Like most people in Myanmar, this boy left nothing to chance in a bid to protect his face from harmful rays of the sun (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013

A young girl looks on during an NFI distribution by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at the Ohn Taw Gyi 4 IDP Camp in Sittwe, Rakhine state Myanmar (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013

Style and fashion

[caption id="attachment_193" align="alignnone" width="275"] Like most people in Myanmar, this boy left nothing to chance in a bid to protect his face from harmful rays of the sun (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_195" align="alignnone" width="277"] A young girl looks on during an NFI distribution by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at the Ohn Taw Gyi 4 IDP Camp in Sittwe, Rakhine state Myanmar (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013[/caption]

Just ask for it

One of the most famous verses in the Holy Bible comes from Mathew 7:7 which says "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you"

Sorry folks, I’m not preaching, just addressing the male audience and the topic is RAPE which is one of the most prevalent forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the others being forced /arranged marriages, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), domestic violence, etc. I have picked rape because we as men are usually the perpetrators and are therefore the only ones who can also bring it to an end. Granted, men also do suffer forced sexual encounters at the hands of women, but evidently the scale is heavily tilted against us.

Just to be sure we are reading from the same page; let’s look at rape in its crudest form as the intentional, unlawful and actual penetration of the male sexual organ into the female sexual organ without consent and usually by use of force, coercion or threats against the victim. It becomes "Defilement" when the victim is a minor.
All men have female family members and relatives – mother, sisters, spouse, aunties, nieces, and even grandmothers. We also have many female friends and acquaintances, meaning that women are integral in our lives. Religion, history, and most importantly common sense tells us that we are the protectors of the society. Men are expected to protect women and children from all acts of aggression, real or imagined. These protection services ought to be provided to all women and children, irrespective of our relationship with them... whether they are our close family members, relatives, friends, colleagues at work – or absolute strangers.

Statistics show that most rape and defilement incidents are committed by perpetrators who are known to the victim and the list of shame includes fathers, uncles and neighbours. It therefore becomes an embarrassing tragedy of untold proportions when the protector becomes the aggressor, turning against the very people he is supposed to protect. What is happening? Why are we as men abdicating our duties as protectors and feasting on our flock instead? And what happened to the “willing giver, willing taker” way of doing things? Why use force? You see, even sex has a couple of stages that are meant to prepare both parties, to make it as comfortable, thrilling, exciting and fulfilling to both parties as possible. However, all the thrill and excitement is unceremoniously taken away when force, threats and coercion are used. Violent friction is painful and leads to bruising, thus exposing both parties, especially the woman to diseases.

Most of the physical pain goes away with proper medical care and time, but the psychological trauma remains etched in the survivor’s memory throughout their lifetime. It becomes worse for a woman who conceives as a result of a sexual assault because they now have to deal with an unplanned pregnancy and then raise a child they never intended to have in the first place.

I’m a survivor of an attempted sexual assault by a male neighbour when I lived in Mombasa’s Kongowea area almost 20 years ago. The culprit, whom I later learnt was gay, asked me one evening to help him apply a therapeutic jelly to his back. I innocently went to his house and found him with a shawl round his waist. He then lay on the floor, pointing where he wanted the jelly to be applied. I did as requested but after several minutes of scooping and rubbing the strange smelling jelly on his back, he turned and grabbed my hand, using his weight to try and pull me to the floor. I suddenly realized that I was in danger and put up a fight. I kicked him hard on the face before escaping into the darkness and into the safety of my uncle’s house where I was staying as a guest. I couldn’t sleep that night, so I took a kitchen knife and placed it under the pillow – just in case. I was so scared and traumatized that I moved out of Kongowea the following morning. Many years after the attack, I still find myself thinking about what would have happened to me had I not fought back... or what would have happened if he had an accomplice and they overpowered me.... and that gives me a slight clue of what female survivors go through in their minds. It’s an ordeal that you wouldn’t want your beloved female family members, relatives, friends or acquaintances to go through. It’s a feeling that can make you want to commit murder.

There is no justifiable reason for rape; as long as force or threats are used to obtain sex then it becomes a sexual offense under the Sexual Offenses Act, 2006 Laws of Kenya which prescribes custodial sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for convicted offenders.

Gentlemen, women are not objects for sexual satisfaction; they too have feelings and would enjoy sex if it is consensual. In this modern world, no sane man should force a woman into sex... simply ask and chances are that it will be given to you – if you behave and prove yourself to be a man, not a wild animal.

We elected Sonko by mistake

We elected Sonko by mistake.

We elected Sonko by mistake

During a recent twight pitting #KOT and a neighbouring country, Kenyans were silenced when they an opponent made a remark about our elected leaders. But I will not quote them here now.

I’m not sure if this is among our peculiar habits, but I also don’t understand why Kenyans never seem to miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity – yeah, that’s right. We are known for often making wrong rushed decisions, driven by emotions and financial hand-outs, not by any rational thinking, with no regard to future implications of our poor decisions, no wonder we are now reminding ourselves that choices have consequences.

Some of our elected leaders have no demonstrated serious lack of leadership skills and the electorate is thus forced to bear with sideshows, misrepresentation, greed and all manner of inconceivable acts from the people who are meant to speak on our behalf.

Politics in Kenya is under the control of the “haves” whose primary aim of seeking political office is usually to protect their dubiously acquired wealth, grab more and keep the “have nots” a safe distance away. A rich man who has never slept hungry can never identify with the plight of a poor man. And when the rich man ascends to political office, he creates and maintains a system where the poor voter remains poor, at least until the next election.

Mike Gideon Mbuvi “Sonko” first came to the limelight in the 2nd half of 2010 when he declared interest in the Makadara by-election following a successful petition by pugilist “Weka tyre” against the then Member of Parliament Dick Wathika. “Sonko” got Martha Karua’s flower party ticket to contest in the by-election. He campaigned on the platform of youth and dished out money left-right-centre to Eastlands’ unemployed youth and businesswomen. His pimped Matatus, notorious for flouting all traffic rules were soon giving free rides to commuters along Jogoo Road, as he sought to endear himself to voters. In September 2010, the unthinkable happened – Sonko was declared the MP for Makadara.

Within a short time, Sonko started attracting attention to himself for all the wrong reasons. He did anything and everything to remain in the news, from leading several street demonstrations, ganging up with hawkers and Matatu touts to fight against police and City Council Askaris, punching walls with bare-knuckles, scaling walls, breaking tyre clamps to free his illegally parked vehicle and other despicable acts. Sonko would appear in public functions colourfully clad, complete with yellow hair, studs in each earlobe, chains around his neck and huge golden rings on each finer. His wallet also remained open to those around him. Whenever there was trouble in Nairobi, Sonko was the common denominator and Makadara voters (and Eastlanders as a whole) became subjects of ridicule due to the poor show of their youthful member of parliament. People got worried that Sonko had not reached maturity fully, or that he might have skipped a crucial stage of his life as a kid.

Meanwhile, upon realizing their mistake, many Makadara people wished for Sonko’s term to end quickly, in any case the country was gearing for a general election in March 2013 but the bad joke was then carried too far when Sonko declared interest in the Nairobi Senate seat under the new constitution. Many hoped that the Senate would be composed of intellectual minds, men and women of integrity and high moral standing. Voters in each of the nation’s 47 counties had an opportunity to directly elect their representatives to the Senate, also called the Upper House. But in a bizarre twist of fate, Nairobians wanted leaders with peculiar attribute!

To start with, the political parties treated us to shambolic primaries where the most unsuitable candidates “won” and got their names on the ballot paper. Through their not-so-democratic ways, CORD presented Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, hoping to woo women voters to capture the seat and become the first Senator of the County of Nairobi, while Jubilee had Sonko as their candidate for the seat, banking on the youth factor. Between the two candidates, I’m not afraid to say that Bishop Wanjiru would have been the safer option for the city, but a number of factors conspired against her The Kikuyus reasoned that voting for Wanjiru would give CORD a majority in the senate, so all their votes went to Sonko as the Jubilee flag bearer. The rest is history as we all know.

The dust has hardly settled since the election and Sonko is already grabbing headlines in his characteristic fashion. In September, he was involved in an ugly altercation with Kiss 100’s Carol Mutoko live on air, hurling several unprintable words against the presenter. I may not be privy to what Kenyans have against Carol Mutoko but I found it totally strange though, that some online Kenyans chose to stand with Sonko, leaving the radio girl with egg all over her face. Such is our poor sense of judgment as Kenyans! The misunderstanding with Nairobi Woman Representative Rachel Shebesh provided Sonko with another chance to exhibit his arrogance. Rumours about the two being an item had been circulating for a while despite their spirited denials and protestations. They wanted the world to believe that they were simply hardworking servants of the people of Nairobi County. They occasionally carried away some unfinished work to the comforts and privacy of 5-star hotels in Mombasa and Nairobi. However, Sonko took stupidity to another level by recording himself as he committed adultery with a married woman. But Rachel must have been equally daft or simply desperate to lower the flag for Sonko. Who was the targeted audience for the pictures and videos? And now we know on whose side Sonko was when he offered to mediate between Kidero and Shebesh after the "Gubernatorial" slap!

Sonko has shown no respect to women, starting from his wife who he has cheated on, his daughters who must be too traumatized by what their father does in public, Carol Mutoko whom he insulted badly on air, Shebesh whom he is alleged to have physically assaulted before releasing damaging photos of the two of them in compromising positions.

The mainstream media created Sonko, the mainstream media has emboldened Sonko and now he has become the master of impunity. He is said to be very generous when dealing with journalists, and that is a dangerous trend. I’m not so sure about what the constitution says about removal of such people from office but Jubilee must crack the whip on delinquent members like Sonko. Remember this time that any embarrassment caused by him is not confined to Eastlanders only but to all Nairobians and sadly, to the President with whom they belong to the same ruling coalition.

As voters, we carry the biggest part of the blame for being so gullible and electing the likes of Sonko to public office. In our future elections, can we redeem ourselves? Can we look beyond ethnicity, beyond party lines and vote only for men and women with unquestionable character?

Misleading Africa

Whether individually or collectively, African leaders never cease to amaze. It seems they all read from the same book of buffoonery and then proceed to try and outdo one another. Perhaps it’s time someone started an international campaign to recognize and award acts of extraordinary, clumsy and bizarre antics by the gang of 54 African Heads of State, most of whom are ageing and should be writing their memoirs rather than presiding over their countries’ economic plunder.

Very few Africans are proud of their Heads of States, remember most of them wade through waist-deep blood, grand corruption, negative ethnicity, drug trafficking and abuse, false promises, cronyism, rigging, bloody coups and all manner of conniving tactics just to gain tenancy of their respective country’s pinnacles of power. While up there, they suddenly realize that they are trapped by their king-makers, usually a group of hangers-on, old and young, male and female who all expect to be granted certain favours by virtue of their contribution to the race to the big house. These cliques operate from behind the scenes but have the president’s ear round the clock. They are more powerful than the cabinet. The president then becomes a besieged man and can only do and say what the king-makers want. And if for example during campaigns the president made a promise to pull the plug on corruption then the king-makers usually find cunning ways of presiding over him to keep his hands off the cartels, occasionally reminding the newly elected president about the huge campaign contributions made by the corruption or drug cartels that he naively thought would be easy to crush “… within my first 100 days in office!”

