Sikiliza

Rift Valley Sports Club Poolside Last Sunday while having tea at the Rift Valley Sports Club in Nakuru, I came across a friend who goes there to exercise by walking round the cricket pitch. While walking, she came across several pairs of mitumba shoes thrown from the high wall at the farthest end of the field. Most likely someone with ill intentions pinched the shoes from the 2nd hand dealers with stalls on the outer perimeter wall facing Oginga Odinga Street She quickly alerted the askaris at the gate to investigate the theft in progress. We all left confident that matters would be sorted and that the club would take the security breach seriously. So, the next day my friend called me to tell me that despite reporting the incident to the club security staff, “The shoes grew legs...” Hmmm.... Last Thursday, I had dropped an advert to be posted on the Club’s Notice Board and they promised it would be up the next day...when I went in today I was surprised to find that it had not gone u...

D riving away from the madding crowds of Nairobi is always a pleasant prospect. Away from traffic snarl ups, smog and the usual city’s bustle, it’s heartening to leave and breathe fresh country air for a change. I was meeting with 37 year old David Kinjah whose reputation in the Kenyan cycling circles preceded him. Our destination was just past Kikuyu town. As we drove to his place we got hopelessly lost so I turned to a bunch of boda boda riders asking (and hoping) if they know Kinjah… they all did. One of them, Kahiga offered to ride ahead of us and direct us to his house for 50 bob. "Last minute checks" Kinjah made his international race cycling debut in 1995 and has represented Kenya in the last 3 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpar Malaysia in 1998, Manchester in the UK in 2002 and in Melbourne Australia in 2006 despite several hurdles along the way. He is well known in the annual Cape Epic race held in South Africa and his cycling career has taken him to several cou...

I was surprised to see an article in a local newspaper an article by Binyavanga Wainaina which I had earlier posted on Mail & Guardian . Now it turns out that the said article was cut and pasted by the newspaper. Here is Binyavanga's response to Nairobi Star's CEO's letter: http://www.binyavangawainaina.org/main/2009/07/15/copyright-infringement-nairobi-star-open-letter-to-william-pike/ I came across Binyavanga’s post along with the ridiculous excuse the newspaper gave...they figured since it was "freely available since it was posted on the internet." It brings to play how so we so blatantly abuse copyright law. I believe in Name and Shame!!! ~Sikiliza~

~Mum and I~ Dear Mum 9 years ago today you left me at 10am. That day you also left some gifts because the day didn’t end without a miracle happening in our lives. When Jim told me you had rested that evening – I was so sad – I had hoped to come to hospital and read to you my new contract the same time you breathed your last. I remember the evening before when I sat and combed your hair plaiting it into neat matutas – the doctor said that even with the coma you could hear us. At that time I told you just how much you meant to me…..the thought of you suffering filled my heart with pain and I would have done anything to make you better. I think that you are now in a much better place…where there is no pain or affliction. I was the last one you spoke to before your coma – and the last words you shared with me remain in my heart. Mum you were so amazing, so beautiful and such a gift. I am so honored to be your baby…and ever so thankful you were in my life…I know you were on bor...

Background I decided to save a trip to the local sports club and make a telephone inquiry after I lost my car park Sticker for 2009 and looked in all my hiding places in vain….. This is how the bizarre incident went…. “Hi I lost my parking sticker and would like know the process to get a replacement and the penalty for the replacement.” I began. “Eh ati, I don’t know. You mean you lost yours? Aii that on you have to talk to the Club Secretary its only him who can help you.” said the telephone receptionist. I laughed internally thinking – she must be new or kidding – why call and ask for management for a routine query that most administrators would know the basic procedure. But what the hell let me just put the receptionist out of her misery. “Ok put me through thanks.” “Yes hallo…” said Club Secretary Ashford Kimani. “Yes hello, Bwana Secretary, I lost one of my parking sticker for 2009 and would like to know the process of replacing it and what it would cost me I have been referred to...

