Musically Speaking

My first encounter with Kayamba Africa was sometime back in the summer of 2000. I had attended a friend’s wedding in Nairobi and the musical group was part of the entertainment. If my memory serves me right, they were an acapela group at that time as I don’t recall them singing with any musical accompaniments. They may have had a few percussion instruments but they certainly didn’t have any guitars or synthesizers.

Once they took to the stage, everyone listened calmly with the guests nodding their heads and tapping their feet to the rhythm. After the guests had warmed up to their tunes, they switched to Luo songs as both the bride and the groom were from Nyanza. It was then that all hell broke loose, literally, with even the bridal party taking to the stage dancing and jubilantly singing with the group. I was thoroughly entertained by both the group and the sight of guests dancing their hearts out to their music.

Since then, the group has evolved and have gone on to record several musical CDs under Samawati’s Suzanne and Gido Kibukosya. Their music consists of a mixture of Kenyan traditional songs from various ethnic groups and as such they resonate with a wide audience of Kenyans.

While prowling the streets of Nairobi, I came across their musical CDs in one of the music shops and instantaneously bought all of them without checking the songs they contained. From then, I have been continuously listening to their tracks in the car and I am yet to listen to the radio or other CDs that I bought in Nairobi. My favorite song has got to be the Kisii song titled Sindigisa. Even though I don’t understand what they are singing about, I like the part where they sing the “Sloooowly, Slowly my dear” chorus in a heavy Kisii accent.

I would recommend their CDs to anyone looking for Kenyan ethnic music. Though I did not enjoy their music when I first quickly listened through their CDs, I later got hooked onto their music after listening to a few songs that I knew. Their CDs retail between 850 and 1000 Kenyan shillings and can also be found online at Stern Music. They also have a VCD featuring some of their videos, which includes the above cartoon video of the song Ngukinyukia Okahora.

PS. The original Kayamba Africa crew broke up and now consists of two main competing groups, namely Kayamba Africa and Kayamba Fiesta. There may also exist a third group that goes by the name Kayamba Sese, though I am yet to come across their CD. The four CDs that I bought includes one from Kayamba Fiesta.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Opened on 1st March 2005, the Diani Reef Resort & Spa is one of the finest tourists resort in Kenya. Without doubt, no expenses were spared during the re-construction of the tourist hotel which is owned by the infamous Deepak Kamani of the Anglo-Leasing Finance Scandal.

The lavishly furnished tourist hotel, which I would conservatively estimate to be worth in the region of 2 billion shillings, bears a lot of similarities to the Grand Regency Hotel once considered as the best hotel in Kenya. Like the Grand Regency Hotel which is purported to have been built using money tied to the Goldenberg scandal, the Diani Reef Resort is also allegedly tied to the Anglo-Leasing scandal. In both instances, the exchequer lost billions of Kenya shillings that may have been used to set up the two luxurious tourist hotels.

At the time that the government put out advertisements in the media seeking Deepak Kamani in March 2006, it is said that he was holed up at the Diani Reef Resort. Yet the police would not dare arrest him as he is considered untouchable to the point that President Kibaki had to fire two of his trusted ministers just to protect him from being brought to justice.

In the future, there is a possibility that the hotel may go the Grand Regency Hotel way (currently in receivership) as the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority has placed a caveat to protect the property from changing hands. Like Pattni, should the Kamani's fall-out from the corridors of power, the government of the day might take over the tourist resort as it is allegedly to have been rebuilt using proceeds from Anglo-Leasing type deals.

Having evaded prosecution for procurement scandals committed during Moi's reign, the Kamani's have every reason to hope that their interests will be protected by the next government after this year's general elections. You can be sure that Kenyan politicians will not bite the hands that feed them as long as they are assured of their cut from the gravy train.

Parents Night Out

Most parents in the diaspora will agree with me that bringing up kids abroad is no joke. Unlike in Kenya, where you may have the services of a nanny or a network of relatives to help out, few Kenyans abroad have an extra pair of hands to help out with the kids. As such, it is hard for couples to find quality time for themselves away from their children. In some cases, the pressures of work can add up such that some couples have less time together even as a family.

All these pressures require that couples have to create the time to be together away from their children. This requires that you get the services of a friend, neighbour, baby sitter or childcare facility to look after the children while you take time of.

