By Kirong Shadrack
These ‘ OTHER ACADEMIC HOTSPOTS’ are there to remind you that life
in Moi Varsity is not a rehearsal, whether you are fresh or expired.
And to add up the number to President Woodrow 14 PRINCIPLES OF PEACE,
are also eight in number (check previous article for the six). I Amended Kenya style and added three more.
1.FRAKAS/ CHAMBERS – the most famous, pronounced and visited places. It
attracts customers as far as Annex and Eldoret Town. However it’s a
nightmare to land on these stations, which is only 20 metres from the
entrance gate during rainy seasons. It’s a ‘school’ within a school. It
has its own Deans and Secretaries, who check the roll call .confirms the
absentees and those in attendance. Unfortunately they are on their own
pay rolls. It’s already in the genetic make up of the regulars here to
be in this place every Friday and any other day they feel thirsty.
They arrive in shifts of groups. And to show their unity of purpose,
a ten -able men team orders one mzinga, and they can drink it the
whole night as they brag about how they won EPL match the previous
weekend, they never set their eyes on! On entrance you welcomed by
blaring and ear – splitting music. The common songs played are T.O.K
–‘No man’, Elephant Man- ‘This how we do it’, followed by a vigorous –
waist breaking ‘Bent over’ and for the doubting Thomas’s, it’s done
practically to avoid confusions.
It’s abnormal for you to
leave this place without watching free and live ‘Spartacus movie’ Moi
version. Two hundred meters away from this place is ‘Harvard’, Kapsowar,
where pro – Frakaz/ chambers , go to quench their ‘thirst’ (cheap
liquor) towards the end of Sem ,when things are tight. While others
resort to roast maize or sell mutura to make ends meet. The ‘Deliverance
Team’ rescue these lost sheep! They need spiritual breathalyzers!
2 .MABS – Mabatini or Cheboiywo in full.A special market, draws its
customers from and across the village and campus population. They
throng this place on Saturday’s in different weekend attires. It has a
variety of goods, ranging from all sorts of mutumba clothes, jeans,
mirrors, and anything mutumbaish, to stolen bedcovers and shoes from
comrades.
3. Archive chambers – respect this lot! ‘Elders’ they
have gone through enough troubles to entertain yours. They reside in
Hostels (F, A, B, G, E and Ngeria Halls).surrounded by Dandora (D),
Kibera (C) and Jericho/ Mlolongo ( J), where these group seek refuge
when things are not in order in their houses .
‘Brains at
work’ is the kind of faces that greets you if knock at doors. They are
busy formatting all the nonsense in the past and are reloading it with
probably a new software that touches on; life after school, how to tame
a new life ID in the woods ‘ kid’ that resulted from a straying
bullet and how and where to get a job. The only language they speak is
‘how they are going to finish their projects. Most of their favourite
music is soul and Rumba. No crank!
4. MESS- for the record this
are our ‘Hotels’ within the school. Meant for the lazy blobs who cannot
afford to purchase coils and sufurias.They are very scarce, four in
number. My days as a part-time nightshift cashier speak volumes and
nothing to be desired.
First of all, the food is not of
quality and standard, students demand non- existing food on the menu
e.g. ‘samaki tatu, mursik fresh, mayai mbili kienyeji choma….etc.’ yet
again they expect you to work with the robot speed. Since then I
resigned and joined them in clamouring for their rights, but have never
seen any progress! Mama Chelaa at stage, mother to many and respected
for her hospitality and hotel management have done better than our
‘hotels’, ‘But nowadays I don’t see my boys’ is what she told me.
5.MOI POLICE STATIONS – meant for those ‘people’ who take other
peoples’ property without their permission, the likes of legendary
Peter Mashoka (living actor of Moi Wrong Turn 1 and 2 movie), very
tipsy comrades who decides to disturb the sleeping nation in the middle
of the night, and fighting couples. Our OCS is a Retired Major from
the Military and he leads other unarmed ‘men in green’, in combating and
fighting any external or internal threat.
6. FRUSTRATION
SQUARE – it’s not by choice to be seen here. The frustrated squad comes
to take a breath. Not a laughing matter, especially if you have been
awarded five sups, meaning discontinue or rewind or worse your other
better- half has just left unceremoniously. Also it’s a comfort zone for
the exilic group. Or the disgruntled comrade who just been handed
unbalancing fee sheet by so called nonsensical and arrogant trained
school accountants few days prior exam time. Its also serve as an
entertainment junctions where idlers go an ogle at ladies from a
distance.
7. KADUNDA – people come here once in a while to
gyrate to different music, chips funga or just mere spectators. Some
even try ‘360- break dance’ on the floor, only to find themselves early
Monday morning on bed telling a different story and feeling drrry.
Everybody take to the floor only when the lights are dim. The visiting
male Celebrity singers get a share of the fun, when charged lady fans
start throwing their underwear’s on the stage when the choice and lyrics
of the song find a way into their nerves.its said it's a sign of
acceptance and generosity.
8. ADMINISTRATION BLOCK – the most
unfrequented and feared place. Houses many chambers, but to be specific
is the ‘Students Courtroom’ (Senate), where the School Deans and some
Administrators act as both the Judge and Prosecutors. Terms like’
Postponed’, ‘until further notice’ are hurriedly formulated here!
9. LIBRARY –the largest building in East and Central Africa, that the
institution and students alike brag about. Named after the former and
first woman Prime Minister of Britain, Margret Thatcher. Also serves as
Moi ICU (Intensive cramming Unit), during exam time.
10.
DISPENSARY- feeling uneasy? Exam pressure? And want to check your body
temperature after you narrowly escaped Peter’s axe? This is the place to
go. CAUTION! Serious diseases you know about are not frequently treated
here! The prescriptions and injections are the same for all ailments.
However it’s also the best hotspot for the aspiring future Mr. and Mrs
Moi..’The hunter can becomes the haunted’
11. CHURCH / MOSQUE -
respect these Holy grounds. All the flocks head to this place for
spiritual nourishment, hourly, weekly, once in a Sem or yearly, while
some don’t know they exist! Some even conduct their own services from
their own rooms ( E- church).
’The Delivery Team’ are the
Directors in- charge. These ‘Disciples’ unlike the Disciples’ we read
and hear about in the Holy Books, speak in tongues while inside, but
speak commoners language once they are outside. As one, Rev. Fr Njoroge,
a.k.a Fr. Njoroo, my former High school Spiritual Director and
current Chaplain at St.Michael’s Catholic Church would put during his
closing service remarks ,after an incisive and moving sermon ,’ Peace
be with you always’, I also extend peace to you all. PEACE!!..,
PEACE!!.. May be with you also, as you usher in the New Year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!