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The spirit of Dr. Alembi, in Death he Lives

As the body of Dr. Ezekiel Alembi was being laid to rest at around 5 pm in Ebwiranyi in Emuhaya constituency on Saturday, January, 2010, by the grave side, tears and emotions reigned. It was a funeral full of twinge, as a remarkable celebration of death. Perhaps the dirges performed by the two artist from Kisii, Nyanza Drama Officials, KU and the Banyore people were all meant to send the approachable Kenyan workaholic hero who wore many hats.

Significantly, in the abstract of his Thesis, a study of his people, Entitled ‘The abanyole dirge: “escorting” the Dead with song and dance’; Dr. Alembi observes: “Song and dance pervades the life and the world of the Abanyole. When they are sad, they sing; when they are happy, they sing; when a child is born, they sing and dance and when one dies, they also sing and dance. So strong is the singing and dancing tradition in this community that it can be described as lubricating oil that the Abanyole use on their wheel of life as they transact different facets of their being”. This was exactly the scenario in his own village, in his own funeral.

Who was Dr. Alembi to me?

As a literary icon, who deserves literary canonization, I knew Dr. while in High school through his writings. So simple yet thought provoking as laughable are his writing that one, especially who has had a taste of the village life in Africa would read them over and over. His book: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga- A rebel with a Course-successfully integrates modernity with the past, town and village and childhood and old age. Naming mobile phone ‘obilo’ by one of the characters, a Luo grandmother shows how language develops, the role of ICT in rapid globalization and need for preservation of our history.

Physically I came to know Dr. when I joined KU. It was however international essay writing competition organized by UN’s body-ITU that made us know each other in person Wining the fellowship in 2008 and representing Kenya in Egypt in ICT Conference is a life time achievement that I owe to Dr.
As a coordinator of the essay writing competition, selecting four finalists whose essays were to be assessed in Switzerland was no easy task fro him. The selected essayists, me and a colleague, Nancy, were not from the Department of literature and were not known to Dr. before. Dr. Alembi was honest, hated laziness, hated mediocrity and a best mentor to me. Taking the entire Saturday , from 10 AM to 6.30 PM with the four of us to guide us on the fundamental tenets of a wining essay, with occasional admonish for not learning fast and lots of hearty laughers and jokes, was no mean gesture.

After wining the fellowship, Dr. Alembi convinced the Vice Chancellor to host a dinner for the two of us with him and two DVCs-Prof Obura and Prof.Muluvi, on the eve of our flight to Egypt. As a result we won the rare Vice Chancellor’s fee waiver. We also had an interview, http://ko-kr.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=235745996071&topic=22870 / http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/ku-essayists-excell/), in his office with a Sunday Nation literary critic-Joseph Ngunjiri.

I vividly remember how Dr. Alembi was very happy; saying the two of us had made the university proud, and him. On our way to the dinner, walking along beautiful KU streets, Dr. advised us; “don’t be like my lecturer who hid such opportunities only to share with the students he liked”. At the end of the fellowship program, ‘confused’ on how to say thank you, an idea rung in my mind. I bought for Dr. an inspirational book and wrote, ‘you have taught me how to live. Thank you’. Through Dr. I have managed to surpass I managed to surpass my childhood dreams- being published internationally. My essay was entitled: ‘Promoting Peace through ICT Compliant Youth’

My closeness with Dr. reached climax when he accepted to become my referee. RIP.

During the burial, I asked my self whether Dr. Alembi died happy or not. Related, after fine tuning our essays for a whole day, as we had late lunch of nyoma choma in his office, he brought in a debate as he usually did: “the goat we are feasting on, did it die happy?”

In my opinion based on the eulogies, Dr. Alembi was happy with his accomplishments. A library in his village, scholarships for the village children, taking Equity Bank to Western Kenya, mentoring thousands, publishing over 40 books, initiating KU 99.9 FM, heading Drama festivals for Schools and Colleges etc etc, Dr. is one person, one nationalist we have dearly lost.

The life guiding theme that I have inherited from Dr. is service to community; our talents we hold in trust. R.I.P Dr.Alembi.

February 6, 2010 | 11:40 PM Comments  0 comments

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Computer Skills for College Students; Model I.T.U Perspectives
Related to this project: MODEL-ITU YOUTH ORGANIZATION

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

In the rapidly changing world where computer technology is a key influencing factor, it is critical that all the college students be equipped with the necessary skills essential in the process of learning, social networking, communication, online research, and documents’ typing, typesetting and formatting. These skills entail the capability of one to understand the key features of computers, its use and the applications of such knowledge and skills in the day to day learning and life processes.

Summarily, the primary computer skills which every college student needs to posses, as a requirement of most colleges include ‘basic to advanced knowledge in presentation, spreadsheet applications, bibliographic research techniques, internet searching principles, database searching skills, word processing, and information management’.

There are several reasons which make the computer skills necessary for the college students. First, in the course of study practically every course requires computer skills in communication between student and instructor, and submission of assignments in soft copy.

By embracing of e-learning and computerization of learning process, it is essential that every student posses certain basic computer skills especially the office packages, internet and email. These skills will be helpful in typing of assignments as very few professors will accept assignments submitted in hard copy.

Secondly, most colleges insist on practical education, concept mastery and ability of a student to interactively share his/her knowledge acquired in class through panel discussions and in-class presentations. Consequently, it is significant that every college students have the ability to generate quality and professional power point presentations. Evidently, the ability to design an outstanding power point presentation lies in the students’ understanding and experience of basic IT skills.

Further, most colleges require that students at every level develop research skills and be able to write dissertations, research proposals, reaction papers and articles reviews. These however require that the students carry out extensive research online so as to find the credible academic papers, e-books, peer reviews, white papers and other relevant online publications. Lack of computer skills will render a student’s work irrelevant especially if online materials are not found or used as required. For example at the Arkansas university, students who participate in an online studies are required to have ‘some familiarity and comfort with using a computer’ so as to make the learning process more flexible and enjoyable . At the same time, the computer skills would be crucial in searching for the required materials since mastery of computer skills would speed up the process of online research and writing academic papers.

Additionally, through globalization and information and Communication Technology development, nearly all aspects of human life, social, economic political and religious, have been and are being influenced by technology. Since the major role of the colleges is to prepare students who are to work towards alleviation of human problems and offers service to humanity in all spheres of life, it is of paramount importance that the students understand the basic tenets of computer technology irrespective of their course and areas of specialization. By possessing the computer skills, the students upon graduation from the college, will not only effectively fit into the technologically oriented work place characterized by applications of management information systems, group support soft wares and electronic data interchange but also be able to meet the current and future organizational IT adoption and employer’s expectations.

This clearly demonstrate the fact that students who may be highly qualified with impressive professional certifications but have little or no basic computer skills risk being locked out of the dynamic labor market. In fact, for most employers, computers are as essential as ‘pen and paper’ hence a requirement that employees have a basic computer skills.

Finally, it is important that every colleges assesses the basic computer skills of their students so as to be able to put into place intervention measures aimed at bridging the computer skill gap and assist the students in knowledge acquisition.
It is in line with these arguments that Model I.T.U initiated the Student-Student ICT Training in collaboration with KU e-learning center to ensure that every student is recruited into the information society.


September 5, 2009 | 4:20 AM Comments  0 comments

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KENYAN CENSUS:I REFUSED, SET AND ANSWERED MY TRIBE QUESTION
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

After reading many texts on tribe and negative ethnicity in Africa, I vehemently refused to tell the government sent enumerator ‘my tribe’. The enumerator, good looking Kenyan she asked at exactly 2146hrs on August 24, 2009;“ …….and what is your tribe?” My rehearsed reply was:’Am Kenyan, from Nyando”. She then gave a shy smile and exactly coded my tribe.

I know I am not mad as once claimed by Pr. Museveni (read “mad wajaluo in Migingo”,http://kenya.rcbowen.com/talk/viewtopic.php?id=112972),but the pronounced negative ethnicity drove to do so. I also know that such information as tribe/ethnicity and religion are very crucial in the advancement of social research and assessment of the social-cultural developments. But, the madness with which such information has been used drove me to say NO to the state agent.

This opinion has been shared by many Kenyans including Mutahi Ngunyi, who promised to boycott the exercise meant to count ‘dying hunger victims ’ (Sunday Nation, August 23, 2009), Njeri Kabeberi-Kanene (http://letasiasa.blogspot.com/2005/09/njeri-kabeberi-kanene-on-negative.html), Koigi among others. The British colonialists, in the 1960 version of the Britannica Encyclopedia describe the African communities as ‘primitive tribes’.

Conversely, it is a fact that such negative ethnicity are used by those in power to wedge rifts among peaceful people, thus culminating into animosities and eventual genocide. What of manipulations? Check the 1989 statistics.
Some ‘hostile people’ then had negative population growth (...in polygamy plagued Africa…my foot!), while others gave birth to triplets, a justification for inequitable development and skewed channeling of national resources.

If my tribe would to lead to all these and many more ‘mad Wajaluo’ tribal tendencies, let my tribe be tribe Kenya.

August 24, 2009 | 4:51 PM Comments  0 comments

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KU RIOTS: REPLICA OF DEARTH NATIONALISM?
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The 5th August 2009 release of parliamentary report by the education committee regarding KU riots serves as a clear indication of the way cheap politics and ‘my tribe’, ‘our turn’ backward ideologies have infiltrated nearly every institution in the republic, fountains of education not spared.

Picture this: “There were politicians bent on causing trouble in the university, they wanted their person to head the institution,” this “It is a fact that the university administration is heavily tribal… also students’ politics for now is deeply ethnic,” Dr Mwiria said , and “four MPs from Central Kenya met 300 students at Thika’s Blue Post Hotel where they are said to have asked them to “protect” the then besieged Vice Chancellor” (DAILY NATION, August 6, 2009).
I write this because I am a loyal to KU.

If KU as I believe moulds tomorrows’ leaders where is the republic headed to? I will not give a Plato kind of apology because somebody will try to make believe otherwise, but every member of the community including the high flying old students need a share of the blame.

Conspicuity missing though was the issue of students’ leadership as enshrined in the Act which created the university. Most observes hints at the apparent ‘vulnerability’ of should be ‘served/protected’ electorates whose ‘eyes’ have been dislodged because ‘they eyes were preventing them from reaching Canaan.’

Nevertheless there is need for GENIUNE DIALOGUE and proactive peace and leadership building initiatives aimed at entrenching nationalism and tolerance among all actors. The fundament and debatable questions are; for how long will we haphazardly address pertinent issues, through blame shifts? And, will KU voter apathy , as the riot is linked to ‘protest (and tribal coalitions) voting in of a militant regime’ which has made most students detest students elections , transcend to national lections’ voting as KU issue is a mirror image of national governance?


August 7, 2009 | 9:07 AM Comments  0 comments

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IRAN POLL VIOLENCE; WHY WEST NEED REBIRTH OF ARAB DEMOCRATIZATION POLICIES
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

