Neil DeGrasse Tyson Responds to Critics of His Controversial Christmas Comments

The famed scientist was attacked for statements that were seen as belittling the holiday and Christian beliefs

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson isn’t building bridges between science and religion during the holiday season.
The famed scientist is under fire for making statements his critics said belittled Christmas and shows a lack of respect for Christians, which included a tweet that recognized the birthday of revolutionary physicist and mathematician, Isaac Newton, on Christmas day.

Also Read: ‘Interstellar’ Gets Reviewed by Neil deGrasse Tyson: No Film Opinions Just Scientific Rights or Wrongs

“On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec 25, 1642,” deGrasse tweeted, among other statements.
On Saturday, deGrasse decided to address the controversy and what he’s referred to as his “most retweeted tweet.”
“My sense in this case is that the high rate of re-tweeting, is not to share my enthusiasm of this fact, but is driven by accusations that the tweet is somehow anti-Christian,” he wrote on Facebook. “If a person actually wanted to express anti-Christian sentiment, my guess is that alerting people of Isaac Newton’s birthday would appear nowhere on the list.”
CLICK

Okundi, Jakakimba PROTEST use of PUBLIC RESOURCES to campaign for ODM’s Moses Kajwang’ in Homa Bay

Homa Bay senate hopefuls Philip Okundi and Silas Jakakimba are planning to launch a complain with IEBC in what they termed as use of county public resources to campaign for ODM candidate Moses Kajwang’. On Sunday 28th December 2015 Col Rasanga governor of the great county of Siaya joined the Moses Kajwang’ campaigns riding his official four wheel car.
Okundi termed it hypocrisy of highest order for ODM governors to use public resources to campaign for candidates in by-elections. ”In ODM we have been condemning our opponents against use of public resources but now we have turned 180 degrees where the use of public resources is a norm, we urge the party leader to stop this madness” added an Okundi top aide.
When reached for comment Team Jakakimba only offered a light comment thus” they are deploying all resources to fight mtu mdogo, we think team Kajwang’ is in panic mood.”
But later candidate Jakakimba who is well versed with matters Law and governance offered this statement that was also copied to other candidates Hon Engineer Philip Okundi and Hon Hilary Alila

Kenya Chinua Achebe’s prophesy in ‘A Man of the People’ comes to pass

Your are here » Home » Kenya Chinua Achebe’s prophesy in ‘A Man of the People’ comes to pass here By Jennifer Muchiri Updated Saturday, December 27th 2014 at 00:00 GMT +3

Last week, Kenyans were treated to an entertaining circus when our honourable Members of Parliament ended the year in style. Many Kenyans were shocked at the display of violence, dishonour, shame and crassness exhibited by people’s representatives in the august House. However, I was neither surprised nor shocked at the behaviour of our so-called leaders; they did not do anything out of the ordinary. What we saw on that memorable Thursday is really the stuff politicians are made of and any show of surprise or shock on our part would reveal that we are either naïve or duplicitous. Our political leaders often behave in a revolting manner but their actions in Parliament last week only served to bring to pass Chinua Achebe’s prophesy in A Man of the People (Heinemann, 1966). I suggest we read, or reread, A Man of the People to enable us see the kind of characters who represent us in the National Assembly and Senate and understand why we should not be shocked. Derisive laughter Achebe’s A Man of the People is a satirical novel in which Odili, a young university graduate, tells the story of his relationship with Chief Nanga, a Member of Parliament and minister in the government. Nanga is a corrupt, reckless, promiscuous and selfish politician representative of the African political class. Odili is an idealistic young man who greatly desires to see change in his country. Unfortunately, his contact with Nanga threatens to transform him into a Nanga, demonstrating how greed for power and wealth can easily change hitherto insightful people into vile beings. The scene in parliament during the reading of the Security Bill last week reminds one of a scene in A Man of the People when members of parliament shout down the Minister for Finance as he tries to propose a plan to deal with a slump in the coffee market. The Prime Minister, not wanting to risk losing the next election by reducing the amount of money paid to coffee farmers has ordered the National Bank, the equivalent of Kenya’s Central Bank, to print 15 million pounds. The Minister of Finance is opposed to the idea and he and his team are accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Members of Parliament allied to the Prime Minister gang up to persecute the Finance minister and his team as they unanimously pass a vote of no confidence in him in parliament. What happened in Kenya’s parliament last week is similar to the scene in the novel where members shout themselves hoarse and the narrator’s reference to the members, led by Nanga, as “a pack of hounds” aptly captures how the Kenyan parliamentarians behaved on that day – like animals. Odili describes Nanga thus: “Perspiration poured down his face as he sprang up to interrupt or sat back to share in the derisive laughter of the hungry hyenas.” Indeed, only animal imagery can suitably illustrate the scenes witnessed in Parliament last week. Unfortunately, while the parliamentarians in the novel are opposing a good proposal, one that would help the country, our leaders were fighting to protect a bill which is not well thought through and about which there has not been sufficient consultation. This is not to say that those who were opposed to the bill are not culpable – they too participated in the shameless display instead of seeking a sensible way of airing their opinion. Achebe may have been writing fiction but what we witnessed last week in Kenya was real. Kenya’s political class is resplendent with Nangas – individuals who do not know the meaning of the words honour, propriety or respect. How do you explain the exchange of blows in the august House? What happened to sobriety and pride among elected representatives of the people? Parliament is supposed to make and pass laws, not through violence and chest thumping but through respectful debate. Leadership is not about coercing or beating one’s opponents but about convincing them of the validity of one’s opinions. Unfortunately, none of our lawmakers, both in government and in the opposition, has displayed such leadership. How can we be convinced about the soundness of a law that was passed in circumstances of violence; with the speaker of the national assembly surrounded by ‘bodyguards;’ with members of parliament literally standing on the floor of the House? How can we trust the opposition to keep government in check when they too chose to express their displeasure through violence? Eat-and-let-eat regime How will the young ones in this country, our Odilis, learn to be respectful when their leaders treat them to such exposes? A senator had his pair of trousers torn and we were exposed to his nakedness; isn’t it taboo for one to see their father’s or grandfather’s nakedness? Another character in the circus had his finger bitten; do we have vampires in parliament?

