Breaking News Kenya

Search called off for missing Kenyan-American off Alaska by US Coast Guard

kenyanobserver — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:25:15 +0000

A 38-year old Kenyan-American, Nhial Opiew was reported to have gone overboard off the Alaska coast into the Bering Sea at 8:45am in the morning of July 4th, 2009 as he and his fellow crew members were out in the commercial trawler, the Rebecca Irene fishing for perch approximately 24 miles southeast of Umnak Island.

Umnak Island is the 3rd largest island of the Fox Islands. The Fox Islands are a subset of the Aleutian Islands; a group of 300 islands which run in an east to west configuration in south west Alaska. The Fox Islands are on the western edge of this configuration and are closest to the US mainland. Umnak Island is so remote and only had 39 occupants in the 2000 US census.

As soon as Opiew was discovered missing on Saturday, the US coastguard immediately launched a search in the 43 degree farenheit water. A search plane, a helicopter and a coastguard cutter were deployed to search for Mr. Opiew but the search was called off after about 12 hours due to poor visibility and the amount of time that had passed since he was reported missing. Chances of finding him alive were considered unlikely.

sources:

KTUU

World Fishing Today

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Seattle Times

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Cool Picture: Kisumu city caught in a rainstorm

kenyanobserver — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:29:40 +0000

A Tuk tuk plies Kisumu streets during a rainstorm. Photo used with permission from Ian Maclellan

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The tentacles of Angella Chegge-Kraszeski’s scheme were far-reaching

kenyanobserver — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:25:43 +0000

Angella Muthoni Chegge-Kraszeski’s schemes to defraud state governments across the US were much more far reaching than previously thought as the details continue to emerge. Chegge-Kraszeski is under arrest in West Virginia as she awaits her trial which is set to begin August 31st. She is accused of defrauding state governments and agencies out of millions of dollars.

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Random cool picture: US and Kenya Navy training off Mombasa coast in the Indian Ocean

kenyanobserver — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:03:00 +0000

The US Navy and the Kenyan Navy fire a non-lethal torpedo off the coast of Mombasa, Kenya on June 25th, 2009 from the deck of the USS Arleigh Burke during a joint training session.

The USS Arleigh Burke arrived in Mombasa June 17, 2009 for a six-day port visit through an initiative known as the Africa Partnership Station (APS).

photo source: Associated Press/Karel Prinsloo

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Somali-Canadian woman jailed as she tries to leave Kenya

kenyanobserver — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:52:25 +0000

Ms Haji (below). Her son, ex-husband and son's caretaker (above)

Suaad Mohamud Haji,31, a computer technician from Toronto Canada went Kenya to check on her ailing mother April 29th. On her way back, she was stopped at the immigration checkout window and jailed in Kenya for 8 days because she looked nothing like the four-year old picture on her passport.

Ms. Haji has requested the Kenyan authorities to fingerprint her and verify her identity but they refuse saying she is not a criminal. They (Kenyan immigration) have also notified the Canadian embassy in Nairobi to vouch for one of their own and they seem to be taking their sweet time hiding behind the thick veil of bureaucracy.

photo: MICHAEL STUPARYK/TORONTO STAR

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Kenyan-owned business flourishing in biting recession

kenyanobserver — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:34:46 +0000

George Maragia’s story is an inspiration to all Kenyans in the diaspora - if you want it bad enough and work hard for it, anything is possible no matter what your circumstances are.

His latest and most successful venture, Whitehall Medical Transport Services, started in 2006, is a remarkable testament to his will power because the path he took to where he is today is no different from any typical African immigrant in the US.

photo: Whitehall Medical Transport Services

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FunkHouse Entertainment in collaboration with Minnesota Fashion presents ExtraVaaKhanga

kenyanobserver — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:33:29 +0000

St.Paul/Minneapolis, MN– June 10th, 2009– Funkhouse Entertainment has created a fabulous
showcase of African-themed fashion by local and international designers in elevating the African
experience in Minnesota.

The show aimed at African immigrants and Minnesotans will showcase designs on African-themed colors and the khanga cloth. On the night of July 3rd (8pm to 11pm) the ExtraVaaKhanga Fashion Show will seduce all your senses and promises to deliver on great designs from urban wear to couture, innovative live performances as well as contemporary ethnic music mixes.

The event will be held at the Graves 601 Hotel, 601 1st Ave N, Minneapolis. Tickets are $15.00 for general admission, $25.00 for standing VIP and $40 for VIP seats by the runway.

The khanga has a long history on the coast of East Africa and was inspired by handkerchiefs “lenço” used by Portuguese traders. Named after the bright colored guinea hen, the khanga is a vibrant-colored, light-weight cotton cloth worn as a wraparound skirt, shirt, and headwrap by both women and men in the East Africa and the greater Central African region.
Generally, the cloth is 5ft by 3ft and looks like a large handkerchief or shawl. However,
contemporary designers have used the khanga to make everything from shirts, to dresses, skirts
and upholstery.

The khanga is particularly unique as it is used to pass on messages by the coastal
peoples of East Africa. Each khanga has a methali (a Swahili proverb) that goes round the
bottom of the cloth, for instance, a Swahili saying “neno njema halikosi kujibiwa” (literally
means: a good word will get a positive response).