Every now and then, we take advantage when we our relatives are in town, however, such visits have become rare nowadays. Since we not keen on burdening our friends or neighbours, it means we have to pay someone to look after the kids every time we want to go out. Normally, baby sitters in my area charge $5 per hour for the first child and $3 per hour for every extra child. Even though this is reasonable, we've never used a baby sitter as we'd prefer not to leave our kids in the house with a 'stranger'.

The only remaining option is to take the kids to a nearby childcare facility, which tends to be inflexible as to which Friday nights they are open and they also close early at 9 pm. Even though they charge slightly more than a baby sitter, it is worthwhile because of the higher assurance of safety, the kids also get to interact with other kids and they also like the junk food they are given as opposed to eating home cooked meals.

In addition to our weekly Thursday lunch dates, we try to go out for a night date at least once a month. Most of the times, we prefer going out for a movie instead of going out for dinner dates and as such the date ends up being cheaper than the child-care costs. Just going out on a simple date can end up costing almost $100 if you add up the cost of childcare, even though the movie cost $18 for two tickets and $15 for two medium drinks and a medium sized pop-corns.

For most couples, it is the children who come in the way of parents going out because they require the presence of at least one of the parents all the time. Couple that to high childcare costs and it makes it even harder for couples to go out.

Childcare costs make me long for the time I won't require any childcare services, not to mention the fact that we'll have more time to ourselves. I can't imagine how much money I'll save from not having to pay for costly childcare. In fact, childcare costs make paying college tuition look like a breeze as we'll have worked for more than 20 years by the time the kids go to college.

Safaricom Radio Advert

Phone rings; Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

Call diverted to voicemail service; Please leave a message after the beep.

Beeeeep!

Caller (in heavy luhya accent); Kwa majina mimi naitwa Sebastian Wepukhulu.

Ningetaka kutuma salamu kwa bibi yangu mpenzi, Brenda Khamali, akiwa kule Malaba, Busia. Salamu zangu piya ziwafikiye watato wangu Boi, Kadogo na Bebi wakiwa huko nyumbani.

Ningependa kuwajulisha kwamba hii tariff ya Saasa imebamba sana hapa mjini Nairobi.

Ujumbe ni kwa mjomba wangu Silvester 'Stallone' Nandasaba, mwambiye anunueko simu ya bei nafuu ya Safaricom kwani ndiyo nusu ya kuwasiliana.

Jingle; [Safaricom, The Better Option].

-Ends.-

End Of Season Shopping Sales

In two weeks time, the summer season will come to a close and retailers all over the US will usher in fall (autumn) with new collections of items in their stores. Between now and then, a lot of shops are keen on clearing up their summer inventory. And because they don't want to sell the same stuff next year they will be selling their wares at bargain prices.

For people who like to plan ahead and make cost savings, this is an opportune time to head out to the malls and buy next year's summer stuff at dirt cheap clearance prices. The only downside is that there are not a lot of choices available as stores are low on their summer inventory and you might also buy something that is out of fashion next year for those who are fashion conscious.

I prefer to take advantage of such end of season clear-out sales and I usually buy kids toys, games and clothings for next year's season. As such, it means buying this year's kids winter wear last year. The same applies for gift clothes for people back home to take with me when I next visit Kenya.

This year's end of summer sale is also good time to buy items in preparation for next year's summer vacation. In my case, since we are planning on a US road trip getaway and camping, now is a good time to buy items that we require for the vacation at bargain prices instead of waiting for next year and pay a higher price for the same items. The same applies to outdoor stuff like garden ornaments, patio furniture, grills, garden tools, fertilizers and even mulch.

For those who love to shop-till-you-are-broke, there's no better time than the next two weeks to buy items at discounted prices in preparation for next years summer.

Shopping Tip

Eat before shopping. If you go to the store hungry, you are likely to make unnecessary purchases. - American Heart Association Cookbook

The Seven Wonders Of Kenya

The New Seven Wonders the World got me thinking of what would constitute The Seven Wonders of Kenya. After much thought I came up with a list of ten items which I narrowed down to seven. My seven wonders of Kenya consists of things that are uniquely Kenyan and have also impacted the country significantly.

Below are 'The Seven Wonders Of Kenya'.

The first wonder of Kenya needs no introduction. Masai Mara Game Reserve has come to symbolize the rich wildlife of the Kenyan safari. A must go destination for both foreign and domestic tourists, the game park is famed for the Great Migration whereby the Wildebeests troop en mass to the neighbouring Serengeti in the months of July and August. It's because of this annual migration that Masai Mara has earned its spot as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Second on the list is the Matatu madness. Without doubt, matatu's are the king of the road when it comes to vehicular transport in Kenya. With it has come the matatu culture, where you find brightly colored mini-vans blaring loud music and being driven recklessly on the Kenyan roads. Not even the so called Michuki rules, introduced by the tongue cheeked transport minister, have been able to contain this menace. In many ways, matatu's have become part and parcel of the Kenyan culture more so because of people's disdain towards the government.

