European Blackmail of Kenyan Economy

This week has been a really exciting box of chocolate in Kenya, first there was the flogging ( beating with a stick would be more accurate) of the former Prime Minister, then there is the Summoning of the President to the International Criminal Court ( ICC) to sit at a  status Conference before Judges, it is also a week that the European Union put up an Advert on a local daily and stated that our preferential trade with them had expired or was to expire of course it was more detailed and very diplomatic.That would have been enough drama for the week if some old strong Brands were not shutting down their manufacturing plant and stating that they would prefer to bring in imports.

So most people have spent the week discussing the flogging scene and the hauling of the State Symbol to ICC. But if you asked me, the real issue is the closing down of the plant by EverReady batteries and the plan by Cad bury to close the Chocolate factory has a serious effect on our lives. When the European Union new tariffs and Quarters take effect it will also have another stinging effect on some of the businesses for farmers and those investors at the Export Processing Zones where a good number of Kenyans are employed. Europe accounted for 18.9% amounting to Kshs 7,548,000,000 of the Export Market. The main destinations for these goods were United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands. These  zones support 0ver 35,000 people as per 2012 according to the EPZ report http://epzakenya.com/Annual_Performance_Report_2012.

According to John Njiru Daily Nation October 2, pp37. Cadbury is closing down its manufacturing  plant in Nairobi this month as part of its global transformation strategy to reinvent its supply chain. the affected staff are around 300 who will loose their jobs. this company has been in business for the last 60 years.

In Eveready 99 jobs were lost because of the restructuring. previously another company Reckitt Benkiser also vacated the market as well as Colgate Palmolive. Apparently these may be American Companies.

 There three things that are apparent:-

1. That we have a good market and that is why the firms still want to sell their products but prefer to manufacture cheaply elsewhere in the world. I believe, that it is time the consumers decided buy made in Kenya since that ensures that there are jobs for our brethren.Why buy a product that is manufactured elsewhere loosing all the market for our raw materials and jobs in the industry.
2. The tax gurus need to spend more time in identifying the best method of making Government money without sending investors away.
3. Why was the reclassification of Kenya's economy a huge story this week in the market when all these affairs happened.

Over to you, what do you think can forestall further loses?

The Chosen Generation Band

The Chosen Generation band is a very interesting Gospel band. They have great music and their Album Here I am inspires deep discussion and reflection on ones personal relationship with God. Have you imagined what it feels to share your thoughts with the maker of the Universe a one on one session with the greatest being ever.

look out for their music. it is a rare treat but worth experiencing. below is their advert for the concert held in 2011

Here is an old picture of the singing group when it was in infancy stage outside a church after their service.

After its inception as a band with a singing troup the band has become a specialist wind, string and percussion band. Mainly performing classical, jass pieces and also religious tunes that form Gospel renditions. Below are some pictures from recent events.

Mathews K. Tuikong: Bloging, the discovery of freedom

Mathews K. Tuikong: Bloging, the discovery of freedom: The need to scrible, jot, type a message is an itch that can be very persistant if not attended. It is the same feeling with wanting to hold...

Bloging, the discovery of freedom

The need to scrible, jot, type a message is an itch that can be very persistant if not attended. It is the same feeling with wanting to hold a conversation with a television set. Thanks to blogspot i am able to experience the outlet of stiffled thoughts. Like what i think of a computer ''expert'' who cannot set up a simple link between two computers or set up a simple blog in lieu of a web page or use any other social network even when they have all the equipment except... mmm ....a technitian who actually knows the job that the expert doesn't.

Or the urge to shout at the girl crossing the street infront of  the vehicle expecting that the vehicle will screach to a holt and let her cross. may be something of sermon last sunday or the outing we went last week end. well there is alot to write about.

