Mashada Blogs » July 14, 2008

Kenyanentrepreneur.com: Kenyan Dailies Still Don’t Get it

2008-07-14T17:40:55-04:00

It looks like Business Daily Africa is going to start charging it’s on-line customers to read some of their articles. In doing this, they are going against the current trend in on-line journalism where everything is becoming free. Heck, even the Wall Street Journal is heading towards making all the content on their site [...]

Kikuyumoja's realm: Sprouting

2008-07-14T17:02:37-04:00

Lentils, mung beans and fenugreek seeds…

…soaked in water for 3-4 days:

“In a secular world with a never-ending search for a deeper meaning, climate protection is the new ersatz religion.” - read this somewhere the other day and instantly thought: yeah, Kyoto would actually be a good name for a child.

No, seriously, this kind of natural food is great and a welcome change to spice up the rice or salad. So where’s the connection between climate protection & healthy food?

Here.

Grow Bags are somehow similar to keyhole gardens - let’s see how future generations will start turning urban areas into micro-allotment gardens. With a possible re-use of nutrients contained in waste streams, this could be a smart way of closing the loop on the burning food security issues and also improve our living conditions in urban areas.

As for the sprouted seeds mixture above - I mixed them with carrots, peas, chashew nuts, rice and some soy(a) sauce. Delicious! :-)

You Missed This: Infectious Selective Censor and Political Suicide

2008-07-14T16:30:00-04:00

With the smell of political blood still suffocating our political airspace, some of the 10th Parliament MPs are spoiling for another VIP scalp after Kimunya. Trust Kenyan politicians to abuse and use words selfishly to suit their narrow interests. Discretion is the new buzzword among the Grand coalition cabinet ministers. Borrowing Kimunya's script by defending themselves that they acted within prescribed powers, Uhuru and Kajwang are denying any form of impropriety in their actions.

Two wrongs never made a right and so comparing whose crime between Uhuru and Kajwang is bigger amounts to splitting hairs. In Kajwang’s book he overruled his immigration officers in issuing work permits for jobs whose qualifications can be sourced locally. True, the buck stops with the minister as he proudly gloats but he must come out and unambiguously explain if in the process of acting as he did no law was broken. Failure to do so amounts to impunity which is the singular unique characteristic defining this administration.

Uhuru Kenyatta is said to have substituted names for nominations forwarded to him by respective political parties by those of his personal and political liking. Alright, it may be lawful for the local government minister to nominate up to a third of councilors. But the question is did he do it proportionately as per the composition of the elected two thirds? Well, you cannot fail to see the temptation then to tinker with figures during the politically volatile January and February of this year. What of ODM’s numerical superiority at the civic level threatening to upstage and frustrate PNU's power from above? For whatever it was Jomo Jr. must own up to his actions and if he is found to have acted outside his mandate no donning of tribal or party colours will wash. He must carry the cross no matter the weight.

Hare hunting foxes
Having fanned the first embers of political heat, the domino effect of Kimunya’s fall is threatening to come back to claim Martha Karua’s political scalp. The Iron Lady may have played it smart by sticking to the law and prodding his political lapdog Mungatana to expose Kimunya, but her star may be dimmed with the predictable cocked Cocker commission’s report. In all likelihood Kimunya will be exonerated of wrong doing. And that will mark the beginning of fierce intra-Gema wars for political supremacy in tandem with Kibaki succession.

As they say sweet revenge is a menu better served cold. Martha must pray that the Cocker’s commission find Kimunya VERY GUILTY. Otherwise the other 4Ks may just team up to deflate her political balloon. Her intentions of playing above the fray and reproach politics in fighting corruption may be a noble gesture. But in Kenya's hyper-ethnic and regional based politics, her heroics may be turned against her as unforgivable betrayal of one of her own.

The adage of running with the hare to hunt with the foxes couldn’t haven’t have been more apt. It is very ironical but surely not naive to tie Martha’s political future with Amos Kimunya’s fate. It won’t surprise anybody to see the end turning into payback time. Martha’s fate apparently is out of her hands but instead lies with the powers that be. She remains safe if she is their pick otherwise the future bodes ill for her. Only time will tell whether she enriched her political CV or unwittingly committed political suicide in advance.

Kenyanpoet: Rhythm & Spoken Poetry

2008-07-14T14:42:00-04:00

Rhythm & Spoken
Friday 18th July
Dass Ethiopian restaurant
Woodvale Grove, Westlands
Starts:8:30pm
Performances:9-10:30pm
Entry:100
if you would like to feature call/text:0728-293632
or email: projectheshima@hotmail.com

The Displaced African: Interview with Political Activist, Speaker and Soulfege Band Member: Derrick Ashong (Part 2)

2008-07-14T12:04:57-04:00

The Podcast

Things Covered

1) Some of the work that Derrick is doing in Accra

2) How did Soulfege get started?

