Dispatch from Mombasa

Management must use communication to enhance employee trust and confidence in the organisation

2021-11-29T04:24:00.003-08:00

“If this was a hospital, would you bring your mother to be treated here?” a strategic turnaround manager started off the meeting by asking one of the staff members.

The turnaround manager had been called to establish what ailed an on the surface otherwise successful organization which was profusely bleeding in the inside due to poor management communication practices.

The girl who was asked to respond flatly said “No.” She would not dare nor even dream of bringing her mother to the hospital.

On the face of it, this seemed just like any other small talk to break the ice and get employees talking. But at the heart of the conversation lay a serious strategic communication issue that should have had management thinking about how it was handling communication and its general impact on the employees.

You see, many of us go to the hospital when we are unwell or want to be checked up for emerging health issues.

We believe that the solution to our health problems lie with the doctors whom we trust to get us up again. In fact, we trust the doctors and the hospitals because of the reputation of their services and institutions.

In a situation where an employee feels that their mother cannot be treated at the “hospital” it means that they do not trust the management of the organization and their hearts and minds are elsewhere looking for better “hospitals”.

The employee’s low trust and confidence in the organization means they are in the “hospital” because of circumstances beyond their control and eventually they will want to leave the organization for a better hospital.

In fact, one can say that the current organization is a safe house and the employees will soon leave to their intended destinations where they can be treated to their satisfaction.

However, management can leverage strategic communication to ensure that employees chose to be “treated” and even recommend their kin to the hospital.

For starters communication is everything. It is what can make or break an organization. Communication is responsible for the value that an organization places on itself, its employees and other external stakeholders.

Employees will for instance choose to leave or stay in an organization not on account of workload but because of how the organization makes them feel.

Communication is important as it helps build trust, it leads to motivation and is critical in enhancing creativity and competitiveness in the organization.

Management must therefore strive to ensure that its communication is consistent with the ideals, vision and mission of the company.

Management must also seek to mainstream communication with a view to enhance employee feeling of appreciation, recognition, engagement and involvement.

Without doing this, the organization will keep losing the best talent to other organizations as employees will keep seeking for better “treatment” services elsewhere.

Ends…….

Thought leader: What can Africa do to gain from COP-26?

2021-11-07T11:51:00.005-08:00

A number of African heads of state and governments among them Kenya’s President Uhuru will be attending the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties famously referred to as COP-26 which begins on Monday 1st -12th November 2021 in Glasgow Scotland.

The conference brings parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which was adopted by 196 Parties at COP-21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015.

The overall goal of the agreement was to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aimed to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century. The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because of the overreaching effects that climate change has caused rise in temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought, rising ocean levels, loss of species and lack of food.

According to the International Energy Agency global emissions from global energy-related CO2 emissions are projected to rebound and grow by 4.8% to 400 Mt CO2 as demand for coal, oil and gas rises as countries try to recover from the effects of the global covid-19 pandemic.

Majority of this gas emissions will be from the industrialized nations such as the United States, European Union, China, Russia, Germany, India, United Kingdom, and Japan who account or 80% of total global gas emissions.

Africa and other countries in the global south who account for only 4% of the emissions will also be part of the conference and will be hoping that the industrialized countries will agree to cut their global gas emissions.

On their part, the major global gas emitters will be driven by nationalism and their negotiation teams will be seeking to defend their interests while at the same time accusing other industrial competitors of contributing to higher global gas emissions and doing little to address the same.

They will also want to be seen as committing and re-committing to their desire to address climate change through wide ranging actions of adopting clean energy practices, reducing on fossil fuel consumption and investing in carbon markets.

Sadly though, at the heart of the climate change talks is nationalism, commerce and industrialization and no powerful industrialized nation will want to cede ground so that another one can become a better producer, more industrialized and in control of world commerce.

As a result, there is a likelihood that commitments will be mainly remain commitments unless the major contributors of global gas emissions intensify and commit to the desire to help save the plant by meeting their obligations.

For African countries and others in the global south in general, lobbying and amplifying their voices so that they can call the global gas emitters to action in meeting their obligations will probably help push the climate change agenda forward.

Environmental rights activists and heads of states and governments in Africa and the global south in general must insist that industrialized nations meet the obligations and pay the reparative cost to help combat the effects of climate change in their countries now rather than later.

This is because as the Centre for Foreign Relations has observed the desire to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C or even 2°C by the end of the century will not be met unless industrialized countries pledges to combat climate change are acted upon quickly enough.

Further, most of the effects will continue being felt in Africa where as we talk, there already exists threats to human health, food and water security and socio-economic development caused by changes in climate.

Ends

Kipchoge’s race, my race,

2021-08-09T06:41:00.002-07:00

#Reflections

Eliud Kipchoge’s Olympic marathon win had me reflecting about the race of life. First things first. A marathon is not a sprint. Equally the race of life is not a sprint, it is an accumulation of days and years with failures, flows, experiences and successes achieved. A marathon requires adequate preparation, but above all a winning state of mind that keeps saying I can do it. Like Kipchoge, the determination of a winner is written on his face, he has no time for distraction and even if the next athlete were to stumble, the race would not stop. Equally, the race of life for the individual should not be distracted by the numerous challenges.

The race of life like that of Kipchoge has many competitors who come in different shapes, sizes, colours and ethnicities. There are external "Ethiopian" competitors who more than everything wants to take the race away from you. There are "Kenyan" family competitors who are also determined to finish the race in case you stumble and do not have the energy to complete it. There are also internal factors like feelings of personal inadequacies and self esteem issues that keep reminding you that you are not equal to the task neither do you have the energy to complete the race. And of course, the terrain is not all flat so that all you can do is accelerate without having to worry about anything. The course is made up in such a way that it time and time again it keeps challenging you to give out your best. The other factor is that the clock keeps reminding you that you do not have eternity and you must the race within the timelines that God has given unto you. There are spectators who will edge you on but whose motivations are as diverse as they come. Some just want to see if you can complete the race, others are only there for the sunny day while others are there because the rest of the crowd came out to watch a race. Fundamentally, the race belongs to you and a few of your team members who toil, moil and sacrifice so that you can succeed. The biggest competitor in the race was not the other athletes but Kipchoge himself and as Laila Gifty Akita remarks do not compete with anyone in the race of life, compete with yourself.

Optiven Champions for Climate Action

2021-06-24T00:39:00.007-07:00

Optiven Go Green Awards is calling on all people taking care of he environment to join the newly launched nominations that will be conducted online on www.gogreen.com.

Nominations which are expected to take a time of 60 days will cut across 6 essential Sustainable Development Goals (SGD's) which will encompass Farmers, engineers, green building architects, policy markets, Government, City planners, Entrepreneurs, Students amongst others.

George Wachiuri CEO, Optiven

George Wachiuri, the chair and Trustee for Optiven Foundation say that as Optiven they have been championing for climate action for a long time they now want to encourage all people across Africa to join hands in helping achieve the SDG's on Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, amongst others.

According to Mr Wachiuri the foundation is targeting 2 to 10 million people for the nominations.

He says there will be 25 categories and 2 runners up slots which will be contested after a thorough vetting by judges from Wangari Mathai Foundation, higher learning institutions and the United Nations.

To symbolically support the go green initiative Optiven foundation for over 2 years been working on building a hill and planting trees which has turned out to be a lushly green environment in Kitengela.

