THE BEST PROFESSION

 THE BEST PROFESSION

“My son, I want you to be a doctor, a doctor, no more no less”, the old man said with emphasis and finality. Those were the words of my father one evening when I had just returned home from school. I remember the day so well as if it were yesterday. By then I was a small boy, seven years old.

Each individual especially the young, would like to be a professional in future. Parents, teachers, religious bodies, Agency for the disabled people, local authorities and non-governmental organizations have always wanted the young generations to pursue desirable careers. Above all the question remains; which profession is the best?  

The taste is quite different with those already in professions. For instance, a teacher would imagine that lawyers are in a better position as well as those in the school of medicine would imagine people in the business world are doing well. As the saying goes; grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

MAN MUST DIE

MAN MUST DIE

If it is true that I must die

Then cast a die

I `ve an experience of death at hand

Unsung heroes of this land

Went unnoticed

Who am I?

A time in life

Thee people

Know me more than I

Know myself

Our heroes went uncelebrated

How many times 

are people going to charge me

during my life time?

Only to give empty praises

on my burial day.

BY: Makokha Masika

It is not what you read but how you read that counts.

It is not what you read but how you read that counts.

By: Timothy Makokha

Every child will admire to go to school in order to excel in life. Education shapes a person; it opens doors to prosperity for individuals. Learners at all levels of learning, whether young or mature are likely to be seen with books. People visit libraries and the internet in their quest for knowledge.

Teachers, parents, guardians, religious leaders, and other well wishers have always advised children to acquire knowledge through reading books. Some have gone an extra mile by buying books for these learners just to ensure learners succeed academically.

The disappointment comes when these learners yield poor results even after being supported fully with necessary requirements. When such scenarios occur, you will find people blaming the devil when the devil himself is not in it. Other people blame witches and their witchcraft for the poor performance.

In the current patriarchal society, men blame their wives for the poor performance of their children. In some societies, men believe that that a stupid child is as stupid as his/her own mother. This results to family conflicts putting the mother on the receiving end.

To avoid all these blames and family conflicts, here are a few guidelines to enable learners gain maximally from books/internet.

First, is time for the personal private study. Studying very early in the morning is               more appropriate since the mind is usually fresh before many activities of the day. In the evening before sleeping is appropriate for doing assignments and reviewing what was learnt during the day.

 A serious learner should know the syllabus/ course outline. It is always good to know what is expected of you in order to avoid reading out of context. This can be done outlining all units in a subject and dealing with a unit at a time before moving to another.

Time for revising what has already been taught matters a lot. After attending a lesson/lecture it is good to review the taught unit the same day. This enables the brain to record information in the sub-conscious mind where it can be easily remembered. This also implies that you have to attend to all lessons/lectures.

Make notes each time you are studying either by writing in a note book or typing on a computer. Making notes while studying enhances coordination in the brain hence better understanding of the content.

A good learner should familiarize herself/himself with questions in the subjects/field of study.  Attempt as many questions as possible and expose yourself to question setting techniques. This enables one to discover areas that are examinable and styles examiners apply in setting.

Another very key factor is the relationship between the learner and the teacher/lecturer/course instructor. How well do you relate with your teachers? A good relationship with the teacher puts a learner in a better position to gain more from teachers. In such a state a learner will feel free to ask any question and to be assisted accordingly.

The spirit of team work has enabled many to succeed academically. Therefore learners are advised to work in groups and assist one another. A group of about six members is more appropriate. Selection of members for a group should be based on the ability of individuals in the sense that each subject area has a person that has authority.

Learners are advised to break each subject into units and then study all units systematically. If this is done, areas of strengths and weaknesses will be identified. After which necessary step are taken for correcting areas of weakness.

A conducive learning environment can as well be enhanced by learners themselves by avoiding enmity at all costs. Enmity interferes with the psychological framework of learners making them loose concentration.

