Ben Carson ONE ON ONE WITH
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ONE ON ONE WITH
Ben Carson
ABUTA OGETO GETS THE RARE
CHANCE TO CHAT WITH THE
INSPIRATIONAL MAN
EDITORIAL BOARD Editorial Desk
T
he November-December Edition marks the
end of the first quota of existence of All
Reagan Nyadimo-Managing Editor Senses Magazine and The Writers Guild-
Abuta Ogeto-Associate Editor Kenya as an organization. During this
Carole Nyabeta-Revise Editor issue, we take a moment to reflect on all the
Norah Beverly Keru- accomplishments we have managed to achieve throughout
bo-Content Creator the period. We bring stories focused on the
Barbara Andeso-Content Creator reflection of our readers.
Rhoda Kagiri-Content Creator For all this time, we have deliberately
Walter Wagumba-Content Creator done our part to impact society in the little
Martin M. Mwebia- (Photography) way we can. We have made deliberate
efforts to say the best part of the youth
and open eyes to new possibilities. As
DESIGN AND LAYOUT we prepare for next year, we remind you
Scadden Orina - Art Director to remember all we have brought you
David Muna - Designer this year. We remind you to remember
the stories like,’Abortion is not an
option’etc. Kindly, make deliberate
efforts to implement what you read.
The Editorial Board welcomes Next year, we promise a more dynamic
comments, articles, news and feed- and flexible approach. We promise to give
back. You could get in touch with you exactly what you want to consume. We
the board through our social media promise you the best. You support has been
platforms; great; your contribution has been immense.
For a successful take off, All Senses
Magazine & The Writers Guild-Kenya takes
Facebook: The Writers Guild the accolades but the praise is all yours.
Twitter: WritersGuildKe In conclusion, we advise you to get all
Email: mail@writersguildke.com our previous issues from our website: www.
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Follow us on our social pages as well.
Have a Merry Christmas and an All Senses
New Year.
Regards,
Gabriel Dinda
CEO, Th e Writers Guild-Kenya/Editor-in-Chief
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 3
4 ALL SENSES MAGAZINE
CONTENTS
26STUDENT MUSICIANS
CREATING THEIR BRANDS.
28QUEEN
MONTH
OF THE
29STAGES OF RELATIONSHIP
ONE MUST WATCH
34FIVE RULES TO DATING A
MARRIED MAN
18
WAS A HORRIBLE
35 8CAMPUS.
36
WAYS TO STAY SAFE IN
MY LIFE AFTER
ABORTION: A
UNIVERSITY STUDENT
STUDENT IN UNI OPENS UP
AN INTERVIEW WITH
DR. BEN CARSON 38 AN OPEN LETTER TO MY
ABSENTEE FATHER.
42LIFE AFTER SCHOOL: THE
UNTAUGHT LESSONS
06 CAMPUS
ROUND-UP
NEWS
07 LET UNIVERSITIES
SPECIALIZE TO RE-
ALIZE VISION 2030
08 MENTORSHIP IS KEY:
TO ACHIEVE YOUR
GOALS, YOU NEED A RE-
LIABLE MENTOR.
10
23
ANGELINE: THEY BROKE
MY SKULL BECAUSE OF
MY TRIBE AND GENDER.
12 AFRICA DOES NOT
NEED BILLIONS. IT’S A FIDDLER’S
17 HISTORY OF GERMANY:
25 YEARS SINCE
WORLD:
FREEDOM BEGAN WHERE STRINGS
MEET PASSION.
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 5
CAMPUS NEWS ROUND UP
LEADERSHIP CROSS-CAMPUS
Egerton Uni Students take to
streets, Leaders Arrested.
UoN’s Arnold
Austin becomes Egerton University students took to
streets early in the month to protest
the First Campus against an exam related issue. They
student to be were allegedly protesting the new
Exam policy whose details are not
nominated to clear to this publication. A section of
Youth Senate. the students were also demanding
that all ‘comrades’ be issued with exam
The University of Nairobi Law Student, cards regardless of fee status. A nearby
who doubles up to be the Secretary shopping centre and property worth
General to Young Agents for Reforms millions were destroyed.
and Democracy landed the coveted post Four of the Students’ Leaders were
following his committed service to the arrested but released shortly after.
democratic process through a number This strike adds in the numerous other
of initiatives and collaborations geared education. He therefore decides to be the strikes witnessed in the year from
towards changing the mindset for Ken- change he wishes to see. different universities. Is this the best
yan youth for better. He believes Kenya Youth Senate is a replica of the way to address issues?
youth have a lot of potential which can National Senate. It discusses the issues
be tapped through mentorship and affecting the youth. AWARDS
DEVELOPEMENT K.U’s Philip Etemesi tipped
to win Africa’s Blogger of
the Year Award.
The flamboyant relationship writ-
er who has provoked a number of
thoughts by his writings has finally
received an indication of success in
his career. The former Economics and
Finance student of Kenyatta Univer-
sity was nominated for the coveted
nomination by Social Media Awards
Africa alongside Nigeria’s finest blog-
ger Linda Ikeji, a South African and
K.U Opens two Wedding Photographer Brian Kirubi.
more buildings again The awards ceremony will be held in
Lagos Nigeria in January 23rd 2015.
The voting for the awards have cur-
If you thought that Kenyatta University The Campanile is one of its kind in rently stopped. From the category, the
will be tired of erecting modern and so- Africa offering unique and unrivalled Kenyatta University alumni who has
phisticated buildings, then you are defi- package. The Campanile has 13 floors. declared his love for the talked about
nitely wrong. After Chandaria Business Each floor has a unique historical story Victoria Kimani is tipped to win.
and Incubation Centre, Central Admin- it tells. The most scenic of the floors is Victoria Kimani has shown great
istrative Complex, among other recent evidently the 13th floor which enables interest in Etemesi’s work and
Buildings, Kenyatta University opened you to see the whole of Nairobi Area perhaps, very soon, we might just
the brand New Directorate Complex and in ‘3D’. If this is not unique, then re- receive the ‘ News’. Until then…
of course The K.U Campanile. evaluate your definition of unique.