3) Information about the evolution of the Soulfege band

4) Talks about their new album coming out July 15th 2008: Take Back the Mic

5) How the music industry has reacted to Soulfege in the age of gangsta rap?

6) Where you can get their new record?

7) How can you support Soulfege

Discussion about the famous Obama video

9) Why does Derrick Ashong support Barrack Obama?

10) Words of advice for someone who is about to immigrate to the States

Websites mentioned

1) www.facebook.com/soulfege

2) Pick up their record at the Itunes store: [www.apple.com]

3) The Obama video:

You Missed This: Secret Succession Deal: Has Kibaki Endorsed Raila for 2012?

2008-07-14T09:41:00-04:00

President Mwai Kibaki, accompanied by Nyeri Town MP Hon. Esther Mathenge is escorted by jubilant wananchi after he unveiled the new Gikuyu Bible at Kamukunji Stadium, Nyeri.

While it is debatable that the president asked politicians to desist campaigning for 2012, me thinks he is the least qualified person to instruct other ambitious politicians to avoid campaigning.

After the tragic events of December 2007, Kibaki should, in my opinion, be looking to engage in nationalistic matters that will rebuild his shattered image and help him in creating a lasting legacy since he will not be candidate himself for presidency ever again.

In so far as political instability or bickering is concerned, only two naive politicians, both of them aligned to Kibaki’s PNU wing of government, have publicly shown interest and started early campaigns for the presidency. They are Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka.

But then it appears Kibaki's Nyeri trip was not just about unveiling a Gikuyu bible. A political bombshell was dropped while some very thorny barbs were thrown at some unnamed but well known individual(s) within Kibaki’s own PNU coalition. His off the cuff remarks were like an open declaration that Raila is not just his second in command but also his choice for president come 2012. These were his words; "There is no power vacuum and the current leadership arrangement in the country is well defined with a president and Raila as principal assistant." Note that the president did not say prime minister but principal assistant. These remarks were, as expected, largely ignored by Kenya’s highly compromised mainstream media but anyone who watched prime time TV news on Saturday night could not have missed it. If I were Kalonzo Musyoka, I would seriously think about putting a water-tight plan B in place.

It seems the president has secretly made a succession deal with Raila for 2012 and has been dropping hints for anyone who cares to listen. Government officials, led by one Francis Muthaura, are quick at publishing pecking order clarifications, but on the other hand the president is actually naming “musaidizi wake anaitwa Raila” at a public function in his own Nyeri backyard and also categorically stating that even tomorrow’s leadership is already prebooked!

Kibaki also has harsh words for his Agikuyu community: "For how long shall Kenyan people continue to fight? Have you people from this region decided to abandon animosity? Kenyans must decide to abandon this retrogressive behavior."

He went on to castigate (well known unnamed) “political leaders for preaching disunity" and urged "those harbouring ambitions to lead the nation to await their ripe moment rather than distract wananchi from nation building. The president asked: “Do not think you will get the chance tomorrow because there are others on the leadership? Wait a little while so that we can see how you will get there. If you start campaigns now, we will be against you and say that we cannot trust you anymore." Further note the president appears to be suggesting that there is no chance for 2012 (tomorrow), while warning those who are campaigning now that they will not be trusted.

Kibaki’s controversial remarks over the weekend can be interpreted differently but the message is fairly straight forward. When one considers that plans for Raila’s controversial inauguration as an Agikuyu elder are also at an advanced stage, what would an open and unequivocal Kibaki endorsement mean to the possibility of Raila being (re)elected as president with landslide in the next general elections?

tHiNkEr'S rOoM: William Chapelle / Dave Kabogo

2008-07-14T06:21:28-04:00

Much has been said about the powerful resemblance between ex Juja MP William Kabogo and comedian Dave Chapelle. I have regarded that comparison as about as accurate as Mwai Kibaki looking like Taye Diggs.

But now … I table the following composite. Who is who?

*Taye Diggs from an AP Photo

My Life is...Mochalicious!: EXHAUSTED!!!

2008-07-14T05:52:11-04:00

Too much has been happening in June and this month. Just when I thought that after the rugby weekends I would have June/July to rest, OHHHH NOOOO…..its been mad. Good Points Mom is in town Moving in with Mr Mocha Memories from Home Bad Points Mom is in town Moving in with Mr Mocha Memories from home I know you are all wondering how [...]

bankelele: Stockbroker mirrors Society

2008-07-14T05:02:00-04:00

I have just finished the morning at the stockbrokers, processing my KCB rights:

First thing I did when I got there, was to talk to the askari (guard) Why – rule of queues - there was a queue outside the office, which many people join blindly, and waste an hour. The queue was for Safaricom refunds – and if you’re doing KCB or other transactions, you get admission upstairs.

At the entrance, there’s a ticker paper machine - and you get a number which will be called upstairs for you to get served. So at 9:10, I got number 436 and proceeded upstairs to sit with about fifty other shareholders all waiting for service.

There were five desks where customers were being served, and as each broker representative finished with a customer he/she pings a message, which called up the next sequential on an electronic notice board e.g. 437 go to counter 6, then 438 to counter 3.

It’s a first come first served system, easy to understand to anyone trading shares, is fair, and works. The alternative would be for us to form a long queue, perhaps all the way outside the building, but this one allows investors to sit and wait for their turn. Over the next hour, this went on well. The queues are slow, but what else can be done?

I was sitting there, reading the newspapers, when I notice one of the counters. The officer there did not ping for the next customer. He served whoever slid into the chair in front of him. He served an old man, with an assistant (probably grand daughter), then an old woman who just walked in. Then the person who was in the seat next to mine, went and got served, followed by the person who took the seat next to me.

The brokers were totally ignoring the numbering system that had kept us in an orderly state for the last hour. By 10:20 when I get served, and was able to apply for my share rights (taking two minutes), he had, by my count served seven people who did not present numbers.

I wanted to lean over and ask him why she is violating the system he is paid to serve, but didn’t and I left as soon as I was done. There are so many questions I should have asked him;
- Am I at fault for focusing on him, when 4 other counters worked well for the stockbroker serving dozens of investors?
- Am I at fault for not asking him why he did not follow procedures? Like many other Nairobians, simply bury my head in the sand and ignore the wrongs around me
- Am I a fool for not taking advantage of the opportunity, and ignoring my number (hierarchy/position in the society)?
- Is his boss at fault or his colleagues for not noticing this? I saw some of them shoo away customers, asking them to wait their turn
- Are the customers at fault for taking advantage? What he was doing is obvious to many observers in the room, and some customers change sits to be near his desk, ready to leap into the visitors chair as soon as it is vacant. Enjoy the ride is the mantra of our matatu culture. In our culture of poor customer service, employees are taught to assist all customers, and that only those customers who are brash or loud get served, while the meek and quiet will spend the whole day there. But this institution has set up an (expensive) system for orderly customer service, to serve them better (unlike others), but which was all being undermined by one of the staff
- Or is this all a misunderstanding - and was his ping machine/signal broken or defective - [like so many facilities in our society - traffic light, road signs - leading to an inability to communicate the rules?]

As I walk out and read notices on the walls, the queue is now longer than before with more patient investors even standing on the staircase.

Memories, Sentiments, Rants and Raves: Brrrrrr!

2008-07-14T03:18:00-04:00

The past six weeks have been cold with the worst day being that fateful Tuesday when we were at nine degree centigrade. Am sure some of you are thinking that's not so bad, here it is. This weekend found me snuggled in bed seeing that the weather was less than friendly. I got to thinking about couples who have planned for a garden wedding, does that mean the bride has to find a white sweater/shawl/poncho lest she freezes even before i do and by the way can you ask the priest to skip some parts so that it ends faster.

Beginning of another week, its freezing cold, drizzly and no i don't have a sweater only endless cups of hot chocolate that comes with endless trips to the throne. I got to thinking, what if there was an agency where you could hire someone to keep you warm until the cold season goes away. All that is required is that you a small fee to view the profiles of the men/women who are the body-warmers. The Sales Rep show you to a room where you see the video clip of the person that you think might be good for you. Finally you make the selection of the top three as required by the fine print, then you schedule to interview them, surely its the least you can do seeing that they will be sharing your bed. After the interview you agree on the terms and conditions of the contract therein the reporting hours, code of conduct, expectations from either side etcetra etcetra. So deal is signed, you give directions to your house and that evening you come home to an already warmed bed aah bliss!

If only it was that easy, these are the times when being single is so hard (and yes Kat i heard you). Seriously, how many hot chocolates can you take in an evening? Even worse how do you sleep in a tee, track, socks, sweater arrrgghh i miss feeling the smoothness of my cotton sheets.