To mark the Go green launch the go green officials have planted a tree at the top of the hill and raised a flag to show the perpetuation of the go green efforts.

Canon gets closer to inspire creative communities across Africa

2021-06-17T00:43:00.000-07:00

(DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, June 16th, 2021) Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is inviting film and photography communities across Africa to connect and collaborate.

They are excited to announce the first three: SYNC School in Cairo, Egypt; Peexoo, a Nigerian photography hub, and the Photographers’ Association of Kenya (PAK). More are welcome as the global imaging leaders would like to develop creative collaborations in every country in the region.

Canon has been a long-standing supporter of film and photography education groups. These

relationships can now go deeper by sharing Canon expertise, knowledge and technology, with regular masterclasses, training opportunities, photo booths and competitions.

Amine Djouahra, Sales and Marketing Director for Canon Central & North Africa

Canon is committed to build closer ties with its customers and the collaborations are a way to inspire and enrich the next generation of image-makers. “Our mission is to empower people to see the bigger picture, on a grand yet local level,” explains Amine Djouahra, sales and marketing director for Canon Central & North Africa. “In this rapidly changing, image-based culture, we want to explore new and innovative ideas with a wider audience.”

There has been an enthusiastic response: “SYNC is a community based school of 94,000 for

creatives in Egypt with photographers, filmmakers and content creators. We are thrilled to build this relationship with Canon and learn, grow and create together,” said SYNC’s founder and creative director, Mustafa Sharara.

Peexoo, a photography hub powered by artificial intelligence, brings together 2,000+ photographers and videographers from across Nigeria. “We change perceptions through film and photography,” said

Peexoo Co-Founder, tech-preneur Steven Kelechi Nwadike. “We are ecstatic that Canon is joining us on this journey.”

The Professional Photographers’ Association of Kenya (PAK) is the leading photographic society in the country, representing professionals, amateurs and hobbyists. “We are proud to partner with Canon at this time, a collaboration which will uplift, inspire and encourage our photographic community,” said Victor Otieno, PAK Treasurer.

Through the collaborations, community members gain exclusive access to masterclasses with Canon ambassadors including Emmanuel Oyeleke and Yagazi Emezi who will present a masterclass to Peexoo members and Menna Hossam who will present “Fine art and fashion photographer: Challenges of this genre & the future of creating enchanting images in the era of social media”, to SYNC School members.

Regular competitions will be used to challenge and inspire with exciting prizes such as Canon’s mini phone-to-printer Zoemini, the portable Selphy and the G-Series printers, as well as a compact Powershot SX720 and mirrorless M50 cameras.

Hands-on ‘touch and try’ sessions with cutting-edge Canon R system technology, EOS cameras and lenses are in the plan with special, members-only discounts available on Canon equipment.

Canon’s interest in developing and recognising excellence both in amateur and professional

photographers goes beyond this. The Canon Future Focus programme for students is in its fifth year and the inaugural Redline Challenge for amateur photographers received great response in entries from African region.

“We believe in enriching local creatives and welcome the opportunity to connect and support the next generation of visual storytellers. By investing expertise, technology and opportunities in them, we hope to enhance their art, skills and future careers,” said Amine Djouahra.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

The Inclusivity debate, what role can the media play?

2020-11-25T04:29:00.004-08:00

Fostering inclusivity through the media

25th November 2020

President Kenyatta shakes hands with ODM
leader Raila Odinga in March 2018
Source: Standard Media

The Building Bridges Initiative referendum signature collection that was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake brother former Prime Minister Raila Odinga Wednesday seeks to entrench the doctrine of inclusivity as key to addressing Kenya’s perennial election related problems.

The BBI taskforce among others identified the challenge of inclusivity as a major challenge facing the country leading to incessant wrangles every election cycle. Despite the existence of constitutional interventions such as devolution, constitutional commissions such as the National Gender and Equality Commission, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission among others, the challenge of attaining desirable levels of inclusivity still abounds.

From the outset, the principle of inclusivity is as diverse as the ridges that it seeks to bridge. The Oxford English dictionary defines inclusivity as the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to minority groups.

As an ideal, inclusivity seeks to ensure that the potentially excluding group is aware of its actions and therefore puts deliberate social, economic, political and legal measures to address the imbalance.

While Kenya has tried to address the same with significant levels of success, the challenge still remains due to the various socio-economic and political dimensions of exclusions. Ethnic and gender marginalization, poverty, age, social classes etc are just some of the aspects that lead to exclusion of individuals and communities from enjoying and accessing their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Inclusivity is a positive and beneficial principle that we should all aspire to. It requires the country to embrace and work towards reducing gaps and addressing power imbalances between well-endowed individuals and communities and those who are disenfranchised in one way or another.

The recent stalemate over division of revenue at the senate and the controversial two thirds gender rule that saw the Chief Justice David Maraga advice President Kenyatta to dissolve parliament are some of the recent attempts to ensure inclusivity.

It is important to note that the principle of inclusivity cannot be cured by BBI alone and the discourse needs to be kept open and alive at all times. While the BBI is a good attempt, there are so many aspects of exclusion that may be happening in various sectors of the country. For instance there are claims that religious, ethnic, clan, gender is quite alive in the counties.

What role can the media play in advancing the debate?

Kenya brags of a vibrant national and community media that can push for the inclusivity discourse with little interference from government. The media can therefore advance the inclusivity debate, equal treatment or affirmative action legislation in the country and counties respectively by going beyond conveyor belt journalism.

Marginalized groups can find a home in the media from where they can advance their political social and economic plight with a view to reaching out to power.

The media can also help highlight violations of policies in the public sector. For instance, how successful are policies that seek to reserve seats and jobs for certain marginalized groups? What action has the public and private sector taken to ensure that marginalized groups are included?

While the attainment of the inclusivity ideal is a process, self-reflection though an independent and unbiased media is important in the efforts to ensure that all critical sectors are involved in the inclusivity debate.

Thought Reader: Government needs to invest in trust building......

2020-04-02T09:09:00.003-07:00

When the government announced that Patient Zero and Patient One in the Kenyan Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic had recovered, a section of Kenyans took to the social media to discredit the reports.

Some insisted that the recovered duo had been coached to lie to Kenyans based on what they claimed were glaring inconsistencies in how they got sick, treated and recovered. What later followed was trolling of the patients in total disregard to their mental wellbeing.

The apparent lack of trust in government communication at a time when the country is handling the covid-19 pandemic adds to the number of battlefronts that the government has to fight in order to beat the pandemic whose number of patients is increasing exponentially.

The government has to on one hand handle a health crisis while on the other is a trust crisis. The Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe has been praised as just the right man to handle the crisis. He is authoritative, has communicative presence and does not shy away from responding to media questions.

However, the minister is caught up in low trust of government communication. The Minister could not hide his anger over the manner in which a section of Kenyans had taken reports of the healing with cynicism terming it as triviali

zing the issue by terming it a “PR” exercise.

The skeptical manner in which Kenyans responded can be explained within the general context of government communication.

Crisis communication scholars aver that government communication is likely to be received with skepticism based on a number of factors. Lee (2009) identifies eight factors that characterize the uniqueness of a government crisis. Among the factors is the evaluative aspect of Governments handling of past crises and the ability to evaluate a crisis within the broader thematic context of leadership rather than in relation to a specific episode.