African Heads of States have no business delivering on their election campaign promises, they cannot afford to waste precious time that would otherwise be spent making trips to their new-found soul mate China. The entire continent’s leaders have suddenly realized that facing east is more lucrative and they can secure trade and aid deals with very loose strings attached. China is least interested in making African countries more democratic, they are not interested in the cries of civil society and human rights activists, they are not keen in lending a hand in the fight against graft, no. China is on its way to dethrone the US as the world’s superpower and they simply have no interest in your internal affairs. The Chinese want a global presence and they have discovered that they can quickly achieve it by pocketing African leaders, often offering attractive kick backs to secure huge contracts in infrastructural development, technology, consumer goods, military aid and so on.

African presidents continue to embarrass the continent from north to south, east to west. We can sample a few – Just the other day, Gambia’s President His Excellency Sheikh, Professor, Alhaji, Doctor Yahya AJJ Jammeh announced his country’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth, claiming that it was a neo-colonialist group. He is the same guy who says he can cure barrenness in women, HIV/Aids and also madness. He is the one guy who tolerates no criticism and has dealt ruthlessly with opposition politicians in his country. And speaking of intolerance to criticism and opposition, how can we not mention our good neighbour Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda? The manner in which he handles his main political opponent Dr. Kiiza Besigye leaves one wondering if there could be something more than politics behind his hatred and obvious fear for Besigye. The two were once comrades and rumour has it that they differed over a woman who later became the doctor’s wife. Like his peers across the continent, Museveni scores very poorly when it comes to basic human rights.

In neighbouring Rwanda, President Paul Kagame also rules with an iron fist deceivingly covered in kid’s glove. Kagame is popular in Rwanda and with some foreign observers; however, human rights groups accuse him of political repression. Besides, his meddling with the internal affairs of neighbouring DR Congo has put him at crossroads with the international community.

Down south, 71 year old President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is also a serious contender for bizzare acts and behaviours, nothing to do with his infamous instant cold shower but for supporting his beleaguered colleagues in the name of sovereignty. "J Zee", as he is commonly known has been on a marrying spree and his genes could be running in the blood of approximately 40 kids he is thought to have sired by different women over a period of time. Zuma’s reading habits (or rather lack of) have recently been a subject of criticism from one Richard Calland who teaches law at the University of Cape Town. His more intellectually gifted neighbour Robert Gabriel Mugabe long lost credibility as a leader and has emerged as a pathetically poor chief executive, subjecting his countrymen to severe inflation of unprecedented proportions. At 90 years, and possibly senile, Mugabe is definitely one of the oldest surviving heads of state. It is alleged that his wife Grace has a tendency of freely slapping anyone who fails to accord her the privileges associated with being a First Lady, locally or internationally.

And what about President El Bashir of Sudan, a man wanted by the ICC to answer charges of crimes against humanity? The court issued a warrant of arrest against him and he has been confined to his country, only setting foot in a few countries that secretly support him. He recently found solace in the name of Kenya’s new president who is also an ICC suspect. The two have jointly colluded with fellow AU bad boys to keep ICC away for a while as they hide behind immunity from prosecution by virtue of being sitting heads of states. Actually the correct word here should be impunity, not immunity. It is impunity because fellow African heads of states have suddenly ganged up like a dangerous cartel to defeat the course of justice.

The AU is now claiming that the court is targeting only Africans. I’m yet to witness a sitting president appearing in a local court on any charges for that matter. I bet no local prosecutor or judge would dare handle a case against a sitting president... The ICC is not hearing cases of misdemeanour such as being drunk and disorderly, not really. The AU should be thinking about permanent solutions that will deter thousands of illegal African immigrants from rushing to their deaths as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe for better life! Think about ending the wars in Africa, think about proper use of the continent’s vast resources, think about improving the lives of Africans living on the continent, think about reversing the brain-drain that has led to many professionals fleeing the continent, think about improving democracy and good governance, think about the rule of law, security in the continent, think about eradication of diseases. Think about your country and make efforts to turn Africa into a middle-income developed continent over the next 15 years. It is possible.

Chewing to the grave - people's addiction to betel quid

Try and picture a situation where a whole community, a whole country, a whole continent and several generations wrongly believe in a traditional practice devoid of any scientific studies to determine its efficacy and contraindications. That is what seems to be the curse that struck the people of Asia, especially the south eastern part which comprises of countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam among others.
If at all betel nut – also known as Areca nut had any commercial or nutritional benefits then it has failed its growers and consumers big time, with devastating effects to the latter. The adverse effects that betel quid comprising of betel nut, slaked lime and tobacco, all wrapped in betel leaves has had on the lives of the people of Myanmar and South East Asia in general leaves more questions than answers.

In my motherland Kenya, authorities have been struggling to bring the cultivation and consumption of a mild stimulant called miraa (khat) under control, albeit under pressure from Britain and other European countries that were once the biggest export markets for the green gold from Meru highlands. Miraa is now classified as a drug in most European countries. And that’s when one starts wondering why the governments of this region aren't seeing the dangers directly associated with chewing of betel quid. The people of Myanmar call it guam and they are among the highest consumers of the harmful stuff; sickening not just because of the unpleasant public chewing, or the discolouration and carcinogenic effects on the consumers' dental facilities and oral cavity but equally disgusting is the rampant unhygienic spitting of red spatter all over, a practice that defies gender boundaries.

Unlike the East African miraa menace which is mainly a nocturnal social activity, guam is chewed at any time, day or night. 4 rolls of guam cost slightly under 1 € and each roll can be chewed for about 10-15 minutes depending on the strength of the user’s mandibles. From interactions with my Myanmar friends, I'm disturbed to learn that an average user chews about 40 rolls daily but there are those who do more than 100 rolls in a day. A very expensive pastime activity, people chewing away 25 € daily!
Guam thue (betel blood) covers most of the ground, roads, urinals, sinks and pedestrian walkways – you see it all over Myanmar, you see it all over South East Asian cities and towns. The spitting habit is so bad that bus operators in Yangon Myanmar provide their commuters with disposable plastic papers to deter them from spitting freely from bus windows onto the streets. A taxi driver in Yangon told me he once had guam thue splashed on his windscreen as he tried to overtake a bus in downtown Yangon. Hotels in Yangon and the larger Myanmar also have "spitting bins" in their restaurants, corridors and lobbies, just like you would provide ashtrays for smokers.

