Category Archives: Activism

KENYA: PRESS RELEASE BY THE NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES LEADERS. January 5, 2017

from: Bishop Washington Ogonyo
to: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

As church leaders within Nyanza region comprising of 200 churches, we are advocating for peace and tranquility before, during and after this year’s General Election slated for August.

This is because in the absence of peace, nothing good can be witnessed for example businesses may be disrupted, No going to places of worship as well as no proper movement of the people across the various parts of the country hence we are appealing to the Government and the opposition to initiate true dialogue on the matter of amending the current electoral laws which is to benefit all Kenyans.

It is good for both the Government to come up with electoral laws which are accepted across the board.

There should be no such laws seen to be favoring either of the political divide as the Country is approaching this year’s polls.

We are in full agreement with the retired Reverend Timothy Njoya’s sentiment that the religious leaders across the country should act as mediators so as to help in unlocking the current impasse on the issue of electoral laws amendments hence strongly opposed to the recent sentiments of our two brothers Bishop Gerry Kibarabara and Bishop Stephen Ndicho who have openly supported the issue of manual back up in the electoral system.

Retired Reverend Njoya has called on all the religious leaders across the country to help in settling the matter in an amicable way without confusing Kenyans and this should be the best approach on this issue currently at hand.

We appeal to them to rescind such a decision for the sake of the Kenyan people since the duo clergy seems to have taken sides on this matter rather than acting as mediators to help in bringing peace between the two parties which are both the Government and Opposition.

“If you find your two brothers fighting then the best thing for you to do as a church minister is to play a role of mediator and you should not lean on one side to show that you are partisan.”

The move by the Interfaith Council of Kenya is not a healthy one because it seems to be presenting partisanship which as religious leaders is very much opposed to.

The Bible in the Book of Mathew 5:9 says” Blessed are the peace makers because they shall be called sons of God”.

Let the religious leaders to be the salt of the world and not to confuse the world.

Signed by: Arch-Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede

National Chairman Nyanza Council of Churches Leaders.

Kenya: MONEY LOOTING IN HIGH SCHOOLS TO BLAME FOR SCHOOL UNRESTS

News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2016

Several suggestions have been made to end the burning of schools in Kenya. One particular suggestion is that schools must have a school discipline policy which is developed in consultation with school community members containing four components:

1. The discipline code or school rules

2. Strategies and practices to promote positive student behaviour, including specific strategies to maintain a climate of respect

3. Strategies and practices to recognise and reinforce student achievement

4. Strategies and practices to manage inappropriate student behaviour.

In order to achieve this goal they suggest that the school discipline policy must:

1. be consistent with legislation and reflect government and departmental policy

2. Incorporate the principles of procedural fairness

3. Be developed within a strong student welfare context

4. Reflect the identified needs of the community

5. Outline expected standards of behaviour

6. Define the responsibilities of teachers, students and parents.

The other suggestion is that all students and staff to be treated fairly and with dignity in an environment free from disruption, intimidation, harassment, victimisation and discrimination. To achieve this, all schools are expected to maintain high standards of discipline.

Principals must ensure that students, staff and parent(s) and carer(s) are provided with opportunities to contribute to the development of the policy and that staff are provided with training and development opportunities in behaviour management.

There are some who suggest that students’ welfare, whose function is to ensure that any need arising from the students, is catered for and must be attended to accordingly. The need may arise from lack of school fees or lack of necessities. The welfare must ensure a comfortable environment for the students.

There are others who want schools to be closed immediately to enable stakeholders to investigate possible links among principals, teachers, students, residents, politicians, local suppliers and exam leaks cartels in arson areas.

While others are suggesting that students’ views should be included in key decision making bodies such as the Board of Managements, Parent Teacher Associations and special management committees. In addition, preferred channels of harnessing students’ views included notice boards, prefect body, assemblies, and class meetings.

In Many High schools in Kenya communication is disproportional and unfair as communication was one way- a form of telling and instructing students – rather than encouraging dialogue and open discussion between student and school administrators. Further, communication channels that fostered dialogue and open discussion were unpopular and little used. These included the baraza system, student council, open forums and student parliaments. In other words, student participation in secondary schools is still wanting and needed to be expanded to include issues beyond student welfare issues.

