Nairobi by morning

Today was a good day for blogosphere. It is the kind of day when I encounter nto one but two things that qualify to be put here. First am just walking to the bus stage, minding my business and trying to be a good citizen when it happened. There was this mat that was running speeding so much in an overcrowded place that I just had to notice it. On looking closley, I noticed an ‘oversize’ police man runnig furiously after the mat driver. In essence, the mat driver was getting away and got away!

Second scene a few metres away. A mat again, this time a mini bus. And a tough talking middle aged lady probably on  her way to work. She had either knocked the mat’s behind or the mat guy had suddenly braked and so they were there with another policeman drawing chalk marks all over the road. She was on the verge of ‘beating up’ the mat driver by the time I left. I am not particularly given to stopping and staring like many Nairobians are. If I was, I would tell you where the story ended.

Lecturer’s strike

The public lecturers strike continues to bite. At least 12 have been axed. In today’s press, it was reported that Kenyan dons are among the most paid on http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143960123 and it sure makes interesting reading.

just what should be done to the government to make them realize how serious this issue is? Next we will have the teachers again then the nurses etc. And somebosy said the economy was growing at the impressive rate of 5.8% Good one, tell me another.

CDF issues

This should probably be on the Kenyan Hater but I just couldn’t resist it. In the past few weeks, two issues over the use of the CDF kitty as the media like to call it. First was the Ugenya one involving ‘Archbishop’ Stephen Ondiek and a poor boy from his constituency. The good bishop reckons that there is nothing wrong in having all the CDF monies going to his schools because he has been good enough to reduce the fees at his private secondary school to just Ksh 25,ooo while others charge more. Just so you know, ‘ondiek’ means some wild animal I forget in Luo.
The said student who is at Mang’u no less and was the second best in the district in the KCPE was told to either join the non-performing school, Siaya Academy or forget the bursary. He chose the most obvious and logical. He got so hard up later he had to call in the media. And they (we?) did what they know best.
In the second instance, all of Ksh 9 million was taken out of the constituency account by a member of the committee and he promptly flew out of the country. The area MP Joseph Lagat blames the bank. I blame him. He is the patron and he appointed the members of that damn committee. If there is anybody to pay, it sure is him. Period.
Having said that, just what is to be done about the CDF? One thing is for sure: get MPs out of it. It’s their constituency fine but they are not the best stewards of the public’s money as they have proved time and again.

horoscopes

Am pissed of thoroughly by two of our ‘newspapers’ and for good reason too. See, am one of those people whose day is not complete without glancing at the ‘star’ of the day. now, our good friends at the Nation centre and I&M want us to pay to read this(yet I already paid for the damn paper)!

Even reputable newspapers so not charge for this.  I know the Washington Times does not charge except for the electronic version.

So there I have had my say.

The Desiderata

I have wanted to put this here for quite some time. Its from my old blog that caused me quite a bit of grief and I was forced to abandon it.

Its called Desiderata and was written in the 1920s by Max Ehrmann. Join me

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

 

The effects of a ‘night job’

The life of a Form 4 boy hangs in the balance now after receiving a thorough beating from a girl’s father he was allegedly dating. I stumbled upon this heartrending info from a vernacular radio station’s news. And the news in vernacular can be quite entertaining however serious it is. In this instance, the newscaster reported that the father ‘fell on’ (to mean attacked) and ‘fixed him properly’ (beat him seriously) when he found him ‘creeping’ on her daughter. He had allegedly gone for a ‘night job’ and was let in by the girl through a ‘side door’ when the father discovered the unusual occurrence and promptly set on the boy.

 

The story so far, the boy’s future looks bleak as his chances of sitting his KCSE are very thin. Even if he did, he is likely to spend considerable time in the hospital and hence miss out on the crucial revision he so needs. There are a number of questions raised here and one is whether the father was right to take the law into his own hands. Of course, he was protecting the interests of his daughter but was that the right way? If it had been rape, it would have been a different story. However, in this case, the two parties were consenting; the girl even let the boy in! If it is a beating they deserve, then both of them should have been beaten.

 

A more pertinent issue this raises is the whole matter of fornication among  the youth, if we can assume it got to that. It is perhaps the said father’s incompetence or bad breeding that makes his daughter behave as she did. If he had a talked to her and advised her appropriately on proper sexual activities and timing, she probably wouldn’t be in the news, or would she? The image we get is that of a violent dad who resorts to beating and thoroughly at that) his way out of problems. In the village setting where this took place, the community structure is still strong and getting the two youths together and talking to them about the incident would probably have been more effective. Besides, if they are hell-bent on doing it, nothing will stop them. In fact, the lady will feel she owes him a favour after the trouble he went through. They’ll probably be back at it soon as he’s out of that damn hospital. And that’s just how it is.

 

In the meantime, police have arrested five suspects who are helping with ‘investigations’ into the matter. Somebody give me a break here. Here’s how I see it: the father is having a sleepless night so he decides to take a late-night stroll around the compound. And lo and behold, the neighbour’s son and his own daughter walking away at three in the morning hand in hand! He must be dreaming so he clears his eyes and for sure its true. What happened next is common knowldege.

 

What would you do if you were the thoroughly incensed father?

Nairobi by ‘mat’

You got to love Nairobis matatu drivers, you really got to. Am one of those guys who suffers from acute chronic lateness(self diagnosed). As such, their ingenious methods of beating the jam are always appreciated, very much. I cant make it to class on time(or any other event for that matter)So today, I was running late as usual and I took a Kawangware 46 mat. There was a hell of a jam so he cut to some other route. I think its the 3rd Ngong Avenue(which by the way is far removed from its route) and the other end we run into some army guys manning the street. The street loudly proclaims itself to be the safest street in Nairobi. The jury is still out on that one. Its the one that has Loreto Convent Valley Road School, couldnt get the name.

So the good driver affects a Kisii accent(which is true since all the 46 mat crews are Kisii anyway). The soldier asks him if he knows that route is out of bounds and in the most innocent way, he says he doesnt. He says hes taking us to a church nearby. And he inforrms the guy that he hasnt even spent a week in Nairobi.

He was probably born and grew up in Nairobi but what the heck? Oh, and this illustration is not a true representation of the situation in Kenya now. It wasnt even done by a Kenyan. I just loved it coz its a 46 and most of them shouldnt even be on the road.

Incidentally, today, GADO did a (master)piece today on matatus in relation to the police “crackdown” on unroadworthy ones(most are but the way they go about it is way off the mark)

Anyway my story ends with the soldier allowing the driver to pass “kama ni mara yaho ya kwanza Nairobi” and adds “na ujue sisi ni wabaya.” The good dere concurs saying ” nikiona tu hiyo kofi ya red najua.” So with his ego massaged, he lets us go. I was still late for that class anyway, but the diversion helped(plus it gave me material for my blog)

Finally, someone said ati the late guys are usually happier than the guys who had to wait for them. How true?

The Serenity Prayer

One of my all-time favourite prayers is the Serenity Prayer written by  Reinhold Niebuhr on July 1 1943 for the Union Church of Heath, Massachusetts. However, the prayer is reported to have been used before that date within Alcoholics Anonymous  early in 1942. It is used in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs.

The shorter, more common version is:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the differenceThere is another version said to have been the author’s favourite, written to his wife:

God give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,

courage to change the things which should/must be changed,

and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.The full version of the prayer is:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can; and

the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right, if I surrender to His will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.There is a Latin version of it by Neil Young: Deus, dona mihi serenitatem accipere res quae non possum mutare, fortitudinem mutare res quae possum, atque sapientiam differentiam cognoscere. (Ahem, ahem)

There also exists a longer version from Ireland(trust the Irish):

God take and receive my liberty,
my memory, my understanding and will,
All that I am and have He has given me

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference

Living one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it

Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to his will
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy in the next. AMEN

The newest home of my thoughts

This is the newest home of my thoughts outside my brain. You know, it actually works; the same way Chess is as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you can find outside an advertising agency.
Let us just say here is where you will find thoughts on a diverse range of subjects as God allows in his once-green-now-not-so-green earth.
Welcome and do leave comments on the posts you find here. They keep me sane, like for real. Even the negative ones.