Dave's Diary

Fans of Kenyan Cricket team will be still having that nice memory of their dashing performance in the 2003 ICC world cup which was also co-hosted by Kenya. An ever-great star jammed team including Maurice Odumbe, Thomas Odoyo, Steve Tikolo, Hitesh Modi etc.

In fact, the team’s golden moments in International Cricket started with their famous win against India in May 1998, held at Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior, India. Kenya surged against the favorites with a massive victory of 69 runs in which Maurice Odumbe starred with both bat (83 runs out of 91 balls) and ball (3 wickets for 14 runs).

They repeated the same in 2001 at South Africa where they beat India by 50 runs. They went on with their good form and qualified for the 2003 World Cup.

In their Epic performance, Kenya defeated Canada, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and lost to West Indies and South Africa. They got qualified to the Super Sixes after the free points received from the walkover match with New Zealand (they pulled over from the match citing safety issues).

They defeated Zimbabwe in the Super Sixes and confirmed the Semi-final berth which was for the first time by an associate country. Unfortunately, they couldn’t repeat their good performance in the Semi’s and lost to mighty Indian team by 91 runs. But they definitely won the hearts of many.

With this, the entire cricket world envisaged that this would become a moment like 1983 for India and 1996 for Sri Lanka. However, by adding worries, the Star player Maurice Odumbe has been alleged in a match fixing scandal following life-time ban from the Cricket.

They appeared in the next two World cups also, but were never able to win matches or hearts again in the international cricket Arena.

Many of the Kenyan’s think that the match fixing incident was the basic reason for the Kenyan Cricket declining, but there are so many other reasons which eventually affected the nation’s cricket prospects. Before judging Odumbe as a Crooked Face behind the entire problems of Kenyan Cricket, let us discuss the following;

1. Why the Kenyan cricket is not able to bag good sponsorships which can be utilized for the wellbeing of the cricket in the country?

2. Why it was not possible to encourage and inspire young players in to the team with good coaching?

3. Why there is no action from the government side as it has great potential in terms of employment? Take a look on examples like Rashid Khan from Afghanistan and Sandeep Lamichanne from Nepal who are earning good money from Twenty -Twenty leagues around the globe such as IPL, PSL & 100 despite of being part of associate countries.

ndians have historically played an integral part in Kenya’s development including their struggle for independence. Many of these Indians arrived in Kenya in the early 19th Century. They worked as traders, farmers and on the railway system that the British were building in east Africa.

Today, Indians living in Kenya are mainly engaged in construction, metal, and retail businesses. Some work in banks too. Majority of them have seen immense success and are even place in top positions within the government. Being considerably wealthier than a majority of the non-Asian Kenyans, many have been known for philanthropy and contributions towards the country’s socio- economic fabric.

Notable few in the recent times include:

Narendra Raval, Devki Group, named by Forbes as Africa’s Richest, is popularly referred to as ‘Guru’, has investments in steel, aluminium and cement. Raval, born in India has served as an assistant priest at a Swaminarayan temple before relocating to Kenya to serve in another temple. He was expelled from the sect when he married a Kenyan woman and decided to take up a job in a small steel factory where he learnt steelmaking. In 1986, pulling together his savings started the now known ‘Devki Group’ along with his wife. Raval is a devoted philanthropist and had recently openly proclaimed that if need arises; he is ready to pledge all his assets to save the country and people of Kenya.

Manu Chandaria is the chairman of Comcraft group and is estimated to be worth Ksh 27 billion. Chandaria also chairs boards of many governments and non-governmental organisations in the country. With Comcraft operating in more than 11 African countries, the Chandaria family has also set up charitable trusts in each of these countries to assist in their philanthropic activities. As the chairman of the Chandaria Foundation he is at the forefront of the charitable work of the family. He is the benefactor of numerous schools and clinics in Kenya and has been involved with more than 25 organisations.

Bhimji Depar Shah founded Bidco Industries in 1970 to manufacture garments and sooner the company ventured into production of soaps. In 1991, it launched an edible oil manufacturing plant in Thika, an industrial town northeast of Nairobi. Today, Bidco is one of the largest manufacturers of edible oils in Kenya. The company also manufactures hygiene products like detergents, beauty soaps, and baking powders and edible oils, grossing over $300 million in annual revenues. Bidco’s products are marketed in 13 African countries. Bidco had recently launched a $200 million industrial park in Kiambu which is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs throughout the Bidco distribution chain.

