1. Donate

Through Mama Mikes and a bloggers for Kenya initiative.

There are also other other initiatives – like Save-A-Life, Kiss FM’s Jaza Lorry, the Nairobi Women’s Hospital, but beware of a revival of some NGO’s and unusual causes

2. Report Violence
Ushaidi.com is a tool for people who witness acts of violence in Kenya in these post-election times. You can report the incident that you have seen, and it will appear on a map-based view for others to see.

(3) Become a better tipper
Or, better yet, start tipping – because in Nairobi, tipping is something that we have left to tourists only.

Kenyans are woefully underpaid especially out security forces (some of whom had not been paid salaries even as they were asked to quell post-election violence) and yet they also guard our houses, million shillings cars, look after our families, serve us meals they can never afford, and never ask for more.

Many of them live in the very areas that relief initiatives are being formulated for – but just because they are not visibly suffering does not mean they don’t need our help. And while many of us are at the mercy of people whose ability to take our money we can’t say NO to (taxman, church, landlord, relatives), we need to spare a moment for those less fortunate who we interact with everyday, who also have lives and families, and are more at risk after working a full day. Yet we dismiss them so quickly, if they ask or dare to look like they are about to ask for help while at work.

So even if it means paying less tax or tithe, or having one less beer in order to spread some wealth around, get to know these people better and tip them well; waiters, maids, taxi drivers, bank clerks, and especially policemen – though how this can be done without being seen as bribing them – is a delicate task to accomplish.

Banking briefs

– Kenya’s leading bank, Barclays, is the first to acknowledge a distressed loans problem resulting from the post-election violence and standoff.

– From IHI blog; tired of bank charges? Consider a shariah account since they won’t incur frivolous charges that build bank profits.

Paper banks : Is the Nigerian banking model, which Kenya is going to emulate with increased share capital and consolidations, built on sand and bilking shareholders?

Other observations
– China speaks on the Kenyan political crisis blaming the west for imposing democracy on Africa.
– Mobile phone wars continue with Celtel shockingly low rates, while market leader Safaricom won’t compromise and keeps making money
– Hawkers who expected to be evicted from downtown Nairobi, on December 28, now enjoying continuing business with the political uncertainty in the air
– It’s not quite as staggering as Marion Jones or BALCO scandals, but from this month on a whole bunch of expensive, long hitting, golf equipment, widely used in Kenya,(including some Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade), are now illegal. If caught using them you will be disqualified from a tournament or match event.
– Rapidly growing and expanding Fly540 airline taking a dig at Kenya Airways – with an advertisement that their propeller powered aircraft (ATR72) are more environment friendly than KQ’s jets
– Advertisers taking down the politician billboards that littered the city
– As fuel prices pass the 90 shillings a litre, will some petrol pumps in the country be able to process the sale prices over 100 per litre (3-digits) which are around the corner?
– Where’s the prophetic prophetic Mutahi Ngunyi gone to?

Opportunities

– Kenya Airways: Head Of Marketing & Corporate Communications, In-flight Performance Manager, Load Control Officer, Head Of Is Development (IS) , Systems Administrator, Training Officer – Fares & Ticketing, Qualified Pilots, Multilingual In-Flight Attendant, Customer Service Agent
– Sales positions at KCB. download form here.
– Director of research at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. D/L is 31/1