The Necessity of Training the Human Resources in Organizations

The human resources' training function plays an important role from the beginning of the employment relationship. The development function of human resource is equally critical for the future of employment relationship. Some companies in Kenya fail to recognise that the return on investment in training and development activities help support employers’ goals for profitability.   

Mike Sonko and Andrew Carnegie: A Comparison in Philanthropy

There is no big difference. Sonko and Carnegie practice philanthropy. They are both devoted to societal growth through supporting development projects. The only difference is that one is a leader and a businessman, and the other was just a businessman. Carnegie struggled to give back to the community; in fact, he is the first person I have heard who sacrificed more than 90% of his wealth to the benefit of his nation. Sonko also sacrifices all he earns for the society development and public good.

Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in November 25, 1835, and immigrated to USA with his very poor parents. He started working at age 13 as a telegrapher in a company where “peanuts” is just a poor word to describe his earnings. Poor Carnegie struggles through life, his eyes wide open to every microscopic opportunity. By mid 1960s, he had massive investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges and oil derricks.

Mike Sonko was born in 1975, in Mombasa. After completing his primary education from Kikowani Primary in Mombasa, Mike began to participate in his father’s business while still a student at Kwale High School. His father was a developer. He dealt with buying and selling of plots at the Coast to European buyers from where he realized supernormal profits. Entrepreneurship-oriented Sonko had made sh 5,000,000 profits at the level when I was sleeping in the corners of Amabuko Secondary School, reading hard in order to alleviate myself from poverty. At form four in 1991, Mike Sonko was already stinking rich. This did not affect his academic performance because he qualified to university. He decided that business was his calling; a Business Administration and Management course at Edxcel International School in Mwanza is all he needed. Sonko joined his fellow Nairobians in the year 1994 and invested in Matatus and properties; he was also a chairman of Eastlands Matatu Association. He has expanded his ventures to nightclubs, cyber cafes, salons, boutiques, and phone accessories shops in Nairobi.

“I propose to take an income no greater than $50,000 per annum. Beyond this, I need ever earn, make no efforts to increase my fortune, but spend the surplus each year for benevolent purposes.” Said poor Andrew Carnegie. “Man must have no idol and the amassing of wealth is the worst species of idolatry. No idol is more debasing than the worship of money.” He added. Carnegie developed a dictum, where he proposed that people should spend first third of their life to getting education they can, second third in making all the money they can and the final third in giving all away for worthwhile causes. Before he died in August 11, 1919, Andrew had donated $350,695,654 for various philanthropic causes.

Mike Mbuvi aka Sonko has never received salary, neither as an MP nor as a Senator. He gives every needy visitor who visits his office sh.1000 for fare. Each month, he spends sh 5,000,000 on harambees, development projects and handouts. Sonko also runs a charitable organization, which helps needy pupils. He opened  several youth projects to empower the youth in Makadara and increased stock for mama mbogas and built for them shades.

Among his philanthropic projects, Carnegie funded establishment of libraries in the United States, Canada, Britain and other English-speaking countries. He opened Carnegie Library in 188. In 1885, he gave $500,000 to Pittsburg for a public library, $250,000 to Allegheny City for a music hall and library and $250,000 to Edniburgh for a free library. Carnegie funded 3,000 libraries located in 47 US States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and West Indies. Carnegie established institutions under his name: Carnegie Institute of Technology, Carnegie Institution, Carnegie Melton University, Carnegie Vanguard High School and Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland. Carnegie opposed giving money to individuals in the name of charity, “ I gave a beggar a $1 coin, and what he did to money was really frustrating.” He said. According to him, charity supplies the means for those who wish to improve themselves to achieve their goals. He held to his stand that wealthy people should contribute to society in the form of parks, works of art, libraries and other endeavors that improve the community and contribute to the “lasting good.” Several years after his death, his name is still outstanding in the eyes and ears of the people; he is still serving people in his absence to realize their dreams. I think this is what Caroline Muthoko was trying to pass to Sonko on that bright morning when they had a small argument on radio. 

No one can deny that philanthropy is the building block of the Western world. People competed in doing philanthropy and at the end of the day, there was massive development across the countries of the West. One thing about most whites is that they do not overspend; they invest in mega projects. People understand that wealth belongs to the nation; in fact, when Carnegie approached his death, he surrendered his investments to the public before his death. Carnegie opposed wealth inheritance by arguing that the sons of prosperous businesspersons were rarely as talented as their fathers. By leaving large sums of money to their children, wealthy business leaders were wasting resources that could be used to benefit society. He believed that the future leaders of society would rise from the ranks of the poor; he believed in this because he had risen from the bottom. He believed the poor possessed an advantage over the wealthy because they receive greater attention from their parents and are taught better work ethics.

