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18:36
From: Words Much Like Poetry
Read This Entry & More At Words Much Like Poetry
i cannot remember when last
i was as that which is capricious
and plays upon life's gentle wind,
far too long have i been weighted down
by that which seems my constant and faithful companion.
misery, how good you have been to me,
never have you failed me,
never have you abandoned me.
even during moments
which should stand radiant in my mind,
you were there.
the day i wed,
whispered you to me lovingly
of the woes love would bring.
the birth of son,
the birth of daughter,
through those moments of glorious pain
and exhausting relief,
whispered you to me,
hand stroking with soft pulls
my sweat soaked hair,
of the hardships that i would face,
poverty stricken as i was.
misery, o misery
how you cherish me.
so well have you kept your heavy shadow
cast upon me,
offering me your malcontent,
nurturing my ever present fears
for future unknown.
and misery, sweet misery,
how i cherish you as much as you cherish me.
embraced you wholeheartedly have i,
allowed you to make of me
the desolate creature that i am,
permitted you to lay waste my precious dreams,
listened to you, as in adoring croon
you told me how naught would come of me,
how i needn't even try
for all my efforts
would fall miserably short of success.
o misery, dear misery,
do not dare leave me.
you are all that i know,
without you i would be happy,
and what is happiness but a blissfully ignorant state
where dwell fools and children.
no misery, you are well deserved,
wretched was i in my youth,
frivolous and abundantly shallow,
i called you to me.
and in your answer i found that which i sought,
that which i required,
that which would allow me to accept the shambles
i had made of my life.
in your sad song, o misery,
sweet misery, dear misery,
my misery,
i found apathy,
and it is this gift and only this gift
which devotes me so cruelly to you.
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18:24
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
…….part 2…… The following takes place in private at statehouse between 10 am and 11 am two days after the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee stalled to reach a political settlement on the December general post election crisis Raila: (bluntly, sounding edgy) look Stanley, this is getting us nowhere… we are going round in circles and it is frustrating Kibaki: (sighing wearily) I know Amolo; I’ve got the UN, AU, EU and USA bullying on me, but I’ve told them not to make the mistake of putting a gun at my head… Raila: (interrupting)…..then prove to the foreigners you can share - I want to be a prime minister with 2 deputies and we want powers and duties in a grand coalition government where we get to share cabinet positions Kibaki: (scowling) ehhhh, have you forgotten? I have already proved once before that I can form a government of national unity, and I even included the opposition KANU into my government… I could do it again but this time…. Raila: (interrupting, speaking in a dark tone) look, I want a quick solution to resolve this issue. We cannot keep talking forever Suddenly a door partly opens and a full hand clothed in pyjamas inserts itself into the room. The hand, which is lady-like in appearance, smartly makes the gesture of a slap-like motion in the air. As suddenly as the door opens it closes and the hand withdraws and disappears behind the door Raila: (puzzled) who or what was that? Kibaki: (oblivious) what are you talking about? Raila (sounding a little scared) it was like a scene I saw once from that Rambo movie… Kibaki: (now sounding nervous) hiyo usijali….. silence Kibaki: (sounding thoughtful) if you become prime minister, how will all 3 of you be removed from office? In 12…..err….11 months the office will fall vacant when we enact a review….err….new constitution Raila: (sounding decisive) no, these three offices should only fall vacant if and when the grand coalition fails …you know, kama kazi haiendelei Kibaki: (suddenly smiling upon hearing his party slogan) yes, kazi iendele! Kazi iende…. Raila: (scowling, angrily interrupting)…..Kibaki tosha! Chungwa ni moja usinisahau mimi… Kibaki: (suddenly serious) what about my vision? You know I want the economy to grow and the country to achieve 7-8% GDP till 2030 Raila:(slyly) you know, our economy cannot survive political turmoils any longer, and.....
Kibaki: (interrupting, sounding worried) ....wacha! i know Kenya will overcome the current political challenges and get back on the track of development Raila (continuing slyly) all Kenya needs from you is the political will and in no time we shall have a speedy resolution to this crisis Kibaki: (distracted, thinking silently to himself......what time is it? Kikwete my agemate is soon coming for tea and i am feeling thirsty) Raila: (thinking to himself....what time is it?i need to sambazza Nyong'o some credit to sms Balala that the date of those mass actions has changed from 29th to 28th February) ........part 3......
