Free Methodist Church of Kenya Elects Its First Bishop!

On March 30-31, Kenyan Free Methodist pastors and delegates met to establish the Kenya Jurisdictional General Conference and two Annual Conferences. Rev. Nixon Azere Dingili was elected first Bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Kenya.Rev. Dingili did his undergraduate studies at Kenya Highlands Bible College and graduate studies at Hope Africa University. He is married to Rev. Neddy Dingili, an alumni of the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology and the Lord has blessed them with two beautiful children- Leslie and Keslie. Last year Rev. Nixon Dingili represented the Free Methodist Church of Kenya at the meetings of the Free Methodist World Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Kenyan Diaspora Pro-Democracy Movement joins Christians all over the world in congratulating Bishop Nixon Azere Dingili on this new spiritual responsibility as the 1st Bishop of Kenya. The FMCK has chosen a gifted, hardworking and faithful minister for this shepherding role to the Free Methodists and all people in Kenya. May the Lord bless you all.

(File picture- Rev. Nixon Dingili, center- in glasses, after he was ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church of Kenya)

http://www.fmwm.org/cms_media/files/Reynen.Nov08.pdf

I Am thinking of Quitting the USA.--By Unbwogable

This has nothing to do with my pending court case. I can wait until that is over and still make this move. I am getting disillusioned with the USA. I miss home daily. Nothing seems to be able to give me joy here. I have tried sex, liqor, nice cars, nice homes, etc but I still feel like only being in Kisumu can make me happy. I guess I was not wired to exist in the first world.

I miss waking up in the village to heavenly sounds of chirping birds, not ambulance sirens as is here in the USA. I miss the fresh smell of cow dung. I miss the social life that exists in Africa, the suffering not withstanding. I miss the crowded Matatus and the rude manambas as opposed to my air-conditioned car here. I miss ugali and Tilapia from Lake Victoria, not from some pool in the midwest or from China.

I miss riding on the Boda Boda. I miss the night spots of Kondele and the live Benga hits. I miss being arrested by cops and bribing my way out. I miss the sweet sex from LUO women. I open air market of KIBUYE on Sundays.

WILL I MAKE A STUPID MISTAKE BY DECIDING TO TOUCH BASE WITH MY PAST? I HAVE NOT INVESTED ANYTHING BACK THERE, SO I AM READY FOR THE GLARING POVERTY. I GREW UP IN IT SO IT SCARES ME NOT.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK543f0_UKc

Last edited by unbwogable (Today 21:24:23)
http://kenya.rcbowen.com/talk/viewtopic.php?id=108372

These Kenyan University Students Are Good!

ANTI-CORRUPTION CASE HALTED PENDING APPEAL

ANTI-CORRUPTION CASE HALTED PENDING APPEAL

Reported By Monica Achode - Advocate
February 2009

Republic v The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) and 2 Others [2009] ] eKLR (www.kenyalaw.org)
Court of Appeal at Nairobi
P. K. Tunoi E. M. Githinji P. N. Waki (JJA)
February 27th 2009

The Court of Appeal has allowed an order stopping criminal proceedings instituted by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission against a Civil Servant charged with the office of abuse of office. The Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate’s court and The Attorney General were ordered to halt the proceedings pending the hearing and determination of an appeal in which the accused is challenging an order of the High Court refusing to stop the proceedings.

The order was made in an application filed under rule 5(2) of the Court of Appeal Rules seeking an order for a stay of proceedings in a criminal prosecution against the applicant, one George Wambua, in the Senior Magistrate’s Court at Kibera, Nairobi pending the hearing and determination of the appeal from the judgment of the High Court. The High Court had dismissed a judicial review application by Mr. Wambua for orders of certiorari, seeking to remove into the court and quash the decision of the respondents purporting to charge him with the offence of abuse of office contrary to section 46 of the Anti Corruption and Economic Crimes Act. Mr. Wambua also sought an order prohibiting the Resident Magistrate’s court at Kibera from hearing the criminal case against him and from taking evidence or in any other manner conducting proceedings on the matters of that criminal case.

Prior to the proceedings, Mr. Wambua had been an employee of the Public Service Commission but had been posted to serve as City Treasurer, Nairobi in 2003. Towards the end of that year, a group of Councilors and Officers of the Council intended to travel to Italy on a fact finding tour in relation to a proposed waste management project. Apparently, Mr. Wambua authorized payment of per diem allowances to them without first seeking and obtaining the approval of the Permanente Secretary, Minister of Local Government. It was alleged that as a result of this, Mr. Wambua was sent on compulsory leave and in late 2004 he was summoned by the KACC to record a statement over the said payments.

In August 2006, Mr. Wambua was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate in Kibera on a charge of abuse of office. In the charges it was alleged that, while in his capacity as the City Treasurer, together with the Deputy Town Clerk of the Council of Nairobi, being persons employed in the Public Service respectively, jointly used their said offices to improperly confer benefit to officers and councilors of the City Council of Nairobi by irregularly authorizing payment of full per diem instead of quarter per diem to cover expenses of the aforementioned officers while traveling to Italy and Egypt on official duties. It was apparent that the charges were framed on the basis that the allowances paid contravened the Local Government Act and the applicable Government financial regulations.

Mr. Wambua filed an application for judicial review seeking for orders of prohibition and certiorari for which he had sough leave and been had been allowed to apply. However, on 7th March 2008, Justice Nyamu dismissed that application stating in part that the offence Mr. Wambua had been charged with was an offence defined by law. The judge further stated that whether the applicant was immune from criminal proceedings in the light of the provisions of Section 87 of the Local Government Act was a matter for determination by the trial Court and not the superior Court. It was his opinion that there was no public policy or interest being contravened or threatened in the prosecution of Mr. Wambua, and that there had been no evidence of oppression or malice in the undertaking of the prosecution of the applicant. Finally, he stated that threatened or actual contravention of the applicant’s guaranteed constitutional right had not been shown. It was that decision that prompted the appeal.

Mr. Wambua’s advocate, in his submission before the Appellate Court argued that the appeal was arguable, mainly, first, on the ground that the decision to charge the applicant with the offence of abuse of office under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act violated the personal immunity guaranteed to him under the Local Government Act. He claimed that the decision to prosecute his client had been actuated by malice and that it had been oppressive and unreasonable in the circumstances. He submitted further that the learned Judge had failed to pronounce a decision on these issues and on others that were canvassed before him. The advocate further stressed that if the Appellate Court failed to intervene before the appeal was heard and determined the trial in the magistrate’s court would commence and that the applicant might be convicted in which case he would start serving a jail term and thereby be deprived of his liberty. Thus, the success of his appeal would be rendered nugatory. The respondents through their advocates, opposed the application stating that the applicant had not demonstrated that his appeal was arguable.

The Appellate Court in weighing its decision looked to the settled principles in applications brought pursuant to rule 5(2) (b) of the Rules. They stated that the Court had unfettered discretion which was to be exercised judicially. The applicant had to satisfy the Court, first, that his appeal, or intended appeal was not frivolous. Second, the Court was also to be persuaded that were it to dismiss the application for stay and later the appeal or intended appeal succeeded, the results or the success would be rendered nugatory. In order that the applicant may succeed, he further had to demonstrate both limbs and demonstrating only one limb would not avail him the order sought if he failed to demonstrate the other limb. In supporting this decision it cited the cases of Reliance Bank Ltd vs Norlake Investments Ltd. (2002) IEA 227 and Githunguri vs Jimba Credit Corporation Ltd. & Others (No.2) [1988] KLR 838.

Bearing the above in mind Justice Tunoi and Justice Waki assented to the application stating that the intended appeal was indeed arguable and further that if the order for stay was not granted and the appeal were to succeed the applicant would have undergone an expensive trial which could result in his being sent to prison and thus denying him his liberty. Justice Githinji, on the other hand, did not think that there was merit in the application and he dissented from the decisions of his fellow judges.. In his view, the nugatory test was not appropriate in the circumstances of this case where the applicant in effect sought a stay of prosecution. He noted that it would be against public policy or public interest to halt or paralyze the prosecution of a person suspected to have committed a crime unless there were good reasons for doing so.

