On this day, we celebrate all our Armed Forces' Men who are gallantly defending the lives of men justly💪💪💪💪💪
Those who has fallen fighting the just course of the common man 💪💪💪💪💪
Those incapacitated in the course of discharging their duties diligently 💪💪💪💪💪
Back from the Vatican
I have just returned from the Vatican, and it was a deeply solemn and reflective visit. My participation in the inauguration ceremony was in line with my previous witnessing of inaugurations, swearing-ins, and official ceremonies across the world, this was no exception. Such occasions carry profound moral and spiritual significance. This was never a political event and should remain untouched by politics. Some moments are best reserved for quiet contemplation.
After the inaugural Mass, I did not attend the Papal Audience and therefore did not have the opportunity to meet the Holy Father personally. That honour was reserved for heads of state and accredited diplomats. For those who desire such an encounter, the Papal Audience continues traditionally.
What should truly command our attention, however, is the content and moral force contained in the Pope’s homily, particularly his urgent call to fight poverty and promote a spirit of brotherhood that transcends ethnic, political, and religious boundaries. The deeper meaning of the gathering lies not in ceremonial gestures, but in whether those present internalised his message and will return with the resolve to act.
The fight against corruption is the essential first step toward building societies where resources are directed to what truly matters - education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure. These should be our major concern and the lasting message we carry home from the Vatican. May we, in whatever station we occupy, rise to the task of building a more just, compassionate, and prosperous nation. -PO
Pursue Technical Courses Over Employment-Dependent Degrees
'James' sat on the edge of his worn-out couch, staring at the cracked screen of his phone. Another rejection email. Five years ago, he’d graduated top of his class in civil engineering, dreaming of building Kenya’s skyline. “One of the best engineers Kenya ever had,” his professor had called him. But now, at 35, he was jobless, broke, and bitter. The empire he’d imagined—bridges, skyscrapers, a name that carried weight—had crumbled before it began.
He scrolled through memories of his last job, a chaotic construction site where engineers like him fought for scraps. Inspectors undercut engineers for promotions. Site agents battled assistant inspectors for overtime. Everyone was clawing to survive. “Survival for the fittest,” 'James' muttered, recalling how he’d competed with colleagues for roles that paid barely enough to cover rent. The market was flooded—too many graduates, too few jobs. He’d seen classmates, brilliant minds who’d burned midnight oil over complex equations, abandon engineering altogether. One drove a boda boda now. Another sold secondhand clothes. The truth stung: engineering, once a golden ticket, was a gamble that rarely paid off.
'James' tossed his phone aside and leaned back, eyes tracing the water stains on his ceiling. He thought about his cousin, 'Wambui', who’d taken a different path. While 'James' slogged through university, 'Wambui' enrolled in a six-month course on solar panel installation. “Why waste time on a degree?” she’d said, laughing. “I want to work for myself.” At the time, 'James' had pitied her, thinking her choice was small, unambitious. But now? 'Wambui' was thriving. She’d started installing solar systems in rural villages, tapping into the demand for affordable energy. Within a year, she’d hired two assistants, bought a secondhand van, and was eyeing contracts in neighboring counties. She didn’t answer to a boss or beg for promotions. She built her own empire, one solar panel at a time.
The contrast gnawed at 'James'. His degree had promised stability but delivered rejection. Wambui’s skills gave her freedom. He thought about others he knew—friends who’d learned welding, plumbing, or web development. They weren’t rich, but they were steady. A welder friend, 'Otieno', had started crafting custom gates for Nairobi’s growing middle class. Another, 'Aisha', taught herself coding through online courses and now freelanced for clients in Europe, earning in dollars. They didn’t compete in overcrowded job markets. They created their own.
'James' stood and paced his tiny apartment, his mind racing. He’d been raised to believe a degree was the only path to success, that technical courses were for those who “couldn’t make it.” But Wambui, Otieno, Aisha—they weren’t failures. They were proof that skills could trump credentials. A plumber didn’t need a corner office to pay his bills. A coder didn’t need a corporate job to build a future. They answered to clients, not managers, and their work met real needs—leaky pipes, broken circuits, websites for small businesses.
He stopped pacing and grabbed his laptop, searching for technical courses nearby. Electrical installation. Carpentry. Digital marketing. The options were endless, and most took less than a year. He imagined himself as a freelancer, maybe starting with small gigs, then scaling up like 'Wambui'. No more rejection emails. No more fighting for scraps. Just him, his skills, and a market that valued what he could do.
'James' closed his laptop, a spark of hope flickering. The dream of being Kenya’s greatest engineer was dead, but a new one was forming. He pictured a workshop, tools in hand, clients calling him for work. It wasn’t the empire he’d planned, but it was one he could build. “No more chasing jobs,” he whispered. “I’ll create my own.” The bitter truth of his past had led him here, to a future where he’d never compete again—because he’d be the one writing the rules.
Read the full Open Network date announcement for a look back at Pi’s journey, what to expect at Open Network launch, updates on Open Network conditions, and how you can prepare in the meantime! https://t.co/LHBNDhFYYp