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Category: National News

  • KENYATTA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNREST

    By Debbie Gitau

    debbiemumbi@gmail.com

    Images sourced from Twitter

    Kenyatta University-Main Campus students hold protests today over welfare issues and seek the removal of their Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina.

     

    The Kenyatta University Students Association issued a memo and stated some of their grievances to be:

    1. The extension of the deadline of the fee payment is minimal.
    2. The administration forcefully directing students in Nyayo to use the flyover.
    3. The suspension of the both students and student leaders on petty basis.
    4. Supplementary fee which is free in other universities, K.U charges 2,500 shillings that applies to Nursing, Law, Medicine and Pharmacy students.
    5. Hiking of graduation fee from 3,500 to 6,000 without KUSA being informed.
    6. Replacement of student I.D cards despite payments being done.

     

    The students closed the Thika road super highway in protest. Heavy law enforcement was employed to secure the safety of the school resources and to open up the closed Thika Road super highway.

     

    “They should listen to our concerns about the extension deadline and supplementary fees,” says Anne Kaloki, a Nursing student in Kenyatta University.IMG_20191007_190317

    Screenshot_2019-10-07-18-53-46
    Kenyatta University students gathered outside the University gates
    K.U unrest 5
    Kenyatta University Students running from Security Forces

  • GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE?

    By: Sumaya Hussein

    husseinsumaya1@gmail.com

    The Closure of Sportpesa and Betin in Kenya

     

    The closure of SportPesa and Betin in Kenya announced on Saturday the 28th of September 2019. The shutdown of operations by these two giant betting companies was seen through an internal memo circulated to the staff. 

     

    The internal memo stated that staff from these two companies will be laid off their duties by the end of September 2019. The reason behind this was said to be the hostile environment provided by the Kenyan government which imposed a 20% tax on all wins, affecting their profitability. This came as a shocker for most Kenyans due to the impact these firms have brought to the country.

     

    Firstly, it is important to mention some of the positive things these companies have contributed to the economy of Kenya. Sportpesa and Betin were responsible for supporting local sports teams through sponsorships. These teams include the National team, Harambee Stars, which was supported in the recent Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) by Betin, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and the Kenya Premier League altogether. 

     

    It was mentioned by the Football Kenya Federation manager, Nick Mwendwa, that the companies had sponsored local football with up to Ksh 600 million. The departure of these companies leaves the teams stranded not to mention sources tell us that players from teams of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have not been paid in over 2 months. The Kenya Premier League are also left without a sponsor and have no funds to pay the referees.

     

    One of the people who were openly happy about the closure of the betting firms was MP Kanini Kega. He mentioned that the country should be careful about the type of investors it allows into the economy. He also said that the firms caused addiction and led youth into looking for riches and easy money through gambling instead of hard work. 

     

    Kenyans took to twitter to address this matter. Some were very bitter, saying how the government should provide jobs for youth and support to the local sports teams instead. However, some shared the same opinion with MP Kega about betting being a disease and Kenyans were better off without it. 

     

    Looking at things from a different perspective, Kenya is ranked the third-largest gambling market in Africa behind South Africa and Nigeria. A study conducted by Amani Mwadime showed that approximately 2 million people in Nairobi alone participate in online betting. It has become a full-time occupation for some people and those who work find themselves betting with their colleagues at tea break, lunch hour, evenings and during the nights. Moreover, students spend more time betting than they do with their academics. 

     

    Those who have experience in it know that one is likely to lose more than he/she will gain. The effects of losing itself are not very pretty. It makes youth go broke, fall into depression and even become suicidal. Furthermore, according to social anthropologists, it is among the list of things known to cause domestic violence. 

     

    As much as it has brought some good, betting also has its disadvantages which bring a strain to the growth and economy of a country. It is therefore actually safe to say goodbye and good riddance to Sportpesa and Betin. 

  • MPs WILL REJECT BILL THAT SEEKS TO CHARGE KENYANS FOR WHATSAPP GROUPS

    By Brenda Mongare

    Brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke

    The Bill that seeks to regulate WhatsApp and Facebook groups will be thrown out, says the National Assembly’s Committee on Information Communication Technology.

    The Bill sponsored by Malava Member of Parliament, Malulu Ijendi sought to compel administrators of Facebook and WhatsApp groups to obtain licenses from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) at a prescribed fee.

    However, William Kisang, ICT committee chair, says the Bill is not implementable and will not see the light of day.

    “We should be realistic. Even if we passed the Bill it will be quashed by the courts” said Kisang.

    Godfrey Osotsi, a member of the ICT committee also disproved the Bill as he said what the Bill sought to achieve was already covered in the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act passed last year by the National Assembly.

    Ostosi failed to understand how the Communications Authority of Kenya would license millions of Whatsapp and Facebook groups.

    The proposed Bill will require that WhatsApp group administrators store all the data of the users of the platform and submit the data to the authorities when required.

