It is not love but selfish stakes that rule the world

It is not love but selfish stakes that rule the world

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Life is selfish love and no care in the world.

Forget about pretenders. No one takes them seriously.

When chips are down we men have a code that we live by. We peruse our contact list. Since I lost my phone I lost many contacts. I only retrieved a few from the cloud. The rest went to hell. Even those I’d synced on Gmail I did not deliberately recover all of them. Meaning I had contacts I never contacted but they kept my list of phonebook full. Even in an album you don’t play all songs. There are favorites. I did not worry since I had a phone whose memory could not be filled by a few gigabytes and hundreds more to spare on the cloud. By the way I rarely watch TV or/and movies. Topic of tomorrow.

Wisdom Questioned

Anyway, I have since questioned the phonebook contacts which never added any value to me and the ones I searched for until I restored them back. It seems rather rude to ask “ni nani” after a new number either pops up on a text or via voice. Even Truecaller does not seem to recognize who the hell is that analog bugger without a trail of digital footprints.

Rather than the usual family contacts I know by heart, there are priceless friends I cannot get unplugged from. That whose contacts had no backups faded from my memory when robbers struck. Likewise others never bothered. Life is selfish love and no care in the world. Those from work, colleagues, former colleagues-both bosses and fellow staff, comrades and childhood friends with whom we have fond memories of teenage mischief.

Tell As Is

By cost-benefit analysis I am able to shed off people in my life. I am also aware that the same happens to me. Who wants a friend who is a liability? Save for the landlord, I don’t need another rip off for now- much less against my will. If everyone was honest they would remember the help they give out so that they can be rewarded in future. You are blessed according to your deeds.

As an avid reader and writer, so much comes through my eyes, hands and head.  When I make sense of numbers, contexts and ideas I live with the judgment of critics without whom my publications would be lacking in review. I tell my math and science critics that art is not logic limited between points X and Y. It is an imagination that takes the artist anywhere so long as s/he is creative.

Kitui County Investors Conference to unlock devolution potential

Kitui County Investors Conference to unlock devolution potential

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe. Photo/ Kitui County Governor's Press. Malombe will host an investment conference this weekend Sep 25/26 at Kitui town.

This weekend Kitui County will host an investment conference at Ithookwe Showground. As a journalist covering media dynamics in Kitui today last year, I can proudly say that the county has improved. The county has really campaigned to attract investors.

At that time there was a rugby tournament going on but few media highlighted the high -octane derby that was ensuing. Only local vernacular radios broadcast the event yet it was a national issue that the national media decided to ignore.

Now because money will be coming to Kitui they will be everywhere acting out while selecting the best of their adjectives and tired journalism jargon.

Lack of Ambition

Admittedly, Kitui doesn’t make for a vibrant media fodder by any standards. The social scene is dull, the politics are on ice and the economy is small. It has watched Machakos play big brother despite having bigger population, more skilled human resource and more land. The curse of Kitui is playing second fiddle and lack of ambition.

This mediocrity must change on September 25 and 26 when Kitui County Investors Conference convenes.  Locals will be watching who will invest in several plum opportunities in coal, limestone, banking and education among others.

Recently I visited Nguni in Mwingi and limestone was piled recklessly along the Mwingi-Garissa road. Trucks ferried the mineral to elsewhere, sources say. Are the locals benefiting? Is anyone arresting the manmade environmental degradation that is likely to follow in the wake of massive mining of coal in Mui and Kyuso?

Worse still, poverty rates are high and water is rare. Governor Julius Makau Malombe should demonstrate why he should keep his job in 2017.

You are graduating; so what?

You are graduating; so what?

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Beyond the veneer of flashy campus lifestyle is the real world. Not that campus is not real but it is controlled and so many players care. The HELB, parents, the government all jostle for your attention. They want to pamper you bordering on the spoil.

But five months after campus and starring at graduation in a fortnight is a journey with a difference. While I can’t say I tarmacked I had the humility to accept less than my qualified chores. Both at a personal level and professionally.

It is a chapter that I have inked considerably. Online, on paper on hearts and on minds.  Sometimes it required getting your feet on the door even if you do not exactly belong inside. When you get inside you will get a place to sit. Be prepared to stand, to wait for your turn and most of all appreciate little favours.

Baptism with Fire

Nothing impresses a boss than following instructions and delivering your brief. Better still go beyond the call of duty. No one will forget.

Between college and job is a whole new baptism with fire. A lot of weaning, toughening up and hope. As a young adult you must be independent. Make your own money, pay your bills and take care of yourself. Sometimes it may mean painful decisions, sad sacrifices but all are worth the effort as no condition is permanent.

You learn how to move on, to go with chance and change and stay strong. All these things are not taught in campus. While you leave storm on a cup of tea masquerading as a real relationship, politics and daily routine welcome to the dynamic world where action is and no one cares.

But for comrades behind, start something in college. Be active. Run something. Get a name and build on your niche. Here we don’t ask 5Ws and H we dig deeper into your publishing, networks and contributions. It is a whole day two journalism. Make sense of the environment by asking so what? You have a degree so what? Do you have skills? In short it is more of what you can offer not what you are asking for.

Medical Appeal for David Kamau Muthoni

Medical Appeal

David Kamau Muthoni.Photo/Facebook

The family and friends of David Kamau Muthoni (National ID number 23704074) hereby calls for your support to offset his outstanding hospital bill. Kamau died on August 18 at Mater Hospital where he was admitted for six weeks.

The outstanding medical bill is KSh.3.9 million .Well-wishers can MPESA their contributions to 0724407965(Kamau Maina, his brother). Kamau’s family has already contributed KSh.1.1 million towards the same. You will input your phone number when prompted to key in your phone number during the sending process.

Thank you as you purpose to support us.

Of Positive Ethnicity and Tribalism

Of Positive Ethnicity and Tribalism

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

David Rudisha celebrates his victory. Photo/Reuters

Following Kenya emerging top of the world a tweef came up pitting Chief Justice Willy Mutunga against Nairobi lawyer Donald Kipkorir.

Kipkorir appeared to imply that Kalenjins won for Kenya, sentiments which prompted the CJ to point out that the learned friend  shamelessly posted ethnic comments.

Opinion on Twitter was divided on what to make of the credit of the champions. Kenya scooped 16 medals among them 7 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze.

In fact, Kenyans from different ethnic shades won with Kalenjin dominating the ranks. Perhaps we should embrace more diversity, unity and tolerance while celebrating our champs.

This comes hot in the heels political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi who is being probed by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission on comments he made against a certain tribe perceived to be derogatory. He has since apologized for the same. Law Society of Kenya CEO Apollo Mboya had threatened to sue the researcher famed for his tyranny of numbers theory.

In the past, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was also told to apologize for hate speech remarks he posted on Facebook. 

Chapter Four of New Constitution 2010 guarantees free speech and cites limits for hate speech with the latter lacking clear definition. It is a delicate balance between enjoying personal liberties and taking responsibilities.