MISTERSEED CLASSIFIED Habari

The Kenya High Commissioner HE Joseph Muchemi was among the guests who attended the official launching of Anglo-African Business and Trade Exhibition in London on Thursday 20th January 2005. The colourful ceremony took place at Hilton Hotel, Basewater Road, in Central London. The premier trade event is to take place in London's Excel Exhibition Centre in Docklands. With support from numerous governing and corporate bodies throughout Africa, commencing from the 29th to the 31st July 2005. The participating organisations in these fields will be exhibiting at the Anglo-African Business & Trade Exhibition 2005 a set up to match World Travel Market but this time targeting African countries. The three-day exhibition and conference would see Africa being marketed as a trade and investment destination. It would have in attendance 1,000 exhibitors from both the U.K and Africa and an estimated 500 delegates attending the conference. The aim of the exhibition and conference is to promote Africa as a trade and investment destination for U.K businesses and the rest of Europe. - MORE

A section of the organising team	A cross section of the guests at the launching
Kenya's High Commissioner in the UK HE Joseph Muchemi (second left) and Rwandanese ambassador (left) at the launching	Mr. Sam Ochieng of Kenya Community Support Network (left) and Wanjiru Kinuthia (right) the commercial attaché at the Kenya High Commission
Mr. Gakuru Macharia the editor of East African Magazine (right) and Derick Otieno (behind, second right) at the launching	From right is Janet of Kilewele, HE Kenya High Commissioner Joseph Muchemi, a West African guest, Ms Wanjiru Kinuthia and Sam Ochieng

The winner of "Bahati Njema Kenya Airways Competition" in London is Mrs. Margaret Mbugua of Slough, Berks, UK. Margaret, a mother of one is the wife of Stephen Mutalii the chairman of Slough Kenyan Community. Excited Margaret was escorted to the offices of Africa Travel Centre in London by her family to receive the two return tickets to Kenya. The tickets are open for one year and are rated as sector 4. That means that after arriving in Nairobi they can travel with Kenya Airways to any other place within Kenya. The draw of the competition took place last week at the offices of African Travel Centre. The competition was organised by Kenya Airways in conjunction with Africa Travel Centre and www.misterseed.com. The competition attracted a huge response from Kenyans throughout the UK. Mr. Bruce Watson the Key Accounts Manager of Kenya Airways handed over the tickets to Margaret at the offices of African Travel Centre on Friday 21st January 2005. After receiving the tickets Margaret had this to say: "I was excited when they phoned me to tell me that I was the winner. I had almost forgotten that I filled the competition. All credit goes to my husband who informed me about the competition when he read about it at www.misterseed.com."

Mr. Bruce Watson of Kenya Airways (second right) congratulating Mrs. Margaret Mbugua (second left) as

Joyce Kanja (far left) and Mr. Chris Wain (left) a manager with Africa Travel Centre looks on

The team outside African Travel Centre. From right is Leo Muigai, Mr. Gerard Bayol the Africa Travel Centre Boss, Mr. Bruce of Kenya Airways, Margaret and her daughter, Joyce Kanja, Mr. Chris Wain (behind Joyce) and Mr. Antony Mtaki all from Africa Travel Centre	Mr. Bruce Watson (centre) explaining to Margaret and her husband Steve about the prize
East African team at Africa Travel Centre. From left is Mr. Antony Mtaki, Joyce Kanja and Leo Muigai	A team for West Africa at the Africa Travel Centre Ms Cordelia Carrol (far right), Charles Fatusin and Nita Afua Briandt

This torn flag is hoisted at a chief’s office, no less. But the chief of Ndundori sub-location, Nyandarua, does not see anything wrong with it. Its dutifully hoisted daily as a sign of patriotism. - The Standard.

Romanian hospital officials say a 66-year-old woman in Bucharest has given birth to a baby girl. Adriana Iliescu, who underwent fertility treatment for nine years before becoming pregnant, is thought to be the oldest recorded mother. The girl was born prematurely by Caesarean section after her twin sister died in the womb, the hospital said. Ms Iliescu told local television she had always wanted to be a mother but had been unable to conceive naturally. A spokeswoman at the Giulesti Maternity Hospital in Bucharest said the surviving infant, named Eliza Maria, weighed just 1.4kg (3lb) and was still in intensive care, but breathing normally. "The mother is doing well. She is saying she has been given a new lease of life," the spokeswoman said, according to the Associated Press news agency. Ms Iliescu, a retired university professor and author of children's books, was interviewed by Realitatea TV last month. She told the station she was optimistic about her future as a mother, claiming her family had a history of longevity. The BBC's Central Europe reporter, Nick Thorpe, says the doctor who artificially inseminated Mrs Iliescu with the sperm of an anonymous donator justified the procedure by saying Ms Iliescu was in an appropriate condition to give birth. Dr Bogdan Marinescu also said he had been impressed by her faith in God. In 2003, a 65-year-old Indian woman gave birth to a boy. Schoolteacher Satyabhama Mahapatra from Nayagarh in Orissa had been impregnated with an egg from her 26-year-old niece that had been fertilised by her husband. It was the first child for Ms Mahapatra and her husband, who had been married for 50 years.

Freddie was born severely disabled but the cause is not known

Freddie enjoying his first Christmas

Freddie's mum, Dee, wants him to see specialists in the UK

A British disability group - Thalidomide UK - is trying to raise money to bring a severely deformed Kenyan baby to the UK for medical treatment. The child, who is now eight-months-old, was born without arms or legs. Freddie, as he is known, was adopted by a British woman and her Kenyan husband - Dee and Sammy Knott-Mtile - who run a health and education project in Malindi, north of Kenya's second city, Mombasa. Having exhausted the medical possibilities in Kenya, Freddie's adoptive parents appealed to UK-based organisations for help. "I was quite shocked to see a baby that had been so severely damaged," said Freddie Astbury, president of Thalidomide UK. "I was born without limbs myself but this baby was a lot worse." Thalidomide UK is trying to raise £10,000 in order to bring the baby to Britain where he can be properly assessed. "We've got to make sure this baby has a chance of life very much like we Thalidomiders have in the UK," said Mr Astbury. Thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant women in the UK in the late 50s and early 60s and led to a number of children being born with deformed limbs and other impairments. The medical team that will examine the baby is likely to be led by paediatrician, Dr Claus Newman, who treated many of those affected by the drug in the UK when they were children. Despite the fact that Thalidomide has been suggested as a possible cause of Freddie's disabilities, Dr Newman says it is only one of a number of factors that can cause birth defects.

"When the degree of deformity is very extreme virtually all the different causes look very similar," he told the BBC News website. Although Thalidomide is known to be available in Kenya, Freddie's adoptive mother thinks one reason why more babies with similar disabilities are not known about is because they are not allowed to survive. But according to Dr Newman such theories "simply don't wash". He thinks there needs to be much stronger evidence before concluding that Thalidomide is the cause of limb deformities found in some children. "The majority of the population would be born in cities and to dispose of a malformed child in a city is more difficult than to do so in the bush." On the other hand, Martin Johnson, the director of the Thalidomide Trust - the charitable organisation which distributes compensation money to those affected by the drug in the UK - thinks that if Thalidomide was in use in the area where the child's mother lived, "it would have to be considered as a prime suspect". Whatever the cause of his disabilities turns out to be, Freddie's adoptive parents are seeking support and advice in order to maximise his chances. He is still very small, weighing just four kilograms. "He is feeding - he's just taking time to put weight on," said Mrs Knott-Mtile. She says that although Freddie is unable to hold things himself, he enjoys gently 'head-butting' a collection of soft toys which have been hung on the verandah of the family's home. Mr and Mrs Knott-Mtile are in contact with Dr Newman by e-mail, and he has already given them some basic tips on how best to look after him. "He asked us to make Freddie a chair shaped like a flower pot so that he would at least be able to sit up," she said. "We're doing that at the moment and we're putting a mirror on it so that if he sees himself he can try to lift his head and strengthen his neck." But Mrs Knott-Mtile thinks such advice is no substitute for the face-to-face consultations and extensive medical tests that her son needs, and which can only be achieved in the UK. "I just want to bring him to his full potential."

Deadly landslides and flash floods in California

A 25ft-high boulder blocked both lanes of a road in Malibu, damaging power and communications lines.

On higher ground, hundreds of vehicles were stranded by heavy snow at the weekend.

Los Angeles, Jan 11 (AFP) - At least 14 people have died in heavy rain and snow storms that have been battering California, sparking deadly landslides and flash floods, authorities said Tuesday. Authorities raised the death toll as the bad weather continued to roil the state. "We have at least nine dead in Los Angeles County," said Lieutenant Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroner`s Department. He said there were at least four dead in nearby Ventura county, where a mudslide fell onto the town of La Conchita on Monday burying about 15 homes where many people are still missing. And one person was reported dead in the state capital of Sacramento, city firefighters said. The storms have stretched emergency services across the region as they rally to rescue motorists trapped by rising flood waters and search for survivors in La Conchita.

Hard to believe but for this man from Mukuruwe-ini, Nyeri, going to the market with a kiondo slung over her head is not just women’s business. He feels perfectly comfortable in this arrangement of appearance and, the villagers say, he is always happy as he goes to the market. - The Standard.

New Hope Orphaned Children Home in Kenya has moved another step forward. They have finally moved to their new home next to the house they have been living. The five-bed roomed house was leased to them five years ago by Mr. & Mrs. Marira. The couple had built the house for their own use but sacrificed it to the children for five year. Mrs. Ann Chege who is the patron these home bought three acres next to the house and now the 72 children have moved to their new site. Mrs. Chege has been coming to the UK to look for funds to help proceed with the project. Last year she came to the UK and she was given about £3,500 by Kenyans living in the UK. The project is far away from finish but at least Mrs. Chege has somewhere to keep the children. Mrs. Chege invited the generous couple for prayers on 5th December, 2004 before moving to their new site.About 500 people from various churches around, and from the local community attended. They began with prayers from Mr. & Mrs. Peterson Marira and Family.

Amos & Esther, taken on 5^th December 2004, almost one year since they were rescued. Esther is now 3 ½ years old, and weighs 15 Kg (recall she was 4 Kg on admittance last year). Esther is now walking, and calls almost everyone by name – Glory to God!	This is the house where the children has been living. Peterson and family, surrounded by pastors and Church elders for prayer - very few of their type remaining
Children marched in procession from their present home to their new site. People were dancing and beating drums, and singing hymns to the Most High God.	When they arrived at their new site, they offered prayers for Thanksgiving. Kids made various presentations, all centered on uplifting the name of the Lord.

The occasion was crowned by “the cutting of the cake” that had been made by our girls, and

then distributed pieces all present. Mr. & Mrs. Marira (left) the couple that donated their home for five years

This the picture of the Kenya High Commissioner in the UK Mr. Joseph Muchemi talking to the Queen in

Buckingham Palace last year when the commissioner went to present his credentials to the Queen.

"Let me show you how it is done", Master Solomon Kagika Kamanu Jr shows his brothers how snooker/pool is played after receiving a junior snooker/pool table as a Christmas gift from his parents. Mst. Kamanu, who is 4years and 9 months, is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Duncan K.Kamanu of Forest Gate ,London and he goes to Sandringham Nursery School in Forest Gate. He will be joining the Reception Class in the new year. - Pix by Courtesy of D. K. Kamanu.

It was a day for pleasing one's eyes. International Day at Calvary Charismatic Baptist Church in London on Monday 27th December, 2004 where over 30 countries participated. Different groups dressing in their countries attires, it was like butterflies all over. Kenyan group clamed first position. The judges were looking at the three categories - Dressing, stand display and dancing. Kenya stand had almost everything ranging from tea, coffee, kiondos, carvings, roiko, sweet potatoes, President Kibaki photo and Kenya tourism photos provided by the Seeds among other items. Margaret Njiiri (Daughter Seed) were there fully dressed as a Maasai girl to the amazement of the entire congregation. The Kenyan team presented a Luo dance in such as beautiful rythm with Mrs. Jane Kambo on the lead. Pastor Lois Gitahi coordinated the Kenya team in a professional manner. The Nigerian team was the best in dressing as they presented all the dressing from different Nigerian regions north, south, east and west. They presented some dresses worn by the royalty in Nigerian with some costing more than £1,000 and they explained it takes two months to make one.

Shocking satellite pictures show how a city was almost entirely swept away by the awesome power of the tidal wave. The shore area of Banda Aceh, regional capital of north west Indonesia, was photographed in June, above. But little remains in the photo below after the wave hit. Two thirds of the city, home to 400,000, was destroyed with 28,000 confirmed dead.

A hero’s welcome dance; traditional dancers doing what they know best for the 2004 Nobel peace prize Professor Wangari Maathai Thursday 30th December, 2004 on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport, Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya stand at the exhibition as Pastor Lois Gitahi (far right) and Margaret Njiiri stands next to the Kenyan flag	The Kenyan stand really impressed the judges as it was well displayed
This was the Ghanian stand	At the Nigerian stand dressing was an eye catching
Miss Margaret Njiiri dressing as a maasai lady welcomes Mrs. Elizabeth Sarpong at the Kenyan stand as Pastor Lois Gitahi looks on	A spectacular Kenya Luo dance on display by the Kenyan team
Young and old the Nigerian team came in full force with different attires	Ghanian team displayed their own traditional game at the exhibition