To say football is a passionate game would be as obvious as saying base jumping,high altitude climbing and motor cycle racing are some of the most dangerous sports. Generally spectator sports usually elicit lots of passion but nothing beats the passion in football. What makes people who rarely say a word to you on the street shout their lungs out and celebrate as if they have just become first time parents when their team scores a vital goal? What makes grown men curse and hurl all manner of unprintable words to match officials whenever decisions do not go their way? Well the answer to these and many other related case in points is simply, passion! Passion is the only thing that could explain why logic is thrown-out-the-window when football is involved.
Over the years, football hooliganism has been witnessed across the world from ‘football-mad nations’ such as; Brazil and Argentina, to England, Italy, Egypt and other sub-Saharan African countries. The ugly face of the beautiful game of football, is indiscriminate. Today, Kenya got a share of what football hooliganism is, during a high octane fixture pitying perennial rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. The stadium was filled almost to capacity with both sets of fans, clad in their team colors cheering their teams the best way they know how. Some fans started streaming into the stadium from as early as 9.am, never mind, the match was set to kick off at 3 O’clock in the afternoon.
As expected, the match started on a high note and fans were treated to end-to-end action, as both teams tried to break the deadlock. At half-time, none of the teams was yet able, to see the back of the net of the other. The action was similar in the second-half, with AFC leopards seeing most of the ball. Come the 66th minute, Gor Mahia’s Victor Ali, was red carded for a high boot challenge on Leopard’s Amon Muchiri and what followed were 25 embarrassing and uneasy minutes for Gor. Gor Mahia’s fans, incensed by the decision to have Ali sent off, walked off the stadium, while others hurled all manner of objects into the field of play. The referee had to stop the match for 25 minutes as he consulted with the other match officials. Eventually the game went on and ended in a barren draw. However, the rivalry fans of either team took the battle for supremacy, to the streets of Nairobi, where one fan, believed to be a Leopards supporter, was killed and scores others injured.
This is not the first time that both Gor Mahia and AFC leopards fans, have clashed. The stakes involved in this highly publicized derby, maybe to blame more so, even alcohol and rogue fans. Whatever the reason for crowd trouble in the Kenya premier league, needs to be addressed and fast. We do not need to witness scenes such as those in Egypt in back February where, close to one hundred people were killed, and thousands more injured, following acts of hooliganism in a league match. Its interesting to hear that FKF proposes having foreign referees officiate matches pitying Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. Is this really the solution? Will this stop thugs posing as fans from carrying rocks into stadia, and causing havoc? Those in charge of football in the country need to act quick and cautiously, to avert a looming disaster. England had some of the worst hooligan incidences in the 70’s and 80’s, resulting in a resolution to reduce the number of fans in stadiums. A similar resolution seems inevitable in the Kenyan football fraternity following today’s events ..It’s time to save Kenyan football, what happened before in England, is a good reference point.
NAIROBI | Graffiti framing Public Opinion
On the City Market wall facing Muindi Mbingu Street, are drawn rare graffiti with a political message for the electorate: “be wise and choose only leaders with the interest of the nation ahead of their own.”
Abel and Buckley (1997) looked at the “writing of graffiti as a psychological phenomenon, a form of communication that is both personal and free of everyday social restraints that normally prevent people from giving uninhibited reign to their thoughts.” [Looking at the Writing on the Wall: A Critical Review and Taxonomy of Graffiti Texts, Jane M. Gadsby (1995)] Habitually, a similar attitude is engendered by the anonymous graffiti artists, in the “City in the Sun.” One such artist exhibits “the reminiscences of a greedy politician…” Daily Nation reported. Chronic poverty and unemployment as well as the epic struggles and conditions of a country’s marginalized people are touted as the main engines that fuel graffiti culture. But is that all there is to it? It has been found out before that”Mainstream media will never say a word of truth…” Thus graffiti is now being used as an alternative channel to the mainstream media, to disseminate the true information, which often was kept back by the latter.” It has thence, been confirmed that somehow, it succeeds in getting the message through to the masses. One professor of English pointed out that “graffiti has played a significant role in framing and times changing public opinion.”
Whether or not graffiti is considered as a medium of revolt against the authorities, or just as a channel for self expression, what is depicted is in clear print, a true and faithful reflection of a people’s attitudes toward a non-yielding system on the one hand, and on the other, a call to action by the ‘infringed’. In a nutshell, thoughts become things.
