johns epage

O Holy Night

2011-12-21T19:33:00.000+03:00

Me getting in the mood of the season. Merry Christmas everyoneTwo versions of my favorite Christmas songYou can read the full history of the song on Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Holy_NightEimar QuinnKenny Rodgers

Lyrics of John Sullivan Dwights version O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hears the angels' voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born; O night divine, O night, O night Divine. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friend. He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger, Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall His break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us, Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever, His power and glory evermore proclaim. His power and glory evermore proclaim.

Happy 48th birthday - Nchi Yetu by - Yvonne Mumbi

2011-12-12T22:00:00.000+03:00

I didn't attend today's Jamuhuri Day celebrations I hope you did. Anyway I found this song on You Tube Nchi Yetu - Yvonne Mumbi. She was supposed to be one of the performers for the day so hopefully you got to watch her live.

Anyway reason I am posting the song is because it just captures all the things we want to see for our country. Things such as an implemented constitution, resettled IDPs (can you believe it is four years down the line and there are Kenyans still living such desolate lives.) Maybe Mumbi didn't mention this in her song but many of us want to see prices of basic commodities come down.

We may also want to at least hear a viable economic explanation on these spikes.

Finally a couple of things we might be able to do for ourselves. When we ask for pay rises whether we are lecturers or doctors let us just remember that wages, salaries are a reward for labour...if we have a pay hike and there is no change in quality or quantity of the services we supply then we are just helping push inflation in the country higher.

If we are asking for pay hikes - the sky high prices should not be the only reason to want a pay increment...God knows we all could do with some extra cash. If we ask for a pay hike let us peg it against what greater performance and what better output we bring to the table.

Second thing we should all do for ourselves before our country hits 50 is to get rid of all our current crop of leaders young who joined this current parliament, old, new and the ancient ones who have been in parliament from 1992 or since the times of our first president.

I don't hate our leaders - some of them are really good hearted and have the right intentions but in this World, in the 20th Century or is 21st they don't have what it takes to lead a developing country to prosperity. If Kenyans want to achieve Vision 2030, if Kenyans want to achieve the MDGs by 2015 they need to bite the bullet and clean the August house of all of them. Do not spare a single parliamentarian at the ballot. Get yourself new leaders ...get your local Masters student who you have been paying for school through harambee, get your leader of the Women's Chamaa, get your Priest or Pastor, get the boss of a local company that's doing well - make them your Senators, Parliamentarians and Governors.

Clean our system of career politicians - then we will have better lives.

Okay I might keep going on and on but here are Yvonne Mumbi's lyrics to Nchi Yetu - ENJOY.

Nchi Yetu (our Country Kenya) lyrics

Yvonne Mumbi

Intro

Oh Lord of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our Borders
(taken from Kenya's national anthem)

Kenya Kenya Kenya (x8)

Chorus

Kenya ni inchi yetu
Kenya ni inchi ya amani
Hapa ndio nyumbani
Ata tukienda wapi

Verse 1

In 2013, it'll be 50 years
50 years since our independence
50 years we've been ruling ourselves
tell me brother, sister what do we have to show for it.

Are we together or are we still divided?
Because divided we will always be conquered
Are we enlightened or are we still in darkness
because ignorance is the cause of all hatred

Verse 2

We have an opportunity
to pursue a bright new destiny
but each of us must take responsibility
for the things that hold us back and keep us behind
lets fight corruption in the ways that we can
lets keep education as free as we can
implement the constitution as soon as we can
settle our IDPs as soon as we can

Verse 3

Kenya, Kenya
Habari Zenu (swahili)
Kenya, Kenya
ado aitu muri'ga (Gikuyu)
Kenya, Kenya
Koro Bess (luo)
Kenya, Kenya
Habari gani (swahili)
Kenya, Kenya
Chamge (Kalenjin)
Kenya, Kenya
Uuvo wenu (Kamba)
Kenya, Kenya
Orie
Kenya, Kenya
ero, sobo (Maasai)
Kenya, Kenya
Jambo!

Hypertension - with Dr. Paul Kioko of Mater Hospital

2011-12-11T20:29:00.001+03:00

Not to worry about me ...you know as to why I am posting about High Blood Pressure ...yes I have a work deadline that is two days overdue. I have some payments that my bank can't collect...I am thinking of moving house...and I have a tortured conscience over other things - all some great ingredients of anxiety and stress.

But again like I said not to worry it's all part of life's "cest la vie" that's life for you.

So if you really have to have a reason as to why I am posting on blood pressure...well let's see... maybe I like Dr. Kioko's fine looks and I stumbled upon a nice you tube video of him....or maybe I like Citizen TV and follow their channel on You Tube ...or maybe I had a severe chest pain and run to Google searching for a cause - your pick whichever makes it easier for you.

So now after having appeased your curiosity I hope you get something out of what the good doctor says - it is in my opinion the most simplified explanation on blood pressure I have had to listen to. - ENJOY

Start-up profiles: 10 ways to prevent start-up exhaustion

2011-11-14T09:33:00.001+03:00

Start-up profiles: 10 ways to prevent start-up exhaustion

Just read a nice article on ihub blog on how to prevent start up failure or exhaustion or whatever it is you want to call it. Enjoy.

Start-up profiles: 10 ways to prevent start-up exhaustion
Posted by Hilda Moraa
On November 9th, 2011

All businesses take a tremendous amount of time and energy, but for startups it can be totally consuming. To lead the road of success from a start-up to a mature Company, start up entrepreneurs would do whatever it takes to get there. The unending proactive participation in competitions to pitch to investors, sleepless nights of hacking code and developing their business idea on the ground, ends up being an exhaustion engine to themselves in this process of achieving success. Unfortunately, the results lead to huge consequences for their business and affects the health and safety of the individual members in the team.
Adelaide Lancaster is an entrepreneur, speaker and co-author of The Big Enough Company, She is also the co-founder of In Good Company Workplaces, a first-of-its-kind community, learning center and co-working space for women entrepreneurs in New York City, proposes 10 ways to help entrepreneurs ensure they are in line to achieving business success by preventing startup exhaustion:

1. Get in the Right Mindset. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Long-term success depends on your ability to maintain your stamina. You won’t get as far if you sprint out of the gate. Instead pace yourself, respect your limits, and keep the whole “race” in mind.
2. Establish Fair Expectations. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Good things take time, plenty of research, and lots of tweaking. Be generous when you do forecasting, project planning and goal setting. Remember that things always take longer than you anticipate. When you hit a goal, celebrate. When you don’t, shake it off, consider it a lesson learned, and readjust your expectations for the next round.
3. Make Progress with Small Steps. As exciting as the big vision may be, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by it especially when the path from here to there is unclear. Progress comes from moving forward everyday with small, persistent steps. When you feel stuck, break down your tasks into smaller chunks to make them even more actionable. Moving forward always feels good, even if it’s a tiny bit at a time.
4. Keep Your Goals in Mind. It’s easy to get off track and distracted, taking your business in a direction that doesn’t work for you. Remember WHY you became an entrepreneur and be sure to prioritize these motivations as you build your business. That way it will always be rewarding for you, both now and in the long run.
5. Prioritize What You Do Best. Everyone has to do a little bit of everything in the early days. But, in order to end up with a job you love you need to focus on your talents from the get go. Don’t hoard bad tasks or give yourself a job you don’t like. Instead leverage others and deliberately plan for the job you want. I guarantee that’s the only way you’ll ever get it.
6. Create a Support Team. Your network is one of your greatest assets. Not only do they offer support but they provide a wealth of information, wisdom, experience, and resources. They will help lighten your work load and prevent you from reinventing the wheel. You don’t need to learn all your lessons the hard way.
7. Set Strong Boundaries. The transition from startup to established business isn’t a discreet event. So the habits and routines you have in the beginning establish a precedent for years to come. A chief complaint of many entrepreneurs is that they are “always working.” Avoid this from the get go by setting and honoring clear boundaries. Off means off. On means on.
8. Shake Up Your Routine. Nothing’s more exhausting than monotony. Sure you’ll be multi-tasking and trying your hand at all sorts of new things. But if the work looks the same, for example every day in front of a computer or on the phone, you’re sure to tire quickly. Change it up with some rejuvenating work-related tasks such as time out to read, take a field trip or meet a colleague. The list and the laptop can wait until later.

9. Indulge Guilty Pleasures – Daily. It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘what must be done next?’ mode. It’s great to be efficient and productive but an all work and no play attitude can only last so long. Instead create a sustainable routine by integrating small mental or physical breaks into your daily grind. Whether it’s a quick episode of The Daily Show, some perusing of your favorite blogs, or a trip to the gym a shift in focus and some levity will do you good.
10. Take Time Off. Aside from regular, short daily breaks plan to take some legitimate time off too. Time away from the business is actually quite productive. A break allows you to get out of the weeds and gain perspective on the business .

Fast car -Tracy Chapman

2011-10-27T08:33:00.000+03:00

Still looking for my fast car ... I got get out of this place my life is at ... at the moment. Yeah and it would be great to drive away with someone.

Anyway enjoy the song forget my "feelings"

Bangles Manic Monday

2011-10-10T23:56:00.003+03:00

<p>&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;I know I stopped employment that</p>

I know I stopped "employment" but I guess Mondays always tend to be crazy ...whether you are working for someone else or yourself. So to all my friends and me ...here goes manic Monday - by the Bangles

Tribute to Wangari - let's see what we missed out on

2011-09-27T09:27:00.001+03:00

In my usual cynical way I take this opportunity to remind Kenyans of our failures.

We are mourning an icon - Wangari was just that an icon, larger than life. For this reason I have posted all her awards below just so we can see the kind of person we will not have in our ranks anymore.

While doing this let us also reflect about our choice of leaders ....we had a chance to have this wonderful lady as our president and she didn't even place. We have to ask ourselves about our criteria, what do we look at? What is our rationale in selecting leaders? Do we look at gender? Are we biased against women? Do we look at service? Because when I look at our current parliament I don't see "watumishi wa wananchi" servants of the people ....all I see are "watumizi wa watu" users of the people.

We are good at mourning and forgetting ....so "Lest we Forget" it is time for a hard look at the kind of person we will miss....and it is time to start to looking for someone like her among our ranks a woman or a young person we have ignored who could truly serve and lead our country.

Professor Wangari Maathai’s Awards: 1983 – 2010

Posted on 2011/09/26 by Women eNews Kenya

2010: Earth Hall of Fame, Kyoto (Japan)
2009: Earth Hall of Fame, Kyoto (Japan)
2009: Humanity 4 Water Award for Outstanding Commitment 2 Action
2009: The Order of the Rising Sun, Japan
2009: Judge, 2009 Geotourism Challenge, National Geographic, USA
2009: NAACP Chairman’s Award , USA
2008: Dignitas Humana Award, St John’s School of Theology, USA
2008: Cinema Verite, Honorary President, France
2008: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Honorary Fellowship, UK
2007: The Nelson Mandela Award for Health & Human Rights, South Africa
2007: The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, India
2007: Cross of the Order of St Benedict, Benedictine College, Kansas, USA
2007: World Citizenship Award, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
2006: The Indira Gandhi International Award for Peace, Disarmament & Development, India
2006: Premio Defensa Medio Ambiente, Club Internacional De Prensa, Spain
2006: 6th in 100 Greatest Eco-Heroes of All Time, The Environment Agency, UK
2006: Medal for Distinguished Achievement, University of Pennsylvania, USA
2006: Woman of Achievement Award from the American Biographical Institute Inc., USA
2006: The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights,
Milele(Lifetime) Achievement Award
2006: Legion D’Honneur, Government of France
2006: The IAIA Global Environment Award,
International Association for Impact Assessment, Norway
2006: Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Award, USA
2006: World Citizenship Award
2005: New York Women’s Century Award, New York Women’s Foundation, USA
2005: One of the 100 Most Influential People in the World: Time magazine, USA
2005: One of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World: Forbes magazine, USA
2004: Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Norway
2004: Sophie Prize, the Sophie Foundation, Norway
2004: Elder of the Golden Heart, Republic of Kenya
2004: Petra Kelly Environment Prize, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Germany
2004: J. Sterling Morton Award, Arbor Day Foundation, USA
2004: Conservation Scientist Award,
Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Columbia University, USA
2003: Elder of the Burning Spear, Republic of Kenya
2003: WANGO Environment Award,
World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations , USA
2002: Outstanding Vision and Commitment Award, Bridges to Community, USA
2001: Excellence Award, Kenyan Community Abroad, USA
2001: The Juliet Hollister Award, Temple of Understanding, USA
1997: One of 100 in the World Who’ve Made a Difference in the Environment:
Earth Times, USA
1995: International Women’s Hall of Fame,
International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation, USA
1994: The Order of the Golden Ark Award, the Netherlands
1993: The Jane Addams Leadership Award, Jane Addams Conference, USA
1993: The Edinburgh Medal, Medical Research Council, Scotland
1991: The Hunger Project’s Africa Prize for Leadership, United Nations, USA
1991: Global 500 Hall of Fame: United Nations Environment Programme, USA
1991: The Goldman Environmental Prize, the Goldman Foundation, USA
1990: The Offeramus Medal, Benedictine College, USA
1989: Women of the World Award, WomenAid, UK
1988: The Windstar Award for the Environment, Windstar Foundation, USA
1986: Better World Society Award, USA
1984: Right Livelihood Award, Sweden
1983: Woman of the Year Award

Guess who's back? JeiPea is back

2011-09-24T23:33:00.001+03:00

It's been ages since my last post.

Just a few quick updates on what's been up.

Well finally I have started work on Kenya Freelancers Outsourcing. I hope the next time I post about it, it will be on a company website not my blog page. I want to keep my blog page for all those other interesting things in life like falling in love - which I am not, but I am listening to an awful lot of love songs, aging - which I am ...I just hit a critical birthday last week I will put a photo of an older me in a bit.

Drop your Blindfold

come and see

For those who do not know critical birthdays I will speak about only the ones I have experienced - 18 is when they stop adding the prefix "under" to your age, you become a total teen not an under-something, you can sue be sued, drive a car, vote, take alcohol during allowed hours or from a supermarket shelf ....I know what you are thinking ....you can live without all these things - which is pretty much true since my 18th birthday I have used the voting bit more than all the others.

Don't laugh at me I know elections come every once in five years so you can estimate the use of all the others is pretty much close to zero. So anyway 18 is an important age because all these things seem very useful to you before you have them - and very useless after you do.

Next important age is 25 ...it is a silver jubilee, you feel like you have lived a halfway through your life ....you make all those target of things you would like to do by 30 your energy is at peak - I don't know about you I know mine was at peak. I can't remember what my goals were then - but I am sure having more money was among them (Yeah, I know that is not a SMART goal - it doesn't say how much money - but I was only 25 remember).

Next critical birthday is 30 ...that is when you realize aging is real ...don't laugh ...aging is not in the face...I have a "fair and lovely" face - they should use me as living proof of that cosmetic - I still get asked for identification or proof of age the times I have ventured out to a night club. Anyway aging is how you feel and I am beginning to feel ancient. A friend of mine told me 30 is the new 20.... she was being sweet well I think it is the refurbished 20 ...even if you look 20 which I might pass off for - you feel the whole 30 inside (draw the Intel logo and put 30).

