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• June 29, 2007
• 16:02

  random thoughts on a furahiday evening

   » ‎ Kikuyumoja's realm

  Tags:  kikuism  

  It’s furahiday evening, I’ve just returned home and found some nice items in my snail mail. Things that brought a smile on my face.

  

  A dictionary on words as used by the German youth. With some equivalent translations for French, English and Spanish on each entry.

  Ok ok ok, the other day I already asked for comments on some of these colloquial words as used in today’s German, but this booklet actually is a bit strange. Nevertheless, if you ever wondered about the real meaning of Gazellenfraktion, Bitchburner, Hülsenfrucht or Wurstmensch - this booklet might help.
  Thx, Annette! :-)

  —

  

  “Ukweli - the truth” by Anna Mwalagho

  Irene forwarded this CD to me and I still need to listen into it (I’ve just unpacked it - is this some sort of poetry made for the US market? lemme check..).
  THANK YOU, Irene! :-)

  —

  Speaking of music, I currently enjoy listening to the audio stream of Radio Okapi. Soukous, baby!

  —

  Attended another blogger meeting late last night right here in Frankfurt. After enjoying a few beers with my jamaas in the Kenyan blogosphere some time ago, I thought about trying to explore the scene over here in Frankfurt, and it turned out to be really nice!
  Fellow blogger Silke organized the event, and next to my new colleague Christian, I also had some nice conversations with Robert, Henning and Arno. There’s a webmonday coming up this next monday, and I am already considering going there. The beauty of such events is that you are actually talking to folks who read the same blogs (at least those from within the German blogosphere which is btw still very limited) and who are showing some interest in the international scene. The German section of GlobalVoices, for instance, is still very deserted, but as much as I like bridge-blogging, I currently don’t have the energy to cover the German blogosphere. Also, blog posts such as this one here clearly show that I am more interested in contributing my own content instead of just reposting another youtube video that seems to be cool or writing a summary/round-up on the important stuff that has been going on (another point is that I do not consider my English good enough for GV, but that’s another story..).

  8 years ago, my bro KPT, Tammo and I went to a big VC guy right here in Frankfurt where we presented our (still cool) idea for an online application which was based on the wireless application protocol. This VC guy carefully listened to our idea and then ripped us apart, but also gave us some valuable feedback on how to improve that idea.
  Later on, as everyone else had different careers going on, the project stalled, but this experience is still very vivid in our memory, and last evening, while talking to Burkhard who also works as a VC, I was reminded of this event. This particular VC guy from 1999 actually quit his job soon after the dot-com bubble bursted and is reported to be working as a salesman for prefabricated houses nowadays. LOL!

  Vielen Dank für den sehr netten und interessanten Abend, liebe Rhein-Main pl0gger :-)

  —

  

  To Braun, or to Philips: that is the question…every serious man will ask himself one time in his life. I know my bro-in-law actually only uses a wet shaving technique, but I prefer an errectricooor shavaaa.
  So I am in the lucky state of owning both systems, and while I’ve been a die-hard user of the typical Braun shaver system (as pictured on the left) with this very Shave 1.0 blade in the past, I am currently trying to see if I shouldn’t use the Philips three-bladed approach instead.

  So, dear comrades, what kind of shaving system are you using? And beware, I already tried the alternative one day, which left some little spots on my face the above mentioned dictionary would describe as “ant titts”. There you go…

• 14:36

  Foot in mouth [things he did]…

   » ‎ Me, Life & Everything
  time: 2236hrs length: long mood: amused stars: lots at: home level: eight track: are you that somebody - aaliyah feat. timbaland. I have observed quietly as salvos being launched at mamaas and gents alike recently in the blogosphere over things that i would consider common sense. On that vein i am here to address a different aspect of male-female relationships are related [...]

• 14:33

  Bottom Up Vs Top Down, a lesson in Solar Implementation from Senegal.

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Solar  

  In the post on Electranets, the idea of top down development, something synonymous with the Hippos (including the misguided hippo cheerleaders at Economist ;)) clashes with the idea of bottom -up development. For an example of just how these top-down initiatives can go awry, lets go to Senegal.

  Thanks Emeka for the story.
  This piece from IRIN news is instructive, especially since its a solar energy project. It describes an ambitious rural electrification project that was funded by the Japanese and Spanish governments in the form of grants and loans to the Senegalese government to set up Photo voltaic systems for a rural area far from the electricity grid.

  

  The project had good intentions it appears, what with the powerful image of a hut with a solar panel on its roof. As reported on the article, the project is devolving into an unsustainable mess, with only 30% of the people paying the fees for the photovoltaic systems, and ongoing maintenance problems due to lack of money to change the batteries and keep the parts working properly. The article then goes on to describe other problems such as the high cost of fees for the PV systems. The contractors hired by the Senegalese government left in 2005 after their contract ended and the new contractor has 1 technician to service 10,000 home systems. 1. It becomes clear quite quickly that the development model that this project was based on was flawed. Not the technology behind it. I think that the project did not fully involve the community, these guys came in, ’saved’ the village by installing the PV systems, but they did not think it through. Is the community involved in the maintenance? Nope.

  The sad part is that the Senegalese government did not steer the project in a sustainable direction. There can be a partnership between governments that result in great projects (rural electrification using solar is still a superb idea), but the local government on the receiving end of the aid needs to tailor the aid to meet the needs of its people. Take the bottom up approach of training and equipping the community with the skills and this IMO is the most important part. It needs to be a market driven approach. Why would would anyone take ownership of maintaining a system if there wasn’t something in it for them? Rural development could use a few Gordon Gekko’s no? He’d probably shriek at stepping on cow dung and ruining his Johnston and murphy shoes…I am kidding! (filmmakers out there feel free to make a movie about him going to rural Africa to do his ‘greed is good’ speech. I know I would watch that, just invite me to the premiere) That aside, the idea of capitalism needs to be injected into a lot the development models if they are to be sustainable.

