Keep on Keeping on

It happens sometime  you meet very special people. You know, the kind of people that make you forget yourself for a minute, well not a minute literally. This person makes you forget about 9GAG, Buzzfeed for me. You text them all the time, you just want to talk to them because they are the most awesome and greatest humans created in their time.

Then after a while you are left. The person who made you abandon Buzzfeed goes cold, goes MIA. They stop texting, and you stop calling because honestly, you were the only one calling unless they were returning your missed call.  A day later.

Then it hits you that probably you should have never dumped Buzzfeed. Buzzfeed is like your partner in crime. Buzzfeed is like the desperate girl who had a crush on you and since primary school, say class four? She will never move on , she will always wait for you to come to her. It is sticky when you do not come back, or she moves on by the time you are back. In this case Buzzfeed doesn`t have funds to run or it has been hacked, which is still very unlikely because some PE just pumped in money.
You now camp there day in day out. You take the Buzzfeed quizzes religiously and share in every social media platform you have signed up.

You even take the screenshots of the results and put them as your display picture on WhatsApp. Because of why? You are trying to make up carefully and tactfully so she does not crash and you have to reinstall again. Unfortunately, she is mad. Your bundles are on fire, unless of course you have WiFi at home and use R.O.G Matatus to town.
Is it true though that R.O.G Matatus are the only ones in Nairobi with free WiFi?

Then one of those days on Buzzfeed you remember you had a blog that you used to write about girls (giggles). Then there you are. You want to write how you are a horrible person. How you turn off people (Is it not  funny though, they turn you on and you turn them off?- such an unfair universe). You tell this to your friends quite often  and they try to convince you that you are not but deep inside you know better, you know best. You are a socially awkward person and cannot keep a good moment going on for five seconds.

Because lets face it,  why would a girl you have been chasing for a year be your girlfriend on Saturday and dump you on Sunday? Hehe!! Aki this life man.
But then you are a grown man. You know this because why else would your brother be asking you for pocket money every Friday? And bundles everyday? This is so scary but what can a man do? You are grown.

You cannot ask your mum for money. Unless your brother has asked for some bailing out and you need bailing too. So you ask for a bailout from your mother and this is how it goes.

"Mum I need some cash for bro and I juu sijalipwa bado"

"Nitatumia ndugu yako wewe utangoja kiasi"

"Mum I need money juu ata kesho naenda church."

"Na hua unatoa tithe?"

"Bado, but nitaanza. Mum sasa nitasurvive aje?"

"Mimi sijui, mungu ndio anajua."

You know this is funny and you laugh and forget you are broke for a minute but she does not berge, she is as serious as Sossion, you can read from her lips. You leave for Saturday errands because God knows and God never lets you down.

Image Courtesy

You go to class and you really enjoy the classes because nothing really turns you on like new knowledge. In class people  say you have changed because you don`t hang out with them. Hehe! This is funny because it`s not that you don`t want to, you just do not have money, that money is someone`s upkeep these days.

You go home to finish some series you were watching and Alas! You find mum has left you some cash, because she is who she is, she is mum.

So this post goes out to you out there. You find yourself alone most of the time. You think you do not have a social life. Everyone has opinions about you. Do they matter? Is that your identity? I don`t know man.
You may not have discovered yourself yet, you are learning and observing. It feels like you are trying to balance life on a plate but you have
shaky hands. Do not be afraid because at some point time it will fall. You just have to kneel down put the pieces together and carry on.

You have to keep on keeping on.

Texting Shenanigans

Is it not annoying when you are talking to someone probably giving them instruction or making inquiry and they're not respecting the eye contact rule? This is even more disgusting when they are busy on their phone's keyboard. Even more irritating when the keyboard keeps making sounds or vibrating annoyingly. It becomes disrespectful when they node or "seem" to agree with that hhmmm..sound only to ask "sorry what did you say?"

This texting thing is really getting out of hand. It is even a leading cause of accidents on our roads today. It is not surprising to see please don't text signs on any highway today. This is not just a driver's thing. Pedestrians are hit by vehicles while crossing the road. Smartphones - texting sensation to be specific has made us careless, Zombies. We have become those Walkers on The Walking Dead serial.
This makes more sense when you walk with someone in town and they have to make unprecedented stops in order to text their significant other. There is really no difference between you and those Walkers my friend.

Let me make it clear that it is really not a bad thing to text, it wouldn't have been legal to own a phone, would it? It is a good thing when you are using it for the good reasons in the right places with the right people. Right and good are relative.

I am a believer of the words " the world should not just revolve around one person."  If your world is contrary to the statement, you better start living, by leaving the world you are in. Life will pass you by if you spend the better part of your day texting one person.

