Iko Nini Bwana Seed?

WHAT UK NEWSPAPERS SAY - EXCHANGE RATE AGAINST THE POUND TODAY IS KSHS. 119.68

CAPITALfm RADIO      -       KAMEME RADIO IS BACK AGAIN

The Kenya Government may not meet the September 30 deadline set to create a local tribunal to try perpetrators of post-election mayhem.  As a result Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has called on International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo to take over, adding that he had the blessings and support of the Cabinet.  "Nobody has asked Mr Ocampo to extend the deadline and his coming in will be a big relief to me because I have lots of work in making of a new Constitution and boundaries review," said Mr Mutula in Naivasha after opening a workshop for Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission yesterday. He said it was impossible to create a tribunal of international standards as directed by ICC within the nine days remaining before the deadline. "Parliament has adjourned without discussing the Imanyara Bill which would have facilitated the formation of a local tribunal," he said. He also dismissed reports by human rights activists that the ICC prosecutor was waiting for an invitation to come into the country for more investigations.  The move paves way for the international court to indict perpetrators of the violence and prosecute them at The Hague.  "We can only arrest suspects of crimes like rape and arson but for crimes against humanity, only the ICC can act on the suspects," he said. - VIDEO - The Standard.

Mr. Jack Owuor passed away in Paramount, California. The late brother Jack Owuor was taken by the Lord suddenly, shockingly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009. The prayer of the family is that the body should be transported to Kenya to be buried in the land of his ancestors. - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

KINDLY HELP THIS BOY - DENNIS MUCHIRI.

Am still looking for sponsorship of Dennis, even partial. He urgently requires £ 500 this semester, to enable him start, and NOT loose the chance. He was admitted last year to Kenyatta University, where he wants to become a teacher, the offer was valid for 1 year. Dennis is an orphan, without both parents, and he comes from MPEKETONI in Mombasa. Fees payable is £500 per semester----there are 2 semesters in 1 academic year. – Mrs. Anne Chege, New Hope Orphans Children’s Home. - Her contact while in the UK is 07947883505 or email: newhopechildren@mail.com

A Kenyan Man was found dead in his apartment in Plano TX. Gardson Mainge Kamau’s body was discovered at around 11 pm Saturday night 19th September, 2009 after police broke into his unit after relatives were unable to gain access. According to a relative of the deceased, Mr. Charles Koinange who spoke to Jambonewspot from Garland, Mr. Kamau was found with his groceries in store bags next to him indicating that he had just come from shopping. Kamau, 53, was living by himself in the apartment and had no immediate family here in Dallas. He hailed from Nakuru District. Prior to this discovery, one of Kamau’s cousins, Dorothy had been trying to reach him on phone but he was not returning her phone calls. She dropped by his place and found his car parked outside but knocks on his apartment door went unanswered. Dorothy left a note for him on the door but when she came back, the note was still intact. Dorothy decided to check with other relatives to see whether they had been in touch with him. Most of them had not talked to him during the week but during the enquiries, one of his nieces, Shiru, remembered that she had the key to his apartment. She and other relatives came down and tried to open the door but could not gain access as it was locked from inside. The Police were called in and when they gained access to the apartment, they found the deceased. According to the Police, the state of Mr. Kamau’s body indicated that he might have died three to four days earlier. A neighbour said he was last saw Kamau on Tuesday. According to Mr. Koinange who is the family contact, Mr. Kamau did not have any known health conditions although the Police did say he had a recent doctor’s visit after he complained of chest pains. The doctor is said to have advised him to undergo a stress test. It is not known whether he undertook the test at this point. Initial causes of death according to the Police point to a heart attack. Friends and Family are currently meeting to commence on funeral arrangements. The meetings are being held at : 4001 Mulbery Drive, Garland, TX 75043, Contact Number: Charles Koinange (214) 336-5581. - Source: JamboNewsPot.

"I got this song on my bed death"

Evangelist Ann wa Kamau from Kenya was among the worshippers at a church service in London on Sunday 20th September, 2009. She presented her song from her album which she explained that she got the song while in death bed in hospital in North Eastern Province in Kenya. The doctors had given hope on her but God had not given up on her. The song entitled "Njiraga Nehova Niwega" (I always praise God for his goodness). The song originates  from the book Ephesians 5:20. The lady took the worshippers with storm as they joined her as she presented. Later in the afternoon she presented again at PCEA UK Outreach. She  minister through Kayu FM and Inooro FM in Kenya from time to time. You can contact me on 07536260660 or Lilian 07798708218. 

Husband, wife found dead in apparent

murder-suicide in far northeast Dallas

A husband and wife were found dead Thursday 17th September, 2009 morning in their far northeast Dallas apartment after what police say was likely a murder-suicide. Dallas police say it appears the husband, 23, shot his wife, 20, before dousing their apartment with gasoline and turning the gun on himself. The Kenyan man has been identified as Justice Mbaka who is the Son of Andrew Mbaka Omwega of office of the president in Kenya.. “This morning neighbours woke up to a strong smell of gas in the area,” said Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse, a police spokesman. “They weren’t sure where it was coming from.” The neighbours called the fire-rescue workers, who came out to the apartments in the 11600 block of Audelia Road. Eventually, a maintenance man realized the smell was coming from the couple’s apartment, police said. Authorities discovered the bodies about 9:30 a.m. “We’re not sure of his rationale or his motive for dousing the apartment with gasoline,” Janse said, “if he was intending to light it or what he was planning on doing.” Had the gasoline been set on fire, it could have taken many lives, Janse said. “It possibly could have sent the whole complex up.” Police believe the shootings may have occurred about midnight. “Apparently some of the neighbours actually heard two gunshots around midnight,” Janse said. “They didn’t call 911 or take any action at that time.” Police were called to the apartments in May, when the wife reported she and her husband got into a scuffle over his cellphone use. The husband and wife, who, according to county records, were married last year, declined to pursue any charges against each other. “From what the neighbours have been saying, and the maintenance and the management, there was possibly some family problems going on, and that’s what may have led to this,” Janse said. “But detectives are still trying to notify next of kin to get an exact idea of what was going on in the family.”

The name of the husband has been released after next of kin was notified by the Dallas Police. The Kenyan man has been identified as Justice Mbaka who is the Son of Andrew Mbaka Omwega of office of the president in Kenya. Mr Justice Mbaka, 23, is believed to have shot his wife Cellia Lyons who was 20 years old before dousing the apartment in gasoline.  The gasoline was not ignited and this probably saved the entire apartment complex from catching fire. According to neighbours, two shots were fired around midnight. None of the neighbors took any action at the time. Dallas Police had earlier been called to their apartment after the couple were involved in a scuffle over Mr. Mbaka’s cellphone use. No charges were filed at the time. The couple got married in 2008 in Dallas. Its with great sorrow we announce the death of Justice Mbaka in Dallas Texas. Justice Mbaka, 23,was found dead  together with his wife  at their Dallas Apartment. The late is the Son of Andrew  Mbaka Omwega of office of the president. He was a nephew to Stephen Ogenche Omwega, Laywer Kisii, Former Resident Magistrate,Joel Omwega, Richard Mwebi,and Nahason Kembero Omwega of Busia Law courts among others. in Kenya. Nahason orenge of New Jersey, Nahason Ayunga of Kansas. Ayub zachary of MN, Elijah Ombaso of MN. Lameck Simeka of Tx., Abel Mabeya of TX. Albert Ogenche of Wichita among other Relatives. The Body of Justice Mbaka is lying at Dallas county and his remains awaiting transportation to his fathers Rural home at Bosoti Sub location,Ibencho village Bomachoge Constituency. - The Dallas Morning News and JamboNewsPot.

82-year-old lady joined 21km race

This 82-year-old lady was caught by our photographer Saturday 19th September, 2009 participating at the 6th UAP Ndakaini Half Marathon‏ to raise funds towards conservation of Ndakaini Dam catchments area. The dam is now drying up as you can see the group photo background. The lady completed the 21  kilometres to get an award - Story and photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

New Pay TV company launches in Kenya

Written By: Claire Wanja/release, Posted: Mon, Sep 21, 2009
 

A new pay television company was officially launched operations in Kenya on Monday 21st September, 2009. At the launch attended by among others the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and technology Mr Bitange Ndemo, Remember TV Africa limited unveiled introductory offers to Kenyan subscribers. "Today's family members are entitled to affordable entertainment that cuts across entire society and provides unequalled balanced programs for all ages," said Mr Michael Waweru the managing director of Remember TV Africa Ltd.  "My TV is a super family entertainer and is committed to bringing into Kenyan homes quality programs that are of value." Mr Ndemo urged local television stations to invest more in Satellite DTH and join other international players to help Kenyan nationals enjoy programs like other parts of the world.

"Our Kenyan youth are well talented and it is important when such openings come by to try and seize every opportunity of the new advancement in technology for the benefit of our countrymen," he said. "To the artists this is a pretty good chance to develop programmes for local consumption as well as for export; this will also boost Kenya's image abroad." Satellite television is expected to be successful, primarily because of its ability to cover vast and more sparsely populated areas in countries like Kenya, and East Africa.  At the same time, the communication sector in Kenya has tremendously grown in the last ten years, following its liberalization and enabling environment created by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).  My TV Africa broadcasts are both in English and French.  "We will empower dealers countrywide by making them partners in the business," said Mr Waweru.  He noted challenges like having at times weak signals especially in remote villages where infrastructure is not fully developed, but insisted the company will invest in having smooth receivership. Mr Ndemo said the government is committed to promoting local programmes as it gears for the switch from analogue to digital television. He said pay-tv stations would be encouraged to incorporate local programmes to create market for local content.

My TV Africa is owned by Strong Technologies, a satellite and terrestrial receivers manufacturer headquartered in Dubai. Remember Africa, its Kenyan distributor will now provide their range of 24-hour non commercial programming; that has no advert breaks. "Enabling accessibility is a continuous process at My TV, in line with our vision to provide the African family with an affordable pay television service with relevant programming," said Mr Bahjat Mirza, My TV General Manager. Approved My TV receiving equipment is also compatible with encryption satellite or terrestrial systems used by other operators. In addition Mr Waweru said they will be keen on affordable pricing, increasing the number of dealers, as well as empowering them to manage their subscribers. "We will also assist dealers in technical matters and after sales services. This is designed to provide convenient delivery to homes across the country," said Mr Waweru.   "We appeal to the local stations to join our platform that is shared by many countries in Africa; and move Kenya to another level as a source of news and entertainment," said the managing director. The government has in recent years liberalised the communication sector by allowing more players in radio and television. Such pay television providers give broadcasting reception that allows families to view more channels and programs through satellite receivers. "Today we are talking about global village where information, news, sports, entertainment and cultural practices are being shared worldwide; meaning we are members of our own countries as well as global citizens," said Mr Waweru.

Charge students in UK more, say bosses

University students in the UK should pay more for their loans and accept higher tuition fees as "inevitable", says a report from business leaders. The Confederation of British Industry says the extra money needed to fund universities should come from savings in the student support system. It also calls for more sponsorship and bursaries from businesses. The National Union of Students attacked the report as "gross hypocrisy" from the "fat cats at the CBI". In England, the government is set to launch a major review of the funding of higher education and student fees. Higher education minister for England, David Lammy, said the government was committed to investing in "our world class system" and to the aspiration for 50% of young people to go to university. The CBI is calling for that aim to be abandoned. The report from its higher education task force looks at the options for funding universities.

Tough choices

The CBI says that higher education is vital to the economic future and it rejects options such as slashing teaching budgets and cutting student numbers. "Instead, we say that savings should come from the student support system," said the CBI's director general, Richard Lambert. This would mean reducing the subsidy on student loans, more means-testing of support and the hiking of tuition fees above the current levels of £3,225 per year in England and Northern Ireland and £1,285 in Wales.

In Scotland, there are no tuition fees.

The report also says universities should focus more on economically valuable subjects such as science, technology, engineering, maths and languages. And it calls for the dropping of the ambition for 50% of young people to go to university. The blueprint for bridging the gap in funding has outraged student leaders. "At a time of economic crisis, when many hard-working families are struggling to support their offspring through university, I am astonished that the CBI should be making such offensive recommendations," said NUS president, Wes Streeting.

Divided opinions

The call for students to carry more of the financial burden marks a growing divide in opinions over how universities should be funded. It is also the latest suggestion that attention should be shifted from the headline figure for tuition fees to the wider long-term cost of subsidised student support. The 1994 Group of research universities has strongly welcomed the CBI's suggestions, saying that, without increased funding, higher education faces a "valley of death" of severe cutbacks.

REPLIES FROM THE READERS

These universities also back calls for higher fees and cutting the subsidy on student loans. "The fees cap needs to be high enough to bring in sufficient funding and enhance competition to further drive up quality," said the 1994 Group's executive director, Paul Marshall. "In addition, a sensible interest rate should be introduced on student loans, set at the current government cost of borrowing, to rectify the huge subsidy that the government currently pays." The Russell Group, representing a group of prestigious universities, was also enthusiastic about the proposals. "The CBI is right to call for an exploration of new sources of funding and to say that the priority is to maintain quality rather than expand numbers," said the Russell Group's director general, Wendy Piatt.

International survey

But the Million+ group of new universities opposes dropping the target of 50% of young people getting university places, saying it was "the wrong approach in a recession which has already caused one million young people to be unemployed". The Association of Teachers and Lecturers attacked the proposals as "arrogant and elitist". "The CBI should be arguing to maintain higher education funding in real terms, just as they argued for huge injections of cash to support failing businesses," said the ATL's Martin Freedman. The need for extra funding for higher education was highlighted by an international report from the OECD last report which called for more university places as a way out of driving economic growth. It showed that public and private spending on higher education in the UK is 1.3% of GDP - below the OECD average of 1.5%. The Conservatives' university spokesman, David Willetts, said the proposals were "a good opportunity to bring this whole issue back to life". The government is set to launch a review of the long-term funding of higher education later this autumn, but the final decision on raising tuition fees is unlikely to be made until after the general election. Higher education minister David Lammy commented on the CBI proposal: "Participation in higher education is an investment both for the individual and for the nation. "We should continue to widen access, not only because it's socially just, but also because our future economy will depend on having more people with higher level skills.

How beautiful is a woman whose heart is secure in the knowledge of her true worth. She is worth more than gold and silver.

A nice video about the Akurino sector - the young ones have caught up with the Hip Hop - VIDEO

Extra university places should be funded as a way out of recession and unemployment, says the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. An annual international report comparing education systems says economies and individuals continue to benefit from higher qualifications. "The benefits clearly outweigh the costs in every country," says report author, Andreas Schleicher. This year thousands of applicants in the UK missed out on university places. "Countries which want to position themselves for after the economic crisis should create sufficient places in university," said Mr Schleicher. "It makes sense to create more places. It means more tax, better health, better participation in society," he said.

Bermuda Triangle plane mystery 'solved'

Two of the so-called Bermuda Triangle's most mysterious disappearances in the late 1940s may have been solved.Scores of ships and planes are said to have vanished without trace over the decades in a vast triangular area of ocean with imaginary points in Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico. But journalist Tom Mangold's new examination for the BBC provides plausible explanations for the disappearance of two British commercial planes in the area, with the loss of 51 passengers and crew. One plane probably suffered from catastrophic technical failure as a result of poor design, while the other is likely to have run out of fuel. Sixty years ago, commercial flights from London to Bermuda were new and perilous. It would require a refuelling stop on the Azores before the 2,000-mile flight to Bermuda, which at that time was the longest non-stop commercial overseas flight in the world. The planes would have been operating at the limit of their range. Today planes arriving at the tiny Atlantic island have sufficient reserve fuel to divert to the US East Coast 700 miles away, in case of emergency. And the planes of the post-war era were far less reliable than today's airliners. British South American Airways (BSAA), which operated the route, had a grim safety record. In three years it had had 11 serious accidents and lost five planes with 73 passengers and 22 crew members killed.

Unsolved mystery

On 30 January 1948, a BSAA Avro Tudor IV plane disappeared without trace. Twenty-five passengers and a crew of six were on board The Star Tiger. No bodies or wreckage were found. The official investigation into the disappearance concluded: "It may truly be said that no more baffling problem has ever been presented. "What happened in this case will never be known and the fate of Star Tiger must remain an unsolved mystery." But there are a number of clues in the official accident report that reveal the Star Tiger had encountered problems before it reached the Azores. The aircraft's heater was notoriously unreliable and had failed en route, and one of the compasses was found to be faulty. Probably to keep the plane warmer, the pilot had decided to fly the whole transatlantic route very low, at 2,000 feet, burning fuel at a faster rate.

On approaching Bermuda, Star Tiger was a little off course and had been flying an hour later than planned. In addition, the official Ministry of Civil Aviation report considered that the headwinds faced by Star Tiger may have been much stronger than those forecast. This would have caused the fuel to burn more quickly. "Flying at 2,000 feet they would have used up much more fuel," said Eric Newton, one of the Ministry of Civil Aviation's most senior air accident investigators, who reviewed the scenario for the BBC. "At 2,000 feet you'd be leaving very little altitude for manoeuvre. In any serious in-flight emergency they could have lost their height in seconds and gone into the sea." Whatever happened to the plane, it was sudden and catastrophic - there was no time to send an emergency signal. The Avro Tudor IV was a converted warplane that was eventually taken out of passenger service because of its poor safety record. Only BSAA continued to fly the aircraft. Gordon Store was chief pilot and manager of operations at BSAA. In an interview with his local newspaper last November, he said he had no confidence in the Tudor's engines. "Its systems were hopeless… all the hydraulics, the air-conditioning equipment and the recycling fans were crammed together underneath the floor without any thought. There were fuel-burning heaters that would never work," he said.

Second accident

Almost a year to the day after the disappearance of the Star Tiger, another Avro Tudor IV belonging to BSAA vanished between Bermuda and Jamaica. Exactly one hour after departure from Bermuda on 17 January 1949, the pilot of the Star Ariel sent a routine communication of his position. But then the plane vanished without trace at 18,000 feet. According to experts, this would have required a sudden catastrophe. Again, no wreckage, debris or bodies were ever found. Fuel starvation at that height was not plausible, the weather report had been good, and pilot error was ruled out. The plane's poor design may well have been to blame, according to Don Mackintosh, a former BSAA Tudor IV pilot. The cabin heater mounted underneath the floor where the co-pilot sat is his prime suspect. At the time, aircraft heater technology was still in its infancy. "The heater bled aviation fuel on to a hot tube - and was also fairly close to the hydraulic pipes," he says. A pressure switch should have allowed the heater to operate when it was in the air but it was unreliable and was often deliberately short-circuited by staff, allowing the pilot manual control. The switch prevented inflammable fuel from flowing, but if the heater was switched on manually, gas that may have collected could have ignited. Captain Peter Duffey, a former BSAA pilot who went on to become a captain of British Airways Concorde, also believes that the proximity of the heater and the hydraulic pipes was significant.

"My theory is that hydraulic vapour escaped from a leak, which got on to a hot heater and caused an explosion," he says. Mr Newton's report came to a similar conclusion: "If the heater had caught fire down below the floorboards then it could have developed to a catastrophic state before the crew knew anything about it. "There was no automatic fire extinguisher to put it out like there is nowadays. There was no alarm where the heater was stored… so no-one would know, possibly until it was too late." The official accident investigation discovered that because of a communications error, search and rescue teams were not despatched until seven and a half hours later. By then what was left of the plane and the bodies would have sunk. The report on the disappearance of the first plane, the Star Tiger, said something which, because it could be easily misinterpreted, helped the accident achieve notoriety. In a moment of philosophical conjecture, the investigators mused that maybe "some external cause may (have) overwhelm(ed) both man and machine". Those comments from sober-suited British civil servants opened the floodgates for conspiracy theorists, hack journalists and mischief makers, adding to the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.

Five US Navy planes disappeared in the triangle area in 1945.

Officers from the UK Border Agency last night dramatically raided the home of the illegal immigrant Attorney General Baroness Scotland employed as a housekeeper. Four immigration officials in blue boilersuits swooped on Tongan cleaner Loloahi Tapui’s flat in West London just after 3pm, breaking down the door with a 3ft metal battering ram.  They spent two hours searching the flat for evidence and are understood to have left with a number of documents, which they sealed in clear bags before transferring them into black holdalls.  It is understood the two-bedroom flat on the fifth floor of a Sixties building in Chiswick had been empty since the scandal surfaced on Thursday.  When The Mail on Sunday knocked on the door, which had been left ajar during the raid, an officer emerged saying: ‘No comment.’  He was later heard discussing ‘photographs’ with his colleagues. Next-door neighbour Edmund Kovaleski said: ‘The same officers came on Friday but did not get an answer. This time, they meant business. They came to our door and said they needed to get into her flat and that it might be a bit noisy.’

The sensational development further intensified pressure on the Attorney General – even prompting speculation that her own home may be raided – as political support for her appeared to be rapidly draining. Although Lady Scotland has received the public backing of Gordon Brown, privately her colleagues doubt she can survive. It emerged today that she is also being quizzed over £170,000 of expenses payments she is not entitled to. Lady Scotland has been receiving an allowance intended for peers who live outside the capital, despite saying her main home is her £2m house in Chiswick, west London. Angus Robertson, the SNP's leader in Westminster said it is a 'serious matter' and he would write to the cabinet secretary for an investigation.  He told the Sunday Times: 'This allowance is meant for people who live outside London, so for someone to be receiving these payments when their main address is already there is ridiculous.' Lady Scotland - who also has a cottage in Oxfordshire -  has consistently declared her Chiswick home on her Lords expense forms as her main residence and receives an allowance of £38,280 a year on top of her £113,000 salary to help maintain it, according to the paper. This weekend her spokesman defended the payments, saying the money is available to all ministers no matter where they live. However the Cabinet Office, the Senior Salaries Review Body and parliamentary documents say the money should only go to peers whose main home is outside London.

Scandal: Cleaner Laloahi Tapui, left, lived in the Chiswick apartment block, below, not far from employer Baroness Scotland, right

Ndakaini dam is drying up
 

Ndakaini Dam in Murang'a which is the 2nd intake of Nairobi water after Sasimwa is drying up. A visit by our photographer in Nairobi on Saturday 19th September, 2009 shows that the dam is now holding almost a quarter of the dam. This has been contributed by the drought which Kenya has not come across for the last 70 years. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya Meat Commission in Kenya has become the Valley of Death - VIDEO

Michuki's rules back on the Kenyan road

The drive, the conductor and now the overloadead passengers are being prosecuted. Michuki's rule is back in operation. The operation started at South B shopping centre where two passengers was caught in an overloaded matatu. However the driver escaped with his conductor. They were booked at Industrial area police station. Then at  Makongeni on Jogoo road where there was real action. Any conductor who didn't have a seat, or uniform was arrested and booked at Makongeni police station. Several passengers were also arrested and booked together with the matatu crew. They will be taken to court. Crackdown continues.

