Two Smoke-free Years

Today is the 2nd anniversary since I stopped smoking. 24 months. .........Yipeeeee!!!! I started smoking in 1990 and only stopped in the early part of 2005. In those fifteen years I estimated that at the average rate of five sticks a day, I lit up as many as 27,300 cigarettes or 1365 twenty-stick packets. These are not pretty figures and bring nothing but misery and regret to my mind. How could I have been so stupid? Was I deaf to all the facts and reason around me? Anyway, on a chilly March morning two years ago, I finally found the resolve and will to break away from the shackles of nicotine addiction. It did not take too much effort and in retrospect, it seems all the time and effort I had put into a thousand and one attempts to break, may have amounted to nothing. Granted that I am not a very impulsive decision maker and that I usually plan an action in my mind before I can actually do it; I think that the morning of 22nd march was just a culmination of a long process. I had stopped smoking in my mind so many times and all I needed was just a single step in that direction. Though I puffed away without care, deep down I was in turmoil. I hated very many things about smoking. I hated being reduced to a sneaky character who was always on the look out for an opportunity to smoke at the office, in family gatherings. Always on the lookout and anticipating, hoping no one will be offended. I had so many reasons to stop. My mother was one of the reasons. She had prayed and prayed that I would kick the habit. She never gave up on me. She was the happiest person in the world. My wife had also picked my mother’s cue and was on my case. At work I had a trusted coterie of fellow smokers that had accepted its fate of being thrown out of the building and being forced in to the parking lot where we met at least twice in the day to indulge and chat. Another major reason and which broke my heart into small pieces was once when my two year old son picked old filters from the flower bed at our home and started proudly imitating my smoking to a full living room. Hey, you laugh it off, but deep down it nags you. What example was I setting to my kids? Their propensity to emulate anything I did was obvious and high since I was their first port of call in their socialization journey. I am not an extrovert, but I am surrounded by the very best exponents of the touchy-feely philosophy in my social circle. When you are a smoker, you become conscious that your breath and stale tobacco in your clothing may offend people around you. Your clothes absorb and retain smoke like they were a magnet. Adults are hypocritical, but when you deal with children who have no inhibitions or favours needed, then you should expect some blunt truths coming your way. It’s with this in mind that I recall my disdain and dislike for the society peacocks seeking to plant pecks on my cheek. For fear of offending them with my stale smoke odour, over years I developed a defense amour that included obstructing them with an overstretched hand and a stern business look on the face. The romance department also suffers from the excesses of smoking. However deep a ladies feeling for a man are, a smokers kiss does not rank very highly in anyone’s romantic-things-to-do list. On the health front, being slightly overweight and a dedicated smoker was double jeopardy for my health. A recent article in the Standard newspaper bares it all as follows:- Giving up smoking has instant benefits.

Within 20 minutes, blood pressure and pulse fall

Within two hours, lung airways relax, making it easier to breath, and the volume of air our lungs can hold increases

Within eight hours, carbon monoxide levels drop to normal and the oxygen levels go back up to normal

Within 24 hours there is a significant reduction in the risk for heart attack

Within 48 hours, damaged nerve endings start to regenerate, so the senses of smell and taste become stronger

Within 1-3 months, lung function and circulation improve significantly

Within five years, the risk of lung cancer is the same as that of a person who has never smoked

Smoking also causes financial strain as it is an unnecessary expense. I look back with pride at my victory over nicotine, but it is hard to ignore the scars and bruises that the habit leaves behind like stained teeth and unseen damage to the lungs and arteries. Although there is a comforting body of research findings indicating that as soon as you stop, your stains are forgiven and your tired lungs are on the way to regaining their innocence, it is not easy to forget the sooty past. If you are a smoker and trying to quit, don’t give up. One day you will gather round enough resolve to make this very personal decision. Its your lungs, your health your life, your decision. Take control for you. For me this second anniversary is no mean feat and I look forward to another thirteen years to even out the fifteen year damage.

Coin collecting as a hobby for my son Gregory

My almost 8-year-old son Gregory is at a stage in life when he is impressionable and his recreation time and activities seem to be driven by a strong desire to outdo anything his friends or classmates can come up with. This usually includes nagging requests for visits to the trendy shopping malls of Nairobi, go-karting, eating out experiences and even visits to exotic locales during the holidays, etc.

With this in mind, I decided to try and introduce him to recreational activities and hobbies that can add value to his life and be a talking point of his life away from the narrow materialistic interests he has been exposed to so far.

An internet search for appropriate hobbies for a 7 to 8-year-old took me to places and activities that would not be practical in our country, city or neighbourhood. So, without fishing, roller-skating, sledding, ice-skating and water skiing on the list, I was reduced to games, magic, pets, camping, kites, cooking and collecting. I took a fancy for collecting as a possible activity to augment all the other activities that I listed as possible activities season, funds and time allowing.

Since collecting can be done from the comfort of our home and all year round, I spent some time thinking of something collectable. Coins were furthest from my mind, but a visit to my mum’s and an accidental look into a drawer with mementos from my past, yielded a mathematical set I once owned full of coins. That container had passed from my possession to my younger brother after the interest had worn off. That was how I decided to introduce Gregory to coin collecting.

Having retrieved the coins, Greg was ready for his newest hobby and in the family tradition, he would ensure safe keeping and nourishing for posterity. It contained 106 coins from 25 different countries (Uganda, Tanzania (41), Rwanda, Burundi, UK (12), USA (3), UAE, Belgium, Austria, South Africa, Botswana, Germany, Canada, Yugoslavia, Mauritius, Italy, India, France, Australia, China, Zambia, Holland, Zimbabwe, Portuguese Republic of Mozambique and Kenya (5).

On the strange and freaky front, there is also a 5 Ugandan shilling telephone token, some Kenyan 10 cents shaped into the 7-sided 5-shilling coin. There is also a 5 cent coin cut and painted in silver obviously to pass it off as a 1 shilling silver coin. I have contributed the new 40-shilling 40^th independence anniversary coin because it qualifies as a collectable in view of its commemorative and rare pedigree.

On the unknown front, I have about ten coins that require some homework, either because they are in a script unknown to me or their lower denomination is unknown for now. I will help the young man to decipher them, which should be interesting for both of us. There is a Quest-Africaine coin which is not attributed to any country- me thinks it’s from some currency federation. More homework.

Gregory took to the coin-collecting hobby like a fish in water. He was fascinated by my brother’s story on how we came to so many coins (we used to run a kiosk and our customers would try to pass the coins as genuine Kenyan currency. Some we caught, some got the better of us. Our experiences at the kiosk were nothing short of life transforming and insightful- a story for another day).

On his request, I have also bought him an atlas to help him locate countries of the world. Every once in a while after he is done with his homework, he will pull the coins out for us to discuss one coin, denomination or country of origin in details. We are learning a lot of history, geography, politics and economics as we discuss the collection. He wants to know why Queen Elizabeth’s portrait is on more than one country’s coins. That leads us to the story of the British Commonwealth, etc.

Lately he is also coming up with creative ways of increasing the size and variety of the collection. For instance the other day he attended a friend’s birthday party and got promises of coins from Ghana and Maldives from two boys whose fathers are working in those countries. Although I did not openly enthuse, I was glad that his hobby is something he finds worthy of discussing with his age mates.

I have already vowed to seek the pre-independence (British East Africa ) coins that used to have a hole in the middle. There was a time when they were freely available around. I will also talk to friends and colleagues traveling to different corners of the world to contribute to our hobby. How about embassies? Pen pals? What about taxi and tour guides who interact with visiting friends? How about the internet? Blogging rings like KBW could also come in handy. I think it will be an interesting journey for my boy…and the boy in me!

Kenya’s own Stephen Covey

Mr. Eric Kimani (www.erickimani.org , www.palmhousefoundation.org ) who is the CEO of Sameer Africa, has previously worked for KTDA, Williamson Tea, C. Dorman, Morrison Products and Daweto/Group Four Security. He is a member of Baraka, an investment club of prominent Kenyans structured on the now oft-emulated Trans Century model. He also sits on numerous Boards as well as running Palmhouse Foundation, one of the most successful local trusts specializing in offering poor students scholarships all over the country.

