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From experience:

Savostore's shipping only service. Here's how it works.

You create an account at Savostore, and accounts on the US-based shipping services with the following details:

(a). Your names, linked debit cards and associated billing address(es).

(b). Your shipping address, which will be Savostore's shipping address listed on the shipping only page. See the syntax to use (and the US-based number, needed for delivery on certain consignments above a certain value, dependent on the method of shipping and handling selected by the seller).

When you order for items on the shipping service used (Amazon, ebay, newegg, etc), they will issue (a) tracking number(s) for your item(s) that you'll then need to input on Savostore's shipping only tab (when logged in). For items with a shared tracking number, add them as a single entry. Multiple items with different tracking numbers MUST be added separately.

As soon as Savostore receives your item, you'll be notified and they'll issue an invoice when they ship. Take note of the estimate calculator offered here and use that as a guideline on what to expect in terms of charges.

And now, a few notes on this method:

The reason I recommend this service (shipping only) is simple: It skips Savostore's steep fees on buy and ship.

I'll provide an example to back this up: I ordered an MSI GS43VR 6RE Phantom Pro 006 which was worth about $1400 (in early 2017). They charged me an extra ~$500+ in shipping and handling fees, so wound up paying about 200k for something worth about 150k.

The next order was for a more powerful Clevo P751DM2-G (branded as the Origin Eon 15-X), covered for by the employer. The hardware was worth about ~$2500. Using the shipping only method, all I paid out of pocket was about 13,000 for the shipping.

Since then, I've always used shipping only. And this method makes a few assumptions:

1. Your debit card must be accepted by the online shopping service in use. In Kenya, this is trivial. Ensure that you've provided the correct billing address (separate from your shipping address). If you have concerns on what this is, ask your bank. They'll issue you one.
   
   
2. Beware of conversion rates. Highlighting the case of Amazon: They'll always offer you the conversion rate relative to your local currency. And their rate is only marginally steeper than the CBK's and your bank's exchange rate, so double check before hitting "check out".
   
   Now, there's a way to overcome the challenge posed in (2) above:
   
   (a). Get a domiciliary account. A domiciliary account is a type of current account that allows you to fund it with foreign currencies  such as dollars, Pounds or Euros and also enables you to do foreign transactions on that account. You can use this account to transfer money to another country or receive dollars, pounds or euros from another country.  Furthermore, a domiciliary account is just like a current account that is used for the purpose of transactions of business. It is not intended for saving of money, but rather it is supposed to help you carry out your business transactions using foreign currencies.
   
   This clause assumes that you're in a position to maintain its' recurring costs and that your source of income can fund it. It's an excellent option if you're an expatriate that's paid in the expected currency (USD, for example) and has an issued debit card linked to it and the online shopping service. That way, you'll never suffer the currency conversion penalty, save for the monthly banking fees ($12 USD with SCB Bank kenya, for example).
   
   (b). With the linked card: Keep it safe, and use it for nothing else. Use its' billing address, separate from the shipping service on the merchant website you intend to use. Use the domiciliary account for the purpose its' intended for, ie foreign currency transactions AND NOTHING ELSE.
   
   And with linking associated debit cards with online merchants: If they ask for further information regarding the verification of your details, provide them. Skipping this step will only make things much harder for you. On Amazon, for instance, this takes a mere three days. So wait and follow their instructions.
   
   Hope that clears this for you.

I think I am gonna submit a few opinions here. Forgive my biases:

1. No. I would define political participation as being engaged in every aspect of decision making and not just voting. As things stand there is very little engagement in government policy formulation, bills of parliaments and lower houses; and even in the types of projects the government embarks on. Disturbingly, this wrongly implies that voting is a more important mechanism of participation by the youth. Similarly, there lacks a framework for public (youth) participation in governance. It is so unfortunate that eight years after promulgating a new constitution public participation bill - intended to give cause to the constitutional recognition of the supremacy of civilian authority over any other - is yet to be passed.
   
   
2. Colonialism has little contribution to the status quo. The regimes of Kenyatta I and Moi ensured there is very little participation through intimidating and criminalizing dissent. Similarly, the domestication of christian extremism through "officiating" authoritarianism with religious performance culminating to sayings such as "leaders are chosen by God" and the constant prayers for solution rather than action is to blame for the status quo. Dr. Joyce Nyairo covers these topics in her brilliant book Kenya @50 - Amazon link.
   
   
3. I feel that there is greater interest in non electoral participation than electoral participation as there has been consistent suppression of votes. Furthermore, social media discussions point to a youth desperate for opportunities to contribute to their governance.
   
   
4. I am completely ambivalent as there has always been sufficient evidence for voters to vote with their wallets but we consistently see results of irrational decisions at the booth.
   
   
5. I believe more discussions and workshops on various policies could change the narrative. Specifically, there is less than ideal understanding of the government's finances and its sources (borrowing and taxes). More projects to retell our forgotten/suppressed history of contributions of men such as Makhan Singh, Bildad Kaggia and others whose idealogies were suppressed by the respective regimes can be useful in tackling the institutionalized amnesia.

That's a really open question. There's loads of books that take place in the region....

• http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tick-Bite-Fever-David-Bennun/dp/0091897432
  
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swahili-Broken-Hearted-Peter-Moore/dp/0553814524
  
• http://www.amazon.com/The-Constant-Gardener-A-Novel/dp/1416503900
  
  as an example of novels and biographies... Tick Bite Fever is a great read. I especially enjoyed having spent time in Kenya.

Kenya: A Country in the Making 1880-1940

Its a fascinating book, especially if you are a history buff. You'd know more about Kenya that many Kenyans!

I hope not too late for one of these?

For ugali, look on Amazon for Indian Head Stone Ground White Corn Meal.

www.amazon.com/Indian-Head-Fashioned-Stone-Ground/dp/B007GZLX2G/ref=sr_1_4

This is what you need to make Kenyan-style ugali

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Nitro-AN515-Laptop-i5-8300H/dp/B07C715KNT/ref=pd_cp_147_2/140-3632020-8373138?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07C715KNT&pd_rd_r=2808a4bb-0a17-4f24-9cbf-b65bf5dda21a&pd_rd_w=ODAzo&pd_rd_wg=yEjUI&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=H2784PS78R5JV7ZQZ0HD&psc=1&refRID=H2784PS78R5JV7ZQZ0HD

So, in my ethnic group, there is a saying that saying, culture is "Godliness/religion" or "Unduire ni Ungai". Most African cultures, were also their religion. There was no separation of the two. Unlike, for example.. Christianity, where you can be wicked and evil during the week, and show up to church on Sunday wearing a suit (like some of our most corrupt people do) and ask God for forgiveness, and come Monday, go back to swindling the country.

The single most important thing in most African cultures, is the religious ceremonies (Magogona), which put the ethnic group (I'll speak for Kikuyu's) in communion with God, and those that had departed. (ngomi).

Heaven and hell do not (I didn't say "did not") in the Kikuyu religion. That was a foreign concept, brought to us by you know who.

I could go on an on about Kikuyu religion, but there are several good books that get into this topic:

https://www.amazon.com/Decline-Spiritual-Authority-Traditional-Religion/dp/1534634436/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=gikuyu+religion&qid=1554144365&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

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I surprisingly can't find much about this online but there is an author called Tuf Mulokwa. He wrote comics - Komerera The Runaway Bride and Manywele.

He also wrote a scifi book, arguably the best Kenyan fiction I have read - Shadowman, the wizard and the book. It's been a while since I read the book but it featured a hero whose power came from the fact that he was created from part of the Luanda Magere stone and could only be hurt if one attacked his shadow. He and his sister were running from an evil witch who wanted a magic book they had inherited from their parents. Has anyone here read it??

I want to call you a retard, but i wont.

You are thinking about a pick pocket, but, what if someone more sophisticated was out to attack any of us? via identity fraud? This could be done by anyone and any of us could wind up us victims.

You know what, you are retarded! If you can't see how this is a MAJOR security flaw and could be abused by any smart person with an agenda.

If say someone kidnapped you and locked you up for a day, what could happen?

This could be e-citizen, or one of many services in Kenya that are tied (by poor security) to your mobile phone number.

You are obviosuly retarded and should go read this book "Identity is the new money" https://www.amazon.com/Identity-Money-Perspectives-David-Birch/dp/1907994122

Please educate yourself

If the future is digital services, this article points to a major flaw in our identity infrastructure and management.

Fool!

PS: all curses, abuses intended