No excuse for those who want to learn

Learning can be difficult and expensive.
In many cases adults and kids alike find particular subjects boring, or hard to understand . That is usually because there is no foundation to understand these subjects. I personally have a distate for sciences....my dislike for science started in high school where I found myself lagging behind other students and not relating to what the teacher was teaching. So I grew to resent the subjects.

I have a four year old nephew who has totally amazed me due to his competence. He can read; play technical games, puzzles, surf the net etc. I give all credit to his parents who set the foundation early. He is now learning spanish at a very fast rate.

Foundation in learning is very important. Simple things like teaching a child how to link certain words; provide him/her with simple memory tactics; give him or her items to relate to what he/she is learning is very important.

In this day n age, parents have absolutely no excuse for not setting the right foundation, except for laziness! There are tons of material online and hard copies that a parent can use to lay that firm foundation. A parent does not have to be very educated to teach his/her child. As I hang out with my nephew I am learning new concepts of conveying technical material to him. And the more I do that, the more he enjoys and the more I find pleasure in teaching him. I took spanish for three years in high school; its been over 10yrs, but am enjoying remembering the language as I teach him.

Online schools are many. MIT has been offering free online courses for over a decade. http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/

Another very captivating school is Khan Academy. Sal Khan has loaded over 1400 videos on various subjects online for everyone to enjoy. I used his videos to teach my nephew, I could help but regret that I didnt know of some of the addition, subtraction, division techniques that Sal does so effortlessly.
Sal Khan has taken the time to explain various subjects in the most simplistic manner. And the beauty of the online videos is you can pause, replay, ask a question in the discussion board etc.
It makes learning fun.

check out the website for yourself: http://www.khanacademy.org

Virtual schools are here to stay and you can learn at a reasonable budget which consist of: your time, your dedication and obviously a reliable internet connection.

Kenya Funeral Assurance in the US

Let's face it, many Kenyans abroad do not have medical insurance leave alone plans for their final arrangements. Harambees are popular in churches and community gatherings in the US. These Harambees are arranged to raise fund to send a Kenyan who died in the US without prior arrangements.
Well there is no excuse anymore.
A fellow called Henry in Missouri is now offering Kenya Funeral Assurance.
For USD 119 a year you are guaranteed a transport and funeral in Kenya.
This is an innovative idea and a needed service.

The website is: http://www.kenyafuneralassurance.com/

The company also offers discounted family plan.
I think it would be nice if Kenyans spread the word about the services, so that last minute harambees can be avoided.
It is also comforting to know that you will not burden others when that time comes for you.

Groupon comes to Kenya!

Groupon is a deal-of-the day website that is popular in the US and Canada.
The concept behind it is to empower consumers and retailers within a community.
For example: your local cafe may be willing to give 30% discount on all their drinks if 100 people purchase their product within a given day. At the same time, consumers may be willing to frequent the local cafe if prices were more pocket-friendly.
Groupon is the solution to this problem.
Groupon uses the web to advertise the group coupon offer. Once the minimum number of commitment are met, the coupon goes into effect.
A friend of mine Eston Kimani has brought the idea to Kenya. It is an ingenious idea of empowerment. I have used the service in Atlanta, GA and to be honest am always looking for new offers!
If you are interested check out: http://www.sokopal.com/

So far, Eston has been able to get Cafe des Arts next to the US Embassy to sign up. I hope more offers will be coming up soon.

I wish Eston the best in this new venture and I hope Kenyans will start using the service. I also hope that business will see the benefit of groupon and join sokopal.

End of a Chapter and.....

After spending three and a half years in kenya, I have decided to go back to the US. It has been a worthwhile experience. I can now say that I know Kenya, and i will stop romanticizing the country and see it for what it is.
My decision to go back to the US is mainly financial. I hope to go, work very hard for a given period and come back with a sober image of Kenya.
My trip is on Thursday and Friday, so the next post will be from Obamaland.
I hope my relocation will generate more worthwhile posts.

Najivunia kuwa Mkenya!

US Embassy Frustrations

I have been lucky not to enter the US Embassy though I have travelled there many time.
Many of my family members and friends have told me of their frustrations and these frustrations got me thinking!
If you are a young person who just cleared highschool and you have the ambition to go study in the US, you will most likely spend countless hours preparing and lots of money before you finally go to the US Embassy for an visa interview.
Some of the things that you would do is:
1. Research and shortlist a few universities
2. Take the SAT or ACT
3. Take the toefl
4. Apply to the shortlisted schools---each school will charge an application fee (not less the 50USD)
5. Wait patiently for test results, wait patiently for school acceptance or rejection etc.

Once a school accepts you and offers you an i-20, you can log on to the US Embassy website to schedule an appointment.
A visa interview cost money (money that majority of Kenyans struggle to afford)

I have been told that the Interview is short, to the point and in a few minutes you can know whether all your efforts were in vain or you have been cleared to go the US.

My problem with the process is when people get rejected.
The US Embassy does not bother to tell anyone why he/she failed the interview.
If they disclosed such information, the individual can go and rectify that issue and come back.

It is a known fact that once you have been rejected once, chance are you will never be granted a visa. Isnt it dishonest and cruel to send someone away without a reason after all that hard work?

I believe the Kenyan Government should lobby for its citizens; petition the US Embassy to at least give a reason for rejecting an individual.

Visa interviews are a cashcow for the Embassy!
Visa Fees: at least Kshs. 11,200 per person per visit
Les say they interview 20 people per day...that would mean that they are collecting Kshs. 224,000 everyday. To make matters worse, they have a big notice on the website: Appointments once booked cannot be changed or cancelled.
That means if an emergency occurs on the day of, or there is huge traffic and you are a few minutes late, you have lost Kshs. 11,200.

