Kenyan Diaspora EntrepreneurHelps Kenya Find New CoffeeMarket in the US

By John Wanjohi  Sat, 11/23/2019 @ 01:58pm 362 views 0 comments

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Kenya has found a new market for its coffee in the United States, a move that rekindles hope to thousands of coffee farmers in the country.

On Tuesday, Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya led local coffee roasters in witnessing the launch of an auction for Kenyan coffee in the Grand Island city of Nebraska State.

The auction, which will be done both physically and online, is expected to attract hundreds of coffee roasters from across the US.

The idea to sell coffee directly to the US was designed by Laban Njuguna, a Kenyan entrepreneur based in Nebraska. He founded Zabuni Specialty Coffee Auction, which will link Kenyan growers with US roasters.

“Our mission is to provide a platform in which farmers and roasters connect. Roasters should have efficient access to high-quality coffee while farmers act as their own brand ambassadors and receive better pay,” Njuguna says in his company’s website.

Njuguna said the plight of Kenyan coffee farmers pushed him to begin the project about two years ago. His grandmother Joyce Waithaka, 104, is among farmers who have been struggling with poor coffee prices for decades. Joyce is a resident of Kiaguthu village in Othaya, Nyeri County.

Njuguna first approached Grand Island Economic Development Corporation (GIAEDC) — an agency that promotes new businesses before selling his idea to the Kenyan government.

The project impressed GIAEDC’s president Dave Tylor, who said it said would improve the economy of the island and create many jobs.

During the launch on Tuesday, it was announced that 80 bags of coffee from smallholder Kenyan farmers had been shipped to the US and stored at Zabuni Warehouse for the auction. 
CS Munya was accompanied to the launch by Senator Njeru Ndwiga (Embu) his Tharaka-Nithi counterpart Kithure Kindiki, Githunguri MP Gabriel Kago and several other government officials.

Roselyn Akombe RemindsSenator Amos Wako Why Hewas Banned from the US

By John Wanjohi  Thu, 11/21/2019 @ 12:38pm 2661 views 8 comments

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Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Roselyn Akombe on Thursday told Busia Senator Wako  to stop pretending he does not know why Trump administration blacklisted him.

"Need we remind you, sir, that you served as AG during the Moi era? Goldenberg scandal, the torture of human rights defenders," Akombe wrote on Twitter.

While announcing the ban on Wako, his wife Flora Ngaira and son Julius Wako, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Wako, a former long-time Kenyan Attorney-General, was involved in what he termed as “significant corruption.”

“Today’s action sends a strong signal that the United States is a valuable partner in Kenya’s fight against corruption,” said Pompeo in a statement on Monday.

Reacting to the sanction during a press briefing at Parliament on Wednesday, Senator Wako challenged the US government to table evidence that he was involved in graft. He further claimed that the US was unable to do so in justification of the 2009 travel ban.

“When the US issued a travel ban against me in 2009, I instructed my attorney to write to them to demand this information and it was not forthcoming. I still demand to know because I have never been implicated in corruption or prosecuted for the same.”

“It took over 6 months for my attorney to receive a reply. I am a man of integrity because I have never been involved in any form of corruption,” he added.
 

Number of Kenyan Students inUS Rises to 3,400 - Third Highestin Africa

By John Wanjohi  Fri, 11/22/2019 @ 11:25am 436 views 5 comments

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Kenya is among the top African countries with a high number of students in United States colleges and universities.

There were 3,451 Kenyan students enrolled in US higher education institutions in the 2018/2019 academic year, according to Daily Nation.

The number of Kenyan students grew by four percent last year, outpacing the overall rise of 0.05 percent in the number of foreign students tallied in the US during the period.

Nigeria had the highest number of students in the US last year with 13,423, an increase of about six percent from the previous academic year. Ghana was second (3,661) students followed by Kenya (3,451).

Among the East Africa nations, Kenya takes top spot followed by Ethiopia (2,061) students, Rwanda (1,292), Uganda (848), Tanzania (834), Burundi (141), Somalia (76) and South Sudan (63).

Out of the 1,095,000 international students in the US, only 40,000 are from Africa. The overall number of African students in the US is less than that from China (370,000) India (202,000), and South Korea (52,000).

A study published recently by a State Department bureau and New York-based NGO, Institute of International Education shows the number of international students enrolling in US institutions has been on the decline in the past few years. For instance, the number declined by 0.9 percent last year.

87 percent of higher education institutions surveyed by the study's sponsors attributed the drop to delays or denials in issuing US visas to applicants under President Trump’s administration.

Other institutions mentioned that fears of gun violence and hostile political atmosphere are making some students shun US colleges.