He further observed that the Attorney General had a duty to prosecute people suspected of having committed crimes speedily in the public interest. Further the suspect had the protection of law in the event of such a prosecution as enshrined in section 77 of the Constitution to ensure that he got a fair trial.

Justice Githinji felt that the appropriate consideration was whether the applicant would suffer injustice unless an order of stay of prosecution or proceedings was granted. It was his view that were the trial to proceed the applicant would be afforded an opportunity of advancing the matters he intended to raise in the appeal. Lastly, he found that there was no certainty that if the criminal trial proceeded the applicant would be convicted. If however, he was ultimately convicted he could resort to appeal mechanism to ensure that justice was done.
In those circumstances Justice Githinji felt that it would be a blot in criminal justice system to stay the criminal proceedings in the Magistrate’s court. Ultimately, however, the final decision was that of the majority of the court comprising of Justice Tunoi and Justice Waki who were of the opinion that the application had merit and that it should be allowed.
http://www.kenyalaw.org/newsletter/feb_2409.html

MEETING OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRY OF NAIROBI METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT AND KENYAN DIASPORA IN WASHINGTON DC

The officials of the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development led by the Honourable Assistant Minister, Elizabeth Ongoro Masha and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Philip O. Sika are in town and would like to meet with the Kenyan Diaspora community resident in Metropolitan Washington as follows:

Date: March 10th 2009

Time: 6.00 P.M.


Venue: Embassy of Kenya

2249 R Street, NW

Washington D.C. 20008



Purpose:To create a better understanding of the potential role of the Diaspora in the implementation of Nairobi Metro 2030

All are welcome!!!

URGE THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN TO RECONSIDER DECISION!

The Government of Sudan yesterday ordered the closure of humanitarian
aid programs in Darfur as well as North and East Sudan.

This decision puts the lives of millions of men, women, and
children who depend on humanitarian aid for survival at risk.

Join me and call on the international community to urge the
Government of Sudan to reconsider this deplorable decision and
ensure the delivery of lifesaving aid to vulnerable Sudanese
people. Visit www.theIRC.org/aidsudan and make your voice heard
now.

After you take action, please help spread the word.

Thank you.

WHY ARE AMERICANS BUYING GUNS IN BIG NUMBERS?

Why Are Americans Buying Guns?

I recently read a thread where one American says "I bought a new gun because the economy was tanking. With the economy goes security. Cops are having to make drastic cuts right now. If people are out of jobs and get hungry, what's to stop crime from going up? I bought a gun to protect my home and my things in this scary economy we're heading into."

Are these the only reasons why Americans are buying guns in droves? Isnt there a hidden reason that only one section of Americans know and they are not willing to share with the "other" people?

Word is rife in some communities that a certain community fears that a "Martin Luther King Jr" may happen again and if it does there will be HUGE repercussions so they are arming themselves and getting ready for any eventuality!

Many questions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Fundamental Rights Of All Kenyans As Guaranteed By The Constitution Of Kenya And The National Accord Must Be Respected By The Grand Coalition Govt

The Fundamental Rights Of All Kenyans As Guaranteed By The Constitution Of Kenya And The National Accord Must Be Respected By The Grand Coalition Government!
Monica Achode..attorney at law.

Feb 14th, 2009 by Mars Group

Partner for Change Rosemary Otieno arrested by the City Council police, held at Central Police Station for sharing information on Grand Corruption with fellow Kenyans.

Barely a week after the Grand Coalition Government held a tax payers funded “Kenya We Want” conference where Government Ministers admitted failure to deliver on promises to Kenyans, and where the Government requested all Kenyans to do their bit to fight Corruption in Kenya, the Grand Coalition Government is arresting Kenyans who innocently are responding to this call against Impunity.

On Friday 13th 2009, the Partnership for Change distributed anti-corruption flyers to members of the public in Nairobi. Under section 79 of the Constitution of Kenya Kenyans’ freedom of expression is protected, so Partnership for Change volunteers assembled around Nairobi went to work to inform Kenyans of an ongoing fraud. Incredibly, Nairobi City Council askari officers, claiming that Kenyans require permission from City Hall to express themselves in writing, arrested Rosemary and two other Partners for Change for distributing flyers to draw public attention to an ongoing corruption scandal by which Kenyan taxpayers funds are to be paid to a company called Midland Finance & Securities for one of the Anglo Leasing type projects. On February 28th 2009, the anniversary of the signing of the political settlement between Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, over Ksh 275 million will be payable to a Swiss bank account in the name of Midland Finance & Securities Limited.

Kenyans do not owe this company any money at all according to the Controller and Auditor General, and there is no law Rosemary or her colleagues have broken in saying so to merit harassment, arrest or detention. This scandal is the epitome of the “Kenya We Don’t Want” and it is sad that public servants can muzzle patriots who point out crime rather than pursuing Midland Finance and its corrupt counterparts in the Government of Kenya. Kenyans want to know who Midland Finance & Securities Limited is so that they can recover the billions of shillings this company has been paid on the strength of a legal opinion by the Attorney General and a credit contract signed in May 2003. Kenyans want to know why on February 28th 2009 over a quarter of a billion shillings (Ksh 275 million) will be paid to this company. Kenyans want to know why the Attorney General is refusing to cooperate with the Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom.

At the end of the day, the Partnership for Change has had to spend dear resources in paying Ksh 15,000 cash bail to the Nairobi Central Police Station and Rosemary has to waste her time, and that of her volunteer lawyers Harun Ndubi and Mugure Gituto, in attending court on Monday February 16th 2009 to answer bogus and unconstitutional charges. Agenda One of the National Accord demanded the immediate restoration of the civil and political liberties of Kenyans, and Rosemary’s arrest shows how the Government has failed to communicate to its officers the fact that Kenyans rights are sacred.

It doesn’t appear that the Grand Coalition will ever respect the rights of citizens to protest the misappropriation of the precious resources of Kenya. As we approach the first anniversary of the signing of the National Accord, isn’t it time that Kenyans had the opportunity to elect a Government that will respect their rights and implement the National Accord? And a Government that won’t steal taxpayers money or condone theft. There is a case for prioritizing the implementation of the Kriegler Commission Report so that the infrastructure for a democratic election is immediately put in place. The country cannot wait indefinitely. The truth is that Kenyans have had ENOUGH of the Grand Coalition Government.

Inspire People!

Plans for grand opposition on course, says Namwamba!

Plans to form a Grand Opposition in Parliament are still on course, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has said.

Mr Namwamba said that the adoption of new standing orders by Parliament allows legislators in the backbench to form a caucus that plays the role of the official opposition.

Speaking at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha on Friday, he said the two-day retreat sponsored by the National Assembly was geared at starting preparations to constitute an official opposition in the 10th Parliament. He said that the retreat had the blessings of the Speaker.

Work out

“We are here to work out on the structures and logistical details of how this caucus will be formalised and will rise to play the role of parliament’s official opposition,” he said.

The lawmaker said the MPs were also strategising on how the Official Opposition Bill will be passed in Parliament when the issue comes up for debate. He said the absence of an official opposition has affected the fight against corruption.

“The lack of an official opposition has made it very difficult for legislators to take the government head on,” he said.

Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny said corruption in the Grand Coalition had now become “grand corruption”, and urged the two principals to take charge.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/525814/-/ygtqcxz/-/

Is Kibaki’s succession plan viable?

By Mutahi Ngunyi
Today I will beg leave from reason and push a conspiracy theory. I call it a conspiracy because I read a pattern in President Kibaki’s actions. A pattern that suggests a possible manipulation of the 2012 election.

But before I make my argument, allow me to mention Mr Raila Odinga in passing. To repeat myself, I believe Mr Odinga has been set up for failure by the President.

I say so because the Prime Minister can organise people ‘‘against’’ an idea. However, he is weak at organising people in ‘‘support’’ of an idea. This imbalance makes him look like a ‘‘deconstructionist’’.

With the cameras on him consistently, he is bound to reveal his true nature. He actually did so this week. He told reporters to focus on the ‘‘goodies’’ he brought from India instead of asking ‘‘useless’’ questions about the maize and oil scandals.

This comment was ill-conceived and in bad taste. And this is why whenever Mr Odinga gets an opportunity to shut up, he must grab it with dear life. This way, he will have enough time to study President Kibaki’s silent schemes.