But why chew betel quid?

The people of South East Asia love meat, chicken and an assortment of sea food, all of which leave consumers with a foul smelling breath. Motivated by the desire for fresh breath, the answer was found in betel nut which immediately spread across South Eastern Asia like bushfire. The people had found a natural cure to halitosis, and it was so cheap that everybody could easily afford it. People chewed and chewed, their natural mouthwash soon became an addiction, perhaps due to the nicotine in the tobacco. Users then discovered that betel quid was also a stimulant and could keep sleep at bay, making the user to work long hours without snoozing off. It soon became popular among drivers, especially long distance drivers who said it helped them maintain concentration on the road.

Perhaps the original intention as a mouthwash explains how the use of betel quid transgressed across genders, generations and social status. Literally everybody uses guam, and that's where the problem starts.

The mouthwash has turned out to be a source of untold misery and suffering. Very few users will dare smile in public because guam has been busy discolouring and nibbling people's teeth at an alarming rate, just like miraa has done to many people in North Eastern Kenya. Worse still, some users have ended up with oral and throat cancers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Group for Research on Cancer reported in 2004 that the percentage of oral cancer among all cancers diagnosed in hospitals in Asia has always been much higher than that usually found in western countries, where the habit of chewing betel quid, with or without tobacco, is virtually unknown. In many descriptive studies, investigators have obtained histories of chewing betel quid with tobacco from series of patients with oral cancer; and in all these studies the percentage of patients who practice betel quid chewing was found to be extremely large. In addition to oral cancer, significant increases were seen among chewers for cancer of the oesophagus, liver, pancreas, larynx, lung, and all cancer. Chewing and smoking, as combined by most betel chewers, interacted synergistically and was responsible for half of all cancer deaths in this group. Chewing betel leaf quid and smoking, the scientists claim shortened the life span by nearly 6 years. Scientists in Taiwan have also found that chewing betel quid increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. A Lancet Oncology publication also claims that betel leaf quid may cause tumours in different parts of the body and not just the oral cavity as previously thought. (Excerpts from Geneva: World Health Organization. 2008, Lancet Oncology and BMJ)

Scientific teams from Taiwan, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea have reported that expectant mothers who chew betel quid during pregnancy, significantly increase adverse outcomes for the baby. The effects of betel quid and areca nut were similar to those reported
for mothers who consume alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy. Lower birth weights, reduced birth length and early term were found to be significantly higher (WHO reports and publications on Betel Quid)

Ignorance, shortage of oncologists, plus high cost of medicare has not helped the suffering consumers a single bit. Lack of government policy and or commitment further compounds the problem as the authorities appear to be indifferent over the matter. Perhaps they haven't realized the magnitude of the problem yet. Aren't governments supposed to protect their citizens from all forms of harmful substances and practices? Where will the nation get a healthy working population if majority of the citizens within the productive age are under the spell of guam? And if majority of the population cannot work, where will the government harvest taxes from? Some problems require radical actions to deal with – if you are not ready to provide free treatment and palliative care for patients with oral/throat cancer and you are not ready to fit everyone with dentures then you must consider declaring guam illegal. And where is big brother USA and his European cousins to help avert this unfolding health crisis? Or are they keeping away because it ain't their problem? The betel quid problem qualifies to be declared an oral disaster of global proportions. Developed countries must do something to contain this problem, and it has to be more something more than just creating nice TV commercials advertising European or American toothpastes. There is need to sponsor public awareness campaigns, support with treatment of those already diagnosed with various forms of cancers and also push for the establishment of rehabilitation centres to help people kick the habit.

Style and fashion

[caption id="attachment_193" align="alignnone" width="275"] Like most people in Myanmar, this boy left nothing to chance in a bid to protect his face from harmful rays of the sun (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_195" align="alignnone" width="277"] A young girl looks on during an NFI distribution by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at the Ohn Taw Gyi 4 IDP Camp in Sittwe, Rakhine state Myanmar (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013[/caption]

Smiley

[caption id="attachment_190" align="alignnone" width="300"] A female IDP signs against her name during an NFI distribution by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at the Ohn Taw Gyi 4 IDP Camp in Sittwe, Rakhine state Myanmar, (c) Fred Otieno, October 2013[/caption]

Right to write

Accountability - An old man writes down his details during an NFI distribution by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at the Ohn Taw Gyi 4 IDP Camp in Sittwe, Rakhine State Myanmar © Fred Otieno, October 2013

In the name of religion

Opening a can of worms or any other creatures was not my intention, but I found the can already open, now what is left is to simply pour down and examine the putrid contents of the can.

We all know the drill when members of a community exhibit behaviours that are contrary to what is widely accepted by the society as normal. And it is never sufficient for their leaders to come out shedding crocodile tears, denying and denouncing the culprits with statements like “we are peace-loving, those are not our people but just a small number that is out to malign our community…” Excuse me, what are you talking about? You can go tell that to the birds. Don’t you, as leaders ever get tired and ashamed of coming out every day to say the same thing over and over again? Especially when there is nothing tangible that you are doing to address the root cause of bad behaviour among the so called “few” people who are definitely among you?

Lets’ jump straight to the point, I have had Muslim friends and acquaintances at almost all stages of my life right from my early schooling days at Thika Road Primary. Many Muslims are indeed very good people, my first friend in primary school was a boy called Noordin, I bought my first computer from a Muslim friend called Moha, one of my best friends in my previous job was a guy called Hakim. Even in my current job, I have numerous Muslim colleagues whom I consider as very close friends. That is to say that I know a bit about Muslims and their way of life, but what I fail to understand is the fundamentalist mentality among some Muslim youth and I have a few examples to illustrate my dilemma.

Terrorism has been a nuisance to the whole world; Kenyans witnessed it first hand during the US Embassy bombing of August 1998 that left many innocent Kenyans dead or badly injured. Numerous subsequent attacks have occurred sporadically in other parts of the country especially in Nairobi, Coast and the North Eastern provinces. The attacks have been attributed to Al Qaeda and lately by their affiliates Al Shabaab. I will not sugar-coat my words; both Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab are purely hardcore Muslim fundamentalists, Muslim Jihadists and not Christians, not Hindus and certainly not Buddhists.

Muslim clerics and the wider Muslim community have all failed to tackle terrorism head-on, instead employing all manner of tactics to frustrate efforts to enact the proposed anti-terrorism laws. It has been argued that the proposed laws were targeting Muslims, but where is the proof in that? What does a suspected criminal’s religion got to do with their criminal acts? Intelligence reports have previously indicated that some Muslim religious leaders have active links with Al Shabaab and have been either recruiting youth for the terror group or inciting them through cryptic teachings.

The clerics are also quick to cry foul whenever suspects are arrested or fast-tracked for their appointment with the Almighty Creator. And all you can do is to talk about police targeting Muslims? And why should innocent Christians bear the brunt for things that they know nothing about? If you suspect extrajudicial killings by the police, are you assuming that the Kenya Police is under the command of Jesus Christ? You all know that the Kenya Police is not a preserve of any single religious group; in fact my last spot check recently revealed that there were many Muslim officers serving in our security forces countrywide. Kenya Police and the church are not connected in any way, even a fool knows this.

Is the Muslim community trying to start a religious war in Kenya? My answer would be “YES” but they want to be seen as victims rather than the perpetrators. Attacking Christian worship places and places mainly frequented by Christians is one sure way of planting seeds of religious intolerance. Having lived and worked among Muslims, I can confirm the deep-rooted hatred that Muslims have not only towards Christians but also other religions too.

Time has come now, for genuine Muslim clerics and leaders to come out strongly… seize this opportunity and redeem the waning image of Islam globally. Teach your rogue teenagers how to live and let live, teach them that fundamentalism has no place in our modern society; Killing is a sin; teach your youth that there are certainly no virgins waiting to entertain Jihadists and terrorists in paradise. Every single chance you get to address your young men, reinforce good behaviour and rebuke terrorism and speak firmly against violence. If you fail to do this then don’t ever appear on telly with the all too familiar line of “Muslims are peace-loving blah blah blah… those were not part of us…” Nonsense, we know better. Oh, and while your congregation is still attentive, be sure to address the issue of hypocrisy - where many Muslims speak ill of the West but still want to flock European and American cities.

Meanwhile, the security forces must do their work in accordance to the rule of law and in full regard to human rights. Infiltrate the terror gangs to learn their modus operandi, investigate and arrest terrorists, charge them in court and have them serve time in a maximum security facility. The country urgently needs a dedicated border security force that will secure our notoriously porous borders once and for all. The fellows at immigration should also make their contribution by doing their work with due diligence so as to avoid issuing travel documents inadvertently to suspected terrorists.

Is Google Guilty?

Sittwe Situation

Here I am in a foreign country, looking every inch a stranger perhaps due to my outstanding complexion. Unfamiliarity with the lingua franca doesn’t help either. It has been raining every single day and most nights since I arrived in the coastal town of Sittwe, Myanmar almost a week ago.

Air Mandalay and KBZ Airlines are the regional airlines that operate daily commercial flights between the country’s commercial capital Yangon and the coastal town of Sittwe, which is the capital of the Rakhine state or region. Flights are operating at full capacity. Travellers often have to book early to avoid being bumped off the flight. A big harbour is currently under construction while the tourism season is expected to start soon after the monsoon rains.

Due to its strategic position, residents are optimistic that upon completion the sea port will propel the economy of the town and the region as a whole. Both Rakhine State government and the Union government must make greater efforts to improve Sittwe’s infrastructure to take advantage of the port and tourism. The town can definitely do with new buildings in place of the dilapidated structures currently occupying prime land. There are numerous bicycles, tricycles, motorbikes and strange-looking cargo-carrying contraptions mounted with noisy 2-stroke engines that the resident businesspeople and builders use to ferry all manner of heavy goods from point to point. The nondescript moving machines are operated by sweaty mean-looking men who shout and curse whenever a biker or pedestrian strays into the path of the noisy machines. Instant braking is not one of their strong points and any attempt to bring one to a sudden halt is an exercise in futility if not suicidal. If you have been to a construction site and seen the yellow weather-beaten concrete mixer machine then you will appreciate what I’m talking about. Out of curiosity, I learn that the machines are an old Chinese innovation. I have henceforth baptized them “Sittwe Cruiser” in honour of the hardworking people of Sittwe.

In Sittwe and in most of Myanmar, bicycles, tricycles, motorbikes and 3-wheeled scooters are the preferred means of transportation. Every family has at least 2 bikes. Gender-mainstreaming is evident as a significant percentage of riders are female. I once found myself marvelling at the sight of an old lady holding an umbrella with one hand, her handbag safely tucked under her armpit while delicately balancing and riding her motorbike with one hand! That brought back painful memories of the time when I was learning how to ride a bike; I crashed against a tree as I attempted to steer dad’s precious “Black mamba” bike using one hand. Witnesses to this grand incident had a whole week’s dose of laughter and that marked the end of my association with bikes. Up ‘til now, my prowess with bikes is nothing to brag about.

One other interesting thing about Myanmar is that most men have tattoos on their bodies. They proudly display them for all to see and I’m not sure if having a tattoo is a rite of some kind? I cannot say with any degree of authority if the ladies also have them because they show no skin here in Sittwe.