Kenyan Medicare worker jailed for $300,000 baby scam in Australia

A Medicare worker has been sentenced to four years' jail for using dead people's identities to claim more than $300,000 in baby bonus payments. Bernard Monyenye, 34, pleaded guilty to 24 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception and sending proceeds of crime to relatives'  accounts in Kenya, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates. The court heard Monyenye used Medicare records to claim baby bonus payments and the maternity immunisation allowance, totalling $318,286.70, between June and November last year. District Court Judge Kevin Sleight described the act as a ``grave breach of trust'' and sentenced him to a non-parole period of two and a half years. Judge Sleight said the scheme was ``well planned and involved a cunning act ... motivated for offences related to greed''. He said Monyenye was an intelligent man who had studied at Perth's Murdoch University after arriving in Australia in 1998 on a student visa. He said Monyenye felt resentment to his Medicare employers because his career had not progressed. The holder of dual Australian and Kenyan citizenship, he was arrested before he was able to travel to Kenya with his family in December last year. Commonwealth prosecutor Patricia Aloi said Monyenye used his position at Medicare to access Centrelink records of dead people to obtain tax file numbers and create false claims for the $5,000 baby bonus payments for 64 fictitious children. He siphoned the money into 14 bank accounts and sent $19,324 of stolen funds to the accounts of relatives in Africa and the Middle East. The court was told about two-thirds of the stolen money had been recovered. Monyenye appeared calm as his sentence was handed down. Defence lawyer Angus Hockton said Monyenye had asked his wife and three-year-old daughter not to attend the sentencing, in order to escape the media glare. Mr Hockton described his client as a loner who suffered bouts of depression that stemmed from his violent upbringing in Kenya. Monyenye was charged by Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Perth on Wednesday after a joint AFP and Centrelink investigation.

50,000 cyclists in London

Thousands of people took to the streets of London on two wheels Sunday 20th September, 2009  to enjoy traffic-free routes past some of the biggest landmarks. Led by mayor Boris Johnson, the 50,000 cyclists enjoyed fine weather on the 15km journey past Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London. Mr Johnson said the Skyride event 'encourages people to feel safe on bicycles'.

A formerly blind grandmother has regained her sight after surgeons implanted a tooth in her eye. American granny Sharron Thornton, 60, was blind for nine years after contracting Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, a rare disease that scarred her cornea. But doctors in Miami, Florida, made history after extracting her canine and drilling an optical cylinder lens into it. Ms Thornton is the first person ever to have her "eye tooth" taken out, reshaped and inserted in this type of surgery. She said: "We take sight for granted, not realising that it can be lost at any moment. This truly is a miracle. "If you could keep your eyes closed just for one week, it is amazing what you would see when you opened your eyes again." The tooth and the lens were implanted under her skin for two months so they could bond. They were then implanted in the centre of her eye, after a series of procedures to prepare the socket. The grandmother first realised she could see when doctors put antibiotics in her eye and she could tell the liquid was yellow. Once bandages were removed, she was able to recognise objects and faces within a few hours. Two weeks later she was able to read newspapers. "Through the work of the team, patients in the United States now have access to this complex surgical technique," said Bascom Palmer Eye Institute's Eduardo Alfonso. Ms Thornton said it was hard to make people believe she had regained her sight thanks to one of her teeth. "I'm looking forward to seeing my seven youngest grandchildren for the first time," she said.

Granny's Sight Restored With Tooth Implant

A 107-year-old Malaysian woman says she is ready to marry for the 23rd time because she fears her current drug addict husband might leave her for a younger woman, a report said Monday.  Wook Kundor made headlines four years ago when she married Muhammad Noor Che Musa, a man 70 years her junior in northern Terengganu state, with pictures of the couple's wedding splashed across regional newspapers. But Wook is now looking for new love as she fears that Muhammad, 37, who is undergoing voluntary drug rehabilitation treatment in the capital Kuala Lumpur, will leave her once the programme ends, she told the Star newspaper. "Lately, there is this kind of insecurity in me," the paper quoted her as saying, showing a photograph of the smiling, wrinkled-faced centenarian wearing a Muslim headscarf. "I realise that I am an aged woman. I don't have the body nor am I a young woman who can attract anyone." "My intention to remarry is to fill my forlornness and nothing more than that," she said, adding that she felt lonely without her husband by her side to celebrate the coming Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr next week. Wook said she planned to visit Muhammad on the second day of Eid if her neighbours were willing to drive her to the capital. Muhammad, who was a lodger in Wook's house, had previously said it was "God's will" that the couple fell in love.

Wook Kundor, 107, sits outside her house in Malaysia's northern Kuala Terengganu state on September 13, 2009

Kenya PM dropped from Obama luncheon

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived in the United States of America on Saturday night to news of cancellation of a luncheon with US President Barack Obama which had earlier been scheduled for later this week. The news followed a round of confusion over whether he would attend the luncheon, hosted by the White House for selected leaders from sub-Saharan Africa on the sidelines of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. New York-based Kenyan ambassador to the UN Zachary Muburi-Muita told the Nation on Saturday night that the State Department contacted him on Friday to “disinvite” Mr Odinga from the September 22 luncheon with President Obama in New York for African leaders.  The ambassador last Monday confirmed to the Nation that he had received an invitation letter for the PM to attend the luncheon. A dispatch to the Foreign Affairs ministry from Kenya’s Ambassador to Washington, Mr Peter Ogego, seen by the Nation confirmed the cancellation. - Sunday Nation.

UK Border Agency officers at Heathrow Airport have made what is thought to be their biggest-ever seizure of heroin, and sparked an investigation into an international drugs gang. Following an operation on 9 September 2009 around 165kg of the Class A drug, with an estimated street value of £8 million, was discovered by UK Border Agency detection teams hidden in a consignment of souvenirs from South Africa. The find was referred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), which began an international investigation. Following that, two men were arrested, and a further 80kg of heroin was seized at an address in Dartford, Kent. 35-year-old Nicholas Fullbrook from Leigh in Kent was charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs and possession with intent to supply. He was remanded in custody following a court hearing at Maidstone Magistrates on 12 September 2009. A second man has been released on bail pending further enquiries. Information was also passed on to police in South Africa, who subsequently arrested a further five people, including three United Kingdom nationals. Another 115kg of heroin, and more than 6,500kg of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin, were also found. The total amount of drugs seized during the operation is estimated to be worth around £25 million. It is thought that all of it was destined for Britain. Philip Astle, the UK Border Agency's Heathrow director, said:

'This latest detection of heroin at Heathrow, believed to be our biggest ever, highlights our success in preventing class A drugs entering the UK.

'We continue, through intelligence gathering and the abilities of our expert teams of officers, to have a high impact on the drugs trade and disrupt smuggling activities.

'Drugs devastate lives and communities and my officers, along with colleagues from other law enforcement agencies, are determined to stop them reaching our streets.'

SOCA deputy director Andy Sellers said:

'Protecting the UK from the harm caused by drug trafficking means going beyond the UK's borders and targeting the people behind the trade.

'These seizures are a great example of what can happen when partners work together. Both ends of this international chain have been attacked, and a significant amount of heroin and cannabis has been kept off the UK's streets.'

Anyone with information about illegal smuggling activities should call the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.

UK Border Agency launches online booking for appointments

Home Office, 18 September 2009

The UK Border Agency is improving its customer service by offering a flexible new way for applicants to book appointments. You can now go online to book your appointment if:

• you want to apply in person and get a same-day decision at one of our seven public enquiry offices - this is acalled a 'premium application', and you will need to pay a higher application fee; or
• you have applied by post but you need to to enrol your biometrics at one of 11 biometric enrolment centres so that you can get an identity card for foreign nationals as part of your immigration application .

Online booking is a fast, simple and convenient way of securing an appointment slot, allowing you to book when it suits you and freeing up our contact centre agents for other calls. The existing telephone booking service will continue to operate for large family groups of 11 or more applying together, and for people who do not have access to the internet or who just prefer to call.

The service is now live for premium applications. Postal applicants who need to obtain an identity card and whose postal applications are received on or after 18 September will be sent a letter telling them that they can book an appointment online. More information about the online booking system is available on the Booking an appointment page.

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Phase 3 launch date announced for Tier 4 of the points-based system

Home Office, 17 September 2009

The UK Border Agency has confirmed that phase 3 of Tier 4 of the points-based system for immigration is set to go live on 5 October 2009.

Phase 3 is the voluntary trial period of the sponsorship management system for Tier 4 sponsors. This trial period allows sponsors to continue using visa letters while gradually adopting the use of the sponsorship management system to issue confirmations of acceptance for studies. Confirmations of acceptance for studies will become mandatory in February 2010. Between 5 October 2009 and February 2010, sponsors will be able to issue confirmations of acceptance for studies, visa letters, or a combination of both to would-be students who are applying from within the United Kingdom. Would-be students applying from outside the United Kingdom will still have to apply with a visa letter until February 2010. For further details on the implementation of Tier 4, you can download the Tier 4 implementation plan from the right side of this page.

Jacksonville, Florida, USA, A Kenyan man  man faces two sexual battery charges following his arrest in a local nursing home. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, it happened just after 3:30 Sunday 13th September, 2009  morning at the Regents Park nursing home on the Southside. A witness told police she heard something from one of the rooms, and when she went in she saw Anthony Mbugua Njoroge engaged in a sexual activity with a woman in the room. The woman is disabled. The witness told police she reached for her cell phone, but Njoroge tried to stop her. She was able to make a call anyway and someone else came into the room. That witness told police she saw Njoroge cleaning up. The witness says Njoroge then left the room and threw something in the disposal room. Police came and investigated, then arrested Njoroge. Njoroge, 35, faces charges of sexual battery (victim mentally impaired) and sexual battery (victim physically helpless.) "When something like this happens, especially to someone of a certain age, it's disgusting," said John Harrell, spokesperson for DCF. The Department of Children and Families is working alongside JSO on the investigation. Harrell says DCF has investigated eight allegations of abuse at Regents Park in the past year, though none have been verified.

The accused Mr. Anthony Mbugua Njoroge and the home where he was working - CLICK FOR VIDEO

"Of those eight reports, four showed no findings, but four had some findings, including inadequate supervision [of patients]. That happened a couple of times," Harrell said. Regents Park Spokesperson Tom Groesbeck confirmed Njoroge was employed at the nursing home, and that the care facility is cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation.  A former employee of Regents Park told First Coast News that Njoroge has worked at Regents Park as a nursing assistant since at least 2005. First Coast News has learned that Njoroge also worked at another Southside nursing home.  A spokesperson for Life Care Center says Njoroge was employed at the nursing home up until his arrest Sunday. The spokesperson went on to say that resident safety is Life Care Center's highest priority, and that there have been no allegations of this nature at their facility. Authorities say the elderly victim from Regents Park is doing as well as can be expected.  DCF is now looking into whether the attack is an isolated incident. "Obviously there are a number of vulnerable adults there. They need to be safe. They need to be in a safe environment. I'm sure there are a lot of families feeling a lot of concern right now," Harrell said. Police are withholding any further information due to the nature of the crime and the investigation. Njoroge remains in jail on a $500,000 bond. Aside from this arrest, he has no criminal record in Duval County.

Are you looking for car in UK to ship to Kenya?

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Students at Kenya High School in Nairobi were on Thursday quarantined after health officials confirmed that 25 of them had contracted swine flu, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 159.  Parents and other visitors were not allowed into the school, which will remain isolated for 10 days.  Public Health minister Beth Mugo said the results were confirmed on Wednesday. Girls with asthma or other conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus have also been quarantined. The director of Public Health, Dr Shahnaaz Shariff, said the affected girls had received treatment before the isolation.  “Majority of them, who are in forms One and Two, were treated and advised to remain under bed rest to minimise further spread of the disease among the student community,” he said. He described their condition as “not too serious to warrant hospitalisation”. On Thursday, guards at the school’s gate refused Nation journalists entry, saying they were under firm instructions to lock out all visitors. Telephone calls to the school management also went unanswered. However, during the visit to the school the Nation saw two ambulances leaving the compound. Parents thronged the school but were turned away by security officers, who said they had received orders from the administration not to let anyone in. “The number of infected students is rising too fast,” a teacher who sought anonymity said. “Things may get even more serious by tomorrow (today) morning.”  Parents complained of being kept in the dark over the condition of their children. - Daily Nation.

A parent argues with a guard after she was denied access to Kenya High School in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. The school confirmed 25 cases of swine flu amongst its students. The students were being treated at the school.

"Even in cooking there is a moment you have to lower the temperature of the kettle to allow the food to cook nicely, that is where we are. We need a break to correct ourselves where we went wrong,’’ - Hon. Amos Kimunya speaking in Parliament.

This was at Buruburu police station on Thursday 17th September, 2009. School buses were not spared either. On the way back, hungry cows were seen grazing at Buruburu shopping centre feeding on nothing. Kenyans are praying for the rain to come soon. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya - 17/09/09.

Somali embassy condemns suicide attacks in Mogadishu

The Somali Embassy in Nairobi has condemned the suicide attacks that killed 11 people at a peacekeeping base in Mogadishu. Mohamed Ali Nur, the Somalia Ambassador to Kenya called that act as cowardly and said his government would pursue the killers. "We believe they are terrorists from foreign countries committed to undermining our peace efforts," Nur said. The ambassador, who conveyed a message from the Somali Prime Minister, Omar Sharmarke asked the international community to increase support for Africa Union Mission in Somalia (Amison) and Somali security forces. At least two bombs exploded at the AU forces headquarters yesterday. The explosion killed 11 people and injured scores of others. Among the dead is the Deputy Commander of the AU force in Somalia, along with four of the bombers. The injured were flown to Nairobi for specialised treatment. Information Minister, Dajir Mohamed Geele said the attack would not affect the operations of Amison.  "Other reports had indicated the Al Shabaab militia group was responsible for the attacks in apparent revenge for a US raid that reportedly killed Al Qaeda suspect Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan.

President Mwai Kibaki is shown how an automatic voting machine works when he toured the JKUAT stand at the Nyeri National A.S.K Show.

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Brings you Free Forex Trading Articles

Free Forex Trading Articles

Many of you have requested some more information on forex trading and for this reason we will be running a series of articles for your viewing pleasure over the next few weeks. To read these articles click on the link below. Future updates will be posted here on Misterseed. So watch this space!

Forex Articles and Special offer

In addition we are running a series of forex 2 days workshops in the fall and places are filling up pretty fast. If you have not already enrolled on one of our courses for the heavily discounted price of ------ yes £300!! for the two days comprehensive workshop, please do so today. Offer open Strictly to the first 250 applicants only!!!  Our normal discounted price for community members is £700 for the same course!! (You Pay £300 only!! Limited offer). So jump in there fast and book your place now!!!

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Nyama on the sewage. You guessed it right!!! - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya - 17/09/09

World's Tallest Man Visits London - For Love

Wanted: One loving woman. Must have a head for heights. Because the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, is looking for love. For many lonely hearts, finding love is a tall order - particularly if you measure a towering 8ft 1in. Women used to run scared from Mr Kosen, but now he is hoping his new-found fame will help bring him love for the first time. Mr Kosen, who also has the largest hands (more than 10in) and feet (14in) on the planet, said his size had put women off - he has never had a girlfriend. The 27-year-old, who is visiting London, said: "The first thing I want to do is have a car that I can fit in but more than that I want to get married. "Up until now it's been really difficult to find a girlfriend. I've never had one, they were usually scared of me. I'm hoping now I will find one." He added: "It was really difficult for me to find a girlfriend before but hopefully now that I'm famous I'll be able to meet lots of girls. I'd like to get married." One the difficulties of being so tall is getting clothes which fit - Mr Kosen wore a specially-made suit to meet the media at the launch of the latest Guinness Book of Records.

It is was one of the first outfits he has owned that fits correctly. He also had to have a 9ft, 9in bed specially crafted. Mr Kosen said: "The most difficult things are, for example, that I can't fit into a normal car. "I can't go shopping like normal people, I have to have things made specially and sometimes they aren't always as fashionable. "The other thing is that ceilings are low and I have to bend down through doorways." But his towering height does have its upsides. He said: "The good thing about being so tall is that I can see people from a long distance. "The other thing is at home they use my height to change the light bulbs and hang the curtains, things like that." Medical problems ruled out a lucrative career in basketball and he now works occasionally as a farmer. Mr Kosen, who sometimes uses crutches, said he had always dreamed of travel and had two seats to himself on the flight to Britain. He has three brothers and a sister, and applied for consideration as the Turkish tall man honour and was discovered to be more than 4in taller than the world record holder. The title was previously held by Bao Xishun who was first given the accolade in 2005. - VIDEO

As many as 50,000 students in England face starting university this month without the full grants and loans they expected. The Student Loans Company has struggled to cope with applications and says full payments will be made by late October. But it says everyone who applied on time should receive at least the "basic level" loan soon after courses start. Hundreds of students have e-mailed the BBC News website to complain of delays in the handling of their applications. They complain of missing documents, help lines they try for hours to get through to, which then offer them no help. Some of the e-mails are from people who said they applied on time but had not had their loans approved by the time they started courses this week. The backlog has arisen, the SLC says, because of an increase in loan applications and late applications. The body organises the loans for the government. Most English universities start next Monday (21 September) or a week later, but some courses - such as teacher training - have already begun. The chief executive of the Student Loans Company, Ralph Seymour-Jackson, told the BBC everyone who had applied for loans before mid-August would have their applications processed by the time they started their courses.

All of those applicants would receive at least "basic funding" - that is, tuition fees for their university and the basic maintenance loan - within seven days of starting a course. This means up to 50,000 students will not receive the full amount they could expect from the Student Loans Company, although the balance would follow by mid to late October. 50,000 represents 5% of the million students who have applied for loans this year. Most affected will be those on the lowest family incomes, because above the basic level of a maintenance loan (which all full-time undergraduates are eligible for) is an additional means-tested element and the processing of those requests is to be done second. Those eligible for other extra support, such as loans for child care will also be affected as these are means-tested. Mr Seymour-Jackson appeared on BBC Breakfast News with Claire Swinmurn, who had contacted the BBC News website because her funding and loans for her teacher training course had not come through. She started her course at Oxford Brookes University nearly two weeks ago. She had written that she was sick to her stomach "as I am petrified that I will have to give up my course due to the delays caused by student finance".

Kibaki assures Kenyans on food security

Written By: PPS   , Posted: Thu, Sep 17, 2009

President Mwai Kibaki has reassured Kenyans that the government has taken measures to ensure there is enough food for emergency supplies in the country. Noting that prolonged drought has caused crop failure leading to a food deficit, President Kibaki said the government was making every effort to ensure sufficient quantities of food are distributed throughout the country.

"Periodic spells of drought are largely responsible for the perennial food shortages. To end our vulnerability to weather changes, the government has started implementing long term solutions aimed at reducing over-reliance on rain-fed food production," President Kibaki said.

The President was speaking Thursday when he officially opened the ASK Nyeri National Show at Kabiruini Showground in Nyeri Central District. He said the government has moved to harness the country's irrigation potential, and that plans are underway to rehabilitate and expand irrigation schemes in the country. Saying only 36,000 hectares has been irrigated in Central Province, the President said the Mwea Irrigation Scheme will be expanded by an additional 7,000 hectares. On environment, President Kibaki said Kenyans must work tirelessly not only to conserve but also to create conducive environmental conditions that the country deserves.

"I am pleased to note that conservation of forests is now well appreciated in this province. Many people have voluntarily started cutting down eucalyptus trees as a way of conserving water. I urge other Kenyans to do the same and work with the government to plant trees that consume less water and help conserve the environment," the President said.

The President expressed satisfaction that agro-forestry is now a common practice among farmers and encouraged them to plant more environmental-friendly trees in order to achieve the required 10 per cent tree cover. In this connection, he directed the Ministries of Agriculture and Wildlife and Forestry to redouble their efforts and ensure farmers have enough seedlings to plant during the forecasted heavy rains.

"Thereafter the two ministries should spearhead planting environmental-friendly trees throughout the years to come until we fully recover the country's rightful share of forest cover," President Kibaki directed.

In addition to environmental conservation, President Kibaki said the government has taken deliberate steps to promote the use of fertilizers and quality seeds as a means of increasing agricultural productivity. He reassured that in the coming rainfall season, the government will provide free seeds to farmers who are currently dependent on food relief. The President said the government will also provide free seeds and fertilizers to over 78,000 resource poor farmers throughout the country, adding that the government is implementing a comprehensive fertilizer subsidy program for most crops.

"For instance, this season, the price of 50 kg bag of D.A.P. has been reduced from Kshs 2500 to Kshs 2000. Also reduced is the price of C.A.N. from Kshs 1,750 to Kshs 1400 per 50 kg bag," the President said.

The Head of State, therefore, urged farmers to take advantage of the fertilizer subsidy to grow enough food for the country and surplus for export. On horticultural production, the President observed that there is still an enormous unexploited potential and urged more farmers to venture into horticulture as a way of increasing their income and boost rural employment.

Increased production

President Kibaki commended coffee farmers for heeding the government's call to rehabilitate their farms leading to an increase in production from 100 million kilograms to 123 million kilograms in the last two years. He said the government has also undertaken reforms to further assist in the recovery of coffee production including taking over the burden of farmers' debts of over Kshs 3.2 billion, setting up the Coffee Development Fund of Kshs 1.6 billion, liberalization of coffee marketing and introduction of a new direct marketing window.

"However, much more needs to be done to enhance coffee production and earnings and the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperative Development should put more focus on this sector," the Head of State said.

The President said reforms should also be extended to the tea sector which earned farmers Kshs 5.2 billion last year, saying farmers require more incentives, better prices and selfless leadership to give a new impetus for growth of the tea industry. On livestock industry, the President called on farmers to redouble their commitment to the improvement of the dairy industry, saying the Government on its part has provided a conducive environment through liberalization, revival of K.C.C., control of diseases and provision of inspectorate services. President Kibaki, once again, assured farmers that the government, through the Agricultural Finance Corporation, has continued to offer affordable loans to farmers to ensure availability of credit for the purchase of agricultural inputs and payment for other farm operations. He called on other financial institutions to develop affordable farmer-friendly credit packages to meet the existing needs. The President pointed out that the government has also continued to strengthen the cooperative sector as a source of finance for farmers and encouraged more farmers to join the movement so as to pool resources and benefit from enhanced bargaining power and economies of scale. Said the President: "The farmers should also demand more accountability from those who manage the co-operative societies."

Infrastructure improvement

On infrastructure, President Kibaki said the government has allocated enormous resources for tarmacking of several new roads, recarpeting of others and graveling of many more rural access roads to ensure timely delivery of agricultural inputs to farmers and efficient delivery of agricultural products to the market. The President said the Government has also intensified rural electrification to enable farmers and rural businessmen to initiate agro-industries with a view to adding value to agricultural products. Other speakers included Agriculture Minister William Ruto, Agricultural Society Of Kenya (ASK) National Chairman Mr. Stewart Madzayo and Nyeri National Show Chairman Mr. James Kahiro. Present were ministers Prof. Sam Ongeri and Esther Murugi and Chief of General Staff Gen. Jeremiah Kianga.

Growth in UK retail sales stalls

UK retail sales were unchanged in August compared with the previous month, casting doubt on the strength of the recovery in consumer spending. Sales growth in July was also revised down, from 0.4% to 0.2%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Food sales growth was more than offset by falls in clothing and footwear. To add to the retail gloom, department store John Lewis announced a fall in profits and predicted tough trading conditions in the coming months. Retail sales rose by 1.3% in June, and analysts had been expecting a third straight month of growth to reinforce hopes that the UK was emerging from recession - as hinted by other data. There were signs of growth in some sectors. August food sales rose by 0.7%, while non-store retailing - which includes internet, telephone and mail order shopping - and repair shops saw sales grow by 1.1%. But this was not enough to offset bigger falls in other areas. All non-food sectors, apart from household goods, suffered declines in sales. The worst hit were textile, clothing and footwear shops, where sales dipped 1.3%. Department store John Lewis added to the downbeat retail outlook when it announced a 20% fall in profits for the first half of the year, and said it expected the coming months to be tough. "We expect trading conditions for the remainder of 2009 , and into 2010, to continue to be difficult," said chairman Charlie Mayfield. He forecast a "slow, drawn-out economic recovery." Reflecting the growth the overall growth in food sales, however, the group did see stronger performance in its supermarket chain Waitrose.

The violence that has plagued Somalia for the best part of two decades has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, and forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes. Venturing into what is possibly the most dangerous country on earth - correspondent Mike Thomson visited the sprawling refugee camps, and met some of the people who now call them home. - PHOTOS

Health Secretary Andy Burnham has announced plans to scrap GP catchment areas in England within a year. Ministers want to introduce more choice into the family doctor system, believing it will drive up standards. The move has been on the cards for some time and is part of the government's long-running drive to improve access. Doctors' leaders said they were not opposed to the idea, but warned there were some issues that still needed resolving.

UK has sent 71,560 to Afghanistan

A total of 71,560 members of Britain's armed forces have served in Afghanistan since 2001, the government has said. Tory MP Philip Hollobone, who obtained the figures, said they revealed the full extent of Britain's commitment to the Afghan war for the first time. The figure includes regular forces, reservists and Gurkhas. The Ministry of Defence said similar figures were not available for Iraq, but "about 100,000" members of the UK armed forces had served there in total. In his written answer, Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell told Mr Hollobone: "As at 1 August 2009, 71,560 members of the UK armed forces have been identified as having deployed to Afghanistan. "This includes UK regular forces, Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel and mobilised reservists."

Kenya set for digital migration

Written By: Claire Wanja/kna   , Posted: Wed, Sep 16, 2009

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of information and Communication, Dr. Bitange Ndemo has said that the stage is set for Kenya to migrate to the digital television. The PS said that due to the advantages that come with the use of the digital TV as compared to the current analogue television, Kenyans will embrace the noble technology and enjoy quality viewership. Addressing the press at a Nairobi Hotel, Dr. Ndemo asked the Media to educate the masses on the new development where everyone would be included in the migration process. "Consumers also have a huge role to play in the transition. Unless the consumers understand the digital migration process and what they need to do, the switchover will not take over," said the PS, adding, "I also urge the consumers to play a role in switching to the digital TV." The government has received the digital transmitter, which will be installed by the end of this month followed by a launch early in October. Already, the government has set aside shs. 152 Million to kick start the migration process. Ndemo added that the government had formed a taskforce to ensure smooth migration from analogue to Digital TV. The taskforce comprises of members from the Ministry of Information and Communication, Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) and the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

The taskforce has established an elaborate frame work which will also realize good opportunities of businesses arising from Migration. "I am glad that the digital Television Committee recognizes the centrality of the consumer in the implementation of the digital project," said the PS. The opportunities will include local content development incubators, regional training centres, retailing and both call center operation and management. The PS observed: "Television Broadcasting is among the key industries in ICT that are benefiting from digital technology. And as you are aware, digital television will not only improve on our quality of TV signals, but will also create room for more broadcasters, hence allowing content to be transmitted." The Migration process is part of the Digital Kenya, a new project developed by the Ministry of Information and Communication to improve service delivery among broadcasters.  In addition, the model will also require broadcasters to be content providers.  The transmission (broadcasting) of the content will now be done by a signal distributor. However, Ndemo stated that the main challenges will include availability and cost of set boxes, providing signal standards to the resellers, mounting a public campaign for the consumers' awareness and finding ways of enforcing standards to ensure the consumer was not cheated. Ndemo assured Kenyans that the government has put bold measurers in place to ensure the process goes on smoothly.

British Education System

It is a fact that our children are not performing as well as they should in schools. We are rated below the Asians and the Chinese. As a block the Afro-Caribbean pupils have under performed for many years and a time for change has come. Considering Africa as a block, Nigerian children are performing well. From my interaction with parents and some teachers from Kenya we can say that our (Kenya) parents needs to be open to embrace the right information that will raise their leverage to supporting their children who are in school. It is not good to let your child miss the opportunity to excel in such a nation as we are in.

Where are missing it?

Most parents were educated outside the UK, as a result they are not very conversant with the British education system. Many parents keep comparing the British system with the Kenyan or their country’s system of education, and tend to be negative about the British system. Well their conclusion is mainly based on ignorance, for it is human nature to dismiss what he does not comprehend.(Remember the Hyena’s conclusion when he could not get the ripe fruits, he said,  even they are not ripe). Britain is a first world nation and has very high precision engineering plants, they have good medical facilities, and they are developed, despite any body’s negative attitude on their education system. If their system was bad how come that they are an authority in so many fields that required educated brains.

My assessment as a teacher

As a teacher I feel quite a painful pinch when I meet our own kids who are least motivated and wearing a don’t care attitude. Worse still when I hear parents speak in the presence of their kids how bad the system. The fact of the matter is that the British system of education would be very suitable for our children as it is less stressing and any child of average intelligence can easily get top grades if he be focused.

What should we do?

The system requires a lot of input from the parents and it is absolutely important that a parent be well informed of the system. Family rebuild has been offering seminars on Education and many parents who have attended the seminars can attest to the fact that they have benefited. Unfortunately there are those parents who prioritise others things at the expense of their children. This time round Family rebuild is seeking to co work with many local groups within England where foreign people are settled.

Up coming Seminar in Reading

Date : Saturday 26th September 2009: Time 2.00pm-6.00pm

Venue: Tile Hurst Methodist Church, School road, Tila Hurst Reading Rg31 5AR

FACILITATOR: Pastor Wangaruro, * ( a teacher, a pastor and  the host of family rebuild broadcaster)

Welcome to the seminar and let the veil be removed and your child will start being different at school and home. For the purpose of cost sharing to host the seminar please come with £10. Rebate available for a couple (fiver)

knowledge is better than ignorance. Look at this statement from our Africa Hero and a respected leader Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most important tool which we can use to change the world.

We look forward to come to

Oxford

Manchester

Coventry-again

London

Nottingham

If you think your town can benefit from these seminars please contact familyrebuild on familyrebuild@yahoo.co.uk or call Pastor Wangaruro on 07940105578.

Police in New Zealand have named the man who was killed in a house in Avonhead as Stephen Mwangi Maina, a 38 year-old freezing worker from Ashburton.  Detective Inspector Greg Williams said he died as a result of significant injuries. Maina arrived in New Zealand in October last year. His mother in Kenya and brother in Australia had been told of his death. Police are appealing for sightings of a red car belonging to Samuel Ngumo Njuguna who fled New Zealand on Sunday 13th September, 2009. His estranged wife Lydia Munene was found with severe head injuries and the body of Maina were found in bed together in a house in Burrows Place, Avonhead on Monday.  Munene may have lain seriously injured in the flat for several days before she and the body of Maina were found by a visitor at 6pm. Investigators were tracking the movements of a red 1995 Peugeot Saloon with licence plate TH4438. Williams said the investigation is now focused on the events of Friday evening through to the early hours of Saturday morning. "We believe that the children were removed from Burrows Place sometime early on Saturday morning between  midnight and 6am, by their father. 

Lydia Munene who was seriously injured in her home in Burrows Place, Avonhead

"It appears that this is also the likely time the two people were attacked in the house," he said. Njuguna went to the Flight Centre at The Palms in Shirley at 9am on Saturday 12th September, 2009 and obtained tickets to travel to Kenya. He travelled via Auckland, Sydney, Bangkok before arriving in Kenya on Monday. Families of the deceased and of Lydia Munene have been contacted by police and are "devastated" by the news. Williams said work would continue at Burrow Pl and at 33 Patrick St for the next couple of days. Munene is in an induced coma and will be so for the next few days. Williams said the small Kenyan community in Christchurch had "bonded together in support of each other" and police were  working closely with them. Munene had lived in New Zealand for several years with her husband, Samuel Ngumo Njuguna, and their two sons, aged 13 and nine. She recently started work as a nurse at Christchurch Hospital. She was in an induced coma today. "We believe the man and woman were well on Friday," Williams said. "We don't know, between Friday and when we found the bodies, when this occurred. There are indications the husband may be involved." Njuguna dropped his children off at a friend's house at 4pm on Saturday before catching an early morning flight to Kenya from Christchurch International Airport on Sunday. He arrived in Kenya at 6am on Monday.

CAR: Police are appealing for sightings of this red Peugeot saloon.

"[On Monday night] we spoke with Interpol and they are making contact with people over there," Williams said. "We know he is in Kenya. The issue is what he is going to do. We want to talk to him." New Zealand did not have an extradition agreement with Kenya, Williams said. "If we have to take action, that will be done at a diplomatic level." Police had attended a domestic dispute between Munene and Njuguna about two weeks ago. There had been no physical assault in that incident, Williams said. A security guard was at a Mairehau house jointly owned by Munene and Njuguna yesterday. Friends expressed shock at the man's murder and the attack on a "lovely, sympathetic" woman who had recently graduated as a nurse from the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology. "She seems really, really nice and is making such a fantastic go of things," landlord Margaret Dawson said. "I just feel so terribly shocked because she has made so much of an effort to make such a life for herself and her children. Her two boys are very tall, good-looking, charming, lively, intelligent and lovely." Munene had spoken "unfavourably" of Njuguna, she said. "I gathered he was well out of the picture. Why could he not get on with his life and leave her alone? There is no need for domestic violence," Dawson said. A friend from the Kenyan community who declined to be named said she last saw the family together at a barbecue last December, and they all seemed happy. "We are all shocked. I have not seen them for months," she said. "I have just come back from Africa myself. She is lovely. "We last met in December and had a laugh and were having fun happy kids, happy mother and happy father. "I knew she was studying ... She said that she had hardly seen anyone because she was so busy studying." They had not met the friend but they understood he had only recently moved to New Zealand.

HOMICIDE: The body of a man, whose identity is not known, is removed from an Avonhead flat

Latest from police on Kenyan murder

Hunt for Kenyan man continues

We are looking for 2 Kenyan main male lead

"We are a photographic agency called Blunt and we represent the photographer Satoshi Minakawa who has been commissioned to shoot for Tusker beer.  We are also producing and casting for this shoot.

We are looking for ‘models’ /real people of Kenyan decent for this upcoming photo shoot.

We are looking for 2 main male lead models;  1 with some football / athletic ability plus 8 other characters who will be more background in  the ads. Within that group we are looking for 2 females and everyone else male.

The brief is as follows: Must be Kenyan / east African and over 25 years old ideal within 25 and 30.

Would need to be available either the  24th / 25th Sept or 28th /29th Sept.

Fee for lead model is £800 each (payable on day)

Fee for background models £150 (again payable on day)

If you could contact any students and let me know if anyone is interested – if they are please ask them to send through photos and date availability, please find my contact detail below.

The images will only run in east Africa as posters but obviously we will be able to supply them with images.

NEW WEBSITE  http://www.bluntlondon.com
BLUNT NEWS  http://www.bluntlondon.com/news.php

        3rd Floor
        94 Leonard Street
        London
        EC2A 4RH

T 00 44 207 613 1188
F 00 44 207 613 7760
M 00 44 7977 141 244

A Kenyan gospel musician Annie wa Kamau is in London

"My name is Annie Wakamu, founder of Family Hope Evangelistic Ministry, whereby we meet every 3rd Sunday of the month.  I am  a member of P.C.E.A  Kangoya  Kiambu, Kenya. I also minister through Kayu FM and Inooro FM from time to time. I am here in London from 12th September, 2009 to 1st October, 2009. I will minister through songs in the Swahili service, London on  Sunday the 20th  from 9.00 a.m to 11.00 am. In the afternoon I will  minister through songs at PCEA Outreach. Then on 27th October I will  preach at PCEA Outreach at 2.00pm. Being an evangelist since 1989  and a gospel musician I have produced two volumes namely; Njiraga Jehova ni wega (Nyamukire maria maroka), Nituoka Baba gucokia ngatho or Baba wi mwihokeku.You can get dvds and cds of songs and  as well as sermons at 5 pounds.  You can contact me on 07536260660 or  Lilian 07798708218.  God bless you all."

Anne Wakamau (left) posing with Rev. Kibathi of PCEA Outreach and his wife

Removing overstayers over the past year has cost New Zealand more than $2 million.  Migrant experts warn the cost will increase as more people fall foul of the strict application of immigration laws during the recession. In the 2008-09 financial year, 740 people who had overstayed their work visas or had their permits revoked were removed from New Zealand and 45 were deported, costing the taxpayer over $2m. Another 905 people left voluntarily after being contacted by immigration officials. Five years ago, 1207 people were removed, two deported and 1202 left voluntarily. Migrant website Move2NZ co-director Mike Bell said removal numbers were likely to increase as migrants were being placed in impossible situations by the inflexible and inconsistent application of immigration rules. He said some of those being removed at great cost to the country were the skilled workers New Zealand needed.

Crossing Nairobi river

In journalism good news never make news but bad news do. For this case crossing Nairobi river from Race Course road has become a nightmare to many Nairobians. These are few captions of today showing how hardworking Kenyans are struggling to cross. Mind you we have authorities who can sort out the mess. Not even ladies were spared. Some had to climb on the guard rails to save themselves but others were not lucky. The went home seething after being splashed the filth by passing matatu's. The reasons behind this started about a month ago between NEMA and City Council of Nairobi. NEMA, under which the kazi kwa vijana work for, have been blocking sewer lines to Nairobi river. This being one way to clean the river. But it seems no consultation has been down between the two organs of the government. Last week we witnessed the city council breaking this sewer line but got blocked days later causing more problems. We would love to see former Town clerk Mr John Gakuo who is Nairobi river cleaning co-ordinator meet the current Town clerk Mr Phillip Kisia to sort out this problem once and for all. - Story and photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya - 16th September, 2009.

Kenya's New Police boss orders return to ‘Michuki Rules’. Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has directed police to enforce the "Michuki rules" to curb road accidents and impunity. Mr Iteere told those opposed to the rules to take up the matter with concerned authorities, including the Judiciary and Parliament. Iteere said his officers would enforce the laws, as they were originally set out. "The so-called Michuki rules, including speed governors, seat belts and uniforms must be enforced to protect passengers and other road users," he told senior police commanders in Nairobi. The rules were introduced by former Transport Minister, now in Environment, John Michuki, in 2005 but have been opposed with some people moving to challenge them in court. Iteere called for support from the public. And in a move aimed at empowering traffic officers, Iteere reverted the command and accountability of the personnel to the Traffic Commandant. "I have directed that all police officers deployed on traffic duty fall under the Commandant of Traffic Department, who will be answerable for the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations as well as conduct of officers under his command," he said. Iteere spoke in Nairobi yesterday after a two-day meeting with PPOs, formation commanders and OCPDs.

A former Police Commissioner Edwin Nyaseda previously directed that the traffic section be run by PPOs. Mr Iteere said organised gangs like Mungiki would not be tolerated and urged politicians to denounce them.  He addressed the killing of a six-year-old Sudanese boy, who had been kidnapped in Komarock, Nairobi, saying officers would pursue those behind the grisly murder. "Criminal gangs have used robbery, kidnapping and other forms of terror to deprive blameless members of society of their fundamental rights. We will firmly and decisively deal with them according to the law," he said. The police boss said they had renewed means to ensure the criminals were brought to justice.  When he took office, he promised to deal with the gangs and traffic issues. Iteere also directed those present to ensure they dealt with corruption involving some of them or their juniors in their areas of jurisdiction. "I won’t hesitate to remove any commander who allows impunity," he said, adding he would push the Government to increase remuneration for officers to boost their morale. Iteere told the officers to stop buck passing and work for the public. He also promised to carry out what is termed business process re-engineering to ensure effectiveness and efficient management. - The Standard.

A light plane has crashed Tuesday afternoon (15/09/09) at Nairobi's Wilson Airport. The crash has resulted in cancellation of flights that depart and land at the airport. Reports indicate while some flights were cancelled, those enroute were diverted to other airports after the incident.  The incident comes just hours after another light aircraft crashed Monday evening at the same airport injuring two police officers. The officers, who were on a training mission during the 7pm incident, were rescued from the plane to safety moments before it burst into flames. They were rushed to the Armed Forces Memorial Hospital where they were admitted in critical condition.

UK unemployment climbs to 2.47m

The number of people out of work in the UK has risen to its highest level in 14 years, official figures have shown. Unemployment increased by 210,000 to 2.47m in the three months to July, taking the jobless rate to 7.9%, the Office for National Statistics said. Claims for unemployment benefit in August grew by 24,400 from July to 1.61m, the highest since May 1997. There have been signs the UK economy is beginning to pick up, but jobless data tends to lag behind other measures. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work rose from 928,000 to 947,000 - edging closer to the landmark of one million and adding to fears of a new "lost generation" of young people. The jobless rate among this age group is at record 19.7% - the highest since records began - meaning one in five is looking for work. Average earnings, including bonuses, increased by 1.7% in the three months to July, down from the previous month.

The level of unemployment is now at its highest since May 2005. Earlier this week, the governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, said there were signs that the UK economy was growing again. But he added that the "strength and sustainability" of the recovery were still "highly uncertain", saying the state of the banking system, levels of debt, and the global economy were all drags on growth. There had been concerns that the unemployment figure would rise above the psychologically important 2.5 million mark this month. However, unemployment is still likely to reach three million in 2010, and could go higher, said economist Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight. "Unemployment is a lagging indicator and the sharp overall economic contraction suffered between the second quarter of 2008 and the second quarter of 2009 will continue to weigh down on the labour market for an extended period," he said. Government spending to boost the economy boosted employment in the public sector by 13,000 in the three months to June, the figure showed. This contrasted with a 230,000 fall in private sector workers over the same period, the ONS said. There are fears that cuts in spending aimed at tackling the huge budget deficit will lead to job losses in the public sector. "More workers, particularly young workers, are paying a devastating price for the bankers' recession and there is some way to go before unemployment stops rising," said Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union.

Serena Williams tries to move on from uproar over outburst

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Serena Williams just wants to move on. But the controversy around her obscenity-laced tirade at a line judge at the U.S. Open continues. Williams, 27, said she was "in the moment" and doesn't really remember her now-famous outburst at a line judge who had called a foot fault. It was a 12-second verbal attack that has played over and over for three days. "It was a really tough point in the match and it was really close and got a really tough call that wasn't the correct call, and, you know, things got a little heated and I had a conversation with the line judge that didn't go so well," Williams said. Willams, ranked No. 2 in the world by the World Tennis Association, said she does not recall moments of Saturday's incident but believes she apologized for her actions promptly and completely. "I couldn't apologize any sooner, and then also I learned from my mistakes ... I was talking to [former Giants defensive end] Michael Strahan earlier today and he said how, when he's out there you're so intense. Obviously, when you get a bad call, it's like 'What's going on?' So when you're in the moment, you are just there. You don't really quite remember exactly what's going on," Williams said. Williams found herself explaining her outburst while promoting her recently published memoir, "On the Line," in which she details growing up the youngest of five sisters, her struggles on the court and off, and her positive messages of inspiration, especially to her younger fans. "Those kids probably just need to know it's great to be a competitor, how passionate someone is, and just making the right decisions at the right time -- realizing that, hey, everyone falls, 'Wow, she's human, she made a bad decision, a bad choice.' "

Dads 'to share maternity leave'

Fathers in UK will be able to take six months paternity leave - but plans to extend maternity pay from nine to 12 months have been shelved, under new plans. The move would allow mothers to return to work after six months and fathers to stay at home with the baby, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson will say. But plans to extend paid maternity leave are to be shelved to save cash. A government source said the manifesto "goal" was "under review" but no decision has been taken. In Labour's 2005 manifesto, the party said it would extend paid maternity leave to nine months - which it did in 2007 - with the "goal of achieving a year's paid leave by the end of the Parliament". The Guardian reported that aim would not now be implemented before the next election. The additional paid leave would have cost £500m and given up to £1,600 to eligible families. Currently fathers can claim up to two weeks' paid leave, up to eight weeks after their child is born. Labour is keen to demonstrate its family-friendly credentials ahead of a general election - but small businesses have reacted angrily to the plan to allow fathers to take up to six month paternity leave. David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said it would be a good idea "when the economy is working at full tilt" but it would harm businesses struggling with the recession. "This is not the time to do it. It is a huge burden to plan for both a male and a female employee being away," he told the BBC News Channel.

