Daystar University began its fixed asset verification exercise on Thursday to establish its existing assets, their location, numbers and condition, after which a report will be prepared.
According to the Finance Manager, Mrs Phyllis Mutua, it is important to have the exercise to identify where resources are and for accountability purposes given that the University has two branches. The exercise was set to begin on February 1 but delayed due to registration of new students that tied the hands of the few available staff.
Speaking to Involvement, Mrs Mutua emphasized that the department cannot neglect other office assignments to carry out the exercise. Therefore, they shall dedicate two hours of their day to conduct the exercise from Thursday 4, February 2021.
Agape Library at Daystar University Athi River Campus. Photo courtesy of Daystar University Twitter.
Asset verification has not taken place for the last two years majorly because of the changes in the leadership of the institution that saw Prof. Laban Ayiro take over as the university Vice-Chancellor. However, the institution is well endowed with resources, in terms of land, equipment, vehicles and buildings. It has heavily invested in the physical libraries on both campuses, ensuring they are well equipped with core textbooks and other learning materials.
“Daystar is well endorsed with resources and that is in terms of land, vehicles and classrooms and even the facilities we have”, said Finance Manager, Mrs Mutua.
The finance department is set to introduce a new implementation of their systems that will not only be beneficial to students but shall also ease the work done by its staff. The department is working hand in hand with a few members of the admissions department to ensure that the exercise is a success.
The Vice-Chancellor Professor Laban Ayiro, has gifted members of the worship team Ksh1000 each for properly conducting the prayer day held on Thursday 21st January 2021, at the main campus.
Members awarded include University Chaplain Reverend Steven Nduto, assistant Chaplains Josphat Musili and Pastor Rachel Ngugi, Eva Muholo chair of the worship team, music directors Mike Muchiri and Joel Mwendwa, choirmaster, the pianist Hesbon Orange, the bassist Grace Wangare, drummer Sidney Kamwana, Joel Mumo and June Mwangi.
Bassist Grace Wangare playing the background music during the sermons. Photo courtesy of Mercy Onditi
“I am very proud of you and I’m not exaggerating that, but I am particularly proud of Grace because I have never seen a lady playing a guitar here,” said Prof Ayiro. He went on to call the members on to the stage to “bless them” and give them “something small so they can buy simsim”.“I don’t know whether there is simsim here, if the simsim is a sausage that’s up to you, if it is chips…” he said before handing each of the members on stage the shinning notes. Still, in his spirit of appreciation, the VC added that the Chaplaincy team should take a trip to visit Israel on a pilgrimage.
Prof. Laban Ayiro handing out rewards to the worship team. Photo courtesy of Mercy Onditi.
University Chaplain, Reverend Steven Nduto, thanked the VC on behalf of the worship team, for awarding them. “I want to thank you again for the simsim, on behalf of everybody else who received that, we want to say thank you for that consideration and we pray it continues like that,” said Rev. Nduto cheerfully, “And also thank you for promising that the Chaplains need to go to Israel, we’ll be watching that space graciously,” he added.
VC Prof Laban Ayiro and University Founder Dr Don Smith. Photo courtesy of Mercy Onditi,
The prayer day was held at Amphitheatre and streamed online on the Daystar University Live YouTube channel, with the theme being “Turning to God”. The ceremony was attended by the University founder Dr Don Smith, both DVCs Prof. Faith Nguru and Dr Muturi Wachira, Finance manager Phyllis Mutua, HR Manager Pius Muia together with other members of the faculty, staff and students.
Students bowing their heads in prayer. Photo courtesy of Mercy Onditi
The prayer day was closed with the assistant Chaplain Josphat Musili leading the school into taking the Holy Communion and the University founder Dr Don Smith, praying for the entire institution.
Assistant Chaplain, Josphat Musili leads the University in prayers. Photo courtesy of Mercy Onditi.
Daystar University campuses have improved on Covid-19 protocols previously set up in the school, in preparation for physical classes of the January 2021 semester.
Measures taken include setting up isolation rooms in both campuses, remarking classrooms and public places for social distancing, setting up temperature checks, handwashing and sanitization stations.
Handwashing stations at Athi River Campus. Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Laguma.
“We have isolation rooms in both campuses and we have doctors and medical personnel. We are ready and prepared, and we have done our best as a University,” said Pius Muia, Senior Human Resource Manager.
Masks will also be provided in the campuses for those unable to obtain. With the protocols in place, the main campus in Athi River can accommodate 1,500 students while the Valley Road campus can take 600 students.
“We had many of them saying the preferred face to face, and we wondered about the reasons and we agreed on who will be face to face,” said Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Faith Nguru, during the freshmen parents’ welcome on Monday.
Social distancing in lecture rooms. Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Laguma.
Currently, the University is offering blended learning whereby both physical and online classes will be ongoing. A survey that was conducted by the school revealed that more students preferred face to face learning over online learning.
Students from the school of communication can also make arrangements in groups to use the studios in the campuses. Those undertaking online classes have the privilege of choosing their units from both the Athi River and Nairobi campuses, which include day and evening classes.
Sanitizer station in Athi River campus. Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Laguma.
Students set to resume for physical classes this January include those taking nursing and science-based courses. The rest will study online but have access to the facilities in both campuses such as the libraries and labs.
Both physical and online classes are set to begin on January 11, 2021. Orientation of new students was conducted physically with strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.
Freshmen of January 2021 semester were officially matriculated into the University on Wednesday, in a ceremony held at the Daystar main campus in Athi River. The matriculation ceremony signifies the formal entry of freshmen into the University by taking a matriculation oath.
Those in attendance during the Matriculation ceremony were the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Laban Ayiro, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs and Research, Prof. Faith Nguru, as well as other members of the faculties and staff.
Freshmen taking the matriculation pledge. Photo courtesy of Moses Wafula
The VC and DVC led the freshmen into taking the pledge, thereby officially admitting them as students of Daystar University. “With the authority given to me by the University Council, I hereby admit you to pursue the courses in the discipline of your calling,” said the VC Prof Ayiro. “This (oath) will initiate you to formally become a student of this great University, and doing so also comes with a number of responsibilities, the most important being your obligation to contribute for the realization of the University’s mission and vision, as well as your own mission and vision,” said DVC Prof. Nguru to the freshmen.
This semester’s freshmen will be among the first to experience a different learning approach that is problem-based and collaborative learning. The new teaching method introduced by the VC Prof. Ayiro, aims to produce students who are problem solvers. “The Daystar you are coming into is a Daystar that aspires to teach the way Harvard, Stanford and Oxford University teaches,” said Prof Ayiro during the matriculation ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Moses Wafula.
Currently, the University is offering blended learning whereby classes are partly physical and partly online. Covid-19 protocols have been ramped up in both campuses ahead of physical classes and include handwashing and sanitization points, isolation rooms and social-distance markings in classrooms and public places.
Daystar University will continue administering classes online, as a few physical classes will be taking place in the campuses come January 2021.
In an email sent to the school on Monday, only nursing students, science students and those admitted during the October 2020 physical semester will start face to face learning in January 2021.
Other courses, according to the email, are to continue with online learning.
“Save for the programs outlined above, all other undergraduate, certificate and Diploma students will remain online,” read the email.
All continuing postgraduate students taking PGDE, Master’s and PhD programmes, as well as new postgraduate students from October 2020 and January 2021, will study online as well.
Students to start physical classes in January include; all nursing students admitted in 2020 and January 2021, all undergraduate students admitted to the October 2020 physical semester, all law students admitted in August 2020 and January 2021, will have physical classes at the Athi River Campus.
Photo courtesy of Laguma
For continuing students, all nursing students admitted in 2018 and 2019 will continue with their clinical placements. All Upgrade Nursing students admitted in 2020 and 2021, will have physical theory classes at the Nairobi campus.
