Luo Nyanza must respect its leaders

Luo Nyanza must respect its leaders

The latest fracas at a funeral in Oyugis in caused by an attempt to undermine the sitting area MP underscores how the people of Luo Nyanza have continued to undermine their political leaders. Here is where, immediately a person becomes a political leader, a councilor or an MP, he/she becomes  ‘an enemy of the people.’

A survey recently indicated that Luo Nyanza leads with MPs who will never see the next parliament. This is due to their perceived frustration of their people in their failure to achieve their election pledges. As much as we blame our leaders for under-development in this region, let us blame ourselves for frustrating their efforts to spur socio-economic development in Luo Nyanza. Nearly every politician here is not welcome, even in his/her own backyard.

Nyanza is currently the poorest province in this nation. We would quickly point our fingers at our leaders. I wonder if we have really taken time to think of our politics as a people. Politics full of hatred, cynicism, criticism and jealousy. The worst culprits are we, the youth, who have refused to learn no matter what. We have been convinced by our leaders’ opponents to hate them with passion and us eviolence to propel the opponents to power. We are never appreciative of the efforts of our current leaders. We have resorted to changing of leaders like clothes. Think of a person like Tuju, a first time MP, who was ousted due to his lack of sympathy for ODM.

Insecurity for leaders is so grave that some of them have even resorted to violence to protect themselves from the very people who joyously and faithfully voted for them. They are never free men in their territories. Surely, in such an environment, development has never been any easy.

To succeed here, one must not only develop every nook and cranny of his constituency in one term (very impossible), but also publicly worship Raila Odinga. ‘Baba’ must be adored. Moreso during this electioneering period, the stakes are so high. That is why, Orwa Ojode, inspite of his immense development record, is not being talked of well here.

We have been in the ’cold’ for so long. But the warmth of this coalition government should be enough to teach us the virtue of love and unity. We must stop hating our leaders for cheap politics. Good or bad, they are our representatives and it is our responsibility to help them develop our constituencies. As a people, we must realize that development is a concept of collective responsibility where all are stakeholders in cooperation and understanding. When we are united for a purpose with our leaders, we shall pull this region out of poverty.

Chrispory Juma Ombuya,

Chrisjuma1@yahoo.com

Oyugis Town

Kenyan Birds, by Kamau Mbiyu

Kenyan birds

Kenya is home to thousand of species of birds. These include a wide range from birds of prey, seed eaters, fruit eaters, insect eaters and so much more. To any lover of birds, Kenya is a bird watching paradise. Below are a few of the many birds that Kenya has to offer, including their features. It would be great watching them while on safari in Kenya.

Hornbills

The hornbill is most notably known for its casqued beak. They are of mid-size and sometimes large, but mostly have short legs. They are found in savannah and forests. They are usually black and white, but their bills and throats are brightly colored. Most have long eyelashes. They have rather short wings but long tails. They feed on fruits and berries but there are some that eat insects. After mating, the female conceals herself in the nest that is usually on a tree or cliff with mud, leaving just a small cavity through which the male feeds her and the young ones for a number of weeks. This goes on until the young are able to fly.

Crow

Crows are numerously found around human habitation and are unmistakably known for their loud raucous calls. Crows have patches of white, grey or brown. Their bills are heavy and strong and so are their feet. They feed on animal matter, as well as grains, fruit and seeds. Their wings are broad and flap while in flight. They build large nests using sticks.

Weavers

Weavers are generally small or medium sized birds with short hard bills adapted mainly to feed on seeds. Weavers vary widely in color and at times change seasonally in some species. The sexes are generally alike. Their habitats and breeding habits are diverse. Some are colonial while others are solitary. However, all construct distinctive nests.

Sparrows

Sparrows are generally likened with weavers because of exhibiting similar structures, nesting habits and behavior. A distinguishing feature however is their dorsally positioned and reduced primary. They build a domed shape nest with the entrance on the side, and will be commonly found in trees, under eaves of buildings or in thatched roofs. They are mainly seed eaters.