Well i discovered how to blog last month after  asking a friend of mine how  i could set up a web page without creating a web site. curtesy of google blogspot i can creat a diary. You know there are some very interesting blog sites about so many issues and items. take the case of one that is dedicated to lost pens. or another discussing the habits of a pet. So i will create one that deals my complains on every day living like lack of water in Nairobi or lack of Electricty and another dedicated to a Scheme i love so much. Psst. they do not have a web site so may be some people can reach them through http://www.friendsofkrsrbs.blogspot.com/

So next time i have a real story to discuss well you will find it here.

Regards

Matkong

POWER RATIONING IN KENYA

What happens when the power you have pre paid for suddenly goes out. In my experience the first impulse is to check whether the units have run out. But most times in the recent past just before one o clock in the afternoon i have found out that it is the supply from Kenya power that is out. As a result of the black out loses begin with all the fresh foods and dairies in the freezer become endangered. If the situation remains the same until dusk, there is alternative sources of power to look for. Lest I have to spend the night in the dark.


There are major questions to ask about what causes thes black outs. is it old technology? Too many subscribers on a stretched resource,?or just innefective monopolies supplying the resource. Kenya Power and Lighting recently rebranded to Kenya Power. I hope it is not that they forgot that their key business was to provide lighting and concentrated on being the power.

Today, the Kenya Power eventually came out and gave a schedule for the rationing of this vital resource. Their excuse is that there was a glitch in the procurement plan and some guarantees that dont explain why there is the black out. This begs a thought what should we do as responsible citizens? Are we going to accept the same excuses given 12 years ago when the first rationing begun. Was it more important to have the prepaid service and the issuance of free bulbs when the same funds could have supported generation of electricity or research on utilising the gabage and other resources that could be used as fuel to generate power?

If you feel the same pain as i do. Being a small scale business owner who has to watch machines that cannot work at the time when required because redy kilowatt was fired. Please, lets join hands and send a serious petition to the Kenya Power and inform them that they need to provide the Power which we pay for especially when we have to  a pre pay them and make contribution to the many adjustments for fuel, forex and others  that the company has no courage to explain.

By the way, as share holders of the same company we need an explanation for this embarassment. if you went to school and studied electricty and how it is sourced this is the time to stand up and be counted'give alternative solutions to this company that is increasingly becoming unreasonable. we need solutions not excuses.

What do you think?

Hunger in Somalia

Hi, It is with great pleasure that i write this blog today. I am Mathews K. Tuikong a Kenyan of Kalenjin extraction working towards my 40th birthday. I have gone the full circle and this is my second lap around the life circle. Mmm. hope to discuss this some time later. though i just wanted to log in that i am now learning what a blog site is and that it can be shared with everyone else in this green and blue marble.

Today the main story where i live is about refugees from our neighbouring country Somali, the number of displaced persons is over one million and according to the Government Spokesman Mr. Alfred Mutua the trek is due to hunger. Some of the affected people having walked over 100s of Kiliometres yet they are Women and Children. He also says the Border is closed though no refugees have been returned but the situation is grave and camps should be built in Somalia. What do we do, please consider sending one unit of your national currency or more to the nearest Red cross or Red Cresent association near you. Food drops would be another good option


Matkong

Jambo it is now 5/8/2011 about two weeks since the first post, what a response to the request for support, this is really encouraging. By 5th August 2011, the Kenyan public have through an initiative of Kenyans for Kenyans raised Kshs 100million through an M pesa initiative. People are giving what they can and there are now T shirts that are being printed with an intention to raise a further Ksh 365 million.The American Red cross in its twitter page also indicates that they have similary given Kshs 1 million towards hunger in the horn of Africa,this amounts to Kshs 90 million. The Kenya Government has mobilised its defence forces to distribute food by road and air, this has hastened to food reaching the deserving recepients including a 106 year old man in Mandera shown on TV last wenesday. Though more needs to be done. It is interesting to read that there is actually technology for making rain under development. I wonder when this may become a real benefit to marginalised communities in the world. Then there also is a debate on the use of Genetically modified foods (GMO). The jury on its use is still out and we hope to hear from them soon.