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Who has more power in Africa, the person casting the vote or the one counting the vote?

Lately, I have become obsessed with the oncoming elections, which could happen between August and December next year.(2012) It could be because during the last elections we were stuck at my mothers house in Kitale as i had traveled with one of my closest friends called Wairimu, and there was no way we could go towards Eldoret as her Kikuyu community was beng targeted. My daughter is also called Wambui. That complicated things, and nearing the next elections takes me back to 2007. I'm I worried? Yes. Because I fear that we may, as a voting population not learned the lesson. We still have displaced people living in camps, and some living across the border in Uganda, in search for the peace that our country failed to provide them. There are those that have nothing to loose, they may have lost it all anyway in 2007. There are those that really do not care, they may fly them and their children to another country for the duration of the elections. Then there are those ordinary

Bite of the mango- Mariatu Kamara, A Review

This past weekend was a quiet one for me. I had a lot to think about and organise, exams to prepare for, and a book, highly recommended and owned by my friend Kirigo Ng'arua. Bite of the Mango. Bite of the mango is a true story about an 11 year old girl called Mariatu Kamara from Sierra Leone, who grew up in a normal village of about 200 people. Her story is paints a picture of life before the rebels struck and after. From the eyes of a child. Mariatu writes the book in simple child-like English and in her own voice. I sort of felt that she was right there narrating it to me. She grew up with her Aunt and Uncle because of her mother's drunken habits. She lived a happy simple life, typical of most African village life, where all the older people were respected as parents, and all the younger ones lived like siblings. They cooked, ate and slept as if they were one family. The girls got married when they were very young, about 13 years old, and many of them, despite h

Is Kenya's famine a man made problem?

I just read this article from a man a highly respect and who's opinion and take on African matters is thought provoking. Mr. Fengler is the World Bank's Lead Economist for Kenya. His take is that the famine in Kenya is man made, and requires a man made soluiton. His arguments are rich, do drop by his blog

Of Inflation, monetary policies and the IMF

An online discussion with business journalists on twitter this morning regarding the IMF’s role in the Kenyan economy resulted into a heated discourse with the Star’s James Mbugua saying “Why is the IMF more concerned with Inflation than growth? They’ve messed us up”. He went on to say “Everything that Central bank has been doing has IMF written all over it.” For those not in Kenya- the shilling has weakened to a 17 year low against the almighty dollar- due to a combined number of reasons, mostly blamed on erratic international crude prices and a strengthening dollar, and the issue of speculation has not also be ruled out. Now a weak shilling has a ripple effect- there are those that benefit, especially exporters, in our case, horticulture, coffee and the tourism industry, fall under the winners. But the losers are more. Being an oil import dependent economy- the price per liter of fuel has been on the increase in recent months. This has had a domino effect on manufacturers who re

The free falling shilling

The first time President mwai Kibaki talked about the free fall of the shilling was at the opening bell of the NSE when Brish American commenced trading on the NSE about two weeks ago. The IPo was undersubscribed, and one reason for that, stock-brokers say is a shilling that won't hold stready as well as Inflation which has robbed Kenyans of disposable income, and the stock exchange is the last of their priorities. The president talked about a dollar demand that was insatiable, and called on the IMF to quicken the process of the Extended credit facility that Kenya had signed up for earlier this year. let me break that down: The Extended Credit Facility (ECF) is an IMF facility which provides financial assistance to low income countries with protraced balance of payments. This means that the import- export balance is off tangent, and it usually results in a weak local currency among other economic challenges. So when Kibaki asked for the a hastening of the ECF, he was basica

IMF cuts Africa's growth projections

The slow down in the US and Europe may be responsible for a slower economic growth for Sub- saharan Africa. Some African countries are already reeling from the effects of these, that are visible through weaker currencies and reduced investor participation. In 2008, as the economic crisis sunk several economies, Kenya was one of the economies that remained resilient, hinging its survival on thin intergration levels with the developed world. But that was then, the second phase of may not leave Africa unscathed. the IMF has cut down its growth projection of Africa to 5.2% from 5.5% projected in April. so what are the implications of this? With its track record and strong critics about the IMF's role in Africa's development,Some may dismiss this - but unfortunately investors and the world's super powers who dictate the global economy listen to these financial institutions. If the growth rate is cut, investors read this as a signal to reduced returns. It is true,

It's a jobless world!

