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19:45
From: Kenya Imagine
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Hope this message finds you well. KenyaImagine has grown so much these past two months, that we are now compelled to carry out urgent improvements to our site to allow for the smooth functioning of the site. These repairs will be carried out today Thursday November 8th between 1200 GMT and 1400 GMT. The site should work fine for most people, and the technicians will do all they can to ensure they finish as fast as possible. Any urgent submissions can be emailed to the editors at editor@kenyaimagine.com. We are still on the lookout for more writers and for help with editing work, especially as we look forward to the delivery of the remodelled website at the end of the month. Thank you for your continued support. kenyaImagine board of editors.
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19:41
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
 Watch out which miracle you believe in. A UK court has ordered the extradiction of Kenyan born INFAMOUS miracle baby bishop Gilbert Deya. The court found the self-proclaimed bishop of Gilbert Deya Ministries has a case to answer in Kenya on five counts of child stealing between 1999 and 2004. But true to the Kenyan spirit of the rich playing games with the law, lawyers for Deya have already indicated they were going to appeal against the extradition order arguing that he was unfairly targeted and will appeal. Money can truly buy freedom and Kenyan government's attempt to have Mr Deya returned to face trial will definitely continue in British courts for months to come. Preys of the souls One lesson from this Deya circus though: WATCH THE MIRACLE YOU BELIEVE IN. And even more poignant this election season is WATCH who you associate with or who finances any of your itinerary. Afterall there exists what is referred to as GUILT BY ASSOCIATION. Any shameless defenders out there can mouth whatever they fancy but scoundrels whether in church or politics must be NAMED and SHAMED. Deya can run but he cannot hide. His claim to siring so many kids who were DNA disapproved cannot fool any dimwit unless he officially owns up to practicing PLURAL marriages aka polygamy. But can (will) he? No need to belabour that question and your guess is as good as mine. Church is many thing to different people with the common thread being PREYING INTO INDIVIDUAL INSECURITIES. Any other argument only amounts to engaging in self deception.
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14:22
From: AfriGadget
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One of the things that I find most interesting in my travels around Africa is the similar uses of technology to meet the varied demands of different types of mechanics and workers. The particular case I’ve been thinking over is the use of a simple frame and different engines to meet a specific need.
Many of the same components are used from one machine to the next. The fabricators know that each machine has a different use, but that the parts used to make them unique are not that many.
For instance, below is an image of a painting machine.
The painting machine has an engine, an air compressor and a tank for holding the compressed air.
I’ve seen the same setup, switching out the air compressor for a circular saw, water pump, or a generator. In the same way, the compressed air tank can be switched out for a larger fuel-holding tank or some other machinery that fits the specific need.
Below is an image of the same type of machine, this one with the same setup, except that the compressor is used for tire repair instead of painting.
Generally, the engine and the frame are the mainstay. The engines used are primarily Briggs & Stratton, the old workhorses of Africa, though I’ve seen Honda trying to make headway in this market lately as well.
The machinery setup is a good example of low-cost fabrication using a modular setup. All of the local fabricators tend to use the same frame setup so that they can mix and match with each others work.
More pictures on the AfriGadget Flickr Group.
[Update: I’m currently going through my archive of pictures and videos for more machines like this. If you have some pictures of these types of machines, please send them my way.]
Another example:
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13:13
From: You Missed This
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 That all is not well within the PNU election board was further confirmed a few hours ago when Njoki Ndungu suddenly tendered her resignation. But what was even stranger was the fact that the usually very open Ms Ndungu was tight lipped as to her reasons for resigning. Actually the PNU election board appears to have been hit by confusion right from the word go, because they started by appointing a man who had already been named to the ODM-K election board and the fact had been publicized widely in the media. Meaning that none of the folks making decisions bother to read the daily newspapers or catch the news bulletin on TV and radio. But why exactly has Ms Ndungu resigned? Read moreThe 5 most popular stories on Kumekucha Nov 8
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13:10
From: You Missed This
