“In Solidarity” - The theme of the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memoria

The theme of the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is “In solidarity”. On Sunday 19 May 2013, for the 30th time, grassroots organizations worldwide will commemorate International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Communities will raise awareness around HIV, stand together with people living with HIV and remember the loved ones lost to HIV and AIDS.

The theme of “In solidarity” emphasizes the need for people living with and affected by HIV to join hands and work together in the response to HIV. Solidarity in communities is essential to reduce stigma and promote the involvement of people living with HIV in order to ensure a more effective HIV response. Only together as communities can we advocate for universal access to quality health and social services.

Organizing the memorial for the 30th time is no reason for celebration. When the AIDS Candlelight Memorial was held first in 1983, no-one could have predicted the scale of the global epidemic. With millions of lives lost and around 33 million people currently living with HIV, HIV remains a challenging reality. While for many people HIV has become a chronic disease, many others lack access to treatment and experience HIV-related stigma, discrimination and human rights violations on a daily basis. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial reminds us of the impact that HIV has on our lives locally and globally.

Kenyan Mentors - Meet Lina Githuka (BAT’S AREA HEAD OF BRANDS (EAST & CENTRAL AFRICA))

Lina Githuka Holding A young Angel

Lina Githuka joined BAT from Uniliver Kenya as a Group Brand Manager (Eastern Africa) and since then, it has been an exciting experience, one that has continuously stretched her with every role she has undertaken. Later on, she moved to the BAT’s Global Head Office in London as a Senior International Brand Manager, Managing Global Brands. This experience exposed her to marketing in Large Developed Global Markets, dealing with a more discerning consumer who is less price-sensitive and more demanding.

Developing global platforms also empowered her to think strategically. The cultural diversity of the global team was enriching as it brought out different ideas and perspectives to business discussions while valuing each other. Working in London prepared her for her next role; as a Consumer Director, working in BAT South Africa Area. Working in South Africa opened new horizons for her and created the Zeal to work in a large organization with robust structures, processes and matrix environment.

From South Africa, Lina took up the role of Head of Trade Marketing and Distribution for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi based in Kampala. Months ago, Lina took up her current role as the Area Head of Brands (East & Central Africa). As a member of the Marketing Leadership Team, She contributes to the shaping of the marketing strategy. She is directly responsible for delivering the Brand Marketing Strategy through development and implementation of the portfolio strategy across 17 markets. She is passionate about developing young talent within marketing and the wider organization through coaching and mentoring young managers.

Lina’s Word to The Young Kenyan Talent.

‘My advice to young Kenyan talent who would like to pursue their career in the corporate world is to be passionate about what they do, seize the opportunity and take calculated risks as it can truly be a fulfilling experience. On reflection, it has been an amazing journey which has required passion, hard work, commitment and sometimes compromise’.

List of Kenyan Parliamentary Members of The Appointment Committee.

List of the Kenyan Parliamentary Committee members who are tasked with the responsibility of vetting the nominees of the new Kenyan Cabinet Secretaries and all other Kenyan Government Appointments is out.

Hon. Justin Muturi – Speaker of The Kenya National Assembly.

Hon. Dr. Joyce Laboso – Deputy Speaker of The Kenya National Assembly.

Hon. Aden Duale, MP – Leader of The Majority Party in Kenya National Assembly.

Hon. Francis Nyenze, Mp – Leader of The Minority Party in Kenya National Assembly.

Hon. Dr. Naomi Shaban , MP– Deputy Leader of The Majority Party in Kenya National Assembly.

Hon. Jakoyo Midiwo,MP – Deputy Leader of The Minority Party in Kenya National Assembly.

Hon. Isaac Ali Shaban, Mp.

Hon. Jackson Kiptanui, MP.

Hon. Roselinda Soipan, MP.

Hon. Katoo Ole Metito, MP.

Hon. Nelson Gaichuhie, MP.

Hon. Abass Ahmed Ibrahim, MP.

Hon. Gideon Konchellah, MP.

Hon. Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu, MP.

Hon. Moses Cheboi, MP.

Hon. David Wafula, MP.

Hon. Manson Nyamweya, MP.

Hon. Maj. Gen. Rtd.  Joseph Nkaissery, MP.

Hon. Ken Obura, MP.

Hon. Jamleck Kamau, MP.

Hon. Mishi Juma Khamis, MP.

Hon. Esther Murugi, MP.

Hon. Amina Abdalla, MP.

Hon. Cecily Mbarire, MP.

Hon. Ibrahim Sane, MP.

Hon. Stepehen Mutinda Mule, MP.

Hon. Boniface Gatobu, MP.

Hon. Marcs Muluvi Mutua, MP.

