Statistics on viewer development today by 15.00

Country Share
Continent Share

Figure nr 1. shows viewers in percentage pr country by today at 15.00

Figure nr 2. shows viewers in percentage pr continent by today at 15.00

We update the statistics now and then.

By Statistics section

African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no

One of Somalia’s Islamist leaders surrenders to Kenyan authorities!

__________________

<The US would like to see Somalia’s government talking to Mr Ahmed. He is seen as a moderate.

Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, a moderate Islamist gave himself up to Kenya authorities in northern part of the country

BBC reports that, “The US and the UN have urged the Somali government to seek reconciliation with moderate Islamists, such as Mr Ahmed. The Islamists were driven out of the capital, Mogadishu, last month.”

The Ethiopian forces that aided the government in ousting the Union of Islamic Courts, who had taken control of much of southern Somalia are still in the country.

According to the government, there are still some, “3,500 Islamist fighters remain in Mogadishu.”

All the neighbouring countries have agreed that the African Union should have the upper hand in Somalia in overseeing peace return to the country.

By Korir,

Published by African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no, tel.+47 932 99 739

source.bbc

Statistics on viewer development today by 12.00

Country Share
Continent Share

Figure nr 1. shows viewers in percentage pr country by today at 12.00

Figure nr 2. shows viewers in percentage pr continent by today at 12.00

We update the statistics now and then.

By Statistics section

African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no

APN to make a documentary on African prostitution in Norway!

____________________ 

African Press in Norway has now secured a deal to make a documentary film on African prostitution in Oslo.

The company that has entered into agreement with APN is expected to start its work in March this year.

Most of the filming will be in the evenings and at night around Dronningens gate, Prinsens gate and Tollbugate, where many prostitutes assemble in the evenings and at night.

The film team will also document places where prostitutes assemble, and ensure to film all the people going in, and out of any public premises in the area.

Most of the Norwegian men that promote prostitution by going to public restaurants and bars in the area to buy African prostitutes will be filmed, and used in the documentary. The process is supposed to take 4 to 6 months.

The team has secured a building at the main corner of Dronningens gate, and Prinsens gate, a place that is mainly used as the main prostitution base.

Legality to film in public places! 

For legal reasons, the shops, restaurants, and bars in the area will be informed in writing by APN about the ongoing process, and filming, before the work begins. By doing so, APN will have fulfilled its obligation legally.

APN is aware that some of the business owners in the area may not like the idea, because most of the prostitutes frequent their businesses, and the owners benefit as well through sales of their own items like clothes, food and alcohol – sales that come about, brought by the men hunting for prostitutes.

This is so, because the prostitutes draw attention when they assemble in groups, and many men looking for them hang around the surrounding premises in search for satisfaction of their sexual needs.

APN is interested to document prostitution by African women, because many Norwegians have accused Africans in Oslo on the growing prostitution, claiming that they are not involved in promoting it, but that it is an African problem.

In a documentary, one will seek to prove who the sex buyers are, and bring out in the open who actually does the indirect trade promotion, because we are of the opinion that whoever is the sex buyer, must be considered the promoter of the trade.

Married and unmarried in competition to taste exotic!

Every evening, one sees so many Norwegian men, both married and unmarried, young men and older men flocking into the area. APN has also uncovered through interviews with some of the prostitutes that most of the men who go to the area do not prefer using condoms, but rather pay more to have unprotected sex. They tell the women that they prefer “skin to skin” and would like to go “exotic!”

This is a danger to the society due to sexual transmitted diseases like HIV and Aids. All people interested in saving lives should be concerned about this development which is going in the wrong direction!

It is easy for many to say it does not concern them, but they forget that the disease moves very fast like lightning, if a community is careless! 

Public places that harbours, and encourages prostitution should be made liable, and the men who buy sex at the rate it is practised in the areas we have mentioned, should be arrested and made answerable.

Can Norway go the Swedish way? 

Sweden arrests sex buyers, and it has cleaned the town, while at the same time forcing those men who like buying sex to retreat to their wives, and children instead of misusing their income prostituting around, and boasting of exotic sex!

The sex trade in Sweden has reduced drastically and that is good of the Swedish population.

Norway must use time to study the Swedish reports and embark on change as soon as it is possible, instead of allowing the menace to continue the way it is.

 A call to be morally conscious!

A solution must be found before many jeopardise their lives and that of their families. The Norwegian government must have a moral responsibility and take the necessary action instead of leaning back and allowing what is going on to continue.

It is immoral to put a lot of money in the fight to prevent the spread of sexual diseases while on the other hand allowing the mess to go ahead in front of our eyes.

Where is the morality of the law-makers and what is happening with their responsibility to the people?

It is not that we are against those who feel strongly that prostitution is the key to their success and livelihood. It is not that we are against prostitution in general, but we are against the way it is done, and the irresponsibility that follows with uncountable deaths yearly.

In the next few weeks, APN will bring to the readers an interview with two Norwegian members of parliament that have been frequenting the prostitution base.

