Moses Trubadur Back After Son’s Funeral In Kenya
Mr. Moses Trubadur, a Kenyan musician, is back in Stockholm after attending the funeral of his 17 year old son who died mysteriously in Kenya. Trubadur, who returned to Stockholm yesterday, told KSB that following the sad news, he had to travel to Kenya abruptly and at very short notice.
As a father, he needed to be present at the funeral while he told KSB that circumstances under which the son died also called for proper investigations which could not wait.
The musician said that he did not even have time to inform Kenyans about the tragedy that had struck the family and encouraged friends and well wishers who need more light about the news to contact him for details.
Trubadur is a well known personality in Stockholm and, naturally, Wakenya expected that the tragedy of his son’s death could have been brought to the attention of Wakenya to help the family cope with the sad moment.
Trubadur said that he understands and appreciates the concerns of Kenyans in Stockholm about the matter. He said that he is now back in Stockholm and that he is in the process of updating himself with the latest situation within the community in Stocky.
Okoth Osewe
“Issue A Kenyan Passport To Mrs Anna Okoth” – Ole Ngais
Maasaiwarrior cooperation has been following the unpleasant passport story posted in September 2007, by Mr. Okoth Osewe at the Kenya Stockholm blog. Maasaiwarrior cooperation strategically waited before commenting on this fundamental issue because of reasons of courtesy.
However much the Maasaiwarrior cooperation wants to be patriot and respect the representatives of our beloved Kenya, it is as well our obligation to ensure that we don’t let ourselves be manipulated, exploited and mislead for the sake of respecting our country.
According to the Maasaiwarrior opinion, corrupted civil workers have unfortunately soiled the name of our nation. At times, it becomes impossible to defend one self and your nation due to this idiots who steal and abuse Public office for their personal selfish gains.
The Embassy of Kenya in Sweden has not yet explained to Kenyans neither to Mrs Okoth what happened to her Passport. Maybe it is a mere accident that Mrs Okoth’s Passport is lost and therefore, the government of Kenya must immediately and without delay whatsoever compensate and apologize to the citizen who is unnecessarily being exposed to mental torture and confinement in Sweden.
If the Passport processing has, for some reason, undergone through corrupt deals and then used to commit crimes as was illustrated by KSB, then Kenyans both at home and in Diaspora must take charge and protect their fundamental human rights.
A honorable redress is then all what the Kenyans deserves and nothing less. In this case, the Maasaiwarrior cooperation stands side by side with Mrs Okoth in the war against any sort of exploitation and crime in Kenya.
Jeff Ole Ngais
Massai Worrior
“Wazee Hukumbuka Party” Is A Good Idea
If you are a Kenyan and you feel that you have seen too many Januaries that have basically made you feel chronologically challenged, then there is something which might catch your interest this Sato. If you haven’t heard about it yet, then your age might have driven you out of circulation to an extent that you never get SMS messages about happenings around Wakenya in Stockholm or you might have lost interest in keeping a mobile phone altogether because it serves no useful purpose since members of your age group mainly communicate via landline because mobile phones are “for Vijana”.
If you are in this bracket, then you will not be able to read about this piece at KSB because most likely, you don’t have access to the Internet or if you have, you are not so interested in surfing the net for some queer reason. For the first time, the “Wazee Hukumbuka Party” is coming up on Saturday at Märsta and it is very difficult to predict what will happen.
The Wazees have been caught because they have been complaining that the main reason you rarely see their faces at Kenyan Parties is because the Parties have been taken over by Vijana na Wasichana wao. The biggest complaint has been domination of the Parties by “Teeny music” followed by grumblings about performance of “dangerous dancing styles” that many Wazees cannot put up with because they have been attenuated. Another popular complaint has been “the possibility of meeting your daughter” being squeezed at the corner or coming face to face with your son “trying to tune” so that he can “cut some meat” at the end of the “back-hooks” on the floor.
At one time, a Mzee wa Kazi who had the guts to test the strength of his bones on the floor went into retirement almost immediately when a young Kenyan Manzi dashed on the floor to chokoza the Mzee. The Kamanzi is a name on the Kenyan dance floor and she really enjoys teasing men who get in action. The Cheele, nickanamed “Biblios” by her acquintences, has huge and extremely flexible thighs which she has a habit of flapping in a very unique fashion. When she flaps them in typical style to the beats of the music, you get the impression that she can literally “swallow her opposite” because she is also huge and encompassing.
From the look of things, the Mzee wa Kazi in question appeared to have grinded approximately 55 Januaries and his main intention after some vinywaji was to show the fun lovers that uzee siyo ugonjwa (old age is not a disease) so he jumped to the dance floor to try and show how it used to be done in them days.
However, as soon as Queen Biblios saw the Mzee (it was like she had been waiting for that kind of opportunity), she rushed to where the Mzee had just started doing his thing then began to magnetize him slowly as she pulled him into position to make it clear that she was interested in dancing with him. When it comes to dance floor business, Biblios is known to be one of the bravest girls in Stockholm and some men just shiver when she approaches them for a dance. The Mzee responded quite well but as soon as the Kamanzi began to narrow down the distance using the Lingala beats the DJ was spewing, the Kamanzi suddenly turned her bottoms then began to rub them systematically around the Mzee’s “danger zone”.
VIJANA OF YESTERDAY ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING WAZEE
The Mzee jikazzad, trying to create the “distance of comfort” by moving away strategically, probably hoping that the Kamanzi would give him a small breathing space by breaking away at short interludes but she didn’t.
Instead, she persistently shook her behind right at the door step of the Mzee’s talala, in the process, capturing the attention of other dancers as the Mzee entered into a crisis of sorts on the floor. Then, the Mzee just abandoned the dance and headed towards a group of friends who had been watching and enjoying his every move. They tried to encourage him that he was doing well but he refused to go back without giving any explanations. In the meantime, the Kamanzi seized a new guy who appeared to have been floating on the floor. She did it as if what she had done to the Mzee was a matter of routine.