News Release

Nairobi Launch for Water Boiler Developed in Scotland

A fast, efficient and cheap water boiler designed in Troon, Ayrshire is to be launched in Nairobi next month, with 350 units being exported to the Kenyan capital for sale direct to householders and retailers. The product is also attracting significant interest from international aid agencies.

The Jompy Water Boiler has been developed by David Osborne, who by day runs a successful plumbing business installing everything from boilers to bathrooms here in Scotland – and by night pursues his passion to develop and take to market effective and innovative water heating solutions for the millions of homes throughout Africa without plumbed water supplies or mains power source.

Last year his company, Celsius Solar, launched its first product, the Celsius Solar Water Tank, a solar powered water heater, now available in Kenya, Malawi and South Africa.

Now, the Jompy Water Boiler has been developed for use on direct heat sources such as gas or solid fuel fires (the most common heat source in the majority of African homes), with a solar attachment included enabling users to employ both or either method.

“The Jompy takes the cultural norm of heating water for cooking, cleaning, washing and drinking requirements in a pan over a fire, and significantly speeds up the process,” explains David who was raised in South Africa before returning to Scotland as a teenager.

“By boiling water around four times quicker than traditional methods, it will enable households to use their fuel more efficiently, ultimately reducing household wood smoke and positively impacting on the environment. Plus the solar attachment is a way to introduce the concept of renewable energy to very traditional, conservative communities who may be resistant to abandoning the age-old tried and tested ways.”

Designed to sit directly on top of a charcoal or wood fire, a cooking pot (known as a Jiko) or gas stove, the frying-pan-shaped device draws water through a narrow tube into its tightly coiled copper piping. Here the cold water is heated and is then dispersed through an outlet pipe. Apart from the fire, all that is required are two containers, such as a bucket for the cold water and a pan for the hot. Its flat surface also means that cooking pots can sit on top of the Jompy, effectively enabling simultaneous cooking and water heating over one fire. The recommended retail price has been set at an affordable 3900 Kenyan Shillings (32GBP) per unit.

Following extensive testing by the Durban Water Authority, the Jompy makes its debut at the Nairobi International Trade Fair on 28th September to 4th October 2009, a national event bringing together the best in Kenyan commerce and agricultural with regional, continental and global exhibitors. The first 350 units are currently being manufactured in Scotland ready for export. However, the product has also been designed with local manufacture in mind, providing opportunities for communities to set up their own manufacturing and distribution businesses.

“The initial response has been excellent. This weekend, one of our partners in Nakuru in Kenya arranged a demonstration of the Jompy at a local church and they were literally selling like hotcakes. The Trade Fair is an opportunity to demonstrate this genuine grassroots market and take the Jompy to the next national and international levels.

“We are also currently speaking to the International Red Cross regarding the Jompy’s potential as a means of enabling unsure or unsafe water to be boiled to safe consumption levels. Again, speed is the key. To make safe water from an unsure or unsafe source, a four minute rolling boil is recommended. Bringing 4 litres to the boil and rolling for 4 minutes will take the Jompy around 7 minutes in total. The traditional method of putting a pan on the fire would take the same quantity around 25minutes.”

Carter says Obama row is 'racist'

Jimmy Carter: "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president" Former US President Jimmy Carter says much of the vitriol against President Barack Obama's health reforms and spending plans is "based on racism". Mr Carter told a public meeting there was "an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president". Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson was rebuked on Tuesday in a House vote. He shouted "You lie!" while Mr Obama was delivering an address on healthcare to Congress last Wednesday. The House resolution of disapproval described it as "a breach of decorum". But Mr Wilson's eldest son, Alan, has denied racism was a factor in his father's outburst. Some conservatives have accused the president's supporters of playing the race card.  Angry town hall meetings and a recent taxpayers' demonstration in Washington have been vitriolic towards the president, reports the BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell. Many have not just protested against the president's policies but have accused him of tyranny, and have promised to "reclaim America". "Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national programme on healthcare," Mr Carter said at a public meeting at his Carter Center in Atlanta held prior to the Congress vote on Tuesday.

"It's deeper than that." Responding to a question specifically on Mr Wilson's outburst, he said Mr Obama was the head of state as well as the head of government and - like heads of state elsewhere, such as the Queen of England - he should be "treated with respect". It was a "dastardly thing to do", he said. His comments were rejected by Joe Wilson's son, Alan, an Iraq veteran who is running for state attorney general in Georgia. "There is not a racist bone in my dad's body," he said. In Tuesday's vote, lawmakers voted 240-179 in favour of the resolution to censure Mr Wilson. The move was backed by most Democrats, but dismissed by many Republicans as a distraction from more serious issues. "My goodness, we could be doing this every day of the week," said Republican Minority Leader John Boehner. But Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer insisted that Mr Wilson's outburst could not be ignored. "At issue is whether we are able to proceed with a degree of civility and decorum that our rules and our democracy contemplate and require," he said. Mr Wilson himself maintained that his personal apology to Mr Obama should have been enough to resolve the matter. Mr Obama "graciously accepted my apology and the issue is over", he said. Mr Wilson's remark came in response to a passage of Mr Obama's speech in which he asserted that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for federal subsidies to buy health coverage. Experts concur that under the terms of Mr Obama's reform package undocumented immigrants would not be able to claim healthcare subsidies.

A public schoolgirl in UK killed one of her friends in a road smash despite being warned she was too drunk to drive, a court heard on Monday 14th September, 2009. Gabriella Edmondson told one of the passengers who attempted to grab the keys from her that she would drive because it was 'my car, my rules'. The 18-year-old's car veered off a dual carriageway and smashed into a barrier, killing passenger Grace Hadman, 17, on April 7. 'The Crown says she was clearly drunk,' prosecutor Cathy Olliver told the court. Edmondson was one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit when she crashed her Toyota Yaris on the A34 near Oxford. Another passenger, promising rugby player Joe Robinson, was left critically injured while a fourth student escaped with minor injuries. They were believed to be returning from a nightclub when the fatal crash happened at 4.15am, Oxford Crown Court was told. All four people in the car were pupils at the £25,000-a-year St Edward's School in Oxford. Edmondson, of Penn, Buckinghamshire, faces up to 14 years in prison after admitting causing death by careless driving while drunk. Judge Mary Jane Mowat banned her from the road until sentencing next month. In a statement released following Grace's death, her parents Bill and Caroline Hadman, from Lower Swell, near Cheltenham, paid tribute to their 'endlessly smiling' daughter.

Friends: Gabriella Edmondson, centre, with school chum Grace Hadman, left  and on right 17-year-old Grace Hadman, who died in the crash

Pastor Anthony Kimani narrates his hijacking in Kenya

"Security back in Kenya is not the best - things have really gone very bad. On 19.08.2009 we were carjacked at gunpoint at Wangige together with a pastor friend of mine and we were crammed in the car boot for five and a half hours. Every second was like a million years and we thought we have lost the battled. The gangsters took us in a forest and resolved that they will kill us. They took all my suitcases and bank cards. They were convinced that I had money when they saw my UK driving licence and they took us in an urban area so that they may remove money from the ATM. The deal was if the card does not have money they will shoot me or hold me hostage. When we heard music and noise we realised we are in a town and we prayed God and gathered courage to jump out of the boot. That is what we did and to the glory of God they never shot even a single bullet despite being fully armed. We asked the people around where we were and they said we were in Eastleigh. God fought for us and my advice to my fellow Kenyan be extra careful and travel if you have to. Avoid carrying all your documents or clothing when travelling within. Let no one know your movements. " - Pastor Anthony Kimani, London, 14th September, 2009.

Pastor Anthony Kimani has written a book entitled "The Move of God from East Africa". The book will be launched in London on on 21st November, 2009. For more information contact 07984796879.

"I Want to Marry My Son"

A Zimbabwean woman and her son have done the unthinkable – they have fallen in love with one another. And now they want to marry since the mom, Betty Mbereko from Mwenezi in Masvingo, is six months pregnant and expecting her son’s child.  Mbereko (40), who was widowed 12 years ago, has been cohabiting with her first child, Farai Mbereko (23).  She confirms that she is six months pregnant and that she has decided it is better to “marry” her son because she does not want to marry her late husband’s young brothers, whom she says are coveting her.  Betty stunned a village court last week when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier.  She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it.  “Look, I strove alone to send my son to school and no one helped me. Now you see that my son is working and you accuse me of doing something wrong. “Let me enjoy the products of my sweat,” she told the village court.  Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the ilobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents.  “I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off,” he said.  “It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant. Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity.”  But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: “We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed). In the past they would have to be killed but today we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police.” He warned them to break off their marriage or leave his village. They chose the latter and have left the village for an unknown destination. – (Source - The Weekend Tribune.)

'Foreign troops kill Somali rebel leader'

Foreign troops have killed one of Somalia's most wanted militants, according to witnesses. Commandos in helicopters reportedly attacked a car near Roobow village in the southern district of Barawe, killing Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan. Kenya-born Nabhan, 28, was wanted over a hotel bombing and a botched missile attack on an Israeli airliner leaving Kenya's Mombasa airport in 2002. A senior Somali government source said the fugitive had been in a car with other senior Islamist insurgents when they were attacked. A local man said foreign soldiers who carried out the raid were wearing French flags on the shoulders of their uniforms. But the spokesman for the French Defence Ministry, Christophe Prazuck, denied any French soldiers were involved, saying: "We don't have any military presence in that region ... there are no forces in that territory." The failed Horn of Africa state has become a safe haven for foreign jihadists, who use it to plot attacks in the region and beyond.

A cheetah called Sarah has set a new speed record for all land mammals. The big cat covered 100 metres in an amazing 6.13 seconds in Cincinnati, America. Sarah eclipsed the previous 6.19 seconds record on a specially-designed course at Cincinnati Zoo's Regional Cheetah Breeding Facility at Mast Farm. She is now officially the world's fastest land animal. The cheetah was so quick that she caught up with the lure that was encouraging her to hit such high speeds. The Cincinnati Enquirer's website said the record attempt was meant to draw attention to the plight of animals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as threatened, the risk level just below endangered. The worldwide cheetah population is estimated at fewer than 10,000, the Enquirer said. The animals can reach speeds of up to 70mph over short distances. In their natural habitat, the African savannah, cheetahs use their speed to chase down prey. In comparison, humans are much slower when it comes to sprinting. Jamaica's Usain Bolt holds the 100-metre record with a time of 9.58 seconds, which he set at the world championships.

The boy’s jaw plucked out by the kidnappers.  They dragged him away, his frail hands dangling in the air, and not long thereafter, ended his six years on earth, leaving behind weeping parents and shattered dreams. The stunned face of the six-year-old, awash with childish innocence and tenderness, did not move the new brood of Kenya’s killers, who kidnap for money and kill if it does not come. - FULL STORY

Airline plot trio get life terms

Three men who plotted to blow up liquid bombs on flights from the UK to North America have been jailed for life, with minimum terms of up to 40 years. Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, was jailed for at least 40 years. Plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, must serve at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, was jailed for at least 32 years at Woolwich Crown Court. Their aim was a terrorist outrage to "stand alongside" the 9/11 attacks on the US in history, the judge said. Mr Justice Henriques called the plot "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction". Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the sentences "reflected the severity of this horrendous plot to kill and maim thousands of people". "I'm very pleased the jury gave a sentence that was proportionate to this potential crime," he said. "Our police and our national security service is a national asset, they've proven that again today." The trial heard that at the time of his arrest, Ahmed Ali, of Walthamstow, east London, had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights that were to be attacked within a two-and-a-half-hour period. "I'm satisfied that there is every likelihood that this plot would have succeeded but for the intervention of the police and the security service," he said.  "Had this conspiracy not been interrupted, a massive loss of life would almost certainly have resulted - and if the detonation was over land, the number of victims would have been even greater still." The judge said that the plot had "reached an advanced stage in its development", with the men in possession of enough chemicals to produce 20 detonators.

The flights due to be targeted were from London's Heathrow airport to San Francisco, Washington, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. Sarwar had obtained bomb ingredients which he kept at his home and in woods in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. A flat in the Walthamstow area of north-east London became the men's bomb factory, where they mixed chemicals that they planned to take onto planes in ordinary sports drinks bottles stored within hand luggage. The plot prompted the biggest terror investigation ever mounted in the UK. The convicted men displayed no emotion at their sentences, although Ahmed Ali shook his head and appeared angry and frustrated at earlier sentencing remarks from the judge. "With this plot you sought the attention of the world and now you have it," Mr Justice Henriques told him. "You have embraced Islamic extremism and it is that burning extremism that has motivated you throughout this conspiracy and is likely to drive you again." E-mails submitted as evidence in the trial had shown that "the ultimate control of this conspiracy lay in Pakistan", the judge said. Ahmed Ali, Sarwar and Hussain, from Leyton, east London, had been "high-level executives within this country".

The men's defence had been that they were planning a political stunt, including small explosions intended only to frighten people at airports. These political demonstrations, they said, would be backed up by a documentary aimed at changing opinion on Western foreign policy. But Mr Justice Henriques dismissed that claim, saying their intention had been "an act of revenge inspired by extremist Islamic thinking" toward the "governments of several allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan". Ahmed Ali, Sarwar and Hussain, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder using explosives on aircraft. They were also convicted of a more general conspiracy to murder offence. A fourth man, Umar Islam, 31, convicted of the more general conspiracy to murder charge, was also given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 22 years in prison. The men's arrests in August 2006 caused chaos to the global aviation industry and prompted continuing restrictions to the amount of liquids passengers can take on to aircraft. This had meant "massive expenditure" and "huge inconvenience for the travelling public" as a direct result of the plot, the judge said. "Tons of liquids are confiscated from the public on a daily basis at airports," he said.  The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, is seeking a retrial of three other men for conspiracy to murder, after the jury failed to reach a verdict on this charge against them.  A hearing on 5 October will decide whether Ibrahim Savant, 28, Arafat Khan, 28, and Waheed Zaman, 25, will face another trial.

Judges follow Court of Appeal sentencing guidelines for terrorism offences. But in the case of the three airline bomb plotters, Mr Justice Henriques said the "quite exceptional" nature of their "grave and wicked" plan meant he would jail them for longer than other men found guilty of conspiracy. Abdulla Ahmed Ali's minimum term of 40 years is the same term as that now being served by the men convicted of the failed London suicide attacks of 21 July 2005. They had taken the final step in their plot, but the judge said Ali's plan was, in fact, more likely to have succeeded. Ahmed Ali had sparred with the prosecution when he gave evidence - and during the judge's sentencing, he angrily shook his head several times. He wanted to die in a "blessed operation" comparable to 9/11 - but he may eventually die an old man, in a prison cell.

PRESS RELEASE

MEGA Initiative Welfare Society Profile

MEGA Initiative Welfare Society was started by business and industrialist visionaries in Kenya in 2005 and has since then been operating with the community level in all provinces of Kenya. The society also has a strong active branch in the Diaspora (mainly UK and USA) which coordinate operations and liaise with Kenya branch.

The founder members had this vision:

‘A prosperous Kenya where people from different ethnic communities live in peace and harmony and where natural resources of the country and talents of its people are exploited for the benefits of all Kenyans’. The mission for the organisation is to mobilise local community resources and network professionals, students, farmers, businesses and technocrats alike in order to build a strong society.

The Key objectives of the organisation are:

·        To demonstrate how a community or region can by exploiting entrepreneurial skills and resources of its people, bring about prosperity within the community and the nation as a whole.

·        To learn from and share knowledge and skills with people of other communities and positively exploit the cultural experiences, technologies and environmental diversities.

·        To network other groups, institutions and organisations in developing and promoting good social and economic practices to eradicate social evils such as insecurity, ignorance, poverty and child and women abuse within our society.

The objectives will be implemented through coordinated research and development programs, incubating and developing business projects and identifying investors within membership and society networks.

Since its inception the organisation has so far set up institutions and projects such as:

·        Savings and credit cooperative

·        Microfinance

·        Estate development

·        Stock markets

·         

Members of the organisation have benefited through networking, business incubation and financial support among others. To learn more about our organisation and how to become a member please contact our secretariat by telephone 07733690952 or by email info@megawelfare.org, you can also attend our annual general meeting on 19th Sept 2009 at Heronsbrook Meeting Place, 5 Wadesmill Lane, Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK7 7ED starting at 5pm.

A major security scare has been triggered after highway robbers in Kenya stole AK-47 magazines meant for UN peace-keeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The robbers attacked the convoy of eight trucks on Sunday morning at Mau Summit, just after Nakuru Town. The convoy was headed for DRC. Although 70 such magazines were recovered by a police squad that swung into action immediately after the early morning theft was reported, investigations are underway to establish if what was recovered was all that had been stolen. A team from the Customs Department in Mombasa arrived at Mau Summit Police Station on Monday morning and spent a better part of the day carrying out verifications.

It was a team work for the media groups in Kenya as they all joined hands to visit Gaichanjiru Location, Muranga, Kenya with a purpose - "to help ediracating jiggers in the community". Mr. Karuga wa Njuguna on behalf of misterseed.com joined the team and what he saw on Saturday 12th September, 2009 he explains that he has not seen it before. Young and old including children who cannot be able to walk because of the jiggers infections. Many were carried to the venue. All Corporate Jigger Eradication Day held at Gaichanjiru Primary School, Kandara Murang'a ended up in success. Among the corporate partners who joined Ahadi trust making jigger eradication in Kenya reality were KBC who covered it live on Kenyan TV for one hour between 12 to 1 pm, USAID, Ministry of Public Health, Colgate, Johnson and Johnson, Safaricom, CITI bank, Haco industries, KQ, EABL, NIC bank, Family bank, Barclays, KCB, Equity, KISSFM, Classic 105, EAST FM, Radio Jambo,  XFM, Relax FM, The Star, KISS TV, Classic TV and Misterseed.com. This year the area has seen 10 people dead as a result jigger infection. Others are in dire need of help since several could not walk on their own. This has affected all age groups including very young children. Ahadi says  over 1.5 million children are infested countrywide with 10 percent dropping out of school every year. During the event, many were shocked not to see the area MP for Kandara as well as the DC who had promised to join hands. They however sent no apologies which did not go down well to the visitors. Over 2,000 victims attended the event making the place a beehive of activities. Another one is set for Saturday 19th September, 2009 in the same area. To follow and support Ahadi please visit  www.jigger.ahadi.org. - Story and photo by Karuga wa Njuguna.

It was a horrific scene and some of the photos might be disturbing - CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

EUROCRATS TO CONTROL BRITAIN'S BORDERS

London, Saturday 12th September, 2009. Britain will be forced to take in an extra 30,000 ref­ugees a year as part of an EU bid to seize control of our immigration system, the Daily Express can reveal. Brussels chief Jose Manuel Barroso intends to appoint a commissioner in charge of a new Europe-wide immigration bureau if he is re-elected as European Commission president next week. The new EU department would have wide-ranging powers that would supersede national law, similar to the Commission’s role in trade, transport, agriculture and fisheries. The plan was condemned last night as sealing Britain’s fate as a sovereign nation. UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: “This is outrageous. This would give migrants the green light to head for Europe. “The proposal to create an EU Immigration Commissioner shows that Brussels is serious in taking over the last remnants of our immigration policy. “Decisions on who can and cannot enter the country, who can and cannot live here, are the essence of an independent country. This shows we aren’t.” Some 238,365 refugees asked for ­asylum in the EU in 2008, latest figures reveal. However, an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants come to Europe every year, according to Brussels officials, with up to eight million already living and working illegally in the EU. The Brussels plan would mean Britain would have to accept an extra 30,940 refugees on top of 20,000 asylum applications processed by the Home Office every year. More than 100,0000 migrant workers also come to the UK legally.

President Barroso revealed his plan to Maltese MEPs this week as he canvassed support for re-election at a vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The proposals would force Britain to accept tens of thousands of migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East as EU states would be compelled to share the burden of illegal immigration faced by Malta, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain. The UK would be obliged to take in up to 13 per cent of all EU refugees as part of a common European asylum policy to which we are already committed.The percentage share, which is worked out by population, would see Britain having to accept 30,940, more than any other country apart from Germany. The EU has already begun a controversial re-settlement programme of asylum seekers from Malta with the first batch of African migrants accepted by France earlier this year. Brussels is now calling on the UK and all other EU members to take in the thousands of migrants held in detention centres on the Italian island of Lampedusa, on the Greek islands and mainland, and in the Canary Islands. European Commission vice-president Jacques Barrot’s spokesman told the Daily Express: “The UK is part of the EU and its common asylum policy. A determined European response based on firmness, solidarity and shared responsibility is essential, in line with the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. We are bringing practical solutions to put real solidarity in place, action not just words. The French example sets the tone. “In view of the present humanitarian emergency, concrete measures need to be quickly put in place and implemented.”

President Barroso wants to widen Europe’s role in combating illegal immigration and share the burden of asylum seekers who are heading to Europe from North Africa. States on Europe’s southern border have been the destination of growing numbers of migrants desperate to start a new life in Europe. Every week hundreds set off in overcrowded boats. Malta, whose population is just over 400,000, claims it has become overwhelmed by illegal immigrants since it joined the EU in 2004 and has appealed to Brussels for help. Greece, Italy and Spain have also asked for greater assistance in combating illegal immigration. Last night an EU Commission spokeswoman said President Barroso would reveal details of his plan “in due course”. But the Home Office said it would not agree to the proposals. A spokesman said: “The UK will not agree to anything that weakens our control over our ­borders and the EU has no power to force us to take extra asylum seekers or determine our immigration policy. “We fully recognise the acute pressures faced by member states at the Mediterranean border, but we do not believe that internal EU relocation is the right solution – it has the potential simply to provide further incentives for illegal migrants and those who facilitate their movement. “Instead we need to work closely with third countries to tackle ­illegal flows before they reach our shores.”

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The organising committee of

New Hope Orphans Children Home

Cordially invites

 ALL WELL WISHERS

To a fundraising in aid of  New Hope Orphan Children’s Home on

Sunday 27th September, 2009 at Manor Park Community Centre, 524 High Street North,

London, Eastham, E12 6QN as from 6.00 p.m.

Your attendance or contribution will be high appreciated.

Contact  - Mrs. Anne Chege Tel: 0794 7883505.

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TRAVEL FIRM LEAVES 10,000 WAITING FOR THEIR CASH

Thousands of holidaymakers left out of pocket when the UK’s third-largest tour operator collapsed have still not had their money back, it emerged last night. Regulators blamed incomplete documents for nearly 10,000 disappointed travellers not having had refunds one year after the collapse of XL Leisure Group. The group went into administration last September leaving some 85,000 British holidaymakers stranded. Those insured under the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme (Atol) were entitled to compensation from the Civil Aviation Authority. But as yesterday’s deadline passed, the CAA admitted that 9,788 claims have yet to be settled. Last night, travel watchdogs branded the “shambolic” system a “disgrace”. The CAA apologised for the delay. Spokesman David Glover said: “It is the CAA’s intention to settle all valid claims as quickly as possible.”

London, Saturday 12th September, 2009. Tens of thousands of students could start the academic year with no funding and unable to register at university because the loans company is in crisis and struggling to cope with a deluge of applications. Weeks before the start of term, 150,000 applications out of almost a million still have not been processed. Many students have no financial support in place and no way of knowing if and when their loans and grants will be awarded. It is taking students days to get through on the helpline. Instead, they go straight to a recorded message apologising for the problem. Those who do manage to speak to an adviser have reported delays and missing paperwork.

A record 623,389 students are going to university this year, fuelled by a surge of late applications through the clearing system, and their claims for finance have swamped the Student Loans Company. For the first time, new applications are being handled centrally by the SLC rather than by local authorities. But local authorities are handling applications of returning students and some are taking submissions from new students, to forward to the SLC, which has taken on only 120 extra staff to cope with the million applications for grants and loans. Students need a letter proving that they have funding in place before they can enrol at university, and many institutions are already beginning registration for the autumn term.

A spokeswoman for the University of the Arts London said: “We are expecting a lot of people to turn up at the end of September without knowing how they are going to pay their tuition fees or whether they are going to have any money to live on.” Those most in need of help could be worst hit as means-tested applications take longer to process. Phil Willis, the MP who chairs the Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee, said: “It’s chaos . . . a huge, bureaucratic nightmare. The SLC doesn’t have the staff or the software to deal with it.” David Willetts, the Shadow Universities Secretary, has written to Lord Mandelson, who has responsibility for universities, saying that he is receiving letters and e-mails every day from students and parents finding it hard to obtain accurate information. A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesman said: “The loans company has assured us that all those who have applied on time for finance will receive this at the start of the next academic year.”

The Times newspaper in London explains on Saturday 12th September, 2009 that students are facing a new academic year without funding as the student loans company is in crisis, reports The Times and Britain will soon be forced to accept an extra 30,000 refugees every year as part of a new EU regulation, according to the Daily Express.

Prime Minister, Raila A. Odinga, M.P. will lead the Kenyan Delegation to this years U.N General Assembly meetings in New York, USA from 23rd -30th September 2009. While in New York the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister wishes to meet with and host all Diaspora Kenyans in the U.S, Mexico and Colombia before the U.N General Assembly.

Student loans in UK: Anxious university students left waiting for their loans

Record numbers of university applicants are calling the Student Loans Company because they have not had their money confirmed. Just weeks before the term starts, students are claiming that that they have not received confirmation of applications and that sent documents have gone missing. A rise in the number of people wanting to go on to higher education and thousands of last-minute applications have been blamed. A spokeswoman for the Student Loans Company, which oversees the distribution of student loans and maintenance grants, said that all those who applied on time would be paid at the start of term. Online blogs carry several tales of woe of lost applications and engaged phone lines. One applicant said that she was told it would take six weeks for student finance advisers to open letters. Another said: “Been waiting since March. People on the phone are no help (often contradict each other), misleading letters, letters asking for things they’ve already had or lost... the list goes on.” A spokeswoman for the University of the Arts London said: “We are expecting a lot of people to turn up at the end of September without knowing how they are going to pay their tuition fees, or whether they are going to have any money to live on.” Julia Manley, a senior student money adviser at Anglia Ruskin University, said that those most in need of help could be among the worst hit, because means-tested applications take longer to process. This year is the first time that all new students in England have had to apply for financial help through a single body rather than through their local authorities, resulting in speculation that the system has been overstretched. The deadline for applications was in June but thousands of late applications are still being dealt with in order of university start date. A spokeswoman for the Student Loans Company said: “More than 700,000 people are scheduled for payment at the start of university term and we’re putting all of our available resources behind dealing with the unprecedented level of calls that we are receiving. “We are processing late applications at a faster rate than any other year and are currently processing applications received two weeks ago.”

Giant parrot attacks policeman

A giant pet parrot attacked a policeman after its owner was pulled over for driving with the bird on her shoulder. The driver was arrested after the officer discovered she was banned from driving - but then had to drive her car to the pound with the pet parrot flying loose inside the car. The macaw, which was furious at being parted from its owner, launched wave after wave of attack on the officer - leaving him with bite and scratch marks to his hands and arms as he tried to drive the car to the pound. Chief officer Steve Masters said he drafted in a raw recruit to take care of the macaw, saying that the 'bad' jobs fell to new people in the job. The RSPCA in Dover now has the bird.

Nairobi, Saturday 12th September, 2009. Kenya's house speaker's Kenneth Marende ruling allowing parliament to question the legality of Kenya Anti Corruption Commission director Ringera's re-appointment and his two deputies has Friday sparked debate. On one hand lawyers argue though parliament has the legal mandate to check the executive, it lacks the legal teeth to revoke the gazette notice and force Ringera out of office. Politicians on their part are reading from a different script.  According to lawyers, Marende's ruling doesn't carry much clout in forcing the executive to reverse the decision, citing the doctrine of separation of powers. This means now that parliament cannot overturn the decision by the executive to reappoint the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission director and his two assistants. However, parliament has three options that could lead to the removal of the officers from office. According to lawyers Haroun Ndubi and Dr. Kiama Wangai parliament has a duty to check the activities of the executive but whatever recommendations they come up with in the Ringera issue would remain as a political statement. On Tuesday, parliament will debate a joint report by house committees on administration of justice and delegated legislation on the legality of the reappointment. On Thursday, house speaker Kenneth Marende gave parliament the go ahead to debate the reappointment of Justice Ringera and his assistants Smokin Wanjala and Fatuma Sichale.

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The Organising Committee of Paul Mukiri (Blessed) who was Suddenly Deported to Kenya in June 2009,
 
Cordially Invites all his  Friends, Relatives and Well Wishers,
 
to a HARAMBEE  Ceremony to be held on 3rd October 2009 at

Denmark Arms, 381 Barking Road, East Ham, London, E6 1LA from 6.00pm.
  
The Guests of Honour will be:
 
*PASTOR MUHORO - MK                                 *MAMA SHIKO - ILFORD
 *KK - NOTINGHAM                                           *AUTIE MSOO - LONDON
 *SOLOMON WANJEMA - NORTHAMTON      *ROBERT KING'ANG'A - CROYDON
 *ANN WAMBUI - TEXAS, USA                          *PASTOR MWAURA- LONDON 

Blessed are the Merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
 
Your Presence, Support, Contribution and Prayers will be Highly Appreciated.
 
RSVP: Mr Alex Kamau -07944701204, Pastor Mwaura - 07723076569 or Pastor Wangaruro -07940105578. 

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New Kenyan passports acquire hi-tech features

Have you ever wondered why the Ministry of Immigration takes your photograph besides those you attach to your passport application form? Some applicants think this is meant to make their life difficult, but the Saturday Nation has learnt that the photo is meant to be printed electronically on the bio-data page of your travel documents. The move is part of a wider strategy to enhance the security features of passports. In the past, the picture was only attached to the passport manually, making it easy for criminals to replace and thus steal other people’s identities. The new security features will be in line with internationally accepted standards to protect the security and integrity of passports. It is, in fact, a step towards issuing e-passports in future. The move constitutes part of the wider plan for countries to harmoniously heighten the fight against terrorism and combat transnational organised crime. With the April 2010 deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) resolve to improve security of travel documents fast approaching, Kenya has just met part of the requirements. - FULL STORY

New Hope Orphans Centre in Kenya - Updates

Mrs. Anne Chege and her daughter Catherine Njeri in London on Sunday 23rd August, 2009

- Her contact while in the UK is 07947883505 or email: newhopechildren@mail.com

1. NEW HOPE CENTRE-Uplands, Kenya.

 Home is run by Mr & Mrs Chege, both retired bankers. They both live inside the Orphanage as volunteers, assisted by 12 staff. The current population is 140 children, 90 girls and 50 boys. We have additional 60 external children, who we assist with School Fees, and sometimes food. They live with their relatives. The children attend different schools in the local community, some in High School, Primary and Nursery School. We have a few who stay at home, as they have not attained the school going age.

At New Hope, we now have electricity, and running water from our bore-hole, PRAISE GOD.

The photo of New Hope.

2. HIGHER LEARNING.

  Three girls have already completed University, courtesy CALVARY CHARISMATIC BAPTIST CHURCH.

The 3 are currently working.

We have now 11 at University, three of whom are sponsored by CALVARY CHURCH.

3. OUTREACH MINISTRY

  Every Saturday, we give food to the hungry neighbours, mostly very old people. We supply maize flour, sometimes with cooking fat, salt, soap---etc. The quantity depends on availability of funds. We manage to reach 50 families only, although the number has drastically increased. I have been forced to turn some away empty handed------a very painful experience.

Occasionally, we give clothes when available.

Photo of such families---- WANGUI came from Nyeri, with starving kids. She wanted to abandon them somewhere----we asked her to stay with us.

4. GRANDMOTHERS' VILLAGE ( Valerie's Village).

Last year, we purchased 1 acre plot for grandmothers, where we constructed 12 houses.

The grannies were from the roadside, or along the railway live, where they had been given notices of eviction. In front of each house, an empty portion of land, where they use for farming, or their grand children can put up houses. We gave them completely, for their generations----downwards until the return of the Lord.

Each house has 3 rooms, a separate kitchen, and a water tank for harvesting rain water.

They entered the new houses on 28th Feb 2009, with prayers from many local churches. One granny commented------'This is our Canaan, the Promised Land----I now believe I will see the New Jerusalem---'

Photos of old houses, and new house..

5. OUR NEEDS AND PROJECTS.

  (a). General. You may help us in general for our upkeep. Everything has been very expensive, especially food.

 (b). Sponsor kids in High School, either at New Hope or external. Day School Fees, £100 per year, boarding £ 250 per year payable in 3 instalments.

  (c). Sponsor University Students, £ 1000 per year, payable twice. Partial sponsorship is welcome.

        Photos to follow.

  (d). Support a starving family. Monthly £10 will support a family for 1 month.

  (e). We have found 1.25acres land, for Kshs 1million. We intend to settle 15 homeless families in 2010. Kindly contribute towards this fund.

      You can also fund construction of 1 house---either partial or whole.

SEEKING FOR SPONSORSHIP

1. Dennis Muchiri-----a total orphan without both parents. He comes from MPEKETONI in Mombasa. Denis was admitted to Kenyatta University in 2008, for teaching course, but lacked money to go. He has been at home ever since, waiting upon God. Kindly help, partially or whole. I have his admission papers, and other details.

2. Yvonne Nyambura and Melvin Waweru, brother and sister, both from Eldoret where they suffered tribal clashes violence. Their dad died, their mum is jobless, and has been unable to take them to Uni. Kindly assist.

THANKS.

Special tribute to everyone who have helped us at New Hope, in any way. Even those who ever prayed for us, am truly grateful. Could be, your prayers upheld me----on that day when I felt discouraged, when I felt weak and unable to pray, when my soul was so downcast-----your prayers upheld me. Kindly continue.

To you all, this is your portion;

'BLESSED IS HE WHO HAS REGARD FOR THE WEAK, THE LORD DELIVERS HIM IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. THE LORD WILL PROTECT HIM AND PRESERVE HIS LIFE, HE WILL BLESS HIM IN THE LAND AND NOT SURRENDER HIM TO THE DESIRES OF HIS FOES. THE LORD WILL SUSTAIN HIM IN HIS SICK BED

AND RESTORE HIM FROM HIS BED OF ILLNESS.' Psalms 41;1-3

                                 and

' THOSE WHO SAW IN TEARS WILL REAP IN SONGS OF JOY, HE WHO GOES OUT WEEPING CARRYING SEEDS TO SOW, WILL RETURN WITH SONGS OF JOY,  CARRYING SHEAVES WITH HIM' Psalms 126;5-6.

PHOTOS FOR SOME KIDS AT NEW HOPE;

- twins MBUGUA AND KARANJA, 4 yrs old, total orphans----their sister Lillian, who had left school, to take care of the twins.

Lillian is now in School, class 6.

- Our girls' foot-ball team.

- David and his sister Beatrice.

Lastly, whatever is happening at New Hope in as little at the 'drop of water' in the ocean. There is so much to be done----the journey is long.

May the name of the Lord be Glorified. I urge you all to forget me or my husband and family, as we are only vessels used by God, to accomplish His purposes. Honour and thank God, and pray that He will touch more people----the journey is long.

I invite you to a fundraising on Sunday, Sept 27th, August, 2009 at MANOR PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE, 524 HIGH STREET NORTH, LONDON. E12  6QN AS FROM 6.00 P.M. Tel 0208 514 0903.

- David and his sister Beatrice.

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS.

If you help, our UK bank details; BARCLAYS BANK, sort code 20 92 60, acc no 20984698, name Anne Gathoni Chege.

You may also contribute through our UK Charity representatives,  HAND IN HAND, 3c The Granaries, Reeds Farm Estate, Roxwell Road, CHELMSFORD. CM1 3ST. website; www.hihand.org , email; info@hihand.org. Tel 01245 421177.

Even a small donation will make a huge difference at New Hope----that's how we have arrived where we are today.

My UK Tel 0794 7883505, until end of Sept.

In His service.

Anne Chege.

  (f). Support another children's home who we assist, FOUNTAIN OF LIFE SUPPORT PROGRAMME, JUJA, and Grace Children's Home in Kagwe, Lari Uplands.

I invite everyone coming to Kenya, to visit us, my Tel 0720 240585. We shall facilitate your arrival, once you are in Kenya.

FOR MORE INFO, KINDLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE, www.newhopechildrenscentre.org

Kshs. 6 million from a Mombasa businessman

President Mwai Kibaki thanks Mombasa businessman Ali Pujani after he received a donation of Ksh. 6m during a fund raising in aid of the Faza island fire victims at K.I.C.C, Nairobi. Looking on is Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

"We are responsible for what we believe and influence others to believe." - Sanity, Grace Njeri, Oxford

Heathrow trafficker jailed

Home Office, 09 September 2009

A Swedish man has been jailed for trafficking Sri Lankans into Britain through Heathrow. Desmon Royal Colabage Don, aged 36 was arrested following the arrival of three asylum seekers at the airport's Terminal 4 in July 2008. He was stopped in the customs channels by UK Border Agency officers, who discovered three forged Indian passports in his hand luggage. At the same time three Sri Lankans (two males and a female) presented themselves to passport control with mutilated Sri Lankan passports which didn't have United Kingdom visas, and claimed asylum. The trio had travelled with Colabage Don from Uganda, via Amsterdam. They admitted that they had paid him between £7,000 and £16,000 for him to organise their journey and act as an agent for them, and they had used the forged passports to board the flight to Heathrow. Subsequent investigations by officers from our Heathrow Immigration Prosecution Unit revealed that Colabage Don was also linked to two Sri Lankans who arrived without travel documents the previous month. In total he was charged with four counts of facilitation, and three offences under the Identity Cards Act. Following a five-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court, he was found guilty and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
 Inspector Charlie Monks, head of the Heathrow Immigration Prosecution Unit said:

'This prosecution shows how seriously we and the courts take this form of crime. 'Colabage Don was happy to flout the UK's immigration rules, and was profiting by thousands of pounds in doing that. 'His was a sophisticated operation. But today's conviction should serve as a warning to others like Mr Colabage Don - we will catch them, and they will end up behind bars.'

Philip Astle, the UK Border Agency's Heathrow director, said:

'My officers, often working with colleagues from the police and other law enforcement agencies, have had a great deal of success in stopping organised criminal networks like this getting people into the country illegally through Heathrow. 'Facilitation is an appalling crime, and we will do all we can to stop the perpetrators.'

The Heathrow Immigration Prosecution Unit works with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate, arrest and prosecute immigration offenders. Between April 2008 and April 2009 it carried out 280 arrests, resulting in 273 convictions.

KENYA GOT TALENT

I hope you have enjoyed.Kenyan's GOT TALENT!!!!!! - photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

London, Friday 11th September, 2009. Ten people have been arrested during a demonstration outside a mosque in north-west London where an anti-Islamic protest was planned. At least 1,000 people gathered outside Harrow Central Mosque as activists from Stop Islamification of Europe planned to demonstrate outside the mosque. Unite Against Fascism were also present to "defend the mosque", they said. Bricks, bottles and firecrackers were thrown at police officers who were present in riot gear at the scene. Just after 2000 BST, police said there were a small number of people in the area. Mobile patrols were continuing in a bid to reassure residents. - VIDEO

Consultation on UK Border Agency charges

Home Office, 09 September 2009

The UK Border Agency has launched a public consultation on the fees it charges for its immigration and visa services.We want to get people's views on the fees we should charge for earned citizenship, which will be introduced in 2011. We also want to consult on other new chargeable services that could be introduced in future to respond to customer demand and improve customer choice - for example, optional premium services at a higher fee. Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

'I believe that it is fair that those who benefit from using our immigration system should help fund it, and we will continue to use charges to recover part of our costs. 'This consultation is part of an ongoing process to ensure we can run a modern and efficient system that welcomes legitimate migrants and balances the interests of both the users of the system and the UK taxpayer. 'Already migrants contribute over £650 million towards our costs. This goes to fund the 25,000 staff who work in local communities, at the border and in 135 countries around the world.'

The consultation is open for 12 weeks, until 1 December 2009. To take part, visit the Charging consultation page.

Kshs 64.8m raised for Faza fire victims

President Mwai Kibaki receives a donation from National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende during a fund raising in aid of the Faza island fire victims at K.I.C.C, Nairobi. Looking on is Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. President Mwai Kibaki Friday helped to raise over Kshs 64.8 million in aid of the Faza Island fire victims. Speaking at the fundraising held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, President Kibaki thanked Government ministries, parastatals, the private sector and individuals who donated generously towards assisting those affected by the fire disaster. The President, who made a personal donation of Kshs 3 million, said contributions should continue until all the houses that were gutted down by fire are built afresh. "We should continue in this spirit because we want to ensure that we rebuild all the houses destroyed by the fire," President Kibaki said. Conveying his sympathies to the residents of Faza Island for the loss caused by the fire, President Kibaki noted that the destruction of houses and personal property is a great loss. In this regard, the President said Faza Island residents should be assisted to resume their normal lives.

Q&A: How do you define sex?

Reports suggest that gender tests on 800m world champion Caster Semenya have shown both male and female characteristics. The results are still to be examined by a team of experts and it is likely to be a few weeks before the IAAF confirms the reports or announces further detail. The delay highlights the complexity involved in diagnosing intersex conditions, an umbrella term for a wide range of developmental differences in the reproductive and sexual systems in the body.

How do you define sex?

Peter Bowen-Simpkins, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and an expert in these conditions, explains there are four types of sex. There is your phenotype, which is what you look like, your psychological sex, which is what you feel like and which usually the same as your phenotype and related to how you have been brought up. There is also your gonadal sex which is whether you have ovaries or testicles and your chromosomal sex which is what combination of x or y chromosomes you have. It is the chromosomes that direct, through the production of hormones, the development of a baby in the womb down a male or female route. A diagnosis of an intersex condition is not just based on anatomy but is dependent on genetic, hormonal and other factors. The World Health Organisation points out that gender is a social construct. When people refer to gender testing, what they are really talking about is biological sex. A person's view of their gender may be different from the biological sex assigned to them.

How common are intersex conditions?

The prevalence of different intersex conditions is difficult to estimate, partly because it depends on the definition. But there are dozens of conditions which fall under this category. And it is thought that around one in 3,000 UK children is born with a noticeable intersex disorder. Some conditions may only become apparent later in life, if at all.

How do such conditions arise?

In the womb the chromosomes determine whether the foetus develops as a male or female by controlling what hormones are produced. But errors can occur in this pathway. For example, in a common condition called androgen insensitivity syndrome, the foetus has male chromosomes but it does not respond to testosterone. As a result, the baby develops down the "default" female route. The testes are there but usually do not descend and remain hidden in the body and the condition does not become apparent until adolescence when the girl does not start her period. "It is all about how you define sex and the fact you have acquired a male chromosome which does not work is not what makes you male," says Mr Bowen-Simpkins. "These girls are female to look at and feel very female." In another condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the foetus is female but produces lots of testosterone leading to the development of male genitalia.

What other conditions are there?

Other disorders include having an abnormal number sex chromosomes, including Turner syndrome, where individuals have one x chromosome and no y chromosome. In Klinefelter's syndrome, males have two or more x chromosomes in addition to one y chromosome which leads to abnormal development of the testis and low levels of testosterone. Men who inherit an extra y chromosome are usually taller than average and are prone to acne because of high levels of testosterone. It has also been linked with learning difficulties and behavioural problems. In some rarer conditions apparent from birth, decisions over what sex to assign the baby can be very difficult. "I have looked after someone in the past couple of years who was diagnosed as female at birth who then turned out to be male and converted to male in their 30s," says Mr Bowen-Simpkins. "They went on to produce sperm and father a baby through IVF."

How is the psychological aspect dealt with?

If an intersex condition becomes apparent or is diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood, the impact on the individual whose gender is under question can be profound. It is vital that discussions around intersex conditions are handled sensitively and patients are offered the right support, says Mr Bowen-Simpkins. In the case of Caster Semenya it must have been a nightmare for her and her family, he adds. "Psychologically it must be torture. "They have in good faith brought her up as a girl and now they are being told different. "It is impossible to say what condition she may have, but in the end it would have to be her decision as to what she felt like. "She is an adult and the decision on things like whether to have surgery must be hers alone." He added: "The single most important thing is getting the right support and counselling and I sincerely hope she's getting it."

More than 5,000 families will leave the Mau Forest without compensation, according to a new government document. A paper prepared by the interim secretariat coordinating the rehabilitation of the water tower says that only 1,962 people on forest land are sure to get compensation from the government. - MORE

Now, even monkeys make the menu

This year is tough for wildlife. Thousands have died from hunger and thirst due to drought while others play hide and seek to avoid humans who hunt them for food. Even baboons, monkeys and chimps that once were common along major highways have taken cover. Conservationists say besides drought, the rapid growth in wildlife meat trade is the other danger facing wildlife. The growth, they say, is buoyed by the ‘free resource’; hunger and perceptions bush meat is tastier. "It has now become an informal industry founded on what is regarded as a free resource," says a biologist, Mr Iregi Mwenja. He says recent media reports that Nairobi is the hub of game meat and consumption are misleading. Mwenja says although Nairobi is a big meat outlet, reports that bush meat trade in the city could be up to 47 per cent are untrue. "It would be impossible to transport that kind of meat illegally every day," he says. Mwenja says bush meat dealers mostly target large herbivores such buffaloes, elands, zebras and giraffes.  "If for example, every day 450 buffaloes are killed in Nairobi alone, how long would it take for the buffalo to be extinct?"  The researcher puts the figure for Nairobi bush meat trade at between two and five per cent at most. Drought and hunger have increased demand for game meat. The researcher says the displacement of people during the post-election violence also forced many people to move near game parks and reserves. "Some now eke a living from bush meat," he says. Mwenje says Soysambu ranch and conservancy is affected by increased poaching.

"The IDPs have been killing game in the conservancy because they do not have alternative source of livelihood," he says. Kenya Wildlife Service Corporate Affairs Manager Paul Udoto says trading in game meat has been exacerbated by drought and hunger. "Bush meat trade is reportedly on the increase along Naivasha/Nakuru highway, Ukambani, Kitengela and Nairobi," he says. He says KWS is on high alert to keep poachers off game and national reserves. Ms Paula Kahumbu, of the Wildlife Direct, says killing of wildlife for consumption is high because of hunger. In some areas, she says, people are eating primates. "In Baringo District, investigations have shown people are trapping baboons and slaughtering them for food," she says. Kahumbu says irrespective of drought and famine, wildlife should also be protected from poachers. "Several years back there used to be lots of duikers, impalas, and gazelles roaming in the Tsavo parks and straying along the road but today if you spot a dik dik you count yourself lucky," says Kahumbu. Mwenja says bush meat trade thrives along Naivasha/Nakuru highway. "I was once served bush meat without my knowledge at Kikopey meat joints," he says. Game meat is attractive because the profit margins are higher. Mwenja says in the last 30 years the country has lost up to 70 per cent of the large herbivoures to bush meat trade. He says it is not difficult to tell the difference between bush meat and that from domestic animals. "Bush meat is very lean and red in most cases".  He says since wild animals are mostly strangled , there is likelihood of blood clots in the meat. - The Standard.

This is not a way to guard a bank. This was at Kagwe town in Gatamaiyu division, Lari District and on right a donkey at work in Kagwe. - photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya - photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi

Gender tests on South African athlete Caster Semenya have found she is a hermaphrodite, an Australian newspaper reported, as a senior official admitted she may not be "100 per cent" female. Sydney's Daily Telegraph, citing an unnamed source involved in the tests on the world 800m champion, said she had both male and female sex organs and no womb or ovaries. "There certainly is evidence Semenya is a hermaphrodite," the source was quoted as saying. Pierre Weiss, secretary-general of the International Association of Athletics Federations, earlier told AFP that Semenya was "possibly between two sexes". "It is clear that she is a woman but maybe not 100 per cent," Weiss said, adding that the case would be decided by the IAAF executive council in November. "We have to see if she has an advantage from her possibly being between two sexes compared to the others." The furore has enraged South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, which called testing the 18-year-old "sexist and racist". The IAAF has said Semenya is unlikely to be stripped of her world title earned last month in Berlin, but confirmed four athletes in earlier cases were "asked to stop their career". "The trouble is the IAAF now have the whole ANC and the whole of South Africa on their backs," the source said. "Everything is going to have to be done absolutely by the book, no question of a challenge to the findings."

She added: "The problem for us is to avoid it being an issue now which is very personal: of the organs being a hermaphrodite, of not being a 'real' woman. It's very dramatic." Semenya, whose coach has quit over the controversy, has called the row "a joke" and undergone an image makeover in which she posed for a South African magazine. "There's all sorts of scans you can do. This is why it's so complicated," the source said. "In the past you used to do a gynaecological exam, blood test, chromosome test, whatever. That's why they (the findings) were challenged, because it's not quite so simple. "So what they do now is they do everything, and then they can say look, not only has she got this, she's got that and the other." Weiss admitted the IAAF was struggling to deal with the complex case, which will be decided at the November 20-21 executive council meeting. "We still don't have all the results and those we do have must be submitted to experts for evaluation," he said. "The problem we have today is to know whether we submit these results to experts from outside the IAAF or our own medical commission which meets in Monaco on October 16, or to the two panels." He added: "We don't have any texts on this subject as we do for doping. There is no provision in our rules as to what our decision might be."

KIKUYU PROVERB

Munua umwe ni ugaruragirwo

One mouth must be changed; i.e. it is not good to talk always with the same person nor about the same things.

Change of pasture makes fat calves.

Wembley Stadium is to be turned into a giant ice rink this Christmas.

The outdoor rink, reported to be the biggest in Britain, will run around the outside of the pitch. According to the Evening Standard, it will be able to handle up to 750 skaters an hour. The huge ice rink will be 355m long. Tickets will cost £11.50 for an adult and £9 for children. All inclusive tickets, which also offer a football tour and other activities, will cost £32.50 for an adult. Organisers will freeze 2,000 square metres of ice in the six metre-wide track between the grass and the seats, according to the newspaper. For tickets and more information see www.wembley.com.

"If you find that your son or daughter has lost interest in life, where nothing matters to him/her anymore; you should get concerned and find out the source of the problem." - Pastor JJ. Gitahi, Kenya.

Do you know that Tesco Supermarket in UK is richer than the Kenya government? Last year they registered £6.5 billion profit  with an overall turnover of £1 million a minute

A LUO PROVERB

Goda apayo to aidho.

My hill, I clear it as I climb it.

It is my problems; I take full responsibility for it.

UK households saw their wealth drop by an average of almost £31,000 each last year, because of the credit crunch and the recession, research shows. Figures calculated for the BBC show that falling house prices knocked £422bn pounds off the value of the nation's housing wealth. And falling share prices dented other financial wealth to the tune of £393bn. It was the first time such a fall has happened since 2001, according to calculations by the Halifax bank. The figures were based on official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Bank of England. The Halifax worked out that, overall, the accumulated wealth of the UK's 26,652,000 homes fell by £815bn in the course of last year as the gathering economic and financial crisis undermined house prices and stock market investments. That was a drop of 12%. "It is a huge drop to happen in one year," said Martin Ellis, chief economist at the Halifax. "But we have had the biggest house price fall yet seen in just one year, combined with a fall in equity prices," he added.

"A child can play with her mother's breasts, but not her father's testicles." - The Wisdom of Africa, Guinea

Nigeria begins vast river dredge

Nigeria has started a vast operation to dredge the River Niger to enable boats to carry goods from the Atlantic Ocean to remote villages in the interior. The 36bn naira (£140m, $233m) project will remove silt from hundreds of miles of the river - Africa's third-longest. The government says it will bring communities together and secure the flow to hydro-electric plants. Activists have previously said the dredging could damage the livelihoods of villagers along the river. The BBC's Chris Ewokor, in Abuja, says the project has been in the pipeline for four decades, but has been put off by successive governments. At the signing-off ceremony in Lokoja, President Umaru Yar'Adua said the dredging - which is expected to take six to eight months - would ensure "all-year-round navigability". "It will provide an attractive, cheaper and safer means of haulage of goods, while engendering linkages and promoting trading activities between adjoining communities," he said. About 572km (355 miles) of the river will be dredged - from Baro in central Nigeria to Warri in the Niger Delta. Our correspondent says the build-up of silt on the river bed has reduced the Niger's retention capacity, resulting in floods and limiting the possibilities of transportation. Officials are also concerned that the silt build-up is limiting the amount of electricity generated by the Kainji dam in north-western Nigeria.

MAASAI PROVERB

Minan enkishon te alem.

Don't throw a blessing with the sword.

(i.e. Be kind in dealing with your family.)

Man loses half his head in brutal attack

Two thugs who punched a young man so hard that he has been left with half a head have got off scot free. Devastated Steve Gator, 26, has had half his skull removed by surgeons after he smashed his head off the pavement in the brutal attack. Now the horribly disfigured forklift driver has been told that the teenage brutes who ambushed him will escape justice after Crown Prosecution Service bosses dropped the case. Steve's outraged mum, Nina Gator, has blasted the shock move. Mrs Gator, 47, said: 'I can't believe it. 'Everyone is entitled to their day in court where it's decided by a jury.' CPS lawyers claim they needed more proof before going ahead. But Mrs Gator stormed: 'Our boy is walking around with half-a-head - what more evidence do they need?' Steve, of Harold Hill, Romford, Essex, was left seriously brain damaged after he was attacked by the thugs on his way home from work. He now suffers frequent seizures, has difficulty talking, had his memory shredded and his bubbly, sparky personality destroyed. Steve was walking home at about 7.30pm on January 15 when the yobs started screaming taunts and abuse at him about his cousin. The furious factory worker confronted them. But one of the violent louts hit him so hard that he was sent flying and knocked his head off the path. Steve plunged into a coma for two weeks as his shattered mum and distraught family kept a bedside vigil at his bedside in Queen's Hospital, Romford.

His brain quickly began swelling and surgeons removed the front half of his skull just hours after he was admitted. Grief-stricken Nina was warned her son had just a terrifying 15% chance of surviving. Just two days later cops charged two teenage boys with the savage attack which shocked the entire neighbourhood. About a week after waking from his coma Steve returned home to his mum who is now his main carer as he's been forced to quit his job. Choking back tears, Nina said: 'He's just a different boy. 'His sparkle is totally gone. He used to be so independent but he can~t work any more and he can~t drive.' She added: 'He's got half-a-head and he's completely lost his confidence. 'There's absolutely nothing protecting his brain now - it's just under his skin. 'We're waiting for surgery for a new skull plate to be put in.' Nina said she was stunned that Steve's attackers would never face justice. 'My son's got to live with this for the rest of his life.' Borough Crown Prosecutor for Havering, Corrine Soanders, said: 'A decision was made to charge both defendants with unlawful wounding on 17 January 2009. 'Once the CPS had been supplied with all the necessary evidence relevant to this case, a full review showed there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. 'This is a key test which must be met to bring a prosecution and in light of this, the case against the two defendants was discontinued. 'I apologise to the victim and his family for not conveying this decision to them personally. 'I welcome any questions they may have and will be contacting them shortly to offer further explanation.'

"For the LORD shall be thy confidece, and shall keep they foot from being taken." - Proverbs 3:26

Urban dwellers in Kenya are slipping deeper into poverty, creating a ‘crime time bomb’, an international aid agency has warned. Oxfam GB says urban poverty in Kenya is so severe the Government, donors and NGO’s cannot afford to ignore the phenomenon anymore. In a new report, Oxfam says more than a third of the country’s urban population live in poverty. The report paints a grim picture of how nearly two million of Nairobi’s population live in slums with limited or no access to water, sanitation, housing, and education and health services. The report, ‘Urban Poverty and Vulnerability in Kenya’ says falling household income, rising prices and poor governance are making life a misery for the poor in Nairobi. "An increasingly disenfranchised and poverty stricken urban class is set to be the country’s defining crisis over the next decade, unless the Government and international donors act urgently," said the head of Oxfam GB, Kenya Philippa Taylor, in Nairobi Thursday. The report says this is linked to rapid urbanisation, warning the trend is likely to increase, unless sufficient measures are put in place. The report faults the Government for ignoring the growing urban crisis and called for more funds to improve their livelihoods.

"Just a few miles away from Parliament and State House, poor families are living in abject poverty, scouring streets for scraps of food and queuing for water they can barely afford. If the Government does not address this crisis it will get worse, said Ms Taylor. She added: "Having enough food to eat and clean, safe water is a basic human right, yet in Nairobi it is increasingly only for the rich minority. Nairobi is one of the most prestigious cities in East Africa, yet it is crumbling before our eyes." The report says a high proportion of the urban poor live in unplanned informal settlements. It says the global economic crisis and the current drought is not making life easy for city dwellers. Oxfam says more urban dwellers are now earning less, but forced to pay more to survive. Because of the rising poverty in the city, the report says, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. As a result of the huge urban inequality, Oxfam says, the struggle to survive has forced some into commit crime and prostitution. "With Kenya still extremely politically volatile following last year elections, the risk of ethnically linked clashes in Nairobi’s slums is exacerbated by the growing resentment over inequality and desperate living conditions," the report adds. - The Standard.

The message below reads: "Mau complex is a matter of life and death, let no one tribalise nor trivialise it! Money and power. Hon. Raila go ahead."

The message is loud and clear how the Mau forest saga is affecting everybody. The Maasai people and many other areas including Lake Nakuru depend on Mau water catchments area. To others the forest are for farming. On right - Kenya is slowly turning into anotheChina with bics without helmet. - Stor and Photo by Karuga wa Njguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

Mrs. Marion Kamau (Mama Kahara of Swahili Service, London) has lost his father back in Kenya through a road accident on Wednesday 9th September, 2009. Her mother passed away a month ago. You can contact her on 07984077663. More information later.

King's supporters riot in Uganda

Kampala, Thursday 10th September, 2009. At least two people have been killed in Uganda's capital, Kampala, in clashes between police and rioting supporters of a traditional king.  Police fired tear gas at the protesters who hurled stones and burned tyres. One report said at least seven people died. The demonstrators protested against the government's attempts to stop the king of Buganda from visiting a region near Kampala where violence was feared. The king has a big influence among the Baganda, Uganda's largest ethnic group. At least two people were killed in Thursday's riots in central Kampala, police and witnesses said. But a photographer working for the Associated Press news agency said he had counted seven bodies, adding that all the victims appeared to be civilians. King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II - who is constitutionally barred from taking part in national politics - had wanted to visit a hostile part of his community to the north-east of Kampala. The issue is so sensitive that ethnic Baganda members of parliament walked out of the legislature on Wednesday. There has also been a long history of tension between the king and central government, particularly over land reform proposals that the Baganda say threaten their community, the BBC's Peter Greste reports. Buganda is one of four ancient kingdoms in Uganda. It was abolished in 1966 but then restored in the 1990s.

Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo found himself on the receiving end in parliament Thursday 10th September, 2009 after some of the documents from the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission tabled Wednesday incriminating some ministers and members of parliament in corruption were expunged from the parliament records for failing admissibility test. Mutula also received a tongue lashing from Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo who was mentioned as one of those implicated in graft as he said he read malice in the minister's move to table the documents.Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu whose name was also mentioned in the report sought an apology from the minister for "casting aspersions on his character". The minister was however dealt a big blow when speaker of the national assembly Kenneth Marende gave parliament a green light to debate a motion by the joint committees of Legal affairs and Delegated Legislation on Ringera's reappointment. The motion is seeking to have the gazette notice announcing the reappointment of justice Ringera and his two assistants annulled saying the president breached the act that created the commission in carrying out the reappointments.

In his ruling Marende said the courts had no capacity to gag parliament which he said was the sole representative of the people of Kenya. He said the plea by Kilonzo that debating the motion would jeopardize the cases pending in the High court. Marende said Kilonzo had not supplied enough evidence that the cases were active adding that the documents tabled were chamber summons which were blank with no dates when involved parties were required for the hearing. He said there was no way parliament by debating the motion would influence the determination of the courts and sway the judgments. The speaker said parliament started debating the matter before the Law Society of Kenya moved to court hence the debate could continue. He said Kilonzo never did much to convince the House that debating the matter could infringe on the court's outcome and hence parliament should continue with the debate. Parliament will now debate the motion seeking to bar Ringera's reappointment a move that has put the executive at crossroad with the legislature. If adopted parliament will have revoked the gazette notice that reappointed justice Ringera and hence he would be in office illegally. If not parliament has another recourse in the order paper for the last four seating in an amendment seeking to delete the budget of the Kenya Anti Corruption commission amounting to 1.3 billion shillings for the supplementary estimates which will render the commission technically incapacitated.

Nairobi, Thursday 10th September, 2009. Rachuonyo South District Commissioner (DC)  Ms Veronica Wambi has died following a fatal road accident near Harambee Market along the Kendu Bay-Katito road. Nyando DC Mr. Isaac Tonui and Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Mr. Partrick Mbarire said the DC died at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu while undergoing treatment. Mr. Tonui said the official vehicle in which the DC was traveling in lost control after it hit and killed a teenage cyclist, before ramming onto an incoming private vehicle. Five passengers in the private vehicle were seriously injured and rushed to Pap Onditi Sub District Hospital in Nyakach district. Ms Wambi, long serving District Officer and senior District Officer at Nyando District headquarters was three months ago promoted and posted to Rachuonyo South as DC. The DC's driver escaped unhurt.

A colourful wedding took place in London on Saturday 29th August, 2009 between Mr.  Isaac Muniu and Miss Sylvia Mwangi at Holy Innocents Church, 134 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London N8 7EL. A reception will followed thereafter at Eastbury Comprehensive School, Hulse Avenue, Barking, Essex, IG11 9UW. - To congratulate them contact 07985324388. On the right photo Isaac says "I do" and on the right hand photo - the couple cutting the cat at the reception as directed by Bishop Vanessa Wanjiku.

End of an era in Kenya's police force

President Mwai Kibaki witnesses the swearing-in of the newly appointed Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere at his Harambee House office, Nairobi.

Areas with lowest crime in Kenya named

Eastern Province is the safest region in Kenya following a 12 per cent crime incidence rate record in the three months preceding July, a report says. The crime rate in this region, according to the Synovate Research Group study, is five per cent below the national average of 17 per cent. Other relatively safe regions are Coast and Western provinces, which recorded a 14 per cent crime incidence rate in the same period. The study identifies Kenya’s most crime-prone regions as Rift Valley and North Eastern provinces, which have a 21 per cent crime incident rate - four per cent above the national average. Central Province follows closely with 20 per cent. Synovate’s findings, released by managing director George Waititu on Wednesday, indicate that Nyanza and Nairobi provinces had a crime rate of 17 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, during the period. The report says the number of Kenyans who have fallen into the hands of criminals has risen by close to eight per cent since December last year. This led the crime rate in the country to jump to 18 per cent in March, this year, and only reduced by one per cent at the time of the last study in July. Crime in Kenya had reduced to 10 per cent in December 2008 from 21 per cent in March 2003, the study shows. Synovate Research was formerly known as Steadman. Mr Waititu attributed the rise in criminal activities to the emergence of criminal gangs and vigilante groups. He added that the hard economic times, including drought and high food prices, could be pushing Kenyans to crime to earn a livelihood. The research has been conducted every three months since 2003 and involves face-to-face interviews targeting at least 2,000 adults. Most of those polled said they encountered criminals at home and in the night. The researchers say that compared to Tanzania, which has a crime incidence of only three per cent, crime in Kenya is too high. Synovate says the state of insecurity in the country is pushing investors away as they are not ready to invest in the current environment. Business leaders in Kenya placed insecurity as one of the three key challenges facing the economy.

The Daily Express on Thursday 10th September, 2009 welcomes the news that the index of leading UK shares has gone past the 5,000 mark and The Daily Mail leads on the Royal Mail strikes, saying the backlog of post in London alone could run to 20 million items.

The High Court has stopped Agriculture Minister William Ruto from gazetting a license issued to a coffee miller. Central Kenya Coffee Mills Limited will have to wait for the court to hear and determine whether the minister issued the license legally. Justice David Onyancha made the decision in a case in which Mathira Coffee Millers Limited is challenging the document. "It is the view of the court that the applicant, having complied with the requirements of the law under which it wishes to access justice, it should not be denied such access," he said.

After blocking the sewage it bursts into the streets

After blocking the raw sewage to  Nairobi river, other challenges have emerged. It has now gone on top of the bridge. Seems John Gakuo (The Nairobi River Cleaning Co-odinator) has done his job but now is over to Nairobi water and sewage company to sort out the mess and divert it elsewhere before it blocks the bridge completely to pedestrians. Not an easy task though. The filthy sewage stinks and wananchi were caught trying to duck it by crossing the road. Some bus drivers seemed to have come from the moon and splashed the sewage all over. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

UK interest rates remain on hold

London, Thursday 10th September, 2009. The Bank of England has held interest rates at the record low of 0.5% for the sixth consecutive month. It has also said it would continue to pump up to £175bn into the economy - so-called quantitative easing - but that it would not extend the programme. Recent data has suggested that the UK has begun to climb out of recession. But the Bank has warned recovery will be "slow and protracted" and that it will take months for the full impact of its policies to be felt. Most commentators said the decision to leave rates, and the approach to quantitative easing, unchanged was sensible. "If you look at survey data, you see the signs of green shoots, but if you look at hard numbers on the real economy, green shoots are much more difficult to see," said Graeme Leach, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors business group. "There is a clear divergence at present between the rhetoric and reality of recovery. This situation will change, recovery will come, but just as the private sector recession ends, the public sector recession will be only just beginning."  No changes in policy were expected until at least November, said Hetal Mehta, senior economic adviser to the Ernst & Young Item Club. "With the economy still weak and inflation projected to remain well below target for a prolonged period of time, interest rates are not heading up any time soon," she added.

The world will suffer another financial crisis, former Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan has told the BBC. "The crisis will happen again but it will be different," he told BBC Two's The Love of Money series. He added that he had predicted the crash would come as a reaction to a long period of prosperity. But while it may take time and be a difficult process, the global economy would eventually "get through it", Mr Greenspan added. "They [financial crises] are all different, but they have one fundamental source," he said. "That is the unquenchable capability of human beings when confronted with long periods of prosperity to presume that it will continue." Speaking a year after the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, which was followed by a worldwide financial crisis and global recession, Mr Greenspan described the behaviour as "human nature". He said the current crisis was triggered by the trade in US sub-prime mortgages - home loans given to people with bad credit histories - but he added that any factor could have been the catalyst. If it were not the problem of these toxic debts "something sooner or later would have emerged", Mr Greenspan said.

Mr Greenspan, who when he ran the US central bank was hailed as a man who could move markets, also warned that the world's financial institutions should have seen the looming crisis. "The bankers knew that they were involved in an under-pricing of risk and that at some point a correction would be made," he said. "I fear too many of them thought they would be able to spot the actual trigger point of the crisis in time to get out." He also warned that Britain, with its globally-focussed economy, would be harder hit than the US by the current recession and collapse in world trade. "Obviously we've both suffered very considerably but ... Britain is more globally oriented as an economy and the dramatic decline in exports globally and trade generally following the collapse of Lehman Brothers had dramatic effects in the financial system of Britain," Mr Greenspan said. "It's going to take a long while for you [Britain] to work your way through this."

In order to prevent the situation arising again financiers and governments should look to clamp down on fraud and increase capital requirements for banks, the former central banker said. Regulations targeting the latter would mean banks would be forced to hold enough money to cover their normal operations and honour withdrawals.  However despite his belief in a brighter future, the former Fed chief did warn that the path to recovery should steer clear of protectionism as applying strict regulations could hamper recent developments that have opened up global trade. "The most recent endeavour to re-regulate is a reaction to the crisis. The extraordinary impact of these global markets is making a lot of financial people feeling they have lost control. "The problem is you cannot have free global trade with highly restrictive, regulated domestic markets." During the interview for BBC Two's The Love of Money series, the former Fed chief said the current economic crisis was a "once in a century type of event", and one that he did not expect to witness. Blamed by some for not doing more to prevent the crisis, Mr Greenspan denied any responsibility for the problems gripping the global economy. "It's human nature, unless somebody can find a way to change human nature, we will have more crises and none of them will look like this because no two crises have anything in common, except human nature."

Bishop Pius Muiru of Kenya coming for a crusade in London - CLICK THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Kenyans in Coventry meeting on 20th Sept. 2009

On behalf of Mrs Ann Chege of NEW HOPE CHILDREN'S CENTRE, UPLANDS, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended the meeting on Sunday. It was successful.

We would therefore like to take this opportunity to call for another meeting as we agreed. The meeting will be on Sunday 20/09/09 from 6.00pm at the same venue, St. Lawrence Church Hall, Old Church Road, (T-Juction with Profitt Avenue), Bellgreen, Coventry, CV6 7ED.

The purpose of the meeting is to bring our donations for the fundraising which has been organised in London. Residents of Coventry and the surrounding are thus welcomed. 

For any querries you can reach Baba Njoki on 07957907677, Baba Jimmy on 07723424136 or Baba Sharon (Lenny Kamau)  on 07961624483.

"Let us continue doing good for in due season we shall reap a happy harvest".

BANGALORE, September 7, 2009: Three alleged drug peddlers, including a Kenyan national, have been arrested and narcotics valued at Rs 9 lakh seized from them by City Crime Branch (Women) and Narcotic Drug squads. Police have seized Rs 5.9 lakh cash and a vehicle, used for transporting drugs, from the trio identified as Pappa Jo alias Joseph Auma Achola (39), a Kenyan, Ejaz Salim bin Mohammad Salim (44) and Arol Deepak D’Mello 28) of Bangalore yesterday.  A total of 82 grams of cocaine and 25 grams of hashish valued at Rs nine lakh in the drug market were recovered from the three, police said.  The squads also recovered a German-made shotgun valued at Rs 2.5 lakh from Ejaz Salim. The license of the gun which actually belonged to Salim’s father had not been renewed for the past ten years.  Achola, currently residing in Aguada Beach in South Goa, had come to India in 1999 and did his law degree from the National School of Law, Delhi. He had later moved to Goa and worked in an event management company there from 2003-07. In 2008, he opened a restaurant in Goa and bought cocaine and other narcotic drugs from Nigerian tourists which he inturn sold in Goa and Bangalore.

Wow, look at Caster go now! Gender-row runner gets chance

to show she's all woman in new photoshoot

We are used to seeing her in green and yellow Lycra as she trounces the rest of the pack on the running track. But now the world's fastest 800m female runner Caster Semenya - who caused an international storm after athletics officials questioned her gender - has taken the chance to show she is all woman. The 18-year-old was transformed from 'power girl to glamour girl' in a new photo-shoot for South African glossy magazine YOU.   In make-up, feminine clothes, and with her usually tightly-braided hair loose and styled over her shoulders, Caster's transformation is compelling. And the photographs bring the gender row, which had just faded from international news, roaring back into the foreground. The new-look Caster appears on the cover of the magazine and in a four-page spread inside. She is quoted as saying: 'I'd like to dress up more often and wear dresses but I never get the chance. I'd also like to learn to do my own make-up.' She also claims: 'I've never bought my own clothes - my mum buys them for me. But now that I know what I can look like, I'd like to dress like this more often.' 'I am who I am and I am proud of myself,' she added. Her outfits for the shoot included black leather trousers with a sequined top, a grey knee-length dress worn with a grey cropped jacket, and a black-and-white cocktail dress worn with stilettos.  The magazine - which hit news stands in South Africa on Monday evening - has divided South Africans. Many phoned into radio stations to praise Caster for her new look - while others argued there was no need to 'improve' her. 'It's amazing how, in order to accept her, we have to turn her into our stereotypical image of what a woman should be,' Colleen Lowe Morna of the advocacy group Gender Links said in The Times. Caster herself has remained defiant in the wake of the row following her astonishing run to win the gold medal at the Berlin World Championships last month. 'I see it all as a joke, it doesn't upset me. God made me the way I am and I accept myself,' she said.

The Major General has now become the Postmaster General. A change of guard at vigilance house this afternoon brought the curtain down on six years of major general Mohammed Husein Ali’s reign. Mathew Iteere who has been serving as the GSU commandant now moves to the police headquarters as the new commissioner of police.

The push-and-pull among the three arms of government spilled into Parliament’s debating chambers as ministers and MPs once again fought over the reappointment of Mr Justice Aaron Ringera to the helm of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. Speaker Kenneth Marende will on Thursday 10th September, 2009 rule on whether MPs can discuss a report that has already declared the re-appointment of Justice Ringera and two of his assistants illegal. On a day Mr Ringera’s five-year mandate on his first term ended, the KACC board said it would not give him a new contract until the case challenging his reappointment by President Kibaki is concluded. The law allows Mr Ringera to remain in office for up to three months after expiry of his mandate while a new director is being sought. In court, KACC and the Attorney General made a strong defence of the reappointment.

A recession-hit couple have turned to eBay in an attempt to save their dream wedding. Emily Warr and fiance Stephen Shaw planned every detail of their £11,000 big day and put down money for deposits. But disaster struck when Mr Shaw's construction job was cut to four days a week due to the economic slowdown. The pair realised they could not afford the rest of the payments for their wedding, but faced losing even more cash if they cancelled it. Hoping altruism is still alive among Britain's romantics, they decided to sell stakes in their nuptials online for £10. "Buyers" get a thank you letter, a photo of the big day, a card on their first anniversary plus "that warm feeling inside knowing you are making two people very happy", their page explains. Training manager Ms Warr, 31, said she hopes kind-hearted people will dig into their pockets. "There are only a few true things that matter in life and I think love is one of those things," she told Sky News Online. "We're in a difficult situation but we love each other. Love is what makes the world go round - not money." She added she would be happy to give sponsors a slice of the wedding cake - if they do not mind that it is made entirely of cheese, a nod to Ms Warr's upbringing in Cheddar. The couple are set to tie the knot on February 27, 2010 - five years and one day after they met. Mr Shaw, 28, proposed in 2008. "We did attempt the line of 'it's tradition for the bride's parents to pay' to no avail," he joked. He set up the eBay page out of "sheer hope and desperation," he added. The auction closes on August 23.

Stephen Shaw and fiance Emily Warr set up in the eBay page out of desperation

The Queen has reportedly raised her concerns with Prime Minister Gordon Brown over equipment shortages in Afghanistan, a historian has claimed.  Andrew Roberts told Tatler that the monarch, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales were all worried about alleged sub-standard resources for troops serving in the war-torn country. Mr. Roberts, who once chronicled the modern monarchy in his book The House of Windsor, wrote: "I've now heard the same thing from a minor member of the Royal family, a serving general and a recent ex-Cabinet minister, so I'm certain it's true and worth passing on."

Former London resident dies in Kenya

Mrs. Rose Njeri Kamande has passed away in Kenya. The late Rose is the mother of Jane Costello, Faith Wanjiku and Conso Muthoni all of London. She passed away on Monday 7th September, 2009 at Optic Hospital along Ngong Road after a long illness. She is well known in London as she has been living in London while undergoing kidney treatment at Royal Hospital, Whitechapel. She is the wife of the late Francis Kamande Kagugu of Ichagaki, Maragwa, Muranga, Kenya. Family and friends  are meeting for prayers at 149 Knights Manor Way, Dartford DA1 5SD every day as from 6.00 p.m.  For more information please contact Tel: Jane 07958686611, Faith 07956293763 or Conso 07985664759.

New controls help protect jobs for British workforce

Home Office, 07 September 2009

A raft of new government measures will ensure that resident workers can have every opportunity to fill vacancies before they are offered to workers abroad, the Home Secretary announced today.Following careful consideration, the government has accepted the recommendations made last month by the Migration Advisory Committee to tighten up the rules controlling when skilled workers are allowed to take jobs in the United Kingdom under the government's points-based system. The introduction of the points-based system has radically improved our ability to respond quickly to changing economic circumstances.

Alan Johnson, Home Secretary said:

This will mean that, from next year, all jobs must be advertised to British workers in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks - extended from two weeks - before companies can seek to employ individuals from outside Europe. This will ensure that British workers not only are first in line for jobs but also have more time in which to apply. The government will also extend the qualifying period for all those overseas workers who want to transfer to work at their company's United Kingdom base. This will mean that they will need to have worked for their firm for at least a year - rather than six months as at present - before they can transfer here. Additionally, the minimum salary that will allow an individual to qualify as a skilled worker and be eligible to work in the United Kingdom will rise, from £17,000 to £20,000.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

'The introduction of the points-based system has radically improved our ability to respond quickly to changing economic circumstances. 'We have now accepted all of the committee's recommendations and we will continue to work with them to make sure that we use the flexibility in the points-based system to the best advantage of society and the economy. 'These changes will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce.' A total of 16 recommendations were put forward by the Migration Advisory Committee, all of which will now be put in place to ensure that the points-based system does more to support United Kingdom workers while continuing to facilitate the trade, travel, and study that benefits the United Kingdom. In reaching this decision, the government has been advised by informative discussions with businesses and key public service organisations. It will continue to work with business to develop a plan for implementing the recommendations.

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Book Launch

‘Writing for Kenya, the Life and Works of Henry Muoria’

Muoria came to the UK in 1952

Tuesday 20th October, 5.30 p.m.

Brunei Suite, SOAS

Henry Muoria was a fascinating figure – a largely self-taughtKenyan thinker and writer, whose Kikuyu and English pamphletsand newspaper Mumenyereri contributed to the intellectualferment of the anti-colonial struggle in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This wonderful book retrieves some of his most significant, but neglected, works and offers them in a scholarly edition, withEnglish translations and excellent editorial annotations.

The pamphlets reproduced here, in Gikuyu and English, contrast hisown originality with the conservatism of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first President. The contributing editors introduce Muoria's political context, tell how three remarkable women sustained his families' life; and remember him as father. Courageous intellectual, political,and domestic life here intertwine

Published by Brill, 2009

Co-authored by Wangari Muoria-Sal, Bodil Folke Frederiksen,

John Lonsdale and Derek Peterson.

RSVP: cas@soas.ac.uk

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Breakthrough in fight against diabetes

A gene that controls the way the body responds to the hormone insulin has been identified, marking a breakthrough in the fight against diabetes. Scientists believe a variation in the gene's DNA promotes insulin resistance, the primary cause of type 2 diabetes, which affects two million people in the UK. The discovery could lead to new drug treatments that target the genetic fault and prevent the body failing to respond to insulin. The hormone controls the way cells absorb glucose from the blood and use it to generate energy. In type 2 diabetes, insulin often continues to be produced by the pancreas but it cannot be used properly. The new genetic link, the first known to involve insulin resistance, was found after scientists screened the DNA of more than 14,000 people.

Flesh-eating superbug killed father in just four hours as coroner warns of 'new horror'

Britain is facing ‘a new horror’ from a flesh eating superbug which killed a father just within four hours of him arriving in hospital with leg pains. Richard Johnson, 54, had been given painkillers for what doctors thought was arthritis.But when it was realised that he had the infection necrotising fasciitis surgeons amputated his left leg in a bid to save him.They then watched in horror as black areas spread to his abdomen while they were operating, an inquest heard. Mr Johnson, a shop manager from Crediton, Devon, died just a week after he complained of a sore throat. A coroner has urged family doctors to be given more information necrotising fasciitis as a result of the case. The disease, which is becoming more common, is an infection which sweeps through the body, internally and externally, so quickly that it can actually be seen spreading. Mr Johnson had first been prescribed painkillers by his family doctor Jan Shorney. He then developed a pain in his left ankle which Dr Shorney and an out-of-hours doctor believed to be arthritis. His condition deteriorated so quickly that by the time his family rushed him to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital at 3.10 am it was too late to save him. He was rushed straight into the operating theatre where surgeons tried to cut away the diseased tissue but found the infection was spreading too quickly to control. Greater Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland recorded a verdict of natural causes on Mr Johnson, who died at 7.00 am on November 18 last year. A post mortem examination showed he died from septicaemia as a result of the necrotising fasciitis.

She said: ‘My intention is to write to the hospital to confirm the gravity of this case. Information about it is being disseminated and I recommend that is pursued. ‘This is a new horror reaching us and arising in out thoughts and it is important as many GPs are made aware of it as soon as possible and perhaps an early reaction can be stimulated. ‘I do not have any evidence that earlier action would have made a difference in this case. ‘Mr Johnson began to suffer a sore throat in mid November which developed into fulminating necrotising fasciitis.  ‘The family have my deepest sympathies for this tragic loss.’  Family doctor Dr Jan Shorney said Mr Johnson visited her on November 11 with a sore throat and she advised him to take painkillers. He asked for a home visit on November 17, less than 24 hours before he died, and complained of a left ankle which was sore despite having suffered no injury. There was only slight swelling and no redness and his pulse and temperature were normal and she prescribed stronger painkillers and an anti-inflammatory drug. She advised him to go into surgery for a blood test if it did not clear up.  He called 45 minutes later to say the pain was not going away and was told to carry on taking the medicines. He was in so much pain that by 9.30pm his family contacted the out-of-hours service and took him to the walk-in centre at the hospital in Exeter where he was seen by on-call GP Dr Patrick Fingleton.

He examined the swollen ankle and saw no breaks in the skin. He diagnosed arthritis and prescribed oral morphine.  He believed the earlier painkillers had not worked because the patient was also suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. He said he was shocked to hear of Mr Johnson’s death and had met the consultant microbiologist at the hospital Dr Marina Morgan to learn more about necrotising fasciitis. He said: ‘I have been a doctor for 12 years and a GP for five or six years and I have seen a lot of painful ankles and lots of cases of diarrhoea and vomiting but I had never seen a case of necrotising fasciitis.’  Mr Johnson’s condition deteriorated so quickly that his family took him back to the accident and emergency department of the same hospital five and a half hours later. Consultant plastic surgeon Dr Andrew Watts said he carried out the amputation above the knee but feared it was too late to stop the spread of the disease. He said: ‘It was clear he was very sick. There was widespread mottling of the abdomen and chest and to some extent the right leg. ‘I discovered he had died at approximately 7.00 am. Unfortunately the outcome is what had been predicted from shortly after he was admitted.’

An aircraft carrying 37 pirates was on Sunday still being held at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport under heavy guard as high-level negotiations continued. The pirates are said to have been released by the Seychelles Government before their Kenyan contact made arrangements and paid the aircraft company to fly them through JKIA on their way to Mogadishu. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had been informed about the aircraft and its human cargo and were said to be in negotiations with both the Seychelles and Somali governments. The Kenyan Government was said to be navigating the diplomatic minefield on the implications of allowing the pirates into the country, which is perceived by the international community to be helping in the fight against piracy and terrorism. Police remained tight-lipped about the saga despite heavy presence of General Service Unit (GSU) officers at the JKIA.  

The Nation has established that the 40-seater Dash-8 aircraft arrived at JKIA from the Seychelles on Saturday night and was immediately surrounded by police officers.  The passengers and crew of three were not allowed to disembark. The crew comprises pilot Jimmy Owino; a Mr Anil, the first officer; and flight attendant Lorraine Nyaboke. The aircraft, which belongs to a local company, was hooked onto a ground power unit for its lighting, air conditioning and toilet system so that the occupants use its facilities and not have the excuse to disembark. According to sources in the aviation industry privy to the incident, the owners of the aircraft had been hired by a person in Kenya who told them that the passengers had been cleared by both the Kenyan and Seychelles governments to fly from Seychelles International Airport in Victoria city on Mahe Island. They were scheduled to disembark from the plane and enter Nairobi from where they would have either sneaked back into Somalia or remained in the country to enjoy their ill-gotten riches. The aircraft was, however, intercepted and the passengers detained after it was established that it had no clearance and neither had any been arranged between Kenya and Seychelles or Kenya and Somalia. By late Sunday afternoon, the aircraft was being guarded at a secluded location of the JKIA near the military barracks. - Daily Nation.

High speed train right on track

Presumed dead, found alive 50 years later.  There was drama and an outpouring of emotion in a small village in Baringo Central District of the type that unfolds in Marianne Caldwell’s book Gone Without a Trace.  But, unlike in the book, a true story where the author’s lost mother was never found alive, relatives of a Baringo Central woman, who disappeared 50 years ago, were shocked and excited to learn she was alive and well. For half a century, when her relatives presumed her dead, Teriki Tamurei lived about 200km from her ancestral home, where most of her relatives live. - MORE

Kenya Airways (KQ) on Friday 4th September, 2009 flew into Gaborone, Botswana, in what is being viewed as a major challenge to rival South African Airways (SAA). The long-awaited flight is expected to hugely eat into SAA Nairobi-Johannesburg route, as passengers flying to Botswana opt for the shorter and cheaper route. KQ is now flying thrice a week to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport — making a round trip from Nairobi through Gaborone, then flying back to Nairobi with a brief stopover at Harare. It becomes the only other airline, besides SAA, to land in the sleepy airport. Air Botswana, which used to fly to Nairobi in the 1990s, has smaller aircrafts specialising in the South African routes. Customers will pay at least $200 (about Sh15,000) less for flying directly to Gaborone. “Almost everyone I meet has asked me why no one thought about making this move,” said an excited Botswana ambassador to Kenya, Charles Mogotsi, during the departure of the flight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.  The rich southern Africa country is trying to diversify its economy — heavily reliant on minerals — and tourism is an obvious option. Starting an alternative route that does not pass through South Africa is important in accessing tourism and even commercial resources afforded by the KQ Asian, African and European networks. “This is new cooperation between Kenya and Botswana. It will reduce dependence on the Johannesburg route,” said Botswana Tourism Board marketing manager, Joe Motse.  - Daily Nation.

A new study suggests taxpayers face a £1bn bill to provide school places for children born in a looming immigrant baby boom, the Daily Express reports on Monday 7th September, 2009 and on right The Times says the Home Secretary has released a man regarded as one of Britain's most dangerous terror suspects from virtual house arrest to avoid disclosing secret evidence against him.

Terrorists had planned to hit 3 targets in Nairobi during Hilary Clinton visit in Nairobi last month - FULL STORY

Woman Tells Of Life Without Record Fingernails

A great-grandmother whose 34-inch fingernails snapped off in a car crash has revealed that the accident left her feeling like she had lost part of her identity. However, 68-year-old Lee Redmond, of Salt Lake City, Utah, admitted it had become much easier to get around since she was robbed of her record-breaking assets. Ms Redmond had been growing her nails for 30 years at the time of the crash in February, and they had reached a combined length of 28ft 4in (8.65 metres). Speaking publicly for the first time since the crash, she said: "Losing my fingernails has been the most dramatic thing that's happened in my life. "I think it was my grandson that said, 'Grandma, they are like your baby; you've taken care of them for 30 years and lost them in a second'. "The thing that bothered me with losing the fingernails was that it becomes your identity and I felt like I'd lost part of that." "Yet I would always say when people would make comments about my fingernails, you know there's more to me than my fingernails." I always did everything with them, but now it's so much easier to do things. The weight is so different. In fact my hands seem to fly with the weight gone. Ms Redmond currently has 11.5cm (4.5in) of nails and said she has no intention of growing them back to their full former glory. "People ask if I'm going to grow them again and I say, no, it was a once time thing," she said. "It took me 30 years to grow them and to get them to that length and they became the world record, and I probably won't live for 30 more years. "I always did everything with them, but now it's so much easier to do things. The weight is so different. In fact my hands seem to fly with the weight gone." Ms Redmond spoke about her fingernail trauma to coincide with the launch of the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records. She appears in the book alongside the male holder of the longest fingernail title, fellow American Melvin Boothe.

Israeli ministers back Netanyahu stance on settlements

• Ruling coalition backs plan to approve new construction

• PM wins 'strategic delay ' deal to appease rightwingers

The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, appears to have won the backing of his ruling coalition for a watered-down agreement over settlement building as part of a US effort to restart Middle East peace talks. Despite criticism from Washington, Netanyahu is expected shortly to approve the construction of hundreds of new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank in a last-minute move ahead of the suspension. During the Israeli pause, work will in fact continue on these buildings and 2,500 others where Israel says construction has already started. Several influential cabinet ministers backed Netanyahu, with Eli Yishai, a deputy prime minister and head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, saying what Israel was offering was no more than a "strategic delay" and that settlement building would continue in future. The transport minister, Yisrael Katz, from Netanyahu's own Likud party, said the move was "well-conceived". The prime minister had spent the weekend trying to win the support of Likud and other key politicians, although it was not discussed in today's cabinet meeting. The US hopes later this month to convince Netanyahu and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, to start the first peace talks in more than a year. At first the Obama administration had insisted Israel stop all settlement activity, including so-called "natural growth", in line with Israel's commitments under the 2003 roadmap to peace.

Nairobi, Sunday 6th September, 2009. Three people have died while ten others are admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital following a cholera outbreak in Dandora. Health officials in Dandora have confirmed cases of cholera after a three-month chronic water shortage in the area.  The residents say they have had to use contaminated water following water shortage in the area that has seen many residents contend with buying water from local vendors.  However, a section of the population cannot afford to buy water and have been fetching water from a sewer.  In a bid to contain the spread of the disease, area MP Ferdinand Waititu has installed a water tank in the area to serve the worst affected section.  Health officials from Kenyatta National hospital also visited the area and conducted free check-ups on residents exhibiting cholera-like symptoms.  They have also urged the residents to boil water before drinking. Public Health Minister Beth Mugo has already warned of a looming cholera outbreak in Nairobi due to the current acute water shortage.  Mugo in June sent out a countrywide alert warning people to maintain high standards of hygiene as a preventive measure. The minister said Nairobi residents were being forced to compromise on sanitation standards due to lack of water. The city is experiencing water rationing expected to last utill the end of this year following poor rainfall that has resulted to the declining water levels at Ndakaini dam threatening water supply in the Nairobi.

