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Seasons and Reasons

‘Nation’ suspends political advertising

Posted: January 29, 2008, 10:11 pm by Seasons

Since the disputed elections, we have seen many full pages adverts from the government, ODM and some that were just labeled ‘advertisers notice’. A full page colour in the major dailies cost around 300k including VAT.

This evening Nation Media group has suspended running of any political adverts. According to the announcement, they did this to aid the mediation process as they feel the adverts may adversely affect the mediation.

I applaud this move as I can imagine the lost revenue especially considering the reduced advertising since the chaos in Kenya started. I cancelled a large advertising campaign earlier in the month and the agency I use informed me that this has been the norm this month. So, for NMG to take this action, it took some consideration.

I just wish we all can give this Annan led mediation a chance and hopefully we can have a chance to reclaim peace.

On a different note, I have talked to many business owners and they all have been making plans to leave Kenya as the violence escalates. It is said that amongst the reasons the Kenya shilling is losing against major currencies, is capital flight. We know market fundamentals such as speculation, low inflow etc are in play but transfers to India, UK and South Africa are going on in earnest. I don’t blame these friends of mine- am considering doing the same.
At a time like this, I miss Moi

Posted: January 29, 2008, 7:34 am by Seasons

There are times I miss Moi. These times are like the present. In spite of all his failings, Moi would never had allowed the nation to deteriorate like this.

A few of these political leaders who are said to have instigated the ethnic clashes would be in Kamiti.

Sometimes a country requires a leader will balls. Someone who will take up challenge to restore peace without appeasing.
Mugabe Were shot dead

Posted: January 29, 2008, 7:09 am by Seasons

News coming in early this morning is that Mugabe Were the new Embakasi MP has been shot dead. It is still not clear the circumstances leading to the killing but it is said that he was shot outside the gate of his house just after midnight.
Tsonga: The future?

Posted: January 24, 2008, 11:08 pm by Seasons

Even as we go through these tough times, I have been following the Australian Open daily. The find of the year is definitely Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. This 22 year old French/Congolese man was unseeded coming into this years tournament and he has cut through top seeds like a hot knife through butter. Watching him tonight beating [...]
Economic boycott: Cross purposes

Posted: January 21, 2008, 8:56 am by Seasons

One thing that has been strong in the ODM ranks was their communication structure. Their messages to their supporters have been clear and coordinated, well until this last weekend.
I saw a crack in this structure this weekend. First they said that they are reviewing their strategy and so the mass protests are over whilst they work on mediation. A few hours later, they declared mass protests are back on. I guess it was a quick review of strategy.

Secondly, Mr.Salim Lone( I think he is ODM’s Media director) says that they have now decided that on Economic boycott where they will ask their supporters to boycott goods and services from companies owned by Kibaki supporters. Amongst the companies to be boycotted are Equity bank, Safaricom, Citi Hoppa and Brookside. Barely an hour later, they retracted this statement and it is not clear whether this Economic boycott is on or not.

I don’t know how their supporters will decipher these messages if I cannot and I consider myself more literate than most of them. I have never seen a lot speak at cross purposes as this one.

On the Economic boycott, it is short sighted to assume that people who live on less than a dollar a day and most of them have little choices on where to shop will understand this message.

On a different note, the EU has now withheld grants to Kenya. However, I am perturbed by this action. We all know that Kenyan gets very little budgetary support from donors and even then very little from the EU. In this respect therefore the grants withheld will be project- based which are channeled through NGO’s to support community projects. This will actually affect the man on the ground and not the governments. The EU also forgets that China is waiting in the wings to work with African governments.

I manage funds for some of these organizations who run community based programmes. My clients had already indicated that they may not renew some of the contracts we signed last year. These actions will definitely reduce my revenues and affect my results as I cannot see an alternative source of business. This sector provides me with about 30% of my revenue and if things continue this way, I may lay off a large number of my staff. Am sure am not the only one in this situation.
Mandisa

Posted: January 14, 2008, 7:26 pm by Seasons

I recently bought ‘True Beauty’ a CD by Mandisa. This 11 track album is classified as gospel in genre although to me it is more inspirational than gospel. People will remember Mandisa from Idols 2006 and more specifically making Simon Cowell apologize for making a snide comment about her weight. The lady has matured into a [...]
The Power of blogs?

Posted: January 14, 2008, 7:02 pm by Seasons

There is an email doing the rounds in the country about ODM’s strategy and it may just be propaganda or could be authentic. I will not post the email as it is already posted here and here. It is an interesting read all the same.

Whether the document is genuine or not is not the subject of my post. What my post is about though is the importance blogs are being given as a marketing tool and thus one that can influence consumers. If the document is genuine, then the strategist gave credence to this belief( maybe the sudden increase in political blogs in the last Qtr of 2007) and if it is not genuine, then the propagandists also saw the opportunity that blogs present.

Since I moved to word-press, I have been getting about 100 hits a day and there are times I get more hits than my business website. With this in mind, am contemplating starting a business blog which will provide readers with information in my area of expertise which very few people in Kenya write about. I believe that this may influence readers to take up my services. It is still a contemplation. The only problem is that I currently blog for fun and if I decide to do it for money, I may not enjoy it as much as I do now.
Does Kibaki have a plan?

Posted: January 9, 2008, 8:21 am by Seasons

I believe it is best to start a project with a clear objective. I also believe Kibaki is not dumb and his apparent aloofness is a strategy in itself. I agreed with Mutahi Ngunyi when he said that Kibaki is of a superior mind. However, with this [...]
Reach Out

Posted: January 7, 2008, 4:58 pm by Seasons

Am home and back at work. Since I am not able to offer a solution to the current political impasse, I have decided to get involved in helping the displaced people.

Yesterday, I took my family to Jamhuri park where we distributed food, beddings and clothes to the people camping there. This was also an opportunity for me to explain and educate my children on exactly what has been taking place. Am not sure they understood the politics of it all but I know from the despondency that they understand that here are people whose lives has been changed forever by issues they could not control.

There are many initiatives like this one below that we should support

TAMARIND GROUP

Event: Reach Out Fundraising Concert

Date: Sunday, 13th January 2008

Time: 1.00pm - 6.00pm

Charges: Kshs 200.00

Performances:

-Suzanna Owiyo

-Kayamba Africa

-Jemima Thiongo

-Jua Cali

-Didge

-Karma

-Atemi

-Kaz

-Nikki

The Reach Out concert will be a fund raising effort through which, with your help we can achieve several objectives:

1) Reach Out and touch our brothers and sisters who are displaced and affected by the election violence.

2) To see all gate proceeds from the show donated to the International Red Cross and related bodies to aid in the support of displaced persons due to election skirmishes in Nairobi specifically by providing:

-clean water

-washroom facilities

3) To provide a platform where local artistes and participants can join hands in a single united effort to show the world (through the Local and International Media) that we are united and peaceful Kenyans regardless of ethnicity or political influences.

4) To provide an avenue for Kenyans to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts by:

-direct donation to the International Red Cross, who will be on-site -donate blood through the Blood Bank Service of Kenya

5) To regain a sense of normalcy where our city will regain it’s vibrancy and people will have an opportunity to sing and dance and have a good time.

I do hope you will make an effort to recruit more Kenyan’s to join the Reach Out efforts and let us join hands to help our Brothers and sisters.

KENYA NI YETU!

I also know that Pamoja Youth Foundation has revived their Operation Jaza Lorry where they are partnering with Nakumatt and Uchumi to distribute food. There will be more call to action in the local media on this initiatives. Your involvement will be appreciated.
Am coming home

Posted: January 4, 2008, 12:34 pm by Seasons

I have made a decision to come home

I have been relying on CNN, SKY and Kenyan blogs to get updates on what is happening at home. However, my staff and collegues at work have convinced me that although the situation is tense, one can get around.

My firm is custodian to hundreds of millions of clients funds and these clients expect services from us even during chaos. My staff have been manning the offices when I have been away and it only makes sense for me to go home and provide them with leadership and support. Ultimately, Kenya will survive this and businesses will require funds for reconstruction.

The month of January gives us about 30% of our annual revenue and the security situation in Kenya is likely to dent this. I can imagine all businesses are faced with the same challenges.

I had contemplated leaving Mauritius tomorrow and flying to Tanzania or Uganda where we have offices and watch the situation from there. However, if my staff in Kenya can brave the lack of transportation and the protests in the streets to get to work, I certainly can do the same. We are required to serve the clients who put their faith in us.

I get back to Nairobi tomorrow afternoon.
This is incitement

Posted: January 3, 2008, 7:20 pm by Seasons

I have just seen a clip on Sky TV where Raila was saying that what is going on in Kenya was Genocide by the government. He apparently was visiting injured people in hospitals.

The dictionary defines genocide as the systematic killing of all the people from a national, ethnic, or religious group, or an attempt to do to so.

Kenyans have been calling for the two leaders to talk to their people and ask them to quell the fighting. Now when one of the leaders come and makes such a claim I think this is a dangerous line and could incite people to start attacking members of particular ethnic groups.

I cant believe these are the type of people we voted for.

Both Kibaki and Raila need to come out to calm Kenyans and not aggravate a situation that is already grave.
Winner in a losing game

Posted: January 1, 2008, 8:30 pm by Seasons

We take a lot of things for granted in life and as Kenyans peace is one of those things.

I left the country on the 27th of December after casting my vote and I assumed I will receive an update of the results and regardless who wins, I will be back on the 5th of January to go through this journey called life. Now chances are that I will not be back as planned and my kids will not be back in school on the 9th.

Who would have known that behind me, Kenya would erupt into violence after the results are announced. I voted for Kibaki because as a businessman, he best presented the environment that will enable my business to thrive. Selfish yes..but if we are honest, we all voted for whom we felt represented our interests best.

The only way I have been able to get information has been family and friends texting me and telling me about the goings on back home. I have not decided if I will bring my kids back home as yet or where we will go to next as our stay in Le Touessrok ,Mauritius was meant to be short. The kids have enjoyed their time here being oblivious to what is happening back home but I have been worried sick of the future of our country.

Interestingly, the people who are responsible for the violence are safely tucked in their beds at night and some have left the country. Case in point; One of Moi’s sons is here in the same hotel am staying in. I think he came in on Saturday after confirming he had lost in his attempt to get into parliament.

I may not have voted for Raila but right now I care very little about who the president should be as long as we have peace.

I hope the calm resumes and Kenya is able to move on from this.