According to Oti, one of the organizers of the Wazee Hukumbuka Party, anybody with an ID is welcome at the Party although KSB was made to understand that the music will mainly feature “Zilizopendwa” with DJ Jimmy spinning. “The idea is to begin the process of making “Wazee Hukumbuka Parties” while at the same time having fun”, Oti told KSB without going into detail. He said that Wazee needs to be accommodated within the area of Entertainment as opposed to the current situation where many Wazees are retreating from social life because they feel isolated especially at Parties.
Indeed, many Kenyans who came to Sweden calling themselves “The youth” now find themselves bogged down with kids who call them “Daddy” and other names reserved for those who understand the art of making babies. Just in passing, instead of telling the kids that “This is my friend so and so from Kenya”, the kids have been made to call every Kenyan male whom Daddy knows “Anko” while every female passes for “Auntie”. The new Wazees have no forum to discuss many things and the Wazee Hukumbuka Party should not just be for Wazee who already have grandchildren but also for “Up-coming Wazees”. This is the group on its way to becoming the Wazee of tomorrow and a Party like the one planned on Sato should be a good ground for making connections.
Ukweli Wa Mambo is that the Vijana of yesterday have become the Wazee of today and instead of just disappearing from the scene, it is important for the Wazee age group to be catered for in Kenya-Stockholm social life. It is in this light that the Wazee Hukumba Party is significant. KSB will not get into a deep analysis of the Party now. We will wait and see what happens. The Wazee Hukumuka Party is a good idea which should grow.
Okoth Osewe
“Election Violence Has No Place In Todays Kenya” – Ngatia
Mr. Martin Ngatia, the Vice Chairperson of ODM-Scandinavia, has said that the recent attack by hired thugs of three ODM politicians, Mr. William Ruto, Mr. Omingo Magara and Mr. Chris Bichage, was an ugly act of political thuggery which must be condemned strongly because such acts are meant to roll back the democratic gains of more than four decades of struggle.
“Political thyggery is not new in Kenya but it belongs to a bygone era of former dictator Daniel arap Moi”, Mr. Ngatia told KSB. The attack took place in at a function in Southern Kissi.
Mr. Ngatia said that the government should arrest Mr. Simion Nyachae, a pro-Kibaki old guard, who has been identified as having sponsored the thugs who attacked the politicians.
The ODM politicians suffered cuts and bruises and had to be taken to Nairobi hospital for treatment. They were brutally attacked by thugs armed with bows, arrows and clubs, an attack that has drawn condemnation across the country.
Mr. Ngatia said that the attack was meant to intimidate members of ODM and pointed out that such outmoded tactics of scaring the opponent with violence had no place in today’s Kenya. He said that he was confident that ODM would defeat President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity in the coming December polls.
Okoth Osewe
Passport Application: Open Letter To President Kibaki
I am writing to you this letter as a matter of serious concern. I am a Kenyan citizen by birth who has been holder of a legitimate Kenyan Passport which was submitted at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm for renewal in April this year. At the Embassy, I filled a Passport application form, submitted two Passport photographs, paid the mandatory fees and submitted the form which was counter checked by an Embassy official to ensure that it was filled in correctly and that all the necessary requirements had been met. I was informed that the processing of the document would take a maximum of six weeks, a period which I considered “reasonable” under the circumstances.
Six moths after submitting my application form, I am still awaiting for word from the Kenyan Embassy about the status of my application. I have spoken to Embassy officials on several occasions expressing concerns that the processing of my Passport has taken an unnecessarily long period of time. On two occasions and between a span of two moths, I was told that letters had been written to the Department of Immigration in Nairobi and that the matter was being handled “at the highest level”. Six months down the line, my application has not been processed and, naturally, I have been wondering what may have happened.
I need to add that so far, the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm has not been able to come up with any explanation as to why I cannot be granted a Passport and it is also for this reason that I have decided to make a personal intervention over the matter because it is my position that the Embassy has failed in its duties to effectively follow up the matter. I am tired of waiting and I am demanding that your office give me explanations why the Kenyan government is sitting on my Passport application without any valid and legal reasons.
A Passport is a basic travel document that every Kenyan citizen is entitled to under the laws of the Republic Kenya. I am a previous Passport holder and this means that my Reference file containing all necessary documents are with the Kenyan government. What this means is that there is no logical justification whatsoever for the long period it has taken the Kenyan government to process my Passport.
For the last six months, I have been unable to travel outside Sweden where I reside. By refusing to issue me with a new Passport following the expiry of my previous one, the Kenyan government is arbitrarily violating my right to freedom of Movement and I wish to warn your fragile regime that I am in the process of suing it for the criminal offence of keeping me hostage in Sweden and taking away from me my democratic right to move freely across the world.
According to the Kenyan Embassy, the official waiting time for the processing of a new Kenyan Passport is six weeks. I am soon entering the seventh month, an extremely long period of time. I wish to bring to the attention of your government that I have no reason to believe that the continued violation by your regime of my right to a Kenyan Passport is a calculated move to frustrate me and to subject me to mental and psychological torture for reasons only known to your government.
YOUR CORRUPT AND TRIBALISTIC GOVERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO OFFER
At the individual level, I am not political and even if I were so, this could have been no reason for the Kenyan government to deny me a Kenyan Passport. It is tragic that a humble and religious person like myself has to move from a position of “waiting for a Passport” to that of “struggling for a Passport” at a time when millions of Kenyans believed that after the overthrow of former dictator Daniel arap Moi from power, denial of Passports to Kenyan citizens and the consequent illegal limitation of freedom of Movement of Kenyan citizens would become a relic of the past.
As an informed Kenyan citizen who knows her democratic right and who understands International politics, I am not going to beg or kneel down before a corrupt, tribalistic, vicious and dirty government headed by a zombie President for a Passport and I believe that no Kenyan who understands his or her rights should do this.
Likewise, I am not going to burn valuable energy making hopeless phone calls to the Kenyan Embassy asking powerless officials who are simply following orders for my Passport because my education informs me that the Institution to put to account is the government of the Republic of Kenya. Here in Sweden, it is already an open fact among Kenyans that your representative, the Ambassador Mrs Purity Muhindi, is a total failure and this popular view is exemplified by the fact that she might not have alerted your government about the seriousness of denying me a Passport especially in an election year.
