Mombasa riots deepen concern about religious tensions in Kenya

Najib Balala, MP for Mvita, Mombasa, says recent violence is a "new trend"
A grenade has been thrown at police in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, killing one officer and wounding 16, officials say.
Muslim youths have been involved in running battles with the police since Monday after the murder of radical preacher Aboud Rogo Mohammed.
Mr Rogo, who the US accused of backing Islamist fighters in Somalia, was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga has appealed for calm, saying the country should avoid an "inter-religious war".
"Let's act with restraint as law enforcement agencies get to the root of the matter," he said.
"We urge Muslims and Christians not to fight."
'Targeted assassination'

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Rogo's murder was a well-planned attack by members of al-Shabab to gain sympathisers”
Charles Owino Police spokesman
One person was killed and churches were attacked in clashes on Monday.
A senior police intelligence officer in Mombasa, Benedict Kigen, announced the grenade attack.
"They have attacked our officers... Two people are dead, one of them is an officer, the other is a civilian," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
Sixteen policemen were also wounded in the attack, according to the Red Cross.
Earlier, Ben Lawrence of Human Rights Watch told the BBC that he saw running battles between the police and protesters.
"I saw at the end of the street... billowing smoke and running battles between police and rioters. It came towards us, down the side street where I was located. People shut up their shops and ran in the opposite direction," he said.
"There's been shops set on fire, looting, police trying to control the situation with tear gas but so far apparently failing."
Hotel owners said the violence had badly affected Mombasa's tourism industry, the backbone of the city's economy, Reuters added.
Aboud Rogo Mohammed Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot in front of his family
"It's tricky to even take them [tourists] or pick them from the airport because the main highway from the airport is the epicentre of the chaos," said Mohammed Hersi, who runs the Whitesands Hotel.
Somalia's militant Islamist group al-Shabab condemned Mr Rogo's killing and said Muslims in Kenya should boycott next year's presidential election.
"Muslims must take the matter into their own hands, stand united against the Kuffar [non-Muslims] and take all necessary measures to protect their religion, their honour, their property and their lives from the enemies of Islam," it said in a statement.
However, police spokesman Charles Owino said al-Shabab killed the cleric in an attempt "to galvanise support among the youth", the AFP news agency reports.
"Rogo's murder was a well-planned attack by members of al-Shabab to gain sympathisers.... the al-Shabab have failed to get followers," he said.
Some of the rioters accused the authorities of being behind Mr Rogo's shooting, saying he had been the victim of a "targeted assassination".
'Ideological leader'
Muslim leaders have denounced the violence, but many people are questioning how Mr Rogo could have been shot dead in broad daylight without anyone being arrested, says the BBC's Kevin Mwachiro in Mombasa.
Christians are also questioning why churches have been attacked, he adds.
A damaged church in Mombasa (27 August 2012)Churches have been attacked and shops looted in the mainly Muslim city
Church leaders cancelled plans to hold a peaceful protest march on Tuesday for fear that it could trigger more violence, Reuters reports.
Mombasa, Kenya's second biggest city, has a majority Muslim population.
Kenya's Muslim Human Rights Forum said Mr Rogo was the second cleric on a "terrorism watch list" to be killed in Mombasa this year.
In April, preacher Samir Hashim Khan was abducted along with a blind colleague, Mohamed Bekhit Kassim, it said.
Mr Khan's mutilated body was later found in a national park near Mombasa, while Mr Kassim's whereabouts are still unknown, the rights group added.
Mr Rogo was on US and UN sanction lists for allegedly supporting al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda.
The UN Security Council imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on him in July, saying he had provided "financial, material, logistical or technical support to al-Shabab".
It accused him of being the "main ideological leader" of Kenya's al-Hijra group, also known as the Muslim Youth Centre, which is viewed as a close ally of al-Shabab.
He had "used the extremist group as a pathway for radicalisation and recruitment of principally Swahili-speaking Africans for carrying out violent militant activity in Somalia," the UN added.
In 2005, Mr Rogo was cleared on murder charges over the 2002 attack on a hotel where Israeli tourists were staying, which killed 12 people.

