Tuesday, April 01, 2008
‘Chengi’ slows Uganda entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs in Uganda blame limited capital for little growth, or expansion of their businesses. Some whine because of witches. But are those the fundamental obstacles of business advancement?

A few minutes before writing this piece, I was in Wandegeya on my way to town, and need for airtime arose. I went to an airtime stand, and order for 5,000 top up. A man in his late 40’s handed back my 20,000 note because he had no ‘chengi’ (change).

I moved to a next stand that was managed by an Asian, and I flashed my 20,000. The attendant took the note, handed me the airtime, and asked me to wait as he sought me ‘chengi’ from the business neighbours. Within two minutes, I was done and I walked away.

In comparing the earlier seller and the second one, I noticed that the earlier seller didn’t need money though he had an airtime stand. The second seller needed the money though he has not ‘chengi.’

In doing a random survey, if both sellers have ten customers loaded big notes within 15 minutes, the earlier seller would have nothing. The second seller would have benefited from customers. Dominance of business mentality of the second seller is what entrepreneurs in Uganda should apply for their businesses realise advancement.

Sometime back, Bank of Uganda ordered the banks not to chase people who seek for change from banks. Today, some banks sell ‘chengi’, even in the Taxi Parks ‘chengi’ vending booms, but 10% off the money need change is quite high.

It will take a long while for Uganda business men and women to notice how much they lose by chase a customer because of ‘chengi.’

Photo/smallbiztechnology.com

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posted by ombui at 5:02 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Kenya blow 1

The killings in Rwanda in 1994 amounted close to a million, and thousands were displaced, but the United Nation(UN) was too slow to act under the leadership of Kofi Annan. A political situation that was discriminatory against the “bad guys” who were once brothers. Tutsis went for Hutus heads and Hutus did the same for Tutsis.

It is noted that arsenal support to the mentioned tribes were from without as far as Europe and so on. All that was lodged from a thinking that super influence is by spilling blood.

Yes, the war ended but lives lost were, are and will be irreversible.

Come 2008, it is not Rwanda again but Kenya, a country that is to commemorate its 45th anniversary since “independence” from the British in 1963.

Kenya formed in the spirit of peace, love and unity has hit a political quagmire; hostility, hate and disarray defines the present situation caused by electoral rigging and unconstitutional swearing in of the president.

So far close to a half a million are congested in refugee camps within Kenya and in Uganda while Kenya Police and vigilantes have killed more than seven hundred citizens. The families in the refugee camps are living miserably and even after the camps they will languish in poverty because their properties are flattened into ashes or in the looters’ bellies.

A month is getting done and nothing jump-starts Kenyaness; No ray of hope. Reverend Desmond Tutu of South Africa; President John Kofuor of Ghana as well as the President of African Union; Jendayi Frazier, US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs; and a team of retired presidents of Africa led by Joachim Chisano failed to organise a dialogue between Hon. Mwai Kibaki and Hon. Raila Odinga. They did good talking to deaf ears as Kenyans bled.

In contrast, former UN general-secretary, Kofi Annan succeeds in making Kibaki and Raila greet each other for the first time since before elections but their body language suggested something else.

Kofi Annan’s visit is the last straw to Kenya’s redemption or downfall. European Union(EU) and US are set to deny Kenya aid and sanction it incase nothing of great crux is reached. The Kibaki’s finance minister, Amos Kimunya and the government spokesperson, Alfred Mutua ululate that “…aid cut is rubbish,” rest assured that no one in their family pained by any situation.

Zimbabwe is a good lesson to Kenya when it comes to sanctions because it is the people “you and me” that suffer incase Kenya is sanctioned. Kibaki will get what ever he wants using government budget just like Robert Mugabe, even if inflation supersedes 5,000 percent.

But why is the International community taking so long? Do we need to be like Rwanda? The Nakuru incidences are mere revenge. Is the issue a tribe…I don’t think so…the point is that elections were doctored by a few individuals not a tribe or community. And some politicians are using this tribe overtone to advance their “might.”

When Kenya is in fiasco who benefits?
This means that our economy will suffocate and it will depend funding from “donors” and citizens will be taxed highly to servicing aid. The more time Kenyans waste in refugee camps and destroying wealth, the more subservient they become to the West or East. A weak economy is equivalent to voicelessness, and no political say internationally.

Terrorism activities will thrive. Training or attacks can be facilitated without check after all Kenya’s security and intelligence is focused on lessening tension countrywide and protecting Kibaki in power. No intense surveillance is on the boarders, ports and airports.

Neighbouring states are beckoning to investors as alternatives. Uganda is sweet talking Tanzania to revamp Tanga- Mutukula Road and railway since the Northern Corridor(Mombasa-Kampala road) is being eaten by mistakes of an economic giant in a region. Remember before elections that more than 25,000 Asians, even the ones with Kenyan citizenship fled to Tanzania because of speculations of elections’ violence…are they back? What about those who fled after the violence broke?

Revenue sources are becoming scanty mainly on the exports. Kenya’s exports will drop from 67% to Uganda because measures being set for it not to be caught unaware like this year where supplies/inputs to her industries and imports of petroleum products were stopped because of the bad political situation in Kenya. Other countries like Rwanda and Burundi are now moving their eyes somewhere else too. The figure of revenue lost due to skirmishes in Kenya is huge and not the $ 30 million per day that economists say.

The fact is that even if the violence stops today, Kenya has back-stepped too much in less than a month but it will take it more than two years to fix its economic mess. Social mess will take more than a half a decade to be polished depending also on unfolding events before the next elections. Politically, Kenya’s democracy seems to be at the edge of the drainage but it will be catapulted to a much better level than most nations in the world once the current crises are solved.

The only antidote to the prevailing situation in Kenya is KENYANESS…We have to act in the spirit of peace, love and unity that translates to justice. Care for KENYA because if you destroy it no one will build it for you for free…you will be a slave.

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posted by ombui at 5:06 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
What does ODINGA swearing in mean?

Kenya is becoming more unpredictable not only by her citizens but also the international community.

The announcement of Mwai Kibaki as the new president of Kenya resulted to eruption of violence country wide. According to Red Cross- Kenya, 135 people are dead and their bodies have bullet wounds.

In Kisumu city and other towns in the country, the military has been sent to calm the situation.

This morning, the media reports say that Gordon Brown has spoke with Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga to calm their supporters from being rowdy but some supporters say they have to fight to the end.

Raila Odinga too wants Mwai Kibaki to accept that he lost the elections for any dialogue to commence waiting to be sworn in at Uhuru Park on Thursday. He has pleaded with Kenyans to come in huge numbers.

What does ODINGA swearing in mean?

Does it mean two presidents in a country? Does it mean Kibaki will step down before Thursday? If Kibaki steps down, will he be interested of being an MP of Othaya? Does it mean that Raila supporters will be allowed to move to Uhuru Park yet there is heavily armed security persons? After the Swearing in Raila where will he go to: Statehouse, his house or jail? Will it mean that calm will prevail instantly?

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posted by ombui at 1:16 AM | Permalink | 1 comments
Kenya unrest, Uganda fuel prices shoots

The sore grapes of unrest in Kenya are felt far beyond her borders.

The prices of petroleum products have inflated simultaneously in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Uganda in particular, a litre of petrol or diesel costs Ushs. 5,000. Before the closure of Uganda-Kenya border from 27th December, 2007, a litre of petrol was less than Ushs. 2,500.


It is also reported that other petrol stations in the country have no fuel.

Uganda depends solely on Kenya roads for majority of her imports.

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posted by ombui at 12:44 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Monday, December 31, 2007
Non-Kalenjin communities under tension in Kapsabet

The swearing in of Mwai Kibaki has propelled violence in Kapsabet, a small town, on Eldoret- Kisumu road.

Hundreds of non- Kalenjin families are camping in Kapsabet Police Station because of fear of being of killed.

Yesterday night, several shops in the town were burnt down and some ransacked. Residences too were not spared.

Kapsabet is a home for most of the long distance athletes in the world.

There is urgency for the international intervention before bloodshed pools the Kenyan soil.

Pray for Kenya.

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posted by ombui at 6:29 AM | Permalink | 0 comments
Sunday, December 30, 2007
International politics bogs kenya's election

It all started by the Electoral Commission of Kenya crying to have the results from the delaying constituencies mainly from Central Kenya. The European observers raised their eyebrows over the delays.

Kenyans were calm waiting for results. Three days down the line, idleness griped the hard working Kenyans. Shops looted, residences burnt and a number of citizens lost lives across the nation.

On 30th December, When the ECK chairman announced the results that Mwai Kibaki had won, it took a few minutes and he was sworn in as a president of Kenya.

Raila Odinga on the other hand did not miss the microphone and he announced that he will be sworn in on 31st December as a president.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
- European Union

- Commonwealth
- African Union

"We believe that, at this time, the ECK (Electoral Commission of Kenya), despite the best efforts of its chairman, has not succeeded in establishing the credibility of the tallying process to the satisfaction of all parties and candidates," chief EU observer Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said in a statement.

"We regret that it has not been possible to address irregularities about which both the EU EOM (EU Electoral Observation Mission) and the ECK have evidence," he added.

Graf said his mission had evidence of presidential tallies announced in polling stations on the election being inflated by the time they were released by the electoral commission in Nairobi.

WHY IS US AND BRITAIN ASKING FOR ACCPETANCE OF ECK RESULTS?

“We ask all candidates to accept the Commission’s final results and to urge their supporters to reject violence and respect the rule of law. Regardless of the eventual winners of this election, we call on Kenyans across the political spectrum to work together to advance democracy and national development,’’- a statement from US Embassy.

“We are disturbed at the violence surrounding the elections. The British government calls for an end to the violence, respect for the democratic process and for all Kenya’s political leaders to act responsibly,” – a statement by British Foreign Secretary.

This election had an international interest than the local interest.

Watch this space…

Bogs down kenya

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posted by ombui at 9:58 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Monday, December 10, 2007
Is it Nazareth, can something good come out of Africa?
Since it became possible for me to read, history has never repeated itself. Things have been changing not only near me, but even where I can’t scratch. I can say, situations are different but tend to draw similar results.

Reports from within Africa and out of Africa have estimated this continent to be vanishing and soon it might be forgotten. The dirges are War, Poverty, Corruption, Nepotism, Tribalism, Poor media, Torture, Rape, Dictatorship, and so on, please, please sing on.

Yesterday it was General Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, and then Mobutu Seseseko Kuku Mbendu wa Zambanga of Zaire well known today, as, Democratic Republic of Congo, Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Charles Taylor of Liberia and now, Said Al Bashir of Sudan and Robert Mugabe of Zimbambwe are bracketed to be dictators.

Few weeks ago, Joachim Chisano of Mozambique, got an award of transforming his nation. That is leadership. He is among the best African leaders championing the African agenda. Nelson Mandela the African gold of sincerity and justice.

Africa has produced great athletes who have scooped huge medals internationally. Kenyans, Ethiopians, Nigerians, Algerians, Ugandans, Tanzanians, South Africans, Namibians… are not only experts in climbing the beautiful hills raised above the sea level but race like cheetahs in the short races. No doping.

Let me not talk about the African queens…oh my…they are the best because nature says so. Be it character, the beauty and the complexion that matches the continent’s soils. Have you heard of Alek Wek of Sudan?

Remember, the African minerals have beautified almost all palaces and houses of respect. They still serve important role in the industries in the developed world as raw materials and energy source. If the continent was dark, the minerals would have stayed here. The game is opportunistic.

The wars in the continent too, have perforated African human resource, infrastructures, agriculture, mining, education systems and health facilities. Killer diseases like HIV/Aids and Ebola have proliferated. Somalia no longer produces Bananas and goats for export; Democratic Republic of Congo does not earn much from natural resource because of rebels claiming ownership of the mine fields; Southern Sudan cannot drill oil further because of the tension with Sudan government; and Niger Delta rebels say they will put their arms when the oil contracts become fair for the locals.

Most of these wars in Africa have international dimensions mainly on the supply of the weapons. In some instances, the foreign governments have ventured in having double standards in the sense of supporting coups and some instances fighting the enemies of peace.

If pointing fingers would avail solutions instantly, the continent would be far. Urgent solutions are needed to blunt the sharpness of poverty, war, maladies and levels of illiteracy.

Whether Africa is Nazareth or Jerusalem, we have to concentrate on issues that affect humanity. Let us overlook the borders or water boundaries that separate continents and think of how best we can contribute to the development of Africa and the world in general.

Photos/style.com, associatedcontent.com, smh.com.au

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posted by ombui at 4:08 AM | Permalink | 0 comments