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23:48

Chaos erupt as women fight for pastor at a Kenyan church in Boston

BOSTON, Mass., The long running, silent fight for men in Kenyan community churches reached a new level in the Diaspora last Sunday when several mothers came to near blows after a pastor’s wife confronted a young mother alleged to be having a “suspicious relationship” with the church’s pastor.

The drama unraveled a few minutes after the end of the mother’s day service and 5 year anniversary last Sunday at the rapture Harvest Mission International, a Kenyan community church based in Boston.

According to multiple eye witness accounts, the pastor’s wife confronted a young woman at the end of the service demanding to know why she had attended the church despite being warned against it.

Reliable sources who swamped the AjabuAfrica.com news room and other social media with concerns about the bizarre development indicated that the pastor’s wife asked the young woman to leave immediately as she was unwanted in the church due to her “suspicious” multiple phone conversations with the church pastor of undisclosed nature to the wife.

The unusually frequent telephone conversations, it was reported, occur even late in the nights, and had been going on for a long time, despite objections by the wife.

Incensed that the young woman had ignored her instructions not to attend the church any longer without a full disclosure of the telephone conversations, the wife decided enough was enough and vowed to fight for her man.

She then approached the young woman menacingly saying, “What are you doing here and I told you never to come here again? This is not a club where you go to snatch other women’s husbands,” a reliable source told AjabuAfrica.com.

As a war of words ensued, a different female parishioner injected herself right into the confrontation, pushing the pastor’s wife away, telling her to back off and stop asking her friend not to attend the church.

Reports indicate that the female friend, also a mother, and her own mother who was close by, yelled at the pastor’s wife loudly accusing her of a “bad trend” harassing other female church goers for a long time and that they are now fed up with her antics.

They accused the pastor’s wife of being overly suspicious every time the pastor talks to a female parishioner.

Sensing trouble, several other female church officials tried to calm down the pastor’s wife, separating her from the rowdy mothers and escorting her outside to her car.

Sources say that the pastors wife was driven her home located a few miles away in to cool off.

The drama unfolded as the church pastor, was in his office with guests who had attended the service that also marked several years

A phone call and voice message to the pastor for comments on the bizarre incident has yet been returned.

Close and reliable sources indicate that the church has been experiencing similar turmoil for a long time, causing an exodus of some disillusioned members.

The sources also said that a recent public gaffe by the church pastor regarding expression of affection between male pastors and female parishioners that were deemed offensive by many in the close knit community has not helped matters get any better at the troubles church.

According to different media reports, the “fight for men of God” in some Kenyan community churches had been on the rise lately, mainly at the churches back home, and now in the Diaspora.

Other pastors have also been blamed of lowering their moral standards so much that parishioners bring the standards notch lower while still attending church.

A recent article by a leading Kenyan newspaper in the motherland, the standard detailed the increasing open fight for men in the Kenyan churches back in the motherland where many young females were competing for church pastors, drawing the ire of many pastor’s wives looking to defend their husbands from total takeover.

As a result of the increasing chaos at churches, another article by the same reliable and very reputable newspaper last month reported the resolution by many of the leading churches in Kenya who have now asked the government to step in and help them develop mechanisms for self regulation.

This was in an attempt to as a way of dealing with rapidly declining moral and ethical standards at the churches.

From the drama that developed at the Kenyan church in Boston, it appears like the fight for men has finally reached some of the Kenyan Diaspora churches.

9:06

Could the new revelation at the Kenya embassy mean another white elephant?

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Isaac Newton Kinity.

New revelation of questionable deals has emerged at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington D.C. following of an opinion piece by a Kenyan activist titled “No war in the Diaspora”. and the subsequent rebuttal from Regina Njogu, a Kenyan lawyer in Washington D.C.

Disturbing, annoying and disappointing information has surfaced regarding suspected high level corruption during the 2011 Diaspora Conference held in Washington DC last year. An event which required less than $ 5,000 to prepare, had thousands of dollars collected in its name.

The amount of money alleged to have been used for the conference, indicate that there may have been one other hidden agenda behind the whole idea of a Diaspora conference, “looting of Public Funds.” There were a total of 12 sponsors of the event, including the heavy funding of the same event by the Kenya Government. Five of the sponsors, namely, CIC insurance group ltd., Kenya Post Office Savings Bank, Equity Bank and General Electric Africa, were categorized as “PLATINUM” sponsors. BAE Systems inc. and Kenya ICT Board were categorized as “GOLD” sponsors. EBIX inc., was categorized as a Silver sponsor, while the Kenya Airways, University of West Virginia, Ivory Chevrolet and Eberly College of Arts and Science were categorized as Bronze sponsors. http://kenyaembassy.com/pdfs/conferencepacket.pdf.

Although the correct figures of the total amount of money sponsored to the event is not clearly known, it is estimated that each of the platinum sponsors contributed about $5,000 each, the Gold sponsors about $4,000 each, the silver sponsors about $3,000 each and the Bronze sponsors about $2,000 each. Going by this estimate alone, the total amount of money that was received by the Embassy from the private sponsors was about $46,000.

The Kenya Government alone, is alleged to have given the Kenya Embassy in Washington DC, a total of $40,000 for the preparation of the conference.

The embassy charged $60 from every Kenyan who attended the conference. About 250 Kenyans attended the conference, raising a total of $15,000 from the registration alone. Therefore, the total amount of money received by the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC in the name of the 2011 Diaspora Conference was $101,000 for only two days.

According to Ms Regina Njogu, all those who assisted in the preparations for the conference, were all volunteers, and I quote, “By the way, no one was paid to organize the October 2011 Conference. We were all volunteers.”

The expenses the Embassy may have incurred in the preparation and in the running of the Conference would not exceeded $5,000. Then where did all the rest of the money go? In view of the above figures, the Embassy should not have charged Kenyans any fee for the registration for the conference because there was more than enough money from the Kenya Government and from the private sponsors.

The attendance by all Kenyans to the conference should have been free, and I believe that was the reason why the Kenya Government chose to fund the conference, whose agenda was very clear and very important for our Nation and for our sisters and brothers back home in Kenya.

Because of the suspicion of what may have happened in the 2011 Diaspora Conference, some Kenyans in the Diaspora have increasingly become very scared that both the next Diaspora Conference scheduled to take place latter this year, and the scheduled Bus – Signature collection project in USA and in Canada, http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000055751&cid=4, may be corruption schemes aimed at looting money from Kenyans and from the private sponsors.

At this critical moment of transformation in Kenya, when every Kenyan has to abandon the culture of impunity and corruption, the office of the Kenyan Embassy in USA, should not be left behind.

The Kenyan Ambassador to the US may have committed very serious offences as outlined in the previous articles, namely, his failure to receive the two important senior Government representatives at the Diaspora Summit held in Marlboro, Massachusetts recently, and also his failure to attend to the concerns of 45 Kenyan clergy women and men from six states in the USA, who sought an audience with him.

But what is most disturbing and disappointing is the new revelation of the lack of transparency and accountability regarding the 2011 Diaspora Conference, which may affect all Ambassador Odembos’ future projects as a public servant abroad. I just hope and pray that the allegations, if true, are not an extension of the notorious corruption scandals commonly witnessed in some Kenya missions abroad.

In order for the Kenyan Ambassador, His Excellency ElKanah Odembo to build some confidence in Kenyans in the Diaspora, he has to release the accounts of income and expenditure for the October 2011 Diaspora Conference for Kenyans to see. If he fails to provide this report, Kenyans may recommend for the services of the Anti- Corruption Commission at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC.

For the sake of transparency and accountability, His Excellency Ambassador Elkanah Odembo should clarify the following:
1] The fact that the 45 Kenya clergy men and women, from the six states in USA, who contacted his office in September 2010 with a view to meet him, had not registered their respective Churches with the “Ambassador Diaspora Council”, may not have been a good reason for his Excellency to ignore them. Would his Excellency the Ambassador mind to apologize to them?

2] Very many projects have in the past 3 decades been faked in Kenya for the purposes of looting public funds. Can his Excellency the Kenyan Ambassador to USA, prove to Kenyans in Diaspora, that the purchase of the buses and hence collection of the signatures from the Kenyans in the Diaspora living in USA and in Canada, in the name of stopping war in the Diaspora, is neither a scheme to loot public funds nor an ODM campaign as we get closer to the elections?. Read Mr. John Maina’s article on Partisanship of Kenyan Ambassadors and High commissioners http://www.ajabuafrica.com/ajabublog/?p=811&cpage=1#comment-15914

7:17

Kenyan Church seeks self-regulation to rein in errant pastors

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

By Standard team

NAIROBI, Kenya_The Church could be headed for a shakeup if a bid by mainstream and top Pentecostal churches to rein in rogue preachers succeeds.

At the heart of the move is the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, which is worried that deceitful individuals have turned numerous houses of worship into commercial entities.

With pastors, including leading televangelists, also increasingly making headlines for involvement in crimes such as extortion, murder, human trafficking, rape and defilement, the umbrella body is equally concerned that this is critically hurting the image of the Church.

It is on this ground that the Evangelical Alliance, the Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC), and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) are engaging the Government as they seek powers to self-regulate, recommend reregistration of sham preachers, and lock out questionable individuals who want to join the ministry.

Penal offenses
They groups are said to have already held consultations with the Attorney General, the Registrar General, the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Kenya Integrity Forum with regard to the need for a vetting process that would lock out fraudulent gospel ministers.

Reverend Wellington Mutiso, the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya secretary general, says the first round of consultations took place last August followed by another in January, with another meeting now on the cards.

He says the Ministry of Education has also been closely involved since some preachers are increasingly opening schools with curriculums based on misleading doctrines.

Although the meetings are yet to yield much fruit, Mutiso laments the Church has been invaded by an unprecedented number of impostors, a situation he says is mortifying the institution.

“There are quacks in every profession and the Church has not been left out; we are having many wolves in sheep’s clothing. Currently, some of them have very big churches and congregations but are selling prayers, miracles and health to people who have followed them out of despair.

“This is not biblical but merely business and is the best way to know a rogue preacher,” he told The Standard On Saturday, lamenting that some of the pastors are even involved in penal offenses.

He says there is also growing concern about the titles some pastors are curving out for themselves.

Extremely skeptical

“In the mainstream churches and established Pentecostals, we have benchmarks that stipulate what theology school one should have attended and level one should reach to become a pastor and so on. But people who do not even understand the Bible are becoming pastors and even crowned apostles in months when they do not quality as such biblically, and when theirs are not even churches. People should be wary of this,” he cautions.

It is for this reason that Mutiso says the Church wants to be given powers to vet its own as opposed to the current set up where only Government agencies scrutinise potential clergymen.

Until the late 1990s, applications for those who wished to start gospel ministries used to be referred to the three umbrella bodies for recommendation before the then Registrar General could approve them.

“There was a backlog of so many churches that did secure registration, with so many groups that were occultist being kept away,” Mutiso explains. But a myriad of churches are now operating without registration, while those that seek registration only need the approval of the Registrar General and the NSIS.

“The NSIS and the registrar are not well equipped to do this and are not consulting those who do. These institutions have no idea as to what they are registering,” he states.

He says if allowed to vet itself, the Church would have the chance to interrogate both existing and aspiring pastors on their spiritual stands and doctrines to ascertain if they are Bible-based and lock out those who do not meet the cut.

“Although it is hard to vet people’s spirituality, we are the ones who can competently scrutinise and would recommend deregistration of so many churches. That is why we want to regulate ourselves,” he affirms.
Oliver Kisaka, NCCK deputy secretary general, calls on anyone who is not trained or called to be a Christian minister to desist from using Christianity to perpetrate evil.

He insists that one cannot qualify as a cleric unless he has theological training and admits many people are doing business and committing crimes from within the Church. But Rev Kisaka says they should be dealt with according to the law.

Misusing gift
“These are individuals who just wake up one day and think they can start ministries and make money through religion. If accused of criminal activities such as extortion, the justice system in Kenya does not discriminate offences and they should be taken to court and dealt with accordingly,” he says.

The clergyman nonetheless calls on Kenyans to desist from blanket condemnation of gospel ministers.
Pastor Justine Birichi of the International Christian Church readily acknowledges the Church has been turned into a money-spinner but not without explaining the unfortunate state of affairs.

He opines that most people have lost a sense of purpose in life, something he says has amplified the need for spiritual inspiration. The cleric says some pastors have deviously capitalised on this spiritual hunger.

Birichi gives the example of church ministers who sell annointing oil, a move he terms unbiblical. “We pray for the oil before anointing people, but it is just symbolic and not special in any way. It’s never supposed to be sold,” he explains.

“We have made the gospel a business. If you look at most pastors on television today, it is all about money and a lot of fake miracles.

“As ministers of the gospel, we have become so greedy. We have the power to convince people that black is indeed white but we are misusing this gift. This is unfortunate and is really hurting the word of God,” the pastor says.

As a result, he says people have become extremely skeptical about the work of the Church. “The devil has taken advantage and is tormenting people who do not know who to trust and who to believe.

17:44

Zimbabwe women cleared of ritual rapes

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

4:04

Kenyan Embassy in D.C failing in it’s mission

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Fellow Kenyans,
It is indeed devastating to say the least to begin to understand what Kenyan top diplomats are all about.
Honestly, I am not sure whether to blame the Kenyan Ambassador in Washington or the power that put him there. What is shocking is the realization of the low level to which we have sank as a nation. The questions are how did we get this low and how do we get out?

First and foremost, I would like to point out that the Ambassador in Washington has become a constant embarrassment and a total failure in discharging his duties.

I am not sure what type of orientation he underwent or what his job description entails. But if what I learnt in my Diplomacy and International Relations classes is anything to go by, the Ambassador needs some refresher courses to catch up with what he is supposed to be waking up to do in Washington. Failure to do so, I would proposal an immediate recall as any more embarrassment would be too painful to bear.

Why do I say that the Ambassador has failed?

1. Instead of engaging in irrelevant activities and uncalled for mission of flying from one state to the other in the name of meeting Kenyans, the Embassy should embark of serious stuff to help Kenyan take full advantage of the opportunities in America. Instead, the Ambassador has assumed the role beneath that of a local chief as he moves around eating goats and drinking traditional porridge.
If you were to interview him and seek to understand how such visits benefit Kenya as a country and tax payers specifically, he would just freeze with no substantial response. Probably he would simply say, he was invited by peace loving Kenyans and determined beyond doubts that the group was not tribal, hence his attendance using Kenyan tax payers’ money. This is not only absurd and embarrassing but it needs to stop now!

2. The Kenyan Embassy in Washington, which is based at the heart of the biggest economy in the world, should be engaging in market research in order to intelligently inform Kenyans on market trends and design ways that e.g. farmers can exploit the huge market, how hotelier and other service industries can advantageously market themselves, and explore ways for cultural exchange. In addition, to finding market leads, the Embassy should hold regular market events; produce informative materials related to international sales, marketing and finance. Provide international logistics, regulations and licensing, trade data and analysis. They should also have publications on trade problems etc. All these tasks would take quality time to deliver and thus less time for aimless visits from coast to coast diving Kenyans on tribal lines and creating imaginary wars in a foreign land.

3. The Public Affairs department of the Embassy should fully commit itself to concrete informational, cultural and educational activities intended to promote the Kenyan Foreign Policy and Kenyan Society in America. The department should maintain a state of the art information resource centre to help Kenyans particularly students conduct further research and Kenyan business folks take full advantage of opportunities in America. I would not be surprised that the Embassy staff might not even know what Kenyan Foreign Policy entails. I am not in any way trying to demean the work done at the Embassy but I’m stunned by the low level of debate going on the blog-sphere that belittles the role of the top diplomat.

4. The Education Attaché should develop robust partnerships with world leading institutions of higher learning. Be on the forefront encouraging American universities to collaborate with Kenyans universities in order to enhance quality and access of education for Kenyans. Find scholarship leads for Kenyan students. Encourage American research institutions to conduct research in Kenya in partnership with Kenyan researchers and vise versa. Find ways for Kenyan students to publish their research in American journals etc. I mean the work to be done is too much that I am wondering where the Embassy gets time to engage in petty stuff.

5. The only explanation as to why the current Ambassador is causing unnecessary conflicts and engaging in affairs that are beneath the role of the local of sub-chief in the village is that either he is intellectually challenged or simply he didn’t get his terms of reference right when he got hired. The third explanation might be he just doesn’t care or else he is in a mission to destabilize the Diaspora using the political strategy that was successfully used in 2007 presidential campaigns. All tribes were made to view the Kikuyus as the enemies to be fought with vigor. Some Kikuyus succumbed to that malicious strategy and began to see themselves as the societal problem. Some even began to believe that their survival depended on being seen to support non-kikuyu. Now while this was a political strategy that worked on 2007, I think now Kenyan people know better. I am surprised that a lawyer in the name of Reginal Njogu has the audacity to act as a gun for hire. To shoot unsubstantiated facts in support of what are indefensible failures in the part of the Embassy.

6. While lately the corruption in most Embassies has been reported including sales of Embassy buildings, it would be worthwhile to find out the role Regina Njogu plays in relation to her services to the Embassy. For example, can she tell Kenyans how much she was paid to write that rebuttal? I really don’t care what business partnership she has with the Embassy or the Ambassador for that matter, my only concern is why she would find it necessary to passionately defend the Embassy while its failures are glaring. Is she a beneficiary at the expense of fellow Kenyans? The days of hypocrisy are numbered in the new dispensation. If any Kenyan knows something, it is about time they say it so that the truth can be known. It would be more helpful if Regina would outline activities undertaken by the Embassy that have significantly enhanced the lives of Kenyans. Also, she can revise the job description for the Ambassador and provide advice on how he can effectively fulfill his role!

