Mashada Blogs

Black Looks: Women’s rights across Africa

2009-11-21T10:30:14-05:00

This weeks Pambazuka News has a special Women’s issues focusing on the last 15 years since Beijing Platform for Action and the future for women’s rights on the continent. The essays cover securing women’s rights, gender and conflict, what has been achieved to date and a programme for action for the 16 [...]

Rugby in Kenya: Christie 7's Day 1

2009-11-21T10:10:00-05:00

Christie 7's Day 1

RIBA CAPITAL: KPLC Share Capital Restructuring…

2009-11-21T09:54:18-05:00

Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) plans to restructure its share capital in Q1 of 2010 in an effort to strengthen its balance sheet and also enhance the affordability of its shares in the market.

This will include:
- Conversion of 87% of the 7.85% redeemable non-cumulative preference shares owned by the Govt into ordinary shares.
- Floatation of a rights issue where the govt will renounce some of its rights and trade them on the NSE.
- Carry out an unspecified share split so that the KPLC shares can trade at a smaller denomination.

Here is the complete press release from KPLC.

Kenyan Pundit: Internet as a candidate for Nobel Prize?

2009-11-21T07:05:18-05:00

Interesting idea.

A Nairobian's Perspective !: World Cup South Africa 2010 Qualified Teams

2009-11-21T04:12:00-05:00

Call it football ,call it soccer...the drum beats of Africa are now rolling inviting their neighbors to come witness the peak of African hospitality, the diversity and richness of African culture and the resilience of the African continent in next years football World Cup matches to be held in South Africa in 2010 !

In its eighty years history , this will be the first time Africa is hosting the event since its inception since 1930 making it of much significance to the content. African bloggers,vloggers ,podcasters... etc will take the opportunity to present a different picture of the continent to the World especially since western media always capitalize on the wars, poverty ,diseases conflicts,negative politics that encumber part of the continent.The perception of Africa will be changed to a great extent by the event that will feature 32 world national soccer teams.This blog takes the lead in this venture.Intense preparations are ongoing in South Africa to handle the volume of fans,security risks,accommodation, logistics etc that accompany hosting the event.

The teams that have qualified for next years football world cup include (Source FIFA website) by region are:

Africa

South Africa (RSA) HOSTS

Asia

Europe

North,Central America and Caribbean

Oceania

New Zealand (NZL)

South America

Match tickets for for the 64 matches that will be plaid can be purchased online from the FIFA website.It is important to note that the match tickets for the South Africa football World cup are being sold in phases with he first two phases already finished.The third phase will begin on Saturday December 5 , 2009.The price ranges for the tickets range from US Dollars $ 20(for persons on wheelchair ) to Dollars 2,100 to watch the finals.

All eyes are now turned to the Final draw that will take place on 4th December, 2009 at the Cape Town International Conference Centre(CTICC) 7 P.M South African time which will see the 32 qualifying teams lumped into 8 groups.The event will be beamed live to millions of anticipating viewers worldwide.From then forth fixtures will be known, opponents identified and intense preparations at team levels will begin.

The World Cup trophy which is the ultimate prize for the event is already within the continent but it's a shame sometimes to see how humans glorify and idolize the object(i know im hurting many feelings here).Its just a cup although it may elicit intense emotions but it remains just a cup, a lifeless object with no definite power to help those who overly adore or worship it .However without doubt this is one tournament that keeps its exhilarated fans on their feet constantly.The games affect work attendance, families, friendships etc to a near fatal extent sometimes.Notwithstanding the World will be watching South Africa World Cup 2010.The countdown begins.

STONE COLD HAVEN: The drama of having kids

2009-11-21T03:06:38-05:00

I rarely get giggles or motivation from forwards sent to me with a threatening “you will forward this to 25 people or else you will die” type of e-mails.

