That Broken Woman

                   

 The most beautiful amongst us all seem to be slightly broken, women especially.

The ones worth knowing are sometimes beyond repair.

A broken guitar with weak strings but deep inside you know could still play amazingly.

Just read her, learn her, love her. Don’t try to make sense of her past, or predict her future.

Most of us fools attempt to fix her.

Who she was, is not who she is and is certainly not who she would be.

You’re not meant to understand her entirely. She is not sure who she is either.

Let her sing her song, dance her tune, pen down her own poetry.

Watch and enjoy every moment of it.

Repairing her breaks her more. Take those morning walks.

Sip that morning coffee coagulating on the outside of our favorite mugs.

Listening to the slow rhythm of the good old Manu Chao

Make her realize there’s passion between those short breaths and deep gazes.

Passion that is so real and genuine that she would never dream of looking for it from someone else.

Passion that makes her body quiver and her legs tremble

I mean a passion she lacks words to describe

Make her realize her worth and how strong she is

You should not be everything she requires

But your arms should feel like home

A place she can invite herself and tell you how it feels.

It’s the broken hearted and the unworthy that piece themselves together

Make her relinquish that anxiety

It’s the kind of strength to be proud of

Then smile and read that unfinished novel in your shelf.

                                        Annual International Festival.

From left to right, Kenyan students, Simon Muturi Mburu, Avid Mohammadi(Both Electrical Engineering), Cromwell Kebenei (Industrial Engineering and International Management) and Moses Githinji (Mechanical Engineering) 

During the annual International festival of University of Applied Sciences Rheinmain,

the students used the opportunity to show case the rest of the world the already underway as well as upcoming projects in the East African country that will be very beneficial to the citizens in the near future.

Geothermal Power, the Standard Gauge Railway for instance are among the Projects the Students presented on this day. Beside the Project, they also took the opportunity to share their culture, the Kenyan cuisine and also, thanks to the Kenyan Embassy in Germany, they managed give an insight into the Kenyan tourism Industry. The students believe if Kenyans students abroad participated in such events at their various Universities, it would be a win-win situation for those interested in Kenya or the African culture in general. Their biggest dream is to extend their connection back home and create many partner Universities from Germany to Kenya and vice-versa since connection creates opportunity and opportunity is what many young career-seeking enthusiasts fondly require in Kenya.

Many thanks to Hochschule Rheinmain, ASTA and the Office of the International Students for offering such opportunities and support.

(Copyright: Moses Githinji)

A Terrible Beauty has been Born

She was met at close of day

A shadow of cloud on the stream

Tangled by a dead fall of hopelessness

Changes minute by minute

Of shrill voices in the horizon

Broken glasses on the floor

Source: Missliterati.com

Of a mocking tale or a gibe

Cracked sink full of crockery

Moist, disregarded and undone

A cheap art it seems

A terrible beauty has been born

She was met at close of day

From dawn to dusk a haste

Of endless contention and dissonance

Ugly conniption of oral aggression

Tim and Hannah yearned for

In ignorant good-will

A transition from beauty to the beast

The dusty CD on the shelf

Its memory lane distinctly inevitable

Of songs played without the lyrics

A terrible beauty has been born

She was met at close of day

As she scribbled her pen on paper

A history of conceived misapprehension

No more Easters and recited poetry

Or lullabies in the cold winter nights

Of valid hopes and dreams

A nod of the head for the drum beats

Of undivided, polite meaningless words

Her broken scathed limbs unendurable

Too long a sacrifice for freedom

A terrible beauty has been born.

European Beauty Standard.

I recently read Biko Zulu’s article on the Daily Nation concerning beauty and its expected standards in Kenya. It is rather fascinating how these standards vary globally depending on the geographical position. Whereas beauty is seen as big buttocks or breasts , in most African countries, nah, let me just use titties and bums for easier,relatable reference purposes. Europe has not been left behind either.

From the mainstream media adverts to men's general ideal sexual ideology, women have been monolithically shoved to the edge.Without a skinny,somewhat almost,anorexic-looking body, blond hair, blue eyes and a considerable short height, men will unconsciously pass to the next one. The rest as they say mostly expect to meet their partners coincidentally, especially if they do not possess the said features or if they are both not very superficial and this is where the fun begins.

