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17:19
Challenges of the Grand Coalition Part 1(guest post)
» Kenyan Pundit BY ONYANGO OLOO 1.0. Challenge # 1: Credibility The Grand Coalition is slowly rousing to its feet amidst widespread cynicism, bewilderment, anger and disappointment. The fact that almost half of the 220 member Kenya National Assembly will be in government is astounding, especially if one takes into account the high falutin’ earnest pledges by the three leading presidential [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Challenges of the Grand Coalition Part 1(guest post)", url: "http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/04/16/challenges-of-the-grand-coalition-part-1guest-post/" });
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16:37
Daring Mungiki Now Knock Kibaki’s Door
» You Missed This Secure in the knowledge that Kibaki is neck-deep in the murk, daring Mungiki is confidently knocking at his door complete with threats to boot. Mungiki is not only threatening brimstone and economic shutdown of Nyeri on Sunday but also has the audacity to demand the release of their convicted leader Maina Njenga. And the murderous sect is reading from the same script with Njenga issuing threats to police from inside prison.
You don’t have to live in a banana plantation to create a banana republic. Mungiki is simply hitting hard Kibaki's soft underbelly. They know almost the whole lot of Central Kenya leaders are complicit in using them in the post election violence. Naming the cabinet has closed violent and tribal rent-seeking avenues. The industrious sect knows when to demand their pound of flesh cleverly clothed as ransom.
One thing is clear from the present Mungiki dare devil antics. Kenya’s intelligence system has been proved wanting once again. Make no mistake about the competence of NSIS staff. They remain one of the most qualified south of Sahara and north of Limpopo. The problem is sabotage from within. Kibaki packed NSIS’s top echelon with his tribesmen but disenfranchised real intelligence foot soldiers owe their loyalties elsewhere. Gichangi has serially bungled it since his appointment.
Bandit president
Having supped with Mungiki and clandestinely recruited them in the police force, Kibaki finds himself at the mercy of the monster he helped nurture. Mungiki knows all this and with police insider members you cannot fail to see why PS Gituai admitted that they were found napping. Saitoti’s predictable denial is too little too late that only succeeds in soothing his old-schooled ego.
Mungiki’s patronage runs to the apex of Kenya’s government. With an able accomplice in the deputy prime minister they won’t ask for more. We have seen the last of Mungiki yet. The splitter group that was roped in by the police to butcher Virginia Nyakio have bigger scores to settle with both rivals and government. In all this drama almost all Kikuyu MPs will have their mouths zipped lest they are exposed in their previous murderous dalliance with the sect against other Kenyans.
Kibaki set the impunity ball rolling and Mungiki is eating from the very plate. The ripple effect of election theft is one baggage Kenya will carry for quite a long long time. Yes, the truth has the unpleasantly trait of sounding like a stuck record but no matter what it fortunately never mutates. We are in this hole because of the Mungiki president and the militia is having a field days skinning Kenyans’ heads as Kibaki the perpetrator of this heinous crime sits pretty scheming on our to defraud and rape us some more.
Kenyans must be red alert about the devilish plots lurking behind these instigated violence. Assassinations are often excused as collateral for such buildup. The bottom line remain Kibaki's template for ruling Kenya is outdated. The more he tries to lord it over us the more he dives into more goofs. All these bad schemes won't last forever and Kenyans are slowly but surely reclaiming their country back from the bloody hands of the bandit president and his cronies. It is only a matter of time.
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15:04
my new toy
» Kikuyumoja's realm Got me a new toy - a “Battery Powered Cordless Soldering Iron” from Weller:
The tip has a diameter of 0,4mm and the packaging says it reaches up to 480°C on the tip, but well….most of these little tips are just hot for a second and then the next second the heat has already dropped by 20°C…
I’ve used it on the motherboard of an HP laptop - these coils next to the Southbridge chip (big bottom chip with that sticker on top) needed some resoldering and I really hope that they were the cause for the malfunctioning of this motherboard - otherwise…sijui.
The three AA-batteries inside the Cordless Soldering Iron won’t last for ages, but this little gadget sure helps to fix a few dots on the board and also it wasn’t that expensive so I’m not really as disappointed as I was afraid to be.
