Advertisers have a great affinity for specific audiences and they don't put their money where the mouth is not. A big number require utmost honesty from you which is hard to find in Kenya despite us being "religious and Godly" according to KNBS surveys.

To avoid being rejected, apply these steps. One, tell the truth. Some advertisers use filters that help them discern your lies. Their lie detectors. They can read lies in your teeth. Lips.

At the screening stage, they will ask about basic demographics such as your age, gender and location. Tick well.

Don't say you saw the dodo which is extinct already. Don't even say you remember everything you've seen on earth since you were born. 

Be well read. Not academy here. But current affairs. Such as the number of countries in Africa. That Africa is a continent not a country as the Americans an Europeans tell us yet they exploit it. Slavery never died. Even today. Tomorrow's topic, that.

Master your field if clients want professionals. There are inside skills that you will claim to know only to be shamed and slammed during the surveys. Left broke and embarrassed.

But you will savour the international competence of your degrees and certifications. Because the traps for ethics and other blurred lines are easy to decipher and qualify for more gigs.

Be digital. Have your social media pages aligned.  Your passwords, usernames. Ensure that your emails are accessible for cyber security purposes since that's where you will get contacted.

Stay consistent. Every dollar counts. Don't give up after a few days and then wonder why those who stayed in the grind are monitoring the forex and are lecturing government priorities on Budget.

Don't give up your digital gig.

"Although we have not carried out the official food security situation assessment for Kitui, it is overt that our county is staring at up to 50 percent crop failure," said Koma on Thursday.

He said the food security would be conducted in early July in order to paint a more concrete picture of the situation. He said food aid support may be required in some cases.

On his part, Governor Dr Julius Malombe blamed the acute drop in crop yields following the last MAM rainfall on the failure by farmers to adhere to meteorological advisory.

The governor said that the situation would have been better had the residents observed the rainfall advisory given by the meteorological department that the MAM rain would not be sufficient for water thirsty crops like Maize.

Dr Malombe observed that had residents planted drought tolerant crops like millet and sorghum, they could have been more food secure as the crops would have performed well even with the poor MAM rainfall.

He pointed out that residents who listened to the weatherman's advisory and planted the drought-escaping crops had realised good yields from the MAM rain.

The Kitui county boss said on the contrary, those who planted maize watched helplessly as their crop failed.He advised  that going forward residents should take the rainfall advisory from the meteorological department seriously as it was accurate.

“We were given advice that the rains will be inadequate but ignored and plant maize only for the crop to wither before maturity leaving behind drying stocks beating the reason why farmers planted the crop,” said Governor Malombe.

He added that it was prudent for the residents to listen to agricultural extension officers who deliver timely weather advisory.

“If they say the rainfall will not be good  you  should plant drought tolerant crops like millet and sorghum and you will be assured of harvest,” said Malombe on Thursday.

The governor spoke as he issued 21 agricultural extension officers with motorbikes to boost their work.He said  the initiative was an important milestone in the advancement of agricultural extension and advisory services in Kitui.

Malombe said the object of the mobility empowerment was to reach up to  229,363 smallholder farmers in Kitui County with agricultural technologies to help them end over dependence on rain-fed agriculture to more reliable irrigated farming.

Speaking  to newsmen earlier on Thursday, Kitui CEC  for Agriculture Stephen Kimwele  confirmed that a large percentage of the MAM season crop  had failed  as the rains performed poorly.

He at the same time cautioned  farmers who planted drought tolerant crops and realised substantial yield  not to sell the surplus at throw away price to profiteering brokers and middlemen.

“Those who have surplus yield from crops like green grams should not rush to sell at throw away prices. Let them wait until the price is good so that they can get good returns,” said Kimwele.

The two-page letter dated June 13 was authored by Mr Mutinda Mutuku, who is also a deputy chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

Speaker Kinengo is accused of violating the party's constitution three times including his two trips to the State House and a further one time association with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki who was in the county lobbying for the support of UDA and his boss, the President. He should answer the Show Cause letter within 14 days.

