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20:46
On This Day; April 11, 1997
» For Love and Money On This Day; April 11, 1997
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17:54
The Jirongo/Ruto Mystery: Hi-tech Politics?
» You Missed This 
Cyrus Jirongo: The MP for Lugari as well as Chairman and owner of the political party KADDU: Dark past with Ruto that Kenyans have forgotten
Also published in the last few hours: Succession: Kalonzo political turf war
On the surface it would appear that Cyrus Jirongo is at the moment on a collision course with agriculture minister William Ruto. But is that really what is happening?
According to the information this blogger has, Cyrus Jirongo was one of the key players in the maize scandal and was working closely with William Ruto.
In fact one just needs to look at the past of these two individuals to realize that there is something somewhere that does not makes sense.
Lets go back to the 1990s and to the year 1992 to be more specific. That was the year that the first multi-party elections were held in Kenya after many years. President Daniel arap Moi was struggling for survival against lots of opposition. Incidentally the then united opposition operating under the banner of FORD (forum for Restoration of Democracy) had haled a mammoth rally on the Kamukunji grounds which must have caused Kanu hawks to urinate on themselves. To the keen observer it looked like Moi was going to be swept aside by the opposition political current. After all, the aging president had never stood in a seriously competitive election all his political life.
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Little did Kenyans know that Moi had a number of very dirty cards up his sleeve which he was about to play that would cause great damage to Kenyans. One of them was the birth of an organization known as YK92 or Youth for Kanu 92. The main players in that organization was one Cyrus Jirongo and William Ruto. Operating from a building called Anniversary Towers, close to the University of Nairobi, the offices of this organization were used to distribute cash on an unprecedented scale. Several eyewitnesses have described how cash was stacked in cartons that were piled up to the high roof and filled a huge hall. Jirongo and Ruto would authorize how many cartons were to be given to who and where they were to be diostributed. At that time Ruto was an innocent nobody who was being taught politics by Cyrus Jirongo.
Since those heady days the two have remained close friends so much so that in the maize scandal Ruto must have felt that Jirongo was the only person he could really trust to ensure that the trail never led back to him.
So could it be that Jirongo has now turned against Ruto? And if this is what has happened what ids the motive?
Actually a more plausible explanation is that the two are still friends and only pretending to have fallen out. The reason being that Cyrus Jirongo holds the key to linking Ruto directly to the maize saga. Naturally Ruto would want at all costs to ensure that nobody would try to follow that lead. Hence the fact that Jirongo voted against Ruto in the censure motion (what difference would one vote have made when both Ruto and Jirongo could see that he had the numbers in the house to defeat the motion?
You know there is something like being too damned clever for your own good and that would be an appropriate term to use to describe agriculture minister William Ruto.Kumekucha
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14:33
Untitled
» Black Looks Word Press seriously messed up my formatting of this poem but now I kind of like that it reads differently. I am going after a heart that migrated over the times And creating an effigy of a tear-man that has remained unwritten I will burn In a hollow shout of how things are not The Way that they should be Femme et [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Untitled", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2009/02/untitled-2.html" });
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Greetings From Belgium
» For Love and Money Greetings From Belgium
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12:25 Alan Keyes on Obama
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com I occassionally like to drop in and listen to Alan Keyes for some internet comedy hour. Here he is claiming that Obama is still not the legitimate president of America because he was born in Nairobi, Ki-nya, not Hawaii. He does make one good point in this rambling video when he wonders how a bankrupt government [...]
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11:42
Toy Tractor from Recycled Plastic
» AfriGadget Taken in the Rift Valley province of Kenya, this picture shows two young boys with their toy tractor. Notice the use of discarded plastic and a few nails. Simply ingenious, simply Afrigadget!
This picture was submitted by Bankelele, one of Kenya’s top bloggers. Thank you very much Bankelele.
If you would like to submit images, please tag them with ‘afrigadget’ in flickr.
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9:23
New reports of police harassment of activists
» Kenyan Pundit Below is a report I have just read by a Bunge la Mwananchi activist. We have been urging the activists who are being harassed to document their experiences as best as they can. I have promised to make sure that what is going on in Kenya right now gets a wider audience. The report is disturbing to say the very least, not just because it shows you just how paranoid and oppressive this government is becoming, but also because it gives some insight into how the extra-judicial killings that have been in the news start off and how easy it is to be “disappeared” if you don’t have good contacts and with a Mungiki label slapped on you. Please note that it quite lengthy and very unedited.