Coupled with that is the rise of social media users whose use social media platforms to air their voices at times at the expense of formal government communication. According to Forbes, social media platforms promotes free speech and empower(ment)….. by handing them (social media users) a global megaphone with which to speak directly to the world.

The Covid-19 pandemic hit the country when public confidence and trust on the government was low. Cries of disillusion and disenchantment on the performance of the country’s economy were high with stakeholders claiming that the economic situation in the country was not conducive to business. In fact certain some companies had been forced to cut costs or even shut down thus affecting employment. Political temperatures were also high with divisions over the Building Bridges Initiative and the Jubilee Party divisions among others. So, the Covid-19 pandemic made a worse situation worse.

What then can the government do to improve perception and trust of its communication?

The government needs to pursue trust building as one of the goals of ensuring that the public trust its communication.

Although trust building is a long term goal, the government can achieve the same by ensuring open, honest, timely and consistent communication. Public communicators should not be angry on why the public do not trust them but rather should reflect on the lack of trust and seek to improve it. With a proactive method towards addressing issues, the government can build the public’s trust. Trust will no doubt create

Thought Leader: Kenyan Security agents need better strategies to combat drug trafficking

2019-08-20T00:24:00.002-07:00

A drug addict injects himself with drugs
Source: www.kenyancollective.com

Recently, the coast of Kenya and particularly Mombasa witnessed heightened activity on what police claimedwas a major crackdown on drug traffickers. The crackdown ended up in total embarrassment as police did not make any major arrest and even those they arrested were released by the courts for the lack of evidence. At one time, the Mombasa County Police Commander Johnstone Ipara was seen briefing the media bragging how they had seized three thousand shillings in coins from one of the suspect's houses as if there is any law that prohibits anyone from holding coins.

This must have been the most kneejerk reaction to combating drugs that I have ever come across and from the outset it was doomed to fail. Let me state why. I have lived in the coast of Kenya for the last two decades and I can attest that since getting here, there is nothing that grips the people of Pwani than talk about drugs popularly referred to as Unga.

The number of youth who are hooked to Unga is enough to make the community shudder when it thinks about its future. For instance, the NationalAuthority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse in a 2017 study reckons that drug abuse in the Coast of Kenya is a persistent problem, with a whopping 45.2% of residents having ever used at least one substance of abuse. The worst affected counties are Mombasa County (34.4%) followed by Lamu 32.0%, Tana River 31.1%, Kilifi 29.7%, Kwale 26.0% and Taita Taveta 20.7%.

Statistics aside, the effects of drug use is evident in all the areas of Pwani. Zombie-like-stoned young men and women in all the low end estates of Mombasa County are a persistent reminder that the lives of the youth have gone to the dogs. When they are in need of their kick, they are always ready to do anything. They threaten, steal and commit all manner of crime as they seek to address their drug dependency. The overall effect is that such youth have been turned into social, economic and psychological burdens for their families. Sadly though is the reality that a section leaders who are supposed to act as role models find the youth useful as ready markets and powerful tools of political coercion.

On the other hand, their families do not know peace because they are always uncertain about the lives of their addicted sons and daughters who whenever they engage in crime may end up being killed by the mob or the police who are always hot on their heels.

While the rest of the nation is concerned about dealing with alcoholism and to a lesser extent the use bhang, Pwani is concerned mainly about narcotic drugs. The issue becomes complex because in as much as it affects locals, it brings other faceless players in the international drug trade who are powerful, moneyed and ready to go to any extent to protect their otherwise lucrative business. They will therefore threaten, bribe and even kill whenever someone interferes with their businesses

The United Nations Office on Drugs Control observes that Kenya is a transit route for drugs originating from Pakistan and destined for Europe. The Kenyan coast particularly provides an avenue for trafficking drugs because of the extensive coastline and presence of private ports. Once the drugs arrive, a significant amount can be withheld and sold to the already existing market in the coast and the high end joints in Nairobi.

Mombasa Police Commander Johnstone Ipara.
Source: www.kenyanews.go.ke

Drug trafficking is an underworld operation that is conducted in a highly secretive manner. It seeks to undermine law and order by incorporating other illegal aspects of money laundering and terrorism. Drug traffickers are knowledgeable, smart, deep pocketed and understand the operations of the underworld. They are also well connected with deep roots in government administrative, security and legal systems that even when they are caught, it is merely playing for the gallery because no convictions will be forthcoming.

Therefore, the war on drug trafficking cannot be won by razzmatazz, playing to the public gallery and public relations stunts where the journalists tag along taking endless rolls of pictures, recording films and sound bytes of the drama. This approach as someone has observed is a defeatist approach towards curbing drug trafficking. Which trafficker would keep drugs in his house for the police to come and impound?

There ought to be much thought in the approach. And there is a lot in which our security agents can learn from the Americans and the manner in which they nailed the Akasha brothers. In Kenya, getting arrested for the Akasha's was a sick joke that they often laughed off because they knew they would be out of the cells before anyone could shout heroin.

The approach should involve the use of a crack squad of vetted undercover detectives who are committed to the war on drugs. This approach should involve infiltrating users with a view to trace the network up the ladder to who are the drug lords. The community should also play its role by sensitizing its youth against drug use

The Kenyan administrative and judicial system should be embarrassed to note it took less than two years for the Americans to nail down guys who used to walk in and out of court with a smirk on their face. From the Americans we can learn that nailing a kingpin is no big deal and it can be done with a good strategy, dedication and patience. Further, the embarrassment of sham arrests and prosecution should make us seek to do things in a different and better way, and I am certain that big brother America would be willing to help on how to do things.

Ends…………….

I can't believe they did this because of Kwangwaru....

2018-11-04T22:19:00.001-08:00

Music fans in Eldoret went berserk when a Tanzanian artist failed to show up for a much routes musical concert.
Harmonize is the artist behind the local radio anthem Kwangwaru.
Disappointed fans started throwing litter the moment they realised Harmonize was no show.
Reports indicate that the artist who was in Eldoret may have failed to perform over disagreements on pay.
Hawa mapromoter watatuonyesha maneno..
See what the fans did.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10217582251217905&id=1526613181

Maize cartels punishing poor farmers and their families for selfish gains ........

2018-11-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

Farmers drying maize in Eldoret Town
Credit: www.businessdailyafrica.com

By Judy Matu

The revelation by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri that 60% of maize with a value of over Kshs 9 Billion which was imported last year is unfit for human consumption is both confusing and shocking.

That the CS told the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agriculture that the country ordered for only six million bags yet maize cartels imported ten million bags in total contravention of the government's gazette notice is maddening.

The revelation brings to the fore issues of national agricultural policy and how efforts of corrupt individuals in government undermine President Uhuru Kenyatta's food security agenda. The food security agenda is one of the four key pillars of Government's development agenda, the others being food security, affordable housing, manufacturing, and affordable healthcare for all.

It is unacceptable that the Government is staring at such wasteful use of taxpayers' KShs 9 billion that would have been used to buy maize from local farmers.

Further, considering that local farmers have been complaining over excess maize that they have nowhere to sell and being unpaid for the few who were lucky to sell to the National Cereals and Produce Board, one then wonders where the country went wrong.

