A dream doesn't become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work.

Thursday 31 October 2013

Rape ‘punishment’ sparks protest in Kenya

Agency, The Independent - ‎Thursday‎, ‎31‎ ‎October‎ ‎2013
Hundreds of women took to the streets in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, in a protest march after a teenager was gang-raped and the punishment for the alleged perpetrators was mowing the lawn at a police station. 
The online activist group Avaaz said a 16-year-old, named only as Liz, was gang-raped in June and is now in a wheelchair.
More than 1.3 million people have signed an Avaaz petition calling for the prosecution of the alleged rapists, and an investigation of the police who freed the suspects.

I’ll settle for £300m, says wife in multi-million pound court battle

Tom Harper, The Independent - ‎Thursday‎, ‎31‎ ‎October‎ ‎2013
 
 
One of Britain’s bitterest divorce battles arrived at the High Court with the estranged wife of businessman Scot Young telling the court that she would “settle” for £300m of what she claims is his multibillion-pound fortune.
Rex Howling QC, acting Michelle Young, alleged that Mr Young secretly channelled £100,000 to his estranged wife and the couple’s two children through a high-profile businessman in order to pretend he was penniless and could not support them.
Mrs Young claims that Mr Young has hidden his fortune offshore, and said that maintenance payments supposedly given to her by the unnamed friend of her estranged husband in fact came from the sale of “chattels” from one of the couple’s former luxury properties.

Kenyan victims of 2007 violence complain after president's trial delayed

Daniel Howden in Nairobi, The Guardian - ‎Thursday‎, ‎31‎ ‎October‎ ‎2013
 
 
 
 
International criminal court puts Uhuru Kenyatta's trial back for third time as country tries to avoid seeing leader in dock
 
Victims of the post-election violence that swept Kenya at the end of 2007 have complained after the international criminal court delayed the trial of the country's president Uhuru Kenyatta until next year. It was the third time that the prosecution has been postponed, this time moved from 12 November to 5 February. The ruling comes amid frantic diplomatic efforts by Kenya to avoid having its president put in the dock at The Hague.
"The victims are angry," said Fergal Gaynor, a lawyer appointed by the ICC to represent 20,000 ordinary Kenyans who lost homes, livelihoods and loved-ones during orchestrated ethnic clashes where 1,300 people died.

Brooks and Coulson 'had an affair'

Press Association - ‎Thursday‎, ‎31‎ ‎October‎ ‎2013
Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson had an affair for at least six years, a jury has heard.
Prosecutor Andrew Edis told jurors at the Old Bailey that in February 2004, when the pair were both working at the media giant, they had been having a relationship for some years.
He said a letter was found on Mrs Brooks's computer from February 2004, that made the relationship clear.
Mr Edis said: "The point that I'm going to make in relation to that letter is that over the relevant period, what Mr Coulson knew, Mrs Brooks knew too. And what Mrs Brooks knew, Mr Coulson knew too - that's the point.

ICC judges defer President's Uhuru Kenyatta's trial to February 5, 2014

 Thursday, October 31st 2013 By Standard Digital Reporter
Trial Chamber V(b) of the International Criminal Court ( ICC) has postpone the commencement of the case against President Uhuru Kenyatta to February 5, 2014 from the initial date November 12,  2013.
The Chamber noted that both the Defence and the Prosecutor are in agreement on postponing the trial date until February 2014.
On 24 October 2013, Kenyatta’s Defence had requested the Chamber to postpone the initial date of November 12, 2013.

Australian man drives taxis to bring his Kenyan wife and kids home

FlowersFather of three, Darren Flowers, has been forced to leave his Kenyan-born wife Anne and their children in Africa while he drives taxis to raise money to fund their return to Australia.
“The Australian Embassy in Kenya is pretty useless,” Mr Flowers told Andrew Schmidt during an interview for ABC999 Broken Hill’s Morning Program Outback Outlook .
“They were contacted and someone turned up at court just to make sure I was all right and that was it.
“Then they disappeared.
“They spoke to Anne and she explained the story and they left without contacting me personally,” Mr Flowers continued.
Since returning to Australia Mr Flowers has had no contact from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Trouble began for Mr Flowers went he tried to leave Kenya last month.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

How bus driver parked 13 victims on rail to die

How bus driver parked 13 victims on rail to die

Driver, wearing music ear- phones, ignored screaming

passengers and hooting train to attempt crossing railway,

to escape from a police officer who had flagged him down.