Now I must plead temporary insanity and advance my conspiracy theory. For starters, the 2012 election will be rigged. And I say so because nothing has changed.

The players are the same and their motives are intact. In other words, an orange tree cannot bear oranges one year, and bananas the following year.

If nothing has changed, we should not expect them to rig in 2007 and be of good behaviour in 2012. And although both principals are guilty of manipulation in 2007, the man to rig the election in 2012 is the President. Consider my hypotheses.

One, President Kibaki has motive. In fact, his motive is two-fold. During the Moi era, he led the GEMA community for 27 years. They languished in the cold, and their businesses had to fold. Now that they are back, they will protect their turf.

The Kibaki motive, therefore, is to craft a succession that will protect GEMA – at least at face value. And this brings me to his second and real motive. His interest is not GEMA; it is the protection of property.

In fact when Mr Uhuru Kenyatta was appointed Finance Minister, I exclaimed aloud “…what a joke!” But when I cooled down, it dawned on me that his appointment had only one purpose. The man will not create new wealth; he is there to protect old wealth. Period!

My second hypothesis regards the Kibaki choices and actors. If his motive is to protect wealth, who will execute the brief? Which crony will succeed him? Is it Mr Kenyatta? My submission is that the propertied are shameless.

If Mr Kenyatta is the man to protect their turf, they will install him and swear him in at night if they have to.

However, I doubt that he is their choice. More so because Mr Kenyatta himself told us that: “… some people claim that I am in the Waki List”.

If he is indeed on this list, he will have to climb down from his new high. He will have to resign pending investigations as required by the Waki process. What about Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, the Vice-President?

This man is not wealthy; he is just rich. Riches can be squandered in one generation, but wealth takes generations to exhaust.

And because Mr Musyoka does not understand wealth, he cannot be on the Kibaki short list. The same applies to M/s Martha Karua. She is just a peasant from Gichugu; not sufficiently pedigree.

Although she has promise, they view her as nothing but a clever ‘‘chatterbox’’. This leaves us with only one man – Prof George Saitoti. He is Kikuyu and not Kikuyu.

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/-/440808/519248/-/42c8wl/-/index.html

Go Mutava Go!!!!!

Gachoka MP Rev Mutava Musyimi says President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are responsible for recurrent problems bedevilling the country. Musyimi accused the two principals driving the Grand Coalition Government of failing to give proper direction to national issues. He cited the current food crisis which has been declared a national disaster and corruption scandals facing the government that need proper guidance.

The Gachoka legislator urged the two principals to deal severely with those mentions in various scandals in order to restore dignity and respect into key institutions charged with critical services to the people.

He said it was time heads start rolling for the sake of majority of Kenyans who still have faith in the leadership of Kibaki and Raila. "Any one at the centre of scam should be relieved of his duties and prosecuted for the public to regain confidence in elected leaders" he lamented.

Mutava claimed that the government had lost moral authority in governing as it was unable to guarantee security and life of it citizens. The MP said that it was immoral for the government to stick to power without giving Kenyans quality leadership promised in the national accord.

Speaking in his constituency yesterday, Mutava noted that the two principals promised Kenyans rule of law but bad governance has continued to dog the current government. Mutava asked the two principals to spearhead reforms to address a myriad of problems bedevilling Kenyans today.

The legislature said that with proper governance, Kenyans should not die of or suffer from food related problems. Meanwhile, a family in Mwingi has buried its 13-year-old, standard two son who died from a famine related complication. This comes in the wake of governments move to invite humanitarian assistance of up to Sh37 billion to alleviate hunger across the country.

With the poor family unable to put food on the table for three days in a row, Kilonzo Kyule had no choice but to devour wild fruits that made him ill with constipation. "Once he ate the Mbu tree fruits, he was unable to answer calls of nature for three days and he developed stomach complications resulting in his death on last Thursday," said the deceased boy father Kyule Mulingwa. Meanwhile National Vision Party (NVP) has condemned political grandstanding in the Grand Coalition, saying the ever ending squabbles is to blame for the current problems.

The party cited the famine that has been declared a national disaster and the high cost of living in urban areas as indicators that the government is not addressing the real problems facing our people.
http://www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=2&articleId=1518

What is Communication?

Communication is the process to impart information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium. Communication requires that all parties have an area of communicative commonality. There are auditory means, such as speaking, singing and sometimes tone of voice, and nonverbal, physical means, such as body language, sign language, paralanguage, touch, eye contact, or the use of writing. Communication is defined as a process by which we assign and convey meaning in an attempt to create shared understanding. This process requires a vast repertoire of skills in intrapersonal and interpersonal processing, listening, observing, speaking, questioning, analyzing, and evaluating. Use of these processes is developmental and transfers to all areas of life: home, school, community, work, and beyond. It is through communication that collaboration and cooperation occur.[1]
Communication is the articulation of sending a message through different media,[2] whether it be verbal or nonverbal, so long as a being transmits a thought provoking idea, gesture, action, etc. Communication is a learned skill. Most babies are born with the physical ability to make sounds, but must learn to speak and communicate effectively. Speaking, listening, and our ability to understand verbal and nonverbal meanings are skills we develop in various ways. We learn basic communication skills by observing other people and modeling our behaviors based on what we see. We also are taught some communication skills directly through education, and by practicing those skills and having them evaluated.
Communication as an academic discipline relates to all the ways we communicate, so it embraces a large body of study and knowledge. The communication discipline includes both verbal and nonverbal messages. A body of scholarship all about communication is presented and explained in textbooks, electronic publications, and academic journals. In the journals, researchers report the results of studies that are the basis for an ever-expanding understanding of how we all communicate. Communication happens at many levels (even for one single action), in many different ways, and for most beings, as well as certain machines. Several, if not all, fields of study dedicate a portion of attention to communication, so when speaking about communication it is very important to be sure about what aspects of communication one is speaking about. Definitions of communication range widely, some recognizing that animals can communicate with each other as well as human beings, and some are more narrow, only including human beings within the parameters of human symbolic interaction.
Nonetheless, communication is usually described along a few major dimensions: Content (what type of things are communicated), source, emisor, sender or encoder (by whom), form (in which form), channel (through which medium), destination, receiver, target or decoder (to whom), and the purpose or pragmatic aspect. Between parties, communication includes acts that confer knowledge and experiences, give advice and commands, and ask questions. These acts may take many forms, in one of the various manners of communication. The form depends on the abilities of the group communicating. Together, communication content and form make messages that are sent towards a destination. The target can be oneself, another person or being, another entity (such as a corporation or group of beings).
Communication can be seen as processes of information transmission governed by three levels of semiotic rules:
1. Syntactic (formal properties of signs and symbols),
2. pragmatic (concerned with the relations between signs/expressions and their users) and
3. semantic (study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent).
Therefore, communication is social interaction where at least two interacting agents share a common set of signs and a common set of semiotic rules. This commonly held rule in some sense ignores autocommunication, including intrapersonal communication via diaries or self-talk.


In a simple model, information or content (e.g. a message in natural language) is sent in some form (as spoken language) from an emisor/ sender/ encoder to a destination/ receiver/ decoder. In a slightly more complex form a sender and a receiver are linked reciprocally. A particular instance of communication is called a speech act. In the presence of "communication noise" on the transmission channel (air, in this case), reception and decoding of content may be faulty, and thus the speech act may not achieve the desired effect. One problem with this encode-transmit-receive-decode model is that the processes of encoding and decoding imply that the sender and receiver each possess something that functions as a code book, and that these two code books are, at the very least, similar if not identical. Although something like code books is implied by the model, they are nowhere represented in the model, which creates many conceptual difficulties.
Theories of coregulation describe communication as a creative and dynamic continuous process, rather than a discrete exchange of information. Canadian media scholar Harold Innis had the theory that people use different types of media to communicate and which one they choose to use will offer different possibilities for the shape and durability of society (Wark, McKenzie 1997). His famous example of this is using ancient Egypt and looking at the ways they built themselves out of media with very different properties stone and papyrus. Papyrus is what he called 'Space Binding'. it made possible the transmission of written orders across space, empires and enables the waging of distant military campaigns and colonial administration. The other is stone and 'Time Binding', through the construction of temples and the pyramids can sustain their authority generation to generation, through this media they can change and shape communication in their society (Wark, McKenzie 1997).
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication
Am studying communication right now and I found this piece to be valuable
GB

Toward an All E-Textbook Campus!

