Yesterday was a proud day for me. Our business incubator Genius Executive Centre launched the Genius Heal Kenya Initiative. This initiative's main objective is to assist families displaced by the Kenyan crisis through prayer and material donation (foodstuffs, clothes, blankets, toys etc.). With over seventy entrepreneurs as members of the Centre we are confident that this initiative shall make a real and positive difference in the lives of fellow Kenyans.
We have partnered with the Karen branch of the Red Cross to distribute the donations to the displaced families. Any contribution you can make towards this initiative is welcome.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Updates from Nairobi
I have been moving around Nairobi the past three days and I can share my experiences so far:
On Saturday the city centre was calm and many businesses were open. There were several GSU surrounding Uhuru park accompanied by some international press. Nothing was going on there and both police and press looked bored.
I went to Nakumatt to pick some supplies. The shoppers were of average number and seemed calm and at ease doing their shopping. There was a lot of courteousness and friendliness in the air as shoppers mingled in the queues and assisted other shoppers. This encouraged me, Kenyans are intrinsically friendly people and I was glad to see this coming out even in such tough times.
I used a taxi to go carry my shopping home; the driver told me that there were some skirmishes on Thika Rd near Nakumatt Thika Rd but police had prior knowledge of the protest and had averted any injury to life or property. The driver was encouraged that life was slowly returning to normal as his business had suffered owing to closure of the city centre in the past days. I didn't have enough loose change so I paid part of my fare in Safaricom airtime using Sambaza. He was only too happy to accept, he told me that only a couple days back he had bought airtime of 100 shillings value for 200 shillings.
I also went to Westlands shopping centre later in the day and business was going on as usual. In fact I can say business was actually more robust than usual. Shoppers, diners, business people were all out in large numbers.
On Sunday there were several prayer meetings scheduled around the country. I had intended to ask readers to pass on the sambaza amani prayer to their brethren but my internet connection had gone down on Saturday. However there was no need to prompt people to promote peace - in the church I went to, and I discovered later on in most parts of the country - all sermons were about peace, dialogue and reconciliation. In the evening between 6 and 7 several media houses aired an hour of prayer from Kenyans.
Late in the night I heard what sounded like gun shots from the sides of Kibera. In the morning my watchman told me that they were tear gas canisters being launched at protesters. I am unable to verify this at the moment.
He (the watchman) comes from Kawangware and he told me that although things had been very bad the past week they were now coming back to normal. The greatest hardship however remained in the skyrocketing prices for basic commodities such as airtime and foodstuffs. A packet of maize meal is going for 100 shillings and a loaf of bread for 50 shillings.
Today we opened the office and most of the staff have reported. Many are optimistic that things are on course to improve.
Our business centre remained open throughout the Christmas/New Years/ Election period (except for the public holidays and rally days) and some members braved the conditions to come and try to get some business done. We have at least seventy entrepreneurs who are members in our centre, hopefully we shall be able to organise the members in collecting donations to help displaced Kenyans.
If you have any stories you wish to share that are in line with the purpose of this blog please do not hesitate to post them here.
On Saturday the city centre was calm and many businesses were open. There were several GSU surrounding Uhuru park accompanied by some international press. Nothing was going on there and both police and press looked bored.
I went to Nakumatt to pick some supplies. The shoppers were of average number and seemed calm and at ease doing their shopping. There was a lot of courteousness and friendliness in the air as shoppers mingled in the queues and assisted other shoppers. This encouraged me, Kenyans are intrinsically friendly people and I was glad to see this coming out even in such tough times.
I used a taxi to go carry my shopping home; the driver told me that there were some skirmishes on Thika Rd near Nakumatt Thika Rd but police had prior knowledge of the protest and had averted any injury to life or property. The driver was encouraged that life was slowly returning to normal as his business had suffered owing to closure of the city centre in the past days. I didn't have enough loose change so I paid part of my fare in Safaricom airtime using Sambaza. He was only too happy to accept, he told me that only a couple days back he had bought airtime of 100 shillings value for 200 shillings.
I also went to Westlands shopping centre later in the day and business was going on as usual. In fact I can say business was actually more robust than usual. Shoppers, diners, business people were all out in large numbers.
On Sunday there were several prayer meetings scheduled around the country. I had intended to ask readers to pass on the sambaza amani prayer to their brethren but my internet connection had gone down on Saturday. However there was no need to prompt people to promote peace - in the church I went to, and I discovered later on in most parts of the country - all sermons were about peace, dialogue and reconciliation. In the evening between 6 and 7 several media houses aired an hour of prayer from Kenyans.
Late in the night I heard what sounded like gun shots from the sides of Kibera. In the morning my watchman told me that they were tear gas canisters being launched at protesters. I am unable to verify this at the moment.
He (the watchman) comes from Kawangware and he told me that although things had been very bad the past week they were now coming back to normal. The greatest hardship however remained in the skyrocketing prices for basic commodities such as airtime and foodstuffs. A packet of maize meal is going for 100 shillings and a loaf of bread for 50 shillings.
Today we opened the office and most of the staff have reported. Many are optimistic that things are on course to improve.
Our business centre remained open throughout the Christmas/New Years/ Election period (except for the public holidays and rally days) and some members braved the conditions to come and try to get some business done. We have at least seventy entrepreneurs who are members in our centre, hopefully we shall be able to organise the members in collecting donations to help displaced Kenyans.
