Journos on the Run in South Sudan

JUBA, April 7, 2014

The South Sudan government should urgently put measures to enhance the safety and security for journalists and media houses operating in the country, Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) has said. EAJA Secretary General Alexandre Niyungeko said in a statement that the ongoing conflict in South Sudan had put the lives of many journalists in danger and jeopardized the operations of media houses. Niyungeko issued the call following reports that South Sudan’s only private television outlet, the Citizen Television (CTV), had been shut down by its management over fears for the safety of its staff due to the continuing shaky security situation in Juba. “We call on the South Sudan government to improve security for the journalists and media outlets to guarantee media freedom and information flow to the world about the situation in the country and the efforts being made towards the resolution of the conflict,” He said. According to a statement released by the Chief Editor of the Citizen Television (CTV) who also publishes the Citizen newspaper, Nhial Bol, the security situation in Juba remained uncertain, posing a risk to the TV station’s staff. “The station closes at 10pm and when we transport our staff home, we are often subjected to numerous road searches and twice our car was fired at near Jebel Market. We cannot afford to subject our night shift staff to risks,” said Bol. He further explained that they had also decided to stop the distribution of The Citizen newspaper in some areas because new traffic laws discouraged the use of motorbikes due to security concerns in the capital. “One of our distributors, Isaac Amba was seriously hurt last Wednesday when the police beat him with stick while leaving the National Parliament building after delivering papers. He was admitted in Juba Teaching Hospital and is still in bed, recovering,” he added. This is not the first time the CTV and Citizen Newspaper division have shut down operations due to security concerns. In December 2013, the Deputy Editor in Chief of the CTV, Victor Kerry revealed that the company had to close productions of the newspaper for four days as security officers instructed them to put off their generator, claiming it produced noise. South Sudan has faced security challenges since the break out of conflict between the government and rebels led by former Vice President Riek Machar last December.

IRAN ENVOY TO KENYA WANTS WORLD TO ALLEVIATE HUMANITARIAN URGENCY IN SOMALIA

BY BILLY MUTAI

Iran envoy to Kenya has urged Muslim brotherhood to contribute towards
humanitarian efforts targeted to support Somalia nationals who are
hardest hit among the Horn of Africa’s countries.

Iran Embassy’s Cultural Councilor Abbas Farmand who was speaking to
Muslim faithfuls in Nakuru during 2011 last Friday’s celebrations of
Ramadan noted the war-torn Somalia urgently need foodstuff, medication
and more importantly a socio-political stability that would yield to
economical development.

Farmand said Somalia that has been affected alongside Ethiopia,
Djibouti and parts of Kenya would be salvaged by the neighboring
countries including Kenya.

The envoy said through media campaigns, Iran nationals have
contributed over $25 million (KShs. 2 billion) towards purchase of
food, medication and other urgent humanitarian material that have
already been distributed in Somalia.

Kenyans-for-Kenya Campaigned that was steered by Red Cross and the
corporate culminated yesterday seeing over 20 local artist share stage
at Uhuru Park.

“Currently, Iran government has set aside funds to support the
humanitarian efforts and has already donated more than 250,000 bags of
foodstuff to Somalia and other affected parts in the Horn of Africa,”
said Farmand.

Through airplanes food delivery, he said Iran would be sending four
planes every week that would medication.

He at the same time noted medical and Non-governmental organizations
personnel have been deployed in Somalia to help in saving lives of
largely malnourished population.

The ceremony marked on Friday also saw commemoration of International
Day of the Oppressed where the envoy asked for peace in countries
including Libya and Palestine.

“For the case of Palestine, through a referendum, the people should
have freewill to elect their leadership,” he added.

Members of United Congregation of Imams and Friends of Palestine were
present, also Kenya Muslims Youth Alliance was represented.

Meanwhile, a Nairobi-based Sheik Baa Abad asked Muslim communities to
ensure peace among themselves and among people from other religious
backgrounds.

He said the holy month of Ramadan rejuvenates Islamic faith and good
relation with humanity and environment.

