Meet the big spenders: Are these Kenya’s real socialites?

From left, Mabior Garang de Mabior, businessman Amor Thige, Jeff Kiboro and Andrew Kamau Kabogo.
Most of them hang out together, blocking out anyone who does not fit in or belong to the same social class regardless of tribe or religion.
During the requiem service for the late Fidel Castro Odinga at the All Saints Cathedral, his younger brother, Raila Odinga Jnr told the congregation that Fidel loved his toys, which included sleek cars and licensed firearms.

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This elicited laughter from the congregation but what they didn’t know was the depth of that statement.

With a palatial home in the leafy suburbs of Karen, Fidel had a wide range of vehicles, most of them sports utility vehicles. If one can afford such a lifestyle, the only other thing to possess would be a firearm to protect yourself and your belongings.

This has become the trend for many young Kenyans Fidel’s age roughly between 30 and 40 years, mostly sons of politicians, successful celebrities and rich businessmen. What is interesting is the fact that these relatively young heavy spenders have formed a tightly knit network among themselves that transcends tribe and could loosely be described to hinge more on class than anything else.

Most of them only “hang out” with each other on a regular basis, blocking anyone who does not fit in or belong to the same class regardless of tribe or religion. To fit in, you must be from a similar social and economic stratum.

But how heavily do they splurge and where do they spend the money?

Lounges

The answers can be found in high-end clubs in Nairobi and other major urban centres across the country. Other than the Capital Club, which is a members-only club, other venues they frequent regularly include Ebony Lounge, Skyluxx (VIP) Lounge, Mercury Club (ABC Place), Havana Club, Sohos, Vineyard and Cedars Restaurant, among others.

In these clubs, the average cost of a bottle of Hennessy, Martell, Remy Martin, Glenfiddich or Johnnie Walker brands like the Black Label, Gold Reserve and the Blue Label is anything between Sh10,000 and Sh30,000.

“An average of three to four bottles would be drunk on a night out,” says one of the club managers, who requested anonymity.
“These people are big spenders, they always reserve tables and they spend heavily. In one evening, they would spend anything between Sh60,000 to Sh150,000, depending on how many they are.”

Other than Fidel, who was not only known as a heavy spender but also a philanthropist, there are others like Jeff Kiboro, Robert Gichuru (son of former Kenya Power managing director), John Muhoho (son of former Kenya Airports Authority chairman George Muhoho), Mabior Garang de Mabior (son of former South Sudan leader John Garang).

Others include James Karanja, popularly known as Jaymo Keroche (son of Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja) and John Malogo, a popular young Nairobi businessman, among others.

According to Amor Thige, the proprietor of Ebony and Skyluxx lounges, this group does not stay in one club during a night out.

“In one sitting only they spend anything between Sh20,000 to Sh40,000. Now you can imagine how much they would spend if they went to four or five different joints in one night,” says Amor.

However, most of these heavy spenders don’t like frequenting clubs where there is the attendant risk of loss of privacy, especially when they want to avoid paparazzi. They prefer private parties in the leafy suburbs, says Morris Kihang’u, who has previously organised some of these parties.

“Almost every weekend, there is a private party in Lavington, Kileleshwa, Karen, Gigiri, Westlands and so on,” says Morris. “If the parties don’t happen, an out-of-town road trip to Kajiado, Magadi, Naivasha, Nanyuki or Mombasa, happens.”

He adds: “If they haven’t organised their own events, they target outdoor events like the Rhino Charge, Lewa Marathon or Safari Rally, among others, where they bring out their big toys (read SUVs) as well as women to accompany them and a wide variety of expensive liquor.

“I remember attending one of the recent Lewa Marathons with John Malogo and his very close friends where we spent over Sh300,000 on drinks only in one weekend.”

Malogo, popularly known as Johnny Subru, owns the Subru Motors car yard, located at Lavington Green Centre in Lavington. Only in his early 30s, Malogo is also known to own a hangar at the Wilson airport, with several light aircrafts.

Paying dowry

According to Amor, some of these men take advantage when one is paying dowry or having a wedding out of town.