But Kenyan students have defied the trend as the number of learners from Kenya has risen gradually during the past few years.

 
 

Madhara ya Wapenzi Kugombana na Kununiana Mara kwa Mara

MWISHONI mwa wiki iliyopita, nilipata bahati ya kukutana na mmoja kati ya wasomaji wangu wa siku nyingi ambaye amekuwa akiufuatilia ukurasa huu na kujifunza mambo mbalimbali.

Alikuwa na shida iliyomfanya anitafute na alichonieleza, ni kwamba alikuwa akiujutia moyo wake kwa sababu alikuwa amemfanyia kosa kubwa mume wake kwa sababu ya hasira na sasa nafsi yake ilikuwa ikimsuta.

Kibaya zaidi, dhambi aliyokuwa ameifanya, ilikuwa imemnogea kiasi cha kuhatarisha ndoa yake. “Mimi na mume wangu tumekuwa tukigombana mara kwa mara na kibaya zaidi ni kwamba tunapogombana, inachukua muda mrefu sana kumaliza tofauti zetu. Wakati mwingine tunakaa hata mwezi mzima tukiwa tumenuniana ndani ya nyumba, yaani hata salamu hakuna.

“Miezi michache iliyopita, mimi na mume wangu tuligombana na hiyo ilikuwa ni baada ya mimi kukuta meseji kwenye simu yake, ambayo inaonesha inatoka kwa mwanamke ambaye wana mazoea ya kupitiliza. Nilipomhoji, alinijia juu na ugomvi mkubwa ukazuka kati yetu na tukanuniana kwa muda wa wiki mbili.

SOMA ZAIDI

Change Your Name Joel Osteen

I was sharing my husband with my cousin Carolyne Nduti

Kenyan Charged with Choking,Sexually Assaulting AnotherMan While in ICE Detention inPennsylvania

By Irungu Thairu  Wed, 11/13/2019 @ 05:43pm 4520 views 16 comments

Clifford Ibirithi in a 2015 mugshot after being arrested for shoplifting

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An arrest warrant for several felonies has been issued for a Kenyan man in York County, Pennsylvania who is accused of sexually assaulting his cellmate and choking the man into unconsciousness.

Clifford Kamau Ibirithi, 34, is charged with several felonies including sexual assault, strangulation, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, assault by prisoner and aggravated harassment by prisoner, according to court records.

Clifford allegedly committed the offenses on a cellmate while he was being detained in the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) section of the York county jail in February of this year.

On February 20th, a cellmate of Ibirithi reported to a correctional officer that he [victim] woke up to go use the bathroom and soon “felt pressure around his neck and related that it was a chokehold,” according to a police report by Pennsylvania  State Trooper Daniel Weldon. The vicim told the state trooper that he felt rape beginning to happen before he lost consciousness. When he woke up, the victim said “he felt pain in his backside and rectum area.,” adding that his pants were off.

Medical records indicated that the victim suffered bruises on his ear, neck, and legs. The report also said the victim suffered “multiple lacerations and abrasions” in the rectal area.

Tests matched the DNA collected from Ibirithi matched the DNA on fluid collected from the victim.

Court records say Trooper Weldon interviewed Ibirithi on February 28th, who said the two men engaged in consensual sexual activity.

Ibirithi has since been freed from ICE detention and is believed to be living in Tacoma, Washington.

Ibirithi has prior convictions for shoplifting and DUI in Delaware.

