwa yale majungu yaliyo MTAANI WATU WALIYO YAVALIA NJUGA  kuwa eti yeye FISADI  na anapata MITOTO MIZURI  zaidi MTAANI  kwakuwa anahonga hela za SHIRIKA.:-(

          Kwa kifupi,...
          ...MAJUNGU kuna yanayowasaidia kitu ambacho WAPIGA MAJUNGU hawajastukia.:-(

          Samahani NAACHA !Ila kumbuka HILI ni wazo tu  MHESHIMIWA!:-(



          Hebu Touré KUNDA arudishe USTAARABU hapa kijiweni  DUH!

          Aje kwanza na kitu-WAAR



          Au tu Touré KUNDA amalizie na ndude-Wadini



          Au tujifunze tu KUWA  misosi ipo

        Odegle Nyang

        • Of Success ...

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 7:05 pm by odegle
          Last Saturday, we held the 10th Annual General Meeting of our Savings and Credit Society where we announced among other things a 47% rise in revenue, 37% rise in net profits, deposits up 36% healthy cash flow etc. It was also the first time we invited the minister for CD&M to grace the occasion. what made it easy was his comical speech and his ease with everyone. He started by getting up to serve himself lunch instead for sitting back and enjoying our serving.

          The day was full of comedy really. first, I found out that when the man came there was supposed to be a protocol of greeting the man and his entourage. Then there was the sitting arrangement. With an elaborate format on who sits on his left and who sits on his right, then who and who. I mixed that all up. But I must thank his able officers from the ministry for sorting out that. Even when delivering the speech, there is a protocol of recognizing the people in attendance. o boy! Well after mixing up the protocol when I went to do my speech and in the processes sweating profusely (I had to keep the coat on even though the sun was unforgiving that day) I thought it was only fair to reward my good old self. First I took those great men and women who worked with me in the past year to a sumptuous dinner at a top city restaurant then I told my self. self, your time has come to take it easy and thank yourself for a job well done. I therefore tossed the coin to decide where to take a jig. Anyway the coin wasn't even needed coz I was going to join my friend on langata road anyway. A new young artist was entertaining.

          The rookie was belting real good rumba tunes but what stood out was 'nya sakwa'. one of the most romantic luo songs yet. Each time he sung it, couples jumped onto the floor in tight embrace rhythmically swaying to the slow beats. Those of us who hadn't carried their significant others along were left waving in the air in an apparent submission to the most powerful emotion known to man (and woman) it was difficult to know what the song had. was it the powerful words, the sweet strum of the guitar, the melodious drumming or just the god of music?

          The gentleman John Junior is actually my cousin's cousin which by extension makes him my cousin but the word cousin only translates to 'owadwa' which means my brother therefore the man is actually my bro! Success begets relatives

        Let's Explore!

        • 8-4-4 Robots

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 6:27 pm by Kelvin

          Are you a product of the 8-4-4 system? Well, whether you are or you are not you have probably heard about this: “8-4-4 produces robots”. Is it true? It is said that the 8-4-4 system of education has a workload so heavy that that students go through school without getting a real education; it is said that the system produces people trained to cram and follow instructions but not actually think on their own. I’m an 8-4-4 product and so I am not sure that all this is true.

          If it is true, then the 8-4-4 seems to be perfect at producing … employees. Since the dawn of the industrial age, the bulk of employment opportunities were available in “factory-type” jobs. Jobs in which the employee is a faceless ‘cog’ among many. The 8-4-4, it seems, is perfect at producing cogs. However, one may argue that all education systems everywhere produce ‘cogs’.

          Why do people go to school? A while ago I heard about a pair of parents who had quite the strange reaction to the wonderful news that their daughter (who was still in college) was starting a business. The parents were furious that their daughter was starting a business instead of focusing on her school work (she was in university) and promptly put an end to her entrepreneurial ways. “Finish school, get a good job and then think about starting a business,” was the advice given.

          Do we go to school so that we can be able to get a job? Am I missing something here? Don’t we all go to school so that when we come of age we are able to build a good life for ourselves and become valuable citizens? School is important, very important. But not as important as most people think it is. The important thing is to learn all that you can and how to use it to achieve your goals and/or make a good life for yourself. As it happens, ’schooling’ is not the same as ‘education’. As Mark Twain once said, don’t let schooling interfere with your education.

          Similar Posts:


        archer

        • What happened to the Bro Code?

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 6:17 pm by archer
          There’s this little thing known as the Bro Code. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s a set of rules that governs the relations between men. It has a whole list of do’s and don’ts.  Rule # 1 states that bros should always come before ho’s. (No offence to the ladies) Women come and go, [...]

        Rugby in Kenya

        • Weekly Ramble

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 6:04 pm by DataMiner
          Sorry folks, not my usual one, but a ramble all the same. I'm just amazed at the shenanigans going on, the horse trading, the assertion of authority, the impunity and I won't even mention the C word here lest I'm threatened with law suits. I think Rugby in Kenya is finally with the big boys and all the above comes with the territory. I am even ashamed for myself and some of my erstwhile

        South of West

        • Mr World Service

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 3:31 pm by Rob Crilly
          I don’t know why Bob Geldof got his knickers in a twist over the BBC’s report on aid to Ethiopia. Surely anyone who knows anything about Africa knows that in dealing with emergencies, aid agencies will have to deal with unsavoury characters. Today it is the UN’s World Food Programme that’s in the firing line. [...]