The big-bummed dark-skinned women with their massive egos come to Europe only to face the rude awakening that they are apparently fat and are therefore deemed unattractive by the causal white man in many occasions. The Lupitas and Alek Weks' calibres are the crème de la crème of perceived and accepted African beauty.The very midnight-dark type of women; with no weaves. The same scenario also tend to occur in an African set-up especially to the perfect white woman. Funny huh?

 There is this girlfriend of mine, let’s call her Larissa. She is a very charming, outgoing and beautiful lady according to the European standards and had a very high self-esteem until she landed in Rwanda for her Social year early last year. She had tagged-along her sister who is seemingly ‘blessed’; you know the big bum, wide waist and titties? Yeah that one that is not that enticing in Europe.

 Larissa was relentlessly body-shamed by her guest mother who had always made kind remarks like, ‘You know you’re too thin and need to eat a lot if you want to get a man, our men like flesh.’ This terrifying news crushed her ego. She felt worthless, skinny and unattractive seemingly because her self-esteem had been tormented to the rare core. And dear single people, a low self-esteem is very unattractive and it can be smelled from a distance, so in this retrospect, it is understandable she unconsciously felt intimidated by big-bummed ladies. The sister to the contrary became an over-achiever and her self-esteem rocketed tremendously because of incessant extolments for her eye-catching 'typical african' physique. Needless to say, the sister is currently dating a very good looking guy. These women and chocolate yawa!

But who is to blame for this predicament?

Dear Men.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, however there is more to that than just basic outward appearance. Superficialness is not a long term solution and if you are a superficial type of person. You are better off at short-term manenos; the Sff’s or those one-night stands where you cannot recall how you ended in bed or better off,  the name of the  person waking up next to you the next morning? Yeah, those elements to be very proud of. But if you are a real man with values and self-respect and are looking for a long-term commitment, stop justifying and worshipping these pre-meditated pickiness and stereotypes of what beauty should be defined in a woman. It is not going to do you any good in the long run. We will create a society of trivial, mediocre, dumb females and expensive cosmetics that some of you unwillingly already pay for. Take your time, sit down, listen and learn. You will be astounded by the qualities the other ostensibly ‘lesser worthy’ women possess.

Dear Women.

Do NOT let yourselves be defined by the standards men or the media set upon you. Know your values and worth. Protect your peace and defend your light. Be bold and rational and confident in your own body. Regardless of what the society perceives of you or in which drawer you have been put in, cut those shackles on emancipate yourselves. Nurse those scars and let live. I know you have turned enough rocks within. Dig and learn what you are made of. The right person will always come your way. But please learn to give men who are not ‘your type’ a chance as well. It is a two-way traffic and with time you will have answers to the always puzzling ‘Where are all the good men’ question you perceptually  ask your girlfriends. 

PS:

Manenos-stuff

Sff-sex for fun

               

                               I No Longer Have

I no longer have patience for certain things,

Not because I’ve become arrogant,

But simply because I reached a point in my life
Where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me.

I have no patience for cynicism,
excessive criticism and demands of any nature.

I lost the will to please those who do not like me,

To love those who do not love me
and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate.

I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense,
hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise.

I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance.

I do not adjust either to popular gossiping.

I hate conflict and comparisons.

I believe in a world of opposites

And that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. 

In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal.

I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment,

Or a word of encouragement.

Exaggerations bore me 

And I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals.

And on top of everything 
I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience

By Meryl Streep

                            Why I Support Trump

          I recently met Garry Matt, a sixty eight year-old conservative and avid Trump supporter from Tucson,Arizona.It was weird to meet an American in an Irish Pub watching a game of football,yes,Soccer!We got into a very interesting conversation about the US politics and the forthcoming general elections during half time and I was astounded by his arguments. I was deeply impressed I must admit. It got me thinking, should the world really care what Trump has to say? I had to put myself in his shoes to fully understand his supposed reasons for the support.

Getty images

   You know,as a very respectable presidential candidate, it is very wrong and unacceptable for a people and the Media to judge him and his political incorrectness.Yes,he is an ignorant racist, sexist, arrogant, deluded, creepy, inconsiderate, disgusting, greedy, and cares less about the welfare of the common Americans isn't that just his personality? People should not care much.Nevertheless they accept him with his blatant honesty and attitude. He is only human and it's part of the human nature. 

