Category Archives: Alerts

Uganda’s population is set to reach 33 million people, and projected to surpass that of Kenya in 40 years

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UGANDA’S POPULATION IS SOON CLOCKING 33 MILLION PEOPLE AND WOULD SURPASS KENYA’S IN 40 YEARS TIME.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

UGANDA’S population is soon clocking 33 million people, and the country will hit over 90 million people in the next 40 years.

The 2009 State of the World Population report by the United Nations Population Fund shows that the country’s population is now 32.7 million people. This is an increase from 31.9 people in 2008.

The report is set to be released and launched tonight at a function at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, according to a report appearing in the today’s edition of the government owned NEWVISION.

It indicates that Uganda’s population growth rate is currently at 3.3 per cent, a rise from 3.2 per cent last year.

The rapid rise places Uganda among the top five fastest growing countries in the world, coming after the failed states like Somalia, Afghanistan and East Timor.

Uganda’s fertility rate has slightly failed from 6.4 children per woman in 2008 to 6.2 children per woman this year. Nevertheless, it is still among the top five in the world, coming after failed states of Somalia, Afghanistan and East Timor.

A comparison also shows that Uganda Gross National Income per capita has improved from USD 880 last year to USD 1,040 this year.

Another highlight is that Uganda’s life expectancy for men has improved from 51 to 52.8 years, while women are now expected to live to 54.1 compared to 52.5 last year.

At the current growth rate, Uganda’s population will be over 91 million by 2050. It will surpass Kenya’s, which is currently at approximately 40 million {before the release of this year’s national census, and expected to be 85.5 million by 2050.

Regionally, Uganda’s population growth is higher than eastern African average, which stands at 2.6 per cent. In the use of contraception for birth control, Uganda scores below the Eastern Africa average. Less than a quarter of all Ugandan women use contraceptives..

The report notes that family planning and gender issues could influence the future course of climate change and affect how people adapt to rising seas, worsening storms, risk to humans and severe droughts.

“Slower population growth would help build social resilience to the effects of climate change and would contribute to a drastic reduction of greenhouses-gas emissions in the future”, It says in part.

The temperature of the earth surface has risen 0.74 degrees Celsius in the past 100 years, sufficient to disrupt many of the planet’s ecosystems and pose significant risk to humans”, the report says.

“If recent trends continue, the earth’s temperature may rise another four to six degrees by 2100, with likely catastrophic effect on the environment, habitat and economies and the people”.

Climate change, the report warns, has the potential to reverse the hard earned development of the past decades, food availability and possible health crises.

Also large scale migration will intensify as people abandon drought stricken areas. This could lead to health problems and civil strife.

The report predicts that millions of people living in low lying coastal areas will need to leave their homes if sea level rises.

The influence of human ability on climate is not only about consumption pattern, but also about numbers, the UN agency notes, adding that the world population is approaching seven billion marks.

“As the growth of economies, population and consumption and paces the earth’s capacity to adjust, climate change could become more extreme”.

It further notes that the developing countries have been responsible for a smaller share of greenhouses emissions, yet they are shouldering more of the burden for coping with extreme weather conditions.

Nevertheless, the UN agency recommends slower population growth in both developed and developing countries to ease the task of bringing global emission into balance with atmosphere.

The challenge that will preoccupy the next generation, the UN report concludes, is to prepare, while keeping human activities from sending the climate beyond human habitability.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Dr. Patrick Lumumba (PLO) for the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) Job

19 Replies
Alex Adagala, NAIROBI, Kenya,
Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 4:12 AM
Dr Patrick Lumumba has been proposed for the vacant post of Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) Director by the body’s Advisory Board..

The Board’s chairman Okong’o Omogeni announced on Thursday that Prof Jane Onsongo had been proposed for post of Assistant Director, Research n Preventive service, while prominent lawyer Pravin Bowry had been selected as Assistant Director in charge of legal services..

Mr Omogeni said the names had been forwarded to Parliament for scrutiny and approval.

197 people had applied for the three top jobs, he said, and only eight candidates had been shortlisted for each post.

TANZANIA – MOVING ICT AND TELECOM SECTORS FORWARD

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The information age has made technology, particularly information and communications technology, indispensable. What has been the Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications situation in Tanzania? Tanzania is often identified as the fastest moving economy and one of the most advanced ICT market sectors in East Africa . It has the largest population in East Africa , also making it an attractive and big market. How has or how is IT and Telecoms allowing Tanzania to leap-frog into the information age?


Essentially answers to these questions have to do with access to IT and Telecoms services. Let’s examine Information and Communications Technology (ICT) status and developments in Tanzania by looking at several issues relating to infrastructure in Tanzania. In this regard, telecommunications infrastructure is particularly important, because of its far-reaching impact.


A New Era

Telecommunication infrastructure remains one of the major issues affecting technology deployment required for growth and development in Tanzania. There has however, been massive improvement in infrastructure over the past few years. Tanzania has certainly left the telecomm state where there were only a few dial-up e-mail providers and Internet service providers (ISPs) and when Tanzanian Telecommunications Limited (TTCL) was the only Telecommunications operator. It was a dark era characterized by slow Internet links, poor service, high cost, lack of infrastructure and an unprogressive telecoms monopoly. Things have certainly changed. So has night turned to day?