As I mentioned, I am glad that I have never gone to the US Embassy but I think they are mistreating Kenyans and other foreigners with their stringed policies.

IIEC and Voter Registration

Voter Registration started March 22, 2010 and lasted 45 days.
This was to ensure that the voter register for the referendum was in place.
Referendum has now come and gone, and we have a new constitution.
I live in Juja Constituency where a by election is planned to take place Sept 20th.
Since voter registration is closed, how does one go about voting for his/her MP of choice if you had not registered during the referendum?
I am asking this because I have some friends who have come back from abroad since the voter registration process closed and they want to vote; IIEC has told them that they are not registering new voters at the moment. Isnt that being denied their civil rights?
Besides the guys who were abroad, there are young people who have become eligible to vote since the voter registration exercise...what about their rights?

IIEC should clarify their stand on new voters registration process.

Post Secret

I just ran into a new website that is somewhat disturbing and empowering. The website is called: postsecret.com

Basically people can send random notes to this site to vent or to share information that they would not necessarily be brave enough to tell to someone close.
Some of the posts are very romantic, some downright disturbing, but I guess all in all it gives people an opportunity to express themselves without fear of being judged.
This got me thinking: I wonder what I would write about? Is there something that I am scared to say to others? Is there some strange, evil, romantic, ultra ordinary thing that I am scared of sharing with others?
What would you post about? Do you have any reserved issues or concerns that you can only share with people who do not know you? Think about it?

I especially liked the post that I have attached.

Invest Only Of What You can Afford to Lose

I read this blog from: http://affleap.com/invest-only-of-what-you-can-afford-to-lose/
and thought it might be worth sharing.



The reason why people invest is that they wanted to improve their lifestyle, with the hope of achieving financial security.

As an investor you need to acquaint yourself that in investing of any scheme, it takes a lot of patience, a careful planning and the courage of how much money you can afford to lose if in case your investment would not turn out to be successful.

The reason, why this is very important because if you have this kind of approach, quitting is surely is not your option if in case you have failed in your first investment.

Nevertheless, such failure is not the end of the world to you, but it would be a brainstorming lesson of why you fail. There must be something wrong along the way that you have done that needs to be rectified.

Anyone can make a few investment mistakes but the biggest mistake that one can do to himself or herself if ever he or she wanted to become a successful investor is not to invest at all or to put off investment on a later time.

Why not adopt the mindset of those proactive successful people, that they cannot afford to wait for tomorrow of what they can do for today. Besides tomorrow is another day and surely that ‘later time’ would never come.

It’s a wrong concept or perception then, to even consider that in investment, you need a big capital to start with. It’s a normal procedure to start small to muster and get familiarize the a to z of your investment. Make your money work for you – even if all you can spare is $20 a week to invest!

Putting off investment until later time and waiting for the opportunity that you are in the financial position to do so is another wrong notion. Why not start small but then think big. It’s a healthy sign of your optimism to succeed. To maintain that positive approach of your investment, herewith, are some pointers of what you can do to improve your cash flow before embarking of any investment :

*** Get your current financial situation in order first, and then you can start investing.

*** Get your credit cleaned up if there’s any, pay off high interest loans and credit cards, and put at least three months of living expenses in savings. Once this is done, you are ready to start letting your money work for you.

*** Don’t invest into a get rich quick scheme. That is the riskiest type of investment that you can make. Don’t be hyped with lucrative returns, it’s part of their strategy in enticing would be investors.

Instead, invest for the long term, and have the patience to weather the storms and allow your money to grow. Only invest for the short term when you know you will need the money in a short amount of time, and then stick with safe investments, such as certificates of deposit.

Diversify your investment, you don’t have to put all of your eggs in one basket. Spread it all around in various types of investments not only for best returns but for safety and security as well.

If you are in the stock investment, you need to monitor meticulously the trends of your invested stocks on a daily basis and don’t move your money around too quickly. Let it ride for a while. Don’t panic if the stock drops a few dollars. If the stock is a stable stock, it will then go up after it goes down a bit.

The similitude of investment is just like nurturing a plant , it needs a lot of patience and a commitment to watch it grow. You are committed to yourself that it grows well, healthy and stable, so that someday you can reap the fruits of your labor and sacrifices in return

Utilizing the tools and talents that we have

Hope you get a message of encouragement from this! I know I did!!!!

"There is a scripture in the bible where God asks Moses, “What is that in your hand?” And then there is another scripture that says your gift will make room for you. And what that is saying is, God is not trying to get information. He knows what’s in your hand already, but he wants you to know it. So, what I’m asking you today is, “What’s in your hand? What gifts do you have that you are sitting on?” Use them and they will take you to your destiny. "

-Words from Tyler Perry!

(I borrowed this from my friend's blog: http://www.made2glam.com/word/)

THE FALLACY OF THE TAX SYSTEM

A simple classification of spending shows why leaving our money in government’s hands leads to undesirable results. When you spend, you may spend your own money or someone else’s; and you may spend for the benefit of yourself or someone else. Combining these two pairs of alternatives gives four possible summarized in the following simple table.

