The Convo Magazine - Issue 5 by James Wetu

CONVO ISSUE 5 2022

Demystifying Substance Use

DISORDERS

MARTIN MAWIRA ADDICTION COUNSELOR

From Hopelessness to a Hope dealer

3 PILLARS For a firm family

Tips to Manage Change in Your Business

MAGAZINE

MARY KEBBIE Compassion

FOR STREET FAMILIES

Bishop Dr. Jim Maina Church and Mental Health: Reinventing the Pulpit

Art in Business 21st Strategies you Century should never ignore

RECIPE During Recovery

CONVO Encouraging conversations that matter

A PLATFORM GEARED TOWARD A THRIVING SOCIETY

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EDITORIALNOTE

t has been said that love is a doing word. That means, love is not only in words but mostly in deeds. Jesus demonstrated love and compassion for those in need using the parable of the Good Samaritan. Most of us are not afraid to say that we love the poor and the lost but very few have actually demonstrated that love. This parable is about a traveler who was badly beaten and left by the roadside to die. A Jewish priest and a Levite (the people who should have been the first to help this man) both passed by him. A Samaritan who was using the same road had compassion and helped this injured man. People who are struggling with substance use disorders are often badly beaten up by life. The people who are closest to them often give up on them and abandon them to the substances they are using. Unless someone (The Good Samaritan) offers them a helping hand they are left by the streets of addiction to die alone.

It is not enough to talk about reaching the lost and helping the marginalized population in the community. We need to actually do something about it. This being our mental health awareness month at Convo, we chose to share stories of people that have been helped and others who have been the helpers of people struggling with SUDs. Our feature story features Pastor Mary Kebbie who runs a street families ministry that is aimed to help the street families out of their vulnerable and destitute living conditions. The ministry has been the hands of Jesus, demonstrating the love of God to many who are all alone in the streets. Martin Mawira shares his story as one who has been helped to help others. He has recovered from an unimaginable illness and now serves as an addiction counselor and as a living proof that recovery from SUDs is indeed possible.

CONVOMAGAZINE Issue 5

EDITORIAL

James Wetu Fridah Wachira VISUALS

Keith Nyamai SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

FaithLucy Mwangi

James Wetu Creative Head

Fridah Wachira Deputy Editor

CONSULTING

Manuel Consultants & Trainers Nairobi +254 728 393664 DESIGN & PUBLISHING BECOME VENTURES Nairobi

More stories shared in this issue are meant to show that there is hope and help for those still struggling. I invite you to read through and listen to our conversations on our YouTube channel because this is a conversation that matters. If you are struggling with a SUD, help is available for you, all you need to do is reach out.

Sincerely,

Wachira Fridah Deputy Editor

COVER PHOTO MARY KEBBIE IMANA INITIATIVE at FORTRESS CHURCH

CONVOMAGAZINE

CONTENTS

02 EDITOR'S NOTE 12 HOPE DEALER

After struggling with chronic alcoholism, Martin has turned out to be a hope dealer. He successfully recovered and trained to help alcohol addicts. His story is more than just inspiring, it confirms to us that healing is possible indeed.

28 ALCOHOLISM PUZZLE

Long-term chronic alcoholism ultimately destroys the bodies as well as the minds of men and women. We look at this problem, the puzzle, and its extreme effects!

17 CHURCH & SUD'S The Church, being a tool that helps society live godly lives, should take part in the fight against drug and substance abuse. Bishop Jim Maina shared with us the best way to go about this.

46 NUTRITION

The four main goals of recovery nutrition are to: Restore, Replace, Repair, and Rest. We sought knowledge from Sylvia, a masters student in nutrition to help us understand the role of nutrition during SUD recovery period.

62 LEGAL MATTERS

The law has been at the core of supporting certain perceptions about men and women, which does more harm than good. Betty, a lawyer helps shed more light in to this important conversation.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH BEAUTY Humans reflect God's divine nature in their ability to achieve the unique characteristics with which they have been endowed. These unique qualities make humans different than all other creatures

Good skin care is important for the following reasons: It helps your skin stay in good condition: You're shedding skin cells throughout the day, so it's important to keep your skin glowing and in good condition

POETRY - DEAR VOTER

YOUNG & BOLD: The Value of having daily routines

CONTENTS | ISSUE 05

His brain too chimed in on the conversation, then his heart, then his legs, then his arms. Pretty soon, his whole body was voicing its resounding approval of his decision. He was no longer the one-eyed man among the blind..

TALENT

PASCAL BILL THIRDSCORE MUSIC BAND

Pascal Bill is a music teacher at Agha khan Junior school. He is also music producer at still Alive Record Label and a seasoned pianist. He runs a commercial music band, Thirdscore Music Band Pascal has acquired knowledge and skill on various music equipments on his own initiative rather than through formal instruction. He is an encouragement to us that we need to have initiative and proactivity to seek what we want and that we can learn an art or a skill through our own drive. At convo, we value talent. What's your story?

BRAVERY | DELIBERATE | CONSISTENCY | PASSION Want your photo here? Write to us, let us have a Convo about your talent!

CONVO | ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

SHE M A TTE R S

A Godly Woman

There are so many responsibilities for women to focus on, and it can sometimes seem like we are being pulled in a hundred different directions, But we must nurture our relationship with God above all things By: Lydia Arunga

Has not my hand made all these things and so they come into being?

ow do I become a godly woman? Have you ever asked yourself this question? Well below are characteristics that will help you become a Godly woman.

Seeks God First The bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Most important of all is that a Godly woman must be able to love and seek God with all her mind soul and strength. Her relationship with the LORD comes first in her life, even before her beloved husband, children, family and friends. There are so many responsibilities for women to focus on, and it can sometimes seem like we are being pulled in a hundred different directions. But we must nurture our relationship with God above all things. We must be like Mary and choose the good part of sitting at the feet of Jesus in Luke 10:42.

Thankfulness A God woman must always possess a spirit of gratitude. She is grateful and strives to count her blessings in every situation. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. Thanks giving comes naturally when our lives are smooth but it becomes a challenge when we are experiencing difficulty situations however we must strive to remain thankful despite our challenges.

Self-Control Self-control is an often ignored virtue in our society but it is such a crucial one. Women who lack selfcontrol destroy many things.

Humble

Kindness Kindness is an essential character of a Godly woman. I have noticed that when men disagree, they often get over issue quickly and move on. Women sometimes hold on more tightly to grudges. Remember Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4? Paul encourages these quarreling women to agree in the LORD. although commended for their hard work for the gospel, they are remembered for their contentious spirit with one another. Meditate on the list of heavenly clothing which will make you truly beautiful in Colossians 3:12-14.

Be constantly aware of pride and selfishness. Don’t think less of yourself but think of yourself less. Has not my hand made all these things and so they come into being? Declares the LORD. These are the ones I look on with favor, those who are humble and contrite in spirit and tremble at my word. Isaiah 66:2 The journey to becoming a Godly woman may not have an ending since every day is a learning experience for each one of us. We can pray to find grace as we look forward to becoming Godly women. Shalom

CONVO ISSUE 5 | 5

F E ATU RE STOR Y

Substance Use Disorder

Most people view substance use as use of illegal drugs such as bhang, heroin, marijuana, cocaine. These drugs not only alter the users’ moods but also clouds one’s judgement and distorts their perception.

substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to a person's inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs.

The burden of substance use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa has been projected to increase by an estimated 130% by 2050. Despite this, little is known about the substance use disorder treatment and prevention systems in the region.

35M PEOPLE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE SUFFERING FROM DRUG USE DISORDERS (WORLD DRUG REPORT)

Jaguga, F., Kwobah, E. A review of the public sector substance use disorder treatment and prevention systems in Kenya. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 15, 47 (2020). 6 | CONVO ISSUE 5

The report continues to say, globally, SUDs are the second leading cause of disability among the mental disorders with 31,052,000 (25%) Years Lived with Disability (YLD) attributed to them. In Africa, the impact of problematic patterns of substance use is particularly high. For example in 2016, despite lower levels of alcohol consumption compared to elsewhere, the region had the highest age-standardized alcoholattributable deaths and agestandardized alcohol-attributable Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (70.6 deaths per 100,000 people and 3043.7 per 100,000 people respectively) The solution, the report suggests is to ensure a well-functioning health system, which is one that provides services that are safe, accessible and of quality; has a competent workforce that is sufficient in number; produces and disseminates health information in a timely manner; provides essential medication that is affordable; allocates adequate funds to health and finally is guided by strategic policies. In Kenya, the need for an effective SUD treatment and prevention system is pressing. Over 10% of Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 years have an alcohol use disorder, with most of them (60%) having the severe form. In fact, the country has one of the highest total DALYs (54,000) from alcohol use disorders in Africa.

FEATURE STORY

Understanding Substance Use Most people view substance use as use of illegal drugs such as bhang, heroin, marijuana, cocaine. These drugs not only alter the users’ moods but also clouds one’s judgement and distorts their perception. By Faith Mwangi

ubstance use is not a new term to most of us but do we really know what substance use entails? It is simply a harmful pattern of any substance taken for the purposes of mood altering. These substances are commonly drugs and some are not drugs at all. It becomes a substance use disorder when these substances are taken in excess or in a way that is not prescribed. Most people view substance use as use of illegal drugs such as bhang, heroin, marijuana, cocaine. These drugs not only alter the users’ moods but also clouds one’s judgement and distorts their perception. Another form of substance use is referred to as prescription drug misuse. Most patients who are prescribe pain relievers and over the counter medication are likely to develop a substance use disorder mostly due to overdosing. It is important to understand that substance use does not necessarily mean one has a substance use disorder. It becomes a substance use disorder when the drugs alter the normal functioning and behavior of a person resulting in negative consequences.

Among other things that lead to substance use disorders are genes, the environment and the situations surrounding their lives.

0.5 MILLION

DEATHS

ATTRIBUTABLE TO ILLICIT DRUG USE (WORLD DRUG REPORT)

For example, Health issues, mental health problems, failure to meet responsibilities, social issues, missing work due to excessive consumption or even frequent hangovers. This is commonly referred to as substance use disorder. Among other things that lead to substance use disorders are genetics, the environment and the situations surrounding their lives. Being aware of these risk factors could help an individual prevent or stay away from the danger of suffering from a substance use disorder. For people suffering from substance use disorders, treatment could include therapy, getting a counsellor to help them through or medication that will help manage the addiction. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 7

F E ATU RE STOR Y

Mary Kebbie - Street Families Ministry Pastor Mary is a youth pastor at Fortress assembly. She leads the street families ministry under the Imana initiative, a humanitarian arm at Fortress assembly.

This initiative is a ministry arm of Fortress Assembly, a church in Membley, Ruiru under the leadership of Apostle Dennis and Pastor Lee Wambugu.

The Imana Initiative The main mission for Imana is to ensure that persons in the immediate neighborhood of operation receive basic human relief and are not subjected to inhumane standards of living

he greatest message of the gospel of Christ is that of love. The bible in John 3:16 says; for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. In the same vein and just as God loved us, we have been given the responsibility to love others and care for them. It is for this reason that Imana Initiative was formed, as a Ministry to take care of teens and youths from marginalized areas by providing humanitarian relief like food, shelter, clothing and education. The main mission for Imana is to ensure that persons in the immediate neighborhood of operation receive basic human relief and are not subjected to inhumane standards of living. We believe in everything person being able to access food, shelter, clothing, medical attention and education.

Imana Initiative sort to expand its outreach and operations after the Covid -19 pandemic in 2020 and went into the streets to minister and care for the street families. One and a half years down the line, the street Ministry has been able to reach out to over 100 street persons. Some of the operations of these ministry have been a weekly feeding programme, mentorship programmes for both boys and girls, setting up of businesses, settling of families off the streets, outdoor programmes for team building, Rehabilitation and many more. The biggest challenge faced by the Imana Initiative Street Ministry has been finding ways to help the increased number of substance use disorders among the street families and lack of resources to cater for the direct needs of the families. We continue to pursue partnerships with likeminded companies, organizations, groups and individuals.

So far, we have been able to settle 10 individuals off the streets and opened 5 businesses. Our aim is to offer holistic solutions in the streets to settle as many as possible and facilitate reconciliation with families. 8 | CONVO ISSUE 5

FEATURE STORY

COMPASSION Pastor Mary is a youth pastor at Fortress assembly. She leads the street families ministry under the Imana initiative at Fortress assembly. She was kind enough to share the journey with us.

Tell us how the street ministry was birthed?

ortress assembly has many ministry arms. One of them is the Imana initiative, which is our humanitarian arm. The street ministry was birthed during the COVID pandemic. We asked ourselves if the pandemic was hitting us who are able to work this much how about those in the streets with no work and no place to sleep. This is how the street ministry was born. From a place of compassion, just to reach out to them and see what we are able to do to help them out. Personally, I've always been passionate about reaching out to people who don't have a place to start. That has always been my passion. So from a young age, I would always be the kind of person who just goes and says “hi” to the guys in the street. I always had a passion for people living in the street. Initially Imana would deal with educating girls and we have been able to educate several girls up to high school level.

During the pandemic, when the issue of reaching out to the society came in we realized that Kiambu county has a big population but also very many street families. We reached out to them with the aim of spreading the love of God, alleviating their living conditions and providing meals for them. Initially we thought we would be dealing with children but when we got to the street we realized there were actually families established in the street. We now had to come up with a strategy as the street ministry. We therefore came up with a concern basket whereby we would organize for food drives and just distribute food packages to people. Then we brought the hot kit, where we prepare a hot meal every week for the street families. This became our contact point, to be able to reach them. In our minds, we knew that it was not just about the food. It was an opportunity for us to reach out and get to know what can we do for them and how we can shift the situations that they were in.

Imana means God, so Imana initiative is the God initiative; being the hands of Jesus to the community around us.

What we planned Vs what we found

There is what you envision but then there is what you actually find. We had done our research and we were prepared but when we got to the ground we identified a few key things that we needed to consider. One was getting these people to trust us. Trust is something that we had to cultivate and earn from them. These people were coming from a place where they had been promised a lot by certain people who wanted to take advantage of their vulnerable situations for their own personal gain. Secondly, we realized that these people have been exposed to a lot of negative behavior in the street so, we noticed violence. The first couple of times we went to feed them they would literally shove us away for the food. This happened on three occasions. This called for us to restrategize in order to move ahead but we didn't allow this to deter us. We were just familiarizing ourselves with the waters that we were getting into and knowing that we had to brace ourselves. We knew that it wasn't going to be easy but we were determined to spread the love of God. It was important for us to get these people to understand why we are reaching out. We let them know that our aim was to spread the love of God to them and our main agenda is to see their lives transformed. >>>> CONVO ISSUE 5 | 9

F E ATU RE STO R Y

Substance use among street families

Substances are a source of income for them. Peddlers and guys who want to sell drugs around the community use them for transportation. For them this is a business and they are able to get a few coins to feed their families. They are viewed as an easier means to ferry these kinds of substances.

What are some of the things you have been able to do? The first thing that we did as a street ministry is to make sure that we were able to get a group of them because they are quite a number. They are more than a hundred families in the streets currently. We therefore got a number of them. As I said earlier spreading the love of God was very important to us a ministry because there are other organizations that also come to them but we had the spiritual perspective in mind. We needed them to understand that we are there because of the love of God. Once they understood that we created a group of people who were trained and we came up with a discipleship manual for them.

For those who were not able to travel the whole distance to Fortress assembly we always emphasize that they find a church near them and we also recommend churches around them. We want them to find a congregation where they will find a covering and the warmth of like-minded people who can also take care of them.

The second thing we did is that we were able to identify their passions. For instance, some had a passion for arts, some ladies had an interest in knitting and salon work, some gentlemen played football and were athletic, there were others who were actually interested in going back to school and learning a skill. The discipleship manual was translated to a With this knowledge we are able to language just be simple enough for them to connect them to classes and start understand what salvation is all about, what projects that would help them do what it means to receive Christ and what it looks they are passionate about. We have been like to actually be a born again believer. We able to establish a few businesses for them. We did not want to just shove our strongly felt that this would help us to be ideas about what they should do but we able to implement other principles of the had to find out what they are actually kingdom of God to them. interested in.