7. For the sake of not embarrassing himself anymore, the Ambassador should read some memoirs of significant diplomats who served before him and try to understand and redefine his role. I recommend the following as some of my favorite diplomats who sought to make a positive difference in the lives of their so societies.

Hammarskjöld, Dag / 1905-1961
Second Secretary-General of the United Nations. Also served as Chairman of the Bank of Sweden and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Swedish

Franklin, Benjamin / 1706-1790
Printer, philosopher and statesman. Served as ambassador to England and minister to France. American

Bush, George Herbert / 1924-
41st President of the United States. Served as ambassador to the United Nations and China. American

Bismarck, Otto von / 1815-1898
Statesman and aristocrat. Served as ambassador to Russia and France. German

Boutros-Ghali, Boutros / 1922-
Sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Also served as Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General of La Francophonie. Egyptian

Ban, Ki-Moon / 1944-
Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Served as Foreign Minister and ambassador to Austria. South Korean

Jefferson, Thomas / 1743-1826
Third President of the United States. Served as minister to France. American

Kissinger, Henry / 1923-
Secretary of State and Advisor for National Security Affairs. Joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. American

Rabin, Yitzhak / 1922-1995
Prime Minister, Defense Minister and joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Served as ambassador to the United States. Israeli

Thant, U / 1909-1974
Third Secretary-General of the United Nations. Also served as ambassador to the United Nations. Myanmarese

Albright, Madeleine / 1937-
Secretary of State and Permanent Representative to the United Nations . American

Franklin, Benjamin / 1706-1790
Printer, philosopher and statesman. Served as ambassador to England and minister to France. American

Jay, John / 1745-1829
Jurist. Served as minister to Spain. American

Hilary Clinton /2008
Secretary of State and former Senator of New York. She was also a First Lady for 8 years and a Presidential candidate in 2008.

I would urge the Ambassador to ponder over the remarks expressed in good faith in this response, reevaluate his standing going forward, and issue an apology to all Kenyans or tender his resignation. We are all Kenyans all the time and the insinuation that there are tribal groupings in the United States aimed at destabilizing Kenya and replicating the political violence like those occurred in 2007/8 is the height of hypocrisy, manifestation of intellectual bankruptcy, and psychological immaturity.

Does it mean Kenyans cannot produce great men of high intellect who can engage Washington in a meaningful way? How long are we going to bear the pain of having a nut like the current ambassador in office? Truth be told, he needs to go back to his activism NGO stuff because the diplomatic world has no place for people of his caliber. Sooner or later he will experience the rejection like a liver transplant patient. Regards,

Best Regards,
Dr. Pauline Otieno McCartney,
Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida

3:19

Divisive rhetoric hurting the cause for a positive Kenyan Diaspora agenda

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

By Regina Njogu
Njoki Njogu-2

I beg to differ with Isaac Kinity’s observations articulated in his article titled ‘No war in Kenyan Diaspora’ which appeared on this space on April 23rd, 2012. I am a strong proponent of cohesion within the Kenya Diaspora community, and more specifically among the Kenyan Diaspora in the US. It is from this perspective that I pen this opinion.

To elucidate, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are about six hundred (600) Kenya Diaspora organizations in the US alone that are coalesced around various private and public interests, some duplicative. These organizations include churches, NGOs, tribal groupings, and etcetera. Many will agree that there is no justification whatsoever for such proliferation.

In fact, failure by the Diaspora to speak in one voice has ended up hurting the Diaspora agenda instead of helping it. Our fragmentation is in deed counter intuitive. This is because if Diaspora Kenyans spoke with one voice, we stand a better chance of getting Diaspora concerns heard and taken into account.

The current proliferation of Diaspora organizations is untenable and cannot be justified as it only serves to ensure that the Diaspora agenda is not being pushed effectively. We have so many Kenya Diaspora organizations all claiming to represent the entire Kenyan Diaspora sending their own and mixed messages to the embassy and to Nairobi, that in fact, many in government do not know which group is which and which truly speaks for the Diaspora.

Some of these organizations have hyped themselves, organized conferences and invited government dignitaries to their conferences just for the dignitaries to get here and realize that the organizations are not truly representative. At this time when important decisions affecting the Diaspora are going to be made, such as on the issue of taxation of dual citizens, it is even more imperative that Diaspora Kenyans speak with one voice.

In a nutshell, this is what H.E. Ambassador Elkannah Odembo has been saying all along. So when Mr. Kinity complains that H.E. Ambassador Elkannah Odembo refuses to meet with some Kenyan groups that have sought audience with him, and then conveniently fails to disclose the real rationale behind the ambassador’s refusal, he comes across as disingenuous.

I have, like many others listened and understood the rationale behind his refusal and I am afraid that the ambassador is right on this one. First, if a group is a private interest group, he is not obligated to meet with its leaders. If the ambassador was to take time to meet leaders of each Kenyan Diaspora private interest group in the US, and meets one group everyday, it would take him every working day of a year and a half to meet all of them. Recap full opinion here >>

5:19

IEBC, minister differ over polling stations in Diaspora

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Isaack Hassan has refuted Foreign Affairs Ministry’s reports that the Diaspora will vote in any locations in the next General Election.

Speaking at different forums Mr Hassan was categorical that polling will only take place at the embassies, High Commissions and consulates and accused Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonka of giving misleading information.

“The minister is wrong. That’s not the IEBC’s and I am going to write to him a protest letter as soon as I get back to Kenya”, he told The Standard in Washington, DC.

Last week, Mr Onyonka said IEBC will establish polling stations in all the regions in North America and Europe that have a significant number of Kenyans to facilitate voting.

The announcement was meant to allay fears among Kenyans living abroad over their rights to vote in the forthcoming elections.

Early last week, a number of Kenyan US based civil society groups had began meetings to organise mass protests and institute court proceedings against attempts to block them from voting.

Balkanised

“This is the Government position; Kenyans living abroad will vote in the presidential elections. Polling will not be confined to the embassies and high commissions as has been erroneous reported in a section of the press. Ambassadors and High Commissioners will not be returning officers because we know they are political appointees”, said Onyonka last during an interview with The Standard.

According to the assistant minister, North America for instance would have been balkanised into at least seven regions where voting would have taken place. Other polling stations will be in the Texas areas- Dallas/Houston, California, Seattle Washington.

In Canada, polling stations will be in Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa. This would have been in addition to the consulate stations.

On Saturday, Hassan told a meeting in Washington, DC that the commission will recruit junior officers within embassy offices to preside over the elections.

But US based lawyer Ms Regina Njogu said the move is likely to lock out majority of Kenyans living in the US who are eligible to vote. “Majority of Kenyans don’t even live in DC, or New York or LA for that matter.

How do you expect someone to travel from Minnesota or Texas to DC just to go and register to vote or even vote? It doesn’t make sense”. She said.

Mr Mike Kihoro, president of Diaspora Voters Association, Delaware Chapter said the Diaspora should resist the move by IEBC to disenfranchise them.

“If you don’t put polling stations in places like Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Dallas/Houston, Texas, Delaware and Minneapolis, Minnesota how can you claim to have conducted free and fair elections?” he posed.

5:32

Kenyan Ambassador to US launches peace pledge

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Peace pledge -2 BOSTON, Mass.,_Kenyan ambassador to the US, Mr Elkanah Odembo last week led Kenyans living in the US in signing a peace pledge committing themselves to maintain peace during the forthcoming general elections.

Launching the peace charter in Boston Massachusetts, during a dinner party hosted in honor of the Kenyan athletic team that participated in the Boston Marathon, the ambassador said there were already signs that trouble was brewing.

“As a country, we are still not cohesive. As soon as 2012 arrived, tensions among different Kenyan communities in the US started rising. Things started bubbling up,” he said.

Odembo said it was shameful that the Diaspora, a group that was supposed to show leadership by influencing positive changes in Kenya was itself practicing ethnic and tribal division.

“For some of you who have lived here for 10, 20 years and you still live in your tribal cocoons, as long as I’m here, I’ll always be on your case. I’ll not forgive you. We can’t build a cohesive country when we still identify ourselves by our tribes,” he said.

Speaking at the same function, Bishop Joshua Wambua said the best thing the Diaspora could do was to indicate to people back at home that Kenyans living abroad are committed to peace and the best way to do that was by them signing the peace pledge.

“Before we do anything. Before we discuss the Diaspora policy, we need to start a peace initiative here and now by signing this pledge,” he said.

The peace pledge that commits the diaspora to advocate for free, fair and peaceful elections will be taken to different states in the US and Canada that have a large number of Kenyans. The next stop on its journey around the US will be in the Washington, DC Metro area.

“We are in the process of identifying an appropriate venue for this purposes. So far, we have already constituted a committee to work on this because we believe the Diaspora can lead peace initiative in our country,” said Bishop Paul Mulani of Maryland.

Meanwhile, ambassador Odembo will be hosting a reception in honour of the visiting Government officials attending the Spring IMF/World Bank meetings and the members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The meeting took place today (Friday) at the embassy offices in Washington, DC. The officials include: Mr Robinson N. Githae, Minister for Finance, Charity Ngilu, Minister for Water and Irrigation, Dr Romano Kiome, PS, Ministry of Agriculture and Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, Governor, Central Bank of Kenya.

Others are Dr Geoffrey Mwau, Economic Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Jackson Kinyanjui, Director, External Resources Department, Ministry of Finance, Mr Issack Hassan, Chairman, IEBC, Ms Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, Vice-Chair, IEBC and Yusuf Nzibo, Commissioner, IEBC.

2:46

No war in the Kenyan Diaspora

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

His Excellency Elkanah Odembo, Kenyan Ambassador to the US at Washington D.C.

Kenya ambassadors and high commissioners are also representatives and guardians of the Kenyan people abroad.When an Ambassador confronts people from his home country with the statement, “I do not entertain tribal groupings” after they pay him a visit, Just because they talk one common language , when an ambassador refuses to reply to an invitation letter by people from his home country, just because the invitation letter does not have multiple signatures of people from different tribes, who is tribal, that Ambassador or the individual people from his home country who live together in one area?

This was exactly what happened when his Excellency Ambassador Elkanah Odembo arrived in USA as the new Kenya Ambassador to USA to replace the former Kenya Ambassador to USA, His Excellency Peter Ogego . The first group to go to the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC to welcome the new Ambassador, was a group of Kenyans from Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first group to be greeted with the harsh words “I do not entertain tribal groupings”.

The second group of Kenyans to taste the wrath of Ambassador Odembos’ motto of “I do not entertain tribal groupings” was one from Massachusetts. In September 2010, the Kenyan Ambassador to the USA, was sent an invitation letter by the New England Pastors Fellowship Association, a group of 45 Reverends, Pastors and Bishops representing Kenya congregations from 4 States in USA, namely Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Rode Island.

AAs representatives of thousands of Kenyans living in the United States of America, they wanted to meet their new Ambassador. Most people in Massachusetts come from the Kikuyu community in Kenya, and therefore, the Ambassador considered it a tribal group, prompting his refusal to reply to the invitation letter from the New England Pastors Fellowship Association. Although the Ambassador has been advocating Anti-Tribal groupings, he has been a frequent visitor of Tallahassee in Florida. Who he has been visiting and why he has always chosen Tallahassee as his favorite city of visit, is every Kenyans guess.

Despite the efforts of the association to prepare for the arrival of the Ambassador, he never replied nor did he ever call the association to officially acknowledge receipt of the invitation letter, although it was confirmed that the letter reached the office of the Ambassador. More efforts to consult with the Ambassador over the invitation were unsuccessful.

Similarly, the Kenyan people in New Jersey, who live very close to Washington DC. have tried to invite the Ambassador, all in vain.

They are considered to be a tribal group because most of them come from the Kisii community in Kenya.

Living together as a community in one state in America while the other Kenyan community lives together in another state should never be considered to be tribal.

Recently the Ambassador failed to receive the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Richard Onyonka or send a representative. Whether Hon. Onyonka and his team were considered a tribal group by the Ambassador or not, remains a puzzle.

What exactly would happen if His Excellency the Ambassador became the President of Kenya, where different groups of people live in different locations, talk one language and a culture of their own?. Would he ever visit any such a community or be visited by one such a community at State House?.

May the Ambassador be advised that there are three categories of Kenyans arriving abroad, that is:

There are those who win Green Card, those who arrive as visitors and those who are prospective students.

In either case there is always a host in place to receive the new comer. Everyone who travels abroad under the categories above, is either received by a friend or a relative, and often settles in that same area he is received.

That is the reason why different communities are found living together in different locations in USA and elsewhere in the World. Kenya Ambassadors and High Commissioners all over the World should learn to listen to every Kenyan in need and to accept to meet any group of Kenyans. They are representatives and guardians of Kenyans living with them abroad. They should always strive to unite them instead of dividing them, as is happening in the USA. There is a culture in Kenya’s leadership circles where no one accepts a mistake even when a mistake is obvious.

Failure to accept mistakes blocks all avenues for corrections and creates room for repetitions of same mistakes. And unless the Ambassador explains why he failed to receive the Assistant Minister and the Vice Chairperson of the IEBC or send his representative, the Kenya Government should prove that change is already in process by taking a disciplinary action against the Ambassador.
READ: http://ajabuafrica.com/The%20Kenya%20Diaspora%20summit%20in%20Boston

Otherwise Kenyans will remain convinced that the current Government may never succeed in eradicating impunity. The fear created by the impunity in Kenya is far more threatening than the fear expressed by the Kenyan Ambassador to the USA in Boston recently.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000055751&cid=4

According to the Standard Newspaper, Kenyans in the Diaspora are so tribal to an extent of brewing trouble in Kenya, a statement which is misguiding and false. Kenyans in the Diaspora, especially in the US, have not been tribally divided as depicted in the Standard newspaper.

What featured recently in the Standard Newspaper was an exaggeration of tribalism in the Diaspora which does not warrant any alarm. Kenyans in Diaspora have not been killing one another as portrayed in the newspaper and neither have they been the cause of the common attacks and killings witnessed in Kenya from time to time since 1992.

Unless a new project to loot public funds in the name of collecting signatures to keep peace in America is in the offing, it would be unimaginable to buy buses in order to go round in USA to collect signatures from Kenyans in the Diaspora for the purposes of keeping peace. One thing, this is an insult to the competent security system in the USA and an abuse to all the Kenyans living in USA.

All the Ambassador is required to do, if he is really convinced that Kenyans in USA are about to start killing one another, is to report what he knows about the insecurity among the Kenya communities living in USA, to the US authorities, and I can assure him that everything will be taken care of, and all his worries will be gone.

Instead of wasting money to buy buses, buy gas to run the buses, hire drivers and personnel to run such an unnecessary expensive exercise, all that money should be channeled to other important projects in Kenya, such as helping the internally displaced people(IDPs) or transfer the same exercise to Kenya, where attacks and killings have been common during elections.

Kenyans in the USA have never attacked and/or killed one another as a group, and when that time comes, the US security system will be in charge and will take care of it, and not the Kenyan Ambassador or the Kenya Government.

Isaac Newton Kinity

22:57

Kenyans in Diaspora assured of voting in polls

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Kenya's Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka, Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chair-person, Ms. Lillian Mahili- Zaja

Kenya's Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka and Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chair-person, Ms. Lillian Mahili- Zaja

BOSTON, Mass.,_ Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will establish polling stations in all regions in North America and Europe that have significant number of Kenyans to facilitate voting, the Government has announced.

In a move to calm Kenyans living abroad, who had received mixed signals concerning their rights to vote in the forthcoming elections, Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka was in the US with a message that the Government intends to respect their right to vote.

“Kenyans living abroad will vote in presidential elections. Polling will not be confined to embassies and High Commissions as have been reported. Ambassadors and high commissioners will not be returning officers because we know they are political appointees,” said Mr Onyonka.

Dispelled rumours

Addressing participants during Diaspora Summit held on Saturday in Boston, Onyonka dispelled rumours that Kenyans will have to travel to high commissions and embassies to votes.

The Diaspora had interpreted this as a strategy by the Government to disenfranchise them since the move was not only time consuming but also costly. A recent Facebook posting purported to have emanated from Mr John Maina, an officer in charge of Diaspora issues in the Prime Ministers office, and which was widely circulated, had indicated that the Diaspora, apart from being forced to travel to embassies and high commissions will only cast votes for president. Dismissing the message, Onyonka said that was neither IEBC’s nor the Government’s position.

Seven regions

“John Maina does not work for IEBC or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where Diaspora issues fall. What he is doing, and I’ve told him in the past, is just causing confusion on a matter that is volatile,” said Onyonka.

According to Onyonka, North America will be balkanised into at least seven regions where voting will take place. This will include New England, New York/New Jersey among others.

Others will be Illinois/Missouri Kansas/ Oklahoma areas, Iowa/ Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnesota areas.

Mr Onyonka was accompanied by IEBC’s vice-chairperson, Ms. Lillian Mahili- Zaja.

Onyonka urged Kenyans in Diaspora to register with embassies and high commissions so that the Government can have a sense of how many people they are dealing. This he added will enable them effectively plan for the voting exercise.

Story by Chris Wamalwa, The Standard

22:31

The Kenya Diaspora summit in Boston and its achievements

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Dispora Summit Organizers, Comfort Mwangi (center), Tegi Obanda( right) and a friend

MARLBOROUGH, MA_The Kenya Diaspora Summit held over the weekend, organized and managed by Mrs. Comfort Munoru Mwangi of Florida, USA and Mr. Tegi Obanda of Ontario Canada, was a total success for all Kenyans in the Diaspora, it is a pride and an achievement for all Kenyans living abroad.
The wonderful and colorful meeting was attended by among others, Hon. Dr. Richard Onyonka the assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Chairlady IEBC Ms. Lillian Mahiri Zaja, Constitutional Lawyer Njonjo Mue and Dr. Richard Leakey.

For the first time since the adoption of the new constitution, the Deputy Chairlady of the IEBC Ms. Lillian Mahiri Zaja, confirmed to the audience who came from all the corners of the USA, that there were no more doubts that Kenyans in the Diaspora will vote during the next elections.

She said that the Kenya Government was now working on the modalities to ensure that those goals were achieved. It was a relief to many Kenyans living abroad who were worried they would not participate in the next elections. When she was asked which candidates Kenyans in the Diaspora will be legible to vote for, she said that only the Presidential position will be available for vote in the Diaspora.

In answer to where the voting will take place and who will be involved with the tallying and counting of the votes, she amused the audience when she said that the Kenya Government will make sure that there will be enough polling stations in the Diaspora for all the Kenyans willing to vote and at the same time the Kenya Government will request all the registered political parties willing to participate in the Diaspora Voting, to send their agents on time to different polling stations in the Diaspora to make sure they witness the voting and the counting of votes during the voting process.

Dr. Richard Onyonka surprised the audience with information that the Kenya Government was contemplating to introduce a new Ministry for Kenyans living abroad. He said that the current remittances of Kenyans in the Diaspora to Kenya superseded that of three or more ministries combined, and therefore necessitating the formation of the new Ministry. All Kenyans in attended were in agreement and in total support of the new idea.

Dr. Leakey emphasized on the urgent need for the Kenyans in the Diaspora, to shun tribalism so that the Nation of Kenya can benefit politically and economically from the intellect and skills they have already acquired abroad.

What made the meeting even livelier was the transparency depicted by the team from Kenya.

Everyone in the meeting looked jovial and confident. Kenyans had come from as far as Florida, Canada, New Jersey, Maryland, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Europe and many other areas.

But what disappointed everyone who attended the meeting was the absence of the Kenya Ambassador to the USA or a representative from the Embassy at the summit; neither were any members of the much hyped but still controversial Diaspora Advisory Council, New England Chapter created to serve as a bridge between the embassy and the general community..

Those in attendance challenged the organizers of the Summit to provide an explanation to the audience why the Ambassador was not in the meeting or why there was no representative from the Kenyan Embassy present at the meeting.

The organizers explained to the audience that they had written a letter to the Ambassador two months earlier and had also called the office of the Ambassador to inform the office that important Kenyans who included the Assistant Minister and the deputy Chairlady of the IEBC had confirmed their attendance.

Unless the Ambassador provides to Kenyans in the Diaspora a convincing reason, why he would not attend the Summit and why he would not send a representative from the Embassy to such an important Summit intended to discuss important issues concerning our Nation, those who attended the Summit will seek for an explanation from the Kenya Government back home why we warrant such a behavior from the Kenya Ambassador.

Such behavior may be construed to mean an insult to both the offices of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the IEBC and lack of concern of what affects Kenyans in the Diaspora.

Isaac Newton Kinity
Former Secretary General
Kenya Civil Servants Union and Chairman
Kikimo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication.

Dispora summit organizers, Comfort Mwangi (center), Tegi Obanda (right), and a friend.

4:08

Kenyan welfare organization launched amid pomp, color and big support

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

NEKWA interim officials pose for an historic portrait photo with Massachusetts Lt. Governor, Tim Murray,Worcester mayor Joseph M. Petty, Kenya's foreign affairs assistant minister, Richard Onyonka and Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice-Chairperson, Ms. Lillian Mahili- Zaja

WORCESTER, Mass.,_ The first all-inclusive, non- partisan and independent Kenyan welfare organization in New England was officially launched on Saturday in a sterling, colorful event that drew support praise and encouragement from the highest levels of government, both in Massachusetts and from the motherland.

Among top leaders who came to support the debut of the New England Kenyan Welfare Association (http://www.nekenyans.org/) included Massachusetts Lt. Governor, Tim Murray, Worcester mayor Joseph M. Petty, Kenya’s foreign affairs assistant minister, Richard Onyonka and Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice-Chairperson, Ms. Lillian Mahili- Zaja.

Over 150 Kenyans and their children attended the historic launching where pride, patriotism and celebration of the Kenyan culture ranked high.

The event also saw many Kenyans from different backgrounds; tribal, religious, social class, region, age and color, assemble in a free atmosphere where differences and what was described as a “crab mentality” among Kenyans seemed to give way to a new reality of a united community fighting for a better common destiny in a land far from home.

“I am very happy to see Kenyans organize in this manner,” Organizations like these are very important vehicles for bringing information about resources available from Serikali (government) closer to the people,” said Tim Murray immediately practicing some Swahili language taught to him by Kenyans on the spot.

“This is a great organization for Kenyans to have in the Diaspora. I hope you can build it to become a strong organization that can lobby improved welfare for Kenyans just like the like the AIPAC (American Israel public Affairs Committee (http://www.aipac.org/) does for the state of Israel,” said Hon. Richard Onyonka, who arrived in Boston to attend the just concluded Diaspora summit, the NEKWA launch and the Boston Marathon 2012.

And in the most dramatic crash of cultures ever to happen in an African immigrant community, both the Lt. Governor Murray and mayor Petty had to leave to attend to other important business after arriving on time as scheduled at 7pm, only to find a handful of Kenyans present, one hour after the event was supposed to start.

After giving brief speeches to about 40 Kenyans present, the Lt. Governor left to attend and event planned in honor of the state trooper injured last Friday in a Chicopee shooting, promising to return back to the Kenyan event later when he was sure to find a bigger crowd.

The Worcester mayor also left to attend another scheduled function, leaving Kenyans present blaming their culture of lateness that had now cost them their top guests, with many predicting that Tim Murray would most probably not come back.

But to their surprise, Mayor Petty came back to the Kenyan event later at around 9.30 pm, only to be welcomed back with cheers from the now large crowd.

After a brief speech by Mayor Petty, a traditional dance performance by the Kenyan Catholic Community of Worcester moved dramatically on the stage, prompting Hon. Onyonka and the mayor to join in.

Clearly excited, Mayor Petty danced to the traditional Kikuyu Mugoiyo dance, locking hands with the Assistant minister and NEKWA interim chairperson, Wangeci Mathai. As the night wore on, Kenyans were awarded with another surprise gift when the Lt. Governor came back into the event, prompting a rousing welcome replete with ululations from the women.

Murray then addressed many Kenyans present and praised Mayor Petty and Hon. Onyonka for making time to attend the launching of the Kenyan organization. He pledged his support and the support of Gov. Deval Patrick to the new Kenyan welfare organization, asking NEKWA officials not to hesitate consult with him with any need that they thought was needed for the betterment of the Kenyan community in the commonwealth.

6:06

Don’t get stuck at the gate, Pastor tells Kenyans as Easter holiday sets in

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Munyoli LOWELL, Mass.,_A visiting pastor from Houston Texas, Evangelist Erick Munyoli, asked Kenyan worshipers to quit getting stuck in a myriad of problems and situations in the Diaspora while “sitting right in front of the gate of blessings.”

He asked all those who truly believed in the power of God to shed past disappointments, learn how to live together in unity and claim their rightful place in their earthly and heavenly lives.

He said that too much division in churches and among members of the community along ethnic, tribal and color lines is crippling the growth of the Kenyan community spiritually and in real terms.

Borrowing words from the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the pastor stressed the need for Kenyans to foster unity saying “We must learn to live together or we will all die as fools.

Munyoli decried the existing conditions that have weighed down on many Kenyans in America while they still throng into churches every Sunday in large numbers, but come out with nothing to show for it.

“Just because you arrived in church does not mean you are in church,” said the pastor adding that many people are either attending church as worshipers or leading churches as pastors but they are still stuck with the same conditions that they are supposed to be delivered from.

The Evangelist was speaking in Boston when he appeared as the guest preacher during the final day of a revival conference at the Grace International church in Lowell dubbed the “Fresh Fire Revival”.

The 2 day conference took place on Friday March 30th and Sunday, April 1st.

Reading from the book of Acts 3: 9-10 and John 10: 9, the evangelist compared such Kenyans to the man in the bible who was stuck at the gate in front of the big temple asking for alms just because he was caught up in a church argument instead of getting into and out of the church to get his blessings.

“You have to go into the church. Your body and spirit must be in synch with the church. You have to get into the holy of holies which is the inner court in the spiritual realm where even your title does not matter,” said the pastor addressing the fully packed church.

He said that it was regrettable that many Kenyans were attending church just for selfish reasons so that they can get help from others when they fall into trouble, yet they are not making meaningful advances in their spiritual and worldly lives.

“Why do you come to church and you are just mark- timing here. I have a big problem when people come to church and they don’t change, year after year,” said the soft spoken pastor whose words cut deep.

Munyoli added that the problem was not limited to worshipers but that even many pastors were “stuck at the gate” too.

“How can I be a preacher and the word I preach does not change my life? That means I am just a sign board showing people where to go and I will never get there myself,” challenged the preacher man.

Among the conditions that Munyoli cited that are causing pain and crippling the lives of Kenyans in the Diaspora include getting stuck at low wage jobs for years, failure to graduate for college, loneliness, unhealed emotional wounds, lack of children after many years in marriage, anger problems, failure to make anyone saved even after decades of claiming salvation, negative mentality, generational curses, depression, crippling debt, begging mentality, always wanting to be carried and never carrying oneself and many others. Recap full story here

6:02

Forget about oil, we have gold

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

raila at rwk booth 2011 BOSTON, Mass., _There may be all the excitement about Kenya having struck oil, but as for gold, we struck it in the summer of 1968 when Kipchoge Keino won the Olympic title in 1,500 meters in Mexico.

It is believed that Keino’s trailblazing performance is what ushered in an era of total domination by Kenya in distance running such as the world had never seen before. And our runners are only getting better.

Kenya doesn’t need to mine for gold; we can always count on our runners to bring it home to us.

Last year was perhaps the most exciting year yet in the history of marathon races—and it was all about Kenyan runners.

New course records were set in all the five World Marathon Majors: Berlin, Boston, London, and New York City; and, incredibly, all the records were set by Kenyan runners. Patrick Makau took Berlin, also setting a new world record; Geoffrey Mutai set new course records in both Boston and New York City; and Emmanuel Mutai ran the fastest time in the London Marathon.

In Boston, Geoffrey Mutai’s and Caroline Kilel’s wins in 2011 completed a 20-year run of a Kenyan winning the Boston Marathon. Even more staggering is the fact that the top 20 marathon times in 2011 were ran by Kenyan runners!

Yet, as exciting as last year was, 2012 is the year of the Olympics and, even before the torch gets lit in London later this year, the action would have already begun in the early marathons in London and Boston, races which Athletics Kenya will be using to fill the Kenyan Olympic team. It doesn’t seem as if the supremacy of Kenya in distance running is about to be challenged any time soon.

Unfortunately, even as our runners continue to shine, Kenya is missing out on some crucial benefits that could be derived from being known as the world’s athletic powerhouse—the Mecca of distance running.

We are yet to turn running from just a sport to a nationwide industry that provides livelihoods and opportunities to thousands of people outside the exclusive club of elite running. In addition, very little has been done to use athletes as national brand ambassadors; in fact, Kenyan runners are often seen as an amorphous whole, rarely identifiable as individual personalities the way other sports stars like, say, Usain Bolt are.

Government agencies and private corporations need to wake up to the benefits of collectively leveraging the brand “Kenya” to promote trade, tourism, and export products during sporting events. If, for instance, you were selling a product or service that has something to do with Kenya and targeting the American market, you are better off promoting that product or service during the major marathons.

That’s about the only time the name “Kenya” will make people stop and listen. RUN with KENYANS, an organization founded by Kenyans based in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States, has for the last year and half been trying to make this case.

At last year’s Boston Marathon, RUN with KENYANS had a booth at the Boston Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, an exhibition that normally attracts big shoe and running apparel companies like Nike and Adidas.

Brand Kenya Board, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Kenya Tourist Board tabled at the RUN with KENYANS booth, which Prime Minister Raila Odinga officially opened on the first day of the exhibition. “People were really excited to visit the booth and learn about Kenya and Kenyan runners,” said Mary Kimonye, the CEO of Brand Kenya Board. “We need to take advantage of events like the Boston Marathon, when people are generally euphoric about Kenya to advance our branding objectives.”

The biggest advantage that runners have as brand ambassadors over other sports figures is that they are essentially roving ambassadors. Most of the major capitals in the world have big marathon races, and most of those races are won by Kenyans.

The kind of “dispersive” publicity that a brand could achieve by aligning with Kenyan runners does not lend itself to any other sport. Runners are like pollen on steroids; they are all over the world, all year round, flying high the Kenyan flag. But serious money has to be invested towards this effort and key players in government and private entities will have to mount a unified, mutually beneficial approach before this goodwill can be turned into tangible benefits for the country.

But beyond spending money, just being cognizant to the promotional power of Kenyan athletes should be a good starting point.

The New York Marathon, arguably the biggest marathon in the world, has as part of the opening ceremony an event called the “Parade of the Nations.” Delegations from almost all the countries represented at the marathon (you will be surprised to find out why I said “almost”) walk down Central Park with signs and flags indentifying their country and then past a dais where the name of the country is called out and the images of the delegation (flags, regalia, and all) flashed across giant TV screens amid cheers from the throngs of masses who come to witness the event.

I was surprised to see that East Timor had a delegation. But I was even more surprised to find out who didn’t––flabbergasted, ashamed, offended. The country whose son was to run the fastest time ever ran in the New York Marathon wasn’t represented at the New York Marathon’s Parade of Nations. And for those wondering, it did not cost a dime to have a delegation. In fact, upon learning that Kenya wasn’t represented, the author of this article hurriedly gathered a few friends––including a Tanzanian!––and managed to fake some kind of Kenyan presence. If our runners only depended on our support, Mutai would have been crossing the finish line now. To his credit, the Ambassador of Kenya to the United States, H. E Elkanah Odembo, took the time to fly in from Washington D.C to treat the runners with ugali and spend an evening with them.

As we clamor for oil, barely able to suppress our Pavlovian excitement, let us not forget the geese that have consistently given us gold. The only time we get a positive headline out there is when a Kenyan runner runs some crazy time on a race. The only time a non-Kenyan, perhaps including President Obama (though secretly), wants to be Kenyan is when they see a victorious Kenyan runner waving the flag as they do a victory lap. We don’t have to want to be Kenyan. We are Kenyan. And we should do whatever is in our power to support our athletes. That, ladies and gentlemen, should be considered a national duty.

Wilson Wahome Kiriungi
Founder/CEO
RUN with KENYANS

4:37

Lowell joint throws goat-meat party for Kenyan patrons

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Captain Johns_V1 LOWELL, Mass., A Lowell joint that attracts a large number of Kenyan patrons held an appreciation party for it’s loyal customers, preparing a whole goat complete with other Kenyan traditional side dishes like chapati, boiled potatoes and a variety of fixings.

To add the icing to the cake, siblings sister Maria Kozombolis, and brother Nicholas Kozombolis, who inherited the restaurant from their Greek born father, spiced it with the overall popular Kenyan beer Tusker.

The event took place at the club located on 333 Westford st in Lowell.

Word had gone out that Captain John’s was going to appreciate the business brought by Kenyans in more than 2 decades since settling in the mill city.

Characterized by the popular saying that ” no hurry in Africa” the party scheduled to kick of from 4.30 pm , so a large number of Kenyans and their families trickle in all the way up to mid night hrs after the goat meat was over.

“We had a really good time here today. we had our whole family Nick, I and our senior citizen mother, cooked a whole goat, cut it up, and added some streamed potatoes, tomatoes and other fixings. We had a Kenyan lady make and deliver some Chapati (Kenyan bread) and we shared everything with our Kenyan patrons,” said Maria while speaking to Ajabu Africa news on the scene.

Impressed by the large number of Kenyans and their families who attended the party earlier in the day, Maria said that she was glad everyone had a nice time.

“Kenyans are the most family oriented people I have ever met. We share a lot in common culturally from pit latrines to eating lamb and goat meat in my motherland,” added the entrepreneur who loves ethnic food and experiences. The Kenyans who were still whetting their throats long after the goat eating party was over said that they were very pleased for the gesture extended by Maria and Captain John’s management.

The joint is colloquially referred to as makutano junction or simply Kwa Maria ( Maria’s place).

“We feel at home when we meet here. We speak the same language, share a lot of what is going on politically and socially as we relax,” said Henry Karuoya, an elder among Kenyans who patronize Captain John’s.

“Maria is so nice to us and she serves us as we Kenyans would like to be served,” he added.

According to Maria, Kenyans contribute about 20% of all the sales done at Captain John’s at any one time.

Many Kenyans come to relax here after hard day’s work. They are very polite people and very royal.

We love Kenyans very much and we appreciate their business,” added Maria as she posed for pictures with Kenyans who sipped onto their favorite Tusker drinks with satisfied looks.

6:13

Lowell joint throws goat-meat party for Kenyan patrons

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Captain Johns
LOWELL, Mass., A Lowell joint that attracts a large number of Kenyan patrons held an appreciation party for it’s loyal customers, preparing a whole goat complete with other Kenyan traditional side dishes like chapati, boiled potatoes and a variety of fixings.

Stories have been told of women who abandon their family duties for the sake of religion, of how some spend all their time serving the pastor and giving astronomical sums of money as offering in the name of planting a seed. But nobody really explains what it is women look for in churches. So why do women do the things they do? Pastor Linda Ochola-Adolwa of Mavuno Church reckons that the first thing women look for in churches is meaning and secondly, connection with the divine. As Pastor Linda notes, while men are more competitive, women on the other hand are collaborative and seem to find greater opportunities in church since it is less male-dominated. “They are trying to make sense of this life, looking for a connection with their maker. They want to find solutions, reasons and counselling. It is less of a struggle for women to admit their need for help and that is why they gravitate towards church,” she says. Emotional Bishop Allan Kiuna of Jubilee Christian Church, Nairobi, concurs with Pastor Linda, adding that men are more cerebral as opposed to women who are emotional and more in touch with their spiritual side. Offers the bishop: “Men have to make sense of something before they indulge. There has to be tangible proof for them to get into the flow, as opposed to women, who are emotional and easily flow towards the things of the spirit. But many things of faith are beyond man’s common sense and that is why it is easy for women to understand.” While women are more relationship-oriented and nurturing, men are achievement-oriented. That agreed, so why do women fall prey to unscrupulous religious leaders who over-promise and under-deliver? Most women streaming into churches are vulnerable, some to a point of desperation. Some are stuck in loveless marriages; others are ailing from chronic diseases. Still, some are in crumbling careers, if not mark-timing businesses. Others claim to suffer from spells of witchcraft, while others badly want children. Many singles are desperately looking for a man-of-God to marry them ASAP! Bishop Kiuna reckons that while women’s attachment to religion is a positive thing, there are some cases of extremes, which has its toxic effect on the women’s lives. Says the bishop: “Without a doubt, there is a sincere desire to please God, but there is also a lack of knowledge among some women. They are, in fact, sincerely wrong they are unable to read the signs and draw the line.” Kiuna says a woman’s attachment to religion becomes an extreme when it becomes a problem to the family and those around her. “For a fact, you cannot be spiritual without knowledge, because then it becomes spooky,” he says. Desperate people go to desperate measures and this is where unscrupulous pastors come in. Most of these pastors focus on the prosperity gospel its all about money. They promise heaven (literally), worldly riches, better marriages (after they anoint you), bigger businesses (after you plant a seed) and an endless list of services you would otherwise not have found elsewhere. But when the rubber meets the road, many women are left crest-fallen, penniless and some faithless. So why do women still attend these churches, yet they know the danger? Pastor Linda reckons that these women tolerate toxic leaders because they meet a certain need. Offers Linda: “They are in so much pain and desperation and they want a leader who will make sense for them in those tough situations. They want re-assurance that it will be okay, making them even more gullible.” Toxic leadership As Pastor Linda notes, desperation hurts many souls, especially women who will stop at nothing to soothe the pain. The toxic leadership offers security in an uncertain world and many women hang on to it with everything they got. This security becomes an anchor to uncertainty. This is probably is the reason why Karl Marx noted with much concern that people are desperately in distress and religion provides that much-needed solace, the same way physically injured patients in pain receive relief from opiate-based drugs. Another reason why women fall prey, as Bishop Kiuna states, is because they move from a point of believing what the Bible teaches to believing what the pastor is saying. “They take the word of the preacher without confirming it against the Bible. They do not verify with the Bible,” he says. Having established the fact that women’s desperation has been turned to a cash-cow, many people have an issue with the lavish lifestyles of many clergymen many of whom have been accused of fleecing the flock. One such clergyman whose palatial home recently flooded the Internet says, he is not apologetic of his lifestyle and this is why: “Our God is a God of abundance and He would never want His children to live in poverty. In any case, as a religious leader, I should be a role model to the youth in my congregation that God indeed can prosper you,” he says. Bishop Allan Kiuna says that pastors, just like any other Kenyan, are taxed from their monthly income, and his church is audited by the Kenya Revenue Authority yearly. He, however, says that offerings and tithes are not taxed. “You cannot tax offerings because that is a donation to the church. The money is used for the activities the church does for society. If you look at it objectively, what the church does, the Government cannot do. The role of the Church can never be quantified,” he says. Correct teaching Pastor Linda reckons that correct teaching and understanding is the key to solving this issue. “The Bible in Ecclesiastes 7:16 says Do not be over-righteous, neither be over wise why destroy yourself? (NIV Version). Your spirituality does not mean you should relinquish your assets to a man of God. To avoid faulty theology, there is need for correct teaching and understanding,” she says. Before you join that church, Kiuna advises you to carry out a background check to validate the pastor what is his or her track record? Accountability is also key; who is that pastor accountable to? Offers Kiuna: “You cannot be an authority if you are not under an authority. Nobody is above the law.” Stories have been told of women who abandon their family duties for the sake of religion, of how some spend all their time serving the pastor and giving astronomical sums of money as offering in the name of planting a seed. But nobody really explains what it is women look for in churches. So why do women do the things they do? Pastor Linda Ochola-Adolwa of Mavuno Church reckons that the first thing women look for in churches is meaning and secondly, connection with the divine. As Pastor Linda notes, while men are more competitive, women on the other hand are collaborative and seem to find greater opportunities in church since it is less male-dominated. “They are trying to make sense of this life, looking for a connection with their maker. They want to find solutions, reasons and counselling. It is less of a struggle for women to admit their need for help and that is why they gravitate towards church,” she says. Emotional Bishop Allan Kiuna of Jubilee Christian Church, Nairobi, concurs with Pastor Linda, adding that men are more cerebral as opposed to women who are emotional and more in touch with their spiritual side. Offers the bishop: “Men have to make sense of something before they indulge. There has to be tangible proof for them to get into the flow, as opposed to women, who are emotional and easily flow towards the things of the spirit. But many things of faith are beyond man’s common sense and that is why it is easy for women to understand.” While women are more relationship-oriented and nurturing, men are achievement-oriented. That agreed, so why do women fall prey to unscrupulous religious leaders who over-promise and under-deliver? Most women streaming into churches are vulnerable, some to a point of desperation. Some are stuck in loveless marriages; others are ailing from chronic diseases. Still, some are in crumbling careers, if not mark-timing businesses. Others claim to suffer from spells of witchcraft, while others badly want children. Many singles are desperately looking for a man-of-God to marry them ASAP! Bishop Kiuna reckons that while women’s attachment to religion is a positive thing, there are some cases of extremes, which has its toxic effect on the women’s lives. Says the bishop: “Without a doubt, there is a sincere desire to please God, but there is also a lack of knowledge among some women. They are, in fact, sincerely wrong they are unable to read the signs and draw the line.” Kiuna says a woman’s attachment to religion becomes an extreme when it becomes a problem to the family and those around her. “For a fact, you cannot be spiritual without knowledge, because then it becomes spooky,” he says. Desperate people go to desperate measures and this is where unscrupulous pastors come in. Most of these pastors focus on the prosperity gospel its all about money. They promise heaven (literally), worldly riches, better marriages (after they anoint you), bigger businesses (after you plant a seed) and an endless list of services you would otherwise not have found elsewhere. But when the rubber meets the road, many women are left crest-fallen, penniless and some faithless. So why do women still attend these churches, yet they know the danger? Pastor Linda reckons that these women tolerate toxic leaders because they meet a certain need. Offers Linda: “They are in so much pain and desperation and they want a leader who will make sense for them in those tough situations. They want re-assurance that it will be okay, making them even more gullible.” Toxic leadership As Pastor Linda notes, desperation hurts many souls, especially women who will stop at nothing to soothe the pain. The toxic leadership offers security in an uncertain world and many women hang on to it with everything they got. This security becomes an anchor to uncertainty. This is probably is the reason why Karl Marx noted with much concern that people are desperately in distress and religion provides that much-needed solace, the same way physically injured patients in pain receive relief from opiate-based drugs. Another reason why women fall prey, as Bishop Kiuna states, is because they move from a point of believing what the Bible teaches to believing what the pastor is saying. “They take the word of the preacher without confirming it against the Bible. They do not verify with the Bible,” he says. Having established the fact that women’s desperation has been turned to a cash-cow, many people have an issue with the lavish lifestyles of many clergymen many of whom have been accused of fleecing the flock. One such clergyman whose palatial home recently flooded the Internet says, he is not apologetic of his lifestyle and this is why: “Our God is a God of abundance and He would never want His children to live in poverty. In any case, as a religious leader, I should be a role model to the youth in my congregation that God indeed can prosper you,” he says. Bishop Allan Kiuna says that pastors, just like any other Kenyan, are taxed from their monthly income, and his church is audited by the Kenya Revenue Authority yearly. He, however, says that offerings and tithes are not taxed. “You cannot tax offerings because that is a donation to the church. The money is used for the activities the church does for society. If you look at it objectively, what the church does, the Government cannot do. The role of the Church can never be quantified,” he says. Correct teaching Pastor Linda reckons that correct teaching and understanding is the key to solving this issue. “The Bible in Ecclesiastes 7:16 says Do not be over-righteous, neither be over wise why destroy yourself? (NIV Version). Your spirituality does not mean you should relinquish your assets to a man of God. To avoid faulty theology, there is need for correct teaching and understanding,” she says. Before you join that church, Kiuna advises you to carry out a background check to validate the pastor what is his or her track record? Accountability is also key; who is that pastor accountable to?

Offers Kiuna: “You cannot be an authority if you are not under an authority. Nobody is above the law.”

6:10

Is religion the women’s opium?

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya_ What is it with women and religion? Why is it that they flock churches and make up most of the congregation? Oh, and why is it that women abandon their families, sacrifice their salaries and jeopardise their relationships for the sake of religion? NJOKI CHEGE finds out.
Stories have been told of women who abandon their family duties for the sake of religion, of how some spend all their time serving the pastor and giving astronomical sums of money as offering in the name of planting a seed. But nobody really explains what it is women look for in churches. So why do women do the things they do?

Pastor Linda Ochola-Adolwa of Mavuno Church reckons that the first thing women look for in churches is meaning and secondly, connection with the divine.

As Pastor Linda notes, while men are more competitive, women on the other hand are collaborative and seem to find greater opportunities in church since it is less male-dominated.

“They are trying to make sense of this life, looking for a connection with their maker. They want to find solutions, reasons and counselling. It is less of a struggle for women to admit their need for help and that is why they gravitate towards church,” she says.

Emotional

Bishop Allan Kiuna of Jubilee Christian Church, Nairobi, concurs with Pastor Linda, adding that men are more cerebral as opposed to women who are emotional and more in touch with their spiritual side.

Offers the bishop: “Men have to make sense of something before they indulge. There has to be tangible proof for them to get into the flow, as opposed to women, who are emotional and easily flow towards the things of the spirit. But many things of faith are beyond man’s common sense and that is why it is easy for women to understand.”

While women are more relationship-oriented and nurturing, men are achievement-oriented. That agreed, so why do women fall prey to unscrupulous religious leaders who over-promise and under-deliver?

Most women streaming into churches are vulnerable, some to a point of desperation. Some are stuck in loveless marriages; others are ailing from chronic diseases. Still, some are in crumbling careers, if not mark-timing businesses. Others claim to suffer from spells of witchcraft, while others badly want children. Many singles are desperately looking for a man-of-God to marry them ASAP!

Bishop Kiuna reckons that while women’s attachment to religion is a positive thing, there are some cases of extremes, which has its toxic effect on the women’s lives.

Says the bishop: “Without a doubt, there is a sincere desire to please God, but there is also a lack of knowledge among some women. They are, in fact, sincerely wrong they are unable to read the signs and draw the line.”

Kiuna says a woman’s attachment to religion becomes an extreme when it becomes a problem to the family and those around her.

“For a fact, you cannot be spiritual without knowledge, because then it becomes spooky,” he says.

Desperate people go to desperate measures and this is where unscrupulous pastors come in. Most of these pastors focus on the prosperity gospel its all about money.

They promise heaven (literally), worldly riches, better marriages (after they anoint you), bigger businesses (after you plant a seed) and an endless list of services you would otherwise not have found elsewhere. But when the rubber meets the road, many women are left crest-fallen, penniless and some faithless.

So why do women still attend these churches, yet they know the danger?

Pastor Linda reckons that these women tolerate toxic leaders because they meet a certain need.

Offers Linda: “They are in so much pain and desperation and they want a leader who will make sense for them in those tough situations. They want re-assurance that it will be okay, making them even more gullible.”

Toxic leadership

As Pastor Linda notes, desperation hurts many souls, especially women who will stop at nothing to soothe the pain. The toxic leadership offers security in an uncertain world and many women hang on to it with everything they got. This security becomes an anchor to uncertainty.

This is probably is the reason why Karl Marx noted with much concern that people are desperately in distress and religion provides that much-needed solace, the same way physically injured patients in pain receive relief from opiate-based drugs.

Another reason why women fall prey, as Bishop Kiuna states, is because they move from a point of believing what the Bible teaches to believing what the pastor is saying.

“They take the word of the preacher without confirming it against the Bible. They do not verify with the Bible,” he says.

Having established the fact that women’s desperation has been turned to a cash-cow, many people have an issue with the lavish lifestyles of many clergymen many of whom have been accused of fleecing the flock.

One such clergyman whose palatial home recently flooded the Internet says, he is not apologetic of his lifestyle and this is why:

“Our God is a God of abundance and He would never want His children to live in poverty. In any case, as a religious leader, I should be a role model to the youth in my congregation that God indeed can prosper you,” he says.

Bishop Allan Kiuna says that pastors, just like any other Kenyan, are taxed from their monthly income, and his church is audited by the Kenya Revenue Authority yearly. He, however, says that offerings and tithes are not taxed.

“You cannot tax offerings because that is a donation to the church. The money is used for the activities the church does for society. If you look at it objectively, what the church does, the Government cannot do. The role of the Church can never be quantified,” he says.

Correct teaching

Pastor Linda reckons that correct teaching and understanding is the key to solving this issue.

“The Bible in Ecclesiastes 7:16 says Do not be over-righteous, neither be over wise why destroy yourself? (NIV Version). Your spirituality does not mean you should relinquish your assets to a man of God. To avoid faulty theology, there is need for correct teaching and understanding,” she says.

Before you join that church, Kiuna advises you to carry out a background check to validate the pastor what is his or her track record? Accountability is also key; who is that pastor accountable to?

Offers Kiuna: “You cannot be an authority if you are not under an authority. Nobody is above the law.”

0:06

New England Kenyan Welfare Association set for historic launch

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Nekwa meeting_v2 WORCESTER, Mass., - Kenyans in the New England region are preparing for the official launch of the first ever all inclusive, non partisan welfare organization that will spearhead efforts to end frequent burial funds drives while creating a platform to foster a rapid social cultural development of the fast growing community.

The launching ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Crown Castle Plaza Hall, 90 Stafford st, in Worcester starting at 6.00 pm.

Among top guests expected to grace the event include Worcester mayor, Joseph M. Petty, Dr. Richard Leakey, a former Kenya wildlife service director and currently a professor at the Turkana Basin Institute at the Stony brook University and Dr. John Githongo, CEO of Nisisi Kenya and former Anti- Corruption Czar in Kenya.

Leakey and Githongo will also be among a list of other top guests that will be attending the Kenya Diaspora Summit that will be taking place at the Umass Medical School convention center on 222 Maple Avenue, a few miles from the Nekwa launching event.

The summit will kick off at 8am on Saturday ending at 5pm after which the guests are expected to attend dinner at the Nekwa launching gala. The summit will then resume the next day on Sunday at 8am to 3pm.

It will be hosted by the Kenya Development Collaborative which is also among the major sponsors of the Nekwa launching ceremony.

Many other top guests are also expected at the inter- linked events that will take place during the marathon weekend when Kenyan patriotism in Boston hits fever pitch with the Boston marathon taking place on patriot’s day, Monday April 16.

Nekwa was started in the spring of 2011 during highly attended Madaraka Day celebrations in Lowell.
(website)

The organization was officially incorporated under the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Chapter 180 as a non- profit organization on December 28, 2011. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service with the Federal Employer ID # 38-3868097. (Search the Massachusetts corporations’ database here).

It is currently headed by an interim committee of founding directors from the civil society.

Once it is stabilized, the organization plans to hold democratic elections to give aspiring leaders a chance to serve the community on welfare issues.

“This is the best opportunity and time for many of us Kenyans in New England who are tired of disunity and divisions to show patriotism and display our sincere desire to build a stronger Kenyan Diaspora community in the New England region,” said Wangeci Mathai, the Nekwa interim chairperson.

“We have many social issues we can solve as a united group including recurring death funds drives or when serious sickness strikes, both in the Diaspora and in the motherland. We also have thousands of Kenyan American children who are coming of age. We need to give them a platform to contribute to the social cultural development of our community” she added during a planning meeting that took place in Worcester last week. Recap full story here >>

5:09

Man divorces ‘illiterate’ wife and marries barmaid

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

KIRINYAGA, Kenya_A primary school teacher in Kirinyaga West District who sent his wife packing because she was not well educated has ended up marrying a class five school dropout and a mother of three.

Less than a year after marrying his first wife, the man started mistreating her, saying she had forced herself on him while he would have preferred a wife in gainful employment.

