These Striking Wedding Photos From Kenya Are Guaranteed To Take Your Breath Away

Kelsey Borresen 

The Huffington Post 12/02/14 

Wedding photographer Jonas Peterson has shot brides and grooms in all sorts of beautiful places around the world, but he says this recent wedding in Kenya might be the most spectacular of the bunch.

"I didn’t know Africa would touch me so deeply," the Melbourne-based photographer wrote on his blog. "It sung to me in a way I didn’t know possible, found new chords and played on strings I didn’t know I had inside me."

Credit: Jonas Peterson

In late September, Nina -- a wildlife photographer and senior marketing advisor to wild cat conservation organization Panthera -- and her fiancé Sebastian tied the knot in national wildlife reserve Maasai Mara in front of their closest friends and family. 

"The bride of the Maasai normally wear a lot of jewelry, and the necklace, called enkarewa, is especially important," the bride told The Huffington Post in an email. "When I first told my closest friend in the Maasai community about our wedding, he came back to me with a necklace and bracelets as a special gift made for me by his family. The stick carried by Sebastian was also a gift from the local Maasai community." 

Credit: Jonas Peterson

Over the last several years, Nina has spent many months in Maasai Mara following a pride of lions for a project about the world's last wild lions.

"During this time, I have become very close friends and almost family with the Maasai, who have welcomed me into their lives," she told HuffPost Weddings. "Because we were planning to hold our ceremony on the land of the Maasai, it was very important to us to incorporate some of the traditions of the Maasai culture into the ceremony...After the announcement [of husband and wife], a traditional Maasai song and dance followed according to tradition."

According to the bride, the two cultures and nature merged "in the perfect moment and the best day of our lives." We'll allow the gorgeous photos below to do the talking. 

• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 
• Jonas Peterson 

In a blog post published on Once Wed on Monday, the bride detailed the many ways Mother Nature "was with [them] every moment of the wedding": 

Approaching the ceremony site in our safari Land Rover, the clouds were building up to an unusually dramatic storm, yet on the other side of the horizon, the sky was perfectly blue and the sun was shining. As we walked down the aisle the white rose petals at the center of the ceremony had attracted a number of white butterflies that circled around us on the ground...At the end of the ceremony the sky was almost black. As we were walking back down the aisle and the Maasai started singing and jumping, a herd of wildebeest stormed across the savannah and the wind started blowing...Just as we got into our car, the sky opened and huge raindrops started falling. The groom wondered (as did some guests) whether the love of his life had made a deal with Mother Nature.

MANDERA ATTACKS PLANNED AND FINANCED BY THE OPPOSITION

Written by Gordon Opiyo

BY NEWS KENYA / OPINION / 02 DEC 2014

The moment President Uhuru and DP Ruto will wake up to the fact that these attacks are well planned, well orchestrated, well financed, and carefully timed by an alliance of Muslim Expansionists, Drug Lords, and Corruption Cartels- that is when they will take decisive action.

I have repeated right before the Mpeketoni Attack, and will never tire repeating- There is an OBJECTIVE of all these well coordinated, and well timed attacks- FOLLOWED by Raila led Political Rallies aimed at causing mass action and storming of State House (As happened in Burkina Faso): These three groups want to KICK Uhuru and Ruto out of Power- and they want to Install Raila Amollo Odinga.

Why? Uhuru has totally grounded the Muslim Expansionists Agenda by reforming the Immigration Department, and sealing the loopholes that allows the massive registration of Somali Nationals as Kenyans. Second, Uhuru has frustrated the flow of Narcotics through Mombasa, and Somalia.

The presence of KDF inside Somalia has destroyed the Narcotic Network that enjoyed unfettered control over vast areas in Somalia. The Corruption Cartels are also fighting back for obvious reasons Before KDF went into Somalia- some Businessmen and Lawyers had excess billions- buying property left right and centre- right now, all that has dwindled.

The three groups see Raila Odinga as the ONLY hope for the restoration of the Muslim Expansionists Agenda, Free Flow of Narcotics, and Rampant Corruption.

