HOW TO CLEAN UP SPIRITUAL MESS BY MOSES GAITARA ...At school, Osibisa was an expert in cleaning toilets and bathrooms. He was nicknamed ‘Osibisa’ after a Central African Band that was famous in the sixties and seventies. In the four years that I attended the school, Osibisa ‘hummed’ only one particular tune by that famous band. The piece of lyric he ‘hummed’ went something like, “Osibisa-ah o yea...!” Osibisa never even sang the lyrics of the bit he preferred. He only ‘hummed’ it. He cleaned ablution blocks once daily, and sometimes twice a day. As you can imagine, given the size of that institution with ablution blocks everywhere, Osibisa had his work ‘well cut out’ for him. Believe you me, more often than not; the state of the toilets and bathrooms was appalling! The bathrooms were always dirty and the toilets were often filthy, but that illiterate man knew that that was probably the only job he would ever get. The toilets often overflowed with sewage, but under cubicles, Osibisa would hurl bucket-loads of water like ‘live grenades’ to hated enemy camps. Cleaning those facilities would have daunted a lesser man, but Osibisa was unperturbed by the entire ‘hullabaloo’ that came with that tasking ordeal. Every time and everywhere, you’d find Osibisa ‘well-armed’ with his notorious little ‘war cry’ of a tune, ‘humming’ it away through chores. He needed no lyrics, a song sheet or a music director! All he needed was a broom to brush off the stubborn filth and toilet chemicals for ‘the kill.’ ‘Well-armed’ with his little ‘hum’, nothing was any big deal! Osibisa would ‘hum’ away at anything the day ‘threw’ his way. It didn’t matter that the day didn’t ‘turn up’ right, he seemed to ‘hum in’ another day at will. It didn’t matter that ‘Mark’ chided him often; Osibisa seemed to ‘fix’ himself a ‘stiff glass’ of his favourite ‘song’ and drown his sorrows in his ‘hum’! The ‘battalion’ of students would hurl abuses at him, but he’d come well prepared for them to ‘bring it on’, and promptly unleash his ‘hum’ their way. It may sound punitive to some, but that little piece of a tune seemed to be the only ‘game plan’ Osibisa had formulated, to work his way to retirement. That ‘hum’ was the psychological ‘drill’ he needed to boost his everyday morale. It was the mental ‘nose mask’ that blocked off the stench of unbearable smelly loos. It was like the only ‘insurance policy’ Osibisa had, to handle any financial crisis. As long as he could ‘hum’ Osibisa remained motivated to keep putting food on his family’s table. If Osibisa could ‘hum’, then he could make it through anything! He only needed to clear his throat and ‘hum’ his way tthrough another month and the years would come ‘flying’ past; without denigrating his enthusiasm. The ‘hum’ consoled him through many decades in defecated smelly toilets, a lifetime of menial labour, and condescending snobbish glances. He couldn’t read or even write it, and he would often ‘hum’ it out of tune, but he faced each daily ordeal with his favourite ‘hum’……

Sex. This is one of the hardest topics for parents to broach with their kids. Parents are confused about just how much information is enough to give their teen; when to start such talk, and the difference in the sexuality content between the female and male teenager. Other than that, there is also the issue of whether teenagers with sexuality related concerns should be seen by pediatricians, adult physicians or gynaecologists. Increasingly though, there appears to be general consensus that pediatricians should treat adolescents, especially with the increasing realisation that most children begin to experience pubertal changes at an early age. At the same time, many children become exposed to adult sexual content from the Internet, friends, media outlets and peers. Visits to the doctor are few and often don’t focus on the unique needs of the teenager. Research shows that physicians are missing opportunities to educate and counsel adolescent patients on healthy sexual behaviours and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and unplanned pregnancy. A recent study to assess sexuality discussions during health maintenance visits by adolescents and to identify predictors of time spent discussing sexuality and level of adolescent participation in North Carolina found that roughly, a third of adolescents left the physician’s office with no mention of sex or sexuality issues. In cases where sexual content was discussed, physicians initiated the talks, with teenagers often responding silently or with simple yes or no answers. The older teenager was more likely to talk about sex. However, by waiting until teenagers are older to discuss sex, we may miss opportunities to identify adolescents who are contemplating sexual activities. While we agree that attending clinicians could be an important source of information regarding sexuality, the role of the parent as the first source of information and guidance cannot be over emphasised. Parents should initiate discussion as early as possible with their teenagers.

A woman has sued former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende seeking Sh400,000 a month as upkeep for a child he allegedly sired. The court has already ordered Marende to pay Sh103,000 as school fees for the three-year-old girl staying with her mother. He is to pay rent for the house in Rongai, Nairobi, where the mother and child live, and also provide medical insurance. The orders were issued by the Principal Magistrate F. Munyi at the Children’s Court in Nairobi following an urgent application by the woman, who says Marende is her daughter’s biological father. The woman told the court that Marende initially performed his parental responsibilities by paying for the child’s upkeep until November 2013 when he suddenly stopped. The woman — who says she became friends with Marende in 2008 — says she conceived in 2009 and delivered a baby girl named after Marende’s mother. When she delivered at Nairobi Hospital, the former Speaker was excited to be a father and he assured her of unfailing support in bringing up the child, she says. She says she trusted him on account of his age as well as the position he held as a respected Speaker of the National Assembly. Things looked up after she delivered because she was moved from the house in Westlands to a four-bedroomed one in Lavington, according to her. Marende then paid for her and her child’s upkeep, paid for a househelp and provided a medical policy for the child processed through the National Assembly scheme, she says. When the child attained school-going age, she was enrolled at an international school in Karen. She says after the General Election in 2013, Marende asked the woman to move from Lavington to Kileleshwa, to which she complied. He later again asked her to move to Rongai, where she now lives, she says. But things changed in November last year when Marende abruptly stopped providing upkeep, according to her. He also failed to pay school fees for the first term, this year, a move the woman says prompted her to file the case. “I’m not gainfully employed and I’m about to be thrown out of the house,” says the woman. She wants the court to issue interim orders directing Marende to pay Sh475,000 monthly for the child’s upkeep pending the hearing and determination of the case. She argues that Marende’s withdrawal of financial support has drastically affected the child, who was used to clean and spacious shelter. She wants the court to order Marende to pay school fees amounting to Sh180,000, rent (Sh90,000), clothing (Sh60,000), entertainment (Sh100,000), electricity (Sh10,000), water (Sh5,000) and a care giver (Sh12,000). The woman is also seeking custody of the child. Marende is yet to respond to the suit, filed on January 29. The case is scheduled for hearing on February 26, in the presence of both parties.

