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• June 19, 2008
• 20:00

  Yet Another Day...........

   » ‎ My part of the world.......

  Tags:  Fun  

  The blogger's block continues, I'm sitting in front of the text box and nothing is coming to mind. Well the fountain had to stop flowing at one point in time. But meek meek tagged me with an 8 things meme. I usually don't do these but thought I would indulge them this time round.
  
  8 Things That I Am Passionate About
  
  1. Kenya
  2. Soccer
  3. Learning New Things
  4. Mixed Martial Arts
  5. Financial Independence
  6. African Issues
  7. Eastern Philosophy/ Religion
  8. Healthy Living
  
  
  8 Things I Would Like To Do Before I Die
  
  1. Sky Dive
  2. Deep Sea Dive
  3. Have A 3some
  4. Set Up A Successful Non Profit In Kenya
  5. Make At Least $1,000,000
  6. Kick someone hard in the ribs when they are down
  7. Travel Around The World
  8. Get some tattoos
  
  8 Things I Say Alot
  
  1. As long as it works for you
  2. Kumeharibika
  3. Things are narrow
  4. That's your opinion
  5. That's what I think but you can correct me if I'm wrong
  6. Hodi
  7. Pole
  8. Ehe
  
  8 Books I have Read Lately (still reading some of them)
  
  1. Trading Options For Dummies
  2. Technical Analysis Plain and Simple
  3. Profit With Options (Essential Methods For Trading Success)
  4. Auto Repair For Dummies
  5. The Game
  6. Heal Thyself for health and Longevity
  7. The 8 Human Talents
  8. Dreads
  
  8 Movies I have Seen 8 Times (some I havent made to 8 times)
  
  1. The Devil's Advocate
  2. The Usual Suspects
  3. The Matrix
  4. Hard Boiled
  5. 300
  6. Enter The Dragon
  7. Hero
  8. The Lord Of The Rings (All 3)
  
  3 People Who Should Do This
  
  Archer
  Mocha
  Bomseh
  
  
  I was reading this article about a Naijo dude getting his wife and property jacked from him by his wife and an MP (people say its Hon Raphael Wanjala). Much as I am not a supporter of property theft, the revelation that the Nigerian's Kenyan wife of 10 years is 24 made me sympathise with him much less. How in the hell do you marry or court a girl who is 14 years old?! You have just stolen the girl's teenage years when she is meant to be growing up. Now wonder she went buckwild and decided to share their property with Hon Wanjala. I guess Karma can bite you when you least expect it.
  
  Now another blithering idiot out there decides to shine an unwelcome light on Kenyans in the diaspora. I know the rule of law is innocent till proven guilty, so I shall let you read and come up with your own opinions.
  
  Now let me ask a question to you rugby fans out there. Capital FM seem to be having some sort of competition on radio where people can win tickets for singing various rugby chants. One thing I have noticed is that the chants pretty much haven't changed from when I was in high school, and that was a long time back; people are still singing "Eloya" and other similar songs. My question is, aren't there any new chants coming up or do people lack innovation and motivation? It kind of reminds me of how I used to go for Rock at Carnivore on Wednesdays and hear the same songs over and over and over. I wouldn't have been shocked if the DJ had a mix tape at that point and would play it while hanging out with the club goers.
  
  I had to share this interesting image below. This is the back of a courtesy bus that goes to a popular high end shopping district in Atlanta. Now my question is, if you get on the bus does the girl give you a free ride? And if she gets on top does she charge you $12.90? I'll see if I can catch that bus this weekend and give you an update. Nice weekend people!
  
  
  

• 16:37

  Watching Zimbabwe: Sokwanele Charts are Damning

   » ‎ White African

  Tags:  Africa  

  Part of you wants to ignore it and hope it will go away. Zimbabwe is such a messed up place that it hurts to even think about it. In the midst of it all, one group is making sure that actions and events are being documented: Sokwanele.