Learning begins with personal interest which should be nurtured and followed cautiously for the benefit of an individual. Guided by achievable objectives without mixing issues, one can advance to greater heights in education.            

                                                                                          

A REAL STORY

A REAL STORY

A man from Bukembe location, Bungoma County has shocked villagers for having attempted suicide three times. The man (name with-held), is currently at Webuye District Hospital nursing serious abdominal injuries after taking poison. This is his third time to behave like this.

He had dismantled his house, sold the iron sheets and all poles to solicit money for buying the illegal brew (chang’aa).  Eye witnesses said that they saw him sleeping within the remains of his house after returning from his usual drinking spree. “He came, slept within the remains of the house and covered himself with broken pieces of a basin”, said the village elder.

Before this incident, he had chased away his wife and two children earning him a title of ‘a notorious woman chaser’. He has sent away his wife on several occasions until he burnt the kitchen to ensure the wife does not come back. The wife got tired of him and went to her parents together with children.

AIDS is said to be the major cause of his awkward behavior. After visiting the VCT, results were that he was HIV+.   Since he didn’t want to leave property when he dies, he decided to sell all his belongings including land.

His attempts to sell land were fruitless as his mother and village elders stopped the move. Seeing the matter getting out of hand, his mother went to report the case at the Bukembe Administration police patrol base. When he learnt that his mother has gone to report him, he ran so fast to the AP post and arrived there earlier than the mother. “I want to sell my land to buy food and eat well before I die because I am HIV+”, he said while tears rolling down his cheeks.

The police officers advised the two to solve the matter at home. The mother was as well reminded to take her son to a psychiatrist.

One thing led to the other, as stress was piling up in this man. On Monday 28/01/2012, he could no longer withstand pressure of life on him. He bought poison, which he swallowed but was rescued before it was too late. Concerned members and relatives administered first aid on him before taking him to Webuye District Hospital, where he is being nursed up to today.

Overdependence on foreign aid is likely to deter us from realizing vision 2030

 Overdependence on foreign aid is likely to deter us from realizing vision 2030

By: Timothy Makokha

When a baby is born, (s)he is fed, taught and supported at an early age after which (s)he is left on his/her own.  Just like a child that is growing towards adulthood, Kenya as a country has reached a point where it has to be economically independent.

For so many years Kenya has been receiving aid from developed countries such as America, china and Japan. My question is; can Kenya survive on its own without any foreign funding? For how long are we to depend on this foreign aid?

Two days ago when the US president, Barrack Obama released a statement about reducing the amount   of money meant for HIV/aids victims, many Kenyans did not welcome the idea.

Thanks for the vision 2030 set by the government some time back. Maybe by 2030 Kenya will be an independent economy.

 Dependence on foreign aid makes us prisoners of the west. Dependency is not only in the government but also at the individual level. Many Kenyans like free things, reaping where they have not sowed. The spirit of hard work should be cultivated among the people of Kenya.  Let us see the need for hard work and self reliance. It is only through hard work that we can maximally utilize our resources.

One sector that needs reforms is the education sector where there is a higher tendency of learners depending on their teachers/instructors/lecturers. Learners at all levels of learning should be nurtured towards a self reliant nation as early as possible. The curriculum in use should be market oriented to enable graduates at all levels of learning to enter job market when they are fully prepared to provide necessary manpower. This will in turn make the government to put trust in our own trained personnel and reduce the burden of hiring expatriates.

It is common knowledge that anything acquired for free is likely to be mismanaged. Reliance on foreign aid encourages laziness among the people of a nation. Some aid comes with conditions that do not benefit recipients.

Currently, Kenya is endowed with several natural resources such as fertile land, rivers, lakes, forests. For instance we are importing paper yet we have forests and paper factory within the country.  Instead of importing what can be acquired locally, its better such funds to be directed towards improving infrastructure for the benefit of the natives of this land.

