Am looking foward to read his life more.

In 2004 she won Nobel Peace Prize and made a history of the first African woman to won it. She is the founder for Green Belt Movement.

A synopsis of her life and work can be read here.

Condolences to family,relatives, friends, Kenyans and all who are fighting for democracy, human rights and making world a better place to live for our and coming generations

The 14th Nairobi International Bookfair

The 14th Nairobi International Bookfair fair will be held from 28th September to 2nd October 2011 at the Sarit Centre Expo Hall westland’s Nairobi, Kenya. The Bookfair is organized by the Kenya Publishers Association. The Book Fair’s Theme this year is ‘ Read for Empowerment”. Books, whether creative works or factual texts, serve as a reflection of the society from which the writers are drawn. It is therefore our duty to ensure that society is able to communicate effectively on issues that confront it and do so through books.

Events at the Bookfair will include

a) Workshops and seminars on topical issues
b) Book launches
c) Children activities
d) Presentation of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature Award. This award is sponsored by Text Book Centre.
e) Budding Authors Seminar
f) Books clearance sale and raffle for books- Publishers will sell books at huge discounts.
g) BOOKS EXHIBITION

Please note that those interested in exhibiting should contact the Kenya Publishers Association secretariat for bookings.

ENTRY IS FREE

The Kenya Publishers Association is happy to invite you to celebrate the book at the 14th Nairobi International Bookfair, 2011

Seifi School Centre is a bookshop and a part of Seifi Group of Companies. It was established in 1993 to support the call of the Government to promote academic institutions in the country. The basic aim is to provide the most up to date and currently available educational books and materials in all fields of learning from Pre school, Primary School, Secondary school, colleges, University and other related institutions plus Libraries. It is one of the most popular and modern book shops in the country.

Seifi School Centre started as a retail shop but today has expanded and is the largest suppliers of all kind of books to schools, institutions, universities, ministries, NGO’s, banks and various other institutes not only in Dar es Salaam but in Tanzania. In short the centre has become a; ” A Gate to the world of knowledge”.

You may also wish to check out his M.A Dissertation on cultural tourism in Arusha through this link: http://blogs.helsinki.fi/kashaga/files/2008/10/fratelines-ma-thesis.pdf . His website/blog’s address is http://blogs.helsinki.fi/kashaga/.

In her book It’s Our Turn To Eat, Michela Wrong explores the political history of corruption in Kenya including the multifaceted features of ethnic (tribal) division. Wrong delivers vivid, raw details about mechanism of corruption in goverment. Her restrained use of embellishments make for a candid, insightful read. Wrong tells the story of John Githongo, a former head of anti-corruption in Kenya, who turns out to be a whistle blower and one of Africa’s success stories in fighting corruption. .

The book gives a primer on tribalism in Kenya, and sparingly provides the reader with the necessary tedium to access the nuances that divide one tribe from another. When a certain tribe is in power, it becomes their “Turn to Eat’’. Wrong has done a good job in tracing change of power and tribal division from pre to post colonialism. After Kenya’s independence from Britain, Jomo Kenyatta, a Kikuyu became the first president. During his presidency, Wrong uses Githong’s recounts to describe how it was the Kikuyu’s “time to eat”. Kenyatta was followed by ‘Professor of Politics’, Daniel Arap Moi, a Kalenjeen who was president of Kenya for too long-more nearly for 30 years. The account given shows all of the pertinent details relevant to decades of corruption under Moi’s leadership, and methodically calculates the audacious and absurd indulgences of his (the Kalenjeen’s) administration. It was indeed the Kalenjeen’s time to eat, and Wrong gives a matter of fact account of how they feasted at the expense of Western investers and ultimately of the Kenyan people.

In 2002, Kibaki with the Kikuyu-led NARC government came into power, with high promises and people expectations that “corruption will cease to be a way of life in Kenya”. It did not took longer before the same government was involved in procurement scandal of $ 751 million, involving Anglo Leasing and Finance Ltd which remain to be a ‘ghost firm’. Tanzanian readers may be interested to find out how Richmond scandal is almost ‘copy and paste’ of Anglo Leasing ghost company. On his appointment Githongo was very optimistic with the regime and hoped for better change. He made it very clear to the President: “we can set up all the anti-corruption authorities we want, spend all the money we want, pass all the laws on anticorruption, but it all depends on you. If people believe the president is ‘eating’, the battle is lost. If you are steady on this thing, if the leadership is there, we will succeed.”It was not too long that, he came to realise those who he trusted were now involved in the scandals and even the President was also ‘eating’. Evidence from the network of informant whom he had to setup was implicating ministers, Permanent Secretaries, famous business people and probably the President. All these evidences secretly collected, like voice recording and documents from the network of informant in his payroll, were his insurance and base for blowing the whistle.

