Once upon a time in Africa

What defines a real man? Well, that depends on the angle from which you look at it. Great men have roamed Africa, great philosophers, sportsmen and politicians alike. We face a myriad of challenges here in Africa, poverty, disease, hunger just to mention a few. It's not because we can't but basically because we lack the understanding. Nearly all African states comprise the poorest in the planet, but why? We have vast natural resources, and literate youthful generation. Corruption is the prime source of all suffering and inadequacy in the continent. The leaders we elect always unfortunately act as catalysts to the status quo. Their modus operandi is pretty much simialr on all fronts, steal and steal more. American business magnate and presidential hopeful Donald Trump has constantly criticised African leaders particularly the Kenyan president of gross corruption and poor leadership strategies. He isn't exactly misinformed as most people would think, but has plenty of reason ...

Today am only a mere reflection of what I was, my intuition kept me afloat that this was bound to happen with the rise of mankind. Sadly this is what planet earth contemplates each day. At the end of it all, any form of pollution and recklessness all adds up to nothing more than death and disease. When the grip of an apocalypse ever draws closer nothing really retains it's known allure not even the luxurious Lamborghini. It suddenly becomes a reality check that life and all the finer things therein is but an illusion, without proper stewardship of our planet. And that no level of human understanding can unravel the rage of nature. I've always believed that time isn't exactly quantifiable, so basically we have no idea in what time and age we really are existing. We therefore cannot fully understand what lies beneath the veil, it's correct to say we are lost, we just found ourselves in a 'souped up' realm. We pretend to understand the cycle of life and seasons ali...

Daesh maybe trying hard to fulfil the prophecy at Dabiq but unfortunately it's all but a myth which may not materialise into anything in the foreseeable future. The battle against crusaders and/or infidels is slowly being waged against fellow Muslims as well, particularly the Shia Muslim and this explains why Iran will and can in no way offer support to The Islamic State. It appears as though Daesh's immediate concern is rebellion from the Middle East it's place of origin. Clearly most gulf states have shown no intention of abetting I.S in it's alleged jihadi ambitions. The terrorist group in common terms has become a big menace to these countries and has threatened the stability of most of them. Most countries in middle east have joined the fight against Daesh either financialy or by direct combat. Jordan for instance has been launching airstrikes on ISIS targets and has been very instrumental in liberating several towns in Syria. Turkey has been adamant for long time ...

Lately i've had my thoughts entangled in the local football scene. It's a joy to watch, just how much it has improved over the year needless to say the level of competition it has achieved. Nowadays you can easily catch up with Kenyan football, thanks to supesport who bought broadcasting rights a few years back. I bet in the next few years to come it shall have improved more with the involvement of corporates and influx of foreign players. The 2014-2015 season ended on a high with all teams going full throttle. It has been a remarkable season particularly for Bandari Fc, Muhoroni Fc and of course the reigning champions Gor Mahia. Lots of records broken and newer ones put in place. Gor Mahia had perhaps the best season that has eluded them in atleast 39 years. However there are lots of coincidences. Gor last won the league consecutively in 1983, 1984 and 1985 analogous to 2013, 2014 and 2015 considering the last digits. In 1976 the team went unbeaten with the team producing a to...

I have always fancied JRR Tolkien's masterpiece of the Lord of the Rings. It's by far the most accomplished mythical work of all time. The symbolism is phenomenal, the legendary tussle between good and evil, hope and desperation alike. The rise and fall of the mighty necromancer, Sauron only firmly reminds us that light will always endure against the dark no matter how long it takes . Today's middle earth encounters many challenges of varying degrees, the people inhabiting this realm have a new enemy which could possibly disturb world peace. Mankind will be a thing of the past, should brothers go up in arms against each other in the name of religion. Terrorism has taken centre stage in world news and politics, and contnues to be an intriguing issue with each passing day. Fortunately terrorists are fighting a losing battle as witnessesed in several parts of the world. Once teeming with young militants from across the globe, Al shabaab today is a far cry from what it was in i...

Uasin Gishu county is probably one of the most endowed counties within the Kenyan domain. Envied by Nairobians for it's Perfect weather all through the year no wonder it's been christened the "bread basket" of this country. You will be greeted by picturesque fields of corn and wheat as you approach the county from whichever road you take, a testimony of it's massive potential. Dairy farming is an economic activity in this region too, most of the animal products are processed locally and sold in Eldoret city and other adjacent towns. Logging has long been practiced as well with sawmills in Burnt forest and Timboroa commercial plantations. The true allure of this place rests on the people, standards of living and the magnificent weather. This area has constantly churned seasoned athletes particularly in the sector of long distance races owing to it's high altitude. But with rugby gradually gaining popularity in Kenya, the county has all but adjusted with the dyn...

In a country  where opulence, status and pedigree hold a great deal of significance, a few have elected exemplary modesty. A trend not so many would resonate with considering the norm. The wealthy class of Kenyans inhabit  expansive bungalows in some of the most sought after suburbs. They enjoy the convoys of a myriad of high end cars in the market with  24 hour security detail. Even the mundane middle class Kenyan is a prisoner of prestige always wanting the best apartments in relatively costly neighbourhoods. Most Kenyans would prefer buying high end SUVs given the chance and that explains why prados and range rovers are becoming increasingly common these days. The struggle to flaunt wealth and one's accomplishments has driven many into corruption and fight for supremacy. In fact most mheshimiwas prefer being identified by their titles for instance governor, senator, advocate, doctor so and so  among others in order to affirm their presence and authority. The top j...

