If I was

If I was an aspiring Presidential candidate – I would be working hard to think about how 2012 will unite Kenyans, and how to fight fair and smart – not how to bruise and injure!
That said – I watched this which is somewhat telling in an interesting sort of way…

Kyama

If I was…

We have a problem! The shilling has gone through the floor against the dollar, fuel is at 120 bob, maize flour cost more than wheat flour, the stock exchange…..wacha tu.
There is much talk of infrastructure, democracy, new constitution and so on helping our economy. [Some very interesting thoughts about that here - http://www.ted.com/talks/yasheng_huang.html]
I think that what we need is the following
1. What my friend Pst. M calls "an abundance mentality." Surely we have so much yet we look down on ourselves.
2. A "can do" mind set. Too many times I hear people talk about what we do not have… We have resources, telecom savvy populace, relative peace and sharp minds… speaking of which
3. Solution oriented thinking.
Abundance? Yes we have a fairly good economy. I think the economists in government can stem the slide of the shilling.
Can do? Yes we can do it. I heard some leaders in the news throwing up their hands and saying that we are helpless. No. We are not helpless. We have legislative/regulatory power to harness the shilling and to tame the prices. In addition to that we do not have to go to the IMF and other donors to help us. We can manage on our own. Or cant we?
Solution oriented? We do not have to rely on older solutions that have been worked out for other economies to solve our problems. For instance, has anyone thought about price and demand inflationary control using our large informal sector? Who has thought about leveraging our economy through our regional advantages? Ok so what about the massive pool of brilliant minds that have this country at heart? [See clip above!!] What about the innovation that we have seen locally over the years – I believe some of that can catapult us to the next level economically? Then what about the tax, innovation and investment incentives? I am no economist but I know that our hands are not tied!!
Someone out there… we can do something! Talk to me.

If I was

… actually I do not need to imagine if I was a Kenyan. I am a Kenyan, and I am quite appalled at the inability of the Finance people to manage the high price of the dollar against the Kenyan shilling.
What is going on?
The cost of living is getting to the place where people may end up taking to the streets to voice their concerns. It is already happening around the world with Occupy Wall Street. Someone needs to do something.

If I was…

"Kenyan MPs have raided money set aside for relief operations and other national emergencies to settle their tax arrears. The public kitty will also compensate MPs for the income they will lose once they start paying full income taxes." Daily Nation, August 29,2011
Really?! You have got to be kidding me!
If I were voting in 2012 [as I intend to] then I would respond appropriately with my vote.
If I was one of these offending MP’s, especially the ones who came up with the idea and voted in parliament for it… I would be very afraid. Very afraid of God’s retribution for all those – poor, hungry, disenfranchised, marginalized, downtrodden, thirsty, needy, sick and wounded – who will be denied help because of this selfish decision.

If I was…

Ok. Now we have a new Attorney General. After 20 years! I think this is a good thing. Only as good as the integrity of the man on the chair. I have heard good things about him and I wish him well, and pray for God’s wisdom upon him. I also have to add that this move is only as good as the leadership around him. You see, the AG is the Government’s chief legal adviser. If the adviser is good, but the Gov does not listen to his advice, what good then is the person?
If I was the Kenyan public, I would pay close attention to what the AG is doing, and I would also evaluate the Government in their ability to take good advice!

If I was…

GMO: It seems to me that the whole GMO discussion has brought about some confusion. This is what I know about GMO
Limited seeds: The seeds are specially designed so that you can’t plant what you eat, and you can’t eat what you are supposed to plant. So you have to buy the food. Period.
Cash Economy: Either you make enough money to buy the GMO food or you borrow. You wont find the food here, and it will not be given to you for free – unless the givers don’t want the food itself [!]
If I was a concerned Kenyan then I would
- eat local organic non-GMO-able foods like – brown ugali [millet/sorghum/maize flour which incidentally is quite healthy and tasty], ngwaci [sweet potatoes], nduma [arrow roots], cassava etc which are locally available and are fairly drought resistant.
- grow organic. I would become a farmer of the above named local foods which have fairly consistent prices, are healthier, are more available, less seasonal and most importantly for this discussion not patented for sale by someone who doesn’t know or doesn’t care about our plight.
That way regardless of whether the rain comes or not, or if the dollar rises or falls we have food to eat!

Finally…

It seems like people are now talking about what we have been trying to say in church for many years…

From CNN on July, 18

Technology: By the end of World War II, the United States military had spent $1.5 billion on the Norden bombsight, a device that promised to be so accurate it was said a plane could drop a bomb in a pickle barrel from 20,000 feet, according to author Malcolm Gladwell.Speaking Friday on the last day of the TED Global conference, Gladwell said the device, designed by engineer Carl Norden, indeed could allow bombers to hit their targets — but only under perfect conditions, such as a cloudless sky. In the real world, the sight often failed to find its mark.In a raid on a German chemical plant, only 10% of thousands of bombs hit the target, said Gladwell, author of “The Tipping Point” and other best-sellers.He posed the question: Why do people place so much faith in technology such as the Norden bombsight to solve problems? Today, the U.S. military has a bomb-delivering device that truly can achieve great accuracy — the drones firing missiles to attack militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Yet Gladwell argued that drones aren’t necessarily accomplishing more than the flawed World War II-era bombsight; he said suicide attacks against Western targets have increased.”The issue isn’t the accuracy of the bombs you have, but how you use the bombs you have,” and whether you should use them at all, he said.Gladwell’s question was one of a series of thought-provoking issues raised at the conference in the Scottish capital. TED, a nonprofit whose motto is “Ideas worth spreading,” holds two high-profile conferences a year and distributes talks through its website. (Selected talks are also made available on CNN.com through a partnership with TED.) Meeting for the first time in Edinburgh, TED Global drew 850 people, from 70 countries.