  

  It’s amazing how simple visuals can take a bunch of data and make it real. Above is a chart showing the mayhem, broken down by type. It’s a sick story, but one that can be told in almost real-time because of our current technology.

  This is why mapping and other visualizations are so important. Sokwanele is simply collecting the news reports then archiving and parsing them for information. When those stories come in ones and twos throughout the week, it’s easier to ignore. When they’re put forward as a body of evidence using visuals to show their aggregate statistics, it becomes damning and impossible to ignore.

  

  That’s a busy map above. In fact, so busy that you’ll be surprised to know that it’s just the violence that has been perpetrated since the elections at the end of March. Anyone remember the “old” map, from way back then, 3 months ago? I do, and have the screenshot below:

  

  By the way, both of those maps only show a small sample of what is being done. Not everything is reported to news organizations or directly to Sokwanele.

  Some people might ask, “But, does Sokwanele’s map help at all?” I’m guessing that it doesn’t directly. However, what it does do is proved fodder for organizations inside and out to make an even stronger case against this repressive regime.

  [Note: if you can handle graphically violent images, check out Sokwanele's Flickr stream.]

  On a Personal Note
  Those of us on the Ushahidi team think on this stuff a lot. We’re not off trying to win mashup competitions and raise funding for further development because we think it’s a fun startup idea. No, we’re doing this because it matters and we believe our tool will help raise awareness and empower organizations to understand and activate against wrongs.

  If anything, I’m compelled more than ever to figure out how technology can continue to create change in truly screwed up places.

  

• 15:43

  My Apology

   » ‎ Cock And Bull

  When I decided to write the recent article on my past sexual bondage, it was under great and lengthy conviction from my conscience and my greatest motivation was to share my story with a person or people who might be in a similar situation and who will be comforted to know that they are not alone. The most burdening thing about walking around with this kind of a secret is the fact that one believes that it is impossible to talk to anyone about it since he or she feels that no one would understand. As a result, one is reluctant to ask for help. There is also the haunted feeling that somehow the secret will come to light and that the people who matter would know about that which had been so carefully concealed by the darkness. That thought is as terrifying as imagining one being undressed in public.

  Every person carries a secret and no matter how big or how small it is, each one imagines that his burden is the heaviest and would be glad if they could tell it to someone else who will listen just so that it can get lighter. In most cases, such a person will choose a complete stranger – say a shrink – rather than someone who is close to them. To tell the secret to someone who knows us would require a guarantee that the person not only seals their lips for ever but also accept us completely and Love us without any judgment. However, the terror of realizing that we might not be acceptable in the eyes of those who we desire to Love us makes us model ourselves from copies of what we think is acceptable as a human being. And that is how people end up splitting themselves into multiple persons; one for each occasion as need be.

  If we decide to accept ourselves as human beings capable of falling and rising, then it is possible for us to let others see us for who we are. I am saying that as someone who for years, has desired forgiveness from God, from other people, and above all from himself and not being capable of receiving it because of imagining that his mistakes are too great. It is very hard for a person who will not accept forgiveness to forgive and accept others. I am praying that God gives me what it takes to accept others just as I expect them to accept me.

  I am naturally wondering what the people who know me are thinking after reading the article. I realize that there might be someone or people who will feel offended or betrayed not only by those decisions I made in the past, but because these people can directly be associated with me through various liaisons. I know it might even seem inappropriate that I should air my linen in public so shamelessly, but the fact is that truth eventually heals after seeming initially to sicken. And so to all I say that I am truly sorry. I am totally responsible for my behavior and so have no excuse to give for all the things that I did that hurt others.

  Each one of us is made right by the grace of God, the Love of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. May God continue to give all of us what it takes to ask for forgiveness whenever necessary and also to forgive those who have wronged us always, Amen!

