President Kibaki Among the Highest Paid Politicians in The World


                      Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Presidents and prime ministers are supposed to be public servants who can relate to everyday people but how many public servants do you know that are earning six figure incomes or more? Politicians often do and that’s just counting their straightforward annual salary, not all of their little perks and expenses claimed throughout the year by people in a position of power.Ok its not one of the easiest jobs in the world and you are pretty much guaranteed to become a hate figure by someone in the world, but who cares when your earning all this money!
Let’s take a moment to look at the world’s ten highest paid politicians based on annual salary alone:

1. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong – Singapore

  • Salary in GBP: £1.76 million
  • Salary in USD: $2.86 million
  • Salary in local currency: S$3.87 million
This highest paid politician in the world makes considerably more than any of the other people on the list despite that the others are all earning six figure incomes. He’s the only one earning an actual annual salary in the millions.
2. Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen – Hong Kong
  • Salary in GBP: £318,000
  • Salary in USD: $516,000
  • Salary in local currency: HK$4 million
In the late 1990’s Tsang was the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong so he certainly knows his way around money, which is probably good since he is earning a lot of it!
3. President Mwai Kibaki – Kenya
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjxT10aY0F5p7EZDjgJJkH_L0LyFTmHrdfeWt_pKVI54MeLUOpGUBYTIc3NpJJ2x-RAvlE4XjPb5JF0WYhZvPAsXs-kdhrcAioB6r5ETrvQIJz0IHbwyXaPBwlR24Yud7Z5WnZAsBJR2k/s400/kibaki_002.jpg
  • Salary in GBP: £276,449
  • Salary in USD: $449,000
  • Salary in local currency: KES 38,974,556
A couple of years ago Kenya wasn’t even on lists like this but the current president is earning a nice income in his job. Starting last year, though, his salary has begun to be taxed to help boost the economy of the country.












4. President Barack Obama – U.S.
  • Salary in GBP: £246,000
  • Salary in USD: $400,000
  • Salary in local currency: $400,000
This has been the president’s annual salary in the United States since 2001. Prior to that the president’s salary was only half this price but hadn’t been raised since 1969.
5. President Nicolas Sarkozy – France
  • Salary in GBP: £196,000
  • Salary in USD: $318,000
  • Salary in local currency: €240,000
One of Sarkozy’s very first actions as president was to give himself a raise. His yearly salary went from €101,000 to €240,000 after he gave himself this raise. In fairness this is comparable to many other European leaders as we can see from this list.
6. Chancellor Angela Merkel – Germany
  • Salary in GBP: £187,000
  • Salary in USD: $303,000
  • Salary in local currency: €228,000
This woman is the first female Chancellor of Germany and also the highest paid female politician.
7. Prime Minister Stephen Harper – Canada
  • Salary in GBP: £151,000
  • Salary in USD: $246,000
  • Salary in local currency: C$317,000
Half of this annual salary is the normal salary for a member of Canadian parliament and the other half is the pay increase for being Prime Minister.
8. Prime Minister Naoto Kan – Japan

  • Salary in GBP: £150,000
  • Salary in USD: $240,000
  • Salary in local currency: Y24 million
Notably the Prime Minister of Japan has stated that he will not accept his monthly salary until the recent crisis in Japan as been dealt with. Kudos to him for at least making that effort!
9. Prime Minister David Cameron – UK
  • Salary in GBP: £142,000
  • Salary in USD: $230,500
  • Salary in local currency: £142,000
Cameron is earning slightly less than former Prime Minister Gordon Brown who was earning £194,250 in 2009.

10. Prime Minister Julia Gillard – Australia
  • Salary in GBP: £141,000
  • Salary in USD: $229,000
  • Salary in local currency: A$330,000
The only other woman on our list, this Prime Minister of Australia is earning the same salary as her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

Julie Gichuru Life Story …Beauty With Intelligence

One of Kenya’s best loved anchors opens up about success, criticism, motherhood and her new agenda for Kenya’s youth. By Carol Odero
She must be used to hearing this but I thought she would be taller. Julie Gichuru is diminutive. When she walks in, her high heels disappear into the hem of her jeans, pooling under her feet and grazing the floor. She looks all of 21 and her thick hair, aided by extensions because she cut it off a few years back, falls down her back. She is so chirpy and perky it’s contagious. Do not be fooled. She has been known to bite.
Today, she is group digital manager and television host at Citizen TV and her shows have been known to claim their
pound of flesh.
When I ask how old she is, she throws back, “How old do I look?” Were it not for the heavy lifting of political and societal cultural weights she does so effortlessly, one might underestimate her. “There is nothing wrong with people looking at you and thinking you are an airhead. In fact it is a good thing. That way they are the ones who have to deal with you when you finally show your smarts.”
Her career is unrivalled and she has worked in some of the biggest media houses in Kenya. Perhaps because of her girl next door demeanour, she is also something of a Kenyan sweetheart who registers on the stylish personalities radar regularly. Her soft voice and youthful almost girlie looks make her vastly approachable.
Is there a grand plan and a business mastermind at hand, one wonders? “I am the kind of person who does not plan what I do in my career. In fact my husband would find it quite amusing that we are even having this conversation.”


True Love’s last meeting with Julie was in 2006. She was introduced to us as a grieving mother, having lost her son in the most unfortunate of circumstances. We cried with her, felt her pain, and saw her healing begin. Nearly five years later, she has more to offer. This time joyous and celebratory.
For one, she is working with UNICEF on a Baby Banda campaign, teaching women about breastfeeding. “I remember breastfeeding my two babies once in a doctor’s waiting room with women looking at me oddly before asking the doctor if that was normal! My mother kept asking me why I was still breastfeeding my son Kimoshe at four. I had to remind her that it was my baby and it was my house.”
UNICEF simply called her out of the blue. She gets a number of these calls. She gives talks about digital things, motherhood, parenting, women and careers, motivating young people and moderating on issues of national cohesion.
She is also a fellow and trustee member of the African Leadership Initiative, part of the Young Global Leaders, under the World Economic Forum, and has won a Salute to Greatness Award from the Martin Luther King Foundation in 2008. Aspen Global Leadership Network and African Global Leadership made a bid for her participation and now she flies around the world, taking part.
Her involvement came after the post election violence during which time she participated in peace initiatives. She was then nominated and asked to train as an Aspen moderator. The other was done by a committee with Queen Rania. They sent her a message and said her name was put forward as a contender. Where does she find time? “I always think there is an opportunity to learn or teach something. There have been many things that have come my way but I have to ask myself if it fits in line with who I am.” She has to find time for her main job though between digital and hosting. “I think very soon it is going to be at an inflection point because of all the things I am doing.”
As for failure, she did attempt to run a magazine, a venture which backfired. “I ended up with a lot of debt and spent three years trying to pay them off.”
From the age of 10 she wanted to be a criminal lawyer. With more than a passing interest in drama, she wrote plays, won public speaking awards and considers herself a poet. However, James Falkland who at the time was heading Phoenix Theatres, mentioned there was no future in theatre as it earns no money. She chose law.
It was evidence law that did it for her. Injustice greatly provokes Julie and the law she learnt only enhanced the inequalities by showing them up. It offended her so greatly that when she finished, she went on to study business administration. She came back to Kenya and there was the option of going to Kenya School of Law and financially depending on her parents.


Instead she went to Capital FM for a voice test. They called her back within hours asking her to start on Monday. “I realized the other day what I am doing is a combination of the things that I love. The things I do are so related to what I studied. There is an element of drama, and I just ended up being where I should be.”
Julie is in the throes of Sunday Live, a television show she says would be impossible to do without the dedication and expertise of the team that work with her. “We have an editor who is solely dedicated to hunting down the rich people for the segment ‘Who Owns Kenya’ and a research department. We sit in meetings, coordinate and share ideas. Team effort is critical otherwise I would not be able to do what I do.”
Her shows get her into trouble. “I think we have a couple of court cases and threats. I get complaints from people who tell me this is not the kind of wealth we need to celebrate but there are people who have made it in Kenya through hard work, but some have not. We can give some indication of this with the information we acquire and I think it is important to tell people who is behind that bank or the owner of that institution.
Kenyans have the right to know these things. A lot of things happen in this market. There is a lot of insider trading going on and people act like they do not know it. We are just saying that you have the right to know. Some of them are very hard to follow through and there are individuals we finally had to pull out on when it got murky. We knew that would happen going in but Kenyans should not feel this is sacred information.”
Fortunately for Julie, she is at home with investigative journalism. “When I moved to Citizen I was raring to go. Wachira Waruru told me to settle down first. It took three months to conceptualise Sunday Live. Initially, it started out as an Oprah concept but a lot of people saw an element of seriousness in what I do and we did not want to lose that.
With that the concept evolved.” Here is where Julie is becoming something of a trendsetter. This then begs the question as to why she left Nation TV, now NTV, in June 2008 where she seemed to be thriving.
“Nation was like my family. Moving on was not an easy thing. I was crying everyday once I realized I was going to move and I remember on the last day standing outside waiting for my husband to come and get me, sobbing as if I had lost my best friend. I was pathetic. He found me bawling and it was nothing other than the fact that I was leaving. But I felt I was not achieving what I needed to achieve.
When you are miserable and the core of your being tells you to make a change, is it not important to at least make that change?” How, I ask, did she negotiate a package? There is a pause as she thinks. “It is a challenge. We undervalue ourselves. I generally do not like to negotiate. I think it is below me. If I don’t think that we can find a point of agreement I will just leave it. I also do not haggle well. That, I think is a weakness. When an offer is made initially it has to be somewhere within reason. That being said we had discussed this before I went in.”


