THE PAINS AND PRIVILEDGES ENDOWED TO AFRICA.

I have grown up an African and it is beyond any doubt that definitely by the time My God comes for establishment of another beautiful kingdom in a new paradise, an African I will. I have never doubted the fact that as an African I have the capability of achieving anything anywhere. From Socio-economic success, Academic breakthrough to attainment of a politically informed successful reign are all ambitions I have never been challenged why as an African I can't see them come true.

However, it comes to a point where stagnation starts. An enabling environment. From so many statutes to which as a people we stand signatories to MoUs our leaders get us into, most of them do not, if at all any, help us get to where our fore fathers dreamt us to be 5 decades after independence. It is in Africa where Polio was pandemic and trials for vaccine as well as drugs done. It is same Africa where cholera was a menace before it was combated.

Africa has been a destination of relief foods, drugs, weapons, military personnel and many more donations. Just in a bid to establish a stable, calm Africa. From HIV outbreaks, to Malaria, to HIV again to Ebola to hunger, problem after the other. All befalling Africa. Why Africa??
Our people let's ask,

Why Africa?

In forums such as Young African Leaders Initiative Network​ you will read and hear of sweet dreams and ambitions our people hold dear. But when shall they be realized?
I ask When? Africa, endowed with beautiful culture, plenty vegetation, colorful climate, fertile soils and many more is the same home of troubles, disasters, wars and all forms of atrocities meted both to innocent and guilty.
Africa, when shall we learn this which we have missed most.
Africa. I pride myself as Africa, But it pains me to do nothing in Liberating My Africa.

Let us rise Africa!

The African Sacarcism. Unity our Key to prosperity.....

Sometimes one may be tempted to sit down and wonder, “Why a black people in the word?”

Africa prides itself as a home of vast human history starting all from the magical evolution to beautiful wild life. Africa as a continent hosts hosts beautiful homesteads, attractive creatures, good scented flowers and birds.

But one thing, kills the African success story and zeal. The thing is Lack of identity. Our former Pan Africanists all from:

• Muammar Ghaddhaffi.
• Kwame Nkuruma.
• Nelson Mandela.
• Tom Mboya​ e.t.c

Just to name few, all shared one common dream for African people. A story of success. Traverse from the rich Nigerian soil all to the beautiful Kenya, From the drylands of Egypt to fertile South Africa you will love Africa.

But where did we go wrong?

As a people with a common origin we have lost in defining a common destiny that we share. We wander and stumble in the thickets like lost camels which I find even more better because they can never miss to get back home.

We in Africa we have risen to kill our own spirit that is necessary to overcome the question of poverty. Selfish desires, Chauvinism, Greed, political intolerance among many other are just but few of the many challenges that have culminated to the all known problems facing an African person. Political wars in Nigeria, threats of ceasation and rise extremist terrorist groups are ll killing African spirit.

The coordination of bringing down stable governments, killing of citizens based on their religious faiths and tribal affiliations is all killing an African person.

Back home still, judicial injustices, uneven distribution of resources and social discrimination are all problems we must tackle. These contribute to each other and culminate to a common problem whose solution is just unity.

As a people let us rise. It is all unity that is needed. Unity of our people. Unity of us people.

All forums from Young African Leaders Initiative Network​ to pages such as True African Art.com​ all tell you of African beauty.

It pains to hear Good Luck Jonathan call for American intervention to curb Boko Haram. It is so sad to Hear Somalia ask for American help to restore Somali economy.
It pains.
Let us Rise Africa.
It is our time.
It is in African Spirit I write this.
Okoti Aluora Okot​

Paul Muite Has to Win in Digital Migration case, For Kenyan's to win as well.....

I have always supported the battle of Royal Media, Standard and Nation Media Group through counsel Paul Muite. However, I have never got time to sit down and explain to you why. Today I think Wahome Thuku's content can help me fiil this gap;
Read this is if you are as well interested to know more and take an informed stand as you stop yapping around in ignorance;
WARNING: This post is long, and the subsequent ones will not be any shorter. They are ONLY intended for a mind that reads for knowledge (and grasps).

DIGITAL MIGRATION - ONE

In the year 2000, the world decided to migrate from analogue to digital TV broadcasting. several meetings were held under the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

At the Regional Radiocommunications Conference in Geneva (RRC-06) held on June 17, 2006, countries signed an agreement setting June 17, 2015 as the deadline for the switch from digital to analogue TV technology.