By Gacheche Gachiki
Dear Comrades, Friends and Allies.
We take this opportunity to thank you all for your great concern and follows-ups to our illegal arrests and detention .
Yesterday morning at 9.00 am I had just been invited by my friend Ibra…as we call him for a cup of coffee in Kiamaiko , within few minutes we were joined by Ruth mumbi of Kiamaiko young women resource centre , She had a article of association for their small organisation and objectives that she needed me to read before they register , In kimaiko the biggest goat market in Nairobi there is a abundant of life with many people coming to buy goats , A friend of mine who I had helped to follow a case of his brother of extra judicial killing joined us , He had a apron coat that is uniform for workers in the slaughter houses, he informed me he had started a small joint business inside one slaughter house with four goats I encouraged him for that ,We were still with Mumbi taking coffee My comrade Ibrahim paid for the coffee and he left to collect his shoes, Another friend came his Nick name Sapare , He is great supporter of Bunge La Mwananchi debates mostly conducted at Kwa Rasta, café with a Mug of tea a place mostly Visited by members of Bunge la Mwananchi either to take a cheap meal of Madodochapati (beans served with chapatti) for Ksh30 or mug of tea that goes for ksh 5 bob last time that we were visitors to kwa Rasta was last Sunday with Keli , Mulialia odipo and Mumbi as we were visiting ongaza njia community centre in the same area for our community organizing activities and we engaged in a good debates and discussion that we had plans to improve the the Bunge La mwananchi debates in an open space within the slums , It is my friend Sapare. Who invited me in Kwa Rasta Where mostly I spend by early Sunday Morning reading the articles in Sunday Nation.
I was the first to enter as I left Sapare with Mumbi, where we were taking coffee, the two police officer were seated down like other customers, I looked for a place to seat and I ordered for a mug of tea before one officer who gave in a space for me to seat at this time I didn’t know him .Before he called the other two officers outside..in the next I minutes that place looked like hell the plastic jugs that are used to serve water to customers without any resist of arrests or provocation both water and breakings jugs were breakings in our heads with beatings and shouts of orders for us to knell down under the tables the experience we went through was very horrible and indeed cruel and I expected death to surprises as any time in that moment before the journey through Kimaiko , Ghetto slum , Huruma Mathare North Via Nairobi river bank, With beatings and torture and abuses and demands of money to buy our freedom Ksh 200,000,, The movement of young people from this informal settlement, 20 in number and those who were arrested along the route was in form of a human train. Handcuffed with Chains that have trade mark HIATTS MADE IN ENGLAND, along the route we were buddle together in a makeshift kiosk where, near St Martin Deplores church, that border Nairobi River and Mathare North Estate, to wait for any relative who might have some money to buy our freedom from the human chain train
AS we negotiated the Nairobi river banks behind Madoya slum near the river where there are big bushes and small well cultivated farms of Vegetable. We were order to stop for inspections of any illegal substance like bhang, Snuff, tobacco, or mobile phone without a receipt,
This inspection is what become our hope when it came to my turn, my Nokia 5000 cell phone was taken away and wallent Which they saw Business cards of Hon Farah Maalim , Paul Muite And Dr. willy Mutunga, Firoze Manji and Calvin Mbugua of Ongaza njia Community centre.
After Scrolling, my phone book immediately it was switched off, and they beckoned each other for a small meeting behind a concrete slab in the river bank.
After coming back to the scene of our inspection, I was separated from 12 members who we were arrested together at Kwa Rasta Café in Kiamaiko. And this time I was chained together with one young man his name Charles Macharia , who was bleeding all over his face and at first time I received an individual threat of death if I don’t cooperate to be released alone, and leave the others because of Contacts in my phone book and the business cards.But the other eleven young people demaded that I was arrested together with them and no way I can be separated from them unless death , With their demands they received serious beatings but at the end we were separated. Near a small bridge that unite Madoya slum and Mathare.
From that point my comrade was Charles Macharia and another young man who was arrested in Madoya slum him his hands were tied with cooper wires after the HIATTS chains became scarce, Macharia who we started our journey together at Kwa Rasta had received serious beating his crime is that he keep on saying he will report his matter to Human rights people about his many illegal arrests, and beatings on his hand he had a cash bail bond issued by Makadara law courts of Ksh 5000. And he could not accept to back to another police station. In his hands he had bag carrying Topex bleach detergent and Vasseline. That he hawk in small shop in Huruma Kiamaiko mostly manufactured in Light industries, along Juja road that Border Huruma and Kariobangi Noth estate
The bag was a bit heavy so I had to assist him while he was wiping blood on his face his plea to wash his blood soaked face in the Nairobi River as it was drying on his face were answered with more beatings…and more humiliation, He did request me we escape with the handcuffs but I sensed danger on that suggestion., he had plan on how to cut the England made chains in the slum called Ghetto.