If we have a few Kenyans with this heart, then the Wings of Africa will have the strength and power to see and fly us successfully to prosperity. However, we are most of us are greedy, stealing even from where we are supposed to give back to; and we must accept that. I have not heard financial cases involving philanthropists like Sonko and our leaders have to emulate this. Thanks to our Kenyan corporations devoted to corporate social responsibility. Thanks to the first president of Kenya, His Excellency, Jomo Kenyatta. Thanks to our academic institutions, let us develop the youths who have a mind in societal development, not greedy spendthrifts that make our nations to suffer huge debts.  

After all, who cares

No one can deny that African leaders are at least barbaric in their character and thoughts, but not all. Leave alone those who don't love our country are not ready to join in this struggle against the Egg (not the hen's). Sometimes they think that they can, but they cannot. No, yes they can, someone has corrected me. It is true you “can” and “cannot” at the same time. When you fail to reason, it means you have failed to reason, hence you can cannot think. At least if it was someone else, there are things they could not have taken time to argue, and there are things they would have taken their time to consider. Yea, when things get better.......

Leadership of Africa I tell you. Imagine, instead of looking for export and improve our balance of payments, see what we are importing. When asked what they are, “ni bidhaa za nyumbani tu.” (They are just households). Sincerely, for what? These are the things used to kill people, and you will tell me that in a few days to come. This is what Ohangla, the witnessser will tell Citizen TV, “Sa…sa…satan came to my house, he bit me up then ran away with my wife. Satan, not a human being kidnapped my wife. I wouldn’t do anything. He came, came, came, came…..he was horrible than the Satan I saw in I know what you did last summer movie. Eh, the Kenyan society need to be enlightened that there are doll AK-49 rifles too. 

But before this, lets share Bensounda’s story. 

“Harro, how are you? Who am I talking to?” I asked as I called the receiver of a number that I got a please call me request. You know, it was an international number and I had to be very serious about it.

“Hae, I am Bensounda of ICC.” She replied.

“Oh, Pensunda of International Christian Church, haven’t I paid my tithes?” I asked, horrified.

“No, from International Criminal Court.”

“I was sick during the post-election violence, I didn’t do anything, please forgive me.” I cried

“No, don’t worry. I only wanted to know your stand about your President and the ICC case.”

I was relieved.

“What do you think will happen to my country if you take the president away? Do you want us all to be kidnapped by Mujahedeen” I asked angrily. She hang up. I didn’t care. I continued with my day's activity.

During the interviews, she appeared composed and focused, a beautiful lady like any other that African women would indentify themselves with. Having worked as an ambassador in several countries of the world, her English was not like this of mine: selecting works like a hen picking grains. I also liked her. But today, do you know what she did? May be not. She spoke without taking all factors into consideration, CONFIRMED!

There were those five types of fallacies I learnt in Creative and Critical Thinking (At least I was lucky to be in Dr. Namwambah’s class). Yea, she spoke until Sang had no any other option except pardoning the ICC prosecutor to tweet, ““Some people must weigh their words.!!!! It is painful but I am encouraged that I have a FATHER who is The KING OF KINGS- JEHOVAH/MESSIAH.” A proof that we the powerful can use the poor and when they are trapped....we are on our heels. Don't we have the capacity to run away? Small rats will suffer suffer I tell you. Not small age alone, but small in size too.

 

Anyway, don’t worry, we all human beings subject to maximum pretention when necessary. By the way, where did some of our MPs go to? I haven’t seen them for sometime now! When they are here, they hide in their expensive even with a slight blow of wind. Today I hear they are hosted at the ICC.And when it begins raining.....

Where do they park and eat? What are they doing there? Is it not expensive for them to stay there doing less of something? Is there any role they are playing there? Where did they leave their wives and children....? But before I get the answer, Lo!.....

If I were they, I would just commit just a half of the cash I would spent in England to community service to help the unfortunate in community who gave me the power to fly. Was I voted for to help the ICC? This is because after all, they are wasting money out there. Most probably, this money could be that belonging to the aged or schoolchildren who are currently not writing with a pen or pencil. Then at the end of the financial year, the books cannot balance. Don’t blame, pray for them. 

Let me conclude my lesson by saying that no one day we shall regret our deeds. Children out there are horrified about our actions. If we cannot reason before we commit our tongues, eh, wait!

 

hahahahahaaaa...........

I don’t mind, anyway