Ben Carson: Do-or-Die Swift Action

Faced with a twin situation that calls for a do-or-die swift action, you may be bound to give up in fear of the unknown ………but in his book ‘TAKE THE RISK’ the impeccable MD Ben Carson mellifluously drains off mind-boggling yet real-time, one-short decision that keeps human beings dare to live one-more-day

FOOD-for-THOUGHT

Exodus of Kenyan students to Uganda

By Billy Mutai


The Uganda 7-4-2-3 education system could be a remedy to an average of
60, 000 students per year who miss out on the Varsities Joint
Admissions Board list besides private universities and middle level
colleges in Kenyan’s 8-4-4 education system.
The Kenyan system has however attracted questions on its threshold in
determining student’s potentials and ambitions majorly dictated by the
national examinations.
While hinting out on the death of two students recently at Makerere
University, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula
indicated that more than 40,000 Kenyan students are enrolled in Uganda
learning system.
Learning Institutions even as far as Northern Uganda host Kenyan
students as Makerere University, Kampala International University,
Mkono University holds bulk of Kenyan students. While High Schools
including Mbale High School, Bugema Adventist School, St. Laurence
High School have over a decade trained big number of Kenyan students
doing their A-levels and successfully proceeded to universities either
in Uganda or other countries.
“There are more than 3,500 Kenyan students at Makerere University at
the moment,” notes Nicholas Langat, a Telecommunication Engineering
finalist at the University.
Before the disintegration of the East African Community in 1977, the
member countries including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania vastly enjoyed
the 7-4-3-2 education system that extended to sitting of one paper
across the region. It at the same time allowed students in the regions
to join any of the giant East African Universities including
University of Nairobi, Dar-es-salam and Makerere University each
specializing on identified field of knowledge. This calls for the
earmarking of the endless list of Makerere Alumni including H.E Mwai
Kibaki, who scooped a 1st Class in the then prestigious University,
Anyang Nyongo among others.
With flexibility and cost of the Uganda’s 7-4-2-3 system, bulk of
Kenyan students have opted to make a bridge to higher institutes of
learning in the country inspite of attaining the minimum University
cut off mark that has however eluded majority with hiking of the
entrance points.
According to Gilbert Kemboi a Kampala International University
graduate and currently practicing law in Nairobi, Kenya students who
attain up to a grade of B-(Minus) opt to proceed with the A-levels in
Uganda and later join Universities either in Uganda or other
International higher Institutes of learning.
“The Uganda’s education system is fairly better as it allows a lee way
to poorly performed KCSE compulsory examination,” notes Kemboi.
It is indeed unreasonable and unrealistic measure of performance as it
locks out majority of students out of the vital governments-sponsored
University education, adds the Kampala International University
Alumni.
The 7-4-2-3 system allows specialization in the best performed
subjects at the A –level, students fine tune their secondary school
best performed subjects before proceeding to universities to mentor
their careers.
Unlike what transpires of Kenyan system where students are forced to
go for relatively irrelevant subjects to their career in enmasse. The
7-4-2-3 system that dominated the East African region in earlier
decades accommodated students who even perform as low as D+ in their
form four level, are yet allowed to pursue their dreams despite
dismissal performance at O levels, notes Kemboi.
Speaking to Kenyan Telecommunications Engineering finalist at Makerere
University, learning in both Kenyan and Uganda even Tanzania is at par
but the Ugandan system allows flexibility, specialization besides low
cost of learning.
“In Uganda, incase one is good at humanity subjects, s/he leaves the
sciences and specializes in the field of interest,” said Nicholas
Langat.
While Joint Admissions Board in Kenya stamps out a minimum of B+
(plus), The remaining bulk of students are left with option of joining
the self sponsored program or venture the middle level college. This
has however been out of reach to majority of Kenyans.
“Good education has been exclusively belonged to those with good money
in Kenya.” Notes Charles Muthee, parent with two students at Ugandan’s
education system. While refereeing to what Julius Nyerere talked of
Kenya as ‘A man eat man society’, Muthee said despite of extension of
sponsorship by HELB to parallel students in Kenyan private and public
universities, majority of students cannot afford to pay for their
university education despite attaining a requirement of a C+ (plus)
and above.
“Ugandan’s education system is bagging up to Kshs. 2 billion per annum
from Kenyan students learning in Uganda yet Kenyan political leaders
besides educational leadership misuse education funds” Wonders the
parents.
Although foreign students are not entitled to educational funding,
HELB recently announced to extend the funding to students studying in
the region.
“We have done visibility studies to capture students in the region so
that they can also benefit from the funds,” said HELB CEO Benjamin
Cheboi.
With latest developments for integration of east African community,
ratification of sponsorship of students taking their studies in the
region will bolster the regional common market.
“With about 10 percent Kenyan students studying in Uganda getting
into Uganda’s market system, it has undoubtedly ushered in the
envisaged common market where professional know-how and products move
tax-free benefiting largely on member state,” notes Gladys Rere, a
Kenyan Makerere Environmentist graduate who lives and works in Uganda.
Late last year, the East Africa heads of states signed a common market
protocol pact to ratify free movement of persons and products within
the region, Land ownership and unilateral travel documents in the
region.
The East African community common market protocol is expected to
jumpstart its programme by July this year.
According to Mr. Kiprotich Mutai, a Communication and Media don at
Egerton University and a Media Consultant, opening up and ratification
of education system in the region would at the same time add up an
ingredient to favourable conditions of integration economically,
politically and socially to the budding market.
“The case of more than 40,000 students in Uganda education system is a
welcome scenario in the wake of the EAC integration,” comments the
lecture.