On Whom Spent
Whose Money You Someone Else
Yours I II
Someone Else’s III IV

Category I in the table refers to your spending your own money on yourself. You shop in a supermarket, for example. You clearly have a strong incentive both to economize and to get as much value as you can for each dollar you do spend.
Category II refers to your spending your own money on someone else. You shop for Christmas or birthday presents. You have the same incentive to economize as in Category I but not the same incentive to get full value for your money, at least as judged by the tastes of the recipient. You will, of course, want to get something the recipient will like – provided that it also makes the right impression and does not take too much time and effort. (if, indeed, your main objective were to enable the recipient to get as much value as possible per shilling, you would give him cash, converting Category II spending to Category I spending by him.)
Category III refers to your spending someone else’s money on yourself – lunching on an expense account, for instance. You have no strong incentive to keep down the cost of the lunch, but you do have a strong incentive to get your money’s worth.
Category IV refers to your spending someone else’s money on still another person. You are paying someone else’s lunch out of an expense account. You have little incentive either to economize or try to get your guest the lunch that he will value most highly. However, if you are having lunch with him, so that the lunch is a mixture of Category III and Category IV, you do have a strong incentive to satisfy your own tastes at the sacrifice of his, if necessary.

All welfare programs fall into either Category III or Category IV.
Legislators vote to spend someone else’s money. The voters who elect the legislators are in one sense voting to spend their own money on themselves, but not in the direct sense of Category I spending. The connection between the taxes any individual pays and the spending he votes for is exceedingly loose. (Ironic how our legislators do not pay any taxes yet they are the same people who decide how tax money should be spent)

The bureaucrats spend someone else’s money on someone else. Only human kindness, not the much stronger and more dependable spur of self-interest, assures that they will spend the money in the way most beneficial to the recipients. Hence the wastefulness and ineffectiveness of the spending.
Leaving our fate in government’s hand is a big mistake! Greedy legislators (who do not pay taxes) shouldn’t be allowed to control funds taken away from hardworking Kenyans.
As the chart above indicates, the best determinant of how to spend your money is yourself. You know the difficulty of earning the money, so you will most likely spend it wisely; in a way that maximizes return (whatever maximization of return may mean to you).

THE FALLACY OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Consider this statement: “The basic idea of social security is a simple one: During working years employees, their employers, and self employed people pay social security contributions which are pooled into special trust funds. When earnings stop or reduced because the worker retires or becomes disabled, monthly cash benefits are paid to replace part of the earnings the family has lost.”
If this statement is true, the present value of the old-age pensions already promised to persons covered by social security is in the billions if not trillions of shillings. That is the size that would be required to justify the statement above.

The impression is given that a worker’s “benefits” are financed by his “contributions.” The fact is that taxes collected from persons at work are used to pay benefits to persons who had retired or to their dependents and survivors. No trust fund in any meaningful sense is being accumulated.
Workers paying taxes today can derive no assurance from trust funds that they will receive benefits when they retire. Any assurance derives solely from the willingness of future taxpayers to impose taxes on themselves to pay for benefits that present taxpayers are promising themselves. This one-sided “compact between the generations,” foisted on generations that cannot give their consent, is a very different thing from a “trust fund.” It is a Ponzi Scheme!

Social security is in no sense an insurance program in which individual payments purchase equivalent actuarial benefits. Social Security is a combination of a particular tax and a particular program of transfer payment – the same way ponzi schemes work.

To make matters worse, if you are over the retirement age and decide to work; you will still have to contribute to social security (benefits that you will obviously not receive!)

So this compulsory tax for all employed people should be called National Ponzi Scheme not National Social Security Fund.

Kenya Human Resource Practices

In a country where human resource is not appreciated and valued as in other countries, one wonders where Kenya’s job market is heading.

The story of the talents in the Bible where a businessman entrusts his wealth to the care of his servants while he is away. When he returns, he evaluates each servant’s responsibility and rewards them accordingly. The owner says, “Well done, good faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

In this passage, the businessman gives Affirmation: Good job! Well Done. Next he gives a promotion: I will put you in charge of many things. And finally he honors through celebration: come share your master’s happiness.
Does this happen in Kenya’s job environment?

In many cases, businessmen take advantage of their employees. Salaries also provide an avenue for employers to exploit their employees. Imagine working 80hrs a week under the same salary that you would get paid for working 40hrs? This is what some employers are doing…Instead of hiring more employees, they are forcing their employees to work longer hours with the same salary.

When was the last time you received affirmation from your boss? Does he/she even acknowledge that you exist? Is affirmation important to you?

Promotion comes after affirmation. It is a recognition that you have carried out your responsibilities well and you can handle more. A promotion means that you are entrusted with more.

After hard work, it is important to receive affirmation, receive a promotion and receive honor. Honor maybe financial (more money for the work that you do), maybe a party in your honor, it might be a plaque recognizing your contribution, training to prepare you for greater responsibilities, etc.

I wish Kenyan employers could borrow a leaf from the Bible and acknowledge their employers.
Human resource is the driving force of any organization. Neglect this area of any organization and you are seeking doom! Frustrated employees can bring a successful enterprise to its knees.

The role of free market system

In economics, a free market system where individuals pursuing their self-interest will somehow find a way to cooperate with one another and create a perfect system.

A free market system also works in all other aspects of our lives. “A society’s value, its culture, its social conventions – all these development in the same way, through voluntary exchange, spontaneous cooperation, the evolution of a complex structure through trial and error, acceptance and rejection.” The structures produced by voluntary exchange, whether they be language or scientific discoveries or musical styles or economic systems, develop a life of their own. Just look at Sheng, our local music (ngege, Kapungala etc), they have developed a life of their own for they allow the participants to contribute freely – and the others to use that contribution or reject it.

“Voluntary exchange is a subtle process whose general principles of operation can fairly readily be grasped but whose detailed results can seldom be foreseen” Milton Friedman

Just look at the evolution of technology – technological advances made last year are the basis of today’s development and today’s development will contribute to future developments. This is the beauty of a free market system.

Can you imagine if society allowed the government to determine all that is acceptable and what is not acceptable? Would all our peculiar habit, entertainment, business practices etc exist?

Is Religion For The Poor?

