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• March 02, 2009
• 20:45

  \o/ Data Gathering With Mobile Phones

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Africa  

  For those in the African technology space, the challenges of gathering data from the field in areas that are not quite ‘on-the-grid’ are apparent. Let me just keep it short by saying ‘Houston, we have a power problem’. Charging laptops when you are off-grid is not easy, but if you have a Nokia E71 that can stay for 3 days without needing a re-charge…well, you get the idea.

  Last October I excitedly proclaimed just how much I loved Nokia because they had a data gathering app for E71’s, which they were making available for NGO’s to test out. Please forgive me for not blogging about it. but you can find more info on the mobile active wiki, or watch this 2 minute you-tube clip on tracking the Dengue fever in Brazil.

  This brings me to the latest news from FrontlineSMS. FrontlineSMS forms provides a killer functionality of basically using SMS as the data carrying pigeon. This is how it works. The person running the FrontlineSMS hub creates forms with questions for the person in the field to fill in with information. The field agent only needs to have downloaded the forms client from [forms.frontlinesms.com] , this will work on any Java enabled phone, which is preety much a whole lotta phones. They can then receive a form from the hub via sms, fill it in and send it back again via SMS. Hmm I like my data-pigeon metaphor! This eliminates the need for a GPRS connection. If the person is entering the data at a place with no mobile signal, the information is still saved in ‘offline’ mode until the phone has a mobile signal. I do have to point out that with o/ forms you do not require an E71 or high end PDA like with the Nokia data gathering tool. I still heart Nokia, and would highly recommend the E71 if you need a smartphone.

  

  Read more about it over at Ken’s blog, Erik’s thoughts on the Ushahidi blog and Jon Thompson’s coverage on Aid Worker Daily.

  This functionality adds more fuel to the mobile => Cloud paradigm that I feel will redefine the participation and engagement with communities in rural areas. Once the information gets back to the hub, it can sync with a web app like Ushahidi or any other web enabled implementation that takes input from the Frontline SMS hub. The pretty graphs and visualizations are best presented on the web IMO. Personally, I am looking forward to using FrontlineSMS o/ forms to plan a kick-ass tree planting party!

  PS: For o/ users in Kenya, do note that FrontlineSMS works with the Safaricom E220 modem. If it works with the new USB stick version E160? kindly leave a comment.

  When I met Ken during the Plan International workshop in Kenya, he said something that I cant help but pass along.
  “Do not ask for permission, ask for forgiveness” Keep doing whatever it is you love to do, and do not be afraid to try something new. I think Tonee and I co-opted that for our new-years motto. Seriously though, if you have ideas for using o/ in your work, check out [www.frontlinesms.com] . Ken and his team have built a very useful data gathering tool that could give your project even more reach. Plus, the folks in the forums are super-nice. Really.

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• 17:43

  I want mine

   » ‎ make mine a double espresso...
  Lunch dates
  Movies
  Fries and a shake
  Hold the fries, i'll just have the shake
  Late night phone calls
  Countless text messages... Or wall posts
  Cute smiley faces :) ;) :*
  Sleepovers
  Scrub my back, i'll scrub yours
  I want mine
  Good and bad times
  The missed calls
  Dates
  Rainchecks on dates
  Cuddling indoors when it rains
  Holding hands
  Making love
  Multiple orgasms
  Drunk sex- Don't judge
  I want mine
  Making out at the movies
  Picnics at the beach... Wait. Nah. I don't really like the beach
  Massages
  Exchanging letters
  Going for concerts...
  And poetry readings...
  And rap battles
  He'd play an instrument
  I'd recite poetry
  He would be my melody
  Billions of people in the world.
  I want one.
  Who'll give me mine.

• 16:56

  Help Us Make A Powerful Noise

   » ‎ Paza Sauti
  Hanh is an HIV-positive widow in Vietnam. Nada, a survivor of the Bosnian war. And Jacqueline works the slums of Bamako, Mali. Three very different lives. Three vastly different worlds. But they share something in common: Power. These women are each overcoming gender barriers to rise up and claim a voice in their societies. Through their empowerment and ability to empower others, Hanh, Nada and Jacqueline are sparking remarkable changes. Fighting AIDS. Rebuilding communities. Educating girls.
  
  

  • Hanh learned that she had contracted HIV after her husband and daughter died from AIDS. Bouncing back from despair, she started a self-help group in Vietnam, called Immortal Flower, to give people living with HIV/AIDS a place for support, counseling and health care.

  
  

  • Nada is a working mother of three children. As a refugee, she survived the Bosnian War. Her women’s association, Maja Kravica, is helping ease hostilities between Serbs and Bosniaks in a region marred by war crimes and massive destruction. Nada is building an agricultural cooperative to offer employment opportunities for war widows, and fair trade markets for families to sell their crops and livestock.

  
  

  • Jacqueline, better known as “Madame Urbain” fights forced labor practices in the slums of Bamako, Mali. Madame Urbain stands up for the rights of powerless girls who are often abused in the workplace or on the streets of the big city. Her organization, APAF, provides girls a basic education, teaches them vocational skills and places them in safe jobs

  
  A Powerful Noise takes you inside the lives of these women to witness their daily challenges and their significant victories over poverty and oppression. Their stories are personal yet illustrate larger issues affecting millions of marginalized women worldwide. A Powerful Noise is a meditation on the inherent potential of women to change the world.
  
  

• 15:47

  CBD comfort

   » ‎ Kikuyumoja's realm

  Tags:  Africa  

  How much would you spend on having the ability to take a shower in the Central Business District?

  I was just going through Ken Banks’ flickr stream when I stumbled upon these two mobile recharging stations which I had seen earlier (it’s up since ~2 years) but only now I just realized that SOMEONE urgently needs to convert this into an AfriGadget/-Biashara and combine it with lockers for e.g. shoes and other facilities.

  

  (source: Ken Banks, kiwanja.net)

  Those of you who have been to cities like Nairobi know that a lot of people actually carry two pairs of shoes around - one for the road and one for the office. While working in Nbo, I often wondered why there are almost no public lockers available downtown that could be rented and used by commuters to deposit stuff they usually carry to the city on a daily basis for the lack of secure alternatives. Yes, there are some alternatives available, but these are(afaik) often only connected to supermarkets which means no 24h/7/365 availability of such services.

  While these mobile recharging towers may work in the UK or the US in such secured places (like airports), I am wondering if this would also work in Nairobi if someone invests some money on a mobile charging cubicle with extra lockers for shoes and other office clothes, maybe also additionally secured by a watchman or someone running a kiosk.

  What would it require? And how much would it cost? And what kind of licences would it require from the local institutions?

  For some reasons, David Kuria’s ecotact.org website is unfortunately offline right now (so I can’t really show you what I am talking about), but it would be nice to have much more Ikotoilets all over Nairobi. While I believe that ecological sanitation projects always require a demand for fertilizers from farmers in semi-urban areas, the Ikotoilet as a 50% ecosan toilet could be one of those ideal locations for such storage facilities.

  After all, it’s nice that consumers can buy airtime credit almost everywhere in the country, but there are hardly any places - even in cities - where one can take a shower after work, have a decent nature’s call or even use extra services like such lockers and mobile chargers.

  There obviously is a great demand for such services / facilities - but how much would you be willing to spend on it as a customer and what’s the ROI rate for potential investors? I hope to find some answers to these questions one day…

  
  

  

• 13:32

  You know i'm crazy right...?

   » ‎ make mine a double espresso...
  I'm the crazy bitter girl in the movies/tv shows...
  You know, the one who over analyses stuff and is always looking for the negative qualities in men, frowning on other relationships and refusing to commit because mr. Right doesn't exist. Nothing within a 10 mile radius of mr. Right exists... Sigh. Well there's been some improvement. I don't frown anymore. Not externally anyway.
  
  Considering the past two years' events, i'm thinking maybe i'll be the bitter passive aggressive single girl for ever. The one whos' friends are asking why they're still single. I used to see that on tv happening to old... Well girls who are way out of their twenties, but here I am, sophomore year and a friend of mine (here's hoping that she never reads this. I knew i should have remained anonymous!) was asking about the last time i dated, and where my love interest is and talking about how i should get a man.
  
  For the past year, i was still still solving personal issues so i knew that's why i was still single. This is the part i, over share... Again... See, i had esteem issues (don't we all) and i didn't want a man to tell me how awesome i am, he could confirm the awesomeness that i was already sure of. I realise i'm drifting so Ummm... Back to topic. Now i'm no where near near perfect and i'd be open to the idea of eating but every dude who tries to hola has an issue. Nothing like a third nipple or hair on his palms... I just get put off by the tiniest things. I have a really low opinion of guys right now.
  
  I took a break from writing this. You know, just to make sure i wasn't going out on a limb with this muse.
  
  There's this freshman. That's all i can say about her. I don't know who might be reading this stuff. I don't need coz drama from school. So yeah. This girl. She's very attractive... And very gay. But it's hot. It's hot that she's a dyke. Not that i get off on that type of thing, it's hot that she knows what she wants. I have no idea what i want... I'm not tryna figure out whether i like guys or girls. God knows i like me some... Mr. Man, but what i want in a man... Clueless. I know exactly what i DON'T want, but i can't keep eliminating what i don't want... It's a really long list. So now what do i do? Ugh... Now i'm rambling...
  
  More of my extinct love life... Or like life... Or even lust life coming up...
  
  Still sighing.
  
  Ooh Ooh, i went grocery shopping today so i get to make a salad for supper:) i make KILLER SALAD!

• 11:33

  Luxury

   » ‎ Kikuyumoja's realm

  Tags:  FFM  

  

  Lindt easter bunnies made of chocolate and already on sale although it’s still some weeks till Easter.

  They btw started selling Xmas cookies as early as September last year.

  Scary.

  

  Leek Flower Paste. I still haven’t figured how to use this on food (@KPT - weißt Du es?) but it was really cheap so I HAD to buy it. Looks interesting.

  

  Daifuku Mochi. I love these little sticky rice cakes and so often forget about buying them when buying food @ the Asian supermarket. The ones pictured were a little bit salty though - coming from Korea…

  

  Sushi rolls for a hefty price in Frankfurt downtown. I love Japanese food but not when it’s that expensive + most of these rolls are filled with vegetable and other special combinations for the European market.

  

  This new mall opened in Frankfurt downtown - the picture above is from Thursday last week when it opened. People stormed it until late in the evening like there’s no tomorrow. I haven’t been inside yet because - after all - it’s just another mall. Tapio was there and did a video on it.

  Very interesting architecture. It’s also very impressive to see what modern reinforced concrete construction is capable of - such thin walls and floors, statically interesting (for an engineer, at least).

  
  

  

• 10:00

  Michuki Shoots Straight, Rattles Falsehood

   » ‎ You Missed This
  If you ever doubted who the real power and rulers of Kenya are look no further after hearing it straight from minister John Kimendero Michuki, He rattles reptiles and shot straight from the hip by assuring his Kangema constituents that hollow talk about power sharing is nothing but a fat fad.
  
  Love him, hate him Michuki minces no words and he told everybody listening that Kibaki is in SINGULAR and TOTAL control of Kenya plc. The man is a genius in his perfectly timed and smart way to mark the third anniversary of the Standard raid that he delegated to the Artur brothers.
  
  Before you shout yourself hoarse HUYU ANNAN NI NANI just reconcile your rage with the painful fact that Kenya has its owners who can raid a whole media house and gloat over it on camera. Michuki has reminded any Kenyan with an ear for the truth to ignore the hollow claims by detractors that Kibaki sharing any power with a Prime Minister.
  
  And that is at it should be-TELL THE TRUTH. The good minister would have done us great favour to confirm that all the present charades about Special Tribunal, Interim Independent Electoral Commission, Constitution review and all other fads fashioned as reforms are smokescreens by the ruling elite to entertain us as they dig their heels into legal ownership of property Kenya.
  
  Power sharing MY FOOT. That figment of fertile political imagination must be banished when you see the lords of impunity continue to run roughshod ridding on the back of starving Kenyans as they mine the next asset inside Kenya to auction to Libyans. And why not when their choir and apologists have oiled lips for hire to cheer them on?
  
  True entrepreneurs
  Kenya is one country ruled by straight talkers like Michuki who frown at politico-speak. No need to constipate us with such empty epithets as the political will to exorcise ghosts of corruption. And if you insist in mouthing such lofty words you are welcome to join John Githongo in penning memoirs from the safety outside our poisoned borders.
  
  Our sovereignty and plastic patriotism is beyond reproach. No wonder we earn invitation from none other ex-UN boss Annan for a cup of tea all the way in Geneva. Add that to exotic and priceless blueprints authored by none other than UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston and you find a proud country whose owners will not blink at anything thrown at them to distract them from feathering their nests.
  
  We haven’t seen the last of our TRUE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ENTREPRENEURS.Kumekucha

  

  

• 9:42

  DJIA Slips Below 6,000

   » ‎ For Love and Money
  DJIA Slips Below 6,000

• 8:58

  Ascent to Amour

   » ‎ Words Much Like Poetry
  ritualistic conferences, and coaxed sentiments. the moment gains momentum, and she becomes iridescent. toasts weave the air with mystery while all else fades, fatalistic pairing grows beneath. adoring mists waft by and gives them wings. songs of the butterfly's flutter cajole their souls to intoxicating heights.
  
  time stops and the stair to cupid's nest seems never ending. the mystery of her skin is unhidden, as silk hugs, pouring down applauding goosebumps. she purrs a murmur as fingertips call silently to hidden depths, streams of titillation flow from her every pore. a squeal escapes her as eddies travel up her spine. a whisper of vanities heralds a pain that bursts forth with pleasure.
  
  upon the feathers she is laid, mystery heightened by her closed curtains. the buds upon her bosom rise to meet ice. the fires within burn at it, water flowing to drop on velvet petals, glittering like dew. with a parting, the flower blossoms, and the honeysuckle hovers close to consume the elixir.

• 8:33

  Music will not start a party in your pants

   » ‎ Kenya Imagine

  While the aims of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine are commendable, one can't help but feel that perhaps the research grant would have been better spent on investigating other, more relevant, influences on teenage sexual activity.

  Stephanie is unmoved by the latest moral panic.
• 8:30

  Heartburning

   » ‎ Kenya Imagine

  The exhibition does not lack shock value, and rightly so. We need to be shocked. We need to be repulsed. We need to have our stomachs churned, our eyes misted up, our hearts filled with constructive rage and righteous indignation.

  Rachel Gichinga sees Kenya Burning.
• 8:24

  Is Safaricom Ready for Disruption?

   » ‎ Kenya Imagine
  Peter Ndiangui wonders if Safcom knows just what it has taken on in buying One.

• 7:36

  KCB Dodges Triton Bullet?

   » ‎ bankelele

  Tags:  KCB  

  Kenya Commercial Bank released their 2008 financial results over the weekend.
  
  No. 1 but… KCB is now Kenya’s largest bank by bank assets and group assets, though Barclays still has a much larger book of loans and deposits, as well as higher profits.
  
  Also with less than half the assets, Equity may be more profitable than KCB by 2010 if its exponential growth continues.
  
  KCB assets were up 56% and profits 40%, with deposits up 28% and loans up 40% compared to 2007. 2008 was a balanced year for the bank actually performed quite well in Q4.
  
  IPO Killer KCB has effectively delivered the final nail in the coffin of the Kenya Pipeline IPO by suing the corporation for almost $14 million of missing oil. The bank is also leading the case against Triton.
  
  KCB beats expectations A January 2009 analysis by African Alliance pegged a Kshs. 2 billion hit to KCB profit and a pre-tax profit for the bank of Kshs. 2.2 billion - yet KCB managed to report a pre-tax profit of Kshs. 5.3 billion. AA also had an overweight recommendation with a price target of Kshs. 28.85 (at the time KCB was 21) and it looks very attractive at Kshs. 15.5 today.
  
  Q4 watch In the September to December 2008 period deposits were up by 9% and loans by 4% - compared to Q1 loans which were up 4% and deposits 17%. KCB also built up quite a huge cash position with 39 billion (~$500 million) in bank placements at the end of the year.
  
  2009 watch This year the bank has announced, a surprising decision to extend real estate finance to estate developers t the tune of Kshs 250 million (~$3.1 million each) and is also one of the few banks to continue offering personal loans in a very public way with media advertisements
  
  More Nairobist analysis on KCB and KCB and Triton

• 6:58

  LOST AND NOT FOUND: A GENERATION

   » ‎ What An African Woman Thinks
  Speaking of generations(see previous post):
  
  I despair, sometimes, for my generation. We are in the prime of our lives, aged between 30 and 45, but have yet to impact our country in a significant, direction-altering way.
  
  That Kenya is where it is today is primarily our problem. It is about our having abdicated our responsibility. This was our time to rise up, our time to take the mantle of this nation. This was our time to lead.
  
  Why are we still waiting to be the leaders of tomorrow? Tomorrow has come, tomorrow was here a long long time ago, and the day after tomorrow will soon be upon us. Soon, we shall look back and realise that our time came, our time went, and we have nothing to show for it except a growing, stinking pile of regret about all that we could have done that we didn’t do and all that we could have been that we didn’t become.
  
  Take what happened a year ago when the generation before us incited the generation after us to an orgy of violence.
  
  How did we respond?
  
  We locked ourselves behind closed doors, hurdled together fearfully and spoke our disbelief in hushed tones, watching on television as our country disintegrated before our very eyes and occasionally peering out from behind a veil of curtain at the burning streets below.
  
  This is what we, the children of Moi, raised on Nyayo milk and the Nyayo philosophy, who learned our nationalism by rote memorisation and bellowed out our patriotism in song at national music festivals, have become.
  
  We carry this vivid picture in our minds of the Kenya We Want, a beautiful place, a place abounding with possibility. But this picture exists only to torture us, transformed in our darkest night from dream to nightmare because we are afraid to do what it takes to breathe life into it. We are wary of “whatever it takes”.
  
  Sometimes, I do not understand this failure to make a meaningful difference on a larger scale. Some among us are steadily edging our way up in corporate Kenya; others among us have already become a force to reckon with in civil society and; yet others have altered the landscape in the arts in notable ways.
  
  Perhaps it is the political realm that is the crucial missing link, the place where it all comes together or falls apart.
  
  It is falling apart.
  
  We have abdicated our political duty. We see politics as dirty and murky and cutthroat. We want nothing to do with it. Time and again, we yield the political space to the lowest common denominator, unwittingly setting in motion a tragic self-fulfilling prophecy. We sow frivolously, we reap futility therefore, we despair. Rewind and repeat ad infinitum.
  
  What made us bystanders, standing at the edge of our country’s life, afraid to jump in, afraid of the messiness? What made us so cynical, apathetic and wary of politics? Who browbeat us into this extreme state of political docility? Who took our mental fortitude, locked it in a box, and threw away the key?
  
  It’s not that we’re not talented. It is not that we lack fresh, compelling ideas. It is not even, that we are short on solutions. But, time and again we fizzle out at the crucial moments. The road from idea to implementation is fraught with dangers that we are unwilling, or unable, to face. Our mind may be strong, but our backbone is weak.
  
  Who will find us and remind us who we are and what we are capable of accomplishing if we set our hearts on it, before it is too late?It's my window, but I don't own the view.

• 2:41

  My Faith

   » ‎ Farmgal
  Perfect my faith in You Lord that I may honor you, perfect my faith in You Lord, and I will be made whole.