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• July 29, 2009
• 18:32

  DIY violence is corrosive of nationhood

   » ‎ Kenya Imagine

  It is not often that participants in ethnic cleansing confess to it openly, but William ole Ntimama has managed it twice: in a 1996 interview, and more recently. The brazenness of the impunity is revolting: it is natural to want accountability and reform, and equally natural to think we can have both. This, unfortunately, is a bit of a farce: stable reform and calling the violent to account are incompatible.

  I defend the view that we can have one and only one of reform or accountability.

  

• 17:17

  Judges need more time

   » ‎ Storymoja
  Dear Writers, The judges seem to be caught up in the decision making. Just goes to show the possibilities of Kenyan writing. The winner of the Full Festival Pass will be announced before the end of the day. While the judges rangle, I am pleased to announce that all who have so far registered for the Friday [...]

• 16:41

  Retrofit Turns a bicycle to an ‘Ambulance’

   » ‎ AfriGadget

  Tags:  AfriGadget  

  Zambikes is a project that retrofits bicycles by adding a trailer. This is especially useful in rural Zambia (and other parts of Africa) where there aren’t many cars to get the sick to hospital, much less an ambulance.

  Watch how the ‘Zambulance’ retrofit is made…

  The ‘ZamCart’
  A multipurpose trailer

  

  Interestingly, the Zambike project sells and outfits bikes under the local brand name of ‘Amaka Sana’, the Bemba word for ‘very strong’ .

  To learn more: Zambikes.org and follow @ACIRFA_Zambikes on twitter

  via Timbuktu Chronicles

• 16:26

  Eudy Simelane trial update

   » ‎ Black Looks
  Convicted killer of lesbian soccer player ‘lies’ on the stand – Thato Mphiti arriving chained at the Delmas Circuit Court today Delmas, South Africa: At least 250 activists from the Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces gathered in Delmas Circuit Court for the trial of the three additionally accused for robbery with aggravating circumstances, rape and [...]

• 16:14

  Kenya Rugby : History of the Enterprise Cup 1930 to 2005 - 1

   » ‎ Rugby in Kenya
  Kenya Rugby : History of the Enterprise Cup 1930 to 2005 - 1

• 16:00

  Hague Express Watch:Migingo Going To Court

   » ‎ You Missed This
  
  International court season is here in full swing.The corridors of justice in Netherlands never anticipated they would be this busy playing host to contingents of East Africans seeking to settle human rights and real estate disputes all in the same year.
  
  Now that Uganda is going to the Hague because of us, Kenya will be making a second appearance at the International Courts this time on the grounds of being a bad neighbour reneging on a joint survey agreement with our East African brothers. Hague prosecutors will happily switch sides both for and against Kenya depending on whether post election violence trials or Kenya v Uganda lands first in the docket
  
  Political Mileage
  Contrary documentation not withstanding, the populist remark made by President Kibaki during his Narc-nostalgic magic tour of Nyanza last week has shown the landlocked relative that Kenya is finally ready to lead from the front and by example on the unresolved matter of the island's true ownership even if the statement made was only for extra political mileage
  
  The appointed Ugandan survey team has to be forgiven for postponing the start of the joint exercise to seek further consultations beforehand while the Kenyan team went ahead and made a start on the same assuming that such an important survey would have to have a preliminarily report carried out before the main course begun
  
  Kenyans ever increasing faith in the Hague as the just and independent arbiter to help resolve disputes future is set to get a further big boost with this latest twist in the two countries ownership disagreement.
  
  Never underestimate the power of FISH sourced fresh from Migingo and served under tent in Bondo. Yote Yawezekana na Hague in all her shades, border disputes and ICC.Kumekucha

  
  

  

• 14:48

  HAWAYU….!

   » ‎ Hapa Kenya

  
  It’s a Comic rush in Kenya! Everyone thinks they are funny including my former boss, my landlord, my neighbour and even the newspaper vendor! Over the past one month there has been great effort by lots of Kenyans to crack jokes and make others laugh. How much success has come out of this is debatable. At least I get my fair share of comic relief from the politicians especially Hon Poghisio, don’t you just find him funny..lol! There has been an upsurge in televised Kenyan stand-up comedy, which is a good thing for our artists but the quality is definitely questionable. First there was the Top Comic show that was suppose to sweep us all on our feet, my feet are still glued to the ground and I have never even smiled at any of the jokes.