Determine the influence of school location on head teacher management of student welfare services and how home-school partnership of head teacher influences student welfare services and also to establish the extent to which gender, academic qualification, administrative experience and age of the head teacher influence management of students welfare services.

Other Kenyans think that lack of parents support and delayed government funds, which make planning and acquisition of essential materials difficult is to blame. Therefore this commends that the head teachers look for ways of educating the parents on their roles in providing services for their sons and daughters. The government should also to stick to specific time line for disbursing the supporting funds to the schools in order for them to better provide welfare services to the students.

Since high quality teaching staffs are the cornerstone of a successful education system in Kenya, some Kenyans suggest that teachers should be motivated. Although in many schools in Kenya school fee structure includes motivation fees for teachers, in most cases teachers are not motivated. Many studies have associated motivational factors to enhanced job performance, positive work values, high levels of employee motivation, and lower rates turnover and burnout.

While these ideas are good, one thing which is not is about money looting in High schools. According to recent survey by the Auditor General Edward Ouko on financial statements from the Ministry of Education, the Government is losing millions of shillings of capitation funds in public schools through inflated enrollment figures.

Ministry figures indicate that the State remits Sh28 billion annually to all public secondary schools to benefit 2.2 million students. Another Sh14 billion is sent to primary schools to benefit about 10 million children annually. The survey revealed that secondary school heads collect another Sh116.6 billion in school fees from parents annually. This is despite Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich increment of Sh32.7 billion set aside to cater for free day secondary schools. Another Sh14.1 billion, Mr Rotich said, would facilitate free primary education.

The report reveals that 36 schools awarded tenders worth Sh26.1 million through indirect procurement instead of open tendering as required by the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005. It also indicates that some schools awarded tenders to suppliers who were not vetted by the tender committees. And the queries did not end there. A scrutiny of financial records of 24 schools revealed that funds were transferred from one account to another without requisite authority.

A total of Sh15.7 million in four schools was transferred irregularly as at June 30, 2014. A review of the position in March, 2015 revealed that some schools had refunded Sh13.7 million to the original accounts, leaving an outstanding amount of Sh1.9 million.

In most cases school bursars are the beneficiaries. You get a bursar earning ksh 30,000 and he or she is able to build decent house, taking his children to academy schools from baby class to high school. Ministry of education auditors are part of the system, unless private auditors are involved.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@omolobeste

 

Kenya: Eurobond billions held in US bank accounts

To: Jaluo Dotkom jaluo@jaluo.com
From: Joachim Omolo Ouko

News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim

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FOUR SMOKING GUNS IN EUROBOND SAGA

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2016

Victor from Webuye writes: “Fr Omolo your article you wrote sometime last year on Eurobond scandals and what the Standard wrote today on how Eurobond billions held in US bank accounts and bogus letters is matching well with your analysis.

In your article you had mentioned Mr Jacob Juma. Who is he and what does he know about the Eurobond? In today’s article in Standard Director of Prosecution seems to doubt the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) findings, why do you think the commission is in favor of the government?”

Thank you for this important question Victor. Jacob Juma is a renowned business man who was among the first to release part of how Eurobond money was embezzled: the Government of Kenya he says raised Sovereign bond in Irish Stock Market and used Lawyer client accounts to move the money. No bank to bank was used due to money laundering constraints.

He argues that when the money hit the lawyer’s accounts, they moved the money based on instructions by Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mr. Henry Rotich and his Principal Secretary, Mr. Thugge. In-fighting among the lawyers handling Kenya’s Eurobond began immediately pay-outs began.

Part of Eurobond money he says was transferred to Commercial Bank of Afica owned by Uhuru’s family. About US$200-$300 of Eurobond money he says was used to refund all campaign money for 2013 elections. Some money was transferred by the lawyers directly to the Office of the President and out the back in gunny bags. A Sheikh in the Gulf was refunded unspecified amount advanced just before the elections (US$20 million) as well using Eurobond.

