STORIES FROM MY HEART

Flashing lights,Speeding automobiles Honking drivers, gas filled tanks Loud music,bopping heads Nairobi Nights Packed Parking slots Men, women on cell phones Darting eyes, Drunken Gazes Nairobi Nights Friendly bar-folk, perfect strangers Tequila Patron and a man who's new in town Dry white wine and a dry spell stares Nairobi nights Curvy women, pot bellied men Handsome exboyfriends and slit eyed women Stilettos and dusty shoes, sweaty, humid, sexy, even Nairobi Nights Jameson, Captain Morgan and sexy platforms Absolute Vodka, Chanel No 5 and cheap wallets Men in suits and women with wanting eyes Nairobi Nights Keys on tables and a heated rush Sweaty palms and roving eyes French Kisses and chinese tables Engines raving and creaking beds Nairobi Nights. I love my Nairobi nights.

I recently re-branded a venture that I put my heart into about a year and a half ago, and part of the rebranding took on a great deal of identifying purpose and my commitment towards developing my personal brand. The ladies that know me well know me as the one who will do your make-up and attempt to re-do your wardrobe if you make the mistake to spend the night at my house. I am practically obsessed with style and make-overs. With time, I have learnt to appreciate the cliche that we use quite often but pay little attention to: "You only have one chance at first impressions" For a long time, this quote referred to the physical: The clothes I wore, How I did my make-up, what shoes I had on and my posture etc, but I have now learnt that it starts from within and whatever impression one gives is only an indication of what's bubbling underneath. That's where the real stuff is. That's where greatness begins. Last week I read about the 'Elevator Pitch&q

Thought I'd share my favourite poem in the whole wide world! Maya Angelou, Still I rise. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own backyard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as

A few weeks ago I moderated the Launch of the 6 Billion shilling Uwezo fund, where I interviewed President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretary For Devolution, Anne Waiguru. My co-moderator was KTN's James Smart, It was a well spent Sunday Afternoon.

I had lunch with an old friend today, and oh such joy catching up with him over the generous portions of Nicoise Salad at Artcafe. (We are back there right?) Anyway, I have not met with RR for a long time as he lives in Europe. He is an outstanding creative and avid traveller whose stories always make me want to wake up a girl with a travel itinerary that starts in Tanah Lot in Bali, to the Tunnel of Love in Ukraine. He makes me set my dreams high, to plan my life in such a way that I enjoy the good things that life has to offer, AFTER you have worked hard for it. He has. Anyway, Mr.RR is in town for a few days so it was good to find out what he's been unto. He is in town to take care of some charities he and his family have committed to. His is a wonderful story of a man who believes in giving back. He is in love with football, complete with a season ticket to Leeds and some interests in a few African football clubs. So as I walked in to Art Cafe, the gentleman that he

My daughter, Imani, has been spending her holidays with her grandmother and cousins. The school break is rather long so it was only fair that she takes a break from me and her nanny to spend time with her relatives. So the house, is too quiet, too cold, and too adult. I call her ever so often to hear how she's keeping, but this morning she broke my heart. I asked her about when she wants to come back home, and in her sweet voice, she says' I want to come back when you will have more time to spend with me at home" she went on to say " when are you taking leave? will they let you come home early in the evenings?' She spends weekdays with me and most weekends (Sunday) with her dad, so we have Saturday to be together, and that's hardly anything. Is there another way to strike a balance? After we ended the conversation I sat in my car and re-played it, over and over again. I am a working mum, a single one at that, like many other women out there, but d