“This is when they drive their expensive cars out of town and spend as much as they want,” he says. “Last weekend in Kisumu, there were chartered flights, big cars driven to Kisumu and onwards to Bondo as well as lots of cash spent as they bid farewell to Fidel.”

Then with all this comes the issue of firearms. For a civilian to own a firearm, they must have a license. While most people acquire the licensed firearms for prestige, some insist they are for self-defence.

“We are not even supposed to enter the club with a gun, but most clubs have safes where they store them,” says Malik Buddy, a music promoter and entrepreneur in Nairobi, who is also a licensed firearm owner. “Unfortunately of late, people have been misusing this privilege, which is really bad for the rest of us who are law abiding citizens.”

And where does the money come from? Mike Gumo, son of politician Fred Gumo, who is also a part of this group says that he works hard to afford a lavish lifestyle.

“I know I spend a lot of cash during my nights out but I work hard at the end of the day and avoid depending on my parents,” he says, adding that he is a partner in a motor vehicle importing company and also works in his family’s real estate business.

Fidel had invested in petroleum and real estate, and owned an office block in Kilimani Estate in Nairobi.

Most of the group members have invested in their own right as well as participating in managing the family affairs. Sources say that Mabior Garang is in Kenya to take care of the family’s businesses since his mother Rebecca Garang is based in Juba where she spends most of her time.

The 100 Best Jobs

The U.S. workforce has myriad talents, desires and lifestyles, so there is no one best job that suits each one of us. But if we were to define a good job generally, there are some unequivocal factors. The best jobs pay well. They challenge you without stressing you out too much. There’s room to grow and advance. Maybe most importantly, the best jobs are ones that are hiring. From dentist, to accountant, to middle school teacher and civil engineer, the occupations on U.S. News’ list of 100 Best Jobs of 2015 are ranked according to their ability to offer this elusive mix. Read more about how we rank the best jobs, and check out our complete list.

IT Manager
As the head of a company’s information technology department, IT managers are the go-tos when your email won’t send or your word processor won’t start. They triage the operations of an organization's technical network, and they're a growing profession. Expect 50,900 new positions by the year 2022.

Civil Engineer

Want one reason civil engineering makes for a cool job? Part of the payoff comes from stopping to take a look around. The fruits of civil engineers’ labors are seen everywhere – they have hands in building bridges, retrofitting buildings and damming reservoirs. By 2022, the BLS predicts there will be 53,700 new openings

Cost Estimator
(3.5 out of 5)
Before the first hammer is swung, a cost estimator coordinates with engineers, architects and construction managers to determine a project’s technical, mechanical and fiscal requirements. Are you hyper-organized and a critical thinker? Then our No. 23 could be a good fit. It’s a good time to enter this line of work, too, as the Labor Department predicts the cost estimating occupation will swell by more than 26 percent before 2022.

Esthetician
(3.5 out of 5)
Become a skin care specialist and you’ll work closely with clients to evaluate their skin condition, discuss treatments and improve their appearance. And one in-the-moment perk to this field: It’s booming, with 39.8 percent expected job growth through 2022, according to the BLS.

inancial Advisor
(3.5 out of 5)
Very few laymen and women enjoy or are capable of digging through the red tape and legalese of investments, taxes and insurance, which is why the BLS anticipates 27 percent employment growth for personal financial advisors this decade. This occupation ranks high thanks to low unemployment numbers and an above-average work-life balance.

Logistician
(3.5 out of 5)
Very few laymen and women enjoy or are capable of digging through the red tape and legalese of investments, taxes and insurance, which is why the BLS anticipates 27 percent employment growth for personal financial advisors this decade. This occupation ranks high thanks to low unemployment numbers and an above-average work-life balance.

Pharmacist
(3.4 out of 5)
Pharmacists mix technical, organizational and people skills in a customer service environment. Each day, more than 287,420 pharmacists dispense medicine and advice to patients at hospitals and retail chains. The profession is expected to grow 14.5 percent by 2022.

edical Equipment Repairer
(3.4 out of 5)
Some simple math: More patients who qualify for health coverage + more professionals to provide that care = more medical equipment breaking down. And if this math equation turns out to be true, medical equipment repairers should have outstanding employment growth through to 2022. The BLS projects more than 30 percent growth and 12,800 new positions.

