How often do you give..?

I was once asked this question by a good friend of mine whom I highly regard. My response was that I give if I see the need to; he however made me 'see' the noble duty of giving to the less fortunate in the society. He thus  reminded me of Job’s story in the Bible. He asked me this question some years back after I had cleared my secondary school learning, i did not quite decipher it then.
 
I have been a regular volunteer at Sally Test, a children’s ward that caters for children with terminal illnesses, at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The ward gives these children an opportunity to play as they learn since most of them are out of school once they are brought in for treatment.

The reason as to why I have remembered this is due to the many people who walk around in the name of prayer then later you are asked to pay or give something to help in God’s work. I do not want to be vilified of talking ill of good preachers out there, and if I do, I only target those who we are told of..manabii wa uongo (false prophets). In the morning I dismissed one who insisted on praying for everyone in the office.

My sojourn at sally test has been quite memorable as it made me understand how the society is and how well I can participate to make it a better place as Mahatma Gandhi said “You must be the change you want to see in the world”. So how often do we give? That is yours to answer and more over in most cases we are never forced to give.

Ken 

Bonne Année

Bonne  Année mes chers amis je vous souhaite de bonheur cette année-ci. Nous sommes dans le mois où presque tout le monde le dit que c’est lundi ; « Lundi surtout dans notre pays c’est un jour qu’on déteste », toutefois ‘ce lundi’ a 31 jours. 

  Cette année nous aurons des élections générales sous la nouvelle constitution qui se passera le mois d’août ou décembre dépendant la décision de Cour Suprême du Kenya qui fixera la date des élections. Je sais que parmi vous, vous aller m’empêcher de ne pas parler même écrire sur la politique mais tout ce que je sais c’est que la politique influence notre vie et finalement affecte notre vie quotidienne alors même si vous ne votez pas ou bien vous ne voulez pas donner vos opinions sur la politique d’après moi j’y participe. Il faut qu’on sache que notre destin est avec nous.

Nous des jeunes gens sont nombreux alors chaque politicien veut nous avoir dans son quartier. Nous sommes des électeurs qui pouvons mettre quelqu’un de notre choix à la maison d’état. Notre scrutin va décider qui va recueillir de nombreux suffrage et finalement qui sera le quatrième président de notre pays. Néanmoins, nous sommes nos ennemis parce que nous se tue, nous se bat, nous détruisons nos établissement après avoir reçu shilling kenyanes 100/= de nos politiciens. Si nous continuons d’être trompé chacune fois nous avons des élections générales nous allons piétiner à jamais. N’oubliez jamais des fracas après les élections générales de 2007/2008. 

Sincèrement cette fois-ci les élections aura énorme mais je souhaite que nous allons avoir la paix avant, pendant et ensuite les élections.

Greetings

Happy New Year albeit late. Hope you have started this year well. Have a wonderful year full of good tidings. 

We are in the month where almost everyone refers to it as a Monday never mind that it has 31 days. One of the most important things that I must mention is that I will be blogging more often at least daily if not weekly, kindly do not regard this as a resolution.

A tough year for all of us. We shall be holding our general elections under the new constitution which could either be in August or December depending on the Supreme Court’s decision. I know some of you may banish me on this but politics affects you directly whether you keep away from it or ‘abstain’ from voting, remember the change you quite desire and relish is squarely in your hands through sage decisions.

We 'the youth;, the bride politicians wish to marry especially in this election.We are many and therefore capable of sending someone to the house on the hill. Our vote is the game changer however, we are our own enemies such that we kill, maim, rape and cause all sorts of havoc on our fellow citizens and property upon receipt of Kshs 100/= or more from Bwana Mheshimiwa. If the status quo remains then we – the youth, are enrolling in the school of hard knocks where we never live through the whole ‘education system’.               Let us get the best deal in what we want as we are the stakeholders of this country, we destroy it...too bad… Remember 2007/2008 post poll violence?

I sincerely hope that this time the lesson learnt will aid in forging a better future especially for us.

Traitor or is it an enemy within

                I was perplexed to see how Elgiva Bwire alias Mohamed Seif, the self confessed Al Shaabab guy laugh and jokingly tell the press he did not regret being sentenced to life imprisonment. In another scenario where I also saw laughter, smiles, winks, cajoles, great handshakes befitting a triumph of some sort is the murder case involving Chepkonga and Munene guilty of killing Dr. Muriuki in 2009.  Is it really a triumph?

 

                I also watched Bwire’s mother admit that her son could have caused a greater havoc in the country with the arsenal found in his possession. Many mothers never accept that their son or sons are engaging in illegal criminal activities as they would do the contrary by supporting and passionately portray their son as one important, God fearing child who does not participate in illegal gangs.If only we knew? If you doubt can you remember when women from the Coast region denying their son(s) involvement with Al Shaabab in Somalia? Bwire’s mother is an exception for sure.

                Murder suspects Chepkonga and his friend Munene were all smiles not to mention Bwire. Why laugh? Is it to for the cameras or is it to make the matters simpler when things are hippos?  From a psychological perspective a suspect would want to convince the whole world that all is well despite the sentence passed being a humongous one.  

                On Thursday (27th October, 2011) police commissioner said that the biggest threat to terrorist activities comes from young Kenyan men and women of other ethnic communities other than the perceived Kenyan Somalis.  

A terrorist is a term that is now colloquial in Kenyan circles and not to mention the world over. According to Wikipedia it has termed the word terrorism has more than 100 definitions some of them gotten due to political reasons and connotations gotten due to ideology. A terrorist from Oxford dictionary is someone who uses violent actions (terror) or threats of violent action. Such acts are perpetuated for political, religious and even ideological reasons. With no prejudice a terrorist is a Muslim of Somali origin. That is the perception that we do connote from the term ‘terrorist’. 

We should however, strive to keep safe, be patriotic enough to remember our soldiers in Somalia fighting for the prosperity of our nation through prayers and moral support.I wish well all our Kenyan soldiers fighting in Somalia and finally Rest in Peace that Kenyan soldier who has succumbed to his injuries.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Grenade+man+sentenced+to+life+in+prison/-/1056/1263336/-/f60vbuz/-/index.html 

Yours truly,

 Ken     

How painful it gets… Child delivery et al

                Ever been to a labour ward? Do you think your lady would permit?  If she would allow then consider it very carefully because no man would want to see his woman in such excruciating pain and state. We (a couple expecting a new born) used to talk about how a labour ward is a horrible place for men and the same applies to women. I requested my friends if they were comfortable with me being in the labour ward? The guy did not easily consent but after a while he did agree.

Months later she was due late in the night and since they were my neighbors, means to the hospital had to come in handy. Luckily the cab came on time. On reaching the hospital she was examined to ascertain whether she was duly ‘ready’, there are some instances where by a woman goes into labour for hours even days yet the baby is not forthcoming , there by inducing labour or taken in for caesarian operation. 

As she was being taken to the labour ward she asked the doctor whether someone could be allowed to be with her. The doctor asked whether the person is courageous enough. She looked at her husband as if approving of my entry…minutes later the gynecologist called my name and asked “Young man do you think you are ready for this?” He told me to think about it for not more than 5 minutes as when he starts he would not want any interruption of either someone’s entry or exit. He came back with medical gloves hanging on his left palm and asked me on what I had decided. I was honestly shaking of fear of the unknown. He, the gynecologist, simply said ‘’wee kuja wacha uoga’’ I took off my shoes dipped my feet in some disinfecting liquid then in I went.

                I was instructed to stand by Rhoda’s side so as to give her the required moral support. She was lying in a bed which had two inclining pieces of plastic which help a woman in spreading her legs. Honestly Rhoda was too anxious, confusion reigned, fatigue and unbearable pain. She was asked by the doc if she was ready after everyone in the room affirmed their readiness. As she engaged in pushing she uttered very many words most of them unprintable, some abusive directed at the husband as the cause of her misery. As she was uttering these words she firmly held my hand squeezing it with all her might and I tell you she squeezed my hands…. wah! If only I could remind her.

Rhoda made so much noise that I had never heard a woman cry like that before, it’s even difficult putting down how she cried in pain, as a matter of fact I stopped looking at what the medics were doing to look at her and empathize. She gave birth to a 2.3kg baby girl. She went silent after holding her baby and told me to take care of the baby then went into a heavy slumber.

                I left the room with my hand tightly clenched on my under arm. Rhoda put my hand in pain and it was indeed painful.  I learnt to appreciate life once more and the pain involved by our sisters, mothers, daughters, aunties and the female species is not easy.

                When a woman is expectant and finally gives birth without complications kindly accord her the desired respect. Apart from complications some women even end up dying… I encourage you to join your wife or girlfriend into that dreaded room THE LABOUR WARD.