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June 14, 2007

0:24

GOOGLE COMES TO AFRICA!

» ‎ assidous

Is Africa ready for Google?

Written by Al Kags

Wednesday, 13 June 2007

In a groundbreaking move, Google has employed its first African, Joseph Mucheru to help set up its Africa operations in Kenya.

Clearly serious about setting up shop in Kenya, Google aims to achieve three things with the move: First, to optimise the use of its applications in Africa, to make Google maps (and earth, I believe) more useful in Africa and to work on Google advertising further to ensure that Google ads are better monetized in Africa.

Mucheru: "Google understands that bandwith is an impediment and will purchase international bandwidth so that locals don't have to pay the current considerable premium they are."

I should like to hear more about this for sure. Coupled with the fact that my favorite ministry, the Ministry of Information and Communications, headed by the indomitable duo, Mutahi Kagwe and Dr. Bitange Ndemo is working extra hard to get fribre optic connection in East Africa through Kenya by mid 2008, we are in for interesting times.

However, we need to accept, Africa, that the largest impediment to our development is our cultural outlook - not the traditions and customs but the way we do business and our openness to new concepts. I recently had a meeting with a government official with regard to accessing some of the records that they have, digitizing it at my own cost and sharing the digital data with them for them to develop its use by wider sharing it. Amazingly, his first reaction was "absolutely not." Why? Because it is not done in government. When we got over that, we found that there is a huge fear with regard to what the information will be used for.

The same is true for business leaders in Africa. Fears such as "if I have a blog and allow people a free hand to comment on my views, how can I protect myself?" My position is that you only need to protect yourself from obsene and crude remarks but not as a recent executive asked me, from critisism. In fact, if your staff thinks that you are afraid of critisism, then you need to actively change that.

Of course information can be misused and so can the free use of applications such as the comments section of your blog. Of course a nicely elaborate Google Maps and Google Earth can be misused by say, terrorists. But then, that cannot stop us from developing. Cars can be used as getaway cars in bank robberies and the like, but that does not stop us from developing them?

If your business is to develop, then sharing information and interacting with a wide community is the way to build it in the new era. Its the only way to be ready for the likes of Google and Multiple Choices.

This post was Originally blogged by Kenyaimagine and reblogged here by assidous.

June 13, 2007
23:57
LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS LOGO
» ‎ assidous

This is the new London 2012 Olympics logo. Whether its good or bad seems to be what the preoccupation with most of British Press. Some even want to see the others that were not chosen! No wonder its very hard to work for the British.
11:18
Ati youre Going back to kenya ...
» ‎ assidous

Attention Kenyans in US:

1. Nothing much has changed except better govt delivery and better economy .everything else is the same . You will not need a guide in downtown nairobi. mats of westlands are still 23 ,to Daggorreti they still are number 102 .So dont go asking ati number 11 ni za wapi they are still for south B /C and yes 33's still go to embakasi

.2- Dont go flashing your $$$.You will be surprised that there are young guys in jamhuri doing really well and that you are coming from stato means nothing to them. I know some guys who got jobs that By all standards kenyan or stato ,they are big rollers and can burn 6-10 k per weekend... can you afford that?

3 -Dont go sleeping around HIV is real

.4 Be Aware of mungiki Its not a joke its real and they dont care if you just landed from New York.They will chop off your gonads and the next day on eastandard.net the headlines will read "---US based kenyans' testicles cut off by Mungiki --" be wary of your company and surroundings.

5 - Avoid floss mode and many lies . Dont go feeling hot for everyone in the block. People in jamhuri know what kind of jobs "we" all do or have done to get those Benjamin’s .So if I was you , just keep a low profile, and keep off the floss lane.

6 - Dont land JKIA with all this sagging jeans bling and big ass shades .You look ridiculous and especially if you are of age + 26 going up .Be smartly dressed and relax on madoido mob .No one will be overly Impressed.Put your musical gadgets far away.

7 - Dont go Twenging for everyone. Nothing is as irritating as listening to a person forcing the Twang . Just be yourself of course except those ones which you can’t avoid e.g.

8 .Be sensible . Dont go spending extravagantly . If you dont have a car in Nairobi , Use a matatu .This business of a taxi for Ksh 3,000 - 4,000/ day just does not cut it. Its pure waste of money .

9 .Remember the bills of Uncle Sam await you in stateside and he does not forgive nor forget.

I lOVE nairobi regardless!!!!!!!!

Originally from The Diary of one Black man by Kip reBlogged by KenyaUnlimited on Jun 13, 2007, 6:50AM and reBlogged here by assidous
0:37
CORRUPTED MINDS!
» ‎ assidous

When the gods single you out for destruction, they first drive you mad. Not mad in the real sense of the word, though they can do it, rather its hubris, pride and arrogance that they fill your mind with. Besides that, its common knowledge that pride comes before a fall.

Its in light of this that Kituyi's statement that the government will 'do all it can to win the 07 poll' must be looked at. True the government has done a lot, but saying that 'nowhere in Africa has a sitting President lost an election' is the height of arrogance.

The last time i checked there was no incubent president who had been won in a referendum before Kibaki came along. Olesugun followed suit. So i wouldnt be surprised if Kibaki becomes the first sitting President in Africa to be voted out. Kenyans are a very capable of doing that.

It takes such arrogant display of power for the public to show the powers that be where and who is the real McCoy as far as residual power is concerned. Ask Moi and he knows.

