A BITTER-SWEET EXPERIENCE

By Purity Museo

Bitter-sweet revenge is a dish best served cold. The person doing so relishes its sweetness, as an eye for an eye makes us feel better for the wrong that has been done to us. It’s an expected, but short-lived pleasure that is often followed by long-lasting bitterness. With time, the sweetness of revenge turns to guilt, shame, regret and sadness. That’s why they say that revenge is bitter-sweet. 

Second year HR students seem to understand this better. This is evident through the manner by which they conduct themselves. I guess this was the reason why it was the only favourable group to have a chance in Annex for one semester. The only class that would accept having classes from 7am to 4pm non-stop and spend money daily on transport.

It has been a long journey for the second year HR students. Everyone was set for studies after some of the first year journalism students had approached one of the lecturers to confirm that there are no free marks in my university as stereotyped. This information set comrades on fire as everyone started thinking of nothing less than a first class honours degree. This seems to be a nightmare. 

Second years in diaspora are really suffering from loneliness but who cares. One of the ‘mama mbogas’ reminded me that this place is made for the PSSP students who are believed to be very rich when I tried to complain over the fact that a single tomato is sold at Ksh 10. Second years thought that everything would just be as in Main Campus. Out of sight, out of mind. This was evident when they went to the communication conference which was held in Main Campus last Friday.

The events at the COSAMU conference left them with a lot of bitterness. COSAMU is a communication students association but they did not seem to belong. The only thing they knew about the program was there would be presentations but no one had a glimpse of the whole program. They were like the Harambee Stars’ spectators. This was the only chance they had to remind themselves of writing and speaking, but it seems they are no longer communication students, they are lawyers. The hustle will come to a climax at the end of July when they will be clearing rooms and carrying their luggage back to Main Campus.

Despite the difficulties, comrades are united to survive. Indeed unity is strength and do not despise the humble beginning of second years. No one knows what they are up to. You need to visit Annex and see how united they are. They speak one language ready to persevere. This is the only group in history that will produce lifelong couples. Every member of staff praises them. Being in town for the first time, many thought of the worst from them. They will leave the mess operators to suffer loss since they claim that the law students eat in town-based hotels.

The writer is a 2nd Year journalism student currently in Annex.

OF MUSO AND MONEY MAKING

By Mohammed Doyo

If there is something MUSO officials have taught us, it is that the students’ organization is a cash cow that student leaders milk from. More often than not, you will hear the SGC members talk of the Ksh 3000 paid to them on a monthly basis as peanuts. But don’t be fooled, these people get allowances and make cash withdrawals from the MUSO account every other other week; more times in a week than Atwoli shouts ‘Msheeenzii’ in front of the cameras!

How many times have you seen posters of events at the student centre noticeboards advertising events organized by the MUSO directors? I bet we’ve all seen them. Some are genuine events, others dubious. Among them are Condom Demonstration Day, Young Mothers Week, Environmental Week, Nutrition Week (funny enough, a section of students who fully depend on HELB got nothing to eat while we speak of nutrition) Garbage Collection Week, Health Awareness Week, Young Fathers Week etc. 

Don’t be surprised if you hear of these soon: Bouncers week, USA Eaters Empowerment - (Ugali Sukuma Avocado) Week and Vertically Challenged Students Week (I must attend this one if it happens.) 

Why all these ‘weeks’? Each of these events comes with thousands of shillings. For example, Ksh 50,000 is allocated for an event. You spend 20,000 on sodas and certificates, how much do you remain with? Simple mathematics! And that is just a single event. Imagine organizing 3 such events in a month? What’s your new worth? Yes, you got it right. It’s almost 100,000!

And as we speak MUSO account is running on a deficit amounting to millions. While all these cash withdrawals happen, don’t forget that, to date, no single needy student has been awarded the MUSO bursaries despite huge amounts budgeted for the activity at the beginning of the MUSO term. And what’s the reason? The office of the Dean of Students speaks of the MUSO account having no funds! Sounds ironic, right? Ask Gertrude Kurgat, the union’s vice chairlady, she’ll explain.


Then there is attending events. Ask Titus Mururu, the academics director, how many times he visits HELB offices in a month. Definitely more times than he visits the academics office to demand the release of delayed exam transcripts! He will tell you how an allowance of Ksh 7000 lands in his pocket each time he travels. Funny enough despite the numerous visits to HELB offices to negotiate the loan release, students are yet to get the loan! Ask the 3rd years, they have more details regarding this issue.

