- Gatwiri takes issue with the July/August edition of Foreign Policy magazine which classifies Kenya as a failed state. He points out that, “The source of the research material is also incredulous. They say they used software to analyse data from tens of thousands of international and local media sources. If international media houses portray Africa in a negative light (as they always do), and their stories are used as sources, then the results drawn from this research are already skewed to show countries like Kenya are “failed states”. We all know that international media houses have nothing positive to write about Africa.”

- Along the lines of negative coverage of Africa, The Keeper of Her Thoughts would like to know what exactly “the darkest part of Africa” means. Her curiousity leads her to conduct some research on Google with the following results, I conducted a democratic google search for the phrase “Darkest part of…” as applied to various continents with the following (quite easily verifiable) results: “Darkest Part of Asia” – 1 result. “Darkest Part of America” - 7 results, most of which are followed by the word past as in ‘the darkest part of America’s past..’ and are in reference to the era of slavery. “Darkest Part of Europe” - 8 results, 1 used sarcastically in reference to Norway by a disgruntled American and the rest in reference to lack of sun.
“Darkest Part of Africa” -679 results, a whopping, record breaking result!

- Looking for pictures capturing daily life in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Then check out Tangawizi.

- Chippla recently spent 3 months in Nigeria Nigeria. His Notes from Abuja series of posts conveys a sense of what is going on in Abuja. For instance, part 1 gives insight into the recently launched Abuja taxi scheme. And part 2 highlights the ongoing power struggle within the ruling People's Democratic Party (or People's Deceiving Party as the locals call it).

- Meanwhile, if you are in London and you are jonesing for some Nigerian food, Aderemi has compiled a list of Nigerian restaurants in London.

- Some Among Us, who is blogging from South Africa, contrasts Thabo Mbeki's views on disengagement during the struggle against apartheid with Mbeki's current view on disengagement when it comes to dealing with Mugabe.

- Bankelele offers up helpful information regarding buying shares on the Kenyan stock exchange
from outside Kenya. African Bullets and Honey

- Are you in the job-hunting process and tired of the standard rejection letter script? Wg-K provides an alternative (and funny) script.

- Why did the chicken post the blog? Click here to find out…hilarious.

- Guessaurus fills us in on her love-love relationship with sleep.

- A trip to Monaco makes MMK reconsider his career options.

- AfroFeminista would just like to eat her fries in peace.

- Haidhuru has a funny post that will probably resonate with many in the diaspora…”You know you've been in the States too long when….“

- The upcoming constitutional referendum in Kenya is dominating the news. Unfortunately, Kenyans are faced with a Hobson's choice and the process has turned into an opportunity for Kenyan politicians to take their usual demagougery to new levels. Echawawa expresses his disgust with the unfolding circus.

- The Kenyan budget was recently announced and the Kenyan blogosphere was on hand to provide commentary. Ms. K notes that though she's no budget expert, since “there was a whole House-full of Jack/Jill Arses who sat through the whole thing. I figure that by any estimation, I'm as qualified to ramble on about the budget as any of them!” Ah…the beauty of blogs…giving people the ability to provide the (much-needed) alternative perspective. Bankelele highlights the major changes.

- The Kenyan government says that it plans ban smoking in all public places including, according to one report, “bars, churches, and sport stadia.” Church? “Who smokes in church?” wonders Mama Junkyard.

- Bankelele points us to Kenya's first electoral constituency website.

- Thinker deconstructs the soap opera.

- Nicholas Gichu lets us know what he's been up to. The entry starts off with a day that was “nipple freezing freaking cold-goodbye peripheral sensation hello numbness-despite dressing like some russian during winter bila (without) the vodosky!”

- Karoki says it is time for a new broom in Kenya. Ng'ethu Star concurs. Echoing the sense of frustration with the state of affairs in Kenya, Udi, pens his version of Tupac's Letter to the President (explicit language).

- Wassapangaz offers up confessions of a blogger. Ditto Lidia.

- Martin Kimani on Putin and “African cannibalism”.

- Haidhuru on mother tongue interference. P.S. check out the rest of the blog for some wonderful pictures of daily life in Kenya.

- Scentiments on something that many Kenyan bloggers based in the diaspora can relate to - missing Kenya.

- Kenyan politicians inspire a WTF moment.

- This is probably not what the proponents of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act envisioned. Also via Bankelele, book lovers in Nairobi now have a new option.

- Thinker conducts a scientific study on “just friends”.

- Wg-K writes urges those who like to think that sexual exploitation and abuse of children in Kenya derives solely from the “West” and the “evil internet” to wake up and smell the coffee. I can guarantee you that almost every Kenyan woman who reads this post has gone through similar experiences, or knows someone who has gone through similar experiences.

- Adrian on a local prison beauty pageant that is giving women a second chance.

- “Lay off the press!” says Afromusing.

- And last but not least, from the one of the newsest kids on the block(g), Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman has a wonderful post on reading Binyavinga Wainaina.

A sample of reactions:

- Thinker provides the tongue-in-cheek version of events.

- Martin Kimani of Bullets and Honey thinks Lucy should be thanked for stripping away the illusion that is Kenya.

- Soulsytah is embarrassed.

- I'm more rankled about the conflict of interest question that's raised by the story.

- Given all the talk about pyjamas and bikinis, Ms. K offers the First Lady Swim Suit edition.

- Afromusing thinks the First Lady's actions have set the women's movement back.

- Wassapangaz thinks she's just nuts. Wanjiru concurs.

- The First Lady launches a blog to tell her side of the story.

- Mental Acrobat develops a great typology of the online and offline reactions to the First Lady's actions.

- Finally, Mama Junkyard would like to see the media raise the level of debate. In the process of posing this challenge, MJY (along with all the commenters) has done just that.

To keep up with the exponentially growing Kenyan blogosphere, check out Nchi Yetu Daily, which aggregates feeds from Kenyan blogs.

Mama Junkyard is “confuddled” (please give her props for coining this term) about her blog identity versus her real identity. Do those distinct identities even exist, are they two different people, would they like each other? Read on to find out.

Mshairi gives her view on the identity “crisis.”

Owen has no idea what Maitha of Mawazo na Mawaidha is saying, but thinks the language is very cool. An excellent example of why the Global Voices project exists…to eventually help bridge these gaps…now if we could just come up with a Swahili-English online translator.

Ms. K would like to find some green clothes and would appreciate it if Camilla just gave up on hats.

Sonny reminisces about breakfast.

Afromusing on the chasm between Africans and African Americans.

Local newspaper report on the Barclays Bank of Kenya AGM. Bankelele's report on the same AGM. Aren't blogs a good thing?

I've been thinking about doing a weekly or bi-monthly highlight of what's going on in Kenyan blogs for a while now, especially since the number of Kenyan blogs has been steadily on the rise over the last few months. Thanks to some prodding from Ethan, here's my first attempt.

Bankelele goes on a working retreat, gets all refreshed, and lets us know why its good to be a Cabinet Minister in Kenya.

Nicholas G. is looking for a challenge.

Soulsystah is not feeling Michuki's (Minister in charge of internal security) shoot-to-kill order. Neither am I. The Kenyan Police have already developed a reputation for shooting first and asking questions later (sometimes killing innocent victims in the process). How about focusing on clamping down on the entry of small arms into the country, on ensuring the criminals don't get off scot-free due to corruption, on or tracking down the rogue current and former members of the police who seem to be behind many of these high profile crimes?

100 things about Magaidi.

Ashok at his story-telling best.

Guessaurus would like to know what's in a name. The rapper Kanye West, apparently claims that Kanye means “the only one” in Swahili, I was laughing along with Guessaurus on this one.

Adrian tries to figure out what role Kenyans in the diaspora can play when they move back home.

Thinker is on a business trip in Uganda, and is perplexed by the large expat community and the fact that his presence seems to perplex them.

4Shezzy reflects on the Pope's passing.