No Labour is insignificant. All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence and in decent work conditions.
―
Israel has once again shown countries how clever leaders think in the 2nd and 3rd order (thinking beyond the obvious).*
Last week Israel became the first country to inoculate its entire adult population over age 18. Yesterday, all schools and colleges were opened and mask requirements were removed all across the country (barring a few congested public places).
Here's how this remarkable country did it.
Israel's leaders are all well educated and many of them have advanced degrees in science and medicine. Their PM graduated at the top of his class at MIT, and started (but didn't finish) a PhD at Harvard.
They realized at the onset of the pandemic last year that the only way to beat a virus was through herd immunity, and that vaccination was key to expediting this process. They immediately zeroed in the two companies that were ahead of the pack in vaccine development--Pfizer and Moderna. The Israeli PM immediately developed a personal friendship with the CEOs of these companies (using his Harvard and MIT connections).
As soon as Pfizer announced successful Phase 3 trials Israel made a deal with Pfizer to pick up their first 8 million doses for twice the price ($30 per dose) of what Pfizer was eventually aiming to sell the vaccine. Israel also agreed to provide Pfizer with data on the efficacy of the vaccine on its population. By November 2020, Israel had already acquired the vaccines it required to immunize its people.
The Israeli PM was asked two weeks ago why they agreed to pay $15 per dose extra, and his response was classic 2nd order thinking. He said that, just in pure economic numbers, the total amount they overpaid was a miniscule fraction of what it costs to lockdown the country. This is not counting the extra medical costs of Covid and the incalculable price of losing a loved one. The economic loss from just three days of lockdown was more than the overpayment for all the vaccines they bought.
This is how smart and educated leaders think and achieve great things for their country
When you discover that you are only but human, who have been relishing in fame and success thinking that you are not human; when life has brought out your weaknesses and reduced you to nothing; then the best place to surrender is in the hands of the Almighty God. David was faced with a similar predicament when he had carried out a census in Israel against God’s will: 1 Chronicles 21:9-13 “ 9 The LORD said to Gad, David’s seer, 10 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’ ” 11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Take your choice: 12 three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the LORD —days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” 13 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” David chose to fall in the hands of God
Pornography.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE.*
Men Men Men!!!!.
MY ENCOUNTER WITH CORONA
KIRAITU MURUNGI
I had interacted with corona at a distance, as we continually advised the people of Meru to wear masks, wash hands, avoid shaking hands and keep social distance. I had followed CS Mutahi Kagwe, and his deputies, every day in the media giving statics of those tested, those who had turned positive, those being treated in hospitals, those under home care, and those who had died. I always wore a KN95 mask in all my public gatherings. I had taken Covid-19 tests thrice, and they had all turned negative. I had no usual Covid-19 symptoms. No cough, no sneezing, no fever. I felt relatively safe. Little did I know that I would soon be part of those statistics.
My encounter with corona was most unexpected. It was a most frightening experience. Corona was no-longer merely an issue of statics and emotional debates. It was now about ME, and whether I would live or die. My entire life, my family, my work, and my future were suddenly at sake.
My Corona cycle was in three phases. The first phase was marked by denial. I had mentally refused to accept that I was sick. I forced myself to work until I couldn’t work anymore. I had extreme fatigue, fever, confusion and general weakness of the body, but I didn’t think it was Covid-19. For over one week, I tried to survive, on over-the counter medicine, such as Panadols, Claritin, and Augmentin. I proceeded with my normal action-packed days, with a lot of difficulty. I continued to feel feverish, extremely tired, sore-throat, headaches and confusion in my head. I did not have the usual Covid-19 symptoms like coughing or sneezing, but I was feeling extremely tired, severe back-ache, indigestion and I had a bloated stomach. To put it in layman’s language, I was not really myself. I just pushed and forced my body to work.
On Tuesday 9th March, I took the AstraZeneca vaccine. Although I was not feeling very well, I had to convince the people of Meru that the vaccine “was safe”. It was my political duty as a leader to give our people confidence in the vaccine. I had been told that the side effects of the vaccine were high temperatures, fever and slight headache, which would disappear in a day or two. I experienced fever, headache, and very high temperatures that night. I thought they would disappear the following day but they didn’t.