Well, if I continue speaking about MUSO officials and their money deals, I might as well write a 500 page novel. However, before I pen off I won’t forget to wish the 4th year 26th Student Governing Council members the best as they leave the MUSO account in ‘pieces’. You are geniuses! Congratulations for living up to the ideals of your fellow leaders on the national platform – MPigs.

THE ADDICTIVE NATURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

By Japhet Ruto

Referring to Isaac Meso's article "Half-baked graduates who is to blame?", it is my opinion that social media is to blame for being too addictive. Most university students can't do without it. The desire to text frequently, tweet, Facebook, among other social networking activities is higher than that of the desire to take alcohol or smoke cigarettes in a day. According to my observation from a sample campus population, about 90 per cent of the student population access the Internet daily. 

We are in a digital world and communication has been made easier these days. However, our ability to think is now driven by social media such that if we were to be disconnected from it for a day some of us may fall sick. We no longer read widely, we use Google whenever we have assignments.

The reason behind most university students using 'mwaks' is attached to social media. We spend most of our time on Twitter, WhatsApp, 2go and other social networking sites instead of taking time to concentrate on academic work. I can firmly say that social media has deprived us of our talents. We can't go to the field to play because we are stuck to our phones. The essence of social media is to make communication easier, not to create laziness among us. Remember, no employer in the job market will recruit you based on the time you access social media sites.

DRAMA QUEEN

By Stanley Kimuge

They call her Lucy. Maybe that is because she is too loose. She stays on the third floor of Hostel K. A few weeks and she will be bolting out of the 8-4-5 system. When I cross-examined her, I discovered that she has some loopholes. Something could be amiss, everybody will whisper about her. She’s a drama queen. 

You will find out that she is a real smoker. At home, she smokes firewood. Here in campus, her room is ever misty. She is now used to puffing weed. She just graduated from consuming three packets of cigarettes a day. You might be misled into believing that she is an engineer. 

This girl is so allergic to water that she rarely baths. That is why she likes throwing water through the window. Effectuating waterfalls is her hobby. She suffers from indolence. She washes dishes in her room. Soon she pours a blend of omena's soup, and all kinds of "lemonade". In short, she often forgets that she still resides on the top floor and that there is someone right below her. Or maybe, she skived classes on the Newton’s Law.

Well, inside her room, there are bags. Below the bed she sleeps on are bugs on attachment. Rumour has it that she brought those blood sucking creatures from those infested universities. In another black bag, there are white-like tablets. Across the table is a yellow packet of latex. I don’t know what she does with. I guess she needs to be sure.

For sure, her life span has been sliced into half. Just like the sub-woofer she inherited from her fifth year dude a fortnight ago. The gadget never takes a rest. It sings to her taste - zilizopendwa all night long. She doesn't bother that it sends her neighbour into insomniac mode. 

This damsel has evolved too fast! Remember when she was in her first year, she wore long skirts. She attended all church services. But nowadays, she puts on tiny shorts during lectures. When a guy seats next to her, his mind usually hangs like Internet in the library.

If only the green book could work on dress code, half of the seats would be empty. It is good that such laws are never followed up here. But at least she has got a few days to log out. I am convinced that she will walk naked in the next class if she stays. 


The writer is a 4th Year Information Science student.

SOMEONE TELL THE JANITOR

By W. Kahiro

No man-made thing lasts forever. But with a little maintenance here and there and constant assurance of standards, most man-made structures will last long enough to deliver quality service. It is in this spirit that I beg that someone must tell our janitor:

-That trash has not been emptied for quite some days now. The stench is foul and the rodents are moving in, in small families. You would not believe the number of bugs that have made themselves comfortable in our room since the last fumigation exercise. Taking in the rodents is simply asking too much of us.

-That even though he claims to have washed the kitchen, the banana peelings and used teabags still rest on the sink, right where the inconsiderate resident left them. 

-That almost all the taps are faulty and water runs continuously in the hostel. What happened to resource management? I trust that this water bill will be charged based on the water that I have actually consumed.

-That turning off water from a tap completely to stop it from running is not fixing the problem. If all the taps were to be faulty does this mean there could be no water entirely?

-That drainage systems no longer function as they should. The washrooms are constantly flooded and every time we make a visit we have to re-live the Noah experience only that this time, with increased risks of water-borne diseases.