Its such a shame that power corrodes such otherwise great minds like Kituyi's.
June 12, 2007
0:02
EXPLOSION IN NAIROBI.
» ‎ assidous

As of last night, there was no known reason for the explosion other than the fact that the only man who died at the scene worked nearby. Two Somali men are said to have been the carriers of the explosive. It is being said that they tried to board a JKIA bound bus but they failed after they were turned down because it was full.

For once, Kenyans at the vicinity fled away from the scene after the explosion rather than the usual herd mentality to run to the scene. I think we are learning to keep off from the explosion sites until the air is clear.

33 people have been treated at KNH and some of them have been released.

Whether to take this as a terrorist attempt or a mungiki re-invention is the moot point now.

Lets hope that the police will get to the bottom of this.

for more:

http://www.nationmedia.com
http://www.eastandard.net
http://www.marsgroupkenya.com
June 11, 2007
23:48
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMES TO KENYA!
» ‎ assidous

GE the worlds second largest corporation after Exxon-Mobil is to set up a multi-product manufacturing plant in the country to be completed in the next three years. It will manufacture locomotive parts as well as health imaging systems.

Last year, GE had consolidated revenues of its six branches i.e infrastructure, healthcare, finance, GE-Money, industry, and energy to the tune of Ksh11Trillion 6-7 times Kenya's GDP!

Quote: We can build a country within one month because we have the resources. GE Africa Region President - Yibra Tesfazghi.
0:43
SUICIDE BOMBER IN NAIROBI
» ‎ assidous

1219Hrs:Still, there is no known cause of what happened in Nairobi this morning. One conspicous thing was that NTV caught KTN, KBC and CITIZEN TV flat footed. BBC was there live. I didnt check AlJazeera. All the earlier report may be treated as unconfirmed until i get what really happened from my hot wire.

0846Hrs: As i was updating my blog this morning at 0846Hrs, i was informed from very reliable sources that a suicide bomber has blown himself or herself injuring an unknown number of people near Ambassador House in Nairobi.

That is just the latest for now.
0:25
CHARLES 'PAPPY' TAYLOR TRIAL BEGINS.
» ‎ assidous

Last week Monday, Charles Taylor aka pappy trial opened at the Hague. He never appeared citing he had lost faith in the UN-based court.

Taylor is charged with a plethora of crimes ranging from Terrorism, murder,sexual violence, enslavement to looting as well as using child soldiers.

At least, we hope that the system will convict Africa's worst warlord who's child soldiers fondly referred to as pappy. Some of his child soldiers had equally funny nick-names like: peanut-butter, bald-boy, butt-naked etc.

UK has offered to imprison him if he is found guilty after a process that is to take 12 to 18 months.
June 10, 2007
10:01
ACHIENG ONEKO PASSES AGED 87, THE END OF AN ERA!
» ‎ assidous

The last of the Kapenguria Six has had his life come to an end. Achieng Oneko (left) died after suffering from hypertension for a long time. His paasing on marks the end of an era in which he was the last of the K6 who were Kenyatta, Kubai, Kaggia, Karumba and Ngei.

We should not mourn his life now that he is gone, we should celebrate his life in the struggle for independence and the role he played while at it.

Oneko has bestowed to Kenya a gift in his son, Dr. Ongonga who has in a relatively short time has taken Kenya's Tourism sector to new frontiers not seen before.

RIP ONEKO.
9:26
ANOTHER NEO-CON BITES THE DUST!
» ‎ assidous

In a world that come to be against the neo-cons, another of their allied war-hawks has bitten the dust. Marine Gen. Peter Pace has been urged to step down as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in September to keep away from the Democrats Congressional Hearings on the Iraqi misadventure.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060801537.html?referrer=email
June 09, 2007
9:32
A GOOD LAWYER,ME THINKS A BRAINY ONE.
» ‎ assidous

This mail also landed in my inbox some days ago. Some of these things are only possible when Lawyers are put into the picture.

New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the
loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of
property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated
back to 1803, which took the Lawyer three months to track down.

After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following
reply.
"Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan
application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract
of Title.
While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and
presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared
title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803..
Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to
clear the title back to its origin."

Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows

"Your letter regarding title in Case No. 189156 has been received. I
note that you wish to have title extended further than the 202 years
covered by the present application.
I was unaware that any educated person in this state, particularly
those working in the property area, would
not know that Louisiana was purchased, by the U.S., from France in
1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the
edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S.
ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of
Conquest from Spain. The land came into the possession of Spain by Right
of Discovery
made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who
had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the
Spanish monarch, Isabella.

The good queen, Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as
careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the
blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus'
expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God. It is commonly accepted that God
created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that
God also made that part of the world called Louisiana. God, therefore,
would be the owner of origin and His origins date back, to before the
beginning of time, the world as we know it AND the FHA. I hope you find
God's original claim to be satisfactory.
Now, may we have our requested loan?"
0:37
PORSCHE CELLPHONE!
» ‎ assidous

I came across this in my internet waltzing escapades. I don't know what will be next, maybe Boeing will also produce a cellphone too.

This modified handset has taken a liberal stance with the Porsche license, tacking a model of the classic 911 onto the cellphone. Strangely enough, the inventor has stuck the name of Porsche's vaunted 4x4 (Cayenne) on top of the 262k color display in perhaps an effort to throw Porsche's lawyers offtrack? Features of this homebrew dual band GSM handset includes MP3 and MP4 playback, a microSD memory card slot, and a 2 megapixel camera located behind the windshield. Pricing details are unavailable, and rightly so.

