The other day I had
an interesting discussion with my dad over what the future holds when Kenya moves
to a digital platform in terms of TV-broadcasting. Those of us who are young,
for a reason find the electronic world a bit easy. I guess that is why for some
of us like me, we manage to operate a new device head on before even going
through the manual.
But digital TVs will
very soon be creating waves and buzz throughout Kenya, offering more than 700
channels on high definition TVs that are set to make family entertainment and
family television time more luxurious for the viewers.
What does this mean
then to the local broadcasting industry? Well, on the benefit side, the shift
to digital TV is expected to cause substantial growth in this industry; with
existing broadcasters providing a far wider variety of fresh, local and
entertaining programmes.
Currently, every to
station in Kenya distributes its own analogue signal, at considerable costs. With
the roll-out of digital TV, stations will pay far less for distributing their
programmes.
It is hoped this will
give producers of local movies, drama, sports, news and documentaries the
opportunity and funds to develop content, and in the process, create more jobs
for the emerging film and TV industry. This growth will be even propelled
faster if the government’s intention of passing a 40 per cent local content law
comes to pass.
The digital platform
will also allow viewers to receive multiple programmes on the same channel,
with broadcasters being able to air up to 10 programmes simultaneously on one
frequency.
So the big question I
bet on your mind right now is where are in terms so this big switch? Well, the
deadline to replace analogue TV with with digital broadcasting was way back in
2012. This would have means that had we made the switch last year, then Kenya would
be second to South Africa on the continent.
A 21-inch plasma TV currently
retails for around ksh.30, 000. The new digital TVs will cost just a few thousands
more, according to Samsung. However, TV owners don’t need to invest in a new TV
to receive the new digital signals. They can instead invest in a set to- box (government
recommended DUB-T2 converters); which converts analogue to digital. These are
already in the market countrywide; selling roughly at around ksh.4500.
read this piece here-http://www.kenyakidz.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=808:the-renaissance-of-tvs-in-kenya-from-analogue-to-digital&catid=22:our-kenya&Itemid=140
Receive greetings from the son of the oracles. For now,
congratulations Your Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta; fourth president-elect
of the Republic of Kenya. I came across a great piece online by a
concerned matatu tout who is an ardent supporter of your nemesis who is
in court over the election debacle. If he cared my opinion, I would
advise him and all Kenyans to read that matatu tout’s piece on “we move
forward” (donda254.wordpress.com). The biggest mistake we can make as
Kenyans is to rubbish him off and disregard him as a mere stakeholder in
the matatu industry. Today I stand before you as
a son of the soil and a s a Kenyan youth who has grown up knowing not
my people’s language but 3 languages common to many of my generation-
Swahili; English and what bonds my generation-“sheng.”
I
am here for all those voices which cannot be heard- mothers, daughters,
fathers and sons; some of whom have grown up knowing no other language
apart from the 3 mentioned earlier. Anyway, as I
was saying. You have a tall order especially to those like me who did
not vote for you sir and that order is to make all of us feel like we
belong to you and that you belong to us. It is
time to win Kenya over; not just for the preservation of ourselves, but
of our children and the generations that will follow. For the
preservation of liberty, reason, law and order; but most importantly for
hope.
Those who think
“we lost” are deeply hurting sir. They feel their decision has been
wasted to the pages of history. But their courage indeed bonds us
together. That Kenya is made stronger by their actions and that their
choices today reflect their bravery to exercise their democratic right
by voting.
These pages
need no history lessons Mr. President. The curse of uniting Kenyans has
haunted every president that has set his eyes on the house on the hill. Mzee Jomo himself filed this test badly. Mzee
Moi did not do well; either. Before I am reminded; I have to remind you
that was why KANU was vanquished in 2002 General elections.
As for Baba Jimmy; the test of Nationhood has been a total disaster. It derogates all the other good things he did.
The
son of the oracles expects that you will enumerate the lessons you want
to leave. Rule of law. Honor. Duty. Glory. And that you will not play
with the memoirs of this sacred country. Whether
we like or not, how we handle ethnicity today, at this very moment, will
determine the level of faith Kenyans will have in your government and
in the new constitution.
Kenya
is bigger than any of us. Kenyans are watching you Mr. President,
especially with regard to how you handle the little matter of the
kitchen cabinet. After all, isn’t tribal balancing what presidents
always do, even as they reserve the prizy portfolios for their people?
Your
Excellency, for me and a legion more, we watch with our pen and paper
in hand. At any rate, even royal ears ought to accept to listen, even to
lips they do not like. But even if they will not listen, they must
still be told.
Finally,
what will change or break Kenya are the little things we do. Your
Excellency, you can choose to ignore the sentiments of the people that
glide before your eyes every day and end up making us a ragtag of
mutually hostile war like tribes that bay each other’s blood. The
problem is for my generation we have no tribe loyalty.
Or
you can be a penchant that makes us one thriving and united proud
nation. The choice I would say is yours! And so may the good God help
you.