The National Drama Festivals Gala Perfromances

The National Drama Festivals, came to a close with the winning productions scheduled to feature at Gala Winners Show on the 23^RD April 2013.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY

Plays:

Kakamega High School (Western).

Riara Springs (Nairobi).

Dance:

Kakamega High School (Western).

Karima Girls (Central).

Narratives:

Kamusinga (Western).

Sironga Girls (Lake Region).

Chorals:

St. Joseph’s High School (Nakuru).

French play:

Lubinu Boys (Western).

PRIMARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY.

Plays:

St. Peters Mumias ( Western).

Lions Primary (Nakuru).

Dance:

Bukingo (Bungoma-Western).

Vunga Primary (Coast).

Narratives:

Lugulu Girls Boarding (Western).

Solo Verse:

Booker Academy

TEACHER COLLEGES CATEGORY

Play:

Kibabii(Nzoia – Western).

Dance:

Iregi TTC (Western).

Muranga TTC (Central).

COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES

KIMC – Nairobi.

Meet The New Governor of Nairobi County - Dr. Evans odhiambo Kidero

Dr. Evans Kidero - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) strong man clinched the Nairobi Gubernatorial seat, beating his closest rival Ferdinand Waititu with a small margin. 

Final results from Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) showed Evans Kidero obtained 692,483 votes against TNA’s Ferdinand Waititu with 617,839. 

Speaking after being trounced by Kidero, Waititu honorably conceded defeat and said he has respected the wishes of the Nairobians.

‘Shackles of Doom’s Day’ At The 2013 Kenya National Drama Festival

MOMBASA, KENYA: The day started with amber sun rays piercing through the large Arabian windows that ventilate the Aga Khan High School auditorium. And as the clock ticked, theatre lovers continued to troop in numbers never seen before during the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival.

It was as if a Broadway Production was coming to town from Manhattan, New York City.
The fete’s organisers had their crowd control skills put to the test, with a huge battalion of police officers brought in to help maintain order as the sea of humanity turned out to watch Shackles of Doom. For an auditorium with a capacity of 400, it was obvious some of the over 2,000 people gathered outside the auditorium would be disappointed.

“Haki Yetu! Haki Yetu!,” was all they could say after realising their efforts to secure seats failed to bear fruit.And finally the time for Butere Girls’ students to take to the stage came as the adjudicators’ bell rang.The usually easy air turned tense and the arrival of human rights advocate and Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar did not make things any better.
“We have been good to you but you are so heartless. You came and took away our land as our husbands veins drains in labour,” came one of the stinging lines from the play as the young thespians got down to business.

This is the acid reaction by True Kanas to Mrs Kimani’s announcement of the new employees of the newly established Mafuta Oil Company.All plum jobs but those of labourers go to members of one community. Kimani, the proprietor of the land bought from the True Kanas, tries to assuage locals by appointing Lopush, a resident, as a watchman.This does not go down well with the residents, but Kimani cannot hear none of their complaints.Kimani’s meanness is further highlighted when he forcefully demanding to ‘sleep’ with Lopush’s bride on the eve of their wedding.

 Deafening applause
“Let me explain. I didn’t have anything with Kimani,” tries to explain Wamaitha, Lopush’s bride, after the groom busts them in his house. By this time, the audience is silent and their empathy for Lopush is manifest in the applause and deafening cheers. But payback time comes when Mafuta Oil Company catches fire and Kimani’s wife and the rest of the management from his community are trapped inside. Ironically, the person with key, Lopush, had just been unceremoniously expelled by Kimani. Kimani starts begging and as True Kanas realise he is helpless, they corner him. “Lynch him! It is payback time!” “Please for the sake of humanity, let me free, and open the gates!,” cries subdued Kimani.

“But when you took all position and left as slaves didn’t’ you think of humanity? Or when you denied us time out of work, or too all the land and siphoned all the profits, or even when you let effluence into the environment and our women miscarry and men die of Cancer?” asks a True Kana woman as the audience applause. But a voice of reason comes in and one of the community members pleads for forgiveness on his behalf. As the curtain falls on this controversial and much awaited piece, there is a standing ovation and in the Nigerian style, they all go Igwe! Igwe! Igwe! Banning of the play “This play is about us why ban it in the first place? What the drama committee was to have us burry our heads in the sand,” observes John Paul Wafula, a producer at the festival.

Senator Omar concurred: “These children are not destroying society, they are building it. They have raised fundamental issues afflicting us such as police brutality, tribalism, and unequal distribution of resources.”The National Cohesion and Integration Commission Vice Chairperson Milly Lwanga urged those who took offence with the choice of names to face reality and join other Kenyans in appreciating the root causes of national conflict.