For more:

http://www.uberphones.com/2007/04/porsche_cellphone_an_accident/

http://www.porsche.com
0:20
WHY BULLS ARE BETTER THAN LITERALY CRITICS!
» ‎ assidous

The letter below was found among others in Europe recently.

Bulls don't run reviews,
Bulls of 25 don't marry women of 55 and expect to be invited for dinner,
Bulls don't borrow money,
Bulls are edible after they have been killed.

Letter by Ernest Hemingway to American Poet & Critic Ezra Pound.
June 08, 2007
10:45
A FUNNY LETTER I WOULD SAY, CREATIVE EVEN!
» ‎ assidous

The letter below landed in my inbox, quite ingenious i must say.

Read this "HATE letter". It is so funny and creative.
This is a love letter from a boy to a girl.... However,
the girl's father does not like him and wants them
stop their relationship......and so.. the boy wrote
this letter to the girl. he knows that the girl's
father will definitely read this letter

1 "The great love that I have for you
2 is gone, and I find my dislike for you
3 grows every day. When I see you,
4 I do not even like your face;
5 the one thing that I want to do is to
6 look at other girls. I never wanted to
7 marry you. Our last conversation
8 was very boring and has not
9 made me look forward to seeing you again.
10 You think only of yourself.
11 If we were married, I know that I would find
12 life very difficult, and I would have no
13 pleasure in living with you. I have a heart
14 to give, but it is not something that
15 I want to give to you. No one is more
16 foolish and selfish than you, and you are not
17 able to care for me and help me.
18 I sincerely want you to understand that
19 I speak the truth. You will do me a favor
20 if you think this is the end. Do not try
21 to answer this. Your letters are full of
22 things that do not interest me. You have no
23 true love for me. Good-bye! Believe me,
24 I do not care for you. Please do not think that
25 I am still your boyfriend."

So bad!! However, before handing over the letter to
the girl, the boy told the girl to "READ BETWEEN THE
LINES", meaning-only to read 1.3.5.7.9.11.13.15.17.19.21.23.25 (Odd No.)
0:26
MUNGIKI MAYHEM GOES ON UNABATED
» ‎ assidous

This is an excerpt from yesterday’s EAStandard front page Comment which was also the Editorial Comment.

‘Not since the infamous senseless and politically instigated so-called land clashes of 1992 and 1994 has so much fear been generated by so few at the expense of so many…………

……But this simple fact will always hold true: It is the principal objective of the Government to at all times and by all means protect the lives of its citizens and protect their property against grabbers and robbers, vandals and thieves……..’

There was also a great quote thrown in there: ‘First they came for the Communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestsnt. Then they came for me and by that time, there was no one left to speak for me’ Martin Niemoller – Holocaust Victim
For more:
http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news_s.php?articleid=1143969620&date=7/6/2007
June 07, 2007
0:10
LIBBY COOLED FOR2.5 YRS!
» ‎ assidous

‘Scooter’ Lewis Libby, he who of the CIA Officer leak was sentenced to 30mths in the coolers and $250,000.00 fine for his role. The sentencing judge said the evidence was overwhelming and that he has slim chances of having the sentence overturned on appeal!

Libby was an aide to Chenney the US veep and this signals the falling of the so called hardline war-mongers in the White House. It seems that the neo-conservatives time in power is slowly but surely ebbing out.

For more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/AR2007060500150.html?referrer=email
June 05, 2007
23:43
THE AL GORE DILEMMA
» ‎ assidous

There is absolutely no doubt that the next US government will be formed by the Democrats. Its also in this party that competition is vicious between two candidates in a very historical way. Apart from the fact that Democrats will give Americans either the first BlackPresident in history,they may also shape history if they vote in the First Woman President! So by all means, its an epic and historical election!

But some Democrats feel that Obama and Hillary are not the best candidates hence the need to have another candidate and this is where Al Gore comes in. He seems to be the best bet with Obama's traits and Hillary's experience. Whether Gore will go for it or not is yet to be seen in any case,he was denied victory at the last minute by the courts and that left him a badly bruised man. Once beaten very many times shy!

Here is more

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1622009,00.html
June 04, 2007
23:51
US CINGRESSMAN FACES 235YRS IN THE COOLERS!
» ‎ assidous

I came across this article in my random browing in the net.

The Louisiana Representative Bill Jefferson is said to have received in excess of $500,000.00 and was in the process of getting more millions. The Congress Speaker Pelosi has castigated him for failing to uphold the Democrats Ideals and is to push for his resignation.

Get more on that here

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/04/AR2007060400714.html?referrer=email
10:10
KARIBU KENYA VIRGIN ATLANTIC
» ‎ assidous

On the 2nd of June, Virgin Atlantic touched down at JKIA at 0605Hrs from London Heathrow. Aboard it were the Kenyan team accompanied by its CEO, Sir Richard. It brings real competition to one of the most competitive and lucrative rotes out of JKIA. Among Its competitors here will be BA and our very own KQ! From me, its KARIBU VIRGIN!

Safaricom CEO doesn't miss a chance to get into the mix, he has already patnered with Virgin to fund the Mt. Kenya Elephant Corridor project to the tune of Ksh66M for a period 10YRS!
June 03, 2007
23:52
KARIBU KENYA VIRGIN ATLANTIC
» ‎ assidous

On the 2^nd of June, Virgin Atlantic touched down at JKIA at 0605Hrs from London Heathrow. Aboard it were the Kenyan team accompanied by its CEO, Sir Richard. It brings real competition to one of the most competitive and lucrative rotes out of JKIA. Among Its competitors here will be BA and our very own KQ! From me, its KARIBU VIRGIN!

