Kenya Elections - 2017

Milridah's Blog...Evidence Confronted

We are nearing elections, just a few weeks away now. Much is happening across Kenya with many uncertainties facing the people. Comparing January with June this year, we see economical, political and social changes. The cost of living for example, has highly risen over the last few months and many Kenyans are suffering due to hunger.

Knowing that the highest percentage of the population are under 25 years, many politicians are making promises in favour of youths. This has been a trend for a very long time. They promise youths "heaven" but when they get into power, youths continue living in "hell".  Two-thirds of youth with post-secondary education remain jobless. They have papers but no jobs; and if they have any, they are low paying menial jobs. Those in power snap up the best for themselves. It is during election time that politicians befriend youths and use them in their rallies. Some are paid and others are made drunk to cause chaos in their opponents' rallies.  To summarise, youths in Kenya are misused and looked down upon. 

Politics in Kenya is based on tribalism. Here people mainly vote for tribes and parties not leaders or individuals. Currently we have two main political parties; these are NASA and Jubilee, the current ruling party. Jubilee is comprised of two major tribes while NASA is mainly for the rest of the tribes. Since 2007 politics in Kenya has never been free and fair as it should be. As we are praying for peace throughout this period, supporters of some parties/candidates claim that they must win whether it's by votes or guns. 

If I was a candidate I would urge Kenyans to vote for the best leader and not parties, tribes or clans. It is high time that we Kenyans should open our eyes and minds to do the right thing. I pray for peaceful elections that will be open and not corrupt. No more bloodshed, may God help us. 

The politics of today reminds me of those days after the 2014 Garissa University terror attack. We the survivors were promised a lot by the Kenyan government but none of the promises were fulfilled. In fact, the aid that other countries donated to the survivors was used by those same leaders. We just heard about those donations from the social media, but we never saw them. As if they didn't know what we went through, they wanted us to go back to Garissa University to continue with our studies.  Were it not for our lecturers, most of us would have stopped learning. 

It pains me to realize that some of us have had to defer our studies due to lack of fees and sustainable money.  The nations that donated money to pay fees for the less fortunate reconcile must have been angry at those in power who "ate" the funds. Some of my colleagues were given out country scholarships; yet, only 20% actually got the chance to study abroad. That was mainly due to the Dean of Students fighting for them. 

I thank God for CES Kenya and CES Canada who sponsored my studies and supported me from that point on. May God bless you and give you favour.  I am proud of my country but I will say that those in power have let us down.

Milridah Ominde

June, 2017

A New Way of Thinking - A Response to Hunger

A NEW WAY OF THINKING FOR KENYA : 

Famine and drought have become a big tragedy in Kenya. Many people including innocent children are under torture; so too, cattle and wild animals. For long we have fought against these with little success. Can we find a better way to keep ourselves alive? If we are the masters of our own lives, then we cannot expect the universe to automatically provide for us. If we believe our world has enough for all our needs then we must find ways to feed ourselves. It doesn’t matter how big the challenge, planet earth will render to us all what we need in abundance, not in partiality. 

Kenyans have a tendency to look at what they want and say, “yes, I like that.” They will say for example they want enough food and a good environment to live.  But in fact, they look at what they don't want; and, what energizes them is the idea that they can stamp it out, eliminate or obliterate it. As Kenyans we have become content with fighting against things: hunger, drought etc. We tend to fight everything we don't want which actually creates more of a fight with no solution. 

Anything we focus on we can create. Kenyans create hunger and drought by focusing on these. We talk and complain about these pandemics much than we are grateful for the good things we have in our country. When we are angry at hunger and drought that already exists we are adding negative energy to the situation. We are pushing ourselves and that only creates resistance. We forget that what we resist will persist. Resisting supports a strong emotion of, 'I really don't want it ' and then it comes racing towards you instead. 

Resistance to anything is like trying to change outside pictures after they have been transmitted into reality. It is a futile pursuit. Kenyans need to go within and emit a new signal with their thoughts and feelings to create a new picture : abundance of food, enough rain, good environments, more crop and cattle production. We need to stop resisting what has appeared in order not to add more energy and power to those pictures of hunger that we don't like. 

Focusing on negative thoughts - hunger and drought, is not helpful. We will just be adding to it negativity and bring more of the negatives in our own lives. Now is the time to change this way of thinking and emit a new signal. We are not powerless, we are able to defeat the enemy through a positive approach.