Anyway ....just to get into the spirit of things with my new age - I went for a four day retreat to focus and plan and pray. I am now a very focused and well planned and prayerful 30 year old (this is not a singles advert). The next step of course is I am just trying to be just as good an implementer which is much more a difficult task. But as with all good things this will take time and continuous effort.

So not as a part of my newly acquired age - I also want to be posting a bit more to my blog ....you know with all these stories of a world climatic catastrophe in 2012 I want to leave this hieroglyph for the next inhabitants if they are as intelligent as we are.

I also have a new theme song for my new age "Forever Young" by Alphaville - enjoy because this is the only way to be, the only way to live - forever young.

In the Quest for Excellence

2011-03-18T13:29:00.000+03:00

the Karijo twins and big siz Eddah Karijo

I am reading for exams ... I should put reading in quotes because I am posting to my blog, my Business Finance notes are lying open before me and my mathematical calculator is switched off and to be honest I am tired - funny enough I am tired of trying to read ... not tired of actual reading. But my reality is pretty stark in the recess of my mind - I ended my job contract ...even though I could have had an extension just to get time read and to pass my exams (read a month of brokeness beckons), my company is dormant for the second year running (wow time flies) I have carried last years resolutions over to this year and added one more which is "To get things done".

Coming from a family of high achievers my kid sisters the Karijo Twins Edna and Eva ...my big sis Eddah Karijo in her own right is an achiever she is one of the 40 people in Kenya trained as M&E specialists she holds a Masters degree MPH (monitoring and evaluation) which and is still pursuing another Masters degree MPH (leadership) and my brother Benji is a renowned editing professional in the movie business ... and of course this does not look too good for yours truly.

But anyway family pressure and societal pressure all consist external pressures...and I have a personal policy never to factor them into my decision making or goal setting.

My internal pressure though is what counts and there is so much of it right now. I want to get everything done and I feel "delayed".

Anyway this is why when I found the link to an article on how to be excellent on Mrembo I was most interested.

Just to give you the most intriguing point I found on the article was that to be excellent at anything we do not need to be born with the talent although endowment is important. You just need to push yourself ... for 10,000 hours ... so anyway my motivation to you and me is just to keep at it.

The link led me to Harvard Business review blogs to an article by Tony Schwartz. I advise you read the whole article here is the link

http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2010/08/six-keys-to-being-excellent-at.html

and here is an excerpt

Tony Schwartz

Six Keys to Being Excellent at Anything

Here, then, are the six keys to achieving excellence we've found are most effective for our clients:

Pursue what you love. Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, resilience, and perseverance.
Do the hardest work first. We all move instinctively toward pleasure and away from pain. Most great performers, Ericsson and others have found, delay gratification and take on the difficult work of practice in the mornings, before they do anything else. That's when most of us have the most energy and the fewest distractions.
Practice intensely, without interruption for short periods of no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break. Ninety minutes appears to be the maximum amount of time that we can bring the highest level of focus to any given activity. The evidence is equally strong that great performers practice no more than 4 ½ hours a day.
Seek expert feedback, in intermittent doses. The simpler and more precise the feedback, the more equipped you are to make adjustments. Too much feedback, too continuously can create cognitive overload, increase anxiety, and interfere with learning.
Take regular renewal breaks. Relaxing after intense effort not only provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, but also to metabolize and embed learning. It's also during rest that the right hemisphere becomes more dominant, which can lead to creative breakthroughs.
Ritualize practice. Will and discipline are wildly overrated. As the researcher Roy Baumeister has found, none of us have very much of it. The best way to insure you'll take on difficult tasks is to build rituals — specific, inviolable times at which you do them, so that over time you do them without having to squander energy thinking about them.

Tony Schwartz is president and CEO of The Energy Project. He is the author of the June, 2010 HBR article, "The Productivity Paradox: How Sony Pictures Gets More Out of People by Demanding Less," and coauthor, with Catherine McCarthy, of the 2007 HBR article, "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time." Tony is also the author of the new book "The Way We're Working Isn't Working: The Four Forgotten Needs that Energize Great Performance" (Free Press, 2010)

Anne Kiguta - KTN TV's totally awesome anchor

2011-02-02T12:41:00.002+03:00

KTN's News Anchor - Anne Kiguta

There is no single adjective to describe her she is vivacious, she is beautiful, she is eloquent ... she is KTN's Anne Kiguta. The anchor has been creating a buzz since she joined the station last year in May ...or was it June - I know the world cup was showing.

Of course the station being KTN ... there will be comparisons with Janet Mbugua who is now with ETV , Esther Arungah (now Timberlake), Lilian (Mrs Kanene) or the no nonsense - Beatrice Marshall, but Anne Kiguta right now could hold her own in a popularity poll with any other presenter across Kenya's TV networks. Her public figure page on facebook had 5,000 friends last time it was updated five months ago - probably many are men smitten by her lovely eyes or other genuine fans who appreciate her style of presenting ... easy, straight up plus she has a most genuine laughter.

When she joined the station in May it was obvious she wasn't new to the business - her confidence was "telling". Anne has spent 7 years on radio 3 years with Hope FM and four with Capital FM ... she is multi skilled and an all rounder - trained in communications at Daystar University ...she has done everything from market research for radio stations, program planning, show launching, presenting and she has quite a CV - she is an outstanding case of beauty and brains

Anyway what got me to write this piece was KTNs new look weekend prime and KTN Leo "weekend" segment. The real life stories, less politics, crazy stories are a breath of fresh air on Kenyan TV news and something to look forward to on the weekend. Anne was a perfect fit to the new look programming and kept me glued to the TV throughout the weekend prime - as I am sure she did other viewers, definitely looking forward to another weekend prime - Anne is totally the best presenter right now

Still Rooting For Conjestina

2011-01-21T12:33:00.003+03:00


Conjestina taking it away

Conjestina Achieng Kenya's legendary female boxer is admitted at Mathari hospital undergoing psychiatric treatment.

Conje is a living legend - the answer to Kenyan's prayers for another great boxer since the late Robert Wangila. Between her and Fatuma Zarika the two women have brought alive Kenyan boxing.

Anyway all her fans are rooting that Conjestina will be able to "knock out" whatever is ailing her be it a bout of religiosity, or paranoid schizophrenia or depression or brain injury.

Go "hands of stone" give this setback a knock out.

From Me to You - Yvonne Chaka Chaka lyrics

2010-12-20T13:05:00.001+03:00

I don't want to turn my blogspot into a music lyric search page but somehow ...music is one of the things that touches my heart, motivates me ...inspires me.

I could not find the lyrics for Yvonne Chaka Chaka's - From me to you ...so I transcribed them. I hope they are accurate, please feel free to correct them ...and most of all enjoy.

I think its an appropriate song ... seeing as Christmas is just around the corner "peace on earth and goodwill to men"

Yvonne Chaka Chaka - From Me to You

I have come to plead receive the love from me

So hard to find someone who’s kind

Now it’s to share to one another show some care

We all need some understanding to survive

Join me everybody to find the love we need

This is from me to you

All we have to do

Live together in our world and find the love we all once knew

This is from me to you

All we have to do

Live together in our world in true harmony

The time has come for me to sing this special plea

For love and peace

I beg you please

Now its time to share to one another show some care

We all need some understanding to survive

Join me everybody to find the love we need

This is from me to you

All we have to do

Live together in our world and find the love we all once knew

This is from me to you

All we have to do

Live together in our world in true harmony × 2

This is from me to you

Lets get together

All we have to do

harmony

Live together in our world and find the love we all once knew

This is from me to you

all we have to do

People crying ….people dying

Live together in our world in true harmony× 2

You are Me - By Alaine

2010-11-30T14:55:00.004+03:00

Alaine Laughton recently visited Kenya and although I did not get to attend her concert I really love her songs ...

Alaine Laughton

"You are Me" especially pulls at all my heartstrings ... I am one of those people who believe that there is an inherent good human being in each one of us ... and just treating other people well brings out the best of them.

I have often of course paid the price for this belief often ...people do like to take advantage ...and misuse those who treat them well. It is common to find people choosing the tangible ...such as electronics, money and other stuff ...over the intangible like friendships. Sometimes others will lie to you, con you - maybe and not feel a thing.

But all in all I still join Alaine in singing her song - enjoy the lyrics ...just note they are transcribed - so feel free to correct any errors you find

ALAINE - You Are Me

OhYeah × 2

Time is wasted we were meant to love each other - yeah

Separation is the root of all our problems - woohhh

If I hurt you then I hurt myself hate you then I hate myself

If I kill you - I kill me

But if I love you like I love me

And if I treat you like I treat me

Oh what a world (what a world × 2)

When I see you are me

Oh yea

You are me

(you are me)

You are me

We are dying bodies lying in the street

From the silence unmarked graves are crying out for peace ohhh

If I turn my back and walk away say… that’s not me so I’m okay – I fail

Cos it goes on and on again

But if I love you like I love me

And if I treat you like I treat me

Oh what a world (what a world × 2)

this would be

Oh what a world (what a world ×2)

When I see …

Bridge

You are me and I am you one blood, one spirit,

One world we are living and we could be the change we need

If I love you like I love me

And if I treat you like I treat me

Ohhh what a world…what a world …what a world this would be

Ohhh what a world …when I see

If I love you (like I love me) the way I love me

And if I treat you like I treat me

Oh what a world

what a world …what a world …what a world

This would be

Oh what a world

what a world…what a – world

then I see … you are me

you …you ….you are

you …you …you are …you are me ….yeah yeah

Nancy Jebet Langat - My New Heroine

2010-10-19T10:35:00.002+03:00

The Kenyan team performance in the just ended club games "The Commonwealth Games" was fantastic to say the least.

The team hauled in 32 Medals, kept the National anthem singing throughout the games with spectacular 1,2,3 finishes in the 800 M men (Boaz Lalang and "double Kiplagat - Silas and Abraham), 3000 m men Steeplechase(the regular trio of champs - Matelong, Brimin Kipruto and Ezekiel Kemboi) , 5000 m women (World Champion - Vivian Cheruiyot, Sylvia Kibet and Ines Chenonges), 3000 m, steeplechase(World Champion - Milcah Chemos, Mercy Wanjiru and Jerotich Chepkemoi).

Kenya pulled spectacular 1, 2, 3 finishes. 3000 m Steeplechase Matelong, Brimin and Ezekiel Kemboi.

In 10,000 m Grace Momanyi and Doris Chepkwemo also did a one - two finish.
Our Marathoners "double Irene" - Jerotich and Kemunto did the same in the mens marathon while John Kelai and Amos Tirop did the honors in the men's race over the same distance. Other doubles were the men's 1500 m and Men's 10,000 and Men 5000 m. African Champion Grace Wanjiru Njue pulled a bronze in the 20Km walk.

Kenya also stunned others and surprised ourselves with two boxing medals from Benson Njangiru who won silver in the flyweight and Joshua Makonjio in the light heavyweight.

More surprises - Mark Mutai proved we can run shorter distances pulling Gold in 400 m and leading the relay team of the double Vincents - Kiplagat and Mumo along with Anderson Mureta to a Silver - quite a wake up call to the Athletics Kenya Federation and the Sports Ministry to start investing in facilities.

If you thought Dunford was a "Olympic fad" - you got it all wrong Jason Dunford and his brother David totally rock and Jason brought back the only swimming gold - which was Kenya's first gold medal in the games.

MY HEROINE

Nancy Jebet Langat is totally my heroine for the games. In the absence of the "Eldoret Express - Janet Jepkosgei" who pulled out the last minute - Nancy Jebet stepped up to the plate and said "why not - lets see what we can do?" The world 1,500 m champion tried her "hand" at the 800 m women's race and she won Gold.
She is the only double Gold medalist we had in the games and she totally pulled powerful performances in both races.

Nancy Jebet Lagat - My Heroine (in a past picture)

October 15 - Blog Action Day - Safe and clean water for the worlds poor

2010-10-12T10:21:00.000+03:00

I never realised how much water could be an issue until one of the twins (Evalin Karijo) went to Kathonzweni as part of the AMREF water project team in the area.

Somehow water access, poverty, lack of health facilities, hunger always seem to go together and Kathonzweni was no different.

While the rest of the country grapples with issues that are more "esteem issues or self actualization matters" such as the constitution or endless political games - people in these areas of our country get up every morning just thinking of where their next meal will come from or where they will fetch water. Somehow children and women bear the brunt of all this. While the men will drown their sorrows in local brew or emigrate to Nairobi trying to search for a better life the women have to bring up their children in these rural areas. Fetching water is a whole days effort which begins before daybreak and ends late at night.

Dry river bed of Mbimbili in Kathonzweni, Kenya

Children of Usalama: Children and women are most affected by lack of water

Therefore it is important that we support organisations that reach out to this areas of our country, AMREF, the UN, IPA and other non governmental organisations.

SAFARICOM CLASSICAL FUSION

2010-10-04T20:18:00.000+03:00

SAFARICOM CLASSICAL FUSION

Who would have thought classical music would be that fun - I spent the whole afternoon watching it on KTN television and was absolutely envious of the crowd that made it to Impala Grounds because they definitely looked like they were having a great time.

Of course I am not the classical music connoisseur I know the common names like Bach, Mozart, Handel ... and might be familiar with a few pieces - they helped me sometime back in overcoming insomnia and restlessness (of course I threw in instrumentals and Jazz - Kenny G and Dave Koz) but on the overall I could mistake one piece for another but nevertheless classical music is great and the Safaricom classical fusion was awesome.

I enjoyed the perfomances by Rhoda Ondeng, the Njoroge Couple (Elizabeth and Njoroge - I am not sure if they are a couple or they just share names but they were great) and I really liked the 11 year old by the name of Vimal who was heavenly on the violin. The Soweto string quartet on the whole did not disappoint and I am sure the high school students who were dancing their feet away to "diamonds on the soles of shoes"would admit to have thoroughly enjoyed the performance by the brothers and their friend.

For me there was also the extra bonus of seeing Janet Mbugua and Michael Oyier presenting together again on Kenyan TV ... what better treat for a Sunday afternoon.

Michael Oyier and Janet Mbugua: Hosts at the Safaricom Classical fusion

Safaricom outgoing CEO MJ also had a good time although some Zain umbrellas nearly pooped the party for Michael Joseph - Lol I am sure his nightmares come in Zain colours.

Terry Ann Chebet - She came, she saw she conquered - Next big name in Kenyan TV

2010-09-19T01:28:00.001+03:00

Next hit on Kenyan TV: Terry Anne Chebet

I watched Terry Anne Chebet years ago ... on KBC. The multitalented lady acted in the then "local production - Reflections" she then went on to read lunch time news and finally to anchor on channel one prime time news.

A trained producer Terry Anne joined CNBC Africa in 2007 and did a pretty superb job in business reporting.

