The Economist has sponsored what is dubbed as the First Business Roundtable with The Government of Kenya. Its motto reads 'Making Kenya the Undisputed Business Hub of East Africa.'
The roundtable will be held at the Inter-Con on 17th and 18th of next month(July '07). It has been cited as 'a high level meeting focused strategic issuesfor Kenyan Business.'
Among the confirmed government speakers is: President Kibaki, Finance Min - Kimunya, Trade- Kituyi, Energy - Kiraitu, Roads - Nyachae, Planning - Obwocha, EAfrica - Koech and CBK Governor Njuguna.
From the Corporate world we have Jeffrey Sachs from Columbia University NY, BBK Head Adan Mohammed, KenGen CEO Eddy Njoroge, Jimnah Mbaru of NSE among others.
This blogger hopes that the latter will influence the former to formulate and push for incentives to support the growth of SME's since that is what is needed here.
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23:26 Here Come The Somali’s ……
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com I don’t know about you guys, but these Somali’s are beginning to make me nervous. First, they abduct and kill two kenyan policmen (Shifta’s). Then, they plant a bomb in a matatu which kills one innocent person (was this a trial run for a bigger plot?). The main suspect was of course a Somali [...] -
22:57
How To Measure Poverty in Africa
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com “Whether measured by per capita income or by the gross domestic product of its nations, Africa is the poorest place on earth.” This is a quote taken from an author who recently attended the TED conference in Tanzania. After describing how terribly poor Africa is, he then goes on to talk about the founder of [...]
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19:02
DRC
» Kikuyumoja's realm The beauty of running a private blog is that I can actually cover various topics, without being forced to please anyone with a certain quality of content. As time goes by and rants pass through the fingers, different stories have been told so far and it was on the commuter train this evening at 8 pm when I realized my blog is 2 years old.
I started blogging in June 2005 because of a) Mzeecedric, who encouraged me to do so, b) i had an idle website and c) another community website refused to publish a story of mine (much unlike the Kenya Times :-), so I opted to publish my stuff on my own website. And although I sometimes feel the urge to write in my mothertongue, most of my entries have been in English so far.
That’s 2 years of this still burning desire inside to share a lot of small and a few huge things with the world out there. Sharing, and also a desire to write about people, describing situations, often, not always, trying to portray a glimpse at another world. A subjective view, my thoughts on a few things of interest.
My favourite entries of course are these DoItYourself (DIY) projects like the water filter and/or the hinge issue with Irene’s notebook - both entries I am still getting lots of hits for on a daily basis.
Interestingly, the water filter issue - as I sometime later on realized that there’s another NGO in Kenya actually promoting the filter system I built - served as another hint for me to formulate an idea I’ve since then been working on. Have you ever wondered about the work of some NGOs, active in the sector of environmental protection, that just reaches a few selected groups? Capacity building, as they so often call it, still is an interesting subject.
But I digress.
I think it’s the silence of these warm summer nights, paired with the reflective mood on the train tonight that made me pull out my (paper!) notebook and put down a few lines I wished to directly type into a still non-existing PDA instead. And it may also be influenced by the book I am currently reading:
Michela Wrong’s “In the footsteps of Mr Kurtz” - a book I’ve bought in July 2001 and had left in the shelve since then, waiting for the perfect reading moment to arrive.
“New Zaire Inn” in Garissa, Kenya, later on renamed to D.R.C….While Michela has a disputatious way of reporting her stories and apparently isn’t always welcomed by her hosts, I like this particular book. She actually describes the scenery in old Zaire pretty vivid, and what I - of course - love is that special part about les sapeurs - these men who dress in expensive fashion clothes and aim to be different any given moment.
The Congo.
As a blogger, I of course associate this with “007 in Africa” and am reminded of those hectic days in 1996/97 when a completely confused former president Mobutu, who had for long already lost any reality for his role as president of a nation that has always been in the waiting line, flew into exile. Ahhh. Memories.
That’s 10 years ago! It feels like yesterday.
Waiting 6 years before eventually reading Michela’s “brilliant account of Africa’s most extraordinary dictator” (the Economist) wasn’t such a bad idea afer all. The distance provides the needed room which is required to enjoy movies like this one.
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15:37
The Second Generation of African News Coverage
» White African This is the year or the rebirth of news coverage in Africa. It’s driven partly by the growth in non-traditional news stories brought about by blogs, but it is also a part of the greater change on the internet that is taking place. More people are getting involved - and the people are in control.