Julie is an actively involved mother of four and a wife with a parallel and equally involving life in the limelight. Surely this must be a challenge. “I have so much more time for my children now but of course as a mother there are things that you wish you could do like a stay-at-home mum who is there all the time can. But you have to find balance.
In the beginning of my career, it was really hard. I would read news two weeks in a month and work during the day. I saw my kids in the morning but not at night. There are seasons when you work really hard but there has got to be a break. It can’t just be this thing that is endless because it will suck the life out of you. You have to put in some boundaries.”
The shift in priorities was dictated by her own personal loss. “After losing David Mwaura I just thought some things are not so important. Kimoshe remembers him very well but Njeri’s memories of him are very vague. I still mourn him. I wrote him a poem yesterday and miss him yet we still feel blessed. You learn how to deal with it. It is not something that brings us down. Remembering him is something that brings us joy.” There is Kimoshe (10), Njeri (8), Daniel (4) who has taken to calling himself Dr. Dan and Joseph who turns one year this month.


Like every other mother, Julie barely has a minute to herself. “I do a facial at home once a week. I love relaxing in the tub. Sometimes I just send my kids away and tell them to give me half an hour to think and do my thing while they are reading or doing some other thing. The difficulty with doing that much preening is that the kids are young and if I spend time doing that then I feel I am taking it away from the kids.
I go to the salon right before Sunday Live and ask them to do everything in a flurry of 45 minutes.” Sunday also includes an editorial meeting, time with family and grooming for television. “I had started at the gym but stopped. I do yoga type stretches at home. When I eat junk I try to detox with fruits and vegetables. As for my last real facial, I had it before Joseph, about 18 months back. I have been surviving on good skin products. I do break out but thankfully it never leaves scars.”
She is a go-getter, not afraid to pitch her ideas to her bosses, as well as to debate, urge, argue and push them. “I want to do a lot of programming and executive producing so there is going to be a lot of convincing. I want to broaden horizons.”
But why all the hard work? There’s a perception that she comes from a rich family. The kind that should be featured in ‘Who Owns Kenya’ and she does not need to work a day in her life.
“Where do people get that impression from? I think you are talking about my father in law. It is important for young people not to expect their parents to provide for them. My father was in the army, and his Asian family settled in Kenya. The army was nothing to complain about, but sending me to university was something of a struggle. Not an easy thing to do on a secretary’s salary either for my mum. The heaviest investment my parents ever made was in their children.”
She did not disappoint them.
The number of television shows Julie has done is phenomenal. “My first live talk show was Capital Openline on Capital FM 2001.
I hosted Ndura Waruinge the head of Mungiki at that time, who had a warrant out for his arrest. It was an explosive show and at the end Phil Matthews burst into the studio and said, “This is your niche Julie! You were born to do this!”
In KTN there was ‘Business as Usual’, ‘The Inside Story’ which was Kenya’s first investigative documentary, and ‘The
Third Opinion’ after Kathleen Openda left.
On NTV she created and produced the popular political debate program ‘Showdown’ hosted in the first season by
Mutula Kilonzo and Mirugi Kariuki, and in the second season by Kilemi Mwiria and Billow Kerrow. She also created,
produced and hosted ‘The Fourth Estate’, ‘On the Spot’, ‘The People’s Voice’, ‘Voices of Reason’, and produced and hosted ‘You the Jury’.
Then she moved to Citizen TV where she is now on ‘Sunday Live with Julie Gichuru’, ‘Fist to Five for Change’ and ‘Eye on Katiba’.
But Julie is not resting on her laurels yet, she has ideas for shows targeting young adults. “I want to capture that idealism and enthusiasm. Life is a struggle. But somewhere we built a generation that blames everybody else and has an ‘uta do?’ attitude. This is where the idea of The Great Debate (yet another of her shows) has come from.”
“When I was in Capital, I knew it was time to leave radio because I started seeing stories as pictures in my head. Now I see Kenyan stories as movies in my head. When people talk I can see the landscape and I can see the shots and I see myself doing a lot of movies from behind the scenes.”
With her movement back and forth, did she get any training for digital? “It is about ideas. In a world facing an economic downturn, the people who are indispensable to a company are the ones who can multitask.” This is apparently her greatest strength.
“Early on in my career someone told me I should be worried because there will be many Julie Gichuru’s coming up. I said no, there will be many amazing people who do amazing things but there is only one me. You must always have faith and confidence in yourself. Remember why nobody can fill that gap. If someone is able to get into your role then it means it is time for you to move forward and ahead and it also means that person is ready for the next growth phase.”
Her approach works as well because of her simple philosophy. “I imagine a woman in Turkana with four kids like me, kids the same age as mine. How does she feed them? I think I speak for the voiceless so I do not really care which side of the political divide you fall. At the end of the day, if this woman had a chance, what would she do? So I keep it almost simple-stupid. That way even if people complain that I was soft on a personality, I know what I am doing.”
That means withstanding the pressure and eternal judgment that she knows especially follows female anchors. “You have to deal with fickle and weighty matters and find the stuff that builds you as a brand from the negative to the frighteningly adoring. I am fortunate I had a partner even before I got onto radio. We already knew each other.
I am so thankful for my husband. If, for instance, I do not notice someone waving, he will tell me, ‘Julie, wave to that person over there. Now turn to your right and wave to the others over there. He manages it (her public persona) well and is very confident in himself. If I did not have that kind of support, I don’t think I would be able to do my job the way I do. I would be pulling my hair out on a daily basis. I go home and ask him how the show was. If he says ‘not good’ I think, bummer. If he says ‘it was great,’ I think, great.
When we meet people in Nakumatt, Westgate or Kikopey, I take photos with people and I leave him with the kids. He is really patient. That is really great.” So, no stalkers then? “None. When I get a gift, it says Julie Gichuru and family. It’s clear. There is no room for any misunderstanding so I do not have to deal with that. I am such a mathee!”
A light assertion aided along by moments such as her on air announcement of her pregnancy. “People had been speculating about my pregnancy. We were doing a show on teenage pregnancy and so I locked it in saying when you have your systems in place as a woman it is a blessed thing to be able to have a child in that environment then introduced a segment on teenage pregnancies. I got a text from this guy saying that that was shameful, he could not believe that I said that on air and he was offended.
It was interesting because it was such a blessing to me.”
Her Sunday Live attire is designed to bring in younger viewers who think news is a dull, boring adult affair. Also, Julie says that, “Kenyans idolize politicians so guess what I’m going to wear sweet skirts, skinny trousers and girlie dresses. I will play with it so that you have something else to talk about that is different and so that Kenyans can stop focusing on politicians. It is a whole mind shift right in line with my ideas for the new generation. I want to work with young people.
When I thought about that, I felt a welling up, and I felt that this really was my life’s calling. I hope to make strides in that area.”
Finally, again, she suffered another recent loss. “I lost my mother in law several months back. She had Alzheimer’s. It was a very difficult few years at the end. She was the kind of person who was so busy and engaged, bringing laughter, food and would emit such energy that by the time she left, you would feel revved up. We were very similar in many ways. For me she was everything that a woman should be. Strong, entrepreneurial and loving. If only I could just be half the woman that she was. Our challenge is to finish her work. I also have a very close relationship with my parents.


We live close to my dad so the kids get to see him regularly. My mother is in the States and she has just written a book about post colonial Kenya and will be here to launch it. I look forward to seeing her.”
At 36, she says “I can’t wait to turn 40.I think that is when you are in your element and you have grown enough to be comfortable in your own skin. I think it is going to be the best thing ever.” Her life still, in as much as it involves work, is centered around her family. “The funniest thing to do is watch tv with my kids. I love cartoons and I introduced them to Star Wars and they show me the latest animations. For me it is all about the warmth and love that is created. I keep thinking soon enough I will be alone with my hubby. I try to guard my family and it is important to me that they are protected at all times.”
Would she say she is successful? “Yes but not because of what I do. Because I am happy, satisfied and content.”
Julie’s Get Ahead Tips
  • You have to struggle for about 4 to 7 years before you come to success. Then again, once you have made if, then the real work begins.
  • Have a plan and a business  concept that works. That is your foundation and stepping stone so it must be solid.
  • Be ready to put in the time.
  • Do not expect to see immediate results. If you do you are in a business that is exceptional.
  • Build a lot of goodwill by having focus and determination. This is what will attract others to you.
  • Be willing to share what you have be it wealth or information.
  • You need people to be successful.
  • Account for your investments in time, effort or money.
Written by Carol Odero,  True love Magazine.
Courtesy of kenyanmagazines
Citizen Tv

