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5:40
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Mount Kirima
Dragon flies, originally uploaded by Kirima.
I found this interesting specimen of Dragonfly outside my house just posing for a photo.
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9:31
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Mount Kirima
The little trophy says “This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.”
I find it extremely odd that someone would find this neglected blog worthy of such a distinguished award! But thanks to Savvy our prospective PhD candidate I find myself the proud receipient of the [...]
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3:04
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Mount Kirima
I have been suffering from internetlessness of late, not out of choice but due to circumstances here. we have been upgrading the servers and network security at work and the result is that alot of browsing choices have been shut down including the ability to connect my laptop to the corporate network. Fortunately in the [...]
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2:11
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Mount Kirima
Ok 3TOC you can call off the search party! I do know that I have been away for quite a while it hasn’t quite been a hiatus since I have still been blogging in a micro way so technically I haven’t been away. Nevertheless I have neglected this diggs since Dec. Christmas and New Years [...]
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4:34
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Mount Kirima
For all those whom I knew
Those I’m yet to know
For those who are left behind
Lets all take care!
It’s been a whole year since this last post my thoughts remain the same so no harm in repeating, but still the struggle continues with statistics such as this the battle is far from won
International Statistics
People living with [...]
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7:35
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Mount Kirima
CSC_8408
Originally uploaded by Kirima
Last weekend I decided to laze around at a calm place here at the farm. We have this large water reservoir where there one can sit at the bank and watch the sun go down while appreciating a cool breeze. There are several wild ducks, Herons and Ibises but what what caught [...]
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9:53
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Mount Kirima
One more night before we know whether That One! will win the US presidential election, I don’t know whether it will be possible to sleep on that night as the results start trickling since I’m sure that the results will be known by 10 am Wednesday.
I have avoided making too much noise about the US [...]
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7:34
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Mount Kirima
Plover
Its been a long while since I put up something on the blog, infact even reading of blogs has been a tad bit infrequent of late and I desperately need a scapegoat to blame and after reading Mboiz’s post I decided to do like Kenyans and just blame it on the system whatever the ’system’ [...]
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13:33
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Mount Kirima
Ok this weekend I was bored at home with nothing much to do since I wasn’t at work so other than just lazing around the house……and I will avoid discussing that game especially with Archer!……. so what better to do than whip out BOB and do some shots around the house, this time I set [...]
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10:55
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Mount Kirima
I’m glad this this past week is finally over!
It began with on a rather sour note which despite having a rather lucky or fortunate ending leaves me with a car that is almost likely to be written off but looking on a brighter side I am in good health and with the current fuel prices [...]
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10:30
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Mount Kirima
I never knew that Blog day existed until I read this post by White African it is definately an interesting concept the instructions are quite simple and are posted on the blogday website.
BlogDay posting instructions:
Find 5 new Blogs that you find interesting
Notify the 5 bloggers that you are recommending them as part of BlogDay 2008
Write [...]
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7:23
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Mount Kirima
I have just recovered from a very enthralling safari to the Maasai Mara, it was my first time there and definately a wake up call tha I need to see more of this beautiful country of ours. Despite the fact that the journey was very very loooong we still managed to have loads of fun [...]
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7:37
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Mount Kirima
ON LEAVE
Another year has passed a bit too quickly and I find myself on leave yet again, I don’t know why people find it odd that I have 5 weeks of continuous leave but when you live 11 months of the year deep in shags where there are not many creature conforts or interaction [...]
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11:39
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Mount Kirima
This past weekend was the first that I had to relax after a long busy season so I didn’t have anything particular on my agenda other than some serious RnR. Fortunately it was a big sporting weekend with the Wimbeldon Finals and British GrandPrix happening. So Saturday afternoon found me at my favourite sportsbar watching [...]
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11:31
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Mount Kirima
This past weekend was dominated by all things beer with the Tusker Safari Sevens and Tusker Project Fame finals happening on the same weekend, I wonder how the Tusker big brass were able to divide themselves between the two events happening on opposite sides of town. Despite the obvious temptation especially on the former I [...]
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9:43
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Mount Kirima
Its a great time for the consumer when all the big companies are fighting for your attention (and a little bit of your money). Just such a situation is playing itself out in the business circles in Kenya where some previously unassailable corporate giants are being challenged. Of course for us consumers we can just [...]
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11:16
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Mount Kirima
I remember by this time last year I was salivating at the prospect of big movies that were being released for the summer season. There was a lot of buzz around the following movies.
Spiderman 3
Pirates of the Caribean 3 (At Worlds End) my personal favourite
Die Hard 4
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Transformers
300
I eagerly awaited the release of [...]