  
  A rival TV station came up with a counter to Top Comic in the name of HAWAYU. Just as was the intention, the show lacks originality. For a 30 minute show, you get the feeling they are struggling to fill in the spaces. First Omondi, the comedian starts with one liner jokes that he only can find comical except for the stage managed claps and applause by otherwise distracted audience. In a flash, just as am waiting for the main act, guest artists are introduced.

  
  I have nothing against wannabe comedians, and it is a fact that Omondi got his act under Churchill as a guest artist, but the difference in this case is that there is never a main act. What was the theme for today’s show if I may ask? The guest artist are definitely no names when it comes to comedy, their jokes are the same old jokes that are easily traced back to jokes.com and mchekoparadise.co.ke. For instance, that one about a priest in a plane asking how high the plane is flying was a hit back in ’97. Can I laugh about it now? I doubt! Oh, if you want to play Jeff Koinange, get the voice right, and don’t be in a hurry to say what you want, at least the last time I checked. The audience did applaud, so probably it’s me who has a different sense of humor.

  
  After the guest artist, we are treated to a session of musicals, with known artist forming part of the show, today we were indulged by the MOG crew cleaning utensils and arguing about who sleeps where in their otherwise modest house. Then the duo was brought on stage to perform their two chart bursting songs. At this point the instrumentals were lacking, when they got their acts right, it was rather too late. Still on the musicals, without any intro whatsoever, Nameless pops on stage accompanied by some two overfed girls. Then Omondi dressed supposedly like Wahu appear. I didn’t really get what was funny about Nameless and Omondi (Wahu) hamming known songs, but probably it was one of those jokes I’ll get in an afterthought.

  
  Overall the show is lacking on substance, nothing sticks in the mind after the 30 minutes other than what was not done right. The “Principle” in this case appears to be a little less on content that can sustain a show. The production quality is wanting; the editting is not upto par. The audince/crowd is managed and it is so obvious on the show.

  
  Piece of advice to Omondi, create your own niche, develop your own style, and make a different script other than what is already known, to be Churchil is not going to be an easy task. You are judged according to old laws unless you make your own.

  

• 13:43

  Land Grab Right on The Green Belt?

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Environment  

  Spring Valley Nairobi – An area that was supposedly protected by the Green Belt Movement is now being built up by a developer. The Green Belt Movement is the organization founded by the venerable Prof. Wangari Maathai, a nobel laureate and actually a heroine of mine. I ask about this because there are more questions than I have answers, when I drove by this area in late 2006 and late 2007 my impression was that the whole valley around the signboard was part of the Green Belt Movement protected area. At the time the whole place just had trees and a few vegetable gardens. Am I mistaken?

  

  The sign board is now an exercise in utter irony

  

  Fence around the property

  

  view from the road

  

  view from the side.
  All pics taken June 28th 2009.

  Anyone with more info, please comment.

  [is.gd] title="Post to Twitter">

• 13:01

  Darkess and the Elder Soul - Battle Cries

   » ‎ Words Much Like Poetry
  paenae, speak
  
  o mistress of the shadows,
  our master has struck upon a comely endeavor
  his constitution, I fear, will not withstand the challenge
  
  and what say you vaelera?
  
  the master's soul pines for amelioration,
  o dark one
  a fair one has caught its contemplation
  
  maestra, influence on my sovereign wanes,
  speak his mind
  
  alas, o spirit of our host
  only a vestige of my reach is allowed therein
  he hides his designs in cahoots with the old soul
  
  aelira, my pun - is his laughter ours or of that alien?
  
  downcast, I abase myself before your eternal dusk
  my tickles he no longer feels
  adora, a fairy, nests upon his heartbeat and her wings,
  fanned me away from my domain - ticklista
  
  my patience wears thin, and where is aerotika?
  
