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20:35 Kenya’s Growing Debt Society
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com This summer, a friend of mine was visiting from Kenya and we got into a discussion about the booming real estate market and the growing economy. During this discussion, she said that her observation was that a lot of people were living off loans because she just couldn’t figure out where they were getting the [...]
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14:38
Euro view of U.S./global crisis from Jean-Michel Quatrepoint
» Marian's Blog Do Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher now get the last laugh? Chancellor Angela Merkel says her government will not let Germany's vast Hypo Real Estate become the latest European enterprise to dissolve into financial oblivion. Almost simultaneously, via France24 News,...
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14:14
October To Remember
» For Love and Money October To Remember
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11:05
When the Deal Is Too Good Think Twice
» The Displaced African Hey everyone, I am absolutely ecstatic that Caroline has decided to do a second guest post here on tDA. For those who haven’t read her first guest post, check out Would You Play a Game of Russian Roulette. If you would like to share your immigrant story and use this blog as a platform (thanks as always to those who have already done this), contact me and I shall see what we can do. Mwangi here signing out and leaving the floor open for Caroline Atieno
When the deal is too good think twice…
By Caroline Achieng Otieno.
Have you ever heard of the English proverb ‘Look before you leap?’ Bet you have, it was one of my favourites as a child, however, most times I thought of it in terms of jumping into a muddy puddle if I didn’t look, so it was literal for me. Just before leaving Kenya years back, there was an interesting commentary in one of the dailies that came in weekly that bears similarity to ‘look-before-you-leap.’ It was tagged, “When the deal is too good, think twice…” It was quite interesting, to some extent hilarious and was a narrative of guys who had fallen victim to some of the conmen prowling the streets of Nairobi. Granted, things were pretty tough that time in Kenya, structural adjustment policies were taking a big chunk out of people’s pockets and there was a lot of hustling and jostling going on. While some folks were really trying hard to pull in that valuable shilling, other folks were busy trying to offload the same valuable shilling through clandestine means.
Now, gone were the days that conmen filled bags with newspapers and looked for desperados who wanted a miracle so bad they would close their eyes and give them cash that would double, triple or quadruple and get back to them that way. Due to hard times, and an audience that could see through their trickery, conmen had metamorphosed into skilful con-artists. Their modus-operandi was sophistication; not going solo but in two’s or three’s, not exclusively male- but of mixed gender; well polished, articulate and highly intelligent. If any response was needed to outdo these con-artists, it was to be as damn smart-ass as they were, fight fire with fire so to speak.
Scenario 1: I recall one time rushing from Kenyatta hospital where I had come from visiting a sick friend. A handsome well-groomed gentleman stops me. I enthusiastically returned his greeting, wondering whether I know him, and step aside to walk on. He waves a hand bearing a gold-watch, and motions for me to sit with him on the pavement.
Would he have a word with me? Sure, I thought, ignoring my rumbling stomach’s pleas to be fed. I listened to a long tale of how he came from a nearby country, and how he was stranded here, and about the love of God to His children. Well, as he is yammering on, in a conversation that has neither head nor tail, out of the blue a pretty damsel barges in and greets him with enthusiasm and acts like she hasn’t seen him for a long time. They carry a brief conversation before he motions for her to join us, she introduces herself to me and does so. Great! Now we are a trio. The conversation continues endlessly, going round and about in circles, and I finally realize that there’s something these two are after. They are by no means interested in my conversion to any religion; rather in how much money I am willing to part with. For the love of all things bright and beautiful, I don’t have squat on me. Not a penny. As soon as they hear me out, they suddenly and abruptly end the wonderful conversation, begging to be excused. They have an urgent matter to attend, and they leave like a harsh dog (Mbwa Kali ) was nipping at their heels. I shrug, scratch my head, brush off my skirt and take off to the nearest bus-stop. My tummy is rumbling twice as loud as before, I have to get home. It strikes me then, the couple are con-artists.
Scenario 2: I am accosted by two women on the streets of Nairobi, at the City Centre. They see something on my forehead and feel I need prayers as to avert some disaster ‘waiting-to- happen. I have to sow seed so that they can pray for me. I see their insistence. I go to the one ATM type in the wrong number, and get my card rejected. I signal to them that this ATM is not working, would they wait for me to get to another ATM. I hurriedly take off in the opposite direction leaving our sisters gazing into space.
Scenario 3: I now live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I am house hunting and doing so rather desperately because the days are speeding on, and by no means would I like to be out in the cold harsh winter. I tell everyone I know, and place adverts in the supermarket, on the websites, you name it. Everyone knows I need a place to stay. A quick response comes in from a man who has read my advert on a site for English speakers in Amsterdam. He writes me a wonderful e-mail, he is a Russian engineer working in London, and has a one-room apartment here in Amsterdam that would be ‘just-right’ for me. The price blows me away; 1000 Euros is way above my budget. I carefully pen down a response that I cannot afford it but if he has alternative accommodation, I can pay for half the amount he has asked for. I add on my number as he has requested it.
Lo and behold the gentleman calls me the next day, “Have you seen the pictures?” is the opening question.
“Um, no, I haven’t, I have to get to the office,” is my response.
“You don’t have internet at home?” he asks sounding perplexed.
Feeling a little bit ashamed yet not daring to lie, I respond, “No, I don’t.”
He continues on and on, about the apartment. He can give it to me at the amount I can afford; all he wants is someone to take care of it.
“You see, my wife and child died, so the garden is in their memory,” he says, “It’s really not about the money, my contract is 1 year here in London, so I really need someone to be there in Amsterdam, and take care of the garden and house as I have already paid for it.”
“I can take care of your garden,” I respond trying not to sound very enthusiastic.
He asks me to call him as soon as I have seen the pictures.
The pictures of the house are beautiful; it really is a dream home.
I call back and say I’d like to take the apartment immediately, when can we meet?
That’s not a problem,” he responds. “I can ask my contact person in Amsterdam to hand over the keys, and you can send the money here, as I cannot come now to Amsterdam, I have just begun a new job-contract and I cannot leave until after six months from now.”
“Very well,” I reply, and hung up the phone, doing a little happy jig.
Somehow, I am not completely at rest. Is this an answer to my prayers? I don’t feel it in my inmost being. People say that you should always listen to your inner voice, the instinct or gut-feeling. Well, my gut is not feeling with this apartment, and eventually my communication with the Russian guy goes about in circles. He states that his contact person is on vacation right now, can I send the money for him to send me a set of spare keys? The next day, he’s talking about his wife; I think okay, his wife is alive now? Into the week he expresses his worry about the keys getting lost in the mail. At the end of the day, my dream house was really, “in my dreams!” A deal that was too good to be true. We always have to think twice. It doesn’t only apply to conmen, it may be a relationship where someone is promising the world, and failing to deliver, it may be a business partnership, whatever the case, Think twice!
I hope someone has learned something, I just did!
Carol.
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10:45
Afghanistan: British commander says "we're not going to win" war against Taliban
» Marian's Blog Barely a week ago the Taliban took credit for murdering Afghanistan's top woman police officer, Lieutenant Colonel Malalai Kakar, head of the police department's crimes against women division in the city of Kandahar. Now a Reuters article quotes a British...
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6:45
commit to a revolutionary act - be optimistic
» Black Looks “Optimism is a Political Act” speaks to those who are willing to put up with the status quo and those who repeatedly deny the possibility of change. Especially for Nigerians who despair and have silently given up hope REPENT for there is still a chance to make a difference ………… Optimism, by contrast, especially [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "commit to a revolutionary act - be optimistic", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/commit_to_a_revolutionary_act_-_be_optimistic.html" });
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6:16
The Standard Reveals Electoral Theft
» You Missed This 
The Standard on Sunday has today published a story that has confirmed massive irregularities, blackmail and theft that were behind Kivuitu’s astonishing declaration that Kibaki was the winner of the presidential polls.
Indeed, the story reveals a scheme that was mooted to deliberately prevent the ODM candidate Raila Odinga from ascending to the presidency through a fair, transparent and democratic means and it is not surprising no single observer group gave the election a clean bill of health.
The standard story further corroborates some truly tragic events captured in the Kriegler IREC report as well as those that were sensationally revealed by whistleblower Mr Kipkemoi arap Kirui who became a marked man as soon as he addressed an international press conference called by ODM leaders at KICC in which he said:
"I am speaking to the people of Kenya. My conscience would not allow me to see what I have seen and not speak about it. ECK is responsible for this mess. They (results) are altered here, not in the field. Form 16A is sufficient. I did it for the first time but could not proceed to the second constituency because of shameless, blatant, open alteration of documents presented by the returning officers. My conscience would not allow me to sit and keep quiet."
The publication comes against the backdrop of sustained pressure on ECK commissioners to resign and pave way for reforming Kenya’s electoral laws and institutions. It is emerging that a certain group within government does not want ECK commissioners to resign for fear that they will spill the beans with information that will be a threat to the viability of the grand coalition government and their own individual positions with it.
Interestingly, the riggers considered all bizarre possibilities including “allowing” Raila to win the presidency but lose the Langata parliamentary seat by force, and in process create a constitutional crisis that would allow the runners up (Kibaki) to continue ruling the country.
The report puts Kalonzo Musyoka – ODM-K presidential candidate and party leader – in an awkward position. Kalonzo was appointed Vice President in mid-January, just weeks after fighting a 'bruising bitter electoral contest' with Kibaki and Raila. It also shows Kalonzo’s agents actively participated in denying Kenyans the constitutional and democratic rights by putting undue pressure on Kivuitu while abetting what was clearly an electoral theft through fraudulent tallying.
What is the purpose of spending huge resources and have millions of citizens vote in general elections if the winner is already predetermined?
Read the standard story here.
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Soweto pride 2008
» Black Looks Source: Forum for the Empowerment of Women, SA Tags: Soweto + Pride South Africa LGBTI SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Soweto pride 2008", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/soweto_pride_2008.html" });