How to Slaughter a Chicken

Some things appear very simple until you see someone really having a rough time. At that time you stop, look and really wonder!Are you supposed to laugh, symphathise or just walk away. As for me, I just laugh and thats what i did yesterday when i saw someone chasing a hen. You are wondering a hen? Yes a big hen and in my case it was a headless hen. Whatttt? Seems this lady was slaughtering or do i call it butchering a hen when the creature decided it would not surrender the head without a fight. If you thought catching a hen is a big thing, wait until its a headless one. The direction for one, is helter skelter which means that the creature with no head and eyes is just running with no sense of direction. It would be funny if it just ran directly into the hot water you have prepared for its unfeathering (is there such a word?)

OK, I live in Thika Town but we have a farm in my rural place. This has exposed me to a life of occasionally having to slaughter chicken. There was this day together with a buddy, we slaughterd a record 200 chicken in one night. You can call me a Certified Chicken Killer (CCK with Hons) but i have enough experience in that field. When I woke up today i just thought it as a good idea to share with all Thika Live readers a short lesson on how to slaughter a chicken. I love animals and poultry in particular and thats why i will refrain from using the word 'to butcher' or 'murder' a chicken. Plus there are numerous animal "human" rights activists i wouldn't want to upset. But all in all chicken meat  especially roasted is yummy and nutritious and since you cant eat chicken meat without that unfortunate creature loosing its life, then its okay if we start the lesson.

 1. Spot the poor victim (ladies are already feeling sorry for the hen and are wondering, ama leo tukule githeri..)No !!..Today you want chicken so you need to brace yourself

2.Arrest the suspect..Please be prepared to run especially if the suspect sees you come from kitchen with a knife. If I was a chicken, I would rather escape the previous night. Element of surprise is important if the animal is not tethered in any way. If not tethered you can make good use of your small brother, your energetic son or the local plot boys. If they insist on being paid for that just give them a few coins, otherwise they will be hang around until the chicken is fully roasted and they will demand their share..Kwani ni wao ulikuwa unachinjia??
3. Hyponitize the chicken. You are wondering what i mean by that. Make the animal feel at home and apprecate that whatever you are about to do is necessary or some one else will do it later. At this point stroke the chicken gently on the head and neck. This makes it relax and tame its tendency to run headless.
4. You will need an extremly sharp knife..Please my friends who insist on using a heavy piece of wood or a baseball bat to hit the chicken head, thats not fair or "human".
Kindly tie the chicken feet with a soft piece of rope.
Roll the animal in an upside down positon. Place it on a block of wood while holding the legs..This may suprise the chicken but we are already gone too far. There is no turning back..mmmmm i can even smell the roast chicken meat. NEXT

5. This may become a bit bloody kuku lazima tukule leo...Maintain the position for a few seconds. This upside position to a chicken translates to a state before sleep. You might see your victim trying to fight off sleep. This is the time to strike..Gently step on the chicken legs (a bit traditional but this is what i do) Hold the tip of the chicken head and in a flash, behead the chicken just a few inches from the head.
6. Maintain the position holding  the headside in a upside postion to make sure that blood fully drains. This is the most important part since the chicken is not yet dead and if it escapes be ready to chase it around until every breath of life is gone..
7. On standby you should have water boiled at 100 degrees for stripping the chicken naked. (You said there is no such word like unfeathering). Dip the now dead chicken into the hot water and give it a minute or two.Start plucking off the feathers throwing them into an empty bin which you will dispose later.
8. Wait a minute where the hell did you throw the head. Some people consider it meaty while others feed it to the dogs. Beware if you feed it to the dogs you are cultivating a very bad culture . Like the proverbial Tekayo, the dog could turn on the living chicken. Throw the head together with the feathers into a disposable gabbage bin.
9. On the chicken breast bone (kind of  like its chest), make a vertical cut staying close to the rib cage. At this point you could have tied the chicken to a a piece of wood or your small brother is holding it for you.