  So how could this project have been done better? There are great models to follow. The first one that comes to the fore is the Barefoot College in India. Senegal and other countries in Africa can look at other developing countries such as India for models on how to use renewable energy in a viable manner.

  The IRIN article points to the unnecessary perception that solar energy is not a viable solution for rural electrification, and that the ‘Donors are watching closely’

  Individual and communal solar systems have brought electricity to over 170,000 people in Sine Saloum which lies south of Dakar near the border with The Gambia. The project is the largest of its kind in Senegal and experts say donors are watching it closely to gauge whether solar energy could be a practical means of electrifying other rural areas.

  The point that the donors might be missing is, there is a red herring to watch out for. Simon Mwacharo pointed out at TED that solar and wind power systems got a bad rap in the past because the systems were not set up correctly. It appears from the situation in Senegal, that the follow-up plan to maintain the project was severely lacking. Confusing implementation and project model problems with the effectiveness of solar technology in providing power would be a mistake. A detailed article from refocus magazine, showing the obstacles and success conditions in developing countries is helpful in summarizing some of the issues in renewable energy. Projects such as the one in Senegal do require a different type of strategy.

  So what practical things can we learn from all this?

  From a consumer perspective, if you are out there looking for a solar powered solution for your energy needs, don’t skimp. i came across some good tips in Wired Mag January issue. Specifically

  Choose the right system. Want a house that produces all of its own electricity? Opt for monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels. They’re the most efficient – and the most expensive. Amorphous photovoltaics are roughly half the price but only about half as efficient. If you can’t bear the appearance of those big black roof slabs, go with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Your normal-looking roof and windows become solar catchers.

  From a larger country-type perspective, again,

  • Don’t skimp on setting up a good quality system.
  • Include a bottom-up strategy of involving entrepreneurs and invest in training for the people who will manage the systems.

  In the Refocus magazine June Issue, there is a great interview by David Hopwood. In it he interviews Christoph Paradeis and Andrea Ocker of Solar Fabrik, they were discussing the future of solar as a viable market driven technology. In this bit they were talking about SA and its embracing of wind power. Specifically relating to this post (and the dont skimp bit)…

  …

  reFOCUS: South Africa appears to be on the verge of embracing windpower at least…

  CP: They also started with solar in 2001, just after I joined the organization, but this project failed. They installed solar systems of course but the quality of them was so poor that many failed after two to three years. One of the requirements was that the systems be really cheap, but this caused problems with reliability. Yes, some of those regions are poor, but they should invest in good systems so that they don’t have to change them after several years; this is a false economy.

  AO: And besides, people don’t trust the technology any longer if they first experience poor quality.

  This post is getting too long so i shall stop here. Thank you for reading this far. How about we go listen to some Ghanaian highlife music over at Museke, or listen to Vusi Mahlasela, Habib Koite and Dobet Gnahore on Afropop?

• 14:24

  Kenyans, Your Country Needs You... BADLY

   » ‎ You Missed This
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  The time has come for those of us in this blog who claim to love our country to start doing something other than just "talking here."
  
  After considering your comments it is clear that opinion is divided over whether we should call for the resignation of the police commissioner and the Internal security minister or not. So for the sake of unity I have left out that issue and concentrated on what we all agree on. Which is the fact that something has got to be done about insecurity in the country.
  
  Our campaign is not opportunistic as somebody has suggested or designed to draw attention to us. NO. All we want is action to be taken so that our brothers and sisters who do not live in Muthaiga can be safe from Mungiki and company, during this election year.
  
  I suggest that starting Monday, we each take the time to draft letters to all the media houses whose addresses we can get. Via email, P.O. Boxes etc. Our campaign will be simply appealing for the violence against poor Kenyans who do not have the resources to defend themselves, to stop. The plan is to bombard every media outlet we can find with this issue so that Kenyans and the authorities can wake up to the danger that looms large before us.
  
  I urge you not to underestimate this simple sounding strategy. If we can all participate and call on as many other Kenyans to participate, we can influence public opinion enough to make a difference. Especially now when our beloved preferred presidential candidates have ALL gone to sleep and are dreaming ONLY of the motorcycle motorcades and being called “MUTUKUFU.”
  
  If you can send a copy of each letter that you send out to the media to our email address here umissedthis@yahoo.com, I will keep count of how many letters each of us has sent out. By the way it is also useful to indicate as you send me copies of the letters, how many letters you have sent out. The second phase of the plan will involve getting as many mobile telephone numbers of like-minded Kenyans as possible to push our message and agenda forward to the people. But let us start with the simple before moving to the more complex and involving.
  
  Ladies and gentlemen, together we can do a lot and I remind you once again that unity is of utmost importance in this noble project.
  
  Just one more very important thing I would like to say. I have noticed that many younger Kenyans have fear of one thing above everything else. They fear this thing more than they fear a carjacker with a loaded gun. That thing is failure. Well, I have news for you. If you fear failure, you are already a failure. How many times did man fail before mechanized flight was made possible? Today man flies better and further than the birds themselves with his flying machines. If I feared failure I would have given up on the first week I launched this blog because everybody ignored it.
  
  I will tell you what you should really fear. It is inaction because that is exactly what has gotten us into the mess we are in at the moment.
  