Citizen TV Paying Janet Mbugua Ksh 800,000, Cameramen Ksh 44,000


mbuguaWhen Janet Mbugua goes on air to read news on 800,000 shillings-a-month-pay on Citizen TV, the men and women behind the camera and autocue on a 44,000 shillings-a-month of the same currency may be tempted to super-impose a spooky montage behind her. And somehow, it is easy to sympathize with them.
“This is obscene and should not be accepted, people should start boycotting Citizen TV,” a prominent media owner told the Jackal News.In addition, Citizen TV is reported to have paid nearly five million shillings to free Mbugua from her contract in South Africa.
“Well, I have no comment on that and honestly, she better comes onboard with better stories otherwise, we shall not accept that. I was about to quit, but ….” said an employee of Citizen TV.
The news manager, Faridah Karoney, may not raise an issue if that happens, after all, the new on-air talent will be earning more than what S. K. Macharia, the station’s owner, is paying her to write the scripts that Mbugua will be reading.
News that Mbugua is joining Citizen TV on 803,000 shillings a month is shinning spotlight on how media owners in Kenya are willing to go to win/retain viewers and advertisers. At Citizen, it is bound to irritate reporters and the technical staff who have been on a go-slow seeking better pay.
If confirmed, she will be Kenya’s highest paid TV newsreader, beating the queen of radio, Caroline Mutoko, whose similar pay is inclusive of straining duties as Radio Africa Ltd marketing manager.
The 27-year-old Kenyan, an average news presenter by all standards, has been brought back to the country by SK Macharia, from South Africa’s ETV channel, at an unjustifiably huge cost. Sources told Jackal News that Royal Media Services paid ETV over 4.5 million Kenya shillings to free her up from ETV contract.
Before she left for South Africa in mid 2009, she worked with KTN and NTV television stations. Mbugua, together with Citizen TV’s Lilian Muli-Kanene (on a 255,000 shillings salary) and the hysterical Esther Arunga, used to be quite popular news girls on Kenyan TV in 2008/2009. She studied in Kenya, Malaysia and South Africa. In her recent job at ETV, Ms Mbugua used to read evening news.
ETV is a free-to-air TV channel, also with syndicated broadcasts in 13 African countries including in Kenya, on the non-descript Channel 2 ofthe Nation Media Group, the company running NTV

Forbes: Uhuru Kenyatta, Chris Kirubi Kenya's Richest


Kenyan politician Uhuru Kenyatta is Kenya's richest man followed by business mogul Chris Kirubi according to Forbes magazine's "Africa's richest" list.
They are the only Kenyans to make the cut in the list led by Nigeria's Aliko Dangote, worth an estimated $10.1 billion, and dominated by the Sawiris and Mansoor families both from Egypt.
Uhuru makes the list at number 25 with an estimated wealth valued at $500 million and Chris Kirubi follows closely six spots down at 31 worth $300 million.
"He (Uhuru Kenyatta) owns at least 500,000 acres of prime land spread across the country. The land was acquired by his father in the 1960s and 1970s when the British colonial government and the World Bank funded a settlement transfer fund scheme that enabled government officials and wealthy Kenyans to acquire land from the British at very low prices."
"Uhuru and his family also own Brookside Dairies, Kenya's largest dairy company, as well as stakes in popular television station K24 and a commercial bank in Nairobi, among other interests."
As for the flamboyant Kirubi, Forbes states that his journey to wealth started when he bought small, dilapidated residential and commercial real estate in Nairobi.
"He then renovated the properties and flipped them for a profit. He now owns Nairobi's landmark International House building, one of the city's longest standing and most prestigious commercial properties, as well as several other commercial and residential buildings in Nairobi."
"Other assets include a 49% stake in Haco Tiger Industries, which manufactures consumer products; a controlling stake in Centum, a Nairobi Stock Exchange-listed private equity firm; UAP Insurance, one of Kenya's largest insurance companies and Sandvik East Africa, a Kenyan construction firm. Also owns the DHL Franchise in Kenya, and Capital FM, Kenya's most popular radio station. Devout disciple of social media keeps active Twitter and Facebook accounts. Avid golfer."
The Sawiris and the Mansoors dominate the top twenty positions in the list with the former occupying four of the top 20 positions and the latter having three of its members on it.
Damn, now get back to work if that dream of getting on this list is to suffice.

Chris Kirubi

Raila’s Son, Fidel Odinga Files For Divorce


Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s son Fidel Castro Odinga has filed for divorce from Veronica Wanjiru Ng’ang’a, his wife of four years.

Congrats: Nick Odhiambo Now A Daddy






Classic 105 presenter Nick Odhiambo is now a daddy.
The baby girl, named Amari, was born yesterday and both mother and child are said to be in perfect condition.



New Music Video: Hula Hoop - Stella Mwangi Ft Mohobi



The girl who dares explore new heights is at it again and she sticks to the style she used in "Lookie Lookie".

Meet The "Bonoko" Man Francis Kimani



Francis Kimani, the man who made 'Bonoko" Kenya's name of the year is a former street urchin whom, since his eyewitness recount about a killing in Ngara, Nairobi went viral, has seen his life take a positive turn.
Nobody would have expected that Kimani's eyewitness recount would be so popular that it was turned into a song and even has two videos.
Thanks to his funny accent and slur, Kimani became a phenomenal and it was then that former rapper Maji Maji, now working at Ghetto Radio decided to do an unconventional thing and gave Kimani a job as a presenter.
Citizen's Job Mwaura tracked him down and got to understand his story. He has quite a heartrending story and we need more of these stories if we are to keep our youth from "kuwekerewo bonoko".

Kyang’ombe Demolitions:This is impunity of the highest level!NKT


Kyang’ombe slum which is situated around the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has been demolished. According to JKIA officials, the slum sits in the direct flight path, which poses a great risk to the safety of planes as well as endangering the lives of the slum dwellers.
kenya
Muungano Wa Wanavijiji and local residents believe that there is more that meets the eye. The residents were being evicted because private developers with powerful political connections have acquired the land illegally.
Kyang'ombe demolition
Close to 200,000 people have been left homeless after six bulldozers flattened their houses at Kyang’ombe village off Mombasa Road in Nairobi under the watchful eye and supervision of fully armed Administration Police officers.
The responsible Institution, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is said to have given the residents notice to vacate the area, so as to clear it and create space for aircrafts flying over before landing or taking-off from the JKIA International Airport.
On seeking information and justification from KAA corporate affairs manager Dominic Ngigi, who declined to comment claiming that the matter was now out of his jurisdiction and are now in the hands of the local Provincial Commissioner and the Provincial Police Officer respectively.
The evictions began at around 11pm on Friday night catching the resident’s off guard. What raises eyebrows is why did they have to conduct the forceful evictions at Midnight? Where did they expect the women and children to seek refuge? Several schools were also demolished, the schools which also served as examination are now facing dilemma over the candidature of their already registered candidates. More than ten schools, a number of churches, garages, bars, shops and other businesses were destroyed.
Kyang'ombe demolition
Some of the residents managed to secure their household items from the bulldozers’ path but a number of them had no time to remove their items, which were destroyed as the houses were being flattened.
By Saturday morning, about 1300 houses were already destroyed in the melee as the bulldozers advanced towards more than 4000 household units as desperate residents continued to remove their household goods away from the path of the bulldozers. More other houses beyond the scene of the current evictions have also been earmarked for further demolitions.
Most of those persons evicted work as casual labourers in the nearby factories in Nairobi’s Industrial Area and had moved there for easy access.
Permanent houses with shops, mini-supermarkets, concrete apartments and other semi-permanent house build from corrugated iron sheets were not spared either. Some of the residents that we managed to talk claimed they never saw any eviction notice but just heard rumours of the impending evictions since the residents had secured a court order against KAA not to go ahead with the secretly planned demolition in Kyang’ombe.
“I do not know where to go. I have lived here for the past four and a half years,” Kepher Otieno said adding that he and his family have never received any notice to vacate.
“They came with armed police who stood by. There is nothing we could have done. They did not tell us where to go next or where we can get our next meal,”
“There was no written notice,” he said.
He was guarding his household goods together with his wife and a two-year old son and a three months old daughter.
Secure Tenure
The prevention of evictions and the enablement of secure tenure remain central objectives of the Federations and emerging Federations linked together through SDI.
One of Muungano Support Trust’s important goals is to demonstrate to communities, professionals, city officials and politicians that alternatives to evictions can emerge from the development of negotiated consensus. In order to achieve this consensus the key development actors – organized communities and local governments need to shift perspective and think beyond an “either/or” scenario. From the perspective of communities this normally manifests as “either we win the right to stay where we are, or we do not cooperate”. From the perspective of the city it is a case of “either we relocate you, or you don’t get any development.”
This takes a lot of negotiation. In most cases communities under threat of eviction and state institutions who support these evictions, are in no mental state to negotiate anything.
Over the years the Kenyan slum dwellers federation Muungano Wa Wanavijiji with the assistance of Slum Dwellers International have developed, refined, adapted and transferred a set of tools that are used to pre-empt evictions and move cities from demolition to development. They include.
Community Enumeration. When poor people count themselves it is a great mobilization starter. And as the communities gather more information and learn how to process and use it they get to be equipped with the information and the understanding required for resettlement and upgrading. This is a crucial step in moving poor communities from being victims to becoming direct actors in change.
Settlement Mapping. An important part of this data-gathering is the drawing of settlement maps that include houses, shops, pathways, water-points, electric poles and so on. This helps people to get a visual fix on their physical situation and enables them to plan settlement improvements and to assess the development interventions that outsiders propose. Detailed, accurate, and first-hand these maps are powerful planning and mobilizing tools and also effective bargaining chips when it comes to negotiations for secure tenure.
Surveying Vacant Land. It is not uncommon for city authorities to dismiss arguments in favour of low cost housing by saying that there is no available land in suitable locations. Whilst public land is often limited and whilst market forces make private land unaffordable for the poor, Federations in many southern cities have demonstrated that these realities do not translate into a situation in which there is no suitable land for poor people in the inner city or in areas with easy access to public amenities. Federations in countries such as South Africa, Cambodia, Kenya and India have embarked on elaborate land identification exercises that have ranged from picnics on open land in Mumbai to land audits in Durban and settlement profiling in Nairobi.
Settlement Planning. It is necessary for poor communities to re-locate their participation in the housing delivery process at the level of the practical. This means a move away from the abstraction of a struggle for housing rights, backed with lobbying, demonstration and litigation to the concrete activities of planning, design and actual delivery. In order to do this, communities need to start by dreaming and visualizing the kind of settlements and houses in which they would like to live. From this point onwards it is relatively easy for community members to break the myth that planning and design are the exclusive domain of highly trained professionals, and that regulation and monitoring are the sole prerogative of officials and bureaucrats. Over the years the SDI affiliates have developed effective community based training programmes in which households in affected settlements come together to plan their settlements and design their houses. These programmes vary from country to country but share several key elements. They are dreaming or visualizing neighbourhoods and houses, moving from the abstract to the concrete by means of cloth house models and the creation of basic layout designs. This is followed by the evolution of a common community vision in terms of house type and settlement layout, which is reflected back to the communities through mass meetings and through sustained dialogue within already established savings collectives.
House Model Exhibitions. Many SDI affiliates scale up their cloth models until they become full scale models, normally constructed with timber frames, cloth walls and galvanized roofing. When politicians, officials and other communities are invited to see these physical manifestations of the people’s plans, a lot of interesting things normally transpire. Possibilities are democratised, excitement and self consciousness is generated, city authorities begin to see communities through different eyes, people begin to take ownership of their problems and their solutions, and citizenship is deepened.
Building Networks via Community Exchanges. A programme of constant exchange visits between settlements in the same city, in different cities and different countries has resulted in the transfer of these and other rituals and skills to thousands of slum settlements all over the world. The absorption of these capacities into new settlements provides them with tools that they will need in their own struggles for land, secure tenure and affordable housing. Together with the transfer of knowledge comes the growth of unity and solidarity, resulting in a stronger voice of the poor, at city, country and international level. This in itself becomes a vital tool for tenure security that SDI forges for its urban poor affiliates.
The people of Kyang’ombe have nowhere to run to. This is an unfortunate event that has cast dark clouds on their lives and those of their children. According to the Constitution and the Millennium development goals, the Government is entitled to provide its citizens with proper shelter for its people. We cannot understand why the evictions were conducted without proper planning for those who were to be affected by the demolitions.

Miss World Kenya 2011 Crowned

Susan Anyango beat a total of 4,177 contestants from 9 counties to don the Miss World Kenya crown.

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After gruelling months of training in hair and beauty, etiquette, leadership and talent, catwalking and modeling, Susan was hand picked as the best of the beauties in the Nestea Miss World Kenya 2011 pageant, whose finals were held at the Oak Place Center in Nairobi on Saturday night.

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Hailing from Githurai, this is not the first challenge that has come Susan's way, and the 19 years of her life have been a struggle to make ends meet.
With her father dying of liver failure when Susan was only four, she had to endure the loss of her mother at 12. Her mother succumbed to leukaemia, a blood cancer. This has made Susan an advocate for fighting cancer.
Having had to bring herself up, surviving on her ingenuity and the inheritance her parents left her, Susan has managed to put herself through high school and went on to join Kenya Methodist University.
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Taking over from the previous Miss World Kenya Natasha Metto, Susan will champion the task of jigger eradication in Kenya.
She will also represent Kenya at the Miss World 2011 pageant in October this year, in London.
Susan was presented with a new car, with a one-year comprehensive insurance and fuel by Ashley’s Kenya.

Nairobi nightclub grenade attack injures 13


Will Ross says Kenya's bars have little security so are soft targets

Related Stories

A grenade attack on a nightclub in the centre of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has injured 13 people.
The grenade was thrown into the Mwauras club early on Monday morning.
Police have not said who was behind the attack, but correspondents say some will blame Somali militants al-Shabab.
It comes a week after Kenya sent troops to Somalia to track down members of the group, which Nairobi blames for several kidnappings. Al-Shabab threatened reprisals if the troops did not leave.
The al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group, which controls much of southern and central Somalia, has denied carrying out any abductions.
'Imminent threat' "Initial investigations show it is a grenade that was thrown inside," said Eric Mugambi, a senior police officer in Nairobi.
A local news station, Capital News Radio, quoted a witness as saying a man had asked to be let in to the Mwauras bar in central Nairobi shortly after 03:00 (0000 GMT). He then hurled a grenade and fled the scene, said the witness.
Lawrence Kioko, who was injured in the attack, told Reuters news agency: "I heard an explosion - there was darkness and I thought the electricity had gone out but when I touched my face, there was blood."
Police inspect the scene of an explosion inside a club in Kenya's capital Nairobi on 24 October 2011 Witnesses said a man threw a grenade into the club and fled the scene.
Video footage showed blood and beer bottles on the floor of the nightclub - upturned seats and debris littered the floor.
"The guys came out running covered in blood. We helped them wash the blood off and they were carried away in ambulances," Jacob Musembi, an eyewitness, told Reuters.
Police cordoned off the area. No group has so far admitted carrying out the attack.
Deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said no-one could be ruled out.
"We know that there are al-Shabab sympathisers in Nairobi," he said. "But it could also have been a business dispute. It is too early to say."
Last week, Kenya announced it would carry out a major security operation in Nairobi to flush out al-Shabab sympathisers once its Somalia operation had ended.
The US embassy in Nairobi warned on Saturday of an "imminent threat" of attacks in Kenya.

Miss World Kenya For Miss World Pageant


The newly crowned Miss World Kenya, Susan Anyango left for London yesterday where she will represent Kenya in this year’s Miss World Beauty Pageant.
Anyango will be among 122 participants in the annual event - now in its 61st edition - scheduled to take place at the Earls Court Two on November 6, 2011 in London. Alexandria Mills of the United States will crown her successor at the end of the event.
“Winning the Nestea Miss World Kenya title has really opened doors for me. I did not think in a million years I would one day be a Miss World Kenya and a role model to young people. I will do my best to bring the crown back home and I feel like my life is just getting started. I cannot wait to do bigger and greater things that will make a difference in the society,” said Anyango.

HOW TO CELEBRATE MACHUJAA DAY (HEROES DAY)

Mashujaa Day is celebrated on October 20th every year in Kenya to honor men and women who have made lasting marks in Kenya history. On that day Kenyans world wide join  together in small or large group and each person in the group is given an opportunity to name one or more  Kenyan Mashujaa (Heroes) . The Mashujaa Day activities should be both educational and entertaining

New Video: Bonoko


You have heard the song, now watch the video to the most hilarious eye witness account ever.
Bonoko is street slang for "Buduki fake" or "fake gun" and this was not originally a song, it was an eye witness' account that aired on a local TV station and was quickly turned into a song by some creative producer who played around with a beat and created a monster hit.
Now there's a video, a short sketch of what exactly happened to the butcher "ule anauzanga nyama pare Ngara."

Top 10 Most Pirated Movies Of All Time


The download numbers are in and the most pirated films of all time have been revealed and they will probably not surprise you.
Torrentfreak released the download numbers to the most pirated films of all time and according to them, the number one illegally downloaded movie on BitTorrent is Avatar, which also doubles up as the highest grossing film of all time.
Avatar leads with 21 million downloads followed by The Dark Knight and Transformers in third.
Ironically, these films went on to do very well at the box office.
The only movie in this list that didn't do well on the box office was Kick-Ass, closing just shy of the 100 million dollar mark.


1       Avatar (2009)   21 million

2       The Dark Knight (2008)  19 million

3       Transformers (2007)     19 million

4       Inception (2010)        18 million

5       The Hangover (2009)     17 million

6       Star Trek (2008)        16 million

7       Kick-Ass (2010)         15 million

8       The Departed (2006)     14 million

9       The Incredible Hulk (2008)      14 million

10      Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)         14 million

LL Cool J: Run Like Skinny Kenyans

Rap legend LL Cool J seems to have rubbed Kenyans the wrong way when he called us "skinny" during his acceptance speech at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2011.
It was a powerful speech by LL as he accepted the “I Am Hip Hop Icon Award” and he dropped a freestyle that was really powerful until he said, "you better turn to these polls like skinny Kenyans/26 miles in 2 hours 3 minutes."
We know he was paying tribute to our athletes and was talking to his fellow Americans but the word skinny may have got some thinking he was talking out of contempt since we are in Africa and he is living large in the US.

Here's the speech, it's really powerful.

My acceptance speech, what I won’t do is try preach
What I won’t do is assume I’m smarter than you and try to teach
What I will do is set an example, inspire you to reach for the stars beyond mars that space bars can’t delete
Because without a dream fulfilled your life’s incomplete
A hearse, a limousine without a backseat,
The worst, think Usain Bolt without feet
Real life aint Hollywood, it’s Halloween
Every day is trick or treat
It aint a red carpet it’s a sidewalk bloody from the wolves eating red meat
And these spotlights don’t come with money they come with police
Millionaires cry about raising taxes on the elite
They won’t feed us, as they’d rather defeat us, like an aborted fetus
But your greatest feat is to get back up on your feet
Did I mention, life ain't a sprint it’s a marathon
Really stressful on your tendons and with the shape the economy is in today, you better run to the polls like skinny Kenyans
26 miles in two hours and three minutes

It wasn’t weeks or months, it took us over 400 years to raise the debt limit
So don’t lose faith, there’s a sweet life out there and one day you will taste
But just like any marathon, you must monitor your pace
And watch out for the haters pushing drinks up in your face
Maintain your focus through the ups and downs the arguments and debates
And when you win your award, make sure you put in a safe place
And be prepared for whatever…just in case.

