The first roundup of Somali blogs, a small but steadily growing segment of the African blogsphere. Most Somali bloggers, predictably perhaps, are young, based outside Somalia and write in English.

Royale Somalia reports about the planned launch of a wine version of Khat, a narcotic widely consumed in East Africa:

An Ethiopian scientist is preparing to launch a new tipple for those looking for a twist on the usual glass of the grape — “wine” made from khat.

Instead of grapes, Eyasu Haile Selassie has been making wine from khat leaf, which is widely chewed throughout East Africa and the Middle East for its narcotic effect.

Khat wine is just as good as any wine produced from grapes and has been well-received by wine drinkers,” Eyasu, who said he had sent out 500 tester bottles to consumers, told reporters.

Kenya Somali is dismayed by the situation in Kenya, he writes:

Because Kenya is getting off the hook.Kibaki is refusing an international meditation simply because he is guilty of election's rigging.

In further evidence of faltering peace prospects, Kibaki today announced half his new cabinet, despite a previous offer to form a national unity government.

East African Philosopher is anxious about the situation in Kenya turning into a civil war, he says:

It has been over a week since Kenya’s elections were held and Kenya is still burning. In my previous post, I worried that the infant violence at the time (Dec. 30) would last longer or even evolve into tribal or civil war. At this moment, part of my worry has largely become true – tribal war is now threatening Kenya’s statehood. Let me be clear: I was not predicting or expecting the violence to evolve into a full-blown tribal war and I am certainly not saying now ‘I told you so,’ but the fact is, Kenya is now more close to civil war than it had ever been.