The side-effects did not go away. Extreme fatigue, headaches, sore throat, and confusion of the mind persisted unabated. My self- prescribed antibiotics, Claritin and Panadols didn’t work either. I was in a lot of pain and suffering. Deep inside me, I was still convinced that all this was the continued side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine which would go away with time.
On Saturday 13th March, I stayed indoors at my home at Nkubu, feeling feverish, weak and generally confused. My wife came, and we travelled to Nairobi the following day. Our children had prepared an exciting surprise birthday for my wife, who was turning 60.I had great difficulty “surviving” the party. I was feeling extremely fatigued and drowsy. I had to insist on the cake being cut prematurely, so that I could go and rest in my bedroom.
On Monday 15th March, I saw a doctor who ordered several tests to be done on me, including a Covid-19 test. The Covid test was negative but the fever, fatigue and high temperatures persisted. At 3 am at night, Priscilla had to rush me to Aga Khan Hospital because my temperatures had shot up to 39c. The Hospital tests found nothing. Surprisingly, the temperature was normal at 37c. So we returned home.
On Tuesday 16th, my brother Dr. Kiraitu came to see me at home and found me in a terrible state. I was drowsy, and always felt like being left alone to sleep. He called Dr. Mwongera and arranged for me to be admitted at Nairobi Hospital, the same day. At the hospital, I took numerous tests including malaria antigen test, blood culture, stool and urine, an ultra-sound, head and lungs CT scan, and of course Covid-19. The results came out the following day, I had Covid pneumonia.
The second phase in my Corona cycle was acceptance and treatment. The doctors gave me hope but I could see they were not definite. They were trying their best. This was a scientific and medical phase involving consultants, doctors, nurses, and the medicines they prescribed. I had no real fight against Corona. I become fatalistic, ready for any outcome. I was taken through a very strict regimen of treatment and drugs like Vitamin D 360k, Zinc Remdesivir, Parafusiv, Ivermectin, Dexamethasone, Chlorhexidine, Xarelto, and Novarapid. The nurses kept a round-the- clock vigil. They kept monitoring my oxygen uptake, temperature, blood sugar, and blood pressure every two hours for six days.
For me at this point, nothing really mattered. Corona had disconnected me from everything. It put me out of action. I felt weak and useless. The news of Magufuli funeral ceremonies on TV only reminded me of the possibility of my own death; my final exit from this world. Magufuli had a great send-off. How would my exit be? I kept asking myself. Is this my final un-ceremonial exit from the world? I kept praying that I don’t die, until 2022 when I will be 70. At least I would have attained the optimum biblical age.
My phone was full of emails, SMSs and WhatsApp get well messages from family, friends, workmates, political colleagues, and even from my political opponents. Corona had brought us together. When you fall sick or dead, suddenly you become everyone’s friend. But a few Facebook posts said I was in ICU, and some said I was dead. It didn’t matter since I was alive. I got to read, most of the good will messages after I was discharged. I was informed by my staff that the churches and clergy in Meru had held prayers for me. One message read that God would restore my health and heal my wounds and I would go out “leaping like calves released from the stall”. Their prayers were answered on Monday 22nd March, when I was discharged, to continue my treatment at home, but I was not yet out of the woods. The test still showed I was Covid positive, but I was not in any pain.
I owe my life to God, Dr. Mwongera, my brother Dr. Miriti, Dr. Silverstein and team of doctors and nurses who performed the scientific miracle. I have heard some people being congratulated for winning a “heroic battle” against Covid-19. This is a self-delusion, I did nothing. I didn’t fight. At the hospital I just followed the doctor’s and nurses’ orders. I didn’t even know what they were giving me. I was too weak and subdued. It was a very humbling experience for me. If I died, that would be it. Everything would be irrelevant to me. You cannot defeat death. Even Lazarus who was raised from the dead, eventually died again.
The third Corona cycle was more friendly. It was in home isolation because I was still positive. I continued with treatment and convalescence. I was put under a home-care nurse who continued to administer my drugs and monitor my oxygen, blood pressure and blood-sugar levels every three hours. I found it difficult to sleep on my tummy with oxygen tubes in my nostrils, but after a week I got used to it.