-That repair of the drainage system could be more meticulous. Yesterday he fixed the water pipes under the sinks only for them to fall out just before our next oral cleaning session. That should be today. The repair work has become more of a ‘now you see it now you don’t’ affair. 

-That we would have wished to share all this in person but Lord knows where the suggestion box at the entrance of the hostel disappeared to. Rumour has it that it’s a cold case.

WE ARE DEMOLISHING WHAT FREEDOM FIGHTERS BUILT

By Kinyua Njeri
 
It’s now fifty years since Kenya reclaimed her independence. Half a century ago, streets were filled with pomp, everyone happy to have been unchained from colonization. Hopes filled the air as cuffs of patronage fell off Kenya’s hands. Our fathers could not help it but shout out their joys – the white oppressors were gone, never to return.
 
At the time, everyone seemed to be fully possessed by the spirit of nationalism. Some politicians were even ready to step down for the sake of the nation. When the founding father vowed to eradicate ignorance, poverty and disease, hopes rode high. Expectations could be felt as an African government took power.
That was then. Today, fifty years down the line, I wonder what freedom fighters would say if they got a chance to behold the sun again. 

When they braved the cold, game, hunger and bullets, the freedom fighters had a very concise array of aims. Theirs was to drive away the robbers of land, peace, sweat, cultural values, freedom, natural resources and independence. Their dream was to see a prosperous Kenya. Their visions were predominated by illusions of their children playing by the lakeside, rolling down the mountains, grazing cattle in the plains and swimming at the coastlines without fear or discrimination. 

To them, life was too short to attack fellow brothers with whom they had suffered together. Peace and unity became the gospel.
When they saw their children, they could not help but admire a Kenya that was to come. To them, the children would build the strong fort that they had architected. Tom Mboya and other fair minded elites of his time came up with projects to help these seedlings of hope achieve this great dream. Unlike today, politicians of the time were creative in their service to the new born nation.
That was a long time ago. Today, things have evolved extensively. Kenyans are now independent in the sense that no white man ever becomes the president over them. We are ‘sovereign’ now that we are not forced to work in what was initially our farm and therefore, unlike Kimathi and Mekatilili, we do not need to struggle for national matters, or do we?
 
Unlike the days when heroism was achieved from tangible service to the nation; where one had to dare the forests in pursuit of freedom for generations to come, these days we exalt oppressors. Jaramogi, that great socialist, would wish to die again if he chanced to resurrect and see how Kenyans became passionate about capitalism. How could he endure a life where he is ruled by ‘charismatic’ drug barons? Did we really deserve our freedom?
J.M. Kariuki would weep profusely after discovering how right he was when he predicted a Kenya with ten million poor people and ten millionaires. Kimathi, Stanley Mathenge, Mekatilili and other enthusiasts would wish to be re-executed if they’d see their fellow freedom fighters who are still alive wallowing in utter poverty, landlessness and ailing wounds of bullets they ‘gained’ from the pursuit of sovereignty. 

They would not stand the sight of Kenyans killing each other at the glare of the world. Televisions would be the hit target as they would be smashed when international channels incite the world to watch the allure of Kenyans killing themselves. They simply wouldn't bear the sarcastic laughter of colonizers at the torn Kenya.
Aren't we demolishing what the freedom fighters built?

The writer is the Deputy Editor-In-Chief of The 3rd Eye.

TALKS UNDERWAY TO LAUNCH ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM IN MOI UNIVERSITY

By Kirong Shadrack 

The manual voting system in Moi University might be a thing of the past if the university administration approves the electronic voting system. The system, first developed by Kelvin Mokumbu a computer student in 2010, was awarded second prize in the TSA expo of the same year. Despite its success, the system faced some challenges as it used paper.

This year, a team of five engineering students led by Mr. Saro Kadhuwa, a computer engineering student have come up with a new version of the voting system. Unlike the first one, the new one is quite efficient as it has no paper.

How it works 

The system is facilitated by a server and wireless connectivity. One has to register in the system in order to vote. However in a situation where the university administration has all the details of all students, the registration is automatic. The system also provides room for registration of a voter on the voting day if his or her name is missing on the register.

A voter is given a secret password generated by the program which he/she will use to vote. Voting can be done at the schools with students in different years voting separately. A voter can take a maximum of a minute to vote and immediately the results are displayed on both the projected voting screen at the school, as well as the main tallying centre at the students’ centre.