Your weak and failing government should take notice that as I open the “Struggle for a Kenyan Passport”, I have also put in motion the process of suing the government because I believe that someone MUST take responsibility for curtailing my freedom of Movement after the first six weeks of waiting thereby subjecting me to unwarranted mental and psychological torture and disrupting my busy schedule by keeping me prisoner in Sweden for no reason whatsoever.
I believe that Kenyans abroad should not go through what I am going through at the moment and it is for this reason that I have decided to change strategy and begin a battle for my Passport if that is what it will take to get back my freedom of Movement which has now been stolen from me by an insensitive government that is unfit to be in Office.
Your unpopular government has failed in many areas. A new Constitution has not been delivered although you promised to do so after 100 days in power. Almost five years after occupying State House, your Office has not delivered the half a million jobs per year you promised to Kenyans. Your government has failed catastrophically in fighting corruption in Kenya and this failure is exemplified by the super corruption scandals that have rocked your government since you came to Office. Millions of Kenyans who believed that you could end tribalism have been disappointed because minutes after seizing power, you embarked on a mission to fill key government positions with members of your own Kikuyu ethnic group, an issue that has even been taken to Parliament for debate. Today, the “Mount Kenya Mafia” composed of members of your ethnic group are known to rule Kenya through the back door.
I am mentioning these gigantic failures because I view the failure by your government to issue me with a Kenyan Passport as part of a chronic failure by your corrupt regime to deliver to the Kenyan people.
Surely and honestly speaking, if a government which was popularly elected by the Kenyan people on a platform of change cannot deliver a simple document like a Passport to a Kenyan citizen abroad, what exactly can it deliver?
With the kind of experience I have gone through and with the kind of energy which I will have to waste in conducting my struggle for a Kenyan Passport, I am now convinced that your government should be voted out of Office in the coming December election because if it cannot deliver a Passport to a Kenyan citizen, there is nothing it can offer to the suffering millions of Kenyans starving or living in abject poverty across the country. Your government has been warned.
Mrs Anna Okoth
Stockholm
24th September 2007
RELATED:
Kenyan Burglar Caught Red Handed In Stockholm Apartment
It was like any other normal day – Tuesday last week. The wheather was muchu-muchu (neither hot nor cold) and Jane Nyakairo, a Kenyan lady who has been residing in Sweden for more than ten years, was at work. At around 11.00, Nyakairo received a phone call from a Kenyan male friend whom she has known for a long time and whom she regards as a brother. The Kenyan wanted to know where she was and what she was doing.
”I am at work” Nyakairo said. The Kenyan then said that the main reason that he was calling was to find out if Nyakairo knew that the Tonny-Lissa wedding was taking place on Saturday September 15th. Nyakairo said that she knew about it and that she had also received an invitation card. The phone call, which sounded normal, ended amicably. Little did Nyakairo know that she had received no ordinary phone call. The contact was part of a scheme to find out her whereabouts so that a special operation could be set in motion in her flat at Flemmingsberg.
Nyakairo lives with a Kenyan in her flat. The Kenyan is a new entrant in the Kenya-Stockholm scene and a saved Christian who studies Swedish For Immigrants (SFI). Minutes after Nyakairo’s phone contact with the Kenyan, her house mate also received a call from the same Kenyan asking where he was and what he was doing. True to character, Nyakiro’s mate said that he was in school studying as usual. That was the only information the Kenyan needed to make his move.
The next thing that happened is that the Kenyan went to Nyakairo’s flat at the 10th floor at Flemmingsberg, opened the door smoothly and gained access to the flat. According to Nyakairo, she does not know how the Kenyan got her keys and she only came to understand that the Kenyan had duplicated her house keys after the guy had slipped into the flat in her absence. In Sweden, all doors have a minimum of two keys designated for two locks – the general key that opens the upper lock and the ”Police key” which opens the lower lock.
A copy of the police key is the last key you can give anybody (even if the person is renting your flat) because it is regarded as the ”security key” that gives the house owner the privilege of locking the house at will especially in a moment of crisis.
The Kenyan had both keys and to date, Nyakairo has not yet recovered from the shock arising from her failure to understand how the Kenyan got copies of her keys. ”It remains a mystery to me and I am very afraid”, she told KSB which had been waiting for two days for her to recompose herself so that she could tell the story.
Late last year, valuables began to disappear from Nyakiro’s flat mysteriously. For example, she lost her gold rings and gold necklaces under circumstances which she has never understood. At about the same time, she also lost her Passport, prompting her to report the matter to police. She talked to close friends and informed them about the mysterious disappearance of valuables from her flat. She refused to suspect her house mate whom she knows very well. She was convinced that her co-habitant was not responsible for the disappearance of valuables in her flat because she knows the guy from Kenya. After reporting the losses to police, she took it easy and life continued as usual.
BURGLAR BROKE CUPBOARD IN BEDROOM READY TO EMPTY CONTENT
As the Kenyan burglar was in the middle of his operations in Nyakairo’s flat, an abrupt twist of events turned the tables upside down and messed up the whole plan. Nyakairo’s house mate, who had been at school on the material day and who had received a call from the burglar returned to the flat abruptly because he was not feeling well. When he opened the door, he was shocked to find that the same guy who called him earlier a few hours ago was in the flat. The guy emerged from the bed room as Nyakiro’s room-mate tried to figure out what was happening.
By then, the burglar had already broken a cupboard in the bed room and from information gathered by KSB, it looked like the burglar was just about to begin emptying the house of valuables when he was caught, not on camera but red handed.
Before Nyakiro’s mate could begin enquiries, the burglar chipped in and said that he was in the house because he was Nyakairo’s boyfriend. ”I usually come here from time to time”, he said. Nyakairo told KSB that he has never had any relationship with the guy.
The guy is a well respected personality in Stockholm, married with children. If his identity is revealed, many Kenyans will simply go to sleep because they will not understand what is happening with certain members of the society in Stockholm. The Kenyan must have been caught unawares because her cover up strategy was very poor.