She refused to go saying after fourth form, her parents had wanted to take her for a secretarial course, but the teacher convinced her not to so that he could marry her.

“Didn’t you tell me you were already earning and would take care of me and our children?” she had reminded him.

Taunted

The truth, however, was that the teacher had met and fallen in love with a beautiful teacher from another school whom he wanted to marry but found it hard while he still had a wife.

One night, he taunted her that she was not beautiful and her education did not meet his standards so she was just wasting her time with him.

When she argued back, he beat her up. The next morning, she packed her clothes, took their two-year-old child and left.

Unfortunately, his new found catch refused to get married to him, afraid she would be labeled a home breaker.

This hurt the teacher so much that he went to the bar. One drink led to another and before he knew it, he was drunk.

Wealthier

When he was leaving for the night he asked the bar maid to accompany him. But she declined because there was an older but wealthier man in the pub who wanted to go home with her.

Angered by the putdown, he promised he would even marry her if she just went to his house. The sly woman insisted that they go to her house to pick her clothes and children and the teacher, in his drunkenness agreed.

The next morning, the teacher could not believe his eyes when he woke up next to a strange woman and heard three children playing happily in his house.

He tried to force her out but she refused adamantly. When he realised he was getting late for the school, he left her.

She has remained put and during the day, she chews miraa and goes to the nearby pub to drink keg beer, making the teacher a laughing stock in the village.

5:23

Pastor pays on earth for his sins

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Photo/KITAVI MUTUA Pastor Daniel Nzoka of Voice of God to His People addresses his followers in Kitui town.Courtesy of the Nation.

KITUI, Kenya_A Kitui preacher has lost an appeal against charges of issuing death threats and hurling insults while delivering his sermons.

Pastor Daniel Mutunga Nzoka of God’s Voice to His People Ministry lost a six-year-old defamation battle waged by a prominent Kitui businessman arising from his offensive sermons.

The court ordered the pastor to pay the businessman Sh500,000.

The High Court in Machakos upheld the earlier ruling by a magistrate’s court that Pastor Nzoka acted with malice in repeatedly uttering the defamatory words, causing the trader to suffer damage to his reputation.

According to a 21-page ruling delivered last week by Justice Prof Joel Ngugi, the pastor was guilty of publicly accusing Duncan Kisilu Singi of being a wizard and steadfastly refusing to offer any apology or proof.

Withdraw daughters

The court was told how the pastor publicly urged Mr Singi’s parents-in-law to withdraw their daughters married to the trader and his brothers before the hand of God killed them.

The pastor uttered the offensive words on diverse dates in May and July 2004 while presiding over open air crusades close to Mr Singi’s Zombe Supermarket in Kitui town.

He was also accused of telling the crusades amid wild cheers from his followers, that people should not buy items from the man’s shops because he is evil.

Justice Prof Ngugi said evidence adduced showed the pastor acted with malice and persistently did so until he was convicted of a criminal offence. The judge further noted that Pastor Nzoka also advertently aimed to reach the largest number of people possible.

He ruled that the pastor’s appeal must be dismissed with costs, because he repeated the offending words many times without apology or proof.

“The appellant acted with malice and his claims were proven to be untrue. The respondent suffered damage to his reputation which led to his being shunned by right thinking members of the society.”

Mr Singi, through his lawyer Mr Makundi, told the court he had suffered irreparable damage to his character and also losses to his businesses since people shunned him on the basis of the pastor’s false allegations.

The pastor was in 2005 sentenced to four months imprisonment by a Kitui court, but with an option of a fine, after being found guilty of threatening the same businessman and using abusive language while preaching.

Resident magistrate Elijah Gichagi, ruled then that the pastor’s conduct was offensive and was likely to provoke a breach of the peace.

The businessman moved to court seeking compensation and sued the pastor for defamation on the basis of the 2005 magistrate’s ruling

He won the defamation case and was awarded Sh500,000 as damages which the pastor contested, but High court dismissed his appeal and ordered him to pay the costs of suit.

The first case arose from another dispute pitting the church and Mr Singi over a piece of plot within Kitui town, adjacent to the church, and which both parties wanted to buy.

After Mr Singi bought the plot, the pastor started going public during his sermons with the claim that “the rich were robbing God of His property”.

The church started holding its crusades at an open place outside the supermarket owned by Mr Singi where he routinely referred to the trader by name using loud speakers, and saying he was a wizard who kept devilish spirits.

Mr Singi went to court after the pastor went public that the businessman’s family was set to perish in a year. This was also in violation of High Court orders that restrained the pastor from preaching outside his supermarket.

The pastor in his defence however, told the court that the case against him was part of wider efforts to “frustrate God’s work by people opposed to his ministry”.

He added that “he acted according to the Bible and that his church would continue fasting and praying against the evil spirits in the area”.

Witnesses, including a security guard and two CID detectives said how the pastor sprinkled oil on the ground saying he had cursed the entire Singi family, and that they would all perish within one year.

The policemen investigating the case said they also received death threats from the pastor that they would die one by one for opposing God’s work and siding with a wizard.

Source: Nation

22:04

Kenyans in Boston sue KCB

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

6:58

First ever Kenyan Diaspora music label releases hit single-Chuki Za Nini

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

WORCESTER, Mass,_A new, first ever music label by a Kenyan living in the Diaspora, Jobless Corner, is set to release a new hit single, Chuki Za Nini, that officially drops in the market tomorrow, Saturday, March 10, 2012.
However, even before the official launch, Chuki Za Nini is already making waves in several clubs and radio stations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, France, China, Australia and the US.

The new single was referred to by the Buzzed Magazine as an “incredibly addictive Genge-Bongo tune.”

Having opened for acts like Bamboo, Nameless and Nonini, Jobless Corner has made its mark as a headliner among the recently rising music labels in East Africa.

The new title track off their debut album, Job Application (Oxygen Media/iTunes), Chuki Za Nini is a Love themed song about a couple that is being separated.

The edgy, upbeat song is getting play among the top Kenyan/Swahili radio and mix show adds across the U.S. and just broke into the Reverbnation Bongo Billboard Chart.

The video (Jobless Corner Visuals) has a creative immigration theme that has never been done before. Chuki Za Nini will also be featured as a soundtrack on a new TV show based on the lives of Kenyans living in the Diaspora.

Chuki za nini represents a solid debut effort for Jobless Corner. It is infused with catchy tunes, clever lyrics and irresistible beats.

The song was produced by multi-talented producer/writer Sir Keggah , a young Kenyan who has worked on singles for other established acts such as Jimwat, Bamboo, Nyota Ndogo, lyrical Erico and J Ellah from the Joint ya Chava crew.

The lead artistes in Chuki za nini are Abu Cnear, a Tanzanian and Mdabu “Mtu Wa Watu” (“Man of the people”) from Kenya.

Both were discovered by Keggah while they opened for Nonini during a recent visit to the US and were signed into the label with Chuki za nini being their first Single.

Abu is also an Artist and has sold hundreds of paintings some of which don the walls of Safari Cafe, a Kenyan ethnic food restaurant in Worcester, and Simba lounge, a popular dance spot for Kenyans in Lowell.

Abu Cnear and Mdabu have cleary established themselves as seasoned artists bringing a breath of fresh talent into the music scene.
“We are all very excited about the new single.The artists we are promoting are very talented and are happy with the outcome of Chuki Za Nini,” said the producer, Keggah who also owns the label during a telephone interview with Ajabu Africa News on the eve of the eagerly awaited release.

Abu and Mdabu have already earned ardent supporters such as celebrity blogger, Leo Faya.

The song is already a favorite Dj pick among major established DJs and the song premiered on several radio stations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the US.

Jobless corner is the first record label in the US to produce fresh talent and create major waves both in the Diaspora and East Africa. iHeart Radio’s 254 Channel has pegged Jobless Corner as “the ones to watch out for.”

Clearly, fans have been paying attention.

Keggah stated that the group hopes the new single will provide top notch entertainment to their fans everywhere and inspire other talented artists out there in the Diaspora who has no support to produce their songs to come out and join Jobless corner in their quest to produce more music.

“What we have, mostly in the Diaspora, is many music production studios but no record labels at all owned by our people that can go the extra mile to develop and market an artist.

But now, any aspiring artist can contact us and we will work with them to develop their talent, market them, finance them, promote them and help them help others in the process,” said Keggah.

However, in a departure from the common trend among many of the artists in Kenya who try to emulate the western culture and infuse pop and techno into their music, the success of Chuki Za Nini shows sticking to your roots and the beautiful African culture will always score big with the fans.

The music video for Chuki Za Nini will be released on March 10, 2012 to the public. Listeners can sample the captivating video on you tube.

Jobless corner also plans to make various appearances to entertain Kenyans and other Africans in the Diaspora.

The group is also providing free ring tone downloads to the public for a brief period of time.
Text Chuki to +15087628393 for the free Ring tone to be sent directly to your phone Limited time offer ends March 15th,2012.

TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR CHUKI ZA NINI BY ABU CNEAR FT MDABU CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
http://youtu.be/kRvkNT8fuaw

On the Net: Website: www.joblessmusic.com
Email: joblessmusic@gmail.com

8:19

African families thrilled at church’s family night

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

dancers WORCESTER, Mass–A family gala night organized by the African Catholic Community of Worcester on Saturday Feb 18 left children, parents and friends thoroughly entertained while everyone got a shot to display their fun side.
The event t took place at the St. Andrews church social hall in Worcester, and attracted over 300 adults and about 100 children mainly from the Kenyan and Rwandese communities.

Guests who started streaming at the social hall on Spaulding Street at about 6pm were treated to a variety of Kenyan traditional dishes including Chapati, Nyama Choma, Mukimo, rice, Ugali and even Indian Bhajia.

Soft drinks too were also in plenty from visibly excited guests of all age starting from toddlers to the aged alike.

With the stomach business taken care of, guests, ranging from toddlers to the aged were treated to a session of entertainment including song, dance and drama.

Surprising everyone in the packed hall, a troupe of 4 teenage Kenyans girls kicked off the session with a stunning, highly synchronized and rigorous African dance that left guest seating on the edges of their seats, while fellow teenagers and children screamed with excitement.

The African dance was followed by a routine dance stage by another set of 3 Kenyan teenage girls.

In a different skit, well groomed teenage boys on one aisle faced off with teenage girls on another as they stage a drama depicting the marriage conflict witnessed in many homes where spouses fight over trivial matters.

Luckily the “spouses” in this particular skit ended their bitter fight positively when it dawned on them that they had all along been fighting over trivial issues based of selfish motivations from each party.

A Kiswahili poem (Shairi) by a group of three mothers also moved guests with the fluency and powerful message it delivered to African families.

“It is amazing these teenagers have managed to stage such performances given that they only came together recently to practice for this show,” said Allan Waigera, leader of the African Catholic community of Worcester.

“People had a good time to bond as families and enjoyed the company of others. Everyone was very excited and we are all looking forward to the next opportunity to socialize during the African cultural night in the summer,” he added.

In another hilarious session, different members of families were matched for their own special dance.

Fathers stepped into the dance floor with their daughters, followed by a mothers and sons dance.

Brothers and sisters soon followed suite before the long awaited spouses dance.

“Mothers and fathers it’s your turn to show us how you can dance together. Even your children want to see how you do it,” said the master of ceremonies as couples stepped onto the floor for an entertaining session.

The couple’s dance soon advanced into a final free for all session that was dominated by nostalgic Kenyan gospel and secular hits of the past.

The African Catholic community of Worcester holds 3 major events each year, starting with the family night in February, an African cultural night in August and the Jamhuri day celebrations in December.

3:35

Charges dropped against Kenyan arrested in church

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Stephen Gitahi Gichure

LOWELL, Mass–In an unexpected turn of events, trespass charges against a Kenyan man arrested in the middle of worship at the PCEA Ushindi church last year were dropped abruptly when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts entered a nolle prosequi on the matter.

The nolle prosequi submission was entered by the District Attorney, Gerald T. Leone, Jr. during a hearing on the case at the Lowell District Court on Thursday this week that pitted the Commonwealth of Massachusetts against Mr. Stephen Gitahi Gichure, a member of the Ushindi church.

In the submission, a copy of which was obtained by Ajabu Media, the District Attorney said that “based upon the circumstances surrounding this case at this time, the Commonwealth does not wish to proceed. The Commonwealth reserves the right to bring these charges forward if there are any changes in circumstance.”

While granting the application to drop the charges, the presiding judge congratulated Gichure for the success in the light of the serious charges saying briefly “Congratulations. You did not trespass.”

Reacting to the ruling on Sunday, Gichure said that he was happy that the state found no need to proceed with the case.

However, he said that he was still disappointed with the abrupt ruling because he never got his day in court that would have brought to light details surrounding the reason for the “unwarranted arrest” at the church.

“I feel good that the state dropped the case against me, only that I did not have a chance to express my self because there were no arguments in the court. There was no evidence against the case. So i feel good that I will be able to go to church o Sunday,”

“The only thing I would like to advise the pastor and leaders around him is to stop intimidating people in the church. They know the source of all these problems but they are trying to conceal them. But God will come in the light one day and will fight for us,” he added.

Gichure was plucked out in the middle of a worship service at the Kenyan community Presbyterian church Ushindi church in July 2011 after some church leaders summoned the police claiming that he was an unwanted person who was causing a disturbance of peace in the place of worship.

Gichure was then promptly charged with trespass, charges of which he vowed to fight to the bitter end.

During several Sunday services before the arrest, Gichure had being vocal in the church while demanding an explanation and accountability from the pastor during question time as heated discussions raged between two different factions of the church on how to proceed with church business following a crisis caused by accusations of improper conduct by the church pastor.

A second person who repeatedly questioned the police as to why they were arresting a church member during service time was also arrested and charged with interfering with police work.
(READ STORY & VIDEO: 2 Kenyans Arrested at the Ushindi church)

After several appearances at the Lowel District Court, Daniel Kibui decided to plead guilty and pay a fine imposed by the court in order to end the case.

The crisis became full blown after the church pastor was defrocked following allegations of sex abuse by a young church member.

One faction demanded the pastor step down according to the recommendations of Presbytery of Northern New England (PNNE), the body that was overseeing the church at the time, while the other faction supported the pastor in his claim that charges that resulted to the defrocking were baseless and that he was still the leader of the church regardless of the claims by PNNE.

The pro- pastor faction also maintained that the church was no longer under the oversight of PNNE and demanded that funds held in the custody of PNNE when the fracas surfaced be returned unconditional to Ushindi church.

On the other hand, PNNE claimed that Ushindi church has been under their oversight authority for many years since it was established and that they have a right to safeguard the funds earmarked for church building purchase in light of the disputed change in church status.

PNNE also maintained that it reserved the right to take corrective action against the pastor who appeared before the Presbyterian Church court (PJC) in late 2010 and found guilty of the alleged accusations.

Several months after the guilty verdict, the pastor resigned from the PNNE, dismissing the guilty findings as unwarranted.

The PNNE then responded by permanently defrocking the pastor and taking custody of about $230,000 for “safe keeping”, promising to return every penny of it when things calm down at the church.

The move prompted the pastor and a section of the church leadership to move to court to demand the funds back.

A judge at the Middlesex Superior court in Woburn ruled that the funds remain frozen under the custody of PNNE, and to be monitored by attorneys representing both sides of the dispute.

A move by PNNE to legally bar the pastor from conducting business at the church was denied by the same court- when a new judge presiding over the matter declared that the pastor can remain as the head of the church until all issues regarding the jurisdiction of PNNE as an oversight body over Ushindi church were heard and determined.

A date for the next hearings has not been announced yet.

0:42

Selfish mentality has led to breakdown of church and family- Pastor Ndungu

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Pastor David Ndungu

NASHUA, NH_ “In America is everybody is for themselves. People are so selfish.That’s the problem with churches and families.”

The words were said by Pastor David Ndungu of the Community Christian church in Nashua, New Hampshire on Sunday February 12.

Pastor Ndungu was delivering a sermon during the first of the many to come monthly revival meetings in the new year of 2012.

He said that the selfishness and love of material things that has taken firm root in the American culture has found its way into the churches where many worshipers attend church with a mentality of receiving more than giving.

“You hear people say “Me I was not blessed with that praise and worship today,” or, “I am always looking for a position to preach and they don’t give me,”.”

Ndungu said that the selfish mentality is to blame for the breakdown of several churches in the Kenyan community in the New England region.

“This is the problem with the church. This is why churches are breaking down,” he added.

In the just concluded year of 2011, about 5 Kenyan community churches in the Boston region folded under uncertain circumstances, leaving members bitterly disappointed and in search of other places of worship they might fit in.

The pastor also lamented the breakdown of family life among many Kenyans in the US, blaming it on the overriding selfish desires for material things among couples.

“To satisfy these cravings, especially for like big cars purchased through loans, people are forced to work too many hours in order to keep up with loan payments,” the added.

Painting a grim picture of the undesirable way of life especially for an immigrant couple, Ndungu said that this tendency to purchase unaffordable things has forced people to spend more time at work in the company of other people’s spouses and less time with their own.

“You are in too much debt that you spend 10 hours at an overnight shift with another person’s spouse, while you only meet your spouse at the door as you come in and they leave,” the pastor said.

“Then one thing leads to another and you find yourself compromising your marriage with someone else’s spouse. You don’t have money to tithe anymore. You comfort yourself saying “God will understand”,” he lamented.