Amongst his hobbies is public speaking, but having heard him speak on a number of occasions, I believe he needs to brand himself as a Motivational Speaker and not a mere lover of public speaking. He is one of the few Kenyan public figures who are not afraid to think outside the box and say it. I believe he is on his way to authoring the first homegrown motivational and management book. Below is a speech he delivered to the Kenya Institute of Bankers, Mombasa Chapter on 1st December 2006. Motivational as ever. ”The Abundance versus the Scarcity Mentality in Professional Development and Growth When the Kenya Institute of Bankers, Coast chapter invited me to come and speak to you they gave me ample notice. One would therefore imagine that it is very easy to have chosen what to speak about- It is not!, I thought for weeks what it is that I can speak to you that would add value both ways away from the usual advise you might find in the newspaper. But I continually drew a blank. Then I thought to myself why not be controversial and speak about something as basic as how our mentality affects our professional careers. I decided to talk about how our attitudes and mentality affect our career growth or stagnation- The Abundance versus Scarcity mentality. Let us start with some long winded definitions; What is an abundance mentality- this is a deep belief that there is enough for all- enough work, enough jobs enough resources. It is living with a favor-minded attitude. One can define it also as optimism. Seeing the glass half full rather than half empty. Thinking big and expecting big. I will draw very many examples which I seek your indulgence if they sound like self-praise- they are only meant to help clarify the message. I recently led a group of some passionate Kenyans in a charity fundraising. Some of them thought I was out of my mind to suggest that we can ask Kenyans to donate Ksh. 7m. This initiative realized close to 12m! The barriers are in our minds and we will not go beyond the barriers in our minds. By contrast the scarcity mentality is a belief that your success will imply someone else's failure; that there are scarce resources and if you get them you must deny someone else; that there is scarcity of jobs; that the cake is not enough and I must grab my share. The scarcity mentality is one of our biggest problems in this country today with politicians believing that they have gone to parliament to ensure get the largest share of the national cake for "their people/electorate" . This was also epitomized lately by a senior executive friend of mine whom I approached in September to donate money to the national charity cause I referred to above that incidentally helps more people from his village than anywhere else in Kenya. He responded that he could not help because they have a similar initiative to help his village. His scarcity mentality- that there is not enough for his village and the national initiative blinded him in seeing that he could achieve what he is doing for the village in a more far-reaching manner. So much for the definitions. I hope to show you by the end of my talk that the difference between successful people and the less successful is largely their mentality of abundance or of scarcity. - People with an abundance mentality have an internal security based on a principled centered living. Their value system is self-anchored. They are not too worried of saying/doing the wrong thing because they ordinarily talk from a point of truth. This frees their mind to bigger/better thoughts because they have nothing to cover. What they said yesterday is what they will repeat today without contradiction. This internal security enhances their humility. It allows them to enjoy professional freedom. They can choose what they want to do. By contrast people with a scarcity mentality seek their validation from groups. They will rarely want to take action on their own. The group must validate what they do. To draw an example from my own career, I have left employment 3 times in the last decade and at no time have I ever felt that there would be scarcity of opportunities. I believe strongly that there is something better out there awaiting you to discover. I have always relied on my sense of internal security to anchor myself. Do not owe your employment to your boss's favor or anyone for that matter. Believe you are the best there is and you will work towards it and become it! People with an abundance mentality seek solitude and enjoy nature. By taking time out in solitude and nature, you allow yourself to access your deepest thoughts and hence your human spirit with which we are all equally endowed. Most successful people I know will take time out to reflect. I try to take a solitary one or two night retreat away from family and work once every year and try and access my human spirit. You have to experience it to believe it. It re-energizes you. People with an abundance mentality keep their mind and body tuned through wide reading and exercise. It is a pity that most of us stop reading on graduating. Most successful people read voraciously- they are in sync with what is going on around them. They are current. They do not spend an hour reading newspapers or watching TV but will spend hours reading the latest management thoughts for example. I try to read as many books in year as I can. I have tried to keep fit for over 10 years and my wife who is my jogging and walking partner can attest to that- we call exercise our lifeline! Without the mental and physical fitness we would not have survived the vagaries of disease and the challenges of everyday life! People with an abundance mentality serve others. Like one writer put it and I quote "Service is the only rent to pay for the privilege of living in this world" Are you paying or are you robbing the landlord? Service enhances internal security and fuels the abundance mentality- at the beginning of this year I pledged to donate ksh. 2m to a cause....I chair the Disciplinary committee of the Accountants; I chair Help Age Kenya, I chair The Palmhouse Foundation among many others. Nothing gives me greater joy! People ask me where I get the time- some of my friends have asserted that I have a 25-hour day! I tell people you have time for what you value. An abundance mentality gives you time and opportunity to serve others. People with an abundance mentality let those below them grow and hence give themselves the opportunity to grow even faster and higher. I keep saying to people that if you are good at what you do, the only place those who want your job can push you is upwards. They work with the best minds. They seek out those who are better than them! A scarcity mentality tells you it is dangerous to let your junior became as good or better than you- nothing could be further from the reality! My career success would not be what it is without those who worked under me. People with an abundance mentality know when to get out before they get stale. I have left some of my previous jobs as soon as I realized that my best was no longer good enough. Some of us stay too long on jobs we do not enjoy hoping that our boss will get out of the way sooner! My advise to professionals who do not enjoy what they do is - for heavens sake move on elsewhere! At one time I left a job that was so well paying at the time that my wife thought I was crazy- You cannot excel where you do not enjoy! People with an abundance mentality have a long term view of life and hence are visionaries- they are able to see what many cannot discern. They create uncharted territories. This is because they already believe everything is possible- How many times have you wondered how come that many times that successful guy/lady is ultimately right? Many say he/she knew what they were doing. The truth is that such people operate from a paradigm of abundance. People with an abundance mentality are problem solvers and are hence popular with their superiors. They provide unusual solution to problems. They are able to separate people from the problems. They attract others into the team with their sincerity. I lead many volunteer teams in very successful initiatives. I love looking for the third alternative to problems and hence my popularity with employers. The scarcity mentality on the other tells us we should not stick our necks out and should remain as passive followers. People with an abundance mentality are courageous. One must however remember that courage is not to absence of fear but more the mastery of fear. I have experienced fear in my life- I cannot for example remember anything as fearful as changing jobs. A friend of mine told me recently that a herd of sheep led by a lion will defeat a pack of lions led by a sheep! The courage to take action is one of the greatest attributes of great leaders. Courage is a consequence of the abundance mentality. People with an abundance mentality understand and respect the law of the Farm or the law of the harvest. They know how/when to forego immediate gratification in favor of delayed and long term satisfaction. They appreciate that you will reap what you planted! They understand the need to prepare the ground, plant, weed, water and tend before you can harvest. They are not moved by peer pressure. I still marvel at some of my friends who I grew up with who tried to violate the law of the harvest - they are or have already paid dearly for this. Imagine if at the age of 18 you have your own chauffeur driven Mercedes? What would you be working for at 50? Does it surprise us that many of our kids are on drugs? We have not exposed them to the law of the farm! Those who do not know me for example may not know the painstaking effort I have put in my career, like many of you, to get where I am today- seven years ago I was still studying! I still take time today to learn new technology and read widely to keep myself relevant. An abundance mentality reinforces the law of the harvest. The scarcity mentality fools us that we can cheat the law of the harvest and short-circuit it- it never works! People with an abundance mentality are passionate about everything they take up- They live their short lives in greater harmony than mediocre people. They are ordinarily positive about much in life and this seem to produce a self-fulfilling prophecy of success. When they see a mountain they think of how best to climb it and not about the dangers of climbing. They see opportunity where others see no hope. An instructive story is told of two shoe salesmen sent to Africa to see what opportunities there were. One came back saying he was disappointed that there was no market for shoes because the natives do not wear shoes. They other came back and saying there was a huge opportunity because the natives do not have shoes! Professionals with an abundance mentality treat whatever they take on as a project. A project to be executed so well that it guarantees extension or another project. I like reminding people that like Tom Peters, the great management guru keeps telling us - the life of indentured servitude is over! You must treat your job as a project to be executed meticulously and create a brand name for yourself in the banking industry and believe me before long people will be looking for you to do other lucrative projects. From Tom Peters masterpiece "the Circle of Innovation) in 1998, I discovered this ground breaking truth that convinced me to leave my job then and never to be employed again! Every work I do is a project. I endeavor to complete my projects successfully. I will endeavor to finish my Sameer/Yana project as successfully as possible. I will give it my best. Some projects will take longer than others but this does change the fact that they are projects. I appeal to all of us present to stop considering ourselves as permanent employees- the 21st century has no place for this! Only successful team players working on deliverable and measurable projects will survive the white collar revolution! If you are under 40 and hoping to retire in your current job, then something is wrong with your project! Seriously re-examine your options. If there is one industry that has been the victim of change and technology, it is banking! More retrenchment has been seen in this sector that any other I know- and in my view we have not scratched the surface!! Learn how to be a project contractor - there is no longer room for employees in the 21st century! I would like to conclude my talk with a favorite quotation often wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela but is actually by Marriane Williamson and I quote; "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God.Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson I hope you have enjoyed my talk. Thank you and God bless you. Eric”