The fact is most of the people who are nonbelievers or sceptics about religion are educated people with means. They have taken the time to learn and understand sciences which can contradict the text (The Bible). They also have established “an independence” or “self-reliance” which makes deity unnecessary.
Marginalized people on the other hand rely on hope to keep them going; and they find that hope in “the word”. They may have reservations, but they dare not question religion incase this is their ticket out of being marginalized.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said religion is a necessity in a society. It gives the marginalized hope for a better future; so they accept their current situation and accept the oppressor and caste system for they have been promised a brighter future/afterlife. This acceptance ensures that the marginalized will not revolt against the wealthy few. Without religion, the status quo would not hold.
Religion also suits people in their desperate moments such as sickness, accidents or other events where earthly means cannot be of assistance. Such situations are life-turning even for the educated and well-of.

Religion has therefore become a part-time practice for many in the middle and upper-income and education levels. It is solution for “when all else fails”.

Whats your take on the issue?

Kenya Speed Dating

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/group.php?gid=408082851202

Kenya's latest and most innovative means to meet other singles and mingle.

This is my latest project.
I know it will be ground-breaking.

There are many single Kenyans who do not know:
1. where to look for other single people
2. who among the crowd is single
3. who among the single is available and searching
4. how to approach a potential
5. which venues are best to mingle with other singles.

I also know many professionals are very busy and do not have time to "play the field"
They also do not want to go on long, boring dates that will lead nowhere.

Kenya Speed Dating is the solution to all these problems.

We provide an opportunity for single & available professionals to meet other single & professional singles.
Imagine going on 15 dates in one day?

We bring together 15male and 15females together and allow them to have five (5) minute date with each other. We believe five minutes is enough to determine if you would like to know more about the person or not.
By the time you have gone on your 15 dates, you should have shortlisted a few people of interest and you can rank them.
You give us your "top three" picks and if the people you noted are also interested in you...we will provide the contact info.

What is the benefit of Kenya Speed Dating?
1. An opportunity to meet 15 "self Declared" single and available professionals.
2. Quick and painless - only five minutes with each person
3. You ask the questions based on your interests
4. If you dont luck out this week you can always try the next week
5. You can use the opportunity to network if not for dating
6. Its a great way to spend friday evening before going home or clubbing
7. You are under no obligation to give contacts or see anyone you do not want to
8. Its inexpensive: 15 dates for 1k

Oblivion

Oh how little we know
Yet it does not matter
Should what we do not know matter?
State of oblivion is no oblivion
For those who know not of

Economic Freedom and Taxation

An essential part of economic freedom is freedom to choose how to use our income: how much to spend on ourselves and on what items; how much to save and in what form; how much to give away and to whom. Currently, more than 40 percent of out income is disposed of on our behalf by government. That means you work for the government 146 days out of the 365 days in a year; 3.20hrs a day out of the 8hrs that you are at work daily.
The sad thing is: the government gets its share before you get your share.
Isn’t it sad that you do not have control of 40% of your income? You do not have a say about where & what the government will your money for.

To make matters worse, you do not have total freedom on how, where and what you can spend the rest of 60% of your income. Your after-tax income is taxed further when you make a purchase (16% on most items, higher for some items).
As consumers, we are not even free to choose how to spend the part of our income that is left after taxes. We are not free to buy weapons, drugs etc. Our doctor is not free to prescribe many drugs for us that he may regard as the most effective for our ailments, even though the drugs may be widely available abroad. We are not free to buy an old automobile (more than 8yrs old).

Another essential part of economic freedom is freedom to use the resources we possess in accordance with our own values – freedom to enter any occupation, engage in any business enterprise, buy from and sell to anyone else, so long as we do so on a strictly voluntary basis and do not resort to force in order to coerce others.

Currently corporate income tax in Kenya is 40%. The government is entitled to 40 cents for every Shilling of profit. That simply means that the government owns 40% of every corporation in Kenya.

Do we have economic freedom?
Have we allowed the government to own us?
Are the services provided by the government comparable to the amount of taxes that we are forced to pay the government?

The Role of Incentives

If what a person gets does not depend on the price he receives for the services of his resources, what incentive does he have to seek out information on prices or to act on the basis of that information?

If your income will be the same whether you work hard or not, why should you work hard? Why should you make the effort to search out a buyer who values most highly what you have to sell if you will not get any benefit from doing so? If there is no reward for accumulating capital, why should anyone postpone to a later date what he could enjoy now? Why save? If there is no reward for maintaining capital, why should people not dissipate any capital which they have either accumulated or inherited?

Is Kenya heading towards a command economy where prices are prevented from affecting the distribution of income? Where the government determines allocation of scarce resources as opposed to supply and demand?
Are we heading to a society ruled by Marx dictum: “to each according to his needs, from each according to his ability.” Can our government run a pure command economy where income is completely separated from prices?

Government Intervention in Free Enterprise

Kenyan government has made some financial decisions that make me question what end they are trying to achieve.

It should be common sense to do away with non-performing, non-competitive enterprises and support those that are competitive. It should also be common sense to buy from the cheapest source and sell to the dearest. Yet this is not the case. We have unreasonable restrictions on what we may buy and sell, from whom we may buy and to whom we may sell and on what terms.



“What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom. If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage….In every country, it always is and must be the interest of the great body of the people to buy whatever they want of those who sell it cheapest. The proposition is so very manifest, that it seems ridiculous to take any pain to prove it; nor could it ever have been called in question, had not the interested sophistry of merchants and manufacturers confounded the common sense of mankind. Their interest is, in this respect, directly opposite to that of great body of people.” Adam Smith –Wealth of Nations. Adam Smith’s words are true now as they were then.



