For A Season and Reason.

They say it is inevitable that friends must part some day. Parting always takes something from you even if it's going to be just for a short while. You could live with that. Until some time passes by and you almost forget the last time you saw your friend, and you realize it was the 'last' time. Remember all the 'last times' you have taken for granted in the past and said a timid 'goodbye' to a friend. You take her for granted because you can't already feel her absence and you guess you'll see her again. Yes friends part ways. People do part ways and each one goes his own hoping to meet you again. Nobody ever sees it that you might never ever meet again. So everybody tend to say 'goodbye' and 'go well'.

It is the reason I have realized it is good to feel the people around you and live around them as if you knew it was the last time. I know I may sometimes not care about other people around me but that is just because they were not so dear or friendly enough to consider as a loss out of sight. That last moment when your friend goes and then it will take a while before you get together again.

Sebah would tell you not to worry; that someone has left your life. He was in it for a reason and now that the reason is no more he has left. Yes. They come in your life for a reason. Friends are angels God send your way to support you with something through the journey. Their role is specific and timed and once that time is up they go away. They can go for a short time or for a long long while. In the meantime God has given you another for yet another reason and season, and he too, like the ones before him will go away.

Something else. God bring you closer to people whom He thinks can be interesting in your life and whom you need. Do not keep them away from you. They are only there for a little while for you to make good use of their presence in your life. They will go. They will go some day. Sometimes never to come back.

Friends part when their time is up. Some go far away to far far lands, some won't just need you for a friend anymore while some simply decide to die. Whichever way they go, they are friends we would like to keep forever. Sadly that we wait till when they are gone to miss and appreciate them.

Luckson, Hassan and Jose are leaving the Big Brother House tomorrow. Syl, Hub, CJ the sadist and the Indians had left earlier. May they go well. Till we see each other again. You have all been great friends to me. The moments we have shared. The laughter. The jokes. The puzzles. The catch-ups. Our passions, love and fun. The great discussions and especially the Naija experience. I know we had time to know each other better. Let's keep all the good things we have learnt from one another and forgive the misgivings coz we are only human.

My farewell, kind regards and greetings to your dear ones. Let's put time to the test and see how long it will tick before we meet for yet another season and reason. Bon voyage.

Those Before Me.

Agonga Otitimah met me at a Lecture Theatre down in FASS. Actually the Complex had not been completed at the time and we only had the adjacent Silo-like halls for lectures. Cartography, Geomophorlogy, Operations Research and Systems Analytics had their classes taken down their at the sprawling Egerton grazing grassland. It was a pretty distance of about a km from Siaya 4.

So I 'strayed' into this class of stone-age-rocks and guess who walks in; and near Stone-age-man. Agonga Otitimah appeared rugged and unkempt on that first day in such an amazing fashion. To stamp his entry in the minds of all Dr Agonga Otitimah popped up a cigarette from his shirt pocket for a stick of chalk to an uproar of laughter.

We did a lot with Dr Otitimah including rocking sites around the country - Kariandusi, Suswa, Kit Mikai and the Crying Stone of Kakamega. Just like the other superb buddies I have had, Dr Otitimah became a good friend of mine and we had a cordial lecturer-student relationship. Only that I would not gone to solidify the fluvial geomorphological phenomena he had introduced me.

I stumbled on Dr Otitimah's photograph in the obituary columns sometimes just before 2007 General Elections. May God spare his soul enough kindness to last.

Silas Owiti Osodo

Perhaps a man whose story will never be fully told. One man whose life could not go further than it went. Silas was a quiet, humble and peaceful fellow with a lot of moderation. He had great and deep belief in God and he dedicated so much time and resources including family to the glory of God. A very good man. Story is told that he was born in difficult circumstances and had very rough health in his earlier years. His parents had been previously unsuccessful with his earlier siblings who had passed on as they came. So much prayer successfully determined that Silas survived his poor health to become the best ever cousin I was privileged to have and interact.

Silas went to school after me but we caught up with each other when we worked at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. After his high school education he went to Mombasa where he stayed with the Hon Okundis and studied Accounts at the Mombasa Polytechnic.

When I got my first job and my Big Brother Moses called me from Mombasa saying he had found some shoes that he thought would be great for me it was Silas who lent me the money I paid for them. He just gave me without conditions at all. I was later to pay him at my comfort, leisure and pleasure. It recounted a lot of what was later to further our close ties, friendship and family.
His friends who were outside the Kochia circles were basically his church colleagues. I knew them and they knew me. That is why even though Silas decided to wed Lillian in 1995, and even though I thought he was young and unnecessarily rushing into marriage, I was blessed to grace their first anniversary at their home in Umoja. It was as exclusive as it could be and we both (each) gave a speech. Let me also mention belatedly and with no particular consideration attached that Silas was a great friend of Emily and the shared a lot in confidence.