Safaricom CEO doesn’t miss a chance to get into the mix, he has already patnered with Virgin to fund the Mt. Kenya Elephant Corridor project to the tune of Ksh66M for a period 10YRS!
8:10
JEFF KOINANGE PLOT THICKENS WITH HIS EXIT AT CNN!
» ‎ assidous

In the past few days, Jeff Koinange has left CNN quietly and this has come amid date rape claims by a certain Marriane Breinner she of the Ouko Inquiry fame.

This are various sites to which more info is availabe:

[distantlovers.blog.com]

[www.kumekucha.blogspot.com]

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cnn/jeff_koinange_no_longer_employed_by_cnn_59885.asp
June 02, 2007
0:46
SMS POLITICS KENYAN STYLE!
» ‎ assidous

This is an SMS that landed in my cellphone yesterday. I thought i would share it out. It came in Kikuyu and i took time to translate it for you:

Here we go: "Hi howz ur day Mwathani arokugitira kumana na maundu ma mucukani ta - mirimu,aici,arogi,thuya,nguha,ndaa,ngunguni,mbuca na muno muno kuma kiama kia ODM"

TRANSLATION: Hi, how is your day? May the Lord protect you from the devilish things like - disease, thieves, witches, fleas, ticks, lice, bedbugs, weevils and most of all from the ODM party!

When i forwarded the same to my friends i ammended the last part to read ...from NACR-K party. Just to ensure fair play in the game!
June 01, 2007
0:53
KPLC DILEMMA
» ‎ assidous

While averaging Ksh200 at the NSE, KPLC may seem to be in a roll to a casual observer. But as they say, never judge a book by its cover.

A behemoth of KPLC’s stature with a monopoly to boot is expected to be a star performer as well as our icon of corporate ideals. But the reality is a different kettle altogether.

Take the treated poles tender for instance. The tender was advertised and a South African company won the bid. Whether it was competitive or not is neither here nor there. Its only later on that the company was linked to the ‘parastatal’s’ Human Resource Manager who was to become Sam Gichuru’s wife after a much publicized divorce with his first wife! Phew!

The monopoly is literally hemorrhaging cash yet in Kenya they can purchase electric poles made of steel or concrete which, though expensive will last longer than the wood ones.

But I always say that credit should be given where it’s due. The connection rate of new customers is now satisfactory if past standards are anything to go by. But this brings in a new kind of problem: It’s projected that by September the peak power consumption will be high leaving a surplus of only 200MW.

This is at a time when no new power plants are projected to be connected to the grid anytime soon! While at it, factor in distribution system loses of 20% against an industry standard of between 8-14%.

Sometimes back, its ownership became a source of news after NSSF offloaded its share which it held making it a parastatal! The shares were purchased by Transcentury Group owned by the President’s men. This brought a conflict since the government isn’t a major shareholder anymore. Whether it’s still a parastatal or not is yet to be seen, but their fleets still adorn the blue license plates!
May 31, 2007
0:14
CALM DOWN MR. NYACHAE!
» ‎ assidous

Before the Cross Country came back home, Mombasa had roads not worth writing home about. Then things changed. Street lights were lit, Mama Ngina drive turned into a gem and the roads, well- they were re-carpeted. At least that is what we all thought until the rains started pounding the region for seven straight days unraveling the mystery that is road re-carpeting.

The Mombasa beautification was overseen by none other than the Chief Government Spokesman, Dr. Alf Mutua! Chief, because he is the only one mandated to explain government policy to Kenyans in a lingua franca easily understood not the legal gobbledygook! But being Kenya, we have other spokesmen/women who never know how irritating it is listening to their prattle!

When he returned to Mombasa after the Cross Country had come back home and returned to wherever it came from, and much later after the rains, he was shocked to find the roads were back to the pre-homecoming. Visibly enraged and angry at the shoddy job, he called for the arrest of the contractors and away they were taken by the police.

In Parliament, Nyachae was angry and threatening to resign because of Mutua’s actions!

My advice to him - RESIGN ASAP!

Mutua was angry and rightly so, as any right thinking Kenyan would after putting all their energy on something and paying for it through the nose only for it to crumble due to a shoddy job and worker! But we must, try as we might, and am not justifying the contractor’s actions, that Nyachae belongs to a clique of the old moneyed guard for whom anything goes as long money has been made. To them, service delivery and shame are words from the Martian vocabulary!

The contractors did a shoddy job and Nyachae threatening to resign over this is rather weird. Resigning because your corrupt cohorts have been nabbed? Get Real Nyachae! Why are you siding with a lot that deserves to be put into the coolers and the keys thrown to the ocean floor? Nyachae, his ilk and these type of contractors are the people who have made Kenya what it is today. Roads are poor; hospitals are under funded, drugs rotting at the supplies dept …… Isn’t he ashamed that barely two months after re-carpeting, the roads have crumbled to poor state? But conscience is alien to this geezer.

Mr. Nyachae, don’t you know that you and your ilk are a curse on the Kenyan people and the faster you get out of the scene the better for all of us for you have overstayed your welcome.
And spare us the theatrics and child-like tantrums Mr. Nyachae.

And Mutua, keep them old timers on their toes as well as the under-performing government officials!
May 30, 2007
0:20
GAY’S SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE!
» ‎ assidous

The last such conference was held in South Africa sometimes early this month. When I put it in this blog that they shouldn’t think of going about their carnal pleasures in public but rather do it in the dark unless they are in South Africa, I never thought that I would revisit the issue this soon!