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17:16
From: Farmgal
Read This Entry & More At Farmgal
Why did you pick her?
Why did you pretend to love her?
Why did you lie you loved her more than life?
Why did you go and break her heart?
Why are you still fighting?
Why even when you been caught with your pants down?
Why you trying to make it out like she’s lying?
Why are you pretending to be who [...]
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14:24
From: Eyes on Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Eyes on Kenya
As we previously reported, the 27th of February is an international day of of public and online action in solidarity with the people of Kenya and to call on the Kenyan government to protect people from politically-motivated and ethnic violence.
Amnesty International is organizing streets demonstrations in the following locations on 27 February. Turn up and show your support…
Africa
Kampala, Uganda, 12:30 pm, Kololo Airstrip, corner of Wampewo Rd and Upper Kololo Terrace. A joint action with Amnesty International and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project.
Americas
Washington DC, USA, 4:30-6:30pm, 27 February, - outside the Kenyan Embassy, 2249 R. Street N.W in Dupont Circle
Denver, Colorado, USA, (the sister city of Nairobi, Kenya), 6pm, 27 February, West Steps of the Capitol - Candlelight Vigil for the People of Kenya: Support Human Rights and Peace Now! [Please Bring a Flashlight or Lighter]
Los Angeles, USA, 4:30 pm, 27 February, Vigil at the Kenyan Consulate, Park Mile Plaza, Mezzanine Floor, 4801 Wilshire Boulevard
Montevideo, Uruguay, 27 February, 6.30 pm, Rambla Rep. Argentina
Mexico City, Mexico, 27 February, 18.00 - 21.00, outside Mexico City Cultural Centre [a vigil, 3 African bands and a slideshow of photos from Kenya]
Ottawa, Canada, 27 February, 4.00pm, High Commission of the Republic of Kenya, 415 Laurier Avenue East - intersection of King Edward and Laurier
Asia-Pacific
Melbourne, Australia, 6pm, Parliament House steps, East Melbourne, join us for a vigil with our message calling to: PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF KENYA
Canberra, Australia, 1pm, in front of the Kenyan Embassy, QBE Building, 33-35 Ainslie St, Civic Square. We will be writing letters to the Kenyan government in solidarity with the Kenyan people to bring an end to the violence.
Brisbane, Australia, 4pm, Reddacliffe Place, George St, Brisbane, join us for a vigil to reach out to Kenya, and have a look at our giant hand!
Europe
London, UK, 17:00 to 19:00 pm, outside the Kenyan Embassy, 45 Portland Place, W1B 1AS
Belfast, UK, 28 February, 6:30pm, Club Rooms 3 and 4, Queens University Belfast Student Union, University Road
Berlin, Germany, 27 February, 17.30 -19.30, Kenyan Embassy, MARKGRAFENSTR.63
Netherlands - events are planned in Haarlem, Rijswijk, Hoorn, Harmelen/Leidsche Rijn and Amsterdam, please contact Amnesty International’s Netherlands section for more information.
  
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11:41
From: More to Life
Read This Entry & More At More to Life
... from mine own heart - about Kenya.
The talks failing is as important to me as about nothing. I'm more concerned with the choices the individual Kenyans are going to make. Each single Kenyan. Each individual. And why do I care about this? For the only part of me that is human and that has relatives in that country. beyond which, I've moved on. Kenya doesn't want my type, I've accepted that rejection. Given a choice, I've left. But not everyone who wants to respond to the rejection this way has this option. Some are still there. And they are in danger. They will be victims of further violence, should the actual Kenyans choose to engage in the acts we all saw them engage in recently.
Yes, I speak as a kikuyu. But as far as these recent events go, we've all had to face who we are in terms of tribe. With the entire distance of oceans between me and my home country, I have suffered rejection like I could never explain to anyone. What's happening to my emotions is exactly how I respond to rejection. I move, I leave, I let go. I don't force love/like on me. I'm sure there are going to be very many different reactions to Kenya from kikuyus but I bet you that each individual reaction is going to be related to how that person responds to rejection in their general everyday life. Life is hard enough without having to live in a country that detests or resents your very DNA.
