TO END CLASHES IN NEP, BRING BACK OUR SALAH

Many hailed President Kenyatta’s recent ambassadorial appointments as representative of the Kenyan face. However, the fate of two of the most hard working and diligent ambassadors, I know of, was hanging in the balance. I pray the president has a better plan for them. Wait a minute; I have a better plan for one of them. The former ambassadors of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Mahat and Salah Mohamed, were replaced but there was no mention of their next destination. I hold no brief for either of them and I know it is the prerogative of the president to appoint anyone but anyone who has been to these two countries will attest that they are great people’s servants.

Salah is a legend in Northern Kenya. He single-handedly ended the shifta menace and the constant inter-clan clashes in NEP when he was the provincial commissioner. He was able to bring peace to the region thanks to his unique management style and his grasp of the local culture and politics. He refused to be drawn in to local politics and clan rivalry and dispensed his duties justly. He accomplished all these in a short tenure of about 3 years.

GAZA FORGIVE US, OUR SILENCE IS KILLING YOU.

Forgive us for we are not humans but puppets;

Forgive us for believing Israel has the right to self defense but you don’t have the right to life and your land. We believed Israel cannot tolerate rockets fired in to its territory but you can tolerate decades of occupation and dehumanization. We believed you brought this upon yourself by firing rockets at Israel while ignoring that you are an occupied and besieged people.

Forgive us for believing Israel is a civilized state that does not target civilians but you are barbaric for firing rockets at civilians in Israel. Israelis are dying by the day from these rockets. We believed Hamas is using you as human shields hence the civilian deaths. Blame it on Hamas. The four young boys playing football on the beach whose bodies were shredded in to pieces by Israeli navy fire were being used by Hamas as human shields.

Forgive us for believing Israel is bombing tunnels used by Hamas for smuggling while it is actually bombing water pipes that supply you with that precious commodity of life. We believed Israel is bombing weapons manufacturing factories to save the world from your lethal weapons while it is actually bombing your only source of light and electricity;  the power plant.

Forgive us for believing Israel has the most precise weapons that only affect the targeted terrorists hide outs while it bombs indiscriminately targeting hospitals, schools, mosques and homes for people with disabilities. We assumed the injured and the dead were firing rockets at Israel from their death beds. We believed Israel has the right to kill an 11 month child because he will grow to be a terrorist. We were told the plan is to nip in the bud all terrorists.

Letter from Gaza by a Norwegian doctor

Dr Mads Frederick Gilbert (centre) at Al-Shifa hospital on July 17th, treating a wounded Palestinian child, after an Israeli air strike killed 4 children and wounded 5 others - See more at: http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/12920-letter-from-gaza-by-a-norwegian-doctor#sthash.mnue6AQE.mgBd53tB.dpuf

Dr Mads Frederick Gilbert (centre) at Al-Shifa hospital on July 17th, treating a wounded Palestinian child, after an Israeli air strike killed 4 children and wounded 5 others - See more at: http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/12920-letter-from-gaza-by-a-norwegian-doctor#sthash.mnue6AQE.mgBd53tB.dpuf

Dearest friends -
The last night was extreme. The "ground invasion" of Gaza resulted in scores and carloads with maimed, torn apart, bleeding, shivering, dying - all sorts of injured Palestinians, all ages, all civilians, all innocent.
The heroes in the ambulances and in all of Gaza's hospitals are working 12-24hrs shifts, grey from fatigue and inhuman workloads (without payment all in Shifa for the last 4 months), they care, triage, try to understand the incomprehensible chaos of bodies, sizes, limbs, walking, not walking, breathing, not breathing, bleeding, not bleeding humans. HUMANS! 
Now, once more treated like animals by "the most moral army in the world" (sic!).
My respect for the wounded is endless, in their contained determination in the midst of pain, agony and shock; my admiration for the staff and volunteers is endless, my closeness to the Palestinian "sumud" gives me strength, although in glimpses I just want to scream, hold someone tight, cry, smell the skin and hair of the warm child, covered in blood, protect ourselves in an endless embrace - but we cannot afford that, nor can they.

THE CURRENT ISRAELIS ARE NO VICTIMS BUT PERPETRATORS OF A HOLOCAUST.

They started it. That is the justification always used by Israel to bombard Gaza and the Palestinians. They use it to indiscriminately kill civilians and flatten their homes. They have turned Gaza in to a concentration camp. They have turned it in to the Warsaw of our times. Ironically, it is the same justifications used by the Nazis to kill civilian Jews. The current Israelis continue to use the sufferings of their forefathers to play the victims while committing genocide. Let us dissect this conflict together.

Palestine land historically belonged to Israelis?

For argument sake Yes,  but that was Jesus (Pbuh) time; 2000 years ago when the children of Israel (Jacob) were the main race in the world. They should also occupy Egypt since it belonged to the Jews during Moses (pbuh) and pharaoh time. If we are to apply that argument, majority of Kenyans have to leave Kenya for whoever occupied this land before the Bantus migrated from the Congo forest or before the Nilotes migrated from the Bahrel Ghazal. The Bantus should go and invade DR Congo since their ancestors lived there few hundred years ago. The Americans have no basis of claiming America as their homeland. It belongs to the red Indians. The argument used by Israel to continuously annex Palestinian land is devoid of any logic. The Jews migrated to Europe in search of a better life and the world has since changed.

WE HAVE ALL CROSSED THE RED LINE.

Sometimes back while attending an event I heard a moral story that I believe holds true. The story goes that When God created the world he promised to be fair to all nations. He gave the Arabs very harsh environments. They live in deserts with little or no rain. Their land is not arable and therefore cannot farm. But God in His wisdom gave them the black gold i.e. oil. For a moment think of Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Brunei without oil. European nations also suffer from extreme climate conditions and infertile lands but He gave them very hardworking populace. When God created Kenya, other nations protested that it was not fair for Kenya to have a very conducive climate, very fertile lands and a very hardworking citizenry. God replied “you think so? Wait and see the kind of leadership I would give them”

How I learnt to cook Ugali

Life is not all that serious. So today I want to talk about how I acquired a life skill and mentored so many afterwards. The story may have lessons here and there, especially on how we can co-exist regardless of where we come from, but it is purely for the read.

For starters, ugali is a rarity in Somali households. Kenyan staple food it may be but Somalis cook it only once in a blue moon. It is never cooked when visitors are around. When it is on the menu, those who don’t like it are informed well in advance so that they make arrangements for an alternative meal.

Personally, I have been eating Ugali as long as I can remember. It literally flows in my blood. I went through boarding schools both in primary and high school where ugali was a daily affair. In high school, ugali nights were my favorite. At least you get to fill your stomach with something heavy. Murrum (Githeri) and quarter Maji (quarter bread and cabbage soup) were in such small portions that they were just meant to keep soul and body together. Though my favorite, I never bothered to know how it is prepared.

I reported to the University of Nairobi as a fresher on a Monday morning. On that first day, I picked the key to my hostel room and disappeared for a week. When I came back with my luggage, I found someone in the room. I quickly scanned the room and realized there was only one bed. I remembered there were two beds on the first day. I inquired from the guy where his roommate was. He said he was alone. I told him, “I am the one”. I asked him in an authoritative voice, “Where is the other bed?” he told me it is under there, pointing to his bed. He immediately assisted me in retrieving and assembling it. On his own admission, he contemplated asking for a change of room because he was scared of living with me. within the first day, the initial mistrust dissipated and we became close friends. We were roommates for two years and neighbors even after we moved to single rooms in third and fourth years. I introduce this guy because he plays in the story the same role that won Lupita the Oscar Awards; Supporting actor.

PLEASE, JAIL THEM ALL.

There is a simmering diplomatic row between Kenya and the government of Somalia (it is a misnomer to refer to the existing administration in Somalia as a government but let us use it for lack of a better word). The feud is about a consul arrested by the police in the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants. He was arrested from the leafy suburb of Lavington. In protest, the Somali government has recalled its ambassador to Kenya for “consultations”. This is a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you.

Mark you; this is a government that did not even bat an eye lid for the hundreds of its citizens in concentration camps in Kasarani under deplorable conditions. It has not shown any concern for the millions of its poor citizens living in refugee camps all over the world. It has no concern for the thousands internally displaced within Somalia. In fact if the quotes alluded to some officials from the Somali embassy in Kenya is anything to go by, they explicitly support the detainment and harassment of Somali nationals living in Kenya.

You may ask why on earth the administration in Somalia is so emphatic in souring relationship with Kenya on the grounds of one consul official. It is elitism. They are protecting their turf. They know if they allow it to happen to one of them, anyone of them could be next. The rights of one elite member of the society supersedes the rights of millions of the down trodden. Mnyonge hana haki (the weak have no rights).

#Kenya I am not a terrorist

REFUGEES, TOO, HAVE RIGHTS

By Ahmedsiyat Dees
We will accommodate our brothers and sisters across the boarders as long as they are refugees, as long as Kenya is a signatory to international conventions on refugees, be they Somalis, Ethiopians, Sudanese or Congolese. Once you accepted to have them here, you must also accept their right or freedom of movement. Dadaab is less than 100 Kilometers From Garissa. it would be strange NOT to find refugees in Garissa town or people from the host community in the camp. My father's camels used to graze in this place called "ramaguda" the current hagardheer area. Its natural for people to interact and look for better opportunities. The refugees in Nairobi's Eastleigh did not "germinate" and "grow" in eastleigh" like a tree, they came by buses and planes, through police and immigration checks... Yes we are together against terror and insecurity but we can't be together in dehumanizing a particular ethnic group.
The Somali ambassador to Kenya, yes, that one with a funny name (something somebody Americo) says that they took some 82 Somali immigrants back to Mogadishu!! I am told among the "immigrants" is one mentally challenged gentleman (regular beggar at jamia mosque) in Nairobi who was affected by what happened to his people in wagala 30 years ago.