Some countries requested that their deadline be June 17, 2020 and were granted the request. Other who were absent were giving 90 days to chose between the two dates failing which, their deadline would be June 17, 2015.
Countries were free to have effected their migration any time before the deadline. Kenya was present and accepted the June 17, 2015 hence its bound by that agreement. Every player in the broadcasting industry fully accepts that date.

To activate the process the Kenya government in March 2007, set up the National Digital Migration Task-force (NDMT) to guide the country on the digital migration.

The NDMT comprised of the Ministry of Information and Communications, National Communications Secretariat, Communications Commission of Kenya, Media Owners Association (MOA), KBC, Media Council of Kenya and Association of Practitioners in Advertising (APA).

The task-force completed its work and handed in a report to the government in October 2007. It recommended that in accordance with the ICT Sector Policy Guidelines of March 2006, practical measures be taken by the government to licence signal distribution providers in Kenya. In particular, it recommended that:

1. In order to reduce the cost of migration, the existing analogue transmission sites and infrastructure would be used for digital transmission.

2. Based on the government decision to licence KBC as a signal distributor, KBC shall form an independent company to run the signal distribution services in order to avoid conflict of interests or cross subsidies.

3. The current broadcasters will be allowed to form an independent company to run the signal distribution services in order to utilize their existing infrastructure. This company should be independent to avoid conflict of interests or cross subsidies. This company will be given the first preference to a (second) signal distribution licence.

4. Existing broadcasters who own infrastructure will negotiate commercial
terms with the licenced signal distribution provider for transfer of ownership
of the infrastructure.

5. A time limit be set after which broadcasters will not be allowed to operate unlicenced signal distribution services.

In February 2008 the government set up a Digital Television Committee (DTC) to implement recommendations of the task-force.

As recommended and agreed, the first Broadcast Signal Distribution (BSD) license was allocated to the State broadcaster KBC without any controversies. KBC formed the independent company called SIGNET to distribute the signal.

But both KBC and the government were too broke to embark on building the infrastructure. As will be clear later, KBC's Signet surrendered its frequencies to MultiChoice for use by its firm GoTV. The story of GoTV is itself an interesting read.

To take care of this problem the then Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) decided to allocate a second BSD licence to another company through competitive bidding.

One of the firms that tendered for the licence was Pan Africa Network Group (PANG-Kenya) a company owned 100% by Chinese. This is the company that owns Startimes.

Three local media houses Nation Media Group, Royal Media Services and Standard Group formed a company called Africa Digital Network which also tendered for the licence. (Read recommendation 3 above)

In what Media Owners still believe was due to manipulation and tempering with their tender documents, the second BSD was awarded to PANG-Kenya.

KTN, NTV, QTV and Citizen were now required to hand over their broadcast content to Signet or PANG for distribution. This is where trouble started. The three media houses declared they would do that over their “dead bodies” and for reasons I will be analyzing later.

So the argument that the three are opposed digital migration is hogwash and propaganda. It's about a simple question which they ask, “In a country that prides of media freedom, democracy and sovereignty, should we hand over our broadcast content to the Kenya government (KBC-Signet) or to China (Pang) for distribution. They said No. And began the legal process to challenge the allocation of the licence to PANG-Kenya.

LASTLY I JOIN KENYANS TO PASS MY CONDOLENCES FOR LOSS OF FIDEL…

The eulogies, words of condolences and sorry messages that have been swinging in the air with tag #RIPFidelOdinga have all caught my eye and attention with interest. Starting from young Kenyan commoners, to upcoming political gurus in universities, to Kenyan political gurus ranking from the Kenya’s top most civil servants as they were all reading from same script in their eulogies as seen throughout the week.

It was all evident of one thing, that Kenyans were celebrating life of a hero. A hero who will go down in history may be having been more vividly heard of in death than in life. A hero, whose achievements were better remembered in death than in Life, Hence here is where my question comes, when shall we end this character of praising people and getting time for them in death than in life?

Why should we write colorful eulogies in death and fail to write appreciation notes to people while they are still living?

Fidel was a hero. He was a statesman. He was a distinguished businessman and will go down the history to be remembered by those he touched their lives in one way or another. His magnanimous role he would have played in this society if at all he would have materialized his political ambitions can be judged from what has been seen in his services after his death. Kenyans from all walks of life have united under this iconic Kenyan demise and given him attention I may say he never got in real life.

