Iko Nini Bwana Seed?

WHAT UK NEWSPAPERS SAY - EXCHANGE RATE AGAINST THE POUND TODAY IS KSHS. 120.52

A KENYAN LAW FIRM IN UK - CAPITALfm RADIO fff - KAMEME RADIO IS BACK AGAIN

  LISTEN TO HODSIM RADIO OF BISHOP WARUI  - LONDON

London, Friday 27th November, 2009. Dubai in deep water as ripples from debt crisis spread. Fears of a dangerous new phase in the economic crisis swept around the globe yesterday as traders responded to the shock announcement that a debt-laden Dubai state corporation was unable to meet its interest bill.  Shares plunged, weak currencies were battered and more than £14 billion was wiped from the value of British banks on fears that they would be left nursing new losses.  Nervous traders transferred the focus of their anxieties from the risk of companies failing to the risk of nation states defaulting. Investors owed money by Mexico, Russia and Greece saw the price of insuring themselves against default rocket.  Although the scale of Dubai’s debts is comparatively modest at $80 billion (£48 billion), the uncertainty spooked the markets, with no one sure who its creditors are. Several banks rushed out statements to reassure investors that their exposure was small.  The FTSE 100 plunged by 171 points to 5,194 — its biggest one-day fall in eight months in one of the most jittery days in the financial markets since the depths of the banking crisis.  The Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority were monitoring events closely and are demanding figures from UK banks on their loan exposures to Dubai.  According to a senior government official, Dubai’s crisis is regarded as modest and manageable for Britain, but there were growing fears that Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich neighbouring emirate that has in the past given rescue loans, would leave Dubai to its fate.  Dubai World, the state-owned corporation that began the panic on Wednesday by demanding a standstill on its interest payments, worsened the mood when it postponed a teleconference for its bond holders, saying the phone lines were overwhelmed.

Gerard Lyons, chief economist with Standard Chartered, said: “The market reaction shows how vulnerable some economies are to the aftermath of the debt binge. This highlights how fragile confidence is.”  The Eid al-Adha religious holiday in the Middle East, and the closure of financial markets in the United States for Thanksgiving, exacerbated the sense of uncertainty in markets that were open for business.  A computer crash at the London Stock Exchange, which by coincidence is 21 per cent owned by the Dubai Government, left dealers unable to trade for three and a half hours.  Shares in HSBC slumped by 5 per cent, wiping £6.2 billion from its value. According to the United Arab Emirates Banks Association, HSBC has £11 billion of loans outstanding to the UAE, of which Dubai is one of seven emirates. HSBC declined to comment.  More than £2.6 billion was slashed from the value of Barclays, while Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland, both partly owned by the taxpayer, saw their values fall by £1.7 billion and £1.5 billion respectively.  One analyst said that the fears were overdone because Abu Dhabi would eventually come to the rescue to save the UAE from embarrassment. Dubai World has liabilities of £36 billion, about three quarters of Dubai’s total state debt. Its subsidiary Nakheel built The Palm Islands development, but the property bubble in the emirate burst a year ago, leaving buildings unfinished, debts unpaid and paper fortunes erased.

Vote for Kenya at the IMO

The Kenya government hosted a reception of honour of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on Thursday 26th November, 2009 at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in Central London. The minister for transport Hon. Chirau Ali Mwakwere delivered a speech where he urged IMO members to vote for Kenya during their elections on Friday 27th November, 2009 in London. Kenya is seeking for a seat at the elections. Hon. Mwakwere and his PS Dr. Cyrus Njiru seen welcoming the guests at the hotel and on right a Zairian Band entertaining the guests at the hotel.

A Kenyan man has passed away in Dallas, USA. Mr. Peter Njoroge Kariuki passed away at Parklands Hospital yesterday morning (November 24th, 2009). He started feeling unwell in April of 2009. He battled with the demon of breast cancer that eventually spread to the spinal and lungs. He is survived by his wife Alice Mburu Njoroge in Dallas, sons; Ken Njoroge (London), Joshua Njoroge in Dallas, Augustine Njoroge (Richardson High School), Daughters; Njambi W. Njoroge in Dallas and Monica Wanjiru Njoroge in Dallas, his mother, six sisters, three brothers, several nephews and nieces in Kenya. He gave his life to Christ on August 22nd 2009. To God is all the Glory. People are meeting every evening from 6.30pm at 5426 Meadow Creek Drive, Apt. 2007, Dallas, TX 75248. There will be a major funds drive on Saturday (November 29th, 2009) at Neema Gospel Church at exactly 6.00pm. For those who might not be able to come in person are requested to make their donations to Joshua Njoroge - Bank of America Account number 4880 2560 6810 Routing Number 111000025. In the meantime please contact any of the following people for more information. Neema Gospel Church Phone 903-461-3242, Alex Ndirangu Karundu Phone 469-438-8388, Maina Kaigi Phone 469-831-9190, Agnes Warutere Phone 469-685-6960, Njambi Njoroge Phone 469-363-7294, Joshua Njoroge phone 972-900-7909, Professor Gaciri 214-909-5589 and Pastor Jackson Kingori (Neema Gospel Church) Phone 469-682-8879. - Source: diasporamessenger.com

The late Peter Njoroge Kariuki

PLO Lumumba advices youth: Integrity values - CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

SOME OF THE UK NEWSPAPERS ON FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER, 2009

LEFT: The Independent leads with an NHS investigation into the Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals Trust, saying poor standards of care could have led to the unnecessary deaths of 400 patients. CENTRE: The Financial Times reports on the international implications of Dubai's spectacular debt problems. RIGHT: The Times also leads with Dubai and fears of a dangerous new phase in the world's economic crisis.

2012 Presidential candidates list builds up

11 Candidates has already declared interest in 2012 presidential elections. By 2012 the list will be over 20. Those who have declared the interest include:

1) Hon. Raila Odinga

2) Hon. Kalonzo

3) Hon. Martha Karua

4) Prof. Wajackoyah

5) Hon. Marende

6) Hon. Eugene Wamalwa

7) Hon. Wetungula

8) Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta

9) Hon. Bifwoli Wakoli

10) Hon. Moses Mudavadi

11) Hon. Ruto

Luis Moreno-Ocampo kept his promise of presenting Kenya’s case at The Hague

Luis Moreno-Ocampo kept his promise of presenting Kenya’s case at The Hague. The International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor’s message soon after that was clear: "The world is watching Kenya and this court (ICC). We have a challenge and we cannot fail. We will not fail." Mr Moreno-Ocampo made the presentation at 1.31pm Kenyan time and, thereafter, held a press briefing at The Hague to give an overview of his presentation.  The event was attended by international media and Kenyan officials, including the Deputy Public Prosecutor Keriako Tobiko.  Journalists from Nairobi listened to Ocampo’s media address through a video link at the United Nations headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi. According to his reports about 1,220 people were killed, 3,300 injured, more than 300,000 displaced and thousands of deaths went unreported. He avers that the alleged crimes "were widespread and systematic". - The Standard.

Steamy clock tower couple's outdoor sex display thrills crowds

There is a time and a place for a couple to engage in steamy sex. And this was neither. As the hands on the famous Sydney clock in this photo show, this frisky couple's antics took place in the middle of the afternoon. It may not be the most romantic of places for an intimate clinch, but never knock those Australians for sheer courage and determination when it comes to getting jiggy. Situated on a balcony just beneath Sydney's historic clock tower, opposite a busy shopping centre, the spectacle soon drew an interested crowd. 'Everyone in the area started to look up and point, laugh and grin,' said a bystander who took pictures of the al fresco lovers. 'From the looks of it, the couple seemed to know they could be seen and seemed completely unfazed.' So far, the identities of the pair remain unknown, although newspapers in Australia have urged them to come forward and show themselves. With their clothes on, of course.

Prof. George L Wajackoyah for 2012 President

The first Diaspora presidential candidate Prof. George L Wajackoyah talks to Luvei Times about his intentions to succeed retiring President Mwai Kibaki as the fourth president of Republic of Kenya. From a destitute in the street of Nairobi, to police inspector to a practicing lawyer and currently a professor of law in the US, it’s been a long journey for Prof. Wajackoyah. He went into hiding fearing for his life in Kenya, after he led investigation in disappearance and subsequent murder of the late Dr. Robert Ouko, a former minister for foreign affairs in former president Moi’s government. Following is the full text of the interview with Luvei Times reporter.  Luvei Times: We understand that you have interests in gunning for presidential elections come 2012; tell us more about yourself. Answer: My name is George Luchiri Wajackoyah. Son of Titus Olilo Luchiri and Melenia Makokha Angengo. I am a professor of law at American Heritage University in Southern California. I am also the vice-president of My HubNet Corporation, a company based in Rancho Cucamonga in California. My website is: www.glw4president.com.

Caught red handed chasing a lady in blue jeans with a panga at Race Course roundabout on Wednesday 25th November, 2009 .Traffic police arrested the man and handed him to police in patrol. Good spirit of utumishi kwa wote and on right  Wananchi crying for his blood, The lady in blue jeans and black top facing them could have been killed in broad day light. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193  wanjugunak@hotmail.com

Why property prices will not be coming down soon in Kneya

Working as a professional in real estate and experiencing the ever-increasing property prices, I am always puzzled when I read of property prices coming down.  Following the boom six years ago, there was much talk of the bubble bursting and eventually it did — in Europe, America and across many Asian countries. This brought down many businesses. Kenya’s market, however, has remained unshaken. Today, signs clearly indicate the shadow of recession is edging further away from our market, which encapsulates the intricate web of real estate development. Energy is the key resource to every conceivable production. Demand for energy worldwide exceeds supply hence its high costs affects inputs like steel, transportation, cement, paint, sanitary ware and even the two-inch nails and screws for cupboards. Though cement uses 90 per cent local materials, it consumes large amounts of electricity during manufacturing, which makes it expensive.

Blackouts and the ever-increasing tariffs aggravate the already compounding crisis to manufacturers. I highly doubt if production companies can operate at full load 24 hours a day. Tariff concessions should be encouraged for production companies that operate at night. Unless the government finds a magical solution to the energy crisis that will influence the private sector to reduce costs by 50 per cent, then reduction in property prices will continue being elusive. Not every developer has vast capital resources to solely fund a project. Many, therefore, opt for bank loans. Developers intending to sell their properties are given a shorter repayment duration at slightly lower interest rates than long-term mortgage rates. Similarly, most developers give discounts to cash buyers.  Nonetheless, it will still be a long time before rates come down to eight per cent where most experts believe interest should be pegged at. Even if interest rates were to drop to five per cent, a rush for mortgage facilities plus the resultant high demand for properties would eventually push prices up. Cost of land is one of the main reasons why property development is expensive. For instance, an acre in Westlands can fetch upto Sh150 million. Further, limitations that include sewer and city bylaws, together with additional costs such as raw materials, labour and licenses push overall costs of construction upwards. —The writer is a marketer with Brooks Estate Agents Ltd.

A well knitted sisal sack with a message 'Kingdom of heaven is reigning even on earth 'This was on Race Course road. On right wonders on Race Course road. A motorbike on a mkokoteni. Could  this be the new motorbike rescue unit. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193  wanjugunak@hotmail.com

The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Advisory Board Thursday 26th November, 2009 nominated renowned lawyer PLO Lumumba to replace Aaron Ringera as Kenya's anti-graft boss. The board also picked another prominent lawyer Pravin Bowry as Assistant Director, Legal Services and Jane Onsongo an Associate Professor of Education and Deputy Director Research at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) as Preventive Services Assistant Director. The three names will be forwarded to Parliament for debate before they are referred to President Kibaki for appointment. The nominations come two months after Justice Aaron Ringera bowed to public pressure and resigned in September following his controversial re-appointment by President Mwai Kibaki. Announcing the appointments, KACC chairman said the recruitment process was thorough and highly competitive. Omogeni said they received 197 applications for the three vacancies, but considered only eight for each post.  "The vacancies were announced early October and throughout the recruitment process, the board was guided by law and its commitment to be impartial and independent," said Omogeni.  "We were also driven by the pressing need to recruit Kenyans of high integrity and competency who have the experience, courage and determination to fight the war against corruption and restore confidence of the nation in our quest to fight corruption," he added.

PROFILES

PLO LUMUMBA

Dr Lumumba commonly known as PLO is a candid advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Tanzania. He is a holder of Bachelors' and Master's Degrees in Law from the University of Nairobi, and a Doctorate of Law from the University of Gent in Belgium. He has taught law at the University of Nairobi for 17 years and practiced as an advocate for the last 23 years. Dr Lumumba was the Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) between 2001 and 2005.The distinguished lawyer who contested and lost the Kamukunji Parliamentary seat in 2007, has widely published and is a prolific speaker on anti-corruption issues in the country.

PRAVIN BOWRY : Assistant Director, Legal Services

A prominent lawyer and advocate for 38 years. He is an accomplished expert in criminal and civil law with experience in court procedures and rules of evidence, both of which are critical in getting convictions in the many corruption cases filed in court over time. He is a graduate of the Kenya School of Law and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and the International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda.

Prof JANE KERUBO ONSONGO: Preventive Services Assistant Director.

Prof Onsongo is an Associate Professor of Education and Deputy Director Research at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). She holds a PhD in Higher and Further Education from University College London. She also holds an MA in Women and Higher Education from the same university. She also has a MEd in Education Communication and Technology and a BEd in History and Religious Education from Kenyatta University.

Justice Aaron Ringera bowed to public pressure and resigned in September following his controversial re-appointment by President Mwai Kibaki. - VIDEO OF PLO LUMUMBA

Dr PLO Lumumba fit to lead Kenya, his oratory skill can only be compared with that of the late TJ Mboya?  The New Millenium provided the best opportunity for Kenya, one important choice; to make Kenya a truly democratic and modern prosperous society. But instead, the country never seized the positive goodwill of transformation.  Our political class went far flung only dreaming backwards thus returning Kenya back to the stone age era and to the dogs. I think the latter genuinely describes where our politics are at the hour. So, the likes of John Githogo are not in vogue in Kenya of today. - MORE

Immigration and asylum statistics released

Home Office, 26 November 2009

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Immigration statistics covering quarter three of 2009 have been released by the Home Office today. This range of statistics covers asylum applications, total removals for those illegally in the United Kingdom and migration from Eastern Europe for the period July to September of this year. Net-migration is falling, showing that migrants come to the UK for short periods of time, work, contribute to the economy and then return home. Phil Woolas, Border and Immigration Minister. Figures show that applications for asylum have dropped to 5,055 for the third quarter of 2009 - a 24 per cent reduction compared to the same quarter in 2008. Decisions on asylum cases have also risen 38 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2008 with the grant rate for asylum falling to 12 per cent. In December 2008 the UK Border Agency met it's target of concluding 60 per cent of new asylum cases within six months. Applications from Eastern Europeans to work in the United Kingdom under the worker registration scheme have stabilised at 29,085, compared to 41,265 during the same period last year and 28,060 in quarter two 2009. The Office for National Statistics figures published earlier today also show that net-migration fell to 163,000 in 2008, from 233,000 in 2007, the lowest level since the eight accession countries joined the European Union in 2004. The Office for National Statistics figures also show that of those coming to the United Kingdom in 2008, 14 per cent, 85,000, were British citizens returning to live in Britain. This was more than any other individual nationality. Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

'Net-migration is falling, showing that migrants come to the UK for short periods of time, work, contribute to the economy and then return home.  'Our new flexible points-based system gives us greater control over those coming to work or study from outside Europe, ensuring that only those that Britain need can come. 'Our border has never been stronger, as illustrated by the fall in asylum applications and the record numbers we are stopping at Calais. 'We are making the UK a more hostile place for illegal immigrants by issuing foreign nationals with ID cards, checking those who apply for visas against watch lists and fining those who employ illegal workers.'

Zimbabwe: Women Kidnap, Rape Teenager in Church

Three sex-starved women kidnapped an 18-year-old man in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe on November 17, with one of the women raping the young lad in a cathedral. The man’s employer sent him on an errand to Makoni shopping center. As he entered the parking lot around 3 p.m., a Toyota Corolla suddenly pulled beside him.  Three women got out, snatched him from his vehicle and tossed him into their car. The three women drove him to Harare’s Roman Catholic Cathedral where they locked him in a room. At around 8 p.m., one of the women returned and forced the man to have sex with her, sources say. Afterwards, it is alleged the daring woman phoned the wife of the man’s employer and told her that the victim was safe and they should not worry about his whereabouts. The following morning at around 7 a.m., the three women forced the young man into their vehicle and drove to the Machipisa shopping center where they dumped him. The man made a report at Machipisa Police Station. No arrests had been made and police were hunting for the suspects. Police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau, confirmed the incident and said investigations were in progress.

ONE MAN LIVING IN A SMALL ISLAND IN NORTHERN OF UK

"Forvik Island" is the name which has been given to Forewick Holm by Stuart Hill. Around mid June 2008 Hill claimed to have "recently" become the owner of the small (approx total area 1 hectare/approx 2.5 acres) and previously rather insignificant, relatively unknown islet. He elaborated on this around mid July, by stating that the islet had been donated to him by someone who wished to support his campaign on Shetland's legal and constitutional position. It is situated at 60° 19' 7.47" N, 1° 39' 49.29" W, in the Sound of Papa a short distance off the south-east coast of Papa Stour, which itself is a small island off the coast of the west Mainland of Shetland. Satellite imagery showing the islet's location relative to the U.K, Western Europe and Scandinavia can be viewed here. The name is first known to have been used on June 18th 2008 when Mr Hill's intention to declare "Forvik Island", or "Forvik" for short, a dependent territory was made public. The Declaration of Dependency was subsequently made on June 21st 2008. - MORE

Introducing fingerprint checks at the UK border

Home Office, 25 November 2009

From 30 November 2009, the UK Border Agency is introducing fingerprint checks at the border for passengers with biometric UK visas, entry clearances and identity cards for foreign nationals (ICFNs). On arrival in the United Kingdom, these passengers will have their fingerprints scanned at border control in addition to the normal checks that take place. These will then be checked against the fingerprints the passenger gave with their application. The purpose of these checks is to verify that the individual entering the United Kingdom is the same person who gave their biometrics when they applied for their visa, entry clearance or ICFN. Using fingerprints enables us to do this with greater certainty. For more information about the new fingerprint check process, see the entering the United Kingdom section of this website.

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

Father of knifed boy ‘is adopted son of Arch Bishop Deya’

The man suspected of the murder of his three-year-old son in south London is a relative of “miracle baby” preacher Gilbert Deya, it was claimed. Paul Otieno, 31, who is under police guard in a hospital bed, is also known as Paul Deya, the adopted son of the self-styled Archbishop Deya who is wanted in Kenya on child-stealing charges. He was adapted by Arch Bishop Deya after the death of Deya's brother. The father of two is suspected of stabbing his son to death before turning the knife on himself. Wilson Otieno was pronounced dead at the family's first-floor flat on the Lynton Estate, Southwark. Neighbours dialled 999 after hearing an argument at about 6pm on Monday. Mr Otieno's wife, Jackline, 28, who had her throat cut in the attack, reportedly phoned emergency services and screamed: “Come quick, he's killing our baby.” Mrs Otieno had reportedly threatened to leave her husband. She was also taken to hospital and has been discharged. The couple's 17-month-old daughter was unharmed. A church worker at the Gilbert Deya Ministries in Peckham said Mr Otieno was related to the preacher. Patricia Shittu, 39, said: “He used to come here every day. His wife worked in the church office as an administrator. They are a nice family.”

 Mr Otieno was pictured with Deya in a family photograph. Sources in Kenya told the Standard he was Deya's nephew but was brought up as his son. Otieno is believed to be his middle name. Mr Otieno ran a video editing business with his wife but the sources said he also worked for the Deya Broadcasting Network, the TV network which broadcasts his uncle's sermons. Police sources confirmed that they were investigating links between Mr Otieno and Deya, who is fighting extradition to Kenya where he is accused of abducting children aged between 22 months and four and a half years. He claims he has given 22 “miracle babies” to infertile women in his evangelical church in Kenya. One case involved an African couple in Haringey. The woman, who was not pregnant, went to Kenya and returned with a baby born, she said, through divine intervention. DNA testing showed that the boy could not have been their son. Mr Otieno's brother Daniel, who lives in Midlothian, said: “I am his brother but I am not going to comment further. I just want the police to do their work. The whole family is grieving. It is a very sad time for all of us.”

The wedding of the year in Kenya

The cost of the day was over Kshs. 6 million

Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193  wanjugunak@hotmail.com

 Cecilia being escorted by her parents Mr. & Mrs. JJ Kamotho - CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

The wedding between Paul Muchene Kinuthia and Cecilia daughter of former Kanu Secretary general Hon. J.J. Kamotho. The wedding was held at St Austins church inside St Mary's boys on Saturday 21st November, 2009. The sermon was led by FR  Moses K. Kago.The best couple were Joseph Theuri and Susan Theuri. The MC of the whole even was Mogaka an actor with Vitimbi group. The Matron of honour was Agnes Gakungu. Under police escort were over 7 Range rovers sports most of them black. Over twenty Mercedes were behind the convoy. There were several security bouncers who kept a watchful eye in church and on the way and reception.

The tents looks like a small village at the reception where they hosted more than 4,000 guests and comedians from all walks of life
 
Many people attended, two tents were erected outside the church with big screens to avoid some guests missing out on what was going on in the church. Over 4,000 guests attended the wedding where they were all fed with mineral water by Loita Springs water Ltd packed with over 10,000 bottles. The water bottles were labelled with Paul's and Cecilia’s photo which surprised many with this expensive venture. Kids were also taken care of with about four bouncy castles, a food point full of chips and assorted crisps as well as soft drinks. Food was not an issue. There were over ten food service stations where you could get anything of your choice.
 
The company Interconsumer had goodies for all the visitors and all the ladies were give assorted nice and lovely body lotion as well nice and lovely petroleum jelly. Verseva and Verman sport perfumes were also given for free only for those waited until the cutting of the cake. At the entrance there was a tent that was selling the couple’s products. The sale and marketing manager Mr George Ngigi together with The customer service manager Esther Kilonzi were at the tent making sure all the products were available as well as monitoring the smooth running of guests at the entrance.

The biggest wedding cake and mineral water with the couple's photo

A bull was slaughter and grilled with the latest technology ever witnessed in recent times by J's Grill. It was an Ox grilling machine that was imported from Germany. Speaking to the owner Jacqueline Anampiu, she said she got the idea when she visited Germany over summer time and got them doing the grilling. Asked  about how much it was to hire it she said. “it only cost forty thousand for the machine and labour plus additional two hundred shillings per kilo is charged of the cooked bull.” At this wedding the bull was five hundred kilos and took about 9 hrs for it to be well done. The machine is then towed using a Range rover.

At the reception there were TV screens because you could not see the front due to the distance and the number of the guests at the venue. Speaking to one of the officials, he said the wedding was costing 6 million shillings on the day and no doubt it was worth it. After the wedding the bridal party together with friends headed to Jockey club at Ngong Race Course for mugithi and more refreshments. Spotted guests included Hon Beth Mugo, former Naivasha MP Jane Kihara and Kinangop MP Hon David Ngugi. This year has been the best for Paul Muchene Kinuthia. Other achievements in the year has been that his company Interconsumer Products Ltd joined club 101 after having a turnover of over 2 billion a year.  He has launched new products in the market namely Versman and Verseva which is said to have hit the market as the cheapest and affordable perfume for wananchi, He also become a Warrior at the Marketing Society of Kenya event and now he has joined the club of the married. How better can it get for Paul. For security reasons they refused to reveal where they were headed for their honeymoon. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS
 

The remarkable mountain life of a family of ibex is filmed by a BBC natural history cameraman.  Jamie Macpherson filmed the behaviour taking place in a gorge in the Israeli desert.  The ibex negotiate sheer cliffs to reach their food, even standing on the branches of a tree to browse leaves.  The sequence will be broadcast as part of the BBC natural history series Life. - CLICK VIDO BELOW.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8367000/8367161.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8366000/8366830.stm

High tech border control success

Home Office, 23 November 2009

Nearly one million passengers have used the latest face scanning technology at Britain's airports, the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson announced. Facial recognition technology speeds up the passage of legitimate travellers through immigration control, allowing UK Border Agency officers to focus on high risk travellers and goods Alan Johnson, Home Secretary. He confirmed the figure while visiting the state-of-the-art facial recognition gates at Gatwick Airport's North Terminal. More than 950,000 passengers have used the secure self-service gates which scan biometric details and then check them against a range of watch lists before allowing the passengers to enter the country. The facial recognition gates offer legitimate passengers the choice between queuing at traditional, staffed passport controls and using the self-service gates. More than 50,000 passengers have used the gates at Gatwick since their introduction in August 2009. The gates take seconds to scan each passenger's face against the digital photo recorded in their passport. If there is a match, the e-passport gates open, to allow the traveller across the border. The gates are staffed by UK Border Agency officers who examine any passengers rejected by the gate, as well as making manual checks where appropriate. The technology has already proved popular and successful at Birmingham, Manchester, Stansted, Cardiff and Bristol Airports. Speaking on his visit, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

'Facial recognition technology speeds up the passage of legitimate travellers through immigration control, allowing UK Border Agency officers to focus on high risk travellers and goods. Our investment in the latest technology, which I have seen here today at Gatwick, means we continue to be at the forefront of border security. 'We have also introduced fingerprint visas, checking those wanting to enter the UK against immigration and crime databases, and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals. In addition, the e-Borders system allows the UK Border Agency to count people in and out of the country and target terrorist suspects, criminals and would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK.'

Facial recognition is just one of many technologies at use within Gatwick Airport to secure the border. Other technology includes Cyclamen, which detects radiation in cargo at the border and Braun Conpass, a full body scanner which enables the UK Border Agency to see if a passenger is carrying illegal weapons or drugs on their person. Since January this year, technology used in customs checks at ports has helped in the seizure of illegal drugs worth over £157 million. On his visit, the Home Secretary met frontline UK Border Agency staff, as well as detection dogs responsible for stopping smuggled goods such as drugs, cash and endangered species. Since January this year, UK border Agency officers working at United Kingdom ports and airports have seized in excess of 447 million smuggled cigarettes - representing a potential loss of more than £87 million in tax revenue and illegal drugs worth over £212 million. Andy Flower, managing director for London Gatwick Airport, said:

'The introduction of the e-Passport system at London Gatwick Airport will provide a more efficient process for passengers entering the country. 'The Home Office has enhanced the use of technology which will help speed people through immigration controls, whilst keeping our borders safe and secure.'

Where is Trinidad and Tobago?

Country profile: Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean, thanks to its large reserves of oil and gas, the exploitation of which dominates its economy. Inhabited mostly by people of African and Indian descent, the two-island state enjoys a per capita income well above the average for Latin America. Natural gas - much of it exported to the US - is expected to overtake oil as its main source of revenue. Dependence on oil has made the republic a hostage to world crude prices, whose fall during the 1980s and early 1990s led to the build-up of a large foreign debt, widespread unemployment and labour unrest.  As with other nations in the region, Trinidad and Tobago - a major trans-shipment point for cocaine - has become ridden with drug and gang-related violence. This has clogged up the courts and has fuelled a high murder rate and much of the corruption that is reputedly endemic in the police. It also threatens the tourism industry. 