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are most notably known for their hard tapping on wood and barks of trees, foraging for insects, which they catch with their sticky tongues. The woodpecker’s beak is hard and chisel shaped. They have stiff and pointed tail feathers which provide support on tree trunks. Their support is also aided by their sharp nails which enable them cling on surfaces. They are mostly found in forested and bushed habitats. They are typically found in pairs and nest in excavated cavities in trees. They mostly feed on ants and termites.

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are small or medium sized birds. They have heavy pointed bills and short legs. Most species are found near water and they catch fish by diving. However, some species are found far from water bodies and they feed on insects.

Owls

Owls are nocturnal raptors with large eyes. Owls are distinctively known for preying silently, which is aided by their effective muffles flight sounds. However, they have distinctive calls, known as hoots and remain highly vocal during full moon periods. Owls are capable of turning their necks round reaching 180 degrees, without turning their entire bodied. The sexes are generally similar but the females are however, larger then the males. They are found in almost land habitats, but mostly in woodland and forest edges.

Cranes

Cranes are large terrestrial birds with long necks and legs. They are found in marshes and grasslands. Both sexes are mostly grey. Some species have ornamental crests. They have short tails. They mostly pair and perform elaborate nuptial dances. However, they at times form large flocks. They maintain string and sustained flight with their heads and necks held below the distinctive hunch-backed appearance. They feed on insects, small animals, seeds and vegetables.

Guinea Fowl

The guinea fowl’s most notable feature is its pale dots on its dark plumage. It has a small, bare head with a bony casque. The sexes are much similar. It is a highly vocal bird with strident rattling calls. It is a ground bird that feeds on vegetables, seeds and insects.

Parrots

Parrots are bright and colorful birds with powerful hooked bills for breaking nuts. They have short legs, with the first and fourth toes directly facing backwards. Most species have short tails, and both sexes are generally alike. Flight is fast and direct with shallow wing beats. They are loud and noisy, producing squawking sounds. They nest in tree cavities.

WRITER’S BIO

Kamau Mbiyu is a Safari and Travel consultant at Explorer Kenya Tours & Travel. Kenya Safari includes; Lodge and camping safari, hotel bookings, luxury tented tours, wildlife and bird watching, family safaris, mountain climbing and bungee jumping. 

Click here http://www.explorerkenya.com for more information on Safari in Kenya.

The Aberdare Mountain Ranges, By Kamau Mbiyu

The Aberdare Mountain Ranges

The Aberdare mountain Ranges are found in Central Kenya. Spanning a length of 160km and the highest peak reaching 3994m above sea level, the ranges act as a spectacular natural tourist attraction, besides being a habitat for lots of wildlife, indigenous trees and other flora, as well as being a prime water catchment area. Several rivers have the range as their source. They start as small springs, which join up with others, to make bigger streams and rivers. Here, the water is usually very clean and absolutely unpolluted. Not even by a particle of soil.

On the western side, the lake Ol-borosat is found near its foot. The lake habours thousands of birds of diverse species. Hippos are also found here.

From a distance, the ranges have quite a lovely and scenic view. The Aberdare National Park is found on the North Western side of the ranges. The park hosts various animals most notably elephants. There is an estimated 2000 elephants in the park. They are used to visitors’ cars and one can view them closely enough.  Other wildlife found here include dikdik, bongo, warthog, waterbuck, suni, bush pig among others. Many species of birds are also found here.

There are numerous water falls which provide magnificent an breathtaking views. The slopes of the aberadres are rich with forest growth most notably bamboo and hardwoods such as camphor, cedar and podo.

The ranges are ideal for anyone who likes hill or mountain climbing. The south eastern side has a number of peaks, staring with the peak despair, buffalo, elephant and satima being the highest. From these peaks, one is treated to a beautiful view of the grounds below, and one can spot various towns from here.

There are several luxurious lodges in the Aberdare, most notably TreeTops, Outspan among others. Treetops is famous for hosting Elizabeth II when she became Queen of the United Kingdom, while on vacation to the Aberdares. The Abredares is also famous because it is where J.A. Hunter killed the Rogue elephant of Aberdare, which is published by Harper Collins. The bull elephant terrorized villagers and was known not to attack a village twice, hence difficulty in tracking it. It is also one of the places one can enjoy a hot air balloon ride in Kenya. Experience all these and more while on safari Kenya.

WRITER’S BIO

Kamau Mbiyu is a Safari and Travel consultant at Explorer Kenya Tours & Travel. Kenya Safari includes; Lodge and camping safari, hotel bookings, luxury tented tours, wildlife and bird watching, family safaris, mountain climbing and bungee jumping. Click here http://www.explorerkenya.com for more information on Safari in Kenya.

Maurice Odhiambo: Why Eldoret North MP is not fit to be president

WHY ELDORET NORTH MP IS NOT FIT TO BE PRESIDENT

Not every politician who uses democracy to get elected is a democrat. Many deeply anti-democratic politicians have abused democracy to get to the top. Such wolves in sheep’s clothing are deeply entrenched in Kenya’s political elite.

When Kanu was the sole political party, they were menacing sycophants. They denounced human rights groups as treasonous and called democracy a foreign ideology.

To them multipartism was un-African. They are opportunists who never miss an opportunity. Many are flying high harvesting the bounty of the freedom for which their victims fought. None of these converts to democracy is amazing than Eldoret north member of parliament William Ruto.

The genius of Christian faith is salvation. That is why many people believe that even those with the darkest of hearts can be redeemed. In secular logic, people are dynamic and can be transformed.

That’s why it’s difficult to irrevocably condemn someone, lock them up, and throw away the key. Not unless they are the worst of the worst. The human proclivity is to give the sinner and offender a second chance.

In my view Mr. Ruto and other anti-reform “graduates” of the Kanu regime must stay on the road to Damascus. But again we have a large body of evidence that Mr. Ruto has been unable to find the road to Damascus. That’s because he hasn’t wanted to find it.

Let my jog your mind on Mr. Rutos exploits in Kanu under president Moi which is not debatable. Ruto was Kanu’s blue eyed boy and this came when he was the organizing secretary for the notorious youth for Kanu 92 which was accused of ethnic violence against the kikuyu and other opposition groups in rift valley ahead of 1992 elections.

In 1997 Mr. Ruto was elected Eldoret north MP. His career then had a meteoric rise. At the young age of 31, he was appointed assistant minister in the office of the president. In 2002, elected Kanu’s director of elections and in quick succession Moi appointed him minister for home affairs and elected Kanu secretary general in 2002. He had a visceral hatred and disdain for reformers and human rights activists.

I will forever remember Ruto as a rabid Kanu defender even as the party disintegrated after 2002 polls. Ruto is no one’s dummy, he knew Kanu was dead and that Moi his former master was history. He then teamed up with Mr. Odinga to ‘bury’ Moi.

That’s how Ruto slew the former head of state and blew his towering legacy. Such a destructive man does not fit the bill to be president of this country in the new dispensation. I believe he is in the same mode of people like Hitler if given power can destroy a country. He must be stopped.

Mr. Ruto led the Reds, a coalition of churches and politicians, against the new constitution. He opposed accountability for the post election violence and has bitterly attacked the Kenya national human rights commission and international criminal court over his alleged role in post election violence.

Eldoret north MP should not at any moment be allowed to dine with reformers because he does not fit the bill to be president of this great nation.

 Maurice Odhiambo.

The writer is a young ambassador for world peace under United Nation

And youth federation for world peace.

Email:morriskings@gmail.com

Prof. Kamar, this is just a tip of the iceberg

Prof. Kamar, this is just a tip of the iceberg

I take time to appreciate the great work that HELB has done to poor university students. Without the higher learning lending institution, poor people like us would have not reaped from the fountains of knowledge in the university. We owe it our present status and the best present we can give to the institution is to faithfully and promptly pay back our loans, not only for sustainability of the program but also for other students to benefit.