• 11:42

  Learning to love “Red”

   » ‎ Black Looks
  Rethabile introduced me to Geoffrey Philp a couple of months ago - now I visit his blog all the time. This poem he wrote reminds me of the conversation a few weeks ago here on Black Looks on xenophobia, belonging and the words not to call people Red by Geoffrey Philp It burst from those lips [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Learning to love "Red"", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/06/learning_to_love_red.html" });

• 11:36

  Dear MP

   » ‎ tHiNkEr'S rOoM

  Tags:  Hubbub  

  WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE

  

  Dear MP,

  It is with sadness that I greet you this day. Sadness because you actually got out of the house without being struck by lightning or rear ended by an 18 wheeler. You see, this is because I hate your guts, and indeed every inch of you, from the tips of your pitchfork to the end of your forked tail. Like an unpaid KPLC bill, you give me the urge to put your lights out.

  My dearest MP, nothing would give me the greatest pleasure to kick your spine right out the top of your fat head and proceed to beat you with your own backbone, or what little there is of it. I would then like to sprinkle your backbone with chili, salt, vinegar and army ants and stuff it right back, upside down, where it came from.

  In case your ant-like attention span is not quite grasping this, given a choice between your presence in the same hemisphere as myself and painting a boat with my tongue, I’d happily paint the entire Pacific Fleet.

  Making allowances for the fact that you are not one of nature’s lightning thinkers, let me simplify it by saying I despise you, from the top of your fat head to the soles of your designer gum boots.

  Nothing brings out the truth of uncompromising and everlasting mother’s love than the fact that somewhere there is a woman that is proud to be associated with you. I shudder at the thought of carrying you for 9 months. Give me Pharaoh’s 7 years of famine anytime! 9 months of your society is 9 months too many! Shaggy was onto something when he talked about Strength Of A Woman.

  We boosted you on your shoulders when you came to campaign as you promised us change and development. Like true men and woman we grinned ghastly grins and tolerated your enormous girth, stretched trousers and suspicious skid-marks. We endured your rich, earthy aroma and your joint saying and spraying as you articulated your vision.

  And then you were sworn in and you were gone. From your one roomed hovel you now live in a house that has a jacuzzi, something you seem to think comes from a sewing kit.

  When it comes to issues to do with your benefits and welfare your girth can be seen moving horizontally at great speed and wobble towards the debating chamber. I see your fat face on TV explaining why you need to be paid more. However when it is time for our roads, or our fertilizer or our schools, we are assured the grunts and slobbers from the parliamentary cafeteria are from you.

  Now that you object to paying taxes like me, let me assure you that nothing would give me greater pleasure to sit you down in a forest, cover your nether regions in ground nuts and leave the squirrels to a treat of Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut. I would also like to anesthetize you, skin you, cover your flesh with curry powder and vinegar, sprinkle some ball bearings and return your skin and wait for the fun and games begin.

  How dare you, you greedy bastard, think that you are more equal than me? Do you not realize, you fat fool, that I am taxed all the way to my liver to pay your obscene salary? Listen here, you garden gnome. Do you understand that I pay so much tax that my grandsons are in debt? And you don’t want to pay tax!

  I read with amusement that you sit on the defence committee. You poor fool, a cruise missile is just as fast as a regular missile!

  And at your stint doing something in the finance ministry, a balanced budget does not mean writing some expenses on pages 1-30 and the rest on pages 31-60!

  Hydro-electric dam, for your information, is not a new curse word.

  Just last week I was at a function where you were reading something about Open Source. I have no doubt that you think Open Source can be helped by ointment and bandages. Well, let me say this to you:

  apt-get down on your knees, gunzip my trousers and gnukiss my ass, you selfish, self righteous, Gadarene swine!

  Yours sincerely,

  M

  © M for tHiNkEr'S rOoM, 2008. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
  Post tags:
  

  

• 11:05

  What Everybody Ought to Know About Immigration and Njeri’s Guest Post

   » ‎ The Displaced African

  Ladies and gentlemen it’s the middle of June. A lot of wonderfully fresh, optimistic, naïve and open minds are currently making “the move” from Africa to the West. This series, is for all of y’all who are making this great trek. This is also for all the people who are already abroad and want to guide these new arrivals but don’t quite know how.

