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JULY 2004 - PART TWO

  

             

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"Nameless" - Kenya's top musician arrives

in London for a weekend show

"Nameless"  Kenya's top musician is in London. The musician whose real name is David Mathenge is in the UK promoting the Safari Camp which takes place in August, in Mombasa, Kenya. While in London he will be performing several shows with the first show coming up on Saturday 24th July, 2004 at The Coronet, 28 New Kent Road, London SE1 6TJ as from 8.00 p.m. Upon his arrival on Thursday 22nd July, 2004, he was welcomed by the promoters of his shows in the UK Mr. Diggy and Henry Otiende. Later in the evening he met a popular Tanzanian artist Ray C at the Club Afrique at Canning Town. When he arrived at the British High Commission in Nairobi for a visa he was asked his name and he replied "nameless" and the officer was quick to ask around the office whether there is anyone with a name go it to the nameless man. As the gap between the older and the younger generation continues to widen - 90 per cent of older generation in the UK have never heard of "nameless" before but all the young generation knows him. "Who is nameless?" Mr. Seed asked a group 10 elder Kenyans outside Memorial Baptist Church on Thursday morning. Mrs. Caroline Waria was quick to answer - "is there anyone without a name"?"

David Mathenge aka nameless posing for a photo after arriving in London on Thursday 22nd July, 2004

Posing with nameless is the team promoting his shows in the UK. From right is Henry Otiende, David Mathenge aka nameless, a friend, promoter Mr. Diggy and Mr. Kigo

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Kenyans in London overwhelmed by

Greensteds School performance

The Greensteds School Band & Choir from Nakuru, Kenya, has been touring the UK  as from 3rd – 23rd July, 2004. The group comprises of the school’s band children who have won national and international Music awards. Under the aegis of their music director Mr. Nicholas Mwashimba, the Choir and the Band have performed and entertained crowds in the North, South and West of England for three weeks and crowning their performances by entertaining Kenyan families in East London. The performance was done on Wednesday 21st July, 2004 at Memorial Baptist Church, Plaistow, East London as from 7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. The function was well attended by Kenyan families and their friends. The overwhelmed families could not hold to their seats when the band performed Kenyan beats including the popular Kenyan beat ....Hapa Kenya hakuna matata. With the choirs ability to mix and match popular music, be it old or new, African or American the crowd was particularly happy to catch up with such beat from different Kenyan communities like Maasai, Kalenjin and Samburu. The choir won rapturous applause from the crowds as they performed.

The band and the choir from this private in Nakuru  comprises: 16 girls, 6 boys, 5 male teachers including their headmaster. The fees at the school is KShs. 230,000 per term. Almost half of the students in the school comes from neighbouring countries, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia Sudan and Zaire. The school is also raising funds for: The United Disabled persons of Naivasha, a charity they have been assisting. The instruments played include Violins, Clarinets, Flute, Saxophones, Brass, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar and Drums. The team spent their night with Kenyan families in London where heart of generosity was shown by the Kenyan families by offering everyone accommodation. Mrs. Leah Rotich the Kenya Education Attaché from Kenya embassy who has been coordinating the tour the the interim chairman  of Kenya Community in Britain Mr. Charles Muhindi attended the function. Mrs. Rotich thanked the Kenyan community in the UK for their generosity and she wished Greensteds school students a safe journey home and a bright future. The team leaves for Kenya on Thursday night 22nd July, 2004.

"Kenya nchi yetu, hakuna matata......."

A group photo before the performance

 

Introduction was done by Charles Muhindi the interim chairman of Kenya Community Abroad

Priscilla, the teacher who lead the team on their mission

Karen Mrema who was playing the piano did it very well

Miss Judy Thuo (left) Jessica and Eduardo at their best during the performance

The choir in action as the music director Mr. Nick Mwashimba leads the way

Catching up with their native Kenya  - dressing with Maasai attire are Muthoni Murage and his brother Murage Junior and their father Moses Murage all the way from Slough

Mr. James Kangari (left) a student doing Biotech in an Oxford University came accompanied by his friend Mr. Maina Kanyora to see his brother Steve perform