David Otunga: Our Man At WWE


He has been described as the "Kanye West of WWE". He is David Otunga (how's that for a real Kenyan name?) and World Wrestling Entertainment fanatics recognise him, but for the rest of you, he is Jennifer Hudson's husband.
The son of a Kenyan father and an American mother, he rose to fame after he starred in reality show “I Love New York” but although he never won Tiffany "New York" Pollard's heart after being eliminated on the eight round, his star continued to shine.
Otunga signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2008 and was assigned to its development territory, Florida Championship Wrestling. He made his debut in May 2009 under the ring name, Dawson Alexander, Esq., in a six-man tag team match. He now fights with the group Nexus.
The man who holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois has teamed up with John Cena and has won a couple of matches and is now one of the show's biggest stars.
He met and fell in love with singer and actress Jennifer Hudson and they have a son, David Daniel Otunga Jr.
We await the day he will make a high-profile visit to Kenya with his superstar wife and child.
We will be running a series on some of our celebrity countrymen in the diaspora.

New Show Delves Into The Mind Of Man


This one is for the ladies, don't you wish you would know what exactly goes inside the mind of a man especially when it comes to relationships? You would want to really find out what he looks for and how to keep him or why he cheats, right? Right.

New Video: Party Don't Stop By Camp Mulla Ft Collo

Rumoured to have cost a cool Sh4 million, many have been waiting to see just how mind blowing and game changing Camp Mulla's "Party Don't Stop" music video is going to be. Well, it's here so take a look.

Ugandan Soap Collector On CNN Heroes' List


Uganda's Derreck Kayongo is among 10 people from across the world nominated as this year's CNN Heroes.
The Atlanta-based Kayongo and his Global Soap Project have been recognised for their effort to collect used hotel soap from across the United States then cleaning and reprocessing for shipment to impoverished nations such as Haiti, Uganda, Kenya and Swaziland.
According to CNN, Kayongo, 41, thought of the idea in the early 1990s, when he first arrived to the U.S. and stayed at a hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He noticed that his bathroom was replenished with new soap bars every day, even though they were only slightly used.
"I was shocked just to know how much (soap) at the end of the day was thrown away," Kayongo said.
Each year, hundreds of millions of soap bars are discarded in North America alone.
"Are we really throwing away that much soap at the expense of other people who don't have anything? It just doesn't sound right."
"I tried to return the new soap to the concierge since I thought they were charging me for it," Kayongo said. "When I was told it was just hotel policy to provide new soap every day, I couldn't believe it."
Kayongo called his father -- a former soap maker in Uganda -- and shared the experience.
"My dad said people in America can afford to throw it away. But I just started to think, 'What if we took some of this soap and recycled it, made brand new soap from it and then sent it home to people who couldn't afford soap?' "
Kayongo fled Uganda to Kenya with his parents 30 years ago because of the mass torture and killings by former Ugandan military dictator Idi Amin.
"It's a long-term grieving process that sort of never ends," he said. "As a child coming from school, passing dead bodies for 10 solid years -- 'It's not cool,' as my son would put it. It's not good. A lot of my friends were orphaned, and I was lucky."
"We lost everything," Kayongo said. "We didn't live in the camps, but we sacrificed a lot. The people worse off lived in the camps. Soap was so hard to come by, even completely nonexistent sometimes. People were getting so sick simply because they couldn't wash their hands."

Maina Kageni: I Miss My Tag Heuer


If you were at the Carnivore on Saturday night for the Tusker All Stars concert with Cabo Snoop, Eve and Shaggy, then you know that Maina Kageni, who was the MC, decided to hype up the crowd and gave out his jacket belt and watch.
Maina says he has no idea what got him to be so "sufficiently philanthropic" at the concert.
"All I know is that when I woke up in the morning, I was slapping myself wondering how I got to that level. I tell you, a couple more shots and I would have given more," he says.
The watch, a brand new very pricey Tag Heuer (not the one pictured, :)) bought three months cost the top radio presenter quite some money and he doesn't want to even think about the price tag.
"It was pretty expensive and the person who has it is one lucky person I will tell you that. I miss that watch but let him enjoy it," he added.

Gramps Morgan's Camera Stolen On Kenyan Tour


Looks like Reggae artistes have no much luck in Kenya. First was Sean Paul who lost his mobile phone some years back and now Gramps Morgan lost his camera as he left Kenya after a week long charity trip.
Both these artistes lost their belongings at the airport just as they were about to depart.
Gramps took to Twitter to express his disappointment yesterday eliciting some major reaction from Kenyans on Twitter who kept reminding him about the same fate that befell Sean Paul.
"I can't believe they stole my camera out my bag at the Kenya airport on British airways I'm so hurt rasta Kenya why you do this to me??!!!"
We are told the equipment was a Sony still camera and was pretty expensive and he had checked in the bag at the airport when the theft happened.
It is ironic that he would get robbed while on a charity mission to Kenya and we hope he can forgive "us" and come back next time.

Nick Ndeda Quits Hot96 For Kiss100

Nick Ndeda has taken his talents to Kiss100. The presenter who hosts the 7-10PM show "The drop zone" is said to have handed in his resignation letter last month.
He is going to Kiss100 as a presenter and deputy programmes controller and is set to start his new gig in a week's time once he wraps up shooting MTV's Shuga 2 over the weekend. He is also an actor on Higher Learning.
This is the second high profile resignation at Hot96 after Mimmo Wanjuhi also walked saying she wants to concentrate on her music but it seems there's more because she is ready to get on radio if an offer comes her way.
Many at Hot96 say the station has always been treated as a step-child of the Royal Media Services and nothing much happens to help it grow its market share.

New Music: Tribute To Wangari Maathai By Kwame Rigii


We knew someone would be touched enough to come up with a song to eulogize the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai.
Kwame Rigii did a good job with this one and we commend him for it.
Maathai's body will be cremated at the Kariokor crematorium tomorrow and her final send off will begin with a private service at the Lee Funeral Home.
Inter-faith prayers will be held at Freedom Corner, Uhuru Park beginning 8 am. There will be no 21-gun salute as is customary with.
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are expected to attend.
Prof Maathai had expressed her wish to be cremated and “her remains interred within the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies” at the University of Nairobi’s Kabete campus.

New Music Video: Silali - Ally B Feat Size 8





Size 8 is no longer on fire, she is now causing Ally B sleepless nights in this new and danceable tune, "Silali".
 
Larry Asego Takes Over From Maina For Guinness Football Challenge



The Guinness Football Challenge Television Game Show is back for a second season and with it, a change of hosts and format.
Bez, Nigeria's Fast Rising Singer, Composer



All the way from Nigeria, Bez hijacked last Wednesday night from the ladies and made it his Kenyan debut night in Kenya.

Celebrating Wangari Maathai

"I don't want to die before finishing my work".
Those were the words of celebrated Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, in her memoir, Unbowed.
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Nairobi woke up to a gloomy and cloudy sky, as if to mourn the passing of one of Kenya’s most celebrated and honoured women, Wangari Maathai.
She became a household name when she fought back against Daniel Arap Moi’s regime, taking on police brutality and the aching agony of being thrown into jail. Through it all, she has proven tried and tested, and come out a phenomenal woman, inspiring us all to live our lives to the full.

In her book, Unbowed, she explained:
“I don’t tend to invite challenges, but I meet them. And once I do, I stick with it. I know that the situation is not going to be resolved overnight, and I don’t hurry to meet a second challenge until the first one is concluded. That, perhaps, has been my strong point. I have seen time and time again that if you stay with a challenge, if you are convinced that you are right to do so, and if you give it everything you have, it is amazing what can happen.”

If that is not the testament of a strong woman, I don’t know what is. From humble beginnings, to being a global icon, she is a testament to what one can do, given commitment, perseverance and sheer willpower.
 There’s a story in her book that she used to love to tell.

A forest was on fire, and all the animals decided to save themselves....