The beautiful thing about this phase is that the pain, fatigue, fever and confusion were gone. Apart from confinement at home, and the frequent interruption by the nurse, life was almost normal. Corona should not only be seen in negative terms. It turned out to be one of the best, and most fulfilling times of my life. I enjoyed a “Corona Holiday”
For the first time in many years, I found myself all alone, reflecting about my life and my future. I enjoyed the warmth, love and friendship of my wife Priscilla, my children, and my close family members, without any external interferences. I also had time to read, watch TV, and follow politics on social media, like other ordinary Kenyans. I took time to take stock of my political life and to tidy up some loose ends in my thinking.
This phase of Corona turned out to be one of the most creative, inspirational and revelatory moments of my life. I read some interesting materials on history and philosophy. I read a booklet by a Roman philosopher, SENECA “ON THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE” which argued that our lives are not short; we only waste them, with irrelevant things. He showed how we allow our lives to be “stolen” by others, and how gripped by insatiable greed for money and power, we dedicate our lives to useless tasks.
He showed how political leaders are worn out by political ambitions, self-imposed servitude, and a life of display. He said our lives are “caught on the whirlwinds and storms, carried hither and hither, and driven round and round in circles by the rage of opposing winds”. This is very true of my life. My life had been ‘stolen’ from me by politics and social pressures.
As I read this book, I watched with pity, a frail-Raila Odinga, who was being treated for a Covid-19 attack being literally “dragged out of bed” so that he and the President could be seen together opening roads in Nairobi and Kajiado, for political optics, to show Kenyans that the “Handshake Deal” between the two was still intact. Raila’s health came second. Politics came first. His life had been ‘stolen’ from him. He was living a life of display. He was caught up in the endless winds and storms of politics.
This was clear demonstration of how politics has robbed politicians of their lives. Our lives are no longer our own. We have been estranged and alienated even from ourselves. We are permanently on stage, making impressions, seeking to be liked, and approved by others. We live a life of endless pretences. We are too psychologically terrified to think and act independently.
I felt sad we have lost our own authenticity and freedom. Even our thoughts and our voices are no-longer truly our own. We live a life of fear and suspense always worried about what others will think or say about us. We are constantly listening to rumours, and scanning the political weather so that we can always be politically correct and always be on the winning side. Corona break gave me an opportunity to take stock on my own personal political journey.
Politics had robbed me of my life and my voice. Sometimes, it had robbed me of my freedom of thought. I had become obsessed with winning. In doing so, I had advocated and fought for ideas and anxieties which were not genuinely my own. I had given in too much to political and social expectations of others. If I had died of Corona, I would have died alone. All that noise and bustle of politics would continue without me. I made a decision to appreciate myself and to reclaim my life. From now on, I would follow the desires of my heart. I would ignore all the noise, the psychological burdens of friendship and ideals of politics. I too have a fundamental duty to live a happy and decent life in the remaining years of my life. I promised myself to pursue my dreams without seeking approval from anybody. I thank Corona for helping me to find myself, and to liberate me from’others’.
Kiraitu Murungi, LLB (Hons) LLM(NB) LLM (Harvard), is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and the Governor of Meru.
LESSONS FROM INDIA
1.prevention is cheaper than cure. India has one of the best health infrastructure and now their health architecture has collapsed.
2. Stop both indoor and outdoor gatherings: Kumbh Mela festival attracted 3.5 million people who bathed in River Ganges.
3. Stop political rallies: Prime Minister Modi and his associates held rallies attracting mammoth crowds.
4: Premature declaration: politicians made people to believe that India had defeated Covid-19 and so all protocols were thrown to the wind.
5. COVID-19 is a clever virus: it mutates every so frequently; successive variants are more contagious.
Indian Variant B1.617 is a double mutant with two spikes. It sidesteps body immune response and has significantly reduced vaccine efficacy.
What can we do in Kenya?
1. Wear mask everytime you step out of the door.
2.Observe social distance.
3. Avoid both indoor and outdoor gatherings.
4. Stop non-essential travels.
If anyone visits your house they must do the following:
a. Wear mask properly.
b.Sit next to the door and must not move around the house nor touch anything.
c.Should take less than 5mins.
d. Must sanitize at the door when entering and leaving.
e. Must not eat because they'll remove the mask.
LET'S BE OUR OWN KEEPERS
To a child, "Love" is spelt, "T.I.M.E"
spend time with your children this holiday...its the best thing you can do for them
THE WOUND OF A FATHER:
A true father goes through many unspeakable experiences to continue to be a father.
