THE WONDER OF NATURE

The Adventist sang, "There's a wonder of sunset at evening, a wonder of sunrise I see."
Yes! The East ball smiles as it kisses everything we call His creation, it's warmth enveloping even the small lizards.
It's hues spreads painting the blue canvas a kaleidoscope,a rainbow as it dips it's head in setting below the deep waters of The Nile's Lake Victoria.
It rests upon grasses, transforming the dew into diamonds.
Rising for those who face the snowy tops of Mount Kenya praying, " O God of all creation. "

The winds makes a chorus with the evergreens as the lion catches the melody from it's lip with a bass roar.
Streams everflowing make a symphony as pond birds soulfully sing with the chirping crickets.
Rustling leaves, thunderstorms, quaking of the earth key high and low notes; for lightning comes with fear but the farmer anticipates.
 The sound of nature, the pianist of the earth punctuating the song of the earth with the autumn rain.
Nature weaves a tapestry that brings solace ; the hyena laughs, man smiles.

The Queen of the desert pads her parted toes across the brown canvas of the Sahara,
The snake slithers, the scorpion buries it's head, the orange ball oozes tequilla spirit.
The oases stand unopposed against the burning star, nature thrives.
Palm trees, the Jatropha brings life into the desert.
As the desert's thirst is quenched at sapphire moonlight by great oceans; because that's where the earth meets the ocean.

The giraffe graciously paves the Savannah, acacia is there no more.
The territorial bull; the white rhino lies in defeat on the burning ground.
Thump! Steps the elephants to avenge the fallen. We cry; nature destroys but can mother nature forgive? What's the atonement for sin? You pay the price right?
Rocks fall,land slides, forests burns, houses are swept. "Nature but why?" We set ready go fight nature like a foe. Mother nature closes her eyes.
The soil's virginity we've done away with in blood battles over oil and bloody diamonds. Nature's sanity we've stripped into charcoal and rentals.

Let's restore nature's divine radiance.
Plant a tree, free the caged bird.
Let the rivers flow as it sings "Great is thy faithfulness."
For nature is our shrine; in it is grace. In it we sing, "Glory! Glory!"

By: Jepkosgei Marion
      Kenya

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HOOKED

Let  X be the value of my love for you

Then Y be the erotic sense you've enthralled me with

X+Y would be our symmetric set of keys

Those that would open the depths of our love

If you assume P as the width of our future

And Q as the length of sparks we share,

Then PQ has an infinite value

Darling, your sinful stare makes me excited 

And your apparent desire for me

Locks my heart away

Since I've never felt my heart,

Fall deeper than the slope of our our graphical intercept

Am so hooked up in you I cant sleep without your dreams

And I have so much trust am afraid

That I'll sink down this integral music

That's playing right in my heart

So baby, take me by the waist

Then pull me with no haste

Going only by your pace

Let our hearts tangle up

As we multiply each others desire

With you whispering the physical & emotional value of your love for me

Am hooked

By:Yvonne

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THE RISE AND RISE OF ETHIC AND THEIR COPYCATS

Once upon a time in a land in the east side of Africa called Kenya something

spellbinding happened.

A group of libertine  slice-of-life young boys from an area called eastlands decided to compose a song. The song wasn't artistic like an Orchestra symphony by Dolly Parton or socially conscious like an album lead-single from Nassir Bin Olu Dara Jones popularly known as Nas.

It was an explicit ear-shocker capable of making nuns to hold on tight to their rosaries and say "forgive them Lord." in unison

The teenagers called the song "Lamba Lolo." but they didn't forget to give themselves a name too. They unanimously agreed to go by the name ethic, despite the fact that what they were singing was devoid of ethics.

To accompany the audio, they did a low quality video that looked like it had been shot with an old school Motorola flip-flop phone. Not only did the video lack proper direction but it was also overcrowded. I guess someone was shouting "Kujeni mtokee kwa vidaa" (come over you'll appear in a video) to any teenager that was passing near the shoot. It was obvious that they were just having fun and didn't expect it to be anything major.

