Leadership TerryNovember 23, 2011 0 comments

Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal. 

~ ~Vince Lombardi

Of late, I have found myself in situations that test my leadership skills / qualities. There's a little evil voice that keeps questioning if truly my team and I will manage to fulfill our mandate and successfully so. But then there's the stronger voice that reminds me I was selected from a large pool of applicants in a competitive process and offered a higher poster than I'd applied for. I choose to listen to the latter voice because it is the voice that I trust and believe in.
However, I acknowledge distractions will always be there, sometimes confidence will wane, but I am determined and working towards success.
I want to build a powerful team to ensure a powerful brand. I want to excel in all areas of my life, after all, I am my own leader before I lead others.

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. 

~ ~Henry Ward Beecher

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A Kenyan is a Kenyan is a Kenyan ! TerryNovember 5, 2011 0 comments

In Africa as in other parts of the world, communities living near a country’s borders tend to stretch between two countries. They are however not dual citizens because their loyalty lies on only one side of the border. It is as a result of such circumstances that there Kenya Somalis and Somalia Somalis and both are authentic to their respective nations.

A good example of these across- border communities presents itself clearly in the case of the former Vice President, Moody Awori whose blood brother is an opposition MP in Uganda. Does this make us speculate of their ‘origin’? Nooooo!

Why then are we victimising Kenyan Somalis just because they share an ethnicity with others across the border?

Today as I was watching the news, I realised that in fact we should be concerned and advocate for security of our Somali brothers and sisters. Instead we refer to them in derogatory terms and stereotypically accuse them of being Al-Shabaab.

Did it ever occur to you that the Somalis are on the receiving end of terror groups more that we are? The chairperson of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Mr. Kibunjia, put it in a very smart way that challenged me. He gave the example of Mungiki who are mainly young Kikuyus, yet they perpetrate violence and ills against their own. This made me realise that if there is any single community that would want Al-Shabaab wiped out, it is the Somalis, on the Kenyan side and Somalia side because they suffer the most.

Look at what SLDF did to its own community in Mount Elgon!

We have no right, absolutely no right nor authority or obligation to victimise Somalis for what a few bad elements have done or are doing. Unless of course, we are also ready to be judged by the same measure. And then almost every Kenyan will be an outlaw.

 Are you prepared to be referred to as Mungiki, SLDF, Chinkororo, jeshi la mzee and whatever else a minute fraction of your community calls themselves? I believe nobody is.

It is the different ethnicity, different cultures that blend into the beautiful rainbow that is Kenya. Let’s keep it that way!

Oh, and there’s nothing as ‘Kenyan of Somali origin’, there are just Kenyan Somalis !

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Embrace your inner girl TerryNovember 1, 2011 0 comments

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Spam TerryOctober 11, 2011 0 comments

The spam folder in my e-mail always has unread mail. Most of it - trash. The only reason I check it daily is because some of my genuine e-mail goes to this folder.

The other is usually offensive content. I never read it but I can tell by the subject its @#$% 

 http://spam.abuse.net/overview/whatisspam.shtml terms it as flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services. 

 In this age of the internet, I know and understand spam will always be there. My only appeal is, "could the inventors make it gender sensitive?" What infuriates me is the number of 'Viagra discounts' and 'enlarge with trial' messages I receive in a day. Today I got 24, aaiiihh! seriously, I don't think am within the gender demography targeted. I know it's too much to expect but ...

There's lots of spam in this world away from the internet. What can you do about it? Be true to yourself. Know who you are and do not give in to the 'flooding messages', the whims of this world.

And in the words of Cormac Burke, Identify things by how they suit you - your satisfaction, your advantage - not by the value of others.

Empty the spam then and only then will you experience the concealed, critical and countless purpose of your life.

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Fare thee well, Prof. Wangari Maathai TerryOctober 9, 2011 0 comments

I remember that  'breaking news' at around 6:15 a.m. on 26th September 2011. Maina Kageni came on air to announce the death of the Nobel laureate at the Nairobi Hospital while receiving treatment. I think my mind shut down for a moment and all I could say was "shit!". I don't usually curse but that morning, the word just came out of my mouth unintentionally.

Prof. Maathai receives the Nobel prize in 2004

I remembered reading in The Star about a week prior to her death that Wangari Maathai was in hospital.
No details were provided because she did not want her health a matter of public discussions. I thought to myself she was just suffering from a minor ailment and would soon be back to her usual active and smiling self. How wrong I was!

She never left the hospital alive, not even to plant one more tree or to smile one more time.

Kenya and the world bade her farewell yesterday at a function devoid of pomp and ceremony, just as she wanted.

A mammoth crowd: the youth turned up in large numbers to bid farewell to a role model and icon.

picture source http://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/1252176/highRes/301082/-/maxw/600/-/12v0jhj/-/PIX1.jpg

We have lost a gallant sister but like Raila Odinga said, she will forever be with us through her work which will carry on for many generations to come.

The amazing this about the great lady is that she stayed true to her cause even in death.

Good bye Wangari Maathai, you continue to dwell amongst us.

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Getting started TerryOctober 4, 2011 0 comments

The excitement of being editor-in-chief has settled, not out, just settled.
My team and I met today formally for the first time though we are all well acquainted. Funny how we all applied at the same time.
We had an early morning meeting with the dean and head of activities to orientate us on our roles for the next one year.
 I must say I was impressed by all committee members for their commitment illustrated by how each kept time. I mean, ten minutes before the interview, we were all present. I pray we keep the standard.
The tasks will be pretty demanding coupled with the fact that we have to hit the ground running since we're a bit late getting into office. But we're tough cookies. We will make the best yearbook ever!
The targets are high, our dreams so huge, the expectations soaring and we gonna make it real! Watch this space, ok, not exactly this one but yeah, I'll be sure to let showcase the yearbook here when the time comes.

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Women and perceptions. TerryOctober 2, 2011 0 comments

I have just finished writing an essay on “Women are their own enemies”. I wish I didn’t have to as I do not subscribe to that school of thought but it course work.

On finishing with the essay I reflected on if it is truly so or it’s a fabrication of society’s imaginations and wishful thinking.  

Yesterday I was at a young women’s get-together-ish and I can certainly say women are NOT their enemies. Just that the dynamics of life sometimes make it seem so.  Any who, below is an excerpt of our discussions:

o   A home is a place where love is given and received in an exemplary manner. That is, one can learn and apply it to others. The traditional understanding of home is under threat from several factors such as:

• Civilization of money and technology.

•   Feminism.

• Progress. ( maendeleo). 

• Amongst other factors.

o   All the above notwithstanding, current trends shouldn’t define the home rather, realistic needs of the family; the love for family and the means available.

o   Creating habits and customs is part of creating a home.

o   The Woman makes the home and teaches her family virtues.

o   A home depends on the Mom because a househelp no matter how well trained doesn’t have the same weight of love, order and cleanliness for your family as you do. Delegate well, and when possible, do it yourself.

These are just but a few of what we were discussing at a (new)friends house. By we, I mean myself and close to 20 other young mothers and professional single women with aspirations of making good wives and mothers. It was the last of a series of talks and my first one to attend.

photo from http://www.gwdpearls07.com/about_us.html

 I was invited by one of my Lecturers (advantages of being a good student) and I must say it surpassed my expectations. It was also a wonderful time of networking in a comfortable homely environment.

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