Kenyans peculiar calling habits, as the Safaricom's CEO Michael Joseph found out, is the next wonder of Kenya. From Mambo number 6 tariff to Bamba 50, there's no end to the odd number of calling habits that have been brought about by the wireless phone revolution sweeping across Kenya. Be it flashing to hanging up before the telephone conversation is over, Kenyans have invented new ways to communicate over the phone. Were it not for such habits, Safaricom, Kenya's most profitable company would have posted a profit higher than 12 billion shillings in the just ended financial year.

The people of Kenya definitely deserve to be listed as one of the seven wonders of Kenya. Two words come to mind when describing the average Kenyan. Loud and Proud. Be it from cheering during rugby matches, to watching premier league football and even talking over the phone. It's hard to imagine a Kenyan whispering. Bring together a gathering of Kenyans and you get a cacophony of noises with everyone talking loudly and laughing their hearts out over a simple conversation. Certainly this habit has endeared with Kenyans in the diaspora and it's no wonder that our African neighbours get intimidated by our presence. Or is it our booming voices?

Stalls and bazaars are the next wonder of Kenya. All over the nation, every free trading space is being converted into shops with a collection of mini-markets. Ever since the days of the Luna Park stalls at the Railways Club grounds and the subsequent Kenya Airways Dubai Shopping Festival offers, Kenyan businesses have firmly embraced the idea of selling imported, and albeit fake goods, in garissa lodge type stalls. From mobile phones and its accessories to ladies and childrens clothes, you can be sure to find even mini-hardwares, mini-pharmacies and also mini-restaurants in these mini-market types of shops. Stalls and bazaars have now come to represent the modern jua kali sector and is now a source of livelihood to a considerable number of Kenyans.

Kenyan music definitely deserves a spot in the seven wonders of Kenya list. Not the Genge music or keroro promoting music of the likes of Calif Records. Long before the new-kids-on-the-block generation of musicians, pioneered by Kalamashaka, there existed a superior breed of music. Now collectively refereed to as Zilizopendwa, these oldies are by far the best pieces of music produced in Kenya. The fact that the 70's and 80's era musicians never saw the inside of a music class nor used computers to produce their music just makes them legendary. From the famed Fadhili Williams, Daudi Kabaka, Maroon Commandos, Remmy Ongala, Them Mushrooms and Simba Wanyika just to name a few, there is no equal in the contemporary music scene to these group of musicians.

Last but by no means least are the coastal beaches of Kenya. There is certainly no way a tourist can visit Kenya and not be tempted to spend a few days on the sunny and sandy beaches of the Kenyan coast bordering the Indian Ocean. Even though the residents of Kisumu would like us to believe that Dunga beach is among the best in Kenya, there is no equal to the beaches found in the coastal province. Be it North Coast, South Coast and even Lamu, the coastal beaches are a beauty to behold. It is for this reason, that a high number of foreigners and even celebrities are proud to call the Kenyan coast their home.

The Age of Turbulence

"I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said." - Easy Al' Greenspan

Alan Greenspan, best known for his double-speak during his helm at the Federal Reserve Bank, couldn't have chosen a worse time to release his memoirs titled The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World.

The book which goes on sale on the 17th of September details the story of Greenspan's life and "is meant to draw readers along the same learning curve he followed, so they accrue a grasp of his own understanding of the underlying dynamics that drive world events". Greenspan also "reveals the universals of economic growth, delves into the specific facts in each of the major countries and regions of the world, and explains what the trend-lines of globalization are from here".

Against the back drop of a volatile stock market brought about by investors pulling out their money from the markets and the continued resetting of Adjustable Rate Mortgages, the release of the book is likely to coincide with a turbulent stock market.

It's not known if Greenspan will be participating in book tours although his publishers had indicated earlier in the year that Greenspan will appear on The Tonite Show with Jay Lennon to promote his book.

What makes it worse for Greenspan is that the US media has taken a critical position against the so called Greenspan Put low interest monetary policies that propped up the financial markets and helped grow the US economy and are now blaming him for the current financial crisis.