  So please, don’t start analyzing how successful or how unsuccessful our campaign here will be. Let’s just roll up our sleeves and get to work.
  
  Can you folks share here the email addresses of the daily newspapers TV stations and other media outlets outside Kenya that report on Kenya and accept comment and letters from their audiences? Let’s collect all these between today and Monday (Kenyan time) when we will launch our campaign.
  
  Father and son seduced by the same woman called "death."
  
  Discover how the exciting new video web conferencing can make your business or web site much more profitable today.
• 14:22

  Leaked Info About KissFM’s "The Nairobi Star"

   » ‎ You Missed This
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  I got this bit of information about the proposed KissFM daily newspaper and I decided to share it with you guys. Apparently the newspaper will concentrate on Nairobi news and Nairobians. Personally I think that that is very smart and is something Nation guys should worry about.
  
  When you think about it, there is so much that is happening in Nairobi which even Kumekucha cannot fully cover and a newspaper that concentrates on Nairobi only has a decent chance of being a huge success.
  
  I understand that the newspaper is due to hit the streets around July 2nd. Expect more reviews and analysis here when it is published.
  
  Other Stories In This Blog About The Nairobi Star
  Why Nation Should Be Worried
  
  The Nairobi Star: What Most People Don't Know About Circulation And Advertising
  
  ----------------------
  Father and son seduced by the same woman called "death."
  
  Discover how the exciting new video web conferencing can make your business or web site much more profitable today.
• 14:19

  Kenyans Are Not Suffering Because There Is No Money

   » ‎ You Missed This
  archive
  
  There is this reader who has painstakingly gone through almost all the posts in Kumekucha. I have tracked him using his name and the sometimes critical but always useful comments he has been leaving.
  
  I know that many of you must have missed the following comment from his which he left in an old post about Bunge la mwananchi. I wouldn’t have said it better about the crux of our problem in Kenya which is certainly not lack of money.
  
  
  Edwin Gachinga Warima has left a new comment on your post "BUNGE LA MWANANCHI - FREEDOM FROM HUNGER":
  
  Wiser words have never been spoken. Our government has the money, it just misuses it. How can an MP earn Ksh.887,500 (includes benefits & allowances), while Form 4 leavers, stay home because we don't have enough state/public universities? How do we pay our president Kshs. 2,000,000 when the ordinary mwananchi can't even feed his family? Why?
  
  I'll give you the answer. Because our government is full of hypocrites and thieves, whose only concern is to enrich their pockets. These fools couldn't care less about helping Kenyans or what's in the best interest of our country.
  
  They eat, get re-elected, and eat some more. Corruption is still rampant in Kenyan government...look at the Anglo Leasing Scandal. Despite Githongo's evidenciary tape, the Mwirarias, Murungis and Murungarus are still walking around free. By the way, wasn't Kiraitu Murungi re-appointed by Kibaki to a ministerial post? That shows us where Kibaki's heart was all along.
  
  How about The Goldenberg scandal that bilked our country out of 70 billion shillings? Where is Kamlesh Pattni today? You guessed it, free as a bird. How about the Kanyotus,Saitotis and Gideon Mois associated with that particular scandal...where are they today? Again free, free, free...to enjoy their stolen wealth. Mean while Aaron Ringera is still pocketing 2.5 million per month as the head of --- commision of inquiry that has been inquiring forever with absolutely no results.
  
  You say, what about the free primary & Secondary education brought about by Kibaki's government? Sure,Kibaki has made some improvements to the economy...and Bravo to him for that. But if he is trully serious on improving the economy, he should first & foremost refuse to accept that 2,000,000/= monthly salary, (and have it cut down to no more than 400,000/=)...then establish an independent arm of the government to cut MP's and Minister's salaries to no more than 200,000/= per month. (Currently, MP's...through parliament vote to give themselves pay raises.) How can you vote to yourself a pay raise? Is this ridiculous or what!!!!!!!
  
  According to my calculations based on the above presidential, Ministerial and MP salary reductions, our country would save 176,000,000 per month. That's 176 million each & every month!!
  
  That would build alot of classrooms!! How about using this money to improve our roads? The list of projects to do is endless. Would this get Kenya started on the road to financial recovery? You bet.
  
  But like I said earlier, this would only be initiated by a trully serious president. I don't think we have that yet.
  
  Father and son seduced by the same woman called "death."
  
  Discover how the exciting new video web conferencing can make your business or web site much more profitable today.

• 12:53

  Internet Real Estate

   » ‎ Kenyanentrepreneur.com

  Tags:  Entrepreneurship  

  I know Kenyans love real estate, but I want to talk about another form of real estate that’s taking place in the virtual world. Once again, I’ve come upon an article of these two entrepreneurs who are making millions by buying popular domain names (read: virtual real estate) and turning the sites that have these names [...]

• 12:47

  New Nokia 8800 Sirocco Phone available in Africa.

   » ‎ My Africa Today

  Inspired by nature, and one of its most beautiful elements, gold, Nokia today unveiled the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold - a bold and prestigious new style statement. Encased in a luxurious 18-carat gold plating, the precisely crafted Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold combines timeless design with a contemporary flair, resulting in an exclusive display of personal style and elegance. The Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold is now available in select markets, with an estimated retail price of EUR 1000, before taxes or subsidies.

  A smooth sliding mechanism reveals a high-resolution camera (2 Megapixel) and the intuitive and ergonomic keypad. Further “inner beauty” highlights of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold include a stunning color screen (up to 262K colors), and a wide array of messaging functionalities. The elegance of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold is also complemented by a coordinating desk stand and color-matching Bluetooth headset.