Accompanying Mrs. Leah Rotich the Education Attaché (centre) was Dr. Eunice Cheserem and Mr. Gakuru Macharia of East African Magazine, London. Dr. Cheserem is a consultant obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a senior lecturer in the University of Nairobi. A doctor at Kenyatta National Hospital and her clinic in the city of Nairobi. Contact at the clinic is 224441 and email is ejcheserem@yahoo.com

 

A team of parents accompanied their choir during their tour in the UK

Miss Haimanot Amide a  member of the choir gave a solo during the performance. The family of singers including her brother who was in the choir and mum and dad are singers. The family comes from Ethiopia

From left is Haimanot, Leyla and Esther

Mrs. Leah Rotich Kenya's Education attaché addressing the guests after the performance

 

From North London was Mr. Jim Muriithi (second left) and his son

A good bye photo as the school poses outside Memorial Baptist church before their departure

 

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A shameless generation coming up

James Mburu Kamau, a 19-year-old Form Four student and his 70-year-old "wife", Nyanginda wa Gicharu. The young man has written to the exams board that he would not be sitting his high school exams and would instead be spending some quality time with his "wife", a mother of five, all of them married.

The side view of Nyanginda wa Ngugi’s house where she now lives with her new husband James Mburu Kamau and her son Gicharu wa Ngugi, 33.

 

The 71-year-old grandmother who has married a 19-year-old Form Four student Monday 19th July, 2004  denied that she was a "cradle snatcher", saying she was following the dictates of her god.  At the same time, the teenager said that no amount of threats, intimidation or raw force could force him abandon the wife God had ordered him to marry. Investigations by the East African Standard revealed that the couple was living together in the same house about seven kilometres from Makuyu town. Upon learning that she had some visitors, Nyanginda wa Gicharu who was said to be asleep emerged from her bungalow without shoes.  She, however, explained her predicament: "I have been suffering from a very severe bout of cold. I am just from my bed."  She was closely followed by James Mburu Kamau who came out in a T-shirt and sandals and started an unsuccessful hide-and-seek game with the cameras. It took hours of searching for journalists to come face to face with the ailing grandmother responsible for luring the boy out of school. Nyanginda wa Gicharu the woman who has in the recent weeks become a pariah for marrying James Mburu Kamau however, defended herself: "What God has ordered, no man can change." Her home is just a few metres from the rural home of Embakasi MP David Mwenje. The woman, whose five children are all married, said she was happy that Mburu had chosen her "following the will of God" . She said she has been giving her new husband odd jobs to sustain himself. "God had ruled that one should only eat if he works," she said.

Mburu was, however, economical with words and kept referring to his prophetic vision which had driven him out of class into the arms of a woman older than his biological mother. "I am not going back to school. Never. I discovered that I have been living a lie all my life. Now I have discovered God and happiness," said Mburu with finality. And to show that he was through with education, he confirmed that he had written a letter to the Kenya National Examinations Council withdrawing his KCSE candidature. The letter dated June 10 this year was addressed to the Secretary Kenya National Examination Council, the DEO Maragwa and the Principal, Gathungururu Secondary School.  At Gathungururu Secondary School in Makuyu, Maragwa, teachers and students were all united in their loss of their star student. His Form Four classmates were also in deep shock, with some vowing they were ready to "deal with the old woman to get their colleague back". "The students and the teachers are mourning. He was our only hope .We expected him to get grade B in this year's KCSE. Now he is gone. He has never been a problem to the school," the principal said. According to the school's principal, Miss Beth Githaiga, the behaviour change in Mburu was noted after he stopped attending Christian fellowship preferring to travel eight kilometres to Kaharati

The head said during the school's prize giving day on July 9, Mburu was expected to scoop a trophy for best student who had never been punished since he joined Form One. Before dropping out of school, Mburu at one time was beaten by his father after he refused to be sent to buy cigarettes in the nearby Makuyu trading centre, said the head, adding that previously he belonged to PCEFA church before joining "Arata a roho" church. Mrs Isabella Kamau, Mburu's mother said she had no right to discuss her son as he wrote a letter to the teacher indicating his wish. Isabella, a former primary school teacher at the nearby Gathungururu Primary School referred to her new daughter-in-law as a true friend that she knew many years ago. But John Kamau, Mburu's father, is bitter with his son for dropping out of school.  Kamau a former Mitumbiri location chief said: " My wish is my son to go back to school and sit for his KCSE as am ready to pay for his fees." Mburu's father, who is also a member of the school's Parents Teachers Association representing Form Four parents said: "I belong to the Catholic church and I do not know the church my wife and son belong to as they have embarrassed me. I do not know what will happen if I will ever come to meet her," he said of his daughter-in-law. -  The Standard.