Emali-Loitoktok Road and your next kachumbari dish

Four decades after we attained independence, the South Kajiado hinterland of Loitoktok and home to the red onion, can shortly be accessed via a bitumen standard road (tarmac); according to a tender appearing in the local dailies. The 100 kilometer road operationally known as C102, starts from Emali Township on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and ends at the Loitoktok Border. I once used this road in the nineties and the memory of the born-jarring rock-strewn trail are as vivid today as they were the five hours we used to reach Kimana Sanctuary on the fringes of the Amboseli/Mzima eco-system. Driving a Nissan van on that road made us feel like we had inappropriately dressed in jeans and t-shirts to a formal dinner! Every one of the very few and scattered vehicles we saw on that road, was either an old battered Land Rover bearing farm produce or an equally weather-beaten lorry. Boulders with a six inch diameter pave the full length, rendering the drive on15 inch tires to an awkward dance akin to a bare feet walk over smoldering charcoal. I don’t know the history of the road and whether politicians have used it as a bait to get elected, but I know that some very fertile farmland on the foothills of the mighty Kilimanjaro was turned into valueless patches of ochre colored soil. I also know that Kimana Group Ranch has the most compelling tourist product in the form of the Kimana Sanctuary. The weather in this region is the most ideal for red onions, and I know Kenya will get the veggie cheaply if the road opens up the hinterland. The livestock farmers will also gain as will the residents of the border town from whatever products there are on the other side. I look forward to my repeat visit to Kimana, maybe attempt an ascent of the Kilimanjaro, maybe drive into Tanzania through Namanga and out at Loitoktok or explore the Chyulus from the Loitoktok end. I am exited by new roads. The construction of one is an exercise in patience, but when you know that the end product will be like (see picture), holding your bated breath, crossing your fingers and hoping is easily done for the 24 months it may take to complete this road.

A birthday potrait from 1930's

I got the attached tattered photo from family archives the other day and would not have thought much about it until the finer details of the occasion were brought forth.

Some background information would be good at this juncture- My grandpa , Joe (3rd right) was born approximately in 1907 and died in 1953 at the age of 45. He had seven wives and tens of children. Majority of his kids (my uncles and aunts) were born on the mid to late 1940's and a few in the first three years of 1950's decade.

By way of a career, he was a court clerk and may have quicky learnt his bosses' ways because he owned a bicycle, a few buses (with his three friends) and a stone house complete with a "bathtub". The bathbub was my first source of fascination with grandpa Joe- it was actually a three-feet partitioning of his bathroom which two of my grandmas had to fill with warm water for his bath every morning. Another wife would push his bike to the road ( a few kilometres away), while yet another would be carrying his work shoes, coat and a three-legged stool. My grandfather and his butler (for lack of a word to describe his foreman) would follow behind and on reaching the road, proceed to dress by the roadside and depart for work on his bike. The same party would form a reception committee to met him whenever he came back from his posting.

He was such a colourful character, but he was not destined to live to his old age. He was survived by at least five of his wives, who helped us paint a mental potrait of Grandpa Joe over the years. Only one grandma survives today.

Back to the picture (guesstimated to have been taken around 1935), the occasion was the birthday for his firstborn daughter and child (centre, front row) accompanied by his first and then only wife Grandma Isabel (3rd left and holding a baby) and a bunch of his friends, agemates and villagemates. Who would have thought that our ancestors would have thought much of a birthday!

Taking such a photo was definitely a herculian task. To start with, the studio was probably in a local town some 50 kilometres away. There was no tarmac and for their dressing to remain so clean and in place, some effort must have been put into it. Notice the polka dotted ties and kerchiefs. Mind you this was over 70 years ago.

I hope to find more of these photos next time I go to the village and gather more anecdotes on the lives they led. Would you believe that I have in my possesion Grandpa Joe's Driving Licence from 1953!

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Tuamke Tafadhali

I have taken a few days break from work and I am spending the time on a small mjengo project as well as trying to develop a lawn. Being largely on site, my days are very long, but the nights are shortened by the fact that I am not undergoing very tasking long hours in the day. That is not exiting news. What made my week was the sudden discovery that I can surf on my mobile in the comfort of my backyard (right under the fruit tree!). Thanks to Safaricom's WAP, I am checking on the latest feeds into KBW at least twice in a day. I suddenly dont need to read newspapers or magazines. All this, wireless too! I am still trying to read my emails under the tree to really complete the revolution for me. I know there is alot that has been said about the power that wireless communications can put into our hands. The fact that I can now enjoy banking services, surf the internet, keep in touch online, talk to the world all from one hand held gadget is BIG for me. I am not the tech-savvy type (am contented being behind the steering wheel and away from under the bonnet), but I am alive to the potential that these developments have for our developing country. I dont expect GoK to sit up to THAT potential, but I have faith in our budding ICT industry and SME & Corporate Kenya's ability to harness that potential and help generate some tidy business. This morning I read in one of the papers about the lagging behind in our region in terms of connectivity to the rest of the world. We might be the only part of the world that has not been linked by undersea fibre-optic cable to the rest of the world. We spend time procastinating on whether the multi-nation's EAssy or the private Emirates' initiatives are the best for us; while behind the scenes, we are loosing call centre business to other countries. Tuamke Tafadhali.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) reaches Nairobi

With 148 deaths so far, RVF is no longer a distant irritation to be ignored, but a threat that needs to be tackled with all the might that the government can muster. I am not sure at what stage this pandemic gets classified as a National Disaster(or whatever other lower or higher ratings there are for catastrophes), but once it hits Nairobi, you can be sure that GoK will come out with the guns blazing. It bothers me that, so long as such an outbreak is confined to marginal Kenya (North Eastern, parts of Eastern, parts of Coast and Rift Valley), the perception is one of events taking place in a foreign land and therefore distant and removed from the real "Kenya"! The media seems only interested in the effects the disease will have on the ubiquitous nyama choma business. I havent heard, seen or read much on prevention or diagnosis. I was therefore pleasantly suprised when I received the e-mail below with information on the disease. Have you ever heard of Disease Outbreak Management Unit (DOMU) ? Neither have I, but it sure is gratifying to know that someone at Afya House is paid to protect my family and I from disease outbreaks. "RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) WHAT IS RIFT VALLEY FEVER? Rift Valley Fever is a disease which primarily affects animals, but occasionally causes disease in humans. It may cause disease in both animals and humans leading to a lot of deaths. WHAT CAUSES RIFT VALLEY FEVER? This is caused by a virus which was first isolated in 1930 in the Rift Valley of Kenya. HAS THERE BEEN AN OUTBREAK OF RVF BEFORE IN KENYA? During the El Nino of 1997/1998, there was a major outbreak in Kenya. A similar outbreak was reported in 1951. WHICH OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM? Similar outbreaks have been reported in other countries e.g. Egypt & Senegal – 1993, Somalia – 1997/8, Saudi Arabia and Yemen – 2000. HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED AMONG ANIMALS? · RVF virus is primarily spread amongst animals by the bite of infected mosquitoes. · Many types of animals may be infected with RVF, including cattle, sheep, camels and goats. HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED FROM ANIMALS TO HUMANS? 1. Direct contact with infected animals or infected products e.g. blood, milk, meat etc. 2. Through the bites of mosquitoes which may have fed on infected animals. (Many different species of mosquitoes e.g. Aedes, Culex, even Anopheles are vectors for the RVF virus). IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF EPIDEMICS OF THE DISEASE? Yes, as is happening now in North Eastern Province, and can happen in other areas following the introduction of the virus where these vectors are present. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN THIS CURRENT OUTBREAK SO FAR? By 5th January 2007, the reported cases are 188 with 68 deaths, in the districts of Garissa, Tana River, Wajir, Kilifi and Ijara. DO PEOPLE GET SICK IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE BITTEN BY THE MOSQUITOES? No, it may take 2-6 days before they start showing signs/symptoms of the disease. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE? This may include: - o sudden onset high body temperature (fever) o headache o muscle pain o backache o vomiting · In severe cases, one may get; o eye disease o meningitis (meningo-encephalitis) inflammation of the brain and surrounding tissue o bleeding tendencies (such as vomiting blood, passing blood in the faeces, bleeding in the skin and bleeding from the gums). HOW DO WE DIAGNOSE THE DISEASE? · Clinical presentation · Blood tests are used for confirmation. HOW DO WE TREAT THE PATIENTS? · The mainstay of treatment is general supportive therapy. HOW DO WE PREVENT AND CONTROL THIS DISEASE? · Avoiding contact with blood, body fluid or tissue of infected animals. · Use of insecticide treated nets and mosquito repellant to reduce contact with mosquitoes. · Indoor spraying with insecticides. · RVF can be prevented by a sustained program of animal vaccination. WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE SO FAR TO TACKLE THIS DISEASE? Distribution of over 100,000 insecticide treated nets is ongoing in North Eastern Province. Wide-scale insecticide spraying in affected area to reduce the increasing mosquito population following the recent floods. Supportive drugs and other medical supplies have been distributed to the affected district for management of suspected cases. Health educations on early recognition of the disease as well as its prevention and control measures have been stepped up. Additional health and veterinary officers have been mobilized and are on the ground helping in the control efforts. The vaccines for animal vaccination are available in the country, and an animal vaccination programme will be on as from 8th January 2007. Quarantine for animal movement has been imposed in North Eastern Province. Home slaughtering of animals for the coming Muslim festival has been banned, and they can only slaughter at abattoirs where they can be inspected under strict hygienic conditions. CASE DEFINITIONS FOR SUSPECTED RIFT VALLEY FEVER – DRAFT 2 Suspected Case · Any person presenting with fever of acute onset (>37.50C) with any of the following symptoms:- Headache, muscle and joint pains · In a patient where other causes of acute febrile illness such as malaria have not been identified as a cause since 1st December 2006. Probable Case · Any person presenting with fever of acute onset (>37.50C) with unexplained bleeding tendencies (bloody stool, vomiting blood, coughing blood, bleeding from gums, nose, vagina, skin or eyes) or deterioration of vision or decreased consciousness. Confirmed Case · A suspected or probable case with Laboratory confirmation of Rift Valley Fever by ELISA (anti-RVFV IgM) or PCR. For more information contact: Disease Outbreak Management Unit (DOMU) Ministry of Health Headquarters Telephone : 254 020 2718292 Fax: 254 020 2720533 Information Source: (DOMU, MoH) MESSAGE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH"