  

  I thought I would list some of the blog’s articles that give you useful, actionable information to help you navigate the tough waters of immigrant life, especially in the early days.

  Help a Brother or a Sister Out

  So if you know someone is about to immigrate overseas and you want to help them out, email this article by clicking on the “Email this” link at the bottom of the article.

  By the way, if you haven’t, please make sure you sign up for my free Immigrant Survivor Guide Newsletter which is to the right of this article because I cover a lot of the stuff below in the newsletter. Sign up by filling in your first name and your email address.
  

  10 Resources to Get You Started as an Immigrant

  For guidance on how to become an immigrant in the first place, I will recommend Mwalimu.com and Workpermit.com

  1) What is it Like Saying Goodbye to African Soil ? I wrote a post which got discussion started on that a while ago. Please ensure you leave a comment and add to the body of knowledge.

  2) For those of you immigrating to Melbourne Australia., listen to some opinions on Melbourne from:
  a) A student who arrived in early 2008.
  b) Myself
  c) My younger sisters who are 14 and 11.

  3) The One Thing they Never Tell You Before You Immigrate: Gal Africana from a search for sanity talks about the rarely discussed loneliness that comes with being “the only black face in sight”.

  4) How to Immigrate to Australia Within a Week :I wrote a long, extremely detailed series to help you “get settled” in your first week as an immigrant .

  The article helps you deal with things like accomodation, mailing arrangements, banking, employment, documentation and so on and so forth.

  I wrote it with students immigrating to Australia in mind, but I think anyone immigrating can get value out of it.

  Check out the checklist that summarizes the entire series here. For all you immigrant veterans out there, feel free to add information to the series by leaving comments on the various posts.

  5) The Secret to Working Beyond the 20 Hours Per Week Work Limit: Things you must be aware of if you chose to go against the 20 hours work per week limit that exists in Australia and the US. Read that post in collaboration the phenomenal guest posts by:

  a) Seinlife on 5 Mistakes to Avoid as a Foreign Student in the US

  b) Acolyte from My Part of the World
  

  6) A word of advice you’ll hear often that you may dismiss: It has two parts:

  a) This place is full of distractions.

  b) Know why you’re here and keep your eye on the prize.

  Don’t dismiss this advice: it separates the winners from the losers.

  7) Do you ever intend on immigrating back to Africa? Don’t leave this to chance. Be fully aware at all times of whether or not you will and your reasons why.

  8 ) Coach Carol outlines 7 barriers to immigrant success.

  9) My personal thing thrown in here: A lot of you will get irritated by statements like, “Wow! You speak such good English!” or questions like, “Is Africa a country?” Don’t be. Just how much did you know about the State of Iowa or the Federal States and territories of Australia before you left Africa?

  10) On a lighter note, this is for those of you who wonder what interracial relationships are like.

  

  Update on 26/6/2008: Also check out gal africana’s post on UK working-holiday visas for further guidance

  That’s Not All:Njeri’s Guest Post

  What’s happening, I’m losing my mojo? Even I didn’t laugh at the few dry jokes I made in this introduction. This post comes from Njeri a.k.a. meek meek of intricately me. Oh well, enjoy. I’m Off to a camp to Chillax (more than relax) for the weekend. Make sure you also recharge your batteries this weekend: Mwangi
  

  The grass is always greener on the other side…this is a statement that we often take for granted but how true it is. Everything abroad looks so inviting when your in Africa. It seems like they are eating better food, going to better schools…they even look like they have better friends. Its all perception really, its definitely not what it seems. Opportunity exists, it does, but only for the smart immigrant. Do not think you can just go to the embassy, get a visitors visa, get on a plane and figure it out when you get here. Thats what i did and it does not work trust me. If you actually really want to come and enjoy the bounty of endless opportunity, take some time to plan the whole thing. The worst thing you could do is rush into it and then realize that you didn’t plan well enough.
  
