tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49884997038534328982024-02-20T23:39:30.871+03:00NewlightA Blog on news personal opinion and literary creativityAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756425106079506940noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-17366890073553867342014-11-21T14:33:00.001+03:002014-11-21T14:33:33.984+03:00Moral decay our problem not 'indecent' dressing Earlier this year Mavuno Church came under fire for publicising a
youth event using a controversial poster. At the centre of the harsh
criticism was the figure of the girl whose dressing in the poster was
described as 'indecent', 'provocative', 'skimpy' by a majority of
observers. And here we are now months later, the national conversation
is on dressing. But methinks that moral decay is what would motivate a
church to design such a poster. That moral decay runs so deep that for
teenagers to attend a church event about relationships and sex, they had
to be 'provoked', 'excited' and 'drawn in' by an image of a girl in a
tight little short. It is telling that the girl's dressing in that
poster was associated with an immoral illustration of what our society
has become. That the Mavuno poster had to have sexual transmission in
form of dress and other literature for it to be relevant to its target
audience say a lot about moral decay. As a country, we have no known
national values but national peculiarities.<br />
Fair enough, that was
a church poster but if that same image of the scantily dressed girl
appeared on a campus tour event or a weekend 'festival' then there would
not be much noise about it because it would be 'normal' , in fact it
would be essential. The representation of 'indecent' dressing would be
alright on a 'secular' event poster because all that has to do with
moral decay is accepted there. And is that acceptance that even moral
itself? I say 'secular' because it is a sample of the same audience that
Mavuno organised an event for, using a poster that has imagery of what
they see everyday in their parties, festivals, on TV and the streets.
So as the debate on dressing rages on it is vital to question where our
morals are as opposed to where hemlines are.<br />
Public strippings of
'indecently' dressed women, social media activism and street
processions to 'prove' that we can wear what we want will not bring our
society to terms with how deep the moral decay has spread. In the
context of dressing, women, a part of the society want to express
themselves the way they want hence <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mydressmychoice?source=feed_text&story_id=885618658115126"><span class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">mydressmychoice</span></a>
, but men see some forms of this expression as exposure. This
unrestrained expression (in dress) in a patriachal society like ours may
be construed as immoral but the decay is manifested when feminine
expression is used by women and interpreted by men for illicit sexual
gratification. So we as men and women are all in this, one might say
it's the dress that provokes but moral decay goes beyond the dress.
Reports of grannies being raped had nothing to do with the length of
their skirts but a manifestation of moral decay.<br />
Violence against
those 'indecently' dressed women is immoral and when grannies well into
their eighties are raped, it is representative of moral decay. The
dressing debate should just be a trigger, powder keg, to a whole new
conversation about our values and moral aptitude. Hemlines will continue
rising or even fall because it is 'our choice' as it is. We can never
be perfect but what are morals and standards for? We try as much as we
can to live by them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-32518895350855685992014-11-05T15:52:00.001+03:002014-11-05T19:56:58.345+03:00Gor and AFC have a connection with fansIt's the connection, it's the passion from within. That's what i'd
say to anyone who said that AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia receive somewhat
preferential <br />
<a name='more'></a>treatment and are handled with kid gloves by FKF.
Hooliganism aside,these two clubs are arguably the biggest clubs in
Kenya and have a mass following with passionate support. This support is
galvanised by the mere fact that they have a regional, cultural and
ethnic identity. Community clubs build and nurture a close, hearty c<span class="text_exposed_show">onnection with their fans who can connect and relate with them at a personal level.</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
Identity is key. In Spain social class identity divides Real Madrid and
Atletico Madrid fan bases. Real Madrid appeals to the upper class elite
and middle class and their city rivals Atletico Madrid appeal to the
average man on the street. In Scotland football rivalry between Rangers
and Celtic is mainly defined by religious identity. Rangers have
Protestants' support and Celtic have a Catholic fan base. Fans of these
four clubs have something that collectively attaches them to their fans.<br />
Back in Kenya, a club like KRA or Western Stima would not elicit much
interest if they had to play in empty stadiums because they have a
negligible fan base. There is nothing that connects them to fans, their
is nothing that the fans can get behind. Clubs like KRA, Tusker, KCB,
Bandari, Western Stima are viewed as corporate entities taking to the
field not thoroughbred football clubs. The truth is institutional clubs
like Bandari and KRA can be disbanded anytime, they can die simply
because no one cares. Clubs like KCB, Western Stima, KRA, Tusker are
just an extension of corporate social responsibiliy strategies by the
institution they represent. That is why they do not even need sponsors.
They are defined by brand names. Unlike Afc and Gor which are real
footballing institutions which are defined by fans. When Gor or Sofapaka
won the KPL title it meant more than when Tusker won it. Why, a Gor win
speaks to the heart more than a Tusker win which would just be another
corporate accolade for EABL. <br />
My point is, Gor and Afc fans
define Kenyan league football, that is why stadium bans for them hurt,
they do not just hurt the club's establishment but also hurts the hearts
of their loyal supporters. It will also hurt Kenya's football
complexion because Afc and Gor populate stadia and bring life to a
weekend fixture. The decision by FKF to allow their fans into stadiums
despite an earlier ban for me is an admission that the KPL cannot do
without the fervent, consistent and loyal support that Gor and Afc
provide in the league, the league needs it. What it does not need,
however, is hooliganism.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-58800883095318720012014-10-22T09:49:00.001+03:002014-10-22T09:49:57.044+03:00The 13 Worst Mistakes People Make In Their 20s<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">By <b>Richard Feloni</b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Some young professionals
make the mistake of equating success solely with making money.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 18pt;">Most people use their
20s to figure out what it means to be an adult, and the process is certainly
not easy for everyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Whether you're finishing
up school, just starting out on your own, or preparing to transition into your
30s, you can benefit from the wisdom of those who've already made their way
through all of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">We looked through three
Quora threads, "</span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Regret/When-people-in-their-30s-40s-and-older-look-back-on-their-life-what-are-some-common-regrets-they-have" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">When people in their
30s, 40s, and older look back on their life, what are some common regrets they
have?</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">", "</span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">What myths do we
commonly realize are false in our 20s?</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">" and "</span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Investing/How-should-a-22-year-old-invest-his-her-money" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">How should a
22-year-old invest his/her money?</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">" to find the biggest mistakes 20-somethings make. Here are
13:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">1. <b>They think education and talent are enough to become successful.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">High intelligence,
natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are all good things to
have, but they in no way guarantee that you will land a great job — and mean
nothing when not paired with hard work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">How you work with others
and carry yourself can also turn out to be much more important in advancing
your career. "Having social skills, navigating politics, knowing who to
ask for what, and being able to see the big picture are invaluable no matter
what you do," says copywriter</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Joe-Choi?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joe Choi</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">2. <b>They don't start saving money.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">A new survey found that
69% of those ages 18-29</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/americans-arent-saving-for-retirement-2014-8" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">had no retirement
savings at all</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">. Your retirement may
seem far off, but you're doing yourself a massive disservice if you don't
recognize the importance of saving as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Entrepreneur</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://qr.ae/5TG36" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Aditya Rathnam</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">says there's no need to
start investing too much as you're just starting out, but that it's essential
to take advantage of your company's retirement program if it's available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">3. <b>They equate happiness with money.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Prestige and a fat
paycheck can certainly make you happier, but there's plenty more to success
than that, says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Joe-Choi?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Choi</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">You're setting yourself
up for years of regret if you pursue a paycheck rather than your passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">4. <b>They neglect their health.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As you get older, you'll
learn pretty quickly you can't party like you did in college. "Your
hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of staying out drinking all night
will be a hilarious idea to you," says </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Meggie-Sutherland-Cutter?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Meggie Sutherland
Cutter</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">. And the more years out
of school you get, the more excessive drinking, smoking, and even an unhealthy
diet go from acceptable behavior to dangerous habits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Communications professor</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Regret/When-people-in-their-30s-40s-and-older-look-back-on-their-life-what-are-some-common-regrets-they-have/answer/Michael-Weston?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Michael Weston</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">also says that 20-somethings also need to pay
attention to their mental health, since any potential issues usually arise in
your 20s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">5<b>. They give up when things get tough.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Ending a serious
relationship, getting fired from a job, and having your startup crash and burn
can all seem life-destroying when they happen to you for the first time. But
rather than giving up or aiming for a lower target the next time, you should
use failures as opportunities to learn and improve yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"Getting fired and
waking up the next day as usual made me realize that failure isn't the end of
the world. Getting dumped taught me the difference between a good and a bad
relationship, something I already knew inside but refused to accept until the
bad relationship was over," says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Carolyn-Cho?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Carolyn Cho</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">6. <b>They put things off.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"Myth[:] You will
be incredibly successful and have it all figured out by 30 years old,"
says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Meggie-Sutherland-Cutter?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sutherland Cutter</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">It can be tempting to
set aside your longest-held aspirations, continually thinking that you'll have
time for them later. But then you'll find yourself at an age where it may be
too late to change careers, or go to graduate school, or start a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">7. <b>They try to please everyone.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">When you're starting out
in your career, it can seem natural to want to be on friendly terms with your
boss, clients, and all of your coworkers. Rather than feeling crushed when you
realize some of them simply don't like you, accept it and don't stress out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"Inevitably,
someone will always dislike you. I wish I had figured this out a lot earlier
and stopped trying so hard and worrying so much about it," says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Carolyn-Cho?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cho</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">8. <b>They think all friendships can last forever.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"Your college pals
that you think will be your best pals for life? Some will still be there at 40,
most will be living their lives doing their thing," says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Meggie-Sutherland-Cutter?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sutherland Cutter</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">When your friends aren't
all living in the same town or campus, you'll realize which ones mean the most
to you, and which ones are worth the effort of maintaining a relationship with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">9. <b>They look for their "soul mate."</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Some people decide to
spend most of their 20s single, unattached to anyone. Others search for the
right person to marry. The latter group can get caught up in the fantasy of
finding someone where everything just clicks and the relationship is
effortless. But in real life, the most meaningful long-term relationships
require work and dedication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"You have to
continuously make sacrifices, adjustments, accept shortcomings explain
yourself, but know what — that's what makes it fun!" says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Mitesh-Jain-2?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mitesh Jain</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">10. <b>They think moving somewhere new will solve their problems.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Traveling and living
somewhere new can be culturally enriching experiences, and your 20s are a
perfect time to do both. But, says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Joe-Choi?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Choi</span></a>, do not think that
moving to the opposite coast means you'll suddenly find meaning and direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">11. <b>They see things in black and white.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Author and investor</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/James-Altucher?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">James Altucher</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">thinks that many people in their 20s get caught
up in absolutes. For example, some feel like they have to choose between a
career path that benefits them or one that benefits others, without realizing
that self-interest does not have to mean the opposite of doing good for the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">12. <b>They try planning years in advance.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">"It's hard to
predict where you'll end up and what you'll be doing," says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Joe-Choi?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Choi</span></a>. So avoid driving
yourself crazy with five-year plans and focus on immediate goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">13. <b>They think they're the only one of their friends struggling.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As you're finding your way in the world,
determining who you are as an adult and building a career, it can seem like
your friends or colleagues are more successful and confident, says</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.quora.com/Common-Misconceptions/What-myths-do-we-most-commonly-realize-are-false-in-our-20s/answer/Sarthak-Pranit?srid=n2Fg&share=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #324fe1; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sarthak Pranit</span></a>. But
regardless of income, job, or living situation, every 20-something is still
figuring things out as they go along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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BUSINESS INSIDER</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756425106079506940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-64795391332115743492014-09-16T18:54:00.001+03:002014-10-22T09:51:19.988+03:00The AffairThe bitter aftertaste of the experience i had was almost unbearable.