Perhaps the civil society was right when they dropped some blood licking pigs outside parliament some months back—the metaphor was quite appropriate. This country is surely headed for doom since, just like Odili learns ill manners from Nanga in the novel, the youth in Kenya are daily imbibing lessons in delinquency from our leaders. The younger members of parliament have quickly learnt the ropes and their shameful conduct is even ‘better’ than that of their older colleagues. Achebe does not place blame squarely on leaders but the media and the masses as well. Kenyans voted for the characters misbehaving in Parliament. We often trade insults, fight and even kill one another on behalf of our representatives. How then can we turn around and pretend to be shocked at their behaviour? Aren’t they just displaying, at the national level, the rot in our society? Kenyan voters have often been known to vote for the man or woman who dishes out the most money or who makes the most noise regardless of the person’s integrity. We should, therefore, not be shocked when the same person reveals their disgusting self in the very space where they are supposed to make laws and maintain order. The media, just like in Achebe’s novel, has totally forgotten its role and taken sides in the debacle that is Kenya’s leadership. Instead of unpacking and systematically discussing matters of national importance, and therefore informing and educating the people, the Kenyan media only reports what is going on. The fourth estate has let down the citizens of this country and it stands accused of being an accessory to the anarchy that has besieged Kenya. What this country needs, just as happens in Achebe’s novel, is change but it will not come by way of our political leaders – they are too greedy to want any meaningful change because the chaos provides fertile ground for them to eat. What we have is an “eat-and-let-eat” (even if it is fingers) regime. We need a complete overhaul not just of the political class but of our national psyche as well. May this need become our collective desire as we move into the new year. The writer teaches Literature at the University of Nairobi. jennifer.muchiri@uonbi.ac.ke

CLICK 

Mudavadi warns Jubilee against 'abusing' its tyranny of numbers

By Eric lungai

Amani Coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi has warned the Jubilee government against using its numbers in Parliament to enact unconstitutional laws.
Mudavadi said the Government has failed to consult Kenyans on matters relating to country’s future such as security and devolution. He tore into Jubilee administration for abusing its majority to approve draconian laws.
“The Constitution says we must have a participatory process in making laws that will touch on the good of all Kenyans. What the Jubilee administration did recently while passing the security laws was not constitutional,” said Mudavadi.
He spoke Friday at Mbale grounds during the Maragoli cultural festival, that was attended by area Governor Moses Akaranga, MPs Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Charles Gimose (Hamisi), Alfred Agoi (Sabatia), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), and Dan Wanyama (Webuye west) among other leaders. The festival attracted hundreds of residents from the region for the 34th celebrations.
Another amendment
He said the laws being made now are for Kenyans and not just for the government of the day.  Mudavadi noted that although the fight against terrorism should be escalated by the government, there were correct procedures which if well followed, could yield better results.

See Also: CORD plans to re-energise referendum push

“What we witnessed in Parliament the other day as the MPs fought each other and the Bill was passed hastily in confusion, is not the correct way for the country to go. We need to follow what the Constitution says. This includes consultation with the people on important matters,” he said.
He noted that there was still room for MPs to amend the law assented to by President Uhuru Kenyatta last Friday adding that he would rally leaders to make the amendments.
During the Maragoli Cultural Festival, calls for unity of the region dominated with emphasis on forgotten cultural practices.
“Many hotels at the coast were closed because of insecurity and many people are losing their jobs every day. We need to make our cultures attractable to others so that our people can also benefit,” Agoi said adding that centres of cultural excellence should be constructed in the region to help preserve culture.
Akaranga said the county had set aside some Sh17 million to start several cultural centres in the county.

The travel entrepreneur

Christine Ouko believes that entrepreneurs are born, not made. She always had an eye for business

Christine Ouko believes that entrepreneurs are born, not made. She always had an eye for business and as a teenager, she braided people’s hair for a small fee during weekends.

However, Christine’s entry into the world of entrepreneurship came after she was abruptly fired after 15 years in employment.

Though she had always dreamt of owning a big business, she first went into employment after a short business course to help her mother raise her four younger siblings after their father passed on.