On May 31st 2018 Ethic posted the video on YouTube. Little did they know that they were about to become overnight sensation. Within a short time the song had gone viral and everyone was talking about them

Lamba lolo now sits at 4 million YouTube views. That's a big achievement for newcomers and especially for artists in Kenya. Only the likes of Willy Paul, Sauti Sol, and Otile Brown have managed to hit such hits in the past.

After the surprise success of their song, they stuck to the same formula and released five more songs just like it. There was 'New position' 'saba'  'Instagram' then 'Pandana' to 'figa'

All these songs went on to perform extremely well

As expected, other people now want to ride in the same fairly tale. Several Ethic copycats have now emerged and attempted to use the same modus operandi. An alarming number of young Kenyans are forming groups and releasing ostentatious vulgar songs which never land quite right. They then accompany these songs with doltish low-budgeted videos. Such groups are the Sailors, Zero Sufuri, Wakali wao among others.

It's a worrisome trend. These kids are hoping to be the next ethic but as expected, their songs aren't gaining any major traction. The only thing that's going their way is unlimited outrage.

There is a reason why Ethic as a group work together so well. All the members bring something different to the table . Reckless is the chorus guy and flow guy who always get the tracks kicking. Swat is a likable lad who says outrageous things that gets people talking. Seska is the talented rapper who gives the group legitimacy as a proper hip-hop group capable of delivering heavy bars and Zilla is not a disappointment either.

The groups that are trying to copy Ethic don't have this kind of aptitude-diversity hence their songs end up sounding odd and eerie.

They might not be the first to mould themselves in the loop likeness of popular stars but they might as well be the laziest. Unlike Ethic these groups are trying to force stardom. The emergence of these groups shows how some people don't take themselves seriously. If you are serious about your career in music you would never copy anyone else.

My sincere advice to copycats is that  always endeavor to be a first rate version of yourself not a second rate version of somebody else.

During the recent play Kenyan Music debate, those who were against the idea of forcing the idea to play Kenyan Music were quick to bring up songs by these idle teenagers to prove that how  Kenyan music had become horrible to listen to. I didn't like the idea of using Ethic as a case study as to why Kenyan music ought not to receive massive air play.

This is because that is totally unfair to the good artists that are trying to come up. Copycats are the only ones supposed to be cursed and shunned. If indeed you are serious about music come up with your own style copying will only make you relevant for a short time and then you disappear into oblivion.

By Ben Mugambi

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LOST AT HEART

A love seemingly absent
Yet it's so alive in me
My mind questions but,
 My heart beats to one rhythm
The mind beats "You should go"
But my heart beats "I should love"
See, my heart has its mind,
And my mind has its mind!
What did i ever do but love?
Loved insanely but grey ticks came in handy.
And since when did a question mean arguing?
Mystery never unfolding,
Love never growing,
Just glowing.
Glowing within me but smoke within you,
Smoke reminding me of once a love.
Dear heart,
Just keep me alive,
Am tired!
Tired of u doing the thinking
And then I end up bleeding!

By: Jennifer Mwangi (Sonia)

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OUR SOCIETY

Our society has painted it's mark indelibly,
And deeply curved itself onto our future.
Our society has built itself on the idea of lust,
Watered our brains with it's desire,
And cultured our growth on it's glorification.
So we live to lust.

Music, our most powerful conveyer of cultural growth speaks not less,
Over perfectly formed beats, lust is proudly preached,
Our media, confidently share the gospel in tune,
So we praise these songs' _'perfect'_ words,
And encourage our own to sing along,
Actively inviting their minds into this sea we drown in.

We keep scores of our lustful exploits,
And with them seek superiority,
We brand the less lustful less mature, less normal,
We build a culture where even infants appreciate lust,
So I blame neither the clothes we wear nor the thoughts we conceive,
Or how our bodies react to it,
Because it has been hot wired into our system,
I know, I sound weird because we believe our actions are our own personal choices,
But do we notice that those very actions define our immediate society?