    Administrators will also have to ensure that members of the WhatsApp and Facebook groups are of “age of majority”. Therefore, this will lock out minors from joining or posting comments on social media platforms controlled by adults.

     

    Photo courtesy: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/932113/WhatsApp-Share-Data-UK-Facebook

  • New Education System: Competence over Competition

    By Aaron Kituku.
    (kaykituku@gmail.com)

    A weekend at home gave me a glimpse of what the competency-based curriculum (CBC) is all about. If skill-set is the focus of this shift in academia, then this is a blessing in disguise.

    Pupils from Rock school in Nairobi were cleaning the streets with improvised brooms, aprons, and wheelbarrows on September 5th during a class project in the new curriculum. Apart from the adorable scene of these children sweeping, the direction the new system is taking is impressive.

    The 2-6-6-3 curriculum is replacing the old, exam-oriented system, 8-4-4, which was adopted in 1985. Contrary to the traditional education system, the competency-based curriculum advocates for a progressive assessment rather than a single event of an exam, which, whether a student passes or fails, the class will move forward through to new material and assume that students will figure out concepts as the study progresses.

    As some might argue that CBC is not encouraging competition, well that’s the idea; it is mastery or proficiency-based kind of learning.

    Opposed to studying piles of notes before an exam regardless of whether you understand or not, the new system emphasizes on whether or not a student is demonstrating well-defined competencies. That is knowledge applied. That is true learning.

    Just 2 years ago I was helping my brother do his homework in math’s, science and the like, this weekend was different. Shaping a car model from a box, curving out windows and doors was his take-home. It was fun, physically engaging and a provoked creativity. At grade 2, the child is already introduced to basic literacy and numeracy skills, appropriated communication, creativity and critical thinking, hygiene, digital literacy skills, emotional, physical and spiritual development among others.

    This is not just an improvement of the 8-4-4 system, it is a complete shift in academia whereby the trainees advance after they have demonstrated proficiency in carefully defined learning areas. That is to mean that if you get over the bar faster, the shorter you take in going through the system.

    “We shall ensure that we have now 100 percent transition from primary through to secondary school.” Said President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 3rd National conference on curriculum reforms.

    Equality of learning is probably the most important detail of the new system. It accommodates Individuals who would not thrive in a traditional class. It stresses training on a person’s natural inclinations. The system has flattened the playing field for all learners.

  • KUNA NINI KATIKA BARABARA YA MAGADI?

    C21B84F3-9D5B-4371-BC87-FD7C59550353wangukanuri181152@daystar.ac.ke

    Na: Wangu Kanuri

    Ilikuwa vuta nikuvute katika barabara ya Magadi baina wanafunzi wa chuo kikuu cha Multimedia na polisi. Wanafunzi wa chuo kikuu hicho waliandamana na kufunga barabara hiyo kufuatia ajali iliyomlaza mmoja wao katika hospitali kuu ya Kenyatta huku akiwa katika hali mahututi. Kamanda wa Langata bwana Gregory Mutiso aliwarai wasafiri kutumia njia mbadala wanapowatuliza wanafunzi hao waliokuwa wamekabwa koo. Ajali katika barabara hiyo zinazotamatisha maisha ya wanafunzi katika chuo kikuu hicho si jambo geni ndio maana maandamano hayo yaliyoonyesha kughadhabishwa kwa wanafunzi na madereva.

    Kwa kutaka kuchukulia haki mikononi mwao kwa mwanafunzi huyo aliye katika mwaka wake wa kwanza na ambaye wiki jana aligongwa na yu katika hali mahututi, wanafunzi hao waliokerwa walistahimili vitoa machozi ambavyo maaskari waliwarushia nao wakiwarushia mawe. Mwanafunzi huyo aligongwa na matatu iliyokuwa ikiendeshwa kwa kasi mno hapo karibu na lango la chuo hicho kikuu. Isitoshe wanafunzi hao walilalamikia polisi kwa kuchelewa kushughulika baada ya mwanafunzi huyo kugongwa.

    Uchungu uliokuwa nyoyoni mwa wanafunzi hao ulidhibitisha kuwa walikuwa wamekerwa na ajali zinazofanyika katika barabara hiyo zinazotamatisha nyoyo za wenzao huku wakikumbuka kuwa mwaka wa 2016 walipoteza wanafunzi  wawili katika barabara iyo hiyo. Zaidi ya hayo, walilalamikia kuongezewa kwa nauli kwa matatu ya tume ya Ongataline na kunyanyaswa na waendeshaji wa magari hayo.

    Japo gari hiyo iliyomgonga mwanafunzi hiyo I katika kituo cha polisi, usakaji wa dereva huyo aliyemgonga mwanafunzi huyo bado waendelea. Hali kadhalika wanafunzi watatu walikamatwa katika maandamano hayo.