  Design: Nokia

  

  Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!
• 12:43

  From Recycled Plastic Skin to a Car

   » ‎ My Africa Today

  Any concept vehicle with a name derived from the word the Inuit’s use for their dwellings made of Earth, whalebone, and animal skins is bound to be interesting. Hyundai Europe’s Design and Technical Center in Russelsheim, Germany partnered with GE Plastics in the Netherlands to create the QarmaQ a quirky looking Crossover Coup concept.

  One of the QarmaQ’s key features is its innovative use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles to create a large portion of the vehicle’s skin. GE says the use of plastics, instead of more traditional metal and glass, gives the vehicle a 130-pound weight savings. That weight loss equates to 20 gallons a year savings in gas, not to mention fewer plastic bottles clogging up the local landfill. These numbers are nothing to scoff when you think of all the cars on the road.

  The Green theme extends further as the vehicle use less paint and other chemicals that create massive amounts of greenhouse gases. Hyundai said some of the production techniques used in the QarmaQ could roll out beginning with the 2008 model year.

  Design: Hyundai [ Via: Treehugger ]

  

  

  

  
  
  Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!
• 12:17

  The Credit Card Of The Future

   » ‎ My Africa Today

  I prefer using my bank card over physical cash and here’s why. With a card, I can’t view real-time data on my account usage. In a way I feel I can keep shopping all willy nilly without a care in the world and not feel guilty since I can’t see what it’s doing to my checking account - no doubt bleeding from my frivolous shopping trips.

  Designer Jacob Palmborg’s solve for shopaholics like me is an RFID card linked to every account you have. A small interface indicates your own economic situation and forecasts what effects your purchases might have on your future economic status. The whole thing works wirelessly so no actual date is stored on the card. The card also has biometric security so only you can access it. This opens up the possibility of it being your driver’s license, student ID, passport, etc. Now if it only had customizable wallpapers, I’m sold!

  Designer: Jacob Palmborg

  

  

  

  Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!
• 12:09

  Mod a $5 flashlight into a $95 light

   » ‎ My Africa Today
  
  
  $10 Police Flashlight Hack! - video powered by MetacafeCustomize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!
• 11:56

  Kenya: Country and South Africa Growing Their Links

   » ‎ My Africa Today
  Stephanie Nieuwoudt
  

  Nairobi

  Strolling through the aisles of one of the shops of the biggest supermarket chain in Kenya, it is easy for a South African to spot familiar brands. There are boxes and bottles full of cereal, instant coffee, fruit, soup, toiletries and other products imported from South Africa. And then there are the well-known clothing retailers.

  But these products do not come cheaply. Due to import and excise duties those who want to purchase these brands in Kenya pay up to three times more than they would in South Africa. It is painful for consumers in Kenya but there is still a ready market for South African goods in the east African country.

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  South African exporters have the upper hand to their Kenyan counterparts. Import and export figures for the month of March 2007 show a trade imbalance between the two countries. South Africa exported produce worth 57,6 million US dollars to Kenya while Kenya exported only a fraction of that amount (1,86 million US dollars) to South Africa.

  Kenya exports, among other products, tea, coffee, flowers and vegetables to South Africa.

  According to a media release issued by South Africa's department of foreign affairs, there are more than 30 South African companies in Kenya, making South Africa the biggest foreign direct investor in the east African country.

  Kenya is also South Africa's biggest trading partner on the continent outside of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

  These facts are testament to a growing self-reliance in Africa, an interdependence that will make development and progress on the continent less contingent on ties with either the West or the East.

  But it also touches a nerve that is becoming ever rawer as the economic giant that is South Africa strides more confidently across what is in many ways its own backyard. Its large trade imbalances with fellow African countries expose South Africa to accusations that it has, ironically, become imperialist.

  "Yes, trade imbalances exist," South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma told reporters in Nairobi during her visit to Kenya in November last year. "However, it is something that can only be corrected in the long run. Our economic relations are like a long distance run, not a 100 meter sprint."

  This trade imbalance is supposed to be addressed by a pending joint commission for bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the South African high commissioner to Kenya, Tony "Gab" Msimanga, told a Kenyan radio station recently.

  Among others, the agreement will address in an amicable manner trade problems that both countries experience. This will be provided for in the soon to be concluded legal framework, he said.

  The idea of a joint commission was raised in 2003 when Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki visited South Africa for Thabo Mbeki's inauguration for his second term in office as president.

  However, any possibility of the agreement bringing Kenya to the level of an equal partner with South Africa is far away. "I do not see this happening soon," a South African businessperson, who asked to remain anonymous, told IPS.

  "We are dealing with supply and demand and at this stage South Africa wants less from Kenya while Kenya is much more dependent on the more diversified markets of South Africa," he pointed out.

  Stewart Henderson, chairperson of the South African Business Association of Kenya, told IPS that the value of the joint commission will lie in the easing up of red tape. There is also the potential of huge gains in the building of human capacity.

  "South African road engineers will for example share knowledge and skills with their Kenyan counterparts. It is absolutely essential that both the public and private sectors get involved in capacity building. The Kenyan private sector is incredibly dynamic and can for the most part measure up to international standards," he said.

  There is room for improvement regarding the time lapse between the application and the issuing of business licences and the maze of bureaucracy that businesspeople confront before they can establish a business in Kenya, according to Henderson.

  Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!