The group has also hinted that another option could be one main voting centre served by central server, but with separate schools. On whether the system will allow extension of usual voting time (8am -5pm), the group exuded confidence that it cannot be a major challenge as the program can be adjusted and that there will be no congestion. At the end of voting, the system will display the results automatically depending on the Electoral Commission’s decision on allowance of time for signing of papers by the aspirants.

Moi University Main Campus has a population of 16,000 students. However, statistics have shown that during MUSO elections, only 20% of them vote due to manual voting process and congestion. During the recent TSA elections which used the same electronic voting system, it registered a 70% voter turnout. Talks are under way on how the system will be used in forthcoming MUSO elections. The group also plans to use this voting system as a prototype for other system integration.

If the University adopts the system, it will be a first for a Kenyan public university. Moi University has been a gold mine of innovation and creativity. Safaricom’s M-Pesa, for instance, was an innovation by an engineering student from the University.

IS SOMEBODY SLEEPING ON THE JOB?

By Remington Miheso

The other day I happened to be passing by Hostel L (for reasons well known to me) and I was hit by a not-so-welcoming odour emanating from the washrooms in the basement. Well, I couldn’t go check what was amiss but I was later informed by a friend who resides there that the washroom sewerage outlets had been blocked and that was the cause of the filthy smell that made me lose my appetite that day. That wasn’t an issue until she told me that the mess had been there for more than two weeks and no one seemed to notice it, not even the cleaner who supposedly cleans the washrooms every day. 

It’s not only hostel L that this has happened. I happen to reside in hostel G and on the second floor, there is a blocked dirty-water outlet that has been this way for more than two weeks and no one seems disturbed by its condition. At the back of hostel F, a pipe burst last year before we went home and it’s not till recently that I have seen some action being taken to repair it. This keeps me wondering, are we really ‘safe’ in in this university?

When they say we are in a university with a difference, they should specify the differences so that we are not left speculating what they may be. I think the basic hygiene standards in the hostels and the university at large is pitiful to the extent that one prefers to commute to and from town while studying in the campus instead of staying here to be subjected to these conditions. Maybe that explains why Mr President doesn’t live in the school. (I now understand why the second year students in Annex are not complaining for living like pastoralists in Moi University. They are in paradise as compared to the main campus.)

Apart from hygiene, security is also an issue in Moi University. In hostel J, for the past two months alone, there has been too many theft cases, so many that one fears walking in the corridors from the worry that you may be robbed! Something interesting is that the thieves unlock doors that are meant to prevent other people and allow only the rightful owner of a room access to it. We pay an average of two thousand shillings each semester (I stand to be corrected). 

Why can’t the locks in hostels J, H and G be replaced? Apparently any key can unlock the doors as long as it resembles the original one. Are we so deficient of ideas that we can’t devise ways to curb the increasing theft cases in the university? Is there no way the rooms in these hostels can be secured? 

I think the security and hygiene should be a priority and not an option. The security people have been reduced to ‘rescuers’ who wait for comrades to get hold of thieves then appear to rescue them. I think people should wake up and do what they are paid to do. This should be a university with a positive difference, not negative ones.

WANYAMA TO LEAD STARS AGAINST EAGLES

By Japheth Ruto

The mouth-watering clash between the Harambee Stars and Super Eagles of Nigeria is set to be played today at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani. The match which is a World Cup qualifier will see Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama handed the captain’s armband in place of the suspended skipper Dennis Oliech.

Wanyama has humbly accepted the challenge to captain Stars and has admitted it was difficult decision. The last game featuring the two teams in Calabar saw the super eagles break Kenyan hearts by scoring a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw with the Kenyan national team.

The Scottish young player of the year has stressed that Kenya is a young team in transition but does not fear anyone. Wanyama who shone for his Celtic team in the just concluded season is set to guide the Stars past Nigeria by anchoring the midfield and stringing accurate passes, connecting the defense and the attack.

Harambee Stars Belgian coach Adel Amrouche has said that winning is important at this stage if Kenya are to revive their hopes of qualifying for the finals to be held in Brazil in 2014.

Kenya currently sits at the bottom of group F with two points after four matches. The stars have won none, drawn two and lost one. African champions Nigeria top the group with five points. They are level on points with Malawi while Namibia is third.

