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Category: News

  • 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.

  • A New Dawn

    By Debbie Gitau
    debbiemumbi@gmail.com

    Daystar University’s Vice chancellor, Prof. Laban Ayiro on Wednesday, 12th September, graced the first Student Baraza of the new academic year, in the wake of the new dawn.Prof. Ayiro promised that through his office, the institution will be conducting two annual barazas.

    This will be a platform to communicate the school’s grievances, understand and address the student’s dispositions, the progress, provide accountability and the way forward for the institution.In light of a joyful spirit, he began with awarding of Tracy Osogo, the recipient of the Tutu Ubuntu Scholarship by endorsing her with finances for her upkeep as she travels to 11 different countries in the next 106 days.

    In his speech, the Vice Chancellor mainly geared the students to adopt the doctrine of a strenuous life, the embodiment of vigor in effort, exploiting our potential and having the desire to strive for great things. He stressed on the worrying nature of the academic rigor of Daystarians, the timid-ness of the whole community to rise to global greatness by sacrifice and strife.

    “We have agreed this is a new dawn, I need to see some newness in the offices and my students to enjoy a new learning approach in those lecture rooms then it is a new dawn,” Professor Laban Ayiro said.

    The ongoing and future projects for the institution were also outlined. Some of the projects for the Athi River campus include building a perimeter wall, to renovate and equip the gym, building of a second borehole, and renovation of the amphitheater. The Nairobi Campus projects include expanding and equipping of the studios and library renovations. The projects will be financed mainly by resource mobilization but normal operations of the school will be financed with tuition. The Vice Chancellor hence emphasized on the need to pay tuition for the university to function normally due to the difficult financial constraints. Therefore, registered students who have not cleared out their fees and are not paying in installments nor have bursary in their accounts will be blocked.

    Students also aired out some of their grievances, which included cancellation of classes after registration, ineffectiveness of the transport system, difficult registration for new international students and lack of sport jerseys for football teams. They further suggested that the staff should go for a customer service class and creation of more awareness to specific departments like the Education.

    “I feel like the Vice Chancellor is a man of his word. So far, most of the things he has promised have been attended to or are being worked on,” Clara Ndinda, a Daystar Student said.

  • 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.

  • Fun at the Fair

    By: Mercie Njoki (mercienjoki12@gmail.com)

    Image courtesy of: http://clipart-library.com

    On Wednesday 24th July, Daystar University held a spotlight career fair at Valley Road Campus. The career fair focused on the film industry boasting a large number of professionals from the industry who were invited to talk to the great number of students who attended the fair.

    The industry professionals who were invited to give a talk on the film industry are none other than Writer and Director Mona Ombogo, Award-Winning Executive producer Quincy Wandera, Actor and Director Mugambi Nthiga, Director Ezekiel Onyango and last but not least, Comedian, law consultant, and Singer June Gachui. The career fair was sponsored by trademarks like Aspire and Empire International and it focused on the theme of building brands.

    Since these industry professionals are very familiar with the film industry, they have a huge understanding of different people’s capabilities in film. One of the speeches that stood out and resonated with the audience full of students was Ezekiel’s speech. He talked about how millennials are people who rely on technology and film plays a key role. He emphasized on how millennials have the most energy and they should use it in creating useful content.

    These industry professionals also emphasized on utilizing our skills in the film digital space. June Gachui talked more about this, she added that in her role on the award-winning film ‘Nairobi Half-Life’, she used her skills intellectually and she goes on to encourage her audience to tell themselves they are great and they can accomplish anything they want. As a law consultant, June deals with copyright and trademarks. She went on to say “if you create your content you own it and if you are employed they own it. Therefore, be careful with whom you collaborate so that the beauty of the product comes out.”

    To sum it all up, the career fair was quite educative and inspiring. The talk enabled the creatives in the room to open their mind further by creating not only great content but also revolutionizing the Kenyan film industry. It was truly an honor to have had the pleasure of listening to these great people as they shared their wisdom and experiences with the future of the Kenyan film industry.

  • Athi Health Awareness Week

    By Waridi Ajambo

    Daystar Compassion and Care Center (DCCC) successfully organized yet another health week in the Athi River campus from the 10th to the 14th of March 2014.

    A schedule was made to enable the smooth flow of activities during the week. HIV testing and counseling, conduction of the Tuesday chapel service, cancer screening and community outreach program.

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