Juma also claims that they also paid Std Chartered Bank Syndicated loan of about US$600 million and pocketed a massive chunk of it. He has not mentioned the lawyer in connection with the Eurobond but promised he will publish complete list of the lawyers involved and the movement of Eurobond money.

Yes, the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has refused to close the investigative file in the Sh250 billion Eurobond scandals until the anti-graft agency explains “some” gaps in their report. The reason why the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is trying to do its finding in favor of the government I cannot say. But remember this is Kenya.

The DPP said he had summoned investigating officers from the EACC and from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to give the answers, but they had failed to answer satisfactorily, and thus, he ordered them to go back, look at the files and provide missing information. Tobiko did not say exactly what the nature of the missing information is. The EACC wants the case closed.

I also read with shock how Standard reported the four smoking guns in hazy figures how Eurobond billions held in US bank accounts and bogus letters. The Eurobond $2 million — actually US$1,998,997,763 — was paid into the JP Morgan Chase account on June 24, 2014.

At the time, JP Morgan Chase had received no advice as to who the signatories to the account were. These were eventually sent, but then, despite the fact that June 30 is the end of the financial year in Kenya, it took more than a week before there was any action on the account. We were now into the next financial year, which posed a number of problems.

The question is, why would someone authorise the transfer to Kenya of the apparently random sum of US$395,439,262.50? That exact figure of one billion dollars provides the FIRST SMOKING GUN. Why wasn’t, for example, a round figure such as US$400 million transferred? Why not US$500 million? Why was money kept in the US in a holding account when it was apparently badly needed in Kenya?

Unlike in the case of the other sums of money transferred, there is no evidence whatsoever that any part of this money ever came to Kenya.

The account at JP Morgan Chase was closed – but, far from being transferred to Kenya, the money was moved to another US bank! This is the SECOND SMOKING GUN. The Treasury has put on its website a document showing the transfer from JP Morgan Chase to the Federal Reserve Bank. But the document does not show the name of the holder of the account at the Federal Reserve Bank or any other details – unlike other documents that relate to the money when it was at JP Morgan Chase.

This brings us to a bigger question: What are they hiding? Who owns the account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York? It is now 18 months since that money was transferred. Where is any statement from the Federal Reserve Bank showing the balance in that account, and details of any transactions made on it during those 18 months, in particular the transfer to Kenya of this money? Why hasn’t the Treasury posted any such documents on its website? What are they hiding?

Another very curious document posted on the Treasury website is a statement of account from JP Morgan Chase for the period June 15 to June 30, 2014, a couple of months prior to the transfer to the Federal Reserve Bank. This is the THIRD SMOKING GUN. The money was not waiting there at all. The letters are not worth the paper on which they are written. They are just so much hot air and deceit.

The letters are purportedly dated September 15, September 19, October 28 – all in 2014 – and January 21, March 16, June 2 and June 26, all in 2015. They purportedly ask respectively for the seven sums of Sh25 billion, Sh25 billion, Sh15 billion, Sh25 billion, Sh25 billion, Sh30 billion and Sh17,268,281,131.75 to be transferred from the GoK/CBK Sovereign Bond dollar account to the Consolidated Fund.

The figures all add up to Sh162 billion, which is presumably the shilling equivalent of the nearly one billion dollars still held in the US – at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (that is, as far as we know), together with the Tap Sale proceeds of US$815 million that we accounted for earlier.

The letters are meant to show that the one billion dollars was received in Kenya. They actually show no such thing. These letters are a blatant cover-up. There is not one single document, as would be expected in the normal course of banking procedures, to show any correspondence whatsoever with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concerning our remaining nearly one billion dollars, let alone any instruction to transfer the money to Kenya.

These bogus letters and tables combine to make the FOURTH SMOKING GUN. Every senior person in the CBK and the Treasury and every lawyer advising either organisation must be able to look at these facts and figures and letters and tables.

If this nearly one billion dollars was transferred to Kenya, we need to see very clearly when and how. We need to see all the documents and whatever else is available that can constitute accurate, authentic and irrefutable proof that our money is safe. Without these documents, we can only say that this money is not “missing” or “lost”, or “unaccounted for”, as it is often politely described, but STOLEN.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) Raila Odinga had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government and all companies that were involved in transactions that led to the Euro Bond scandal. CORD, through letters to the institutions, are now demanding the release of an official statements and clear accounts explaining to the public how the scandal occurred.