The Hague Trials Kenya offers Kenyans and other interested audiences an independent online forum to share their experiences, thoughts and questions about the three cases before the ICC relating to Kenya's post-election violence of 2007-2008. THTK is a project of RNW [radio Netherlands Worldwide]in partnership with This is Africa. Transcript of the interview: THTK: What do most people know you for? Luis Moreno Ocampo (LMO): Probably because I was the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. I'm well known in some countries and in legal circles. In Argentina, I was well-known because I was a prosecutor against our generals. THTK: What do you do now? LMO: Now, I'm a lawyer working in New York, teaching at Yale University and trying to see my kids and my family more, being with my family more. THTK: What is your background? LMO: I am a lawyer. My first case as prosecutor was against the top generals of my country: three former presidents. And suddenly my world was different. I was trained to face people in power. So I'm a lawyer who was always working against powerful people. THTK: Would you say your background prepared you to be the first ICC prosecutor? LMO: No one prepares you to be the chief prosecutor of the ICC. Interestingly, I was the deputy prosecutor of the Junta trial when I was 32. In fact, that was my first trial. I was totally not prepared for that, but I learned a lot. And the rest of my life, I was thinking the most important work of my life was when I was 32 because I would never have a bigger case than my Junta trial. And then, when I was 51, I was appointed chief prosecutor of the ICC. The Junta trial was my training. THTK: Some of our FB followers commented on your eyebrows. Did they give you a sense of seriousness as a prosecutor? LMO: I never was thinking this way. I don't think my eyebrows define something. It's the only black hair I have, so I'm very happy, but that's it. THTK: How do you feel about children in Kenya being given your name? LMO: The fact that in Kenya and other countries, people put my name to their sons is showing how useful the idea of the International Criminal Court was for them. My view is, as a chief prosecutor, I was basically a lawyer of the people who were victims of these massive atrocities. The fact that some of them recognized that and gave me the honor to put my name to their sons is showing that we achieved something there. THTK: Do you follow the Kenyan cases nowadays? LMO: I don't have the information I had when I was prosecutor. I follow the media about the Kenyan cases. So I know something. THTK: How do you feel when you hear about the Kenyan cases now? LMO: How I feel about the Kenyan cases? I feel the Kenyan cases show the possibilities and the limits of international justice because in some way, we helped Kenyans to have peaceful elections in 2013, mostly peaceful. People were killed but not so many. And that was the big worry before. Everyone was worried in 2009, 2010, everyone was worried about the next election. In some way, we helped it to have a peaceful election. The outcome was unexpected. But it showed that international justice is not just about judges and prosecutors. You need political leaders because basically what I see in Kenya is Kenyatta and Ruto were allegedly killing each other, their groups, and then they were smart. They made an alliance and they presented themselves as the reconciliation process. And Odinga, who was the other candidate, said no word about post-election violence or about ICC. So the only candidate who addressed really important issues before Kenyans were Kenyatta and Ruto. And that's why people voted for them, in addition to the tribal affiliation. So I think it's a good example of how you can help but you cannot transform Kenya into Sweden. That was exactly my thinking when I was in the Junta trial. When I started, my dream was that Argentina would become Sweden. It has not become Sweden. But we never went back to the massive violence. I hope in Kenya, it's the same. The problem is showing that the countries need a political leadership. And I hope Mr. Kenyatta, as a new leader, elected by his people can understand that and help them to move ahead. THTK: How efficient do you think the Waki Commission was? LMO: I think the Waki Commission collected interesting evidence in the Ruto case. It was less successful in the killings committed, allegedly led by Mr. Kenyatta. It was more difficult because in the time of the Waki Commission, Mr. Kenyatta was part of the government so it was probably more difficult for them to collect evidence. In our investigation, when we started, we had much more evidence against Mr. Ruto than against Kenyatta. But then, at the end of the process, we had more evidence against Kenyatta than against Ruto. Then, these things are evolving because sometimes a witness changes their mind or we have problems. I don't know. The situation now is complicated. Mrs. Bensouda said the witnesses are withdrawing, and this is related with the idea that people have fears. THTK: Could anything have been done to prevent witnesses withdrawing now? LMO: I don't think you could do anything to avoid the problem we have now because we protected our witnesses. We transferred them from Kenya to different places. But in some cases, we know families in Kenya were affected or threatened. When we investigate, we don't need to disclose who are the witnesses. But when you arrive at trial time - and that's the difference between the ICC and human rights groups - we should disclose our witnesses. And then the defense has the right to know them. And after that, it's much more difficult because they can go to see them in London or wherever they are. And people can threaten their families. So, it's part of the process. THTK: Some of our followers suggested that there was bribery of the witnesses. Did the Office of the Prosecutor bribe any witnesses? LMO: The prosecutor cannot bribe witnesses. He has no budget for that. The prosecutor cannot bribe witnesses. There were allegations that someone was bribing them. Yes, I had some evidence on that in my time, and I suppose now that there are more problems. THTK: Did you coach witnesses? LMO: No, people have to understand. We have very clear protocols on how to treat witnesses. They are very complex. First. it's about security. So we have a very complex protocol on how to protect before we are even in touch with them. And then in particular with those victims, those witnesses who were victims, we have a psychological assessment before we interview them to protect them. And then for interviews, there are a lot of protocols too. You have to start the interview explaining to the witness what is the ICC, the meaning of the ICC, then the meaning of a trial. You have to ask them to tell the truth. You have to ask them to be detailed. So there are a lot of protocols that we follow. Because also this will be scrutinised by the judges and the defense can challenge So it's a very complex and rigorous process. THTK How were the Ocampo Six chosen? LMO: The standard is: I asked my investigators: give me clarity - who are those most responsible? They collected the evidence and made the first call. They presented me their evidence, and these are our candidates. I challenged them: do you have evidence against this or that? In this way, we reached the conclusions. The information is coming from the investigators, and it's about the evidence they collected. THTK: What isn't Raila Odinga one of the accused? LMO: We have no information about Mr. Odinga being involved in the killings.He was part of the Ruto alliance, but we have information that Ruto was allegedly involved in organizing the attacks, but nothing about Odinga himself. THTK: Why isn't Mwai Kibaki? LMO Same. Zero. There were zero allegations that Kibaki himself was involved. There were some people talking about his wife, but it was marginal. But zero about Kibaki. THTK: The police were seen as having committed mass atrocities during the violence. Why were they not prosecuted? LMO: We presented a case against the chief of police. The judges said the evidence was not enough. But we tried. THTK: What was the biggest challenge you encountered in the investigation? LMO: In Kenya, the biggest challenge was to collect the evidence in a free way because the Kenyan government was really worried and there were people in the Kenyan government who were involved in the crimes. We had evidence against Francis Muthaura. The evidence was not enough to go to trial, but we had evidence against him. And Muthaura was one of the most powerful persons in Kenya in those days. So it was very difficult to collect evidence against them. And then when we tried to interview people, the Kenyan government was asking us for a very formal process, where we were going nowhere. When we extracted witnesses from there and we put people outside the country, protection was a big issue because it's difficult to be protected. Imagine a Kenyan person living in a European country. Some of them became drunkards. Some of them had problems with our security people. So it's a very complex process. That's why I think we are very proud that at least we can confirm the charges against most of the suspects before the elections and people can have clarity. People voted. It was not my business. There were some diplomats asking me to do something more to prevent Kenyatta or Ruto to run in the elections. And I said, it's not my job. Judges in Kenya should do that. And if they authorize them to run, people will vote. And if people vote for them, we have nothing to say. THTK: What constitutes evidence to a prosecutor? LMO: You need physical evidence. So in some cases, there were doctors' reports about rapes. And they were collecting physical evidence. There were some pictures. There were sites - so a church burnt down. We did some site analysis. And witnesses, victims, explaining what happened to them. And inside witnesses because part of the crimes were allegedly committed by the Mungikis. Some of the witnesses were Mungiki members. Mungikis are using violence and committing crimes. It's complicated because then people can say the Mungikis are criminals. You cannot trust them. So that's why we tried to have very high standards, to evaluate if they were saying the truth or not. So we compared the information with other information we had. And we selected those who we believe could stand on trial. THTK: What criteria do you apply to name someone a suspect? LMO: In our type of crimes, you first analyze what happened and you find their patterns. And you see that something was not spontaneous. It was ordered. The question is who ordered it? In one case, the evidence we had in those days was that Mr. Ruto was planning the attacks and organizing a group to do it. And as a consequence, Mr. Muthaura and Mr. Kenyatta, in accordance with our evidence, were involved in the retaliation. That's everything we had in those days. Now this issue should be checked in court. Ruto is on trial. He has a right to present his evidence and the judges will decide. I don't know what will be the outcome of the trial. We are presenting the case. The defence also has the right to present their own case. The judges are impartial. They have to make a decision. So it's a very high threshold. We see what happens. THTK: What do you say in response to a Facebook follow who identifies as a victim and asks: will I get justice? LMO: Justice is a long journey. I'm Argentinian. We're pretty successful but it took seven years to have a trial against the top commanders. Then there were the rebellions. The trial was stopped. And almost 15 years late, the trials started again. I did the best I could to move the cases. Fatou Bensouda is doing the same now. How far the International Criminal Court will arrive? I don't know. And probably the victims will keep asking justice for many years in Kenya. But justice is not just putting people in jail. For me, it's a shame that there are still people displaced in Kenya. And people who are not receiving some kind of help for the crimes they suffered. So, justice includes reparations for the victims. Justice includes truth. There are different types of justice, and I hope Kenyans will get justice. I know it will be a long journey. THTK: A lot of our followers expressed disappointment at the fact that you "retired" at the peak of the Kenyan cases and they think you left unfinished business. Why did you leave the ICC when you left? LMO: I left because I had to leave. It was my job. So I had a tenure for nine years and in June 2012, I had to be replaced. I could not stay. The law says I should go. That's why I was very pleased that I could finish the confirmation of charges. But after that, it's institution. It's not my place. Fatou Bensouda was with me, so she knew the cases very well. And she did the best she could. I could not do it better than Fatou. THTK: Do you ever wish that you could take over the Kenyan cases again? LMO: No, I cannot. Look, my responsibility was to build an institution. You build institutions doing cases, and that's what I did. But it's not my place. My heart is with the Kenyans. I always think about how much they suffered and probably they are disappointed. I understand that. I did the best I could. I know it's a long journey. And I know at the end, there will always be people who are disappointed. THTK: What do you say to Kenyans who feel resentment towards you? LMO: I suppose there are many Kenyans who feel frustrated and could express anger against me because for them I was a big hope. The fact that they had a peaceful election is probably not enough for them. And the fact that Ruto is on trial is not enough for them. So, I understand that. I did the best I could. I started the cases. I investigated the cases. I reached the confirmation of charges. After that, I could not run in the elections in Kenya. I was thinking, OK, I finish the ICC, I go to be the prime minister of Kenya. I cannot. So you need Kenyan politicians. We cannot rely on one person. We should prepare many persons in Kenya. And there are many good people in Kenya. But it's still complicated. But at least we move from a catastrophic situation to a situation... It's bad but it's not catastrophic. So it's an evolution. Is it enough? No. THTK: And how do you think Mrs. Bensouda is handling the cases? LMO: Perfect. Fatou Bensouda is doing a perfect, great job. Fatou Bensouda cannot define the elections in Kenya. She cannot define the attitude of the government. She cannot avoid that the witnesses are receiving bribes or threats. She cannot stop that. But she is very tough, very firm. There was a lot of pressure because as soon as Kenyatta became the president, the international community wanted to please him. So I read in newspapers that there is a lot of pressure on Mrs. Bensouda. And she was very firm, staying the line. During the last Assembly of States Parties, there was a lot of discussion, and Fatou Bensouda was firm. But as a lawyer she cannot go to trial with no evidence. So that's why she