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  • 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. 

  • RESULTS FOR KUSA LEAGUE MATCHES

    By: Brenda Mogina

    Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) tournaments took place on the 27th to 28th September in Nairobi, Kenya.

    Daystar ladies Volleyball Falcons were crowned champions of Aberdares Mbiriri Nyeri GSU, KDF volleyball tournament that took place over the weekend at the foothills of Mt Kenya.

    Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) were the biggest winners in soccer women after putting two goals past Daystar Falcons who did not manage to net any goal.

    Daystar University Handball women and men teams saw off Gresta 08:10 and 19:19 respectively before Daystar’s falcon soccer ladies vs Gresta ended with a 1-1 draw.

    Gretsa Club were also on the receiving end when they alienated Daystar’s Netball team 46-16 in Netball Men.

    Daystar Basketball Women saw off Kiriri Women 61-9 in another highlight of the weekend.

    The following are results from KUSA league matches that happened over the weekend:

    Soccer

    Daystar Falcons (City) vs KCA. 1-1
    Daystar Falcons Athi Vs JKUAT 0 – 2
    Daystar Falcons soccer ladies 1-1 Gresta

    Handball

    Daystar vs Gretsa
    Men 19: 19
    Ladies 08: 10

    Hockey
    Daystar vs JKUAT (hockey men)2-2
    Daystar vs Kenyatta University (hockey ladies) 0-8

    Basketball
    Daystar (KUSA basketball men)vs Kenyatta University 19-88
    Daystar (NBA men) vs PBC 58-46
    Daystar Ladies vs Kiriri women 61-9.

    Netball

    Daystar Vs Gretsa 16-46

    Below are the fixtures for upcoming games.

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  • SHUJAA WETU

    Na: Wangu Kanuri

    kanuriwangu@gmail.com

    TOA maelezo yako kuhusu mchezo wa raga

    Raga ni mchezo ambao unahitaji nguvu haswa kwenye misuli. Mchezo huu umegawanywa katika makundi mawili makuu; ya wachezaji saba na ya wachezaji kumi na tano. Kundi hili la wachezaji saba hujulikana vyema kama rugby 7s ilhali hilo la wachezaji kumi na tano hujulikana kama rugby 15s. Vikundi hivi ndivyo vimepewa kipaumbele nchini ila kuna vingine.

    TUELEZE kwa ufupi kukuhusu

    Slyvester Miheso, ni mwanafunzi wa shahada ya Udhibitishaji wa Rasilimali za Nchi katika chuo kikuu cha Daystar. Anapenda kusikiza muziki, kufanya mazoezi na kutizama filamu. Isitoshe, mimi ni mchezaji wa kawaida katika timu ya Falcons ambayo ni timu ya raga katika chuo kikuu cha Daystar.

    NINI kilikuchochea kuupenda mchezo huu wa raga?

    Nilipojiunga na shule ya upili ya Mtakatifu Inyasi ndipo ari yangu ya kupenda mchezo wa raga ilianza. Nilijiunga na timu ya raga nikiwa kidato cha kwanza japo shingo upande kwa kuogopa kuumizwa. Baada ya kujiunga na mchezo huo nilijua sheria na masharti zinazomkinga mtu wakati wa kumenyana na hofu yangu ikapungua.

    NI mchezaji yupi katika raga hukuvutia? Kwa nini?

    Mchezaji ninayemuenzi anachezea timu ya na Mwamba anafahamika kama Collins Injera. Mchezaji huyu ana bidii na anapenda kuwapa mwelekeo wachezaji chipukizi ili waweze kubobea kama yeye. Isitoshe, Collins amejivunia taji nyingi katika ligi za Uingereza kwa kufunga mabao mengi.

    MCHEZO HUU umekuvunia tija ipi?

    Mchezo huu umeniwezesha kufadhiliwa kimasomo katika ya shule ya upili na ya chuo kikuu. Hali kadhalika, nimejivunia taji la mchezaji bora na pia mchezaji aliyefunga mabao mengi upande wa Division 2. Nimeweza kuzuru nchi ya Uganda na Rwanda na miji ya Kisumu, Kakamega, Nairobi, Meru, Nanyuki na Nakuru.

    UNAWASHAURI vipi wachezaji chipukizi?

    Wasififishe talanta zao kwani ni zawadi kutoka Maulana. Pili, wafanye bidii wakati wa mazoezi huku wakiamini wao ni wachezaji bora kwani jambo huanzia kwa kukata shauri akilini. Tatu, wasikate tamaa hata wakishindwa kwani kufeli si kujaribu bali kutojaribu.

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  • BASKETBALL FLOODLIGHTS 2019

    Photos courtesy:Joseph Gichari

    Josephndungo55@gmail.com

    On Thursday, 26th September 2019, Daystar Uiversity, Athi River Campus, hosted the annual Basketball Floodlights competition.

    During the Basketball competition there were the following matches: Daystar University ladies team versus Cooperative University ladies team and Daystar University Mens team versus United States International University Mens team.

    There were other events also held during the floodlights competition such as Dunk fest, skills challenge, crowd free throw competition and half court competition.

    Find the photos from the competition attached below.IMG-20191001-WA0017IMG-20191001-WA0018IMG-20191001-WA0019IMG-20191001-WA0020IMG-20191001-WA0021IMG-20191001-WA0022

  • MONARCHIES OF AFRICA: Lesotho

    By Nyokabi Ng’ang’a

    Leshnyokabi@gmail.com

    Photo courtesy: artmajeur.com

     

    The Kingdom of Lesotho is an enclave within South Africa. It could be an independent country, but South Africa has played much importance in its political scene and stability where military coups are not a matter of shock.

    Lesotho could be a monarchy led by a King namely, King Letsie III, but its administration is one that takes a different turn due to the authority the Constitution has in all modes of governance. The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho is the one in charge of the government operations, leaving the monarchical base being one that is ceremonial. The King in all his majesty is not allowed to take charge of governmental operations or intervene in any public affairs or settle any disputes whether between political factions or sections of the population as stated by King Letsie III in his interview by Al Jazeera.

    The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane is the one who heads all governmental operations; and also selects his Cabinet to fit into the executive arm of the government. He first became Prime Minister in 2012, but took to South Africa for asylum, with the claims that a coup was in progress to usurp his powers. This later on led to South Africa giving him a military envoy, facilitating his return to Lesotho to continue with his rulership.

    Aside from the governance stance of Lesotho, important to note is that Lesotho houses over two million people, with an estimate of the populace being 2, 125, 268 as recorded by the UN. The Major ethnic sect of Lesotho is the Basoto with its sub-groups ranging from Batluong, Bakuena, Baphuti, Matebele, Batokeng, and Batso-enang, (trading economics Website). With all the sub-groups present in the Kingdom, Sesotho and English are used as official languages that unite all persons within Lesotho.

    English: One of the official languages of Lesotho, came into play when King Moshoeshoe I, wrote to “the newly appointed governor of the cape, Sir Philip Wodehouse, suggesting that an Alliance be formed between the two territories (Basutho and Britain),” as recorded by South African History Online Website. This was done by King Moshoeshoe I when the Dutch, Voortrekkers, took advantage of the King’s hospitality by annexing a sect of the gifted land and calling it their own. Moshoeshoe then turned to the British government and his request was granted, leading to Basutoland being a British protectorate and colony in the years 1868 and 1959 respectively. Later on, Basutoland gained her independence in the year 1966 with her first Prime Minister being Jonathan Leabua, who was later deposed in the year 1986 by a military coup.

    Lesotho could be a small kingdom, but its majestic view, its resources and the love its citizens have for their indigenous culture, is a holding factor for all posterity. As reported by the South African History Online Website, Lesotho is the main supplier of water to South Africa with South Africa responding to the transaction with the supply of electricity. A small country it could be, but with an indigenous basis root, extensive land, weighty resources and beautiful culture with beautiful prints impressed on their clothing and their authentic housing structures.

    Next time you meet a Mosotho/ Basotho, don’t mind saying hi to an individual or a group with the words, Lumela and Dumelang respectively!

  • STAND BY ME

    By Nyokabi Ng’ang’a
    Leshnyokabi@gmail.com

    Photo courtesy: YouTube.com

    Stand by me.

    At my worst, at my best:
    When the wind blows and the sun sets
    Stand by me.

    Stand by me;
    In my cries of depths,
    In my smiles of breaths,
    within greatest sorrows and huge burrows.

    Stand by me:
    When fears set while victory is at its best
    When humanity takes in insanity
    And insanity wipes of humanity.

    Lord, won’t you stand by me?

  • 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.

  • Worship Night

    Yesterday evening, 19th September 2019, the Worship team held a lovely and energizing worship experience at the Amphitheatre.

    Those who attended could clearly feel that the presence was God was among the congregation. Students were able to cme together and give thanks and praise to the Lord for bringing us this far and for the new semester.

    For those who missed this wonderful experience find the photos attached below.

    Photos courtesy: Joseph Gichari (Josephndungo55@gmail.com)

  • 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.