Many colleges are experimenting with e-textbooks these days. But at Northwest Missouri State University, President Dean L. Hubbard hopes they’ll be an e-book only campus (or close to it) soon — as soon as the market will allow it. “We’ll move as fast as the industry moves and they’re moving very rapidly,” Hubbard says.
Northwest Missouri has long bought textbooks on its students’ behalf, renting them in exchange for a $6 per credit hour fee. The university is now piloting a move away from purchasing the paper kind. This spring, the 6,700-student university bought e-books for about 500 students in 10 different courses — including College Algebra, Intercultural Communications, and the Enjoyment of Music. In addition, McGraw-Hill is making digital access codes available to up to 3,000 more Northwest Missouri students who are using texts available in both formats.
The pilot actually began, on a smaller scale, this fall, when the university experimented with e-books and, specifically, the Sony PRS-505 e-reader model — ultimately determining that the Sony model “was not necessarily designed for what we want to do,” says Paul Klute, the assistant to the president. So this spring, students will primarily use their laptop computers, already provided to them by the institution, to read the e-books (although a smaller group of students will test out a newer version of the Sony e-reader, Klute explains).
Klute says print will probably always have some place at Northwest Missouri; for example, in the case of an older textbook that is considered definitive in a field. Still, print would be the exception, not the rule. In making this shift, university officials cite a desire to cut costs, and to be “on the cutting edge” of trends in learning and technology.
Citing the e-book’s built-in interactivity, “I’m convinced,” says Hubbard, “that students will read more and they will learn more, by using this medium.”
The proposal to go (almost) e-book only does raise some questions, however — including what the renters, i.e. students, will think. The university will be surveying students throughout the spring, but data from last fall suggest split opinion. “Our quantitative feedback suggested to us that about 50 percent of our students like the idea of electronic textbooks and 50 percent don’t,” Klute says.
He adds: “I do think that we’ll see that 50 percent that don’t like e-textbooks shift as they become exposed to the electronic textbooks.”
“That’s just a hypothesis of mine and one that we hope to realize as the project moves forward.”
“I think there’s a lot of interest, and I think a generally supportive attitude certainly among the members of the faculty that I visited with,” says Doug Sudhoff, the Faculty Senate president and an assistant professor of mass communication. “There may be some faculty who will have a really hard time letting go of the traditional textbook. That’s true anywhere. But I think, in general, as we see the results of the pilot project and if those results are positive, I think you’ll see that faculty move pretty quickly to adapt their courses to online textbooks and adopt them for their courses.”
President Hubbard also cites a hoped-for cost-savings of at least 50 percent. And that raises some questions given the college’s current rental model: While e-books are cheaper, on average available at half the price of the printed version, the university currently replaces rental textbooks on three-year cycles — getting three years’ use out of a single bound book. By contrast, consumers typically buy timed subscriptions for the half-price e-books: 180 days for books to be used in semester courses, or 360 for those used year-long.
“We would have to better understand how our rental model would work with the current system of distributing e-textbooks,” Klute says.
“We haven’t made a deal yet, we’re still piloting it,” explains Hubbard. “But we’ve been very candid with the publishers that we are not going to spend any more than we’re currently spending and we would expect over time to spend less.”
That’s a reasonable expectation, says Frank Lyman, executive vice president at CourseSmart, a digital textbook company started by five major textbook publishers. “It’s a reasonable expectation that an institution pursuing digital aggressively should be able to save money for themselves and their students. Having not been involved with Northwest Missouri, I don’t know what the dynamic is there,” Lyman says.
Lyman says that with 5,029 textbooks now availability digitally, CourseSmart covers about 30 percent of the market. “For institutions that are going to be aggressive about pursuing this goal” — of being all e-textbook — “I think the opportunity exists for them to have 50, 60, 75 percent of their titles covered by e-textbooks within the next year.”
He adds that a few for-profit colleges have already moved to e-book only in certain curriculum areas. “As with a lot of things, the non-profit colleges and universities are trying to see if there’s something they can learn from the way the for-profits operate,” Lyman says.
CourseSmart reports that 72 percent of their customers say they would buy some or all of their textbooks in electronic format in the future. Likewise, “Our research shows that a very high percentage of students who actually use these digital textbooks have a positive experience. Most recommend it to their friends,” says Jeff Ho, a project manager at McGraw-Hill, one of five publishers that Northwest Missouri is working with.
However, an August report by the Student Public Interest Research Groups found that 75 percent of students surveyed said they’d prefer a printed textbook to a digital one. Thirty-three percent said they felt comfortable reading on a computer screen, 22 percent were uncomfortable and 45 percent were in the middle.
“It’s a sentiment shared among a lot of educators that it’s the 21st century; we should be using computers for all of education. As we wrote in the report, to some extent it’s true,” says Nicole Allen, the report author and the textbook advocate for Student PIRGs. “We’ve just got to remember that reading a Facebook profile is not the same thing as reading a textbook.”
“Textbooks are necessarily disconnected from students’ needs as consumers, because textbook sales are not driven by students; they’re driven by faculty,” she says. “It’s important to remember that the consumer actually does have needs and desires and the students do have preferences as to whether they want to switch to a digital book or a print book, and they’re different. The best thing is to give students options, and a lot of them can make that determination themselves. I’m not saying that switching to e-books is wrong. I’m not an educator; I don’t know. But I represent students’ needs as consumers and you can’t rely on the market to address those needs.”
In an e-mail, Abby Freeman, Northwest Missouri’s Student Senate president, expressed support for the university’s ongoing pilot.
“I think it demonstrates that NW is continually searching for methods to improve our university and the educational setting for the students. Though the original use intended for the [Sony] e-readers may not be the best option for the students of Northwest, the continued piloting and research into the programs and their benefit is great. I think students enjoy exploring new opportunities in their classrooms and discovering if those options are a benefit to the university.”
— Elizabeth Redden
Reporter
Inside Higher Ed
Washington, DC 20008

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/14/ebooks

The Ten Roads To Riches!

1. Start a successful business.
2.Become a CEO of an existing firm and juice it.
3.Hitch to a successful visionary's bandwagon and ride along.
4.Turn celebrity into wealth.
5.Marry well---really well!
6.Steal it---legally--no guns!
7.Capitalize on other people's money!
8.Invent on endless future revenue stream.
9.Trump the land barons by monetizing unrealized real estate wealth.
10. Save hard, invest well.

Gleaned from Ken Fisher's book.

What Kenyan Institutions Can Learn From the Van Andel Institute!

The Van Andel Research Institute - Organizational Analysis

Culture
The Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) has a strong corporate culture that is seen in all levels of culture: artifacts, values and basic assumptions. VARI has both visible manifestations of its culture as well as strong currents beneath the surface. At first glance it is clear that culture of VARI places a very high importance on the outside perception of others. Additionally, there is a culture of collaboration although this is clearer at the artifact level than throughout the organization. The personal beliefs and values of the scientists also provide a strong sense of individual achievement and a culture of autonomy amongst the scientists.

Artifacts
Artifacts, or observable symbols, architecture, behaviors and slogans are apparent at VARI from the moment an individual approaches the building. The building architecture was designed to give the impression of a high tech, cutting edge facility, a notch above others. The building façade provides an impressive image along the Grand Rapids Medical Mile. By breaking away from a traditional square building, VARI sets itself apart from others and creates a culture of elitism. This supports the culture at VARI that the scientists are world-class and utilize the most recent and newest technologies in support of the mission of improving human health. The culture of VARI is one of sending a strong image into the community of cutting edge science and high tech experiments – the building clearly shows this.

In addition to the interesting building structure, upon entering the lobby of VARI an individual is greeted with a large expansive space and a hanging exhibit by Dale Chihuly. The exhibit and the large space again support the culture of being an exclusive group and successful institution. The front lobby area has an expensive look and feel which furthers the culture of elitism.