The son of the
oracles will keep you company throughout sir. So, keep your eyes open to
my letters. And as you take that bold step to unite Kenyans, probably
what Sun Tzu said in his book “The art of war” will be a nice place to start;
“Regard
your soldiers as your children and they will follow you unto the
deepest valleys. Look at them as your won beloved sons; and they will
stand by you even unto death.” Cheers! -by Embukane Vincent Libosso; communication student at Daystar University and blogger at Africa’s Hangout blog.
this story was picked up by african press international-http://africanpress.me/2013/03/18/kenyans-the-test-of-nationhood-congratulating-president-elect-hon-kenyatta/
Back in
2007; heading to 2008, no one ever imagined that being from different tribe
from your friends would one day endanger your life. That is why it was shocking
to everyone when allies turned to enemies and many ended up becoming victims of
tribal hatred.
Promoting peace
through creativity is a strong way to get the message across. Who can deny the
voice of thousands in a collective message forming one voice delivered in a
dramatic and heartfelt way?
That is why
I was ready to be part of the production team behind this worthy cause of
promoting peace and harmony during and after this election period.
A bunch of
dedicated film lovers got together under the directorship of Mr. Henry Oriwo to
promote unity and forgiveness across ethnic tribal lines.
Recounting
the 2007-2008 post-election violence; the p.s.a promotes the simple message: “we
are all one!” it also focuses on the “f”-word and that in this case is “forgiveness
is freedom!”
The lessons
of the past show that peace exposes violence for what it truly is and shames
those who would perpetuate it. Nowhere was this more true that in reggae icon
Joseph Hill Culture’s reggae music and messages;
“If the
lions, the apes, the worms, the birds, the cats, the dogs, the hyenas and other
families are not fighting. Tell me; really what are we fighting for? We are
fighting down our own self-esteem. It is better to have some peace around us,
simply because it is really dark and illiterate, and backward thinking to have
war among us. But to have peace amongst us my brothers is intelligent. NO tribal
war!”
President Obama
message to Kenya’s true sons and daughters of the soil ahead of the 2013 polls
was simple: “this election cab be another milestone towards a truly democratic Kenya,
defined by the rule of law and strong institutions… if you take that step and
reject a path of violence and divisions, then Kenya can move towards prosperity
and opportunity that unleashes the extraordinary talents of your people…”
-do make
sure to check us out:
Facebook.com/
Henry Oriwo & facebook.com/ Embukane Vincent Libosso.
Cocacola as an international brand has served the needs of many
consumers globally and in Kenya for many years. Their brands are accepted and
loved worldwide but I think my love for the brands is slowly fading off.
To me; the face of impunity is best portrayed by a cocacola ad where a
lady realizes the seller is about to con her by selling soda at a higher price
that the recommended price.
But isn’t that the reality on the ground. The other day I argued with a
rude shopkeeper who was selling me a 15-ml black currant soda at ksh. 30
instead of the stipulated ksh.23.
The same impunity crosses over to restaurants and other entertainment
joints in the city where a sh.23 soda now goes for sh.100 take it or leave it
no questions asked.
Where is the stand os coca cola Kenya on the escalating prices? We are
being robbed on broad daylight, left in the hands of greedy middlemen and no
one seem to adress this.
An advert as I understand ( I stand corrected) sells a product and
passes a message. Your advert does stipulate the price of a 15-ml soda to be
sh.23. kindly address this or save us from hearing a wrong advert that is mis- directing Kenyans.
I stand corrected at any rate. This is not a man-hunt letter but a
letter from a concerned customer. So, I continue to be a lover of your products while at the same time a critic. But one whose loyalties keep on changing. As long
as you address this, you have got yourself a keeper. Kudos on the good job.
You can’t help noticing the new trend in Nairobi where everyone in the office is eating peanuts. From men to fellow women; it seems like the in-thing.
As everyone keeps on nibbling theses little wonders called peanuts; your truly did a research and found out that there is a huge surge in both diabetes and high blood pressure; with a filling on half of our country’s already over stretched hospital beds.
Back in 2008; a random sample of 4,000 dwellers in central Nairobi found 700 of them suffering from either high blood pressure or diabetes.
Writing for Nakumatt’s Smart Life Magazine; Larisa Brown laments; “lifestyle diseases that were at the bottom of the ‘health concern’ list are now a cause of alarm.
But scientific evidence shows that high blood pressure can be ended in just a few weeks; and the risk of heart disease set aside, by eating just a handful of nuts a day. These nuts include nuts like almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts.
It was in California back in 1992 that researchers at Loma Linda university first discovered that people eating nuts daily had up to 60 per cent fewer heart attacks that those who didn’t. The study of 31,000 people; of all weights; ages and both genders, was based on a mix of peanuts, almonds, walnuts and other nuts.
It is time to move from the old age mentality that nutritional advice has always tended towards advising minimal nut consumption on the grounds that they area a ‘fatty’ food. On the contrary, scientists now say eating nuts regularly reduces the risk of obesity and may help with weigh loss.
Since I am a foodie and we are in the whole issue of nuts; why don’t you try my guacamole with peanuts some time?