I'm not a pessimist, neither do I aspire to be one,
But how can a society learn to grow when it's primary desire is so vain?
We can recreate our culture,
We can choose what to share more,
How to act more.
We can choose.

By: Allan Irrow

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LET'S BE, ETERNALLY

I used to hear the vibrations,
And see their's align in dance,
I used to hear the melodies,
And wonder why the notes sounded so blunt.
I used to tune my strings too tight,
I used to bruise strings on each strum,
And break them on each pick.
For I knew not how best to listen,
For then I couldn't feel the music,
For to me the music was just a show,
And the players futile hunters of their souls as I was.

But when I met you,
I found  clear notes in the lines and the words in a perfect fit,
When I met you my fingers softened each turn,
And found intimacy in our strums.
With flawless vibrations of your strings we created this priceless melody.
My body learnt to listen,
To feel each vibration as a part of a whole,
To gently execute the strums,
And softly pluck your strings,
For you made me own the music.

So let me caress your strings with my bow,
And lovingly tickle them,
Let me sink in this melody we create,
And let our bodies flow with these pockets of pressure it creates.
For my bow has mastered your strings,
And my body has grown fond of this melody,
So much that it knows not another way to live.
Eternally let the music be ours alone.

By: Allan Irrow

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CHUKA CHUO KIZURI

Mandhari yapendeza, kwa hakika si utani, 

Mazingira kukoleza, uzuri uso kifani, 

Majengo kahanikiza, pia nzuri bustani, 

Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka, Chuo kizuri hakika.

Katabiri Bi Kanyua, miaka ya hamsini, 

Mlima utaja kua, maeneo ya Ndagani, 

Na kweli yakatimia, chuo hiki yamkini, 

Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka, Chuo kizuri hakika.

Naibu wa chansela, ustadhi Bwana Njoka, 

Katujali masuala, yakaweza kututoka, 

Hawezi katu kulala, tukiwa kwenye mashaka, 

Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka, Chuo kizuri hakika.

Wenye heba wahadhiri, nzuri ya kutamanika, 

Hawatokutia shari, ujuzi kajirundika, 

Tumeweza kunawiri, maarifa katuweka,

Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka, Chuo kizuri hakika.

Za kila nui shahada, diploma uzamifu, 

Zaidi stashahada, uzamili yake kufu, 

Mashahada ya ziada, na digrii lufufu, 

Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka, Chuo kizuri hakika.

Wanafunzi nawaita, chuo hiki kujiunga, 

Elimu bora kupata, kesho yenu kuipanga, 

Mfike bila kusita, mbele zaidi kusonga,

Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka, Chuo kizuri hakika

         A.L.Maingi Ndungi.

         "Malenga Mamboleo"

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THIS KINDA LOVE?!...MPAKA LINI??!

                                                                 

Nikiandika hii story sio eti niko kwa comfort zone,,

Nashangaa vile life iko mpaka nimekaa kwa kibanda,,

Nimekosa piece imagine hata piece of mind.                          

Nimekosa hata usingizi kwa kila place nalala,hata pia kwa kitanda,,

Kama ni kusoma,highschool nilisoma ndio ngazi ya SUCCESS niwe nikipanda,,

Nikaacha everything ndio watu wasipate reason ya ku-ni-judge na hata pia wengine kuniita danda,,

Nakumbuka Nikiambiwa eti life in Campus iko smooth mpaka unaweza dhani eti ni mbao imepigwa randa,,