Why would anyone with good intentions for Kenya hand over his party to a group that has very questionable sources of funding? Even the CIA has linked many of those closely linked to some key characters in the group that taken over Chungwa to Narcotics- Why would someone with good intentions for Kenya openly side with groups that have been radicalizing youth and killing Christians?

Why would anyone with good intentions take advantage of “Terrorism”, and “Insecurity” to hold political rallies round the country and urge masses to storm State House? I refuse to remain silent, and pretend that is is normal Terrorism, and Normal Insecurity.

Driving licence changes from January 1, 2015

Obsolete from 01/01/15

by Pete Barden • November 21, 2014 

The tax disc has just gone paperless and now your driving licence is going to follow suit. Here’s some important info that all drivers need to know about what’s going to happen. The driving licence changes come into effect on January 1, 2015.

It’s also a good opportunity to give your driving licence a full health check with the APH driving clinic. Join us for a thorough examination that could help beat the pain of big fines.

 Driving licence changes – we answer your questions

Here’s our at-a-glance guide to all you need know about the changes coming to a driving licence near you.

What is changing?
If you have a photocard licence, the paper counterpart that goes with it is being abolished from the start of 2015.

When is this happening?
The changes take effect from January 1, 2015

Do I need to do anything?
Luckily, this does not require any direct action from you – providing your licence details are all up to date and correct.

I have an old-style pink or green paper licence – going?
No. These remain perfectly legal. When they run out you will get a new photocard, though, but until then there is no need to change. Keeping the old-style version will save you cash because you won’t have to update your photo every 10 years. If you do want to upgrade, though, this can be done for free if changing your address, name or adding an entitlement. Otherwise, with no change of details, it’ll cost you £17.00 by post or £14.00 for online renewals.

How can I see information about my licence now?
The paper counterpart of your driving licence can be used to tell you how many penalty points you have, when they expire, what classes of vehicles you can drive and when the licence itself will need replacing. While most of this info is also available on the photocard, the DVLA has launched the online ‘View Driving Record’ service, which lets you view all the information you need by entering your driving licence number, national insurance number and postcode.
View Driving Record: See your details here

What about employers or car hire firms who need to see this information, too?
Interested parties – such as employers and holiday hire car firms – will want to see the paper counterpart to check your driving history or entitlements, so to prepare for the abolition of the paper counterpart, the DVLA is developing a new online service to reveal real-time driving data to parties who have a genuine reason to see it. The information will only be provided with the knowledge of the licence holder.

How can I change my address?
The paper counterpart allows you to change your address, so abolishing it will remove the ability to do this. Not a problem, use the DVLA’s online service to change your address details.
Change your address: Update your driving licence here 

Is that all?
Yep! It’s not a huge change, but remaining up to date with these changes will ensure you avoid any problems when hiring a car or checking your validity to drive other types of vehicles.

In fact, many motorists will find the change helpful by cutting the amount of documents they need to carry while travelling both in the UK and abroad.

ODM unveils new plan to force out Uhuru Kenyatta, Julius Karangi

NATION MEDIA GROUP

The Orange Democratic Movement on Monday announced a programme of countrywide protest rallies to force the resignation of President Uhuru Kenyatta. 

In Summary

• Making its case against the President on Monday, ODM claimed the government had lost control of half of the country to armed militia and terrorists. It asked Mr Kenyatta to take responsibility and step down.
• ODM said it was disappointed by the government’s handling of security matters, describing the approach as “disjointed, cavalier and haphazard, creating a climate of fear and despondency across the country”.
• The AU force, known as Amisom, has had considerable success in removing Al-Shabaab from Somali cities, notably Mogadishu and Kismayu. This has cut its sources of revenue and possibly weakened it. 

By PETER LEFTIE 

The Orange Democratic Movement on Monday announced a programme of countrywide protest rallies to force the resignation of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

ODM, the main opposition party, is cranking up pressure on the President, whom it accuses of failing to contain insecurity.