When he goes out daily in search of bread for his household, he sustains many mental injuries he does not discuss with his family.
His wife and children may not be able to stand the pains he goes through if he shares it with them.
The insults from his boss,the embarrassment from his customers,the harassment from his superiors,etc.Yet he can't quit.
Most times,when he gets home,he is welcomed with nags and unending requests.He gets blames for not being able to meet up, or for not being able to be like his fellow men.
Hmmmm!He is rarely appreciated for his struggles and push just to keep the family together.
Some men had secretly dipped their hands in so many things they can't discuss with their families.Some have stolen,embezzled and borrowed so much that they live in inexpressible guilts everyday.
A real father can take anything just to keep food on the table for his household.
An adage says''goat sweats but his hair does not let people see his sweat''.Many men are sweating but no one is seeing their sweat because they have a car, a house,a job,etc.
When it comes to celebrating him, it is done casually.
He may not have breasts to breastfeed, yet everyone sucks from his unseen breasts.
He may not carry pregnancy for nine months,but he's always pregnant with family needs.
He may not know how labour pain feels,but his pains are not physical.
Tears may not be in his eyes but he bleeds from inside when he has no means to put food on the table for his household.
His shout,hostility and moods are not premeditated,they are fallout of what he goes through.So,please understand him.
To all males working out there
Borrowed Article
Women let me teach you one thing in marriage... men need something called PEACE. That thing looks small but to be honest, if you are a woman with a big mouth, you will always say that your husband doesn't care about you that he has another one outside... yes the one outside is not because your husband wanted but because when he arrived there he told him anything you need I will give. You, they go out and laugh, there she is eating money and then commits adultery. Don't you see that the mother of the house contributed?? Let us learn to be gentle, better to pick up the phone than making noise to them.. Learn to depend on God because God will teach you a gentle heart, a forgiving heart and a helping mind in the house... 1 Cor. 7:15 God has called us to live in peace... and when you read the whole chapter it will open your mind how to take care of your house. Let us stop this thing of saying that he doesn't love me, that he is targeting me, that he has someone
And men gather here let me teach you something. Women stay in a marriage where there is love, caring, attention,romance...name them all. She will give you peace when you offer this. But if you create hell, there is no peace in hell.
Only a fool will be offended by a woman who freely and honestly speaks her mind.When you take away a woman's voice,you take away her everything.A voice is a woman's weapon.Women are naturally wired to use their voice as their only way of aserting themselves or communicating their pain or just explaining themselves.A wise man knows this and wont be bothered at all.As men,you should stop these egoic tendencies because you are not "Gods".Women go through a lot and their sanity depends on their ability to speak out.Wacheni Wanawake waongee jameni.
Did you know that God’s joy is inside you? As God’s children, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, and with Him come all the fruits of the Spirit, including joy (see Galatians 5:22-23).
Even though there are so many challenges going on in the world right now, we can still have joy. In fact, it’s incredibly important that we hold on to our joy, because the joy of the Lord is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10).
You might be thinking, Joyce, that sounds nice, but I’m not experiencing it—I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my joy.
We all have days that are overwhelming, but I have good news for you! Even in the middle of turbulent times, there are steps you can take to open your heart to the genuine, deep joy that Jesus wants you to have (see John 17:13), and I’m going to share four of them with you today.
#1 – Stop trying to figure everything out.
If you’ve heard much of my story, you probably know that years ago, I was addicted to worrying and reasoning. I used to try to figure everything out—from how we were going to pay our bills, to which message I should teach, to how I could change Dave and our kids—and I had no joy.
I lived this way until the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6 really began to sink into my heart. It says,
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way] (AMP).
When we choose to acknowledge God in the middle of our problems, we open the door for Him to begin to work in our situation, and for joy to begin to come back to our hearts.
This doesn’t mean we should neglect our own responsibilities, but it does mean that we can learn to trust God to provide the answers we need at the right time (see Isaiah 30:21; 41:9-10; 58:11).
#2 – Forgive quickly.
This one was extremely difficult for me at first. But it was absolutely life changing to discover that forgiveness is actually a gift for me, not the people who’ve hurt me. You see, forgiveness frees us from the devastating, long-term damage of bitterness, and makes it possible for us to truly enjoy our life again.