Education stakeholders and career experts raised the alarm during a Senior School Career Day held at the University of Embu, warning that a rush for a few popular courses is locking out many qualified students from university admission through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research and Extension, Prof. Paul Nthakanio, cautioned students against limiting themselves to competitive programs during application.

“Many students go for the same few courses, which makes the competition intense and leaves others out. We advise them to think strategically. Even if they don’t qualify for their dream course, they should still find a fulfilling path aligned with their strengths,” Prof. Nthakanio said.

He emphasized that students stand a better chance of placement by selecting a blend of moderately competitive courses and aligning them with their academic performance.

Prof. Nthakanio further appealed to parents to allow their children to explore career options driven by passion and talent rather than pressure or societal expectations.

“There is value in every career path. Let’s help students discover where they can thrive, instead of forcing them into pre-set molds,” he said.

He also hailed the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) as a progressive and inclusive approach, saying it nurtures learners’ individuality and expands career possibilities beyond traditional paths.

Dr. David Mugo, Chairperson of the Career Day Organizing Committee, supported the message and urged both parents and teachers to keep up with the evolving job market, including shifts brought about by technology.

He encouraged students with average or low grades not to lose hope, pointing out that technical and vocational training can open doors to rewarding careers.

“For those with a D and above, the University of Embu’s TVET wing has programs tailored to practical skills and job readiness. No student should feel left behind,” Mugo said.

Themed “Find Your Spark: Smart Career Choices for a Dynamic World,” the event brought together students from 22 secondary schools across Embu and neighboring counties. Its main goal was to empower learners to make informed, future-focused academic decisions.

Prof. Nthakanio officially opened the event on behalf of University of Embu Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru.

Kenya was placed on the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) "grey list" back in February 2024. The FATF is essentially the world's financial hall monitors. In essence, Kenya has been failing to prevent illicit money from entering its casinos and banks. The rules are somewhat in place, but no one really knows who owns what, and there isn't enough transparency enforcing them, and to be honest, combating financial crime appears to be more of a recommendation than a top priority.

Things are going to get messy now that the EU is joining the bandwagon. Investors will begin to look the other way, particularly the powerful European and American investors. There are additional requirements, paperwork, and "prove you're not a criminal" forms to fill out. Who would even enjoy that?

Kenya was attempting to position itself as the sleek new financial centre of Africa, but this? It's similar to wearing a sticker that reads "likely to commit fraud" to a job interview.

Furthermore, it goes beyond simply deterring investors. Do business with the EU? Anticipate delays. Due to the rain, all of those imports and exports will travel more slowly. Businesses and banks must verify everything twice. Kenyan banks will need to invest heavily in new compliance systems, recruit more lawyers, and train employees to recognize the money-laundering scourge that lurks in every transaction. That is expensive, and the customer typically bears the expense.

Relationships between banks and foreign partners are also in jeopardy. Do you want to continue doing business with a bank that has been flagged as risky if you are a large European bank? Not at all. Kenyan banks must therefore step up their game by tightening checks on new customers and improving transaction monitoring. It's terrible for people who only want to send money abroad or open a basic account.

But the Kenyan government isn't doing nothing. Reforms are being promised by the Central Bank and National Treasury. Trying to raise Kenyan laws to international standards, strengthening the Financial Reporting Centre, and enacting new regulations regarding who actually owns businesses.

Sounds good, but let's face it, the easy part is writing rules. The hard part is actually enforcing them. Cleaning up a system requires more than just a press conference. This is ultimately Kenya's "get your act together" moment. It will require more than just good intentions to get off that list. Kenya's financial reputation will continue to suffer unless there is genuine reform, real action, and actual follow-through.

To be honest, Kenya will be in the financial penalty box for a long time if the regulators and banks don’t work harder. The clock is ticking.