I am shocked at what birth rights do to you. I am amazed at just how wounded being rejected by your own country can feel. Even for people like me who aren't in it as we get rejected by it. And I shudder to think about what people with actual property losses and family members killed are feeling. It's hard to get to the angry part. Just trying to get through the shock and the hurt is effort enough. And seeking safe havens, in our minds and in physical premises. That's absolutely consuming. It's the feeling of absolute rejection. I guess it can only be compared to being rejected by your own parents, has to do with rights accorded to you by birth.
I know how often I wondered how tutsis ever were supposed to get over what hutus had done to them in Rwanda. But I didn't know what it felt like. And I said they just had to move on, what choice did they have? And as much as I wasn't wrong, I just had no idea what magnitude of overcoming human emotion I was asking of them with the move on, comment. How is it you go on around people who CAN kill you for being what you were born into? Who resent you for faults of people who were born from the same tribe, true or perceived, and some way before you were ever born? And not give any thought that you see their resentment as misguided anger at other things and self trade to abuse by politicians? How do you trade with these people? Worship? eat, drink? Do you ever feel safe again? I'm not going to push it to trust, no. What do you do? Put a smile on your face and fake it? Do you ever travel outside of your safe havens again? Do you flee never to return? Because it's much easier to be an outcast in a foreign nation than in your own.
I feel almost guilty to be away from Kenya as it rejects my type. For as much as I haven't been maimed or killed, I haven't been spared for anything I did right or different. The only reason I haven't been killed is because I wasn't unfortunate enough to have my life circumstances lead me into the arms of an angry mob that was hacking my kind to death. So what those people have gone through, I have to. I am as safe as my distance from these so called angry mobs.
That's why my only concern is as to what the choices the individual Kenyan is going to make are.
Because if Koffi Anan, Kibaki and Odinga never agree, but no one ever takes a machete to another human being, I will be ok.
But if they agree and make friends and wine and dance together, and yet 10 idiots take machetes, petrol bombs and whatever and attack another innocent family, then nothing will have been achieved.
And for those who want to argue with me about how kikuyus have stolen every one's money that's why they need to go, die or whatever other term is inserted here; could they refrain from doing this while they or their non kikuyu parents own BMWs, several residential properties and other significant investments. Because if they want to make their point that kikuyus are obstructing wealth for other tribes, they need then to show me evidence that they once converted to kikuyus, got wealthy, then reconverted out. Otherwise, their points are moot. And if everyone who was being told they are poor for not being kikuyu could engage in this thought process, they might ask how comes their inciters were rich whilst not kikuyu. And perhaps that might entice them to seek the many micro finance loans available and loans for women and youth as choices against machetes in search of a better future.
As Kenyans get incited back to the streets, recall that the MPs are receiving a huge paycheck at the end of the month. Are you? Or did you potentially just burn your previous workplace? Look how the choices you make are affecting you. And consider that many inciting this violence are inciting it through media as they go on about their lives in other countries. Or in their all important jobs while you, the poor, I need every dime I can lay my hands on, person is converted to a robot and used as a means to an end by the wealthy with bigger agendas.
That's the overall simplicity of this extremely difficult situation, the way I see it.
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11:37
From: White African
Read This Entry & More At White African
The mobile applications space is getting more attention each day. Ken Banks has written up a good piece, in which he applies the long-tail theory to mobile applications in areas like Africa.
Finally, we’re left with the simple, low-tech, appropriate technology solutions with great opportunities for rapid, hassle-free replicability among grassroots NGOs, represented in green. These projects generally get the lowest level of publicity, if any, since few have an international profile of any kind. Notoriously hard to communicate with, and with little or no money, it’s perhaps no surprise that most of the attention on the long tail is elsewhere.
What Ken is getting at is an important concept, one that too many of us forget as we generally have access to the more powerful phones. Whether it’s dealing with NGO-related initiatives, or traditional business projects, we need to be reminded that creating platforms for the lowest common denominator will have the greatest impact in the shortest amount of time.
Interestingly enough, we see this with an application that is “big” in the West: Twitter. It’s a simple concept based on 140-character SMS messaging and a simple way to share and follow communications by others. Of course, they’ve added additional web and email functionality to it, but the base concept is so simple it’s almost painful.