Poem

Poem               

 UGANDAN

Oh Uganda, when I look through the windows I see your beauty

And when I open my lungs to breathe in, I breathe in love and warmth

Whenever I set my foot, I encounter able leaders.                               

 your land has always given me ground to stand on

You represent a true black man, a democrat

Dedicated to serve mankind tirelessly in truth,

Your blood is an African  pure blood circulating

in your towns, villages, water streams, mountains.

Your sun, has brightened my path, wherever I have gone

Though with eyes closed, you stayed bright in my mind

You make me steadier that I stumble not

You rejuvenate my energy to move on

In my every imagination, I imagine how fertile you are

 In my dreams, in my vision I see your greatness.

to the point that you have fed me till am grown up

Me, my ancestors and my neighbors and everybody

Adore you and only you.

Oh Uganda, how compassionate you are that you have welcomed

Even visitors to your branches to feed from your basket.

All types of good colors symbolize you

Always blameless as virgins in their puberty.

When I thought I would drown, You rescued me with your loving hand

 even when my neighbors planned to attack me,

You shielded me like a mother shielding her child

You’ve fathered me since I was born

I love you Uganda, the pearl of Africa,

the country of a fertile ground

Peace prevail over Uganda

and unity abundant among its citizens

Nightmares of horrendous unrealized dreams.

Nightmares of horrendous unrealized dreams.

Youths in this country have all talents but the problem is that they lack avenues through which they can express their talents. The few clubs that are existing face the challenge of corruption and tribalism. For instance, clubs for marathon competitors are dominated by kalenjins and a person from any other part of the country find it difficult to join them.

The football sector face more challenges, especially at the national level. The criteria for selection of players for the national team, harambee stars is not clear. This is because there are many talented youngsters that appear nowhere in the national team.

What happens to a dream deferred?

Those outside the education system, find it hard to follow their dreams to stardom. This is because there are no avenues or sporting clubs through which they can exercise talent. This is even worse in rural areas.

 The government, religious bodies, NGO’s and other well wishers should arise and come to the rescue of the upcoming stars in rural areas in this country. More clubs should be formed and funded.

If this is put into practice, it will help to fight idleness and boredom amongst youths.

VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN

VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN

By: Timothy Makokha.

The traditional wife beating has undergone severe reversal where it is the men on the receiving end. Whoever that came up with the ‘maendeleo ya wanaume’ movement deserve to be preserved in a song. Surprisingly when this movement for men was being launched, some men did not take it positively yet they are the same receiving beatings from their wives.

I have learnt from the school of life that the male ego rules the world. Contrary, women are turning the tables posing a challenge on men.  Although this is not to be interpreted in a manner that suggest women are less important.

 Last week has been the worst with more than two cases of violence against men reported. First, is a case involving Simon Kiguta of Nyeri who was cut allegedly by his wife using a panga on a Friday evening. Another victim of the same was Mr. Francis Muchiri aged 34, who was burnt by his wife with hot water on Saturday night in his home in Ruiru while asleep.

The behavior was witnessed slightly earlier in Sitawa village Bungoma County.  30 years old Nabong’o disappeared from his home early last year because of daily beatings from his wife. His wife used to beat him every day until he could not persevere anymore.

On the other hand, 32 years old chemiati of misanga village was beaten thoroughly by his wife. He ran and locked himself in the bedroom to rescue himself from the charged wife.  The wife put a table close to the wall that separates sitting room and bed room, to climb on and jump into the bedroom to continue with the beating. When chemiati realized that the wife was climbing up to where he was in the bedroom, he screamed at the top of his voice to alert the attention of the neighbors.

Chemiati’s mother was the first person to arrive at the scene. She then pleaded with her daughter-in-law to spare her son. Basawa that were circumcised the same year with chemiati sympathized with him.

Webi is another victim of violence against men. Webi was one of the workers of Webuye pan paper factory who lost jobs after the closure of the company some time back. His children were initially schooling at Mewa academy, a private school within Bungoma County. After losing the job, he decided to transfer his children to a public primary school where he could not pay any fees. When his wife learnt that he had transferred children to a public school, she took a panga and chased Webi up to his mother’s house. She was to cut him if it were not for the intervention of his mother.

