TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT

 TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT

Yesterday, many cities, towns and residential areas across the country were non functional. Literally and with close to all businesses remaining closed, the country came to a standstill. Demonstrations were meant for good, to commemorate the deaths of gen Z demonstrators who died in anti finance bill demos, same day last year. The question is why a person who is not interested in joining the demos is not able to open their shop for day's operations. Why are all demos a fight between demostrators and police? Why does it have to end in looting and destruction of property? When and how can we get to a point where police accompany demonstrators and oversee from start to finish of peaceful demos?

There are different reasons someone joins in the demos. Some good people do it for love of their country and the spirit of patriotism, and such people need a pat on their back. Some look for a chance to steal and hence vandalize and destroy private and public property, these actions must be condemned because these are the characters that make demos a bad experience for everyone.  

On the flipside, politicians are now running civilian gangs who are now beating up the demonstrators under police protection. This is a dangerous trend that if not stopped could easily turn the country into a militia state where people are free to form their own armies to fight for their own ends.

As a country, we must have gone wrong somewhere for us to have come to where we are today. We could have elected wrong leaders but even so, we have just allowed our moral fabric as a country to beak down completely. The respect of the rule of law is at its lowest and impunity is now puffed up in every corridor of power where the powers that be believe they could do anything, break all laws and get away with it. The trend is not good but we hope and pray that everything could click back to normalcy so that we could be a hopeful people in a country where the rule of law guides action by the leadership and the citizens. 

Let kenyans not break the same laws that they are angry about the government breaking because of course, two wrongs don't make a right. 

Let us all always stand for what is right,defend the weak, demand justice,

and to hold leadership accountable but within the confines of the law. Let us encourage our people and youth in particular to do the right thing and let us all pray for a better Kenya. May God help us and heal our nation. Amen.

@Stephen Mungai 

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MOTHER TO JAMES

 MOTHER TO JAMES

James Kaguri was the second child of her mother, Wairimu. James was named after the mother's father as per Kikuyu traditions. The first born was Mburu, but when James came, Mburu seemed to have been forgotten because the mother became too close to James and naturally so, he was named after her dad. The last born in the family was their sister Warigia. To date, the father has always been busy attending to his many businesses and as a result, spent very little time with his kids in their younger days. The 3 siblings are now adults and only Warigia is yet to start a family. Mburu is married with 4 kids. James, on the other hand is also married with 2 kids. At the time when he got married, James had a stable job with a local matatu Sacco that operates in the Nairobi-Thika route. This was before he got tired of the job and left to start a business. With the support of the mother, he tried his hand in buying old cars, repairing them, and reselling them at a profit. The first project, and as guided by his friend Mithamo, did not go very well, only getting a profit of 10K after 3 weeks of hard work. He was a little disappointed with it and is yet to do a second trial. He has never been worried even without much earning because, and lucky for him, the mother has never let him suffer. Every time he has financial difficulties, the mother will always give him cash to relieve him of trouble. James's wife Rachael has always had a problem with her husband about the mother because she seems to be in control of James. Rachael only realized too late that James never makes important decisions without consulting the mother. The situation has been so bad that sometimes, Rachael would be called by the mother-in-law to be told that her idea is not good, an idea which the couple had privately discussed and decided on. James reports to the mother all that the couple does and plans. This has always angered Rachael, and nowadays, she just let the mother son relationship be since she seems not to be able to get between them. Rachael became so nerved by it until she would sarcastically tell James that his mother had control over them in everything, including when and how they do it under the sheets. 

This looks like a problem with upbringing or? Is James Mum love good or too much? What should Rachael do? Can she change the man, or must she accept the status quo? Can James overcome the control and be his own man? 

Oedipus complex was named after Oedipus who in Greek mythology killed his own father and married the mother. The concept explains how boys are attracted to their mothers and while this is a natural phenomenon, it is curious to explain to ladies as to where exactly to draw the line between loving their sons and doing it too much to a level of spoiling them. So, how can mothers avoid bringing up irresponsible men in this respect? Could the problem with James also be attributed to the lack of involvement of the father? 

The problems of boys in our society today are many. Too much love from mothers is only one of the many. Irresponsible men in the society and mental health issues of men is a major problem that the society needs to address because the effects of it are far reaching.

As we keep telling our men and boys to man-up, I think it's important to find out where the problem springs from so that we could have more responsible and mentally fit men in our society. Maybe women should help in bringing up the boys better by avoiding too much love or?  The strong men on the other hand should help the struggling men up, instead of just telling them to man-up because Proverbs 27:17 is still true, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so does a man sharpen another.’