    Mr. Trump, apart from your haters and opponents, there are sensible and rational citizens like us and the majority of the Republicans watching all the steps you make. You have won the primaries and are now our flag bearer. The world is watching and I particularly, am very impressed by you. A fresh of breath air you have been I must admit. Glued and in awe whenever your name comes up on the social media. Your interviews especially the bashing of ‘em [sic] Mexicans and Muslims are incredible. I despite those people now more than never.

    My family adores you,especially my dad and my eight year-old brother. You know Ahmed, my Afghan-English liberal neighbour from Watford? My father has always hated him, and his wife; that veil-wearing woman! He can't stand them and it's gotten worse now that you, his hero share the same views. They are apparently a threat to our security, their veils should be banned and all the Moslem families should return to 'wherever the hell they came from.'

     My little brother on the other hand wants to be like you when he grows up. He now clearly knows that it is indeed my fifteen-year old sister's responsibility to take care of him and all the house chores as she is female. Isn’t it a pleasure to watch how she has been put 'back to her place,' the kitchen, all because of you?I can only imagine how many other females have experienced the same; the hurling, the insults, like how you have clearly called some of them, ‘animals, extremely unattractive, slob' etc.

  The Mexicans are everywhere as well, right? I strongly support the construction of that wall, and I hope, you my hero, Mr. Donald Trump....well, his Excellency Mr. President stick to your words. Our Puerto Rican house help needs to be deported back to Mexico, that hell hole! Those Venezuelans who clean the window panes of your tower need to be relieved of their duties, even those born on the American soil. They are hazardous to our economy that no justification for such an action is required.  

     You are right, we have no business with the Hispanics, or those with any immigration background whatsoever. Only those with European heritage should be exempted. Oh and the Afro-Americans if you might as well please!?

     By the way, I cut contact with my Japanese friend Yamagishi and I'm not sitting next to that now creepy South Korean guy anymore during the lectures as well. Like you said, the Chinese are a menace,the earlier we shun away from them, the better. I duly promise not to consume anything with China on it, unless it is a product of your clothing line based there. However, I must submit their prices are very unaffordable, could you please do something about it?

    Before I forget, I heard you are planning to scrap the Obama care should you get into office. I believe generations to come will understand why we are against it since we think not everyone deserves to be healthy.

    Lastly, you inspire many of us Mr. Trump and I can clearly see now why I need to get onto the campaign bandwagon. The world is never the same with you. I hope I get to see your presidency. It is only then that your full force and influence shall be seriously undertaken. More people will respect you, whether willingly or unwillingly. The world will be a better place without the Mexicans, Chinese and the Muslims. Thank you for your humility, friendliness, tolerance and acceptance. I cannot be any prouder. I fully support you Mr. Trump, the voice of the voiceless, the savior and redeemer of the poor. Cheers to you Sir.

                                I'm Only Human

I hate my feelings,the desire to love and to be loved
I hate my need for affection
I hate my need for attention,to details that change my thoughts
I hate my necessitation to be cared for and to be revered
I hate when my opinions are challenged
I hate when people care too much
I hate to lay in bed in thoughts
I hate to be scared about what the future holds
I hate to be scared about my family and those that mean anything to me
I hate to be inspired
I hate appreciation
I hate little children and their irritation
I hate creativity
I hate poetry and music
I hate language and culture
I hate to write and to ponder
I hate where I stand
I hate humanity and 
Anything that breathes and reproduce
I'm only human.

Made Of Black.

                                

What is it with black people that scare others ?

You may write me down in history,

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may tread 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 back yard. 

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 surprise 

That I dance like I've got diamonds 

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise I'm a black ocean,

leaping and wide, 

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. 

Leaving behind nights of terror 

and fear I rise Into a daybreak 

that's wondrously clear I rise 

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise I rise I rise

- Adapted from Maya Angelou.

(1928-2004)

Aid to Africa?

