Category Archives: Memorial

An American who fell in love with Kenya and its people is planning for a big international forum in Nairobi in the year 2016

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Please find attached is our official News Release in a PDF format. Please note that we live in the 21st Century and News Releases are no longer written words, we now use both Multi-Media and Social Media to promote change and ideas in the world. We created this document in format that goes not only to the Kenyan Media, this document should go directly to the people of Kenya. We both know what happen in the “Middle East” with the “Arab Spring.” Social media can bring change in the world. In order for Africa to move into a 21st Century paradigm we must use “Social Media.”

Let me explain a very important concept to you. We are asking the “Republic of Kenya” to honor its “African/American Family” with a “Formal State Reception.” State Receptions are only given to Heads of State.

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In the history of Africa and African/Americans being taken as “slaves to America” not African country has ever offered “African/Americans a Formal State Reception.” A formal State Reception has to come from and be agreed upon by both the U.S. and Kenya State Departments. It is one thing to give a “Head of State” a Formal State Reception but how do you give African/American people a “Formal State Reception.?” This means that the total Republic of Kenya government and people must format a way to honor its “African/American Family.”

Please note that I have taken groups to Kenya for over a decade and I understand both Kenya and America and I am an expert in this area. I have an above average background regarding Kenya’s culture and history. Please understand that travel to Kenya will be long and grueling and beyond the usual travel time that most Americans have experienced. We have to look at “Jet Lag” and a way to promote such an event. We must develop a comprehensive “marketing strategy” that will attract 1000’s of African/Americans to Kenya.

For the record we have created a “Brand Name” for the event. The most noted African word in the English Language is “SAFARI.” It was American writer Earnest Hemingway that introduced the word Safari into the English language. The Kenyan Government must officially expand the meaning of the word “SAFARI” We give its many acronyms.

We have 5 major components as a way to promote the event. We must make the event a spiritual movement.

1. The Safari Home Coming Celebration is the story of the Prodigal Son. Preachers worldwide will relate Africa’s Children coming home to the “Prodigal Son” in the Bible

2. The event will start in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is important because Memphis was once the “Slave Capital of the World.” Symbolically the Children of Africa come from Memphis, Tennessee to Kenya.

3. Dr. Martin Luther King was Killed in Memphis and this event honors Dr. King’s Legacy by us bringing the gauntlet of Dr. King to Kenya

4. This event connects and completes the Legacy of Tom Mboya. Tom Mboya went to America to help Kenya students. That connects started by Mboya brings African/Americans home to Kenya.

5. Kenya is the home of Barack Obama Sr. and all African/Americans must travel to the Ancestry home of America’s President Barack Obama Sr.

Rev. Otura it is urgent that the Kenyan Government and the Kenyan people officially agree to honor its African/American family. Once the agreement is agreed upon we will take 3 years to plan and promote the celebration. We will have so many jobs to do to promote the event. When it comes to the area of the “Christian Faith” we expect you to tell the story that only such a celebration is from “God.” Rev. Otura since you and I connected you and other Kenyan ministers will visits 100’s of churches in America to tell them to come home to Africa. We must develop our website so that anyone in America can simple look on their Cell phone and see videos of the event. Since the event will take place in Kenya’s “High Season” Kenya will not have enough Hotel Rooms.

Such an event will be like the Olympics and it takes a lot of planning and infrastructure. South Africa has better “infrastructure” for such an event. Outside of Nairobi many areas cannot accommodate many African/Americans. Such an event will change the culture of Kenya.

Rev. Otura I would like to thank you for you help. Prior to our going to Kenya we can do a lot of the preliminary work out of the way. We must meet with every Airline that travels from America to Kenya to work out “Budget Travel packages.” We must make the trip affordable to 1000’s of people who could not otherwise travel to Africa.

The most Important Factor

The most important element to the “Safari Homecoming Celebration” is the Barack Obama factor. We must get the date and agreement signed so that President Barack Obama Jr. can officially put the event on his calendar. Because the Kenya State Department and American State Department will sign an official Historic Agreement this will allow President Obama to officially come to Kenya and be the Key note speaker. Please note that in July of 2016 the President will only have 6 months left in office. Hillary Clinton will be running for President. Since this event will be on the “World Stage” Hilleary Clinton may attend the event. Many American legislators will come from America. Because some many American legislators will be in Kenya all African leaders will be at the event.

When you add up African leaders, Church leaders, The President Kenya will not have enough hotel rooms. We will need tents and need camps to support this event. President Obama will come to Kenya. President Obama loves Kenya and he will come to Kisumu.

I think that I have written enough. I think you understand how urgent and important the work we are doing. Now is the time for you to return home to assist in promoting this event. You must stand on stage with President Obama.

End

A GREAT KISUMU ACTOR DIES IN ENGLAND

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From: Obat Masira

Kindly see the attachment

Obat Masira

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Condolences: The Late Fred Osodo

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From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Fellow Kenyan,

Happy New Year.

It is with sorrow and grief that I notify you of the demise of Fred Osodo.

Fred passed on, on the 30th December 2012 at his rural home in Rusinga after he was stabbed to death by a neighbour when he intervened in a quarrel between his brother and the neighbour’s son. Peacemaker turned victim.

Until his death, Fred worked in Kigali with Karisimbi Business Partners as a Financial Analyst and was a member of AKR.

He will be laid to rest on Sunday January 13th 2013 at his rural home in Rusinga.

Friends are meeting daily starting today 7th January 2013 from 6.00 pm at Foeyes Premier Hotel for funeral arrangements. There will be a fundraising on Wednesday 9th January 2013 at Foeyes from 6 pm.

Find attached the photo of our departed brother Fred.
Osodo_Fred.jpg

May his soul rest in eternal Peace.

Kind regards,
Carol

Kenya: LATE MAMA KRISTINA ODING OUKO ARRIVES AT HOME FOR FINAL SEND OFF

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012

Late mama Kristina Oding Ouko has been removed from Dr Omboga Mortuary Nyamira Hospital to her home Miruka Masamro village. Holy mass begins at 5pm presided over by Rev Fr Frederick Otieno Osin, AJ, Regional Superior-Kenya Region assisted by Fr Joseph Okech, AJ. Tomorrow’s mass will be presided over by Vicar General, Homa Bay Catholic Diocese on behalf of Bishop Philip Anyolo.

Condolences continue to come in from Bishop John Oballa of the Catholic Diocese of Ngong, Fr Joseph Healey, MM, Fr Augustine Njuu, AJ, USA, Fr Denis Morosso, AJ, USA, Fr John Loboka, AJ, Councilor in-charge of Education and formation, Fr Aloysius Bukenya, AJ, Rector, Scholasticate-Langata, Fr Ben Vincent Awongo, AJ, Fr Gerry Mooij, Mill Hill Missionaries, Kisumu, Peres Were, Domitila Ayot, JPII, Amos Ochieng, JPII, Martin Meritim, JPII, Mr Joseph Ngala, PPA Director, Nyabonyi Kazungu, USA, Denis Radak, Felix Kasomo, Fidelis Damana, Maurice Oduor and Emily Omudho among others.

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

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

Kenya & Rwanda: JAMHURI DAY AND END OF YEAR CELEBRATIONS

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From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Dear Fellow Kenyan,

Compliments of the season.

AKR, in conjunction with the Kenya High Commission, is planning to host Jamhuri day celebrations and end of year party. Watch this space for further details in due course of next week.

During the event, we shall have a leading property agent from Kenya present on the opportunities available back home, to prepare you to scout for investments as you join your family and friends back in Kenya for the xmas holiday.