10. After making the separating cut through the chest, Gently take out the interiors of the chicken which consists of all the internal organs and put them into a seperate container. Be cautious not to burst any organ unless your want the meat to have the bitter taste that emanicipates from a burst bile duct..(ama ni pancreatic gland).Pass flowing water into the now empty interior to rid it of all remnants.
11. Slice off the legs at the hip bone and you can further shorthen them at the corresponding joints. Do the same on the wings and the neck. The remaining part is the breast bone which you can slice into smaller pieces.
12. From the interiors pieces, gently remove the liver and lungs plus the gizzard, if you so wish. Open the gizzard up and drain the sandy particles inside. Wash it up and peel its interior. All this are part of the diet.
13. Discard all the feathers, remaining interior pieces and the lower limbs.
The ready meat is just an hour away.
Its ready for cooking....

If you do it differrently, we welcome your suggestions on Thika Live or on our Facebook page.
One thing am sure of, in the next life i wouldn't want to be a chicken, would you??






pictures courtesy of Google

The Thika Shopping Basket : The cheapest supermarket is ....

As promised in our earlier review of supermarkets in Thika, Thika Live will conduct a weekly research on the prices offered in these supermarkets. This feature is meant to help consumers understand which supermarkets are pocket friendly and which ones are most expensive. In descending order from the cheapest to the most expensive, the supermarkets rank as follows

Kassmatt

Maguna Andu

Tuskys

Leens

Mathai

 

	MATHAI	MAGUNA ANDU	LEENS	KASSMATT	TUSKYS
Soko Maize meal 2kg	116	116	112	115	113
Ndume Bar soap 700g	80	85	80	78	79
Kasuku 500g	120	119	120	119	123
Mumias Sugar 2kg	250	235	244	238	235
Omo 500g	115	109	115	113	115
Kensalt 1kg	26	25	24	25	24
SupaLoaf Bread 400g	47	46	46	46	46
Total	754	735	741	734	735

As seen in the above table, the most expensive supermarket in Thika as of yesterday at 4.00 P.M, in reference to the goods featured is Mathai Supermarket. Contrary to what most of us might have expected, Tuskys is not as expensive. In fact, it is in second place in matters of cheapness together with Maguna Andu Supermarket. Leens comes in fourth with a consumer having to spend 741/= if they were to shop for the above goods.

Further analysis into this shopping basket reveals that there is a 20/= difference between Mathai, the most expensive and the Kassmatt, the cheapest in the list.

We would like you to specifically look at the  Mumias 2kg Sugar  prices for these supermarkets and note the difference. Maguna Andu, Tuskys and Kassmatt sugar prices range in the 230’s. Leens is selling its sugar at 244/=. On the other hand, Mathai is selling the same pack of sugar at 250/=. 15/=shillings higher than Maguna Andu and Tuskys. The question then comes up, Why is there such a difference in the same pack of sugar???

While shopping, these are the kinds of questions we must ask ourselves. With this analysis, you now have a better picture of where to shop when in Thika!

The goods presented in this first edition are chosen by the administrators of Thika Live and are deemed the most common in consumers’ shopping baskets. However, we would love to hear from you on what goods you would like featured in our next editions. Please send in your comments here on the blog and on our Facebook Page and we shall answer your questions.

Happy Shopping

NB:All prices are in Ksh

The prices indicated here are as of 10/07/2012 at 4.00 p.m.

14 seater matatus Vs Kenya Mpya Buses : Thika Matatus on Strike

All public service matatus plying the Thika Nairobi Route 237 have downed their tools. The 14 seater matatus mostly from the Chania Sacco, Chania Travellers, Time Track and Manchester Sacco (Nganya) are currently having a peaceful demonstration near the Municipal Council Offices and the Police Station. The matatus have also parked their vehicles at all major roundabouts in Thika making entry into and from Thika impossible. Thika Live was in town and we have compiled the following photos.