From this the Bridge that join Madoya slum Mathare North , Myself and Charles Macharia and the young man tied with copper wire we walked together cursing the system and the police who had arrested as in silent…as we were taken to another direction by one police officer.
The fate of other eleven arrested kwa Rasta remained unknown to me but near the stage of route No 29/30 for Mathare north we were packed in another makeshift kiosk, for more observation, whether we can accept to buy our freedom, after one hour the next group that was separated from as was escorted to the new holding base., together with two women an and another young man by more ruthless officers.
From here Ruth mumbi using contacts of the women who was arrested trying to follow his sons she was able to trace our where about and contacted Keli Muysoka of Bunge la Mwanachi , Who then contacted Calvin and of Ongaza njia community and Hon . Paul muite and at 2pm the police could not stay longer with us in the Bush they had to take us to the nearest police station a number of people from huruma community and members of Bunge La Mwanachi had already reached at Muthaiga police station and they had started to demands our production to the nearest legal police station.live or dead.
At Muthaiga police station we were taken there by a private vechicle a Nissan from Mathare North there was more beatings again to confess we are members of Mungiki and at that time of arrests were conducting oaths, our belts shoes and valuables, were booked and were put in custody.
At around 4 pm we were called again for our details to be taken, within few minutes at Divisional criminal investigations office, is when Paul muite arrived and together with Members of Bunge La Mwanachi Geroge Nyongesa Fwaba and Calvin Mbugua with local media.
Hon. Paul Muite did request for our release with police bond, and we report to Muthaiga police station tomorrow at on 24/02/09 8 am our bonds that we are compelled to report to Muthaiga police station under section 22 of the police act Cap84. For the inspector of police to make inquiries into an alleged offence of being members of outlawed sect (Mungiki). As serious tag for exte-judicial execution…at this hour.
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8:46
Open Letter to Micah Cheserem - CMA Chairman
» KA-INVESTOR Dear Mr. Cheserem,
First, I would like to congratulate you on being appointed to the Chair of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Kenya. Despite others approval, I personally I find it disturbing for a man of your caliber to head an institution that has been rendered powerless by cartels of market insiders. You have done ‘great’ thing before, but I’m afraid this is not the time or place to repeat history.
I have decided to detail in this open letter my uttermost disgust and fear of what our Nairobi Stocks Exchange (NSE) has become. I believe by doing this I address the concern of many NSE investors like me and touch on the principal causes of concern of each one of us.
Following the unfortunate turn of events at the stock market, two stockbrokerage firms have collapsed, one placed under statutory management and others left with questionable characters. In all this we investors have bared the brunt. And all we have received from the people we entrusted our hard earned money to is excuses, from the mundane ones like computer errors on the CDS statement to the Global financial crisis.
Is this thing we call NSE just another legal pyramid scheme where investors can loose their investments and no one is prosecuted? All we get is press statements from the concerned authorities (CMA & NSE) and promises of instituting tough regulations, while the perpetrators of the ‘crimes-against-investors’ go scot-free.
I would want to believe that you are more knowledgeable of the above details and much more that’s contained in the Nyaga-PWC audit that has been kept secret from us. Nevertheless, I would like you to do some drastic changes lest the NSE collapse before the end of this global financial crisis. Starting with demutualization of the NSE, reduction in family ownership in brokerage firms or just constitution of a parallel/new securities market.
If none of this can be done, then simply close down CDSC, outlaw all (remaining) brokers and revert to share certificate and open-out-cry method of trading. At least then I will trust that my shares are safe under my mattress.
I wish you well in your work to clean up this mess called the NSE.
Yours truly,
Kainvestor.
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Succession: Kalonzo Political Turf War in Mars
» You Missed This The Vice President came with the guns loaded and blazing. He was firing from all cylinders. And with the nozzle squarely aimed at the PM he left no doubt that making yourself relevant and count is key in every political game. The 70% Kenyans disapproving of the GCG are in good company of the VP. He has picked the gauntlet and fighting in their corner.
If Raila thought he would get away with his unwarranted criticism of the GCG then he got a promptly loaded mouthful from the President’s principal assistant. The man of God spelt it as clear at it is by reminding the LESSER PRINCIPAL that all key ministries responsible for coordination, prioritization and consistency in implementation of government programs are headed by ODM.