A starving child is covered with flies at the pediatric malnutrition
ward at the Lilongwe Central Hospital in Malawi.(file photo)

     I was at the bus stop waiting for a tram to town. I could not help but stare at the the Billboard with an image of a malnutrition child.I was gutted and felt sorry for us.As I sat in the bus,the image kept recurring in my head.I did not take long to realise where all the stereotypes that everyone in Africa is dying of hunger came from,like a poor kid,with mucus and flies all over the mouth,like really? 

I'm willing to submit,yes,for ages,many African nations have been ravaged by diseases like Malaria,Cholera,HIV/AIDS,Ebola,you  name them.Poverty and hunger, yet oftenly, there haven't been a lasting solution offered for these menace.However, I must concur that indeed,there has been a lot of significant improvements in the continent in recent years generally, although most of these have been viewed from a short-term spectrum. A very evident instance has been with the relief aid to the hunger-stricken areas. Yes,emergency issues need to be adherently addressed but have we thought about the future of this great continent? I do not desire my children and their children's children to be at the mercy of well-wishers and 'Aid to Africa' like portrayed in the Western world or in the Mass media.The mere thought that we are a begging continent,one never on its feet is absurd and untrue and the more we continue encouraging Aid,the more stagnant the continent shall remain. It is upto us to look for a way foward,to emancipate ourselves from neo-colonialism,The acceptance that a person of colour and and African heritage can as well bring food to the table,just like the white man.But is there a way out?I ponder.Is there a long term solution?
     
Yes there is,in my opinion, and for my advisable solution to this peril,I came up with a main and consequent Sub-hypotheses .The first and the most important one is education. For a country's stability, the arrogation of education by a people is very essential.An educated society is a step forward towards the eradication of hunger in Africa.Education is a prerequisite to almost every change required. When a people is educated, mostly, it gets easier to seek job opportunities.If not, there still will be room for self-employment.Due to education and possibly rationalism,most citizens will be aware that it is their responsibility to fight for their rights and hold political leaders accountable for bad governance, by either demanding, for their resignation and/or electing competent leaders during the elections.Good governance equals to fair allocation and accountability of funds.These funds can used to create,get children from poor backgrounds to school, jobs,to support agriculture,dig boreholes in the arid and semi-arid areas for instance. It may take a while,even generations,that's  for sure,for the implementation depending on the willingness of the people in the country, however, once accomplished, everything will flow.The country's stability will mean more families will be financially stable hence less malnutrition deficits since there will be affordability of a balanced diet for children.

     Another very crucial aspect is the education of the girl child.The attainment of this leads to the emancipation of women.They play a major role in a country's stability and eradication of poverty and hunger,so when they're educated,they will know the importance of family planning and nutrition. They will also not view themselves as only objects of child production[sic]but empower themselves, create/get jobs and this in turn will boost the economy of a nation. In the end,hunger will be a soon-forgotten thing.

    Lastly, in most cases,campaigns against all these threats mentioned and for education hardly reach the villages where most needed.Most villagers especially the elderly lack basic education, therefore concluding that most of these problems are due to curses, and there is no solution. Information of this aspect is very important and generally to everyone in the affected nations.In my view, when these issues are heard and efficiently implemented, we will be on our way to eradicating hunger and all our apparent curses in Africa completely.Like Steve Jobs put it,stay Hungry,Stay Foolish!

IF I SEE YOU AGAIN.

                                

