Yesterday’s preacher in Church mentioned in his sermon that Africa is a continent of beggars and whiners. We like complaining a lot and depend on foreign aid too much yet we have many resources that can be exploited to improve our lives.
Most African countries borrow from foreign countries to meet their development needs, Non Governmental Organization also depend on foreign donors to run the projects especially in the rural areas where poverty levels are higher.
All we do is complain about poor governance, poverty levels, inequality and other numerous problems we face instead of working hard to change our standards of living.
I agree partly with this preacher that Africa has many resources that can be exploited to improve lives. However I do not agreed that people are to blame for most of the problems we face in African.
To me the main reasons why African’s resources are not exploited properly or why most Africans have been reduced to beggars and whiners, is because of wars/conflicts, poor governance, dictatorship and discrimination.
When an African country is led by a dictator like Robert Mugabe, how will the people’s lives improve even with all the resources they have, instead they have been reduced to whiners and beggars in their own country and cannot do much to change to situation.
How will Kenyan’s stop whining and begging when we still have many problems more than 40 years after independence. When public funds are looted like cases of Goldenberg, Anglo leasing and the latest we heard about the leaked Kroll report, Land grabbing, we have squatters in their own country, when we are tribalists and have tribal clashes. When majority are jobless, our MPs decide on their pay packages and hefty pay offs after 5 years term.
Governments have the machinery and the resources to tackle the major problems that majority Africans face. Some African leaders are yet to embrace democracy, most of them are greedy, dictators who like clinging to power even when age does not allow them, they are also discriminative against women. They cause conflicts and ran away leaving their country on fire, with mainly children and women suffering.
Where there is smoke there is fire, African’s cannot be whining over nothing. The preacher should have highlighted the root cause of Africa begging and whining and how to solve it.
At the end of the sermon he should have advised people to pray that God helps us to elect the right leaders that will help improve our nations and not greedy leaders who only think of enriching themselves and their people.
May God help Africans who are suffering under dictatorship and help Kenyan’s in this coming elections to elect the right leader who will bring complete change to this country so that we will only right and talk about our achievements and stop begging and whining.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Public transport in Nairobi
Public transport in Nairobi especially in the evening when schools have opened is terrible, particularly during weekdays.
Many people have complained and I have also experienced it in different parts of the City center and its outskirts.
This leaves me wondering, is it caused by the jam, the Police, shortage of public transport vehicles or population rise in Nairobi city.
The jam towards the City center and outside is bad in the morning and evening. Many motorists working outside the City center avoid roads that pass through the city center but at times one cannot avoid it. Public transport drivers in most cases also avoid coming to the City center. They fear being caught up by police for breaking traffic rules.
Most of them say even when their vehicles are perfect, they have all documents required and the full uniform, Police will always look for reasons to apprehend them. Making them part with a lot of money to secure their release through the court, police station fines or bribes. Hence they prefer taking short distances where they will not encounter police officers
Instead most Matatus (mini buses) decide to turn at different stops away from the City. They will turn at Ngong road, Kenyatta hospital, Nyayo stadium, City stadium, Serena, Westlands etc… depending on where they come from.
This leaves passengers waiting for them in town stranded or jostle for the few vehicles that reach the City center. Those who cannot push wait until late when the situation improves from 7pm onwards. Some routes have queues others don’t, hence the fight for those vehicles that go to queues at different bus stops in the city center. The queues are also normally very long.
The same problem applies to public transport buses and mini buses plying upcountry routes. You will notice people with all kinds of luggage waiting for vehicles, one would wonder if they would get transport.
This situation is the same in all bus stops within and around the City center. Kencom, Ambassador, Bus station, Machakos Bus station, Railways, Globe round about, Bomblast, Agip, St. Peter’s, City stadium, Fire Brigade, Commercial, Tusker,Nyayo stadium Etc…
From City Stadium to Landies Road one will notice many people walking from the City center or even as far as community to City stadium to get Matatus and buses to Eastlands, others from the other side of Nairobi walk to Kenyatta, Nyayo stadium etc….
The situation in the evening is pathetic. At least in the morning one can leave the house or home early to catch a bus or a matatu to get to work early. However this is not possible in the evening because one cannot leave work early. It is sad when you see women and children with luggage stranded, especially those that arrive in the evening from upcountry and even school children.
The truth of the matter is that the situation got worse when public transport rules were effected; this was a good move because matatu crews were very rowdy before (at least some of them have improved), however there have been no signs of improvement in public transport since then. This saw Kenya Bus collapsing, in its place came City hopper whose schedules cannot be predicted like the former Kenya Bus. They don’t also ply some routes I wonder why. At least now Kenya Bus has been revived but they are few and they are not in full operation like they were before.
Train operations seem not to have picked up since Rift Valley Railways Consortium took over from Kenya Railways Corporation. Trains can carry a lot of passengers and improve the situation.