Any productive/progressive nation understands its Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. The nation encourages its citizens to concentrate their efforts on those activities that the nation has a clear competitive advantage or where there are opportunities. Since a nation can not be great in all enterprises; it is vital to be productive in an enterprise that will provide means to purchase those things that the nation needs and can acquire them from others at a low cost than attempting to produce them in-house.



Government decision to reopen Pan Paper does not make economic sense. Why:

· Paper from other countries will continue to be cheaper;

· We do not need further deforestation; and

· National resources could have been put to better use.



Why should the government spend billions of shillings to re-open a company that can not compete with other foreign enterprises?



I sometimes question government ban of particular items such as sugar ban. If Brazil is able to manufacture sugar, ship it all the way here and still sell it cheaper than local sugar companies; I fail to understand why the government should protect enterprises that are not competitive. “Suppose Brazil subsidizes their sugar. Who is hurt and who benefits? To pay for the subsidies the Brazil government must tax its citizens. They are the ones who pay for the subsidies and the Kenyan customer benefits.”

Currently we have oversupply of milk; I would rather see the government subsidize milk prices for export than spend the same amount to reopen Pan Paper.

To Place My Eyes Upon

Is it consciousness?
Comparing oneself to others
A self consciousness of some sort
I notice the small pimple on you nose
That one strand of gray hair
Such effort to hide it, but age does shout
The funny way that one leg
Seems to move faster than the other

It’s not boredom or is it?
I think it’s human nature
To pick out the flaws, the peculiarity
In another human being
Why I do it, I don’t know
Your flaws, your peculiarity are not whats important
But something to focus on
When am with you

Come to think about it
What a bore it would be
Not to have that one thing which others notice
Where would I place my eyes?
It is not for better or worse
But something to keep my eyes preoccupied

Inaction

In 2006, I was writing a poem a day...while looking for some documents, I found the book that I wrote the poems...I will be sharing some of those poems here once in a while. They were written at a trying time in my life..when I was trying to figure my way forward.

This one is called inaction>

What fright is this
That I cannot fight?
Is rejection so gruesome
Far worse than lonesome?
They say ‘better to have loved than
Not to have loved at all’
Yet fright makes me stall
Never to make advances
So onward I press with my dances
Of loneliness, fear, and inaction
Yet around the corner is love n satisfaction

Surviving the Test of Time

In 1941 Bultmann launched his Manifesto, The New Testament and Mythology, in which he explained that the New testament world of spirits and miracles had become decidedly foreign to the modern scientists and technologists who were in control of themselves and of the world.
If this was true then, it is even truer now.

The dotcom generation, the age of gadgets and wiki where you can find an answer to all life mysteries does not seek the truth in the Bible. Does this mean that religion is slowly dying? Will the next generation know anything about the Old Testament and the New Testament? If they do know anything of the word, will the word be of any significance?

Can religion stand the test of time “as it is” or will it adapt to the changes in society?

If this generation does not read the Bible will it end up following wrong disciples?

Ricoeur said: “What we have here is a circle: to understand the text, I must believe what the text imparts; but what the text imparts to me is given nowhere else save in the text: that is why it is necessary to understand the text.”

So this begs the question: how many of us actually read the word for ourselves? With all the false prophets out there why do we allow them to interpret the text for us while we can do it for ourselves?

In Kenya we have seen Pastor Deya, Brother Paul Patni, Hellon etc who have obviously misled people; but I those who were misled allowed themselves to be misled.
We have been given the ability to think for ourselves and read and reason for ourselves; so why allow someone else define your relationship with your Maker?

So can religion is we know it, or as it was known by our parents survive the test of time or will it be kidnapped by self-serving, false prophets? Does religion serve a crucial role in our lives for us to defend it?

Customer Service (or the lack of) in Kenya.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant or an office in a jolly mood only to be met by a gloomy front desk attendant or waiter?

I spent three years working in a restaurants in the US (Cleaning tables, dish washing, food preparation, serving food and as a bartender). Customer Service work in stressing; you encounter all type of customers and you also have to deal with your own moods and that of your boss. Nevertheless, I think customer service in Kenya needs lots of improvement.

When I used to do bartending training I used to tell the trainee something simple: Customers do not go to restaurants and bars to eat and drink only. If they simply wanted to eat and drink they could purchase food and drinks, take them home and consume them for less money. They go to these venues for the customer service and socializing. Without good treatment, there is no reason for this customer to ever come back to that particular venue.

One of my friends attempted to make the argument that these customer service attendants adapt a negative attitude because they are poorly paid. I call that rubbish!

No one force these people to take those jobs! Someone else may say that they do not have a choice but to take that low-paying job, but I beg to differ. People always have a choice. Since its not forced labor, I personally expect these people to do the jobs and do them well.

Here is an excerpt from James Allan’s book As a Man Thinketh: “Here is a man who is wretchedly poor. He is extremely anxious that his surroundings and home comforts should improve, yet all the time he shirks his work, and considers he is justified in trying to deceive his employer (and mistreat customers) on the ground of the insufficiency of his wages. Such a man does not understand the simplest rudiments of those principles which are the basis of true prosperity, and is not only totally unfitted to rise out of his wretchedness, but is actually attracting to himself a still deeper wretchedness by dwelling in, and acting out, indolent, deceptive, and unmanly thoughts.”

I totally agree with James Allan on this issue. If you have taken on a responsibility do it to the best of your ability while you are preparing for better and more rewarding responsibilities.
I know customers can be rude sometimes and bosses can be mean but that is not a reason to reciprocate or pass on that negative energy to other people. Customer service jobs require patience, light-heartedness, and an overall positive attitude.
I would urge those who are not cut out to be in customer service sector to quit and stop ruining experience for people who do not warrant such negative treatment.