We’re seeing the beginnings of a new wave of websites and a new way of reading news. Here is a basic rundown of the current new offerings that cover news on a pan-African level:
African Path
Joshua Wanyama started African Path at the beginning of the year. He acts as an editor, bringing in stories from the AP and Reuters, filtering them for the most interesting news in Africa. More importantly, African Path has a stable of 38 bloggers who weigh in on issues that are interesting to people in the diaspora and within Africa. AfricanLoft
AfricanLoft launched in May, just last month. Imnakoya, a well known African blogger living in the US, has put together a website that aggregates African news, African blogs and creates a sense of community. There are areas to upload images and video, as well as a stable 20 bloggers (which I’m sure will grow soon), that also write about Africa-focused issues.Afrigator
Afrigator, also launched this year, is a blog aggregator for Africa. The Afrigator team informs me that they are tracking close to 800 blogs from 32 countries. Though the number of bloggers, and those who read African blogs, is still small Afrigator represents the beginnings of a new trend. Where African Path and AfricanLoft pay homage to their blogging roots, Afrigator IS the voice of the African blogosphere.AllAfrica
I can’t leave AllAfrica out of this mix. They have been part of this transformation, and on the forefront of news coverage in Africa for a long time, specifically they aggregate the newspapers from all over the continent. That’s no small task! They have the best connections in this space, I hope that they continue to innovate so that they remain relevant.Muti
The last piece of the puzzle is a community-based approach to African news. Muti allows anyone who finds an interesting tid-bit of news on Africa to provide a link to it in one centralized place. It’s a filter for “interesting” for both bloggers and news readers alike. In Summary
I’m excited about the way technologists are stepping up to solve the information gap in Africa. I’m even more interested in seeing how these different entities will evolve through this year. Knowing most of them personally, and knowing the amount of hard work and time they spend on their websites, I’m convinced that continued growth is in order.[Update: if you feel that I missed a particular site, especially if it’s not in English, please let me know. I am burdened with a language barrier called French, so many times those great Francophone websites are missed by me.]
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12:48
Childish grown men
» Farmgal I have serious issues with guys who try to stop peeps from talking to the peeps they’ve fallen out with. Thats a mouthfull I know….Thats just childish…
Will be blogging about a hen night I went to soon..as soon as I have the pics!
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12:02
Is New Crime Wave In Malindi Linked To Mungiki?
» You Missed This archive
A curious incident occurred in Malindi on Saturday night. Thugs attacked some premises and after shooting a night watchman, felt it necessary to also slash them on the face as well, before they damped the body into a nearby swimming pool.
What attracted my attention to this incident are reports that I have been receiving from my reliable informants in the Coast region who say that Mungiki remnants fleeing from Nairobi have pitched camp in areas of Mtwapa and there have even been a few incidents where they have extorted cash in the area for "protection". Mtwapa is the North Coast dead on the road to Malindi. I have been asking myself all day, could there be a link between the sharply increased crime in Malindi and the reports of Mungiki-like strangers in the region? I pray not.
Another area where numerous Munigiki adherents are hiding out is the Mariakani area, also in Coast province.
I pray that I am wrong and that the information I have received is somehow exaggerated. Either that or the security forces should move with lightning speed and nip in the bud any sign of Mungiki trouble at the Coast province. Those who understand the coastal region will know that the area is too sensitive at the moment with increased extreme poverty and impatient, jobless youths. Any Mungiki activities just now would be akin to throwing down a burning cigarette onto a floor that is already flooded with petrol.
Which brings me to the next question. Are the police and our intelligence services aware of where remnants of Mungiki fled to? And if so what are they doing to pre-empt any ugly resurgence of what we saw in Kiambu? The reason I ask is that too many times this current government and the security agents under its; command have been caught flat-footed. The result is that we have constantly and repeatedly found ourselves in situations of crisis management, and yet all the trouble would have been so easily avoided had action been taken earlier.
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Is Killing Of Kenyan policemen In Somalia Linked To Bomb Attack?
» You Missed This archive
In yet another curious incident, two Kenyan policemen were abducted and later found dead in Somalia close to the Kenyan border. Some people believe that it was remnants of the Islamic courts militia who fled Mogadishu who were responsible for the muirders. It seems to have been some sort of revenmge attack against Kenya.
The truth is that Kenya has made plenty of enemies in recent times and this incident is worth taking a closer look at in view of the recent Nairobi bombing incident.
There are some enemies one cannot avoid making. However it is worth asking why Kenya has no clear foreign policy to date. Incidentally this is one of the things that Mwai Kibaki's opposition criticized the Moi regime for promising to put the foreign department in order if and when they took over the reigns of power. Will they did take over in 2002 and ended up adopting Moi's policy on the matter.
Having no foreign policy is akin to being a neighbor who is unpredictable and does not appear to have a clear idea of who they are and what they stand for. One day they ask you turn on the music high because they like your taste in music, the very next day they complain to authorities that you are a nuisance in the neighborhood.