CORD has written to Mr. Henry K. Rotich, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury; Dr. Kamau Thugge, Principal Secretary for National Treasury, Barclays Bank PLC; London, United Kingdom, J.P. Morgan Securities, London, United Kingdom, QNB Capital LLC, Doha, Qatar and Standard Bank PLC, London, United Kingdom.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@omolobeste

WHAT IS IN ANGOLA INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION?

From: Joachim Omolo Ouko
News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

Sylvester De Margaret from Angola has posted on his Facebook timeline interesting story on Angola independence: “When an African country is celebrating its independence, I ask: are the people celebrating an independence because they were able to send away the oppressor and became oppressed by their own or do they really know what it means to be independent?

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santo

Angola today celebrates 40 years of what? Independence? May be a camouflaged independence where we continue to suffer the same marginalisation, oppression, domination and above all, the only rule that governs Africa is Eat as much as you can despite the plea of the dying population. Who will help you get real and lasting independence from these greedy-heartless African leaders?”

Even after independence Angola is still fighting. The three liberation groups, MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA, have been provoked into a bloody civil war. The cause of the war lies in the contention of the two superpowers for domination over resources.

The government continues targeting outspoken journalists and activists with criminal defamation lawsuits, arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, intimidation, harassment, and surveillance. The police use excessive force and engage in arbitrary arrests to stop peaceful anti-government protests and other gatherings.

Outspoken human rights activists, journalists, human rights lawyers, and youth protest activists reported repeated harassment, intimidation, and pervasive surveillance by police and intelligence agents.

Freedom of expression is severely restricted in Angola due to censorship and self-censorship in state media and ruling party-controlled private media and other forms of government repression. In such a climate, Internet blogs and social media have become the main channels for open debate.

Economic hardship and poor governance remain core issues. There have been numerous demonstrations by youths and war veterans, protesting about economic misery in a country where the cost of living is among the highest in the world.

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

Sepp Hasslberger: UN & WHO Sterilizing Women in Kenya, Covertly, Via Tetanus Vaccines

from: cynthia lee
from ; octimotor

According to LifeSiteNews, a Catholic publication, the Kenya Catholic Doctors Association is charging UNICEF and WHO with sterilizing millions of girls and women under cover of an anti-tetanus vaccination program sponsored by the Kenyan government. The Kenyan government denies there is anything wrong with the vaccine, and says it is perfectly safe.

Follow the link to
http://www.phibetaiota.net/2015/11/sepp-hasslberger-un-who-sterilizing-women-in-kenya-covertly-via-tetanus-vaccines/

President of Mauritius appointed Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Planet Earth Institute

From: News Release – APO (African Press Organization)
PRESS RELEASEPEI will also launch office in Mauritius to run expand science, technology and innovation programmes

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 22, 2015/ —

-The President of the Republic of Mauritius HE Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim appointed Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Planet Earth Institute (PEI)

-PEI will also launch office in Mauritius to run expand science, technology and innovation programmes

-HE the President will host the official launch of the PEI at the State House in Mauritius on November 23rd 2015

The President of Mauritius, HE Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, has been appointed Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Planet Earth Institute (PEI), an international NGO and charity working for the ‘scientific independence of Africa’. Her Excellency will host the official launch of the PEI on an event at the State House on November 23rd 2015 along with Dr Álvaro Sobrinho, the PEI’s founding Chairman, and the full Board of Trustees.

As Vice Chairman and Trustee of the PEI, Dr. Gurib-Fakim will work alongside fellow Board Members, Dr Álvaro Sobrinho, the prominent Angolan philanthropist and businessman, Rt Hon Lord Boateng, a member of the UK House of Lords, Prof. Sir Christopher Edwards, the distinguished academic, and Prof. Sir Magdi Yacoub, the pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon.

The PEI’s expansion to Mauritius will build upon its international work to support African science, technology and innovation, as well develop a number of locally focused initiatives to be announced in early 2016.

