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When you think you know better

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There are those people with that "I know better than follow your stup!d instructions" mentality, but regrets almost immediately when the instruction or advice given, no matter how innocuous or unwise it may look at face value, tends to have great repercussions. Take the instance of the author of this book (pictured), a strong headed former military intelligence officer, thought he knew better than his superiors. The first instance was during the six month training in Baringo county shortly after enlisting with the military. Baringo is snake infested, and one of instructions in the training camp was to hang bags on walls or trees as snakes would crawl into them when kept at ground level looking for a warm place to curl in. The ever rebellious man who had been expelled from two schools for leading strikes, went against the instructions one night and used his bag as a pillow, such that a huge snake steals into the tent, goes over his body and into the bag. The scream he gave out...

In name of courtesy

Mr Njaga has announced his intention to be a champion of the masses. By this, he intends to be elected a mheshimiwa in a top echelon position in Nakuru County. He's hardly a name that registers beyond his village and the dynamics of national politics are sheer fatigue to him. For those not averse who the man is, here's his brief. Mr Njaga was once a lowly paid primary school teacher. Those with long memory recalls the lean days he peddled his black mamba bicycle to a rundown government school ten kilometres away from his home. He was dreaded for his temper and famous for whipping ihii into 'civilized gentlemen' long before they faced the knife. Story had it the man disappeared from school for two years only to reemerge later with a headmaster's title. It was to emerge he had gone back to college to further the little training he had. From there, his fortunes changed for good. He started living large than the teacher's payslip could accord. He constructed a magni...

Can you disclose your previous salary to prospective employer?

  During interviews, there's usually that landmine question the interviewing panel may try to trap the prospective new hire with like disclosing what the latter was earning in the previous place of employ. Given that similar organizations may not have same salary scales for employees in same job description, this can put the prospective hire in an awkward position.   Career experts advices against disclosing to your prospective employer what your previous one was paying for the same job description. This is to ensure youre not taken advantage of and end up underselling your worth.   The common strategy employed is a starting pay package proposal which may not be attractive and way below what the previous job was paying. If the likely hire feels the pay is not that motivating, the panel will keep on pressing the interviewee to disclose what the former employer was paying.   To put the interviewing panel off, the interviewee should play hard ball, and if the proposed starting salary ...

When their true colours manifest

There are situations that brings out the true character of people towards you. Take the example where you're bone dry broke or have that sudden life transformation. Let's look at both situations.   Got fired or lost that job? Got into that financial crisis or found yourself in that sad situation like an emergency and everything to your last coin was spent and you're what financially many will term you as "hana mbele wala nyuma" (hopeless)? Maybe you're several months without pay as attested by county workers or employees in other industries?  Have you tried reaching out to those in your social circle like close friends or family members and what were the reactions after you explained your situation? There are those who'll be empathetic and sympathetic with you and lend a hand. Others will milk capital of your situation and posit a not good image of you to all and sundry.   It's when you've hit rock bottom that you see the attitude of people towards...

Of the biased boy child everywhere

  That the boy child goes through a lot is not in contention. It too doesn't surprise to see none other than the same gender bringing their fellow one down while lifting the profile of the girl child.   Sample the following where two job seekers, a male and a female, posted in a social media platform looking for prospective employers and giving a bit of their career backgrounds. Though each poster made own post in same platform within a day of each, the comments section is what left many asking questions, especially on the post made by the male poster.   Both posters, it seemed, were recent statistics of the growing numbers being rendered jobless when organizations are downscaling, relocating or closing shop for good owing the current policies in place, especially taxations and high cost of doing business.   For the lady, there were many willing to employ her, including givings business ideas and tips on how to get started as she goes about waiting for that vacant po...

When that sudden weight loss or weight gain becomes subject of speculation

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  the backyard Sometimes we tend to become lethargic when we feel satisfied even for a minor accomplishment. Two years back, when I realized I was putting on weight, I embarked on rigorous exercises including long walks, cycling and hiking the back hills. I quickly lost the accumulated weight in a short time. See: https://paulkariuki.blogspot.com/2019/07/and-long-walk-made-difference.html   Not very long in a social joint, while following an English Premier League match, a friend happened to drop by during the interval and we had a bit of catching up. Then he made some remarks to the effect that I was ‘feeding well’ as I seemed to be in a kind of ‘good health.’

Budgeting for corruption: its campaigns season again!

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The speed at which some development projects are being implemented at is astonishing. With the General Election under a year away, elected members in different political offices are in a rush – a mad rush indeed – to complete projects, some of which were launched three years back and done at a staggering rate to be ready a few days or within a month for a handover or opening before the next vote.   It is all about political survival. Having enjoyed the trappings of power, and especially the benefits that come with being a holder of that political office, no politician is willing to bequeath their seats easily. Some have made it clear that their areas of representations are their fortes of sorts, and would not easily bequeath them to a serious competitor without cutting him or her down to size first.