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I received this email from a trusted source. Phil, what do you make of it?Hi Chris. I’m hearing a rumour that Raila will switch at the last minute and run in Bondo and Oburu will step down. Can you try find out how real this is? Apparently I’m told that ODM have seen that it will not be possible for him to take Langata. Too many people have been registered in Langata who will vote Livondo or Waruinge. They say that ODM top brass are worried about what would happen should he win Presidential and lose his seat so they don’t want to take the risk. To give Raila a soft landing they want to use the Luo tradition 'chira' (deference to ones’ elders) in this case they will say that if Raila is president then Oburu cannot 'bow' down to him as in when in Parliament bowing to the Head of state. It’s a little weak don’y you think? But see if you can find out anything. Thanks. P.S. We'll know for sure on the 16th. The 5 most popular stories on Kumekucha Nov 8
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13:06
From: You Missed This
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 Chapter 30 Today I felt very nervous. The fear that I might die in Kenya, kept gnawing at me, making me unable to be focused. Whenever I tried to read my notes, go through my earlier testimony at Scotland Yard's Office in London, my mind chewed a lock. And my body tensed. Was I going to be safe? And being that Philipp's letter approving his travelling alongside me had not come yet - was it sensible to take chances? I walked into my study and started looking at some pictures on the wall. I saw a photo of the founding couple, Jomo and Mama Ngina Kenyatta. ..... decent people ..... I saw a picture of other friends - Grace and Bethwel Ogot. ..... fantastic people ..... Then a picture of Moi ...... I don't know that to think..... he could have been a wonderful President ..... a real Statesman ..... what has happened to the man I once knew and loved? Can I have been that wrong? When I meet him, I will let him know that is not too late to make things right. He can apologize to Christabel and to the nation. I even believe, Kenyans will forgive him. I will tell him that..... Finally, I looked at a picture of Sandra. She was wearing a sleeveless dark-blue evening dress. There was a soft chandelier handing slightly to the left making her long flowing hair shine like black ebony - she was stunningly beautiful - and like Dr. Mungai once said: like a cover girl on People Magazin.... Looking at Sandra's photo, I thought again about Moi. What would he say when he could see Sandra now? Would he still recognize the little girl he once knew? Would he be proud like me that she had fulfilled her childhood dream and really had become a Veterinary - a dream he had planted in her when they visited together the game parks in his beautiful country? I knew that Sandra was still hoping to be able... Read moreThe 5 most popular stories on Kumekucha Nov 8
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9:46
From: You Missed This
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 1. RAILA IS NOT A TEAM PLAYER Fact: The Moi team players were very successful (Moi team players = Goldenberg) The Kibaki team players have been mildly successful (Kibaki team players = Anglo Leasing) If team playing is Goldenberg or Anglo Leasing, then we need a presidential candidate who is not a team player. The "NO!" referendum campaign led by Odinga was a manifestation of the greatest team play in Kenya history. Who is not a team player? 2. RAILA'S ADVENTURES LED TO INNOCENT DEATHS IN 1982 Fact: The 1982 coup attempt was crushed. The 1952 Mau Mau insurrection was crushed. But the two events, though they led to the loss of many innocent lives led to a great dawn. August 1, 1982 should be looked at not as a ONE DAY aberration, but as a defining moment when arms were raised against the rape of a nation. It is time we stood proud and honoured the fallen heroes of 1982. The real villain was Moi and his "team". 3. RAILA CALLS EVERY SMALL INVESTOR A DRUG DEALER Fact: The Arturs are neither small, nor investors. The Arturs are thugs. The Arturs are con-men. The Arturs are mercenaries. It is a crime to even think of whitewashing the shame that is the Arturs. Let's identify these "small investors" by their true label. 4. RAILA IS A BRASH IMPATIENT MAN Fact: Every real Kenyan is impatient, quick & decisive. That is why foreign companies prefer employing Kenyans in their subsidiary companies in Uganda , Tanzania , etc. We don't want a leader who sleeps even while "his wife romps at night, trading punches with journalists in the newsrooms." 5. RAILA WILL LEAD KENYA INTO A RWANDA AND A CONGO Fact: The Mt Kenya's Mungiki ... Nyachae's Red Shukas, etc. This the kind of stuff that leads to a Rwanda or a Congo . Raila has a national following. He does not need a militia. And Kenyans are too wise to allow their country to degenerate into an anarchy. LEST WE FORGET ... Section 2A, the constitutional amendment that made Kenya a "legal" one party dictatorship was passed in 1982. Charles Njonjo proposed it in Parliament. Mwai Kibaki seconded the infamous motion. Who is the real anti-democrat? VOTE WISELY!!!!
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9:01
From: Kenyan Pundit
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Bitange Ndemo and Nesbitt of Kencall are featured. Click here to watch.
AOB: Rising Voices has announced their second round of grant funding of up to $5,000 for citizen media outreach projects…”Ideal applicants will present innovative and detailed proposals to teach citizen media techniques to communities that are poorly positioned to discover and [...]