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9:56
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Mount Kirima
This post is not my usual cup of tea but just needed to get some divergent opinions on some issues that have been on my mind.
When you are going out with someone when does it become exclusive? is it an agreed moment or is it up to one of them to point out that the relationship is [...]
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4:19
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Mount Kirima
The Cup is ours AGAIN!
My ‘humility’prevents me from bragging and chest thumping but by now all and sundry will know what came to pass on the final day of the EPL which definately has put a smile on my face and a slight bounce to my stride which I consider to be adequate compensation [...]
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8:50
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Mount Kirima
Todays agreement on the Grand Coalition Cabinet has definitely gotten me thinking. I know I should be angry about the grand waste of public funds that will be occasioned by this massive cabinet. Instead I am mildly amused about the sitting arrangement.
If the 17 current ministers filled up the Cabinet room in Harambee house as [...]
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3:19
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Mount Kirima
Its been a while since I put up a post on the blog this has been due to a few things I needed to catch up at work and of course the distractions due to the Easter Holidays.
First off I thoroughly enjoyed the Easter Weekend, I initially didn’t have very high expectations or plans and [...]
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3:08
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Mount Kirima
Apparently voyeurism go hand in hand with blogging otherwise where did all this tagging business have to do with blogging. Anyway since I was tagged by Half and Half and I hate to be unsportly despite the fact that I have already obliged a number of tags in the past I will attempt to do [...]
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10:55
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Mount Kirima
After weeks of Trial and Error I have finally managed to erase Microsoft Windows from my laptop and replace it with the Linux Based Ubuntu operating system. I will be the first to admit that I am not a computer geek but several problems with viruses and missing drivers had made my laptop all but [...]
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9:06
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Mount Kirima
I normally won’t post on money and economic matters and prefer to leave it to the experts such as Bankelele but with each day that the violence and the crisis as a result of the stolen botched elections lasts the effects on the Kenyan economy are getting worse and worse and I feel the need to [...]
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9:54
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Mount Kirima
This is the longest break I have taken from blogging, at one point I almost ditched the whole thing all together, since the 30th of Dec I have undergone almost every negative emotion that the human mind can fathom, from Shock, Anger, Horror, Despair, Pity, Weariness, Resignation, Devastation, Hopelessness……. you name it because of the [...]
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2:45
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Mount Kirima
I was flipping through the channels last night when I came across the Breaking News that Jacob Zuma had beaten Thabo Mbeki in the race for the ANC Presidency by a landslide. I had of course been aware of the controversy behind Zuma that resulted in him being sacked as the South African Deputy President, [...]
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3:37
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Mount Kirima
Today is the 15th of Dec and I realize that Christmas is just 10 days away. When did time move so fast? I have been having an extremely busy November and December at work and in the process have kept out of my blog for just a little too long and so I need to [...]
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7:17
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Mount Kirima
For all those whom I knew
Those I’m yet to know
For those who are left behind
Lets all take care!
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9:10
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Mount Kirima
Lately I have been skipping the blogging scene, not for lack of interest but rather for lack of time. I am only able to zip through the latest posts and leave some quick incoherent remarks on some of your pages. What strikes me particularly about KBW at this time is the extraordinary number of election [...]
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10:13
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Mount Kirima
Let me close my eyes and make a wish!
Here goes ………………………………..
I’m in a good mood tonight, Tomorrow I get a little bit older, a little bit bolder and a little less sober (I hope!)
So now I’m open to receiving hugs and kisses from the gals and booze from the guys.
Off to Kenol till later…….
[...]
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12:08
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Mount Kirima
The Bourne Ultimatum is finally out in movie theatres in Nairobi. I haven’t watched the movie yet although I intend to at the first opportunity I get. What has been interesting though is the inevitable debate on whether the movie is better than the book. This debate I guess has been going on since the [...]
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15:30
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Mount Kirima
Why am I blogging on a Sunday evening?
photo: bbc.co.uk
Update: There seems to be an investigation on BMW and Williams cars for using cooler fuel which if they are penalized or disqualified could see Hamilton leapfrog to 4th and win the championship but that would kill the moment I believe!
I’m giddy with excitement after a fantastic [...]
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9:47
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Mount Kirima
Sorry to all fans who expected me to update you on the goings on at the office party but that gossip as juicy as it may be is not quite worthy of being exposed on my blog. Lakini I can assure you I do not feature in any negative way in the goings and as [...]