• 11:37

  I'd Rather Have Apple Inc

   » ‎ For Love and Money
  

  There has been a lot hullabaloo about the iPhone and the media is full of news of people lining up for hours to get their hands on the must-have gizmo. Without doubt, the iPhone is a revolutionary product and it will surely earn it's place as one of the greatest milestone's in the technological revolution.

  At a price tag of $599 for the 8GB version and an additional minimum $59 (+ tax) for the ATT voice and data plan, this has got to be one of the most priciest phones. As buyers hit to the shops o buy the phone, AAPL investors are smiling their way to the bank as the price of the stocks increases in the midst of all this fan-fare. Because it's not Microsoft exchange ready, I would imagine most of the buyers are consumers rather than business users ditching their blackberries in favor of the iPhone.

  The $599 price tag plus the $60 monthly brings the total amount spent to over $2000 for a two year contract. While many people may consider this as a small price to pay for owning an iPhone, It would certainly have been wiser if the money was invested in buying AAPL shares. The $600 (+ tax) would buy at least 5 shares at today's price, while the wireless fees can buy half a share monthly if bought through an automatic investment plan. In 2 years, this would translate in at least 10 Apple Inc shares instead an iPhone.

  For those who want the iPhone - buy the phone but also think about the investment opportunities that come with the product.

• 11:02

  Sustainable Rural Development Project, Tanzania

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Solar  

  While at TED Global, i got a chance to speak with William Makali, the president of a company called Full Dimensions in Tanzania, and a TED fellow. His view of development is what he terms ‘The Big Idea!’.

  The Big Idea is to create a Rural Development Community Role model sustainable Project. The Community members from other areas will be invited and get immersed in the community activities to learn the Power of Ideas to eradicate poverty. This will help to transfer information to other communities which will evidently result in transforming other communities.

  The project is already underway in Singida region, Yullansoni Valley Tanzania, a remote rural village. Please click here for a google earth placemark of Singida. What they have been able to do so far is expand a mobile clinic that started in 1996 into a health center that caters to the community, and install a 38000 liter water tank to store rain water. The exciting thing is is what Mr. Makali is working on now. In his own words:

  Installation of the Solar Power at the clinic to upgrade the medical services.

  Upgrading the Clinic to become a referral Hospital in the future.

  Education of the Solar Power cooking to the community to protect the environment from deforestation and erosion.

  Installation of the Sunflower Oil Press industry.

  Provision of modern Agricultural tools.

  Initiation of Rural Microfinance Credit Bank Facility

  Mobilizing the community to create communication Infrastructure.

  Mobilizing the community to preserve the environment.

  Introduction of Vocational Training School.

  Well drillings and water harvest to introduce irrigation system.

  Upgrading the Pre school to Primary school and to a secondary school level.

  For more details of Mr. Makali’s inititiave in rural Tanzania, please click here for a word document. (He can be reached at wn_love [at] yahoo dot com.)
  As you can tell from the list of things he is doing, these are initiatives that aim to serve and involve the community. Although it is still an early stage project, it has a bottom-up component that i particularly like. The initiatives are formulated by him a Tanzanian who is familiar with the realities and challenges of rural development, and not from without. Not only did i find what he is doing laudable, i really liked the by line on his business card. It says “Think Big, Think Smart, Think Creative, Think Positive, Work Smart, Make a difference”.

• 10:59

  WHY NAIROBI IS AFRICA'S CAPITAL

   » ‎ assidous
  In today's EastAfrican Standard, i came across this article as to why Real Africa Eats, Sleeps and Drinks in Nairobi.
  
  Here is the whole article:
  
  Landing at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in 1996 was like stepping from Earth onto Mars — an alien land —watched by M-16 wielding airport security guards and a sizzling tang smell best classified as faecal matter.
  
  Missionaries — Nairobi’s greatest import of white faces — rightfully swapped horror stories about walking in the capital after dark, cluttering their chatter with words like ‘robbery’, ‘murder’ and "leave the house after 6pm at your own risk".
  
  In 1996, Nairobi was living in 1896. But thanks to the democratically elected President Kibaki, and the proud willfulness of Kenyans, Nairobi is now a thriving, modern and relatively safe gateway into East Africa. How times have changed in 11 years!
  
  Now, Snickers bars and Smirnoff Vodka are displayed for sale in brightly lit airport shops, next door to a Java House, Nairobi’s emphatic answer to Starbucks.
  
  While the availability of such status items of modernity may appear archaic to Chinese children accustomed to 10 per cent GDP prosperity, in Nairobi they are evidence that Kenya has arrived in a global world.
  
  As advertised on monstrous Coca Cola billboards on Nairobi streets, Kenyans now aim to "Live on the ‘Coke’ side of Life". Kenya, like China, is modernising, and the evidence is in the cities. Nairobi’s main drag, four-lane Kenyatta Avenue, snakes through the city connecting the outlying slums and rich estates with the high-rise steel of downtown Nairobi.
  
  Dotting the way are palm trees and lush green plants championed by the equatorial sun, and suicidal private buses called matatus — fast rides distinguishable by their splashy paint-on names such as Ice Cube, Manchester United, and Player Hater.
  
  Most refreshing about downtown Nairobi, however, is the skyline. Nairobi may be a bustling metropolis of four million people, but the downtown still retains a comfortable charm, or quaintness, most notable when travelling from Beijing’s six-mile wide mega-tropolis to Nairobi’s half-mile city centre.
  
  Here, the stampede of human feet still holds precedent over cars. McDonalds is non-existent, but Wimpy Burger isn’t, neither is the fake Hooters rip-off. Also absent is the exaggerated glam of Chinese dance-clubs, swapped for dark and frenetic and stripped-down joints like Taco, Zip, Tropez and Ibiza.
  