The African Blogers Web

Lights Off---They Called it a 'Dark Continent' & Kenya today is Doing Exactly that!

By Billy Mutai

They called Africa a ‘Dark Continent’--I see the nation Kenya is today
nodding Yes! to the Western bandwagon when country’s energy sector
announces another darkness in the country after Kenya faced similar
situation eight years ago besides subsequent power interference due to
biting Hydro-electric Power (HEP) shortage.

…Yes! Yes! Yes! do I hear Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU)
boss Atwoli singing the chorus with his infamous yes’s slogan to the
white man’s premonition of the black Africa.

The shortage that leaves section of the country without power for at
least 72 hours a week cuts down on economical output by at least one
quarter casting doubts on country’s socio-economical growth.

This menace undoubtedly sends the nation to the lower ranks among the
developing countries.

When Kenya Association of Manufactures (KAM) cry foul of insufficient
energy supply for their industries, it is an absolute economical
failure taking into account the ‘general fear’ of potential foreign
and local investors in the country.

Amid serialization of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kenya’s
economy, the basic development ingredients including electricity power
and upbeat strategies are still myriad of miles away.

The Vision 2030 could just be another white elephant yet a well dreamt
dream that could deliver a realistic economical revolution.

In the wake of immense power of telecommunication and industrial
revolution globally, a dreamer who had just completed his
undergraduate programme was already seizing his niche in the recently
launched Fiber Optic Project in Kenya.
.
The graduate is working on a web-based international outsourcing
center right at his room in his rural home. But on the flip side, the
so-called power rationing cannot allow him the envisaged trend to
business.

Even before the rural dwellers harvest the first fruits of the
‘always-promised’ electrification of villages, they were bombarded
with power rationing notice in the media yet electricity dependent
projects have already taken root in country’s village and slums.

Rural power electrification is undoubtedly an economical powerhouse
but the extended electricity wires to trading centers, industries,
health centers, learning institutions without the much needed energy
is a symbol of economical downturn.

The bulk of country’s youths employed in the semi-skilled sectors
including the Jua-Kali, hair dressing and other self-employment are
hard-hit by the irregular electricity supply. When they cannot run
their business effectively, sources of the basic needs is completely
sealed leaving them retreat to the impoverished villages and slums and
eventually bears socio-economical crisis.

Mechanic sector that employees another patch of youths is neither
speared by the HEP shortage as majority of sector’s activities are
dependent on electronic energy.
On the bitter end, it is the poor who are compelled to the extreme
side of poverty gap. Those who brand themselves well-off feel just a
pinch of electricity shortage as they seek refuge in the expensive oil
energy.

The well established business conglomerates could be bothered by the
hitch but the economical power bestows them a number of choices of
production as generators are automatically switched on immediately HEP
is broken.

This leaves them an upper hand in exploring the small scale industries
and business who are only dependent on the HEP.

This is therefore an open door to widening of the gap between the few
rich Kenyan population and the poor who are the bulk of the citizens.

Despite the excuses by energy sector that the rivers are drying up,
it is partly to blame for the HEP crisis.

Even as Mau Complex saga takes political twits, Mt. Kenya that was
earlier destroyed is just extending its consequences to the current
low water level in the Tana River that draws its waters to the
seven-Folk dams that supply the country with HEP.

Irresponsible farming up the hill as well as along the river banks has
lead to low water levels. Illegal irrigation methods are also drawing
away water from the tributaries that feed River Tana.

On the other hand, Mau Complex, the source of myriad rivers in the
Rift Valle Province including the envisaged Sondu Miriu HEP Project is
on the dwindling end.