 

@ Stephen Mungai 

 HUMAN DIGNITY 

Armin Meiwes was good to his neighbours doing normal neighbourhood activities with them, at times inviting them into his house for dinner. In march 2001 Meiwes advertised on the internet for a "young well-built man, who wanted to be eaten". Around 6 people responded to the advert saying that they were willing. Of the 6 Bernd Brandes replied and took further steps and travelled to Meiwes house. Both men were well to do professionals. Meiwes was a computer expert while Brandes was an Engineer. They had some conversation between them going on till night. As would later be produced in court to prove prior agreement by the victim, meiwes recorded all the proceedings including Brandes express agreement. Meiwes proceeded to cut a part of Brandes who later died and for the next few weeks, Meiwes enjoyed eating everyday before he was apprehended. Maiwes is still serving his life imprisonment and is now 63 years old.

That is not an interesting story but the number of people around our country that have no second thought killing other people is on the rise and very scary. What happened to us as a people? What happened to the value of human life? Why is killing in Kenya a very easy transaction nowadays? 

The story of Albert Ojwang is the latest. Police version of the story is that he hit himself on walls of the cell he was in. Many people doubt that version and there has been many angles to the story to increase likeliness that he was actually murdered. A sad story of a young Kenyan dying for a reason not equivalent to the mistakes he made.

Another Kenyan, David Mwai also died in police cell. He had been arrested for attempting to Kill someone called Idriss. He had been given the job and accepted. Idriss was friend and campaigner to a well known politician before their friendship became sour. Idriss knew so much about the person and was threatening to speak and damage his career.....so....

Mwai was supposed to reveal the people who contracted him to kill but is said to have committed suicide in police cells before that happened. 

An MP, Ong'ondo Were was sometime back shot dead on Ngong road. A priest who had previously hosted a top politician would later be found murdered. Let's not talk about the many young people killed by police bullets in the height of street demonstrations.

And the stories of people being Killed never seem to end.

What happened to our humanity? How can we restore respect and dignity to human life? 

God's commandment No. 6 is, 'Do not Kill' and since that seems not to matter to many of our country men, may be we need healing for our land and that needs Christians to take 2 Chronicles 7:14 action, 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'

Or what shall we do?

@ Stephen Mungai

 

LET THEM EAT CAKE

For many years, Kenya has been among the top ten beneficiary countries of USAID funds before Donald trump came to office and signed executive order cutting down on the funds.  Funds coming to Kenya through USAID have been important in various areas of mainly humanitarian help. The impact of the cuts has already been felt. For instance, there is a greater risk of death for HIV/AIDs patients for lack of drugs, testing support, testing and prevention services. Other support areas like food security, climate resilience programs and educations have also been severely affected leaving Kenyans at a much worse health and economic situation as before.

A lot of analysis and discussion has gone down since the cuts announcement, and this include why Africa must learn to Take care of its own affairs without help from the western world. Whether Africa benefits more from developed countries or those countries benefit more from Africa is a debate that never seems to go. Africans who are out to fight imperialism and neo-colonialism argue that Africa has lost more to the west. They argue that, for a few aids from the west, Africa has given mining licenses to first world companies that in effect earn billions from the minerals. Long-term concessions have also left Africa as the net loser in the transactions with the so-called aid countries.

Many NGOs running in Kenya and Africa receive funding from different organizations in developed countries. This is unlike NGOs running in the developed countries that receive funding from their country’s companies and countrymen. This raises the question about our culture of giving because we are culturally net receiver inclined people. How many Kenyans give regularly to charity? Of course, poverty levels are high, and many people survive from hand to mouth but of the people that have enough to eat and spare, how many give to help the next needy person? I tend to believe that as a country, we have enough resources to cater for the needs of every member of society without help from outside our borders. How could we achieve good and fair wealth distribution as a country. Could that also be our problem?

Let’s come closer home and ask ourselves; how many of us have stored food in our fridges to eventually throw them realizing they expired? What if the cost of such wastage was given to someone who had a problem putting a meal on the table? What if we would give out the extra furniture or electronics to someone needing them more? How many of our clothing and shoes, including our children’s, have we not worn for over one year? Imagine how those piles of clothes give us headaches, arranging and rearranging to create space for new ones! What if we gave them out to people in need of them and help free up spaces for ourselves? If we maybe developed a culture of giving as a people, then we would not need external aid, even for our NGOs.

The gap between the rich and the poor in Kenya has been growing and apart from a few hard-working Kenyans that gain wealth from pure hard work, there are many whose gains can be attributed to corruption and association with the ruling political class. This wealth could be considered unjust and traces back to after colonial days when government officials allocated themselves large tracts of land and have been rich ever since. These injustices may take long to resolve or may never be resolved but remains as a culture of no ending corruption.  Nevertheless, a resource re-distribution through giving and charity may be a starting point in reducing the pains of our people suffering in poverty.

Marie Antoinette was the queen of France during the French revolution and is well remembered for the quote, ’’Let them eat Cake’’ which was her answer to protesters when she was told that people had no bread to eat. In a highly stratified poor vs rich population, unjust wealth gainers usually do not understand why other people are poor considering the ease with which they make their wealth and Marie’s attitude is the same that the beneficiaries to a corrupt regime treat the poor with.

I think we need to increase our sensitivity to the poor people around us and practice giving which is also a command given to us in the bible, Deuteronomy 15:11:

"For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you: 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'"

 

@ Stephen Mungai

 INSPIRATION 

Am curious to ask public speakers like priests, pastors, trainers and motivatiinal speakers just how they are ready with new messages every other time. Are there times they need to prepare a sermon and there is practically no inspiration? What does someone do in such a case? 

This article was hard to come by due to un-inspiration until the very end. Can someone just do it without inspiration? 

The idea of ‘Quiet time’ is an important idea for any human who needs to connect with the supernatural. As is said, man always needs a power bigger than themselves and the need is always so strong so that, man always, naturally identifies with the supernatural beings. Every time there is a disconnect between our lives and the supernatural, life becomes sort of drab and meaningless and we seem to start going round in circles with lack of a clear direction. It is thus mandatory to stay tapped to the supernatural, (read God), if we are to keep our energy levels high. 

In his book, the science of being well, wattle D wattle argues that the universe and all therein consists of one living substance from which all things are made. This Living Substance permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe. It is in and through all things, like very refined and diffusible ether. All life comes from it—its life is all the life there is. The Christian I am, I tend to believe him simply because the bible says that all things were made by God and without Him, nothing was made that was made. Remember that God created by speaking, meaning that the breadth of God flows through all living and non living substances. It is this same breadth that God breathed to man so he became alive. After God finished creation, the bible says that He looked at everything he had made and it was very good. The meaning is that the universe by God’s design ought to be very good and so should man, without disease and the troubles that beget him all his short days.

All wisdom is also contained in the breadth of God and if we need wisdom, we need to fear God and stay connected to the Supernatural. That is the only way to live inspired and to get the gusto and enthusiasm we need to face and know the life we ought to live. Otherwise, we will live a pale life and then die of ignorance.

This was so for one prophet send by God from Judah to prophecy as chronicled in 1 Kings 13. After delivering the word as God had sent him, he saddled his donkey to return from whence he had come. An important command God had given Him was that he was not supposed to eat and drink among the people he’d been sent to. On his way back after the prophecy, another prophet came and invited him back to eat and drink with him. Being a prophet, he lied to him and the Prophet from Judah accepted to go back with him against the very word he himself had received from God. After the disobedience, God used the prophet who’d lied to inform him that he’d be punished for disobedience. He was later to be mauled by lions and that was the end for him because he listened to other people other than to God.

In the same vein, we ought to always listen to the Supernatural God in all we do and in all our ways. Him only should we believe but not other human beings. In that way, all our days shall be full of energy and inspiration and thence we shall live a perfect life like God intended. So that when He looks at us he’d say, ‘’ It is very good’’ like He did after a perfect creation.

And therefore dear friends, we should maintain a good connection with God. Won’t we?

@Stephen Mungai 

 DUTY OF CARE

There was drama a few days ago when Anti-corruption officials went to the home of Trans-Nzoia county governor, George Natembeya, to arrest him for corruption related charges. What drawed my attention was not how the locals came out in drones to defend their county chief, but how vehicles allegedly belonging to the anti-corruption crew were vandalized. Actually, one vehicle was clearly beaten to a write-off damage. I asked myself the question why a simple expression of dissatisfaction or a protest by us Kenyans must always end in destruction of property. I wondered exactly what was in the mind of every person that raised his hand to destroy the vehicles and whether they would react differently if they knew the owner to be their friend or relative. Or was it because they never knew the owner? Or was it because it belonged to the government and they had a claim to ownership?  And if so, did they consider that more money from taxation would be used to replace or fix the vehicles instead of being put to better use?