Dietitian and Nutritionist
(3.4 out of 5)
Dietitians and nutritionists advise clients on food choice, develop meal plans and track progress to live a healthier lifestyle or reach a nutritional goal. According to the BLS, this job should grow by more than 21 percent by 2022.

Speech-Language Pathologist
(3.4 out of 5)
These professionals, also known as speech therapists, assess and diagnose people with disorders and challenges related to verbal communication. They work frequently with social workers, doctors and teachers to improve clients’ speech.

THE CONCEPT OF STRESS AND HOW IT IS MANAGED

DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF STRESS AND HOW IT IS MANAGED
INTRODUCTION
Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger. But this can also be a bad thing, if their stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength. This class will discuss different causes of stress, how stress affects you, the difference between 'good' or 'positive' stress and 'bad' or 'negative' stress, and some common facts about how stress affects people today.

WHAT CAUSES STRESS?
Many different things can cause stress from physical (such as fear of something dangerous) to emotional (such as worry over your family or job.) Identifying what may be causing you stress is often the first step in learning how to better deal with your stress. Some of the most common sources of stress are:

Survival Stress - You may have heard the phrase "fight or flight" before. This is a common response to danger in all people and animals. When you are afraid that someone or something may physically hurt you, your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better able to survive the dangerous situation (fight) or escape it all together (flight). This is survival stress.

Internal Stress - Have you ever caught yourself worrying about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all? This is internal stress and it is one of the most important kinds of stress to understand and manage. Internal stress is when people make themselves stressed. This often happens when we worry about things we can't control or put ourselves in situations we know will cause us stress. Some people become addicted to the kind of hurried, tense, lifestyle that results from being under stress. They even look for stressful situations and feel stress about things that aren't stressful.

Environmental Stress - This is a response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding, and pressure from work or family. Identifying these environmental stresses and learning to avoid them or deal with them will help lower your stress level.

Fatigue and Overwork - This kind of stress builds up over a long time and can take a hard toll on your body. It can be caused by working too much or too hard at your job(s), school, or home. It can also be caused by not knowing how to manage your time well or how to take time out for rest and relaxation. This can be one of the hardest kinds of stress to avoid because many people feel this is out of their control. Later in this course we will show you that you DO have options and offer some useful tips for dealing with fatigue.

HOW DOES STRESS AFFECT YOU?
Stress can affect both your body and your mind. People under large amounts of stress can become tired, sick, and unable to concentrate or think clearly. Sometimes, they even suffer mental breakdowns. If you are suffering from extreme stress or long-term stress, your body will eventually wear itself down. But sometimes, small amounts of stress can actually be good.

Understanding your stress level is important. If nothing in your life causes you any stress or excitement, you may become bored or may not be living up to your potential. If everything in your life, or large portions of your life, cause you stress, you may experience health or mental problems that will make your behavior worse.

Recognizing when you are stressed and managing your stress can greatly improve your life. Some short-term stress for example what you feel before an important job presentation, test, interview, or sporting event may give you the extra energy you need to perform at your best. But long-term stress for example constant worry over your job, school, or family may actually drain your energy and your ability to perform well.
HOW TO MANAGE STRESS
Use these tips to help keep stress at bay.
Ask yourself what you can do about the sources of your stress. Think through the pros and cons. Take action where you can.
Keep a positive, realistic attitude. Accept that although you can't control certain things, you're in charge of how you respond.
Stand up for yourself in a polite way. Share your feelings, opinions, or beliefs, instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
Learn and practice relaxation techniques. Try breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, yoga, or tai chi.
Exercise regularly. You'll feel better and be more prepared to handle problems.
Eat healthy. Avoid too much sugar. Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. When you're stressed, you'll probably want less-nutritious comfort foods, but if you overdo them, they'll add to your problems.
Try to manage your time wisely.
Say no, where you can, to things that would add more stress to your life.
Make time for hobbies and interests.
Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
Don't rely on alcohol, drugs, or food to help against stress. Ease up on caffeine, too.
Spend time with people you love.
Talk with a counselor or take a stress management class for more help.