”My relationship with Nyakairo is secret and you don’t have to tell her that I have been here”, the burglar warned the house mate.
The burglar reportedly took his time to try and organize the guy psychologically not to say anything to Nyakairo because such information could lead to a crisis whose consequences, the burglar said, might come back to haunt the guy. However, the strategy did not work out.
As soon as the guy left the flat, the house mate called Nyakairo and reported that he had found the guy in the flat and that the cupboard in the bedroom was broken although nothing had been stolen. Nyakiro acquied the cupboard last year from another Kenyan called Elizabeth after her valuables began to disappear from the flat mysteriously. She told KSB that she needed to lock her stuff.
After she received the phone call from her house mate, Nyakairo rushed back to the flat to witness what had happened. After understanding the seriousness of the situation, she reported the matter to police who are now investigating the case.
Nyakairo is very upset and disturbed that the burglar might have been in possession of her house keys for more than a year without her knowledge and without any explanation as to how he might have gotten the key.
”This is something which could happen to anybody and I am going out with this story to alert other Kenyans and to try and warn them that this kind of thing is possible”, she told KSB.
The news has shocked many Kenyans in Stockholm. ”How could somebody you know so well here in Stockholm duplicate your house keys secretly, get into your house, break your cupboard in readiness to steal?”, posed a Kenyan who called KSB. ”This thing needs to get out because the Kenyan community needs to wake up to the reality that some people among us are thieves”, she said.
The lady sounded very concerned about the matter. The Swedish police have confirmed that they have received the report although they could not go into details only saying that the matter is being investigated.
Okoth Osewe
Breaking News: Kenyan Burglar Caught In The Act
A Kenyan national was caught red handed in a flat he had entered into apparently to make away with goods. The flat, which is located in Stockholm, belongs to another Kenyan.
KSB is in “Hot pursuit” of the shocking story and will bring it to readers as soon as possible. Readers are requested not to jam KSB info lines with enquiries. All KSB’s Intelligence Security Services (KISS) have been diverted to get the details and we hope to bang the story in the next 24 hrs. Keep tuned.
Okoth Osewe
Top Kenya Embassy Official Transferred To Canada
Mr. George Henry Kinyua, the First Secretary at the Kenyan Embassy In Stockholm who has been in charge of Counsellor Affairs, has been transferred to Canada ”on a promotion”. Impeachable sources in Nairobi could not, however, confirm when Mr. Kinyua will be leaving for Canada although the diplomat is expected to leave before the end of the year. The Embassy could not immediately comment on the news.
Mr. Kinyua was posted to the Embassy in 2005 together with Mrs Josephine Vivian Awuor, the Principle Counsellor. Reasons for Mr. Kinyua’s transfer before completion of his mandatory four years ”tour of duty” were not immediately clear.
A source close to KSB at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi said that it is routine for diplomats to be transferred to different parts of the world especially ahead of a General election when a new government might assume power with lots of unpredictable developments.
Although officially Mr. Kinyua has been the First secretary, it is believed that he has mainly been in charge of ”security affairs” at the Embassy. The position of ”Security attache” used to be important during the days of the underground Movement, Mwakenya when Moi dictated but the position became watered down following the opening of the democratic space in Kenya.
Mr. Kinyua has been very social with Kenyans in Stockholm. Among the current top diplomats, he remains the only one who has consistently been mingling with Kenyans at different functions especially during bereavements. When Bryan Njoroge lost his Mother in Kenya during the summer, Mr. Kinyua was one of the Kenyans who gathered for Prayers at Njoroge’s place while when this writer lost his brother last month, Mr. Kinyua was also in attendance together with his wife Mrs Magdaline Mwiriki Kinyua.
Another recent function where Mr. Kinyua was spotted was the gathering of friends that was called by Mr. Nyori to welcome his son who had just been born. Mr. Kinyua was seen by many Kenyans as a good candidate who was in a position to replace Mr. James Kiboi, a very social member of staff who lost his life in a house inferno in Norway in September last year.
Prior to his death, Mr. Kiboi was the public face of the Kenyan Embassy and although Mr. Kinyua tended to fill the vacuum with considerable effort following Kiboi’s demise, his departure is likely to leave a huge vacuum at the Embassy unless his replacement lives up to the social standards the diplomat has been trying to set.
Most importantly, Mr. Kinyua has been very close to the Baggarmossen Church where he has been a member. A staunch Christian, Mr. Kinyua is believed to have played a leading role in the setting up of the Church soon after he arrived from Kenya. However, the diplomat took a step backwards to give room to other Kenyans to lead the Church, probably because of the difficulty in reconciling his diplomatic profile and religious affiliations.
The problem was that critics in Stockholm saw Mr. Kinyua’s direct involvement in Church affairs as contradictory with his role as a diplomat who was not supposed to openly take sides especially on matters of religion. Kenyans who are not religious felt that by offering to ”lead the Church”, the diplomat was, in reality, on his way to isolating non religious Kenyans when he was supposed to have been uniting everybody.
These Kenyans began to raise criticisms, arguing that it was better for Mr. Kinyua to remain an ordinary member of the Church instead of taking to the pulpit on a regular basis to preach to the faithful. Mr. Kinyua appears to have quickly understood the complications and retreated to play a low profile in the Church as an ordinary member of the congregation.
Another problem was how to fight propaganda to the effect that with Mr. Kinyua, a top diplomat, at the helm of Bargarmossen church, Kenya government resources were being used to build the Church. Critics began to question why Embassy car was being used to ferry passengers to the church while questions also arose as to who was fuelling or maintaining the car during private operations.
Mr. Kinyua will, most likely, be missed by Wakenya in Stockholm who had just started to understand his modus operandi. His departure will leave the Embassy even more unable to defend itself because Mr. Kinyua was seen as the Spokesperson of the Embassy especially on controversial issues which could not be handled by the Ambassador who is just about a year old at the Mission.
Mr. Kinua had just returned from a trip to Kenya when KSB gathered that he is facing a transfer. It is not known whether he went to Kenya to seal the transfer or whether he was just on holiday.
Okoth Osewe
Video Upload: A Pictorial Overview Of Tonny & Lissa Wedding
This video is on it’s way to Youtube but for now, it can be accessed HERE
Okoth Osewe
Fantastic Wedding Of Tonny And Lissa In Stockholm
The long awaited wedding of Tonny and Lissa is finally over, going down in Kenya-Stockholm history as the fifth Kenyan public wedding in this city. The wedding ceremony, which was well attended by Stockholm standards, was graced with the presence of “high powered” personalities including the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia H.E Mrs Purity Muhindi who, nevertheless, did not attend the reception. She was accompanied by her husband Mr. Muhindi who sat quietly beside his rib as the preacher man went about sealing the marriage complete with the signing of a marriage certificate. In public, KSB knows Mr. Muhindi as a very humble and quiet person who can never hurt a fly.
Mr. Laban Mberi, the pioneer of public weddings in Stockholm, was one of the first enthusiasts to arrive at Södermalmskyrka together with his wife Josephine and their two children. The couple carries the distinction of opening the way of “Kenya Public weddings” in Stockholm which began with the Mberis in May 2001. Other “Wedding veterans” like Mr & Mrs Nashon Mbugua, Mr. & Mrs Clay Onyango together with Pastor Beatrice Kamau skipped the Church service although Mbuga and Clay surfaced at the reception which was held at Norsborg.
Immediately after 15.00hrs, leading Kenyan personalities arrived in quick succession. The arrival of Mr. Martin Ngatia, the Vice chairperson of ODM-Scandinavia who is also the Chairperson of KESDEMO, was immediately followed by that of Mr. Daniel Mwaura, the Chairperson of Narc-Kenya Scandinavia. The burly and dreadlocked Mr. Kenneth Wamburi Munge, the Secretary of Narc-KS, was also among the first to arrive at the Church together with his beautiful soul-mate, Irene Wakonyo.
Mr. Githuku wa Muirani, the initiator of “Kibaki Tena” lobby group, arrived in an expensive and intimidating white suite that could not be missed by anybody who was keen enough on men’s attires especially suites. He was accompanied by his wife Mary who was also immaculately dressed, calm and cool. Earlier, Mr. Bryan Njoroge, an ardent supporter of Mr. Muirani who is also the co-founder of Kibaki Tena Lobby group, arrived at the Church compound and took it easy.
The public gathering took place against a backdrop of news that the formation of “Kibaki Tena” was an issue that was creating a lot of serious indigestion among Narc-KS leaders. In fact, the gathering provided the first opportunity for Narc Kenya leaders to come face to face with their “Kibaki Tena” protagonists amid hot rumors in Stockholm that both Muirani and Njoroge had been expelled from the Party because of their latest and unwelcome machinations within the Party. However, politics was completely kept out of the day’s processes and an innocent attendee could not notice that behind the public show of calm and tranquility among Narc-KS personalities, deep-seated political differences which could not be reconciled were also lurking on the side-lines.
Chama Cha Mwananchi (CCM) was also well represented by its Chairperson Mr. Jeff Ole Ngais and his mate Mr. Keegan Kaagwe.
Mr. Muritu Githu made sure that he never missed both the service and the reception. Bwana Muritu has been very vocal on the Kenyan scene although at the moment, he appears to have gone on holiday, choosing instead to pull the strings at Bagarmossen Church from the background. It is rumored that no key decision gets through at Bagarmossen church without Muritu’s tacit contribution.
At the organizational level, it appeared as though members of the Bagarmossen Church were in total control of events because all the “who is who” in the Church could be seen playing big roles especially when it came to mobilization and giving direction. Brother Samson, a member of the Church, was honored with the privilege of praying for the couple at the reception which was also addressed by Lissa’s father Mr. Mwangi. Speaking in Swahili, the Mzee told Tonny to take good care of Lissa because she was a queen in the family. Other personalities connected to Bagarmossen Church who were seen in leading positions were Sheila (whose two cute daughters were among the maids) and Mrs Catherine Kiboi whose Silver coated Benz car carried Lissa to the Church before she left in a Limo “Jimmy Gichu style”.
“ALL OUT DISCO” AT SÖDERMALMS CHURCH
On another sweet note, it was time to take Stock of the latest trend in Kenya-Stockholm fashion industry for both men and women. For women, it was a mixture of Mavitenge and Mgongo wazi (open back) samples although quite a number of girls had office-like attires.
The crowd was a clear mixture of black and white guests although Weusi dominated arithmetically. The considerable presence of white Swedes in the wedding crew suggested that both Tonny and Lisa are “well connected” especially within the religious white Swedish circles. For example, the best maid was white while the best man was also white, signs that the couple might have been “well integrated” into the Swedish society. It was a moment of elation as white Swedes led the crowd in singing Swahili songs, occasionally working the crowd until they got on their feet to dance to the tunes that were accompanied by instrumentals.
A short concert at the Alter was performed by a pack of well trained little white kids just before the union. The kids engaged in unified dance motions as instrumentals blared from the speakers, much to the amusement of the audience. Both Lissa and Tonny watched with deep compassion as they openly admired the result of months of intensive planning. The brief stage-show at the Alter by the kids was something new when compared to past weddings in Stockholm. It was clear evidence that “every wedding is unique”.
Finally, it was time for the couple to consume the holy communion. Thereafter, the couple went through the “Do you take Lissa as your wife…” process. After being pronounced “husband and wife”, Lissa surprised the audience by bursting into an emotional Love song which, she said, she had always wanted to sing to her sweetheart but only at the right moment. Her choice to utilize the time immediately after being wedded to sing the song was also something new. When she finished her mission, the crowd cheered wildly.
When the ceremony appeared to have been over, the Church was literally converted into a disco hall, complete with dance and dangerous wriggling of the waist although in the name of Jesus . The difference is that the tunes were not of the Ndombolo type but from carefully chosen Swahili gospel of the Rose Muhando type and the crowd enjoyed every bit of it. After the holy matrimony, there was no traditional “Picture taking” outside the Church. The couple was instead, driven in a Limousine to the Kings Garden where they took memorable pictures before heading to Norsborg Musikhuset for the reception.
Unlike other previous weddings, speeches were limited with key speakers being Lissas’s dad Mwangi, her sister Naomi Njeri and Mr. Sundy, a family friend who also played a big role in the organization of the wedding. Henry Ndegwa, a friend of the Murayas, travelled all the way from Finland to preside over as the Master of Ceremony. He was assisted by Githuku wa Muirani whose leading role at the wedding was also evident. Muirani’s girls were among the flower girls while Muirani also made announcements at the Church just before the ceremony started, roles which suggested that he was also in the “Thick of things” at the wedding. This could also explain the Kenyan’s option to “dress to kill” at the wedding. The same case applied to Steve who appeared to have been in control of Transport. Steve also made sure that his daughter was chosen as one of the flower girls.
At the reception, food was fantastic and and in plenty. Everybody filled up their tummies starting with the children. Mukimo, Rice, Dengu, Pilao, Chapo, Sambosas, Nyama choma, name it, was there complete with Kachumbs. There was no rationing and you Jazzad your plate as much as you wanted. Remnants of food remained late into the night and some disco-goers were spotted emptying the last bits when hunger began to bite after they worked their bodies vigorously on the floor.
WHO IS NEXT IN KENYA STOCKHOLM PUBLIC WEDDINGS?
The atmosphere at the reception was “very religious” with booze, wine and other strong stuff conspicuously missing from the menu. When Clay hosted his reception at the same venue in August 2005, guests arrived to find boxes of wine neatly laid on the table, ready to flow like fereji. On top of it, crates of beer were packed neatly while bottles of “Machozi ya Simba” could also be seen lined up in readiness for the Grand swallowing.
Some Kenyans had hopped that because Jesus consumed wine and because the drinking of wine is also allowed by the bible, some red and white stuff could emerge but nothing came up. These Kenyans based their hopes on the Book of Timothy verse 5 Chapter 23 which says: “No longer drink only water but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments”. This verse did not work out miracles because the place was “very dry”. They expected that once the wine materialized and instead of obeying the bible by drinking “A little” wine, they would just go full throttle because there would be no supervision.
Other “Devil worshippers” had hopped that there could be some “underground Movement” that could supply whisky and an assortment of “invisible vinywaji” that could be mixed with sodas and consumed anonymously as the cake was being cut but this too did not work out because there was “tight security” by Wafarisai who behaved like Angels guarding the Gates of Heaven. Frustrated, a whole “congregation” of well known worshipers of Vinywaji who pray regularly at the “Temple of Vasa” simply disappeared from the reception, prompting KSB Intelligence Security Services (KISS) to get to work at short notice. The task was to trace where the crowd had retreated.
A report soon arrived that the Swallowers had regrouped at a pub at Norsborg (5 Min walk from the reception) to “quench their thirst”. When we arrived at the scene, it was like a “Who is Who” in the “Temple of Vasa”. Arch-Bishop EmG was leading the prayers assisted by Lady Dabliyu and Sister Cee. KSB was allowed in with a strict condition from the converts that no member of the congregation would be identified with their real names at the Blog. They were surprised that KSB Crew had discovered their hide out. Later, ManGit, brother MakM and Sister Wim joined the group to pray.
Interestingly, one of the guys who was in the “Engine room” in the wedding assignment was one of the converts attending the Prayer session. His name is Es-K. He was in fact controlling events from the table and when his phone ran out of bats, another believer easily borrowed his phone to be used. According to the group, they were at the pub to kill time so that the disco could begin after Wafarisai had completed their work.
Although they missed the cutting and eating of the cake, they appeared not to have been bothered because according to their basic tenets, nobody apart from Tonny, Lissa’s husband, is in a position to eat the “real cake”, a sweet commodity whose consumption, they said, continues as long as the word “D” does not chip in to put a stop to everything.
In the end, the non believers had their time and the disco was eventually opened. Lissa and Tonny opened the dance before they left a few minutes later. The surviving crowd had their fill of everything imaginable all night long. It was a moment to remember. As the analysis begins, the question is: Who is next in the line of Kenya-Stockholm public weddings? To answer this question, all eyes will have to be focused on Kenyans who are single especially on those who are showing some level of serious activity at the romantic level. We will wait and see.
Okoth Osewe
Muirani Moves To “Contain The Fire” Lit By Pastor Beatrice
Mr. Githuku wa Muirani, one of the initiative takers of ”Kibaki Tena” Lobby group in Scandinavia, has said that Pastor Beatrice Kamau should stop meddling in the affairs of Narc-Kenya Scandinavia because the Party is capable of solving its own problems.
Responding to a recent attack on him by the Pastor, Mr. Muirani said that Pastor Beatrice should not try to arbitrate in any perceived dispute within Narc-KS because she is not a member of the Party.
On Tuesday this week, the Pastor said that it is her who convened a meeting last year of Narc-Kenya MPs in Stockholm before Narc-KS was formed and that from her knowledge, Muirani was not part of those who formed Narc-KS.
In response, Muirani said that it was not Pastor Beatrice who convened the said meeting. “Beatrice convened a meeting of Kenyan MPs from different parties when the MPs came for a seminar in Stockholm. She did not convene the meeting where Narc-KS was formed”, Muirani said. After the meeting in question which was held in Skarpnäck, another meeting was held at Mwaura’s residence together with the MPs and Narc-KS was formed.
Mr. Muirani said that “as a woman of the cloth”, he expected Pastor Beatrice to concentrate on issues of spiritual nourishment, not being partisan on political issues.
“Pastor Beatrice is supposed to harmonize the Kenyan community, not open new avenues of conflict”, he said.
The Pastor had questioned why Muirani was quick to call a Prayer meeting for three Kenyans who were murdered in the United States but when one of his family members got into trouble in Sweden and ended up in jail, he did not call for any Prayers. According to Pastor Beatrice, this was hypocrisy.
In response, Muirani said that he went public and declared that the Prayer meeting that was held for his cousins who were murdered in the US also included prayers for his relative who was jailed in Sweden.
The Kenyan politician however said that he could not comment on allegations that he once wrote a letter to the Swedish authorities calling for the deportation of Pastor Beatrice to Kenya when the Pastor sought political asylum in Sweden in the 90s. “That is a legal issue and I will not comment on it at the moment”, he said.
In a brief and carefully worded response, Mr. Muirani said that despite the attack on him by the Pastor, he wished her well in both her political and spiritual advancement.
Judging by the virulent nature of the missiles that were fired by Pastor Beatrice in Muirani’s back yard, the politician’s response is moderate and probably designed to contain the fire that was lit by the Pastor instead of fuelling it even further with more inflammable substances.
Okoth Osewe
James Gichu Back From Paris In A Private Jet
James Gichu, a Sweden-based Kenyan artist known as St James, has just arrived from Paris in a Private Jet. In a “Newsflash” intercepted by KSB, St James said that he had been to Paris to work with the re-known producer Bob Sinclar on a dance floor track.
“I’ve wanted to make a dance-floor track for some time now, but it took a while to find a production team that ‘feels’ me”, he told KSB.
His new track is called “United” and it is about universal love. The Artist said that the track is deliberately “Cross-cultural so as to make it impossible to niche it it in any one category”.
At the moment, he said that what follows is a deal either with MTV Europe or MTV North. He however refused to speak about details around the deal saying only that it was “prudent” to wait until the deal is struck. “My people are having meetings with their people”, he said.
Asked what it felt like to work with Bob Sinclar, he said that the producer “is a cool cat” who is as crazy, if not crazier than him.
St James confessed to KSB that he doesn’t really know Paris and that he had to rely on the “natives” who were guidng him.
“I also went to Cannes, which I must say is a totally different planet”.
His new song, which was availed exclusively to KSB on mp3 format, had a three months producton time frame but St James said it only took three weeks. He said that Bob is slated to produce the rest of his album.
When asked about expected time of release, he said: “Release is imminent, but what with i-tunes and ringtones to negotiate with, I’ll wait until after the video-shoot-out to give you specifics”.
He said that there is something he wanted his fans to know about working with Sinclar: The producer thinks that “If it feels good…Do it! But do it in a smart way”.
He chuckled KSB when he narrated how he had problems convincing his crew at Broma airport that he could get to his crib at Friedhiemsplan by pulic bus service because there was a direct one.
“I had a lot of problems convincing the crew that I had a direct SL Buss from Bromma Flygplats, and that I didn’t need a limousine”.
In the end, he gave up and took the Limo. Soemtimes it is “hard times” being a high flying star like St James.
When ordinary Wakenya are riding rough in the underground, St James is thirsting to have a taste of what it feels like to ride in the pulic transport system. KSB wished him well with the impending album.
Okoth Osewe
Muirani’s ”Kibaki Tena” Lobby Group Going Nowhere – Pastor Beatrice
Pastor Beatrice Kamau has said that the recently launched “Kibaki Tena” Lobby group in Scandinavia will go nowhere because its leaders have failed in politics. Speaking to KSB, the Pastor said that Mr. Githuku wa Muirani, the main force behind the newly established Chapter, should concentrate his energies in supporting Narc-KS instead of wasting time setting up Lobby groups which have no direction.
“The so called Lobby group is an attempt by Muirani to hijack political initiative from Narc-Kenya Scandinavia”, said Pastor Beatrice.
The Pastor said that although she is a member of ODM Scandinavia, she has decided to intervene in the on-going crisis within Narc-KS because if Muirani continues to rock the Party from within, it will interfere with the normal political process of Kenyans in Scandinavia at a time when the two Parties should be promoting their ideals in the eyes of the public.
“Politically, I don’t agree with Mr. Daniel Mwaura (the Narc-KS Chairperson) but I also know Mr. Muirani as a destructive character who celebrates at other people’s problems. Among the two politicians, Mr. Muirani cannot lead Narc Kenya Scandinavia because Muirani’s politics is based on personal vendetta and cheap gossip which nobody can buy”, she told KSB.
“Muirani has rocked every organization he has been a member of and his current problems with Narc Kenya leadership should be seen as a continuation of his problematic past with organizations”, said Pastor Beatrice.
“I am the person who convened a meeting in Stockholm with Narc-Kenya MPs just before Narc-KS was set up and Muirani was not part of it. I left the Party in principle but that should not mean that the idea of running political parties in Sweden should be destroyed by self seekers because Kenyans need to wake up politically”, she said.
The surprise attack on Muirani is likely to take many Kenyans in Stockholm aback because until recently, the personal chemistry between Pastor Beatrice and Mr. Muirani appeared to have been good.
Asked why she was bitter with Muirani and why she was intervening in the crisis in favour of Mr. Mwaura, Pastor Beatrice said that she was neither bitter nor favouring Mwaura.
“The truth about Muirani needs to be told for the sake of political unity of Kenyans in Sweden”, she thundered. She said that when she sought political asylum in Sweden during the nineties, Muirani wrote a letter to the Swedish authorities asking the Swedish government to deny her asylum. “His intentions were defeated because I was granted asylum”, she said, adding that the letter Muirani wrote exists.
“Muirani has been the cause of problems to many Kenyans in Sweden and now that he is pretending that he is a progressive leader with a bogus Lobby group, he needs to be exposed once and for all”, she said.
The Pastor said that Kenyans need to ask questions why Muirani was quick to call for a Prayer meeting when three Kenyans were murdered in the United States but when one of his family members got into serious problems in Sweden and landed in a Swedish jail, he never called for any Prayers. “This is what I call hypocrisy”, she told KSB.
The Pastor denied that she had any personal grievances to settle with Muirani. “As a Christian, I have already forgiven Muirani for his attempt to get me deported to Kenya some years back. What I am saying now is that he should stop political hypocrisy”, she said.
Mr. Muirani has been in the news in Stockholm since he set up the “Kibaki Tena” Lobby group which is seen by Narc-KS as a “Rival political Party” formed undemocratically to undermine the leadership of Mr. Mwaura.
The entry of Pastor Beatrice into the controversy has now added a new and unexpected dimension to the whole saga. KSB will continue to bring the reports as the controversy deepens.