6 ALL SENSES MAGAZINE
OPINION pathways in science and engineering,
as well as in the arts, humanities,
Let universities management if designated. Some
students design new buildings and
create more workable urban living
specialize to realize
environments. Our society will ask much
more of these students--and they will
ask more of themselves--than just to
vision 2030
know what others have accomplished.
If they are going to help us expand our
knowledge and solve our problems,
they are going to have to know how to
research, to analyze, to synthesize, and
to communicate. They must learn how
to gather data, to develop hypotheses,
to test and refine them, or throw them
out when necessary and start again.
Students need to learn how to share
their work with other professionals
and with their fellow citizens. All
universities should be involved in credit
accumulation Transfer (CAT) where a
student can start in Nairobi University,
transfer to Moi University and graduate
in Kenyatta University. Let this be a
reality. We still have 22 counties which
do not have universities whether private
or public. By 2018 there is a projection of
By Veronica Onjoro establishment of M-pesa innovation. having 90 universities and if they don’t
U
Its core studies are, offering specialized specialize it will be futile as universities
niversities need to have degree in electronic of SIM-cards and have been told that they produce half-
quality in teaching, how to make them better. They have bakedstudents. It is imperative and
research and learning patented their innovations. It is one of prudent to open doors to industrial
which in essence the specialized of its kind in the world. people and people who are specialized
the core business Kenyan universities should specialize in their areas to visit and teach in the
of universities is. The objective of and use research both to satisfy our universities, this is called Adjunct and
research, to paraphrase Nobel Prize innate curiosity--what is the structure visiting academic staff. This is done
winning physicist Leon Cooper, is to of the solar system, what are the basic in universities abroad who outsource
discover how the world works. We now constituents of matter and how do professors and in the end, the university
have 67 universities both public and they interact--and to help us solve benefits. Most of innovators in Kenya,
private spread over 47 counties. Some problems--how can we prevent and cure coincidentally are not university
universities are technical while others disease, create more livable cities, or graduates but people who have never set
offer agricultural based courses and secure the advances of computers and foot into a tertiary institution. Let us
others education courses. Let us have communications technology for the not have the Bologna process. This was
universities specializing in particular social good. Sometimes, what we learn the name of the first university to be set
courses e.g. agricultural, Engineering, by satisfying our curiosity turns out to up. When the first problem occurred,
ICT, and Education and teaching, so produce the knowledge we can use to they nicknamed the problem as bologna
that, if a student graduate from that solve our problems. process. So if a university has a problem
university, it will be known that he/she The main objective of education it refers to the name (Bologna process).
has specialized in a particular area of is to prepare people to live full and We needs to safeguard the future in
expertise. responsible lives. The students should order to realize vision 2030.
In Korea for example, there is a be people with a passion to engineer a
university which specializes in offering better world and to shape the future. The Writer is a part time lecturer and a post
degrees in SIM-card making. The Among them are profoundly creative graduate student in Mombasa.
university was instrumental in the people who will tread new and different
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 7
INSIGHT
Mentorship Is Key:
TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, YOU
NEED A RELIABLE MENTOR.
TEN COMMANDMENTS
OF MENTORSHIP
By: Mysson Humane 1. Facilitate not clone.
J
behind them, there existed
ust living is not hidden individuals who gave
good enough. them energy, propelling them
2. Uniqueness is important.
Good life is not through life. 3. Consistency is critical
fine enough Mentoring brings about
and humility joy and satisfaction but 4. Empower rather than solve.
is not the ultimate term. No unfortunately some mentors
one is fully molded without do it so good while others Lone Felix (in black shirt), 5. You are not responsible-
inspiration from influential do it so bad. As I travelled former Kenyatta Univer- you have shared
people who took their time, through the lives of many sity Students Association responsibility.
an essential resource, to people, I realized that there President, takes a walk
nurture the young minds. are some important aspects in Kibera slums with his 6. Appreciate what you’re
As I look back into my past, of mentorship which every mentor, former Deputy
giving.
however dark it could have mentor should possess. President Hopeful, Ronnie
Osumba (in blue jeans).
been, I always afford a smile. This is far different from 7. It’s not coaching; it’s
My face turns bright and one psychology which insists on mentoring.
can easy tell that spring of life the study of human mind.
exists within me. This smile “Mentoring is to support 8. Honor your limits and
is the one which was brought and encourage people to boundaries.
about by people who cared to manage their own learning in
care, to love, to inspire and to order that they may maximize 9. Listening is hard but advice
motivate. They gave me hope their potential, develop is easy. We could all use
and enthusiasm, changing their skills, improve their more listeners in the world.
wholly the perception about performance and become the
life. Talking to great people of person they want to be.” Eric 10. Faking it is not making it.
this nation I was amused that Parsloe, the Oxford School of Provide honest feedback.
8 ALL SENSES MAGAZINE
Coaching & Mentoring ensure that you have really
Thus Mentoring is understood it.
a powerful personal
growth, development and WHY SHOULD
empowerment tool. It is YOU MENTOR?
an effective way of helping
people to progress in their Mentoring isn’t just useful for
careers and is becoming the mentee; it’s great for the
increasing popular as its mentor as well. For one thing,
potential is realized. It is a mentoring provides that won-
helpful relationship based derful feeling you get when
upon mutual trust and you help someone and make a
respect. difference in his or her life.
Attentiveness. In addition, being a mentor
You can only mentor can help you in your career.
someone you know. It would You will stand a chance of
be crazy to go to a stranger retaining your job position in
and start discharging your a given company so as to con-
knowledge cylinder full of tinue offering advisory ser-
inspirational phrases. Believe vices to your fellow employees
me, it won’t work. You will as well as your employer. This
only be in a position to way, you become a valuable involved in the first place. This
mentor after actively listening employee to your boss. results in lack of trust and dis-
to the situations of your Mentorship entails illusionment to your mentees.
mentees. Active listening sharing with a younger or a Commitment is an important
is work in itself. It requires newer colleague what you’ve aspect of any mentorship
learned in the school of life program.
and experience, the mistakes The other challenge of
Mentoring isn’t you’ve made in the process
Douglas Logedi (Head
of Ambassadors, Africa mentorship is impatience.
just useful for and the strategies you laid to
counter act them in order to
Talent Bank) shares a
moment with his lateral
Positive results may not show
up for several months or
the mentee; it’s ensure that the organization mentor, Steve Obuogo, a even years. Mentors generally
great for the progresses at a faster tempo.
Mentoring will likely also
corporate events Manager,
during an event. The two
have to be exercise patience
and endurance. The mentees
mentor as well. inspire fresh ideas since have watched each other
grow as of regards to
may not reciprocate love and
you’ll be stepping out of your gratitude immediately. Some
mentorship.
normal circle of friends and even, won’t. In essence, we
energy. Mentors who actively associates. mentor expecting nothing in
listen do not just sit back But mentoring can also return.
and allow words to hit their be a boon if you’re retired or In essence, mentorship
eardrums with the hope that nearing that stage of your life. is a process and requires
they will stick in there. The interpersonal skills in order
most embarrassing scenario THE MAIN CHALLENGE OF to maintain relationships
during a given mentorship MENTORING. between the mentor and the
session is when you keep on mentee. Commitment too is
enquiring, “What did you say The main challenge of mento- essential tool which cannot be
your name is? What were you ring is the investment of self overlooked. As you start this
talking about?” these and and time, and this should not journey, my wish is that you
their likes will most likely be overlooked. Cancelling or may derive joy from the service
send different messages to postponing scheduled meet- of humanity. Go ahead and do
your mentees and hence ings, or failing to turn up or it. It is possible. It is doable. It
mistrust finds itself in. taking simply failing to demonstrate is exciting serving!
notes has never hurt, has it? enough attention and sup-
As an effective mentor, you port to someone who looks The Writer is a student of Kenyat-
should be able to mirror back upon you as their mentor ta University. myssonhumane@
what you’ve heard so as to is worse than never getting gmail.com
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 9
She won the coveted position of Secretary General
of Egerton University Students Leadership, a
position which would later earn her a permanent
scar in her delicate skull. The soft spoken
but astute, Angeline keeps her eyes on the
Transformational Leadership as her critics spend
sleepless nights addressing her as ‘sir’ in their
memos. Is Kenya’s student leadership this rotten?
Angeline:
they broke my
skull because
of my tribe
and gender.
Violence erupted immedi- when they are hit, we have
By Fabian Odhiambo. ately after the results were an objective to lead the war
announced and you par- in transforming the mindsets
Your victory, would you ticularly got injured. Were of our generations if we are Angeline, poses for
say not everyone was hap- other election winners going to be different. Person- a photo during the
interview. The new
py? Why? affected too or would you ally, I chose to take this pain
Secretary General
describe the violence as for power. blames her woes
Not everyone was happy having a gender bias? on those who don’t
and I think that this is quite
normal. In any election, I had my head almost crushed We have to believe in change in
leadership equation
everybody is usually at liberty
to choose and support leaders
on that particular day and
no other winner was injured.
appreciate the in Kenya.
of their own choice because About the violence, I would diversity in
of the differences in ideology.
We have to appreciate the di-
say that it was partly tribal
and partly gender biased.
thought, choice
versity in thought, choice and What I am sure of is that and belief.
belief. It is painful to lose an the stone was thrown by a
election and for the ones who man and selectively, I was
lost, I cannot blame them for the target. Now that ladies Any legal follow ups that
not being happy have been known not to have were done to curb the
the muscles to hit men back menace and perhaps
10 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEMore women are getting empowered each day and the
stereotypes in the society that women cannot lead are
slowly but steadily fading away.
sound a warning to such almost a similar incident. have an equal opportunity as
barbarity? Nairobi County Women your male counterpart.
Representative for exam-
Well, the matter was reported ple was publicly slapped Who is your role model in
to the Security department by a fellow leader. De- Kenyan leadership?
for investigation. To the scribe the state of women
Egerton University Security leadership and if any as- I am glad you used ‘Kenyan
Department, I would say piring young lady out there leadership’ but not ‘Kenyan
that I am a very disappointed has anything to hope for. politics’. Honestly, I love
client. Basically no investiga- and admire our First Lady
tions were done and to me, Female leadership is still Margaret Kenyatta. I am
this sounds like a platform associated with a number of not sure yet whether being
of nurturing hooliganism challenges such as discrimi- a First Lady is a leadership
because nothing here sounds nation, gender violence, male position but I believe it’s all
like a warning to anybody chauvinism plus many others. about the change, relevance
who did this or might think Rachel Shebesh is an example and impact that one creates
Angeline, poses for
of doing an act like this any of women who have under- in society. Sure enough, this
a photo during the
time in the future. To add to gone gender violence in lead- woman has done a lot to the interview. The new
my disappointment, everyone ership, Bishop Margaret Wan- nation in many areas such as Secretary General
thinks that this is normal, jiru who was once a political Youth affairs, women agen- blames her woes
it’s such a shame that even aspirant for a senatorial seat da, environmental issues, on those who don’t
in this 21st century we can is a good example, a victim of involvement in talent, name believe in change in
excuse this barbarity in the discrimination on no tangi- them, the list is endless but leadership equation
name of politics. ble grounds but just gender in short she is everywhere to in Kenya.
biasness. This is just but to set an example that one can
Well, assuming I come mention a few. It is disturbing use the opportunity present-
to you and say I threw a when somebody writes me ed to create a better society
stone that night and ask a letter and addresses me as not necessarily a political
for forgiveness, your reac- sir assuming that a Secretary position.
tion? General can never be a Mad-
am. Fortunately leadership is
I am a Christian and the Bi- dynamic and the dynamism
ble commands me to forgive with which it is taking on the
even when someone does side of gender is a promis-
not deserve to be forgiv- ing ground for any aspiring
en. Away from that, I have female leaders. More women
gone through so many life are getting empowered each
challenges and life has really day and the stereotypes in the
thrown much bigger stones society that women cannot
to me than this one. For- lead are slowly but steadily
giveness has always opened fading away.
bigger doors for me. Truth is, For any aspiring young lady,
I harbor no bitterness to my opportunities are always
perpetrator and yes, I will still there for them who are
forgive. willing to try. Your courage
will speak for you and as long
Female leaders on the na- as you have the confidence
tional scale have suffered to speak out your mind, you
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 11TOO MUCH MONEY,
TOO LITTLE HELP
Africa does not
need billions.
Interview by Gabriel Dinda
If
the industrial nations really want to help the Africans, they should
finally terminate this awful aid.” This phrase coined by Kenyan-born
economist James Shikwati, has in the meantime become popular and
polarised. It has rekindled debate on a meaningful development policy
for the so-called third world countries. The one side is exasperated by
the fact that 50 years of development planning have not yielded tangible progress for
people in the affected areas. The opposite view demands that even more billions be
poured in, because it believes that only thus can prevailing conditions be improved.
Johannes Michael Nebe , a political scientist from the University of Trier, Germany,
has decades of experience in this issue. He is of the opinion that development aid has
brought about more harm than good.
Dr Nebe, the Ugandan Jour- exceeding willingness to assist, in the final analysis, aid towards
nalist, Andrew Mwenda should really give occasion to self-benefit.
writes: “The reason for the thoughtfully consider the impact
persistence of poverty in my of the never-ending flow of aid I can imagine that this could
country is foreign aid itself.” funds. be the case with pop musi-
I perceive similar sentiments cians. Church organisations
echoed in your own publica- Does this mean that dozens also reach out to the hearts
tions… of aid organisations are in the of men with their initiatives, to
Johannes Michael Nebe: I am wrong? What about NGOs show proof of active charity
sorry to cut you off right away, but such as CARE, Oxfam and the and solidarity. There is noth-
this view, as put forward by James humanitarian aid that church ing really wrong with this. But
Shikwati and Andrew Mwenda, organisations such as Bread what does the tax payer stand
is shared by several renowned for the World and Misereor to gain anything?
political economists whose critical give? What about pop stars
voices have become louder. like Bod Geldof or Bono and Nothing of course. After all, he
One of these is, for example, the millions given by the Ger- does not intentionally invest his
Zambian-born Dambisa Moyo, an man Government? money in development aid. The
international economist, who also This is exactly just the case! government takes care of this,
attributes Africa’s lagging position During the last few decades a for example through the Federal
to the failed development aid development aid “industry” Ministry for Economic Coopera-
policy. The list of those who assert has literally evolved. Financial tion and Development. In 1961,
that increased aid only adds to donations amounting to billions the term “development aid” was
the chaos is indefinitely long. This have fostered dependence and – I first formulated when the Organ-
unsparing criticism of the west’s say this quite deliberately – are, isation for Economic Cooperation
12 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEFarmers in Malawi
and Development (OECD) was There are hardly any programmes
(Photo: picture alliance / dpa)
founded. Its objective was to which are jointly agreed upon and
coordinate international develop- coordinated among them. Each
ment assistance. Until then, aid organisation works for itself and not obliged to take control of their
only existed in the form of loans often finally disappears without own destiny. African govern-
given to colonies released into leaving any traces of sustainability ments’ sense of self-responsibility
independence. It was hoped that of their work in their respective and willingness to shape their own
through this, they would devel- sector. Food aid from the USA future thus remain underdevel-
op a dynamic economic impetus in a Somalian refugee camp, Ifo, oped, as at least one donor from
such as was the case with the close to Dadaab, Kenya. Donors the western world is always found,
Marshall Plan initiative in Europe are not only the western countries who will attempt to solve each
after the Second World War. The but also include the World Bank problem. Governments therefore
foundation of the OECD led to and the International Monetary rarely perform duties they are
the establishment of development Fund. During summit meetings of charged with and thus their aspi-
cooperation ministries in several the G8 or G20, discussions usually ration for innovation and self-ini-
countries. The United Nations lat- focus on increasing financing tiative wither.
er recommended that 0.7 percent without considering the impact of
of the GDP of the affluent coun- development aid. This deprivation Is it not that the German Gov-
tries of the north should suffice of the right of decision cannot ernment is trying to address
to assist the poorest states. This lead to a sustainable momen- the root of this very problem
is the target which has ultimately tum for African states which is by avoiding the term “devel-
supported the disastrous opinion required to empower their people opment aid” and speaking
that more money leads to more and give them a perspective for instead of “development co-
development. the future. operation” or “a partnership at
eye-level?”
Is there an accurate figure for What chances are there for Af- These are merely empty words
this? rican people to fulfil their own which do not correspond to reality
It is assumed that annually, an vision of development? in any way. Most African coun-
equivalent of approximately 100 Virtually none. Development aid tries still rank at the bottom of
billion Euro flow into developing experts do not concern themselves the Corruption Perceptions Index
countries worldwide. However, enough with the distinct social of Transparency International.
the figure cannot be precise- structures and the multi-ethnic Corruption in Africa renders a
ly verified. You earlier spoke situation in an African state or sustainable developing assistance
of dozens of development aid with its diverse cultures and almost impossible, as most of the
organisations. In reality there traditions, to sensitively devise a aid funds are misappropriated.
are thousands bustling around suitable development strategy. In One cannot speak of a “partner-
in this field. Needless to say they addition, the recipients of aid are ship at eye-level” in the approach.
too are susceptible to corruption. often downright pampered and In addition, most African coun-
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 13For Africa to develop, please
stop the aid!
ations in African countries the devastating drought in many
which support these positions parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and
and could help put an end to Kenya tell a totally different story.
the old way of thinking? These images will remain embed-
Yes there are. I call them the ded in our minds for a long time
“cheetah generation,” which to come. One speaks of the great-
mainly consists of committed, est famine catastrophe in the last
well-educated, courageous, most- 60 years which is affecting close
ly young people who advocate a to 13 million people. Humanitar-
different political style and aspire ian emergency assistance in the
to take responsibility for the form of food supply, medical and
society. Their field of activity usu- psychological attention deliv-
ally embraces participation with ered by aid organisations such
civil society organisations which as the Deutsche Welthungerhilfe
Bono PERFORMING AT A CONCERT (Photo: curtesy)
promote peace and development (German for World Hunger Aid)
and are increasingly forming the or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF
tries lack an equitable tax system. political backbone of their respec- - “Doctors without Borders”) are
Public accountability of govern- tive countries. They stand in sharp not the focus of criticism here.
ments is found in very few African contrast to the “hippo genera- They will always be needed on
states. Parliaments generally only tion,” which implies the corrupt, humanitarian grounds.
play a secondary role in govern- over-aged, complacent, political
ment systems. An independent generation whose sole interest is Is there a “but” to this?
judiciary which could pursue to preserve their political clout. Unfortunately there is. Famines
corruption cases is only available also always present business
in very few countries Future development assis- opportunities. Especially when
tance should therefore delib- one considers the speculative
Good governance is an instru- erately aim at by-passing the gains that large banks could
ment which is highly praised “hippos” and with the help of achieve from raw commodities,
by many donor countries. Is the “cheetahs” create a new as a new source of income. For
there no one in Africa with image of society. some 10 years, they have been
whom one could cooperate From the experiences of the last luring investors with hundreds of
reliably? 50 years, we can learn that devel- billions of dollars to bet on rising
There are of course even in Africa opment policy and development prices of these goods. As a result,
so-called shining beacons of light. cooperation must work less with maize, wheat and soya prices have
The proponents of the existing corrupt governments and rather escalated to a greater extent than
form of development assistance focus on strengthening sustain- never before. For the almost one
like to frequently refer to these. In able, manageable initiatives of billion undernourished people in
Malawi and Zambia, for example, civil society organisations and developing countries who have
national audit institutions have support them financially for a to spend most of their income
been set up to tackle corruption. limited period of time. This is the on food, this means disease and
Although this does not imply that much publicised “self for self- death. In 2010 alone food prices
corruption has been eradicated help.” rose by over one third. Up to 40
there, but at least a basis to curtail million people are said to have
it has been established. been forced into poverty because
You obviously draw a clear line of the speculative gains of banks.
The critics of development as- between development aid and
sistance cited at the beginning famine relief And the Deutsche Welthunger-
of this interview are most cer- Most certainly. The distressing hilfe has come in again to aid
tainly not alone in their think- images of completely enfeebled the millions reduced to abso-
ing. Are there no new gener- people, attempting to flee from lute poverty….
14 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEincompetent and leaves them
in the state of dependence from
which they were initially meant to
be freed.
The principle of “help for self-
help” should have been the key
instrument in shaping develop-
ment cooperation with African
countries initially. In reality it
has played a role that is all too
small. “Western” development
aid urgently requires a significant
change of direction where its un-
derstanding of its responsibilities
is concerned, in order to genuinely
help Africa. To achieve this, it is
imperative that people in Africa
Food aid from the USA in a Somalian these free aid convoys of the west are encouraged to make greater
refugee camp
weaken the local markets in Africa efforts towards self-initiative and
in the long term and are therefore to take responsibility for their
….who receive part of their aid counterproductive. In times of own destiny. Those who expect too
supplies officially, as donations emergency, African governments little from Africans because they
from the USA government etc. could depend on the assistance are of a different descent, incline
of “western Good Samaritans” towards racist behaviour.
There is nothing ostensibly without making an effort them- Development can only be achieved
wrong with this, is there? selves to take preventive measures “from within”. Aid “from without”
At first sight, no, that is right. for such drought periods which should only be of an advisory na-
However, as an example, a surplus always recur in certain intervals. ture and be considered as first aid.
production of grain was flown Only then can one speak of an “aid
from the USA to Somalia for What should be the focus of at eye-level”, that has prospects of
short-term assistance. The main development aid in future? success.
beneficiaries of this assistance Development aid should in future “African solutions to African
are the American farmers from aim at strengthening the partici- problems” is a contemporary
whom the government purposely pation of people in Africa to solve slogan we frequently come across.
buys the surplus and transports the existing problems, which they Our “European solutions” are not
the grain sacks, bearing the label cannot surmount on their own. always appropriate or requested.
“Donation from the American However, development aid which The important issue is what role
People,” to the famine regions. does not fully exploit the capacity the technically and industrially
Firstly, these are hidden subsidies of the Africans and does not even developed countries could play
paid out of development assis- take their abilities into consid- in contributing towards Africa’s
tance funds of the USA, to benefit eration, violates their dignity. In further development, taking the
American farmers. Secondly, other words, it declares the people home grown solutions to the
regional problems into account.
We must, however, remember that
there are no standard solutions to
individual problems and challeng-
Dr Johannes Michael Nebe has es. The appropriate solutions rely
been expanding the focus on Africa to a large extent on understanding
at the University of Trier since traditions, social structures, men-
1997 and initiated a partner- tality, attitudes and the general
ship between the University and way of life of individuals and the
UN-HABITAT, Nairobi. Since society at large. When we follow
2011, he has been working as an this way, we are a helping hand
Associate Professor for develop- for Africa – but not the other way
ment policy and cooperation. round.
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 152014 The year that was:
In pictures
Africa’s free society champion, thomas
adedayo, addresses a careful crowd in a
rather emphasisng tone. This perhaps
shows how important it is to operate in
a free society. He was hosted by writers
guild in kenyatta university.
The Digital(Dekker William) and Design The Writers Love: Gitosh Head of Press and Cultural Af-
team(Muna David) working out to ensure and Mwaura making the fairs, Embassy of Germany shares
all is well. But is life THIS SERIOUS??? statement clear. a light moment with the audience
Fred Caleb, one
of the students
who joined other
members in Jardson Brian outdance other competitiors including Mc for the
Launching the day, Saline Nthenya during the Unveiling of Second issue of the
Magazine enjoys Magazine in Kenyatta University. The chief guest was Martin
a snack. Falk, Head of Press and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Germany.
16 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEHISTORY OF GERMANY:
25 years since
freedom began
By Andreas Peschke,
German Ambassador.
25 years ago, on 9 November 1989, today? I think there are. First, the fall of be set up in Europe. On a global level,
the Wall of Berlin came down. It had the Wall proved the incredible power of we should do what we can to prevent
separated East and West Germany for freedom. The will to be free was strong walls of ideology or religion to come
almost three decades. It was the fron- enough to bring down a wall that seemed between us. Extremists like the so called
tier of the Cold War in Europe. It split unsurmountable. This is a warning to ‘Islamic State’ or Al-Shabaab want to
the continent into two. Beyond it, the authoritarian regimes around the world. make us believe that we cannot live
communist rulers of East Germany had Tyrants may abuse and suppress their together peacefully. They are wrong, and
denied basic democratic rights to their people for a time, even for a long time, they must be proved wrong. We must
people for years. but not forever. At the end the will of stand up for mutual tolerance and our
9th November 1989 was one of the people to live in freedom will prevail and freedom.
best days in the German history. It was sweep them away. We must not allow walls of poverty
the first step towards the reunification Second, the fall of the Wall should or under-development split us apart.
of our country in freedom. It was also a inspire us never to lose hope. Even That is why countries like Kenya and
great day in European history, because under very difficult circumstances, it is Germany work together in development
it also paved the way to European possible to bring about positive change cooperation for the joint benefit of their
reunification. In 1989, the European if you believe in it. If the people have people.
Union had 12 member states. Now it Epidemic diseases like Ebola should
has 28, and close ties with the other not separate us or lead to isolation of
countries in Europe as well. the countries that are stricken by them.
Even until a few months before the
wall crumbled, few people believed
Tyrants may abuse Instead, we should undertake joint
global efforts to eradicate this disease.
that it would come down so shortly. and suppress their Germany has offered personnel, material
Yet so it did. History turned in a most
amazing way. In the evening of 9th
people for a time, even and funds for the fight against Ebola.
And we greatly appreciate Kenya’s
November 1989, a member of the for a long time, but readiness to offer help and relieve
communist East German bureaucracy
confirmed – mistakenly, as it turned out
not forever. workers to the affected countries in West
Africa.
later – that everyone could travel out We live in an age of globalisation
of East Germany unconditionally and where new walls would be harmful to
‘immediately’. Within an hour, masses of all of us. We face challenges that we can
East Germans showed up at the borders only tackle together. Climate change
to exercise their right to travel to the does not stop at any border. Terrorism
West, a right they had been denied for the courage to act for their freedom, is a threat to all nations. Illegal wildlife
years. they can achieve a lot. In former East trade and other transnational crimes
The wall was open. The separation of Germany, an initially small band of affect all of us. We must act together.
Germany was about to be overcome. The courageous democrats was able to So the main lesson of the fall of
Cold War was about to end. Many people unsettle a regime that had a whole the wall is: no more walls. We live in
including myself who grew up in former security apparatus at its disposition. an age that calls for cooperation, not
Eastern Germany, remember these Third, no new walls should be built. confrontation. We need to build bridges,
emotional moments of history as vividly If we look at what is happening in and not walls. Only if we act together, we can
as if they had happened yesterday. around Ukraine today, we must not build a good future for our countries.
But are there any lessons we can learn allow new walls or new dividing lines to
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 17Prof Ben Carson, a professor of neurosurgery, oncology,
plastic surgery, and pediatrics, and former director of
pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, is a
man of many honours. From separating conjoined twins,
heading a pediatric department at a tender age of 33,
winning the most coveted US lifetime achievement award,
to being groomed to become the next US president, the
list is endless. All Senses Writer, ABUTA OGETO,
caught up with him as he left a leadership seminar in San
Francisco State University and extorted words from him.
Here are the details.
I was a horrible
student in uni
I WAS A DON’T CARE,
NOT AS PEOPLE
SEE ME TODAY
18 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEYou’ve made history in invariably would say, you they were looking at me and
more than one way, by know, Mr. Jones isn’t quite sort of -- whenever she wasn’t
performing operations that ready to be taken to the O.R. looking, they would say, “She’s
people thought couldn’t be yet, assuming that I was an crazy,” and this stuff. But,
performed -- in one of the orderly. I wouldn’t get angry, I she really believes stuff like
most highly specialized would simply say, “Well that’s that. It’s amazing that there
and technical and chal- nice, but I’m Dr. Carson. I’m were people back there who
lenging areas of surgery -- the intern.” And, you know, had such ideals. There were
and by being the first black they’d turn about 18 shades of teachers who would try to -- I
man to do this. Which of red, but I would be very nice remember the band teacher
those things is more im- to them since I had a friend tried to destroy my report
portant to you? for life. card because I had all As and
The most important thing to so he got to put a mark on it,
me is taking your God-given What School did you learn? so he gave me a C, and he fig-
talents and developing them Ordinary Schools. I went to ured by doing that I wouldn’t
to the utmost, so that you Southwestern High School in get the award, only to find out
can be useful to that band wasn’t
your fellow man, included as an
period. That is by The thing that really academic subject!
far the most im- motivates me right now, to [Laughter]
portant thing. And,
you know, whether be honest with you, is the Do you have
I happen to be the opportunity to get other brothers and
first black person to people to understand what’s sisters?
do that, or the first I have an older
person, period, to do important in life. brother, Curtis.
that -- which is the He’s a couple of
case in both situa- years older than
tions – I may not me, and he had to
know what is particular- inner city Detroit. Most of the go through the same things
ly important. classroom period was spent that I went through, but he
with disciplinary problems, so had a similar experience. He
So you’re not moti- nobody was learning any- became extremely academ-
vated by that. thing. So I got a lot of extra ically inclined and is now a
I am definitely not tutoring afterward. And then manager for Honeywell in the
motivated by that. The there was Ms. Miller, the aircraft landing division.
thing that really moti- English teacher, who helped
vates me right now, to me tremendously, mostly by So he is intelligent as you
be honest with you, is making me feel guilty any are?
the opportunity to get time I deviated from the path. He is super intelligent. More
other people to under- I later joined Yale University intelligent than me. Before
stand what’s important for my Medicine studies. him, I know nothing. I am not
in life. even as wise as he is. Curtis is
I have read that there was simply a genius!!
Wasn’t it hard to a teacher along the way
come to that de- who had a racist attitude You obviously had extraor-
termination? about your achievement. dinary support from your
It wasn’t difficult Can you talk about that? mother. How did she instill
for me at all. And it Yes. In the fifth grade, I was in you this confidence in
remains not diffi- at the bottom of the class. By your own ability?
cult today. I remem- seventh grade I was at the top My mother was a person
ber when I was an of the class, same kids. They who would never accepted an
intern, and anytime wondered how in the world a excuse from my brother or
I would go onto the black student be number one. myself. It didn’t matter what
wards with my scrubs And, the other students, they the situation was. If you came
on, one of the nurses were rolling their eyes and with an excuse, she would
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 19If your dreams do not
shock the world, they
are not any big.
always say, “Do you have a When I was in college, I used hammer. I would just become
brain?” And if the answer was to come home to Detroit for irrational because I would get
yes, then you had a way to get the summer. This was when so angry.
around it. Maybe you should Detroit was going through
use the brain. That was her a lot of turmoil, because the People often speak of
point. After a while it became Japanese were ascending in brain surgery as the epit-
clear to us that no excuse terms of their automobile ome of something difficult
was acceptable, so we became production, and Detroit was and hard to achieve. When
pretty creative. going down, so there were did you first have a notion
never any summer jobs. that you actually wanted to
In addition to your mother, do this?
were there teachers that We’ve also read that you Medicine has always been the
were important to you had to overcome a terrible only career that I considered,
along the way? temper. but the aspect of medicine
I definitely had some teachers I had an incredibly horrible changed. It went from mis-
who were important. temper. I was one of those sionary doctor to psychiatrist
people who thought they had and then I toyed for a while
Even after you graduated a lot of rights, and of course, with the idea of being a car-
from high school and went the more rights you think you diovascular surgeon. But, as I
on to Yale, there were have, the more likely someone began in medical school I said,
certainly obstacles you had is to infringe upon them. And “The brain, because nobody
to overcome. What role did I did get into fights, I would knows anything about the
persistence play in your injure people. I tried to hit brain.” And, I spent all those
career? my mother in the head with a years thinking I was going to
20 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEbe a psychiatrist. Toward the like many students, I kind of envisioned
end of my first year in medical
school, I decided that neuro-
myself as a doctor anyway, despite the
surgery was going to be the fact that I wasn’t doing well.
right field for me.
You say you never really
considered anything other
than medicine. You must
have been a very serious
student, to get into medical
school.
I was not a serious student at
all. In fact, I was a horrible stu-
dent. But, you know, like many
students, I kind of envisioned
myself as a doctor anyway,
despite the fact that I wasn’t
doing well. I can remember we
used to sit in the hallways at
Detroit City Hospital or Boston
City Hospital for hours and
hours because we were on med-
ical assistance, which meant
we had to wait until one of the
interns or residents was free to
see us, and I didn’t mind at all
because I was in the hospital.
And, I was listening to the PA
system.
Will you be running for
President?
That’s a complex matter but if
all goes well, I will be in for it.
Any message to young men
and women who have big
dreams?
If your dreams do not shock
the world, they are not
any big. Read my books,
especially The Big Picture. I
wrote it specifically for young
people who want to achieve
tremendously in their profes-
sions.
Will you come to Kenya
and talk to our group,
the Writers Guild?
If you invite me, and I
have time, I will feature
my itinerary
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 21Meet Oscar Chilumo (pictured), a 21 year old
Commerce student and fiddler. He describes the
sound of a violin to be sublime. All Senses caught
up with him for a close up look into his passion
with the stringed instrument.
IT’S A FIDDLER’S WORLD:
Where Strings
Meet Passion.
By Carole Nyabeta.
Hi there
fiddler, do
make yourself
known.
I am Oscar Chilumo,
3rd year student at
Kenyatta University taking
Bachelor of Commerce- Finance
option. Apart from being a student
I also play the violin with a couple of
other passionate violinists.
Interesting. Why did you settle
for the violin instead of other
mainstream instruments like the
guitar?
When I first heard the violin I was
in my second year at high school and
it struck me as the most beautiful of
sounds, breath-taking and sublime. I
totally fell in love.
So when did you actually
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 23take up playing the violin? Actually no, I met them all to his hostel and he heard me
I took up the violin on 16th in different environments. If play. He came in, mentioned
November, 2012 (yes, I you do not mind I’ll introduce he was an upcoming violinist
remember). I had just joined them briefly. as well and the rest as they
the university and being say is history. In September
adventurous, I wanted to try By all means, go ahead. I decided to bring them all
a new language. However, this Elizabeth Sanya, we met in together hence the Lento
never came to pass. One night class. She saw me carry my Quartet.
as I headed to my room from violin. She seemingly was in- Have you performed in
class, I heard someone in my terested at the sight. She said any events or is this just a
From left: Francis
Kaduki, Victoria Chebet,
hostel playing the violin and hello identifying herself as an hobby?
Elizabeth Sanya my flame was rekindled, so to upcoming violinist. I would say it is both hobby
and Oscar Chilumo. speak. There and then fantasy and profession. We have
Together they make up of learning a foreign language The violin is an performed at events
the Lento Quartet.a. was quashed and I took up both in school and
violin.
instrument that needs outside school. However,
a person with mettle, due to academic pres-
You play pretty well, are sure, it is more a hobby
you self-taught or how did
patience and a strong than fulltime profession.
you go about learning the heart.
art of fiddling? As an upcoming
Thank you. For the first seven artist, it is clear that
months, I actually did teach there are varied
myself but it gets to that point Victoria Chebet, we met challenges faced, so far
you need a teacher which at a Latin dance event where what challenges have you
therefore prompted me to I had gone to play and she faced?
enrol for classes at the Kenya introduced herself as a violin As you put it, the violin is
Conservatoire of Music. player as well expressing not a popular instrument in
interest to work with me. Kenya and it takes a lot of
You happen to play with Francis Kaduki, the other time to penetrate the indus-
a team, did you happen to gentleman, (scoffs) was my try. As musicians, people tend
meet at the Conservatoire? reincarnate. He was walking to undervalue our work and
24 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEtherefore we are underpaid jazz, classical to blues. severing. Once you start, you
more often than not or not The other has to be Brian will realise that it is the most
paid at all in other instances. Sempele, a Kenyan violinist gratifying and pleasurable
There are also people who who is FINALLY getting his experience. Putting that violin
undermine music as a career rewards in this career. He is down will be the hardest thing
and has been thought to be a among the pioneer violinists to do.
career of the less intelligent. who took up the instrument
when there were no teachers The Writer is the Director of
How much does a violin locally. Communications at The Writers
go for and how accessible Finally, Fred Pessa makes Guild
is it? it to my list. He beat all odds
A standard violin price ranges to go to Italy and perfect his
from Kshs 27,000- Kshs craft when everyone else
32,000. For those who prefer disapproved of the move. They
to import, it goes for about may not be very famous in our strings attached:
Kshs 50,000. However they industry but among violinist The quartet
come at cheaper prices if you circles, they are legendary displays their
buy second-hand. One can names. instruments
easily find violins in music
shops and malls as well. A word for people who
would love to take up the
Musically, who do you violin but are still hindered.
look up to and who in- The violin is an instrument
spires you? that needs a person with
First up, Joshua Bell, a young mettle, patience and a strong
American violinist that has heart. I however encourage all
broken all barriers and per- to take it up and be patient,
forms all genres of music from thick skinned and very per-
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 25CASHING OUT IN ENTERTAINMENT
Student Musicians
Creating Their Brands.
F
or a career in perform onstage is quite name itself is
entertainment rejuvenating. He has the a testament of
business, potential of being a big star, what he does with
institutions of and according to me, it is the microphone
higher learning just a matter of months. whenever he steps
provide opportunities for This video, done by ATL up on stage. With
the enthusiasts. Music, for Entertainment’s Richie-G, song-writing skills
example, has opened gates inspires philanthropy as a addition to his
for many artists. What one towards orphaned children, already impressive
requires is just some constant and so, this is a plus to G talents, his debut
dedication and creativity. Nerrie’s music profile. Being single, Venye Si
That way, success would a member of Grosspool udo, available on
most likely be served in the Music family, a branding and Mdundo.com,
proverbial silver platter. A marketing group for artists, has rhymes that
university has enough music- he has enough support to do not disappoint. Another his fans a lot of good music in
enthusiastic population that take him to desired heights. family member of Grosspool the coming months.
could pass as prospective Music, Wonderboyhas They take their careers
consumers to one’s music and Kasisi became famous for support from deejays and seriously and that is what
KU artists like Jublack and his song, bila CD, and during fellow artists. He is a Maseno- makes superstars. Support
Skippa Mistari understood this year’s Culture week born and Kisumu-based from fans is what they need.
this quite well. But there are performance he revealed musician and he tells me In Kenya, where success
new breeds of artists who that he has done a song with that, despite studying in in music industry is hard
are changing the game. These Wahu. That, by anyone’s KU, he is not considering to come by, and selling
guys are doing everything standard, is a big success. He basing his career in Nairobi. music records similarly as
artisticallypossible to give is better known and made He says that with music difficult, we should purpose
fans the music that they want his career in platforms in industry in Kisumu rising to support them. If you are
to listen to. Inasmuch as they Kenyatta University. He that fast, it is imperative that asking yourselves how to
admit that they have a long already has a name and he is he takes advantage of that. do so, then, for a start, you
way to reach the top, and that still working hard to improve An active guy on Twitter, he can buy their merchandise
they are working on speeding it. knows much about personal like tee-shirts, caps and/
up the progress, they do not Wonderboy is another branding and the need to or also attend concerts
necessarily act to a script; artist whose lyrical prowess market one’s music on social where they are performing.
they write their own. amazes me. His stage media channels. He promises A country like Nigeria, for
Kenyatta University’s G example, has embraced arts
Nerrie is an artist whose to a point that despite being
performance energy can only a big oil producing country,
be described as phenomenal. Nollywood is currently the
Having brought us songs nation’s highest income
like control, this time he earner. That is how big an
purposed to do something industry, entertainment
that would bring smiles on business is and our
orphaned children’s faces. universities offer a suitable
Riding high with the video foundation for its growth.
to this song, “Mayatima”,
which is already on YouTube,
this artist is out-rightly
super-talented. Seeing him
26 ALL SENSES MAGAZINEOLIVIA POPE:
THE WOMAN WE
ALL LOVE TO HATE.
Created by:
Shonda Rhimes
Cast: Olivia Pope
and Associates:
Kerry Washington,
Darby Stanchfield,
Katie Lowes, Guill-
ermo Diaz, Colum-
S
bus Short (leaves
candal is an American political soon after with them promising to end it as in Season three)
White House | Tony
thriller which premiered in April soon as he got into white house but the end Goldwyn, Bellamy
2012 it revolves around the life never came. After winning the election, Olivia Young, Jeff Perry,
of Washington’s best fixer Olivia became White House Communications director Portia de Rossi
Pope (Kerry Washington). The but quit to start her firm. The relationship
character of Olivia Pope is loosely based on dubbed Olitz by lovers of the couple has been
Washington fixer Judy Smith. It airs on the on for years with breaks on and off. Did I forget
American channel abc on Thursday nights and to mention? President Fitzgerald Thomas
we get it much later on DVD either mid season Grant 3rd (Tony Goldwyn) is married to Melly
or when it’s over, the impatient among us (me Grant (Bellamy Young) and that he has three
included) prefer to download the series per kids, well two now, he lost one in season 3.
episode the day after it airs. Fans of scandal Well its now out there, one of the reasons
all over the world are commonly referred to as why we should hate Live. And we would, were
Gladiators. it not for the pure way in which the affair is
Olivia Pope is a woman who has it all, (or so portrayed, what is wrong with two people
it may seem) she has her own fixers firm called madly in love being together in Vermont and
Olivia Pope and Associates or OPA for short, making jam and babies?
she has no shortage in money, her sense of Let’s face it though, if you have met Olivia
fashion boggles the mind in its awesomeness Carolyn Pope, you know that she won’t be
and the icing on the cake, the love of the top making jam or babies in the near future if
man in the US. Liv as she is usually called ever, there are several aspects of her life that
met POTUS on the campaign trail while he need to change before she can do that. I love
was vying for his first term as President. Her her, (Don’t we all) She is an awesome fixer
mentor and best friend Cyrus Beene (Jeff and I would sell a kidney (well maybe not an
Perry) called her in to help when it became actual kidney) to own her wardrobe, they are
clear they might not win. The chemistry was the ultimate wardrobe and to be able to drink
there right from the start and the affair started the brands of wine she drinks. But she is one
ALL SENSES MAGAZINE 27You can also read