There is need to protect and prioritize local farm produce and the Government must walk the talk and implement policies that will protect local farmers from cartels in the maize industry, corrupt civil servants and their politicians. As it is now, the farmers are on their own despite the crucial role that food security plays in supporting the other three pillars of the government's development agenda.

It is worth noting that the case of overlooking farmer's plight has been the same in the sugar industry where imported sugar has been at the heart of bringing sugar millers on their knees leaving millions of cane farmers distraught and poor.

These farmers need to be protected. It is unacceptable that farmers should continue suffering massive losses as they helplessly watch their sweat go to waste. The rot of corruption that is hurting farmers and draining our economy must be urgently addressed and Kenyans must participate in debates that inform agricultural produce and guidelines and policy.

Further, the President must crack the whip on any public servant suspected of abetting corruption in the agricultural sector regardless of their rank. The government must protect farmers who are already facing challenges from climate change from corruption and support the farmer through agri friendly policies at national and county levels.

Judy Matu

National Chairperson

Association of Women in Agriculture in Kenya (AWAK)

Secession talks: Political grandstanding, genuine concerns or political positioning?

2017-11-06T02:39:00.003-08:00

Gov. Joho and Kingi in a past press conference

Last week two out of the six governors of the coast region declared that they would set in motion processes for the secession of the coast region.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho popularly known among his supporters as “Sultan” and Kilifi Governor Amasson Kingi declared that they wanted the region to secede based on the fact that the area “has been marginalized by successive governments and the only way to get out of the marginalization was to determine own destiny.”

Secession talks are not a new thing at the coast of Kenya. In 2008, a separatist organization called the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) pushed for the secession of the coast region citing an agreement between the Kenyan government and the Sultan of Zanzibar for the administration of the region for a period of 50 years.

According to a Reuters(2012) report, the MRC claimed that they had “ … documents of a 1963 accord signed by then Kenyan Prime Minister and later president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and his Zanzibar counterpart Mohamed Shante, granting Kenya a 50-year lease over the coast.”

The government dismissed the documents as forgeries and went ahead to use legal and extra-judicial means to repress the organization that was accused of causing death and mayhem in the region as it set to advance its agenda.

During its heydays, the MRC a ragtag militia seemed to enjoy the support of a good number of locals. In fact, it beat logic how the organization whose leaders were of no known social or political standing managed to hold the government at ransom for such a long time and was accused of being behind the killing of police officers, chiefs and even attempting to disrupt the 2013 general elections under the banner “Pwani si Kenya.”

Claims amongst security watchers in the Coast region were that the organization was enjoying closet support of powerful political forces. Whether true or not, remains a fact for historians and researchers to establish.

So when the two Governors of semi-autonomous counties surrounded by their ODM lieutenants revived the debate, a number of issues arose.

Were the claims merely for political grandstanding and part of the wider NASA resist strategy
Were the claims genuine and therefore supposed to be pursued to their conclusive end?
Were the two politicians who are now in their final term of service positioning themselves above other politicians so that they will be looked upon to guide the region’s political direction post 2022?
How are the renewed claims for secession to be received by local people?

Sensitive region

Coast region is a sensitive region because it faces the challenges of radical extremism, infestation of criminal gangs, the entrenchment of the marginalization narrative and a tourism industry that is mainly dependent on peace and tranquility.

There is cause for concern especially based on the way that the MRC secession agenda was widely embraced by local people in some areas of Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi Counties. Further, the extremists and the criminal gangs could take advantage of the message to unleash terror in the region.

From a communication standpoint, local leaders are not just cheap talk but powerful opinion shapers whose word is taken as the gospel truth by their followers and thus their secession word is enough to start creating ripples of targeted conflict in the region.

MRC spokesperson Rashid Mraja. He has dismissed renewed calls for
secession terming them dishonest

There is need therefore to approach the renewed discourse with loads of sanity. While the leaders have given their assurances that they want to pursue peaceful and legal means, it is not over until it is over.

The government and conflict transformation organizations ought to be vigilant enough to ensure that no life will be lost; no property destroyed or livelihood disrupted in the pursuit of the agenda.

Ends……..

Safari ya Bamba Si Machero.......

2017-02-24T06:43:00.001-08:00

Safari ya Bamba ni machero (The journey to Bamba is tomorrow) is an old Giriama childhood song that is sang by children when they gather in the evening as they wait for their mothers to cook.

Though innocently sang, it’s a song that tells you that if you want to travel to Bamba, you must be adequately prepared both psychologically and physically because going there is not a journey for the faint. It requires both stamina and determination.

As a young reporter working in the District Information Office Mariakani in the late 90s, the assignment I dreaded most was to be sent for coverage in Bamba, some thirty kilometers north of Mariakani in Kilifi County. Going to Bamba meant that you would have to leave early and come back late. You would swallow all the dust on the road and brace yourself for the scorching sun and thirst. There was no assurance that you would come back the same day and if you would it would not be later than midnight. It would be worse if it rained.

Bamba back then had no piped water and if you dared drink the available Mtsara (Dam) water you would be welcoming sicknes into your body. I remember one day when we went to cover a ministerial function and I was so thirsty that I drank the water, what followed was a stomach infection that were it not for a specialist in Mombasa, it would have been another story.

The story of the neglect of Bamba and other dry areas in Kilifi is a long and old one. Since 2002 general elections, leaders have been elected based on their promise to develop the area and dumped based on their inability to fulfill those promises.

Workers on a section of the road linking Mariakani and Bamba in Kilifi County.

However, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. I was delighted to note that the people of Bamba will no longer have to wait for “tomorrow” so that they can travel. The Deputy President WilliamRuto was in Bamba to inspect the progress of the 51 kilometre road linking Mariakani, Bamba and Kilifi that will cost the taxpayer Kshs 2.1 billion.

See what he said https://twitter.com/WilliamsRuto/status/834348826928504834

I became happy for the people of these areas because I have been witness to what they go through as they travel to their homes. I was happy not for everything else but that the people can go to the nearest towns and market their produce.

As a citizen, I told myself that, I would not care for anything else but to know that there is a government cares and puts in place infrastructure that makes my life easier in terms of provision of basic infrastructure.

See what Ruto did to Kalonzo at Akamba handicraft......

2016-11-18T22:09:00.000-08:00

Deputy president William Ruto raided CORD co-principal vote turf and made fleeting donations that might make the principal curse in envy.
The DP toured Akamba handicraft in changamwe, Kalonzo Musyoka's vote basket where he assured the crafter's of government's support in improving their business.
The crafter's had petitioned the government over tax returns, land rates, construction of a show room and sheds and salary arrears to employees.
The DP said he had requested the taxman to recompute the tax arrears for the artisans.
"However, we have paid the Kshs 300,000 land rates. I also pledge Kshs 5 million for salary arrears and today I present to you Kshs 2 million," he said amidst claps of joy.
He observed that the NYS will he involved in the rehabilitation of the area at a cost of Kshs 10 million.
"The NYS will in the next two weeks bring their architect to work with management on the designs. We will also fence the premises," he said.
The move is likely to make Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka green with envy as he has not done much to the Akamba handicraft artisans who form the bulk of his supporters.
In his speech, characterised by humour Ruto also accused CORD of lacking a development agenda and focussing only on sideshows.
"CORD is not even a party, it's an NGO whose agenda is holding protests," he chided.
Ruto is on a voter charm offensive trip to the coast that is widely regarded as CORD zone.
Ruto has toured Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Kwale and is expected to address a public rally at Tononoka grounds on Sunday.

