After a little prodding from close quarters, i am now convinced to keep this Blog, share my day to day experiences, in my quest to seek, find and do what is for the Greater Glory of God, Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam.From work, travel, study, current affairs...all my impressions of the world around me and far beyond will be here. And i hope, with a bit of luck, to keep it alive and updated!
Excitement...anxiety...nervousness...confusion...fascination! The English language simply does not have enough words to describe the feelings and emotions that characterized the morning of the 23rd July 2010.
Two days earlier i had set foot at Népliget, bus stop of the bus 901, Könyves Kálmán körút, in Budapest, Hungary, under a stifling 36 degrees-Celcius heat; and that after a 16-hour bus ride from Frankfurt, across the Czech republic and Slovakia. Six of my Kenyan friends had already arrived a couple of days earlier-and more efficiently-an Egypt air flight from Nairobi to Budapest, via Cairo. I was visiting Hungary for the second time in 3 years. But i would never have been prepared for what awaited me this time round.
I have been around now, on planet earth, for slightly more than two and a half decades., during which time (before 23/07/2010) the closest i had ever gotten to a high-ranking politician was through television, when i watched political talk shows, or those other shows that people call 'the news'.
President of the Republic of Hungary, Mr. Pál Schmitt
On the eve of the 23rd July, Mercy Thomas, the team leader our Hungarian hosts, announced to my friends and i that we had an appointment the next day with the outgoing Speaker of the Hungarian parliament, who had since been elected the President of the Republic Of Hungary, Mr. Pál Schmitt. This threw our little Kenyan group into a spin. We argued and debated over what to wear among many other questions. I was supposed to present a fly-whisk, as a gift to President-elect Schmitt. And there-in lay the dilemma. I tried to rewind hours of TV-footage in my head, trying to find those clips where i had seen people meeting and presenting gifts to heads of state. The more i 'rewinded', the more it seemed as if it was all getting erased! So i went to sleep, hoping for divine inspiration to sorting out my 'presidential address' problems for the following morning.
The bus ride from Piliscsaba, to the parliament buildings in Lajos Kossuth square, on the banks of the Danube, cutting across the morning Budapest traffic, seemed very short. Adrenaline was rising.
The group outside the Hungarian parliament, before the grand entrance!
Delays in getting through security did not help matters. Finally we made it inside the parliament, but first for a guided tour of the imposing historical legislative building, one of Europe's oldest.
As the guide explained away the significance of the fascinating and seemingly strange things we were feasting our eyes on, i kept wondering to myself,probably to distract myself from the impending meeting that i felt ill-prepared for, where they trained guides and cabin crew and others in this kind of profession, to speak the way they do-almost like machines-and always with standard words and smiles.
Inside the parliament chambers
Towards the final part of our tour, just as our guide was explaining the seating arrangements of the cabinet members and members of parliament in the chambers, a presidential aide showed up, half-running, half-walking. "The President is waiting!", she declared.
I am a very poor dancer. So when my group decided they were going to make their grand entrance into the President's-elect office singing and dancing, i gleefully volunteered to take charge of the handy-cam, to record the proceedings. I followed our Hungarian friends as they were ushered through the door in single file, and went ahead to shake the hand of a smiling, tall, athletic-built man standing in the centre of the room. The President-elect, Mr. Pál Schmitt! My friends followed, dancing and singing, while Mr. Schmitt watched seemingly bemused. Then totally unexpectedly, he joined in the dancing! This would hardly happen with President Kibaki, i thought to myself. Finally, the group ended their entertainment session with the popular 'Jambo' song, which has the refrain 'hakuna matata', Kiswahili for 'no problem'.
President Schmitt joins in a dance
It was finally time to present the gifts. As the leader of the group, i was up first. I stepped forward, my heart racing faster than Hamilton's McLaren. I don't remember exactly what i said, but with the fly-whisk clutched firmly in my hands, i must have said the following, " Mr. President, on behalf on of my friends here today, i would like to present to you this fly-whisk. The first President of our country, Jomo Kenyatta...' at which point he interjected and said "Mzee Jomo Kenyatta!", "Mzee Jomo Kenyatta", i continued, "...would wave his fly-whisk while addressing the Kenyan people. It is a symbol of wisdom and leadership, and i am sure that it represents your wisdom in leading the great Hungarian nation." Then with a handshake, i presented the fly-whisk. Mission accomplished! The rest of my group members then stepped forward to present various other gifts.
Presenting the fly-whisk to President Schmitt
Before we left, President Schmitt had interesting things to say. That he knew Mombasa (Kenya's second largest city and coastal town); that he is friends with Kipchoge Keino, Kenya's most famous athlete and then followed the bombshell." One thing is not true about that song", he said, "and that is hakuna matata!" He was alluding to that he has visited Kenya and knows that it is not an island of peace and prosperity as we had made it look in the song.While that might be true, i thought it was not a very benevolent thing to say to people who had just entertained him and showered him with gifts from East Africa. But what do i know, the man is a seasoned diplomat!
the Presidential 'address'
Since then, i have had a chance to do some research about the man. I couldn't find anything about his stay or visit in Kenya. But i was glad to read an interview published by Xpatloop.com, that apart from being addicted to his new iPod, President Schmitt found India, Kenya and Canada to be among the most fascinating places, of the nearly 100 countries he has traveled to.
President Schmitt proudly displays a gift from the Kenyan group
One thing i found very inspirational the two-time Olympic and world champion fencer said in the Xpat interview, was that his personal motto is, "Collect friends instead of material things."
Isn't it amazing to have a head of state as a friend!!
Africa never ceases to amaze me. Especially the politicians and the kind of pranks they keep pulling. Most of the pranks would be really funny...were it not for the tragic consequences they result in. Still, African leaders have a side to them that is completely hilarious.
Well, recently i wrote about the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, declaring his presidential bid on Facebook. I wished him good-luck then...i still do. I did not think much about it afterwards, until yesterday, when i received a call from my friend Martin, asking me to check out Museveni's 'new rap hit single' on YouTube. Another prank, i thought to myself, promising to check it out after the conversation, and promptly returned to my other concerns for the day.
It was only until i saw an article in a local Kenyan newspaper, about Museveni's lawyers filing to copyright the song 'You want another rap', that i took Martin's call seriously and set to finding out what it was all about. After watching the video 3 times, i thought about many things that i could write. What is Lieutenant General Museveni's campaign strategy for the upcoming 2011 elections? What is the percentage of young voters in Uganda, that he is trying to reach? What will be the role of 'new media' in African electoral politics?But i changed my mind and decided that i will not bore you with facts and details and analysis of African politics. I will simply leave you to enjoy President Museveni's new hit single 'You want another rap'. Since i am impartial and have no direct interest in the outcome of the elections in Uganda, i will also post the video of Museveni's Democratic Party rival, if and when he releases it, and which according to sources will be titled 'Your rap is crap'.
.
Still i cannot desist from sharing one fact: The NRM leader and Presidential flag bearer was born in 1944, which should put him at 66 years of age. The average age of African heads of state is about 76 years. That means Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is 10 years below the average age of his colleagues. Maybe he should be considered for 'another rap'
On Monday morning, 25th October, 2010 A.D, two African men woke up and found themselves in very unique circumstances. The common unique thing between these two men, is that they are both Mayors of the cities in which they live. But that is where it ends.
Mr. Peter Bossman, woke up as the Mayor of Piran, a city and municipality located in southwest Slovenia. About 5700 kilometers away, Mr. Geoffrey Majiwa, also woke up as the Mayor of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, East Africa's largest economy.
Mr. Peter Bossman, Mayor-elect of Piran, Slovenia
However, only one of the two men was smiling. Mr. Bossman. He has just made history as the 'first black Mayor in Eastern Europe', as reported by mainstream news outlets. I prefer to say the first Mayor of African descent, in Eastern Europe'. According to a BBC report, Mr. Bossman was born in Ghana and moved to present day Slovenia in 1980, which at the time was still part of former Yugoslavia. He then studied medicine and decided to practice and settle in Slovenia, eventually getting married to a fellow doctor of Croatian origin.
Mr.Geoffrey Majiwa, Mayor of Nairobi
Closer home, Mr. Majiwa woke up...no, was awaken by the not-so-gentle knocks of detectives from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, who apparently, were determined that he, Mayor Majiwa, was not going to 'boss' his way out of corruption allegations involving acquisition of land by the City Council of Nairobi, meant for use as a cemetery.
Reports in the Kenyan local dailies indicate that the City Council of Nairobi 'lost' about Kenya Shillings 253 million, or about USDollars 3.1 million in the transaction. 'His Worship' the Mayor of Nairobi is set to appear in court tomorrow, during which time, i suppose, his colleague in Piran will be busy preparing himself to take up with gusto, his responsibilities as Mayor.
Explaining how he managed to convince 'Piranians' to vote for him, Mr. Bossman told how he used dialogue,"...i based my campaign on a dialogue, and i think the dialogue has won".Unlike our current crop of Kenyan politicians who have perfected the art of 'bossing' their way into power.
City of Piran
Heaping praise on the level of Slovenian democracy, Mr. Bossman went on to add that the people did not focus on the color of his skin, but rather on his track-record as a good doctor, and on the policies he presented.And that for me was the crux of the whole episode of the two Mayors. The electorate. This episode was a poignant reminder of the state of the Kenyan electorate...we who vote on the basis of tribal affiliation, handouts from candidates and petty political rumor-mongering. You get the leadership that you elect! The apathy of professionals towards politics is also another major concern. Until doctors, lawyers, management experts stop complaining about 'those politicians'...until they stop offering commentaries and 'analysis' from the sidelines...unless good people of integrity offer themselves as candidates for Mayor, Governor, Senator, Members of Parliament and so on, i am afraid that even in 2030, we will still have detectives from Integrity Center knocking on the door of the Mayor of Nairobi, (and other politicians who will have among other ways, 'bossed' their way to power) to 'unearth' yet another corruption scandal.
So, you can either get involved in changing your leadership, or migrate to Latvia...marry a Lithuanian...and become the Mayor of Jelgava! Pun intended!I hope you get my point!
To all my fellow compatriots, both in Kenya and in the diaspora...Happy Mashujaa Day!!!
The most beautiful flag in the world!!!
Our country is truly going through momentous times. Just under over two months ago, Kenyans went to the polls and cast their vote, to decide on a new constitution, and with it, the direction that they wished their country to take. I am not a student of political science, but the few pieces of analysis i read from time to time seem to agree, that few countries, not just in Africa, but in the world, have ever overhauled their constitutions in peace time. Kenyans did it...even though it took us two decades. In my opinion, that's the stuff "Mashujaa" are made of!!!
One hot and humid morning, in July of 2006, i presented my passport to the guy at the Emirates check-in counter in Dubai. The first question he asked me when he saw the words, 'Republic of Kenya', emblazoned on my passport, was, "Do you run?" Without a doubt, Kenyan athletes have confounded both friend and foe, with their prowess on the track. One of my favorite columnist, Charles Onyango-Obbo, had this to say about Kenyan athletes: "Every week there is news of a Kenyan winning a marathon, an 800m dash, the 1,500m, 10,000m race, and everything in the world. Occasionally they throw in a world record-breaking performance.
In fact, David Rudisha has turned the 800m world record into a personal plaything, breaking and setting new ones whenever he is in a good mood." True Heroes!!!
There are so many things to be proud of about Kenya and being "Kenyan". In the same breath, there is a lot to be depressed about - like the fact that our Members of Parliament (majority of whom are not so honorable) earn about USD 11,000 a month and do not pay tax - in a country that has been for a long time been touted as being home to the largest slum in Africa (a title that we seem to have lost recently, with recent statistics from the National Census 2009, providing evidence to the contrary).
Still, Kenyan people exude so much optimism and hope...resilience that can be matched in few places.
20th October, 2010 - Heroes Day - wherever you are - in your own way - be a Hero! Because on the 8th Day, after He had rested..God created KENYA!!!
"...It started as a tragedy...and ended as a blessing." These were the words that Chilean President, Sebastián Piñera, chose to describe the story of the rescue of the 33 miners, who were trapped, 700 meters below ground for 69 days.
For the first 17 of the 69 days, there was no contact between the trapped men and rescue teams. The men were alone. What kept them going? What kept the rescue teams searching?
