Diing Magot

    Ahmed Sasso at Souk, village market. KENYA - Ahmed Sasso is the owner of Souk,  a business that sells dry fruits as an alternative to candy at the village market, Nairobi, for Kenyans who enjoy imported dry fruits, nuts, and chocolates from different countries. This is the first time that Ahmed who is influenced by his Lebanese background, is trying out this venture in Kenya. The business has a high demand in Lebanon but in Kenya, the concept is still foreign. Souk has been open for only two months but customers keep coming back for their products. On a Friday afternoon, I met Sasso at Souk.During the interview, I was interrupted by customers who were inquiring about his products. I took the opportunity to look around the shop which had a  unique design and logo by Nour Samman an International graphic designer.The products were strategically placed from the entrance to the cashier area.There is also a black wall that has writing that informs customers about health benefit

KENYA - Bike repairer, Paul Mwangi starts his day at 8 a.m by assembling his spare tires next to a tree that provides shade for him. His workstation is an open area at Komarock phase 3b. Next to the tree is a broken bicycle that he will work on later in the day.His workplace is also in a busy area as buses, motorbikes, and matatus with loud music pass by. Opposite his workstation is a ditch with flowing water. There is also a businessman who is creating furniture opposite him. After a while, he is joined by friends who laugh out loud as he works on a bicycle.They are intrigued by politics and argue about which political party is more popular. One of them has a newspaper that he uses as a reference to argue his points.A few minutes later, some children bring in their bicycles to be repaired. Mwangi started his occupation in 2005. As a child, riding bicycles was his hobby.When he grew up his first job was of a bicycle repairer at the industrial area, Nairobi.When he realized he ha

Davina-Field Marsham in the centre holding a baby wrapped in a purple blanket KENYA   - Most teenagers go to malls to pass time but   Davina Field- Marsham  is no ordinary teenager . At just 16 she has created, Do right, a project that sells non-profit stylish bracelets at malls in Kenya and Canada. The non- profit organisation  sells bracelets with a purpose of using its profits to encourage women to visit clinics during pregnancy. She also provides women with postnatal care bundles  that contain nappies, blankets, soap and a pamphlet that provides more information about the post natal period with an aim to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity. The bracelets are made at Langata women's Maximum prison by trained women prisoners.When the bracelets are sold they get paid in salary which is sent to their  families. I met Davina on a Sunday afternoon at Yaya centre. She had positive energy which attracted people towards her table to find out more about her project . As I sa

NAIROBI - Chocolate, wine, and cheese enthusiasts were in for a treat during the weekend as Exhibitors showcased their finest samples to the public from all over the globe at Westgate Shopping mall 22nd-25th  March. Exhibitors who displayed their products at tables informed their potential customers about their products. The wine and chocolate festival offered a variety and different taste for customers who were curious about the exhibition. When you arrive at the shopping mall you are welcomed by exhibitors who have strategically placed their tables as they patiently wait for someone to approach them.I could tell that Kenya has a market for wine by the number of people who did a wine tasting at the tables.I made eye contact with a lady who had bottles of wine on her table. As I approached her, she was smiling.I had a feeling that I will learn something new. The lady told me that she has attended wine classes in South Africa and has 5 years of experience in sales and marketing

    Courtesy of westgate mall fb page KENYA - The rains did not stop health lovers from attending the organic market  opening on friday  at Mwanzi road , Westlands where business owners  showcased their natural products (15-17 March )  to the public as they convinced them to  buy organic products for health purposes. The organic food market exhibition has created a platform for local companies to market their vegetables , natural herbs and spices , organic honey and peanut butter as well as other products. Companies such as Moringa for life , valley green fruit preserve, ambitious condiment , Moravo naturals , Rose bee honey took advantage of the opportunity . Lately there has been a lot of lifestyle diseases from consuming from fast food joints and buying processed  products from local supermarkets that have found a market in Kenya .Consuming the processed foods has led to heart disease and complicated diseases such as cancer as well. The World Health Organisation (WHO)

NAIROBI - Beth Warugura , the founder of  girl aid foundation, created awareness about  the taboos associated with menstruation and lack of sanitary towels by asking willing participants to sign on a wall at Yaya Centre. Girl aid foundation was founded in 2016 after getting enough funding and the required permits from the government.The  aim of the foundation is to keep girls in school by increasing their  attendance during their menstruation period and reducing the shame that is associated with it. I met Waruguru on a hot Wednesday afternoon.She spoke about her project with so much hope for the future. She also shared  what inspired her to start the foundation and why she is campaigning for the girl child. She grew up in a rural area , in South kinangop , central province where she attended primary school. Later on she went to  Kiabi girls high school which is in the same area. After that, She decided to move to Nairobi to study for a course in Journalism. Howeve

Working in the media is interesting because you get to work with experienced journalists, writers, and editors.Some of them are usually the main stars on television. When I was an intern, I got star struck because of seeing them in real life. It took me a while to get used to them but once I stayed in the same room as them, it became easier to get used to them as normal people. I was an intern at a local station in Nairobi Kenya, I was so excited.  I couldn't believe that they called me for an interview, I was so nervous at first but I somehow managed to make it through the very casual interview which took place on the balcony. The lady who interviewed me was from the HR Department and also my boss.Two weeks later I was called back to be an intern for the station, I was so excited, I couldn't believe that I got such an opportunity following so many rejections from broadcast stations. I love working in the media it makes me learn something new every day about people

February 14th is the month of love.Everywhere you go, all you  see ,is  red roses and people dressed up for the occasion.All that people talk about is their plans for valentines day .It is a day that celebrates love a beautiful feeling that every human being looks for. It is a feeling that completes us without it we feel lonely . On this day business owners make a lot of profit from the amount of people who are willing to spend for their loved ones. Men and women show of how they were spoilt by their loved ones on social media and it makes them feel special. It's a day where heartwarming letters are written, couples spoil each other with chocolates,flowers and surprises which leads to a lot of restaurant and hotel dates and proposals. Lovers forgive each other on this one day.People  forget all the pain that they have been through with their partners, its almost like a beginning of a clean slate on this day. On this day no one wants to be single especially if everyone aro

KENYA -    Felix Omondi , an upcoming international stand up comedian decided to venture into comedy when he discovered his ability to make people laugh. He says ,"When  I used to have normal conversions with people, they were always  laughing  at everything that I was saying and they kept saying, you should try comedy". The  24- year- old didn't take interest in comedy at that time, but later on, he realized that he is good at making people laugh , he decided to try it out. Omondi is passionate about comedy , he finds joy and fulfillment from making people laugh. Although he graduated from Moi University  with a BA in Political Science and Public Administration, he is currently a full time comedian. Felix Omondi says that if you want to do something , you should have interest in it . When he begun his journey in comedy, he was not getting paid. He used to go to events to perform his stand-up jokes for free. Sometimes when he cracked his jokes people were not

Joan Thatiah is a woman of steel who believes that young women should be enlightened about their bodies and advices them on how to handle life changes. The 29-year-old feminist who has been a journalist since 2011, does not sugar coat what African women should expect from a man. She is like an older sister who dishes out details about marriage and love. Basically information that other African writers shy away from. I met her at the Nation Centre in Nairobi. She had a lot of positive energy as she spoke about her passion for writing for women.She said , "I like to call myself a writer. I write articles and books for women. I am passionate about women, I write about women for women". She writes to women about the issues that are seen as a taboo in society. Joan Thatia is a feminist and believes that young women can still be brilliant if they are encouraged enough. Thatia specialized in writing for African women because most self helping novels do not cater for

NAIROBI -  Soap Stone Carver , Erick Mirieri Mogunde has displayed his main source of income for sixteen years  at malls , galleries, markets and shops in Nairobi for tourists and Kenyans to purchase his pieces. The soapstone is found in Kisii Town , Tabaka hills in Western Kenya.It is mined 30 km away from the town. After it is mined, they start the carving process. Also known as a steatite, it is a talc-schist, a type of metamorphic rock which is soft and very easy to carve and manipulate. Mogunde said , "I started  my business  after  I  visited my sister who lives in Nairobi. We went to Maasai market to buy some gifts for her friends. When we  were at the market  we came across my friends  who were working there  ", he said. He added , "After a few days I came back to the market to talk to one of my friends who convinced me to start the carving business". Mogunde looked for capital of  up to  Ksh. 30, 000  for the start-up. The carving b

Nairobi -  Jimmy Curtis Wamalawa  is an art instructor and mentor who sketches every  detail of his surrounding and also beautiful and unique traits of people from different cultural backgrounds. The 29-year-old artist who is artistically known as Jimmy Curtis IV, creates images that are captivating. He discovered  his talent at a tender age. "At first I didn’t really know it was a talent. I was too young to understand , but as I grew older I began to realize that apparently not everyone was as good at it as I was".he said. The young and gifted artist  describes his personality as an artistic enigma , even to himself , however,  he expresses himself through art. Jimmy Curtis IV added , "I love life and the wonderful things in life. I love challenges that challenge my creativity into breaking personal limitations". His work revolves around the creative spectrum; from fine arts, writing, fashion, modelling and currently trying to break into music.

South Sudanese people  are hoping as this month comes to an end, peace will still be on the agenda for 2018. Member of Federal Democratic Party of South Sudan Rebel Forces, and Secretary of Information , Mr. Changkuoth Bichiok Reth says that the peace revitalization process which will be held in adis ababa aims for national dialogue in the country. "I think South Sudan really needs peace, the leaders  should really focus on working on how we can bring back peace. I wish that  2018 will be a year of peace for the country".He said. The second phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum by t he Intergovernmental Authority on Development  (IGAD)  will take place in the first week of February 2018. The first phase of the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) also held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18 - 22 December, 2017  called for violators of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement to be held accountable IGAD  also called on the parties to participate in the Forum in

    Julian Abul Oyay painting on a wall in Juba South Sudan. SOUTH SUDAN -  Young artists from South Sudan have become peace activists , expressing their daily struggles through art in Juba. They are saying Anataban . The movement has also created a platform for young people to voice their opinions. Speaking during an interview in Nairobi, artist, Julian Abul Oyay said the #AnataBan Campaign was established because they were tired of oppression."AnataBan means I am tired in Arabic, we saw many things that were happening such as economic poverty and inequality , but people were quiet about it", she said. The campaign was developed in a work shop in Lake Elementaita, Kenya, by Pawa 254 and 20 South Sudanese artists.The location that they chose was significant because it is the same location where the 2005 peace agreement was signed. According to Oyay the group of Musicians, Actors, Poets, Fashion designers, Graffiti Artists and cartoonists ended up composing a pe

Without food we cannot survive, have energy or even a good mood. We work hard everyday so that we can fill our bellies with food.It also gives us so much pleasure because it is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and has a beautiful aroma that our taste buds cannot resist. Each culture has their own special delicacies and different ways of preparing their meals.This is what makes human beings so interesting.It is very interesting the way we combine different flavors to create a distinct taste. Cooking is all about people.Food is maybe  the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together.No matter what culture, everywhere around the world , people get together to eat. SEDA / Guy Fieri I have assembled a few dishes that I  have come across in Kenya. ​ ​  You cant help but salivate when you see golden brown chicken grilled. It does not usually have a lot of spices, this leaves the taste natural and juicy.The almost natural flavor keeps you going b