When we apply these same thoughts to Africa, what do we get? Unfortunately, not that much (yet). The top three that come to mind are Ken Banks with his FrontlineSMS tool for non-profits utilizing basic SMS services, Wizzit a South African mobile banking solution that uses USSD, and Manobi that offers market and trading information for Senegalese farmers.
The good news is that we’re only scratching the surface. I hope that more tech savvy developers will create applications that work at the end of the long-tail, there’s a lot of people just in Africa waiting for better mobile services.
Further resources:
 
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10:41
From: What An African Woman Thinks
Read This Entry & More At What An African Woman Thinks
Speaking of prayer: I wrote a post about the response of the Church in Kenya to the unfolding political situation some many weeks ago and then didn’t post it. Can’t find it now so I’ll try a do over. A couple of days after the chaos started, I received a text message from one of the leaders in my church community. It reported that Church leaders in Nairobi had met and had decided to take a four-pronged approach to addressing the situation that arose out of the disputed election. Four sub-committees were formed to oversee each of these approaches. There is a Spiritual Committee that deals with rallying Christians to prayer and fast. Behind the scenes, away from view, there's a great deal of prayer going on. There are plans for overnight prayer all over Nairobi on 29th of February and a week of fasting for Christians thereafter. Early in January, there was a praying meeting at All Saints Cathedral where Church leaders from different ethnic communities across Kenya came together repenting for the sins of their respective communities and asking forgiveness from one another on behalf of their communities. I did not make it to this prayer meeting, but some who went told me it was an extraordinary time. There is also a Social Response Committee that deals with the emergency response and rallying Christians to show compassion to their neighbours during this crisis. Out of this has come the Msafara, the caravan of hope that will see several Pastors from various denominations traveling Kenya spreading the message of hope and providing vital supplies even as they preach peace and hope to wananchi. Then there’s the Political Committee whose role is to try to influence leaders on either side of the political divide to act for the good of all Kenyans. You saw some of their efforts early in January as they made statements on behalf of the Church to Kibaki and Raila. Recently, a group of church leaders appeared on television asking for forgiveness from Kenyans for not having risen above the ethnic divide in the days leading up to the election and in the early days of the post election crisis. That, I think, was exemplary. Anyone who had just even one eye groggily open could clearly see the divisions within the Church in the beginning. I think it was an act of courage to come forth and say, we've done bad, we should have known better, we will do better going forward. And there’s the Communications Committee whose aim is to spread a positive message through the media and beyond and to influence the tenor of the media message. I’m afraid I’m less familiar with the activities of this committee than I should be. I understand Pastor Gowi Odera is one of the people responsible for its activities. On 14th of February, he and his wife were interviewed by Julie Gichuru of NTV about what their experience has been in their interethnic marriage at a special event organized by Kenya’s Fashion Community to raise funds for those affected by the post election violence. I don't know if this was part of the strategy or was just a coincidence. Still, I think it's interesting to see that the church is determined to be proactive even in this respect. One of the most memorable times we have had recently was at the a dinner hosted by Life Ministry for Christian leaders in Kenya at which Victor Koh from Singapore told the amazing story of Singapore’s journey to become a successful first world nation in just one generation. Those of you who’ve read “From Third World to First World: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000" by Lee Kuan Yew will be familiar with this story. In the midst of all the doom and gloom, the excitement, the sense of possibility was palpable. The venue was filled to overflowing and makeshift arrangements had to be made to accommodate guests over and above the numbers that had been anticipated. From a Kenyan perspective, the Singapore story does sound somewhat incredulous so along with all the excitement was an accompanying sense of “you’ve got to be kidding me, how now?” as well. And there was a great deal of debate around tables and on serving queues about where exactly Singapore went right and where we went wrong. Those were interesting discussions to listen in on and participate in. Because once upon a time, circa 1976 or so, Kenya and Singapore were at par. And that’s hard to swallow. Whereas the presentation by Victor Koh was thought-provoking, the ensuing discussion was the most uplifting part of the evening for me as it reminded me what brilliant thinkers we have within the Christian community in Kenya and what potential that portends. One comment I took away with me, although I forgot the name of the gentleman who made it, was that equity is more, much more than redistribution of resources. According to him, we will know we have achieved true justice when a crime by a rich man always attracts the same penalty as the same crime committed by a poor man. He may have been inspired in part by Victor Koh’s description of how corruption and white collar crime is dealt with in Singapore, but I suspect that he’d been ruminating on this for some time before. It stopped me in my tracks, it did, because it forced me to look at an old term in a new way. In many ways, then, I think the story of the Church in Kenya mirrors the Christian narrative, what we might call the Pilgrim’s Progress. We’re far from perfect, and we’re painfully aware of that, but we try our best. Sometimes, oftentimes even, we stumble and fall, but when we do, we struggle to get up and determine to continue to forge ahead. That’s all a Pilgrim can do. Most importantly though, there are Christians all over Kenya praying fervently for this country at this time in our history. In some ways, I think that it is these prayers that have kept the bottom from giving way under us. So if you’re one of those who’s been praying, don’t give up just yet. For more, read what one of my favourite Pastor's has to say here. And yes, I'm an unabashed promoter of his blog. Also see the Msafara Blog.It's my window, but I don't own the view.