  1. Get a work visa or a student visa depending on what exactly you want to do. If the company you work for has offices abroad, ask them to sponsor you… if not ask a company abroad to sponsor you. Please stress on the fact that your an immigrant and they will get all the necessary paperwork taken care of. Alot of companies actually want to send people abroad because they need to be ‘equal opportunity employers’ and that means that they look better if they have a few skilled immigrants in their task force. You need to be qualified though so line up those degrees, once you get to the states you can probably ask them to sponsor your school and you can go on to get your masters, if this works for you do not waste the opportunity. Its easy to get sidetracked but if you are a little patient, it all pays off in the end. If you want to get a student visa apply to a school and once you are accepted, if you can pay for your first few semesters or if you can get someone to sponsor you, schools are often happy to accommodate you [thats because your paying international fees which are much higher than regular fees] If and when you get a job, No matter how menial or degrading you may think it is, hold on to it for dear life because that is your meal ticket. Do everything to keep it and be patient eventually things always get better.
  
  2. Make sure you have savings, and a good friend, and a fall back plan[preferably a good job] and youre family behind you because its always difficult in the beginning. You dont need one of the things i mentioned… you need all of them. I cant stress enough the importance of friends who have lived abroad for a while because not only will they help you go forward they will teach you how to navigate the system. The ’system’ is not something us Africans are actually used to and more often than not, we think that we dont need to be part of it. No you have to be part of it so you need some really intelligent people who are youre really good friends to help you. This help will prove to be more beneficial than money or anything else for that matter. Dont take that ‘intelligent’ thing for granted either because alot of people out here still havent learnt how to navigate that system, so you could get pulled in to the wrong crowd and it would take you years to figure out where you went wrong. You need to catch on quick, you need to soak everything up. Africans abroad are often heartless they will take advantage of you and tear you apart in an instant, when this happens, and i can almost bet it will, you need your family and the fallback plan.
  
  3. Be curious….ask questions…. In school we used to say ‘kuuliza si ujinga’ im not sure if this is actually slang or not but its true… be friendly and ask questions. Its a bit overwhelming in the beginning because you try talking to people and you think they think your accent is weird but you would be surprised how accustomed people are to it and anyway after a while they begin to understand you anyway so don’t be afraid to ask your question twice or thrice and don’t be scared to be laughed at. There is nothing wrong with asking a question that makes you look like your dumb, remember you are just different not stupid. The more questions you ask- the more you know- the sooner you know more- the better off you are. I have moved from state to state, different states have different ways of saying the same thing, people really dont mind it when you ask them about it. It gives them a chance to explain their loyalties. Its almost like asking a Kenyan to teach you a few words in Swahili, we are always more than eager to share. Remember this, tell people your foreign and ask questions, they will be more than willing to help.
  

• 10:53

  Kenya’s ICT Board on eCommerce

   » ‎ White African

  Tags:  Africa  

  I was quite excited at the opportunity, provided by Al Kags of Kenya’s ICT Board, to be a part of their meeting on eCommerce. This has always been a hot topic for me, as I strongly believe that the ability to transact business (through web or mobile) is one of the “killer apps” for Africa.

  My take is that Africa needs a mobile payment system, akin to PayPal, that is both carrier and bank agnostic.

  We’ll see if my definition of what it takes for eCommerce to work is the same as theirs.

  

  NOTES from the meeting after the jump (long)

  

  The private sector
  Kevit Desai, Director of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and the Kenya ICT Federation, starts off by reminding us that eCommerce effects all industries in Kenya, from health care to agriculture.

  Marcel Werner, Chairman of KIF, steps up to state that eCommere will add 1% to Kenya’s GDP. Kenya is a champion in many areas, but not in eCommerce. There aren’t a lot of nations in Africa working in this area, except Rwanda, and he believes that Kenya should win that race. He states that eCommerce spurs entrepreneurship and innovation.