Eti huko hakuna rules kama zile za NTSA ndio watu wafunge mikanda,,

KCSE nikapita na nikaitwa University Kenya na hata sio Uganda,,

Zile vitu zinafanyika Campus sai zinafanya nishike tama,,mpaka I still wonder,,

Kama ningekuwa mwanamziki,,ningeimba,nu-record,,na hata pia nitoe kanda,,

 Hii message naandikia comrades wote,,uwe kijana au msichana,,

 Coz hizi love triangles tunaziskia day in day out,,usiku na mchana,,

Am really sad na nasaka  watu watasimama na kusema no hapana,,

Ju our lives ni important na  pia hakuna mtu  hajui ni ya dhamana,,

Tunafai kuilinda na all the unnecessary burdens tuziset aside yaani kuziacha,

Nakujua that we can never rely on our on strength,,ila tu ile ya Rabana,,

All the news in TV ni vile love in love in Campus inapelekana,,

All these inafaa kuisha,,na sii Unajua sio jana ama kesho but ni hivi sasa,,

Mauaji yamekuwa mengi na breaking news za kila gazeti, unaweza dhani ni siasa,,

Very serious  hadi sasa imekuwa mikasa,,

Sijui niaje nitawafunza kwa sababu mko wengi na hamwezi toshea kwa darasa,,

From Kisumu,,Nairobi na hata pia wale wa Mombasa,,

Sijui nani atawa-advice because nimejaribu watu wote ikiwemo hata akina Barasa,,

Ama sijui ni spiritual talk ndio inaweza wabadilisha ndio sote  tuende kwa kanisa,,

Machozi yananilenga nikiandika hii story mpaka sijui vile nitafungua ingine ukurasa,,

Kama ningekuwa na uwezo ninge-advertise hii kitu hadi VIU-SASA,,

Fellow comrades mi nataka tuongelee hii kitu inaitwa mapenzi,,

Lakini hii ya campus sijui niite mapenzi kishenzi,,

Kwa sababu si kama ile ya kitambo na hata zilizopita  enzi,,

Wakati love ilikuwa love hata kwa wale walikuwa wakifanya ujenzi,,

Tumeskia vifo vya mapenzi  si kitambo juu Ilikuwa tu hizi siku za majuzi,,

Hii si uongo ama umbea kama in the case of dozidozi,,

Tuliowapenda tunawabebea kisu,panga,shoka unaweza dhani hao ni wezi,,

Tunawapoteza students wengi na sasa tumechoka na maombolezi,,

Lazima tusimame pamoja na kuacha hizi vitu kwa sababu hakuna kitu hatuwezi,,

Sina nguvu ya kufikisha mwisho hii story,,

Because ile situation  tuko si mchezo but ni ngori,,

Tumeacha kuwa binadamu na sasa ku-behave kama wanyama pori,,

Ni lini love itakuja kuwa easy kama ku-thresh out rice kwa pishori?

Ile kibanda nimekaa bado najiuliza tu maswali,,

Ni kina nani wata-embrace hii message na pia hata wataikubali,,

Ju ile place tumetoka si karibu  na bado tunataka  kuenda mbali,,

Hizi mapenzi ni personal lakini ikivunjika sijui mbona tuna-involve serikali,,

Lakini wakati bado inaendelea vizuri tunawaambia hawana right ya kuingilia yaani hawana kibali,,

Nikimalizia nasema  mapenzi ni kitu nzuri sikatai,,

Lakini zile vifo zinatokea out of the love in  campus hazifai kutokea kamwe,, 

Tunaweza overcome all these things if and only if we try,,

Tusimame na tu-protect the name of our campuses na sio eti tunajidai,,

Hii story nimeandika hapa ni reality and not just a lie,,

@LennoxOlima

    2019

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NOSTALGIA!

Let’s take a walk down memory lane to the good old days, savor the richness of smells when the rains hit the thirsty soils, the aura of fragrances when green clothes the fields up to the horizons, the tranquility of the hills and plains in the backdrop, where my friends and I would slide down on my father’s wooden Coca-Cola crate. Take a trip down memory lane on the many ‘mtungis’ we took from mama’s store and cut the top off and tow each other along the forest paths, lets have a dip in the cool springs and crystal clear rivers next to my grandfather’s arrow root farm. Welcome down this exciting life where herding tauguht us greater lessons than books will ever do, not that education is lesser, but life’s teachings are incomparable. Let’s play hide and seek in grandpa’s farm and race each other up trees like young monkeys, not that am getting racist, but in that race, the last at the tail had to be called the monkey face.