  aerotika is mine, now
  together we shall deliver the master from your mischief
  and with adora, we shall give the master delectation
  which you have endeavored to keep for yourself
  
  how dare you! you may be the elder soul but I am his spirit
  you shall not succeed
  
  adora prevailed upon my person,
  o obscure one
  I only seek to serve the master
  his passion is my very existence
  
  you have betrayed me for the last time aerotika,
  behold, paessionada!
  
  o mistress of the hidden,
  I shall battle for the sovereign's benevolence and ecstasy
  adora will be broken and aerotika will be rendered unto dust
  this I swear
  
  depart, my minions and protect your master from desolation
  his pain is my agony, the elder soul cares not for this
  
  darkess, selfish symbiont
  you only serve the master to feed yourself
  I, the elder soul shall defeat you this time
  the temptress is my ultimate weapon
  
  so be it, ineffectual fool, my shadow will be your downfall,
  my sword, desira shall neuter you!

• 11:43

  Documentary on Mungiki now on Youtube

   » ‎ Kenyan Pundit

  Tags:  Kenya  

  Click here to watch this eye-opening documentary on Mungiki. I had blogged about the documentary a few months ago, I think it was airing on Discovery in the US.

  As I keep saying, one of my big concerns is that this scenario is replicating itself all over Kenya.

• 8:49

  Suji to coach team in Canada

   » ‎ Kenya Cricket
  With the new national coach yet to be chosen, it is understood that Martin Suji will travel in that capacity when Kenya tour Canada next month. According to a report in today's Nation it will now not be until September that the new coach is named. This is a frustrating delay in some ways as it may well be almost half way through the current Intercontinental Cup campaign before he takes charge. Given that there will then be a settling in period, Kenya's fate in the competition may well be as good as sealed by the time his influence kicks in. According to the article, 5 shortlisted coaches will be invited travel to Kenya for one-on-one interviews in August. It is not clear who will be footing the bill for this.
  
  While the delay is frustrating, it gives further experience to Suji who could possibly be the man to step permanently into this role in the future, or sooner should he be able to get results while he is in charge. Ultimately, a home-grown coach would be ideal for Kenya provided they were of sufficient standard.
  
  With most of the current national team also in fine form in the NPCA league, it looks unlikely that there will be much change to the team when it is announced next week. On current form, the one player outside the national squad who is returning exceptional figures is Stray Lions bowler Darshit Shah. Another good weekend ahead and it would surely make it hard for the selectors not to at least consider him. He is the only bowler to have so far picked up 4+ wickets in both weeks, though Nehemiah Odhiambo does match his 9 wickets so far for the season.Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com]

• 6:20

  Getting Backlinks

   » ‎ Kenya's local content promotion website
  Getting Backlinks
• 6:18

  What is a Blog Worth

   » ‎ Kenya's local content promotion website
  What is a Blog Worth
• 6:15

  Roadmap to richess

   » ‎ Kenya's local content promotion website
  Roadmap to richess

• 6:12

  Hackers and Kenyan banks..security threats

   » ‎ All about Africa and specifically Kenya
  Guest Post By Idd Salim A hackers life is about to get veeeery veery interesting… Let me explain something Kenya is one country where the art of security through obscurity thrives. The common chilling question of ‘Kwani who would want to hack us, we are just a small bank?!’ really makes me cringe! I have been told countless [...]

• 6:12

  Open Source Web Design SW

   » ‎ Kenya's local content promotion website
  Open Source Web Design SW

• 5:50

  Mau is Burning…

   » ‎ Still Proud to be Kenyan.
  When I was young, our house at the time had a view to the hills so many miles away. These were those days in the year when we would see red at the horizon reminiscent of the setting sun. But since this re glow at the horizon lasted whole nights, our young brains at the [...]

• 5:29

  Kenya being part of the internet super-highway, the sky is the limit

   » ‎ All about Africa and specifically Kenya
  Much has been said about the connection of Africa to internet super highway and the excitement is everywhere. But how exactly will people take advantage of the broadband connection is still lost in translations. The most talked about is BPO(Business Process Outsourcing) which many has declared has having potential to change the lives of many [...]

• 4:58

  Controversy brews in Brazilian Samba (pensioners) Kenyan trip

   » ‎ SportsKenya
  As we had earlier reported, it's true the Brazilian football team was making a trip into Kenya. The ONLY small bit in the fine print was the fact that these were the retired players. This has led the Football Kenya Limited management to cry foul and claim they are not in need of 'tutoring' lessons from the Brazilians.
  I would seek to entertain a different point here by the fact that, in all fairness, we can't call up the first team of the current Brazilian national team. It's way beyond our league to even try thinking of. The best we could get is a pep talk with a select side.Their main players are already in Europe preparing for the upcoming season while the others are back in South America as their national league continues (-:
  You may need to know that their sponsors are very specific about such friendlies and what value will arise from it. It has to make commercial sense and not just some patchwork of a game. Planning my friends, planning !
  
  As such, we can start with the older brothers who would offer invaluable experiences to the Kenyan boys. You never know, we could even have one or two left behind to offer technical expertise to the national team management ( that is if German coach allows it...)
  
  Eat humble pie FKL ! You too ambitious thinking of hosting such giants while you're still sorting your backyard.

• 3:47

  To the light,to the light

   » ‎ the-undergraduate
  Ouch!!My nephew aka 1.5year old mini me is at it again!!He always wakes me up whenever he has a craving for sprite,do they have rehab for that?
  Today he must have come earlier than usual and i couldnt really be bothered to wake up at that hour.I swear it way too early cos even my cock,albeit being an imaginary one,hadnt began to crow.At this point i should probably make it clear that i am refering to a rooster so y'all get your minds out of the gutter...am not talking about the belt either!!I give up trying to clarify things,so....
  After trying to wake me up for a couple of minutes,he resorted to what he always does when he's in tantrum mode...trashing the room by throwing whatever he can lay his hands on the floor.Unfortunately,today everything was directed towards my bed.It was all good at first cos he mainly tossed books,shoes and other light stuff i could sleep through until....he decided to go get some backup!!
  uuuuuuwwwwiiiii!!Next thing i know ive been hit!!oooooh the agony!!He must have stumbled on one of those huge gate padlocks and he squared me right below the knee...
  ''To the light,to the light....yo Angel Gabriel aka G,let me through!Oh is that Mj?!Salute to the glove brother!!
  Yo!Biggie and Tupac rolling together?Are you guys bestfriends now?
  Oh left eye,pst!I see you found your right eye...''
  I think i might have seen my hometown's man trying to get a piece of the golden gate for resale purposes right before Angel G said my file hadnt yet been processed and as a result i was ordered to back up and take a trip downstairs!Jeez!!How many stairs am i expected to walk in a week,ud think theyd have an elevator up in H-town (heaven) huh?!
  
  So am back to darkness...and when i finally open my eyes i see his toothy grin,a sure sign of just how proud he was of this latest achievement!!
  Not one to wait and see what would happen next,i limp out of bed with my newly acquired migraine,serve him his addiction and get back to bed to rest my headache.
  Half an hour later he was back,this time with some coins he must have been saving up and in an attempt to suprise me...he threw them at me...*sigh* landing on the same spot :(
  Is this a sign i need to start repenting?!
  
  Am gonna miss him alot when he goes back home in the coming weeks

• 3:32

  Weekly Ramble

   » ‎ Rugby in Kenya
  Weekly Ramble

• 3:14

  Africa Breaking/Latest News Resources!

   » ‎ A Nairobian's Perspective !
  To find out the latest reported breaking news stories as they occur in Africa i will recommend the following authoritative News websites and blogs.
  

  1. Africa guide News feed
  2. Africa News Search: What i like about this site is that you do not only get the latest News Headlines but a brief summary of what is happening in the Continent on regional basis .
  3. AllAfrica.Com this is my favorite as it aggregates all the major newspapers and authoritative blogs n the continent. The site is constantly updated with the latest breaking news in Africa
  4. BBC News Africa
  5. GlobalPost Africa

  
  I will list more resources as getting credible information in this world wide web jungle can be a great hastle !Sponsored Conversations

  
  

  

• 1:26

  These Emotional Scenarios…

   » ‎ kaasa
  Quick post because I have to get to bed early tonight… (for someone who was planning on shutting down this blog a week ago, I sure have a lot to say these days…) Anyway, I spoke with a good friend who lives in L.A. and she told me that she and her boyfriend have broken up. Actually, [...]