Let's focus on every Kenyan being joyful, living in abundance and in a good environment. Let's focus our powerful thoughts on what is wanted and not  the unwanted. Despite the challenges around us, we have the ability to give much to the world by emitting feelings of love and well being. Once we know what we want we must find a way to get there.

Energy flows where attention goes. I believe that before CES CANADA and CES KENYA decided to support needy students to acquire vital education in agriculture economics, engineering and agriculture extension, their first thought was to provide the education and important knowledge to encourage youth to study in the agriculture sector.

CES Canada and CES Kenya have focused on the positive of what is needed in our communities - education, water, nutrition and health. It is now up to some of us as scholarship recipients to learn how to live in abundance. Education is the key. With that education we can now focus on agriculture. CES has discovered the secret, 'the law of attraction that like attracts like.'  Good thoughts attract good things in one’s life and bad thinking brings forth more bad events and circumstances that will cause more bad things to occur.

When the voice and vision on the inside becomes more profound, clearer and louder than the opinions on the outside, we then have greater control. As Kenyans we have the ability to learn about agriculture. All citizens have the ability to practice it and conserve the environment and even provide room for adequate rain. I am not saying we have the ability to fully eliminate hunger and drought. But we can do something about it through strategic planning and focused action. Let us listen to our inner voice so we can use the knowledge we have to bring abundance and have a comfortable life.

We Kenyans should treat the universe like a catalogue. In this way we are not going to run out of stuff and bust the bank. The secret is that there is more than enough to go around for everybody. Let us just focus our minds on what we want. There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind  of humanity. This is, 'there is not enough good to go round.'  Kenyans are living in  fear, greed and stinginess due to the lie. Oh! Negative thoughts. The truth is that there is more than enough food and rain. All good begins as the mind becomes aware of its own infinite nature. 

Let Kenyans think abundance, see abundance, feel abundance, believe in abundance. Let no thought of limitations enter our minds. And so just when we think that resources are dwindling, we see rain is abundance, an environment that is favourable for enough crop and cattle production, and we find new resources to achieve the same things. Nothing is limited - not even resources or anything else. The only limitation is the human mind. When we open our minds to the unlimited creative power, we will call forth abundance and see and experience a new Kenya! 

There is enough for everyone. God has provided all we need in life. The Creator also expects human beings to care for planet Earth. We have the ability to choose what we want to experience. Do we want plenty for everyone?  Each of us has ability to tap into the unlimited invisible supply through our thoughts and feelings and bring it into our experience. So let Kenyans choose, not only because they can but because they must.

Sharon Nawire Walekhwa
2nd year Agriculture Engineering
Egerton University, Kenya

I Found Him a Victor

It dawns on me to announce

the great global conflict of war

1st September 1939

Hitler sparked an invasion of Poland

to count six years of blood and death

Like eagles high in the sky

soldiers from East Africa rose

joining hands with Allied nations

chose peace and love for all

to fight for freedom and save a life

I pause to point out his determination

in the African King's Rifles he uttered

"I am more than my scars!"

Joseph, you stand a strong hero

for there is no illusion greater than fear

In your honour, Mr. Inima

we remember the best who participated

from Canada, Kenya, Britain and Denmark

I choose to mourn in prayer

for the demise of the heroes and heroines

who can tell their stories of valour and courage?

I hear a voice of love in the world

from England and across the borders

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

honoured you together with your troop

for the bitter roots that you tested

and end up sharing fruits in love

Freedom comes with a price

we celebrate the victory of your battle

to defeat both Germany and Japan

though it was the deadliest war

you finalized to the super powers

Long live your excellence, Mr Inima

to us you mean more than words can express

you stood to fight a good fight

in you our limbs get strong

to take a flight for today

and see the latter of our destiny

for I have found you a victor

I cherish the Canadian government

the veterans department and armed forces

dear CES Canada and CES Kenya

from the young to the rest of my colleagues

we owe you a great debt of gratitude

Sheilah Kakuma Nasindu

CES Kenya Alumnus

3rd July 2016 a Canadian volunteer team - Captain (Ret) Dennis D. White, Renee Rerup, Senem Ozkin, and Michael Frederiksen along with thirty members of the CES Kenya Alumnus and CES Kenya Directors witnessed a ceremony in honour of Joseph Inima.  98 year old Joseph Inima WO1, his wife and extended family and many of his 134 grand children were there to welcome the CES visitors. During the presentations Sheilah gave the above dramatic poem that ended in a standing ovation.

LEADERSHIP - Does it Really Matter?

In great ability lies responsibility

The vision bearer leads

Mobilizing doers, that one is a leader.

The one burdened by responsibility 

Looking out for others

Leaders are born, some are made

What matters is what they become.

Troubled by the problems of the people

Hunger, Poverty, Health, Education;

Leadership, rarely depending on gender

It acts against the status quo.

Those who spend sleepless nights

The welfare of others on their mind

Motivating each step and move

Like Moses and Aaron their exodus from Egypt

Following the Dream to the Promised Land.

Those who willingly embrace positive change

Like Martin Luther King and Mandela of our time

True shepherds of the flock

Gentle tenders of the weak

Wearing the mantle of compassion

They see through the window of the soul

Making sense out of non-sense.

A leader

Out of void creating beauty

Identifying scholars from humble society

Triggering motion from stagnation

Daring to mention the unmentionable

Touching the untouchable

Voice of the people

Captive to the truth

Slave to reason and rationality

Whose dignity is beyond reproach.

Are you that leader - CES Alumnus

Embracing leadership as a precious gift?

Leadership...does it really matter?

Viewtone Achaga

CES Kenya Scholar, Alumnus

University of Nairobi

CES Was There

From my heart I tell my story

Similar to yours as you share with me

I was in need of education

CES was there

I lived in poverty without hope

No school fees

Banished from school

Lost

Nowhere to be counted

Education a long forgotten dream

CES was there

Once a street child with no front or back

Nameless without any identity 

CES was there

To sponsor me, love me, care for me

How did it all start?

Who brought CES into existence

It must have been God

The future

Once engulfed by thick dark clouds 

Is now much brighter

There is hope to cure wounded hearts

Marvellous, wonderful, awesome

From my heart to yours

CES was there

Sharon Nawire Walekhwa

Year 1 Egerton University

B.Sc. Engineering

True Leadership

Funded by the Peter Cundill Foundation, Viewtone Achaga is a recipient of a CES Canada Leadership Scholarship. He is in the first year of the B.Sc. Degree Program at Nairobi University.

Leadership

In great ability lies responsibility

The vision bearer is a leader

The one who mobilizes doers

Burdened by the cares of seeing for other

Troubled by the problems of people

Hunger, poverty, health, education, justice

That person is a leader

Leadership rarely depends on gender

Taking on and challenging the status quo

Leaders are born, some are made

What matters is what they become

Every position and every capacity of service is

Leadership in one way or another

Those who spend sleepless nights

With interests of others on their mind

Motivating their every step and move

Like Moses and Aaron of Exodus long ago

Malik Khaemba of Ces-Kenya

Achaga Viewtone of the future

Those who identify and embrace positive change

The dynamics of life

Radical reformers like Dr. Martin Luther King

Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, 

True Shepherds of the flock

Rightful bearers of the banners

Champions of the weak

Those who have earned the mantle

Those with eyes to see, ears to hear

Those who distinguish sense from non-sense

True Leaders

Those who out of void create substance

Creating scholars from the humble in society

Who trigger motion from stagnation

Dares to mention the unmentionable

Calls a spoon by its name

One who is enslaved by reason and integrity

I am talking about a leader, are you?

Yes, a leader

Captive to the truth

One whose dignity is beyond reproach

Whether an individual or a group

Ces-Kenya/Canada and others

that embrace leadership, leading by example

Leadership, either created or born

The voice of the people

Who Cares

Does it really matter?

by:Viewtone Achaga

Ces-Kenya/Canada scholar

Universtiy of Nairobi 03/2016

I Cry...I Cry

I cry I cry

Looking at our life in the village

Graves all over

Breadwinners no more due to HIV/AIDS pandemic

Widows are stigmatized.

I cry I cry

Parents go to the city

Children left alone

To take care of younger siblings

Not one to offer parental guidance.

I cry I cry

Education is of less value here

Girls drop out of school due to early pregnancies

High cases of abortion

Prostitution becomes an option.

I cry I cry

Basic needs a by the way

A meal a day is all they get

Kwashiokor is normal here

Jiggers form houses in legs.

I cry I cry

Lord help me

Let me be the change here

It might not be a big one

That's my vision and prayer

Let cries turn into smiles

Smiles into laughter

Amen.

Linda Mwanaisha Wabwire

CES Kenya Grad (Maryhill Girls HS, 2012)

Year 3 Kibabii University - Agricultural Science