When Time Stays Still At night everything transforms…. A new world emerges on the other side of my window Lush shady trees morph into grotesque shadowy monsters Rustling as the wind picks up speed with an eerie howl Like a dirge from restless spirit singing and mocking me I feel eyes staring in from the night as I lay still on my bed I feel surrounded somehow Watched A menacing hunter waiting for the right moment to get me Darkness swallows up and devours everything around me For a moment I wonder if my eyes are shut or not So I blink And see nothing-ness I lay there waiting In the dead of night even time stands still. The gust is here again and the trees sway Creaking as they bow to wind gods passing My heart beat pounds so loud I think they can hear it Sweat dropping on my brow They smell my fear How long till merciful sleep takes me to a safe refuge How long till...

There are those moments when it’s not easy to love When too many things come between lips kissing or warm embrace Whether the barriers be real, imagined or imposed…. And differences are not always helpful When they prevail over things shared in common It’s not always easy to nurture feelings of affection When the easier option of walking away glares at us in the face Yet sometime we hesitate Turn back And choose to love anyway ~Mango~

My home town Nakuru is still picking up its social and economic pieces after the Post election violence. The town was adversely affected last year when insecurity heightened and a curfew was imposed to reduce the number of casualties. I would like to take some time and talk about a few Nakuru women and their stories. Today I pick a very special lady for her strength and will to survive. Mama Ng’endo IDP from Londiani Mama Ng’endo is an IDP from Londiani near Kericho. She barely escaped death with her 5 children when aggressors burnt their home down without warning. Good Samaritans got them to Nakuru. Her husband had left that morning to look for work; she had no idea whether he made it out in time. She got to the IDP camp set up at the Nakuru Showground and registered her name just in case her husband came across it. But looking at the swelling crowds and rush for food she opted to leave the camp to seek help outside. She went from house to house begging for food or clothes. She knock...

So it’s a big day today. Depending. Capitalists are cashing in this Valentines by convincing you to show your affection to your beloved by buying something sweet, fragranced or cuddly…I always said if I wasn’t so lazy I would consider this business but alas I am a writer and would rather sit back and watch the drama unfold…..then write about it… Valentine Day finds women in various phases of their lives… Some little girls smile and giggle at the sight of love birds showing affection building their own castles in the air…. Bashful girlfriends waiting hoping and wondering what their chivalrous boyfriends would do… There are also those who believe that Valentine is meant to be celebrated everyday and is therefore a routine day… Or that it’s a waste of time and money….you know whatever makes you tick… What amazes me is that 10 years ago valentine day was little known in Kenya…..nothing much happened – but lately our FM stations, TV’s and shops are c...

I got a message today from an Editor that the US Embassy in Nairobi were looking for me regarding a story I did in their newspaper. The piece was about an extraordinary girl called Maureen who helped the bedridden in Kibera access food and supplies in the height of the post election violence. I was most curious and got in touch with them as soon as I could. It turns out they want to invite her for a women’s event in May and just needed her phone number. I found it a little perplexing they didn’t just check the public directory and find the organization she was working for and track her down in one sure step. Go figure… Anyway there were many such heroic stories. Many Kenyans needed to hear these positive accounts to raise hope that perhaps we still had some decency left in us even in the midst of that needless violence. So a group of writers and photographers decided to document these great accounts, delve into the lives of ordinary people with extraordinary hearts. http://generationk...

My mum used to force us to go to mass every Sunday…in time we developed our petulant skills and eventually had to get bribed to attend God’s house with promises of treats like swimming or permission to visit neighbors kids… While in church – my siblings attended catechism class… I was still too young to attend and a nuisance to the other kids….so my mum opted that I just be a nuisance to the adults in church (adults are nicer to brats…fact!) Now anyone who attended mass in Trinity church in Milimani knows that they needed a new public address system for yeeaaaaars…and the father was so so soooo dull…and to expect me a 7 year old to keep awake without some impish activities was a miracle hardly achievable and this almost always got me hard pinches from my mummy. So one day I was such a saint – quiet and obedient like a proper catholic girl. Sitting perked up at the neighboring pew. I hadn’t carried my dolls head ( I decapitated it since I only liked its hair – umm ...