I have also witnessed discrimination from our own people here in Kenya! These waiters rationalize that Wazungus will give them a tip so they would rather serve them and ignore you. As much as I agree that a Mzungu is more likely to give you a tip than a Kenyan this discrimination is very troubling! If we start discriminating against our own how can we expect outsiders to treat us with respect? These attendants are also shortsighted since these “tip-giving” Wazungus will not be here for long as opposed to a local who can become a regular customer and a friend.

These are some of the issues that make me want to start my own restaurant where customer service will be exceptional (no compromise!); training and constant evaluation will be the norm not the exception.

Any counter arguments out there?
Have you had an experience that totally ruined your day or evening?

Using Immoral means to accomplish moral ends

Is using immoral means to accomplish moral ends justifiable?

Prostitution to feed your kids or pay for school;
Stealing to put food on the table for your family;
Lying in an interview in order to get employed; etc.

Is it wrong? Is there a time when it can be justifiable?

The questions above may lead to even broader questions such as: who defines what is immoral and what is moral? Should we let society judge our actions or should we be driven by our own convictions?
Machiavelli once stated that “the end justifies the means”; should we follow such a doctrine or should we be concerned about the means?
Do you think that the means are more important than the end or do you think that the end is more important than the means?
If you accomplish the intended moral ends; can you live with the knowledge that you reached your “respectable moral ends” through immoral means?

Does it make a difference when your immoral actions affect others? Is it more justifiable when no one gets hurt?

Of the Oppressor and the Oppressed.

It has been usual for men to think and to say, "Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor!" But there is amongst an increasing few a tendency to reverse this judgment and to say, "One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves." James Allan

The truth is that oppressor and slaves are cooperators in ignorance, and, while seeming to afflict each other, are in reality, afflicting themselves. A perfect knowledge perceives the action of law in the weakness of the oppressed and the misapplied power of the oppressor.

In an earlier article I wrote about customer service in Kenya. I noted how many customer service attendants blame their condition (low wages, bad working environment etc) on their bosses and therefore use that excuse to extend their malice to undeserving clients. I went on to highlight that these customer service attendants are not forced to take these jobs, so I do not find their excuse acceptable. For if they hate their working conditions so much, they can simply walk away.

I also mentioned that it is good to accept and appreciate our current situations as we work towards a better tomorrow. If we can not carry out our “mediocre” current responsibilities well, how can we expect to carry out higher level “more demanding” responsibilities? “Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not remain so if you only perceive an ideal and strive to reach it.”

As for the oppressor, his/her attitude towards the subordinates will only lead to: mistrust, suspicion, always cracking the whip since no subordinate will go out of the way for you, short-term success instead of stability.

I tend to agree with James Allan that the oppressed and the oppressor attract each other. Free people look for areas to maximize returns “a win –win situation” not a win-lose or lose-win situation. He/she will (if he is the boss) try to make employees like they own the company; like the company cannot function without them and their ongoing efforts. If it’s the employee, he/she will make every effort to make the company a success for he/she knows that if the company is successful he/she will get financial rewards and tenure (stability). He/she understand the larger picture and knows that the little activities that he/she does will lead to either achievement or failure of the larger picture.

So if the “could be” oppressor and oppressed understand their positions in the larger picture and how playing their role well and unselfishly will lead to success, they wouldn’t allow an “oppressor and oppressed” environment to exist.

Stand up against society ills or lay low?

Stand up against society ills or lay low?

When you see someone wronged do you stand to defend him or her or do you simply walk away since the wrong was not done to you?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” he continues to say “we will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”

This got me thinking of my own complacency. I confess that I have seen injustice on many occasions and walked away because I was not the recipient. I think our society has become so self-centered that we do not step of our cocoons to look at the bigger picture. I can relate to Dr. King’s statement especially when it comes to social ills in our country (police brutality, bribes and other means of corruption, tribalism, theft etc.)

Am sure you have witnessed injustice; what is your reason for not acting? Are your reasons justifiable? Would you like someone else to walk away while the same type of injustice is being committed to you?

Some may say that acting might put you in harm’s way; but so will inaction!

Others will say that law enforcement will defend those being wronged, but we all know our law enforcement and their complacencies.

Others might say that they are preoccupied with the life; well so will other people when you are the recipient of injustice.

What is your opinion on this matter? Have Kenyans accepted injustice? Are we too complacent to act; is it fear; is it class; economic status etc?

Piracy and Persistence

I was reading CNN about the Taiwanese fishing vessel that was released by Somali Pirates after 10 months of capture. (http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/02/11/somalia.ship.release/index.html)
The Taiwanese vessel had a crew of 28. These guys were provided with food and drink for all that period.
Upon release they were sent away with enough food, water and fuel for the whole journey home.
This made me think...Can't all captured vessels adapt a no-negotiating policy with the pirates?
Is there a reason why a country or company is willing to pay millions of dollars?

For a list of all captured vessels off the coast of Somali use this link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_attacked_by_Somali_pirates)

"According to the Kenyan foreign minister, Somali Falla have received over US$150 million in ransom during the 12 months prior to November 2008."

Some may argue that the safety of the crew is what these companies are paying for
Others may say that the cargo carried is worth more
Others may say that the vessel is worth the ransom since it generates lots of revenue.

But what if all countries and all companies decided that they will not negotiate with these sea terrorists?
Do you think the piracy would reduce or the pirates would become more brutal towards the captured crew members?

have you say....

Is Google Buzz out to compete with Face Book?

If any of you use google mail or gmail you have seen the new feature called "Buzz"

From the initial read about the new features, I automatically thought of linked-in and facebook.