   5th day of December it was.How could I forget this miserable day!I  had been cosying up with my mates after playing a body warming[sic] game of fifa.My phone rang.'Hii ni Jose?'my dad asked as if he hadn't saved my number,'pigia mimi simu.'He hung up.I called back only to get the devastating news of the passing on of the sweetest and most loving person I had ever wished to have.A gulp of wine was all I needed.
    I could not believe what I just heard.It was hard to comprehend the fact that she was no more yet we had talked over phone just a few hours before.What amazes me is how mothers can love.The undying love they have for their children is incomparable.What they go through for the sake of our own happiness and well-being is undisputed.This woman was in pain,she was dying from the inside,yet she calmly talked to me with her usual questions of,"Mitihani inakupelekaje,huwa mnakula nini,kunanyesha uko?"and the latter is such a common question that annoys sometimes,ask any kalenjin abroad.
    We talked  for a while before she said she had an appointment at the Salon.Little did I know that it was the last time I had conversed with her.Could it be that she was preparing for her death?Could it be that she had seen it coming?These are one of the many unanswered questions I still Postulate.
     The news hit me at a wrong time.I had a series of exams in line and I was broke,like damn broke. By the way, I wonder why many back at home, especially from the villages or those who've never been abroad always presume that money here is literally harvested.Yes I said it.Well,we do hustle way a lot.You can imagine working to cover all the bills,from the health insurance to rent and then study.....in German!This in essence means one has to study thrice as hard and then there's someone home who'll still have the audacity to ask me to buy them a car,or send them the 4 million as capital they intend to launch a business project with,or that relative who wants 5000 € ya Soda Madiaba. Well,where was I?
    I didn't know what to do or where to commence from.Whether or not I flew home,I had to chip in something. Like Maina Kageni says it,a kadabo dabo was so essential at that point.My mates didn't know how exactly to comfort me,and of course they joined me in the midday  Kadabodabo escapade.After a few days,I had my ticket and I will explicate how this miracle occurred.
   The flight itself took ages,I had a 10-hour stop in Dubai....let that sink in.10 hours!And with my 'mediocre' Kenyan passport, I couldn't get any access out of the airport.....as if I'd seek asylum if I got that freedom,puliiiiz! I also had mixed feelings.On one hand I'm going for a burial,grief and sadness engulfed,and on the other,I will meet with those relatives I'd never have had a chance to meet on normal occasions and the fact that it was winter!Sema kuhepa depression.I found the idea of being at a place,known as a source of happiness and fresh breath of air refreshing and appealing.You know you're home,when you read 'Only Kenyans' at the customs and the Swahili language being spoken,okay let's say sheng just for the sake of my point.You know your language is one of the best when it's being offered in quite a number of Universities abroad.The pride that comes with it is immense I tell ya.
    I had finally arrived,almost home.Don't get me wrong,I love Nairobi,but Eldy is just like a safe haven to me.The friendliness, reception,sincerity and the environment generally is incomparable. A hater will say,it's because I'm a kale(njin) and was brought up there but hater who?
    I got to the site of the funeral and I could not believe what I saw.The number of mourners,and the whole arrangement in general and this is one thing that I commend us a people,we come uninvited to weddings and during happy moments,however, we're also there during our most trying moments. Well,I couldn't wait for the funeral to be over,the wailing and crying broke me down.
    I do understand that celebrating one's life is okay,I really do but why should people weep when she supposedly 'went to a better place' and that 'God loved her most?'I  thought people should have been celebrating that she's in a 'better' place.The irony is still not grasped enough in my brain.And why people presume that every dead goes to heaven is beyond me as well.Let me not offend any person of faith hehe.
    My two younger siblings are the people I most felt sorry for.The bond they had with that woman was brobdingnagian(Don't know what the hell that means),and now she was no more.People gave their condolence speeches but only one touched me.I vividly remember what he said.'We should not wait until someone is gone to appreciate them or speak of their good deeds or accomplishments.'It got me thinking,Did I at one time ever say thanks to my mum for the sacrifices she made?No I didn't. Did I ever at one point say,mama,I love you?You're right no!I was heartbroken,and this should be a challenge to you.Most of the time we fail to say a simple thank you,I miss you,or you look good today.How often have we said these words,how often have we appreciated the little things done for us?
     Ask yourself those questions and see how you fair.Let's learn to say thank you, to appreciate the little things people do for us.They won't cost a penny.It may mean less to us but a lot to them.They may not expect anything in return but we can lighten their souls,make them happier and revive faith in humanity. Let's learn to appreciate those close to us,and I mean those who are there for us during hardships,like my friends,who raised money for the ticket without my knowledge,made my journey possible without expecting anything in return.I will never cease to be grateful for what they did and how they sacrificed their energy and time to comfort and be there for me. Let's learn to celebrate and  love unconditionally.To spend time with them,to laugh,to cherish and to live lively for we never know when we could lose them.




 

Triumph of Trump?

As sinister as it may sound,
As contagious as it may be,
As harmful as it has been,
Mankind on it has a fettish,
On its shore many will perish,
A bliss it is to lavish,
In us,ravaged oh we've been,
Our rationality on the brink of a bin,
A disease it is,double-edged,
Affects the young, even the aged,
Ignorance I say,well,the democrats said.