Saturday, May 11, 2013

MOI UNIVERSITY STUDENT DROWNS

A student from Moi University has been confirmed dead after he drowned in Chepkiit falls, Nandi County. Confirming the incident, Chepkiit caretaker, Mr Elvis said that the student slipped into the river. However, efforts to save him were futile.

The student was among a group of twenty five students who had visited the area for a picnic. The body has been found and the Caretaker is now calling upon the police to collect the body, after his colleagues fled the scene.

The Chief Security Officer, Maj (Rtd) Kiplagat, has confirmed that police officers stationed at Langas are on their way. The incident comes barely a week after another student passed away in a road accident.

SIMPLE STEPS TO AVOID COMPUTER VIRUSES

By Isaac Meso

Computer viruses have always been a headache for many computer users, especially college students whose lives mostly depend on these electronic gadgets. Many students have suffered at the hands of this viruses especially when they are about to print their assignments.

However the billion-dollar question remains, where do these viruses come from and how do we avoid them?

Common viruses that corrupt documents
In Moi University, there have been speculations that most of the viruses that find their way into our personal computers are locally made by students from the School of Engineering. Whether this is true or not remains mere speculation. The viruses that are doing rounds in most personal computers in campus include:

Crsss.exe
Business ideas.exe
Assignment.exe.
Porn.exe.

Effects of these viruses
These viruses mainly affect Word documents, whether it is Word 07, 2010, or even the latest version of Word 2013. In a nutshell, this what usually happens when your computer is affected by these viruses. Once you save your document with the file extension of .doc or. docx, these viruses convert it into an application format with a file extension of .exe.

For instance if you save your document as Project report.doc the file will be converted to Project report.exe. The moment you try to open this file from another computer, it will not open but will launch this virus into this other computer.
This explains why your paper in this case Project report.doc will be detected as a virus, especially if the other computer has a stronger antivirus. In worse cases, these viruses end up affecting your operating system thus affecting the speed and performance of your PC.

How do you avoid these viruses?
One mistake people often make when it comes to maintaining their PCs is ignoring the simple act of updating their antivirus. Updating your antivirus goes a long away in ensuring that your computer remains a virus-free zone. Anti-viruses such as Avast, AVG, Eset-32 among others are only effective if they receive constant updates.

In my four years as a computer techie I have learnt that even the most weak antivirus can be a fireball in preventing your computer from infection if it receives constant updates.

Below are some of the easiest ways to prevent your Word documents from being corrupted by these notorious viruses.

  1. Whenever you suspect your computer has a virus always save your document in Rich text format (RTF) instead of .doc or .docx. This format is not affected by this group of viruses thus your document will remain safe.
  2. Always scan your computer with a different Anti-virus whenever your computer is infected.
  3.  Avoid opening flash drives, especially those used to download information from cyber cafes. Such flash drives contain numerous viruses and may be bad news for your computer.

FARE THEE WELL, SIR ALEX

By James Kombe

Manchester United football club confirmed on Wednesday morning that Sir Alex Ferguson is set to retire as the club’s manager at the end of the current Barclays Premier League season. The 71-year old Scottish had earlier on dropped a hint to the players, prior to the UEFA Champions League exit in February that he would retreat as head-coach, a statement that remained unconfirmed till Wednesday 8th May.

Officially announcing his decision, Ferguson said, “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.” About the current status of the club, Sir Alex told the fans that he worked hard to leave it tough. “It was important to me to leave an organisation (Manchester United) in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so…” However, his retirement will not see him quit the club’s affairs soon. He is set to take up the roles of both the Director and Ambassador of the club.

Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford on 6th November 1986, following the sacking of Ron Atkinson as manager of Manchester United. He is the most successful manager in British football history, winning a total of 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and 2 UEFA Champions League glories, during his time in charge of Manchester United.

His last trophy is the current Barclays Premier League title, whose victory was sealed on 22nd April after a Robin van Persie’s hat-trick that awarded United a 3-0 win against Aston Villa. The club’s 20th Premier league title will be lifted this Sunday, immediately after their home match again Swansea City, scheduled to kick off at 6.00PM.