Rastafarianism is a religion, Kenyan High Court rules

PHOTO: Members of the Rastafarian Movement follow proceedings at Milimani Law Courts./FILE   By: ANNET WAMBULWA  Posted: Sep,17-2019 21:58:56   The High Court has ordered schools not to expel students who keep dreadlocks. A High Court decision on Friday indicated that Rastafarianism is a religion just like any other and ought to be respected. While giving his final verdict in a suit in which a father of a girl who was sent away from Olympic High School soon after being admitted in Form One, Justice Enoch Chacha Mwita said that the school administration's action denied the girl her right to religion and education. CONSTITUTION The judge also pointed out that the Constitution does not define what religion is but the dictionary does. "This is the first ever case in this country where a child dons rasta braids because of her religious beliefs, Rastafarianism is a religion which should also be accorded protection," said Justice Mwita. And while defending the girl's parents for taking her to school well aware that the learning institution may be opposed to Rastafarianism, the judge said that every parent has to ensure that their child joins school for purposes of spiritual mental and social development. Rastafarians leaving the Milimani Law Courts on September 13,2019. The court ruled that Rastafarianism is a recognised religion and schools should not interfere the education of students who keep dreadlocks. PHOTO | SAM KIPLAGAT | NATION MEDIA GROUP  He pointed out that the Constitution clearly spells out that failing to take a child to school is an offence that attracts a fine of Sh100,000 or a one-year jail term. DISCRIMINATORY The judge ruled that the school acted in a discriminatory manner to send away the said girl. "School rules stand on her way to religion and education, the rules have been applied in a manner to deny her education, keeping rastas is a manifestation of her religion and forcing her to cut it is contrary to her beliefs," said Justice Mwita. In the suit, the father of five protested against the school's decision to send home his daughter with instructions to cut off her dreadlocks at the start of this year. According to her parents, they had indicated in her admission documents that she belongs to the Rastafarian Society of Kenya (RSK). Her father's attempt to seek assistance from the education office in Nairobi's Kibera estate did not bear any fruit as his complaint was summarily dismissed. SUSPENSION He then moved to court to challenge his daughter's suspension from school. But the school argued that RSK has nothing to do with the right to education of students. It also claimed that the girl wore a hijab on the day of her admission and verbally indicated that she was a Muslim hence was admitted to a class that teaches Islamic religion. The school also told the court that her hijab fell off and exposed her dreadlocks. It is then that she was told that she would only be allowed in class after she shaves her hair. However, the judge declared that the decision to exclude the student from school because of keeping dreadlocks was a violation of her rights to education and religion. DREADLOCKS He also issued an order barring Olympic High School from interfering with the minor over her dreadlocks. "School rules are not intended to punish students, the fact that she keeps dreadlocks should not have been the basis to chase her from school. There must be a balance between fundamental rights and school rules," ruled Justice Mwita. He added: "School rules should not appear to be superior to the Constitution, the rule that she cuts her hair is intrusive to her religion and not justifiable in a democratic country." Source: The Star

A Kenyan doctor is seeking to legalize female genital mutilation

PHOTO: Maasai girls dress up for the beauty contest, another part of the Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony in Magadi, Southern Kenya. 'It encourages the girls to stand up independently and shine by boosting their self-esteem,' says Peter Nguura. PIC/ AL JAZEERA   By: Bukola Adebayo  Posted: Oct,30-2019 21:12:28   (CNN)__A female doctor in Kenya wants female genital mutilation to be decriminalized. Tatu Kamau is asking Kenya's courts to allow women above the age of 18 to be able to practice female genital mutilation (FGM), saying they have a right to choose what they do to their bodies at that age. She wants the Kenyan government to annul theProhibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011and the board set up to enforce the law disbanded. FGM is widely condemned in the country and acrosss parts of Africa but Kamau argues in a 2017 petition filed against the government, that it is an age-old Kenyan tradition and that an outright ban infringes on a woman's right to exercise her cultural beliefs. Kamau is representing herself in the case before the Nairobi High Court. She told judges on Thursday that the term mutilation is "offensive" and denigrates the cultural significance of the practice. "Women who took their daughters for circumcision were not taking them there to destroy them. Those children were not thrown away afterward, they were celebrated as respected members of the society. To use the word in our context suggests that it is malicious and that we are intentionally damaging our females. To me, it is very wrong," Kamau said. She is pushing for medical workers and "certified" traditional cutters to be allowed to circumcise women. "We could have had limitations of where you can do it, when, who can do it for you and how...Those things could have been controlled...such that you have certain months of the year and that is the only time you can do and it can only be done by certain professionals, those are the only people who are allowed to do it," Kamau said. Kamau declined to comment to CNN until the case is over. FGM is illegal for both women and girls in Kenya, and individuals involved in the practice could spend three years in jail even if it's done outside its border. Despite the law, many women are undergoing the cut in rural Kenya where cultural and traditional beliefs persist that FGM---the partial removal of the external female genitalia such as the clitoris or labia---reduces a woman's desire for sex. According to the UN estimates,21 percent of Kenyan women between the age of 15 and 49 have been cut, and at least200 million girls and womenacross 30 countries are affected by the practice. FGM, internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of women and girls, can cause severe bleeding and other health issues, infections, infertility and complications in childbirth, according to the World Health Organization. Anti-FGM campaigners have described Kamau's position as "outrageous" saying arguments to overturn the act erodes progress that has been made in the fight for women and girl's rights in Kenya. "It's outrageous that a supposed doctor, who should be protecting Kenyan women and girls, is trying to put them in harm's way. Her comments suggest that she doesn't seem to understand basic medicine," said Brendan Wynne from the Five Foundation, a global partnership to end FGM. "FGM causes lifelong damage and can kill. Let's not roll back progress at a point when Kenya is finally starting to see some traction on this issue." Kamau's petition has been adjourned until December. Source: CNN