Well that is the leader of the Manchester Sacco who is leading talks with the Police and the Municipal Council. It is believed that the strike has arisen due to the Municipal Council decison to allow the Kenya Mpya 50 seater matatus to operate in Thika. The matatu Saccos believe that by charging 80 bob and on a rainy day 100 bob to Nairobi, the Kenya Mpya buses are diluting the marketing and pushing the matatus out of business. It is also alleged that the Kenya Mpya buses presence in Thika is due to  unfair collaboration between the some Councillors and the Bus company. In a free market, is this action by Kenya Mpya viable or is it cut just throat competition taking place. Well dialogue is in progress and i believe an amicable solution will be found. For our readers we would like your views on whether the Saccos are justified to go on strike or is it just competition fears.
Kindly comment on our blog or Facebook page. Your response is welcomed.

There was an unintentional tampering on the date settings of the Thika Live camera..Thats explains why the photos seem dated 12/07/2008..But the time remains ok. Sorry for the inconveniences

Operation Linda Maisha : Kenya Red Cross Thika Chapter

Have you ever heard of the names Joan Wothaya Kariuki and Jedida Wanja Kariuki????
I bet you think that these are just some random names!! Well think again!!!These are the names of two beautiful girls, one aged 21 and the other aged 19 who died in road accident on Thika Road. They were travelling from Nairobi to their Thika home, coming from a modelling audition. The loss of these lives left family, relatives and friends devastated, not knowing where to turn. More so, their deaths also left a gap in  the Thika community. It left us wondering what could have gone wrong, what could have led to their tragic deaths.

What makes the situation even worse, is the thought that many more lives are being lost on Kenyan roads. The focus has shifted in the recent days to numerous deaths on the Thika Super-Highway. It is our Highway and we are most definitely proud of it but there are more serious concerns that have come up since its inception. I know most of Thika residents use the Highway constantly but do we really consider the risks of using this road.


Enter Kenya Red Cross Society - Thika Branch.
I have often wondered what drives the people who work at Red Cross. One important fact that you must note from here-forward is that they are volunteers. They might get a small stipend to support their daily operations, but they are not paid employees like you and I. However, their commitment and passion cannot be compared to that of those of us who work for other organizations. They are driven and motivated in their endeavours to help other people. The other day when churches were attacked in Garissa, members of the Red Cross were the first to arrive at the scene.

This time, they have come with a sensitization event to help people understand how they can prevent road accidents and deal with them when they occur. The LINDA MAISHA Campaign is an idea developed by Red Cross- Thika Branch and is aimed at sensitizing motorists on Thika Super-Highway on issues related to use and misuse of the road. On Saturday, 7th July 2012, Red Cross -Thika Branch will be conducting a sensitization road show from Muthaiga to Thika, reaching out to people in these areas and helping them use the road wisely thus preventing road accidents.
Let us highlight some of the commonest causes of road accidents in Kenya:

• overspeeding
• drunken driving - (most of us tukitoka out, we drive ourselves home, not knowing that we could meet our death on the roads.)
• Ignorance of road signs  
• Overloading, (Thika matatus are notorious for carrying excess passengers)
• Careless driving (calling, texting or whatever use of phone or other gadgets when driving is included here)
• Corruption
• Un-roadworthy vehicles 

 
So, what do we do to reduce or completely eradicate these horrific and heart-wrecking road accidents???

• First and most importantly, I would like you to go to our Facebook page and leave a comment making a pledge to road safety
• Avoid over speeding, its better to be late than to die or get injured on the road
• Never drive when drunk. NEVER!!Don't ever get into a vehicle driven by a drunk person, even when its your friend. Be a good friend, call a taxi.
• Drive Carefully
• Keep away mobile phones, iPads, iPods, Tablets or any other gadgets you might own, when driving.
• Observe road signs and traffic rules
• Do not drive un-roadworthy vehicles. Service your vehicles as often as possible to avoid unexpected mishaps.