• Full name: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• Population: 1.4 million (UN, 2009)
• Capital: Port of Spain
• Area: 5,128 sq km (1,980 sq miles)
• Major language: English
• Major religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam
• Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar = 100 cents
• Main exports: Petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
• GNI per capita: US $16,540 (World Bank, 2008)
• Internet domain: .tt
• International dialling code: +1868

Speech by Mr. Munga at the Commonwealth Youth Forum - CHOGM 2009‏

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SPEECH

Mr. Peter K. Munga, the Chairman of Equity Bank in Kenya was a guest speaker  Tuesday 24th November, at the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Trinidad and Tobago Islands, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be attended by all the heads of state in 53 Member countries of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Youth Forum at CHOGM, taking place in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from 21 - 27 November, 2009 brings together young people from the Commonwealth nations to discuss issues of contemporary importance. The inaugural Commonwealth Youth Forum was hosted by the government of the United Kingdom in Edinburgh, 1997. At this forum a strong foundation was built to ensure that the Commonwealth Youth Forum became an institutional part of the Common Heads of Government Meeting (CGOGM). Subsequent Commonwealth Youth Forums have been held alongside CHOGM gatherings in Durban, South Africa in November 1999; Gold Coast, Australia in October, 2001; Abuja, Nigeria in 2003; Malta in November 2005; and Entebbe, Uganda in 2007.
 
These fora enabled young people to identify their own agendas and prioritize issues of importance to youth. The CYF provides an independent platform for representatives of the Commonwealth member countries to consider the Youth agenda at the same time as CHOGM. Each CYF addresses young people's concerns and builds on the work of the previous forum. The CYF works to formulate a statement of recommendations, communiqué action plans which are shared with Heads of Government and disseminated Commonwealth-wide. This forum will be a dynamic exploration of youth's strength and effectiveness in shaping the world. Recommendations from the 7th Commonwealth Youth Forum will be presented to the Commonwealth Heads of Government on Friday 27th November, 2009. - CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SPEECH

Ocampo set to comment on Kenya violence

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will make an announcement this week on Kenya's post-election violence, following his preliminary investigation, his office said on Tuesday.  "The prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, will hold a press conference ... on Thursday, 26 November," his office said in a media advisory. "The Prosecutor will make an announcement related to the situation in Kenya," it added, without giving further detail -- weeks after Nairobi insisted on a "local solution". Moreno-Ocampo has already said he would ask the judges of the ICC by December 1 for permission to launch a full, official investigation into the deadly violence that followed the disputed elections of December 27, 2007. He has been conducting a preliminary probe since last year. Some 1,500 people were killed and another 300,000 displaced in a matter of weeks after presidential polls in which opponents accused President Mwai Kibaki of voter fraud. The prosecutor has stated that he has a strong case against the key instigators of the violence, and that he wants to pursue those "most responsible". The ICC has already assigned three judges to consider the prosecutor's pending request. The Kenyan government has yet to act on the recommendation of its own year-old inquiry that a special tribunal be set up. Earlier this month, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said that Nairobi will help the ICC to probe election violence, but that it was committed to a "local solution."

Changes give British workers more opportunities to apply for jobs

Home Office, 24 November 2009

From 14 December 2009, the resident labour market test for Tier 2 of the points-based system will be extended to four weeks for all jobs, the Government announced today. This will replace the current requirement to advertise jobs for two weeks, or one week for jobs where the salary is £40,000 or more.

We've always said that we would run our immigration system for the benefit of the UK and that is why the Prime Minister announced that we will extend the amount of time employers must advertise jobs in Jobcentre Plus, before they can bring in a worker from outside Europe. Phil Woolas, Borders and Immigration Minister

This change was proposed by the independent Migration Advisory Committee in their Tier 2 report which was published on 19 August. The Government accepted the committee's recommendations in full on 7 September. The Prime Minister announced on 12 November that the extended resident labour market test would be introduced this autumn, so as to better support United Kingdom workers looking for skilled jobs as we come out of the economic downturn. This change will apply to advertising campaigns that start on or after 14 December. Employers that have already run advertisements will not need to re-advertise to meet the new requirement. To provide flexibility to employers, the four weeks will not need to run continuously. This will mean that employers will be able to advertise skilled jobs for shorter periods initially, for example for two weeks. This ensures that where resident workers are available, they can quickly be recruited to skilled jobs. Where there are no suitable resident workers available, the resident labour market must be tested for a further two weeks, making four weeks in total, before employers can appoint a migrant worker. Borders and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

'We've always said that we would run our immigration system for the benefit of the UK and that is why the Prime Minister announced that we will extend the amount of time employers must advertise jobs in Jobcentre Plus, before they can bring in a worker from outside Europe.  'This change will give United Kingdom workers an even better chance and more time to apply for skilled vacancies that might otherwise go to migrant workers. It will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign 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.'

Updated guidance for Tier 2 sponsors will be published on this website on 14 December. The other changes to Tier 2 recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee will be implemented in spring 2010.

Sweet is the dream, divinely sweet, when absent souls in fancy meet - Osman Haider

The Kenya government shall not compensate illegal squatters in the Mau and reserves the right to prosecute such settlers for degradation of the environment, Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa has said. In his ministerial statement presented to parliament Wednesday, Wekesa reiterated that the government has no obligation to compensate illegal settlers in forest land. At another forum, a section of MPs led by Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri came in to defend the Prime Minister's stand on the Mau evictions. They termed critics of the Prime Minister on Mau reclamation as individuals only after their selfish interests and not the good of the country. These MPs wonder why there were no protests in previous evictions of settlers from other forests around the country. Narok North MP William Ole Ntimama says some leaders are even offering bribes to the Mau evictees to convince them not to return to their land.

Girl In Heels Dies After Slipping Under Train in UK

Tributes have been paid to a schoolgirl who died after slipping in her high heels and falling under a train while waving goodbye to her friends. Megan Moore had just got off the train and was running alongside it, tapping on the window, when the accident happened on Saturday night 21st November, 2009. Shocked witnesses described how she suddenly fell through the gap between the platform and the train at Angmering Station near Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Emergency services were called, but the 16-year-old Angmering School pupil was pronounced dead at the scene. A 19-year-old, who did not want to be named, said he saw his friend fall. "She got off the train and started running and then she just suddenly slipped," he told The Argus. "She was wearing high heels and she fell in the gap between the train and the platform. I don't know for what reason she was running. "At one point she was literally in front of me and then seconds later she was on the track. "Everyone had their head in their hands. Everyone was crying and screaming. Her best mate was just screaming. It was horrific. She was utterly distraught." Megan's friends and family have left flowers at the station, and more than 1,500 people have joined a Facebook RIP group set up in tribute to her. One message, from Anna Gillingham, said: "Rest in peace lovely, you will be deeply missed. You were always so happy but at least now you can rest up in heaven." Another described her as "one of the kindest people ever". Her school said in a statement: "We have been informed of the tragedy and staff and students are supporting each other at this difficult time." A British Transport Police spokesman said: "The incident was reported to police at 11.57pm and is being treated as non-suspicious. "It appears that the girl was running alongside the train, tapping on the window as it left the platform, when she slipped between the platform and the train, which was the 2217 London Victoria-to-Bognor Regis service. "The train performed an emergency stop and halted still partly in the platform."

The annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage has begun in Saudi Arabia, with officials saying they expect lower numbers mainly because of fears about swine flu.

Over 33 million worldwide infected with AIDS 

An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with the AIDS virus, according to a report issued on Tuesday 24th November, 2009  in Shanghai by the World Health Organisation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). That figure is up from 33 million in 2007. However, the report said more people were living longer due to the availability of HIV drugs. "The number of AIDS-related deaths has declined by over 10 percent over the past five years as more people gained access to life-saving treatment," it added. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the scourge of AIDS is most keenly felt, there were 400,000 fewer infections in 2008, or down 15 percent compared to 2001. New HIV infections declined by nearly 25 percent in East Asia and 10 percent in south and southeast Asia within the same time frame. UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe said the declines were due partly to HIV prevention programmes but he said more needed to be done.

"The findings also show that prevention programming is often off the mark and that if we do a better job of getting resources and programmes to where they will make most impact, quicker progress can be made and more lives saved," he said. The data were contained in the 2009 AIDS epidemic update, which revealed that HIV played a significant factor in deaths to women during childbirth. Using South African data, about 50,000 maternal deaths were associated with HIV in 2008. "AIDS isolation must end ... half of all maternal deaths in Botswana and South Africa are due to HIV," said Sidibe. The report said the face of the AIDS epidemic was changing and that prevention efforts were not keeping pace with the shift. HIV transmission in Asia in the past was mainly through prostitution and injecting drug use, but now, it is increasingly affecting heterosexual couples. While it was confined mainly to injecting drug users in the past in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the disease is now spreading to sex partners of people who inject drugs.

Kangaroo Slashes Drowning Dog's Owner

A kangaroo slashed an Australian man's abdomen and face as he tried to stop the bouncing beast from drowning his dog. Chris Rickard, 49, said he was walking his blue heeler Rocky on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek, north east of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, but it then turned and pinned the pet underwater. When Mr Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him. Lashing out with its powerful hind legs, the marsupial tore a deep gash into his abdomen and across his face. "I thought I might take a hit or two dragging the dog out from under his grip, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Mr Rickard told The Herald Sun newspaper. "I was stuck having to hold onto the dog with both hands, because it was half drowned and, I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just ripped into me. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5ft high. They don't go around killing people. "Then, all of a sudden, I realised the first hit (he) gave me opened up a wide gash above my eye and blinded me." Mr Rickard said the onslaught left him "flailing away underwater, carrying a dog with a kangaroo ripping into me". "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water," he continued. The wounded man said he ended the battle by elbowing the beast in the throat. Kangaroos rarely attack humans, but will fight if they feel threatened.

The blue-footed booby lays blue eggs. And work by Dr Judith Morales from Vigo University, Spain, reveals that the more intense this blue colour, the more evenly parents share the responsibility of incubating. This suggests that egg colour is linked to the "reproductive quality" of the parent birds. RIGHT: Award-winning photographer Sam Rowley, aged 15, has been taking pictures of the deer in London’s Richmond park for the past five years.

Jane Kariuki's Killer Gets 29 Years in Seattle Sentence

A man who fatally stabbed his Kenyan girlfriend, Jane Kariuki, last year while both were riding in a car on Interstate 5 in Seattle was sentenced this morning to 29 years in prison. Christel David Murphy, 43, pleaded guilty in September to first-degree murder in the October 2008 slaying of his longtime girlfriend, Jane Kariuki, 42. The two were riding in a car driven by another man on Oct. 16, 2008. Ms Kariuki was seated in the front passenger seat and Murphy was in the back seat. Ms Kariuki died after Murphy reached forward, put her in a neck hold and stabbed her 31 times, cutting her neck, face and chest, according to (Seattle) court documents. The driver of the car pulled over and called 911 while Murphy got out of the vehicle, threw the knife on the ground, lit a cigarette and calmly sat down on the guardrail to wait for police, according to court documents. Murphy and Ms Kariuki had a troubled relationship. Murphy pled guilty to fourth-degree assault against Ms Kariuki in July 2007. He was also charged with third degree-assault and harassment for a March 2006 incident after he hit Ms Karuiki in the head, threatened to kill her with a knife and cut her hand with a glass shard. Murphy was sentenced to 60 days in jail three years ago that third-degree domestic-violence  against Ms Kariuki when he cut her with broken glass and threatened to kill her with knives. Seattle police said Ms Kariuki had told Murphy earlier to move out of the Kent residence they shared. Murphy has a criminal history that includes a conviction for manslaughter in North Carolina and several convictions for assault and domestic-violence assault in Washington, according to court records. At least two no-contact orders had been issued in an attempt to protect Ms Kariuki from Murphy; but in 2007 Kariuki successfully petitioned the court to lift the order of protection issued earlier.

Tesco in £1m cycles payment blunder

Britain's biggest retailer is taking legal action after mistakenly paying almost £1 million for six bicycles which should have cost less than £1,000, sources said. Tesco is seeking restitution of the overpaid monies following the error by its finance team. The supermarket chain should have paid Universal Cycles, a subsidiary of Sports Direct which is controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, £984 for six Muddy Fox Suspension Bikes but paid £984,000 instead. Universal, an Essex-based company majority-owned by Sports Direct, has paid back £863,000 but Tesco claims it is holding on to more than £121,000 in outstanding funds, sources said. It has launched legal action at the High Court to recover the remaining money, legal costs and a further £1,783 - the sum the retailer claims it is owed in interest at 8% a year. The error was made on August 13 and Universal was asked to repay it 15 days later. Universal then repaid some of the funds on September 29, but £121,412 is outstanding, sources said.

'Jetman' Rescued After Ditching Into The Sea

The pilot known as the "Jetman" has been rescued from the sea after coming up short in his attempt to fly between two continents. Yves Rossy was hoping to become the first person to make an intercontinental flight with a jet pack by flying across waters from Morocco to Spain. The Swiss airline pilot leapt into the sky from an aircraft flying at 6,500ft. With the wing he invented strapped to his back, Rossy's attempt started well with cameras following him as he soared through the air. But he disappeared from view and it became unclear whether he was continuing his record bid deep in cloud or if he had been forced to bail out. Some 14 minutes into what should have been a 15-minute flight, cameras showed Rossy's wing lying face down in the Atlantic Ocean. As the rescue helicopter flew in it was unclear if the daredevil had survived. Then, a wave came from the team signalling he was alive and well. Stuart Sterzel, CEO of sponsor Webtel Mobi, said: "He is fine and as a standard operating procedure, he is on his way to a hospital in the south of Spain." Mr Sterzel said Rossy will speak in a press conference later tonight at 5.45pm. Rossy has flown across the English channel between Calais and Dover but this was his first attempt at an intercontinental flight. His team has said that he will give it another go. When flying, Rossy looks like a comic-book hero with the contraption propelling him at a speed of more than 180mph.

London, Tuesday 24th November, 2009. Sad news for a Kenyan family in London. A four-year-old boy was stabbed to death by his father at their home in Southwark last night. The man's wife had her throat slashed but their 17-month-old girl was left unharmed in the horrific attack. The husband is understood to have stabbed himself repeatedly and was seriously ill in hospital. The woman, 28, was not seriously hurt. She and her daughter were taken to hospital and released. The 31-year-old father is under guard at a south London hospital. His 28-year-old wife suffered a stab wound to the neck but has been discharged. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the man, whose condition is described as "serious", remains under guard in hospital. The couple were named locally as Paul Deya and Jacqueline Otieno and their four-year-old son as Wilson. Paul Deya is a son of brother of Arch Bishop Deya. Scotland Yard said police were called to the flat in Lynton Road on the Lynton Estate, Bermondsey, at 6.15pm. The investigation was being carried out by the Child Abuse Command. A spokesman said: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this." Witnesses told how scores of police cars raced to the scene. Rita Dixon, 71, said she knew the family: "They were a lovely family. Happy-go-lucky, and such a nice couple. "I was in my flat yesterday when all of a sudden police came from nowhere. I saw the father coming out on a stretcher.

"They had to stop halfway down the stairs to resuscitate him. The mother was in an ambulance holding the baby." Detectives are investigating reports that Mrs Otieno had asked her husband for a separation before he launched the attack. Police are not believed to have been called to the family's flat before. Forensic science teams were today carrying out investigations at the flat.  Mark O'Connor, 42, who runs nearby pub The Finish, said paramedics carried an unconscious, naked man from the flat before spending 40 minutes trying to revive him in the street. He said: "I could see a black man being moved down the stairs. He was naked and I could see a neck wound and various other wounds. It was quite gruesome. He was bleeding very, very badly." Mrs Dixon's daughter Joan, 39, said she heard screaming just before police were called. She added: "Everyone thought they were happy. How could a person do that to a child? It is diabolical." Ms Dixon said the family had moved onto the estate 18 months ago. Simon Hughes, Lib-Dem MP for the area, who lives a short distance away, said: "There will be huge shock and horror throughout the community." Incidents of children being killed are rare. Last year there were six cases of children below the age of 12 being killed in London, only two were stabbed.

Forensic investigators cover up the outside of the flat.

President Mwai Kibaki arrives in London on Wednesday morning 25th November, 2009 with Kenya Airways on transit to attend this year's Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) in  Trinidad and Tobago.  He will be passing London again his way back to Kenya on Tuesday 1st December, 2009 where he will spend a night before flying back to Kenya.

Kibaki to attend Commonwealth meeting

President Mwai Kibaki will Tuesday night, leave the country for Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago to attend this year's Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Commonwealth is an association of 53 independent states consulting and cooperating in the common interests of their people in the promotion of international understanding. This year's meeting is of special significance to member countries as it comes at a time when the association is marking 60 years of existence as a common entity.  It is also important to East Africa because the meeting is expected to deliberate on Rwanda's application to join the Commonwealth as the 54th member state. Nearly two billion people now live in the Commonwealth. Half of that population is under 25. It is with this in mind that the theme of this year's meeting is "The Commonwealth at 60 -serving a new generation". The role of sports in youth development is expected to feature prominently during talks among the Heads of State and government. This year's meeting will also focus on equity, sustainability and partnership in the development of Commonwealth nations. The official opening and cultural ceremony will take place on Friday November 27th. Heads of State and government will then hold a series of formal and informal sessions during the period of the meeting.  The plane carrying the President and his entourage is expected to depart Jomo Kenyatta International airport shortly before midnight. President Kibaki is expected back in the country later next week.

Beauties from Kenya

A Maasai girl (left) and a Turkana woman (right)

Barely a month after a young Kenyan collapsed and died at Kennesaw State University, the Kenyan community in Atlanta, USA is grieving once again after another young Kenyan lost his life following a head-on collision accident which occurred a few miles from Hartsfield International Airport, South of the City of Atlanta. Samuel Kisaka Mwawasi passed away on Saturday afternoon 21st November, 2009 at Grady Memorial Hospital where he had been taken after the Friday night grisly accident. He is the son of pastor Donald Mwawasi of Believers Celebration Church in Marietta, Georgia. Samuel, 28, was driving home from meeting his friends when the accident happened on Old National Hwy in college park, Georgia at around 4am. He was taken to Grady Memorial hospital in a critical condition and it took a while before the authorities could get hold of the family. According to KEN sources, the parents got there but could not see him as a team of ten doctors were working endlessly to contain the profuse internal bleeding. However, at around 3 pm, he succumbed to his injuries and passed on. There will be prayers on Wednesday November 25th at 6:30PM at Believers Celebration Center, where Pastor Mwawasi ministers, 1492 Roswell Rd. Marietta, GA. 30062.

 The late Samuel Kisaka Mwawasi

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 28th at 4:00PM at Kenyan American Community Church, (KACC) 771 Elberta drive, Marietta, GA. 30066. Funeral arrangements will be communicated later. Your Prayers, Presence and Financial support will be greatly appreciated. For more information Pastor K.K. Kiroko 678-656-8446, Apostle Zephaniah Muturi 678-200-5989, Dr. Robert Ndonga 770-899-3313, Pastor James Maina 678-365-1156.

The eviction of squatters from the Mau Forest was top on the agenda of the weekly meeting between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday 24th November, 2009. The two met for an hour and a half amid rising opposition to the eviction of settlers in Kenya’s most important water source. An Office of the President official said the leaders met in private and he did not know what was resolved but that there has “been no shift in government policy on the Mau”. Sources in the Prime Minister’s office said an agreement was reached that the evictions were to continue, despite the opposition from Rift Valley MPs. The sources, who did not wish to be named disclosing the details about the private high-level meeting, also said that the transportation of squatters from temporary camps be suspended until the Cabinet agreed on how this was going to be done. The PM, who has been leading the government to conserve the Mau, has come under pressure from his Rift Valley allies, who accuse him of exposing their constituents to inhuman conditions in roadside camps. The critics, who include Cabinet ministers William Ruto and Franklin Bett, accuse the government of going back on its promise to resettle evictees. The settlers, who have been asked to move out of the Mau, are illegal squatters and have no documents to prove land ownership. - Daily Nation.

Nairobi, Monday 23rd November, 2009. Prime Minister Raila Odinga Monday said the Mau eviction exercise will not be called off despite protests by a section of Rift Valley MPs. Odinga said environmental conservation was more important than playing populist politics. He called on politicians to stop inciting Mau settlers saying the squatters were willing to vacate the forest as advised by the government. Speaking at the Green Electricity conference in Nairobi, the Premier defended the ongoing eviction exercise saying it was being conducted in a humane manner. Raila said the government had provided the necessary support to the evictees as earlier agreed. "The government is trying to do it as humanely as possible," Mr Odinga said. Environment Minister Johm Michuki and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi also supported the evictions.  On Sunday Special programmes PS Ali Mohamed ordered Mau Forest squatters out of makeshift camps.   So far, the Kenya Red Cross Society has so far distributed both food and non-food items to over 2000families living in six transit camps. Over 866 people were attended to under the KRCS mobile medical outreach. The mau evictions have put the Prime Minister on a collision course with a section of Rift Valley politicians. The leaders are demanding compensation  for the squatters, an issue that is threatening to tear apart ODM party.

The lady whose hand was cut off in Greenford, London

“Brightest star”: Geeta Aulakh with estranged husband Harpreet. They had two sons. Geeta Aulakh, 28, was found with horrific head injuries by passers-by in Greenford on Monday16th November, 2009. Detectives believe she may have been the victim of an “honour killing”. The receptionist for Sunrise Radio was attacked with a sword or machete-type weapon as she walked to pick up her two sons from their childminder. Police believe her hand was severed as she raised her arms to defend herself. Police belief the husband has connection with it.

A Kenyan has passed away in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Mr. Sammy Kisaka Mwawasi son of Pastor Don Mwawasi passed away last week. Prayer meeting are arranged for Wednesday 25th November, 2009 at  Believers Celebration Centre, 1492 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 as from 6.30 p.m. Memorial service will be held on Saturday 28th November, 2009 at Kenya American Community Church, Elberta Drive, Marietta, GA 30066. For more information please contact PASTORS: K.K. KIROKO  678-656-8446, ZEPHANIAH MUTURI  678-200-5989, ROBERT NDONGA 770-899-3313 and JAMES MAINA 678-365-1156.   

Menezes family and police agree compensation deal

The family of Jean Charles de Menezes has said a compensation deal with the Metropolitan Police has been agreed. Relatives of the Brazilian shot dead at Stockwell Tube station in south London in July 2005 have been locked in a legal battle with the force. Police from the Met's CO19 unit had mistaken Mr Menezes, 27, for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman. In a statement, his family said "all litigation" between them and Scotland Yard has been resolved.

Student visa numbers soar after new rules take effect in UK.

Flood-ravaged Cumbria, UK braced for more stormy weather

Debris piled up against a closed footbridge in Cockermouth after flood water receded. Cumbria is bracing itself for more rain and stormy weather tonight, though hundreds of residents are being allowed back into their homes. Between 30 and 40mm of rain is predicted, with gusts of up to 70mph. It's not thought that this will bring about a significant rise in river levels, but it will certainly hamper efforts to clean up areas affected by the floods. In Cumbria, 16 bridges, 25 roads and 18 schools have been closed, with many residents cut off by high water levels. The Environment Agency still has 72 flood alerts in place, but only severe one is for the River Eamont near Penrith. Meanwhile, a huge operation is underway to check the safety of evacuated homes in the area. Cumbria Police said the properties would have to be checked for sewage contamination, structural stability and electrical safety before people would be permitted to re-enter them. A police spokesman said: 'Many homes will be contaminated, some walls and structures may be unstable and electricity supplies may dangerous. 'All of these things must be checked before you can re-enter your property... 'Police would urge owners to be patient while the staggered return to their property takes place. By working together, we can make this process work as fast and safely as possible.'Canoeists on the road at Waterhead, Ambleside.

The number of students entering the UK from India and Bangladesh has risen

The number of students entering the UK from India and Bangladesh has risen sharply since a new visa system began, the BBC has learned. The UK Border Agency had said it believed the total number of students was "roughly the same" as last year. But a Freedom of Information request has revealed the number of students entering from these countries alone nearly tripled over the summer. The Home Office insists that the figures do not reflect a global trend. The new points-based immigration system was introduced last year. It was designed to be tougher and more selective than the old one. The then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith promised that the new system would "raise the bar" and lead to "fewer migrants coming to the UK from outside the EU". But earlier this month, immigration officers told BBC Radio 5 live they feared more bogus students are arriving in the UK under the new system, partly because of the large volume of arrivals which must be processed. Officers said a significant number of those arriving on student visas had previously been denied entry to the UK, and they suspected that many had come here to work and not study. One Heathrow-based whistleblower told the Donal MacIntyre programme that many so-called students could not speak English, and knew nothing about the courses they claimed to be studying. He said many of these students came from the Indian subcontinent.

Responding to the immigration officers' concerns, Jeremy Oppenheim, who runs the points-based system at the UK Border Agency, said that the number of students coming into the UK this year was "roughly the same as last year". But figures subsequently obtained by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act show there has been a sharp increase in the number of student visas granted in India and Bangladesh - two of the biggest centres for non-EU student visa applications. Between June and August 2008 (before the new system for students came into force), the British High Commissions in Mumbai, New Delhi and Dhaka issued 6,771 student visas. During the same period this year (under the new points-based immigration system), the three offices issued 19,950 visas - an increase of 195 per cent. The number of student visa applications rejected also rose from 3,997 to 6,261. The government says it has cracked down on bogus colleges, and that the number of institutions able to bring students into the UK from outside the European Union has been halved since the introduction of the new points-based immigration system. In a statement, Mr Oppenheim told the Donal MacIntyre programme: "The UK Border Agency has 74 visa-issuing posts worldwide, so three cities should not be taken as representative of a global trend. "The points-based system is designed to be flexible," he added. "It enables us to regularly check and monitor all student applications and colleges to ensure that they meet the required standards, and take action where necessary."

Nine inmates die of cholera at Kamiti prison

Nine inmates have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of cholera at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. Eight of the inmates had died in the prison by Sunday morning, and one later died at Kenyatta National Hospital. However, sources at the prison claim that a total of 13 inmates have died so far at the penal institution. They said the additional deaths occurred as the patients were being rushed to the hospital after falling ill. Bodies of the deceased are being kept at the City Mortuary, but Nation could not establish their number as the official authorised to release information concerning the bodies was said to be away. More than 50 sick inmates are reported to be in isolation at the Kamiti prison and KNH. Early Sunday, 16 inmates, in serious condition, were transferred from Kamiti to KNH, at 5 am. However, the hospital, through its Public relations officer Simon Ithae, confirmed receiving 15 patients, one of whom he said died at the hospital. More than 50 inmates were by yesterday afternoon quarantined for treatment at the prison’s isolation block and sick bay, where all sick inmates were transferred, according to prison sources. - Sunday Nation.

A new railway for Kenya

Kenya Railways has commenced the process of building a modern high capacity Standard Gauge railway line for Kenya. This was announced by the Managing Director of Kenya Railways Corporation Nduva Muli, at a Press Conference held at the Kenya Railways Headquarters Saturday. This follows a Request For Proposals (RFP) for a Transaction Adviser in a paid-up International Tender advertisement released by the Corporation on 8th September 2009 in the local and international press. Speaking during the media briefing, Mr Muli said that the Mombasa- Nairobi- Kisumu-Malaba line is one of the 3 major railway lines in the national railway Master Plan that has been developed by the Corporation. The other lines are Lamu- Juba and Nairobi- Addis Ababa and plans for these are at an advanced stage. The new railway line will meet increased transport demands that are projected to be in excess of 30 million tonnes by the year 2030, against the current 17 million tonnes that pass through Mombasa Port. Freight volumes have grown beyond previous projections and already outstrip available transport capacity- both road and rail, causing perennial congestion at the Mombasa Port. The situation is bound to get worse with a projected freight growth of 8% annually. The current 100-year old Metre Gauge railway line has limited capacity and cannot cope with the increased demand. Transportation costs in Kenya and the East Africa region constitute 40 -45% of the total cost of production, against a global average of 15%, which makes local products uncompetitive in the global markets. In India and China for example, railway transport accounts for 90% of the long distance freight movement; in Kenya a meagre 5% is what is transported by railway, causing pressure on the road network. The new railway will be a high capacity Standard Gauge railway with freight trains hauling a minimum 4000 tonnes - on over 1 km long trains, compared to the 800 tonnes on the Metre Gauge railway. Freight trains will be operating at an average speed of 120Kph, and Double Decker passenger trains at an average speed of 160 kph. Current operating speeds on the meter gauge railway are between 30 and 45Km/h at best.

Nairobi, Saturday 21st November, 2009. Kenya case due on Friday at The Hague. International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is set to open Kenya’s case at The Hague next Friday when he formally seeks the consent of the Pre-Trial Chamber’s to open investigations. Mr Ocampo has written to Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo informing President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga of his intentions. “What it simply means is that the process has started and Mr Ocampo has now confirmed to me that he will be filing this application one week from now (November 27). Kenya is now getting the reality of the fact that an investigation on international crimes in the country is eminent,” Mr Kilonzo explained. He told a news conference on Friday that the ICC would then require victims of the post election violence to present their cases before the Pre-Trial Chamber within 30 days. “Under the law, the Prosecutor is obliged to serve a notice to all victims in Kenya and he will be doing so by a communiqué telling them that they have a right of representation.

Representations are like to say no, do not open up investigation or yes, open up investigations. The communiqué will be sent through civil society and media,” he said. Mr Kilonzo added that the government would still cooperate with the ICC prosecutor. “This is also a very vital part of what the government is doing because it has pledged full cooperation with Mr Ocampo. I have already forwarded this letter to His Excellency the President and to the Right Honourable Prime Minister for their information,” he disclosed. Mr Kilonzo further dispelled the notion that the government had abandoned the formation of a local tribunal to try perpetrators of post election violence. “The government has not given up on the local tribunal. As a minister I have suggested to the two principals that they allow me to revisit my Cabinet memo for my proposed Bill or alternatively take over the Imanyara Bill which looks like it is closing very fast because Parliament has been unable to provide the necessary majority for its debate,” he noted adding that it was a sad moment for Kenya. - CapitalFM

Welcome to Kenya where the sun rises and sets with lions

In an early and late game drive in the Maasai Mara you would get to see the lions under the beauty of the Mara environement

Moldovan army fights swine flu with onions

Garlic and onions added to soldiers' diet in probably ineffective attempt to prevent H1N1 infection. Moldova's army is feeding its soldiers onions and garlic to help them ward off swine flu. Defense Ministry chief doctor Colonel Sergiu Vasislita says about 0.9 ounces (25 grams) of onions and 0.5 ounces (15 grams) of garlic will be added to each soldier's daily diet. That roughly corresponds to a small onion and a couple of garlic cloves. Onion and garlic are traditional remedies in Moldova where they are widely believed to boost the immune system. Vasislita said Thursday that the measure was taken after 24 soldiers fell sick with swine flu in the past two weeks. More than 1,000 Moldovans have swine flu with 90 new cases reported daily. About 6,500 troops serve in the army of Moldova, a small former Soviet republic bordering Romania and Ukraine.

Ocampo calls for evidence from witnesses

The process of trying perpetrators of the post-election violence advanced a step farther, with the International Criminal Court asking witnesses to volunteer evidence. ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked the violence victims and witnesses to give their accounts to his office before Friday next week. He intends to use the evidence to build his case before the Pre-Trial Chamber, which is to determine whether crimes committed after the 2007 General Election met the ICC threshold. This is an effort to secure the permission of the three judges picked to assess Kenya’s case to open investigations into the matter. The judges have the liberty to accept or reject Mr Moreno-Ocampo’s request. Once the investigation is open, the prosecutor will dispatch investigators to Kenya to collect evidence and take witness statements. Mr Mutula Kilonzo, the minister for Justice, National Cohesion, and Constitutional Affairs, yesterday told journalists that Mr Moreno-Ocampo wants the victims to declare their readiness to give evidence. “This is an important procedural step which takes the determination by the prosecutor to start investigations into the Kenyan case a notch higher. This will be done whether or not Mr Moreno-Ocampo secures permission to investigate the matter,” he said, adding that President Kibaki and Prime Raila Odinga had been informed. The prosecutor’s decision is a strong signal of his commitment to follow up on the Kenyan case. During his visit to Kenya early this month, Mr Moreno-Ocampo promised that Kenya would provide an “historic example” for the world on how to prevent massive crimes. President Kibaki and Mr Odinga have said Kenya would cooperate with the ICC, but declined to refer the case to it, saying this would project the country as a failed state. - Daily Nation.

President Mwai Kibaki flanked by Tanzanian Industry, Trade and Marketing minister, Dr. Mary Nagu is entertained by traditional dancers on arrival for the 11th Summit of the EAC Heads of State at Arusha, Tanzania.

METHALI YA KISWAHLI
Ndege mwigo hana mazowea.
A bird that imitates others does not get used to a place.

Ruto moves to court for clearance

Agriculture Minister William Ruto now wants a report linking him to post-election violence squashed. The minister moved to court to challenge the authenticity of the report, saying he was not given a chance to defend himself before the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) report was published. Ruto says there is no evidence linking him to the violence, and that the allegations against him "are a result of an illegality, irrationality, breach of the rule of law, and disregard of constitutionality and denial of legitimate expectations". He further posits that the "conclusions drawn by the respondent in the report are arbitrary, oppressive, violate the applicable laws, offend public policy, and were made in a situation where the respondent became the investigator, prosecutor and judge". Ruto says he was not notified of the adverse conclusions in the report, and only learnt of them when he bought a copy. He says he has never been involved in violence, stating that he addressed public rallies where he appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace. Ruto denies ever participating in the violence and says KNCHR findings have seriously dented his reputation, affected his liberty, career, and fundamental rights. - The Standard.

A Laptop for the 2nd Prize

2nd Prize Winner of the IWRM Raffle competition which was drawn on Saturday 7th November, 2009 is Sylvia Gachohi. A lucky girl this year who got married this year by Mr. Isaac Gachohi (right) and the Raffle she got a Laptop. Good luck Sylvia. Who won the 1st prize - One Week Holiday in Mombasa, Kenya - Air ticket and accommodation paid for? More later.

"A man's dreams are an index to his greatness." - Osman Haider

Kenya’s population grows by a million per year

Kenya’s population has grown by an average of one million people per year in the past 10 years, provisional data obtained by the Saturday Nation shows. The data, based on the national census in August, shows that the number of people in the country grew by 37.43 per cent, from 28,686,607 at the 1999 census to 39,423,264 this year. The figures also show that the country has a population density of 67 people per square kilometre, up from 49. Documents obtained by the Saturday Nation from the Ministry of Planning show that the data was based on the country’s eight provinces, and included a breakdown of the population numbers in 69 regions of the provinces. The figures are close to projections made ahead of the 2009 National Population and Housing Census, and indicate that the country’s literacy level is at 61.6 per cent, with Nairobi leading the pack at 87.1 per cent. The lowest literacy level is recorded by North Eastern Province at 8.3 per cent, although Moyale in Eastern Province is said to have a literacy level of 1.6 per cent.

Nairobi Province has the highest population density of 4,684 people per square kilometre after its population grew from 2,143,254 to 3,260,124 — a 52.1 per cent growth and the highest anywhere in the country. The most populous province in the country is Rift Valley — with a population of 10 million, up from the 6.9 million people recorded in the last census. The region with the highest number of people in Rift Valley is Nakuru, which is home to 1.7 million, while the region with the lowest population in the province is Koibatek, with 200,755. The province with the lowest population is North Eastern, which has 1.3 million people, although it recorded the second highest growth after Nairobi. Central Province had the lowest population growth of 28.4 per cent over the period, from 3,724,159 to 4,784,778 in the 10 years under review. Nyanza Province is reported to have a population of 5,725,744, an increase of 1.3 million from the 1999 figures. Western Province has 4.68 million people, up from 3,358,776 in 1999, while Coast Province has 3,419,757, up from 2,480,000 million in 1999. Mombasa is said to have a population of 923,334, and has the second highest population density in the country — 4,014 people per square kilometre. - Daily Nation.

Pirates then made a ransom demand of $7m (£4.3m)

Couple kidnapped by pirates say time is running out. A British couple kidnapped by pirates have said via video footage they fear they may be killed within a week. In the video obtained by Channel 4 News, Paul Chandler said "they will not hesitate to kill us, perhaps within a week" unless ransom negotiations open. Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 59 and 55 and from Kent, were taken hostage by gunmen as they sailed their yacht in the Indian Ocean early on 23 October. Pirates then made a ransom demand of $7m (£4.3m) in a phone call to the BBC.

Raila dares Cabinet rebels to quit

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked ministers dissatisfied with Cabinet decisions to quit Government. In an apparent reference to ministers from a section of the Rift Valley, Raila accused them of being disrespectful of Government decisions. "We must have discipline in Government and those who feel dissatisfied are free to quit," he said. He also announced ODM would seek another mandate in the 2012 General Election to fulfill its promises to Kenyans. "I can read the signs of great things ahead even though we are experiencing a storm (in ODM)," he said in West Pokot, on Friday. On the Harmonised Draft Constitution, Raila described the document as fair, but needed some changes. "We rejected the Wako Draft during the referendum because it had so many faults, but the current one only needs a few changes before public endorsement," he said. Raila was speaking at Makutano Stadium in Kapenguria, after a tour of West and North Pokot. He urged Kenyans to read the Harmonised Draft Constitution and give views. He was accompanied by ministers Fred Gumo (Regional Development Authorities), Henry Kosgey (Industrialisation) and Assistant Minister Ayiecho Olweny. Others were Kapenguria MP Julius Murgor, Sigor MP Wilson Litole and nominated MP Musa Sirma. He claimed there was a plot by some Rift Valley MPs to divide ODM using the Mau evictions. "The people of Rift Valley have never changed their support for ODM. Only some of their leaders have and it is because of greed," he said. Uasin Gishu politician Jackson Kibor said Rift Valley MPs were partisan in their reaction on the ongoing Mau evictions. "People have been evicted from Mt Elgon, Cherangany, Embobut and Mt Kenya without interference, how special is the Mau case?" he said. Gumo described MPs threatening to leave ODM, as self-seekers. "Those disloyal to the party have been bought but we remain steadfast and priceless," he said. Kosgey asked the Pokot to stick to the party and avoid tribal political groupings. Raila told the Pokot the Government would rescind its decision to degazette parts of West Pokot, as hardship areas. - The Standard.

In Pictures: Cumbria floods

A bridge on the River Derwent has collapsed in Workington and on right The Environment Agency said the situation was "very serious". Police said water levels in Cockermouth centre had reached more than 2.5m (8ft 2in).

London, Friday 20th November, 2009. Ten of the 11 people feared missing after torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks in the North West have been found and over 50 airlifted to safety by the RAF.  The only person still unaccounted for is a policeman who disappeared when Northside Bridge in Workington collapsed. Hardest hit by the rain was Cumbria where more than 200 people had to flee their homes and take refuge in emergency shelters. Four bridges have collapsed, roads have been blocked, schools closed and rail and bus services severely disrupted. The Environment Agency says hundreds of properties in Cumbria have been flooded with the towns of Cockermouth and Keswick the worst affected. RAF helicopters airlifted over 50 people from buildings in Cockermouth, where police said around 960 homes were at risk of flooding. Dozens of others were helped to safety by the RNLI, the coastguard, police, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams.

The Army has also been helping with door-to-door searches of flooded properties. Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said the village of Seathwaite recorded a massive 320mm (12.5in) of rain in 24 hours. She said the weather has now cleared but more rain from the south is expected on Saturday - up to 50mm (2in). Flooding has also been reported in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, north-west Wales and Ireland. Water levels rose to almost 2.4m (8ft) in some streets in Cockermouth and two bridges in the area collapsed, police said. Homes in the lower lying part of Keswick were evacuated after the River Greta burst its banks on Thursday morning, rising to about 1.5m (5ft) higher than normal. Fire crews were called in from surrounding towns to help pump water out of flooded homes and get trapped householders out. By the early hours flood water levels in Cockermouth and Keswick had stopped rising, allowing rescuers to reach people trapped in their homes by boat. - -  VIDEO

Heaviest rain ever recorded in the UK

THE KIKUYU IDIOMS

Kamau na Njoroge

"Tom Dick and Harry"

ie: Mokere othe Kamau na Njoroge - meaning they all came - Tom Dick and Harry

Now free breakfast, Dinner and transport from airport and back

Now Mheshimiwa Mwenda has gone a step further for Christmas. Free breakfast, dinner and transport from Jomo Kenyatta Airport after arrival if you book for more than 5 days at Citywall Hotel in the month of December, 2009. The man behind the idea is Mr. Mr. Dedan Mwenda Gichuhi who early this week had a breakfast with former president Moi at his Kabarak home. But the political ambitious Mr. Gichuhi (above) well known by many in London as "muheshimiwa" has moved his base to Kenya where he is doing wonders. He has built a multi-million house on Duruma Road, on downtown Nairobi where Equity bank has taken apart of the ground floor and some shops and a hotel - Citywall hotel. Next time you visit Kenya you can get a reasonable accommodation here with the rooms going from KShs. 3,000 to Kshs. 5,000 per night full board. Good food in the restaurant. Citywall Hotel, Nairobi is a newly constructed modern luxurious hotel offering all self contained en-suite rooms.  Restaurant menu to suit local and international clientele. The hotel offers 42 elegantly furnished and irresistible rooms with balcony overlooking the beautiful Nairobi city. All the rooms are tastefully furnished with luxurious modern amenities designed to provide the ultimate comfort and convenience. All the rooms are connected to DSTv. The hotel boasts of uncompromised security, consisting of G4S emergency response (Alarm)* Ambulance services (St.Johns) *Air evacuation (Flying Doctors-(Armed)* Fire fighting services for residential only *KK security and Alarm response. *Well trained and groomed security guards to take good care of you. For more information visit www.citywallhotel.co.ke

Fifty five advocates  in Kenya were struck off the role of advocates on Thursday 19th November, 2009 for professional misconduct chief justice Evan Gicheru has said. Law Society of Kenya collective officer Apollo Mbogo told the Chief Justice that 26 other lawyers have been suspended for either theft, failure to attend court among other misdemeanours.  The chief justice called on the advocates to adhere to professional ethics and serve justice to all without discrimination. He said this when he admitted 65 more lawyers to the bar bringing the total number of lawyers sworn in the country since independence to 8066.  Elsewhere tension gripped Bungoma town as Lady Justice Florence Muchemi dismissed an election petition by ODM candidate for Sirisia John Welukhe Koyi against foreign affairs minister Moses Wetangula. The high court judge dismissed the application on grounds that the court process server was not registered to undertake the task. Meanwhile before Justice Paul Kihara, Starehe Member of Parliament Margaret Wanjiru took to the dock to testify against a petition filed by her predecessor Maina Kamanda. Wanjiru told the court that chaos erupted when she was declared the winner.

Turkana young boys

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WHAT IS YOUR OPINION BWANA MBEGU?

New Kenya Constitution Draft

Talk of the new Kenya constitutional draft. They are trimming the power of the president. It is good and everyone thinks it is great in democracy but little we forgetting that they are dealing with an African country. As former president Moi once said "there is no democracy with an African man". This is very true because Africans don't respect the rule of the law. African countries need a strong leader to crash those who stands on their as many people have no respect for the law.  Write it down somewhere - if we trim the powers of the president in Kenya there will be more confusion than we have at the present time. At present he never say a word hence the cloud surrounds the whole system. We need a strong figure to give directions in times of dilemma and somebody one who can use force if need be. We are now number 146 of the most corrupt countries in the world out of 180 countries. We need a strong leader to clean the house.

Crane wipes out house in tree battle

It was a test of strength that would top the bill of any sporting competition. The 150-year-old, 20ft oak vs the 50tonne, 90ft crane. The young crane would have been firm favourite with the bookies but the mighty oak, though ageing and sickly, had one last fight in it - yanking the crane off its wheels and hurling the young pretender to the ground with the shudder of a mighty branch. Alas, Kevin and Michelle McCarthy's house stood underneath the titanic struggle. And, when part of the tree broke off, the crane was 'shockloaded' and promptly collapsed on the McCarthys' home in Santa Rosa, California. No one was in at the time, though the crane missed a worker by four feet. A man in the crane cab had to be rescued by ladder. It was the second piece of bad news for the couple that day - they had just got back from the police station after Michelle was involved in a car accident.

Kenya MPs want direct vote for CEO

Nairobi, Kenya Nov 19 - A section of Members of Parliament from Central Kenya now say they will push for amendments to the draft Constitution to ensure the person wielding executive power is directly elected by the people. Speaking after a three-hour meeting in Nairobi, Central Kenya Parliamentarians group chairman Ephrahim Maina said they were opposed to a President or Prime Minister exercising executive authority without the direct mandate of Kenyans. “Whoever is the CEO - and this is the understanding anywhere in the world - whoever is in charge of a government must be the person given mandate by the ordinary people. So we wish to see that basic human right kept in our Constitution whatever system we adopt.”  The group said it would reach out to other parties to ensure consensus on the issue so that the review process is not derailed. The Mathira MP however described the document as “a good and progressive document.”  “We have just started discussing the document.  As we get to more details we will come across (contentious) sections and engage each other but otherwise, the document is pro-reform and we are pro-reform,” he said.

The party said it does not matter to them whether the person exercising executive authority enjoyed the title of President or Prime Minister, so long as he or she was directly elected by Kenyans. At the same time, another section of Central Kenya MPs demanded that the review of constituency boundaries precede the adoption of a new Constitution. Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu said the issue of boundaries should be entrenched in the Constitution. “We are therefore insisting that the Andrew Ligale Boundaries Commission to complete it work first so that the constituencies can be part of the Constitution.  We are therefore insisting no constituencies, no Katiba and we insist one man one vote must be considered,” he said. His Nithi counterpart Kareke Mbiuki said if a new Consitution was enacted before the boundaries review process was complete, it was unlikely that constituency boundaries would be revised later. He said: “We can’t adopt a parliamentary system of government with the number of constituencies because they are skewed to one side.  That is why we are categorical on this.” The MPs have been vocal demanding more constituencies in their region claiming that their areas are densely populated. But MPs from North Eastern and Coast provinces have been calling for the use of the "one-kilometre, one-vote" formula. Currently Kenya has 210 constituencies and the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission is mandated to review both administrative and electoral boundaries. - CapitalFM

SOME OF THE UK NEWSPAPERS ON FRIDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2009

LEFT: The Daily Express reports that the new European president, Herman Van Rompuy, will get a salary of £320,000, making him the world's highest paid leader. Mr Van Rompuy beat Tony Blair to the position. CENTRE: The Daily Telegraph claims another expenses scalp. The paper reports that the MP who heads the committee responsible for policing MPs' expenses, David Curry, has stood down after it revealed he claimed £30,000 for a second home his wife had banned him from. RIGHT: And The Sun claims the French economy will get a £1bn boost thanks to Les Bleus reaching the World Cup finals next year.

Rescue under way in Cumbria as floods worsen

London, Friday 20th November, 2009. The fire service and RAF are mounting an operation to rescue about 200 people from the centre of the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, which has been flooded. Several people have been airlifted to safety by RAF helicopters and Robert Runcie, from the Environment Agency, said the situation was "very serious". Heavy rain has also led to flooding in Dumfries and Galloway. And near Falkirk, a search is under way for a missing person feared swept out to sea after falling into a river. There are currently six severe flood warnings in Cumbria and 10 in south-west Scotland. About 1,145 homes in the Cockermouth area and 349 around Keswick lost power on Thursday night, although United Utilities said later that services had been restored to 660 properties. Three RAF Sea King helicopters have been sent to the area, along with nine RNLI lifeboats and coastguard teams, to help with the rescue effort. Ch Supt Steve Johnson told BBC Radio Cumbria: "I would like to say it has reached its peak, but I cannot say that. "In Keswick and Cockermouth we are anticipating the levels will rise further. We just do not know by how much. "The emergency services are all clubbing together. We are trying to get to all those houses that are in trouble where people are trapped and to get them to the reception centres."

Pastor Antony Kimani Kang'ong'a to launch a book on Saturday 21st Nov. 09

The family Pastor Antony Kimani of Likewise Christian Church Ilford wishes to invite all their friends to their book launch. The title of the book is THE MOVE OF GOD FROM EAST AFRICA- The Revival That Impacted the Whole World. The events will take place on 21st Nov 2009 from 4:00 pm sharp.  Venue will be William Ford Junior School, Ford Road Dagenham Essex RM10 9JS. Be our guest on this great day. - For more information contact 07536391178 or  rantony2002@hotmail.com - MORE

Ex-girlfriend rejects Shitanda’s Sh40,000

Too much expectation, they say, makes for frustrated people and you could lose what you have in the effort to reach for more.  Ms Agnes Nduku knows this too well and now says she was denied the justice she sought from the courts.  Ms Nduku, a former girlfriend of Housing minister Soita Shitanda, with whom she had twins, feels shortchanged after a court drastically reduced the maintenance she had sought. She was asking for about Sh200,000 a month to cater for the needs of the eight-year-old twins. The amount includes Sh35,000 monthly rent, Sh20,000 in food expenses, Sh4,000 for a househelp and Sh10,000 entertainment allowance. But the court ordered the Malava MP to pay Sh40,000 a month which Ms Nduku has rejected. The minister is however expected to cater for expenses such as books, uniform, transport, school fees and medical costs for the twins.  The money must be paid by the 5th of every month beginning this month.  Ms Nduku says the award was far below what Mr Shitanda had offered to pay. In his affidavit the minister had said he was willing to pay Sh50,000 per child and accommodation of no more than Sh20,000.  The minister confirmed to the court that he is the father of the children but said their mother was out to exploit him.  “Her demands do not consider shared parental responsibility and merely seeks to exploit my status,” he said.  Senior resident magistrate Esther Mbugua gave joint custody of the two minors. The two have been in a relationship since 1997, she says, and Mr Shitanda was providing for their upkeep on and off.  Ms Nduku says she will appeal in a higher court.  – Daily Nation

Rangers demolish houses in Mau forest

Houses left behind by Mau settlers were demolished on Thursday in a clear indication that the government would not allow the evicted squatters to return to the forest. The Kenya Forest Service has also sent more rangers to the South Western Mau to ensure that the families that leave the country’s largest source of water do not return. In Nairobi, Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa warned that any settler who attempted to defy government orders to leave the forest would be arrested. He also criticised Rift Valley MPs who have threatened to lead the squatters back to the forest unless the government identifies alternative land for the evicted families within 12 days. “Politicians from the region visit the area daily inciting the people and urging them not to move until the government gives them alternative land,” he said. According to the minister, resettlement should not be used as a condition to move out as there were government procedures for the landless to apply for resettlement.

Minister for National Heritage William Ole Ntimama (second left) addresses a press conference on the Mau issue at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, November 19th, 2009. With him are Shakir Shabir (left) Joseph Kiuna and Nkoidila Ole Lankas and on right A settler displaced from South Western Mau prepares food at Kapkembu camp in Kuresoi district where hundreds of displaced families are camping 

In the Mau, forest rangers descended on the mostly grass-thatch huts after the owners moved to makeshift camps at Kapkembu.  There have been claims that evicted families have been sneaking back to their dwellings at night only to return to the camps in the morning. On Thursday, one police officer said they had strict orders not to allow the settlers back into the forest. He said the demolition of houses started on Wednesday. The settlers on Thursday accused the rangers of burning their houses at Kiptekelde after they had moved out. One of them, Mr Richard Korir, said the officers demolished his house while he was at Tarta camp during the day. Mr Korir said he had been returning to the house at night to take care of his crops. “I agree with the government call for us to leave the forest but occasionally I pop in into the house as I take care of my maize crop,” he said. The evicted families had on Wednesday rejected the transport offered by the government and the vehicles were driven back to Keringet. “We told the DC that we were not going because we do not have anywhere to go,” said Mr John Kosgei. He said that most of the settlers had sold their land before moving to the forest. - Daily Nation

Goethe institute Nairobi on Wednesday night hosted Kibera Moja, world premier of short films from Kibera film school plus a sneak peak at the feature film project TOGETHERNESS SUPREME. Kibera film school is the first ever in an African slum. It opens up new creative possibilities for young women and men. Youth develop their talents, tell their stories, become role models that transform their communities. Kibera film school offers something entirely new to the youth of Kibera-hands-on interactive training in all aspects of filmmaking from scriptwriting, acting, camera, sound, edIting, direction, production, marketing and distribution. To support donate globalgiving.com/3632.
 
For more info visit
hotsunfoundation.org
kiberakid.blogspot.com
twitter.com/hotsunfilms
buykiberakid.com
youtube.hotsunfilms

Shamim Ochieng,a camera woman and a product of Kibera film school at work and on right the crowd in Kibera with Nathan Collett.The brains behind the project seated infront. He has been a film director in Kenya for 8 years.

Poor white boys do worst in tests

Poor white boys in UK now do worse in primary school tests in England than any other main group, latest figures show. Only 48% of white British boys eligible for free school meals achieved the expected level in English and maths. The average for all pupils was 71.8% - and that gap, 23.8 percentage points, was up from 23.1 points last year. Attainment continued to vary between ethnic groups with Chinese, Irish, Indian and mixed white and Asian children doing best. It was known already that nationally, attainment in both English and maths in the Key Stage 2 national curriculum tests - commonly known as "Sats" - had fallen this year. This new breakdown of the provisional data by various pupil characteristics, published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, reveals the detail behind the headline. Last year 52.5% of white British boys and girls together had the worst performance, though the girls' attainment was 55.4%. This year, as a group, white British pupils again did worst. Again it was the boys' performance that was weaker than the girls'. While 55% of girls achieved the expected level they were outperformed by the next nearest group - Pakistani girls (57.4%).

Kenya will not refer any post election violence suspects to the International Criminal Court. Prime Minister Raila Odinga Wednesday 18th November, 2009 told parliament it was up to ICC to act within its mandate to deal with suspects who bear the greatest responsibility for last year's poll chaos. His sentiments came as a bill by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara seeking to establish a special tribunal to try the suspects edged towards defeat by the House. The PM  was issuing a statement in Parliament on the status of talks held between the two Principals and Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. He said Kenya had refused Ocampo's request to refer the post election violence to The Hague as it would amount to ceding its mandate to a foreign jurisdiction. Raila said Ocampo did not divulge the names contained in Waki envelope adding that he was ready to face international court should he be found guilty. He said the government would not protect anybody indicted by ICC saying that no one was immune to the prosecution under the international law.  He said the government is obligated to assist ICC as contained in the Rome statute. He called for tolerance and urged members not to panic over the impending investigations.

A LUO PROVERB

Kik iwe olemo mapiny to idhi pono ma malo.

Don't leave fruits on a lower branch for those on upper branch.

Concentrate on developing what you have in hand than keep on straining for that which is out of your reach.

Call Kenya from a BT line

Mobile 8p/min:  0871 402 0159

Landline 5p/min:  0844 880 0819

The corruption report puts Kenya at position 146 against 180, a slight improvement from 147 in last year’s index.

Wonders of mother nature

It is only when you see what God created that you would know how powerful he is. No pen nor painting would draw such beautiful creations. On left is Mr. Kilimanjaro and on right is Lake Turkana. Huko Kenya wanasema hakuna matata lakini iko corruption

A KIKUYU PROVERB

Kanua kene gatinyuaga muma

Another person's mouth cannot take the oath for you.

Every bird must hatch its own eggs.

Njuguna Gitau was on Tuesday 17th November, 2009  accorded a burial befitting a king in his father's farm in Thika, Ngoliba scheme at the feet of Kilimambogo. Mungiki spiritual leader Maina Njenga who has denounced the sect, Former Kabete MP Paul Muite and Housing assistant minister Bishop DR Margaret Wanjiru attended the burial in Ngoliba village. A contingent of GSU and special police units patrolled the home. They restricted movement into and out of the home.The 32 year old father of three was killed on Luthuli avenue in Nairobi on November 5th 2009. Muite for the first time in public claimed Njuguna was gunned down by the police. The veteran lawyer said youth perceived to be criminals should be dealt with individually and not as part of the Mungiki sect. 'Kila mtu ananjulikana na selikari kwa jina lake lakini sio kama Mungiki, mimi nimetembea kote nchini na sijaona mtu ameandikwa Mungiki kwa kivua' he said amid a big applause from the youth. The journey for Njuguna's final resting place started at the Montezuma &  Monalisa Funeral home on Mbagathi road in Nairobi shortly after 8.00am.The body was in a sleek Mercedes Benz hearse (perhaps the first one to be seen on Kenyan roads) was part of convoy of over 70 vehicles. From Thika town towards Yatta, the road was turned to a one way and the traffic police could not control the dangerous and speeding drivers. Due to the tight security no criminal activity was reported during the burial.

Bishop Wanjiru (left photo) and Munguki boss Mr. Maina Njenga (right photo) during the burial of Munguki spokesman Mr. Njuguna Gitau. - Photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 0710148103 - wanjugunak@hotmail.com - CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

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A MAASAI PROVERB

Enkar enkine murrano

Warriorhood is the best part of a goat.

The meat surrounding the breast bone of a goat is used during the ceremony of induction to warriorhood.

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible. - Osman Haider

Somali woman stoned for adultery

A 20-year-old woman divorcee accused of committing adultery in Somalia has been stoned to death by Islamists in front of a crowd of about 200 people. A judge working for the militant group al-Shabab said she had had an affair with an unmarried 29-year-old man. He said she gave birth to a still-born baby and was found guilty of adultery. Her boyfriend was given 100 lashes. It is thought to be the second time a woman has been stoned to death for adultery by al-Shabab. The group controls large swathes of southern Somalia where they have imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law which has been unpopular with many Somalis. According to reports from a small village near the town of Wajid, 250 miles (400km) north-west of the capital, Mogadishu, the woman was taken to the public grounds where she was buried up to her waist. She was then stoned to death in front of the crowds on Tuesday afternoon. The judge, Sheikh Ibrahim Abdirahman, said her unmarried boyfriend was given 100 lashes at the same venue. Under al-Shabab's interpretation of Sharia law, anyone who has ever been married - even a divorcee - who has an affair is liable to be found guilty of adultery, punishable by stoning to death. An unmarried person who has sex before marriage is liable to be given 100 lashes. BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says the stoning is at least the fourth for adultery in Somalia over the last year. Earlier this month, a man was stoned to death for adultery in the port town of Merka, south of Mogadishu. His pregnant girlfriend was spared, until she gives birth. Last month, two men were stoned to death in Merka after being accused of spying. President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, was sworn in as president after UN-brokered peace talks in January. Although he says he also wants to implement Sharia, al-Shabab says his version of Islamic law would be too lenient. The country has not had a functioning national government for 18 years.

"He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven." - Lance Morrow - (article, Time Magazine, January 9, 1984)

The Rift Valley Civil Society Network issued a press statement

From the left is Joseph Kirui, Francis Martim, Bill Rutto lawyer Kipsigis Heritage Foundation, Stephen Sang EMO Foundation, Mrs Ngok and Mr Felix Cheruyot. CENTRE PHOTO: Mr Bill Rutto lawyer, Kipsigis Heritage foundation read the statement. RIGHT: Mrs Ngok, the only lady at the panel who only spoke in her mother tongue Kalenjin and the media had to request her to speak swahili. - Photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 0710148103 - wanjugunak@hotmail.com

The Rift Valley Civil Society Network issued a press statement on Wednesday 18th November, 2009  at 10 am at 680 hotel on the Mau Evictions after the Kenya forest service notice expiry that targeted areas like Lelpanget, Kipkongor, Saptonok, Tiloluet, Koilonget, Kipsengwet, Arorwet, Kusumek and Ndoinet. On Friday 13th November, a humanitarian mission was organized by Rift Valley Civil Society Network spearheaded Emo Foundation among other four partners accompanied by the media to Mau. They interviewed the District Commissioner and area MP, Elders and evictees. They found that evictees moved out peacefully and camped by the roadside. They camped in areas such as:

Lelpanget 1600people
Kipkongor 1400 people
Saptonok 230 people
Kiptisia 780 people
Tiloluet 640 people
Koilonget 482 people
Aroruet 560 people
Kusumek 403 people
Ndoinet 3560 people
A total of 10,003 people
 
They have no shelter and only temporary sheds, No food as the evictees had finished all they had. Very poor situation as there were no toilet facilities and water, no medical facilities, education has been disrupted. They are therefore requesting the government to speed up the relief assistance to the Mau settlers (GDP's) Government displaced Persons to reduce human suffering.

Grasen MP Danson Mungatana has dropped attempts to disband the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission through a bill. He has written to the Speaker notifying him of his intention to suspend the proposed bill for more consultations. Speaking at Integrity centre headquarters, he said he needed to consult to strengthen the proposed review of the law. He however denied his bill is seeking to disband the commission contrary to the impression created out there.

FUNDRAISING FOR A HEALTH CENTRE IN KENYA

Gatundu Empowerment Project cordially invites you to the Building Fundraising Project of Ngorongo Health Centre in London on Sunday 6th December, 2009 as from 3.00 p.m. MORE

Gordon Brown has put economic recovery at the heart of his final set of plans before the next general election. Key measures in the Queen's Speech include a crackdown on excesses in the City and a legal obligation to halve the budget deficit within four years. There will also be free social care for the neediest pensioners in England. But with an election due by June, the opposition say few of the planned bills will have time to become law and say it is effectively a Labour manifesto. The speech signalled the start of the general election campaign, with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and other senior ministers even holding an "election-style news conference" at Labour Party HQ, ahead of it. Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will deliver their response to the Queen's Speech in the House of Commons later. Unveiling the government's programme in the House of Lords, the Queen said: "My government's overriding priority is to ensure sustained growth to deliver a fair and prosperous economy for families and businesses, as the British economy recovers from the global economic downturn.

Queen's Speech: Bill-by-bill

Here is an at-a-glance list of the bills outlined in the 2009 Queen's Speech programme:

Bribery Bill

Makes it illegal to bribe a foreign official to obtain or retain business. Makes it an offence if businesses fail to prevent a bribe being paid by their employees or by other firms on their behalf. Extends to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Child Poverty Bill

Puts into law the government's commitment to end child poverty by 2020. Ensures the government must make annual reports to Parliament on the success of its strategies to end child poverty. Duty on all local authorities to deal with the problem. Whole bill applies to England. Some parts also apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Children, Schools and Families Bill

Offers pupil and parent guarantees for standards of education. Schools to be given "report cards". Promises "greater flexibility" for primary schools to set their own curriculums. Also ensures that all young people receive at least one year of sex and relationships education. Home educators will have to be registered and inspected. A review of the publication of family proceedings in court. Whole bill applies to England. Other parts cover Wales and extends in part to Northern Ireland.

Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill

Makes it an offence to use, produce, develop, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer cluster munitions. Applies to whole UK.

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

Creates basis in law for Parliament to scrutinise treaties. Ends the by-election of hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords. Provides for disqualification of peers convicted of serious offences or subject to a bankruptcy order. Allows peers to resign peerages. Repeals legislation limiting protests around Parliament. Generally extends to whole UK.

Crime and Security Bill

Introduces mandatory assessment of parenting needs when 10 to 15-year-olds are considered for an ASBO. Reduces the amount of information police need to record when carrying out stop and search. Gives police the power to bar suspected domestic violence offenders from their homes for a period, even when not charged. Brings in a legal requirement to store air guns safely. Makes it an offence to take a mobile phone into a prison without permission. Introduces compulsory licensing for all wheel-clamping businesses. DNA records of adults who are arrested but not charged are to be held on database for six years. Allows police to take DNA samples and fingerprints of sexual and seriously violent offenders returning to UK following conviction overseas. Most aspects of the bill apply to England and Wales only.

Digital Economy Bill

Gives media regulator Ofcom the duty to assess the UK's communications infrastructure every two years. Updates regulations to make the digital radio switchover possible by 2015. Makes age ratings compulsory on all video games designed for children aged 12 and above. Promises to tackle infringement of copyright more effectively. Updates regulations for Channel 4, so it has to put public service content on its websites. Extends to whole UK.

Energy Bill

Sets rules for energy firms to provide support- such as rebates - for poorer customers, with regulator Ofgem having a duty to "proactively" protect them. Supports the construction of up to four carbon capture and storage schemes to cut pollution. Applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

Equality Bill

Gives the whole public sector a duty to "narrow the gap between rich and poor". Bans age discrimination outside the workplace - such as when buying goods and services like healthcare. Business with more than 250 employees will have to report on gender differences on pay. Strengthens powers of employment tribunals. Public bodies should use £200bn of public procurement deals at their disposal to "drive equality" in private sector firms. Covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Financial Services Bill

Establishes a Council for Financial Stability, chaired by the chancellor, and comprising Treasury, Bank of England and Financial Services Authority (FSA). Strengthens the FSA to take "action" on pay of those in financial services, following the recent outcry over bonuses. Promises action, in UK and internationally, on bankers' pay. Makes banks and other financial firms set up "living will" to make them easier to wind down in the event of a crisis. Bans unsolicited credit card cheques and enables the setting up of national money guidance service. Allows groups of consumers to bring court actions against financial institutions. Applies to whole UK.

Fiscal Responsibility Bill

Provides a "firm and binding statutory basis" for the government's promise to halve its budget deficit within four years. Gives Parliament power to approve medium-term fiscal plans. Promises that businesses and investors will have "certainty" about the government's fiscal plans. Applies to whole UK.

Flood and Water Management Bill

Following the floods of summer 2007, which caused £3bn of damage, gives local authorities the responsibility to deal with surface water flooding. Sustainable drainage systems will have to be considered for new building developments. Says the safety of communities near reservoirs must be improved, via risk-based regulation. Gives water companies more power to control customers' usage during droughts. Applies to England and Wales.

Personal Care at Home Bill

Guarantees free personal care for the 280,000 people with the "highest needs", such as those with serious dementia or Parkinson's disease. Protects the savings of the 166,000 people who currently get free care, saving them from having to pay future charges. Promises to help 130,000 people needing to enter care homes for the first time to "regain their independence". Offers adaptations to the neediest people's homes to increase their independence. Applies to England only.

DRAFT BILLS

House of Lords Reform Bill

Promises that the Lords will be between 80% and 100% elected. States the government should not hold a majority in the second chamber and its members must be independent. Applies to whole UK.

International Development Spending Bill

Requires that 0.7% of gross national income is spent on development from 2013. Applies to whole UK.

NOT INCLUDED

Some bills in the government's Draft Programme of legislation, outlined in June, have not been included in the Queen's Speech programme.

These are:

A Housing Bill, trebling the housing budget to £2.1bn and setting a target of building 110,000 new homes in England and Wales over two years.

A Jobs Bill, guaranteeing people under 25 who are unemployed for a year the guarantee of a job or training.

A Health Bill, guaranteeing cancer patients in England a consultation within two weeks, a free health check for all over-40s and that no-one will have to wait more than 18 months between a GP referral and hospital treatment.

Several draft bills proposed in June are also not included. These are: the Antarctica Bill, the Immigration Simplification Bill, the Civil Law Reform Bill and the Animal Health and Responsibility and Cost-Sharing Bill.

Faces of Kalembe Ndile former MP on the new draft‏

There has been several reactions after the release of the new constitutional draft on Tuesday 17th November, 2009. Kalembe Ndile was not left behind to act at Garden square in Nairobi. He wants the draft passed although he feels there are a few things that needed attention.

Secret CCTV cameras in homes to spy on neighbours

Hidden surveillance cameras are being installed in London homes for the first time to spy on neighbours.The CCTV devices, fitted inside properties but trained on the streets, are permitted under anti-terrorist laws and are being used to gather evidence of anti-social behaviour. The move by Croydon council has sparked new fears about invasion of privacy and Britain's “surveillance society”. But residents whose lives are being made a misery by yobs and low-level crime welcomed it. Trials have been launched using two homes. If the pilot is successful more cameras, costing £1,000 each, could easily be fitted across the borough. A Croydon spokeswoman confirmed that the cameras cannot be seen from the street and refused to say in which areas they had been installed. Residents taking part did not want their families or locations identified for fear of reprisals. Civil liberties campaigners attacked the strategy. Charles Farrier, of No-CCTV, said: “There is no evidence they act as a deterrent and we should be concentrating on the root problem anyway and working to gel our communities. This is a step further in our Big Brother society.”

Kenya has emerged the most corrupt nations in East Africa

Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday 18th November, 2009 - Kenya has once again emerged among the most corrupt nations in East Africa and the Great Lakes Region according to the Corruption Perception Index 2009 released by Transparency International on Wednesday. The report puts Kenya at position 146 against 180, a slight improvement from 147 in last year’s index. Executive Director of Transparency International-Kenya (TI Kenya) Job Ogonda said Kenya shares the position with Cameroon, Ecuador, Russia, Sierra Leone, Timor, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.  “Kenya has scored 2.2 points out of a possible ten compared to last year’s 2.1. Historical bad governance, corruption and impunity have led us to this tipping point at which if we do not get our act right then we will degenerate into one of the failed states that surround us. The responsibility for improvement in governance, transparency and accountability lies squarely with the government of the day. There is no excuse for it,” he said. Mr Ogonda noted that the draft constitution which was launched on Tuesday had positive elements that would reduce corruption and abuse of power that existed in Kenya adding that the old one (constitution) did not.

TI –Kenya Executive Director Tom Ogonda releasing the International Corruption Perception Index 2009 Report. Kenya was ranked position 146 out of 180 countries surveyed.

“For example the draft constitution subjects presidential powers to account to Parliament and the Judiciary. It also attempts to make civil service more independent from political influence,” he observed. He cautioned Kenyans against squandering another constitutional opportunity further urging them to read and understand its contents before throwing it out. He advised Kenyans to embrace the draft constitution as a document with which they could hold the political class to account. “I know we will have strong opposing views about certain clauses of the constitution but we need to embrace it and ensure that as we debate and make amendments to it, that it remains a document which can give Kenya a brighter future,” he said. Mr Ogonda observed that it would take a lot of effort and compromise from Kenyans to accept the draft constitution noting that sober constitutional discourse at forums that were neither prejudiced nor emotive would assist Kenyans achieve a new constitution. “While research shows that most Kenyans form political opinions at political rallies and ethnic meetings, these forums are some of the least appropriate sources of objective information. Citizen ignorance, hard stance and selfishness defeated the previous constitutional review process by allowing myth and propaganda to prevail. As a responsible citizen you must arm yourself with facts,” he explained. He further stated that political will in the country would only be brought by citizens who were willing to hold their leaders accountable for its actions.

“Political will is not going to be an accident. It will be brought up by an informed citizen demanding accountability from its government and as Transparency International, half of our work (though not news worthy) is with citizens of Kenya to build that political will. Unless the citizens tell Kibaki and Raila that ‘this draft constitution is in the interests of my children and their children’s children so you had better support it’, then there is no impetus that tells Kibaki and Raila to do exactly that,” he held. He said that some African countries had performed well in this year’s Corruption Perception Index while Kenya still struggled to break from the corruption yoke. He explained that Kenya’s economy was put at risk with the high levels of corruption. “Some countries like Botswana, Namibia and South Africa continue to do well while we continue basking in corruption. If we reduce corruption in this country we will become a little more attractive to international investment than we are now. The tourism sector will become more vibrant than it is now so if we want any economic development in this country then we must clean up our act,” he said. Mr Ogonda however raised issue with the proposed tax devolution system stating that it placed an enormous tax burden on Kenyans as it required many levels of governments (at regional and county levels) which would require resources to perform duties. He noted that there were places in Kenya that could not be taxed because of their poverty levels adding that the many levels of governance would facilitate corruption.

“With increasing layers of governance you get increasing layers of corruption and non accountability risks. The lower the layer of governance we go (be it at county or at regional level as proposed by the draft constitution) then the tighter the systems of accountability need to be. The draft constitution stipulates that the Acts of Parliament will form frameworks within which the lower levels of governance account. I hope that they will be tight enough to ensure accountability,” he said. Mr Ogonda also added that the injustices and inequalities in the country that were leading to violence and insecurity in various regions of the country were also to be blamed on the government. “What we are witnessing in the country today is as a result of systemic graft sanctioned by a deeply flawed constitution. Compounding the conundrum that Kenya finds itself in today is a deeply divided society along ethnic and social lines,” he said. Of the 47 countries reviewed in Sub-Saharan Africa, 31 scored less than three (out of 10) indicating that corruption is perceived as rampant while 13 scored between three and five indicating that corruption was perceived as a serious challenge by country experts and businessmen. As in 2008 only three countries scored more than five: Botswana, Mauritius and Cape Verde. Among the African countries Kenya comes before Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Chad, Sudan and Somalia.

SOME OF THE UK PAPERS ON THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER, 2009

LEFT: Six MPs and peers are facing criminal charges of fraud following investigations by Scotland Yard into the abuse of the parliamentary expenses system, claims the Telegraph. CENTRE: The Mail has a picture of three oil tankers sitting idly within sight of the British coastline. It says they are part of a flotilla of ten vessels refusing to unload their cargo until market speculation has driven up oil prices. RIGHT: Fear of youth unemployment rising above 1 million in the new year prompted Gordon Brown to use the last Queen's speech of the parliament to promise more money to ease the impact of the recession on the young, reports The Guardian.

New law shuts door to gay weddings

Those wishing to marry partners of the same sex still have to seek countries where such marriages are allowed, before they can tie the knot.  Same sex marriages will not be allowed if proposals in the harmonised draft constitution become law. Only marriages between opposite sex will be recognised despite spirited attempts by the gay community to have their relationships legalised. According to the document, every adult will have the right to marry a person of the opposite sex, but this will be based on the “free consent of the parties”. It reads: “The parties to the marriage are entitled to equal rights at the time of marriage, during and at the dissolution of their union.”  The proposal by the committee of experts comes exactly a month after two Kenyan men became the first gay couple to openly wed in London, sparking a huge debate on morality issues in the country. It also elicited sharp responses from religious organisations, who described the union between Mr Chege Ngengi, 40 and his bride, Daniel Chege Gichia, 39, as “unacceptable and unnatural. The two became civil partners under the controversial Civil Partnership Act, which came into effect in the UK in 2005 allowing couples of the same sex to have legal recognition of their relationship. During the drafting of the proposed law, Lawyer Otiende Amollo, a member of the committee had revealed that they had rejected suggestions by British MPs to recognise and protect the rights of homosexuals in the draft. “We told them that such a thing cannot happen because if we did so, a majority of Kenyans would reject the draft during the forthcoming referendum,” he told journalists last month. The draft further says that all children, regardless of whether they had been born within or outside wedlock will be protected from all forms of exploitation and any work that is likely to be hazardous or adverse to their welfare. “They will also not be arrested or detained except as a measure of last resort,” it adds.  Children, regardless of whether they were born within or outside wedlock, will also be considered equal before the law.  And if by bad luck you sustain injuries from a defective good or service, then yopu need not worry — you will definitely be compensated by those you had bought the goods from. - Daily Nation.

A Nigerian Home Office worker 'married' his own daughter to get her a British visa, the Daily Mail can reveal. The extraordinary scam was apparently executed by Jelili Adesanya while ministers turned a blind eye. Mr Adesanya, 54, has lived in UK  for more than 30 years and holds a British passport, but wanted his daughter, her husband and their four sons to join him from Nigeria. He faked a wedding ceremony complete with a photograph of the happy 'couple' which helped fool immigration officials that his daughter, Karimotu Adenike, was really his wife. Miss Adenike, who is in her mid-30s, was duly granted permission to live in the UK. The pair are waiting for her to be granted a permanent right to remain before they undergo a quiet divorce and attempt to bring the rest of her family here. It is expected she would try to remarry her real husband to get them all visas. But despite being tipped off two years ago, the Home Office seems to have done nothing to stop the scam by one of their own workers.  Until recently, Mr Adesanya was employed as an occupational health nurse for the Home Office, working with immigration officials at Gatwick airport.  A whistleblower sent letters to the High Commission in Lagos and the UK Border Agency including specific details such as names, addresses, passport numbers and even a copy of the wedding photograph.  When there was no response, he sent emails to then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and ministers Vernon Coaker and Phil Woolas on February 1 this year. He heard nothing.  Mr Adesanya, who came to Britain in 1976, flew back to Nigeria on May 29, 2007, and held the bogus wedding ceremony a few days later at a register office in Ikorodu, Lagos.  A source said: 'They paid people to attend the wedding so that the British High Commission in Lagos would believe it was genuine.

Big day: The happy 'couple' in their bogus wedding photo

The commission then gave Karimotu Adenike a two-year settlement visa in October 2007.  'On her settlement visa application form, of course, she did not mention that she already had a husband and four children.  'The date of birth on her Nigerian passport is not her real date of birth.'  Miss Adenike is believed to have aged herself by ten years on her wedding certificate to disguise the age gap with her father.  Although her settlement visa expired last month, she is hoping to be given the right to remain.  David Burrowes, the Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate and Shadow Justice Minister, was also tipped off by the whistleblower and wrote to the Home Office.  This time there was a reply, but it said that although the matter was 'under investigation', no further information would be provided because it could 'breach of our obligations under the Data Protection Act'.  Mr Burrowes told the Mail: 'I am very surprised and concerned that no action appears to have been taken, because the allegations are extremely serious.'  Mr Adesanya, who lives with his daughter in Dagenham, Essex, vehemently denied the plot and said he had never been questioned about the allegations.  He said: 'Married my own daughter? I have never heard anything like this in my life. I deny it. She is my wife, not my daughter.'  However, asked to confirm his 'wife's' date of birth, he said he did not know without checking her passport, and refused to allow her to speak for herself.  Unbeknown to him, his daughter had confirmed the arrangement when she told a friend she would shortly apply for her own British passport and 'divorce daddy'.  Last night Jonathan Sedgwick, from the UK Border Agency, said: 'These individuals are already under investigation, and I want to make it clear that abuse of our immigration laws will not be tolerated.  'If we identify marriages which we believe are not genuine, we will challenge them and prosecute where appropriate. 'We are determined to send home any foreign nationals convicted of these types of crimes once they have served their sentences.'  - Daily Mail, London
 

Kuna mtu aliwauza - Jelili Adesanya and his 'wife' Karimotu Adenike pictured in Britain

A KENYAN GOING FOR A COUNCILLOR IN DAGENHAM, EAST LONDON ON 2010

  Ms Elizabeth Kangethe

ELIZABETH KANGETHE FOR PARSLOES WARD SEAT 2010, DAGENHAM WITH LABOUR

I'm a Kenyan born living in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in East London. I am contesting for a council seat in Parsloes ward on a labour party ticket. There is a lot of work to be done in order to capture this seat. I need you help. People need to register as voters and then on the actual polling day we should come out and vote. At the moment the fight is against the BNP who are racist and they are openly preaching hatred and racial division. I need your support and especially from the Parsloes ward residents and the surrounding areas in Barking and Dagenham. You can support me in so many ways like distributing leaflets, door knocking, and making contacts with all the people you may know who live in this ward. I believe that together we can capture this seat. There's no limit to how high we can go and how much we can accomplish. It is time for change. Professionally I am a teacher and a former headmistress of Githunguri Girls. If you would like to assist in any way or give ideas please get in touch on ewkangethe@hotmail.com or call 07958612632.

YES WE CAN

Husband ‘murders wife and cuts off her hand’ in London

Murdered  Geeta Aulakh was scalped as she went to pick up her two sons after work, it emerged on Tuesday 17th November, 2009. Their childminder Safeen Arif began ringing Geeta's mobile when she was 15 minutes late - then a quarter-of-an-hour later saw police outside her house. Geeta, 28, was laying in a pool of blood with terrible head wounds and her right hand severed. A first-aider described the wounds as so horrific they were "looking ritualistic". Last night Geeta's estranged husband Harpreet, 31, was being held on suspicion of her killing. Geeta is believed to have demanded a divorce just days before being cut down. Harpreet had left the marital home half a mile from the murder scene but had been hoping for a reconciliation. Son Tejdeep had turned eight on Saturday and Geeta threw a surprise party. His brother Karan is ten. Geeta, a receptionist at national Asian radio station Sunrise Radio, was attacked soon after getting off a bus in Greenford, West London, at 7pm on Monday 16th November, 2009. Passers-by tried desperately to stem the bleeding. She was rushed to hospital but died four hours later.

A Kenyan has passed away in the USA. Ms Kelu Ndunge Maundu daughter of Rev. Daniel Mbai Maundu and Rahab Wanjiru Maundu of Limuru, Kenya.   Kelu passed away at her residence in Renton, Washington State. Prayers will be held everyday from Sunday 15th November, 2009 to Wednesday 17th November, 2009 at 29218 45th. Place South, Auburn, Washington State, WA. 98001 from 6:00 PM – 8:30 P.M.   Memorial Service and fundraising will will be held later that week. We shall be sending Kelu’s body home to Kenya on 21st November 2009. For more information contacts Njeri Waiharo, 206-372-2602, Ester Kimani 253-334-3409, Peter Mwaniki 770-402-6029, Elizabeth Mungai 770-401-5291. Account: Elizabeth Mungai, Bank of America, Georgia, Routing Number 061000052 or Account Number: 003278611852.

Ms Kelu Ndunge Maundu - October 23, 1971 – November 2009

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Kenya bid to cut president powers

Kenya's president faces a huge reduction in his powers, under a newly published draft constitution. The plans would put the prime minister in charge of day-to-day government business, while the president would be nominal head of the government. Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki have a history of bitter rivalry. Neither one has said whether they would back the plans. Kenyans could vote in a referendum on the constitution by next March. After the draft was published, a 30-day public consultation begins, to be followed by high-level discussions and a vote in the national assembly before the referendum. The BBC's Will Ross in Nairobi says the draft constitution is an attempt to end the "big man" syndrome, where the winner of an election is all-powerful and virtually impossible to remove. One of the members of the committee who drew up the draft constitution said the days of the "imperial president" were over. Kenya has suffered from horrendous bouts of political violence in recent years. After the 2007 election, supporters of Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga fought in bloody riots which left 1,300 people dead and 300,000 homeless. The riots came to an end when the two men agreed to share power but the agreement has been shaky.

As part of the deal they signed, they agreed to come up with a new constitution. The last attempt to frame a constitution failed in 2005 when Mr Odinga led a successful campaign to reject it in a referendum. Mr Kibaki had been in favour of the proposals. Mr Kibaki, who is due to step down in 2012, has yet to respond to the new plans. Mr Odinga says he will not give his opinion because he wants to allow the Kenyan people a free discussion of the draft. Also proposed is a plan to decentralise power from Nairobi to the regions of Kenya. Our correspondent says some Kenyans will see this as the national cake being spread further across the country and a chance of a getting a slice of that cake may improve. However, he says some warn that there is a danger of corruption simply spreading to mini fiefdoms as has happened in the past. The proposed new constitution retains the Khadis courts - which under Muslim law deal with marriage, divorce and inheritance issues provided all parties are Muslim. Our reporter says this has the potential to cause controversy as some Christian church leaders strongly oppose the inclusion of the Khadis courts in the constitution. Kenyans generally have a very dim view of their very well-paid political leaders, our reporter says. While they now have a month to debate the proposals and feed their opinions in, the success or failure of the new constitution depends on the politicians agreeing to move the country forward, even if it means clipping their own wings, he says.

What other Kenyans across the world think about the constitution

I believe we have lost focus once more. The peoples' revolution that began with saba saba was demanding less government, accountability and stripping excessive power from the executive. A constitution should be about the future not how best ODM and PNU should share power. We are now distributing the executive demonic powers between two protagonists while creating more government. Accountability through creation of strong institutions has now been abandoned. We think two individuals sharing power will be our solution. How quickly we forget our history in 1963. How will we pay for such a large government without being forever dependent on others?