Terry Anne has recently joined Citizen TV and for those who felt a void in Kenyan TV with the move of Janet Mbugua to South Africa or the choice of Esther Arungah to become Mrs Timberlake ...I think Terry Ann will really bring the IT factor back to Kenyan TV whether reporting or anchoring or producing - this lady is set to go places so just watch this space.

Counting Down - Don Bosco Upper Hill Youth Concert

2010-08-24T14:41:00.000+03:00

It's exciting, it's entertaining, it absolutely rocks and it's only 5 days away. The Annual Don Bosco Upper Hill youth concert is where you have to be at on Sunday 29th August 2010.

While I know many Kenyans might probably be looking forward to promulgation of the new constitution at Uhuru Park where the Kenyan Military will be putting up a show of might and art on the 27th August 2010, for those who of us who will have left over adrenaline, entertainment thirst, art appetite then come quench it with East Africa's liveliest youth group in song, dance, and plays from 2pm.

Damages: Adults - 150 Kes equivalent of $1.875 and Children 100 Kes equivalent of $1.25.

The theme of this years concert is "Timeless Peace" of course this being a prayer and the hope of every Kenyan that we will from now on onwards have a time of peace or if you like it better sung its in the National anthem

"Natukae na undugu, amani na uhuru raha tupate na ustawi"

Golden ending for Kenya – Beautiful African Championships

2010-08-02T09:33:00.002+03:00

Kenya ended the CAA athletics on a winning note scooping first position in the medals tally. They were followed by Nigeria and South Africa in that order.

The last day of the championships just like Saturday had a full capacity audience.

Grace Wanjiru Njue started Kenya’s winning ways early in the morning winning the women’s 20 Km walk breaking the African record. David Kimutai did not disappoint in the men’s walk coming second.

Milcah Chemos held off her opposition to win Gold in the women’s 3000 m steeplechase. Olympic Champion the absolutely tall Asbel Kiprop stamped his authority on the men’s 1500 distance.

Kenyan men pulled an impressive 1,2,3 clean sweep in the 5,000 m with Yator who had led for most of the race losing out to Edwin Soi at the tape.

The men’s 4×4 relay team who had shown their intention on Saturday with the best time in the heats awed the crowd with their powerful performance.

Maiyo Chelagat Kenya’s only qualifier pulled an unbelievable second in the women’s 400 m hurdle.

Kenya’s “Eldoret express” Janeth Jepkosgei came second in the 800 m to get silver once again in this race after Zahra slipped past her at the line. Her undying Kenyan fans still feel that she will be back to hold the title for as long as the Maputo express – Maria Mutola did.

However Jepkosgei came back to pull Kenya to an unbelievable and unexpected second in the women’s four by four relay.

The athletics championships will be etched in the minds of Kenyans and will be a talking point for many days to come this year. Many of us got for the first time to watch our heroes and heroines do what they do best on the track and keeping the Kenyan flag flying high. We got the chance to watch “international duels” in our “local ground” such as Elegant running superb Linet Masai Vs the fantastic Ethiopian duo of Dibaba &Meselech and the other duel of Vivian Cheruiyot Vs Meseret Defar

We got to discover our potential in shorter races watching the likes of Soi, Mutai, Mutegi, Florence Wasike, Maiyo Jelagat pull winning surprises and put up great unexpected fights in the shorter distances.

We got the chance to watch “Kenya’s trademark winners” men’s steeplechase Matelong, Kemboi and Cherono, men’s 800 David Rudisha, Kirwa and Kivuva, ever dependable Asbel Kiprop, “Eldoret express” Janeth, Soi in 5000 m and Kiprop in 10,000m.

Most of all we got familiarity with other African champions the exciting Nigerian Blessing Okagbare, Hammer throwing Marwa Hussein of Egypt and fantastic Senegalese Amy Sene; The pole vaulting Algerian duo of Larbi Bouraâda and Mourad Souissi who were eventually beaten by fantastic Tunisian Dhouibi Hamidi; Nisrine Dinar the beautiful Morrocan Pole vault winner; the dominant South African shot put duo of Burger Lambrechts and Roelof Potgieter among others.

Despite the partisan and loyal Kenyan crowd it was all in all a beautiful African championship and a beautiful show for the continent.

Lessons learnt:
1. We need a stadium and training grounds dedicated to Athletics so that our teams can use such equipment as the hammer and shot put and the vaults perennially and also for civilian people not in the disciplined forces to use for training.

2. We can run short races there is need to tap this talent

3. We need a youth program to tap talent while they are still in high school

4. We can host international events (despite the fact that AK worked till the last minute to “first aid” the stadium they actually pulled it off) we need to have an allocation to development of these facilities just like we do have for roads and other infrastructure.

5. Finally Kenyans love to watch such events – maybe it is time we considered economics of putting spending power in the people’s pockets so that when there is Rugby sevens, premier league matches all can afford it. Also it would be great to have Athletics events on National days such as Jamhuri, Madaraka day etc. After all I don’t think there is anyone who keeps the Kenyan flag flying as high as our athletic sportsmen and sportswomen do.

Delightful Dibaba CAA African Athletics Championship

2010-07-31T21:05:00.003+03:00

The "Baby Faced Assasin" delightful Tirunesh Dibaba did it again - she broke Kenyans hearts at Nyayo National Stadium earned their respect with a powerful perfomance while at the same time her beautiful baby face won over their hearts.

Kenyans cheered their trio of world champion Linet Masai, Junior champion Pauline Korikwang and Doris Chepkwaing. After the early leader from Rwanda fell back "the usual suspects" Kenyans and Ethiopians took the lead. Finally from lap 15 it was just the three Linet Masai in the lead, Meselech Melkamu and Tirunesh Dibaba alternating in keeping up with the elegant running Kenyan. Masai long and powerful strides seemed headed to a Gold and the Nyayo stadium was up in uproar cheering her lap after lap. The bell went and the Ethiopians who have experienced Linet Masai's powerful kick did not take chances. Dibaba took off as if she was running 400 m race, Meselech chasing and valiant Linet whose lead had taken a toll on her final kick following for bronze.

Kenyans joy was restored soon after with the mens 4×400 relay who posted the best time in the heats ahead of tomorrows finals and ended Kenyan's day on a celebratory note.

Most unexpectedly the sprints are producing surprises in the sprints with a powerful performance in the mens 200 semi finals.

Earlier in the day Kenyans had a bittersweet 400M hurdles with favorite Florence Wasike fading all over sudden after leading in powerful race. However Maiyo redeemed Kenya in the second heat which was faster and came first.

Janeth Jepkosgei the Eldoret express pulled a powerful performance in her heat and is set for a showdown with Moroccos wondergirl tomorrow.

The final day tommorow is a must watch the finals of all these events taking place.

Gold Rush for Kenya - CAA African Athletics Championships

2010-07-30T22:50:00.003+03:00

Today Kenya's best came out on to the track to emphatically place Kenya at the top of the medal standings in the ongoing CAA African Athletics Championships.

David Rudisha led Kirwa and Kivuva to complete a one, two, three medal haul in the men's 800 M.

Shortly after Nancy Jebet Lagat stamped her dominance on the womens 1500 m completely obliterating her opposition.

Also as expected Kenya maintained their monopoly of the Men's 3000 steeplechase with Matelong coming in first and Ezekiel Kemboi second.

WEEKEND RACES
We are all waiting to see the elegant Linet Masai take on her perennial rival the fantastic Tirunesh Dibaba in the womens 10,000 m finals.

To cap it all up everyone is looking to watch our very own "Eldoret Express" the one and only Janeth Jepkosgei do her thing in the 800M womens race. Although it would have been more exciting to see Janeth take on Caster Semenya - Africa Champion or world record holder - Pamela Jelimo ... it will still be great to see the wonderful Janeth run on home soil - a treat Kenyans have looked forward to ever since she dethroned "the Maputo express" Maria Mutola.

Victorious Vivian - CAA African Athletics Championship

2010-07-29T21:10:00.007+03:00

Well I told you not to miss the 5000 m finals ... I hope you heeded me. I managed to get off work just in time to watch Vivian Cheruiyot put Meseret Defar and Tola both Ethiopians to second and third place and win Kenya's second gold.

Vivian made us all of us proud and you could just feel the unity and the pride as the national anthem was played.

I also watched the Kenyan men come second in Heat 2 of the 4×100 relay and also Mutai come second in 400 m hurdles heat.

I missed the semi finals of the mens 800 m but David Rudisha, Jackson Kivuva and Kirwa will all be in the finals tomorrow.

The CAA African Athletics Championships are living up to all expectations and Kenyans today packed the stadium to capacity.

Also in the weekend highlights is Florence Wasike who has starred for Kenya in so many events in the championships I have lost count - actually it is supposed to be seven(Heptathlon) but Florence seems to be everywhere from day one - yesterday.

We shall be looking forward to a really packed stadium over the weekend especially when the women 800 m will be run and our very own "Eldoret Express" Janeth Jepkosgei will be doing what she does best.

Vote No on August 4th - Kenyan Proposed Constituion - Referendum

2010-07-29T00:01:00.009+03:00

Here is my study of the Proposed draft. My basis for voting no is
twofold - for reasons in the constitutional draft and for reasons
around the draft (i.e. the constitution debates ongoing as concerns
the draft, the process to which we came to have the current draft)

Reasons In the Draft

I have compared the Bomas draft, The harmonized draft of Nov 17 2009
and the Proposed draft of May 2010. The changes (ommisions, deletions
or additions) made to the previous drafts to come up with the current
mostly seem to have negative implications or results. The Proposed
draft is therefore an inferior document to the other two. I have made
my comparisons up from Chapter One till the Bill of rights

(For activists of Life it is important to look at the "Right to life"
in the Bomas draft and compare it to "the Right to life" or abortion
clause in the Proposed draft.)

Reasons Surrounding the draft

Most of the changes made above were made on recommendations by various
groups with vested interests e.g. the international community, the
church, the MPs, women rights activists, professionals. After these
changes have been effected none of these groups have come out openly
to declare "we recommended this addition or deletion for reason a) b)
and c) please support or decline the draft in solidarity with us".
These groups have chosen to "hide behind" the COE who claim total
responsibility for the changes. One wonders why the COE would write
the Harmonized draft in Nov and have various re-thinks about the
contents in May to come up with the Proposed draft - not possible
...not logical... not the case.

So long as these groups keep their agenda hidden then Kenyans should
reject the draft on the basis of lack of accountability and
transparency. Kenyans can't afford to be taken to the poll always on
"authorless drafts" - to date no one has claimed authorship of the
2005 Proposed draft ... the same might just happen to this draft.

I hope you have the energy to read the other chapters using my
methodology of comparison... I am tired of everything that is going on surrounding
the constitution ...the lies on both sides, the hate speech, the cover up ...,most
of all I think Kenyans are being conned - I am too tired to go on
reading it.

Enjoy my comparisons below

Regards

JP

study of the proposed constitution

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study of the proposed constitution

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CAA - Safaricom The Senior Athletics African Championships

2010-07-28T23:43:00.006+03:00

Its spectacular its wonderful its here.

For all those Kenyans who love our athletes and have never had a chance to see them in action ... there are 28,000 free seats at the Nyayo National Stadium all for you to see Africa's best do their thing.

I missed the opening ceremony - had to work. But I arrived at the stadium in time to watch the 10,000 meters final which had us screaming and cheering with 6 laps to go as Kenyans looked to sweep the three medals. Ugandan Moses Kipsiro however spoilt our clean sweep coming in second. However Kiprop took first position and the worlds fastest man in the 10,000 distance Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai came in third

I also watched the pulsating 800 M heats - David Rudisha ran a powerful race showing who is the worlds best. Meanwhile Kirwa overcame Morracan opposition to win his heat while Kivuva Jackson won his heat in which acclaimed South African Mulaudzi did not present the expected threat. If you didn't see them today be sure to watch the semi finals on Friday and the Finals on Saturday.

Also unbelievable but true - Kenyan Kipkemboi Soy came third in 100M sprints and will be in the finals. We will all be rooting for him.

For those who love to see our Nigerian "oga" sisters run then you would have loved to watch the likes of Queen Obisesan and Blessing Okagbare in the sprints - powerful perfomances.

Also of great interest and a crowd exciter was Marwa Hussein of Egypt in the hammer throw although eventually she was beaten by the beautiful Senegalese Amy Sene.

Tommorow our girls will be on in the 5000 m final. Please don't miss it - personally I won't be able to get away from work - but if you can then Nyayo stadium is where you must be - it is fun, exciting, electrifying, it absolutely rocks.

Don Bosco Upper Hill - It's Happening

2010-07-26T15:48:00.004+03:00

Haven't been posting much over the last couple of months ... sorry about that.

Everyone in Kenya is looking forward to referendum ... possibly a new constitution or gauging by the number of people displeased with the draft ...possibly not.

Anyway August holds more expectations for me...Don Bosco Upper Hill Youth Group - the liveliest church based youth group in East Africa will be holding a concert ... and I am so looking forward to August 29th.

So if you are in Nairobi ... come have a blast with Upper Hill youth group at the Don Bosco Shrine of Mary Help of Christians - opposite the World Bank offices ... no pictures right now but I promise to keep this post updated.

Eagles - Myles Monroe

2010-03-07T16:42:00.003+03:00

I recently listened to a couple of sermons by Dr Myles on you tube about Purpose of Prayer on you tube and they are great.

I actually stumbled upon this piece by him which led me to seek more of his content ... which led me to my friend Carol O ... who knows where to seek... which led me to you tube.

The piece is called Eagles. I think it is a beautiful piece. It really motivated me. I think I am an eagle I wish we could all be eagles.
So here goes

EAGLES
by Dr. Myles Munroe

1. Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and not with sparrows or mix with other smaller birds.

Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly with eagles. Even when Moses (Old Testament Bible) went to commune with God on the mountain, he left the crowd at the foothills. Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with eagles.

2. Eagles have strong vision,

Eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

3. Eagles do not eat dead things.

He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.

4. The eagle is the only bird that loves the storm.

When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the winds of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles, trouble, etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably. Keep in mind the eagle is the only bird that rises above the storm to soar in the heavens until the storm passes. They do this because the eagle is the only bird God created with the ability to lock its wings in fixed position which enables them to be at rest as it soars high above the storm clouds.

5. The eagle tests before it trusts.

When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursuing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.

6. Eagles prepare for training.

When about to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns, and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared, they jump into the nest again. Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and picks them upon his back before they fall, and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for some time until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.
The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings. The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes.
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success. The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns. The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.

7. Eagles Renew

When the eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives.

And the Bible says, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
WAIT ON THE LORD and allow HIM to direct your paths through life!

Joyner was the greatest

2010-02-28T14:42:00.008+03:00

I think Usain Bolt is fantastic. I also the think the far east is great to have athletic competitions ...just look at Seoul 1988 and Beijing 2008

That is a strong statement coming from Kenyan ... I should have seen so much athletic talent in my country to be awed too much by "the Lightning Bolt".

However today I'm not on about Bolt. I'm on about a woman who in my belief if today's timing mechanisms existed 20 years ago ...she would probably be as fast as Bolt or much faster.

