FAV MAG ISSUE 17

LIFE

CHANGING

EXPERIENCE

| NOV 2021 - JAN 2022

THE

17th EDITION | KSH 350

Life Experiences

PAPASI MUFENJE

LAUGHING TROUBLES AWAY AND CREATING A CAREER

CAROLINE MURIITHI:

CREATING COSY HOMES VIA PACIFIC Spiritual Nourishment:

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

Beauty

FOR HEALTHIER LOOKING HAIR WITH NATURAL PRODUCTS Recipe:

FISH FINGERS

WAMBU'S KITCHEN Health:

KEEPING TOXINS AWAY

DR. ROSE JOHN Entrepreneurship:

THE STRAWBERRY MAGIC THE OLJORO FARM EXPERIENCE WITH DYNAMIC CAROLYNE NJARARA

Youth With A Future:

THIS STORM TOO SHALL PASS

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CONTENTS

COVER MODEL

The Favourite Magazine | Issue 17

6 7

FEEDBACK EDITORIAL THIS STORM TOO SHALL PASS

8-9

CAROLINE MURIITHI:

CREATING COSY HOMES VIA PACIFIC

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

36-37 22-24

WHAT NEXT?

12-16 THE STRAWBERRY MAGIC

40-41

20-25

28-32

COMEDIAN SIMON KIMANI AKA PAPASI MUFENJE

4 | The Favourite

FISH FINGERS RECIPE

On the Cover KEEPING TOXINS AWAY

42-43

Meet Caroline Waithira Muriithi, a dynamic team player of the husband -wife duo who run a business venture known as pacific. A village bred girl, she carries with her the true African traditional dynamics of virtues that call for hard work, resilience, respect and responsibility.

Wardrobe: own | Hair: Justine Salon & Beauty | Makeup: Beth Photography: Sammy | Shoot on location: Caroline's Home

The Favourite | 5

Feedback

Editorial

Editorial,

Photographers:

Samuel, Timo Studios

Make up Artists Kui, Beth

Social Media Manager Charles Njama

Creative design & layout

AMD Studios

Executive editor

Disclaimer The Favourite Magazine is a publication of Favourite Suzie Enterprises. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While every care is taken in preparation of The Favourite Magazine, the publisher cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information held herein or any consequences arising from it. All photographs taken are assumed to be for publishing in the magazine and the publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.

In tough times, a good read like this keeps the mind proactive.

Thank you for taking time to engage us.

Suzie Susannjau3@gmail.com

Scolastica Mwangazi Machakos

Publishers

This is always a good read dear Suzzie, we appreciate you so much.

Masecko Lwanda Nairobi

Wangui Njau

Suzie Favourite Enterprises To advertise with us, call 0735013552 Share your comments with us, write to "THE FAVOURITE MAGAZINE" Email:thefavouritemag@gmail.com.

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Asante sana Suzzane, Favourite ndio tunasoma!

Mercy Mwende Nairobi

6 | The Favourite

Distribution Manager

Hello dear Readers, it is yet another golden opportunity to share and have a moment of gratitude as we make the best of life. As we continue to deal with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, we appreciate God’s favour in our lives. Things have been tough, quite tough, but we are thankful for the blessings that we enjoy day by day, moment by moment. The Psalmist knew this truth and so declared in Psalm 92:1 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.” It is Andre Gide who stated, “He who wants a rose must respect her thorn.”

Thus one lesson I have learnt is to enjoy the beauty of this rose called life while appreciating the difficulties that come in the package.

I welcome you to enjoy the articles presented in this edition as we wrap the year 2021.

Meet these individuals who are determined to make life worthwhile despite the setbacks.

No matter what happens, let us remain hopeful, optimistic.

Let us all make a choice to make today meaningful and tomorrow worthwhile. It is the ultimate choice we must keep making every second of the day in the new normal .After all, “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”(Aristotle) Happy reading and blessed times.

Suzie Editor in chief

Suzie_favourite @Suzie favourite

The Favourite | 7

Youth and Life

Youth and Life

THIS STORM TOO S

SHALL PASS

BY Menta T

torms come with various levels of intensity and they can be quite disruptive even lethal. They range from ordinary rain showers to snowstorms, thunderstorms, winds like gales, tornadoes, tropical cyclones and sandstorms. In our lives too, issues crop up rippling through our normalcy and leaving us stricken and confused. Dear youth, what storm are you facing currently?

That the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major hurricane the world over cannot be disputed. In addition, there are ongoing personal and social issues each of us must contend with everyday.

R.Kelly gave us meaningful lyrics about the storms we face in life in his ever-green song, “The storm is Over Now’. Whenever it is belted out, there is a ring of optimism, a shout of victory, a joy of overcoming. "I was in a tunnel/And I couldn’t see the light/ And whenever I’d look up/ I couldn’t see the sky/ sometimes when I’m standing/ it seems like I done walked miles/And my heart could be crying/ Dead in the middle of a smile...The storm is over/ The storm is over now/And I can see the sunshine/ somewhere beyond the clouds/I feel Heaven, yeah/Heaven is over me…”

Dear Youth, times are so tough. No one really knows how each day will end. Finances are tight and needs are overwhelming. Sickness and death seem to be stalking us like dust on a busy road. The political drums have started beating amidst an unhealthy, dance of maligning one another and empty promises cynicism, corruption, materialism,

8 | The Favourite

individualism and immorality have replaced the joy of worthwhile living.

Many young people are walking zombies from drugs and intoxication.

A vast number has no clue that their life choices are wholly theirs. And so this tunnel of youth appears dark and forbidding. But I wish to share an episode of a storm. It raged, it was frightening, but it came to an end.

LUKE 8 22. One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.

23. As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swapped and they were in great danger.

24. The disciples went and woke him saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm.

25. “Where is your faith?” He asked His disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another “who is this?

He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him” So dear Youth, where is your faith?

You must learn to trust the process of becoming. This life has its good and bad moments. Each of us must learn to embrace these diverse moments. We must nurture courage and strength of character to walk through the storms of life. In our good moments, we must build enough embankments that will arrest the ferocity of these winds. Your family and friends must be loved and respected for they become your support system when storms strike.

The resources you have however minimal they may be must be taken

good care of for they become your supplies in the dark moments.

The education you are receiving provides you with a knowledge base which provides solutions for all the challenging moments. That job you have must be done efficiently and respected as it is your egg nest in difficult times. Ultimately, there is God. He is the author and finisher of our faith. In our youthful valour, we feel that we are on top of the game and thus neglect to nurture our spiritual defenses. The devil is real and his intensions are never good.

He enjoys it when we are down and defeated. The disciples knew better.

In their moments of vulnerability, they ran to their Master and He calmed the storm. The storm was over. Run to Him too.

As we come towards the end of a stormy pandemic period, I urge you to have the optimism that storms come in a season and they eventually blow over. That problem you are facing right now will end, it is not forever. When we are positive, the negative experiences we undergo when we are caught in a storm makes us stronger. We emerge victors and life becomes a more enriching experience. Make the right choices everyday. The sun will always rise and set everyday .Today may be stormy but tomorrow will be calmer.

Be on the look-out for on-coming storms and steer clear, seek shelter in safe places, have the presence of mind to make the right options and finally when it is over rise up brush off the debris and step out confidently to a better day.

Adieu

The Favourite | 9

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Inspiring lives

Creating

Cosy Homes

Via Pacific A DYNAMIC TEAM PLAYER OF THE HUSBAND -WIFE DUO WHO RUN A BUSINESS VENTURE KNOWN AS PACIFIC

By Suzie

12 | The Favourite

Inspiring lives As I set out for this interview, I reflected on what the Covid-19 restrictions have meant for everyone in the world. It all boiled to one word – home. Just like that, we had all been forced to stay home and make the best of the long endless hours in a confined physical space. As rent piled up for many individuals, there was a yearning to own a place called home.

And even in that rental, there was a craving for a space providing rest and ease. I finally reached Kamulu and was warmly welcomed by my host. She was loving, jovial and oh, so beautiful. This family home was extremely beautiful and everything so cosy. If this was what they offered for their clients at Pacific, then I was won over. Like everyone else seeking a place to call home, I took time to dream and was ready to hitch my wagon to a star.

passionate heart and covering long distances and developing a convincing sale talk. She moved around selling plates in shops, hotels and wherever else a sales option presented itself. At one hotel in the city of Nairobi, she would engage with a young manager. They formed a healthy client- customer relationship which in time went deeper into a close friendship and finally a courtship leading to marriage.

She is now the proud and adored wife of Farrowson Muriithi Gichovi Meet Caroline Waithira Muriithi, a and they have three dynamic team player of the husband loving children.

-wife duo who run a business venture The transition to known as Pacific. A village bred girl, family saw her quit she carries with her the true African her job and with a baby traditional dynamics of virtues that in the picture demands call for hard work, resilience, respect on finances were piling and responsibility. Her parents were up. The most important both teachers and thus she was thing was that there was privileged to get education both love, dreams and a limitless at school and at home. This was in future. The man of the Ithanga, Murang’a County where house put his cards on the her father Moses Muiruri, now a table and he too quit his hotel Bishop with PEFA Church, and Emma managerial job. He became a Wangui her mother, brought her up land broker in Ruai and worked well. She attended Kakuzi Primary pretty hard at his new task.

School, proceeded to Munyu Girls Instead of being paid a Secondary, still in Murang’a, before commission his employer gave joining Hemland College Thika. She him a plot for which he topped attained qualifications in marketing up. This saw the young family that saw her land a position as a sales move from a rental to their own lady in a company in Industrial Area, place. It was tough though , but Nairobi that produced plates. Her job they kept going. At the front, they was simply to sell the plates and for put up some shops. Part of these her efforts, she was paid Kshs 3,000 rooms served as their home and per month. Like any other person one room became a hardware. Their starting out in life, she had to move business-oriented minds were on from home and learn the ropes of an the same page. At the back, they left independent life. She got a room in space for their dream family home Dandora and would pay Kshs 1,500 which they built gradually. The for rent. There was also food, fare wife, now a mother would run the and general upkeep and so, often hardware shop. The hubby went on her salary would never last beyond with his plots brokering and also the second week. That meant calling operated a casual items shop at her parents who would chip in and Tassia Estate. As they tried to make support her. She is forever grateful ends meet, a new business venture for their limitless love. came their way.

Sales is tough and calls for a The Favourite | 13

Inspiring lives

Inspiring lives

As Caroline operated her shop, investors who had bought plots in Ruai and were developing them would pop in and buy cement which would be taken to the construction sites. But as soon as the owners left the workers, hell would break loose.

The proverbial “When the cat's away, the mice will play”, jungle rule would be put in motion. Workers would be all over striking deals with anyone interested and a bag of cement worth Kshs 600 would go for as low as Ksh400. Just like that, integrity would be thrown out of the window and the individual putting up a building would end up with shoddy work and a huge unending financial cost. To cover their transgressions, the cheating workers would collect empty cement bags from other sites and present them as proof in the evening. This troubled the couple and they came up with Pacific Reality Investment, a construction firm in 2012.

They registered it and their plan was to win clients, convince them to trust them as contractors and they would manage the nitty-gritty details of a construction job on their behalf- professionally and within an affordable budget. The hubby opened an office with stars in his eyes but Lo and behold, no client engaged him for a whole six months! The wife continued with her duties at the hardware shop. Rent in the new office needed to be paid but there was not a coin in sight from this new business. Whenever the landlord came calling, he became as elusive as the hare disappearing through the back door and many times locking the office and waiting elsewhere for any prospective customer to call through the number he had posted on the office door. Looking back, they can advise anyone out there that starting a business calls for being single-minded, resilient and having enough shock absorbers to deal with empty seasons.

Finally after six months, their dawn did come. A customer from Australia needed to build his mother a house. It was a good deal and they poured their hearts into the project.

The results were awesome and this satisfied customer sold their 14 | The Favourite

concepts to his friends in Australia.

Referrals came up on regular basis and doors opened. Today, through word of mouth, they manage 100 projects per year. At the moment, they have ongoing projects all over Kenya in Kisii, Kakamega, Kisumu, Machakos, Nyeri, Murang’a and Naivasha. Before the Covid disruption, they had projects in Southern Sudan but currently have halted their services there until the pandemic is in control. For all this

time, their main task was acting as contractors thus being hired to build homes for others.

Ever looking out for opportunities, they have started a new venture, Pacific Projects Limited. This new company an off-shoot of the other, is involved in purchasing plots and building houses for sale. They have already done phase I and 2. All the houses in phase one have been sold.

They are now in phase 3. They have

houses on sale along Kangundo road next to the tarmac.

They have 3-4 bedrooms with detached Servant Quarters ensuite.

The homes are well designed including the landscaping with attractive features like a solar system, cabro paving, and perimeter wall. The cost is friendly going as low as 8.5 million for a grand house on a 50 by 100 plot at Joska, only 200 metres from the main road.

The Favourite | 15

QUICK ONES FOR CAROL BEST MOMENTS Family time at home with hubby and children, cooking for them ,sitting and eating together and watching our children romp around.

UNFORGETTABLE THING My wedding of course! A real big grand dream affair was airlifted by chopper and there were guests in their hundreds. An experience out of this world that I will always cherish!

PACIFIC REALITY INVESTMENT Home sweet home! | Home is where your heart is | Home is your paradise | Own an affordable cosy home with

Pacific Homes

DREAM VACATION Hawaii – a girl has a craving for exquisite stuff BEST MEAL Chapati and chicken HOBBIES Travelling and driving SUPPORT SYSTEM My adorable hubby Farrowson Muriithi Gichovi the CEO of Pacific. Has loves me and our children and has been there for us all this time, dreaming big for our family and working tirelessly to give us the best.

GREATEST MOTIVATION A job well done. Seeing the satisfaction on a client's face when they receive their completed house. Also, managing to provide affordable housing to different clientele.

WHY A CONTRACTOR Building a home can be hectic involving many people and ground dynamics. With a contractor, it frees the clients’ time and provides full-time on ground supervision.

This cuts out the stress and heavy financial cost of workers on site cheating on time and materials.

PLUS ABOUT VENTURE This real estate venture brings out creativity and great sales experience as we merge a clients desire with our ideas and experience.

We have done all manner of houses for all types of client needs – bungalows, maisonettes and even estates. It is a fulfilling learning experience. We can put something quite good with even as low as 2 million.

CHALLENGES This is a technical venture which may result in flaws in construction and also the dynamics of dealing with individuals with different demands.There are also unavoidable hitches like the pandemic downturns on the economy.

PARTING SHOT Never ever give up in life. No matter what comes your way, there is always tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be greater than today.

16 | The Favourite

THE WIN-WIN FEATURES INCLUDE: • 3-4 bedrooms ensuites with executive finishes • Flat roof maisonettes • Detached SQ Ensuite • Perimeter wall • Cabro paved • Solar system • Landscaping- beautiful and inviting • Kitchen garden – Healthy living, healthy pocket • Tarmac in neighbourhood – Easy access • Location- Joska 200m from main road • Individual plots, spacious 50 by 100 • Affordable – Ksh 9.5 million ksh

Don’t hesitate, make the wise decision

Call us now, visit us and be a proud owner of these beautiful homes.

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The Favourite | 17

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Entrepreneurship

The Strawberry Magic:

THE OLJORO FARM EXPERIENCE WITH DYNAMIC CAROLYNE NJARARA

By Suzie

20 | The Favourite

Entrepreneurship The morning cold in the chilly Oljororok area of Nyandarua County, known as Njororoko by locals, numbed our bodies. My photographer and I braved the chill determined to pursue the juicy story of this wonder berry. This tiny succulent sumptuous edible item is something that melts in your mouth leaving you yearning for more. It was originally grown in northern Europe and the garden strawberry was first bred in France in the 1750s. No wonder the reknown American musician John Denver had to weave it into his lyrics in his song.

Today “Today, while the blossoms still cling to the vine, I’ll taste your strawberries…” .We finally reached a wonder farm where Carolyne Njarara’s managerial skills are turning strawberry and vegetable farming into a highflying business as Kenyans embrace agri-business as a way of life. Sam Ewing stated that, “Hard work spotlights the character of people. Some turn up their sleeves.

Some turn up their noses. Some do not turn up at all.” The two of us were happy that we had turned up for this

interview and quite amazed by the industrious bee-hive activity that welcomed us at Oljoro Farm that is iconic in the neighbourhood for the well-organized large- scale farming of fruits and vegetables through seamless teamwork.

On the expansive three acres, strawberry farming was the main activity. However the gospel today is diversification, that is the core wisdom of business in changing times. Therefore, the following vegetables are also blossoming on the farm: cauliflower, Broccoli, different types of cabbage including the Chinese cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, Managu (African Nightshade) , Kales (sukuma wiki for Kenyans) and dhania (corrander).

We were ready for the tour of our lives to see the Kenyan dream in action. Our visit on this farm and the dynamic individuals at the helm of the initiative revitalized in us the belief that Kenya is a wonder nation with the resources to see us through harsh economic times if all of us turned up our sleeves and got to work in our small corners.

As I interacted with the workers at Oljoro Farm, I came to learn that it is a Demonstration Farm that doubles up as a training centre for agripreneurship as well as production of a variety of farm products for sale with a bias on strawberries.

This training is both residential and non- residential and is open to any interested parties. The farm has positively impacted the community through cluster farming which makes the farmers enjoy assured market and good prices without middlemen.

VISITING WITH TEAM LEADER CAROLYNE NJARARA . WHO IS CAROLYNE?

A daring, focused, hardworking woman who takes up her tasks with all the seriousness they deserve.

At Oljoro Farm, I’m manager working together with an excellent dedicated team. I’m a daughter and sibling raised in a family of three at Kiamariga in Mathira, Nyeri County.

In family matters, I have transitioned to be a wife and a mother of two- a boy and a girl. In terms of a career, I trained and graduated with a diploma in business management.

This opened a platform for me to be a business lady, a marketer and an entrepreneur. I started off my work life in a Stock Brokerage Firm and I learnt a number of skills. Later, an opportunity availed itself and I joined the Kazi Skills Project and that is how I landed in Oljoro Farm. It has been a wonderful experience so far and it makes me happy. To remain relevant and develop myself further, I have enrolled for a degree in Business Management at Kenyatta University.

I’m pursuing this at the moment as I carry on my farm duties.

The Favourite | 21

Entrepreneurship

. TACKLING FARM DUTIES

A farm is a 24/7 operation and the key operating phrase is details and efficiency. My main duty is to manage all the farming and training projects and I have the confidence that everything is running smoothly at Oljoro Farm. Apart from being on the ground to oversee practical farming activities, I have the herculean task of finding market for our harvest. I have been moving all around the country, engaging supermarkets and big stores to access food markets for our products. As a team leader, you also deal with the human resource and one must make sure that everyone is moving in the same direction to avoid upsetting the apple cart.

At Oljoro Farm, we produce around 500 strawberry punnets per harvest.

This harvesting is done three times a week. The berries are packaged and distributed to various supermarkets.

The packages are branded ‘Oljoro Foods Limited’. For the strawberry to be put into the punnet, it will have undergone a long process. The crop requires much attention and cleanliness. Splitting, weeding and harvesting are continuous tasks.

This calls for daily manpower which translates to a substantial amount in labour costs. There are different crops on the farm and they must all be attended to, to achieve value addition. Any type of farming is an art and our strawberry farming at Oljoro is not an exception. We learn as we go along to maximise on the best operation options to make it a unique and profitable venture.

Our efforts have not been in vain.

Strawberry farming pays well. I would encourage everyone to try it even on a small portion and see how it works for you depending on the climate. And I would also advise Kenyans to embrace it in their dietary schedules. Choose our Oljoro Farm Punnet next time you visit the supermarket. They are good for your heart, provide good Cholesterol, lower your blood pressure and guard against cancer. They are packed with vitamins, fiber and high levels of antioxidants.

The project started on a one-acre portion and luckily did well within three months. Naivas Supermarket came in handy and we signed a

22 | The Favourite

Entrepreneurship contract to supply them. We already were supplying vegetables to them.

We have expanded to three acres now and hope to reach a total of five.

Quickmart Supermarket chain has also come on board as a client and we are working at getting Carrefour into our marketing cycle even as we eye the overseas market. Our three acres are doing well but the market out there is huge, that is why we have partnered with local farmers through outsourcing for all the branches to get their share. So I can confidently say that strawberry farming is a big thing in Kenya with an economic future.

. WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION?

I was raised in a rural set up where farming was part of life. I saw people reaping benefits from farming. So, even as I ventured into a whitecollar job, I never really looked down on farming. At one point, I felt I needed to do something different.

I ventured and joined Oljoro Farm and I have no regrets or any reason to discourage anyone interested in farming. My honest opinion is that everyone should do their best in whatever pursuit they are engaged in and make it worthwhile. To the young people especially, white-collar jobs are enticing, they allow you to wear smartly and turn up for an office job in the morning and await a pay check at the end of the month.

They are good places to network and learn diverse skills. However, the world is changing and we must learn to appreciate the opportunities available outside these office blocks.

Do not wallow in self-pity that you cannot get a job in your line of training or you've lost a job with the pandemic blues. Rather, see farming as an option. Your hands and clothes may get dirty in the process. But it is good dirt. Farming has good financial advantages. For instance, strawberry plants grow within just three months and you make your first harvest.

From that point, the plant is ready for harvesting any day. The only thing you require is good management.

The Favourite | 23

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

.WHY SHOULD ONE PARTNER workers attending to the crops in order to achieve a good harvest WITH OLJORO FARM? Some of the greatest challenges faced by consumers /wholesalers/ retailers from the suppliers are inconsistency in supplies as well as in quality .This is what we pride ourselves in at Oljoro farm. We keep our word and supply on time.

. WHAT KEEPS YOU GROUNDED?

Words from one Ndung’u Kahihu.

He keeps telling me, “Carol, you can do it.” He pushes me on by saying I should not look back because if somebody can do it, why not me?

.WHAT BREAKS YOUR HEART?

To see people idling about and just waiting for help from other people, yet they can start something however small and earn a living.

What is so difficult about starting small and working your way up to independence?

. YOUR PARTING SHOT?

Dear Youth, you do not have to work in a big office for you to be classified as an achiever. Never look down on the opportunities that are right around you.

Farming is good business if you gave it a try with an open mind. Today, farming is agribusiness. Adapt with the times and improve on farming opportunities using the available technologies. It is now attracting people with diverse knowledge skills including Masters. Be passionate with what you do and give it your best shot. As you work, also balance.

I unwind by listening to music and playing golf. Work, serve, love yourself and grow.

.OTHER DYMANICS OF OLJORO FARM

Nyandarua is an Agricultural Hub, Oljoro Farm has rejuvenated farming in the Highlands and brought back a sense of wonder that saw white settlers choose Nyandarua back in the days of colonialism. It shows Kenyans now have taken the mantle and are ready to go the next phase with a more independent mindset. The farm boasts of 25 regular 24 | The Favourite

and quality. Their dedicated labour produces highly sought-after strawberries and vegetables. This success passes onto local farmers who are outsourced to meet market demands. Interested people also get a chance to get valuable training at the farm on contemporary approaches that are more conducive and profitable. Anyone interested in establishing a strawberry venture can buy healthy seedlings at Kshs. 30 each.

The greatest asset of the team is that employees are skilled. Agronomy is practised at its best at the Oljoro Farm. The farm agronomist, Martin Mutugi, explains that they have adopted hydroponics which is the growing of crops without using soil.

It involves using pumis and coco pits. Plants grow in pipes or troughs.

Martin says growing strawberries using hydroponics uses lesser space, and more can occupy one position.

It also minimizes pests, diseases, watering and the cost of labour. He uses his agronomy skills to ensure weeding, devolution, splitting and pruning of strawberries is done effectively. He also oversees crop spraying to prevent diseases or pests and a feeding program (adding fertilizer) for each type of crop according to its requirements.

Martin underscores the importance of learning about market dynamics and yielding capacity of different crop varieties. He gives an example of tomatoes. He explains that the Big Rock variety may have an advantage over the Assila variety. “A fruit of the Big Rock tomato weighs 140-160 grams while Assila weighs 110-120 grams. Thus Big Rock will suit a farmer who wants a quick sale as its weight makes fewer tomatoes (6-8) to reach a kilo and the bigger size is an attraction to buyers,” he explained.

Another venture at Oljoro Farm is the rearing of Black Soldier Flies. Have you heard of chicken eating a meal of flies? The wonder happens at Oljoro as they seek alternate nutritious and affordable chicken feed. Black Soldier Flies (BSF) are flies with a short life cycle. According to Simon Chege at the BSF section, “They feed on kitchen litter instead of simply disposing it. They also eat anything

from the farm like Kales, strawberry, and tomatoes.” He further explains that these farm products are mixed, fermented and left to dry. BSF do not like high moisture content. Within 40 days the BSF are ready to feed to chickens, pigs, fish and cows. This saves the cost of buying commercial feed. Simon adds that the chicken droppings also do not go to waste because BSF also feed on them. All the farm activities are interrelated and there are plans to start making jam, yoghurt and selling dried vegetables.

As we concluded the tour of the farm and the interview, the two of us were wiser. We were ready to travel back to Nairobi armed with the knowledge that farming is a worthwhile venture.

Many of us have shunned manual work and ran away from farm chores the moment we complete school.

As Confucius stated, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

For more information, please reach out to Oljoro Farm through: +254707660152 Email:cnjarara@gmail.com

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Life Experiences

Life Experiences

COMEDIAN SIMON KIMANI aka Papasi Mufenje:

Laughing Troubles away and creating a career.

By Suzie

As the realities of the COVID-19 Pandemic continue hitting us hard, we are finding it rather difficult to laugh. Calamity has pushed out humour. Yet, it is a fact of life that laughter is a balm to the soul. As Madeleine L’Engle said, “A good laugh heals a lot of hurts.” Many take comedy as unnecessary clowning.

However this jesting brings a flavour to our lives for we all require humour to see us through the storms of life.

No wonder all of us know of the British Sitcom series Mr. Bean and in Kenya the Churchhill comedy series.

Comedy with time has found its place among top-earning careers, no wonder, Kevin Hart has been listed as the highest-paid comedian with a net worth of 87.5 million US dollars.

This is what inspired me to schedule an interview a Kenyan comedian Simon Kimani Muchina aka Papasi Mufenje (stage name). This creative funny man was born in Molo, KaMwaura, Tebere, Mutukanio area. This is in Kuresoi the hotbed of volatile tribal politics that stained Kenya in the Post-Election violence of 2007/2008. He attended Mutukanio Primary School but the disturbances saw them flee the area and move to Ngachura near Nakuru Town. He attended Kia-Maina Secondary School but life was pretty difficult. His mother had passed on in 2005 and his father had been killed in 2007 during the clashes. He thus dropped out in Form 3 and was 28 | The Favourite

employed in a butchery at Heshima.

For young Simon life had handed him setbacks but he was not ready to wallow in hopelessness. He was determined to make something of his life. As he worked at the butchery, an idea was forming in his mind.

There was a small TV for customers to watch as they took their meals and he would watch DJ Afro’s movies there too. His passion for acting was flaming and he wrote a script of a housegirl. The Agikuyu have a saying, “Íri Mũrungu Ígiritanagia ÍrÍ kahÍa.” (The hornless animal associates with the one with horns).

So he took a step of faith and called DJ Afro and stated his desire to get into the comedy space. He listened to him and requested that they meet in Nakuru Town. In the face-toface meeting, he explained about the script he had written. His new mentor was ready to hold his hand and asked him to look for a cast and DJ Afro helped him shoot the movie. He is forever grateful for this support. Now Simon had CDs to sell and he went around selling his CD dressed as a housegirl.

It was during his rounds that he met another comedian, Muthee Kiengei, who was doing the same thing. They teamed up as a couple.

This ‘husband and wife’ travelled to various towns in Kenya showcasing their creations and selling their CDS. Things were looking up and their desire to progress and reach a wider audience saw them board a Bukinya Bus headed to Nairobi.

They had a deal with the crew. They would entertain the passengers and that would be their ticket. It was a tough engagement as the crew never allowed them to rest all through the journey. But determination always wins and they were finally in Nairobi.

They were dressed in funny attire and their antics were unusual and a good distraction on the busy streets. And true to their character, Nairobians did not disappoint. They soon crowded these funny people and this inspired the team of three to present their best lines. However, they were ignorant of one thing: Nairobi is manned by ‘Kanju’. They were as swift and ruthless and before the comedians could say ‘Aha!’, The Favourite | 29

Life Experiences they were inside the city council van together with other hawkers.

They were taken to Kamukunji Police Station and put in the cells.

The drama of their arrest was just unfolding. Simon the ‘house girl’ found himself in the women cells.

The women hawkers carried on an animated conversation about these city council askaris and with time, he felt the urge to contribute his own view. Lo and behold! He had spoken in a man’s voice and the women were terrified. They screamt that there was a man in their cell and this caused an uproar. The police officers came in and transferred this ‘woman’ to his rightful place in the men’s cell.

The three comedians (Simon, Kiengei and Njege) took it all in their stride and the whole night just told stories and sang. They were released in the morning and they were now wiser.

In the rat race of the capital city, they came up with survival tactics to sell their artistic ‘merchadise’ while evading arrest. Life had actually began! Simon narrated to me how his media journey began:

Life Experiences Gikuyu TV ‘Watinda AtÍa?’ (How was your Day?), then ‘Kiengei Live.’

Currently, I do various You-Tube Skits on various issues like talking to the President and the conning game (the Wash-Wash business). I also engage in other hustles like being an MC in various events, video coverage, editing and production as well as hiring out sound equipment.

“In my quest to find a market for my CDs, I went to the showground during the annual ASK Show. During the opening events, I watched the Vitimbi troupe – Mama Kayai, Mzee Onjwang, Ole Matope and Mogaka – entertaining the show-goers. After their act, I confidently approached them and they bought my CD on ‘Housegirl.’ I explained to them what it was all about. Mama Kayai told me this character sounded creative and credible. They invited me to join them and that opened a door in the media world. The group scripted a TV edition of my skit and it was shown on KBC. For one year, I acted alongside these veterans on Vitimbi every week until the airplay run ended.