        Martyns in Africa

        Rugby in Kenya

        • Mwanja and Sudi Return to Shujaa

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 1:58 pm by DataMiner
          The Kenya Rugby Football Union has named the squad to participate in the next two legs of the IRB Sevens Circuit. "Ironman" Dennis Mwanja and Victor Sudi return to a squad that also has a new face, Dennis Muhanji of Kenya Harlequins.The squad is as follows.Humphrey Kayange [Captain] - Mwamba RFCLavin Asego - Mwamba RFCCollins Injera -

        Martyns in Africa

        Wanjiku's Take...

        • ICANN President admits security could have been handled better

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 12:03 pm by rebecca

          In the months leading up to the ICANN meeting in Nairobi, majority of discussions and conference calls were dominated by security concerns and emergency meetings with some people wondering whether the meeting will take place or not.

          Eventually some people decided to stay away. Yes, security is a concern but for everyone and no one can blame anyone for choosing safety over risk. Well, I had my opinions about the security debate, which have been expressed in blog posts scattered online.

          However, it was nice to hear an admnission from Rod Beckstrom, ICANN president and CEO that perhaps the whole security debate was not handled well.

          At a meeting with the Government Advisory Committee, Rod said that ICANN is striving to balance transparency and diplomacy and in this case, that balance may not have been well struck.

          He was responding to the statement by Alice Munyua, CCK board, who alluded to the fact that the whole security saga may not have demonstrated respect to the local organizing committee and that the debate was dominated by security and not by serious issues.

          Here is the verbatim GAC speech by Alice:

          We thank the ICANN board and the ICANN community for resolving to get on with the meeting in Kenya despite the challenges and note that the geographic rotation of meeting locations is an important feature unique and special to ICANN.

          However, we need to ask ourselves “what do these ICANN meetings leave behind in the various regions and/or countries?”

          Kenya had ideals regarding the possible domino effect/impact that this meeting would have had in the EA region in terms of understanding ICANN, increased participation in ICANN and understanding of Internet policy and Internet governance generally (as you probably know, Kenya has offered to host the 2011 IGF). But we spent most of the months leading up to the meeting occupied and dealing with the meetings security issues due to the badly handled communication around it.

          And this is not to deny that there were credible fears around the meeting security, particularly when it touches on the world’s common terrorism incidents, but communicating these same fears and efforts being made to ensure everyone's safety could have been handled more diplomatically and respectfully for  Kenya as host country, as a recognition   the hard work by the local organisers and ICANN staff.

          We note that nearly all of the contracted parties (registries, registrars) are missing (physically) and have chosen to have parallel meetings in NY and Washington. What does this say about the ICANN processes? Has ICANN's foundation commitment to the introduction of competition and diversity in the DNS on the decline? If all of the registries and significant majority of registrars are based in North America what does this say? Is there a competition framework? Is it time to begin to explore the possibilities of a global one perhaps?  What will happen to the new gTLD's with registration costs that are prohibitive for most developing countries’?

          Finally, we congratulate ICANN commitment to the principle of transparency, with the very active use of society networking tools, like twitter but we do believe that issues that affect a country's prospects should be handled more sensitively and respectively because they do tend to have an impact on not only  general effectiveness and efficiency of organising these kind of meetings but the  impact is broader than  the

          internet and includes  issues of investment, tourism among others.

          If the intentions, with the various processes including the AOC are to work towards internationalising ICANN, then ICANN must respect diversity and work more towards understanding other perspectives and interests.


        Kenya Environmental & Political News Weblog

        Rugby in Kenya

        • US Company donates boots to Kenya Rugby

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 7:17 am by Back2Besics
          As I am yet to recover from the thrashing Mean Machine received fromKenya Harlequins let me and my mama share some good news fromelsewhere.A US company has donated 650 pairs of boots to boost Kenya's rugbydevelopment program. The boots have been donated by an American RonLaszewski of NZA/TeamPro through the good efforts of US based Kenyanand former rugby player Julius M'ingala.The boots will be

        You Missed This

        • Cemetery Scam: Kenyans Ripped Off Yet Again

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 6:17 am by Phil
          Suspended Local Government Permanent Secretary Mr Sammy Kirui.


          THE PUBLIC RIP-OFF AT CITY HALL; THE FACTS, FICTION AND THEATRE


          By Miguna Miguna, MARCH 10, 2010

          In law, they call it an open and shut case. That’s what the rip-off surrounding the “purchase of land for cemetery by City Council of Nairobi” is. This is a fraud from the beginning to the end. Let me explain using credible primary evidence and chronologically demonstrate how this fraud was cooked and executed by senior public officers at the Treasury, Nairobi City Council and Ministry of Local Government.

          A letter by then PS for Local Government, Sammy Kirui dated 25 June 2008 addressed to the former Town Clerk of Nairobi, John Gakuo, refer to various correspondence between the Nairobi City Council, the Ministry of Local Government and Treasury confirming that the “Government” had allocated funds for the fraudulent transaction. The letter notes that a meeting held at the Ministry headquarters and chaired by the Senior Deputy Secretary on 5 June 2008, stressed the need to “finalize” the transaction. By this date, no land had been identified or purchased. It is unclear how and why Sh 350 million of public funds was released by Treasury to Mr. Kirui.

          On June 27, 2008, Mr. Kirui instructed that payment for the non-existent land be processed and Sh 350 million be paid out to unidentified people. The parcels of land identified for purchase were LR 23222, 23223, 23224, 23225, 23226, 23227, 23228, 23229 and 23230, measuring 75 acres to be purchased for use as cemetery. There is reference to a draft sale agreement between the City Council and some unnamed vendors.

          Mr. Kirui directed payments on State Counsel E.N. Torome’s Memo dated 27 June 2008. The same day, the Principal Accountant at the Ministry, J.O. Warega, wrote to the Chief Accountant confirming that Mr. Kirui had “approved payment.” Mr. Warega instructed the Chief Accountant to prepare payment of Sh 289 million to E.N. Omotii & Company Advocates as “per the approval.” No indication why this large sum is being paid out. This happened before the land had been located and no Sale Agreement had been signed.

          Mr. Kirui sent another letter to Mr. Gakuo on 8 September 2008 stating that “it is noted from your letter that identification of a suitable parcel of land for use as a cemetery through personal visits is not yielding results.” He directed that a paid advertisement be placed seeking appropriate land. Yet, payments were processed by Mr. Kirui more than six months before the required procurement conditions were met or appropriate land identified.

          On 30 October, 2008, Mr. Kirui sent another letter to Mr. Gakuo stating that: “It is now 5 months since you initiated action on this matter and yet you have not concluded and advised the Ministry to effect payment. The continued holding of this payment is adversely affecting other financial transactions in the Ministry. From the date of this letter I want to get this matter concluded within a period of 5 days. At the expiry of this period the Ministry will take over the procurement process and proceed with the advertisement for the purchase of the land for the cemetery.”

          The haste and desperation to conclude the fraud so as to cash the large public cheque is obvious from the contents of Mr. Kirui’s letter.

          By letter dated 4 December 2008, Mr. Kirui says to Mr. Gakuo: “it is particularly disturbing that the tender documents are alleged to have been defective.” Yet, on 18 December 2008, in response to a query by the Chief Financial Officer over the same issue and recommendation that the ministry’s State Counsel peruse the documents, Mr. Kirui responded that “State Counsel perusing the agreement is just another bureaucratic hurdle” to delay the transaction. Kirui pointed out that even “the other bidders” had not complained. Bureaucratic procedure suddenly becomes an unnecessary hindrance.

          None of the documents were copied to or signed by Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, in violation of section 144(2) of the Local Government Act that states that all land transactions must be approved by the minister.

          On 15 February 2010, the Controller and Auditor-General forwarded his audit report on the transaction to the finance minister, Uhuru Kenyatta. He also delivered a copy to Hon Mudavadi who then forwarded it to the KACC on 17 February 2010, and requested that action be expedited on the matter. On 19 February 2010, Mr. Mudavadi sent a letter to Amb Muthaura, with a copy of the report and asked Muthaura to “take peremptory measures” to implement the report’s recommendations.

          Neither KACC nor Muthaura took any action; not until the irregular leakage of an incomplete KACC report. The true value of the land in question is Sh 24 million. The transaction was sealed using a forged valuation report that inflated the price to Sh 325 million, which was paid out to among others, a sister to the PNU’s James Nyamweya. The land purportedly purchased is not the same as the nine parcels listed above. Mudavadi was not involved and never received a cent.Kumekucha


        Swamp Cottage

        Kikuyumoja's realm

        • SocialBar Frankfurt

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 5:34 am by jke

          The following blog post will be in German, as it is about an event that took place in Frankfurt this Wednesday evening. Following the Twitter back channel conversations during last week’s Ignite Frankfurt event (where attendees criticized the use of English instead of German), I realized that in order to reach those who are targeted, I will have to use their language. So the following will be a recap of the SocialBar event and a few thoughts about it – in German.

          For those interested, the presentation I gave about AfriGadget tonight is very similar to the one I had given in London last year – only updated a few slides and included links to sites like appfrica.com, projectdiaspora.org or semasource.org. The reasoning is the same from my post back then, even my motivation for giving a talk on AG is pretty much the same. Imo, it’s all about giving another picture of “Africa”. One that may be different from what is usually known via the (partly biased) media. My colleague Steve Mugiri also presented AfriGadget during the TEDxAtlanta event on January 26 – if you can, pls check out his video. I also like it that everyone of us at AfriGadget has his/her own perspective & motivation for AfriGadget – and uses a different approach to highlight our work.

          I think I am very passionate about this subject, and I consider “passion” a driving force for a lot of good projects. But anyways, I digress and should probably continue in German.

          Auf Deutsch also. Dies war nun die vierte SocialBar in Frankfurt, dieses Mal relativ gut besucht, ca. 13? Teilnehmer aus verschiedenen Bereichen, mit verschiedener Motivation / Absichten / Erwartungen aber doch schon relativ ähnlichem sozialen und beruflichen Hintergrund.

          Was ist eine SocialBar?

          Laut der Website ist die SocialBar “ein Treffen von Weltverbesserern. Web-Aktivisten, Social Entrepreneurs, NGOs, ehrenamtliche Helfer, Politiker und Unternehmen mit sozialer Verantwortung kommen bei der Socialbar zusammen, um sich kennen zu lernen, Kontakte zu knüpfen, Erfahrungen auszutauschen und Kooperationen einzugehen.”

          Trotz dieser Beschreibung wüsste ich aber immer noch nicht, wie man die SocialBar genauer beschreiben sollte – es ist eine Veranstaltung, an der interessierte Leute teilnehmen, die sich für soziale Themen interessieren. Sozial, im Sinne von: ich mache etwas, das ich nicht nur für mich alleine mache.

          Vielleicht auch wegen dieser doch recht ungenauen Definition, meines eigenen Hintergrundes und der doch regionalen Unterschiede bei Events solcher Art (eine SocialBar in z.B. Berlin erreicht meistens ein anderes Publikum), kann ich natürlich nur für mich selber sprechen: ich empfinde die SocialBar als sinnvolle Veranstaltung, bei der ich vor allem Gleichgesinnte treffe, die sich “soziale Projekte” auf die Fahne geschrieben haben. Sei es aus beruflicher Natur, oder auch weil man in der Freizeit einen sinnvollen Beitrag für die Allgemeinheit leisten möchte und der 9-to-5 Tagesjob dies nur unzureichend ermöglicht. Und so kommen wir auch schon zum zweiten Vortrag des Abends: von Wolfgang Weicht über die “Coding Battle”, oder wie er es nennt: The Social Media Fight Club.

          Kurz: mehrere Teams bestehend aus Programmierern, Konzeptern und anderen Kreativen arbeiten ehrenamtlich an einem Wochenende zusammen und als Teams gegeneinander, um einer NGO zu einer Website zu verhelfen.

          Die Idee finde ich nach längerer Diskussion und einigen Bieren mit Wolfgang nicht ganz so verkehrt, aber vor allem interessiert mich daran natürlich die Frage, ob man in einer Stadt wie Frankfurt – die ich in diesem Bereich als sehr träge empfinde – eine kritische Masse von Leuten zusammenbringen kann, die in ihrer Freizeit – in einer (an den HipHop angelehnten) Battle oder auch einfach nur so – für Níchtregierungsorganisationen (de: NROs, en: NGOs) unentgeltlich und aus Spaß (!) an der Sache ehrenamtlich arbeiten wollen.

          Die Frage nach der Teilnahme an so einem Event empfinde ich als sehr wichtig – immerhin funktionieren viele Einrichtungen in Deutschland nur deswegen, weil es ehrenamtliche Helfer gibt. Ohne direkte Bezahlung einfach mal schauen ob man im Kollektiv etwas erreichen kann – das empfinde ich als sehr spannende Idee. Klar, gibt es ja auch schon online in Form der Wikipedia – kollektives Zusammentragen von Wissen – aber die Leute dann von ihren Computerbildschirmen hin zu einem realen Treffen zu bewegen, wo sie sich aufraffen müssen und gemeinsam etwas erarbeiten – das ist schon anders. Und eben auf den Frankfurter Kontext bezogen. Leute anschreiben, motivieren, begeistern können, Leidenschaft wecken, hinterher sein und sicherstellen, dass sie auch wirklich kommen (ich hatte mich auch schon mal zu einem Treffen bei Wolfgang angemeldet und dann im letzten Moment abgesagt). Das ist alles irre viel Arbeit. Können die Organisatoren der SocialBar sicherlich auch bestätigen.

          Ob die Coding Battle in dieser Form klappen wird – who knows?

          Ob ich daran teilnehmen werde? Hell, yes! Weil:

          “Leadership Lessons learned from Dancing Guy”, von Derek Sivers, dessen Videos eigentlich alle super sind, alleine schon wegen seiner netten Stimme.

          Einen ähnlichen Ansatz hat uns dann noch Denis Engemann vorgestellt, Student der Psychologie & Philosophie, der uns von dem anstehenden WIRKCAMP 2010 (am 07.-09. Mai 2010) in Leipzig berichtet hat. Ein ähnlicher Ansatz also wie die Coding Battle, in Leipzig nennen sie es allerdings Synagieren - gemeinsam handeln: “wir bringen für 3 Tage engagierte Menschen in kleinen Projekten zusammen”.

          Laut den auf der Website angekündigten Arbeitsgruppen wird es folgende Themen/Arbeitsschwerpunkte geben: Vegetarische Tage für die Uni-Mensa, Filmen für Nachhaltigkeit, Littlebird – Schmackhaft in den Arbeitsmarkt, Nachhaltigkeit im Internet und Konsum Global Leipzig. Aus studentischer Sicht macht dies alles schon irgendwie Sinn.

          Am Ende des Abends bleiben für mich die folgenden Fragen: welche Themen sind die ultimative Garanten für eine Mitarbeit von Freiwilligen? Wie kann ich eine möglichst interessierte Anzahl von Mitbürgern zu einem unentgeltlichen Projekt bewegen? Sind solche Aktivitäten ein Hinweis auf die Arbeitsweise in der Zukunft (kleine, dezentrale Projekte, vernetzes Arbeiten)? Inwiefern definieren wir uns mit so einem – bisher nur ausserberuflichen – Ansatz heute schon die Arbeitswelt von morgen? Und: inwiefern unterscheidet sich eine SocialBar in Frankfurt von einer SocialBar in Dresden, Berlin, Bonn oder Hannover?


        Opalo's weblog

        • as if somalis did not have enough problems….

          Posted: March 11, 2010, 2:40 am by kenopp
          The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is implicated in a leaked report that suggests that corrupt officials have been diverting food aid intended for displaced Somali refugees. It is feared that al-Shabab (the Islamist insurgency group that is fighting against Somalia’s transitional government and its international backers) is benefiting from the diversion of food [...]

        • corruption in South Africa

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 1:17 am by kenopp
          South African democracy still has a long way to go. My greatest fear is that ANC supremacy might get into the heads of the party bosses and have them collapse the distinction between party and state. There are already allegations of corruption within the top ranks of the ANC. Ironically, if corruption is to be [...]

        Diary of a gay Kenyan

        • A parent’s guide to the finger of god business (pg rated)

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 12:36 am by Tamaku
          Some concerned parents wrote to me when TV anchor Esther’s saga broke out. They said please Tamaku my kids are scared when they hear about Freemasons and people wanting to kill others and they’re asking difficult questions. Can you find us a way to explain what’s happening to their role model? So I obliged and embellished the story somewhat so that youngsters could understand. You can read it and dramatize it like a game for the kids at bedtime in nice Harry Porter style to get the message home:

          Once upon a time there was a famous and very beautiful girl from the telly. One day she decided to run away from her handsome boyfriend who had smooth and well manicured fingers to a wizard called Timberstick. When he got her to a castle in Runda he began the ancient and secret game of 4ply (here you can sing a little lullaby, 1ply, 2ply, you get the drift). Not to be confused with foreplay which all boys know is just a waste of playstation time, 4ply is a spell practiced under a moonless night to the hypnotising strains of a lone saxophonist. However when you grow up and if you don’t study hard and go to college, you will hear it mentioned in player parlance as ‘short-circuiting a babe’s cpu’. So, this is what Timberstick did with his talented guitar-calloused and blinged up one digit, which came to be known throughout the kingdom simply as da Finga. It was studded like a courgette’s skin and curved like an aubergine, lovely vegetables that you must always eat whenever mummy cooks them for you. They are excellent sources of nutrients but only when chopped and cooked. Now, when boys were still writing with pencils, the wicked wizard was already printing in colour. He was also very experienced in the art of taking off a girl's bra with only one hand. Soon the beautiful girl was frothing at the lips close to dying but not at all in a bad way. She was riding through the sky without a care like a runaway helium balloon. Higher, higher close to heaven, when she saw how bright and beautiful heaven was she cried out: ‘Woooi , OMG…. Oh My God, what is that?’ (Note to parents: feel free to adapt the cry to suit your child’s deportment, religiosity etc, but keep it real)

          The evil 4plyer cackled back to her, ‘That my princess is the finger of god’.

          And the moral of the story, children? You must tell your teacher if someone wants to put your finger in the electric pencil sharpener. Goodnight my angels, night night….

          (Editor’s note: We are trying to see whether Disney will make a movie)


          Moving on swiftly here is a finger joke for the adults:

          One day John rang his wife from the offshore rig where he worked.
          ‘Honey don't worry, I’ve had a serious injury but am ok. An accident occurred and my finger was cut OFF.....'She yelled, ‘The hole finger?’ He answered, ‘NO, NO, the one right next to it. ...’


        HIV in Kenya

        • Cut Corruption, Don't Cut Aid

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 11:48 pm by Simon
          I arrived in Nakuru in September of last year expecting to work for an organisation called ICROSS (International Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering), supposedly to work on a HIV related project. However, in my first week in Nakuru I realised they didn't have any active projects. Officially, they were waiting for funding. But as I was led from one 'site' to another, I realised there was something not quite right about ICROSS. It was hard to put a finger on, but the first thing I found strange was that only a couple of people had ever even met the guy who headed ICROSS, Mike Meegan (also known as Mike Elmore-Meegan, Dr Meegan, Fr Meegan, Br Meegan and probably a few other names not worth repeating). Some had heard of him but most didn't even recognise the name.

          Well, it quickly turned out that none of the 'sites', these community based organisations and support groups that I was being taken to see, had any real connection with ICROSS. ICROSS would just collect up organisations and include them in their proposals when they were looking for funding, which was all the time. The only function the organisation seemed to serve was to find funding. Anything worthwhile that was achieved was done by a handful of volunteers, along with some of these organisations that had been 'absorbed' by ICROSS. Of course, ICROSS would always take the credit.

          So, to those who are worried about how this work will be affected by the demise of ICROSS Ireland? For a start, it's only ICROSS Ireland that has closed. ICROSS Kenya continues its 'operations'. But even if that were to close, very little would happen on the ground in Nakuru. ICROSS simply didn't do very much here, aside from pay visits when they wanted to show potential funders or publicists around. They would take a few photos, maybe hand out something small that they had acquired from some donor or other, then head back to the Nairobi office (where none of the projects were based).

          The many small organisations that ICROSS claims (incorrectly) to have founded just continue as they did before ICROSS arrived. Some will be better off, some will be a small bit worse off, but most will continue as if nothing had happened. Because nothing has happened to most of them. Some of them will continue to welcome anyone from ICROSS because there is a slight chance of a handout, a few may collapse because they only got together to pick up anything being given out by organisations like ICROSS, but for most, ICROSS will be a faint memory.

          As to what happened to all the money ICROSS has raised over the years, these newspaper articles are silent. In addition to the one above, there is another in the Sunday Times, one in the Irish Mail on Sunday and one in the Irish Examiner. These can be added to the collection of articles on the organisation's suspect activities, going back years. For the moment, we can only guess at what the money was used for.

          The numerous scientific papers that have Meegan's name on them may seem suspect now, too. But judging from what I've heard, he is unlikely to have had anything to do with the data, at any level. None of the people involved in one of these projects in particular had ever met the man and he never visited the sites where the participants lived, where data was produced and collected. Let's hope that's the case, because many would not wish to rely on data that could be seriously flawed.

          But I wouldn't want people to think that no harm has been done, that no one has been depending on all the money donated to ICROSS over the years. After spending a few weeks finding out that ICROSS wasn't doing anything effective in Nakuru, I asked Meegan to make some money available, urgently, as people were sick and in need of help. He and I disagreed on this matter and I finished working with ICROSS before I had even started. Some of the sick people who were in dire need died and many will continue to suffer and die. Meegan likes to boast about how many people he knows have died of Aids here in Kenya. But some of them are dying because aid money is not getting to them.

          On a broader scale, also, it matters very much that money intended for poor people, sick people and starving people is not getting to them, regardless of whether it is diverted to repressive regimes, rich foreign contractors, greedy governments or where ever else it may go. If charities, aid organisations, governments, consultancies, commercial organisations or other parties are corrupt, that needs to be remedied. But there are too many people who would like to see aid cut or stopped altogether. Why punish the people who are already suffering because of the conduct of those who are supposed to be accountable, who are from wealthy countries, who are well off themselves? Aid is not the problem, corruption is.

          It is extraordinary that Meegan seems to have surrounded himself with so many prominent people. The few people I know who have met him find him utterly unconvincing and I agree with them. But he seems to have been able to fool a lot of people for a long time. Audits and investigations have been carried out over the years and both he and his organisation have been found wanting. Yet ICROSS continued their fundraising and somebody continued, presumably, spending the money. Just not in Nakuru. Hopefully this time will be different.

        She Blossoms...

        • Purge – The Laptop

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 10:54 pm by She Blossoms...
          I am angry. Well, I’ve been angry for a looong while. About 6 weeks. Now it is time to purge and let go. So I am going to write about it. I am generally a trusting soul. I know, by first hand experience that human beings can be absolute monsters. But for some reason, I walk [...]

        Kei Kei's Random Observation

        • ROC BOYS

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 9:26 pm by KK
            And the winner is..... Me.   I'm not that crazy about concerts.... in other words, there is not that many artists that I'd sell my grandmother to go see. Matter of fact, I can only think of one - Bob Marley; and luckily for my sweet granny, they both dead. So it turns out that a girl I know doesn't have many friends... and the few she does, four to be exact, are very generous.... generous

        KA-INVESTOR

        • Blame It On Safaricom

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 9:13 pm by kainvestor

          Stockbrokers

          Once again the Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Banks (KASIB) has released a statement requesting for another in-depth audit of the Safaricom IPO, blaming its shady handling by Citi Bank NA for the liquidity constraints that have befallen them. A previous audit report by the Controller and Auditor General on the IPO had also faulted the manner in which the bank handled the issue. The report questioned incidental costs paid to the receiving back as well as payments to an advertising firm. It also seems stockbrokers were duped into signing reconciliation certificates attesting to the completeness of the reconciliation process between themselves and Citi.

          Safaricom IPO may have been a black hole for stockbrokers, but that doesn’t explain the numerous cases of abuse of customer accounts, market manipulation antics and poor accounting standards witnessed in their published financial statements last year.

          .ke Developers

          Local developers are another group that have made it fashionable to bash Safaricom in every IT conference this year (and there seem to be many of them this time round). I’m just saying, not that I know anything about development of applications. But, it’s a bit redundant to blame Safaricom (who BTW are also in the same business) for idea-jacking, implementing and commercializing. Wake up techies, that’s what happens when you are in business with a much bigger and stronger competitor. Microsoft or Google doesn't makes its huge profits playing nanny to clueless developers? At least now, for local techies, there's iHub :
          An open space for the technologists, investors, tech companies and hackers in Nairobi…. a tech community facility with a focus on young entrepreneurs, web and mobile phone programmers and designers. It is part open community workspace (co-working), part vector for investors and VCs and part incubator.

        Valentia

        • Deadly sins?

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 9:12 pm by Val
          So I was tagged by this gentleman over there to reveal my seven deadly sins….an edited version of course…the rest remain between myself and Himself up there.. 1. LUST: Besides your current Significant Other, who have you lusted for? Pharell Williams….I have crushed since the days of “Fronting”. Now if only he [...]

        Black Looks

        • Confronting censorship in the face of “hyper-visibility”

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 5:41 pm by Sokari
          Last week South African Arts & Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana walked out of the Innovative Women exhibition claiming photographs by gender activist Zanele Muholi and Nandipha Mntambo were pornographic. Whilst the Minister is entitled to her own opinion she must be mindful of her status as a minister of government and the [...]

        SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

        • MAHARAGE ni yaleyale YA JANA lakini si kila siku yana UTAMU ULEULE wa jana.:-(

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 5:09 pm by SIMON KITURURU
          UTAMU wa kitu ni tafsiri tu  ya UBONGO,..........ulavyo maharage yaleyale si lazima unasikia UTAMU uleule.:-(
          Na utamu wa MAHARAGE yaleyale waweza kuathiriwa na hali ya ULIMI wenye vionjo vipelekavyo umbea kuwa umekula tena maharage kwenye UBONGO,...

          .... kwa hiyo labda KUNA SIKU  usipounga maharage na UKIUNGA maharage HAKUNA TOFAUTI YA UTAMU na utamu uusikiliziao huwa  ni MAZOEA TU  yaleyale kuwa kwa kuwa maharage yana rangi ILEILE basi utamu wa matako yake ni uleule .:-(


          Swali:
          • Si unakumbuka utamu wa hata PENZI  lilelile NI  KEMIKALI  mwilini zitafsiriwazo na UBONGO na laweza sababisha penzi la juzi na jana la mpenzi huyohuyo kutofautiana makali ya usikiliziavyo ya chachandu ya penzi?

          • Kwani HUSTUKII kama leo umekula chakula kile kile ulicho kula jana kunatofauti ya utamu?


          Utamu ni michezo ya UBONGO,........ kama una njaa ya kutosha  ,.......LABDA huo sio wakati wa kuamua UNAUHAKIKA na UTAMU wa kitu  kwa kuwa MKAO wa  UBONGO WAKO WAKATI UNA NJAA waweza kusababisha nyama ya KUNGURU  kiutamu KWAKO  ifanane na ya KUKU.:-(


          Swali:

          • Unabisha?

          Kwa bahati mbaya ,........WAKATI UNASIKIA TAMU ,........ukichunguza aina ya utamu nyuma yake KUNA SABABU.:-(

          NI WAZO TU HILI MKUU!


          Hebu tudeku porojo kuhusu UBONGO



          Au HEBU tu GEORGE CLINTON na THE P FUNK ALLSTARS warudie- Atomic DOG



          Au HEBU tu turudi tena ALGERIA ili CHEB KHALED alainishe kidogo kwa-DIDI

        Black Looks

        • Whiteness as an act of cultural dominance

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 4:27 pm by Sokari
          “White people embarrass me” – A personal reflection on racism and white privilege in Britain amongst the LGBTIQ community by Del LaGrace Volcano. The problem is not just white privilege – its refusing to acknowledge it when challenged. White people embarrass me. Probably not quite as much as I embarrass myself but [...]

        Inari Media

        • Spy on your Enemies or Competiton with Twitter Lists

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 2:54 pm by Stephanie Migot
          Although I mainly use this blog for tech and web-related business, I have strayed into politics from time to time, and have sometimes used events outside of my sphere of interest as a jumping-off point for posts. I am one of those bleeding hearts that cares about what’s going on in the world, and when [...]

        • The Perils of Choosing a New Mobile Phone

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 2:51 pm by Stephanie Migot
          Yesterday brought the news that a 13 year-old boy had been selling nude pictures that his girlfriend had texted to him to classmates for $5 a pop. Leaving aside the possible prosecution for distributing child porn for a second, the first thought that occurred to me was why a child needs a mobile phone with [...]

        From Deep

        • Dine and Dance

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 2:23 pm by From Deep
          I stumbled on the season finale episode of a show that got my attention for about one hour this past weekend. It was a group of about fifteen individuals whose lives were transformed, their before and after photos were worlds apart because they applied themselves to dancing and eating right. The winner of the show had lost about 40kgs while the group all together lost about 300Kgs in a matter of weeks.
          Today I a start my week challenged about the diet and exercises I am engaged in so I can be transformed all round starting with my spiritual onto my physical, intellectual, mental, relational, ministry lifestyle. Will I emerge as the one who won the heart the people and found favour before God because I applied myself in his word and started living a life that showed evidence of true transformation?
          Jesus narrates about the fatal journey of seeds that planted by a farmer except for a select few that landed on fertile soil grew to bear fruit. Some of these that grew on fertile ground bore thirty, some sixty and some one hundred folds depending on how they applied themselves.
          This is the day that I make a decision to dance and dine right all the way to living a fruitful life tucked in divine principles. I pray that you too will become that fertile ground that produces much fruit.
          Fertile soil dude,

        SIMON KITURURU- MAWAZONI

        • DOZI ndogondogo ZAKUMKUMBUSHA MWANAWANE wakati anaringia yake TAALUMA!:-(

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 1:45 pm by SIMON KITURURU
          Kuna wasahauo kuna WASUKUMA MKOKOTENI ambao,...
          .... HAWAKUPATA tu  bahati kusomea URUBANI lakini akili za kupaisha ndege wanazo.
          Na kuna VIGOLI ambao,...... hawakujifunza tu TAALUMA YA  UCHAWI lakini  ukileta za kuleta  uwezo wakujifunza KULOGA wanazo.

          Na kuna MASISTA na MAPADRI ambao,........ WITO umefanya wapunguze BAADHI ya matumizi ya utupu na kibonyezo  ambavyo   WALIOOA na... au tu MALAYA wanaweza KUBOBEA na KURINGIA katika tumizi fulani , LAKINI ikumbukwe nguvu ya tumizi la HIVYO VIDUDE  halafu wakatubu baadaye MASISTA na MAPADRE wasiooa AU kuolewa wanazo.:-(

          Swali:
          • SI unajua KUJUA KITU na KUFANYA KITU vyote huhitaji  nafasi ya kujua na MAHALI  na muda wa kufanya kitu, KITU AMBACHO cha weza kufanya ambaye angekuwa INJINIA WA MELI  kawa fundi bomba?
          • SI unakumbuka  KUJUA kitu  ni nishai na MWANAFUNZI anaweza kumzidi MWALIMU katika kujua hicho kitu?
          • Unauhakika ni wewe mwenyewe ndio uwezaye kuelewa kitu  au  ni mazingira tu ndio yawezayo kukufanya WEWE ndio uwe mwenye taaluma ya kitu?

          LAKINI,....
          ...labda ,...... ni bahati tu  kuwa na TAALUMA ambayo wengine hawana ingawa labda kuna mwenye KICHWA ZAIDI cha hiyo taaluma  ambaye anaringiwa na mwenye TAALUMA.:-(


           Swali katokori:

          • Hivi inawezekana KURINGA kwa dozi ndogo ndogo ni AFYA ndio maana binadamu anakipaji hicho  au KURINGA ni kama tu nywelenywele NDEFU ZAKIKWAPA au zile za chini kidogo ya kitovu cha MKUBWA ambazo shughuli zake na umuhimu wake KUUJUA ni mpaka PROFESA fulani afanyie uchunguzi?


          NI TAFAKURI tu HII MHESHIMIWA  ambayo waweza kujikumbusha wakati unamnyolishia mtu TAALUMA YAKO na  wala usikonde!SI unapata MSHAHARA?
          NIMEACHA!:-(

          Hebu tubadili kwa kuhudhuria harusi na vifijo WAKATI mdada akichukua mdada jumlajumla



          Au tu twende KENYA kukutana na CANNIBAL na SHARAMA waongelee-KICHWA KIBOVU



          Au tu tubaki TZ JHIKOMAN arudie ndude-MAPENZI



          Au tu twende ALGERIA Khaled Hadj Brahim a.k.a Cheb Khaled aendeleze kwa -AICHA

        Kenyan Community Initiative Support

        • Let's Make It Clear ...

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 1:18 pm by BabaMzungu
          In our last post, we made an appeal for a girl, Esther, who is stuck miles from her homeland after being abused by her employer.

          Now, there seems to be some confusion about the meaning of the word abused.

          Let me make it clear. I am English and I write in GB English. The word abuse means "maltreatment: cruel or inhumane treatment". This could mean sexual abuse but not exclusively so. There are many types of abuse, sexual, physical, mental ...
          I used the word abuse to mean mistreatment. The girl in question had been beaten by her employer and no mention has been made about her having been sexually abused. If she had and I wanted to publish the fact, I would have said that "she had been sexually abused by her employer". Obviously, if she had been sexually abused, I would not have published her name and photograph, any more than I would if the child were HIV positive.
          Apparently, abuse has a different meaning in Kenya. This is not surprising. Lots of "English" words take on a new meaning in other English-speaking countries. We often say that the UK and USA are two countries divided by a common language.
          So, repeat after me: when reading a blog, or news article, one should remember that it may not have been written in your country, in your version of the language. And you should not jump to conclusions.

        Kenyan Community Initiative Support

        • Let's Make It Clear ...

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 1:18 pm
          In our last post, we made an appeal for a girl, Esther, who is stuck miles from her homeland after being abused by her employer.

          Now, there seems to be some confusion about the meaning of the word abused.

          Let me make it clear. I am English and I write in GB English. The word abuse means "maltreatment: cruel or inhumane treatment". This could mean sexual abuse but not exclusively so. There are many types of abuse, sexual, physical, mental ...
          I used the word abuse to mean mistreatment. The girl in question had been beaten by her employer and no mention has been made about her having been sexually abused. If she had and I wanted to publish the fact, I would have said that "she had been sexually abused by her employer". Obviously, if she had been sexually abused, I would not have published her name and photograph, any more than I would if the child were HIV positive.
          Apparently, abuse has a different meaning in Kenya. This is not surprising. Lots of "English" words take on a new meaning in other English-speaking countries. We often say that the UK and USA are two countries divided by a common language.
          So, repeat after me: when reading a blog, or news article, one should remember that it may not have been written in your country, in your version of the language. And you should not jump to conclusions.

        Let's Explore!

        • To the left to the left

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 12:40 pm by Crystal

          Running your own business is immensely fulfilling, but it can also be tedious. You have no weekends, no public holidays, no annual leave. You will probably never retire, and you can’t quit or walk away when you get frustrated or bored. You worry even in your sleep, because there is no boss or subordinates to blame when things go wrong. The buck starts and stops with you.

          But I’ve realised that getting a breath of fresh air is easier than you’d think. All you have to do is shift positions, change direction, step to the side.

          Think about your pre-business desk job. When you felt drained, all you had to do was facebook for a few minutes [only a few minutes mind you] and your mind would be alert. You’d find some long-forgotten picture tag or some silly new game, and suddenly you’d be smiling through your chores.

          In running your biashara, the same rule applies. I’m not recommending you go hang out on facebook; you can end up spending a dangerous amount of time there considering there’s no annoying boss to stop you!

          I simply mean you should change tasks. When you’re running your business, you generally handle everything from finances to door-to-door sales. Even if you have employees to do all this for you, you find that your eye is all over. After all, this is your baby.

          And this is where the trick lies.

          If you’ve been dealing with difficult clients all day, take a break and look through the books. If you’ve been filling out your tax returns and your eyes are swimming in numbers, stop for a second, pick up your cell phone, and make a courtesy call to a client.

          If you’ve been shaping up the code on your website, jump to the comments page and work on your response. If you’ve been taking inventory at your warehouse, run to the computer and work on the receipts. All it takes is a simple sideways step.

          I’m not very good at multi-tasking [actually, I suck at it. I can’t even talk and skate at the same time!] and I’m (usually) a very focused person, so I like to finish one task before I move on to the next. I’ve been working on an editorial assignment all day, and after 12 hours, the full stops were starting to look like commas, and the small caps are lost in the text. I thought about taking a break to read a novel, but I figured I’d never stop. I looked at the pile of laundry and the dishes in the kitchen [I’ve nothing left that’s clean!] but that didn’t hold much motivation.

          So I started to think about the other assignments that are due today, and took a break to do a little writing. Four articles later, my mind was refreshed, my deadlines were met, and I could do my editorial work easy peasy.

          Granted, this may not be possible with all businesses, but if you stretch your mind far enough, you can find a slightly different section of your work to take your mind of things, even if it’s as basic as shifting from counting your thousand-bob notes to stacking your ten-bob coins…

          Crystal Ading’ is a professional author, editor, rock lover and mother. Her work is available through www.threeceebee.com.

          Similar Posts:


        The Diary of a Kenyan Campus Girl

        • Sauna

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 11:21 am by savvy08
          This post was first published at Butterfly I am not the world’s fittest person. I used to jog once in a while, back when I was in school…anyway, where I work, it has complete sports facilities. Name them, we got them. From monopoly, chess, to table tennis, squash, to gym and aerobics, to swimming pool, sauna, [...]

        Kenyantykoon's Blog

        • HOW AN INVESTOR ANALYSES A BOND

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 10:57 am by kt
          In all aspects of life there is a modus operandi to be followed and this goes without saying in investing. While there is always the option of throwing away your hard earned money in any media hyped stock or bond, the results may not be as good as when you sit down and do your [...]

        Hot Secrets

        • ESTHER CHARGED IN COURT

          Posted: March 10, 2010, 10:31 am by Hot Secrets

          Ex-TV heartthrob Esther Arunga was locked up today (10/03) at the Nairobi law court cells after she denied a charge of being a member of unlawful society. She spent more than three hours at the basement cells before a cash bail of Sh 20,000 secured her freedom.
          Esther was ordered by police to present herself to court where the prosecution accused her of being a member of the controversial Finger of God Church - an illegal society.
          She pleaded not guilty and chief magistrate Gilbert Mutembei ordered her to pay the monies to secure her freedom.
          Mutembei ordered the prosecution to supply her with witness statements it intends to rely on during trial after Esther said the documents will be useful to her defense.
          The case will be heard on April 21.

        Kenya Christian

        The 411...

        Blah blah blah

        Fish cakes

        Alas a fish cake.

        Yet more fish cakes

        Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

        The end of the fish cakes

        Kenyan Blogs