Florence Griffith Joyner posted times in 1988 Seoul Olympics that have yet to be broken. I know its unfair ...since she died in 1998 Bolt doesn't have a chance to prove my assertions wrong.

Possibly am an hopeless romantic ... I was what? 7 years old when I watched her run... maybe her stylish long nails, her flowing speed and energy, her beauty got to me.

On that note I would like to say our own Kenyan lady athletes are wonderful runners ... okay maybe they need longer nails and crazy costumes ... I'm kidding. I like our athletes just as they are ... wonderful people who come from backgrounds of extreme hardships to make their dreams come true on the greatest arenas in the world.

I think it is the same quality that makes me admire and praise the late Joyner. She had spirit, she had fire and she made history.

Enjoy the videos.
Joyner tribute

Fantastic Florence

Flo Jo the best

Kenya has no leaders - We have Politicians

2010-02-28T13:06:00.007+03:00

I don't know if its just me - but I totally lost interest in Kenyan politicians after the 2005 referendum. After that I was such a cynic, I never believed in a word they said.

Looking at the events that followed since then ... no new constitution six years after the Bomas draft was completed, post elections violence, internally displaced people 3 years after the post election violence, dying lakes - (Lake Naivasha at the Mercy of flower farm toxins), depleted forests - the Mau Forest under greedy land grabbers "breathe in - breathe out this list is long".

I know we are tempted to ignore our environment or legislation - entangled as we are in our daily toil to make ends meet.
If this are out of our scope of "sufuria za ugali na vikombe vya chai" what about the three latest scandals Maize Scandal, Education funds embezzlement, Unaccountability for HIV/AIDs and TB funding from WHO (World Health Organization) - clearly note this is FOOD, EDUCATION and HEALTH we are talking about ... if the forest or the lake or the constitution was abstract to you I hope this wakes you up - WAKE UP.

Looking at all these events and more which our politicians may be tempted to say they have nothing to do with ... they sit in the August house to make policy but when everything is going wrong they are quick to point blame fingers and take "exoneration public baths". Our politicians are to shameless to admit fault and say 'we have not made policy, we have not been honest with funds hence so many problems'

Our politicians are too busy creating alliances PDM, ODM, KKK name them ... they are endless. They are focussing for 2012. One wonders what beauty 2012 holds for us ... more blood baths by naive citizens ...nay stupid citizens ... one can be naive once but to fall for the same lies from the same people is stupid. What does 2012 hold for us ... shall we finally get to see how much HIV/AIDs has ravaged our country when the last protection of funded ARVS is pulled out. For crying out loud we can't even afford to get sick ... I wonder why on earth we want to keep paying redundant legislators. Will 2012 bring better food security.

Don't ask me if I can't see the good side of things ...such as the accord which was signed this day in 2008. If you are asking the answer is yes I can't see this good side because there was never supposed to be a bad side in the first place.

20 years after multiparty democracy ... 46 years after independence ... Kenya should not be celebrating accords between warring politicians, Kenya should not be celebrating when they receive donor food and donor medicine, Kenya should not be a country that waits on the seasonal rain to produce her food, Kenya should not be the country whose population is not guaranteed an education.

I can't see the good side - I told you I am a cynic.

Wake up Kenyans stop attending this silly masquerades called politically rallies. Stop celebrating silly political alliances.
If you have to fill up an arena ...fill up our empty KPL soccer matches or athletic trials or Conjestina Achiengs bouts ... make yourself useful ... cheer the people who really matter.

Look for real leaders.

Find leaders with the spirit of Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso. Find leaders with the spirit of Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Find leaders with the determination to rebuild like Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
Destroy this age of politicians who play games instead of making policy - we as a people deserve better than this hypocrisy, silly feuds, inheritance of political power in family circles.

Find people who have our interest at heart. People who can give up self interest to save a nation. I am surprised our leaders with 100 thousands of acres of land could let Kenyans live in internal displacement camps for 3 whole years.

Find people who are accountable. People who are able to say "I did not make this mistake but it happened under my watch - so I am stepping down".

As it is right now even the so much promised Hague trials may not take place ...even if they do evidence will be hard to get. Remember this is the government which turned a blind eye as the bodies of the people killed in the "Eldoret KAG church" were buried in a mass grave without the families being informed ... without DNA testing being done. Someone should go check out if the church is still there ...probably a politician has planted a vineyard over it. This is the government under which a Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission may never commence its activities because of silly war of words on its Chairman's character.

Wake up Kenyans - stop watching these people on TV. Wait for business news or sports news.
Better yet I hope some enterprising TV station will bring us a new News Programme with the title "News for People who don't like Politics".

Just to reduce the vitriol I have been on for the last few paragraphs I want to point out to great leaders ... characteristics that we should be looking for ... for this purpose I will use Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso

Thomas Sankara
August 21, 1983 press conference.

"I would like to leave behind me the conviction that if we maintain a certain amount of caution and organization we deserve victory[....] You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. [...] We must dare to invent the future."

Can't believe 2009 year is over: Merry Christmass and a Blessed 2010

2009-12-19T10:03:00.012+03:00

Well I'm looking at the calendar and its two weeks to the end of 2009. God I can't believe it but I think the year is over.

CAMPUS AND ME: Kenyatta University

Kenyatta University has had a tumultuous year ... I guess I won't be the only one looking forwards to 2010. Professor Olive's Kenyatta is looking more beautiful by the day picturesque lawns and flowers. You really have to see it if you haven't been there for a couple of years.

The strike was a real dark patch we had but on the bright side I've finished my first year of undergrad so I guess going back to campus has been validated as a good decision - now I'm looking forward to finish the other three. Although stuff has got in the way such as the students strike which cost us six months at home and has resulted in the third and fourth years doing their exams over Christmas.

Students VS Police

I must admit it's a little funny being seen at the same place for many years. Some of the staff I knew first ask me if I'm back for my postgrad then I have to explain "... no I didn't not complete ... I deferred for many years ... then re-applied and hopefully this time I'll get round to completing".

The funniest incident was when I met my friend Weche at KU main. He was over to minister to some Christian Union students and I was there struggling with the entangled web of KU admin. So anyway he tells me over soda and lunch that he is leaving to go start his doctorate. I laugh and tell him I'm registering for the first sem, second year, undergrad and he can't believe it. He kidds to the students he is meeting that I must be some sort of government agent. You know the kind the government plants in Universities to root out dissidents or gather intelligence, they go to class, live in campus, year in year out and never matriculate.
I'm hoping I'll be ready for the exams which are starting next month for us second years.
Talking of exams - I'm writing a proposal for quality assurance procedures for university examinations. I'm hoping this will help us get rid of missing marks, unfair retakes and ensure students receive their marked scripts for CATs,Assignments and Final examinations.

WORK AND ME.

I'm currently at Namba Moja ... yeah the cat is out of the bag. That is why my last article had so much detail on how their system works - however I hope that does not deter anyone from using it. It is a really nice service.
My company Kenya Freelancers Outsourcing Ltd is still on hold - but still something I am working on in my free time which is really non existent.
I am also looking for better paying jobs to fund my schooling ...so yeah anyone looking to hire a multi-talented director of a not-in-operation company and pay good Kenyan shillings please call me.

CHURCH AND ME

Don Bosco Upper Hill: Church on the Hill

I think this year has seen many challenges for the youth at Upper Hill Don Bosco and the congregation at large. But eventually everything came out okay ... the Church hall is complete, the youth group is regrouping. Talking of which I really have to be more active now ... work or school always seems to get in the way.

I AND I
I think 2010 will be great ... I am really looking forward to it.

Hope you are too. Have a great Christmas and a blessed 2010.

2525 SMS Directory Real info on the Go

2009-10-18T10:24:00.006+03:00

My cousin Halima from Port Reitz in Mombasa once complained about "Nairobi Speed". I can't blame her it was Christmas and we were rushing through supermarkets, booking bus tickets ...so finally exasperated she asked why the rush if there was no end in sight ...a mission accomplished... after which one could slow down.

Nairobi is fast in every respect of the word people walk fast, work fast, mats drive fast, think fast and it is only in this very high speed capital city of Kenya that innovative and futuristic innovations can come from. It is one such innovation in mobile telephony and messaging services that I am on about today.

Namba Moja Information services is the company that owns the 2525 brand name. 2525 provides information via text message on demand and is an ideal service for the residents of this fast capital of Kenya and also a way to find contacts and connect to other institutions and services all other parts of country as well as a guide to visitors to the country.

With 2525 one can find contacts of companies, can get physical address (office address) of companies, find business by their category e.g. hotels, couriers etc. One can also find public transport or matatu to a certain destination and most recently one can find movies showing at a particular cinema house. The list is endless.

Of course one is sure that the details are accurate because the companies who have their details listed do it for free and only have to make sure they update any changes in numbers or location.

The users on the other hand pay five shillings per text they send. They do not pay for replies.

HOW IT WORKS

2525 is simple. All one does is type in the item in question on their phone and send the text message to the number 2525. Normally the reply comes in less than a minute. However typing in sentences e.g. "please send me ..." or wrong spelling or use of an unofficial company name may cause a delay or wrong result before the system finally figures out what you want.

So here is how to properly use the service

For directory or business contacts
Type in the company name e.g. Nairobi Stock Exchange
send the text to 2525

the reply received looks like this
Nbi Stock Exchange
0202831000;0724253783;0733222007 ; Nation Ctr, 1st Flr, Kimathi St;CBD;Nbi.
2525 info on the go

OR

for directory or business contacts in a specific category, sector or industry
Type CAT followed by the category of companies you are looking for e.g.
CAT Courier Company
send the text message to 2525

reply received would look like this
Reply with 1,2...
1. G4s Security Services K:HQ Ind Area 020532360
2. G4s Security Services K:Thika 06731057
Send M for more, W for WAP
2525 info on the go

To get the headquarters by typing 1 and send the reply (note just type the digit one)
To get more alternatives type M and send the reply (note just type the letter M)
To get the whole list on WAP type W and send the reply (note just type the letter W)

For Matatu (public transport service)
type MAT followed by the route number OR the destination

E.g. MAT Kiserian
or
Mat No 23
send the text message to 2525

reply received will look like this (for the first query)
ORIGIN: Railways
DESTN: Kiserian
ROUTE: 126
2525 info on the go

OR (for the second query)
ORIGIN: Muthurwa Bus Stn
DESTN: Outering Estate
ROUTE: 23

ORIGIN: Odeon Cinema
DESTN: Kangemi
ROUTE: 23
M for More
2525 info on the go

For Movies
Type Mov followed by the name of the movie or the name of movie theatre

E.g. Mov Nu Metro
send to 2525

The reply received looks like this
SILVERBIRD JUNCTION Fame:1345, 1600, 1820, 2040;
GI Joe:1250, 1515, 1745, 2015;
My Sisters Keepers:1415, 1630, 1840, 2055
M for More

or
Mov My Sisters Keepers
send to 2525

The reply received will look like this
SILVERBIRD JUNCTION My Sisters Keepers:1415, 1630, 1840, 2055
End Of Search

Namba Moja also runs community notice board services for free for any organisation.
For example if we have alcoholic anonymous meetings we book several prefixes with Namba Moja for our use for example prefix 900 to 910. We can decide to use

*901# for open meetings
*902# for closed meetings
*903# for big book readings
*904# for serenity
*905# for step discussion

Of course members of the organization are informed of the prefix to use. They pay 5shs for each SMS they send and receive replies from their notice boards on meeting venues and times and activities.
Already several churches, church groups and learning institutions and several social groups have taken up the community notice board service.

Of course needless to say I'm looking forward to other services Namba Moja is about to launch and being a Nairobian to the hilt you can see why I would want to have information while on the go.

However if you are a visitor to the city I am sure 2525 will also be of great help for directions and contacts to anywhere.

The Terrific Twins: Karijo Twins

2009-08-23T16:44:00.003+03:00

EDNA &EVALIN KARIJO

So finally I get to write about my sisters. I’m hoping that it will help me avoid questions that include: How is it growing up with twin sisters? Isn’t it interesting? Are Twins are weird? Do they think alike? So does that mean I’m also likely to have twins?
The last borns in our family of five children are the twins Edna and Evalin. In public circles they go by all sorts of other names. The most common is the terrific twins which was the name they used in KTNs Can you Dance Competition. It is still the name they use on their KU Fm Sunday Catholic programme. The twins are multitalented they act and have been members of the Kenyatta University Travelling Theater, they dance under various stage names including Karijo Twins. They read news on the Universities radio station KU fm. They play piano in Kenyatta University Catholic Chaplaincy and the list goes on and on and on.
Of course I should be proud as big brother but also that comes with the name tag “brother wa twins” or “the twins brother”.
So disadvantages of growing up with twins include you will never win an argument because you will always be outnumbered. I learned that early and always chose the path of diplomacy and compromise my younger brother took a bit more time and when we were kids the twins were specialists in driving him up the wall.
Advantages include when you need family to run to when in trouble you get it in double dose which is good. It was especially useful for me when I decided to resume my studies back at the University. The twins handled everything I needed from administration including registration, fees statements etc. If it wasn’t for them I would be lost in the new look Kenyatta University which is very much unlike the one I left five years ago and even different from the KU I oriented the twins into. It is more beautiful and larger than life…well it is Professor Olive’s Kenyatta.
Other questions about the twins are more easily answered by the science of twins rather than by looking at my younger siblings.
Finally if you ask me being a brother to the two is great and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
THE SCIENCE OF TWINS
Monozygotic twins, frequently referred to as identical twins. Genetically speaking, the children of MZ twins are half-siblings rather than cousins that means if or when my twin sisters do get kids those children will be more like brothers and sisters than cousins.
It is estimated that there are around 10 million monozygotic twins and triplets in the world which means that twins are 0.16% of the world populations.
The likelihood of a single fertilisation resulting in MZ twins appears to be a random event, not a hereditary trait, and is uniformly distributed in all populations around the world although people such as the Yoruba of Nigeria have shown to have high affinity for it.
Hopefully that last point should put to rest anyone who wants to be with me as a potential twin making machine … you can pick any other specimen among men it is a random event.
The number of epigenetic differences between MZ twins increases with age. Fifty-year-old twins had over three times the epigenetic difference of three-year-old twins. Twins who had spent their lives apart (such as those adopted by two different sets of parents at birth) had the greatest difference.
That should answer questions like can I tell them apart? Yeah of course I’ve known them for 20 + years so I should be able to tell them apart. However sometimes I pick up their pictures and I have to look at it twice before telling who is who. The twins also have different reactions to situations but somehow their different responses seem to strengthen them emotionally, psychologically as a pair. I however have to warn you if you have something confidential to say to them make sure you are speaking to the right twin whether it is on phone or face to face they have been a nightmare to many teachers and …unlucky boys.
However, certain characteristics become more alike as twins age, such as IQ and personality. This phenomenon illustrates the influence of genetics in many aspects of human characteristics and behaviour. The twins recently attended the World Youth Day in Sidney Australia as part of a group called MAGis which brings together people from all over the world in Cultural and social experiment meant to lead them towards growth, discovery and more openness to the world.
One of the experiments had the participants draw pictures. The twins sitted on opposite ends of the table and with no restrictions on theme or color painted almost identical pictures using the same colors and with a similar theme. (I promise to upload these pictures as soon as I have the permission)
But the explanation above on IQ and personality can explain this phenomenon. My kid sisters have grown up in the same schools and all their exposures have been the same so more of similar events like the above are bound to occur. However it is interesting to note that for them it did not seem weird or strange that they painted the same picture.
Do they do things differently? Yeah, always … they are two people even in their choice of study and career Edna is a B.Com student majoring in Marketing while Evalin is a Environmental Health student they are both in their third year of study. While Edna stayed in Nairobi for her attachment with one of the government agencies on export Evalin was out in Makueni with AMREF in their water projects.
I could write ten pages about them but for today I hope that reduces everybody’s curiosity on the terrific twins.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Evalin-Karijo/1313727801

http://www.facebook.com/people/Edna-Karijo/1347662776

http://www.ktnkenya.tv/dance/?page_id=29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin#Dizygotic_twins

Kenyan Queens of the Track: 12th IAAF Berlin Championships

2009-08-23T10:03:00.006+03:00

FANTASTIC KENYAN QUEENS OF THE TRACK

Vivian Cheruiyot, Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet and Iness Chepkesis Chenonge

After watching the photo finish of the women's 5000 meters where Vivian Cheruiyot and Sylvia Kibet floored Meseret Defar it is clear to my mind that the beautiful Kenyan girls now rule the long distance track events. It all began on the second day of the championships when Linet Maasai ended the Kenyan 10 year drought to win gold in the 10,000 meters final.