"They dashed to the edge of the forest and watched, overwhelmed and feeling helpless, as the fire engulfed their home.
That is, all animals except one: a hummingbird, who said, "I'm going to do something about the fire!" So she flew to the nearest stream and scooped up a drop of water in her beak and deposited it on the conflagration. Back and forth she flew from the stream to the inferno, tireless and focused, without losing patience and speed. Each time she carried a droplet and let it fall on the flames.
In the meantime, as the fire raged, the other animals looked on in amazement and disbelief. "You are too small," they said to the hummingbird. "You cannot hope to put out the fire. What do you think you're doing?"
As she prepared to dive again, the hummingbird turned to the animals and nodded her head. "I'm doing the best I can!"
And this is what we are called to do, no matter who or where we are, or what our capabilities. We are called to do the best we can! 
There is nothing as infuriating as being ignored, pilloried, ridiculed and despised for pursuing what genuinely gives you pride. That was the lot of Prof Wangari Maathai. She was the prophet that was not recognised at home and found fame, favour and respect abroad. In death, however, she will be eulogised, feted and lionised by the same society that paid lip service to her efforts at environmental conservation.
Elsewhere in this newspaper, we tell Maathai’s story, her resilience, and even stubbornness, in the face of truncheon-wielding policemen and hired hooligans. Her’s is a beautiful tale for she single-handedly took the battle to save Mother Earth to all the corners of the globe, spoke at any forum that would hear her campaign.
She made entreaties to prime ministers, scientists, presidents, senators, headmasters, simple farmers, students and writers, linking the very essence of life to the health of the environment around them.
In her words and wisdom, forests are the lungs of the planet and without healthy lungs, all life is at risk of becoming extinct. This simple truism demonstrated her passionate attachment to forests, nature and people. Here was a pillar of strength that failed to take up a coveted political position to pursue her life’s crusade to green — not just Kenya but — the whole world.
Brave new WorldIn a society that idolises political power, Prof Maathai turned her back to the ministerial flags that could have been hers for the taking in exchange for environmental health management. No wonder she was dismissed by detractors for refusing to embrace "the finer things in life".
But in her memoir titled "Unbowed" she insists she neither found, nor hungered for any other calling than the planet’s.
The recognition as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate transformed Maathai into an extraordinary custodian of life and pitched sleepy Tetu, in faraway Kenya, into prominence in a brave new world.
Suddenly, it dawned on leaders and researchers across the world that there is a definite link between depletion of forest cover and net reduction of resources.
This erosion triggered conflicts for basics like pasture, arable land, watering points and, ultimately, all sources of livelihood. The result: the breakdown of society as neighbouring communities turn arms on each other, with deadly consequences.
Prof Maathai resolutely took a stand with and for humanity at an age when it was fashionable and economically sound to fell trees, practice unsustainable agriculture, without due regard to regeneration. It was a lonely journey that was eventually recognised at the highest forum of the world — the Nobel Peace Prize.
In this accolade, she has trodden the same path as other international icons such as Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, FW De Klerk, Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres, as an outstanding citizen who has made a positive difference in world affairs.
The gangly, barefoot kid from Tetu will forever be recognised as an icon and the best we can do is not mourn her passing. The world should instead celebrate her life’s work, take up her hoe, watering jerrican, plant a tree for posterity, and ensure her efforts live beyond her 61 short years.
Who would have known words like biodiversity, restoration, ecosystems, environmental preservation would be part of everyday lexicon?
Mother NatureHer grassroots campaign to put an end illegal logging, uncontrolled grazing, unsustainable farming methods, grabbing of forestland and unbridled charcoal burning to feed urban stoves has yielded tangible benefits. Indeed, the looting and pillage of the Mau Forest catchment area is the best example of a planet that needs reining in.
The recent national and international relief effort to feed communities that should not have gone hungry in the first place is a clarion call to ensure Maathai’s work becomes compulsory instruction in schools and colleges
Where better to plant the seed of environmental conservation than in the young minds of impressionable youth, who also stand to lose the most if certain practices destroy their homelands?
What an example of tenacity, courage and tribute to our common ancestry to preserve Mother Nature for future generations? Go out today and plant a tree in honour of Wangari Muta Maathai.
She certainly will not be forgotten.
Join Kenyans as they plant trees to celebrate and honor her legacy.

Patrick Makau breaks Haile Gebrselassie's marathon world record in Berlin

Kenya's Patrick Makau
Makau sets marathon record in Berlin
Patrick Makau retained the Berlin men's marathon title in a world record time.
The Kenyan finished in a time of two hours, three minutes and 38 seconds to shave 21 seconds off the record set by Haile Gebrselassie on the same course.
The Ethiopian great failed to finish having experienced apparent stomach problems around the 27km mark.
"In the morning my body was not good but, after I started the race, it started reacting very well. I started thinking about the record," said Makau.

GEBRSELASSIE'S RECORD AT BERLIN MARATHON

  • 2006 - First in 2:05.56 (fastest time of year)
  • 2007 - First in 2:04.26 (world record)
  • 2008 - First in 2:03.59 (world record)
  • 2009 - First in 2:06.08
  • 2010 - Did not compete
"I didn't have any problems in the race. Last year I had some problems with my soles inside my shoe, but today everything went very well."
Gebrselassie, the 38-year-old double Olympic champion at 10,000m, had also been looking to post a fast time and ease the pressure on him to qualify for the Games ahead of strong Ethiopian rivals.
But he found himself forced to step off the road midway through the race as Makau, sensing the Ethiopian great was struggling, upped the pace.
Gebrselassie set the previous world record time with a mark of 2:03.59 in the third of his four consecutive Berlin victories between 2006 and 2009.
However, this year he halted for a full minute as his hopes of a quick time evaporated, then pulled out for good at the 35km mark.
"He was still feeling good at 25km but then his lungs started tightening up. He could not breathe - we don't know why," his agent Jos Hermens said.
Hermens added that Gebrselassie suffers from asthma and is allowed to take medicine, but had not taken any because he had not had any problems for months.
"Maybe this was a mistake, but he felt fine before, his preparation was good," he said.
"Qualifying [for London 2012] may be a problem now, we don't really know where to get it."
Gebrselassie is now expected to head to Dubai in a bid to ensure he reaches the London Olympics.

10 Things Kenyan Women Can Learn From Ugandan Ladies


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It would appear from the few responses that many Kenyan women are content with the manner in which they conduct their relations with the opposite sex. It’s sad that those who refuse to take direction are often the first ones to complain about their single status; I cannot count how many times I’ve heard a number of Kenyan women moan that there are no nice men out there. However, if you wish to avoid the deluded mass or those in denial and want to catapult yourself into a happier and more fruitful relationship, I share the next five gems that Ugandan ladies possess vis-à-vis their Kenyan sisters.
Alcohol has become a major part of our lifestyles. The need for human beings to belong to certain social classes (albeit heathen) has been met by the partaking of strong, medium and lethal drinks: different poisons for different folks. Alcohol differs in quality, price, potency and…gender. It’s important to know the QPPGs (Quality Price Potency Gender) of alcohol. I however wish to focus on the latter, the gender. When a guy asks you to go for drinks the QPPGs is very crucial. Ugandan women cleverly avoid the second P (potency) so not to ‘regret’ the evening and stay in control. Kenyan women, on the other hand, only focus on the double Ps (price and potency) of the QPPG system, ignoring both the quality and gender. Drinks do have a gender. If a man takes you out for drinks never ever never order for beer. The QPPG dictates that a lady should order wine, champagne, gin, sherry, rum or cream liquor. These drinks reaffirm your femininity and the man automatically responds to it. Ugandan ladies never order ‘masculine drinks’…yes, you may enjoy drinking a beer and that is your right BUT not when you go out, you are free to drink so in the privacy of your own house. I can see eyebrows raised, mouths wide open and heads bopping so I ask this: why do you wear a stoking over your head in the house then remove it when leaving the house? I thought so! The need to style up your palates in public is equally as important.
A number of Kenyan women often complain they lack a companion. Being single has become a way of life for some for they can never find the ‘ideal partner’. The ‘knight in shining armour’ bullshit is stuck in their heads and they sit and wait for him to come. If you are one of these deluded types, WAKE UP! The reason you are single is because you are stuck up and refuse to be receptive to men’s flirtation. Flirting is a very innocent way of getting to know another beyond mundane banter. Sadly, Kenyan women are allergic to flirting! They totally avoid it (unless drunk) or shoot you down when you attempt it because they believe it always leads to something…but I ask, isn’t that idea? If you want something to lead to nothing then be happy with nothing and stop moaning that you are single! Ugandan women are not only receptive to flirting but gladly partake of this social necessity. Kenyan women need to understand that flirting is okay. In fact it shows that you have self-confidence and are ‘with it’. Who wants a boring stuck in the mud partner. Next time a guy throws a line at you don’t shoot him down or avoid it (that is so rural), reciprocate with a wittier line and walk away…it shall leave the oga happy and wanting more.
africanwomanAccents define who we are and where we are from. Your accent is the pride of your culture, your belonging and your essence. A familiar accent when abroad can draw two strangers closer but a strange accent when at home can alienate you as a stranger. Ugandans have their own unique accents, whether you are from the North, East, West, South or Central particular pronunciations and intonations controls one tongue. It becomes a part of you and one eventually warms up to it. As I watched Project Fame I appreciated the different accents that the Rwandese, Ugandans and the one Kenyan (Steve) brought to the show. Steve impressed me thoroughly because he was proud and confident enough to speak with a ‘naked’ tongue. Sadly the Kenyan sista tried to convince us that Mombasa was sharing a border with the USA with that her accent. But we can’t blame her as this is a very common trait amongst Kenyan women. In Uganda, the psychological need to mask ones heritage is very rare amongst their ladies. One may have a heavy accent when they speak English but they understand that a lady, an African lady, is worth more than the manner in which she speaks; her essence is in the way she carries herself, the confidence she oozes and the panache she expels. A fake accent can never equate those traits. Faking an accent shows a lack of confidence, a lack of self-awareness, a lack of self-appreciation and lack of a lack of honesty. So please appreciate who you are, where you are from and speak not to impress but to communicate. The reasons I often get for this phenomenon is that the individuals have spent 2 years in the UK or in the US but my retort is always the same: ‘If they spent 2 years in India, would they have an Indian accent?’
 One of the best but most controversial manners that Ugandans ladies practice is kneeling. Even though it shall conjure a huge uproar, I highly recommend that Kenyan women too adopt this trait. Some may perceive it as demeaning or as ‘worshiping a man’ but it’s all to do with respect, nothing more, but respect. This open display of humility sets Ugandans apart from the rest of East Africa and in return elicits a lifestyle elevation. Am sure if Kenyan women begun kneeling when they meet their partners (in public or private), when serving their partners food , when receiving gifts from their partners or even when asking their partner for some money to go to the salon their lifestyles would truly change for the better. It’s not capitulation of independence or self-derogation, it’s the elevation of the one you love and he, in reciprocation, shall elevate you too in magnanimity. It’s a bi-directional process similar to the popular cliché ‘smile & the world will smile with you’... I’ve never heard anyone argue “Why should I smile first, why can’t the world smile with me first?” Respect is not a competition, so get on them knees and your world is bound to change.