In addition to the building and lobby area the culture of being an advanced science facility and again, separate from the other entities on the Medical Mile is exhibited through the number of security checkpoints in the building – even to enter the office space and elevators security badges are needed. The front desk is staffed by security rather than a receptionist. Theses artifacts support the notion that Van Andel Research Institute is a step above the others and also that is highly values that others have that perception as well.

Values
Values are the levels of a corporate culture that are shared by members. They are the underlying values, assumptions, beliefs, attitudes and feelings that members of a group have. At VARI the values of the staff are diverse due to the wide variety of ethnic backgrounds but they area few values that are shared by all. The main value shared by all employees at VARI is the strong desire to improve human health and advance scientific research. This is a value that is held by scientists and administration. This is a value that began with the founding of the Institute and the formation of the endowment to further life sciences. It is the strong value of Dave Van Andel and of the found Jay Van Andel to improve human health. The nature of the work at VARI – medical research – is evidence of the value. Scientists are very focused around their specific areas of expertise all with the same goal. The publications and discoveries scientists produce are artifacts that exhibit this value.

However, although all scientists and employees have the same value of improving human health and clearly exhibit that in their work there is also a value of personal success. Scientists are recognized and awarded based on individual achievements – not over VARI success. The more publications, grants and funding as well as internationally recognized discoveries the more successful the scientist. This value of individual success is reflected in the lack of interdependence and lack of group efforts between the 18 individual labs. The scientists work independently from one another and are more likely to collaborate with an outside partner that with another scientist in the Institute. While artifacts such as press releases and joint authorship on articles gives an impression of collaboration the underlying value is still to build individual credit and esteem.

Basic Assumptions
Basic assumptions are the underlying beliefs that individuals have – and may not even realize – yet they can greatly influence the culture of an organization. At VARI there are basic assumptions that are illustrated in the demographics of the employees. The management of VARI is dominated by white males; additionally the majority of the PIs are male as well. Whether or not this was a purposeful decision it is still an underlying aspect of the culture at VARI. Additionally, VARI has conservative values at its core from the Van Andel family. While it is harder to see the basic assumptions in artifacts and actions the support of Senator McCain and opposition to embryonic stem cell research by the majority of leadership are two recent examples of the conservative nature of the organization.

Mechanistic vs. Organic Structures

The Van Andel Research Institute operates primarily in an organic structure. The administrative group operates in a more mechanistic way but also works on changing project teams and on task-adjusted working groups and teams which is characteristic of an organic structure. In an organic structure employees contribute to a common task of a department and work on task adjusted projects through team work. Additionally there is less hierarchy of authority, less control and fewer rules. Finally knowledge and control of tasks is distributed throughout the organization and communication is horizontal. These are all characteristics of VARI.

Scientific labs each have a Principle Investigator however the scientists collaborate within the lab planning their own experiments and making adjustments based on continual findings. For example, if an assay produces an unexpected result the scientists work as a team to determine what happened and plan subsequent experiments to prove or disprove hypotheses. This highlights the distributed control of tasks and horizontal communication that is key to an organic structure. Additionally, due to the exploratory nature of the work there are very few rules implemented through vertical communication. While the scientists are required to act in fiscally responsible ways they have flexibility in spending lab budgets, are able to design experiments as they see fit rather than following strict rules and may publish or collaborate with any partners or publications. As previously mentioned, the administrative side is slightly more mechanistic and has rules with regard to accounting and information technology procedures but employees still have discretion in activities and are encouraged to join project teams and help where their skills can be best utilized even if outside the department. This encouragement of cross-function collaboration and task adjusted work adds to an organic feel.

Organic structures work best in uncertain and complex environments. The area or scientific discovery and research is highly uncertain and complex – new discoveries are being made daily that challenge conventional thought and require adjustments to research efforts. The uncertainty in the success of experiments and the low probability of success in research and drug development further the need for a structure based on teamwork.

From a structural design perspective, the Van Andel Research Institute operates in a cross between a divisional structure and a matrix structure – while still maintaining its organic nature. From the divisional perspective, each lab could be seen as a division operating independently from other laboratories. However, each lab does not have its own HR, accounting, purchasing and IT functions – these are centrally housed. With the core administrative services and core technology labs servicing multiple labs or projects a matrix structure could be applied. In the matrix structure each lab would be a product or project that utilizes the core services as needed. The matrix approach encourages innovation and creative thought but takes a significant amount of time to coordinate. As VARI is still a relatively new organization (only 10 years old) it will be interesting to observe changes in structural organization as the Institute grows and matures.

Technology, Differentiation, and Integration

Technology
Technology is much more than the computer and electronic technologies utilized in office and homes and it is also more than the scientific equipment used at the Van Andel Institute. Technology encompasses all the tools, techniques, machines, processes and actions used to transform inputs into outputs in a system. Looking at VARI technologies from multiple approaches will provide greater insight into the operations of VARI.

Joan Woodward classified technologies based on systems of production – small batch and unit production, large batch and mass production and continuous process production. Each method of production is a technology used to create a product. At VARI small batch and unit production is the technology used. Scientific experiments and trials are used to create output specific to customer specifications. Often the customer is the scientist seeking results but in some cases service work is done for pharmaceutical companies where each project is custom designed. A recent example is was a project for a major pharmaceutical company in which human lymphomas were implanted into mice in order to test an experimental new treatment. This highlights the customer specific nature of the projects. The scientific experiments are not mechanized and require highly skilled human workers to complete; additionally as previously mentioned there are few formalized rules or procedures and they operate in an organic manner.

A second aspect to analyze technologies from is from departmental technologies framework presented by Richard Daft and Norman Macintosh. Looking at the variety and analyzability of the tasks performed different technologies are needed. Analyzability refers to the extent in which a task can be reduced to predetermined steps and variety refers to the frequency of unexpected and novel events. The tasks at VARI have high variety and low analyzability. While the steps in a set process, centrifugation for example, are high analyzable the overall experiments are always different and changing due to the high variety and uncertainty of what the results will be. An interesting aspect of scientific research is that the results are not known prior to starting a task or activity – this is extremely high variety. These factors require nonroutine departmental technologies. The majority of the tasks at VARI fall into this category with the exception of the administrative support functions such as accounting, purchasing and contracts which are much more analyzable and have lower variety. The administrative functions require routine departmental technologies.

In looking at the relationship of department technology to structural and management characteristics, as expected, nonroutine departmental technologies are related to organic structures with low formalization, low centralization, an importance of training plus experience (at VARI PIs all have Ph.D.s and have completed post-doctoral fellowships to gain experience).

Differentiation and Integration

In order for the Van Andel Research Institute to have success individual laboratories and individual scientists need to have scientific discoveries that will lead to the award of federal funding or to revenues from outlicensing technologies to pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostic or device organizations. To do this coordination and workflow interdependence is essential.

As discussed in an earlier analysis, VARI is increasing differentiation in job function with the addition of more specialized core services and the addition of new scientists. With this increased differentiation in job role integration through coordination is needed. The Van Andel Research Institute operates in a reciprocal interdependence model as described by Thompson. What makes VARI a reciprocal model rather than a sequential model is the mutual adjustments that are required throughout a research program. While there are sequential steps to follow each step creates an output that may require a change in course or the repeating of early steps. Additionally, this reciprocal coordination extends to the relationship the labs have with the administrative team. Depending upon discoveries or research needs continual adjustments to agreements and budgets are made. There are cross-functional teams made up of scientists within a lab and scientists from core labs and potential individuals from the external environment as well – these complex relationships require face-to-face communications often through unscheduled meetings and a focus on integrating the pieces. An example of a reciprocal interdependence is in VARI’s relationship with Spectrum Health. At any given time multiple projects are occurring with many individuals – recently a new protocol was initiated to obtain tumor samples from surgical patients – as patients entered surgery a team was called together to properly obtain and transport the sample and then scientific experiments began and were continually adjusted with input from both researchers and physicians.

In addition to the coordination and workflow interdependence, VARI also should consider the sociotechnical system model to design for joint optimization. For the most success organizations need to combine the characteristics of the social system, analyzed in organizational behavior with the technical system seen through organizational design.

The writer is a graduate Management student in USA.

Kenyan President heckled over Media Bill during Independence Celebration!

Tuesday, 16th December 2008. 3:47pm

By: Manasseh Zindo.

