- 11 december 2006, by Waithera Githaiga in Nairobi - Jamhuri Day is celebrated in Kenya on the 12th December of every year, to mark the date of Kenya's independence. Jamhuri is the Swahili (Kiswahili) word for "republic" as reflected in the nations official name Jamhuri ya Kenya (Republic of Kenya). Jamhuri Day is generally regarded as Kenya's most important holiday and is certainly the most widely celebrated, marked by numerous cultural festivities which celebrate the country's cultural heritage.This day is often associated with Dedan Kimathi, the executed leader of the famous Mau Mau, regarded by many Kenyan's as the hero who lifted the nation on his shoulders toward independence. It is a…

- 6 December 2006, by Waithera Githaiga. Kenya pastoral week (KPW) is an annual multi-stakeholder advocacy process for pastoralists that was started in 2003. It was started as a platform for amplifying pastoralists voices and ensuring that there perspective are integrated in development programme.The Centre for Minority Rights Development CEMIRIDE), Pastoralists Parliamentary Group (PPG), Catholic Organisation for Relief Fund Development (CORDAID), Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP), Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), Kenya Gatsby Trust among other partners are the ones who launched the Kenya pastoral week 4 years ago.As a platform KPW has with notable results heightened…

- 10 November 2006, by Waithera Githaiga in Nairobi. 6000 delegates including heads of states, ministers and UN officials from around the world gathered in Nairobi, Kenya last Monday for a 10 day conference at the UN Complex, to discuss climatic changes that is resulting into global warming. The two-week conference on climatic change is the second meeting of the 165 parties to the Kyoto Protocol; it"s the first UN climate summit in sub-Saharan Africa.To govern the global warming effect, the Kyoto Protocol was agreed upon by 189 governments at a 1997 UN conference in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto Protocol is a pact that is out to observe that the reduction of greenhouses gases is emitted by d…

- 7 November 2006. Kenya has been blessed with a sub tropical climate all year around that makes the country an ideal destination for tourists, investors, holders of international conferences and foreign long term residence. Thus Kenia is a tourist attraction. As much as we are placed under the category of developing countries, I see we are not that badly off according to my opinion because we managed to have this years budget read without the inclusive of donor funding.I am not saying that we can survive on our own without donor funding, no! We need it especially in the slums areas where it helps uplifts the standard of people living there.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Ban…

-  17 October 2006 by Waithera Githaiga in Nairobi - At the far northeast of the Kenyan Lamu archipelago, stands Kiwayu Island, which is a vital ingredient of the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. This spot is predominantly fashionable with dhow trips although flip flop crafts are increasingly becoming a valuable commodity to the Bajuni community.  Salvaged sandalsAs you walk through to explore coral reefs, mangrove and sea grasses off the eastern side of the island, crowds of children and women comb the beach, they can be mistaken for beach boys but are residents trying to clean up the shore at the same time make a living from salvaged sandals. Sandals deposited from various co…