HAPPY MASHUJAA DAY

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear. A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. Dreams are not those that come to us while we are sleeping but dreams are those that we don’t sleep before fulfilling them.

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right. Courage is grace under pressure. Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision. Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears. 

Great men are meteors designed to burn so that earth may be lighted. If I can take it, I can make it.

By KELVIN MBITI,

CEO KELMA FOUNDATION

HOW TO GROW YOUR FACEBOOK PROFILE

Facebook is the biggest social media platform in the world. It is the most popular social media platform in Kenya, a Communications Authority report shows.

Facebook

Other less appealing and less used social media sites usually offer premium charges for what is provided for free on Facebook since it has the numbers to warrant bigger profit and revenues margins.

As Kenyan government seeks to offer alternative employment opportunities to the youth, Facebook has partnered with President William Ruto govt to offer content creators monetization inducements.

To qualify for this, you need to have some minimum requirements like having 5000 friend on Facebook, posting reels and meeting performance challenges such as weekly and monthly targets.

After your profile grows, it will achieve different milestones such as Explorer, Creative Streak and Wordsmith. Later, your profile will be recommendable for certain online marketing gigs.

To qualify, for monetization, you'll need more consistent and top quality generation of content. Content is king in the social media world.

Invite friends and acquaintances who like your content to follow you.

Respond to readers' feedback in a timely and strategic way that offers an opportunity to grow both your platform and theirs.

Identify trending topics to ride on in growing your audience. Tailor make them to suit your unique followers.

Content creators' edge

Use the @highlights tab to announce to your followers about new and exclusive content. But don't overuse it to avoid being flagged a scammer.

Provide your contacts on your Facebook profile in case followers want to utilize your content creation platform to advertise their products.

Coarcive and collaborative negotiations

Negotiation is an art. Weighing interests and making judgment of whether the deal is a deal or it's an energy-sapping undertaking with no returns.

Some essentials of making a negotiation include having a strong case for yourself and not appearing like a begger looking for underserved favors.

If it's a worth venture, it should not come cheap. All high quality productions cost an arm and a leg. If they were not costly, everyone would be having such, driving down the basic rules of demand and supply.

There are terms that need not be varied lest they cancel the current contract and new one is negotiated or it's ended. Of course, some issues get ironed out by good communication rather than a top-down method that is coarcive rather than collaborative.

Why it's hard for women to change names

Just learned by observation that it's pretty hard being a woman. Though it's something worth writing a book about, one thing that intrigued me much is that the basic concept of identification is both depriving and predatory.

It's already complex being referred by their parent's surnames. Then a stranger comes and adopts her just to go back and make her obtain an affidavit of what the government knew her as a few moons ago at the national registrar of persons offices.

Still, as if that is not most unfortunate, the marriage fails to work and they seek divorce. Hence another need to change name again. This time, it's not known whether they will go back to their dad's or the Christian middle name which they never live up to since they're already judged as hypocrites [which is true anyway]. 

Some religions disenfranchise women to their own advantage and that of the enterprise. If you want to steal from a woman, start a church.

How newspapers lost mojo

Seen both PDF of DN & Standard in another forum that should be professional. No reprimand. Those guys lack content. Hata hakuna big ads to reckon with.

It's time to move. Move from traditional media because something happened to time and space. They lost control and monopoly.

Personally, I subscribe to both Nation and Standard digital editions. Especially for reading features. But when you go to town, you won't find people around newspaper stands. Most will be on their phones. Yet journalists should pay bills. 

Newspaper lost its mojo when it stayed long to embrace change. Now facing extinction, it will take a big deal to put these back on the road of imagination.

As for TV, that has better promise. It still needs to go digital if it is to escape the curse of content drought. This is because you don't have to wait for 9PM to know how the day was.

TV still controls much of living room eyeballs. Both in urban and rural areas. If electricity outage is reliable.

It's time to interrogate the survival tactics of veterans and newcomers, some embroiled in big scandals that still make kids think again of ever taking the media path. Because much of action needs explaining to outsiders. Since no brief is owed, no need.