The next government needs to have a very clear foreign policy which they can explain to the public and one which we can all understand.
Back to the killing of the policemen. Happening at about the same time as the bomb attack, one can’t help wondering whether they may just be related.
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11:41
You Kenyans have it good
» More to Life I was browsing for news as always and caught the interesting note about migration to Europe. Nothing could have prepared me for what I watched via the www. It's a short production, a photojournalist recording some still moments as some young man leaves home to attempt to cross to Europe. The link to watch this is here. Watch the entire journey.
Which made me realize Kenyans just have it easy. People fret about going to the embassy to get visas but that's about it. I'm sure the demographics of this country have played a role in how they attempt to get to Europe but hey, life is tough. Sometimes you just need to see something like this to get you all back to grateful.
And if any politician wanted motivation to work at improving their country, (KP directed me to a post about the Zambian copper export tax here); they need to watch this so that they can see why they need to improve situations so that people never have to go through this in search of a better life!
And bankelele mentioned some $500,000 dollar properties. OK, seriosuly, even if its showing off, let's get smart about it. Is there any land in Kenya worth that much yet? Because the properties that cost that amount of money here are justified by the land they're on. They haven't yet designed a house worth that much. But watch the fickle Kenyans, who need to be noticed, buy these properties, no other thought needed. "It implies status I gotta be part of that" (isn't that the Kenyan mantra?) But as the economy improves (assuming after elections this trend continues), people get smarter about money and spending it and the masses get less fickleminded; how do you not lose after having invested in property whose only base was status; actually supposed status? Smart people wouldn't invest in those amounts of anything in Kenya unless it was a business with 99% chances of making very good returns!
Have a smart, grateful day, won't you :)
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10:24
New tricks...
» Rants, Raves & Reviews I am learning how to blog in an environment that doesn't allow for "always on" access compounded by slow speeds... when speeds over 32K is considered "broadband"... it take a lot of getting used to after using T1 connections (1M or higher!)
Anyway, thanks to all for your support. There is much to blog about and I shall try to do some blogging even with my slower connections.
Since internet time is at a premium, I am learning alternate ways of blogging which though new to me... are not new to many!
I find it easier to "write" then save the file/document on my flash drive after which I can copy & paste. There may be some problems with editing & fonts but it beats losing work coz the internet connection "died"...
Research is more difficult since the searches take time. (Almost) forget pictures!
Anyway, let's see what I can do!
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the question
» Kikuyumoja's realm “What do the Millenium Development Goals have in common with travelling to Mars?”
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8:48
WTF Story of the Week
» Kenyan Pundit My mantra for Africa lately, which I repeated at TED Global, is that after all has been said and said again, we need action and we need to take responsibility for our continent’s future…Shikwati says to the West “Stop the aid, please!” I say to the Africans, “Stop the whining and pointing fingers, please!.” [...]
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8:41
Monday Moanings Part V
» My part of the world....... During one of those few free moments I get, I looked at M's latest post and an interesting thought came to mind. Why is it that when many women put themselves out there for a man and they are turned down they act like sacriledge has been committed?
I remember a long time back I was listening to Capital FM and this girl called in hot under the collar. It seemed that she had gone to the club, met this dude, had a great conversation with him even bought him a drink and then she was really disgusted when at the end of the night he left without even asking her for her telephone number. The male co-host was really tickled by her anger as he explained to her that it was no big deal because this is what men go through day in day out. When a woman uses a man who likes her for favours and such, other women applaud it and most people don't see a big deal about it but when a man does the same he becomes the scum of the earth. Case in point there was this girl once whom I shared a class with, we were just friends but at I did notice that she had a soft spot for me. So once in a while when I needed a favour, like a ride or something; I would call her and she would take me. We did hang out for a while but before she started getting any ideas I decided to keep things moving, when my sister noticed that I wasn't hanging out with her anymore; she was pissed of at me. I told her the same thing as the male co-host told the girl on the phone, as long as no-one got led on what's the big deal with enjoying some attention from someone else? Anyway I guess some people just arent used to the concept of rejection at all.
In other news, I don't know how true this is but I hear that love has blossomed in the Kenyan blogosphere and there is this US based blogger who has fallen for a blogger in Kenya and is going back home in August to be with her. I don't know whether he is visiting or going back for good but it did get me thinking. First things first, I am a pragmatist. If I haven't met you in person, there is no way I am picking up and travelling halfway across the world to restart my life with you. Sorry I'm going to keep things real, some relationships may sizzle across cyberspace but when you meet in person they fall as flat as a week old beer.
