Life

‘God has allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!’ Today, these words of King, uttered so many years ago glitter with more meaning and a resounding hope. Our nation Kenya is bleeding. It is seeking someone who will liberate the people from the craws of corruption. It is seeking someone who will heal the wounded people. In the wake of the scars of Anglo-Leasing and Goldenberg being re-opened by the Triton and maize scandals, Kenyans no longer know who to believe or trust. Each day presents itself with a bigger surprise. Back in time, our grandparents struggled so hard to leave a legacy that we, the children would pride. They hoped that we would reciprocate their gesture, and that we shall consolidate a Kenya every person, irrespective of tribe, would be proud to live in. it was the Kenya culture. It was the Kenya l...

LET US LOVE EVEN OUR ENEMIES It is a fact that some people will not like you, not because of something you have done to them, but they just will not like you. Some people will not like the way you walk, others will not like the way you talk. Some people may never like you because you can do your job better than they can do theirs. Some people will simply not like you because you are popular, and because you are well-liked, they will not like you. Some people will not like you because your hair is a little shorter than theirs or your hair is a little longer than theirs. Some people will not like you because your skin is a little brighter than theirs; and others will not like you because your skin is a little darker than theirs. They are going to dislike you, not because of something that you have done to them, but because of various jealous reactions and other reactions that are so prevalent in human nature. But we must admit we are not infallible and that we may cause others to hate wh...

REMEMBERIN E-SIR I hold moderate opinion and therefore always in pursuit of a society where all people live like brothers and sister. I just hope we can reach out to each other as a sign of respect, not to each other but to E-Sir, who eleven years departed from our midst. E-Sir was the embodiment of peaceful co-existence. Never in his short though awesome career in music did we hear of him having the so called beef with another person. This is the message he calls on us to practice today. He looks down on us not with great pride but with resentment, knowing that we have the capacity to love one another, including our enemies. He reminds us through his song ‘Hamnitishi’ that we need not fear anything, not even our perceived adversaries. But E-sir is full of smiles for the good work by Nameless-his partner in the song Maisha. Even though the song has lost touch, Nameless continues to do some superb music

At a time when the nation is sin sick, awash with scenes of ethnic murders, instances of injustice and a plethora of other problems emanating from a disputed General poll, many Kenyans have lost hope. And while the hope that we had has just turned out to be an illusion, it is sad to note that the country is so polarized form every side that there is no independent person or institution once can turn to for solace or consolation. The preachers, the men of God who ought to have offered us spiritual nourishment and a sense of direction at this critical stage have failed miserably in this aspect. No one can trust them for they are no longer neutral in any matter. They have left their flock in a state of spiritual abstraction. The senior citizens of this nation, who the youth would look up to at this time for strength and guidance, are busy seeking power, either at the local coffee factory or at the national front. In a nutshell, they no longer hold enough sense. Their reasoning has been bl...

I love the church. How could I do otherwise when I have been brought in the fear of the Lord God? I see the church as the body pf Christ. But oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through neglect and fear of being non conformist. That is what our church is today. And whether the church has found its voice after taking sides in the political goings on in the country does not save much face. There was a time when the church was very powerful. That time of Bishop Muge, Henry Okullu, Mwana a Nzeki, Gitari and others. They were quite something these church leaders. They would suffer not just for Christ but also for Kenyans and what they believed was right. During those times, the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the dictatorial regime into a tolerable regime. Whenever one would attend a church service. Be it in Catholic or Anglican or any other church, one felt in the house of God. Chris...

From the snow-capped Mount Kenya to the flower farms of Oserian, from the Ewaso Nyiro to the rugged hills of Cherangani, from the spectacular shores and beaches of south coast to the abardare forests, Africa is richly endowed by nature. The unparalleled length of the Tana, the vastness of the Rift Valley, the unequalled beauty of the wildlife of the Tsavo, the captivating charm of the coastline are but a few of the descriptions of Kenya ’s natural beauty. Kenya’s fluorspar, Limestone, soda ash and many other minerals have long decorated the offices and houses in many parts of the country and beautified the rich and famous of the country. The bounty of Kenya’s tea, the aroma of the coffee from our beautiful hills, the mouth-watering variety of fruits from our lands, the Nile Perch from lake Victoria and se food from the shores of Indian Ocean are again only a fraction of what Kenya offers the world. More than anything, however, the beauty of Africa is its people. We are a mosaic of over...