They have decided to come clean, and would like to warn others from the practice. Most of the politicians stay in small flats in the city from Monday to Thursday, before travelling to their families and constituencies in the weekends. Staying in the flats is at, “times very lonely”, they say, adding that “it is at such time that the temptation is difficult to resist.”

The two politicians tell APN of their lifestyles with the prostitutes, and when asked if they do not fear the repercussions, they tell APN that they have informed their families of their mistakes.

When it comes to the voters, they do not intend to seek re-election after this term in parliament.

By Korir,

Published by African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no, tel. +47 932 99 739

Election Commission of Kenya appointed by the President in readiness for the elections!

The list is complete after President Mwai Kibaki ”appointed Abdi M. Ibrahim, Anne Mwikali Muasya, Felista Naetu Ole Churie, Joseph Hamisi Dena, Joseph Kipruto Sitonik, Luciano Riunga Raiji, Mildred Apiyo Owuor, Muturi Kigano and Samuel Arap Ng’eny to be members of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK).”

It is reported from State House Nairobi that, “the newly appointed ECK members will serve for a period of five years with effect from 12th January 2007. The President has also appointed Esther J. A. Aduma as a commissioner of the Complaints Commission for a period of three years with effect from today 11th January 2007.”

This is a good move by the government that has been criticised by the opposition of not completing the list earlier. However, the opposition is not satisfied yet again because they wanted a hand in the decision behind the appointments.

They fear that the government may have appointed loyal members that will not want to support the opposition in any way.

The opposition must understand that the president has the right to make appointments.

So far, the government has not said anything about extending Chairman Kivuitu’s term as head of the Commission when his term expires in December. It is most likely that the President will appoint Mr Samuel Ngeny to take over the Chairmanship.

Mr Ngeny has good experience in leadership.

By Korir,

Published by African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no, tel. +47 932 99 739.

source.statehse.ke

Corruption bell rings around Githongo! He may soon have to defend himself when APN releases information surrounding his visit in Norway!

 ______________________________

<Mr Githongo angered and ..true to his words, is now threatening a one man crusade against the Kibaki government. True to his words, he knew what he was doing when he carried many top secret documents out of the country illegally.

It is punishable everywhere in the world for any civil servant to steal top secret documents and use them to destroy the country where he serves in a trusted capacity.

Mr John Githongo, when leaving Kenya, was still a Permanent Secretary, and adviser to President Mwai Kibaki, therefore bound by the rules of secrecy.

APN can now reveal that Githongo’s mission to Norway was well organised, and a lot of money – in  millions, went into planning for his “jump over” from Kenya to his self exile.

Those who were involved in influencing him to resign, had there own motives and a plan to have him announce his resignation from a hotel in Oslo, and formerly apply for asylum in the Norwegian capital, a status that was ready for the catch since the deal had been struck before he agreed to cooperate in plunging Kibaki and Kenya in a mess.

To grant him asylum, Githongo was conditioned to deliver top secret and sensitive documents implicating senior cabinet ministers in Kibaki’s government, that was meant to be used in embarrassing the Kenya government once he got his asylum in Norway.

His friends in Norway got very disappointed with him in the long run. Githongo decided to continue his trip to the UK without announcing in Oslo that he was not returning to Kenya, a plan that he had agreed upon, and was meant to boost his Norwegian counterparts as corruption czars, and a good thing for Norway as a country as well.

While in Oslo giving lectures, one could see in him and his total behaviour that he had been influenced by the west who wanted to destroy Kibaki’s government.

Millions of kroner was used, and the former Permanent Secretary was not going to have any worries starting a new life in self exile.

It is interesting to hear that he has now started a one man crusade, after the case he had caused has been closed, due to lack of evidence. Githongo believes the ministers he had mentioned are guilty, but does he not know that one is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?

Now he wants to be treated as the clean, uncorrupted and God fearing man when he knows only too well what happened in the Norwegian corridors, from when he arrived until he departed to the UK.

Former British High Commissioner Clay and Githongo’s contacts in Oslo succeeded as planned! To have Githongo resign and embarrass Kibaki’s government, releasing information that was to be used in blocking senior Kenyan politicians from entering the UK.

He made the Kenya government believe that he was only going abroad to attend official meetings, and yet most of the meetings turned out to be undercover crusade in the Norwegian capital against Kibaki’s government and the former Internal Security Minister Dr Murungaru in particular.

Githongo and his Norwegian friends hatched a deal, so that Githongo would jump off Kibaki’s wagon, and he would be rewarded. The problem that was to be dealt with was the reaction expected from the Kenyans if Githongo ended his trip in Oslo and applied for asylum. The Norwegians, however, feared another embassy closure and expulsion of Norwegians from Kenya, a repeat of the incident during former President Moi’s leadership.

Githongo did not want to stay in Norway where he was offered asylum after having been courted. His objection was due to the fact that he would have to use over one year in learning the Norwegian language, before he could start doing anything meaningful. He realised that in Norway he may be left alone, after all Norway does not have important trade links with Kenya.

When he decided to move to the UK, his Norwegian friends were disappointed, and almost withdrew the allocated money for his crusade.

Githongo knew that staying in the UK, he would have a better chance, because he would be near former British High Commissioner Clay, a man who hates Kibaki’s government, because the former Internal Security Minister Dr Murungaru did not favour the British businessmen as Clay had wished to see happening.

APN has worked with this case for two months now. We are yet to release full information and details on the results of our investigations.

Our reliable Norwegian sources have agreed to give us direct interviews on the case.

Most people tend to play clean, and yet there is pocket money here and there that is never made public or accounted for.

Money changed hands in Oslo, and that is what might force Githongo to go on the defensive, when APN releases full details soon.

By Korir,

Published by African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no, tel. +47 932 99 739

“Let us all try to break off from traditions that only hurt the bereaved families”, says Beryl.

_____________ 

Commentary from Beryl, in reaction to Clay Onyango’s thought of the day published by us yesterday.

_____________

I couldn’t agree more with Clay….
I have personally had death visiting my family one; too many times, and have therefore had the privilege of learning some of lives hardest lessons.

It pained me beyond words, seeing people that actually ‘hated’ or had no relationship at all with my mother, father, brother mourn so much at their funerals, throwing themselves in front of moving vehicles…, I mean the whole drama is just uncalled for…..and the pretext in it is just sickening. 

And they all do it in the name of culture…the luo way of sending off ‘their loved ones’. The funny part is the way the kids left behind are ridiculed, mistreated, and almost totally denied a chance to see another day light….., and God forbid that you should one day rise up to celebrate your parents…, then you become a permanent enemy of the community.

Let us all try to break away from traditions that only hurt the bereaved families, and do not benefit anyone at all, and as Clay says, please let us seize every moment we have of living, tell our loved ones how much they mean to us, and celebrating their presence so that when they pass away, it is no problem letting them go, even if it means cremating them the very day.

Let us have full lives, define to all how you want to be treated. If you want respect back, give it,
endeavour to bring happiness into someone’s life, because it is only this way that we will have no regrets, and savour our lives so much that someone else’s life, or should I say death do not matter much.

Lets all appreciate our loved ones, and please let them know just how we feel about them; on a daily basis if possible.

Let us desist from loving our departed family, and friends more than the living ones.  The truth is when one dies, its not a big deal what kind of burial she/he is accorded, the major thing is how s/he felt when they lived.

Related story:

• Sweden: “Thought of the day”, by Clay Onyango!

By Beryl,

Published by African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no, tel. +47 932 99 739.

“A New Year – New Beginnings”, writes Kenneth Lagat.

_______________________________

The New Year is exciting and a happy time because it always brings the opportunity for what seems a new beginning, a chance to “start over”.  We all get to start with a new page, and it is up to us what we want to “write” on it.

 

The “New Year” gives us the chance to discard the mistakes, failures, and other unwanted baggage of the past year, in order to re-focus on God and move forward.  This is how Paul expressed it, “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13).  Like Paul, we can forget the failures and dark chapters of our past life, because of God’s Grace- His love, acceptance and forgiveness.

 

In Rome, Italy, the people used to have a “crazy” custom.  They waited for the clock to strike midnight – New Year’s eve, to open the windows of their high rise apartments and throw out all their unwanted goods: old sewing machines, dishwashers, furniture, pots and pans, etc.  Nobody dared walk the streets immediately at or after midnight.

 

The New Year offers us the opportunity to not only clear our homes of clutter, unwanted goods but also to consider how we want to change and improve our lives: our spiritual exercises, our attitudes toward people, our family relationships, our professional life, our business practices, and our contributions to the church and community.

 

Are you making any New Years’ resolutions?  Where did the idea of New Year’s Resolutions come from?  The earliest evidence is during the reign of The Roman Empire.  They made similar resolutions, resolutions that deal with self-centered needs: diet, exercise, lose weight, pay off debts, get a better job, improve professional skills, travel more, change the lifestyle to cope with stress, etc.

 

The vast majority of New Year’s Resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to the life that now is.  These are good goals to set.  However, 1 Timothy 4:8 reminds us to keep these things in their proper perspective: “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come”.  Paul is reminding us that what is most profitable is improving our godliness, which can bless our present and future life.

 

When I think of exercising in godliness, what comes to my mind is bearing the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”.  These are the virtues that we need most today in our stressful, rushing, tension-filled lives.

 

Do we get these virtues by working harder on our good behavior than we did in the past?  No, but by following the counsel of 1 Corinthians 3:18.  It is by beholding Christ that we are changed.  May this be our foremost resolution for 2007: to enrich our Bible study and prayer relationship with Jesus Christ!

 

 

By, Kenneth k Lagat

Box 2500, Eldoret, Kenya

+254724604503

 

Published by African Press in Norway, APN, africanpress@chello.no, tel. +47 932 99 739