Once I can afford it, I will buy this! :-)
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14:38
Measuring Africa’s Internet Connectivity
» White African ICTP Science Dissemination Unit has been monitoring and testing internet connectivity to 45 universities in Africa for the past 12 months. Using at tool called PingER Africa, they track real-time network performances in terms of response time (for a succession of pings) and packet loss percentages.
The 45-second video embedded below are their results.
If this type of data interests you, you should read their full report titled, Scientific Measure of Africa’s Connectivity (PDF - .64Mb). It’s an incredibly interesting report on their methods and findings.
The new millennium is beginning to see significant advances in Africa’s quest for greater connectivity. Nevertheless, although a substantial increase in the rate of expansion of networks is taking place, the ITU statistics on teledensity show that although there are 57.3 Internet users per 100 inhabitants in Sweden, 57 in the United States, and 34.7 in Italy, there are just 0.5 in Mali and 0.2 in Niger. The Internet tariff for the same type of connection is 1.1% of the Gross National Income in Sweden and in the United States and 1% in Italy, whereas it is 289% in Mali and 683% in Niger. The same differences are reflected by the Internet performance.
One other organization to pay attention to is AfrISPA (African Internet Service Provider Associations), run by Eric Osiakwan. They have been hard at work trying to build relationships between ISPs in different African nations, building an association big and strong enough to make serious change happen.
(hat tip Riyaz and Brough)
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The Forgotten Frontier That Is Northern Kenya
» You Missed This In a country where subsequent governments alienate whole provinces for over 4 decades and still get away with it, it’s good that someone came up with the idea of a Ministry for Northern Kenya and other Arid Areas. These are arguably the most neglected in the country and the creation of a ministry for them at least shows that the leadership appreciates the need for some speedy reversal of this unfortunate situation.
But I don’t believe a government ministry is what the doctor ordered for Northern Kenya and other arid areas. If we look at it in terms of ministries then they should all go and camp there. For one a lot of Education is required to empower the locals to actively participate in the development of their own. There’s need for water technology and water harvesting for domestic and irrigation purposes, livestock management through building of abattoirs, introduction of farming of fruits, vegetables, medicinal and horticultural crops – there’s just too much. Maybe Najib Balala’s next challenge should be to have more tourists there in future if at all there are any now. And who knows the areas could produce some athletes and soccer stars if someone looked hard enough?
In short arid areas, as do many others in the country, have great potential and need special attention from nearly all the current ministries except the likes of Nairobi Metropolitan Development and East African Community among others. In any case, the current ministries are just a political arrangement that will mostly operate on a national level.
In my view a development body would fit the bill better. Like the Lake Basin Development Authority or Coast Development Authority. The authority can be funded by development partners without being bogged down by backward government bureaucracy and long procurement procedures. Of course the state also has a major role to play in additional funding and generally enabling the smooth running of the authority by ensuring security and providing incentives such as tax exemption on equipment. The authority should have a clear mandate and be able to approach and receive special attention from all ministers in government including the Prime Minister who promised a Livestock Insurance Policy during his campaigns.
This is not a call for Majimbo but these areas have a lot of sharp minds and by all means they should be left to manage such a body should it be formed. They’re very familiar with their problems and they know their terrain well. And since they grew up there, they’ll spend more time working other than whining about the tough climatic conditions.
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13:12
Zimbabwe Billionaire...
» Rants, Raves & Reviews LOL... My 'wealth' in Z$ just shot up 34% in a week...
US$ 1 = Z$ 88,270,000 (OMIR rate)....
I was joking about being a 'trillionaire'... well... it might be sooner than I thought!
How does Bill Gates calculate his wealth in Z$.... can Excel display the figures?
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12:04 Banking:How to Immigrate to Australia Within a Week
» The Displaced African To refer to the check-list that you will guide you in immigrating to Australia within a week please refer to the Introduction post in the series.
Banking
I have only ever been with one and a half banks:
a) I have been with Commonwealth bank for six years and;
b) I signed up to join ANZ Visa Debit Card program some months back. In the end, I ended up not needing the service. That having been said, I strongly recommend you get an ANZ Visa Debit Card when you arrive in Australia (more on this later).