These Kenyans! Part III

We have just been awakened to an epidemic disaster spreading in the North Eastern Province.The US government, having patiently observed for a month at the lax response exhibited by the government’ to the Rift Valley Fever (RVF), has decided to step in to avert further spread. At least 85 people in the province are now known to have died from Rift Valley Fever, while health experts from the Atlanta based Center for Disease Control (CDC) are warning that the viral disease is spreading south into Coast Province.- Job Obonyo in a Commentry. (Kenya Times 17th January 2007) Chiru Ngige has an answer for Andrew Okondo who said that Kenyan women no longer walk with an elegant gait, their hands held at an angle. Says she: “Andrew may well want to consider the fact that women in Nairobui are today too busy guarding their handbags to walk with their “arms at an angle”. Even the men have lost their elegance, spitting and relieving themselves in the streets, Why not have a go at them as well?”- Cutting Edge Column (Daily Nation 17th January 2007) A British national was yesterday fined Shs. 50,000 by Kibera magistrate Margaret Kasera for causing the death of a pedestrian by careless driving. In default, John Clifford Downing, 59, will serve a three year prison term. He was convicted of knocking down Eston Ombima after losing control of his car on January 31, 2005 at 11:25 am on Langata Road. - (People Daily 18th January, 2005) The war against drug abuse and illicit brew in general is far from being won. Law enforcers seem to be going for the barons and pushers while ignoring the small-scale users. In the recent past there has been cases of drugs like cannabis sativa being used on a large-scale at Kenya National Theatre, which is a base for many smokers who have even gone the extra mile to sustain the supply by planting the “weed” right outside the theatre as our picture (colour photo of the luxuriant weed with KNT blurred in the background) shows. Central Police Station is only a stone throw-away- Eduardo Lama (People Daily 19th Janaury 2007) After three-and-a-half years of oversight from the Anglican Church of Kenya in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, along with other congregations, have put in a request to Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya to open more dioceses in southern USA. Archbishop Nzimbi, who visited the church over the weekend, received the petition from the church before it was posted on the church’s website for support across the USA- (People Daily 19th Janaury 2007)

Sideshows: Wanjiru and her glory need help.

The Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Vs. Kamangu saga has kept Kenyans on the edge for the past few days with no signs of abating soon. In a show of further naivety on Wednesday, the Bishop and her overzealous minders stoked the fire more by roughing up a journalist soon after stage-managing an electric blackout that marked the end of a press conference she had called. In sections of the media, she has earned the negative tags of “witch-turned-preacher” and “multi-millionaire Bishop”, which will not help her win more souls for the Good Lord. The last few months have seen the Bishop make numerous appearances on TV talk shows and print media interviews in an obvious well choreographed publicity charade to woo potential voters outside her regular church audience. I imagine in cognizance of our society’s sensitivity to unmarried women leaders (Wangari Maathai could not shake the tag of a divorcee during her presidential campaign in 1997), Wanjiru thought roping in a husban in would improve her respectability and improve her chances of taking the glory train up the road to Parliament Road. In an interview with Swaleh Mdoe on KTN a while back, she feigned knowledge of who the father of her children was; in retrospect, it was not a very bright thing to do as vox pop says it denotes promiscuity. Elsewhere she branded the imaginery father of her two sons a drunkard. On realizing that Kenya did not take kindly of her unsavoury remarks from the pulpit last Sunday, I was hoping she would quickly want to quieten things somewhat by say, faxing a statement to newsrooms with her sincere apology and going away for three weeks to kill interest in her. The Kenyan news editor will not send a reporter to Gachie to fish for a story. No way. He sends a reporter armed with a verbatim account of everything that the Bishop said (a bit of roiko can be added for flavour) and seeks his reaction. This back and forth diatribe of “enda umwambie mimi nimesema…” can go on forever until one of the parties sobers up to the reality. Of course the two proponents have divided Kenya right in the middle depending on what page of this saga you are on. There is a page on family values and who a father needs to be. Can you just donate sperm, move on and still demand the title “father”? The traditionalist are happy to argue that once you sire, the title “father” cannot be taken away even when you did not contribute to parenting. There is a page of on religion. The traditional church must be rejoicing at the damage the Bishop is doing to the credibility of the new-age televangelists that she represents. For the not-so-religious, this saga is a whip to use against the materialistic tendency of the new-age evangelists. Some said that the day your man/woman of God acquired body guards was the day the thin line between a shepherd’s humility and celebrity-like status became blurred. Others see the unseen hand of the sitting Starehe MP, Hon. Kamanda, but I think in the true wisdom of the Indian proverb- “sit on the bank of a river and wait: your enemy’s corpse will soon float by”, Kamanda must be enjoying the spectacle from his riverbank. Another angle that is captivating the masses is the obvious dread and phobia that Wanjiru has of her poverty-ridden past. Iin a country with over 80% of the population living on the wrong side of wealth, her “jiggers” remark was met with bewilderment and sides were easily taken. As a nation, we also seem to see ourselves in the underdog and in every debate, we end up siding with the side that ably acts out their weaknesses and vulnerability: with the exception of the English Premier league in which we only support the top five teams! Back to the woes of our Bishop; last night she made another suicidal move by not showing up for Julie Gichuru’s On the Spot talk show. If she ever desired sympathy, this was her best chance. Julie would have handled her in the most humane motherly manner possible at no cost to her and her flock. From here on, she truly is on her own. She was declared to have gone underground immediately. So you can imagine the anticipation her “surfacing” will cause. This morning there is new (self-incriminating) evidence all over the airwaves, from her own recorded sermons that will do her cause no good. My professional advice as a Communicator: Go to Kamangu (without attracting crowds) and apologize to him and his parents. Record that visit. Show humility as you address Kamangu. You may wish to be accompanied by your children. Ask him to let you go South and assure him that the fact that he is your children’s biological father cannot be changed. Wish him well in his new life. Remember the gripe Kenyans have with you is because you keep apologizing to them and not to the guy they perceive as the victim. Ensure that you have a basket of goodies (bread, tea leaves, sugar, cooking fat, flour, etc) for Kamangu’s mother. Go home and wait for Kamangu to tell the world that your domestics are sorted. Postpone the wedding for some time. Go on a holiday and let your Pastors run the show back at JIAM. Sit back and don’t open your mouth. This being an election year, there are ten sideshows just round the corner waiting for you to get out of the limelight. I hope this advice gets to you in time. Good luck.