So this Saturday afternoon Eric Ayieko and I went to see Silas at his house. He had been in ill health for a while and been on and off hospital. He had weakened quite a lot but since he had been through that before we believed he would come off it. He was such a strong willed and charactered man that he came out of his bedroom on his own and sat down with us and drank with us. We chatted and just talked.

Then Silas suddenly started convulsing. We did not quite know what was happening but it was almost true that he was kicking away. A very horrifying moment it was for us. We rushed him to the Aga Khan Hospital where he spent two weeks then got well enough to go back home he was well for a week or so before this Saturday afternoon when they called me that Silas had passed on in his house.

We took his body to the Chiromo Memorial home.

A Political Friday

I was off office today but I was in throughout the day. My head has been throbbing. Perhaps the swarm (or is it colony) of mosquitoes that have all of a sudden invaded my humble abode are squarely responsible for my headache. Like Maragia says (and it has happened to me many times before) sometimes you are in a situation that you want to do something but just decides to ignore it. I have been off duty today. Completely.

But while I was away I veered into youtube and discovered a lot of valuable resources on various subjects and topics of my interest from football to music to pleasure to politics. So I had an opportunity to carry home some valuable collections on Tom Mboya, Jomo, Raila, Ronaldihno, Oboya, Paris Hilton, Yellowman and others. The one that may be a worthy collection is the Ababu Namwamba's maiden speech in parliament when he demanded to be sworn in ahead of the MP for Othaya. He made a meal out of the situation. Any fox would do that. But he missed the solitary cunnation of the leopard - going away your own way - by just being different. Ababu couldn't be me because I am sure I could try what he did but I would have gone further to refuse to swear to owe allegiance to the 'President'. Then I would be a hero back home and nationally for having slayed the dragon.

Actually I would get back straight to parliament and be sworn in after everything else is clearly set. The fact that Ababu did not stand by himself (Makatia would say 'put his money where his mouth is' RIP) and also that he turned his actions against what he initially asserted as a belief that left him (alongside Nyon'go and Jimmy) simple swaying palm wands.

Politics is that crude. Today 'Kenya' stands up against the atrocities and backhand handling of Zimbabwe by the Infamous (or is it Popular) Comrade Mugabe. The irony is that it is the PM Raila who is doing that. The others are quiet. They had earlier insisted Mugabe must be at the Commonwealth Summit in Portugal else they threatened to boycott. Mwai said it.

PNU or any PNU supporter can not send a message of disapproval to Mugabe because that message would be more for their ears than Mugabe's. But they say you never see or remove your own spec. PNU is actually describing Mugabe as 'Infamous'.

The other day the CIO went looking for the family of my friend Lucky boy. That hurt me because when its on you you feel it deeper. I ask why would they seek such a small family? Is it a way to exterminate every little independent mind that is nurturing? Is it a way to say we are gone but not without you?

Someone once said 'Give me Liberty or give me Death'.

Of LSMW and Verbal Batch Recording

I know if you recorded my conversation I would definately denounce a good portion of it on playback. But consistency is a good thing not only in what one says but also in what one does. You get those anecdotes from politicians saying 'I was misquoted' or 'I was quoted out of context'. Part of the ability to do it right lies in character while the other part may lie in practice. Whichever way one gets to it the right way, its good to constructively cement what comes out to public - perhaps before - as a practice.

So that you may not run the risk of being caught out somewhere else between the actual and the variance, you must pick out your position more carefully and considerably. An analysis of the facts may give you the needed finality if you must make your submissions with authority. In the absence of relieble facts on a matter, you may choose to deliberately leave gaps and holes that you may fill up later. Say life is good with a 'user exit'.

Whether it is a prediction of score in a game, an investigation of definate facts such as meanings of words, suggesting a desirable solution in a matter or just giving a commitment on a wayward-by-the-way issue, it is wise to internally record your thoughts and play them back in the background before playing it to the public.

You can catch that aspect with 'Fergie' - my colleague who has systematically weathered the storm that prior had blown others before him away. And that reminds me. The other one once said he will not use that 'mumu' because he was not there at the training. It has come to pass that Fergie has realised that the best way to reduce the stupidity of this tool they call LSMW is by running a single record batch first and see if it 'completes' without 'displaying errors only'. You run a similar batch inwardly before releasing your 'facts'.

I am predicting that Harambee Stars will either win at Rufaro or draw. They are capable of springing 'surprises'. But should they not win I will have the reason of an 'unfamiliar' ground to blame for it. And the fact that Oboya and Mariga have missed out on the trip. I have planned my user exit.

Next Stop: The Theatre Of Dreams.

Lets talk football again.