By OWINO SAMWEL and KINYURU MUNUHE, The People  October 31, 2013
 
Blood-cudlling details have been reconstructed of how a bus driver seemingly thoughtlessly put 40 passengers on the path of an on-coming train, then jumped off, leaving 13 of them to be crushed to death and 21 others critically injured. According to eye witnesses and survivors, the dawn accident at Mutindwa rail crossing, at Umoja estate, in which a bus was rammed by a commuter train, appeared more like an intentional criminal act than an accident.
The bus, one of many tagged UmmoInner (to denote Umoja-Innercore) had been caught up in the usual traffic jam that clogs the road-rail intersection at 7.30am. Eye witnesses said a police officer manning the junction flagged the driver to pull out of the traffic, apparently for inspection. By that time, the second of three morning commuter trains that ply the Dandora-city track was hooting from the direction of Donholm.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

'Miracle babies' preacher Gilbert Deya charged with sex offences

Gilbert Deya
Gilbert Deya

Pastor who claimed to be able to help infertile couples accused of raping woman and assaulting 14-year-old girl

Press Association, theguardian.com,
A pastor who claimed to be able to give infertile couples "miracle babies" has been accused of a string of sexual assaults.
Gilbert Deya, 61, was charged with three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape against a woman.
He was further charged with one count of sexual assault-by-touching against a 14-year old girl, the Metropolitan police confirmed.
He appeared in custody at Camberwell magistrates court on Friday and has been remanded in custody to appear at inner London crown court for a preliminary hearing on 8 November.
Deya, from south-east London and originally from Kenya, has run the registered charity Gilbert Deya Ministries, which claims a UK membership of 36,000.

KDF soldiers sacked, jailed over Westgate mall looting



How comes  initially Gen Julius Karangi denied that KDF looted?

Tuesday, October 29th 2013, By Cyrus Ombati


NAIROBI, KENYA: Two Kenya Defence Forces soldiers have been sacked and jailed for looting during the Westgate shopping mall terror attack, the military chief has said.
Gen Julius Karangi said that a third soldier was under investigation. 
He identified those sacked as Victor Otieno and Victor Ashiundu. He added Isaiah Wanjala is under probe over the allegations.
Gen Karangi said the soldiers were found with mobile phones, cameras and chargers that were “stolen” from the mall during the siege.
Gen Karangi previously said that soldiers had only taken water during the four-day siege.
“Discipline is our core driving point and we are not playing with this issue. That is why we have taken action on these soldiers. Two of them have been jailed and dismissed while a third one is under probe,” he said.

The soldiers are from the 40 Rangers in Gilgil, which is a special combat unit.
He explained that the soldiers were in the company of their commander who gave them permission to pick water from the mall during the siege.
The commander is also said to have sought permission from the Nakumatt Supermarket manager who allowed him, said Karangi.
This follows the airing of a footage that showed soldiers carrying items from the Nakumatt supermarket.
Gen Karangi said he established a board of inquiry into the now widespread allegations that there was looting at the mall before making the decision He said eight soldiers were captured entering the mall.
Somali Islamist group al-Shabab says it was behind the attack, which killed more than 70 lives and left more than 200 wounded.

The President's Devotional: What Obama 'Did In Secret' In Newtown (EXCERPT)

Oct, 2013

Excerpted from THE PRESIDENT’S DEVOTIONAL: The Daily Readings That Inspired President Obama, by Joshua DuBois by arrangement with HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins. Copyright © Joshua DuBois 2013.

By Joshua Dubois

The White House is not supposed to be a place for brokenness. Sheer, shattered, brokenness. But that’s what we experienced on the weekend of December 14, 2012.

I was sitting at my desk around midday on Friday the 14th when I saw the images flash on CNN: A school. A gunman. Children fleeing, crying.

It’s sad that we’ve grown so accustomed to these types of scenes that my first thought was I hope there are no deaths, just injuries. I thought, Maybe it’s your run-of-the-mill scare.

And then the news from Sandy Hook Elementary School, a small school in the tiny hamlet of Newtown, Connecticut, began pouring in. The public details were horrific enough: Twenty children murdered. Six staff. Parents searching a gymnasium for signs of their kids.

But the private facts we received in the White House from the FBI were even worse. How the gunman treated the children like criminals, lining them up to shoot them down. How so many bullets penetrated them that many were left unrecognizable. How the killer went from one classroom to another and would have gone farther if his rifle would’ve let him.

That news began a weekend of prayer and numbness, which I awoke from on Saturday only to receive the word that the president would like me to accompany him to Newtown. He wanted to meet with the families of the victims and then offer words of comfort to the country at an interfaith memorial service.

I left early to help the advance team—the hardworking folks who handle logistics for every event—set things up, and I arrived at the local high school where the meetings and memorial service would take place. We prepared seven or eight classrooms for the families of the slain children and teachers, two or three families to a classroom, placing water and tissues and snacks in each one. Honestly, we didn’t know how to prepare; it was the best we could think of.

The families came in and gathered together, room by room. Many struggled to offer a weak smile when we whispered, “The president will be here soon.” A few were visibly angry—so understandable that it barely needs to be said—and were looking for someone, anyone, to blame. Mostly they sat in silence.

I went downstairs to greet President Obama when he arrived, and I provided an overview of the situation. “Two families per classroom . . . The first is . . . and their child was . . . The second is . . . and their child was . . . We’ll tell you the rest as you go.”

The president took a deep breath and steeled himself, and went into the first classroom. And what happened next I’ll never forget.

Person after person received an engulfing hug from our commander in chief. He’d say, “Tell me about your son. . . . Tell me about your daughter,” and then hold pictures of the lost beloved as their parents described favorite foods, television shows, and the sound of their laughter. For the younger siblings of those who had passed away—many of them two, three, or four years old, too young to understand it all—the president would grab them and toss them, laughing, up into the air, and then hand them a box of White House M&M’s, which were always kept close at hand. In each room, I saw his eyes water, but he did not break.

And then the entire scene would repeat—for hours. Over and over and over again, through well over a hundred relatives of the fallen, each one equally broken, wrecked by the loss. After each classroom, we would go back into those fluorescent hallways and walk through the names of the coming families, and then the president would dive back in, like a soldier returning to a tour of duty in a worthy but wearing war. We spent what felt like a lifetime in those classrooms, and every single person received the same tender treatment. The same hugs. The same looks, directly in their eyes. The same sincere offer of support and prayer.

The staff did the preparation work, but the comfort and healing were all on President Obama. I remember worrying about the toll it was taking on him. And of course, even a president’s comfort was woefully inadequate for these families in the face of this particularly unspeakable loss. But it became some small measure of love, on a weekend when evil reigned.

And the funny thing is—President Obama has never spoken about these meetings. Yes, he addressed the shooting in Newtown and gun violence in general in a subsequent speech, but he did not speak of those private gatherings. In fact, he was nearly silent on Air Force One as we rode back to Washington, and has said very little about his time with these families since. It must have been one of the defining moments of his presidency, quiet hours in solemn classrooms, extending as much healing as was in his power to extend. But he kept it to himself—never seeking to teach a lesson based on those mournful conversations, or opening them up to public view.

Jesus teaches us that some things—the holiest things, the most painful and important and cherished things—we are to do in secret. Not for public consumption and display, but as acts of service to others, and worship to God. For then, “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you,” perhaps not now, but certainly in eternity. We learned many lessons in Newtown that day; this is one I’ve kept closely at heart.

presidents devotional

Devotional For December 14
Darkness’s Hour

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” —Luke 22:52–53 (nkjv)

“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Darkness will, in fact, have its hour. We saw hours of darkness in Auschwitz and Treblinka, Newtown and antebellum Mississippi. No one less than Christ affirmed that there are moments when evil moves mightily in the world. The questions become: Do we have confidence in the coming light? Will the darkness overwhelm us, which is always its goal, or will we hold on to the promise of the morning?

Jesus held on to that promise, and in his resurrection and ascension was crowned victorious, in a mantle of light. His confidence is an indicator of how we should meet our own times of darkness, those moments when evil temporarily seems to reign.

Dear God, in the nighttime, remind me of the day. In the darkness, remind me of your light. I have confidence in the coming morning, and until then I will stand strong. Amen.

Police cancel controversial summonses to KTN

October, 2013 by 

NAIROBI, Kenya,– Police summonses issued to Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei, investigative reporters John-Allan Namu and Mohamed Ali have been cancelled following uproar over infringement of media freedom.

A top State official told Capital FM News on condition of anonymity that a decision had been reached within high levels of government to cancel the police orders.

Capital FM News had earlier learnt that lawyers acting for the three had agreed to present them for questioning on Monday since Shollei is away.

The summonses were delivered to the Standard Group offices on Mombasa Road Thursday afternoon by detectives, a day after Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said he wanted them questioned over issues in their story that was “grossly misinforming and inciting.”

Earlier in the day, the civil society and journalists’ groups had slammed the directive saying it was an affront to media freedom.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights chairperson Anne Ngugi condemned the threats by the Police Chief saying,” journalists and the media have a right to inform the public and the public the right to receive information.”

Ngugi added, “Until these rights are protected the government will only be paying lip-service to human rights which they should rid themselves of.”

The Kenya Editors’ Guild also raised concern saying, “This is an affront on media freedom and an attempt to gag the free flow of information which is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya.”

“We challenge the Inspector General of Police to prove his allegations of incitement and clarify why his officers are harassing journalists in the course of their duty,” their statement read.

“We remind the Kenya Police that it is the cardinal duty of media to access to information share it with their audiences. This is a duty the media has largely carried out professionally with integrity and a high sense of responsibility. As it stands the Media in Kenya is self regulating and there are clear sections of the law that address those aggrieved by media reportage.”

“There is a Complaints Commission within the Media Council of Kenya where the Inspector General or aggrieved parties can file their complaints for determination,” they advised.

On his part, the Law Society of Kenya Chairman Eric Mutua said the journalists only gave answers to the unanswered questions brought by the confusion seen between the security forces.

“The Inspector General seems to be the only stranger in Jerusalem. All and sundry know that the Westgate operation was bungled and the various statements issued by security forces were non- factual,” he added.

In a statement, Mutua added that the findings by the investigative journalists should be clarified and not seen as a chance to threaten the media.

“When persons charged with such responsibility fail to show leadership and provide answers the media and public will provide alternative answers. Whether right or wrong, these answers were a necessity,” explained Mutua.

He advised that instead of issuing threats to the media what should be happening is resignation of those who failed and formulation of an independent commission to probe the Westgate fiasco.

James Mwamu of the East Africa Law Society also disapproved of the actions of the Police boss, advising him to hand over the matter to the media council for investigation before arresting the said journalists.

“We would rather believe on what comes from the media than what comes from the police; we were told that some mattresses were burning only to discover it was a bomb explosion,” he said. Tom Rhodes of the Committee to Protect Journalists added to the growing concern saying, “It appears we are entering a downward spiral in terms of media freedoms in Kenya following Kimaiyo’s summonses to John-Allan Namu and Mohamed Ali over their Westgate mall coverage.”

“Kenya has a statutory Media Council designed to handle media disputes.

“The Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo should follow his nation’s procedures and settle any concerns through the council, not threaten with incitement.”

“Kenya’s robust press should not be targeted simply for airing the truth. Instead, the Kenyan police should be investigating the real criminals at Westgate, not the messengers,” said Rhodes.

Kimaiyo had said “it is very clear that there is limit” to media freedom.

“We are looking within the law very closely for those individuals who in one way or another might have committed crimes… that soon they would be apprehended and appear before the court, and face the consequences of this,” he said.

However, Kenya’s military chief Julius Karangi on Tuesday insisted officers did not loot, and took drinks from the supermarket only “to quench their thirst”.

Explaining the other goods taken, Karangi called it “sanitisation to ensure their safety”.


All eyes on South Sudan as Kenya, Uganda push for Lapsset corridorproject

East Africa’s ambitious plan to boost its oil supply infrastructure enters a critical phase this week as Kenya and Uganda float a design tender, while South Sudan decides whether to build a pipeline through Kenya or Djibouti. TEA Graphic
East Africa’s ambitious plan to boost its oil supply infrastructure
enters a critical phase this week as Kenya and Uganda float a
design tender, while South Sudan decides whether to build a
pipeline through Kenya or Djibouti. TEA Graphic

By JOINT REPORT 
By Machel Amos in Juba, Kennedy Senelwa and Peterson Thiong’o in Nairobi
The EastAfrican, October  2013 
IN SUMMARY
  • Sources said President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni are keen to see the project take off ‘‘in a matter of months.”
  • The EastAfrican has learnt that a $3 million feasibility study commissioned by South Sudan, on both routes — to Lamu and Djibouti ports — has found both technically viable, but the government is due to consider the cost, terrain of each route and geopolitics of the region.
  • The decision has presented a headache for Juba for while a pipeline to Djibouti makes a stronger economic case, its deep diplomatic connections with Uganda and Kenya make it hard for it to ignore these two states.

Police battle youths over ‘free’ alcohol

Breaking the colour-bar through rugby

By Edwin Nyairo

ELDORET, KENYA: The first rugby match in Kenya was played in Eldoret in 1909 between the British and Afrikaaner settlers.
Since Kenya attained independence in 1963, the rugby scene has been dominated by clubs such as Harlequins, Nondies, Impala, Mwamba and Mean Machine, Mombasa RFC and West Kenya Oribis, a team that consisted of white farmers from the Eldoret and Kitale regions.
From the 1960s up until the 1970s, rugby was mainly played by white Kenyans and expatriates. The first black players were introduced in the early 1970s straight from the former colonial schools such as Duke of York School (later Lenana School), Prince of Wales School (later Nairobi School) and Rift Valley Academy (RVA).

