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  • Analysis of DUSA’s 100 Days in Office

    By Evelyne Syombua

    (issyombua@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of Instagram (dusacouncil_official).

    The Daystar University Student Association Council members marked their 100 days in office on July 29. They have had their own share of challenges as they take up their mantle and honor their oath of office to serve the students.

    Being the first government after four years, students say the council members have a lot to do to fill the gap left by their predecessors and restore the faith students had in DUSA. There have been mixed reactions from students regarding DUSA’s term in office -so far.

    Former Daystar University Actuarial Science Association (DUASA) Secretary-General Martin Mutugi has questioned some of the offices while mentioning that only a few are actively functioning.  He said:

    “It is nice that we have a DUSA government, therefore students can be represented. However not all DUSA offices are being felt. ‘’

    The financial year ended on July 31, which was the same day the 2021-2022 budget was to be released. According to the finance secretary Wambui  Njoroge,  a draft of the budget has been submitted to the finance manager’s  office for approval.

    “The budget is set to be read after the orientation period in August. The congress will receive official communication once the budget is approved but will not get to amend it,’’ said Wambui Njoroge.  However, the DUSA constitution clearly stipulates that the budget is to be submitted to Congress for final approval.

    The student government is however yet to be fully productive with students complaining of loopholes including those in the DUSA constitution.

    The Athi river campus governor Walter Nalwa stated that the journey has not been easy as they are trying not to succumb to the pressure that comes with serving both students who are online and those who are having physical classes.

    He went on to add that they are working to ensure that students’ matters are addressed accordingly.

    “We not only want to serve the able students alone but also the needy students. DUSA is not a resistant movement […] but it is a champion for students’ interests in a diplomatic manner,” said Walter.

    Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the university is yet to have all students back in school physically, posing a challenge to the council members as they strive to ensure all students are heard and their matters looked into.

    His colleague the Nairobi campus governor Brian Achoka popularly known as Zaza insisted that the two are working hand in hand to revive clubs and associations which fall under their docket.

    “My colleague and I have managed to revive some clubs which include the Debate Club, Daystar University Peace and International Studies Student Association (DUPPISA), Daystar Model United Nations club (DMUN), and we are on the way to revive all of the clubs both in Nairobi and Athi River campus,’’ said Zaza.

    DUSA Council Members during their swearing in ceremony.Photo Courtesy of Insatgram (daystar_uni).

    The Council members work with a number of standing committees to serve the students and ensure all their grievances are met. Each committee has at least one council official in it, and serve the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives of the association. However, a source privy to the Involvement Newspaper reveals that a communication committee, which is tasked with running opinion polls on issues of interest to the Association is yet to be formed.

    Students’ cries to have events restored have in a way been heard, having had the Daystar Talanta Event, which witnessed a mass turn up from the students, in the Athi River and Nairobi campuses on July 22 and 29 respectively.

    “We are looking forward to having more events, more turn-ups and also support from the university administration as we engage in these activities and serve the students,” the Secretary-General Caleb Paul alias Msando said.

    The ex-officio members of the student government; Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF) chair Moses Wisdom and the Daystar Compassion and Care Centre (DCCC) president, Derrick Kamura commended the DUSA council members for what they have done so far. However, the two state that there is more that the council is yet to do.

    The university’s attempt to incorporate the problem based learning has not been a ride in the park as Deputy President Monica Gitau says. She added that it has been a challenge for both students and lecturers.

    “I raised the issue and wrote a letter to the DVC-Academics. The Problem Based Learning intentions is to make students know how to do researches and not being spoon-fed and not overburdening the students with assignments. We look forward to better problem-Based Learning where both students and especially the lecturers understand this concept,” [sic] said Monica Gitau.

    The Involvement Newspaper has reached out to the DUSA President Marco Laboso who is yet to comment on the progress made by DUSA so far.

  • INVOLVEMENT ISSUE 239

    Issue 239

     

    Use the link above to access the Involvement Newspaper issue 239 which features a range of articles written by our writers to ensure that you stay informed on News within and outside Daystar.

  • UONGOZI UPYA KATIKA KLABU YA DAYSTAR COMPASSION AND CARE CENTER

    Na Gladys Sheila
    gladyshila52@gmail.com

    Picha kwa hisani ya: Joseph Gichari

    Josephndungo55@gmail.com

    Klabu ya Daystar Compassion and Care Center (DCCC) almarufu DC3 iliyoko katika chuo kikuu cha Daystar ilisherehekea uongozi upya. DC3, ni klabu ambayo imekuwepo tangu mwaka wa (2013) huku lengo lake kuu likiwa kufahamisha wanadaystar kuhusu maswala ya afya, kuwasaidia kisaikolojia wanafunzi, wahadhiri, wafanyakazi na jamii ya Daystar kwa ujumla. Klabu hii imekuwa chini ya uongozi wa Bi.Susan Botto ambaye ndiye mratibu wake.

    Siku hii ya ndovu kumla mwanawe, iliyoadhimishwa katika chapeli iliwaorodhesha viongozi wake wa mwaka wa 2019-2020 huku waliowatangulia wakiwakabidhi faili za utendakazi wao. Siku hiyo ya aina yake ilianzishwa kwa tenzi za kumsifu na kumuabudu Mungu, hafla iliyoongozwa na kwaya ya Imela katika chuo kikuu cha Daystar. Hali kadhalika, wanafunzi, wahadhiri na wafanyakazi chuoni Daystar walipokea pipi huku ikiwa kiishara kuwa wasiokwenye ndoa wajihifadhi mpaka wakati wa kufunga ndoa.

    Kilele cha hafla hii ni ufahamu dhabiti wa klabu hicho na wanajopo ambao walikuwa Bi. Emmah Nguli na Bwana Allan Ball ambao ni washauri wa maswala ya saikolojia.

    Matayarisho ya siku hii isitoshe hung’oa habta wiki ikianza huku mada kuu ikiwa kuwahamasisha wanadaystar kufahamu afya zao. DC3 hukakisha kuna vitengo mbalimbali ambavyo vyaweza kuwasaidia kutambua hali zao za kiafya ikiwa upimaji wa ongoezeko au upungufu wa sukari mwilini, uchunguzi wa saratani, kuangaliwa meno na upimaji wa ukimwi. Ukabidhishaji wa nyara kutoka kwa naibu wa msimamizi mkuu wa wanafunzi Bi. Irene Kimani.

    Waliotuzwa walikuwa:
    1. David Obong’o- Rais
    2. Gladys Sheila- Naibu wa Rais
    3. Wilbert Kiprop- Katibu
    4. Kevin Korir- Mweka Hazina
    5. Maureen Minus- Mkurungezi wa Halfa
    6. Chris Waweru- Msaidizi wa Vikundi vya Msaada

    Erick Spira, rais anayeshika timu hiyo mpya mkono, aliwapongeza waliomtangulia na kuwahamasisha wanafunzi kuridhika kwa kasoro wanazojua wanazo kwani zina manufaa maishani. Kwa kuwa chanzo cha jambo ni mwisho wa kingine, timu hiyo ilijumuika na kukata keki ya kusherehekea uongozi upya na uliopita katika ofisi zao za DCCC.

    Kweli sote kama wanafunzi, wahadhiri na wafanyakazi twawatakia viongozi hao kila la heri wanapoongoza wanadaystar.

  • 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.

  • 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.