Welcome all and sit round the night fire and join grandpa in his tales of the Mau Mau war, how our war heroes outwitted the white man, join in his tales of his fight in Burma, the betrayals and sell outs and learn the greatest lesson arithmetic will never teach you, that blood is thicker than water. The tales of giants and ogres who ate disobedient children, idle boys and girls and the old witch who tricked lazy and naughty children and learn the greatest lessons  that early schooling never taught you; bonds, limits and hard work were the cord that held society together.

Not that early schooling is bad but who will teach our kids how to set bird traps, how to catch grasshoppers, skip the ropes, know the meaning of all work with no play, makes Jack a dull boy. Not that early schooling is bad, but who wouldn’t die to re- live these memories that our kids are missing and only hear in stories. Who will tell them tales of the greedy hyena and the clever hare, of the great blacksmith who went into far lands to cast his ore leaving behind his heavily pregnant young wife to the delight of one ugly one- eyed ogre, who will show the young girls how to make flower necklaces and chase after butterflies in the fields.

Who will teach the young boys to handle themselves like the courageous great men they are, harden them to fall, rise up and dust themselves and put on a big smile of bravery? Not that early schooling is bad, but other things matter the most when their time comes knocking. Let kids be kids. Nostalgia!

by Githinji Kiiru.

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HII STORY NI NGORI!

Alipokaa chini na kuniambia hiyo story,,

 Huku akitokwa mpaka na machozi,,

           For real bro,,

  Nilikuwa really sorry,,

  Nilitamani kumpea advice ya wale wasee kama akina Oduori,,

  But hii situation ilikuwa tu ngori,,

 

  Hivi ndio alianza,,"Nakumbuka hizo enzi,,,

  Ni kama ilikuwa jana,, Ju,,

  Ile day niliambiwa  kwangu utakuwa zaidi  ya rafiki" yaani mpenzi,,

 

 

  Ilikuwa tu SAA sita  ya mchana,,

  Huyo boy alipenda denzi,,Na aliji-introduce kama Katana,

  Aki sii alikuwa sawa,,sii height,, colour,, na mpaka nywele alikuwa akichana,,

 

  Sikuwahi muona akitumia "weed"

  So I don't know kama na ji-contradict,,

  Nikisema hakuwa "akichana",

  Nilimpenda sana mpaka nikaanza ku-dream eti Mimi na yeye  tukiwa ndani ya KCY..Mercedes       benzi,,

  Pete tukienda kuvishana,, pale kanisani  

 

  Lakini nilikuwa very wrong,

  Huyu boy aliniona kama mshenzi,,

  Nilipomwambia nampenda sana,,

  Alikuja home akiwa mlevi,, na kuanza kusema imepita miezi,,

  Na eti ilikuwa bora tukiachana,,

 

  Yaani alinidanganya eti anafanya kazi kwa ofisi,,,kumbe ni ya ujenzi,,

  Na eti pia...nilijua,,

  hakuwa M-kenya,,

  Eti ye ni M-Ghana,,

   Kumbe all the empty words.. eti mi ni mrembo,,

  Imagine alikuwa anani-compare na Akoko,,

  Yule mama ya Owuor Kembo,,

  Mpaka inamfanya ajiskie kwa kichaka kuwa ye ndio tembo,,,

  Ilikuwa tu kama ile mbiu ya mgambo,,Ambayo ikilia

  Sii unajua tu kuna jambo,,

 

  Sikumbuki tu mwaka,mwezi wiki,,,,nakumbuka pia date,,

  Vile aliniambia eti yeye Hu-deal na wasee campus,,

  Sio  wasee wa  TVET,,,

  Alianza kuni-play na yule dem alikuwa akifanya kazi Cadet,,

  Kumbe jina yake ilikuwa Chebet,,

  Na kuniambia eti alikuwa na doo juu alikuwa pia ana-bet,,

  Na pia alikuwa akitoka huko lower Kabet,,

 

