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.