Deregulation of the telecommunications sector led to the introduction of major Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM), mobile phone providers, Zain Vodacom, Zantel , Tigo and SasaTel).


Tanzania‘s government had earlier provided the impetus for liberalization by setting up the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) Although TCRA became the regulatory body for Tanzania’s telecom sector in 2003 , it is the present government that dealt with the telecom policy, interconnection agreements and the empowerment of TCRA. TCRA issues licenses to private telecoms companies providing a variety of telecom services to the Tanzanian populace.


According to TCRA, deregulated telecommunications services include:

“Sales and Installation of Terminal equipment (Mobile Cellular Phones, Satellite Communication and Switching equipments etc); Public Payphone Services; Internet Services; Prepaid Calling Card Services; Community Telephony with exchanges; Paging Services; Trunk and 2-Way Radio Network Services; Fixed Telephony Services, employing cable and Radio; Satellite Network Services (e.g. Domestic VSAT networks); Repairs & Maintenance of telecommunications facilities; Cabling services; Tele-Centers/Cyber Cafes”.


The GSM Revolution

The GSM revolution began in 1994 and changed the face of Information and Communications Technology in Tanzania. But note that the picture will not be complete without mentioning the Private Telephone Operators (PTOs) and other landmarks such as the licensing of Tigo which was Mobitel as Tanzania’s second national operator (SNO)as well as the licensing of many other fixed wireless operators.


Though Tigo is presently more active in the mobile telephony sector it has the same licenses as TTCL . Tigo licence constitutes a multi-service package of National Carrier, GSM, International Gateway and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).


Since the GSM launch, mobile telephony has rapidly become the most popular method of voice communication in Tanzania. Growth has been so rapid that Tanzania has been rightly described in various fora as “one of the fastest growing GSM markets in the world”. Indeed these developments have been truly explosive: today Tanzania has about five million mobile lines and about one million fixed lines, compared with just about 450,000 working lines from TTCL three years ago.


ICT boom – Combined Effort

But Tanzania’s telecom infrastructure story and growth has not been due to GSM alone. For example, GSM doesn’t have much to do with the upsurge in Internet usage and access. In essence it is the combined activities of Tanzania’s telecoms providers – GSM, FWA, PTOs, telephony and VSAT operators and TCRA’s regulatory efforts that has led to increased competition and availability of a wide range of voice, data and internet applications and services. The improvement in the telecom situation in Tanzania has made significant impact in all sectors – commerce, social and educational. Although most of the impact is presently felt only in the urban centers, TCRA has announced plans to ensure the telecomms revolution also touches the rural populace. As noted by one of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) publications, there is “a direct correlation between access to telecommunications, economic wealth, and social development”.


The telecomms boom has resulted in greater usage of Internet Technology, growth and availability of cyber cafés, increased Internet provision by ISPs and PTOs, increased communications services (mobile telephony, e-mail, VOIP), reduction of Internet costs, online information gathering and research, e-learning, Internet business opportunities, online advertising opportunities as well as developments in e-banking. Growth has been phenomenal because Tanzania’s size is massive and Tanzanians have been starved of such access for decades. A kind of  “Thank God the drought is over” experience. So while there might be an IT or Telecomms downturn in the rest of the world, the ICT sector in Africa especially in places like Tanzania continues to boom.


A few years ago, “cyber café” was a strange word from another world. Today cyber cafés exist in virtually every neighborhood especially in the urban centers. Because cost of ICT is still relatively high for most individuals, the cybercafe has significantly improved accessibility to the Internet in Tanzania.


This is particularly significant as the ITU publication, states: “if information is power, then the internet must be the easiest way of empowering those that have traditionally been left behind.”


Success? Paradise?

The facts are there for all to see. There has been substantial improvement in access to telecom facilities and unprecedented growth in the telecoms network. So has night turned to day? Not quite. In view of Tanzania’s size and requirements telecommunications infrastructure is still grossly inadequate. Tanzania is regarded as “one of the biggest telecommunications markets in Africa and the world”. But does size determine quality? It should be more about growth and qualitative infrastructure than just having a big or the fastest growing market.


With the opening up of the telecoms space further dramatic growth is expected as service and reliability demands increase. However, in-depth penetration and qualitative infrastructure growth is critical.


Qualitative Factors


Cost

Access is not just about availability. Cost affects usage. High cost is still a barrier. While prices have defiTTCLy come down the cost of access is still too high to have a transformatory impact. There are presently price competition battles going on involving PTOs and GSM providers, which are steps in this direction. The provision of Internet by PTOs is also helping. But more needs to be done about bringing down call tariffs and rates not just communications acquisition cost. The aim should be low cost Internet and phone service.


Because most of the computer hardware in use in Tanzania is imported, high computer prices are a barrier to access. e-business, telecomms infrastructure is incomplete without affordable computing facilities. Although just like the phone and Internet costs, computer prices have been falling, more people, not just businesses, need to have access to reasonably priced computers for education, recreation, business and other creative activities.


Poor electricity supply

Epileptic power supply increases the cost of access. Supply of electricity needs to be optimal to enable businesses and banks to provide seamless online services through local areas networks, wide area networks and the Internet. Inefficiency is the word to describe a situation where everybody has to depend on power generators, as the primary, reliable power supply. This constitutes a barrier to growth and sustainable development. The growth of real e-business cannot take place or be of any significance in an environment with unreliable public power supply.


