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FEBRUARY  2006 - PART ONE

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Catching up with their traditions while in UK

As the English man says, every bird flies with its own feathers and it is also more so with many communities when they migrates with their own cultures. This was demonstrated in UK on Saturday 18th February, 2006 when three Kenyans families in Harlow, Essex joined together with their friends to celebrate the circumcision of their three boys. Everyone, old and young went into a frenzy of excitement as three boys (Eddie Njenga son of Mrs. & Mrs. Njenga Ndung'u of Councillor Ndung'u of Limuru, Kenya, Master Kevin son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mwai and Clive) celebrated their transition to adulthood, popularly known as “Irua” in kikuyu traditions.  Invited or not invited a large number of community joined the celebrations. Traditionally circumcision was an important event for the initiates, their families and the entire community, a ceremony that brought the community together.  It was still the case in Harlow, Essex  last Saturday which was marked with song and dance, very delicious food ranging from pilau, samosa, matumbo, mitwe ya mburi and a variety of drinks as well . Most importantly, there was word of wisdom especially for the boys from various speakers. Mr.  Joe Mwai, also on behalf of the parents gave a word of advice. The party ended at the wee hours of the morning. Notably at the celebrations was the Kenyan tycoon Mrs. Mable Muruli and Mr. Seed among other guests. - Reports and photos  by Wanjuguna, Harlow.

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PART TWO PHOTOS COMING SOON

The three grandaunts from right Kevin, Eddy and Clive	The occasion was not complete with "mugiithi"
The parents of the grandaunts Mr.&Mrs. Njenga (right) and Mr.&Mrs. Joe Mwai (left)	Among the guests was Mrs. Mark (second left) and Mr. Seed (right)

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"We want to establish the King and

the Queen of corruption in Kenya"

Some press teams arrived as early as 6.30 a.m. to catch up with Mr. John Githongo and the Kenya's Parliamentary Public Accounts Team from Kenya. The venue of the meeting is Kenya's High Commission in London where the proceedings between John Githongo and the committee takes place the whole day Saturday 11th February 2006 and Sunday 12th February 2006. The Committee arrived in London on Friday and toured the offices, preparing to meet Mr. Githongo on Saturday morning. Hon Uhuru Kenyatta arrived at 10 minutes to nine followed closely by other committee members while Mr. John Githongo and his lawyer arrived in a London Taxi at about 9.05 a.m. On arrival, Mr. Githongo saluted the press and took about five minutes talking to the press where he told the press that he's here for business and to tell the truth of all what he knows. At 9.30 a.m. the committee came out for press briefing where Hon. Kenyatta addressed the press for about 15 minutes explaining about their mission in the UK. He criticised minister Kiraitu Murungi for telling the public that he has given the committee some questions to ask Mr. Githongo. "Hon. Kiraitu should wait for his turn, he should stop bringing the impression that the committee is anti government. The committee is not for government. It is parliamentary committee." Hon. Kenyatta explained. He said that the committee is in London to try and establish the King and the Queen of corruption in Kenya. There will be another press briefing on Saturday evening at 5.00 p.m. and another one at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday after the closure of the business.

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The press arrived early in the morning, cameras ready for action as they patiently waited for John Githongo and the Public Accounts Committee	Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee talking to the press as he prepare himself to enter the offices of the Kenya High Commission in London.
A team of the Public Accounts Committee entering the Kenya High Commission offices in London ready for the proceedings	Hon. Nyagah one of the Public Accounts Committee entering the offices

"GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, WE ARE HERE FOR BUSINESS"

Mr. John Githongo talking to the press outside Kenya High Commission offices in London

accompanied by his lawyer as he prepared himself to meet the Public Accounts Committee

KTN and BBC crew patiently waiting for the John Githongo and the Public Accounts Committee outside Kenya High Commission offices

Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta briefing the press outside Kenya High Commission offices

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Munch collection fetches £16.9m in London

A collection of paintings by Edvard Munch has fetched £16.9m at an auction of Impressionist art in London. Among the works to be sold was 1904 painting Summer Day which fetched £6.17m - the highest amount paid for a Munch artwork. The top-selling painting at the sale, held at Sotheby's, was Paul Gauguin's 1902 painting Deux Femmes, which sold for £12.33m. A Sotheby's spokeswoman said: "The atmosphere was absolutely electric."

An eight-piece collection of paintings by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, most famous for his work The Scream, has sold for £17m at Sotheby's in London.

His vibrant depiction of a summer day sold for £6.1m. Munch also explored the bleaker aspects of life during his career, including illness and madness.

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Alien crash lands in the attic

Hoax, military decoy or film prop? A householder from Norfolk doesn't know what to make of an "alien" that has crash landed into his attic. Builders working in the attic of Barney Broom's cottage in the village of Gunthorpe found an old jar containing what appeared to be a model of an alien, about 12 inches tall, made of clay and preserved in a liquid which smelled of vinegar. The jar was wrapped in a 1947 copy of the Daily Mirror. The alien appeared to have a serial number on its foot. Intrigued by the discovery, Mr Broom's initial suspicion was that the model was somehow connected to nearby United States' airbases. Not quite knowing what to do with it, he approached the Sci-Fi Channel, which is now carrying out investigations into whether the serial number is a form of military identification.

The "baby alien" was found in a house near US airforce bases

The model of the alien has a serial number on its foot

Hoax?

As far as the Pentagon is concerned, it's nothing more than "another hoax". There is no military connection, a spokesman told the BBC News Magazine.But what would be the point of producing this dummy? Why would someone be making aliens like this in the 1940s? There's nothing to date the model except the newspaper wrapped around it, which could have been attached at a later date. But for UFO-enthusiasts, 1947 is a key date, as this was the year of the supposed alien sightings at Roswell, New Mexico, in the United States. "If it is a hoax, it is very well done and was clearly done some time ago," says Sci-Fi Channel spokesperson, Lawrence Hall. "There are signs of degradation on its upper and lower left arm, it is cracking." Mr Broom, a film-maker who is agnostic about the existence of aliens, says it could have been produced as a stage prop, or else made by one of the many US servicemen and women who have been based in the area. "There were two factors that made me decide to find out more about this. First, it was so odd looking, with an androidal, we-are-not-alone image. And second, because we're close to Mildenhall, I thought that it might have been left behind by someone from there," said Mr Broom. As well as finding out about this "baby alien", Mr Hall says he wants to find out if any more were manufactured. Conspiracy theorists will already have their own ideas, such as whether such "aliens" were used as convenient decoys to cover up research projects and military crashes during the Cold War.

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Shame for the low turnout at the famine fundraising in London but good contribution for those who attended - over £25,000 contributed

It was a record giving for the few Kenyans who turned at Wembley, London on Saturday 4th February 2006 for the Kenya famine fundraising which was presided over by the Kenya's High Commissioner in the UK HE Joseph Muchemi and his wife Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi. Over £25,000 (KShs. 3 million) was collected at the venue which makes the biggest fundraising ever held in the UK among the Kenyan community. Previous record was £21,000 for a pre-wedding. A number of people deposited some money in the bank and we shall give the final figure when the figures are compiled.

In attendance was Africa Travel Centre team - from left is Antony Mlaki, Joyce Kanja, Rose Macharia of R.C. Hall Solicitors, and Mr. Leo and family

At the very beginning everyone stood for the Kenya National Anthem

The  funds-drive was held at the Copland School Hall , Wembley in London. Guests of Honour included a Kenyan businesswoman in London Mrs. Mabel Marks.

A section of the Kenyans at the event

Rev. Tim Wambunya opened opened with a word of prayer

Supporting Chief guests at the function included Equator Security owner Dedan Mwenda Gichuhi who contributed £500 (Kshs. 61,000/-). Mr. Gichuhi is vying to be the next Subukia MP in the next general election in 2007. Other dignitaries were Ian Godfrey of Barclays Bank Plc and Said Ahmed of Lloyds TSB, HE Esther Machinga wife of the Zimbabwe High Commissioner and HE Simangaliso Gumende wife of the Mozambican High Commissioner to the UK and Sabina P. Obare, CEO of Kenya Women Association (KEWA) UK.

At the high table was from left Mr. Dedan Gichuhi, HE High Commissioner Mr. Joseph Muchemi and his wife Cecilia Muchemi

A cross section of the guests at the function

There was a laudable Media presence that included, the Kenya Television Network (KTN) Crew, who flew in from Kenya on Friday for the occasion. Also there was the Editor-in-Chief of the Zimbabwean Publication-The Fusion Voice-Leeds, East African Productions (producers of the African Act on Sky 223 & 184), rounded off by the two Master of Ceremonies Solomon Mugera (BBC) and Topi Lyambila (Kenya London News) both former KBC/KTN Broadcasters.

One of the main guests at the event Mrs. Mabel Muruli Mabel (right) and Mrs.  Simangaliso Gumende wife of the Mozambican High Commissioner

KTN team from Kenya arrived on Friday for the occasion and caught at the venue is KTN foreign editor Mr. Chamwanda

Slightly less than 200 people who attended the event  contributed generously. Kenyans living in Liverpool, Scotland and Ireland have collected some money and are in the process of forwarding it to the fundraising committee. Food was in plenty at the venue which was contributed by Western Union Money Transfer. A number of people who did not make it to the fundraising has been calling for banks details as they intend  to deposit their money into the famine account. You can deposit your donation in HSBC, Sort Code 40-03-15 Account Number 01376195, Account name: Kenya High Commission.

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Final touches for the famine fundraising in

London on Saturday 4th February 2006

The Kenya High Commissioner in the UK HE Joseph Muchemi joined the famine fundraising committee in London for the final touches as the committee prepared for the famine relief in Kenya where each Kenyan in the UK is expected to donate at least £5 towards the famine. The committee which comprises of Kenyans from all walks of life have been meeting at the Kenya High Commission offices for the last one month to arrange the fundraising. The last meeting took place on Wednesday 1st at the embassy. The fundraising takes place on Saturday 4th February 2006 at Copland School, Cecil Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7DU - Time: 5.00 p.m. A KTN TV crew from Kenya is expected to be at the venue. Several guests of honours have been selected to facilitate the fundraising. Food and drinks will be on sale towards the cause. Many people who are far who are not be able to come to the fundraising have been requested to deposit their money in the bank. Please make cheques payable to the Kenya High Commission and  can be deposited in HSBC, Sort Code 40-03-15 Account Number 01376195, Account name: Kenya High Commission. One can also deposit cash at any HSBC branch near your area.

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Potemkin Russian Restaurant & Bar, right in the centre of City of London between Chancery Lane and Ferringdom underground stations. A Kenyan owned Russian restaurant. Operated and served all in Russian style but the owners are Kenyans Mr. Shadrack Balimo and Mr. Joseph Wamithi. Talk of Kenyans in business but this is a rare venture. Located at 144 Clerkenwell Road, the two floor restaurant can cover up to 100 guests comfortably. Serving only Russian food and beer the restaurant holds the largest collection of Vodka with over 130 different types. With a complete strange menu of which some items never seen on the menu before the venue is good for a change. The food and soup is quite good to make a treat away from Nyama choma and ugali  but scanning through the menu you won't miss to come across one dish on the menu - "Meat derived from the 4' long legs of a crab - a sought after delicacy served on a bed of lettuce with a light sauce." The restaurant is trying to accommodate the Kenyan style - birthdays, parties and wedding are now available to book. The venue is good because being in the heart of the city it is busy for five days - Monday to Friday as from 12.00 noon to midnight and Saturdays as from 6.00 p.m. to midnight but free on Sunday. "We can open for a party on Saturday and Sunday for Kenyans functions especially birthdays, parties and weddings at a very reasonable price." commented Mr. Balimo. A treat for Mr. Seed at the restaurant was a good experience rating the restaurant at 9 out of 10. It could have been rated 10 of 10 were it not for the vodka shots on most of the items and Mr. Seed does not for a vodka treat - thus missing the 10th point. The best thing is that they can do your order without vodka. Contact Mr. Balimo 07958575309. - You can visit their website at www.potemkin.co.uk

Potemkin Restaurant in the heart of the city of London	Russian beer and glass at the restaurant
One of the directors Mr. Shadrack Balimo in the restaurant	A team team holding a party at the restaurant

click here to view a dish at the restaurant

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