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8:13
From: For Love and Money
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In October 2006, Netflix offered a prize for a computer system that will accurately predict their customers preferences better than their current system. Netfilx, the largest online DVD rental service, is offering a tidy sum of $1 million for a 10% improvement over their system of predicting whether a customer will like a movie given their previous DVD selections. By the last count, the leading contender offered a 8.46% improvement over Netflix's system. With over 27,000 contestants in more than 22,000 teams spread across 163 different countries, Netfix has received 19,073 valid submissions from 2,636 different teams.  As an innovator, I can't over-emphasise the edge this country has over the rest of the world when it comes to innovation. Time's magazine 2007 innovation of the year, the iPhone, just goes to show the lead the US has over other nations. While the iPhone may seem like an obvious design for a cell phone, the electronic engineers at Apple are the ones who took the honours of developing such a revolutionary product. And then there is Boeing's dreamliner airplane which is sold-out and on back-order way before it's debut even though they are fallen back on delivery because of supply chain issues with their partners. For this reason, the US will continue to dominate other countries in every aspect because of the edge that they have when it comes to technology which is the key driver of capital in today's world. It's no surprise therefore that there are organizations like Netflix and wealthy individuals like Sir Richard Branson who are offering cash rewards for innovative ideas. Call it a market place of ideas, if you will. More than ever, creative minds are being rewarded generously for offering workable solutions to the many problems that firms face.  One such place where you can find cash rewards in return for innovative ideas is InnoCentive. Instead of companies making an investment in researching solutions, they are now auctioning their problems in an open market place whereby skilled individuals can use their resources and time to come up with viable solutions. It is sort of like outsourcing of research and development without the loss of intellectual property by the firms. The InnoCentive concept seeks to bring together a community of engineers, scientists, inventors, and business people with expertise in life sciences, engineering, chemistry, math, computer science, and entrepreneurship to solve some of the world's toughest challenges. In return, those who offer the winning solution get to pocket cash rewards ranging from $5,000 to as high as $1,000,000. The innovation market place is divided into six categories, namely: Physical Sciences, Engineering and Design, Chemistry, Math and Computer Science, Life Sciences and finally Business and Entrepreneurship. I've had a peek at some of the listings and I think I could attempt solving one or two but I will not because it will involve the use of resources at my place of work which will be in contravention to my terms of employment. Browsing through some of the problems like the one seeking reduce the total sugar content in fillings for baked products shows that you do not have to have specialized training to participate. A reward of $40,000 awaits anyone who comes up with food ingredient(s) and/or processes capable of reducing total sugar content while maintaining taste and texture in sweet fillings. No offence, but I can see this problem being solved by a stay at home housewife who has good baking skills and not necessarily an experienced food technologist. Knowing how bad the cakes and candies are in America, I believe someone from outside the US holds the solution to this challenge. Registration to the site is a prerequisite for those seeking to take on the many challenges posted in the website. I am yet to register but I am certain this is one website firms and learning institutions in the emerging world should be looking at with a view to winning some of the awards. The same is also applicable to students with access to resources in learning institutions whereby they can attempt to solve some of these challenges.  As someone who's bread is buttered by innovation, every year when I visit Kenya, I make a point of meeting professors and lecturers in Kenyan universities to discuss with them ways of partnering and provide a linkage to non-monetary resources from the US. To say that their overall response has been disappointing is an understatement. Instead they prefer to get handouts which they will misappropriate for their own personal use. This year I made a decision not to bother with them and instead to leave them to wallow in their own ignorance. I have since cancelled my plans of taking a sabbatical to Kenya because of the poor reception I have received. Surprisingly even the university students back home have the same attitude and out of the many students I have spoken to only one graduate student has contacted me seeking solutions for their research. Like I have said before, the answers to our problems are neither debt cancellation, aid nor trade. Innovation is the key to our economic prosperity. Failure to do so, our other hope is the manufacturing sector. Only if we build, will we attract the capital that we yearn for. Until then, Vision 2030 is just but hot air coming from the rear ends of Kenyan politicians and their corrupt hanger-ons.
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7:51
From: White African
Read This Entry & More At White African
Two quick updates.
OLPC
First, the One Laptop Per Child project is finally in production. Better yet, if you would like one yourself, starting next week (Nov 12) you can get one yourself through their “Give 1 Get 1” initiative. I actually think I’ll be doing this.
The BOBs
This is your last week to vote on “The Best of Blogs“. It looks like there’s a number of African blogs in there now too, so it’s good to see that there was a lot of activity over the last month.
The nominated blogs include two from Africa:
 
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7:50
From: You Missed This
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 President Mwai Kibaki is all set to unveil the PNU manifesto this Saturday at Uhuru Park grounds at 14h00. The PNU secretariat in the Hurlingham area is reportedly a hive of activity preparing for the big day. While the common man, prospective investors and even the members of the opposition will want to follow events keenly in order to get the real message from the organisers of function, it is almost customary that the state broadcaster KBC, the Presidential Press Service as well as the other private ‘state broadcaster’ Citizen Media will go to great lengths with day long live broadcasts so as give the event maximum publicity on the multitudes that are sure to be transported to the venue from all corners of the country.
As a political group that has on record having borrowed and adopted revolutionary ideas from the visions of opposition leaders like Kalonzo (ODM-K) and Raila (ODM), it will be interesting to see what fresh proposals the highly paid technocrats at state house will come up with on the PNU manifesto. More importantly, the manifesto must explain how complex issues that the NARC regime failed to implement will be satisfactorily implemented in the final 5 year term of President Kibaki’s regime.