In mid-September, just about 40 days after the collapse of the San Jose mine shaft, Elizabeth Segovia, wife to Ariel Ticona Yanez, gave birth to a baby girl. The parents decided to name her, "Esperanza", Spanish word for 'Hope', instead of Carolina, their first choice.
In his book, 'Liberation from Life's Shadows', J.Maurus explains that "...hope is an indispensable ingredient of daily life and changes a grey world into one of warmth and brightness."
Indeed, what would life be without hope? At the beginning of this week, i would like to share with you, some reflections on hope, in the words of Fr. James Keller, an American priest.
Fr.James Keller, MM
Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst.
Hope opens doors where despair closes them.
Hope discovers what can be done, instead of grumbling about what cannot.
Hope draws it power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of humankind.
Hope "lights a candle" instead of "cursing the darkness".
Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities.
Hope cherishes no illusion, nor does it yield to criticism.
Hope sets big goals and is not frustrated by repeated difficulties or setbacks.
Hope pushes ahead when it would be easy to quit.
Hope puts up with modest gains, realizing that "the longest journey starts with one step".
Hope is a good loser, because it has the divine assurance of final victory.
Have a hope-filled week! Nunca perder la esperanza
The world's attention has this week been centered on the 'dramatic rescue' of 33 men, who for 69 days were trapped underground in a mine in Chile. This episode has brought to the fore the sad reality, of the hazards...the dangers...that many people around the world put their lives on the line to earn a living...and for the rest of us to enjoy the conveniences of our modern lifestyles.
The mobile phone you own...that laptop from which you are probably reading this post right now...the DVD player from which you will most likely be enjoying movies from this weekend - gadgets that we cannot imagine living without - all carry electronic capacitors, manufactured from tantalum - which is extracted from the mineral Coltan.
Some of the largest reserves of coltan in the world, are to be found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In fact, the DR Congo is estimated to have $24trillion ( equivalent to the combined Gross Domestic Product of Europe and the United States) worth of untapped deposits of raw mineral ores. The provinces of North and South Kivu in the eastern DRC are filled with mines of cassiterite, wolframite, coltan and gold - minerals needed to manufacture everything from lightbulbs to laptops, from MP3 players to Playstations. According to the Global Witness report (July 2009), armed conflict in the eastern region of DRC, has for the past 12 years been funded by the exploitation of these valuable natural resources. Often, the supply chain of these minerals from the armed militias, to the middlemen to international buyers is difficult to track. This means that by the time metals reach electronic companies, they may have changed hands as much as seven times.
So; without a clear supply chain - when you go to that important meeting and set your cell-phone to vibrate, a function enabled by the mineral wolframite-it is virtually impossible for you to know whether you are using wolframite mined by children in the eastern DRC, the site of horrific fighting, rape and massacre. It is estimated that between 6 and 7 million people have been killed since the conflict started in 1996. Armed groups frequently force civilians, many of them children, to mine the minerals, extorting taxes and refusing to pay wages.
DR Congo is rich in minerals but much of it has been plundered over the years
DR Congo is rich in minerals but much of it has been plundered over the years
A UNICEF report notes that almost an entire generation of Congolese children have missed out on an education, and concludes that "children in the DRC have suffered far too much and, if this situation is allowed to continue, there is a risk that a new generation will be created that has known nothing but violence...thus compromising the country's chances of achieving lasting peace." An entire generation? Now that is frightening. It implies that 20 to 30 years from now, we might still be talking about the conflict in the DR Congo. This is as long as there is a thirst for more sophisticated electronic devices.
What can we do? What can you do? I don't know. I haven't any answers. But after the events in Chile, i have resolved to learn as much as i can about the conflict in Congo, what fuels it, and what my responsibility, as a consumer of electronic products is - and to let others know. I will be sharing these reflections, reports, documentaries...here and on my Facebook page.
If you are reading this...please...spread the word. Its probably the least you can do. Ideas are welcome though! When you make that phone call...or receive that text message..or make that important power point presentation...spare a thought and say a prayer for the children of the DRC.
Is there blood on your mobile phone? Probably.
"...The time has now come to slow down...to sip Roiboos tea with my beloved wife in the afternoons...to watch cricket..to travel to visit my children and grandchildren...rather than to conferences and conventions and university campuses."
Most Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu - is a man who needs no introduction. Listening to him announcing his retirement from public life last Thursday, 7th October 2010, on his 79th birthday, my mind went back to January 2008. Kenya was burning. And quite literary so. Apparently no one in Kenya at the time had enough credibility to even attempt to bring the two political camps, each claiming victory, to the negotiation table.
I remember very well, how the presence of Archbishop Tutu in Nairobi, helped to raise the hopes many Kenyans, that at last the politicians would start contemplating negotiations; urged on by the Archbishop.
Mandela and Desmond Tutu
At the Copenhagen climate-change talks, Archbishop Tutu spoke very passionately, about the need for justice; the need to get 'the real deal'.
During the opening ceremony for the World Cup in South Africa, the way he charged up the crowds, made me truly feel proud to be an African. His retirement now means that we will; see less of him in the press...i will surely miss his wonderfully infectious giggles!
Strange events have been happening in my hometown of Nakuru, famed for its flamingo birds at the Lake Nakuru national park, among other attractions. These strange occurrences, in my humble estimation will soon lead to several consequences.
A few days ago, fish and frogs 'rained' from the sky in Nakuru, and weather experts have warned Kenyans to expect more such spectacles. According to Dr. Joseph Mukabana, the director of the Kenya Meteorological department, "...this is going to occur more often because of climate change." Now, i have for a long time had an axe to grind with the Kenyan weather department and 'weather forecasters'. They never 'forecast' anything, but are always making predictions, based on 'reported' occurrences. But i digress.
Dr.Mukabana-Kenya's Chief 'weather forecaster'
Back to Dr. Mukabana-statements attributed to him, explaining the phenomenon are that fish and frogs are sucked from the water surface by strong winds into the clouds, which eventually rain down all that has been collected. He went on to add that when this happens on land, it is referred to as a tornado but if it occurs on water, it is called a waterspout.
I suspect that teachers of the English language in schools in and around Nakuru are about to have a very difficult time. They will no longer be able to convince (or even confuse) their students that the expression 'raining cats and dogs', used in the English language to mean 'raining heavily', holds any water. The fact is, they have seen with their own eyes, fish and frogs raining from the skies, climate change or not. The phrase 'raining cats and dogs' is thought to have been coined in the filthy streets of 17th/18th century England, where heavy rains would occasionally carry along debris comprising of dead animals, cats and dogs included. I doubt any teacher in 21st century Kenya would have it easy explaining that away, in the context of the 'Nakuru fishes and frogs phenomenon'.
My other suspicion is that some 'pastors' and 'street-preachers' are already having a field day. I am wont to think that many 'ordinary' citizens of my beloved hometown, have no clue who Dr. Mukabana is, let alone what 'climate change' means, or the spelling of 'meteorological' is. The only source of 'official' explanation about the 'fishes and frogs', in my considered opinion, for the 'ordinary folks' would come from the usually vocal and enterprising 'pastors' and 'street-preachers'. I imagine they would be inclined to make strong comparisons to 'manna', which in Christian parlance, is the name for the food miraculously sent to the Israelites during their 40 years sojourn in the desert.
The only trouble is, frogs are not yet a culinary delicacy in Kenya! To my fellow Nakuru citizens, make sure you have strong umbrellas-or better still, don't leave your buckets at home-fishing has just become much easier!
I wonder what else 'climate change' is going to change!!
Nigeria - the Federal Republic of Nigeria - recently held celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of their independence from the United Kingdom - October 1st 1960. Now, Nigeria is a country known for many things-one of the world's largest oil producers; the most populous country in Africa, with recent estimates from the United Nations putting it at over 154 million; world re-known writers such as Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe and a vibrant music and film industry.
Other facts are less known- such as the fact that Nigeria has three satellites in space; that it is the United States' largest trading partner in Sub Saharan Africa and that it is the world's 32nd-largest country.
The incumbent Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, recently declared his intention to run for re-election, via a social networking site, Facebook. He probably is the 1st presidential candidate in Africa, if not in the world to do so. And i still wish him good luck!
What i would like to talk about Nigeria, is not about the bomb attacks in Abuja, allegedly orchestrated by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), on independence day celebrations; but about FRAN.
The acronym FRAN stands for 'the Free Readers Association of Nigeria' - every morning around Nigerian cities, people gather around newsstands, not to buy, but to read the newspapers and magazines on display for free. They then proceed to engage in lively discussions about the news items making the headlines in the day's papers. According to an article by Vincent Ukpong Kalu, Dennis Ugbudian and Wole Balogun, these people are reffered to as " members of the unofficial Free Readers Association (FRA)" .
A newsstand in Nigeria
The debates are not only impassioned, but the participants, according to the article, are also "analytical, knowledgeable and above all political. The free readers are said to constitute the lead panel at such debates, that are also known as 'roadside parliaments'. The 'parliamentary sessions' discuss a wide variety of subjects ranging from politics, sports, economy, high society and other topical issues.
Free Readers Associations probably exist in many other African countries, where joblessness, a thirst for knowledge and vibrant political atmosphere, create interesting ways of interaction.
So, no money to buy the daily newspaper? No problem! Join a FRA in your city or town today! Association meetings begin every morning at a newsstand near you!
Its great to be back..updating my blog! This afternoon i went to the StoryMoja Hay Festival (which according to the organizers, is Kenya's leading literary event), at the Railways club in Nairobi.
Several events were taking place concurrently in different marquees, which meant i had to make a choice as to which one to go to.Scanning quickly through the day's program, my attention was drawn to a forum hosted by Pauline Odhiambo, a journalist with a local daily, and Sunny Bindra, a management strategist, popular columnist and author of 'The Peculiar Kenyan'.
Left to Right: Sunny Bindra and Pauline Odhiambo at the StoryMoja Hay Festival
For several years now, Sunny has been writing in the Sunday Nation newspaper. 'The Peculiar Kenyan' is a collection of Sunny's perspectives on the peculiar things that happen only in Kenya, or are uniquely Kenyan.This afternoon's discussion was on this new book, 'The Peculiar Kenyan'. I wouldlike to share with you a few of these 'peculiarities'.
Kenyan judges still wear white blonde wigs, a tradition that was supposedly inherited from the colonial times. Problem is, British judges discarded their wigs long time ago. Why on earth are our judges still clinging to theirs, making them look like ridiculous father Christmas figures? Very peculiar!
Only Kenyans start a sentence with the words 'Me i...' Whether it is meant for emphasis, is not clear. In a conversation you will hear, "Me i told him to go away" or "Me i don't go there nowadays". Another strange use of language, peculiar to Kenyans is when someone walks into a meeting in the morning and greets those seated "Good mornings!" Exactly how many 'mornings' are being referred to? Peculiar!
Only in Kenya do we have traffic lights and traffic police working to control traffic and all at the same time, but usually issuing conflicting directions. Automation and labour working together! The lights turn red, but the traffic police officer is motioning the motorists to keep driving! Why spend money on setting up traffic lights if the police are going to be controlling traffic? Peculiar. Very peculiar!
Television news anchors in Kenya speak in a fake British/American accent, and end up looking like they will dislocate their jaws the very next moment. Apparently, they are 'coached' by their 'news managers' to speak the way they do. Tragedy is, kids are now mimicking their style of speaking. Why cant they just speak naturally like Kenyans? For heaven's sake, when the British and Americans read Kenyan words, they make no attempt to sound 'Kenyan'. Why should our news anchors? Peculiar!
Only Kenyans accept to be treated contemptuously by matatu crews. They will drive dangerously, charge twice or thrice the normal fare, because it is raining, and Kenyans will not protest. Until there is a grisly accident, and the next few days will be dominated by analysis of 'road rage' on Kenya's roads. Then it it will be back to business as usual-until the next accident. Very peculiar!
Lastly, i could not buy a copy of Sunny's new book because the shipment was delayed at the port of Mombasa. But we carried on discussing a book that only the author and the moderator of the forum had read. Kenyans are quite a resilient lot. Maybe this is not peculiar...or is it?
Sunny's book is intended to be a humorous way of looking at ourselves as Kenyans, having a good laugh, and later, reflecting on the little things we can change, to make our society a more hospitable place to live in.
Sunny Bindra's 'The Peculiar Kenyan' is a must read. Watch out for news of the book launch and get yourself a copy. Better still, be a peculiar Kenyan, and wait for someone else to buy it...then you can always borrow!