They held their conference in a Hotel in North Coast and they only came into public because the Mombasa’s Councilors were also holding one of their ‘retreats’ at the same venue. Definitely, they also caught the attention of the journalists who were covering the meet, hence the publicity. Thus, meeting had to be done behind closed doors due to security issues.

On this issue, this blogger isn’t homophobic neither is he a moral police! Last time I checked, it was against the homosexuality was against the law but also, that law is seldom applied!
May 28, 2007
23:53
CRY MY BELOVED COUNTRY
» ‎ assidous

What is happening here? Kenyans are killing each other left, right and centre. Even the often peaceful Central Province is aflame! No province has been left behind as they all have ‘pockets of violence’ to paraphrase the Iraqi war terminologies! A thousand and one questions linger in this blogger’s mind:

What is the government doing to stop the killers?

Will questioning some MP’s solve the problem?

What is Michuki doing as the Minister of (In)Security to curb the violence?

Why is the President silent as people slaughter one another?

Does the government have the political as well as the military will to curb the violence?

Is it wrong for this blogger to believe that this government is guilty of abetting genocide?

Are we Kenyans damned if we believe that the government can’t handle the situation?

Isn’t the government damned to lose the elections due to insecurity?

Will this blogger be wrong to say that this government is hemorrhaging vote due to insecurity?

Is it a wild thought to say that the real threat to National Security isn’t what is published by the media; rather it’s the over-insecurity being witnessed in the whole country?

Isn’t it weird for Michuki to blame the Judiciary for his shoddy work?

If the police cant protect themselves from the attacks, pray I ask who will protect Kenyans who are unarmed.

Isn’t it time Kibaki sacked Michuki and Ali for gross incompetence?

Since the Security Ministry is under the Office of the President, wouldn’t it be fair to also ask Kibaki to step aside for incompetence?

Would it be in the realm of reality to categorically state that this government has redefined the word ‘incompetence’?

Just a Thought!
10:07
BLOGGERS FOR GOOD FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE
» ‎ assidous

This is a noble effort by the bloggers through the blogcatalog to raise at least $25,000.00 to help schools mainly those in New Orleans. Yes, New Orleans that was struck by the Hurricane Katrina.

If successful, and it will be, I believe, it will set a precedent that the blogging world can come together for a cause to assist humanity.

The funds will be used to purchase all manner of things that a kid in need will utilize to make his stay in school more productive and learn while at it. You can donate money or at the same time purchase their gift certificates in support of the cause. Up until May 28^th, funds collected were $12,713,018 and had been donated to 568,670 students in need.

Support this worthy cause and change the life of a young kid in need.

Click the link below for more:

([www.donorschoose.org])
0:03
PREPARE FOR WAR MUTAHI KAGWE
» ‎ assidous

I once thought that in Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya had a hardworking minister at its disposal. What with all the Submarine cable affairs and SNO as well as his co-operation to make the telecom industry better. But not anymore.

The media bill that he has introduced is an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans who value the freedom of in formation. The bill reeks of authoritarianism, dictatorship, myopia all cooked together in the pot of stupidity!

Kagwe should have had the mind to read the public mood and know that as long as the government places itself against the media, it will always be the looser and hands down while at it. He should have learnt from the escapades of his father-in-law (Michuki). Today, Michuki is known more as the media basher his success at the Transport Ministry notwithstanding. It’s an albatross on his neck that he will go with to his grave! Kagwe should also have foreseen the furor that would have resulted from his bill.

This blogger holds no brief for the press, but on any day and twice on Sunday, I would bet my life with the Press than the government.

That the Media Bill seeks to regulate the media, accredit the journalists will fall even before it flies. In parliament, it’s bound to come into obstacles because this being an election year, not many MP’s will want to be seen to be antagonistic to the press. What with their renewed power and influence in the mind of Kenyans. The Press in Kenya isn’t the legendary Fourth Estate; it has metamorphosed into the First Estate! On this front, the press will fight back tooth and nail and trust me; the loser is as predictable as the sun rises – The Government. No single power in the world fights the press and wins! Never!

The Kibaki administration will go down history as one which took the repression of the press freedom to new lows thanks to the official corruption that it seeks to hide by repressing the media. What a Legacy Kibaki will leave.

As I have said earlier in this for a, this government operates as though it’s on a permanent self-destruct mode. They will wake up when it’s too late to do anything. One wonders if this is part of its re-election game plan. And don’t be surprised when otherwise smart people in the administration act as stupidly as Kagwe and his ilk. Soon a government of fools and its voters are bound to part ways eventually.

It’s good and heartening to know that Freedom of Information Bill 2007 has been tabled by Prof. Anyan’g Nyong’o and its main target is the Official Secrets Act.
May 26, 2007
0:04
ILLICIT BREWS LEGALISED
» ‎ assidous

At last one can now waltz into a busaa or chang’aa den and imbibe the tipple without the fear of police raids! Also, the mama pimas will make a tidy sum now that the police will not threaten them with raids for cash exchange.

So the police will have to look for other sources of quick money soon lest they go ‘hungry’!

This blogger hopes that the government will institute the necessary quality benchmarks for the brewers to meet and that the Standards Bureau will have the capacity to enforce the stringent measures so that drinkers can be rest assured that they are consuming safe drinks.

The other brewers are definitely not happy about this development but that is the price of liberalistaion. They will need to up their ante so that they can capture their intended market segments and at the same time make a tidy profit since Kenya is a drinking nation!

Be that as it may, we should be alive to the fact that attendant freedom calls for corresponding responsibilities lying squarely with the individual! Watch out also for the rise in Alcoholic Anonymous membership.

Enjoy the tipple and do it responsibly while at it.
May 24, 2007
23:55
THE KFF SHENANIGANS
» ‎ assidous

This blogger isn’t a soccer fan. Can’t even tell an off-side if life itself depended on it. The Premier and other assorted leagues fanaticism escape this blogger’s simple mind. That it is called the beautiful games is beyond me, more so the point at which beauty and the game converge. But then again, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and this blogger isn’t a beholder. But that is neither here nor there.

The Kenyan joke that is supposed to be the soccer fraternity is in disarray. That is even to put it mildly. I can’t begin to describe the fiasco that passes for Kenyan soccer and it’s so called federation. Call it whatever you want but that will be the year’s understatement!

Ministers have come and gone but the rot, just like prostitution has stayed on to fight another day. Add that to the FIFA non government intervention and the word crisis begs for redefinition! We can’t fault Minister Maina Kamanda for not trying. Indeed he has done well in the sports ministry within a relatively short time. But the charlatans that masquerade as KFF seem to have evaded his good deeds.

In their latest fiasco, they held two parallel AGM’s, one in Kasarani in Nairobi and another in Malindi that was ‘recognised’ by FIFA! At the same time, FIFA has threatened a one year ban which this blogger feels is awfully inadequate if we are to raise the so called beautiful game from the ashes!

Maina Kamanda needs to do one thing ASAP!: Dissolve the entire KFF indefinitely!, call in KACC to investigate funds embezzlement and other corrupt misdemeanor, close his ears to FIFA noise while at it or better still, write an official letter to FIFA requesting a 5year ban! Back here, all the KFF members and delegates from National to location levels be banned from holding any position in the KFF for the next 20yrs! Desperate times call for desperate measures and the 20yr ban should be accompanied by an ‘executive order’ from the house on the hill, FIFA be damned!

From that point, we can salvage the so called beautiful game in Kenya and get in new managers to run it as a business entity that will offer employment opportunities to many, taxes from the revenue and if possible sell it to the public through the NSE. It may also become the feeding grounds for the European teams. The list is endless as are the opportunities.

Without such highhandedness, all else will become a cropper! All the best to the Harambee Stars team in their oncoming games.
10:21
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» ‎ assidous

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0:24
Attn: RINGERA – CUT YOUR LOSES AND RUN TO THE HILLS
» ‎ assidous

If I were the KACC Director, I would now be subtly planning how to hang my boots come December 15^th this year.

Why do I say this? I would request Ringera to read Raila’s –point plan especially where it deals with corruption. First he talks about creating a Truth, Reconciliation and Restitution Commission specifically to deal with past corruption as well as a criminal justice system that will ensure the conviction of the culprits. Raila may also create a Ministry of Corruption to ‘…. Bring under one roof all the discordant and querulous institutions currently charged with the task of fighting corruption(KACC, EMU,ACPU etc), some of the existing bodies could be abolished depending on their effectiveness to avoid overspending (read KACC) on anti-corruption bodies that have produced no tangible results five years later’

Barack Muluka a regular columnist in a Saturday paper warned Ringera some time ago that the bell will one day toll for him. That the tolling may have already started this early is not in doubt.

Wake up Ringera lest your past inaction on corruption catches up with you.
May 23, 2007
0:13
PECULIAR CELLPHONE TARRIFS!
» ‎ assidous

Sometimes back when Safaricom was having network congestion issues, the MD Micheal Joseph said that it was caused by Kenyan’s ‘peculiar’ calling habits! He raised hell with that reply. And he was sure of what he was talking about.

Years later, he has been vindicated and more to that his rival at Celtel has gone a mile more.

Celtel has unveiled a tariff that has caused lips to wax lyrical in Kenya. Their latest tariff Mambo 6/- is an affront to Kenyan intelligence or they are being clever by half. The tariff’s ‘off peak’ hours for you to enjoy the ‘lowest’ charge in the country runs from 11pm to 5am. Whoever Celtel is marketing this tariff to escapes this blogger’s simple mind. When one of my friends told me about it, I was waiting for something to rival Safcom’s Saasa Tariff. How wrong I was. But trust Celtel to do the unthinkable in Kenya.

Methinks that their target market was the ‘commercial love providers’ and the pimps!
May 22, 2007
0:13
DECI (PYRAMID SCHEME) THE COOKIE CRUMBLES
» ‎ assidous

In the past weeks, more than 200 depositors into the famous DECI (Developing Enterprise Community Initiative) a pyramid scheme have had to live nightmares after realizing that their savings had gone with the wind literally.

It was in Machakos that they held hostage a manager for 6hrs while demanding a refund of their deposits but they couldn’t face reality that they had lost the cash. Earlier on, a Nairobi manager of the same scheme died of injuries sustained after he was thrown out of his 8^th floor office window by angry depositors who wanted their cash which he couldn’t raise.

The ‘CEO’ of the scheme has come out with assurances to the members that will get their dues in due course. But it has remained to be just that, assurances with little action to show for them.

Complaints against the scheme abound but the authorities seem lost on which law to apply since they operate in legal lacuna.

Central Bank has only repeatedly issued warnings to the public about the pyramid and ponzi schemes in the past.