These Kenyans! Part II

A Nyeri farmer who ordered villagers to kill his donkey after it bit him was yesterday offered another beast of burden by a well wisher. Mr. Peter Wachira, who regrets being the cause of his donkey’s death- his only source of income-will now buy another one, courtesy of Nairobi businessman Geoffrey Gachagua. Mr. Gachugua called the Nation’s Nyeri office after reading Mr. Wachira’s story in yesterday’s edition and offered him Sh. 10,000 to buy another donkey- (Daily Nation 3rd January 2007) Just two years after residents of Nyeri town called for tough measures to curb spiraling crime, they are now asking for a return of the old order. Thuggery, mugging, rape, car-jacking, drug abuse and other crime were rife before the police and the provincial administration imposed punitive steps on the town and the surrounding areas. This followed recommendations by the district liquor licensing court. Among the steps were an 11 pm curfew and a massive crackdown on hotels, night-spots and other businesses. It was music to the ears of crime-weary residents, but only in the beginning. Declining revenue and low-key revelry over the Christmas season has occasioned a rethink- (Daily Nation 4th January 2007) It’s goodwill to all people. On Thursday this week, a man who was once fondly known as Kiarie Muici (Kiarie the Thief) for his supposed links to the underworld was laid to rest. Among those who sent their messages of condolence to the family, friends and relatives of Joseph Kiarie Mbugua was VP Moody Awori who said Mbugua- whose underworld activities were whispered to be the stuff of myths and legend- was “a pioneer indigenous entrepreneur”. He said Mbugua would be remembered for his generosity and assistance to the needy. (Sunday Nation 7th January 2006) Residents of Weru village in Kinangop, Nyandarua District ushered in the New Year by feasting on two buffaloes that had strayed into one of their farms. Tired of calling for assistance from KWS officers’ every time the wild animals invaded their farms, the peasant farmers cornered the beasts and slaughtered them. However a 12-year-old boy was trampled by one of the buffaloes and an unknown number of people sustained minor injuries. Area MP, Mr. Waithaka Mwangi welcomed the move warning that this was the only way they could deal with the wild animals. “For a long time the KWS officers have failed to act,” he said. – (Saturday Standard 6th January 2007) Plans by a Chinese pharmaceutical company to put up a plant in Kenya to manufacture herbal medicines have been opposed. The National Council of Associations for Alternative Medicine and Research (NCAACMR) stated yesterday that the Chinese company is out to rob Kenya of its natural resource and asked the government to bar the firm from putting up the plant. Speaking at his office in Nairobi, NCAACMR national chairman Stephen Ondongo said the government should not allow foreigners to manufacture herbal medicine in the country, which local firms and individuals can easily produce.- (The People Daily 6th January 2007) Legislators from Nyanza and Western Kenya yesterday hit out at the East African Air (EAA) operator for reducing their Kisumu-Nairobi fare only at the emergence of a competitor. The MPs led by Migori legislator Charles Likowa accused EAA of conning passengers through inflated fares on Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret route and asked the company to refund part of the amount they charged travelers for the past one year. The lawmakers, who frequently use the company services, were reacting to the over 50 per cent reduction on return fares in the Nairobi-Kisumu route from Sh12, 000 to Sh6, 000.- (Kenya Times 9th January 2007)

Note:The italics are mine.

Of Memoirs, Biographies and Autobiographies of Prominent and not so Prominent Kenyans

There used to be a column in one of the newspapers or magazine titled “Stranger than Fiction” in the olden days, which made me a reality buff very early in life. Although I have devoured shelf-loads of fiction, my appetite for the real life has always been very high. No amount of fiction can match what factual accounts of real life can dish out. Fictional autobiographies are especially a delicacy because you can almost feel the author going all modest and humble in their accounts. There are no overstatements in this genre, just understatements. The best reading available is therefore about real people, real events and real places. For a long time, Kenyans were accused of being averse to telling their stories. There has been a glaring dearth of the thinking behind events and people that shaped the history of this nation. To date we have suffered from a one dimensional view of Kenyan history as told by the colonialist and their lackeys. The history of a people or nation is especially sweet when told from varying angles and by people of different persuasions. I remember a quote by some wise guy about how when men write their autobiographies, they are all modest, but when the history (the autobiography) of nations is written, modesty is thrown out of the window. For me, the year 2005 and 2006 will go down in memory as the period in our national life when the floodgates of memoir-land opened and it is therefore heart warming to note that suddenly our current and former politicians, professionals, clergy, activists and academia are jostling to tell their stories. I believe in the last six months or so, we have had at least one autobiographical book being launched every month. The most recent is former career civil servant Duncan Ndegwa’s Walking in Kenyatta Struggles, My Story, which vividly illustrated, on its first day of serialization in the Daily Nation, how the nation lost the road map to integrity when the founding “father” in the space of two tabloid pages apportioned from the public a farmhouse in Nyandarua, and excised public land in the Aberdare forest to farm tea. All this less than one year after we got our independence. That was the backdrop of my search online for any biographical writings on Kenyans. I was pleasantly surprised at how much is available. Yes it’s true that we have not been very visible, but there are enough books to keep an ardent reader busy with at least fifty titles that I came upon. Of course this being personal space, I choose to ignore many titles that did not fit my beliefs or gave uneducated and un-Kenyan perspectives or are for a younger audience. For a country that has no set and acceptable values and whose people love glorifying success by hook or crook, there is no shortage of colourful crooked characters whose lives; I have no interest in learning about. My views will however not stop the biggest thieves from cleaning their images and coming back to us as philanthropists per excellence. It is akin to going to the confession booth, spewing out your small dirty secrets and sins to the padre. He requests you to say your Hail Mary’s and all is forgiven! That is the extent of Kenyan’s forgiving and docile nature. As a country we have no way of giving these guys the collective middle finger. Some like reformed Kiriamiti who dabbled in literature after a life in crime, did not fit the bill. He had fictionalized his life in crime before realizing that an autobiographical account of his life in prison would settle the incredulous and enthusiastic applause he got from his audience. That is cashing in on one’s notoriety. I see this in the same light as the rest of the world saw OJ Simpson’s ill-fated attempt at fictionalizing his wife’s murder. I also note from recent press coverage, that Mark Too a.k.a. Bwana Dawa has also intimated that he will write his memoirs soon. I don’t look forward to reading this one. Kamlesh Pattni is also reported to have tried his hand in writing and will launch a 70-page book titled Leadership and Handling Conflict in Leadership co-authored with Tom Namwambah, a lecturer at Kenyatta University Harun Mwau, is in the fray and recently wrote” a 676-page Kamba Dictionary. The dictionary contains three parts i.e., a Kamba-English definitions, Kamba-Kamba definitions and English -Kamba definitions. A recent newspaper article described the author as “a household name in the Kenyan political and business community. Having once contested the presidency on the PICK party is a also a successful businessman in the clearing and forwarding industry, banking, supplies and sale of consumer products. He is a recipient of three presidential honours namely CBS, OGW and HSC. Apart from being a writer, Mwau is an accomplished marksman and ballistic expert.” Anyhow, I have compiled a list of books that I would love to have in my library and time allowing to read: -Unbowed- Wangari Mathai -Raila Odinga- An enigma in Kenyan politics by Babafemi Adesina Badejo -Bthwell Ogot- My footprints in the sands of time- An Autobiography -Koigi Wamwere I refuse to die – My journey for freedom -The Mediator- General Sumbeywo -Moi by Andrew Morton -Strong in the storms: Archbishop Manasses Kuria, A Biography by Musalia, Martha Wangari -Fighting without ceasing by Likimani, Muthoni -From simple to complex: The Journey of a Herds boy, an Autobiography of Joseph Mungai, -The will to succeed- Micah Cheserem -Walking in Kenyatta Struggles, My Story- Duncan Ndegwa -Unquiet: The Life and Times of Makhan Singh by Patel, Zarina -Cardinal Otunga: A Gift of Grace by Ogola, Margaret & Roche, Margaret -Karimi Nduthu: A Life in Struggle by Mau Mau Research Centre -Kenya: a prison notebook by Kinyatti wa Maina -Justice on trial: The Koigi Case Koigi wa Wamwere -Reflections of my life (From 1924 to 1996): A Memoir of a Retired Kenyan Member of Parliament- Malinda, Thomas -Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee by Zarina Patel -Nothing but the truth: The Story of a Surgeon with Four Wives, An Autobiography Dawood, Yusuf K. -Joseph Daniel Otiende by Peter Wanyande -GG Kariuki- Illusion of power (the) reflections on fifty years in Kenya politics -Joseph Muthee- Life as a Mau Mau Detainee I would also love to read these Americans since these particular books are intertwined with our country and people:- -Rogue Ambassador- Smith Hempstone -The Audacity of Hope- Barack Husein Obama -Dreams from my father: A Story of Race and Inheritance - Obama, Barack The online bookstore Africa Book Centre http://africabookcentre.com was a wonderful find in my search for biographies, autobiographies and memoirs of prominent Kenyans. Not only did I find the few books I had in mind, but I also found numerous others by Kenyans, on Kenya and also a few from Kenya’s past. In the future I look forward to seeing more writings on Kenyans with a genuine track record of interest to the country and world. I don’t see why the lives and achievements of the likes of Kipchoge Keino, Joginder Singh, Daudi Kabaka, Bishop Muge, Paul Tergat, Tegla Lorupe, Moses Tanui , Fadhili Williams or John Ngugi just to mention a few compatriots in music and sports; cannot be in the public domain. At least their God-given talent was there for all to see. In a race, everybody sees the winner. Unlike politics where the loser with the help of a plum office, cash to buy a writer and move the wheels of PR, can twist the truth to sanctify his horrid life without batting an eyelid.

