Safari Notes

Mention the name Raila Odinga and you are met with all kinds of reactions. Some writers coined the terms 'Raila Phobia' and 'Raila Mania' to describe the sorts of reactions he gets when interacting with the public. Most of his life has been served in the public service, as a university lecturer, as a civil rights activist, and as a member of parliament. Raila was first elected as an MP for Langata constituency of Langata, Nairobi, in 1992. He has retained the seat in subsequent elections in 1997 and 2002. He has been in different parties, in Ford-Kenya, in the National Democratic Party where he started his co-operation with Moi's government and where he was appointed minister for energy. He later defected to the Liberal Democratic Party, one of the coalition partenrs of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) that won the 2002 general election and broke Kanu’s stranglehold on power since Independence in 1963. He was then appointed minister for roads, public works,

Dedan Kimathi Waciuri (truly, Kimathi wa Waciuri), Field Marshal, (October 31, 1920 – February 18, 1957) was a Kenyan rebel leader who fought against British colonization in Kenya in the 1950s. He was convicted and executed by the British colonial government. The British colonial government that ruled Kenya at the time considered him a terrorist, as did "loyalist" Kenyans who supported the British occupation and seizure of Kikuyu lands and opposed the Mau Mau Uprising. According to some sources, under his leadership, the Mau Mau killed at least two thousand Kenyan civilians. The Mau Mau rebels killed only 32 European settlers, and fewer than 200 British soldiers in the eight year uprising. The British in turn killed 20,000 Mau Mau rebels in combat, hung over 1000 suspected Mau Mau supporters, and interned more than 70,000 Kikuyu civilians for years in brutal detention camps on suspicion of providing material support for the Uprising. In her Pulitzer Prize winning book, "

A few days ago, the most important thing on my mind was the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results ; I was waiting for my youngest daughter's results. Though she did the examinations when she was sick, I was overjoyed and elated by what she achieved: all 'A's, and undoubtedly, one of the highest marks scored in the country, especially for a girl. Thanks to her mother most, who did all it took for her to achieve that; and to her excellent and fine teachers. Still, filled with joy with my daughter's results - the upcoming Kenyan Elections , just hours away, is what is next most important on my mind. I do hope this weekend, my other great hope and wish for Kenya, is fulfilled. I do hope my candidate for the Presidency; and the party I support, wins! Whatever the results and whoever wins, I am very proud of Kenya. Very few countries in Africa, and in the 'developing' world for that matter - can boast what Kenya has achieved: a kind of dem

In March 2005, supermodel Liya Kebede was appointed as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. She was given the task of advocating on behalf of WHO programmes and initiatives focused on maternal, newborn and child health. An Ethiopian fashion model – and herself a mother of two – Liya's responsibilities include raising global awareness of maternal and child health issues, and helping WHO in its campaign to improve the health of mothers and children. Her appointment took place in the run up to World Health Day 2005, the slogan for which was: Make Every Mother and Child Count. Liya has since worked to link WHO initiatives and programmes with the activities of her newly created Liya Kebede Foundation. She has also teamed up with WHO to designate funds to support maternal and newborn health initiatives through online donations which raised nearly US$12 000; to support World Health Day 2005 and Mother's Day in 2006; to launch the WHO obstetric fistula

The Australian Inland Taipan looks graceful and in a way, beautiful; even though, it is generally agreed by most of those who know and understand snakes, that it is a snake with the most potent venom on Earth. But, because the snake lives in very sparsely populated areas; and being rather shy and reclusive they attack very few people; case in point - worldwide, more than 40,000 people die each year from venomous snakebite. But Australia only has 2 - 3 snakebite deaths each year . For more on the Inland Taipan go to these sites: users.esc.net.au , Reptile Park , Ezine , Manbir-online , Barefoot Bushman , ABC.net , Everthing2 , National Geographic , Toxinology , answers.yahoo , Reptile Knowledge , Echeat , Featherdale , kingsnake , Wikipedia , Books , Scholar , Images Image: Reptile Knowledge

John Nettles has been a familiar face on British and International television screens for over thirty years. From his early beginnings in the UK hit comedy "The Liver Birds" (1969), he became a household name overnight playing the Jersey detective "Jim Bergerac". The series, "Bergerac" (1981), was a huge hit in Britain and was exported to many countries across the world including France, Spain and Greece, gaining him thousands of fans. His new found fame as Bergerac gave him almost film-star-like fame and fortune, not to mention thousands of female admirers! Despite "Bergerac" (1981) being mothballed in the early 1990s, the series still has a considerable fan base and lingering popularity abroad, especially in Jersey, where images of John Nettles are still used for advertising tourist attractions and other services on the island. John Nettles is a very balanced and underrated actor, happy both on-screen or on-stage. His polished Shakespere

The Chinese crested crane is possibly the world's rarest bird and it is China's most elusive bird. Due to their eggs being poached, human encroachment and disturbance and the loss of coastal wetlands which is their main habitat, these graceful, wonderful birds are almost extinct. How many exactly are still left in the wild, is not known. More on the Crested Tern: Orient Bird Club , Clara.net , Birding Taiwan , Surfbirds , BBC , pwlf.org , China.org , Taiwan's Ecological Conservation , Facts , Bird Life , IUCN , Itsabove , WWF , Books , Scholar *Read this interesting article from the Economist