I'm not judging you, infact I've been there. I tell you for free that you will start appreciating life better when you stop worrying about the two minute delay on whatsapp( makes it worse when they're online, and now when the ticks turn blue, in my time there were no blue ticks so I can imagine the desperation). Leave this thing, texting syndrome I mean and just focus on building your future, you won't be dumped by being focused. If you're dumped you know they were not worth your whole day.

To you who after a long day you want to text your clandestine while driving so that your wife doesn't become curious, just stop for our highways' sake. Listen to Jimmy Gathu's drive show(shouldn't be too mature for you, get some sense, from the air). You will be reducing your risk of dying from a road accident by a large margin .

This texting madness has to stop. I think what the county government introduced was a great thing. You're found using your phone while crossing the road in Nairobi, you are arrested. It is not a very pleasant law, but if it can save lives, why not?

If you text in class just stop it, I know some lectures can be boring, but instead, contribute to the "creative" discussions in the KOT sphere. Troll Safaricom so they keep on reducing their data charges. Unajenga nchi, now that we're number two in using Social Media after Philippines in emerging and developing economies. Enjoy your week.

Valentine's Hangover

I am probably the unluckiest man on the planet, not extremely but yoh, people are very unlucky out there. They say, it's a jungle out there!
I'm unlucky ONLY in this doro Valentine's sh*. Other aspects of life I'm quite lucky. Like lucky being single and all. I hear that while I was busy watching that old Percy Jackson movie, on my phone, my supposedly crush and future Valentine's date was busy posting photos on Instagram with her significant other.

I don't know what you think about that but I'm quite sure, that St. Valentine did not die for these kind of scenes. I understand the fact that 14th Feb was not meant for romantic kind of love only, even brotherly, family and societal. Bromance can also be celebrated on this lovely day. No?

I tried to figure out the main reasons why I was watching Percy Jackson, alone. Well at least why I was not getting some on Saturday
First, I think Percy, (not Percy Jackson)you seriously cast a spell on me or something. Imagine from that time, I have not been able to create any creative pick up line. I have just been traumatized, seriously I don't even know. I can't even think straight when I think about your name. When I think about you, I have to listen to dorobucci to bring me back to life, back to my senses. I just have one thing to say to you, rather a song to " say" to you, Adelle's Rolling in the deep. 

Speaking of pick up lines, I was walking in town the other day after school. Then I walked past this click of friends who were probably KEMU students, because they seemed really comfortable around that area code of KEMU towers. I really was not eavesdropping but I just got to hear this talk, " Imagine I just had to stop her and tell her I know her from IG." The pals were like "for real?" , "yeah man, I just had to" he answered enthusiastically.
There are so many things wrong with this dude, I won't even say what Njoki Chege said about Kenyan men on Instagram. But that's none of my business. My issue with all this, is that if these are the pick up lines of today, I do not belong to this world anymore. I lived ages ago. So what happens to those beautiful girls who are not on Instagram? And that also means we men who are not in IG do not have pick up lines. Sad story.

Ladies, you know we love you, sorry I have to say this. When I say I like you I mean it, when I don't say, it does not mean I don't, so no need to push it because there is a probability I do not. (I have a feeling I should shut up) But one more thing, I enjoy beautiful company and good music. In beautiful there is blonde, they can go together, and they can also go individually.
Work hard for beautiful to have prominence. If I start a conversation with you, I do not want to hear your lame boyfriend stories, I just want a mature conversation, get rid of the blonde. A world can't just revolve around one person can it? We would have one two many worlds then. 

Why I was alone on Saturday.

As I write this, I'm still trying to get over the many movies I've watched this weekend, Monday here we come!

Grow Yourself

A guy walks in to a lingerie store to buy his wife some. He feels so embarrassed in the store. He is so uneasy. The harsh white florescent bulbs that give him that judging glare. And do the sales people make it easier for him? So Roy Raymond goes home thinking; Can men buy their partners lingerie without being embarrassed?
He realized there was this gap or opportunity and went ahead to create Victoria Secret. A departmental store where men could buy their wives lingerie comfortably without feeling weird or embarrassed. Roy just began with $80000, and the company is currently worth $5 billion. And which lady doesn't love Victoria Secret products?

And it's not just him who created a giant company just by seeing opportunities, there is this guy Ferruccio Lamborghini. This guy' s story is interesting and PR people should be keen on this one.

Ferruccio Lamborghini is a guy who liked cars, loved cars . Fast cars, he owned Fiats, and Mercedes... the fast cars of that time. He loved maserati but he did not like the way it was heavy and was not very fast.

His favourite car however was the Ferrari. "Lamborghini thought Ferrari's cars were good, but too noisy and rough to be proper road cars, categorizing them as repurposed track cars with poorly built interiors."
He also found the clutches to be inferior and required frequent trips to the garage, where the Ferrari technicians would take the car and rebuild it in secrecy, to the annoyance of Lamborghini.