decided not to go to trial. But I think Fatou Bensouda was perfect. THTK: And the challenges that she has now, do you feel that she inherited them from you or are they new challenges? LMO: The International Criminal Court always faces new challenges. When I started, the challenge was to put the system in motion. Imagine, when I started it was the Iraq war. Many of the judges were thinking that the court would close in two years. So just arresting Lubanga was a huge achievement. But now it's nothing because our expectations are also growing. That's good. So in my time the main challenge was to put the system in motion. So now Fatou has to consolidate, and it's always complicated. THTK: Is it harder for Miss Bensouda now that she has to deal with a president and a deputy president? LMO: For us, we don't care. The fact that Mr. Kenyatta is president or vice president or Mr. Bashir was president or Mr. Ghadaffi was the president of Libya, we really don't care. We don't think in this way. We, criminal prosecutors, we look for the evidence, and we try to follow the evidence, and we prosecute the most responsible. That's our policy. What I found is OK, but that should not just be the policy of the prosecutor. It should be the policy for the states. Diplomats have different relations. They relate with states. They respect head of states. So for them it's different. But for prosecutors, we follow the case, really. THTK: Do you and Miss Bensouda have any type of personal relationship? LMO: I know Fatou Bensouda since 2004. She's very smart, and she's also very gentle. Very, very nice person, and very gentle. So it's very difficult to fight her because she's very gentle. I'm always ready to help if she needs me. The last time I was in New York, she was there, so I invited her for dinner, for instance. We have a nice conversation. And occasionally - once or twice a year - she calls me to comment on some issue. But this is her business. Fatou Bensouda is the prosecutor, I'm the former prosecutor. They had enough Ocampo for 9 years. They have to be rid of Ocampo. THTK: What do you think that the world can learn from how the Kenyan trials are evolving at the ICC? LMO: I don't know. In terms of the judicial process, I think we did the best we could. The problem of the witnesses is difficult to control. Probably we can do better investigation to avoid tampering of the witnesses. I believe the Kenya cases require a strong commitment from the international community. But in some way, the Kenya case is moving well in the sense that Kenya is evolving. Look at what happened in Darfur. Nothing is moving well. In Sudan, nothing us working well. In Kenya, it's going better. Of course, it's not enough. Answering your question better, I don't know. I think it's early to draw lessons. We need more time to see how this is evolving, if the efforts of Kofi Annan and the efforts of the ICC were enough or not. But one lesson we can learn from Kenya is that international justice is not just about prosecutors and judges. It requires national leadership. And that was the missing part in Kenya. THK: Do you think that Kenya's present day justice system could handle the trials without the ICC? LMO: Kofi Annan helped the Kenyans a lot to reshape their institutions, and they have a judiciary which is much more respected. It is difficult for any country to investigate their own president. Even in the US, it was very difficult to prosecute President Nixon, who also won the elections after Watergate. And also fired the prosecutor when he was requesting evidence. So it's difficult to investigate your own people. That's why the ICC can play a role. I don't know. I don't see that there's a case in Kenya yet. So I don't see Kenya case. But I believe that institutions in Kenya evolve and help more the people. THTK: Do you think the outcome of the Kenya cases will affect how the ICC is viewed by the world in future? LMO: I think the Kenyan case was very important because it shows something different. And in the Kenyan case, the crimes were by militias or by brutal authoritarian regime like the Bashir regime. The Kenyan case was a case where the politicians were using massive killings to get power. And Ggbagbo case is similar, the Ivory Coast case. So showing them that there is a problem – if you use violence to get power, you have a problem - I think was an important lesson for the world and Africa too. THTK: Why are only Africans being judged by the ICC? LMO: The ICC is there to protect those victims when no one else protects them. And in these seven cases we opened in Africa, that happened. In Colombia, there are massive atrocities, but there are judges and prosecutors investigating the cases. They don't need us. So for me, the ICC is not about popularity or prejudices or media information. It's about clear standards. When there are massive atrocities and no investigations, we are there. It's funny because Bashir was the one who presented that there was an African bias to cover his genocide. He's winning this battle. Journalists like you are asking me about African bias and not about genocide in Darfur. I think that is something that journalists have to improve. But ICC, precisely because we are in Africa. We are proud to be in Africa. We are serving African victims and we are working in Africa because the African leaders decided to be part of the ICC. THTK: Is there something you can do to make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice? LMO: What I'm trying to do now, in particular from Yale, is to analyze how the other actors should respect the law. The law is not for judges and prosecutors. The law is for people. People have to follow the law and leaders have to follow the law. It's not to put people in jail. It's not I'm a leader, I can kill people. I can steal money. These are two basic rules. The law is for them. I think that is the missing part in the diplomatic area. At the UN, political leaders, they don't see the law as a limit for them. They tend to make agreements, and it's not working well. Sometimes I use an example: you go to Berlin and you take the subway. You don't take a train without paying a ticket because no one is controlling you. People pay. Even one of my staff, he went with a French colleague to a Brussels metro and he said, "we cannot take the train. Why not? Because the ticket office is closed, so we cannot take the train." So that is the meaning of the law. People understand the law. And that for me is the main goal of the ICC. It's not about cases. It's about everyone understanding when there are massive atrocities, end of the game. Whoever committed the crimes has to be out and investigated. And that rule is still complicated. You see what is happening with Syria today. It's still debating, options, negotiations because it's against Al Qaeda or maybe it's a good idea. So all of this should change. When someone commits massive atrocities, out of the game. LMO: The only thing I want to do now in my next ten years - I hope to live 10 years more - is to help teachers around the world to educate on peace and justice. We have a new generation coming. They are born in a global world, and they have to be educated on the connection between crimes affecting Kenya or if you live in San Diego or Washington or The Hague. And that is my new idea. Not new because I was doing this in Argentina, but now I'd like to promote globally to help teachers around the world to educate on peace and justice. Read more about the Kenyatta, Ruto and Sang cases at The Hague Trials Kenya.