I guess when it comes to love I am cynical and pragmatic, a study once showed that the electrical signals of someone in love are the same as those of someone who has taken a large dose of heroin. So I do guess that love is a drug? But that is why I always say that love, crushes and such should be enjoyed in the heady days of youth when there is little to be lost as opposed to the pathetic sight of an adult letting their lives wilt as they pine away for someone they "love." That reminds me, I was once at a bar in Westland in the parking lot when this chic told her boyfriend that she was leaving him. It was a cringeworthy sight watching him beg her and crying till snot came out of his nose. His tears were not in vain because she did take him back but I am sure that there is no way in hell he was the one wearing the pants in that relationship any longer. Once you show someone that you need them far more than they need you you have just given away any chances they may respect you.
I guess that's why I choose to look fine from the sideline! Have a nice week people..........
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8:38
The15 Tips for Writing an Apology Letter: What You Need to Know.
» My Africa Today The 15 Tips for Writing an Apology Letter: What You Need to Know Writing an Apology Letter: What You Need to Know
By Alice Feathers, M.A. TESOL, Professional Editor and Writer
Each of us has, at one time or another, said or done something that we wish we hadn't said or done.Rather than dwell on the mistake, however, we should take quick action to remedy the problem and then get on with life. An effective letter of apology is an important part of that process and can helpturn "lemons into lemonade" and actually improve a relationship. This short article will give youseveral reasons for writing an apology letter and offer a few important suggestions to help you write agood one.
* TIMING. Write the apology letter as soon as possible.
* ACTIONS. Rather than focusing on the damage you have caused, write about things you will do to rectify the situation.
* BRIEF. Keep your apology letter short and to the point.
* SINCERITY. No one wants to read overly dramatic language. Choose your words carefully and express yourself clearly and simply.
* TONE. Your apology letter should be considerate and respectful. Remember, you are trying to rebuild a damaged relationship.
* BLAME. Take full responsibility for what you have done.
* FOLLOW UP. Try to set up a time when you can apologize in person, then back up your apology with considerate behavior in the future.
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IS CHINA'S INVOLVEMENT IN AFRICA IMPERIALISTIC?
» My Africa Today It has become an axiom of faith that these days, no week passes by without a major western newspaper, magazine, television news program or radio commentators, commenting on the Chinese penetration in Africa, and especially how the Chinese are snapping up Africa’s important natural resources on the cheap. In fact, the word these western commentators are more likely to use is “pillaging” Africa’s natural resources. Just last week, African leaders gathered in the sunny French Riveria city of Cannes. According to an Associated Press article, titled “African Union Bemoans Continent’s Image,” “French President Jacques Chirac recited a list of challenges that lie ahead for Africa and the international community, not least how to tap but not squander its natural resources - most recently being sought by China, India and others.” (Italics mine). Chirac continued, “Africa is rich, but Africans are not. The continent holds one-third of the planet’s mineral reserves. It is a treasure trove. But it must be neither pillaged nor sold off cheaply.” (Again, italics mine for emphasis).
Again, on February 6, 2007, there was a news report that the U.S. President, George Bush, had authorised the establishment of a “command centre for Africa” to oversee US military activities on the continent. “This new command,” said President Bush, “will strengthen our security cooperation with Africa.” The U.S, he said, would ‘consult’ with Africa later, yet he had talked of ‘cooperation with Africa” earlier. In analysing this new U.S. initiative, a BBC correspondent stated that, “The U.S. gets more than 10% of its oil from Africa and is worried about increased economic and diplomatic competition from China.” Anyway, views or criticisms about Chirac or Bush are not the essence of this article, but the question as to whether China’s involvement in Africa is imperialistic.
Last November, a delegation of U.S. and African experts visited Beijing, and concluded that though China’s aggressive courtship of African could “benefit the poor continent,” (mark the word 'poor'), but observed that “shady Chinese businessmen and no-questions-asked aid policies” could backfire on Beijing. The delegation of course which had gone to Beijing to discuss the “different approaches to Africa”, endorsed the observation that “Chinese aid policies in Africa have drawn criticism from some Westrn aid donors who say Beijing is undermining global efforts to foster reforms and good governance and supporting brutal governments in states such as Sudan or Zimbabwe.” A Stephen Morrison, head of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, was quoted as saying, “There is a need for a more strategic approach by the United States if a costly and damaging and unnecessary U.S.-China clash is to be avoided.” In a preview of a study by the CSIS, according to the article, “the delegation also warned China against naivete or undue optimism about the troubled (mark the word 'troubled') continent and China’s role there.” A so-called business advisor, an Anthony Carroll, said that he had warned Chinese officials about “bad actors and trade practices that affect China’ s reputation.”