'Mentally ill Kenyan' deported to Somalia

A man who is allegedly mentally ill is among the 82 illegal immigrants deported to Mogadishu on Tuesday. Abdirahman Abdi was allegedly among the deportees to the Somalia capital, following a crackdown in Nairobi's Eastleigh estate.According to his aunt Halima Abdi Ali, Abdirahim who used to run a laundry business along University Way near Central police station in the early 2000s before he development mental problems, was reportedly arrested by the police in 4th street and taken to Pangani police station.He was held for days and later taken to the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium for screening.Halima said Abdirahman is a Kenyan from Wajir."His parents passed away long ago. His external family are in Wajir. He never had any documents. He probably lost them," said Halima who lives on Kirinyaga road, near Coast bus station.Abdirahman is also known by many in Nairobi's Jamia mosque where he normally asked for hand-outs. Salim Ibrahim, former administrator of the mosque said he has known Abdirahman for many years.

26Yrs Award Winning Kenyan Chicken Farmer Lands Lifetime Chance to Meet Obama

When 26-year-old James Makini founded the One Hen Project five years ago, he had no idea it would open doors for him to meet US President Barack Obama.
Now he has been selected among 500 people set to meet President Obama in the Young African Leaders Summit in August this year .
The fellowship designed to help the next crop of business leaders includes six weeks of training at a US university then followed by the summit which Mr. Obama will personally host for three days.

James Makini

“I am excited that the simple business is changing lives and has now been recognized by Obama’s fellowship,” Makini said on receiving news of the fellowship. “I am looking forward to a chat with the US President,” he added.
Mr. Makini who set up the social enterprise in 2010 has expanded its operations from the original Kisii are to Nyamira, and Narok and hopes to extend the reach to 10 counties by the end of next year.
His project has already impacted 20,000 households in setting up poultry rearing ventures or indigenous chicken.

Courtesy: The standard.

Congrats James.While most of us who met him in campus went for white collar jobs, this guy and a friend of his went for the route less taken and its paying off.

Tana River Senator Hon: Ali Abdi bule And Security Officers - Drama @ Ea...

May be the police thought the senator was masquerading since he does not look like the typical Kenyan politician (a fat cat)

Somalis: The Kenya police cash cow.

A story is told of two Somali women who visited Kijabe hospital for medical treatment. At the gate, they met a watchman who was dressed in uniform. They underwent the usual security check up and proceeded to finish their business in the hospital. As they were waiting to start their journey back home, the watchman approached them and asked “mama ni saa ngapi? (Mum, what is the time?). One of the women opened her purse and handed him kshs 500 note. The watchman was delightedly surprised. He then said,” asante sana mama, lakini nilikuwa nataka kujua ni saa ngapi?”(Thank you mum, but I was asking about the time). The women looked at each other and concluded that he was not satisfied with the amount already given. They added him another kshs 1000. The watchman just walked away surprised at the women’s generosity. Unbeknown to him, the women were refugees from the camps who had come to Nairobi through a UNCHR program. They thought he was a police officer asking for a bribe.

PHOTO-SPEAK

4 year old Marwan who was separated from his family in Syria was found by UN Staff wandering in the Jordanian desert. He crossed the border carrying a paper bag containing some of his possessions.

With the youth in Mombasa, the government is putting out fire with petrol

The violence that rocked Mombasa in the last two days is very perturbing. The death, destruction and the desecration of places of worship witnessed yesterday will just inflame an already bad situation. it is very indicative of a leadership vacuum in the Muslim population and a government that does not know the head from the tail of the situation its dealing with. The youth themselves are not totally blameless but putting all the blame on them like everyone is doing is hugely missing the point.

I have always believed that the war on terror is terror by itself. It has made the world very unsafe place for all of us.

let me digress. You may have believed that the word terror is synonymous with Islam and Muslims but let me ask you, where were the Muslim terrorists before the 1990's?? Islam existed before 1990, right? if it's a doctrine for them to be violent how comes they were not following what their religion teaches before 1990? before 1990, the United States believed the former USSR with its Communism posed the biggest threat to its capitalism. The KGB and the Russian mafia were the terrorists. The US armed the Afghan Mujahidin, including Osama, to defeat Russia. Upon the downfall of the Soviet Union, the US turned its guns against the next potential threat to its domination of the world; Muslims. Why are the Muslims a threat, you may ask. First of all Islam prohibits interest in all its forms. Interest is the bedrock of capitalism. It ensures the poor remain poor while the rich dominate and subjugate them. Secondly, Islam provides a complete system of governance that is independent of all other systems. Its this system that the west fears. Say you want to be governed with the Islamic sharia and you automatically become a terrorist in the eyes of Uncle Sam.