References:
Writing’s on the wall for greedy MPs Daily Nation March 4, 2012
Looking at the Writing on the Wall: A Critical Review and Taxonomy of Graffiti Texts Jane M. Gadsby (1995)
Graffiti: Expression Unadulterated Irfan Muzaffar Parray
Public opinion Versus Political Influence over the Media
The Hague Suspects (two among them) presidential hopefuls have been accused of engaging with the local media, with an aim of swaying public opinion against the ICC.
The International Crisis Group (ICG), which has been monitoring the Kenyan cases at The Hague, in its report, reveals that the said suspects along with the local media, have employed a scheme casting the “suspects” as victims of the court, and of ‘sinister plots’ by their political opponents, aiming at barring them from participating in the 2012 elections.[“During the recent hearings at The Hague, the media… (Covered the cases as if) Moreno-Ocampo was prosecuting Kenya, not individual suspects.”]
Very well done! That must have worked its way to some level of success I should say. It is however prudent to note that a vast majority of Kenyan youth, who constitute a major sector of the electorate, have matured to be free thinkers, through the teachings of their life experiences, and interpersonal interactions. There has been a collective ‘paradigm-shift’ in the thoughts of today’s Kenyan youth’s-something that is sounding a loud and clear ‘revolution’. The Kenyan youth has realized that this is the ‘age of the mind’, and has started to ‘think’. A famous line goes, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.” The future of this country lies on the hands of the youths of today not on ‘whoever’ frequents the TV screens in the living-rooms at prime-time.
References:
Media in the dock over hague cases All Kenya News 4th March 2012
The Hague judgement causes Uhuru, Ruto sleepless nights The Citizen 5th Mrch, 2012
It’s Time for goal line technology
Goals are the ultimate measure of success in any football competition; big and small alike. Most recently in one of Europe’s top flight leagues – Serie A, in a pulsating match pitying two of the league’s biggest sides; Milan, and the old lady of Italian football Juventus, the referee failed to spot Milan’s Sulley Muntari’s clear goal. Perhaps the best example of a goal denied in the biggest stage in competitive football has to be England international’s Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal at the 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa. Up until the 38th minute when the moment that could ultimately be the game changer in football refereeing occurred, Germany was leading by two goals to one. The England team was pressing hard for an equalizer before halftime and just when they thought they had it, their celebrations were cut short . Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa failed to spot Frank Lampard’s rasping shot that had rebounded from the cross bar and crossed the line. The match ended in a 4-1 convincing victory for the Germans inflicting the biggest loss to the England football team in a world cup tournament. This loss left a bitter taste in neutrals as well as English fans who thought had Lampard’s goal been allowed then just maybe they would have won the match or lost honorably.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter who was initially opposed to the introduction of technology reversed his position following that incident and has since then been at the fore front of advocating for technology in the game to avoid a repeat in subsequent world cups. However UEFA’s president Mitchel Platini (the favourite to take on Blatter’s post), is skeptical about the issue preferring instead the addition of match officials. Platini is quoted as having said “What scares me is that if we start to use technology for things that have little point, we will also move onto offside technology, because there are five offsides per match,”.
My opinion on this issue is that goal line technology needs to be implemented as soon as possible .Other sports such as Tennis, rugby, and cricket have adopted it and the controversy and continuity in these sports is less important than the clarity the technology provides. Making a mistake in the course of duty in any profession is inevitable and referees and their assistants are no exceptions but do we really have to put up with their imperfections when we can help them? The answer to this question is a huge no something has to be done and fast. A decision on goal line technology as well as other critical decisions affecting the modern game such as a fourth substitute in extra time ,assistant referees, the triple punishment in red cards ,the hijab and vanishing spray is due in July 2 this year.
References
Ifab agrees to test goal-line technology systems before decision in July Gurdian.co.uk 3rd March 2012
Sepp Blatter says he can convince Ifab to bring in goal-line technology Gurdian.co.uk 2nd March 2012
Denied Muntari goal causes ripples Africaplays.com 26th February 2012
Kenya’s decision for Syrian regime change is not informed
Kenya’s Ambassador & Permanent Representative at Kenya Mission to United Nations, Macharia Kamau, “cautioned that the UN’s call for Mr. Assad to leave office must not be interpreted as an invitation to Western intervention in Syria, as did occur in Libya in response to a UN resolution adopted last year.”
It is ridiculous to not think that the West’s main agenda is to interfere with the internal affairs of and about Syria! Even so, how much success has the west achieved by intervening in chaotic situations in other states, with the promise of bringing about peace and prosperity? Negligible if any, contrary to the so many cases, where much more violence and destruction, became the order of the day, upon the exit of foreign forces. Look back at Somali, Afghanistan, and in that case, Libya. There’s clearly something aloof. Saudi Arabia’s U.N. Ambassador, Abdallah Y. Al- Mouallimi, was quoted saying, ” today, the U.N. General Assembly sent a clear message to the people of Syria: the world is with you.” A skeptic person may ask: “Is he really representative of Syria’s people and the situation there?” I would rather Bashar Ja’afari, Syria’s U.N. Ambassador’s comments, which actually state more or less contrary, to Ambassador Abdallah’s. (“The resolution will send a message to extremists that “violence and deliberate sabotage” are acceptable and will lead “to more chaos and more crises.”)
In respect to international law, and in the context of sovereignty of states, it is wrong to impose conditions on a state’s people. “In article 2(7) of the UN Charter, it is stated that the charter gives no competence to the UN or to the UN Members to intervene in matters that are substantially under the neutral jurisdiction of a State.” Syria is not a fallen state, unfortunately, the vote defiles the very spirit of these words. Recall that “in the classic view, international law and democracy are simply not related. International law is to remain neutral vis-à-vis any political model.”
References:
East Africa: Kenya Votes At UN for Syrian Regime Change allAfrica.com 18th February, 2012
Stance on Syria proves China as firm supporter of U.N. Charter: expert xinhuanet.com 17th February 2012
China opposes armed intervention or forcing “regime change” in Syria xinhuanet.com 17th February 2012
Egypt recalls its ambassador to Syria xinhuanet.com 19th February 2012
Syria responds “positively” to Al protocol, proposes minor amendments xinhuanet.com 18th February 2012
UN General Assembly condemns Syria The State 16th February 2012
BILL TO CHANGE 2012 POLL DATE | The Hidden Plot?
Is it pushing the date to 2013? Flashback to 21st July, 2011 and, MP for Kilome, Harun Mwau, in a suit lodged at the High Court in Nairobi, said, “there has been confusion as to when the next general elections shall be held.” Mwau contends that the term of the 10th parliament began on January 15, 2008, and shall end on January 15, 2013.
The cabinet and various members of parliament, across the coalition divide, are of the view that the new constitution preserves the term of the current parliament, until mid-January 2013. Article 262 (10) of the constitution states that: “The National Assembly existing immediately before the effective date shall continue as the National Assembly for the purposes of this constitution for its unexpired term.” Thus, the cabinet recently approved a Constitution Amendment Bill 2011, which seeks to alter the poll date. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmw_ceVMmws Despite public uproar, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Mutula Kilonzo says, he will push through the Bill on election date, which sets the date for the next general elections on the third Monday of December, every fifth year of an elections cycle. Transitional provisions promise the current parliament its full tenure. It is however prudent to note that the last ‘contentious general elections’, that produced the 10th parliament, was held before the new constitution came into force. Therefore, it would be more accurate to define the “full tenure” of the 10th parliament, as it would have been defined, if the last constitution was in force. “The issue of an August date has never been contentious. The date was determined after consideration of the wishes of the people of Kenya which included submission that a December date interfered with the festive season when Kenyans travel to places where they may not have registered to vote: coincides with religious festivities and the prevailing weather conditions complicate the logistics of ferrying election materials.” CIC addressed. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSOWpxaZSo8 Undoubtedly, the wishes of the people of Kenya, expressed in the constitution, have an upper hand against any one single Bill prepared by a few representatives in government. “CIC wishes to remind Kenyans that what killed reforms in this country were “convenience” amendments of the constitution soon after independence… It is such amendments that Kenyans wanted the constitution to be insulated against.
This issue begs the question: Is this the 10th parliament’s plot to extend its tenure in a quest to collect more campaign monies? Politicians should not blame time for their incompetency to perform required tasks. Rather, they should resign from office already, without wasting any more time. What Kenyans need is authentic people power, not the dumbocracy of political rule.