Yesterday, after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the party also demanded the resignation of Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Julius Karangi and the disbanding of the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit. No dates were announced for the rallies.

President Kenyatta has been criticised for his handling of the slaughter of 28 bus passengers, mainly teachers travelling out of Mandera for Christmas holidays, by Al-Shabaab terrorists in Mandera 10 days ago. 

The President did not cut short his trip to Abu Dhabi, and when he returned he told the public that security was everyone’s responsibility, not just the government’s. 

At a time of mourning, the remarks were widely seen as insensitive.

Yesterday, PSCU criticised ODM’s move against the President, describing it as “an act of desperation”.

“It is clearly impossible for ODM to avoid politicising every national challenge and demanding irrelevant, cosmetic and vain remedies,” the PSCU said in a statement.

Making its case against the President on Monday, ODM claimed the government had lost control of half of the country to armed militia and terrorists. It asked Mr Kenyatta to take responsibility and step down.

“Kenyans are killed seemingly at will and even the security services are not spared. From Westgate and Eastleigh in Nairobi to Mpeketoni and Lamu to Kapedo and Mombasa. The story is the same in Tana River, Garissa, Isiolo, Baringo, Bungoma, Samburu, Turkana and Mandera,” said a statement read by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o. 

“The Presidency is bigger than any man or woman. It is an office that carries the respect, aspirations and spirit of the Kenyan people. If Mr Kenyatta has found the job too difficult or if he has lost taste for it, then Kenyatta must step down.

“We hereby resolve to join like-minded parties and groups and embark on countrywide meetings, rallies and other gatherings informed by a common altruistic purpose to save Kenya from the leadership failure,” the statement said.

Individual MPs and senators allied to the party have been calling for the President’s resignation, and yesterday’s NEC announcement was an escalation of those calls.

ODM said it was disappointed by the government’s handling of security matters, describing the approach as “disjointed, cavalier and haphazard, creating a climate of fear and despondency across the country”.

“National security cannot be reduced to photo opportunities, spin and sound bites. It is much more serious than that. In this regard, we particularly call for the shutting down of the State House-based Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU),” Prof Nyong’o said, adding that its attempts to speak for the presidency have divided Kenyans, who “want action and substance”.

However, PSCU hit back, terming the calls for its disbandment as an attempt by the opposition to politicise national tragedies to its advantage.

“The PSCU is committed to maintaining a faithful, patriotic, transparent and informative engagement with the people of Kenya. This is to ensure that the people know what the government is doing, and that government programmes respond to their needs. We shall not waver from this commitment,” the statement said.

PSCU said ODM “must recover the decency to avoid seeing political opportunity in tragedies, crises and challenges that Kenyans face from time to time. It must draw its inspiration, not from funerals, but from a desire to serve.” 

The unsigned statement was attributed to senior PSCU directors and authenticated for the Nationby Mr Munyori Buku, the senior director in charge of communications at State House.

ODM has also demanded the resignation of Gen Karangi because, it said, KDF had failed to protect Kenyans from foreign attacks.

It also demanded that the government withdraw its troops from Somalia, saying that Operation Linda Nchi has only brought misery to Kenyans besides costing taxpayers billions of shillings.

WAR-RAVAGED NATION 

“(The) Mandera attacks, like that of Westgate and many others, have been perpetrated by external forces. Yet Gen Karangi has seen no need to explain to Kenyans why he cannot step down and when our nation will be safe,” Prof Nyong’o said.

Calls for Kenyan troops to pull out of Somalia were supported by Cord co-leader and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who said their continued stay in the war-ravaged nation was responsible for insecurity in Kenya. 

“We should think of a strategic withdrawal from Somalia,” Mr Musyoka said at a fundraiser in aid of a church in Machakos County.

Kenya says that its troops, which are part of African Union forces, will remain in Somalia until Al-Shabaab is eliminated. The AU force, known as Amisom, has had considerable success in removing Al-Shabaab from Somali cities, notably Mogadishu and Kismayu. This has cut its sources of revenue and possibly weakened it. 