  One of the great opportunities is in tourism, one of Kenya’s staples. However, eCommerce isn’t only for external forces and the export market, but also for domestic trade. Listing; rural B2C, B2B and G2C, also agricultural trade, healthcare, domestic trade, utilities, etc…

  Gaps in the current legislation include the bills being light on fraud, the fact that liability ISPs aren’t defined and express support for eGovernment transactions. Beyond legislation though, which international affiliations should Kenya have? How does Kenya organize for arbitration?

  Marcel talks a little about “transport”, as it relates to order fulfillment. It’s easy to sell things online, it’s hard to fulfill and deliver those orders. (I agree, fulfillment is a big deal. However, I also think that the private sector tends to figure this out pretty well, no matter the environment. Now, I don’t agree that it’s particularly easy to buy things online in Kenya right now though - not for the average person anyway.)

  Kenya Law as it applies to eCommerce
  Michael Murungi, Advocate Asst Editor of Kenya Law Reports. Defining eCommerce: Any form of business transaction in which the parties interact electronically rather than by physical exchanges or direct physical contact.

  Why legislate? To legalize, facilitate or control/regulate eCommerce? Michael states that the primary reason for legislation is to facilitate better eCommerce and to protect parties doing transactions. Examples are the need for laws that help with personal privacy. Believes that we don’t need multiple regulators for this industry either, but just a single one for efficiency. However, that governing body needs to be split up between administrative and regulatory areas.

  He wonders if the provisions that Kenya is thinking of putting into place don’t foreclose on future developments in e-cash. Examples include Chipknip in the Netherlands and the Octopus card in Hong Kong.

  Michael talks about the need for ISP immunity - as it’s crucial to the ICT industry. ISPs should have no general obligation to monitor data traffic, unless the ISP becomes aware of illegal activity. Limitation of liability for transmitting, cacheing, hosting and third-party linking.

  Finally, there is a need for prosecution for electronic crime and security.

  Paul Kukubo, CEO of the Kenya ICT Board, has come up to talk about both the ICT Board’s mandate and how eCommerce applies to it. Four long term goals:

  1. Establish and market Kenya as a leading ICT country in Africa
  2. Promote ICT industries in Kenya
  3. Promote ICT institutions (ex: ICT Board, KIF, etc.)
  4. Widen the services of ICTs for all Kenyans

  The web plays a very large part in ICT in this space. Paul has had a great deal of experience implementing eCommerce in the private sector (previously at 3Mice). eCommerce legislation is important in order to increase the amount of transactions that could be taking place in Kenya. We don’t see enough eCommerce activity in Kenya… yet. Part of the ICT Boards responsibility is to raise awareness of eCommerce in the country.

  A lot of the eCommerce activities will take place over the mobile phone. We must recognize that as the medium for the future for Kenya. I wouldn’t be surprised if MPesa does more transactions than some small banks. We must be aware of how our population is accessing goods and services through technologies.

  Paul breaks into some thoughts on digitizing of forms and documents. Right now there is a propensity to store these documents in hard copy, and not digitally. Paul believes that they might be more secure saved digitally rather than in paper. Example given of a land deed contrasted to a banking/sale transaction for that property.

  People are looking for goods and services that simplify their lives. So, what should the exclusions be in the laws? What are the principals behind them, rather than just the exclusions themselves? We see a world in which every record will be a digital record - in 10 years. So these are serious questions.

  For international business, it’s incredibly important that we have legislation for data protection and privacy. If business process outsourcing (BPO) is one of the larger initiatives that we’re looking to do, then we must understand that the right legislation to attract international business is critical.

  Dr. Juma Oketch, head of the e-government secretariat in the Office of the President - directly connected to the Ministry of information through the Kenya ICT Board.

  

• 9:01

  Safaricom @ NSE Day 9

   » ‎ bankelele

  Tags:  Safaricom IPO  

  Safaricom @ NSE Day 9

• 8:18

  Statement on Kumekucha Rumours From Chris

   » ‎ You Missed This
  It is said that the way to tell that you are making an impact in politics in Kenya is from how quickly you make enemies. If this is true then Kumekucha has had a major impact since inception but more so in recent times.
  