Eric .K, USA

The reason why kenyans have come to believe that the presidency is a matter of life and death, is the misplaced notion that, you must have your own tribe as a president in order your community to have success. Unless and until we move past this, no form of Gov. will work magic.

joseph koech, Ohio USA

A new beginning has finally started in Kenya. Having a well decentralized governance, balancing of President's and Prime's powers and ending colonial laws is an African's pride Kenyans ought to take.
Philip Thon Aleu, Bor, Southern Sudan

Kenyans are tired of one man show. Devolved powers will ensure checks and balances and deal with government excesses. The PM with executive powers will run Kenya through parliament hence faster growth. The new government must also find a way to address passed historical injustices dating back to Kenyatta regime.
FELIX AWITI, Dubai, UAE

The best thing about the scheme introduced is that the head of government cannot be allowed to take an patronising attitude towards other organs of the state with impunity that has so characterised past the governments in Kenya. That a prime minister can be removed by a vote of no confidence of simple majority will ensure that there is always consultation before major government decisions.
Busalile Jack Mwimali, Birmingham, UK

This constitution is a dream in futility. Unless we change gov't by removing all these crop of politicians we shall be going round and round.
Tanu Barnaba, Nakuru, Kenya

with new constitution in place kenya will be the best country in the world. i see very peaceful and prosperous kenya in the next 20yrs GOD bless kenya and the rest of kenyas friends
charles wanyando, nairobi

Any draft constitution that addresses imperial presidency, corruption and emphasis accountability at all levels, is great.
Gilbert Nyandoto, Frisco, USA

It's about time the Kenyan Constitution was reviewed. What worked in the 60s is not what works now, we have a more educated, politically aware population despite the politicians often treating Kenyans like daft people. As long as the public vote will be respected, it's a good idea!!
Joan Nyakan, London UK

its a new beginning for kenya coz ,we are tired of power struggle we want efficiency distribution of power decentralization of government resources and unity in one government, we dont want two governments doing one job ,also the churches should stay out of politics muslims are our brothers denying them kadhis courts is not democratic the churches are busy fighting both government and muslims why, we should have laws that say religious institutions should not be involved in politics, in fact we dont need a president i live in one off the richest countries in the world and a prime minister is enough
shotoh kenneth malobah, trondheim, norway

This article is misleading as it suggests that Kibaki had been in favour of the new draft constitution and Odinga opposed. The truth is that Kibaki had been in favour of a heavily watered-down new draft which retained the bulk of the President's powers, which Odinga naturally opposed.
Parit, London, UK

This is a good draft. However, a piece of paper only can hardly bring about the desired change to the people and improve governance if there is no political will or Kenyan do not change their tribal mentality! It's not only the presidency that is a problem in Kenya...corruption and ethnicity pervades the whole Kenyan society. The draft constitution will hopefully lay the foundation for future emancipation of the Kenyan populace from bigotry and tribal mentality!
Nuur, London

I think there seems to be a new dawn but with it comes the risks such as devolved corruption.
PHILLIP ODHIAMBO MALANGA, ELDORET KENYA

The draft is very good because it shared executive power thus ensuring that the era of winner takes all is over. Devolution ensures that power and resources are decentralized. Good work.
Joseph Kiarie, Nairobi

Man killed wife 'during a dream'

The trial of a husband accused of murdering his wife as they slept in a camper van has heard he killed her while he dreamt she was an intruder. Christine Thomas, 57, was killed in Aberporth, Ceredigion, in July 2008. Swansea Crown Court heard Brian Thomas, 59, of Neath, accepts he killed her but says he has a sleep disorder which had been triggered by "boy racer activity". Jurors have been told they can reach a verdict of not guilty or of not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecuting barrister Paul Thomas QC, in his opening words to the jury on Tuesday morning, described the case as "highly unusual". He described how Mr Thomas killed his wife, his childhood sweetheart, because he had dreamt she was a man who had broken into their motor home. The court was told Mr Thomas's disorder meant he was not in control of his actions when he strangled his partner of 40 years.  After commissioning evidence from sleep experts, the prosecution agreed his actions were involuntary and he could not be held responsible. Prosecuting, Mr Thomas said the defendant was charged with the murder of his wife, whose death he accepted causing. But the barrister said the prosecution did not seek a murder or manslaughter conviction. Instead, he said the prosecution would be arguing for the "special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity". The alternative, the jury was told, would be "a simple verdict of not guilty". The jury was told that the couple, who have two grown-up daughters, enjoyed holidaying together in their camper van. The daughters said their father had been prone to episodes of sleepwalking, during which he had been known sometimes to act strangely. The court heard how Mr and Mrs Thomas had gone on holiday in their camper van in July 2008 and stayed the night at a vehicle park in Aberporth. A group of younger people turned up at the car park after they had gone to bed, and the screeching of brakes and tyres - described in court as "boy racer activity" - disturbed the couple, who moved from the site's lower to its higher car park.

President Mwai Kibaki is received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on arrival in Ethiopia on Monday 16th November, 2009 for African Union (AU) summit of the Committee of ten Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

One of the most adventurous things left us is to go to bed. For no one can lay a hand on our dreams." - Osman Haider

Mau: Rift between Raila and MPs widens

The Mau forest saga has sparked a war of words between ministers barely two days after they resolved to end such feuds at a Cabinet bonding session in Mombasa. Two ministers and an assistant minister went personal with the Prime Minister over an issue already agreed by the Cabinet. Ministers William Ruto (Agriculture), Franklin Bett (Roads) and assistant minister Jebii Kilimo (Cooperative Development) accused Mr Raila Odinga of seeking international recognition over the Mau at the expense of settlers in the forest. The three, who were joined by more than a dozen MPs from the Rift Valley Province, said the government had agreed that those living the forest were to be resettled. Taking the attack a notch higher, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto now says thePM did not even win the disputed December 2007 General Election, asking him to let President Kibaki run the government. “The PM was appointed the Tanzanian way and should not claim to partly run the government. If he has any proof that he won the election let him share it with us,” said Mr Ruto. - Daily Nation.

KTM 125cc rider Sturla Fagerhaug of Norway crashes during the last race of the Motorcycle Grand Prix season at the Cheste race track just outside of Valencia, Spain and on right an Indian Army soldier crashes with his motorcycle through fluorescent tubes during Army Mela 2009 celebrations at Shalugara army base on the outskirts of the eastern Indian city of Siliguri.

Cameras off when Sh117m in transit to UK vanished

Police investigating the theft of money in transit to the UK are retracing the movement of six containers in which the cash was packed before it was loaded onto an aircraft.Investigators also revised the lost sum to Sh117 million from Sh70 million. They said they are investigating why CCTV cameras that would have otherwise captured activity on the airside when the consignment was being moved were switched off. Focus is on the movement of the consignment from the cargo centre to the airside when it was loaded onto the aircraft. Of special interest is the airline staff who received the consignment and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-based clearing and forwarding firm whose staff were the last to be in contact with the valuable cargo.  “Some of the machines were not working and there were people who knew that there was a valuable consignment being moved on the airside,” an investigator said. Other than G4S staff who transported the consignment to the airport, the airline’s crew and the cargo clearing agency staff were the only people who were aware of the valuable cargo that was being transported on Thursday afternoon. G4S communications manager Dan Okoth has made it clear that the money disappeared in the vault of a client and not under their custody.

Kenya Airways was flying high at the World Travel Market

Kenya Airways Stand at the ITM on left and on right is Kenya Airways three top boses in UK

A chemical tanker with a crew of 28 North Koreans has been hijacked by pirates in waters off Somalia, the EU's naval force (Navfor) says. The MV Theresa VIII, a Singaporean-operated tanker, was taken on Monday in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles. It had been heading for Mombasa, Kenya, but was diverted north, Navfor said. Meanwhile, pirates holding a Spanish trawler say they are freeing it for a ransom of at least $3.5m (£2.1m). The Alakrana, a tuna boat, was hijacked last month along with its crew of 36, including 16 Spaniards, eight Indonesians and others from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Senegal and the Seychelles. The trawler, which is based in the Spanish Basque Country, was seized 400 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles island of Mahe, according to coast guards. Somali pirates, using "mother ships" to launch their small-boat attacks on vessels, have extended their range to an area off the Seychelles in recent months in order to evade the navies patrolling the Horn of Africa.

London, Wednesday 18th November, 2009. Soaring oil prices pushed up inflation last month for the first time since February, official figures showed today. The rise in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for October comes as oil prices edged above 80 dollars a barrel over the month, contrasting with steep falls a year ago. The rise in oil prices are set to push forecourt petrol prices up past the 110p a litre next month - or £5 a gallon - which will mean a miserable Christmas for many drivers. The Consumer Prices Index rose to 1.5% in October from 1.1% in September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The increase was bigger than the 1.4% forcecast. The index is set to continue its rise towards the end of the year, while January's reversal of the temporary VAT cut will send CPI well above the Bank's 2% target and close to the threshold at which Governor Mervyn King must write an open letter to the Chancellor. And the Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, which includes mortgage interest payments, rose to minus 0.8% in October from minus 1.4% in September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Energy companies also announced a series of price cuts last January and if these are not matched early next year, this will also add to inflation. Mr King has already warned that inflation is likely to remain volatile in the short-term due to factors such as the VAT cut. The Bank is currently pulling out all the stops to ward off deflation including record low interest rates and a £200 million boost to the money supply.

SOME OF THE UK NEWSPAPERS ON WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2009

LEFT: The world is on course for a climate change catastrophe, says The Independent. CENTRE: The Express says there's outrage the Prime Minister of Belgium - a euro fanatic - could be appointed President of Europe. RIGHT: The Sun says the son of Britain's biggest lottery winner is off to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan.

What the new Kenya Draft constitution released on Tuesday 17th November, 2009 says about the Dual Citizenship.

FULL DRAFT CONSTITUTION 2009 CLICK HERE

Dual citizenship

21. (1) A person who is a citizen does not lose citizenship by reason only of acquiring the citizenship of
another country.

(2) A person who as a result of acquiring the citizenship of another country ceased to be a Kenyan
citizen is entitled, on application, to regain Kenyan citizenship.

(3) Parliament shall enact legislation providing for conditions upon which citizenship may be granted to
individuals, other than individuals referred to in clauses (1) and (2), who are citizens of other
countries.

Deprivation of citizenship

22. A person may be deprived of citizenship only if the person acquired citizenship by means
of fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact.
Residence

2 3 . (1) The following persons may enter and reside in Kenya if they comply with the
conditions prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament governing entry and
residence—
(a) a former citizen;
(b) a foreign wife or widow or foreign husband or widower of a citizen; and
(c) a child of a citizen.
(2) Parliament may enact legislation governing the entry into and residence in Kenya of
other categories of persons and providing for the status of permanent residents.

Responsibilities of a citizen

24. (1) All citizens have the responsibility to—
(a) acquire a basic understanding of the provisions of this Constitution and
promote its ideals and objectives;
(b) respect, uphold and defend this Constitution and the law;
(c) promote democracy, good governance and the rule of law;
18 Harmonized Draft Constitution of Kenya
(d) vote in elections and referenda;
(e) strive to foster national unity and live in harmony with others;
(f) co-operate with law enforcement agencies for the maintenance of law and
order;
(g) pay all due taxes;
(h) not to engage in corruption;
(i) engage in work for the common good and contribute to national
development;
(j) develop their abilities through acquisition of knowledge, continuous
learning and the development of skills;
(k) contribute to the welfare and advancement of the community where they
live;
(l) promote family life and welfare and act responsibly in the context of the
family;
(m) protect and safeguard public property from waste and misuse;
(n) protect the environment and conserve natural resources; and
(o) understand and enhance the Republic’s place in the international
community.

(2) The responsibilities set out in clause (1) apply equally, where appropriate, to noncitizens.
Legislation on citizenship

25. Parliament shall enact legislation—
(a) prescribing procedures by which a person may become a citizen;
(b) providing for voluntary renunciation of citizenship;
(c) prescribing procedures for deprivation of citizenship; and
(d) generally giving effect to the provisions of this Chapter.

FULL DRAFT CONSTITUTION 2009 CLICK HERE

A LUO PROVERB

Kudho chuoyo ng'ama onyone.

A thorn pricks whoever steps on it.

Some problems come to those who look for them.

Cheetahs came to see tourists

As tourists made their way to see the wildlife in Maasai Mara, the Cheetahs also came to see the tourists on right the Mara rivers dries up while the tourist baloon flys over Mara

Officials have started combing Kenya's largest woodland, the Mau forest, to ensure squatters have left after a deadline for their eviction expired. Many of its rivers, which supply vital water, have dried up and the government wants to restore the eco-system. Most of the region's 20,000 families have left their farms, officials say. But a BBC reporter in the area says many had nowhere else to go and are now living in squalid and desperate conditions on the forest boundaries. During the past 15 years, more than 100,000 hectares - one quarter of the protected forest reserve - had been settled and cleared. The government has said it would compensate settlers who could supply title deeds to their land. However, it is estimated that as few as 1,962 families have genuine title deeds. Much of the land was handed out by politicians in the run-up to elections and then re-parcelled and sold on illegally. The BBC's Ruth Nesoba in the Mau forest said it has been raining heavily and some of homeless evictees were very angry. "We've obeyed the government rules and come out. "But the problem we are facing here is the problem of hunger, some are sick, some have injuries, the problem here is mental torture," a distraught man told the BBC. The government says the destruction of the forest canopy has sparked an environmental disaster downstream, with millions of people suffering from water shortages. And the East African country has just suffered its worst drought in years. Officials now intend to replant the more than 100 million trees felled by the squatters and illegal loggers. But environmentalists estimate that it will be many decades before Kenya rivers flow again.

A KIKUYU PROVERB

Gûthinga kûrûgîte gûtonga

Virtue is better than riches.

Virtue is the only true nobility.

Crocodile meets his match with hungry hippos

These amazing pictures show the moment a brave crocodile meets his match after straying into a maze of hungry hippos. The rare scene was captured on camera by a stunned wildlife photographer who witnessed the battle of the beasts in Serengeti national park in Tanzania. A huge fight broke out between the two heavyweights of the animal kingdom after the hasty croc found himself too close to a mother and her young. Unfortunately his array of teeth and armoured shell was no competition for the raging hippos, renowned for their aggression. A hippo can apply several tons of pressure in a single bite and the defenseless croc was soon snapped up and devoured. Vaclav Silha, 45, was on the banks of the Nile taking snaps of around 50 hippos bathing in the river when the peace was broken. He said: "Mutual respect between these animals means fights occur very rarely. "One of the only reasons you might see a conflict is if the hippos have young and they think the little ones are under threat. That's exactly what happened here. "The incautious croc got too close to a female who had calves and the whole group gathered into a defensive circle around them. It was a strong message for the croc to clear off." He added: "I have no idea but the crocodile suddenly raced across the backs of the hippos. I think it might have panicked and thought it was a possible escape route. I couldn't belive my eyes." "It was the worst choice the reptile could have made and it was definitely his last. "The island of hippos suddenly erupted with teeth and all I could see was the crocodile being repeatedly crushed in their huge mouths."

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Manchester is first to get ID cards

Residents in Manchester, UK will become the first people in Britain to be able to apply for ID cards. They can now directly apply to attend appointments from November 30 to have their photograph and fingerprints taken for the £30 cards at Manchester's passport office. Junior Home Office Minister Meg Hillier said the cards would be particularly useful for students and young people as they would "save the cost and hassle" of getting into clubs and bars. Anyone over 16 in the city with a UK passport can apply for a card. Ms Hillier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Really for a lot of people it's a day-to-day convenience thing. "For a lot of young people ... they often take their passports to prove their identity in nightclubs and bars and the Passport Service sweeps these up every week. So for a lot of people it'll save the cost and hassle of taking your passport, risking losing it and instead you've got this very convenient little credit-sized card. I've got one and it's very useful." The ID cards are very hard to copy and are very secure, with biometric information stored on a database, she added. "This is not a database that can be downloaded onto disks," she said. "It's going to be held in different places so there'll be fingerprints and your picture on one database and your biographical information (on another), which is I must stress just the same as what's held by the Passport Service anyway ... and they will be linked together by another database." The database would only be used for "serious crime issues" or identity concerns at a border.

Proverbs 20:11: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Disquiet as Kenyans await draft law

Nairobi,  Kenya Nov 16 - Hours before the harmonised draft constitution is unveiled for 30 days of public debate, members of the civil society say when Kenya eventually goes to a referendum, there should be three drafts presented for a vote. Kenya for Justice and Development Director Okiya Omtatah Okoiti says the separate drafts should include a Parliamentary, Presidential and Hybrid system of government which are the key issues under contention. “Instead of imposing the hybrid system on the country, the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review (CoE) should present three drafts; which should then be subjected to a yes-yes referendum where the winning constitution should obtain a 50 percent plus one vote at the ballot,” he told a news conference on Monday. The groups suggest that if none attains that threshold, then the first and second drafts should go for a runoff where the one winning with simple majority will become the new Constitution for the Republic of Kenya.

"Anger, is another crack, which has lived in many people's hearts. Lust is also another crack that is destroying families and leaving children as orphans." -  Pastor JJ Gitahi, Nairobi, Kenya.

Egypt launches Arabic web domain

Egypt will open the world's first Arabic language internet domain, its communications minister has said. Tarek Kamel said the new domain name would be ".masr" written in the Arabic alphabet. It translates as ".Egypt". "It is a great moment for us... The internet now speaks Arabic," Mr Kamel said. Last month, internet regulator Icann voted to allow non-Latin web addresses. Domain names can now be written in Arabic, Chinese and other scripts. Mr Kamel, who was speaking at the start of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) being held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, said a formal announcement would be made on Monday. Registration for addresses with the .masr ending would begin at midnight (2200 GMT), he said.

Muslim brides wait for rituals to begin during a Muslim mass marriage in Ahmadabad, India. 81 couples got married at the event and on right Ice forms on a public bus, following a snowfall in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China. Thousands of vehicles were trapped on roads after two days of snow in China's biggest coal-mining province, disrupting the movement of people and coal, state media reported

Nairobi, Monday 16th November, 2009. Rift MP's accused of inciting Mau evictees. Forest and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa has accused a section of Rift Valley MPs inciting Mau forest evictees to stay put at the road side until alternative land is found. Wekesa says efforts to save the Mau complex should not be politicized adding that it is unfortunate that a section of the cabinet is publicly going against a government directive.  Speaking to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation-KBC- on phone, Wekesa said the evictions will go on and that the government will cater for transport for the squatters. His sentiments come a day after a section of Rift Valley Mps led by Agriculture Minister William Rutto accused the government of intimidating their community. The Mps said that should the government fail to compensate the evictees then they would lead them back to the forest. Meanwhile Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai has lauded the Mau eviction initiative saying that all settlers ought to have moved as a way of avoiding the current drought. She blamed the current situation on the Mau to the Moi government saying that if the regime has hided to her call the current draught could not be witnessed. Elsewhere, people living within government gazzetted forests in larger Samburu districts have been ordered to move out. Addressing a District Environmental Committee (DEC) meeting in Maralal town over the weekend, Samburu Central DC Tom Machaneri said the directive was given to all people living in government gazzetted forests. Machaneri asked political leaders to co-operate with government officers to move people out of Kirisia, Ndetto, Lerroki and Mathew range forests. The administrator decried the high rate of forest destruction which has caused land degradation in the district, adding that Seketet forest is most affected as a result of illegal logging. The environmental committee blamed the Maralal town council for poor refuse management and called on the Council Clerk Anthony Leaduma to relocate the dumpsite to another area outside the town. The District Forest officer (DFO) Goffrey Mwaura warned those found burning charcoal of arrest and prosecution, adding that all unlicensed timber yards in the district will be closed down, to discourage illegal logging.

"You would easily know the character of the parents by observing their children. The children are the mirrors of their parent. You shall know them by their fruits." - A Kenyan Bishop of Mount Kenya South

Winner of IWRM 3rd prize

Mrs. Rose Wairegi (Mama Dexter) receiving an ipod on behalf of Mrs. Jane Kiragu who was the winner of the 3rd prize - the ipod at the IWRM Raffle conducted during their church fundraising on Saturday 7th November, 2009. 2nd prize was Lapton and the 1st prize was 1 week holiday in Kenya - air ticket and accommodation paid for. Who won the 2nd and 1st prize? More later.

Kibaki jets back from leadership retreat

Written By: PPS    , Posted: Mon, Nov 16, 2009
 

President Mwai Kibaki returned to Nairobi Sunday evening after a three day working tour of the coastal region. While in Mombasa, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga hosted a successful three-day National Leadership Retreat for ministers, their assistants and Permanent Secretaries. During the bonding retreat held at a Mombasa Hotel, national leaders resolved to uphold the principal of collective responsibility and abide by their oath of secrecy. In a communiqué released at the end of the retreat, the national leaders agreed to foster unity and cohesion within Government by refraining from making adverse public utterances against fellow cabinet ministers and assistant ministers. President Kibaki challenged the country's national leaders to single-mindedly resolve to overcome the critical challenges facing the Coalition Government and build a prosperous nation. The Head of State also affirmed that together with the Prime Minister they were committed to fostering a common sense of destiny among the national leaders. The Plane carrying the President and the First Lady touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 6.00 and were received by senior Government officials.

On the same day, French soldiers arrest suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia. They also seized assault rifles, rocket launchers and other weapons in the operation and on right a pocket watch made for Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II, dating from 1893, is displayed during an auction preview at Sotheby’s in Geneva on Wednesday.

Kenya to amend wealth law

The Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Ministry is in the process of amending the Public Officer Ethics Act to grant the public access to wealth declaration information of public officers. Permanent Secretary Amina Mohammed told Capital News that the amendment would also apply stringent measures to ensure all public officers comply with the wealth declaration law. “Our Ministry has held consultative meetings with all responsible Commissions, and other relevant stakeholders, and is in the process of preparing amendments to the Act as well as regulations to facilitate public access to the wealth declaration information,” she said. She said the amendments will also be seeking to create a user friendly declaration form but with a provision that will ensure wealth information is comprehensively disclosed. - CapitalFM

A MAASAI PROVERB

Tolut olomen inkoon e menye.

Cursed is he who despises his father's instructions

Traffic backs up as a turkey makes its daily walk across a busy road. A pair of turkeys , who live in the wild, travel back and forth early and late in the day in search of food neighbours put out for the birds and on right Bulgarian Rosen Markov sets himself on fire in front of the Bulgarian National Television building, to protest against the broadcast of news bulletins in the Turkish language.

Poison abortion bid doctor jailed

A doctor who attempted to poison his lover in a bid to induce a miscarriage has been jailed for six years. Edward Erin, 44, of west London, spiked 33-year-old Bella Prowse's drinks after she became pregnant but refused to have a termination, the Old Bailey heard.  Miss Prowse, a secretary at the hospital where Erin worked, noticed her coffee and juice had been tampered with, and drug traces were later found. Erin was found guilty of two charges of attempting to administer poison. Sentencing the married father-of-two, who is originally from Caerphilly in south Wales, Judge Richard Hone called Erin "a liar, a cheat and a predator".  He said the doctor, who worked at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, led a fantasy life and had "betrayed his profession and his family". Judge Hone said: "The three affairs which formed part of your evidence at trial illustrate how you exploited your senior position as a consultant respiratory physician to lure women into sexual relations.

A Kenyan has passed away in in Baltimore, USA. Mr. Edgar Gakuru Karanja ( A.K.A. Ed G) came a day before the burial of yet another young man Andrew Ndungu Muchai who died on 24 October and was buried on 7th November. The pattern of these deaths is now worrying the Kenyan community in USA as they are happening too often and to young people just at their prime age. Edgar’s death is the 3rd in two weeks time after Andrew Ndungu Muchai in Baltimore and Edah Chemkung Tawarar who was found dead in her apartment in Topeka, Kansas. Many other Kenyans from different parts of USA have been found dead in their apartments over the last one year. Edgar was found unresponsive on 6th November, 2009 at a friend’s house and was taken to Bon Secours Hospital by emergency crew where efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. He came to the US in September 2003 after winning a Green Card and was sponsored by Janet Wamuni Mwangi who is a family friend from Kenya and lived with him for a year before he moved out to stay with other friends. The family are waiting for an autopsy report to determine the cause of death. Edgar was the only son in his family and had 5 sisters all in Kenya. He is the son Mr & Mrs. James Karanja Gakuru of Banana Hills, Kenya and brother to Wanjiru, Gathoni, Wairimu, Njoki and Wangui. Friends and well wishers are meeting daily for prayers and Funeral arrangements at: 27 Blue Spire Circle Middle River, MD 21220 Tel: 443-850-4303, 410-900-0444. Time: Daily at 7.00 p.m. Any financial assistance towards the cost of the repatriation of the body to Kenya will be much appreciated at the above venue. An account has been set up to fund raise from people out of state to help meet the Late edgars` funeral expenses. Please contact Mrs. Janet Wamuni Mwangi 443-850-4303 or Mr. Anthony Kangethe 443-570-3010 for account details. You can also opt to send financial donations via Moneygram to Anthony Kangethe, Baltimore , MD. For further information, you can reach the following persons: - Mrs. Janet Wamuni-443-850-4303, Mr. David Mwangi- 410-900-0444, Mr. Simon Ndungu( Nyoro)- 443-220-2383, and Mr. Anthony Kangethe - 443-570-3010 - Diasporamessenger.com

The late Edgar Gakuru Karanja in Baltimore, USA

METHALI YA KISWAHILI
Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri.
Charity is the matter of the heart not of the pocket.

Draft law raises hopes over dual citizenship

Two days after winning a marathon in 2007, Kenyan-born Mushir Salem Jawher – previously Leonard Mucheru – was stripped of his Bahraini citizenship for competing in Israel. And so Jawher became stateless, since he was assumed he had denounced his Kenyan passport when he acquired that of Bahrain in 2004. Imagine also having to queue in different lines with your own children simply because they are regarded as foreigners and you are Kenyan. Your only mistake is being a woman. This is the experience Ms Koki Muli, the executive director of Institute for Education in Democracy, has had to contend with. "My children are French and they have to get a permit to live in Kenya. It is more traumatising when we are travelling because we have to queue on different lines as different nationals, here and abroad," she says. In the Constitution, a man can bestow citizenship to his foreign wife, and subsequently his children, but the same is prohibited for a woman. Muli, who is married to a Frenchman, says she is the only Kenyan in the family. "I am waiting for the new constitution with bated breath because it is very traumatising," she says. These two cases represent the dilemma of the more than three million Kenyans living abroad.

As other countries pursue multiple citizenships, Kenya is still grappling with the law that prohibits dual citizenship. Those who are working or studying abroad are also denied several services by host governments — such as subsidised healthcare, education and tax relief. Egara Kabaji, the spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adds another twist to the debate. He says most Kenyans in the Diaspora miss out on opportunities for better jobs just because they are foreigners. "Have you ever wondered why most professionals, especially in the US, take up shoddy jobs?" poses Prof Kabaji. But even as the debate over whether to include dual citizenship in the new constitution continues, some say politicians are waiting to use it to win support of Kenyans in the Diaspora come 2012 General Election. Lawyer Paul Muite says the clause denying dual citizenship was included to ensure people from certain countries do not settle in Kenya. "Now, these fears do not exist. Actually, it is the other way round: It is Kenyans who are going to those countries," says Muite. He argues many Kenyans have been denied citizenship of other countries on grounds their countries do not allow dual citizenship. "As a result, they cannot benefit from services such as subsidised healthcare from the host nation, which they fund. In effect, it means they cannot contribute more to the local economy," he argues. The Kenyan community abroad has contributed immensely to the economy through remittances. Experts say this could increase with the provision of dual citizenship. Statistics released by the Central Bank last week, show Kenyans abroad have pumped into the economy Sh207 billion between January 2004 and September.

Last year alone, they remitted $611 million (about Sh46 billion). Kabaji says a survey is being conducted to ascertain the number of Kenyans abroad. He says estimates indicate there are more than three million Kenyans in the Diaspora. "Their remittances are now beating coffee sales," he observes. Muite, who chaired the Departmental Committee on the Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs in the Ninth Parliament, believes dual citizenship should not await the new constitution since it is not contentious. In the run-up to the 2007 General Election, his committee tagged this as one of the amendments in the proposed minimum reforms. "All political parties were in agreement we should have dual citizenship but the Government sabotaged reforms," recalls Muite. During the campaigns, the three leading presidential contenders dangled this carrot to Kenyans in the Diaspora, while on trips abroad. Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM-Kenya had dual citizenship in their manifestoes. President Kibaki promised the new constitution would provide for this. But two years down the line, little has changed. Instead they are banking on the new law, which has always been a pipe dream. "All you need is a constitution amendment Bill and it won’t cost you a thing to get the two-thirds of MPs to support it," says Muite. But Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo calls for patience, saying the new constitution is in the horizon. "If going by the Press reports, then the Committee of Experts has finalised the harmonisation of the draft constitution," Mutula says. The minister says because of the draft constitution, it would not be wise to go for piecemeal amendments. Kabaji is also optimistic the new law would allow dual citizenship. "Clamour for dual citizenship is no longer an issue. It is just a matter of time before it is actualised," he says. And in the unlikely event it is not passed, Mutula adds, "We will amend the Constitution to allow for dual citizenship". - Sunday Standard.

Africa in photos this week

A Tanzanian man is pictured in Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar over the weekend enjoying a coffee at a cafe which writes Kiswahili words in the froth on right women in southern Sudan drag a sack of grain dropped from a UN plane over the village of Pochalla, in the eastern state of Jonglei.

THE KIKUYU IDEOMS

Kûhûta kahu ka ihîî

Kûhûta harîa horu.

Very hungry

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time

"In a way, forgiving is only for the brave. It is for those people who are willing to confront their pain, accept themselves as permanently changed, and make difficult choices. Countless individuals are satisfied to go on resenting and hating people who wrong them. They stew in their own inner poisons and even contaminate those around them. Forgivers, on the other hand, are not content to be stuck in a quagmire. They reject the possibility that the rest of their lives will be determined by the unjust and injurious acts of another person." - Gordon Dalbey - Letter to the Editor, The Christian Century (November 20-7, 1991).

"Service to mankind, happiness to the lonely, cheer to the sad and hope to the hopeless"

JOHN Girichi Ministries

Cordially Invite ALL MEN for a MEN SEMINAR with a theme:
Where there is no wise guidance, the people fall,
but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverb 11:14
come! And discover your position in Creation - @ 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Apollo Hotel, Training Centre Room Three
247-266 Hagley Road (after Broad Street) Birmingham
B16 9RA (800 Metres from Ring Road) - NB: Please confirm your coming
by Email to Bishop John Gichiri - Email:vrcgichiri@yahoo.co.uk or Call 07782336492

Poor to eat Robben Island rabbits

The rabbits which have overrun the Robben Island former jail and tourist attraction are to be used to feed South Africa's poor, the site's manager says. Nelson Mandela was held prisoner on the island off Cape Town for most of the 27 years he was in jail and it is now a museum and World Heritage Site. But its vegetation has been ravaged by tens of thousands of wild rabbits. A rabbit cull began last month and some 2,000 of them have been buried on the island so far. But island acting chief executive Jatti Bredekamp says that will now change. He said rabbits certified safe to eat would be "dressed and packaged for donation to charity," reports the Sapa news agency. The rabbit meat is to be distributed among charities in Cape Town. Sarah Scarth, a spokeswoman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, SPCA, said the group's only concern was that the culling was carried out in a humane way. "We have no problem with the animals being used for human consumption. If they can benefit the poor then that is something we are not against," she told the BBC. Rabbits are commonly eaten in European countries but consuming the all-white meat would be new for many South Africans. The island is said to have been populated by up to 25,000 rabbits and 500 deer, as well as feral cats. The deer and cats are also being culled.  The island sits in the bay just seven kilometres from Cape Town's beaches and is visited by more than 1,800 tourists a day at peak times.

London, Saturday 14th November, 2009. Winds of up to 80mph (129km/h) are forecast to hit Wales and southern England after storms caused flooding and damage in parts of Britain. Fire services have been dealing with localised floods and car rescues, and weather and flood warnings remain in place in many parts of the country. Trees and power lines have been brought down in Somerset, which has been battered by high winds and heavy rain. The Met Office predicts calmer weather on Sunday ahead of more storms. In Somerset, severe weather warnings have been issued and the Environment Agency has put flood warnings in place on the River Parrett and River Isle. Fire crews were also called to Cannington on Friday where part of a flat felt roof was ripped off, bringing down power and phone lines. But tidal flooding along the south coast has not been as serious as feared. Very strong winds have affected south-west England and south Wales and will move eastwards during the morning. Environment Agency flood manager Guy Parker said there had not yet been any serious flooding. "There's a tidal event which is predominantly hitting the south coast - and a little bit in Wales - and there are a number of showers, very heavy in some locations," he said. "It's very early days in the flood season and that means the ground hasn't fully saturated everywhere yet, so there's still some capacity in the ground to absorb flood water."  In Haywards Heath, West Sussex, people had to be rescued from four units on an industrial estate after being flooded by about 2ft (60cm) of water. The service said it had dealt with nearly 40 weather-related calls in the Haywards Heath area on Friday, and near Crawley a tree caught fire after being brought down on to power lines.

METHALI YA KISWAHILI

Mfupa uliomshinda Fisi kutafuna, mbwa hauwezi

Storms caused flooding and damage in parts of Britain

METHALI YA KISWAHILI

Samaki mkunje angali mbichi

Help the Seeds family to settle a widow in Kenya

The House as of Saturday 14th November, 2009

Help The Seeds family to settle a widow in Kenya. The Seeds family a constructing a house a widow in Kenya. The house now is on the roofing stage. Be a part of it and donate whatever you think you can afford.  The widow, a mother of six has been evicted from her previous accommodation for more than 10 times.

You can send your donation to Mr. Seed on 07951220695 or misterseed@hotmail.co.uk OR you can contact the lady overseeing the construction on 0710227033 (she is on M-Pesa), or the widow herself Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina on 0727307672. The Seeds family dream is to construct and furnish the house for this lady. It is our intention to a make a difference to at least one widow in Kenya. - CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY.

One person has died after a passenger plane crashed into an airport's VIP lounge

Nairobi, Saturday 14th November, 2009. One person has died after a passenger plane crashed into an airport's VIP lounge. The accident happened at Rwanda's Kigali airport. Rwandair executive Jack Ekl said the pilot had reported technical difficulties after taking off from the capital. He said the plane tried to make an emergency landing but crashed into the VIP lounge at the airport on Thursday afternoon. Airline officials said there were 14 passengers aboard the plane. It had been on its way to Uganda. Mr Ekl said investigations are underway to determine exactly what went wrong but he believed a problem had developed with the engine. Rwandair boss Gerald Zirimuabagabo said the plane had shown signs of technical problems as recently as Wednesday. A problem with the plane's generator prompted an emergency landing at the international airport in Nairobi, Kenya. He did not say whether mechanics addressed Wednesday's technical problem before Thursday's flight.

Tourism not child sex tourism

Pastor Jesse Nderitu of Back to God Ministry in South London has been on the frontline campaigning against the child sex tourism in Mombasa. He was joined by other Kenyans on Thursday 12th November, 2009 protesting at the Excel, during the World Travel Market where the minister for tourism was presiding. Jonathan Rugman reports on the child sex trade in Kenya, amid fears that up to 20,000 children are engaged in some form of under-age sex work - often with white men. Kenya's beaches represent the best in tropical paradise, mutually beneficial for both the thousands of Europeans who head there and the locals who thrive from their tourism. But Kenya's coast has a seedier face - visiting white men who pay children, some as young as three years old, for sex. In a country where ten million people are going hungry, there are fears that this abuse is spiralling. For more information please contact  www.backtogodministries.org - Tel: 07903984578. - CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Caught at the World Travel Market, ExCel

Caught at the World Travel Market in Excel, East London was Mr. Njenga wa Gatehi or Northampton now working with a Kenyan tour Company and on right is Mr. Ngugi wa Nation and Mr. Kimotho patron of Lake Nakuru Lodge

Child sex tourism must be fought

Like many holiday destinations, East Africa’s pristine shorelines, game reserves, abundant nightlife and cultural attractions are the stuff holiday brochures in the west are made of.  Tourism is a major money spinner for many of the world’s poorest countries, but East Africa’s tropical paradise hides a dark, sordid secret: “child sex tourism.” The rise of this trade is shocking and the speed of its establishment staggering. It can only happen under a culture of deep rooted corruption, poverty and lack of concern for the most vulnerable in society that prevails in East African countries, especially Uganda and Kenya.

“Child sex tourism” has a long history. However, the practice has developed substantially during the last few decades. According to experts, “child sex tourism” involves tourists who deliberately travel to foreign destinations solely for the purpose of engaging in sex with juveniles. A 65 year old expatriate teacher from the United States of America is facing jail in Ghana after being arrested for abusing several African children by exchanging sexual favours for food. Patrick Ken Larbash is currently in custody whilst officials investigate his child abuse practices. His arrest followed the seizure of video recordings with up to eight Ghanaian children performing oral sex –Felatio– on him at his house in Adjomanikope.   In 2006, Alexander Kilpatrick, a 56 year old father of two, was arrested in Milton Keynes, England, and jailed for 17 counts of sex offences after making several trips to East Africa, masquerading as an NGO worker, when he was actually a paedophile. Kilpatrick made harrowing films of the abuses. More recently, police in Gulu, in war-torn Northern Uganda, arrested and detained Peter Kets, a Belgian “tourist” for taking and being in possession of pictures of nude little girls from the area whom he lured to his hotel room. In his defence, he claimed he did not know he was committing any crime because the girls in the photographs were his girlfriends!

Whilst some expatriates make permanent bases in Africa as NGO workers, others make frequent visits with the sole purpose of grooming minors by using their comparative wealth to entice, exploit and ultimately abuse vulnerable Africans - often creating films of their abuse to sell and share worldwide with other paedophiles. The problem is that, East African countries are doing nothing of note to prevent “child sex tourism.”  In Kenya for instance, the practice has become part of the daily life along the shores of Mombasa. It is done with the knowledge of the police who always accept bribes –“chai” – to look the other way. African borders and immigration rules towards white foreigners are simply too lax. In recent years, growing concerns about rising abuses of children has tested the resolve of governments to implement international agreements designed to end the exploitation of children. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is already the most widely recognised of any international agreement. Concern over child labour, child prostitution and the civil rights of children are a benchmark by which any nation’s commitment to human rights and democracy can be judged. But this has achieved very little in places like Northern Uganda, with its army of “lost children” and survivors who continue to face sexual exploitation by those who purport to help them cope. As experiences have shown from DR Congo, Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Northern Uganda, respect for children’s rights cannot be guaranteed by goodwill alone.

The pressures of commercial development, cultural diversity and a global economy that give easy access for a rich minority to regions where people are struggling under  appalling conditions of war, poverty and exploitation, vulnerable, powerless and voiceless group like children become easy victims as their governments are fixated with attracting foreign investments more than protecting their own citizens. Tourism is the world’s leading economic sector and all countries compete to lure visitors. The problem is that in many regions of Africa, particularly countries like Kenya and Uganda, sexual exploitation, specifically the exploitation of children is an unpleasant by-product of tourism. Equally the ready acceptance of “NGOs” whose credentials go unchecked is a major contributor. It is an issue that should involve many players - journalists and media, travel agents and tourism companies, national tourist boards, airlines and travel services, hotels and restaurants and entertainment providers.  The exploitation of human beings in any form, particularly sexual exploitation of children, must never be part of the tourism industry. Any form of child sex tourism, child sexual exploitation, should be robustly combated and perpetrators and those who abet them penalised without concession. Some countries already penalise their nationals for such crimes, even when it is committed abroad. - The Observer, London.

Fire drill at JKIA that caused panic in Nairobi‏

Nairobi, Saturday 14th November, 2009. What was thought to be a plane crash turned up to be a fire drill which according to Mr George Muhuhu should be done yearly. Most of the media houses sprinted only to get a rude shock. It went well and achieved it goals by the responses from the police, fire services, the army who even brought their rescue choppers to the scene.Pls note the people are not injured is just a drill to showcase Kenya's preparedness in case of a plane crash. A spot check confirmed a few bits picked up were that not many officers had high visibility jackets which is very important in such a site. Secondly some weakness was also noted at the crash site where the officers at the scene did not have gas masks and they could have easily inhaled toxic fumes from the burnt aircraft if it could have been real. Still in health and safety there seemed to be a shortage of groves.  - Photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 0710148103 - wanjugunak@hotmail.com
 

Panama and Equador at the WTM

President joins other national leaders for dinner

Mombasa, Saturday 14th November, 2009. President Mwai Kibaki Friday night joined other leaders attending the National Leadership Retreat at Serena Beach Hotel for a splendid dinner hosted by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Thanking President Kibaki for joining other leaders for the colourful dinner, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka noted that the banquet was the Prime Minister's gift to the participants for their sacrifice to the nation as well as a climax after the opening day's busy schedule. In appreciation of the Prime Minister's generosity, Mr. Kalonzo asserted that the country had waited unnecessarily too long for such forums whose capacity to achieve national cohesion could not be belabored.  The Vice-President said that the forum had enabled national leaders to scrutinize and honestly debate important national issues in a relaxed and informal setting. Terming the forum a milestone in the country's determination to establish a prosperous and peaceful nation, the Vice-President expressed confidence that the opportunity would send positive signals throughout the world that local leaders had abandoned issues that compromised the country's welfare and that of its people. The three-day National Leadership Retreat focuses on enhancing unity and cohesion in the Coalition Government as well as promoting local, regional and international image of the country. The national leader's retreat further targets to improve the performance of the Coalition Government politically, economically and socially.

Seeking divine help on the burden that weighs heavily on their shoulders

Seeking divine help on the burden that weighs heavily on their shoulders regarding their future, settlers in South Western Mau who are camping on the roadside at Kapkembo in Kuresoi, say a prayer before a meeting on Friday. One moment you are in, the next, you are out. For some of the people moving out of the south western part of the Mau Forest Complex, this has come to be a familiar pattern of their lives. It is not the first time they have been evicted from the forest and somehow found their way back, only to be ejected again. But with the government’s new-found determination to conserve the country’s key water tower, signs are that they are leaving for good, there will be no going back again. Scores of the illegal settlers started streaming out of the forest that borders the expansive Kiptagich Tea Estate the moment the government sent security forces there. The mere presence of officers from the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Widlife Service and regular and administration police was enough to send them packing. Fear and suspicion were evident among the people as the Nation team made its way to the spot where they had gathered on a piece of land at Kipkongor in Kuresoi District, with what remains of the forest on one side and the rolling green hills of Kiptagich Tea Estate on the other. Some scampered for the bush, while the old men who could not run, raised their hands in surrender; any four-wheel drive vehicle in the vicinity receives this sort of response. We eventually came upon a group of displaced settlers numbering about 100. - Daily Nation.

The Haller foundation UK registered as an NGO here in Kenya

The Haller foundation UK hosted a cocktail party at The Panafric Hotel to celebrate the registration as an NGO here in Kenya. The Haller foundation takes a unique approach to community development. They believe that the economy and the environment should always be in balance. Only then will communities be truly self sufficient. With the guidance of Dr Rene Haller, UNEP Global Laureate, their aim is to inspire a new generation of environmental entrepreneurs who will transform their communities whilst safeguarding their surrounding environment Their holistic development programmes cover food security, access to water, health, energy and income generation. Their future plans is to upscale their work beyond Mombasa. - Photo by Karuga wa Njuguna.

From the left: Robert Watkinson Portland, Alive Leslie of Save the elephants and Niduk Wijayasingha Director The Haller Foundation and right Niduk Wijayasingha Director Haller foundation introduces Dr Haller

Weekend to witness 'worst storm of the year' in UK

The weekend will be washed out by the worst storm of the year, with gale-force gusts and heavy rain on its way, forecasters have warned. Weather experts are advising those planning Saturday shopping trips and days out to postpone them and stay indoors as Britain is buffeted by winds of up to 70mph. The winds will be strong enough to cause damage, including bringing down trees and branches and commuters hoping for a let-up in the rain to help them make a quick getaway back home will be disappointed as the current downpours across the country are set to continue. There could be some let-up in the rain and winds on Sunday but the storm is due to give us another battering on Monday, posing the risk of disruption to the return to work after the weekend. There is also a risk of flooding in certain areas. Stephen Davenport, of Meteogroup UK, said: "It is pretty filthy weather already and it is only going to get worse tomorrow. The real meat of the storm is coming overnight. "This is the strongest storm we have had this year but it is just an autumnal storm, not untypical for this time of year." The storm is developing off the west coast of the country and is being fed by the still-warm autumn sea temperatures.

PM to 'tighten' migration rules. Gordon Brown has promised to "tighten" the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe. The prime minister said net migration was already being cut and that these changes would ensure this continues while maintaining "flexibility". He also promised to make it harder for illegal workers to enter the UK by obtaining student visas. But the Conservatives dismissed Mr Brown's proposals as "hollow". The prime minister's speech, in west London, came amid criticism that immigration policy is ineffective and predictions that the UK's population is set to reach 70 million. Home Secretary Alan Johnson recently admitted that the government had taken "a long time" to deal properly with the issue. Mr Brown defended the government's points-based system for deciding which migrants from outside the European Economic Area - made up of the EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - and Switzerland should be accepted. He argued that it had contributed to a 44% fall in inward migration over the past year. Mr Brown said the importance of "shortage" professions would be looked at in the near future. "We will remove more occupations and therefore thousands more posts from the list of those eligible for entry under the points-based system," he said. Engineers, skilled chefs and care workers could be among the professions affected. Mr Brown announced a review of student visas, which will consider whether they should be granted only to foreign students on degree and postgraduate courses. Visas would be stopped for those seeking to take shorter courses leading to lower-level qualifications, to clamp down on people using these as an excuse to enter the UK before disappearing into illegal work. Addressing the wider immigration debate, Mr Brown added: "I have never agreed with the lazy elitism that dismisses immigration as an issue, or portrays anyone who has concerns about immigration as a racist. Immigration is not an issue for fringe parties nor a taboo subject.

"Passion for God caused Moses to lead the flocks to Horeb"

Bishop Samuel Muya was a guest speaker in a Northampton Church on Sunday 8th November, 2009. He was preaching at House of Freedom Ministries in Northampton where he was hosted by Pastor Alex Gatoto. While preaching at the service, Bishop Muya explained: "You will never get to your destiny or your dreams come true until you are driven by passion for God which will allow God to step into your vision." Using Exodus 3:1-8 the Bishop said Moses would have remained frustrated looking after his father in-law's sheep. But passion for God caused him to lead the flocks to Horeb the Mt. of God where he encountered God and his destiny changed. He went back to Egypt and faced Pharaoh with authority. Passion led Zaceaus to climb a tree. He would have led a rich but frustrating life. The bishop moved the crowd with many quotations and examples. Meet the bishop on Sunday 15th December, 2009 at Memorial Baptist Church, 395 Barking Road, London E13 as from 6.00 p.m. He will deliver a powerful revelation. His contact in the UK is 07556113850 - email samuelmuya2003@yahoo.com - MORE

Home Office sets out new rules for migrants

Home Office, 12 November 2009

Every migrant who enters the United Kingdom will require 'permission' to stay under new draft proposals published in Parliament today. Under measures in the draft Immigration Bill, the five current application categories available to migrants will be replaced by one clear concept - 'permission' to be in the United Kingdom. With this new approach, migrants will either be granted permission or refused, making the rules easier for applicants and staff. Those in the United Kingdom must gain permission or face removal for breaking the law. These proposals are the next step in building on the rapid progress the Government has made in tightening up Britain's border controls. Over the past three years the United Kingdom has seen the introduction of e-Borders to check individuals in and out of the country and the implementation of the points-based system which ensures that only those who benefit the economy can come here to work. In order to bring together the essential changes that have already taken place, the government is proposing a new bill to bring forward a new legal framework to simplify and consolidate 40 years of immigration laws. This will make the system more transparent than ever before. Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

'This government has implemented the biggest overhaul of the immigration system for a generation, and it is important that UK laws reflect these changes. 'I believe that Parliament should be in primary control of immigration - this bill will ensure that Parliament and not case law determines policy. 'The draft Immigration Bill we have published today will enable us to work more efficiently and is the next step in bringing together the strong measures we have put in place to control our borders and making them simpler to use and enforce.' The new, temporary, time-limited, permission will be given for a particular purpose to visit, work or study and is subject to conditions such as access to work or public funds. Permanent residents will be given permission without any time limit or conditions attached. The draft bill also proposes a new streamlined power of expulsion replacing the current powers of deportation and removal. Individuals who are issued with an expulsion order will be required to leave the United Kingdom and will not be able to re-enter while the order is in force. A tough new menu of conditions is proposed for those on immigration bail, including restrictions on residence, work or study; access to public funds; and reporting and electronic monitoring. Also today, the government published proposals for a new streamlined asylum support system. The suggested shake-up includes proposals to:

• make the principles of the asylum system clear to all who apply, rewarding those who play by the rules and getting tough with those who do not;
• streamline the current complex system of support to make it easier to understand and easier to operate; and
• do more to ensure the system works towards the return of those who have been found to have no protection needs and who have no right to be in the United Kingdom.

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

'I believe our proposals strike a fair balance between supporting asylum seekers while their claim is being determined and encouraging the return of those who have no protection needs and who have no right to be in the UK. 'We expect those who apply for asylum to abide by the rules. If their claim has been refused, we expect them to leave the country. If they do not, we will enforce their return.'

Additionally, the government published today the responses to its consultation into the oversight of the immigration advice sector. The consultation was launched in May and aimed to improve the way the sector is regulated. To ensure that advice given to individuals seeking to remain in the United Kingdom is of a high standard, the government will retain the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and will consider a range of measures to allow for greater levels of intervention such as the power to deregister businesses, the power of inspection and the ability to serve improvement and probation notices. Finally, following the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) shortage occupation list on 21 October, the government today announced that it is accepting the recommended list in full. Fewer than 500,000 people (less than two per cent of employees) work in occupations and jobs on the recommended shortage list. This has been reduced from a corresponding figure of 700,000 a year ago. Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said: 'The Migration Advisory Committee's shortage occupation list is a powerful tool in making the points based system work for Britain's economic benefit. 'The MAC can respond quickly to changing economic needs, making sure we only get the foreign workers we need.'

Wainaina amepatwa

Pre-Wedding of Mr. Samuel Wainaina Njogu and Miss Caroline Wanjiku. Venue: Denmark Arms, 381 Barking Road, East Ham, London, E6 1LA from 6.00pm. For more information please contact Samuel on 07946379081.

Dr. Abel Kinyoru has published a book

For Deputy High Commission in the UK Dr. Abel Kenyoru has published a book. The book entitled  "Kenya's Foreign Service and Export Trade Promotion" will be launched in London soon.  The book has developed an interesting informative investigation of a contemporary issue in the field of international studies. The expansion of the influence and the direct efforts put forth by Foreign Service agencies to increase trade and overall economic activities for their respective countries is underscored. The globalised market place of the 21st century necessitates increased attention to trade and economic activities between countries. The research provides an appropriate mixture of theory and practical information as it pertains to the subject area of export promotion in Kenya. The combination of primary and secondary data adds to the credibility and utility of research. The research results are analyzed in a simple narrative fashion through a number of professionally developed colorful charts, tables and graphs. Specific Kenyan export activities are discussed along with activities of several other countries. Export Promotion policies vis a vis import substitution policies are discussed. Challenges facing Kenya in the export promotion efforts are examined and discussed with recommendations on how they should be addressed.

The book examines the nature of Kenya's Foreign Service in export trade promotion and the structure of Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The research indicates that Kenya has not kept pace with changes in international trade activities. However, the establishment of Foreign Service Institute is commended as an excellent idea. Decentralization of powers from Ministry Headquarters to Missions is suggested as a means to reduce bureaucratic delays and missed opportunities abroad. The book renders fact-based conclusions that are supported by primary and secondary data. Further, they are supported by bibliography that is extensive and germane to the topic area.  The book is recommended for Foreign Service Officers, institutions of higher learning dealing with contemporary issues of International Relations, International Economics, Export trade promotion Agencies, business communities and general public.

About The Author

Dr. Abel Kenyoru is an experienced Government Economist and Diplomat for 28 years. He retired in December 2007 as a Chief Economist/Deputy High Commissioner in London.  He received his BA Honours degree in Economics from Aligarh Muslim University in India in 1980 and was employed as an Assistant Economist with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in 1981. In 1982 he was offered Government scholarship through USID under Semi Arid and Arid Lands Programme in Kenya to study for a Masters Degree in United States of America at Vanderbilt University. He graduated with an MA in Economics in 1984 and worked as a District Development Officer in Baringo Kajiado and Kiambu Districts. In 1992 he was promoted to be Provincial Planning Officer, Rift Valley Province before he was transferred to Ministry of Planning and National Development in 1997. He worked in several Ministries including Attorney General's Office, Finance and Planning and Foreign Affairs. In 2005 he was posted to Kenya High Commission, London as a Deputy to the High Commissioner.

In addition to his Masters Degree in Economics he has an MA in Diplomatic Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of London, University of Westminster and a PhD in International Studies and Diplomacy from Washington International University. He has attended Management and Professional Courses in Kenya Institute of Administration, Bradford University (UK) and National Defense College of Kenya (NDC). He was born in 1953 and received his primary education at Sameta, Buyonge and Kebere Primary Schools. He joined Gesusu Secondary School in 1970 and then transferred to Kabarnet High School in the following year. He sat for his 'O' levels in 1973 and 'A' levels in 1975.  He has published articles in Kenya newspapers and National Defense College Journal. - Those who may need a hard copy of Dr. Kinyoru’s book can contact him at 07946475680 in London, 0722711006 Kenya or at akenyoru@yahoo.com

Caught at the World Travel Market was Lemoshira from Ireland

He was caught by our team at the World Travel Market  - a quiet at the Kenya Mission in Ireland. Mr. Richard Lemoshira is Counsellor & Deputy Head of Mission at the Kenya Embassy in Dublin, Ireland. He is a career Foreign Service Officer. He has served in various capacities at the Ministry Headquarters and abroad. Prior to his posting to Dublin Mr. Lemoshira worked in the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs as First Secretary. Other previous assignments include First Secretary /Personal Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Charge D'Afffaires at the Kenya Embassy Bangkok and Second Secretary/Deputy Head of Mission at the Kenya High Commission in Malaysia.  A graduate of Lenana School, Mr. Lemoshira holds a Master of Arts Degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Leicester, UK. He is married and a father of three children. More information is available on his Face-book and LinkedIn Profile. - His contact is info@kenyaembassyireland.net  - Tel: +353 1 6136380.

CUSTOM HOMES HOLDINGS LIMITED

200 Plots (1 acre each) for sale in Ruai - Embakasi

One (1) Acres @ KShs. 950,000 until 15th November. Price increase to KShs. 1.4 million from 16thNovember, 2009 with 10% discount

Plots and houses with approved plan for sale in Ruai - Embakasi, Kenya.

The construction is controlled with Runda type of construction in mind.

Features: The land  is ideally located in a hub of economic activity, just 11 km from Jomo Kenyatta Airport and close to the new site of Wilson Airport and the new highway - the Eastern Bypass.  (15 minutes drive from airport through new Eastern Bypass).  

The Estate will benefit from social amenities which include:

• 3 commercial centres (Malls)

• Anglican University

• Hotel

• Hospital

• Primary school

• Police post,

• Own power station - enabling piped gas and electricity (Western Style).

• Communal park.  

The land consists of 1,600 acres but only 200 (one acre) plots are being sold.  The remainder is being developed by a UK developer for a CITY within CITY town. Nairobi Metropolitan City has been extended to Machakos and that means the land will be in the city centre in a few years time.

To reserve your plot, a deposit of KShs. 100,000 is payable with balance to be completed within 6 months. Conveyance fee is KShs. 20,000 to be paid at the offices of Nyiha, Mukoma & Co. Advocates while presenting your receipt.

To safeguard the interest of the Kenyans in the Diaspora and to avoid the land scandals, a reportable lawyer, Nyiha, Mukoma & Co. Advocates have been appointed.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR LAWYER - NYIHA, MUKOMA & CO. ADVOCATES TO SEE THAT EVERYONE GETS HIS OR HER TITLE DEEDS AFTER COMPLETING THE PAYMENTS:

WHERE TO PAY -  KENYA, UK OR USA

GBP ACCOUNT DETAILS - THOSE IN UK

Intermediary Bank Name: CITIBANK N.A,

CITIBANK HOUSE, 336 STRAND, LONDON, WC2R 1HB - ENGLAND.             

Swift:                                      CITIGB2L

Sort Code:                             18-50-08

GBP A/C No:                         10280984

Account with Institution:  Chase Bank (K) Ltd.

P.O Box 28987, Nairobi

                                                WABERA STREET.

A/C WITH INSTITUTION SWIFT CODE:            CKENKENA

Beneficiary Name:                               Nyiha Mukoma and Co Advocates   

Beneficiary Account:                          3384055               

US DOLLARS ACCOUNT DETAILS - THOSE IN THE USA

INTERMEDIARY BANK:   CITIBANK N.A,

                                                111 WALL STREET 19TH FLOOR ZONE 1,

                                                NEW YORK, NY 10043.                          

SWIFT:                                                   CITIUS33

ABA No:                                                 021000089

USD A/C NO:                                        36157333

ACCOUNT WITH INSTITUTION:        CHASE BANK (K) LTD.

A/C WITH INSTITUTION SWIFT CODE:            CKENKENA

BENEFICIARY NAME:             Nyiha Mukoma and Co Advocates   

BENEFICIARY ACCOUNT:    3384039               

For Kenya Shillings Deposits - THOSE IN KENYA

                                                                Chase Bank

Swift Code:              

Bank & Branch Code          :               030

Branch                                    :               001

Branch Name                        :               City Square

Account Name                      :               Nyiha, Mukoma & Company Advocates

A/c  Number                           :               0003384004

WHERE TO TAKE YOUR RECEIPT AND SELECTING YOUR PLOT:

Nyiha, Mukoma & Co. Advocates, 3rd Floor, Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street

P.O Box 28491 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya, Tel: +254-020-249247/8

Fax: +254-020-249373, email: jnyiha@nyihamukoma.com

VIEWING THE LAND:

There is a free transport to view the land on TUESDAYS, THURSDAY AND SATURDAYS

To book an appointment to view the land contact 0722720436.

UK CONTACTS

Maggy Thuku - 07536497907 - email thukumeg@yahoo.co.uk

or

Mr. Seed on 07951220695 - email - misterseed@hotmail.co.uk

Prime Minister gives major speech on immigration

Home Office, 12 November 2009

The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, has set out the case for the United Kingdom's tough but fair immigration system in a speech in west London. In his first major speech on migration since February 2008, the Prime Minister focused on the importance of getting British workers rather than migrant workers to fill skills gaps where possible. He also announced a review of student visas, to clamp down on people applying to study in the United Kingdom with the intention of working illegally when they get here. During his speech the Prime Minister emphasised that migrants must accept the responsibilities that come with living in the United Kingdom - obeying the law, speaking English, and making a contribution. He also talked about new measures to build on the success of the points-based system. These new measures include the tightening of immigration rules to cut numbers of migrant workers. The Prime Minister said this year 30,000 occupations had been removed from a list of in-demand skills which the United Kingdom needs. He said thousands more posts from the list of those eligible for entry under the points-based system would be removed in the coming months. Delisting these occupations, on the advice of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), will make it much more difficult for workers from outside Europe to take up such posts in the United Kingdom under the points-based system.

Mr Brown said:

'Immigration is not an issue for fringe parties nor a taboo subject - it is a question at the heart of our politics, a question about what it means to be British; about the values we hold dear and the responsibilities we expect of those coming into our country; about how we secure the skills we need to compete in the global economy; about how we preserve and strengthen our communities.'

You can read a full transcript of the Prime Minister's speech by following the link on the right side of this page.

Water mixed with sewage at a Nairobi slum

There was a demonstrations on Thurday 12th November, 2009 at first avenue was blocked with burning tyres before the anti riot police arrived to control Kinyago residents. Many complained that the water they get is sometimes mixed with sewage. They have been receiving aqua tabs which are out of stock but Kinyago slums Chairman Mr John Waigara said they expected the delivery today. By the time we went to the press they had not arrived at the collection point which is at Assistant Chief's office California Sub location. The outbreak has been there for two weeks and many alleged that there were 3 patients in the hospital.3 people have also lost their lives who include a mother and her baby the alleged. They said they never had the money to go to the toilets when there is water due to the cost of 5 shillings per usage or 80 shillings per month. They could not understand why CDF toilets were closed and why they got charged. The area MP is in bad books here. He is said not to have visited the area since he got the votes. He in not other but Hon James Mbugua Kamukunji MP. Most of the patients have been taken to Biafla for treatment. As we were there, another case was reported and a patient was brought at the chief's office by the residents to be taken to hospital - Story and photo by Karuga wa Njuguna, Nairobi, Kenya.

Where Flying Toilet is the only option but ball on Sato

Nowhere to go to the toilet. Flying toilets is the only option or behind the slum structures.

NHS nurses in UK must have degree under new rules

There are more than 400,000 nurses in the NHS, making up the largest part of the country's health workforce. Anyone who wishes to become a nurse will need to have a degree within four years, in one of the biggest shake-ups of medical education in the history of the NHS. The Government will announce today that all new nurses will need to be educated to degree level in an attempt to improve the quality of patient care. The move, which will be enforced from 2013, is designed to raise the status of nursing and to end the stigma of the “doctor’s handmaiden”. Critics claim that the changes, to be outlined by Ann Keen, the Health Minister, will create an elitist profession and scare off recruits with the prospect of a long and expensive period of study. There are also concerns that some nurses would be “too clever to care” and refuse to carry out duties such as washing and feeding patients and helping them to the lavatory.

There are more than 400,000 nurses in the NHS, making up the largest part of the country’s health workforce. The minimum level for NHS trainee nursing positions is a diploma — a two or three-year nursing course. Under the new rules, candidates will require a degree in nursing or equivalent international qualification. The courses, lasting up to four years, will meet standards developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the professional regulator. The NMC has carried out a review of pre-registration nurse education at the request of the four UK health departments. The move is supported by all the key nursing bodies. Ms Keen, a former nurse, said: “By bringing in degree-level registration we can ensure new nurses have the best possible start to meet the challenges of tomorrow.” She said that they would have the decision-making skills needed to make high-level clinical judgments. “This is the right direction of travel if we are to fulfil our ambition to provide higher quality care for all.” A Department of Health spokesman said that the costs of a nursing degree would be no greater than the current diploma. Christine Beasley, the Chief Nursing Officer, said that nursing would become more attractive to hundreds of thousands of young people keen to go into tertiary education every year.

Tyson arrested after airport punch-up

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has been arrested after a scuffle with a celebrity photographer following him at Los Angeles International Airport, according to local police. Tyson, 43, allegedly landed one punch to the head of the paparazzo, sending him to the floor at the United Airlines ticket counter, airport police sergeant Jim Holcomb said. The photographer was taken to hospital for a cut to his forehead suffered when he hit the floor, the policeman added. Tyson, whose nickname was "Iron Mike" during his 1980s boxing heyday, won his first championship title at age 20. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman and spent three years in prison. He tried to mount a comeback, but eventually retired from boxing in 2005.

Nutrition: can chillies give you a high?

The Times nutritionist on the health benefits of chillies and vitamin B12, and eating to prevent varicose veins

It does seem to be the case. The chemical capsaicin latches on to receptors in the mouth and throat that detect heat, sending messages back to the brain that the food we are eating is hot. This process registers pain, hence the “ow” factor when you take your first mouthful of a hot curry or chilli con carne. What happens next is that the body releases endorphins, natural painkillers that take away the initial burning sensation and give us a sense of pleasure. As well as possibly helping to lift your mood, hot chilli sauces eaten with meals have been found slightly to raise the rate at which calories are burnt for a couple of hours after eating. Chillies also seem to stimulate digestion and relieve wind. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, though, chillies may make things worse. I’ve heard that everyone over 50 should eat foods fortified with vitamin B12. Is this true?

A container held with a rope

When safety is thrown to the dogs. Just imagine a container secured with a rope in Broad daylight in Nairobi. This truck drove through the 7 police manned roundabout in Nairobi without stopping the driver  for dangerous driving. You guessed it right. If the rope became weak and got cut at a roundabout the results could have been fatal since the container could have tipped over God forbid not on the newly acquired government Passats. But if it did then action would be taken. The blame game would start some saying the truck was over speeding while this truck should not have been on the road in the first place carrying it's load this way. Were the traffic police manning Nairobi roundabouts on Wednesday 11th November, 2009 at between 1pm and 2pm sleeping on the job? We need answers. The truck then headed towards Mombasa road may be headed to Mombasa that way. Very dangerous - by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193 - wanjugunak@hotmail.com

Cabinet retreats to Mombasa

A three day cabinet retreat that aims to enhance unity and cohesion in the coalition government kicks off Thursday at the Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa. Led by the Grand Coalition Coordinating Committee, Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers allied to PNU and ODM parties intend to reach consensus on contentious issues in the draft constitution. They will particularly strive to iron out their differences over the devolution of power ahead of the publication of the draft legislation by the Nzamba Kitonga led Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review. The cabinet will also discuss the trial of post-election violence suspects, International Criminal Court decision to take over Kenya's case and international pressure for reforms. The retreat, according to the Presidential Press Service, is to enhance unity and cohesion in the Coalition and will be jointly addressed by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Michuki's promise almost there

Last year Hon Michuki promised that by 2012 Nairobians will be able to drink and fish from Nairobi river. Many took it as a joke. About 95% of all raw sewer lines which used to drain to the river have now been blocked leaving the natural river water. The cleaning is still going on under Kazi Kwa Vijana aka KKV. But Hon Michuki has another challenge as demonstrated by the picture. Now that the river is clean, some of us have decided to be having their bikes cleaned as well as themselves. Would you drink water that has been polluted upstream? For many the answer would be no. So Over to you Hon Michuki but we are getting there. Photo taken from Race Course road bridge in Nairobi on Wednesday 11th Nov. 2009 - by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193 - wanjugunak@hotmail.com

Being Too Fat Illegal in Japan Now

TOKYO, KOMPAS.com — In Japan, being thin isn’t just the price you pay for fashion or social acceptance. It’s the law. So before the fat police could throw her in pudgy purgatory, Miki Yabe, 39, a manager at a major transportation corporation, went on a crash diet last month. In the week before her company’s annual health check-up, Yabe ate 21 consecutive meals of vegetable soup and hit the gym for 30 minutes a day of running and swimming. “It’s scary,” said Yabe, who is 5 feet 3 inches and 133 pounds. “I gained 2 kilos [4.5 pounds] this year.” In Japan, already the slimmest industrialized nation, people are fighting fat to ward off dreaded metabolic syndrome and comply with a government-imposed waistline standard. Metabolic syndrome, known here simply as “metabo,” is a combination of health risks, including stomach flab, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, that can lead to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Concerned about rising rates of both in a graying nation, Japanese lawmakers last year set a maximum waistline size for anyone age 40 and older: 85 centimeters (33.5 inches) for men and 90 centimeters (35.4 inches) for women. In the United States, the Senate and House health care reform bills have included the so-called “Safeway Amendment,” which would offer reductions in insurance premiums to people who lead fitter lives. The experience of the Japanese offers lessons in how complicated it is to legislate good health. Though Japan’s “metabo law” aims to save money by heading off health risks related to obesity, there is no consensus that it will. Doctors and health experts have said the waistline limits conflict with the International Diabetes Federation’s recommended guidelines for Japan. Meantime, ordinary residents have been buying fitness equipment, joining gyms and popping herbal pills in an effort to lose weight, even though some doctors warn that they are already too thin to begin with.
 

The amount of “food calories which the Japanese intake is decreasing from 10 years ago,” said Yoichi Ogushi, professor of medicine at Tokai University and one of the leading critics of the law. “So there is no obesity problem as in the USA. To the contrary, there is a problem of leanness in young females.” One thing’s certain: Most Japanese aren’t taking any chances. Companies are offering discounted gym memberships and developing special diet plans for employees. Residents are buying new products touted as fighting metabo, including a $1,400 machine called the Joba that imitates a bucking bronco. The convenience store chain Lawson has opened healthier food stores called Natural Lawson, featuring fresh fruits and vegetables. Under Japan’s health care coverage, companies administer check-ups to employees once a year. Those who fail to meet the waistline requirement must undergo counseling. If companies do not reduce the number of overweight employees by 10 percent by 2012 and 25 percent by 2015, they could be required to pay more money into a health care program for the elderly. An estimated 56 million Japanese will have their waists measured this year. Though Japan has some of the world’s lowest rates of obesity — less than 5 percent, compared to nearly 35 percent for the United States — people here on average have gotten heavier in the past three decades, according to government statistics. More worrisome, in a nation that is aging faster than any other because of long life spans and low birth rates, the number of people with diabetes has risen from 6.9 million in 1997 to 8.9 million last year.

SOME OF THE UK NEWSPAPERS ON FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER, 2009

LEFT: Gordon Brown's speech on immigration has "ignited a fresh wave of anger" over the strain on public services as the population nears 70 million, the Daily Express reports. CENTRE: The Times has the same story and pictures of the debut display by the Red Arrow's first female fast-jet pilot Kirsty Moore. RIGHT: The Financial Times' top story is the announcement of a merger between British Airways and Iberia. The paper calls it one of the biggest deals in the global aviation industry.

Government-approved shortage occupation list for Tier 2 of the points-based system

Home Office, 12 November 2009

The MAC published its proposals for a revised shortage occupation list on 21 October. The list sets out skilled occupations where the government considers there are shortages so that it is sensible for vacancies to be filled by migrant workers from outside the European Economic Area. Migrant workers seeking to come to work in the United Kingdom score points if they are applying to work in one of these occupations. The MAC recommended a revised list of healthcare and engineering professionals and the continued inclusion of chefs, ballet dancers, work riders, veterinary surgeons and secondary teachers in maths and science, and sheep shearers. It also recommended the addition of special needs teachers and skilled meat boners and trimmers and the removal of ship and hovercraft officers. The Government is accepting the MAC's recommendations for a revised list. The revised list can be found on the right hand side of this page. This shortage occupation list for the United Kingdom and Scotland will apply to all certificates of sponsorship assigned on or after 14 December 2009. Applications based on certificates of sponsorship assigned before this date will be considered against the shortage occupation list in place at the time. Sponsors must also refer to the Tier 2 codes of practice for detailed information about occupations, appropriate salary rates, and the evidence they need to keep to show that the shortage occupation criteria have been met. Sponsors should note that the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) intend to review all entries on this list by Autumn 2010, except for Musicians (3415), which the MAC intend to review by Spring 2010.

Kenya High Commission in London has been sued for breach of contract in the UK High Court Case REF 9MA90780 in Manchester, UK. The case was heard at High Court of Justice, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Queens Bench Division, Manchester District Registry, 1 Bridge Street West. The hearing was listed for 10.00 am on Wednesday 11th November, 2009. The case is between a Kenyan lawyer in UK, Mr Onyango, and the Kenya High Commission. Mr Onyango, who provided legal consultancy services in the UK between 2008 and early 2009, is embroiled into a serious  legal dispute with the Kenya High Commission in London. Mr Onyango, a Trainee Solicitor with Berkeley Solicitors in Manchester, filed the suit through Berkeley Solicitors. At the hearing, Mr. Onyango was represented by a barrister and a solicitor. The High Commission was represented by a barrister but no officials from the Commission. Mr. Onyango's request to amend his claims to include a cheque which the Kenya High Commission cancelled was granted. The claimant's costs for this day was to the tune of about £22,000. Adding the costs of the commission barrister the costs for the day runs to the tune of about £32,000 (about KShs. 4 million in one day). The case has dragged in court for long and with the judge having taken the control of the case on Wednesday the total costs of the case is heading figures slightly less than £1 milion (KShs. 125 million). Full transcript will follow soon.

Meet the new Kenya High Commissioner in London

H.E. Ephraim Waweru Ngare is the new  Kenya's High Commissioner - UK and Ireland. Mr. Ngare has been Kenya's ambassador in Tripoli, Libya. He replaces H.E Joseph Muchemi who has been in the UK since 2002. The commissioner accompanied the minister for Tourism Hon. Najib Balala at the World Travel Market at ExCel in East London on Wednesday 2009. Mr. Ngare takes over at the Commission when there are a lot of problems, among them, court cases which are heading to cost the mission the Kenya government a lot of money. - Photo by Pichavision

World Travel Market  - Who is Who

Kenya's Tourism Minister, Hon. Najib Balala far right and the new Kenya High Commisisoner H.E. Ephraim Waweru Ngare (far left) at the Kenya Stand at the exhibition on Wednesday 11th November, 2009 and on right is Kenya stand at ExCel, East London - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Problems come to us not to cause more problems but  for solutions

Kenya churches proposes minimum reforms

The National Council of Churches of Kenya-NCCK- is proposing minimum constitutional amendments to act as a fall back measure should the ongoing constitutional process hit a snag. According to the council, the proposals contained in a draft constitutional amendment bill could stabilize the country even if efforts to find a new constitution fail to materialize. Basing its argument on the premise that previous attempts have failed to bring forth a new constitution, NCCK is already casting doubts on ongoing efforts to actualize the dream. For this reason the organization is now pushing for constitutional amendments in the current laws to keep the country stable if the efforts fail to deliver a new constitution. To set pace for this agenda, the NCCK has unveiled a draft constitutional Amendment Bill (2009) that it hopes will win parliament's approval. Secretary General Canon Peter Karanja on Wednesday said the Council was ‘already in consultations' with a number of Members of Parliament to sponsor and support the Bill in the House. The draft bill proposes that the presidential election date be set on the 1st Tuesday of December at the end of the fifth year of each parliamentary term. The President to have garner 25% votes in 5 provinces, that all presidential appointments receives parliamentary approval, the AG and director of prosecution offices be separated while awarding them security of tenure, constitution to pre-define parliament's calendar and that wide-ranging reforms in the judiciary be carried out. The Secretary General however maintained that the Council was in full support for the realisation of a new Constitution despite their minimum reforms calls. The Council mid last month called for the minimum reforms at the height of disagreements over the process of preparing a new Constitution, brewing a storm in the country. Their proposals come as the committee of experts on constitutional review is preparing to release a harmonized draft constitution by end month.

A Nokia wedding in Nairobi

It has never been easy to sell new products to Kenyans but Nokia has beaten them all from this showcase at one of the busiest roundabout in Nairobi on Mombasa road/Lusaka road  on Wednesday 11th November, 2009. It was a wedding like with best maid and best man and a sleek 4 x 4 fully decorated Toyota Harrier. What lacked was The Pastor to officiate the wedding not forgetting the mouth watering wedding cake. That attracted many motorists who now know of this new product in the market. -  Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193  wanjugunak@hotmail.com

'Stupidity never runs out of style'

Some artwork sold at Alliance Francaise in Nairobi to mark the 60th anniversary - Kenyans are good at creativity. Title 'Stupidity never runs out of style' Artist Joseph Bertiers and selling it for Kshs. 35,000 and on right more pressure after the cake sharing'. Artist Joseph Bertiers and selling this artwork for only KShs. 300,000. - Photo and story by Karuga wa Njuguna, 0710148193  wanjugunak@hotmail.com

Rise in UK unemployment slowing

The number of people unemployed in the UK rose again in the three months to September, although the 30,000 increase was the smallest since May 2008. Unemployment totalled 2.46 million in the quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The jobless rate edged up to 7.8% from 7.7%, but the youth unemployment rate rose to 19.8%, a record high. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 12,900 to 1.64 million in October. This was the smallest monthly increase in 18 months. The ONS figures showed that the number of people out of work for longer than a year rose by 71,000 to 618,000 in the three months to September, the highest level for 12 years. At the same time, the number of people in work increased by 6,000 to 29 million, the first quarterly rise since the summer of 2008. Youth unemployment, measuring the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work, rose by 15,000 to 943,000. However, more than a quarter of 16 to 24-year-olds classed as unemployed are actually in full-time education; they are counted as unemployed if they look for as little as one hour's work a week.

Canoe fraudsters to pay £600,000

The wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin has offered to return more than half a million pounds of money the couple obtained fraudulently. Lawyers for Anne Darwin said she would pay back £591,838 made from the scam she staged with her husband John, a Proceeds of Crime hearing was told. The pair, from Seaton Carew, Teesside, were jailed after he faked his death to claim life insurance and pension cash. John Darwin agreed to pay a nominal sum of £1, as he has no financial assets. The one-day confiscation hearing was held at Leeds Crown Court. The couple convinced the police, a coroner, financial institutions and even their two sons that John Darwin had drowned while canoeing in the North Sea in 2002. However, he had been hidden away in a flat next door to his wife's home, and they later embarked on a new life in Panama. In November 2007 he returned to the UK, telling police he was a missing person with amnesia. Darwin, 58, was jailed in July 2008 for six years for deception, while 57-year-old Anne Darwin was jailed for six-and-a-half-years for fraud and money-laundering. The hearing at Leeds Crown Court was told that the Darwins' realisable assets totalled £591,838.25. Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said the victims were insurance companies Aviva, formerly known as Norwich Union, and AIG, with claims also made on John Darwin's pension and a Department of Work and Pensions payout. This totalled £421,011.09 and the Crown also sought an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act for a further £162,837.16. Mr Perks asked for a year for the money to be repaid. If either fails to repay they could face an additional three-year jail sentence. Mrs Darwin appeared in court, but her husband was not present.

Nine Mungiki suspects killed

Five armed gangsters were shot and killed at a roadblock in Dandora in this car on Wednesday. Police killed a total on nine people suspected to be Mungiki members in a 12-hour operation. Police on Wednesday shot dead nine armed Mungiki suspects in Nairobi as Commissioner Mathew Iteere declared war on the sect and vowed to hunt down all its members. Nine guns and 100 rounds of ammunition were recovered on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in a 12-hour operation across the city. Mr Iteere accused Mungiki members of kidnappings, rape, extortion, murder, illegal possession of firearms and robbery with violence and said police will vigorously pursue criminals who have made Kenyans’ lives a nightmare.  Eight suspected Mungiki members were arrested in Ngong on Tuesday night and two AK 47 rifles were recovered.  “We would like to warn the public that the Mungiki criminal gang is responsible for several cases of kidnap, rape, extortion, illegal possession of firearms, robbery with violence and murder. These cases are under investigation around the country,” Mr Iteere said at a press conference at Vigilance House, Nairobi. The warning comes just days after Mr Njuguna Gitau, the spokesman of the Kenya National Youth Alliance, Mungiki’s political wing, was shot dead in Nairobi. - Daily Nation.

The flow of illegal settlers out of Mau Forest started on Wednesday, a day after the government deployed security officers ready to evict them. The settlers, frightened by the show of force and a history of brutal evictions, appealed to the government to give them alternative land even as they packed their belongings, ready to leave.  Though there was panic in some of the villages, a full scale migration had not started. However, some settlers were already moving out. - FULL STORY

Kilo of metal found in Peruvian's stomach: surgeon.

Doctors in northern Peru have removed almost a kilogram of nails, coins and scrap metal from a man's stomach, a surgeon that operated on him said Wednesday. "The patient came in with severe abdominal pains. After examinations we discovered that he had hundreds of nails in his stomach," Carlos Delgado, a surgeon at the hospital in the town of Cajamarca, told AFP. Requelme Abanto Alvarado was admitted to the hospital on Friday. After a two-hour operation doctors removed 900 grams (two pounds) of nails, coins and scrap metal from his stomach, as well as a small knife. "I have never had a case like this," the surgeon said. "I have operated on plenty of patients, but so many things in a stomach, it's really extraordinary." Alvarado was in a stable condition following the operation, Delgado said, adding that he was now being examined by mental health specialists.

Who is this controversial Gitau wa Njenga?

"You are funny mate. You said your name is Gitau wa Njenga. How did you dare to write the story of Gay in the Daily Nation in Kenya." This photos of Gitau charting with a friend was caught at the World Travel Market, London. He is one of the Nation Newspaper writers in London - Photo by Pichavision

Kenya Government risks losing over Sh60 billion to firms claiming payment for Anglo Leasing-related contracts. This emerged as officials went into a crisis meeting a day after The Standard reported a British court has frozen 11 Government accounts. This is not the first time a European court has tried to attach state property over Anglo-Leasing-type debts. Representatives from the State Law Office and the Finance and Foreign Affairs ministries met at Treasury on Tuesday to decide on a course of action. Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office is seeking to know why it was left in the dark over the development. "The Office of the PM will meet with relevant authorities to seek clarification," said Mr Caroli Omondi, a senior official in the PM’s office. Sources at Treasury said permanent secretaries Joseph Kinyua (Finance) and Thuita Mwangi (Foreign Affairs), a representative of the Solicitor General and Central Bank officials were summoned to try and find a solution to the crisis. Inspection and Control Services Ltd (ICS), which obtained orders to freeze Kenya’s donor accounts at Crown Agents Bank, is linked to a prominent business and political family and runs a local office in Nairobi. A fortnight ago, a British commercial court judge gave orders for the freezing and inspection of Kenyan accounts to ICS, which is demanding about Sh780 million in Anglo-Leasing-related payments. This echoes the issuance of court orders in 2006 by an arbitration court at The Hague to another Anglo-Leasing firm over Sh2.7 billion.  The court ruled in favour of the company after the Government failed to enter a defence. - The Standard.

A High Kenyan delegation from the ministry of tourism from Kenya are in London for the World Travel Market Exhibition in London which kicked off on Monday 9th November, 2009. Among the delegations is the minister for tourism Hon. Najib Balala, hotel, tourist and lodges companies. This year exhibition kicked off with a low note as the recession has hit hard worldwide.  WTM 2009 takes place 9-12 November, 2009 ExCeL London. Staged annually in London, World Travel Market is a vibrant must attend four day business to business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. It is a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business under one roof. By attending World Travel Market, participants efficiently, effectively and productively gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry. Left photo is the Kenyan stand at the exhibition and on right is the entrance view of the exhibition.

Kenya High Commission in London sued for breach of

contract in the UK High Court Case REF 9MA90780.

Mr Onyango who provided legal consultancy services in the UK between 2008 and early 2009 is embroiled into a serious  legal dispute with the Kenya High Commission in London and the matter has been filed in the High Court of Justice, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Queens Bench Division, Manchester District Registry, 1 Bridge Street West. The hearing is listed for 10.00 am on Wednesday 11th November, 2009. Mr Onyango a UK Lawyer and a Trainee Solicitor with Berkeley Solicitors in Manchester filed the suit through Berkeley Solicitors. The Kenyan High Commission is represented by Everatt’s Solicitors. The Kenya High Commission’s failure to respond to Mr Onyango’s request in the suit has resulted in the interim application to which a hearing has been listed for Wednesday. It is believed that the costs are running into thousands of pounds for which the Kenyan tax payers may have to pick up. (More Details to follow).

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Ruto, others, charged over land sale

The Attorney General says Agriculture Minister, William Ruto and seven others were charged following the alleged sale of public land. Through Senior State Counsel Vincent Wohoro, the AG said on Tuesday that the land in question was public land. "The purported alienation of land was not pursuant to laid down procedures. The status is that it is a forest reserve land. Those titles are not legitimate," he said. It was established the land had not been gazetted, the judges heard. Wohoro told Judges Jean Gacheche, Leonard Njagi and Roselyn Wendoh the AG was working in public interest and not driven by any ulterior motives. The AG, Wohoro said, was constitutionally obligated to ensure Ruto and his co-accused get a fair trial. He was making submissions in a constitutional suit Ruto and others have filed challenging the charges pending at the magistrate’s court.  Ruto and Berke Commercial Ltd are charged with obtaining Sh96 million from the Kenya Pipeline Company’s Finance Manager Hellen Njue by false pretence. Particulars of the charge are that on September 6, 2001, in Nairobi, the two obtained the money by pretending they were in a position to sell land in Ngong Forest. Others charged are former Lands Commissioner Sammy Mwaita, Joshua Kulei, Priority Ltd, Celtic Multisystems Ltd, Somog Ltd and Sovereign Group Ltd. On Ruto’s claims that the charge sheet was defective, Wohoro said that could be amended. He said that if the application by Ruto and company were allowed, it would open a floodgate of cases. The AG also denied the applicants had been discriminated against. Mwaita, through his lawyer, Ochieng’ Oduol denied issuing the titles but only executed his duties as Commissioner of Lands. The case was adjourned to November 17. - The Standard.

Husband who beat cancer wins £45m lottery jackpot

Her tiny marketing consultancy promises her clients Simple Profitable Solutions — but they probably did not expect her words of wisdom to include: “Make sure you buy a lottery ticket.” Samantha Peachey-Scadding and her husband Les are celebrating the most profitable “solution” of them all after landing half of the biggest ever British lottery jackpot. Mr Scadding, 58, and his 38-year-old wife won £45,570,835.50 in Friday's Euromillions draw, the same amount shared by a syndicate of IT workers in Liverpool known as the “The Magnificent Seven”. Until Monday  the couple, from Caerleon, Gwent, relied on Samantha's income after her truck driver husband was made redundant last Christmas. The consultancy declared net assets of just £742 in its last accounts. They now have enough money to swap their end of terrace three-bedroom home for a six-storey Belgravia house — or blow it on more than 4,000 bottles of 1900 Château Margaux 1er cru classé at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Recovered cancer sufferer Mr Scadding, who has three children from a previous marriage, bought the winning ticket at a Tesco on Friday and initially thought he had won about £50,000.  He said: “I always said it is not if I win the lottery but when I win it. My daughter lives in Abu Dhabi and every time we speak she always says to me: Have you won the lottery yet, Dad?' When I told her the whoop at the end was just incredible.” The couple plan to buy a holiday home in Barbados. Les said: “The last time we were there we were in a restaurant overlooking some beautiful holiday homes and I told Sam: When I win the lottery I will buy it for you'.”  He added: “To start with being unemployed meant I could have a few extra games of golf and meet the lads in the pub at lunchtime. “But it wasn't like that. We have struggled this year but now it is my turn to make it up to Sam. I'm going to look after her like she has looked after me.” The other winners, who work for IT consultants Hewlett Packard at a BT office in Liverpool, today spoke of how they feared they were about to be made redundant when syndicate leader John Walsh phoned them. The 57-year-old first checked he still had the ticket then called the others. He said: “I didn't quite get the response I expected because they all thought I was calling them to say they had been made redundant. But thankfully I got to tell them some good news instead.”

Prime Minister Raila Odinga is to meet released Mungiki boss Maina Njenga in a few days over alleged threats on the sect leader’s life. In an exclusive interview with the Nation over the weekend, Mr Odinga said it was disturbing that top leaders of the sect had become targets and nothing seemed to have been done to ensure their security even after some of them publicly raised concern for their lives. And on Sunday, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of the Jesus is Alive Ministries led a delegation to visit Mr Njenga at his Isinya home. Later, she was quoted on the KBC Web site saying that she had advised Mr Njenga to go into hiding. At the weekend, Mr Odinga had said: “I will meet him (Mr Njenga). He is a Kenyan and I am a prime minister of all Kenyans. If a Kenyan comes crying that his life is in danger, I cannot ignore him especially when his close friend is killed after raising a similar concern.” - Daily Nation.

Meet Kenya "Safari Cats" Dancers

Safari Cats dancers is a multidiscipline performing arts troupe which was established in 1990 with the sole ideal of promoting Kenyan and African songs and dances around the world, so as to share our cultural benefits as widely as possible. The remarkably talented members of Safari Cats Dancers have live and dynamic performance which are captivating as well as entertaining; we also provide workshops on dance, drumming as well as traditional ways of costume making.  Safari Cats Dancers have travelled to many parts of the world including Netherlands, Spain, England and South Korea as well and have been well received and appreciated wherever we go.

Drunk' pilot is held at Heathrow

A United Airlines pilot has been arrested on suspicion of being drunk at London's Heathrow Airport, a Scotland Yard spokesman has said. He was arrested before he was due to board a plane at the airport on Monday. The 51-year-old, who has not been named, was taken to Heathrow police station and was later released on police bail.

Noisy sex woman loses appeal bid

A woman who was banned from making loud noises during sex has lost an appeal against her conviction. Caroline and Steve Cartwright's love-making was described as "murder" and "unnatural" at Newcastle Crown Court. Neighbours, the local postman and a woman taking her child to school complained about the noise. Mrs Cartwright, 48, from Washington on Wearside, lost the appeal against a conviction for breaching a noise abatement notice. She argued she had a right to "respect for her private and family life" under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. But Recorder Jeremy Freedman, sitting with two magistrates, rejected her claim that she could not help making the loud noise during sex. He said: "We are in no doubt whatsoever about the level of noise that can be heard in neighbouring properties, in the street and in the back lane. "It certainly was intrusive and constituted a statutory nuisance. It was clearly of a very disturbing nature and it was also compounded by the duration - this was not a one-off, it went on for hours at a time. "It is further compounded by the frequency of the episode, virtually every night." Next door neighbour Rachel O'Connor told the court she was frequently late for work because she overslept having been awake most of the night because of the noise. She said: "The noise sounds like they are both in considerable pain. I cannot describe the noise. I have never ever heard anything like it." The court heard Sunderland City Council recorded levels of up 47 decibels. Mrs Cartwright was appealing against the abatement notice, which was imposed in November 2007, and a subsequent Asbo, banning the couple from "shouting, screaming or vocalisation at such a level as to be a statutory nuisance". She has since been accused of three counts of breaching the Asbo, but has denied the charges and will stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court on 14 December.

Glamour Magazine 2009 Women of the Year Honours

LEFT: Serena Williams speaks after being named one of Glamour magazine's 2009 Women of the Year during an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York. CENTRE: Singer Rihanna went for the new bride image in this flouncy white gown. RIGHT: Model Iman is a fan of feathers if this snap is anything to go by.

Kenya Parliament resumes sittings

Parliament re-opened Tuesday afternoon after a two month break. The house went on recess before approving the appropriations bill to allow the treasury to draw from the consolidated fund, money to run the government. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta was forced to withdraw the bill twice following the controversy over the reappointment of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission top officials. The appropriations bill is a priority as well as the Constitution of Kenya [amendment] bill 2009 seeking to establish a special tribunal to try post election violence suspects.  The Anti Corruption and Economic Crimes [Repeal] bill 2009 sponsored by Garsen MP Danson Mungatana is expected to be tabled for the first reading.  The bill seeks to fuse the investigating and prosecutorial agencies among other things.  The proceeds of crime and anti-money laundering bill and that of the competition bill by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance will appear for the second reading. But more anxiety is around a private member's bill that of Imenti Central member, Gitobu Imanyara seeking to set up a local mechanism to prosecute the perpetrators of post election violence. In his bill Imanyara wants none of the government officials immune from prosecution, a factor that undermined previous attempts to pass the bill. Despite its outcome this time round, ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo commences his investigations in the country next month. Parliament is also expected to debate the draft constitution which is expected to be ready by December before it is subjected to a public referendum between February and April next year.

The Kenya government could still move to block the International Criminal Court from investigating key post-election violence suspects, the Nation has learnt. Sources within government said although ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo can win the approval of the Pre-Trial Chamber at The Hague to start the investigations, the government could use a 30-day window to oppose the investigations. The disclosure came as it emerged that the government was seeking to take over a Bill by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara, which seeks to establish a local tribunal to try the suspects in Kenya. The government, the sources said, intended to set up a local tribunal to convince The Hague court that it had not exhausted all judicial options of trying all the suspects. Contacted on Monday, Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo confirmed that he had sought the Cabinet’s permission to take over the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2009, a private member’s Bill. “I have suggested to them (the Cabinet) that I take over the Bill but I have not yet received the authority. However, I will have to amend it to meet the standards that I have always insisted on,” he said. - MORE

Churchill did not make it to London

On behalf of interdenominational world revival ministries [IWRM], I would like to extend my sincere apologies for any inconvenience we might have caused. Churchill was not able to come to our fundraising as planned due to a last minute unavoidable circumstance .We  thank you so much for your love and support that you have continuously given to our ministry.-May the Almighty God richly bless you. The following is the email that was sent by Churchill manager concerning the matter. – CLICK HERE

Pastor Boniface Mbugua.

Kenyan Found Dead In Her Apartment In Topeka, KS

The Kenyan Community in Topeka Kansas, USA, is mourning the loss of one of their own, Edah Chepkung Tawarar. Eddah was found dead in her apartment on 3th October, 2009. According to a close friend of the deceased, Edward Wanjohi, Edah had been suffering from bleeding ulcers. Autopsy results however were inconclusive though a hole was discovered on her throat, Wanjohi told Jambonewspot. According to another close friend to the deceased, Salome Ngure, Edah had gone to hospital on the previous night and released. However, she was asked to report to work the following day by her employer. She worked on the 7am to 3pm shift on Friday and she was later found dead in the early hours of Saturday 10/31/2009. Ms Tawarar did not seem to know too many people and the few that she knew are doing everything possible to raise the required $10,000 to send her body home for burial. Edah first came to the US in 1998 where she was attending the University of Wisconsin before moving to Topeka in 1999.

A fundraiser was held on Sunday 11/08/2009 and an amount of $3,000 was raised which is far short of the amount required. Mr Wanjohi said their wish is to transport Edah’s body home this coming weekend. Her body has been moved to Brennan Mathena funeral home in Topeka. Edah was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Chemwey originally from Toroso locaton, Cheptais Division in Mt. Elgon District. Sister of Levi, Joshua, Emmanuel and Michael. Niece of Isaac, Bineah, Patrick, Vincent, Josephine, Violet, Rodgers, Evans and Peter Cheroti. Also of Rose, late Jamin, Henry, Florence, Christine and Diphus Chemorion, among many others. If you would like to help in efforts to help facilitate her repatriation home, you can make contributions to-: Bank of America (opened in Irving Texas), Account name: Comfort Holding, Routing no: 111000025 —Account Number: 4810327092.  For further information, contact the following : Edward Wanjohi: ( 785) 969-2807, Sally Ngure : (785) 845-7980 - Source: Jambonewspot

SOME OF THE UK NEWSPAPERS ON TUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER, 2009

LEFT: The Daily Mail leads with news of the EuroMillions lottery-winning couple who come from Newport in 'Golden Gwent' - a region that has been home to six lottery millionaires over the last three years. CENTRE: The Daily Express looks at the other winners of the lottery jackpot - a syndicate of call centre workers in Liverpool. RIGHT: The Times says a poll it commissioned has found people are more optimistic about the economy than at any time for the past 18 months.

UK denies torturing Mau Mau

The UK has denied responsibility for the torture suffered by five Mau Mau veterans during the colonial period, a human rights activist said on Monday. Kenya Human Rights Commission director Muthoni Wanyeki said the UK has denied responsibility over the torture said to have been committed more than 40 years ago on the basis of time. “This is ridiculous. They cannot say they are not responsible over a mere technicality,” Ms Wanyeki said. The British Government cannot deny that the torture actually occurred “in the face of the overwhelming evidence”, she added. While citing documented evidence, the human rights activist said the former Kenyan colonialists were fully aware of the torture. She cited systematic use of violence and “violent shocks” on detainees authorised in letters between then secretary of state for the colonies and the governor of Kenya.  The claim indicates widespread interference by British authorities in criminal investigations into allegations of abuse and torture of Kenyans. - Daily Nation.

The winner of one week holiday to Kenya - ticket and accommodation paid for, draw was done on Saturday 7th November, 2009 at the IWRM Dinner. The winner was Miss Christine Michelle Ohito from Leeds, UK. Photo and more information later.

NEMA disapproves construction of road

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has declined to issue a license for the construction of a Shs.2.3 billion road passing through the Aberdare National Park.  NEMA Director General, Dr. Mwinzi Muasya, in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study report to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Roads, Engineer Michael Kamau, said the proposed construction of Ihithe-Aberdare Forest-Kahuruko-Ndunyu Njeru road project would not enhance sustainable development and sound environmental management. Muasya advised those in charge of the project to re-design road or explore alternative site since NEMA could not issue an Environmental Impact Assessment license. NEMA observed that the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report failed to provide for alternative routes for the project in order to mitigate on the adverse impacts on the natural forest cutting through 52 kilometres of closed forest canopy. The letter said"  the project would have massive impacts on natural forest during construction and that it was possible that some endangered tree species would be affected". NEMA further dismissed the project's proposed mitigation measures as inadequate in terms of addressing the anticipated negative impacts on the Aberdare forest ecosystem which was one of the five major water towers in the country that provides water to Nairobi and Lake Naivasha which was the backbone of the country's horticulture.   The report was also copied to the Rhino Ark Foundation, East African Wildlife Services (EAWS), Kenya Tourism Federation, Kenya Forest Services and the Kenya Wildlife Services who are also strongly opposed to its implementation.

David beats Goliath - Haye becomes world champion

England's David Haye on top against Russia's Nikolai Valuev during the WBA World Heavyweight Title bout at the Nuremberg Arena, Germany and on right Haye punches the air in celebration

Trio charged with stealing over Shs22M

Two Administration Police officers and a G4S driver were Monday arraigned in a Kibera court charged with last week's disappearance of over 22 million shillings on transit to Juba, Southern Sudan.  The AP's George Otieno Oguso, Jeremiah Ogendo Nyakwemba and G4S driver Stephen Kipsere Lagat appeared before Principal Magistrate Grace Nzioka. The trio denied committing the offense on Friday at CFC Stanbic in Westlands and were remanded at Msongari Police station until Friday.The cash had just been collected from the bank in Westlands when it disappeared last Friday. The G4S security van carrying it was later found abandoned on Chemelil Road in Ngara. Elsewhre, tt the constitutional court, Agriculture Minister William Ruto accused the AG of leaving out government officials in a transaction case where Kenya Pipeline Company lost Shs300M in a land deal.   Ruto's lawyer Katwa Kigen told Justices Jean Gacece, Leonard Njagi and Roslyn Wendo that the AG selectively charged him with stealing over 300 million from KPC while the transaction involved over 16 government officials. Ruto who is charged alongside Baringo Central MP Sammy Komen Mwaita and former President Moi's aide Joshua Kulei told the court that the AG was motivated by ulterior motives and not the interest of criminal justice.  They are together with their five companies accused of committing the offence between July and September 2001 in Nairobi. The attorney General through Senior Principal State counsel Vincent Wohoro will reply to the application on Tuesday.

Go-ahead for 10 nuclear stations

The government has approved 10 sites in England and Wales for new nuclear power stations, most of them in locations where there are already plants. It has rejected only one proposed site - in Dungeness, Kent - as being unsuitable on environmental grounds. A new planning commission will make decisions on the proposals "within a year" of receiving them, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told MPs. Nuclear was a "proven and reliable" energy source, he said.

Kenya’s accounts abroad frozen

Eleven UK-based bank accounts through which donor funds are funnelled into the country have been frozen through a court decree. Several others set up by donors are at risk as the bank involved argues they are not covered by the court order. A British judge gave orders for the freezing and inspection of the accounts to a company demanding Sh778 million in a deal related to Anglo-Leasing payments.  - FULL STORY

Maina Njenga, the self proclaimed converted Mungiki sect leader has gone into hiding.  Njenga had last Wednesday claimed that his life was in danger saying unknown people had sent him threatening messages. His disappearance also comes days after the killing of Mungiki spokesman Njuguna Gitau. Gitau who had also claimed he was born again was gunned down on Thursday by an unknown assailant inside a mobile phone shop in the city's Luthuli Avenue at 4.15pm. Njenga did not turn up at the Jesus is Alive Ministries church for the Sunday service as it had been expected.  Speaking to the press, Bishop and Starehe Member of Parliament Margaret Wanjiru said he had advised Njenga to take cover following the threats. There was heavy police presence along Haile Selasi Avenue, where the church is located. Bishop Wanjiru at the same time announced that Njenga will be among hundreds of his followers to be baptized on November 29.  Gitau Njuguna, a father of three, was shot inside an electronic shop on Luthuli avenue where he tried to seek refuge from the assailants, who had chased him for about 50m. Detectives investigating the murder of Gitau said he could have been killed by gunmen who knew him. Njenga was freed last month after the Attorney General entered a Nolle Prosequi on a case where he was accused of allegedly ordering the massacre of 29 people in Karatina, Nyeri District, by members of the outlawed sect. He had been re-arrested in April this year moments after he was released by the High Court, following a successful appeal against a five year jail term for alleged illegal possession of marijuana and a firearm.

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

Nairobi, Kenya, Monday 8th November, 2009. A pilot and co-pilot were critically injured when their cargo plane headed for Mogadishu crashed and exploded on Monday morning at Wilson airport. The American made aircraft BC 1900 had taken off at around 6.30am Local time but was forced to turn back after the pilot reported it had developed mechanical problems. However the light aircraft crashed just a few meters from the runway before bursting into flames. The two pilots are currently battling for their lives at the Nairobi hospital. Another small plane crashed on Saturday in Mau forest killing the pilot. The Cessna plane crashed on a tree as it was taking off.   The pilot who was a large scale wheat farmer died on the spot while three other passengers including two children escaped with minor bruises on their faces. The plane's black box has been retrieved and the Civil Aviation officials have launched investigations into the accident.

H.E. Ephraim Waweru Ngare is the new  Kenya's High Commissioner - UK and Ireland. Mr. Ngare has been Kenya's ambassador in Tripoli, Libya. He arrived in London on Thursday 5th November, 2009 at 5.40 p.m.a board a  British Airways direct from Tripoli, Libya accompanied by his wife. Mr. Ngare replaces H.E. Joseph Muchemi who has been in London for several years. H.E Joseph Muchemi is still in London on medical grounds until December, 2009 and is still occupying the official residence . The new High Commissioner reported for work at 45 Portland Place, London on Friday 6th November, 2009 where he held several meetings with  members of staff. There has been  a lot of confusion at the embassy for the last two months. The arrival of Mr. Ngare has brought to a close the chapter at the embassy where a new team has taken over. Several senior diplomats have arrived at the commission in last two months. Who is who at the Kenya High Commission? Full report coming soon.

Mr. Benson Muthee Gitau aka Shaft/Ben has lost his father back in Kenya Mr. Benson Gitau Mundia on Friday 6th November, 2009. Father to Hanna Wambui Gitau and father-in-law to Mama Sheila (Nancy Karanja). Family and friends are meeting at 98 Lindsey Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM8 2RB. For more information please contact 0208 590 5828.

KIKUYU PROVERB

Menya wîgerere ndûkore

Be no too proud less you ruin yourself

Nairobi, Saturday 7th November, 2009. One person has been confirmed dead when a light aircraft crashed in Mau forest. The five seater aircraft hit a tree upon take off from a ranch within the massive Mau forest complex. Among the passengers on board were two adults and  two children who were airlifted to Nairobi by an AMREF aircraft  for urgent medical attention. The identity of the deceased could not be immediately established.

Africa in pictures: 31 October-6 November 2009

On the same day, Somali children play in big puddles in one of the three Dadaab refugee camps in eastern Kenya where heavy rains have caused flooding...on right - ... On Thursday, some of the more than 40 trucks stranded on the Garissa-Dadaab road are pictured. Some drivers, who carry food supplies to the camps, have been stuck in the mud for more than 10 days.

ICC seeking speedy Kenya trials

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says he wants to move quickly against the perpetrators of Kenya's 2007 post-election violence. Luis Moreno Ocampo said two or three cases could come to trial by July next year. Mr Ocampo said "speed" was important so Kenya could hold its next election in 2012 without the threat of violence. On Thursday, Mr Ocampo formally requested judges at the Hague to open an investigation into the violence. "Everyone is worried about the next election in Kenya in 2012. That is why I understand the importance of speed," Mr Ocampo told reporters in Nairobi as he ended a three-day visit. He indicated that any trials could take place in Kenya, or at least in Arusha - in Tanzania - where suspects involved in the 1994 Rwanda genocide have been prosecuted. After meeting with the chief prosecutor earlier in the week, Kenya's government said it would co-operate with an ICC probe. Prominent Kenyan politicians, including cabinet ministers, are suspected of being behind the violence. The clashes between December 2007 and February 2008 left some 1,300 people dead and forced 300,000 from their homes. President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to share power to end the clashes that followed the 2007 poll. A power-sharing deal in 2008 - brokered by former UN head Kofi Annan - agreed that a local tribunal would be set up to prosecute those behind the violence.

Britons scoop a £90m Euro jackpot

Two British ticket holders shared a massive £90 million jackpot in Friday night's Euromillions draw, Camelot said. They scooped £45,570,835.50 each - the largest lottery prizes ever paid out in the UK. A National Lottery spokeswoman said: "This is fantastic news. These two ticketholders have just banked the largest lottery prizes ever paid out in the country." The spokeswoman added: "If either of the tickets belong to a single winner they will soar into the top spot on The National Lottery Rich List, trumping Glasgow postal worker Angela Kelly's £35.4 million win in August 2007. "We have plenty of champagne on ice and are looking forward to welcoming the lucky ticketholders to the National Lottery millionaires' club." The winning numbers were 19, 43, 45, 34 and 11. The Lucky Star numbers were 5 and 9. From next week every Euromillions ticket will include the Millionaire Raffle game, where every week one UK player will win £1 million. This month The National Lottery is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Since the launch more than 2,300 millionaires have been created and more than £23 billion raised for good causes.

A LUO PROVERB

Ikadhogo ka nyar kawuono.

You are as fast as a modern girl.

The saying is used to chide a person who doesn't care about his/her manners.

Help us settle this widowed lady

The house construction now remains roofing and plastering and this will make a difference to Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina (right) - a mother of six

It all started in a fellowship in London several years ago. A visiting preacher from Nakuru, Kenya was preaching in a Kenyan family house in London where they had lost their parent in Kenya. As the preacher was preaching she narrated the meaning of the word "poverty". "You people, you don't know what poverty is. When I talk about poverty you might not exactly understand but I can narrate what poverty is all about with an example of a widowed lady who was left by the husband with 6 children. The children do not go to school and the family is like nomads. They have been evicted from their rented houses for more than 9 times. They rent house, at the end of the month they cannot afford to pay the rent hence they are evicted. You are evicted until you don't know which estate you belong." the preacher explained. After the fellowship Pastor Jane Njiiri, the wife of Mr. Seed, enquired from the preacher about the woman and her where abouts. She contacted the lady and immediately she started to educate her children. It has been all along the desire of Pastor Njiiri and her family to build a home for this poor widow to make a difference in her life. Whenever Mr. Seed's family are in Kenya they always contact the lady who always join them in their family tour and she has become like a part of their family.

Pastor Njiiri thought of starting the project of buying a plot in Nakuru for the widow in June this year. She expressed her dream to a group of other women and one lady from Nottingham who heard about the dream was pleased and expressed her wish to join the dream. "If Mr. Seed's family can risk building a house for a widow whom they have no relation, I can risk donating my plot in Nakuru for the lady and then you do the building. Yes, I can donate my Isaac" (referring to the Isaac in the Bible) the lady explained. The lady, Mrs. Catherine Kairu well known as Mama Martin who lives in Nottingham kept her word. She had a plot in Pipeline Nakuru with a market value of over KShs. 500,000 Pastor Njiiri and Miss Catherine Kairu flew to Kenya in August this year. They transferred the plot to the lady and cleared all the outstanding fees on the Title Deeds. They stayed in Kenya for 3 weeks doing all the groundwork to start the construction. The construction started on Wednesday 2nd September, 2009. The big question was - what type of a house should we do for this lady. After several consultation Pastor Njiiri came up with good plan. A three-bedroom house for the family and two units of 1 bedroom for renting. This will be generating some income for the lady so that she can be self-dependant.

The construction of the house is now complete (see photo) awaiting the roofing, plastering. The construction also include a big water tank. After kick starting the project we are now appealing to well wishers and good Samaritans to help us with donations complete this project for this lady. You can donate one or two iron sheets (48 @ KShs. 750 each), windows (14 @ KShs. 3,500 each), steel doors (2 @ KShs. 6,000), wooden doors (14 @ KShs. 2,500), 33 bag of cement @ KShs. 850 each for plastering, labour @ about Kshs. 44,000. A well known lady living in Nakuru Mrs. Elizabeth Kihoro who came for artificial leg fixing in London has been overseeing the construction.

You can send your donation to Mr. Seed on 07951220695 or misterseed@hotmail.co.uk OR you can contact the lady overseeing the construction on 0710227033 (she is on M-Pesa), or the widow herself Mrs. Lucy Wanjiru Maina on 0727307672. The Seeds family dream is to construct and furnish the house for this lady. It is our intention to a make a difference to at least one widow in Kenya.

The construction started when the was water problem in Kenya and we were buying water for construction - photo taken on 26th October, 2009

A Kenyan has passed away in Liverpool, UK. The sudden passing away of Mrs Rose Kaboe on Monday 26th October, 2009 in the afternoon - a devastating loss to the husband Mr. Chris Kaboe, son Jeremiah Kaboe (KK) and the whole family. Family members and friends are meeting at his house for prayers and support and we are all encouraged to play our part. The family can be reached on Tel. 0151 220 0905. The home address is 20 Sturdee Road, Liverpool, L13 4BA. If all goes according to plan, Holy Mass / Prayer service will be celebrated around the 8th November 2009, before Rose makes her final journey home to Kenyan; however this is subject to change.

"The bad news is [the family] will have to pay a ransom. These Somalia pirates don't understand about mortgages and having to pay rent and, of course, comparatively, the hostages will be wealthy from their point of view," Dr Alvarez added.

No Christmas for Hague suspects?

The high profile personalities suspected to have planned and bankrolled post-election violence could be arrested by December. The revelations came as the Government prepares for arrival of International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Thursday, next week. He will be in Nairobi to ask for President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s support in arresting suspects, some of who are believed to be their allies. - FULL STORY

When people in London gave Bishop Samuel Muya some money to build a church, they were challenged by Bishop Muya’s honesty in handling God’s money. He did not think of himself first but decided to finish God’s house first.  Friends of Bishop Muya ministry in London – Friends of Talents therefore decided to build his wife a house because she watched without complains the Bishop spend all the money to build the church. Some money was raised two years ago which the bishop has used to buy the plot and to put up the building to that level. It’s for this reason that Friends of Talents Revival Church invites you to a fundraising to complete this Nobel project on 21st November, 2009 in London. The fundraising will take place at Memorial Baptist Church Hall, 395 Barking Road, E13 8AS (opposite Plaistow Police) as from 6.00 p.m. The Bishop will be in UK in the month of November 2009 where he will be holding several conferences. One great Revival and Miracle service with Bishop Samuel Muya of Talents Revival Churches Kenya is scheduled to be held on Sunday 15th November, 2009 at the above address as from 6.00 p.m. Theme: "I will Restore the Fortunes of Jacob's Tents and have Compassion on his Dwellings..." You can contact the Bishop in Kenya through 0725492076 or samuelmuya2003@yahoo.com

The construction is now on advance stage.

[1]

IKO NINI BWANA SEED ARCHIVE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? NOVEMBER 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? OCTOBER 2009 - PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? OCTOBER 2009 - PART TWO

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? OCTOBER 2009 - PART TWO

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? SEPTEMBER 2009 PART ONE

IKO NINI BWANA SEED? SEPTEMBER 2009 - PART TWO

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