The situation, Ndungu added, has been made worse by the fact that the people in America are so complacent with life that there is no more hunger for the word of God.

“If you have no Jesus in your life you are like a naked man and you lack the fragrance of God in your life.”

He asked believers to uproot all those things that have caused them to live ungodly lives such as lies deception and selfishness.

Ndungu said that since the CCF Nashua church was opened one year ago, their goal has been to be known as a church whose priority is to seek the face of God rather than “just a small church existing there in Nashua.”

“Our purpose is to make the name of the lord be exalted. We are not here for politics,” he declared.

He said that the CCF Nashua plans to host revival meetings every month to provide an opportunity for worshipers to invigorate their faith in God. He invited those with a hunger for God to attend the meetings as they take place.

During the same event, Ndungu’s wife, Milka Ndungu urged Kenyans to avoid getting satisfied with the word of God.

“Why would you get satisfied with the word of God? You need to come and listen to the word of God more and more for a better life. We want you to know that God loves you and we love you all out there, ” she said.

During the event, worshipers were entertained by the CCF Nashua praise and worship team, and a local gospel singer, Jayne Tinega.

A choir of 9 young men attending the revival dubbed the “Blessed brothers” presented a song that drew loud applause from worshipers excited at the unusual sight of young Kenyan men performing in worship.

The men were hailed as a great inspiration to other young Kenyan men in other churches.

20:46

Liberty Church to set up ‘Dream Center’ in Kenya

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

WORCESTER, MA_An American based international church frequented by a large group of Kenyans in Worcester is set to launch a distribution center in Kenya for it’s humanitarian, social and spiritual outreach programs. The center is projected to provide an actual, physical and non- partisan platform for Kenyans and friends in the Diaspora to extend the much needed support to disadvantaged compatriots back in the motherland.

Dreamcenter-3 WORCESTER, MA_An American based international church frequented by a large group of Kenyans in Worcester is set to launch a distribution center in Kenya for it’s humanitarian, social and spiritual outreach programs.

The center is projected to provide an actual, physical and non- partisan platform for Kenyans and friends in the Diaspora to extend the much needed support to disadvantaged compatriots back in the motherland.

Dubbed the “Dream Center Network”, the project the a brainchild of the Liberty church, an Assemblies of God affiliated church.

The center will be located in Ruiru town, Kiambu County; about 20 minutes drive northbound from the capital city of Nairobi and off the newly re-constructed Nairobi-Thika super highway.

Several leaders and volunteers of the church led by the Rev. Will Bard Joseph Junior hatched the groundbreaking ceremony recently during a mission trip to Kenya.

The 3 week trip took place from December 6th to December 31st, 2011.

During the trip, the church team visited the FOCUS Youth Initiative program in Ruiru and the Liberty church branch that has been established in the same locality.

They also visited and ministered to other poverty-hit people in various villages in Thika, the Mathare and Kiambiyu slums, both in Eastleigh in Nairobi, and the Mawingu IDP Camp in Nyandarwa district.

With several trained nurses aboard the team, they were able to conduct a medical camp in Machakos District in the Eastern province, and another one in Karangatha village, in Nyandarwa, Central province.

They also visited several churches in Thika, Githurai and Ruiru, all in Central province as well.

According to Rev. Bard, the mission trip made the team realize the need for help was far much more than imagined.

“Although many Kenyans are doing fine providing food, clothing and shelter for their families, the struggle remains with a lot of unfortunate ones. Most of the resources to help them seem to be coming from donors in America and so we decided to start doing our part immediately,” Rev. Bard told AjabuAfrica.com during an interview at the Liberty church offices in Shrewsbury.

“Our main goal will be to set up a network of any willing pastors from any denomination, region or background with one heart and one mind to extend love to suffering people. We want to have a base to create a networking system to bring people to a new place in life, spiritually, physically and socially,” said Rev. Bard. Recap full story here >>

22:46

Fida condemns men battering

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

0:03

Another Kenyan man attacked by wife

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

0:02

Man lucky to be alive after machette attack, allegedly by wife

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Kiguta

A husband was slashed with a panga(machette), allegedly by his wife while sleeping in his matrimonial bed.

Mr Simon Kiguta, 40, passed out after he bled profusely on Monday night. He was placed under intensive care at the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital where his neighbours took him on Tuesday morning. On Friday, the wife was missing from their home in Mihuti Village in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, prompting police to begin a search for her whereabouts. Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Kiguta said he arrived home drunk and his wife opened the door for him. He took out Sh250 from his pocket and handed it to his wife to buy food for their two children. He then retired to bed. When the wife joined him in the matrimonial bed, he said, she did not undress. On enquiring why, the wife, Mr Kiguta said, reportedly cut him short, insisting that she be left alone. He turned over and pretended to sleep. A further attempt to make physical contact may have apparently led to the wife jumping out of bed, he says. Under the cover of darkness, she grabbed a sharp panga placed near the bed and descended on her husband of 12 years and started slashing away at his head, Mr Kiguta claimed. “I screamed and she ran out and locked the door from outside. I broke the window and went to my late brother’s house where I woke his wife. Mr Simon Kiguta, 40, passed out after he bled profusely on Monday night. He was placed under intensive care at the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital where his neighbours took him on Tuesday morning. On Friday, the wife was missing from their home in Mihuti Village in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, prompting police to begin a search for her whereabouts. Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Kiguta said he arrived home drunk and his wife opened the door for him. He took out Sh250 from his pocket and handed it to his wife to buy food for their two children. He then retired to bed. When the wife joined him in the matrimonial bed, he said, she did not undress. On enquiring why, the wife, Mr Kiguta said, reportedly cut him short, insisting that she be left alone. He turned over and pretended to sleep. A further attempt to make physical contact may have apparently led to the wife jumping out of bed, he says. Under the cover of darkness, she grabbed a sharp panga placed near the bed and descended on her husband of 12 years and started slashing away at his head, Mr Kiguta claimed. “I screamed and she ran out and locked the door from outside. I broke the window and went to my late brother’s house where I woke his wife. Recap full story >>

20:24

African homosexuals seek refuge in Kenya

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

22:48

Kenyan man denies suicide attempt reports; wants recognition of a street children group

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

NYERI, Kenya _A man who was recently reported in the Kenyan media to have attempted to kill himself by jumping from a 50 meter high telecommunications transmission mast has denied the suicide theory. To the contrary, Joram Gichohi Gichuki says he climbed the towering Safaricom mast in Nyeri town to draw attention to the media and public at large, over mistreatment of a group of street children he had helped rehabilitate and make decent productive members of the society. The reported incidence took place on December 16, 2011 when word went out that a man had been spotted a top the mast.

Joram Gichuki, founder of Jijenge Sanitation Youth Group.

NYERI, Kenya _A man who was recently reported in the Kenyan media to have attempted to kill himself by jumping from a 50 meter high telecommunications transmission mast has denied the suicide theory.

To the contrary, Joram Gichohi Gichuki says he climbed the towering Safaricom mast in Nyeri town to draw attention to the media and public at large, over mistreatment of a group of street children he had helped rehabilitate and make decent productive members of the society.

The reported incidence took place on December 16, 2011 when word went out that a man had been spotted a top the mast.
Local media reporters rushed to the scene but ignored the victim’s side of the story- creating one of their own – “suicide attempt”.

What made a 35yr old father of 4 “attempt suicide”?

The emergence of the booming recycling industry in the Central Kenya town of Nyeri

brought rise to an elite class of middle men who milk the vulnerable street children for near slave labor to maximize their profit.

By purchasing recyclable materials from street children for pennies, they

then sell them to the recycling industry for a tidy profit.

It is against such a backdrop that Gichuki claims his endeavors to have the street children,

sell their merchandise direct to the recycler is not auguring well with the middle men, hence the effort to sabotage the groups activities.

Gichuki insists that there are attempts by some operatives in the Nyeri Municipal Council to hijack and cartel the operations of Jijenge Sanitation Youth Group, a private garbage collection initiative he started by mobilizing the street children in order to help them improve their lives.

Speaking to AjabuAfrica.com on a trans-Atlantic telephone interview, Gichuki, a professional graphics designer whose stint in jail transposed him to an aggressive street children rights advocate, said that the activities of the group have proven to be effective in cleaning up the town and its environment, while enabling the street children earn a decent living. Recap full story >>

3:28

You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum!

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

africamap-2 They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture.

In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished.

In this demesne, as they call it, there are hardly any discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Africa is the trailblazer. Some still call it “the dark continent” for the light that flickers under the tunnel is not that of hope, but an approaching train. And because countless keep waiting in the way of the train, millions die and many more remain decapitated by the day.

“It’s amazing how you all sit there and watch yourselves die,” the man next to me said. “Get up and do something about it.”

Brawny, fully bald-headed, with intense, steely eyes, he was as cold as they come. When I first discovered I was going to spend my New Year’s Eve next to him on a non-stop JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston I was angst-ridden. I associate marble-shaven Caucasians with iconoclastic skin-heads, most of who are racist.

“My name is Walter,” he extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat.

I told him mine with a precautious smile.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“Zambia.”

“Zambia!” he exclaimed, “Kaunda’s country.”

“Yes,” I said, “Now Sata’s.”

“But of course,” he responded. “You just elected King Cobra as your president.”

My face lit up at the mention of Sata’s moniker. Walter smiled, and in those cold eyes I saw an amenable fellow, one of those American highbrows who shuttle between Africa and the U.S.

“I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s,” he continued. “I wined and dined with Luke Mwananshiku, Willa Mungomba, Dr. Siteke Mwale, and many other highly intelligent Zambians.” He lowered his voice. “I was part of the IMF group that came to rip you guys off.” He smirked. “Your government put me in a million dollar mansion overlooking a shanty called Kalingalinga. From my patio I saw it all—the rich and the poor, the ailing, the dead, and the healthy.”

“Are you still with the IMF?” I asked.

“I have since moved to yet another group with similar intentions. In the next few months my colleagues and I will be in Lusaka to hypnotize the cobra. I work for the broker that has acquired a chunk of your debt. Your government owes not the World Bank, but us millions of dollars. We’ll be in Lusaka to offer your president a couple of millions and fly back with a check twenty times greater.”

“No, you won’t,” I said. “King Cobra is incorruptible. He is …”

He was laughing. “Says who? Give me an African president, just one, who has not fallen for the carrot and stick.”

Quett Masire’s name popped up.

“Oh, him, well, we never got to him because he turned down the IMF and the World Bank. It was perhaps the smartest thing for him to do.”

At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.

“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down.

From my middle seat, I took a glance and nodded admirably.

“That’s white man’s country,” he said. “We came here on Mayflower and turned Indian land into a paradise and now the most powerful nation on earth. We discovered the bulb, and built this aircraft to fly us to pleasure resorts like Lake Zambia.”

I grinned. “There is no Lake Zambia.”

He curled his lips into a smug smile. “That’s what we call your country. You guys are as stagnant as the water in the lake. We come in with our large boats and fish your minerals and your wildlife and leave morsels—crumbs. That’s your staple food, crumbs. That corn-meal you eat, that’s crumbs, the small Tilapia fish you call Kapenta is crumbs. We the Bwanas (whites) take the cat fish. I am the Bwana and you are the Muntu. I get what I want and you get what you deserve, crumbs. That’s what lazy people get—Zambians, Africans, the entire Third World.”

The smile vanished from my face.

“I see you are getting pissed off,” Walter said and lowered his voice. “You are thinking this Bwana is a racist. That’s how most Zambians respond when I tell them the truth. They go ballistic. Okay. Let’s for a moment put our skin pigmentations, this black and white crap, aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?”

“There’s no difference.”

“Absolutely none,” he exclaimed. “Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that. It took them thirteen years to determine the complete sequence of the three billion DNA subunits. After they

were all done it was clear that 99.9% nucleotide bases were exactly the same in you and me. We are the same people. All white, Asian, Latino, and black people on this aircraft are the same.”

I gladly nodded.

“And yet I feel superior,” he smiled fatalistically. “Every white person on this plane feels superior to a black person. The white guy who picks up garbage, the homeless white trash on drugs, feels superior to you no matter his status or education. I can pick up a nincompoop from the New York streets, clean him up, and take him to Lusaka and you all be crowding around him chanting muzungu, muzungu and yet he’s a riffraff. Tell me why my angry friend.”

For a moment I was wordless.

“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or colonialism, or some psychological impact or some kind of stigmatization. And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.”

I was thinking.

He continued. “Excuse what I am about to say. Please do not take offense.”

I felt a slap of blood rush to my head and prepared for the worst.

“You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.”

“That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested.

He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”

I held my breath.

“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”

He looked me in the eye.

“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”

I was deflated.

“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”

He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”

He tempered his voice. “Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident. Become innovative and make your own stuff for god’s sake.”

At 8 a.m. the plane touched down at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Walter reached for my hand.

“I know I was too strong, but I don’t give it a damn. I have been to Zambia and have seen too much poverty.” He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something. “Here, read this. It was written by a friend.”

He had written only the title: “Lords of Poverty.”

Thunderstruck, I had a sinking feeling. I watched Walter walk through the airport doors to a waiting car. He had left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscente, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars in the places he had mentioned guzzling and talking irrelevancies. I remembered some who have since passed—how they got the highest grades in mathematics and the sciences and attained the highest education on the planet. They had been to Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), only to leave us with not a single invention or discovery. I knew some by name and drunk with them at the Lusaka Playhouse and Central Sports.

Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity and collective orientations. We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque. We believe that development is generated 8-to-5 behind a desk wearing a tie with our degrees hanging on the wall. Such a working environment does not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition, and the spectacle of innovative rituals.

But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Banda embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line.

I believe King Cobra’s reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out.

“Naupena? Fuma apa.” (Are you mad? Get out of here)

Knowing well that King Cobra will not embody innovation at Walter’s level let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed him after a term or two. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior.

A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones.

Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author. He is a PhD candidate with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, and an M.A. in History.

Back to AjabuAfrica

3:21

Kenyan man upbeat after kidney donation from sister

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

6:31

Officials tight-lipped after presentation of a controversial check

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

check LOWELL, Mass.,_A section of the committee members in the New England region involved in raising money meant for the hungry Kenyans presented a dummy check to the Kenyan envoy to the U.S., H.E.Elkanah Odembo amid continuing controversy about accountability and delays- with no end in sight- at least yet.

The oversized check that is believed to have cost donors $120 to print was presented during the 2011 Jamhuri Day celebrations in Lowell on Sunday December 11.

Though the money was reportedly sent to the hungry, there are still lingering questions about the total amount raised and the reasons for the delay.

There is a discrepancy between the actual funds raised and the money released leaving donors to ask for an audited report.

Receipts from the receiving bank have also not yet been disclosed to the public.

More than $ 1,000 is believed to be unaccounted for.

Dr. Joseph Kimatu, fundraising committee chairman, didn’t return calls to AjabuAfrica.com while Paul Muite, one of the fund raising committee officials, declined to comment on the way they are handling public funds.

Kimatu sent a press release to the Kenyan community last November, but declined to make the audited report public. Many Kenyans have been angered by the officials’ behavior and they have questioned the murky way the funds process was handled.

Several Kenyans who donated money in the region are still calling for the audited report.

The committee however, through its chairman said that the reason for the delay to remit funds was in part, to secure a photo opportunity with the envoy as a way to showcase the effort by Kenyans in New England towards the hunger problem.

Reliable sources told Ajabuafrica.com that the officials held a closed door meeting on Wednesday last week at the Saint Stephen’s church in Lowell to discuss on a way forward.

However, the officials have yet to communicate to the Kenyan community on the outcome of the meeting.

While receiving the check, the ambassador publicly asked the committee members whether the $14,000 was actually in the bank.(watch Ajabu Video here )

He also sought a clarification as to whether the accounts related to the funds drive had been subjected to an audit report.

The officials reiterated that the money had been audited.

However, Peter Mwaniki, the treasurer of the funds drive committee, has denied the allegations that the funds were audited.

It is not clear how the divided committee plans to resolve the embarrassing fiasco that has left many donors furious with the mishandling of the funds meant for urgent relief of starving fellow Kenyans.

5:52

Woman burns husband with porridge over X-mas dress

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

5:45

US-based Kenyans doubt if they will vote

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

3:59

Kenyans in Boston mark 2011 Jamhuri day in 3 parralel events

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

BOSTON, Mass., _ About 1,000 Kenyans in Boston attended three parallel events to mark the the 48th Jamhuri Day celebrations on Sunday afternoon. Though echoing the same theme of an independent nation and a stronger Kenya, the organizers favored different venues and each of them was attended by loyal members.

In Lowell, a city with the largest number of Kenyans, an event was held at the Lowell auditorium organized by the New England Diaspora Advisory Council.

The invited guests included the Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission team as well as Kenya’s Ambassador to the U.S, H.E. Elkana Odeembo.

Addressing a group of about 300 Kenyans, the electoral body chairman, Ahmed Isaack Hassan said that putting the structures in place for Kenyans in the Diaspora to vote in the upcoming general elections is expensive to cover all the US states with sizeable Kenyan population.

According to Hassan the process also involved hurdles to overcome in the Kenyan legislature which may take long to achieve.

However, Hassan added that the most sure situation the commission can foresee were to use the U.S Embassy in D.C as a polling station and the ambassador as the returning officer.

“If you can drive over five hours to Las Vegas why not make arrangements to get to D.C and cast your vote,” asked Hassan to perplexed Kenyans who had been hoping for polling centers to be established in most major cities.