Lamborghini raised these concerns to the aftersales service; he even went ahead and brought this up with Enzo Ferrari( founder of Ferrari) but was dismissed by the pride filled businessman.
Lamborghini went ahead to modify one of his own Ferrari which even out did the ones in stock in terms of performance.

It is after this that Lamborghini got the urge to build an automobile that could meet his needs. That ladies and gentlemen; is why we have Lamborghini hybrid cars.

These two men made me realize that life is not just about whining and complaints, it is all about seeing a gap and filling it. Seeing an opportunity and juicing it all its worth.
Use every opportunity to grow yourself to the next level.
Next time you complain about dial a delivery delaying the pizza, just think about a quicker delivery service you could create.

It's all in the mind, how you view it; a half filled bottle, is it half empty or half full. But think of it, a half full bottle is more desirable to fill to the brim, but a half empty bottle is much easier to be emptied.

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

A friend of mine sent me this informative piece which I know will be worth your read;

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) revolves around our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects our flexibility to deal with life’s inevitable challenges. Such as financial stress, relationship problems, education, addictions and many more.

This arises from a traumatic experience maybe sexual assault, death of loved one, horrific accidents and kidnappings, burning down of property or even loss of a job. When an individual experiences such scenarios they become depressed and all that lingers in their mind is those events. Such people live in denial, as they continue fighting with the reality they develop depression. Depression leads to hopelessness and lack of enthusiasm. From a personal experience when there is no enthusiasm then what follows is poor performance or results. Be it in school, work place or even in our hobbies.

Many incidents whenever a woman is sexually assaulted or even man for that matter, the society tends to blame it on the individual. Either their dress code, behavior or other lame reasons which might not necessarily be the case. The matter becomes the talk of the day until another major issue arises and it is dropped without any solution to the victim. When we lose our loved ones it maybe a spouse, child, parent, brothers and sisters we are left with a hollow inside our hearts and a good amount of sadness which many people who have not undergone such do not understand. This makes one feel lonely even when they are not alone.one would ask themselves, how is this possible? But I can assure you it is real and it happens. Accidents are also a major source of trauma, victims become disabled losing their hand legs and other crucial body parts. Some even lose their sense of sight. Not forgetting that some of the victims are sole breadwinners for their families.

The list is endless. But the question is, how do we help such victims get back on their feet? And view life from the same perspective they used to. The first major and simple step is empathizing with such people so that they can feel they are not alone and someone understands them, this will make them share more and as they are doing so you will be able to know the best approach to help them. Counseling also works could be from the pastor or from a hospital counselor whichever one finds appropriate. Therapies such as group therapy where people with the same problem sit together in a group and share, activity therapy, and meditation therapy.

Simple activities such as walking in the park, yoga, jogging, shopping in the malls or markets, accompanying them to places of worship, performing house chores together, spending time with friends also distracts their mind and without noticing they forget their traumas and enjoy the moment. If this is done regularly it leads to a lasting result. In case the victim has been left disabled it would be advisable to find them something they can do for occupation, such as selling credit cards, sweets and matchsticks. Which is a stable source of income.

Image courtesy

By the beautiful Mary Nyambura

Passions

We talk about my passion(s) today. Hope you have been good.
I love media and anything relating or amounting to it. How people can use a bridge to reach millions.
I also love Public Relations(PR), in fact even more than I love media. I love the way people have defined PR over time, especially KOT where everyone is an expert in everything. Be it law, MEDIA, politics and every other field that is trending.

I  however have a problem with how people define PR in Kenya since UK took over. One would think that PR did not exist before he took the realms of power. The president greeting people, PR; the president driving his (sexy) landrover home, PR; the president putting on jeans to the airport, PR; the president... OK he is a PR president.

Please KOT PR includes, but is not limited to image and reputation. When there is tragedy, crisis for us, there is no better way of addressing it other than communication (PR). I think by now you do realise that the essence of communication is to solve problems.
At this point, I feel I should define what problem is but you are an expert already!
PR does not come up with the message, we only package the message and deliver, after all we are not the ones communicating, government(client) is.

My other passion, is this girl. And just so you know I  turned 20 the other day man and I'm feeling really old, 21. But with age comes wisdom, there are exceptions though. So this girl is beautiful. She is the kind of girl that you think of  when you listen to that August Alsina song. Beautiful from every angle. Yes!
She has attitude, not that attitude from  earth to moon and back, but that attitude that would make you sit back and wonder why she would do or say that at that time. She is highly spirited. She is a go getter! She is not afraid of taking control when she feels you're not leading well. She speaks her mind, she does not fear

She is loud, and proud her person awakes you, moves you, gives you goose bumbs,makes you speak and brings out your alter ego.