To remind all and sundry of his relevance, the VP listed the three parties making the Grand Coalition Government as PNU, ODM and ODM-K. And that should lay to permanent rest any doubts that ODM-K is just a passenger in Kenya’s present gravy train.
Kalonzo is not asking for too much apart from demanding accountability from his colleagues. His statement to the press couldn’t have been more clear and FORMAL replete with all instruments of his office.
Smokescreen
Every Kenyan of good will must rally behind Kalonzo if we have to detour from self-destruction. His mission deserves our unwavering support. Add Karua's nightly Reconciliation and National Healing overtures with Rift Valley leaders and you get people seeing far and beyond the present political gridlock. Theirs is proof to the fact that there is more to productive life than just DOMO DOMO.
Meanwhile ODM has no wiggling room and the RAGING HEAT is directed at her face. The NARA has been revised and people must be alive to the true position. With 7 out of every 10 Kenyans dissatisfied with the ineffective GCG, Kalonzo is demanding collective ownership of the one year failure epitomized grand corruption.
The smokescreen packaged as vision 2030 has been exposed for what it was. One year gone and the glue that partnered the scoundrels together is getting weaker by the day. The succession war will surely mutate into a hydra with every passing day, NA BADO.Kumekucha
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6:29
My identity in Christ
» Farmgal Went to Nairobi Light House church yesterday. Pastor Nelson asked some very valid questions. Do you have an identity in Christ? What’s your Identity in Christ? It got me thinking……..
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4:22
Buy Kenyan, Build Kenya
» Rants, Raves & Reviews Kenyans need to make good choices. Now. To save themselves.
Buy Kenyan
It is as simple as that.
Let me state from the outset. Kenyan manufacturers need to be price & quality competitive. This is not a choice for them. They need to give Kenyans value.
For those who cry 'protectionism', I am NOT advocating tariff barriers or quotas or subsidies. I do encourage additional (non-monetary i.e. subsidies) incentives for Kenyan firms like better roads/infrastructure, staff training, lower tax rates, etc.
Your local Nakumatt (or Tusky or Uchumi or grocer) stocks too many foreign goods esp foods. Kenya is an agricultural country. We need to become a major agro-processor as well.
Baked Beans (I like Baked Beans on Toast)
Kenylon (Kabazi Canners of Kenya) manufactures baked beans but it seems Heinz (imported from the UK via Dubai) seems to has a larger display. There are other local brands BUT the imported brands dominate.
So why does Kenya need to import baked beans?
If Nakumatt sells 100,000 cans of Heinz beans (89/-) per month, that would 'save' Kenya $1,200,000 (Kes 100,000,000) annually. 'Save' above means reduce the need for forex to fund imports. I am assuming retail margins of 10%
KShs 100 mn paid to Kabazi means a good portion goes to local farmers, factory workers, other local manufacturers & transporters. And this gets recycled into the local economy as these 'beneficiaries' buy other local goods.
Butter & Cheese
Why does Kenya import butter from New Zealand via Dubai?
KCC, Brookside, Daima, etc has great milk products. We export to the middle east, so why do we import these? We used to import milk products from China. Why?
Kenyan farmers will increase production IF we reduce imports thus boosting local demand.
Snacks/Chocolates/Prepared Foods
I am amazed that Kenya imports crisps, chocolates, biscuits, cereals, chevda (among other Indian snacks), etc
Kenyans produce great products so why the need to import???
Crisps - Krackles, Tropical Heat, etc
Chocolates - Cadburys, Out of Africa (though most ingredients are imported)
Biscuits - House of Manji (the best Digestives), Brittania
Cereals - Weetabix (local), Procter & Allan, etc
Indian snacks - Tropical Heat, Deeps, etc
Kenyan products in this category are generally cheaper than the imports yet we blow away forex & the creation of local jobs.
Why do Kenyans buy 'prepared foods' when we can hire or buy freshly prepared foods locally. As for convenience, there are local firms & SMEs in the market.
Juices/Squashes (fruit drink mixes)
Why don't Kenyans buy more locally produced juice or juice blends or even fruit drink mixes.
There are many local players in this market including:
Del Monte (locally grown pineapples)
Kenylon
Quencher (mainly fruit drink mixes)
And even when we import juices, why not just concentrates that can be re-constituted & packed in Kenya.