Ends.....

Hide if you want to distribute relief food.....

2016-11-11T06:43:00.001-08:00

Source: World Vision Zambia

Many years ago when I used to work as a Government reporter, we used to accompany the long serving Cabinet Minister Katana Ngala and MP for Ganze for relief distribution efforts in the Constituency of the then Kilifi District.

Hon. Katana was not particularly known to keep time. He was the kind of a guy who would slot a meeting for 2.00.p.m. but would not appear until the sun was setting in the west. What particularly touched were the very many helpless women and children who would wait for eons on end for the hallowed Minister. They would have to brave sweltering heat and dust as they waited for “Mubomu” (The Leader).

Many women with strapped little frail children in their backs hid under scanty brush and would only come to life when the perennially late Minister would put two two-kilogram “Gorogoros” of maize into their baskets.

It used to be heart wrenching moment witnessing frail old women and sometimes men open their bags expectantly for the Minister to put something into it. The well fed Government fat cat would ensure that every “kiondo” ended up with something. It was good for his political mileage and for his re-election campaign, although later in life it worked against him.

I recall this story because lately, I have seen pictures in the social media of well-fed government fat cats distributing relief food to hunger stricken residents of now Kilifi County.

From parliamentarians to MCAs they are competing on who will distribute the most food. Some of them are actually pushing the “Facebook live” button so that we can see their benevolence. The brief to their handlers is that they must get as much publicity on the new social media front at least if they are not covered by the mainstream media. That way, their Facebook and Instagram pages are littered with different angles of relief food distribution as they do “service to humanity”.

The question that lingers in my mind is, is there honour in the distribution of relief food? Is there pride in handing over a two kilogramme packet of flour to a drought stricken citizen? What happens when they finish the food? What is there to take photographs about?

The leaders taking selfies while distributing relief food should be ashamed of themselves. They should actually be hiding. Relief food distribution is so short term and reactive and reflects failure on the part of leaders to come up with policies that ensures that citizens are fed. What happens to the citizens when the leaders hop into their fuel guzzlers to go and have several course meals? Will they wait for you to come back again? And if then when? Further, drought is not accidental and with good plans it can be taken care of.

The government that they represent whether national of county has the responsibility to put in place long terms measures that ensure that the people are cushioned against suffering during drought seasons.

Drought should be the reason why leaders at both the County and the National Government should push for the implementation of irrigation projects work so that at all times the people are food secure.

In my mind, I am clear that without implementing food sustenance projects, we will continue witnessing “mubomus” taking selfies with hunger victims. But maybe they are not interested in addressing the situation, because if they did they would not get their votes.

Ends……

Designing winning communication strategies, lessons from Donald Trump

2016-11-10T10:30:00.001-08:00

"….. 90% of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting our predilections." - Justice William O. Douglas, Supreme Court Judge USA), *

As the dust settles in the just concluded American elections, questions are likely to arise on what went wrong in Secretary Hilary Clinton’s campaign camp. Many people were of the opinion that Hilary Clinton was likely to win. Their observation was backed by opinion polls that gave her a between 4-8% lead over President-Elect Donald J. Trump.

Secretary Clinton had a good message going. She spoke policy and the continuation of President Barrack Obama’s legacy which had seen the American economy register significant growth compared to when President George Bush left White House in 2008.

What concerns me is the role played by strategic communication advisers for Donald J. Trump that left the Clinton camp stun and with egg on the face. Their role provides crucial lessons to any practising or aspiring strategic communication professional on how best to conduct a winning campaign.

From the outset, the Donald Trump camp did not accidentally win. They stuck to a simple message that resonated well with the people and which they hammered in the appropriate forums and mediums. Trump spoke immigration, unemployment and economy. “Let’s Make America Great Again” was a message that would capture the minds and hearts of Americans in a way that was not fathomed by the competitors.

Strategically speaking, the message exploited emotions rather than logic. The use of emotions appeals to the mind and heart rather than reason. People are told what they want to hear. Emotional appeal is also based on the premise that the mind is most likely to reject traditional messages. The use of this appeal was the vote earner that ended up stunning and humiliating Hilary who was certain that the White House was hers for the taking.

Secretary Hilary stuck with the official line of the message. She spoke foreign policy, global politics, health care and the economy all borrowed from the official government handbook. Whereas this was reality, and reflected what was happening in the government it did not actually stir the minds of the voters.

The use of the reason to appeal to voters may not be the best approach in making a strategy that wins an election. This is because it is widely documented that people make emotional decisions and justify themselves with facts later. Further, elections and their euphoria do not provide voters with enough moments to digest and act on the message.

One can argue that the Kenyan situation is largely different from the American elections because our politics is largely ethnic based. However the basics remain the same. Communication strategists must be ready to advice their clients that if they want to go to an election, they must be prepared to deliver simple messages that appeal to the people. Aspirants in government must be prepared to throw away the glossy policy and development record book because no one will be listening.

Similarly, opposing aspirants must also refrain from overselling their agenda because no one will be particularly interested with its contents. In a nutshell, it’s a propaganda moment and only the exploitation of emotions might carry the day.

The Communication strategist must advice on the need to understand audiences so that they can be reached within the mediums that they consume. From the elections, it was clear that while Clinton stuck to the traditional door to door campaign method that won Barrack Obama the presidency, Trump pursued the use of online mediums to reach millennials individually and at the comfort of their seats. The next general elections in Kenya might just be won by how well candidates will be ready to exploit the use of online platforms and communication strategists must be prepared to how best to optimize reach, effect and voter action.

Ends……..

Trump win sparks online war between ODM and Jubilee

2016-11-09T07:12:00.001-08:00

Moments after Washington outsider and business mogul Donald Trump was elected US President, Facebook was ablaze with a bitter war of words between ODM and Jubilee over who should learn from the win.

The election of Trump stunned both supporters and opponents the world over with stock markets reacting angrily to the election of a man who is widely considered to be an outsider.

In Kenya, ODM and Jubilee decided to trade accusations over who supported him in the elections.

The first to fire a salvo was ODM’s Director of Communication Phillip Etale who in his Facebook page accused Government insiders saying they had a lot to learn from the win.

Dennis Itumbi The PSCU Director of Digital Communication was the first to respond saying that the winning lessons were mainly meant for former PM Raila Odinga.

He gave a link in which the former PM and ODM flag bearer had supported Hilary Clinton and even attended the Democratic Party Congress in which she was declared the party’s flagbearer. In the article Raila claimed that Trump did not have a policy for Africa and that is why he did not support him.

Etale was at it again claiming that Jubilee was yet to congratulate Trump and instead said that Tanzanian President John Magufuli was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump.

Itumbi responded with President Uhuru’s update.

The war of words ignored the fact that both the Government and the opposition had a lot to learn from the win which indicated that the media and opinion pollsters could no longer be taken as critical opinion shapers in election matters.

If you can’t nail her, let her go….

2016-11-07T01:15:00.002-08:00

Former Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary
Ms Ann Waiguru
Source: www.politics.co.ke

If the Government through its hallowed institutions like the EACC and Parliament’s PAC cannot nail Former CS Ann Waiguru for the theft of Kshs 791 million from the National Youth Service, they should let her go. Period.