Okoth Osewe
Kiboi’s Memorial: Ambassador Purity In Rare Public Appearance
The Memorial Service for the late Kenyan Diplomat Mr. James Ndilai Kiboi was held last Saturday and marked with picture slides on a projector celebrating the diplomat’s life, speeches and gospel music by artists from St Immanuel Church in Stockholm. After the multimedia presentation, the audience was addressed by Mrs Catherine Kiboi, his widow, Jeff Ole Ngais, Kiboi’s friend, Kiboi’s two children, Tanya and Josh and his sister Nelly who has been in Sweden to give support to the late Diplomat’s family.
However, the most important speaker was Her Excellency Ambassador Purity Muhindi who attended the function together with her husband Mr. Muhindi. It was the first time some Kenyans were listening to the reclusive Ambassador since she was appointed by President Kibaki to head the Mission in Stockholm. It was a rare appearance.
Clad in an immaculate and stylish Kitenge dress (complete with a head scurf), Ambassador Purity began her address by “Praising the Lord” as the audience responded loyally with “Aimen!” She said that the Embassy remembered Kiboi as “A diplomat of diplomats”, a gifted person who was able to establish rapport with both his juniors and his bosses.
“Whenever he served as a diplomat, he was highly approachable”, Purity told the attentive crowd of about 100 people comprising of Wakenya and friends. Reading slowly but carefully from a prepared speech, the Ambassador said that the late Kiboi was outstanding during his service both in Ethiopia and Scandinavia and that he found his way around easily.
She reminded the audience about Kiboi’s role during the Somali reconciliation process in Nairobi where Mr. Kiboi represented both the Kenyan government and IGARD. She said that when she attended the Somali Conference on Peace and Rehabilitation recently, people flocked to her to express fond memories they had of Mr. Kiboi.
“He served with distinction in many departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affaires”, she said, adding that she was looking forward to working with James when she was posted in Stockholm but that God had his own plans.
Turning to Kiboi’s conviction in life, Ambassador Purity said that James believed that “The best way to find fulfillment in life was to put your God given talents to the service of those around you”.
“James improved the lives of men, women and children in his home area who looked at him as a future leader in his community”, she said. She was happy that Kiboi’s widow, Catherine, had joined them at the Mission and hoped that her children will continue to be a joyful part of the Kenyan community in Stockholm. Catherine is currently employed at the Embassy as an “Attaché”.
She said that the Embassy continued to remember James as a happy and sociable officer. “His sense of humor continues to inspire joy in us. We rest in a secure knowledge that God will continue to provide his love and grace to Catherine and the family”, she concluded.
“LIFE BECAME TATSLESS” AFTER KIBOI’S DEATH
On her part, Catherine said that she has had to undergo a very difficult time following the death of her husband. She said that when she returned with her children after the burial, Sweden felt like “the land of the unknown”.
Wrapped in Massai traditional dress, Catherine narrated how tears came down her cheeks when she noticed that she was alone with the children as she wondered whether she would be able to cope with the situation.
In a message that was packed with religious anecdotes, she said: “God had tempted me beyond what I could bare”. She said that she never expected the death of Kiboi while at the same time she had no choice after his death but to try and cope with the situation. She said that God is the husband of all widows. “He is my light and my salvation. Who can I fear?”, she posed.
She said that after the demise of her husband, life became tasteless and thanked everybody who had been praying for the family. She said that God was her refuge and fortress and that during the dark moment, God assured her of his presence.
“He has been there every step of the way”. she said. “I thank him from the bottom of my heart for bringing us this far”, she added. She told the audience that she was also grateful for the presence of Kiboi’s sister and her support. “God can turn around any situation”, she said.
Observing that the love of god is unconditional, she reminded her listeners that God was dependable and reliable. She appealed to the audience to carry the message of reconciliation and love, stressing that if her husband were alive today, she was sure that he would wish for unity among people. “We can become our brother’s keepers with Gods help. I just want to thank you all for coming to celebrate with us”, she said.
Kiboi’s sister, Nelly said that although her brother was physically gone, his love and wisdom continued to guide the family. She thanked God for the gift of life and the beautiful memories.
“We still care and love you. You will always be with us. It has been tough for Catherine ever since but God has been guiding her” she said as she finished her address.
Jeff Ole Ngais, a close friend of the late Kiboi, was also given the opportunity to address the audience. He said that people should be happy that they are alive and reminded the crowd that the gathering was not called for people to mourn.
“We have lost a lot of people. We have cried a lot but we cannot cry all our lives”, he said. “James was one of my closest friends. We did things together. I miss him so much but we have to go on”, he said.
Jeff, who is also the Chairperson of Chama Cha mwananchi, told the gathering that despite death, life must go on. He said that although it was good to reflect on the life of James, it was also important for people to do things by themselves. Jeff believes that what James wanted to say in life is that “We should unite”, adding that with faith, we can achieve things.
The audience was also addressed by Kiboi’s daughter and son. The son said that he had missed his father during his last birthday and that he had grown taller since his father departed.
YOU ARE EITHER WITH GOD OR THE DEVIL
The function was interspersed with bouts of intensive prayers for Kiboi’s family, parabolic sermons and songs of praise. At some stage, the sermons were so intensive that the audience found itself totally absorbed in deep emotion.
While President George Bush said that “You are either with us or the terrorists”, tension grew among non believers in the audience as the Preacher shouted at the top of his voice through the microphone “You are either with God or the Devil”.
The situation was made even more difficult by experienced members of the audience who responded to the challenge by shouting a sharp “YESSS!” as if agreeing with the Preacher. Non Kenyan believers known to frequent Vasa, the popular drinking hole, could be sported looking worried as if Jesus had entered the hall without notice.
After the “Fellowship” Pastor Tila invited the audience for a “Swallowship” (coffe) but not before sadaka was collected. He told the audience to hold their sadaka tightly into their hands and pray for something they have always wanted on grounds that God made man in his own image and likeness. He said that everybody is God and could therefore decree anything and that it will happen because God said “Let there be light and there was light”. A Kenyan who was seated next to me said that he had “ordered a Hummer” (like Raila’s) and hoped that the prayer would soon be answered.
Okoth Osewe
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