I missed three great things in a day on Saturday the 14th. Bunni Olape, the Nigerian IM had just remembered me and sent an invite to me about a National Chess Championship at the National Stadium Surulere. I forgot to reply the text to confirm if I'll be there. That was not by choice but due to pure memory erasure that was the 2nd week of the 'go-live'. It has been a little hectic trying to be more ready than we really were. Then The Warriors had arrived in Nairobi the previous day Friday and the mood was just Nyayo. I missed that match. It was of more interest to us because as the week progressed there were intensed fan-sparring between us on one foot and the ardent Warrior's native and self-proclaimed professional soccer fanatic Lucky boy. So it was the d-day and we let the games begin.

Before I skip it I should say that the greatest thing I missed that Saturday was the sabbath - and it was a third sabbath running.

The Match

The star studded Zimbabwean team has of late been a tricky fixture and opponent to many a team in Africa. They have terrorised contests especially in Southern Africa and their visit to Nairobi was one I felt indecisive about until the other day after going through certain analytical paces around the Nyayo Stadium. So I promised Luckson fireworks and 'silencing'. I somehow knew that the fact that all the Warriors were professional players plying their trade outside Zimbabwe could be their own doing and source of loss. I have been there to watch stars brought down to compete with minnows - a pathetic situation that usually leave them struggling with their own fear of being outsmarted - then they lack the composer and ingenuity for a good duration of the match especially if initiative is stolen from them at the 1st whistle.

That is what I whispered.

Truth or Fact

Football is won and lost in 90 minutes. It is all that matter. I am glad The Stars realized that and kept their heads up beyond the allowed period of the game. Unlike in Windhoek a fortnight ago when they lost two points with the last kick of the match, Denis The Menace delivered to me another bit of it that I always say (and also said) - that many a times you hit a hard shot to the keeper and he opts to punch it back or just parry it - so someone gotta be there to just race with it and nod or knock the parry. This was a special one because an earlier techdoc diagramatically illustrated it as such using real people and real time - it was also Wanga in the doc flanking and creating space for the 'speed masters'.

We are on to Rufaro 'The Theatre of Dreams' where I foresee the warriors reliving their Nyayo dream only that this time it will be in color. A key warriorlet scribe from Harare just confirmed to me that Comrade Bob had consoled Gilly, Benja, Esra, Nguvu and brothers limited that 'they can win in Nairobi but not in Harare'.

You See?

Surprises surprises. FIFA is bent on insisting that Kenya 'surprised' Guinea but the real surprise is who is gonna be the lead actor on the floor of the Theatre of Dreams come Sunday. Kim had assured me that I will get a ticket to and from J'burg and exclusive admission to all the Stadia and a space on the Kenyan bench. So we are not hiding the fact that the Stars are rallied enough to beat anyone within and without Africa.

So we are going going to win away - and win all of them away. As for home matches just ask Chui and you will know why he has those white spots.

If it was to end today the Warriors would be last in all categories with NO goal and a point gifted to them by the hapless Guinea. I remember Titi Camara in 1997 walking out of a match at Kasarani 5 minutes to time because the Liverpool superstar that he was could not just take it to all of a sudden 'walk alone'.

Nani kali kati ya Oliech na Mwaruwaru na Oboya?

Am off to Rufaro. Meet you at the terraces.

Fake II

So what did you do at Guantanamo? Or what did the mother gazelle do? It works all the time and every player knows when to lie about his intentions when he spots the opportunity. But the beauty is all in the way nature does it.

You didn't say you would use that rock, throw it into the water so that Chu and Blue would be distracted by the call of their name as the rock hits ad displaces water in the pool with the water sound 'chublu'. Or you have never seen the gazelle play target to the predator as its kid lie low to hide? The mother would encourage the assailant by luring it past its flight distance and therefore drawing it further and further away from the infantile kid.

So say you have the ball at the final half of the field what would you do distract opponents off your target pass or target shot? And if you are off the ball how would you help attract opponents to you even though you do not need the ball? And how do you fake it so that you receive the ball with ease and position it for your best foot?

1. With the ball. Draw your opponents away from your target pass by luring them with the accessibility of the ball. Hold it long enough until they think the best way to get it is to come and retrieve it or simply take it to them. The opponent who decides to come for it subsequently loses his mark on your colleague and he is free to receive the ball. All the while you would benefit if your colleagues, free-off, are constantly on the move trying to take up open spaces. The mother gazelle would take to flight when the predator is fully lured and is within her flight distance - that is the time you place your pass. It is a fake and your opponents will always be chasing it.

2. Off the ball. Keep moving. It it distracts your markers as they try to keep up with you. Fake it to try to go for the ball so that one or two of your markers would try to hold you off from being passed to by keeping you on guard when you actually know that a temporarily less active colleague is elusively going to get the eventual pass. Opponents will be attracted by sight and activity. Very lethal players always just come alive from nowhere and do their thing. They fake it until the opponents begin to ignore their presence - then they spring it.

