Hello Hello!!
I'll just begin by saying that I am grateful to be alive this beautiful morning and for the joy my Maker has put in my heart. Inspite of the moulding process He's taking me through, I'm still able to sing, laugh and love...
All the same, I just had a light-bulb moment and felt I should share this with you. A few days ago, a close friend asked me a question that totally caught me by surprise. She noted that I seemed to enjoy studying and admired the way I did it wholeheartedly (I didn't know that!). I sat down, thought about it and my mind led me down memory lane...
You see, coming from a family of smart people (Just calling a spade, a spade) academic success is something that ought to come naturally, right? Wrong. When I sat for my KCPE exams way back in '05, I was privileged to get great results, which landed me in one of the best secondary schools in Kenya...the school with rules more strict than Kenya's penitentiaries and a very distinct flyover? Anyway, to cut it short, I was somewhat over-confident in my academic abilities and my grades dwindled terribly. From top ten to bottom five in the class, that was a huge leap in the wrong direction. My parents can even attest to the fact that my report form looked like an alphabet chart...with most grades being C's and D's. There was even a time I got the lowest possible grade (E). It really affected me.
This isn't to say I didn't work hard. I did study lots, and even consulted teachers on a regular basis. Nevertheless, after doing KCSE I got a grade which I didn't like and I remember my mama consoling me for weeks on end, that everything would be okay and that I needed to move on and decide what I wanted to do. Eventually, the tears ran dry and I figured out what I wanted to do. A career that would entail lots of reading, writing, talking and human interaction. That is how I found myself doing Communication.
So, I answered my friend by letting her know that it is the drive to succeed and love for what I do that motivates me to work hard. Needless to say, failure was a word I had to eliminate from my vocabulary. It is inevitable, but not something that we should dwell on. My encouragement to you is this: If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. The only barrier to you achieving your dreams is your thoughts and capability to perceive what you can or cannot accomplish.
The future may look bleak from the view in your stained lenses, but in God's perfect view, it is brighter than you can ever imagine. All you've got to do is trust in Him, work hard and smart, surround yourself with people who build you and those you can build, and finally, set smart priorities and focus on them.
In short, Never, ever, ever give up.
Thursday 28 March 2013
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Enough with the hypocrisy! #Elections2013
Wednesday night: 2143h
Barely 48 hours after Kenyans cast their votes in one of the most historic elections, the final results are still yet to be announced. This particular elections are unique in the sense that they are the first to be carried out since the new constitution was voted in through a referendum in the year 2010. Just a little backgrounder to what I have to say next.
The previous decades have been characterized by a large class of politicians who've engrained a certain culture in the leadership of this country and poisoned the minds of people. We have had a vast majority who engulfed this country into pools of scandals, corruption, greed, nepotism and tribalism, whereas a select few have taken bold and courageous steps to deliver this beautiful land from the rungs of the mentioned vices.
Nevertheless, it seems that we hardly ever seem to learn. In the past, Kenyans would always complain that the country lacked visionary leaders and embodiments of the biblical Joshua to lead us into the promised land. However, when they did vie for presidency, what excuses did we come up with? It's not their time, they aren't seasoned enough...blah blah blah. Hypocrisy I tell you! Truth be told, I have great respect for certain people who choose to go against the status quo and attempt to change the face of this nation's leadership:
Enter Martha Karua. A tough lady, who sticks firm to her word and had no room for impunity in her heart and in the prospective government that she would form. Then came Peter Kenneth. His track record spoke volumes and his basis for running for presidency banked on his vision to tackle issues affecting this nation, as opposed to mere ethnic claims. And there are countless others, but I'll only mention these two for now. But what have we demonstrated so far? We aren't ready for visionaries. Simple!
Secondly, another burning issue in my heart is the nature of folks on social media. Popularly known as #KOT(Kenyans On Twitter). We discuss issues, talk of a Kenya we want and preach peace like there's no tomorrow. But what do we do come election day? We vote in the same ol' peeps. I mean, if the results given so far are anything to go by. As I write this, I am seething with rage and feeling sorry for ourselves and all those who did not have an opportunity to vote, since they are under our mercy. Seriously, when you vote in someone who dismissed medical officers ruthlessly when they were simply voicing their concerns, do you expect positive change? The same person that could not handle himself during a mere television interview when ambushed by "difficult" questions? A clear lack of accountability on his part!