WASHINGTON DC, 20TH SEPTEMBER Unemployment and how to counter a problem that's been described as an economic time bomb is a key area of discussion at the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings in Washinton DC. Let me put this into perspective first. We've seen Obama's recent shaky moments as he battles with empowering Americans after an economic crisis that stripped the worlds number one state to its bare minimum. And now US unemployment figures remains at about 9%. That is a crisis. In Kenya, that figure (unemployment) is at 36%. Inflation is at 16.67%, and today, the shilling is at an 17 year low of 96 shillings to the greenback. That is a proper definition of the word disaster. But we walk and talk as if its business as usual as politics and blinders (in the name of price controls and price caps) balm mass appeal. We need to wake up to the realities of what this means for our economy. Where are all the jobs? what is really happening? Reduced capital flows . T

IMF FOR DUMMIES

I'm at the IMF annual meetings in Washington DC, where the Global economy -where world economic outlook, poverty eradication and economic development are among the key issues on the agenda. I was here last spring and I wish someone shared this with me before I came here in April. So, here's IMF for dummies ( 1st Edition) The IMF, also known as the “Fund,” was conceived at a United Nations conference convened in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States, in July 1944. The 44 governments represented at that conference sought to build a framework for economic cooperation that would avoid a repetition of the vicious circle of competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s. Original aims: Article I of the Articles of Agreement sets out the IMF’s main goals: ■promoting international monetary cooperation; ■facilitating the expansion and balanced growth of international trade; ■promoting exchange stability; ■assisting in the estab

IMF ANNUAL MEETINGS - Is the IMF good for Africa

WASHINGTON DC , 18th September 2011 The IMF annual meetings kick off this week. It's bound to be an exciting time to see how the IMF is responding to global matters, but most importantly for me, how the IMF is responding to the cyclical challenges of poverty, unemployment, rising commodity prices and a weakening currency for many Africans states. In Kenya, there are different schools of thought regarding the IMF's precense and actions in the country. On one side we have the sceptics: After Kenya’s ‘Golden years’ that’s the first ten years after Kenya’s independence, when the growth was impressive, education enrollement doubled, came the 'lost decade' then a number of Kenyans developed hardlines over what they refer to as the worst social experiments. This happened when the IMF and the world bank proposed the structural Adjustment programmes (SAP'S), which gave priority TO spending areas that critics say locked out key social developement sectors such as

I got a postcard from Reddy Kilowatt

Dear Reddy, When I got home for lunch today, I found this postcard in my bedroom- addressed to me, your employer. Plain, white and black, but it was really good to hear from you. Especially in the form of a post card! The last time I received a postcard was from Norway,no, he traveled to Paris and sent me another one from there. Beautiful cards that spoke volumes of the cities he who shall remain nameless traveled to. Postcards always get me nostlagic, but guess what, many times, Postcards usually carry good news- and when you're arrived, for some reason, I wasn't sure it was going to be good news. There's been no good news from you in such a long time- so the excitement and show off session that usually follows the receipt of a regular postcard (usually complete with a stamp from a foreign country) was really not there. But Reddy, that's not why I'm writing to you. Despite the fact that you told me you'd be busy on some power lines that affect me sup

Country homes and a tooth fairy

Why do you work? Whenever I ask myself that question; I find myself skirting around. First, I work because I am expected to have a job. I am expected to have a job so that I become independent, have an income and provide a comfortable life first for my daughter, myself and my family. Several times, it’s a struggle. We work to pay the bills, and that becomes what life is all about. But is life really all about this? Every once in a while, those that can afford go on holiday either in the country or abroad travel, that’s when they take their time to enjoy the hard earned money. But many times, event those that can afford it are too deeply engrossed in trying to make more money that they never really enjoy it. So what is life really about? This weekend I traveled with a group of friends who believe that life is what happens when self actualization happens. That happens when you stop living only to pay the bills, and begin to live to enjoy even the little money that you can

The voice of the wind

voice of the wind It isn't as if the wind cannot speak Sometimes in a whisper Barely grazing the bouganvelia purple on the porch sometimes in a breeze Still the creepers on the front door of our holiday cottage sway to its voice Creepers still can speak, but only to the foliage underneath And this evening, while I sit by the poolside In this warm African sunset The wind howls As the sea comes back home stories, trapped in the crushing waves Swish, swash, on the wearing down corals beneath our love nest white sand on this watamu shores The soft leaves of the bottle brush graze the back of my neck caressing my barely there tan The birds, they chirp the evening away they too, have stories to tell Memories, some sweet, some hot & raunchy, some...they will never tell And most, I will never know.... my heart longs to hear the tales of the wind from far away lands of the sea, swishing, swaying going and coming back home of the creepers on the front door

Two is not too many: Look I can do two push-ups!

My daughter, Imani was this morning looking though my handbag and got out some baby wipes. She says, " Mom, who are these for? You're not a baby?" So I explained that it is better to have one big pack that lasts longer, as most wipes come in small packages. I touch dirty things all the time, and its important to keep my hands clean. But if you think this blog is about wet tissues you're wrong. Its about babies. Two babies, a boy and a girl that my daughter thinks we need to add to our family. That of course was the discussion that followed the baby wipes- why can't we have babies then? So I told her she will have a baby sister or brother someday. She goes ahead to ask why can't we have both, so that she can have both; a brother, and a sister. I explain that 2 more babies may be too many, to which she quickly said; Mum, two is not too many, look I can do two push-ups, which she did immediately and said; See mom, finished! I laughed...hope this brig

The Proverbs 31 woman is not an Employee :-)

Happy Monday! Today's blog is inspired by a conversation I had with a close friend of mine of what we, as women ask God for when we're praying for a good man and an enjoyable life. Do we ask for too much from God? This was in regards to both material wealth and in our relationships? More jewellery ( Pearls & Gold) more shoes, a bigger and better wardrobe? And, in wanting these things, does it mean we are not content with what we have? This, I think is fodder for deep discussions- we keep wanting more, yet, many times, we can live with what we have. As we chatted, I made reference to the Proverbial and seemingly impossibly impressive woman of Proverbs 31; I have come to know this woman through a book a friend bought me on my birthday in May this year. So I'd like to share this extraordinary woman with you. I strive to be like her, many of us do, but every time I read this amazing book, I wonder if ever I will be like her in this corporate world. Here's

Growing up...

I don't like growing up. I doubt it’s the anxiety of the wrinkles that come with it, perhaps the responsibility or just the fact that my daughter thinks I'm not that young. She's 5. The math between 5 and 32 is huge for a girl that young. Yes, I'm making excuses too. Last saturday we spent a full day together. As we drove around, she asked me why I sold our other car. She was hoping we could have two cars. But we don't need two cars, and we can't afford it anyway. I tried to explain. She said, "when I grow up I will have 2 cars" I asked her why, she said "Because when you're really old, you will need one, so one for me, and one for you." That threw me off quite a bit. She's growing up, and I love her opinions and admire her thought process. She's a child, and she loves to grow up. Over dinner, she and this young (odiero) boy, about 8 years old, began to smile and make faces at each other. I told her she could say hel

Beyond Bottled Water

Last month I was invited by Multi-choice to attend the CNN awards in Johannesburg, something that got me quite excited. One because CNN was looking for a speaker on Social Media in East Africa, and gave me the chance to do it, Second because of the sessions we were to attend sounded exciting, with a great line up of African speakers such as Moeletsi Mbeki, (political analyst and economist) a brother to former South Africa president Thabo Mbeki; award winning Journalists and others who share my passion for Africa, Third, because its Johannesburg, a place that brings back good memories for me. It was the sessions about Africa’s future that I enjoyed most. Most Significant for me was Mr. Mbeki’s presentation of what he aptly described as Africa’s Leadership (yes crossed through). Because in many ways; Africa is in dire need of good leadership. Allow me to digress, I know that Africa is not a country, and I’m among the first to angrily jolt if someone asks “How is Africa”. But, f

To the Shredder

When I decided to go back to school last year in May, I had no doubt in my mind, that this was the right thing to do. I may be among the lucky few who managed to convince my bosses throughout my career that with only a college diploma in Broadcast Journalism and no University degree I could do the job. With no great paper backing I pushed even harder than most people. I read more, I prepared myself better, I presented myself better , dressed better, because without the papers, what i had was my experience and my confidence. But that was a battle i needed to get on with. Quickly. So, I enrolled in USIU- Africa for an undergraduate in International Business Administration.The first shocker was the orientation week. everyone was fresh out of school, and all withstanding, I wasn't your regular freshman. It was interesting, and difficult. I had cleared my secondary school about 13 years earlier, got into French school, did some Acting classes, finally ended up in a media school and

Dear Diary

Ok, how about a quick update anyway on what I've been upto. Three weeks ago, I was going through my time-line on twitter, and my long time friend Mercy Murugi of the Togetherness Supreme film & Kibera Film school had posted a tweet about a family that had to eat a cat because they couldn't find food. She wanted to do something and asked on twitter if anyone was willing to join her.She is a giver at heart. I remember her from way back buying food for street families, some of whom actually became her friends. I caught on to her dream. I would never describe myself as a philanthropist, perhaps due to the nature of my work, but this story ate me up inside. I was in a position to be an agent of change, and I had to do it. Together we began a call to get food for Ndaragwa IDP's. We gave the project one week, it was an urgent issue, and time lines had to be short. Within one week, Mercy, Peter Nduati,CEO, Resolution Health, Magana Kenyatta (twitter friend)Vyona Ooro

Finding my Mojo...

Its been a while! I've missed dropping by here, then again i really have no excuse for not stopping by. or not. My blog has become my happy home. I have learned that unless I am inspired, happy and settled, I cannot find the words or the time to come up with something to write, good or bad. Lately, there's been too much to handle and I didn't manage it well.instead I let myself get frustrated with things that I shouldn't have paid any attention to. I turned a year older two weeks ago, but I couldn't do my usual growing up post. I hate that point in life. I appreciate that one cannot smile unless you know how it feels for tears to sting your eyes. But sometimes, when you let that sting moment last too long, like I did, then it burns you inside, and with that, the very things that define who you are begin to wear out, and you begin to question the direction your life is taking, a defeatist approach of killing the mosquito with a hammer, instead of deali

Is there such a thing as perfect timing?

Is it ever too soon? For anything? Do we ever know when the time is right? Is there such a thing as the right time? I am speaking to myself..... But if you do ask yourself these questions...as I have today. Then let me know what you did..cos right now, i don't care about perfect timing, I just care about now.

Dear America

I always wanted to say that :-) Anyway, I have learned a few things about Americans while here in DC. Its been a beautiful experience. The public transport system is amazing, but someone needs to build the Americans faster escalators. Don't get me wrong, they work just great, especially in the subway, but these Americans can't just stand in one place and wait for the escalators to reach the destination, they are always running up and down the escalators! Relax, Dear Americans, unless the escalators is part of your work out..take a break, stop...for a minute or two..or take the stairs....

My Washington DC Diary

Sunday, 10th April 2011 Touchdown doles international airport in dc, destination: George Washington university inn The time difference between Nairobi and Washington dc is 7 hours. Got to the hotel at about 10.00am, but there were no rooms available until 3pm, lucky me, there was a South African journalist on the shuttle to the hotel. He suggested we take a walk around Washington, and like 2 tourists we did the rounds, Lincoln Park, around white house, and a kite festival at the Lincoln Park. And then Monday came, the excitement! Here’s a brief diary: Monday 10.00am Press conference: global economic outlook Global projections 4.5% Developing countries & emerging economies 6.5% Tuesday, 10.00am Global financial analysis Technical hitches 2.00pm -John Lipsky Before the crisis Talks centered on the role of the IMF, World Bank, donor countries. Lipsky said a closed economy is not the answer, globalization is inevitable The way to go is sustained rapid growth, g

...HAS THE CHURCH REALLY READ THE BIBLE?

Written on the 9th of April on my way to Washington DC for the IMF spring meetings Im writing this at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa while waiting to board my flight to Washington DC for the IMF annual springs Meeting. Im excited. Its my first visit to the US and it does feel good that im not going as a student or one in search of the American dream. Im going for work, in times like this, Im glad i am a journalist. In 2010, while still at CNBC, over a media lunch with the IMF team that was in town from Washington, I managed to squeeze an interview with IMF Chief Dominic Strauss Khan, one that happened too fast for my own good. I had been scheduled to Interview Africa's head of the IMF, who was in and out of tight meetings that afternoon, but when I was seated next to the man himself, I spoke to him, and his media people, and a few minutes later,the Interview was arranged at his Serena Hotel suite. That's how im part of the group of 35 journalists from a

"Me, my Wife and her Guru" teaser - Jitu Films Kenyan Movie

Sunday Evening I was at Capri 7 for movie night! Lizz Njagah and Alex constantaras, my dearest friends were having a premiere for their movie. Me, My Wife and her Gur. Intersting! if you're a Kenyan, it sort or reminds you of a recent scenario within the media circles, even though there is a sweet disclaimer at the end credits. I hope you get to watch it! This was the teaser on Youtube.

THE CHIPS ACT

I don't usually do this: It is not an original post. I got this forward from a friend, I've unsuccessfully tried to find the originator through twitter, because this must be the most hilarious post I've read in a while. Kenyan's will understand this act pretty well. Let me explain for those that don't, such as my friend Bazanye from Uganda. The act of picking up a girl you meet, mostly in a club is called Chips Fungaing which is literally translated to mean, 'Take away Chips'. A common habit for club goers in Kenya is to pass by a chicken and Chips take-away shop, whatever the time, hence the term. so here's the act: The provisions of the CHIPS ACT are as follows: 1. Section 2(1) provides that a chips shall always appear in a club looking fresh. Sweaty mamas wakae home. 2. A chips shall never ask for payment after a night of sec.........luded fun in a secluded place. Chipsing is free. Asking for credit, fare back home sha

Mummy 101

Which mum wouldn't want to receive something like that from their 4 year old who is just learning to write? This weekend saw lots of Baby-Mummy and more family time in Kisumu. My nephews and nieces also had quite the fab time, with my daughter asking my sister the host, if she could see the cows two minutes after we were welcomed into the house. My sister does not keep cattle, but Imani thought we were at my mum's in Kitale, gave us a bit of a laugh there, something that carried on throughout that weekend. I'm still trying to make her understand why Kisumu is not Kitale and why Kitale is not close to Nairobi etc. I guess distance is still a very complicated issue to a 4 year old. Complicated. Saturday afternoon the kids stayed in to write, colour and play. They are at the level where they're just learning sentences and how to write stuff. The older boys wrote sentences from a book they had, and( I must digress)my nephew Kipkoskei has the most beautiful handwrit

Who will pick you up at the airport?

That's a question i got from my 5 year old nephew last evening who sat next to me on the flight back to Nairobi after a great weekend in Kisumu, with my sisters and their families. They; (My nephew, his mum and younger sister) were getting picked up by their dad. I told him I'd packed our car at the airport, and it would be more convenient for us, but i do know that it it was issues deeper than the availability of long term parking that he was asking of. I duly reminded my daughter that we had parked at the airport and offered her a new topic to avoid further discussion. Sometimes a family unit is Father, Mother Child. Sometimes is Mother and Child. Sometimes its a father and Child. Sometimes its a phase. Sometimes its permanent.

One Nation. One people. # February 28th

For a Kenyan to write and actually believe what is now the title of this blog is a difficult thing. We are not one people, and if one people makes one Nation, then perhaps, in many ways we are not One Nation. 2007 was the eye opener year for many Kenyans, who were, like me, dreamers.I am one of the most optimistic people you will find, perhaps that may also mean that i have such strong hope, almost to a naivety, for things, such a loving husband and a house atop a hill, with picket fences and acres of rose bushes. My poetry may speak louder of my dreamy nature, but this was crushed after 2007, when i went home for Christmas holidays, after voting in Nairobi, then traveled up country to be with my mother and the rest of the family. it was supposed to be a wonderful Christmas. It was, bu the days that followed the announcement of the presidential results were made in hell. I remember TV scrolls of people killed in different parts of the country. it was as if some high voltage e

THE RICH AND THE REST: The Kenyan Story.

Aiming high! A recent title of the Economist publication read “The Rich and the Rest’. Before we get prejudicial as most of us do, I do not buy the economist on a weekly basis, sometimes almost never, I’d love to, but it’s an expensive habit to maintain. My former boss got me hooked though and once in a while, I will attempt to steal a copy, or go online to their website which has also now been squeezed to subscribers who can access it once they’ve paid for the 'Premium articles'. But this time, I painfully bought a copy, only because of its title; 'The Rich and the Rest. The special report on this edition focused on what they referred to as ‘The few’ then stratified into other sections such as 'More Millionaires than Australians’. The world’s water coolers – where the influential people meet and talk, ‘The Global campus- The best universities now have worldwide reach.' As I buried my head in the pages, Kenya’s rich (elite) made little flashes in my mind,

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