But at the same time, it has strengthened the group’s resolve to carry out attacks against Kenya, to weaken public morale and undermine support for the military campaign.

The meeting brought together members of the re-constituted party leadership led by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba and his Gwasi counterpart, Mr John Mbadi, who have been proposed for secretary-general and chairman, respectively.

Conspicuously absent were Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is mourning his mother, and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma. Both were proposed for second deputy party leader and vice chairman, respectively. 

Although the two have criticised the new list of proposed officials, Mr Oparanya has since appeared to backtrack and embrace the line-up. 

More in Section

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta changes security officials after Al Shabaab kill 36 people in Mandera

Standard Reporter and Reuters

KOROME, KENYA:  Joseph Ole Lenku became a casualty of the rising insecurity in the country when he was fired after barely serving for 20 months.

At the same time, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo threw in the towel and resigned from his position in huff.

President Uhuru Kenyatta immediately nominated Kajiado Central MP Major General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery as new Cabinet Secretary for the Interior ministry. Nkaissery takes over amid serious security breaches in the country.

Islamist al Shabaab militants killed 36 non-Muslim workers at a quarry in northeast Kenya on Tuesday, beheading at least two of them in revenge for Kenyan military action against the group in neighbouring Somalia.

The gunmen crept up on dozens of workers sleeping in tents at about 1 a.m. (2200 GMT), a resident said, in the same area near the Somali border where they hijacked a bus and killed 28 passengers just over a week ago.

"The militia separated the Muslims, then ordered the non-Muslims to lie down where they shot them on the head at close range," Hassan Duba, an elder at a nearby village, said.

A witness said at least two of the victims were beheaded in the latest in a string of attacks that are piling pressure on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta over national security. His office said he would address the nation later in the day.

As with past attacks, al Shabaab militants said they were punishing Kenya for sending troops to join African peacekeepers battling the Islamists in Somalia. In a statement, it put the death toll at 40 and called the victims "Kenyan crusaders".

"We are uncompromising in our beliefs, relentless in our pursuit, ruthless against the disbelievers and we will do whatever necessary to defend our Muslim brethren suffering from Kenya’s aggression," spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said.

Kenya's government and a witness said 36 people were killed. The government cited survivors saying about 20 fighters attacked the quarry, about 15 km (10 miles) from the town of Mandera. One person died in another attack on the northern town of Wajir late on Monday.

Photos posted on Twitter and other social media websites showed a line of men lying face down on rocky ground.

Critics say the president has not done enough to secure the nation since al Shabaab gunmen attacked Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall last year, killing

Western diplomats say Kenya's security services, which receive support from Britain, the United States and others, are hobbled by poor coordination and there has been little sign of reform.

"It makes you curious if there is really an appetite or desire for anything to change," said one diplomat.

Government opponents say the troops in Somalia have not protected Kenya and should be withdrawn.

"They were supposed to create a buffer between our countries and the chaos on the other side. But it has not done that. So we are saying leave," Dennis Onyango, a spokesman for opposition politician and former prime minister Raila Odinga, said.

The government has promised to step up security, but the public has grown increasingly frustrated and, after the Mandera bus attack, small protests have been staged demanding action.

Al Shabaab have been driven out of several strongholds in Somalia by an offensive by African Union and Somali troops this year, but analysts said it would not prevent the group from carrying out guerrilla-style attacks or striking abroad.

"This (latest attack) seems very much in line with al Shabaab strategy," said Cedric Barnes of the Crisis Group in Nairobi of the latest attack. "It's partly a result of al Shabaab being squeezed in Somalia."

News of the quarry attack sent the Kenyan shilling lower against the dollar early on Tuesday. The currency has been under pressure in part because tourism, a major source of foreign exchange, has been battered by the spate of attacks.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku fired as Inspector of Police David Kimaiyo resigns

By Standard Reporter

Updated Tuesday, December 2nd 2014 a

Nairobi, Kenya: Joseph Ole Lenku became a casualty of the rising insecurity in the country when he was fired after barely serving for 20 months.