Jayesh Saini Kenya - Channel JSK

Jayesh Saini's photostream

Jayesh Saini Kenya - Channel JSK

Jayesh Saini Kenya - Channel JSK

Jayesh Saini's photostream

Jayesh Saini Kenya - Channel JSK

Jayesh Saini Kenya - Channel JSK

Jayesh Saini Kenya - Channel JSK

Jayesh Saini's photostream

Jayesh Saini's photostream (Source: Flickr)

Is there anything like “Absolute Truth”? This question would have been there in Human minds right from the moment when he/ she started free-thinking process. Alas!! It’s a very difficult question. Truth can have different versions like in the story of 4 blinds who went to experience elephant. After the visit, 1st person who touched the Elephant’s legs told that elephant is a big pillar; 2nd one told “no it’s a big fan flap” as he touched only the ear. 3rd person said that elephant is a little broom after touching the tail whereas for the 4thone, the elephant was nothing but a thick snake because he touched only its trunk. For all these 4, it is their true version, but we know that is not right.

The above story is an example of how someone can have their belief in a wrongful way even after “experiencing” the truth. This particular one can be considered as a pure accident and no one can blame those souls who “experienced” their truth in their own way. But, what if someone deliberately creates false news or “truth”s for a few money??? Unfortunately, this is what happening in the world. A paid media can make someone hero or villain according to the money what they received.

In democracy, media is considered as the fourth pillar after legislative, Executive and Judiciary. But, in demo”crazy”, paid medias are acting like all the four pillars. As a result, the entire people can get blindfolded by their baffling and utter nonsense paid news.

Transformation of “Reporting” to “Statement”

In earlier days, media used to report some news or quote someone’s wordings. But, now it has been changed to making “Statements” on an incident based on the discretion of the reporting or “story-making” person. In the former, people had a choice of analyzing these reports and making their own black and white. Unfortunately, the latter one directly spoon feeds the refined, mostly one-sided capsules.

The extensive influence of social media has again changed the scenario wherein people started to utilize the strategy of making false news with a clear intention of tarnishing or whitewashing someone. Without knowing the gravity of these incidents, most of the social media common people will share this false news intentionally or unintentionally; sometimes just for a fun.

So, the people will stop analyzing the things and will try to directly swallow the capsules what they receive from these paid medias. As such, a prejudiced and radical mentality will be created among the common people which is dangerous for the social systems and the basic principles of democracy.

Jayesh Saini Nairobi- a prey of targeted abuse and hatred politics

Mr. Jayesh Saini Nairobi is a classic example of being a prey for the paid media and targeted abusing. Mr. Saini is the third-generation individual from the Indian family who migrated years ago for a better living in the Eastern African Country of Kenya like many other Asian families in the region. With his hard-working, he made a healthcare brand with one of kind of world class standard named BLISS. Unfortunately, some with a bad intention are desperately trying to tarnish his name for nothing but some money.

BLISS had totally transformed the healthcare systems in Kenya by introducing many key elements in the sector. It had raised the bar of healthcare standards which had caused the competitive institutions to improve their standard too. Unfortunately, a fraction of people is thinking (or someone made them to believe?) that his institutions are adverse for the NHIF systems. On the other side, even the NHIF had been inspired by their vision and had started following similar standards in their hospitals.

How should common people be vigilant about false news?

It is always the common people who end up in getting cheated by others, because for others, they are just like some donkeys who will bear all of the remaining’s junk. It should be mandate to check the fact before sharing a news. In most of the cases, the widely shared or viral bits will be nothing but some mere ‘gossips’ or fake news. So, primarily, don’t share any bit of information or gossip without proper fact checking.

Secondly, it is a fact that some medias are like monkeys who will do any tricks for their masters to earn some peanuts. An unofficial study showed that around 80% of the online medias and news vloggers are working only for money who doesn’t have any commitment towards the society; can’t blame them, it is a bread earning profession for them and they are here only for money. Hence, don’t fall for petty online or vlogger channels; always adhere with authentic news sources and a clear Independent thinking.

Thirdly, don’t idolize anyone in the world. No one is perfect in this universe. We should have our own independent thoughts before blindly following anyone in our life. Always remember “Wrong things can come from Right Persons too”.