The book shows the systematic corruption which involves people on power and business. For instance, Anglo Leasing which involved eighteen contracts classified as ‘sensitive’, military – or security in nature. They included among others; a digital multi-channel communications network for prison service, new helicopters, a building a forensic laboratory, state-of-the-art frigate, a top-secret military surveillance dubbed ‘Project Nexus’. The value for 18 contracts amounted to 5% of gross domestic product, over 16% of the government’s gross expenditure in 2003-04 and the money was outstripping the country’s total aid ($521) and were enough to supply every HIV-positive Kenyan with anti-retroviral for the next ten years.

The role of development partner in corruption is well demonstrated in the book. It reminded what Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemy, but the silence of our friends”. Four days after John Githongo released his dossier, World Bank announced $145 million loans to Kenya. The same was done by DfID Britain’s Department for International Development, when announced a £ 58 million grant few days before John’s leak. Its only IMF which refused to follow the schedule of lending and it was only Netherlands which stopped aid in grounds of corruption. The most vocal ‘friend’ who Kenyans will remember the most is Sir Edward Clay, British High Commissioner to Kenya from 2001-05. In one of his speeches against corruption, he aptly said: “Those in government were now eating ‘like gluttons’ out of combination of arrogance, greed and panic. They may expect we shall not see, or notice, or will forgive them a bit of gluttons, but they can hardly expect us not to care when their gluttony causes them to vomit all over our shoes”.

From the book, one can see some similarities between Kenya and Tanzania. Systematic corruption, where dubious high value contracts with ‘ghost’ and dubious companies are signed by the government to siphon public funds. For instance, corruption scandal at Bank of Tanzania (BoT). Where several ‘ghost’ companies were paid large sum of public money under External Payment Arrears (EPA). Disappointingly funds from EPA and Anglo Leasing are alleged to have been used to finance elections.

But are whistle blowers enough to fight corruption in Africa? Yes we need whistle blower, but what we need the most as the author is quoting Hussein Were: “You don’t need any more bodies, you don’t need more laws, you need good people and the will”. Lack of political will to remains to be the challenge in fighting corruption in African countries. A need for good people who have political will to establish institution and take actions against corruption and not just paying some lips services. Moreover we need informed citizens to hold the government accountable on public funds.

Fidelis Butahe na Hussein Issa
BARAZA la Mitihani la Taifa (Necta) limetangaza matokeo ya mtihani wa kidato cha nne uliofanyika Oktoba, 2010 yanayoonyesha kuwa wasichana wanaongoza kwa kiwango cha ufaulu.

Hata hivyo matokeo hayo yameonyesha kuwa kiwango cha ufaulu katika mtihani huo kimeshuka kwa asilimia 22 ilinganishwa na matokeo ya mwaka 2009. Katibu Mtendaji wa Necta, Dk Joyce Ndalichako, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari wakati akitangaza matokeo hayo jana, kuwa wasichana wamefanya vizuri zaidi kuliko wavulana.

“Kati ya watahiniwa kumi bora, sita ni wasichana na wanne ni wavulana,” alisema Dk Ndalichako na kumtaja kinara wa matokeo hayo kuwa ni Lucylight Mallya kutoka Shule ya Sekondari ya Wasichana ya St Marian iliyopo mkoani Pwani. Hii ni mara ya pili kwa shule hiyo kutoa mwanafunzi bora katika mtihani wa kidato cha nne baada ya Immaculate Mosha aliyeibuka kinara katika matokeo ya mwaka 2009. Kwa mujibu wa matokeo ya mtihani wa mwaka jana, kati ya shule kumi bora katika kundi la shule zenye watahiniwa chini ya 40, saba ni shule za seminari na huku Shule ya Seminari ya Uru inaongoza shule kumi bora katika kundi la shule zenye watahiniwa zaidi ya 40.

Matokeo hayo yanaonyesha kuwa shule kumi za mwisho ni mchanganyiko wa shule za serikali na watu binafsi. Dk Ndalichako alitaja shule kumi bora zenye watahiniwa zaidi ya 40 na mikoa zinakopatikana kwenye mabano kuwa ni Uru Seminari (Kilimanjaro), Marian Girls (Pwani), St Francis Girls (Mbeya), Canossa (Dar es Salaam), Msolwa (Morogoro), Feza Boys (Dar es Salaam), St Mary Goreti (Kilimanjaro), Abbey (Mtwara), St Joseph Semiterambogo (Kigoma) na Barbro-Johansson (Dar es Salaam).

Alieleza kuwa shule kumi bora zenye watahiniwa chini ya 40 ni seminari ya Don Bosco (Iringa), Feza Girls (Dar es Salaam), Maua Seminari (Kilimanjaro), Queens of Apostles Ushirombo (Shinyanga), Sengerema Seminari (Mwanza), Sanu Seminari (Manyara), Bethelsabs Girls (Iringa), St Joseph-Kilocha Seminary (Iringa), Dungunyi Seminary (Singida) na Mafinga Seminary (Iringa). Kwa mujibu wa Dk Ndalichako, shule kumi za mwisho zenye watahiniwa chini ya 40 ni, Sanje (Morogoro), Daluni (Tanga), Kinangali (Singida), Mtanga na Pande (Lindi), Imalampaka (Tabora), Chongoleani (Tanga), Mwamanenge (Shinyanga), Mipingo (Lindi) na Kaoze (Rukwa). Alitaja shule zingine kumi za mwisho katika kundi la shule zenye watahiniwa zaidi ya 40 kuwa ni Changaa (Dodoma), Pande Darajani (Tanga), Igawa (Morogoro), Makata (Lindi), Kolo, Kikore na Hurui (Dodoma), Mbuyuni (Mtwara), Thawi (Dodoma) na Naputa (Mtwara). Dk Ndalichako pia aliwataja watahiniwa kumi bora kitaifa na shule zao kwenye mabano kuwa ni Lucylight Mallya (St Marian), Maria-Dorin Shayo (St Marian), Sherryen Mutoka (Barbro-Johansson), Diana Matabwa (St Francis Girls) na Neema Kafwimi (St Francis Girls). Wengine ni, Beatrice Issara (St Mary Goreti), Johnston Dedani (Ilboru), Samwel Emmanuel (Moshi Technical), Bertha Sanga (Marian Girls) na Bernadetha Kalluvya (St Francis Girls).

Dk Ndalichako alisema kuna wanafunzi 42 kutoka baadhi ya shule walifanya mtihani wakati walikwisha ondolewa katika usajili baada ya kubainika kuwa sifa za kidato cha pili walizowasilisha hazikuwa sahihi. Alizitaja shule hizo na idadi ya wanafunzi kwenye mabano kuwa ni Ujenzi (4), Kahama Muslim (1) St John Seminari (1), Eckernforde (1), Seuta (1), Jamhuri (1) Mdanya New Vision (12) na Mseru (21). Dk Ndalichako alifahamisha kuwa watahiniwa 56 wa kujitegemea waliondolewa kwenye usajili kwa kutokuwa na sifa lakini walifanya mtihani huo. Alivitaja vituo walivyofanyia mtihani watahiniwa hao na idadi yao katika mabano kuwa ni Mwigo (29) na Twitange (27). Dk Ndalichako alisema mtihani huo ulifanywa na watahiniwa 177,021 na asilimia 50.40 ya watahiniwa wote, wamefaulu. Wasichana waliofaulu ni 69,996 sawa na asilimia 43.47 na wavulana ni 107,025 sawa na asilimia 56.28. “Mwaka 2009 watahiniwa waliofaulu walikuwa sawa na asilimia 72.51 ya watahiniwa waliofanya mtihani huo,” alisema Ndalichako

Alisema ubora wa ufaulu kwa kuangalia madaraja waliyopata watahiniwa wa shule unaonyesha kuwa jumla ya watahiniwa 40,388 sawa na asilimia 11.50, wamefaulu katika madaraja I hadi III. “Wasichana waliofaulu katika madaraja I hadi III ni 12,583 sawa na asilimia 7.81 na wavulana ni 27,805 sawa na asilimia 14.62,”alisema Dk Ndalichako. Alisema idadi ya watahiniwa wa kujitegemea waliofaulu mtihani huo ni 46, 064 sawa na asilimia 52.09 ya waliofanya mtihani.

Alisema katika kundi hilo, wasichana waliofaulu ni 22,405 sawa na asilimia 48.41 na wavulana ni 23,659 sawa na asilimia 56.13. Mwaka 2009 watahiniwa wa kujitegemea 49,477 sawa na asilimia 54.12 walifaulu, alisema. Aliongeza kuwa watahiniwa 458,114 wakiwamo wasichana 216,084 sawa na asilimia 47.17 na wavulana 242,030 sawa na asilimia 52.83 ndio waliojisajili kufanya mtihani huo mwaka jana. “Mwaka 2009 watahiniwa waliosajiliwa walikuwa 351,152, hivyo idadi ya watahiniwa imeongezeka kwa watahiniwa 106,962 sawa na asilimia 30.5,” alisema Dk Ndalichako na kuongeza:

“Waliofanya mtihani wa kidato cha nne mwaka 2010 ni 441,426 sawa na asilimia 96.36 na watahiniwa 16,688 ambao ni sawa na asilimia 3.64 ya watahiniwa wote waliosajiliwa, hawakufanya mtihani. “Kuna ongezeko la watahiniwa wa shule 109,329 ambao ni sawa na asilimia 43.0 ikilinganishwa na idadi ya waliosajiliwa mwaka 2009. Watahiniwa waliofanya mtihani walikuwa 352,840 sawa na asilimia 97.04, watahiniwa 10,749 sawa na asilimia 2.96 hawakufanya mtihani,” alisema Dk Ndalichako.

Alifahamisha kuwa mwaka 2009 watahiniwa wa kujitegemea waliosajiliwa walikuwa 96,892 na 2010 kulikuwa na watahiniwa 94,525 ikimaanisha kulikuwa na upungufu wa watahiniwa 2,367 sawa na asilimia 2.44 ikilinganishwa mwaka 2009. “Watahiniwa 88,586 wakiwemo wasichana 46,358 na wavulana 42,228 walifanya mtihani huo, watahiniwa wa kujitegemea 5,939 sawa na asilimia 6.28 hawakufanya mtihani.

Shule zenye watahiniwa zaidi ya 40 zilikuwa 3,194 na zenye watahiniwa chini ya 40 zilikuwa 489. Akizungumzia matokeo ya mtihani wa maarifa (QT), alisema watahiniwa waliosajiliwa walikuwa 26,540 kati yao wasichana ni 16,101 na wavulana 10,439. Alisema mwaka 2009 jumla ya watahiniwa 25,040 walisajiliwa kufanya mtihani huo kukiwa na ongezeko la watahiniwa 1,500, sawa na asilimia 5.99 ikilinganishwa na mwaka 2009 na kwamba jumla ya watahiniwa 23,585, sawa na asilimia 88.87 ya waliosajiliwa walifanya mtihani huo. Alisema katika mtihani wa maarifa (QT) jumla ya watahiniwa 8,295 sawa na asilimia 35.17 ya waliofanya mtihani huo wamefaulu ikilinganishwa na asilimia 28.82 ya waliofaulu mwaka 2009. Alisema kuwa kiwango cha ufaulu kwa mtihani wa maarifa kimeongezeka kwa asilimia 6.35 ikilinganishwa na wamaka 2009.

“Jumla ya watahiniwa 311 wa mtihani wa kidato cha nne na watahiniwa 2 wa mtihani wa maarifa (QT) wamefutiwa matokeo yao yote ya mtihani kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 52 (b) cha kanuni za mtihani baada ya kubainika kuwa walifanya udanganyifu katika mtihani huo,” alisema Dk Ndalichako. mwisho

Free download book published by Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) which is an African think tank that promotes ideas and strategies geared towards improving the living standards in Africa

Education is a fundamental human right and an essential tool for improving the quality of life, making informed choices and achieving development. James Kathuri and Josephat Juma discuss this question in a pre-emptive manner when they explore the need for an educational system that responds to environmental needs.

As we honour his life, let be engaged in seeking the true knowledge which will be used to realize our potentials.

Dear Mwalimu and Rafiki wa Vitabu, from your written and spoken words we still remember you and find knowledge and wisdom out of them.