Author Archives: alangreen

You’re invited to 2015 KENYA DIASPORA CONFERENCE – ATLANTA GA USA (Sep 17, 2015 – Sep 19, 2015)

Leave a reply

From: David Ochwangi
To: jaluo@jaluo.com

Hello,
You are invited to the following event:

2015 KENYA DIASPORA CONFERENCE – ATLANTA GA

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:
Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 8:30 AM
– to –
Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 10:00 PM (EDT)

Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel
One Hartsfield Centre Parkway
Atlanta , GA 30354

This year’s conference is for and by Kenyans in the Diaspora and features Business, Government and Kenyans in the Diaspora to address key issues of common interest and to advance our common welfare such as a) Diaspora Policy, Representation and Voting in the next general elections, b) Investments c) Governmental role in protecting the Diaspora, d) Disability, e) Technology, f) Kenya Diapora’s…

We hope you can make it!

Cheers,
David Ochwangi

HIGH COST OF LIVING IS THE CAUSE FOR SUICIDE IN KENYA

Leave a reply

from: Joachim Omolo Ouko
News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Samuel from Eldoret writes: “Father Omolo Ouko thank you for your input on this year’s budget. You well put it that ordinary Kenyans are the ones suffering most due to massive corruption in Kenya. In your opinion, why do you think the government of Kenya is unwilling to fight root causes of corruption?
In one of your articles I read recently online is that the government is just going after people who eat meat on bones the actual looters have thrown to them. The government’s fight on corruption does not target real people who go with meat. In this was Kenya will never succeed on fight against corruption.
The country has continued to perform poorly in the fight against the problem because they just focus on people struggling to eat meat in between bones. Global watchdog Transparency International has ranked Kenya lower than her eastern Africa neighbours. This is despite being the largest economy in the region.
At the grassroots, corruption has been devolved to the counties with the local leaders engaging in a vociferous spending spree on largesse. In other words, corruption is everywhere in Kenya. It affects all sectors.
I wonder whether Kenya will one day get good leaders who will not only improve the cost of living, but also eradicate the endemic problems of insecurity and corruption. Thank you Father and keep on sharing with us matters pertaining to our country Kenya I love dearly.”
Thank you for your sentiments Samuel. When Hon Martha Karua was asked on what her leadership as the 4th President of Kenya would offer Kenyans, her first answer was to improve the cost of living in Kenya which had become almost unbearable with inflation rates rising by over 10percent just that year (2012) alone.
Karua referred to an editorial cartoon that best illustrated the conditions facing many Kenyans. It showed five characters, three adults labeled maize, sugar, rent and one child labeled salary. Off the side of these four was another character asking the ‘child’, while pointing to the three adults, why haven’t you grown up like your ‘friends’?
Although there is nothing humorous about what many Kenyans are facing today, the painful reality of increasing costs according to Karua is one that needs to be urgently addressed and one that she would prioritize in her administration.
Whereas the cost of living has in general risen around the globe, she believes that the levels of corruption and impunity in Kenya significantly contribute to the high costs in certain items. For instance, the maize industry faced a huge corruption scandal and maize prices had not come down since.
Sugar, another commodity riddled with corruption, has increasing high prices. Therefore, addressing the increased living costs would include a component of addressing corruption given its adverse effect on the prices of basic commodities.
The high cost of living is directly correlated to the inefficiencies brought about by cartels that collude with government to act as middlemen thus driving commodity prices sky-high. Some of the money made will be used for campaigns. That is the corruption we need to address urgently and decisively. These are the actual people who go with meat and throw bones to poor ‘dogs’.
Had it not because of corruption and poor leadership, investment in our farmers – Kenya can and should feed itself. Investing in irrigation to water our farms, bringing the cost of fertiliser down, bringing the cost of seed down, facilitating funding for mechanisation and modernisation, will enable us to do so and bring the cost of food down.

With the government heavily taxing oil imports, the cost of petroleum in Kenya has risen from around $1 per liter to over $1.30 in just the past few months. Kenyans have also been hit from all sides by rising inflation, government tariffs, import mismanagement, and insecurity.
Fuel shortages are not just happening because there happens to be no product. The reason is probably because to sell the fuel at the price that has been regulated by the government is really not a viable option.

All of these factors have in turn triggered inflation, which threatens to strengthen the rise in prices. Workers are becoming increasingly fed up and organized labor is beginning to demand higher wages to cope.
The majority of Kenyans or 81 per cent rely on government health institutions for medical care. These institutions have become too expensive because patients are to buy medicines from chemist.
Significant departure of medical staff from the public service as has been recently seen in the resignation of a number of doctors has a detrimental impact on the nation’s health.
As millions of youths have no jobs while millions of workers are living on starvation wages that cannot now enable them to live from hand to mouth, cases of suicides have increased. Kenya comes 65th out of 192 countries according to the World Health Rankings on suicide prevalence.
Frustrations about money and jobs can lead to depression, drug abuse and alcohol addiction. When the young people feel inadequate and powerless they may be tempted to commit suicide.
Loss of job is one leading cause of suicide among young people; an individual is left hopeless and may sink low with demands of living day to day without means of providing for themselves and their dependants.
Girls generally attempt suicide more often than boys, but boys are about 4 times more likely to die from the suicide attempt. This is because the methods that boys choose – often using firearms or hanging – are more lethal than those chosen by girls, namely drug overdoses or cutting themselves.
Almost half of 14- and 15-year-olds have reported feeling some symptoms of depression. These are mainly pupils in Standard 8 or form ones. The cause of their depression is too much worries on whether they can be able to go to Secondary school or continue with their studies.
They see their parents are not able. Most of these children are either left with mothers alone because their fathers died, or both parents have died and taken care with grandmother who is not able to educate them.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xVYqj4T-ZK0/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAABk/-Z8hKQauBIc/s120-c/photo.jpg

Planet Earth , review of Discovery Channel Series

Leave a reply

date: Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 7:05 PM

from: Francis Mwangi Chege

As of its release in early 2007, Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced ….

the entire planet has been magnificently represented by the most astonishing sights and sounds you’ll ever experience from the comforts of home.

[visit THU,M topic page in right column for more.]

Kenya: Philips rehabilitates the Intensive Care Unit department at Machakos Hospital by undertaking a complete refurbishment and installing lifesaving innovations

Leave a reply

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Philips rehabilitates the Intensive Care Unit department at Machakos Hospital (Kenya) by undertaking a complete refurbishment and installing lifesaving innovations
Capture.PNG
• Collaboration with Machakos Hospital (the “Hospital”) is part of a tender contract awarded to Philips by the Central Government of Kenya, which will entail the transformation of eleven ICU departments in level 5 hospitals across the country;

• The project is testament to Philips commitment to advancing the delivery of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare in Africa;

• Inauguration of the refurbished ICU department at the Hospital coincides with Philips’ week-long visit to Kenya as part of its sixth consecutive Cape Town to Cairo roadshow (http://www.philips.com/C2CAfrica).

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 29, 2015/ — Philips (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) (http://www.philips.com) today unveiled an entirely refurbished Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Hospital (Machakos County) Kenya. This is the first of eleven ICU departments in hospitals across the country that Philips is transforming as part of a tender contract awarded to Philips by the Central Government of Kenya to support healthcare revitalization across the country.

Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2042 (President Kenyatta tours ICU at Machakos with Roelof Assies, General Manager, Philips East Africa Limited)

Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2044 (Philips unveils refurbished ICU at Machakos Hospital)

Logo Royal Philips: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/philips-1.jpg

Logo “Philips’ Cape Town to Cairo roadshow”: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1927

The radical transformation of the ICU department at the Hospital has consisted of a complete overhaul of all facilities in the ICU department. Prior to this development the ICU department at the Hospital had an existing three bed ICU ward, which was very basic and not adequately equipped to care for patients. Philips has adopted an approach to the project with the Hospital known as Managed Equipment Services (MES). This approach means that Philips has taken full responsibility for the entire renovation, and has sourced and provided all required facilities, not just the technology and equipment. By adopting this ‘MES approach’, Philips has worked with external third parties to deliver all necessary solutions for a world-class ICU.

To ensure that the renovated ICU department at the Hospital meets international standards, a complete redesign was necessary. This has resulted in various civil works being initiated to create an isolation room, a sluice room, a nurse’s central desk, installation of piped medical gases from a new central oxygen plant, as well as access control to the department etc.

Philips also installed brand new high quality LED lighting in the ICU department; LED lighting enables rest and recovery, as it’s not as harsh as conventional fluorescent lighting, it requires minimal maintenance and also helps to reduce energy consumption.

Expanding the view at the bedside and beyond

Philips has installed a clinical network via the Philips IntelliVue MX series (http://www.healthcare.philips.com/main/products/patient_monitoring/products/intellivue_mx600_mx700) of bedside patient monitors, configured to simplify clinical workflow and allow easy access to relevant patient information from various hospital applications and systems. Patient monitors play a critical role in an ICU, by providing accurate, real-time physiological information that is needed to determine a patient’s status. The Philips IntelliVue MX series of monitors feature a best-in class ECG algorithm to reduce the number of false alarms, providing immediate, seamless access to clinically relevant patient information at the bedside and also at the central nurse’s station.

In addition to the monitoring solutions, Philips also provided the Hospital with Philips acute (V680) ventilators to enable therapeutic care, as well as Philips (DFM100) defibrillators to allow resuscitation of the heart. Also non Philips equipment like ICU beds, syringe pumps, pulse oximeters, infusion pumps, neonatal ventilators etc have been installed to ensure a fully functional ICU environment for various patient categories. Philips has also installed a piped medical gas plant in the unit which will support patient management by provision of oxygen eliminating the need for external supply of bottled oxygen.

To ensure that clinical staff fully utilise these state-of-the-art technologies in their new environment and that patient’s get maximum benefit from the latest therapies available, Philips will undertake application training on a regular basis as part of a continuous medical education (CME). Similarly, to support product uptime and service availability in the ICU department at the Hospital, biomedical engineers from the Hospital will also be trained on troubleshooting techniques.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Roelof Assies, General Manager, Philips East Africa Limited, said, “I’m delighted to announce the extensive development that is already well underway at the Hospital. We have worked with the Hospital to understand their needs, and to ensure that once the project is completed, the facility is fully equipped to adequately and sustainably care for patients admitted to the ICU department. The Hospital serves a wide ranging area, but prior to this refurbishment, it was unable to care for trauma patients, and so they had to be transferred to Nairobi which is at least an hour and a half away by car. This obviously could have devastating consequences for many patients, not to mention the increasing burden on the tertiary facilities in Nairobi, like Kenyatta National Hospital”.

“This initiative is part of a wider contract which will see Philips provide eleven hospitals across the country with lifesaving facilities. We will not only deliver our medical technologies and solutions to the hospitals, but we will also provide clinical training. Over the past decade, Philips has developed a model for turnkey healthcare projects in Africa; what makes this work successfully is a comprehensive project design and implementation that takes the bigger picture into consideration.”

Mr Assies concluded, “It’s not enough to simply supply and install equipment. Comprehensive project management is essential – from evaluating the infrastructure to training and maintenance. We must build capacity that enables the local clinical teams to continue their work. Our commitment to Kenya is unwavering, and we are very proud to have been selected by the Government of Kenya for this project; we will continue to strive to advance healthcare infrastructure across the country.”

Cape Town to Cairo Roadshow 2015

The announcement of the collaboration with the Hospital coincided with Philips’ weeklong stopover in Kenya, as part of its sixth consecutive pan-African Cape Town to Cairo roadshow. The annual roadshow kicked off on 11 May 2015, in Cape Town, and Nairobi is the third stop on a journey covering 12,000 km across 11 cities and 8 countries over a period of 4.5 months. The roadshow has gained significant momentum over the past five years, allowing Philips to get to the heart of some of the key issues facing Africa – including Mother and Child Care, the rise of non-communicable diseases, energy efficient LED and solar lighting solutions, as well as shining a spotlight on the need for clinical education and training.

Follow the Cape Town to Cairo journey via Twitter @PhilipsKenya (https://twitter.com/philipskenya) or visit www.philips.com/C2CAfrica.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.

For further information, please contact:

Radhika Choksey
Philips Group Communications – Africa
Tel: +31 62525 9000
E-mail: radhika.choksey@philips.com

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) (http://www.philips.com) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2014 sales of EUR 21.4 billion and employs approximately 108,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE
Royal Philips

Fencing kenya-somalia border WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY AND TIME.

Leave a reply

Writes Bob Aeum-Tidi.

ORANGE Democratic Movement officials in Nyanza have faulted the jubilee government plan to fence the entire 750 kilometers porous Kenya-Somalia borderline as a waste of money, energy and time. Instead the government should withdraw thousands of KDF soldiers currently idling inside Somalia and re-deploy them along the two countries common international border to curb the frequent intrusion nd incursion by Al-Shabaab jithadist terrorists.

MIgori County branch chairman ODM Eng Philip Makabong’o said to be spending millions of taxpayers money fencing the borderline the government will not be able to build iron sheet roof on the top of the fence to deter terrorists from jumping over. He said the plan could be another Anglo Leasing scam in which someone somewhere wants to ripoff millions of shillings from the government and must be stopped at once.

Makabong’o advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to make the entire North Eastern Provence of Kenya inaccessible to foreigners by way of declaring a state of emergency and impose dusk to dawn curfew in the region.

Under the state of emergency all he people of Somali origins Aden Duale the leader of the majority in the National Assembly should be compelled to wear a special identification tugs. This measure should include the Somalis who are Kenya citizens and non-citizens alike.
The residents of the region have no cooperated fully with the government I its efforts tl eradicate terrorism and banditry in the region.

“Our soldiers serving as peace keepers in Somalia should be recalled home and re-deployed along the Kenya-Somalia border to help the battle hardened Kenya police in keeping an eye non the border to stop any intruders. Somali refugees living in Dadab Refugees camp and other refugees camp in Kenya should be asked to go back home. There is no point for one to live in another country as a refugee for over twenty years. It makes no sense. These people should be repatriated across the border to their country.

Akabong’o said, although the concerted efforts by President enyatta to stamp out terrorism on Kenya solid ground should be appreciated by all and sundry, Somalis leader who are holding key government position In the Kenya government appeared to be giving only lip services, but nothing tangible to bring the endless massacre of Kenyan people to an end.

Makabong’o scathingly attacked the DP William Ruto who he said of late has made it a point to call the name of CORD leader Raila Odinga whenever he opened up. “uto is using aila’s name derogatively as a punching box in his political war with his detractors and steady rising numbers of his opponents in the Rift Valley, This must stop. Moreover Ruto is not of Rala’s caliber either politically or academically snd even status wise in the society.

BY calling names of innocent people in public everywhere he going, this unbecoming behavior will not propel him to the presidency“, said Makabong’o. He told Dn Ruto to emulate his political mentor, the retired President Daniel Moi who served Kenya diligently as the Vice President and was always at peace with everybody until he succeeded his boss the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta without offending any body. He should take a critical note from the famous Swahili proverbs of ‘Haraka Haina Baraka”

“Ke nya is not running away. The country will be here for another hundreds of years to come, and if the DP play his card peacefully and strategically nothing will stop him from being the future President of Kenya.” said Makabong’o adding that ODM official and followers are under strict instruction not touse provocative words or comments against Ke nyan leaders fro other competing parties and to exercise respect to all.

ENDS

KENYA: THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN BATTLE FOR SUNA EAST PROMISES TO BE THE TOUGH; CHALLENGERS HAVE LINED UP AGAINST JUNET

1 Reply

MOHAMMED JUNET FACES ELECTION DILEMA IN 2017 IN MIGORI
News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The next bilection campaign battle in Suna East constituency is expected to be the touch stone of the entire Southern Nyaza region. THe constituency is a cosmopolitan in the true sense of the word. The residents are people of mixture tribal background.

He Luos are arguably the majority,but other In ethnic groups such as Luyhias, Maragolis, Kisiis and Somalis makes this electoral area a true cosmopolitan in the real sense of the word.

The incumbent MP is the controversial and outspoken Mohammed Junet, a man of Somali origin whose leadership style appeared to have been weaken by his links with political goons and hirelings. The MP who has been bragging to be the eyes and ears of the ODM and CORD leader Raila Odinga in Migori is full of political antics and gimmicks, which has so far made his popularity to wane as fast as he had won the seat in 2013 elections..

The residents accused the MP of being fond of making political rhetoric in Nairobi, but doing absolutely nothing tangible in helping the electorate overcome myriads of problem at the constituency level. On several occassions the youthful legislator has been in brawls in public, and even at one time wrestling with his perceived opponents while scrambling for microphone or address system before the huge crowd of mourners.

The man who is giving Junet sleepless is Patrick Odipo a business magnate in Migoritown who is running chain of businesses including transport and estate agency. Odipom hails from Suna Kadika in Wasweta East in Suba East Division of Migori district. Is a member of the indigenous Jo-Suna sub-clan

Another Junet’s challenger is Hezron Ondigo who is a Maragoli. His parents are living in Uriri sub-County also withi Migori , but he lives in Kakirao area. He is a former school teacher-turned businessman.

During last week burial of a retired teacher the late Angira Angira, at Nyabisawa village, it was Ondigo who turned the heat on MP Junet when he bravely challenged as the legislator to account for what he has done to to his constituents ever since he was voted into parliament two and half years ago.

His sentiments infuriated the MP prompting him to grab and switched off the micraphone as the hundreds of mourners chanted “Junet Must Go”. Sensing the danger the priest conducting the burial prayers moved in and grabbed the microphone and took it to the graveside. He then asked the mourners to move to the graveside and to leave the brawling politicians to fight on.

It was one of Junet’s opponent Patrick Odipo who calmed the situatiion and saved it from getting worse as youths supporting the waring parties were getting ready for a fight, while many mourners scampered and fled the funeral home for their safety.

Suna East is one of the richest constituencies in Migori County. The County has seven parliamentary constituencies, namely Rongo, Awendo, Nyatike, Uriri,una East, Suna West, Kuria East and Kuria West. Its economic dynamic are minerals, highly valued cash crops, which included Tobacco and Sugar cane residents of the lower parts like Nyatike and parts of Uriri sub county, but he is a resident of Kakirao on the Suna-East constituencysde.

Speaking to this writer in his Migori townm Oatric Odipo said that every generation in this country faces unique challenges. Obkthuiatory is able to judge how well they respond to it. Many residents of Suna East were raised in the context where underdevelopment and poverty were pervasive.

Odipo said, “almost every year we faces unique hard economic times. THe population in the area comprises of majority with only primary education or “O” level school dropouts with many seeking manual jobs. Their parents are left to the mercy of nature as they deliver far from the safety of hospitals.

The business tycoon went on saying, ”there is leadership, apathy and the Suna East residents must now question the circumstances and demand leadership to account for their responsibilities and resources utilization.

He added, “changing the course of history is never easy task and only the brave and committed men like myself, he said adding that there will always be some elements of antics who will say how it cannot be done and give million reasons as to to why it would be possible to achieve this. If men listen to them we would have not set foot on the mont, Odipo said philosophically., adding we “We would only pride ourselves for having walked to the next village. The great leaders not not only ask the question why but also why not.

HE said the electorate I Sua East constituency have asked him to rise up and lead them to the next level of development, and in response to the numrous requests he has accepted the challenge and decided to change the course of the constituency’s development trajectory.

Odipo said he was sure of besting the incumbent legislator and his mai agenda would be to create the wealth. He intend to launch wealth creation programme which will transform Suba East into the hub wealth and business activities to be envious to other constituencies in the region. The area lacked fresh water for heath and sanitation. It needs serious youth economic empowerment programme, major healthcare programs, introduction of new method and technology in agriculture, increase in livestock, especially graded dairy cows to increase milk output.

SUNA East constituency is partly in Migori town which it shared equally with Suna West constituency. The town’s proximity to border trades makes it a major hub for business acclivities that attract customers and business people from across the Kenya-Tanzania border

He said the current MP has been sleeping on the job. He lacked commitment to poverty eradication and has been threatening the electorate while using the name the CORD leader Raila Odinga as his protector, and his performance is lukewarm. His performance is dismal and reads zero.

Ends

Kenya: Alex Mwaura Muriu of Kenya won Second Prize of Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2015

Leave a reply

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

This year’s winners embody the Pan African essence of the prestigious Innovation Prize for Africa award, representing North, East & Southern Africa

SKHIRAT, Morocco, May 14, 2015/ — In a glittering ceremony hosted by the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) (http://www.africaninnovation.org) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Investment and Digital Economy in Skhirat, Morocco, researcher Adnane Remmal was announced winner of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2015 Grand Prize (http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org), scooping the US$100 000 cash prize. This was a fitting tribute to an extensive research process, providing African farmers with a solution to improve livestock production whilst taking into account consumer health needs.

Capture.PNGLogo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-innovation-foundation-aif.jpg

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1990 (Adnane Remmal (right) IPA 2015 winner, with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Investment and Digital Economy officials and AIF Founder, Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais (centre)

Alex Mwaura Muriu of Kenya won Second Prize, and South African, Lesley Erica Scott was awarded the Special Prize for Social Impact, receiving US$25 000 respectively.

A jubilant Remmal impressed the expert panel of judges, competing with 10 excellent African innovations spanning the health, environment, technology and agricultural sectors. His innovation, a patented alternative to livestock anti-biotics is set to transform the broader medical and agricultural sector in Africa. The natural innovative anti-microbial formula reduces health hazards in livestock, preventing the transmission of multi-resistant germs and carcinogens to human beings through consumption of milk, eggs and meat. Says Remmal: “My innovation provides farmers with solutions to improve their production; it is cost effective and can be easily adopted, giving farmers increased benefits without the side effects of anti-biotics.”

Murui, a Kenyan entrepreneur, developed a system to meet the perennial challenge faced by African farmers in accessing capital to finance planting and harvesting by providing an alternative from the burden of financial loans through his Farm Capital Africa project.

Today, TB is second only to HIV and AIDS as a leading cause of death in the continent. Using the Smartspot TBCheck, Scott, a South African scientist, has developed an effective World Health Organization (WHO) approved calibration method for TB diagnostic machines.

Innovation is a national priority in Morocco, one of the countries leading the innovation frontier in Africa – a strategic location for IPA 2015, and well known for hosting other successful events such as the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. In his welcome remarks, Moroccan Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and the Digital Economy, Mr Moulay Hafid Elalamy emphasized: “Innovation and development, as well as technological innovations must be leveraged for the continent, given that these are major value creations and key ingredients for competitiveness”.

Since its inaugural launch in 2011, IPA has attracted some 3000 applications from 49 African countries. Jean Claude Bastos de Morais, AIF Founder and the brainchild of the Prize, now in its fourth edition, is pleased with the level of innovations this year – a total of 925 applications from 41 countries. Commenting on the role of IPA in fostering innovation in Africa, Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais said:

“I am truly impressed with this year’s winning innovations, which have once again surpassed expectations. At the same time, I am aware that the buck cannot stop here. Let us put it this way; no matter how high a bird flies, it always needs a nest, a base to come back to. African innovators are taking flight, their innovative ideas are increasingly proving to be transformative – not only for Africa – but for the world. Through the IPA, the AIF is fostering the development of robust innovation ecosystems, which are essentially nests for African entrepreneurs and innovators to develop solutions for African challenges”.

African innovators continue to provide more innovative African solutions to address African problems. This year’s winners have a common theme: their innovations highlight the vital and crucial need to respond directly to demanding community needs – the heart of the AIF mandate. The innovations further demonstrate great potential to change the course of history in Africans’ responses to health, technology, enterprise and the agricultural sector, prioritizing needs-based responses through cost effective means – a critical tool for sustainable development.

The IPA 2015 Awards ceremony was attended by more than 400 people that included high level African dignitaries, ministers, ambassadors, AIF partners, past IPA winners, venture capitalists, innovators, entrepreneurs, local and international media, and young people. The AIF believes that young people (below age 35) are the epi-center of the African innovation ecosystem as they represent 65% of Africa’s 1.1 billion population.

For the first time this year, all nominees received recognition through a US$5 000 voucher as a support fund to boost their different innovations in their home countries.

The IPA 2015 Awards ceremony was compered by Lerato Mbele of BBC Africa Business Report fame. Youssour N’Dour, the Senegalese musical legend provided first class entertainment, backed by Bob Maghrib, a Moroccan ensemble, with popular Bob Marley renditions.

IPA associated events prior to the Awards ceremony included a Press Conference, an Innovation Marketplace showcasing Moroccan home-grown talents, and an Ideas Machine workshop focusing on unleashing innovation talent in young Africans.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the African Innovation Foundation (AIF).

For more information on IPA 2015:

For the African Innovation Foundation
Aulora Stally
Communications Manager
Strehlgasse 4
8001 Zurich, Switzerland
aulora.stally@africaninnovation.org
Phone: +41 79 834 9163

For the Ministry of Industry
Trade, Investment and Digital Economy
Taoufiq Moucharraf
Communications Director
moucharraf@mcinet.gov.ma
Phone: +212 661 522 801

Find us on:
The Internet: www.africaninnovation.org ; Innovation Prize for Africa (http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovationPrizeforAfrica
https://www.facebook.com/AfricanInnovationFoundation
Twitter: @AfrinnovFdn; @IPAPrize

Africa Innovation Foundation (AIF) (http://www.africaninnovation.org) works to increase the prosperity of Africans by catalyzing the innovation spirit in Africa.

Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) (http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org) is a landmark initiative of the AIF and mobilizes African innovators to invest in African-led solutions to ensure a sustainable, prosperous Africa. Details on IPA 2015 events can be found on http://event.innovationprizeforafrica.org/

SOURCE
African Innovation Foundation (AIF)

TRIBUTE POEM IN MEMORY OF GRACE OGOT

Leave a reply

THE RARE BEACON OF HOPE:-

LETS CELEBRATE GRACE OGOT

O, the rain has come for our icon,

Yawa, let’s

Celebrate Grace Ogot

Our rare multi-multi

Talented icon

Let’s celebrate this ever

Smiling lady of thrift

With the gift for philanthropy

The rare beacon of hope,

During dark days of illiteracy

The rare lily in the Luo universe

Ever

Exuding intellectual fragrance

Let’s celebrate nyar Asembo

Mama Grace Ogot

Who cherished Christian values

This delineated her life

As the only nominated and elected women M.P

For Gem

Gem the home of the legends

Odera Akang’o and CMG Argwings Kodhek

You championed

Education for the girl child.

Let’s celebrate Grace Ogot

The rare beacon of hope

Let’s celebrate this kind hearted

Mulago trained nurse and BBC Radio Journalist

Who inspired by Luo culture,

mythology and folklore

Aspired matured into

A renowned writer

Articulating the role

Of women in

Patriarchal society

We celebrate the life

Of an extraordinary

Mother and wife to an

International historian:

Prof Bethwel Alan Ogot.

Let’s celebrate a great

Personality,always

Elegant in her distinctive headgear

And mono-tone flowing dresses

The rare beacon of hope

The rain has come for our icon

The care beacon of hope

Let’s celebrate Grace Ogot

Born in rural Asembo

This great African writer

Educated at Ng’iya and Butere Girls High Schools.

Government Assistant Minister for Culture in 1987.

We celebrate Grace Ogot

The politician, the nurse, the broadcast Journalist, the diplomat and P.R .practioneer

Besides being a mother and a wife.

We celebrate a nurse, while studying at St James Hospital, England in 1962

She presented B.B.C Radio program

‘’London Calling East Africa’’

We are Celebrating an inspired author

0f nine books

The Promised Land, The Rain Came, The Year Of Sacrifice, Island Of Tears, Ward Nine,

The Graduate, The Other Women, Miaha and Days Of My Life

We celebrate the founder of Writers’ Association of Kenya

One among 570 authors of the 20th century, featured in the 4 volume

Of Modern Women Writers published in 1996

W e celebrate a gold hearted matron

Who selflessly donated her School Jubilee High School to facilitate the Odera Akang’o Campus

In honour of

The legendary Gem Chief.

O WE MOURN A GREATE AFRICAN MATRON

BY

AKECH OBAT MASIRA AND

OMAR NASSER

IN KISUMU, KENYA ON 3RD APRIL 2015

MISANGO ARTS ENSEMBLE

KENYA: UHURU’S CORRUPTION LIST NOT INCLUSIVE

Leave a reply

From: Joachim Omolo Ouko
News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

Willies from Koru writes: “Fr Beste I think you did not answer Richard’s question from Ruiru. I agree with him that you are biased because other news you rush to dispatch but the one of Kisumu you are dodging. You need to do something.”

Nabwire from Bumala writes:”Fr Beste opposition leader Raila Odinga has termed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s list of top officials accused of corruption and whom State House has pressed to leave office to pave way for investigations as a game of musical chairs.

Raila insists that Uhuru has omitted many names in his list. Can you guess who could these people Uhuru has omitted be? Charity Ngilu is saying that she is the target on this list, they want her out of Land’s office- does it mean that the rest will be reinstated? Can you also say something about Isaac Ruto and William Ruto’s politics- is it true that William Ruto is behind his impeachment plan?”

Thank you for the reaction Willies. I don’t think I am biased. Priests from Kisumu Archdiocese have defended Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth against allegations of corruption, arrogance, intimidation among other transgressions.

The priests stood firmly with Archbishop Okoth who they described as their shepherd and father. So if the priests have defended him, what more do you want me to report contrary to this? Unless you have evidence that you want me to report you can send and the News Dispatch will definitely run it.

The priests dissociated the archbishop from the contents of the exposé that aired on KTN prime time news on March 26. Contrary to what was exposed, the priests commended the archbishop for having initiated many projects in the archdiocese, including schools, hospitals and other social facilities and therefore the priests urged the press to be responsible in its reporting.

Thank you for the question Nabwire. I am not aware which list Uhuru has omitted. What is very clear is what some opposition politicians are saying that if President Uhuru Kenyatta was very sincere in dealing with the fight against corruption his list would have included his deputy William Ruto who has been adversely mention in many corruption scandals, especially land.

Raila Odinga said Mr Kenyatta had deliberately left out “sacred cows” in the Office of the President. He also wanted to know why Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials were not on the list.

On Charity Ngilu it can be possible that she is the target. If this is true then it means the rest will be reinstated. Mwai Kibaki reinstated former finance minister Amos Kimunya after an official of inquiry cleared him of any wrongdoing in the sale of a luxury hotel that triggered a political storm and forced him to step down.

On Isaac Ruto, you cannot rule out any possibility of William Ruto’s involvement in Isaac Ruto’s impeachment by members of the Bomet County Assembly who have now threatened to begin impeachment proceeding against Governor Isaac Ruto.

One wonders why Mr Ruto’s call for impeachment comes only after he has defied a presidential directive to step aside so that he may be investigated on corruption allegations against him. One also wonders why the impeachment campaign comes only after Ruto accused William Ruto of undermining him in his Bomet County.

Sunday, William Ruto issued a withering broadside at a rally in Kapkatet, Kericho, saying that Kalenjin politicians not singing his tune will be kicked out in the next election. Isaac Ruto has time and again accused the Deputy President of funding his political rivals, who include MPs and a number of Ward Representatives, to destabilise his administration with a view to having him impeached.

The Deputy President he says is sponsoring chaos and wrangles all over the place, including the disagreement over the location of a public university to be built by Moi University in Bomet County.

The fact that Isaac Ruto has said that he will run for presidency  in 2022, contesting against William Ruto who is also expected to take over from President Kenyatta after the expiry of his two terms in office, can also give some hints why William Ruto would love to see Isaac dying politically.

Speaking Monday during a fundraiser in aid of boda boda riders at Olengurone shopping center in Kuresoi south constituency, Rutto said he has already started preparing the ground and that nothing will stop him from gunning for Presidency in 2022.

William Ruto’s Hague case is also fuelling campaigns in Rift. Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has launched campaign in Rift Valley to weaken Ruto’s fame in the region. Moi has also declared his interest of standing for presidency in 2017. They have already begun a Kanu membership drive and their first target will be URP members.

The Moi family is understood to be uncomfortable with the idea of Ruto succeeding Uhuru in 2022. The plan is that Moi replaces Ruto as the DP, therefore filling the Kalenjin equation gap of the DP position. Then after he retires, Moi takes Kenneth as his running mate.

City businessman, Jacob Juma, who is also related to Moi’s family because of his marriage to Daniel Moi’s daughter June Moi has also urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to cut ties with his Deputy, William Ruto, if he wants to be re­elected in 2017’s Presidential Election.

Sharing his sentiments through social media, Juma, who is also the Managing Director of Cortec Kenya said Uhuru should “divorce” Ruto and move forward because Ruto and his URP crew are the ones who are tainting his administration by engaging in corruption and graft activities.

Jacob Juma has also filed a case to reclaim the land grabbed by Renton Company which is believed to be owned by the Deputy President but registered under the names of proxies. The case has been certified urgent by Justice Weldon Korir.

The court wants the company, Nairobi City County, National Land Commission, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Attorney General to explain how the prime land, valued at 1.5 billion shillings, changed hands from public to private.

Juma has also given the owner of Weston Hotel believed to be owned by deputy president a 14-day ultimatum to surrender the land to the government. He said at the expiry of the notice he will begin proceedings to have the “illegal title cancelled” and the land returned to the rightful owner.

Juma says the parcel on which the hotel stands is public land grabbed between 2001 and 2002. He says the land originally belonged to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. William Ruto has not held a one-on-one meeting with retired President Daniel Moi one and half years since the Jubilee government came to power.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578

IN KENYA YOU MUST BE CORRUPT TO BE APPOINTED IN PUBLIC OFFICE

Leave a reply

From: Joachim Omolo Ouko News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim SUNDAY, 2015

Victor from Webuye writes: “Fr Beste something must be very wrong with this government, how can President Uhuru appoint former Nambale MP Chris Okemo who together with former Kenya Power and Lighting boss Samuel Gichuru is wanted in Jersey over money laundering?

Chris Okemo (right) and Samuel Gichuru when they appeared in court July 2011. The two are facing money laundering charges in a UK court. A Nairobi magistrate February 5, 2013 ruled that an extradition case against them goes to full trial. Photo/FILE http://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/2661718/medRes/972535/-/4fbo2/-/Cartoon+22-03.jpg

Chris Okemo in court July 2011- The two are facing money laundering charges in a UK court. A Nairobi magistrate February 5, 2013 ruled that an extradition case against them goes to full trial.

Thank you for this important question Victor. In Kenya you are only honored when you are corrupt. So don’t blame President Uhuru, he is just fulfilling the policy of the government. Despite chapter 6 of the constitution on the guiding principles of leadership and integrity which requires that anyone appointment in public office is done so on the basis of personal integrity.

This chapter states that such a person must be free of corruption, honesty in the execution of public duties, transparent, discipline and commitment in service to the people, not for his own benefit.

It explains why, even though the civil society organizations have given President Uhuru Kenyatta a seven-day ultimatum to call for a national crisis meeting to tackle what they called runaway corruption, Uhuru may not honor this call because he is just following the policy of the government he inherited.

This country is used to mass action, so even if the President fails to do so as per their demand nothing can scare him. Uhuru owns all the security he will spread them on the street to shoot, even to kill if you persist on your demonstration.

Uhuru laughed when the group demanded that he should address the country within seven days. The group led by Inuka Kenya CEO John Githongo wants the President to convene a national conference that will provide an inclusive platform for discussion on how to reconstitute the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

It is quite disturbing indeed that in two years of Jubilee reign, Kenya “has witnessed a return of corruption to levels comparable to the one-party era, when corruption was part of everyday experience of citizens.

Okemo has been appointed board member of the Kenya Seed Company at the time the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Keriako Tobiko is still seeking his arrest. Okemo is wanted in Jersey Island to face charges relating to offences allegedly committed between February 1998 to June 2002. Okemo vied for the Busia senator seat but lost to Amos Wako because of his bad integrity.

This is not the first time Uhuru has made similar appointment. Last December he appointed 26 individuals, including 15 politicians who lost in the March 4, 2013 general election. Some of the politicians include Jebii Kilimo, Agnes Ndetei, Peter Kiilu, Philip Kaloki, Onyango Oloo and Julius Kones.

Others are Abdul Bahari, Edwin Yinda, Titus Ibui, Mohammud Mohammed, Matu Wamae, Geofrey King’ang’i, Daniel Wamahiu,Taraiyia ole Kores and Samuel Nyangeso.

Mr Okemo has been appointed to the board of the Kenya Seed Company as a member for a period of three years with effect from March 23. Dr Noah Wekesa will serve as the chairman of Bukura Agricultural College for a period of three years with effect from March 16.

Mr Okemo faces 15 counts of money laundering and misconduct in public office, while Mr Gichuru faces 40 counts of money laundering, fraud and misconduct in public office.

Government has been incapable of tackling corruption, not only because its members are beneficiaries, but also many appointments have been done on political favor, no matter how crook you are.

So for President Kenyatta to sound a warning to inept and corrupt public officers saying they will be fired is just to please International bodies and investors. When he says he cautions laziness and graft would not be entertained and that those not willing to work hard were free to go home is just the opposite.

Uhuru sounded the warning after the members of the private sector had raised concern with him that corruption had increased the cost of doing business in Kenya. In Kenya investors must bribe members of the Executive for award of tenders.

Members of key House committees must be bribed by forces in the Executive to stop investigations into the theft of taxpayers’ money. All the sectors must be bribed, especially the police that are just taking bribes openly in day light when people are watching.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ  Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578  E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com            Facebook-omolo beste  Twitter-@8000accomole

Still No Christmas in Laos:

1 Reply

From: Dan Wooding

Friday, December 26, 2014

Still No Christmas in Laos:
State Sponsored Persecution Directed Against Lao Hmong Believers, Political Dissidents Increases

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) — On Christmas Day, 2014, the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) has raised concern about the increased persecution of minority Christian, Animist and independent Buddhist believers in Laos at the hands of military and security forces of Laos and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

They say that religious freedom and human rights violations have dramatically increased under the Hanoi-backed, one-party communist government in Laos, especially against various Laotian and Hmong minority groups, including religious believers and political dissidents.

read full article:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2014/s14120103.htm

Africa: Christmas Day Attack in Somalia

Leave a reply

From: U.S. Department of State
Press Statement
Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 26, 2014

The United States strongly condemns the December 25 attack targeting African Union forces in Mogadishu. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the military and civilian personnel who were killed in this cowardly terrorist act. These individuals sacrificed their lives in an effort to bring lasting peace and stability to Somalia. Our support for the people of Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia, and Somali government forces in their efforts to defeat al-Shabaab will not waver.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.

External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Stay connected with the State Department:
http://www.state.gov/

POLITICAL INHERITANCE IN KENYA

2 Replies

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014

Peter from Bomet writes: Fr Beste how can ODM claim to be democratic when its leaders including Raila Odinga forcing Moses Kajwang’ to electorates in Homa Bay simply because he is a brother to Otieno Kajwang, yet they blame Uhuru that he is tribal. I am sure if Raila becomes the president today he will favor all his nephews, nieces, sisters, and sons.

See what he did to his brother Oburur Odinga after he tried to force him to be the governor of Siaya and when he was defeated he forced him to be nominated. He wanted also to force his sister Ruth governor of Kisumu until people protested, but still he forced her to be deputy governor. This is very sill.”

I can see your reaction Peter. I always said on this blog that Raila is no better than Uhuru Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki or Moi. These people are the same. In Homa Bay County Raila had force Otieno Kajwang’ to be the senator.

Returning Officer John Mulehi was forced to agree to have Otieno Kajwang’ as the Senate ODM flag bearer. Raila also wanted Philip Okundi forGovernor, and Roselyne Onyuka for Women Representative. He forced party leaders to agree on consensus that Kajwang’ be the ODM flag bearer for Homabay

According to Robert Alai, a blogger and cyber activist, Raila had insisted that Kajwang’s brother must be the ODM flag bearer because his father said if his son does not take the seat he would commit suicide.

This is what Alai wrote in Luo: “Awinjo ni baba Nyiso contestants ni oket owadgi Kajwang’ nikech wuon Kajwang’ nowacho ni odhi dere ka wuode ok omi kom. Apenji, ka ng’ato odere to otho gi ng’a? Ok otho kende? Wek uru tugo kodwa. We need democracy in our party. This is sad!!! I would have loved any other direct nomination but giving it to a relative of the deceased is not convincing to me.

The ODM party must not be so selfish that they listen to no advice. Direct nomination is not democratic. And Moses Kajwang’s only communication now is that he is brother to Otieno Kajwang. We must never allow this.

Otherwise all of us who have never had relatives in politics might never get party nominations because it is now only sexually transmitted. My case is tired but I am yet to rest it”.

Since Moi Kenyans have been forced to politicians in what is known as political inheritance. Moi forced Musalia Mudavadi to succeed his father Moses Mudavadi, Oburu Odinga succeeded his father, Gideon Moi the same, Mutula Kilonzo Junior the same and so the story continues.

Political inheritance is an issue that has the potential to cripple the country’s democracy and erode all gains made thereof. With nomination of Kajwang it is now emerging that you have to belong to the right family or the right party for you to have any prospects of being a leader in Kenya.

This is despite the fact that political inheritance blocks potential leaders by the mere fact that they do not belong to the “right” family. And since politics has been used as a platform for accumulating wealth, the main goal of the inheritor is the security of the family coffers as well as accumulating more.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)-Mass During the Day

Leave a reply

from: joachim omolo ouko
Father Omolo Beste’s Homily

Thursday, December 25, 2014

On this day the Church focuses especially on the newborn Child, God become human, who embodies for us all the hope and peace we seek. John describes the closeness between Jesus and his Father, his consideration and love for others and also his compassion, “the Lamb of God”, “the bread of life”, the light of the world”, “the fine shepherd”, “the true vine”, “the way the truth and the life” and “the resurrection and the life”

He is the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will.

On the other hand, Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah the one chosen by God to deliver the people from their sins. Matthew quotes the Old Testament extensively, and places special emphasis on Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecies—which would have been important to a Jewish audience.

The Gospel of Matthew is written for a Jewish audience, especially Palestinian Jews who were at the time oppressed by the Romans. One of Matthew’s main goals in his gospel was to prove that Jesus was the true Davidic Messiah–the king the Jews were expecting, who will deliver them from oppression.

Luke presents him as “the Son of Man”–not the Christ or King or God Incarnate, but distinctively the Son of Man. He is not talking only about coming to save lost people; he has come to save that which is lost. He came to the earth to be the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins; for every single person who has lived, or ever shall live.

He also came to destroy the power of the devil forevermore. Luke is portrayed him as one who loves every single person, in spite of how we may fail him. He also came to the earth to pay the price for everyone who will believe in him, to be healed from every sickness and disease.

Mark on the other hand distinctively presents Jesus as the suffering servant. For a gospel apparently written with a Gentile audience in mind, Mark does not begin his story of Jesus where we might expect. He doesn’t begin with Jesus’ birth, or his baptism, or with any other event in the first century.

Instead, Mark reminds the reader that the story of the gospel began many generations before when God made promises to the people of Israel. In other words, Mark does not present the Jesus as the start of a new story, but as the completion of an old one.

In the first reading taken from IS 52:7-10 Prophet Isaiah describes Jesus’ birth as beautiful, he is born to bring glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”

The oppressed are crying together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion. He has come to redeem Jerusalem. He has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

In the second reading taken from HEB 1:1-6 in times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
In the Gospel taken from JN 1:1-18 John asserts: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying,

“This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God.

The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him”.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

3 principles for natural resources to become a blessing for development

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Many of the world’s biggest economic success stories have happened in places with few or no natural resources.

This is clearly visible in Asia. Tiny Singapore, without a single natural resource, has transitioned from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. Japan and South Korea rebuilt their war-torn countries and became two of the most advanced economies on the planet through hard work, industrialization and education. China, which used to be a poor country and net oil exporter, is now the world’s second-largest economy and top importer of oil, with 600 million people brought out of poverty in the process. There are success stories on all continents.

On the other hand, countries richer in natural resources have ended up much poorer. Mountainous North Korea has access to mineral wealth that more successful neighbor in the south lacks. In West Africa, oil-rich Equatorial Guinea has a higher gross domestic product than Poland, but the life expectancy of its citizens is 20 years lower than that of the average Pole. If natural wealth alone determined development, the list of winners and losers would have been very different.
Link:
<a href=”https://www.devex.com/news/3-principles-for-natural-resources-to-become-a-blessing-for-development-85065?utm_source=twengagement&utm_medium=twtweet&utm_campaign=twdailypost”>https://www.devex.com/news/3-principles-for-natural-resources-to-become-a-blessing-for-development-85065?utm_source=twengagement&utm_medium=twtweet&utm_campaign=twdailypost</A>

Trading Away from Conflict: Using Trade to Increase Resilience in Fragile States

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

While economic growth in developing countries over the last ten years has lifted more people out of poverty than in any previous time, more than one billion people still live in countries affected by violent conflict. Conflict weakens governance, undermines economic development and threatens both national and regional stability. Trade shocks, in particular, can have widely varying impacts on conflict. This report sets out to empirically test these linkages between trade shocks and conflict via cross-country and intra-country analysis. On the basis of the analysis, it offers trade-related policy directions to reduce this risk in fragile economies. The results provide convincing evidence that trade and trade policy have a large impact on the risk and intensity of conflict. This report is composed of three main chapters.
Link:

<a href=”https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/20713/931230PUB0Box30UBLIC009781464803086.pdf?sequence=1″>https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/20713/931230PUB0Box30UBLIC009781464803086.pdf?sequence=1</a>

USA: Keeping Ohio Workers and Children Out of Poverty

Leave a reply

From: Senator Sherrod

Ohioans û many of whom work multiple jobs while taking care of their children û deserve tax relief. And workers who lose their jobs or their pensions due to no fault of their own deserve help with health bills.

 While this makes sense to most Ohioans, too many Members of Congress may disagree. While some legislators donÆt hesitate to give tax breaks to large corporations, they stop short of also providing workers with fair tax credits that will keep them out of poverty.

As Congress works to finalize a tax deal, if businesses receive tax relief, the same has to go for Ohio workers and their families. Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) û which provide tax relief for low-income workers û are critical lifelines for many taxpayers and lift millions out of poverty every year.

Sen. Brown speaking about the importance of EITC in Cleveland.

Just as corporations need certainty so they can make investments, working Americans deserve certainty so they can make ends meet. 

Temporary improvements to the EITC and CTC will expire in just a few years if Congress does not act. According to an analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, if these provisions are allowed to expire in 2017, 13 million families would lose part or all of their EITC and CTC. This would result in 14.6 million Americans being pushed deeper into poverty and 1.8 million Americans being pushed into poverty. In Ohio alone, allowing the improvements to expire would reduce the EITC and CTC of nearly half a million families.

We should not only make permanent the enhancements made to the EITC and the CTC, we should look at ways to expand and improve both credits.

Sen. Brown speaking about the importance of EITC in Cleveland.

ThatÆs why I introduced legislation that would triple the size of the EITC for the only class of workers who can be taxed into poverty: low-income adults without children. This would reduce poverty and spread the benefits of the program to a wider pool. Ohioans want to work and support themselves and we must continue to fight for tax policy that does not put an undue burden on low-wage earners.

 In 2012, more than 1.5 million Ohioans received more than $3.2 billion in tax relief through the EITC and the CTC. ThatÆs money that gets fed right back into the economy. Families use their refunds to pay for necessities û like groceries, school supplies, and visits to the dentist û that they otherwise might not be able to afford.

We cannot afford to neglect working families when it comes to tax relief. Congress must ensure that, like corporations, workers who need help the most can rely on fair tax credits for years to come. 

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown U.S. Senator

Cleveland 1301 East Ninth Street Suite 1710 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 p (216) 522-7272 f (216) 522-2239 Toll Free 1-888-896-OHIO (6446)

Washington, D.C.

713 Hart Senate Building

KENYA: GOVERNMENT REQUESTED TO TO INSTRUCT KWA TO CONDUCT MASS CULLING OF HIPPOS

Leave a reply

NYATIKE MP PLEADS WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE HIPPOS POPULATION IN LAKE VICTORIA.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A member of parliament has appealed to the central government of Kenya to instruct the Kenya Wildlife Service’s {KWS to conduct what he termed as mass culling of Hippo population in Lake Victoria in order to reduce the numerous attacks by these beasts which have resulted in the deaths of fishermen.

Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga Also decried of the increased population of the dreaded Nile Crocodile in River Kuja, which has become dangerous to the people and their livestock.

The MP comment came in the wake of report that a 28 old fisherman was killed by a rogue bull of hippo.The incident occurred near Muhuru Bay.The 28 year old man whose name was given as Kennedy had gone fishing with a companion when the beast attacked and hit their fishing boat and overturned throwing the two into the deep side of the water, His companion swam to the safety, while Kennedy was thrown into the water and the beast bite him savagely killing him instantly.

His badly mutilated body was later retrieved. There has been several incidents along the shoreline of the lake which have all resulted in deaths caused by hippos stretching from Sindo beach in Suba South constituency following an alarming increased in hippo’s population. The situation now calls for mass culling in order to reduce the population of these dangerous beasts .Hippos are also destructive in a way destroying food crops causing hunger and famine to the communities living along the lake shorelines.

In another unrelated incident a woman was devoured by the Nile crocodile in River Kuja near wath Ong’er trading in north Kadem location also in Migori County.

The MP pleaded with the government to come to the rescue his constituents before more people are killed by These dangerous creature. In the case of crocodile attack the body of the woman a mother of three who had gone to the to wash her clothes in the river was retrieved after three days of search, but thebeast had cut her body into two halves and the reptiles had already swallowed the other half.

ENDS

KENYA: WHY KURIA WILL GO FREE OVER HATE SPEECH

Leave a reply

from: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 14

Joan from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste what do you say about Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. He has been taken to court over hate speech via social media. Do you think the government will succeed in controlling social media because I believe it is not only Kuria who has been accused there are many people using social media for propaganda.”

Thank you for this important question Joan. Although the Kenyan government has said it will be monitoring users of social media and taking action against anyone found inciting violence or using hateful or ethnic language, controlling social media is one of the toughest missions the government can tame.

Much of the ‘violence’ shifted to the online space, especially Facebook and Twitter following the post-election violence in 2007/08. In November 2012 alone, 28 per cent of a sample of 792 online statements contained one or more examples of “dangerous speech” – a term contain direct threats.

According to Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Keriako Tobiko, the investigating cases, collecting evidence and prosecuting offenders requires both legislation and technology that are not yet available in Kenya.

His suggestion that the police might now need a dedicated “cyber crime unit” to monitor social media can also not be possible. One challenge has also been the reluctance of judges to accept electronic evidence in court, and some cases have been dismissed as a result.

There is a need to amend Kenyan law to be in tandem with technology to enable admission of electronic evidence. As per now it very difficult to monitor and collect evidence on social media, this is because the authors of such stories in most cases are anonymous and post hate messages from discrete sources.

Examining the content of internet posts suggested that a lot of these conversations you are seeing on social media are not really hate speech if you apply the law. That is why going after everyone who posts threatening messages is almost impossible. You cannot even remove them.

But even if police were to be to investigate what is written on social media, they are not always going to be there to investigate every small conversation that turns abusive. You should also know Joan that the current climate favors hate speech because Kenya is struggling with many problems at the same time.

While Innocent Kenyans have been killed, the government is only dealing with the interests of members of their own ethnic group. This creates a situation where people find themselves in a difficult situation they then become responsive to propaganda.

It explains why the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, which was set up in 2008 as an independent institution to prevent a repetition of the post electoral riots, has not been able to stop propaganda and hate speech on social media.

Again Joan, you should also know that it is not only on social media that propaganda and hate speech are being used. You are ware that since the Lamu attacks, hate leaflets have been distributed warning specific ethnic groups to leave the area, with the latest one in Naivasha.

Just yesterday two bloggers have been accused of calling for the killing of Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, triggering fierce debate, with the House demanding their prosecution. Mr Omar had raised the matter, saying that Willy Omosa and Mugo Wa Wairimu had posted messages on social media calling for his killing in a way similar to that of controversial Muslim cleric Sheikh Abubakar Sharrif alias Makaburi.

One fact must be accepted that both the Twitter and Facebook episodes mark what appears to be a shift in online culture, not only in Kenya but global. Globally, throughout the Web’s history, a certain amount of bad behavior has come to be expected, be it intentionally provocative online trolling or earnest hatred spewed more freely because of the ability to do so anonymously.

Hate speech online can be understood as antisocial oratory that is intended to encourage persecution against people because of their race, color, religion, ethnic group, or nationality, and has a substantial likelihood of causing harm.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole