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

Monday 30 November 2015

MPs warn of chaos over Wetang'ula removal days after leaflets found

It's a norm to threaten Kikuyus with consequences if these f**kn losers don't get their way? Does it mean Kenyans breath the air they produce or we all depend on the mighty Gods provisions? These are the scumbags who drag Kenyans backwards. It's a norm to threaten Kikuyus with dare consequences if these f**kn losers don't get their way? Does it mean Kenyans breath the air they produce or we all depend on the all mighty Gods provisions? These are the scumbags who drag Kenyans backwards. Bloody thieves

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula at Katiba grounds in Kimilili town on Sunday during a prayer rally in his support over voter bribery allegations, and the possibility of his removal from the voter's register. Photo/BRIAN OJAMAA

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula at Katiba grounds in Kimilili town on Sunday during a prayer rally in his support over voter bribery allegations, and the possibility of his removal from the voter's register. Photo/BRIAN OJAMAA

BY BRIAN OJAMAA

November 30, 2015

Communities from Mt Kenya living in Bungoma could be in trouble for "being behind [Senator Moses] Wetang'ula's woes", area MPs have warned.

The seven politicians warned of possible chaos should the IEBC deregister Wetang'ula over allegations of voter bribery.

"The Kikuyus are not ready to let go of power. They know the only person who will rule this country wisely and distribute the national cake equitably is from the Mulembe (Luhya) community whom they now want to cut," said Likuyani's Enock Kibunguchy.

The MPs said the commission wants to deregister Wetang'ula as he has "threatened to take the leadership of this country away from the community".

Their warning comes days after leaflets directed at "Mt Kenya People.... haunting" the Senator were distributed in Kimilili, Bungoma and Webuye towns.

Businessmen in the areas and some parts of Webuye have started leaving following the warning, despite county commissioner Mohamed Maalim's assurance of security.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said Wetang'ula was "the only leader from the Mulembe community who stood a chance of being president and must be shown respect".

The politicians said the Senator's woes stem from Jubilee's fear that Cord will endorse him for president in 2017. They spoke at Katiba grounds in Kimilili town on Sunday during a prayer rally in his support.

Others present were MPs Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi), Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Suleiman Murunga (Kimilili) and Nominated Senator Catherine Mukite.

Wamunyinyi said Bungoma accommodated "other tribes" from Mumias, Vihiga, Busia, Kitale and Kakamega during the 2007/8 post-election violence but now "the community wants to finish their leaders politically".

Simiyu claimed judge Francis Gikonyo was used to nullify Wetang'ula's election, even after DPP Keriako Tobiko had said there was insufficient evidence to charge him, because "he was a threat to the community" .

"Musikari Kombo went to court to accuse Wetang'ula of bribing clergy. But the clerics denied receiving any money despite having a prayer meeting at Kanduyi Red Cross hall before the March 4 elections,’’ he said.

Wetang'ula said the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission cannot determine his future "through shoddy means".

"We have a new constitution in place and any attempts to deny me justice will not be received in peace by the Mulembe community,'' he said.

"I am a qualified lawyer who has been practising for more than thirty years. No one can threaten me with the law. We know how to interpret it."


British American Tobacco accused of bribing senior politicians to sabotage anti-smoking laws

Several individuals involved with the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control allegedly targeted

British American Tobacco, one of Britain’s biggest companies, has been accused of bribing senior politicians and civil servants in a bid to sabotage anti-smoking laws.

The allegations by whistleblowers from the company, and supported by court documents, relate to the company’s operations in several African countries.

Paul Hopkins, who served in the Irish Special Forces before working for BAT, claims he broke the law for the tobacco firm. “I was a commercial hitman,” he said in an interview broadcast on BBC One’s Panorama.

Commenting on the practice of bribery, Mr Hopkins, who worked for BAT in Kenya for 13 years, said: “It was explained to me in Africa that's the cost of doing business.”

Several individuals involved with the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) were allegedly targeted.

Under the UK Bribery Act, British companies can be prosecuted for bribery which takes place overseas. And anti-smoking campaigners are demanding the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launch a criminal investigation into BAT.

11-BAT-corbis.jpg
Paul Hopkins worked for BAT in Kenya for 13 years, and was led to believe that bribery was part of the cost of doing business in Africa (Corbis)

“BAT is bribing people, and I'm facilitating it,” claimed Mr Hopkins, who no longer works for the company.

Before he left, he recorded conversations with his boss, Gary Fagan, BAT’s director for East and Central Africa, and a company lawyer Naushad Ramoly, discussing bribes. In an exchange in 2013, the lawyer said: “That’s what we are going to be paying. Yeah, ok, fine. Anything else that you think we’ll need to be paying for?” Mr Ramoly, who no longer works for BAT, denies involvement in illegal activities. And Mr Fagan denies giving permission for the payment of bribes.

Two FCTC representatives, Godefroid Kamwenubusa, from Burundi, and Chaibou Bedja Abdou, from the Comoros Islands, were both allegedly paid $3,000 (£2,000), according to the Panorama investigation. And Bonaventure Nzeyimana, a former FCTC representative from Rwanda, was allegedly paid $20,000. All three deny accepting bribes. But in court documents, BAT describes the payments to the three as “unlawful bribes,” according to the BBC.

Another allegedly bribed was Moses Watangula, former Minister of Trade, Kenya. The tobacco company paid for a business class return flight for his wife to London. He denies having had dealings with BAT.

And Dr Kasirivu Atwooki, a Ugandan MP who sat on a committee writing a report on a rival company, was allegedly given £20,000 to make amendments and give it to BAT in advance. He denies the allegations.

The documentary features another whistleblower. Solomon Muyita, a former lobbyist in Uganda, claims he was told to pay off dozens of people, and is suing the company for wrongful dismissal.

Court documents from his case claim that David Bahati, a Ugandan MP who proposed an anti-tobacco bill, had been recruited to spy on anti-smoking activists. The politician was in favour of “…having most of our views accommodated in the proposed tobacco law,” according to a record of a meeting between BAT and the MP. Mr Bahati did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC.

Dr Vera da Costa e Silva, head of the WHO FCTC secretariat, accused BAT of “using bribery to profit at the cost of people’s lives.”

And Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Panorama’s shocking evidence must be investigated without delay. If true, it is hard to imagine any more disgusting act for a British company than to pay decision makers in Africa to prevent legislation being passed to protect children and young people from a future of addiction, disease and premature death caused by smoking.”

She added: “We will be writing to the Government to demand that a criminal investigation under the Bribery Act is launched at once.”

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In a statement, a BAT spokesperson said the allegations were from “former employees with a clear vendetta against us, whose employment was terminated in acrimonious circumstances and who present a completely false picture of the way BAT does business.” They added: “Any proven transgression results in disciplinary action and may lead to dismissal. We will not tolerate corruption in our business, no matter where it takes place.”

Mr Hopkins plans to meet with SFO investigators this week. A spokesperson for the SFO said: “We are aware of the general allegations but cannot comment further at this stage.”


Cabinet shuffle has finished Uhuru myth

President Kenyatta and DP William Ruto during the media briefing at State House. Photo/Hezron Njoroge
President Kenyatta and DP William Ruto during the media briefing at State House. Photo/Hezron Njoroge

November 28, 2015
For once, President Uhuru Kenyatta gave a speech that genuinely resonated with me. The televised message announcing the cabinet changes carried overly sanguine promises as usual, but Uhuru also struck responsive chords with anxious Kenyans by recognising the failings that we have all been complaining about. While speaking to the challenges that have brought him to the lowest point of his presidency, Uhuru was unusually collected throughout the address.

Sunday 29 November 2015

Twin Flame Relationships: When the Magic Hits the Fan

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The notion of twin flames has been a source of fascination for a lot of people, including myself. Just the possibility of finding the person who can take us to the highest levels of ecstasy is very tempting and maybe the highest reward we can expect for going through earthly pains. I have been fortunate to have had two relationships that fit that description. They turned my life upside down and brought up all of my issues to the surface that have been laying dormant in the secret crevices of my psyche. Those relationships kicked my spiritual growth into high gear and I had to hang on tight. Really tight.

The worst places to live in Nairobi

By Cate Mukei Sunday, Nov 29th 2015 

Nairobi West

It is known for its endless bars frequented by loud, pot bellied men. J. Mwende says “I can’t help but associate bars with smelly toilets,” and adds that her greatest fear is getting married and bringing up her children in such an environment.

Eastleigh

With it’s recent security crackdowns by the government to weed out terror cells in the area, no one wants to be woken up every midnight just to confirm that they are legally Kenyans. Zeinab Mwamburi lived in Eastleigh since childhood but had to move recently due to the terror attacks. “As a woman I found this place unsuitable for me. Living in fear not knowing when to start running was not the life I wanted,”Zeinab, who now lives in Langata, said. 

The biggest threat to your security in these parts of Nairobi are gangs which include groups like Gaza Boys and other underage criminals who have a away of intimidating residents to a point they can’t even report to the police.

Agnes Munyaka, despite having lived in Kayole all her life says she still gets harassed by hostile gangs who are mostly made up of people she grew up with. “I wish I had a better source of income. I would move to a different neighborhood to avoid all this drama,” she said.

Lunga Lunga

This area is famous for rape especially of minors resulting to unwanted pregnancies. It is simply not a safe place. There have also been incidents of motorists getting carjacked at night as they approach the slums.

In June last year, police shot dead a suspect in a botched robbery in Lunga Lunga slums. In the same area, a man was shot and wounded by suspected thugs.

Kawangware (Congo)

There are two main gangs operating in the area. They are so dangerous that even authorities think thrice before setting foot in the area. The two gangs don’t see eye to eye so woe unto you if you are caught up in their fights.

Named after a war tone African nation, most people who live in the area are hardened residents who understand the ‘logistics.’

Githurai 45

The situation in Githurai 45 is so bad that when a famous cop Titus Katitu who used to kill thugs was

prosecuted for murder, residents protested for three days. They simply wanted him to continue killing the thugs.

 However, it seems the thugs are stronger than cops.

Jericho

The main problem in this estate is a high rate of unemployment that produces most hardened criminals in the city.

Interesting Facts About the United Kingdom



   

The word “Britain” is derived from the name of a Celtic tribe, the Brythons.t
The word “England” comes from “Angle-land,” or land of the Angli, or Angles, a Viking tribe that came across the North Sea and settled in the east and north. The French name for England, Angleterre, also literally means “Land of the Angles.”t

signs that you’re wasting your life

 

Carol Morgan, a psychologist and educator, once posed two questions to her readers: what had they always wanted to become since childhood, and had they achieved their dream in adulthood? For those who answered in the negative to the second question, she offered these 13 indications that life might be passing them by.

We suggest reading through these points. If nothing else, knowing what Carol has in mind, you might become a bit happier once you’ve read them.

1. You spend too much time doing things you shouldn’t be doing

Video games. Reality TV. Surfing the ‘net. Stuffing your face with too much food. Drinking too much. And the list goes on. Take a serious look at your life. Where are you spending the majority of your time? And does it serve you well? Is it leading to a better life? Is it laying the foundation for a bright future? If not, then you need to reevaluate your routine activities and make changes.

2. You find yourself complaining a lot

I know people who are constantly overwhelmed with life, and they never cease to tell me. Are you one of those people? Do you complain about your job, your boss, your salary, your neighbors or your spouse? If you do, then you are doing nothing but exuding negative energy. Negativity doesn’t change things. It keeps you stuck. So change your thoughts and talk about what you appreciate about your life, not what you don’t like.

