Jamaapoa [1] writes about the allegation that the boom [2] in the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) [3] is a result of drug money as claimed by a local politician – Mr. Raila Odinga [4]. Jamaapoa refutes this assertion and writes:
There is nothing to stop a drug dealer from using the exchange to cleanse his money and it’s hard to say that Kenya has no drug money given the fact that only the other day, Kenya destroyed a billion worth of netted cocaine haul. But attributing the NSE bubble to dug money is to say the least, misleading.
He continues:
…other than the growth in the Kenyan economy, which is a fact, there are numerous other factors that have led to the NSE boom. The other leading factors include government goodwill in privatisation of parastatals and automation of the trading process (cds & ats) that increased trades executed per day as well as reduced turnaround times. The banks have been more than willing to finance share buying at affordable rates.
Julius [5], who is an accountant (or super kool accountant!) blogging from Nairobi, states there are far too many wires [6] sticking out of the back of his computer. He ponders on the need for so many cables and wishes for the day when we can do away with them.
My desktop computer in the office contributes a total of about ten unwieldy cables to my work environment. One comes from the power point to the UPS, another from the UPS to the CPU, another from the UPS to the VDU, another from the CPU to the VDU, another for my key board, another for the mouse, another for the printer, another power cable from the UPS to the printer, another for the network connection. Most of these wires are extra long, and bulky. In contrast, my laptop has only three. Why do we need more wires for the desktop? Is anyone working at reducing them?
Alexcia [7] is incensed and horrified by the recent violent breakup of a prayer meeting [8] at Kamukunji Grounds, Nairobi where riot police were involved [9]. Kamukunji Grounds represent a symbol of resistance against tyranny in the Kenyan history.
She asks:
This government's malicious( seeking grevious bodily harm), homicidal (seeking to even to kill) violent (using tactics of unmistakable for their brutality) breakup of PRAYER MEETING ON SUNDAY MORNING 10:00 AM shows they are have no respect for GOD almighty, they are no more than faithless self serving bastards who will bring damnation to our country. Which Godfearing man would wait for humble sinners to bow their heads and close their eyes for prayer and fire dozens of teargas cannisters at them?
Gathara [10] also writes about the Kenyan government [11] and more specifically about the recent statements [12] by John Michuki, the Internal Security Minister and the Justice and Constutional Affairs Assistance Minister, Mr Danson Mungatana, who are quoted as stating that the allegations against the government of “massive corruption” are “falsehoods.” Gathara points to the Anglo-Leasing scandal [13] and says:
OK. I guess Anglo-Leasing really is “the scandal that never was”, 3 Cabinet Ministers were forced to resign for nothing and President Kibaki's own anti-corruption czar was imagining things when he published his dossier and fled the country. Mungatana's boss, Martha Karua is investigating people based on nothing more than “press reports” and VP Moody Awori was off his rocker when he said that there was “grand corruption at the highest levels” of the government.
Where can I get whatever it is that these guys are smoking?
Mwariwadavid [14] exhorts her fellow Kenyans to take care on roads during the holiday season [15]. Kenya has one of the highest rates of road accidents [16] in the world.
It is that time of the year again when we all go a little light headed and do things recklessly, including driving. As I took my morning walk today, I saw a horrid and chilling accident involving a number of cars. I was fortunate to have arrived at the scene when the victims/bodies? had been removed. It was that bad.
Last but not least, Ostalgia [17], who is one the finest writers in the Kenyan blogsphere writes an interesting story entitled An Afternoon at the River [18]
I stick my head out of the water to find out the cause of the commotion. It is a dust devil. Our village has lots of these miniature twisters dancing across the landscape, dusting everything in their way. This one is sizeable; it piles a lot of litter as it spins through the river, spraying water all round. The cows briefly stampede and then resume drinking. I resume swimming.
I take the cows to the river twice a day, mid morning and late afternoon. I don’t keep the exact time; I don’t have to. They come mooing around my crib for their trusted guide… that’s me all right… and today, they jarred me out of a siesta. I took the opportunity to take a dip, and clear my head.