The Burial of an alcoholic in Western Kenya By Gilbert Otieno

OUR GUEST WRITER TODAY IS GILBERT OTIENO WAFULA..A FAST AND FURIOUS ONE FROM HIM...
An unusual burial took place at Bilibili village, Mukuyuni Division of Bungoma North District, when touts gave the dead local brew, chang’aa. In paying their last respect to their colleague who succumbed to death after a short illness, they also put a five-litre jerrican of chang’aa beside the body in the coffin before burying.

The touts arrived in large numbers in matatus crippling transport services on the busy Webuye-Kitale Road. The convoy stretched for more than two kilometres from the deceased home.

Normal activities came to a standstill as villagers came out to witness the vehicles decorated with twigs snaking their way to the funeral.

The touts, who operate at the Kamukuywa market, made contributions through their chama where some of the money was used to provide ‘human petrol’ (chang’aa) which was in plenty.

They tasked local mama pimas (women who brew alcohol) to ensure everyone was sufficiently supplied with the brew and the women did not disappoint, knowing the touts are their most loyal customers.

On reaching the compound, they alighted from their vehicles and it was evident they were drunk. Their wailing broke the sombre mood interrupting the pastor who was delivering the sermon.

The mourning was well rehearsed to convey their feelings. While some threw themselves on the ground, others tore their clothes, run through the compound singing dirges and praising the dead.

Alcohol was taken in good measure oblivious of the strict Mututho laws and by noon, everyone was tipsy. One of the tout’s leaders hijacked the ceremony from the African Devine Church pastor, who was making his speech before the dead could be laid to rest.

"You clergymen don’t know what our brother went through. Go take tea with women in the kitchen," said the red-eyed leader as he sipped chang’aa from a gorogoro (tin).

They took over the ceremony with each tout getting a chance to eulogise the deceased until 6pm, leaving the church leaders in shock. The church leaders had planned to conclude the ceremony by 2pm but they could do nothing to salvage the situation.

"Wacha tumzike na hii chang’aa akunywe kwenye safari yake kuelekea mbinguni, kwani aliipenda sana (let us bury him with chang’aa. He can take it on his way to heaven because he adored it)," said their leader adding that this was to appease his spirits as he was brotherly in drinking dens.

The deceased’s parents hold senior positions in the church. Villagers say he was unique and the black sheep in his family. He was the only one in the family who took alcohol.

A week after the funeral, the compound still smells of alcohol and human waste as the touts soiled the place recklessly in the name of paying tribute to emboko ya Kitere (the lion of Kitere) as he was widely known.

Cancer or no cancer we are still soldiering strong, say survivors

Cancer or no cancer we are still soldiering strong, say survivors Written by Amugasha Kalengeka 2011-07-12 20:08:00 Read 584 Times Medical service Minister Professor Anyang’ Nyongo, a fiery cancer activist, Tuesday officially opened the Africa Cancer Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. Graced by a host of dignitaries, cancer survivors and their families, the launch of an African Cancer foundation reflected a message of hope in the middle of pain, challenges and despair associated with the disease that kills about 50 people a day in Kenya. Margaret Oluka, grandmother of the youngest cancer survivor in Kenya -Alexandra Ajoy tells a story of family battling out with leukemia –the cancer of blood. Alexandra fondly known by the family as Alexis was diagnosed with the lethal disease in December 2010 at age 3. Having no state of art facility in the country to handle her case, Alexandra was quickly ferried to Akolo Speciality hospital in India for a bone marrow transplant where she spent 6 months fighting for her life in an ICU. Baby Alexi has been in India bravely fighting Leukemia that was diagnosed in September 2010. Photo/ Courtesy/ Africa Cancer Foundation. But cancer treatment is no bed of roses; Sh 4million was required for the exercise forcing the family to seek support from relatives, friends and well wishers. As fate would have it, the little Lexis suffered organ rejection and she had to be again transferred for stem cell transplant in the United States where she was recuperating till yesterday. According to Oluka,Alexis is now acclimatizing to the new organ with a few problem here and there like high toxicity, lose of hair and walking capability as a result of the steroid and chemotherapy . Alexis came out of the ICU yesterday and she is still upbeat despite suffering from graft verses host symptom and her live on hope that she will survive the attack. The most adored case of resilience is that of the 9 year old Rose Wekesa a.k.a Princes.   The 9 year old is a true cancer victor oozing with umpteenth vigor, brilliance, and steadfastness that is rare of a nine year old. She entertained the gathering with her resounding, strong character and message of her song- I believe.  I believe is a moving, heartrending, story of a little girl battling with cancer. “I believe, I will live to see another…”  It reflects the strong will of someone who would rather not sleep down and wait to die but encourage others to stand up and fight. Battling hair loss from the effects of chemotherapy the visibly jovial Rose does not look like someone dying of cancer. Rose is a flower that cannot be withered; she nurses a dream to be an oncologist to help fellow cancer victims.   Diagnosed of cancer in December last year Rose has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, and has six more to go. Another survivor Francis Kariuki called for information to be availed on cancer to help early mitigation and create awareness, the need to seek medical guidance from doctors and not to shy away from a second opinion for surety. Mary Onyago 48, the wife to the late Aggrey Ngong’- brother to the Medical Service Minister Peter Anyang Nyong   who also is the vice chair of TJRC, recounted of her fight with breast cancer. An advocate for a culture of annual screening Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 during a routine mammogram. She called for the public to treat cancer victims with great compassion and urged for the corporate society to take part in campaign to perpetuate the cancer message. The battle for cancer has attracted compassion from both survivors and right thinking members of the society. Doris Mayoli founder of Tukuza trust was diagnosed of breast cancer in 2005 and doctors gave her 3 months to live. But Doris won’t just die. She still soldiers on and uses music concerts to collect funds to cater for treatment and care for cancer victim. According to statistics read by Dr. Fatuma Abdalla, said cases of cancer infection in Africa are disturbingly on the rise. She speculates that unless urgent redress is done it could easily increase by 50per cent in 2020. In the battle with cancer various challenges crop up significantly among them lack cancer treatment and care facilities and lack of access to treatment due to chocking poverty levels. In fact, only 15per cent of all Africans can foot the cost of cancer treatment with most developing countries like Kenya lacking adequate trained human resources to help fight the scourge. The foundation launched today (Tuesday), the largest of its kind in Kenyan history, marks a great milestone towards a cancer free society. Amongst those who turned up are Safaricom’s CEO Bob Collymore, former Vice President Moody Awori, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Ingrid Moroe the  country’s longest cancer’s survivor who has braved it for the last 38 year.