Quality of service

While availability has grown, this has not been matched by quality of service. It is not enough to have cheap lines and low cost bandwidth. Efficiency and accessibility of telecoms service should be paramount. Most operators have a lot of work to do in QoS especially in the areas of congestion and support. TCRA may have to wield the big stick by sanctioning poor performers.


Appropriate Licensing fees

TCRA has done a lot as a pacesetter. But TCRA needs to review the appropriateness of its license fees. How realistic are such fees for healthy competition? Will such fees as they are stimulate telecoms growth or increase the number of competent market players?


ICT Incentives

The market is large – the biggest in Africa! Opportunities abound! But more needs to be done to encourage investment in ICT, especially in the knowledge and creative areas. There is a need for a combination of incentives: reduction of import duties on ICT equipment, tax incentives for ICT companies, tax incentives for investment in ICT research, development and training efforts, local manufacture of telecommunications equipment and infrastructure. Again the essence of these incentives is to encourage growth and reduce access cost. If most ICT providers are faced with the problem of multiplicity of taxes, as is the case now, is this in sync with the growth that is needed?


The TTCL question

What exactly is the aim of the seesaw commercialization / privatization of TTCL? TTCL’s performance as a national operator, or even as a telecom provider is still way below standard. Although TTCL may no longer be the sole or dominant operator, its 450,000 lines is still a major chunk of infrastructure that can’t be ignored. present commercial managers of TTCL experiment is clearly not working. For the many who depend on TTCL, improvement in performance and quality of service are key.


Building expertise in Tanzania

More efforts should be invested in encouraging the development of IT and Telecoms expertise in Tanzania. “The biggest market”, “the fastest growing teledensity” or just “the biggest consumers”? Consumption alone cannot engender growth. There is a need to develop human capacity in areas such as: technical, management, research and development, security, strategic and operational. For example, while there has been a cybercafe boom, management has been a major source of concern for cybercafe businesses.


Also with the many IT and Telecoms projects that are taking off, project management skills will be required to get benefit.


Human development in ICT can be encouraged through increased awareness of opportunities and capabilities in ICT. The environment should encourage ICT education and provide incentives especially for those investing in research, development, training, software and other creative efforts. Acquiring infrastructure is great but it is serious investment in education that will bridge the digital divide and enhance the quality of infrastructure, the quality of access, the quality of usage, the quality of growth.


Initiatives from profit-driven members of the private sector should be encouraged, but such schemes are on their own not enough to make Tanzania an ICT-capable country or a key player in the global ICT revolution.


An emphasis on infrastructure would widen access to ICT facilities. Tanzania can’t afford the luxury of ignoring the multiplier effects of access to ICT. Tanzania has certainly done well so far in improving infrastructure capacity in “record time”, now it’s time to start focusing on quality. At the end of the day, infrastructure is not just about access, it’s about what you do with access

—
Yona Fares Maro
I.T. Specialist and Digital Security Consultant

Jetlink Air Services – Disaster!

17 Replies

Jetlink Air Services – Disaster!

Edith Nyasega
Nov 18, 2:11 pm

I would like to bring to your attention a very disturbing trend with respect to unprofessional air services by Jetlink which needs to be brought to the attention of Kenyans and the political class to take action, before we have a disaster!

I was scheduled to travel back to Nairobi from Kisumu yesterday, Tuesday 17th November 2009, in the evening by Jetlink airline. However, we learnt yesterday midday, through informal networks and not by any formal communication from the airline that their services were canceled for the whole of Tuesday (the day I was scheduled to travel). The Tuesday morning flight had also not taken off from Kisumu. I then managed to get my agent to change my flight to this morning and although the cancellation was done by the airline, I was forced to pay extra costs for the change of flight. I understand that passengers who appeared at the airport yesterday were all stranded, except a few who were loaded onto other airlines – ALS and Fly 540 – and the rest were left on their own to seek and pay for accommodation. A practice I have not seen anywhere in the world! Under such circumstances, the airline takes responsibility for the passengers, some of whom had international connecting flights. This begs the question – under what rules is jetlink operating that they can leave passengers stranded?

This morning’s flight had its own challenges. We arrived in Nairobi without any luggage; only 2 or 3 bags were loaded onto the plane. No word was forthcoming on the whereabouts of our luggage with tempers flurrying from the passengers. The handling agent at the airport (a staff member of Jetlink) disappeared to call the supervisor and left passengers stranded without a word! She re-appeared 30 minutes later and promised passengers that their bags would arrive at 11.30am. She took details of passenger names, telephone numbers and baggage tag numbers promising to deliver the bags after the passengers refused to return back to the airport for their bags.

As I write this email (2 pm) I have still not received a call informing me of the status of my baggage nor any delivery of my bag.

Passengers expressed grave concern about the unprofessional manner in which this airline is rendering services and questioned the safety of passengers given the recent accident of Jetlink aircraft (in Kigali). If action is not taken to correct the situation, we may have a disaster in the offing. The level of laxity is not acceptable for an airline operating within the Kenyan borders. Kenyans and international passengers using this airline need to be reassured of their safety. We need to know if international aviation standards are really being followed in this case. Why is this airline being allowed to operate in such a “laissez faire” manner? Something is not right!

We need a statement from the Ministry of Transport.