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9:38
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Koffi Annan has officially suspended mediation talks. The charade that has been fashioned as mediation between PNU and ODM has forced Kofi Annan to officially suspend the talks. Livid Annan could not stand the deception any more and has called the mediators bluff.
To avert immediate OUTRAGE, Annan has promised to seek direct and personal support of the chief protagonists in Kibaki and Raila. That is akin to hanging HOPE by a bare thread. Mediation talks officially dead. Back to square one. So here we are folks staring abyss and a boiling brimstone behind us. Behind Anna's DIPLOSPEAK hides a smouldering mortar. When it explodes is a matter of time and not if. Tic tok tic tok.........
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9:21
From: bankelele
Read This Entry & More At bankelele
Kenya’s’ largest bank is first out of the door with year end announcement for what is expected to be a record profit yearColdtusker used to run a financial gaffes, column and all the news outlets went with Barclays reported growth of 9% in pre-tax profits, when it was actually 7% (to about $101 million) from 2006. The dividend was the same at 2006, you can expect good results in years to come, when the expansion pays offs (not in 2007 where expenses grew faster than income (37% to 24%). They threw all their funds into loans - up 43% in 2007; compare these results to 2005-06 when assets and loans were up 13% apiece. Another news gaffe goes to the Standard who referred to a company called Centrum in their Saturday newspaper report on ICDCI’s name change to Centum Investments. The name confusion will continues for ex-ICDCI as long as spell checks are used.
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8:51
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
It is increasingly seeming like my worst fears will be confirmed, and the Annan mediation talks will become a long road to nowhere.
Frustrated as we are, I think it is important for us as Kenyans to keep trying to find ways to wrest the fate of our country from these two power-hungry individuals. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ways to help keep the peace in Kenya", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=463" });
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8:17
From: Kenya Imagine
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Although the government has come in for the most severe vilification for its insistence that any resolution to the current crisis be concluded within the framework of the Constitution of Kenya, all indications are that the government is justified in its reluctance. The government's position is informed by the current Constitution, the rule of law, and by the conventions and political culture in America. Read more from Muciimi Mbatia here.
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8:15
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
On the 22nd of February, the Minister for Local Government, Uhuru Kenyatta, declined to gazette Ms. Esther Passaris as a duly nominated Councillor for the ODM. The decision has led to a furore, and worse. The crisis in Nairobi, which along with Nakuru have failed to agree on a head of their local government authorities pits the Local Government Minister against the interests of sections of the councillors and the national political parties. Discussion in an open thread here.
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8:11
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has announced his increasing frustration at the inability of the two sides in Kenya's crisis talks to come to a mutually agreeable compromise. The New York Times reports Annan saying, "After four hours of intense negotiations this morning, the negotiating team made almost no progress toward reaching an agreement on governance, despite the fact that they were given the entire weekend to consult on their positions.......I had to conclude that they were not capable of resolving the outstanding issues." Aides close to Annan said he was running out of patience and that he was unlikely to stay long in Kenya. Read more here.
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8:09
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
A few years ago my favourite song sported the refrain "I am not my hair...". This song I loved not because it made profound musical sense to me or added any excitement to a night of vigorous dancing, but because it said, in words simpler that I could ever have thought sufficient, what I had been trying to say my whole life: "I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations (oh!)..." Read more from L. Akitelek Papakemus here.