More on This Story

Henry Wanyoike - A Visionary Journey

Imagine for a moment hurtling down a roadway as fast as your legs could carry you—all the while blindfolded. Sound scary? Henry Wanyoike does it every day, along the dirt roads around his Kenyan village and on the speedy tracks of Olympic stadiums. Wanyoike, 38, has won three gold medals in three Paralympics—his first in the 5000m at Sydney in 2000—setting two world records for a blind runner in the process. This year in London, he is aiming to medal in his first Paralympic marathon.
The fact that Wanyoike runs at such intense speeds while totally blind is truly remarkable, a testament to both his raw athletic talent and iron guts. I know that from personal experience. I, too, am losing my sight, due to a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa. There is no treatment or cure, no way of slowing the descent into blindness. Today, I still see much better than Wanyoike, but I can barely find my way at night or down a crowded street. As I visited Wanyoike in his village outside of the town of Kikuyu, I joined him for a stretch of a morning run. The weather was terrible. A cold rain fell on the unpaved roads, turning them into cauldrons of mud. My sight doesn’t allow me to spot potholes or other potential ankle-twisters, and the raindrops splattering my eyeglasses made that task even more difficult. I struggled to keep my footing. Yet Wanyoike ran beside me, unfazed and sure-footed. He can’t run alone, of course. He is joined by a guide, Joseph Kibunja, who acts as his eyes.
Wanyoike didn’t always have such confidence. As a young man, he seemed headed for a promising career as part of Kenya’s famed running teams, until disaster struck in May 1995. At only 20 years old, Wanyoike went suddenly blind, due to a stroke. Unable to care for himself, let alone run, he became despondent, even suicidal. “I was thinking that was the end of me,” he says. “My dream would never come true.”
Yet it did. After several years, with the help of encouraging teachers and doctors, Wanyoike learned to run again with the aid of a guide. Now he participates in races from Hong Kong to Hamburg, an inspiration not only to disabled people in Kenya, but also to the poor children of his home region of Kikuyu as well. Wanyoike still lives near to where he was born, humbly in little more than an upgraded shack. Though he wishes he could see his wife and children at least once, Wanyoike doesn’t look backwards, to the life he had when he was sighted. “For 17 years, since I lost my sight, I think I have done so many (more) things than what I did for 21 years before,” Wanyoike says. “The most important thing is to accept yourself.”
I’d like to say I found Wanyoike and his life story inspiring, especially since I am facing a similar fate. He is an inspiration, of course, to anyone dealing with disability or adversity. But what struck me most is how differently Wanyoike and I have approached our condition. Wanyoike has come to accept what has happened to him, and has gained strength from that acceptance. I, however, strive to overcome my failing sight by stubbornly refusing to accept the problem exists. My visit with Wanyoike made me wonder if his way is better.
Source:Time.com

Widow of late Minister John Michuki, Josephine, dies at Nairobi hospital

http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/news/images/feb2012/20122502002.jpg
The widow of former Environment Minister the late John Michuki, Josephine had died at Nairobi hospital after long battle with cancer.
Mrs Michuki died on Wednesday morning at the hospital.The late minister passed away in February 22 this year at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi where he was undergoing treatment.

All eyes on Shamim - Miss World Kenya 2012

http://globalbeauties.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kenya3.jpgDazzling with poise and finesse last Sunday evening, Shamim Ali — Kenya’s representative in the ongoing Miss World Beauty with a Purpose competition in China — took to the runway as the anxious crowd applauded her.
The magnificent lights and cool music created such a breathtaking aura as the Kenyan beauty stood tall in a blue dress.
Her adorable charming smile and confidence spoke volumes about her strong character. Here she was, standing tall among the 40 semi-finalists, the top world beauties who will be competing for the most coveted beauty crown in the world — after making it through a list of 115.
And now, all eyes are on the Architecture student whose life may just see a total turnaround come tomorrow night when the new Miss World crown holder will be announced.
Five africans on top   “I am happy with my achievements here and will return to Kenya a happy girl after representing my country well,” Shamim told Pulse on Tuesday during an exclusive interview. “Honestly, I did not think I would make it this far (to the top 40). Even if I don’t win the title, just know that your girl did her best to make her beautiful country proud. Keep voting for me on Miss World-Kenya,” she remarked.
The feat has earned her a place as one of the top five African beauties in the competition. The other African finalists include South Sudan, South Africa, Angola and Nigeria.
What is most astounding is that on Tuesday evening, Shamim’s auction item — Family of Elephant from Maltbronze — raised $16,000 (an equivalent of Sh1.3M) during a charity dinner held in Ordos, Mongolia, where the finals will be hosted tomorrow. It was one of the highest sold auction items in the show and the first by a Kenyan model to hit such figures.
“Giving back to society gives me so much pleasure and self satisfaction. That’s why I want to spearhead the Water for Life Campaign.  I also want to fight global warming because that way, I will be able to touch many lives of women, children, and the poor as well as excluded people in Kenya and Africa as a whole,” she stated before the competition’s judges.
“I must say that the Miss Kenya sponsors, Ashleys Ltd and East Africa Breweries had prepared me well,” she concluded.
Source:Pulse