I will be speaking to you from the above experience as well as observations and anecdotes. My goals are:
a) To teach you how to save as time as possible during the banking process.
b) Make banking as easy and convenient as possible.
b) Give you some of the tips and tools I have picked up along the way to ensure that you are never strapped for cash and have continual cash flow (this advice is also expanded on when I discuss employment).
With that in mind I recommend that you chose Commonwealth bank: As a student you get an account for free without any monthly fees. In addition to that you can take advantage of:
1) Netbanking:
This will shave literally years off your banking.NetbankingNetbanking is the free facility that Commonwealth bank provides, that allows you to do your banking over the Internet. This means that you have, at your fingertips:
a) Ability to check your bank balance and your most recent transactions from any computer with the Internet.
b) Ability to transfer money to any account within Australia as long as you know its BSB and account number. You can even add it to your online address book to make future transfers easier. Unfortunately I have no experience with international transfers.
c) Ability to schedule regular payments - Ask your landlord for his BSB and account numbenetbankto netbank, input his details, schedule rent payments every two weeks and never think about paying rent again.
d) Bill paying: You can also automate bill paying using the Commonwealth provided Bpaylity: Bpay. This when combined with servicePaypal as Paypal, will automate payment of 90% of the bills you will ever have to pay in Australia.
e) Transferring funds from one Commonwealth account to another is instantaneous. Transferring to another bank takes between 24 -72 hours.
For more inforNetbankingNetbanking check out the Commonwealth BanNetbankingNetbanking.
Check out the FAQ for CommonweNetbankingNetbanking here.
2) Telephone Banking:
As a result of the exiNetbankingNetbanking I haven’t had to use this feature extensively. I have only ever used my telephone banking when I need to call the bank to change my account details or report any errors with my account to a customer service employee.
Telephone banking also makes banking convenient and accessible 24 hours a day, from the comfort of your own home. For more information check out the Commonwealth Bank page on telephone banking.
3) Depositing MATMs with ATMs
This feature is pretty straightforward and pretty much guarantees that you never have to cue in a bank again. You can deposit cheques and cash at specially designated ATMS that are almost always outside every bank branch.
Therefore, if you have excess cash that you want to put away or have had a cheque written recently, pop into your nearest ATM 24 hours a day and you can deposit the funds. It should take about 24 hours for the money to enter your account.
Swift Code
To be honest I really don’t know what this is. However, when you are transferring money from Kenya to Australia you need it and the Indian bank teller told me apparently this applies in many countries. Therefore make sure as soon as you open your account, you get your swift code and write it down somewhere safe. If you will be doing any international transfers, you will need this number.
The Process of Transferring Money
In order to transfer money between accounts you will need the following details, including the swift code for international transfers:
a) Full name of account holder: May be a business name or a personal name.
b) BSB number: Also known as branch number: Usually a six digit number.
c) Account number: In my experience, usually also six numbers.
If you are using a credit card then the required details to make a payment are:
a) Account number: This is the long number on the face of the card. It is also your account number when Netbanking or looking at your account statements.
b) Expiry date: Usually 4 digits, also on the face of the card.
The 4 digits are separated into two groups of two that are separated by a slash: 2 digits for the month (11 for November, 01 for January, 06 for June and so on……) and 2 digits for the year ( 11 for 2011, 99 for 19999, 23 for 2023 and so on and so forth).
c) CCV or Confirmation Code: This is a 3 digit number on the back of the credit card. Most organizations that ask for it will show you where it is on the card. It’s the last three numbers on the back of the card. It’s quite difficult to describe but easy to grasp once you see it for the first time.
If You Need to Use A Credit Card
There are certain situations where you must use a credit card, or at the very least a card that has an expiry date, a confirmation number and the long account number on its face. How do you get all the benefits of a credit card without the burden of having to pay a lot of debt in future and struggle every day not to live beyond your means.
Enter, the Visa debit card. This is actually the ideal choice, in my opinion, for a card to be used day to day. It is basically a credit card where you use your own money. It has the account number, confirmation code and expiry but you can only pay for stuff with your own money. If you have no use for the credit facility then the Visa Debit Card can also be used as a normal debit card with a BSB and account number. Pretty cool huh?