 

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Visiting the UK and USA with a word of hope

Mrs. Ann Gathoni Chege is in London. Mrs. Chege arrived in London on Monday 12th July, 2004 for a two month for seeking help from individuals and organisations in the UK and the USA. All the way from New Hope Children's Centre (formerly Stars for Jesus Orphans Girls home) in Uplands Kenya. She is currently feeding, clothing and educating 72 orphan children.  She will be London until the mid-August, before flying to the US - Massachusetts, Lowell and Worcester where her contact will be c/o Janet Tel: 001 978 9700431. Then Newburgh, New York, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

The orphanage needs medicines, food and funds to complete the orphanage which has just started. Donors can help in buying the following: Stones @ £50 per lorry, Ballast @ £65 per lorry, Cement @ £5 per packet, roofing sheets @ £10 each and Sand @ £45 per lorry. While in London Mrs. Chege visited the Seeds family where she took time with the family explaining to the them the life style in the orphanage. Baby Seed was especially overwhelmed by touching stories about the children in the orphanage. He was especially concerned to hear that the children don't get enough food. "Our budget cannot allow us to eat meat daily, we eat meat once a week" Mrs. Chege explained. While on that subject the Seeds agreed with Mrs. Chege to start a Medical Kit for the orphaned children where they will appeal to their friends and family and any other well wishers in the UK and the US to contribute £10 each towards that goal. They are appealing especially to the young Kenyans to join hands.  They immediately started by giving their contributions. If you would like your family to share about life experiences at the orphaned with Mrs. Chege please use contact below.

 

All children attends school except the four small ones. Two girls are now in the University in Kampala, Uganda through the courtesy of Calvary Charismatic Baptist Church, Plaistow, London. Eight children are currently in High School while the rest are in Primary School.

 

"You donation will help make a difference in an orphan's life - and who knows......? Please read Psalms 126: 5-6, Psalms 41: 1-3" - concluded Mrs. Chege. Her contact in London is 07947883505 - email newhopechildren@mail.com - You can send your cheques: Ann Gathoni Chege, 82 Shaftesbury Road, Flat 5, London E7 8PF or credit to her account at Barclays Bank, Sort Code 209260, Account No. 20984698, Account Name - Ann Gathoni Chege.

 

FINAL WORD FROM MR. SEED - A number of Kenyans living in the UK have visited the orphaned and they brought a good report about the orphanage. A lady from North London visited the orphanage in the month of June 2004. While in the orphanage the children asked: "Do you know Mr. Seed? The lady replied she knows Mr. Seed - the children went ahead and wrote alot of letters to Mr. Seed some of which I will publish soon.

 

Once described by the Barclays Bank of Kenya as a lady with golden heart Mrs. Ann Chege

While in London she visited the Seeds - From right is Margaret Njiiri well known as Daughter Seed, Mrs. Chege, Joseph Njiiri and Dennis Njiiri (Baby Seed)

Construction currently going on at their new land

A wider view of the construction

Making a difference - the two children she rescued in December 2003

The children has drastically improved - this photo was taken in July 2004

 

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Kaza Moyo Films production

The name explains it all. Kaza Moyo films is a dynamic Kenyan audio visual company involved with production of Radio, Video and feature film productions. By blending modern and imaginative design with the wealth of authentic material and talent available from the African region, the company seek to promote images and perceptions of this vibrant continent. The producer Mrs. Catherine Wangui Muigai who is the wife of Ngengi Muigai is currently in London promoting her work. She will be displaying her work to the Kenya Society in London on 22nd July, 2004. She is in the processing of writing a screenplay for the book entailed "Clean Hands", published by Oxford University Press. Her contact Kazamoyofilms@hotmail.com

 

Film Producer Mrs. Catherine Wangui Muigai - she is the daughter of former PC Isaiah Mathenge

 

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Diplomats children graduates in the UK

The daughter of Kenya High Commissioner in the UK Miss Noni Muchemi and the daughter of the H.E. Mrs. Kalimi Mugambi Mworia, Kenya's ambassador in Netherlands Miss Makena Mworia were among hundreds of Kenyans who graduated in the UK last week. A graduation party was held on Friday 9th July, 2004 at the Kenya's High Commissioner's residence in London.  Noni graduated from Nottingham University with Economics, Makena graduated from Reading University. T.M. Muigai son of the Ngengi Muigai and Rhoda Maina were among the graduating team. Muigai graduated from Keele University while Maina graduated from Surrey Institute of Art and Design. It was a lovely evening for the grandaunts as a group of influential family friends joined them at the party.