She was working as a personal assistant to a director of a regional company when she got fired.

“I had one child, had lost two children and was pregnant with twins at the time. When he fired me, my boss said it seemed like my work was to just give birth to babies,” she recalls.

Failed attempts

She left with only that month’s salary and no plan. She had her twins and when they were about five months old, a friend invited her on a paid trip to Egypt.

She’d heard that there were good quality products in Cairo and seeing it as her first business opportunity, she borrowed some cash from her husband to buy duvets, towels and kitchenware.

She hadn’t done any market research and only realised her mistake when she got back and saw that she’d bought things that most people did not need.

Then, when she sold, it was mostly to friends, half of whom ended up not paying.

A year later, in 2009, she noticed that commercial buildings were coming up at a fast rate in her Westlands neighbourhood in Nairobi.

She began approaching the managers of these buildings and started supplying juice and snacks to the occupants. By 2010, her catering business was receiving orders from schools.

“I thought I had nailed it. That I had finally succeeded in starting a successful business.”

As the business grew, it was becoming increasingly difficult to balance it with being a wife and a mother of four young children.

ADVERTISEMENT

She decided to hire an extra pair of hands and was lucky to find a chef. Six months in, he left to start his own business, taking all her clients with him.

Shocked and hurt, Christine closed shop. She was, however, still hopeful and when she was told about a couple who were looking for a partner so that they could buy a travel agency a few months later, she jumped at the opportunity never mind that she knew nothing about the travel industry.

“I invested all the money I had left over from my catering business. I was the travel director at this new company and it was exciting learning all these new interesting things,” she recalls.

All was well for a year. As fate would have it, her partners who had been in the industry for decades longer began taking advantage of her ignorance. Soon, the company was losing money and running overdrafts. She knew she had to get out and she began creating an exit plan.

“I have a way with people and I had accumulated my own list of clients. I also realised that I was passionate about the travel industry. What if I could start my own travel company?”

She imagined that if she hesitated, she’d change her mind so she pulled out of the partnership and registered her Global Business Travel Management in 2012.

While it was freeing to work alone, she was still relatively new in the industry so she joined networking groups, among them OWIT (Organisation of Women in International Trade), where she met women who have walked the path before her to mentor her.

“It isn’t all work. We also have social events where we meet, let our hair down and just share our experiences as women.”

Biggest hurdle

It has been two years since her business took off and she shares that it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

Her biggest hurdle has been the insecurity in the country (especially earlier in the year) which affected the travel and tourism industry.

She was able to get through these periods by scaling down on business expenditure.

Apart from organising holidays and other trips, her company has ventured into medical tourism which is timely now that hundreds of patients are seeking medical treatment outside the country each year.

“It hasn’t been easy but it is worth it. I get to spend enough time with my children and I am making the kind of money that I could only dream about seven years ago.”

China roads contractor marks 30 years in Kenya

State-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has marked 30 years of presence in Kenya.

State-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has marked 30 years of presence in Kenya.

CRBC managing director Kenya, Mr Li Qiang said that the company has made great impact in the infrastructural landscape in the country.

The company, which is now embarking on construction of Sh327 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) between Mombasa and Nairobi has also undertaken 23 road projects with a total mileage of 1,200 kilometres and two port projects.

“We have made both economic and social impact. CRBC has created jobs to thousands of Kenyans some of who have served as long as we have been in the country. The current SGR project will hire 30,000 Kenyans. We have also engaged in corporate social responsibility projects in Turkana, Kibera among other places.’’ Mr Qiang said during the celebrations.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

The company also honoured 98 employees that have been working with CRBC for between 10 and 28 years. This was also the company’s third ‘Long Service Staff Award Ceremony’- an annual event started in 2010 to recognise and appreciate long-serving employees.

Recent projects that the company has completed include Nairobi Northeast Bypass Road and Berth 19 at Mombasa port.

FIRST URBAN RING ROAD
The company is currently constructing the Southern Bypass in Nairobi that is scheduled for completion in 2015. The 28.6-kilometre road will be the first urban ring road in Nairobi.

CRBC has over 50 branches and offices in over 50 countries distributed around Asia, Africa, Europe and US.

Mary Atieno Ominde

By Caroline Nyanga
26.12.2014

For a woman who commands huge admiration, Kenyan pioneer gospel singer Mary Atieno Ominde comes across as down to earth.
The gospel music singer displays lots of confidence but little sign of the hubris associated with artistes in the big league. Looking fit and relaxed, she has proved beyond reasonable doubt that disability is not inability.
The singer, who is blind, has weathered the gospel scene for over three decades. The wife, mother and pastor is credited for being among few artistes who have gradually redefined Kenya's gospel music scene at a time when many thought it was dead.
"Every time I come across my Kenyan fans, this question," she says. The question? What happened to Mary Atieno - the once popular gospel singer whose songs Adamu na Eva and Sodom na Gomora, among others, dominated the gospel music scene more than two decades ago?
Mary says it was not easy back then to succeed as a woman and as a blind person at a time when music was considered a male affair. "I did so through God's grace and still continue to do so," she says.
To date with more than 13 albums under her cap, she is busy working on her latest projects.
Unlike in the past when music production wasn't such a difficult task, considering the wide use of cassettes, today things seem to have changed to a complex situation with advanced technology involved, meaning one has to spend more money to come up with the right product.
But that is not the sole reason for her 'silence'. Those who have been keenly following her music will agree that she has continuously maintained her standards as far as gospel music goes.
"On the other hand, my husband and I have been busy touring local towns including other countries to evangelise, sing and preach the gospel," she says.
They also run a worship centre, Sanctuary of Hope, Kayole established in 2001 where many faithful go in for prayers, ministry, counselling and Bible study.
Mary says growing up in Kirengo village, Karungu in Nyatike District, Nyanza, life not easy. She is the first born in a family of nine. Her father Francis Yara worked as a headmaster in various schools in Nyanza. He had two wives - her biological mother Polina Ajwang, a housewife and a mother of nine having lost one child, and her step mother Rachael Akello, then a teacher also lost a child reducing the number to seven.
"When I was born, at first, everything about me seemed normal. My parents had no idea what would befall me in the few months to come. It was not until I was five months old that they realised I was blind. Like many concerned Kenyan parents, they did their best to ensure that I would be able to see again by taking me to various medical institutions, including the then famous King George VI Hospital (now Kenyatta National Hospital) in vain."
But, this did not mean the end of the road for the singer.
At the time schooling for girls was not taken seriously by the society who believed that educating a girl was like watering someone else's field. Unlike many girls who never went to school, she had the opportunity to attend Asumbi Mission School, sponsored by the Catholic Church, before moving to St Oda's Aluor Girls School for the Blind where she was part of a choir called Dodo.
She later moved to Thika Salvation Army High School for the Blind (currently integrated) that comprised the blind and normal students of both sexes.
In 1978, at the age of 17, she was diagnosed with heart disease. Although she was generally a strong and active child, several tests showed she would not live into adulthood. When doctors became sceptical about her chances of surviving the ailment, Atieno sought refuge in Jesus.
"I turned to prayer. I knew God created me and it was only him who could heal me," says Mary. "I prayed. I promised God that if I got healed, I would serve Him for the rest of my life. He answered my prayer. When I went for another test, there was no problem at all with my heart. Subsequent tests have shown my heart is healthy," she says. The then teenager got saved and started singing.
During her free time, away from school, she would venture into singing with renowned singer Reuben Kigame.
Back at school, she led the Starlight Choir (comprising 30 students from Form One to Six) in participating within and outside school during major events and State functions.
"One such major event is when the then President Daniel Arap Moi invited us to sing for him. Some of our self-composed patriotic songs like 'Kenya Twaipenda' and 'Furahini Wakenya' became instant hits among a large section of Kenyans besides being accorded immense airplay on radio and the main local television station (VOK ) now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation," she says.
She then joined Kenyatta University as a Bachelor of Education student and carried on with her passion for music.
"I would often compose patriotic songs, besides leading the campus choir into various public and state functions. At some point, Moi bought us uniforms having been impressed with our performance," Mary narrates.
But despite her success, all was not well with her social life. Unlike other lower education institutions where students readily assisted her, on campus she lacked a true companion.
The fact that she had her own room made matters worse. This meant that most times she would end up knocking at her fellow students' doors whenever she needed their assistance, which came sooner or later depending on nature of the problem.
Upon graduation, she joined the International Fellowship of Christ ( IFC) choir that saw her release the evergreen gospel chart-busters like 'Adamu na Eva', 'Sodoma na Gomora' and 'Hakuna Mungu Mwingine' that held top positions for a period of two years in a row.
In 2004, she dropped another album 'Njooni Tumsifu' that was equally well-received propelling her to a higher level in her music career.
She says the secret of her music lies in having a good and right plan before releasing a song besides taking time to read the Bible for more wisdom. "This enables me to minister to people through my songs hence reaching out to the unreachable out there."
Unlike most fellow musicians whose songs tend to excite people emotionally, she has maintained her style of music which is scriptural and aims at touching the soul with its lasting messages.
"I produce and record my own songs at various studios. This is a plus for me," she says.
Unlike fellow gospel artistes known to work with secular artistes, she hardly does so considering the nature and style of her songs which many of them may find difficult to adjust to.
"Nevertheless, I always remind them the importance of accepting Christ as their personal saviour if they hope to prosper spiritually, physically and emotionally," she says.
Renowned teacher
Mary began her teaching career in 1998 at Buruburu Girls Secondary School. As an English and Literature teacher she taught Form Three and Four students.
"I recall being too conscious and afraid on my first day at the school."
She says the fact that she had to be assisted in many ways, including going to the toilet, did not make it easier. Being led to the staffroom, among other things, made her feel like a burden to fellow teachers.
On the other hand, she wasn't too sure how the students (boys and girls) would react to being taught by a blind person.
"Would they make fun of me or concentrate on doing other things during my lesson since I would not see them?"
However, to her surprise, everything worked out well – both the students and teachers were very friendly and supportive making her work much easier than she had imagined.
The only challenge though was that she had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was good at her work. "This meant that I had to work harder than the average person in order to avoid perceived as inferior - or unable. The fact that I hated sympathy made me a stronger human being with a mission to encourage the visually impaired lot by letting them know that they are no lesser human beings: Job 39:13-18 (talks about the eagle and its capabilities.)"
Mary's principle has always been to live life to the fullest. According to her, one should not lose hope in life simply because he or she is disabled or when they are going through a difficult the situation. For with God nothing is impossible so long as one has got faith.
Her music has seen her tour the world. Some of the countries include Uganda, Tanzania, Congo, Britain, including various states in the US.
Some of my albums include 'Sodom na Gomora', 'Jerusalem Mpya', 'Nirudieni', 'Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe', 'Usiogope', 'Yesu ni Jawabu', 'Nimeokoka', 'Nani kama Yesu', 'Usife Moyo', among others.
"I have finished writing ten songs and I am ready to go to the studio any time. Two songs are in Luo, seven in Kiswahili and one in English," says Mary, who won the 2012 Groove Award for Oustanding Contributor.
Her latest album, 'Njooni Tumsifu', confirmed to her many fans that her magnificent voice still rings as clear as it did when they first heard it.

CLICK

Senators recalled to discuss terror laws

Posted  Friday, December 26, 2014 |  by- JEREMIAH KIPLANG'AT

The passage of the security laws sets the stage for another round of supremacy battle between the

The Senate will hold a special sitting on Tuesday afternoon to deliberate on the manner MPs passed the controversial security laws, which President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to last week.

The lawmakers will, during the sitting called by Speaker Ekwee Ethuro, specifically discuss their exclusion in the passage of the law.  

The senators, who are on holiday, will try to find a common position on the contentious piece of legislation passed acrimoniously in the National Assembly.

Senators and MPs have been at loggerheads for the better part of this year over the manner Bills are passed in the National Assembly without involving the Senate.

The passage of the security laws sets the stage for another round of supremacy battle between the two Houses.

REQUESTED BY WETANG'ULA

Senators, mostly from the Opposition, have faulted the passage of the Bill, saying the Senate should have been involved because it touched on counties. Their Jubilee counterparts have been largely silent.
The Speaker recalled the lawmakers in a Special Gazette Notice dated December 23. Mr Ethuro on Friday confirmed the sitting saying it had been requested by Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula.

“We have only one agenda. To deliberate on the security laws. The sitting will be on Tuesday afternoon,” he said.

Mr Wetang’ula led a group of senators who vehemently opposed the Security Laws (Amendment) Act. It is expected that the Opposition senators will question why the House was not involved in the passage of the Bill.

Article 110 (3) of the Constitution requires the Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate to discuss Bills before being tabled in either Houses.

The purpose is to determine if a Bill concerns counties or whether it is an ordinary Bill.  However, this has rarely happened putting the two Houses on collision course.

KINDIKI WRITES TO UHURU

Recently, Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki wrote to President Kenyatta asking him not to assent to the Mining Bill claiming that the House had not been involved yet the proposed law had provisions touching on counties.

Mr Justice Isaac Lenaola on Wednesday granted the government five days to respond to a petition by Cord and another by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) challenging the new laws.

KNCHR and Cord argue that the Act is unconstitutional since it lacked public participation, failure to engage the Senate despite the Bill touching on county governments and MPs engaged in shameful conduct while passing the laws, thus, violating parliamentary standing orders. Cord and the rights body want the implementation of the law suspended.

Friday, December 26, 2014 Farewell to a soft-spoken crusader for oral literature, local languages

Writer and publisher Asenath Bole Odaga in her house at Tom Mboya Estate Kisumu during an interview. Before her demise, Asenath was very keen on bringing together East African women writers; she organised numerous workshops towards this effort. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP  

In Summary

• She wrote in Dholuo and her numerous titles cutting across all genres in her ethnic language is an evidence of this.
• Asenath was very ambitious and was a real Kenyan woman; down to earth and passionate about the preservation of African culture.
• Her legacy is about the preservation of the traditional way of life and mobilisation of African women towards that endeavour.
• Asenath was also one of the pioneer women publishers in Kenya — her publishing firm, Lake Publishers, and her bookshop in Kisumu, clearly demonstrates her zeal for literary development.

This is a sad moment for women writers the world over; it is only recently that we lost a woman global literary icon in Maya Angelou and now Asenath Bole Odaga has also joined the land of the departed.

It is with deep sorrow that I write this in honour of my friend and colleague Asenath, whom I have known for many years. What do I know about my sister Asenath?

Asenath was very keen on bringing together East African women writers; she organised numerous workshops towards this effort.

Personally, my memories of her are those of an ever-smiling woman full of jokes. She was very committed to oral literature. She used to encourage people to write in their own native languages and was always emphatic about the vitality of older people writing about their cultural experiences.

AN AMBITIOUS WOMAN

She wrote in Dholuo and her numerous titles cutting across all genres in her ethnic language is an evidence of this.

I remember her noting that some of the expressions in African stories are difficult to translate into any other language; hence foregrounding her commitment to recording our experiences in our own languages.

I vividly remember the meeting we had during a workshop organised by her for East African women writers in Kisumu, held at Sunset Hotel, in 1998.

Asenath was very ambitious and was a real Kenyan woman; down to earth and passionate about the preservation of African culture. She dreamt of how Kenyan women could promote their culture through writing.

What I liked about Asenath was her simplicity; I remember when we once met at the United Kenya Club, where we talked at length concerning the future of East African women writers.

MOBILISING AFRICAN WOMEN

She believed in the older generation leaving a legacy. She noted: “What we know our children do not know and unless we put it in writing, our culture will be lost.” I also had another meeting with Asenath at the Fairview Hotel when we had a guest from overseas and we talked about promoting women writers in Kenya and East Africa.

What we had in common with Asenath, besides being writers, was how to promote elderly women so that they could give more information about their experience on the vanishing culture of the African people by recording what they knew about it.

Her legacy is about the preservation of the traditional way of life and mobilisation of African women towards that endeavour.

Myles Munroe in his book: The Power of Vision, talks about death in a way that emphasises the importance of recording experiences by saying: “If you are buried without recording what you know, you die and get buried with it”.

However, if you put it in print, even when you are dead, somebody will read and benefit from your ideas. This is what I call the power of the pen and Asenath is the best exemplification of that noble truth through her numerous titles.

PIONEER WOMEN PUBLISHER

Asenath was also one of the pioneer women publishers in Kenya — her publishing firm, Lake Publishers, and her bookshop in Kisumu, clearly demonstrates her zeal for literary development.

We met several times to talk about our roles as mothers and grandmothers; what do we tell the next generation and how do we share with them what we know?

Asenath was a soft-spoken person whose word had so much commitment. As long as I am alive, I will keep her ideas burning — to build women writers in Kenya, East Africa and hopefully in the entire Africa.

Asenath also taught at the University of Nairobi in the department of African languages. Her work on the Dholuo-English dictionary has proved to be very useful to linguists who are keen on doing research in African languages.

She also made a strong argument regarding the growth of Kenyan literature and even challenged the notion of literary barrenness in East Africa as espoused by the likes of Prof Taban Lo Liyong.

Asenath was an all round writer with numerous titles across all genres. She was also a dramatist with various productions to her name.

Fare thee well my sister and may the almighty rest your soul in eternal peace.

Lupita Nyong'o pens poem for fans

Posted  Wednesday, December 24, 2014 |  by- BANG SHOWBIZ

Lupita Nyong'o has reflected on her tremendous 2014 and thanked her fans with a poem.

Lupita Nyong'o has thanked her fans with a poem.

The '12 Years a Slave' actress posted a verse on Instagram in which she expressed how much she has enjoyed 2014 and the many accolades - including a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award and being named People's Most Beautiful and Glamour's Woman of the Year - she has received over the last 12 months.

Alongside a picture of a patchwork quilt and the words 'Happy Holidays', she wrote to her million followers: "This year was one of a kind and a kind one to me.

"There was lots to be done and a whole lot to see.

"I had family and friends and colleagues galore.

"Now I have fans, plus a million and four!"

 

 

The 31-year-old beauty went on to thank fans for their social media posts and reassure them she cares though she doesn't have time to reply to their messages.

She continued: " Though I don't answer 'cause time is a-tickin', know that you matter by the posts that I'm pickin'.

"I keep posting 'cause I know that you care, and I care to post

when I know that you're there."

After wishing her fans "peace, love, joy, laughter beams" for the coming year, Lupita concluded her verse with a quote from Doctor Seuss.

She wrote: "If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too."

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 Duty free exports to Europe resume today

 
A florist displays his goods at City Market on September 27, 2013. Kenyan exporters of freshly cut flowers to the European Union will from December 25, 2014 be exempted from paying taxes the Union had been levying on them since October. PHOTO | DENISH OCHIENG |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By AGGREY MUTAMBO
More by this Author

Kenyan exporters of freshly cut flowers to the European Union will from Thursday be exempted from paying taxes the Union had been levying on them since October.

This comes after Kenya was successfully returned to the quota-free and duty-free export regime for European markets for fresh produce.

In a statement released Wednesday, EU Ambassador to Kenya Lodewijk Briët said the changes in the tarrifs policy will take effect this morning (Thursday). Earlier indication was that the rules would take effect in January.

“I am very happy to confirm that, as of Christmas Day, Kenyan goods – cut flowers, fresh produce and much more - will once again enter the European Union market without tariffs or quota limits,” Mr Briët said.

KENYANS TO BENEFIT

“This means the Sh200 billion of Kenya exports that are sold in Europe will remain competitive, and Europe will remain Kenya’s largest export market,” he said.

“This will eventually benefit both Kenyans and the European Union because exporters could save the money that would otherwise be used to pay taxes to improve the quality of produce back here,” the envoy noted.

The EU formally returned Kenya to this status after the European Parliament and the European Council accepted the proposal for the country to be put back under the Market Access regulation.

It comes as a relief to the many exporters whose fresh products to Europe have been subjected to import duties of between 5 per cent and 8.5 per cent since October this year.