The Kenyan trio of Dennis oliech who plays for AC Ajaccio in the French Lique 1 , goalkeeper Arnold Origi and Parma midfielder MacDonald Mariga will miss the much anticipated clash. Oliech who is Kenya’s all-time highest goal scorer will be missed dearly and this leaves stars short of attacking options upfront. Al Nasr striker Kephan Aswani is widely expected to fit into the boots of Dennis. Batoto ba Mungu stopper Duncan Ochieng’ on the other hand will deputize for Arnold Origi.

Nigeria has never lost a single match to Kenya in 11 encounters. The fact that Kenya is playing the match on home soil will be an added advantage. The Stars will capitalize on the huge support of their home fans to ensure they collect 3 points and give them a huge boost in their hopes of moving to the next stage.

Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses of Nigeria will miss the match due to injuries. Nigeria has a rich talent though and may cause the Kenyan defence all sorts of problems.

The president of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Hon Uhuru Kenyatta, has pledged to award Harambee stars with 3 million shillings if they beat the Super eagles. Nairobi Senator Hon Mike Mbuvi Sonko has also promised to reward the national team an additional 1 million shillings & 200,000 shillings for every goal scored. This comes as great motivation for the team who have to depend on the support of the home crowd to crack the Nigerian defence.

The thriller will be played at 1600hrs local time. The referee of the day is Noumandiez Doue from Ivory Coast and his assistants are Songuifolo Yeo, Jean Claude & 4th official Dennis Dembele. In another group F fixture Namibia is set to host the Malawian team.

THE DUNDERHEADS DOWN HERE IN MY VILLAGE

By Maalim Salat

I still wonder why you want to know about what is happening here in our village. Let me tell you the truth, it is now boring to stay here. I am waiting for the next vehicle, which I hear is due to pass here in two weeks’ time that will take me to Garissa or even Nairobi. By the way, our village has seen so much development taking place since we voted in a man called Aden Dualle as our MP.

These days, a vehicle passes here at least once in two weeks. Tumeendelea sana. When I was a fresher at Moi Yolofasity, that is some three academic years plus an everlasting holiday ago, we used to see a vehicle once and the next time we see it, was a time when we already forgot the name of the vehicle. That is why I used to report late to the university. The only thing that used to help me get a room was my last name which has a capital T at the end.

All I needed to do in order to get a room was to wear a large jacket with a cap and produce my ID which shows that I have a name which ends with a capital T. That way, I was more advantaged than akina Omena products and followers of Mungiki and Al-Shabab religions. The reason why I used to wear a cap was to disguise myself. You see, I have a name that has a combination of Al-Qaeda, an Omena product from the lakeside (or a night runner for that matter) and a marathoner. Nobody believes me when they see my face and the name written on my ID.

By the way, I am sorry for taking you out of topic. I was telling you about the village and the developments taking place there. The day before yesterday, I heard that the minister of KCC, bw. Mutuwa Kalonzo died (as part of the Duale developments, these days we get newspapers after three or four weeks. Before Duale, we never got them at all). In my village, he is called Kalonzo and not Kilonzo. He is a very famous person here and I am very sure a bull will soon be slaughtered to celebrate his life. The elders here say that he was the reason why many of our young men are joining Al-Shabab. Yes, he created jobs, they say, by failing them in an exam called KCC.

After we heard of the minister’s death on Monday, one of the elder’s called me (because I am the only kijana ya yolofaisty in our village) and asked me about the meaning of KCC. The mzee was like, “Aabow, mimi nauliza wewe kitu moja. Wewe elewesha mimi hii kitu musuri sana. mimi nasikia ile nyumba ya Uhuru ambaye iko Neyrobi anaitwa KCC, ile maziwa ya watu ya Garissa anaitwa KCC, Uhuru na Ruto wanaenda bahali anaitwa KCC, mutu akibelekwa mahakama anabatiwa kitu anaitwa KCC, hii vijana yetu ya shule wanafanya mtihani anaitwa KCC na wanaanguka kila maka, na saa hii nasikia waziri ya KCC anakufa. Mimi najua wewe kijana ya yolofasity amesoma kitabu mingi, ambia mimi maana ya KCC?

By the time he finished asking me that question, he had spit on my face more times than the number of suits Mwamburi bought while he was the chairman of My University Shop Owners (MUSO). I wiped my face with a handkerchief as I tried to recall what KCC was and how it was related to our village. That is when I got to know the reason why my village girlfriend behaves the way she behaves. Si munajua kuweka bahali moja? Yes, you are right. You see, it is difficult to cope up with the village female species if you are a trainee of Hostel J and a product of Hostel H at the same time.