According to Chinua Achebe a Nigerian literary artist, something to do with a woman beating a man would not happen during those days when men were men.

MANGO THE CIRCUMCISION HERO AMONG BABUKUSU.

MANGO THE CIRCUMCISION HERO AMONG BABUKUSU.

By: Timothy Makokha

Mango is a legend among the bukusu people. He is a circumcision hero in the tribe who has been celebrated over ages. Many songs have been sung about him, especially circumcision songs.

According to Manguliechi, Mango was a member of ‘bameme’ clan although some historians argue that he was ‘omukhurarwa’. He was a son of Kambisi wa wetungu, omumeme (father) and his mother was omunyala musiondo-Nabwile.

 He was circumcised on behalf of his father who killed ‘yabebe’ the snake that had killed so many people in the luhyia land.  The award he was to receive from the bukusu elders after killing the snake was to be made the first ‘omusani’ among the bukusu people. Since Mango’s father was very old, it was then him who was circumcised instead of his old father.

He was circumcised by Nalukaye under the assistance of wele musiku-omuleyi omuchesongwa omumila masondo omulusanya. This made mango the first omukolongolo in the year 1800 of the ‘bakolongolo’ age set among babukusu.

Originally, circumcision was meant for ‘barwa bakinisu’ of the kalenjin su-tribe. Mango’s mother was surprised when she learnt that her son had undergone circumcision, a thing that was only meant for ‘barwa’.

‘sioyayo’, a song sung when someone is being taken for the cut is associated with the interjections made by mango’s mother in vernacular after the circumcision of mango. She was saying, ‘khaa! Khee!  Khoo!’ The famous ‘sioyayo’ has seven stanzas and a chorus.

Other theorists associate the origin of ‘sioyayo’ with the sounds produced by the hyenas. This song was produced in the tune of namunyu- the hyena. For instance, the sounds hyenas make in the evening when they are returning to their caves from their daily routine.

The yabebe snake that was killed by kambisi, had killed so many people. It is believed that it was a flying snake that could bite people directly on the head.  After the snake killing his third child, Kambisi took the risk of hunting for the snake to kill it even if it meant endangering his own life. He took embalu the sword and hid himself in the cave where the snake resides. When the snake entered the cave it did not sense the presence of kambisi and that is when he chopped off its head leaving it dead.

Yabebe the snake had a unique lifestyle in the since that it could not return to its residence using the path that was used for its departure. It could also enter into its cave backwards beginning with the body then lastly the head. That’s why when candidates for circumcision are taken to the river very early in the morning they never return home to be cut following the same route. It is the same reason why initiates are taken to the house immediately after circumcision in a backward position.

When the circumcision exercise is successful, a song ‘khwera omurwa’ is sung in praise of initiates. It also means that they have defeated barwa who were originally the only ones undergoing circumcision. A girl is then selected to remove a lump of soil from the head of initiates. The girl becomes very special to the initiates as she takes care of them. Such a girl is to be respected without demur by her subjects for the rest of their lives. Any curse from this woman can be very lethal. After the cut, omukhebi, the circumciser gives the first informal education in a process known as khulumia.  

After circumcision initiates stay in a house called ‘likombe’. When they have healed completely, a pass out ceremony is organized where initiates graduate and come out of ‘likombe’. It is the same time they are given lubito, a kind of informal education that nurtures boys to adulthood.

After Mango was circumcised, he declared that all bukusu men must be circumcised and those who resist the cut to seek refuge in a land where men are not circumcised.  In the year 1812, he moved to Uganda and told the bamasaba who were staying at emitoto, to begin circumcising their male children. That was when the first bakikwameti were circumcised among bukusu of Kenya and bamasaba of Uganda. Mango is then commemorated to have re-introduced circumcision to babukusu in Kenya in the year 1800 and rekindling the same in Uganda the year 1812.

Principal’s wife visits a Witch doctor

The wife to a well known high school principal in Bungoma County makes frequent visits to a witch doctor in Musokho village a behavior eye witnesses say it is an attempt to prevent the principal from marrying other wives and stop him from assisting relatives.

“One day she was found carrying a black cock in her handbag,” said one of the villagers. She does not seek medical experts whenever she falls sick, you will always find her with plant extracts, roots of unique plants, ashes/powders extracted from sea animals and other herbal drugs.

This behavior has put the principal’s mother in a very pathetic situation. For instance she stays alone in her house without company of her grand children. Children have been made to believe that their grandmother is a witch and is to be avoided at all cost.

She spends most of her time in the school intruding in matters of the school. She would gossip about people seeking admissions, relatives admitted, and those denied chance in the school. She claims that students related to the principal in the school do not pay fees. The gossip is then taken to the neighboring communities, where those who missed access to the school feel the principal is being unfair and biased in his new admissions.

Last year, when the principal had called contractors to erect a house for his mother, the wife chased them away, stopping the exercise. She does not take instructions from anybody in any real life situation. Efforts by the village elder who was attempting to advise her did not bear fruit as this lady seems only to understand one language, the language of the witch doctor.

Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-4492.htm#ixzz1mdcJw4eO
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Woman beats father-in-law for advising his son to divorce her Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-4541.htm#ixzz1mdWaorKK Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Woman beats father-in-law for advising his son to divorce her

Written by Timothy Makokha 2012-02-06 11:00:00 Read 612 Times

There was drama Sunday evening  Bunana village Bungoma County, when a middle aged woman hit her father-in-law on the old man’s bald head three times using a piece of firewood over allegations he wanted his son to divorce her.

The woman, identified only as Mama Kevin, caused a stir as he accosted his father-in-law an incident that attracted the attention of many who viewed it with mixed reactions; some were shocked while others were cheering and shouting.

The old man collapsed during the incident but later regained consciousness. He was given a pair of panadol tablets to relieve him the pain, although he had requested for three tablets as he explained that the pain was too much for him to bear.

“A woman beating me for the first time since I was circumcised, I cannot take this lying down, she must pack and go,” retorted the visibly shaken old man.

Villagers sympathized with the old man and declared war on the young woman saying; “Mama Kevin has been very disrespectiful to her father-in-law, she once undressed before him claiming the old man was interested in her,” said one of the neighbors.

The woman flew for her dear life after it was evident the villagers were baying for her blood for going against traditions where father-in-laws are respected.

Her action was seen as an abomination.

However, as the drama unfolded, her husband identified as Wanyonyi was away as he is said to have gone on a drinking spree – his daily routine.

However, this is not the first time she has found herself in trouble. In December last year, a similar scenario occurred forcing the clan’s chairman to set her away but her husband rented a house where they stayed for over three months.

Fearing for the life of their son, the clan members, under the authority of their chairman implored him to come back together with his wife.

Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-4541.htm#ixzz1mdWxL6hl
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Interesting facets of circumcision

Interesting facets of circumcision as a cultural practice Written by Timothy Makokha 2012-02-02 18:12:00 Read 360 Times Circumcision puts people into specific age groups among the Bukusu community. It is a uniting factor in the sense that people who are circumcised in the same year have several things in common. For a person to qualify for admission into any age group, he must have undergone traditional circumcision which gives a person a sense of belonging and identity. Those who were circumcised in hospital lack an age group hence the division among Bukusu men. This reminds me of an incident that happened in the year 1996 when one of my classmates, called Namtembi committed suicide because of circumcision. Although he was the youngest in the family of six boys, he was the only one circumcised traditionally according to the Bukusu customary law. He could refer to his brothers as cowards, women/children who feared to face the knife. The insults became too much for the brothers to bear, so the eldest of them all decided to beat the boy. Namtembi could not believe that someone who was circumcised most likely by a woman and a pair of scissors would beat him; he took a rope and hanged himself. Traditional circumcision is meant to instill cultural values in the initiates. It is during this time that relatives, circumcisers and elders teach informal education (lubito) to initiates, which is key in the life of an individual.  Values that are taught at this stage include respect for local authorities, parental responsibilities, history of Bukusu clans, marital issues among others. As a result, our cultural practices are preserved and maintained. If these cultural issues are misunderstood they can mislead a person. In Bunana village, Sawa Kelly dropped out of school the age of 12 years, immediately after being circumcised in the year 2002 on grounds that he had become an adult and cannot go to school. He also does not take advice from women including his own mother. One day when he was looking after cattle one of the bulls strayed into a neighbor’s farm. When the owner came, Kelly could not listen to her but instead commanded her to call any male member of her family for the case to be discussed. Modern circumcision detaches a person from some cultural beliefs and cultural authority. For instance, there are some cultural activities that require participants to have undergone circumcision traditionally. In Luucho village, a man who was circumcised in hospital cannot address any social gathering where elders are present. On the other hand modern circumcision is the best since it is done by experts who observe hygiene during the operation. Unlike in the other method where a single knife is not sterilized before and after it is used on several individuals, doctors observe hygiene while carrying out the exercise. With the introduction of formal education and religion, most people are opting for the modern way of circumcision since it is save, cheaper and more accurate. Although those with faith little faith go traditional during circumcision season, confess and turn again to Christianity after the rituals. People, who value education a lot, do not have time for such traditional practices. Children who are circumcised in hospital end up performing better in academics because they see education as the only treasure after facing isolation and ridicule from their traditional counterparts.  This being an even year, the Bukusu community is preparing to initiate young boys into adulthood in the month of August. Usher in these growing boys into adulthood the right way, the traditional way or the modern way. The power to choose lies strictly in your hands.

Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index.php?page=news&bid=4515#ixzz1mdVvYY6k
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

25 year old Bungoma man abandons family to inherit his 65 year old grandmother

A 25 year old man in Sango village Bungoma County abandoned his wife and children to inherit his 65 year old grandmother after the death of his grandfather.

 Wafula James, a father of five children moved into his grandmother’s house to start a new marriage life.

The incident made village elders to reserve their comments. When the chairman of the clan was informed of the case, he only laughed and kept quiet. His mother did not take the matter lightly, as she threatened to undress. But for Wafula’s wife, she could not hold back her tears.

He has become the talk in the village. For instance, you would listen to people talk about him at market places, funerals, among other social settings in the location. 

Wafula seems interested in odds of society. Generally, he is a man possessing a high affinity for widows. He knows all widows by name in the whole location. Sometimes last year, he is reported to have spent most of the time with prostitutes of Bukembe market.

Last week Tuesday, he took a cock to a very prominent ‘mama pima’ of Bukembe market after acquiring it forcefully from home after beating the wife. He was foolish enough since he could not discover that ‘his’ mama pima has men in series. 

The woman was clever; she quickly invited another man to feast on the cock that was brought by wafula. When wafula demanded for the delicious stew, he was ordered to wait from outside the house. He followed instructions as given by Mama Pima, up to midnight he was still waiting. He knocked the door several times but the door was not opened for him since the woman was serving another client.

Wafula braved the cold throughout the night at the door as the other two were having fun, laughing and chatting inside. He only tasted the smell of the food as the whole of it was finished, not even a bone was spared for him.

Neighbors could not understand what pinned him at the door for the whole night with the presence of another man in the house. “I saw him sleeping with hands between his legs at the door at midnight”, said a neighbor. 

At 6am is when he decided to go back home to his grandmother, though bitter, but there was nothing he could do. That was the time he was welcomed and consoled warmly by his lovely grandmother.

Here comes my first post.

It is true in life one has to exercise  patience in every endeavour.  A new journey has just begun, so brothers and sisters lets match ahead in style.