The Joy of Giving

Last Sunday, members of my investment club continued our five year old charity tradition of partnering with a children’s home situated on the outskirts of Nairobi when nine of our twenty members made the first charity-related visit of the year to Athi River to deliver 20 new pairs of school shoes. We identified this particular home because it was away from the limelight and easily forgotten. Of course even recipients of charity have celebrities of their own. In Nairobi the Nymbani Children’s home, Nairobi Women’s Hospital, are just two examples of the favourite destinations for people of goodwill. Our association with this home dates back to the days the city council was mopping street boys and sending them all over the country. During our first visit, they had over 70 street boys ranging in ages from four years to some in their twenties; of course many ended back in the streets. We keep coming back, because apart from the personal attachment we have developed, we also see progress. For instance, today they have a boy who is in university, while another three are in high school. The most recent 2006 KCPE candidate also passed very well (354 points) and like the other three in high school will be sponsored by a good soul who took pity and offered to clear fees through their high school. One of our members also pledged to take care of all the books required in form one. In all our numerous visits, we have usually brought along our spouses (the investment club is all-male), children and friends and with good results because the young ones usually get to appreciate how lucky they are to be growing in their circumstances. Adult first-time visitors usually depart speechless after a visit. It’s such a reality check that everyone leaves a bit different. In fact our spouses have organized their own mission-specific outfit outside our club. Of course we all feel like we are not doing enough, but I comfort myself that we are on the right path and at least we are all learning a very valuable lesson-the joy of giving. Back to our most recent visit. Despite the eventful two hour drive to the home situated at the foot of Lukenya hills, we were warmly received by the ever effervescent Home Administrator and about 15 of her charges. Even as our group was familiarizing themselves with the surroundings, some of the 22 boys resident here, were still streaming in after the mandatory home-stay in time for the new school year set to begin in half a day’s time. The home is plagued by lack of funds, since only a meager 40% is availed by the sponsors for recurrent budget. The balance is funded via well wishers like our investments club, local corporate citizens and individuals. This scenario has forced the home to abandon, for now, all plans for capital development beyond the existing structures and installations. Currently the power has been disconnected due to an outstanding bill of Kshs. 35,000/=, which in turn denies them access to water from the electric-dependant borehole. It breaks our hearts each time we pay them a visit, that we cannot do more for them. In the past we have donated books, sports gear, foodstuffs, mosquito nets, linked them with corporates that sorted out some of their issues, etc. In future we envisage making contributions that will empower the establishment to be more sustainable and more in tune with the home’s ultimate objective of rehabilitating the former street boys back in society as equal and accepted members of the human race. My investment club has a policy of giving at least 20% of our annual profits to charity and I am very proud of that decision. If the economy keeps growing and our investments do better, we will always have something to give this home

E-Wishes Part II

As promised on the eve of Christmas (December 22) , I have collected some of the more interesting Christmas and New Year messages received during the festive season. E-mails I am sending this message early to avoid the last minute message clutter. At the end of a year most of us invariably look back to everything that happened, and more often than not, what didn't happen! We tend to focus on everything we didn't do, often forgetting why we never got round to doing them, and end up feeling disappointed and depressed about it. What happened to all the New Year's Resolutions, not the silly ones, but the ones you really wanted to get to this year? If we aren't careful, we end up dwelling in cesspool of our so-called failures and end up in the darkness of despair. Don't let that happen to you. Let's look forward to a New Year with great hope. Why not make a conscious decision to use this month as your doorway to the future, wipe your feet on the disappointments of the past and leave them behind in the dirt beneath your feet! Use the season of goodwill to celebrate your family and the values you hold dear. Spend time together and build at the relationships that are important to you. Please travel safely. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I wish to send some holiday greeting to my friends, but it is so difficult in today's world to know exactly what to say without offending someone. So I met with my attorney yesterday, and on his advice I choose to say the following: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter/summer solstice holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that it is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee. By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher. Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Happy New year, Happy Birthday, Happy Valentine's day , Happy Easter , Happy Madaraka Day, Happy Moi and Jomo day, Happy Ramadhan And Idd day, Happy Jamuhuri Day, Happy Diwali, Happy labour day, Happy That free Public Holiday for Kibaki & lucy Good morning x 365 days, Goodnight x 365 days, have a nice day x 365 days, Merry Christmas. God bless you x 52 Sundays ,oh and if I said I love you this year pliz don’t ask me again next year I will still feel the same till I tell you otherwise!!!!!!!!! I'm done with you for 2007 in Advance!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pls don't bother me!!! Text messages

• I have deposited prayers, love, joy, prosperity, peace and laughter and all blessings in your bank account. Use without limit. The pin code is merry x-mass and a happy new year!
• Uji-enjoy siku ya krismasi, hiyo ni siku yenu….si ni kweli? Ni lazima ukubali na roho yako wewe mwenywe. Lakini sio kuregarega kule na kule kwa sababu wewe ni yule yule, na utabaki pale pale huko ukifanya kazi hiyo. Sisi tutakuwa hapa hapa tu maana hiyo ndio kitu ya maana! Na hatuwezi kukataa maana, tutakataa namna gani? Tutakubali tu! Tukikataa hiyo itakuwa ni ukumbavu, bure kabisa! Merry xmas!
• The Lord has opened a bank account for you- No. 2007 at Universal Bank of Blessings. Your new balance is 365 DAYS. May you continue to enjoy his presence & love through out the year- happy New Year!
• The year 2007 is a year of HARVESTING, did you plant in 2006? If you did not, you have exactly 4 days to do so. God loves you.

• On behalf of Bill Gates, Roman Abramvuch, King Fahd of Saudia Arabia, HM The Queen of England, George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, David Beckham, myself and other rich and famous people in the world, wish you a happy new year.

• A relaxed mind, A peaceful soul, A joyful Spirit, A healthy body, A heart full of love. These are my prayers for you and your family this year!

• May the fleas of 1000 camels infest the balls ot the idiot who tries to mess your 2007, and may his hands be too short to scratch them! Happy New Year!

• Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours and let each New Year find you a better man! Happy New Year!

My Travels My Travails @ THE COAST

The Kenyan Coast is one of my favourite destinations and over time I have accumulated a collection of photos from my visits there. To soothe my nerves, I have a screen saver of about fifty such photos that transport me to the sandy beach on demand!

See if it works for you.

