Is the Kenyan Bachelor of Medicine degree a good investment?

Yes, I think that the Kenyan Bachelor of Medicine degree is a good investment.

If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine degree in Kenya under the parallel/module 2 program, and you pay fees of 500k per year, that would be 3 million in the 6 years it nowadays takes to complete a Bachelor of medicine degree in Kenya (500K x 6). So let’s say you spend 3 million on fees, then you allocate personal expenditures of 30k per month for the 72 months it takes to complete the program – so that in the six years, you end up spending 2.16 million: let’s just say 2.2 million [on living expenses, books, traveling, entertainment and so on]. So the total is 5.2 million, namely the 3 million paid in fees, and the 2.2 million used on expenses.

Now upon graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, you can reasonably expect to earn around 100k as a minimum. So that would translate into 1.2 million per year. For an investment of 5.2 million, you get a return of 1.2 million. That surely is a good investment! And it also means that within 5 years, you recoup the entire money used to finance the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. But then as the years progress, your earnings as a doctor are likely to keep on rising, and I reckon that there are some specialist doctors whose earnings are in the 1 million plus level. And the return is not just financial: studying medicine gives you an opportunity to alleviate people’s suffering, to make a real difference in the world and being a doctor earns you a considerable amount of respect wherever you turn.

Where is the Machakos General Hospital?

The Machakos General Hospital is in Machakos Town, quite close to the Machakos Town Bus Terminus. Actually, if you are in the Machakos Town Bus Terminus, you can already see the Machakos General Hospital staff quarters and some of the Machakos General Hospital wards.

The main entrance to the Machakos General Hospital is to be found on the Machakos-Wote road (ou know, the road to Katoloni). From where the Machakos-Wote road starts is barely 80m to where the Machakos General Hospital main gate is. That gate is opposite where the road to Machakos GK Prison branches off.

So to get to the Machakos General Hospital, you only need to get to Machakos Town. Then once you are at Machakos Town (in the Machakos Bus and Matatus terminus), the Machakos General Hospital should be within a short walking distance – less than 200 meters.

The Machakos General Hospital in question here is a level 5 facility and is arguably the biggest public health facility in the entire Ukambani region. It receives patients not only from Machakos county, but also from Makueni county, some parts of Kitui county and even Kajiado county. It has decent facilities (including labs, theaters, wards, outpatient clinics and specialist clinics) though at times in can be quite congested. But if one is patient, they do eventually get seen.

Is the Kenyan Bachelor of Science degree in nursing any good?

Well, I think that the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing offered by some Kenyan universities is quite good. After going through the program, you come out as a highly skilled nursing professional – one who is acquainted not just with the manual aspects of nursing, but quite a bit of medical science as well. Actually there is a time I heard that the people who graduated with the Bachelor of Science degrees in Kenya would on average only need only two or so years of extra training, to qualify as doctors. If that is true, then it would mean that the folks with the Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing are very highly skilled professionals, who are as knowledgeable on some aspects of treatment as the doctors!

In the labor market, the people with the Kenyan Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing have to compete with folks who have the diploma in nursing from KMTC. This can cause challenges, as I was told, because the folks with the Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing are likely to demand somewhat higher salaries than the folks with the KMTC registered nurse diplomas. But hospitals that have hired the folks with Bachelor of Science in Nursing know that they tend to be very highly skilled professionals, who can handle challenging situations, and that justifies the higher pay accorded to them.

Which universities in Kenya offer medicine degrees?

For many years, the only university in Kenya where you could study medicine used to be the university of Nairobi. There used to be an arrangement where students would first be admitted to university of Nairobi’s Chiromo campus for their pre-clinical studies (I think for two or three years). Then after passing a tough examination, they would transfer to the Kenyatta campus of the university of Nairobi (adjacent to the Kenyatta National Hospital) for the clinical program – which is a hybrid of classroom studies and practical exposure in the teaching hospital.

At some point, the Eldoret-based Moi university started offering Bachelor of Medicine degrees as well, using the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital as their teaching hospital. For many years, it was only the University of Nairobi and Moi University in Eldoret offering medicine degrees. But lately, others like Kenyatta university and I think Egerton University as well have started offering Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science degrees. I also think that the Aga Khan university does offer postgraduate studies in medicine.

As long as high standards of training are maintained, the growth in the number of Kenyan universities offering medicine degrees is a good thing, because Kenya needs more and more doctors. And there is hope that as the number of doctors grows, we are likely to see a decline in the cost of medical services, which still remain beyond the reach of ordinary people.

How do I become a doctor in Kenya?

To become a doctor in Kenya, you need to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MbChb) degree and successfully complete it. After completing the Kenya MbChb degree, you need to undergo one year internship (if I am not wrong) before being fully licensed to become a doctor. Of course, people who have foreign qualifications like the MD degrees from Europe and MBBS from countries like India do also get licensed to practice as doctors in Kenya, after some important formalities.

Now For you to be admitted for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree in Kenya, you need to have done very well in your KCSE. I actually think that for you to study for the Bachelor of Medicine degree in Kenya under the regular program (module 1 Bachelor of Medicine), you would need to have scored a mean grade of A in  your KCSE. Lately, as the number of KCSE As has gone down, it has become possible for students with A- to be perhaps admitted for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees. But for the more prestigious university medicine programs (like the University of Nairobi medicine program) I think that the standard is still that of A plain mostly.

For the parallel module 2 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programs, you could get in with somewhat lower grades (I think up to B+ or B). But then again, if you couldn’t get an excellent grade in KCSE, you are likely to struggle with the MbChb studies, because they tend to be very intense. Plus what I have gathered is that the fees for the parallel degrees in medicine within Kenya are quite hefty.

Which are some of the best schools in Ukambani region?

I think that the Ukambani region, which is made up of Machakos, Kitui and Makueni has some decent schools all around.

In Machakos County, some of the best schools would include Machakos Boys (which formally calls itself Machakos School), Machakos Girls, Ndalani Secondary, Tala High School, Kangundo high school, Mumbuni Boys and Mumbuni Girls, Muthetheni Girls, Mua Girls, Kabaa High School and Vyulya, to name but just a few. Others would include Mount Carmel Girls, Alim High School (which is a muslim school near Makutano), Saint Catherine and Kwanthanze (which has over the years distinguished itself as a sports center of excellence).

In Makueni County, you would be looking at schools like Precious Blood Kilungu (a leading girls school), Makueni Boys, Mukaa Boys, Kitondo School, Mbooni Boys, Mbooni Girls and Moi Girls Kibwezi. Others would include Ngoto Boys, Kaumoni Boys, and Ukia Girls to name but just a few.

In Kitui county, you would be looking at schools like Kitui School, Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Mwingi, St Charles Lwanga Kitui, Muthale Girls, Kimangau Girls,Ikutha Boys and Ikutha Girls,  Mulango Girls and Kisasi Boys among many others.

These lists are by no means exhaustive, but just highlight some of the names that come to mind whenever there is a discussion on the best schools in Ukambani. But it is worth mentioning that lately, we have seen smaller schools that don’t have ‘big names’ outshining the bigger schools in Ukambani both in academics and in extra-curricula activities.

Why does the Mitumba business in Kenya thrive?

I think that there are at least three reasons as to why the Mitumba business thrives in Kenya.

First is of course the fact that the mtumba business in Kenya is one that can be very profitable. I mean, these are clothes that are sold on wholesale by the kilo/bale, and the individuals who buy them by the kilo or by the bale then proceed to sell them as individual garments at a potentially big profit.

Second is the fact that the Mitumba business in Kenya is one that serves a real need in the society. You find that there are many low-income earners for whom the mitumba provide a real lifeline: folks who would otherwise be walking around in the rags were it not for the gap filled by the mitumba. If you don’t believe this, just throw your memory back to the time when there was no mitumba in Kenya (if you are old enough) and remember the type of ‘kurarukiwa’ we used to see those days...

Third is the fact that the Mitumba business in Kenya is one that seems to have some sort of international support. I remember, for instance, that time when the government attempted to ban the importation of mitumba second hand clothes. What I remember the US government did in retaliation (if my memory serves me right) was to threaten to cut Kenya off from the African Growth Opportunity Act [AGOA] market. And as it turns out, the AGOA market is important for the sustenance of the EPZ factories that have grown into major employers in Kenya. Eventually the government seemed to relent, and the mitumba business continued to thrive. Later on, during the coronavirus crisis, there was another announcement that the importation of mitumba had been banned, and we were waiting to see how that would play out in the long run. 

