Sudanese diplomat expresses condolences for killed Chinese peacekeepers, Rwandan peacekeeper

A South Sudanese diplomatic official in Kenya on Monday expressed his condolences for the killing of two Chinese peacekeepers and a Rwandan peacekeeper in the revived fighting between South Sudan's rival army factions in the country's capital of Juba

Chinese U.N. peacekeeper Corporal Li Lei was killed on duty at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Jebel base, and another Chinese U.N. peacekeeper Sergeant Fourth Class Yang Shupeng was also confirmed dead on Monday afternoon Beijing time after an emergency treatment failed.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar on Monday evening ordered ceasefire respectively after days of heavy fighting between their forces in the capital Juba, and it remains to be seen whether the ceasefire can end the conflict

"You are Bound For Hell"

 By Philiphine K. Cheptanui

Courtesy Moi University

These were the exact words of Moi University dean of Students Dr. Rev John Ayieko during the Moi University Christian Union  inauguration service of the SEC commissioners at lecture hall one (LH1) on Sunday 10th, 2016. The dean was telling the SEC commissioners on the exclusive event  graced by him and his wife Bilha Ayieko.
Speaking at the service where he was the speaker of the day, the dean warns the commissioners of misconduct during the course of student election. "Whoever will be dishonest, corrupt, tribalistic and without integrity is heading to hell. Hell awaits you". He plea with the commissioners to be rational and neutral in executing their roles to ensure peaceful elections.
While preaching at the service, the dean notes that the tribal lines has divided students to an alarming percentage.  According to the Dr Rev Ayieko, tribalism in discriminating against others on basis of race, tribe, ethnic group, culture and way of life. 
University elections countrywide has taken a new form over the last two/three years. Tribalism and ethnicity seem to have planted their roots deep into the university students. They vote along tribal lines which has compromised the meaning of "university". University means having characteristics of "all-inclusive". Students come from different backgrounds with totally varied characteristics. As such, university students are expected to share among themselves and exchange cultures. It is also expected that they are agents of change in the current contemporary society. They are therefore the ones to  promote national cohesion and togetherness through exchange of culture and way of living.
However, this is not the case with the current Kenyan university students. The tribal rift is widening day by day. Elections for 2015/16 were so wary that students in Moi university had to vacate the institution for a week. Several other students were suspended from the university for insightment. Some property was  also destroyed.
This year in the same university, things seem not to be alright. Students are colluding according to regions and tribes to form coalitions in the name of "to reflect national politics".
Dr Rev Ayieko was therefore invited to preside over the service. The Moi university Christian union gave him a topical theme to preach on.  The theme was: Tribalism and Politics. In an effort to ensure peaceful elections, the dean condemned any form of irregularity among the SEC commissioners. He urges every student to be vigilant and report any misconduct noted in the course of elections. "be your brother's keeper".   

politics and politricks in Moi university main campus

 By: kiprono Bethuel

courtesy of WWW.nation.co.E

Politics has been the order of the day since the beginning of the semester, where the students prepare for a 'rat race' with fellow students to succeed the current student governing council (S.G.C). Moi university politics have always taken a picture of the national politics where the political alignments is divided into two strong coalitions that is; JUBILEE and CORD. Although this has been the norm, this years politics have been said to have bit of democracy in that there is sort of liberal minded aspirants who pursue there political dreams without the influence of there community associations, tribes and other groupings that are politically oriented. This move should be embraced and empowered so as to discourage tribal politics which in Kenya has become a disaster. The effects of tribal alignments have always been fierce and have caused havoc in our institution. The recent incident was experienced last year where students became rivals of themselves based on differences in politics, this resulted to a closure of the university for a week. based on those repercussions, the students have encouraged a mature and peaceful electioneering period. The Dean of students DR. REV. Ayieko have been encouraging the leaders of the students from every association to preach peace and to embrace democracy.

Kenyans Stranded in Warring Juba Turn to Social Media for Help

By Dennis Rugiri

Desperate Kenyans who are stranded in Juba, South Sudan have turned to social media to appeal to the government to evacuate them as violence continues to rock the world’s youngest nation.
More than 300 people are reported to have been killed in renewed fighting in South Sudan’s capital Juba, with first Vice President Riek Machar’s spokesman saying the country was officially back to war.

The European Union has already evacuated its citizens to Nairobi.Matters were complicated for Kenyans last week when the national flag carrier Kenya Airways announced that it was temporarily suspending its flights to Juba.