Nairobi: The Government of President Mwai Kibaki in Kenya is slowly losing touch with the people since his disputed controversial re-election in December 2007 that plunged Kenya into deadly post-election violence. The coalition government has angered the public by the refusal of Members of Parliament to pay tax and passing of a draconian Bill to muzzle the Media.

On Friday December 12, Kenya marked 45 years of self-governance since it gained independence from Britain but the celebrations at the Nyanyo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi, was marred by protests, and arrests of journalists, and activists.

The journalist and civil rights activists were protesting a bill passed by Parliament on Wednesday December 10, which gives the government powers to control the media. The bill known as the Kenya Communication (Amendment) Bill 2008 has caused outcry from media practitioners who have declared that the media is under attack.

Protests over attempts to muzzle the media, rising food prices and failure by MPs to pay taxes forced the President to cut short his speech during the Friday’s Jamhuri (Independence) Day celebrations. More than 70 people, among them journalists, were arrested and locked up at various police stations in Nairobi.

Radio presenters Walter Mong’are popularly known as “Nyambane”, Kiss FM personality Carolyne Mutoko were among those held by police. Mr Mong’are, who had been seen earlier mingling with other journalists at the venue, changed his clothes and donned a white and black stripped shirt and pants, the official attire in the country’s jails.

He made an attempt to access the podium where President Kibaki, the First Lady, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka were seated, but security agents quickly pounced on him. Mr Mong’are was wrestled to the ground and kicked by senior police officers as he made his way into the stadium dressed in clothes resembling those worn by prisoners to symbolize impending imprisonment of media if the controversial bill passed by Parliament is signed into law.

A section of the crowd tried to hurl plastic water bottles at the security agents who were carrying the comedian out of the stadium but failed to stop them. Ms Mutoko was arrested as she arrived at the stadium dressed in a black T-Shirt with the inscription “No Tax, No Tax Uta Do? (What will you do)?”

The crowd remained unexcited as President Kibaki went round in his ceremonial military Land Rover, in protest against the arrest of comedian-cum-journalist Walter Mong’are. At one time, a crowd at the one of the terraces attempted to break the gates, demanding to take a petition to the President. Chaos followed as the police struggled to restrain the unruly crowd. But even after succeeding, a section of them continued shouting “tuna njaa” (We are hungry), disrupting the speeches. Moment after President Kibaki had finished his official address in English and turned to Kiswahili he was forced to cut short his speech when one protester who had sneaked his way into the VIP dais shouted the president down. Mr.

Frederick Odhiambo, a member of the Bunge la Mwananchi, (Parliament of the People) had managed to make his way into the VIP area and sat about 10 meters away from President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga amongst a bevy of invited leaders and envoys. His arrest among VIPs shocked the country and VIPs themselves who, ostensibly, never expected such an incident to occur in their midst.

Questions were asked how he made his way there and sat on a seat reserved for an assistant minister. Shortly before the incident, an angry President Kibaki who had apparently been appalled by heckles and shouts of “hunger, hunger, we want food and MPs must pay taxes” had said: “Let those who want to fight do so”. The President had made the remarks after a section of the crowd shouted at him when he started giving his Kiswahili speech.

Before forcing the President to cut his Mr Odhiambo who was just 10 metres away shouted: “The rich are oppressing the poor, MPs are not paying taxes and Kibaki has not said anything”, as the presidential elite security descended on him. The incident became more dramatic when the president told-off the heckler: “If you are out of your mind, blame yourself,” Kibaki to the heckler in Kiswahili and hastily ended his speech. The President, First Lady Lucy, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka immediately left the podium with other VIPs in tow.

Following the arrest of Odhiambo, members of Bunge la Mwananchi (The Parliament of the People) in a letter addressed to Kenyans and friends of Kenya, said that Mr. Odhiambo was descended on by the security. “They descended on him and mercilessly carried him off, covering his mouth so that he could not be heard,” the civil society organization said in a letter signed by George Nyongesa and e-mailed to media houses.

Mr Frederick Odhiambo was taken to the hospital the following day (Saturday) under tight security but he told the press that he was tortured in police cell with his private parts injured. He was admitted at the Nairobi Women Hospital where he is being treated.

At the Friday celebrations, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a darling of the people, was also shouted down as he tried to calm the public. Also arrested at the celebration was Mwalimu Mati and his wife Jayne, both of Mars Group, a human rights non-governmental organization based in Kenya.

Police targeted people who wore T-shirts that bore messages of dissatisfaction with the recently passed Communications Bill, which is designed to curtail the freedom of the press. The T-shirts also had messages denouncing the high food prices, failure to tax MPs’ salaries as well as failure to implement the Waki Report. The T-shirts bore messages like, ‘Tumechoka (We’re tired)’, ‘Enough is Enough’, ‘No MPs Tax Uta Do (What will you do?)’

Early on Thursday evening, a day before the celebration Kenya Television Network Managing Editor, Linus Kaikai iced it with a personal letter to President Kibaki, urging him to correct the wrong done by Parliament. Mr Kaikai reminded Kibaki of a recent tête-à-tête they had at Maasai Mara Game reserve. Kaiaki reminded the president of his past pledges to protect the media and took him through instances when journalists and media houses had been unlawfully raided and harassed by State authorities.

Last year, Kibaki had assured the country the protection of freedom of expression and the Press. He said his Government would continue to work with the media to ensure Press freedom is respected and enriched. Kibaki, one of Kenya’s longest serving politician said this was essential not only because it is a basic right but also because it is vital for development of democracy.

In Mombasa, journalists covering the celebrations had tape strapped around the mouth as a way of protesting the law allowing a government-appointed commission to determine broadcast content, and giving the Minister for Internal Security powers to raid media houses. Two years ago Kenyan security agent and wife of President Mwai Kibaki in separate incidents invaded media houses in Nairobi and hold the media houses hostage for several hours.

The Friday arrest of journalists in Nairobi and members of the civil society received immediate condemnation from a section of leaders in Kenya. Kenya Editor’s Guild chairman Macharia Gaitho condemned the government for carrying out the arrests. He said: “We’ve had very sad happenings today. Journalists and members of the civil society have been arrested for expressing their opinions.” Mr Gaitho said the arrests were as a result of the media’s campaigns for MPs’ taxation. He said the media fraternity demanded an apology from President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the arrests.

Kenya’s renowned lawyer and former MP Paul Muite criticized the actions saying it was regrettable that 45 years after independence, Kenyans still face dictatorship. "It is a violation of freedom of expression and this must be condemned," Muite said while visiting the detained journalists and civil right activists at Langata police station.

Wife of Prime Minister Mrs Ida Odinga was among the first to condemn the bill and offered the media her support. She also denounced the arrest of journalists and activists. Mrs Odinga, an advocate of democracy in Kenya, said in the past when she was facing tribulations, it was only journalist who were listening to her and writing her stories.

“I have walked along a rough path in the politics of Kenya. During that journey, most of the times, friends deserted me when I was viewed as bad company for holding certain views. In all those moments, the only people who were willing to listen to me and tell my story were journalists. They did it either as professionals or as friends. My conscience therefore cannot allow me to keep quiet when the media is under attack,” she said.

She termed the arrests of journalists by the police as outrageous. “How can the police arrest people who were demanding the right to do their job?” Ida posed in a letter faxed to media houses.

Student Organization of the University of Nairobi chairman Dan Mwangi said the MPs were against the campaign by media to have their allowances taxed. “They are trying to apply the same thing they did on former Finance minister Amos Kimunya to silence any voices calling for taxation of their salaries,” Mwangi said.

Centre of the Kenya for Law and Research International chairman Morris Odhiambo said the MPs were revenging after the media waged a campaign to push them to pay tax. Mr Odhiambo said the “media were on the forefront on the tax issue and this has been seen as a threat to these MPs”. Labour Union Secretary General Francis Atwoli described the actions by Parliament as a big step backward in the war against dictatorship. He termed the bill as archaic, draconian, and retrogressive. Atwoli accused MPs of betraying the media.

Women Rights advocate and former Nominated MP Njoki Ndungu trashed the draconian media law as ‘unconstitutional’. Njoki advised the media to move to court to quash the clauses that bestow overwhelming powers on the Internal Security Minister and the Communication Commission of Kenya. "The court has the power to invalidate the sections which are unconstitutional," said Njoki.

