jacob, Author at Mugendi

jacob

Deliver us from Instant hot shower

January 21, 2019January 2, 2021 2 min read

We all love showers, and we love them hot, or more precisely, warm. Instant hot showers are loved for just that. In the age where we want all things instant, instant hot water shower is the instantest of all. Just a flip of the switch and one enjoys water which is not cold, at least.

But this dearly loved device is a scam. For some reasons, I never get to understand what goes inside the head of the shower. I heard someone who used it for the first time claim that the water was both hot and cold at the same time. I had never made such an observation, but I immediately agreed that such a phenomenon exists. Instant hot showers have the following shortcomings:

Risk of electric shock. Faulty wiring would deliver 240 Volts down your body. This is rare, but I have seen it happen.
Water is both hot and cold. You have to solve a complex matrix in order to maintain water at the same temperature.
It is a major power guzzler. Instant shower can account up to 50% of all electricity costs in a small household.
It cannot work under low pressure. Water at low pressure may lead to the shower being too hot to use, or worse, the shower might not heat.
Short life span, especially if it is a fake brand.
Their use might be coming to an end, as the government might consider banning them. This is according to a ministry of energy consultant.

One solution to instant water heaters is use of solar water heaters. These have the capacity to heat considerable volumes of water at very low costs, and their costs is cheaper in the long run. Not only are they maintenance free, but they also can deliver high volumes of water since they have water reservoirs attached.

In Kenya, solar water heater with a capacity of 200 litres cost approximately KES 50,000 (USD 500). Once installed on the rooftop or any other convenient place, they can serve effectively for up to 20 years. Their water tank is insulated to minimize heat losses, enabling them to store hot water for up to 72 hours. In Kenya, there is the Solar Water Heating regulation that requires all buildings with a consumption of more than 100 l of hot water per day.

Wondering what happens during the rainy season or non- solar day? No problem. These solar heaters have a secondary electrical heating element, which allows water to be heated directly from the mains.

The Politician’s Confession

January 18, 2019January 21, 2019 2 min read

A Priest was being honoured at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner. However, he was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.

“I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents; embezzled from his employer; had an affair with his boss’s wife; had sex with his boss’s 17 year old daughter on numerous occasions, taken illegal drugs; had several homosexual affairs; was arrested several times for public nudity and gave VD to his sister in-law.

I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things. But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.”

Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk:

“I’ll never forget the first day our parish Priest arrived,” said the politician. “In fact, I had the honour of being the first person to go to him for confession.”

Automatic Number-Plate Recognition

January 17, 2019 1 min read

Automatic number-plate recognition is a technology that uses optical character recognition on images to read vehicle registration plates. This simply means, a camera takes a picture, and a software analyzes the picture to identify a vehicle, then identify a number plate in the vehicle, and read that number plate. This allows for a machine (or any system) to identify a vehicle on the road, much as a human being can do. In Kenya, this is implemented using CCTV cameras on the roads, or cameras specifically designed for this purpose, such as one used in toll stations.

Applications of Automatic number-plate recognition

Tracking stolen vehicles
Identifying guest vehicles, hence better visitor management
Useful in tracking average speed of a vehicle
Traffic engineering design.

Besides these basic uses, there are more applications that can be useful in Kenya. One such would be identifying fake number plates, and cases where two vehicles have been assigned the same number plate. This would have been a major tip off that could have prevented the terrorist attack at Dusit D2 Hotel complex at Riverside drive.

We need to have technology doing more for us. We should have technology telling us that KCN 340E is a blue Toyota Ractis, and even alerting us that two different cars with the same number plates have been spotted. This way, we shall be a step ahead in identifying crooks before they roam freely in our cities. God bless Kenya.

Truehost Cloud

January 8, 2019March 19, 2019 1 min read

Truehost Cloud is a Cloud computing start up that has presence in various markets globally. The services offered include:

Domain name registration
Virtual and dedicated servers
SSL certificates
Various Cloud computing licenses
Shared internet hosting
Cloud back up solution

Why you should consider hosting with Truehost Cloud

24/7/365 technical support
15 second response time via chat
Free web hosting for start ups
Free SSL certificates
A reliable brand, trusted by tens of thousands of clients such as
- Multinational corporations such as
  - Pure VPN
  - ShadowServer
  - Bamburi Cement
- Government entities such as
  - Government of Makueni County
  - Energy Regulatory Commission
  - National AIDS Control Council
- Thousands of bloggers such as
  - www.wanjikunjuguna.com
  - www.africanapologist.com
  - www.powerstrides.co.ke
- Small and medium sized enterprises such as
  - Sasa Web Kenya
  - Diaspora Interlink
  - Hope and Future Rehabilitation Center

6 Trends coming to Kenya’s internet in 2019

January 4, 2019January 7, 2019 2 min read

Welcome to 2019. We have been told that there are several must have skills, such as time management, adaptability, collaboration, persuasion, creativity, UX Design, People management, analytical reasoning, AI and Cloud computing. Below are 6 trends that will affect the internet in Kenya in the year 2019.