Mombasa laptop prices – what does a laptop cost in Mombasa?

It depends on what sort of laptop you are looking for, where you are seeking to buy it and how you are going about purchasing it.

If you are looking for a brand new laptop in Mombasa, you should be looking at something upwards of 35,000 to 50,000 (some of the high-end laptops in Mombasa go up to 100,000 and possibly even 150,000). Yeah, but for an ordinary laptop in Mombasa, you would be looking at that range – around 35k to 50k. So that applies for someone say, looking for brand new HP laptops in Mombasa or someone looking for brand new Dell laptops in Mombasa or yet still someone looking for brand new Lenovo computers in Mombasa. The dynamics are a bit different for someone looking for Apple laptops in Mombasa -- that is, the so-called Mac machines in Mombasa -- as those tend to be much costlier when brand new.

Of course if you are looking for a notebook, the price (for brand new) could drop to as low as 25,000.

If you are looking for a refurbished laptop in Mombasa – and indeed most of the laptops on sale in Mombasa seem to be of the refurbished variety -- then you would be looking at anything from 12,000 to 20,000.

If you are looking for a ‘third’ hand laptop in Mombasa (one that was originally brought in as a refurbished laptop, used by the original buyer for sometime and is now on sale), then you could be looking at anything from 8,000 to 10,000 though the reliability of such a machine may be dubious at best.

So what becomes clear is that in the Mombasa market, there are laptops for all budgets. You could get a laptop for as little as 10,000 and as much as 150,000.

What does one need to do to succeed in the Kenya Police recruitment?

Well, I think that first of all anyone who has aspirations of joining the Kenya Police needs to be always on the lookout for the Kenya Police recruitment adverts. They are usually placed on newspapers such as the Daily Nation and the Standard well before the recruitment dates. So you need to know well in advance when the Kenya Police recruitment exercise is, and where the recruitment centers are. It would be a pity to miss out on the Kenya Police recruitment (which is when the regular Kenya police, the AP Kenya and the GSU Kenya police are recruited) due to lack of information. So be on the lookout for the Kenya Police recruitment dates adverts, and consider enlisting the help of other people who read newspapers regularly to alert you when they seen Kenya Police recruitment ads.

Another thing that I think can be helpful to you if you want to succeed in the Kenya Police recruitment is to ensure that you present yourself at the right recruitment center. I think that this should be the center that tallies with the ‘division’ indicated on your ID card.

Yet another thing that I think can be helpful to you if you want to succeed in the Kenya Police recruitment is to ensure that you eat well and get adequate amounts of sleep in the days preceding the recruitment. It is also a good idea to cut back on smoking and drinking, at least in the days preceding the recruitment exercise, if you want to succeed in the medical examination you will be subjected to before being recruited into the Kenya police.

You may also consider chatting with people who have successfully gone through the Kenya Police recruitment (especially those who have done it recently/young Kenyan cops), and get honest tips from them on how they managed to go through/what it really takes to go through the Kenya Police recruitment successfully.

Which nation has the biggest oil reserves in the world?

The last time I checked, the country with the biggest oil reserves in the world was Venezuela. This statement tends to come as a shock to many people who imagine that the nation with the biggest oil reserves in the world is Saudi Arabia or some other such arab/middle east nation. So, as it turns out, the nation with the biggest oil reserves in the world is actually in Latin America, namely Venezuela.

Yet when I came to learn that Venezuela has the biggest oil reserves in the world was at a time that there were severe shortages of oil in that nation! It was actually at a point when, as the news reports went, Venezuela was importing the materials it needed to reactivate its oil refineries. The official narrative was that Venezuela was experiencing oil shortages because of ‘mismanagement of its oil industry’. But I couldn’t help noticing that at that time, Venezuela had basically fallen out with the west, and sanctions placed on it. And I couldn’t help thinking that perhaps the shortages of oil in Venezuela had more to do with the sanctions placed on it, as opposed to the ‘mismanagement of its oil industry’. As anyone who has ever lived in a nation under some sort of sanctions will tell you, those sanctions tend to be very devastating. More poignantly, Venezuela at that time seemed to have opted to follow the path of socialism, and as experience has shown, nations that try to follow that path tend to face all manner of hurdles.

How do I reload KPLC tokens?

In my experience, the process of reloading KPLC tokens has 2 major steps.

The first step is where you pay for the tokens. So like if you are using M-Pesa, you go to ‘Lipa na m-pesa’, then you select ‘Pay bill’ and enter the paybill number for KPLC prepaid, which is 888880 (so those are five 8s and one zero). That 888880 paybill number is what you enter at the stage where you are asked for 'Business number'. When prompted to enter your 'Account number', you enter the meter number that you are trying to buy KPLC tokens for. After that, you enter the amount you wish to buy KPLC tokens for. Then you enter your M-Pesa PIN, in order to complete that stage.

The second step is where you input the KPLC token number into the meter. So after entering your M-Pesa PIN in the first step above, you will get a couple of messages: one from M-Pesa confirming the transaction, and another one from KPLC with the token number. The token number is usually quite long, and you need to enter all digits in it into your KPLC meter (using the dial/the calculator-like thing), then press the ‘enter’ button on the dial. The Kenya Power system will first return the number of tokens (units) you have bought. Then those will be added to the ones you had previously and after a few seconds, the system will display the new Kenya Power tokens balance.

How do I Start a boda boda business in Mombasa?

I think that there are some four important steps you will need to follow, if you want to start a boda boda business in Mombasa.

The first step is to get a 'stage' from where your boda boda would be operating. There is a risk of you buying a boda boda, only to end up lacking a 'stage' from where to operate it. So it is important for you to talk with other folks who are already in the boda boda business, to understand from them how stage rights are acquired. My understanding is that you only need to pay small tokens to the individuals who started the stages to gain stage rights – though getting a chance to operate from the more lucrative stages can be a little more complicated.

The second step is to put together the capital you need to buy the boda boda motorcycle. You are likely to do better if you put together enough funds to buy a brand new motorbike. But if you are too financially constrained, you can start with a second hand machine. Just ensure that the motorbike you buy is one that is not too troublesome. Some of the most successful boda boda operators in Mombasa I know started off with second hand motorbikes, before gaining the financial muscle to buy new machines. Anyway, you could decide to work for several months, saving the money to buy the motorcycle you intend to use for boda boda business in Mombasa. Or you could decide to take a loan for the same. Or you could use savings that you already have. Or you could decide to sell another asset and use the proceeds to buy a boda boda motorcycle for operation in Mombasa... one way or the other, you will have to get funds to buy a boda boda motorcycle.

The third step is to buy the actual motorbike. The most important thing here is to undertake research, to understand which motorbikes are best suited for Boda Boda business in Mombasa.

The fourth step is to introduce your motorbike on the route. You could decide to operate it yourself or you could hire someone to operate it for you. If you have to hire someone, then you better be sure that it is someone you know well, and someone who is unlikely to disappear with your motorcycle. But you don’t have to be paranoid: most people are good. So be careful, but don’t be paranoid. If you get someone who has guarantors (who can attest that they know where he is from) that should suffice in most cases. You just keep a copy of his ID card and talk to him upfront about the fact that you have entrusted him with your motorbike and he shouldn’t betray your trust. On the other hand, if you opt to operate it yourself, then you need to create a routine that will ensure you maximize your earnings without injuring your health too much.

Kamba radio stations: which are the main ones?

In the recent years, we have witnessed fast growth in the number and quality of Kamba radio stations. Before the liberalization of Kenyan airwaves, the only way to hear the Kamba language on radio would have been by tuning in to KBC’s Central Station. But this used to be only for a few hours per day (I think it would start at 4 Pm and end at 7 Pm) or something like that. This was usually on AM radio, and getting a clear signal was always a big challenge... 

When FM radio technology came to Kenya, some good individuals set up the first full-time Kamba FM radio station which I think was Mbaitu FM. After that came Royal Media Service’s Musyi FM, followed by others like Syokimau FM, Mang’elete Radio, County FM, Eene FM and Wikwatyo FM.

So to my understanding, some of the main Kamba radio stations include Musyi FM (which covers most parts of Ukambani), Mbaitu FM which also has a good coverage and Eene FM which has registered considerable growth in popularity in recent days. There is also County FM which seems to enjoy a good audience all over Ukambani lately, as well as Syokimau FM and Wikwatyo FM which has a considerable presence in Kitui.

Is boda boda business profitable in Kenya?

Well, there are profits to be made in the boda boda business within Kenya, but they are not super-profits. So for someone who is looking for normal profits, yes, those can be made in the Kenyan boda boda industry. But for someone who is looking for super-profits, those may not be available in the Kenyan boda boda industry. That is the reality.

How profitable your boda boda will be obviously depends on whether you will be operating it yourself, or you will be employing people to operate the motorcycles on your behalf.

If you operating the motorbike yourself, you can earn decent sums of money. But you will have to be spending huge amounts of time on the bike... and you can only ride one bike at a time.

On the other hand, if you will be employing people to operate the boda boda for you, the margins will be smaller. I think that in most places, the arrangement is for the hired operator to give the owner 300 shillings per day, and keep the rest (of course after fueling the motorbike). So now you see, if you are getting 300 bob per day, that works out to 9,000 shillings per month, and 108,000 per year. Still, within a year, you get recoup the money you spend on the boda boda. In the subsequent three or four years before the machine becomes totally battered, you get to earn some good money for yourself. And at the end of that period, you find that you can still sell the boda boda for a decent sum of money as a second hand machine. Or you operate it for seven years and then sell it as scrap...

All said and done, you stand to earn more through the boda boda business in Kenya than if you had kept the money in the account! But the super-profits that used to be enjoyed by the pioneers of the boda boda business in Kenya are not there nowadays.

Where are Changamwe CDF offices?

Well, the last time I checked, Changamwe CDF offices were on the road to the Moi International airport, somewhere opposite Apolo Club. So the building housing the Changamwe NG-CDF offices is close to the Holy Cross Catholic Church Chaani, and close to where the road to Migadini branches off (that is, where Migadini matatus coming from town usually branch off on the way to Migadini estate).

Knowing where the Changamwe CDF offices are can be useful if, for instance, you want to apply for the Changamwe CDF bursaries. Usually, the arrangement is one where you go to the Changamwe CDF offices, pick the CDF bursary application forms from there, fill them in and return them there. And once the Changamwe CDF bursaries are awarded, the lists of the awardees and the bursary amounts awarded to them are usually pinned on the noticeboards outside the Changamwe NG-CDF offices.

I don’t know if the Changamwe CDF offices would still be the right place to go if you are looking for Changamwe CDF tenders, but I think it would make a lot of sense. I mean, if you are looking for Changamwe CDF tenders, wouldn’t it make sense to first visit the Changamwe CDF offices and try to understand from the folks who operate there what the Changamwe CDF tenders entail? Anyway, what I know for sure is that the Changamwe CDF offices are the place to visit if you are looking for things like the Changamwe NG-CDF bursaries. The folks at Changamwe CDF offices are usually quite nice, and once you explain your problem to them, they will more often than not find a way of being helpful to you.

Why are X-tigi phones so popular in Kenya?

In my assessment, there are at least three major reasons as to why X-tigi phones are so popular in some parts of Kenya.

The first reason is probably in the fact that the Xtigi phones are perceived as being reliable. They are unlike some fancy phone brands out there, which work well for just a couple of months, before becoming problematic. A typical Xtigi phone can work perfectly for even more than three years, before starting to cause problems.

The second reason is in the fact that the Xtigi phones are easy to operate. This is especially important for members of the older generation that don’t want fancy phones that are too hard to operate.

The third reason is in the fact that the Xtigi phones tend to have big batteries, capable of keeping power for long. This is important, say, for people like truck drivers, who want to have phones that can maintain battery charge for long durations of time between the various truck stopovers. It is also important for rural folks who are not connected to grid electricity and who are therefore only able to have their phones charged on market days. For such individuals, the fact that the Xtigi phone batteries can work for up to seven days before going totally flat is very important. 

Musyi FM Mombasa Frequency: How do I tune in to Musyi FM in Mombasa?

Well, I think that the Musyi FM Mombasa frequency is 100.0. So this means that if you want to tune in to Musyi FM in Mombasa, all you need to do is enter that frequency (100.0) into your radio device and you will be connected to Musyi FM immediately. If you are forgetful, yet you are also an ardent fan of Musyi FM in Mombasa, you can write down that frequency (100.0) somewhere, so that you can always be having it at your fingertips whenever you wish to tune into Musyi. Alternatively ,you can opt to keep your radio permanently tuned in to Musyi FM, as I see some of the hardcore Musyi FM fans doing...

Another way in which you can try to catch Musyi FM in Mombasa is to turn on your radio device, then do an auto-search. Musyi FM signal tends to be quite strong in Mombasa, and there is a good likelihood of you getting it on auto-search. But you know that the auto-search will return numerous radio stations, and you have to browse through them before getting to Musyi FM. If you opt for this approach, the best thing to do would be to ‘save’ the Musyi FM frequency, so that the next time you want to tune into it, you don’t have to start all over with the auto-search.

What does it take for someone to win the Mombasa governor election?

In my assessment, there are three important things that one needs to have, to win the Mombasa governor election.

One obviously needs to have excellent political organizational skills, to win the Mombasa governor election. Mombasa is a big city (1.2 million plus people) spread over 6 constituencies with hundreds – if not thousands – of ethnically diverse neighborhoods between them. Running a campaign that can reach all parts of Changamwe, all parts of Jomvu, all parts of Mvita, all parts of Kisauni, all parts of Nyali and all parts of Likoni is a tall order. It requires very good organizational skills, with an excellent team behind the aspirant.

One also needs to have a bit of money, to win the Mombasa governor election. You could say that you won’t buy votes/bribe voters. But you still need to buy campaign materials to reach the entire city. And you still have to mobilize campaign meetings in all parts of Mombasa, and though you may have volunteers helping you with such things, they nonetheless have to be given stipends. Plus once you declare yourself to be a Mombasa gubernatorial election aspirant, people are likely to start coming to you will a huge variety of problems, and you have to help some of the cases, otherwise you will lose credibility completely.

At another level, one needs to be an established ‘brand’ to win the Mombasa governor election. I mean, it is difficult, if not impossible, for someone to just come out of nowhere and win the Mombasa governor election. That is because Mombasa is a city where ‘being known’ matters a lot, and the challenge for anyone trying to become Mombasa governor (or to win any other political position in Mombasa for that matter) is in how to make yourself 'known' in a good way.

Bundesliga vs EPL: Which is the better football league?

Well, we have to start with the observation that both the German Bundesliga and the English Premier League (EPL) are both superb leagues. Thus if you were to pose this question to any group of serious football fans, they wouldn’t be able to give straigtfward answers – as both the Bundesliga and the English Premier Leauge are good in their own different ways.

I think when it comes to technical astuteness, the Bundesliga is somewhat ahead of the EPL. But this is just my view, and it based on the observation that whenever EPL teams meet Bundesliga teams, the EPL teams almost always seem to be struggling. The Germans seem to have a certain scientific approach to football and a certain level of technical discipline that the English folks seem to be unable to match. But of course, this is just one aspect of the game.

On the other hand, when it comes to ‘swag’, the EPL is way ahead of the Bundesliga. The English people have really worked hard at popularizing their league, to a point where it is well loved and appreciated all over the world. Some people watch the EPL regularly and almost exclusively, only getting to catch Bundesliga games once in a while. So you find that the game played by EPL games may not be as technically sophisticated as the game played by Bundesliga teams, but it is certainly more entertaining. I also think that the EPL is the better monetized league, and EPL teams (and fanbases) tend to be more diverse than Bundesliga teams and fanbases.

How do you explain the success of Kathi Matatus?

Very few people will dispute the assertion that Kathi Safaris is one of the most successful travel companies in Ukambani. From a time less than 10 years ago when there used to be just a few Kathi matatus around, today, they have become a force to recorn with in Machakos and Makueni routes. If you were to sit at a place like, say, Makutano ma Kyumbi (Machakos Junction) and start counting the numbers of Kathi matatus in operation, you can’t help but be impressed. I was even more impressed another day sitting at Maungu and counting the number of Kathi buses going into and out of Mombasa – and it soon became clear that Kathi safaris has truly come of age.

In my assessment, the success of Kathi matatus is a result of the business acumen, prudence and aggressiveness of the folks who run the company. I mean if you go to the terminuses where Kathi matatus operate from (including the one opposite Kandara bar in Mtwapa and the one in Changamwe) at any time of the day or night, you soon realize that Kathi safaris is a very well managed business. You can see it in the employees and the briskness with which they operate. It helps too that Kathi enjoys strong support from the Kamba clientele it serves, who have come to view it as a trusted and reliable brand.

Why are there so few Giriama gospel songs?

Earlier today, I found myself meditating on the question of why there are so few Giriama gospel songs. The Giriama community is the biggest native coastal community in Kenya, and it probably has 1 million plus people. And the last time I checked, well over 70% of Giriama people were Christians. As such, one would expect there to be very many Giriama gospel songs, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. What could the reason be?

Perhaps the problem is in that the Giriama people are quite comfortable listening to the Swahili gospel songs that are already there, and don’t therefore feel the need to compose any in their native language. This is a viable reason, especially when you remember the fact that Giriama people are almost always at ease in conducting their affairs in either their Giriama language or in Swahili.

Another challenge could be in that there have historically been very few highly successful Giriama gospel artists, and therefore there are no role models to look up to for musically talented Giriama people.

There could also be another challenge in the fact that the musically talented Giriama people who could record gospel songs lack access to recording facilities – studios and so on. Isn’t it only lately that we have started to see studios springing up in Mombasa? Yet given the fact that some Giriama people are averse to the idea of traveling to Nairobi (which is where there were good studios traditionally) that could have played a role in hampering the growth of Giriama gospel music.

In the final analysis, one can only hope that with the proliferation of recording studios in Mombasa and even in Giriama towns such as Kilifi and Malindi, we will see a rise in the number of Giriama gospel songs available.

Safaricom modem not working: what can I do about it?

Well, in my experience, one simple thing you can do if your Safaricom modem is not working is to unplug from the USB port, then re-plug it. That is a trick which often works for me. It is similar to where we are told that if your computer is malfunctioning, you just restart it. So in a similar way, when I find that my Safaricom modem not working, I simply plug it out and re-plug it into the USB port again.

Another trick that I sometimes use with my Safaricom modem is that of taking the SIM card out of the modem, and then putting it back again. Sometimes, this is all it takes to get the Safaricom modem working again.

There are cases when you find that your Safaricom’s inability to work is due to network issues. In such cases, I just wait for Safaricom to sort out the network issues, after which my modem starts working again. In some cases, you may find that the place you are at doesn’t have proper network, which is what keeps the Safcom modem from working well. So in such situations, the solution is to move to another location where there is better network. I have observed that even within one room, you can have different network reception levels at different corners...

How can I get a KDF Cadet Job?

Well, as far as I know, there are four steps that you need to follow, if you want to get a Kenya Defence Forces cadet job.

First of all, you need to be checking the newspapers (the Daily Nation and The Standard) regularly, because that is where KDF cadet recruitment exercises are usually advertised. At some point, you are bound to come across ads informing people that the KDF is recruiting general service officer and specialist cadets, and advising people who are interested on the application procedure.

Second, having seen the KDF cadet jobs notifications in the newspapers, you need to apply. This is usually a matter of writing applications, attaching the certificates and testimonials and sending them to the addresses that are given in the cadet job adverts.

The third step is to wait for the Kenya Defence Forces cadet applicants’ shortlisting to be done. Once this is done, the KDF usually publishes the names of shortlisted candidates in the newspapers. So you check to see if your name is one of those who have been shortlisted.

The fourth step is to go to the Kenya Military Academy at Lanet (or whichever other place the KDF advises you to go to) for interview and the medical checks. If you are successful in those, you can subsequently join the Kenya Defence Forces as a cadet officer, go through training at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet (typically culminating in the award of a Kenyan Bachelor of Science degree in Military Science) and subsequently join the Kenya Defence Forces as a commissioned officer.

Kakamega High School and the concept of holistic education

If there is one school that I hold in esteem, when it comes to holistic education in Kenya it is Kakamega High School. I mean, when it comes to academics, Kakamega High School always manages to deliver a decent performance, year after year. When it comes to sports, Kakamega High School is considered a powerhouse. And when it comes to other extra-curricula activites like drama and music festivals, you tend to find that Kakamega High School is still an institution that cannot be wished away.

What we learn from Kakamega High School is that academic excellence and excellence in the extra-curricula activities doesn’t need to be mutually exclusive. It is still possible for a school to be good both in academics and in extra-curricula activities. In fact, a school should aim for excellence in both academics and in the extra-curricula activities, if at all it is to produce well-rounded graduates who can handle life ‘out there’. The last things you want to be producing as a school are ‘nerds’ who are only good at reading books but unable to deal with the real world which often requires the sorts of abilities that are best cultivated through the extra-curricula activities. Of course, one can only hope that Kakamega high school will be able to keep up in its balanced approach to education (as it has done so far over the decades). 

Just how big is the Naivas Nyali branch?

Well, the Naivas Nyali bridge is, by all standards, a considerably huge supermarket. One way in which you get to know that the Nyali Naivas branch is truly being is by trying to move from one end of it to the other. So like when you get in through the entrance, and try to get to the opposite end, you find that you actually have to walk for several minutes! And in between, you have to go through shelves upon shelves of merchandise...

Another way in which you get to know that the Naivas Nyali branch is a big enterprise is by looking at the employees as they stream out at the end of the working day or at the end of shifts. The situation is such that the matatus coming from places like Mtwapa and Bamburi Mtambo often have to set up what looks like a big stage outside the entrance to the Nyali Naivas when the Naivas employees are clocking off. You get the feeling that the Nyali Naivas employees are in the dozens, if not in the hundreds – with some of them taking the Bombolulu matatus, even as the others cross the road and take the Bamburi Mtambo matatus with others taking Mtapwa matatus because apparently some reside in Shanzu and Mtwapa areas.

To get to the Nyali Naivas branch from Mombasa CBD, you need to take the Mombasa Malindi highway, cross the Nyali bridge, go straight past the Nyali Lights, past neighborhoods like VOK, Kisimani and Bombolulu, to finally arrive at the supermarket (about 1 km from the Sheikh Khalifa school), and just past the KRA school of administration.

Nakumatt Nyali (which used to be in the opposite mall) used to be other major supermarket in the area. Previously, that stage used to be known as ‘Kenol’ but nowadays, thanks to the growth of the Nyali Naivas branch, it is simply known as the ‘Naivas’ stage.

What would it take to make Gikomba market in Nairobi an organized place?

Well in my view, it would take massive investments of money, to turn Gikomba market in Nairobi into an organized place. I think one problem that exists in Gikomba is that the number of traders is far bigger than the available space. Yet given the fact that Gikomba market is so lucrative, the traders would oppose any idea to relocate them. And even if they were to buy into that idea, where can one find free land to accommodate them within Nairobi city? 
So I think that perhaps one solution would be to turn Gikomba market into a multi-storied complex: with some traders being allocated to operate on the ground floor, others being allocated to operate on the first floor, others being allocated to operate on the second floor and so on. Of course, even this would cause some complications as you would have traders jostling for the more lucrative ground floor space and shunning the space in the higher floors. But I think that this can be sorted out by, for instance, allocating certain floors to traders dealing with specific types of merchandise and designing the market complex in such a manner that it has multiple entrances and exits to avoid a situation where some traders are put at an advantage over the others by being allocated space near the entrances. These sorts of projects would also help put a stop to the annual Gikomba market fires that have become a scourge. 
Bottom line is, if we can afford to build superhighways with interchanges all over, I think we can afford to build modern market complexes in places like Gikomba and wakulima market and perhaps in Muthurwa market with time too.

Where is the Mombasa Industrial Area?

Well, I think that there are several industrial areas in Mombasa.

In Mombasa Island, we have an industrial area in Shimanzi, along the old meter gauge railway line.

In Mombasa west, we have an industrial area in Changamwe (within the area where Changamwe EPZ are located, just past the Changamwe Kenya Petroleum Refinery Limited). Another one is along the road connecting Mombasa to Nairobi, around Miritini – actually the area just past Mikindani has a number of industries. Starting with the Kitui Flour Mills that is right on the Mikindani junction (where the Mikindani interchange is taking shape). And moving on – along that road – to the King’orani EPZ area and on to Jomvu where Pwani Oil is to be found overlooking the Jomvu junction (where the Jomvu interchange is taking shape). And on to Miritini where there vehicle assembly industries, as well as an iron sheets rolling mill and industries such as Kenya Vox.

In the north coast, there is Bamburi mtambo area where there is just a single plant (Bamburi Cement Mombasa Factory) that is nonetheless equivalent to several factories given its size and scale of operations.

There is yet another industrial area in Mombasa North, just after Mtwapa, where you find the Coast Bottlers Limited, the various Mtwapa EPZs in Majengo Kanamai, the noodles company… among others. 
So the Mombasa industrial area is not one centralized place like the Nairobi industrial area, but rather, what we have in Mombasa  are different ‘industrial areas’ including the one in Shimanzi, the one in Changamwe, the one on the road to Nairobi and the one at Mtwapa EPZ.

Kathonzweni Makueni

Kathonzweni is one of the biggest towns on the Makindu Wote highway. 

However, if you are coming from Nairobi going to Kathonzweni, the best route is first to take Mombasa road, up to Makutano (Machakos turn off) at Kyumbi. At Makutano junction, you turn left, and drive on to Machakos town. From Machakos town, you join the Wote Road (Machakos Wote road), and drive on for about 70 kilometers to Wote Town. At Wote Town, you take the Makindu road (Wote Makindu) road, and drive for about 20-30 kilometers to arrive at Kathonzweni market. 

There is of course the alternative route of coming from Nairobi, taking Mombasa road all the way to Makindu, then turning left at Makindu (just after the Makindu Sikh temple) joining the Makindu-Wote road and driving for about 50 kilometers to arrive at Kathonzweni.

If you are using public means, you can go to the Machakos airport bus station (the upper one, the one that is close to the farmers market where Ukambani matatus and buses are taken). Once there, board a Machakos bound matatu or minibus. Alight at Machakos town, and board a Wote bound matatu or minibus. Alight at Wote town and board a Makindu bound Nissan and tell them to drop you off at Kathonzweni (it is one of the major stops on this particular route). Kathonzweni is where you find one of the junctions to Mavindini, and it is also an important stop or matatus headed to Kitise and Yikithuki.

Where in Nairobi is South C?

Well, one way to get to Nairobi South C (from Nairobi CBD) is to take Mombasa Road, then turn right at Belle Vue (pronounced BelleView). That area starting from Belle Vue is the one known as South C. Another approach is where, from Nairobi CBD, you take Uhuru Highway, then turn right at Nyayo Stadium round about, drive on for about 500 meters, then turn left to enter into South C.

However if you are looking to visit the CID/DCI training school in South C, you will find it right on Mombasa road: start looking for it at Capital Center mall, it should be somewhere on the opposite side.

South C is one of Nairobi’s oldest estates, and one that has managed to retain an aura of decency over the years. I think that South C is in Lang’ata constituency (which previously used to stretch all the way to Kibera, before it was divided to yield Kibra and Lang’ata constituencies). 
Someone mentioned to me that South C, just like Eastleigh, is increasingly growing into one of the Somali strongholds in Nairobi (though I don’t know how factual that assertion is). 
South C rents can be somewhat expensive (owing to its proximity to Nairobi CBD), though there are still some bedsitters that can be had at relatively low rents for people who are just starting out or for students

How do I redeem Safaricom Bonga Points for cash?

I don’t know if there is a way in which you can redeem Safaricom Bonga Points for Cash. What I know is that Safaricom bonga points can be redeemed for airtime, data bundles, phones and other things of that nature. 

To be sure, during the coronavirus crisis, I heard some ads where they were saying that you can pay for stuff at shopping outlets [the ones with M-pesa till numbers] using the Bonga points. That is almost as good as converting the Safaricom Bonga points for cash: because in this case, you use the Safcom Bonga points to pay for things that you would otherwise have hard to pay for using hard cash.

I guess another way in which you can convert Safaricom bonga points into hard cash (if you have very many of them) would be to redeem them for easily sellable items like phones, then selling them. The problem with this approach to selling items is that you often end up having to sell them for sums of money that are far lower than the market prices...

The general procedure for redeemeding Safaricom bonga points is to dial *126# on your Safaricom line, then use the menu that comes thereafter to do whatever you wish to do with the bonga points.

What can you do with a KMTC Nursing Diploma?

Several options will be open to you, if you manage to earn a Kenya Medical Training College Nursing Diploma.

One of the options is that of getting work in a government hospital. So this would be about being on the lookout for government nursing job adverts, and applying whenever positions fall vacant. Thankfully, whenever nursing jobs are advertised, they tend to be many (meaning that the chances of getting them are high) though, again, the number of people with nursing diplomas is huge and competition can be quite stiff. But if you somehow manage to get a government nursing job, you would probably be set for life, so to speak -- unless you opt to bog yourself down with loans after employment, as many people in the Kenya civil service unfortunately do.

Another option that is open to you, if you have a KMTC nursing diploma is that of getting a job at a private hospital. Initially, you can start off at a low-profile private hospital, while awaiting for either a government job or at job at one of the high-profile private hospitals.

Yet another option available to you as a KMTC nursing diploma graduate is that of getting a job at one of the medical NGOs.

After gaining some experience, you would also have the option of seeking a job out of the country. Apparently, the KMTC nursing diploma is quite well respected internationally, with a considerable number of individuals who have that qualification having gotten jobs in places like Europe and the United States.

Where is the Mombasa Catholic Cathedral -- and how does it operate?

The Mombasa Catholic Cathedral, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost Cathedral Mombasa, is to be found in the Mombasa CBD. It is to be found around where Digo Road and Moi Avenue intersect. It is a beautiful cathedral, and one that is quite big on the inside though it looks small on the outside. 

To get to the Mombasa Catholic Cathedral using public means (from places like Changamwe, Nyali, Kisauni and so on), you need to take any vehicle that is headed to ‘Ferry’, then alight at the Kanisani stage where Digo Road meets Moi Avenue. Be careful not to be dropped off at the Kanisani stage in Mwembe Tayari: that one is the Mombasa Pentecostal Church. So there are two kanisani stages on that route, the one at Mwembe (for the Mombasa Pentecostal Church) and the one at the Digo Road-Moi Avenue junction for the Catholic Cathedral. The Mombasa Catholic Cathedral is quite close to the Mombasa General Post Office, and other buildings close to it is the Kenya Power Mombasa building and the TSS building.

The last time I checked, there used to several masses held at the Mombasa Catholic Cathedral each Sunday, with Daily masses in the morning, afternoon (around 1 Pm) and evening (around 5 Pm). 
At the entrance to the Mombasa Catholic Cathedral, you will find the Mombasa Catholic Bookshop, where you can buy Catholic literature as well as various other liturgical items, including rosaries. 

What services can you expect to get at the Coast Provincial General Hospital in Makadara?

Well, the Coast Provincial Hospital, which is otherwise known as the Makadara hospital is the biggest public hospital in the entire Kenyan coast region. It is not uncommon to find patients coming from as far away as Lamu, Tana River and Taita Taveta to seek services at the Coast Provincial Hospital. And that is of course on top of the patients from Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties that are nearer.

At the best of times, the coast provincial hospital in Mombasa has the whole range of services you would expect in a serious referral hospital in the world, though there is often a great deal of congestion. The services offered there seem to fall into two broad categories, namely inpatient and outpatient. The hospital building looks like a fort, and within it are numerous clinics, theaters and wards to serve the needs of the thousands of people who seek services there on a day to day basis.