After a slow tactical race Cheruiyot the 2007 silver medallist outkicked Sylvia Kibet and Defar to claim gold in 14:57:97 Kibet went past dejected Defar to take silver in 14:58:33.
Kibet and Cheruiyot incidentally attended the same high school Sing’ore Girls’ Secondary School - a school that has produced among others world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei .

SCHOOL MATES NOW CHAMPIONS

Sylvia Kibet has come a long way inspired by older sister Hilda Kibet and fantastic road running cousin Lorna Kiplagat she started an international career at age 15 winning Africa youth 3000m gold medal while still in primary school. She has overcome many challenges staying away from races to complete her O-levels, get married to Erastus and to be a mother to Britney Jepkosgei , and to juggle a career with the Kenya police.
While many people have missed the brilliant athlete in the distance mistakenly classing her in the events that started her career the 1500 and 3000m races in which she holds the national best times. She should have been someone to watch when she finished fourth behind Melkamu, Defar and Vivian and again in the Beijing Olympics behind the Ethiopian champions. But in 2009 everyone will surely stand up and take notice of the wonderful 25 year old.

20 YEAR OLD INSPIRES OTHER ATHLETES TO WIN
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai of Kenya celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 10,000 Metres Final during day one of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 15, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Vivian Cheruiyot credits Linet Masai with the inspiration that led her to the most dramatic 50 metres of a long distance event in these championships. The perennial threat to the Ethiopian crew Vivian finally floored them as she puts it “We prayed for this gold medal and God gave it to us. On my last 100m I was pushing so hard, pushing, pushing”. Masai and Vivian share an agent.

Her inspiration Linet Chepkwemoi Masai is only 20 and the second part of the Masai trilogy of athletes. Her brother Moses Ndiema has also bagged bronze in these championships and he also credits his sister for the inspiration.
Masai who started out as junior world cross country champion in Mombasa 2007 struggled to change over to track. After missing out on the medal brackets to the Ethiopians in many meets she finally made it to become world champion and inspiration for other champions as she says "I can't believe it. I'm so grateful for the win. I didn't give up."

LINET ENDS THE FANTASTIC ETHIOPIANS 10 YEAR RULE

ELEGANT LEGS LINET TAKES IT AWAY

Another wonderful lady from the Mount Elgon region of Kenya is Milka Chemos Chweiya who won bronze in the womens steeplechase.

Aug 17 2009

BERLIN - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Yuliya Zarudneva of Russia receives the silver medal, Marta Dominguez of Spain the gold medal and Milcah Chemos Cheywa of Kenya the bronze medal during the medal ceremony for the women's 3000 Metres Steeplechase Final during day three of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Content © 2009 Getty Images . All rights reserved.

These ladies embody what Sylvia Kibet says of Kenyan champions of how they have to overcome trials to become champions "You come from the bush, or you come from the forest. Then you train, and you become a champion."

Meanwhile this year saw Kenyas fantastic duo of Pamela Jelimo Olympic champion and Janeth Jepkosgei world champion over the distance faced with new challenges the two ladies have won all 800 metres titles on offer for the last three years but in Berlin the 20 year old golden girl Pamela Jelimo after winning her heats pulled out of the semi final after too much strain on her injuries. Jepkosgei who first urged Jelimo to join the 800 meters competition was left on her own to take on Africa’s Champion South African Caster Semenya. Caster had tripped Janeth in the heats but beat her fair and square in the final.

THE CHAMPIONS

However the poor south African teenager still has to be subjected to a gender test. One wonders if Usain Bolt or any other male champion would be subjected to gender test had they looked a bit female. Let Caster keep her six pack. However in Kenya Jelimo-mania is being put to test but many of her fans still adore the 20 year old runner.
Anyway many Kenyans are looking for the return of the sensational Kapsabet Express “Jelimo” and to watch her and the more mature, dependable and experienced eldoret express “Jepkosgei” take on new kid on the block Caster.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 05: Pamela Jelimo of Kenya celebrates after winning the Golden League $1 Million Jackpot in the Women's 800m during the IAAF Golden League meeting at the Memorial Van Damme Stadium on September 5, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

JELIMO STILL ROCKS

The Kenyan men have also been doing their bit. They finished 1-2 in the marathon earlier in the day Abel Kirui and Emmanuel Kipchirchir taking the honors and Mwafrika Robert Cheruiyot falling out of the medal brackets. The double 1-2 finish gave Kenya four golds and 10 overall. Ezekiel Kemboi won his first steeplechase gold followed by Richard Matelong after great team effort with Kipsiele Koech who set the pace and Brimin Kipruto. They however have an uphill task as Joshua Kivuva and Alfred Kirwa Yego take on ex-Kenyan Yusuf Saad Kamel.

http://www.life.com/image/90010168
http://www.picapp.com/search.aspx?term=janeth+jepkosgei&frompage=canvas
http://www.iaaf.org/news/athletes/newsid=45785.html
http://www.letsrun.com/2009/womens5kfinal0822.php
http://berlin.iaaf.org/news/kind=112/newsid=53940.html

Work at Home - the best website ever

2009-08-10T19:33:00.003+03:00

I'm planning to use my start up business Kenya Freelancers outsourcing to build the largest network of work at home professionals in Kenya. In the quest for this I have been online so many times to look for helpful tips and I always found them at Work at home the spac

So today I'm too lazy to write anything for you except I'd like to recommend anyone to go to their website above to look for jobs, to lounge and chat or to read helpful articles like the one below that I copied in it's entirety.

10 Suggestions To Kill Work At Home Distractions
Written by: S McIntyre

Working at home and being there for your children is a luxury. Who wouldn't want to be in my shoes? The downside, there are many challenges and distractions.

As a business owner, I can be more flexible than your telecommuter who has a virtual boss hundreds of miles away, but sometimes that flexibility is more of a disadvantage than an advantage.

Here are 10 suggestions to put an end to these work at home distractions.

1. Phone
Let your voice mail pick up your phone calls. If you're not expecting an important call, turn down the volume so you can't hear who's leaving a message.

2. Television and Radio
Television and radio are the worse offenders of background noise. Some music can influence your mood and put you in a non-working frame of mind.

3. Email, Instant Messaging, Social Network Sites
Don't keep your email programs, instant messaging, or social network sites minimized or opened. Enough said.

4. Children
They are one of the many reasons we choose to work at home, but they are pure distraction. Babysitters, daycares, play dates are all good options, but they may not be viable options all the time. Scheduling is very important. Set aside block times for work and for your children. Work doesn't have to be 8 hour days.

5. Food
Stock your pantry and fridge with fruits and veggies for quick and easy healthy lunches and snacks. Avoid drinking alcohol. Always have water at your desk as dehydration causes fatigue, headaches, irritability and more.

6. Procrastination
We avoid it because it difficult to do or we don't enjoy doing it. You have two choices:

A. Perform the task at your peak performance time when you're really alert and work focused or

B. Completely scrap the task if it's not important. Don't hang on to the task or save it for another day.

7. Weather
I find it harder to work when it's sunny and warm. I know I'm not alone. Know when to stop and don't overwork. Distraction is not always a negative thing.

8. Work Attire
Many people have admitted to wearing their pajamas while working at home. Is it productive? I don't think so. Get up, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and start your day. These things get you moving and your blood circulating and it puts your mind in a work focused mode.

9. Work Schedule
I know when I oversleep I'm more tired and unmotivated throughout the day. Getting up early for me is the best. We're all different in what works well. Find the time when you're the most energetic and do your difficult tasks at that time.

10. Housework
There's nothing wrong with a messy house; a dirty one is a different story. If you keep your house clean and neat then clean up is a snap. Laundry, dishwashing and other chores can be done in between your breaks. It's all about utilizing your time in the most efficient way.

Working at home really requires a lot of self-discipline, careful planning and knowing what works for you. If you can do all that, then work at home distractions can be kept to a minimum or at the very least, none at all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommuting job leads, articles, business resources, networking forum and other work at home related topics.

She also co-owns WorkAtHomeBusinessOptions.com, a comprehensive direct selling and telecommuting work at home business resource that includes business tips, exclusive business articles, direct sales and telecommute company listings, home living and much more.

Source: Work At Home Space Articles

Can we ever Heal? Kenya after post election violence

2009-07-19T17:07:00.003+03:00

I think none of us really know the gravity of the post election violence until we meet someone who really suffered directly from the violence that rocked the country after the elections of 2007.

Unless we hear someone talk of watching a loved one get shot with an arrow through the heart, watch them die and not have a chance to bury them.

Unless we hear of people who after having built their dream home have to watch it burn and run away from their homes back to a life of renting rooms and struggling to pay rent not temporarily but for almost two years now and as things are now probably indefinitely.

Unless we hear of dedicated farmers who saw their cattle stolen or killed and watched their grain burn.

Unless we hear of primary school children who saw their classmates armed with bows and arrows destroy them and their families in the very homesteads they once played together. Small children brainwashed that to kill another is to become a man in twisted rituals of passage and circumscision.

It is painful to begin seeing your friends of many years who you never bothered before to find out which tribe they were from through tribal eyes and all over sudden realise they are Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Kisii, Luo, Maasai or whatever tribe. It is painful for those of us like myself whose roots are so intertwined with so many tribes Meru, Kalenjin, Maasai etcetera to be forced to pick which one defines you.

It is painful to see a country that had so gotten past the tribal barriers and only used tribes when making stereotype jokes, a country whose people had come to see each other as Kenyans taken back to this dark age of more than a century ago.

It is sad when politicians make a circus of a Commission CIPEV that was supposed to bring to justice the people who led us through such pain. It is sad to hear them trash the Waki List and poke fun at the possibility of being prosecuted at the Hague the International Criminal Court.

It is obvious they have never cared for Kenyans, people who care for you don't laugh at your pain. Our politicians are callous they don't care about the victims of this violence who still live in camps, others suffer untold suffering in silence and live in fear with memories they can't erase.

Our politicians still have the nerve to pull the tribal card saying that members of their community are being persecuted when the accusing finger points to them as individuals.

Let us not kid ourselves that these politicians will ever deliver anything to Kenyans. These people don't want justice whether in the Hague or in a local tribunal.

These politicians have no community or tribe. I am sure they don't even have a country if there was a willing buyer they would sell us all at any price.

Let us not lie to ourselves. The August house has nothing August about it. We only have a lost generation of people who do not know what they want of themselves let alone what they want for the country.

What we have in parliament today are self seekers not servants of the people, greedy human beings who have no morality or law to control their lust for power and wealth. They are not leaders who are capable of making laws or a constitution or bringing wealth to a nation.

Let us not expect Law or morality or justice from them they do not know what it means to be just, to be moral or to have a conscience.

If they had a conscience they would not sleep at night while their constituents are scattered in tents in the Rift valley and in Central province awaiting speeding buses to run over cattle so that they can get a meal.

If they had a conscience they would not enjoy their salaries running to a million shillings per month while approving 30,000 shillings to be paid to each family in the IDP camps to rebuild their lives, houses, farms, businesses and bury their dead. Even a financial magician could not do all that with 30,000 shillings. Not 30,000 shillings per month like some of us salaried people no...not even that 30,000 shillings lump sum, and - Kappish rebuild your life.

If they had a conscience they would not mock the justice process, they would not mock the dead, the would confess their guilt and step down from their positions.

But they do not have a conscience To them the dead people, the people those who lost their livelihoods, their lives efforts and wealth. To them these were only just a small price for them, part of the cost, collateral damage to pay for the benefits to come benefits of power sharing, squabbling over cabinet posts, salary raises, refusal to pay taxes.

They do not have a conscience because instead of sharing the pain of their constituents they have large extravagant homecoming parties flying in with helicopters to avoid the bad roads and spending huge amounts of money.

But my question is not for the politicians. Their fate in my mind is sealed they must cease to lead this country whether by the ballot, the bullet or petition by all means.

My question remains Can we ever Heal. Can we ever look at each other again as Kenyan families not Luo-Kisii-Kikuyu-Kalenjin couples and mixed children. Can we make tribal stereotype jokes without taking offence as we did before this chaos. Can we do business with each other. Can the children who were brainwashed to execute their neighbours lead normal lives with the trauma they suffered.

Can we look at each other as one people under one flag, with one prayer for a national anthem

Ee
Mungu nguvu yetu

Ilete baraka kwetu

Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi

Natukae na undugu

Amani na uhuru

Raha tupate na ustawi.

Amkeni
ndugu zetu

Tufanye sote bidii

Nasi tujitoe kwa nguvu

Nchi yetu ya Kenya

Tunayoipenda

Tuwe tayari kuilinda.

Natujenge
taifa letu

Ee, ndio wajibu wetu

Kenya istahili heshima

Tuungane mikono

Pamoja kazini

Kila siku tuwe na shukrani.

O
God of all creation

Bless this our land and nation

Justice be our shield and defender

May we dwell in unity

Peace and liberty

Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise

With hearts both strong and true

Service be our earnest endeavour

And our homeland of Kenya

Heritage of splendour

Firm may we stand to defend.

Let
all with one accord

In common bond united

Build this our nation together

And the glory of Kenya

The fruit of our labour

Fill every heart with thanksgiving.

Beauty Queen of Them All Cecilia Mwangi Rocks

2009-07-18T21:54:00.004+03:00

In my life I have met only two people who could claim to be beauty queens validly so. There was Maria Cherop Koskei, that's my aunt who was Miss Kenya in 1981. To be honest I have only a vague remembrance of her holding a spanner and kidding she could fix my dad's car ... I was only a kid back then.

Then there is Carol Maina who was runners up Central Province Miss Tourism Kenya and several times over Miss KU. She is the most impressive, down to earth beauty queen you ever met and she even designed her own clothes for the competition.

