«
Expand/Collapse
Recent items
-
3:13
Paying investor dividends by mobile phone - Part II
» bankelele Paying investor dividends by mobile phone - Part II
-
1:09 DUAL PURPOSE FUNDS FOR THE OPTION SEEKING INVESTOR
» Kenyantykoon's Blog I recently stumbled across this type of mutual funds as I was doing a little independent study and I thought of making a little post on this after a little research. This is what I found out about them. These are in the closed end mutual fund category broadly meaning that they have a fixed number [...]
-
19:41
Allah is not obliged – walahé!
» Black Looks “ Allah is not obliged – to be fair about all things he does here on earth” is the mantra that weaves itself through this remarkable novel by Ahmadou Kourouma. This was my first reading of Kourouma which I started at 11am and finished around 6.30pm. In those seven hours [...]
-
18:01
Flat-backing your way through school, or simply just to survive
» STONE COLD HAVEN Folklore has it that only 2 professions in the world can withstand anything thrown at them – whether it’s the mother of all economic recessions, a world war, or a once in a lifetime occurrence of that infamous and elusive force majeur principle – an act of God. Yup! You’ve got it – prostitution and running funeral services.
They’re the only two professions that have withstood the test of time. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the tax authorities can easily be your new found best friend if you register your sole trading vocations as funeral services and sheltered adult entertainment services. It’s the combination that’s a killer – the revenue folks don’t flag up each of them in isolation.
I even remember a story a few years ago in the famous Kondele area of Kisumu City. There was a chap who religiously attended church every Sunday and vociferously prayed to God to bless his business and ensure that there’s always a ready stream of customers. You see, this chap was the most successful coffin maker in the area, and most definitely a believer in the school of thought that unconventional and diversified marketing, if carried out with discipline and without fear, can yield incredible results.
It’s not surprising then, that the oldest profession in the world has caught onto the most popular phenomenon of latter day citizen media – this here blogosphere of ours. I think it’s safe to say that residents of the local stiff house will never take advantage of the wi-fi provision in their guest house facility, though I’d hazard a guess that you’ll find a mortician or two blogging away to pass time while literally doing the graveyard shift. No, no – I’m talking here about prostitution getting the most high profile attention any blog in the world will want.
Until this week, the biggest and most sought after secret of the blogosphere was the identity of Belle du jour, a high class £300 an hour London call girl who anonymously blogged about her exploits in the sex industry. Her blog – The Diary of a London Call Girl – was a witty, matter of fact kind of blog about her experiences with her punters that whilst not necessarily explicit, left very little to the imagination.
From the time her blog (which unsurprisingly has been moved offline was chosen by the Guardian Newspaper as the best blog of 2003, the literary world and the tabloid and mainstream press set out on a mission to identify and flush out the person behind the blog. There were even claims that the blog was a work of fiction by some professional writer, or that it was written by a man.
Belle du jour, eventually unmasked herself to the Sunday Times in fear that an ex-boyfriend was about to cash in on one of the best kept literary secrets of all time. Now known as Dr Brooke Magnanti, a research scientist in cancer and epidemiology at a Top Bristol hospital for children, she admits that she worked as a prostitute for 14 months to pay her way through graduate medical school.
Her exploits as Belle du jour also earned her a neat cushy income with 2 biographical type books based on her blog and work as a prostitute, and a novel classified as fiction, as well as a TV series based on the life and times of Belle – who was played by a famous actress Billy Piper. Until this week, only Billy Piper had met Dr. Magnanti when familiarizing herself with the role before doing the TV show. Even her publishers Orion had no clue who she was.
Flat-backing your way through school is not a new phenomenon (well, maybe writing about it and publishing a couple of books is a bit different), but the truth is that if you look at most if not all the universities around the world, you’ll find a story to tell. It’s like one of them taboo things that folks don’t speak about – but it’s the white elephant in the room. The methods of payment may vary for most students trying to pay their way through school, and these range from favours, to rent payments, to good old fashioned hard currency. In recent times, many have resorted to publicly auctioning their virginity to pay their way through school.
You could always make a moral argument about whether flat-backing is a sign of an industrious and entrepreneurial spirit, or whether it’s just pure ole exploitation of girls who are desperate to change the course of their lives by daring to aim for the best careers. A good friend of mine I went to college with saw it totally different – “Pragmatic mi old chap, pragmatic” she used to say.
While I understood her reasons for doing it, my only gripe with her was that as a Business student, she was short-changing herself. It’s the classic business conundrum of how to build equity by not committing yourself too much. My argument with her was that if she turned tricks herself, her body could only let her work a finite amount of hours. However, if she got a customer willing to pay £100 an hour to tap arse, and gave someone else £70 to do it, she could better spend her time pimping and building equity. If she had 4 girls working in one hour, she’ll break even and some, and she didn’t even need to stare at the ceiling and think of the Queen.
LOL! Stop looking at me like that. The girl simply asked me for my advice. I was just thinking of the quickest way she could pay her way through school and finish paying off her student loans.
But seriously – like with anything in life, there’s a nasty side to the game. For those like Dr. Magnanti, it probably is a happy ever after story and she’s got her PhD and working in a cushy job (with a few bob also from her books and TV show).
For millions of other girls and women, prostitution is a means of survival and will never be a glamorous affair or the stuff of Hollywood. It was only in September that I wrote about the exploitation of children in Mombasa in We’re not going to hell, we already live in it.
Related Articles:- None Found
-
15:18
Are Cricket Kenya winning over the media?
» Kenya Cricket If the response to the CK organised Media Challenge is anything to go by, it seems so.