David Rudisha breaks 800m world record in Olympics win

David Rudisha
David Rudisha became the first athlete to set a new world record on the track at London 2012 as he won 800m gold.
The 23-year-old Kenyan stormed to victory in his debut Olympic final to become the first man inside one minute 41 seconds, clocking 1:40.91.

"It was just such an incredible race to witness. To run the way he has done here and in a time like that is just sensational. What he can go and do now is inspire a whole new generation of young Rudishas who want to have this opportunity to shine on the global stage."
Botswana 18-year-old Nijel Amos took silver, with another teenager, Kenya's Timothy Kitum, in bronze.
Britain's Andrew Osagie was in eighth place but still clocked a personal best of 1:43.77.
Reigning world champion Rudisha led from the off, running an opening lap of 49.28 seconds and storming further clear down the back straight to beat his own world record.
With the rest of the field dragged along by his pace, only Abukaker Kaki in seventh failed to record a personal best.
Rudisha told BBC Sport: "Wow! I'm very happy. This is the moment I have been waiting for for a very long time. To come here and to break the world record is something unbelievable.
"Rudisha, unchanging and unflagging from gun to tape, has the ground-eating stride of some relentless robot."
"I was well-prepared and I had no doubt about winning. Today the weather was beautiful and I decided just to go for it."
But the new world record holder believes he can go even faster.
He said: "After running two rounds before the final I got a little bit tired. I told the physio yesterday that I was feeling sore after the semis, so if I can get fresh then I can still improve on that."
Earlier on Thursday 2012 chief Lord Coe said Rudisha was "the most impressive track and field athlete at these Games".
Rudisha said: "Lord Coe is a very good friend of mine and earlier, in February, he took me round this stadium. That was good for me. I wanted to come here and make him proud."

A first for last

  • Andrew Osagie's time of 1:43.77 is a world record for the eighth-placed finisher in an Olympic 800m final
  • It would have won him the gold medal at the last three Olympics
  • Now fourth-fastest Briton over 800m behind Sebastian Coe, Steve Cram and Peter Elliott
In Amos and Kitum, 17, the future of the event looks in good hands but whether anyone can get near the dominant Rudisha before the next Games in Rio looks unlikely.
Amos clocked 1:41.73 - the 11th fastest 800m of all time - to become the fourth-fastest man ever over the distance. Only Rudisha, Wilson Kipketer and 2012 Games chief Seb Coe have run two laps of the track faster.
Rudisha has set the three fastest 800m times of all time and managed six of the fastest eight 800m ever.
His pace was consistent throughout, clocking 23 seconds for the first 200m, 25 for the second, 25 for the third, and 26.1 for the final quarter.
Source: BBC Sport at the Olympic Stadium

Final Results

Rank Athlete Country Medal moment Result
1 Rudisha KEN Watch: Medal moment 1:40.91 WR
2 Amos BOT Watch: Medal moment 1:41.73 WJ
3 Kitum KEN Watch: Medal moment 1:42.53 PB

NAIROBI IN 3D

Prezzo does Kenya proud as 22 Year Old South African Keagan Wins Big Brother StarGame

After a nail-biting finale, South African housemate – Keagan has been voted as the winner of the Big Brother Africa StarGamereality show.
The last portion of the finale came down to the trio of Keagan, Prezzo and Lady May. In the end, 22 Year Old South African Keagan prevailed.
There were hot performances from international stars including Naeto C and D’banj, however, all eyes were on the housemates including voted-off housemates who came back to the stage for the finale!
Runner-Up Prezzo was recognized for his charity awareness work in the house and has been chosen as a One Campaign ambassador and will jet off to New York to watch Jay-Z in concert.
Keagan carts away the mega $300,000 prize and possibly a relationship with fellow housemate Talia who gave him a tender kiss as she was voted off during the finale.
Watch out for more details from the Big Brother StarGame finale on BN.
What did you think about Big Brother StarGame?
Source:http://bigbrotherafrica.com