Serves 2
Prep: 15 mins; no cooking or fire
2 mashed up guacamoles
A bag of nuts
2 finely chopped small pieces of raw tomato
1 finely chopped small pieces of raw onion
1.Mash up the guacamole into a sauce.
2.Add the finely chopped raw tomatoes and onions.
3.Stir in the onions and tomatoes with the guacamole sauce.
4.Add the bag of nuts and mix them up.
-sugar can be added to increase taste for those who love their guacamole with sugar.
-guacamole is what we know in the local language as avocado.
the story is online at-http://kenyakidz.com/new/index.php/latest-news/17-health/778-nuts-heal-chronic-diseases-studies-show
Today, close to a week gone, this country won the right to
determine its own path and destiny. Today, though writing from the other side;
having been a loyal supporter of CORD Movement, we move forward because of you.
This elections,
you the true sons and daughters of the red, green, white and black, reminded us
that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are a Kenyan
family and we are unified as one nation and as one people.
Despite
the road being hard and the journey long, we have picked ourselves up, dusted
off and fought our way back. I take this time to salute every Kenyan who
participated in this election, whether you voted for the very first time like
me or waited in line for a very long time. I want to thank Kenyans for being
peaceful, patriotic and calm awaiting the results- by the way, we have to
change and fix all these.
Whether
you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone, whether you held a
presidential sign or volunteered; you made your voice heard and you made a
difference.
I want
to congratulate all the presidential candidates on a hard fought campaign. We
may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply
and we care so strongly about its future. And so, we choose to applaud the
presidential candidates and their families for choosing to give back to Kenya through
public service. That is the legacy that we can’t take way because it must burn
deep within and we applaud it today.
To the
best electoral team and volunteers in the history of our politics. The best. The
best ever. Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at Chairman
Isaac Hassan’s side since the very beginning. But all of you are family. No
matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the
history you made together and you will have the lifelong appreciation and
respect of a grateful nation for conducting a credible electoral process. Thank
you for your incredible work. But I will say for now, a break and a long hot
bath is probably enough after this for some of you.
To some,
I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. Some have
even gone to say that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the
domain of special interests. But elections do matter. That’s why we do this. It’s
not small, it’s big. It’s important. Democracy in a nation of 40 million plus can
be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has
deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big
decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.
That
won't change in the next coming days, and it shouldn't. These arguments we have
are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in
distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue
about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did
today.
But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes
for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have
access to the best education. A county that lives up to its promises and
potential for good jobs, better health care and new businesses. A country that
withholds dignity and freedom for every human being.
We
believe in and an admirable Kenya, in a pace- setter country, in a compassionate
Kenya, opens to the dreams of her youths, women and men alike. To the young boy
on the north side of Nairobi who sees life beyond the nearest slums or street
corner. To the furniture worker’s child in Mombasa who wants to become a doctor
or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president-
that’s the future we hope for. That's the vision we share. That's where we need
to go — forward. That's where we need to go.
The focus now turns on
moving this great nation forward. Now along the way, we will disagree,
sometimes fiercely, about how to get there.
Your work as Kenyans is
not done. The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote.
This
country has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We
have one of the most powerful military in history, but that's not what makes us
strong. Our university, our culture, our musicians, our heritage, our athletes
are all the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to
our shores and watching us with envy.
What make us exceptional are the bonds that hold together the
most diverse nation on earth. The belief that our destiny is shared; that this
country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to
future generations. The freedom which so many Americans have fought for and
died for come with responsibilities as well as rights. And among those are what
the spirits of our ancestors urge us on, and those are love and charity and
duty and patriotism. That's what makes Kenya great.
To my preferred
candidate, Mr. Raila “Jakom” Odinga-the enigmatic one and the CORD family, you
have been a true testimony to our blood line and democracy. Our roar was long
and loud; but that is because we love this country so much. If I was to say
something to this big family; then it would probably be-“it was an honor to
have fought at your side!”
For Kenya;
I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists,
despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so
long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep
fighting.
I believe we can build on
the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity
and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our
founders. I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as
divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe.
We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more
than a collection of red, black and green counties. We are and forever will be
the United Counties of Kenya.
And together with your help and God's grace we will continue our
journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the
greatest nation on Earth.
Thank you, Kenya. God bless you. God bless these united country.”
-additional
insights from president Obama re-election speech ‘‘The Best is yet to come.’’
-To
CORD supporters special dedication of Chronixx song-“we nuh give up”.
FOLLOW THIS BLOG-http://donda254.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/kenya-decides-2013-we-now-move-forward/
We've all heard them - the pregnancy myths and old wives' tales centered on the gender of a baby. From eating your meat rawer in the hopes of conceiving a boy, to a heart rate over 140 indicating a girl, there are a wide variety of pregnancy myths around the world. Since pregnancy myths are a fun (but definitely not scientific!) way to day dream about the sex of your future child, we chose to illustrate some of the ones we found most interesting. Enjoy, and please share with your family, friends, and colleagues!
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