As He is laid to rest, it comes to my mind that a gap of a father, a son, a friend, a brother and even a citizen is remaining in a register somewhere. He will be missed by others, as hearts of others shall celebrate what I may call unaccomplished life. Life begins at forty as most socialites would say, and Fidel died at 41, what unfortunate occurrence?

The Editorial team...

As I conclude, it is my hope that as Fidel is flown to Kisumu or rather “USK”, as commonly known by natives, to be laid to rest in his grandfather’s land; it is my hope that the locals will accord him due support necessary as it has been week long mourning in the city. May the residents prove the world wrong by being composed and calm in their mourning unlike as it has been before whenever a statesman is being buried in the region before in history.

To Raila Odinga and the family I say sorry for losing a friend. To Uhuru Kenyatta and all Kenyans I say sorry for losing a contributing citizen of the economy. And to the family, friends and Relatives, my prayers are with you. Though we loved Fidel, God loved him most.

FIDEL CASTRO ODINGA, FARE THEE WELL. UNTILL OUR MEETING AS PER THE GOD’S WILL.

OM SHANTI! SHANTI! SHANTI!

FROM WORSE TO WORST OR WHAT; THE MAGIC OF KENYA...

A time like this 7 years ago in 2007 Raila Amolo odinga elections were still being counted at the KICC after Kenyans cast their votes on 27th December 2007. At such a time then, Raila Amolo odinga was leading the presidential Elections results by a margin of 800000 votes.
By the time Kenyans were transiting to 29th December 2007, the margin had dropped to 38000 votes and later to a second position by 29th December 2007. The current Deputy President, Raila’s right hand man by then flew from Eldoret to Nairobi after he had confirmed that us the loyal supporters in Eldoret North we had voted him in as the MP very easily.
On the very 29th parts of Kenya broke into political unrest especially in Kibera and Estates of Eldoret. Insecurity went high and shops were looted while Kenyans killed as we watched in pain.
Seven years later, there is no unrest in streets but now in parliament. Millie Odhiambo strips cloths while CORD fraternity attempts to take speaker powers. Kenya has advanced in insecurity 7 yrs later and now Youths in Kibera are not uprooting railway lines but it is Al Shabaab an international terror group uprooting buses on road.
7 years down the line, Raila is not asking Kibaki to come to table to talk but asking Uhuru and Jubilee fraternity to come for the talks.
Is Kenyan advancing up or downwards?
From Kenyans being stripped in streets, to Millie being stripped in parliament!
From attacks in the estates, to attacks in highways!
Who shall rescue Kenya?
Do you wonder how Good Kenya would be if everyone did their duties diligently? It is only in Kenya where police are posted in hostile places like North Eastern not because they are experienced but to punish them. Now imagine a lazy officer being transferred from Mombasa to North Eastern where he is supposed to prevent extremists entering the country. Shall we be safe?
I hope Kenya Does something good in 2015.
Kenya is not a country, but ME and YOU.
God Bless Kenya And Her People.

A story of Butere Constituency; THE PAIN OF IGNORANCE AND NEGLIGENCE.

The Story That I have witnessed

When I was born, I was brought up in an environment where I knew questioning the elders was a taboo. I knew the good life was being a subject and accepting guidance from those you saw to be "Bigger in size than you". This sorry state of my mind was not mine alone but of many from my village and agemets I interacted with at that time.

In my naive mind, I always associated success with certain families, individuals and friends. I doubt if I knew the definition success or rather even if I knew it existed. The life of plenty, pleasure and siphoning the best honey to me was unknown. But I wasn't sure to whom I would attribute this ignorance.

It is vivid in my memory that I must have known people like Martin Shikuku, George Amukowa Anangwe and The retired President Moi. I cannot forget that I knew the name of Raila too despite not knowing musch about him.

My life was coined and coiled in this little village where I could acquire probably everuthing.

My thought of political arena always gave me an impression of death, death, death and nothing but death. To me people engaging in politics and political arena at large were those who could kill anytime and take way your wealth just as they feel like. I liked Anangwe, a former served Butere MP by fact I used to hear people call him doctor, something I dreamt to be, but I hate him realizing he was a politician.

It was clear that politicians were responsible for all atrocities in my small world of imagination.

All I knew was if you happen to be in a house that water was leaking into, you were not supposed to question why or when repair will be, but take your small blanket and move to a small corner where it was not raining. But just in case you get someone else has occupied the corner, then persevere for that night and wait tomorrow to book that corner first.