3. You don’t feed your mind

If you’re not continually growing and learning as a person, then you are stagnant — just like a still pond that doesn’t move and grows green gunk on it. That’s what your mind does if you don’t keep it active and learn new things. Positive challenges in your life will expand your mind, not send it backwards.

4. You have a lot of negative self-talk

Self-talk can make or break your life. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t… either way, you’re right.“ If you tell yourself that you’re not smart enough to get that promotion or start a business, then you’re right. If you tell yourself you’re too exhausted to put effort into changing your life, then you’re right. Whatever you tell yourself becomes your reality. So closely monitor what you say to yourself, because you will find that your life matches your thoughts.

5. You feel uninspired

Do you have a passion for anything? I know a lot of people who think they don’t have a passion. But that’s never the case. There has to be something that you enjoy doing. So you need to rediscover what excites you, and then do more of it.

6. You don’t plan for your future

While it’s always great to live in the ”now“ and “be in the moment,” sometimes you need to look ahead to see where you want to go. If you don’t have a goal or a plan, then you are like a boat that is wandering aimlessly in the ocean hoping to end up somewhere good. But you can’t do that. You have to make a step-by-step guide to get where you want to go. Just like a GPS gets you to a destination, you need your own inner GPS to guide you.

7. You spend too much time with people who don’t contribute to your growth

It’s easy to get stuck hanging out with people who are not making you feel like a better person. But if you keep doing that, then you will stay stagnant or get pulled down with them. I like to call them ”Energy Vampires.“ They suck the life out of you and give you nothing positive in return. Instead, go find growth-oriented people to be around.

8. You’re addicted to your phone

Sure, cell phones are super cool gadgets that can leave us entranced when we use them. While that’s fun, think about all the time you are wasting with your phone. Even worse, think about all the relationships that might be affected. Maybe you’re texting or searching the internet while you’re having dinner with your spouse or kids. If you are, you’re missing out on meaningful time you can spend with your loved ones — or time you could devote to making a plan for your future.

9. You spend money on things that don’t matter

There is a difference between a ”need” and a “want.” I’m sure we all learned that in kindergarten. However, in today’s society, we have blurred the lines quite a bit (see #8… the cell phone). In fact, I know people who can’t pay their mortgage, but still have the fanciest gadgets on the planet. If you stop to think about it, there is very little that we actually need. Food, water, shelter and love are some of those things. All the rest are just bonuses. So look at what you’re spending your money on and see if you can make adjustments. Maybe you can use the money you save to invest in your future.

10. You don’t get enough sleep

I’m not a medical doctor, but I have read enough books to know how vitally important sleep is. I could write 20 pages on it. But I obviously don’t have enough room in this short article. Sleep is crucial for good health. If you’re too busy to get enough sleep or if you simply have a bad habit of staying up until the wee hours of the morning, you should re-evaluate your habits.

11. You’re not taking care of your body

Not only is sleep essential to your health, so is food and exercise. I know I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. But eating a balanced, healthy diet and moving your body around truly does have more positive effects other than weight loss. It affects your mental attitude and overall well-being. So take a look at your diet and level of activity. You might find that making a few small changes will greatly improve your life.

12. You don’t leave your comfort zone

I know how easy it is to live in a comfort zone. In fact, when I go to a familiar restaurant, I always order the same thing. Not because I’m afraid to try something new, but because I like the food I normally order. But that’s not the kind of comfort zone I’m talking about. I’m talking about taking a risk that will improve your life. And keep in mind, there is a difference between a “risk“ and a ”calculated risk.” Any risk has the possibility to be deadly, but a calculated risk is one in which you’ve weighed all options and thus come up with a good, sensible plan of action.

13. You’re living a life you don’t like

The way I measure success is by someone’s level of happiness. Are you happy? If not, then you should change something! Even a feeling of contentment or satisfaction doesn’t tell you that you’re living life to the fullest. Life should be exciting! So if you’re not enjoying life, take a look at some of the changes you can make to get you to a better place.