  Speaking of the nightlife … I walk into Tropez Ibiza at 11pm on a Friday night, aware of my obtrusive whiteness, but not preoccupied by it. Like much of Kenya, Tropez lacks pretension, over-hyped attention to style, and all cynical hipster irony. When asked "How you doing?" you’re not "Doing good." You’re "easy". Here, Guinness bottles are served, but I am told it would be near sacrilegious not to try Tusker brand.
  
  Winner of 16 Monde Gold Selection awards since its inception in 1922, Tusker is amusingly named after the elephant that killed its first hop creator. Spotting the bar at the corner, I walk over and order two drinks, only to realise the Sh500 I walked in with is no longer in my pocket.
  
  I’ve been robbed already," I yell to my friend. Wrong. Before entering the club, I had hidden the cash in a secret pant-pocket, and had forgotten I had done so. Didn’t trick any pickpockets, but tricked myself. I blame the jet lag, and continue with the night…
  
  Tropez Ibiza, I soon realise, is but an extension of a Nigerian-based culture of Cool emerging in Kenya. Leading the charge is a local TV station, a bad-boy channel showcasing hip-hop videos and culture and commercialism, helping define a divide between Kenya young and hip ‘have’ culture and their left-behind ‘have-not’ population.
  
  In 1996, when SkyNews ruled local TV and the Internet had yet to explode, Nairobi’s self-identity was very insular. Now, characters like 2 Pac, Bob Marley, 50 Cent and Omarion are ambassadors. So is having the richest cell phone, the nicest weave and money to party.
  
  In the middle of all this is a strong Chinese community in Nairobi. According to the Chinese Embassy, 7,000 Chinese nationals are registered in Nairobi. They have established construction companies, churches, textile shops, car dealerships and other businesses.
  
  Yet, perhaps, the most authentic experience is to visit a Maasai village. The Maasai lay claim to Kenya’s most fresh scenery. But don’t be fooled: The tribe’s elders may boast killing lions at age 13 and drinking cow blood, but these are people confronting the reality and the dwindling vestiges of their existence.
  
  The evidence is in their eyes and expression — half the population knows there is a world outside their village and want in. The other half also knows there is an outside world, but are happy staying put in their close community of friends and family.
  
  Ultimately, what is most refreshing about Kenya is that it is still very African. There is no McDonalds or Starbucks to escape to. It may be modernising, but globalism is refreshingly taking baby-steps. Still, as in 1996, everywhere you go, everything you smell and everyone you meet is still African, foreign.
  
  There is no feud in asking: "Where is the real Africa?" The real Africa eats, sleeps and breathes in Nairobi.
  
  Article by Ted Fackler, an American Journalist in Beijing - China. Posted here by assidous.

• 10:19

  [nt]

   » ‎ Kenyanentrepreneur.com

  Tags:  General  

• 10:15

  That Time of the Month Again

   » ‎ My Life is...Mochalicious!

• 10:04

  Kenya Re-Insurance IPO

   » ‎ Kenyanentrepreneur.com

  Tags:  Kenyan PoliticsBusiness  

  I have a hard time making sense of the business articles in both the Standard and the Nation. So, I am first, going to make a general statement about Kenya RE’s IPO: it’s a good thing what the government is doing (turning over ownership of these parastatals into private hands. If you want efficiency [...]

• 7:39

  Post-Card From America

   » ‎ For Love and Money
  

  This was a first for me.

  I've seen homes with magazine racks in the toilet.

  I've also seen hotels with small screen televisions in the bathroom positioned next to the bath-tub.

  But a telephone next to the toilet!

  This one trumps the restroom attendant.

  What next?

• 5:54

  The 9 challenges facing Africa.

   » ‎ My Africa Today
  American policy is based overwhelmingly on the idea that Africa can lift itself out of extreme poverty through its own efforts, that aid is largely misused because of corruption, and that the United States already gives generous amounts. This is wrong on all counts: Africa is trapped in poverty, many countries are well poised to use aid effectively, and America’s contribution is tiny relative to Africa’s needs, America’s promises and America’s wealth.
  
  Africa suffers simultaneously from three challenges that trap it in poverty. First, Africa does not grow enough food. Unlike Asia, Africa did not have a Green Revolution in food production. In 1965, India averaged 854 kilograms of grain per hectare in use, while sub-Saharan Africa averaged almost the same, 773 kilograms per hectare. But by 2000, India was producing 2,293 kilograms per hectare, while Africa was producing only 1,118.
  
  Second, Africa suffers from disease unlike any other part of the world. Africa’s AIDS pandemic is well known; its malaria pandemic, which will claim three million lives and a billion illnesses this year, is not. India controlled malaria after the 1960’s, while Africa did not, one reason being that Africa’s malaria-bearing mosquitoes are particularly adept at transmitting the disease.
  
  Third, Africa is economically isolated, owing to very poor infrastructure, large over-land distances and many landlocked countries. These geographical barriers keep much of Africa—especially rural Africa—out of the mainstream of international trade. Without the benefits of trade, much of rural Africa struggles at subsistence levels.
  
  Bush might think that America is doing a lot to help overcome these problems, but the truth is that U.S. aid is minimal. Blair’s Africa Commission, as well as the U.N. Millennium Project, found that Africa needs about $50 billion per year in aid by 2010. America’s fair share of the total is about $15 billion per year. Yet official U.S. aid to Africa is only $3 billion per year, and much of that covers salaries for American consultants rather than investments in Africa’s needs.
  