These Kenyans! Part I

“One way to read a nation’s psyche is to find out what its people pray for…So it was highly instructive when the priest leading the prayers on Jamhuri Day asked the good Lord to bless Kenya with “oil and other minerals”, amongst other things”. …For the last 40 years, we have been led to believe that wealth accumulation is the only virtue that those who make money the hard way- by actually working- are too stupid to know that the fastest route to riches is through trickery and deceit. Hence we admired swindlers and crooks, people who have hoodwinked the system, grabbed land or stolen from the national coffers. We want to be like them because we believe that being rich is the answer to all our prayers.”- Rasna Warah in her opinion piece “Careful what you pray for; you might just get it” (Daily Nation December 25 2006). “…it is important to add that we are never known as Kenyans to celebrate our success. We doubt everything. We seem to have a pathological problem of low esteem that we never believe that we can do it and when we do it, we think a miracle has happened. It takes time. It will take a cultural change whereby Kenyans will start to believe in themselves and their institutions. Its very unfortunate that we have very low self esteem that we do not believe anything good can come from us.”- James Mwangi, CEO Equity Bank responding to skeptic’s assertion that the bank is a “bubble” that it is “flying under false wings” (Finance Magazine November 2006) “Rarely do we see dictatorships in families in the name of fathers and husbands, religious organizations, schools, popular organizations, and at the global level. In Kenya we seem to know more about presidential authoritarianism because of its visible, oppressive “big stick”. We need to identify the small and perverse dictatorships in our society if we are to struggle successfully for democracy.”- Cabral Pinto in his opinion piece “Wanjiku, the ordinary Kenyan, is not a fool” (Daily Nation December 28, 2006) “I am a visitor to Kenya from Ireland. Last week, after parking at Sarit Centre, Nairobi, I returned to find my vehicle clamped. There are no signs warning drivers that a parking fee is required, and there were no parking attendants. After speaking with a parking supervisor, who just happened to be sitting next to my car, apparently awaiting my return, she insisted that I pay a fine of Sh1,070. After I paid her, she refused to give me a receipt and I demanded my money back. She then took me to an office, not far away, where two officials took my money, and issued me with an unofficial receipt scribbled on a piece of paper torn from a book, advising that I would get an official receipt the following day. Afterwards, a street vendor told me this is a regular ploy, to watch out for obvious visitors, hide from view, and then clamps their cars. When the visitor returns, they demand payment of a fine, insisting they can't issue a receipt until next day. Obviously, few visitors will be able to return the next day, so the money is pocketed by the attendants, according to the vendor. I think this is a disgraceful abuse of position, and is at the heart of the bad reputation Kenya has had for corruption…..” Brian MacCormaic, Letters to the Editor (Daily Nation December 28, 2006) A Nyeri farmer who ushered the New Year in a hospital bed nursing donkey bites says he regrets the death of the animal that nearly killed him. Expressing the deep love he had for the animal, Mr. Peter Wachira, 48, now says it was a mistake to order the killing of the animal that had served him for more than a decade. He had asked the residents of his Gatitu Village to kill the animal from his bed at the Nyeri Provincial Hospital- seven hours after he was admitted. – News item (Daily Nation January 2, 2007)

A leading exporter of broadcasters

As a country we have only exhibited prodigious talent in athletics at the world stage. Our scientists, writers, actors, engineers, inventors and artists have not found room at the very top of their professions, save for an occasional loner here and there. We have displayed flashes of short-lived brilliance in the spheres of diplomacy and peace keeping (and maybe in the beauty and modeling department), but we don’t have the staying power to be recognized as a having a clout in these areas. What I mean is that Brazilians will have a resounding presence in the top 100 footballers in the world. Scandinavians are crazy and competent in motor rallying. Jamaicans can sprint. Croatians are good in basketball. Cubans and Thais can box. Cricket makes the Indians and Pakistanis go gaga. Italians can sing opera. The French are good in matters culinary. And yes Kenyans and Ethiopians can run! Apart from athletics the other one area in which we have had a more than fair per capita share at the world stage would be in the area of electronic broadcasters. When you think about it, we have Zain Verjee, Jeff Koinange at CNN, Solomon Mugera at BBC, Esther Githui and Vincent Makori at VOA and probably a few others with leading media houses out there. Is this a specialist area for Kenyans and should we concentrate on giving the world more? Maybe the brand of English and Swahili taught and spoken here have been our unsung heroes in aiding our people conquer the broadcasting world. Or is it our education system? Is it exposure? The new crop of journalists follows in the footsteps of successful old-timers who had already made an impact in their own small way at the world stage. We had Mohamed Amin and his poignant portraits of a hungry continent in the 1980’s. Salim Lone had also excelled in communications at the UN. Shabanji Opukah still reigns at the London office of BAT. Although environment may play a role in nurturing world beaters, it helps to have worthy role models. My contenders for the seamless entry onto the world stage would include Lillian Muli, Louis Otieno and Julie Gichuru from TV. They are real and have the confidence and presence to carry them. A number of their peers have, however, decided that imitation is the best form of flattery and today you have many young pretenders on the small screen trying too hard to be like Richard Quest. The common factor in the rise of all these world-beaters is a sound foundation in technical knowledge by way of journalism or communications studies. Our local Radio “stars” on the other hand are a motley of backgrounds; from bank cashiers, taxi drivers, IT specialists, lawyers, anthropologists, actors, budding musicians, comedians, dancers, et al. The common denominator here is that they passed a “voice test”!

My goals for 2007 and beyond

My Children

-Spend quality time together -Shield them from negative, tribal, class and narrow attitudes -Invest for their education -A family vacation every August

Money -Live within my means, no credit cards, no borrowing, if I cant afford it then I don’t need it -Make sure I save at least 15% of my income -Ensure I invest at least 20% of my income

Health -No fatty foods, eat more natural and boiled foods -No sugary foods, -More fruits -Exercise at home, use the stairs at work and walk everywhere else Relationships -Make more time for Family -Find time for all my friends pro rata -Keep in meaningful touch with all my old friends, acquaintances. Nurture friendships

Hobbies -Travel and see more of the country -Go camping at any opportunity -Travel to neighboring countries by road -Travel to India, Pakistan, Dubai, SA, China, Thailand, Australia and Brazil -Learn how to swim -Rekindle my interest in photography

Writing -Specialize in my writing -At least two posts on my web log per week

Retirement -Start planning the building my retirement home in some exotic locale. To be complete in another 15 years

E-Wishes

The mobile phone is about 6 years old in Kenya and every new day is a revelation on the profound influence this gadget continues to have over our lives. The days of the traditional Christmas cards may not be exactly numbered, but more Kenyans are complementing them with short, pithy 160-character text messages with newfound dexterity. The year 2004 was my first conscious encounter with these messages and I received some beautiful and meaningful ones that very rightly captured the mood. They came from all over the country and occasionally from overseas. Many were in English, while a few others were in Swahili and a rare one in vernacular. Humorous messages are very common and will cut across religion, nostalgia and the feel-good emotions associated with the holiday season. Last year, I decided not to re-edit or forward any of the numerous text wishes I received, but that did not stop them coming. This year will be different and I will dedicate about a thousand shillings to send out at least 200 electronic wishes to family friends and acquaintances. I will save and share the best with you here.

50 Things To Do Before You Die

The other day I caught a TV programme titled “50 things to do before you die” on BBC Prime and quickly recorded the top 30 items on the list. 30. Travel the 6000kms Trans Siberia Railway 29. Trek through a rainforest 28. Travel to space 27. Wander at a waterfall 26. Trek Mount Everest 25. Cowboy ranching 24. Ride motorbike on open road 23. Explore Antartica 22. See elephants in the world 21. Travels on the Orient Express 20. Helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon 19. Drive Route 66 18. Travel the Rocky Mountaneer 17. Bungee jumping 16. Walking the Great Wall of China 15. White water rafting 14. Drive a formula 1 car 13. Escape to a paradise island 12. Climb Sidney Harbour bridge 11. Walk the Inca trail 10. See the northern lights 9. Go on Safari 8. Fly in a jet fighter 7. Fly in a hot air balloon 6. Sky diving 5. Diving with sharks 4. Whale watching 3. Fly on Concorde 2. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef 1. Swimming with dolphins From where am seated in Kenya, these are not exactly earth-shattering activities, and you doubt if you had a poll here any of these items would feature anywhere. To start with, we don’t have a fully functioning passenger railway system yet and we can therefore do away with all the items that try to romanticize railway travel. The condition of our roads is well known and it is unKenyan to glorify road travel. I mean we all want to travel by air. Only less than 1% of our people are familiar with a plane and flying in the Concord, jet fighter is more hot air than a hot air balloon can handle! Who wants to take a backbreaking road trip for leisure? We only do it when we must, like travel upcountry to see folks, bury a relative or while working. To even imagine a motorbike ride is suicidal itself! You must be a messenger or crazy to imagine the undignified motorcycle as anything worth your time! Waterfalls are numerous out here and you cannot think of a mere geographical occurrence as a must-do item. Back at the village, you just walk downstream and your waterfall is sitting there waiting for you. As for white water rafting, our villages are flooded every other year and kayaking and rafting with your furniture is a necessary survival and not a recreational skill. Who wants to dive with sharks and dolphins? Did you say thrill? Try walking home with the River Tana crocodiles swimming in the flooded streets of Garissa for sport! We are putting up hundreds of kilometers of electric fences and digging traps and trenches to keep wild elephants out of our homes while someone is dying to see elephants in the wild? How about an exchange programme- you came live with our wild elephants for a change? Taking a matatu to work using our uneven, potholed roads will work up a substantial amount of adrenalin-on a daily basis. That is more excitement in a week than you require in a lifetime. So strike out that bungee jumping business. The one thing all Kenyans want before they die is to be rich. All else will follow. Seek Ye the Money and everything else falls in place.