By making a pledge to road safety you promise:

• to always wear a safety belt.
• wear a helmet when using a motorcycle
• drive at safe speeds and keep applicable distances
•  to never drive when drunk, high on drugs, tired or sleepy
• to never use phones or other devices when driving or crossing the road
• Respect the Highway Code at all times
• Have a valid driving license when driving
• Service and maintain vehicles constantly
• to never offer bribes to police and traffic officers
• to never board an overloaded matatu
• to always maintain my safety and that of other road users

Thika Live applauds and fully supports, the efforts of the Red Cross Society -Thika Branch.


We must come together to bring an end to the horrors of road accidents. As residents of Thika and users of the Super Highway, we ask you to join forces with us and the Red Cross Team on Saturday, to learn more on how we can use the road safely.
We expect to see you there and you might find yourself featured on Thika Live since we will be covering the event.
Make a pledge on the Thika Live Facebook Page and Lets Unite in making our roads safe!!
Contact:

Kenya Red Cross Society- Thika Branch

Kenyatta Highway, TAC Grounds

opposite Kenol Petrol Station

P.O. Box-01700, Thika, Kenya.

Cell: 0712 168 119

Email: kenyaredcrossthikabranch@yahoo.com

Interview with the President : MKU MKUSA LEADER. MARTIN MARTINE

MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY : SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF EDUCATION..Thats the newest giant banner that welcomes anyone entering or passing through Thika on the Thika Super Highway Thika Roundabout. Since the launch of Thika Live we have had numerous requests from our readers to feature MKU which we can proudly now present. MKU as an institution is so diversified that we cant be able to cover it in one day. We have therefore broken the presentation into different features which Thika Live will be realeasing bit by bit.

MKU is the latest and fastest growing university in the East African Region. I remember a couple of years ago, there was this small college called Thika Institute of Technology. It was then considered a minor player in the Thika tertiary education sector. Within a few years TIT had revolutionalised education in the central Kenya region and now its the pearl of Thika with its motto being scaling the heights of education. That my friend is now Mount Kenya University.
In every University there is a student fraternity which is headed by a a student Union. Nairobi has SONU, Maseno has SOMU, KU has...  well MKU has MKUSA.  Today we go ahead and bring to you Martin Mashisho Martine..Check Check, that aint a Spanish actor but the President of the Mount Kenya University Students Association. They commonly refer to him as Prezzo Marto. I have seen couple of tall guys here and there but Prezoo my friends is TALL..VERY TALL..Just check this photo
 

This dude is busy but he managed to set some time for an interview at the main campus gardens (very beautiful and well manicured lawns). I must applaud the MKU management for the awesome architecture at the place and the neat environment.

Well lets have a look at how the interview went

Martin, talk to us on the combination of your name, martin and martinae, how did it arise, confusion?

Martin is my first name, Martinae on the other hand is the Maasai name given to me by my parents. 
Tell us something about your background

Well i come from Kajiado Central, Kajiado County. I was born and bred in Kajiado

Being a student in MKU what is your specialty?

Am undertaking a Bachelors in Business Management- Finance Option. Am also a holder of a Diploma in Banking and Finance.

How did you get to know about MKU?

A friend introduced me to MKU. Initially i desired to pursue a course in Broadcasting and Journalism which was my first choice while Banking and Finance was my second choice. However i found that the Journalism college had closed taking applications and since i valued my time and couldn't wait for months to enroll afresh, i went for my Plan B, Finance and Banking. The friend gave me a bronchure which after perusing made me decide on my destiny. Thats how i found myself in MKU. 
Relocating to Thika which was relatively a new town,how was the experience?

Initially it was difficult to cope since the level of security at the time was a  bit wanting. The culture was also different but i quickly adjusted to the new life and took it very positively

How is Thika so far and do you love it?

Thika my friend is awesome. Thika is my second home and i love it. One, life is very affordable especially for a student. Nowadays security is enhanced and the are no issues of lack of water. Accomodation is very affordable and readily availbale.

How did you find yourself into Student Politics ?

I usually don't call it student politics but student leadership. A politician will do anything and go to any lengths to manipulate people and situations for his own sake. On the other hand, a leader can do anything using all machinery to help his people. I consider myself a leader and an in born leader in that case.

What do you mean by inborn leader?
Well i discovered my leadership qualities long time ago. When in Primary school i was selected to be the the school head boy. When i joined High School i was appointed to be the school captain. 2 weeks after joining MKU  i was appointed the Chairman of the Maasai community in the campus. I was then selected the class representative. The following year i chaired the Electoral Commission MKU that oversaw the 2010 student elections. I chaired the same body the next year. In 2012 i was elected as the MKU student body (MKUSA) President. Am also the University representative in the Student Arise in Africa Initiative and this year i was appointed as a member of the TASK Force Committee - Kenya Universities.
That is a very rich curriculum vitae you have there ,but how do you strike a balance between leadership and your studies?
A leader delegates duties that need to be delegated. Am in charge of 37,000 students so there is a high need of delegation. I have ministers who we work with me as a team. On the other hand i allocate time for everything including my studies. During my free time you will find me in the office while in the evening am doing my revisions, assignments or participating in a discussion group. Am an avid handball and basketball fan and you can spot me in the court watching the team train.

Why choose MKU?
Despite being a private university, MKU is the most affordable one. They provide quality education at a very affordable fees structure. MKU also offers courses that you can never find in any private university. Bachelors in Pharmacy and Nursing are very popular courses here. Due to its central location and its presence near the Thika SuperHighway, MKU is the ideal University for any one who needs a serene environmnent for learning. Our city Campus is in Nairobi is a ideally located to cater for the Nairobi students. Our presence is also felf in Rwanda,,,,
What are your future aspirations?
As a leader, my skills can be rendered in many places. My leadership is highly demanded in Kajiado County where the youth want me to vie for a County Representative seat. I really want to finish my Bachelors first then take a Masters from a university in Korea. But i remain a Kenyan at heart and will thereafter come back and take part in nation building.
       
What is your take on Kenyan politics
I believe that Kenyans deserve the best leaders regardless of the tribal background. We should rid ourselves of our tribal tags. I wish Kenya would be like MKU where we have a Maasai Student President, a Kikuyu vice president, a Somali Secretary General with Turkanas, Merus and Luhyas holding numerous ministerial positions. As voters let us not judge voters from the tribal backgroung or depth of their pockets but from the charcter and what they can deliver
Any mentor or role model out there?
I hold Barrack Obama with high esteem. He made Martin Luther King's dream a reality by becoming the first African American president. Though from humble backgroungs and from African descent he ascended to the Highest office in American. His slogan yes we can remains my driving force
What is your parting shot?
I would like to send a message to  Kenyans,as we approach the election period, lets u embrace love, peace and unity. This country remains important than any individual and lets avoid any repetition of the 2007/2008 election violence.
Well Mr president, it has been informative and great talking to you. Thanks for sharing your dream for Kenya and hope we can do it another day.

Well,its been great talking to Thika Live and i really thank you for what you are doing in Thika which i believe is a noble task. Its hard to see people dedicating all their time and energy to marketing their home town the way you are doing. This is a brilliant and creative idea and kudos to your blog. I hope some one out there will spot and acknowledge the good work you are doing. Thank you.
What a man, what an interview..Did i tell you that this interview was held on the university gardens and guess what?  we were sitting on some nice wooden desks (my version of Jeff Koinange Bench). Well the desks are getting hotter..Do Not exit this blog,Keep It THIKA LIVE,,coz this is where we remain ALL THIKA, ALL KENYAN..I give up, i cant be Jeff Koinange
PEACE