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8:10
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Mount Kirima
Tomorrow the company I work for is having an annual company picnic party which has been set out to bring all the employees together with the management to have fun, eat and make merry together. The intention is always noble, to encourage a sense of team spirit and appreciation for a job well done throughout [...]
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7:49
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Mount Kirima
As many of you know I have limited access to the internet in the office and this has ensured that my blogging experience is basically a labour of love since once addicted it is extremely difficult to ignore. Being in a deep rural area has also added to the challenge for there is no luxury [...]
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12:28
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Mount Kirima
As you may have guessed already my life revolves around getting through the week so that I can live on the weekend. But what to do when the weekend is all but ordinary yaani just bland nothing to blog write about. Yep, you guessed it I had one those, it probably had more to do [...]
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8:20
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Mount Kirima
After weeks of agony last night was absolute bliss.
The obnoxious bats that have been keeping me awake in the evenings have finally vacated although it had nothing to do with my desperate measures but rather we had to call in a professional exterminator – Rentokill who apparently did some voodoo which had those flying [...]
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14:23
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Mount Kirima
Its been a while since I put up a post actually last week is the first time I have gone over a week without posting and its not that I have been on a hiatus or anything like that its just that I have been plain lazy to write up anything, I have just contented [...]
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4:11
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Mount Kirima
Since I got back to Embu I have been literally having sleepless nights because I discovered that my house has been infested by a colony of bats! Yes those creepy flying rats that hang upside down in caves. Now I don’t live in a cave by the way it just happens that alot of the [...]
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7:30
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Mount Kirima
For all you that have been Wondering. This is where I live if you zoom in a bit more you can actually see my house therefore no further direction necessary.
Zoom out to see how deep in the wilderness it actually is.
You are all welcome!
View Larger Map
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9:38
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Mount Kirima
It has been quite a hassle settling back to the daily drudgery otherwise called work but I can’t complain too much cos’ a man has to get something to eat. No big changes however and as I promised I will not disappoint my fans by disappearing on one of those much maligned hiatuses. I have a few questions or observations though.
- Now that I am back to work why does the weather decide to improve and the sun come out. It bores me when I look out of the window and see the nice weather and then I remember having to confine myself to the house and several layers of clothes when I should have been out enjoying myself. Too late now.
- When did Nairobi become so liberal? I ask this cos one night (actually early morning) in one of those 24 hour pubs in Nairobi West there were these 2 chicks who were making out in full public view yaani one was literally papasaring her friends boobs plus some very open kissing. I didn’t know that lesbian PDA was the norm nowadays makes you wonder where we are headed to. (We didn’t mind watching though!)
- Kwani every one in Nairobi has bought a car? The traffic jams I had to endure were trully horrendous maybe this was made worse by the fact that most of the time I was leaving home was when people were going back home from work, but lakini it was a bit too much this time.
- Is it poetry week out there on KBW yaani everyone is writting poems?
- How are people able to multitask i.e. to be able to work, blog, chat and email all at the same time or are all bloggers (except me!) employed by google?
There are still a few things I will definately miss out here in Embu though and which will definately see me make a few trips to Nairobi once in a while.
- Kiddum
- Park place chicken
- Bottomless cups of coffee
- Pizza
Some of you know what I mean!
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7:31
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Mount Kirima
Thats it!
Its all over now, to all those I have been bugging by just being idle for the last 5 weeks I would like to announce that this long vacation of mine is over. I can hardly believe it has been that long cos’ it has moved on pretty fast with lots and lots of activities. Of course there were those days that hours dragged especially during the day when most people were at work but it really started coming alive in the evenings and of course on weekends. It has definately given me the opportunity to recharge my mental batteries and get a fresh start for jobo. 5 weeks as many of you say is a long time but for those of us who have live upcountry where alot of the social ammenities we take for granted here in Nairobi are just not there it is too short a time. Coupled with the fact that there were alot of activities around home ensured that there was rarely a dull moment. Some of the activities I was up to include.
- I was a Bestman at one of my best pals wedding, It was a great experience which took me to Nakuru where I haven’t stopped in a very long time and the ceremony was one of those very small intimate ceremonies where you literally know everybody. Definately the pressure for me to follow suit was there as is in all weddings so I had to engage in a delicate balancing act of ducking relas who inevitably ask “Na yako ni lini?”
- I got back my reading habits. Its been a while since I’ve had free time to indulge in what used to be one of my biggest hobbies which is reading books. So during my free time during the day I was able to read several books not the ussual thrillers I used to love but this time I tried new authors and biographies and loved them these included , A brief History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, Unbowed by Wangari Maathai (if I knew how I would have done a review for HnH’s Bookworms), Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson and I have also bought 2 of the earlier Kwani Editions to keep me occupied when I get back to work.