The Matatu industry has taken advantage of this situation to hike fares. The few ones that come into town and find crowds of people waiting will hike their fares because they know people have to go home in the evening. This leaves people with low income with no option but to walk home.
Many people are moving away from City estates to centers in the outskirts of Nairobi like Ngong , Athi River, Ruai etc., due to congestion or to their own homes. Many depending on public transport to those places really suffer. Some of these places are not densely populated as city estates, with no street lights making some places very insecure at night. So getting home late due to shortage of public transport is very risky for many.
It is my wish that the current government or the next government could come up with strategies to solve this problem.
Many people have complained and I have also experienced it in different parts of the City center and its outskirts.
This leaves me wondering, is it caused by the jam, the Police, shortage of public transport vehicles or population rise in Nairobi city.
The jam towards the City center and outside is bad in the morning and evening. Many motorists working outside the City center avoid roads that pass through the city center but at times one cannot avoid it. Public transport drivers in most cases also avoid coming to the City center. They fear being caught up by police for breaking traffic rules.
Most of them say even when their vehicles are perfect, they have all documents required and the full uniform, Police will always look for reasons to apprehend them. Making them part with a lot of money to secure their release through the court, police station fines or bribes. Hence they prefer taking short distances where they will not encounter police officers
Instead most Matatus (mini buses) decide to turn at different stops away from the City. They will turn at Ngong road, Kenyatta hospital, Nyayo stadium, City stadium, Serena, Westlands etc… depending on where they come from.
This leaves passengers waiting for them in town stranded or jostle for the few vehicles that reach the City center. Those who cannot push wait until late when the situation improves from 7pm onwards. Some routes have queues others don’t, hence the fight for those vehicles that go to queues at different bus stops in the city center. The queues are also normally very long.
The same problem applies to public transport buses and mini buses plying upcountry routes. You will notice people with all kinds of luggage waiting for vehicles, one would wonder if they would get transport.
This situation is the same in all bus stops within and around the City center. Kencom, Ambassador, Bus station, Machakos Bus station, Railways, Globe round about, Bomblast, Agip, St. Peter’s, City stadium, Fire Brigade, Commercial, Tusker,Nyayo stadium Etc…
From City Stadium to Landies Road one will notice many people walking from the City center or even as far as community to City stadium to get Matatus and buses to Eastlands, others from the other side of Nairobi walk to Kenyatta, Nyayo stadium etc….
The situation in the evening is pathetic. At least in the morning one can leave the house or home early to catch a bus or a matatu to get to work early. However this is not possible in the evening because one cannot leave work early. It is sad when you see women and children with luggage stranded, especially those that arrive in the evening from upcountry and even school children.
The truth of the matter is that the situation got worse when public transport rules were effected; this was a good move because matatu crews were very rowdy before (at least some of them have improved), however there have been no signs of improvement in public transport since then. This saw Kenya Bus collapsing, in its place came City hopper whose schedules cannot be predicted like the former Kenya Bus. They don’t also ply some routes I wonder why. At least now Kenya Bus has been revived but they are few and they are not in full operation like they were before.
Train operations seem not to have picked up since Rift Valley Railways Consortium took over from Kenya Railways Corporation. Trains can carry a lot of passengers and improve the situation.
The Matatu industry has taken advantage of this situation to hike fares. The few ones that come into town and find crowds of people waiting will hike their fares because they know people have to go home in the evening. This leaves people with low income with no option but to walk home.
Many people are moving away from City estates to centers in the outskirts of Nairobi like Ngong , Athi River, Ruai etc., due to congestion or to their own homes. Many depending on public transport to those places really suffer. Some of these places are not densely populated as city estates, with no street lights making some places very insecure at night. So getting home late due to shortage of public transport is very risky for many.
It is my wish that the current government or the next government could come up with strategies to solve this problem.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
HIV/AIDS positive couples weddings in Kenya
Of late there have been many HIV/Aids couples in Kenya coming out in the open to wed in full view of the media. This is a brave and encouraging move.
This is a positive way to fight the stigma; it has also got to do with Church strict rules that couples have to declare their health status before the Pastors officiate marriages
However some couples avoid going for counseling because of this issue, they go ahead with their wedding preparations as usual only to be stopped by a strict Pastor for not having completed their counseling.
There are many cases of weddings that have been stopped by Pastors when couples did not follow this new Church requirement. The Pastor is obligated to stop the wedding even on the wedding day when everything is set and guests are already in Church.
This would be a big loss to the couples after going through the nitty-gritty of organizing a wedding, which involves, the bridal gown, the man’s suit, invitation cards, hiring or fueling of vehicles, catering services, brides maids, flower girls, page boys clothes, taking care of parents and relatives if they depend on the couple. Video coverage and photography etc.
Nearly in all Churches couples have to go through counseling by a Pastor, 3 announcements have to be done according to the law. It is during the counseling that the pastor will insist that the couple go for test to know their HIV/AIDS status.