We have been able to establish a few businesses for them. We did not want to just shove our ideas about what they should do

>>>>

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FEATURE STORY

<<<<

Talk to us about Substance Use Disorders among Street families. Substance use disorders has been one of our biggest challenge of all the challenges we have faced as a ministry because these guys need something to survive. They live in very dehumanizing conditions so for them to be able to cope and to process what is happening them they end up using drugs and substances. Most are orphans and some come from very hard conditions in their families, some had to run away, some have been chased away by relatives maybe after the passing of a parent or something like that. Most of them come from very heavy backgrounds and coming into the streets is coming into contact with another heavy background. So they use drugs for them to be able to rationalize things. They use as a coping mechanism and they tell us this quite frankly. In fact, anytime there's an issue in the streets, or among them, you automatically know that you will be dealing with someone who is under the influence of some substance. Secondly it's also a source of income for them. Peddlers and guys who want to sell around the community use them for transportation. For them this is a business and they are able to get a few coins to feed their families. They are viewed as an easier means to ferry these kinds of substances. It has been a major issue because there's no help that you can offer this person at that particular point that can actually get to them. It creates a wall. In fact, when you look at them physically, there's a block. Sometimes they don't even recognize you. Using substances numbs them especially during scenarios where one of them has passed away or during just any harsh condition that presents itself. We've been trying to work with them and trying to encourage them that they don't need to use drugs and substances to be able to cope. It also helps that we try and alleviate their conditions so that they are not thinking about what to eat or what to wear. We find jobs for those who are willing and able to work. We do this so that they don't have to use substances to cope with their harsh environments and living conditions.

They live in very dehumanizing conditions so for them to be able to cope and to process what is happening them they end up using drugs and substances. They now view us as family. They know that we are there for them not just short term or for any personal gain. They believe that we are actually genuinely interested in seeing them grow and develop gradually. As a result, we have seen that they start to change and they are willing to seek help. When these happens we reach out to government agencies. We have a couple of them that have already gone to rehab. We have three of them in rehab currently. So whenever we identify cases that need rehabilitation we just reach out to organizers and partners that can fund so that they can go and get the help they need professionally. We admit that there is what we bring in as a ministry in terms of spirituality and establishing supportive families for them but we embrace a lot professional help because we know that they also need it. >>>>

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F E ATU RE STOR Y

Addiction Counselor - Dove Int'l Mental Hospital

Martin Mawira is 35 years old and is in his 3rd year in recovery from an alcohol use disorder. He is an addiction counselor at Dove International Mental Health Management & Counseling Services.

I My parents played a huge role in my recovery process. I would have never walked myself into a rehabilitation centre. I am grateful that my father did not give up on me.

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How did you get into drug and substance use?

am a first born in a family of 3 siblings. I was brought up in Meru in a Christian family; I would attend Sunday school as a child and even lead the choir. I was involved in many church activities. After class 8, a boy goes to initiation which welcomes him to adult hood. When I was being initiated to this process, usually in our community we are secluded in a house where you stay for a certain period of time ranging from 3 to 4 weeks. So inside this house, is where I chewed miraa for the first time. The friends who came to see me during the healing process are the ones who brought me miraa. After I was introduced to miraa, cigarettes followed. Every time I chewed miraa I would get headaches. I started using painkillers for the headache which also became a habit and before I knew it, I was abusing the painkillers too. Fast-forward, I went to secondary school where I met new people who were more exposed. I saw some who were using more hard drugs, they injected themselves. Others were sniffing, I came to learn later that it was cocaine. I never tried this because I was afraid. I found myself in a group of friends who had the "I don't care attitude". During the second term, I was suspended from school. That's how I started a life of suspensions in school. Form 2 second term, I smoked bhang for the first time during school inter-house competition. I was introduced to it by my desk-mate. This behavior continued for the better part of my secondary school. Due to this behavior I was suspended every term and finally expelled for good while in form three. >>>>

<<<<

I got expelled for good after stealing from my principal’s car. My parents took me to another school where I had to redo my form 2 class. One time, there was a Reggae band in town and I missed school for two weeks and spent all the money I had been given by my parents. The principal and my parents looked for me and found me loitering in town. I got expelled from that school as well and got admitted to another mixed secondary school. In that new school, I got a girlfriend who was in form 4. When she completed her national exams I followed her instead of staying behind in school with the other students. So I also got expelled from that school. My parents then decided to take me to a day school instead of a boarding school. This escalated my use of Khat. I would get out of school in the evening and go looking for Miraa and chew it instead of having an evening meal. I would even carry Miraa and Bhang to school and share with the students who were boarders. I wasn’t using alcohol during that time because I feared how people would take alcohol and sleep by the roadside or in the ditches. By this time everyone in my village knew I was chewing Miraa and smoking Bhang. I was able to do my national exams and my parents took me to a technical college. I was now in an unsupervised environment and this is where I begun using alcohol. My friends pressured me into alcohol. I only chewed Miraa but I wanted to be like them. In my third year, I was given money for my school project but I didn’t use it for that. I would even steal from home. When I needed money I would sell goats or chicken at home. My relationship with my parents now begun to deteriorate because they would observe change in my behaviors and they would hear stories from the neighbors. During the exam period I would sit for exams for other students and they would pay me with Keg or give me cash. I did all these in order to finance my substance use. I couldn’t graduate from college because I did not do my project but I got my transcript. I used my transcript to get a job and I would use my salary to buy drugs and alcohol. As my use escalated I lost my job because I couldn’t function properly in my workplace.

FEATURE STORY At what point did you hit rock bottom? One time there was a concert that was called, “what murume wants, murume gets. “I didn’t have money so I took my father’s iron sheets and sold them all because I wanted to attend the concert. After this incident my father chased me away from home. I started looking for menial jobs and got into petty crimes. I did not even have where to sleep so sometimes I would sleep in the streets and cover myself in sawdust. At one point, I left town and went to live with my maternal grandmother. This time I would drink alcohol uncontrollably. I would even diarrhea because I would drink a lot without having any meals. My father would ask my grandmother to try and get me some help. So they even took me somewhere to a certain prophetess for prayer. They prayed for me, stating that I had been bewitched. I began to believe that I was actually bewitched and started using these prayer sessions to manipulate my relatives to give me money. I would make them believe that I am now transformed so that they would give me money. My parents then took me to a garage to be taught mechanics. There I stole some scrap metal and they chased me. After this, I went to a carwash. Here things went from bad to worse. I would earn a lot of money in a day but I would use it all to finance use. This is when I now discovered that I had a problem but I could not get myself; out. My body had developed tolerance and if I didn’t take alcohol I would get bad withdrawal symptoms. I got another job in a restaurant where they would get 9,000 Kes in a month. I would spend the day in the car wash and go to the club at night. Then at 2 Am in the morning I would sleep in that club up to 5am where I would clean up the washrooms and the floor, then have my breakfast and go to the carwash to continue my daily routine. There was a certain family where all of them were drunkards and they loved near the car wash. One of the guys from that family would stay nearby and count how many cars I would wash in a day then follow me in the evening so that I can buy him beer. I would do this for him so that he would get me somewhere to sleep. If I failed to buy him beer or bought little, that guy would pee on me at night during sleep.

How and when did you get help? One day my parents came to see me but I had gone to sleep somewhere else. My parents had looked for me everywhere. I woke up at 6 PM and I found them at the carwash where I was working. I was chewing onions to hide the smell of alcohol. My parents had never seen me chewing or using drugs. I was very good at hiding it because my father was very strict. They told me that they wanted me to go to my sister who had started a shop and they wanted me to go work with her. We had an agreement with my dad that he would pick me the next Saturday. That Saturday he picked me and we drove off. I did not go where we were going to. We stopped at Kikuyu and shopped for a few items. He drove to a certain gate and a gateman opened the gate. I saw a few guys by the gate and I heard one of them say, “Another one has been brought.” The posters that were in that place and the typical hospital smell led me to realize that my dad had tricked me. My sister lived in Murang’a but now we were in Kikuyu. That is how I got admitted involuntarily into that rehabilitation centre.

>>>> CONVO ISSUE 5 | 13

F E ATU RE STOR Y <<<<

How and when did you get help? My recovery journey begun at Dove Mental Health Centre. I went through the 12 step program and got the help I needed. I also went through psychotherapy, family therapy and one on one session while at Rehab. This helped me deal with the underlying issues that had led to the SUDs. During one of the family sessions my dad said that in that one month I was in Rehab they were now able to sleep and that if he had the resources he would pay so that I would spend one year in Rehab. That statement made me make the decision to get better and want to help others as well. My parents played a huge role in my recovery process. I would have never walked myself into a rehabilitation centre. I am grateful that my father did not give up on me.

After finishing my program, the director gave us an opportunity to study a crash course on addiction counseling. After going through the course I was fortunate enough to get a job within the same facility. I now work as an addiction counselor at Dove international mental hospital. I also serve as a mentor to the patients. When I share my story with them they can relate and see a living example that recovery is indeed possible. I am a grateful recovering alcoholic and an addiction counselor.

14 | CONVO ISSUE 5

it works, if you work it

Podcast With James Wetu

Podcast

Monday boost

F E ATU RE STO R Y

Mental Health & Spirituality Statistics have revealed that about 35 million people worldwide are suffering from substance use disorders and about 0.5 million deaths globally are attributable to substances disorders. These statistics are alarming and unfortunately the percentages of people who seek treatment are way below those statistics

very year in May, we run mental health campaigns at Convo. And this year, our theme for the mental health campaign is Recovering from drug and substance use disorders. Convo is a platform where we encourage conversations that matter. And we are looking forward to a future where conversations around mental health and mental illnesses will take place openly without fear, stigma, or uncertainty. The burden of substance use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa has been projected to increase by an estimated 130% by 2050. Despite this, little is known about the substance use disorder treatment and prevention systems in the region. Statistics have revealed that about 35 million people worldwide are suffering from substance use disorders and about 0.5 million deaths globally are attributable to substances disorders. These statistics are alarming and unfortunately the percentages of people who seek treatment are way below those statistics. This why we are having this conversation. We had an interview with Bishop Dr. Jim Maina of Cornerstone Revival International Ministries and Dr. Gabriel, a practicing counseling psychologist and the director of Mwea Serenity Counseling and Treatment Center to help us demystify substance use disorders and the place of the church community in helping mitigate these cases.

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Fridah had an amazing conversation with Bishop Jim Maina, a Christian counselor to the level PhD and Dr. Gabriel, a practicing psychologist from Mwea Serenity Counseling and Treatment Center where he work as the director. I invite you to read the wisdom dispensed by the two gentlemen on tackling the SUDs menace.

FEATURE STORY

IS HEALING FROM SUD'S POSSIBLE? FRIDAH: Bishop, we are glad to have you here at Convo. BISHOP JIM: Wow. First of all, I want to thank you for the great work. It takes a lot of courage. And to our readers and viewers, welcome to this very interesting and very profitable conversation. I am Bishop Dr. Jim Maina. Many people know me as a pastor, but I have great interest as person when it comes to mental health. In fact, I had to go and study. I've studied theology and I have also acquired some training on the area of Christian counseling to the PhD level. Having this conversation today reassures me that there is hope because mental health is indeed a silent pandemic. I'm delighted to be part of the set. FRIDAH: We're looking forward to a rich conversation with you, Bishop. BISHOP JIM: Thank you very much. FRIDAH: Still, on this bench, I have Dr. Gabriel, who is a practicing psychologist and I will allow him to introduce himself. DR. GABRIEL: Thank you Fridah and Bishop Jim. I am Gabriel a counseling psychologist from Mwea Serenity counseling and treatment center where I work as the director. We make sure that we support our people and community especially those guys who have been affected by drug addiction. Just like you have said Fridah, mental illnesses sometimes might be caused by other issues apart from addiction. We are looking forward to a conversion that will encourage us to support our people and help us understand that there's a coalition between substance use and mental health related disorders and how to handle these conditions. With the right plan and the right partnership, it is possible to recover from SUDs. Thank you Fridah for this platform.

FRIDAH: I think we'll get right into it. Bishop, there's a question I ask all my panelists because I run a program called Healing Is Possible, a support group for people suffering from mental illnesses. So the first question I ask every panelist is, “Do you think healing from mental illnesses is possible? “ BISHOP JIM: Absolutely. Well, when you invited me, we agreed that I should not shy off from bringing in the spiritual perspective. I'm a believer in God and I believe God created all of us. I believe that God who can heal cancer, because he healed me of cancer 45 years ago can also heal the mind and every other part, including the soul. Yes. So I don't want to gamble that it's possible to be healed but that would be relative because for some people healing would mean the ability to function in a healthy way. For others it may not necessarily mean total elimination of the disease but might mean to manage, but healing is indeed a possibility.

I'm a believer in God and I believe God created all of us. I believe that God who can heal cancer, because he healed me of cancer 45 years ago can also heal the mind and every other part. FRIDAH: Wow, Great. Dr. Gabriel, I'm asking you this question with the understanding that you're in the medical field. Do you think healing for mental illnesses is possible? DR. GABRIEL: It's very possible. First of all, the model that we normally use, especially on admission is that we first screen because we cannot treat what we don't know and we must make sure that we use the required tools that are certified by the necessary bodies. So the basic tool that we are using currently which is certified worldwide is the DSM IV. So for all the substance use disorders, when we receive a client or a patient we first screen and score as per the severity. There are mild, moderate and severe cases.

If the condition is mild, for instance, in depression. There are those issues that we call psychosocial issues that might not need a medical approach. So in this case we involve counselors and social workers. Basically the severe cases, for example, for depression, you have to start with the medical model especially for the first one month because the model that works so well is the biopsychosocial model. So we start with the biological part, then the psychological part where we involve the psychologists and the counselors, then the social part, where we have to involve the family, the church and all the stakeholders from the society to support this person, become someone. >>>>

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F E ATU RE STO R Y <<<<

SUD's, What is it? According to the DSM IV, addiction is a brain disorder. It's a brain disease because we are talking about a chemical that is being introduced to the body hence affecting the function of the brain. FRIDAH: Thank you for such a good and elaborate answer. When we talk about substance use disorders what exactly are we talking about?

DR GABRIEL: According to the DSM IV that is the, the diagnostic statistical manual for mental disorders, addiction is a brain disorder. It's a brain disease because we are talking about a chemical that is being introduced to the body hence affecting the function of the brain. This chemical alters the functions of the body positively or negatively. So basically addiction is a compulsive response to a certain substance or behavior. It may affect the ability to think, make decisions and be rational. Our behaviors, how we respond to the environment and people are determined by the brain. There's something we call the hippocampus, a part of the brain that helps us make decisions and helps us differentiate a human being from an animal. There's a kind of common sense that makes us behave or respond to our environment or the people around us like human beings. The disadvantage is that some of these drugs cause disturbance to such sacred parts that we are given by God for free. That's why sometimes when someone takes a drug you just wonder about the behavior that this person can engage in like committing suicide or committing unimaginable crimes. Therefore, it's very important that such a person is put on treatment. 18 | CONVO ISSUE 5

FRIDAH: Yeah. I think what I'm hearing from what you're saying is that , one can get addicted to anything that alters brain function and chemistry and that might be a drug or a behavior like watching pornography or shopping? DR GRABRIEL: Very true. I think you have brought in a very important point. Yes. Pornography is not a drug and that's why we usually differentiate or categorize these addictions. FRIDAH: Yes. DR GABRIEL: Those are addictions that are not chemical. They're called nonchemical addictions e.g. betting and pornography and sometimes impulsive behaviors like spending money without a plan. So if you become obsessed with a certain behavior, it becomes a brain disorder and you'll need a particular treatment plan just as we do for drug related addictions. We need to help our people understand that there are those behaviors cause non-chemical addictions and yet people are not aware that they can lead to mental disorders. That's why people stigmatize those people who are addicted to drugs. Without this understanding, sometimes we miss the holistic way of handling mental disorders. FRIDAH: Oh yes. Thank you so much. Bishop, I think from what he shared, there's been an understanding about addiction which I need to know if it’s phased out, that addiction is a moral issue. From your understanding of mental health and mental illness in general, could you help us understand how to put a balance between labeling people as having a moral issue because they're addicted or as having a spiritual issue?

BISHOP JIM: First of all, want to thank my fellow panelist for such an exhaustive way of looking at addiction, bringing in the aspect of chemical and non-chemical addictions and also reminding us that if you see somebody who is addicted to drugs, you are not better than him if you're addicted to gambling.

Now to answer your question; one of the things that I believe, we seek to achieve today, is to take away the stigma. I want to bring the church in here. We can't help people that we judge at the same time. And I know there are people who are over spiritual who will say that everything is from the devil. Many times until you are affected directly or indirectly you can judge people. For instance, I'm coming from a family where my own father loved God and was a moral person if you use all those terms but he died from depression. Currently, I have a brother who is going through rehabilitation. So sometimes we may medically say that there is a role of genetic predisposition but I also believe that a devil takes advantage of choices and habits. For me, if our commitment is to help people I would not want to look at it as a moral issue for example conclude that if someone is taking beer they are immoral. Maybe there's a vacuum or they're trying to fulfill a need but getting the wrong solutions. There's also the issue of somebody is bewitched. We will not rule out spirituality because the devil still is there and he would want to destroy lives so he can put bait on somebody taking drugs and finally destroy them. So I think we need to look at it in a holistic way but at the back of our minds, no matter how that person got there should be a commitment to restore them to the normal functionality as a human being. FRIDAH: Yeah. I agree with you because one of my mentors keeps telling me that as long as we can get a solution, then the cause should not make us argue. BISHOP JIM: Yes. I agree with that.

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FEATURE STORY

What's causing the surge in SUD's?

we used to have a very strong social support when the family unit worked. Today things like family circles have really been compromised. FRIDAH: Yeah. So as long as you know what to do in order to help this person out of addiction, then we shouldn't debate about the cause. Just to get back to your Bishop, I don't know why we are seeing an increase in the number of cases of mental illnesses and substances use disorders in our country and even globally. There's been an increase in prevalence in these cases. What has changed? What is different from the past? Is it that our generation has it harder than your generation? Is it a parental issue? Please help us understand. BISHOP JIM: Thank you. That's very important. You know, Daktari said we can't fix what don’t know. Both leveraging on statistics and also being a person who is dealing with people every day I think it is true. It’s true that mental health and mental illnesses is a topic that should be looked at. In fact, in the last few years, when we dealt with the COVID pandemic, I told people, there was another more dangerous pandemic than COVID. That is mental health issues. Why do we see an increase? First of all I don't think there's an increase as such. What I think is happening is that there's now a lot of awareness. People are now becoming aware that there something called mental illness. We used to think sickness is cancer or diabetes but now we are realizing even these cancers may sometimes emanate from our mental faculties.

Secondly, I think comparing generations; we used to have a very strong social support when the family unit worked. Today things like family circles have really been compromised. Some of our young people grow without the counsel of their fathers; the gift of presence where my son would be my friend and he can escalate his issues to me. Thirdly, as it were, we are living in a very complex world and that is really generating a lot of stress. Stress of course is a breeding ground for some of these particular issues. Now being a pastor because I don't want to be irrelevant in this talk; I also think people have really forsaken God and the role He plays for us to have peace and to have functional minds and mental wellness. Then there is what we now define as fun. The young generation, mostly in the universities believe that for them to have fun, they need to go out over the weekend. They start very innocently with some spirit but before they know it they're hooked up. Eventually we see that this has contributed to the increased numbers of mental health issues in our nation and in the world in deed.

BISHOP JIM MAINA - KAGIO

Some of our young people grow without the counsel of their fathers; the gift of presence where my son would be my friend and he can escalate his issues to me. >>>>

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F E ATU RE STO R Y FRIDAH: Wow. Thank you so much Bishop. Daktari, now that you've been practicing and you're dealing with these people, (I'm avoiding the term patients because that's what I'm used to as a medical student but let’s use the term client instead), now that you are dealing with clients on a daily basis, I think you are probably better situated to tell us, are you seeing more cases now? And as Bishop has said is it because of the awareness? You know, people are becoming more aware of mental illnesses. Are you seeing more cases now than you used to in the past and why do you think that's the case? DR GABRIEL: The cases are increasing. When you look at the statistics from NACADA, there is increased availability of these illegal or illicit drugs. We have a lot of unregulated ways of handling them, especially on the effects and low levels of awareness. If I may use the word cartels especially in terms of the illicit drugs, like Marijuana, they have taken advantage of the low levels of awareness especially among our youths. You know, by lying to them that this drug will support them, especially the students, to pass their exams and before they realize they are already hooked and because addiction is a brain disease, this person becomes dependent and this therefore becomes a crisis.

Bishop also talked about the challenges the families are facing. The parents are not aware especially of the effects. The world has become like a global village. Look at the use of technology. These guys are googling a lot and they know a lot but they're looking for the right answers from the wrong sources especially the internet. I was doing some research and I found out that there is something called medical Marijuana. For instance, when you look at America and some of these developed countries they are able to extract the medical part or the active ingredient that is usable and use it in the treatment of diseases like cancer.

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A BROKEN FAMILY STRUCTURE a huge contributor to an increased cases of mental illnesses & substance abuse and However, in Africa and Kenya in particular, we are very far from using medical Marijuana because we don't have that technology yet. As a result of poor information and poor level of awareness people are just using with that mindset that “hii ni dawa”. This now becomes a crisis. Therefore, this is one of the major problems that we are tackling because the cases are too much to a point that we are becoming overwhelmed. We normally do community outreaches within residential areas and sometimes just as outpatient. Just as pastor has said, if we don’t make it like a gospel, it means that this is already a disaster in a way. When we look at the family structures, some of these youngsters especially the boy child are lacking mentors because some of the key figures i.e. the father figures are already affected. They lack that capacity to address to their children especially the boy child. Unfortunately some of them even send them to buy these drugs because they're already sick. According to my statistics in the last three years, many of the clients about 90% of them are brought into rehab by their mothers or a very understanding relative or a sibling who is playing the role of a father figure, but the father figure-the biological fatheris absent. We have a crisis of parenthood. In the family structures when the head is affected, everything else becomes a challenge. Then there is also that social component that we try to handle with parents and structures like the church.

DR. GABRIEL - MWEA SERENITY

FRIDAH: Yeah. You’ve mentioned something there and I want to jump right in and ask. In my assumption, I thought that most of your clients come from the primary healthcare setup as referrals but what you are saying that most of them are brought in by a willing relative or their social support system. Is that right? DR GABRIEL: There's a lot of awareness that this is becoming a crisis. Previously there were a lot of referrals from mainstream medical facilities. For instance, we have been getting people from Kerugoya County Referral Hospital. There’s a ward that handles psychosis and mental issues and addiction and when they realize that there are cases that need rehabilitation they refer, but currently you’ll realize that about 60% of our clients are directly from the community. So people are becoming more aware and when the client gets better and recovers he will influence others in the community positively and the awareness continues. This is working so well but we need to do more especially on the side of stigma.

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FEATURE STORY

<<<< FRIDAH:

Bishop, I want to bring the church community right into this conversation because I know you've been a pastor in your church for some time and you have been practicing Christian counseling. Have you encountered such cases in your in your practice or in the congregation? Most people would want to believe that you don't have some of these things in the church. As we did our campaign last year, we found out that for most people when they face a crisis in their life, about 40% of them will reach out to a pastor or members of the clergy first. So you are almost like in the front line when it comes to dealing with these cases. So have you seen some of these things happen in the congregation or the church community?

In English the word Rehabilitation means reviewing, repeating redeeming or reforming. Even spiritually it's a very nice phrase that can encourage one to recover from any condition. - Dr. Gabriel

According to my statistics in the last three years, many of the clients about 90% of them are brought into rehab by their mothers or a very understanding relative or a sibling who is playing the role of a father figure, but the father figure-the biological fatheris absent. - Dr. Gabriel

BISHOP JIM: I'll start by saying that the church is made up of people. In his preamble, the doctor said these diseases do not spare anybody. The last few years I started working with pastors and I started something called Naked and Not Ashamed where as ministers, bishops, pastors and Reverends would get into a room and begin to discuss about our own mental issues. I did some research and realized that out of 10 pastors about six of them are dealing with mild depression. So if the Shepherd himself is going through that you expect the same to be replicated.

Our congregations have people who are dealing with the issues that we outlined before so if they come to church and we are only dealing with them spiritually, and this is why I've been saying that the pulpit needs to re-invent itself. We've been working with several bodies to make sure that we give pastors basic skills on counseling. We are breaking the silence about mental issues. It's not always a curse or a demon. Sometimes it can be attributed to other things where the church now becomes a voice because the church is the first place people come as you said. It is therefore important that pastors receive basic professional skills, sometimes even to be able to notice somebody who is going through mental health issues. Again, our members trust us so much. They'll come and tell me something they'll never even tell a psychologist. So if I have some basic skills and a way to structure the help that I want to disseminate, it'll be powerful. Secondly, we need also to have partnerships with the professionals. That's why we work very well with Gabriel because he's dealing with that at his level. Church people are going through this and we are starting to talk about it. For example, in our church, we have a mental health week every month where I talk about basic mental health issues and where I need help I’ll call professionals like Gabriel. We talk about how to manage depression, how to manage stress Et cetera.

FRIDAH: I feel like I'm sitting right in the future that I have hoped to see, because in the last year, when we did our mental health awareness campaign, I was trying to show the need for us-as the church, because I'm part of the church as wellto be aware of these issues. Are we able to pick out that somebody in a midst is going through depression or struggling with an addiction? Are we able to see that they're going through that and are we willing and able to encourage them to seek help? So one of the things that came up last year just as you sharing, is that even as we continue creating awareness, we need to make sure that we have contacts and networks of professionals whom we can refer the people that need help to. I am so elated to hear that you have mental health awareness weeks in church. BISHOP: It's something we intend to escalate beyond our own church. I happen to be privileged to work with other bodies that are really championing mental health and I would want pastors or anybody that has a place of influence to know that if we don't, as Daktari said, combat this issue and face it head on it will really effect, even on the social economic aspect of our nation. Most of our young people that are throwing stones need to be in a rehab. The devil and sometimes the systems are using sick people so the church must become bold and take up position in the community and talk to people about this and let people know is not always a curse and somebody can get well. We can have a healthier nation and that would be good for all of us. FRIDAH: Yeah. I think that devil has been taking advantage of our silence BISHOP: And also our ignorance about this.

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F E ATU RE STO R Y <<<<

FRIDAH: Okay. So Daktari I want us to talk about the recovery process in a minute. If you spot someone who has a substance use disorder, how is the treatment process like? Whom should we reach out to first? When people hear the word rehab, the stigma that is attached to that word alone makes them not seek treatment. So where should one begin? DR GABRIEL:

Thank you. I think the word stigma is too loud in the community. In English the word Rehabilitation means reviewing, repeating, redeeming or reforming. Even spiritually it's a very nice phrase that can encourage one to recover from any condition. Now back to your question. In sociology, we talk about the family as the basic unit of the society. I'm assuming I'm talking to the families, several families. Our clients are people who come from different families. The best model in my experience is that you should start from the family. Within the family structure, if you realize that someone has just changed, for example they now have poor appetite, poor sleep patterns, mood issues, and the inability to address basic activities like bathing or going to work or absenteeism, we must raise an alarm.

So at the family level we can start by looking at one another and taking care of one another. Any condition that affects the family will affect the community e.g. the church and schools. I like using the church because I've been working with the church community for a long time. Our pastors, bishops and church leaders are in the community and they are able to reach the community. Our spiritual leaders listen to all issues or concerns. If all goes well through this good partnership, Bishop Jim, we can have a platform where we have a network that is holistic that receives all issues concerning mental health. We can keep a database or a network of the referral system, just as you are indicating. If it is a medical issue as psychiatrics we know how to handle it. If it's a psychological issue then we use the right structures to handle the psychological issues. If it is a social issue or religious, because the religious component is key, we have our pastors who are well equipped. In our assessment, we also realized that lack of faith or lack of a spiritual component in a human being can lead to a mental disorder. There are conditions called delusional disorders. Have you ever found someone calling himself God? This is because they're lacking an attachment or a link to their spiritual being.

A HOLISTIC INTERVENTION Just as Bishop said, if we realize that the matter is spiritual, we bring the spiritual leaders on board. We realized that God gave us three components; the body, the soul and the spirit. If the body is affected, the spirit will not be able to live in it. It'll get disorganized. We therefore need to make sure that we respond and work together and establish strong networks in order to address this matter holistically. FRIDAH: I think there's something you mentioned when you began; the biopsychosocial approach. I think I might want to add biopsychosocialspiritual so as to include the spiritual component just on a lighter note. FRIDAH: Bishop Jim, I think this is the first platform that I'm sitting in, where science and faith are not in conflict.

....In our assessment, we also realized that lack of faith or lack of a spiritual component in a human being can lead to a mental disorder.

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Mwea Serenity Centre COUNSELING & TREATMENT CENTRE

CONTACT

254 720108403

SERVICES; ADDICTION COUNSELING & TREATMENT, PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC, MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTANCY

Located along Kagio Kinyaga Road; Kirinyaga County, Kenya

How Substance Use Disorder Hurts Your Family

Addiction creates a huge cloud of tension in a family that can erupt into conflict in a home or community. The user on many occasions will feel left out and assume that everyone is against them. By Joana Atetwe

The user on many occasions will feel left out and assume that everyone is against them. In defense or in an attempt to regain their status in a ubstance use disorder is home they may resort to conflict. In when a user is reliant on substances. extreme cases, this grows into These substances can be alcohol, domestic violence cases. Children who drugs, etc. These have for many grow up in homes with alcoholic years wreaked havoc on the lives of parents who were violent to the nonmany. Stealing the best of years from user parent, grow up in such unstable users and leading even to their homes. It creates a lasting effect of painful deaths. severe trauma, emotional turmoil, and For the most part, we always hear negative mindsets. about this disorder in the context of It causes trust to erode in a family. It the user. How it destroys their health, becomes hard to trust or rely on the mind, and ultimately their entire life. user to do anything or meet any I would however like to speak on commitments. It causes other how substance use disorder affects relatives to be relatively more guarded the lives of those around the user. and refrain from being around the This could be spouses, children, user and their family. With the lack of friends, and family members. trust, marriages break, and divorce In a familial and relationship context, rates increase in relationships where substance use disorder causes one partner is experiencing substance division brought about by a strained use disorder. connection. As the user is always in Living in a home with a person reliant and out of their mental wits, they on substances can be extremely cannot actively participate in any stressful causing a loss of weight, familial or related activities. The user especially in the case of the main misses out on the daily parts of life caretaker of the addict. The extreme and this causes a strain. They stress on the mind causes them to become estranged from their family, neglect taking care of themselves and spouse, and children. Substance use their quality of life and health may disorder creates a huge cloud of dwindle rapidly. Substance users end tension in a family that can erupt into up becoming estranged from their conflict in a home or community. families. This creates a loss of contact between family members.

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Substance use causes trust to erode in a family In worst cases due to an overdose or a disease brought on by the addiction, the family suffers grief caused by the death of the addict. Children who live around these circumstances, develop unhealthy coping mechanisms such as codependency. They perform poorly at school and may even have poor social skills or get easily led astray by peer pressure. They might be stigmatized as parents guard their children against them assuming that they too will grow up to be addicts. Families with addicts go through trying times of financial hardships caused by rehab and treatment for the addict. Rehab may be a cycle of in and out for the addict, which causes even further strain on the family. Perhaps one of the most commonly seen is the creation of negative roles in the family, by members to cope with the difficult situation at hand. The most often spotted is the role of the caretaker who is forced to take on the caring role. They put aside their lives for the well-being and care of the addict. They dedicate themselves to caring and hoping to fix the addict. >>>>

FEATURE STORY

Triggers of Substance Use Disorder BY FAITH MWANGI

here are various reasons that can trigger a person’s indulgence in substance use. Triggers may cause somebody to break down or lash out which may lead to the individual adopting unhealthy coping ways and in this case, in substance use. The triggers also cause an unexplainable craving that make a person want to engage in drug use. I will categorize these triggers in to three: Biological, psychological and social or environmental triggers.

<<<< Due to the heavy burden, the caretaker might feel isolated and crushed under the heavy burden that their role involves. The substance user, being in an unstable state of mind, might resort to the abuse of the caretaker either verbally, physically, emotionally, or sexually, in cases of couples. From everything above, one thing is true. Substance-use disorder destroys everyone. Children, wives, and the community at large. For those who are going through any of these issues or just living with an addict, I send you all my love and prayer that by grace, God may strengthen you to be able to overcome.

people recovering from substance use might be at risk of indulging in drug use again

Biological triggers

The genetic predisposition of an individual can trigger them to engage in substance abuse. People who have been raised by parents struggling with substance use disorders are more vulnerable to it from their adolescent years to their adult life.

Psychological triggers

Stress, depression, anxiety, physical and mental illnesses, pain, shame, grief, guilt, anger, regret, trauma, conflict, aggression, abuse and self-medication are among the major substance use triggers.

Often, when people are stressed, they find ways to calm them down or to help them cope with the difficult situations and that is why people recovering from substance use might be at risk of indulging in drug use again. Others prefer to take over the counter drugs to help them come down and in most cases, this leads to addiction especially if the individual cannot function without the drug.

Social/environme -ntal triggers Lack of a sober support system, social isolation and anxiety, broken families, marital and relationship instability, social situations or places where drugs are available, fantasizing about past drug use, friends addicted to substance use, places or objects surrounding a person struggling with substance abuse can all lead to cravings and if not controlled can lead to them consuming the drug. The best preventive measure is to avoid these places, people or things or get a counsellor, doctor or trusted friend to help them recover from substance use disorder. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 25

F E ATU RE STO R Y

Reassurance of Professionalism: A health Worker Perspective

In a familial and relationship context, substance use disorder causes division brought about by a strained connection. As the user is always in and out of their mental wits, they cannot actively participate in any familial or related activities. The user misses out on the daily parts of life and this causes a strain.

Geoffrey Kipsang is a health care worker; he has been a practicing nurse for quite some time. We had a conversation with him about how we have been handling SUD cases and what needs to change.

By Geoffrey Kipsang

iven this hypothetical situation, how would you react? Patient A comes into the hospital with 2nd degree burns. The patient is admitted and is going through treatment ,but as days go by he/she starts experiencing a set of symptoms that you identify as withdrawal symptoms. On further probing you find out that they have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), but during admission they denied any use of alcohol or any other substances.

How would you proceed from here? First, it is very important to create a rapport and give reassurance to this patient. A good doctor-patient relationship is paramount and very beneficial in facilitating treatment. The patient needs to feel safe giving up these personal details. Most patients hide or deny use of substance use because they feel like we are judging them or they don’t know how important it is for the doctor to have this information. SUDs are stigmatized thus a good relationship and rapport gives the patient confidence to share. 26 | CONVO ISSUE 5

What are some of the things we do as health care workers that make patients feel the need to hide their SUDs? Patients only need reassurance of our professionalism. We therefore need to learn how to come down to the patient’s level and assure them that we will deal with their case professionally without judging them. It is not our place to judge them. Supposing a patient comes in under the influence and as you are treating them you find out that they committed a crime while under the influence; as a doctor or a nurse your responsibility is to help them get better not to punish them for their crime. You therefore don’t handle him/her as a criminal but as your patient. This calls for us to have a change of attitude and to embrace professionalism.

Who is at risk of substance use disorders? By Faith Mwangi

Mental health issues and addiction can increase the rate at which a person can indulge in drug abuse either knowingly Patients with Dual or unknowingly.

Diagnosis.

nyone can develop a substance use disorder but some are more susceptible to it than others. Here are some of the people who are at risk of substance use disorders.

Teenagers who experiment drugs. People who try out drugs at an early age are more likely to carry it to adulthood which makes it very hard for them to outgrow the drugs. If a person starts using drugs at a young age, it alters the brain development which makes them vulnerable to mental health illnesses when they get older.

Dual diagnosis is a condition where the patient has an addictive disorder and a medical health condition that forces them to use strong drugs. This is usually known as prescription drug addiction. Mental health issues and addiction can increase the rate at which a person can indulge in drug abuse either knowingly or unknowingly.

Families with substance use history. This is referred to as Genetic predisposition to drug abuse. If someone comes from a family with repetitive drug abuse cases, they are at a higher risk of dealing with it.

Patients struggling with their Mental health People who struggle with mental illnesses for example depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) most times indulge in drugs, alcohol or other substances as their coping mechanisms. Self-control, keeping healthy relationships or networks, and personal goals are some of the ways a person can reduce the chances of substance use addiction.

Unraveling the mystery & Puzzle of Alcoholism BY ANNE MBOTELA COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, AUTHOR, COUNSELLOR AND COACH

ardly a family is spared the suffering that comes to an individual or individuals, plagued with alcoholism and codependence. Alcohol does not choose race or gender and is still a subject often misunderstood. There is therefore need to demystify it, so as to obtain a peace of mind in relationships where this problem exists.

Alcoholism is a devastating, potentially fatal disease. There are intricate issues that surround the subject and as many attitudes and prevailing ambiguities surrounding the same. Christian homes are not spared this lack of comprehension. Having grown up with parents who are now retired medics, I grasped quickly in the day that alcoholism is a mental disease.

In all, let us work towards understanding this most misunderstood topic in the society at large. For in understanding, we demystify a cause of many deaths and are more loving and warm towards those who find themselves in this predicament.

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F E ATU RE STO R Y

Psychologists, social workers, or alcohol counsellors can teach you how to: Change the behaviours that make you want to drink Deal with stress and other triggers Build a strong support system Set goals and reach them

Unlike other diseases however, it manifests from an almost selfinflicted cause, since the patient feeds their own body on drink, drugs or other substance. Nonetheless, we that are in relationship with the affected persons, must learn to handle them with compassion, while being firm in certain situations. The question begs: What is alcoholism? According to Alexander De Jong, the author of “Alcoholism and Co-dependency: Some of the commonly accepted definitions are: Alcoholism is present when there is physical compulsion and mental obsession with alcohol. Alcoholism is present when someone continues to drink even though drinking may destroy a marriage, ruin a family, cause the loss of a job, or land in prison. De Jong writes, “With alcoholism comes a cycle of pain: Drink; temporary release, pain and more drinking.” As deduced by Herbert L. Gravitz & Julie D. Bowden: “The primary symptom of having it is telling everyone – including yourself – that you are not an alcoholic.” Of interest is that humans around the world may share different spaces, races, language; yet intrinsically, they are created the same. The strengths and weaknesses on the scale of one to ten may differ, yet we suffer the scourge of humanity and dependency on those things, which provide only, temporal relief. There are global facts about the disease, alcoholism. There are global facts about the disease. ·Alcoholism is just as dangerous as any other form of addiction ·Alcoholism is a prevalent and widespread problem in the world ·Alcoholism, as a form of addiction, is not an individual’s choice ·Alcoholism often leads to many social and health problems ·Alcoholism has a genetic and family component ·You can recover from alcoholism, and you need help to do so 28 | CONVO ISSUE 5

The last pointer or fact leads us all to wonder, how do you support those who are afflicted by the disease? As in other nations, Kenya has provided accredited treatment and rehabilitation centres to support family members or friends suffering from the disease. Calls to make the centres affordable to the ordinary “mwananchi” have been at hand over the years. Nonetheless, in a home setting, more applicable tips follow: Know What Alcoholism is. Remember, alcoholism is not a weakness but a disease. ... Approach with care Open the lines of communication Find out the underlying cause of alcoholism Don't Offer ultimatums and threats Avoid being the trigger Do not enable their addiction Involve other people When we speak about involving other people CBT–Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Kenya, who are mental health professionals, break it down for us. § See a Counselor or Therapist– With alcohol use disorder, controlling your drinking is only part of the answer. You also need to learn new skills and strategies to use in everyday life

There are intricate issues that surround the subject and as many attitudes and prevailing ambiguities surrounding the same. Christian homes are not spared this lack of comprehension. There are many solutions offered through online searches and asking friends who have walked either the therapy or rehab journey also support. In all, let us work towards understanding this most misunderstood topic in the society at large. For in understanding, we demystify a cause of many deaths and are more loving and warm towards those who find themselves in this predicament. One last, but important element in finding solutions is to follow the instructions of a prophet who lived many years ago. Jeremiah says of the Creator of the Universe: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 Let’s take time to pray for those you know are suffering with alcoholism, and then stand back to marvel at what their Creator deems fit to do.

HEALING IS POSSIBLE

Healing is Possible is a support group for people struggling with mental illnesses and people seeking to improve their mental health

Write to us: +254 736 230599 CONVO | ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

Who is most at risk of SUDs? SUDs affect people differently. People who experience physical, emotional and sexual abuse or trauma are very vulnerable. This is because when one goes through trauma, they develop a kind of a vacuum especially if they went through it while they were very young. These people are therefore at a very high risk of developing SUDs as compared to people who never experienced such kind of trauma. Such people are also more likely to hate themselves and develop self pity. For them to run away from that hurt, guilt, anger and the hopelessness they turn to drugs. The age group with a higher risk is mostly between 18 to 24 years. They are very vulnerable.

The role of the parent

FAMILY IN THE FOREFRONT in alleviating substance use BY ELIZABETH GAKUNYI COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST & FAMILY THERAPIST

Elizabeth is a counseling psychologist and a family therapist. She was one of our guest panelists and here is what she has to say about drug and substance use disorders.

believe this is an important conversation because we are trying to look for ways to help people struggling with drug and substance use disorders. Currently, there has been an increase in drug and substance use. This can be attributed to very many factors. First, we have the family setups. A lot of people are into drugs because of the poor role models in the family set up. Some parents are not very careful about what they're doing and they forget that their children are watching and looking up to them. Children are most likely to do what they see their parents or guardians doing.

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The family, particularly the nuclear family has really contributed to the increase of drug and substance use disorders we have been experiencing recently. Secondly, there is the environment. We live in a very different environment. Some environments are very hostile, some are not very conducive. Case in point, even in the rural areas these days you find a bar or club after every 100 meters and there are very many children living in such congested environments. The children will therefore end up using drugs due to the influence of the environment. The environment is therefore very vital as far as substance use is concerned and therefore the disorders.

Parents have a major and pivotal role. As far as parenting is concerned we need to set clear rules and clear boundaries. When rules are set children are likely to follow. How you bring up a child is how he or she grows. When you bring up your children with very defined rules, they're able to follow them. The Bible says train up a child in the way he should go and when they are old they will never depart from it. Secondly, instill the right value systems in your home. Every home should have values that are supposed to be followed. Show your children what is wrong and what is right and why they should not engage in the wrong things. There are three pillars in a family that makes a family stand firm. One is the structure. You have to structure your home to what you want it to be. Structure is like a known procedure of how things are done. Everyone in the family knows how things operate and that they are not supposed to divert. The other pillar is order. Is there order in your family? Things have to be done in a way that is not chaotic. Finally, there is discipline. These are the three pillar of the family. With good structures, order and discipline there is no room for emptiness and carelessness. Everyone is aware of their roles, expectations and responsibilities. Another thing you can do as a parent is to educate your children. Educate them about the dangers of drugs. Show them pictures of people who have been in substance use for a very long time. Show them the consequences of taking drugs. Education is everything because it brings about sensitization.

FEATURE STORY

teens & internet

Internet has become easily accessible in our families. How well can we cushion our children from its negative consequences? It is said that when the purpose of something is not known abuse is inevitable. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 22:15 that “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child.” He obviously recognized that children and young people don’t tend to make the wise choices and decisions on their own. Therefore, we ought to take up responsibility of guiding and leading them especially in the technological world.

By Maxwel Waswa

s much as smartphones have had a lot of benefits, its necessary that we consider a few ways smartphones can be harmful to young people so that we are able to offer help and support where necessary. I know you will definitely agree with me that internet can be very addictive and therefore waste valuable time.

Smartphones can connect you with someone abroad within seconds but again our teenagers will be tempted to navigate through some inappropriate ads and content that is harmful. Such contents include, sexual contents and contents displaying violence against children and women. When children assimilate this kind of information it can be destructive on their mental structure. Also we have songs that goes against societies morals and standards and this could derail their value system.

As a parent, teach your teenagers why they should not visit some sites. Do not shy away from discussing some issues with them. If as parents do not teach them, they will learn from the world. In cases of addiction, the teenagers will spend much of their night browsing, chatting, playing games watching and seeping late at night. This reduces their effectiveness on duties and assignments. Laziness is also a big problem with addiction with internet. A teenager can spend long hours on social sites and not doing anything substantive. In most cases smartphones will take priority over school work or time with family.

If we really love our children, we ought to put checks and balances on the use of smartphones and this includes putting some restrictions on the sites they visit. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 31

F E ATU RE STO R Y

Porn and your Brain

> 28,258 persons are watching pornography every second. > $3,075.64 is spent on porn every second on the internet.

> 79% of porn performers have used marijuana, and 50% have used ecstasy. - Covenanteyes.com

The statistics seem farfetched but the gravity of the situation cannot be taken lightly. Even though communities across the world are embracing these habits as a norm, it doesn't make it right nor does it reduce the damaging impact it has on society, if anything it has only made it worse

By Doug Kanja

The mind - rewiring the brain Dopamine, the reward hormone that leaves you craving for more. Dopamine plays a huge role in how we make a decision, being the reward hormone we are inclined to lean towards habits that stimulate release of dopamine, the more rewarding an activity is, the more likely we are to lean towards it.

n an age where billions of people have access to the internet at considerably low costs, access to information is now at our fingertips. It is estimated that there are about 1.7 billion websites on the world wide web. Websites that offer varying solutions to its explorers. Both the good and the bad. Though the internet is not the center of this article, it is the number one enabler and thus the need to mention it.

Some people are excited by watching games while others like cooking, watching a movie. In other words, dopamine acts like a hobby hormone. Sexual activities on the other brings about a flood of this hormone, with a combination of other hormones sexual experiences are different from other hobbies. The brain can develop a resistance towards the hormone meaning it would take a higher amount of dopamine for the reward effect to come into play.

We are going to have a look at three behavioral patterns that have plagued our generation, their impact and if there is any reprieve. So what harm does watching porn do? Well, words might not give an accurate description, but we'll try anyway.

Continued exposure to pornographic content makes the brain resistant to normal levels thus people end up consuming more porn for gratification. This leads to the consumer developing a taste for more graphic and probably violent content.

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As the brain is basically being rewired, the habits of the consumer are affected. Since the thrill found in porn cannot be found in normal ways of living, their work and social life is affected. Addiction to porn is just as bad as substance addiction, it's crippling and hard to recover from. breeding the following effects Distorted perceptions of the opposite gender. Man and women addicted to it have said that to a large extent, they see other people as just sexual objects and not people with a life nor dignity. Any interaction outside sex is not satisfying. Infidelity is high among porn consumers. As they interact with a lot of characters in the explicit content, a single sexual partner is simply not enough. This leads to divorce, unplanned pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. In God's plan sexual gratification should be met in the confines of marriage with consent, respect and in a bond building environment, but for many, both single and married, but for many it is a moment shared with strangers. Porn consumption is a slow death; it sucks the life out of a person, it is slavery and a corruption of what is intended for good. God's plan is for us to dominate and not be dominated by habits or addiction.

FEATURE STORY

Economic effects of SUD's Drug and substance abuse has increasingly placed a threat on the workplaces, healthcare system and the community by reducing productivity hence affecting the economy of the country.

By Faith Mwangi

ere are some effects of substance use disorders on the economy.

Increased Work Absenteeism People with substance use disorder tend to take more sick leaves than other employees.

Reduced productivity Substance abuse causes damage to the brain which explains why most people with the disorder record very high cases of unproductivity. Problems in personal relationships and lack of self drive due to heavy substance use also lowers their performance.

Increased poverty levels Apart from spending too much money on the drugs and other medication, people suffering from substance use disorder experience too many economic problems such as low wages due to increased rate of unemployment.

Increased mortality rate Drug and substance abuse increases the death rate of many individuals in the country. This further leads to a decreased number of the population that is employed and those that are working which lowers the economic output, gross profit margins and slows down economic growth in the long and short run

Misuse of the country's funds and revenue Money is spent on finding ways to correct the behavior by e.g. rehabilitation, therapy and counselling sessions which can be used go develop the economy and increase the GDP. There is a need to identify strategies that can be adopted to reduce substance use disorder in the country and the world at large.

ONLY

COUNTRIES HAVE METHADONE AVAILABLE FOR MAINTENANCE TREATMENT OF OPIOID DEPENDENCE ATLAS-SU (ATLAS - SU)

269M PEOPLE

HAVE USED DRUGS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR (WORLD DRUG REPORT) CONVO ISSUE 5 | 33

MUSIC THERAPY

YES! MUSIC CAN HELP CURE ADDICTION

usic therapy practice has been fruitful in drug, and substance rehabilitation over the years. Here are four activities that are carried out during music therapy. Addicts experience negative emotions like shame, hopelessness, loneliness, and rejection. These emotions can be toned down through listening to curated playlists of inspirational music. It takes time, consistency, and effort to learn to play an instrument. A patient who successfully learns to play an instrument gains a sense of achievement and the willpower to deal with cravings and withdrawal symptoms. During rehabilitation, patients experience withdrawal symptoms and relapses. Playing instrumental songs helps distract their minds from the withdrawal symptoms.

PASCAL BILL

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Unpleasant feelings that are hard to verbalize can easily and openly be expressed through songwriting.

This further reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. Songwriting and singing as a group (community music therapy) gives patients a voice to speak about their transformation, have a sense of belonging and gain support from the community. They also get to evangelize to others addicts and provide a roadmap to healing. Music Therapy is a promising contributor to the process of rehabilitation and clinical work. It has never been easier to access research materials via the internet and draw stakeholders' attention to the need to institutionalize this practice in the African continent.

FEATURE STORY

Healing is Possible Unconditional regard is dignifying to every human being. No matter how bad someone they may be, they deserve a fair chance to be heard and seen.

believe the worst kind of poverty is that of the mind and unhealed trauma is one of the leading causes for this condition. I believe that healing is final, the Healer made it so. But it seems our minds and bodies' grasp of it is sometimes gradual depending on the knowledge we have and how we use it. One of the beauties of being healed in my opinion is clarity. As a counsellor the first thing I learnt is that, many of us, especially those who find ourselves doing it probono are healed healers. There is this strong urge to pass on what you have experienced and benefited from. However, this doesn’t apply to counsellors only, many times it is the order of life for humans who live interdependently with others. We crave to have those close to us be healed in order to have healthy and fulfilling relationships.

As this kind of healer, you meet with all kinds of hurt people including those that are out to hurt you, knowingly or unknowingly. But, this is where clarity comes in and helps a big deal. It allows you to be clear on your stand and offer unconditional regard as they express themselves. Unconditional regard is dignifying to every human being. No matter how bad someone they may be, they deserve a fair chance to be heard and seen. The second part of clarity allows us to make decisions on how to proceed. From experience I have noticed that some hurt people may use unconditional regard as a clutch to try and manipulate, again knowingly or unknowingly. Clarity helps us to see this and depending on the situation handle it accordingly. Allowing it to continue only aggravates the situation one way or another. Many times and especially with those close to us, it means setting boundaries or enforcing them while at the same time communicating them clearly when the opportunity presents itself.

3 John 2:2, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

By Angelina N. Ndung'u

She is a User Researcher and Peer counselor. Has trained in counseling and Behavioural science. She is also the lead project manager and Technology strategist at Eighty Leverage Limited.

Other times it means asking for help from a non-partisan and qualified person(s). In counselling, this is called supervision (all confidentiality protocols maintained). In everyday life instances, this might entail you seeking help from one who is more mature in this area than you or even a therapist. I do not recommend doing this with your buddy, who will always side with you or even just help you to organize a pity or mushene party or even worse become overwhelmed by it. I think friends are for venting out sometimes but, if the symptoms persist, please see a qualified person (Trusted spiritual leader, counsellor etc.). All in all, take responsibility for your wellness and help the ones around you to do the same. Dare to know yourself, even the nicely hidden or shameful areas, heal! And, keep moving on to even higher heights that you never even thought existed. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 35

A platform where we can share our experiences as patients, health care workers and caregivers

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promoting health seeking behaviors

An Initiative of Wachira Fridah; 6th Year MBChB Join Doctor's bench Group on Facebook

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Am I Really Addicted? The first step to making any change in life is recognizing the need for that change and having the willingness to take action towards achieving it. It is impossible to implement change that you don’t appreciate. By Wachira Fridah

6th Year medical student (MBChB) at Kenyatta University, Kenya and a medical blogger.

arly this year I got an invitation from a psychiatrist to a meeting where a recovering addict was addressing health care workers to help them understand the journey towards recovery for most addicts.The speaker of that meeting was a lady who had struggled with alcohol and smoking addiction for many years. She had been in and out of rehab and had had numerous relapses. The conversation with this brave lady was quite an eye opener for most of us. She started us off by stating that it took her a long time to recognize that she was in fact an addict. Most of her friends would use the same substances but they didn’t seem to be nearly as affected as she was. People would point out all the time that she was addicted to alcohol but she was in denial for a long time. Her turning point was when she began to shake uncontrollably one early morning while driving her daughter to school. She had to look for a place to get some alcohol in order to keep driving. This is when reality finally hit home that she was in fact dependent on alcohol and cigarettes. After this she nearly died from withdrawal effects as she tried to convince herself and prove to her family members that she was not addicted. The first step to making any change in life is recognizing the need for that change and having the willingness to take action towards achieving it. It is impossible to implement change that you don’t appreciate. If you don’t see your addiction or substance/drug use as a problem then you will not find the motivation and willingness to actively do something about it.

Identify an addiction early enough before things get out of hand That said, before we go too far into this discussion it is important to find out if your behavior or drug/substance use is actually an addiction or not. Unfortunately most people realize that they are addicted when there has already been a lot of damage to their physical, mental and social lives. Is it possible to identify an addiction early enough before things get out of hand and change becomes nearly impossible? The answer is Yes! There are criteria in the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM V) for identifying if one is addicted or not. They include;

1. Using the substance in larger amounts and for longer periods than was originally intended. 2. Having a persistent desire to cut down or regulate the substance use but having multiple unsuccessful attempts in doing so. 3. Spending a lot of time obtaining the substance, using and recovering from its effects. In very severe cases the person’s life revolves around the substance. 4. Experiencing intense desires or urges for the substance. This may happen at any time but more likely when in an environment where the substance was previously used or obtained. 5. Social impairment- being unable to meet one’s responsibilities in school at home or at work. 6. Continuing the use of the substance despite experiencing persistent and recurrent social and relationship problems as a result of the substance use. 7. Stopping or reducing important social, occupational or recreational activities so that you can use the substance. 8. Risky use of the substance e.g using it while driving. 9. Continuing using the substance despite being aware that the physical and psychological problems you are experiencing are as a result of the substance use. 10. Experiencing tolerance i.e requiring a markedly higher dose of the substance in order to achieve the desired effect. 11. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and shaking once you stop consuming the substance or the drug. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 37

the need for content marketing for your business Content that CONVERTS By James Wetu

n today's world of information overload and instant gratification, it is imperative that businesses use content marketing to stay relevant. Content marketing is the process of creating content such as blogs and videos in order to attract potential customers by fostering awareness about your products. It can be beneficial to use other online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn not only in order to build a relationship with potential customer but also create a company website that can help you tap into your target audience. So, how can your business create content that's relevant and educative?

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"The possible answers are limitless," said Malcolm Burrows, chief executive and founder of the content marketing agency Southern Content. "Some people focus on their own experience, a little research and then write about it. The example that I like is when you go to the supermarket and buy a can of tuna. I read that tuna has been packed in water for four weeks but the label says 'best before date', so I wrote an article about it." The goal is to craft content that appeals to your customers' needs and interests. Looking for someone to help you in your marketing content? contact us now. Content is marketing that works. It's practical, progressive, and extremely effective to support your business. Write great content, and your business will benefit from the traffic it generates, SEO rankings in Google and the leads you generate from it.

The goal is to craft content that appeals to your customers' needs and interests.

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CONDUCTING CHANGE IN YOUR ORGANISATION Why change in your business may face resistance and what you can do about By Lynette Mwangi it. MSc Strategic Management

hange involves being different, undergo transformation or transition. Change is inevitable in almost every area of our lives and day to day activities. Businesses experience changes in the environment they operate in both internally and externally. Businesses are dynamic in that they constantly keep changing in order to cope with an ever revolving environment. All change in businesses affects every stakeholder; from employees, managers, clients to suppliers among others. Not every party in the business responds positively to change. Some people don’t like being distracted from their normal routines, while some embrace change as soon as it is effected. That is to say different people take up change differently.

But recognizing the need for change in the businesses is the first step to introduce change. These changes are triggered by certain factors like politics, economy, social factors, technology, changes on laws and regulations, global market among others. It is important that businesses adapt and respond to change accordingly. How businesses respond to these changes determines how successful it will be thereafter. Managing change is difficult irrespective of whether that change is minor or major.

>>>>

<<<<

Good communication is one of the hallmarks of a company that runs like a well-oiled machine.

SO WHY IS THERE RESISTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGE? CULTURE

01.

Every business has a culture; way of doing things; values and beliefs. Culture is brought about by; the stories of the business’ past events, rituals and routines, and the structure. All these add up to the way a business appears. The people who are thus affected by change in this category are those who run the business/make executive decisionsmanagers and business owners who tend to tune the strategic change to fit into the existing culture as well as the employees. Hence the reason given for resisting change being “we have always done it this way, why change?”

LACK OF COMMUNICATION 04.

FEAR OF INDIVIDUALS (EMPLOYEES) 02.

This is in reference to needs that influence human behavior. These needs are arranged hierarchically according to Maslow; - (self-actualization, esteem, sense of belonging, safety and psychological). When change is introduced, individuals will see the change as either an opportunity or a threat to achieving their needs hence resist this change. At its worst it may threaten their job security, what they used to afford and can no longer afford. This leads to employees and clients questioning the change.

INTEREST IN THE CURRENT STATUS QUO

03.

The proposed changes represent a potential loss of the power to influence the business’ direction and/or the behavior of people. None wants to lose power to make decisions or control people. Hence change is likely to face resistance from such. Changes to working practices will almost inevitably involve the acquisition of new skills and an individual's sense of self-esteem may be threatened by the fear of not being able to cope with learning the necessary skills.

Good communication is one of the hallmarks of a company that runs like a well-oiled machine. When a business decides to make changes, proper communication about why the changes are being made and how the management plans on implementing them is essential. If the employee and clients have no idea why they are being asked to change protocols that they are familiar and comfortable with, they will obviously resist those changes.

WHAT THEN SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS RESISTANCE TO CHANGE? Engage the various stakeholders or those that will be affected by the change in the process of making the change so that they don’t feel left out and embrace the change a little bit better. It provides a sense of control over the process, which can help allay the fears. Communicate the change effectivelyThe best way to communicate change is to explicitly tell employees and/or clients what is going on. Using a blend of formal and informal communication allows you to ensure that all employees/clients receive the news about the change in some way or another. Employing several different ways to communicate change helps explain the vision, goals and expectations for what needs to happen and why. Introduce the change in several stages. Change doesn’t happen all at once. Businesses should first prepare for the change, then act on the change and make a plan for managing the change, and then, support the change and assure that all is going as planned. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 41

Investment Dilemma Having a savings account with an established Sacco gives a platform to grow your starting capital.

By Simon Mutahi

ow can I invest while am earning too little? Investment is for those with huge capital and salaries! These and many more are among the outstanding beliefs held by individuals who have not yet decided to invest. The truth is, fear has clouded their judgement to only believe that they will only make it after being employed and given a large salary. Laying down all fear, every individual should have an open mind to investing. They should be curious of how it can be done and be ready to take the first step. Although investing requires capital, having a great investment plan and knowledge aids the process and allows individuals to start from a safe point. Unlike in the past, today’s business world has facilitated many opportunities to people ranging from those who are earning little amounts to those earning millions. For instance, having a savings account with an established Sacco gives a platform to grow your starting capital. Joining self-help groups and social welfare groups has also assisted individuals to borrow money to do startups. Other opportunities that have helped individuals to rise from their financial state are equipment loans, highly utilized by boda boda riders who take motor cycles on debt and pay while earning.

The Nairobi Express Way Changing the skylines of one's of the East Africa's most developed capital. By James Wetu

he expressway, which is a fourlane dual carriageway, has an initial design speed of 80 kilometers per hour. It has an elevated section of about 8 kilometers.

The bridge between available opportunities and investing successfully is knowledge.

The dual carriageway has 11 interchanges at Mlolongo, Standard Gauge Railway, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Eastern Bypass, Southern Bypass, Capital Centre, Haile Selassie Avenue, Museum Hill, Westlands and James Gichuru Road. Motorcycles, bicycles, scooters and tuktuks will not be allowed to access the highway. Also prohibited are pedestrians and skaters.

At SN properties consultants, we share knowledge, well customized to fit every individual, exposing the available gaps and niches in the market. When well utilized, positive results can only be inevitable.

The construction of the NairobiNairobi expressway is expected to improve the connectivity between the northern and southern portions of the city.

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It will also help in the movement of people and goods. The project is expected to transform the appearance of the city and reduce the travel time by about 15 minutes. It's also expected to improve the flow of traffic in and out of the central business district.

Once completed, the four-lane dual carriageway will run over 27km, linking Mlolongo town in Machakos county and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

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F ITN E SS & W E L NE SS

Fitness for Mental Strength

By Rachel Mutuku

n the issue 3 , we talked about men and fitness, how important it is for them to keep exercising. We looked at a few exercises they can do on a regular basis to keep fit and active. Now this time we look into fitness and mental health for everyone, how doing exercise affects our mental wellness, is it necessary to do exercises and how much of it is really impactful in regards to mental health. We already know that exercise is good for our bodies, but did you know that exercise can actually boost your mood, improve your sleep and help handle anxiety, depression and stress? We need to understand that physical workouts are not just about the stamina and muscle build up. Exercise can improve your health, physical fitness, and even increase a life span. But that is not what motivates most of us to stay active. Most of the people who do regular exercise do so because it gives them a huge sense of well-being. They are more energetic, they have better sleep, they have sharper memory and they feel relaxed and positive about life. Let’s look at how exercising helps us achieve a life that is free of depression, anxiety and stress. I choose to look at these three because they are part of the greatest contributing mental health distractors.

01.

Depression

Exercise is an effective anti-depressant with absolutely no side effects. Medics will explain to us that our brains need neural growth, reduced inflammation which causes the feeling of calmness. This can be very effectively achieved by regular exercise. Physical training also helps release some powerful chemicals – endorphins in the brain that energize and make one feel good. Exercise are a very powerful distraction which allows you some quiet time so you can break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that lead to depression. We all desire to be mentally healthy and it is us who have the responsibility to see that it is achieved. You don’t have to give so many hours to train in the gym or running for miles to achieve physical and mental wellness. 30 minutes of average exercise five days a weeks is good enough. For anyone who is not able to work out for the entire 30 minutes, 44 | CONVO ISSUE 5

We need to understand that physical workouts are not just about the stamina and muscle build up. Exercise can improve your health, physical fitness, and even increase a life span

02.

Anxiety

Exercise relieves tension, enhances well-being through the release of endorphins. Anything that gets one moving can help; the sensation of your feet hitting the ground, your rhythm of breathing, focusing on your on your body and how it feels as you exercise. This does not only improve physical health but also makes you able to interrupt the flow of constant worries that are running through your mind.

03.

Stress

When you are stressed up, your muscles are most likely to be tense, mostly on the face, neck and shoulder. This leaves you with either back or neck pains and sometimes headaches among others. The discomfort they cause can lead to a vicious cycle between the mind and the body. Exercise breaks this cycle and helps relax the muscles and relieve tension in the body. It is okay to do 15 or 10 minutes for a start and slowly increase the sessions and for those that cannot find time on weekdays, I encourage you to be weekend warriors. When you are tired, encourage yourself to a 5 minute walk, chances are, once you are in motion, you will able to gather more energy and end up walking longer. As I always say, training is paining but gaining. I encourage all of us to run, sweat and repeat.

NUTRITION Substance Use Disorders and Nutrition The role of nutrition in recovering from substance use disorders and the effects of SUDs on a person’s nutritional status is a conversation that has always been overlooked and deemed as of less importance. The consequences of our ignorance in this area are not insignificant. I therefore believe that this is a conversation that matters and is needful if at all we are interested in the human being as a whole. By Sylvia Musinzi Msc in Nutrition.

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What is the role of nutrition during recovery from substance use disorders? neurotransmitters are decreased due to poor nutrition and altered amino acid absorption and utilization. This leaves the patients feeling depressed, agitated, and unregulated early in recovery

Proper nutrition and hydration are key in the recovery process because they help restore physical and mental health and improve the chance of recovery. Macro- and micronutrient deficiencies can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low energy, all of which can cause someone to start using drugs or alcohol or trigger a relapse.

Heal and Nourish Substance use is known to lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that threaten physical and mental health, damage vital organs and the nervous system, and decrease immunity. Harmful lifestyles often are associated with addiction, such as poor eating patterns, lack of exercise, and changes in sleep patterns. These compounding factors result in an increased risk of long-term health problems, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, weight problems, and eating disorders.

By Sylvia Musinzi

hronic substance use affects a person’s nutritional status and body composition through various ways which include: Decreased intake – people using drugs and substances tend to take in less nutrients and this may lead to malnutrition Nutrient absorption – the absorption of nutrients in the body is also affected by different drugs and substances Dysregulation of hormones that alter the mechanisms of satiety and food intake – hormones are made from amino acids which may be less during the period someone is suffering from an SUD. Decreased intake of amino acids means decreased hormone levels which affect various bodily functions including food intake and satiety.

To help an individual recover from the effects of substance use, it's important to supply them with balanced, calorically appropriate meals. It's vital to correct any nutritional deficiencies and address any medical conditions, as continued malnutrition and instability increase disease risk and will produce cravings for drugs or alcohol. Increased consumption of nutrient-dense foods (e.g. fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish) and antioxidants is important; these foods help decrease inflammation, reduce cell oxidation, and provide the basics of a healthful diet.

Normalize Neurotransmitters and Mood Psychoactive substances may lead to psychiatric problems, as the substances can have toxic effects on brain chemistry. Before detoxification, neurotransmitters are decreased due to poor nutrition and altered amino acid absorption and utilization. This leaves the patients feeling depressed, agitated, and unregulated early in recovery. It's thought that these imbalances disappear over a period of weeks but may last as long as one year after an addict becomes sober. For some, mood and behavior abnormalities may have been present before the substance use. With proper diagnosis of any possible underlying mental health disorders, a healthful diet and education on how nutrition influences mood and brain chemistry, recovery can be enhanced. The role of nutrition should therefore not be ignored during recovery.

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KITCH E N

recipe

Food for Recovery By Dennis Njiru DEE's Caterers

ecovery is a team effort in that all the areas of our daily lives must cooperate with each other for the common goal of recovering from an addiction. One important area that often gets forgotten is diet. Certain foods can actually assist us in recovery. The brain interacts with different foods in several significant ways. It is always important to assess one’s diet in terms of health, especially when a person is recovering from an addiction. Let us discuss some of the key aspects of food and brain connection and how this matters during recovery. First, scientists have continuously proven that food affects our moods. The hypothalamus is the area of the brain where our appetites are controlled — here the brain registers whether we are hungry or full. In addition, neurotransmitters carry messages between neurons about emotions, mood and physical hunger. Two key neurotransmitters that affect our moods are serotonin and dopamine. It is no secret that low levels of these neurotransmitters lead to feelings of anger, depression and sadness, while higher levels lead to feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Foods that are high in antioxidants such as leafy greens and berries help increase the production of serotonin.

Foods that can trigger endorphin release are chocolate and creamy, sweet foods. In addition, foods that contain healthy fat and amino acids act in the same fashion by increasing serotonin.Besides serotonin and dopamine, there are also endorphins that are a “feel-good” chemical in the brain. Certain foods help to trigger the release of endorphins and are therefore helpful during the journey of recovery. Foods that can trigger endorphin release are chocolate and creamy, sweet foods. Lastly, there are foods that both increase and decrease mental alertness. For example, carbohydrates have been shown to decrease mental alertness and are a good food to eat to feel calm. On the other hand, high protein foods like salmon and poultry increase mental alertness by spurring production of neurotransmitters.

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Chocoorange energy boosters Ingredients 100g pitted medjool dates 100g pecan nuts 50g pumpkin seeds 50g rolled oats 4 tbsp cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa 2 heaped tbsp almond butter zest and juice 1 orange

Method Place all the ingredients and 3 tbsp orange juice in a food processor. Blitz until chopped and starting to clump together. If it’s a bit dry, add a drop more orange juice. Roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls with lightly oiled hands. Pop 2 or 3 into a lunchbox for a snack. Keeps in a sealed container for 2 weeks in the fridge.

Chocolate has been shown to trigger the production of dopamine which helps you to feel happy. Researchers agree: snacks are an important part of any diet. Both over eating and under eating are not beneficial for the body. Often people who have struggled with addiction may have concerns with either over or under eating. To solve this problem, health professionals suggest having nutritious snacks throughout the day. It is also important to have filling snacks so as to not overindulge. The Choco-orange energy balls have 3g of protein in each one. Consuming protein is important during recovery as it gives you energy when your body is feeling drained from the process of recovery. In addition, this treat is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which have been proven to help decrease mood swings and assist in the production of serotonin. These energy balls have the added bonus of being chocolaty without being high in sugar. Chocolate has been shown to trigger the production of dopamine which helps you to feel happy. Not only will this snack help keep you full and satisfied but it will give you energy and help you maintain positive emotions.

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PASTRY

Cookies By Joy Simon

COOKIES Add some cornstarch to your piped cookie recipe to make it easier to pipe, especially if making large aking and bakery business is more than just quantities. cakes, and cake making entails more than one Do not wait till cookies are 'well' method, and each method has a proper way of browned on top to remove from processing. the oven. By this time they will Let's focus on other pasties that you can make. have overbaked. Dust your baking sheet with flour PUFF PASTRY. as opposed to greasing, this will A laminated dough made with a special margarine give you a clean cookie at the (or butter) by rolling and folding severally to give bottom. you a light and flaky end product. Cookies are usually soft yet baked when removing from the oven then DANISH PASTRY, Some call it puff pastry with yeast, some, croissants they harden and get crunchy on dough, but I simply call it Danish pastry. cooling.

From it we make croissants: both sweet and savoury, and assorted Danish pastries, with fillings that range from spices, fruit preserves, custards...the list is endless.

JOYOUS CAKES & PASTRY YOUR #1 CAKE & PASTRY SHOP TALK TO US FOR ALL YOUR CAKE NEEDS (+254) 0 792 542854

...Because every cake has a story to tell

Skin care WHY SUNSCREEN IS A MUST IN YOUR SKIN CARE REGIMEN.

ur skin works to protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is why we should use sunscreen to protect us from damaging UV rays. Even on cloudy days, our skin is susceptible to the sun's rays which can lead to skin cancer, discoloration, and wrinkles over time.

At Annlys, we offer an array of beauty services. when it comes to skincare treatment, our products are designed give you result. Our products are clinically manufactured. We have a skin therapist and if you follow the advice, with time you’ll achieve that healthy glowing skin. We offer Micro-needling skin treatment. A collagen induction therapy which works as antiaging treatment. Derma plane skin treatment We use an exfoliating blade to skim dead skin cells and hair from your face. Hyperpigmentation treatment A treatment that help to even out excess melanin production on your skin removing acne patches and scars.

AnnlysBeauty & Beyond is a one stop spa for beauty services located at Rehema place Block B suite 10 on ngong road opposite prestige plaza. they can be reached on +2547 93572473 from Monday to Saturday 8am-7pm. 50 | CONVO ISSUE 5

DeRosa media Y O U R

O F F I C I A L W E D D I N G & P H O T O G R A P H Y G U Y S

call & book 254 700 693544

E V E N T

What is man? "Image of God" is defined as the metaphysical expression, associated uniquely to humans, which signifies the symbolical connection between God and humanity.

A Psalms 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, _ 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?_ _ 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. _ 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

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m excited to take on a journey to understand the thoughts of God in creating man, His expectations on man and what eventually became of man. The psalm here is by King David as he muses over God and His creation. He begins this way; O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! (vs. 1) This statement is an expression of admiration. As the psalmist pondered on who God is, he came to a major item in the creation of the Almighty – man. He consequently asked; What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? In answering the question, we go back to the creation story. Here it is; Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26, 27

Pastor Jeff Gichuki Uzima Centre, Nairobi Consider man as a creature in the “image and likeness of God.” What does this mean? "Image of God" is defined as the metaphysical expression, associated uniquely to humans, which signifies the symbolical connection between God and humanity. The phrase has its origins in Genesis 1:27, wherein "God created man in his own image..." This biblical passage does not imply that God is in human form, but that humans are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual essence. Thus, humans reflect God's divine nature in their ability to achieve the unique characteristics with which they have been endowed. These unique qualities make humans different than all other creatures: rational understanding, creative liberty, the capacity for selfactualization, and the potential for selftranscendence.” (ChristianityToday.com)

PRAYER: The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. (1 Cor. 15:47, 48)

Times and Season’s

Seasons are not permanent, what one can do in one season he might not be able to do it in the next season and when a season passes then it means that you will have to wait for the next one.

Pst. Kevin Ongori

n our daily walk with God, we need to understand that times and seasons will keep changing and that God will always use them, to dispense his agenda on the face of the earth. God created time and seasons but he operates outside time and seasons. After the floods during Noah’s time, the principle was established and inscribed in scripture;

The inability of some of the Jews in the time of Jesus not being able to discern that the Messiah they have been praying and waiting for was now here with them, sadden Him. Jacob had a visitation but he too was not able to discern the moment, he lamented; When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” Gen 28:16. As believers, we should desire to walk in the Now of God in terms of what he is doing and saying in the current if we are to experience victory, divine provision, acceleration, and all the blessings that we are entitled to as His sons, the scriptures speaks of the sons of Issachar; From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.” Gen 8:22 They have not said in their hearts, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.' Jer 5:24

1 Chronicles 12:32 these men were walking and experiencing the blessing that is locked in every season, it is not only a blessing but it’s the will of God for us to benefit from every season that he has allowed us to enter into and it saddens him when we don’t. Since the principle has already been established then, what we ought to do is know and understand the season that one is in so as to maximize the moment and benefit from it. Once a season passes then it will take a while before it comes back, ask any farmer, they know the importance of marking a season so as not to miss out on both planting and harvest, there is a story in scripture of a man who was by the pool waiting for the water to be stirred by the angel, this only happened once in a while, and if one misses then you had to wait for the next time the angle comes, the man had waited for 38 years and each time he missed his opportunity. Seasons are not permanent, what one can do in one season he might not be able to do it in the next season and when a season passes then it means that you will have to wait for the next time which might take a while. As a child of God, we ought not to miss out on the timings and seasons set by God because in them comes our blessings and visitation; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. Luke 19:44. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 53

Uzima Centre

The Thika Road Church of Distinction

LOCATION: NAIROBI THIKA HIGHWAY, EXIT 11

MONEY & HAPPINESS The economic downturn, especially during and after the Covid-19 Pandemic, has left many families feeling stressed about their finances. To avoid such an economic turmoil, we need to rediscover one of the essential things that can help us regain financial control and reduce financial stress.

BY JUSTUS NJOROGE

The truth is that the earlier you start saving, the better for you.....

Track your spending It will be difficult to build wealth if more money is leaving the wallet than it is coming in. To ensure one is earning more than they are spending, it is critical to track the daily expenses.

Come up with specific money goals

The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want. It is vital to write down goals for all the annual income and net worth. Like all goalsetting, be realistic, and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

any people believe that increased wealth will invariably bring them more profound joy and lasting contentment. However, this expectation is misguided; our faith, relationships, and a sense of purpose are far more critical for our understanding of well-being. According to my view analysis, increased income has a real but limited and diminishing impact on how happy we are. Of great importance is understanding how money facilitates the parts of our lives that are more likely to produce happiness. Wealth in a vacuum can’t buy happiness. This article evaluates some ways how wealth can facilitate our satisfaction; Purposeful spending, saving, and investing can build and strengthen the foundations of a well-lived life, enabling and empowering us to pursue and find happiness as we define it.

Spend 1 hour of reading in a day

Good budgeting would mean spending more on the things that make us happiest. Budgeting doesn’t always mean spending less but spending smarter and objectively. Implementing a few financial tips and tricks benefits our wallets; it can increase our happiness daily. Having a financial plan and clear retirement goals can help bring peace of mind and increase feelings of happiness. Notably, high debt levels seem to be especially harmful to how we feel emotionally and physically. According to one study done in America, people who have consistently high levels of unsecured debt are 76 percent more likely to have joint pain or stiffness that interferes with their daily life than people who do not. In a country with very minimal control of lending institutions, we must remain prudent on this matter.

People who are happy and prosperous tend to read. They continue to teach and invest in themselves in formal and informal education.

Set your alarm clock earlier

I cannot guarantee that joining the early bird club will make you rich, but it can’t hurt, and it will almost certainly make you more productive.

Prioritize high-interest debt

Debt is not created equal; an effective strategy is to rank all of your debt in order of interest rate, from highest to lowest. Then, prioritize the debt with the highest interest rate while still paying the minimum on your debts.

Automate your finances

Automating the finances means deducting money directly from our income and sending it directly to investment accounts, savings accounts, and creditors. This allows us to build wealth effortlessly.

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AGRIB U SI NE SS

Poultry: A successful business BY SIMON THAIRU

BSc degree in Agricultural Economics and has a 4 year experience in the Ngo sector

ue to the increasing demand for white meat in the market consequently brought by the drift from wheat meat. Poultry production is slowly traversing from the traditional chicken rearing as a hobby to a profitable venture, this encompasses farming and trade in chicken eggs, chicks, meat, and value-added products sold to the open market, aggregators, processors, and retailers. Various chicken breeds, including indigenous and ‘improved’ breeds, and broilers are available in the market. currently it’s one of the fastest growing ventures attracting investors mostly middle class and as well as gaining support by government and NGOs.

There is a high demand Demand of poultry products by the various markets There is a high demand for chicken products all year round. These include layers for egg production, eggs for food, eggs for breeding, chicks of various ages, and mature chicken sold live, dressed, and processed for food service in hotels, and retail meat outlets including medium scale butcheries in markets and to a much lesser extend in supermarkets. Processors of packaged and value-added chicken products habitually offer broiler chicken. 56 | CONVO ISSUE 5

Production Indigenous poultry production was dominated by small scale farmers. Farmers who kept 30-50 improved chicken, with larger, more experienced farmers now keeping up to 150 improved chickens. Farmers breed layers to produce eggs for the food markets and for incubation and hatchery of chicks for the breeding of mature chicken. Incubation methods include the use of modern egg incubators that are owned by groups and well-established individuals. Farmers also collect and preserve manure for use on own farms and to a small extent, for sale. Most small-scale Farmers are in the initial stages in embracing record keeping, there is still need to keep adequate records in the production period and thus becomes hard to track the expenses incurred and in the long term the profit margin per one production cycle.

In most parts of Kenya is loose and fragmented, meaning it is largely informal. There is inadequate development of markets systems that would enable small holder farmers and other market actors to access structured business support, market information, value addition opportunities and profitable trade linkages Growth in the poultry business by rural small holder farmers has largely been hindered by lack of market access and information. Many farmers have invested in poultry farming only to give up soon after when they are unable to find a market for their product or are unable to make profitability.…next issue on marketing strategy

Convo HeMatters

HIS MONEY HIS FAMILY HIS HEALTH HIS SPIRITUALITY

Because He Matters CONVO | ENCOURAGING CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

HE M A TTE R S

THE BLINDING OF THE ONE-EYED MAN His brain too chimed in on the conversation, then his heart, then his legs, then his arms. Pretty soon, his whole body was voicing its resounding approval of his decision. He was no longer the one-eyed man among the blind, now he was one in drunken fellowship with the blind.

Written By

Emmanuel Muchai impressive though they were, would not work on her.

y good man! Over here you scoundrel." "Is that Wamae? I haven't seen him in weeks." "I hear he's walking the straight and narrow. He doesn't drink anything stronger than tea these days." "Ha!" The third man of the trio, a balding pot-bellied fellow, snorted derisively. "If Wamae is sober then I'm the bloody Pope himself." He sucked in a deep breath and the buttons of his yellowing excuse of a shirt pleaded for mercy as they pitifully struggled to contain his expansive belly. Then, having inhaled a prodigious lungful of air, he bellowed impressively over the heads of the bar patrons. "Wamaeee! You bloody fool, get in here!" The man who was the target of this stream of invective was just at that moment tottering past the door of Mama Pima Bar and Lodging, giving it sidelong glances as he went. Hearing his name proclaimed to the high heavens by a familiar voice, he stood still and immediately perked up, nose twitching like a gazelle scenting a predator upwind. Looking at the door of Mama Pima's, he broke into an uncertain browntoothed grin. The bar patrons were not similarly pleased by the roaring of the potbellied man. Mama Pima herself waddled over to his table to scold him. She was a matronly woman, rather stout, with a waistline nearly as expansive as a Roto water tank as Kamau, the local town wit, was wont to say. Her face seemed to be constituted of spherical lumps of flesh clapped together— two spherical lumps constituted her cheeks, a smaller spherical lump was her nose, and another spherical lump was her chin. 58 | CONVO ISSUE 5

Actually her chins, for she had about four or five of them. She had small beady eyes sunk within the fleshy recesses of her face and at that moment as their gaze alighted upon the pot-bellied man, they were glowing with indignation and disapproval. "Wanjohi!" she snapped, in a voice shrill enough to crack glass. "You are disturbing the customers." The aforementioned Wanjohi hung his head in shame like a scolded dog and contritely folded his hands on his famous belly. His shiny bald pate gleamed in the dim fluorescent lighting of the bar. Then, peering upwards at Mama Pima from underneath a pair of eyebrows as hairy as toothbrushes, he gave her his most winningly ingratiating smile. Mama Pima had no chance. Wanjohi might not have been a Vogue magazine supermodel, but God had given him a devilishly charming smile. Mama Pima felt herself falling under its spell and quickly turned and walked away, nose high in the air, as if to prove to Wanjohi that his masculine wiles,

At that moment, Wamae slid into the seat next to Wanjohi. "Ah, my old friend!" boomed Wanjohi. Then, catching sight of Mama Pima's disapproving glance, he continued in a lower voice. "My friend, I have not seen you in weeks! Have you forgotten the friends of your youth? Muriuki, Muraya, haven't we missed this traitor?" "Right on, right on, boss." chirped the two. In the social circle that comprised of the four men, Muriuki and Muraya were nothing more than social ornaments for Wanjohi, who was the real power of the group. Not even deigning to wait for their reply, Wanjohi swung a fleshy arm around Wamae's shoulders. The contrast between the two was baffling. Wamae was a gaunt, skeletal man, almost wizened. Where Wanjohi's belly protruded proudly outwards, Wamae's abdomen caved inwards, a "reverse potbelly" as Wanjohi affectionately called it. Wanjohi's cheeks were as full as ripe melons, while Wamae's sunken ones hung like curtain drapes from his prominent cheekbones. Indeed, Wanjohi had teased Wamae on numerous occasions, "My friend, your father truly was mistaken when he named you. Why, you ask? Because you are not Wamae. You can't be! You are the furthest thing from a hydrated man that I have ever seen. You look like a dried up maize stalk in the month of January!" At that moment, his arm around his friend's shoulders, Wanjohi leaned in conspiratorially and asked, "Now tell me, friend, what is this foolishness I hear about you forsaking a real man's drink for tea?"

Wanjohi took a large satisfying swallow of his beer and then resumed his passionate exhortation. "Look at me, Wamae. Why, I am sure my liver is the size of an elephant calf! All the fat in it would be enough to settle this damned fuel crisis business that's giving the President sleepless nights, he only has to ask me! I am a true patriot!" "Right on, right on, boss." "And did this oh-so-learned doctor say that you have a fatty liver? The man must be as blind as a bat. Look at you, Wamae, you're as skinny as a toothpick. Why, I can literally see your molars through your cheeks!" Wanjohi tipped his head back and guffawed, impressed with his witty observations. Then he called over Mama Pima. "Mama Pima, a ka-quarter of gin for my man here, to save his dwindling masculinity. All the tea he has been drinking has gone to his balls and shrunk them." Wamae adjusted his intellectual-looking spectacles and shrugged, as well as a man with a ten-kilogramme arm wound around his shoulders is able to shrug. "I had to, Wanjohi. The drink was killing me. Haven't you heard? First the man takes the drink, then the drink takes the man. Besides, the doctor said I have some liver thing. My liver is fatty or something."

"Wamae, I thought you—." "Now, now, my beauty," said Wanjohi, wagging his irresistible eyebrows suggestively, "you know I love you the most in the entire world. Just a tiny bottle for Wamae, eh?" "Wanjohi, I really don't think I should—" began Wamae.

Hush, hush," chided Wanjohi as he continued wagging his eyebrows at Mama Pima. Under the continual onslaught of those magnificent eyebrows, Mama "Pah!" spat Wanjohi scornfully. Pima's resistance crumbled. She "Tea is a woman's drink. Tell me, blushed and batted her eyelashes what is a man without Konyagi and went off to retrieve a bottle of kinywaji safi? Without Tusker? gin for Wamae, all the while Without Guinness? Without throwing longing, coquettish Chrome vodka? I'll tell you what glances at Wanjohi and his ultrahe is, he is a spineless masculine eyebrows. She came emasculated dog!" back later and handed the bottle to Wanjohi, taking care to run a "Right on, right on, boss," Muriuki pudgy forefinger along the back of and Muraya nodded. his arm before proceeding to scamper away tittering like a Wanjohi barely spared his two lovesick schoolgirl. sycophants a glance. "Beside, what does that doctor know? All Looking mightily pleased with he does is read and read and himself, Wanjohi opened the read and then come to preach bottle and slid it over to Wamae, to us about fatty livers and how who was looking at it with a we shouldn't run around with mixture of longing and fear. The women and whatnot. I wonder two emotions warred on his face how his wife even stands that briefly. old bore."

Then, under the close scrutiny of Wanjohi, he reached out and tentatively raised the bottle to his lips and took a tiny sip. "Now, now, none of that," said the tempter Wanjohi. "Take a big sip, a mighty sip, a sip worthy of a king." Wamae threw him a shy glance. Then he squared his bony shoulders. A fire leapt into his eyes. His fingers gripped the bottle with firm resolve. He tipped his head back, opened his surprisingly cavernous mouth and took a big sip, a mighty sip, a sip worthy of a king.

"Pah!" spat Wanjohi scornfully. "Tea is a woman's drink. Tell me, what is a man without Konyagi "Bravo! Bravo! You see boys, Wamae is back!" boomed Wanjohi as he clapped his friend so hard on the back that his ribcage rattled. Wamae felt the fiery liquid sliding down his gullet and warming his insides. Yes, his stomach seemed to say in rejoicing, this is a man's drink. Not that crappy tea you've been feeding me. So what I'm a little fatty? his liver piped up. You need some fat in you anyway, skinny Wamae. His brain too chimed in on the conversation, then his heart, then his legs, then his arms. Pretty soon, his whole body was voicing its resounding approval of his decision. He was no longer the one-eyed man among the blind, now he was one in drunken fellowship with the blind. He felt a pleasant buzz in his head. He heard Wanjohi roaring something he couldn't quite catch, and then the two sycophants Muriuki and Muraya giving their nodding assent: "Right on, right on, boss." CONVO ISSUE 5 | 59

The living Know They'll Die By: Jackson Kimani

Hey Kim”, He roared with a heavy dholuo accent- his adams’ apple clearly visible in his neck. His eyes half closed as if to show me I am not yet of height that fits his lids full open, this he said as he brought his hand in for a shake. I knew to have a good foothold on the ground at those moments, because those handshakes would be like a jack hammer with a turbo... it's a miracle my arms are still in their sockets. I had known Omollo for the longest time. He was a mechanic. I was a car owner. The relationship that began as of two strangers doing business, developed to very high stages of friendship. He was the first person in his family to complete high school education. Later on he became a janitor, and gas station attendant. It is while being a gas attendant that he began fixing cars. He would later on enroll in a poly technique for specialized training in mechanical engineering.

He was a huge man and very muscular. This was as a result of lifting car engines and heavy metals for 17 years of his lifetime. Everything in his life was massive. From his house to the blue Mitsubishi Pajero car he owned, manufactured in 1966. I had not seen him for a while, and so I decided to go see him in his house. It was a detour from my way home. I parked the car opposite his gate. This I had done for many months. There was ample space though, inside his homestead, but I for whatever reason found it easier to park outside. His wife was a kind kikuyu lady, from Kirinyaga. She was red in complexion and extremely generous. Omollo had taught her how to prepare and serve fish. It is in their place that I developed passion for such white meat. I opened the gate, and immediately I got in, I saw crowds of people gathering in random groups. I could see everything was not well. I beckoned the janitor who was among the crowds inside the compound. He explained that Omollo was involved in an accident. My heart skipped a bit. I had to gather detailed information then grabbed the car keys aiming to go see him in hospital. I recorded a WhatsApp audio to my spouse. A friend from the crowd had already joined me. We sped up to the hospital.

I saw the wife in the waiting bay, they had secured an admission. The wife took me to where he lay. He had not spoken a word since the accident. I tried to greet him and speak soft consolations but he seemed disinterested and his eyes remained closed. “This is your client who has a 14A Beetle Cabriolet”, an acquaintance shouted. He opened his eyes and smiled, then closed them permanently. At the mention of a car model I supposed. He was a great enthusiast of automobiles. This reminded me of the renowned self-taught arithmetician Thomas De Lagny who was also a librarian at Bibliothèque du Roi; passed thirty-six hours in silence on his deathbed. He did not react when his beloved spoke to him. But when an acquaintance asked, “Do you still know how much sixty-seven to the second power is?” the mathematician answered smiling, “Four thousand four hundred eighty-nine” and died. So this is death? The living know that they will die …” ECCLESIASTES 9:5 He truly was a good man RIP Omollo

Jackson with his MotorBike 60 | CONVO ISSUE 5

P O ETR Y

Dear Voter, You are now the hot cake, Every politician's darling, Every aspirant's friend, It's your season of glory, Come to terms , be sober. For five years you have cried, Impassable roads, poor health care, You have lacked water all this time, Your son hasn't completed school, The school fees unable to raise, The bursary fund was instead squandered. Understand what is good for you, Understand what is bad for you , If it benefits you alone is no good, If it's short lived is no good, If it's a bribe is no good. Tumbocrats and liars know how to do it, They have mastered your psychology, Dish out a few coins to you, Go round with motorcades and loud music, Accompanied with basketful of promises Same same promises year in and out. The power belongs to you, Don't sell your conscience, Don't underate your brain, Money is good fine, But good facilities is even better. Dear voters my call is that you wake up, My desire is that your brain works, My prayer is that you resist the devil, The devil of bad alluring leaders, Dear voters , the power belongs to you. Use it , DON'T SELL IT.

@monipoet

Monipoet is a young girl by the name Monica Wanjiru, a HR student at Zetech University. My current heart art is writing as a way of expressing myself but I also sing and dance. I'm on social media platforms as monipoet on WordPress, Monica wanjiru on wattpad, monica_wanjiru on tiktok, moniwanjiru on Instagram and Monica Wanjiru on YouTube

LE GAL M A TTE R S

Exterminating Genderstereotyping and Superiority Complex in Custody Cases. / by Betty Kariuki

n modern-day, it is impossible to swipe through social media and escape the ongoing gender wars, sarcastic gender-stereotyped undertones such as “daughters of Jezebel,” “the gender that betrayed Jesus,” “the gender that sold Christ,” and so forth. Besides, you will often interact with the “self-proclaimed feminists” and “toxic masculinity coaches” that will have you wondering where all went wrong. Why do men and women, ladies and gentlemen hate (an understatement) each other so much?

As a lawyer, I could only think of one answer, “The Use of Laws to Advance Superiority Complex between Genders.” Why is this? The law has been at the core of supporting certain perceptions about men and women, which does more harm than good. See, in custody cases, children of tender years have been seen to belong to the mother. Is it that men are incapable of being as nurturing to these children as women, or are women superior to men in taking care of these children? Both domestic and custody of children of tender years (those below ten years), except when there are exceptional circumstances, which would render the mother otherwise unfit.

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From most people’s perspectives this is a rather unfortunate situation as it treats matters of custody of children of tender years from a significantly gender inclined perspective. In fact, it is discriminatory that these laws approach matters of custody from a presumption of a mother’s suitability or fitness and a father’s unsuitability or unfitness. This approach deviates from the core nondiscriminatory principle as espoused in the celebrated Kenyan Constitution and asserts that women, unlike men, are at a higher pedestal in catering to the needs children of tender years.

//Betty Kariuki is a lawyer with an interest in tech, commercial and Family law

However, a recent development from the High Court in Nakuru issuing actual custody to the father for a child below ten years is a step in the right direction and a reminder that the time to distance ourselves from gender stereotyping is now. The decision is a positive step in dismantling superiority complex between parents in taking care of children of tender years. In the decision the court reiterates the need to apply the tender year’s doctrine in light of the best interest of the child principle. Undoubtedly, this new approach places parents seeking custody of a child at an equal ground to present their cases and at the same time encourages a focus on where the child’s needs will be best catered to. Nonetheless, this is not to mean that the more financially stable parent will have an upper hand. The court will consider all aspects of a child’s life, including emotional, educational, social and related needs necessary to bring forth a child into the unforgiving society.

A recent development from the High Court in Nakuru issuing actual custody to the father for a child below ten years is a step in the right direction and a reminder that the time to distance ourselves from gender stereotyping is now.

It is time to exterminate hypocritical and genderstereotyped perceptions on what men and women can or cannot do. To do this all men and women, must act they posit to believe in all situations, comprehensively and not selectively. They must be at the forefront of encouraging the need to escape from gender roles, which they consider traditional and discriminatory. It is time Kenyans discontinue from clinging onto gender stereotypes to deny men presence in their children’s lives at a time when they are need them most. What kind of men and women would we bring forth in the society where superiority complex fights between genders takes the win in our children’s lives? The time is now, or never! CONVO ISSUE 5 | 63

ART & C R A F T

Creative Dialogue Through Art “BEYOND THE PANDEMIC & EPIDEMIC” By Wanyama Ogutu

Mr. Wanyama Ogutu is a Visual Art Scholar in the department of Fine Art and Design at Kenyatta University. He is also a practicing visual artist specialized in painting and sculpture within, Nairobi – Kenya. Most of his artworks focus on interaction, environment and education. Wanyama has a passion in fine art research; its philosophy, development and relevance. He writes profound academic topics where he has presented and published in the international journals and conferences cross the world. He is a managing executive partner of Change Maker I care Foundation, its’ mandate is to provide innovative and creative strategy on issues effecting vulnerable member of society. He is currently a part time teacher at Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts Nairobi. 64 | CONVO ISSUE 5

he lockdown of social places has not deterred innovation and creativity among young people in the institutions (OECD 2020 and Ntonjira 2020). The most outstanding recognition of innovation is an exhibition of prototype ventilators for COVID-19 patients Intensive Care Units(ICU) and High Dependency Units(HDU), which were invented by the Kenyatta university students (Rotich 2020). The year 2021 could not culminate with an electric pandemic exhibition from the Institute of Fine Arts at Buruburu-Nairobi. The gate was open to unravel the exhibition theme titled “BEYOND THE PANDEMIC & EPIDEMIC” the exhibition aimed to offer students a profound opportunity to cognitive and creatively express the effects of the aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic to the public. The students utilized their various disciplines to create a creative dialogue concerning pandemics in our environment and, build resilience among the students, community, and industries at large. The exhibition was mounted at Thomas Burke gallery in institute of Fine Arts- Buruburu. The gallery is memorial attribute to the later founder of the institute known as Fr Rev Thomas Burke. The artworks capturing the theme’s objective were collected, meticulously arranged, and well mounted on the gallery spaces and St. Mary's lobby area. The curator of the exhibition was a part-time teacher of drawing and painting and assisted by the head of the fashion design department.

The explicit lighting of gallery and lobby area with artworks created an astonishing reflection of the classic Salon exhibition in Paris of the 18th century (Adams 2010) and Milttle 2006). The exhibition was graced by the principal of the institute, who strolled around and acknowledged the clear depiction of the theme. He wrote, “The theme of the exhibition is well captured, congratulation for a successful exhibition”. The Institute staff, students, and neighboring schools flocked to the hall to view the creative genius of the young artists.In particular, a primary teacher exclaimed exhibition, “the exhibition plays a big role in shaping my CBC art and craft pupils’ creativity. l always struggle to explain concepts, but now l am good to go”. Other visitors were owed by the good execution of the pandemic theme, creativity, and innovative use of COVID-19 material, as jotted in the visitors’ book. Surprisingly drawing students delved into various pandemic titles such as “The Curfew in City, The face after Pandemic and The cession of movement meal, all painting done landscapes and still-life compositions respectively. According to an interview with the teacher noted the small surfaces were meant to encourage students to accurately depict subject matter on oil on canvas. There was another explicit imaginative composition on the COVID-19 pandemic executed on paper collages of contour drawings. The reviewer recognized most innovative and avant-garde inspiration on fashion designs display. According to a fashion teacher, students were challenged to collect all the COVID 19 wastes materials such as masks, glover, or improvised PVS and medical tools to create a garment that would create awareness of the COVID -19 community. She alluded that the waste materials of the COVID-19 kit were meant to preserved the >>>> environment.

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A proceeded interview with a fashion student noted that the collection of COVID-19 flashed a reminder of the devastation of COVID-19. She acknowledges that the experience went a long way to create of garment that offered to heal victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other fashion accessories were baby carriers with symbolic images of the Coronavirus. According to fashion student, the baby carrier was meant to give comfort to the children amid COVID-19. The review concluded by acknowledging the exhibition on the COVID-19 pandemic within the learning institution, particularly in fine art and design. The creativity and innovation drawn from drawings, fashion, and testimony from a member of the community, concludes with sound evidence of creative dialogue concerning pandemics within our environment. The indelible exploration of COVID-19 waste material such as masks and gloves espoused that enormous speeches that COVID-19 stimulated creativity and innovation among the young generation.

Role of Art in Our Society

rt is a mirror on which society examine itself, reflect its’ traditions and predict the future of its’ genealogy as asserted by philosopher Socrates and Aristotle. Painting, ceramic, basketry and sculpture among other has evolved to depict different culture and tradition of world. Even revolution of dynamic religious and philosophy of art has been recognized to occupy a wider perimeter. The advent of the digital technology and communication age, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the current ravages of climate change, social activism of Black Life Matter campaign among others, are recent globalization events that have changed the perception of Art in society (Vikiru 2021). Therefore, it is not in vain that Art and its’ practices are still roaring in our daily life. It goes beyond the physical engagement of it activities, to traumatic healing, fostering education and boasting economy in the society (Ogutu 2021). CONVO ISSUE 5 | 65

The unique bit comes from the fact that you get to design your own bag! Zigo Bags offers you a range of fabrics which you get to not only choose the colour/design you want, but also where and how you want it positioned on your bag. It only takes up to 5 days to create a bag, which gives them adequate time to come up with just the perfect bag for you and deliver it to your doorstep. Check out some of their best designs and reach out to them on their Social Media handles listed below. Bags available: Baby carrier bags, school bags, laptop bags, travel bags, hand-luggage, toiletry bags, handbags and your dream bag.

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hen you think about those essential items you’ll always need in life, (apart from basic needs) what comes to mind? In my case, a bag is definitely at the top of my list. When I think about it, it really makes sense when they say life is a journey; because apart from carrying memories, a journey always requires you to carry essential items every now and then clothes, food, money and the list goes on. What better way to carry them than in a beautiful bag! Here is why I’m excited to share about Zigo Bags. Zigo Bags (@zigobags) is a Kenyan brand and they have introduced some beautiful bags with an African touch which are so lovely! The bags are made from high-density fabric with a touch of Kitenge, a high density zip and a fine touch of edge, class and uniqueness.

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YOUNG & BOLD

Young & bold When we give encouragement and show appreciation of our children's achievements, whether great or small, we help in boosting their confidence. Children thrive when parents are able to actively promote their positive growth and development. At Convo, we want to be at the forefront in raising bold children.

- Convo

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Honesty is the best Policy, let us not break it!

The Bible says in Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. A liar will not last for long before being discovered and friends start avoiding him/her. By Betsy Munene

Betsy Munene is a Grade 6 six pupil at Ahadi Presbyterian school Kenyatta Road. She loves writing and hope to write her first book very soon.

onesty is being truthful. When we are honest our character is good and this will allow us to serve God and others. Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. The Bible is clearly teaching us to avoid telling lies. Honesty is taught from young age where our parents trains us to always say the truth. If we practice being honest we avoid trouble in school and also at home because we cannot be punished for standing with truth.

Being honest helps us to interact with others well. When we are honest we will not be afraid to face our parents as we know that we have not done anything wrong. Honesty will help us to gain trust with teachers and our friends. honesty helps us to be responsible because we will work hard to finish work which is given to us. When you are honest people will like you and you will be trusted. Honesty cannot be punished. If we find ourselves in trouble at school or home and the parent or teacher knows we are usually honest we will be forgiven easily.

Lying is when you cheat and you do not tell the truth The importance of telling the truth is that people will trust you and they will believe in what you say. Also, when you tell a lie you are afraid because you know you are guilty, people will not trust you, your friends, parents, teachers and neighbors will not trust you as well because, if you are used to lying people also get used to you lying. When you are dishonest, people will not like you and they will label you as a liar. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. A liar will not last for long before being discovered and friends start avoiding him/her.

Once written you have to stand by it. You may have said it to see whether you believed it or not. 68 | CONVO ISSUE 5

Joy Golan is a Grade 6 six pupil. She loves writing, singing and dancing. She love helping around the house. She knows how to cook several types of food. She doesn't need motivation to help around with house chores, she does it effortlessly.

BY JOY GOLAN GRADE 6

RESPONSIBILITIES

esponsibilities are things that you are supposed to do your own. For example, you are supposed to wash your personal items e.g. towel, underwears and socks. It is your responsibility to work hard in school and at home. We should help our parents or guardians with the house chores. Children obeying their parents is a direct command from God. Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” In this verse, obeying one's parents can not be separated from honoring one's parents. Part of honoring and obeying your parents is by ensuring responsibilities entrusted to you are well done.

Examples of responsibilities. Make your bed everyday Polish your shoes after school Obeying your parents Cooking Cleaning utensils Taking care of pets Collecting waste in our homestead Benefits of responsibilities. When you finish your homework your teacher will not punish you, Whenever you Wash your personal items you look neat and clean When you help your parents they will be happy. You become a role model to your family and friends on how to be responsible.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

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INTERNET ADDICTION ABOUT 21% OF TEENS GET ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET AND CAN CONTINUE IN IT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WHILE ONLY 4% OF ADULTS GET ADDICTED

ASAPH MUTORIA

ddiction is the state where one really enjoys doing something until it becomes a lifestyle.

Many people are addicted to; drugs and substances alcohol electronic gadgets smoking etc. Addiction causes harm to our bodies both physically and mentally. Let us look into internet addiction among teenagers and pre-teens. About 21% of teens get addicted to the internet and can continue in it for the rest of their lives while only 4% of adults get addicted and may stop along the way. What makes teens and pre-teens more likely to get addicted to internet? There are several reasons why teens are more likely to get addicted to the internet; They are in the adolescent stage Most of them now have access to the electronic gadgets. Some teenagers may be going through very difficult moments e.g. parents separation or failure at school so they might use internet to relieve stress but end up getting addicted. Most lack parental guidance on how to use the gadgets. Most people who are addicted often deny that something is wrong. There are certain behaviors that can help one know if they are addicted or not. 70 | CONVO ISSUE 5

HOW TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ADDICTED There are 4CS that describe addiction 1. CRAVING This is a powerful desire for something. 2. LOSS OF CONTROL One may lose the ability to control how much time they spend on the internet. 3. COMPULSION TO USE This is the state of forcing or being forced to do something; one may feel like they really have to use the internet. 4. CONTINUING TO USE DESPITE CONSEQUENCES This is the continuous use of the internet even when this causes problems to the person using. Some of the consequences that may happen due to internet addiction include: Health problems such as eye problems; too much screen time is harmful to the eyes Poor performance in school Bullying; one may go through cyber bullying One can give a lot of information and this might lead to kidnapping or theft Teens may be exposed to things that are ungodly or immoral which will affect their behavior May lead to laziness May forget to take care of themselves or do simple chores May lose interest in other healthy activities

Internet is not bad but teenagers must allow their parents to supervise how they use it to avoid getting addicted. If we allow our parents to supervise how we use the internet then we will be able to benefit from it.

routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed. It is a good way to develop discipline and help us become more consistent in our life. Do you have routines? Here are my daily routines.

My Evening Routine Go home after school Remove the uniform and take a shower Do homework Play with my younger sister Jewel while I wait my parents to come back from work. Watch a tv program while waiting for food Giving thanks for the food Eat the food Help to clear the table after eating Brush my teeth after eating Read a Bible story and pray before going to bed Say goodbye to everyone then go to sleep

Bettina Ndungu Class: Grade IV

Too much use of internet is harmful By Charis Mutugi

ere are a few things you can do to avoid using the internet or gadgets too much: Relax - Sometimes it is good to have time to relax where you are not doing anything but allowing your mind to rest. Socialize - To socialize is to interact with other people. Find time to just chat with the people around you. Do chores - You can do chores e.g. wash your clothes, help to clean the house etc. Do your homework - Some people do not finish their homework on time because they want to use gadgets. It is very important to finish all your homework before using any gadget. Read books - Reading makes you sharp. Do not be on the internet every time you have some free time. Find other books to read. How do you ensure you do not spend so much time on internet? Make sure that you do all the important things first before using the internet. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 71

TRAVEL & LEISURE

New in Town? exploring favorable foods for newbies in Qatar

By: Mary Kinuthia 72 | CONVO ISSUE 5

What is in the menu? F ood! Your preference can tell a lot about you, where you are or are from. Interesting enough in Kenya, almost every ethnic group identifies with a particular dish, which when served, one has that sense of belonging and some form of satisfaction. This may not be the case when you travel abroad for the first time. When away from home, you’ll end up settling for what can keep you alive as long your trip lasts. As a new foreigner abroad, the menus in whichever restaurant can be intimidating. Not necessarily because of the cost, but because of the thousand cuisines from various nationality available in your host country, that you are likely to read or hear for the first time. Travelling to Qatar was no exception for me. Qatar has hosted people from many nations with restaurants serving Persian, Turkish, Nigerian, Kenyan, Indian, Lebanese and Moroccan dishes among others. I once had an intriguing conversation with my former boss who had gone to China for a short business trip. Among the things she never enjoyed was picking a meal from the menu. She narrated how apart from the menu being in Chinese language, the cuisines had nothing familiar. Toad legs, snails and a variety of sea foods not served back home were some special meals on sale for the day. Immediately, the sight of toads on menu shifted her appetite to biscuits and soft drinks! For me as a newbie in Qatar, I gave up a number of servings halfway (probably after the fast few bites) before I found something I could enjoy to its fullest. Some were overly spiced, with a lot of pepper since a number of restaurants have Asian employers, employees and customers who love spices and pepper or chili as they call it. Others were simply dishes I had no idea about. The food looked good in my eyes but not to the liking of my taste buds even though some dishes resembled our food back home. Few years down the line, I have mastered a few go-to foods which people from any nationalities or first time travelers would find favorable. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 73

KARAK TEA

Anytime is tea time for the Qatari citizens and a huge number of residents. Blended with spice cardamom, condensed milk and loose tea leaves, Karak tea is an irresistible beverage served in restaurants found in any shopping centre in the country or at the malls. Tea Time, Chapati and Karak, Al Naimi, Tasty Tea, Baba Chapati and Karak Mudeer are among the acclaimed Middle Eastern mini-restaurants that serve the best Karak tea. A cup of Chai Karak is sold for at least 1Qatar Riyal (equivalent to Kshs.30) For the on-foot passer-by, driver or travelers, Karak tea is mostly served in small disposable cups. For this reason, it is not odd in Qatar to see someone or people standing, walking or driving sipping their hot cup of chai karak. And as for the Qataris, Karak tea is an integral part of their culture. They bond or pass time over a cup of Karak tea, which they prefer served inside their car at the restaurant’s parking lot after which they ignite their engine and leave.

As a new foreigner abroad, the menus in whichever restaurant can be intimidating and not necessarily because of the cost.

SHAWARMA Shawarma was my number one tool in my Qatar food survival kit. Marinated slices of meat used to make Shawarma are placed on a vertical rod that slowly turns while cooking beside an arteflame throughout the day. Chicken meat is majorly used for Shawarma in the Middle East while nations like Turkey or local Turkish restaurants use lamb or beef. In fact, the root of the word Shawarma is Turkish which means to turn. With a large knife, the chef cuts small chicken shavings from top to bottom as the meat turns. The pieces are collected in a tray and mixed with small portions of onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber and fries toppings. Mayonnaise and sauce are poured on the mixed pieces then stuffed and rolled in an already prepared chapatti or khubus. This meaty flavored Middle Eastern cuisine may however vary in taste and flavor depending on the joint or the expertise of the chef. Many food joints and restaurants in Qatar are dotted with enticing wraps of Shawarma images. Within the years of my stay, I can say with absolute certainty that anyone from any nationality is likely to enjoy their scrumptious roll of shawarma. Famous joints such as Petra, Turkey Central, McDonalds, Mr.Shawarma to your neighboring Tea Time restaurants serve and deliver the best Shawarma. They package in small and large sizes which cost at least 6 to15 Qatar Riyals making it affordable.

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Koftas or Kebab

Koftas, also known as Kebab, is a versatile food among the Arabians usually served with Kubus or Roti. Foreigners visiting Qatar will love this excellent grilled meat especially from Souq Waqif market, where food and Qatari culture are deeply ingrained.

Chapati, 3 Khubus and Paratha Chapati (roti), Khubus and Palatha are whole wheat flour kind-of-bread easily found in many food outlets. Kubhus is an Arabian bread that many foreigner seem to enjoy with a nice cup of karak tea for breakfast. Stew, some raw yoghurt will also compliment Khubus perfectly.

Chapati (roti or unleavened flat bread) and Paratha on the other hand are common among Asians. Unlike the Kenyan chapati, the Asian chapati or roti is made without cooking oil, while paratha is made using ghee. Many Kenyans living in the Middle East prefer paratha as it comes close to our Kenyan Chapati.

Biryani

Biryani served in many outlets is as simple as rice cooked with spiced chicken, mutton or veggies for the vegetarians. Biryani Express, Tandoor Qatar and Mahrani Indian and Biriyani Corner are among the common Biryani restaurants in the country. Unlike many Qatari or Asian dishes, Biryani is not overly spiced leaving the taste of this meaty dish lingering on your mouth. CONVO ISSUE 5 | 75

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