After the disputed polls in Iran and the aftermath, characterized by ugly scenes of violence, anger, frustrations and hatred, there is need to examine the relationship, if any, between the western and Arab democracies. Indeed the government has accused the West of trying to interfere while the opposition is too defiant to give in to calls of cease fire. This article is motivated by the close association the results of Iranian election results have with Kenya’s 2007 disputed polls. The difference only being that president Ahmadinejad ‘won’ massively, the man who visited Kenya two months ago to meet the president before Kenya’s PM flew to Tehran two weeks later. What an irony? But will president Ahmadinejad and Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi share the loaf-half bin half? Back to the topic, different scholars give diverse description of democracy based on the understanding and specific point of reference. Democracy therefore can be defined as ‘a belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is ether held by elected representative or directly by the people themselves’ (Ahmar, pp.1).
Democracy, from the western countries’ point of view is a “government of the people, by the people, for the people" (Anderson, pp.1). As such, the concept has had different applications and interpretations which have seen the movement change in form and system. Consequently there has been emergence of what is called Western Democracy as practiced in the western world and attempts by the west to woo other countries to adopt this system. Ahmar strongly criticizes the Western form of democracy especially in its relationship with the Muslim world stating that the system is not only different from the ancient one but can also be very manipulative as the elected representatives can interfere with the voting process and outcomes as well as the public opinion and debate (Ahmar, pp.2).
The Muslim perspective of democracy on the other hand can be described as a conservative principle in which the sovereignty of the rulers and the people lies with God. This system views democracy as one which incorporates religion into the political system. This is what Anderson refers to as Islamic democracy, ‘a mixture of the rule of people and the supremacy of God’ (Anderson, pp.1). The definition of Muslim democracy therefore is one that support the concept that all are equal before God though the rulers must relate their actions to the teachings of Koran through adoption of a mutual consultative process called Shura as found in Koran 42:38 (Esposito & Voll, pp.1 and Louws, pp.1).
This form of democracy therefore only prevails on a limited scale and it must not be against the Islamic religious teachings. Therefore, the rule of democracy can only be allowed up to a give point as long as it does not go against the Islamic doctrines, a system which according to Anderson has both a democratic and an authoritarian face (Anderson, pp.1). Likewise, Madelbaum asserts that the Islamic faith which dominates the Arab region is not wholly incompatible with democracy since certain countries like Mali, Turkey, and Indonesia have managed to form stable and productive democratic governments, though some imperfections, by carefully balancing religion and politics (Mandelbaum, pp.1).
In contrast the West has attempted to use various means including force (aggressive democracy promotion) against the weak to entrench their democratic systems as the case with Iraq and Afghanistan and currently Iran hence hardening their desire for nuclear weapons (Perkovich, pp.5). Research by United States Institute of Peace earnestly reveals that Arab world has the lowest level of political freedom in comparison to other regions in the world, a trend that ought to be reversed (United States Institute of Peace, pp.1). Controversy therefore arises as scholars’ debate whether or not and to what extent should the Arab world adopt democracy especially with the rise of Muslim radicalisms, violent insurgencies and terrorisms. Regrettably, the major player in Middle East democratization process, the U.S especially during the reign of President George W. Bush, owing to its strong policy stand which associated war on terror with the war against Islam portrayed the religion as non peaceful and undemocratic (Hayajneh, pp.4). Despite the major benefits of democracy, however, research shows that most countries have not fully embraced the idea. According to Cooter, research findings clearly demonstrate that only a small fraction of states in Africa and the Middle East are democratic with most being tentative, fragile and highly against any form of competition and fair play (Cooter, pp.5). the worrying statistical trend analysis indicate that out of 14 middle east countries, only 2 (14 % ) are democratic with the 12 (86 % ) others being non democracies (Cooter, pp.5). Citing Iran as an example, Moin states that such radical groups are responsible for the adoption of 1979 Iranian constitution which refers to the country as ‘Islamic republic’( Moin, pp.1). There has also been use of religious clerics who are taken to be the spiritual leaders though they are above the powers of the constitution. Such leaders in theory can be sacked but they are not accountable to anybody and are viewed as God’s representatives who are above every branch of power and any political arrangement including the formal courts systems, the presidency and the parliament (Moin, pp.1).
Promotion of popular competition and accountability are also reasons why the Middle East needs to adopt democracy. According to Cooter, democracy is a very viable form of governance as it not only promote accountability but also ensure fair competition through open and free elections that makes the elected representatives be responsive to the needs of the electorates just like the case with competitive market structures where the players have to obey the consumers wants to remain in the market (Cooter, pp.6). Further, direct democracy should be promoted in the Middle East as a vehicle through which voters’ preferences can be effectively satisfied. At the same time, the proponents of democracy have resorted to civil pressure to push their leaders to accept certain critical elements of democracy.
A strong relationship between Islam as a religion with democracy has been provided by Sulami who emphasizes that religion and politics can be separable in Islam since democracy is not against religion per see hence attempts to separate the two is ‘not a precondition of democracy’ (Sulami, pp.1). This stipulation gives an indication that even in mature democracies; religion is a power force in the political system since ‘democracy is areligious’ (Sulami, pp.1). It is also true that a democratic and politically stable Middle East would be critical if the peace of the world is to be realized as the region hosts numerous terrorist cells and militant groups.
Such reforms therefore need not to necessarily follow the Western process in instituting democracy but need to be owned by the very citizens of the Arab world who are to be served by the political arrangement. A careful balance must also be created between politics and Islamic religion so as to avoid any problem that may occur like misuse of the democratic space by the Islamic militias and terrorists to take over power through the ballot. The approach could take a model which attempts to bridge the gap between Islamic values and Muslim practices and marry the two into institutionalized democracy as the model used in Mali, Turkey and Indonesia (Smock, pp.1 and Mandelbaum, pp.1). The people also need to be educated on the benefits of such systems as they would have their voices heard and hold their representatives accountable in running of state affairs. Unfortunately if you ask whether internet application especially of face book and twitter as well phones and other multimedia to reach ( voter education)the Iranian youths is responsible for the ‘awakening’ I will neither reply nor talk but remind you to trace Arab politics to Islamic conquests and oil money.

Change Required; the western countries must critically analyze with a view to understand the nature of the problem in each specific country and also include all the influential people and institutions in the Middle East in the reform policies for the region. This change of attitude and tactical approach is needed now more than ever since US policy makers have been noted to ignore moderate Islamic voices for reform despite the fact that such groupings have strong and massive political and religious following in the region (United States Institute of Peace, pp.1).



References:
Ahmar, F. Muslim Political Thought; Secularism and Democracy: Meanings and Views.
(2006). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://www.hoggar.org/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=132&Itemid=28
Anderson, J.W. Islamic Democracy's Power Politics (2001). Retrieved June 22, 2009,
from http://www.britannica.com/news/washingtonpost/article?article_id=224338
Moin, B. Theocracy vs. Democracy. (2001). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1373693.stm.
Cooter, R. Median V. Bargain Democracy. (2002). University of California; Berkeley.
Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://repositories.cdlib.org/berkeley law econ/fall2002/7
from http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2001-11/islam.html
Mandelbaum, M. Arab Democracy and American Policy. (2009). Retrieved June 22, 2009,
Mier, B. A. Promoting Democracy in The Arab And Muslim World. (2007). Foreign
Service Journal. Washington DC.
Sulami, M. Democracy in the Arab World: The Islamic Foundation. (2005). Retrieved
June 22, 2009, from http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-opening/islam_2990.jsp
United States Institute of Peace. Promoting Middle East Democracy II: Arab Initiatives.
(2005). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr

June 22, 2009 | 6:04 AM Comments  0 comments

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