I also like knowing, knowing things. Things that sometimes do not matter but add me knowledge all the same. Information that I can share with my other people and empower them too. You will find me online most of the time reading what the  informed people are upto learning from them. I ask a lot of (useless) questions. Just to satisfy this curiosity which I got from God, I feel it is a gift.

So My Year...

I am writing this, I have been wanting to write it for the longest time, but problem is, I came back home and the food around this place is crazy! Irrelevant, thanks.
I will make this fast because Real Husbands of... is up next, in the next like 20? Relevant.

I have had a great year, I have learnt and grown. I have interacted with many cool people. I am thankful for every thing God gave me; challenges because it is from that, I am better today. Opportunities as well. From BBC to Ogilvy PR. From these opportunities I got to confirm that I am on track, and moving in the right direction as they say.

I must say that my 2014 began on a very bad taste, lost my laptop (to thugs), then school problems. But I pulled through, and that I must say, was God.

2014 also helped me see media from a very different perspective. It is not just about entertainment, informing and glamour. It can also be advocacy, empowerment and development(growth). I learnt that apart from competing for  audiences, we can help audiences grow and help them take up actions. For that reason after this cause, development communication I'm coming! Be kind.

2014 took me places. Ogilvy PR! I visited this cool place and interacted with one Pancras. I even did an interview (my first one of its kind). Very insightful. Let me say after the interview, I was amazed of how someone can be so cool and still be very knowledgeable, smart. Most of the time you are gifted with one, or lack both. I won't say I have any. Hey Pancras I'm still waiting for the flyers LOL!

This post won't be complete without appreciating the cool people at BBC media action, BBC Sema Kenya to be precise. You guys really inspired me. Maybe I should just mention names; Davie, Sarah, Arthur, Norbert, Grace, Nasra, Geoffrey, OJ,JB and the list is endless! You have helped grow in mind and otherwise. How could I forget Jackie? You are a cool boss! Sarah thank you for hooking me up with Pancras,and the earphones thank you. Norbert thank you for that development project you helped with. Grace you also helped me with a broadcast project together with Sarah, thank you!

Mine wouldn't be the way it was without my cool classmates, very  unfortunate that we won't be in the same class next semester. And we will not be seeing more of each other,why? Because we are specializing! It's a good, bad thing right? We are a making major step in life my people. Soon we'll be graduating, let's keep our eyes on the big thing. Let's kick a$$. Go big or go home! It was great being your class rep for the shortest time, you people challenged me and helped me learn stuff. Should I mention your names? Really 80 plus people? All of you.

Family. Thank you mum. Thank you brother. Thank you sister. Lovely auntie. You rock my world! Good cousins, be good.

So 2015, I don't mean to be rude but be prepared to be kicked in the  a$$. I'll be generous and good at it. Come with better opportunities, challenges.

Hey BFF(Big Fake Friend)

Who doesn't want that friend; that friend who knows you better than you know yourself? I hear they're called Bffs, I don't know. Disclaimer: don't take offence if we ever call(ed) each other bff, it was for real, the moment is(was) real.

To be honest when I hear the name bff, the image that comes to my mind is two girls seated (probably in some class in UON)  speaking and giggling inaudible nimbles. I will not say whether they are gossiping.
It even becomes more complicated when a girls brands you, a boy, the tag bff. The image this time is this queen, "diva" in love with someone else but has a crush on you, bff.

Probably the lover is far or the boyfriend doesn't really give her the attention. So you, my friend are branded bff, and henceforth you become that "nice" guy who takes her to places, probably to eateries or help her run senseless errands. And they will always struggle to make you feel you're a nice guy, trust me I've been there.
I will not talk about us guys, who brand girls bffs, it is unimaginable, it's a taboo, unheard of. If there are let's just say those are mutants (haha playing)

So who are bffs? Who really coined this bad abbr? Today you will meet a new friend and after sharing a moment of gossip you immediately start calling each other bff. Apparently qualification number one is; you must like or unlike the same people/person at any one time, so that you relate in a way. Not in any other way. I will not add more.

I have a very bad record of keeping best friends, actually I have none, because of many reasons including natural selection.
But on the other hand I have got real friends. They are not many but they add some spice to life.
A real friend is that person who can predict your next word in a sentence, (obviously not in that juicy gossip moment, you obviously have no time for such)
A real friend helps you be creative, they help you come up with new ideas of doing things everyday. And of course it is mutual, you are also doing the same to them. If it is one way then it is a bad investment, go set up shop somewhere.

A real friend tells you the truth regardless of how bad it could be, they will not lie. You don't have to struggle finding honest pals, they will find their way into your life. Again, natural selection.
Fake people are everywhere, and in the words of Nicky " people will love you and support you when it's
beneficial" when it's not...
Bffs don't really exist don't call people that, it sounds small-ish, gossip-ish. It is demeaning, it actually tells who you are. Or is it a pet name for friends, your call. Find real people in your life keep them. Stay real.

My Friday At Nation

I was listening to the Nation FM late night last night, and realised I hadn't documented last Friday. How are you, how have you been?
So after a four week struggle, I got the opportunity to hang out with the great duo,  Antoneosoul and Ciru Muriuki. These people are just too awesome, especially Ciru. You can literally spend the whole day with this girl and not get bored.
You wanna know how I got the chance to hang out with them, simple. Just tweet them (severally) during the show and pap! You are on air.
Let me say was a great opportunity for me. I not only just met my teenage idol Anto, (our meeting wasn't that pleasant though, dude gives zero chills), but also got the chance to do a voice test of my own. And if I was to go by what people say, I passed, yes, somehow. But not yet there though, more practice needed.
I also met met the amazing an dj briizy, he's too talented, collected and humble, check him out on soundCloud. Also check out the cool, calm dj fresh2deaf.
I have to say that was an eye opener and good exposure. I can now go forth and hustle my way into radio, I was at Nation FM man, no joke!
My favourite part (which I believe was not flattery, or if it was wolefa men) was when Ciru said I belong to radio.
That right there was made me have a brain orgasm, lost my line of thought for a moment. I died. She continued to add that I should trust and believe, I do.
So make sure you listen to this duo every night on 96.3 Nation FM from 8pm. They are hilarious, charming, informing and entertaining.
They are addictive though I have to warn and there is nothing you can do about it. Soon I'll be asking you to listen to my show, trust and believe.

I'm posting from my phone, I'll update links to this post to the djs'mixcrates soon as I set my hands on the next computer.

Trains in Kenya, Bullets in Japan

Hey you, how have you been? I took a break from writing without warning, but I'm back with even more interesting stuff. I have been reading about trains and bullets lately.
So this month, 50 years ago Japan's bullet trains completed their first trip. The trains have reportedly moved 10 billion people, and caused 36 seconds of delay in the past 50 years. This just shows how efficient they are. In fact Shinkansen as they are called, is a symbol of Japan's efficiency. I should add that only 20% of land in Japan is habitable. It follows that people live far away from work.The bullet trains are really helpful in commuting to work, Shinkansen is a saviour.It will however cost you $130 to buy a ticket. Read more on The Atlantic.

Well, thanks to their great emperor,Emperor Meiji,Japan is a leading industrial hub in the world. Besides all the many environmental and geographical adversities they always refuse to go down. Here in Kenya? We uproot the already fantastic railway lines, will we ever own these bullets? Do we need?
After reading about the bullets I realized that I have never even boarded a train, let alone a "bullet". In fact I don't know how a train ticket looks like inside. What are trains for in Kenya anyway? Ignorance will destroy me. I decided to visit The Nairobi Railways Museum to "know stuff". To destroy ignorance. This is a place you really need to visit if you have never been there. Those like me who have never seen a typewriter, you will see it there.

One thing I love about Kenya is our deep rich history people. There is always something in anything around here. You will read about something which will lead you to know about another interesting thing. Believe me, you will not even think about ignoring. I will give you an example; I went to see old trains and in addition to that, I learnt that there were  man-eating creatures of Tsavo.

I read that these man eaters used to kill and eat the Asians during the construction. Many people died, including someone called Charles George Henry Ryall and a servant called Abdallah. At least  I read about those two.

Actually these man-eating creatures of Tsavo were lions. Lions which used to eat people,man. I asked myself the same question too. Don't lions eat people?I learnt that the railway construction brought a lot of things to this country of ours. It even brought us Nyrobi, Nairobi today. Nyrobi was used as base for supplies because of its cool weather and the topography was flat. That is how Nairobi came to existence.

I also learnt that it was during the railway construction that we had the first newspaper, it was called The Standard. Founded by parsee migrant A.M Jevanjee in 1902 to cater for the Indian community which engaged in commercial activities in Mombasa. The newspaper is still in circulation today. We still continue using the same railway lines today, today, a century after.
While at the museum, I remembered how my grandma told me about her experiences traveling in the train, they used to call it mugithi.

She told me many things but I was too young then I remember only too things; People used to seat looking at each other, I think staring is the better word. I mean what would you do in two day journey, look at each other? She also told me about the toilets, I will not say, go find out at The Nairobi Railways Museum. I will however say that it all ended in the seating basin to the ground.

I will acknowledge that it was not an easy task constructing. 2493 of the contract workers died in the process, meaning that each day four workers lost their lives, 38 workers for each month.

TEMBEAKENYA

Images courtesy of yours truly.

The Heat Music Review On Sunday; Haiwi Haiwi

Hey there, how is your weekend so far? It is sunday you know we do music review.
I have been listening to this song all week and watching the video, though the video was released back in May, I hadn't watched it yet, but the song, great.