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo has already warned of a looming cholera outbreak in Nairobi due to the current acute water shortage.

The UK economy should bounce back next year but the risk of a relapse remains high, a business group has warned. The British Chambers of Commerce expects the economy to grow 1.1% in 2010, almost double its previous forecast of 0.6% made in June. It says unemployment will peak at just above 3 million, fewer than the 3.2 million forecast previously. However, it said that sustaining the recovery would prove challenging given the UK's debt burden. "The upturn in the economy has probably already started and we could see a relatively strong bounce-back in the next few quarters," said chief economist David Kern. "But sustaining the recovery will be very challenging and the risks of relapse are high," he added. The group expects the UK economy to shrink by 4.3% this year, more than its June forecast of 3.8%. This was because the decline in economic activity in the first six months of the year was much worse than it expected. It said that the current recession was much worse than the recession of the early 1990s but is not quite as severe as the recession in the early 1980s. The BCC said that overly indebted consumers, high unemployment, a fragile banking sector and the need to slash government borrowing could dampen the pace of recovery.

The UK economy should bounce back next year but the risk of a relapse remains high, a business group has warned. The British Chambers of Commerce expects the economy to grow 1.1% in 2010, almost double its previous forecast of 0.6% made in June. It says unemployment will peak at just above 3 million, fewer than the 3.2 million forecast previously. However, it said that sustaining the recovery would prove challenging given the UK's debt burden. "The upturn in the economy has probably already started and we could see a relatively strong bounce-back in the next few quarters," said chief economist David Kern. "But sustaining the recovery will be very challenging and the risks of relapse are high," he added. The group expects the UK economy to shrink by 4.3% this year, more than its June forecast of 3.8%. This was because the decline in economic activity in the first six months of the year was much worse than it expected. It said that the current recession was much worse than the recession of the early 1990s but is not quite as severe as the recession in the early 1980s. The BCC said that overly indebted consumers, high unemployment, a fragile banking sector and the need to slash government borrowing could dampen the pace of recovery.

Friends and family of Michael Jackson have paid their last respects to the singer known as the King of Pop at a funeral ceremony outside Los Angeles. The 31-car Jackson family funeral procession drives up the hill at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park and on right Hurricane Jimena lashed Mexico's Baja California peninsula with rains and winds, forcing residents and tourists to take refuge. Jimena weakened to a category two storm after earlier nearing a potentially devastating category five.

Nairobi, Kenya, Sunday, September 2009  - Anxiety has gripped Police headquarters, triggering a series of secret meetings amongst senior police officers following reports that the government would implement the interim report by the Task Force on Police Reforms which wants many of them sacked. Informed sources say Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali and other senior officers have been holding strategy meetings and lobbying since Monday and are in fact making frantic efforts to secure an appointment with President Mwai Kibaki to present their case. The police chief and all his Assistant Commissioners are reportedly worried that they may lose their jobs if the government implemented the interim report presented to the President last week by Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley. “There have been meetings running late into the night since Monday. Senior officers have been meeting both at Vigilance and various other places including people’s residences,” a source privy to the latest state of affairs at Vigilance House told Capital News. The latest remarks by Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Migori seem to have worsened the situation after he declared at a public rally that the report would be implemented by end of this month. “I think they thought it was a joke initially, they are beginning to see the sense and reality of what is in the report and are now running up and down,” another source said. Multiple interviews with senior police officers holding the rank of those targeted for the imminent sacking revealed the magnitude of the bitterness in many of them with the task force report. “It is certainly a shoddy report, recommending that ACPs be sacked is a big joke.

There will be a crisis if we were to go home. I am not sure they knew what they meant because we are the driving force in the police,” one of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) based at Police headquarters said. Some officers however, concede that there is need to review the appointment of ACPs and other officers above that rank because many of them were appointed unprocedurally or were just rewarded for various reasons. “Many of them do not deserve the positions they hold. There are those who have jumped ranks more than three folds in a span of less than three years which is against the Force Standing Orders (FSO),” one of the senior officers interviewed by Capital News said. Curiously, most of the ACPs are supportive of the recommendation to have Maj Gen Ali replaced but are opposed to their own sacking. “We have been doing our work the way it is supposed to be done. It is him (Ali) who has messed up the force. In effect he should be replaced and a commissioner appointed from amongst ourselves. It is ridiculous to have an outsider leading a law enforcement agency. Ali is a military officer and has failed to lead the police,” a disgruntled ACP opposed to Maj Gen Ali’s leadership said. It is understood that some of the top police officers have held a series of secret meetings with key government officials and politicians sympathetic to Maj Gen Ali and are trying to influence them to advice the President against implementing the report.

One such meeting is reported to have taken place a week ago involving a senior police officer who spent over two hours at a posh residence of an influential and high ranking ODM politician and government official. Details of the meeting are scanty but at this point in time, it can not pass as a normal meeting at a time when there is firestorm at Vigilance House where senior police officers are struggling to retain their jobs. And even as the officers intensified their secret meetings, Capital News has learnt that some key officials who have previously served in the security agencies or in other government departments have been lobbying to take over police leadership at Vigilance House. And there are those who are being profiled as potential candidates in the new police leadership while some have already submitted their CVs and testimonials. “Some names have been fronted but none of them has been settled upon,” another source at the Office of the President said. “Interviews will start very soon but they are likely to be done in secret because of the sensitivity of the matter.” Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director Dr Julius Kipng’etich, former Director of Police Operations David Kimaiyo and former CID Director Joseph Kamau are among probable candidates for Police Commissioner, according to sources both at Harambee and Vigilance Houses. On Monday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga was quoted in a section of local newspapers saying that the report will be implemented within the course of this month to restore confidence amongst the public. The report calls for, among other things, urgent change of leadership at the top level and all officers holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner or Commandant in both the regular and Administration Police. - CapitalFM

A fierce fire on Saturday 5th September, 2009 gutted down more than 400 houses in Faza Island within the newly created Lamu East district, leaving at least 1000 families homeless. The Kenya Red Cross said a man and a child sustained minor burns in the midday fire that destroyed several businesses.  Majority of the affected families are camping at the beaches after their homes were destroyed by the inferno. Efforts to put out the fire whose cause is yet to be established were hampered by the strong sea winds and lack of a fire engine in the district.   KRCS in a statement said 2 woodwork workshops, video shops and small businesses were razed down.  KRCS secretary general Abbas Gullet addressing the press in Nairobi said they had supplied the victims with 600 blankets, 600 collapsible jerricans 300 tarpaulines, 180 kitchen sets, 600 bar soaps and clothing. He at the same time appealed for food and humanitarian aid from well wishers to help the villagers. An emergency team including the Navy and health personnel is on the ground to contain the spread of the fire  that was still raging by Saturday evening following the strong winds. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka speaking in Mombasa soon after the fire disaster assured the affected families of government's support. "While I send my sympathies to the residents whose observance of Ramadhan was disrupted by the fire disaster, I wish to assure them we are doing everything possible to put out the fire", Mr. Musyoka said. He made the remarks when he addressed members of the public at the New Magongo Market during an inspection tour of the on-going reconstruction of the facility which was gutted down in 2007. Faza Island is in Rasini location at the far East of the Lamu archipelago and it takes two hours to reach it using a speed boat and four hours with a normal passenger boat.

The government has said it aims to halve the UK's spending deficit over the next four years. Treasury minister Liam Byrne told the BBC it was possible to do this while managing to "protect public services". He said economic stimulus measures would continue next year but the focus would switch to paying off the debt. But the Conservatives said the government's argument was based on "hope" of the recession ending and the UK had live "within its means". In April's Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling forecast that public borrowing this year would reach £175bn.

Family’s agony as kin killed in U.S.  When Mr George Onyango left Kenya for America four years ago, he did not know that delinquent teenagers would not only kill his dream but also take his life. His Kenyan family, which he left behind to pursue his dream, is now struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. The killing has rendered his two children orphans. Mr Onyango, who was killed by two teenagers in the US last week. Mr Onyango, 43, was an overnight counsellor at Yucaipa, a home for delinquent youths in California. He was attacked by two youths under his care with a steam iron and a wooden rod after he denied them permission to leave the place.  The two youths tied him up and left him brain-damaged and paralysed, according to The Press-Enterprise, a local newspaper quoting police.  According to his elder brother, Mr Kennedy Omondi, Mr Onyango won a US green card, leading to his move to America in 2006. But a few months after the family settled in Yucaipa, his wife, Beatrice, fell ill and died, leaving him a widower and a single father of two boys, now aged 11 and 13 years. After the death of his wife, Mr Onyango turned his energies to caring for his sons and working part-time as a counsellor at night at a home for troubled youths. During the day he took courses for the California State Bar examination. “This has left the family devastated. Nobody expected this to happen so soon after he lost his wife. We are yet to come to terms with the terrible news,” Mr Omondi told the Saturday Nation. Ten days ago, according to US law enforcement officials, two youths beat Mr Onyango unconscious at the home after he refused to give one of them a pass to leave the place. On Saturday, he was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he later died of the injuries he sustained.

Mr George Onyango’s wife, the late Betty, and their sons, David (left) and Abraham and Mr Onyango, who was killed by two teenagers in the US last week.

The two youths charged with the killing - Carlos Dubose, 17, of Oakland, and Davion Whitmore, 16, of Long Beach - probably have no idea that not one life but many were shattered by their crime. For Mr Onyango’s two children and family back in Kenya, their atrocious act defies comprehension. “We cannot understand why he had to die such a cruel death,” said Mr Omondi. After the attack, the assailants, who now face murder charges, fled in Onyango’s car. Police officers chased them up to Fontana, where they crashed and were captured. Before the fateful day, Mr Omondi spoke with his brother on Friday and chatted a lot about their local church in Central Asembo, Rarieda District.  “He asked how the local church was doing. We didn’t chat about other things,” said Mr Omondi. Mr Onyango was a member of the Kenyan American Association and sat on the council and constitutional committee of the Kingdom Inter-denominational Community Church in San Bernardino.  Mr Onyango was to graduate with a Masters degree in law in December. Before he left Kenya, he had been a high school teacher and also had earned a law degree. “He didn’t plan to stay long in America, preferring to work for not more than five years before returning home. All this is lost,” said Mr Omondi.  The family plans to airlift the body and the children but is facing financial challenges.  Mr Omondi estimates that they need about Sh1.5 million to send one member to the US and bring the body. The savage beating of Mr Onyango brought into the spotlight once again the practice in California and other states of sending youth offenders from elsewhere to live in unsuspecting neighbourhoods. People are angry with the authorities who continue to house juvenile offenders from other parts of the state. Media reports suggest that state authorities won’t talk specifically about the youths accused of the assault. But placing them away from their home counties didn’t keep them away from bad influences. - Daily Nation.

Spotted at Race Course road Nairobi.

Seems with their animals dying they are making special delivery in the Capital. No doubt they were to deliver somewhere not knowing about the City bylaws which could have made them spend the weekend behind bars. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

Zambia First Lady in Kenya for holiday

Zambian First Lady Thandiwe Banda is in Malindi for a three-day holiday.  The charter carrying Thandiwe, wife to Zambia‘s fourth president Rupiah Banda jetted into Malindi Airport on Wednesday. The First Lady was from the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and will be staying at the luxurious Hemingway Hotel. However, efforts by journalists to interview or take pictures of Thandiwe were futile. Coast PC Ernest Munyi directed Malindi DC, Arthur Mugira, not to allow journalists to interview the First Lady saying she was on a private visit.

Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou has experienced heavy rain over the last few days. A guard at a second hand car lot was left stranded in a truck after water rose suddenly, immersing the rest of the vehicles. More than 10 inches (25cm) of rainfall in 12 hours has turned the streets of Ouagadougou into fast-flowing rivers. The dusty city is usually bustling with mopeds and traffic. Burkina Faso is used to heavy seasonal rainfall but this is the worst flooding in 50 years. An estimated 109,000 people have been left homeless.

Calm down officer, he had threatened to smash the windscreen.

Resisting arrest can end up with malicious damage but the passenger agreed to open the door for the officer. Matatu drivers fear traffic police than The Law. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya protests at US criticism

The government has issued a protest to the US Embassy over a statement the Embassy issued regarding the reappointment of Justice Aaron Ringera as the director of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission. In a statement faxed to newsroom, the Foreign affairs ministry terms the action to be in bad taste adding that the embassy has no right of questioning the decision made by the president. "The ministry considers it objectionable, in bad taste and an affront to the Head of Ste to whom it accredited that the Embassy, should question the action of the president re-appointing Justice Ringera as the Director of KACC." It said. The ministry also maintains that the president acted within the law since the act does not spell out any procedure for reappointments. "The power of appointment to any public office vests in the president...Justice Ringera's appointment for a second final term is therefore within the law. The ministry urges the US Embassy to desist from offering unsolicited, unwarranted and misplaced advice on the running affairs of the country."

Justice and constitutional affairs minister and government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua have since voiced their displeasure over the remarks. On Thursday, US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger said Ringera didn't deserve the reappointment due to his poor performance record at the helm of the KACC over the last five years "Even the manner in which the re-appointment was made it clearly raises many questions," said a statement from its Nairobi Embassy on Thursday. Ranneberger claimed the re-appointment by President Mwai Kibaki compromises the commitment of the reform agenda in the country. He argued that by by-passing the Advisory Board and Parliament, contrary to the law, the action encourages the culture of impunity which the government needs to urgently address.  "As a good friend of Kenya, we are deeply concerned that the reappointment was clearly made without proper consultation," he said, adding, "The KACC Advisory Board has the responsibility to make recommendations for candidates for Director and Assistant Directors to Parliament, which vets and approves those candidates, and sends the names of approved candidates to the President for him to appoint." The American Ambassador said that the negative public reaction towards his reappointment is an indication that Kenyans no longer have confidence in Ringera.  The ambassador said that the move undermined government's efforts to fight corruption and end impunity and called for the process to be reviewed. On Monday the President through a gazette notice re-appointed Justice Ringera for another five years.

Newly appointed Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu addresses the media after an induction retreat for senior area deputy provincial commissioners at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies on Thursday. - Daily Nation.

Should Google be the world's librarian?

Google is in the middle of a project to digitise the world's books to create a vast online library. Do think it is a good idea? The US Department of Justice has begun an investigation into the Google Books Programme. If permission is given to go ahead, Google will be able to digitise old and new books without fear of prosecution for copyright infringement. In return Google would create a Book Rights Registry where authors and publishers could register works and be compensated. Critics say such a library controlled by a single company and small group of publishers would inevitably lead to higher prices and subpar services. Do you think Google Books would open up access for everyone or just the technically literate? Are you an author or publisher – does the project treat you fairly? How should the mass digitisation of books be best managed?

The battle over Google's effort to digitise the world's books and create a vast online library has intensified. Authors have until Friday to opt out of the $125m settlement the search giant made with authors and publishers. The date for comments to the New York court overseeing the class action suit was extended from Friday to Tuesday, after the filing system went down. As time ticks away, supporters and critics have been manning both sides of the debate to win the public case. The settlement reached last October stemmed from a 2005 legal suit that Google faced for scanning out-of-print works without explicit permission from rights holders. If approved by a judge, Google would create a Book Rights Registry where authors and publishers could register works and be compensated. Ahead of Friday's opt-out for authors, Google lined up a number of professors, students and civil rights activists who support the deal. "We see access to knowledge as a civil right," Wade Henderson, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, told reporters in a conference call. "Information enables individuals to learn, to create and to pursue their dreams. Access to knowledge defines the meaning of equal opportunity in a democratic society," said Mr Henderson.

Aid worker Isla Gilmore snapped this in Tanzania. The goat race is an annual charity event, she said. "The goats don't really run - they have to be pushed."

The medical and dentist board officials Thursday 3rd September, 2009 cracked the whip on quacks purporting to be medical practitioners.  The officials arrested two men who are said to have been working as doctors in local private hospitals using forged certificates and accreditations.  One man was arrested after the hospital management raised complaints over his incompetence having prescribed wrong medicine to patients for the last three months. The board's Chief Executive Officer Daniel Yumbya said the man had presented to his employer forged certificates from the University of Nairobi and the board.  Addressing members of the press, Yumbya said he led board members to the health facility after getting reports that the man had sought employment as a doctor through forged papers.  Records showed that the registration number of one of the forged papers belonged to a Dr Simon Mungu and was awarded in 1986, while the suspect claimed to have been registered as a doctor in 1997.  He had also purportedly been awarded with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, upper second class honours, by the University of Nairobi whereas such degrees are not classified.  Yumbya said the man will be charged in court on several counts including practising as a doctor without being registered and forging documents.  He said cases of persons impersonating medics were rampant and warned healthcare facilities to verify with the relevant authorities any medical certificates presented to them by would-be employees.  The hospital's Director, Father Gonzalo Maria, said the man had worked at the facility for two-and-a-half months and that he was the first to be hired as a doctor.  The board members also ordered the vetting of two other employees, one serving as a laboratory technician and the other as a nurse. Another suspect was also arrested as he tried his luck at the Nairobi hospital where he had gone for an interview.

These pears have gone baby-shaped

Things aren't going pear-shaped for the humble fruit - they are going baby-shaped. Britain could soon see the arrival of pears from China which have been shaped to look like youngsters. Farmer Gao Xianzhang spent six years perfecting his idea, which involves growing each fruit for a certain amount of time inside individual moulds. Despite costing £5 each, people in his home village of Hexia, in northern China's Hebei province, have been snapping up the unusual fruit. He said: 'People seem to think they are cute or lucky and will buy them as soon as they're off the tree.' He has cropped 10,000 of the pears this season and is planning to export them to Britain and the rest of Europe. Luckily for Mr Gao, he should have no problem getting his irregular shaped fruit past EU officials. In July, wonky shaped fruit and vegetables such as curvy cucumbers and knobbly carrots returned to supermarket shelves thanks to the abolition of EU rules on the size and shape of 36 types of fruit and veg. For 20 years, EU-wide marketing standards encouraged only the finest-looking produce to reach shops.

Kenyan Group in USA - African High Flyers America's Got Talent - VIDEO

Joice Muturi arrives from Kenya with a new album

Joyce Muturi is back in London with a new DVD entitled WANANJITA MAINGI. She spent her summer holiday ministering to churches in Kenya and working tremendously on her Album. Joyce had an opportunity to minister alongside other prominent gospel singers in various churches. She had also being an encouragement to those who are blossoming in gospel music. Joyce is launching this Album soon. She will announce the launching date in due course. The Album consist of 10 encouraging songs. The DVDs are also available in Kenya at: Julia Lucy's Music Studio, Photocopy Music Store, Duruma Road, Opposite Coast Bus Offices, Nairobi. Her contact  info@voiceofjoy.co.uk - A TASTE OF THE VIDEO.

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TO ALL PASTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

It is indeed a great privilege to invite and welcome you into our midst for our youth conference starting September 18th to September 20th 2009 at 524 High Street North, Manor Park, London E12 6QN. The Theme of our conference being "ARISE AND SHINE." On the first day Friday 18th at 7pm, we will be speaking to the youth on SEXUAL TRAPS AND SOUL TIES. On the second day we will have two sessions, the first one running from 10am-5pm.This will be a CAREERS OPEN DAY, where we have invited guest speakers from a wide range of professions and prominent businessmen. e.g policemen, engineers, dentists, doctors, nurses, accountants, teachers etc.

This is to enlighten our youth on career choices and development and motivate them to know that it is possible to achieve their goals in this country. The second session will run from 6pm-9.30pm,the topic being HATING SIN. The conference reaches its climax on Sunday 20th when we have the morning session running from 10am-2pm and the topic will be MONEY MATTERS. This will be crowned by a gospel extravaganza in the evening at 6pm-9.30pm. Please encourage all the youth to attend this life changing conference and their lives will never be the same again.

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Rude sms costs woman Sh30,000

Esther Mwende Chele, 46, in court Wednesday. She pleaded guilty to sending an offensive text message.  A woman will part with Sh30,000 for sending a text that cost her less than Sh5 or go to jail for three months. The senior officer at the Nairobi City Council’s Education Department insulted a man by degrading his private parts. Esther Mwende Chele, 46, shed tears as Senior Principal Magistrate Stellah Muketi passed the verdict. She was charged that between February 18 and August, by means of Safaricom telecommunication system, she sent an offensive message to Mr Stephen Ngumbau Kithuka, belittling his private parts. She pleaded guilty and the court ordered her to pay a fine of Sh30,000 or be sentenced to jail for three months. In mitigation, the woman, who claimed she was a widow, told the court the man tried luring her to bed but she declined and instead offered him spiritual nourishment. Ms Mwende said the man owed her more than Sh20,000 and was out to frustrate her because she declined his advances. However, the facts of the case as presented in court were that the woman’s daughter wanted to rent the man’s servants quarter three years ago and they met for tea over it. Mwende is said to have made advances at the man but he declined. She resorted to harassing him with telephone calls and finally the SMS. - The Standard.

Prophet David Edward Owuor (left) hands over surrendered weapons to Njoro's administration police inspector Peter Kuta (centre) and John Langat of the Kenya Police on Saturday. The weapons were surrendered at Kings Outreach Church in Njoro where the prophet was meeting church pastors and ushers.

Dangerous driving by KPLC staff

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IKO NINI BWANA SEED ARCHIVE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? SEPTEMBER 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? AUGUST 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? JULY 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? JULY 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? JUNE 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NIN BWANA SEED? JUNE 2009 - PART TWO

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? MAY 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? APRIL 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? APRIL 2009 - PART TWO

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - MARCH 2009

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? FEBRUARY 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? FEBRUARY 2009 - TWO

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? FEBRUARY 2009 - THREE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - JANUARY 2009 - ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - JANUARY 2009  - TWO

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - DECEMBER, 2008 ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - DECEMBER TWO, 2008

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - NOVEMBER ONE, 2008

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - OCTOBER, 2008

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? - SEPTEMBER 2008