Supermarkets in Thika : Lets go shopping

Biscuits, cocoa, tissue paper, sugar,bathing soap, detergents,toothpaste, kiwi, a can of spray and a packet of nodules. For some the list may include more items. For others including me the list may be shorter or even very very short. By short i mean bathing soap and tissue. This my friends is the list of items we used to have when going back to High School after the Holidays or mid term. Many of us who come from the rural areas used to buy the items from the local shop. Those in town and the few from Ushago were lucky to be given cash to pass by the Supermarket in town and buy the needful. At that time Thika had very few supermarkets namely Mathai Supermarket, Maguna Andu and once upon a time Safeways Supermarket. Tuskys Supermarket was just laying its first foundation bricks.

Over time shopping in Thika, has been revolutionized with the entry of different supermarket into the market. This is inclusive of numerous hyper shops and retail joints. The most popular and pioneer supermarket in Thika over the years remains Mathai suermarket. I dont know the origin of the name but i hear from some quarters that thats the name of the owner. Or maybe he is of Maasai descent but i highly doubt it..someone should educate me on that. Initially Mathai supermarket was just a floor of shopping but over time it has expanded to cover about 4 floors of the Mathai building.
Their basement remains my favourite especially the steps where there is that big mirror you cant help looking at yourself. When in the Thika CBD, its the most ideal place to do your shopping. But be wary especially during school opening days since the supermarket is lined by hundreds of High School students. After meeting in the central town the students head into the supermarket in droves which makes that day less than ordinary for household shoppers. Mathai Supermarket's presence in the Central Kenya region is consolidated in Nyeri and Muranga where they have more branches.
After the entry of the Tuskys brand into the Thika Supermarket affair, shopping has never been the same. Its strategic location metres away from the Thika-Garrisa Highway is ideal for upmarket customers especially those near the Section Nine Estate, Juja and those who want to avoid the congestion of the central town. Its location away fron the central district makes it less favourable especally for the ordinary mwananchi who don't own personal cars.
But there are Tuk-Tuks that ply to and fro. Thika Live has observed the shifting of the market towards that route due to emergence of numerous retail joints, pubs, and the ultra modern building housing the new National Bank Thika Branch. The recent municipal directive to rid off the route of matatus heading out of town has also reduced the congestion along the road.
Few years ago, Leens Supermarket was Leens store with its location being the building opposite the Thika Police Station now converted to shopping stalls. However Leens introduced a supermarket wing opposite the December Hotel. The supermarket owned by an Asian Family has upped the competition in the supermarket industry by having a large variety of products housed in their three floors. These include; Electronics, clothing, Household wares and the list is endless.

Kassmart Supermarket centrally located opposite the Christina Gardens is also a popular shopping spot. Although contricted in terms of space, the supermarket is quite a household name. Its central location also makes it a favourite among the Thika consumers. The supermarket outlets also has a branch in Githurai to tap into the densely populated market.

For Thika consumers who frequent the main Bus Park there is the Maguna Andu, Gideon Supermarket and Thika Tex Supermarket. Magunda Andu being on of the pioneer joints is the favorite of the three. Although its space is limited, you cant help but marvel at the thousands of products housed within the small space and still you can get maneuver space with your shopping basket.
Well that was just a brief look at the major supermarkets in Thika. Overtime, Thika Live will have an individual and more personal look at the supermarkets to understand their origin, products and special offers.

We will also introduce our own analysis of the different supermarket's shopping baskets for the Thika consumers to choose from, for the most affordable combination.

We remain yours truly Thika Live.
Pictures courtesy of Google

Vizzy Vizzy at work : Best of the photos

After having an one on one interview with Vizzy Vizzy over the weekend, Thika Live proceeded and visited Porkiez Klub from where we bring to you the sampled list of photos from the visit..Today let the photos do the talking..

 

 There you have it.......Always Thika Live...Lots of Love..