“Bring back Nelson Mandela, Bring him back home to Soweto, I want to see him walking down the streets of South Africa…” As a young girl watching Sarafina for the first time, I thought that white people were the devils children, and Mandela was Jesus. I sobbed as the family gathered around a relative’s living room watching a VHS copy of the movie that ran on Broadway in 1988. That was our baptism into the realities of South Africa’s apartheid regime. I wanted to be Sarafina, most girls my age did, and I remember wondering if I could convince my parents to change my name to Sarafina. She was bold, she was beautiful, she was loved, and in many ways brought to our little hearts the wretchedness that was South Africa’s black , white and colored’s policy. And then Mandela became my addiction, I wanted to know everything about him. Lucky for me, my father collected books, magazines and newspapers. An avid historian, I remember the countless times he told me stories about Mand

Necessary Distractions.... The danger of a single voice begins to stalk me But, Will I find stillness within distraction Did I, blindly crush and instead create destruction? Dare I stay blind when truth is deep and in a single voice, unknown ? I see you, but inside dark shadows house your heart I feel you, outside a brave face inside a bewildered soul I hear you, loud and laughing but whimpering inside I touch you, burning with fire but burnt out and ashy inside Dare you stay blind when truth is deep, and perhaps known? Necessary Distractions in the eye of the storm Stillness and quiet Is perhaps what that loud whistle calls Until you read the writing on the walls of your heart, And I mine Perhaps a fluttering butterfly was all I was On a journey that shouldn't end at your door Listen to your truth first And I will follow, away or towards But perhaps you shouldn't close that first book so fast.

I've got a favourite song called "Obama" sang by the inimitable Chris Adwar and Villagers Band. I love it so much such that each time I've got someone in my car, I ask them if they have listened to that song, especially if they are Luo, sometimes I play it on repeat. Anyway, I've got mixed feelings about Obama's trip to Africa. On one hand I'd like to put on my Journalist cap and analyze what informed his decision,and scoff at international double speak of crimes against humanity, or say that it is duly expected that the Head of State of the U.S cannot stand with a country that voted in "criminals" as the top two have been referred to numerously. But for now, I'll say I was a little disappointed that he didn't choose Nairobi as one of his 3 stops. I have a favorite song called "Obama" sang by the inimitable Chris Adwar and the Villagers band. The song basically says what every African who has lived in a village ident

I will keep it short. Over the past few days I have read a number of blogs about the Kenyan Media conspiring to sign up to a push for peace other than report, question and be the citizen’s watch dog, before during and after the General Elections of March 4th. Some of the articles border on disgust towards the peace messages that were circulated across the country, other than focus on what the writers call “the bigger issues”. I wish to say that without peace, the deep issues that Kenya needs to deal with can never be achieved. An article I read during the Easter weekend talked about the passion that journalists had during the Moi regime, where they were even jailed, they took part in riots and questioned the regime. That was when most of us chose our careers. They were tough, they asked the hard questions and they got answers. They provoked, and they played a big role in shaping Kenya’s democracy. But the world has changed since the rulebook of journalism was written. How

I am writing this blog from the Brew Bistro, alone. I’ve got a 'Sunday afternoon' theory that needs a blog of its own. Meanwhile, I’m here, having a mojito at 6.30pm at this mini brewery that's become my favourite social hole over the last few years, even though my house is several kilometres away. I come here for the ambiance. They have a Jazz Live band on Sundays. My favourite day however is Wednesdays where i get some therapy showing off the few steps I learned in my salsa class. Seated in front of me is doobies (the rapper) wearing a shocking T shirt written ' 'don't let my big d**k scare you, I'm really a nice person." he's seating next to a lady whose Afro puff makes my mini puff get an inferiority complex. There is also an Asian man with slit eyes that keeps staring at me, and 3 white people. One of them is British; her accent makes me want to talk to her. On my right two guys are having very philosophical conversations. They talk ab

