Why I don't watch news

Might make you want to yell at the top of your voice.

Warning this is a rant...


I simply can't stand their antics - I know people who work nearly 8o hours a week, pay taxes on their hard earned taxes..

Up to 30% of this money goes to the government. MPs draw their salaries and obscene allowances from this cash.

Now which fair 'employer - employee' deal would allow such a state of affairs..

If they have large loans and debts to service, they should jipanga - they are not the only ones in Kenya who service loans and debts - it's just that the rest of us actually PAY TAX while servicing our loans and debts.

Mind you, there are still IDPs from early this year and before, a global recession, but no - tumbo kwanza.

Wouldn't this be classified as impunity?

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Trust politicians to pretend that they 'don't set their salaries' - who effectively set their salaries last time...?

i don't plan to resume watching news - boring, boring same old stuff: politics. Maybe if media outlets focussed less on politicians, they might just realize that they are not as 'honorable' as they think they are.

The (unforgiving?) job cycle

(Apologies for the apparent incoherence exhibited in some portions below...)

1.New Job ->
2.Excitement at new job with new colleagues and new tea mugs and new toys / pcs .......
3. routine sets in
4. fatigue
5. The questions start: 'have i nothing better to do'
6. Start look for new job (while oscillating between 3-6)
7. Start new job
.. ad infinitum..

Stage No 3 & 4, one suspects, most covers working people.....

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At some point, this cycle WILL be broken. A date for potentially breaking this cycle had been pencilled towards the end of this month... But there are many factors/people to consider..... but research must go on.

so school anyone?
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Which stage are you at?

Obama Mania

A public holiday, OK, that's pushing it really.

In the US, the election day was not even a public holiday, yet in Kenya, Thursday Nov 6 has been declared a public holiday. Bana, I know quite a few people in the diaspora who are feeling somewhat embarrassed because of that.

A lost opportunity for more commerce to take place, wealth to be created. (except for the local pubs where the frothy stuff will be in full flow).

One of the reasons the US is such a powerful economy is because of work ethic. A good number of public holidays celebrated in Kenya are ordinary working days in the US.

This vision 2030 business requires more working hard and smart, less bumming celebrating. If you must celebrate.. celebrate and work at the same time.

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There are still IDPs in camps by the way.

There's still the Waki and Kriegler reports that cannot be wished away.

There are still HUGE GAPING POTHOLES on a good number of our roads.

Poverty is still a major issue
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Change? In Kenya? Nah? Just business as usual - with the usual over-indulgence of all things political. Boring!

Horrible Driving, Rain

Last Monday evening I counted at least 5 minor accidents over a stretch of about 5 km.

Today evening, there was a pileup on valley road, while I encountered a couple of accidents as well.

Most of these accidents, if not all were preventable. A little patience, a little road courtesy, and at least trying to adhere to traffic regulations.

I'm actually shocked that the incidents of road rage are this low, considering how inconsiderate we are about other motorists, and pedestrians. With the current rain, it's just polite to avoid splashing water on pedestrians. Going back home to change clothes thirty minutes after dressing up for work is NOT fun.

The road carnage is avoidable:

• by keeping to the speed limits (it saves fuel too) - I suppose that the people who came up with these limits were not picking the figures arbitrarily. Even in developed countries with wider roads, the road speed limit is rarely more than 120 KPH.
• Not overtaking at junctions - it is illegal and dangerous - the number of times I've seen guys do this is amazing. And with the narrow roads that are most Kenyan roads... Of course overtaking at bends, hills is dangerous .. but most people at least don't do that.
• Avoiding getting emotional when driving, it's not worth holding a grudge against a driver who'll probably end up on a different road.

I've no words for matatu drivers (City Hoppa, Kenya Bus are not any better). They are arguably the most skilled drivers on the road, but they have no semblance of road etiquette. The day we get an urban rail system.....


Another thing I remember from the highway code - overtaking at bumps is illegal.. I wonder when cops will start harassing guys..

The only problem with traffic enforcement is that it is not consistent - always a crackdown here and there.. and there's the whole corruption issue....

Government spending on IT

Things should be looking up for local software developers in Kenya after new guidelines for IT software were released by the government. 50% of software used in Government should be local. This is great news for local developers, considering that the Government is the largest consumer in the country, and with the increasing automation of Government processes, more and more software will be required. This initiative would also result in more jobs and opportunities for Kenyans.

If we want to be able to export software, we'd better start by developing it and using it ourselves.

Have a look at the Business Daily Story here.