- I got to discover new places to hang out in Nairobi and definately heard a good time in my several nights out therefore next time I am in town I definately know where to hang out.
- I had the opportunity to visit a childrens home - St. Francis in Langata which was a thoroughly humbling and touching experience it definately reminded me that even the simplest guestures can mean alot to those in need. I will definately be willing to support more of this.
- I got to meet several of my favourite bloggers during these weeks, this is particularly intersting because when I got into blogging I didn’t expect that it would be possible for me to interact with bloggers one on one due to distance and I worried about whether actually meeting them would in any way change my perception of them but quite pleasantly I was glad to find a close and decent fellowship of individuals who are quite easy to hang around with. It will definately be my pleasure to join in whenever it will be possible in future.
I don’t want to say too much but will definately be back to blogging once I get back to Embu so as to give you the pespective from up there. (At least less phone blogging from there!) For all those I met it was my pleasure and will definately look forward to repeating more of the same. For those I didn’t get a chance to meet especially those who are coming home this month I’m sure there will be a next time.
Cheers.
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4:49
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Mount Kirima
Just when you are having fun it takes one incident to bring you down to reallity and realize just where you are. This is probably my least postive post but I just needed to get some worries out of my system.
A couple nights back while I was out enjoying myself in the early evening around 8:30 PM I got a call from home asking where I was cos they were hearing gunshots in the neighbourhood that indeed is worrying cos I stay in one of the surburbs not far from Nairobi that is prone to high levels of violent crime especially in the recent past. Seeing that I was still in town and that was quite an early hour I just promised to call as soon as I get near home so that someone can be ready to open the gate for me.
Got home at around 11:00 only to find out that one of our neighbours had been shot dead.
Apparently the thugs had been monitoring him and knew that he comes home early so they waited for him to come home and pounced on him as he was getting in and held him and his family hostage as they demanded money (I wonder how they expect people to keep large amounts of money at home nowadays). Meanwhile one of the employees who was outside managed to escape and rush to the nearby police post which is less than 500M away. For once nobody could complain about the police responce, the police rushed there and managed to shoot dead 2 of the thugs who were outside but probably out of spite the gangsters shot the man of the house as they were making the getaway, one of the cops also got shot on the leg.
This incident whch was too close to home for my comfort has definately brought the realities of insecurity in our neighbourhood and in our country in general. Every time I am going out even last night the thought of whether I will get home safetly is always at the back of the mind and much as I try I can’t help but worry not just for myself but for the people at home. It used to be that thugs ussually struck at late hours of the night but nowadays anytime is possible in fact I’m just about the only person at home who has not been carjacked (knock on wood!) and all those incidences have been before 8:00 PM, just recently one of our neighbours house was broken into after 5:00 AM I heard the alarm go off but on checking the time I dismissed it cos that is basically dawn and you wouldn’t expect any breakins at that time.
That brings me to tbe terrified state most of the people in Nairobi and its surroundings endure every day I find it very stricking how in Embu I am able to sleep soundly throughout the night but when I am here every bark of the dog or sound in the night makes you jump out of sleep with your heart pounding. Every house is a fortress with all manners of gates, burglar proof grills, dogs and alarms. At home we have even installed vibration sensors and motion sensors all over the house but still that doesn’t give you any assurance. I am not optimistic that the situation will change soon despite the capture/elimination of some of the most wanted gangsters. I wish there was something more I could do to help the situation because as much as I live in a safer place there is still the knowledge that people I care about are in danger and that sickens me.
Now onto less grim matters, Yesterday I managed to catch the Kiddum show at Galilleos and what a blast it was. Several bloggers in attendance including the recently landed JM it was definately good to put a face on several of the people who you only knew by their aliases. The ambience and music was terrific some dancing and generally alot of fun for all. Definately a good way to spend my vacation. How I wonder how those who had to go to work in the morning dealt with it.
My rant of the week goes to those wives who complain when you go for drinks with their husbands and come back either very late or the next morning saying you are spoiling their men. They should realise and accept that their husbands are grown up men and are fully responsible for their own actions and not their friends. Washidwe kabisa I am not your husbands keeper!
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5:59
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Mount Kirima
I never thought I thought I would get to say I love Monday but today I actually view today as a relief after a very eventful weekend. Lets just say I had too much fun otherwise how do you explain that I was getting back home at 5:00 PM on sato from Friday afternoon with no sleep in between, I thought I was too old for this but I guess I was wrong.