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7:49
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
PNU and ODM Reluctantly Return To The Negotiating TableMost folks believe that history is pretty boring. And yet history never disappoints the researcher looking for answers to current problems. I am a researcher always looking for answers to current questions from history and I recently came across the following gem. The Special Branch was formally created in 1952 mainly to help deal with the Mau Mau uprising. It acted as a secret intelligence unit for the colonial government. And guess what? What finished Mau mau was not the superior fire power. It was good intelligence from the Special Branch. The reason why this information was a gem to me is because when the current mess is finally sorted out one of the things that will need to be looked at is the role played by the NSIS (National Security Intelligence Service) and especially the role of its’ Director General, one Major Gen, Michael Gichangi. Historians will not fail to note that it was during Gichangi’s watch as “principal advisor to the president and the government of the Republic of Kenya on matters related to national security and intelligence” that the biggest political crisis in the history of East Africa unfolded in the country. Fascinating tit bits about what the 49 year old did and more importantly what he did not do are beginning to emerge. Read more
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7:37
From: Eyes on Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Eyes on Kenya
According to a press release from the International Medical Corps (IMC), Kenya could face a serious food shortage and subsequent large-scale malnutrition in the coming year if insecurity persists. International Medical Corps (IMC) is concerned that a shortage of maize production during 2008 and long-term displacement could severely affect the nutritional status, general health, and livelihood of the displaced as well as that of the general population. According to the Kenyan Red Cross almost 270,000 displaced are currently living in camps. A similar number is thought to be living with host families. Most of the forcibly displaced have not only lost their homes and belongings but also their economic base, which was destroyed in the violence.
“At the moment we are mainly concerned about the well-being of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five years old in the camps and among the host community,” says Kristi Ladd, International Medical Corps Nutrition Specialist and advisor to the emergency response team. “These groups are most likely to be the first to show signs of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. We must have a screening and support system in place to detect malnutrition and start further interventions.”
The current situation demands continued nutritional and food security monitoring to enable aid agencies to anticipate threats and catch cases of wasting and other indications of malnutrition early on. Health providers must coordinate with agencies currently distributing food to make sure that at-risk patients are identified and are receiving supplementary food if necessary.
International Medical Corps will implement a multi-tiered approach and incorporate nutritional services into its ongoing primary health care programs. The moderately malnourished will be provided with supplemental food. Severely malnourished patients will receive ready-to-use-therapeutic-food (RUTF) either at IMC facilities or in community-based programs. International Medical Corps may also support existing facilities and government referral hospitals to ensure that malnourished patients receive the necessary care.
A Long-Term Problem
According to preliminary assessments by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Kenyan farmers are already far behind in soil preparation. In the fertile Rift Valley, post-election violence forced at least 180,000 to flee their homes — more than half of the total displaced population in the country — many of them small holdings owners or farm workers. The area, normally producing about 70 percent of Kenya’s maize crop, is still gripped in an uneasy truce between hostile communities.
With the beginning of the planting season just weeks away, many farmers will not be able to return to their plots in time. In conversations with the displaced, International Medical Corps learned that many crop growers also saw their remaining harvest stolen and their land now being farmed by members of rival groups. This development could further worsen community relations and make it unlikely that the forcibly displaced will be able to return and catch up with the planting season, which usually starts in March.
“More and more factors are emerging that threaten to prolong the humanitarian crisis in Kenya, and food insecurity is one of them,” says Edi Cosic, International Medical Corps Director of Emergency Response. “Kenyans might need our support in more sectors and for a longer period of time than initially anticipated.”
Media reports quote a joint report soon to be released by the U.N and US Agency for International Development (USAID), anticipating that 100,000 hectares may not be cultivated for the March rainy season and estimating losses of 300,000 tons of various crop harvests.
Displaced and Host Communities Affected
Most likely, increased food insecurity and malnourishment will not only affect the displaced but also the population as a whole, particularly the urban slum dwellers and households that have taken in displaced family members. The complete loss of their economic base puts significant pressure on host families, which often have to get by with a marginal amount of food while also having more mouths to feed.
The violence has also increased transport and farm supply costs, sharply raising wholesale and retail prices. The very poor and less mobile, in particular, feel the effect of rising prices.
[...]