All the same, all is not lost as some seem to have seen the light. In my home county for instance, an Asian was voted in as Member of Parliament as opposed to someone from that particular community. Word on the ground is that the outgoing MP was arrogant albeit a hard worker. Talk about a revolution! It is evident that change cannot take place overnight but great strides toward this reality must be made.
One more thing, Kenyans. Please! Let the IEBC do their job. You may think that it's an easy thing for me to say but I know firsthand how it feels to handle a general election. Having had a family member who worked as a Returning Officer in the previous election (Gachoka constituency-for the sake of credibility), I can tell you for sure that the job is tedious. From irate contestants, to security challenges amidst other obstacles, it is not a job for the faint-hearted. How much more at the managerial level? Before we start to criticize and say all sorts of nothings on our Facebook and Twitter pages, let us first understand the dynamics of the process and the arising cases. And whatever religion you ascribe to, remember all IEBC officials in your prayers, as well as anyone else involved in these elections. They may be taking quite a while to be released, but remember the Kiswahili adage, "Haraka haraka haina baraka."
And if you or your party/candidate does not win, accept defeat in all humility and focus on building a better Kenya. Period.
Meanwhile, as we preach peace on cyberspace, let us be realistic and do the same to those with no access to it.
Have a peaceful week, won't you?
Barely 48 hours after Kenyans cast their votes in one of the most historic elections, the final results are still yet to be announced. This particular elections are unique in the sense that they are the first to be carried out since the new constitution was voted in through a referendum in the year 2010. Just a little backgrounder to what I have to say next.
The previous decades have been characterized by a large class of politicians who've engrained a certain culture in the leadership of this country and poisoned the minds of people. We have had a vast majority who engulfed this country into pools of scandals, corruption, greed, nepotism and tribalism, whereas a select few have taken bold and courageous steps to deliver this beautiful land from the rungs of the mentioned vices.
Nevertheless, it seems that we hardly ever seem to learn. In the past, Kenyans would always complain that the country lacked visionary leaders and embodiments of the biblical Joshua to lead us into the promised land. However, when they did vie for presidency, what excuses did we come up with? It's not their time, they aren't seasoned enough...blah blah blah. Hypocrisy I tell you! Truth be told, I have great respect for certain people who choose to go against the status quo and attempt to change the face of this nation's leadership:
Enter Martha Karua. A tough lady, who sticks firm to her word and had no room for impunity in her heart and in the prospective government that she would form. Then came Peter Kenneth. His track record spoke volumes and his basis for running for presidency banked on his vision to tackle issues affecting this nation, as opposed to mere ethnic claims. And there are countless others, but I'll only mention these two for now. But what have we demonstrated so far? We aren't ready for visionaries. Simple!
Secondly, another burning issue in my heart is the nature of folks on social media. Popularly known as #KOT(Kenyans On Twitter). We discuss issues, talk of a Kenya we want and preach peace like there's no tomorrow. But what do we do come election day? We vote in the same ol' peeps. I mean, if the results given so far are anything to go by. As I write this, I am seething with rage and feeling sorry for ourselves and all those who did not have an opportunity to vote, since they are under our mercy. Seriously, when you vote in someone who dismissed medical officers ruthlessly when they were simply voicing their concerns, do you expect positive change? The same person that could not handle himself during a mere television interview when ambushed by "difficult" questions? A clear lack of accountability on his part!
All the same, all is not lost as some seem to have seen the light. In my home county for instance, an Asian was voted in as Member of Parliament as opposed to someone from that particular community. Word on the ground is that the outgoing MP was arrogant albeit a hard worker. Talk about a revolution! It is evident that change cannot take place overnight but great strides toward this reality must be made.
One more thing, Kenyans. Please! Let the IEBC do their job. You may think that it's an easy thing for me to say but I know firsthand how it feels to handle a general election. Having had a family member who worked as a Returning Officer in the previous election (Gachoka constituency-for the sake of credibility), I can tell you for sure that the job is tedious. From irate contestants, to security challenges amidst other obstacles, it is not a job for the faint-hearted. How much more at the managerial level? Before we start to criticize and say all sorts of nothings on our Facebook and Twitter pages, let us first understand the dynamics of the process and the arising cases. And whatever religion you ascribe to, remember all IEBC officials in your prayers, as well as anyone else involved in these elections. They may be taking quite a while to be released, but remember the Kiswahili adage, "Haraka haraka haina baraka."
And if you or your party/candidate does not win, accept defeat in all humility and focus on building a better Kenya. Period.
Meanwhile, as we preach peace on cyberspace, let us be realistic and do the same to those with no access to it.
Have a peaceful week, won't you?
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