This is because the probe by PAC and other associated institutions has turned into a circus. In my opinion, the probe has not yielded much and instead of exposing the alleged scam, it has turned into a political witch hunt where the opposition takes advantage of the alleged graft in Government to advance its course.

On the other hand, Government MPs take sides and only offer placates when it comes to probing the scam because it doesn’t want to be seen as playing into the hands of the opposition.

Ms Waiguru has been presented before the court of public opinion, tried, judged and found guilty. Her identity, image and reputation have been compromised and as things stand now, she is widely perceived as the most corrupt female minister who oversaw the loss of millions of public finances.

However, as long as she has not been presented before any court of law, she remains innocent. And even if she was to be presented before any court of law, she would remain innocent, be accorded a fair hearing and representation until the day when she is convicted. That is the law.

I knew that the war was lost when we started focussing on her facials, her near perfect round yellow face, her finger rings, her body hugging dress, make-up and hair style. In fact one senior politician summarised her as engaging in “flashy catwalk” and a defence laced with lots of English.

When the campaign to get her out of the Ministry of Planning and Devolution started, it was meant to attack power. Then, she was considered to be close to President Uhuru Kenyatta and therefore any accusation of corruption would be an attack to the President in person.

Maybe the objectives of the accusers were achieved and there is no need to continue with the campaign anymore.

When she resigned, Ms Waiguru said that she had done so because of “sustained attacks” by mischievous parties on her person and family which led to the deterioration of her health. It was also understood that she resigned due to pressure from inside the Jubilee government and the perception that she had become a liability to the government.

One year down the line, Ms Waiguru still walks free and what is left accusers and sympathizers is now to appear as the ones who were hard on her or who were on her side during the probe.

To me, the probe is lost and all I can see are maybes: Maybe she suffers because she is a woman. Maybe the drama is good for publicity. Maybe the NYS scandal provides good soundbytes. Maybe the scandal provides good and sustained allowances for the members.

As currently constituted and within the confines of the law Parliament cannot fully resolve the issue. Vested interests and a credibility crisis greatly hamper the effectiveness of PAC to deliver a solution to the alleged graft. If they cannot do so, they should admit as such and let her go.

Ends…….

Breaking from the past, an effort to create a new Elburgon

2016-10-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

Customers enjoy a meal at the Classiq Cafe in Elburgon.

Food: Excellent

Decor: Great

Ambience: Good

Service: Good

Nothing is as good as having a tasty meal served with the best and courteous of services. While many hotels may have good food, the party is often spoilt by dirty and non-caring attendants or even dirty environments.

No so for the Cafe Classiq in Elburgon Town, situated on the Molo Nakuru road and about 180 kilometres west of Kenya capital Nairobi.

Amid the hustle and bustle of log carrying tractors and lorries criss-crossing the town and farmers going on with their activities, the hotel offers a fairly quiet ambience where one can eat and at the same time hold a coffee chat.

The hotel represents the new Elburgon, a break from the past in which investment never seemed to be in a hurry for change.

Perhaps meant to taunt the old town, the hotel sits directly opposite the low lying; dark asbestos roofed Model Butchery which for years on end was the face of Elburgon.

Cafe Classiq co-proprietor Peter Kimanga says the hotel is about one year old and for that time they have seen it grow in leaps and bounds.

"Our idea was to create something modern, one that would serve both local and visiting guests. Besides, we were interested in a hotel that represented modern trends," Mr Kimanga told this writer.

And the cafe doesn't disappoint, as you have your sumptuous meal, you will be entertained by a state of the art digital television whose sound is measured to ensure your comfort. The atmosphere and decor adds to the service as it provides a romantic feeling never before witnessed in any of the hotels in town.

The cost of the meals is affordable and doesn't seem to do much damage to the pocket.

Definitely, it is a hotel worth trying, especially because Cafe Classiq is not just classic in the sense of the word but in its attempt to combine modernity with affordable service so that customers end up satisfied.

Ends….

Giving new meaning to eyewitness accounts, the digital way

2016-10-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

In John Grisham's "The Testament," there is a character in the legal drama novel named Snead who is identified as the driver and assistant to the main protagonist billionaire Troy Phelan. He is reported to have witnessed and knew everything about Phelan. He knew his philandering ways and even witnessed when he committed suicide.

However, when Snead discovered that his master had died without leaving anything for having worked for him for many years and as he had on various dates promised, he decides to yarn an account that would suit him to inflict revenge and earn from lawyers who were seeking to challenge Troy’s holographic will.

Snead's account reminds me of journalism and eyewitness accounts. More often than not, the media is not a first-hand witness to events and mainly rely on eyewitnesses to tell the story. It is assumed that the eyewitnesses will tell the story as they saw and the journalists can only use their skills to document and attribute the happenings to the eyewitnesses.

Majorly, eyewitnesses will give accounts based on what they can recollect or depending on the subjective angle that they want the story to be framed. The framing, like that of Snead also depends on the relationship with the people they are giving information about.

To guard against subjective witnesses, the fathers of journalism invented the aspect of confirmation so as to balance the accounts given. Confirmation was meant to ensure that the probability of giving highly exaggerated accounts or information that supports only one side was eliminated.

That is reason why no editor will pass a journalists report without asking who confirmed. Editors will also seek for diverse witness accounts so as to establish the points of convergence that would fully support a story.

The last few months have however given the aspect of witness account new meaning. With the emergence of internet enabled high resolution phone cameras and Facebook live eye witnessing is no longer the same. Today’s eyewitnesses record accounts of happenings on their digital enabled devices and therefore do not have to rely purely on recollection to be able to tell what they saw.

The case of the shooting of Philado Castille by a police officer in the USA is a recent example of eyewitness account going a notch higher. In the video, Philando’s girlfriend recorded the events “live” and even went ahead to give commentary about the circumstances that led to the shooting dead of her boyfriend.

While there were ethical issues about the live reporting, the girl said she just wanted the world to know what happened to her boyfriend.

Closer home, the video recording by an unidentified civilian of the attack on the Central Police Station in Mombasa early last month is a case in point. In the video, believed to have been recorded by someone living in the flats next to the police station, police officers were seen struggling to escape from the first floor of the police station whose ground floor was on smoke.

Journalists who did not witness the incident had to rely on the neighbours for non-subjective accounts of the attack. What one can argue is that the recorded accounts are incontrovertible and therefore leave officialdom with little chance to give an official position, deny or even spin the accounts.

Journalists going to cover events must therefore be prepared to ask the eyewitnesses they find on site whether there is one of them that recorded the events as they happened.

I am certain that had the Brenda Chepkoech Sugut versus Chris Brown story followed that line of thought it would have been reported differently. What was available was not enough to inform the reader to make a decision on whether the “personality-selfie” loving girl had her phone broken as she claimed.

The questions that linger in my mind are, were there no other people who recorded the happenings? Could media houses have come across the footage from eyewitnesses and because of other interests decided not to run the story? The seven seconds video that was available online was too short to make a decision? Is there a possibility that there was more footage?

Ends…..

Yes, journalists are under siege of powerful forces, but......

2016-09-22T03:12:00.002-07:00

Journalists in Nairobi Mombasa have within the last one month held demonstrations over what they claim to be the diminishing space of their operational environment. They have argued that they are undergoing threats, intimidation, and harassment, trolling and a tapping of their phones by people whom they claimed to be allied to Government.