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6:41
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
Please let us introduce the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, one of America ’s leading programs supporting new writing for the stage. Based in Sundance, Utah (with offices in Los Angeles, California), as part of the Sundance Institute (www.sundance.org), its mission is to identify and assist emerging theatre artists, to reinvigorate the creative energies of established [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Opportunity for theatre artistes in East Africa", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=462" });
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6:08
From: Memories, Sentiments, Rants and Raves
Read This Entry & More At Memories, Sentiments, Rants and Raves
The Rules:
- Link to the person that tagged you.
- Post the rules on your blog.
- Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
- Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
- Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
Moja: Iam my own ms.Fix-it literally and actually enjoy it sadly i cant wash my own hair properly so have to go to a salon.
Mbili: I am get along with men very easily, as a result 99% of my friends are male.This is good and not so good at times esp when dating.
Tatu: I don't know how to ask for help as well as depend on someone. I prefer to handle my own issues myself, i hate being disappointed.
Nne:I don't care much for chocolate, flowers, candy and PDA.
Tano: It takes time for me to walk away from friendships and relationships but when i do i hardly look back. Funny though still consider them as friends.
Sita: I love to dance and i dance to anything as long as there is a beat and rhythm.
By the powers vested in me i tag everyone who is on my blogroll and hasnt posted six yet. Get to work ;)
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4:35
From: Rants, Raves & Reviews
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Do the politicians - esp on PNU ones - understand the cost of their intransigence to Kenya? Parmalat was in talks to invest in or acquire Spin Knit dairy but they are backing out of the transaction. New KCC - #1 is government owned & controlled. The top management is often perceived to be close to PNU by virtue of their ethnicity. Brookside - #2 is owned by the kenyatta family. No prizes to guess where their political loyalties lie. So these entities have averted - by chance & not design - the entrance of a major player into the market. Parmalat has substantial experience in & developed markets. Of course, the losers - as always - are Kenyans who need competition as well as additional investments in the marketplace.
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3:58
From: You Missed This
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 The heat is on, as Annan says he has suspended many important assignments to be in Kenya (but PNU politicians seem to be taking the country in circles!) After the government side introduced a new raft of demands that trashed a power-sharing deal reached in the infamous Kilaguni Lodge, it immediately resulted into a collapse of the mediation talks on Monday. But it seems all is not lost, because it now appears Kofi Annan has managed to bring the warring parties back to the negotiation table after meeting both Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga last evening. As at the time of posting this, both parties were back meeting Annan and his group of eminent persons in their usual Serena Hotel rendezvous. It is unclear whether what they were unable to agree on Monday had been sorted out with their respective principals. In order to achieve normalcy in Kenya, Annan and the international community are in agreement with the ODM in its quest for an immediate political settlement arising out of the disputed December 2007 election before deeper negotiations and agreements can be reached on the issue of constitution review. That immediate political settlement is: POWER SHARING. Earlier Koffi Annan's aide had told CNN that the Chief Mediator would be leaving Kenya unless the protagonist reached an agreement. Annan himself issued a statement saying: "After four hours of intense negotiation this morning, the team made almost no progress on reaching an agreement on government, I had to conclude that they were not capable of resolving the outstanding issues." Annan's diplospeak is hardly revealing any failure, but it is revealing huge frustration and disappointment orchestrated by the Government side led by Martha Karua. Matters were not helped by the fact that the Local government minister - Uhuru Kenyatta - was engaging in blatant abuse of power by trying to influence (read-rig) the Nairobi and Nakuru mayoral polls in favour of PNU. This morning, the ECK Chairman, Samuel Kivuitu has uncharacteristically come out in support of ODM and disowned Uhuru Kenyatta with regard to the nomination of Esther Passaris by ODM. Back to the Annan led mediation talks, Annan has been in Kenya for more than a month trying to resolve the elections crisis and it is said that it is the longest period he has spent on any conflict resolution. Annan met both Raila and Kibaki Monday evening and released a statement saying: "I believe that the Panel of Eminent African Personalities working with the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation has done its work. I’m now asking the party leaders, Hon Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki to do theirs."
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1:43
From: Kenyan Pundit
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The CCP Technical team had a meeting yesterday, 21st February 2008 discussing whether CCP should continue to exist (unanimous agreement on this) and if so how it should do so.
Various decisions were reached in the meeting including:
o Morning forum- meetings will now be held once a week on Friday’s from [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CCP Update Feb 22nd", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=461" });
Read the complete article at
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