Edith
Concerned Passenger

KEBS ADMITS KISUMU EQUATOR BOTTLERS FEEDS ITS CONSUMERS WITH HEALTH HARZARD DRINKS

6 Replies

From: Shem Kosse
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 6:12 AM

By Shem Kosse

KEBS ADMITTS KISUMU EQUATOR BOTTLERS FEEDS ITS CONSUMERS WITH HEALTH HARZARD DRINKS.

By Shem Kosse

It’s now official that Kisumu Equator Bottlers is making, bottling and distributing substandard soft drinks containing foreign matters, thus putting at a risk millions of lives of its consumers, confirms the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

One such drinks “FANTA CRANGE” 300 batch No.PRRJOLO9002 was purchased by one Clement Boniphas Odongo on 28th July 2009 for consumption only to realize it contained visible impurities which he later took to the company only to be met by arrogance from the company’ top management who were ready to offer him a token of five creates of soda as a compensation gesture, a move that he flatly declined.

And he further decided to seek for KEBSofficial intervention. The sample was subjected to a test and it failed to comply with the requirements of the KBS standards as it was established it had presence of foreign particles.

This was indicated in the KBS test results certificate No.KEBS/TES/277/C/K/2OO9 and Laboratory Test Report Certificate No.KEBS/TES/277/C/K2009 signed by the Regional manager, Lake region P.N Ndungu on 3rd and Managing Director M.M Nyakiamo, on 4th respectively.

The Kisumu Equator Bottlers relevant authorities in charge of quality products in the company when contacted over the matter promised to link up later, but in vain till the time of going to the press. The consumers have urged the KEBS to crack the whip to save peoples lives from these health hazards drinks.

DSCF7898.JPG

ENDS Shem Kosse
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Subject: KEBS ADMITS KISUMU EQUATOR BOTTLERS FEEDS ITS CONSUMERS WITH HEALTH HARZARD DRINKS

Jaluo dot kom under cyber attack

1 Reply

Dear esteemed readers of jaluo dot kom.
We are experiencing ciber attack since July 6th, 2009. We have therefore not been able to receive your mail or update our site accordingly. Please bear with us as we try to rectify the problem.

Thank you.
www.jaluo.com

Jaluo dot kom under cyber attack

improper land deal

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Dear All,

Kenya: Illegally acquired land on sale: Stop it!

We can reliably inform you from Bunge la Mwananchi grass root forums that one of the top 3 Coalition government leaders is in the process of disposing a piece of land of 3.6 acreage at the cost of K.Shs. 76 million. The property is situated off Mbagathi way in Kibera area, a short distance from the main gate of the Nyayo Highrise Estate – right in the neighbourhood of the area Chief’s office.

Isn’t this government land? I am not able to confirm if it is, but I do know that the government has on many occasions alluded to the Kibera slums land as though it were. How did this politically correct individual since Moi’s government acquire this land? Was it legal? Has the very imminent threat of the implementation of the Ndung’u land report triggered the hasty decision of disposal?

We are putting out this information to mobilize fellow Kenyans and anti-corruption crusaders to stop the sale and reclaim the property to Kenyans!

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
www.bulamwa.co.ke
+254 720 451 235

– – –
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:49:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Nyongesa
Subject: improper land deal

Situation Analysis on the current cholera menace

1 Reply

Dear Jaluo,

I thank you for giving us a forum to be able to discuss issues that affect our lives in a customised way.

My concern is on the cholera menace currently ravaging the city of Kisumu residents especially those from the informal settlement areas (Nyalenda, Manyatta, Migosi, Bandani, Obunga, Nyamasaria)Kibos and Kisian due to consumption of contaminated water-Mainly the shallow wells.

Cholera is further spread by carriers who come from the above localities selling cheap food in the estates, unhygienic kiosks and streets of Kisumu.

The epidemic has been on and off since mid 2007 and exacerbated by rains washing the ground contamination into the water sources of the above mentioned residents.

As the medical Officer in charge of Kisumu Municipality doing the ‘fire-fighting’ aspect of cholera control in conjuntion with the ministry of health and partners, we are interested in a long term plan to curb the problem once and for all.

In the cholera control team we have realised that the problem is one that requires multi-sectoral approach with serious input from all concerned stakeholders(public and private) for it to end.

The support so far received has been from Ministry of Public Health & Sanitation, Ministry of Medeical Services, Kisumu Municipality, UNICEF, CARE(K), World Vision, Red Cross, District Commissioner, KIWASCO, Lake Victoria South Water Services Board, among others. However, new cases keep coming up with 4 reported deaths since June this year. These are unnecessary deaths coming late for treatment and the situation remains unpredictable.

A committee has been established by the Ministry of Public Health and sanitation to see to it that this menace comes to an end and the above mentioned partners are participating well. Currently the head of this team is the provincial Medical Officer and the chair of the committee is myself.

I’m making an unconditional appeal for support to any organisation or individual for a detailed situation analysis that will come out with recommendations and way forward to jump start strategies for water and sanitation, poverty eradication and the necessary city planning mechanisms geared towards better conditions of living for the residents of this city and its environs

May God bless you all.

– – –
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:24:53 -0400
From: “Dr. Rosemary Obara”
Subject: Situation Analysis on the current cholera menace

Howard Bloom: Big Oil vs Food Markets

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Howard Bloom has applied some journalism research talents to recent “world food crisis” stories. 