BALOZY: Your Reliable and Affordable Service Provider

Kenyans have been suffering from a lack of a place where they can order essential services, until Balozy entered the market. In the bustling heart of Nairobi, countless individuals juggle busy work schedules and never-ending household chores. Each day feels like a marathon, leaving many exhausted and yearning for a simpler solution. 

Enter Balozy. This innovative service is easing the burdens of everyday life. Kenyans are downloading the Balozy app from Google Play and the App Store, intrigued by the promise of high-quality, pocket-friendly services at their fingertips. Within moments of making their first request, they receive notifications from friendly, experienced professionals ready to help.

Visiting BALOZY.COM, people are amazed by the variety of services available. From affordable home painters to skilled plumbers, reliable landscapers, and event organizers, Balozy offers it all. The excitement grows as they browse through offerings like TV wall mount installation, refrigerator repairs, hot shower electricians, and make-up artists. The list seems endless.

Many start with something simple, like a cleaning service for their home. Within minutes, cheerful and efficient cleaners arrive, transforming messy apartments into spotless havens. Kenyans are hooked.

But Balozy doesn’t stop at household chores. They offer child care, tutoring, and family services, making life even easier for busy parents. On weekends, people unwind at their favorite bars, often served by Balozy bartenders, or treat themselves to relaxing spa days, courtesy of Balozy’s skilled therapists.

Privacy is a major concern, but Balozy assures users that their data is safe. They implement strict security measures, including a One Time Password (OTP) system and double authentication codes to protect personal information. There’s no worry about invasive calls or spam messages, which is a huge relief.

As the cost of living soars, many learn they can also become Balozy Pros. By signing up on the website, they join a network of independent contractors delivering top-notch services across Nairobi and beyond. It’s an opportunity not just to receive help, but to give back to the community.

Kenyans share their discoveries on social media, spreading the word about Balozy on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The tech-savvy professionals quickly embrace this innovative solution, enhancing their businesses and personal lives.

Balozy values customer feedback, so people don’t hesitate to share their positive experiences. The customer service is responsive and eager to improve, ensuring every interaction is smooth and satisfactory. The ease of communication via email at customersuccess@balozy.com adds another layer of convenience.

The best part? Balozy offers all these services without any hidden fees. Users receive regular updates about new services and features, keeping their lives organized and stress-free. With over 40 service categories available, Balozy has something for everyone.

Thanks to Balozy, life in Nairobi and beyond is transforming. Kenyans are regaining their time, reducing their stress, and enjoying the comfort of knowing that help is just a click away. Balozy isn’t just a service provider; it’s a lifeline in the fast-paced world of Kenya.

Why we editors hate portraits

 Most newspaper editors have come across a photo which is so good only that its sin is the height is longer than the length. Technically, that photo is called a portrait.

 

An image shot in landscape rich it detail of what the activity is about. Photo/FILE

The opposite is a landscape which is more detailed and deeper. Despite many photo editing apps coming up, none has entirely cured the curse of portraits. Most media illiterate folks excitedly send photos to journalists when told to have some courtesy contributions but the photos have to be cut to fit the house style guide.

Most of this comes at the expense of distorting the pics.  Some may come off as irregular oblongs.

It is now an open secret that we editors hate portraits. We do. Because they don’t say much. Because some are shot from shadows. Others are blurred. Even worse, some lack focus.

There is no sense and detail in those shots.

Then when patience is tested and all the portraits are lined up in a horizontal line, they don’t exactly make a landscape even if that was the aim of the creator.

When I see people smiling for group photos, cheeky crowds getting to shoot a memory photo that will create nostalgia of moments spent, I often see some being condemned to portraits-which we have no love lost.

I shouted at an amateur that they should make their smartphone slide sideways before taking those shots. Because it was a repeated mistake. This cost them a smile of the next photo but at least it was shot in landscape. Not portrait.

By MUSYOKA NGUI

The author is Editor-in-Chief, Mwingi Times