Haiwi Haiwi, released and performed by Wendy Kimani and BienAime of Sauti Sol. I know by now you're thinking I'm obsessed with sauti sol, but naah, I love their tunes though.
Wendy Kimani is a former Tusker Project Fame contestant, though she didn't win the cash price, she's doing extremely well out here in the industry and you should check out her other videos.
Haiwi Haiwi, is a conversation between  the two, starts with Bien who obviously is trying to get Wendy but complains that she is playing hard to get. But Bien goes ahead to say that he's an artist and the world is round and that she will still bring herself back to him, really though?
Then the refrain; note that the chorus is sang by the artists one at a time, gives the song a unique touch, wouldn't be conversation without that element.
So it's Wendy's turn. She boasts of how she is missed by people in town,by that I think she means Bien. Then she continues to say that he's still a youth while she is a grown mature woman, lastly she says that Wendy is a big name.
Did I mention that the song is sang in Swahili? Haiwi means something close to "it can't be". So it adds up to the song's context. The beats are good and appealing, produced by Mushking.
The video is awesome, the setting is relevant.
There is a part in the song where Bien says "... Twende Date Ya Supaghetti, Kwenye Corner Laico Regency,.... "  to which Wendy replies "... Nasiendi Laico Regency Kimbelembele Ugali Mbichi"..
The background looks something to Laico Regency, can't tell if Laico Regency, never been there. The director did an awesome job.
So Bien walks into the bar, sews Wendy and tries to hit on her but in vain. He even offers to buy her and her girls a drink but Wendy walks out of the premises, fortunately or not, she forgets her phone on her table. Bien picks up the phone and takes it her outside to her car, she's left speechless, and that ladies and gents is the start of a happy ever after, probably, to see the video, click here.

Image courtesy of hangout.co.ke

7 Random Things I Want to know Before I Finish Campus

Just so we are clear, I said before I finish Campus not before I graduate. Those are two very different things, and isn't graduation just a ceremony,where there are very long speeches and they call out people's names? In public?
So seven things I want to know before I get out of my university;
1. I want to know how people who do crazy things think. How do they just do things?
And after that, I want to do something crazy myself. Probably compose a four line song and sing it in four different languages and make a hit song like the legendary Ken Wa Maria. No I think I should write one with two lines and sing in 6 languages. No too absurd. Probably 3 lines in 7 languages works well. What do they say about odd numbers? Or probably sit on some toilet and come up with a brilliant idea better than that of ATM machines, what better invention would rewrite the banking history? So don't just be sitting there, do something.
2. How do corporates make such a lot of money in just a short while?
I always remember when Safaricom, under Bob Collymore made a net profit of 11bn to 6 months ending September last year. How? Considering they run adverts every other time (which costs a lot of money) they pay employees. OK, I know that adverts brings in more customers, but wouldn't they still get clients without these many promotion campaigns? I mean it's Safaricom. Bob, a tour maybe? Advertising is where I want to major in, I'll know somehow. But speaking to the guys at Safaricom would be great. I have 1001 questions.
3. How does a media house work out, it's daily routine?
I only know about selling newspapers, announcing news.
I want to know the behind the scenes, and that why I'm in campus, to know this stuff, but unfortunately our School does not have a studio or anything. I only heard about two cameras and microphones. The whole process of requesting for one is full of bottlenecks so... I'll leave it at that. I need a media tour, Jeff, Larry, Julie, anyone? Caroline? Then probably I'll be taught in class, will it end here? I need a tour.
4. I want to know From people who work, do you get bored of doing the same thing every day of the week?
It is a life fact that we go to school so that we work for the rest of our lives, till we die. So we just do the same thing every day? I think creatives cannot. Let's say like designers, they design something new every day, but keyword is design. Everyday. So designing everyday. I personally will want to do something new, something adventurous, something that will bring out my alter ego. Maybe media, PR, advertising because I will meet creatives, different diverse people everyday. Aristotle said insanity is doing the same thing over and over and except different results.Be diverse,try something new. 
5. I also want to know how this beer flavoured coffee by Starbucks tastes like. Yes it tastes like beer I know. I meant tasting it using my taste buds.
Starbucks is a coffee chain in Washington DC. So i will probably have to travel to the  States to taste this glorious probably sweet coffee. Mine are valid. What is the point if tasting (like) beer and not get drunk? Exactly the reason why I need to taste it. Our very own Java should give us some actually. That is thinking outside the box, doing something no one else has done before, for Starbucks.

6. Do touts have to shout for people to enter their vehicles here in Nairobi?
People will not board their vehicles to their homes in the evening or to work in the morning?  Not that they have much of a choice anyway, so most probably they will still board the Matatus, without the shouting. And did I mention to you that they will probably hurl insults at you when you decide to go  to a rival Matatu operator? But then Nairobians are used to this kind of thing, it is part of life, it is our lifestyle. Then you board the Matatu and the conductor refuses to return your change. Use Bebapay cards, or any other cashless payment system.