Carol

WORLD: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2012

Today is Sunday November 25, 2012, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. For Roman Catholic it is the feast of Christ the King. The Day for the Elimination of violence against women has been officially recognised by the United Nations since 1999. Attached images demonstrate horrible faces of some of the assaulted women around the world.

Women’s activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly, by resolution 48/104, adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. NGOs, faith groups and women’s groups are especially active in the Day, pressing government to take concrete action.

The Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon in his statement describes how millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even murdered in what constitutes appalling violations of their human rights.

From battlefield to home, on the streets, at school, in the workplace or in their community, up to 70 per cent of women experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime. As many as a quarter of all pregnant women are affected. All too often, perpetrators go unpunished. Women and girls are afraid to speak out because of a culture of impunity.

Some historians believe that the history of violence against women is tied to the history of women being viewed as property and a gender role assigned to be subservient to men and also other women.

Widows in particular are often confront a denial of inheritance and land rights, degrading and life-threatening mourning and burial rites and other forms of widow abuse. Some are evicted from their homes and physically abused – some even killed – even by members of their own family.

This happens because in many countries, a woman’s social status is inextricably linked to her husband’s, so that when her husband dies, a woman no longer has a place in society. To regain social status, widows are expected to marry one of their husband’s male relatives, sometimes unwillingly. That is why for many, the loss of a husband is only the first trauma in a long-term ordeal.

Yet still, in many countries, widowhood is stigmatized and seen as a source of shame. Widows are thought to be cursed in some cultures and are even associated with witchcraft. Such misconceptions can lead to widows being ostracized.

As a result children of widows are often affected, both emotionally and economically. Widowed mothers, now supporting their families alone, are forced to withdraw children from school and to rely on their labour.

Moreover, the daughters of widows may suffer multiple deprivations, increasing their vulnerability to abuse. Such cruelties are often seen as justified in terms of cultural or religious practice. It explains why even in countries where legal protection is more inclusive, widows suffer social marginalization.

In some communities widows are forced to be sexually cleansed, generally involving a widow having sexual relations either with a designated village cleanser or with a relative of her late husband.

It has traditionally been a way to break with the past and move forward—as well as an attempt to establish a family’s ownership of the husband’s property, including his wife. It does not matter whether the husband died of Aids or not.

In some communities where a group of widows are challenging the practice with help from church institutions, especially in Western Kenya, even though they have refused to sleep with a cleanser, most of these women are traumatized.

Laws are not enough to change these conditions. India, for example, has a law dating back to 1956 that allows some women to inherit property from their fathers. Despite the law, women rarely inherit and are often unaware of their rights.

Many widows in traditional societies have no rights, or very limited rights, to inheritance or land ownership under customary and religious law. Without inheritance rights, including a lack of rights to the property of their birth family, widows find themselves financially insecure and totally dependent on the charity of their husbands’ relatives.

Poor nutrition, inadequate shelter and vulnerability to violence, combined with a lack of access to health care, can impact the physical and mental well-being of widows. The sexual and reproductive health needs of widows may go unaddressed, including the fact that widows are often the victims of rape.

Due to taboo and stigma associated with sexual violence, many cases of sexual abuse are not reported. Experiences of sexual and gender based violence like this were suffered on a massive extent in 2008 when Kenya faced the worst political crises since independence.

Yet still, domestic violence is often treated as a private matter, exempt from norms and laws that apply to stranger violence. Victims face stigma not associated with other crimes. Impunity emboldens perpetrators.

In conservative communities, Muslim women are often considered inferior to their husbands, possibly controlled or oppressed, and lacking opportunities that would give them their own personal sense of identity, all of which adds to the complicated nature of unearthing and obtaining remedies for domestic violence.

Many Muslim women are required to wear a veil, hijab or burga. In Iran a woman who is unveiled in public could be fined or put in jail. This is because domestic violence is considered to be a problem in Muslim-majority cultures.

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

According to 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Article 10 provides that States must take measures to ensure women’s equal rights with men to education.

Among the provisions of Article 12 is the requirement to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health-care services, including those related to family planning. Article 16 requires States Parties to eliminate discrimination against women in the context of marriage and family relations.

The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, Declaration and Programme of Action (‘Vienna Declaration’), Article 41 recognizes the importance of women’s right to enjoy the highest standard of physical and mental health throughout their life span. Throughout the document there are significant statements relating to women’s human rights and violence against women.

Still, 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, Article 4 calls on States to condemn violence against women and not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination. States should pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating violence against women.

1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Programme of Action, Article C, Chapter 7 addresses sexually transmitted diseases and the prevention of HIV from the perspective of women’s vulnerability to the epidemic, setting out key recommendations for addressing HIV through reproductive health services.

1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (‘Beijing’), Declaration and Platform for Action, Strategic Objective C.3 is to “Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health issues”.

2000 Millennium Declaration and Development Goals-Goal 3 calls on nations to “Promote gender equality and empower women” and Goal 6 is to “Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases”.

2001 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS, Declaration of Commitment- Article 14 of the Declaration stresses “that gender equality and the empowerment of women are fundamental elements in the reduction of the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS”.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com

Peaceful world is the greatest heritage That this generation can give to the generations To come- All of us have a role.

women_violence_images.doc
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HAPPY THANKS GIVING EVERYBODY..

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From: Tebiti Oisaboke

GOO;

Thanks a hip for wishing us a happy Thanks Giving Day greetings. In addition to what you said, I would like to add that:

Being Thankful is appreciating what you have and had

Being Thankful is being repentfull for your wrong doings

Being Thankful is not being too big to say I am sorry

Being thankful is not being stubborn and set in your ways so much that you can not forgive

Being thankful is no being selfish

Being Thankful is giving thanks to the God Almight by doing unto others as you would like others to do to you.

Being thankful is showing love and compassion

Thanks all and I too would like to wish each and everyone of you a Happy, Peaceful and Restful Thanks Giving Day!!

TOI

————-
From: geoffrey osiemo
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 11:02 AM
Subject: HAPPY THANKS GIVING EVERYBODY..

I have been reflecting on what “Happy Thanks Giving” means for an American and by extension those of us who have come here as immigrants. Indeed in this land there is plenty to be thankful for. Then a quote from Carl Jung (a mystic) comes to mind:

That i feed the hungry,forgive an insult, and love my enemy…these are great virtues.

But what if i should discover that the poorest of the beggars and the most impudent of offenders are all within me, and that i stand in need of the alms of my own kindness; that i myself am the enemy who must be loved?

What then?

May we learn how to be loving by seeing how unloving we are.

Thanks.

GOO.

USA: Weekly Column: Honoring Ohio’s Veterans

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From: Senator Sherrod Brown

On Veterans Day, and every day, we must remember to express our gratitude to the men and women that have served our country in uniform. In a ceremony on Veterans Day, more than 67 years after his service in World War II, North Olmsted resident U.S. Army Corporal (Ret.) Dewey Limpert received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star along with several other overdue medals. After being contacted by Mr. Limpert’s daughter, my office worked with the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the U.S. Army to track down the long overdue medals he deserved. Ohio’s veterans—like Mr. Limpert—have made invaluable contributions protecting our freedom.

Tracking down overdue medals is just one of many ways our office can help veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned. As your Senator, one of my most important jobs is helping veterans cut through red tape when dealing with the federal government. Whether it’s health services, assistance with obtaining disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, or employment support, too many veterans encounter excessive delays in getting a response from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). That’s why my offices located in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Lorain are open every business day to serve you. With field offices in every region of the state – including rural areas in Southeast and Northwest Ohio – my top priority is constituent services. Veterans in need of assistance can visit http://brown.senate.gov/ohio/constituent_services/ or call my office toll-free at 1-888-896-OHIO (6446).