You can achieve anything in the world, reality far outweighs surrealism, this is just but one of the many lessons in life I've become accustomed to. With a strong will comes the undying strength to manoeuvre on, despite the challenges we have to encounter in whatever quest we get involved in. A third world state has problems. Well, many problems to be precise all as a result of paltry human development indexes. Poor health systems, under developed infrastructure, high crime rates whatnot, all sum up to low living standards among people who inhabit such countries. Even though Kenya is termed as an emerging economy it's still ranks low in human development index (147). As a result She has to bear the brunt of playing second fiddle to developed nations much like the other LDCs. But Africa always has a surprise package to the world, the humble black continent is a powerhouse in the offing. Many commendable things have unfolded here, great men and women to have walked this globe hav...

A land of unmistakable beauty, and hardworking folks, a gem in the African continent. Kenya is divine, her picturesque landscapes is diverse from the long coastline teeming with some of the best hotels on the continent to the collosal Rift Valley rich in volcanic activity and finally to the zenith of the great Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa. There's alot to marvel at in this part of the world and that's why She has constantly been voted as one of the best safari destination on the globe. The Maasai mara, Samburu, Tsavo and several other national parks dot the country, the unending plains in the southern part of the country leaves alot to be desired in the context of adventure. Lake Victoria the Largest lake in the continent by surface area occupies the south western part of the country adjacent to Mount Elgon estimated to be the oldest Mountain in the region. The lush green forests of Abrdares, Kakamega, Mau forests and whatnot clad the landscapes in green. Away...

With first leg done our thoughts are bent on the second leg, cecafa and other domestic cup competitions. The green army matches on, defiant and unscathed. We can afford to burn bridges because at this point in time we are the ones calling the shots and our aim is to finish the league unbeaten. Football afficionados would tell you that some of the finest clubs you see in the world today are nowhere close to achieving such honours. It takes not only great perfomance in the field but a great deal of discipline and sportsmanship to become unassailable. Many still resonate well with the kogallo squad which went unbeaten in the Kenya premier league back in 1976, so lets just say things can still go according to plan, afterall it's the same league, the same clubs, just a bunch of new players. The local football scene here in Kenya has seen a titanic facelift over the years, the league today is far much better than what it was some years ago, so much that it has attracted attention worldwi...

They say simplicity is the epitome of sophistication, but most times we wander in oblivion with the hopes of getting answers to questions well beyond our scientific intelligence. Mankind has for ages marvelled at  the the universe and funny enough sent craft far into space to ascertain that we are truly alone. Laika the dog sadly paid the price of human curiosity but it just didn't end there, we have had cosmonauts in space and the prospects of space tourism is imminent. What we fail to understand is that we have only covered a negligible fraction of what space entails, consider counting grass in a football field. We found our race in the universe, we have known no other way other than what earth has to offer but with each passing day we endeavour to demystify the modus operandi of this spectacular maze. The only impediment we are seemingly never going to solve is the exit from the maze, apparently we are searching a needle in a haystack. The voyager probe 1 set sail back in 1977 a...

The last piece of the puzzle is certainly lost, for if it were available as expected the game would be sealed, so lets face it, this is a big oddity. The Kenyan football is a far cry from the continental standards and far worse when compared to Standards elsewhere, but why? Some tabloid stated that the problem is not with the coaches but with the entire football fraternity in the country. To begin with, football hasn't been given much attention like the other sports, like for instance athletics among others, the lack of goodwill and support has dented the image of the game. Secondly the country is teeming with vast talent which rules out the excuse of lack of players. Thirdly the country has got the facilities atleast going by the standards of a third world country and lastly the country has one of the best competitive domestic leagues on the continent the kenya premier league. So why can't the national team and top clubs deliver in their continental assignments. This is the si...

Life in some parts of the middle East is far more tumultuous than you could ever imagine, thanks to Isil and it's affiliates. The same cannot be said of Kenya, even though Al shabaab extremist are trying hard to fullfil that. Their sordid schemes of bloodbath and pure horror has only succeeded in their downfall for they have been immensely obliterated in their own backyard. But who or what is Al shabaab, most people would probably still be wondering, even though their callous acts of terror speak it all. It is a military outfit trying to impose the stringent version of the Sharia law in Somalia, it is accustomed to the tennents of sunni islam. Like other terrorist groups, al shabaab propagated amidst the anarchy and disarray in Somalia because they faced no imminent impediment. It became a force to reckon with, amassing large swathes of land, and controlling key installations in the state this would result in the acquisition of weaponry the main ingredient they needed to assert com...

The rugby season is ultimately down to the wire but I'm a little concerned about everything this season. With three more games to the playoffs the table looks all but odd, things really don't add up until you take a keen look.Big guns like Harlequins, Nondies and Impala remain firmly in mid table, so what really happened to these giants? I wouldn't want to imagine that their dominance during their heydays is long gone. Infact these three sides have the bragging rights of success having bagged the championship not once and not twice. They still remain Kenya's most decorated and fancied rugby clubs. Being the biggest most loyal fan of the Quins, I can only sit back with optimism and hope that all will go well next season but it's evident we won't make it to the the play-offs which in itself is quite sickening. Nondescripts have had a torrid season as well, losing most of their matches to more established sides and worst of all to Western Bulls which has been a rea...