The following is taken from the as yet unofficially launched CK website:
"Journalists gear up for Cricket action
Anxiety is building up ahead of the inaugural Media Cricket Challenge due December 6, this year at the Parklands Sports Club.
Most media houses have already named their squads besides getting down to training ahead of the event that is supposed to enlighten journalists on the intrigues and rules of the game.
Precisely, 14 teams have confirmed participation and more are expected for the one-day eight-aside championship that will feature eight overs. Each team is required to provide 10 players for the tournament while Cricket Kenya (CK) will boost them with two national team players each.
CK chief executive officer, Tom Tikolo said it’s their intentions to stage a memorable and successful event adding that the championship would be inscribed in their annual calendar of events.
“ We want to make it an annual extravagannza where besides teaching journalists on the dynamism and rules of the game, they should be able to interact with each other and know cricket governors and national team players,” said Tikolo.
Tikolo explained this would empower journalists to confidently write and analyse cricket matters now that Kenya has qualified for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Playing jerseys will be availed to all the teams with the names of their respective members inscribed on them. Glamorous prizes would be at stake for the winning teams and special awards for individual brilliance and skills.
“We want to run it just like any other major championship with rules being followed up to date,” said Tikolo. “However, each player in the team will have a chance to bat, bowl and field.”
Tikolo explained that teams should take advantage of the grounds at Parklands and train adding that CK has already set aside coaches who will conduct clinics during the training.
“The grounds are free daily from 12pm and our technical team will be available upon request from the teams. Let them embrace this opportunity and polish up ahead of the event,” Tikolo said.
Among the media houses that have confirmed participation are Nation, Standard, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), East FM, Radio Jambo, The Star, People Daily, K24 and Citizen TV.
“The event has attracted so much attention that some media houses will provide two teams for the championship,” said Tikolo. "
So far, things are looking good. If there is genuinely this much interest in the media, CK could have hit upon a winner. For too long, Kenyan cricket has suffered at the hands of media that do not understand the complexities of the game and the challenges inherent. This tournament should break that down and cement some of them as true fans along the way. It could be the single greatest achievement of this administration if the media get on board and start backing the game again. Fingers crossed the teams rise to the challenge and take up the opportunity. There could even be a case for a combined media team to enter a team into future NPCA competitions...Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com]
-
15:12
Boldly Going.......
» My part of the world....... 
I was going into unknown territory that day and I had to be prepared. I quickly drafted a quick itinerary of my trip and left it somewhere that family members could find in case I went missing, I made sure I could run in the shoes I was wearing, and packed some snacks and water (couldn't take the risk of being drugged or worse). I gave myself the once over and made sure that what I was wearing was enough for me not to stand out but at the same time not to fit in. I did not know what I was going to encounter so I had to be 100% aware.
What unknown territory was Acolyte stepping into? Acolyte had decided to be see what goes on at Gay Pride Atlanta Parade.
The parade was held on a Sunday afternoon, and in true African fashion I got there over half an hour late so by the time I got there a good number of floats and processions had gone by. The crowd was very diverse, all colors and genders were represented, and there is no standard gay look; alot of gay people go against given stereotypes and look and act like everyday straight people. The different groups and floats were also interesting, you see the parade was held a few weeks before council and mayoral elections so some of the candidates did roll by with their gay friends, there was even one openly gay candidate who ran for mayor but did not make it to the final run off. Some religous organizations were represented ie the episcopal church, smaller pro gay churches, I also recall seeing some regional groups ie South Asian Gays. There were some amusing floats such as the Lesbian manned multiple orgasm mobile (stereotypically pink in color) and another truck that had some buff boys in white underwear covered in soap suds and blowing bubbles to the crowd, oh and they were blaring techno music (if love for dance music/techno made one gay then I would be one by association). The Atlanta Police had one of their own as Grand Marshall despite a contentious raid of a gay bar a few weeks back that raised the hackles of the local lgbt community. Plus of course different mainstream social organizations like the Atlanta Rollergirls (I need to go see one of their matches soon).
I left the parade and ventured into the nearby park which since it was in a gay friendly neighborhood is often the venue of what I would say illicit activities that have resulted in cameras being installed there. The park itself is beautiful and rather large, there were different companies exhibiting their products and services in addition to showing how tolerant they are (in America most Fortune 500 companies court the gay dollar as many gay households have higher incomes due to no kids). There were also different lgbt social and awareness organisations out in force ie the bears club of atlanta, Atlanta Outworlders (lgbt sci-fi and fantasy fans) and others that I can't recall (note to self, carry note book!).
I did not get to view or partake in night time events like those seen (nsfw) here, here and here. My day time adventure was more than enough for me, those venues I shall leave for those who choose to explore them; if you do please blog and let us know.
On a more serious note, I did not see any anti-gay protesters there; I guess that would be like jumping into the lion's mouth given the sheer number of lgbt people and supporters that were there. My take on the whole gay marriage issue? I think alot of the problem stems from the fact that marriage was principally a religious institution which was also then turned into a legal union recognized and enforced by the law. In an ideal world we know that religion and the state should be separate, I think even Christ said something to that effect. So what happens when a group of people who decide to demand their rights to a legal union which the law (at that point and in certain states did not have a definite opinion as regards the gender of both parties)? Chaos, since the religious definition of marriage is between a man and a woman (at least in Christianity). So what's happening is that most people are looking at the gay marriage issue from a Christian view point where it's wrong while the gays see it as their legal secular right. What some states have done is gone ahead to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman (Prop 8 etc), while some states have given them the go ahead; which has made things tricky because you can be a legally married couple in one state but not in another state (there was a NY times article about that). My take on the issue is that marriage needs to be made a completely secular institution so if you want to marry a man, woman, transgender or your bicycle; you can go ahead and do so. But as long as we have the current situation, little progress will be made as each group will feel that their rights and beliefs are being violated. I think the law and the world are big enough to accommodate both sides, but as long as everyone tries to set the other side straight and to enforce tolerance and acceptance; it's going to be chaos for a long time to come. Now that all that is said and done, take your picket signs off my lawn; I'm going back to the land of Apathy. (I know there are meant to be paragraph breaks somewhere but its been a while since I blogged so mea culpa)
Oh and I know some of you are wondering, did I see any girl on girl action? I did but it took hours upon hours of hiding in the brush, you see when you have a full head of locs you fit in rather well with some bushes. Sadly though the two girls in question were not video vixen hot, nor did they beckon me from my hiding place to participate; damn those adult movies! Have a productive week!