DECISION A RELIEF

It was a punishment Kenya faced following delays in finalising an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the East African Community member states.

While the two blocs finally reached an agreement on October 16, it was more than two weeks after the stipulated deadline and the EU had said its implementation will take time.

“This decision is a relief for Kenya’s floriculture sector and for all operators and businesses involved in the floriculture trade in Kenya in view of the approaching peak sale season — Valentine’s Day,” Kenya Flower Council chief executive Jane Ngige and Union Fleurs (an international flower trade association) secretary general Sylvie Mamias said in a joint statement last week.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 US revokes S. Sudan’s Agoa rights

 
US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) addresses the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) meeting on August 4, 2014 during the US-Africa Summit. The United States on Tuesday revoked South Sudan’s eligibility for a US preferential trade programme known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). FILE PHOTO  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By KEVIN J. KELLEY
More by this Author

In Summary

• Two of the requirements are that a country “does not engage in activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests” and “does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”

The United States on Tuesday revoked South Sudan’s eligibility for a US preferential trade programme known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

US President Barack Obama also removed Gambia from the programme and reinstated Guinea-Bissau. All the moves take effect on January 1.

A presidential proclamation announcing the actions did not specify the reasons for declaring South Sudan and the Gambia ineligible for Agoa benefits.
It instead referred to general standards for eligibility included in the law that established Agoa in 2000.

REQUIREMENTS

Two of the requirements are that a country “does not engage in activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests” and “does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”

The US has previously slapped sanctions on four South Sudan military leaders for their roles in a year-long civil war that has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths.

Washington is also drafting a resolution in the United Nations Security Council that would impose international sanctions on South Sudanese found to be impeding settlement of the conflict.

Mr Obama’s action on Gambia appears to be a response to alleged human rights abuses.

Thursday, December 25, 2014 EU welcome endorsement of new Somali PM

 
Somalia's newly appointed Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke gives a speech following his appointment in Mogadishu on December 17, 2014. He was endorsed on December 24, 2014 by Somalia's parliament. PHOTO | AFP PHOTO | MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB   

By NATION REPORTER
More by this Author

Heads of Mission of the European Union in Somalia on Wednesday welcomed the endorsement by the Federal Parliament of Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as Prime Minister.

The EU called for the formation of an inclusive, representative and broad-based Cabinet that should earn the confidence of the Somali people and its partners by delivering against the priorities set out in Vision 2016.

"In the past two years, progress has been made, but with only 20 months left before elections in 2016, the tasks ahead are formidable and will require delivery of results from a committed and accountable leadership. We encourage all the political stakeholders to stand together to keep progress on track," said a statement from the mission.

The heads of mission also said this would offer a credible framework for the EU and other international partners to continue supporting Somalia's recovery and development.
"The EU looks forward to cooperating with the new Government in a spirit of true partnership," read the statement.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 Radio and TV firms ordered to apply for new licences

 

Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang'i during a past press briefing. Radio and television broadcasters operating with permits from the Ministry of Information will be required to seek licences from the Communications Authority of Kenya. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP  

 

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
More by this Author

In Summary

• Those operating radios have been given six months to July 2nd 2015 while their Television counterparts have until January 2016 to comply.
• The regulator is mandated to license all broadcasting service providers in accordance with the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Radio and television broadcasters operating with permits from the Ministry of Information will be required to seek licences from the Communications Authority of Kenya.

Those operating radios have been given six months to July 2nd 2015 while their Television counterparts have until January 2016 to comply.

The new requirement was issued by ICT Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i in a Kenya Gazette notice published Wednesday.

“All holders of television broadcasting permits from the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology are granted further one and half year period effective from 2nd January 2014 during which they are deemed to have continued to operate in accordance with their existing permits,” the CS said in the notice dated December 15th.

PUNISHMENT
Holders of radio permits have another two years from 2nd January 2014 to apply to the Communications Authority of Kenya for licensing.

The regulator is mandated to license all broadcasting service providers in accordance with the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Section 46 C of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 prescribes a fine not exceeding Sh1 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both for any broadcaster operating without a licence.

Kenya has had several television and radio stations licenced since the airwaves were liberated in the mid nineties.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 Retiree turns pension to tortoise farm

 
Mr Jacob Toroitich feeding tortoises at Equator Tortoise Park in Mogotio, Baringo County, on December 3, 2014. The park, off the Nakuru-Baringo Road, is home to one of the oldest tortoises at 316-years-old. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By WANJIRU MACHARIA
More by this Author

Everyone would wish they or a person they love lives long like a tortoise. And true, a tortoise lives long, as confirmed by a private sanctuary in Baringo County.

Equator Tortoise Park off the Nakuru-Baringo Road is home to one of the oldest tortoises at 316-years-old. Named in accordance to their ages, the park has three elderly tortoises dubbed 316, 311 and 277.

There are also hundreds of young ones with the last batch being hardly a year old.

On the main road, there is a big billboard inviting visitors to the park established in 2008, but on getting there, most of the visitors are overwhelmed by the number of the reptiles, albeit in small space.

400 TORTOISES

There were more than 400 adult tortoises lazing around in the one eighth of an acre.

The love of the harmless slow moving reptiles and the realisation that they faced extinction due to human activity and predators in the wild, led Mr Joseph Chesire to use his pension to create sanctuaries for tortoises.

He has created a refuge for the three tortoise species in the country namely, the African leopard, hinge back and the endangered pancake tortoise, at his two sanctuaries in Baringo.

“The three oldest tortoises are in their menopause stage because they have not laid eggs for the last six years they have been at the park,” Mr Chesire said.

Asked how the ages were determined, the former civil servant said that they were calculated by two teams of experts, one from Ghana and the other from Australia. They used a magnifying glass that helped them determine their years via minute scales on their shells.

SMALL CAGE
Tens of the reptiles lie motionless, others moving about and attempting to stray into an un-cleared section of the park, which has been left natural for the laying of eggs, while others surround the watering point.

Mr Chesire explains that those in inertia are hibernating while those trying to jump over to the bushy area of the park are hungry thus searching for grass and weeds.

“They are very smart, they support each other to jump over the half a metre stone wall separating the two sections. They climb on each other and before you know it, most of them are on the other side,” he added.

On the bushy perch is a raised cage with over 253 young tortoises and hatchlings.

The cage is too small to even host three rabbits, but yes, it can hold the baby tortoises in their hundreds owing to their size. A three year-old tortoise cannot fill a human palm.

“One can be forgiven for thinking that those baby tortoises have just been hatched but some of them are three years old and still we cannot put them out with the rest.

The former surveyor, who also keeps cattle, sheep and goats, has spared another 10 acres in Mugurin farm around Lake Bogoria for the reptiles. The farm hosts a larger population of the reptiles.

“Sometimes the population at the parks grows drastically prompting us to relocate them to the farm at Mugurin,” he added.

SELDOM AFFLICTED BY DISEASES
At Mugurin, the reptiles are in free range and fend for themselves. Mr Chesire has been licensed by the Kenya Wildlife Service to keep the reptiles and has pledged to give up to 50 acres for tortoise conservation if he gets supports from the relevant authorities.

The park manager, Mr Jacob Toroitich says the reptiles are fed on specific wild vines, hay and cabbages.

“We hire people to collect the vines from the forest at a Sh300 per sack or buy cabbages and hay from neighbouring farms,” said Mr Toroitich.

He noted that tortoises are not great feeders as they eat once in three days and are rarely afflicted by diseases, therefore, hardly require medical attention.

“We only spray them once in a while to avoid external pests, feeding them costs us about Sh10,000 per week.”

Eliud Owalo writes to international community over new laws

25.12.2014

By Rawlings Otieno

A Nairobi management consultant, Eliud Owalo, has written to the International Community and appealed to them to impose political and economic sanctions on Kenya over the enactment of the security laws. In his letter, Owalo (right) argues that the Kenya National Assembly unprocedurally and forcibly passed the repressive Security (Amendment) Bill, 2014 without subjecting it to full public scrutiny as required by the Constitution. "I am appealing to you to come in as an agent of necessity by imposing political and economic sanctions against President Uhuru Kenyatta's government to occasion the forestalling of the new security laws," said Owalo, the former head of Raila Odinga's secretariat at the presidential elections last year. He addressed the letter to the European Union, African Union, the United Nation Security Council, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, International Human Rights Agencies, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Press Institute. Others are Amnesty International, East Africa Community Secretariat and Human Rights Watch. "The bill was hurriedly tabled and passed, despite the fact that it was strongly opposed within and outside the House. And many legislators from the ruling Jubilee coalition admitted upon interview that they were coerced by the Executive to pass the bill without much ado," the letter partly reads. See also: Senate sets special sitting for next week Civil liberties Owalo insisted that the Security laws affected 22 existing Statutes including the Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedure Act, Penal Code and the Civil Procedure Act. "The new security law in its contents runs contrary to the Constitution for it contradicts the supreme law as far as press freedom, freedom of assembly and association, fair trial, freedom of movement, lawful search and arrest by police are concerned," he said. He said the law ranks low in upholding human rights as stipulated under the Bill of Rights in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya and provides security forces with an opportunity to potentially infringe on every political, civil, media and human right in the name of fighting terrorism. He said the law if effected will limit civil liberties as it does not have checks and balances or accountability mechanisms for pre-empting potential abuses by security personnel. "This law presumes that the security forces will always work in the best interest of the people, without ill-will or favour contrary to what is known about their activities under such legal provisions," he said.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000145841&story_title=Kenya-eliud-owalo-writes-to-international-community-over-new-laws

Owalo noted that the security law contravenes international treaties to which Kenya is a signatory. Such International laws include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948) and The International Press Freedom. "It is noteworthy that the new law criminalises free expression by restricting what has to be published, imposing hefty fines on publications deemed criminal and requiring journalists to reveal their sources of information. The provisions are not seen to be in pursuit of a legitimate aim but parochial political agenda," he said. Owalo said requiring journalists to assist the police in the identification of anonymous sources of their information amounts to killing press freedom and independent reporting.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000145841&story_title=eliud-owalo-writes-to-international-community-over-new-laws&pageNo=2