My God!! Another 1884 European scramble for Africa, but this time between the United States, Europeans on the one hand, and China on the other? At least, as far as I know 10% of the African population of over 900 million people are well educated, yet issues are being discussed as if we don’t exist.
Writing in the January 9, 2007 online issue of Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation, Lucien van der Walt & Michael Schmidt, under the title, “Is China Africa’s New Imperialist Power?”, wrote that “there is a more serious question we have to ask, one with implications beyond our borders (South Africa): Will China replace Britain as South Africa’s imperialist power, a changing of the guard, so to speak - leading to South Africa embarking on military expeditions in Africa to protect Chinese capitalist interests? All serious anti-imperialists must consider and plan for the possibility of Africa becoming the future battle-ground between US-backed Western and Chinese expansionist interests, and unite the continent’s people in a battle against the oil barons.”
Of course, I could continue quoting articles upon articles about how the western powers are frothing in their mouths about the Chinese presence in Africa, which they have now began to refer more dirisively as “invasion” and “imperialistic.” When you hear the jingoism of fear and anti-Chinese presence in Africa by the likes of Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, Britain’s Gordon Brown, as well as the leader of the only super-power left in the world, President Bush, you not only wonder in amazement about this new found love affair for Africa, which the same group which has pillaged Africa, not only in terms of its raw materials, but as well as human lives through brutal slavery, now have the temerity to be warning Africa about.
It is oxymornic to state that the Chinese have landed in Africa. Of course, the Chinese have landed in Africa. But the question and the debate that Africans should be engaging in is whether the Chinese have come as an benefactor or as an imperialist. I hate to see this debate being orchestrated in the Western world (press), while Africans as usual, in our lackadaisical manner, engage in useless and meaningless discussions as Africa is being foisted with another “Scramble” for our continent’s resources. At least, in 1884, we could proffer an excuse that we didn’t understand what was going on then. As I said earlier, with more than 10% of the African population being well educated, this type of excuse will be a great disservice to our continent, as well as to the future generation of Africans, who would ask how we stood by and let another “Scramble for Africa” take place with our eyes with open.
I remember sounding the same type of alarm in my keynote address to the Black Management Forum in South Africa on October 13, 2005, when I stated at the conclusion of my address with this warning, “Finally, I must sound this note of warning to Africa: there is a new kind of slavery marching through Africa - it is the economic giant called China. Yes, it is stimulating and exciting seeing the competition the Chinese are giving to the western world in Africa. But we are again abandoning our independence for a quick solution to our economic woes. Africa needs to suffer a little if we are going to build a solid economic base for the generation of Africans to come. First, it was slavery, then colonialism, and now we are letting economic slavery into the door. In the past, we could make the excuse that our forefathers and fathers were not in a position to know or do anything about it. We can’t say the same thing now that we don’t know what is going on. We don’t want to mortgage the future of our children for a quick-fix economic solution.”
Of course, before we attack or defend the Chinese presence in Africa, it is necessary that we analyse how the Chinese themselves see their involvement in Africa, how African leaders see the Chinese involvement, how the projects that the Chinese are carrying out in Africa are different from Africa’s former colonial masters as well as U.S. and the West’s conditional aids to Africa, as well as their attendant interference in the interenal affairs of respective African countries.
For one thing, far from being imperialistic, the Chinese see their presence in Africa as the knight in shining armor, galloping to rescue us from the treacherous West which have used military might, religious might and commercial might to destitute the continent, and right now continues to attach conditionalities to the pittance of aids that they give to Africa, which they take back immediately in another form, insisting on our purchasing their products, or through the connivance of corruption by allowing corrupt African leaders to lodge their stolen booties in their banks unimpeded. According to China’s Assistant Foreign Minister, rather than the Chinese presence being exploitative and imperialistic, he said that his government “wanted to conduct mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with African countriesm” and “will vigorously encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in improving infrastructure in African countries,” Finally, he insisted that, “China’s economic aid for African countries is free of political conditions and is based on African countries’ priorities.” Other Chinese leaders have gone on to articulate basically the same sentiment, especially orchestrated by high-powered visits by the Chinese leader’s visits to different African countries recently.
Africans have eyes and could see the difference between what the Chinese are doing in Africa, building infrastructure in different African countries - railroads, dams, hydroelectric projects, highways, etc, etc., compared to the exploitative nature of Western presence in Africa, which amounts to nothing but the continued extraction of Africa’s natural resources and leaving the continent with nothing but more poverty as well as environmental degradation especially in the oil countries in which they operate.
