Good song for today... Winyo Odongo

Change of behavior among the youth

For long there has been a cry for increased immoral behavior, insecurity and drug abuse. Various complains  and articles have been written on these vices and still there is no corrective measure which has been taken by society or government to curb this negative change to societal values. These happenings are recent and new and I believe there is a point in time when our society lost its way and allowed gaps for infiltration of these vices. Society should trace back its steps in time, investigate and identify this turning point for it to make a long-lasting correction.      

                     

I believe that one of the ways in which we came to this undesirable state is through the media. The movies aired, songs played, music videos played  and presenters of the different media stations portray a different culture and style so alien to our societal state. These actions have placed our ethics and codes of conduct governing our cohesion as a community  at risk. A bigger percentage of movies, music and videos  presented to media consumers contain immoral scenes for example nudity, drug abuse, violence, sex e.t.c.

These are so much on our radios television, laptops and other media playing gadgets such that the youth whom for the better part of their time spend on media, have taken these as normal and usual in life. The youth have decided now try and practice what they see and hear from the media for they look at them as  part and parcel of life and some have also taken it as a fashionable style of life.

Acts such as homosexuality was never an African problem but today in most conversations on morality, we have to have it as part of the discussion topics. This shows where our society is heading to; more worse state.

For well being of our society and protection of our heritage, we cannot afford to allow the continuity of these acts in our society . Different groups such as the church, government, civil societies and institutions should come together and investigate solutions to these problems.

Quick Solution To Mau Forest Saga, or Else, Time Bomb We’ve been sitting on is soon Blowing

Mau Forest menace is something we have been assuming for so long, and the more we are doing that the more its effect is increasing and very soon exploding.  Our politicians are myopic to this aspect, not ready to act on it because they know the consequences that come by touching the issue- Look at what happened to Raila Odinga in 2009. As the deputy president stated, It is a concept of political tool, something you can use to win or gain election, as it revealed in the 2013 elections. But what we must ask ourselves as Kenyans is that, where is it finally going to end? What is going to be left to our environment after all the trees have been cut down? We have a cause to worry after seeing what happened in Lamu county in the recent past.

The recent documentary dubbed Mau Tragedy revealed a lot of issues, matters which are grievous and should be given first priority in any government sitting. Logging, favoritism in resettlement, tension among other communities of their land being taken away from them and increased encroachment still by other communities. These are issues which require maximum attention, but instead, our politicians have not taken this with the demanded urgency, they have turned it a subject of political war, insults and accusations. This is evident in what happened in Narok rally between Ruto and Duale. We cannot continue banking on postponement of solutions for political power, days are over for that.

With the poor living standards, high crime rate, high unemployment, we cannot afford to include a civil war on top. We need a quick remedy, one taken by a bold Kenyan who not only wants to serve the interest of the living, but also of the unborn. Solving Mau problem means getting of the comfort of pampering issues and removing all the illegal dwellers of the Kenya’s forest. This would require at times force but for the good of the future, it is worth it. I choose the route of evicting by force because I do not see an alternative, the DP (during Mara Rally) proposed a method which include saving the forest and settlement, I do not see a space for that. Which formula are we going to tame the ever growing population?  The method is also subject to a lot of disputes for which criteria are we going to select who to remain and who to go? Is that not also a cause for chaos and corruption we are preventing?

For the first time in Kenya, one leader (not a politician) should rise and save Kenya for a better tomorrow. He may loose popularity among some, but I guarantee the history books will judge him/her very fairly. A name never to be forgotten any time.

By Brian Mala - Nairobi

Africa Poetry

Nee Owete lawore gi beti samipogo puotho

Nee nyimine yanyore kagigolo Leso

Nee Mon dhaore kagigolo Otamba

Nee nyithindo ywagre kagi neon mine gi

Baba nithoo nang’o

Kane wadak kodu newang’eyo wan Owete

Kane wadak kodu ne wakwayo rombe kanyakla

Kane wadak kodunewachiemo kanyakla

Kawuono tulawa gi bede

Ni ok an nyathiwu

Baba nowacho ni an wuode

Nene ohera kaka nyathine makayo

Kawuono turiemba ni ukia kuma mama nogolae

Dapenjo mama kumaneogolae

Lakini en be nosewewa

Baba ne oherowa watee

Mama ne oherowa watee

Sigu tokoro oaa kanye

Ich lit tokoro oa kanye

Wuoro tokoro oaa kanye

Baba duogi ipog lowo kendi

Mama koro duogi, inyisa babawa

Akia kuma  adhiye

Nyasaye towacho niya Mag piny rumo

Koro an aketo geno na kuome

Hitler Parody. Luo version

LUPITA WHO IS OSCAR?