“We are glad the play was finally staged,’ she said after watching the play. She denied that NCIC had any hand in the ban as had been earlier rumoured.
And the girls themselves were a proud lot. “I felt we brought it out well. I am happy we drove the point home,” said one of the actresses Mercy Mulama.

The Expected New Kenyan Cabinet - A Closer Look By Dikembe

By: Dikembe Disembe

CharityNgilu

Reports appearing in the mainstream media that Hon Charity Ngilu, Najib Balala and Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Prof Sam Ongeri may miss out in the cabinet slots seem to reverberate well with the public, considering how the media has packaged the position of secretaries as ‘technocratic’, professional and requires very ‘high’ integrity standards.

However a keen observer of the political developments cannot miss too see the hypocrisy in the move. The strategy to use NSIS and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) clearance as an excuse to bar the two from appointment will only serve to remind Ngilu and Co of the use and dump that was perfected by rtd president Moi.

The Supreme Court’s verdict on the election petition that validated the victory of Hon Kenyatta is testimony that no institution is bigger than Uhuru and his handlers and hence certification that Uhuru is simply not going to reward the Ngilu group. The NSIS and EACC are only being used by the president’s handlers as a shield; otherwise, if they delivered the presidency, getting Ngilu and Co to the cabinet will only take a less than one minute telephone call!

The four politicians stuck with candidate Uhuru and Ruto even when it was clear doing so was signing a political obituary. It was Najib Balala who first ‘predicted’ the future of Kenyan leadership as revolving around the ‘high-table’ where Uhuru and Ruto sat side by side. Even when Kwale County was openly showing signs of hostility towards the Jubilee alliance, Mwakwere stood out for Ruto, later ‘allowing’ Uhuru to navigate the murky land question in the coastal region.

Ngilu made a passionate appeal for Uhuru, even sacrificing her presidential ambitions and her party to join Jubilee. Had she not crossed over from CORD, she would be in the senate today, because, most kambas credit Ngilu for doing so much for Ukambani more than, surprisingly, CORD’s David Musila her competitor in the Kitui senate race.

But more than the small Kamba constituency, Charity has been in politics more than Uhuru and Ruto. She vied for the presidency at a time Uhuru could not address a political rally of 200 ‘kenyans’ drawn from all the 42 tribes. Her name was on the ballot when Ruto was terrorizing Rift Valley residents using KANU youths-jeshi la Mzee-and preparing ground for one of the biggest ethnic orgies of our time in 2007. These are facts, and facts are stubborn things!

Ngilu is a senior Kenyan politician with a proven track record. Politicians like Charity are more precious for the president than hawk-eyed bureaucrats and status quoists like Kimemia and company because they not only bring merit to the table but also a unique political experience nurtured over decades in elective politics. They understand real politick.

To call her a political reject, like Charles Keter was quoted saying, simply because she lost her seat campaigning for the president in a region which, after the frustrations Kalonzo Musyoka went through, in the hands of the very same president and his deputy, then presidential candidates with the heavy baggage of the ICC, is to perpetuate the enduring culture of use and dump which is Kibaki’s legacy.

To use the NSIS and the EACC to project these individuals as having integrity issues is to hoodwink the public. In fact, the president and deputy have global ‘integrity’ issues more than the three. The NSIS raised no objections when these leaders vied in the last elections. The EACC gave these leaders a clean bill of health.

Political reciprocity is important in a multi-ethnic democracy such as ours. Merit in politics is a very controversial topic. For example, which yardstick is the president using to bar these three from leadership? Rejection at the ballot? Poor service delivery?

Let me be clear, I’m not holding brief for Ngilu, Balala and Mwakwere, Prof Ongeri. These are politicians who never got my vote. I come from a region which views the three of them, especially Balala and Ngilu, as traitors who turned their backs on Raila Odinga when he needed them most, yet, my refusal to accept the poisoned chalice we are being treated to, that the three are not worthy of being in the cabinet of Uhuru and Ruto, stems from the fact that we in Kenya are trying to legalize politics.

We have so many agencies and commissions telling politicians what to do, when to do what and with whom to do what so much so that the art of politics is losing its meaning.
Politics is no longer dirty in Kenya. Politics is being sanitized at a speed this country, and indeed no country under the sun, has ever endured. Our political arena is an expanded supreme court where decisions are immutable. This is not what popular democracy is. This is what popular idiocy is!

Politics is how peoples’ expectations are handled. If the new president bungles these expectations by using laws and agencies which want to manufacture ‘angles’ for Uhuru’s cabinet, then we are staring at a future where all political deals will have to be deposited in courts to give them life.
The president and his deputy must go beyond their high octane rhetoric of uniting the country in funerals and churches and be seen to be doing so.

Ruto Orders Audit of Audit of Raila's and Kalonzo's Former Offices.