      CONCLUSION
Stress that continues without relief can lead to headaches, an upset stomach, high blood pressure, chest pain, problems with sleeping or sex, depression, panic attacks, or other forms of anxiety and worry.
On top of that, if you handle stress with food, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling, overspending, or other things that don't solve the problem, you're going to end up with more stress.

REFERENCE
Fiona Jones, Jim Bright, Angela Clow, Stress: myth, theory, and research, Pearson Education,
Gibbons, C. (2012). "Stress, positive psychology and the National Student Survey". Psychology
Fullagar, C. J.; Knight, P. A.; Sovern, H. S. (2013). "Challenge/Skill Balance, Flow, and Performance Anxiety". Applied Psychology
Selye, Hans (1974). Stress without distress. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company.

HOW TO WRITE THE BEST CURRICULUM VITAE

The Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the first and probably the most important step in one’s job search.



How to write a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV is more than just your profile; it is a marketing tool. You should not think of it as a typicality that is required by prospective employers but as a "sales brochure."

Besides, if the recruiter offers you the opportunity of an interview, a well-built CV will trigger conversation around your profile and increase the probability of getting hired.

In a nutshell, a CV is a representation of past accomplishments and skills. However, the same applies to all other candidates and thus, the following tips should come in handy:

› Listing all projects, courses, training etc. may not be practical or even useful; mention the most relevant information only.

› A Curriculum Vitae is written in reverse factual chronological order.

› Between professional and educational experience, you should place the one that describes your most recent status first. For instance, if you have just graduated, it is advisable to mention your studies and then your work experience (if any).

› Recruiters scan numerous CVs for the sameposition, so an appealing CV must not exceed two pages. In fact, a single-page CV should do the trick.

Elements of a good CV
› Personal information
Name, nationality, place and date of birth, marital status, contact details and military obligations (if any).

› Educational background
Universities, majors, classes, thesis, grades, academic projects and references.

› Prior work experience
Companies, positions, employment periods, main tasks and references.

› Skills & experience
Language and computer skills, distinctions, training, military service (if applicable and not mentioned before), sports, seminars and interests / hobbies.

› Write an appealing CV. Pay extra attention when choosing letter fonts and avoid dense writing.
› Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.

› Dutch recruiters highly value extra curricular and leisure activities. Nevertheless, include only those that are relevant to the job you are applying for (e.g. being good in team sports reveals team spirit).

› In the Netherlands, it is not necessary to include copies of diplomas, employer references or other official documents in your CV. You will be asked to submit them at a later stage.

› If you have little or no full-time work experience, then you need to emphasise on academic projects you participated in and relevant courses you took. Part-time occupation, summer jobs and voluntarism is a good way to demonstrate your capabilities and accomplishments.

› In general, it is advisable to adjust your CV for different job applications. Try to make its content as relevant to the job description as possible.

› Most online recruitment agencies ask for a word file of your curriculum vitae, but a pdf version is always more appealing.

› A CV only mirrors facts and figures. Your motivation for the role, aspirations, suitability for the job and qualifications should be reflected in your cover letter.

› If applicable, mention your military service and describe your main duties as well as your ranking. Military experience can trigger discussions about your personality and pressure handling.

› Last but not least, beware of any linguistic errors!

How to Dress for an Interview MEN & WOMEN

Here's information on how to dress for an interview including advice on what, and what not, to wear on a job interview, appropriate interview attire, how to impress a prospective employer, business vs. business casual attire, and tips on dressing for success.

A job interview is your opportunity to make a great first impression on your potential employer. Dressing for success is a big part of the interview process.If you're wondering what to wear to an interview, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you must look professional and polished. While your interview attire depends on what job you're applying for, no matter what the position, you should come in looking neat, tidy, and well-dressed.If you're a woman who needs some inspiration for your interview attire, browse through this gallery to get an idea of what to wear to an interview. First up: classic black dress pants and a sweater.

Professional / Business Interview Attire

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgement an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress appropriately for a job interview.

MENS OUTFITS

1.Be formal (no matter what the regular dress code is at the job).

 The only exceptions to this are if you are interviewing somewhere that they tell you specifically what to wear for your own safety (such as at a factory). For most interviews, a suit is the appropriate attire. A blue suit works the best and it gives you a lot of versatility in terms of shirt and tie choice. Light or dark gray are also good conservative choices. A three button suit will look good on almost anyone, while a 2 button will give a slightly taller/slimmer appearance.

2. Choose a solid white or blue shirt. 

You don't want to look too flashy with a brightly colored shirt, and striped (and especially patterned) shirts are a little less formal. A straight collar is also more formal than a button down. Choose one with a medium spread. (If you have a particularly large neck, a wider collar may look better.)

3. Wear a tie in a dark, conservative color (never pink). 

Stick to solids, rep (diagonal striped) or small patterned ties. A red tie will give the friendly politician look, while blue ties give a more serious FBI agent look. Both are acceptable.

4. Wear a belt or suspenders, but never both at the same time.

 It’s redundant. If you're a suspenders kind of guy, get buttons sewed into your trousers and wear suspenders that button on, not the cheap clip-on kind. They will make you look cheap.

5. Show off your shoes. 

A pair of black oxfords or cap-toed oxfords is the best choice. Get ones that don't have super thick soles so they won’t look like boots.

Tips

Rather than carrying a backpack or loose papers, bring a folder or portfolio with at least one copy of your resume.

If you are lucky enough to be asked for a second interview, simply changing the shirt and tie combination can give the look of a whole new outfit, even if you don’t have another suit.

Make sure your dress shirts' tails are long enough that they stay tucked in. Refresh your tuck right before the interview in the nearest restroom: unzip your fly and reach in to pull the front tail downwards, to align the placket with your trouser hitch and belt buckle.

Although it seems counterintuitive to wear another layer, putting on an undershirt will keep sweat from getting on your dress shirt and showing exactly how nervous you really are. The bonus is that your white shirt will look whiter with a white undershirt. Choose a white short-sleeved tee in favor of an athletic undershirt.

A nice watch rounds out the outfit. You don't have to spend a fortune on a Tag Heuer. Fossil and Timex make nice enough looking watches that can fool almost anyone.

Wear unscented deodorant and no cologne

WOMENS ATTIRE

So you're looking for a new job... Well, if you got an interview, you're well on your way! But how do you make a good first impression? It starts when you walk in the door. Although it would be nice if things weren't this way, the way you look is very important. You've got to dress to impress!

1. Start with the basics:

 If you are looking for work in an informal place of business, A nice blouse and slacks would be sufficient. If in a more formal place, a pantsuit with slacks or a pencil skirt would be best. Remember, if you take the skirt option, make sure it is not too short! That could be a big turn off to future employers. The length should be just at or below the knee. Also, if you feel that the weather does not call for long sleeves, you could find a jacket top with short or three quarter sleeves.

 2. Next, and a favorite area for many, are the shoes.

 Close-toed flats or close-toed pumps are best. Make sure the pumps are not uncomfortably tall. Walking funny definitely does not help with your appearance.

3. Now that you have the essentials, it's time for makeup and hair advice. 

Makeup should be very light and natural looking. It should enhance your features, not overpower them. For hair, a straight, low ponytail is always a good option. If your hair is short, you can wear it down. Just make sure it looks clean and controlled. Employers will be distracted from your wonderful words if you are fidgeting with your hair the whole time. Also keep away from too many odors. Too much hairspray, lotions, and perfumes are overwhelming!

4. After all of this, make sure your outfit has no stains, wrinkles, holes, or anything else that shouldn't be there. Make sure your nails look nice and clean. Keep tattoos covered.

5. You're ready to go right? No! You forgot your accessories. 

Extras are important too! You can't forget your briefcase or purse with your portfolio and other important papers.

 Big, slouchy, or tiny handbags should be left at home for other occasions. Another extra is jewelry. It is my favorite addition to your almost perfect outfit. 

Only earrings and a simple necklace are acceptable. Jewelry is great because it gives your outfit a little bit of personality.

They should be simple so they do not distract, but they are a beautiful finish to your outfit!