Upya Fresh

  The dates: 27 th November-1 st December 2023. The venue. The Edge Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. It’s spectacular, the Edge Convention Centre, at the College of Insurance in South C. The Southern Bypass side, the Nairobi National Park… you get the feeling that a lion might just cross the road… on the other side, NEMA, KIRDI, KEBS… it’s symbolic, the venue… for this area is where industry is supported, more so, start-ups like myself. Some background, funding/financing, is the major barrier for start-ups… starting up, scaling, innovating… the national government, having realised that, has introduced the Hustler Fund, with components (IMELP/Biashara Loan) to start off small businesses… it’s symbolic too that the CS Chelugui is launching the same during the Kenya Innovation Week… it’s something small businesses don’t take for granted. The Edge Convention Centre, has an SGR feel to it… the architecture… floating in the air much like the SGR that backgrounds it. It’s ambitious, m

  Rais Ruto Imaarisha Rais wetu mpendwa Daktari Ruto ongoza vyema Ustawi wa nchi yetu Kenya Umo mikononi mwako. Ajira kwa vijana imaarisha Kuza viwanda huu msingi bora Kilimo biashara tanawiri Pato bora kwa yetu nchi. Rais wetu mpendwa Daktari Ruto ongoza vyema Ustawi wa nchi yetu Kenya Umo mikononi mwako. Watalii waienzi hii nchi Maridadi haina mfano wa kuigwa Nchi ya nyama, maziwa, uuki Twajivunia kuwa wakenya daima. Rais wetu mpendwa Daktari Ruto ongoza vyema Ustawi wa nchi yetu Kenya Umo mikononi mwako.   Kenya kisiwa shwari amani Kwenye mawimbi ya migogoro Shupavu viongozi patanishi Upendo, umoja, udugu ndo injili. Rais wetu mpendwa Daktari Ruto ongoza vyema Ustawi wa nchi yetu Kenya Umo mikononi mwako. Jumuiya ya Madola huu Utajiri Wananchi wote wapate shiriki Umoja huu kuu nguvu za kiuchumi Mali asili faida yake uvumbuzi. Book Links: Get my short stories collection ‘A Funeral Dress for Nyasuguta’ available at: https://nuriakenya.com/

  The first Kenya Industrialisation Conference 2023 was held at The University of Nairobi Grounds, from the 20 th to 22 nd November 2023. In attendance, high ranking government (national and counties) officials such as CS Rebecca Miano, PS Juma Mukhwana, Chair of Devolved Governments H.E Anne Waiguru, her counterparts H.E Dr. Paul Otuoma and H.E Johnson Sakaja… academicians and practitioners, SMES, and even huge industries such as the Devki Group of Companies… you could tell it was really a game-changer. Now, I am part of the cohort that is ‘Watoto wa Nyayo’ – ‘Paukwa… Pakawa… Sahani… ya mchele… na maziwa je? Ya watoto wa Nyayo’… I am sentimental, away from the occasional rumours then that accompanied the milk… needles and human fingers in the milk; such is Kenyan ever-creative (and negative) political propaganda machinery (prevalent right now and really depressing). I am sentimental, alright. Why? The Numerical Machining Complex (NMC) is in attendance and is displaying the Nyayo

  ‘Walegs’ – of the legs. Walegs, short for Walegwa. Walegs, a fine Taita babe, her legs, splendid. Walegwa had those tall, shapely legs that disappear into a delicate waist. Her skin, ripe mangoes. Dimples on her cheek, a twinkle in her eyes, she had once represented a rural university as their Miss Climate. Looking at her, you could tell that it was a matter of time before she was whisked away into a nice apartment and a nice car by a top political honcho. The short of it, she was the stuff of wet dreams. Mr. Steven Akumu, always a man of ambition, of destiny. Mr. Steven Akumu, a learned, curious, travelled man. A man of opportunity. It was Mr. Steven Akumu who first introduced us to camel soup spiced with Ethiopian and Somali herbs and condiments before the copycats ruined this lucrative trade. There was ‘hush hush’ talk of him being involved in ‘magendo’ – smuggling – but which we dismissed as idle talk from small, jealous men. Mr. Steven Akumu, he did his things in style. Ther