William Ruto

 In what is shaping up to be an interesting chapter in the Kenyan History, The Assistant Vice President; Hon. William Ruto has ordered for a full Audit of the Offices of his former boss turned foe; Raila Amolo Odinga. 

Raila odinga

And to stretch the rod further, He has equally ordered for full audit of the Office of the Former Vice President, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. 


The motive of the Audit is not yet known, however wheather it is stock taking or serious Audit, time will tell.

Meet Nairobi's Senator - Mike Mbuvi Sonko

The First Senatorial seat for Nairobi seat went to the young, energetic and philanthropic Gideon Mike Mbuvi Sonko.

Gideon Mbuvi was declared the winner of Nairobi Senate seat.Sonko garnered a massive 808,705 votes against 525,822 polled by his closest challenger ODM’s Margaret Wanjiru

Why Luos Must Redefine Their Politics

By William Makora.

 

I feel duly compelled to make this humble appeal to my people, the Luos, to consider diversifying their political belief and embrace flexible factors that favor change. Their faith in political patronage has done the community and, by extension, the country a lot of good by propelling it on course of definite popular political paths. The benefits reaped for the nation over the period of time are far fetching yet the community lugs behind in everything including academics where it was a powerhouse at independence.

Bad Choice

While decisions determine what you do, choice answers what you have. When one makes a good decision he lives doing something he likes. One makes a bad choice he lives in regretful sadness. It is, therefore, worthwhile for mankind to think properly before making any choice.

After independence of Kenya in 1964, the Luos were provided with two choices in their leadership; politics and development. These were presented to the people through J. O. Odinga and T. J. Mboya respectively. Both the leaders served in the first government. Odinga was the Vice President while Mboya was the Minister for Economic Planning and Development.

As a community, the Luos could take both, or either of, the two packages. Unlike the Kikuyus that took both, the Luos opted for politics and politicking have hence become their duty in the nation of diverse competitions. This has endured in respite of the factors that face it and the around it have limited the area of influence or diversified national dominance. In short, competing forces have since confined it to the lowlands while the real wealth is shared at the top. In simple sense, it has denied the people access of national health and vibrancy. The Kikuyus with whom the Luos formed the first government as principals have enjoyed both and their population has grown tremendiously.

Before his exit from the government in 1966, Odinga asked the people to wait until he ‘became’ the president in order to see how ‘his government’ would, responsibly, ensure amenities and infrastructure. The Luos are still waiting to date. At his assassination in 1969, Mboya had mobilized the people of his region in the divide to ensure notable amenities and infrastructure. Odinga enjoyed the rest of the period till he passed it over to his son, Raila A. Odinga. It has never shifted elsewhere.

We are still in politics; eating and living politics by choice! A political community! Politics is the life of majority of us who fall within the bracket of ordinary fellows. Opponents have made it the bait on the trap. They cast it on a dirty rock and name it ‘The Luos”. Whatever they say about us in that same shadow sounds loud! Whatever fashion they give us suits us! We have no defense. We have chosen politics against development. We are given politics minus power and we take it. Bad choice bad life!

Not Lost

Political essays about the Luos may not be good either. Apart from many key persons lost in the game, a lot of resources and assets, especially; academics, economical wealth, health, et cetera have dissipated in the miry bog. Although we are blessed with good brains only a few Luos manage studies by capricious chance over a long period of time. We have some of the worst amenities in the nation and our children have limited chances to access any advantages in the prevailing scarcity. We always think it is the failure of the government to provide them while our competitors use their strength to move ahead of us. The government will respond but we shall not be able to catch them that leaped ahead over the period.

I think all is not lost. We can play politics. It has become our birthright. But we can diversify it. We can spread it all over the land and let everybody own it. That way it may not be easy to cage. The opponents may not easily arrest it and say; “We don’t want Raila” to mean “We don’t want Luos”. We may break loose and release ourselves for a moment. Then we will be able to think and act freely.

Political Power

That the Luos are a political powerhouse is not secret. We have agile politicians. Ours are accurate political analysts and movers. But demerits put us in a can of vulnerability. If we gather ourselves in a valley and overlooking mountains fall over us, we crash. We can build our political power by according ourselves common playing ground. We owe our sons and daughters every space for sowing of their seeds now and in future. If we do what is right with our advantages, we raise our stakes in the national socio-political and economical divide. We can only opt to make political capital if we all value it. If we don’t we can leave it to the Odingas, especially, if they seem to believe in opposition leadership, or that we are the shield that protects the nation. It has hurt us over the years as the arsenals hit pearls like Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko and Odhiambo Mbai in the first, second and last regimes respectively. We do not want to lose more for that reason. We can avoid regrets. A stitch in time saves nine!