Increased access

Smartphones are getting cheaper, cost of connectivity is decreasing, and internet coverage is growing. More people are getting online.

This is good news for a digital economy. Do not miss the train; purpose to be online.

Privacy

In 2018, The European Union started implementing the General data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This law is meant to enhance privacy and protect the data of all the European Union citizens. Many countries followed suit, and Kenya already has a Data Protection Bill which is before the parliament and the senate, and its implementation will send ripples in the whole IT industry.
Critics think that the laws will stifle innovation, considering that most tech giants today have risen through an ability to access and process data. We hope this will work to our good.

Fake news

Donald Trump has a sensitive nose to fake news, and thanks to him, we all can smell fake news. Unfortunately, it is very hard to detect fake news, and depends on your believes and interest. If you think Kenya is in too much debt, you will likely agree with any news that suggests that Kenya is drowning in debt. If you hate a politician, you will agree with any news that paints him negatively.

With our biased lens, we will not easily identify fake news.

Disconnecting/Unplugging

Many people already feel worn out by an overly connected world. We have notifications from our watches, phones, emails, computers, social media, alarms, microwaves, and many other smart devices. The constant blinking, ringing and buzzing of devices can be a productivity killer.

For those who want to unplug, there are a few steps you can take:

Start by turning off unnecessary notifications from your phone. You can set it to be notified of only calls.
Consider uninstalling applications such as social media apps. This makes it harder for you to log in to those sites, hence decreased access.
Set specific time to check notifications, and ignore them at any other time.
At worst, consider deactivating the offending apps.

2022

The year 2022 is 3 years away, but it feels like it is just next door. The internet will be full of 2022 activities, from early campaigns, political alignments, and general news. Wear your helmet.

Cybersecurity

This is talked about in hushed tones, because our banks are at risk, our M-PESA balances are at risk, our data is not safe, and even the government is not safe. Socially engineered attacks will continue to affect banks and mobile money platforms, with the Kamiti brigade becoming smarter. Stay safe.

The Drowning Fish

January 3, 2019 2 min read

After a long dry season, it rained, and it poured. All streams were swollen and the river had broken its banks. There were floods everywhere and the animals were all running up into the hills. The floods came so fast that many drowned except the lucky monkeys who used their proverbial agility to climb up into the treetops. They looked down on the surface of the water where the fish were swimming and gracefully jumping out of the water as if they were the only ones enjoying the devastating flood.

One of the monkeys saw the fish and shouted to his companion: “Look down, my friend, look at those poor creatures. They are going to drown. Do you see how they struggle in the water?” “Yes,” said the other monkey. “What a pity! Probably they were late in escaping to the hills because they seem to have no legs. How can we save them?” “I think we must do something. Let’s go close to the edge of the flood where the water is not deep enough to cover us, and we can help them to get out.”

So the monkeys did just that. They started catching the fish, but not without difficulty. One by one, they brought them out of the water and put them carefully on the dry land. After a short time there was a pile of fish lying on the grass motionless. One of the monkeys said, “Do you see? They were tired, but now they are just sleeping and resting. Had it not been for us, my friend, all these poor people without legs would have drowned.”

The other monkey said: “They were trying to escape from us because they could not understand our good intentions. But when they wake up they will be very grateful because we have brought them salvation.”

National Leadership and Mentorship Summit 2019

January 2, 2019 2 min read

It is said that education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. The same applies to leadership. At whichever level, leadership without values leads to tyranny, corruption and slavery. If we are to develop leaders, we must start by inculcating the right values right from early stages of life. And in a world where Artificial Intelligence is growing and threatening some traditional careers, one field that will never be disrupted by AI or technology is leadership.

One of my greatest leadership development experience was serving in the Christian Union in campus. Here I learnt key skills that I still use and perfect today. I learnt how to delegate work, team work, creativity, persuasion, time management, planning, how to embrace technology to solve organizational problems, how to build and motivate teams, how to work with people from different backgrounds, and many other skills. And all these have been key in my work, years after I left campus. These skills matter in business, in employment, in ministry, in politics, and even in families. I am grateful for these skills that were impacted to me through the work of the Fellowship of Christian Unions (FOCUS) Kenya.

This week, FOCUS Kenya will hold a 3 day conference focused on building leaders at the Co-operative University of Kenya. The National Leadership and Mentorship Summit provides a platform for both students and associates to come together to learn, and for mentorship. The conference will bring together key leaders in Kenya such as Prof. Solomon Kendagor, Dr. Florence Muindi, Ms Valentine Gitoho, Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, Rev. Dr Richard Mutura, among others. The objectives of the Summit is:

To challenge student leaders to develop a clear sense of calling, godly character and right competencies for enhanced Christian influence on campus, church, and society
To equip the CU leaders on effective management of the Christian Unions through training, peer accountability and sharing ideas on best practices.
To provide a platform for engaging and explore possible solutions on emerging issues on campus, church, and society both at a local and global level.
To sensitize, build capacity and Catalyze mentorship as a critical strategy for developing people to become agents of godly transformation on campus, the marketplace, church, and society.

This is a must attend for student leaders and associates who want to have an impact in the church and the society. I will be there.

The Hole in the Boat

December 31, 2018January 24, 2019 2 min read

A man was asked to paint a boat.

He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him. While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it. When finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice cheque, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised and said “You’ve already paid me for painting the boat Sir!”

“But this is not for the paint job. It’s for having repaired the hole in the boat.”

“Ah! But it was such a small service… certainly it’s not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”

“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip. They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing. Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your ‘small’ good deed.”

The Politician

December 20, 2018January 24, 2019 1 min read

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.’

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.’ The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you ‘ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then an MP came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill , the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.’ The MP was very happy and left the shop

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen MPs lined up waiting for a free haircut.

Solar Energy for Small and Medium Sized Households

December 20, 2018January 2, 2021 3 min read

Everyone is going solar. Some want to use renewable energy, others want green energy, some want to save the planet, others want to cut carbon emissions, and some simply think it is cool. If you want to join the bandwagon, I will tell you why you should, and why you should not, depending on your needs.

First, there are some very good news about solar energy (In this case, we are talking about Solar Photovoltaic, which involves converting solar energy to electrical energy. There are many other uses, such as solar water heater).

The cost of solar power has gone down, and is on the downward trend. This means that it will keep getting cheaper in the future. Good news.
The cost of storage is also going down, and storage technology keeps getting better. This is important because any meaningful solar installation requires storage. You can guess why; the sun never shows up at night, and solar panels convert solar (sun’s) energy into electrical energy.
You can now seamlessly switch between mains ac and solar power, meaning that you use solar power when it is available, and switch to mains electricity when necessary.

Who can use solar power?

Solar power is freely available, as long as you can see the sun. This means that if you have a roof, or some grounds available, you can mount solar panel. Any house owner or property owner can install solar panels, but if you are in a rented apartment things may not work good for you, unless if you are a friend to your landlord, or you are influential 😊.

Solar power can be used nearly in every part in Africa, as the sun is a friend to Africa. The Sunshine duration in Nairobi is 6.8 hours in Nairobi, 9.4 hours in Cairo, and 8.4 in Cape Town. In Kenya, the average sunshine duration is 6.9 hours, which means that we have the sun shining almost all throughout the year, with peaks in January. In short, everyone can board!

But,

You need to have your priorities right. If your side hustle is welding steel gates in your house, or running a posho mill, you are not eligible. To put it more accurately, you can consider solar, but your investment will be in millions. Here we are addressing domestic consumers.

Sample case

If your monthly power consumption is 55 units of electrical power, your electricity bill would be approximately KES 833 in Kenya, or KES 10,000 per year. This could be the following devices running in the house:

100 Watt fridge running full-time
30 Watt TV running for 4 hours per day
Two 10 W bulbs running for six hours per day
A laptop running for three hours per day
Three 15 Watt bulbs running for 4 hours per day

For the above, you would need to have at least a battery capacity of 230 Ah, a solar panel of 262 Watts, and an Inverter of about 300 Watts. This would cost about 75000, exclusive of installation costs. This means that it would take you about 10 years to recover your investment. Solar panels have a long usage life, up to 30 years, while for the battery, you might need to replace it at most every 7 years.

Solar Water Heater

I would want to mention a few things about solar waters heaters because they have one of the easiest application. One of the huge costs in small households is heating water, and adopting one can help reduce your electricity consumption significantly. Read about Solar water heaters in this article.

All Posts By jacob