  This tragically small sum amounts to just three cents for every $100 of U.S. gross national product, which is less than two days of U.S. military spending.
  
  Not only is U.S. aid a tiny fraction of what it should be, but American explanations for the lack of aid are wrong. Bush and others imply that Africa wastes the aid through corruption. But impoverished and slow-growing African countries like Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Benin and Malawi are ranked as having less corruption than fast-growing Asian countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Indeed, America’s own Millennium Challenge Account has already recognized such African countries for their strong governance. Good governance surely will help in Africa and elsewhere, but corruption should not be used as an excuse not to help Africa.
  
  On hunger, the key is to help Africa achieve its own Green Revolution. Rich countries should help African farmers use improved seed varieties, more fertilizer and better water management, such as small-scale irrigation. The techniques are known, but Africa’s farmers are too poor to get started. With increased help to African farmers to grow more food (as opposed to shipping food aid from the United States), it would be possible to double or even triple crop yields.
  
  On disease, malaria could be controlled by 2008 using proven, low-cost methods. But, again, Africa cannot afford them. The first goal should be to distribute long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to all of Africa’s rural poor within four years. The best estimates show that Africa needs about 300 million bed nets, and that the cost per net (including shipping) is around $10, for a sum of $3 billion. This cost would be spread over several years. In addition, Africa needs help with anti-malaria medicines, diagnostic equipment and training of community health workers.
  
  On economic isolation, Africa needs help with the basics—roads and ports—but there is also an opportunity to “leapfrog” technology. Cell phones and Internet connectivity could reach all of Africa at low cost, ending the economic isolation of hundreds of millions of people. Some reasonable estimates put the cost at around $1 billion for an Africa-wide fiber-optic network that could bring Internet connectivity and telephone service across the continent’s villages and cities.
  
  Africa is ready to break out of poverty—if the United States and other rich countries help. Europe appears poised to do more, while the United States appears to be the main obstacle. The G-8 Summit provides an opportunity for America, which will spend $500 billion on its military this year, to make a lasting—and certainly more cost-effective —contribution to global security by saving millions of lives in Africa and helping its people escape extreme poverty.Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!
• 5:18

  Ireland elects first black mayor.

   » ‎ My Africa Today
  Ireland elects first black mayor

  Mr Adebari said it was a great honour

  A Nigerian man who arrived in Ireland as an asylum seeker seven years ago has become the country's first black mayor.

  Rotimi Adebari has been elected as first citizen of Portlaoise in County Laois.

  The 43-year-old fled from Nigeria in 2000 because of religious persecution. After a few weeks, he and his family settled in the County Laois town.

  In 2004, he was elected in the local elections as an independent councillor and on Thursday he became mayor.

  The move was the result of a voting pact between Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and independent councillors.

  The father-of-four has completed a masters degree in intercultural studies at Dublin City University and now works for Laois County Council, co-ordinating an integration project for local immigrants.

  Mr Adebari said it was a great honour to become Portlaoise's first citizen, but that praise should be given to the people who elected him three years ago.

  "Ireland is really changing. The immigrant community in the town has been growing, especially since the accession countries joined the European Union on enlargement in 2004," he said.

  However, he added: "That is not to say that I did not have my own share of the prejudice that would be out there against maybe Nigerians, or immigrants or asylum seekers."

  "But I don't let the attitude of a very small minority over-shadow the fact that the people are wonderful." Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!

• 4:24

  Kenya Re IPO II: The Numbers, QII's & The "Shoe Shiners"

   » ‎ KA-INVESTOR
  
  Finally the Capital Market Authority has approved the long awaited Kenya Re IPO. Kimunya announced this yesterday and here are some of the numbers:
  Total value of Kenya Re: Ksh.5.7 Billion
  Value of the firm on offer: Ksh.2.3 Billion {40% of Kenya Re}
  Number of shares on offer: 240 million shares
  Price per share: Ksh.9.50
  Offer dates: July 18 - 31, 2007.
  Share allocation to "different" investors:
  

  • Insurance companies - 20%
  
  
  • Qualified Institutional Investor (QII) - 30% {who the hell are these guys?}
  
  
  • Kenya Re employees - 3%
  
  
  • shoe shiners {you and me} - 47%

  Minimum numbers of share per subscriber:
  Employees and Directors
  Minimum Application Size - 2,000
  Thereafter in multiples of - 1,000
  
  Insurance Companies
  Minimum Application Size - 100,000
  Thereafter in multiples of - 10,000
  
  Qualified Institutional Investors (QII)
  Minimum Application Size - 100,000
  Thereafter in multiples of - 10,000
  
  Retail (Corporate and shoe shiners)
  Minimum Application Size - 2,000
  Thereafter in multiples of - 1,000
  
  

  Note:

  Prospectuses and Application forms will be available from July 18, 2007 {watch this space for a complete break down and analysis} you can also see a report on them here.

  I'm told Qualified Institutional Investors (QII) are defined as a company whose ordinary course of business is to hold, manage or invest funds in connection with retirement benefits, insurance contracts, mortgage and saving schemes and any fund or scheme in the nature of a collective investment scheme or a unit trust. {in simple words they are the deal makers, the lead we follow}

  QII will, for the first time in kenyan history, use the Delivery vs Payment where they shall only pay for the confirmed allocated shares (no upfront payment and chasing after refund cheques} For more storie on this check here, here and here.

• 4:23

  Top 12 Proven Tips to Strengthen Your Marketing Muscle

   » ‎ Bizmambo
  The more you stretch it the stronger it becomes. And that will make you a better marketer, and more confident to generate more and more business.