God’s Word tells us to forgive quickly and often (see Ephesians 4:26; Matthew 18:22), even when we don’t feel ooey-gooey, loving feelings toward that person (see Ephesians 4:26; Matthew 18:22). Why? Because if we don’t deal with our offenses, that pain will slowly but surely poison our lives, and we certainly won’t be experiencing the joy Jesus came to give us. Because He wants us to thrive, He not only gives us the instruction to forgive, but He also promises to give us the strength to do it (see Philippians 2:13; 4:13)—thank God He never asks us to do something that He doesn’t also empower us to do!
The Bible is filled with amazing reminders about the mercy of God:
When we mess up, God’s forgiveness is one prayer away (see 1 John 1:9; 3:20 ESV). When we come to Him for help, He forgives us, removes our sin, and doesn’t even remember it anymore (see Psalm 103:12, Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 8:12)! And when we come to Him with a sincerely repentant heart, He’ll never turn us away (see Psalm 51:17; 145:18).
When the time comes for us to be merciful to others, Matthew 6:14-15 advises us to be like our loving Father:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (NIV).
When you have even the smallest feeling of offense toward someone, I encourage you to do yourself a favor and forgive—it may not be easy in the beginning, but I know you won’t regret it!
#3 – Remind yourself every day that God loves you.
How often do we take time to actively, purposely remember God’s love for us? I can almost guarantee you we don’t do this nearly enough, and it’s partly because the enemy works hard at attacking our self-esteem from a young age. He often tries to get us to think things like “You’re not____,” “You can’t___,” or “You shouldn’t ____.” By the time we grow up, many of us don’t like ourselves!
But guess what? Even though we have faults and shortcomings and make mistakes, God’s love for us remains the same. In fact, we’re the apple of His eye, His treasured children, and He’s promised to never walk out or give up on us (see Deuteronomy 7:6, 32:9-10; Hebrews 13:5).
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:6 (AMPC), I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
This means that you can learn to love your imperfect, messed-up self. Even as you’re changing, you can enjoy yourself and enjoy your life, knowing that you’re a masterpiece in the making—one who’s becoming more and more like Jesus every day.
If you struggle in this area, I encourage you to start each day by speaking out these life-giving truths from God’s Word:
God loves me—He paid a high price just so He could be in relationship with me (see Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Corinthians 7:23).
He’s always thinking beautiful thoughts of me, and every day of my life was written in His book before I was born (see Psalm 139:13-18).
Even when I was in my mother’s womb, God knew me, approved of me and wanted me (see Jeremiah 1:5).
Jesus didn’t get stuck with me—He chose me for a specific, incredible purpose (see Ephesians 1:4), and I get to live it today!
As you begin to really believe what God says about you in His Word, the joy that’s already in you will start to bubble up like never before!
#4 – Laugh – it makes you stronger!
Last (but certainly not least!) is this: laugh! Can you remember the last time you had a deep, hearty laugh? How did you feel after? A good laugh always makes me feel lighter and more rejuvenated afterward, and God knows that we need them often! He tells us in Proverbs 17:22 that “a happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing…” (AMP), so a good laugh really can make you stronger!
Proverbs 13:20 says that when you spend time with wise people, you’ll become wise, and I believe that when you hang out with joyful friends, you’ll grow in your ability to enjoy life.
When you feel frustrated, begin to look for the humor in the situation and laugh about your circumstances. When I learned how to do that, my life became a whole lot more joyful.
No matter what you’re going through right now, I’m believing with you that God is working in you and on your behalf, and that He’s going to help you laugh again.
Borrowed from Joyce Meyer
Article 27 (8), 81 (B) are very clear on adressing gender inequality, she got it right as a country legal systems have failed . it is time to look else where for women equality, social and political power is needed. It has been delayed long enough and it is wrong
There are only 6 people in Kenya with a Higher Doctorate. A degree above PhD and they are all from the University of Nairobi
. They are; Prof. Kokwaro. Prof. Ndetei, Prof. J.B. Ojwang', Prof. Ole Maloy, and Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote - The ONLY Woman with LLD in Kenya.Primus inter pares Being the first among equals is not a walk in the park. Being first among many firsts take Gods Grace #Tuesdaymotivations #TuesdayFeeling
It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally, equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their seniority in office.
When you’re 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you.
When you’re 40, you don’t care what anybody thinks about you.