Using the tips stated above, in your day to day life you have made banking a helluva-lot easier. Below are a few things I have learned about how to forever remain cash flow positive while in Australia
How to Succeed Financially: Three Types of Accounts, Maybe Four
After observing the financial ups and downs of many here in the diaspora, including myself, and doing some investigation into it, I advise you to open up three types, possibly four types of accounts:
1) Your day-to-day account: This is the account that is linked to your ATM card, your phone banking and your netbanking. I strongly advise that if you receive money from Africa or if you end up employed, money should never be deposited into this account. Doing so avoids being a spendthrift-which is remarkably easy here.
This account could be the savings account that you open with Commonwealth bank or ideally a Visa ANZ Debit Card, which has a small monthly fee of $5 last time I checked. If you can find an account that has a great interest rate then that would be great, but money will probably flow into and out of this account so quickly that interest doesn’t really matter.
2) Your ‘collection’ account: This should be the account where all money coming in (money from back home, salaries and wages, debt repayments, share price increases, real estate rent) should go into. This account should be separate from all other accounts. It should have no ATM card and should only be accessible via it’s own separate netbank account.
I first observed this type of account in a friend of mine who was a bit of a party animal (and a lot of a ladies’ man, but I digress…..). Before he stepped out of the house, he would go onto his computer, calculate on the spot how much he would need for the night out and transfer that amount into his day to day account.
The main benefit of having this account only accessible via its own netbanking facility is it gives you time to think prior to transfering money to your day to day account. This means, ideally, that every purchase you make-via your day to day account-has been pre-thought. This will avoid a lot of irrational spending decisions.
Bills, Bills Bills
If you have rent payments or insurance payments or any critical, regular, fixed-amount payments, you can schedule regular automatic payments from this account, using either the provided Netbanking facility or Bpay. The fact that ‘it’s difficult’ to reach this money day to day will mean it will be difficult for you to spend ‘the only money you have to pay your rent’.
For more information on Scheduled Bill payments click here
3) Your Savings Account: This is where you should put 10% of all money that you receive. Never touch this money unless it’s a life or death situation or you are being deported tomorrow or you need an emergency amputation without which you will die of terminal cancer. It’s great to know that when push comes to shove you will be able to stand on your own two feet.
This account should be ‘invisible’ to you. There should only be two ways you should be able to access this account:
a) Monthly bank statements: These get mailed to you automatically and at no cost.
b) Making a trip to the bank.
It should be inaccessible via netbanking, ATM card and telephone banking. I learned this one the hard way. If you can access the money, you will spend it.
4) Your Investment Account: This should be where you deposit another 10% of all income with the intention of using this money to ‘make more money’. It may start out as a small chuck of change but three years down the track don’t be surprised if you can easily use the money you have saved up to buy an investment home though you were working a minimum wage job as a cleaner (tough job, the pays not too bad, mad respect if you do this job…….)
Another account that should be as inaccessible as possible. As soon as you know how and where to invest your money and you have enough to invest, begin to do so. Remember you have a savings account and a collection account where all your money is pooled together should things fall apart.
5) Tithe: In my opinion, you should invest 10% of your money in something beyond yourself, if you don’t already do so. Whether it be building a hospital in your constituency, paying school fees for a family member who can’t quite hack it, supporting initiatives that help people help themselves such as Maseno Interchristian Child Self Help Group, do something beyond yourself with whatever you are blessed with and that may help you become more than you previously were.
If you earn a fixed salary, then let me recommend that you automate your tithing and the depositing of money into your savings and investment account so that you only ever have to think about it once.
Ok Ok Ok, this is more than enough on banking, I think. I need to move on to the next tip. If there is anything here that you don’t fully understand or want to comment on, then leave a comment below or contact me.
Fina Tips
This isn’t an entirely paperless economy: Make sure you carry cash around with you especially for purchases of things that cost less than $10. Almost every small to mid-size business has a minimum amount that you must spend in order to use your bank or credit card. It’s usually either $5 or $10.