Monday 28 October 2013

Storm: Two People Killed By Falling Trees in UK


undefined

As the storm topples hundreds of trees across Britain, one rips through three homes and ruptures a gas main, causing an explosion. Two people have been killed by falling trees in the severe storm which has been battering southern England. A 17-year-old girl died after a tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent. Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager. A man in his 50s was killed after a tree fell on his car in Lower High Street, Watford, in the early hours of this morning. A 14-year-old boy is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex. Around 270,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

At least seven dead as St Jude storm hits mainland Europe

undefined
Mainland Europe bore the brunt of the St Jude storm after it brought chaos to Britain. Germany, Holland, France and much of Scandinavia were battered by ferocious winds and rain, causing at least seven deaths. Six people were killed in Germany, several of them crushed by falling trees. Seven  people have been killed by falling trees in the worst storm to hit Britain in a decade. Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent

JOGINDER SINGH DIES

Safari Rally legend Joginder Singh died aged 81


Tuesday, October 22nd 2013,

Three-time Safari Rally winner Joginder Singh died at the age of 81 on Sunday.
Singh was Kenya's most successful rally driver, winning the African marathon twice when it was a round of the World Rally Championship.
Success on the Safari in the 1960s and '70s demanded exceptional mechanical sympathy allied to an almost unnatural understanding of East African terrain.
Just getting to the finish was an achievement. Singh started 22 Safaris. He finished 19 and won three.
The 'Flying Sikh' knew the African marathon as well as anybody. But he knew how to get to the finish better than anybody.
One of 10 sons, Kenyan-born Singh was immediately surrounded by cars - the family business was a garage. But it took him until the age of 26 before he started competing. Simultaneously, he took on the role of patrolman in the Royal East African Automobile Association.
Singh would go on to win more than 60 rallies in his native East Africa, but it was three victories on arguably the world's most infamous event that really made his name.

A 26-year old Kenyan Evelyn Kimanga, a student at the University of Brighton is missing.

PictureMISSING

Police in Brighton are concerned for the welfare of a student who has not been seen for over month.

26-year old Evelyn Kimanga, a student at the University of Brighton who had been living at an address in The Highway, Brighton, was last seen at the end of September when she returned from a trip to Kenya, where she comes from.

Police were informed on 14 October and have been making enquiries in Brighton, where informationj has now been received that she was seen in the city on Saturday 26 October.

That infornation updates previous reports that she may have gone to London.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho: They must want Arsenal to beat us

The special cry! Even before we kick the ball! Stop mind games Mouri! 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

October 28th 2013


Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho accuses Capital One Cup fixture schedulers of helping Arsenal to win the trophy
Jose Mourinho has accused the fixture schedulers of wanting Arsenal to beat Chelsea in the Capital One Cup after arranging their clash just two days after the Blues win over Manchester City.
Chelsea face the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night in the clear pick of the fourth round matches.
However, Mourinho has warned spectators not to expect a classic London derby with his players still recovering from their Premier League victory over title rivals City.

Sunday 27 October 2013

Mixed fortunes as Kenyans chase American dream through Green Card

Mr Robert Simiyu with his wife Lucy in Houston, Texas.
Mr Robert Simiyu with his wife Lucy in Houston, Texas.
By Nation Correspondent
It is a particularly beautiful Sunday evening in the lush suburbs of Houston, Texas, as small groups of Kenyan families arrive in their posh cars at one of their compatriot’s home for an evening out.
Ordinarily, such meetings, which are regular fixtures, would just be for sharing an evening together and catching up. But the gathering on this particular Sunday has greater significance.

ODM members’ unease over Kidero’s ‘plot to topple’ Raila

President Kenyatta during his impromptu visit to Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero (right) at the latter's office at City Hall,  Nairobi. Photo/FILE

By JUSTUS WANGA
Events surrounding the recent trip to the United States by six Cord governors and the just concluded by- election in Siaya have exposed the uneasiness between some allies of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.
Dr Kidero did not accompany Mr Odinga in the first trip to Texas in July and is also missing from the current on to Washington DC, in addition to being conspicuously absent from the ODM campaign for Siaya governor.
The former premier’s allies now accuse the Nairobi governor of engaging in premature succession politics in the party and by extension in the Luo Nyanza region when Mr Odinga, the de facto supremo of the party and region, is yet to hang up his boots.

Kenya cases threat to peace, warns AU

From left: ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photos | AFP and FILE |
From left: ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda,
Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Sunday, October 27, 2013
By Walter Menya
The case against President Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, should be put on hold so that the two leaders focus on leading the fight against international terrorism, the African Union has told the UN Security Council.
They should also be freed to participate in easing ethnic tensions in the country, which pose a threat to internal security, the AU argues.
In its 20-page letter to the Security Council, the African Union describes terrorism as a threat to regional stability.