It all started with a woman and ended similarly. <br />
<a name='more'></a>The rollercoaster i
was on wrecked and spat me out from the highest peak. Her dressing was
perma-elegant, her table manners refined, she was high-minded, though
not too bookish but intelligent enough. She was ambitious and knew what
she wanted, she didn't pussyfoot and i loved that. She walked, talked
with decorum and swagger, this indeed was a rare breed. She was a garden
of beauty with lots of va va voom. The only thing that stood between us
was a 13 year age gulf. Yes, she was older, more moneyed, stylish and
way out of my league.<br />
I did not understand why she was drawn to
me. I had a chaotic dental formula but she loved my smile. She said she
liked where i was going and that she would help me get there. She
upgraded my life. My lifestyle wasn't predictable and humdrum anymore. A
life of luxury followed. I ate life with a big spoon. The German cars,
the exotic holidays, the classy wardrobe, she hauled me from the cave i
was living in, into a real house. When we were together the kisses were
not amateurish, the passion was volcanic and the eruptions were audible,
the meeting of the flesh was as powerful as the meeting of the minds,
we did no wrong when we were together. The foundation of our
relationship was the four legs of a bed not love, trust and friendship, i
wasn't supposed to get too attached. I was not a socialite, i was her
only light.<br />
My upwardly mobile life did not go unnoticed. My
crooked teeth were fixed and my smile was radiant, its radiancy
impressed all and sundry including ladies who had waved me goodbye to
look for diamond pastures. Then i was broke, now i was this hustler was
driving a guzzler and one by one they began warming up to me, reminding
me of the 'good times' we had. My Facebook activity had sharply declined
and the ones who tried to inbox me were waiting for a train to pick
them up at a bus stop, they waited and waited for a response. When i met
them, i told them to talk to their reflection on my spectacles and then
walk.<br />
My friend Steven tried to sober me up. He was the only one
who knew about the woman. He warned me against that affair, he told me
it would end in disaster. The world had accepted the narrative that i
got a huge and successful publishing deal which had changed my fortunes.
No one else knew about the lady, we kept it on the low though suspicion
was rife. Steven refused to go to events that we never used to go to,
he knew going there we would spend lots of cash that would only
encourage my affair which he was against.<br />
It was a Saturday
evening at a private beach watching the sunset, yes, romance to me was
idiomatic till i met her. We were smoking some good quality weed, for
the class she oozed, she smoked and puffed with purpose. That evening i
discovered that the weed smoking was a form of escape. In fact this
thing, this affair, this relationship was a by product of her escapism.
She was deeply hurt when she separated with her husband and took their
two children with him. She loved her children to bits. She was looking
for something to ease the pain, to lessen the hurt and make her escape
reality. And then i came along after years of frustration trying to
publish that book, i finally was directed to Crown publishers by a good
friend. I was told they were above board and dealt with integrity. One
hot February afternoon, i walked into their offices not expecting too
much, i dropped my manuscript as well as my contacts.<br />
She would
call me two weeks later saying she was impressed by my work. It began
professionally but slid into a personal affair. I was hesitant at first,
it wasn't her age, she was 48 but looked younger and brighter than some
25 year olds i know. She kept herself fit. I refused her advances at
first. My faith, my principles would not allow. I wanted to be
self-made, i wasn't indiligent. But looking at some of my friends, i
wanted to keep up with them. So i acquiesced to the lady's advances. She
was my life's best kept secret, i thought.<br />
The day of reckoning
came when l first lost my newfound house. She had managed to reconcile
with her husband and anything to do with me was discarded. Her children
were back, her source of joy was back. Her anguish was eliminated, i
wasn't needed anymore. The car keys had to be surrendered back, i
dropped them in her office and she wasn't even there. I wasn't supposed
to get attached, i was supposed to be unfeeling. The world was wondering
why my exponential rise has stopped, the climbdown started rapidly.
Crown publishers were not interested in my manuscript for unexplained
reasons. I went back where i was almost two years ago, i had wasted my
time. Any thought of her was wounding and properly painful. I was now
the hustler who once drove guzzlers.and rode expensive thighs. Damn, and
i wasn't supposed to get attached. The healing and rebuliding process
has just began.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-30495146757517735982014-09-05T16:01:00.000+03:002014-09-07T22:42:05.500+03:00Let's respect all careers<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".y.$mid=11409904331993=23a43864cca3a2bfb24.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span class="null">Academic
pride is an educated display of ignorance. Why would one despise
another because of their career? </span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".y.$mid=11409904331993=23a43864cca3a2bfb24.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span class="null">Why would you demean courses that
others are pursuing or about to pursue because you think yours is
greater? People who look down on others because of their careers are
sanctimoniously stupid. And many doctors and engineers are guilty of
this as well as those pursuing the relevant courses. They are not alone
though. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".y.$mid=11409904331993=23a43864cca3a2bfb24.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span class="null"> The sample size of those pursuing medicine and engineering who engage in
petty academic pride may be small but the frequency with which they put
others down is consistent. This prestigious-than-thou attitude in
career practice is partly our teachers' and parents' fault. When we were
in our formative schooling years, certain careers were highly talked of
and that entered into our psyche. Pursuing other careers outside the
doctor- engineer cocoon was abominable. Those who have a misguided
contempt for careers in the Arts, Social Sciences and Education are
ladies and gentlemen who never grown up from childhood career
initiation.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".y.$mid=11409904331993=23a43864cca3a2bfb24.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span class="null"> Each and every career is important, everyone of us has a role to
fulfill, some roles may be more technical, more intensive, more
remunerable but none is more important than the other. </span></span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".y.$mid=11409904331993=23a43864cca3a2bfb24.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span class="null"><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".y.$mid=11409910040701=20e11f1b0567df2d025.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span class="null">Careers
have their challenges but it's not for us to despise those in them and
careers have their perks so it isn't an opportunity to demean others.</span></span> What would the
world be without teachers, diplomats, recording artistes, doctors,
journalists, accountants, pilots and businesspeople? There would be a
vacuum which one with their skills and know-how would have to fill.
The society finds balance and sanity with diversity in performance of
our roles to the best of our abilities. You are great in whatever you
are or are pursuing, you are the best at it. Ignore those discouraging
voices, they are still entangled in the past and wallowing in ignorance.
No politician, parent, fellow student, nobody can limit your best at
what you do.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-58328370816111809762014-09-04T15:49:00.000+03:002014-09-07T22:42:58.416+03:00Gospel ConfusionIt is quite unfair to their audiences when showbiz presenters ask
gospel artistes, "how hard being saved and having fun is." <br />
<a name='more'></a>Such a
question is usually met by a response which tries to mitigate the
responsibilities that come with salvation and 'demystify' salvation
itself.<br />
Such a question is unfair at a time when almost every
Kenyan gospel song fits the description of contemporary and conscious
entertainment that attempts to re-define the Gospel and 'demystify'
salvation. Whe<span class="text_exposed_show">n a song is gospel simply
because it makes implied or actual mentions of God. When songs' content
and use of analogy try to make 'fun' and salvation interchangeble. When
the style of presentation is left to override the substance. Such a
question is unfair when currently most Kenyan gospel music is abstract
and there are no clear lines of distinction as to what and Who the music
represents.</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
For the likes
of Chero of E-Curve and her fellow presenters, fun remains undefined,
the boundaries of fun are unmarked, the territories of fun are vast and
salvation is a spoilsport to fun. So when the artiste in their response
fails to define the boundaries of salvation and how the gospel artiste
fits into the world's perception of fun then it leaves the audiences and
by extension the society confused.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-1688423605959946222014-08-29T15:53:00.001+03:002014-09-07T22:44:16.968+03:00Women's groups are insincere<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">After
the brutal killing of a 14 year old girl in Kwale by police, where are
those Women Reps, Women MPs and Women rights organisations? </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Or are they
waiting for a Shebesh to be slapped or a Waiguru to be threatened for
them to speak. I thought these Women Reps were elected to "speak for
women." as they usually say when their positions come under scrutiny. No
woman in power has come out to condemn <span class="text_exposed_show">the
manner in which police have handled the shooting and their ridiculous
explanation that the young girl attacked them. And those who pay
attention to detail will note that even a female lawyer has not taken up
that case for the girl's distraught family. <br /> <br /> So what do we
make of this? Selfish interests governed these women's clamour for equal
opportunity and inclusivity. Their agitation for gender equity was a
conduit to create positions of power and influence for themselves like
Women Reps. Women's and girls' perceived and real injustices in the
society are used as a ladder to power and preservation for them to
remain relevant in their elevated roles. The common woman's challenges
did not inform affirmative action but affirmative selfishness. That is
why when Governor Kidero assaulted Women Rep Shebesh, women MPs told us
it "was an assault on the women of Kenya"<br /> <br /> Women rights
organisations rush to make those condemnatory press conferences only
when "big women" are targeted. Speaking for these "big women" makes them
relevant as they are given the attention that they crave, to have
visibility so that some funding comes along. Speaking for "little girls"
won't boost their esteem as they won't occupy acres of space in the
media. For them its all about lining their pockets.<br /> <br /> I won't
pretend that i understand women but the Kwale debacle present an
opportunity for women in spaces of influence to come out and take the
police to account and take security agencies to task over insecurity.
This is the time their voices should be heard or in customary fashion
they are waiting for a Shebesh to be assaulted and a Waiguru to be
threatened so that we know they 'speak for women.'</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-81608974249646219972014-08-28T18:07:00.003+03:002014-09-07T22:45:24.412+03:008-4-4 has caused a revolt<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Our
education system has been much vilified so much so in the last four
years two MPs have called for the scrapping of KCPE. Jeremiah Kioni in
2010 and Mohammed Shidiye last week.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> In truth, the reasons given for
doing away with the 8-4-4 system altogether are credible. It has been
argued that it is a system that crushes talent, it doesn't inspire
critical thinking becaus<span class="text_exposed_show">e it's all about
competing for the best grades for intake into considered institutions
and it diminishes the hope of living beyond academic success for its
exam 'failures.' <br /> <br /> But scrapping KCPE alone won't count for much
if the learning theories and pedagogy that inform our curriculum are
not subjected to continuous assessment and progressive review. <br /> <br />
But for much, of the criticism that 8-4-4 has received, it has inspired
a change in thinking, a new way of evaluating oneself. It has caused a
revolt. To revolt is to refuse the control or influence of someone or
something over you. So the revolt in this context is, a revolt against
the dictates of the system which glorify academic credentials as a
guarantee to success in life: Pass exams, get acceptable grades and you
are in for a wonderful life. This revolt is warranted because most of
the time the grades are 'acceptable' to our parents, teachers and
institutions but the education process has not benefited us, as the
learners. The revolt has been engined mainly by perceived 'failure' and
falling below the system's and society's expectations of academic
success.<br /> <br /> The revolt has been occasioned by 'failures' who have
proven that success in life is not pegged on passing national exams.
This revolt has created alternative careers and livelihoods that are not
parallel to stellar academic credentials. Earlier this week, i was
telling some friends that in Nairobi you are either a blogger, a
fashionista, a member of a band or a solo musician. You see, it might
have a statement made in jest but it helps one comprehend that a growing
number of youth are in 'alternative' or talent-based careers that are a
product of the revolt. They have revolted against their parents' and
teachers' desired expectations of a 'decent' white collar job in a
blue-chip company. And this has forced them to risk more in giving their
alternative careers a push.<br /> <br /> The 8-4-4 has also been maligned
for shepherding students towards certain favourable and appealing
careers. Ask a pupil 5 years ago what they wanted to be and the words,
doctor, lawyer, pilot would effortlessly roll off their tongues. But
this mentality is changing, the revolting winds have began sweeping the
young of today. This week a group of pupils visiting a TV studio were
asked what their dream careers would be and fashion designer, musician,
actress were some of the careers mentioned, in our early education days,
sounding out such careers would have been punishable by an hour's
parental lecture or a proper hiding. You see, the young of today are
much more exposed to information than we were at their age and they are
able to identify people who have made it in careers that are
unconventional. <br /> <br /> The revolt has made hobbies profitable.
Hobbies were not held in great esteem and were looked at as enhancers
rather than dependable sources of income. Currently some of the most
successful young men and women are recording artistes, fashion
designers, interior designers and other aforementioned alternative
careers that sprung from hobbies. The revolt has caused youth to invest
in their hobbies and monetise them for profit and sustenance. The
investment could be also be academic, go to music school, go and learn
design or be tutored in deejaying and web design but ultimately it is
your hobby rather than academic whims that will put food on your table.
The thing with hobbies is that passion fuels the patience of reaping
success out of hobbies.<br /> <br /> The revolt has opened the minds of
young people and they have realised glaring needs in the society. These
needs may not require 'admirable' academic credentials to fulfill. The
revolt has enabled them put their creativity into productive activities
and have created and discovered markets or expanded demand for their
creative talents. Sculpturing and diverse forms of art have benefited
young people with varied success. Photography and creative writing have
also spurred many to success. <br /> <br /> The aim of this piece is not to
trash academics or academicians but it is to touch on an emerging
reality, the education system, 8-4-4 has created a revolt, a rebellion
from academic-reliant thinking as a measure of success. As educationist
Robert Owen put it "Students should learn what they understand and as a
result they will bring societal change"</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-16525742636315303692014-08-28T18:05:00.001+03:002014-09-07T22:48:34.185+03:00There is no humour in politics<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Why
isn't there humour in Parliament? Where are the humourous and
controversial MPs? The days of the likes of Kalembe Ndile, Simon Mbugua,
Bifwoli Wakoli, Jayne Kihara.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> Former MPs who were uncaged and unleashed
whatever they had on their mind be it ridiculously laughable or
condemnable. It was not just their words but their actions also ran in
tandem in exhibitin<span class="text_exposed_show">g humour. They pushed
the envelope in exciting the public like Mike Sonko in his early days.
We did not elect them to humour us into tear-jerking laughter but they
are human beings, aren't they?<br /> <br /> Is it that now they are too
development conscious? Politics of development can thrive with comic
relief. We can have funny MPs who still commission roads and initiate
water projects. I find it strange that in public rallies and political
fora, no MP or Senator has so far provided a moment for a decent hoo-ha,
it doesn't have to be rib-cracking laughter. There aren't any funny
press conferences any more and laughter at public rallies has been
reduced as serious politics has taken over. Even former President Kibaki
can do better to drive a crowd mad with laughter.<br /> <br /> For ladies
hoping for a tall, handsome,fit and funny MP for a date, you will be
disappointed, he may be rich and use an eighth of the CDF kitty to buy
you lunch at Safari Park,but that date will be like job interview only
that it will include fish fillet. I find political leaders in this 11th
Parliament are far too serious.<br /> <br /> Away from Parliament,the
Cabinet Secretaries themselves appear bookish and only hand out
intellectual humour, which even won't scratch a funny bone. Sports CS
Hassan Wario has his occasional moments of dry humour, Labour CS Kazungu
Kambi's slippery grasp of the English language isn't just enough. Yes, I
know Nairobi Mike Sonko easily comes to mind but his eccentrics are
scandalous.<br /> <br /> His soap opera antics with Women Rep. Racheal
Shebesh and the attendant fallout are not only shameful but unfunny.
They desecrate the values of leadership and integrity. There is
absolutely no humour in Sonko's misadventures. But Kenyans loved their
'+18' theatrics on Facebook and PG entertainment they offered when they
scaled down.<br /> <br /> Of course, debates surrounding terrorist activities and killings at the Coast need a sober approach and not all is to laugh at.<br /> <br />
What is happening now is that members of the public are now bringing
out the humour and moments of levity in the news. Men fighting over
women, funny eye witnesses, women squabbling over men. As referendum
politics dominate the national conversation, it needs an unserious
touch, it is far too technical, tribal and tenacious. Political leaders
should lighten up, they should humour us, let loose a bit, they have had
plenty of time to sit in Parliament, it is time they display their
funny side in word and deed.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-41365166255541574932014-08-28T18:02:00.001+03:002014-09-07T22:49:03.408+03:00The Difference: The Middle class vs 'Sisi mashinani'<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">First
things first, 'Sisi mashinani we write compositions, the middle class
write blogs. People from these two backgrounds are exposed differently,</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">
each person in their separate habitation behaves as their surroundings
demand. Our worlds of experience are far apart. Linguistically,
listening to the middle class speaking you might think 'sisi m<span class="text_exposed_show">ashinani' were unwittingly miseducated in English and Swahili.<br /> <br />
One thing in common that 'sisi mashinani' and the middle class share is
the desire to be moneyed, rich, wealthy. It is just that in appearing
rich, the middle class do a better job of playing pretend than 'sisi
mashinani'. Their events, their tweets, their snobbery their dress code
and speech are articulated to make them appear posh and elegant. But
musically, they can't stand opera music and classical harmonies which
are for the affluent, they will busy their eardrums with Trance Music or
Dubstep. They can't watch a game of polo but you'll find them cheering
Manchester United like us in 'mashinani.' 'Sisi mashinani' also want to
be rich, but appearing rich does not cut it, we cautiously spend. We do
so because in this part of the world 'rainy days' are real as pool
parties in the middle class world.<br /> <br /> Anyway or 'Anyhoo' as they
say, i find the middle class language simple, uncomplicated and
straightforward, like YOLO (You only live once). Simple and passes the
message after an elder's lecture about life's illicit indulgences. Or
'Aww' instead of saying Thank you. Or even OMG instead of 'Aiii'<br /> The
only time their language stinks is in matters relationships, one would
rather be a 'platonic friend' rather than be a 'friendzoned' brother. I
like that 'sisi mashinani' protect each other's feelings. This
friendzone vibe is harmful to feelings.<br /> <br /> They concern themselves
with what is trending in fashion. The middle class have designers,
'sisi mashinani' we have tailors. For 'sisi mashinani' what was trending
at New York fashion week doesn't bother us much, we will wear a shirt
or blouse with a 'PRANDA' label without caring if it supposed to be
spelled PRADA. If it fits at all is what counts. The middle class is
always wary and overstrung about mistakes in their wardrobe. They will
often say 'catch me dead wearing Ankara pants, a cropped blouse, with
gladiator sandals and chandelier earrings.' They will endure paper cuts
turning magazines to find out what in and what was trending last spring,
in Kenya. They have a news segment on TV called Fashion Watch, where
their fashion choices are interrogated and judged. They even organise
fashion weeks to display their wear, 'sisi mashinani' during market day
once a week, is when we get a chance to see what our mitumba brothers
have brought us, no runways or models.<br /> <br /> They watch strange
International programmes like 'Keeping up with the Kardashians.' 'Sisi
mashinani' watch 'Do not mess with Kansiime.' what Tyra Banks and Wendy
Williams said on their talk shows about black girls appreciating
themselves in front of the mirror makes no sense to us but to them it
does, they are constantly weight watching and follow strict diet
regimes, the ones that they heard on Tyra, but when those tips fail,
they find solace in....u guessed right, Tyra. <br /> when the sassy Julie
Gichuru on Sunday Live invites Abass Gullet to talk about the hunger
situation in the country, that resonates with us, unlike the middle
class who starve themselves to lose weight.<br /> <br /> That reminds me,
the middle class appreciation of news at 7pm(do they even watch or
understand Swahili news? The last time i watched, i heard the word
'Parawanja', i felt sorry for some people) and 9pm is very superficial.
They only watch 'what will help them'. They knew of places like Kapsabet
or Navakholo through the news, for them news is a lesson in Geography,
they knew of Ol Joro Orok when the President visited there. And then the
hashtag, <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/whenprezzovisitedoljoroorok">#WhenPrezzovisitedOlJoroOrok</a> on will trend on Twitter. By the way, they have tabloids, 'Sisi mashinani' we have 'gazeti za sh10.' <br />
'Sisi mashinani' really want to know the news behind the news, we will
speculate, think, change channels, slam Lilian Muli's short skirt,
watch interviews, fish for information and await Opinion poll results.
At the end we will be informed and conversant with the goings-on of our
country.<br /> <br /> In church, the middle class hear the Word in line with
feeding their faith, holding on to their salvation and trusting God.
'Sisi mashinani', messages of promise and prosperity, for a brighter
future that are only unlocked by financial intervention are popular.<br /> <br />
Even diseases keep 'Sisi Mashinani' and the middle class apart.They
suffer from lifestyle diseases while we others suffer communicable
diseases. <br /> <br /> Wherever you are be proud of where you come from, home is where the heart is.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-21779370012792352912014-04-07T17:53:00.001+03:002014-09-07T22:49:35.115+03:00Five Things1. Esteem Issues
<br />
<br />
I was watching telly and a promo for a teenage magazine programme
when a high school student was highlighted saying "if wearing a short
skirt will raise your self-esteem, then <br />
<a name='more'></a>wear it." This statement may
seem infantile, understandbly so because of teenagers' short-term
thinking but an in-depth look at it can reveal a few things. One of
which is, we tend to glorify and invest energy in vanity. The
schoolgirl's line of thought is exactly what society is being integrated
to think. The need to be accepted and get approval from everybody-much
of which is vain- makes us do things that would make us fall short to
'raise' our esteem. Say, a guy/girl who spends most of her time and
money on people, purchasing friendship for her to be accepted in order
to acquire a sense of high self-esteem. However, the schoolgirl's quip
can also be analysed in the opposite, for someone nursing low self
esteem wearing the 'short skirt' is meant not to raise their esteem but
to hide it. Hide the fact that she's blonde, she's inadequate, it makes
sense for someone who doesn't want their flaws to leak to the outside
world. Self-esteem comes from within and it is expressible in everything
one does but we cannot 'raise' it by hiding our weaknesses, in fact it
is in accepting them that our esteem will be boosted.
<br />
<br />
2. Relationship-oriented
<br />
<br />
I call it relationship extremism: the wave of relationship oriented
material in the media in recent days. Are you my type? on KTN, Tujuane
and the flood of relationship 'experts' panelling lifestyle programmes
bespeaks what Kenyans value most...and it's not money. I could write a
book touching on relationships and it will be a best seller because it's
high season now.The value that relationships add in our lives is
overrated. This is not saying that they are not important,in fact they
are part of our humanness. A lot of time is dedicated to discussing
relationships with audiences who are not interested in nurturing good
ones. Without undermining their role, these 'experts' offer conflicting
solutions which confuse their lovelorn audiences more. Ultimately, it is
neither relationship oriented reality shows that will nurture and
maintain good relationships nor 'experts' who are keen to increase their
profiles and sell their merchandise by giving contradictory advice. It
is just you and me who'll make it work
<br />
.
<br />
3. Funeral politics
<br />
<br />
Yesterday, a group of politicians put on their grieving sheepskins
to mourn the mother of baby Satrin Osinya, Victoria. The politicians
started berating the security chiefs and demanding for their sackings
for their failure to secure the country adequately. The folly of
politicians of using funerals to advance their political and personal
agendas is unceasing. Recently, funerals were theatres of threats and
counter threats by senators and governors. Matters that would be
otherwise be addressed at formal platforms are usually roused at
funerals leaving apolitical mourners feeling disrespected. Maybe it is
symbolic, funerals' politicking represent a death in leadership in this
country, a laying to rest of scant and skeletal leadership qualities
that our politicians convey and the stillborn promises that they dish
out. Strangely,a big man's funeral is not desecrated by petty politics
but their legacy is trumpeted for all to hear. The same cannot be said
for a villager's, since they do not know you,they will advance their own
political agenda. And we still fight for them.
<br />
<br />
4. Naomba Serikali
<br />
<br />
This past week, a man overwhelmed by familial problems urged the
Gov't to intervene in his domestic affairs. One cannot be sure which
gov't since we have the county gov't. The 'naomba serikali' syndrome
which means gov't intervention has yet to die in this day and age. It
was certainly a pandemic during the Moi era, with handouts being doled
out at every opportunity. The Kibaki era wasn't as generous and calls of
'naomba serikali' would be met with a 'kumbafu' here and there,
followed by an unending silence. The former President, much as he tried
would not crush the habit. Empowering people is the only cure for
'naomba serikali.' once people realise their potential, talents and
abilities, then investing in them. Then, it will be 'serikali inaomba'
<br />
<br />
5. Governing Matatus
<br />
<br />
The new transport regulations are in force. Transport CS Eng Kamau
and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) must have torn a
page from the late Michuki's rulebook. The overachieving former
transport minister proved that diplomacy and compromise should not be
applied when dealing with stubborn matatu crews. The firmness with which
matatus have been dealt with is admirable. The roguery displayed by
matatus that in turn caused an unprecedented wave of road carnage had to
be halted. The new rules is hoped will reverse the trend of tragic
road accidents caused mainly by carelessness and negligence of traffic
rules. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-11887379526859188492014-04-02T17:19:00.001+03:002014-04-09T22:40:55.969+03:00The Kapsoya matatuThis matatu defines the terms unroadworthy, rickety, tough, rusty and
unwieldy to near perfection. When you board a Kapsoya matatu, you must
have considerable faith that you will reach your destination.<br />
<a name='more'></a> Your faith
must surpass the litres of petrol that the matatu has and better still,
it must be stronger than the matatu's mechanical condition. This is the
kind of matatu that can stall on the railway track as a train is fast
approaching. They produce blinding smoke from their exhaust pipes, the
kind of which a magician can disappear and re-appear with brand new
clothes. They elicit thrill, fear and consternation all at once. Yes, we
Kapsoya residents have been derided because of our old matatus, to an
extent an out-of-town visitor will think that the Kapsoya stage is a
garage. The estate has been slighted as "a graveyard of matatus". This
is the route where a matatu's last days as a useful public transport
machine are spent. This assumption is relative. Kapsoya matatus are as
tough as they come.
<br />
<br />
They can withstand the bumpy and adverse road network that leads to
the estate. A driver adjusts the rigid gears and steps on it in a such
manner you would think it is Vin Diesel in Fast and Furious. They are
old warriors that have survived broken windows, cracked windscreens,
failed wipers, non-functional headlights, non-existent brake-lights,
leaking roofs, dusty seats and coughing engines to still be driven and
operate everyday in a difficult route. My cousin from Nairobi once drove
me into a fit of laughter when he asked me the route number of Kapsoya
matatus. These matatus have no "hewa", so the tunes you hear are; the
shrill sound of clanging windows mixed with the stuttering roar of the
engine plus that continuous squeak that an unstable chair somewhere
produces and Dinka conversations of South Sudanese are part of what
makes the music. They have no screens and if they were they would either
be cracked or out of service. These matatus have no graffiti, the
furthest a matatu has gone in decòr is painting lines of different
colours or the classic flame graffiti.
<br />
<br />
Body work on the matatus is done once in a solar eclipse. This is a
route which demands less glamour and more grit so you put aside your
snooty attitude, this is not Coast Bus or Modern Coast which has
adequate leg room, reclining seats or a beaming hostess serving you with
a glass of warm juice. This is a matatu when it rains some seats are
reserved for the raindrops. When it is dusty, a bump can cause a
sandstorm in the matatu. They are not the sleekest machines in town
even some look like they are crying or miserable by the multiple
renovations and repairs they have gone through. If they were human
beings, they would have testified every Sunday of how God has seen them
through surgery.
<br />
<br />
The fare is sh 20 to town and sh 30 from town but an increase in
fares is accompanied by the following notice, "Due to an increase in the
prices of spare parts, the fare has increased by sh 10". Enjoy your
ride.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-86357148230276202462014-04-02T17:14:00.001+03:002014-04-09T22:41:23.689+03:00When the world came crashing downHe was in tears as the cameramen clicked away and the microphones had
been set, the press people were waiting to take notes. This press
conference was an unpleasant, the room was hot and stuffy, <br />
<a name='more'></a>he loosened
his tie a bit. He wasn't sure what jerked his tearfall, the fact that
his reputation was ruined or he was going to jail. He was sweaty, the
press statement that he was to read was soaked in his palms. He looked
at it and thought if he should really read it, the Public Relations team
had done their best to lessen the impact of his mistake by doing some
linguistic engineering on the script.
<br />
<br />
The buzz in the room did not interrupt his thoughts, he was deeply
recollecting what had happened in the last few days. The weight of his
name made this press conference a national affair. He was a 7-time
winner of the Global Literature Award, the most coveted prize in the
literary world. His books never had a shelf-life, they sold like there
was a million dollar cheque stuffed inside them. He had risen to
national, then regional, finally global prominence, no wonder he
spotted, BBC and CNN reporters in the room. He no longer lived his own
life, the world owned it. He was a headline and not backpage material.
<br />
<br />
However on that cold July evening, it was on a Wednesday, he walked
into that house enraged like an agitated buffalo. She had refused his
offers of cash, he could have given her enough to buy shoes and
fantasies. He was not perfect, you see, and he wanted that information
sealed.
<br />
<br />
Back then when he was still hustling, he once robbed a shop with his
friends and one of them shot the cashier dead as they made away with
money. The shooter was arrested and told to name his accomplices. They
all denied ever knowing him and the shooter had his sole bacon roasted
in jail. What this literal genius didn't know is in that shop there was a
lady at the store who was fiddling with her phone and recorded the
whole event. She did not testify in court because of fear and she never
deleted that recording, either, she used to watch it again and again. As
life would have it, she identified a familiar face, a face synonymous
with fame . That cashier was her dear friend and she wanted justice.
First she thought of extorting money from him but her conscience would
not allow her to stoke the flames of injustice.
<br />
<br />
He knew of her intention to surrender the recording to the police
through a friend low on the food chain of friends, that is how great he
was.. That was the kind of info that would take away endorsements and
deals and alienate him from the high and mighty. That evening, the lady
did not wilt under his threats and did not yield to his promises, the
police were already on their way to take him away, she had called them
beforehand, it was too late.
<br />
<br />
The media that handed him the ladder to climb to the top, yanked it
from beneath his feet and he began free falling. No one wanted anything
to do with him. The friends whom he popped Champagne with, vanished and
left him in an island of despair. His publishers rejected him as soon
as they heard he was an accomplice to murder and robbery with
violence.The lucrative endorsements were withdrawn, the Global Literary
Foundation snatched the seven awards away from him ,his tattered image
would tarnish the awards' credibility. Worse, his fianceé cancelled
their engagement. His parents were disappointed in him. The world was
crashing down hard on him. Sympathisers were as few as TNA votes in a
remote village in Kisumu He was alone.
<br />
<br />
Back to the glare of the cameras, his mouth moved and there was
abrupt silence, such was the tension in the packed room. He had
abandoned God, he prayed no more, but he murmured deep within that He
would hold him because he was falling and he was wingless to do anything
about it. On that table laden with microphones, cables, recorders, he
had his PR team with him not to stand by him but to earn their money. No
friends but his mother was there, that greatly refreshed him. His
gigantic fall did not quake his mother's love for him though she was
deeply angered, his father had ran for the hills after friends' and
relatives' motored mouths would not stop talking.
<br />
<br />
He wearily held his script, wiped his tears away and looked at the
starved journalists. "This morning, i would like to...." In ten minutes
it was all over. He had tried to plaster his seriously injured image
even if he knew his reconcilatory tone would not change the tune of the
bewildered public. They had seen the recording on TV and newspapers
splashed the images all over the streets making him undoubtedly guilty
before their eyes. The cameras ruthlessly snapped and the unsatisfied
and unforgiving journalists wanted more. He walked away into the waiting
grip of handcuffs and into the bowels of a police van.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-61874629461961861422014-04-02T17:05:00.003+03:002014-04-09T22:41:50.336+03:00Kenya@ 50: Guessing Facebook activity before and just after independence.Facebook Groups
<br />
1. Colonialists with Swag
<br />
2. Nyamwezi long distance traders
<br />
3. Man -Eaters of Tsavo
<br />
4. The Wanga Collaborators<br />
<a name='more'></a>
<br />
5. The White settlers:Africans for reserves.
<br />
<br />
6. Socialites for freedom
<br />
7. KADU youth wing.
<br />
8. Ogiek hunters and gatherers.
<br />
<br />
Status updates
<br />
1. "Facebooking in detention"
<br />
2. I think I'm in love with a colonialist
<br />
<br />
2. "OMG! "Who are these people with white skin?
<br />
3. Just chilling in my hut
<br />
<br />
4. I hear the Government was to construct a metal snake from Mombasa to Port Florence(Kisumu)
<br />
5. Nkt! Our policemen should style up and stop putting on those funny shorts6. i bought my first bicycle today.
<br />
7. Yuck! eeeew! Jomo ametupiwa mayai yenye imeoza!
<br />
8. Harambee! Gud nyt friends.
<br />
<br />
<br />
Facebook Pages
<br />
1. Kenyans against Ludwig Krapf
<br />
2. Someone tell the colonialists
<br />
3. RIP Barter trade
<br />
<br />
4. Kapenguria Six
<br />
5. Beberu arudishwe kwao
<br />
6. Conversations za Uhuru
<br />
<br />
6. 1969:I was alive when man went to the moon
<br />
7. Tom Mboya
<br />
8. Men against Wangu wa Makeri
<br />
9. Campus divas for Mau Mau
<br />
10. Dr Livingstone Church for Africans.
<br />
11. NTV: Turning on your freedom
<br />
<br />
Facebook names
<br />
1. Daisy Mekatilili Mswt
<br />
2. Tom koitalel arap Samoei Jr
<br />
3. Freedom fighter Pele Kimani
<br />
4. Peter Mzungu
<br />
5. Miss Independence Mwikali
<br />
<br />
News Feed.
<br />
1. Jomo Kenyatta is now friends with Pio Gama Pinto.
<br />
2. Paul Ngei likes Lancaster House
<br />
3. Steve Bakari likes Police shorts fashion line.
<br />
4. Daisy Mekatilili Mswt is now friends with First Prime Minister Omondi.
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-82437843470368949332014-04-02T16:11:00.002+03:002014-04-09T22:42:06.405+03:00Why do Kenyans love observing?Why do Kenyans love observing? The desire to observe is in Kenyans is
like nowhere in the world, i presume. You will find a group huddled
observing while road construction is going on,<br />
<a name='more'></a> you will find some ogling
at ladies as they strut by in town, some will have their eyes firmly
fixed on TV sets outside an electronics shop. Others will be found
observing as a demolition exercise is going on. I'm not talking about a
quick glance or a brief look but a really sustained interest complete
with a pause and direction at the surrounding events.
<br />
<br />
Explanations abound on just why Kenyans love observing. Many point
to idleness, unquenchable curiosity and cheap attention seeking and
as the reasons that push many to be observers. Kenya must be an
interesting country, in my part of the world, there is a spot, a
newspaper vendor where politics is hotly debated by people whom you
might think are in Ruto's or Raila's inner circles. Here you will find
attentive observers, you may argue that politicking can be front-row
interesting but what about the fascinated observers gathered around a
dramatic self-proclaimed nutritionist who uses his paraphernalia to wow
them. A mixture of this and that and the dangers of eating meat are
chemically unravelled.
<br />
<br />
The observe syndrome cannot be assessed in a blanket manner because
everyone has their own reasons for paying keen attention to happenings
around them. Some may be fishing for stories to trade with their
friends, others may be interested in how the machines work, where
machines are involved, others love attention or are simply idle.
<br />
<br />
This obsession with observing cannot be easily explained but it may
just be human nature. Human beings have an insatiable desire to know, we
want to be in the know about everything. Observing partly satisfies
this need to know. Events around us carry certain bits of information
that the human mind tries to capture whether in an idle or active
capacity. One may want to know how the rescue operation was conducted,
how the monstrous Caterpillars work in tandem to construct a road, they
want to know what alcohol does to your stomach by observing how the
hoarse voiced medicine man uses his apparatus to demonstrate the perils.
<br />
<br />
The length of observation depends on the amount of information that
an observer has processed and feels that he (most are men) is satisfied.
Of course, someone with a more qualified standing in issues to do with
psychology or Sunny Bindra may explain this desire with observing among
Kenyans.
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-23432616252620222272013-11-25T21:36:00.000+03:002013-11-25T21:38:19.628+03:00How to live <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">Most of the time we complain about how hard life is,most of the time that is true but only because we let it. How about we re-evaluate ourselves and just simplify it by :</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">Less TV, more reading</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less talking , more listening</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less clubbing, more safaris</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less rushing , more slowness</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less consuming, more creating</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less junk, more real food</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less busywork, more impact</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less driving, more walking</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less savings, more charity </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less noise, more solitude</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less focus on the future, more on the present</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">less worry, more smiles</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;">breathe....just breathe</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Cambria, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 34px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756425106079506940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-65607532512192342602013-10-22T20:44:00.003+03:002013-10-22T20:44:15.596+03:00Chris Kirubi – Kenya’s Agent of Change<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Editor’s note:
This article was featured in Ventures Africa magazine’s August/September issue</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> VENTURES AFRICA – Dr Chris Kirubi is the
quintessential Kenyan entrepreneur. A self-made businessman, he rose from
poverty to create a multi-million dollar empire of property, investment,
manufacturing and media companies. Today, he is well-known both in Kenya and
internationally.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a> Kirubi is the chairman and a shareholder of Haco Tiger Brands
(a joint venture with Tiger Brands SA, listed on the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange). He is also CEO of Capital FM and holds large equity stakes in
Nairobi Stock Exchange listed investment firm Centum, UAP Insurance and the
Kenyan franchise of DHL. Furthermore, he is a shareholder in Nairobi Bottlers,
a bottling franchise for Coca-Cola.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kirubi is remarkably taciturn about his past. “There
is not much history. I was born a poor boy – an ordinary peasant, I would say.
My parents passed on when I was young. But I was lucky to have people who
supported my education,” he says. His first jobs helped him develop a sense of
selfreliance. “When I was in school I worked during holidays to help myself and
my brothers. My work experience therefore started many years ago. It builds
confidence. It gives you experience as well. It teaches you at a very early
stage how to take care of yourself. You learn a lot of discipline – how to
manage your time, how to be transparent – and this was a good base for doing my
own business. I apply this to whatever I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After high school, Kirubi took up his first formal job
with Shell as a sales rep. He moved swiftly through his graduate studies and
positions in the pharmaceutical industry, the automotive industry and
government before deciding to begin a new journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Building on a Property Foundation</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That journey began with property development. Kirubi
owns one of Kenya’s most iconic buildings, the International House in Nairobi –
namesake and headquarters of International House Limited, his property
investment firm. “Property was one of the easiest things to try to get into,”
Kirubi explains. “Properties were not expensive as they are now. Today in Kenya
it is almost impossible to buy. Back then, if you had a friend in the bank to
support you it was easy to buy these assets. I used to buy neglected
properties, do them up and flog them in the market. It was an area that there
were not many people involved in, and it was a very profitable venture.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does he believe property is the backbone of his
success? Not strictly. “It was a combination but property was where I began. I
started on a good footing,” he says. “I was asked by a company to partner with
them in manufacturing writing implements and was also trading with a Dutch
company. But I got involved with the Dutch company because the MD stayed in one
of my properties. We got to know each other and became good friends. With
International House, I worked for [the insurance company that was headquartered
there]. I used to sell policies and when they decided to close down their
offices in Kenya, they offered me the opportunity to buy the building and
supported me in talking to the banks and off we went. So property was always
the foundation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More Ups than Downs</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From there, Kirubi built a diversified empire, and
recalls only one defeat – a paint industries business. But even on the topic of
failure, Kirubi is characteristically upbeat. “I didn’t understand the routes
to market and couldn’t gain ground against the giants in the sector. But I
learnt: you fail, you get up and you walk. You move on. I had the proceeds from
the assets and some land that I still hold, so it wasn’t a total disaster,” he
says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His successes have been plentiful and on this point
Kirubi can afford to be a little philosophical. “Success for me is not
enumerated in wealth,” he says. “I have come to discover that money and
material things are never quite sufficient; the goal post always shifts when
you get there.” He returns to his typical pragmatism: “Success means being able
to accomplish the goals I have set out for myself. If, for example, I have a
goal to build a state-of-theart property, success comes in small doses. It is
in seeing the milestones we have achieved with completion of every construction
step and finally being able to open up the building for occupation. More so, it
extends to having a 100-percent occupancy rate of satisfied clients. When that
happens, I can say I feel successful in that angle.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His biggest success, he believes, was his transition
from a position of poverty to that of employer, shepherding himself”from the
very poor world to a world where I am able to create jobs and create
opportunities” for fellow Kenyans. “My success is Kenya’s success. I have lots
of people working for me in the various companies I have. From being poor, I am
now a job creator, creating lives for other people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Managed Interventions</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kirubi has developed a reputation for turning around
failing businesses, Capital FM being an exemplary case. “Capital FM was almost
dead. They were not paying their bills, the staff was demotivated. It was
struggling in the market place,” Kirubi says. “But I saw an opportunity. I realized
that what was missing was focused management. The company was concentrating on
a narrow band of expat listenership.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The beleaguered radio station might not have seemed a
viable investment to many, but to Kirubi it was an opportunity. “I like buying
things that are not well managed and turning them round, because I know the one
thing I can put into a business is management. Within a few years, we turned it
around, widened the base of listenership, brought in younger Kenyans to be
presenters and I myself went on air – I got involved to make sure that people
had contact with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The opportunity was twofold. “I really thank Capital
very much because I had lots of products to promote and I was paying a lot of
money in advertising. So I thought, why I don’t buy the media itself?” he says
jovially, before adding on a serious note: “It became my life. When you get
into media, it’s hard to get out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Diversified Portfolio</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How has he managed to build success in so many diverse
sectors? “Regardless of the sector, being successful requires first and
foremost that you understand your market,” he answers. “When I first got into
media, I faced numerous challenges in trying to understand the market, its
needs, the skills required and the peculiarities of the industry. I had to do
my research and practically submerge myself in the industry by becoming a DJ in
order to understand the market. Only then could I make proper and effective
decisions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knowing your market is just one item on a shopping
list of attributes and virtues that Kirubi feels help create success. “You need
to have a vision, be passionate about it, build a credible brand and have
tenacity, especially when the trials seem to be more than the successes,” he
advises. “Obviously this list is not exhaustive but success requires you to put
in hard work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Going Social</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His involvement in Capital FM took Kirubi into the
brave new world of digital media, which has captured him completely. “This to
me is a very exciting world. I have about three million hits a day on Capital
FM. The future is new media. It is instant, it is specific and everybody can
talk to everybody else. New media is very fast. You are not waiting for news at
10 at night,” he says. “Businesses have to change. They have to see
communication as a major issue. They have to understand who is saying what
about them, and to be aware of negatives and correct them, or their businesses
will disappear beneath them without them knowing what is going on. [New media]
has brought customers to the forefront. People have the power now to
communicate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kirubi’s use of social media and his show on Capital,
which he presents as DJ CK, have raised his public profile as an outspoken
advocate for entrepreneurism and entrepreneurs. His Twitter account (@CKirubi)
has nearly 100,000 followers, many of whom use the hashtag #AskKirubi to
solicit his guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Entrepreneurial Flair</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, I engage with many aspiring entrepreneurs. In
fact, I have always advocated for self employment as a means to curb the
skyrocketing unemployment levels in Kenya. Young people shouldn’t just wait to
get absorbed into the formal employment sector but must look at alternative
ways of generating income,” Kirubi says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to Kirubi, the issues that keep young
entrepreneurs awake at night include cash flow, access to financing,
competition in the market and the market’s relative demand for their offerings.
At least, those are the issues they frequently ask him about. “What I always
assure them is that for the most part, there is nothing new under the sun. Your
proposition is not a ‘eureka’ one. It is more likely an offshoot of an old
solution adapted to evolving challenges. As such, many other people have gone
before you and encountered the same problems. One of the best ways to counter
these problems is to get a business mentor and if possible, allow yourself to
be incubated until you feel you can stand on your own two feet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Online mentoring allows Kirubi to combine two of his
passions: entrepreneurism and Kenyan youth. “There is much that I do behind the
scenes but I remain most passionate about young people,” he says. “In fact, I
have made it my life’s mission to belong to them. For me this means
understanding how young people think, what matters to them and seeing how best
I can influence positive change. The truth is that ‘youth’ remains a most
sought-after commodity – but it is also a very trying time because they have
not quite concretised their identity. I am passionate about inspiring them to
become who they want to be, in line with what matters to them. There are no
limits to what they can perceive and consequently achieve.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kirubi looks to global business icons for his own
inspiration. “I am inspired by successful moguls like Richard Branson and
Donald Trump,” he says. “These are individuals who are able to overcome their
own personal hurdles, actively seek out new territories to conquer and actually
excel despite others not believing in them. They are unconventional in their
thinking and lifestyle, take huge risks and as a result have created huge
empires from their personal brands. I identify most with them but I am also
very driven. In my personal life, I am inspired by my family and the fact that
I have this talent, for which I must be an excellent steward. I do not take my abilities
for granted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where to Next?</span></b><span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Will he ever retire, I ask? “Retire to what, madam?”
he answers. “I don’t go on holiday. I am always on holiday. I believe in
working. I love my job, I love what I do –that’s my life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #565656; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Motivated by his ongoing opportunity to transform
Kenya’s economic landscape, Kirubi says he wakes up every day and asks himself
what he can do to make his country the place of his dreams. “As a member of the
original team tasked with putting together Vision 2030, I was inspired by the possibilities
of what we could become, and this vision still motivates me to date. I want to
be at the centre of positive change in Kenya, regionally and beyond. I want the
world to know that when something good happens in Africa, it is not by
accident. We have put in more than a fair share of personal and collective
effort. It is Africa’s turn to rise and shine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.1pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(VENTURES-AFRICA.COM)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756425106079506940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-16308325421251815172013-09-12T18:16:00.000+03:002013-09-16T19:07:47.367+03:00Types of matatu passengers<div class="_5k3v _5k3w clearfix">
<div>
This morning when i got into
the matatu, i was my observant self and i was able to distingush various
characters and types of passengers, here goes.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The nursery.<br />
This is a woman who will enter the matatu with her seven children.
One on her back and six others in tow, they are usually very young and
the eldest is like nine years old. The conductor will ask if she is
paying for any of her sitting children, that question is often answered
by the mother making her little army stand up. Woe unto you if its a
Nissan matatu, you will begrudgingly carry one of the kids and your
designer pair of trousers or skirt may end up as a urinal during the
course of the journey.<br />
<br />
The newspaper man.<br />
He is
the one who reads a newspaper throughout her journey even if he falls
asleep, he will wake up and continue reading it. They are usually very
touchy about their papers, some will refuse you when you borrow. On
Sunday, they will wrap their Bible in the newspaper. And they may also
use the folded it to kill a troublesome housefly.<br />
<br />
The listener<br />
This
particular passenger has earphones in his ears throughout the journey
even if the vehicle has deafening booming music and a big screen. They
will periodically show-off their phones. That Nokia E-71 or that I-phone
but only if the world knew that those earphones don't work and that
sleek and latest- looking phone is a multiple copy of a phone and that
has been bought and sold 8 times.<br />
<br />
The sleeper.<br />
When
the journey starts, he will bury his head into his arms, wait, there are
a variety of sleeping positions. Matatu sleepers are a funny lot, if a
man dares sleep on another man's shoulder, that is a licence for a
knockout punch but if a lady sleepily rests her head on his shoulder,
that is a new addition to his phonebook. Matatu sleepers rarely have
lone conversations, they drool alright and some are taken beyond their
alighting stages.<br />
<br />
The musician(of sorts),<br />
This
passenger will lip synch to every song the matatu speaker has to offer.
They will bob their head and tap their feet and when their favourite
song comes on.<br />
<br />
The stander.<br />
He is known for
standing everytime, they will never board the matatu at the stage. The
standers are helpful as they can also assist to stop the vehicle for an
alighting passenger when the conductor is still squeezed at the back
collecting fare. In a Nissan,the "sambaza" board is rightfully theirs.<br />
<br />
The choosy one.<br />
These
are guys who must sit in a particular position. I don't like travelling
with such.If the front seat is occupied they would rather board the
next matatu, they feel entitled to the back seat. I once bowed to the
whims of a chooser, we sat at the back then a fish vendor boarded, let's
say i arrived in town smelling like a kettle of fish.<br />
<br />
The gossipers.<br />
They
are often women who trade stories for the whole matatu to be
entertained or annoyed. They will have open conversations about how the
watchman does not contribute to their 'chama' and how a neighbour's
daughter failed her exams and henpeck on how Mama Nani is a cheap
gossiper.They will laugh badly after sinister remarks.<br />
<br />
The aged.<br />
This
old and frail passenger will enter last in a matatu and the sympathetic
looks and stern faces directed the young man or lady seated close to
the door will prompt them to stand so that the aged sits. If the young
man expects a reward after standing for the old man or woman, he'll be
highly disappointed. That is why i never sit near the door.<br />
<br />
The bottle of cologne<br />
This
one suffocates the entire matatu with the cologne that he has worn.
Even their eyelashes will smell of cologne. They obviously got the 48-
hour protection concept all wrong.<br />
<br />
The storyteller.<br />
This is the one who will force you to interact with them, with stories of how the government should fix the bad road.<br />
<br />
The quiet one.<br />
They will always look out through the window and not speak a word, the conductor will often tap them for fare.<br />
<br />
The caller.<br />
Receives
and makes calls for good part of the journey. Most calls are personal
that could do well and be discussed privately, they will advertedly make
sure other passengers know that their bathroom towel is colour yellow
by the kind of calls they take and make.<br />
<br />
The drunkard.<br />
Mostly
at night. He will enter smelling like a bar and has had enough and a
variety of alcoholic drinks in his system to be called a brewery. They
will shout insults denoting private parts. They love the backseat.<br />
<br />
The thief.<br />
Matatus are his hunting ground. Phones and wallets are his prey.<br />
<br />
The diva.<br />
She will come in the matatu, play a choosing game on where she will
sit then gently touch the seat, wipe it with tissue pull her skirt then
sit. Take out her mirror, balm her lips, stroke her face then put on her
earphones.She is very conscious of whom she sits with. She is a
combination of the listener, the quiet one and the choosy, sometimes the
bottle of cologne. I am the quiet one, and you?</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-88560909292758574852013-09-06T19:43:00.002+03:002013-09-06T19:43:27.038+03:00The Kapsoya matatuThis matatu defines the terms unroadworthy, rickety, tough, rusty and
unwieldy<br />
<a name='more'></a> to near perfection. When you board a Kapsoya matatu, you must
have considerable faith that you will reach your destination. Your faith
must surpass the litres of petrol that the matatu has and better still,
it must be stronger than the matatu's mechanical condition. This is the
kind of matatu that can stall on the railway track as a train is fast
approaching. They produce blinding smoke from their exhaust pipes, the
kind of which a magician can disappear and re-appear with brand new
clothes. They elicit thrill, fear and consternation all at once. Yes, we
Kapsoya residents have been derided because of our old matatus, to an
extent an out-of-town visitor will think that the Kapsoya stage is a
garage. The estate has been slighted as "a graveyard of matatus". This
is the route where a matatu's last days as a useful public transport
machine are spent. This assumption is relative. Kapsoya matatus are as
tough as they come.
<br />
<br />
They can withstand the bumpy and adverse road network that leads to
the estate. A driver adjusts the rigid gears and steps on it in a such
manner you would think it is Vin Diesel in Fast and Furious. They are
old warriors that have survived broken windows, cracked windscreens,
failed wipers, non-functional headlights, non-existent brakelights,
leaking roofs, dusty seats and coughing engines to still be driven and
operate everyday in a difficult route. My cousin from Nairobi once drove
me into a fit of laughter when he asked me the route number of Kapsoya
matatus. These matatus have no "hewa", so the tunes you hear are; the
shrill sound of clanging windows mixed with the stuttering roar of the
engine plus that continuous squeak that an unstable chair somewhere
produces and Dinka conversations of South Sudanese are part of what
makes the music. They have no screens and if they were they would either
be cracked or out of service. These matatus have no graffiti, the
furthest a matatu has gone in decòr is painting lines of different
colours or the classic flame graffiti.<br />
<br />
Body work on the matatus is done once in a solar eclipse. This is a
route which demands less glamour and more grit so you put aside your
snooty attitude, this is not Coast Bus or Modern Coast which has
adequate leg room, reclining seats or a beaming hostess serving you with
a glass of warm juice. This is a matatu when it rains some seats are
reserved for the raindrops. When it is dusty, a bump can cause a
sandstorm in the matatu. They are not the sleekiest machines in town
even some look like they are crying or miserable by the multiple
renovations and repairs they have gone through. If they were human
beings, they would have testified every Sunday of how God has seen them
through surgery.
<br />
<br />
The fare is sh 20 to town and sh 30 from town but an increase in
fares is accompanied by the following notice, "Due to an increase in the
prices of spare parts, the fare has increased by sh 10". Enjoy your
ride.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-78266604118876967342013-09-06T18:15:00.001+03:002013-09-06T19:40:38.093+03:00A story of rejection<div class="notesBlogText clearfix">
<div>
The rope had been tied up
tighty on the beam, It hurt, it gnawed at him and it triggered a
tearfall from his big eyes. Memories of bitter rejection <br />
<a name='more'></a>from his own
and the unknown. Right from his own parents and his brothers. He was the
third born of a family of five. At five, they discovered that his
bowels could not hold, he would mess himself very often. By the time he
hit puberty his self-esteem was shattered, his self-worth disappeared,
he could not look at the mirror without weeping and he was cloaked in
self-pity. None of his classmates would make him a deskmate and during
break none would make him a playmate. He sat everyday on a rock his head
clamped in his hands. He was smelly actually he smelt like shit. He did
not understand why he had no friends, his condition was not of his own
making, he didn't create himself and he never intended to reek like a
toilet.<br />
<br />
<br />
His teachers never made things any easier, because
his grades always teetered on the edge of failure. Poor grades and
embarrassingly low marks never endeared him to teachers and made him an
object of ridicule and mockery among fellow pupils.If they only knew his
confidence was rock bottom and that meant doubt in his abilities, he
was blinded and deafened by his horrible weakness that he had no control
over. He was talented, he could dance, but he was always one dance move
away from messing himself up. One day he was deeply hurt when a teacher
in front of a class ready to laugh at him said with his poor grades the
best he must hope for was to be a toilet cleaner and his condition was
an automatic qualification.<br />
<br />
Back at home, his parents
berated him for his poor performance to an extent his father railed that
he regrets his birth everyday since it brought him shame. He once heard
his parents in a heated argument and his father questioned the mother
over his fatherhood or whether he was a product of a rape which no one
knows about. His mother took her frustration out on him and treated him
like a step-son. He didn't get new clothes, he washed his own mess, he
slept on the floor since they could not afford to wash the sheets he had
soiled on everyday, he ate away from the dinner table, in church he sat
on his own pew. They tried corrective surgery but it failed, he was
beyond repair, beyond any mending and that made his dreams and ambitions
crash from the sky. No more money would be wasted on his body, his
aunts and uncles kept a distance fearing a "curse". He tried approaching
his pastor, a servant of God but his evangelistic schedule was not
able to accomodate him but it somehow fit men and women who presented
their hefty cheques and gifts to him for promotions and healings. All he
wanted was a prayer, he prayed for himself and he wasn't selfish, he
prayed for others too who suffered like him, he even prayed for World
peace where love would reign.<br />
<br />
He had never experienced
love. His bowel condition robbed him of all love, his youngest brother
even blurted out that he would never get married. And who would he
marry? Girls covered their noses at his sight and ladies in his youthful
years rejected him outright, it did not matter how many bottles of
cologne he emptied, they stayed away. His peers insulted him from all
directions, they told him he couldn't hang, he wasn't among the boys.
They ruthlessly called him demeaning names. Walking toilet, sewage
plant, the real shit and others. He never had a social life, he wanted
to laugh at jokes and share his thoughts but wasn't accepted, he was
lonely. Then one day that all seemed to change. He was having a pity
party when a beautiful siren approached him. He was very surprised.
Someone was finally paying attention. He told her everything, his
struggles, his suffering, he told her every detail of his forsaken life.
The lady agreed to help and she got his consent to help, she knew a
doctor who would make it all go away, who would re-construct his life
from dejected ruin. She would use her influence to gather well wishers
and contribute enough money for one last chance at being a human being.<br />
<br />
He
was excited and encouraged as he saw the leaves of proformers go round,
the printed t-shirts with his name on them, finally an angel on earth
had been sent to lift his misery. for the first time he would smile,
laugh, he would enjoy what he could not in his childhood he was as happy
as a king. He imagined a new life of ressurected dreams. One and a half
month later no doctor, no surgery, the initiative had vanished, the
cause was no more, he had been used and he had fallen for it. Nobody
came to congrajulate him on his good fortune. Agitated, he confronted
the lady, she admitted that he was seen as an opportunity to get easy
money. The money that was supposed to help him was just enough to raise
for air tickets for members of a certain social club to travel abroad
and back for an important forum. At home his parents were upset with him
for wasting their time and hopes. Today all that misery would go away.
His body shook,his heart pounded, he was dripping sweat. He closed his
eyes and wore the noose round his neck.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-86398632594559985952013-08-22T20:14:00.002+03:002013-09-06T19:42:10.152+03:008-4-4: The transformation of ambition.<div class="notesBlogText clearfix">
<div>
8-4-4. It begins with you
being ambitious then practical and realistic then finally<br />
<a name='more'></a> being
open-minded. In primary school, a pupil aspires to be all sorts of
careers. The fancier the career, the better. A vox pop of primary school
kids always reveals that perceived larger than life professionals such
as neurosurgeons, pilots, doctors and lawyers inspire our kids. It is
big ambition, its all about being number one, it's about making your
cousins green with envy and your parents pink with delight by being top
of your class. Being a top-grade student was a promissory affair, you
work hard and you will be bought a new bike. Next term, be number one
and that Playstation you have moaned about will be your reward. It was
not really about understanding what the teachers taught but passing
exams to get your hands on that promised reward and that is where
parents contributed to the exam-driven culture of the 8-4-4 system.
Motivation is to pass exams is good and encouraged then reward is
deserved but it can also be a poisoned chalice.<br />
<br />
The fear
of repeating classes also made pupils work their socks off, a repeater
was a laughing stock among his peers and an embarrassment to parents.
Again pupils did not study for understanding but to be promoted, this
time teachers contributed to the pass-exams-or-nothing culture where
falling short is unacceptable and is wrongly used to determine
somebody's future, that makes the final exam such a high stakes affair
to a young mind. That has damaged the education system.The KCPE is the
red sea of primary school education where you either cross it and get to
the other side or you get drowned as KCPE's victims have taken their
own lives stung by hopelessness. The exam-driven mentality ruins the
ambitions of a number of pupils once the results are out, the fortunate
to score high marks go to secondary school.<br />
<br />
At this stage,
its all about being practical and realistic. A career choice is altered
on an individual's competence of certain subjects. The high-flying
ambitions of some are brought crashing down hard. As subjects get more
technical and deeper, a student realises his dream job of a pilot cannot
materialise because he is weak in Maths and Sciences. Another is
advised to drop Biology because their ambition of being a doctor is
compromised by poor performance. The good thing is that an exit is an
entrance to somewhere else, so a student will be advised to polish his
well performing subjects and drag his dismal subjects to perform as they
discover they are not good in Sciences but they score highly in
languages and humanities. You are tutored so that you get the right
balance of your weak and strong subjects to get a good grade and land in
university. They get practical and change career choice and help you
choose a course in university. The pass-exam mentality has by this time
been embedded in the students' DNA. They write exams with the end in
sight but the means is justified, no matter how far they go.<br />
<br />
University
beckons and here one's mind is cracked open. You view ideas in a broad
light. It is about making the most of what you have. There is no
competition from within, there are no class rankings or gradings
displayed for all to see and admire. It gets individualistic. In primary
and secondary, your performance mattered to your school, your peers,
your teachers and parents but in campus it really matters to you. Here
the exam-propelled culture has serious consequences hence the half-baked
graduates refrain that denies graduates opportunities in the wildly
competitive job market. Once you are out, you may find yourself attached
to a career your young ambitions had never thought of.<br />
<br />
Now,
the ambition is different, you desire to use what you have to get more
money and be in a better position. It's about being not only booksmart
but streetsmart. It comes down to getting the right connections that may
have a louder voice than your perfect grades in order to succeed.. It's
not for anyone's pleasure but yours alone. From motivation by promises
to balancing your strong and weak subjects and to finally working to get
the right connections, the chain of the 8-4-4.. Of course, some people
have made their professional desires come true right from primary school
and not all students are exam-minded, there are bright students but
this argument is for the numerous who discovered to come out a relevant
person, you have to be flexible, realistic and ambitious.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-7970539864209474462013-08-08T16:56:00.002+03:002013-08-16T13:32:24.294+03:00Sina StorySo Rigga sang "Sina Chorus", today mimi "Sina Story". Mental block is my
worst nightmare, than watching two spiders making love (i'm
arachnophobic, remember?). Since i have no idea of what i'll write about
and this won't be for long, here are my seven wonders of my week, it
won't make sense to you even me. Sunday.<br />
<a name='more'></a> I've been watching her for
quite a while, i've been wondering why she doesn't wear high heels and i
realised that she does not need heels because she is the height of
beauty. Monday, was wondering, why she calls it a handbag and yet she
carries it on the shoulders. Tuesday, i was wondering why her memory is
so bad, she gets invited to weddings by a memory card, she simply won't
remember the date and venue. Wednesday. I was wondering why she does not
put on jewellery yet every man is after her, i learnt she has a heart
of gold that every man wants to treasure. Thursday, i was wondering how a
rose flower can grow in the middle of the Sahara Desert, only If it has
her DNA, she's so unique. Friday, i was Wondering why she was crowned
Miss, maybe her beautiful face is the obituary for ugliness. Saturday, i
was wondering why she has no problem with her weight, i realised it
makes her larger than life: larger than the average life expectancy of
70 years, she will live to be 115 years. Her age also has weightAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-52633661177037848012013-08-02T12:32:00.002+03:002013-08-07T18:12:49.347+03:00Our holidays have lost meaning.<div class="notesBlogText clearfix">
<div>
A holiday is a day set aside to celebrate, to fete something or
someone of significance and to commemorate special event. For a day to
be spared for people to holiday, there has to be a good reason for the
attention it receives. But our holidays are meaningless nowadays. Why? <br />
<a name='more'></a>A
holiday is not supposed to be like any other day, no, it's a unique
day. A day to recreate with family and friends. It's a day to celebrate
something, in fact it's not about the day itself, it's not about 1 June
or 12th December but the events of that day was what marked it besides
other days of the week on that calendar. We have come to a point where
holidays have been stripped of their meaning. We are even prompted often
by our friends that a national holiday is around the corner, we don't
know by ourselves.<br />
<br />
Our national holidays are days we
should revel in: Madaraka day, Jamhuri day, Mashujaa day and Labour day,
these are days of indelible significance. These days signify something
that identifies our country from the rest. We celebrate our
independence, our labour movement and our heroes and heroines. What has
happened now is that those holiday have been reduced to political
gimmicks. They are days where a president will not talk about the
significance of that day and where the country is from when that
all-important day was marked, they will use that day to campaign, defend
their development record, harangue the opposition and make half-hearted
promises to soothe a dissioulioned public amongst them the sun baked
crowd in attendance at the stadium. It becomes a political rally and a
day to earn cheap political points. Try squeezing out from the speech a
reason why that Jamhuri day should feel special you won't get a word.<br />
<br />
The
citizens themselves disregard the national day by doing business as
usual, even opening hours are like normal days. Flags are rarely draped
on closed business premises like sometime ago. Families do not even bond
as people are out working. Children do not even know these holidays,
all they know is that they won't be going to school for that day, heck,
they even recognise a teachers' strike more than a national holiday as a
reason to stay at home. They do not know any of patriotic songs
otherwise "You guy " by P-Unit is an anthem in class four. The spirit of
nationhood and loyalty has been lost. We see Labour day as a day for
the President to dish out meagre pay raises for workers than a day to
celebrate workers' contribution in developing our country to greater
strengths. It's a day to bother the government with one demand after
another.<br />
<br />
But the question begs, are we given a reason to
celebrate? Mashujaa day is just another day for the Head of State to
have a field day, it's not really about commemorating our heroes' role
in liberating our country. Their dire living conditions are a clear
pointer that we unashamedly neglect them more rather than we honour
them, then we try to consecrate ourselves by setting a day aside for
them, a day where old and aged men and women are given a rare
opportunity to drink soda, really? And even after creating an occassion
to seemingly honour them, their status is still a footnote in this
country. That day is like any other day, we cannot even name one
national hero, they are not even our role models for their bravery and
determination in acquiring the country to be our own, our heroes are
Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga aside from our rot-filled politicians.<br />
It's
sad that national holidays have been reduced to just ordinary respites
where we are relieved that we won't be waking up at 6:00am for a cold
shower before heading off to work. And do not even get me started on how
commercialisation has ruined the significance of Christmas. We have
Christmas beginning from mid-October to mid-January...let's leave it
there. National holidays ought to be respected and honoured. In the same
vein, our leaders should steer the country in the right direction to
avoid turning national holiday platforms into untimely development
seminars and talk shops where they seek to lay clear their track record
and seek closure with a dissatisfied and disappointed public. Holidays
should be a time to relax and bond with loved ones, catch up with them. A
day for kids to spend time with their phantom dad who comes late enough
to find them asleep and leaves for work early enough, to beat traffic,
when they are still in bed.<br />
<br />
There are understandable
reasons to scoff at celebrating holidays, hard economic times, lack of
interest because we have not been encultured to assign meaning to that
special day. But let's not lose their meaning and let's not disparage
the efforts of those who made those</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-63661545367712180532013-07-31T18:20:00.002+03:002013-08-01T23:02:42.879+03:00Kenyan memories museum<div class="notesBlogText clearfix">
<div>
Welcome, ladies and
gentlemen, your curator today is Mr Shiramba Khamasi. As you can see, we
are still trying to establish the museum, it does not have much but it
has enough to jog your memory. Nothing expensive for anyone<br />
<a name='more'></a> to steal,
yes, i had to warn you. So let's begin the tour. On the right side of
the building, you can see televisions, but its not the TVs which are of
interest, its the programmes. You can watch Kinyonga, it used to air on
Sundays. Those days it was Mydundah, these days its Papa Shirandula. You
can also watch Sanaa Ya Kiswahili, honestly i found it boring but
anyway it's history. Better days was the premiere soap opera on
television, at least Mali is holding it down, Omo pick-a-box, money or
the box. We had Joy Bringers, hey, at least the Joyce Omondi and Co. had
a trail made for them. Then there was Tausi, "Hammaton my dear Hammaton
ukinishika nasikia electricity". I still remember that episode of
Tausi. For drama queen Rukia, we have Lulu Mali. <br />
Next is
the beverages and snacks section. Those days when lifestyle diseases
did not exist. When 3 tea spoonfuls of sugar was innocent. You can see a
satchet of Dextrosol glucose which left my palms orange after licking
it, a packet of Bibo, goody goody and KSL sweets, Softa soda drinks,
even a stash of nyam nyam which was a roadside snack just like roast
maize is. Those days diabetes, cancer were diseases for those who had
the money to manage them but now everything delicious is a danger to
health. I've seen my KOFA mathematical set. I remember labelling my name
on it with my compass.<br />
Do you remember the following
books: Hekaya za Abunwasi, Manywele, Moses in a muddle and other books
in the Moses series and Goldilocks. We were kept company by Tom and Mary
since class one, right now they must be tarmacking like the rest of us.
The reading culture then was healthy but now Facebook has pages like
'Convesation za Ujinga' and 'Kama uko under 18 na +25 usilike hii page'
providing the stories In this partition we have canes. Yes, canes in the
museum. All types of canes bunsen burner pipes, hose pipes, sticks
including those red Tilly handles. Caning was actually legal in schools.
Those days backsides were used painfully shape our discipline. Now kids
are grounded and denied mobile Internet for 48 hours as punishment.<br />
The days when young ones effortlessly memorised and recited the
National Anthem in full, the Loyalty Pledge and memory verses. Look at
the brick games and Lego bricks and i took photos of children playing
Kati, Kalongo, Banta/Bano, "karate ya uongo" and other outdoor games
just for memories. Now,TV series are keeping children obese in their
homes, they fall in love quickly watching Vampire Diaries not playing
Kalongo. I think being a child was much more fun than nowadays.<br />
Straight ahead,you can see if you can fit in my
Savco jeans. These days scaringly tight pencil jeans are trending or
maybe not, my fashion radar is under repair. You have seen those shoes
that had disco lights when you stomped your foot and those Hanson canvas
shoes that you would pray, it does not rain when wearing them. We now
have vans and plastic shoes worn without socks.<br />
At the tech
area you remember the diskette, Sagem phone, my Motorolla T-190 along
with the Kencell credit card which was as big as a wedding invitation
card. In 15 years, they will make space for your Iphones, tablets and
the rest of your Smartphones. On your left,you can look at those
ancient Sheng' words engraved on that tablet. There words like gashe,
kobole,matho,odijo. I can guarantee you xaxa, qwani and quender huckoe
will never make it to this museum even after 586 years.<br />
At
the bunker, there are pre-Michuki, pre-yellow line memories of public
transport. Stagecoach, Tropex, Kangasha and Webuye Escort buses, those
days public transport had not been baptised in the late Michuki's rules.
A 60-seater Webuye Escort bus could carry 200 passengers, with a
daredevil driver, at a constant speed of 160 km/h overtaking on tight
corners.<br />
I do not have everything yet so i'm urging memorable Kenyans to add more to these archives so that this museum can grow.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4988499703853432898.post-91614410751947990492013-07-26T17:27:00.001+03:002013-07-30T16:10:23.188+03:00Kenya's forgotten music artistes.<div class="notesBlogText clearfix">
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The music industry is very
competitive and it can either accomodate you or push you out. While most
music artistes have nailed down a place in Kenyan music folklore;
Nameless, Juacali, Wahu,Eric Wainaina just to name a few,several music
artistes have disappeared from the industry <a name='more'></a>radar and into oblivion.<br />
Karsha was a plum pretty good-sounding lady whose single "Sirudi
tena" featuring Michelle was a hit and her good looks sold her to her
fans. Her last contribution of note was featuring in a collabo with
Stevie Lee and Redsan. Next is Waridi, whose soulful single "Kweli" with
the late K-rupt announced her to the industry then she went silent. Who
remembers Gichboy? He was central to Bamzigi's mini-revival producing
several tracks for him including "Tukate" which was supposed to
introduce him to the music scene. Indiginas is another artiste who has
disappeared. After his runaway hit single "M.O.U" a collabo with Mr
Lenny, he never really lit up the industry again.<br />
After
splitting with Mr Googz, Vinnie Banton's single career did not acheive
the continuity that he would have hoped for after exiting success as a
group. The same can be said of the Buccaneers duo of Habib and Manga.
The Historians hit makers never sustained their fame after "Hey Dj".
Circute and Jo-el suffered the same unwanted fate after they split.
Lyrical Eriko and Shanky Radics of the "Bambika" monster hit had
wrangles prior to getting lost as they tried to yank the successful song
away from each other. The aforementioned Stevie Lee is another
forgotten artiste, his only recognisable song "Tafadhali" in
collaboration with Redsan and Karsha. Kamikaze's "Superstar" featuring
Monique was a hit that occupied charts until he fell off the wayside.
Another artiste set for stardom was Alaholla. His track "Miss mboch" was
an anthem that set him up to occupy the music industry but somehow the
momentum of his debut song faded as he did.<br />
Kingsting
and Bedbug, the Mombasa duo of the "Sonai" fame evaporated with the
industry heat as did Prince Adio of the "Nikiwa ndani" naughty hit song.
Delicious made a meek comeback which, frankly, did not last. His fans
probably remember him for "Tamu Sana". Maleek, the artiste who was
riding on the wave of Kenyan crunk with his "Natafuta" hit single with
Abass and Chiwawa, exited the music scene with as much as a whimper. In
the same light exciting rapper Kantai looked built to last in the
industry but the new generation of rappers seems to have overwhelmed
him. King Georges of the "Unanijazz" single was appeared to supplement
the Ragga Kenyan scene but he laboured to vanish from the airwaves.<br />
In the gospel music industry, The Votaries and Henrie Mutuku are
distant memories.Then there are those music artistes who were famed for
collaborations and vanished, the likes of CLD who worked Abass and
Bamboo, the thunder thighed Laety who voiced for the likes of Flexx,
Squid, who chorused the hit song "chacha" by K-Rupt. There are those who
quite never left a mark in the industry, artistes such as Wiwy,
Starborn,Bishop,Wazanasi, Kaka Camp, Daniella,Deepak Braxx,
Sokoro,Wamboe,Brenda,Patonee,Eklectiks, the Lastborns and others one
would labour to remember.<br />
These artistes' reasons for
vanishing from the industry may be valid: further studies, lack of
resources, some have ventured into new enterprises such as business,
some were students and they decided to settle into formal employment,
some were testing the waters and became one hit wonders and some found
it difficult after their groups split. I'm not ruling out a comeback for
some of them but that is not as easy as it sounds, the struggles of
Bamzigi and Delicious to fit in after they left attest to that. What
they can count on, is that they have their songs to keep them in our
distant memories.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07415525875248989576noreply@blogger.com6