HE Dr. Gurib-Fakim was appointed as President of the Republic of Mauritius in June 2015, following a highly distinguished career as a scientist and businesswoman, including a role as Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Mauritius. In recognition of her significant contributions to scientific research, she was awarded L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science in 2007.

The PEI’s launch on 23rd November will be an exclusive, high-level meeting for a range of key stakeholders including African government ministries, international institutions, private businesses, local and pan-African universities, and civil society.

The private launch will be followed by an expert policy roundtable focusing on ‘Mauritius and Africa’s scientific independence: the role of business’, hosted by HE President Gurib-Fakim and the Board of the PEI.

HE Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius:

“Mauritius has a proud track record of investing in scientific excellence and developing research. In the future, science, technology and innovation will be vital in creating jobs and prosperity for our citizens in Mauritius and across the mainland African continent.

I look forward to helping lead the PEI’s work as Vice Chairman and Trustee, and in turn to contributing to our continent’s increasing scientific and technological excellence, as the underlying foundations of our sustainable development”.

Dr. Álvaro Sobrinho, Chairman of the Planet Earth Institute:

“Although Africa has experienced sustained economic growth over the past decade, scientific and technological output has not kept pace. Yet, if we want to ensure that sustainable development is a reality for all, we must make greater investments in science and technology, and equip our next generations with the skills they need to compete in a globalised, 21st Century workplace.

Along with my distinguished fellow Board Members, I am absolutely delighted that HE President Gurib-Fakim is joining the PEI as our Vice Chairman and Trustee. With her distinguished research career and strong commitment to a science-led development agenda for Africa, the PEI is now well positioned to continue to grow and develop as an organisation, and, crucially, to keep increasing our impact on Africa’s scientific agenda”.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Planet Earth Institute.

Notes to Editors:

The Planet Earth Institute (PEI) is an international NGO and charity working for the scientific independence of Africa
All of our work is built around the three pathways we believe will help lead Africa to scientific independence: Higher Education, Technological Innovation and Policy and Advocacy
The PEI is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in Port Louis, Mauritius and Luanda, Angola

Interviews or further information:

For further information on the PEI’s launch in Mauritius or for interview requests with those involved, please contact:

James Knight on james@planetearthinstitute.org.uk or +447725 209 507.

Sarah Hambly on sarah@planetearthinstitute.org.uk or +447879 739 405

SOURCE
Planet Earth Institute

APO content is copyright free and can be republished at will.

AWEPA Conference on Peace, Security and Sustainable Development – Press Release

From: Communications | AWEPA
For Immediate Release

Peace, Security and Sustainable Development:

AWEPA Parliamentary Seminar addresses violent extremism and terrorism

Brussels, Belgium – Peaceful societies are a vital requirement for sustainable development. The Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) will hold an International Parliamentary Seminar on “Peace, Security and Sustainable Development”, with a special focus on addressing the root causes and consequences of violent extremism and terrorism. The seminar will be hosted by the Belgian Senate in Brussels on 8-9 October 2015.

This theme was chosen in light of growing international attention to the importance of peace and security in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Over the past decade, fragile and conflict-affected states have underperformed on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As we now transition towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), parliamentarians have a key role to play in developing policy and legal frameworks that address violent extremism and terrorism, their complex root causes and their multiple consequences.

While the nexus between peace, security and sustainable development has been broadly recognised, there has only recently been an acceptance that combating terrorism is an important component of the peace and security agenda, and thus intimately connected to the development agenda.

The International Parliamentary Seminar will aim to raise awareness among African and European MPs of the interconnection between security and sustainable development, as well as the latest parliamentary initiatives and strategies on violent extremism and terrorism.

African MPs from national parliaments and regional parliamentary bodies, MPs from several European parliaments and the European Parliament, African parliamentary staff and academics will come together to debate and reflect on how national, regional and continental parliaments in Africa and Europe can strengthen their role in achieving lasting peace and security.

Key speakers include AWEPA’s President and Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet, H.E. Macharia Kamau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations, Hon. Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Mr. Yves Leterme, former Prime Minister of Belgium, Hon. Santiago Nsobeya Efuman Nchama, Speaker of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Parliament, Mr. Gilles de Kerchove, European Union Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and H.E. Ambassador Francisco Madeira, African Union Special Representative for Counter-terrorism Cooperation, among others.

About AWEPA

AWEPA works in cooperation with African Parliaments to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, to keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe and to facilitate African-European Parliamentary dialogue. AWEPA’s President and Minister of State Ms. Miet Smet will open the International Parliamentary Seminar on 8 October 2015.

Where: Belgian Senate

7 rue de Louvain, 1000 Brussel, Belgium

When: 8-9 October 2015

Thursday 8th October, from 8.30 – 18.00 hours

Friday 9th October, from 9.00-12.30 hours

Contact: Anastasia-Areti Gavrili

Communications Officer, a.gavrili@awepa.org

More information:
http://www.awepa.org/news/peace-security-sustainable-development-awepa-international-parliamentary-seminar-belgian-senate/

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

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

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

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KENYA: UHURU’S CORRUPTION LIST NOT INCLUSIVE

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

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

POLITICAL INHERITANCE IN KENYA

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
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Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: WHY KURIA WILL GO FREE OVER HATE SPEECH

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
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HORRIBLE SEXUAL RITUALS IN MALAWI

from: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

About 500 bishops from around the continent are set to converge in Harare on November 28 for a two-day annual bishop’s conference meant to tackle women and child abuse cases in Africa. Last year it was reported that a young girl from Malawi by the name Grace went under horrible sexual ritual.

She learned she’d be going to a camp with her friends, she was thrilled. Every girl around her age in her southern Malawi village would attend the rite of passage. When she got she was told she is to sleep with a man and get rid of child ‘dust.’ If you don’t do it, your body will get diseased”, she was warned.

A demonstration involved one girl lying down, with one of the older women on top. “You should be dancing and have a man on top of you, making him happy,” she was told. At age 10, Grace was being taught how to have sex.

Like the other girls in the village, Grace had been sent to camp with her family’s blessings. This is because everyone makes sure their child goes to initiation ceremony because you will not be accepted in the community.

The Education Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malawi has released figures indicating that more than 27,000 girls dropped out of primary school in the country between 2010 and 2013 due to early marriages.

The Commission warned that unless the trend is reversed, Malawi would not achieve the Millennium Development Goal on universal primary education by the end of 2015. It went further to say that child marriage remains one of the main obstacles to education for young girls in Malawi where many girls are married before they are 18 years old.

The country’s official minimum marriage age is 15 years. The Education Commission has called upon faith-based communities and traditional leaders to join it in its campaign to have the minimum age raised to 18 years.

The conference which will be mainly made up of apostolic bishops will be held at Belvedere Teacher’s College and is also set to tackle child marriage problems in the region. Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Johannes Ndanga, who is co-ordinating the conference, said the gathering will educate and conscientise the bishops on human rights abuses.

The conference that ends on November 29 will be attended by a number of both apostolic and non-apostolic bishops from Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, among other countries. Zimbabwe is adjudged one of the 41 countries in the world with an unacceptable rate of child marriages.

According to a 2012 report based on data collected by UNFPA during the years 2000 to 2011, the country’s prevalence of child marriage, was at 31percent, and was among 41 nations with the highest rates of child marriages.

Zimbabwe sits at number 39. This comes amid fears that if child marriages were not curbed through legislative measures, the figures could escalate with girls continuing to be deprived of their childhood.

Another 2012 United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) report states that if child marriage was not outlawed by countries practising it by 2030, the number of child brides would grow from 14,2 million girls in 2010 to 15,1 million girls in 2030.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole

USA; President Obama

Dear Readers,

Last night, extremist Republicans and their anti-woman ideas took control of both houses of Congress. They are led by politicians who pledged to enact sweeping abortion bans, take away women’s right to birth control coverage, and do away with equal pay legislation.

There’s one bold response we need, and thousands are already demanding it. President Obama has been a champion for women, but now we really need him to know that we’re counting on him to block extremist attempts to roll back women’s rights. Can you join the call?

Tell President Obama: Promise to veto any anti-woman legislation the Republican Congress puts on your desk.

Sign the petition

http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/repub_senate/?t=1&akid=1414.6000.5_DiJt

Privacy issues of online marketing techniques in the information society

From: Yona Maro

In the digital economy, information plays a key role, as currency that makes the knowledge society further develop. In such world, ensuring privacy of personal data without restricting data flows and the economic and social benefits generated can prove in practice to be quite challenging. In the context of the increasing interest in social responsibility in business approaches, companies should take into account also the responsibility for collecting, processing and usage of consumers’ personal data, while carrying out their core functions. Thus, we analyze and debate on aspects related to direct marketing techniques and privacy issues, in a consumer-oriented approach, focusing on behavior of the Romanian consumer, with taking into consideration the fast development and use of ICT in business and the increasing regulations for ensuring consumer privacy. We raise into discussion aspects related to consumer behavior in function of means used in marketing, focusing more on the online than on the traditional means, from the perspective of ensuring privacy of consumers’ personal data. The analysis is based on data from a survey conducted in Romania in 2011 with regard to the Romanian consumer and direct marketing and also from techniques used in developing websites for gathering and processing user / consumer information, while taking into consideration the existing legal framework. We consider that companies should pay more attention to issues related to consumer privacy online, with ensuring appropriate information and obtaining consumer consent in collecting and using personal data for business development.

<a href=”http://www.csrconferences.org/RePEc/aes/icsrog/2012/2012_1_050.pdf”>http://www.csrconferences.org/RePEc/aes/icsrog/2012/2012_1_050.pdf</a>

USA, GA: STEM: High School Event @ Georgia Tech Nov 8th; Limited Seats Register today.

From: akpa for all

Great Deals – Daily Savings

High School Outreach Event
The Society of Women Engineers at Georgia Tech is pleased to be hosting an outreach program for high school girls who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The program will be:
Saturday, November 8 from 9 AM – 2 PM
in the Georgia Tech Van Leer building

Space is limited to 100 girls on a first-come, first-serve basis, so register early!

There will be a parent’s information program offered free of charge for parents with girls attending the event. Only girls attending the event need to buy a ticket; parents do not need a ticket.

Additional details will be provided the week of the event.

Through the program, high school girls will be:
Encouraged to pursue an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through fun, hands-on activities
Have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with current female engineering students.

If you have any questions, please email us at swehsoutreach@gmail.com.

Click here to register…
<a href=”http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001NIn-lyZaaUmQiL_jhPK7Ll3FC9powHKk2Lw-TZEk6rJa-dXPQPFjoB5oMWDcZVdEen8dpP3tJrCGvYGbaW_9E7YqwTdt8dP16K18mbWA1EfI6Rk3k7XBcLPMCpGJswc15eM62b3Wlv9TLW6ya58Evy8Lkrrq4xr2EMCQ1_cvhqHXq5WsfttnQ35KUuEW83Ia4YgGVxiXahirE2fM9A6gHx0acnFqDR1B0MDabddxKsjCOekFMF-sQZtSM5FEqZCURvL4t3FHO9AVQLHc4imrT1sQMOY-LGVJUs50FF494WDORQn11BwyKtVPHYWOKJaM&c=gxF5ONUPArZ64lBz3l6nmMhkm-5lNXSdGO9EHt60m5VcGNz8i0WJmw==&ch=z691cQx8hFeosDqwNLEo7jVRhmqo1F8ueZo1BNOlpY0p9_vSY47WdA==”>http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001NIn-lyZaaUmQiL_jhPK7Ll3FC9powHKk2Lw-TZEk6rJa-dXPQPFjoB5oMWDcZVdEen8dpP3tJrCGvYGbaW_9E7YqwTdt8dP16K18mbWA1EfI6Rk3k7XBcLPMCpGJswc15eM62b3Wlv9TLW6ya58Evy8Lkrrq4xr2EMCQ1_cvhqHXq5WsfttnQ35KUuEW83Ia4YgGVxiXahirE2fM9A6gHx0acnFqDR1B0MDabddxKsjCOekFMF-sQZtSM5FEqZCURvL4t3FHO9AVQLHc4imrT1sQMOY-LGVJUs50FF494WDORQn11BwyKtVPHYWOKJaM&c=gxF5ONUPArZ64lBz3l6nmMhkm-5lNXSdGO9EHt60m5VcGNz8i0WJmw==&ch=z691cQx8hFeosDqwNLEo7jVRhmqo1F8ueZo1BNOlpY0p9_vSY47WdA==</a>

» AKPA Website
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001NIn-lyZaaUmQiL_jhPK7Ll3FC9powHKk2Lw-TZEk6rJa-dXPQPFjoCoinA86t9CutrtmnCoSsnZifS9fb4tOpYxJTPXnitrSzuwCZujhW_XsA8AINuZno6Wm2LiRtkh7sNgIuJCwIu2tInYHRmU8amo5NtfbzUm76ZUk3bX4xvg=&c=gxF5ONUPArZ64lBz3l6nmMhkm-5lNXSdGO9EHt60m5VcGNz8i0WJmw==&ch=z691cQx8hFeosDqwNLEo7jVRhmqo1F8ueZo1BNOlpY0p9_vSY47WdA==

Kenya: WaziWazi Legislative ‘Can’ Opener can Open Up those Opaque August Houses

From: Maurice Oduor

Oyoo wodma,

Contact me privately so I can take part in this.

I have some ideas that maybe of interest to you.

This is something that can be very beneficial.

Courage
– – – – – – – – – – –

On Sat, Oct 25, 2014 at 4:40 AM, Nicholas Oyoo wrote:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I entered an idea to open up the legislative houses in Kenya for public to participate, in a competition called the Global Innovation Competition – Making All Voices Count. The Idea is Called WaziWazi The Legislative ‘Can’ Opener. The Link is shared below . Please go into the page and vote for it. Thanks

<a href=”http://ideas.makingallvoicescount.org/a/dtd/WaziWazi-The-Legislature-Can-Opener/94691-26650″>http://ideas.makingallvoicescount.org/a/dtd/WaziWazi-The-Legislature-Can-Opener/94691-26650</a>

KENYA: MORE COMPLAINS OF HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS IN KISUMU COUNTY

From: joachim omolo ouko
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

Rentia from Netherlands writes: “Joachim, just now I read on www.nation.co.ke in County Kisumu: People complain about high bill electricity”. Thank you Rentia for raising this issue- Yes, Kisumu is nightmare when it comes to irregularly hiking electricity bills. Obambo Primary School account number 2768333-01 was just reconnected about 5:34 hours Kenyan time.

We are not even sure whether this connection will last a month before they disconnect us again. This is despite the fact that between August to September we have been forced to pay over Ksh 17, 869. This is real nightmare.

Apart from Daily Nation you have quoted, residents in Kisumu are up in arms against high electricity charges which, they say, have doubled since July. Click here for more reading Residents complain of high power bills – Daily Nation Mobile. No one can explain exactly why Kisumu County had to hike power in such a ruthless manner.

According to the link, Mrs Loice Ogana, who pays a bill of between Sh3, 000 to Sh5,000, has been slapped with charges amounting to Sh16,658. And Ms Martha Mukulu, who has been paying Sh900, now has a bill of Sh6,000. Leave alone Ksh 40, 000 bill that was sent to a widow in Guest House in Awasi.

Consumers Federation of Kenya Secretary General Stephen Mutoro has confirmed receiving the complaints even as KP’s commercial boss Sellah Mdeda defended the rates and asked affected customers to report to their office for a review. To review is completely a waste of time.

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK: Business Engagement Guide – In-kind Donations and Direct Engagement

From: Yona Maro

To contain spreading the Ebola, it is imperative we mobilize all resources and efforts. The upsurge in the response efforts by the private sector is welcome; but we must do more, and we must do it faster. For this reason we are turning also to private sector to engage with the overall Ebola outbreak response. Refer toBusiness Engagement Guide if you are a private sector actor wishing to contribute to these efforts.

pdf – 4.76 MB
<a href=”http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090501:07cc79a3448cbb3788cc589da1d43101.pdf”>http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090501:07cc79a3448cbb3788cc589da1d43101.pdf</a>