7. So you have read all the above, what are you going to do about it?
Stand up do something and be counted. Do something with your life. Do something crazy.  Come out of that comfort zone. Lastly, you can join my share brigade,share.

Who really is Chris Kirubi, the sultan of swag?

Kirubi is surely a man of many hats.The flamboyant business man is known for his 49% stake in Haco tiger brands as well as majority a majority share holder at equity investment firm centum and UAP insurance group. The man is also said to have studied in Western Kenya, he said to have created his wealth from scratch. He bought old dilapidated buildings in Nairobi, then renovated them, he later sold the buildings to make profit, which I bet was large. And that my friends is how the billion dollar journey started. Right now the man owns International house in the centre of Nairobi.
Little is known about his family, therefore little is said. He is 72,he must have a family in between somewhere, "rumours" have it that he had a wife and divorced. He is also said to have children, obviously. Chris is however said to be popular among young clandestine. Not bad for a guy who got it all.
Just few days ago Kirubi was hosted at the popular talk show Jeff Koinange Live where among other things really showed his other side to Kenyans, the old man even cursed on national TV, but we all do that all the time, Kirubi is cool like that. Did I just call the Sultan of swag old man?
So who really is Chris Kirubi? He has his hands on literally everything. Just recently he disposed his 5.5 million  Safaricom shares shares. Many would wonder why anyone would sale shares from a company known to make the highest profit in the region. When asked, Kirubi answered that KCB share prices were good and so he cashed in. I mean just like that and you sell and buy? He further  added that he employs an active trading strategy at the NSE. In the transaction he is said to have made Sh.38 million profit. He is not a gambler. In the interview he insisted that numbers do not lie, more reason why he makes millions everyday.
He owns the DHL franchise in Kenya, Capital FM, which is among the most popular radio stations in Kenya and is also known for its upmarket listeners so the adverts in the station are not cheap, at all.
Recently he has been on the spotlight because of his trips abroad with the head of state, mainly because of his amazing skills in cutting and making investment deals. He has been to china, South Africa and more recently the USA for the African summit. Odd don't you think that Kirubi has been in the headlines for securing government tenders.More recently being awarded the coal power tender which was about 174 billion through investment firm Centum where he is a majority shareholder.
That put him at a sharp crossroads with lawyers Fred Ngatia and Ahmed Nassir aka The Grand Mulla. When asked about this Kirubi replied to Jeff telling him that a tender is only good when you win it and bad when you lose. He also is said to have merged with a Chinese company to supply the said jubilee laptops. It is no secret Kirubi has used his influence to secure government contracts, he has discovererd a new niche to make quick money.
Did I forget to mention how the tycoon has a lot of praise for the head of state? He and Jeff though they were not campaigning for the president it is too obvious he has full admiration for the man, I bet that did just win him another major tender. You can watch the clip here.
However this big entrepreneur is not exactly all clean as we'd think, get me wrong not, his business deals are not what I mean. "I don't know they're clean or not".
Kirubi has headed large government corporations and brought them down to their knees. Kenatco, a company started in the 70s to offer logistics solutions to traders in the jomo regime. It is said that it is was under his leadership that greedy politicians used the company to smuggle coffee in out of the country, does black gold ring a bell? Did he smuggle? He however became an instant millionaire.
Kenatco was placed under receivership after it failed to service its loans, in short, it became bankrupt. Sixteen years later Kenatco is still under receivership. According to mavulture, at one time it was sayed in parliament that the company's Mercedes limousines were sold for a meagre Sh 500, yes you read right, 500.
As if that is not enough, the Sultan of swag made sure he brought Uchumi down too, well don't know if it was intentional or not, but it just does not get down with me that a company can collapse in the hands of Kenya's leading investor, not one, but two companies. Could it have been he was given a better deal? Or just an unfortunate occurrence, fraud?  He however answered fraud charges in the courts.
He is said to have sold the Uchumi house, located at the Aga Khan walk for a mere 147 million ,a building which was worth more than 400 million. That was not enough, after selling, Uchumi was to pay a monthly rent of a whooping 1.7 million. It does take a fool to tell what was happening there.
Something was cooking.
Well what can I say, that is Forbes'(2011) 31st richest man in Africa for you.
#GoBigOrGoHome