The recent visit to Nyanza Province by the President and the Prime
Minister could just be a mockery after they visited the Miriu HEP
Project noting the dropping levels of water driving the turbines.

Destruction in one of country’s water towers; Mau Complex has been
adversely felt at River Sondu rendering the HEP project fruitless.

Nonetheless, the skyrocketing population growth in the global arena
and even locally does not spear the ‘still remaining’ water towers
across the country.

As population hits the tops, environmental and ecological related
resources including water catchments areas will in a way be interfered
with.

It is therefore time Kenyans get a lee-way to curb the outstanding crisis.

Renewable sources of energy including the wind energy and solar energy
should be explored in the country to caution the HEP shortage.

Kibaki Succession, Jimmy Forgets Antidote Of Uhuru-Gideon Project

THE 2012 RACE is already taking shape as Jimmy Kibaki promises political dawn yet on the flip side Wananchi risk drowning in the ocean of Monarchy Rule otherwise dubbed ‘Royal Family Style’

With Mutito legislator Kiema Kilonzo and political activist Tony Gachoka on the coaching bench, Kibaki’s boy is already on political springboard in preparation for Othaya mantle and more important become Kenyans Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

As a political beginner, Jimmy the ‘youth’ is already working on country’s powerhouse who scoops over 69 per cent of Kenyas population. By mobilizing the youths sing his tune, he is undoubtedly taking a logical move as he clears the thorny path to the top office.

Taking Kenyans for a ride has been the usual game-- the youths are a stepping stone to political offices…

The ambitious Jimmy is however forgetting the antidote of the project candidate Uhuru Kenyatta who from the moon Moi imposed to Kenyans. But in twist of events, Kenyans sought second liberation.

The rise and fall of Gideon Moi is yet another political dwarf who even his constituents nipped his bud leaving his ODM counterpart Sammy Mwaita free political air space.

As intrigues and counter intrigues take center stage in the political arena, Kenyans are recording the unfolding history as political succession shapes political opinion.

Unfortunately, the Wananchi are on the receiving end bearing the brat of political re-alignments while the political class share the spoils.

Uhuru Kenyatta tried his hand but Kenyas turned him a blind eye while Gideon Moi who was the envisioned ‘Project’ wobbled in the battle field.

What is your take on Jimmy’s move in succeed his father who some say he is the youths darling?

JOIN THE HOT DEBATE BY LEAVING YOUR COMMENT BELOW, INCASE YOU ARE NOT A REGISTERED BLOGGER, YOU CAN COMMENT ANONYMOUSLY.

The Good Days of Cowbell Technology: My Grandfather Narrates

Allow me to tell you the beauty of Kenyan rural homes and especially those who love the indigenous cows with dangling bells on their necks…

The bells kalenjins call Chepchingilit or otherwise Chepkorkongit leaves one admiring its functions.

The other day, I visited my grandfather in his rural home and with his unstoppable storytelling trait, he praised the old native culture and practices.

As the scholars put it, culture is all about customs, music, attire, food, artifacts and language sealing a community wholly.

In his 90s, Mzee Timothy Yebei describes it as a metal artifact strapped to a bull or goat’s neck basically to tell the position of the heard in the grazing fields. The smaller one (Chepchingilit) was strapped to a goat whereas Chepkorkongit belonged to the dominant bulls.

During the old good days, herds were driven to the free forests with the cowbells sending signals on their whereabouts.
“The bell with Lell-met (one of his cows) was bought by my father in 1928, it has been passed down from one bull to another,” narrates Mzee Yebei.

The bells also served as a security alarm in times of cattle raiding. However, the raiders inserted leaves in the bell to stop the metal rod from swinging.

The changing trends in our communities have kicked out the old farming practices for better production. The skyrocketing population has resulted in clearing of forest where pastoralist usually grazed their animals. Instead, farmers now keep up to three cattle with food supplements including nippier grass, unga feeds, and mineral salts among other manufactured products.

The use of these bells dates back to the incoming of Arab traders who exchanged their commodities for farm products including finger millet.

Cowbell: One of African Artifact Still Relevant Among the Locals

A farmer in Kericho District displays a cowbell, its use dates back to the incoming of Arab traders who exchanged their commodities for farm products including finger millet.