Lands Minister James Orengo, a member of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) joined in and said the Kenya Communication (Amendment) Bill 2008 was unconstitutional and negates section 79 of the constitution that guarantees freedom of expression. “The position of ODM as far as the media bill is concerned is that it is should not have been there. As a party we do not support it because it reduces the democratic space,” Orengo, one of Kenya’s most respected lawyer said.

Mr Orengo said ODM was not party to the new media bill as it was approved by the cabinet before the formation of the Grand Coalition Government. “If the president assents to the bill, we still have a right to go to court though I do not think we want to go that direction,” he said.

The Lands Minister who represented Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a press conference in Mumias Western Kenya, said Information Minister Samuel Poghisio from the rivalry ODM-Kenya Party of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka took the bill to parliament when other MPs were meeting President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the formation of a special tribunal to try suspects on the post-election violence.

“Many of us were not in the house when the bill was going through,” Orengo reiterated. “The media had made frantic efforts to intercept the Bill before it got to the floor of the House. But MPs, angered by a parallel campaign to have their allowances taxed, saw in this Bill a weapon to hit back and punish the media. Without minding the consequences, it took only 25 out of the 222 MPs to pass it this week,” said The Standard Newspaper.

Lands Minister Orengo noted that there were sufficient laws in place that needed only slight modifications if any to give the media more democratic space. “This bill takes us back many years democratically. But I want to assure the media fraternity that the Prime minister is right now engaged in discussing the matter further,” he told the press on Saturday.

Mr Orengo confirmed that the Prime Minister Raila Odinga was scheduled to meet with media owners association where he'll receive a petition from the media owners. “There are things one must stand and speak against without hesitation. With all good intentions this bill is going to fail,” Orengo assured the media fraternity.

The Minister said that it was embarrassing to see the state resort to coercion to limit the freedom of expression which he said consisted of the freedom to hold peaceful demonstration. “I feel a little ashamed that people like Nyambane (Walter Mong’are), Mati (Mwalimu) and Caroline Mutoko could be arrested for doing what is right,” said Mr. Orengo.

Mr Orengo said that ODM has listened to the public outcry and would announce some kind of agreement to remit their taxes. The party also pledged to rally legislators to reach a compromise to allow their salaries and allowances to be taxed. The Lands Minister, a former political prisoner said there was need to review the draconian Bill.

Other MPs who condemned the bill and arrest of journalists included Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba who said the arrest of journalists, signaled the return of repression in the country. His Cherengany counterpart Joseph Kutuny accused Information Minister Samuel Poghisio of habouring a hidden agenda against the media. Local Government Assistant Minister Njeru Githae said, if put in the wrong hands, the Bill was draconian but added the Bill would only put restrictions to those who do not want to remain professionals.

Anglican Church Maseno South Diocese Bishop Mwai Abiero said passing the Bill was an affront of Media freedom. Abiero read mischief in the move and accused the Ministry of Information and Communication of hiding something from Kenyans. The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) also condemned the bill and arrests.

Kitale Catholic Bishop Maurice Crowler urged President Kibaki not to assent to the Bill. The Council of Imams and Preachers in Kenya (CIPK) said Kenyans were losing faith in the Tenth Parliament. “It is quite true now that they are not happy following heightened coverage by the media on their failure to pay taxes,” said CIPK National Organizing Secretary General Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa. Communication and Information Minister Samuel Poghisio says the Government has no interest in muzzling the media or to control their content, but the Media in Kenya says history show that, there is every legitimate reason to express reservations.
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3508

Kenyan bets KSh100m on digital printing!

By JUSTUS ONDARI Posted Monday, December 15 2008 at 16:37
Ensconced on the right wing of the second floor of Rehani House on Nairobi’s Koinange Street is an innocuous sign announcing the address as the home of Liberty Graphics and Print Ltd.

No big deal. In any case, what would be so special about a graphics design and printing press in a country where every nook and cranny is teeming with all manner of printing outfits?

Nothing could be further from the truth. Liberty Graphics and Print Ltd is no ordinary printer. If anything, it is the nerve centre of what promises to be the first phase of a multimillion investment by a Kenyan, Mr Wilfred Saroni, returning from the Diaspora.

“We are bringing the very latest in cutting age digital and online on demand printing technology to Kenyans. Unlike other printers, we are not using plates,” says Mr Saroni, who is seeking to replicate a model perfected by American giant, FedEx Office, formerly FedEx Kinko’s.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is expected to officially open the business tomorrow. The 2005 New Hampshire Businessman of the Year says he is going for the high-end printing market, which is currently served by printers based in South Africa and China.

The investment, in which the entrepreneur has already pumped Sh100 million, could have been a franchise of FedEx Office if things had worked out as planned.
Impressed by the success of the seventh largest printing company in North America, Mr Saroni dreamt of being allowed to establish a franchise of the chain store in Nairobi.

However, as it turned out, his was just that — a dream. The chain store’s management rejected his proposal, saying Kenya was a small market.
They politely informed him that they were already operating in Africa’s biggest economy, South Africa, providing printing, photocopying and binding services as well as video conference facilities.

It was then that it dawned on the Caplan University, USA, MBA graduate that he could go it alone.

“It has always been my plan to invest in Kenya and East Africa after doing business in the US for ten years,” says Mr Saroni, who was awarded the Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal in 2006 by senior members of the US Congress for his hard work and entrepreneurial acumen.

At a time when the Government is making every effort to attract foreign investors, including offering them incentives such as tax waivers, Mr Saroni feels the same should be extended to Kenyans in the Diaspora.

His call for the support of Kenyans in the Diaspora and the decision to return to the country coincides with the release of government statistics showing that local investors are more effective in fighting high rate of unemployment in the country compared to the much sought-after foreign investors.

Official statistics show that whereas the locals invest less than the foreign counterparts in the economy, they create more jobs.

According to the latest Kenya Investment Authority statistics, local investors pumped about Sh9.1 billion into the economy in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to Sh27.6 billion in foreign investments.

This saw the country attract investments worth Sh36.7 billion against a target of Sh23.5 billion as KenInvest issued 34 investment certificates out of the 37 investors who applied over the period.

The locals created 1,343 jobs compared to 95 jobs by their foreign counterparts during the period, which ran between July and September this year. Mr Saroni already has 25 employees on his payroll.

“It shows that, if well promoted, local investors cannot only contribute to the fight against employment, but also spur economic growth,” says Ms Susan Kikwai, the KIA managing director.

Mr Saroni, who has every reason to understand what it takes to not only run but sustain a business having seen one of his business in the US go bust, says the cost of doing business in the region is much lower than in the US.

The New Hampshire Board of Nursing withdrew the operating licence of his Nashua Nursing School in New Hampshire mid this year after it ran into financial problems, a development that he attributes to the turmoil that is facing the US economy.

“It was a painful experience but big multinational companies like AIG, Ford, Crystler and GM are facing problems and Wall Street is crumbling. My business was not an exception,” says Mr Saroni whose other two other schools – Holden Medical Institute – are still operating.

Mr Saroni, who went to Kimana primary and secondary schools, does not rule out divesting from the business, saying that when the right time comes, he will consider an “appropriate exit strategy”.

He is currently liquidating his equity and interest in one of the investments, Holden Centre, a 300,000 square feet property. Since the past sometimes determines the future, how sure can one be that Liberty Graphics and Print will survive?
“My business approach is never to look back on lost business but to focus on the success of new and ongoing ventures,” he says, adding that, “The closed school is only relevant to the extent that it taught me a lesson on business management.”
Using funds from minority partners and personal savings, he is in the process of setting up four retail outlets around the city centre at a cost of between Sh40 million and Sh50 million each.

“We expect our state-of-the-art printing press on Mombasa Road to be up and running at a cost of Sh100 million,” he says, adding that already he has sealed a number deals for the two months old business.

Using his networks, the entrepreneur aims to tap into the fast growing graphics outsourcing business in the US market where the company is also registered to operate.

With the proposed fibre optic cables expected to reach the country by mid next year, the entrepreneur who received the Head of State Commendation from President Kibaki this year says the cost of communication will go down significantly.

