How to become famous in Kenya

We have famous people in Kenya like, business men & women, politicians, lobby groups, comedians and actors, religious leaders, journalists etc. They are famous because they interact with more people compared to the common man or woman. They appear in the media more than other people for many reasons. However there are some who became famous for bad reasons like criminals and hooligans.

I believe that when one wants to became famous in Kenya, it is very easy especially now during elections. Sometimes it happens in a very unfortunate way like a woman aspirant beaten up by people believed to be an opponent. The media highlights the story and people get to know the person.

Lobby groups stage protests against politicians like the recent ones against MPs' send off pay packs. Someone like me did not know Ms. Ann Njogu until she was rescued by Minister Charity Ngilu for participating in civil society protests. We have seen people coming out of nowhere and becoming famous for funny reasons that end up being a success.

I can give an example of how a young man or woman can gain fame very easily. He or she can come up with a group called Maendeleo ya Vijana and registering it, then appear in a group of young people at the law courts to call for the release of University Students arrested for staging a protest like the recent one against Political attacks in Kisii. Within a short time people will get to know about the group, after that young people will want to get registered in the group.

This is how Mr. Nderitu Njoka started Maendeleo ya Wanaume. He appeared in support of Mr. Kamangu of the famous case of Bishop Margaret Wanjiru vs. Mr. Kamangu the man who claims he was her husband. Within no time the guy became famous and would appear in the media talking about issues relating to men.

He was at it again for a very funny reason. When KTN brought the story on News Shot yesterday I thought it was about Mr. Kamangu and wondered what he is up to now. I waited eagerly to see what Maendeleo ya Wanaume had this time. Then I realized he was fighting for a noble cause that many have ignored for years. Women and International groups have been fighting mainly for the rights of the girl child but not the boy child. So Njoka brought up a good issue.

However he has started with the case of a particular boy who is not a living thing. He is a sculpture. This is a picture of the naked boy carrying fish at Nairobi law courts that Mr. Njoka is fighting for his rights.
Njoka says the boy’s rights have been abused for being displayed naked in public; he wants the boy dressed up and the government to stop the fountain splashing hot or cold water on the boy Oops! I couldn’t help laughing all through and wonder if that is something worth fighting for.

Then I realized he could be right because women would do the same if there were a sculpture of a girl or a woman in a public place. It has taken many years for people to see this, we all thought it’s just a sculpture of a small boy and there was nothing wrong with it.

On the other hand Mr. Njoka is gaining more fame as the chairman of a group that others even male politicians never thought of starting. You never know he may also be eyeing a parliamentary seat this year or in the next elections.

That is how easy one can become famous in Kenya.

To buy a house or to build

Making a decision to buy or build a house in Kenya depends on ones financial status. Years back it was common for people to rent houses built by the government, city council, housing finance and a few individuals who owned houses.

Most houses were bungalows and maisonettes were only one storey. In those days you would find one house in a compound or if there was any other building it was the servants quarters.

However with time and rapid population growth in the city, demand for housing increased, and more buildings started coming up. People started building flats with more storeys to accommodate more tenants.

Before this happened, Nairobi was very clean and neat, with houses in each estate built in one style. Other estates like Buru Buru came up with different designs for its 5 phases, those days it was considered one of the posh estates in Nairobi even the Queen visited when she came to Kenya. Other estates that were clean and neat are Umoja 1, Olympic, Fort Jesus, Madaraka, Otiende, Woodley, Makadara, Uhuru, South C and Kimathi etc. with good roads and tarmacked courts.

Suddenly things changed, flats and all types of buildings started coming up, in all kinds of style within these estates. People also started building extensions behind or in front of their bungalows and flats. Some compounds were small and one would not imagine it could accommodate another building but people built flats on those small compounds.

Other estates mainly composed of flats started coming up in lands that were vacant. Like in Kayole, Zimmerman, Embakasi, Highrise etc… People bought land and built in all kinds of style. Some flats are so slim and tall one would think they could come down if something strong shook them.

I believe city council has rules and guidelines that dictate the way buildings are supposed to be built in a city, especially a capital city like Nairobi. They also have to inspect tall buildings to approve that the structures are built according to architectural standards and are safe. However this has not been the case in Nairobi until buildings started falling down even within the City center.

Anyway back to my subject, whether to build a house or buy. Many people find it cheaper buying a plot and building a house slowly or within a short time depending on their income or financial ability, others take loans to build houses. Co-operative saccos have helped people buy plots and build, same as banks.

There are those who do not qualify for bank loans and are not members of Saccos, so they have to work hard to buy a plot and build a house. This is why many people have moved to out skirts of the city to homes they have built. Many are still buying vacant plots or pieces of land in places like Ngong, Athi River, Ruai, and Embakasi etc.

One thing that many people long for is to own there own piece of land and a home.
Whether it is built of mbao (wood), mabati (iron sheets), mchanga (mad) or mawe (stones). Just the thought of not having that ka landlord or lady demanding money at the end of the month is very satisfying.

Some people are very inpatient and decided to enter their houses after putting up the structure and roof. Some would enter their houses after putting windows and glass without plastering, the inside looks like a cave. I have even seen people in town and rural areas who put boxes on the windows and curtains to cover the windows to get out of a life of paying rent or to move in their own home.

With the congestion in the city, high cost buildings with no compounds. I prefer moving to my own home away from the city, not having to worry about paying rent every month, nosy neighbors and some fresh air.

When he forgets my birthday does he really love me?

It was yesterday the 27th September the day when I was born. It is an important day for me that I always remember. I celebrate it and love it. I just can’t miss it because it is the day that I stepped on this planet earth.

Birthdays are good and quite a number of people celebrate birthdays but not all do that. Those who have chosen to skip or ignore this day are also normal people like you and me who celebrate the day. However, for one reason or the other the day passes without them knowing. With this habit in them they forget the birthdays of their beloved ones until the owner of the birthday reminds them. This is a common mindset in most men in that they forget the birthdays of their children, parents and even wives. Cases of mistrust and doubtful love have been the outcome of this in some extreme cases.

There are ladies that are so obsessed with celebrating their birthday that if her man forgets it becomes a punishable issue and the punishment can be very bitter. There are also some men who are carried away by the same. Men and women have used lack of participation of their partners in their birthdays as a justification for separation.

What is just there in the celebration of a birthday? If your man or woman forgets your birthday is it an indication of the lower level of love? Are well-celebrated birthdays indicates improved love?

Birthdays may not be traced in the African cultures. There were celebrations when a child is born but such celebrations were not repeated later in life. That is why many old Africans are unable to recall when they were born unless they estimate the period with certain events.

Times have changed very much and a lot of issues are passing in our lives and minds. Can we drop the celebration? How can we explain to our loved ones that we still love them and keep on forgetting their birthdays?

I am at a loss!

Men in the Kitchen…………….

In my vernacular when a lady is married we say she has gone to cook (nyako odhi tedo) that is it. You have gone to cook. Cook………. cook and cook till death relieve you from that duty. If that is the African language then a woman belongs to the kitchen. How do you take that ladies? It is not me………it is African and your culture if you are an African regardless where you are.

Times are changing and now cooking timetables are being drawn where the man takes some of the days of the week. Some ladies say that husbands cooked food tastes better and they prefer their men cook for them.

I don’t know whose side I belong but I know my husband’s cooked food will not go well with the entire family. I have not tasted any food cooked by him so I have nothing to compare. I can only imagine its terrible because he’s mum and sisters did all the work in their house.

Just like I said times are changing and timetables are being drawn for men to take part in preparing meals. May question to African men are you willing to move to the kitchen?

Women can switch positions, relax with a newspaper while waiting for dinner.