If you have any stories you wish to share that are in line with the purpose of this blog please do not hesitate to post them here.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Mr. Kibaki, Mr. Odinga, who among you really loves Kenya?
Today a story from the bible. (Please note that I have paraphrased it for the purpose of this blog. You can read the story in 1 KINGS 3:16 - 28)
One day Solomon had a chance to test his wisdom. Two women came to him for help. Both the women had babies. One of the babies died. One mother switched babies with the other mother in the night. The next morning the mother woke up and found a dead baby beside her. She looked at the baby and knew it wasn’t her baby! She saw that the other woman had switched the babies!
They told Solomon the whole story. Both the mothers argued that the baby was their baby. Who was right? How would Solomon know who was telling the truth?
Solomon had a test to see who was the real mother. He ordered that the baby be cut in half and each mother receive half the baby. (He was not really going to cut the baby in half; he wanted to see what the women did.)
Out of compassion and love for her baby the mother screamed "No! No! Don’t hurt the baby. Give the baby to the other woman."
The other mother said, "Yes! Let’s split the baby in half."
Who do you think was the real mother? It was the one who cared for her baby. She did
not want it to die. Sure enough, Solomon knew that she was the mother, so he gave her the
baby.
One day Solomon had a chance to test his wisdom. Two women came to him for help. Both the women had babies. One of the babies died. One mother switched babies with the other mother in the night. The next morning the mother woke up and found a dead baby beside her. She looked at the baby and knew it wasn’t her baby! She saw that the other woman had switched the babies!
They told Solomon the whole story. Both the mothers argued that the baby was their baby. Who was right? How would Solomon know who was telling the truth?
Solomon had a test to see who was the real mother. He ordered that the baby be cut in half and each mother receive half the baby. (He was not really going to cut the baby in half; he wanted to see what the women did.)
Out of compassion and love for her baby the mother screamed "No! No! Don’t hurt the baby. Give the baby to the other woman."
The other mother said, "Yes! Let’s split the baby in half."
Who do you think was the real mother? It was the one who cared for her baby. She did
not want it to die. Sure enough, Solomon knew that she was the mother, so he gave her the
baby.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Sambaza Amani Kenya
While the president, ODM, church leaders, press, and even Safaricom have appealed Kenyans to exercise restraint and promote, it seems the message is not getting through (fast enough). I have a thought that this is because none of the people calling for peace seem genuine and perhaps the audience for whom it is rightly intended are not getting the message.
But what if this appeal came from friends and family? I have friends and family in both camps but I am certain that I can speak to them the language of peace and they would listen. Kila mtu anastahili kusambaza amani Kenya.
Whereas I believe the message should be personal and specific so as to be genuine I suggest the following template:
"My dear friend/brother/sister. I hope that you and your family are safe and well. As your fellow Kenyan I am praying for peace and unity in our country and I ask you, your friends and your family to join me in this prayer. Together we can make peaceful change in our country. God bless Kenya. Please pass the prayer of peace to all that you can"
This can be done by email, telephone call or sms. I believe if we reach out through our networks we can reach a large number of people in a short time, and we might play a part in promoting peace.
Please let me have your comments on this idea and how better to frame the message.
I have shortened the message for sms but it is still 2 text messages long, need more ideas on how to frame it:
"My dear friend I hope that u and ur family r safe & well. As ur fellow Kenyan Im praying 4 peace & unity in our country & I ask u 2join me in this prayer. 2gether, in peace change will come. Pls pass this prayer of peace 2 frnds & family"
But what if this appeal came from friends and family? I have friends and family in both camps but I am certain that I can speak to them the language of peace and they would listen. Kila mtu anastahili kusambaza amani Kenya.
Whereas I believe the message should be personal and specific so as to be genuine I suggest the following template:
"My dear friend/brother/sister. I hope that you and your family are safe and well. As your fellow Kenyan I am praying for peace and unity in our country and I ask you, your friends and your family to join me in this prayer. Together we can make peaceful change in our country. God bless Kenya. Please pass the prayer of peace to all that you can"
This can be done by email, telephone call or sms. I believe if we reach out through our networks we can reach a large number of people in a short time, and we might play a part in promoting peace.
Please let me have your comments on this idea and how better to frame the message.
I have shortened the message for sms but it is still 2 text messages long, need more ideas on how to frame it:
"My dear friend I hope that u and ur family r safe & well. As ur fellow Kenyan Im praying 4 peace & unity in our country & I ask u 2join me in this prayer. 2gether, in peace change will come. Pls pass this prayer of peace 2 frnds & family"
Let us try peace now
This is a blog about restoring peace, harmony and unity in Kenya during these times of unrest. While there are other important issues in Kenya arising from the December elections of 2007, peace remains the most important, most urgent, and most universal issue to all Kenyans.
This is a blog for wazalendo who choose peace and dialogue over violence and hatred. It is a blog to promote peaceful and practical solutions to Kenya's post-election situation.
I join all peace loving Kenyans in prayer during this time. May God bless Kenya.
This is a blog for wazalendo who choose peace and dialogue over violence and hatred. It is a blog to promote peaceful and practical solutions to Kenya's post-election situation.
I join all peace loving Kenyans in prayer during this time. May God bless Kenya.
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