I guess I am a lucky Kenyan not many of us have met people who have the title beauty queens, we only see them in magazines in crowns and looking good on endorsement deals etc.

This is why I think Cecilia Mwangi whom I've never met totally rocks. The 2005 Miss Kenya picked of all tasks she could apply herself to - she picked to fighting jiggers and fought them she has. Thanks to her and Ahadi Kenya we now know that there are many Kenyans afflicted by this pest in the mostly rural areas.

My sister a nurse tells me that these little animals are so bad in these areas they just don't attack the human feet they fix themselves wherever on the human body and once they are through with you one has blood poisoning and many victims die of Septicaemia.

So the latest effort of the beauty queen and Ahadi Kenya is raising money for the noble initiative by selling raffle tickets in which there are several motorcycles to be won.

Some of my colleagues from Kenyatta University are actually sales girls and salesmen for the raffle and they tell me that once in a while Cecilia comes in to do the sales with them.

So if you haven't met one on one with a beauty queen here is your chance. Go down buy your raffle ticket now at Aga Khan walk outside Uchumi Supermarket and just maybe it will be Cecilia Mwangi you buy it from.

Rest in Peace Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T10:12:00.006+03:00

Well for those of us who grew up in the 80s and the 90s. MJ was just the ultimate the best a musician a performer could ever get. I remember in the when in the eighth grade (class eight primary school). My friends Michi, Marvin, Richard, Njugi and everyone else had the craze to learn the slide. We watched countless MJ videos. Yeah he was just the man.

VIDEO WILL YOU BE THERE

[ www.azlyrics.com ]

Even as decades come and go we still idolise the man as the King of pop and his music still sings to us forever though he is gone.

So here goes my tribute to the king to the best of them ever

RIP Michael Jackson.

here are lyrics for some of his songs that I really loved.

"Will You Be There"

Hold Me
Like The River Jordan
And I Will Then Say To Thee
You Are My Friend

Carry Me
Like You Are My Brother
Love Me Like A Mother
Will You Be There?

Weary
Tell Me Will You Hold Me
When Wrong, Will You Scold Me
When Lost Will You Find Me?

But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I'm Only Human

Everyone's Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World's
Got A Role For Me
I'm So Confused
Will You Show To Me
You'll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me

(Hold Me)
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
(Softly Then Boldly)
(Carry Me There)

(Lead Me)
(Love Me And Feed Me)
(Kiss Me And Free Me)
(I Will Feel Blessed)

(Carry)
(Carry Me Boldly)
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me There)

(Save Me)
(Heal Me And Bathe Me)
(Softly You Say To Me)
(I Will Be There)

(Lift Me)
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me Boldly)
(Show Me You Care)

(Hold Me)
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
(Softly Then Boldly)
(Carry Me There)

(Need Me)
(Love Me And Feed Me)
(Kiss Me And Free Me)
(I Will Feel Blessed)

[Spoken]
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tribulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I'll Never Let You Part
For You're Always In My Heart.

[ www.azlyrics.com ]

"Earth Song"

What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain...
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about apathy
(What about us)
I need you
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

[Thanks to Mykei.n@gmail.com for correcting these lyrics

"Heal The World"

There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For
Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were
Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We
Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With
No Fear
Together We'll Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me
You And For Me

We are the world

There comes a time
When we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

The Man in the Mirror

I'm Gonna Make A Change
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right...

As I, Turn Up The Collar On
My Favorite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go
That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of
A Selfish Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No Home
Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me
Pretending That They're Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Ooh!)v I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That...
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That...)
Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror-Oh Yeah!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time)
('Cause When You Close Your Heart)
You Can't Close Your...Your Mind!
(Then You Close Your...Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know...That Man
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah
(Ooooh...)
Oh No, No No....
I'm Gonna Make A Change
It's Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change ...)
Just Lift Yourself
You Know
You've Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I've Got To Make That Change, Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To
You Got To Not Let Yourself...Brother...
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get That Man, That Man...
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To
You've Got To Move! Come On! Come On!
You Got To...
Stand Up! Stand Up! Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change...
Come On! (Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know...
(Change...)
Make That Change

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

[1st Verse]
Lovely Is The Feelin' Now
Fever, Temperatures Risin' Now
Power (Ah Power) Is The Force The Vow
That Makes It Happen It Asks No Questions Why (Ooh)
So Get Closer (Closer Now)
To My Body Now Just Love Me
'Til You Don't Know How (Ooh)
[Chorus]
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

[2nd Verse]
Touch Me And I Feel On Fire
Ain't Nothin' Like A Love Desire (Ooh)
I'm Melting (I'm Melting)
Like Hot Candle Wax Sensation (Ah Sensation)
Lovely Where We're At (Ooh)
So Let Love Take Us Through The Hours
I Won't Be Complanin'
'Cause This Is Love Power (Ooh)
[Chorus]
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
(Ooh)

[3rd Verse]
Heartbreak Enemy Despise
Eternal (Ah Eternal)
Love Shines In My Eyes (Ooh)
So Let Love Take Us Through The Hours
I Won't Be Complanin' (No No)
'Cause Your Love Is Alright, Alright

[Chorus]
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
[Refrain]
Lovely Is The Feeling Now I Won't Be Complanin' (Ooh Ooh)
The Force Is Love Power
[Chorus]
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
[Ad-Lib To Fade]

Janet Mbugua leaves KTN

2009-06-07T19:36:00.005+03:00

Just to let you know I'm not stuck on any TV presenter but some of them do create a lasting image in the lives of their viewers take the late Anne Wafula, maybe Catherine Kasavuli, Kanze Dena, Louis Otieno, Laura Okal.

But KTNs pair of Esther Arunga and Janet Mbugua have lately been stealing all the accolades and the thunder from others.

It is for the reason that I totally agreed with the Teenez choice of "kuchagua" Esther Arunga in their "chaguo la teenez" of best presenters on TV. She really is a great presenter and if I was doing any voting it would just be a coin toss to decide between the two.
Anyway I'm way beyond "chaguo la teenez" like ten years way beyond.

Anyway my article isn't about Esther Arunga. I just saw on the news last night that Janet Mbugua is leaving KTN and I'm sure that it came a bit of a shocker for all viewers who she has regaled, impressed, captivated etcetera with her presence on telly on Out and About, on Sunrise and on the very successful appeal for the Mercy train as well as the campaign for Kenya's tourist sector which saw her on a week long trip to the eighth world wonder - the Wildebeest migration

Needless to say we are all going to miss her very, very much but I guess that's life ... real life cest la vie ... you know like good things don't last and jewel presenters move on to bigger challenges like CNN or United Nations or whatever.

Anyway this piece is a tribute to the best of the best and wishing her the best in her endeavors.

SAFARICOM CLASSICAL FUSION

Who would have thought classical music would be that fun - I spent the whole afternoon watching it on KTN television and was absolutely envious of the crowd that made it to Impala Grounds because they definitely looked like they were having a great time.

Of course I am not the classical music connoisseur I know the common names like Bach, Mozart, Handel ... and might be familiar with a few pieces - they helped me sometime back in overcoming insomnia and restlessness (of course I threw in instrumentals and Jazz - Kenny G and Dave Koz) but on the overall I could mistake one piece for another but nevertheless classical music is great and the Safaricom classical fusion was awesome.

I enjoyed the perfomances by Rhoda Ondeng, the Njoroge Couple (Elizabeth and Njoroge - I am not sure if they are a couple or they just share names but they were great) and I really liked the 11 year old by the name of Vimal who was heavenly on the violin. The Soweto string quartet on the whole did not disappoint and I am sure the high school students who were dancing their feet away to "diamonds on the soles of shoes"would admit to have thoroughly enjoyed the performance by the brothers and their friend.

For me there was also the extra bonus of seeing Janet Mbugua and Michael Oyier presenting together again on Kenyan TV ... what better treat for a Sunday afternoon.

Michael Oyier and Janet Mbugua: Hosts at the Safaricom Classical fusion

Safaricom outgoing CEO MJ also had a good time although some Zain umbrellas nearly pooped the party for Michael Joseph - Lol I am sure his nightmares come in Zain colours.

conflict resolution in Kenyan universities: The Kenyatta University lessons to learn

2009-05-04T07:34:00.002+03:00

One month has never seemed such a long time. A semester that was just about to end without much ado degenerated into unbelievable sordid mess in just two weeks and having spent a whole month at home I have effectively forgotten books. Two student strikes in quick succession, burnt down university facilities, a tainted reputation for an hitherto acclaimed Vice Chancellor and bruised egos both for the VC and the student leaders.

There was a unique thing, really a firsts about this strike. University students in Kenya have always used strikes to settle thorny issues either with the government or their university administration but never before have they ever, ever destroyed University property.

But for me I'm continually disillusioned and disappointing. Don't jump to conclusions I'm not saying I regret going back to finish my degree studies. No, far from it I'm still enthusiastic as I was in my last post. What disillusions me is the absence of systems at our governmental and institutional levels in our country. Everything seems to be based on people, personalities rather than a system of working and structures within the institutions and also the government that will enable solving of problems or disputes, performance of functions and facilitation of growth.

This void is so obvious to me that I am disappointed that all our learned professors, all our esteemed politicians are blind to this fact as being the root cause underlying all our problems.

Well just to make easier reading I'll just start with the university using the recent strike and it's aftermath as an example of how an established system would help our cause.

The problem begun just two weeks to final examinations for this semester. Some students according to the students body 2000 in number, according to the Dean of Students 200 in number had paid their fees later than a set deadline of February 7th. These students did everything else that was required of them this semester including CATs, assignments etcetera But realized that they could not do the final examination without regularizing their online status which had not been updated to show that they were eligible to sit exams in recognition of their completion of this semesters fees. So these student's through the newly elected students union set out a request for registration to be reopened to allow them to update their status.

This is when the problem begun. Some say the newly elected KUSA rubbed the VC the wrong way and took an HAKI yetu approach (the approach used by politicians after the 2007 flawed elections). Others say the VC was fixated about fees deadlines and was unyielding to an otherwise reasonable request.

Here we find our first instance of absence of systems or structures. KUSA is the elected body of students but it has no agreement set on what matters to approach the VC on and neither is it empowered to solve any problem on its own. So every little thing the student leaders have to approach the VC. Secondly, there are no set rules such as

1. In the event of an student emergency KUSA can request for a meeting with the Vc and other top officers in the University without a prior pre-arrangement. I have no example of such an emergency...(maybe a security breach such as a student found to be a criminal shot in the hostels by security forces) grim example but that's what I can think of.

2. In the event of a problem affecting many students KUSA can submit a written petition to the VC with the names of those directly and indirectly affected and the suggested solution and the resources which the University would need to employ to solve the problem. The VC can approve this without even meeting the students officials or can meet with them if he/she proposes an alternative solution. A good example would be the problem which caused the latest strike

...so in my created system KUSA would present a long list of 2000 students affected by the registration deadline, make a request for registration to be reopened for half a day and staff deployed to carry it out (registration for the whole university body of 24,000 students takes four days - 8 working hours, so presumably for 2000 students resource needed would be less than half a working day)

3. In the event of some problems KUSA would solve them by themselves without involving the administration or only seeking clarifications from the administration.

Unfortunately the third may just be a pipe dream like I said before the body is not empowered. It has no allocation in the university budget/(vote allocation) and all the subscription they collect 100 Kshs. per student per semester or is it year is not explained to what use it will be put to. In addition to this the old draconian rule that existed when students unions used to be anti-government voices still exists and is enforced to date (That no student - read leader- is allowed to make statements in the press or public domain without consulting the University in matters concerning the University. In the event any student breaches this rule they face discontinuation from the University). So basically it's no wonder the Kenyan public only get to know of problems in the University when rampaging students stream on to the highways on strike. No one is allowed to "let the outside world know" if there's an issue. This may also be a very good reason as to why the students leaders instead of seeking a one on one appointment to talk to the VC take an "Haki yetu" approach where they are shielded by the multitudes ...a bit cowardly don't you think. But then nobody likes to court discontinuation from their studies..

We also realize at this very initial point that the university lacks systems which even small commercial colleges have in place. In some colleges if you pay fees late one just has to pay a fine of 1000 Kshs. a similar rule is in place for those who find it easier to pay fees in installments. There are others who do not charge any fines but insist on everyone making full payment before exams regardless of whether it's a day or two before exams...one is still eligible to sit the exam.

Well for Kenyatta University nothing of the sort exists. To aggravate matters the VC stuck by her initial insistence that students who had paid fees late take the semester off. This would mean that all the CATs and assignments and a whole two and a half months work would go to waste as they would have to redo the whole of it in the next semester. It would also mean that the University forfeit money that these students would have paid in the coming semester since their late payment would have to be carried over as unutilized fees.

Ask any accountant or financial advisor and they will tell you that you do not forfeit a cashflow unless you are generating interest or a return from the alternative that is equivalent or greater than the forfeited cashflow. In this case the Universities' alternative is "holding the unutilized funds" and I don't know of any investment even in the black market that would give an equivalent return. Average fees per semester for a self sponsored student (one who doesn't receive government subsidy) is 70,000 Kenya shillings a semester. So if the University forfeits this amount from 2000 students next semester this amounts to 140,000,000. If it is 200 students (as per the deans estimate) that's about 14,000,000 Kenya shillings.

So from my personal analysis nothing in terms of time efficiency or financial prudence or basis supported the VCs action to insist on students taking the semester off. It was most probably an ego decision.

This belief is further reinforced by the events that followed. The initial strike wasn't serious some of the disgruntled students broke down the University banner above the gate and attacked the Coca Cola cold freeze box at the gate and of course drank the contents. The VC and the university council took a drastic action and closed the University. This was absolutely unnecessary students in far flung campuses such as Parklands and maybe Ruiru just received a circular stating the University had been closed...they were in the most part oblivious as were most students in the Main campus on Thika road to what was going on. This was really a show of muscle again.

Then to ask students to report back (not all of them just those whose fees was paid before the deadline) and then pay 1,000 shillings each was just going beyond all justice and fairness. Firstly because the students who were to pay this amount were not really involved or directly affected by the first issue. So the penalty was unjust.

This penalty was also dubious in that students who had overpayments in their fee accounts were still forced to pay this amount in cash no transfers were allowed from fees overpayments.
To compound this exams were slated for the next day after reporting back...(remember regardless of the fact that before the strike there were three whole weeks to exams). To cap it all the KUSA students representatives were suspended from the University.

All these decisions have all the markings of mismanagement and an absence of systems. So the aftermath everyone knows about it. Students rioted, burnt some buildings, one of them got killed by police, others were badly beaten by police, several were hospitalized and some were arrested and charged with arson.

There is a bit of a glimmer of hope. Last week the senate met and there is a probability that the University will reopen in August. The little basis of hope I have is that the suspended students leaders were involved in this last meeting and dialogue is a good thing.