Cutting the cake at the party is from left Noni, Muigai, Rhoda and Mworia

From right is Mr&Mrs. Muchemi Kenya's High Commissioner in the UK, and Mr&Mrs. Mworia Kenya's high Commissioner in the Netherlands

Congratulating their sisters Noni (left) is her brother David (centre) and her sister Nyambura (right)

The grandaunts friends joined them at the party

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"Nyama choma, nyama choma my son...this is what we do in Kenya"

It was like a beehive on Sunday 11th July, 2004 at the newly opened Carnivore Gardens in Leyton, London. The new Kenyan club situated at No. 640 Leyton High Street has proved to be a popular venue with Kenyan families. The venue has a big garden accommodating bouncing castles, Slides and Swings for Kids, Open Air Barbecue and Outside Garden Bar. Nyama choma is being done the Kenyan way with charcoal.

Children enjoying themselves at the club

Nyama choma was in plenty

A side view of the carnivore garden

Joining other guests at the carnivore was Mzee Kamau and his wife

Mr & Mrs. Njuguna Mugo (left) from Kenya who were on their way to Kenya from USA were among the guests. Mr. Ng'ang'a (third left) one of the partners at the club joined the table and on the right is Mr. David Gitare  and Mercy Kamau

Brian Wamiti (left) was among the children who went for the face painting at the carnivore as his mother Mrs. Wamiti looks on

 

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Good bye my brother

 

Two German brothers posing for a photo after one of the brothers wedded in Docklands Church on Saturday 10th July, 2004. After the wedding where Mr. Seed was invited the reception followed thereafter at an exclusive hotel in the Docklands - Four Seasons Hotel. As the family and bridal party posed for the photos at the hotel's backyard the brothers requested for a special photo. After the photo session they joined the reception where they had paid £7,000 for the party. It costs £300 a night for a double room to lodge in that hotel.

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Kirinyaga Anglican Bishop attends a wedding in London

 The Anglican Bishop of Kirinyaga, Kenya Bishop Daniel Munene Ngoru was among the guests who attended the wedding between Mr. Bob Kamau Mbuti and Miss Beth Waithira Kimani daughter of Pastor Elijah Kimani of Huduma Christian Ministries in East London. The colourful wedding took place at Calvary Charismatic Baptist church, London and was followed  thereafter by a reception at Heathcote School, Normanton Park, Chingford, London. The wedding was well attended both in the church and at the reception.  The wedding was officiated by the Rev. Francis Sarpong the head pastor of Calvary Charismatic Baptist church, London while the word of the day was delivered by Rev. James Kirika of Discipleship Christian Ministries in West London.

 Bishop Daniel Munene Ngoru of Kirinyaga address the guests at the wedding

 It was a big wedding - invited or not invited guests from all walks of the UK joined the reception

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New building coming in Uplands, Kenya for orphaned children

 When God gives a vision it is a big burden to others. Many talks of their vision throughout their life and ends up going to the grave without implementing their visions. Mrs. Ann Gathoni Chege a former employee of Barclays Bank, Nairobi is one of those who want to leave a mark in their generation. Once described by Barclays Bank as "a lady with a golden heart" Mrs. Chege started it all by going to give food and aids to sick people in Kenyatta National Hospital, in Nairobi, Kenya. Later she took several orphaned children with the name of Stars of Jesus. Determined to feed, cloth and educate them she started looking for a place to house the children. A Kenyan family with a difference known as Mr. & Mrs. Mahira currently living in Zimbabwe leased  their beautiful family house in Upland, Kenya for a period of five years free of charge.

Mrs. Chege and her husband Mr. Chege left their beautiful home in Buru Buru in Nairobi to join the children in Uplands. They started with few children of which not it has grown to 62 children. Without a regular donor the couple has managed to feed, cloth and educate the orphaned children to the university. Three of the children are currently in the university in Uganda. Since the lease of five years is almost complete the couple has managed to secure a five acre land next to the home of which intend to buy for the children. They made a part payment for the land and now they want to build some hostels for the orphans so that they can now move to their new land. She is appealing for well wishers who can help build the new site. They have spent all the money they had with the buying of the land of which is now yet over. Again they have to feed the children.  It is quite a burden but they are determined to succeed. The couple are coming to the UK next week for a campaign about their project. They are expected to arrive on Monday 12th July, 2004. Contact in Kenya is 0733765871 or 0722601195 email newhopechildren@mail.com - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

 

 Mr. & Mrs. Chege at the site of the new construction

 A wide view of the new construction coming up

 

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Pigeon Club closed by the court

 Pigeon Club, 120 Romford Road, London, the most popular Kenyan join the UK has closed down. The club was closed on Friday 2nd July 2004 morning when  Stratford's  Magistrates court allowed the owners of the premises Unique Pub Company to evict the current occupiers of the premises. It has been a long battle going on between the current owners and the Unique Pub Company who had leased the premises to them for 30 years. The company went to court accusing the management of the Pigeon Club of violating their agreement by delaying the payments of rents and making nose to the neighbourhood. According to some sources from the club, the Unique Pub Company has some kind of hatred for black people as one of the manager of the company was once overhead saying "These premises will never land into the hands of black people". It has been suggested that the Unique Pub Company has tried all the means to kick the current owners out before two years are over as they could not be able to kick them out after two years. The company tried to bring all pieces together to kick the group out with the support of the neighbourhood. The current management is to contest for an appeal next week.

The Pigeon Club with doors closed with a notice on the door

The notice on the door explains it all

 

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A Kenyan opens a high tech salon in London

A Kenyan has opened a high tech salon in London. Shades Hair Salon, 1076 High Road, Chadwell Heath is a professional hair salon with the latest equipment in the market. The proprietor of the salon Esther Wangui Mwaura Daniels launched the saloon on Friday 2nd July, 2004 where she invited friends for a launching party at the premises. Esther, a hair stylist has employed two other employees to display the latest styles on the market. She intends to charge affordable prices to attract customers for the first few months. For booking you can call 02085483899.

The street view of the salon

High tech equipments at the salon

Miss Margaret Njiiri (daughter Seed) seated who was there during the launching posing with the proprietor of the saloon Esther Wangui Mwaura

A section of friends who had turned for the launching with Esther's husband seated far right

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Professor of politics vs professor of education

Former President Moi, former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo and Planning minister Anyang Nyong’o share a light moment when they met during celebrations to mark America’s 228 years of independence at the US Embassy in Gigiri, Nairobi, on Friday 2nd July, 2004. - The Standard..

 

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Watch me grow in my mother's womb

A new type of ultrasound scan has produced the vivid pictures of a 12 week-old foetus "walking" in the womb. The new images also show foetuses apparently yawning and rubbing its eyes. The scans, pioneered by Professor Stuart Campbell at London's Create Health Clinic, are much more detailed than conventional ultrasound. Professor Campbell has previously released images of unborn babies appearing to smile. He has compiled a book of the images called Watch Me Grow. Conventional ultrasound, usually offered to mothers at 12 and 20 weeks, produces 2D images of the developing foetus. These are very useful for helping doctors to measure and assess the growth of the foetus, but convey very little information about behaviour. Professor Campbell has perfected a technique which not only produces detailed 3D images, but records foetal movement in real time. He says his work has been able to show for the first time that the unborn baby engages in complex behaviour from an early stage of its development. Professor Campbell said: "This is a new science for understanding and mapping out the behaviour of the baby. "Maybe in the future it will help us understand and diagnose genetic disease, maybe even conditions like cerebral palsy which puzzles the medical profession as to why it occurs." The images have shown:

This foetus exhibits behaviour identical to what he will do after birth,. If he's held upright on a flat surface he will try and move forward.

Babies produce a motion approximating to yawning from as early as 12 weeks' pregnancy. Maybe this is nature's way of ensuring that as soon as she enters the world, she'll be able to take her first breath.

This baby's brain has developed sufficiently to enable him apparently to sense the other parts of his body. He can bring his fingertips together so they touch.

An hour long session using the new technology, which is not yet available on the NHS, costs £275.

 

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