And why not drink FRESHLY SQUEEZED juices. Creates jobs for maids, hotel/restaurant workers, etc. Kenyan 'fruit juice' businesses need to lower prices for freshly squeezed juices. I miss the fresh fruit carts in Nairobi's CBD. I could get a juicy slice of pineapple for a mere 10/-.
Spirits/Beer/Wines/Alcohol
I know Kenyan spirts leave little to the imagination but there is hope. Let's by more EABL, Keroche & London Distiller products.
There are few local wines (Mara is imported from S.Africa). Locally produced wines should attract lower taxes. There are other fruit wines that can be produced from locally grown fruits including:
- Passion fruits (I recall passiflora but too dry for my tastes)
- Oranges
- Mango (Has anyone tried?)
- Pineapples (I used to brew a weak version)
- Sugarcane (Rum)
I buy the local Kenya Gold (instead of the imported Baileys) & the local Smirnoff (vs imported vodkas).
And the above is a small sample of the imports. We could 'save' at least $100,000,000 in forex annually if we looked inwards. Add the jobs Kenya could create & the Global Financial Crisis would look less daunting.
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2:05
Crunch time for supermarket
» bankelele Over the weekend, the Receiver/Manager team of Uchumi Supermarkets (under receivership) published their six month accounts for the ½ year to December 2008
- P&L: Sales Kshs. 4.43 billion ($55 million - up 30%), gross profit 845 million (up 20%), operating expenses 676m (up 24%), financial 99m (unchanged), pre tax profit 69 million (up 10% from 63m in December 07)
- Balance sheet: fixed asset 706 million (down 7%), current assets 1,123 million (up 20%), current liabilities 1,742 million (up 57%), net current assets (-619 million), total assets 87 million (down 85% from 589m in December 07).
Liabilities: capital 900 million, reserves -1,835 million, loans 1,021 million (down 36%), total liabilities 86 million
The attached notes state that cash & equivalents were 130 million, debenture holders were paid 23m, and principal banks have received 346m to date (including 16m in the last 6 months).
However, despite increased sales, basket size, customer numbers and product ranges, the statement notes the urgent need to address the technical solvency challenges in the balance sheet through
- restructuring of some secured obligations (bank loans)
- increased equity from shareholders,
- or failure to that, (imminent) invitation to third parties (search for strategic investor is ongoing ).
The ultimate objective of Uchumi receivership plan (URP) is re-listing at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) -
Property Expo
» bankelele The Property & Home Living Expo 2009 was held at Sarit Center this weekend. It was rather subdued (fewer banks and exhibitors) compared to the last homes expo held in October 2008. The only banks in attendance were perennial mortgage lenders Housing Finance and (KCB) - Savings & Loan
Most of the exhibitors were property agents including:
- Knight Frank Vipingo Ridge golf villa for Kshs. 19 million, rents at Riverside Park and the (under-construction) Sameer business park
- Villa Care
- Regent (also the Hacienda eco-city Africa’s first eco-city, 2,3,4 flats & bungalows in Mwakirunge – north coast and (under construction) Green House a huge shop /office complex next to Adams Arcade)
- Others were Sedco and Vidmerck
Other exhibitors included a Dubai property company, the Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) who now have a stima loan for new customers to get loans through Equity Bank to pay for electricity installation/connection charges, Climacento green tech (info@climacento.co.ke) who advertise 50% savings on electricity bill through their solar water heater and Mekan Mattress experts (found at Nakumatt)
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0:45
Come and let me Look in Your Eyes
» Cock And Bull I guess growing isn’t hard to do
Just stand against the wall
Once I was just two feet high
Today I’m six feet tallBut knowing who to listen to
Is something else again
Words just whistle ’round my head
Like seasons in the windAll across the water the clouds are sailing
They won’t let me look at the sky
All I want to do is try and find myself
Come and let me look in your eyesIn searching for the way to go
I’ve followed all the rules
The way they say to chooses between
The wise men and the foolsI listen to the words they say
I read what I should read
I do whatever’s right to do
Try to be what I should beSomeone let me in I think the sky is falling
Seems I’ve gotten lost on my way
All I want to do is try and find myself
Come and let me look in your eyesAh, but wisdom isn’t underground
Nor on a mountainside
And where am I to take myself
There’s no place here to hideAll across the universe the stars are fading
Seems we’ve gotten lost on our way
All I want to do is try and find myself
Come and let me look in your eyes
Come and let me look in your eyes
Come and let me look in your eyesWords by John Denver and Joe Henry
- Music by John Denver