Ladies, beware of weaves with deadly worms



October 27th 2013, By Leah Gondi-Ogondi

Kenya: Irene Myangoh, a personal assistant working at a law firm in Nairobi went to an upmarket hair salon along Kenyatta Avenue, and spent more than Sh3,000 on a human hair weave.

Two weeks later she started suffering from severe headache that would not go away. She would wake up with severe headache at night.

She went to a private doctor who gave her drugs for the relief of mild to moderate pain of inflamatory origin with or without fever; they would only work for a few hours and then the headache would be back worse than even before.

For Sh100,000 one can get a Kenyan birth certificate, school leaving certificate, national identity card certificate of good conduct, driving license


    Joseph Ole Lenku, Interior Cabinet Secretary

.........who doesn't really know about it? unless you are not Kenyan. 

October 26th 2013   

By THE STANDARD ON SUNDAY TEAMNairobi, Kenya: As government announced the sacking of fifteen high ranking immigration officials, investigations by The Standard on Sunday reveal a core of corrupt government employees working in cahoots with rogue businessmen to provide an array of paperwork that would pass as legal government-issued identification documents.
For the right price, well-connected government employees will create a whole identity for an individual, evading whatever checks and measures put in place by the government.
An ill-prepared, ill-paid, poorly motivated workforce is keen to look the other way for that extra shilling with little regard to the risk they put the country.
For about Sh100,000 one can get a birth certificate, school leaving certificate, national identity card, certificate of good conduct, driving license as well as a Kenyan passport.

Terrorism bred in Eastleigh


Terrorism bred in Eastleigh

The People  October 27, 2013
The seeds of the terrorist attacks that have caused hundreds of deaths, immeasurable pain of injury and property loss in Kenya were planted long ago in the country, experts say. They are warning that Kenya remains very vulnerable since little has been done to cut down ‘terrorism’ from its roots. An Imam who asked not to be quoted for security reasons told The People that the biggest threat to Kenya’s security has been obvious to both muslims and security system but corruption and the money in the terror network have put paid efforts to eradicate it. “Go to eastleigh and look at the mosques. Also look at the Madrassas (places of Quran instruction) for young people and new converts.
If you are keen you will see that the ground for the terror attacks that we are experiencing today have been in preparation for a long time,” said the Imam. It is this tip that led to an expedi- tion into Eastleigh. Yet establishing our facts was not an easy task. For, although with its thriving business Eastleigh looks like an open soci- ety, Eastleigh is almost impenetra- ble.

What has fighting and celebrating has in common? And who would like to be governed this way?

KPL Champions

GADO1027

Saturday 26 October 2013

Former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frazer says ICC process will end in empty justice,

Ms Jendayi Frazer at Safari Park Hotel Nairobi On October 25,2013 during a Sunday Nation Interview. Photo/William Oeri
Ms Jendayi Frazer
In Summary
By MUGUMO MUNENE
The ICC cases facing President Kenyatta, his Deputy William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang should be dismissed because the prosecutor did not conduct credible investigations and the process will end up in “empty justice,” a former US diplomat on Africa has said.
Former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer says the African Union request to the UN Security Council to postpone the cases for a year should, in fact, be replaced with a dismissal of the cases.
Dr Frazer was in office at the time of the disputed 2007 election results and the violence and political agreements that followed what is characterised as one of the darkest chapters in Kenya’s history and was one of the diplomats working to resolve the crisis.

Powerful women around President Uhuru Kenyatta

Powerful-WomenOctober 26, 2013 ·
PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration is distinctly different from his predecessors in that while their closest advisors were mainly men, several women have come up in the new regime who have the ear of the presidency.
Some of these women not only called the shots during the elections campaigns but are closely involved in the almost daily running of the government and meet with the president on a daily basis.
Sources say that the President consults widely with them not only on matters gender and youth matters but also other areas of concern which have previously been the preserve of the predominately male kitchen cabinets of his predecessors.
At home, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta is said to wield some influence on her husband as does his mother Mama Ngina Kenyatta who, since his political debut in the late 90s, played an integral role from behind the scenes to propel her son to the highest office in the land.

Of sperm thieves and proud baby daddies

Women are glad to be called babymamas
October 26th 2013
  
By Silas Nyanchwani
You know the world is ending when you hear a woman introduce a man as her baby-daddy. And the man stands there unflinching, like the Nyayo monument. The two 30-something women, well fed, had run into each other in the supermarket where I overheard this. The man, also in his 30s, looked perfectly sensible, even though he sported a stud in one ear. I have never overheard something whackier.
At what point in a man’s life do you accept such a designation? The word baby-daddy has a number of connotations: “loser,” “irresponsible,” add “stupid” too. Such a man is not worth his two wrinkled b***s. There is even a popular television series based on the foibles and the vicissitudes of being a baby daddy. Holy St Francis!
How did we get here? The institution of fatherhood has never been so desecrated. African-America men are notorious absentee parents. I didn’t know Nairobi is becoming another city of young toto mamas and chest-thumping baby daddies.

"Big Mama" and the Massacre, ICCs Reputation at Risk in Kenya

 

Photos
REUTERS, Erich Follath
Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, is doing all she can to put Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta behind bars. But the hurdles are high, and failure could spell doom for the dream of global justice.
The road to where she is today was long and rocky. But now, she is the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), empowered by 121 countries to hunt down the worst of the world's mass murderers and put them behind bars, a criminal prosecutor in cases involving genocide and the world's public prosecutor. She is, in a sense, everyone's supreme conscience.

Resign if soldiers looted, ex-officers tell Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi

Kenya defence forces
Kenya defence forces

Saturday, October 26th 2013

By KIBIWOTT KOROSS
Chief of Defence Forces John Karangi should resign if allegations of looting by the army at the Westgate shopping mall are proved true, former military officers have said.
They also want all soldiers captured on CCTV cameras carrying plastic bags court martialled and the loot returned. On Saturday of September 21, at around 4pm, the first team from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Special Regiment made up of 40 Ranger Strike Force, 30 Special Forces and 20 Parachute Battalion, was deployed to Westgate Mall.

Another Security Briefing over Westgate


GADO1026

Friday 25 October 2013

Rihanna covers the 25th anniversary of GQ Magazine! How mad can one be? or it in promoting illuminati.

This is one sick sick cover! I know say Una go shout illuminati now! This is one mad magazine cover!

How Kenya can make the most of its oil and gas find

PHOTO | FILE Tullow Oil engineers work at the oil rig at Ngamia One Well in Turkana County in 2012.
PHOTO | FILE Tullow Oil engineers work
at the oil rig at Ngamia One Well in Turkana
County in 2012. The discovery of oil in the
arid region has raised the locals’ expectations
and its is prudent for the government to manage
them early.  NATION MEDIA GROUP
Friday, October 25, 2013, By Nic Cheeseman
Recent finds of oil and gas across East and West Africa mean that by the end of the next decade, almost all African economies will be dominated by natural resources.
With the discovery of large oil deposits in Turkana, Kenya has now joined the club of resource-rich states. Making the most of this opportunity depends on the willingness of the government to save the proceeds of oil and gas and invest them in the future.
The importance of natural resources to the continent is growing by the year. Following the recent oil and gas discoveries in Africa, an issue that was previously only relevant to a small number of countries is now at the top of the political agenda for many more.
We are no longer just talking about the classic “resource economies” — DRC, Nigeria and South Africa. In the future, the debate about the impact of oil and the resource curse will focus on Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Why Nigerians are miles ahead of Kenyan writers

Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie. The past weekend saw the London Premiere of Adichie’s Half Of A Yellow Sun at the BFI London Film Festival. PHOTO/FILE
Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie.
The past weekend saw the London Premiere
of Adichie’s Half Of A Yellow Sun at the
BFI London Film Festival.
Friday, October 25, 2013, By KINGWA KAMENCU
In Summary

Kenyan writers are trailing their West African counterparts in presence, recognition and output.
The past weekend saw the London Premiere of Chimamanda Adichie’s Half Of A Yellow Sun at the BFI London Film Festival.
Originally published as a book, the movie features renowned British-Zambian actress Thandie Newton and was directed by Adichie’s fellow Nigerian writer Biyi Bandele.
The 46-year-old Bandele, who has more than 10 published works under his belt, is also a playwright.
This is his first attempt at directing and producing a film.
Prior to this, The Caine Prize for African Writing was also awarded to a Nigerian writer Tope Folarin in July.
That Folarin was awarded was not news; what was unique, was the fact that three other Nigerians appeared on the shortlist of five.

After court win, I may now sell land to Moi, says farmer

PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH Mr Malcolm Bell.
 Mr Malcolm Bell
Friday, October 25, 2013
In Summary
By WANJIRU MACHARI
The farmer who won a landmark land case against former President Daniel arap Moi on Friday said he could not rule out the possibility of selling the 100 acres at Kabarak to the retired leader.
Mr Malcolm Bell, a 64-year-old rancher, was speaking to the Saturday Nation just a day after five Supreme Court judges put an end to the 10-year battle by endorsing a Court of Appeal order directed at Mr Moi.
Reporter: “You had said that your land was not up for sale to Mr Moi or anyone else. Do you still maintain that stand?”

President Uhuru Kenyatta wants ICC to determine application to stop case against him before trial can commence

October 25th 2013e, By STANDARD DIGITAL REPORTERNairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s defence has filed an application asking the International Criminal Court ( ICC) to move the start of his trial from November 12, to a date after February 12, 2014.
In the application filled on Friday October 25 the defence cited five reasons for the request among them the need to allow the Prosecution time to investigate the facts and matters raised by Kenyatta’s defence in an application for a permanent cessation of trial against the him.
The application to stop the trial was filed on October 10 with the Defence citing that the Prosecution had abused the court process by among other things failing to collect both incriminating and exonerating evidence.

Kenya Police Threatens Journalist over Westgate


Oct 25 13 Police, Journalists and Westgate

Thursday 24 October 2013

Devil at work as halloween approaches.

It's the GRIN reaper! Notorious prankster wreaks havoc in park with remote-controlled winged skeleton ahead of Halloween

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

This hilarious video shows a flying Grim Reaper terrifying unsuspecting victims in the park a week before Halloween.

The prank was thought up by notorious American joker Tom Mabe who used the remote-controlled skeleton to frighten the life out of joggers, dog walkers and children alike.

He filmed the winged version of Death, which he calls the Flying Reaper, looming overhead and swooping down on people below as they run away.

Scroll down for videos

It's behind you! A comedian frightens the life out of two joggers with his remote-controlled Grim Reaper

It's behind you! A comedian frightens the life out of two joggers with his remote-controlled Grim Reaper

Halloween horror: The joggers run off with comedian Tom Mabe's Flying Reaper in hot pursuit

Halloween horror: The joggers run off with comedian Tom Mabe's Flying Reaper in hot pursuit

Flight of Death: Mr Mabe has been flying the winged skeleton in parks, but it is unclear where he got it from

Flight of Death: Mr Mabe has been flying the winged skeleton in parks, but it is unclear where he got it from

 

Mr Mabe has made a name for himself by thinking outside the box and his latest prank is no disappointment.

His YouTube clip now has more than 150,000 views since being posted just 24 hours ago.

 

Mr Mabe, 44, said: 'We have had a lot of fun making this. It's taken some work to make it happen, but it's great fun. 

'It flies with the help of a remote control helicopter but you rig it up in a really brilliant way. It has to be quiet so people don't hear it. 

'Wherever there are people, we will go. We have since managed to make its eyes glow red and we are going to go out at night and scare people.

Scared stiff: The Flying Reaper creeps up behind teenagers at a play park

Scared stiff: The Flying Reaper creeps up behind teenagers at a play park

Hot on their heels: Children run screaming as the cloaked skeleton chases them

Hot on their heels: Children run screaming as the cloaked skeleton chases them

Having a blast: A video of the prank has been watched more than 100,000 times

Having a blast: A video of the prank has been watched more than 100,000 times

'The best bit is when you sneak up on people. We fly it about 200 feet in the air and then drop it down so it's right behind them. 

Mr Mabe, a self-confessed 'crazy dad' from Louisville, Kentucky, added: 'There's been a lot of trial and error but we think we've got it just right, in time for Halloween. 

'We're going to take it to a street where there are always lots of trick-or-treaters and are going to set a camera up from inside the Reaper's face to capture the children's reactions. 

'I have always wanted to do this, it's such a laugh.'

Well-timed stunt: Mr Mabe has been pulling off the pranks a week before Halloween

Well-timed stunt: Mr Mabe has been pulling off the pranks a week before Halloween

Prankster: Mr Mabe has made a name for himself by thinking outside the box with his practical jokes

Prankster: Mr Mabe has made a name for himself by thinking outside the box with his practical jokes

Mr Mabe, from Louisville, Kentucky, have been hailed a 'comic superhero' in the past for playing pranks on telemarketers to the point where they hang up.

He once pretended to be a detective investigating a crime scene and threatened to make the telemarketer a suspect in the case.

Another caller looking to sell him a cemetery plot was told that he had been thinking about killing himself and the call must be a sign to carry it out.

A place he knows well: The Grim Reaper soars over a cemetery

A place he knows well: The Grim Reaper soars over a cemetery

Spooky: The Grim Reaper rises high in the sky before swooping down on unsuspecting victims

Spooky: The Grim Reaper rises high in the sky before swooping down on unsuspecting victims