At the same time, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo threw in the towel and resigned from his position in huff.

President Uhuru Kenyatta immediately nominated Kajiado Central MP Major General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery as new Cabinet Secretary for the Interior ministry.

Nkaissery takes over amid serious security breaches in the country.

At least 36 quarry workers were Tuesday killed by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in an attack in Koromei area, Mandera County.
The workers were ambushed as at the site as they slept by gunmen believed to be the militants and killed by shooting.
Others were decapitated by the attackers. Other reports say the attackers kidnapped some of the workers. All the victims are non-Muslims.

Last week, 28 people, mostly teachers were shot dead after militants hijacked their bus in Mandera County…..

See Also: LSK’s Lamu curfew case certified as urgent

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation on Tuesday afternoon as Opposition leader Raila Odinga piled pressure and threatened unspecified action against the Jubilee Administration.

There has been a public outcry over the security lapses linked to terror attacks including the Kapedo incident in which at least 19 police officers were killed.

Parliament will vet the new nominee.

Somali militants have killed 36 non-Muslim quarry workers near the north Kenyan town of Mandera.

Al-Shabab massacres non-Muslims at Kenya quarry

 
• From the section Africa

An attack last week on non-Muslims in Mandera county sparked protests in NairobiThe attackers from the al-Shabab group shot the non-Muslims dead after separating them from Muslims, residents said.

There is growing concern in Kenya about security in regions bordering Somalia after a spate of attacks. 

Al-Shabab killed 28 people in an attack on a bus targeting non-Muslims in the same area last week.

The attack on the quarry workers took place early on Tuesday. Witnesses said the victims were caught after midnight, while sleeping in their tents at the quarry in Kormey, 15km (nine miles) from Mandera town. 

A driver who visited the scene of the attack, Ali Sheikh Yusuf, told the BBC most of the victims appeared to have been lined-up, and shot in the head, at close range. 

He said four were beheaded inside their tents, while three appeared to have escaped to Mandera town.

Al-Shabab said it carried out the attack, blaming the involvement of Kenyan forces in Somalia "and their ongoing atrocities therein, such as the recent air strikes on Muslims". The group put the number of killed at 40, higher than official accounts.

In response to the killings, President Uhuru Kenyatta has summoned senior security officials.

Kenya's Red Cross said that security personnel and one of its own teams were at the scene soon after the attack. 

The militants attacked as the workers were sleeping in their tents

Earlier, one person was killed in a bar popular with non-Muslims in a neighbouring district.

On Monday night, gunmen reportedly opened fire and hurled grenades at the bar in the town of Wajir, killing one and injuring 12.

Mandera County borders both Somalia and Ethiopia, and it is dominated by Somalis, who are largely Muslims.

Many of the quarry workers killed are reported to have come from the south of the country where Christians predominate.

Al-Shabab has stepped up its campaign in Kenya since 2011, when Kenya sent troops across the border to help battle the militants.

Analysis: Abdullahi Abdi, BBC Africa, Nairobi

Mandera is dominated by Kenyan Somalis, most of whom are Muslims. The attacks will affect the economy and social make-up of the region, as most of its workers - skilled and unskilled - are non-Muslims from other parts of Kenya.

Many of them - including nurses and teachers - fled Mandera after last week's bus attack, and this trend is now likely to continue.

A presidential adviser, who hails from Mandera, Abdikadir Mohamed, has warned that al-Shabab is trying to fan a religious war.

Some Christian leaders have also publicly accused Muslim leaders of not doing enough to tame radicalism within their ranks.

The Kenyan government is being blamed for failing to secure the nation, and this attack will put more pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta to step up efforts to end the insurgency.

In one of the worst attacks on Kenyan soil, 67 people were killed last year when four gunmen took over the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.

More recently, dozens of people were killed in a series of shooting attacks in Kenya's coastal districts.

The security situation has led to calls from the opposition and some in the governing party to call for the dismissal of Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku and police chief David Kimaiyo.

Hundreds of people sought refuge at a military airstrip in the Mandera region last week, fearing a fresh assault by al-Shabab.

OBAMA EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPLAINED

You can travel abroad and come back

www.uscis.gov/immigrationaction

New America Media

On Nov. 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced that he would take executive action to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Following his announcement, New America Media hosted a national telephonic press briefing for ethnic media reporters, with speakers Marielena Hincapié of National Immigration Law Center, Marshall Fitz of Center for American Progress and Sally Kinoshita of Immigrant Legal Resource Center. More than 75 reporters from around the country called in to ask questions about the impact it will have on their communities. Here are the answers to some of their most frequently asked questions, including whether one can travel abroad without fear of being turned away at the port of entry upon return.

Who will benefit from Obama’s executive action?

There are three main groups that will benefit under Obama’s plan: parents of U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents; undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16; and spouses and children of Legal Permanent Residents.

Parents: If you are a parent of a U.S. citizen or a parent of a Legal Permanent Resident and you have lived in the U.S. continuously since Jan. 1, 2010 and can pass a background check, you may be eligible to apply for Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and a work permit. The program should be up and running by May 20, 2015.

Those who arrived before age 16: Obama is removing the age cap from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), so if you were too old to qualify before, you may be able to qualify under the new DACA if you came to the U.S. before the age of 16, and have continuously lived in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2010. The DACA expansion is likely to go into effect Jan. 20, 2015.

Spouses and Children: Obama’s new program will allow spouses and children of Legal Permanent Residents to apply for a waiver so they can get a green card sooner. Under current law, undocumented immigrants must leave the U.S. to get a green card, which may trigger a three-year or 10-year bar that prevents them from entering the U.S. for that amount of time. They will now be able to apply from within the U.S.

How do I avoid being scammed?
Be wary of anyone who says they can help you for a fee, before the new programs go into effect. There is nothing to apply for now, except for the current DACA program that was announced in 2012. The new DACA expansion that Obama announced is likely to go into effect Jan. 20, 2015 and the new deferred action program for parents is expected to go into effect May 20, 2015. So there is no reason to start paying anyone for immigration services now, especially if they promise to get you to the front of the line, to receive extra benefits, or anything else that sounds too good to be true.

How much will it cost?
The application fee will be $465. However, you can inquire about microloan programs and other means of help for low-income families.

If I am granted deferred action, how long will it last?
This is a temporary program that will protect you from deportation for three years and it is renewable.

Why is this program temporary?
Executive action is by its nature temporary. An act of Congress would be needed to create a more permanent solution.

Can I travel abroad under deferred action?
Yes, but only if you apply for and are granted something called “advance parole,” which gives you the authority to travel without being concerned about being stopped at a U.S. port of entry.

Will I be able to get a Social Security number?
Yes. When you get your work permit, go to your local Social Security office to apply for your number. You can look up your local Social Security office at www.ssa.gov.

Will the Central American youth who came here this summer benefit from executive action?
No. To qualify for the expanded DACA program, you have to have lived in the U.S. continuously since Jan. 1, 2010.

Will the expansion include LGBT parents?
Yes, but additional guidance is needed to make sure this program is accessible to all LGBT parents. For example, it is unknown how this will affect couples who live in one of the 35 states where there are no explicit protections for same-sex couples to petition for second-parent adoptions.

Will this include adopted parents and stepparents?
Yes, parents with adopted children and stepchildren count, but only if the parents were married before the stepchild was 18, or if the child was adopted before the age of 16 and has lived with the parent for two years.

How do I know if it’s safe to come forward?
With DACA, the administration included certain confidentiality provisions that are a kind of firewall between USCIS and ICE. That same firewall will also be included in this program.

What happens after three years?
There is no guarantee, but the more people that come forward and apply and receive deferred action, the harder it will be for a future administration to rescind this program.

Where can I go for more information?
Stay tuned to USCIS.gov for the latest information: