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DECEMBER 2004 - PART ONE

                         
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Worst Scene

Rescue workers continue to find bodies in Thailand and elsewhere following the catastrophic sea surges.

In the haste to dispose of decomposing bodies, the dead are often buried - or cremated - before identification.

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Huge welcome for professor Maathai in London

It was like a family reunion as Professor Wangari Maathai was welcomed into a reception hosted in her honour by the Kenya High Commissioner in the UK HE Joseph Muchemi and his wife Cecilia Muchemi on Wednesday 15th December, 2004. Professor Maathai arrived accompanied by Hon. Beth Mugo who was selected by the parliamentary committee in Kenya to accompany Professor Maathai to Oslo to receive the award.  The ceremony took place at Kenya High Commission offices at 45 Portland Place, in London. Well attended by both Kenyans and diplomats the occasion was an emotional event as Professor Maathai narrated to the guests the long journey she has taken to come to where she is today. "When many people talk of Green Belt Movement, they think about planting of trees only. We plant trees as well as planting ideas in people. We plant politics, we plant education, and we plant human rights. The reason why we had a collision with the previous Kenya government it is because they realised at the very last minutes that we plant trees as well ideas to the people. We had to use something simple to penetrate into people. We decided to use women. Women to plant trees. As we plant trees we could  educate them as you know in our society not much attention is given to what women are doing. It is called women power to change the situation." Professor Maathai explained. She leaves for a one week in the US before coming back to London next week on her way back to Kenya. On Thursday 23rd December, 2004 she will be meeting Kenyans at the Commonwealth Club, 18 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BJ, from 17.00 - 23.00 hrs. - CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTOS

Kenya High Commissioner Mr. Joseph Muchemi (right) welcoming Professor Wangari Maathai at the reception held at the commission's offices in London	From left is Professor Maathai, HE Joe Muchemi, Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi, Hon. Beth Mugo and if you can't join them posing behind is equally good as Mr. Maina was caught behind
From left is the outgoing Education attaché Mrs. Leah Rotich, a lecturer at the Metropolitan University Ms Wangui wa Goro and incoming Education attaché Mrs Salome Gichura	POSING WITH DIPLOMATS - From right is the Sierra Leone ambassador in the UK, HE Joe Muchemi, Professor Wangari Maathai and ambassador of Botswana
Smile all the way .... the team accompanying professor Maathai from right is Hon. Beth Mugo, Mr. Mwihia and professor Maathai	Professor Maatha and her daughter at the function
As the saying goes that it is only the mountain that does not meet - it was so for Mr. Musa Kinini (left) who met with his former headmaster (centre) in 1959. They missed each other until 1975 when they met in the streets of Nyeri town and third time is at this function. The headmaster is the brother to professor Maathai and professor Maathai explained that it was his brother who persuaded his parents to let her go to school.	Several TV stations were around to interview professor Maathai for a news bulletin. BEN TV was caught here interviewing professor Maathai

"I was not born in Kenya but educated in Kenya" says Lord Steel

From right is Kenya's public relation officer in the UK Mr. Patrick Orr, Lord David Steel speaker of Scottish Parliament, Dr. Ash Vadher and his son and Gitau wa Njenga far left. Lord Steel was educated in Kenya as his father was a missionary in Kenya. He explained that his father pioneered the construction of St. Andrews Church in Nairobi and Church of Torch in Kikuyu.

Long-lasting problems affecting Africa can only be solved by Africans through peace, democracy and good governance, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai said on Wednesday. "Africa must recreate all these three basic principles, free of conflict, in a sustainable environment for development to flourish," said Prof Maathai. The Assistant Minister for Environment said Africa had plenty resources but remained poor due to mismanagement and bad governance. She was speaking at a luncheon hosted in her honour by the Kenyan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr Joseph Muchemi in London. Prof Maathai challenged African elite not to take a back seat but instead enlighten others on the importance of education, human rights and democracy. She said the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received last week in Oslo, Norway, was a great honour not only to her but to all Kenyans and Africans. She commended the ongoing peace negotiations in Sudan and Somalia, saying constructive dialogue was the only way forward to a lasting peace solution in the region. Beth Mugo, an Assistant Minister for Education, said Maathai had put the African women on the international platform. Mr Muchemi commended Prof Mathaai for her endurance, courage and contribution to suitable development, democracy and peace. Meanwhile, Prof Maathai’s date with British MPs, members of the influential All Parliamentary Party Group on Africa was called off yesterday. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials said the function has been postponed to February next year. Prof Maathai is expected to leave London for a one-week tour in the US on Friday before returning to London on her way back to Kenya.- By Gitau wa Njenga.

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Dinner for Miss Kenya UK team in London

Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi was among the guests who joined others guests at an executive dinner in honour of the Miss Kenya UK team. The dinner, which was held in an Italian restaurant in London on Monday 13th December, 2004. The dinner was organised by Sahara Communities Abroad (SACOMA) who were the organisers of Miss Kenya UK 2004. Attendance was the high flying Turkana modeling lady, Ajuma Nasenyana currently based in Paris. Miss Commonwealth Culture, Miss Jeniffer Kimuge. All the participating girls were presented with a certificate of participation from organisers.  - CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi (left) joins the guests at the buffet	From left is Tina from Barclays Bank and Mr. Willy Bett the Marketing Manager of Kenya Post Bank
Miss Kenya UK Miss Tabby Njeri (right) receiving a certificate from Mrs. Cecilia Muchemi and Perez Ochieng of Sacoma	Mrs. Commonwealth Culture Miss Jeniffer Kimuge receiving her certificate
Top Kenyan modeling queen Miss Ajuma Nasenyana address the participating girls. She is currently rubbing shoulders with Naomi Campbell of UK on the modeling industry. Recently she won Ford Supermodels in New York 2004 and Best Model of the Season (2004) in Spain. Her email nnjna@yahoo.com	The Miss Kenya UK 2004 participating group off the stage as they are joined in by modeling queen Ajuma

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

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From the borders of Pokot in Kenya to modeling in UK

Miss Jeniffer Kimuge, a beautiful Maasai girl from Ngaratuko village in Kenya which is located at the borders of Pokot and Elchamus in Baringo District arrived in the UK recently. She has never participating in modeling anywhere else before nor has she got a clear image of the modeling. In the month of November, 2004 she visited the education attaché at the offices of Kenya High Commission in London for some assistance. They had not met before but during their discussion education attaché asked the lady whether she can be able to do modeling. With little knowledge of it all she decided to give a go. The lady was introduced to www.misterseed.com where she got the information about the Miss Kenya UK. She contact Mr. Sam Ochieng but unfortunately the entries for Miss Kenya UK 2004 had already been closed. Two hours after the discussion with Sam organisers of Miss Commonwealth in the UK contacted Sam to enquire for a Kenyan candidate for Miss Commonwealth to be held in Liverspool on 20th November, 2004. Sam recalled the Maasai girl asking her whether she is ready for Miss Commonwealth. The lady agreed to give it a go but she told Sam that she has to be accompanied to Liverspool as she does not know where Liverspool is. At the end of it all nobody accompanied her to the function. She went alone and while on the train to Liverspool she prayed to God to be with her all the way as everyone else has forsaken her. After entering the panel team before the event, everyone was excited to see her dressed elegantly with Maasai attire and everyone was quick to ask her: "are you a Maasai" and she replied yes. There were several categories to be won. After the event she won two trophies. She was declared Miss Commonwealth Culture and she was runner-up for the best dressing.

Miss Jeniffer Kimuge won Miss Commonwealth Culture and she was runner-up/ for the best dressing. Her email is jmantui@yahoo.com

Jeniffer holding her two trophies - well dressed from head to bottom

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New education attaché at the Kenya embassy

Mrs. Leah Rotich the outgoing education attaché at the Kenya embassy

The incoming education attache at the Kenya Embassy Mrs. Salome Gichura

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Ukraine candidate 'was poisoned'

Mr Yushchenko's appearance changed almost overnight

Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko's mystery illness was caused by poisoning, his Vienna doctors say. The doctors said extensive tests showed a form of dioxin had been used, leaving Mr Yushchenko's face disfigured. They described the poisoning as serious and said that if left untreated it could have killed him. Mr Yushchenko, 50, was taken ill in September as he campaigned for disputed elections that have now been declared invalid because of irregularities. His supporters staged mass demonstrations against election fraud after his opponent Viktor Yanukovych was initially declared the winner. The second round is now being re-run on 26 December. Analysts say he would have to dispel any doubts about his health before becoming president. In Washington, a state department spokeswoman said the United States was "deeply concerned about these findings" and urged Ukrainian authorities to investigate.

