Al Kags

Tumbling along.

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To thrive, professionals must go rural

To thrive, professionals must go rural

https://twitter.com/__sammich__/status/1411246935151976455 This week I took interest in seeing a tweet by an engineer who expressed tongue-in-cheek, her frustration in being unable to find “innovative engineering” work. This, she said, despite having gone to university for 5 years. I took a moment to ask her what she meant by “Innovative engineering” and she defined it as “engineering that…

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Thoughts that preoccupy me

Thoughts that preoccupy me

In the course of living my life, I am usually preoccupied with key life questions that guide my thoughts, work and impact. This is a list of the issues/ questions that I am considering. I share them in no particular order.  1. How can government truly be by the people for the people? I am pondering what it would take for government to be truly controlled by the people and how governance can be…

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These are ways to make people count

These are ways to make people count

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote here about Mama Furaha, a woman that I met that does not officially exist and how many people don’t count. I have so many more stories of real people and I will be telling you about them. One of the people I will often tell you about is Brian (*not his real name), a 21 year old young man who works with me at my farm. Brian is married to a 19 year old girl and they…

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KBC's Problem is not it's logo

KBC’s Problem is not it’s logo

Maybe now it is, a little bit… Kenya’s national TV broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Television has rebranded for the second time in two decades. The new look station now features veteran anchor, Catherine Kasavuli, who was the Belle of TV as I was growing up in the 1990s, Anchor-turned-PR Mogul, Cynthia Nyamai and Former NTV Anchor, Tom Mboya. The unveiling of the new look was…

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There are people who don't exist (Story 1)

There are people who don’t exist (Story 1)

The story of Mama Furaha and her group (Kilifi County). There are people who live in Kenya but don’t exist. Mama Furaha is 40 years old this year – at least that is her estimate because she is not exactly sure which day she was born. She doesn’t look 40 – more like a spry 60. She is a short, compact woman, who wears a ready smile and gesticulates her calloused hands as she speaks. Her feet are…

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Kiama's arrest by overzealous cops, is wrong

Kiama’s arrest by overzealous cops, is wrong

I learnt with much concern about the arrest of Human Rights Advocate, Mutemi wa Kiama. He was arrested because he created a poster that purported to be a notice to “the world at large” that President Uhuru Kenyatta “is not authorised to act or transact on behalf of the Republic of Kenya and that future generations shall not be held liable for loans acquired by him.That he was arrested in the…

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What people sinners felt closer to God? https://www.instagram.com/p/ByIpIMFAvHl/?igshid=vlxld1r186og

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Why I want to be a better writer.

Why I want to be a better writer.

I was born to be a writer. To see the world in pure silence, to feel its rhythms and its impulses and to figure out how to express that on paper. On most days, when I am being successful as a writer, I stand in the shadows and watch people as they go about their lives – see them laugh and cry and court each other.

I am usually struck with bouts of curiosity in an expressive, non-judgemental kind…

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Traditions in the future

Traditions in the future

Of blogging and how past practices could be useful in making a happy future. 

I have lately been encouraging many members of my staff to start blogging and to make it a habit to demonstrate their growth by simply documenting the lessons they learn through their various experiences – at work, at home and elsewhere. 

Many of them are timid about writing and expressing themselves, mainly…

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SMART TOILET? GOD, NO.

SMART TOILET? GOD, NO.

Hello. I am all for gadgets – everyone knows I am crazy about getting the latest of everything. I never thought I might draw the line somewhere but HERE I draw the line. Smart Toilets? No, sir.

Suddenly google knows when I take a dump and the quality of it? So that I have an ad for Imodium that pops up every website I go to? Please, no. Then I get “smart books” on kindle that read me the book I…

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This man, this African man was here and there was no doubt of his presence, or of his impact in the world. Kofi Annan was here. When I grow up I want to be like him.

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Poetry: I live in Silence. 

I live in Silence.

A space so vast that even winds tire to tred, a consciousness so deep that light fears to explore, where my scream is swallowed in the buzz of a crowd of the ever present, ever absent, jostling, hustling, pushing for elusive bread with the pain of exertion – blood, sweat, tears from every pore, I live in silence. In a dark loud nightclub in an alley or nave where the pious and…

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The only view i get of New York's time square today. One day trip. (at New York, New York)

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This is me being serious talking about Sustainable Development... (at United Nations)