Jayesh Saini's photostream

Covid-19 has taught us a lot… It was an eye opener for majority of the human race. It revealed the true state of the so called “efficient” health systems of some of the developed countries… It taught us that an office space is a mere wastage of space for some sectors.. It pointed out the fact that we need more health institutions in the worls than religious centres… It showed that the money is sometimes a piece of paper or just few ounces of metal…

However, the most revolutionary change was in the sector of education. There was a big transformation in the educational sector wherein homes were converted to class rooms, parents had to actively involve in their kid’s educational activities and sometimes had to take a “teacher avatar”.

It is interesting to note that most of the kids in the higher grade want to go to school or to have a physical class rather than sitting at home and listening to the mono-syllable hours-long lectures whereas the kids in lower grades especially the Kinder Garten students like to join their family while being in the class. Nevertheless, there are some exceptions in both sections too.

According to Dr. Jayesh Saini Nairobi, Kenya who is a well-known child psychologist in Dubai, the kids are developing some new habits and routines which may prove costly for them as well as the parents in near future. As per Dr. Jayesh Saini Nairobi’s opinion, some of the major ill effects of online classes on kids are as follows;

1. Lack of Social behavior

The main advantage of normal schooling is to give training to them on the social life. But, unfortunately, it is the time of “Social Distancing”. So, the kids won’t be experiencing one of the major advantages of education which is Social life. As the human being is a social animal, social behaviors are one of the key elements involved in the success of an individual as well as the society. Lack of opportunity for kids to interact with their friends and fellows will definitely create a vacuum and may affect the future generation very badly. Jayesh Saini Nairobi Says…

2. Loosing the Sharing Mentality

Sharing is always caring. The predecessor generation (especially mid 70s to mid 90s born) experienced a lot of sharing among their schooling as it was the time when families shifted from “n” number of kids to “ maximum 2 or 3”. Schools were literally their second home and most of them share a very cordial friendship now too compared with their predecessor generations (the technological advantage is also a factor). The present situation of online classes left the kids alone at home having all resources solely for the particular kid. It may create an adverse impact in the way of thinking of kids. As all know, team works are the back born of all successes in the human history and lack of training on the team work may leave this generation kids to some isolated introvert world of virtual and pseudo reality.

3. Dependence

Jayesh Saini Nairobi says…This may seem like an antonym to the above topics, but the point which is to be discussed is the peculiar and extensive dependence of kids on their parents. In this time of social distancing and lock downs, kids rarely see other persons than their parents or siblings. So, for them, everything is their parents and they think the entire world is being run by their parents. There might be a tendency that they follow this in future too and this characteristic may prove too much costly for the parents.

4. Extensive use of Social media and adultery contents

As before, kids need leisure time. As they cannot go outside for physical games, they will find-out their resort in social media and/or adultery contents. If both parents and working and office going, kids will be alone at home and due to the online classes, they may not be able to lock the internet connections as they did before. Some smart parents have implemented some strict protocols and soft wares for the monitoring and controlling the web surfing, but majority of the parents are illiterate on such systems and as a result, kids may end up in watching unwanted contents like pornography or some radical clips. According to Jayesh Saini Nairobi, Kenya, this is the most dangerous ill effect.

5. Post Lockdown Stigma

Besides all the above, there is a chance of post lockdown stigmas like lack of interest to join school, hatred towards studies, unwillingness for taking food from school, extensive inertias, fear to behave socially etc.

Remedies

Being a former Employee of UN with greater experiences in dealing with kids trauma after natural catastrophes and wars around the globe, Dr. Jayesh Saini Nairobi, Kenya suggests the following remedies. While making his suggestions, Dr. Jayesh Saini Nairobi stresses on the point that all kids are unique and hence dealing with individual kids shall be based on their individual characteristics.

We need to take bigger steps in advance for overcoming the above. The situations and effects will be different for different kids and hence it is important to find out and understand the specific problems in each and every kids. For kids who are having extensive problems are advised to have some counselling.

Most of the regions are having small period between the lock down with eased restrictions. Utilize those times for small gatherings and interactions by maintaining the protocols stipulated by the Authorities.

Go for small strips and staycations if possible and safe. Change of usual atmospheres will definitely make changes to our lives which will add more colours to our kid’s fantasy.

Give freedom to the kids, but shall be with strict monitoring. Give them some small tasks like washing their cloths, cleaning of house, making a balcony garden, watering or pruning plants. Participate them in our daily tasks like cooking, washing utensils, preparation of shopping lists etc.

Parents and teachers can contribute high in this mission and they need to hold their hands together for the well-being of our kids and thus for the next generation.