The PNU must stay away from 'building castles in the air' and instead make pledges that will make many an insecure, poverty and disease stricken Kenyan a real hope towards enjoying life on the average like their counterparts in several other sub-Saharan Africa countries. Kenya, like most of third world countries, is far behind in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals with the world having passed the halfway mark to the deadline set in 2000. The much hyped Vision 2030, so far a 'paper project', is more than a good two decades away and even its implementation remains subject to conducting feasibilibity and environmental impact studies, before identifying willing investors and commencing construction. For instance, five years ago, proposals for mega projects like the Lamu free port upgrade, Mombasa - Western Kenya dual carriageway and the South Sudan Railway Link were initially started with much gusto only for NARC MOU politics, corruption and government incompetence to torpedo these development plans. These failures have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Kenyans.
One also hopes that overzealous and unsecure members of the GNU will not misuse the platform of unveiling of the PNU manifesto to throw unpalatable insults at opposition leaders or their parties. While it is quite normal to campaign for a preferred candidate, it is absolutely irresponsible and a serious diplomatic gaffe for a member of government to publicly hurl imagined accusations at members of the diplomatic corps more so at a presidential function.
Indeed, PNU affiliate party leaders will be expected to read mature political speeches and at the same time display a sense of purpose and unity amongst themselves while assuring their own sceptical supporters that all is well within the Party of National Unity even as they struggle to face the nightmare of joint political parties’ nominations. The world is watching!
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7:46
From: Afromusing
Read This Entry & More At Afromusing
From ApproVideo
The video by Ben Craft shows a small hydro power plant that generates electricity for a community near Chuka. As noted in the video, power generation of this kind helps with the Infrastructure problem we have in Kenya, particularly in rural areas.
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3:42
From: RIBA CAPITAL
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TRANSCENTURY INVESTMENT COMPANY PRIVATE PLACEMENT REVEALED :  This deal Values the company @ Kes: 16.95Bn Trans –Century was incorporated in 1997 as an investment club of a few friends. TCL’s investments portfolio currently include a majority interest in EA Cables Ltd through the Cables Holding Kenya Ltd., a majority interest in Avery East Africa Ltd., minority interests in Kenya Power and Lighting Company, Equity Bank, Development Bank of Kenya and Rift Valley Railways. TCL is also an active private equity and venture capital fund investor, participating as a limited partner in the Aureos East Africa Fund, Aureos China Fund, Aureos South Asia Fund, the Helios Investors Fund and the Business Partners International SME Kenya Fund. TCL also has other minority positions in Nairobi Stock Exchange and the Uganda Securities Exchange. Private Placement Offer:
The main objective of this offer is to raise additional equity capital to finance TCL’s upcoming investment. Investment instrument:New ordinary shares of TCL ranking pari-passau to existing shares. Number of shares offered: 4,213,500 shares representing 17.7% of the company. Price:Ksh.712.00 per share. Minimum Investment:The minimum investment per investor is Kes: 335 Million (US$ 5 Million). The board of TCL reserve the right to accept lower amounts. Primary offer size: The total offer size is for 4,213,500 shares representing a percentage of 17.7% in the company at Kshs. 3 billion (US$ 45 Million) inequity subscription in the company. Green shoe Option: The shareholders have made available an additional 421,300 shares should there be an oversubscription in the private placement as a Green Shoe. The total shares offered by the existing shareholders for sale through Green shoe represent 2.1% of their existing shareholding. The existing shareholders will only offer their shares for sale if the primary offer is fully taken up and then only to a maximum of 421,300 shares. Entitlement to Dividend:The new shares will be entitled to any dividend that may be declared in respect in respect of the financial year ending 31 December 2007. SHAREHOLDERSShare holder__________ Director__% ShareholdingJames Mungai Gachui_______Yes_____8.4% Peter Tirus Kanyago________Yes____ 7.6% Michael Gitau Waweru______No______6.3% Zephaniah Gitau Mbugua____Yes_____6.1% Edward Njoroge___________No______6.0% Ndung’u Gathinji___________No______5.9% Jimnah Mbaru_____________No______5.8% Ephraim Kareithi Njogu_____ No______5.0% Stephen N. Waruhiu________No______4.7% Peter Mbogua_____________No______4.6% Total Shareholding ______________60.4%
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3:30
From: Black Looks
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This is the last week to vote on the Best of the Blogs award and there are two blogs on Africa on the nomination list:
Actualités de la république démocratique du Congo for Best Weblog in French
and
Diário de um sociólogo from Mozambique for Best Weblog in Portuguese
Click here to vote
Afrosphere Blog, Black Women [...]
Read the complete article at
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