The couple may later decide to go ahead with the wedding after completing the counseling and accepting their status.
I support the fact that all things should be sorted out prior to marriages. This is a positive move to save all those innocent young ladies or young men who would enter into a relationship blindly assuming their partner is well.
Though there are some Pastors who are compromised and perform weddings before counseling or advising couples. It is because the purge of corruption is also in our Churches. Churches gain from such functions from the charges and collections, so a greedy Pastor would rather ignore such obstacles. In extreme circumstances, they are practically bribed by the beneficiaries of such weddings.
We all need to appreciate the advantages to pre-marital counseling and status testing. It brings enhanced meaning in marriage because the marrying parties would have full knowledge of each other’s status.
This is a positive way to fight the stigma; it has also got to do with Church strict rules that couples have to declare their health status before the Pastors officiate marriages
However some couples avoid going for counseling because of this issue, they go ahead with their wedding preparations as usual only to be stopped by a strict Pastor for not having completed their counseling.
There are many cases of weddings that have been stopped by Pastors when couples did not follow this new Church requirement. The Pastor is obligated to stop the wedding even on the wedding day when everything is set and guests are already in Church.
This would be a big loss to the couples after going through the nitty-gritty of organizing a wedding, which involves, the bridal gown, the man’s suit, invitation cards, hiring or fueling of vehicles, catering services, brides maids, flower girls, page boys clothes, taking care of parents and relatives if they depend on the couple. Video coverage and photography etc.
Nearly in all Churches couples have to go through counseling by a Pastor, 3 announcements have to be done according to the law. It is during the counseling that the pastor will insist that the couple go for test to know their HIV/AIDS status.
The couple may later decide to go ahead with the wedding after completing the counseling and accepting their status.
I support the fact that all things should be sorted out prior to marriages. This is a positive move to save all those innocent young ladies or young men who would enter into a relationship blindly assuming their partner is well.
Though there are some Pastors who are compromised and perform weddings before counseling or advising couples. It is because the purge of corruption is also in our Churches. Churches gain from such functions from the charges and collections, so a greedy Pastor would rather ignore such obstacles. In extreme circumstances, they are practically bribed by the beneficiaries of such weddings.
We all need to appreciate the advantages to pre-marital counseling and status testing. It brings enhanced meaning in marriage because the marrying parties would have full knowledge of each other’s status.
Monday, September 3, 2007
ODM elections review
Last week I did a post on ODM elections and added a poll on the right side of my blog with the five candidates. I promised to review it this week.
The results of my poll were as follows:
Mr. Raila Odinga – 80%
Mr. Musalia Mudavadi – 10%
Mr. William Ruto – 10%
Mr. Najib Balala – 0%
Mr. Joseph Nyaga – 0%
It is now 3 days after the election, as many of you know Mr.Raila Amolo Odinga emerged the winner with a very big percentage and is now the Presidential candidate.
This did not come to me as a surprise because Mr. Raila Odinga was like a leader of Orange Democratic Movement. He is more popular at the grass root more than the other candidates, for his political achievements over the years and his fight for democracy. According the poll that was conducted earlier by Infotrak Research and Consulting Read more
The speeches by the five leaders were really encouraging, my expectations as a Kenyan is change and ready to support anyone willing to bring true change to make this country a better place for all regardless of tribe, religion, gender and race.
Just like it was said, this is just the beginning, the battle is still on. The ODM Choir Master Mr. Otieno Kajwang and his band sang their anthem bado mapambano (the battle is still on). However I wish the choir master could come up with new hits, my be his band is working on them, something that is not common or from a church chorus like I mentioned on this post Campaigning Kenyan style
I wish them all the best in the tough journey to State House.
The results of my poll were as follows:
Mr. Raila Odinga – 80%
Mr. Musalia Mudavadi – 10%
Mr. William Ruto – 10%
Mr. Najib Balala – 0%
Mr. Joseph Nyaga – 0%
It is now 3 days after the election, as many of you know Mr.Raila Amolo Odinga emerged the winner with a very big percentage and is now the Presidential candidate.
This did not come to me as a surprise because Mr. Raila Odinga was like a leader of Orange Democratic Movement. He is more popular at the grass root more than the other candidates, for his political achievements over the years and his fight for democracy. According the poll that was conducted earlier by Infotrak Research and Consulting Read more
The speeches by the five leaders were really encouraging, my expectations as a Kenyan is change and ready to support anyone willing to bring true change to make this country a better place for all regardless of tribe, religion, gender and race.
Just like it was said, this is just the beginning, the battle is still on. The ODM Choir Master Mr. Otieno Kajwang and his band sang their anthem bado mapambano (the battle is still on). However I wish the choir master could come up with new hits, my be his band is working on them, something that is not common or from a church chorus like I mentioned on this post Campaigning Kenyan style
I wish them all the best in the tough journey to State House.
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