The next few weeks will reveal whether Alan Greenspan can handle the heat resulting from the ensuing financial market volatility.

Lessons From Jaramogi Oginga Odinga

Among the many books that I have recently bought is that of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga People's Revolutionary by Ezekiel Alembi. I wouldn't dare call it a novel although it's a short biography of the late Odinga. The 78 page book does not have a price tag but I think I bought it 120 shillings from a bookshop situated in Capital Center on Mombasa Road in Nairobi.

In the book, Alembi writes about the various aspects of Jamarogi's life from his birth in 1911 to his death in 1994. Having learnt little in school about the doyen of Kenya's opposition politics, it was fascinating to read about Jaramogi's business acumenship. To this end, the book devotes Chapter six to Jaramogi's humble beginnings in business.

Jaramogi's entry into the world of business occurred in 1945 when he formed the Bondo Thrift Association as a way to make the people in his community financially secure. His idea was for many people to pool their funds and invest in businesses. Driven by rebellion against the colonialists in Nyanza at that time, Jaramogi went all over Bondo seeking to get people to support his endeavour. Not wanting to limit the organization in Bondo, he later transformed Bondo Thrift Association to the well known Luo Thrift and Trading Corporation.

Through the association, Jaramogi bought property and started small businesses like shops and posho mills. Later on, he was able to establish a printing press and newspapers like the Ramogi and Nyanza Time.

Like Jaramogi, it is not uncommon to find Kenyans in the diaspora pooling their wealth to buy businesses or property both overseas and in Kenya. Driven by the need to succeed and the high barriers of going it all alone, Kenyans have established investment clubs for the purpose of making collective investments. One such group, made up of US-based Old Boys from Alliance High School has been busy looking for opportunities in Kenya. To this end, they are collecting money and looking for investment opportunities in Kenya to channel their funds.

Another such group is the Kenya Capital Investment Group based in London. It's members want to go beyond remittances to their relatives in Kenya and instead invest to grow with the Kenyan economy. The group is governed and invests based on an agreed and signed constitution. The investment club was established so as to learn, pool ideas and resources to be better investors. It's members make monthly contributions which are invested for an initial five year period from January 2007.

Like the Luo Thrift and Trading Corporation which gave birth to the Luo Union welfare group, investment clubs also form a rich ground for it's members to interact. In addition to the financial benefits, there is also the added advantage of socialization. In difficult circumstances, members can count on the support of others to help them at their time of need.

For people who are not good at saving money or are prone to making unsound investment decisions, joining a well established investment club can be a sure way of attaining financial prosperity.

As with most things, investment clubs are not for everyone. The key to joining one is being in agreement with the club's goals. It is because of this, that I turned down an invitation to join an investment club of Kenyans living in my state as I felt that my financial goals were not aligned to that of the club and also the fact that I am younger than it's members and therefore I have an aggressive investment strategy.

The Times Business Podcasts

The Times newspaper in conjunction with IBM have put together a series of weekly 30 minute podcasts from ten of the world's leading business thinkers. The podcasts provide the latest thinking in economics, management, finance, strategy and marketing. The lectures are available as podcast, in text online and in an abridged version in the newspaper.

In essence, the podcast provide an opportunity for business enthusiasts' to learn emerging trends and practices in the world of corporate business.

Best of MBA podcast

Money For Nothing

This past week, central banks around the world opened their war chests to prop up the financial markets from the sub-prime inflicted fall-out.

The move, similar to that after the September 11 attack on the WTC, is meant to restore confidence in the already battered financial markets. In turn, it did little to stem the stock market declines across the continents.

Led by the European Central Bank, a total of $317.2 billion (greater than the nominal GDP of oil-rich Saudi Arabia!) has been pumped into the global economy in the last few days. Other central banks around the world have also indicated that they might follow suit and release more money to ease the tightening credit crunch.

It's highly unlikely that the new money supply would ease the ongoing calamities in the financial markets as bearish sentiments continue to prevail with investors keen on pulling their money out of the markets. The measure is also unlikely to hold as it is because of increased global liquidity that has brought distress into the financial markets with all asset classes experiencing a bubble. In essence, pumping more liquidity only serves to postpone the problem.

Interestingly, there has been little change in the price of gold with the expansion of money supply. Could it be that traders or central banks are selling gold to raise funds?

*Bank of Japan, $8.4 billion; Reserve Bank of Australia, $4.19 billion; Federal Reserve Bank, $87.5 billion; European Central Bank, $214.5 billion; Bank of Canada, $2.6 billion

Rhino Charge

Name: Morani

Gender: Male

Weight: 2,500 kilograms

Age: 32 years

Place of Birth: Amboseli National Park

Residence: Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Favorite snack; Maize/corn seeds in the afternoon

Dislikes: Being sat/leaned on

Likes; Being photographed with tourists

Up-keep: $7,000 per year (yikes!)

Other features: Poor eye site and pea sized brain

Warning: Morani is a tame black Rhino. However, all animals may be unpredictable. You approach Morani at your own risk and Ol Pejeta Conservancy will accept no liability for any accident or injury that occurs as a result.

Medarex On A Roll

The current stock market doldrums seemed to have brought down many a companies with the exception of Medarex. Medarex, which filed its 10-Q on Monday, has defied the gravitating pull of the bears and risen up on heavy volume in the last week or so.

What makes Medarex special is that in the past one year it’s major competitors, Abgenix and Cambridge Antibody Technology, were bought out for a premium by Amgen and AstraZeneca respectively. In addition to this, the company boasts “over 30 antibody candidates in human clinical trials, or have had regulatory applications submitted for such trials”.

A closer look at it’s drug candidates reveals that “Phase III clinical trials are currently underway relating to eight of the most advanced product candidates in which Medarex has an economic interest through co-promotion/profit sharing rights, royalties and/or equity ownership. Seven of these candidates were generated through the use of their proprietary technology”.

Medarex has not been profitable and has an accumulated deficit of approximately $894.3 million, but it’s looks certain that they are a few years from profitability upon the commercialization of their candidates or being bought out due to the richness of their late stage portfolio.

Disclaimer: MEDX is one of the companies that I had a limit order on just before I went on vacation. Thankfully, I bought it at my limit price. I’ve bought it and sold it in the past and will not hesitate to do likewise in the future.

$1 Dinner

After blowing up cash like an Arabian oil Sheikh on $22 breakfasts' and half-board sumptuous buffets, it's back to reality. Getting back in the rat race means that I have to make adjustments to get me back on my financial goals. Still faced with a short-fall in my financial goals, the only way out is to make some drastic changes in my lifestyle.

It's during such time's that you can count on Ramen noodles to see you through the hard times. A $0.94 (+ tax) 6-pack of Maruchan Ramen noodles from Walmart is more than enough for dinner. All that's required is to boil twelve cups of water, add the six packets of noodles and cook for three minutes. Voila! And you've got yourself a $1 dinner for the whole family. For flavoring, rather than using the flavor sachets provided, I prefer to use Knorr Aromat Seasoning.

I'm not sure how the manufacturers of Ramen noodles make any profit, considering that a single packet of noodles can sell for even as low as 10 US cents. And it's not like they sell it in bulk quantities. Even at Walmart, they occupy a very small portion of the shelf and are sold in small sized packs up to a maximum of 12 packs for $1.30 (+ tax).

Could it be that the US government pays subsidies for Ramen noodles to ensure that no one in the US gets to sleep hungry cause all you need is 10 cent's and a cup of hot water to make a meal. Add a bag of ice to that and you have enough drink and food to last a hot summer night.

Blackstone, Down But Not Out

This year's IPO of the year, Blackstone, seems to have left a sour taste in investors who wanted to share in the success of it's founder and chief executive, Stephen Schwarzman. Almost six weeks after it went public, the stock is now trading at almost 30% off it's first day of trading all time high price of $38.

Today, the deep pocketed Chinese government $3 billion investment in the global alternative asset manager now stands at $2.5 billion. A whooping $0.5 billion shortfall in a matter of weeks. Apparently, anticipated changes in the US tax laws and more so the the end of easy money seemed to have contributed to it's declining share price.

With Blackstone paying a premium on most of its recent acquisitions in a market that has all the indications that it has topped, it's very likely that they may have chewed more than they could swallow. Given the current scenario of tightening money supply, it's no wonder that Blackstone is one of the most affected stocks.

Now that Bear Stearn's CFO has predicted more blood shed in the debt markets and more turmoil across the financial sector, it looks like Blackstone's woes have just began. In the coming weeks, it is expected that the market will re-price and we will see valuations in line with the sub-prime lending mess. Companies that took on debt to fund share buy-back or acquisitions and are now faced with decreasing cash flow due to the US slow down will be rewarded accordingly by investors.

Right now, it matters less that the rest of the world's economy is still booming because the slow down of the US economy will drag all the other economies down with it. Like I said before, this is the right time to stock-pile cash in readiness for the next expansion cycle. And you can expect that once Blackstone emerges from this mess they will continue to do what they do best. That is, make tons of money.

Dirty Cash: A Tale Of A Corrupt Police Force

It certainly looks like my incineration at Kilimani Police Station was not an isolated incidence but something that routinely happens in Kenya. As I have always thought, cops have become much worse than they were during the Nyayo era. Woe unto any driver who is stopped by traffic cops in Kenya.

The worst cops in Kenya are the ones who are stationed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. They rule the airport with impunity. Every single time I have been to the airport since 2003, they have been there to harass me. It's almost a must for them to thoroughly inspect cars coming into the airport for any defects.

During my last visit to Kenya, as is the case, we went to the airport in the afternoon to check in our bags so that when we leave home for the airport at night we don't have to battle with the long line of travelers. No sooner had I parked the car, a policewoman approached us and started to inspect the car while I unloaded our luggage. While she was at it, I asked her if she was interested in buying the car cause she was thorough in her inspection. Not amused with my question, she told me that as I drove into the car park I did not follow the direction signs. Apparently in Kenya, you can get a traffic ticket for not following the directions in a parking lot.

Another instance happened last year when I went to drop my brother at the airport to catch a 6 am flight. Because it was very early in the morning, I didn't bother changing my pajamas as I intended to go back to bed when I returned home. I also didn't bother carrying my wallet with me as all I needed was 50 shillings for the airport toll, which I had in coins in the car. Just as I dropped my brother and I was heading out of the airport, I was stopped by a cop who found out that the insurance had expired the previous day. Even though I had renewed the car insurance I was yet to replace the expired sticker on the windscreen.

Even my parents have never been spared every time they pick or drop us at the airport. You can bet your last shilling that if you drive to the airport, the cops will want to have a word with you.

What baffles me about cops in Kenya is where they take all the bribes they collect. With the exception of the judiciary and government ministers, I can't think of anyone more corrupt than Kenyan policemen. From all the money they extort from the public, you'd think that Kenyan cops are very wealthy people. Apart from the police bosses and cops stationed at Kilindini Harbour, who collect big bribes for serious offences and tax evasion, the regular cops tend to live in appalling conditions. From what I've heard, it is the norm for cops to share police housing between two to four families. Depending on the size of the house, each family lives in one bedroom and in some instances you may find two families sharing the sitting (living) room.

Could it be that the regular cops have to share most of the bribes they collect with their seniors such that they are left with very little money to take home to their families? Or is it the case of easy come, easy go money? Whatever the case, cops in Kenya need to change for the good of the whole country and the future of generations to come. As it is, I have very little respect for them as they have contributed greatly to the mess that is Kenya.

Drug Tales

My first day at work after being away for five weeks saw me being called in for a drugs test. I had just finished my lunch and I was immersed in work when my phone rang. I glanced at the number and saw that it was from the nurse. This was the second call in a span of less than two months. Before this, I have never been subjected to any drug testing.

Basically, after the call, you are required to avail yourself to the nurse within two hours to hand over the contents of your bladder. Without much thought, I told the nurse I will see her after I was done with what I was working on.

More than three hours later, just as I sat into my desk I got another call from the nurse. I had been so busy, that I forgot all about the first call. After the two hours was over, they had frantically started to look for me. Even HR had joined in the search to try and locate me. What made it worse was that my cell phone was turned off as I was in a meeting.

As soon as I got the second call, I quickly made my way to the nurse’s office. Having done this before, I washed my hands, signed the necessary paper work, made my way to the toilet and relieved myself into a plastic beaker.

I find it odd that the testing coincided with my first day at work after vacation. The fact that I have never taken drugs makes it even more futile that I have been randomly selected for the second time in a span of two months. Had I smoked the marijuana that I was offered when I was in Kenya, it would have been a different matter for me.

Even more odd is the fact that my work does not involve operating machines that would make it unsafe if I were intoxicated. It’s not like I’m going to use the keyboard or my mouse to hurt people at work.

There may be more to drugs test other than safety reasons, but the testing needs to be well thought of. From what I've heard from other people at work, you end up being called several times for the random drugs test. So I can be sure to expect another call in the not to distant future. It's almost like you get tested several times unti they catch you or they give up.

I know it's illegal to take drugs and I don't support the taking of drugs, but it’s in cases like these that I’m in agreement with the nothing-better-to-do ACLU.