As to how African leaders feel about the Chinese presence in the continent, the only answer I can give is that 48 of them trooped to Beijing in November, 2006, where they were extravagantly feted by the Chinese, with displays of our giant size animals on murals and cheer leaders. They came away with a promise that the Chinese were forgiving the continent of $1 billion in debt. Especially for those countries which have been blacklisted by the West like the Sudan, Zimbabwe or Equatorial Guinea, the Chinese are God-sent. Some of our leaders are so ecstatic about the Chinese presence and the competition that China is giving to the United States and her western allies. Their present loans to African countries don’t have the same conditionalities that the West attaches to their loans.
Having said all of the above, the question remains as to whether China’s presence in Africa is as an benefactor or an imperialist. Let me say here, that there is nothing altruistic about what China is doing in Africa. China is an imperialist, as imperialistic as its western counterparts. It is imperialistic because Africans have not done the same thing that the Chinese did to become what they are today - control who comes in or doesn’t into the continent as the Chinse did for almost three decades, or how they come in. China is imperialistic, just as its western counterpart, because it needs the natural resources of Africa, in exchange for which it dumps billions and billions of its manufactured products to Africa, as well as its human export, to the extent that there are now estimated to be about 3 million Chinese in Africa and growing.
Am I then advocating that Africa stops its relationship with China? Absolutely not. Any day, I prefer the Chinese economic model of interraction with Africans - a built infrastructure can never be uprooted and taken home, just in case Africans wake up one day and decide to kick out the Chinese. We cannot say the same thing about the West, they practically have no meaningful presence in Africa, except extracting our natural resources and taking them back to their respective countries, manufacture and send the finished goods back to us.
But what we as Africans don’t want is Africa as a battlefield between America and its western allies on the one hand, and China on the other. We should call the bluff of the western powers and their hypocrisy, and the African Union should tell them in no uncertain unmistable language - to mind themselves. As I said earlier, Africans should be in the forefront of this debate, we don’t want anybody to pull any wool over our eyes ever again. We are capable of thinking for ourselves, and visually we should not allow ignorant so-called Western-minded ‘experts’, or the Chinese themselves, to define this debate for us.Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!
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8:23
40 years into the 1967 War and a woman's blog from Gaza
» Marian's Blog From time to time in the late 1960s my high school pen pal, Abderrahman, mailed me PLO records. PLO songs. Certainly I remember the brief but devastating war that Israel launched in June 1967 yet as a young person I...
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5:59
Why TED Global rocked
» Mentalacrobatics Experienced bloggers are by nature a questioning lot. A less kind person would call us a cynical lot. You tell us something, we will question it. You raise a point, we will debate it. You lie, you will eventually get caught, usually by another blogger who notices inconsistencies. Like a girl on a first date, we are not easily impressed. To remix that old quote, you can fool one blogger one time, but you can’t fool all the bloggers all the time.
Experienced bloggers are by nature an articulate lot. We spend hours each week not just telling but analysing whatever we find important. It is vital that we are able to put our point across to our readers. We defend our positions, usually by employing intellectual debate. Experienced bloggers are generally not dazzled by your personality, popularity, or prosperity. We want to hear what you have to say and we will judge you on that basis.
So this TED Global thing, what is it about it that has us who attended walking around on cloud nine, talking about a “cheetah generation” and “forget making poverty history we want to make Africans rich“? It is almost like we were indoctrinated by the some powerful force. Every single blogger who was lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend TED Global came out very very very very very impressed!. Why? Recently we got an email asking us to rate the conference, the organisation, the speakers on scale from poor to excellent. Talking with some other TEDsters over the weekend we were of the opinion that the scale should start at bloody brilliant and end at flipping unbelievable. (Thanks Hash for putting all those links together!)
In my experience there are a couple of reasons why I had a fantastic time.
- I am not alone.
- The explosion of ideas and learning.
- The 1958 feeling.
I lie in bed sometimes thinking about Kenya and Africa and I can not sleep because my head starts feeling like it is about to explode. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? In what way can I be most helpful? Where do we even begin? At TED Global I was in a whole room of people who go through the same thing. Young people across the continent who have a passion about this motherland called Africa that really surpasses all logic. They see what you are doing, you see what they are doing and suddenly you realise that you are not alone, and you do not have to do it alone. Instead of wondering if we will ever rise, now I am like, there is no way, absolutely no way that anyone can keep us down. The next 20 years will not be like the last 20 years, that I can guarantee you. In 2027 this will be the most linked post on Mentalacrobatics and you can all start calling me prophet!
What a speaker line up. You walked out of the room rubbing your head wondering how you are going to process all that knowledge. Next time you bump into one of those idiots who starts asking you questions like, “where is the African Mozart, or where is the African Brunel, implying that Africans do not think send them a copy of Ron Eglash’s study of fractals in African architecture and watch their heads explode as they try to understand just what the hell is going on, and that is just one of many many examples that were shared at this conference. Sending txt messages in Amharic, no problem, want to build a computer that thinks like a brain, easy peasy.
This is the big one for me. I have often wondered how it would have felt to attend THE pan African conference of all pan African conferences, The All-African People’s Conference in Accra in 1958 as the wind of independence was sweeping over the continent. How exhilarating it must have felt to watch freedom galloping over the horizon coming closer and closer as one colonial power after another was kicked out. But I wondered more about how powerful it must have been to walk into a room and you have all those brains there, all those visionaries in one place at one time. Imagine standing in the queue for lunch and you see Nyerere chatting with Lumumba or W.E.B DuBois sharing a knock-knock joke with Nkrumah or something like that. At TED Global I got that same buzz, you got the sense that there were people in that room that would revolutionise this continent. Now you know why I was smiling strangely at all of you at lunch at TED, I was trying to figure out which one of you was Nyerere and which one was Lumumba, who would be DuBois and who Nkrumah! In the 1958 conference they elected a young man called Tom Mboya from Kenya as their chairman, in his summing up speech he called for a reversal of the Scramble for Africa addressing the colonial powers thus:
“Your time has past, Africa must be free. Scram from Africa.”
Substitute colonial powers then for your pet hate today. Corruption, nepotism, tribalism, maybe even neo-colonialism? Whatever it is, tell it to scram from Africa. Like 50 years ago, change must come and change is in the air and that change is unavoidable. But we have learnt the lessons of 50 years ago, this time the pact between African leaders and African people must be paramount.
Kudos to the Tom Mboya of TED Global, Emeka Okafor.
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4:49
NEWS FOR THE LEFT!
» assidous I once came across this blog when Foley was the news in the US. I then lost its address and its only yesterday that i came across the page that i had noted it down in my diary. I would advise anyone to pay it a visit and see read for themselves. Its quite interesting.
Message to Dem Leadership: America is giving you a time table
Today's "deal" between the Democratic Leadership in the Congress can be framed in more than one way. At the end of the day, nothing has really changed the course of the war in Iraq. It's that simple.
The Democratic Leadership needs to understand something. In November, the American people elected you to control the United States Congress.That's a big deal. The number one thing they want you to do is change the course of the war in Iraq.
Thus far, you're failing. Now, you've got your own time table. If you aren't able to pass meaningful legislation in September that will begin the process of bringing our troops home, then you will lose credibility with us, the American People.
First blogged by Lane Hudson in his blog News For The Left and reblogged here by assidous.
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Controversial Predictions On Kenya Elections 2007 Available Only Via Email
» You Missed This archive
It may be difficult to imagine it, but there are some articles that are just too hot and controversial to publish even in this blog that has built quite a reputation.
A good example of this is a widely circulated email containing some astounding predictions on the winners and losers in the forthcoming general elections. There are some predictions contained in it that are just too sensitive to publish here. However you can get a complete copy of the widely circulated-via-email predictions by subscribing to my popular weekly email newsletter Kumekucha Confidential. It is free and all you have to do is send an email Now to:
kumekucha-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
You will have to reply to the automated response to confirm your subscription.
Naturally if you are already a subscriber, you do not need to subscribe again.
Discover how the exciting new video web conferencing can make your business or web site much more profitable today.
Vote for a fellow Kenyan today because when he wins, Kenya wins -
Kumekucha Being Read In Matatus
» You Missed This archive
Today I received a message from a Kenyan residing in Tanzania telling me that he is an avid reader of this blog and read yesterday's posts on a web-enabled mobile phone while traveling in a "dala dala" (that's what they call matatus in Tanzania). He said that he especially enjoyed yesterday's amusing post about private telephone conversations in public places.
While Internet-enabled phones are a very common phenomenon in the West, I must admit that I was a little taken aback that it should be available in Africa and inside a matatu at that. Alas, these are just part of the rapid technological advances in which we now find ourselves in and which most of us can hardly keep up with.
Interestingly not too long ago the then CEO of a locally based web business predicted that the time is nigh when people in a matatu will all be busy surfing the net on their way home or to work.
Let me admit that I seriously considered editing out that part of the interview article at the time, because to me this was just too wild a possibility that would surely not happen in the next two decades at least and by then, who knows if Matatus will still be around? Somebody recently gave me a very convincing thesis of how we will all be flying around in some rocket-propelled personal gadgets. Wow!!
It seems that I was very wrong about the "surfing-in-matatus" prediction because it is in fact already happening and it is only a matter of time before it becomes much more widespread. Remember how cell phones used to cost Kshs 250,000 the first time they arrived in Kenya and could only be owned by prominent thieves of public funds and corruption czars? Now mobile phones are a basic necessity even for mama mboga..