  Kenya ni Kipenzi Kenya ni kipenzi, nchi tulivu Amani kaipa Mungu, daima milele Natujivunie wana wake, tumpongeze Kila siku, tuwe wakushukuru. Kenya ni Kipenzi, kweli yapendeza Tsavo, Amboseli – mbuga za wanyama Kericho, Limuru – chai tamu sana Kilifi, Kisumu – fuo zenye kung’aa. Kenya ni kipenzi, nchi tulivu Amani kaipa Mungu, daima milele Natujivunie wana wake, tumpongeze Kila siku, tuwe wakushukuru.   Pale Turkana – chimbuko la binadamu Bonde la ufa – muujiza wake Muumba Mombasa sawa– kisiwa shwari raha Historia yetu tukufu – Amu (Tamu) Lamu. Kenya ni kipenzi, nchi tulivu Amani kaipa Mungu, daima milele Natujivunie wana wake, tumpongeze Kila siku, tuwe wakushukuru. Wakenya watu wa bidii, sio wakaidi Ukarimu pasi kuigwa, roho ya utu Wanariadha wake sifika, ulimwengu Kilimo, utalii, uvumbuzi, na mengi zaidi. Kenya ni kipenzi, nchi tulivu Amani kaipa Mungu, daima milele Natujivunie wana wake, tumpongeze Kila siku, tuwe wakushukuru. Hata katika w

The new Jesus was come. Of course, he made quite a few people angry. He said that it was more important to fill the stomach first before paying rent. He said that, if you went to heaven, you went with your stomach… a land of milk, honey, ugali, ‘mrenda’ and ‘obambla’ unlimited. He said that if you diverted to hell, you went with your stomach… a raging sea of infernal pain and hunger stretched for all time. But for rent… houses, cars, material possessions, you left behind. The Kosowetovo Land Lords and Ladies Association called for an emergency meeting. The new Jesus was come. Of course, he made quite a few people angry. And hungry too. He said, God, you talked to him direct. In bars, lodgings, the few un-grabbed public playgrounds… you could talk to him direct. You could talk to God direct, he said, as you fondled your Ceros bottle or your ‘mpango wa kando’… ask him why you were doing so instead of spending quality time with your once beloved wife and disappointing children. Then, depe

  Nairobians are angry. Very angry. Perhaps, I should do a song, or some poetry piece, so that I can fully convey this: Nairobians, angry, hungry Nairobians, relatives to poverty Nairobians, has become their enemy – money Nairobians, no longer can access – honey. Nairobians, in their leaders – no hope Nairobians, unwashed – can’t afford soap The government, has lost – goodwill from the people No longer cute – the SG’s and the Governor’s dimples. Nairobi, despondency – hangs in the air Doing business, feels like living in the lion’s lair Taxes, more taxes – women can’t afford pretty hair Angry, hungry, for Nairobians – there is despair. It’s around 11pm. Nyayo House, recently declared a Corruption Free Zone. Hang around in a group outside, and some administration policeman will enquire of your business. I am here on some business. It is full house, majority seeking passports to get a breather outside the country… the National Youth Service have been seconded to assist s

  ‘Curiosity killed the pussy.’ This is what they had forgotten to tell Mr. Steven Akumu. ‘Bang!’ The house shook, smoke filled the compound, shots rang out. Azrael was come. But how did we get here? Mr. Steven Akumu, a man of big ambition. He had thrown his hat in the ring, intent to unseat the reigning Member of Parliament for Mashimoni. That is before he shifted his residence and his political base. Now, Mashimoni is a placid place. A placid place, on ordinary days. The people – courteous, friendly, going about their bustles fashionably late, lazily, even. But come election time, the waters are stirred and trouble reigns in paradise. Then, gangs of marauding youths, with machetes – brandished and concealed – are employed to control the electoral outcome. The lingo – ‘to secure the bases’, and on election day, ‘to guard the vote’. Their leaders, they supplement these efforts with a pistol or two. Mr. Steven Akumu began his campaigns innocently enough. He had not gotten the memo