  Sijui mbona aliacha hiyo " e",,

  Ndio iwe  lower Kabete,,

  Coz ilikuwa ni kama mse kuongeza "I",,

  Kwa ile poster ya house to let,,

       

 

  Although its painful,,

  Madem wenzangu..lazima niwaweke up to date,,,

  Coz watu wengine watawapima,,,

  Na kuwa-compare ndio wajue who is greater,,

  Coz these things are real,,

  Na hakuna mse anaweza tell his fate,,

  I wish ningejua nilikuwa nacheza na moto,,

  Huyo boy aliharibu zangu ndoto,,

  Alikimbia na kuniachia mpaka mtoto,,

  Niliogopa mpaka nikaanza kutokwa na chembamba kijoto,,

   Lakini,,

  God alinishika mkono,,

  Ile time watu walini-judge na kunichukia kama konokono,,,,

  Nilijua ni yeye tu atanikubali,,

  Na kwake Sai naelekaza yangu mkono,,

  Niliwasamehe wote,,akina Katana na pia Rono,,

 

  Hii dunia ni all about kuachilia yaliyopita yaani the past,,,

  Na ku-assume that all ilikuwa ni kama part of the dust,,

  Na kuweka all your believe in God,,yaani trust,,

  Kwa Sababu mapenzi yake si optional but ni a must,,

 

  Sai nimeamua ku-focus na kuwa na a sharp eye queue,,

  Kama Kenya Airways,, yaani K.Q,,

  Nimeamua kupanga line ya success,,

  Even though iko  na a long queue,,

  Na I wish nyinyi wote  mngeacha all the unnecessary yaani the excess,,,

  Na kufuata this road to success,,

      By Lennox Omondi

      2019

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SEX RUINED MY HAPPY RELATIONSHIP

by Vincent Owino

Are you dating? Are you happy? If your answer to both of these questions is yes, then you may agree with this. “A relationship begins to die the moment sex is introduced into it.” These are the exact words of a rueful varsity student who will give it all to just turn back the clock and return to just a year ago. “I will do it right I swear; I will do it all right” He says.

The third year Chuka University student [let’s give him a pseudo name, John; spoke to the Gilder Magazine on the condition of anonymity], claims sex ruined his happy relationship. He had been in a relationship with a girl for two years, which dates back to his form 4 in 2015. Many high school relationships are said to never really work out in the real world, but according to him, theirs was an exception. It was going to work. Echoing his words, she was an amazing lady; beautiful is an understatement. She was smart, principled, godly, bold and very intelligent. A rare breed of girls indeed.

Unlike many high school relationship, even though they were always miles apart, ‘sexting’ had never found its way into their relationship. They never thought about it, not the virtual one, not the real one. Maybe they were naïve, but they were both happy, and it worked out very well for them. They both finished high school (the girl a year after the guy), joined different universities, still together and happy. John explained that nothing made him happier than just thinking of that girl. She was his entire world. She meant more than the world to him, she meant heaven to him.

Then the sad part of it; they gave in to sex almost at the end of their second year in that relationship. Well, they planned, saved, met and bang! It happened! Feeling quite embarrassed and very regretful, John admitted that he suggested it. It might not look like a big deal to you, but according to John, soon after the encounter, it dawned on him how much they had both lost. They could never address each other the same way again. John says he was feeling so guilty that he had broken the most important promise he had made to her; to never give in to sex. “It’s not like she wasn’t okay with it, she was. 

Actually, she was very okay and even wanted a second time. But I wasn’t. I had wronged God, myself and the girl I loved.” Communication between them began to reduce, and yeah, we all know what happens when there is no communication in any relationship. John waited for time to save him but that didn’t seem to work. Anyway, we know the ending to this story and it isn’t a happy one.