-
Bamako Encounters
» Black Looks The 8th edition of the Bamako Encounters – African Photography Biennial is a month long celebration of African photography. This year, inspired by the theme “Borders”, 10 Nigerians made the journey from Lagos to Bamako by road in a Volkswagen mini bus driving through 6 West African countries: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, [...]
-
11:34
The Answer….
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com Send this article to Twitter!I was at a social function this weekend and a friend remarked to me that this blog was becoming (or maybe it’s always been) too negative. Then someone else asked me why I hadn’t updated in a while. The truth of the matter is, I’m just running out of things to say. [...]
-
10:00
A Yearning for Freedom (Revisited)
» Words Much Like Poetry This is my take on imprisonment. A Kenyan cell is not a place to be, even a holding cell. The moment you enter one, there is an obvious pecking order, which much later translates to where you are going to sleep. There is the newbie corner, pretty close to the waste basket, if you know what I mean. Then there is the first hall, a corridor really to two adjacent cells. There is the intermediate cell which houses the ones who have been there a week and finally the VIP cell, for those who have been there more than a month (This is a scenario of just one of the holding cells).
To be brief, one sleeps on the cold rough floor, packed side by side alternating on opposite ends. This is to ensure a 'best fit' scenario to accommodate a cell meant for ten but packed with a number north of 35. The VIP cell is the only one that has sufficient mattresses and blankets, albeit full of bedbugs.
Depending on what you are being held for, your wait can be indefinite, despite the rule that you cannot be held for more than 24 hours legally. The wait for the inevitable, which could be being charged in court or being let to go is hereby visualized.
A Yearning for Freedom
the air is slightly stale, and I am surprised I do not grimace to it. at least the floor is not very cold and I wonder at its rough comfort. the smell of leather will be my companion tonight for it is from the one solid thing I own here.
the yearning has not subsided, in fact, it is more intense now. I choke at the consequent emotion, and anger rises up my throat and I wonder if tears would help. I know they will not come to me, they have not for a long while. I blink at the darkness, willing my eyes to glue shut and for a second I muse at the curiosity of a certain mystery.... at which point my mind screams for light, but in a hushed voice, barely audible from even within me. the thirst for it is a contradictory need, as I yearn for this stifling darkness to swallow me.
the leg jerks at a touch, just as virtual grace steals me away into the summer heat, into square pavements bustling, breathing and alive... they will not come to me, and I shut my eyes so tight it hurts. a different breeze wafts in, carrying with it evidence of a basic human nature. I welcome its stinging distraction from my chainless shackles. my mind slowly lets go of its cyclic thoughts, a frustrating prison of tight unyielding polythene skin. I claw at it as it chokes me, tightens all around me, denying me air.
they will not come to me, I must be strong, the thread holding me is unraveling. is this the road to insanity? it cannot be...
they will not come to me. there is no shame to it. but still, they deny me momentary solace. should I turn to look? the glitter might be my window to mental freedom, it is light within darkness. but what is a drop of water upon perched lips, if the whole draught will not be mine.
they will not come to me, and another light steals me from within the darkness, though only for a short long while.
Originally posted on March 3rd, 2009
by Antony Kamau
This is quite possibly the very first poem posted on this blog, after having being invited to post my work. I wrote it impromptu, like they were words suppressed within crying out to be expressed. A floodgate was opened then and I hope the torrents never run dry.
they tumble down the hand
seeking freedom
seeking speech
seeking expression
I give them audience
to speak for me
and to me
the words much like poetry
-
8:52
FLASHBACK!!!!!WHA!
» Media Madness Here’s KTN’’s Ali Manzu (2008) Here’s Ali Manzu from 1998!! Thanks (Jane)
-
6:53
Mars Group Kenya Website Upgrade
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! The public and anti corruption watchdog Mars Group Kenya has relaunched/upgraded its website to an all new template that is pleasant to look at and quite user friendly. The new Mars Group website has an appealing interface that will feature among other things a column dubbed "MarsTv" which will have multi media clips of news and pertinent information of concern to the watchdog's objectives.This blog takes the opportunity to unveil the all new look Mars Group Kenya website screenshot as shown hereunder and invites you to visit the domain.
The anti corruption watchdog is run by among other people the former Transparency International Executive Director Mwalimu Mati now turned activist. Kudos to the developer and webmaster. The site has featured as a worthy resource in the fight against corruption, accountability and governance and has been previously dubbed by this blog as "Kenya's online ombudsman".