  Listed below are my top 12 proven ways to strengthen your marketing muscle. I realise you may find some of them challenging to undertake. That’s the whole point. If you don’t stretch your marketing muscle you wont improve it.

  Ready… knees bent…breathe in…

  Website:

  • Try running a few pay-per-click advertisements on Google (Google Adwords). It doesn’t cost very much at all. You will learn a lot, even if you don’t get an immediate flood of business.
  • Optimise the home page of your web site by fixing the page title, using a few descriptive headings, and sprinkling key words in appropriate places on the page.
  • Ask your typical customers what they think of using your web site. But don’t just ask. Run a low-cost user-test by having one person sit in front of a computer and navigate your site. Ask them to do a typical task at your site. Talk with them about how easy (or not) it was for them to do the task.

  Advertising:

  • Investigate an important customer niche market and find the main publication, website, or professional journal they read. Contact the publication and ask about their advertising options.

  Write an article:

  • Choose one topic that you know your potential customers will be interested in, related to the services you provide. Write a brief article of 500-600 words explaining how they should approach/manage the topic you selected. (This article is 750 words.) Include some useful action-oriented tips. Add the article to your web site. Email it to your contacts. Add it to one of the many online article directories so that other people can access it and publish it on their website.

  Speaking:

  • Approach your local business group, networking club, social group, or community group and ask if it would be possible for you to present a short talk to them. Pick a relevant topic that you can cover in the time they allow (usually 15-20 minutes would be enough).

  Selling:

  • Create a value-added offer and mention it during all your sales discussions over the next week. Don’t forget to tell your networking group as well, if you are a member of one.

  Public Relations:

  • Focus on one event you run, survey you conduct, or client success story you have, and write a media release around it. Focus on the people in the story. Include a photo – with people – if possible. Send that to appropriate publications and websites.

  Newsletter:

  • Start a newsletter. Make it monthly so you do not get overwhelmed. Decide on a few topics you can write about, then select one as the first subject. Even if you don’t have a large list of contacts. Make a start. Be sure to follow good email practices.

  Ask for a testimonial:

  • Contact previous clients and tell them you are updating your marketing material, and you are approaching them to get their feedback on how they found your service. Get the testimonials in writing, or write one for the client based on what they tell you. Be sure to ask if it is OK for you to use their words and name.

  Networking:

  • Meet with one person over coffee who offers a complementary service or product. Keep it casual. Get to know their business. Make sure you also explain how you help clients. Don’t expect an order from them. Discuss possible future opportunities with them as a referral or alliance partner.

  Promotion:

  • Create a one or two-page summary of your services and the benefits you offer. Don’t just list features, or your credentials. Include a testimonial or two. Use this document as the main follow up after you meet new people, or when contacting prospects. It is important to have it as a PDF document (not Word, Publisher or other program) so that you can send it via email and everyone can open it.

  

• 4:20

  Starbucks SWOT Analysis.

   » ‎ My Africa Today
  Strengths.
  
  * Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $600 million in 2004.The company generated revenue of more than $5000 million in the same year.
  * It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services. It has almost 9000 cafes in almost 40 countries.
  * Starbucks was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. The company is a respected employer that values its workforce.
  * The organization has strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement as follows, 'Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business.'
  
  Weaknesses.
  
  * Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time.
  * The organization has a strong presence in the United States of America with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. It is often argued that they need to look for a portfolio of countries, in order to spread business risk.
  * The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise.
  
  Opportunities.
  
  * Starbucks are very good at taking advantage of opportunties.
  * In 2004 the company created a CD-burning service in their Santa Monica (California USA) cafe with Hewlett Packard, where customers create their own music CD.
  * New products and services that can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products.
  * The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations. New markets for coffee such as India and the Pacific Rim nations are beginning to emerge.
  * Co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink, and brand franchising to manufacturers of other goods and services both have potential.
  
  Threats.
  
  * Who knows if the market for coffee will grow and stay in favour with customers, or whether another type of beverage or leisure activity will replace coffee in the future?
  * Starbucks are exposed to rises in the cost of coffee and dairy products.
  * Since its conception in Pike Place Market, Seattle in 1971, Starbucks' success has lead to the market entry of many competitors and copy cat brands that pose potential threats.
  
  'Starbucks' mission statement is 'Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow.' The following six guiding principles will help us measure the appropriateness of our decisions' more? Then go to Starbucks.
  
  Disclaimer: This case study has been compiled from information freely available from public sources. It is merely intended to be used for educational purposes only.Customize your mobile with your Complimentary Ringtone!

• 1:53

  How i love…

   » ‎ Me, Life & Everything
  I took this test as a curious Aegeus always would and these were the results. I trawled over earlier to Pillis and saw it… The Keys to Your Heart You are attracted to those who have a split personality - cold as ice on the outside but hot as fire in the heart.In love, you feel the [...]

• 0:03

  Anniversary & Errs

   » ‎ Memories, Sentiments, Rants and Raves
  Tomorrow, we hit the terrible twos. Hard to believe that its already been two years of blogging,blog-hoing, meet ups et al. First, Gish and i wish to thank all those who have taken time to comment and/or lurk. Secondly, we are ever so grateful to the friends we have made(anaa post). Thank you for taking time.
  
  I lashed out and hurt two people badly.Unfortunately both have no idea why they were treated the way they were.I have apologized to both and i pray that we can make up. The thought of losing their friendship is driving me nuts and makes me so sad. Aint no sunshine.
  
  AOB: The new Psys Westlands is looking good. Location, where Midas used to be Unga house.Happy weekend people.