All students taking Biomedical Science, Environmental Heath, Actuarial Science, Applied Computer Science and Bachelor of Education Science (B.Ed Science), will have physical classes at the Athi River campus.
The 15% fee discount previously offered for online classes has been discontinued due to the government suspension of all tax waivers.
Physical orientation for new students is set to begin on January 4, 2021.
The University Portal will be opened for registration of courses on January 4, 2021 once the timetable has been released. Both physical and online classes will begin on January 11, 2021.
Wambui Ndaiyo. Founder and lead designer at Sapatu Kenya.
This week I got the opportunity to interview the lovely Prisca Noel Waiganjo also known as Wambui Ndaiyo. Wambui is not only a third year Public relations student at Daystar University but she is also the lead designer and founder of the fashion brand Sapatu Kenya.
Sapatu Kenya was born in 2015, “I took a short course in tailoring and design after high school” says Wambui when talking about how Sapatu Kenya came to be. She adds, “it also helped me cope with depression.
Before joining the tailor and design school, Wambui described how she would take her mother’s clothes are transform them to be more modern, sexy and sophisticated, this is what inspired her to pursue her passion in fashion design.
Wambui went on to describe Sapatu as a clothing brand for the modern African woman that promotes body positivity, sophistication and confidence. From her collections, I could tell that Sapatu Kenya lives up to its purpose.
“The kind of fashion you would find at Sapatu Kenya, is based on diversity. It is a brand that implements its creativity to ensure our clients are satisfied with the products” Wambui when asked about the kind of fashion found at Sapatu. She adds that Sapatu Kenya aims to provide clients with unique and stunning pieces that you will not be able to find in a typical clothing store.
Prisca recounts that her favourite collection was based on shoot that she did with her couple of her friends a year back known as the forest shoot. Her main aim with this collection and shoot was to inspire people to lean on nature when they are feeling overwhelmed with day to day activities.
“Nature is the foundation of everything and fashion itself. Nature allows me to reach into my creative wits and create something that’s uplifting and relatable”.
Speaking about the challenges she has faced with starting and running Sapatu Kenya, she says that “starting any business is not easy”. She wishes she had not rushed too quickly to the creative side without first considering the business side of the brand.
Organization and marketing of her brand proved a challenge to her in the beginning, luckily she had help from her friends and also help from Urban Change Lab that allowed her brand to reach a larger market.
While interviewing Wambui, I found her to be remarkable and hardworking; along with her brand and her studies, she is also the Public relations manager of Urban Change Lab.
She describes Urban Change Lab as a platform that allows local craftsmen to showcase their products abroad. The craftsmen and clients are able to interact in transparency, the clients are able to also send in their ideas and be able to be their own designers with the help of these craftsmen.
Urban Change Lab is a new form of comfort shopping that allows people from different parts of the world to share ideas which are realized by craftsmen in Africa. The platform allows both the craftsmen and client to interact fairly and share ideas.
Wambui believes that this platform might open doors to job opportunities in Africa especially to fellow designers who would like to gain internationally recognition.
She concludes the interview by offering advice to upcoming business owners, that they must be focused and set realistic goals for their businesses. She also urges the ambitious women out there trying to be billionaires before they hit 30, that it is not too early to start their journey into the world of business.
Wambui is an inspiration out there to those studying or working but have always been dreaming to start their own brand that it is never too early to start and whatever challenges come your way, you must work through them and keep pushing forward. I hope her interview serves as inspiration to someone out there.
If you would like to watch the video interview, click here.
Daystar University has today held a career talk on ethical business practices in the market place. The event hosted delegates from connecting business and market place to Christ (CBMC) on what was termed as a pre-convention on the African chapter.
The ICT theatre at the main campus was packed with curious students and staff members ready for insights about the business world, and where the latter meets Christianity and ethics. Godwin Roger, a political science graduate and a serial entrepreneur from the United States of America was the keynote speaker.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do […] People that say ‘No’ are focused people,” Rogers said as he emphasized the need to finding your passion, talents, and gifts as you venture into business.