Lastly, I only beg you to learn how to speak softly. Shouting in social places and laughing like a midget is jumping on your lungs is totally unacceptable. In Uganda, Kenyan women are known for their notorious vocal range. I overheard a Ugandan lady once say ‘Those Kenyan girls are so loud I pity their men, no wonder they can never hear us when we speak to them, they are deaf banange.’ Social mannerisms define you and classify you to a particular tier, so even if you have financial independence or educational excellence your loud shrieking voice and Neanderthal laughter efface all those qualities.

Media Madness

Fuck it! 367

Fuck it is becoming quite a popular term in the Radio Africa corridors. Remember Linda Kimaru? The lady who DROVE everyone mad with her mindless verbal diarrhea on Classic 105? Well, she did something MOST of us don’t have balls to do; she said FUCK IT and QUIT her late night gig on Classic 105. For those who have no idea, who she is, please take a look at this post http://www.frankierants.com/2010/11/bit-pieces/ I’ll never forget that post, cause ‘Moongose’ said this about Linda’s Chin

hahahaha!Enyewe that chin looks like a farm implement! Jembe ya ku-harvest ngwaci!
Away from that, why did she quit? Well she felt Classic 105 was NOT recognizing her awesome radio skills and they were short changing her, she was once overheard saying she was paid kidogo (she’s been on radio for a hot minute) this is the problem with Gen Y (watu kama mimi) you want to drive a Super Charged Range Rover Sport after WORKING FOR SOMEONE for a year, please … take a damn \__ Gen Y is un-happy, they want everything within a year and it’s NOT like they’re putting in a lot of effort, all they do is bitch about how little they’re being paid and their performance in the shitter … but at least Linda quit, she got into radio through the fence (Her boyfriend works for Radio Africa) … I hope she finds something else to do, pia being a farmer is an option.
ION, y’all know X Fm right? Umm for those who have no idea who they are … they’re on 105.5, if you’re in a jav and it’s playing rock music, it’s because the dere missed classic by a few bands hehe. Well, the station was dubbed the ‘Capital Killer’ … three year later; they’re still trying to cut away Capital’s audience with a plastic knife.
The station is experiencing a lot of walk outs these days, they hired a very soft spoken girl called Ms. Mpinga a few weeks back and the GIRL quit this week, sources say she looked around and saw the station had no GROWTH opportunities, she was on the drive show.
One of the first people to go on air on X Fm, Raabia (It’s not a kuyu shrub for labia) is about to exit the station, she’s being replaced by Mao (their lispy producer) the station just needs a new strategy, a rock station is UNIQUE, they’re not.  (Although their TA is so bougie it hurts)
Away from radio mushene … if you didn’t squirm when the lovely ‘Naahgerian’ Prosecutor at the ICC was reading out the rape charges, you’re rotten inside.

Introducing… 229

Just like Ron. Coming soon. Just like wrong number. Coming soon. I have never suffered chronic fuckery in my life but these trailers have been another challenge all together. Brutal. What in scorching hell??? They decided to unveil the goddamn thing juzi and it is a soap opera. Yes folks, things are getting desperate. Somebody hold my weave as I knock some sense into these guys.
Something has gone terribly wrong, fuck! It’s like producers have stripped down to their thongs and are walking around town butt naked. Kenyan TV is on a one way ticket to hell!! The name is Mali. Mali is one of  those soaps where everyone back-stabbs everyone. *YAWWWWN*. It stars the likes of Nick Wang’ondu- who can’t act if you ask me, and a host of other new faces. It’s a good thing they don’t have the same old Sarah Hussein ( waving dust and cobwebs) and Lizz Njagah na hao wengine who have been recycled mpaka we know the size of their hips *cough*. Brendah Wairimu is on it too, you will remember her as Shariffah of Shay-Jing Times, the lying pointy.
I can’t wait for people to get addicted to it though. Then, I will have a legit reason to go around frying people with my electric fly trap, then dropping their dead smoking asses in The Nairobi Dam. Authorities ‘plan’ to spend hundreds of millions on rehabilitating it. We all know hiyo pesa inaenda wapi. *Walks away whistling*
This ‘stuff’ (I will never have proper words to describe soap operas) will be airing on NTV. Apparently they want to slot it right after the 9 p.m. news on Mondays, so they give Tabasamu a run for their dorrar$.
Good luck with that!
P.S. Shout out to the mama who mailed me asking for Andrew Siro. 1. I don’t keep the Guy in my dark, deserted thatched hut in the middle of Matuu. 2.He produces and directs Gossip Girl on Kiss TV. Enda ukamtafute huko.

Oops … sorry for the late posting … forgot to click publish .. Oh well

Open Post! 401

Ha! I can see someone of you praying I get herpes for doing this LOL
I have nothing interesting to post today, Viv will save me kesho. Since, I don’t want to lie to y’all ati sijui someone is making 800k ama sijui SK has suspended 10 people, I’ll just sit and watch all of you discuss STUFF! DEUCES!


Bitchfest! 374

I’ll start with the folks who are demanding an explanation about Friday. Have y’all forgotten we’re in fucking Kenya? Yaani, you guys don’t GET IT when we try and kanyangia a story? We heard about the story on Wednesday, even before the police talked to the media. By dawn, we noticed the story was becoming ‘weird’, by the end of the day, we realized … oh fuck! This is not a kawaida story, we let it slide ‘cause there is no way I’ll take a bullet for akina Odhis so that he can come here and say good job MM … good job kitu gani, I’ll be DEAD!
Have you guys listened to Easy Fm of late? I cannot believe my fucking ears! There is a pastor on that show and I swear me and her will be adding kunis to the fire in hell!! WHO IS SHE?! Okay, when did ‘Pastors’ go all out commercial and became SEX therapists?? Sexual Healing achia akina Marvin Gaye mami, stick to spiritual healing, if you still want to see the gates of heaven
Still on matters heavenly, it seems the good Lord left KBC to its own devices … have y’all seen the new set!!!! Some kao colours RIGHT THURR! And you wonder why Citizen has numbers
Double Standards in this country make me mad … jana a rumour started that a certain MP twangad her huuby. The same MP cock blocked Mr. Miller from a gava job ati cause he used to chapa his wife. Guys, laughed at the guy jana when he was saying he was not chapwad, where was his wife? She was too busy to attend the press conference … yeah, your HOSEBAND had one foot in the grave and the other one on a banana peel and you’re too busy to even sit with him in hosi … kuna KITU hapo!!! Where are all these feminist cunts who always scream domestic violence is wrong? Ama battered men is not within your bitching JD?
So jana, I was on a 7C bus, and this guy stood up and started giving his SOB story about how his wife is dead, and he needs to clear his mortuary fees … after he was done … one brave mama shouted ‘Wewe si urikuwa unaoba hii pesa ya moshary mpaka rast year dee-seba’? HEHEHE I laughed out loud! This idiot just shukad the bus!
Then there’s the deaf beggar on the 7C route, who now even has money to kanga his nywele! Is it that bad out there? I hear some of these beggars make more than 200k a freaking month!!!
Where is Jogoo??? Look at your star MP in action!

Rumour has it 244

That Gathoni Wa Mushomba might be making a comeback to national radio … before I tell you which station she might be on, let me ‘Terro’ (Wish I told you about Terro this week hehe) you about Gathoni.

Gathoni started her radio career on Kameme fm, she was their breakfast host for a long time, but her potential was FULLY recognized when she was poached by Inooro FM, she basically BUILT Inooro into what it is now, she was ROUUUUGH, her listeners LISTENED to her every word! Advertisers loved her! Politicians hated her! But there was soon durama at Inooro Fm and she had to leave, the ‘Break-up’ with Inooro was soo bloody messy at one point she made the top news item on RMS media outlets ati ‘She was spreading malicious’ gossip about RMS.
She soon started a media insttitte on Roast House (Where we get Mshikakis after cuming on ourselves at Liddos) I have no idea how that went
She also had a stint at Bahasha Fm (Now Countryside FM) a media outlet owned by Mututho, she was in several duramas while at the station, Jayne Kihara (the then Naivasha MP) was famously quoted as saying ‘Gathoni ni KULOpokwa tu’ ‘cause Gathoni used to ‘Hate’ on Jayne like every day.
I have no idea where she is now, back to her … unconfirmed reports say that Radio Africa is seriously thinking of turning their frequency 103.5 into a Kikuyu station. Sources say, if the move does go through, Gathoni will lead the new venture.
It would be interesting for Radio Africa to venture into a Kikuyu station and having Gathoni on board might work wonders for them, cause Chick KNOWS radio!