Read more: http://westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-2762.htm#ixzz1RzSQK434

ITS KENYANS WHO ARE ON THE WRONG NOT ONGERI

Why Kenyans are wrong on Ongeri’s resignation-Amugasha Kalengeka

“Each candidate behaves well in the hope of being judged worthy of election. However, this system was disastrous when the city had become corrupt. For then it was not the most virtuous but the most powerful who stood for election. And the weak, even if virtuous were too frightened to run for office”.
Niccolo Machiavelli

At the time the education ministry is spell pound by massive accusation and counter accusations in the ministry it behooves us to look deep into the words of this phenomenon Italian writer and statesman.

Yesterday several activist led by the vocal yet unbowed Okoit Omkiya Omtata were arrested for barricading entry to the education minister’s office. But the general feeling here is that Kenyans are placing too much a burden on a few people-the activist.

We elect leaders with no history of integrity. They buy us off like cheap commodities into their office.yet with all that posturing and clear indication of graft glaring at us at the preliminaries we gladly vote them in.
We vote in people with illegally acquired wealth who seek power not to serve the people but to protect their interest.

George Orwell the celebrated English writer equated the people in powers to pigs. In his book the Animal Farm Orwell says, ‘They looked at the pigs, then at man and to the pigs and they did not seem to see any difference.’

All this boils down to the sentiments of Lord Dalberg Acton to Bishop Mandell Creighton. During the Roman Catholism Crisis of 1870, this historian and self proclaimed moralist wrote of the doctrine of papal infability all power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely . A phrase that is famed for to date.
So like the pigs in the Animal’s Farm, leaders usurp powers onto themselves, lock out the subjects and engage in loot en masse.

But as I said earlier the blame lies squarely on us. When the so called leaders traverse the country campaigning for themselves ,our eyes are so much engrossed in their pockets and what comes out of it rather than on their lips and their eyes. That is where we begin losing out.

We forget the general utopian ideal to vote into office leaders with integrity and later live to complain and demonstrate on the streets rather than build the nation.

Superstar up and about the town

 

This Saturday Bungoma was a burst with the best of entertain flavors from the crème de la crème of the Kenyan music industry .Talk of Refiga,Tierra G,Chupi and of course the world famous Wyre the Love Child.

In an exclusive interview with West Fm,Wyre revealed another side of him that is less known to the outside world.

Born in Athi River the mellow voice singer who has been doing music for the last 16 years has earned admiration in the country and beyond for his versatile music and superb vocal. This has put him a class of his own as a musician with a rare finesse.

Wyre fondly known as the love child has churned out chart-busters after another with notable ones being Chuki,Make A Choice and Gimme More distinguishing himself as when of the continents best talents.  He has collaborated with renowned musician like Uganda’s Bebe Cool,Two Face Indibia from Nigeria,Nazizi  among many others.

A charming and collected character Wyre can pass just like any other boy in the hood. He does not carry the usual swagger that accompanies most big names. As a matter of fact he describes himself as a simple guy that can do anything for music.

Asked who is his favorite politician, Wyre is quick to distance himself from politics but believes in the youth’s capability to take on the reigns of leadership in the country .he is involved in various youth empowerment programmes geared towards enlightening the youth through his music. He says his ultimate goal is youth empowerment.

Hey but don’t mess up with Wyre, he reveals that he is a trained Karateka and also burns up excessive calories in the tennis lawn.