Sooner rather than later, a fool and his money are parted. The question is, what do some of us Kenyans have where brains are supposed to be?
May 21, 2007
0:54
KQ’s TRAGEDY
» ‎ assidous

This blogger had to hold his horses to comment on this issue in the past few days. Reason being that unsolicited views were flying left, right and centre on what could have happened blah blah blah. First of all, this blogger isn’t an aviation expert or anything remotely related to that.
Let me also pass my condolences to the families and friends of the crash victims and tell them that this blogger is with them. Spiritually that is. Now that is off my chest.
If whatever this blogger has been reading is anything to go by, then trust me that we in Kenya are in a land of plenty. Thanks God for small mercies. If we complain of bureaucracy in this country, pray I ask how Cameroonians get their things done if the officials in Cameroon are anything to go by.
How safe is the Cameroonian airspace for anyone leave alone commercial jets for that matter?
So many questions are raised about the Cameroonian administration’s ability to carry out a thorough investigation to the cause of the crash?
This blogger feel that with the few questions, incompetence gets a redefinition thanks to the Cameroonian Government.
It’s very encouraging that KQ has already started paying out compensation to the families and what makes me proud of the Naikuni team is the way they handled this tragedy and the assistance that they accorded the families of the deceased. It was world class as was Naikuni’s presence and his personal contribution in crisis management. Trust me if it was other people, they would have crumbled.
Kudos Naikuni and keep up the good work at Embakasi.
May 20, 2007
13:51
BLAIR’S EXIT
» ‎ assidous

On the 27^th of June, Tony Blair will step down as the UK Premier and will usher in Gordon Brown.

Blair’s tenure has been one of mixed fortunes if I could say that. He led the party to an unprecedented three landslide election victories. He has also put UK in the world map as a player that can’t be ignored thanks to his dalliances with Bush across the Atlantic. In as much as their war on terror failed even before it started, one can’t fault him for inaction. But as they say, action doesn’t necessarily translate to motion. Methinks the war on terror is far from being won. I can’t even touch on their Iraq misadventure it is all out there for all to see, what with his ‘sexed up’ report on WMD’s!

UK’s new Premier for the time being will be Gordon Brown. A workaholic, as they say and one who has seen UK firmly out of the euro currency to retain its Pound. He has also worked out the economy to the satisfaction of the Brits and applause comes in from the World Bank also.

Blair’s effort t bringing attention to Africa endeared him to Africa and the proponents of the African cause as he named The Africa Commission while describing it as ‘a scar on the world’s conscience.’ We in Africa hope that this part of his legacy will be part and parcel of the incoming Premier even after elections.

He is also a lesson to our ‘leaders’ here in Africa. To Kibaki – To honour MOU’s as a sign of being a gentleman and to others that you can only lead for so long. He put well when he said ‘…. The only way to conquer the pull of power is to set it down.. .’
May 19, 2007
10:10
WATCHOUT! MR. KIMUNYA
» ‎ assidous

This blogger’s advice to the Finance Minister is to watch what he says lest he is forced to eat humble pie. This blogger has absolutely no doubt about Kimunya’s impeccable credentials as Finance Mandarin. Absolutely, no doubt.

But Kimunya has failed on the Anglo Leasing nightmare that keeps this government wishing it was a dream which it can wish away. But he forgets that it was that issue that sent home packing his predecessor at Treasury.

Kimunya has been challenged from different quarters to come clean on the issue of pending Promissory Notes to assorted Anglo Leasing type contracts whose payments are due.

At a past press conference, he held papers said to be the Notes stating that the Irrevocable Promissory Notes had now been returned and revoked altogether. Obviously, he couldn’t say who had returned the notes and when they had been returned. When he was asked to table them in Parliament, he said that he couldn’t since there is an ongoing investigation. Hello! Am I missing something?

Besides that, he insists that Kenya owes only Ksh25B while the Auditor General says the debt stands at Ksh56B after his investigations!

Either Kimunya takes Kenyans to be so gullible they can take his words hook line and sinker, or he has clearly lost it. Methinks, its both.
May 18, 2007
10:06
TUTU RAILS AT MUGABE
» ‎ assidous

Archbishop Desmond Tutu the Nobel Laureate has again condemned Mugabe’s acts of violence against his people and the Opposition led my Tsvangirai.

Speaking while in Hawaii with students aboard a cruise vessel, he said it was sad that South Africa had failed to talk against Mugabe’s excessive violence and gross abuse of human rights.

A human rights crusader in his own right, Tutu the icon of conscience in South Africa said that he believed that Zimbabweans felt let down by African leaders’ failure to castigate Mugabe about his excesses.

Already, the silence from the Mbeki government as well as the AU is being felt as an impediment to ridding Zimbabwe off Mugabe.

There is no doubt that Mugabe is a great freedom fighter and he also helped ANC in fighting apartheid. But his buffoonery should be accorded the seriousness it deserves and ANC shouldn’t fear to tell him to his face that what he is doing is wrong. They should make him accommodate the opposition. But then again, South Africa still has the Land Problem that has degenerated into chaos in Zimbabwe. When you add the twin issues of Land and support to ANC in the 80’s, then South Africa’s silence sort of (I repeat, sort of), makes sense!

And Tutu will be at it again to the silent chagrin of the ANC and South African Freedom Heroes.

Notable absence to Tutu’s beef is Mugabe’s burlesque retorts to anyone who speaks against him.

The man may still harbors respect for Tutu.

In another surprise, Zimbabwe has narrowly been voted in as the chair to the UN Environment Commision
May 17, 2007
10:17
THE MAKERERE REPORT
» ‎ assidous

The commission that was appointed by Museveni to look at the fees hike at Makerere and other universities in Uganda is now out.

The commission unearthed corruption, embezzlement of funds, bad governance as well as commercilsation of education at East Africa’s premier education faculty now aged 85.

The 35pg dossier also cites lack of professionals to an extent that some faculties are managed by assistant lecturers instead of full professors. The report also adds that the accounting processes used are archaic creating loopholes for embezzlement. There was also a difference noted in the budget and the report figures that couldn’t be accounted for.

The institution also failed to account for all the monies generated as income to the university and also failed to explain the lack of professionals as well as the internal strife in the leadership ranks.

There is an urgent need to address the problems facing this institution and Museveni’s act is a step in the right direction.

Makerere has an alumnus that reads like who is who of East African leadership to world academia that should all rally around the university and support this sleeping giant.

It would be a terrible thing to waste.
May 16, 2007
10:26
GAYS AND LESBIANS DECRY DISCRIMINATION
» ‎ assidous

The only gay association in Africa held a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. Note that this is the only country in Africa that has enshrined the gay rights and issues in its constitution.

The conference attended by 60 gay people issued a report to the effect that they had been observing keenly the dangers that were as a result of public policies being passed by African governments making the acts illegal.

According to them, if laws that were accommodative to them were passed, people would understand them more.

This blogger’s two cents worth of advice to them is this: Do that in South Africa for if you try anywhere else in Africa, trust me, you will be ran out of town if not put in the coolers. Beyond that, do it in pitch darkness!
May 15, 2007
10:06
NATION MEDIA LEARNING PROGRAMME
» ‎ assidous

East and Central Africa leading media house NMG has started a programme aimed at not only bringing professionalism in the media but one that will see that the media house has a constant and consistent supply of reliable human resource at their disposal. It will be used to expose university and college students to business and journalism for a period of one year. This is in line with NMG’s strategy to make it the Leading Media for Africa.

There will also be mentorship programmes carried out by senior editors as well as reporters.

Indeed, this is one way that the media house will revolutionise the industry in Kenya.

Amid the scandals surrounding the management, they have their priorities right.

The results of the venture will be seen in the coming years. Undoubtedly, this is a long term project.
May 14, 2007
10:29
WHY MUSIKARI IS KOMBO(KOMBO)!
» ‎ assidous

Imagine a situation in which a rapist is jailed for life then he goes ahead and refuses to go to jail then walks out majestically from the court precincts! Back to his home! Or in a worst case scenario, a murderer doing the same! Just imagine. What are we mere mortals to make of that? Shock? Surprise? Outrage, Outcry? Or what?

Now, let me bring your attention to the Kombo vs Taib. What is the difference with the above scenario? Absolutely nothing!

The highest court in the land ordered Kombo to gazette the reinstatement of Taib as the Mayor of Mombasa. In front of cameras without an iota of shame, he says he will disobey the order! Again, what’s the difference with the above scenario? None, according to this blogger.

If a Cabinet Minister can shamelessly ridicule a court order just because it has passed a verdict against him, what are we the holloi polloi to take about that? How would he have reacted if Shitanda had disobeyed the order reinstating him as the Chairman of the Ford K party? He would have appealed the decision of the court! Why he failed to ask for another appeal beats all logic.

As the sensible politician he has always tried to project himself to be, this time, he has gone overboard, stooped too low and lost credibility. Evidently, he can’t say that he is a democrat because my little understanding of democracy is that it is about the rule of law. But then again, after December 31st, 2002, it has become just mere talk. Ignoring court orders with impunity is the standard procedure by the Cabinet members.

The ball is now in the Judiciary’s court. Annul the Mayoral elections and institute contempt of court proceedings against Kombo. Then, at least some sanity may prevail and he may serve as a lesson to other government officials who may be harbouring such intentions! Failure to that, we are playing with fire and we will get burnt.
0:26
EQUITY OUTDOES ITSELF AGAIN
» ‎ assidous

From its humble beginnings in the 80’s in Central Province to its listing at the NSE, one thing is clear, that Equity has indeed come a long way. It’s also true that this is one stock to watch in the financial segment of NSE, and a good bet for short to long term growth.

The recently released financial report attests to this. Have a Look:

Pretax profit Ksh176M to Ksh503M up 186%,
Income from commissions & fees Ksh336M to Ksh673M,
Operating Income Ksh611M to Ksh1.17B up 92%,
Customer Deposits Ksh9.4B to Ksh20.2B up 112%,
Customer Accounts 668,449 to 1.15M accounts – 30% of all accounts in Kenya.
Loans and Advances Ksh7.1B to Ksh13.8B
Overhead Expenses Ksh434M to Ksh667M due to salary adjustments & additional staff.

The bank was in the last week rated by GCR of South Africa and had its long term upgrading in Kenya Shilling to A+ from A and Short term upgrading to Single A1 from A1(-).

In the last week, Equity has opened branches in Diani, Mombasa and Malindi.

Clearly, this is the bank to watch.
April 05, 2007
23:52
KARIBU KENYA VIRGIN ATLANTIC
» ‎ assidous

On the 2^nd of June, Virgin Atlantic touched down at JKIA at 0605Hrs from London Heathrow. Aboard it were the Kenyan team accompanied by its CEO, Sir Richard. It brings real competition to one of the most competitive and lucrative rotes out of JKIA. Among Its competitors here will be BA and our very own KQ! From me, its KARIBU VIRGIN!

Safaricom CEO doesn’t miss a chance to get into the mix, he has already patnered with Virgin to fund the Mt. Kenya Elephant Corridor project to the tune of Ksh66M for a period 10YRS!

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