Further, he emphasized that Self-awareness, Investing in knowledge, taking action, developing skills and cultivating good habits are imperative traits that individuals need to develop to stay atop the business ladder.
“Build relationships, people are not a transaction, people are people.” Rogers clarified. Being in business for the last 20 years, this serial investor admitted to having had zero budgets on marketing. His secret, he said, was building and maintaining good relationships with people.
“I have never failed my entire life […] failure happens when you stop moving forward.” Said Rogers in response to a question from one of the audiences about handling failure. Setting your priorities right – God, Family, Job/Business, Ministry and Fun was, according to Rogers, the recipe to a balanced.
“Pick whoever you want to work with… and don’t discount your value.” Said Rogers in his parting shot.
Extremely low voter turnout marked both days of of the voter sensitization training held by the Electoral Commission of Daystar (ECD). the training 14th and 15th of October in Athi River and on the 14th in Valley Road Campuses of Daystar University.
Less than 30 people showed up for the each of the two days activity in the Amphitheatre of Athi River campus, with even lower numbers said to have participated in Valley Road.
“The turnout was really really low. But it happens.” Clifford Kabo, an ECD commissioner for Athi River Campus said at the end of the Athi training exercise. “For us, we did our part and for those that didn’t come, we will try to send them illustrations or tutorials on how to do the voting.”
The training exercise was intended to educate student voters in the DUSA on the new voting structures for the newly introduced DUSA Congress, and how the Congress will establish an electoral college to elect the DUSA council.
However, there seems to have been very little awareness or interest on the part of Daystar students in the process. The Training sessions were conducted by various ECD officials, with ECD Vice-Chair Faith Riungu, ECD Chief Executive Officer, Consul Simiyu, and Athi River Commissioners Kabo Clifford and Martin Mugendi present on the second day of the Athi River exercise.
“I expected more people to come because we are learning about voting.” Nick Keyu, a Communication Studies student in Athi River said. I don’t know much about it (the voter education exercise) myself, but I would attend another one,” he added.
The training exercise was also intended to double up as an introduction to a new electronic voting system which will be used by students to select their representatives on the DUSA Congress.
Sikukuu ya Moi chuoni Daystar ilisherehekewa kwa mbwembwe, vifijo na nderemo kwani katika uga wa “Santiago Barna Betheli” kama unavyojulikana na wacheza kandanda wengi, mchuano mkubwa ulikuwa ukiendelea. Mchuano huo uliandaliwa na wanafunzi wacheza kandanda ikiwemo; Walter Nalwa, Nicholas Atulo Snr, Cedrick na Dadiseh Olwaga ambao walinuia kujiburudisha katika mchezo huo wa miguu.
Mchuano huo ulijumuisha timu sita zikiwemo: Blueboys, Rawa, Buffoons, Bomboclats, DCF handball na Fimbu. Timu hizi zilimenyana vilivyo ili kushinda zawadi murwa ambayo ilikuwa ni mbuzi mzima. Timu za Buffoons na Rawa ndizo zilifungua uga huo ambao ulikuwa na utelezi kufuatia mvua kubwa iliyokuwa imenyesha usiku wote.
Timu ya Buffoons ilijikakamua katika dakika za kwanza huku Caleb Msando akiifungia timu hiyo bao la kwanza naye Nicholas Atulo Snr akifunga bao lao la pili. Timu ya Rawa ilijikakamua katika kipindi cha lala salama ambapo John Lemaiyan aliifungia Rawa bao lao la kwanza. Kitengo hicho cha kwanza cha mchezo kilipotamatika, Buffoons walikuwa wamefunga mabao mawili kwa moja.