Wyre records his own music and juggles between production and performance and says he currently is spending time in the studio to come up with a song to educate the public on the need for peace to avert the possibility of recurrence of the 2007 clashes.

I WILL RESTORE THE JUDICIARY’S LOST GLORY,MUTUNGA SAYS : STORY BY AMUGASHA KALENGEKA

Justice Willy Mutunga has vowed to restore the judiciary’s lost glory, moments after he was sworn in the country’s new chief justice.

In a ceremony presided over by President Mwai Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga Justice Mutunga went down in history as the first chief justice to be sworn in under the new constitution.

In a statement immediately after the swearing ceremony, justice Mutunga has called for corporation amongst all arms of government while maintaining separation of power as required by the new constitution.

Mutunga emphasized that the country and those in the judiciary must uphold the rule of law without equivocation and further reiterated the need to for a level ground for every one before the law.

 He urged other officials in the judiciary not to fall under the lure of corruption and uphold the spirit of the new constitution by promoting fairness, independence and honesty.

Thanking the citizen on the powers bestowed upon him, the new CJ stated that the court will now be accessible to everyone and that all  rulings and pronouncements will be according to the law.

The deputy CJ Nancy Barasa on the other hand expressed gratitude for the people of Kenya for their confidence in her and promised to deliver. She called for the people’s support to ensure justice for all.

However, five judges who were nominated by the Judicial Service Commission for the Supreme Court did not take part in the event following a High court ruling issued on Friday that barred them from participating in the process.

High court Judge Justice Jeanne Gacheche issued the directive following a successful application filed by FIDA and other non governmental bodies challenging their appointment on the grounds of gender disparity.

Keriako Tobiko also survived a heated debate in parliament and protest by members of the public to be sworn in today.

In his speech after the swearing in of the three judicial office holders president Kibaki expressed his confidence in them but challenged them to initiate the changes that Kenyans yearned for. He expressed optimism that they will clear backlogs of cases within the jurisdiction.

Daddy Is Still the Superman

I remember long time ago when I was growing up in the land of small stones and valley, my mother was sick all the time and my dad carried me on his back to school every day. He would then rush to Kizito, that egocentric man whose garden he tended to ensure that my sister and I ate.

Food was scarce and dad would sometime gladly forfeit his meals for our sake. He ensured that we all had our daily fill.

 I was convinced that my dad is a superman. Today I am a grown up, nothing much has changed. I still find my dear old man indispensable. I still look up upon him for advice and guidance whenever I feel lost. It is from him that I learnt some of the life’s greatest of virtues.

“Resilience,” he is fond of telling me, “Resilience..when things get tough relief is close by…gather the pieces and move on.”

Whenever the situation got out of hand and there was nothing for the family to eat, he was always there for us.  Man and his family, Jovial as always. He would tell us stories till we were dead asleep on the floor .Forgetting tenacious pangs of the hunger.

Today my dad is 71.A frail old man, but when I look into his eyes I see the look of a satisfied man who is contended that he has played his role without wavering. It is the look of hope and umpteenth seas of love.

Through his blood and sweat we have survived many a tumultuous moments.

Our fathers may have failed in one way or another; they might have been hard on us  on some occasion but taking a moment to reflect upon it you will realize that it was done in good faith and out of love for us.  

For all those fathers who go to great length, sacrificing their human dignity for the well being of their families, fathers that will go hungry for the sake of their children. Thank you, thank you very much. We your sons are very proud of you.

Can the Little Ones Now Smile?

This is November 16, just another day in Africa. But it is in one such day in 1976 that thousand of children in the black neighborhood of Soweto in South Africa were bludgeoned to death by ruthless apartheid regime when protesting for their rights.

More than three decades to day, it behooves us to ask the obvious of questions, are our children today better than before? Can we stand shoulder tall and claim that justice has truly been done for these young angels?

Writing this is at the backdrop of disturbing media information of archaic behavior of child molestation, hunger and rape all meted against the innocent child. A common foreign media stereotype on the African child which however is frighteningly true in some part of the continent is that of a hapless, tottering kid in ragged clothes, romping up and down the streets begging for food and alms.

But this is not necessarily true for the whole part of the continent. There surely is some light at the end of the tunnels even for the pitch dark parts of the black African continent. The global organ that roots for the rights of the child –UNICEF comfortably declared that child mortality rate has dropped by fifty percent from the year 1960 down the lane to date. That simply means that the number of years a child needed to leave has now doubled in the last five decades. This is not entirely bad news.

More children can now go to school today more than before. Many African countries like Kenya, South Africa and Egypt have elaborately rolled out programmes to facilitate free basic education for their children.

 In ASAL regions of Kenya with tough weather conditions and scarce food water, the government in partnership with sympathetic NGO’S has well executed dietary programmes to help cushion the disadvantaged kids against these harsh conditions. This is an important leap towards the achievement of the millennium development goal -2015 that targets to reduce child mortality.

Africa after all not that bleak. With all the imminent challenges that dogs her we sincerely need to grant her all the due she deserves.

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