You are probably in your mid 30s or early 40s. The biological clock is ticking and you are desperate to settle down. You have a well-paying job, a nice house. You are a professional or business success. However, you score badly in matter of the heart. Reason? You are scared of attracting women who are only after your money. This is the dilemma most men find themselves in. Torn between a ‘real woman’ or the gold-digger type. The assumption that all women are after their money is men’s code of belief. It takes two to tango Lets face it. Most women date for materialistic possessions. They want a man to pamper them, buy them gifts and pay her bills. It will be tough luck to find a woman who doesn’t have these expectations. Recently I was having a chat with a pal of mine who ranted how women are after his money. I wondered why he was complaining about things he tolerates and attracts. He had no one else but himself to blame for how he was being treated. I mean it takes two to tango, right? In order to attract someone worth keeping in your life you have to emit the energy that attracts the person you want into your life. Read more at: Sampling the cookies You can’t simply go through life, letting everyone that gives you attention into your life or just sampling the cookies in the jar. Ladies, not every man who asks for your number is worth giving the number to. Men are hunters and they will chase a woman they want to get. (depending on what they want) And it’s up to you to decide if you are going to let a guy win. Some women fall for any man who gives them attention because they fear being alone but who said being single is bad? Men, if all you keep attracting is a woman, who wants you for your money, you need to re-evaluate your actions. If you constantly flash money and talking big about what you can do for a woman, then those are the kind women you will attract. A good number of women have financial muscle, and are least excited by a man who knows nothing but to brag about fat bank accounts. The thing is, tone down the bragging and you will soon have them next to you. Dating isn’t complicated, it all depends on you. An informed man approaches the dating game with his eyes wide open. I am not saying that you have to be demanding about how someone treats you, but if you are content with who you are, and are emitting the right energy, then that is what you will attract....adapted from SDE

Sex in normal doses is good for your health suggests a study that was recently published by The Journal of Sexual Medicine. As you watch your health by eating right and exercising and drinking your required 8-10 glasses of water daily and taking your vitamins, you should include regular sexual activities on your health list. The study that was carried out by Women’s Health Program at Monash University in Australia found that women who had sex and reached an orgasm had higher levels of energy, fell ill less and had a better psychological outlook. So apparently you should have sex at least twice a month failure to which you will be more likely to get sick and this is as compared to those who have sex a little more regularly. However, the study went on to reveal that it is not just about the sex. For you to reap the full health benefits through sexual activity you have to reach a climax. Yes, an orgasm should be your limit. Be sure to anticipate that particular limit every time you have sex even if such an opportunity comes once in a long while. And Men…sex shouldn’t be just about you getting laid, do help your woman get to the finish line…her and her overall health will be grateful.FOLLOW US @KENYATIMES

Bonface Mwangi the man whose heckling earns him a living and gives him a chance to mingle with the most controversial foreign masters with an aim of raping Kenya, but as nature has it ; gets no chance to do so.The 31yrs old man who lives on a foreign masters payroll makes it his duty to incite jobless youth into chilling protests ,unknown to the unfortunate youths Bonface Mwangi lives on a fat cheque which is made possible by their arrogance.From heckling the former president Kibaki during a public address to arranging a high profile riots Ma-vultures,occupy parliament..this time around shocking details are emerging about a planned protest that is set to coincide with Valentine day is set to take place.though choices have consequencies he has opted to spend his valentine night in a cold floor behind bars whereas his wife will be rolling from one corner of the bed alone[but only God knows who would give her a shoulder to lean on] So it is always wise to question yourself before availing yourself to such protests that are led by greed

Mohammed Afar, the resident of Aleppo area in Syria is 11 years old. The modified Kalashnikov assault rifle he carries stretches to more than half of his height. Over the top of his faded yellow jacket a Free Syrian Army (FSA) vest holds three extra clips, each full with live ammunition, and a walkie-talkie. An FSA badge sits on one side and a rendering of the Islamic Shahada, in Arabic calligraphy, on the other. He says he does not miss school or want to stay at home with his mother and two sisters. “I want to stay as a fighter until Bashar is killed,” he says, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The fighters surrounding him, all claiming to be from Liwa al-Tawhid, pass him a sniper rifle and offer to take him to a frontline, so he can demonstrate his shooting. The father of the boy, Mohammed Saleh Afar refers to his son as “ great shot” and “a little lion.” Over the course of its grinding 21- month insurgency, Syria’s children have endured numerous abuses. Caught-up in shelling, airstrikes, and sniping, they have additionally been subject to arbitrary arrest, torture and rape, as reported by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria in August; which, additionally, noted “with concern reports that children under 18 are fighting and performing auxiliary roles for anti-Government armed groups.” Both the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Children carry provisions that call for not using combatants under the age of 15, while the International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute makes it a war crime. Mohammed quickly disengages his magazine and presents it, before skillfully reinserting it, but not chambering a round. The older fighters surrounding him – some of whom are little more than boys themselves – praise his speed and mirror his father’s earlier statements, calling him a “good shot.” He says he admires the fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra – composed of hardline Islamists subscribing to Takfiri ideology – and recently designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. Al-Nusra have proven effective in battle, winning itself scores of supporters. Many of its fighters previously cut their teeth on other frontlines of the global jihad – notably Iraq and Afghanistan, but also throughout Central Asia and the Middle East. The group’s rise has imbued the opposition with an unmistakable Islamicist hue while raising fears of a sectarian bloodbath in the event that Assad falls: Syria is home to Sunni, Alawite, Druze, Christians and Yazidi. “They [Jabhat al-Nusra] know Islam and Sharia. They know what it means to be a Muslim,” Mohammed “When my father goes to the frontline, he takes me with him,” says Mohammed. “He says to be careful and we find a safe place to shoot from.” According to a November Human Rights Watch report, some opposition groups fighting in Syria “are using children for combat and other military purposes.” “Even when children volunteer to fight, commanders have a responsibility to protect them by turning them away,” said its children’s researcher, Priyanka Motaparthy, in the report. “Children are easily influenced by older relatives and friends, but their participation in armed hostilities places them in grave danger of being killed, permanently disabled, or severely traumatized.” Yet Mohammed’s father – his long and graying beard styled in the fashion favored by religiously conservative Salafists – sees little wrong with his son’s participation. “I put my trust in God,” he says. The other members of the unit agree. The 11-year-old is kept safe, they claim, and never taken to frontlines that are too dangerous. “There are other boys fighting too,” Mohammed says. “Some, but not much.”