  Over the last few weeks many of those enemies have shown their faces and indeed their "fangs" on this blog in many different ways. As a champion of free speech I find it extremely difficult to censor anybody. Everybody has a right to their opinion even when their views are pure insanity
  
  However for the sake of the rest of our readers who are still wondering where all the venom is coming from, I would like to make a few facts clear.
  
  * Kumekucha has not been sold and I have no plans whatsoever of selling it at whatever price anybody is capable of offering. It seems to me that I am one of the few Kenyans left who DO NOT believe that money is everything and sometimes there are things which are much more important than one's bank balance.
  
  * I have gone to great lengths to get Oscar on board and he is essentially an investigative reporter, it seems that many of our commentators would prefer that he becomes extremely selective in what he publishes here. I do NOT share that view and I have urged him to ignore negative comments and to continue doing what he is so good at. This blog is not fashioned after some prestige media and therefore if he comes across information on some politicians romantic activities, he will quickly publish it here and if it is too hot I will keep it for the raw notes which I want to report is more popular than ever despite the best efforts of some of our enemies to discourage new subscribers. I take this opportunity to thank you all for your unwavering faith in me and the infomation I work so hard at great risk to my life to bring to you.
  
  * I take this opportunity to announce that I have this day despite my current sorry situation vowed to you all to re-dedicate myself to the core principals I had when I launched this blog in May 2005. Kenya needs those of us who can fight without fear for a better tomorrow. If we will not be there to enjoy it then let us do it for our children and grand children. This is something that I believe in enough to fight for until my last breath if necessary.
  
  You see I love my country... very very much
  
  As always for the love of the motherland.
  
  Chris.

• 6:52

  New Orleans, DC, New York on Juneteenth 2008

   » ‎ Marian's Blog
  From the U.S. Gulf Coast post-Katrina to Somalia, Iraq, Darfur, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan, today is Juneteenth, folks. Black Americans still have our eyes on freedom, and nowadays, all over the world, many more people do, too. Today, 19 June,...

• 0:00

  Steve Mutinda: Brains, Initiative and J2ME Skills

   » ‎ White African

  Tags:  Africa  

  Every once in a while, in this line of work, you get a genuinely welcome and unexpected surprise. That’s what happened the other night when I met up with some local tech guys and a certain Steve Mutinda showed up just happening to mention that he did some J2ME programming. He has created two mobile phone apps (and working on a third), which I’ll review over a couple of posts.

  

  In brief, LiveQuotes let’s you track the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) from your GPRS enabled phone.

  The NSE updates their data every time a trade happens, and that information can be downloaded as a CSV. Steve has it setup so that he checks it every minute, allowing you to have near real-time access to the exchange, and a scrolling ticker for your selected portfolio. Want to see how your stock has done over time? No problem, there is a basic line chart showing how your shares have done historically.

  Steve started this about 3 months ago, soft-launching it to a few friends as he worked on new features and fixed things up. So far there are 200 users. I would expect that to change soon. 800,000 Kenyans have just bought into the Safaricom IPO was his inspiration, and a good one because it means there are hundreds of thousands of new stock owners in Kenya.

  While it’s fee right now, plans are to charge 30/= Kenya Shillings per week ($0.50 cents) per user. Anyone can receive the application through a simple SMS with a link to the URL, and then registering on the spot. Safaricom or Celtel (depending on which carrier the end user has) will act as middleman for transactions, paying Steve on a monthly basis.

  A little math will tell you that by getting just 10,000 users he will make about 300,000/= per week ($4,665). $18,000/month is a nice salary by almost anyone’s standards. I’ll be asking for a loan from him soon, I hope.

  What else is in the future? Uganda and Tanzania for one, possibly the rest of Africa if things go well. On the technology side, look for some type of API that will allow others to access the same pre-parsed information.

  

  See it in action in the video below: