A father was sentenced to death after he confessed killing and dismembering his nine-year-old son. Francis Mbogo Wambugu, who did not blink an eyelid, stood his ground, saying: “Mtoto ni wangu, na mimi ndiye niliyemuua (The child is mine and I killed him)”. On Thursday 8th October, 2009, his wife, relatives and friends watched in disbelief as he admitted taking his son’s life. Slapping the sentence on him, Justice Jessie Lessit termed the act chilling and adjourned court for nearly 15 minutes after closing the case. “There is nothing more chilling than when a father admits to cutting his child into small pieces,” she said. She based the verdict on facts produced in court by the prosecution that was also stunned by the man’s candour. “I have looked at the pictures. The doctors’ report indicates you were in a proper state of mind and in full control of your senses,” the judge said. His wife Lydia Wanjiku said the verdict was reasonable. “At last, justice has been served,” she said. State Counsel Joseph Gikonyo told the court he was surprised by the confession since he had prepared to proceed with a full hearing. The man, who has spent close to five years in remand, requested the court to read him the charges afresh to which he pleaded guilty. The charge stated he murdered his son Jadiel Wambugu in April 2005 at his home in Nairobi’s Bahati Estate. Gikonyo said the former businessman had a troublesome marriage. “He constantly beat his wife and even threatened to kill her,” he said. He told the court there were also accusations of infidelity. On April 19, 2005, Mbogo travelled to Thika and abducted the child, then in Standard Three at Twin Birds Academy in Nairobi. – The Standard.
Archive for October 9th, 2009
Father admits killing son, gets death sentence
Posted by Administrator on October 9, 2009
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Why men spend on beer and women splurge on shoes
Posted by Administrator on October 9, 2009
Man downing Ruaraka Waters (Frothy)
“Women shop, men buy,” is a school of thought that underlines the belief that a woman would happily browse through shops for hours for nothing in particular, or that one item in a particular shade or size or design.
Men, on the other hand, walk into a shop and go for the kill, and will be done with ‘shopping’ in a matter of minutes.
Money is a loaded topic; how it is earned, spent, what it symbolises and other aspects of it are seen very differently by men and women.
Money also touches on every aspect of life; where one lives, what schools the children go to, which car they drive, or don’t, and every other lifestyle choice that is made.
More often than not, conversations about money among couples constitute arguments about it.
Many couples lock into roles where finances are concerned. Usually, there is one who hoards and the other who spends too much. Many couples fail by not getting into the nitty-gritty but arguing from these general roles of spendthrift and frugal.
Of all the factors that drive couples apart money is a huge factor, thus coming to an agreement about it can unlock peace and understanding that permeates all other lifestyle aspects.
One basic difference in the outlook about money is that men see the world as a battle field, where there is a winner and a loser or success and failure and he is aggressive about how money is sought and having all or most say in how it is spent.
Women, on the other hand, see the world as a place you step into to nurture yourself and those close to you and of course looking good while you do it, thus the uncountable pairs of shoes, constant browsing for home and other items and of course, time in the salon.
Ms Lilian Gikutha, a lecturer at a hospitality institution, feels that men tend to splurge on electronics and cars while they could be spending on more important and long-term assets like a parcel of land and a house.
“It is not uncommon that a man lives in a servants quarter and cooks with a stove, yet outside he parks a nice car,” she says.
“The other thing they splurge on of course is women. They rarely spend on themselves but on things.”
It is the women, she feels, who will spend on themselves and children and the home. “I confess to being a frequenter of the Sh100 for everything shops but more often than not, it’s something like Sh500 that I’ll leave behind,” she says.
Mr Michael Imathiu, a financial studies graduate and banker, concurs on men’s tendency to spend a lot on electronics, but defends it as simply “going for the best”.
He feels that women overspend on personal care items like perfumes, clothes and accessories like bags and shoes. He confesses that men, in turn, can really spend on their nights out.
So why it is so difficult for men and women to change their outlook on money, even if it threatens an otherwise happy union?
All in the mind
“It’s all in the mind,” reveals Mitchelle Ireri, a family life and marriage counselor. “The differences between men and women are as much in the mind as they are in their physical make up.”
“The reason why a man will spend hours at an appliances store and spend a lot on electronics while a woman would be bored to tears and resist spending so much on an appliance is psychological. So is his interest in being outdoors and spending quite a bit when out there while the lady concentrates on and would spend big on sprucing up herself and of course, her home,” Ms Ireri explains.
These differences can make for serious clashes when a couple conflicts on how family finances should be used. Some understanding on the psychological differences and taking them in stride, with a sense of humour if possible, will make for financial compatibility.
Below, Ms Ireri explains the differences that give rise to common spending preferences and habits among couples and how to deal with them, starting with the most common complaints about how men spend money.
Why does a man like to be out, spending so much especially on sports, be it a rugby game or watching a game he can watch at home?
While football and other spots have a female following, sports are still largely a male domain. Men are naturally more assertive and competitive and they are drawn to the competition of team against team or player against player, she says.
As for spending money to go out and watch a game away from home while catching some pints with the boys, men would rather catch a game out of home with fellow men that understand the rules and appreciate the skill it took to make that move and score that goal.
Sports have traditionally masculine elements like domination, risk-taking and winning.
Also, Ms Ireri adds, it has been scientifically proven that a man’s testosterone levels actual rise if his team is winning. Men also watch sports to fill the gap, at least in their minds, if they are not physically active themselves.
Why does a man have this ‘relationship’ with a car, which is basically cold hard metal to the point of giving it a pet name and spending a lot on extras like an expensive car stereo and polishing it to perfection?
Men’s minds are wired to understand systems and they also enjoy challenges, she says. Spending time pottering around machines is therefore enjoyable to him.
Men have also been socialised to value themselves by what they do in terms of work. A car, which will be seen by others as is a show and declaration of status by its make and value, will therefore get hours of his attention as he is unconsciously polishing his self-image as he polishes it.
The same dedication and readiness to spend is unfortunately not forthcoming when it comes to cleaning or polishing anything in the home or splurging on a set of dishes or curtains because it wouldn’t score him any points out there, Ms Ireri adds going on to explain their shopping habits.
Why do men hate shopping?
Men are wired to achieve and women to explore, she says. One joke about men’s spending habits says they will go out there, buy a shirt, wear it to death and then go for the kill again when they next need to.
Women who are natural decorators will want to see every available option first, take in the array of colours, designs and most likely, the company of another female which to a man who is socialized to just go out and make a kill, is a serious waste of time and of course, money.
Why would a man keep quiet when there are financial problems rather than admit he is short of cash or ask for his partner’s help?
Men are programmed to be providers and defenders of the family, Ms Ireri says. Their value in society is also pegged on how much they can do or have achieved materially and so that’s how they judge themselves.
Admitting lack is admitting failure, so they would rather hide the fact that they got demoted at work; that the business is not doing so well or any other financial challenges at work.
How come he’s so willing to spend on nights out and weekends away with the boys but can’t be inclined to spend on a nice place even once in a while?
“You’re home, you’re his and so the mission is complete and he has moved on to conquering other things like his career. It sounds cold, but a potential girl is a challenge and once she has been overcome, the mind concentrates on other things,” she says.
Taking her out to nice places or extravagant treats were simply a means to the need while a woman expects that is how things will go on, adds Ms Ireri.
On women’s spending habits, Ms Ireri often confronts questions from like: “What’s with the obsession with shoes and bags and items like perfumes?”
While a man is socialised to be a hunter, a woman expects to be hunted, she says. A woman is socialised to believe that her worth as a woman lies in being able to snag the best, thus taking time to look her best which may be through a shoe fetish and the tendency to spend more than a little on personal care items like perfumes and skin care products.
Is there any good reason for spending so much on items like curtains and duvets?
A woman is taught early that part of her value is in being nurturing and that includes creating a cozy home. In raising her score as a good home-keeper, she is the one who will want to spend on the curtains, the dinner set and other home décor items.
Another question on men’s minds is: “Why do women expect consultation on spending, if a man is the sole or main provider?”
Women see themselves as a part of a team when they are a couple, while men see themselves as solely responsible for providing, thus will not consult on big purchases or sale of assets like a parcel of land.
It may not be so much that she expects to be asked about the buying or selling of an asset, but she would be satisfied to know her opinion is important and was for the sake of the family, especially where the man is raising the funds.
Achieving financial compatibility
With an understanding of these differences, says Ms Ireri, it is possible to work around them and some to an understanding.
Sort out specific issues on spending tendencies rather than argue that one always overspends or is stingy. Talk about that car, that designer outfit or perfume or that and deal with that specific item, otherwise, you will remain locked in accuser and defender roles.
DAILY NATION
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Outlawed sect members posing as matatu crews
Posted by Administrator on October 9, 2009
There is a thin line between members of the Mungiki sect and genuine matatu crews.
And this is hurting efforts by police officers to rid the transport sector of the outlawed movement that extorts from matatus in the guise of offering protection.
The Nation has learnt that the sect’s members are now posing as matatu crews and route managers.
Tuesday’s shooting of five men in a matatu at Githurai 44 could prove to be the proverbial tip of the iceberg in the relationship between the sect, the industry and the police.
Kenya National Youth Alliance spokesman Njuguna Gitau said that some of the men who had been shot were members of his group, which is largely perceived to be the political wing of the outlawed Mungiki sect.
The statement by Mr Njuguna contradicted those of the public and operators on the route who had insisted that those killed were genuine matatu crews who had nothing to do with the criminal gang.
A matatu operator on another city route that has also experienced upheavals in the past, spoke to the Nation about the menace and why he does not see an end to it anytime soon.
“The kiama (council) is now stronger and has come up with new ways to avoid detection. They are collecting more money than before,” said the driver in an interview with the Nation.
According to the man, who says he has worked on the Wangige route for at least 15 years, the Mungiki sect — variously referred to as kiama, anake or njama — never really went away.
The driver said that the sect members have adopted new strategies that would make it difficult for someone without inside information to know their operations.
According to the driver, who cannot be named for his own security, members of the sect now have valid licenses and the paperwork needed to operate freely.
The police, he says, have also been roped in on the illegal sect’s activities, with their role ending when they collect their dues.
During the course of the interview at the Old Nation/Khoja roundabout, the Nation observed two policemen on patrol consult matatu crews at the bus stop before a patrol car stopped there.
According to our source, it is a daily routine and the mission of these ‘patrols’ is to collect ‘taxes.’
Sect members who collect the fees have also abandoned the scruffy looks and dreadlocks that were a dead give-away and now don clean, well-dressed looks.
The banned movement collects a total of about Sh650 from each matatu on the route every day, raking in nearly Sh195,000 daily. There are about 300 matatus on the Wangige route and several collection points for varying amounts ranging from Sh100 to as little as Sh20.
Source-Daily Nation
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