The heat Music review on sunday

How is your sunday so far? I was thinking we start doing music reviews on sunday, is it a good idea? I thought so too.
Today we're doing Sauti Sol's latest music release, "Sura Yako" (your face). For the record, this is the group's fourth single in their upcoming album LIVE AND DIE IN AFRIKA, after hits likes Nishike and Still the one it is bad as that.
The song is great, good, strong vocals from the boys. It starts with savara(Delvin Mudigi) with "nimekuchagua wewe, nikupende, mama staki mwingine" Delvin is a creative genius I have to say, you see the lyrics you wonder how they would come out, but he sings and alas! You can't believe it, like when he says "umenikalia chapati" On a normal day who would tell that to a lady, sounds stupid but Delvin does the magic and it comes out very well. Did you know that it is Delvin who produced Elani's jana usiku?
Bien does not disappoint either his lyrics are on point. With lines like "nitakulinda kama polisi" he just out does himself and it's also a win for him too. Only that there is too much repetition but doesn't that make the song even better? When he says umenikalia chapati.
The bridge is my favourite part of this whole song. Bien wins again here. When you hear "piga densi kidogo, mama densi kidogo" you just feel like doing all the lipala you have and even do more. Lipala is the ish. Lipala dance comes out all of it at this point, you just don't force it
The song ends with Chimano doing what he does best with his deep voice. Making weird, good sounds that only makes you want to stand up and break a leg.
The song is awesome, Sauti Sol did something that no other modern afro fusion band would do. Now the video...
The setting is in a rural setting where the lead singer Bien is going to "buy"  his wife. Not literally buying, but he's going to pay the bride price at the inlaws'.
The video starts when a large crowd,probably the entourage is already heading there with a lot of dancing, that's where the lipala dance is done. They make a grand entry into the girl's parents house, and Bien is supposed to hand pick his girl from a group of girls which he does. 
This whole process is called 'ruracio' in Kikuyu which is what basically what the video is.  The choreography is perfect. Except from where the boys are singing off the crowd, the dancing is too monotonous because that's what we know is what sauti sol does, something new would have worked well though, but it's their signature thing why not, it still came out well, especially Bien's.
If you haven't watched the video yet I don't know what you are waiting for. The video is almost at 95000 hits a week after release. You can watch the official video, and the lyric video. I give the song a 7 for the originality and creativity used.
Meanwhile, vote for sauti sol  for Best African Act MTV Europe Awards. Let's bring it home.

Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat, but hey, YOLO!!

I read an interesting story here (which you also need to read)about us people,us!!
And they say YOLO means You Obviously Lack Originality, really,can you imagine that? Do not even get mad at that,read more. For us young people that is. If you are "old" do not feel displaced, read and share, it is fun. Why are people always talking about us?
It is weekend again apparently, approximately mid month. They say it's the middle of the month, things are hard, but somehow we(I) still get money to rave, and remember I'm on repeat mode we rave every weekend only stop to sleep and eat, I know you want to judge us me(us) but hey man YOLO!
I know this sounds cliché btw, but let me just say it; You Live Only Once is a literally wrong statement, why you ask. We live everyday and die only once, another way of saying that you have only one shot in this life you waste it, it is gone like, gone like chaff with the wind.
Not that I am the "holiest"  guy or that "holier than thou"  kind of a guy, I got my own way of living.
Today hedonism is a lifestyle. We got no regard for the bright future ahead. Funny I'd say bright future. Yes bright because no one wants or would want to have a "dark"  future ahead (isn't the opposite of bright dark?), well at least not willingly.
In the world of copy-pasting assignments, that is university for you, a lot of things go down. For example partying is the coolest thing you can do. You are the coolest "peeps"  if you had the most ratchet weekend. You are the person everyone would want to hang around with. I won't say anything about the guy who had gone for Bible study throughout the weekend.
Is that the only way to stay "cool" you  would ask? Where does a student, who doesn't work or has no investment, get money from? I'll help you get some free info.
Parents get the most ridiculous of excuses from their sons and daughters, but mostly sons because the money is used on the daughters. Get the math don't you? We mint money from our parents, and they for they do not want to disappoint us, send the money. HELB loans. Won't say no more.
Just a year ago I was in 1st year, I'll be in 3rd year next semester. I did not realize why time has moved so fast until one lecturer came in and said we only have 13 classes (we just began a semester btw). So I was thinking why do I have to pay a lot of money just for 13 classes? In a semester?
I pay the money then what? Sit for 13 classes then do the exam and move on to the next semester? Then I realized that maybe it's not just about the unit plus several other units. I'm yet to find out but I'm sure eating sleeping raving and repeating is not exactly what we should be doing.
Getting high is fun, cool? Somehow you will do all that and still get a bright future, well that is you, your partners-in-crime back then? Partners because probably right now they wouldn't be your friends, they are broke or still in suspension from school or worse never graduated. Or better still you made new partners-in-crime.
To you my friend, don't succumb to the norm, be different, network, do everything you can do to get there (keep it legit). Grow yourself.
Then again you will rubbish this, but hey man, YOLO!
It is weekend again back to the cycle, let me get back to it, slept the whole week, I just ate...