The Higher Education minister must be commended for rising up against loan repayment dodgers. She noted that graduates must repay their loans promptly to increase access to education. She went further to reiterate that beneficiaries that default on repayment risk losing out on state jobs.

Bu I would love the good Prof. to focus more on the quality of graduates released from universities because this is the root cause of the loan defaulting. I believe that most graduates wish to promptly pay back their loans. If graduates would immediately get well paying and secure jobs immediately they graduate, repayment would not really be a problem. Most of us are dodgers simply because the little they get can not make ends meet, let alone be sliced to pay back HELB loans. How do you tell a person who has been jobless for the past seven years to promptly pay back loans?

We seem to be more focused on monetary matters. University lecturers have just gone on strike seeking salary increments. The government itself is piling pressure on jobless graduates to pay back loans. Universities are busy implementing the double intake policy yet the few stagnated resources in our universities can not cope with student numbers. Few lectures, limited lecture facilities and accommodation have continued to compromise quality education. University campuses and new universities are opened day in day out. The Kenyan Public University Education system seems extremely concerned with numbers. Quality is increasingly becoming compromised. It would be better if we even have only one university that is well equipped in capital and human resource which can produce graduates who can adapt to the job market demands.

What emphasis have we put on quality university education? Do the engineers, social scientists and health professionals who stream the market from college have the necessary technical skills to adapt to the swiftly changing job market?

How well have we moved swiftly to curb cases of exam irregularities, sexually transmitted marks and ethnicity in our learning institutions? A lot of talk and no action.

Solving loan defaulting in Kenya would be very simple of our universities would be well equipped to produce properly baked graduates who can easily get jobs that can secure them as they pay back HELB loans. This should be the major focus of the minister. In the meanwhile, let us work hard in these hardship times to heed to the minister’s call.

Chrispory Juma Ombuya,

Former student, Moi University, School of Public Health,

Resident of Oyugis town

Religion should not bar one from seeking health-care

Religion should not bar one from seeking health-care

                By Chrispory Juma Ombuya

When a couple in Kirinyaga vowed to disown its children if they are immunized against polio, measles and other diseases, it highlighted how extremist religious beliefs have continued to endanger public health. It becomes more dangerous for people who can not make independent choices, like the children.

I would not get drawn into the controversies that have surrounded vaccination from days gone but rather look at why our faith should not compromise our inherent right of access to quality health care. We have heard of cases of HIV/AIDS positive people who abandon ARV treatment to depend on faith healing and those who end up dying of curable diseases. There are those who do not seek treatments for the slightest of ailments like headaches or fevers but instead view them as signs of God’s impending punishments.

Sadly enough, most of these diseases are infectious and therefore for purposes of health of the general public. Access to quality health care is a universal human right and every government has a responsibility to provide it to its people. The people should hold their governments to account for the services they offer. It becomes a tragedy when governments have to push their people to enjoy these rights, even dragging them to court.

Religion, more-so Christianity, should be a source of hope and healing but not confusion and primitivity. There is no faith that doesn’t teach about good health. The Bible itself rates health right near the top of the list in importance. The Bible lists a number of things that man is forbidden to eat or not allowed to do for the purposes of always staying healthy.

God promises to restore our health and heal all our wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). By the grace of God then, we should seek treatment. Humans treat but God heals. Prayer healing itself alone, to me, is like the story of the proverbial potter who believes that it is God who is to get the clay and mould it for him to get the pot. Ronald Reagan once said, “God helps those who help themselves.”

Religion and science are inseparable. Albert Einstein once said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Indeed, if you are promoting a religion that runs counter to scientific knowledge, you will have to be not only blind, but cut off from all sensory awareness to maintain it. If your religion lives in this real, material world, then it must take into account the real, material facts about this world. If there is a common understanding that a disease kills, it very moral of all people to participate in eradicating it.

 

The writer is an Environmental Health Officer based in Oyugis, Kenya.