The other thing I am hopeful about is that the VC will focus her energy in building something other than buildings. She is by far the most development minded Vice Chancellor the University has had and has made tremendous achievements in building labs, beautification and expansion of the university as well as linkages with other institutions and governments. I'm hoping she will focus her energy in building a system and structure where students can make grievances known in very simple, formal and effective methods such as meetings, petitions and the like through their student body. It will also be in the best interest of everyone to review laws that exist in the University that violate fundamental human rights such as the freedom of expression.

Nationally I really won't go into much detail the absence of systems at our university is just a small splinter compared to the monstrosity of a problem Kenya faces. We all know we do not have a constitution that is functional. We have an unregulated legislature that is only effective in giving themselves hefty allowances; an inflated cabinet of 90 plus ministers and a disconnect between how its members of parliament are supposed to actually help their constituents lead better lives and access opportunities to empower and sustain themselves. Our leaders are so ignorant that some of them do not know they are part of a central government "thus making statements that they (MPs) should not be taxed because they don't trust the central government. They plunged the country in post election chaos because none of them could trust the judiciary to work out an election petition. They rubbished the electoral commission before and after the elections. So you can see how much we need to have leaders who believe in systems in laid down rules for government appointments, strengthened structures and restructuring of existing bodies in order to get things done through offices not through individuals and personalities.

Actually if our leaders were selfless it would not hurt so much because they would be governed by personal discipline and morality but as it is they are the greediest individuals ever.

In fact if I was to make an appeal to Kenyans it would be to vote the whole lot out at the earliest next available opportunity. I would also appeal to them not to attend the political rallies of these leaders who do not have their interest at heart.

I must say something though the Hon. Martha Karua is the one single leader I have heard insist on strengthening systems and structures as the way forward for the country over and over again as opposed to others who propose themselves and their personal abilities as the antidote for our ills. I think she has identified the Achilles heel of our nation.

However I'm not taking back what I said earlier. Vote out the whole lot. We all know what needs to be done and God knows we've given the same lot too many chances to get it right it's time they shipped out.

I can't believe its March - touching base

2009-03-17T14:03:00.002+03:00

A quarter of the year is gone and I can't believe it. I'm looking at my last post and I see it was during the Olympic Games that took place in Beijing. I also realize that it was about the last time that I was engaged in active employment.

So anyway I'm sorry I haven't been posting...my life seems to have taken a huge change of routine since then.

So a bit of touching base.

One I started my own company Kenya Freelancers Outsourcing i.e. it's supposed to be a Business Process Outsourcing firm where we do all types of transcription, web research, data entry, call handling, captioning and everything else imaginable. But right now we are having all sort of start up hitches...so a bit down but not quite out. Though the stats for business start ups are scary 90% of start up businesses die within the six month period. So I'm working to get myself into the 10% that get past this pre-start up stage.

Two, I'm back to school. I have to complete my Undergraduate degree. So after 5years away...guess whose back? Anyway this time round I'm at Parklands campus not at the main campus Kenyatta University Thika road. That way I get time to attend class and work on my start up.

Three I'm no longer in Upper hill youth group. Our parish priest and the council changed our constitution to limit membership to age 25 and I'm way beyond that in addition they disbanded the youth choir so mass is "boring" ...I mean it's pretty not much what it used to be. So anyway my Saturdays and Sundays just got a whole lot freer.

What else?...mmhh let's see...oh! I did go home for Christmas last December...that's an achievement...something I haven't done for the last five or so years. I hope I can do the same this year.

So what's in new in 2009. Not much just joining the ranks of hopeful and disillusioned Kenyans in trying to make a better life for myself and maybe a better country for all of us.

What's new in yours?

A weekend of Kenya: Beijing Olympics

2008-08-26T22:13:00.007+03:00

I think the far east has a boding of good luck for Kenyans. Since 1988, Seoul Olympics never has an Olympic performance left us so breathless.

I think anyone who was in the "Birds Nest" last weekend may have learnt to hum the tune to Kenya's national anthem after the Kenyan athletes made a grand closing to the Beijing Olympics.

Kipchoge and Edwin Soi nearly proved me wrong in my assertion earlier that Ethiopians now owned the long distances that is the 10,000 metres and the 5,000 metres races. They gave world champion Keninisa Bekele a run for his money, coming in second and third respectively. Keninisa though proved why he was the best.

NANCY JEBET AFTER HER WIN

Talking about bests...Nancy Jebet Langat obliterated her field...completely reduced her competition to ashes in the 1500 metres race. The soft spoken lady looked calm and composed at the beginning of the race and nothing about her demeanor would have given an hint as to what she would do in the race and ran for most of the race behind her competition, but when she made her break her intentions were obvious and she was unstoppable with second placed Iryna coming in a whole minute 40 seconds behind her.

NANCY JEBET OBLITERATES HER COMPETITION

When everyone thought they had had enough of Kenya for a day. Captain Wilfred Bungei ended his olympic career with an emphatic win in the 800 metres race with Alfred Kirwa settling for Bronze.

CAPTAIN BIDS GOODBYE TO OLYMPICS WITH A WIN

Sunday the Olympic final day and everyone woke up to Samuel Wanjiru, leading in the Marathon from start to the end, well not really the start but from all I saw on Telly was Wanjiru in the lead every time I looked up.

Once again our Athletes have not disappointed. Although once again our officials have a burden of proof to answer to Kenyans on why they pulled out medal prospect Momanyi from the 10,000 metres race throwing into disarray the teams plans to wrest the title from the Ethiopians.

However still a proud nation and the best African Country in the Olympics.

Trivia: Kenya in Olympics 2008, President finds a World Wonder

2008-08-23T01:00:00.009+03:00

7TH WORLD WONDER - PRESIDENT THINKS IT IS WONDERFUL

I don't get to watch telly often...I know, I know I lead a terrible workaholic life. I should find sometime to rest or better yet, some place to get away. Merging of thoughts our president did find a chance to get away and he went to witness for himself the 7th World Wonder or is it the 8th World Wonder - The Migration of the Wildebeest from the Serengeti into the Mara.

So I saw the piece on TV while he was being interviewed by KTNs Boni Odinga...and he kept on saying "It is wonderful, it is wonderful...very wonderful the animals coming from Tanzania to our side" And when Boni asked him the message for Kenyans he said "We should all come down and see for ourselves how the animals do it"

Well I guess that's a pretty good suggestion for me and other workaholics. Take time off...enjoy our National Heritage and splendour and better yet "see how the animals do it."

OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008

The olympics is here again. I mean it's about to end...but can't blame me...for Kenyans Olympics begins with Athletics and this one was no different.
I guess the race we were all waiting to see was the womens 800m to watch the showdown between the "Nandi Express" Pamela Jelimo and the "Eldoret Express" Janeth Jepkosgei Busenei. The ladies did not dissapoint in that beautiful race.

Talking of people who did not dissapoint Catherine Ndereba proved herself once again running to second place in the womens marathon 22 seconds behind Tomescu of Romania and starting of the Kenyan collection of medals. I watched the race with my brother we could only marvel at Ndereba looking like some fantastic creation from the "matrix" in her trademark eye wear just powerfully stayed ahead of Zhou and Zhu. Martha Komu came in fifth in the race.

ndereba in chiba ekidden

Records...I don't think anyone will forget Jason Dunford's short-lived record in Butterfly heats. It will live long in Kenyan minds...a swimming record from a Kenyan my word...isn't that a first. Long live Dunford.

Steeplechase...no clean sweep this time but Matelong in 3rd and Brimin Kipruto in first still shows whose owns the distance and Eunice Jepkorir in the womens steeplechase brought the point home further.

The Ethiopians have generally taken over in the 5000 and 10,000 meters distances Kogo managed a bronze in the mens 10,000 while Cheruiyot and Sylvia hovered outside the medal brackets in the womens races.

However the middle distances still hold promise...still waiting to watch captain Bungei and his mates Kirwa and Langat do their thing and Nancy Jebet do hers in the womens 1500 finals...hoping she can do as nicely as Asbel Kiprop in his race earlier.

http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/

UPPER HILL DON BOSCO YOUTH CONCERT

Here is real news. I've learnt how to dance. Don't laugh I'm serious...I've got moves.

Yeah right! anyway Don Bosco Upper Hill Youth Group are having their annual concert on 31st of August, that's Sunday Afternoon. Adult Charges will be 100/= Kshs. that's like $1.50 and children 50 Kshs that's about $0.50.

Upper Hill youth group is like the liveliest church based youth group in East Africa and well the concert on the 31st should just be about the best idea for a family Sunday afternoon out.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to upload some of the video here but what's better than coming down to upper hill church Sunday after this and enjoy it firsthand.

ME ON THE MOVE

Sorry should have been posting more. Been up and down. I haven't really had the time to update my blog posts. Up until someone wrote to me saying he liked my transposed lyrics for the Atlantic Starr song "You deserve the best".

Anyway what's new with me just a bit of trivia - Personally I changed jobs twice. First one was my doing I left my old job for a more promising one that really didn't take off. So anyway from July 23rd... I'm now at my 3rd place of work...how nice.

But on the bright side. I've registered a company name "Kenya Freelancers Outsourcing" so it will be my main focus once it is approved and by the end of the year it will be a fully operational company.

So all transcribers, audio typists, scopists, captionists, web research specialists, data entry agents and agents for outbound and inbound calls - just watch this space. I'll keep you posted on how this new venture takes shape.

Funny side though at Sheria house I had the hardest time trying to explain to the officers there what Business Process Outsourcing was.

We were all getting exasperated and the officers after a lot of consultation with each other and studying the examples of services that I had proffered such as data entry and transcription...they crossed out what I'd written in the column - Services to be offered and put in "Information Technology" to replace "Business Process Outsourcing".

You Deserve the Best - Atlantic Starr lyrics by John Paul

2008-06-03T03:50:00.002+03:00

I found the lyrics for You Deserve the best by Atlantic Starr.

It seems my blog page is almost becoming a music site...kidding. Anyway I tried finding these lyrics for kez. I couldn't find them easily so I had to transcribe them.

So here are the lyrics enjoy

Atlantic Starr – You deserve the best

Anything you want I’ll give it to you
Cos all my love your entitled to
All my love and nothing less

You deserve the best

If you dream of a castle I’ll build it for you
All day and night until you say I’m through
I’ll fill your life with happiness

You deserve the best

Darling you deserve the best
I’m 24 hrs at you request
A love like mine will never rest

You deserve the best

I’ll make your world a perfect scene
I’ll move every mountain that’s in your way
Oh its my heart that you possess

You deserve the best

Darling you deserve the best
I’m 24 hrs at you request
A love like mine will never rest

You deserve the best

You know girl you girl you’ve been so good to me
And I love the way you make me feel inside
And guess what before I met you my love life was just okay
But now that you’re here everything is beautiful

And that’s why you deserve the best

You deserve the best.

GOD'S COUNTRY LYRICS -Kool &the Gang by John Paul Mugambi

2008-04-23T18:29:00.008+03:00

I have managed to get lyrics for God's Country one of my tortunes

Have you ever had a tortune...I mean like more of a haunt-tune a song from your past that was lovely and took you to places and you only know like 3 lines of it...

that was the same for me and this particular song ...GOD'S COUNTRY by Kool and the Gang released in the Album Forever in 1986 that would make me about 5 years old when the Gang sang this.

So Gods Country is my haunt-tune for today...I managed to assemble it's lyrics. At this juncture I'd like to mention that this lyrics are the property of Kool and the Gang ...so whatever use your putting them to do contact the group first.

So for those who share with me this haunt-tune...Enjoy

You can listen to it on this you tube upload by stevepressman

Gods Country – Kool &the Gang

Travelling travelling travelling
Travelling uh travelling travelling over God's country

We have been blessed with the one more tomorrow to make our dreams come true
So let’s take this time before time passes by to make real our fantasy
There’s a place I love and often dream of
Like a painted picture it so beautiful

Late at night when all the stars are shining
It so lovely to see
Would you like to go with me?

Travelling over Gods country you & me
Travelling me & you together
Travelling over Gods country wow wow

You always wanted to fly like the wind
To the place where we 1st began
To the east in the morning light
We’ll ride into paradise

Travelling -travelling uh travelling over Gods Country you &me- travelling u &me
Travelling -travelling uh over Gods Country you &me -over Gods Country

Love is our guide as we take to the sky to the land of majesty
The love everywhere because people do care
What a lovely sight to see

God’s country to the land of milk & honey -what can you do
God’s country there you're sure to find there no more time

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Travelling uh travelling travelling
Travelling uh travelling travelling
Over Gods country

To the East in the morning light we'll right into paradise - paradise
Travelling over Gods you &me travelling you & me
Travelling over Gods you &me - over Gods Country

Travelling -travelling over God’s Country-travelling
You &me -travelling u &me
Travelling - travelling over Gods country u &me - travelling over go co
Travelling uh travelling

Your Money and You: Mutual Funds ...and You by John Paul Mugambi

2008-04-09T03:58:00.004+03:00

First I’d like to say that some of the stuff I am writing about here has its sources in some of the following sources

http://www.bdafrica.com

http://www.investorguide.com/

http://allafrica.com/

that said I’m sure no will be slapping me a copyright suit and also you can benefit more by going to the sites mentioned and benefit yourself.

So I’d like to talk about us and what we look for when we are investing or saving and some of the things that stump us.
Now like everyone else who wants to say something we always quote other people a lot before we can get quoted. Last year if you look at my archive below I had this piece that I posted in my page about the seven laws of aligning money, value and happiness.

Get Inspired - A Guide to Living the Good Life by Laura Rowley:

so rule number one was
Know thyself: Understand what values you want to express in your earning, spending, saving and investing.

This rule applies when you are venturing into mutual funds and pension funds and endowment plans.
So exactly what are we looking for ...savings for retirement, saving for our children’s education, just hoping to use our money to make some more money? So here we have already expressed several values ...family values, economic values, and a general good outlook towards life since we want to save or invest for some future.

So here is what a mutual fund is for you it is a collective investment vehicle...meaning you and I and another and several others including some organisations pensions schemes decide to put our money in the "hands" of another for the purpose or with the intent to make some more money using this fund managed by this "another".

Every mutual fund has its issuer in Kenya we have several fund managers licensed by the RBA (if they are managing pensions schemes)...the capital markets authority and all other regulators ...you can find them here

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:EOkLsbF-VFMJ:www.cma.or.ke/docs/licensees2007.pdf

So we have to find out the objectives of the fund is it in line with our own personal objectives. Some funds work towards long term stability while others are geared towards short term growth. Some fund managers will have several funds to meet these two different needs hence you will have a money market fund an equity fund or a mixed fund.

So annual reports of these funds are important to help you know what your fund is all about and how it is performing and who is running it.
It is also important to keep abreast of the continuous performance of your fund. Daily newspapers offer this. Conveniently they also help you in comparing your fund and other funds in the market.
It is also important to know where your money is being put into. A few weeks ago there was a general scramble for the government offering of securities. Mostly banks were the scramblers but you would also want to know whether your fund manager was in the action... and whether this is in line with what you want. Are you going out for high risk high return or low risk low return kind of investment?
Annual reports also help you find out what other assets your fund holds does it have a proper mix of long term and short term assets such as land, buildings versus securities.
It also guides you on the expenses your fund manager is incurring ...it would be unfortunate instead of growing your future finances you catered to overbearing salary and running expenses of your fund manager.