 

Lupita! Lupita! Lupita!

Thrice I have called you

Because of the weight in my heart

Can’t stand being without you

Village elders believe

Am having you for a wife

But who is this Oscar?

I tried convincing them

That you are miles away

Away from my reach

Wait for her! Jacob waited for 14 years

So you should

That s their reply

But I hear now you have Oscar

Lupita tell me who is this Oscar

I brought Vera Sidika for their approval

 I tell you, If not for the speeding Chevrolet am driving,

The villagers could have lynched me

We have educated you!

We don’t want a taboo in this village!

Your eyes should be open!

They shouted

They need an African Lupita

Deep with the roots of Africa

And you know that is only you

Please Lupita, tell me who is this Oscar

I told them

You already have Oscar

Aduk, the village elder replied

I took a trip to Seme

Oscar has not brought them bride price

How can you claim she is taken?

I could not answer

Who is this Oscar

I have sleepless nights

My days are full with reveries

Lupita yawa!

Schooling mean nothing,

Money mean nothing

If I don’t have you

Lupita tell me Oscar is just a friend

Because I can live with that

TELL ME THE DEFINITION OF TRUTH

What is true to you? If I knock at your door and tell you that Jesus is coming will that be truth to you?
Oxford dictionary defines truth as a fact or belief that is accepted as true. That is ambiguous, isn't it? leave that for the books and let us get down to how we perceive what is true to us.

Recently we had an argument with class mates regarding land grabbing in Lamu county.  Heated debate emerged  when we wanted to determine who was saying the truth between Former land minister James Orengo and the current lands cabinet secretary Charity Ngilu on who was telling the public the truth regarding land grabbing in Lamu. One of my class mates , Erick Amollo explicitly explained how Ngilu is giving false information to the public, spreading propaganda instead of solving the land problems. I got satisfied until Arthur Kiathi another class mate made his point. Arthur started his explanation, citing evidence, goggling past publications to prove that Orengo words were pure lies.
According to these two friends, their definition of truth is totally different. This incident got me thinking, what now is the truth? So I got into the following conclusion

Truth depends on what you believe in, your religion, level of education, age, ethnic background and position in in the society. Today approach a Muslim and a christian and ask them who is preaching the truth, I guarantee you are going to get two different answers. This concept spreads to nearly all aspects of our life in determining the meaning of truth to us. For example, what is the true gospel? which is the true church? what is true journalism? e.t.c

Is this what is ailing us, causing war and differences all over? what if we had a general meaning and understanding of the truth, will all our social problems end? but who is going to draw that line and define the truth for us?

SPARE US THE LUPITA SYNDROME

I know she is an icon, Star, Pillar of beauty for most people. In fact, looking at her you get to recognize  the pride of an African Woman, long lost due to modernization. That being written, let us now narrow down to s few facts here.

 First, not every girl can look beautiful in short, trimmed hair like Lupita. Walk around and you will notice that in the verge of copying Lupita’s hair style, some girls end up looking like boys (tom boys), kind of girl you walk with and you feel gay because they look like you, in fact handsome than you-not a good feeling.

 Short hair does not blend well with many and do not force it when it doesn’t work. If you saw the Cameroonian first lady you will definitely concur with my point that even with long hair one can still stand out.

Second, not every girl appeals with little flesh like Lupita.  This is not African, we are known to value flesh; nice hips, breast, boobs and not  forgetting legs. Come to my region around the lake side and we will sing for you  “Adhiambo Sianda”  and you will realize the depth of respect we give to well built women.

Do not torture yourself  going hungry to loose weight to gain ‘admirable’ body because in the end you also loose men like me, those who  value well built ladies.

Finally, the skin color. On this I have no dispute, in fact it bores to see a girl change her skin color. Thumbs up to those who value  and cherish their natural skin color.

Let me end it by urging my beautiful African sisters to be themselves. Lupita made because those features fitted her. This does not mean every Atieno, Njeri and roaming Lucy can make it if they copy Lupita.