'No doubt'

The opposition leader has accused the Ukrainian authorities of trying to poison him - a charge they reject. Doctors were at first unable to confirm the poisoning theory but have now carried out further tests. "There is no doubt about the fact that the disease has been caused by a case of poisoning by dioxin," Michael Zimpfer, the head doctor of the Rudolfinerhaus clinic where Mr Yushchenko is undergoing treatment, said. "There were high concentrations of dioxin, most likely orally administered." It is still not clear whether the poisoning was deliberate, though Dr Zimpfer said it was likely to have been caused by "a third party". The question of who was responsible was a matter for the judicial authorities, he said. Dr Zimpfer said the substance was soluble and could have been administered in something like soup. The doctors said their findings were backed by clinical observations and the study of blood and tissue samples. This was the first time since the event that they had conducted biopsies, they said.

Large dose

Mr Yushchenko's blood and tissue registered concentrations of dioxin 1,000 times above normal levels. There appeared to be little lasting damage to Mr Yushchenko's internal organs, though experts say it could take more than two years for his skin to return to normal. Mr Yushchenko said on arrival at the clinic on Friday that his health was getting "better every day". Dioxins are common pollutants - produced as the result of many industrial processes. But toxicologists say little is known about the effect of such a large single dose. "It's usually low-level, long-term poisoning," Professor John Henry of London's St Mary's hospital told the BBC. "A very large dose, nobody has any real idea of what it would cause. Now we do know."

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Bye bye Mwangale

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A young Kenyan businessman dies in Luton

Mrs. Mary Mumbi Mwangi of  Konyu Location, Mathira, Karatina, Nyeri, Kenya mother of the late Daniel Thinwa Mwangi of Luton arrived in UK last week but one to see his son in Hospital. He visited him in the hospital and soon afterwards he was discharged for home where she attended Mwangi's birthday in Luton on Saturday 27th November, 2004 after which the late Mwangi was lashed back to hospital. The late Daniel Thinwa Mwangi the patron of Somerset Tavern, Luton passed away on  3rd December, 2004 at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital after suffering from stomach cancer. There will be a memorial service in Luton on Saturday 11th December, 2004 and the body will be flown to Kenya for burial the following day. Family and friends as well as well wishers are meeting at his residence, Somerset Tavern, 263 Crawley Green Road, Luton LU2 0QJ every day as from 6.00 p.m. for funeral arrangements. For more information contact Jim Maganjo 07940541949, Sam Muruga 07944353470, Herman Ngaruiya 07903478189, Paul Maganjo 07939363433 all of Luton Jane Ngina 07979668856 of Oxford, Hannah Maganjo 07944840295 of London, Njoroge Samburu 07838361081 of Bedford, Robin Nganga 07985132828 of Nottingham. Family and friends in London will be meeting on Thursday 9th December, 2004 at Mama Maganjo, 42 Brown Road, Manor Park, London E12 6ES. Contact 07944840295 as from 6.00 p.m.

Mrs. Mary Mumbi Mwangi (right) mother of the late Daniel Thinwa Mwangi and her sister Mrs. Ann Maganjo of Manor Park, London.

The late Mwangi ... a hard working young man in Luton passed away at the age of 30

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Power of the Art

Brian Collins, from Cheltenham, calls this painting Bite Back."The idea originated when I noticed that the first bite of an apple often looks rather mouth-like itself, the logical progression was to add teeth."

Chris Jordan's 'Bi-polar' was drawn with a sparkler and photographed using a single long exposure (around 10 seconds).

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Moi and President Kibaki for Railas's wedding

President Mwai Kibaki Poses for a Photo with the newly weds Mr. and Mrs. Amos Ndanyi Akasa shortly after they exchanged their vows on Saturday 4th December, 2004. With them is Hon. Raila Odinga (brides father), Mrs. Ida Odinga (brides mother) and Retired President Daniel Arap Moi.

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Miss Peru wins world beauty title

Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, an aspiring 20-year-old high school teacher from Peru, is voted Miss World 2004.	She was crowned by 2003 winner Miss Ireland Rosanna Davison, daughter of 'Lady in Red' singer Chris de Burgh.	More than 107 beauties from around the world took part in the contest in the Chinese resort town of Sanya.
Miss Dominican Republic came second, and Miss USA took third place.	This is the second year running that Sanya town, on the southern tip of China's Hainan Island, has hosted Miss World, which is fast becoming the event of the year for residents	US pop singer Lionel Ritchie performed and other celebrities attended what is the 54th year of the pageant.

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World's worst industrial accident

During the early hours of 3 December 1984 the world's worst industrial accident unfolded in the Indian city of Bhopal. Poisonous gas escaped from a chemical plant and killed 3,000 people, according to official estimates. Other estimates put the number at between 8,000 and 10,000. Around 50,000 suffered permanent disabilities, and more died later. Many people lived in shanty towns built alongside the factory and thousands more lived nearby in the old city. There was no contingency plan for evacuation in the event of an emergency. Poor sales had led the company to cut costs, scale back production and lay off around a third of the workforce. Safety systems had also been cut. The main ingredient of the pesticide made at the plant was a chemical called methyl isocyanate or MIC. MIC is one of the most toxic and lethal substances known to humans. Safe storage requires it to be kept cool and isolated from water, which can trigger a violent runaway reaction creating heat and a deadly gas. A worker cleaning out pipes with water sparked the disaster. He did not use a basic but vital piece of equipment to isolate sections of pipe. Water got into the tank where the MIC was stored, raising the temperature to over 200 degrees Celsius (392F), creating the lethal gas. Several safety systems failed or were not working. Bhopal was asleep when the gas struck. Simple advice to move upwind or stay indoors and seal doors and windows with damp cloths could have saved thousands but Union Carbide had not told people what to do if there was a leak. Crowds of terrified people fled. Bhopal's hospital was overwhelmed, lacking information about the gas or antidote. Up to 500,000 survivors still suffer symptoms such as paralysis, partial blindness and impaired immune systems. Union Carbide accepted "moral responsibility" for the disaster. It later blamed sabotage by a disgruntled worker. After a legal agreement the firm provided victims with compensation averaging $500 (£300).

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Have a close look of your inside body

This image of red blood cells is one of a series appearing in the book Inside The Body: Fantastic Images from Beneath the Skin.	Here the blood cells are travelling along a vein within the liver. The images are provided by the Science Photo Library.	This bead-like structure with its projecting legs is a nerve cell. It sends signals and commands to and from the brain.
This dirty-looking surface is actually a healthy tooth. The cells in the green layer produce enamel, which protects the tooth.	A cross section of a piece of carpet? This is actually the small intestine where food is digested.	The surface of the tongue is rough due to these paillae, which contain the taste buds and send tactile information to the brain.
The cells lining the stomach secrete a layer of mucus to protect against the acidic gastric juices.	These crystals may look pretty, but the kidney stones they form can be extremely painful to pass through the urine.	These match-like structures are found in the brain and secrete a substance that cushions the brain and spinal cord against shock.
Rose petals scattered on a scarlet divan? This is actually the lining of the rectum. The book's publisher is Cassell Illustrated.	Once injured, the body immediately sets about healing itself. Its first reaction is a momentary constriction of the blood vessels in the damaged area, followed by a dilation that sends vital blood to the wound. At the same time, the walls of the blood vessels allow protein-rich fluids to exit into the injured tissue. These fluids include cells that fight infection and clean up the cell debris from the wound. The flooding of fluid into the damaged area causes it to swell, triggering pain receptors.	When the senses perceive a possible threat to the body, electrical impulses are sent racing up the spine to convey the threat to the brain. The first stop for all incoming signals to the brain is the thalamus, a neural waystation, which sends them out to the parts of the brain that need to receive them.

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