David Moyes will soon be named the new club’s manager after being handpicked by Sir Alex Ferguson himself. His first choice was backed by a host of Old Trafford legends who are calling for the Everton boss to take over. Once confirmed, Moyes will be given a five-year contract to succeed Sir Alex and will include former United player Phil Neville in his staff. Moyes, 50, is Ferguson’s fellow Scot who has been in charge of the Toffees since 14th March 2002. Everton are sitting on the 6th position in the current league table and it is rumored that Wigan’s coach, Roberto Martinez, may be Moyes’ successor at Goodison Park.

On behalf of all my fellow Manchester United fans of Moi University and beyond, I take this opportunity to congratulate Sir Alex for the glory he has brought to the club in his 26-year reign as manager. “We shall miss you on the pitch Fergie. Fare thee well Sir Alex!”

Friday, May 10, 2013

DIARY OF A BITTER COMRADE

By Lilian Bonareri

I walked in, so happy knowing I had found a home, a luxurious home, a sweet home where I could be for four years. Everything around me looked so amazing; I fell in love with the “yellow” flowers planted by the sides of all paths. I loved the tall building with a nice floor; where I learnt how to balance on my new heels just to ensure I didn’t hit the ground. This too was amazing to me.

I thought I was going to live there, and indeed I did. God seemed to have answered my prayers perfectly when the house keeper gave me the directions to my hostel. The hostels were next to the administration block.

Until I got to the room, Moi University was the best thing that could have ever happened in my life. The name “Upper Hill” was appealing and to me this was supposed to be some nice place, probably with the kind of slippery floor I had experienced earlier in the day.

The door opened and before me was an ugly room with two empty beds and other two beds neatly spread. This was my turning point, not for good but into a corrupt mind. I knew mine was a misguided decision; I wanted to leave never to come back. I hated my new sweet home.

I could have left, but I stayed. Here I am four years later, having stayed in a place I hated from day one. My attitude never changed, my sweet home grew worse each day. I had a bunch of old and rotten timber for a ceiling and upper floor roommates who would crush bottles of alcohol every Friday night, putting my life in danger. At times I could not sleep but keep watch as they danced to their “highness” lest the ever-falling pieces of my roof caught me unaware. I lived with rats; both living and dead.

Muddy paths have been part of me. I will not complain. I will not talk of the many times I got disappointed on the library shelves. I will not speak of the unsuccessful long queues in pursuit of a room. I will not talk of the unfriendly office bearers. I will not talk about the stereotypes from my old friends who landed in better places.

Through the hardships and harsh times I still could not get what I deserved. I have been trained to take what I am offered even when I know it isn’t the best for me. I came in naive, but now I know how to fix the sockets. I know how to tap power from the reading bulbs perfectly. I also know how to befriend Wikipedia if I have to complete my assignments. I have learnt to do it alone.

I am now getting out, still bitter and with a million unanswered questions. My life has been difficult, it has been miserable. I am worse than I came in. I hear more than I know of what the world requires of me. I am not sure of where I am going next. I never found a home; I never got what I wanted. Tell me why I should not be bitter. Tell me why I could not term it a misguided decision and give me a reason to be contented with the state of things.

I beg of you to let me go. I am leaving; I will not stay for another day. But I leave hoping things will change. I leave hoping those coming behind me will find a home here. I leave praying that the paths will not have stones for bridges. I leave hoping the leaking roofs will be attended to. I leave hoping this will be a home one day, a home sweet home.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

SWIPE CARDS, A GOOD MOVE

By Stanley Kimuge

So the linchpin of campus student survival, HELB, is going digital. Protests have ensued over this move. Apparently, the swipe cards are supposed to micro-manage your finances. I have some reasons why I think it should be adopted.

Yes, nowadays, everything requires us to be tech-savvy, from digital pupils to the smart cards. The architect of the cards must be a man. He definitely had the interests of campus dudes at heart.