The event saw the Kenyan Ambassador receive a dummy check of $14,000 representing funds raised during the 2011 Mashujaaa day celebrations by Kenyans in the region towards alleviating the hunger that was ravaging the horn of Africa at the time.

The Ambassador sought to clarify whether the funds drive process was thoroughly audited by qualified auditors before accepting the check.

Dr. Kimatu assured the ambassador that the funds had been audited.

It was not immediately clear why Dr. Kimatu provided the assurance as a row is currently simmering between two factions of the fund raising committee for what one terms as lack of transparency and accountability that led to a dispute on the amount of funds wired to Kenya.(Read: Officials abruptly release “bank statement” after media report)

Guests at the event were treated to entertainment by the Jamhuri band as well as several gospel artists.

About half a mile away, the Kenyan Catholic community in Boston held their own Jamhuri Day celebrations in line with their long standing tradition.

About 400 Kenyans from four churches made up of the Kenyan Catholic Community and Friends in Boston congregated at the St. Michael’s Catholic church.

Father Joseph Kiarie led a Jamhuri day Mass service in the morning prior to the event in the afternoon.

“Learn how to continually forgive each other and help build a stronger Kenya,” Kiarie urged worshippers during the service.

Guests who mostly came from the Lowell, Winthrop, and North Quincy and Lawrence parishes as well as their friends from other Kenyan churches were treated to traditional dance, entertainment and food.

The event was coordinated by the chairman of the St. Michael’s Kenyan catholic community, Alloys Njenga.

And in Worcester, about 300 Kenyans packed the St. Peter’s Catholic Church to mark the event.

The event was hosted by the Kenyan Catholic Community of Worcester in conjunction with the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA). The event has been held for the past five years.

However it was the first time the organizers came together to join forces with the new Kenyan civil society organization in New England, NEKA.

Guests were treated to a wide range of entertainment including nostalgic patriotic and traditional songs and dance. Read full story here >>

17:50

Officials abruptly release “bank statement” after media report

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

BOSTON, Mass.,_A dark cloud hovers over the where about of over $1,000 raised by Kenyans for the Hungry.

Over a month since Kenyan community in new England helped raise over Ksh. 3 Million ($15,000) a scanned copy of money transfer requisition order and a Bank of a America statement has emerged on the internet.

The copy indicates that a wire transfer in the amount of only $14,000 was requested on Thursday, December 8 at 3.45 pm from a US based bank to the designated Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) account that is used by the Kenyans for Kenya initiative.

The newly surfaced documents whose authenticity is yet to be verified appeared on the internet barely a day after the saga was revealed by AjabuAfrica.com.

However, hawkeyed Kenyans who have perused the statement pointed out that there seems to be a discrepancy between the funds earmarked for remittal and the actual amount purported to have been remitted.

During the final committee meeting at St. Stephens Lowell, members were informed that the total amount raised was slightly over $16,000 after a new check from the Presbytery of Southern New England in conjunction with the Tumaini community church was added to the initial $15,000 raised at the actual funds drive.

After adjustments for expenses incurred for promoting and hosting the event, $15,000 was reported for remittance and distribution to hungry souls in the motherland.

The statement on the internet indicates that the account had only $14,348.70 as of November 8, 2011 out of which a wire transfer of $14,000 was requested. (Click here to view the bank statement).

It does not indicate the names of 2 other signatories who were required to be involved with any outgoing transactions on the account holding public funds including the treasurer, Peter Mwaniki who has complained openly of being sidelined from the ability to view the account activity.

Unfortunately, the fund raising committee did not have anyone assigned to audit it’s books of accounts despite easy access to a huge pool of highly skilled certified public accountants in the Kenyan community in Boston who work for top rated world companies.

In contrast, the Kenyans for Kenya initiative that inspired the funds drive in Boston had it’s books of accounts and distribution activities audited by Deloitte & Touche and other top rated Kenyan accounting firms, and made freely available online. (Download audit report here)

The original fund raising organizers, the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA) had suggested closing the account as soon as the funds drive mission was over.

The surprising online statement surfaced on a website whose operator, Sam Mwaura, an official of Kenya Christians Fellowship in America (KCFA) -Boston chapter.

Mwaura was among other close allies who ganged to inject religious and political dimensions as to the ceremonial manner in which the money should be handed over.

The tussle led to the six weeks delay in remittance, a duration which people in Kenya continued suffering as reported in sections of Kenyan media.(Read: Shock as hunger, diseases claim 40 in Turkana)

This was against the wishes of the original funds drive organizers representing the civil society who wanted speedy delivery.

More shocking, the newly surfaced statement has neither been published on the official funds drive website: DKenyans4HKenyans.org, nor sent to AjabuAfrica.com which was the main Kenyan Diaspora networking website used to advertise and mobilize donors for the charitable cause.

A request for the statement of accounts to the organizers by AjabuAfrica.com on November 24, 2011 has never been responded to.

After the story broke, many Kenyans who had donated to the cause called AjabuAfrica.com news room while others took to the blogs voicing shock and alarm.

“People who donated this money thought their money was sent a long time ago and hoped it was helping save lives” said one irate Kenyan who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter.

“It is a shock that the money is still lying in a US Bank when people are dying back home,” said another concerned Kenya in a blog posting.

Many had hoped that the hunger funds drive would inject lost confidence in handling public funds in the community which has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for several church building projects and other community initiatives, leaving no traces to follow and never to be recovered.

“When will the Kenyan Diaspora leaders learn to respect laid procedures of transparency and accountability?” asked Charles Ngeene, organizing secretary for New England Kenyan Association.

“We were hoping to come together as one community to help the starving people with a measure of urgency and a degree of transparency that has never been seen before in this community. I am very disappointed by this development,” he added.

The revelation has also triggered an email campaign against Ajabuafrica.com by some of the committee members.

Among those who reacted was Rev. Samuel Kimohu, a member of the funds drive committee and the current treasurer of the Kenyan American Association (KAPA).

Rev. Kimohu released an email distribution to presumably other members of the KAPA and other undisclosed recipients accusing AjabuAfrica.com of publishing a story meant to kill what he termed as “newly invented unity” in the Kenyan community.(Read: full email from Rev. Kimohu that reached AjabuAfrica)

The members of the funds drive committee will be among those leading in the 48th Jamhuri day celebrations in Lowell and many Kenyans are hoping that the officials will address the burning issue.

The event will be attended by the Kenyan Ambassador to the US, H.E. Elkanah Odembo and Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman, Ahmed Isaack Hassan.

Members of the Kenyan community in the Diaspora have increasingly started taking their leaders visiting from Kenya to task over issues of accountability and transparency during question and answer sessions at such meetings.

It remains to be seen if they would start holding their leaders right here in the Diaspora to the same treatment in light of the developing hunger funds fiasco.

3:23

Differences of opinion cause delay of donated hunger funds remittance

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Leaders of different Kenyan organizations in New England during one of the initial meetings at the Saint Stephen's church to plan the hunger funds drive.

BOSTON, Mass._Serious divisions emerged during a meeting by the committee comprising of Kenyan community organizations in the New England region that spearheaded a hunger funds drive, prompting a delay in the remittance of the donated funds.

The money meant to assist those families facing starvation in the country is still lying in a U.S. bank while groups with different interests continue to argue and accuse each other for non-transparency and betrayal.

Kenyans in the New England area came together last October to raise more than $15,000. The function was organized by the New England Kenyan Association (NEKA), inviting other community organizations to join.

There is a unanimous agreement that a dummy check be presented to the U.S Ambassador, H.E. Elkanah Odembo during the 48th Jamhuri Day celebrations to be held this Sunday at the Lowell Auditorium.

However, Joshua Wambua, the director of the region’s Diaspora Advisory Council wanted the same dummy check to be presented to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kenya. NEKA members’ original idea was to keep the humanitarian initiative free from political inclination just like the Kenyan for Kenya initiative that raised more than Ksh. 500,000 million.

The money reaching Kenyans back home is not the only problem. Fundraising committee treasurer Peter Mwaniki has no access to the account prompting questions of transparency and accountability. “My name has never been activated as a signatory,” said Mwaniki. “I have deposited the money but I can’t see the balances.”

According to Mwaniki, the only active signatories to the account were Rev. Dr. Joseph Kimatu and Mr. Paul Muite.

A group of donors through NEKA accuse the fundraising organizers for breaking promises. To the dismay of many, the fundraising committee discarded the idea of making public the names of donors and the amount they contributed – things that were agreed prior to the fund-raising.

Another suggestion by some religious leaders wanted the money to be channeled through the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). The leaders cited the NCCK’s knowledge and proximity to the starving populations of Kenya. That idea was equally rejected.

An idea to spend part of the donated funds towards Jamhuri Day celebration expenses was floated but unanimously rejected by the members as well.

The disputes are threatening the unity of Kenyans in this region that have always come together to help the needy. Some in the group suggested that the fundraising committee become a permanent organization. That idea was also rejected, drifting members further apart.

Also the disputes have reached a point where a section of the fundraising organizers want future meetings to be held in private without the media presence; in contrast to the open process majority of the community expects.

The money is supposed to be wired to the Kenyan for Kenya initiative account held at the Kenya Commercial Bank in Nairobi and later to be distributed by the Kenya Red Cross.
There is no timetable to release the money. And there is no meeting scheduled to decide as to when the money will be released.

3:50

Kenyans in the Diaspora asked to help shape the next elections

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Hon. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru WAKEFIELD, Mass.,_Kenyans living in the Diaspora have been asked to take an active role at influencing who will be elected into office during the upcoming 2012 general elections since they have become more educated and exposed to holding leaders accountable for their actions.

If this happens, Kenya would start getting onto a fast track for ending the “demon of tribalism” which has resulted in slow progress in all spheres of life, said Hon. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Kariuki, Assistant Minister for Housing and founder of Jesus is Alive Ministries (JIAM) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Bishop Wanjiru was speaking to several dozen Kenyans last Monday at the Rapture Harvest church in Wakefield, Massachusetts, USA in a town hall meeting organized by Pastor Joshua Wambua who is also the director of the Diaspora Advisory Council in Boston.

The Bishop attended a 3-day revival conference hosted by the church that ended on Sunday
where she challenged Christians to ready themselves to vie for leadership positions in next year’s general elections. The theme of the conference was cry heal and move on to destiny.

Wanjiru said that the failure by Kenyan leaders to effectively address tribalism has denied average Kenyans a better way of life while the leaders continue to live in luxuries. For example, a Member of Parliament makes about KSH 800,000 ($8,400) a month while most Kenyans can hardly afford two meals a day, she said.

She said that tribalism was largely responsible for the 2007 violence that claimed more than 1,500 lives while leaving thousands without homes.

“Let us kill this demon of tribalism before Kenya goes the Rwanda way. Let us destroy tribalism.” she pleaded with the small Kenyan crowd that was mostly friendly, referring to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Wanjiru advised Kenyans in next year’s general election to do a background check to find credible and responsible leaders committed to developing their regions. She asked Kenyans not to vote for someone with no track record to show.

The bishop asked Kenyans in the Diaspora to lead the way by showing Kenyans back home how to hold their leaders accountable since it is hard to corrupt a Kenyan in the Diaspora into voting for candidates with nothing to show as happens with many voters back home.
Recap full story here >>

22:56

Kenyan University Workers’ Unions must talk to the Government

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

By Jeff Kanani
The Kenyan public universities’ lecturers’ strike has entered its second week with concerned parties choosing to spend more time publicly ripping each other apart. There is no scheduled official meeting between the employer – the government of Kenya – and the union representatives – at least for now.

Communication channels have completely broken down. It seems like the unions are tired of talking while the government is tired of listening. Both parties are now spending more time with their families rather than talking to each other.

In fact, since the strike began eight days ago there hasn’t been any official meeting besides the one held between the junior union officials and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Senior union officials have since publicly disowned the meeting as a photo opportunity for the prime minister. It turned out that the meeting was not only a disruption but also that both the junior officials and the prime minister had little knowledge about the sticking points.

In the meantime, students, parents, scholarship providers and university related research project funders are waiting and calculating the new costs of a public university education and conducting research in Kenya.

While the lecturers’ demands are like any other working person would like to have, the issue isn’t about the quality of education. It’s not even about research and the discovery of new knowledge at our universities. Neither is it about the denial of free speech nor free expression as it frequently happened in the 80s.

Rather, the unions are angered by the goofy promises that the government made about money. More money.

The biggest losers and perhaps the most important component of a university community are the students and the funders of related research projects. If both of these groups are deleted, the universities cease to exist. The two stakeholders provide revenue to justify the existence of a university. If they stay away from public universities because the institutions have become tense, uncertain and too expensive, the lecturers will have no jobs. Recap full post here>>

0:27

Global Fund withholds shs700b for AIDS drugs over gay rights

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

0:25

Raising Cain in post racial America

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Republican Presidential hopeful, Herman Cain SAN FRANCISCO — Herman Cain’s ability to remain a viable candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in the face of sexual misconduct accusations by at least two white women is the clearest sign ever that — at the level of power politics — America may indeed be a post-racial society. That — to his Tea Party and conservative supporters — gender/politics trumps race.

When Cain was asked a question about the allegations at the most recent Republican debate, the conservative audience booed — as if it was an illegitimate question for a presidential candidate. More boos filled the hall when Mitt Romney — Cain’s closest rival in the 2012 race — was asked a question referring to the scandal.

America, I thought, wasn’t necessarily post-racial because it had elected the biracial Obama in 2008. But for Cain’s Tea Party supporters to dismiss these women goes against 400 years of racial and gender politics in these United States. And it is more of a post-racial phenomenon than a bunch of college students voting for the son of a white woman and African immigrant almost four years ago.

Cain supporters are folks who only a few decades ago might have attended a picnic and watched a Cain look-alike get lynched for the mere allegation of disrespect towards a white woman, let alone grabbing the back of her head and pulling it to his crotch.

This son of the segregated South likely grew up getting instructed by his elders on how to deal with white woman in public. Even in Atlanta Ga. — where Cain was raised in the 40s and 50s — the mere allegation of reckless eyeballing, staring at a white woman too long, could earn you visit from avenging night riders in white sheets, ready and eager to defend their women’s unquestioned honor with rope and steel. Whole towns of black people were razzed and demolished on the word of a white women against a black man.

Where are these white people now? Those old school knights of white supremacy who would not have stood pat while this negro was accused of fondling, talking dirty to, or disrespecting a blond in anyway. Cain’s defense is: Sharon Bialek and the other women hollering harassment are lying.

At least at this point in the scandal, Cain has been able to raise more money, is being defended by conservative radio and is still breathing, literally and politically. He is still in the lead.
Recap full story >>

17:36

Patriotic Kenyans in Boston raise $15,000 towards hunger relief

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

5:47

Storm as Pastor is accused of sex abuse

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

6:40

Kenyan gay couple files for divorce

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

22:44

Bishop Wanjiru banned from conducting weddings

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya_BISHOP Margaret Wanjiru, the Housing assistant minister, has been banned from conducting marriages. The Kenya Gazette notice dated September 9 signed by the Senior Deputy Registrar of Marriages FSM Ng’ang’a withdrew Wanjiru’s licence with immediate effect.

Wanjiru, the MP for Starehe, is also the presiding bishop of Jesus is Alive Ministries which is part of the Redeemed Gospel Churches of Kenya. ”Notice is given that in exercise of the powers confirmed by section 6 (1) of the African Christian Marriage and Divorce Act, the ministers named in the schedule hereto have had their licence to celebrate marriage under the provisions of the said Act cancelled,” said the notice.

The decision will affect thousands of Wanjiru’s followers who jampack the JIAM church and offices on Haile Selassie Highway, Nairobi, every Sunday. Other church ministers whose licences have been cancelled are Rev Perminus Kinyua, Rev Julius Kigunda and Rev Joseph Kamau Njoroge of Christian Church International.

The registrar also banned Pastor Job Ngugi of Vision and Hope Revival Centre, Rev Joseph Boro of Nairobi Community Centre, Rev Robert Wafula of Jesus Worship Sanctuary, Rev Paul Mulatya Makula of Agape Community Ministry Kenya and Rev Gabriel Wanjohi Waweru of the Christian Church International from solemnising marriages.

Wanjiru is known for her catchphrase ‘The Glory is Here!’. She told the Star that the notice in the Kenya Gazette was “procedural” and did not mean she cannot conduct marriages. She said she had been licensed to marry couples but her status has changed. “I was then registered a pastor under the Redeemed Gospel Churches but now l am an ordained Bishop of the Jesus is Alive Ministries,” she told the Star yesterday.

Wanjiru explained that she could not be registered both as Pastor Margaret Wanjiru of Redeemed Gospel Church and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of JIAM and had to choose one between them. Senior Counsel Paul Muite said it was “strange” that such action would be taken by the registrar.

He explained that it is the responsibility of the church to seek registration of ordained clergy with authority to solemnise marriages. “The only time someone can be deregistered is if the recommending church is not registered; or the individual has not been ordained or has been excommunicated by the church,” Muite said.

Wanjiru was ordained by Bishop Arthur Kitonga when he was the head of the Redeemed Gospel churches. Kitonga, who has since retired, was yesterday not available for comment. However, a church bishop who cannot be identified because he is not authorised to make an official comment said of Wanjiru, “She first applied for the licence under the Redeemed Gospel Churches many years back and she was granted.

Now for her to claim that the reason her licence has been cancelled is just because she has applied for a new one is rather peculiar. She simply could have updated her status since she now runs her own church.” Bishop Wanjiru’s JIAM is described on her website as one of the fastest growing churches in Africa.

18:31

Scramble for men goes to church

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

1:36

Various Groups call for new era of unity, lay out Vision 2012 for a United Kenyan community in N.E

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

9:02

Excitement as Peter Kenneth weighs on a Kenyan presidential run

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

LOWELL, Mass._Youthful and popular Kenyan Member of Parliament for Gatanga constituency and assistant minister in the ministry of planning and Vision 2030, Hon. Peter Kenneth caused excitement among Kenyans in Boston when he visited them with a goal of listening to their needs prior to making an official decision of his intended run for the Kenyan Presidential seat during the upcoming 2012 general elections.

The almost certain presidential bid by the 45 year old married father of two threatens to turn to completely rearrange the dynamics of the Kenyan presidential race that has always been seen as a privilege for a few powerful families that have governed Kenya for over 3 decades since the countries independence from Britain in 1963.

It is the first time in Kenyan politics that a formidable young Kenyan has considered a run for the top office in a country that has over 60% of the population in youth age bracket.

More known by almost everyone in Kenya for his short stint as the chairman of the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) during which time his goal oriented management brought some discipline at the notoriously rigid soccer governing body, making the Kenyan national team, Harambee stars almost make it to the World cup finals in 1996, Kenneth has time and time again showed amazing ability to connect with Kenyans of all tribes especially the youth and lead them to achieving desired outcomes.

He is immensely popular especially among the youth all over the country especially those in urban areas who are estimated to be 50% of all youths in the country due to the rural urban migration.

A Law graduate of the University of Nairobi who has extensive experience in insurance services and banking, Kenneth has easily connected with the masses and uses modern technology in social networking sites like Face book, Twitter, emails and text messaging to stay in touch.

Recently, the soft spoken parliamentarian has won admiration of many in Kenya and on the international level including the World Bank for turning his constituency of Gatanga in Central Kenya into a role model for effective use of the Central Depository Funds (CDF) money in barely 8 years since he was elected as the MP in 2002.

During his tenure as the MP for Gatanga, the constituency has become popular as the only constituency in Kenya where potholes do not exist on the roads, clean water has become available to all homesteads in the area, schools have been revamped, complete with new scientific laboratory equipment, healthcare has been expanded through setting up of dispensaries at almost every 5 kilometers apart, taxes collected are leaving a surplus after all expenditures are accounted for and the environment has been completely altered for the better through planting of over 3 million trees.

“It is not me who has done all these things. It is through the collective effort of all the people of Gatanga after they decided what kind of leadership they wanted that could sort out their many problems”, said the soft spoken Kenyan from a mixed racial background while addressing a group of about 200 Kenyans last night Holiday Inn Hotel in Tewksbury, Mass.

During the event, Kenneth said that he has formed an exploratory committee that will evaluate this bid for the Kenyan presidency. FULL RECAP>>

4:03

Now is the time for Kenya to store the grain

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

2:39

Kenyans in NE to Raise Funds against Hunger in the Motherland

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

A badly starving Kenyan child from the famine ravaging Kenya and other East African Nations. Pic courtesy of the Kenya Times.

The newly formed New England Kenyans Association (NEKA) is planning to hold a massive event that aimed at bringing Kenyans in the region together to raise funds towards the hunger that is wrecking havoc in their motherland.

Formerly known as Kenyatta Day in honor of the first President of Kenya who led the fight for freedom, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mashujaa Day was renamed as a Kenyan National day to celebrate the Kenyan Heroes who led the fight for independence from the British colonial masters in the early fifties and sixties.

It will be the first time that day will be celebrated in a large scale in Boston.

But since the holiday traditionally falls on the 20th of October, which will be a working day (Thursday October 20), NEKA has planned the event for the Saturday the 22nd in order to allow as many Kenyans as possible to be present.

The event will also feature a wide array of cultural based entertainment.

According to officials of NEKA led by interim chairman, Victor Rie, all Kenyans individuals and organizations are urged to save the day and contact NEKA officials to work out modalities of working together to mobilize as many people as possible for the charitable event to help suffering children in their motherland.

The hunger that has been ravaging the East African region has left thousands of Kenyan children without food in areas like Turkana and Machakos District, while scores of others have already died.

The famine has also led to severe hunger in Somalia and Ethiopia, Kenya’s neighbors to the East and North respectively, forcing over 500,000 Somalis to flee to refugee camps in Kenya making an already strained situation worse.

The UN has reported deaths of close to 29,000 Somali children.

Many organizations from all over the world including the red cross, as well as ordinary Kenyans in business back home have been raising funds in an effort to alleviate the growing hunger situation.

“We will do whatever we can as Kenyans in New England to raise as much money as possible and for the sake of the suffering children back home while food is in excess here in America”, said event engineer,” Charles Ngeene.
“We ask all Kenyans and well wishers to spread the word to their friends everywhere and know that NEKA will display for public view on the internet and elsewhere any money raised and how it will be distributed for the purposes of accountability.” he added.

The organization is holding consultations with leaders of various Kenyan organizations and churches in New England with a view to working out modalities to hold one big event in the not so big community rather than having many small events everywhere.

Many Kenyans have called, sent letters and emails Ajabu Africa requesting funds drive to be organized for this grave situation.

“I request that we as Kenyans come together to raise funds for these starving children in Kenya because we are capable. If we can raise thousands of dollars to bury those who have passed away, how about doing more than that for those who are still living and very hungry”, wrote one Mr. Njuguna Muigai from Worcester in a letter mailed to Ajabu Africa.

“I suggest you organize an event come together and have a fundraising for those children and their parents who don’t have food to eat and clothes to wear.”

“We are fortunate enough as Kenyans in America and we have the ability to do it. It a blessing to give so that God can in turn bless us with double portions”, said Esther Gakenia from Chelsea, Ma in an email to Ajabu Africa.

Gakenia added that Kenyans can bring clothes that they don’t need, and organizers can buy items for auction, raffle tickets, flowers for sale and so on in order to raise as much help as possible.

More information about the upcoming event will be provided soon.

4:18

Kenyan man arrested for indescently touching a woman in a Boston train

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

0:55

Nashua resident wins friends’ golf tournament

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

22:54

KENYA DIASPORA ADVISORY COUNCILS

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Public announcement for the Kenyan Community in the USA from the Kenyan Embassy in Washinton D.C, posted July 20, 2011

The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Washington D.C. is encouraging Kenyans in the USA to join together and form Diaspora Advisory Councils in their respective regions/states.

RATIONALE
Kenyans in the US have traditionally tended to shy away from the Embassy. This was mainly due to the perceived notion that the Embassy was involved in activities that could be unfavorable to their well-being, and also due to the poor services they sometimes received when they approached the Embassy. In this regard, many Kenyans in the US only approached the Embassy when in need of help, which was not available from other quarters.

For social support and interaction purposes, many Kenyans had formed or joined associations in their cities/regions/States. However, in the run-up to the disputed general election of 2007 and following the post-election violence of 2007/8, many of these associations broke up as Kenyans in the US were balkanized along ethnic lines and this created a vacuum that has not been filled to date.

It is with this background that the Embassy is encouraging the formation of Diaspora Advisory Councils (DACs) which would serve both as a machinery to unite the Kenyans in the US and encourage them to play a role in the development of our country Kenya, working in partnership with the Kenya Embassy in Washington D.C.

A structure that is inclusive and open will go a long way in facilitating unity among Kenyans and bring about the much needed cohesion. Our beloved country urgently requires Kenyans who want to be a part of the solution.

MAKEUP
It is suggested that the Councils be organized in such a way that they are all inclusive: youth, gender balance, community leaders, religious groups, students, business people and professionals. It is also recommended that the leadership be rotational.

The numbers of representatives in a Council may vary; however, for ease of communication, membership need not be more than 30 representatives. Note that the Council DOES NOT replace the smaller interest groups that already exist in various places. On the contrary, it provides a platform for the diverse groups and interests. FULL POST >>

22:35

The Ajabu African Awards –it’s all about you!

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

The 2nd Annual Ajabu African Awards Gala; Sunday AUG 21, 2011, 6pm

WOBURN, Mass.,_ The awards season is back , and it is that time of the year when we celebrate the Ajabu African Awards!..
This year the awards festival will be held on August 21st, 2011 at the Hilton Boston in Woburn, and will offer heart-pounding music entertainment, a fashion show, and a buffet dinner that only the Hilton can set up.

The objectives for the Awards night are to recognize those businesses, organizations or individuals that have made a significant difference within the African community.

This year’s categories include, Youth Achievement- with various sub-categories, Charitable Organizations, Businesses of the year, Music, and Sports awards

We want you to help us spread the word about the achievements of Africans in the U.S.

Following the highly successful inaugural event last year that excited many folks, the second annual event promises to be the most spectacular event of the year bringing regular members of the African community in New England together for a gala night of recognition, socialization and top rated entertainment.

Organizers are offering members of the community an opportunity to be a part of the auspicious celebration that will feature a red carpet reception complete with professional picture taking as guests arrive.

The celebrity style pictures will be printed on the spot, so get your outfits ready!

An African fashion show proved to be a major hit last year when regular ladies whose dreams of walking a professional runaway had died, were offered a memorable opportunity to revive these dreams. It’s never too late to recapture a lost moment! To keep this and other dreams alive, this part of the fashion show is being offered again this year. After all at Ajabu, we believe in making visions a reality.

In addition to the non–professional African women on the runway, the fashion show will include a professional category to be staged by a designer to be announced at a later date. Interested designers are encouraged to contact Ajabu Media at their earliest convenience.
FULL STORY >>

0:44

2 Kenyans Arrested at the Ushindi church in Lowell

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Kenyans arrested at Ushindi church

LOWELL, Mass._Looking confident and unruffled about the events that developed over the weekend leading to their arrests at the Ushindi church in Lowell, Stephen Gichure and Daniel Kibui Mingi appeared at the Lowell District Court and denied the charges preferred.
Accompanied by family members and friends, Gichure and Mingi each pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass and interference with police work respectively.

Declining the option to pay a $100.00 fine and have the trespass case against him dismissed before Judge Brooks who was presiding over the 1st session at the Lowell District court, Gichure was ordered to return to court on August 15, 2011 for a pre-trial hearing.

The judge also ordered Gichure’s compatriot, Daniel Mingi, to return to court on August 28, 2011 for a hearing on charges that he interfered with police work and for disorderly conduct that caused members of the Ushindi who were worshipping inside the church and members of the public including motorists around the area of the church location to be distracted.

Police records showed that while the officers were walking Gichure down the hallway to exit the building, Mingi continued to follow them claiming that Gichure was his father and he was going to be with him.

“I advised this male if he did not stop interfering with us doing our job, he would be subject to arrest”, court records showed.

“This male then dared this officer to arrest him”, court documents further revealed.

Court documents further said that while being arrested after continuously demanding to know why the police were arresting Gichure, he kneeled down against a wall outside the church building and engaged in a loud and boisterous prayer in his native language that caused members of the public to pause and take notice.

“These actions caused numerous LPD units to respond as his loud tumultuous behavior could be heard over the police radio”, the charge further added.

Having no defense attorney on his behalf, Mingi was informed of an option to take a court appointed attorney.

He decided to take the court offered option for his defense.

Consequently, Mingi was ordered to report back to court on the 28th of August for a hearing .

According to court documents tabled at the court and obtained by Ajabu Media, the second accused, Stephen Gichure is facing one count of criminal charge of trespass for being an unwanted man who returned to the Ushindi church on Sunday July 3rd despite having been verbally warned by the police recently against attendance due to his disruptions of the church service.

The documents further indicated that as officers were on their way to respond to the call, information came through that the person in question was on record as a trespasser who had recently been given a verbal notice by the police at the request of the pastor of the church Dr. Rev. Karimi Mumbui, during a past incident on June 19th 2011.

Recap full story and watch Video here >>

0:12

Jitokeze!, Martha Karua urges Kenyans in the Diaspora

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Kenyan Presidential candidate and MP for Gichugu, Hon. Martha Karua

LOWELL, Mass.,_Gunning to become the second female president in Africa after Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Kenyan presidential aspirant, Martha Karua on Sunday asked Kenyans here in the Diaspora and at home to step out of their cocoons and support her bid in order to build a greater Kenya for all.

Popularly known as the ‘iron lady’ for her tough stance on corruption and bad governance, Karua, who resigned as a former Justice and Constitutional affairs Minister in protest of what she called inaction by the government to seriously implement much needed reforms, was speaking to Kenyans at the Saint Stephens church in Lowell, Massachusetts.

During the town hall meeting, Karua revealed her new campaign slogan, Jitokeze! Swahili for Step up! Which she hopes will inspire Kenyans to come out and take an active role in determining the next generation of leaders, in the general elections that will take place end of next year, 2012.

Karua said that Kenyans will only come first in development if everyone comes out and join her in building five important pillars that are central to giving all Kenyans an opportunity to fulfill their full potential and secure their future.

According to the seasoned politician and a working mother of 2, the five pillars that have not been functioning well in Kenya which she will devote her tireless energies to achieve include; Good Governance, Food security, Jobs and youth empowerment, Education and Health.

She added that the passage and promulgation of the new constitution in Kenya provides a great environment to make the reforms she envisions, that will make Kenya a better place for everyone.

Indicating that the time has come for Kenyans of all ages to demand good governance and accountability from their elected leaders, Karua said that it is only through participation by the critical masses of Kenyans who constitute the middle class, that pressure can be applied to leaders so they can agree to be accountable for their actions.Recap Full Story >>

5:25

Are Kenyans for rotational presidency

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

By Isaac Newton Kinity, New Haven, CT, posted June 15, 2011

Will Kenyans go for the rotational kind of leadership or for the best candidate to lead the Nation come 2012? There are 42 tribes in Kenya today. Some Kenyans feel that every tribe in Kenya should be given a chance to produce a President to lead Kenya.

For every tribe in Kenya to produce a President, the Kenyan people have to develop a calendar which will run for 420 years, if every President from every tribe will run for two terms. For this to succeed, Kenyans will have to discard and put aside “Democracy” and replace it with the “ Rotational Presidency”.

Although the previous criteria of electing leaders in Kenya has never saved the common Kenyans from suffering, poverty, eradication of the rampant corruption and Land grabbing by the “BIG FISH,” the new developed theory of rotating the Presidency, in order to incorporate all tribes, may threaten the already fragile “Democracy” in Kenya.

Owing to the suffering of more than 85% of Kenyans who are in abject poverty, the most important mission for Kenyans to undertake today, is to investigate what has been missing in the Kenyan leaders in the past, so that in future, Kenyans can identify leaders of high integrity, honest, transparent and accountable, who will positively transform the Nation.

In the last two decades, the Kenyan Parliament has been dominated by very rich, long politically experienced, educated and very young Kenyans, yet Kenyans have continued to suffer and die out of poverty.

This is the high time Kenyans should ask themselves whether, there is more than Education, political experience, wealth and/or age limit, required in a good leader, who can provide Kenyans with good leadership with the admirable positive changes, for all Kenyans, regardless of tribe, gender and age.

There is no doubt that if Kenyans discover what has been missing in all those previous Kenyan leaders, there will be no quest for the “rotational Presidency” and “it is our time to eat“ theories. Thereafter, Kenyans will be able to identify leaders who will serve Kenyans equally and who will ensure that all Kenyans benefit equally from the Nations resources and income.

The writer is a former Secretary General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union and Chairman of Kikimo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication.
He can be reached at : ink38@yahoo.com

6:15

Kenyans in NE unite for Madaraka Day celebrations in Boston

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

21:13

Kenyan scientist in New Jersey hits major breakthrough

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21:09

‘Kenyan Michael Jackson’ thrills fans as Community raise $9,000 to support talent

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

8:50

Kenyans in New England plan for Madaraka Day, elect interim leaders

» ‎ Ajabu Africa

Some members of the newly formed New England Kenyan Association

CHELMSFORD, Mass,_ For the first time ever, Kenyans in New England are going to celebrate Madaraka day with an open air barbecue and entertainment on Sunday next week (June 5) at the South Common Park opposite the Lowell Train Station off Thorndike Street.
According to the newly formed New England Kenyan Association (NEKA), plans are at an advanced stage for the celebrations that also fall on the same week with the American Memorial day holiday.

At the same time, the new organization elected several interim office bearers who together with a committee of 25 men and women will oversee the holiday preparations as well as start a process of searching for Kenyans willing to take leadership roles of the organization through free and fair elections.

The interim office bearers were elected after several Kenyans responded to a public announcement on Ajabu Africa News that was also emailed out to other Kenyan media in the region with requests to spread it out as much as possible.

Mr. Victor Waweru a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts, was elected as the interim chairman while Tony Mithiga from Everett was elected interim vice chairman in an open public meeting that took place last Sunday in Chelmsford.

Beryl Nyamunga from South Boston was elected as the interim secretary while Selesa Obudho was elected as the interim treasurer.

However, committee members said that still too difficult to reach most the Kenyans in the New England region through the internet and that more efforts were needed to create awareness of the organization to different churches and other groupings so as to give as many Kenyans as possible the chance to contribute to the formation of the organization.

Speaking after the election as the chairman of the organization, Waweru said that it is very important to form a search team that will reach out to many Kenyans professionals in colleges, companies and other organizations to look for people who can provide the much needed leadership roles in a civic organization.

“We have to be open and as inclusive to as many people out there as practically possible”, said the new chairman.Recap full story here >>

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