One cannot but notice that many people have abandoned their yahoomail, hotmail etc for googlemail. That means that "Buzz" will automatically have a huge following cause it combines email and social website features into one.
For those who are tired of many websites (twitter, facebook, blog, email, chat etc) may find the google features as "one-stop-shop" solution to all your online communication needs.

Google has: google images, google books, picasa, chat, chrome, email, blog, maps, google phone, calendar, unlimited storage and now buzz.
What other features do you really need? I think Google has won me over!!

What are your thoughts?
Have you tried google buzz and what is your initial reaction?
Are the capabilities enough to make you move from Facebook?

Real Leaders Go First

I was reading through Micheal Hyatt's blog:
http://michaelhyatt.com/2010/02/real-leaders-go-first.html
about real leaders.
His message is: "Real leaders go first. They never ask others to do what they have not done or are unwilling to do themselves. They lead by example. Like the Apostle Paul, they are willing to say, “Follow me, as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)."

He questioned his readers:
What about you? Are you leading by example. Where do you need to step up and go first?

I have been privileged with a few leadership positions in my life and looking back, I think I led by example but did not do enough to involve others.
I have the tendency to be self-reliant which is not a good quality of a leader. A good leader knows how to take the lead and also delegate responsibilities.

Are you a leader?

If so, what type of a leader are you?

Self analysis: If you had the option would you like to work under or be led by a leader of your qualities?

Kenya's New Constitution

Kenya’s New Constitution

The dictionary defines a constitution as a “system of fundamental laws and principles of a government, state, society, corporation, etc.”

As I read the draft constitution and listens to opposing views on the system of governance that Kenyans wanted to live under; I couldn’t but ask myself how the “constitution review committee” arrived at the final draft.

Did these individuals ask themselves: why did Kenyans unite to fight against colonialism? How many convictions that we fought for have we actualized since independence? What principles drive Kenyans (42 tribes) to stay as one nation? Are ideas such as justice for all, domestic tranquility, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, due process of law, the right to vote and the notion that a people can be united under a strong central government but still be protected from government abuses by certain checks and balances.

Do we as a people have common values…common driving principles?
Does a Pokot man have the same rights and due process as a Luo man?

If we as individuals do not have personal constitutions, what makes us think that we can have a common constitution? There is a saying that says “if you do not know where you are going, you do not need a map”. Do we Kenyans know where we are going or where we want to go? If not then some artistically written works will not take us anywhere.

This also begs a few more questions: How many Kenyans have read the existing constitution? What is wrong with the existing constitution? Is a new constitution the solution to all Kenyan problems?

Priorities and Popularity

As I listened to the news over the weekend and Monday; I could not help but ask myself if our leaders (specifically our Prime Minister) is more interested in being popular or dealing with issues that are of more importance to the Nation.

Our Prime Minister is a football fan (which is a good thing).
But when he has to hold a press conference to inform the nation how he tried to intervene on behalf of McDonald Mariga to play in the English Premier it concerns me.

McDonald Mariga is a good football player. He is earning big bucks whether he is playing for Palma, Man City or Inter Milan.

There are Kenyans who can barely afford one meal a day. How come the Prime Minister is not intervening for these people?

It really disgusts me when our leaders are more concerned about their popularity than issues that should be priorities for our nation.

"I spent a minimum of three hours on phone talking to Gordon Brown's office, the Africa Office, office of Culture and Sports, the Home office, the FA president Lord Treisman and to Mariga himself."

3hrs? Is this guy serious? Has he spent 3hrs trying to solve the internal football federation infighting?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8493889.stm

**Now here is a disclaimer before I get accused of being tribal or partisan. I would comment about our president but doesnt seem to be passionate or outspoken about anything.**

Way Forward after the boot

Today is Monday; the beginning of the month.
You probably had a pretty good weekend.
Now imagine that you walked into the office and your boss called you in for a meeting.
From the look of things; this meeting can not possibly be good.
After a few reasons or attempt to justify his/her decision you are told that your services are no longer required by the company.
What would be your initial reaction?
Ok, what would be your next step after ranting or trying to justify your role?
Are you well equipped to move on with your career?
How marketable are you?
Have you positioned yourself well enough to be in demand in your respective sector?

Kenya Real Estate - Location, Location, Location

Yesterday I had my article published in the Daily Nation - Money Magazine.
I have to admit I am really happy that I have started to write again.
Check out my article:

http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/money/-/435440/850376/-/r30lmb/-/index.html

By HOSEAH NJUGUNAPosted Wednesday, January 27 2010 at 11:22
The stock market depression in 2009 sent many potential investors seeking alternative investment vehicles. Bonds and Treasury bills received plenty of attention, but so did real estate.

While the increased interest in real estate is a positive thing; many investors did not and are still not thinking through their real estate investment decisions.

Real Estate properties are differentiated from most other financial or real assets by their uniqueness.

No two office buildings are alike, no two pieces of undeveloped land are alike, no two hotels are exactly alike and no two shopping cents are alike.

Each property is different because it is in a different physical location. This makes location one of the most important attributes of any piece of commercial real estate.

Location

The first thing to understand about location is that it is not an absolute. There is no such thing as a generically “good” location or a generically “bad” location. The desirability of a particular site is relevant only in terms of its intended purpose.

A property that is good for a residential dwelling is not necessarily good for an apartment, an office building, a factory, and the like.

Assessing the value of a property always requires the strategic perspective: What is the purpose intended for this property?

Only in that context are the actual physical attributes of that site relevant.

Physical attributes of a site would include the current use of the property, its location with respect to traffic patterns, relevant zoning laws, the contour of the land, the attributes and uses of adjacent or neighbouring parcels of land (an otherwise desirable piece of land for a single-family residence might be made undesirable if the adjacent property were a garbage damping site or a noisy factory), the effective marketing area or impact zone of the property and trends in adjacent neighbour and local land use.