Another significant observation is that the people of Myanmar love their beer. The country has its own brands of locally produced beer which have competed internationally and won trophies, bringing plenty of joy and pride to the country. Despite the seemingly high consumption of alcohol, you will not see any acts of misbehaviour or recklessness that East African imbibers are known for. The people simply drink and quietly retreat to their homes just in time to beat the strictly enforced 10pm curfew deadline. Woe unto you if you are found in the streets during the curfew hours. Even the two main tourist hotels have to close their doors at 10pm, much to the chagrin of adventurous westerners.

Walking down the streets of Sittwe, Yangon and perhaps all other towns in Myanmar, you will obviously notice lots of red spatter on the pedestrian walkways, bus stops, traffic junctions – everywhere. This has got to be the most unhygienic pastime activity anywhere in the world, perhaps only rivalling the disgusting throat-clearing procedure that is common place among the inhabitants of the Horn of Africa region. One needs to tread the streets very carefully to avoid stepping on the red sputum as residents continue chewing beet-nut with garlic and tobacco, all wrapped in beet-nut leaves and freely spitting as if in a competition.

Like all other places in the world, the food here is a bit different to what your mum has been cooking and serving you since childhood. It has taken a while for my taste buds to adapt to some of the local delicacies. For instance, this is probably the only place where popcorn is sugared rather than being salted like we are all used to! And while still on the food subject, I can proudly announce that after several disastrous attempts, I have finally mastered the art of using chop sticks .

I find the people of Sittwe to be exceedingly warm and friendly to visitors. They will go out of their way to ensure maximum comfort and convenience for the town’s visitors. How best can I illustrate this than through the VIP treatment I was accorded when I sought help to fix my malfunctioning laptop! One computer shop owner actually gave me a fully licensed Windows 7 CD to try and repair my installation overnight. Though the CD didn’t fix my problem, I was ready to pay for keeping it overnight but the owner wouldn’t take my money! He was more sympathetic with me upon learning that I would be staying in town for long – without the benefit of using my laptop. A couple of blocks later, I entered another computer shop where a very friendly technician did a thorough diagnosis of my machine, identified the problem and proceeded to fix it in less than an hour! The Nairobian in me was ready to pay through my nose, so you can imagine my pleasant surprise when the guy flatly refused to accept payment, even as I offered a 20 US$ as token to compensate for his time.

It is a shame that Kenya doesn’t have diplomatic relationships with Myanmar, yet the two countries can learn a lot from each other.

Related articles

• Myanmar President Visits Sectarian-Hit Areas (abcnews.go.com)

The Buddhist monk and I

Perhaps it was also wise to show my "celeb" side by honouring this Buddhist monk's request for a photo with me. I lost count of the photos I took with strangers during my 2 hour stay at "The Vanishing tribes of Burma" event. (c) Fred Otieno, September 2013

The monk and I - Perhaps it was also wise to show my "celeb" side by honouring this Buddhist monk's request for a photo with me. I lost count of the photos I took with strangers during my 2 hour stay at the event

Up close

The 1991 Nobel laureate and Myanmar's pro-democracy & human rights crusader Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi when she opened "The Vanishing Tribes of Burma" Photo exhibition in Yangon, Myanmar (c) Fred Otieno, September 2013

Up close - The 1991 Nobel laureate and Myanmar's pro-democracy & human rights crusader Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, Yangon September 2013 (c) Fred Otieno

Strength of a woman

1991 Nobel laureate and Myanmar's pro-democracy & human rights crusader Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi addresses invited guests during the official opening of "The vanishing tribes of Burma" photo exhibition held on Saturday 28th September 2013 at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar (c) Fred Otieno, September 2013

Strength of a woman - 1991 Nobel laureate and Myanmar's pro-democracy & human rights crusader Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi addresses invited guests during the official openning of "The vanishing tribes of Burma" photo exhibition held on Saturday 28th September 2013 at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar

"We Want Peace"

These girls were happy to be returning home in Ruchuru, Goma but left no doubt that all they wanted was lasting peace in their country DR Congo (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

Peace - These girls were happy to be returning home in Ruchuru, Goma but left no doubt that all they wanted was lasting peace in DR Congo

Boys will always be boys!

Yes, no matter the circumstances, these boys sought a ride on a stationary UN vehicle in Goma, DR Congo. Note the ill-fitting shoes worn by the boy in the middle - Awesome :-) (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

Boys being boys - Yes, no matter the circumstances, these boys sought a ride on a stationary UN vehicle in Goma, DR Congo. Note the ill-fitting shoes worn by the boy in the middle - awesome :-)

Fashionista

Some of the IDPs in Goma haven't lost their sense of fashion and this guy stood out with his all green blend (c) Fred Otieno November 2012

Fashionista - Some of the IDPs in Goma haven't lost their sense of fashion and this guy stood out with his all green blend.

Catch me if you can!

This guy was busy performing the duties described on his T-Shirt but I don't know if the real FBI has him on their payroll? (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

Catch me if you can! - Calling on the real FBI to find this guy and check out his credentials.

Musical people

The music spirit remains very strong among the Goma residents despite the numerous problems that they have encountered over the years. Even if all the people died, their music will never die (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

Musical people - The music spirit remains very strong among the Goma residents despite the numerous problems that they have encountered over the years. Even if all the people died, their music will never die

Chukuduu, the Congolese workhorse

Chukuduu is the preferred means of transporting heavy and bulky merchandise among the business community in Goma DR Congo (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

A loaded Chukuduu in motion. This is the preferred means of transport among the Goma community. Designed and built by the people of Goma, for their day-to-day transportation needs

Calling Nancy Baraza, CMB Prezzo, Prof. Obel, Tom Cholmondley etc

During the infamous Westgate hostage incident, Kenyans saw one Abdul Haji, a civilian licensed to carry a gun heroically enter the building as he attempted to rescue his brother. As I followed the proceedings online, I suddenly realized that there was something very wrong because I was expecting to see the one and only Nancy Baraza, or CMB Prezzo, or Prof. Obel if not Tom Cholmondley (sp) or other high-profile civilians stepping forward at the crucial hour of need, for the love of their country, to show the terrorists that in deed we are one. 