 

Why can’t we feed the world’s one billion hungry people? Josette Sheeran, executive director of the United Nations’ World Food Programme, said a 17-cent package of nutrients with a chickpea base can meet the needs of a hungry infant, and more than enough food is grown to feed everyone, but still many wake up every day not knowing how they will be able to feed themselves. Her organization is scrambling to meet the threat of severe famine in the Horn of Africa.

 

What can atheists learn from religion? Philosopher Alain de Botton said those who reject religion often make the mistake of dismissing the many benefits it provides. While not believing the doctrine of any religion, he said he admires how religious institutions transmit ideas, helping people meet their needs for consolation and guidance. In the secular world, we assume that if an idea is important, “we’ll bump into it,” he said. In the religious world, calendars remind people on specific days of virtues and moral imperatives. “Atheism 2.0″ would look for ways to provide the equivalent of these benefits to nonbelievers, he said.

If I was…

Ok! So the taxman insists that the MPs should prepare to pay taxes soon and very soon.
If I was the Kenyan public – I would applaud KRA and the CIC for highlighting the constitutional truism that – all Kenyans are obligated to carry the tax burden. MPs are Kenyans. They too must bear the tax burden. Pay your taxes!
If I was the Kenyan public – I would be thoroughly offended by some MPs quoted on TV terming the payment of taxes on their benefits as “inconvenient,” given that MPs their salaries were “already committed,” and that some were “paying mortgages.” With all due respect, your comments are downright disrespectful to Kenyans majority of whom hovering around poverty line – and still pay taxes, directly or indirectly.
Congratulations Dr. Mutunga and Ms Baraza on your appointment. While I felt like my reservations about your appointment [sorry, nomination] were not fully addressed, you now have the job. If I were you I would get onto a steep learning curve to learn the practical ins and outs of how courts work. Especially in light of some unflattering blanket opinions expressed about the judiciary during the appointment [sorry nomination] process. Expectations are high and I have a feeling that patience will be fairly low.

Fearless 2011

I did a couple of labs at Fearless 2011. We had a great time.

Here is some material for those who would find it useful.

Teaching for Life Change

Running a Multi Site Church – Mavuno’s Story

If I was…

Sounds like we are headed to having a CJ, Deputy CJ and DPP in Kenya. I sort of like the fact that this has been rather democratically resolved with a large number of committees involved [ok am exaggerating, its at least more than one] . Am told that is the way democracy works. I guess the fact that we have had many people involved is supposed to give me a good feeling about the nominees – right? I will use my democratic right to express myself here and say – No. I do not have a good feeling about the nominees for CJ and DCJ. It’s not a popular opinion and so I would not be surprised or overly disappointed if you find yourself ‘judging’ me. But bear with me for a moment or two.
My reason? Several but here’s one. Some people, [I admit that they are mostly religious leaders], raised questions about the personal choices that these [sharp, articulate, intelligent] leaders have made that may call into question our confidence in their value systems. They are going to be custodians of our justice system for crying out loud. How come none of those who are vilifying the church here raised an issue the Americans who questioned their own presidential candidates’ commitment to family and their views about religion? The Americans, and any self respecting citizen of any country, must interrogate the suitability of any senior leader for their role. To be specific, we as Kenyans must interrogate the value judgments that inform potential leader’s decision-making both in their private and public lives. This is the contention of a section of our church leaders. You see, people do not make decisions in a vacuum – they are led by what they believe to be true. I will have a good picture of what a nominee holds to be right and true by the lives they have lived, the decisions they have made, the people they have associated with – and of course their willingness to be clear about Who or What they believe.
So…
If I was the Kenyan public I would be very adamant in asking our many commissions to interrogate the nominees to see if there is any anything that casts a shadow of doubt in our minds about their suitability for leadership.
If I was an MP I would carry the role of doing this interrogation seriously.
By the way, Big up to Bishop Oginde. You voiced many of my concerns firmly, eloquently and very respectfully. I learnt much from you.By the [2nd] way, don’t lets forget that we are not stuck! We are no longer in the Moi-days. There are options. There were many qualified people who could have been nominated, and so if these nominees didn’t make it there are options. We need to remember under the new constitutional dispensation, we have freedom to reject and choose again. Our leaders and public should not be afraid to use this freedom – especially if there is some doubt and when it is early enough not to regret.