3. Chu and Blue. Think about placing the ball. It is a matrix of speed, distance and time. Timing is everything. Placement in terms of distance is however very effectively destructive. Play the ball at a distance where an opponent would at the first thought think that he will get to it, only to realize while three quarters of the way that he can not get to it. Think of a goalkeeper misjudging the proximity of the ball and comes out of his line for it only to realize that he won't get to it - but he has committed himself out of position. It is timing - and a powerful fake of reality.

I make so much in a day. And if I have to put in efforts on a weekend or a holiday I should make much more. What is funny is that when Tumbili has to spent on in line of work he looks for cheap foods instead. What is funniest is that when he doesn't have to buy he opts for the best and enjoys it. Imagine the other day he was faked into accepting a hand from me for the same. The truth is that for some opponents you just have to take care off. It wasn't the first time. But you know I would throw you a round too if I come across you on the counter at Seasons or over a beautiful game at Checkmates.

Games People Play

Between systems during a transition there is always a 'cutover crisis'. Transition is an end to an era and a beginning of another. A polygamous man passes on in the arms of one of his wives and the mini drama that will never be told begins. The lady under whose roof the departed husband had his last breath starts to shake of every part of the house for all kinds of valuable information and documents of their husbands that would be useful in subsequent living - the identity cards, credit cards, log books, bank account information, other documents of title and perhaps the family lawyer's private telephone number. The other wife would never know when the actual transition occurred.

In the work place and information has arrived that a new officer is coming in and another is leaving. Think of the realignments, the changes in the office setup, appointments in absentia and recruitment of quasi ghost employees, within-the-hour rearrangement of personnel and re-administration of assets.

The real challenge is how to make out the best of the situation. How to know what to take in with you to the 'subsequent living'. In more interesting cases is the question of what to live out in the post transition life - what you put away from people of the next life - the ID cards, the death certificates etc.

We 'cut over' this week and 'gone live' this ending week of June 2 - June 6. We are currently mingling with the reorganization of the beginning of the post Tally era. The bits and bits will eventually transits to realization.

One milestone that was however left out in the projections was that by June 1 it would be almost over and laxity would set in. Right now all the pressures are off for a section of the participants and incidences are shifting. I guess it is the old adage relived - a rooster is seen chasing after one hen as another incubates. Strange world of human psychology.

All that matter is which side you are and of what interests you got. The game goes on - the dangerous games people play - all over a chessboard.All that matter is which side you are and of what interests you got. The game goes on - the dangerous games people play - all over a chessboard.

Grammer

In the Safari Children's book 2 which I passed through in 1982 while in class 5 I remember this short story about Simon Makonde. He was born on a Sunday, named on a Monday, Married on a Tuesday, taken ill on a Wednesday, treated on a Thursday, died on a Friday and was buried on a Satrday.

That was in Kenya years ago. Ishola now asks Maragia if he has heard of someone called Igwe Chukwu. Then he goes through the short sad story of Igwe Chukwu somehow similarly to Simon Makonde's only that while Simon Makonde's events took place over a lifetime spanning years, Igwe Chukwu's was a one week life. He says that it is a famous Nigerian rhyme.

'On a Saturday' is not the same as 'On Saturday'.

It was abouot learning English in 1982.

Chicken Come To Roost

One may want something very badly and when it will be incidental in the future the waiting can be very enthusiastic. It has been a first project for many here and I can see in their faces reflections of anticipation as June 1st approaches. But more has been about the events that have culminated to this evening.

I can consider questions or relevance to want to know how much who will say 'I did this or that in this project' or so to claim a stake.

it was environmental (enviromenta) day in Nigeria as it was the last Saturday of the month. On this day no movement outside homes is allowed as the country should be cleaning and taking care of environment between 7 am and 10 am. It means the earliest you can leave your hme is 10.01 am. So we were late because of that. Then at the project systems started failing and literally we put in less thann 2hours work between 12 noon and 10 pm.

People always move aroound with each seeming to be doing something. But you wonder what would happen if Maragia was to pick his bag and take a flight tosave himself from cholesterol. It matters waht people think but there are those who don't think at all. I did not eat good food again but the people concerned still beleive they give me food that I enjoy eating. I do not eat pepper spiced foods and sauce-wetted chicken - but thats what I would get.

Sometimes a short cut can be long - very long.

But I am happy Luckson have since seen the sence and now realize thata non systematic approach to ERP implementation can cause hiccups. It is true now that I was right all along from the beginning. That building blocks can really make a solid client base if they are well laid. So far though, our patches are sporadically working. But you know we are still trying to swim ashore.

Eventually the chicken must come home to roost and certain questions must be asked.