This one caught my attention though as it’s not only true to life, it’s also hilarious. And my buddy who sent it didn’t threaten me with something dodgy if I didn’t send it on. Any parent will relate to this. Enjoy:

Birth order of children

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your doctor confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

_____________________________________________________
Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don’t bother because you remember that last time breathing didn’t do a thing.
3rd baby : You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

________________________________________________
The Layette :

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn’s clothes, colour coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby’s little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can’t they?
______________________________________________________

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress–a whimper, a frown–you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

______________________________________________________
Dummy:

1st baby: If the dummy falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the dummy falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby’s bottle..
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

______________________________________________________
Nappies:

1st baby: You change your baby’s nappy every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their nappy every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their nappy before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
____________________

Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

______________________________________________________
Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached…
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

______________________________________________________
At Home:

1st baby : You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn’t squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
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A Nairobian's Perspective !: Website Templates at ContentMixi

2009-11-21T02:37:00-05:00

Contentmixi website has crafted 'the ultimate online digital market' where users can purchase the following products:

SEO Optimized Website Templates
CSS Templates
Customized full websites
Joomla Templates
Wordpress Themes
Newsletter Templates
PSD Templates
Logos
Digital E- Books
Animations

The site also features free website templates for freebie lovers . The site proprietors were really ingenuous in coming up with the idea o selling diverse digital items online in a one stop shop.I find the idea pretty captivating and the site is worth a visit.The banners at the site are also intriguing.Samples are as here below:

Kenyantykoon's Blog: A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF BOND INVESTING

2009-11-21T01:38:10-05:00

For the past week or so, i have been concentrating mainly on bond and bond fund investing. While i have only skimmed the surface of this somewhat complicated bond market, it is better that you know some of these things because that is how education stars; first the introduction of concepts that are expounded later [...]

You Missed This: The Paradox of Devolution and Nationalism

2009-11-20T16:00:00-05:00

Kenyans are poring into the draft constitution starting from the top. They have collectively identified the cancer of unchecked powers exclusively resident at State House which they want tamed. On the same frequency they abhor reserving the weighty task of choosing PM to selfish politicians.

The CoE would kill many birds with the same stone by amending that clause to indicate that the PM will be the leader of the party with majority MPs. That single provision will sound the death knell of briefcase parties while promoting policy-based parties. What is more, voters will vote with be priori knowledge of whom their prospective PM would be. That will minimize political wheeler dealing and arm twisting.

That said the prospect of two centres of power MUST be addressed if the present inertia and tension is to be eradicated. Instead of narrowing power sharing to two offices, the executive authority is better best executed from one office with empowered independent institutions as watchdogs. Independent institutions rather than gullible MPs are a safer bet to objectivity and continuity devoid of electoral tensions.

While Kenyans rightfully remain fixated to the proposed two centres of power, chapter two of the draft constitution is a study in paradox per excellence. First the chapter spells out devolution which captures the hitherto loathed majimbo in all but name.

With devolution come deserved superlatives like sovereignty of the people and supremacy of the constitution itself. The three layers of governance is just too costly for a poor country like Kenya. But again, the CoE must have been alive to our ethnic loyalties and regional disparities.

The draft declares that the governments at the various levels will be distinct and interdependent. Then comes the rider that the same governments must conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation. That paradox must be clearly spelt out to avoid any regional conflicts that will inevitably impact on the national fabric.

Also chapter two of the draft hits a masterstroke by reducing national holidays to three: Madaraka, Mashujaa and Jamhuri days. Makes sense if only they would do away with the obsession to specific dates and instead opt for days of the week (e.g first Monday of June ....) to avoid disruption of economic activities.

But this structuring and reduction of holidays is a first step to kill deity and destructive sycophancy that saw previous presidents patent Kenya in their own names. Besides disabusing previous imperialists of personalized rule, this is a recognition of all who selfishly contributed in different ways to liberating Kenya.

In a nutshell, while all are tackling the draft head first, the document provides us with the best opportunity to RECLAIM Kenya for ourselves and the future generation. We must not allow the pettiness of the present politicians to take us back to MISRI. The first generation leaders failed big time to steer Kenya to her right heights and we are paying the painful consequences.

Let us seize this unique moment to retrace our steps and redefine the glorious Kenya for posterity. We owe it to ourselves and the future generation.Kumekucha

Kenyanpoet: Leela James - Baby Am scared of you(A Boby Womack's rendition) Lets do it Again!

2009-11-20T11:05:00-05:00

I heard this rendition of Bobby Womack's Baby Am Scared of You redone by Leela James today on Projectvibe and I LOVED IT especially towards the end where she incorporates some ragga!, awesome, not to mention the soulfulness of the song. This is off her new 2nd Album 'Lets do it Again' which was available in stores in March this year.
Enjoy this as you start your weekend.