I happen to be a product of Hostel H and that is why I am able to survive in dark manyattas here. Our village does not get enough water, just the same as that floor in Hostel H where I used to leave before Dhogana became the president. My village girlfriend also smells like the third floor corridors of Hostel H. The other day I threatened to dump her if she continues smelling like that. I was once dumped by a Hostel J resident, so I know what it means.

HALF-BAKED GRADUATES: WHO IS TO BLAME?

By Isaac Meso
“We are sorry we can’t take you in, we need graduates who can deliver”. This is the last statement that any graduate dreads to hear when he/she attends a job interview. Employers and the corporate world in the recent past have raised concern over the kind of graduates that are released into the job market. Their worry has been, despite these graduates having admirable academic achievements, the lack of the ability to deliver in their areas of profession. Therefore, this begs the question; whom do we blame for the existence of half-baked graduates in the job market today?

One of the major causes of this crisis is the current curriculum in our institutions of higher learning. Even in purely technical subjects like engineering, lecturers heavily dwell on the theoretical rather than the practical aspect which is vital especially in the corporate world.

“I wish we could be taught more on how to do it than be taught in theory since I still feel that I am not ready for the media world out there. I can’t even distinguish between the types of microphones because I haven’t interacted with them,” says Edwin, a finalist in the School of Information Sciences. Most courses offered usually require practical application in the field but most students end up spending the four years cramming huge chunks of notes. These students soon graduate with a lot of theory in their minds.

Another reason is the age-old practice, common with most institutions of higher learning in Kenya – studying to pass exams. This is a notion that has been passed from one generation to another. Unfortunately, its effects are manifested in the job market with the existence of half-baked graduates.

“I only study to pass my exams. Any time you find me in the library, the exams are around the corner or I am studying for a CAT,” says Eugene, a sociology student. Many students, unlike old folks, have taken studying and doing personal research as a backdrop.
Using information from the internet and plagiarizing it into their take-away assignments and term papers has become the order of the day. Students no longer study to gain knowledge but rather, to pass exams and forget whatever they had studied as soon as they leave the exam room. This has affected the performance of these students once they are absorbed into the job market.

Lastly, you will agree with me that the overstretched infrastructure especially in the public universities has negated the quality of education being offered in these institutions of higher learning. An example is Moi University where students have to carry their room chairs to class. To add salt to injury, the introduction of the double intake programme has congested universities. Students are forced to stand outside lecture halls during a class due to lack of space.

James, a B.A student questions “How do you expect me to perform when most of the time I find the class overcrowded so that I have to learn from outside?” In view this compromises the quality of education. Employees who are incompetent in their areas of study are produced.

We can play the blame game on the existence of half-baked graduates in the job market today but one fact stands out; we need to change the curriculum and education system. Moreover, we need to change our mind sets if we are to end this half-baked graduate syndrome.

DIARY OF A CAMPUS PLAYER

By Lau Lawi

When I came to this institution, I was a good man. But the freedom I experienced moulded me into what I am today. I never wanted to be like this but I had no other way of proving that I am a campus man. I never meant to hurt anyone but in the course of being myself, I have hurt and broken many hearts. I have decided to tell my story so that others may not follow my route to self-destruction.

When I came here I didn't even have a girlfriend. I was a shy boy from the village. I later metamorphosed into an animate creature that many like calling ‘a player’. I never intended to be this way but the pressure was too much. I vividly remember when I approached a girl in our class with the intention of starting a relationship. She brushed me off with a sheepish grin and told me “Mimi na wewe . . . hahahhha! Haiwezekani, you are not of my type and class . . . nkt!”

I was distraught by the way she had turned me off. I swore to myself that I would work on my ‘type and class’ to make it to the top of each girl’s wish list. I started by borrowing money which I invested in trendy clothes and an income generating activity. I had enough coins in my pocket every time, enough to take a girl out. I sold ‘ ngumus’ and mandazi in my room. By the end of the first semester I was a force to reckon with in the business corridors of Hostel C where I was a resident.

Mostly, I invested my free time in reading stuff about women and understanding their psychology. Within no time I could guess a woman’s next move with precision. The problem is that I still had that fear in me. I started frequenting church and fellowships. In those meetings, I identified possible targets for my new “profession”.

