Edwin Otieno Ondiege

Kit Luo machon ~ Okatch Biggy ja Ujimbe. Of rich compositions outliving their composers.

A clear testimony that business and friendship (Brotherhood) works. We all need that small clique that cheers, claps when we win; accepts us wholeheartedly in our uniqueness; lifts us up when we trip and gladly opens new doors to our successes . . . Of relationships that transcend the test of time. These here are true legends of the game!

That was one hell of a game. “Total basketball”. A big 3 from the big man himself and Kyri doing Irving things 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Jolweny ma Addis osebaar ree, Agwambo emagidwaro. Carpet oseket ma blue gi red ee ute Haile gi Menelik

Translation:
We’re of flesh and blood. We keep striving and reincarnating. It’s never too late to try one more time.

Over the last 3 years, I have been privileged to lead a brilliant team at Somali Institute of Public Administration and Management, SIPAM Institute as co-investigator in the just concluded Mastercard foundation sponsored research project on “Employability, challenges and prospects of Persons Living with Disability in three East African Countries - Ethiopia, Somalia South Sudan.

Glad to be joining other partners [University of Gondar, University of Juba, Mastercard Foundation] in the ongoing research dissemination conference.

Presented the Somali case to the host of stakeholders, partners, stakeholders drawn from the academia, Disability federations, government/public sector, media and civil society actors.

Key highlights of our findings:
The deepened social-cultural oriented discrimination & stereotyping, exclusion in access to job opportunities, advertisement, technologies cuts across the three E.A countries

Reasonable accommodation for PwDs is key across all sectors; the need for working legilslative and constitutional frameworks and policies remains an agent consideration.

For successful systemic changes, there’s an urgent call for deculturalizing stigma and exclusion at all levels - Family, community, institution-based, private sector,government and at national level

It’s a wrap . . . Onto NEXT STEPS - ACTION!

It’s warming up, so is the brain . . . Of short breaks; reconciling the intricate inner self with the open spaces of nature - living and non living; of humans and nonhumans; built and empty; bare and covered . . . Of steps and progress to the known, unknown; near yet so far.

"After all, is football a game or a religion?" - Howard Cosell

Well . . .

"Football is a religion and Saturday is the holy day of obligation" - Bob Ufer

Ultimately . . .

"Football is not a game but a religion, a metaphysical island of fundamental truth in a highly verbalized, disguised society, a throwback of 30,000 generations of anthropological time" - Arnold J. Mandell

Congratulations for a job well done my brother Sam Osike. We come from way back and this here is quite some inspiration bwana fellow peer counselor.

Your immediate and future contributions in the realms of academia, research, policy and community engagement will be highly valued daktari.

Bull's eye; mission accomplished!!! Roja to the next phase 👏👏👏

Easier said than done. On paper, practically possible; in reality, it takes real work . . . Digging, synthesis and deep diving in unchartered territories. Baldness loading.

"Of images we portray to make a statement and of statements we make to portray an image".
While at it, enjoy, be happy and remain honest in your thoughts and conscience.

Sips tea . . .

Growing up, having a "bad weather" (Rainy, cold, cloudy) simultaneously with the sun's rays up, was interpreted as "Ondiek onyuol ee got" - The hyena/leopard/Cheetah has given birth in the mountains. I'm here wondering what they'd call it down here; the sun visibly up with sub 10 temperatures. . . Maybe they call it Baby shark truu truu or maybe piki piki ponki paka mielo disco weather.

From the cold Northern region, at the base of Mt. Meru, to the southern "Swiss" Highlands and finally Mkoa wa Pwani = 1,850km on the road. From 17°c to 40°c.

Africa is a beautiful continent, endowed, diverse and rich in resources (Human and nature), cultures and traditions.

It's been a ride . . .

There's something about first impressions, instincts and good deeds . . . This here is a good man; one who clearly understands the art of honesty, friendship and social capital at its very best. In our interactions over the last week, I've scaled through a great deal of learning.

Kila fursa tulichokipata, kushika dongo ndio Mambo yetu pale mjini . . .

Good men still exist . . . It's the simple things we do that matter the most.