-
6:37
New beginning
» the-undergraduate In the face of disaster we find our strength
In the face of tradegy we find our comfort
Trouble comes not always to destabilize us
Sometimes it's just natures reminder of what's real and what's not
For it's only when you're down that you know your real friends
It's only when you think your world's about to end that you realize what's important;that which should be worth a whole lot more
It's only when faced with such stark reality that you know what to hold on to
That you know what needs to be checked into the excess buggage counter
-
6:21
THE TRUST FUND EXPLAINED
» Kenyantykoon's Blog We have all heard of this much media hyped financial arrangement and we have all wished at a certain point in time to be one of those enviable trust fund babies. But what are these trust funds and who exactly do they work? In this post, I will try to explain this in as few [...]
-
6:05
CONVERTIBLE BONDS- THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS??
» Kenyantykoon's Blog As the name suggests, this is a corporate issued bond that can be converted into some other investment vehicle in this case, it can be converted into common stocks . This is done at only certain times and at a fixed conversion ratio. But the conversion is not as straightforward as it may seem. Let me [...]
3:08 
-
Abbott Medical Optics"You Gotta See This Video Contest"
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! Abbott Medical Optics Inc (AMO) a leading provider of the widest range of proven refractive optical technologies is inviting you to relate how better vision could improve or has improved peoples lives in a video contest dubbed" You Gotta See this" .The contest that is aimed to attract thousands of video submissions and in the process educate persons on the need to consult qualified and experienced professionals when opting for Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) refractive surgery treatment.So far the contest is receiving favorable response from the public.
The winners in the iLASIK Video Contest may win:
- A Grand Prize of US $ 5,000
- First prize in each Video Category a HDTV package worth $2,500
- Second prize in each Video Category a Flip UltraHD™ camcorder worth $199.99
- My contacts are getting in the way of my good time
- My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision
- You should see life after the iLASIK® Procedure
I have just found out how little i know about the optical solutions and technologies available for persons with vision impairment. Abbott medicals campaigns such as the one in the "You Gotta See This Video Contest" are helping millions worldwide get useful information on eye care treatment.For more details please visit the "You Gotta See This Website"
-
0:38
The Kibaki succession: The whispered reason for the great interest in the powers of the PM and President
» You Missed This There are things you can hear whispered around inner political circles that are easy to dismiss as nonsense. Like this persistent rumour I have been hearing.
I have realized that too many times “nonsense” and propaganda turns out to be true. Let me remind you folks of a deadly mistake many Kenyans made in the run up to the 2007 general elections. The story started with political columnist Mutahi Ngunyi warning in 2005 that he did not believe that Mwai Kibaki was capable of handing over power peacefully. Then as the elections rapidly approached there was talk that the president’s men were planning massive rigging to keep him in power at all costs. Many people dismissed this as pure nonsense. How could the gentleman golf-playing former don of Makerere University do such a thing? That had to be pure propaganda by ODM fanatics.
This view persisted even when evidence started cropping up all over the place. The most memorable for me was when an angry Musikari Kombo told his constituents in an unguarded moment; “you are wasting your time. The outcome will not be what you think.” I still hear his voice and shudder at those words.
Well we all know what happened next. Mwai Kibaki will go down in history as the president who brought the country to the brink of total disintegration. The mess caused by the honorable member for Othaya will take at least a century to heal—maybe more.
But now other whispers have started emerging.
The story this time sounds like pure fiction. The first time I heard it, I laughed loudly and dismissed it. But it has persisted and now I have started taking it seriously. I have to admit that the motive is there (that is the first thing you look for in a murder and in politics too).
It is whispered that Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki have made a deal concerning the Kibaki succession. Bearing in mind past experiences, there are some kind of irrevocable guarantees that both sides have made to each other.
There are some interesting things that have happened that seem to confirm this. Top on my list is the behaviour of one Kalonzo Musyoka at around the time I am told this deal was sealed. The Vice president was suddenly eagerly talking about 2012 and the alliances he had in place. It seemed that the statement (which angered many Kenyans) came out of the blue. However those who know the VP better will know that he is the kind of politician who always reacts and hardly ever initiates anything. What triggered the VP to suddenly start talking about 2012? Was it this deal that had just been concluded between the president and PM? Was this his move on the political chess board in an attempt to remain relevant?
But even as we seek answers to those questions, what is the essence of this deal?
The idea is that Mwai Kibaki will not retire from politics in 2012. Instead he will leave the presidency but defend his Othaya seat. He will then support Raila Odinga for the presidency and Raila will support Kibaki for the premiership. The rationale here is that the political class has a lot to lose if things go wrong in 2012 and so it is a choice between sticking together or hanging separately.
I promptly stopped laughing at this theory when I read the screaming newspaper headlines about the last hurdle to a new constitution being the division of powers between the PM and the presidency which will be ironed out by the two principals. What is not public yet are the hurdles that have been put in place to block the possibility of any pumbavu ever rising to the presidency. What the political class wants is to retain as much control as possible over what will happen in 2012.
The whole problem about this new Kanstitution (as the late Kijana Wamalwa used to call it) is that it is being put together not for posterity as it should but for the benefit of the current political class. If these guys had their way the clause for the presidency would read something like this; the president must either have a gap between his front teeth or be a pot belied golf playing former don of a well-known university. The presidency may (with consultation between the two types stated) descend to some soccer loving MP who represents a Nairobi constituency, but only with assurances that he will not be controlled by a pumbavu public that cannot be trusted to make wise decisions for the country.Kumekucha
-
0:30
On this Day…
» Storymoja This week’s blog is dedicated to Boniface Gachugu; writer, poet, friend and brother, who left us this Saturday 14th of November 2009. May he rest in peace, and may we celebrate the life he lived, by being ever stronger, ever better, ever truer, by writing more and more, because he was a man who loved [...]