The journalists particularly in Mombasa documented cases in which their colleagues either died under mysterious circumstances or suffered in one way or another at the hand of powerful. They created hush tag #Journalistsundersiege to make a case for their grievances.

Looking at it deeply, you realize that the journalists are more than justified to express their rage. They are justified to vent their frustrations, express their fears and even draw the eye of power towards the increasing number of cases of threats, harassment and intimidation some of which have been at the hands of security agents. They are justified to express their frustrations over the inability to tell the story as it is without any frontiers on behalf of the majority.

That said, the media has moral and legal responsibility to tell the story regardless of affiliations for the good of the society.

In conversations held with colleagues, it emerged that while it is true that journalists are under siege of powerful forces, they are under siege of compromise. The siege that took the journalists to the streets is more physical; its harm can be seen and accounted for. Under compromise, the damage is not explicit but is interwoven into the system thus affecting effective functional roles of the media.

Take for instance the widely known but rarely talked about brown envelope journalism. The giver of the envelope puts the journalist under siege and therefore they cannot be free to report the way things have happened. Brown envelope silences the journalist; it creates a gate in which the journalist sees the story from the eyes of the news-maker thus denying audiences and readers a chance to get the whole picture.

There are widely circulated but unverified claims that some journalists in Mombasa have had their education fully or partially funded by politicians. The import of this is that the journalists cease to be members of the fourth estate and instead become sycophantic praise of their funders. They are basically under siege, and not for a specific period of time but for a lifetime.

Add this to the emergence of powerful public relations whose intentions are still in line with the founders of the profession – to contain the effects of muckrakers. Public relations and reputation management has always had money and therefore willing to go any length to spend and ensure that the reputation and profiles of the subjects remains in top form. On the other hand, a good number of journalists are famished. Some earn peanuts and while others have not been paid for quite a while. So whenever they meet with deep pockets, they are always ready to sing to their bid.

There are claims that the same journalists put their colleagues under the siege of compromises. A compromised individual would do anything to ensure that they guard their compromise and therefore they will sell out their colleagues thus jeopardizing their lives. Further, compromised journalists tinker with politicians and the end result is that they also end up taking political positions and acting as gatekeepers of the political class both in the newsroom and in the field. They will watch out who is filing which negative story against those who fund them. They will take recordings of functions to their funders and at the end of the day, the trade becomes muddled in siege.

It is probably a time that journalists need to start having a conversation with their employers, The Media Council of Kenya and the representative associations on how they can conduct their work independently and without frontiers. My only concern is that a free and independent media never existed anywhere as the pressures are more than those that took journalists to the streets.

Ends…….

What students did for their former Principal will leave you in tears.....

2016-08-16T04:12:00.000-07:00

Mr. Mwangi (in cap) joins former students for a
photo when they paid him a visit in his home

Alumni of Michinda High School in Elburgon, Nakuru County collaborated online to raise funds for their ailing former principal Mr George Mwangi.

The former students of the school on the hill many of whom are Y generationers created a Whatsapp group in which they reached out to each other to come to the aid of the long serving educator.

“We formed the group because we realised that Mr. Mwangi who helped nurture many of us needed help and there was no easier way than to organise an online collaboration,” said founder Mr. George Kung’u.

Working in conjunction with the family of Mr Mwangi, the group consisting mainly of the class of 1989 and 1990, created a Safaricom pay bill number 775871 in which students some of whom live in different parts of the world could contribute.

According to a co-founder member of the group Mr Peter Kimanga, donations were received from as far as Canada and United States of America.

Last Saturday, a delegation of students went to see the ailing educator who expressed gratitude for their efforts.

Mr. Mwangi, a long serving educator and mentor, is known for having nurtured a generation of disciplined learners who are now successful actors in different sectors of the economy whole world over.

Mr Mwangi is joined by former students Esther Mwangi
and Daniel Ng'ang'a Gachiri during the visit

In his heydays, the educator nicknamed “Bogi” by students was a man of contrasts. He was as tough as a nail to undisciplined students but at the same time recognised effort and encouraged them in equal measure.

Signing report forms with a "G," Mr. Mwangi urged learners with a “you can do better” comment that was an inspiration to hard work.

He was also as a gentle as a dove in handling parents and other stakeholders alike, thereby earning their respect and command.

Owing to his wise leadership skills, Michinda secondary school became one of the most established centres of academic excellence in Nakuru County.

Mr. Mwangi will particularly be remembered for saving students the agony of having to walk a distance of about four kilometres from Michinda secondary school to Michinda primary school for laboratory based science lessons.

He also turned the school from a double stream district day school to a multi streamed, multi laboratory boarding school.

Students willing to contribute can do so through till number 775871.

Ends…..

Aliambiwa ananuka kama mbuzi, sasa awaonyesha yeye ni simba, tazama alivyofanya.......

2016-07-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

Gavana Mvurya aungana na kina mama kucheza ngoma

ya kitamaduni katika mojawapo wa hafla katika kauti ya Kwale

Imetolewa: www.standardmedia.co.ke

Gavana wa Kwale SalimMvurya ana sababu za kushangilia baada ya Kaunti ya Kwale kutajwa kama mojawapo wa kaunti ambazo zinatumia pesa za miradi ya maendeleo kwa njia sawasawa.

Taarifa katika gazeti la Nation zinasema Kaunti ya Kwale ilitumia asilimia 57.3 ya matumizi yake ya maendeleo, hiki kikiwa ndicho kiwango cha juu zaidi cha matumizi katika mwaka wa serikali ulioisha Juni 30.

Zamani, Mvurya alikuwa afisa wa maendeleo ya kijamii akifanya kazi na shirika la Plan International na huenda hapo ndipo alikereka na umaskini mkubwa ulioenea katika eneo la Kwale. Alipochaguliwa Mvurya aliyapatia kipaumbele maswala ya kuimarisha jamii kama vile kutengeneza barabara, maji na elimu na kutenga zaidi ya shilingi Milioni 400 kwa miradi hiyo.

Taarifa hizo bila shaka huenda zikaweka kicheko cha ushindi katika midomo ya Mvurya na wafuasi wake hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa amekuwa akipata upinzani mkali kutoka kwa baadhi ya wanasiasa katika kaunti ya Kwale na Mombasa kwa ujumla.

Ni hivi majuzi tu ambapo Gavana Mvurya alipoteza wadhifa wake kama naibu mwenyekiti wa baraza la magavana humu nchini, wadhifa uliochukuliwa na Gavana wa Taita Taveta Ben Mruttu.

Kutolewa kwa taarifa hizo huenda kukawatia aibu waliombandua mamlakani ya naibu mwenyekiti hasa kwa kuwa harakati zake za kuleta maendeleo katika kaunti ya Kwale zimeonyesha kuzaa matunda.

Wanaomjua Mvurya wanasema kuwa hana ukabila, upendeleo na ubadhirifu wa fedha za umma. Pia anasemekana hapendi siasa za malumbano na hili lilifanya akakosa kuhudhuria vikao na wakuu wa chama cha ODM ambacho yeye ni mwanachama.