They did not suspect me for I was always quiet and prayerful (praying to God that I hit without missing). I secretly crept to stage on Friday nights where I could make my observations on the ladies who frequented that place. I observed them from a distance and even mapped their routine. Some could come and perch themselves on high stools waiting for dudes to come and hit on them. They never paid for their own drinks because the dudes always took care of that. These ladies were my experimental specimen. It’s easier to chips funga a drunken lady than a fasting sister from church.

I identified my first target one Friday evening at one of the bars at stage. She looked mentally unstable and she was drinking with enthusiasm. She was a bit stressed. I approached her and perched myself on the next stool. I threw a smile her way and she returned it with glittering eyes. I pulled my stool closer to her and we started chatting the night away. I paid for the drinks and we left at around midnight.

She accidentally dropped her keys as we staggered along the academic highway. I picked them without her knowledge and told her that she could spend the night at my place then we would look for them the next morning. She reluctantly agreed and she made me promise that I would not make a move on her. The rest is history for I never lived up to the promise.

My next target was Lydiah, a church girl whom I had befriended in my many ‘scouting’ trips to the church. I couldn’t wait for long before making my move; lest another brother of the cloth saw what I had seen in her . . .

To be continued next week . . .

ARE WE THAT LOOSE?

By Mohammed Doyo

It is the talk on social media, from Facebook to WhatsApp not to mention blogs. Negative perceptions of Moi University students have been the order of the day. More often than not, we have been wrongfully labelled as whores, abortion lovers, HIV/AIDS victims among other demeaning terms.

On Twitter it’s even worse. Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) have continued to unleash endless mean jokes on how female students in Moi are ’generous’. Sometime back, someone posted a tweet that went on to receive endless retweets. It read ‘When a coin is thrown at a chic in Moi uni, the probability of getting head is 97%’. Read between the lines and you’ll get the ‘joke’.


Why the hullabaloo? Ten years ago, a female law student at Annex confessed to infecting over 120 students with the deadly HIV virus. Why would someone with a working brain want to generalize that almost every student is a victim of the deadly virus a whole decade later, yet every year a group leaves and another comes in? Sad.

It is unfortunate that these baseless social media rumours have found their way to real life. And consequently formation of perceptions that continue to impact negatively on the image of the students both in the outside and the corporate world. We all have heard of cases where people had to undergo HIV/AIDS test before getting employed, right?

As a student who has spent three academic years in this university, I can confidently say the actual situation on the ground is exceptionally different from the one painted in social media and other interactive avenues. In fact compared to other universities out there, we are more careful with our lives, not to forget, being less ‘generous and thirsty’ too!

For instance, how often do you see flashy cars picking up the girls in Main Campus where a large number of students are based? Visit other universities located in towns and you will see this. We all know the infamous Koinange Street, right? Again, we have read endless newspaper stories on university sex dens. How many times has Moi University featured?

However, this is not to say Moi doesn't have students who would give in to sex very easily - they are there! People infected with HIV/AIDS are there too. But let this not be confused with the idea that every other student is ‘loose’ or a victim as a section of the social media users will always want to imagine.


Meanwhile, let our heads remain high. Let’s defend our morality and reputation too. Let not these social media jibes demoralize or slow us down. Again, remind the haters that in Moi, brains open faster than legs and zips!

STUDENT INTERROGATED OVER THEFT CLAIMS

A fourth year student was this morning interrogated in the security office over theft of a laptop belonging to a post-graduate female student. The incident happened at 11 am on the second floor of the library.

The complainant left her laptop with a student seated at the adjacent table and went to the administration block to pick research questionnaires . The suspect is said to have walked over to this student and claimed to have been sent to pick the gadget on her behalf. He then left with the laptop to the library cafeteria, leaving it there after having a cup of tea.

On coming back from the administration block, the lady was shocked to find her laptop missing and immediately notified the library security officers. The guy whom the lady had left the laptop described the suspect upon which the security men acknowledged having seen a man matching the student’s description. He had acted suspiciously, going in and out of the library several times. The laptop was later recovered from the cafeteria.


The suspect claimed to be a member of the Christian Union and that he had never stolen anything before. He pleaded with the security men to forgive him as he “didn't know what came over him”. Apparently, he intended to keep the laptop safe at the cafeteria for the lady, one he did not even know.

The suspect and owner of the laptop recorded statements with the security department. The Dean of Students will decide the fate of the suspect.

Reporting by Remington Galo and Valentine Marian