As u read the following speech, try and relate it to Kenya and the way we bahave, not just towards those in leadership, but even to our fellow suffering citizens. Today we mark 84 years since the birth of Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little. One thing that stands out about this father of modern revolutionary thinking is 'Telling it as it is'. Read on..and then ask yourself, what kind of a Kenyan are u. Are u a 'House Kenyan, or a field Kenyan'......... "There was two kinds of slaves. There was the house Negro and the field Negro. The house Negroes – they lived in the house with master, they dressed pretty good, they ate good ’cause they ate his food — what he left. They lived in the attic or the basement, but still they lived near the master; and they loved their master more than the master loved himself. They would give their life to save the master’s house quicker than the master would. The house Negro, if the master said, “We got a good house here,” the house Negro w...

It is known by all and sundry that the absence of war does not portray the presence of peace. This is stark to the people of Kirinyaga, where tension continues to thrive in the wake of the killings by Mungiki and the retaliatory killings by the vigilante groups. Days have passed on but young men are spending days in the cold at night ‘watching’ over their homesteads with all manner of crude weapons. And who knows, pray tell me, what the Mungiki gangs in their world are planning. In areas like Kagumo, Kanyekiine and Mukinduri, only God intervention will help cure the feeling of insecurity by the locals. It is sad to note that the security apparatus have failed to quench the Mungiki thirst for killing or the Vigilante bid for revenge. The government has spent time talking tough. Those in charge of security have used all manner of descriptions aimed at letting those killing one another fear the hand of the government. But that can just be tough talk. The men on the ground will stop at not...

Spanish language is awesome. I like it. But that is in theory. When it comes to the real thing-sports, not even the economy of Americans or the pride of the Britons can match these Spaniards who possess that resolve to be champions. Manchester United is my team. Cool. But look at the way the champions of England, the defending champions of universe were dethroned by the Catalans from Spain. Do not forget that the ruthless manner in which Spain dethroned world champions Italy in the 2006 European cup! Does it mean Spain excels at beating those who are feared? Let’s take a look at Tennis. Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer had been invincible in Men’s tennis for over four and who stopped him? You guessed it right. A Spaniard in the name of Rafael Nadal!!! Folks, you will not forget in the mid nineties, American female tennis star, Monica Seles proved a hard nut to crack. Steffi Graff tried to stop her; she could not. Gabriel Sabatini tried; no success. These were great tennis players, probl...

R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON Michael Jackson popularity perhaps can only be rivaled by Barrack Obama. While Obama massaged the feelings of many with his ‘Yes we can’ slogan. Jackson gave a sense of determination to so many by telling them in his songs that indeed we are the world and we can make it a better place. While some tabloids blame the heart attack on an injection of the painkiller Demerol he received form his private physician, we nevertheless mourn him. It may still be sad news to note that he had apparently been 'doped up to his eyes' for several weeks with anti-pain prescriptions including Vicodin. His publicist has said that the painkillers have taken over his life. Michael is undoubtedly the king of pop. He belongs to a generation that came into popularity in the last half of the twentieth century. As someone said it, those who are stars in such a period of go on to be very huge superstars and indeed, Jackson was and will always be remembered by so many. No one is perfec...

Wakenya tumeishi si haba. Tumeishi kuona na kusikia mengi. Katika haya maisha, tumedanganywa kwa mengi. Lakini ijapo haya ndo maisha tuishio, tunamalizana na kuzoeana. Wazee na hata vijana, sote tumeoza vya kutosha. Twaishi kwa matarajio. Twatumbua macho na kutunga mbele kwa ari na hamu na pia manufaa. Tumejaza juhudi na ari moyoni lakini pindi tufanyavyo hivi, kuna wale wana njama nyingine. Hawa hutufanya tujilaumu, tuwalaumu na kuilaumu. Hawa wafanya tuamini yasiyoaminika na tufikapo hapo, twaanza kupekua tukiutafuta ukweli. Jana imepita wenzangu. Imepita na majuto. Leo twajua haipo kwani ina wenyewe. Kesho haijazaliwa na twatumai ardhi yetu itazaa matunda mema. Twataka kuneemesha kila mtoto. Twataka hata wale walio wakimbizi ndani ya ardhi yao wajae tabasamu. Katika haya maisha tuyatamaniyo, lazima tuamke. Lazima tutanabahi na pia tuzinduke.

If you ask the people of India why Mahatma Gandhi was able to do what he did in India, they will say they followed him because of his absolute sincerity and his absolute dedication. Here was a man who achieved in his lifetime this bridging of the gulf between the ego and the id. Gandhi had the amazing capacity for self-criticism. This was true in individual life, in his family life, and was true in his people’s life. Gandhi criticized himself when he needed it. Whenever he made a mistake, he confessed it publicly. Here was a man who would say to his people: ‘I’m not perfect, I’m not infallible, I don’t want you to start a religion around me, and I’m not a god. And am convinced today that there would be a religion around Gandhi, if Gandhi had not insisted, all through his life: I don’t want a religion around me because I’m too human, I’m too fallible, never think I’m infallible. And any time he made a mistake, even in his personal life, or even a decision that he made in the independenc...

Ghana for certain is the beacon of hope to so many. When Martin Luther King preached to his congregation about the Birth of a New Nation in reference to independent Ghana, he never imagined that an African American President would Visit Ghana because of its enviable record on matters to do with democracy. King saw in Ghana a desire among its people to be free. In Ghana, he said there was a throbbing desire; there was an internal desire for freedom. In Accra, men had realized that freedom is something basic, and to rob a man of his freedom is to take from him the essential basis of his manhood. For Ghana to achieve the heights of democracy it has, the resilience the people and the humility of its leaders have been paramount. The people of Ghana were in bondage in Egypt but deep down in their souls, they started reaching out for Canaan. Men and women of Ghana were not satisfied with Egypt. They tried to adjust to it for awhile but they realized some men had vested interests in Egypt, and...

You may not remember but I do. It’s a very small book yet with pulsating drama. The most interesting of the play is the story Tinka tells Kaija about Chief Ngoma! I recount it once more. "Once upon a time, Ngoma, the chief had a beautiful daughter, Nyenje. He placed Nyenje's umbilical cord in a gourd. He sent word round that whoever wanted her beautiful hand had 2 prove his prowess by climbing a very tall tree n bringing down in one piece, the gourd containing her umbilical cord! Chiefs n princes tried their luck with no success. Hunters n herdsmen, too. But the mvule tree was very tall! All the time Nyenje's beauty dazzled their eyes...and out of nowhere came a leper. A common leper stinking with leprosy and commonness. Dragging misery behind him. A leper. He too, wanted to climb e mvule tree! People ran away in horror. From safe hide outs they laughed tears n threw stones at him. He simply did not mind their laughter, 4 laughter, he said was like rain. It comes n goes; a...

This is the story of Kenya. A story of women and men who defy the odds and never give up. People who wake up so early and retire so late in the day, working hard for the sake of this country. They want Kenya to get ahead. But at times they have been let down, and they seek their country back. They do not teach us manners, but they show us manner.a manner of tolerance and forbearance. We must do something to help this country. And as we seek to do so, Harriet Tubman has one piece of advice: If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they’re shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going. Even in the darkest of moments, ordinary Kenyans have found the faith to keep going. I have seen it in those who go nights without food, yet their optimism is written all over. I have seen it in the conductors who often show their hope as they gyrate on the doors of the Matatus. I have seen it in the in t...

I go back memory lane to remind you all that corruption is still a monster in Kenya. What is appalling is that it is spreading its prehensile tentacles all over. In fact, I do not know if I am corrupt myself. Perhaps you too are in doubt of whether you are corrupt or not. Remember that psychologists teach us that there is no bad or good man. What matters is the degree of either. Corruption is now a way of life. If Abraham Maslow were to rewrite the hierarchy of needs, more so for Kenya he would add corruption to list. Sir Edward Clay, in the year 2005 used poetry to describe how corruption operates in the country. And I would wish to re-write the same poem Macavity is a mystery cat, He’s called the hidden paw For he’s the great facilitator-far above the law. He’s a menace to the donors, He’s the taxpayers’ despair: For the treasure is empty…..but Macavity’s not there! Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity, He flourishes in cyberspace, He stalks through zero gravity. He’ll be...

People may be wondering what you are up to. The irony is that such people who are in awe are your friends, your enemies or even your own family. And they are in wonder world because according to them, no ever has ever reached the heights you are setting out to conquer. The so called pundits even point to the fact that not even the brightest from you clan, has made it. But you are not them, you are you!!! Your dreams can change cultures. Your aspirations can heal a country. So go on, keep going. Even when they talk, just allow them to. Never be troubled by the mock pity people might have on you. Pay not attention to the shocked whispers of those who are always afraid of pioneering. Smile as they laugh at your ambition. Within yourself, know that you do not accept limitations; your boundaries are not set by your folks. I realize that the journey has not been smooth all along. Yes you have scarred your knees as you climb the steep mountains of life. At times you have gathered dust and you...

"So amazing how this world was made I wonder if God is a woman...." I heard this song before but in all honesty I've never given it much thought not until today. The story of creation defines a woman n indeed, contrasts her to a significant degree to a man. While a man is created out of clay, a woman is made from a bone. This sets the pace with which women approach life with. They are strong and can outlive anything, good or bad. While men, just like clay are breakable, or can be shaped to form, a lady can be firm and has so much strength to face even the worst. I know we, men are mean. I have seen men who cheat that they love their women, and even those who love to cheat on their women. But these kinds could be few, or could even define what a man is. Is there a man who is gentle enough to treat his lady like a princess? Maybe, just maybe! Women are not ‘things’. They are a creation and therefore, at best deserve to be treated as ‘persons’. Women are not doormats for any...

Chiromo campus in Nairobi has a pub(the name skips me) with a very large sign greets you on your way in, interestingly it reads....."BEER, Helping Ugly men have Sex since 1862..." People take beer for one simple reason, they want to be drunk. And it is fun to be drunk. You can abuse your friends or perceived enemies and give the excuse that you were drunk. Beer has a fascinating history; every society even the most primitive knew how to brew alcohol. And each society had elaborate ceremonies accompanying beer taking. Among the Nandis, people used "pipes" to take beer from the same pot, ensuring no one would poison others. In central Kenya, a horn was passed round and everyone tasted it, before real beer taking started. Today, any time I go to a nyama choma joint, the person serving us must taste our meat to confirm it is okay. But all these elaborate ceremonies are gone. But the brew is still there. We have a less restrained society, where everyone can buy beer, a...

East Africa has talent. There are so many young people and even those who are not so young who have passion for music and see music as a career. Some of them are in the Academy at the third season of the Tusker Project Fame. Some were not so lucky to get into the academy, their immense abilities not withstanding. TPF has failed to live up to its objectives and calling. Instead of being a contest aimed at training talent into superstars, what we have is a show for the judges and the faculty. Where creativity and originality ought to have existed, empty and plain performances have taken over. I still do not know what criterion is used to select the contestants who should be in the academy. In the second season of TPF, participants were expected to have vocal abilities and even be masters in playing at least a music instrument. That seems to have changed this time round. Only a few contestants can claim to play a music instrument. Africa has so many renowned musicians who are masters in v...