References:
Mwau Asks Court for 2013 Election Date allAfrica.com July 22, 2011
Why the Next Elections May Be Held in 2013 MENAFN.COM July 31, 2011
Change of 2012 poll date height of mischief, impunity Capital News September 14, 2011
Mutula firm on elections date amendment Capital News September 15, 2011
CIC warns over election date change KBC News September 17, 2011
Mutunga Wants Case On Date of 2012 General Election Speeded Up allAfrica.com October 6, 2011
EDUCATION | Strike by Public University Dons Persists
“Public Universities are part of the government and it was government’s wish that all its workers are well remunerated. As government, we want to see that the university staff is paid well. I appeal to unions, not to use the weapon of strike menacingly, but as a weapon of last resort,” said the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, as he brokered negotiations to call off a similar strike by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), last year.
The government’s failure to honor its pledges to civil servants, gives reason to the re-current strikes in public institutions. The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) cited stalled implementation of new salaries and allowances, as the reasons for the strike. Last year, Finance Permanent Secretary, Joseph Kinyua, “presented a signed letter to his Higher Education counterpart, Professor Crispus Kiamba, committing the government to pay the last installment of 2008/09 – 2009/10 financial years, collective bargaining agreements…” Capital FM website reported. Recently on October 19th varsity dons signalled a strike with the union chairman Samuel Kubasu, saying lecturers expected the new pay rise to be between 30-40 per cent. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru9IicNR46Y&feature=fvsr The impasse at the universities arose after the authorities failed to respond to demands for a salary increase, whose negotiation started in 2009, but stalled mid-stream.” Meanwhile, Mr. Justice Paul Kosgei, of the Industrial Court ruled that, “pending the hearing and determination of an application filed by the Inter-University Council Consultative Forum, the lecturers should not engage in any activity likely to paralyze learning at higher institutions.” allAfrica.com reported. Despite the ruling, the strike continues. Egerton University becomes the latest institution to be closed, and students sent home as the lecturers strike proceeds into day 3. Going into the second week of the strike, the situation is expected to worsen following Thursday night’s unfruitful talks, involving the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, seeking to arrive at a compromise.
With this new constitutional dispensation, and in this age and time, some things were bound to happen; on one hand, the citizenry would become more aware of their civil rights, thus demanding them, where they previously would not, and on the other, the government would fail to own up to its pledges, more so during this time, that you can only hide a little or none, from the public’s watchful eyes. What a risky area to begin a crisis? Education is the key. Whoever is concerned with its safe-keeping should be careful lest it breaks.
References:
Court Halts Lecturers’ Strike allAfrica.com Novermber 9, 2011
Strike Cripples Varsity Exams and Graduation November 9, 2011
All the Sides to Blame for Unnecessary Strikes November 9, 2011
Judge Rules Varsity Dons Strike Illegal Novermber 10, 2011
Varsity lecturers’ signal strike October 19, 2011
Kenya university dons call off strike April 8, 2010
WINDOWS 8 | Microsoft launches Windows 8
On Tuesday, Microsoft launched its next-generation operating system, at its Build Conference in Anaheim, California. The new operating system, which is a complete rebuild of Microsoft’s flagship product, is designed to work with both tablets and PCs.
Each attendee at the conference received a Samsung tablet, preloaded with the developers’ preview version of Windows 8, with the intention of exciting the developers, and perhaps, persuading them to write applications for the new OS. “The tablets are part of Microsoft’s attempt to get developers excited and on board with Windows 8 … It’s the first Windows version designed from the beginning to work on both tablets and PCs.” The Seattle Times reported. Rob Sanfilippo, a research vice president at the Kirkland-based Directions on Microsoft was reported saying, “He’s a fan of the new user interface (UI), dubbed “Metro,” which looks unlike any other Windows version.” “The Metro UI is based on tiles that, when tapped or clicked on, go directly to an application,” The Seattle Times. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Hr9-C8WhE Looking back at its predecessor, Windows 7, the president of Microsoft’s Windows division announced that, “Windows 7 is now (finally) being used by more people than Windows XP.” Windows 7 has sold 450 million copies worldwide. Recent statistics also show that Windows 7 consumer usage is greater than Windows XP, and about 542 million people are signing into Windows Live services. In addition, Microsoft had launched Windows 7 in Swahili earlier in the year, a move that was intended to allow over 150 million Kiswahili speakers in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and parts of the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes, Malawi, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean region, access a broader range of its programs. This followed Windows 7 debut in Kenya on 28th October, 2009. The growth of Windows operating systems since the unpleasant Windows Vista, has undoubtedly, been delightful to Microsoft executives.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntSdfGzF60M
Whether Windows 8 will develop in the same trend, is an issue on the balance. Here is a url to the download page for the developer preview. It comes in three versions. Download the appropriate and get on with it! Tip the balance!