I then moved to Citizen on Mashtaka where I acted as a notorious Kisii man caught for petty theft and I would be arraigned in court. I had mastered the Kisii accent. Eventually, I started appearing occasionally on Kameme FM as a stand-in comedian and also Gukena FM. With time, I was on various TV shows like the

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Life Experiences

10. QUICK ONES FOR PAPASI MUFENJE:

.BEST MEAL: Ugali with traditional veggies, Kanyama and Kachumbali. . HOBBIES: Watching movies especially the comedy series Mr. Bean and Charlie Chaplin, travelling, swimming and socializing with my buddies. . BEST SPENT LEISURE TIME: Scripting my next skit . HOME LIFE: Have a loving wife and two lovely school going children .SUPPORT SYSTEM: My wife she always inspires me to go on even in my low moments.

She takes good care of me in all areas including my costumes. . ROLE MODELS: Great guys in the industry who have held my hand and had my back including “Kianangi” who acted with comedian “Machang’i” (Unfortunately he disappeared and has not been found up to date) He was instrumental in my being a comedian. I also admire Churchill and aspire to have a show like his. . CHALLENGES: Economic downturns that affect the industry, non-payment by some clients after being hired for events and the time my bag was stolen and my Mufenje costumes were lost. . WEAKEST POINT: My easy nature being taken advantage of by people. .GREATEST DESIRE: To continue growing creatively and show Kenyans that comedy is good therapy and a serious career engagement. .MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE: Believe in yourself, act now starting with what’s in your heart, follow your dream in whatever field you’re gifted in, don’t copy others but rather be yourself. Finally create something and use it to sell yourself. This will attract opportunities and provide you with a negotiating power when investors come looking for you.

Papasi Mufenje can be reached at 0712034177

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Faith and Healing

Choosing the

Right Right Right 36 | The Favourite

Faith and Healing

When the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic blew our way, we all felt unhitched from our high horse of normalcy. When everything around us is so uncertain, then our stronghold of faith is shaken. Yet, as Christians, we know that God is the ultimate and in control. Our doubts set in and we are no longer sure where we stand.

These reflections come in the background of the message of Christmas. We will soon celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A period of rebirth and hope is coming our way.

How prepared are we to take this consolation to a new level despite getting into the 2021 festivities without the usual fun and partying?

Our task is quite simple for now. It is to carry on with life and trust God to carry us through. It is to continue doing the right thing including the

basics of washing our hands, wearing masks, keeping social distance and getting vaccinated. That is why the words of the Christmas carol remains ever truthful :

the Galatians ( 5: 26) "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. "

In this journey of life and faith, we must learn to accept NO as an answer.

To many, the mind set in life Joy to the world ! The Lord is come; is all about YES. Is it in being Let earth receive her King; children to our parents, praying in Let every heart prepare Him room, spiritual matters or in our various And heaven and earth sing, relationships, a yes answer is always And heaven and earth sing, expected. A no is always conceived And heaven, and heaven, and nature negative. Learning to accept a no sing. brings a feeling of rejection. One feels that they have not been well Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns! understood, not listened to and Let men their songs employ; this creates an uncaring heart, low While fields and floods, rocks, hills self-esteem and a feeling of being and plains forgotten.

Repeat the sounding joy, Experience has it that those who Repeat the sounding joy, are receptive to No as an answer Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. . . and take it positively promote in themselves a sense of self-respect, And so, all these Christmas cheer and story of hope is based on choices resilience and discipline. A No that we make everyday. As Paul urged doesn’t diminish hope but if well

reflected, rediscovers it. It promotes a dialogue within closeness to one's spiritual well-being creating a new beginning. Indeed, it’s a renewal and a realization of a new stronger christian. An understanding that the rise of stress levels, dwindling relationships and uncertainty might lead one to fall into the temptation of thinking that God is deaf, that He is too silent. In such moments, the NO can easily be heard amidst all our frustrations. Yet, this is the moment to listen more, to rediscover our strengths more. It is the invitation to bloom in expectation.

May we rethink of this phrase “NO” and start embracing it from a positive perspective. This may be the beginning of sweetness in our relationships, optimism in life, growth and prosperity.

By Fr.Njue

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Fashion & Style

What next?

"The curfew is vacated"

brought joy to millions of Kenyans who were longing for the end of the curfew.

People have different reasons to celebrate the end of a long lasting curfew.Some want to work at night,travel,attend church kesha or drink until wee hours. Others have a habit of getting indoors early but only wanted to know they have freedom to venture out late at night if they want.

Whatever the reason to be out late, do not exceed your limit.Too much of anything is harmful and it is you but not the government to suffer the consequences of party after party or other extreme activities. It is time to slow down if you speed at night with the confidence that many road users went home early.

The roads will become busier as we head to the festive period.You cannot rule out the risk of encountering careless drivers,motorcyclists and pedestrians.

Do everything moderately so that you can stay safe and live long enough for your generations to hear your recollections about a virus that messed up life years before they were born. Remember that coronavirus has not ended with curfew so get vaccinated and continue taking all the preventative precautions.

By Suzie

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A NEW AGE, NEW DEMANDS, A NEW APPROACH!

We are living in times when life all centres on our health. Our physical bodies must become a priority in this game to beat the pandemic and thrive.

Strengthen you body's immune system by using these dynamic products : AG Broc, AG Cera, AG Fiberee Boost your self- image through a feel-good beauty regime by using: AG BEAUTY SERUM | AG BEAUTY FACE MIST | AG BEAUTY CLEANSER We are located at: Kimathi House, 1st Floor, Room 108, Kimathi Street... Tel 0722801324.

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Health & Nutrition

KEEPING TOXINS AWAY

Health & Nutrition

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Each day I am blessed with the opportunity to change someone's life for the better as a DETOX SPECIALIST.

There are no such things as diseases; they are only symptoms of the body that the medical community has labeled.

Health is very simple. You only need to understand what is really happening within the body.

Chemistry in the body can be divided into two sides: base, which is alkaline and the other, which is acids. All the tissues in the body, no matter what they are: liver, heart, lungs, muscles, etc., are made up of cells. You have trillions of cells and they all need to be fed and cleaned.

Simply put, to feed and clean the human cells, you have two prime fluids that dominate the human body: they are the blood and the lymphatic system. (There is controversy on just how this lymphatic system eliminates its cellular wastes.)

The blood supplies essential substances and nutrients, such as sugar and oxygen, which feed the cells; an analogy of this would be the “kitchen of the body”.

The lymphatic system is like a “sewer system”. Your body has hundreds of

septic tanks known as lymph nodes.

Microphages, which are your immune cells, live in the lymph nodes to break down cells that have been transported to the lymph nodes. This is why you will see cancer cells in your lymph nodes as they are waiting for the cells to break them down because they are damaged cells.

Once the waste from the damaged cells and healthy cells (they must eliminate their own waste and by-products) are broken down, they are carried away to be eliminated from the body via the lymphatic vessels and the kidneys. The kidneys are a vital component for the elimination of the sewage of cells.

The body’s primary eliminating pathways: • Kidneys - important filters for the lymphatic system • Skin - sweating • Large intestines - expels digestive waste, parasitic waste and • lymphatic waste (mucus)

The body's secondary eliminating pathways: • Lungs - expelling carbon dioxide and expectorating mucus through coughing • Nose - mucus • Eyes - tear ducts • Ears - wax As you can see, waste by-products have a number of ways they are able to exit the body. But, the most important method for wastes produced by cells and where the lymphatic system is concerned, is via filtration through the kidneys and exiting out in the urine.

When the kidneys are not functioning at their best, they will lose their filtering ability. This then results in a gradual build-up of lymphatic sewerage throughout the whole body (not only in one location as most people are led to believe). The body then must find other ways to expel this build up. The skin, being such a large organ, will do its best to compensate.

But, obviously, if you are putting in more toxins and chemicals (via what you eat, drink, breathe and put on your skin) plus the addition of metabolic waste, when the kidneys are not functioning at their optimum, the end result is that it accumulates within the tissues of the body, usually lodging in the weaker areas. This, then, manifests in your body as inflammation, pain or acidosis damaging, weakening and coagulating cells eventually into hardened masses.

These symptoms are what the medical community has labeled as "diseases".

Likewise, when the body has been overburdened with external and internal toxic substances for a prolonged period of time, it loses its capacity to detoxify at the same rate that toxins are being produced and ingested. It is under these unnatural conditions that we begin to manifest symptoms of being overloaded with toxicity and our organs are weakened.

The answer is simple: focus on the cause

of the problem and stop doing what caused it in the first place. Then, begin to eliminate the unwanted substances in the body, the root of illness. This process of eliminating unwanted substances from the body at a cellular level that addresses and corrects imbalances is called deep tissue detoxification.

When the focus is on the symptoms with the illusionary concept of diseases in mind, good health is hard to come by.

A cure will never be found for that which does not exist!

Dr Rose John, Adam's Natural Health Center, 0723390411, 0718258378, Menengai Hse2, 2nd flr, Room C4.

Ronald Ngara street opposite Ronald Ngara Post Office Nairobi.

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Recipe

Recipe

Fish fingers recipe

Wambu's Kitchen Ingredients:

1/2 kg fish fillets cut into fingers Breadcrumbs 2eggs 1tspn paprika 1tsp black pepper 1tsp garlic powder Salt 1/2 cup wheat flour Oil to fry Lemon slice to garnish

Method:

Heat oil in a large deep frying pan.

Cut your fish fillet into finger sizes.

Put your paprika, black pepper, garlic and pinch of salt in a bowl.

Add your fingers and mix till fully coated with the spices.

In a separate bowl mix the wheat flour and a pinch of salt.

Add the fingers to coat them with the wheat flour.

Take another bowl and beat your eggs.

Put the fingers into the eggs and then into another bowl with bread crumbs.

Lastly put the fingers in hot oil for frying.

Fry for 15 minutes. Your fingers should be ready to serve.

Garnish with a lemon slice and serve with roast potatoes or chips.

Bon appetite

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