Open Post! 777

Good Morning!
We haven’t had one in a long time. A lot of things are going down, I slept at 3 Am trying to get confirmation on a breaking story. You might see the story tomorrow, trust me … this one … I’ll even post it from the border, then vuka PAP!
In the meantime, have fun Y’all (Like you always do) and we’ll see you tomorrow.

Thank you CCTV! 127

As you all know by now, CCTV has ‘raided’ our lackluster media fraternity as they seek to set-up an African Office.
They are here with lots of mbecha to buy off talent, word on the corridors of Mombasa road is that all folks who have moved to CCTV are getting at least 3X what their current employer is offering them. Now, at NTV … it seems the bosses there want to throw a party cause Peninah has left,  they were so happy she left, they never bothered to even negotiate with her. They had been trying to let her go for a long time.
Mark Maasai is also on the CCTV boat, with the exception of KTN, most stations are happy their ‘Old talent’ has left bila durama. IN fact, NTV is debuting new faces (They better be HOT ama natupa mawe) in two weeks. Rumor has it, some boys and girls from their in-house training institute are ripe for TV.
What’s the sad thing about the latest moves? They are all motivated by money, well you might say we all strive to make more money, but my boss keeps telling me. Never move JUST for money, do a SWOT analysis of where you’re going. For CCTV, I don’t see them being all that and a bag of nyanyas, first, they are owned by the Chinese Government, so Beatrice Marshall can forget doing ‘Ground breaking’ reporting, secondly, their move into Africa is being seen to compliment their current policy in Africa. Give aid bila questions. So CCTV, might just end up being an ass kissing fest, I don’t see HOW ONE can grow their career at a place where everything will be dictated.
CCTV will most likely make them irrelevant even with the ‘Big’ platform they’re being offered
I won’t be surprised if all these journalists (if journalism is their passion) quit and beg for their jobs back.

Save the whale!!!!!!!! 215

Some radio shows make me want to shove my hands down my throat and puke food I ate last week. It slays me that there are people out there who listen to Kiss 100. It just boggles the mind! Rush Hour with Shaffie Weru and now, Linda Nyangweso just happens to be one of these shows. Can you believe the torture of actually listening to their mathogothanio all the way home after an outrageously catastrophic day?? In this goddamn freakish weather?? . These two have NO chemistry on radio. Shaffie, being the douche bag he is, keeps making fun of Linda’s weight.  My heart bleeds for this mama. Ukweli. Now, all blatantly sick jokes aside, call me fat on fucking radio and I will make it my goal in life to kill you and char your remains beyond recognition. Listening to them is tiring. Like walking through the Libyan sand dunes with Susan Boyle strapped to one foot and Mike Sonko to the other and a bottle of Kevian Afia juice tied around my neck(This stuff is disgustiiiiiiiiiing!). We all know that the producers at Kiss have this annoying we-must-play-each- song-178,654-times a day fetish. Based on that fact alone, I have no idea how I could possibly like the station.Now its just C.M. and the Katumbo dance mafia (I forget his name) on the morning show I hear. I can’t stand their ujuaji. Radio Africa really does wish us death by Fuckiolitis
Ka-dumdum-lekye on the other hand, mambo yanaenda down south a.k.a. segemnege. Apparently, She called in sick eons and eons ago, na huko Sunday. So sick she was fighting for her life (go, yokozuna, GO!!), writhing in pain, bed ridden, and foaming at the mouth.. Yeah, it was that bad. Except, she dragged her silly ass to Social media and started yapping about how great ‘Last night’s party’ was. “That party was the beeeeest. AWESOME”. Someone in power saw this shit. My friends, to be this stupid is a talent. Kama una bonge la ujinga like that by the way, social media will ruin you. For life! Someone needs to save this person.
The dark days are not over

Please excuse me while I mention Kiss 100 and Capital FM in the same post. This is an abomination. I should just go ahead and offer a burnt offering after this.
If you are an ardent Capital FM listener, you have unearthed the treasure that is The Cypher. This show, my good friends, airs on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday 11 p.m. to Monday 1 a.m. aaaaaaaand, it is from the gods. Joe Muchiri does this show professionally yaani, no talk, no mayhem, just great hip hop and the occasional ad or two. I like this guy’s style. He knows what listeners want to hear and he plays it. Always fresh. This is genuine hip hop by the way, the kind we all love to love. And as for you who are too busy listening to Trey Songz and his gay sorority you cannot squeeze Common in, I say, SHOOOOOOOOOO!
P.S.:
1.Social media is not your grandfather’s thingira*. If you tweet “Can’t sleep, fuck Insomnia” at fucking 10 p.m., you are on my wanted list. I will hunt you down and we are gonna have a lot of fun together. Idiot!!  Insomnia is a medical condition and you offend the people who need tranquilizers to catch a wink!
2. Writh: Make continual twisting, squirming movements or contortions of the body. If you have already pictured Ka-dumdums writhing, call your shrink. NOOOOOOOOOW!

WHY? 314

Well a few things, I’m MAD as fuck. So there I was, gobbling down my liver and chapati and the TVs in the Café were on Citizen TV and WITH NO WARNING, they started showing severe burns victims. Did I puke? NO, this is not ‘Todo Sombre Camilla’ I still kept my lunch in but I was MAD as fuck and I saw one woman TURN away.
I hear KTN was worse. When did we lose our BRAINS? Did SHIT replace YOUR BRAINS, Mr. Editor or whoever was responsible for the shit minutes of TV we saw yesterday? Y’all sit and scream how Aljazeera demeans Africans by showing dead bodies of our citizens and y’all were up in that field like white on rice … beaming shots of a woman with bad bad burns on her face and hands.
What a severe lack of JUDGEMENT!!! I’m sure y’all were doing this so that you’re fucking scooped!!!  That was shallow journalism, fuck it! Y’all are SHIT! I have no words FOR Abdi whatever on Citizen TV! I just can’t deal with such fuckery right now.
Secondly, our MPs need to get a fucking life, they all went down there like it was a titty bar, causing all manner of gridlock in and around the area. The PM with his massive motorcade, REALLY? Wasn’t Sonko the cunt that was there protesting when a road was proposed to pass through the area?! Where is Reuben Ndolo??? Your ‘Voters’ NEED YOU! Didn’t you tell them to ‘Weka taya’ … where are you???
I won’t blame KPC, they tried … but the stupidity that rules this city was against them. They tried, they’re NOT perfect, but they tried.
I won’t blame the folks who live in that area … hey, if I see ‘Money’ flowing on the fucking sewer and I’m broke, I won’t run and try and warn the ‘Authorities’ I’ll scoop it and see if I can feed my 5 or so kids.
Mosande, a blogger says on her latest blog post … ‘Those ‘idiots’ (Folks living in the slum) are driven by need, not greed. It doesn’t make what they did right, but it makes it sadder’
Shit happens, but we need to always be a step ahead, there have been many warnings about the slum but no one listened.
We’re fucked. For those living near the railroad in Kibera and (I’m not so sure about the network), chungeni sana.
Sonko was admitted at Nairobi Hospital yesterday, high blood pressure and shit …

Random … 386

Monday 12th September
Larry Asego is back on the Big Breakfast this morning, yaani this guy just TAKES IT! On today, off tomorrow. Madharau kama hayo siwezi tolerate
Moving on, there’s a new TV show kicking off at the end of this month. Why I’m I telling you NOW? Well because I want you to apply for the show. The show is called The CfC Stanbic Bank Magnate, it’s going to run for 13 weeks on Kiss TV and KBC (Weird, weird, weird media selection) especially since their target audience rarely watches the two stations. Anyway, the show is a business reality program, like the Apprentice. The contestants will be put up in a house and they will be given weekly challenges, as they go through the show, they will be coached on many business like activities, like putting together a business plan (I got a credit *Maringo nayo* cause of my business plan)
The show has mentors; among them is Moses Nderitu, the guy who owns Excloosive. The winner of the show will get 1.5 Million bob in seed capital. There are no requirements to join the show, just download the application forms on http://www.the-magnate.com/backup2/
Still on TV shows, NTV is promo-ing it’s new daily show. Yes, they have a daily (Kenyan) Soap Opera. Y’all can watch the trailer below.

I really don’t know what to think, the first few seconds of the trailer got me all confused … plus the acting looks a bit eer delayed … too slow. I won’t watch it, the acting for me is completely off, if we’re to judge the show with the trailer. The show is shot and produced by the same lady who produces Siri (one of the region’s best shows) I wonder if they will hack extending a story line for 5 months, especially since they’re going the ‘Evil family’ ‘Bad family’ route … I wish they took lesson from Generations (It’s been running FOREVER) and it still kicks ass in SA!
Now, Exodus to Stardom aired its last episode jana. I’m still in shock, if you’re going to come here and tell me that the show was good for a first trial, I’ll hunt you down and kick you in the privates!!! You cannot run a show on a two bob budget and expect folks to clap for your shit ass efforts!!
The lighting was horrible, the SOUND … oh my goodness … the SOUND!!! The show looked and felt like a high school talent day competition COMPLETE with a HUUUGE plastic Trophy!
THE SINGING, THE SINGING *walks away to cry*