After he shared this story with me, I decided to carry out my own survey and realized that most happy relationships in or outside campus, that lead to successful marriages are sexless; do your research. I asked a friend of mine if there is sex in her relationship and the way she looked at me, I didn’t need an answer. To be precise, sex is never in a relationship that is meant to last a lifetime. I will tell you something, ninety-nine percent of youthful today relationships are clogged with sex, that commitment finds a hard time existing in them. Explains why not 1% of marriages today are happy (do your research).

Another friend of mine, a lady, says that if she ever gets into a relationship again, the man will have to put a ring in her finger first, then they can think about sex. She, like John, learnt it the hard way. Though I might be inexperienced, I will give you the same advice John gave me, sex is the last thing you want to do in a relationship that you hope to last forever. I would have much to say of this but space limits me. Besides, sikio la kufa halisikii dawa. The few words are enough to salvage the savable.

Visit Vincent's Site

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FORGIVE YOURSELF

By Virginia Kaggia

It’s easy to forget we aren’t indestructible. Blinded by burning, scaring heights of being on the earth, it is easy to feel untouchable and firmly in control; hands on the wheel, life grasped tight and warm in both fists. We forget we don’t   possess infinite wisdom or the ability to know the outcome of every choice we make. Our skin isn’t dragon scale, our eyes aren’t all seeing and our hearts rarely have what makes sense.

We stumble, we fall.

Sometimes we let people see our tears, our anger and our passion that for some reason we struggle to hide. We love too much, too little or at the wrong time. We are quick to blame or not quick enough.

We laugh when we shouldn’t, grimace when smile should curve our lips. Our attention wander or is focused laser- precise on something not made to last, not worthy of our unwavering concentration.
We hurt ourselves, and others with intention, ignorance and regret.

Lessons learnt, a mistake made and made again, none of these is new. The people before us separated by centuries have tripped over all the same stones we do. Bleeding hearts and self-loathing have crafted stories, plays, paintings and essays that make through time to connect our despairs and joy to that of people long dead.

We are all the same in the sense that we are born knowing but a little. And yet we berate ourselves endlessly for the mistakes we make.

“I should have known better” “I should have seen the signs” “I should have listened” “I should have been there” “ I should have stayed” “I should have left” “I should have said that” “ I should have done that” “I’m stupid, how did this happen” Forgive yourself. Like all before you and all to come you’re human.

Forgive yourself for the mountains we couldn’t climb, the oceans we couldn’t swim. Forgive yourself for the waves you couldn’t ride, the tide you wouldn’t fight. Forgive yourself for not seeing the storm before the clouds, the lightning before the flash.

Forgive yourself for all the times you didn’t know better, and the times you did and acted anyway. There will be more peaks to conquer and more oceans to cross. there will be more storms to brave and moments and choices will appear before you, the opportunity to use what you have learnt.

The pain you’ve caused, the wounds you carry, the scars you hide. Don’t bear the human condition like the upon your back.

We stumble, we fall and we rise. Please forgive yourself.

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MASS ORDER DNA

By Bildad Makori


This  is quite a complex and sensitive 'bill' or matter that I think has been overlooked and BOOM! It has already been signed/approved by our Commander in Chief, His Excellency. It has already sparked heated debates across the media platforms on whether it was a right move by the president of the republic of Kenya given that this move will sort of deprive the Kenyans their right to privacy.  Also, a lot of people are in the dark, not knowing what they'll be subjected to give. Is it their saliva, blood or urine samples? Which among these? And how and when? ...Wondering of what am talking about? Worry not.You'll find out in a jiffy.

Recently, its actually last week that President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law amendments that  will change the requirements when applying for a national Identity card ID.
The changes made to the Registration of Person’s Act will see Kenyans applying for new IDs be required to provide information about their location, land reference number and plot or house number as reported by a local daily.In addition to the requirements for new IDs, the government has now the mandate to collect DNA data of Kenyans in digital form for personal identification.“Insert biometric data … means unique identifiers or attributes including fingerprints, hand geometry, earlobe geometry, retina and iris patterns, voice waves and Deoxyribonucleic Acid in digital form,” read a part of the amendments made to the law.