If any of these 13 points sounded like you, don’t despair. You can make changes. But the first change you need to make is getting rid of the idea that you can’t do it. Many times, your biggest obstacle is your own thought process. So start there. Change your thinking — then change your life.

Saturday 28 November 2015

Ladies Beware! Types of Men You Should Avoid

As women, we tend to ignore any concerns we might have in the beginning of a relationship. We gloss over potential conflicts because we don’t want to rock the boat too early on. It is, after all, a new relationship and with time, he will come around and see things from our perspective, right? Wrong.

Ladies, beware of these 10 types of men that you should stay away from:

1. He doesn’t like your friends
Don’t let any man become more important than your friends. You aren’t perfect but neither is he, and for him to treat your friends disrespectfully is unacceptable.

2. The Liar
If he is willing to break your trust with a lie, he needs to go. Without trust there can be no relationship.

3. He does not know what he wants
This guy is so indecisive, he may give you whiplash! One day he wants you, the next day he wants to be friends. One day he wants kids, the next day he thinks puppies are just as rewarding as a family. Drop him. Most likely, he knows what he wants. He just doesn’t want it with you.

4. Set in his ways
This guy is so comfortable in his own habits that he doesn’t even consider your wants or needs. Plus, boredom is sure to set in with a dud who is unwilling to try new experiences.

5. He Fears Rejection

This guy will never open up enough to give you the chance to hurt him. Dump him now.

6. He is attached to his mother

Don’t waste time on a man who will always compare you to a woman whom he views as perfect. Also, constantly seeking his mother’s approval may be a sign that he’s not capable of making his own decisions.

7. The workaholic
Being career-driven is a wonderful quality, but if he is solely focused on his work success, he will not be available to connect with you on an emotional level.
8. He has a different religion
It is difficult to build a family foundation with someone who has different values, especially if children become involved. It is important for 2 people in a relationship to share common beliefs.
9. The commitment-phobe
This man works hard to convince people he is happy with the bachelor-style life, but in reality he is too scared to let anyone in close enough to know his true self.
10. The social media addict 
This man is most likely insecure and in need of validation from others or is in search of cheating outlets. Either way, let him go!Are you left wondering to yourself if there are any good men out there? Don’t worry, there are. Finding the right man might be the most challenging task you’ll ever take on, but now that you know which types of men to avoid, you can eliminate all the dead ends!

Shock as Emily Chebet, six others banned for doping

Emily Chebet (centre) with Joyce Chepkirui (right) and Florence Kiplagat (left) during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 29, 2014. Chebet was on November 27, 2015 banned for four years for doping. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL |

Emily Chebet (centre) with Joyce Chepkirui (right) and Florence Kiplagat (left) during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 29, 2014. Chebet was on November 27, 2015 banned for four years for doping. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL |   AFPIn Summary

By AYUMBA AYODI
More by this Author

Two-time World Cross Country champion Emily Chebet is among seven Kenyan athletes banned for doping offences.

Chebet, who won the 2010 and 2013 World Cross Country senior women’s race titles and failed in her bid for a hat-trick at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China, has been banned for four years of the use of Furosemide.

Chebet becomes the first Kenyan champion at a major world championship to be sanctioned for using prohibited substances.

Also to receive four years suspension each are the 2015 Beijing World Championships sprinters Joyce Sakari and Francisca Koki.

However, Koki and Sakari have protested saying Athletics Kenya has not given them a fair hearing even after they pleaded their innocence besides availing the pharmacist who administered the substance.

AK chief executive officer Isaac Mwangi dismissed their claims saying they were given three sessions starting in Beijing during the World Championships and in Nairobi to state their cases. Mwangi said they still have a right to appeal.