Pix: Billy Mutai

Migingo Dispute Lifeblood To East African Community

The disputed Fish- lucrative island takes Kenya and Uganda to litmus test as EAC is yet to decide on the controversial Issues in the drafted Common Market Protocol

By Billy Mutai
Days have rolled into months as the then thought simple-to-solve
Migingo dispute takes its roots deeper demanding historical data
before the world knows the indigenous owner of the fish-lucrative
island.
Outcome of the 60-day timeline to unlock the impasse where Kenya and
Uganda locked horns over Victoria’s island will be the ultimate litmus
test of the long-built East African Community yet it has not been
consummated.
Hiccups on the drafted region’s Common Market Protocol were yet
postponed to later date this year even as the region’s presidents met
last week in Uganda for the 10th Ordinary Summit.
Three out of the 87 items including land ownership, use of national ID
within EA and permanent residence in any member country are yet to be
agreed on after Tanzania maintained its hard-line position on the
items.
The results from the appointed Joint Survey Team will either nature or
nip the already achieved EAC relationship on its bud.
When Kenyas EAC Minister Dr.Jeffah Kingi insists on implementation of
the three pending issues in the drafted EA Protocol, he could be
meaning well for the member states but when those who call themselves
brothers squabble over a fish, it derails the envisioned EAC and the
situation is even worsened by the Tanzania’s snail pace speed on the
three basic components.
Glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel is perceived and again
dimmed as citizens from both countries take up arms to claim the
lucrative-fish island yet they are blood-brothers. When the River-Lake
Nilotes descended from Sudan, some settled in Kenya while others
preceded to Uganda presently the Acholi people while the Highland
Nilotes including the Sabaot settled around Mt.Elgon as others crossed
the border to Uganda.
We salute both Presidents for resorting into diplomatic option. The
brotherly decision was undoubtedly witnessed when Ugandan government
lowered her flag while Kenyan counterparts helped the Rift Valley
Railways engineers repair section of Kibera’s railways line that had
been uprooted in protest of the alleged presence of Ugandan troops in
the island.
Kibera residents living miles away from Victoria’s island demonstrated
what they termed patriotism to sealing off the land locked country.
They however forgot that bulk of trauma was felt harder in their own
country.
As if not enough, Kenya’s grand coalition government did not stop the
Kenyan way of doing politics. President Museveni who had in contrary
to everyone congratulated President Kibaki’s win of the highly
petitioned 2007 general election wisely maneuvered through the
coalition government’s lines of weakness in bid to declare what they
baptised Mijinjo theirs.
Uganda at the same time went ahead an accused the media of blowing the
issue out of proportion in what the say it is incitement.
The question on binding forces in the EAC again bounces back.
Socio-economic analysts point out that, results from the team set to
survey the boundaries will be the ultimate yardstick of the newly born
baby.
It is worth to note that the world including African Union, European
Union, United Nations among other global bodies are closely watching…
Besides the core EA countries squabbling over Victoria’s island,
Tanzania is yet another country in question as it has been accused by
the other four partner states of derailing integration of the drafted
EA Common Market Protocol.
Despite unanimous support by all other members in the recently
concluded EAC 10th Ordinary Summit in Uganda, Tanzania again took its
earlier stance on issues including land access, right of residence and
use of national IDs as a traveling document noting that they are
insecure.
Tanzania who took the stand in 2002, 2008 and even in the just
concluded summit is asking for more time to consult.
In what the inside sources conclude; the contested issues overrides
Tanzania’s policies and laws, they have however resorted to go slow
even at the expense of member state’s commitment.
With the biggest landmass in the region, Tanzania has shoot down land
access to region’s citizens as well as right to permanent residence.
According to the drafted protocol, one can be allowed permanent
residence after the applicant reside in the new country for more than
five years but Tanzania could not buy the idea and instead asked for
more time to consult.
On land ownership, Tanzania states that land is not part of
community’s shared resource yet in other section of the protocol, all
member states are mutual beneficiaries of region’s resources.
Again, Tanzania puts off the use of national ID as a traveling
document terming it insecure and instead proposed use of EA Passport
which is however out of reach to majority citizens.
The question begs on the time Tanzania opens up and allow the long
awaited socio-economical developments in the region even besides free
movement of persons within region’s borders.
Educational, research and technology, socio-cultural integration are
only the tip of the mutual benefits member countries will reap at its
maturity.
It is now upon the three core EA countries (Tanzania, Kenya and
Uganda) to settle down the biting issues within their boarders to
allow consummation of the envisioned socio-economical outburst in the
East African Community.
billymutai@yahoo.com