Have you read that?! That the government has now the mandate to collect DNA data of Kenyans for personal identification!!! Whaaat??? Isn't this invading our privacy? I know. You also surprised as I am, right?

This move has been defended by some people that it will actually aid in curbing terrorism cases and also crime cases at large. Especially when identifying suspects linked to such cases like the most recent of all, the Dusit D2 attack. ... And so this has been overseen that it will actually help a great deal during such investigations in which truly speaking, I strongly agree with that. But here's something...

While I was listening to 2 conversations/interviews concerning this issue, there's a disadvantage that comes with this move. Its actually not a disadvantage but a RISK! Once this will be practiced or enforced, the risk that comes along with this is that peoples DNA data could actually be bought by these terror suspects or this criminal lords and use them as a cover up. These kind of criminals can actually impersonate other innocent people by buying and using their DNA data. In addition to this kind of impersonating act, paternity and marriage cases especially in regards to children ownership are also at  an even greater risk and this will lead to many serious cases.

There's a lot into this mass DNA order which I've not talked about but for more, be sure to watch this video by clicking here. In as much as its a good call by the government, a consensus  first needs to be reached. This is because this is such a sensitive matter that needs to be looked into. A lot of consultations and research and applicability over this topic needs to be made first.

A lot of elaboration and explanation needs to be made to the members of the public because believe you me, there are a lot of people out here who do not  understand an inch on how this DNA stuff will work and they even don't know how safe their DNA data will be stored hence they are scared because they are uncertain. For real,there has  not been neither an explanation nor clear elaborations  whatsoever that have been officially made by the government  over this in depth concern. I hope the government through the president will consider involving major stakeholders like the public and the parliament in such critical decision making for the nation the next time he does this.

And by the way, where are the Human Rights activists?@OkiyaOmtata,  where are you? Or is this concern not a bad one? Hmmm...

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CHARACTERSTICS OF KENYAN MANCHESTER UNITED FANS

As Kenyans we love European football. Manchester United is one of the most supported football clubs in the 254.
Even though the team has been struggling recently and even sacking their manager Jose Morinho in unceremonious announcement  the support hasn't dwindled a bit.

Only real red devil fans exhibit the following characteristics

They drop all their other plans on weekend to watch Man United game

This is a no-brainer characteristics. I know a few united fans who rescheduled their weddings upon realizing that a big match was due on weekend they were meant to tie a knot.Crazy.A real fan will also skip work, business meetings and even their own birthdays just to watch a man united game. That's passion at its best.

They probably know more facts about man united than they know their lives

Who was Manchester United boss in 1984?
Where was your family living in 1999?

Which manchester united player scored most goals in 2004?
How old was your mum in 2004?

What year was Manchester United founded?
When was your little sister born?

Don't be surprised if a Kenyan man united fan knows most of the answers to the first question than the second .

For all intents and purpose it's called loyalty and passion.

Every Manchester United girl has a big crush on Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera, and Theo Walcott

Haha. It's all hogwash but this is true. Every girl I know confess to have undying love for the trio. They dream of meeting them and probably take a photo with them, hugs, razzmatazz unlimited. Even though Walcott is not a Manchester United player he hails from Manchester.Tabloids has it that he commutes back and forth from Liverpool and Manchester during EPL season

They have enough man united gear to clothe their entire extended family

Manchester United fans have training jerseys,limited edition jerseys ,historical jerseys, current jerseys and even torn Bobby Charlton's jerseys.
Former manchester united sponsors Vodafone will be surprised at how at how much free marketing the company is getting in Kenya.

They dream of going to Old Trafford

Old Trafford is like the Vatican for Catholics. For Kenyans supporting the most successful English club sitting in one of the 76000 seats at Old Trafford and watching a match with thousands of other fans will top all the achievement of their lifetimes.The greatest joy of being a fan is experiencing it at first hand.

Guinness is giving you a chance to meet Rio Ferdinand at Old Trafford.Visit www.guinness.com for more details.


Written by Ben Mugambi

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