Licha ya hivyo kuna wale wanaona kuwa hakuna alichoifanya kwa wakazi wa eneo la Kwale. Baadhi ya wabunge hasa wale wa kutoka Digo wakiwepo Suleiman Dori, Hassan Mwanyoha (Matuga) Zainab Chidzuga (Mwakilishi wa kina mama) Khatib Mwashetani (Lungalunga) na seneta Juma Boy hawamuungi mkono. Mbunge wa Gonzi Rai (Kinango) ndiye wake wa karibu.

Wengine ambao wanampinga na wanataka kuriithi wadhifa wa Gavana wa Kwale ni pamoja na aliyekuwa waziri na mbunge wa Matuga ambaye sasa ni balozi wa Kenya nchini Tanzania Chirau Ali Mwakwere na spika wa kaunti ya Kwale Sammy Ruwa ambao kutokana na taarifa hizi za matumizi bora ya pesa za umma huenda wakawa na kibarua kigumu.

Mvurya anasema kuwa hana shida kubwa na wanasiasa wa Kwale wakimpinga kwa sababu ni haki yao kufanya hivyo. Kile kinachomkera zaidi ni kuingiliwa na wanasiasa wa Mombasa katika kutaka kumng’oa mamlakani.

Yasemekana uhusiano kati yake na wanasiasa wa Mombasa ulianza kuingia ubaridi pale mbinu zake na zao zilipoanza kukinzana. Wakati ambapo wanasiasa wa Mombasa wanapenda siasa za mlengo wa kushoto zenye vitisho, makeke, malumbano na biashara, Mvurya ni mwanasiasa ambaye ni wa mlengo wa kati ambaye hapendi ubishi sana.

Fisi akitaka kumla mwanae husema ananuka kama mbuzi, na kwa sababu ya ubaridi huo Gavana Mvurya alidaiwa kuwa na uhusiano wa karibu na wanasiasa wa mlengo wa Jubilee.

Gavana huyo hakushiriki katika kampeini za uchaguzi mdogo wa Malindi na hili halikuwafurahisha vigogo wa chama chake katika eneo la Pwani na hasa Gavana wa Mombasa Ali Hassan Joho ambaye pia ni naibu wa kiongozi wa chama cha ODM.

Mvurya pia alionekana kutounga mkono swala la maandamano ya kutaka makamishna wa tume ya uchaguzi nchini IEBC wabanduliwe na hili pia liliwakera zaidi viongozi katika chama hicho cha chungwa.

Kutokana na hayo viongozi hao walifanya bidii za mchwa kuhakikisha barabara ya Mvurya ya mwaka wa 2017 imetiwa mashimo ili kuhakikisha kufaulu kwake kumekatizwa.

Mwisho………

See what Sulaiman Shahbal told his opponents....

2016-07-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

Businessman Sulaiman Shahbal says he is in Mombasa to stay and those wishing that he will shift his political base to Lamu are day dreaming.
Shahbal said although he has roots in Lamu, his political base is in Mombasa.
Popularly known as SS among his supporters, Shahbal said that what his detractors were engaged in was wishful thinking that he would ease himself out of their way.
The soft spoken politician enjoys significant following across voters of different persuasions and is seen as the main contender for the Mombasa gubernatorial position.
He is currently behind a grassroots movement calling itself "Change Movement" that has sent chills down the spine of his opponents both in Jubilee and Cord.
A section of the opponents have suggested that Jubilee Alliance Party should conduct grassroots election to determine who should be it's flag bearer in Mombasa, a challenge that Shahbal welcomed with open hands.
"Who expects to be given a position on a silver platter? We should all meet in the field and let the best candidate win," he noted expressing optimism that he would emerge the best among the contenders.
Shahbal was speaking when he graced a University of Nairobi Student Union Mombasa campus leaders celebration party.

Malik Obama is dreaming, Kogello supports Hilary Clinton..

2016-07-25T04:19:00.001-07:00

Claims by President Barack Obama half-brother Malik Obama that he will be voting Donald Trump in the upcoming American general elections has torn down the middle the President’s ancestral home in Kogello in western Kenya, with village leaders opposing the views.

Responding to a report in the New York Post, the chairman of Kogello Nyang’oma village, in Siaya County, President Obama’s ancestral home, Mr. Vitalis Awandu Ondewe said that the village was solely behind Democrats presidential flagbearer Hillary Clinton and their son Barack Obama.

“I was shocked to read the report. We are for the Democratic Party fulltime. We are supporting Hilary and she is going to win,” Mr Ondewe said in a telephone conversation with the writer.

Ondewe said he was unconcerned about the support of Malik to Donald Trump because that was his opinion as an individual and did not have the backing of the community.

“Majority of this community or Luo community or many Kenyans we are for the Democratic party,” he said.

Malik claims attracted the attention of Republican Presidential contender Donald Trump who on his twitter account @realDonaldTrump welcomed the move. The tweet was retweeted more than 30, 000 times and liked by more than 70,000 people.

Donald J. TrumpVerified account‏ @realDonaldTrump

Wow,
President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was
probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!

2:56 PM - 24 Jul 2016

The claims by Malik Obama are likely to be used by the Donald Trump camp to embarrass President Obama as a leader who never cared about his Kenyan family connection.

Ends….

Shouldn't we all be locked in the filthiest police stations......

2016-06-17T01:39:00.001-07:00

Source: Standard Media

Eight members of parliament had their day in court where they were charged with incitement to violence. The eight had been languishing in police cells since Tuesday when the magistrate ordered that they be incarcerated pending completion of investigations into their case by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

As I reflect about the plight of the six, a question that keeps coming to my mind is aren’t we all haters? Shouldn’t all of us have our day in court? Shouldn’t all of us be locked in the filthiest of police cells so as to reflect on the amount of hate that we spew whether online or socially?

While the eight may have been open in their alleged divisive rhetoric, a good number of us are closet tribalists (I borrow the term from Miguna Miguna’s Peeling off the Mask). We hate, divide people send signals of hate, we polarise, we just do anything that would justify our hate of other people but hiding under the freedom of expression and other constitutional clauses.

Just take a look at the social media and you will understand what I am talking about. The politicians who are the haters in chief have mobilised online armies that are more of rabid attack dogs. The armies consist of half-baked communication professionals purporting to be communication strategists and citizen journalists who have no clue what impact their hateful content can do. These armies attack with ferocity. They churn hash tags like mills. They spin stories in blogs to justify their conscription into the army.

We cheer politicians when they hate and spread malice about other people. We hate and hate some more. When we vote, we vote with our hearts because our heads have become dysfunctional, we can’t reason and we can’t see sense.

As a nation, we purport to want address the issue of tribalism and hate and even form organisations to address the same. But no sooner are the organisations formed than we steal the carpet of reputation from them. Without reputation any organisation is a shell.

Ask Hon Francis Kaparo, he of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and he will tell you the reputation gap in his organisation is as wide as the ridge between Ngugi wa Thiong’o Makuyu and Kameno hills. In fact the perception out there is that the organisation is a toothless bulldog where political cronies are rewarded.

What then should we do?

I honestly don’t think that I have an answer. However, this country needs a serious, sombre and thoughtful reflection about what and where hate is taking us.

Can’t we have politics without hate? Wouldn’t political addresses and discourses make sense without hate? Can’t we do hashtags without polarising the country? Can’t we just be mature enough to take responsibility of guiding and guarding our nation and know that we can survive without hate?

Can’t we…?

Can’t we….?