What’s Your Say?
References:
Microsoft aims to get developers excited about Windows 8 The Seattle Times September 13, 2011
Windows 7 Launched in Country allAfrica.com October 28, 2009
Microsoft Windows 7 launched in Swahili Telecentre.org February 17, 2011
Microsoft Launches Windows 8 Mashable Tech September 14, 2011
EDUCATION | Boarding schools in Kenya should strive to be friendlier.
Most Kenyans have been to a boarding school either for their primary or secondary level education. To most, their experience in these institutions is an ordeal they would rather not talk about. This is because, with the intent of ensuring academic excellence, they tend to be too stern on their students. Therefore they acquire the opposite results. Some schools even go to the extent of banning their students from talking to their parents or relatives when they come to school, it is still indefinite why they put in place such restrictions while students get relieved and motivated when they are able to talk to their relatives when they come to school, because it is viewed as a relief from the routine. So when they are denied with this opportunity they end up being distracted and bitter. Hence automatically making them less productive in school.
Most of the schools where the administration is strict to students, mostly do not yield positive results at the end of the day and also there is usually misbehaving at the slightest exposure to “freedom”. Also, many pupils end up sneaking from school and thus exposing them to danger. The reasons why boarding schools should be friendlier is because students are more motivated to study. Also, most schools forbid their students from carrying additional food stuff to school. The food offered in school may not be enough to satisfy them. Hence they end up having low concentration levels in class or become fruitless due to hunger. Others even resolve to sneak out of school to seek for food exposing them to many risks. For instance, recently a student of Koelel High school met his death after sneaking school in search for food. Most of these institutions also deny leave out permits to their students. A student might be seriously sick and most schools lack proper medication amenities. They deny their students permission and hence the health of the patients deteriorate and therefore leading to deaths in school.
In conclusion, boarding facilities in Kenya for secondary and primary education should provide for their students a sociable environment. Being strict does not equal to performance. Instead it leaves the students frustrated and stressed. Therefore do not perform to their full academic potential. Some of the rules are bizarre, for instance in most schools scholars are not allowed to greet their relatives leave alone speaking to them when they come to school for whatever the reasons. This is very baseless. Therefore such institutions should consider loosening up a little when it comes to their rules. If they are really in pursuit of academic excellence, as hostility only makes them deter academically.
http://www.sikizwa.com/life in a Kenyan boarding school
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE | Arsene Wenger splashes the cash
After the 8 -2 drubbing at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester united, Arsenal was the busiest English premier league club, as the transfer window closed. The arrival of the new signings, goes along with Arsene Wenger’s, long held philosophy, of buying young, little-known players, and developing them to world class football icons.
The departure of sensational captain Cesc Fabregas sounded the first warning of a falling empire which Wenger had tirelessly and tenaciously set out to build. Six trophy-less seasons were too much to bear for some of the talented players, who had spent much of their entire senior careers at the Emirates. Despite Wenger’s re-assuring statements (Imagine the worst situation: We lose Fabregas and Nasri, you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that), the duo left. However, Wenger was quick to answer critics, and heeded the call to sign more established players rather than dwell solely on his youth system approach. With the arrival of Per Martesacker, the gunners can now boast of having a 6 foot plus defender in their squad. Another acquisition is Brazil’s current left back Andre Santos. This creates a solid backline; with Sagna and Vermaleen completing the other two slots. Mikel Arteta was a late but key inclusion into the Wenger’s squad and should be the ideal player to take on Fabregas’s role. Yosi Benayoun and South Korea captain Park Chu-Young, bring along to Arsenal, lots of experience, considering that both were key players in their former clubs. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yZOY8yEShs
These signings should be a big boost for the Londoners, and will be tasked upon to turn around what looked set to be a nightmare season for Arsenal.
References
Official: Arsenal complete deal to sign South Korea Captain Park Chu-Young from Monaco Goal.com August 30, 2011
Arsenal’s new boys Arsenal.com Septermber 1, 2011