I can temporarily excuse CMB Prezzo because earlier that day he had been involved in a gun-drama with a foreign soldier and must have been on the run when Al Shabaab stormed Westgate, otherwise I'm sure he'd have wasted no time displaying his musketry and gun-handling skills on the terrorists' skulls. 

Equally MIA was one John Harun Mwau aka "The Boss." Legend has it that he is among the best marksmen Kenya has ever produced and would occasionally shoot off birds from the air without wasting a single shot! 

What about the much-talked about presidential guards? What about the GSU Recce squad? What about our "Highly trained Commando Unit" which mainly exists in conversations but has never been seen in action? 

And now the story of the tunnel makes me think that even G4S guards would have daringly accessed the building and subdued the gunmen or at least seal off the tunnel to delay the attackers' escape. 

Isn't it embarrassing that neither Kimaiyo nor Karangi could think of tactical ways of taking back the building and rescuing the hostages rather than blasting it? 

I used to think that bombing could only be done against enemy installations and not private property. I used to think that our security forces always got trained on urban warfare tactics. I used to think we had hostage negotiators whose skills should have been used to keep the death toll to a minimum.

Calling Nancy Baraza, CMB Prezzo, Prof. Obel, Tom Cholmondley etc

During the infamous Westgate hostage incident, Kenyans saw one Abdul Haji, a civilian licensed to carry a gun heroically enter the building as he attempted to rescue his brother. As I followed the proceedings online, I suddenly realized that there was something very wrong because I was expecting to see the one and only Nancy Baraza, or CMB Prezzo, or Prof. Obel if not Tom Cholmondley (sp) or other high-profile civilians stepping forward at the crucial hour of need, for the love of their country, to show the terrorists that in deed we are one. 

I can temporarily excuse CMB Prezzo because earlier that day he had been involved in a gun-drama with a foreign soldier and must have been on the run when Al Shabaab stormed Westgate, otherwise I'm sure he'd have wasted no time displaying his musketry and gun-handling skills on the terrorists' skulls. 

Equally MIA was one John Harun Mwau aka "The Boss." Legend has it that he is among the best marksmen Kenya has ever produced and would occasionally shoot off birds from the air without wasting a single shot! 

What about the much-talked about presidential guards? What about the GSU Recce squad? What about our "Highly trained Commando Unit" which mainly exists in conversations but has never been seen in action? 

And now the story of the tunnel makes me think that even G4S guards would have daringly accessed the building and subdued the gunmen or at least seal off the tunnel to delay the attackers' escape. 

Isn't it embarrassing that neither Kimaiyo nor Karangi could think of tactical ways of taking back the building and rescuing the hostages rather than blasting it? 

I used to think that bombing could only be done against enemy installations and not private property. I used to think that our security forces always got trained on urban warfare tactics. I used to think we had hostage negotiators whose skills should have been used to keep the death toll to a minimum.

Weekend in Yangon, Myanmar

After spending time in the extremely archaic museum, I'm here at the train Station waiting to board the train for my 3 hour ride around the city. The train station looks a few years older than the antiques I saw earlier at the museum and I don't understand why they can't simply declare it as part of the National Museum. But the status of the train station doesn't succeed in killing my spirits, I'm a tourist here, I don't give a damn.

My head is also aching from sleep deficiency having slept late partly because I was mourning ManU's historic thwacking at home by West Brom, for the first time in more than 14 outings. Following the loss, I'm now a strong vocalist in the "Moyes must go" choir. If this is what Arsenal fans went through for more than a decade then I must say I admire their resilience.

It has been raining since morning and it's now 1326 Hrs on my watch – the ride has now begun. The tourist coach has many locals and just 7 tourists – yours truly and three white couples. The coach is more of a wide-bodied bus with a wooden floor and several overhead fans that don't do much to cool the passengers. Besides the heat and humidity, the wagon is extremely stuffy, human sweat being the obvious culprit. I finally secure a window-seat four stops later. From this vantage position I can now see and photographically document my tour of the city. But to my disappointment, there is nothing much to see apart from people living in a squalor, with no services at all – no electricity, no water, lots of stagnant water and bushes.

 

The train seems to be very popular with the city residents, some doing the tourist loop and others simply commuting between stations. It is now exactly 1626, three tiresome hours since the journey begun and we are finally back to my station. I’m only 1 US $ poorer... I doubt if you can find any ride elsewhere in the world cheaper than this!

How I spent my Sunday 29th September 2013 in the city of Yangon

After spending time in the extremely archaic museum, I'm here at the train Station waiting to board the train for my 3 hour ride around the city. The train station looks a few years older than the antiques I saw earlier at the museum and I don't understand why they can't simply declare it as part of the National Museum. But the status of the train station doesn't succeed in killing my spirits, I'm a tourist here, I don't give a damn.

My head is also aching from sleep deficiency having slept late partly because I was mourning ManU's historic thwacking at home by West Brom, for the first time in more than 14 outings. Following the loss, I'm now a strong vocalist in the "Moyes must go" choir. If this is what Arsenal fans went through for more than a decade then I must say I admire their resilience.

It has been raining since morning and it's now 1326 Hrs on my watch – the ride has now begun. The tourist coach has many locals and just 7 tourists – yours truly and three white couples. The coach is more of a wide-bodied bus with a wooden floor and several overhead fans that don't do much to cool the passengers. Besides the heat and humidity, the wagon is extremely stuffy, human sweat being the obvious culprit. I finally secure a window-seat four stops later. From this vantage position I can now see and photographically document my tour of the city. But to my disappointment, there is nothing much to see apart from people living in a squalor, with no services at all – no electricity, no water, lots of stagnant water and bushes.