You see he must have thought about merciless gold diggers. I am talking about those skirt wearers who are not kind to your account. They will befriend you when your wallet is fat and vanish when your bank grows thinner.

From where I come, we loathe ticks. They are the worst vampires. A medic will tell you that some carry diseases. If the cow doesn't graze, it will sleep forever. Just like this poor creature, my friend missed last semester’s exams. He had bowed to persistent badgering from his fleet of "girlfriends".

I know that smart cards will never be accorded a red carpet by the Campus Drinkers Association. They are the most charitable people in the world. I mean they can buy you a whole crate of dop. But we should forgive them for cohabiting with debts at the end of the semester.

I won't bother to write about this chap who bought a flat screen. As if it was necessary in the curriculum. Poor lad, a stupendous digital thief vanished with it. He will miss the not-so-popular Mexican soaps. Maybe, he should join the bandwagon and throw his weight behind the swipe cards.

VILLAGERS ACCUSE STUDENTS OF STEALING CHICKEN, VOW TO DISCIPLINE CULPRITS

By Mohammed Doyo

Villagers living close to Main Campus have accused students of stealing chicken belonging to them. According to the residents of the Mabatini village (Mabs), the students have been stealing chicken that roam around bushes neighbouring the students’ hostels during the day.

The residents claim that in the past few weeks, chicken have been disappearing at an alarming rate. They have linked the widespread disappearance to students who visit the village shopping centre to buy vegetables and other foodstuffs.

Furthermore, feathers of slaughtered chicken have been spotted near the Campus residential areas. The infuriated residents have now vowed to thoroughly discipline any student who will be found stealing chicken to serve as a lesson to others who might want to indulge in the act.

A student leader who spoke to The 3rd Eye on condition of anonymity attributes the increased theft in the area to the continued delay of loans disbursement to students by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). He says this has forced some students to go stealing as a means of surviving the harsh economic times currently experienced by a section of the students in the institution.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Power Black Outs, Who Cares?

By Mohammed Doyo

It is almost 8 p.m. I am typing an article in a dark room. The computer has issued a warning already-20% battery remaining. In addition, I have an assignment that must be handed in tomorrow. I have to write it through the night or else the lecturer will grace my Transcript with the infamous Grade ‘D’. Then an idea hits me. I will log in face book from my phone and pour my heart out on the 3rd Eye wall. 

Unfortunately, the phone misbehaves and angrily shuts down after issuing several low battery warnings. I can hear curses from the next room. A comrade complains that all shops are closed.The chips café too is of no use now. He wants to go to Stage but the rains have the final authority over the decision. The heavens open up confirming he has to involuntary fast for another day.

This is a sad tale of what students have to go through each day with the increased black outs. For those who live at the infamous ‘Diaspora’ their case is even worse. Some have accepted blackouts as part and parcel of their campus life. Yes, Blackouts can persist for a whole week. And calling out for help can only be as effective as Singing at the top of your lungs for a deaf individual. What do you do then if not to accept and move on? At this rate, I won’t be surprised if ‘Diaspora’ guys call for Secession from the larger 'main campus'.

On a serious note though, Almost everyone acknowledge power blackouts are everywhere in this country. However, when they occur every day at one particular place, There is a problem somewhere. And a Big problem for that matter. Some people somewhere must be sleeping on their job.

Few weeks ago, the university administration insisted that students should pay full accommodation before getting rooms. We obliged. But this time round, abiding by all rules of fair play. It is the students' turn to insist the right to ‘power’ in the rooms. And this is not negotiable.

Over the years, we have become used to the cliche ‘We will fix a bigger and a larger transformer to address the Power problem’ with no actions forthcoming. And now some of us are left wondering, is the idea of ‘the transformer’ another vision 2030 flagship project?

I know the concerned authorities will always respond with ‘' Students cook and use coils to warm the rooms during the rainy cold season" infamous excuse to ‘justify’ the power blackouts whenever students demand answers but then again, what are the students expected to do when Foods served in the mess cannot meet the quality and the quantity they want?

Let the authorities address this problem. Mr. Vice chancellor, DVC student affairs, dean of students, Mr. Chesang, Mrs. Tanui, Director Ogega Students are suffering.

THE TODDLERS' BUSINESS

By Obilo Kobilo

While attending a youth conference organized by the East African Community in Kampala early this month, the President of Makerere University Students’ Union who happens to be from Kenya surprised me when he asked whether Moi University has a recognized Students’ Union or the Administration couples as one.

He went further to claim we, the Moi University Students, owe our peaceful existence to the power that be that’s why most of these things pass us unnoticed.

In a nutshell, what he simply meant was that there is nothing like Moi University Students’ Union commonly known as MUSO in his vocabulary. What really exist are Unions within the larger union which has really suffocated the latter.

At first, his argument to me exposed his raw instincts that refused to be tempered with civic responsibility and power balance. If he were in Kenya, he could have been said to be drank with power. But later on, I realized he meant well for us, he spoke his mind fully.

For starters, MUSO as an organization is dysfunctional. It has been ran with wimps and those who doubt their self-confidence beyond the doors of LT3 where booing and heckling take the centre stage. Its coded leadership operations have been louder in self-interest as it tramples on higher ideals of a society like justice and fair representation.

Panting like magicians charmed by the fatty testicles of a prized ram, the UNION LEADERSHIP, from Mombasa campus to Odera Akong’o campus have perfected the art of seclusion especially when issues to do with finance are brought forth. Nothing explained this much like the HELB episodes some months ago.

It is the only Union which has fully operationalized the theoretical concept of election and campaign. In this theory, the campaign promises are usually big and brash, so logic is often phantom limb when it comes to crafting them. The rule of basic common sense is immediately poured scorn on and what follow are guess works and trial and error practices.

Tell me who can lawfully within the prism of our constitution speak on behalf of all these comrades who form the membership of this moribund Union? None and if you think otherwise, ask Dikembe or maybe Mohamed Doyo.

The constitution review commission knew this too well that’s why there work ended by appending their signature after receiving Ksh.10, 000 as allowances. Let nobody fool you, MUSO HAS GOT owners but comrades are always right in their own thinking. Right to think MUSO is theirs. To think so is total rubbish or stark madness to paraphrase leader of majority Adan Duale.

The only rescue route available for revamping this union is actually destabilizing the presumed ownership and unifying the caucus from Mombasa campus to Kitale sub-branch. We need an overall Secretary General and Chairman with powers to supervise and direct other members.

But from the kind of names being floated, we will still play second fiddle to Makerere, Nairobi, and Maseno and even may be Kanga High School Students’ Association!

People who understand this Union ought to come out show direction. But left to the toddlers…the Union will be bitten to the pulp once again.

The writer is a former Secretary General of The 3rd Eye.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

THE CROOKED SOCIETY

By Chemochek Enock

I thought the world was turning upside down but I can now confirm that it is already upside down. We have seemingly thrown the few morals we had to the dogs. From the look of things, the dogs have already eaten them and we can never have them back! The students who were supposed to be studying are the same people who party with passion and sing their hearts out only to find it difficult to glue their eyes on a book.

Talk of abstinence to today’s youths and they will hear none of it; it is like preaching to the converted. They say it is trendy to indulge in casual sex (where the policy ukipata fyeka applies) which is unprotected in most cases. They go as far as taking emergency pills (E-Pills) before making love to prevent pregnancies. And if by any chance one gets pregnant, they procure abortions in the crudest of ways, even two months before delivery!

Children have also not been left behind in this uncouth behavior. They are no longer an innocent bunch as it had been in the last century. Today’s village kids play an improved version of “cha baba na cha mama” which is usually more of a hands-on activity while their “born-tao” counterparts have an obsession for the internet. If you think they are obsessed with the internet because they find recent updates of Joyce Meyer or Creflo Dollar then you are far much mistaken!

Desperation is at its peak among the younger generation. Girls are more than willing to do anything under the sun to have beauty which seems to exist only in their imagination; a flawless face, smooth light skin, long eye lashes, a good pair of breasts with proportional sitting apparatus and well-maintained hair. Can somebody tell them God did His job perfectly and that they need not bother redoing the creation? This desperation seems to have been brought by fear of the unknown.

The other thing that has corrupted the morals of today’s society is the so-called human rights - the perfect ingredients for a rotten society. These rights have done more harm than good; they are shaking the foundations on which our society is built.

First, it has seen the rise in the number of brothels, gays, lesbians and prostitutes just to name but a few. Secondly, it has made our kids hard-headed, arrogant and rebellious with their lips full of “haki yetu” chants. If we have to salvage our society we ought to scrap the phrase “haki yetu” from our minds and replace it with something like “jamii yetu” or anything of that sort.

The simple, understandable and courteous language that I was used to back then when I was a kid is long gone. It has been replaced with a complex, coded and in most cases vulgar language. Where the youth get such words only heaven knows.

It is up to you and me to change our society, to straighten our crooked ways and try be morally upright. It was not the devil that caused the erosion of our morals, but we did. Therefore, the angels in heaven will not descend to put things right if we do not change for the better.

Monday, May 6, 2013

MP DEMANDS PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT FOR CASUAL LABOURERS

Kapseret Member of Parliament, Hon. Oscar Sudi, has today demanded an immediate permanent employment for casual workers in Moi University. Addressing the workers outside the Administration block, the MP has assured the workers that he will not relent in fighting for their rights, adding that every worker has a right to be heard.

Earlier on he sought audience with the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Richard Mibey, who currently is away on official duty. The MP later met the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, Prof. Chepkuto. During the meeting, the University agreed to resolve the issue by July. The 3rd Eye has established that there will be a joint meeting next week between the area MP, Hon. James Bett, Hon. Sudi and the Vice Chancellor to discuss the issue.


The 3rd Eye has also learnt that some of the non-teaching staff have been working as casual labourers for up to fifteen years without being confirmed as permanent employees. According to the stipulated rules that govern recruitment of workers in the university, an employee is supposed to work as a casual labourer for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years before he or she is confirmed as a permanent employer. “Mimi nimefanya kazi hapa kwa miaka kumi na hawajanipa hajira kamili,” one of the workers stated.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

NOT IN MY UNIVERSITY

By Stanley Kimuge and Shiku Ngigi

Recently, a story was posted in one of the many campus forums on Facebook. It was about a campus lady in a Kenyan university. Apparently, she had missed a CAT and thus sought assistance from the concerned lecturer. The old man made it clear. Having sex with him was the only way to have her marks entered in the list. According to her, it was not the first time he was taking advantage of young ladies. She was seeking advice on what to do in that situation.

Whether this accusation is true or not, the fact is that many university students have found themselves in sticky situations where a lecturer or some other administrator demanded a favour in exchange for a service. Ladies have been said to give in to sexual advances to acquire first class degrees. STDs (Sexually Transmitted Degrees) is the widely-accepted term for such.

Have you ever been compelled to give a bribe for a good grade? Whose fault is it if you bowed down to the pressure anyway? Is it the lecturer who took the bribe or you who offered it in the first place? Maybe you could have resorted to another way if you had the chance. Then fret no more; you can finally say no to these advances.

A new website is in town, complete with security measures to ensure that your identity will never be known once you report a case of corruption in it. NotInMyCountry.org is an initiative by a group of professionals whose aim is to help rid university students of the fear to report cases of corruption in their institutions. The website was recently launched in Kenya and so far, a number of students across the country have rated lecturers in various departments.

It is interesting to note that the site is not all about reporting corrupt lecturers; it’s also about giving props to those many lecturers who arrive to class on time, cover the course aptly and grade papers fairly. It also implies that corruption is not just about monetary and sexual bribes, it is also involves failing to fulfil one’s duties in the office bestowed by the public. In other words, lecturers who miss classes only to reappear towards the end of semester with huge hand-outs are corrupt.

You can rate the individual’s performance by attendance, communication skills, accessibility, efficiency and fairness. You can explain why you rated the individual how you did by adding some comments. This last part is optional. The comments are later displayed publicly, once approved. To report corruption, a page is available for one to give as much detail as possible on the said incident. You can also leave your contacts at your own discretion. The administrators of the site promise confidentiality of the information given. It is only used to follow up on the report.

How will this help stomp out corruption on the ground? You may ask. Well, NotInMyCountry.org was first launched in Uganda. According to an emailed response by the site’s representative, a PhD student is writing a thesis on the site’s effect in Ugandan universities. Lecturers are aware of the site and have every intention to avoid appearing in a negative light on the site. You may think that online causes do not have much clout on the ground, but they are could make an individual think twice before making a corrupt move.

Want to know more? Go on, visit NotInMyCountry.org and see for yourself; explore the possibilities. You can even rate departments and universities in general, including administrative departments such as security and accommodation.

WHERE ARE YOU HIDING, MR & MISS MOI?

By William Dekker
Unlike the past, my opinion now has verily changed and I wholeheartedly agree with those who say campus should be ruled and run by the seniors. By seniors, I mean 3rd years and above. Now with that statement I know I’ve just made a thousand and one enemies; my sincere apologies to the second years! I feel you! But before you crucify me upside down, here is my justification.

Just like the boring MUSO debate that has now become stale with virtually everyone turning into an activist for elections (predominantly second years), very soon we’ll hear people petitioning for Mr & Miss Moi competition. But before that, there will be Mr & Miss Culture with 2nd and 1st years joining the trend. Moha (Doyo) and Msee wa Gym will do their thing as kings and queens of beauty, style and trend are crowned.

Take for instance, last year’s similar events. Miss Culture went to a lady who was in 1st year then. Then came the big thing. Miss Moi still went to a 1st year, Tina Kalekye from the School of Arts and Mr Moi to Sammy Chacha, then a 2nd year from the school of Human Resource Development. People, these are not mere titles. They are not crowns that reward individuals of their beauty and flair. These are crowns that come with responsibilities, responsibilities that the holders have to fulfil.

If you are having trouble understanding what I am taking about, take the case of one former Mr Moi, Kiziah Philbert, popularly known as “Supertall”. That dude is tall, way past Robert Wadlow. Since his crowning, the guy remains an enigma in championing for the eradication of hunger; call it project “Hunger below Zero”. Another one of his ventures is “Adopt a child.” Look at him, he is touring the world, not only making a fortune for himself but also significantly building the institution’s name as its product. That is besides the rewarding modelling contracts he got.

Consider the case of the former Miss Kenya who made news with the jigger campaign. These two examples know their noble duty. A crown of glamour is an onus bestowed upon you to do something that can change lives and for the general societal development.

Now come to the current king and queen of Moi glamour. Chacha, a friend I respect so much and his counterpart, Kalekye, the princess of magnificence. The two, since their coronation have literally done nothing! I mean nothing! Not even an acceptance speech or something. I know I put it brutally but that’s the way it is. A confidential source disclosed that one of them turned down a request to be hosted in the MU FM for an interview reason being “8.00 am was just too early, an ungodly hour to wake her JUST FOR A MERE RADIO SHOW” Lol! That was her beauty talking.

What if these seats were won by some senior, mature and enthusiastic comrades? These individuals have open minds and wide visions that see past the trophy to achieve public appreciation. Surprisingly, this is the same breed (juniors) that is fighting so hard to take over MUSO. They say it is their right. But what is right without responsiveness?

People, we must know these are not tools for individual self-fulfilment but for the general good of all! I will not fail to mention my hard-line stance: “The welfare of comrades as well as social shields shouldn't be awarded to juniors!” Watch and learn, then wait for your time.

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