And while my office is always available to help constituents cut through red tape, we need to ensure that veterans have access to a system that works with, not against them. Right now, the VA faces a staggering backlog of nearly 900,000 disability claims – including more than 25,000 backlogged claims from Ohio.

Far too many veterans return home to their communities and can’t access the benefits they’ve earned in a timely fashion. In fact, more veterans than ever are contacting the VA to secure their benefits—since 2008, the department has seen a 48 percent increase in claims. Last year, the VA processed 1 million claims from our nation’s veterans, but 1.3 million new claims were submitted to VA. But too many of these claims, especially those from Ohio veterans, are backlogged.

This means that veterans—many of whom are seeking assistance to deal with service-connected injuries—are left waiting. These delays are compounded by that the fact that too often veterans must wade through the VA application on their own. Yet, help is often available – from other veterans – in the communities where veterans live.

That’s why I introduced the Veterans Services Outreach Act, which would require the VA to notify veterans filing for claims electronically that there are advocates standing by who are ready to help. Specifically, the bill would require the VA to provide information about important, time-saving assistance available from VA-approved organizations including Ohio’s county-based veterans’ service commissions and veterans’ service organizations (VSOs).

I’ve heard from many of these organizations – groups that have supported America’s veterans for decades – that the new electronic filing system does not inform applicants about their services, preventing veterans from getting all available help. To eliminate some common problems that create the backlog, like erroneously completed forms or incomplete documentation, veterans and VSOs can work together to correct common mistakes.

But we must do more than help veterans access VA services. Just as we invest in our servicemembers while they’re on the battlefield, we should do the same when they return home. But despite their service to our nation, an unacceptably high number of veterans struggle to find work. That’s why it’s imperative that we do a better job of connecting veterans with the support resources they deserve.

Among them is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), a joint Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor training initiative that is a component of the recently passed VOW to Hire Heroes Act. VRAP provides unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 the opportunity to pursue training for new careers in high demand occupations. From welders, to paralegals, to teacher’s aides, VRAP offers wide ranging opportunities for veterans seeking work. However, as the program is limited to 99,000 participants through March 31, 2014—and more than 62,000 applications have already been approved nationwide—it’s crucial that Ohio’s veterans apply quickly for these vital benefits. It’s our duty to Ohio’s heroes that we spread the word to all eligible participants.

Eligible veterans must be at least 35 but no more than 60 years of age; unemployed; received an other than dishonorable discharge; not eligible for any other VA education benefit program; not receiving VA compensation due to being unemployed; and not enrolled in a federal or state job training program.

As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I support providing our nation’s veterans with the resources and services they need. In addition to supporting enhanced education and job training benefits, I will continue to fight for assured funding for all VA services and benefits. Funding for our veterans should always be a top federal priority.

Each November 11, we celebrate the story and history of our nation’s veterans. On Veterans Day, we reach out to grandparents, parents, neighbors, and friends who have served and ask them about their service. From deployments to welcome home ceremonies, to medal presentations and parades, we learn about the courage, honor, and sacrifice exemplified by our servicemembers and veterans. From the newly-sworn in soldier and the children of military parents, to our veterans young and old, we learn about the greatness – and history – of our country. As the holidays approach, our thoughts and prayers are with those returning home as well as those still serving overseas. On behalf of a grateful state, I thank all Ohio veterans and their families. It’s an honor serving those who serve us.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator

Washington, D.C.
713 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321

Columbus
200 N High St.
Room 614
Columbus, OH 43215
p (614) 469-2083
f (614) 469-2171
Toll Free
1-888-896-OHIO (6446)

Innovation Prize for Africa Announces Deadline Extension to Promote African-Led Innovation

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)

PRESS RELEASE

Innovation Prize for Africa Announces Deadline Extension to Promote African-Led Innovation

The winning proposal will be awarded a cash prize of $100,000 USD

DAKAR, Sénégal, October 25, 2012/ — Due to the high demand from African innovators, The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) (http://www.africaninnovation.org) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) announced the extension of the deadline for submitting entries to the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) (http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org) to 30 November 2012.

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

At an event featuring Senegal’s Minister and Deputy Chief of Staff of the President for the Republic of Senegal, Mr Moubarack Lo, the IPA team highlighted the need to invest in innovation to accelerate economic growth on the continent. The event in Dakar was organized in collaboration with the Senegalese Science Academy and Technology, represented its President, Professor Ahmadou Lamine Ndiaye.

“We know that innovation can be an engine for economic development. We continue to look for innovations that have commercial potential and are effective in the long term,” said Pauline Mujawamariya of the African Innovation Foundation.

Only innovations by Africans for Africans are eligible to enter for the IPA 2013. Africans in the Diaspora can also apply if their innovations are of significance to Africa. The winning proposal will be awarded a cash prize of $100,000 USD, with the two runners-up each receiving $25,000 USD.

“We want to encourage young people across the continent to be interested in science, technology and engineering as rewarding careers” said Ms. Eskedar Nega, program officer in ICT policy at UNECA.

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

For detailed information of competition categories, conditions of entry, and submission procedures, please visit: http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org. For highlights and more information, follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/IPAprize) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/InnovationPrizeforAfrica).

Contacts :

FAI Pauline Mujawamariya
Téléphone + 41 44 515 5466
E-mail ipainfo@africaninnovation.org

CEA Eskedar Nega
Téléphone + 251 11 544 5315
E-mail ipa@uneca.org

About UNECA

UNECA (http://www.uneca.org/istd) is implementing the Information and Communication Technology and Science and Technology for Development (ISTD) program to meet its mandate to advance economic and social development in Africa. ISTD manages the African Technology Development and Transfer Network (TDTNet), the African Science, Technology and Innovation Endowment Fund (ASTIEF), the African Science to Business Challenge (ASBC) and the Technology in Government Award (TIGA) and is experienced in addressing Africa’s special needs, emerging global challenges and hosting and managing initiatives in Africa. For more information please visit: http://www.uneca.org/istd

About AIF

AIF (http://www.africaninnovation.org) supports innovations and other novel initiatives with potential of contributing to sustainable development of African countries. This includes supporting home-grown innovations, facilitating technology transfer as well as supporting other platforms that enhance the exchange of ideas and collaboration among researchers, inventors, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers. AIF also promotes transparent processes and procedures within the public sector and combat illegitimate appropriation and dissipation of resources within both the private and public domains. AIF’s areas of activity encompass programs & projects in the fields of: Innovation & Access to Technologies, Governance, Education & Culture and Health. For more information, please visit: http://www.africaninnovation.org

SOURCE

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF)

KENYA & RWANDA: ASANTENI AND WELL DONE FOR HONOURING OUR HEROES & HEROINES IN STYLE

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From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Proudly Kenyan,

Accept our most sincere appreciation for turning up and honouring our heroes and heroines on Saturday 20th Oct 2012, in style. It was a great family day out and I believe we all had wonderful fellowship together. Thank you all for contacting the event in the most sober and befitting manner. For those who missed out for one reason or the other, we had a great time as Kenyans living in Rwanda. We were honoured to host our High Commissioner, The South African Ambassador, The Somali Ambassador, KDF commanders in the country for a joint EAC security exercise !!, UNICEF Country Representative and a host of other high ranking officials from the Kenya Government and friends of Kenya. Special thanks goes to our Patron for the facilitation.

Many thanks to our sponsors MKU, Equity Bank, KWAL, EABL, Serena Hotels, Country Inn, Kenya Airways, K Club and Royal Carwash for making the day a big success. Eugene Anagwe and DJ Nano, you did great work keeping us on our feet with the most reverberating of Kenyan music. You reminded us of who we are and how far we have travelled away from home, further cementing our relationships.

To everybody who contributed to the Agaciro Fund, accept our utmost appreciation for the support. The kitty is still open until end of this month.

KDF carried the day as a living testimony of sacrifice above all for the good of your country and fellow countryman and women. We do look forward to other exciting activities in the days ahead.

God Bless you all. God Bless KENYA.

Carol,
for the AKR Executive committee

Kenya & USA: Obama’s family members and relatives back home in Kenya expresses confidence that he will emerge the winner in the US presidential race

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The on going USA election fever appeared to has hit family members and relatives of the US President Barrack Obama back in their rural native home in Alego Kogelo,Siaya County in Western Kenya.

Family members and relatives last weekend gathered in the homestead around Malik Abong’o Obama, the US President elder brother who told newsmen that the family has been following the American presidential debate keenly I the count-down to November 6 elections.

“We have been watching how debate has been unfolding and we are sure Obama will emerge the winner in the elections,” he said during the press briefing at his Kogelo home.

Abong’o expressed confidence that his brother will emerge victorious” because his four year leadership has helped to transform America,” he said adding that the majority of US citizens supports Obama’s candidature.

Malik disclosed that the family will host a major party in their home if Obama gets re-elected for a second term.

Another close relative of the Obama, the Siaya nominated Councilor Nicholas Rajula said the once sleepy and dusty Kogelo village will be transformed into the economic hub of Siaya County if Obama wins,

IT was Nicholas Rajula who led the delegation of family members to Washington D.C during President Obama inauguration in 2009, and ever since then Kogelo Nyang’oma village and market place has witnessed rapid development activities which included two medium size hotels, an ultra modern guest house for tourists accommodations, the construction of the community center and many modern shopping premises have sprung up, water and electricity supplies, construction of new road and many other economic activities.

Rajula further disclosed that plans are underway to mount a giant TV screen in Kogelo to enable Obama relatives, supporters and admirers back home in the village to follow the US elections.

However, there was a small hitch when it was learnt that members of the press were not allowed to access the home of President Obama step grand mother Mama Sarah Obama’s home.

Her security details said a directive to barring the press from entering into the home had come fro the US Embassy in Nairobi. It bars the media interviewing the 90 year old granny.

Rajula said,”I have asked her daughter if she can allow to interview Mama Sarah.but she said there is a sanctions from the US Embassy in Nairobi.

A US Embassy official had visited the Obama homestead four days earlier on a private mission for a meeting in which the press and local security officers were also locked out.

The new men and media fraternity viewed this action of barring the pres from access the grand old granny’s home as an exercise of excessive arrogance.

Ends

The 2012 Women for Education prize was awarded today to EAST (‘Water, Agriculture Health in Tropical Zones’) for its work in Madagascar

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)

PRESS RELEASE

The 2012 Women for Education prize was awarded today to EAST (‘Water, Agriculture Health in Tropical Zones’) for its work in Madagascar

Promoting women’s empowerment and their access to education and health

DEAUVILLE, France, October 15, 2012/ — The 2012 Women for Education prize was awarded today to EAST (Eau Agriculture et Santé en Milieu Tropical, ‘Water, Agriculture Health in Tropical Zones’) for its work in Madagascar. The ceremony took place at the Women’s Forum Global Meeting in the presence of Véronique Morali, President of the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society; Christine Albanel, Executive Vice President Events, Cultural and Institutional Partnerships and Philanthropy, Orange Group; Valérie Toranian, Director of ELLE magazine and President of the ELLE Foundation; and Caty Forget, Managing Director of Sanofi Espoir Foundation.

On behalf of its Malagasy teams, Dr. Loïc Monjour, President of the EAST non-governmental organization, received the 30,000 € award, which is financed by Orange Foundation and Sanofi Espoir Foundation.

The EAST project amply fulfills the objectives of the call for proposals that was launched last summer by the three Foundations ELLE, Orange and Sanofi Espoir:

A program whose goal is to contribute to the education of women, and to the improvement of their access to health, via new information and communication technologies (NTIC).

In the context of an overall program deployed in two neighborhoods of Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, EAST supports local Women’s Associations for the Promotion of Hygiene and Health. The project selected for the award is aimed at complementing these associations’ classic methods of education and sanitary prevention within local communities. The project strengthens the literacy skills of women as “health messengers” and trains them to use new information technology, in order to improve health behaviors of the local population in terms of hygiene, sanitary conditions, and individual and community health.

Created in 2007 by ELLE magazine, the ELLE Foundation and the Women’s Forum, the Women for Education initiative annually honors an international NGO working towards the economic emancipation of women in a developing country, and their access to education and health. From 2007 to 2010, awards were given to five projects in Afghanistan, India, Mexico, Ethiopia and Haiti. In 2011, Women for Education supported the launch of “Stand up for African Mothers”, an international campaign by AMREF Flying Doctors to improve maternal health thanks to midwives’ training.

Press contacts:

Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society
Caroline Simon
+ 33 1 43 12 56 25
caroline.simon@womens-forum.com

Fondation ELLE
Karine Guldemann
+ 33 6 88 85 87 78
karine.guldemann@lagardere-active.com

ELLE
Mirella Testori
+ 33 1 41 34 61 80
mirella.testori@lagardere-active.com

Fondation Orange
Mylène Blin
+ 33 1 44 44 93 93
mylene.blin@orange.com

Fondation Sanofi Espoir
Amélie Moritz
+ 33 6 74 55 89 47
amelie.moritz@sanofi.com

ELLE Foundation
http://www.ellefondation.org
« To promote women and girl’s education all around the world »
The ELLE Foundation, created in 2004 by the Lagardère Active Group, supports projects implemented by Non-Governmental Organizations to promote women’s emancipation, girls’ education, unskilled women’s vocational trainings in France and abroad.

Nearly 8 years after its creation, the ELLE Foundation has supported more than 50 projects and contributed to help and empower thousands of women all around the world.

Orange Foundation
http://www.fondationorange.com
The Orange Foundation has supported projects in 30 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia where the France Telecom Orange Group operates since 2005. The Orange Foundation works closely with local communities and non-profit organisations, adapting to the context of each country, to encourage solidarity and address issues in three areas: health and disability, education, and culture. The Orange Foundation also leverages the potential of digital tools to support economic and social development.

Sanofi Espoir Foundation
http://www.fondation-sanofi-espoir.com
The Sanofi Espoir Foundation is dedicated to reducing inequalities in healthcare over the long term by addressing key issues in prevention, training, and access to care, particularly among the most needy communities and populations.

In addition to responding to humanitarian emergencies, the Foundation is committed to building long-term partnerships in the healthcare and development field so as to reduce the economic burden of disease and overcome the poverty-disease spiral. In 2011, nearly 60% of the projects of the Foundation were implemented in Africa, which represent 44 programs in 24 countries.

Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society
http://www.womens-forum.com
Founded in 2005, the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society is the world’s leading forum looking at major social and economic issues from women’s perspectives. It promotes the empowerment of women worldwide, as well as the networks of collaboration that enable women’s voices to be heard with clarity and force. The Women’s Forum meetings, including a major annual Global Meeting, highlight unusual, strong and important women in politics, business, civil society and academe. The Global Meeting is also accompanied by The Discovery, a uniquely vibrant content relay that features meetings, discussions, classes and practical workshops.

SOURCE
Orange

KENYA: LAKE VICTORIA BASIN FILM / THEATRE/ GOSPEL AWARDS

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From: AKECH OBAT MASIRA

THE CONCERT PAPER

The Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild (Kenya) an umbrella body of film makers, designers , scriptwriters , musicians, artistes based in Western Kenya region. The organization was founded in 2009 at the Kisumu Area Library during the international film workshop organized in Kisumu by the American Embassy and the Kenya International Film Festival (K.I.F.F) for the film makers based in Western Kenya.

It was founded to showcase the best artistic creations in film productions from the Lake Basin region .To create film productions that are driven to positively influence society .Film productions that are intended to positively influence and promote change in society . We believe our films should be viewed in respect of wider responsibility in society and not driven by desire to make money, like most film productions produced in other parts of Kenya. Our film making should be guided by interest of society and foster positive change .The Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild ( Kenya )seeks to enhance creativity and provide platform for the local film makers based in the region and lastly to present the best film productions from the region. The

Lake Victoria Basin , with its breathtaking expanse of water and beautiful landscape surrounding it , is uniquely endowed with great filmic sites , natural historical monuments and great creative talents and untapped artistic potentials , that unfortunately has not been harnessed . If utilized well the Lake Victoria is going to be the next hub of film making in the Great Lakes Region. Lake and its basin is endowed with a variety of natural reserves that are local, regional and global benefit.”Lake Victoria; A hub for East African Development”. The organization was founded to celebrate cultural diversity and encourage artistic integration with broad range of filmic and theatre styles. To offer the people of the western Kenya region with unique opportunity to sample various forms of film making and artistic styles and expressions. To enable the region to tell their unique stories creatively without favour or fear. Develop its only style and its film industry.

It’s against this background that in 2010 the organization founded the first LAKE VICTORIA BASIN FILM/ THEATRE AND GOSPEL VIDEO AWARDS to showcase the best from the region and to recognize and reward their greatest artistes / directors/ producers (film/theatre/gospel/artistes)

It was also intended to establish a network with other film makers outside the region to exchange styles and techniques in the art of film making .To enable the local film makers participate in the national and international film festival.

A film is a story in conflict of humankind, film comprises of two vital aspects, namely the DESIRE and the DANGER. Desire is basically humankind’s yearning for happiness, satisfaction and sense of fulfillment, while the Danger is that life threatening, obstacles and opposition. Most films emanating from other parts of Kenya, unfortunately, lack emotions, so to speak. Yet an emotion is at the centre of film making.

The Awards ceremony was founded to invigorate film making as a hobby, as well as a profession to promote creative cultural expression in the region and beyond. Our main objective is therefore to increase the public interest and consciousness of film productions and creative progressive arts in general by providing organizational framework that will “market” the regional artistes nationally and internationally.

Its hoped that in the process the various field of creative artistic expressions will attract the most talented people in the region, particularly in theatre, film and gospel music. This promotion will go along way in increasing financial viability of artistic endeavor .Its our firm belief that only self sustaining artistic development that can be able to promote the Lake Victoria Basin film industry .We also hope that the local Governors in Lake Victoria Basin will embrace film and artistic expressions in their respective countries.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To showcase the best artistic creation (film/theatre/gospel) from the region.
To provide opportunities for the local film makers to participate in the national and international film festivals.
To exchange expertise, skills and experience through the medium of film and theatre productions (film festivals workshops and exchange programs)
To promote creative film making in the region
To make the region the new hub of film making to its unique natural historical monuments, Lake Victoria and its great filmic sites.

THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON REGIONAL ARTS.

The Lake Victoria : A hub for East African development – its considered to be the cradle of mankind as the first paleontological traces of humans have been found there. It’s also a home of an abundant wildlife resources which gives it a unique and great potential for prospering in tourism industry and film making – a new source of foreign exchange earnings and employment opportunities.

The Kisumu City is the center of the Great of Lakes Region and therefore the new hub of commercial and industrial development, tourism, cultural expressions and by large film industry.

The various arts in the region are therefore in the process of decline because they have been relegated to position of unprofitable enterprises.

This is because it has been realized that although there is abundant talent in the region. The challenge has been limited exposure, poor marketing strategies and related factors have reduced our film makers and artists to marginal positions in the society.

It’s hoped that in the in the process the various artistic activities (film /theatre/gospel) will attract the most talented people in the region and increase financial viability of artistic and endevour. It is our belief that only self sustaining artistic expressions can promote film industry and cultural development of the Western Kenya region.

A regional film/ theater/gospel/ video awards is the best vehicle for maintaining and promoting film industry and cultural development. It’s the intention the LAKE VICTORIA BASIN FILM/THEATER/GOSPEL VIDEO awards is to invigorate film industry and regional cultural development and therefore increase publics interest and consciousness of film and arts by providing organizational frame work that will market the regional film makers and artists both nationally and internationally.

THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE AWARDS.

The justification for rewarding artists in film making in Western Kenya Region is self evident. The region has produced the most interesting, vivid and memorable performing artists in Kenya even before independence up to date. The greatest entertainers in Kenya. The history of Kenya arts and cultural activities is decorated by great talents in various artistic and cultural spheres from the region. These included areas like traditional and pop music, drama, cultural, writing, visual art, crafts and sports (Gor Mahia/AFC Leopards)Mashemeji tournament of love and rivalry.

Unfortunately, such talents emerged spontaneously and without organized local or national support consequently some of the best talents in the Lake Basin region have been “forced” to retire early into oblivion after a short period of success. This has led to the falling of regional cultural standards.

THE THEME.

“STRIVE FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE IN FILM MAKING AND DEVELOPEMENTIN THE LAKE VICTORIA BASIN.”

THE SCOPE.

The 2nd LAKE VICTORIA BASIN FILM /THEATRE/GOSPEL/VIDEO AWARDS 2012.

The Awards will be held in the Kisumu Social Centre in Kisumu City , Kenya, to screen film made within the region. We also intend to screen film from the Coast Province. A few selected theatre artists will be invited to perform . Paper presentations will be delivered by film/ theatre scholars from the regional universities.

A jury of judges will be drawn from the two public Universities, namely, Maseno and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Media Houses and Theatre personalities.

During awards ceremonies we will also use the occasion to pay tribute to the fallen great artist(VICTOR OGOLLA NYANGORE) formerly of Misango Arts Ensemble. He died mid this year.

THE EXHIBITIONS.

During the event we will also host art exhibitions (painting,sculpture,curvings and textile.) The items will be for sale.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE REGIONAL AWARDS.

The management of the Lake Victoria Basin film/ theater/gospel video awards will be heired by the Department of Education. City Council of Kisumu (Mr. Emmanuel Obiero) other members are drawn from Maseno University, The Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild (Kenya.)

The event will also explore means and ways of how to improve and enhancing the best techniques for creativity in film and gospel video productions in the region.

THE SPONSORSHIP.

The organization is seeking well wishers and partnership with various organizations to support the Lake Victoria Basin film industry. The sponsors will be given banner publicity before and during the event.

We are therefore appealing to the corporate society and charitable organizations to come forward and support the event. (publicity, transport, organizational costs and marketing, banners, artists fee, trophies/certificates ,cash sponsors to the awardees.

The interested sponsors should contact the chairman. Thanks.

AKECH OBAT MASIRA.
CHAIRMAN.
LAKE VICTORIA BASIN FILM MAKERS GUILD (KENYA)
P.O BOX 3599-40100
KISUMU, KENYA (EA)
TEL; +254726164954
Email;obatmasira@yahoo.com

USA, NYC; & Nigeria: October 6th Nigerian Independence Day Parade Video clip

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From: African Views Information Exchange

Here is the video footage of the Nigerian independence day parade that took place in New York on October 6, 2012.

Enjoy:

http://www.africanviews.org/country-profile-videos/viewvideo/30688/nigeria/ny-usa-52-eme-anniveraire-de-lindependance-de-nigeria-new-york

AV

KENYA: WHY MPS MUST REJECT EDUCATION BILL

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From: People For Peace
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

Although Catholic Bishops in Kenya have urged Member of Parliaments who are its members to oppose the controversial Education Bill 2012 that stop religious organisations from sponsoring public schools, this Bill must be rejected by all MPs and Kenyans. The bishops have asked MPs that are their faithful to oppose the Bill once it is presented for deliberations in Parliament.

[image]Some of the students at Bishop Sixto Mazzoldi High School, Ongata Rongai of Ngong Catholic Diocese pose for a photo at the Apostles of Jesus Shrine on August 27, 2012 shortly after the Holy Eucharist celebrations in memory of AJ founders-Bishop Mazzoldi and John Marengoni-25 and 5 years respectively. Most parents in Kenya would prefer to take their children in religious run institutions. The school is run by the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary/ Photo by Fr Omolo Ouko, AJ

If enacted, the Bill will bar religious organisations from playing key roles of spiritually nurturing learners to be good citizens. The bishops are afraid that if this succeeds, our schools will start producing Godless creatures and the society will be ruined.

Since Bishops are responsible for and sponsor one third of all schools in Kenya, they demand for fair representation on the Selection Panel of the National Education Board.
The Composition of the County Education Boards makes vague reference to representation of religious sponsors.

The Bill must take into account the Catholic Church’s massive investment in education infrastructure, human resources and presence even in the much marginalized places. The Catholic Church should be adequately represented in the County Education Boards.

Most of the Catholic sponsored schools are on land owned by the Church or land held in trust by the Church for the community. The Bill must ensure that the ownership rights of the religious sponsors are recognized and respected as per the Constitution.

All property owned, alienated and/or held in trust by a religious sponsor for the purposes of education shall continue to be owned, held and/or alienated by the religious sponsor and such property shall not be transferred or otherwise alienated for any other purpose. We cannot accept that our land will be taken by the government under any pretext because it is against the spirit and letter of the Constitution.

The Kenya National Association of Parents has also faulted the Bill clause that seeks to have parents prosecuted for failing to take their children to school. The association’s secretary general Musau Ndunda has defended parents saying citing factors like poverty and lack of enough teachers as some of the factors beyond the parents control that hinder from taking their children to school.

The Cabinet approved the Bill in August this year that makes it illegal for children to be out of school and imposes punitive jail terms and fines for parents and guardians who flout the law.

The Basic Education Bill 2012 which was adopted at a meeting chaired by President Mwai Kibaki wants parents or guardians who decline sending their children to school to be thrown in jail for five years or a fine not exceeding Sh100,000 or in extreme cases, both.

According to the Constitution of Kenya Adopted August 2010 on Education, 43(1) every person has the right—(f) to education. 21 (1) states that it is a fundamental duty of the State and every State organ to observe, respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights.

On Religion it states that there shall be no State religion. 32. (1) every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion. (2) Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance of a day of worship.

(3) A person may not be denied access to any institution, employment or facility, or the enjoyment of any right, because of the person’s belief or religion. (4) A person shall not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person’s belief or religion.

237. (1) There is established the Teachers Service Commission. (2) The functions of the Commission are— (a) to register trained teachers; (b) to recruit and employ registered teachers; (c) to assign teachers employed by the Commission for service in any public school or institution; (d) to promote and transfer teachers; (e) to exercise disciplinary control over teachers; and (f) to terminate the employment of teachers.

(3) The Commission shall––(a) review the standards of education and training of persons entering the teaching service; (b) review the demand for and the supply of teachers; and (c) advise the national government on matters relating to the teaching profession.

There is nowhere in provision where religious sponsored schools have the role, not only on spiritual matters, but also in the decision of how the sponsored schools should be run and managed. It is the role of the state to run all schools and make policies.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com

Peaceful world is the greatest heritage
That this generation can give to the generations
To come- All of us have a role.

ONE YEAR SINCE WANGARI DIED OF CANCER

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News

BY REGIONAL NEWS TEAM
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Today is Tuesday September 25, 2012, exactly one year since Prof Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace laureate and conservation heroine died in Nairobi after a long battle with cancer. At least 22,000 people died of various cancers in Kenya last year out of the 28,000 reported cases according to government statistics.

This according to President Mwai kibaki was because 80 percent of the patients were diagnosed when cancers were at advanced stage, noting that the incidences of cancer in the country were increasing at an alarming rate with breast, cervical and prostate cancer being the most common cancers in Kenya.

The year is marked just at the time Kenya is still mourning the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community, David Nalo who was the third senior government official to go public about ailment from cancer. He died on September 12, 2012 at Nairobi Hospital.

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer in February this year and had been undergoing treatment since then, including chemotherapy. Pact Kenya Cancer assessment estimates 50 people die every day from different forms of cancer while 80,000 new diagnosed are done each year.

Just when plans are still underway for the burial of Nalo, former Presidential Escort Commander Elijah Sumbeiywo was buried last week. He died after a battle with cancer for long. He died of pancreas cancer that he has been battling at a Nairobi hospital. He was the presidential escort commander under retired President Moi.

Reported cases of cancer have been on the rise in the recent months. Alexandra Ajoy, who until her untimely death was the youngest survivor of Leukemia-the cancer of blood also died this year.

The 4 year old has been diagnosed with the deadly cancer at the age of 2. Her condition required a bone marrow transplant which could only take place in India since Kenya has no facilities to treat her case.

Until her death, she had endured insurmountable pain which only her family can relate to. She had also been under heavy medication. Baby Lexie came into the public fore during the launch of the Africa Cancer Foundation in July last year, an NGO that supports the fight against cancer in Africa.

Veteran politician, Martin Shikuku, the self-declared “People’s Watchman” of Kenyan politics also died of cancer this year. Shikuku had been admitted at the Texas cancer centre in Nairobi’s Hurlingham where he was undergoing treatment after a long battle with prostate cancer.

It is also one year Patrick Makau of Kenya turned the Berlin Marathon into his own personal conga line, setting a world record of 2 hours 3 minutes 38 seconds in 26.2 miles coverage.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Peaceful world is the greatest heritage
That this generation can give to the generations
To come- All of us have a role.

Kenya: Celebrating the life and times of Uncle Andrea Owuor Oswilo

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from: odhiambo okecth

Dear Friends,

The weekend was tough on me, very tough.

I was in a function in Nakuru when I received word that my Uncle, my only Uncle Mzee Andrea Owuor Oswilo had passed on at about 4.30pm Saturday the 22nd September 2012.

I was for the first time hit so hard. This has come barely one week after we had buried a Cousin the other weekend.

It has been tough on me this year. I have lost a Brother, a Mother, a Brother-in-Law, several Cousins and the resources can never be enough to handle such cases.

We met as a Family yesterday and we have decided to bury Uncle on the 29th Sept 2012 at his Home in Ndere Alego. We will be meeting with our Friends and Relatives on Wednesday the 26th Sept 2012 at Walkers Restaurant in Nairobi to help plan and fill in the gaps to enable us give Uncle a befitting send-off.

I want to invite Friends who are able to stand with me once more to help me bury my Uncle.

I want to thank Mr. Evans Machera and Mr. Elijah Agevi who have sent me their supports. Thank you and God Bless you:
Mr. Evans Machera- Kshs 500.00
Mr. Elijah Agevi- Kshs 1,000.00

Let us all work for a Clean Kenya as a Transformative Deliverable as we turn 50, even as we join in celebrating the life and times of my Uncle.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Executive Director,
The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC
Tel; 0724 365 557
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch. blogspot.com
Website; www.kcdnkenya.org
Facebook; Odhiambo T Oketch
Facebook; Monthly Nationwide Clean up Campaign
Mailing Group; friendsofkcdn@ yahoogroups.com
The Clean Kenya Campaign is an Initiative of The KCDN Kenya.

CELEBRATING BIRTH OF MARTHA KARUA AND MALI INDEPENDENCE

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
Voices of Justice for Peace
Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

Today is Saturday September 22, 2012, the day Honorable Martha Karua was born. It is also the day Mali achieved its independence from France. Born Martha Wangari Karua on September 22, 1957 in Kirinyaga District, Central Province of Kenya, Karua is Kenyan politician, Member of Parliament for Gichugu Constituency.

Nicknamed Iron Lady of Kenyan politics, Karua studied Law at the University of Nairobi from 1977 to 1980 and Kenya School of Law for the statutory post graduate law course from 1980- 1981. She began her career as District magistrate to a Senior Resident Magistrate-Makadara law courts from 1984-1985 and Kibera Law courts from 1985-1987 respectively.

She started a law firm Martha Karua & Co. Advocates in 1987 which she ran till 2002. In the early 1990s she was a member of a political movement that saw the reintroduction of multi-party politics in Kenya from the defiant authoritarian rule of a party KANU led by Kenya’s former dictator president Daniel arap Moi.

She later joined Kenneth Matiba’s FORD ASILI where she first vied for the Gichugu Parliamentary seat but lost to George Kareithi a former Head of Public Service. She regained the seat in 1992 in Democratic Party (DP) ticket through the support of Mwai Kibaki who was the head of the party by then.

Karua surprised Kenyans by resigning from her influential Justice, National cohesion and constitutional Affairs docket in a government she fought hard to see in leadership. She gave the reason for her resignation as the constant frustrations she received from her colleagues in government in an effort to entrench reforms.

She announced her presidential bid during a dinner hosted at the National Museums of Kenya, Louis Leakey Auditorium on the 27 of April 2011, vowing to push for reforms if elected president even though it still remains to be seen if she will rise up to her competitors and critics in government.

Karua who is also the Chairperson of NARC-Kenya says she will continue to use her campaign platforms to promote peaceful coexistence and nationhood amongst all Kenyans, insisting that action must be taken against all inciters and/or sponsors of violence whatever their station in life.

Some of her critics however, challenge her presidential bid, saying that until she explains to Kenyans why she stood up for rigged elections to keep her mentor in power, why she assisted Kibaki to be sworn in at night like a thief, and if she can acknowledge that her actions in 2007-2008 endangered Kenyans life’s and brought about the clashes where many innocent Kenyans lost their life’s she won’t make it to presidency.

Her critics say Martha should start by asking forgiveness from Kenyans first and foremost, while at the same time telling Kenyans the truth of what transpired during and after the 2007 elections, adding that quitting her ministerial position was not enough to change Kenyans Views about her.

Martha Karua was Kenya’s Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs. She was appointed to this post in April 2008 following the naming of a Grand Coalition Government in Kenya. She was elected on a Narc Kenya ticket in the 2007 General Elections to represent Gichugu Constituency.

The coalition is led by President Emilio Mwai Kibaki (PNU), Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga (ODM) and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka (ODM-K). These were the three top and antagonistic contenders for the presidency in the 2007 general elections.

Martha Karua first became a minister after the Narc came into power in 2003 when she was named the Minister for Water and Irrigation. She held this position until December 2005 when President Kibaki dissolved his entire cabinet following his defeat in the jinxed 2005 constitutional referendum when his ‘Yes’ banana side was defeated by the ‘No’ orange side spearheaded by Raila Odinga, the then minister for public works who had been brewing a rebellion within the NARC Government.

Karua appointed businessman Hussein Mohamed as the secretariat’s Chief Executive Officer for her campaign. Mr Mohamed was recently trounced in Federation of Kenya Football elections by Sam Nyamweya.

Speaking during the launch in Nairobion, the Narc-Kenya leader said she is running for president to defend the Constitution, which guarantees all Kenyans a life of dignity and equality, pleading to end impunity and fight corruption.

In 1998, Karua declined the position of Shadow Minister for Culture and Social Services which conflicted with her position of National Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (an elected office) that made her the official spokesperson on legal matters of the party. She opted to resign her position as the National Secretary.

In 2001, when the Constitutional Review Bill was laid before the House, the entire Opposition with the exception of Karua walked out of Parliament. The Bill had been rejected by the Opposition as well as Civil Society but Karua was of the view that as elected representatives, instead of walking out, it would be more prudent to remain in Parliament and put the objections on record.

In an interview with BBC’s HARDtalk in January 2008, Karua said, regarding the violent crisis that had developed over the election results, that while the government had anticipated that the ODM) of Raila Odinga might be “planning mayhem if they lost”, it was surprised by “the magnitude” of it, calling the violence “ethnic cleansing”.

Asked to clarify, Karua said that she was stating “categorically” that the ODM planned ethnic cleansing. Odinga subsequently called Karua’s accusation “outrageous”.

She was endorsed as the national chairperson of the NARC-Kenya political party on November 15, 2008. There was virtually no competitive election during the party’s national delegates’ convention at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi as all the officials including Ms Karua were being endorsed.

After her endorsement she immediately declared she would be gunning for the highest political seat in the Kenya’s 2012 elections.

At one time in her Kirinyaga District, Karua walked out on President Moi who was then addressing a crowd in the district stadium. She has been a leading crusader for the widening of democratic space and gender issues in Kenya.

She has been involved in championing women’s rights through public interest litigation, lobbying and advocacy for laws that enhance and protect women’s rights through her work with various women’s organizations, particularly the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) and the League of Kenya Women Voters.

In February 2009 during her time as Minister of Justice, she once had a heated argument with the Minister of Agriculture William Ruto at a cabinet meeting as the President sat quietly, watching the sparring ministers, according to the source at the meeting. The President did not say or do anything.

He just sat there quietly watching as the ministers took on each other. It was chaotic, hot and eruptive. The two ministers had been sparring in public over a period of three weeks, with Ms Karua demanding Mr Ruto’s resignation over a maize scandal. This gained her momentum and was referred to as “the only man” in the PNU Cabinet.

Although today also marks the day Mali achieved independence from France in 1960, this country in the West African state has been afflicted by several rebellions, insurrections, and coups. The Malian army’s overthrow of President Amadou Toumani Toure threatens to end two decades of democratic rule in the country.

The following is the timeline courtesy Aljazeera

1960: The Mali Federation (which included Senegal) gains independence from France. Mobido Keita, a socialist, becomes the country’s first president. Senegal left the Federation later that year.

1962-64: Nomadic Tuareg peoples in the north of Mali, dissatisfied with their position in the new state and wanting a state of their own, revolt in the First Tuareg Rebellion. The Malian government’s army is much better-equipped than the rebels, and after defeating them, force Tuareg areas under military administration. This stokes resentment in these regions, and causes many Tuareg to flee to neighbouring countries.

1968: A coup led by a young army lieutenant named Moussa Traore overthrows Mobido Keita’s regime. Traore forbids opposition political parties, and presides over the development of a police state.

1968-74: Mali suffers from a major drought, which devastates many Tuareg areas in the north.

1990-95: The Second Tuareg Rebellion begins in June 1990, as separatists in the north demand their own Tuareg state. Malian president Alpha Konare grants greater autonomy to the Tuareg-heavy Kidal region, causing the conflict to die down somewhat, but hostilities continue for several years more.

1991: Dissatisfaction with poor economic conditions and the Traore regime’s corruption help spur a pro-democracy protest movement. Following a government crackdown, in which dozens are killed or injured by government forces, a military coup removes Traore from office in the so-called “March Revolution”. The coup leader, lieutenant colonel Amadou Toumani Toure, leads Mali before stepping down when elections are held in 1992.

1992: The first democratic elections since before the Traore regime are held in Mali. Alpha Konare is elected president, and then re-elected in 1997.

2002: Amadou Toumani Toure, who led the 1991 coup overthrowing Traore, is elected president after winning 64 per cent of the vote.

2006: In June, Mali reaches a peace agreement with Tuareg rebels seeking greater autonomy for their northern desert
region.

2007: Toure wins 71 per cent of votes to guarantee a second five-year term as president. A Tuareg rebellion breaks out in Niger and Mali, concentrated in Niger’s northern Agadez region and Mali’s northeastern Kidal Region.

2008: Several Malian government troops and Tuareg fighters are killed when a rebel column attacks an army post near the Mauritanian border, despite a ceasefire between the two sides.

2009: Hundreds of rebels lay down their weapons in northern Mali in a sign that military pressure and Algerian mediation may be helping end the rebellion led by Tuareg nomads.

2011: After the end of the uprising in Libya, large numbers of Tuareg, who had fought for Muammar Gaddafi in the Libyan civil war, return to their home country, many heavily armed. The Tuareg rebellion is reignited in northern Mali, with the aim of establishing an independent Tuareg state called Azawad.

January 2012: Tuareg rebels exchange gunfire with Malian soldiers in a northern town.

February 2012: Mali are due hold its presidential election on time in April despite the rebellion in the north, Toure says.

March 2012: Mutinous Malian soldiers close the borders hours after declaring they seized power from the president in protest at the government’s failure to quell the rebellion in the north.

March 22: The newly formed National Committee for the Return of Democracy and the Restoration of the State (CNRDR) declares it has seized power. Malian soldiers say they have deposed Toure and suspended the constitution.

March 23: The African Union suspends Mali’s membership following the coup. Regional bloc ECOWAS follows suit a few days later and threatens to use sanctions dislodge the army leaders.

March 28: Toure, in his first public comments since he was ousted, tells French radio he is free and unharmed.

March 30 – April 1: Tuareg rebels enter key towns in the north of Mali after soldiers abandon positions. They seize regional capitals Kidal, Gao and then Timbuktu in a three-day offensive. The rebellion effectively controls the whole of the northern half of Mali.

April 2: ECOWAS imposes sanctions including a complete shutdown of borders to force the junta to step down from power.

April 6: Tuareg fighters who have captured the north of the country declare an independent state called Azawad, with the city of Gao as its capital.

ECOWAS and Mali’s military coup leaders agree to a deal under which the junta will hand over power to parliament speaker Diouncounda Traore, who will be sworn in as interim president with a mission to organise elections.

April 8: Mali’s President Amadou Toumani Toure hands in his official letter of resignation from one of the hiding places in the capital where he had been since the coup. This paves the way for the ECOWAS brokered deal to take effect.

April 12: Diouncounda Traore is sworn in as interim president. He says he will not hesitate to wage war against the rebels who have seized the northern parts of Mali, if they do not agree to peace talks. ECOWAS lifts sanctions against Mali and agrees to give amnesty to those involved in the coup.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
People for Peace in Africa
Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com

Peaceful world is the greatest heritage
That this generation can give to the generations
To come- All of us have a role.

Kenya & Rwanda: THANK YOU FOR WORK WELL DONE ON SATURDAY 25TH AUGUST 2012

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From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Dear Fellow Kenyan,

Saturday the 25th August 2012 was a day of work with fun as AKR joined the residents of Gisozi cell for Umuganda.

The occasion was graced by a local member of Parliament and the entire Sectoral command as well as heavy presence from the Mayor’s office. Thank you for keeping time and coming out in large numbers for this noble course.

Our sincere appreciation goes to Fodey Security and alarm for hosting lunch for AKR, Serena Hotels for providing drinking water, MKU and Nakumatt for transport and provision of water during the occasion and everyone who found time to attend.

Those who missed out, am confident you will join us during the next Umuganda. Attached find some photos and a clip taken during the great day.

God Bless you all. God bless Kenya.

Carol.

World Humanitarian Day Campaign Passes the 100 Million Mark and Sets its Sights on one Billion by 19 August 2012

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)

PRESS RELEASE

World Humanitarian Day Campaign Passes the 100 Million Mark and Sets its Sights on one Billion by 19 August 2012

The campaign jumped in momentum following a breathtaking live performance on Friday night at the United Nations General Assembly by Beyoncé

WASHINGTON, August 15, 2012/ — The global campaign that aims to make social media history by attempting to reach one billion people on 19 August to celebrate World Humanitarian Day (http://www.whd-iwashere.org) has passed its first milestone – the 100 million mark.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/iwashere.jpg

The campaign jumped in momentum following a breathtaking live performance on Friday night at the United Nations General Assembly by Beyoncé, who sang “I Was Here” to more than 1,200 fans, celebrities, humanitarian workers and dignitaries. The video of the song, which Beyoncé and songwriter Diane Warren donated to the campaign, will premiere on 19 August.

Launched just 11 days ago, the campaign is creating a buzz with both high profile celebrities and the public at large, all united to celebrate World Humanitarian Day by doing something good for others on 19 August.

“Everyone can be a humanitarian. All it takes is one act to help someone else. That’s the spirit of people helping people,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, speaking at the event, which was hosted by television journalist Anderson Cooper and showcased the work of humanitarian aid workers around the world.

During the evening, Anderson Cooper interviewed former child soldier Ishmael Beah, who fought in Sierra Leone’s civil war; Pernille Ironside, a UNICEF child protection officer; New York photographer Erin Dinan, whose nonprofit organization One Sandwich at a Time feeds people living on the streets; and Laurent Vieira de Mello, whose father Sergio died along with 21 other humanitarians in an attack on the UN in Baghdad in 2003.

“The stories shared on Friday night served as important reminders of how crucial humanitarian work is around the world,” said David Droga, Founder and Creative Chairman, Droga5. “We now have an opportunity to celebrate these efforts by sending the biggest social media message for good in history. There’s no time to waste.”

With less than six days to go, the campaign’s partners, including advertising agency Droga5, Parkwood Entertainment, production company Ridley Scott & Associates, director Kenzo Digital, Sony Music Entertainment and the humanitarian community will be calling on their global networks to ensure the world takes notice on World Humanitarian Day.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of World Humanitarian Day.

How to show your support:

1. Visit http://www.whd-iwashere.org and ‘Add Your Voice’ via Twitter, Facebook, or both, and get the word out to your friends and followers to do the same.

2. On August 19th, make your mark by doing something good, somewhere, for someone else. Visit whd-iwashere.org for suggestions of how you can make a difference.

3. Watch as everyone’s messages are simultaneously shared around the world, along with a special World Humanitarian Day performance by Beyoncé.

Download campaign materials here:

http://whd-iwashere.org/public/pin

http://whd-iwashere.org/public/assets/Poster_main.pdf

SOURCE

World Humanitarian Day