At an estimated 160 years of age, Dhaqabo Ebba, a retired farmer and well-known community elder from the Oromia region in Ethiopia, could be the oldest living person ever. In an interview conducted by the state-run TV Oromiya and published online on Aug. 12, 2013, Ebba — who has no birth certificate to prove his exact age — says he has lived through and witnessed a transfer of power among all of the five Gadaa Oromo political parties in four rotations. As per the Gadaa system of government, a democratic socio-political institution of the Oromo people, one Gadaa leader serves for a period of eight years. There are five Gadaa parties within this system among which leadership rotates. If Ebba had indeed lived through four such rotations, that makes him at least 160 years old. The average life expectancy in Ethiopia is 60 years, according to the CIA’s World Factbook. It would be impossible to establish Ebba’s age as birth takes place at home in rural Ethiopia and the majority of Ethiopians still do not own birth certificates. “When Italy [first] invaded Ethiopia [in 1895], I had two wives and my son was old enough to herd cattle,” Ebba tells the reporter in Afan Oromo, the Oromo language, at his house near Dodola town. There are no living witnesses to corroborate his story. “Not even one of my peers is alive today,” says Ebba. However, Ebba who claims to have the largest extended family in the area has seen his great- grandchildren grow up. And he is by far the oldest known person in the area. Ebba lives in a one-room house constructed by tightly woven bamboo poles which are intricately fastened together. Its corrugated metal roof, clinched together with nails, covers a cleanly swept dirt floor where Ebba and neighbors were huddled together for the interview. According to Guinness World Records, Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at 122 years and 164 days, is the oldest person with a verified age. Earlier this month, the Associated Press reported, Bolivia’s Carmelo Flores could be the world’s oldest manat 123 years. Ebba’s Story If true, Ebba’s story may change that. Born sometime in the 1850s, had there been better communications, Ebba would remember the Berlin Conference of 1884 that set the stage for European colonization of Africa. Within the context of Ethiopian history, he was born before the conquest of Oromo country by Abyssinian invaders. In his own account, Ebba has lived under the reigns of at least seven Ethiopian rulers starting from Emperor Yohannes IV to the current regime, the EPRDF. The Oromo are Ethiopia’s single largest ethnic group, estimated at 40 percent of the total population. Largely marginalized, they fought against all seven rulers that Eba has outlived during Ethiopia’s imperial expansion to the south from its northern highlands. During the 30-minute interview, Ebba recalls life under previous Ethiopian rulers — and notes a relative improvement for his community under EPRDF, particularly in areas of road transportation and telecommunication. He says in his generation it took eight days on horseback to visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, some 240 kms away from his village. Today, it only takes a couple of hours. Ebba speaks with a firm, articulate voice while recounting his life story. He may no longer be able to see but his memories of historical facts seem sharp. As the local journalist noted at the end the interview, given that the Oromo like many African cultures are an oral society, “each time an elder dies, a library is lost.” Ebba’s is one such library from which much can still be preserved. Hamid dhaqaboIt is indeed remarkable that Ebba’s eldest son Hamid Dhaqabo could not chew Qorso — a local snack made by roasting barley seeds — while Ebba, who has his full teeth intact, had no problem doing just that. “I can eat sugarcane [by chewing] all I want without any problem,” Ebba proudly tells the reporter with a firm voice. Locals, who acknowledge mistaking father and son, tease Hamid for aging faster than his father given his white hair and lack of teeth. A point he begrudgingly concedes with a forced, toothless grin adding: “God took them all away.”

A sexual problem means that sex isn't satisfying or positive for you. In women, common sexual problems include feeling little or no interest in sex, having problems getting aroused, or having trouble with orgasm. For some women, pain during intercourse is a problem. Most women have a sexual problem at one time or another. For some women, it's ongoing. But your symptoms are only a sexual problem if they bother you or cause trouble in your relationship. There is no "normal" level of sexual response, because it's different for every woman. You may also find that what's normal at one stage of your life changes at another stage or age. For example, it's common for a tired mother of a baby to have little interest in sex. And it's common for both women and men to have less intense sex drives as they age. This is linked in part to hormone changes in the body. What are some causes of sexual problems in women? Female sexuality is complex. At its core is a need for closeness and intimacy. Women also have physical needs. When there is a problem in either the emotional or physical part of your life, you can have sexual problems. Some common causes include: • Emotional causes, such as stress, relationship problems, depression or anxiety, a memory of sexual trauma, and unhappiness with your body. • Physical causes, such as hormone problems, pain from an injury or other problem, and certain conditions such as diabetes or arthritis. • Aging, which can cause changes in the vagina, such as dryness and stiffening. • Certain medicines that can cause sexual problems. These include medicines for depression, blood pressure, and diabetes. What are the symptoms? Sexual problems can include: • Having less desire for sex. • Having trouble feeling aroused. • Not being able to have an orgasm. • Having pain during intercourse. How are sexual problems in women diagnosed? Women often recognize a sexual problem when they notice a change in desire or sexual satisfaction. When this happens, it helps to look at what is and isn't working in the body and in life. For example: • Are you ill, or do you take a medicine that can lower your sexual desire or response? • Are you stressed or often very tired? • Do you have a caring, respectful connection with a partner? • Do you and your partner have the time and privacy to relax together? • Do you have painful memories about sex or intimacy? Your doctor can help you decide what to do. He or she will ask questions, do a physical exam, and talk to you about possible causes. Some women find it hard to talk to their doctor about sexual problems at first. Sometimes it helps to write out what you want to say beforehand. For example, you could say something like, "For the past few months, I haven't enjoyed sex as much as I used to." Or you could say, "Ever since I started taking that medicine, I haven't felt like having sex."

In Summary • Do you want a job promotion? Do you? Then eat quail eggs. Do you want your marriage to work? If you do, eat quail eggs. • Do you want to become Kenya’s president in 2017? Simple, consult your next door quail eggs vendors. • I bet you chickens are laughing their eggs off to all those who had jumped on the quail bandwagon only to be disappointed. There’s a quail frenzy people! Wherever you turn, there is a person talking about quail, quail eggs, and their miraculous abilities... At this point it looks like the only thing quails and their eggs can’t do is run for president. We are a quail country and from the looks of things, we can do all things, no, not through Christ who strengthens us, but through the out of this world magic powers of quail eggs. Do you want a job promotion? Do you? Then eat quail eggs. Do you want your marriage to work? If you do, eat quail eggs. Do you want to become Kenya’s president in 2017? Simple, consult your next door quail eggs vendors. They are not hard to find, they are everywhere. Quails are here to heal the sick, give sight to the blind and, according to a very good source on Facebook who goes by the name “Xaniqua Xoxo Xherry Mrx Lil Weezy”, they can also cure AIDS. Yes, my very trusted source who speaks fluent Facebook, and whose profile photo is of Rihanna wrote a post detail how, if you eat 300 quail eggs, you will be HIV/AIDS free. You know what, I agree with her. If you eat 300 eggs, you will drop dead and at the same time, you will have killed the viruses. It makes sense. Going by the success and miraculous powers of this tiny things, I think I know some of the people who have been eating them. Let us start with Lupita Nyong’o. MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON TALENT ALONE You think talent alone got her to where she is? Hell no! She has been eating quail eggs since she was two. Immediately she got off the plane from Mexico, she pounced on them with glee. I have this on poor authority I’ll have you know. She comes from Kisumu, a place where quails have been roaming the countryside for years. They are called Aluru and have been a delicacy for generations, that is until some Kikuyu chap discovered them. If you listen to Lupita giving her acceptance speeches, you will hear her thank her parents, late uncle, family, friends and quails. She mentions them in a whisper since she does not want people to discover her secret. I am telling you people, my sources, who neither know, nor have they ever met Lupita tell me that she forgot to pop a quail egg just before she attended the Golden Globes. That’s why she did not win the Best Supporting Actress award. She learnt her lesson and is said to have ordered a shipload of quail eggs in readiness for the Oscars.The other person who has been popping quail eggs since he was two months old is Victor Wanyama. First, quail is an animal and so the bird is represented in the footballer’s second name and the quail gods have been happy with him and have thus, rewarded him — heavily. In November, the Southampton player had committed the most fouls in the Premier League through nine games, averaging three fouls per game. Now, how is that for recognition? Not even Messi has ever had that honour so, all hail the quail. When they hold the Baloon F’Oul, Wanyama will get it unopposed. Suck on that Ronaldo. But, this bird’s mythical powers are waning as greed overrides common sense. Everyone is now rearing them since at some point in December, an egg roughly the size of one “Tropical sweet” was retailing for Sh100. Everyone rushed to rear them while singing along to The Jefferson’s “Movin’ on up” soundtrack. I saw some even do the Jefferson power walk. Well, if you look around, the prices are now a measly Sh9. That is right, they are even lower than those of chicken eggs, a bird that has been so loyal to us but whom we betrayed for quail, the candy of the month. I bet you chickens are laughing their eggs off to all those who had jumped on the quail bandwagon only to be disappointed. I guess this is how wives feel when their husbands return home after realising that the spring chicken they had left them for had dipped in value and they figure out that the “old hag” they left behind was better all along. But worry not husbands, if you get your wives to eat 100 raw quail eggs, your problems will be over. No, they will probably not take you back but it will wipe off that “I told you so” smirk off their faces. See, quails do have magic powers. ADAPTED from NATION

1.Personal details Normally these would be your name, address,date of birth (although with age discrimination laws now in force this isn't essential), telephone number and email. 2. Education and qualifications Some employers may spend as little as 45 seconds skimming a résumé before branding it “not of interest”, “maybe” or “of interest. BI Business School Your degree subject and university, plus A levels and GCSEs or equivalents. Mention grades unless poor! 3. Work experience *. Use action words such as developed, planned and organised. *. Even work in a shop, bar or restaurant will involve working in a team , providing a quality service to customers, and dealing tactfully with complaints. Don't mention the routine, non-people tasks (cleaning thetables) unless you are applying for a casual summer job in a restaurant or similar. *. Try to relate the skills to the job. A financejob will involve numeracy , analytical and problem solving skills so focus on these whereas for a marketing role you would place a bit more more emphasis on persuading and negotiating skills. *. " All of my work experiences have involved working within a team-based culture. This involved planning, organisation, co-ordination and commitment e.g., in retail, this ensured daily sales targets were met, a fair distribution of tasks and effective communication amongst all staff members. " 4. Interests and achievements Writing about your interests Reading, cinema, stamp-collecting, playing computer games Suggests a solitary individual who doesn't get on with other people. This may not be true, but selectors will interpret the evidence they see before them. Cinema: member of the University Film-Making Society Travel: travelled through Europe by train this summer in a group of four people, visiting historic sites and practising my French and Italian Reading: helped younger pupils with readingdifficulties at school. This could be the same individual as in the first example, but the impression is completely the opposite: an outgoing proactive individual who helps others. *. Keep this section short and to the point. Asyou grow older, your employment record will take precedence and interests will typically diminish greatly in length and importance. *. Bullets can be used to separate interests into different types: sporting, creative etc. *. Don't use the old boring cliches here:"socialising with friends". *. Don't put many passive, solitary hobbies (reading, watching TV, stamp collecting) oryou may be perceived as lacking people skills. If you do put these, then say what you read or watch: "I particularly enjoy Dickens, for the vivid insights you get into life in Victorian times" . *. Show a range of interests to avoid coming across as narrow : if everything centres around sport they may