 

 “We wish to advise our guests that we have suspended flights to Juba, South Sudan due to uncertain security situation,” the airline wrote on its Twitter account.
Fresh violence erupted on July 8 when President Salva Kiir and Mr Machar disagreed during a meeting at State House.
Their guards engaged each other in a shootout within State House precincts before the flare up spread across Juba.
The appeal.
    Crying for South Sudan! I appeal to our Government to immediately expedite an emergency evacuation of our fellow Kenyans holed up in SS!
    — Okutaiywa (@Buheredu) July 10, 2016
    @PresidentKE

    Mr.President,condolences to Mitch but we are requesting for evacuation plans from Juba South Sudan where there are fighting.
    — Henry Rabote (@RaboteHenry) July 10, 2016
    @OleItumbi My cousin and other Kenyans are stuck in Sudan Itumbi, please ask GoK to send help! It's become a full blown bloody war!
    — William Gachií (@wgachii) July 11, 2016

Modi, Uhuru Sign Deal to Build East Africa's Top Cancer Hospital

By Dennis Rugiri

Kenya Monday signed a multi-billion shilling deal with India to build East Africa’s biggest cancer hospital beginning early next year in a move that places healthcare at the centre of diplomatic relations between the two countries.President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fast track construction of the hospital whose establishment was first announced during Mr Kenyatta’s visit to Delhi last year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, on July 11, 2015

Mr Kenyatta is hoping that establishment of the hospital will help save the Kenyan economy the billions of shillings that Kenyans spend every year flying out for cancer treatment in India.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health officials said the hospital will offer radiotherapy, chemotherapy, advanced surgery and bone marrow transplant services.

Kenya reports about 40,000 new cancer cases every year, but only has a few hospitals with the capacity to offer treatment.Mr Modi, who also signed a deal to help Kenya manufacture generic drugs, said India would help Kenya become a regional medical hub through a combination of financial and technical assistance.
Cancer is the third leading killer disease in Kenya after pneumonia and malaria, according to the 2016 Economic Survey.

Cancer related deaths have been rising steadily in the past five years from 11,995 in 2010 to 12,574 in 2012 to a high of 15,714 last year, underlining its increasing burden on the economy.
A section of the proposed cancer hub, whose bed capacity and details are being worked out, will serve as a research and training centre for health professionals.
It is hoped that a new state of the art cancer treatment centre will ease pressure on the few public hospitals that offer cancer treatment, including Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hospital where machines have in the past broken down, hurting patients.

Most poor homes cannot afford healthcare in expensive private hospitals. Kenya has a relatively poor public health infrastructure plagued by acute shortage of doctors, a lack of essential drugs and medical equipment.
India is renowned for a relatively well-developed healthcare system that is backed by a large pool of generic drugs manufacturers, specialist doctors and highly equipped hospitals.
Indian drugs manufacturers have in the past decade come to dominate the ARVs market in developing nations, using the better priced generic medicine.

Black/White

Black and white are truly decisive colors that can be interesting at times, and even at other times necessary.  But there is nothing that truly brings out the beauty and truth in life than the many shades of grey.  There are things that are definitely black or white, but if you were to paint everything over with just black or white, you would lose so many beautiful and amazing details that you could otherwise notice and that might help you to have a better perspective should you add a bit of grey!

Too many of us tend to make that very mistake when judging a situation, or when arriving to a decision.  We apply the black or white rule and leave out the various shades of grey.  If you go into any situation with a bucket of just black or white you risk missing out on a lot of beautiful details that could make the overall picture be so much more clear and relatable.

Take politics for example.  There are too many people who are stuck on either red or blue when making a choice or decision.  The white in the States often gets forgotten or ignored and therefore those who are so busy throwing their buckets  of either blue or red on everything can totally miss the whole point of what building a true democracy is really like, they are too busy trying to tear down or paint over the other color.

Life, love, relationships, politics, business, religion, and in fact everything has many different shades of grey.  If you want to make it in any one thing, take your nose out of your paint bucket, then take a few steps back and the look at the canvas.  As you focus on things with your  new perspective, you might find that adding those shades of grey will complete your masterpiece, better your life and help you grow close the world around you!

Do you add shades of grey to your pictures? Or are you stuck with trying paint them all over with black or white?

My first interview

Surprises are important sometimes because they train people to be expectant. To always expect even when they have nothing coming their way.
  first interview was with Moi University election committee on 8th July 2016. On preparation, I visited my councillor Mr Sosten Kosgei to get some tips of interview. Several of my friends came closer to ensure I had enough moral support with regards to the fact that I was the first of my friends to appear before a panel. You know how it feels to lead the others. Of course it was based on merit but I made it alone out of the eight of us who applied for the Student Electoral Can commission. I read through MUSO MUISSA constitutions. I did a lot of research on gender and organisational structure of portfolios.
On Wednesday morning, preparation of course was not usual. Everything was unusual. Make-up was done by someone else unlike the normal days that I use to do them myself. I t took at least 3hours after which I proceeded to t the hair salon for some more make-up stuff.
Three o'clock was my time. Being number two in the line of order gave me a reason to report to the Student centre ten minutes earlier. I found some of my friends there and we discussed some few issues surrounding the university politics. As the discussion ensued, I recalled what my councillor told me about managing stage fright. This was one important way.
A few minutes later, I was called in. Standing before a panel of 16 is real task. The courage I had mastered made its way out of me. I'm a leader and I must direct emotional energies. I must let go of old ideas and give room to new ideologies. Yes, old courage exit and another 'supernatural' courage took control over from me.
All the 32 eyes were on me as I struggled to introduce myself the panel which I did eventually succeed. Now I was fully prepared for the questions I had prepared for. No one asked me questions from constitution, nor Bible, nor Koran ,nor organisational structure, nor gender streaming, nor any question. What I was told to do may shock you. It shocked me.
I felt that someone was wasting me. Imagine,
               I was told smile!!!!!

Netflix in Kenya

The entry of Netflix into Kenya has caused a stir and this time it is the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) who have a
bone to pick with the on-demand internet streaming media.Speaking earlier today, the Board’s Chairman Bishop Jackson
Kosgei expressed concern that some of the film contentavailable within online platforms such as Netflix contains
elements of nudity in contravention of the laws governing film and broadcast content in Kenya. Kosgei added that most
of the regulatory considerations used to rate the content varies in different countries and all content in Kenya rated in accordance with the country’s regulations transmission mode not withstanding.
These are however misplaced concerns as some of the shows
that are on the Netlflix platform are readily available in the
movie retailers shops countrywide at a reasonable fee and on
free to download (or stream) sites. The difference here is that
now you can access the same content on the Netflix site.
(Read here to see how much it will cost for you to access
Netflix in Kenya ). With the continuous increase in access to
the internet, one can find whatever content they wish to
consume online on demand so the option to do so with
Netflix is nothing new.
Article continues after advertisement
Most of the content on Netflix is also available on DStv with
almost the same classification and yet we haven’t heard the
same comments by KFCB being directed at them.
KFCB should instead be questioning how they will get local
content on the site and make it accessible to the global
audience. They should work on laws that will ensure that the
local filmmakers are incorporated in production of local
content by Netflix, should the latter decide to do so. KFCB
should also learn from Netflix on how to improve distribution
of local content to a greater audience and make a step
towards achieving the potential of the film industry in Kenya.
In the wake of change, instead of devising ways to fight it,
embrace it and find ways to make it work for you.

Madonna poses for a photograph with First Lady Kenyatta in Nairobi:

Guns and Children

What does it mean to consider gun violence a public
health problem, especially when it comes to
children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics announced the
development of a new initiative last week reacting to
the violence in St. Paul, Baton Rouge and Dallas, an
attempt as pediatricians to find ways to protect
children, adolescents and young adults.
This isn’t a new issue for the academy; the existing
policy on firearm injuries in children emphasizes the
importance of sensible gun control, along with the
importance of counseling parents about how to
reduce risks. Pediatricians as a group have long been
concerned about the psychological effects of
exposure to violence and the culture of gun violence.
But how can pediatricians make a difference? “I
would like us to think deeply about this being
trauma for kids,” said Dr. Benard Dreyer, the
president of the academy. He emphasized that the
discussion must include the overlapping issues of
race and the impact of racism on children and
adolescents.
This past week, children, along with the rest of us,
have seen a truck used as an assault weapon in
Nice, France , reminding us that violence takes many
forms. Many families worry about how to discuss
with our children the disturbing images and stories
that play out in the news media. There is an
overarching sadness to this discussion. We would
like to tell our children that they live in a better,
safer country, that the world is getting safer, and
that we are making some progress on racism and
racial disparities.
Parents need to protect young children from
repeated exposures to graphic images, and to be
mindful with all children about just how much
they’re seeing and hearing. Be there to watch with
an older child, both so that you can monitor the
exposure, and so that you can talk about disturbing
stories and convey the message that it’s O.K. to
have these conversations, even when there are no
easy answers. The A.A.P. offers age-related
guidelines for talking to children about tragedies and
other news events on the Heathy Children website.
When children are very upset or worried, they may
have nightmares or other sleep disturbances, or
complain of physical problems which perhaps will
keep their parents nearer, or otherwise, according to
their ages, may signal depression or anxiety. Again,
it can help to make it clear that you’re willing to
talk about these events and the emotions they
engender, and willing to get pediatric or mental
health help for a child who is particularly distressed.