-
0:15
Story of the Week – Dear Mr. President by Denis Kabi
» Storymoja Your votes are in and this week’s Story of the Week is… Dear Mr. President by Denis Kabi Read it here… Congratulations Denis! Would you like your story to feature here, please send in your work, in word 97-2003 format, and not more than 1200 words to blogs@storymojaafrica.co.ke. We will be awarding one of our readers and contributors [...]
-
22:10
Kids Eat Free All Day
» For Love and Money Kids Eat Free All Day
-
11:53
ME ROVE YOU RONG TIME!!!
» make mine a double espresso... Yesterday, (Saturday) South Africa played a friendly soccer match against Japan at the new bay stadium in Port Elizabeth. The stadium's actually one of the few that was built for the world cup so everyone was really stoked to go. One of my friends got us free tickets and everything. He is organizing a concert and actually got 100 tickets to the match for his friends.
IT WAS SO AWESOME!
I was writting an exam in the morning, i was sleep deprived because i was up studying the night before and i almost missed the whole thing because after my paper i just got home and passed out.
We all got really good seats. Right next to where some of the Japanese team were stretching. It was amazing! That was the first live soccer match i had ever attended. The energy in the stadium! It was packed to capacity! Although we had all said we would be supporting Japan, (yeah, we're haters) when the SA anthem played we couldn't help singing the few lines we know! Their anthem is in four languages! All these south africans flooded the place with their colourful vuvuzelaz* some wearing wigs that had the colours on the flag. Many of them were in yellow Bafana Bafana (that's the national team) t-shirts jumping up and down, taking pictures, just showing love.
Ooh, also, when the Japan team was close, me and my friends were all "HARRO SEXY ASIAN MEN! WE ROVE YOU RONG TIME!!! KONICHIWA!!! BANZAI!!!" we were just shouting any Asian words we could think of. It was hilarious.
Although i was tired as hell, and the score came out 0 - 0, we had a super phun thyme! Also, we all got free vuvuzelas* ghise things are harder to blow than they look. My lips and cheeks were hurting, but i finally learnt how to blow it AFTER the match. Go figure!!!
The stadium was built really well, enough rest rooms, they were clean too, the bleachers had actuall seats, they were two big screens on either side to show the replays, there were drinks and refreshment stands... in the stadium building but not by the pitch. They had that artificial grass thing going on. It was really international standards. Made me feel bad about Kenya for a second because Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani came into mind. Hopefully we'll get there.
I'll upload the pictures as soon as i get to a computer but that was an event to remember. I'm not a soccer fan but the atmosphere and the adrenaline was hectic!!! The six or seven beers helped too!!!
Me rove you rong time!!!
Peace.
-
10:49
9 months later....
» Diary of a gay Kenyan None of us is pregnant nor will we be expecting babies anytime soon. We’re still taking the usual precautions against that type of STD! Actually that’s how long it’s been since I started this blog. I must say it’s been one hell of a ride, very different from my usual writing that I do at another place. I’ve made great blogging friends and also had my eyes opened wide to the challenges that gay people face every day.
Along the way I’ve had invitations to parties which I haven’t been able to attend (too old), received death threats which I didn’t take seriously (anon is as useful as a limp dick) and had shocking offers of a good time from all sorts of men (now I know why men are six times more likely to be struck by lightning than women). And even some women who wanted to turn me into a nice straight man. I turned all of them down nicely. Including the ones offering gifts (I’m not sure I’m worth much anyway, lol!).
All in all I’m still enjoying blogging and learning stuff about myself and about people generally. I hope to keep this going for as long as I enjoy it. Some mean people call this blog ‘Diarrhea of a gay Kenyan’, ha ha haha.
So, whatever your thoughts just remember that Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us - Thomas L Holdcroft.
I love you all. Peace. xxx xxx.
-
A silence that speaks volumes
» Diary of a gay Kenyan My friend Cynthia Vukets, a Canadian journalist recently did interviews with a section of Kenyans from the LGBT community following the news of the Civil Partnership of Charles Ngengi and Daniel Gichia in the UK. You can view the full article on her blog http://lowdownonline.com/notebook-nairobi.
For me more questions are raised now that the dust seems to have settled. What did the media frenzy and the shameful attacks on the right to privacy achieve? Where was the support of our LGBT organisations in the aftermath when three people were physically attacked by homophobic thugs? What of the police when radio stations were calling for violence against gay citizens? Where have all the peace-loving Kenyans who fight for justice and fairness gone?
-
9:46
Kisumu Dala Sevens Update
» Rugby in Kenya Kisumu Dala Sevens Update
-
5:40
Dragon flies
» Mount Kirima Dragon flies, originally uploaded by Kirima. I found this interesting specimen of Dragonfly outside my house just posing for a photo.
-
4:59
Girl or boy that you are
» MREMBO On a lighter note, I have also been working on this post in my head. The post is inspired by a youtube-er I watch. She has a segment she calls “Every Diva should have”. I will further add “every diva/divo should have”. What she does is show case what she thinks every diva should have. [...]
-
4:23
True life Hero?…think not
» MREMBO When we moved in about 4 weeks ago, the cable TV connection for the previous owners had not yet been disconnected. Suddenly after 9 months without cable tv, we had cable. Yippee. It lasted 2 days and with a quickness it was disconnected. Hubby punched the numbers and realised we could afford it until the end of [...]
-
Kisumu Dala 7's Update - Day 1
» Rugby in Kenya Kisumu Dala 7's Update - Day 1
-
Dark Waking Dreams (Revisited)
» Words Much Like Poetry Dark poetry appeals to me in certain ways; it might be that every one of us has a dark side. In moments of despair, everything around can mutate to a nightmare. The elements in this poem are contradictory just like dreams are sometimes. I picture myself dreaming while awake, one of those dreams that I will just not wake from. But then again, I might be dreaming that I'm wide awake.