Now my leave is progressing rather nicely I have managed to catch up with alot of friends I haven’t hanged out with for ages and met a number of cool people being August there were several functions 4 weddings and a funeral (literally! none mine if you are asking) I am now getting the hang of this wordpress thing discovering new things every day I still need to learn how to put in pictures easily in my posts but I amd sure that will be accomplished soon, will still try to tweak this template some more but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be easy to modify themes in wordpress but so far I am impressed by the experience. I am impressed that I have managed to rope in a few new recruits as well.
Now that Premier League is back with a bang (go Man U- kwani what does Mourinho do when he is training the boys in taking penalties “Aim at the goalie!” hehehe!!!) and BBA is back I need to seriously consider getting myself a dish once I am back at Embu but with the sudden flood of new offers in the market I wouldn’t know what to pick, GTV looks attractive cos of the premiership but that alone cannot make me choose it since I will always prefer watching football in a pub where I can watch the agony on the faces of Arsenal and Chelsea supporters when we hit them. I think the premium package of DSTV is still the best but the price is still not attractive sini I can get GTV and DSTV compact at the same price.
Now the weather is getting better I need to get out of the house more (during the day that is!) but whats there to be done that doesn’t involve spending money since all this activity has seriously dented my savings plus a car that is demanding CV joints, rack ends and assorted bushes!
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5:14
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Mount Kirima
After much thought I have finally decided to finally open up my Wordpress Blog page. I have had this page for a while but have been too busy to attempt the migration but cos of the problems I have been having with Blogger lately at
my other blog I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and migrate. So Friends welcome to the new mountain top.
Enjoy
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13:52
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Mount Kirima
One of the promises I made to myself when starting this blog was to avoid writing political posts since I often don’t have the passion to argue with the various shades of opinion that may arise from my views. That said I have been rudely awakened by some of the events that are occuring in our country over the last 2 weeks. Undoubtedly everyone has heard of the salary award in disguise of a winding up allowance that the Minister of Finance was trying to sneak into parliament. Many people have had alot about to say on this matter and almost all the commentators are understandably sick about this 9th Parliaments sheer greediness.Unfortunately alot of the political debate in this country is centred around personalities and parties which tends to cloud the issues and principles that should be at the centre of the business of government. I have long held the view that parties in Kenya are basically meaningless camps which politicians can use and misuse at leisure and are neither based on common values or visions the only purpose they serve is as vehicles to political power. Therefore to me the whole lot are basically just the same.My worry is that Kenyans have abdicated the role of being masters of their own destiny and handed it over to our leaders. The powerful Presidency has always been (mostly rightly) seen as the biggest hinderance to Kenya acheiving true democracy and economic development thus there has been constant clamour to reduce these powers.There have been moves to enhance the independence of the judiciary so as to serve as a check, There has also been a clamour to enhance the power of Parliament so that it can serve as a safeguard againist executive excess which are all good measures. A strong and independent Parliament since they are supposed to be representing the voice of the electorate. To enable them to be more independent a Parliamentary Service Commission was created which was to look into the terms and conditions parliament including renumeration. Although all these measures were enacted in good faith and with the intention of improving governance the current ‘peoples representatives’ have taken it as a vehicle to improving their personal worth.Where does that place the common mwananchi? Who will speak for him if his representative is busy speaking for himself? My belief is that we cannot complain about poor representation if we are the same ones who vote them in time and time again. It is high time we stopped being just mwananchi wa kawaida and become the masters of our own destiny by making the right choices.I strongly hold the view that the problem in Kenya is that we have tended to look up at the leadership to take us to promised land forgetting that it is we who should be the drivers. We must start making the right choice if we choose the right leaders according to their demonstrated values we will end up with the right leaders. Instead we tend to look at what tribe, party, family the aspirant comes from. It has been said that the problem we have is the flawed constitution but I don’t think so. We cannot forget that in 2002 we were able to change the government by just our collective will even with all the oppressive forces brought on by the executive and a flawed constitution. So anything is possible if we as Kenyans have the will. Of course all did not go well after that but it at least demonstrated what we are capable of acheiving and from what we have learned from the leaders we must avoid making the same mistakes.Making the right choice shouldn’t be too hard all it requires is for you to examine your most sincere values and if you think the candidate has demonstrated those values and will be honest to those values then you should vote for him/her and hold them againist those promises.So as we rant (rightly) againist the outrage that the greedy bunch at parliament are trying to achieve we must remember that it is you and me who hold the keys to their return. Let us all watch carefully how each and every MP will be voting on this manner and use that to help us make the RIGHT CHOICE!