If your collection account is inaccessible via ATM card, how on Earth will I be able to deposit cheques and cash to my collection account? I am glad you asked
. Transfer the cheque or money into your day to day account and then use netbanking to transfer it to your collection account. Don’t keep it in your day to day account for too long unless you have tremendous self control (in which case write to me and tell me how you do it…………)Be blessed, be abundant and give to others,
Mwangi
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8:20
How It Went Down
» My Life is...Mochalicious! Location: Local eatery Time: Last orders aka 10pmish Mood: Somber My pal, her daughter and mum and my mum sat down for dinner just before last orders. Mr Mocha! and my pal’s fiance were yet to arrive. Several phone calls later, they say they are on their way……but we hear noise in the background like they are in a [...]
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6:31
KCB goes upscale
» bankelele KCB goes upscale
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Mungiki Cripple City Transport System
» You Missed This Nairobians worry how they will get home this evening after work
Last night I reported that sources close to the police had informed me that the Mungiki problem was getting worse.
News trickling in this morning has shown exactly what was meant. In the most daring attack yet, Mungiki youths pounced on the Nairobi CBD firing in the air and causing fear and panic amongst commuters waiting for public transport back home.
The attack met its' objectives as matatus vanished leaving tens of thousands stranded in the city centre. The few matatus that were brave enough to stay on started charging fares as high as Kshs 150 to Kshs 300 for trips to various city estates.
Mercifully the crack GSU unit moved in quickly and restored security as the Mungiki youths melted into the night. As you read this there is a very serious commuter transport problem in Nairobi which has been made worse by the fact that Commuter train services were suspended on Tuesday after two trains were derailed by Mungiki youths on Monday.
Police moved in and helped ferry most stranded commuters home in an exercise where they were assisted by a few army lorries.
It is now clear that the well co-ordinated Mungiki attacks are set to continue for sometime in the country as a spokesman of the Kenya Youth Alliance said in an interview with the K24 TV station on Monday.
Interestingly in a function this morning involving the two deputy premiers, Uhuru Kenyatta refused to make any comments about the Mungiki terror currently being unleashed countrywide. Uhuru was handing over the Local government docket to ODM's Musalia Mudavadi who is deputy premier and also the new local government ministry. Interestingly this was a ministry where his late father Moses Sabstone Mudamba Mudavadi served in for many years under several Moi administrations.
Who is behind this fresh Mungiki attacks and what is the real motive? But even as long suffering Nairobians and indeed Kenyans puzzle over that question, it is clear that the new guerrilla tacticsnow being employed by the group have been well thought out and will continue to cause lots of chaos in the country for weeks and maybe even months to come.
I am following some useful leads and will bring you more background posts on this worrying trends as soon as I have some solid information in my hands.
P.S. Former powerful Coast PC in the Kenyatta era and the man who was crucial in preventing the country from ending up in the hands of powerful Kenyattta kitchen cabinet members and their Ngoroko militia, Eliud Mahihu died quietly yesterday Morning at Nairobi hospital. Mahihu's action enabled the then Vice President Daniel arap Moi to peacefully take over the reigns of power after Kenyatta's death. By some divine intervention, the night Kenyatta died was the only night in over 10 years that Mbiyu Koinange was not at Kenyatta's side. Koinange was linked to the Ngoroko plot meant to grab power and stop Moi from ascending to power.
P.S. 2 A group of 60 back bencher MPs are seeking to push through a proposal to have a grand opposition created in the 10th parliament to counter the huge grand coalition government. Very clever way of postioning oneself for victory and bigger things in the next elections which most Kenyans believe will happen within the next 2 years at the very latest.
Childless Riruta housewife welcomes man into her house who claimed that he "would open the way."
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4:00
136 Nigerians forced to leave BA flight to Lagos
» Black Looks British Airways Must Apologise I have done my fair share of flying over the years but ever since I can remember, flying to and from Lagos has always been THE most stressful and unpleasant travel experience. From the days of BCal through British Airways and Virgin Nigeria, Nigerians have had to put up [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "136 Nigerians forced to leave BA flight to Lagos", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/04/136_nigerians_forced_to_leave_ba_flight_to_lagos.html" });
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NSE Briefs
» bankelele NSE Briefs