It can also be a puzzle, a labyrinth of sorts (I love labyrinths in my poems), where nothing is what it seems and darkness is like cold boiling tar.
I cannot point to specific inspiration, other than imaginary sprites whispering dark things into my ear (these would be from the Darkess and the Old Soul series); I just imagined what it would be to lose my mind, not that I would want to. Nevertheless, read and enjoy, and let it have a meaning specific to you.
Dark Waking Dreams
the ground waves to salute my succulent bliss
its accent not without an unheard scream
the gauntlet has been served, its rim I will kiss
the portal to my waking dream
sirens call to me
why will that record not cease to repeat?
my sorrows chime and won't let me be
I will be naught to defeat
I go up the upside down stair
heaven will be my hell
despair my repair
will conundrums my fortune tell?
the never ending spiral my straight
upon the brink tribulations pour up to me
across the chasm I need a street
darkness boils scalding my glee
the path goes straight back to itself
sanity dogs me, taunting me to desperation
the ladder is too short, and reason stands upon a shelf
save me from this labyrinth of desecration!
Poem by Antony Kamau,
Originally posted on May 3rd, 2009
whisper to me, little shadows
scare me a while to giggles
imprison me into walled windows
they are too big, I cannot wiggle
-
1:21
I’m not from Nigeria
» Our Man in America What made me even more pissed off is that the last person to ask me if I was from Nigeria, a journalist.
-
Cabinet ministers and their famous girlfriends
» You Missed This I think we should start with the drama that unfolded on Koinange street a few years ago where prominent cabinet ministers were caught red-handed and almost literally with their pants down breaking the law by picking up girls who were under 18 years of age.
Cabinet minister Soita Shitanda
The really disgusting thing here is that these honorable cabinet ministers already had both wives and mipango mingi ya kando (several mistresses). All these were apparently not enough and the men who could be president wanted some really young girls. Chirau Mwakwere and Mwangi Kiunjuri were the folks caught with their fingers in the cookie pie.
While we know that older men really get turned on when they can make a much younger girl squeal in delight between the sheets (thanks partly to Viagra and Cialis wonder pills but mostly to some pretty good acting from young girls who know how not to get forgotten by a man) the Koinange street saga left many naive Kenyans in deep shock. Have you ever wondered why those burly old members of parliament swagger in pride the way they do in parliament looking pretty invincible?
But this game did not start recently, it actually started a long time ago. It seems that the August house and being a matatu tout have something in common. And that is innocent well behaved shy men always seem to turn into womanizing demons the minute they enter both occupations. Touts can’t help it because young girls throw themselves at them with abandon, is the same true with politicians? You tell me.
Cabinet Minister Charity Ngilu
I was talking about the early days. There was this cabinet minister called Paul Ngei (now deceased) who never saw anything in skirts that he did not want horizontal on his bed right away. In fact the good late minister got into trouble pretty early when he seduced a Mzungu girl. Unfortunately in those days it was a criminal offence to sleep with a white woman (even if she was your wife and that is why Arwings Khodek a prominent Kenyan lawyer on returning to Kenya with his British wife whom he married in London was almost arrested at the airport. Being the good learned friend he was he presented he proved that English law superseded the law in any colony that belonged to her majesty). Mr Ngei’s circumstances were vastly different and he thus got into a lot of trouble. However the biggest problem for Mr Ngei came long after independence via a strikingly sexy beauty from Meru that he fell for. The woman happened to be the daughter of a cabinet colleague of his called Jackson Angaine. The girl was also in the military and had a serious boyfriend there (some major whose name I forget, was it Kisilu?). The major discovered that he was not the only man making love to Miss Angaine and one day in the mid 70s, she was found dead in the bath tub of her Nairobi home when Mr Ngei had visited earlier that day. The major was charged with her murder but was acquitted due to lack of enough evidence. Kambas swear that the man went to see the right witch doctor otherwise he would have been cooked. Other observers like myself noted that he had hired this old Kenyan-Jewish lawyer called Byron Georgadis who never lost a case. In law there is something called “beyond any reasonable doubt” so all a good defence lawyer has to do is to create enough doubt which Georgadis was a master at doing. Interestingly the mystery of who killed the Meru beauty by strangling her has never been solved to date.
This post would not be complete without mentioning the name of one Thomas Joseph Mboya. During his short but very eventful political career he rose to the cabinet as Minister of Labour, Justice and finally economic planning. A real lady’s man, women found him irresistible and he had many girlfriends all over the world.
But let’s get to the present and why not start with current housing minister and MP for Malava, Soita Shitanda. Names may mean nothing but if you remove the “Sh” from the beginning of the minister’s second name and replace it with a “K” you may just change your mind. The ministers’ hot escapades with a Kamba sex goddess have recently ended up in court where she is demanding cash for the upkeep of the twins who were the result of the relationship that was ended by Ms Nduku’s request for a serious amount of cash as maintenance for herself and her children. Read story on court case HERE.
Remember the agriculture minister in the last government called Kipruto Kirwa? Up to only a few months ago he had a passionate affair with this woman in the media who also happens to be married t6o somebody else. She too hails from the same tribe as Ms Nduku. This lady is really famous but not for her unusual extra-curricular activities—at least not yet.
In this day and age of gender equality we should end this post with a case of a woman cabinet minister’s famous boyfriend. This is the story of one of the hottest lady cabinet ministers in the history of Kenya, Charity Kaluki Ngilu. To date she has not denied a story carried by the Weekly Citizen about being caught in a sex-in-the-car escapade with well known former publisher Philip Gacoka at the Nairobi Gymkhana car park. Rumours have been flying for a long time that the two have been extremely good friends. What amazes me is how a 57 year old woman manages to look so good so much so that much younger men can’t keep their hands off her.Kumekucha
-
Sunflowers of My Youth (Revisited)
» Words Much Like Poetry Originally untitled, Sunflowers of My Youth was written sometime in the late 1990's. A despairing poem, it was among the first of such despairing works that marked a sense of loss of innocence.
Was it only last night that I was so young
In knowledge and in action
Now I lay here far older than I was yesterday
Soiled and unclean with a filth that will never wash off my soul
Was it only last night that I was so innocent
Believing in ever-lasting love which I now in my old age know doesn't exist
Believing that love in its all-encompassing glory could heal a world torn apart by hate
Was it only last night that the world seemed so flat
Now it with all its rounded dimensions has come crashing down on me
Bearing down on me with its overwhelming weight
Causing all my fragileness to buckle and snap
Devastating me with its one mighty stroke
Was it only last night that I was so young
Was it only last night that I felt so wonderful in my ignorance and innocence
Was it only last night
Towards the end of 2006, I took an avid interest in acquiring publication and began pouring through my notebooks in search of poems I thought worthy of editing for submission. Despite editing this particular poem several times, I only submitted it once—its subsequent rejection placed it on my back burner for an entire year.
When my cousin came to live with me in December of 2007, she brought with her a whole host of memories that had been locked away for the better part of a decade. Needing an outlet for all the emotions (guilt being at the forefront) that were suddenly drowning me, I once more poured through my notebooks. This is what became of the poem.
Sunflowers of My Youth
was it only last night that I was so young,
in knowledge and in action?
now I lay here, far older than I was yesterday,
soiled and unclean with a filth
that will never wash off my soul.
no longer an innocent,
now, I am among the damned,
and I long for the sunflowers of my youth.
my youth is liberally perfumed with the scent,
a sweet intoxicant that made me dim of wit
and convinced me of an invincibility I did not own.
all too soon, the world, with all its rounded dimensions,
crashed down upon me,
devastating me with one mighty, unforgivable stroke,
and stealing from me my youth.
was it only last night that I was so young?
that I felt so wonderful in my ignorance,
in my innocence.
oh, sweet sunflowers of my youth,
I crave the carefree air that you lent me,
but I no longer breathe as those who have not sinned do,
and with gills grown out of necessity I continue to live,
though I drown in the misery my wisdom has wreaked upon me.
and for what?
a love that blinded me against reason?
a love that I had already scorned?
redemption is beyond me.
were it offered,
I would probably refuse it.
wretches such as I do not deserve Paradise,
and it is the scent of light blue and not sunflowers
that will wreathe around me as I descend into the pit Hell.
~ Wamuhu Mwaura, posted on Words Much Like Poetry December 29, 2007
The poem gained its title from the Elizabeth Arden perfume Sunflowers, a scent I used to wear in my late teens. A scent I'd not worn for years until my cousin encouraged me (she did a lot of that) to purchase a bottle and wear it for old times' sake. I find the fragrance both evocative and enduring, two ideals I did not feel that I embodied when I took my first whiff of it from a tester at the age of fifteen. However, the shield that it provided me against my innate shyness was a fragile one and it crumbled under the weight of adult realizations and heartbreak of one form or another.
Once my cousin moved out, I found I could no longer tolerate all that the scent stirred within me. Perhaps, though... Perhaps, I came to the realization that time and experience had built the shield that my youth had denied me. Well, regardless, what endears this poems to me is that it earned Words Much Like Poetry its first fan. So, this one's for you, D.K.
Image: Anna Cervova, Sunflower, Public Domain Pictures.net
-
Tongues of Clout (for Geoffrey Philp)
» Black Looks These images our sleep has given to the poets. Images the mouth turns round and spits out, clean as pits sucked off, the raw tongue finding the texture awright. Poets are always talkin’ about heaven, the pain of the four seasons, countless lucky stars at night, winking; some poets write even hell though none can pave the way back: what happens when a child loses its soul, [...]
-
Football Update Kenya vs Nigeria
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! Kenya is leading 1-0 against Nigeria in a match poised to qualify Nigeria's football team for the 2010 world cup in South Africa. Dennis Oliech scored the goal.keep it locked 4 more updates.The match ended at 3-2 score in a lacklustre perfomance by Nigeria which as the superior team strugled hard from keeping the Kenyans from scoring.Kenya's second goal was scored by David Wanga!if there's one thing the match proved is that coach Antoinne Hey was a waste of time and money!Kudos Twahir Murheedin and the boyz.
-
7:22
Nothing but LOVE
» Media Madness Here’s what I’ve been ‘consuming’ over the weekend, in between shopping sipping milkshakes, cursing Pizza Inn employees NKT! Being called ‘Madam’ TWICE!! And of course baby sitting the 3 year old. That boy makes me happy On sato morning I woke up to my siz blazing X Fm – it was Raabia in the [...]
-
7:15
Brilliant at other things!
» Media Madness Janet Kanini-Ikua runs a successful travel agency on top of being a Senior Anchor at NTV. GO Janet!!
-
6:31
Let’s wait and see
» Media Madness Self proclaimed Worldwide Dancehall Ambassador G-Money, said over the weekend (via a tweet) ‘91.1fm is going to revolutionize the perception of Dancehall in Kenya’. Now Conrad don’t get ahead of yourself…we already have a dance hall station. Metro Fm, and we all know it’s doing soooo well NOT!
-
5:40
Whispers of the Unheard! – Part 3.
» Still Proud to be Kenyan. In answering his question, I jumped in with my own theory. My take was quite simple. Looking back at the formative years of this country, it is easy to spot similarities between the men that were assassinated. JM, Pio Gama Pinto, and TJ were all politicians whose leadership transcended tribe. At a time when tribal [...]
-
4:26
Adam and Twende wrapping up!!
» Media Madness In a paid up ad in today’s Nation EAM’s publisher Carol Mandi has announced that Adam and Twende are wrapping up next month. Since she said it’s until further notice am sure it’s back to the drawing board on the strategy part. Adam came into a market, where it’s supposed target was used to Mens [...]
-
Lou Dobbs Resignation From CNN !
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! Long time TV Anchor Lou Dobbs abrupt departure and resignation from CNN last week left many in shock but on a satirical note CAP News Blog propounds a new career for the man: A reality tv show dubbed" Lou Dobbs Brown Alert" which wold feature mexican immigrants trying to make a run for the border.Succesful immigrants wold be awarded with a green card.
Lou Dobbs according to wikipedia is famously known for his opposition of free trade and support for immigration enforcement.This topics have prominently featured in his shows thereby prompting the publishers of CapNews to engineer the idea of hosting such a show.Without doubt i love the pun intended in the article.On the other hand his extreme views has landed him the title of "white supremacist" in a Huffington post opinion article written by Gary Shapiro President and CEO of the American Consumer Electronics Association who believes that Lou did not merit the weekly one hour Lou Dobbs Tonight show on CNN due to his exaggerating facts and airing non factual populist opinions.
-
Tireless Horses
» Words Much Like Poetry the stony bump has me reeling back to reality ... I stare at the path as it disappears behind me ...
as I turn and look forth ... I see myself again; holding the reins to the tireless horses ...
I am driver and passenger both ...
the dark path behind ... echoes the even darker path ahead ...
I sit alone—where I go, I know not, but I vaguely remember whence I came ...
the only sound is the rhythmic trot of hooves ... like the tick of time
pulling me towards an inevitable fate ...
shadows of the past
pass by so fast ...
I throw my hand out in an effort to reach back,
against a shadowy tree I graze my finger,
in an effort to make my thoughts linger
... another stony bump ... I am thrown back to the wooden seat ... forced to look ahead
and endure the everlasting trot ... from the Tireless Horses
---------------------------------------------------
New From: Trapped in time series by J. Davies
-
21:10
Of a creative Kenyan, lies, truths and mirrors
» Our Man in America I'd love to get a mirror that's candid and truthful. But I'm still in love with that mirror that lies to me every morning that I'm good looking.
-
Old Blog Look
» Words Much Like Poetry 
I miss the old look, kinda cool huh?
-
Cricket Without Boundaries to double visits to Kenya
» Kenya Cricket Cricket Without Boundaries group has arrived from U.K.. After arrival, they first camped at Kericho Teachers Training College where they gave training to an 82 strong new Teacher Group!
On Thursday they moved to Nakuru Teachers Traning college in Sagana, where they gave basic training to 55 new Teachers!
Training the teachers means that the skills they learn will then be able to be passed on to hundreds of children at local schools further spreading the game and the awareness of AIDS prevention.
More good news is that rather then coming once a year as they have done in the past, they will now come twice a year with the next camp already Scheduled for April 2010. Hopefully this great initiative will also team up with the project at Laikipia as both could surely benefit from the other.
Friday saw the first day of level nought, one and two training at RVSC and a special mention should be. An especial mention should be made of Melvins School who encouraged both the boys and girls to take part in big numbers in the above categories of training.
Great to see this initiative gaining strength with every year and every visit. Hopefully RVCA will be publishing some photos of the coaching sessions soon!Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com]
-
12:35
Lebensmittel
» Kikuyumoja's realm 
LEBENsmittel.
-
Dream Girl
» Words Much Like Poetry One of my earlier poems really. They had sat in an old dusty notebook for a while until I discovered it while looking through old stuff. These little verses still ring true to what I felt at the moment I wrote them and now I share them with you.
sweet and little
soft or brittle?
smooth and supple
sweet and velvet as an apple
chocolate but light
brown but not white
simple smile
enticing eyes
holding you in the while
of thoughts and dreams
sweet and of forever
-
7:09
24 years on, and Kenya still waits for Reforms..... (sic!)
» The Abantu View .... but until when? 24 years on from days when KANU was 'baba na mama', those days when former President Daniel arap Moi was the in-your-face-kinda-prez a.k.a Fuata Nyayo, Kenyans still wait for much needed Constitutional Reforms that have for so long eluded their motherland at the expense of cheap, parochial and devisive political machinations. Since then, blood has been shed, political -
Naomi Campbell in Tanzania for White Ribbon Charity
» The Abantu View Super model Naomi Campbell is in Dar es Salaam Tanzania with her billionaire Russion boyfriend Vladislav Doronin for a charity project organised by the UK's first lady Sarah Brown at the Moevenpick Hotel. Naomi, 39, and who is ambassador for Sarah's White Ribbon Alliance charity, which raises the awareness of infant mortality, has been vacationing in Zanzibar all week. Last night she did her
-
2:42
Whispers of the Unheard! – Part 2.
» Still Proud to be Kenyan. So what began as whispers in bedrooms, at street corners, and in university hostels had now grown into fully fledged public conversations that were challenging the status quo. The people who were party to these conversations were querying everything under the sun within the Kenyan borders. Gradually, the whispers of those earlier unseen got louder [...]
-
Slowly But Surely, We Are Getting There
» Rugby in Kenya Slowly But Surely, We Are Getting There
Copyright © 1999 - 2009 Mashada - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions