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Showing posts from 2009

2009:THE YEAR THAT WAS

I am sitting at Java, Yaya Centre, enjoying a hot mug of Lemon Ginger and honey, and a little spoil of mushroom chips, I am wondering If I really should be eating chips when I have engaged my mind lately with getting to work out in 2010. It’s the 30th of December 2009 and I am supposed to be in Kitale, the little town in the Rift Valley where I grew up; to Usher in the new year with family; but I am not at the farm, I just got back to Nairobi this morning: It feels like the new year already, It feels like I am about to leap into a new phase of life, exploring new heights, that usually I would have ignored. ..Yes, I am not talking about it. Anyway, 2009 has been breathtaking. Just when I felt like I knew almost all a 30 year old woman has to know, a whole new world opened up, with all its uncertainties, it became the year I actually truly began to mature, gracefully at that! I have learned to love life, live it to the fullest, and to appreciate that happiness is priceless. Being young

What a good spa and a pink phone have in common

Just got back from the Illuvial Pink Nokia Launch, sitting infront of my TV wondering if I should be catching up on my beauty sleep after a day of stock market reviews and quite an interesting chat with Seni Adetu, Group Manging Director of East Africa Breweries, which comes on this weekend on East Africa Business Report. Anyway. 18:00 hrs, and a bit glammed up later I found my way to 101 Manyani East, the Aromatics spa. I've got good memeories of a hot stone massage there, and was looking forward to being at the spa again. There's something about a relaxing place that keeps you wanting to go back, even though hot stones were not to feature this time around. The illuvial Pink, is where Nairobi's Socialites, Media Beauties, and (some)Celebrities were tonight. A cosmopolitan cocktail served as the welcome drink and the very feminine ambience in Fushia's and black got the mood going. Homeboys were on the decks and Ms Kui Kalinga Ndavi (who I dont like very much after she

Of Tea pots and old maids

I turned 30 this year, I didn’t know whether to celebrate it or just take it as another feather in my (wisdom) cap. I didn’t throw a party, actually never had a party on my birthday after my 21st, when my first love Musya threw me the most amazing surprise party ever, with Black forest cake and family and all- back then it was a big thing, I wasn’t expecting it, and he always treated me extra special, so I knew he would buy me a gift or so, but that party is probably the only birthday of mine that I will never forget. Its 9 years later, and one would think I should be quite at ease with that. I have no worries talking about my age, and I love doing the guess game, and darn if you if you say anything older than 25:-) I have never been 30 years old before:-). And I am not the kind of person that plans much. I prefer some of my issues handled by experts, so they do the planning. My future finances are in order, I have policies that will take care of my child’s education, I have a life cov

That word "commitment"

My after work life has become rather predictable lately, other people would probably call it boring, but since I am the author of this blog, it shall stay as I say. Predictable. Great, so we are on the same page. I leave work between 1730hrs and 1800 hrs. If it’s not a Tuesday, when I go for my Mizizi class, then I go home, do my 20 minute jog, some extra minutes of simple exercises, play with Imani, that’s my 3 yr old daughter, make dinner, which we have early, at around 1930hrs before she goes to bed at 2000hrs. That’s when my “me time” begins. If it’s Monday it’s desperate housewives on Series, then Quest means business on CNN, then off to bed, to read, write, think, regret, make plans, dream, sleep, or count the sheep in my mind as I search for sleep. Other times, mostly Friday’s I catch up with a friend over a drink, usually quite predictable one too, it would be either Lizz, Monique, Shep, K.A, Wanja, or my Bestest boy-mate, Kent. Tonight; Tuesday, my Mizizi class ended late a

MY COPPER BELT DIARY (Compiled in Nairobi :-)

DAY 2- NDOLA 9.00 am, had an interview with the PS in the CopperBelt Province, after that I met the fastest Chinese man on the planet, we went to his smelter after getting assistance from the PS. Was great fun talking to both gentlemen about how the Zambian Government has taken on attracting investors via incentives..and one stop shop for investors, much like Susan Kikwai's Kenya Investment Authority, but perhaps one that works faster. My Point: Between the time Kenya Airways wrote a request letter to set up shop in Ndola, and the first flight, was 3 months. we say doing Business in Africa is diffcult, lets also paint the true picture, that some governments are working faster tha others at it, and realise the importance of ease of doing business. Kenya apparently dropped in it's ease according to the World Bank and IFC report for 2010, I hope we can learn from the likes of Zambia just how much we can encourage much needed foreign capital inflows into our economy. This and oth

My Copper Belt Diary

Right now..under intense pressure, it's a bit slow, i must deliver for jobo..and some things are not working as I had planned! Anyway, Kenya Airways landed in Ndola, the copper belt of Zambia, and I was on the inaugural flight. The launch was quite succesful, from start to finish of this plan took 60 days. KQ gave the Zambian govt the plan, and in three months, Ndola becomes Kenya airways 44th Route. commendable to the Zambian Govt! Now that's why red tape must go..hope other govts learn from this one! While here I will be looking at the impact of this on trade relations, opportunities here for investors, speak with some (Kenyans - East Africans) here on ease of doing business, barriers to entry, etc.. Catch up on CNBC Africa this week! Ok..day Number one done. Will drop a line tomorrow. Lets hope it will be a faster day! Cheers peoples!

Conversations about tomorrow

I recently an old book from a street vendor I like to buy from at the corner of Alliance Francais in Nairobi. The title caught my eye, besides the Larry King’s profile picture back in the day with full black (brunette) hair and skin that could have known botox. Future Talk: Conversations about tomorrow with Today's most Provocative personalities. The book was published about 10 years ago, and the powerful conversations got me going. Last night I read Larry's interview with Microsoft’s Bill Gates. It was done online and they talked about the future of the Internet. What I love most about Larry King is his ability to converse on TV as if it is a discussion over coffee, without the glare and jitters that come with camera's lights and showbiz countdowns. I wished I was a fly on the wall as Bill Gates typed his responses to Larry’s pretty normal questions; they usually are what you and I would probably be thinking of, without having to sound too smart. Some of the q

Mr. President, Attached please find my Curriculum Vitae.

I am not applying for Public office, at least not now; I am kinda loving the private sector right now. But there seems to be some vacancies; or potential vacancies, how about you hold onto mine for a bit? When Major General Hussein Ali was taken off his powerful commissioner of police job, the former Top Cop was handed the position of Post Master General, There was quite some ruffling of feathers within the country, I mean, from Police Commissioner to Post Master General. That’s quite the career shift. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, I mean how many pharmacists are now doing marketing? Now, about Post Master General , For those who do not know what this means, once upon a time, there was a company fondly known as Posta, back in the day when letters were letters, and when I was a stamp collector during my hobby years. The Postal Corporation of Kenya was one of the Giants of this economy, with postal money transfers (then called postal orders), way before western U

GIVE ME A PLAN

A couple of weeks ago I attended Mindspeak,The Business Club a once a month Saturday morning ritual that I have become addicted to. It's usually a great networking event, and James Murua made a good note here Caroline Mutoko was speaking on her rise to the Queen of Radio (even if she did not say so herself.) It was an inspiring morning, one that opened up my mind to fresh ideas and new thinking, in an extremely competitive market, especially in my field of work. She spoke about the vital role that in between semester jobs and holiday internships play in forming a diligent worker out of a person. From a clerk in an Asian’s store she learnt to be thrifty and frugal with her monies, whereas in school she learnt theories in Math’s & economics that she applies in her every day work. But what caught me the most was her views in terms of idea generation. If you live and work in Kenya, and happen to hang around a crowd, any crowd, there's is often talk of new business ve

Not Another Christmas

Fireplaces and the unforgettable scent of dry Cyprus Laughter and stories of days long gone And Pilau cooked from the olden fireplace outside Are just but some memories I have of Christmas Memories: because last, and the year before You were not there to collect acorns with me and spray paint them in golden hues to place atop the Fireplace, As the warmth of Christmas soaks in With Jim Reeves playing in the backdrop of togetherness I want new memories that I can sing about and sink into The season's slowly coming, but... Not another Christmas without you.

Giving up is not an option

Mid Morning today I read a tweeter update from Bankelele about “ Diaspora’s giving up on Kenya” . I read it, and I felt terrible about about what it means for us as a country. I posted to him a smaller & edited version a response to his blog.. It begins: In the Media, Bad News is great news. I hope you realize this aspect of reporting as you and other Kenyan’s in the Diaspora make decisions about home. It is always a crowd puller to report about 1000 people dying from post poll violence than it when 37 charter flights resume their flights to Kenya. Don't allow yourself to be a victim of Mis-directed reporting, one that doesn’t care about a continent that is still represented by a thin black child holding out his hands to relief food. The grim images on TV are true, so much so that they became a label of what Kenya is about, but that can and will change if someone stops talking and starts acting. That someone is us. Someone who has a platform to inspire Kenyans towards change,

THE MISCOMMUNICATION OF NEW MEDIA

Photo:courtesy of misingmama.com I would perhaps be the worst person to write a headline like this. What with my broadcast media background and where new media has placed entrepreneurs keen on exploring the possibilities that digitalization comes with. But I am writing from a very personal perspective, about things that mean much to me now, and how much the digital age has erased the little romanticism still lingering on the corners of this earth. I am on one of the corners, the biggest one perhaps and hold so much value to flowers, cards, letters & even postcards, yet I am in the cast in the middle of SMS, email, twitter & Facebook. Is long distance relationship the same as online dating? Online dating is the route through which one finds someone on a social relationship site. Several times, it’s intercontinental, and Communication here is based on in-boxing within the site, and when either Party is comfortable, then they move on to email, then to personal cell numbers & e

ARE WE SUCH A SORRY LOT?

I think It's a Kenyan thing. We like to say sorry about everything. I wonder, because I hear it everyday. Is it the way we are socialized? Does it reflect our personality traits. Are we so attuned to being the first to apologize about everything and anything? "Sorry" here,by the way means a totally different thing from " I am sorry" especially in reference to Partners (spouse or other)...here we harldy say sorry:-). You dont think you say sorry enough? Ask a Non Kenyan, you will be shocked! Sorry subsitutes for everything. You only need to look up the word sorry to relize just how badly we use it. It's not World Sorry Day, and I am not saying sorry today. Even when I should..checking synonyms now... Mad Love, TC

Dear Ms Clinton

Ma'am, Now you know why Kenyan ladies have a reputation for looking good :-)! Your hair looked lovely too. Welcome to Kenya. (But the traffic jam we got here...another story for another day) I listened to your speech today, intently. You asked Africans to get to the basics of Responsible Governance. But, here, you know there is no such thing as a Responsible Government. You see, Responsibility comes with Maturity, but look here, we only a 45 year old Nation, and still growing. Pardon the Pun, I have been told by my dear friend Vuzi I am the product of over colonization. You say Greed & corruption are the common currency. You know by now about the book “It’s our time to eat”, the people we put in power have 5 years to get rich quick. But comparing this with currency is actually a tad of an over emphasis. Some of us actually work for a living. The Majority of us at least, that majority here means about 95% of the population. Tough talking or not, we have made great strides in pus

WHAT BIKINI'S & FIBER OPTICS HAVE IN COMMON

I live in Africa, Kenya, home to the most beautiful coastline in the world. Mombasa. Once in a while I take a break, go on holiday to the white sandy beaches of Mombasa, and usually, I pack my bikini’s, to enjoy the pleasures of sun, sand & sunscreen. The past week though, was slightly different. I went off to Mombasa without my swimsuit. Thursday morning, I missed my 6.30 am flight to Mombasa. Usually, when it comes to work, I am a stickler for time, and I don’t take anything less from my team. Sometimes though, it goes terribly wrong, Murphy’s Law, and this was one of those days. The SEACOM fiber optic cable was finally landing and a number of journalists were taken down to Mombasa to experience first hand, the joys of fast internet. And I missed my flight. Flattery gets you everywhere! Even though I had been told the next KQ 606 was full, I got a confirmation for the 10 o’clock flight, and when KTN’ s Larry Madowo joined me at the waiting Lounge, the anxiety I had took a quick

JOURNEY FROM THE SERENGETI

It's Wildebeest migration season..I am not going this year..but here is my experience from last year's Migration: I had watched it on TV for eons, the millions of wildebeest crossing over to the Maasai Mara after depleting the magnificent Serengeti of all its green grass. The untouched pastures of the Maasai Mara lures the gnu’s into making the champagne colored plains in the heart of the African Bush one of the most spectacular wildlife locations in the world, this time of year, and I was one of the many who came from all over the world to witness this great migration, thanks to being the director for our tourism programme, Destination Kenya. The plane was scheduled to leave JKIA at 1100hrs, and we were uneasy, the airline had just received a big hit, a crush in Somalia, where Ali, an old friend of mine was co pilot also perished. So when we were told we had been placed into another plane, there was a collective sigh of relief. 1300hrs, we board the plane at Wilson Airport, th

"NICK BEGGINGS"... MY TWO CENTS ON THE STATE OF AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

Back in the day when I was in a boarding primary school, at about ten years old, there were always children known for "begging". Many times they got shunned by the other kids. It was worse for those who were known for begging food. We coined a term called Nick Begging’s ,and no one would ask you for food if you said that before you started eating. With time, and continuous shunning, many of them stopped begging. That becomes the basis for my post today on the state of African Agriculture and the need for us to learn to be Proud. In the early 80's several African countries were fully sufficient in terms of food security, and even exporting to other countries. Kenya & Zimbabwe are countries that now, 2 decades later, are on the brink of a famished economy. Where did we go wrong? This afternoon I had an Interview with Dr Namamga Ngogi, the President of AGRA (Alliance for a green revolution) , snd it triggered my thoughts on why this continent with a rich and beautifu

BASTILLE DAY & FLAT BATTERIES

Just the other week I got an invite form the French Embassy to attend Bastille day (14th of July).I had no idea what that was, so, in true tech fashion, I googled it: here . I love the French, they have this accent that always gives me the giggles. That's not a problem. So when the Invite came, It was adressed to " Your's Truly and Partner". That's a problem. I had initially wanted to invite C.S two weeks ago when i got the invite call: but, can't, won't happen. That's problem Number 1. so Kent, my colleague, agreed to be my partner today. That's problem number 2. We left the office at 12.00 noon, and Kent refused to drive so I took it to drive my "partner" to this luncheon at the French Ambassador's residence in Kibera or Kabarnet road, whichever suits you better. Kent, in his "manly" traits, asked me to put the head lights on as we drove down 8 floors. That's Problem Number 3. Anyway, we had a safe drive through nutt

BACK IN THE HAIR DAYS

This blog is inspired by Angela Angwenyi's Mohawk. I couldn't find a recent picture of her on the net, but if you saw her MCeeing at the Kalasha Awards, she was spotting a rare mohawk that only the brave can pull..and yes, I broke my recent promise that I would never go to Black Diamond ever again..Never Say Never aye? I Had a fab time last night with Lizz (my eternal partner in crime & life, and love) and K.A , who happens to be a good friend of Angela's at Black diamond. So, Lizz is back on Makutano Junction and was going back on set this morning, she wondered wether she should have had her hair done into a Mohawk, of whatever kind. I have tried it once myself...but lets just say, I wasnt convinced that it looked good enough on me. It looks great on Ms Angweni, and Grace Msalame also spots a killer one as well ( as seen on TV) at least I get to use that line..hehehhe) Anyway, Here's a fab Mohawk. That chit chat with Lizz over free (Karaoke)

OF CAPPUCINO & CONTACT LENSES

If you have kept up with me here in my blog journey, you know this already: I have a very short attention span with things that are constant. I know that this can easily be confused with inconsistency especially in blogosphere where brand building is not just an option, but THE mantra. I love to see things from a different angle. I have changed the look and feel of this blog countless times, because I am looking for something I am yet to find. I get tired of status-quo, at home, at work, with my food, my look ...everything. I even get tired of seeing myself in the mirror; looking the same way, everyday. Being on leave (or off duty this past week) gave me lots of time to re think, re focus, realize my potential in every way I could think of. I even got contact lenses:-). Hazel ones; that gave me a new reason to stare at myself in the mirror, I am told that can be classified as vanity, but I am a woman, it is expected under the feminine dynamics pie chart.Oh..and i drank cappucino, even

I DON'T HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THIS..BUT I HAVE:-)

1. I can not fall asleep unless I talk to someone, and it’s got to be one that’s preferably not in my house. 2. My favorite place to be is in a quiet room alone, with soft music playing in the background. 3. I've never really wanted to be a town girl but if you cant beat em’, join em! 4. When I was a kid, I believed I was adopted because I over heard grown ups gossiping (justifying) my thumb sucking ;-( 5. My family is the biggest reality I will ever have, pure, un-pretentious and loving 6. When I was young I used to pray “ Dear God, when I grow up I want to be a mermaid, sometimes I still think I am still growing.:-) 7. I once tricked a tall boy called Macharia Kigotho in standard 4, he had made jokes about me, and I asked him to sit down for God knows why( he was so tall I couldn’t achieve my intentions), I slapped him hard across the cheek and ran off…he later tried to hire John Mungo to beat me, but my brother Ruto was a school bully, so John couldn’t do nadda!!! 8. I like to m

KARAOKE TUESDAY

I had a date with Lizz yesterday. We planned for it early and made sure it was just the two of us ( Girl talk). I had a really terrible day at work and just wanted to be in a Noisy palce and really looked forward to it. So after work, I went home, had dinner, put Baby to bed and was getting ready to leave for Tamasha when a certain contact of mine had some information i badly needed. So I detoured to Serena for what I thought would be 30 mins. It wasnt, it took two hours. Lizz was breathing fire and brimstone by the time I got to Tamasha, and we had a little brawl at the parking lot over why I kept her waiting, why I did not call to say i would be late, how I made her sit in the bar- alone..for two hours (and She is not my Boyfriend!) she actually used those words:-) Anyway she is my best friend and I knew I had messed up, so I promised to make up for it. Shortly we were back at the bar, laughing and catching up on our Jobs and plans going forward, love life, and the adventures of life

TALKING GLASS

I don’t like my tea served in a clear Crystal glass, if you share my opinion, we’re on the same page. The glass makes the drink. The other day I met up with a good friend, Carlos at Bacchus, that’s the relatively new club next to Havana in Westland’s, touted as an upscale bourgeois lounge, judging by the number of high net Nairobi Socialites, as well as several who aim to “get there” someone I know calls it the “ Waiting to exhale syndrome” Anyway, I asked for a dry white, Carlos asked for a whisky, (JB, Coke and Ice) which was served in the wrong glass. This here is a whisky glass. For a place like Bacchus, it was a bit disappointing. It is not a phenomena restricted to Bacchus, but lets do the ‘talking glasses’ class. Red wines are best when poured into and sipped out of a wine glass with adequate room. A distinctly oval or egg-shaped bowl that narrows slightly at the top, like this: White wine, my favourite, and just learned from Carlos that the more a wine ages, the sweeter it gets

HUSTLE YAKO NI GANI

I must admit, I am not a sheng person. But Don’t judge me, I am not snobbish. I have a perfect (and real) explanation. I was born and bred in Kitale, where the closest to making literary alterations was a strong inclination to the Bukusu dialect, and examples of such words are nipeeko, unaendanga shule, kiketi (chair) and others. And when to my utter shock and dismay (I had to use these words) the Eldoret express bus arrived in Nairobi, I experienced culture shock, ok to overstate it a little. I lived in Buru then, with my Aunt and her family, and then the sheng began. "Njumu zako ni fresh"and me wondering what vegetables we could be talking about, in Kitale, we would say Viatu. Period. Fast forward to several years later when I said bye to my 20's I listen to Ghetto Radio in the mornings, By Choice. It was a coincidence at first, but I am not a fan of several fm stations, I like good music and no talk, but of course that never happens. Slowly I started to follow the cha

SO WE HAVE A CRISIS, THAT'S HISTORY, MOVE ON!!!!

This morning I was at Serena at 7.00 am to listen to perhaps one of the best economic orators I have ever listened to, the Group CEO of African Alliance, Tony de Castro. What makes him such as interesting man to listen to is little tidbits of knowledge so humorously said that you can only concentrate through out the presentation. No fancy projectors with numbers and other impressive details, just him and the crowd, nice and easy. So where are we, As African's in regards to the Global crisis? We have been affected no less, in the export market, commodities etc. But this creates space for us to rethink the way we do business, and make the best of this crisis (or in Obama speak not to waste a good crisis.) 2.5 trillion dollars is a lot of money to throw at the crisis, and as expected, stability checks in for the Americans. This does not mean the crisis is over. It’s like a shot of Morphine, whose effects only last a short while. The underlying currents are still at play, and that is t

THE DANES DON’T WEAR SHOES...This Story is actually about Aid in Africa..Believe me.

Of course they do, silly! But that’s my excuse for not buying a single pair of shoes while I was there. But I did get some leggy treatment. I bought a pair of grey leggings, the cold made me do that. But this blog is not about shoes. I went to Copenhagen for work. I am a business reporter and this time round I played the role of camera person as well, oh, the joys of working for TV. Ask a stranger to press the record button, count yourself down ,say take one, spell out your script, then wait for another stranger to record yet another piece to camera. I managed, and packaged a 5 minute feature on the report of the Africa Commission, which runs on this weekend's East Africa Business Report on CNBC Africa Just today I was reading a piece on the business daily written by Rwandan president Paul Kagame, titled ‘Africa must find its own road to prosperity. Question is: do we as a continent need foreign aid? The president says “no one should assume they know what is good for us better th