However with all these there is one point where you will never go wrong ...your fund manager is out to make money and so are you. So as long as the management expenses they charge to you aren’t extreme you and your fund managers will make a very “happy party”

Mutual funds offer a variety of benefits chief among them is having a professional manage your investments for you. Secondly you are able to achieve a diversified portfolio. Mind you this does not mean just putting your money in a group of investments but it means putting your money (in this case your fund manager putting your money) in assets with dissimilar behaviour. Some fund managers have achieved this by having what is listed in the newspaper as growth fund, balanced fund. Again however it is wise to find out in exactly which assets your fund is balanced into. Equities for example have shown to be great assets in times of inflation despite being high risk investments.

Finally something especially Kenyan investors have to outgrow. All this stuff I am talking about ...diversified portfolio....high risk ...low risk...I don’t mean that you are assured against a loss and promised a profit. These are things that do come with investments profits and losses are in this circles part of life. Cest la vie (always wanted to use that phrase somewhere)

We have to outgrow the mentality of safety. Recently the CBK governor revealed that depositors are losing their savings in their quest to find a save haven for their money, rather than seeking good rates of returns for their savings are leaving their money in commercial banks at lower interest rates than the underlying inflation rate earning a 4 per cent interest annually on their savings against the 5-7 per cent underlying inflation rate. That is you are earning interest but in actual sense inflation is eating at it and it becomes negative real interest rates on your savings.

So that’s about it on mutual funds...next time maybe we’ll talk about Inflation or better yet ...how about IPOs and trading in shares ....

Fast car by John Paul Mugambi

2008-03-19T21:39:00.005+03:00

Fast car

This year is moving faster than I would have thought...anyway I'm checking out my first posts and I realise that the political situation in our country might have just taken centre stage for the first two months of this year...which is 1/6th of the year or basically 16% of the year. Hey relax I'm not one of those guys who want to scare you on how much time ...we spend sleeping...or give you tips on how to manage your time...to the sec. As a matter of fact you should be giving me tips.

Anyway if you've heard Tracy Chapmans song fast car...then right now I should be singing it... I really need a fast car.

I'm do not mean literally need a car...well I wouldn't mind owning one...with all the walking miles I'm doing to save cash. But I'm really talking about the issues she brings out in the song.

Personally I'm in my 3rd job of the year...targets caught up with me at the one I started out the year with...these call centre metrics. Then at my 2nd which I did for 2 weeks...well I don't know maybe I kept comparing it with my first and it couldn't hold a candle to it...so I left (first job I ever quit by the way) all my others have quit me... one way or another.

So one problem with quiting and getting fired or starting at a new job...is that your finances are usually rock bottom...looking to get better...or buried in debt. And that's why I'm singing fast car.

And then to cap all that there's a million plans you had ... I was moving house by the way ... change of plans...back to sharing with my bros and sis's and me..."we're family"

So anyway back to my needing a fast car

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

yep I would really love to see my life going somewhere and maybe someone looking out for the brightest most good looking 26 year old nerd you ever saw to make a deal with. I know you're saying "Yeah right"

But my self critique mode goes into play...and I realise that I'm always going somewhere...every little effort I make...yeah it's a movement to somewhere...the problem with me and so many other people...tell me you're not in this list...is we don't want to keep moving ....we want to arrive there at the TOP of the world and get there quick fast and in a hurry.

Managed to save just a little bit of money
We won't have to drive too far
Just 'cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living

Well at least she saved ...I didn't with all the pressures of today's living ...I guess one of the things we should all learn to do is save a bit...I didn't say half or 30%...I don't know how much you wanna save ...but save a bit...kidogo tu.

Though she and I have something in common ...we're looking for our out in the jobs...we do or will get...and that's a bit scary. I know our jobs give us a lot...they take up a great percentage of lives...but they shouldn't be everything...at least we should have people who mean something to us...a venture or hobby or project that we wanna do aside from our work...I know you're saying look who's talking ...and yeah well you're probably right...but it's true anyway...what I am saying.
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way

Well decisions...you know after I quit my last job...I felt guilty for about a whole week. Sometimes we have to move out...move on...keep on driving in order to get somewhere ...

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain't got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
We'll move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I'd always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

More dreams... the supermarket checkout girl has dreams...the buyer who is buying two cartloads has dreams...and even I who is buying Snacky 15/= to give my body sugar to walk home yeah we got dreams....and like I've said before we celebrate these dreams...and we appreciate what we got..."job that pays all our bills" and one last thing ...I'm not in the family way...but if you are please prioritise your hubby/wife and your kids...are the people that count...no matter how badly life is dishing it out to you...just don't lose them don't shut em out or drown their love in a bottle or mediocrity.

I remember we were driving driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

The people in our life always bring great meaning in our lives...they really make us someone and make us feel we belong...our colleagues and clients more than our salaries...our families and friends and spouses and "love of your life" ...I know if your like me ...you're saying ain't no such thing ...but keep on the look out ...you may get smitten ...and start singing

And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged

But again whose to say we can't take our fast car keep on driving...no matter how much time we expend at a place...or with a person...so long as we're still moving...well we're alive...we only "die" when we give up...stop dreaming or hoping....

So find your fast car...that keeps you on the road...if it's the life project in your heart...the dreams in your mind...the beliefs that give you hope...and no matter what life brings your way...or whatever you meet on life's way does not keep you from moving on.

So have a great 84% or 5/6 of the rest of 2008 and please keep on driving...

Sorry I haven't been posting much....no promises...but I'll try

Celebrate life by John Paul Mugambi

2008-02-26T21:15:00.003+03:00

Jus found this piece from last year 2007 …it was my new yrs wish then and it really makes some relevance to this year so here it is

Happy New Year 2007

On Christmas night I went to the one of the many estate cafes to buy take away mandazi for supper. I know several thoughts are running through your head depending on your own inclinations &values.
If you have strong family values you are thinking this guy didn’t go home for Christmas; if you're a health &fitness nut you are thinking -mandazi for supper how unhealthy; if you are a party animal you must be thinking this boy needs to get a life; if you are saved you must think he should have been in communion with other faithful during the holy night.

Well you are right in your own particular way. Send me feedback on that and I’ll add it to my list of resolutions. Back to my story I met a very happy lady buying chips and she tells me “hope you weren’t buying chips because I just got the last Christmas chips”. She was so pleased with herself I couldn’t help laughing and I told her “no I wasn’t buying chips but good for you -the last Christmas chips –that is really something”.

I was still thinking about her …I mean not her –the episode when it hit me that if we could celebrate every little occurrence like we do on these special days then our lives would be one long holiday, our lives would be much happier and maybe if the scientific research on happiness is right much longer.

If we could celebrate every resolution on our list we accomplish and every resolution on our list we tried to accomplish life –though we didn’t really get there but we got close life would be much rosier.

If celebrate each of our bad habits we try to break and the milestones we make in the attempt well the struggle would much sweeter and we would not break the habit along with ourselves.

If celebrate every new deal we close, every innovation in our business, every day completion of routine work of our in-tray pile to our out tray pile, or if we didn’t do a clean slate of the in-tray we did a personal best ….how much more self worth &confidence &purpose &fulfilment we would get from our labor.

If only we could celebrate every career move or every academic qualification or every exam passed on our way to the qualification how much more enthusiastic we would be as we reach for the next rung.

If we could celebrate every car log book, title deed, home ownership certificate, monthly mortgage receipt, insurance policy document (I know you're telling me–‘you wish!’), business renewal licence, business registration document. How much more meaning would the possession acquire? How much more joy would it give you?

I think in this New Year the greatest thing we can learn to do is celebrate life (I know you are saying I have stolen that line from a Celtel advert), celebrate moments; celebrate…..again &again.

I also think in this new we should reach for our ideals we are always bigger than what we believe of ourselves &only by introducing our abilities to responsibility do we realize what we are capable of.
I think in our jobs the greatest satisfaction to get is from meeting wonderful people. That satisfaction would keep you going even if renumerations didn’t. I think every time I think you could be anyone you put your mind to be, you could do and achieve anything you put your heart to do…that your are wonderful person.

Maybe you are thinking this is all too unrealistic ….one can’t be happy all the time. Well you can’t it would not be life but somewhere in that bitter lemon life handed you is the potential for a great lemonade juice.
So after every heartbreak &set back -give yourself a chance to recover and meditate about what happened and you are sure to find not an answer to the “why did it happen?” we are so quick to ask -maybe to the “why should I go on?” we will find an answer.
In this great paradox of our lives
Magic in our lives &in those of the people around us can only take place if we rise up after the tragic.
So this year smile at life through the sunshine and the rain
And the tears and the trials and triumphs
And the success &unexpected outcomes (no failure because you tried &that in itself is a success)
And the effort &the exhaustion
Smile it will all be more beautiful &sweet &lovelier &new …a new year
Of golden tears &sweet perspiration
Of great dreams &new ambitions
Of broken hearts &life after love
Of great accomplishments &dizzying heights
Of great celebration

Words for Peace by John Paul Mugambi

2008-01-18T09:31:00.001+03:00

(while Kenya is being called a killing field by people who do not have the heart to prevent it from degenerating into one....here's are simple words for those who really value peace)

What we could for peace I wonder
What could I say for calm and love and unity I ponder
What can I do to end this carnage &hate a real disaster
How can I get to do something real &not just engage in banter

If I could get to the great house I’d teach them wisdom
If I were the greatest I’d give it all up for the peace of nation or kingdom
If I could be on be the speaker I’d tell them to listen to reason
If I were a legislator then for the love of the people my words would be a weapon

But all I am a nobody and all I got is a heart and a season
All I have are my rhymes and a keyboard to type on
But I try still to express these great sentiments for all who love this nation
To sacrifice all at the altar of peace…. wealth, power, elections and ambition

If I could weep so that I can be a witness to the nation
If we could see how homes and lives are wasted on a senseless ethnic notion
If we could all strive to bring each other closer &share to each a portion
If we could realize that war &hate wastes everything even great nations

All I feel now is a great Helplessness
As I watch the violence that is endless
All I would love is a sweet song to give hardened hearts some softness
And then maybe we can think of other things such as democracy and progress

What we could for peace I wonder
What could I say for calm and love and unity I ponder
What can I do to end this carnage &hate a real disaster
How can I get to do something real &not just engage in banter

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 by John Paul Mugambi

2008-01-01T17:31:00.001+03:00

Quote of the day
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow
Helen Keller

Motivation of the day
Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go be what you want to be, because you have only on life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
Anonymous

Wish You a Prosperous 2008

Kenya after Elections by John Paul Mugambi

2008-01-01T16:27:00.001+03:00

The passion which we Kenyans went with to this years general elections was so great &wonderful that it is heartbreaking at the same time.

Wonderful because finally we seem to realise what power the ballot holds for our every day lives unlike .....in the previous elections where turnout was poor this years had almost 75% turn out.....and the youth who were always indifferent this time voted massively.....

Heartbreaking because all other things that make a democratic voting an effective tool in governance do not seem to function in our country.

The first is of course political parties. We are a Multi party democracy and yet we don't have real political parties. Apart from the party which led Kenya to her independence KANU which still fosters ideals of nationalism.....other parties do not seem to stand for any guiding principle, creed or social belief. They are instead based around personalities who are popular enough to pull crowds or tribal chieftains and all the people who subscribe to them do so only to ride on euphoria associated with the party and make it to parliament.....Most of these parties seem to have only a 5year shelf life ....next elections ....we will have a whole new set.

The second is the constitution .....after rejecting a fraudulent document in the 2005 referendum we all forgot why the document was so important....the political leaders who led the NO vote instead of using the goodwill they had gained with the people to go ahead and picket and petition for the BOMAS draft the only draft drawn up by a group drawn from all Kenyans instead formed a political party to contest this years elections.....talk about misguided priorities. A few months before elections the same crowd clamoured for minimum reforms and pointed out flaws in the composition of the Electoral Commision of Kenya appointments which would have been fixed by ......you guessed right ....the BOMAS constitution or a constitutional clause for that matter.

The third thing is that our parliament has too many self seekers......people spent 5 whole years in the 9th parliament only to realise 3 months to the general elections that they didn't introduce any bill to ensure the Chairman of the ECK had an extended term or that appointments to the body were independent. Essential bills were left unpassed ...massive lack of quorom and excessive politicking characterised all the past 5yrs ....

Hopefully the 10th Parliament is going to change things.....the fact that a great percentage of them are new faces who got in either riding on party euphoria ..(popularly known as 3piece voting) where we vote for an individual without caring about a persons credentials....so long as he/she bears your party name. The second reason we have new people is that the president elect didn't support any candidate in his strongholds and also that his party was a loose coalition of independent parties.... allowing new comers to beat incumbents including powerful ministers....which was a good precedent on his part ....only it leaves him with few MPs to run a government with.

The last thing which is heartbreaking is that Kenyans are killing and hurting each other and looting as a protest to an election outcome ....yet the leaders who should be responsible enough .......instead of calling for calm either choose to remain mumb in the state house ......or instead decide to incite poor Kenyans to attend an illegal inaguaration....

And the question which begs answering .....is Why are we so gullible? We fall for the same lies and promises over and over and over again.....we re-elect the same age old politicians....I'm not saying they are bad or evil.....I'm just saying with all their goodness ....love for the people and the country and zeal for reform.... non of the leading candidates we had this year have the capability of leading a 3rd world country in this century.......their ideas are the same ideas they had 20 years ago.....that is why we are still going to hear calls of pandeni Kahawa tuondoe umaskini..... or Majimbo ndio itasaidia Wakenya...calls urging coffee planting or federalism as the solution for our modern day problems such as disparities in living standards between the rich and the poor .....or access to amenities such as hospitals of the people in rural Kenya .....or even a country with wonderful sportsment and women who do not seem to earn their due

2008-01-01T16:04:00.000+03:00

Quote of the day
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow
Helen Keller

Motivation of the day
Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go be what you want to be, because you have only on life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
Anonymous

Wishing You a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

Get Inspired - A Guide to Living the Good Life by Laura Rowley

2007-09-13T17:37:00.000+03:00

i found this piece by Laura Rowley and i simply had to have it on my Page

Money and Happiness.com -

Get Inspired - A Guide to Living the Good Life by Laura Rowley:

The seven laws of aligning money, values and happiness
1. Know thyself: Understand what values you want to express in your earning, spending, saving and investing.

2. Be grateful. A grateful heart is never envious.

3. Be giving, of your talent, time, and money.

4. Be diligent and responsible: Don't expect managing your money to be easy; keep learning, and be accountable for your own financial life.

5. Be flexible. In the fires of failure are the seeds of new opportunity. Anything is possible, even a better route than the one you had in mind.

6. Be trusting, in your good common sense, in the people you love, in your hard work.

7. Keep it light: It's only money. Get Inspired The path to financial well-being begins when we align money behaviors with core beliefs. What's the best way to bring them together? You can express your values in the way you earn money; the goals for which you save; the things you buy; the investments you make; and your charitable giving.