Here's a cause I am so humbled to be part of; for me it is all about giving kids a chance to be kids again. Cancer robs that from them, between juggling chemotherapy, school and recuperating, the life of a child takes a terrible turn. let us come together and give them a comfortable, beautiful environment to be in. Below is what True Love Huggable care is all about: This year, True Love plans to provide 100 children with Cancer at Kenyatta National hospital on the 28th February 2013 with personalized Teddy Bears. So far Safaricom, PZ Cussons,Serena, Span Image and Capital Fm have sponsored this campaign and we will ask the public for support in order to spread love What the cancer children ward requires is cancer drugs, to pay medical bills for the patients which is their urgent priority. Others items that can be considered include Mosquito nets (300), Four water electrical heaters (kettle), 24 Rechargeable electrical lamps, four microwaves, ten room heaters, three T

I imagine the number of eyeballs transfixed on Julie Gichuru’s Sunday Live show on Citizen TV was in the millions. Peter Kenneth had been scheduled to be on the show, and had tweeted about it earlier. I was looking forward to that interview. At the beginning of the bulletin however, Ms. Gichuru announced that Nairobi’s Biggest boys (for now) Ferdinand Clifford Waititu and Evans Kidero, both running for Nairobi’s Governor Seat were on the popular show. Together. (P.S I refuse to use the word gubernatorial in my blog, as well as the word shambolic- the title of this blog doesn't count :-) . I was too tired and didn't catch the interview, but next day I managed to catch it online. It was quite the show. On one hand you had Baba Yao talking about his plan for Nairobi in his regular street smart way, and the other hand, Kidero, the man famed for Mumias Sugar’s turnaround, who I would like to call Nairobi’s middle class choice. This blog however, isn't about that deba

In many ways that friend could be Ronald Osumba. When I first heard the news about him taking up a position as running mate in Peter Kenneth's Eagle Alliance on Monday, just 46 days to elections, what went through my mind was “perfect, but is this is a perfect Johnny come lately moment! “ Ronald Osumba is an admirable man, at 33 years of age. Here’s how part of resume looks like: Chairman at Old Stareheian Society Senior Manager - Public Sector Sales at Safaricom Limited Managing Committee Member at Starehe Boys Centre and School Board Chairman at Youth Employment Systems Honorary Patron at Gem Youth Network Television Talk show Host at Hatua Show Many 33 year old Kenyans will not have similar Curriculum Vitae. It strongly mirrors a man who is passionate about his society, strategically or not; a man who’s got his hands deep in the issues facing young Kenyans. But, why was he so late to the party? “Who is Ronnie Osumba” could as well have been a tren

It's been a few tight lipped days on my blog, so let's have a laugh shall we? This weekend, the amazing Liquid Deep band was in town, and, my daughter and I were among the thousands of Nairobians (and Summer Bunnies) who turned up. It was full to the rafters, it just felt hot and musky, even though the weather wasn’t that warm; like someone dropped me right in the middle of buzzy market place somewhere in Nigeria. Ok, I digress, but you get the point? Thanks. When Imani, my daughter asked “Mummy, what’s a summer bunny?” We had quite a laugh trying to explain it to her. December is official Summer Bunny month, and my diaspora holiday started off at Sankara, a friend had pals come over for the holidays, and I went with her to have a night cap by the rooftop. I sat next to a gentleman with rather big hair, “(we no longer wear our hair long, dear diaspora boys, especially if you’re over 19.) Let’s call him Alan. I’m not good at making friends, but I managed to start a

All of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgarize that society. We can brutalize it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level. --William Bernbach, DDB Needham Worldwide, 1989. Saturday afternoon was perhaps the best beginning of the new year for me. I spent it at what was to be a cozy meet up of minds at the Serena, called by IMG PR’s Charles Gacheru. (Charles, Thank you for an amazing meet up). It was great catching up with journalists and media players who I have worked with in different capacities over the last few years, and as over time we have changed employers, we have all become each other’s competition, it was amazing just to listen to stories of how and what makes us journalists, but what made my evening was a discussion on Thought leadership (or lack of thereof) in our media circles today. Jebet Amdany brought the challenge to the slab, and asked us, if we as journalists are really interested in shaping the perceptions