The coast provincial hospital at Mombasa has decent labs (especially for the basic diagnostic tests), a reasonably well equipped ENT clinic, dental clinics, psychiatric clinics, TB clinics, CCC for HIV/AIDS, maternity facilities including theaters for caesarian sections, pediatric clinics, diabetes clinics, dialysis facilities, radiology including X-ray and CT-Scan facilities… and pretty much every other type of service you would expect in a high level referral hospital. There was even a time when I read that the Mombasa county government had retained the services of a neurologist and stationed him at the CPGH. What I think still needs to be developed is a radiotherapy and chemotherapy unit for cancer patients, so that they don’t have to travel all the way to Kenyatta National Hospital where there is often a great deal of congestion. 
Adjacent to the Mombasa Coast Provincial Hospital is the Mombasa campus of the Kenya Medical Training College, with most of its students getting their practical exposure within the hospital.

Do you like reading Makau Mutua’s Sunday Nation Articles?

I have come to realize that a considerable number of people love reading professor Makau Mutua’s articles in the Sunday Nation. That is perhaps the reason why Makau Mutua was re-appointed as a Sunday Nation columnist, even after having moved to the Standard for some time. The fact that Makau Mutua can afford to criss-cross between the Nation and the Standard, Kenya’s leading newspapers, shows that his column has some punch.

I may not always agree with Makau Mutua’s views, but I must confess that I enjoy reading them thoroughly each Sunday, and that my Sundays are incomplete if I don’t get to read Mutua’s column. What I like about Makau Mutua’s columns is the fact that he is able to speak his mind fearlessly, and without (overly) sugarcoating his words. This is important, as a growing number of columnists are increasingly opting for a version of self-censorship that ends up totally obfuscating their views. 
It helps too that Makau Mutua, being an obviously well read man, has fresh insights which are further enriched by the historical perspective (it is worth remembering that Makau Mutua was one of the people who had serious brushes with the Moi administration in the 80s).

Mombasa County Tenders: What does it take to win them?

In my view, there are some two key things you need to have, in order to win Mombasa county tenders.

Firstly, for you to win Mombasa county tenders, you need to have technical capacity. So the project you are bidding for needs to be one that you can actually undertake successfully. You have to understand that your bid for a Mombasa county tender will almost certainly be subjected to evaluation, and if it emerges that you don’t have the technical capacity to undertake the project you are bidding on, the bid may be unsuccessful. It is also important for you to know how to highlight your technical capacity in your bids for Mombasa tenders – because it is possible for you to have it (the technical capacity) yet fail to highlight it properly.

Secondly, for you to win Mombasa county tenders, you need to have financial capacity. This too is important, because your bids for Mombasa county tenders may be evaluated for financial capacity – meaning that your tender bid could fail on account of you failing to demonstrate financial capacity.

You of course also need to know where to find the Mombasa county tender advertisements, and how to apply for the Mombasa county tenders in the right way. It is also a good idea for you to network with the folks who have previously managed to win Mombasa county tenders, so that they can give you practical tips on how to win the tenders. I once heard someone saying that having friends in the ‘system’ at the county offices also helps, but I think that for the small tenders, it may be possible for you to win on the strength of your bid alone even without connections (but I could be wrong).

What can I do with an Institute for the management of information systems IMIS Diploma in Kenya?

Well, the Institute for the management of information systems IMIS diplomas are quite well respected in Kenya. There was actually a time when almost every 'serious' person would pursue an IMIS diploma after form 4/KCSE before proceeding for further studies. As a result, there are very many people with IMIS diplomas in Kenya earned in the 90s and early 2000s.

With an Institute for the Management of Information Systems IMIS diploma in Kenya, you can seek an IT job in a business organization.

With an Institute for the Management of Information Systems IMIS diploma in Kenya, you can seek an IT job in an NGO.

Another option that is viable for you with an Institute for the Management of Information Systems diploma in Kenya is to seek a government job whenever those are advertised.

Of course, you can also go into business while armed with an Institute for the Management of Information Systems diploma in Kenya. Like, for instance, you can set up a cyber café, a computer hardware store, a computer software development business or something else along those lines.

There is the further option of seeking a teaching job, while armed with an IMIS IT diploma. Some of these colleges that teach ‘computer packages’ would, for instance, be more than happy to have you on their faculty if you have an IMIS diploma.

How can I get a supermarket job in Mombasa?

Well, in my view, there are three ways in which you can get supermarket jobs in Mombasa.

The first approach is where you visit the careers pages of the Mombasa supermarkets you wish to work at, and apply for any vacant positions there. So you find that some of the bigger supermarket chains operating in Mombasa have websites with careers pages where job openings are advertised. Some of the people who hold mid level technical and managerial jobs in the various Mombasa supermarkets found their positions this way. So this is not something you should look down upon.

The second approach is where you network with individuals who are working in Mombasa supermarkets, and tell them to help you get a job there. This works even better if the people you are enlisting to help you find Mombasa supermarket jobs are either your relatives or close friends. Majority of the people who manage to get jobs in Mombasa Supermarkets probably get them this way.

The third approach is where you simply send your CV proactively to the Mombasa Supermarkets you wish to work at, and hope that it will lead to interviews and subsequent jobs.  With some luck, the reception of your CV may coincide with a job vacancy leading to you being called for an interview. Or your CV could be put into the supermarket's HR database, resulting in an interview invitation in due course. So don’t look down upon this approach, especially in this era where sending CVs by email is so easy.

How can I succeed in the KDF recruitment?

Well, I think there are some five things you can do, to increase your chances of success in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment.

First of all, you need to ensure that you maintain high levels of physical fitness, while preparing for the recruitment. Remember, you will be expected to run for a number of kilometers and in many cases, only the fellas who do well in the race are allowed to progress to the next level in the KDF recruitment. You should also try to reduce alcohol intake and smoking, eat right and be drinking lots of water consistently as you will have to pass a rigorous medical exam before joining the Kenya Army, Kenya Airforce or Kenya Navy as a serviceman.

Secondly, you need to ensure that you present yourself at the right recruitment center. This I think should be in your home constituency/division [the one on your ID]. This is because the recruitment is usually done on quota basis and if you present yourself at a place different from what is on your ID, you may be disqualified on that ground alone.

Third, you need to ensure that you get to the KDF recruitment center on time. I have heard of cases of people who missed out on Kenya Defence Force recruitment simply on account of getting to the KDF recruitment centers late. Sometimes, if you are coming far from your KDF recruitment center, it is better to book a room and sleep in the recruitment center’s town on the night before, instead of trying to travel in the morning and ending up late.

Fourth you need to ensure that you eat well and sleep well on the night before the recruitment.

Fifth you need to ensure that your academic certificates are in good order before presenting yourself for the Kenya Defence Forces recruitment. You need to understand that your certificates will be subjected to close scrutiny and if, for instance, the names in your KCSE and KCPE certificates don’t match those in your Kenya National ID, it could lead to you missing your opportunity in the KDF even if you are otherwise qualified. Thus if there are anomalies, it would be a good idea to get them sorted well in advance before presenting yourself for KDF recruitment.

It is also a good idea to talk to people who have successfully managed to go through the KDF recruitment, for them to tell how they really did it. So if you can manage it, networking with serving or recently retired soldiers would be an excellent idea, as they may give you tips (or alert you to certain realities) that you wouldn’t otherwise have gotten anywhere else.

Would Kalonzo Musyoka make a good president for Kenya?

Recently, at a certain bar, I posed the question  as to whether Kalonzo Musyoka would make a good president for Kenya. Some of the people I posed this question to were of the view that, in certain ways, Kalonzo Musyoka would make a good president for Kenya. 

For one, someone pointed out, Kalonzo Musyoka is one of the few people in top leadership in Kenya who are largely untainted by corruption. This is how the argument went: that many of the problems affecting Kenya can be attributed to corruption, and Kalonzo Musyoka, being largely untained by the vice would (at the very least) have the moral authority to lead  fight against corruption.

Someone else from Mwingi pointed out that Kalonzo Musyoka also has a lot of experience in leadership, having first contested for Kitui North MP position in 1983 (where he came fourth) and having gone to parliament in 1985 following the death of Phillip Manandu and remained in parliament up to 2013. We were told that given his experience, you would expect Kalonzo to know how things are done – and this is very important in a president.

One of the participants in the discussion also told that Kalonzo Musyoka has experience in peace-building, having brokered the 1990s truce between the various warring parties in Sudan, eventually leading to the birth of the South Sudanese nation. And because peace-building is one area that Kenya still needs some effort in, Kalonzo would be a worthwhile president.

As people started getting drunk, one the fellas would have been quiet all along pointed out that Kalonzo Musyoka is a properly educated person, having earned his Law Degree from the University of Nairobi. So, given his education, it would be highly unlikely for him to make the leadership blunders that illiterate leaders are prone to.

There also seemed to be those who felt that Kalonzo is  a moderating force, someone who is not too radical, which would perhaps mean that a Kalonzo Musyoka presidency would lead to a greater level of stability in the nation.

Why does Gor Mahia keep on winning the Kenyan Premier League?

I think there are at least four reasons as to why Gor Mahia FC keeps on winning the Kenyan premier league.

First is the fact that Gor Mahia is a club with a strong fan base, with ardent fans who keep on giving it all the moral support it needs to succeed. The people who play for Gor Mahia know who their fans are, and this means that they are motivated to perform. And although many people view Gor Mahia as a Luo football club, the reality is that Gor Mahia has admirers across many communities. Gor Mahia players know who their fans are – unlike various other football clubs in Kenya that don’t have well established fan bases.

Second is the fact that Gor Mahia is a reasonably well managed football club. There may be occasional squabbles here and there, but at least Gor Mahia has well established management structures which ensure that things don’t go too far out of hand.

Third is the fact that Gor Mahia is a relatively rich football club. I mean, it is a club that is even able to ‘buy’ high profile players in the East African region, and to hire expatriate coaches – something that many other clubs in the Kenyan Premier league can only dream about.

Fourth is the fact that Gor Mahia has a well developed culture of excellence. Thus, the players who join Gor Mahia know from the get-go that they have to maintain the excellence, and that has a strong motivating effect at the psychological level.

Who is Mwalimu Andrew?

Mwalimu Andrew is the author of one of the articles that appear in the Lifestyle section of the Sunday Nation.

In the articles, Mwalimu Andrew presents himself as a teacher based in a rural school known as Mwisho wa Lami primary. In his articles, he presents himself as the son of a mzee known as Caleb, as husband to Fiolina, father to Probox, Mwalimu Catherine's Baby Daddy, a regular at Hitler’s alcohol den and as a perpetual student at Kenyatta University school of education.

It has never been clear who the man behind Mwalimu Andrew’s Sunday Nation articles is. I think I once came across a Ted Talk about someone who was saying that he is the man behind Mwalimu Andrew’s articles, though I don’t know if indeed he is the one or not. Unlike Wahome Whispers whose articles used to occupy that space in years gone by, the person behind Mwalimu Andrew’s articles is not very public. Wahome Whispers was of course a very public person, one who ended up being put into detention at some point during the Moi presidency because of his stance on certain issues – I think that was the Mwakenya era. Mwalimu Andrew, on his part, seems to have opted for anonymity.

What I know about the person behind Mwalimu Andrew’s Sunday Nation articles is the fact that he is one excellent writer, who is able to build simple characters and give them qualities that resonate with many people.

How do I travel from Mombasa to Kilifi?

To travel from Mombasa to Kilifi, you just need to take the Mombasa-Malindi highway and drive straight to Kilifi town (which is widely viewed as the midway point on the Mombasa Malindi journey). So from Mombasa CBD you can move to Saba Saba junction, turn right at Saba Saba, then go past the Nyali Bridge, past Bombolulu and cross the Mtwapa bridge. After Mtwapa, you pass through towns like Majengo/Kanamai, past Shariani, past the Vipingo sisal plantations, past Takaungu (where the road takes a turn) and past Mavueni junction town, to finally arrive at Kilifi. You will need to cross what is known as the Kilifi bridge on the Indian Ocean, to access the Kilifi town proper.

Kilifi town is quite big. It is host to many residential estates, the Kilifi County Referral hospital, the Kilifi Governor’s office and Kilifi Governor’s residence as well as various Kilifi tourist hotels. Kilifi town is also home to the Pwani University, whose main campus is at Kibaoni area of Kilifi town, near where the road connecting Kilifi to Ganze and Bamba Towns branches off. Many of the residents of Kilifi town are Giriama, but various other coastal and Kenyan upcountry tribes also have a strong presence in Kilifi town. Kilifi is also home to a big cashewnuts processing plant in Kiwandani area.

Who is Mwalimu Nyerere?

Mwalimu Julius Kabarage Nyerere was the first president of Tanzania. He is widely regarded as the father of the Tanzanian nation, and one of the most selfless leaders to have ever come out of Africa. There was even a time when there were talks of Nyerere being canonized (as in, being declared a saint). Such is his stature!

In a certain interview that I came across somewhere on YouTube, Nyerere can be heard asserting that his biggest achievement was creating a nation out of the various tribes he found in Tanzania. And this is indeed a worthwhile achievement, because Tanzania is one of the nations with the highest levels of social cohesion in Africa.

Nyerere is also credited with putting Tanzania on a socialist path (Ujamaa) through his Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM party), which is the foundation for the nation’s high levels of cohesion, as well as the current well-balanced economic development that it is experiencing now. If Nyerere was a dictator, he was a truly benevolent one. To be sure, at some point, Nyerere ‘apologized’ for his socialist pursuits, but looking back, there was really nothing for him to apologize about: the systems he put in place have worked well for Tanzania. Still there are some people who feel that the leaders who came after him failed to tweak the systems in line with the reality of the times, leading to a somewhat rigid system.

What you can’t take away from Nyerere is the fact that he is a leader who took the burden of leadership with the seriousness it deserves: a selfless leader who wanted nothing but the best outcomes for ordinary Tanzanians, and a courageous leader who made difficult decisions when they had to be made.

How do I travel from Mombasa to Kwale?

Well the most straightforward way to travel from Mombasa to Kwale is first through the Mombasa to Lunga Lunga highway, then you turn right at Kombani and travel on to Kwale town. So this is assuming that you want to get to Kwale town itself. Coming from the Mombasa CBD, you find your way to the ferry, then wait to be ferried to the Likoni side, from where you take the Lunga Lunga highway. You go past Likoni neighborhoods like Kona Polisi, past Harambee, past Likoni flats, past Kona Mpya, past Ujamaa and past Shika Adabu. You go past Denyenye, and into the somewhat rural parts, to finally get to Kombani junction (where you will find numerous signposts for facilities that are in Kwale Town). So you turn right at the said Kombani junction, and drive for around 15 kilometers to arrive at Kwale Town.

Kwale Town Golini serves as the headquarters for Kwale County. So that is where you find the the Kwale Governor’s office, Kwale County Commissioner’s office, the Kwale Law courts among other things, including schools like Kwale High School. 

Kwale town is one of those civil servants towns that have a certain nice tranquility to them.

I reckon that Kwale town is in Matuga constituency.

If you are coming from Nairobi and heading to Kwale Town, you don't have to drive all the way to Mombasa. You can opt to turn right at Samburu Town (on the Mombasa Nairobi highway), then drive on to Kinango and from Kinango to Kwale town. So instead of going to Mombasa, passing through the ferry and driving on to Kwale town, you turn right at Samburu Town, take the newly tarmacked Samburu to Kinango road, then from Kinango find yourself to Kwale town. But that route works well if you are in a reliable vehicle and during the daytime, as some parts of it are very deserted.

Why do I always find myself looking forward to Mwalimu Andrew’s Sunday Nation articles?

My Sundays are incomplete if I don’t get to read Mwalimu Andrew’s articles in the Sunday Nation. I don’t know why I have come to be so deeply attached to Mwalimu Andrews articles, in spite of the fact that they are almost certainly fictional. 
It could perhaps be to the way they are written, with simple yet entertaining storylines. Mwalimu Andrew writes in the simple manner that would be expected of a Kenyan primary school teacher. The writer (Mwalimu Dre) is almost certainly not a Kenyan primary school teacher, but he does a good job in presenting himself as one in an absolutely convincing manner. 
Another thing that really draws me to Mwalimu Andrew’s Sunday nation articles is the dry humor in them. I think it actually started off as a humor column, before eventually turning into a normal diary article, but with still a heavy dose of humor in it. 
Perhaps yet another attraction in Mwalimu Andrew’s articles is the fact that it reminds many of us who were brought up in the rural areas about rural life and its simple pleasures. 
It has gotten to a point where the characters in Mwalimu Andrews articles – the likes of Nyayo, Fiolina the laugh of his life, his father mzee caleb, his brothers pius and ford, his son Probox and the other one had with teacher Cate, Hitler the alcohol vendor and others have become very real to me. And places like Kasuku Hotel, Cosmos Bar and Mwisho wa Lami have similarly become very real to me over the years.

How does Mulango Girls High School manage to keep on posting decent KCSE results year after year?

Well, I think there are three main reasons why Mulango Girls High School in Kitui county manages to keep on posting decent KCSE results year after year.

First is the fact that Mulango girls is a relatively well equipped school. You can’t start comparing Mulango Girls with one of these upcoming harambee schools, some of which are just starting to cobble together libraries and laboratories. Mulango girs is a relatively old school and has accumulated some resources over the years, which are used for the benefit of the students.

Second is the fact that Mulango girls admits kids who are reasonably bright. These are usually highly motivated kids from families that value education. Therefore teaching such kids and getting them to excel is not as hard.

Third is the fact that Mulango Girls has, over the years, developed a culture of excellence. So the girls who are admitted there each passing year feel the push to maintain that culture. This counts for something, because there are certain schools out there that instead of having a culture of excellence, actually have a culture of failure!

To those I would also add the fact that Mulango Girls is a school with considerably good discipline standards, being as it is a school that is located within a strong church community. For that reason, you can’t even start comparing Mulango Girls with one of those schools that operate in completely secular settings. The fact that Mulango Girls is within a huge AIC compound (with various other AIC facilities co-existing alongside it) means that all the people operating in the school are influenced, to a considerable extent, by biblical teachings. And this ends up having some influence on the schools long-term performance, in my view.

What I like about Aljazeera’s Hiba Morgan

There are three things that I really like about Aljazeera’s Hiba Morgan.

The first thing I like about Hiba Morgan (whose full name I came to learn is Hibatallah Morgan) is her fluency. I usually listen to her presentations in English, and I can’t help noticing how well she pronounces her words, as well as the poise with which she presents. You get the impression that this is truly someone who doesn’t struggle with the language. She speaks as well as a native speaker of English.

The second thing I like about Hiba Morgan of Aljazeera is her grasp of the issues. It is always possible to tell a reporter who has deep understanding of the issues she or he is reporting on and one who doesn’t. Listening to Hiba, you are left in doubt that this is a well informed journalist, and one who actually takes the trouble to research and read widely before going on the screen. Of course, she is a person of exceptional intelligence, going by what I read in LinkedIn about her having pursued a medical degree and a journalism degree and having passed through the world-respected London School of Economics.

The third thing I like about Hiba Morgan of Aljazeera is of course the fact that she is always very presentable, if you know what I mean. Everything about her, from her demeanor to her dressing and her general poise on the screen is something I always find remarkable.

What would you say is Ken Wa Maria’s Contribution to Kamba Music?

Well, in my view, Ken wa Maria (WaNzanze mweene) has made a huge contribution to Kamba music, right from the early 2000s (specifically from 2003 todate 2020). In fact, it may be possible to divide Kamba music into two eras: the pre-Ken Wa Maria era and the Post-Ken Wa Maria era. I think Ken wa Maria’s biggest contribution has been in terms of introducing a bit of ‘swag’ into Kamba music, pushing for Kamba music to pay better and nurturing many artists.

It is important to remember that Ken wa Maria was among the first Kamba artists in the modern era to shoot VCDs that were very well received. He also pushed the boundaries a bit, in terms of what could be said and what couldn’t be said in Kamba music. Of course, other artists who have come after him have pushed the boundaries even further… but Wa Maria gave them the impetus. You can’t take that away from him. And some of the songs he composed have become Kamba classics, including Undu Niilye, Kya Manyanya we soma, Niwangunie Kivelenge, Walioomuua Lucky Dube, Fundamentals, Kalonzo Ika Nesa... among hundreds others. A song like Undu Niilye is played in almost all Kamba live band performances.

It is during the early years of Yatta Boys Band (which later changed to Yatta Orchestra International) that the idea of paying Kamba bands decent sums of money for performances was introduced. Previously, Kamba live band performances were ‘kamandiko’ affairs – with very little money in it for the artists. Today, it is not uncommon for a Kamba band to be paid 100,000 shillings ($1,000) or a figure in that range for a performance – all thanks to the revolution that was started by people like Ken wa Maria. It is also important to understand that even on the recording side, it is artists like Ken wa Maria who began the whole idea of artists producing their own works. Previously, Kamba artists were badly exploited by RiverRoad producers.

And in terms of nurturing artists, it is worth remembering that Kamba music stars like Kativui (Ben Mbatha) and Maima (Alphonse Kioko) passed through Ken wa Maria’s Yatta Boys Band. Ken wa Maria may have pushed them too hard, but there is no denying that the exposure and self-discipline lessons he gave them through Yatta was instrumental in their formation. And there is no knowing if, for sure, Kativui or Maima would be where they are had they not first had the experience of working in Ken wa Maria’s Yatta -- for better or for worse.

Cheap houses for rent in Mombasa: where can I get a cheap rental house in Mombasa?

Well, it depends on what you mean by ‘cheap’. For some people, a house whose monthly rent is Kshs. 10,000 would be considered 'cheap'. For others, a house whose monthly rent is 10,000 bob would be considered very 'expensive'… so it is all about perspective.

What I can tell you for sure is that there are cheap houses for rent in all corners of Mombasa. But you get what you pay for. Like if you want a very cheap house whose monthly rent is 1,000 to 2,000 shillings, in Kibarani or Kwa Skembo, you would expect it to have mud walls, to not have a ceiling and perhaps to have a toilet and bathroom that is shared by very many people and in a location that gets muddy when it rains... 

So if you want the cheapest houses (in the Kshs. 1,000 to 2,000) range, you would need to go to places like Kibarani, Bangladesh, Magongo bokole, Likoni (the deeper parts) and perhaps some parts of Mlango Saba in Mishomoroni – you know, that stretch from Milango Saba to Vikwatani and on to Concordia.

If you want a house in the 2,000 to 4,000 range, you will have a better pool to choose from, in places like Bombolulu, Kongowea kwa Karama, Kisauni, Mishomoroni (the better parts), Magongo, Chaani and so on. Of course, at that range, you would be looking at a single room, with shared toilet and bathroom facilities, with or without a ceiling.

From 5,000 to 8,000, you can get a bedsitter in almost all corners of Mombasa – from the best parts of Bombolulu, Kisauni and Kongowea kwa Karama to Chaani, Migadini, Magongo, Mikindani, Shanzu and so on.

From 9,000 to 15,000, you should be able to get a one bedroomed or even a two bedroomed house in almost all corners of Mombasa (save for high-end areas like Nyali and Kizingo, where one bedroomed and two bedroomed houses would be in the 20,000 to 50,000 and possibly even 100,000 shillings range).

 Mombasa rents are determined by the state of the house (e.g. whether it has a ceiling, whether it has tiles, whether it is well painted... and so on), the location of the house (with those that are deeper inside/from the main roads costing less) and the neighborhood. It of course also depends on the size though even very small houses in strategic locations can still be very expensive. Generally Mombasa Island rents – in places like Spaki, Tudor, Majengo, Tononoka, Kibokoni, Bondeni, Ganjoni and Makadara tend to be higher than rents in the outlying areas. Sometimes, for someone working in the Mombasa CBD, it becomes more sensible to rent a house in Mombasa West area (Changamwe, Mikindi, Magongo and so on) or in Mombasa North (Bombolulu, Kongowea, Kisauni, Mishomoroni and so on) and be comuting daily to work, rather than paying the exorbitant rents in the Mombasa town center. But there are still some cheap houses in the island, it is just that getting them is not always easy.

Note that likoni rents tend to be much cheaper than in other areas of Mombasa. But for choosing to live in Likoni, you have to contend with daily ferry rides and those can be quite hectic, especially for someone who commutes daily. But one eventually gets used to it.