As a people, we have developed very bad habits of destruction of property especially when we are angry or are protesting about something. High school and University strikes for instance have historically been accompanied by destruction of school and public property including arson that has sometimes resulted in death of fellow students. The destroyed property is later evaluated and charged back to the students and parents are forced to cater for resultant damage charges.

What do we think of wives or husbands that express their anger by picking TVs, plates, cups, glasses and throwing them to the floor to protest against their partners? Some have been seen using stones or hammers to destroy windows of their partner’s vehicles in protest. What about the child who gets angry, throws their food to the floor and breaks the plate at the same time. What should a parent do to that child? Maybe that is where the destructive behavior begins.

As we grew up, there was a famous Swahili saying, children of our days were using, ‘Cha kuokota si cha kuiba’, which simply meant that you had not stolen, that which you picked somewhere, unattended. Was that right to do? You get a pen somewhere, pick it and own it. What if the owner was on the way coming, looking for it? You would have completely ruined his prospects of finding it by picking it before they got to it. Maybe the right thing would have been to leave that which does not belong to you or?

I think that as a country, we generally use a lot of resources to fix the damages caused especially during demonstrations and considering that many demonstrations are against the government, we use a good part of our taxes to fix what was destroyed as people were expressing anger in a demonstration. This is a backward behavior that should be condemned in both public and private conversations. We should also teach our children not only to be good stewards of that which they own, but also to respect and take care of other people’s properties. They should not be quick to destroy just because it does not belong to them, whether they are found out or not.

Kenyan law obliges every citizen to follow the "duty of care" laws. This is a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid harming others or damaging their property in any situation.  It is therefore important that people learn to take care of other people’s properties just as well as they would take care of their own. The golden rule could be of help to us here, ‘So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’ Mathew 7:14.

May we all learn to exercise the duty of care and respect other people’s properties, shall we?

 

@ Stephen Mungai

 HEADS OR TAILS

In a span of 24 hours of a single day; a pastor drives a point home aimed at encouraging his congregants to live holy lives worth the calling to sepation from a stained universe. Elsewhere, a lady is working tirelessly to feed the orphans she’s dedicated her life to and by choice, she does. A father rushes home early after work and spends the rest of the day playing with his kids. A president signs a deal with a foreign state to have them finance a major infrastructural project. A man quits the brown bottle to be able to spend more time with the family and better perform his family responsibilities. And good and good, the blessed sons and daughters of the universe rise and rise to perform good deeds to make the world a better place.

On another corner of the world; a man breaks into someone’s car within town centre and does away with valuables including laptops and phones. A sixty year old man has a new catch, a 21 year old university student to spend good times with. Members of parliament collude to award themselves hefty allowance packages or a car grant for every member. Within the same fraction of a lifetime; some bank employees collude with some hooligans to defraud big time cash from their employer. Somewhere in a remote upcountry village, men are drinking themselves silly and neglecting their duties to provide for their families and make love to their hardworking wives. The heinous yet; some guy runs his car off the road into a crowd killing several on the spot. The driver is completely drunk. Another woman torches her hut killing herself and her four children. Their will or not to do evil, the ugly deeds goes on unabated so to speak.

A Christian is called for higher purpose which is to affect the world positively by the good deeds that would drive away the darkness from our beautiful world. The good works from Christian circles ought to overshadow the ugly acts in the world as men and women of faith work to bring the world to know Christ who’s the savior of the world.

Sadly though, Christians are more often than not caught up in the very acts of the sinful nature which they ought to work against. The reason why this happens is because the Holy Spirit has not worked through the dough that is our bodies so we could be even enough to represent God. A simple truth is that we manifest what is stored up in our hearts be it bad or be it good. That means that if we assess our tendencies for good or evil, it reflects what is stored up within us, good or evil and that's why we are encouraged to store up God's word in our hearts to defeat evil.

Another interesting portion of the scripture, Rev 22:11-12, encourages people to continue to do what they have committed to do, good or bad. It says, "Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy. Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done."

The biggest power that God bestowed on human kind is the power of choice. He doesn't force anyone but He advises us in Deut 30:19, "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."

So, the choice is always 2 sides of a coin. Heads or tails. Good or evil. Life or death. Blessings or curses.

But we are already advised to choose what is right. Shall we?

@Stephen Mungai