His review of the evidence suggests International Big Oil Cartels cornered world Food Futures Market (bought 20% of shares, bidding up prices) as ploy to discredit Bio-fuels.  That plan seems to have achieved a major PR Coup in their favor. 

– – awm – –

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www.coasttocoastam.com
Wednesday June 4th, 2008
Recap

Variety Show
A special evening featured four separate guests covering such topics as spy chips, ghosts, food & energy, and ancient Lemuria.

 Author Howard Bloom  joined the show in the third hour to offer analysis on the oil and food crisis. Blaming food riots in various countries on the increased production of ethanol is a “snow job,” he declared. OPEC bought up a huge share of commodity futures and this is what drove up the price of food, he explained.

Websites
http://HowardBloom.net
. . .
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2008/06/04.html#recap

– – –
date; thu.5June2008;
from: awm
subject: Howard Bloom: Big Oil vs Food Markets

KCDN embakasi Peace Run postponed

1 Reply

Dear Friends, Compatriots,

His Excellency the President, Hon Mwai Kibaki will be visiting Embakasi Constituency tomorrow, 31st May 2008, and as a show of respect to the institution of the Presidency and to the President himself, the organizing committee of KCDN Embakasi Peace Run that was to take place tomorrow, 31st May 2008, has been postponed.

We have been in communication with the DC Nairobi East District, the OCPD Kayole, and the various leaders, and we were all in agreement that we postpone this event.

The committee will meet on Monday 2nd June to deliberate on this and fix a new date for the event.

We apologize for the postponement and the inconvenience caused to all those friends who had confirmed their participation either by phone or by email.

We also apologize to all the companies and individuals who had supported us in either way to make this day possible.

We look forward to preaching the same message of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation with a bias to the plight of the Kenyan Child.

A thousand apologies.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
PO Box 11204,
00100 Nairobi,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com.

NB; To Mr George Nyongesa, thank you so much for posting the postponement on my behalf after my request to do so when we talked on the phone.

– – –
Date:  Fri, 30 May 2008 10:23:13 -0700 (PDT)
From:  odhiambo okecth
Subject:   KCDN embakasi Peace Run postponed

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http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=774
– – –
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 22:46:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: odhiambo okecth
Subject: KCDN Embakasi Peace Run; 31st May 2008

WORLD FOOD CRICIS- Kenyans Wake UP!!

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http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=655
– – –
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 22:30:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: amenya gibson
Subject: Ref Kenya

– – – – – – – – – – –

The current food crisis is a global phenomenon. There are places where people have gone on strike – Haiti, Philippines and so forth.

Even in US there are retail outlets that have started rations – stock quot, like maximum packets of rice for every shopper. 

Some countries in the middle east are negotiating with retail outlets not only because of shortage but also inflation. Some have rice stocks for 6 weeks!!

Back here, we have our own set of problems that compound this shortage. IDPs, bloated government, inadequate attention to agricultural production. Of course the violence led to a lot produce going to waste.

In addition to prayers as Amenya says, lets use the little we have. Lets start with our homes. Lets not waste food by all means. From purchasing, preparation to the way we preserve the leftovers (if there is any). 

We shall overcome someday. 

In the meantime, can we throw a challenge to people in the ministry of agriculture to return Kenya back in the map as a food surplus nation.

Cheers

– – –
Date:  Mon, 5 May 2008 11:34:00 -0700 (PDT)
From:  isaac thiga
Subject:  Re: Ref Kenya

– – – – – – – – – – –

The Kenyans must remember the word of the first president “RUDI MASHAMBANI”. Multinational corporations are going to starve the world’s peoples to death because of their control of world natural resources and sources of food!

http://banglapraxis.wordpress.com/2008/05/

http://www.fareedzakaria.com/ARTICLES/newsweek/061206.html

– – –
Date:  Tue, 6 May 2008 17:28:58 -0400
From:  Lucia Akech
Subject:  WORLD FOOD CRICIS- Kenyans Wake UP!!

Ref Kenya

1 Reply

After smarting from ballots to bullets scene,Kenyans are now faced with another worst problem of loomimg starvation where food levels in Kenya are at low and the government warning is everything will be finished by august 2008.

We are left to wonder how are we going to handle this putting in mind that we have the challenges of relocating of IDPs Internally Dispalced People due to elections violence that occured in Kenya 2007 general elections.

Hunger or starvation is never a good thing to joke about as it.

Is time we start praying perhaps God or Alla will hear

Thanks
Gibson Nabuteya Amenya
Kenya

– – –
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 22:30:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: amenya gibson
Subject: Ref Kenya

Re: There is more to Mungiki than Mungiki: A Sermon for this Sunday!

1 Reply

From: odhiambo okecth

There are rumours that mungiki will ground all the vehicles in Nairobi tomorrow. Can any mungiki man confirm?

– – –
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:23:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: There is more to Mungiki than Mungiki: A Sermon for this Sunday!

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— On Sun, 4/27/08, Ronald S. Edari wrote:

From: Ronald S. Edari
Subject: There is more to Mungiki than Mungiki: A Sermon for this Sunday!
Date: Sunday, April 27, 2008, 10:13 AM

WanaKenya:

The existence of Mungiki is a reflection of a deeper structural
problem that plagues developing countries like Kenya. These alienated
youths are a part of the vast “surplus population” that cannot be
simply absorbed into the conventional structures of the society–the
labor market, the family structure, the educational system, etc.

That the problem of Mungiki is most acute for the Agikuyu youths
testifies to the fact that it is precisely in the Central Province
that the scarcity of land, the densities of population, the
individualism of accumulation of private wealth, the transformation of
the traditional social structure, etc etc etc, is most advanced!

Other areas that are prone to the same type of tendencies and have an
existence of “gang-like” youths who terrorize the people are Western
Kenya (Luhya alienated youths) and Nyanza (among the Abagusii).

In Akamba land, there are pockets of these young thugs who terrorize
certain stretches of the public road between Mombasa and Nairobi. The
only thing that mitigates this problem is the harsh environment!
Simply incredible!

The moral here is that there are “Mungikis” all over Kenya. And that
cannot go away any more than you can abolish poverty in these
impoverished countries. This is a structural problem of all capitalist
societies. And in the weaker capitalist formations it is magnified
several fold.

The Constitution of the Underground Economy
In response to their conditions, the marginalized youths respond by
creating other forms of generating income for their survival. These
include both conventional and unconventional (illegal) activities.
Quite often the two are conflated, particularly in view of the need to
maintain a “front” in the pursuit of illegal activities.

Added to this mix are an assortment of characters who take advantage
of this situation and position themselves as the “leaders” of the
groups. The extreme rituals that are employed during initiation are
simply effective mechanisms of guaranteeing loyalty at the risk of
very extreme sanctions for the transgressors. The rituals that Mungiki
engage in are to some extent functionally equivalent to the gang
initiation methods employed right here in the United States among the
African American and Latino gangs. Gang rape, drive-by shootings,
murder, distribution of illegal substances, etc, are among the rituals
of initiation in the United States.

The invocation of Gikuyu cultural traditions is a powerful mechanism
of initiation that has an ideological twist of mystifying the
pervasion of traditional beliefs and practices. The “emptiness” of
this is exposed when Mungiki don’t get their way and go on a rampage
terrorizing the locals in the Central Province!

It is also extremely foolish for some ruthless leaders in Central
Province to think that they can use these youths for their political
agendas! What you have here is a Frankenstein monster that was not
created by the leaders as “Dr. Frankensteins” ! The creature has its
own life that is embedded in the political economy of the situation I
have describe above.

Once you understand the phenomenon of the “Mungiki” along the lines I
have spelled out, the negotiation with the Mungiki may not be as
“crazy” as it sounds. The trick is to develop strategies of channeling
their energies into more conventional pursuits, while addressing the
larger problem of integrating our youth into conventional
structures– schools, the labor market, family structures, etc,
throughout Kenya!

Enough said for now!

A Parting Note (or shot?)
This narrative is part of my background as a student of social
problems and critical criminology! For years I taught courses on
social problems and my approach was informed by the “political
economy” perspective! Counterpoised to this approach is the
“neo-classical” stuff of Gary Becker et al.–economics of crime, the
family, language, etc! Yak!

Mw. Edari

– – –
Subject: Re: There is more to Mungiki than Mungiki: A Sermon for this Sunday!

Re: POLICE APPEAL TO FLOOD VICTIMS

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Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:35:16 -0700 (PDT)

BY DICKENS WASONGA JOURNALIST-KISUMU

Tel.+254721784774.

Nyanza police boss Antony Kibuchi has now sent a passionate appeal to people living in flood prone areas within the province to move to higher grounds to avoid loss of lives.

Speaking to the press in his Kisumu office the PPO said already 40 families have been displaced in east Kabondo division of Rachuonyo district following heavy rains pounding the area.

He said the number is expected to rise as the rains continue and called on those who are likely to be affected not to wait until they are marooned in their homes.

He said the displaced families were now residing at Pap-Onditi market in Nyando district.

As he made the appeal, several residents of Nyando were already fleeing thier homes to escape the floods which has become a perenial problem in the area.

Many were moving with their cattle to safe grounds in the neighbouring districts to seek refuge from friends and relatives.

Fears is also spreading amongst the residents that there could be a possible out-brake of water-born diseases in flood hit areas with the on set of the long rains.

Already a number of districts have recorded cholera out-brakes which has left 39 people dead and several others admitted in various hospitals across the province.

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Subject: Re: POLICE APPEAL TO FLOOD VICTIMS

MINISTRY ON ALERT OVER CHOLERA OUT-BRAKE IN NYANZA

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Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:55:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dickens Wasonga

BY DICKENS WASONGA FREELANCE JOURNALIST-KISUMU.

TEL.+254721784774.

The ministry of health officials in Nyanza province remain on high alert following the out-brake of the deadly cholera in the region.

Confirmed reports from the health officials in the province indicated that by Friday last week, a total of 39 people had died in the wake of the disease out-brake.

The provincial public health officer Nyanza, Mr Tom Andebe said additional 1000 people had been diagnosed with the disease while several others were treated and discharged in various hospitals across the province in the past one week.

Mr.Andebe was however quick to clarify that the situation was under control and that the ministry moved fast to contain further spread of the disease whose out-brake they have blamed on the destruction of water supply systems during the post election fiasco.

The hardest hit districts includes Nyando, Siaya, Suba, Migori and Kisumu where health facilities are reporting new cases each day.

A team of public health officers from the province have since been dispatched to the affected areas.

According to Mr. Andebe the team which is working in collaboration with other organizations like UNICEF in the worst hit districts will remain there until the situation reverts back to normal.

He said the government has embarked on a huge campaign to sensitize communities living in the affected areas to use only water which has been boiled or treated.

He further disclosed that chlorine was being given to the affected families for household water treatment.

Washing of clothes or bathing near water points like rivers, dams, streams and along the lake shore has also been banned.

The health officials also decried the poor latrine coverage in the province which currently is at 36%. It means that for every 100 homes 60 do not have a latrine there-by complicating the issue of hygiene practices even further especially in the villages.

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Subject: MINISTRY ON ALERT OVER CHOLERA OUT-BRAKE IN NYANZA

ATTN: Ugenya People & Friends – Teleconference on Sat. April 12, 2008 to Plan Festival in Dec ‘08

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A Planning Teleconference – Saturday April 12, 2008

  • 3-7 p.m. East Africa Time [+3GMT]
  • 8 a.m. – 12 noon Eastern USA Standard Time [-5GMT]
  • 12 noon – 4 p.m. [+0 London GMT]

Agenda:

1. Planning the forthcoming Ugenya Cultural Festival
2. Development Activities in Ugenya

To participate , click to join Ongoing Forum

http://ugenya.blogspot.com/2008/03/ugenya-plans-first-cultural-festival-in.html 

_______________________________________________________________

Ugenya plans first Cultural Festival in Dec ‘08

SEGA, SIAYA–March 23, 2008–People from Ugenya/Uholo of Siaya district plan their first cultural festival in December 2008. The Cultural Festival is an annual event designed to promote cultural, historic, development and community ties.

A committee for the festival has been set up but with various chairs of publicity, merchandise and food vendors, children’s entertainment and general entertainment still yet to be selected.

“We’re are also looking for someone to hold the chair for our volunteer committee,” Ugenya-Uholo Development Cooperative (UUDC) Chair, Richard Chodha said. “We would like to get as many volunteers, especially from Ugenya abroad, to help out as possible.”

The planning group will be working to draft a festival schedule as well as organizing several fundraising events for mid 2008.

The three pillars of the festival are:

§ Celebrating the history and culture of Ugenya and Uholo
§ Promoting local, sustainable community amenities
§ Identifying and responding to community development issues

The fair this year will include merchandise vendors, sports such as traditional wrestling, football, tug-of-war, traditional food vendors and entertainment, all reflecting the various cultural practices of the people of Ugenya.

Music, dancers and other features will be the entertainment. Children’s entertainment will include similar activities geared more toward younger age groups.

A raffle and art exhibit will also be available, along with informational booths sharing information about the cultural practices being represented.

Ugenya daughters married outside Ugenya (affectionately called “wagogni”) and their offspring are very welcome to participate in both the festival and UUDC.

UUDC is an organization geared towards socio-economic development of Ugenya.

Visitors from outside cordially welcome to the Ugenya Cultural Festival, which encourages people to interact and learn about the various cultures and backgrounds of their fellow country men and women.

To help fund the festival this year, UUDC is tapping into various resources for sponsorship. Local clubs and various fund-raising opportunities help fund the committee plans including entertainment, vendors and publicity.

“We’ve been working on the planning for this event since the middle of 2007,” Chodha, who is a teacher at Siror Primary School, East Ugenya said. “This is large scale in comparison with anything we’ve done in the past.”

“We want to show Ugenya people, their friends and well-wishers who love Ugenya that they can have fun and get to know people through our events and activities,” Chodha said.
“This upcoming festival is going to be a lot of fun, and its going to support local socio-economic development like nothing else we’ve done before.”

For more information contact dongruok.ugenya@yahoo.co.uk;
Tel.: 0721-762-374 (Kenya) or +1-647-208-1265 (Abroad)
Website: www.ugenya.blogspot.com

http://groups.google.com/group/dongruok-ugenya/members

Maina Kiai in Minnesota on March 15

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Maina Kiai in Town: Saturday, March 15 Kenyans and friends of Kenya are cordially invited to an event that will be graced by renowned Human Rights lawyer and Chairman of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Mr. Maina Kiai. Mr. Kiai has played and continues to play a pivotal role in the effort to restore peace and justice in our country following the post election crisis. He will be talking about lessons to be derived from the crisis in Kenya and about perils to democratic institutions in Kenya and on the African continent in general. Please come in your hundreds to hear this great Kenyan share his ideas and experiences with us. The meeting will be 4.00 PM on Saturday, March 15 at a venue to be announced. Stay tuned.

Contacts:

Dr. Siad Abdullai  612-281-6866

Renson Anjere  612-716-1195

Ochieng’ Mireri  612-229-2023

Mzenga Wanyama  612-708-7910

Sent by Nicholas.

_______________________________________________________________

Thanks Nicholas! Maina Kiai is truly a Kenyan hero who represents the possibility that we can transcend tribal boundaries to push for justice and peace for all.

All Kenyans in America should welcome this native son with open arms.

Regards,

Jaluo Press

Life-threatening Message from Mungiki to All CDMK Officials

4 Replies

Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 08:30:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Ndebele Okoth

To all CDMK Officials

Take note of the threat ! And Please report this to any nearest police for your own security, it seems Munguki still regards CDMK as a threat and therefore have inform our members in Kenya to be extra careful.

Rev Okoth Otura,
President/Founder,
Christian Democratic Movement of Kenya-(CDMK) &
East Africa Christians Transformation Mission Fellowship-(EACTMF)
CANADA
www.cdmk.org
www.eactmf.org

From: Gema Damu
To: cdmk@…
Subject: Chunga maisha
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 03:16:43 +0300

We are warning CDM and your officials to stop your activities and discrediting Mheshimiwa Kibaki’s government. We have warned you by phone and letters but mnajifanya kichwa ngumu. Mnadhani CDM will rule Kenya one day? You stupid jaluo wajinga! We have spoken and we will see what will happen to your CDM people should you be spotted in Kenya. You should consider what happened to Were and Too as a warning. We will hunt for your heads until we silence you idiots. chunga maisha yenu!

GEMA Damu! Mungiki Damu!

Subject: Life threatening message from Mungiki to all CDMK officials

Major General Kagame and President Bush set up strategy military action on Kenya

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US President George W. Bush (R) whispered to the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame as they walked to the motorcade on his arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda on February 19. Bush was on his third day of Africa tour that took him to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. His tour focused on development, fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria.

  Military projection on Kenya is at hand! Strategy and logistics are in force!
  The battle to save the Great Lake region from collapsing under the corrupt Mt Kenya Mafia’s illegitimate Kibaki government rule, is taking a new twist and Kofi Annan will soon call it quits as the military option takes natural cause.
  
  The main battle will be to have Kenya divided into Jimbos whereas the Coastal Jimbo will be under the US and British Marines units to guard the main port of entry from the looming economic and humanitarian crisis being felt in DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda Northern Tanzania and Sudan.
  
  While Western Kenya ( Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza ) Jimbos shall be manned by a UN peacekeeping force under the command of Rt UN Major Gen. Opande together with experienced contigents of the Kenyan military UN peacekeeping veterans still in service who worked with him in Liberia/Kosovo/Angola.
  
  The regional leaders have agreed to have Major General Paul Kagame supervise the military action if the talks fails, while all the immediate neighbors (Tanzania and Uganda) will provide security escort to all the goods from Mombasa to the Great Lake region countries.
  
  The enforcement of a sanction against Kenya will force Kibaki and his cronies, Kalonzo included, to accept Bomas Draft or face full wrath similar to what the late Saddam of Iraq was subjected to.
  
  It is now advisable that all other community who are pro-ODM-Majimbo government to immediately find the way to their ancestral land following the major onslaught genocide being planed by the Mungiki militias who now make up 70% of Police/GSU force. Their will be no guarantee for their security in Central Province, the only safe haven is in ancestral homes.
  
  Mr Kalonzo is campaigning to undo the said plan by persuading the international community to have them have Kibaki step down for him to lead the country in order to avert chaos, the proposal which has been rejected and dismissed as selfishness, because it is Raila and ODM who have been mandated by Kenyans to lead.  Therefore, Mr Kalonzo is being described as one who lacks intelligence and is corrupt. Mr Kalonzo is a traitor and is now working around the clock to betray Kibaki and the Mt Kenya Mafia internationally.
  
  This move is in the last stages and will be implemented immediately when the Kofi Annan mediation fails next week. (unedited)
  
  

Rev Okoth Otura,
President/Founder,
Christian Democratic Movement of Kenya-(CDMK) &
East Africa Christians Transformation Mission Fellowship-(EACTMF)
  CANADA
www.cdmk.org

www.eactmf.org

Received by Jaluo Press on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 at 21:37:49 -0800 (PST).  Edited by Jaluo Press, Sunday February 24, 2008. 

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READERS: Please note that this report is UNCONFIRMED. 

ALERT: TRAINING AND DRILLS FOR UNKNOWN PURPOSES AT KAJIADO NORTH CONSTITUENCY (UNCONFIRMED)

1 Reply

 TRAINING AND DRILLS FOR UNQUESTIONABLE PERSONS FOR UNKNOWN PURPOSES AT KAJIADO NORTH CONSTITUENCY.    THERE IS SOME RELIABLE INFORMATION THAT A GROUP OF PERSONS IS UNDERTAKING SOME TRAINING AND DRILLS USING BOMBS AT KAJIADO NORTH CONSTITUENCY AT A PLACE KNOWN AS “FORMER NYAKINYUA FARM”. THEY ARE TRAINING UNDER THE COVER OF KWS RECRUITS PERSONNEL.   HOW TO ACCESS THE AREA OF THEIR OPERATION: –  
   FROM  NGONG TOWN
 
   EWASO  NYIRO    
   OLD  PIPELINE ROAD (AREA OF OPERATION)
 
   FROM  MAHI MAHUI- NAROK ROAD
 
   JUNCTION  OF PIPELINE  
   EWASO  RIVER  
   OLD  NGONG ROAD  
   NEAR  EWASO PRIMARY SCHOOL / NAJILE SEC.SCHOOL.

LET KENYANS BE TOLD THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRAINING AT THIS TIME WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEACE IN OUR COUNTRY AND WHY IT IS DONE IN TOTAL SECRECY AND IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE MINISTER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF SECURITY IN KENYA.

– Oto

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Readers: Please note that this report is UNCONFIRMED.  We publish it as a matter of public safety and we urge our readers to exercise caution.  This information is not meant to incite violence against any member of any ethnic group.  Jaluo.com supports the prosecution of all those who engage in any ethnic violence.Â