In this way the khanga is a way for women to boldly express their individuality– from color to style to designs; each unique as each of this year’s designers.

African design is the next frontier in the fashion industry. It is not just about African-inspired
patterns and motifs, but a new fashion consciousness infusing culture and message with the
earthy textures of Africa.

The ExtraVaaKhanga runway show is based on the success of the first African Show Collective, 2009 catwalk show at the New York Fashion Week in February featuring international African designers.

ExtraVaaKhanga promises to offer an African Minnesota runway show that will feature:

Bongo Republic (Missouri| Tanzania),

Lalesso (South Africa| Kenya),

Bothdol Fashion (Minnesota| Sudan),

Utamaduni Wear (Kenya), and

Modahnik (Illinois| Democratic Republic of Congo).

ExtraVaaKhanga will bring to the Minnesota fashion stage an opportunity to explore a new world.
Please visit http://www.extravaakhanga.com for detailed profiles on the designers and a schedule of events.

If you’d like more information on this event, or to speak to one of the designers please contact
Nekessa Opoti at press@thafunkhouse.com

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Random cool picture: Road trip from Habaswein, NE Kenya

kenyanobserver — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:41:25 +0000

source:wajeer.wordpress.com

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When the News of Michael’s passing broke, I was not the only one who could not believe it

kenyanobserver — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:09:27 +0000

According to this C-NET article, for 25 minutes last Thursday, Google thought it was under some kind of attack and was denying search requests for it’s news services for the phrase, “Michael Jackson”.

Man, it’s still hard to swallow this;

Michael Joe Jackson 1958-2009

The other day I got some consolation when I stopped by a gas station to fill up and a black lady about my age was at the opposite pump filling up her brand spanking new convertible, don’t remember what make it was but I remember she had “Rock With You” on full blast. We made eye contact, I knew we were from the same school - old school - she waved and I waved back almost as if to say, “it’ll be alright”.

VH1 is running Michael Jackson videos 24-7 and for some reason, my kids are fixated on that. I can’t believe that my kids are listening to the music I grew up with over and over.

Over the years I have seen a lot of the celebrities I was listening to as I grew up pass on; Grover Washington, George Howard, Franco and so on. While these were shockers, their passing did not hit as hard as Michael’s has.

I guess it was hard to imagine that MJ was just a mere mortal like the rest of us.

The most touching tribute so far according to me has been the famous Filipino inmates who rose to stardom in 2007 with their “Thriller” dance routine. This time they have done a medley of Michael Jackson’s songs like, “Ben”, “I Will Be There” and “We Are The World”.

RIP Michael.

Michael Jackson dead at 50 Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. CNN...

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Michael Jackson dead at 50

kenyanobserver — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:29:45 +0000

Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. CNN has not confirmed this yet but everyone else has. Even Wikipedia has filled the blank space after the dash. Like so many others around the world, a part of me has died today.

Earlier today, another chunk went away with Farrah Fawcett. Charlie’s Angels was a family treat for us in the 70s once a week. All of a sudden, mortality is staring my generation squarely in the face.

Everything about Michael Jackson’s life was etched in my mind forever because this was essential information back in the days;

Birthdate: August 29 1958

Place: Gary, Indiana

Brothers: Marlon, Jackie, Tito, Michael, Jermaine, Randy

Sisters: Rebbie, LaToya, Janet

Father: Joe Jackson

Mother: Katherine Jackson

Where they first settled in California when the family moved from Gary Indiana: Encino, CA

Michael was preparing for a 50-concert repertoire in London’s O2 arena that was set to begin July 13th. According to the reports, Michael Jackson died of a cardiac arrest.

The Off The Wall poster used in this story was a fixture in my bedroom when I was in my teens alongside Earth, Wind & Fire, Lakeside, Kool & The Gang and others. I think Off The Wall is Michael’s best album.

Michael had his troubles and his eccentricities but he meant so much to so many of us. His talent, his vulnerabilities and his humanity behind the scenes made us strive to reach higher in whatever we aspired to do. This is what makes his loss such a painful one.

Michael was preparing for a 50-city world tour that was set to begin in London’s O2 arena July 13th. According to the reports, Michael Jackson died of a cardiac arrest.

The Off The Wall poster used in this story was a fixture in my bedroom when I was in my teens alongside Earth, Wind & Fire, Lakeside, Kool & The Gang and others.

It hurts to see people who cannot even begin to understand the almost fanatical connection Michael had with his fans give a cautious praise on Michael’s life just to be relevant in the news cycle, yet these same so-called “experts” idolize Elvis Presley or Kurt Kobain.

UPDATE: 6:39PM - The Los Angeles County Coroner has confirmed at 4:36 PM (local time) that Michael Jackson is dead. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 PM.

UPDATE: 6:41PM - Rev Al Sharpton has just made a speech (just recorded it) reinforcing the last paragraph of this post about people who are now “praising” Michael yet would not touch him with a 10 foot pole when he was alive. I will update with the video of Rev. Sharpton’s speech here.

May he rest in peace.

When the News of Michael’s passing broke, I was not the only one who could not believe it According to this C-NET article, for 25 minutes last...

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