The train seems to be very popular with the city residents, some doing the tourist loop and others simply commuting between stations. It is now exactly 1626, three tiresome hours since the journey begun and we are finally back to my station. I’m only 1 US $ poorer... I doubt if you can find any ride elsewhere in the world cheaper than this!

The Power of being Black and Proud

Black is good, black is powerful - sample this: I got a VIP ticket to attend this historic event, a photo exhibition dubbed "The vanishing tribes of Burma" at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. I stood out from the crowd because of my complexion, height and yeah, the smile (the best thing to do when u r in a place where u don't know people)

My one minute of ultimate fame across Myanmar and perhaps globally came when the internationally renowned Nobel laureate and pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi came directly to where I was standing among other invited guests and a battery of local + international journalists and this is how our conversation went: "Where are you from?" she asked, as she shook my hand with a firm grip and a lovely smile on her face. "I'm from Kenya" I answered, giving her my most charming smile in return, as the camera-men clicked away, the flash from their cameras almost blinding me. "You are the first Kenyan I've met in Myanmar!" she said, maintaining the grip. "I'm greatly honoured and privileged" I answered, looking into her eyes.

"I know a lot about Kenya but meanwhile, enjoy your stay in Myanmar" she said. "Thank you madam" I responded as her security detail shielded her from the surging press.

For those who don't know much about Aung San Suu Kyi, she is the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and leader of her country's pro-democracy movement. She had been under house arrest for most of the past twenty years. She was first placed under house arrest in July 1989 and, though freed six years later, she was again imprisoned in 2000. Two years later, Suu Kyi was released, but yet again jailed for the third time under house arrest after the infamous Depayin Massacre in 2003. She was released after her fourteenth year in confinement to her dilapidated home in Yangon, in which she served another eighteen months imprisonment, convicted by a Burmese regional court in August 2009 after an American swam across Inya Lake to her house. All of her periods under house arrest have been declared arbitrary by the United Nations. She was eventually released on the 13th November 2010.

I want to believe I was also the first Kenyan to shake her hand and chat with her, just like I was the first Kenyan she ever saw in Myanmar. Fellow Kenyans, Saturday 28th September 2013 was indeed a great day for me! If I wasn't black and proud she would have just walked past me like she did to other people.

Black is good, black is noticeable. Black is powerful.

The Power of being Black and Proud

Black is good, black is powerful - sample this: I got a VIP ticket to attend this historic event, a photo exhibition dubbed "The vanishing tribes of Burma" at the Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. I stood out from the crowd because of my complexion, height and yeah, the smile (the best thing to do when u r in a place where u don't know people)

My one minute of ultimate fame across Myanmar and perhaps globally came when the internationally renowned Nobel laureate and pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi came directly to where I was standing among other invited guests and a battery of local + international journalists and this is how our conversation went: "Where are you from?" she asked, as she shook my hand with a firm grip and a lovely smile on her face. "I'm from Kenya" I answered, giving her my most charming smile in return, as the camera-men clicked away, the flash from their cameras almost blinding me. "You are the first Kenyan I've met in Myanmar!" she said, maintaining the grip. "I'm greatly honoured and privileged" I answered, looking into her eyes.

"I know a lot about Kenya but meanwhile, enjoy your stay in Myanmar" she said. "Thank you madam" I responded as her security detail shielded her from the surging press.

For those who don't know much about Aung San Suu Kyi, she is the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and leader of her country's pro-democracy movement. She had been under house arrest for most of the past twenty years. She was first placed under house arrest in July 1989 and, though freed six years later, she was again imprisoned in 2000. Two years later, Suu Kyi was released, but yet again jailed for the third time under house arrest after the infamous Depayin Massacre in 2003. She was released after her fourteenth year in confinement to her dilapidated home in Yangon, in which she served another eighteen months imprisonment, convicted by a Burmese regional court in August 2009 after an American swam across Inya Lake to her house. All of her periods under house arrest have been declared arbitrary by the United Nations. She was eventually released on the 13th November 2010.

I want to believe I was also the first Kenyan to shake her hand and chat with her, just like I was the first Kenyan she ever saw in Myanmar. Fellow Kenyans, Saturday 28th September 2013 was indeed a great day for me! If I wasn't black and proud she would have just walked past me like she did to other people.

Black is good, black is noticeable. Black is powerful.

Pangoni Beach Hotel

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Pangoni Beach Hotel, one of the latest additions to Kenya's North Coast, not very far from Serena Mombasa. The hotel is amazing and provides a picturesque view of the sea (c) Fred Otieno, December 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Pangoni Beach Hotel, one of the latest additions to Kenya's North Coast, not very far from Serena Mombasa. The hotel is amazing and provides a picturesque view of the sea

Stolen future

Innocent kids at the Don Bosco Center in Goma, DR Congo, one of the many sites where IDPs have been camping due to the war between government forces and the M23 rebel movement (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

Stolen future - Innocent kids at the Don Bosco Center in Goma, DR Congo, one of the many sites where IDPs have been camping due to the war between government forces and the M23 rebel movement.

Chukuduu in motion

The Congolese peoples' reinvention of the bicycle! This wooden bike can carry more than 1 ton of cargo and causes no environmental pollution whatsoever. Place your orders guys :-) (c) Fred Otieno, November 2012

Chukuduu - The Congolese people reinvention of the bicycle! This wooden bike can carry more than 1 ton of cargo and causes no environmental pollution whatsoever. Place your orders guys :-)

"No Discution"

That was the message on my recent tour of Bongoland where the queen's language continues to be massacred with impunity

"No Discution" as I found out on my recent tour of Bongoland where the queens language has been routinely massacred with impunity

Lion in the sun

 One of the new hotel in Kenya's North Coast town of Malindi. Absolutely wonderful! (c) Fred Otieno, December 2012

Lion in the sun is a new hotel in Kenya's North Coast town of Malindi. Absolutely wonderful!