Norman Ondego

Thoughts of a budding change manager

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:48:00 +0000

I have come to discover that change is extremely dynamic. It is therefore fundamental that before instituting change in any set up that the impetus of such a decision be clearly understood and laid out.

Once the objects of any change are wrong then there is grave danger of the whole system caving in. The strategies, and factors of change will always be available and indeed they are as dynamic as the change in itself but the final destination where the change is to get you must never be forgotten because with that lost, you will be engaged in a vicious cycle, spend endless strategic meetings and hire and fire as many experts and laborers as there exist strategies.

It’s the number one point of frustration for any change manager, when the process owners do not seem to realize that the constant shifting of goal posts is straining to the expert, the organization as a whole. Once you get the goals clear, even if it takes long to achieve, you can always measure progress against the goals set in the first place.

That can then give a good indication of whether or not you chasing after wind or actually drawing closer to your desired state.
…by Norman Ondego

Business is war; building a strong team is the best way to prepare for battle

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:30:00 +0000

from Timothy Mbugua's profile

Stepping into self employment or what most would call as the entrepreneur mindset is not an easy feat. Becoming your own boss, finding and recruiting invaluable talents, creating your own projects, and ans running the show has led to many jumping impatiently onto the entrepreneurship bandwagon.Firing your boss is the clarion call, but 9 times out of 10…it is not that easy especially once you have become accustomed to a regular paycheck and a certain lifestyle.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence and you may find that inexperience (not lack of knowledge), lack of talent or poor management will slowly drain your passion and your creative juices will cease flowing leaving you in a dry, sorry and depressed state of self. Have I convinced you to stay “employed”? If not read on coz you are one of the few people who actually have the balls to launch out on your own. That said there are some important characteristics that you must have in-place to ensure that you stepping out is not in vain and that you will at least cross that 3 year start-up ceiling that should see you well on your way to business stability and growth.

Before you can start your own technology company, you must be clear of your objectives, focus, and direction. Understand that Rome was not built in a day and your leap of faith into venturing your own business will be tested by constant obstacles.

Recruiting Talents as Partners

Fortunately, you need not experience this alone. In order to have better success, you need to make use of others’ expertise to grow your business regardless of the industry vertical. Most tech businesses are not built alone. In order to form your dream team of partners, you must master the art of recruiting talent .

There are a few reasons why being a single founder is tougher and will easily succumb to failure. There will bound to be many difficult decisions and it might be tough to decide without another person’s opinion or banding together to call the shots. With a single founder, there would not be enough diversity in generating ideas and problem-solving processes. Look at big companies like Google and Apple, they have a wonderful pool of talented people around, and are still constantly recruiting new talents. Plus you must also realize that there are smarter people out there…get them to work for you!

Furthermore, with a partner, you can motivate each other to keep things going and see things from different perspectives. But there is the other extreme, and it is when too many cooks spoil the broth. This runs into the problem of things being debated or argued constantly, causing critical decisions to be delayed.

Same Aspirations

There is nothing more powerful than like-minded partners. To determine the correct person to join your venture, first you have to determine their aspirations. A worthy partner and a mere partner are equally busy; but because of different aspirations, their gains will also be different.

Respect Your Partners and Control Your Desire

After you have recruited the suitable talents, maybe a designer or developer, you must control your desire for power. A partner or company chief executive who cannot relate well with those around him and cares only about his personal desires is unlikely to stay successful for long. You have to control your personal desires and respect others in order to achieve great cooperation.

Rewards, Recognition and Penalty

Next, when it comes to rewards and penalty, one has to be fair. Giving due reward or penalty is an important part of the art of leadership. As times change, however, one ought to be flexible in deciding the type of reward or penalty to be meted out. Give a lighter penalty when it is difficult to decide what penalty is due and give a greater reward when it is difficult to decide what reward is due. If a project design is well received by your client, give more credit to your designer and praise him or her. And when a project messes up, do not be the first to push the blame but help to shoulder the responsibility.

Foster Good Working Relationship

No one likes to be bossed around. In terms of relationship, you must foster good relationships with your partner, superior and subordinate. A superior treats his subordinates with kindheartedness and in return, the subordinates will sincerely respect their superior.

Happiness is the Health of Your Company

A group of happy people is a requisite for company prosperity. When the people are angry or unhappy in a company, they are unnameable to the precepts of ethics. Without moral values, social cohesion is impossible and the loss of support of your team will spell the downfall of your company.

Humility is Key

Humility can get you very far no matter where you go. It’s a great attribute that is useful to cultivate. But be careful not to overly do it, as it might be perceived as fake. Always be ready to listen humbly to the criticisms of your partner and make timely corrections.

Be Willingly to Delegate Responsibility

Always give food for thought to people with high aspirations. These days, many young people are used to a life of plenty and enjoyment from an early age. In such an environment, it is difficult to nurture outstanding talent. In adversity, the survival of the weak is constantly being threatened. Be willingly to delegate your responsibility to your partner and watch them perform. Those who have the courage to accept challenges and give full play to their potential may turn out to be a valuable ally.

Meritocracy is the Way to Prolonged Prosperity

A wise leader would employ people judiciously and give key position to worthy and honest partners, thus making the company strong. Know your partners’ strength and not just allow mediocre people to hold key positions based on friendship or connection.

Take Less and Give More to The Company

Any one will desire that the company give more and take less from them. Invest more time, trust or money into your company and take less from it in order to build up the relationship.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Unified command and unified action are prerequisites for company success. A team without unified command and esprit de corps is doomed to failure. The same ingredient is also vital for the success of any organization.

Be Expectant of Adversity

A person is bound to have one form of worry or another. Nothing in the world remains unchanged. Success and failure, good times and bad times, conflicts and harmony, are all part and parcel in a company journey towards success. Knowing this, if you still does not anticipate disasters and prepares for them, a good time will soon be gone.

……………………………………………
Additional insights from Aidan Huang, a Web enthusiast fascinated by the vivid design and technology world. He is also a front-end Web developer that strongly believes in sharing exciting and noteworthy information.

Cold feet

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:41:00 +0000

This year has been the coldest for my feet so they say...i must say its been transition after decision after definition.I don't know if they sat down all of them and said lets get married, but most of my friends really have been on a roll this year in that sector.

so when i sit back and think about it i feel like i am not ready to do it and my immediate thought is that am having cold feet. but wait a minute...i don't feel that since the sun rose today and guys decided to wear green pants then its wrong for me to be in my yellow shorts.

I have come to learn that at times its good to define yourself and not let everyone else define you, or a circumstance dictate your flow. I believe that a situation is true only if you say it is.

I have come to realize that when i want to do something i will do it out of my own voalition and not peer pressure. If they label my decision cold feet then be ready for damn freezing year.

Nothing Really

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:58:00 +0000

Doodling comes to mind right about now...

For some reason when one takes the carpet off your feet and you run out of steam nothing seems to makes sense anymore- at least not until you figure out where to get another carpet or where to find wood to get more water to generate steam.

Well for us Kenyans that's proving to be a daunting task considering one stima hamna ya kuchemsha maji wala miti Mau ya kukata again there's like drying rivers so no water no rain its been a drought stricken land for a while now.

In fact the drought is so severe its affecting elected leaders. I choose to call them elected coz then that helps me understand why they behave the way they do.

Leaders are born and made better but elected ones have a way of giving birth to themselves and deluding themselves that they made themselves leaders and hence have all the right to be greedy and funny. Most of the time follow their own selves.

As in for real i have nothing in particular to write but when i sit back and see all the opportunities that are coming around Kenya its amazing how the whole world is focused on Kenya apart from the Kenyan leadership who have to argue everything from the point of view of who is a bigger tribal king than the other.

We have a chance of propelling Kenya to the heights of technological development. Rather than fight to create a conducive atmosphere to support that we still fighting over who has the right to own which piece of lands illegally, who to be credited for bringing peace in Kenya and which tribe are you? during census.

yaani nimechoka.

Them Funnies

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Its funny how at times you get wierd answers for questions asked, or services requested. Take for example you walk to an ATM and it cant give receipts so it displays this message: SORRY THE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO ISSUE RECEIPTS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE?

I found myself speechless or actionless at this point coz am wondering what else would they rather I do, stand there stare at the screen of course i would like to proceed.

Ok may be unlike me you understood this to mean do you want to proceed to other services.

Ok that still makes no sense coz am yet to meet someone who likes receipts that much to just go dispence a receipt off the ATM...

Ok how about this from Zain Uganda: SORRY WE CANNOT COMPLETE YOUR CALL DUE TO LACK OF MONEY... ok on whose part...what a way to tell a guy he has no credit.

And I have often heard the term "You sound like broken record" and never really understood the magnitude of the annyance until i sat next to this guy whom i believe is the actual record who lamented continously about Fabianski as a goal keeper and why Arshavin scored all Arsenal goals ... ok normally this would not really bother me...but the fact that he was incesantly on my ear on and on ...was very annoying...leave alone the fact that i hadn't a clue of what he was saying since he did so in Luganda...cept the occasional broken english

Oh I accidentally steppled by fingers today...now that was not funny

An Interesting article by Lilian Kithia

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:34:00 +0000

So what if I can’t cook!

By LILLIAN KITHIA Posted Friday, April 17 2009 at 18:23

Allow me to start by requesting all the sisters out there who can not cook to please raise up their hands; I will feel much more at ease pouring my heart out in this column when I know that I do not belong in this category alone. Just for the record, my concern here is far from feminist.

And this is not a piece about gender equality or any such thing. As a matter of fact, none of the issues discussed in the 1995 Women’s Conference in Beijing will arise in this column. You can call me ignorant if you want but I honestly do not have a clue as to the issues that were discussed in that conference. And If I ever go to China it will be because I want to learn how to use chopsticks. Yes, I am that archaic.

So when I write about cooking, I write, not as a liberal women’s rights activist - or anything close to that - but as a woman who simply cannot cook, appealing to those women whose gastronomic skills allow them to ‘rub shoulders’ with the likes of Martha Stewart and the ‘top chef’ crew to give ‘us’ (the women who cannot cook) a break.

It’s not my fault that I cannot cook! Yes, yes, I know this sounds lame and cliché-d, but how can it possibly be my fault that anytime I put unga (flour) and water in the same pot, I come up with something poisonous? Don’t say ‘making ugali can be a bit tricky’ because then you would have to explain why anytime I make my sukuma wiki (kales), somebody has to spend the night at the dispensary. Well, most time it’s me ending up in the ward because none of my friends would dare let me cook for them.

And no! Don’t blame it on hygiene because cleaning is one of the things that I do right. In fact, if you ask a psychologist, they will tell you that my cleaning ranks somewhere near obsessive-compulsive because I clean everything. Especially before I cook it.

It’s not that I don’t try. I do! For whatever it’s worth, I’ll have you know that I took home science as one of my subjects in high school. But something dangerous still happens between the time I light a cooker and the time I switch it off. And every time I try to cook, I get a clear reminder that this just isn’t my department. AT some point I just had to accept that I cannot cook and give it up.

That is why I feel violated when any woman - or man - goes on and on about what they think of women who cannot cook. Do not get me wrong; I personally have nothing against women who can cook. As a matter of fact, I was raised by one. Yes! I’ll go on and brag about it. My mother’s cooking can get you a gate pass into the heart of any man.

But just because some of these culinary skills did not rub off on me – despite all of her efforts to ensure they did – does not make me any less a woman. And when the time comes, it won’t make me any less a wife or mother.

Let’s be realistic here. There are lots of other ‘female’ things that I can do amazingly well and with very little effort for that matter. For example, I can rock any baby to sleep and clean particularly well. I’m not very bad with a sewing machine either.

So why should I – or anybody else - keep obsessing about what I cannot do while there are things I can do pretty well. I want to be allowed to blow my trumpet where I excel and never to be made to feel guilty where I fall short!

So at the risk of ruffling the feathers of everyone reading this article, I will ask the million dollar question. “Is there a brother out there who doesn’t mind cooking for two?”

Theory on MIGINGO

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:48:00 +0000

Doesnt it strike you as strange that the 2 heads of states are rather quite as far as the island dispute is concerned...I have a theory to explain the silence.

During the post election violence Ugandan army was acused of meddling in the kenyan affairs and killing many supporters of ODM. This was strongly denied by both "leaders". But if you remember kibaki desprately needed an ally then, and he found one in Museveni.

History would teach us all that Kibaki has a way of renaging on his promises and dishonouring MOUs could this be a reminder to him of a promise he made and is now not honouring or did he give it away like the now LAICO regency?

Just a theory.

Here I am

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:27:00 +0000

life has a funny way of re-inventing itself. I have for a while now been feeling like there's something a mis in my life and well the answer is here...

I have had so much passion in everything i do and for a while now been inspirationless just moving with the days as if nothing really matters...well here I am having been reminded that a small thing I did to a friend a while back has grown to be the one thing that has pushed her through some tough times so hey why not...i got my muse back a poet would say...

I had a conversation with someone about how she and her boyfriend were handling their relationship and a simple question like if you took one element out of that relationship say sex what remains...do you still see someone you want to be with?

well as for me wondering if i took the one attribute that makes me me...will I still be me?

Andas for that I am back here for all you who need me...a pillar when weary, a smile always when you cannot afford one and ears when all around you is noisy, a song when that is all you can survive on...A friens always

My Dream for Kenyan Leadership

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:08:00 +0000

The law of the lid dictates that a group can only rise to as far as the leaders goes…

“In the first law–the law of the lid, John Maxwell intended to tell us that there is a lid on a person’s leadership ability and this lid determines his level of effectiveness. The lower a person’s ability is to lead, the lower the lid on his leadership ability, and the lower his effectiveness. On the contrary, the higher the leadership ability, the greater the effectiveness. Your leadership ability always determines your effectiveness.”

This intrigued me and made me try to find why this would be so…
So I decided to look at it from this angle; if you are to lift a weight you can only do so for weight that is so much your body size. So how do you get to carry this weight? There are two possibilities, you can either get some muscle or cut the weight that you have to carry. Now cutting of the weight seems like an easy alternative but in leadership it’s not always the case.

Now gaining some muscles is a little bit complicated because it is more or less a natural phenomenon, it involves putting in extra time in exercising, it basically just involves work which most of the time we are lazy to put in.

So we back to shedding off weight…this is either involuntary or voluntary. Voluntary would be where you work on your package and kick some weight off it; involuntary would be where as you lift or as you go on your normal business some weight just falls off your package. Now for as leader that’s just challenge right there…selecting what weight goes and what remains.

But have you for a moment thought what if that weight had a destination and it had to get somewhere intact? What if the weight was a whole unit you get it all delivered or you mess up the whole project? What if the weight was a nation in dire need of change and direction?

I put it to you in order for the package to be delivered we simply need to develop muscles as leaders, we just have to get off the bad diet get rid of our favorite food of corruption, nepotism, tribalism, any other …ism that would mess up the goods on transit.

But then again what if the weight knew its destination and could therefore determine when and how to get there? What if we as a people decide not to be so dependent on the leaders and chart our own route leaving them as mere guides and not ultimate truths?
What if at the grass route level we decided what we want and drove the agenda to the leadership rather than let them decide what’s on the agenda? If we delivered the agenda what that means is that we give them the road map to our destination, to our future, to our plan for Kenya.

My Dream for Kenya
By Norman Ondego, for Kenya

Speaking in Faith is easy; it’s Inherent, Its Life changing

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:06:00 +0000

We are created in the image of God. I choose to believe that image calls for the exact replica, a sample, a direct portrait of another. Hence when we profess salvation we are in essence agreeing that in us we have the very traits of God.

The bible says “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (RSV), children born not by the will of man but the spirit of God himself.

And God speaks by faith he calls things that are not as if they are and if we have been given everything that pertains to life and Godliness then we have the power to speak by faith as well for that is a Godly trait. Faith is God’s characteristic and may I remind you that you are a son of God in layman terms we will say you have the genetic make up of God, through salvation.
God activates his Faith by speaking it. The bible says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. {Substance: Or, ground or, confidence}(KJV)

When we hope most of the times it is a mind thing, its unseen. And out of hope comes thoughts that generate into speech. Basically if you leaving by faith through hoping, by the time your thought generates into speech you are already activating your faith. That is why the bible says that as Christians we live like people who have a hope always ready to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ.

I submit to you today that my reason for living in hope is because before I speak its already manifest through faith in God for as it says in his word we have the mind of Christ and if not we have the chance to renew our mind … (Romans 12:2) be transformed by the renewal of your mind and live as people not of this world.

Let’s look at it from another angle. When you fall in love with someone it is a life changing experience. You end up taking on the form that the other party likes. You find it easy to do things that they love and appreciate and hence you are under the influence of the person. Now if we say we are born again we basically say we love God and that is essence means we are subjecting our lives to the influence of God. This involves his manner of speech. Faith is the signature of God’s speech. It therefore is expected and required of Christians (which means Christ like) to speak in Faith for in it they know and believe and trust that they have the very backing of God himself.

I would like to also submit to you that anything that brings improvement in life is easy to partake of. When you as a Christian walk in Faith you are activating the creative genius of God within you and that comes with it power and results. So why wouldn’t you walk in Faith when all around you there are reasons and reasons why its not difficult to do.

It’s a no wonder the word says faith without actions is dead for with faith comes results that are truly visible. Take a step of faith because as a child of God Faith is so inherent, it comes naturally its second nature and there’s nothing stronger in this world than nature. Embrace it.

You cant stifle my dream

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:54:00 +0000

Its very uncomfortable to try and stifle a dream. Uncomfortable in the sense that nonsense doesn't seem to be a thing you wanna associate with but the problem is that all around you that seems to be the order of the day.

I am a dreamer and am not about to be apologetic for it. I have come to a point where I hardly wanna share a platform with mediocrity. I keep saying the problem we are experiencing as young guys and the world over is one of mindset.

Even the bible says be transformed by the renewal of your mind...it recognizes this as a critical aspect in the transformation of life.

I think it would be wrong to peg your joy, progress, peace of mind and what have you to the whims of others around you.

You are cut out for greatness and as soon as you realize that it would be all the better for you. Arise son/daughter and take up your mantle,owe no one no apology, just move progressively and may God empower you to prosper.

Its my turn now

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:48:00 +0000

I have a deep sitted feeling that its crunch time for most young guys in Kenya and world over. We have seated for a long time waiting for the older generation to hand over stuff to us, jobs, contacts, wives (he he he...still happens) etc.

And I sit back and ask myself what makes it so hard for us young guys to just get up and say this is what i want to do and lay out a plan and go ahead and do it. I think we have often spoken so much about our ideas and have not been executioners.

I have fallen victim enough times when i sit and resit with friends and foe at times to talk over and over about this and that and let the Vision fade. What stops us from just going ahead and doing it?

I believe we have a God who is creative and not idle and when he drops something in my and your heart he has given everything in his power to you to bring it to pass. The bible says he has given us everything that pertains to Life and Godliness...

Everything in Life includes all aspects of life and dreaming is part of life. Awaken Kenya awaken now for its the midnight hour.

I was recently taught in church that there is a difference between an Opportunity and a Moment.
Opportunities come and go and they can be the same. Moments never repeat themselves, the opportunity will reshow the moment will belong to someone else if you let yours pass.

Lets not waste Kenya any more. Lets not forget to dream...its the crunch moment

A Tribe Called Love

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:26:00 +0000

I am amazed at the turn of events we have since witnessed in the up to now believed method to salvage Kenya. I am amazed even at myself of how much I came to believe in the negotiation team and forgot that the bible clearly tells us not to put our trust in men. I have seen how quickly we human beings forget; for when the killings were rife we all ran to God and even the leaders were spotted in several churches crying to God to help Kenya. I have come to witness with awe at the quick change of heart of many leaders on both sides of the divide how it has boiled down to we against them with no regard for Kenyans. We have so believed in these guys that we have forgotten that what they are doing is making political settlements.
Who is going to settle the now so homeless? The now so bitter? Them that hatred has infiltrated? The now tainted youth?

I believe the time is now for a Joshua generation to emerge amongst us. Guys who will take the mantle and lead the rest of us. Its a perfect opportunity for new choreographed leadership (for what we have seen hitherto is a selfish leadership that owes no regard to the sanctity of life).
The time is now for leaders who trust in the Lord with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding. Leaders who acknowledge Christ for he makes their paths straight; those who encourage their followers not to worry about tomorrow because God has got it under control.

I have for a long time kept my Faith on the wrong guys and forgot that this battle will be won on our knees.

In conclusion, I believe more that anything, that our future is in the hands of Christians. Christians who will stand up and fight for what is right, without fear of intimidation. Christians who will not turn a blind eye to evil, but will turn the other cheek to persecution. Brave Christian's ready to die fighting for what Christ taught. Christians who are strong enough to say NO when there is injustice – no matter who the injustice is directed to. Be it against someone from their tribe or outside because there is only one tribe: the tribe of love.

Our leaders may fail. Our constitution may fail. We may be frail ourselves at times, but LOVE NEVER FAILS. 1Chor:13.

Keep that picture in mind...

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:17:00 +0000

Being vulnerable is not the best place you wanna be in...
I have no better illustration than a picture I saw of a guy in the loo seated minding his business and a wasp flies in through the window to help him mind it...
What would you do?
Now that right there is being vulnerable and helpless.

I tell it to you that the devil operates very much like that wasp. Can you imagine how helpless such a person is and trust me the devil is not shy of such tricks. He hits where you are weakest. I have come to discover that when you feel like crying that is the time you should actually laugh. Because when you give in to that feeling of helplessness what you are telling the evil one is that he has room to come in and torment you just hovering around not letting you concentrate on what matters at the time.

Many a situation have hit many of us Kenyans and right now many are paranoid. I know for sure I cant go greeting my friends excited in any other language I feel like like I used to do for fear of being victimized. I have to be weary of my surrounding. Its this kind of fear that is driving away the joy out of many people's faces and trust me the devil is enjoying the moment of weakness that we are experiencing.

I have a habit of laughing through any tough situation that I come across. Not because I despise the ordeal but because in it I see an opportunity to be strong because the bible tells us our God is strong when we are weak He says he will never leave nor forsake me. I have come to find that he is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within me.

Hence I choose to ignore the intimidating 'wasp' and you know what it flies away same way it comes through the window.

REVOLUTION OF THE KENYAN MIND

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:43:00 +0000

I am inclined to believe that if the current issues in Kenya are not addressed, Kenya may never be the same again. I am deeply convinced that the current violence being meted at perceived supporters of the government have nothing to do with the elections any more. I am convinced that the violence is a crude attempt to do what the new government was meant to bring and that is equitable distribution of resources.

Why am saying that is because the three top contenders all talked of this subject but none was in touch with the common folk on this issues as ODM was. It is common knowledge that ODM was seen as having the support of the 'Down Trodden' majority of Kenyans and PNU was seen as the party of the 'elitist' few. Why the ODM politicians have been defeated to calm down their supporters is because the legitimate chance they had to have their issues addressed was very much dragged away from them. Hence they resorted to crudely effect the Marshal plans they were promised.

Let it be on record that I strongly condemn the actions of violence.

One would ask what is the point in all this. Truth be told trouble started along time ago when Kibaki's presidency was seen to have betrayed the Narc dream. The two protagonist why by all means all popular candidates but Raila was seen as the favorite. This is because of the backing he had of all other 5 regions in Kenya that presented the majority of Kenyans who felt the system has always discriminated them.

The crisis we are in I believe has already crossed from political issues to socio-economic and this is what has brought about ethnic tension. Take for example if Kibaki resigns and Raila takes over how is he going to handle the already tense ethnic divisions? If Kibaki continues how is he going to address a people who do not recognize his leadership? Isn't that gonna widen the socio-economic rift already being experienced as we speak?

I see that the re-tallying process will bring us back to this space...
Re-run will bring us back to this space...

The only solution is a middle ground that involves power sharing and in my view not for political reasons but for the sake of reconciliation. Both parties if they were to rule would need a way of reaching out to the other side's supporters which right now they cannot even pretend to be able to do. They need to all effect the equitable distribution of resource that they all promised Kenyans.

It is sad that innocent poor have to die to fight for what the government has the responsibility of providing them. An assurance that their troubles are being taken care of. The middle class settle in an uncomfortable comfort while the elite few – very few i might add- look on with no concern.

If you really want to know that this is about resource and not votes parse then ask why is that only the poor in the slums and other remote areas are the ones that are seen to really fight. The election violence is what was seen in Kisumu on day one - the reckless looting- which was very stupid if you ask me. But that is all over now and what is happening is a quest for justice. Which has been compounded by the belief that their only legal mean was hijacked by a flawed election process.

My point now is that the rift created has been inculcated in the youth which then poses a threat to this country because i had a dream for the Kenyan youth. A people who were to salvage Kenya from the whims of tribalism and usher us to a new realm of togetherness.

I have quit being partisan and decided to be Kenyan.

and i do believe just like the ministry of Jesus (that dealt with one person at a time and today stands firm as the teaching with the largest number of followers) we can start the 'gospel' of reconciliation and hope.

Kenyan youth need to bring change to this country. It was clear at the polls when the elderly politicians were sent home. Let us all try and infiltrate the minds of as many youth as we an. I believe the change that Kenya needs is still in the offing. Its not political liberation that we need but a mindset liberation. We need a renewal of attitude as young people. We have a rallying call that we can fall behind and that is the fact that we still have a massive future ahead of us.
I am hoping to get fellows of like mind and together we can start a revolution of the Kenyan mind, culture and belief.

Long live Kenya, Long live our motherland.

I encourage criticism of this article and further contributions. These are my thoughts hence subject to correction.

regards
Norman Ondego
norman.ondego@gmail.com
nondego2k2@yahoo.com
www.nondego.blogspot.com
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...of the goofs this campaign has shown

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:22:00 +0000

Doesn't it strike you as interesting the way goals get shifted on a daily basis on the political front. I really get tickled when the pollster has his results out and suddenly he is married to so and so who knows someone who knows something about a powerful guy in so and so's campaign team...
now that is just lame.

anyway I guess its the children's playtime the hour of reckoning is fast approaching when all talk will end and its me, the card and the box.

I envision a Kenya that is democratically mature come the next few weeks. I only hope this comes to pass because in the few weeks gone by we have witnessed tribalism in a way that few imagined possible ever again. We need to wake up as Kenyan citizens and be the patriots we claim to be. Lets make a deliberate move towards integrity.Githongo has been shouting himself hoarse over anglo leasing, the human rights over social injustices and off course no one is saying anything and if they do its police spokesman Kiraithe and you wanna duck at he slightest association with him being Kenyan.

That doesnt top the list of goofs this year. Look at the church of Kenya coz that is what it has turned to be its not the church of Christ. If we can wake up one day and be partisan over one issue and not look at the other of the same calibre. This is in reference to the MOU signed by KIBAKI in 2002 and RAILA in 2007. What makes the latter so wrong if not partisan issues, especially when you ask for an explanation and when it comes you claim its doctored so really what do you want?
As if that is not enough!!! Another group is born by the name Church for change...and publicly humiliates the former group on allegations of acting at the behest of others not ready for a transparent and democratic Kenya. Then come 29th December how do you face Kenyans to defend your stand...?

As if to add insult to injury Kimunya rises and says, anglo leasing was signed by others and thus we are free of corruption!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK fine lets forget anglo leasing but why are you sourcing support from the architect and signatories of goldenberg? Where is zero tolerance to corruption?

Then Raphael Wanjala says it wasnt me...I don't know where the weapons came from. And he is sort after by the police and they apparently can't find him where he is seated at the podium next to the president on the dias at a public function...he e he he eeee hee !!!!

The story is told

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:46:00 +0000

I have always wanted to share my life. you know, like do a memoir of my most memorable times in life. I had thought of doing a biography and time seems to be scarce even for the best of us and now I think I finally got the trick.
Just blog it out. When I get bored i will simply do my on-line book.
I will type away all that my heart has to offer. I will simply trace my life from childhood in brief headers to just ensure I pick out the times that made me who I am.
I do guarantee you a great read. I also guarantee lots of lessons amidst all these.

THE BEGINNINGS:

Born in a polygamous family I have learnt to live with rivalry and competition. I consider my siblings; 3 of them; the dearest assets I have in this world. They have stood with me in the wierdest of time and have always shown love inspite of what we may have been up against.

Lesson#1: Keep your family first above all else

Now despite all this we have never shown hatred for any one. we were brought up by our mother in as culture of love and sharing and to date some think its my biggest weakness, the selflessness i have towards others. I do believe it my strength as through that i have always been able to gain and meet and make long term friends.

Lesson#2: Do good always you never know what doors it will open

Notice I said we were brought up by my mother. Well I lost my father when I was was 12 years and I have known all but my mothers love. The demise of my father in itself had a lesson for me. When he was bed ridden I promised to go see him and always kept pushing it aside. On the day I decided to go visit it was on a closing day and I was to get a prize for being first in class and I was to go see him after the award ceremony. I was so excited but it was short lived coz while in the showers I heard my mother crying and I knew immediately it was over. He had succumbed to diabetes.

Lesson#3: Don't put till later what you have to deal with today for what lieth ahead you never know and most of the time it will interfere wuth what you plan to do.

Lesson#4: Always make time for those you love.

And well yes as you would probably have guessed we had the biggest pledges of love and undying loyalty from relatives and friend but i always ask myself then why is it that mom struggled on her own to raise us?
I am not complaining infact what i came to learn from that ordeal is this:

Lesson#5: If it has to come out the best way then you have to do it on your own. No one will raise your dream for you.

And so it was we were back in school thinking through how to get through school but by virtue of hard work, my headteacher decided to pay for my fees and she even went on to pledge that even after I am through with school she would take care of my brother's fee too.
This got me thinking:

Lesson#6: Your life isn't your own. What you do with it affects others around you.

And off course I didn't let any of them down. I worked hard throughout my school days and emerged top of my class every other term and eventually got myself to the best school in the country; STAREHE BOYS' CENTRE. And that I owe not to my own doing but the favour of God, the belief in me of my mother (I know it sounds no where close to English but its my blog so I insist) and the little effort of reading. I say little because ideally reading plays a very small part in our exams.

Lesson#7: Its the people around us who determine how well we are going to thrive either by encouraging or discouraging effort. The Ultimate result is that they have affected your height of success.

I know you have realised a trend in all these; there is a lot of emphasis that I am putting on unity and support especially of those closest to us - our Inner-circle

The story continues...

THE CAMERAs GOT IT ALL WRONG!!!???

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:08:00 +0000

Give me a break!! You know the politicians have really got it so wrong (their mentality of Kenyans that is). Whatever made these guys think we are as stupid as we sometimes look (that is said in jest by the way)

Listening to Nyachae on TV recently was disheartening. Whats worse is that where i was seated I didn't see people exhibit as much emotion as i was meaning we have become accustomed to such shameless outburst that we don't even see them as being an insult to our intelligence. How can motion picture be so wrong as to even give Nyachae room to declare that "it wasn't me". He been listening to too much SHAGGY.

His own words spell doom leave alone there cameras capturing him giving a guard of honor of the youth paraded before him.

My beloved Kenyans we need to wake up and not let these guys take us for a ride.

You know whats worse!!?? He had guys beside him actually drumming support for him.
No wonder President Kibaki is miserable. Being surrounded by such goofs I believe he has all the rights to be miserable.

WHAT DOES KENYA NEED?

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:15:00 +0000

With great remorse I have come to observe that the Kenyan youth have been inclined to think that they have no part to play in the development of our country today.
It pains me dearly whenever i read, watch and listen to news on the media and its all politics and more politics. Whats even more hurting is that the politics being played is archiek in nature and does nothing more than to dampen the spirits of the young who are more than able to make a DIFFERENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

Listening to Nyachae give a speech on the PANU launch day it was sickening to hear that in his self prophesied wisdom he had the audacity to say that Kenyans don't need a revolution on National TV. How much damner does this game get?

I place it to you dear youthful Kenyans that we need a revolution, not a political one but a revolution of our MINDSET. Its my place (and yours too) to ensure that what has to be done in Kenya is done and not only done but done right. Its my responsibility and yours to make Kenya better. The politicians have failed lets not be reclined in our self delusion that we cannot make a change in this country because we can. Lets avoid cheapening our very worthy selves by just simply matching in the footsteps of our older generation who are hell bent on protecting their age old thinking.

"NO ONE EVER DISCOVERED THE SEAS BY STAYING PUT AT THE SHORES."
When you will be voting think along this line:

WHO WILL GIVE THIS COUNTRY A MENTAL LIBERATION THAT WILL SET ON COURSE A REVOLUTIONALIZED THINKING?

That person will not make Kenya better but will set on course an unstoppable change that will lead to ME and YOU realizing the full potential of our youth and resources at our disposal in the form of family and friends

I love the attitude

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:49:00 +0000

I have been observing with keenness the love that many are nowadays showing for the country Kenya and I love the attitude of the Kenyan people is as far as patriotism is concerned. Its was a good move I should say when the various CEO s met and decided to form the REPUBLICAN CLUB and the purpose of this as per Naikinu is to cultivate the Kenyan dream, make Kenya a better place. Am yet to get more information on this.

I love the attitude , the initiative and the drive. We cannot leave the destiny of our beloved Kenya in the hands of the current breed of politicians.

We better rise up and meet the challenge head on. Its good enough that someone should think it for us, its great if we feel challenged enought to want to continue to instill this change.

MY RESUME

Norman.Ondego@gmail.com (Norman) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:33:00 +0000

Profile

I am diligent, focused, self-motivated and keen on result delivery and target performance. I have good interpersonal and communication skills and can adapt very fast to new environments and challenges. System Change Over expert in a variety of fields with emphasis on group and team management, to minimize conflict and increase system uptake and acceptance. Great interest in Process redesign, team management and process leadership.

Achievements

Setting up and managing an inventory management system at Victoria motors Limited Uganda with the capability of managing stock issues, replenishment, order monitoring and give relevant reports for management decision making and have hands-on information on the stock levels. This has helped reduce unexplained loses and save the company millions in stock value, improved service delivery and by extension revenue collection and have hands on info on the stock levels.

Was able to successfully study, introduce and manage a client’s shift from a Windows operating System platform to the Open Source Linux system. This helped the client save a lot in terms of windows licensing and at the same time work in a safe environment free of virus under the secure Linux platform.

Set up, tested and trained users on RoadBASE Workshop management software at Homegrown Naivasha, a flower firm with a huge fleet of vehicles and equipment. This aided them have control over fleet usage, fuel consumption and maintenance cost and the ability to monitor labor and other related expenses

Took part in system change over at Wedco Enterprise LTD; a microfinance; from a command Line interface software to a graphical user interface software. This made loan application, processing, disbursement and collection easier and faster with the overall improvement in service delivery to the clients.

Other Achievements

§ League Coordinator SIFE-Kenya 5th annual Competitions

§ Development and Implementation of Concept Papers for Behavior Change Communication Groups (BCCGs) in Maseno University aimed at Character Formation, Male empowerment, BCCG management in a bid to help curb HIV/AIDS and increase VCT uptake.

§ Establishing and Developing a constitution for SIFE- Maseno

§ Gone through a Life Skills Training courtesy of I Choose Life-Africa Maseno University Program

§ An 8week Peer education Training courtesy of I Choose Life-Africa Maseno University Program

§ Leadership Training courtesy of I Choose Life

§ Trainer and Facilitator in prefects Leadership training at Starehe Boys centre

Skills and Competence

§ Desktop Management – Installation, configuration and maintenance of both Linux and Windows systems Including peripheral connection, mail client setup and configuration

§ Office tools installation and use including and not limited to MS Office and Open Office

§ Training users on computer usage

§ Equipment sourcing and purchase

§ Machine maintenance including virus management, clean-up, document management, etc.

§ General User Support

§ Database management using MySQL

§ Server management including print and mail server, account management in both Linux and Windows Systems

§ Visual Basic Programming, Basic Web Programming using Ruby on Rails

Professional experience

Feb 2^nd 2009 to date Victoria Motors Ltd 10 Old Port bell Road, Kampala-Uganda

Parts Supervisor (Inventory management) –Establish, implement, maintain, and supervise an inventory management system

Managing stock database, reviewing stock issues for integrity, Identifying / maintaining re-order levels, Indentifying parts that need re-ordering, report generation, establishing fast, slow and obsolete stock, managing stock replenishment system, entering stock movement data and balances for the accounting purposes, supervising periodical stock taking, monitoring purchase orders.

June 2^nd 2008 to Jan 31^st 2009 Quest Holdings Ltd International Hse, Mama Ngina Street

ICT Support Engineer

Server administration, Network support, Active directory management, General user support/Helpdesk management

Oct 2^nd 2007 to 28^th May 2008 Comsat Technologies Ltd Shelter Afrique, UpperHill

User and System Support Specialist

Linux and Windows platform setup and management, Server and Active Directory management, Office solution management (Ms Office, Open Office), Internet and email Client management, Network connections and resource Troubleshooting, Training users, Researching on best methods to offer solution to clients.

May 22^nd2007 to 28^th Sep 2007 Housing Finance Company Rehani Hse, Nairobi

User and System Support (ICT Department)

User support, Banking systems support, LAN and Internet configurations and troubleshooting, Troubleshooting and problem solving, User configurations

May 2^nd 2005 to 28^th Sep 2005 Wedco Enterprise Limited(Currently Opportunity Kenya)

MIS Officer Assistant

User support, Data verification, Report Generation

Jan 7^th 2003 to 31^st Jul 2003 Orchid Detections Ltd Sound Plaza, Westlands

Software Support and Development

Installation of programs and training users, Generation of reports for the management for analysis and control, Troubleshooting and user support

April 7^th 2002 to 31^st Dec 2002 The Armidale School Armidale, Australia

Duty Master

Assisting in the administration office in record keeping, Help desk and other relevant proceedings, Supervisor in Computer Lab, Library and Study Centre, Assisting junior class teachers to handle reading classes and other class activities, Assistant sports coach and duty master

Volunteer Experience

Sep 2005– Dec 2005 I Choose Life –Africa ICL- Africa, Maseno Program

ICL-Africa is an organization that aims at instilling behavior change in the university youth as a way of curbing HIV/AIDS in Kenya and Africa in general. Offers peer education programs in the universities

Responsibility: Facilitator

Ensuring group participation, Planning and organizing for events, Mentorship of group members, Follow up of group members

August 1998 Nightingale Medical Centre Kisumu

In Starehe we have a Voluntary service Scheme that renders services to people who seem to need them free of charge. During my stay I worked in Nightingale Hospital Kisumu.

Responsibility: Volunteer

Stock taking in drug store and record keeping, Assisting and directing visiting patients, Helping in cleaning of wards

Education

Sep 1^st 2003- May 3^rd 2007 Maseno University Maseno, Kisumu

B.Sc. Computer Science and Engineering (Software option)

§ Upper Second Class Honors

Jan 2001- Dec 2001 Starehe Technical Training Institute Starehe, Nairobi

Diploma part I Management Information System (KIM)

Credit

Feb 1997 - Nov 2000 Starehe Boys Centre and School Starehe, Nairobi

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

§ Mean Grade A-

Referees

Ms. Sophie Riachi

System Administration

Opportunity Kenya Ltd

P.O Box 19497-00202 Nairobi,

Tel: 020-27 20 159 / 169

sriachi@opportunitykenya.com

Mr. Charles Opil

Program Manager

I Choose Life Africa-maseno

Tel: 0722600651

charlesopil@yahoo.com

Ronald Osumba

Corporate Account Manager

Safaricom Ltd

P.O Box 46350-00100

Nairobi

Tel: 020 4274261/

0722309077

rosumba@gmail.com

Grace Kirimi

Asst. Manager

Process Improvement
HOUSING FINANCE
Rehani House
Koinange Street/Kenyatta Avenue
P O Box 30088, 00100-Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-2-317474 Ext:401 grace.kirimi@housing.co.ke