Naikuni explained.

I recently had occasion to read a very illuminating book on the business of airlines and in particular the rise and rise of Ryanair. The book by Irish Times Finance Correspondent Siobhan Creaton titled “ Ryanair-How a Small Irish Airline Conquered Europe” is a detailed account of the people and events that turned a dream into reality. It is the story of Tony Ryan, his success in plane leasing and his vision of starting an airline. It is the story of Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines in America and his low fares model in America. It is the story of Michael O’Leary the current CEO. It is the story of the “no frills” concept and its impact on world travel. Today Ryanair is the biggest low-fares airline carrying 28 million people on 220 routes across 19 countries (2005) . This is the company that perfected the “no frills” model by doing away with First and Business classes, window blinds, reclining seats, Velcro-anchored head rest covers, seat pockets and issuing sick bags on demand while you buy your own refreshments on board. Back at the office, O’Leary banned Post-it stickers and highlighter pens and encouraged staff to steal biros to save money even as charging of mobile phones at work is banned thereby saving 1.4 pence per charge. In case of a flight cancellations and delays, in the earlier days, Ryanair had a policy of no meal or accommodation vouchers. No refunds and did not entertain complaints from dissatisfied customers. They even considered wheelchairs for the disabled a frill until they were forced by the courts to provide them and accept limited liability for delays and cancellations. Of course such measures are the ones that get the traveling world shocked by their audacity and boldness. Behind the scenes, Ryanair’s growth and profitability is largely due to the low cost base in all its operations. The CEO was not averse to cajoling and at times arm-twisting airport owners and operators into signing on Ryanair at ridiculously low charges for passenger taxes and handling charges with the promise of high passenger volumes. The airline started the trend of flying into low traffic provincial airports that would usually be anything from half hour to a couple of hours away from a major city. That is how destinations like Charleroi, Hahn, Lubeck, Brescia, Perpignan, Montpellier, Malmo, Carcassone,, Pisa, Treviso, Beauvais, and some such destinations have become vogue destinations. As I read the book, there was this uncanny similarity between O’Leary and our own turnaround artist, Titus Naikuni. From local press reports and the grapevine, you don’t get surprised that the airline seems to weather all challenges in its wake and despite doomsayers using the post 9/11 realities to predict turbulence for the company, Naikuni and his team have continued conquering the skies of Africa and beyond. Back in the 90’s I fondly recall the excitement tinged with a dose of patriotism generated by the purchase of three Airbus planes. Today the airline seems to be receiving a new Boeing every other month. The partnership with KLM has availed the advantages of shared resources, but that will not explain the poor performance of other local companies both wholly or partially owned by giant multi-nationals, but with low profitability and stagnated growth despite a trans-continental umbilical cord. I believe his person and a deliberate availability of the requisite resources have worked for him and the airline’s shareholders. He has elbowed the traditional travel agent out of the game by encouraging online transactions and lower commissions for agency services, outsourced services like staff transport, gone into the tours business of selling holiday packages and reduced turn-around times. Aircraft only make money when in the air and I think Kenya Airways is doing well in this respect. They are also overbooking their profitable routes like Mombasa and ensuring that each flight has tens of “bumped” passengers while price wars are their way of guarding their turf. Naikuni is as brave and bold as they come and has recently demanded and got government to embark on expanding JKIA with a view to turning our airport into a continental hub. In ten years time he thinks we may even need a new airport all together. His recent suspension of flights to Kisumu forced Kenya Airports Authority to do the required repairs with egg all over their faces. He now believes that Northern Kenya is ripe for scheduled air travel and has lobbied government to consider giving the airline access to military airports in the region even as he blames underdeveloped infrastructure for the low air travel figure that Kenya suffers from. From the story on Ryanair, I learnt that it’s cheaper and convenient to fly than taking a bus, train or ferry for many Europeans. It’s easy to dismiss that as a developed world phenomena, but I recently learnt from an Indian visitor that there are over 20 internal airlines and it costs as low as a thousand rupees (Kshs. 1,600) to fly from Mumbai to Chennai. It’s cheaper than the train and he amused me with tales of farmers straight from the shamba sharing seats with sophisticated business executives. The Indian economy is booming, but I totally understand what Naikuni is saying. People will travel to destinations you have never heard of if the price is right. Competition is also good and I hope KQ would not resort to blocking the entry of competition like the Irish national airline, Aer Lingus, did when faced with Ryanair’s entry. These strategies are similar to what Ryanair and other low fare airlines like easyJet are using to keep ahead of the competition. Tony Ryan sent his young personal assistant to study the Southwest Airlines in America. He learnt the low fare model from the first innovators and ably applied the same to Ryanair. I am sure other airlines have copied the models and practices. I believe the success at KQ may be modeled on the success of airlines like Ryanair and Southwest Airlines. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel and I don’t see any reason why the lessons learnt in airlines cannot be replicated with success in other businesses.

Some Quiet Time Just For Me

The last one week was my quiet time. I took a break from everything and almost everyone, shipped the kids to their grandma, switched the TV and phone off, read no papers, listened to no radio apart from my favourite morning show and generally did nothing between nine and six in the evenings. In the past, all my leave days have been consumed by tasks that I usually plan in advance. In fact months before the break, I have listed down all the errands, assignments and tasks that need my attention. This habit finds me back at work more bewildered and wishing for the next break. This time round, I got some ten days off and decided to "go away" for the first five days and "come back" in the last five. This post will therefore commemorate my coming out! I am the worrying type and on any given day I am busy going through various issues in my mind. December is especially a worrysome time. What with the holidays coming, shopping, school fees and other new year obligations. While at work, I am always thinking ahead on what needs to get done even at night. It is hard for me to let go and be. That analysis is the bad news. The good news is that I am conscious of of this shortcoming and resorted to doing something about it. Which is why, I decided to try and take a break from my life so to speak. How did I get by while I was away? The biggest achievement was to be able to read one book in a day. During my younger days, I was a voracious book reader and could devour a 200 page book in four hours. I remember reading Jeffrey Archer's Kane & Abel in one night. A good book would transport me to another world devoid of noise, distractions, hunger pangs, sleep and buzzing mosquitos. With all the din in my life today, I take at least two months to read one book, four or five pages at a time. I have taken to reading two or more books at a time (which I think is a terrible habit). I have been fined lots of shillings for library books that are returned late and half read. I probably needed to remind myself of my old form. The rest of the time was taken to reflect on my life. I have recently overcome the difficult art of honestly setting measurable targets in my life. A successful Kenyan recently said that he views everything before him as a project. A project has a start and an end date. A project is a planned activity. In a project you plan for the tools and resources needed to achieve your desired goal. Some projects are easy to plan, execute and finalise; while others are better abandoned. Some are ahead of their time. A project is definite. Should you view your compartmentalised life in the light of numerous projects, you will match or exceed your targets and also be easy to live with when you fail, pend, cancel or abandon other projects. What am I saying? Reflecting is not a project, but I was soul searching on my past, my present and my future life. What "project" could have been undertaken differently? Which ones were ahead of their time? Which ones were crazy and out of this world? I reflected on all these issues. I reflected some more. I think some projects will need to be brought out of the back burner and into the front row. Some will have to get external help to stay afloat. Some will have to be passed to the next generation if ever there is hope of success. Apart from the reflecting business, I also had some little time to appreciate the quiet of the home without my two kids. Since they were born, I have not known a quiet minute inside my home. Sleep is a premium now, so is listening to my Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Satchmo and company. Watching a movie is only possible with sub-titles on. I love my kids very much. I also love an hour of quiet very much. I will not ship them off to a bording school because I dont believe in that. My only comfort is that in another half decade or so, they will be glum,gloomy and brooding teenagers. I wish them well. I wish them cacophonous offspring. Yeah, I reflected on that as well. That put a smile on my face. I want to be around to witness that. Well the quiet time is over and am "back" to finalise on numerous things that need to be done. The kids are back soon and we can all go back to our usual lives. I have missed them. The outcome of my reflecting week will however be put to test in the new year when I dust the 2006 resolutions and rebrand them "Projects for 2007".