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.