Two Proffesors Without Conscience

By, Jan Masila,
USA

I am disturbed just like millions of Kenyans are by the current state of affairs in Jogoo House. This famous house where education matters in the country are handled has become not only a theatre of comics but also a platform where two well known professors have let bare the fact that they have no conscience.

To say that Prof Sam Ongeri and Prof Karega Mutahi should be sacked is missing the point. The two gentlemen should have relinquished their positions voluntarily as soon as the news of the billions of shillings that were looted under their watch was made public.

Firing some junior officers in the ministry is a cosmetic exercise of shielding the real culprits. Ongeri and Mutahi have failed in their capacity as caretakers of public funds entrusted to them and the only honorable and justified way to investigate the matter is first by having them vacate their plum offices.

Holding a public office is not a right but a privilege. When Ongeri appeared in front of media cameras on the eve, he was emphatic that he will not resign; things were not different when Mutahi held his own press conference. There is no doubt in any one’s mind that these two professors were doing was putting up a fight and pushing back on their accusers. Unfortunately, the two good professors missed the point. This was not a typical political fight pitting them against Kenyans, this was a case of millions of Shillings meant for the education of Kenya’s future leaders siphoned and diverted to private accounts while the intended beneficiaries suffered without adequate supplies. The same funds are donations from friendly countries that are using their tax payer’s money for what they believe is a worthy cause yet all these facts have not been strong enough to instill some level conscience in the minds of the two professors.

If we are going to raise a generation of Kenyans who will inherit our beloved country and preserve it for the future generations, we need to live a life they can emulate and definitely as long as the role models in the society continue to preside over plunder of public resources and cunningly shrug off any calls to take responsibility, we are setting a bad example to our children.

If this scandal happened in the western world, the minister concerned would have been the one calling the media to announce their intention to resign (not to step aside) as a consequence of their failure to protect looting of public funds, in Kenya things are done differently, the media have to smoke out the Minister and his Permanent secretary who once in the glare of the camera go on the warpath in self defense.

At this point, the mood in the public is that they have lost faith in the way the affairs of the Education Ministry are run and it is only prudent that the appointing authority cracks the whip if only to show that someone is in charge.

As for you Prof Ongeri and Prof Mutahi, you are learned enough to know that taking responsibility does not amount to admission of guilt and Kenyans are smart enough to know the difference. There is no way a proper investigation or audit will be carried out while you are still in your current positions. If you are thinking about giving any one a good New Year present then you don’t have to think further, tender your resignation letters so that Kenyans can believe in the investigations being carried out. Let your conscience prevail and do the right thing. As I have pointed out in a previous paragraph, public survive is not a right but a privilege.

HIV / AIDS

By Jan Masila
USA

 
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the human immune system, the body’s natural defense system. Once the immune system is weakened by this attack, the body has trouble fighting off diseases. Both the virus and the infection it causes are called HIV. White blood cells are a very vital part of the human immune system; HIV invades and destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+ cells. If too many CD4+ cells are destroyed, the body can no longer defend itself against infection.

The last stage of HIV infection is AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). People with AIDS have a low number of CD4+ cells and are particularly vulnerable to opportunistic infections from bacteria that other people fight off. Pneumocystis carinii which causes severe inflammation of the lungs (Pneumonia) is a common infection that affects people with AIDS. Cancers and a wide variety of neurological abnormalities most notably the AIDS dementia complex may also occur. These neurological symptoms occur when the HIV infects the nervous system. (1)

Sexual contact is a major mode of transmission of HIV but it can also be transmitted via blood, blood products and shared needles; in addition, infants born to infected women may become infected before or during birth via transplacental, partuition or postpartum transmission (2). HIV virus does not survive well outside the body hence it cannot be spread by casual contact such as kissing or sharing drinking glasses, spoons or other utensils with an infected person. The risk of HIV infection for International travelers is generally low. Factors to consider when assessing risk include the extent of direct contact with blood, body secretions or sexual contact with potentially infected persons. It is worth noting too that blood supply in low income countries might not be adequately screened. (7)

HIV may not cause symptoms at the early stages. It is possible that infected people may mistake the early symptoms for flu. These early symptoms are fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, swollen glands (swollen lymph nodes) and skin rash. The symptoms may appear from a few days to several weeks then go away within 2 to 3 weeks.

After the early symptoms are gone, the infected person may not have symptoms again for many years. During this time, the virus continues to grow in the body while attacking the immune system. At a certain point, symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, extreme tiredness, weight loss, fever and night sweats reappear and this time remain.

If these symptoms last and no other cause can be found, a doctor may suspect HIV and order for some tests. One of the most commonly performed HIV test is antibody test which indicate HIV infection indirectly by revealing HIV antibodies. Recorded protocol requires initial screening of individuals and blood products with an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). A positive ELISA should be repeated then confirmed by an alternative method usually the Western blot or Immunofluorescence Assay. (3)

HIV can be spread by people who don't know that they are infected with the virus. The best ways to protect oneself and others include; Practice of safe sex, the use of condom during sexual intercourse (including oral sex) until partners are sure through medical tests that are not infected with HIV, not having multiple sex partners, going for medical test before having unprotected sex for the first time, avoidance of alcohol or drugs before sex as this may lead to impaired judgment in case of sexual advances from strangers, not sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, needles and syringes.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control); since 1996, the introduction of powerful antiretroviral therapies has dramatically changed the progression time between HIV infection and the development of AIDS. There are also other medical treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS though the treatments do not cure AIDS itself. (4) The search for the cure still continues to be intensified by several research organizations funded by various nations. Through research, zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (DDI) and other antiretroviral drugs were developed; they impair the ability of HIV to insert itself into a host cell. Protease inhibitors, another class of antiretroviral agents have greatly increased life expectancy for persons with AIDS. Whereas treatment focuses on the prevention of opportunistic infections; alternative therapies which focus on enhancing overall health are available, these include vitamin supplementation with herbal medicines, Acupuncture, mind body therapies as well as massage which improve circulation as well as reduce emotional and mental stress. (2)

Women constitute approximately 47% of the world population of 33 million living with HIV/AIDS (5). In the United States where the disease was first diagnosed in 1981, women continue to be the fastest growing new group of persons with AIDS with proportions of women with AIDS rising from 75 in 1995 to 22% in 1997. At the moment, women contribute 20% of all AIDS cases in the US (5). CDC estimates that 30% of the 40,000 new HIV infections each year occur in women.

The toll of HIV/AIDS in the society and households is very severe. No part of the general population is unaffected by the disease. However, it is often the poorest sectors of the society that are most vulnerable to the epidemic and for whom the consequences are most severe. The presence of AIDS causes the household to dissolve as parents die and children are forced to be cared for by relatives or grand parents. AIDS strips families of their assets, income and income earners further impoverishing the poor.

HIV/AIDS is an epidemic of international proportions in whose realization the United Nation created UNAIDS, an agency within the world body that addresses issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS. In order to effectively address these challenges, UNAIDS was set up with five focus areas which include leadership and advocacy, strategic information and technical support, tracking monitoring and evaluation, civil society engagement and mobilization of resources (6). This UN agency engages the efforts of many sectors and partners from governments and civil society in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

References

(1) NORD COMPEDIUM OF RARE DISEASES – A publication by the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Mary Ann Libert Publishers.

(2) DISEASES OF THE HUMAN BODY – By Carol D.Tamparo and Marcia A. Lewis

(3) PROFESSIONAL GUIDE TO DISEASES 8TH EDITION – By Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

(4) www.cdc.gov

(5) THE NEW HARVARD GUIDE TO WOMWN’S HEALTH – By Karen J Carson M.D & Stephanie Eisenstat M.D

(6) www.unaids.org

(7) HEALTH INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS 2003-2004 By Department of Health and Human Services (CDC) Centers for Diseases Control

Steps to Eradicate Poverty in Africa

By Jan Masila
USA

African governments have depended on aid from the west and Bretton Wood institutions for a long time. Statistics have continued to show that aid is not good for Africa rather it creates a system of dependence and promotes lack of accountability and corruption when government officials divert funds meant to benefit the poor. Most of these funds are misused in white elephant projects with the reminder ending up in the private secret bank accounts of the ruling class.

Honest African governments should strive to empower their people instead of begging for help to finance projects.

Here are a few steps that governments can take to ensure proper empowerment of its citizens with the resulting factor of self reliance hence the ability to finance budgets with funds earned within the country.

Step 1

Promotion of infrastructure  by constructing good roads to make transport and communication easy.

Step 2

Creating employment opportunities by constructing small scale industries to enable people get access to jobs hence creating a vibrant middle class..

Step 3

Educating people on how to save and invest wisely, this may be done through organising seminars and conferences deep within the rural areas and the city.

Step 4

Promoting agriculture and farming which are the main sources of income in rural areas, providing technical advice and professional services to farmers.

Step 5

Making it easy to access credit facilities to enable the rural population get access on finance through loans and grants.

Step 6

Providing quality health care to the citizens since healthy people are likely to be more productive and useful to the economy. This ensures availability of healthy workforce.

Step 7

Taming corruption which is the main reason why there is poverty in Africa

Step 8

Promotion of peace and unity as a guarantee for political instability which in turn creates a good climate for investiment.

Step 9

Creation of market opportunities to enable the rural population sell their goods at favourable prices.

Step 10

Promotion of a single national language that acts as a bond of unity, for example credit to Julius Nyerere, Tanzania has enjoyed relative stability for the most part because of the swahili language which is spoken by all citizens

These are just a few of steps that a country can employ to empower its own people and promote national development. Empowered people are a benefit to a country while disempowered people will always be a liability to their government depending on handouts and perennial help which is a circus that has no end.

When Kenya Burned

By Jan Masila.
USA
Dec 2007

WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS?

The current political crisis has placed Kenya in the spotlight, this time not for the positives that have brought us fame since Independence – like athletics and tourism - but in this instance, we find ourselves under international scrutiny as a result of the wanton killing of innocent citizens whose sole crime is that they exercised their democratic right to cast a vote, in an election intended to showcase the democratic maturity of our beloved Kenya.

Throughout the campaign period, I listened with keen interest to the promises of the presidential candidates, and to the principles they stood for. It was obvious that each of the leading presidential candidates cut an image of statesmanship, and desired that Kenyans believe they were championing the welfare of the poor, pledging to make Kenya a better place to live in, assuring that they would raise the standard of living, turn the economy around and tame the escalating insecurity and crime, making our country an envy of many.

However, as we see today, all these assurances have proven to have been empty rhetoric. Just less than a month after the Presidential Election results were announced, here we are watching what was once the bastion of peace and stability - a respected peace broker in the region - burn to ashes. People who for decades have lived in peace and harmony, are now hacking each other with axes and machetes, spurred on in their madness along tribal lines; and unfathomable hatred is witnessed in the most trivial and illogical circumstances, just to mention a few.

The promise of patriotism and wise leadership that we were guaranteed in the run-up to the polls is lacking aplenty, the ‘statesmanship’ our leaders exhibited or pretended to exhibit is nowhere to be seen as common wananchi continue to be driven further into a morass of poverty, while warring factions square it out on behalf of their tribesmen who reside in lavish up market residential areas behind iron gate and police cordons.

It is at this point that we should wonder where the conscience of these leaders lies. The Honorable Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, a man I greatly respect, has always presented himself to be a superior political figure. He has for a while led Kenyans to believe that he is a Born Again Christian, untainted, uncorrupt and diplomatic, and while that may be the case, his instantaneous acceptance of the Vice Presidency at a time when Kenya is bleeding from the wounds of post-election chaos underscores the mystery surrounding the circumstances under which The Honorable Mwai Kibaki was declared winner.

Mr. Musyoka should have side-stepped the Vice Presidency and instead informed the appointing authority that he ought to focus on the pressing nationwide issues that required his service, foremost of which is national reconciliation.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mr. Musyoka occupying the vice premiership; he is qualified for the job. What beats logic is the urgency with which he accepted the appointment, when the country is engulfed in an outcry of possible election fraud. It is not lost on many that the disgraced Electoral Commission Chairman Mr. Samuel Kivuitu sensationally mentioned Mr. Mustoka’s ODM Kenya party as being one of the parties that pressured him to announce a winner during the ensuing post-election stalemate vis-à-vis the countrywide tallying of the votes. This kind of behavior is reminiscent of one whose party had a motive - and at this moment, the objective has been revealed.

These are not the times to accept high office appointments. It would be more prudent to place the interests of the nation before our individual desires; desires that often times are skewed by the indignities of personal greed, petty rivalries, or as we see throughout the country, murderous tribalism. Mr. Musyoka has betrayed Kenyans and the close to one million voters who supported him. I say this because he – while portraying himself as an honest politician - occasionally warned President Kibaki while on the campaign trail that Kenyans would not accept rigged elections results. Were Mr. Musyoka’s forebodings merely political rhetoric? Or was he speaking purely on principles when he wagged his finger numerous times while championing democratic tenets? The bottom line here is that Kalonzo will go down in history as an egocentric self-seeking politician who would sell his own people for personal gain.

As for The Honorable Raila Odinga and President Kibaki, the stakes are high and the country is calling out loud for you to climb down from your hard line positions and emulate the former Vice President Mr. George Saitoti who once said that “there comes a time when the interests of the nation are more important than those of the individual”. Indeed, that time is now.

I know that you are held hostage by many interested parties around you and by your immediate supporters but the truth is that millions of Kenyans are suffering, going without food, without shelter; women are enduring the horrors of rape, and they, their children and the elderly are displaced while you attempt to outdo each other and stamp your authority on a bleeding land. Please remember that deep in the villages and rural areas, citizens are suffering not because they did anything wrong but because they casted a vote.

It does not matter who one votes for, well, at least, it shouldn’t. Voting is an individual democratic right protected by law that must be respected. Your failure to engage in honest dialogue in the spirit of give

and take, and your intensification of the current anarchic situation is a huge dent in the democratic gains we have had over the years, and in the cohesion that has existed since we gained our hard-fought independence.

There is no reason for Kenyans to fight. Kenya has always been a peaceful country, a country of loving and hardworking people, a country of enormous beauty. Here in the US we used to walk with our heads high and with the Kenyan pride, but now we suddenly find ourselves on the defensive whenever we identify with our beloved country. Every time we mention that we are Kenyans, we find ourselves bombarded with a barrage of questions as to why Kenyans are killing each other and what tribe we are from. This has been occasioned by recklessness and immaturity on the part of our political system where politicians think only about themselves without putting the interests of the nation first.

You have to provide leadership. Use your Church masses to preach peace. It is evident that you both received votes from all the eight provinces. Think National and talk National. Speak the language of Amani Amani Kenya.

The Police should license political rallies aimed at sensitizing Kenyans on the necessity to live in pace and harmony and to embrace the spirit of nationalism. Kiswahili should be promoted even in the deepest rural areas so that Kenyans can attain a concrete sense of national belonging and eliminate the need to retreat to one’s own tribal language which not only makes him/her think tribal but also makes him/her view others who do not speak his/her language as strangers and competitors. Tanzania is an example of what the promotion of Kiswahili has led to greater national integration and we have quite a lot to learn from our neighbor.

The time is now, we can’t wait for tomorrow. We can’t afford to lose another life. Too much blood has been shed and it is time this madness comes to an end. It will not come to an end without our leaders swallowing their pride and steering forward in the direction of national reconciliation. This is my call for you; please save Kenya.

Empowering the people of Africa

By, Jan Masila,
USA

Africa has lagged behind in development and democratic practices due to systematic practice of supression employed over the years by selfish leaders who contiue to surpress their subjects.

The situation in Zimbabwe calls for action and the international community can not ignore the weight President Robert Mugabe is placing on the innocent people of Zimbabwe who overwhelmingly rejected him in a general election he rigged with impunity.

To tame this kind of reckless power grab, Africans at the grassroot level need to be empowered with knowledge that they can reject their leaders and nomatter the sacrifice, follow their vote with action like demonstrations and protests.

The United Nation should spearhead efforts to establish networks in Africa, fund them and make them functional on the ground to accomplish this mission. People in cities are usually enlightened so such efforts should be concentrated in the villages where the Government dishes handouts to buy loyalty from the local people hence continuing the illegal hold on power.

I am looking for ideas on how we can make concerted efforts to mull support across the continent for ways through which this can be achieved as we cant just ignore the plight of the African people.