Another factor to consider in the valuation of commercial real estate is the impact of subjective perception.

Certainly, a piece of property has an objective reality. However, that objective reality may not be as important as the subjective lens through which that property is viewed.

An objective reality might describe 50 acres of rugged land surrounding a dismal swamp located 20 miles from the nearest urban area.

Preserve
A subjective perspective might be to consider land as a nature preserve, featuring select executive home sites surrounding ecologically important wetlands that provide protection for a living environmental laboratory.

The objective reality might be a rundown building adjacent to a metropolitan central business district whose desirability is threatened by a declining neighbourhood.

The subjective perspective might be that the (refurbished) building could become a badly needed community centre (called Sarakasi) for area theatre and art fanatics that is distinguished by its accessibility and its significant architectural and historic significance.

An investment in such a property could be thought of as a beacon of successful urban renewal that could revitalise the neighbourhood.

Disregard this important consideration in your investment and it can be costly. If you have driven on Thika road from Nairobi to Thika, I am sure you have seen a very attractive building on the right-hand side in Ruiru.

The building is suitable for a five-star hotel, but it is in the wrong place. It is all in the perspective.

A lot of highly successful commercial real estate development occurs because someone is able to think “outside the box”, while keeping location, location, location in mind.

So the next time you want to acquire a plot or property, make sure you consider the location and end use of the property or plot.

The writer is an Independent Financial Consultant: empowerkenya@gmail.com

African Leaders and Thirst for power

As Museveni celebrates 24yrs in power,(been president since 1986)

Nigerian President sick - and still insisting on staying on as president

José Eduardo dos Santos President of Angola 1979 to present

General Gnassingbé Eyadéma was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005

Robert Gabriel Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe (1980–1987 Prime Minister) 1987 – present President

Daniel T. arap Moi, president of Kenya (1978–2002)

Muammar Al-Qaddafi, de facto Libyan Head of State (1969–)

Omar Bongo was President of Gabon for 42 years from 1967 until his death in office in 2009

Congo - Denis Sassou Nguesso President of the Republic of the Congo since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992.

Cameroon - President Paul Biya
Biya took over in 1982 from President Ahmadou Ahidjo and won re-election for another seven-year term in October 2004.

Egypt - Hosni Mubarak Became president in 1981
Mubarak was sworn in as president in September 2005 for a fifth six-year term

Guinea - President Lansana President of Guinea from 3 April 1984 until his death on 22 December 2008

Tunisia - President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has served as the President of Tunisia since 7 November 1987


Begs the question: what is it with African leaders and their tight grip on power?

Why hold on to power to the point that you can barely function or think rationally?

Why cant someone serve two terms and retire with a guaranteed pension and perks for life?

Delta Corp taking Kenya by the Storm

Delta Corp is an Indian Company that is engaged in real estate (in India as well as East Africa), gaming and entertainment, aviation, and hospitality. This group of companies has acquired prime property in Nairobi. According to their website "Delta Corp East Africa Ltd. (DCEAL), has already acquired approximately 803,720 sq ft of land with a development potential of close to 2 million sq-ft."

Delta Corp Ltd is a publicly traded company on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), NSE: DELTACORP.

If you have visited Upper Hill (next to Equity Center/Indonesian Embassy) you have seen a huge property development coming up; this property is called Delta Center. Delta Centre will provide lettable area of 180,557 square feet and 350 parking bays. As you enter Westlands you will notice two huge new towers coming up (accross from barcode club/ westland roundabout) This property is called Delta Corner. Delta Corner will provide lettable area of 234,081 square feet and 630 parking bays.

These are a few of the intended developments. Other upcoming developments include: Point, Hotel, River side, Plain, 4th Ngong, House.
Check out their website (http://www.deltacorp.in/real.html) to see a map of the land that they have acquired.

I am excited about the new professionally-done developments. I am envious of these guys!!
It would be nice if Kenyan investors were involved in these developments but all in all these developments will benefit Kenyans in the long-run.

This is also an indication that foreigners have seen potential in our real estate sector and some individual lament about the property bubble.

Executive Compensation

There was a time that I wanted to be a lawyer and I was very interested in negotiating compensation for executives. I know some people may say that these people are overpaid (for the work that they do), and rightly so, but if these companies are willing to cough up the money why not be on the receiving end?

Below is a list of the highest compensated executives in the US.

Highest Compensated Executives (2008)
Executives With the Highest Total Compensation in 2008
Rank Person Name Total Compensation
1 Hamilton E. James $260.48M
2 Aubrey K. McClendon $100.07M
3 Bob R. Simpson $65.47M
4 Eugene M Isenberg $59.83M
5 Larry Ellison $48.42M
6 Mario J. Gabelli $45.93M
7 John H. Hammergren $39.94M
8 J. Larry Nichols $38.51M
9 Peter C Georgiopoulos $37.23M
10 Michael A. Puglisi $35.56M

These figures are obviously astronomical in Kenyan terms. Hamilton James was compensated Kshs. 2bn. Can you imagine that?

What are your thoughts?

I am back

After disappearing for sometime, I have decided that writing plays an important role in my life.
I have edited the objective/description of this blog because I want to discuss a wider range of issues here.
2010 has started well and I am very optimistic about it.
I have made some changes to my lifestyle and I feel good about the changes. I would not call them new years resolutions; I would say they have come about as a result of growth and deeper understanding of self.

My blog concentrated on career-related issues. I am happy to announce that there is a resurgence in hiring (I should qualify that statement by stating that not all sectors are hiring), but the prospects of getting a job are far much better than they were in 2009.

Looking forward to the comeback and sticking with it.