Thanks to the World,

 As I grew, I realized one thing, that

politicians were leaders, leaders needed by a society to drive change, spur development, and bring sense to a citizen like me, as I was by then on what government was. 

I learnt politicians were supposed to be good people to proclaim liberation and enhance good lives of their people.
Thanks to my dad who gave me opportunity to travel and tour the world to see further. I had an opportunity to explore, implore and visualize what these "politicians" thing was all about.

Yes, I learnt, I knew, I understood and I experienced, it is about the people, those people and the very people who vote them in.

Irony of My Knowledge.

But contrary to what I knew, I found the opposite in my locality. It is still the very opposite of my knowledge even to date. The locality of Butere constituency.

• Where a CDF project is a Mabati shade for a span of three years.
• Where  bursaries are awarded in speeches but in practices money freezed.
• Where Bursaries are awarded to the poor, needy and the destitute in CDF reports but the rich benefit in real disbursements.
• Where Bursaries are awarded to all students in the constituency in speeches in Barazaas and political rallies but in offices only selected cadres are awarded.
• This is where a location remains with an assistant chief as the acting chief for years without promotion and no leader questions.
• This is where the well being of the rich is first fended for at the cost of poor citizens.

Since when shall these happen?

There have been colourful speeches, promising slogans and voices of honour call for this liberation but has it ever come?

Chronic Ignorance,

It  remains apparent that the ignorance that our people suffered in 1963 at Independence is what our people still suffer to date.
How can you justify tarmacking of only one road in a spun of 50 years of independent rule?
How does one in his or her senses justify the poverty, Clan intolerance, unbuilt police houses, uncouth reserve policing, unconstcructed sources of safe water in a constituency whose icon is only presence on a national map?

If you can help me unravel this, I shall be grateful. 

BREAKING NEWS: AL-SHABAAB LEADER FINALLY SPEAKS.. THREATENS KENYA OF ANOTHER “WESTGATE” VERY SOON **EXCLUSIVE**

Mogadishu (Harar24) – In a 37-minute long audio message recorded by Al-Shabaab’s leader and released by Al-Shabaab’s media wing, the much feared leader sent chilling threats to Kenya & condolences to Kenyan Muslims in recent light of the crackdown against Kenayn Muslims and Somalis in particular.
In the Arabic audio message accompanied with English subtitles & video segments of the Kenyan violence against Kenyan Muslims, the Al-Shabaab leader taunts Kenya labeling the Kenyan invasion into Somalia as a “historical blunder”. The video shows graphic images of atrocities committed by the Kenyan government such as the well-known massacres that occurred at Garissa and Wagalla in the 1980’s, drawing parallels between the atrocities and the ongoing violence targeting Muslims in Nairobi & Mombasa.
“Do not simply tolerate the deaths of your scholars, violation of your mosques sanctity & the plundering of your wealth.” Said Abu Zubayr, leader of the Al-Qaeda linked group. “Do not stand by idly so that the historical massacres that were perpetrated against you do not return” added the militant leader, hinting at the Garissa & Wagalla massacres.
After outlining what he deemed as “oppression against Muslims”, the militant leader urged Kenyan Muslims to carry arms and to shun courts and parliaments, indicating that only the mighty are respected. “Don’t waste your time in front of their courts and pleading to their parliaments, for they do not respect except the powerful ones, and they do not comprehend any language except that of the gun” said Abu Zubayr in the message who accompanied the request for armed struggle with a chilling reminder & threat of Westgate-like attacks saying: “And the Westgate operation if not far off from you!”.
The audio messages glamorizes and eulogizes Muslim clerics who were believed to be assassinated by Kenyan anti-terror units, including the late clerics Abubakr “Makaburi” Sharif and Aboud Rogo who were assassinated in Mombasa. Both clerics were known for openly inciting Kenyan youth to go to Somalia as part of their religious duty and to defend themselves in Kenya by carrying arms.
The video features a clip where Makaburi predicts that he’ll be killed at the hands of Kenyan forces. “Follow the path of your Mujahideen scholars who openly claimed the truth & who were murdered by the Kenyan Special Forces” says Abu Zubayr directing his message towards Kenyan Muslim youth.
This latest recording of Al-Shabaab leader who’s known to frequently record messages in Somali and Arabic has gained the attention of analysts, who see this message as insight into the mindset of the militant leader who by sending guidelines & condolences to East African Muslims and global jihadists, promotes himself as the de-facto leader of Al-Qaeda in East Africa.

 Via ~ Harar 24 News.