“This will enable us to link up with our clients abroad at a cheaper rate and faster,” he says, while urging the country to adopt appropriate technology.
“It is easier for Kenyans to adopt, say, wireless technology communication than the US, which had to grapple with what to do with thousands of landline telephone cables already laid in the ground,” he adds.

Another bolster to businesses like Mr Saroni’s is a bandwidth subsidy that the government initiated this year and which is being administered by the ICT Board.
Maintaining that the country’s business environment has improved, he calls for a reduction in the amount of paperwork involved in registration of a business.
For instance, in line with the proposed reforms being pursued by the Kenya Revenue Authority, only one form should be used in the registration for things like the PIN and VAT (Value Added Tax).

Similarly, he feels the proposed amendment of the Companies Act to allow for an individual to set up a business will make the country a better investment destination.

Yet, like a sore thump, infrastructure remains a major challenge and he cites the port of Mombasa, the road network and power supply as some of the areas that need immediate attention.

“It is time we amended our laws to allow dual citizenship,” says Mr Saroni, whose ambition is to expand the business across the East African region and take it to the public by listing at the Nairobi Stock Exchange in five years.
http://www.nation.co.ke/magazines/smartcompany/-/1226/502546/-/stw4slz/-/index.html

Global Mind Change

Graft: Top Leaders Look The Other Way!

There is an interesting heading on the East African Standard that says “Graft: Top leaders look the other way” http://www.eastandard.net/politics/InsidePage.php?id=1144001288&cid=289&

I am of the opinion that corruption, poverty and the poor in Africa pose a tremendous danger to the security of the world today than some of the previously perceived enemies of world peace. I fully agree with those who have asserted that the most potentially explosive force in the world today is the frustrated desire of poor people to attain a decent standard of living. I speak as an African who has experienced both poverty and affluence. I grew up in poverty. I have worked in the slums and I have had the opportunity of visiting different parts of Africa and the Western world where I have experienced the two contrasting lifestyles-poverty and affluence.

In a 1992 address, former U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali stated that the deepest causes of conflict are "economic despair, social injustice, and political oppression”. I was a student at that time so I started to examine his statement from a theological and social point of view. Later on I discovered that I needed to examine it from an economic view point and I have been doing that for some time now.

By choosing to ignore the deteriorating economic state of most Africans, the religious bodies in general and the developed countries in particular, may in essence be mistaken to be endorsing the plight of the poor as a noble affair. If this matter is not addressed adequately, it could also enhance the conception by many people that the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ is irrelevant to the modern person. Or that God is dead, as some erroneous thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche have claimed in the past. Let me hasten to add that I have keenly analyzed what the world leaders like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush together with their colleagues from the developed countries have done to reduce the debt that African countries owe to the Western financial institutions and nations, but I believe that a lot more needs to be done collectively if poverty in Africa is to be eliminated.

I am convinced that the religious bodies and the Free Society institutions are in possession of the most effective remedy for a holy and equitable reconstruction of the economic order in Africa, which as to force, comprehensiveness and results is unsurpassed. The remedy is the unabridged and unmutilated message of personal virtues, when applied, not only to the individual, but also to all and every relation of social life. This will address the moral issue which is at the core of Africa’s economic woes. If the African leaders were to have their morals refined so that they respect and live virtuous lives, corruption would become history on the continent of Africa within months and the economies of most African countries would begin to grow tremendously.

I am fully convinced that the key to the rejuvenation of the African economies lies in the stakeholder’s formulation, implementation and evaluation of economic policies and strategies both at the local and national levels. I am fully convinced that the stakeholders (Government, private and civil society organizations) in Africa must be strongly concerned and involved in every charitable endeavor that is predisposed to improve humanity’s welfare not merely in its way to paradise, but also in its hunt for happiness, holiness, harmony and joy here on earth. I disagree with those who propagate a futuristic Gospel which calls on the African people to suffer just for a little while for they are going to enjoy in heaven.

It is my strong call to religious people to have the courage to seek economic justice for the poor, even if that means disapproval by those in positions of authority. This is where I fully concur with one Mohandas Karamchand Mahatma Gandhi. Let them torture your body, break your bones or even kill you, but do not compromise human dignity for anything!

I also fully believe that it is time for the religious organizations in Africa to acquaint themselves on available and productive economic intervention measures. The Rev. Todt once said, whoever would understand the social question and would contribute to its solution must have on his right hand the works of political economy; on his left those of scientific socialism and before him must keep the New Testament.

I can only add to Rev. Todt’s statement that such a person should have the Old Testament too because it contains valuable insights on economic justice issues. Until now, the religious organization’s approach to social and economic justice challenges has been pitiable and disappointing. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's important question still echoes in many of our minds when we think of the issue of economic justice in Africa. Dietrich like many African scholars today, ask, who and where is Jesus Christ for us today?

Dietrich may have lived at a time of great persecution in his native land, Germany, but many in Africa today still identify with him when it comes to economic deprivation. So as one preaches and teaches about a God who listens to the cries of His people, many Africans must be wondering who and where that Jesus Christ is for them today.

I am constantly irritated when so much phony socio-economic knowledge and strategy for African modernization is presented to Africans. The religious bodies in Africa find themselves immersed in a swimming pool of challenges that Africa has never been confounded with before. This is why I feel that the subject of faith and economic systems deserves individual treatment in the wider context of international planning, strategizing, formulation, implementation and evaluation of economic growth policies. How I wish our institutions of higher learning would revise their curriculums and address this crucial need.

We who are in institutions that are advocating and fighting for a free society see that the opportunity to be in this world in this century presents us and the religious bodies with equally a colossal advantage and a challenge like has never been perceived by any other generation past. It is a difficult but great era with multitudes of opportunity for bettering the well being of mankind. We observe that human kind is transiting through another of its historical crises on its frontward march on the road to a more ideal spiritual, social and economic order.

I always feel bad when people, especially politicians in my own mother country think that neither the religious books nor the religious bodies have an authority on the particulars of supporting economy, lawmaking and business methods. This is something that ought to be straightened by all means. Both the religious bodies and their faiths must tell the humankind by what standard he should be directed. They have a duty to guide the leaders to expel selfishness from a person’s motives and put brotherhood at the front as his determining principle. The religious bodies need not to be a passive observer in a world that is characterized by identity syndromes. The religious bodies in Africa need to be radically developing and readjusting or re-evaluating her theology on current issues like economic systems. No one is claiming that the religious books can solve technical economic problems. Let the technical problems be handled by the technicians who have the expertise in this field. However, it is obvious that the religious bodies need to become a dynamic force in Africa as far as the running of the economic system is concerned. Let the faiths influence the paradigms of the economic system.

I also believe that purity opens up the purse. St. John speaks of perfect love in his epistle, and he says: One ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:16-17). I know some of you are already beginning to brand me a socialist. Such acts do not make one necessarily a socialist or a liberal or a conservative, but it does create in one an active sympathy with social needs. My call on the religious bodies here is to get people where they can have pure hearts. Let them be free from sin and they will be able to sympathize and empathize with their economically disadvantaged brothers.

As to the present wage and profit system of business, only a few leaders in the religious bodies realize that it will eat up the whole continent if it is allowed to obey its own greed, while the religious bodies look with distrust on those of their members who try to unearth and apply religious social ideals. The religious bodies need to help come up with economic policies that will check the growth of this vice. The religious bodies need to take up the work of social and economic reconstruction as a definite policy and on a large scale. We need Africans to be entrepreneurial but they should also be considerate so that those who are endowed with more riches do no compete unnecessarily with their poor bothers. They should instead create some space and give leverage to those who need to uplift their economic status.

I also call upon governments in the developed countries to consider working with the Free Society institutions on the African continent to equip the Africans with the right economic policies. Let them go further and equip them with virtues, skills, tools and resources that will enable them to produce resources, manage them and utilize them on their continent for the glory of God. Otherwise, if African Governments continue to be given economic aid yet their people lack virtues, skills and tools to take advantage of the resources that they have on their continent, Africa will continue to wallow in poverty and it will continue to be a threat to world peace especially now that Africans have discovered that they can be enlisted in terror groups like Al Queda and the Somali pirates!