MwangI noted that while Furosemide is not illegal for use by patients it’s not allowed in athletics since it’s used as a masking agent. “It hides or cleans an illegal substance that an athlete might have used,” Mwangi said.

Sakari and Koki returned adverse findings that saw Sakari being barred from taking part in the 400m semi-finals, having set a national record of 50.71 seconds in the heats. Koki had failed to go past the first round in the 400m hurdles.
Sakari and Koki’s ejection from Beijing tainted Kenya’s historic performance where they topped the medal standings for the first time at the World Championships.

Sakari and Koki indicated that they recorded statements in Beijing followed by another session that didn’t discuss much due to lack of quorum. “Mwangi told us that we will receive four years ban each in our last session on November 9 besides being told to bring the pharmacist who was involved to the hearing,” said Sakari.

“We were told that investigations were to be done after we availed the pharmacists only to receive letters banning us on Friday evening,” said Koki. “The process was not explained to us.”

“All these were hearings and I don’t know which other sessions they wanted. We explained to them their rights and the need to have a lawyer but they didn’t see the need,” said Mwangi.

According letter seen by the nation signed by the pharmacist who is based at Kilimanjaro Dawa located in Nairobi, he acknowledged giving the two athletes Furosemide to help excrete excess water as a result of using creatine powder which is for energy and endurance. 

“The retention of water to an individual after using creatine is common with some patients as the pair,” said the pharmacist referring to Koki and Sakari.
The bans bring to 43 a total number of Kenyan athletes who have been sanctioned for doping in the last three years.

The seven athletes now joins the list of runners who have doped, coming two months after a promising 800m runner, Agatha Jeruto, was handed a four-year ban for the use of prohibited substance Norandrosterone.

JEPTOO BANNED

Rita Jeptoo, who had won Chicago and Boston Marathon back-to-back in 2012 and 2013, was banned for two years in January this year after she tested positive for prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO).

Chebet failed in her bid to win her third World Cross title finishing sixth where Kenya’s teenage sensation Agnes Jebet Tirop, 19, won, but her performance contributed Kenya’s team silver. 

That could see Kenya being stripped off the silver medal by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Chebet won her maiden cross title in Bydgoszcz, Poland in 2010 but an injury saw her fail to defend the title 2011 in Punta Umbria, Spain where the reigning World 10,000m champion, Vivian Cheruiyot prevailed.

UK weather: Incredible 'winter wonderland' NASA photo shows huge storm bringing weeks of snow to Britain


The weather system, dubbed Storm Clodagh, is forecast to bring heavy snowfall and winds of up to 100mph to the UK this weekend

Atlas Photo Archive/NASA
Winter wonderland:Storm Clodagh prepares to engulf the British Isles

This incredible NASA photo shows the huge storm about to engulf Britain in two weeks of snow.

The weather system, dubbed Storm Clodagh, is forecast to bring heavy snowfall and winds of up to 100mph to the UK this weekend.

Up to half a metre of snow could fall in Scotland's mountains this weekend while cold air will flood south, according to the Met Office.

The Exeter-based forecaster has issued a yellow weather warning for Saturday and Sunday covering the whole of England and Wales.

Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples said wind speeds of more than 50mph could be recorded inland and that a showery weekend lay ahead for many.

She added: "The showers will be wintry further north.

"Parts of Scotland will see snow on higher ground, probably above 300 metres."

Separately, Meteogroup forecasts a windy night across the whole of the UK tonight.

A statement from the forecaster read: "Showers will plague many western and northern areas of the country with the driest weather across eastern parts of England.

"Showers towards the north, especially across high ground, will be wintry in nature.

Atlas Photo Archive/NASA
Hidden from view: Storm Clodagh is forecast to bring up to two weeks of snow to the UK 

"During the second half of the night, more persistent rain will move in to many northern and western areas.

"As the rain meets the high ground of northern and central Scotland, so it is likely to fall as snow."

It added that Sunday will be "increasingly" with snow accumulating on the hills later in the day.