wonder if you could hold a conversation with a client who wasn't interested in sport. *. Hobbies that are a little out of the ordinary can help you to stand out from thecrowd: skydiving or mountaineering can show a sense of wanting to stretch yourself and an ability to rely on yourself in demanding situations *. Any interests relevant to the job are worth mentioning: current affairs if you wish to be a journalist; a fantasy share portfolio such as Bullbearings if you want to work in finance. *. Any evidence of leadership is important to mention: captain or coach of a sports team,course representative, chair of a student society, scout leader: "As captain of the school cricket team, I had to set a positiveexample, motivate and coach players and think on my feet when making bowling and field position changes, often in tense situations" *. Anything showing evidence of employabilityskills such as teamworking, organising, planning, persuading, negotiating etc. 5. Skills *. The usual ones to mention are languages (good conversational French, basic Spanish), computing (e.g. "good working knowledge of MS Access and Excel, plus basic web page design skills" and driving ("full current clean driving licence"). *. If you are a mature candidate or have lots of relevant skills to offer, a skills-based CV may work for you 6. References *. Many employers don’t check references at the application stage so unless the vacancy specifically requests referees it's fine to omit this section completely if you are running short of space or to say"References are available on request." *. Normally two referees are sufficient: one academic (perhaps your tutor or a project supervisor) and one from an employer (perhaps your last part-time or summer job). Post on our page on Choosing and Using Referees for more help with this. The order and the emphasis will depend on what you are applying for and what you have to offer. For example, the example media CV lists the candidate's relevant work experience first. . . . Frequent flops in a CV: When asked what would make them automatically reject a candidate, employers said: *. CVs with spelling mistakes or typos 61% *. CVs that copied large amounts of wording from the job posting 41% *. CVs with an inappropriate email address 35% *. CVs that don’t include a list of skills 30% *. CVs that are more than two pages long 22% *. CVs printed on decorative paper 20% *. CVs that detail more tasks than results for previous positions 16% *. CVs that include a photo 13% *. CVs that have large blocks of text with little white space 13%

A news organization, WORLDNETDAILY has reported the following unfortunate incident: “An evangelist who tried replicating Jesus’ miracle of walking on water has reportedly drowned off the western coast of Africa. Pastor Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle, and he attempted it from a beach in Gabon’s capital of Libreville. ‘He told his followers he’d had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus,’ an eyewitness told theGlasgow Daily Record. ‘He took his congregation to the beach saying he would walk across the Komo estuary, which takes 20 minutes by boat. He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back.’ A researcher at Florida State University believes he has a natural explanation for the account of Jesus’ miraculous walk on the surface of water — ice. Professor of Oceanography Doron Nof and the co-authors of his study theorize that a rare combination of optimal water and atmospheric conditions resulted in a unique, localized freezing phenomenon called ‘springs ice.’ “This horrible incident, together with a “professor’s” response, progresses from the tragically untaught to the supremely obtuse. The Tragedy of Ignorance“‘Pastor’ Kabele” obviously was a very sincere man; but sincerity does not nullify ignorance. I do not use this term in a pejorative way. All of us are ignorant in some matters. It’s just that sometimes one form of ignorance can have a greater consequence than others. In the first place it should be noted that “revelations” from God do not occur today. When the Old Testament era came to an end in Malachi’s day, 400 years passed with no “revelations” from God. This era frequently is described as “the four silent centuries.” With the coming of a new age, from the commencement of Jesus’ ministry to the death of the apostle John, there was another relatively brief period when supernatural revelation and signs were manifest. When the New Testament was completed, and the apostles and other people possessing miraculous abilities died, no further signs were provided. Had poor Mr. Kabele known his Bible better, he would not have attempted his “miracle” feat; had he possessed a moderate amount of common sense, he quickly would have discovered he could not “walk on water,” before the sea finally welcomed him to the livelyhood of ecosystem

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ove and dating are hard games and there are some types of men who should be avoided. . 1. The non commitments ones While seemingly a normal, possibly timid guy, things can go extremely wrong when he finds out your true feelings. Men like this aren't mature enough to handle relationships, so they avoid them at all costs. For example, he may show signs of sharing your infatuation, but when talk of commitment comes up, he acts as if you've never even met. If this man comes into your life, don’t beat yourself up over his sudden change of heart. He’s simply a scared little boy, not the man of your dreams. 2. The Flirt We’ve all met a flirt. Also known as the ever elusive «player». He has dozens of women on the and possesses a constant hunger to string more along to fulfill his insecure mindset. When you spot this man, don’t let him get to you. You can bet those charming one-liners and suave winks have been used many times before to his advantage. You’ll always be an option, but never a priority. 3. The Blow off This man has no trouble setting plans and organizing dates. In fact, he is usually the one that routinely lights up your phone every Friday night. He wants to have some fun this weekend. To make sure he isn’t left alone, he schedules numerous «dates» and weighs his options. If you’re not top on his list, you’ll probably get the «Oh, sorry I’m not feeling so well» text or possibly no response at all. Don’t let it bother you, he wasn't worth your time. 4. The gender confused dudes This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Does your man spend more time getting ready than you do? Does he constantly check his hair in every mirror he comes across? Is he seemingly more in love with himself than in you? Are his interests limited to his own idealistic opinions and profound theories? Yeah, he’s head over heels. With himself. Ditch the dude, you shouldn’t have to put up with someone so plastic. 5. The Dramatic From past relationships I’ve learned that the majority of these boys have been total nuisance. You’ll know you’ve met this type when he freaks out if you show up five minutes late to a date. You can be sure he’ll fan every little disagreement into a full-blown argument. It’s not worth the stress. In my experience, this type can’t handle sarcasm very well, either. Their serious attitudes tend to translate humor very literally