However I foresee a few problems. We all know what kind of sites most schoolboys and men visit (a friend insists that the line dividing the two is too thin for comfort hence the similarities in bizarre tastes). Can you imagine the explicit images of people in various positions of the act and the moans and "animal noises" that go with it filling a matatu where at least half the occupants are drunk and trying to get home? It's not a pretty picture I can assure you.
Discover how the exciting new video web conferencing can make your business or web site much more profitable today.
Vote for a fellow Kenyan today because when he wins, Kenya wins
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1:49
what Koch Fm needs........
» REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG when power goes, the radio goes off air....
inspired by a pirate radio in Brazil, Koch Fm started operation as a pirate radio two years ago. last year, the radio got a licence to operate within 2km radius in Korogocho slums.
just like many other sectors that depend on the erratic power, the station is in need of a generator.
the volunteers have raised money and bought a generator but have not installed it. a company profile with the history and programs will be availed,
here is the breakdown of what is needed.
1 piece 3 safe automatic change over = 80,000
24 metres , 10mm twin width earth @140 = 3,360
4 piece roll bolts 8mm @130 each = 520
1 piece concrete earth dip @2000 =2000
1 piece earth rod 4inch @ 550 =550
4bags of cement @ 400 =1,600
1 tonne concrete each = 1,100
1 tonne of sand @1,300= 1,300
4 pieces box iron/ion tube 2x2 each @ 1200= 4,800
3 pieces box iron/ion tube 1x2 @ 950 - 2,850
4 pieces iron sheets 21/2m @ 550 each = 2,200
4 pieces wire mesh @ 1400 = 5,600
2kg hood iron @ 180 =360
3 pieces inches @ 85 = 255
exhaust system @ 7,000
labour and transport = 45,000
testing and communication = 3000
VAT @ 16% = 25, 839
GRAND TOTAL 187,334
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Indeed
» Mentalacrobatics Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
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MUNGIKI FORM A SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE!
» assidous This article appeared in yesterday's Sunday Nation. Its penned by Mutua Makau. I like Makau's articles because they always look at the issue under discussion with such open-mindedness that you are left knowing what is expected of you. In this article he looks at the social aspect of the Mungiki menace and how to attend to it and solve the problem. Problem is, we have a short-sighted cabal of government operatives who benefit from the mayhem and bringing it to an end isnt in their interest.
An excerpt:
Something is deeply wrong. The government seems to have no clue about who exactly is responsible for these savage acts. Even worse, the State appears not to know why the dastardly crimes are being perpetrated. It feels and sounds as though there is a security vacuum in the country.
Inexorably, Kenya is drifting towards a lawless culture, the type of malevolent condition that has devoured many an African state. Are these problems temporary, or do they signify an irreversible descend into utter chaos and State failure?
Read it here:
[www.nationmedia.com]
Makau Mutua is a distinguished Professor at State University of New York, Buffalo and Chairman of KHRC.
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is your website relevant?
» REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG only 10 per cent of kenya websites are relevant
Having a website maybe the most fashionable thing for many Kenyan companies, but how many websites are relevant? How many have content that is important to local people?
Michuki Mwangi, Chief Executive Officer at KENIC reckons that 90% of the websites in Kenya are irrelevant and user unfriendly. The 10% are under construction, and remain so for a long time.
At the monthly forum, Michuki indicted many organizations of developing websites that don’t give visitors reason to come back, because they have same information after three years.
“Less than 50 % of the content of the web is irrelevant and does not address the core functions of the organizations,” said Michuki.
For instance, Nakumatt Holdings website; it has a slide show of buildings, information about the company and very little about the products available and the prices. Uchumi website has information about products and the prices but is limited to products on special offer.
Compared to Tesco super market in the UK- all the walkways are listed, groceries, finance, media information occupies less space, and maximizes on their core business.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) website is equally incapable of providing flight information, parking costs and directions to and from the airport. The website does not load up easily and has more information on tourism compared to its core functions.
With the website being labeled as off the mark, one participant commented that even the boards at the airport do not work.
compare to the British Airports Authority website- it has flight information, how to leave from one airport to the next, car park direction and fees, security alerts among other features.
Telkom scored higher marks, had all the information about their services, loads fast but there is no way to purchase the services online, one has to fill forms and visit agents to get services.
Michuki argued that the main problem lies in the fact that websites have been labeled as “IT jobs” and are only there, not to help in marketing. In this respect, many organizations leave website management to their IT departments and do nothing to improve on the content available.
To redress this, organizations need to identify right target group, build online social networks, and collaborations between academia, media and government to ensure that content is generated.
ends
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