Mashabiki wa timu ya Buffoons walijaa uwanjani wakiimba nyimbo za ushindi kwani timu hiyo ingemchinja mbuzi kama zawadi ya ufanisi wao iwapo wangewashinda wenzao kwenye semifinali. Baada ya dakika chache za mapumziko, timu ya DCF handball ilijitosa uwanjani kumenyana na wachezaji wa timu ya Fimbu. Uzoefu mkuu katika mpira wa mikono wa timu ya DCF handball ulionekana kuwapa mkono uwanjani. Hata hivyo baada ya dakika kumi na tano Wallace kutoka timu ya Fimbu alifunga bao la kwanza. Baada ya dakika zingine tano, DCF handball ilisawazisha kupitia mchezaji Ephantus.
Baada ya nusu wakati wa mchezo huo, timu ya Fimbu ilifunga bao lingine ambalo liliwawezesha kuibuka washindi katika kitengo hicho kwa mabao mawili kwa moja. Timu ya Blueboys vilevile ilichuana na timu ya Rawa huku wakifunga bao lao la kwanza ambalo lilikuwa la pekee katika mchezo huo hivi basi kuibuka washindi dhidi ya Rawa.
Hata ingawa jua lilikuwa mtikati, wachezaji wa Bomboclat waliingia ugani kumenyana na DCF handball. Yasemekana kuwa wachezaji wa Bomboclat walikuwa wamekesha wakijitayarisha kwa mchuano huo wa kipekee. Katika dakika za kwanza, Bomboclat ilifunga bao lao la kwanza na baadaye kufunga la pili. DCF handball ilijizolea nunge hivi basi Bomboclat kuibuka washindi.
Isitoshe, kabla ya semi fainali, Bomboclat ilichuana na Fimbu na wakailaza Fimbu bao moja kwa nunge. Timu zilizofuzu kwenye semi fainali ni Fimbu, Buffoons, Bomboclat na Blueboys. Mechi ya kwanza katika semi fainali ilikuwa kati ya Buffoons na Fimbu. Buffoons walilazwa bao moja la kufunga virago baada ya kucheza kwa ukakamavu mwingi sana.
Nyuso za wachezaji wa timu ya Buffoons zilijaa simanzi kwani mbuzi alikuwa amewakwepa. Lisilobudi hubidi, Buffoons walidondolewa kwenye mchuano wakabaki kuwa mashabiki tu. “Ni uchungu sana mama kubeba mimba tumboni kwa miezi tisa halafu anampoteza mwana wake. Nasikitika sana kuwa tumeshindwa,” Duncan Olile, kipa wa timu ya Buffoons alisema.
Timu za Bomboclat na Blueboys zilichuana kwenye mchezo wa pili katika semi fainali huku Bomboclat ikiibuka mshindi baada ya kuilaza Blueboys mabao mawili kwa nunge. Washindi wa semi fainali walikuwa Bomboclat na Fimbu. Wakati ukiwa saa kumi na mbili kamili, mchuano kati ya timu hizi mbili ulianza huku Bomboclat ikifunga mabao mawili mida ya dakika za kumi na tano za kwanza. Japo Fimbu iling’ang’ana kiudi na uvumba kujizolea angalau bao moja, jitihada zao hazikuzaa matunda kwani katika kipindi cha pili cha mchezo huo, Bomboclat ilifunga bao lingine. Bomboclat wakafunga mabao matatu kwa nunge.
Mbwembwe na shamrashamra zilijaa uwanjani wakati ambapo wachezaji wa Bomboclat walipokabidhiwa mbuzi wao. Wachezaji waliachwa ugani wakisherehekea ushindi wao huku mashabiki wakiungana nao kushangilia ushindi wao.
The Daystar Compassion and Care Centre (DCCC) Health Awareness week which took place this October as from 7th to the 10th saw many students and staff show up to get tested for free.
The Health Awareness week is a norm that takes place every once a semester for a week at Athi River and Nairobi campus. They take place around the same time in both campuses.
For the Athi River campus, DCCC outsourced health practitioners from The Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Kitengela branch. Students showed up in numbers to get tested and know their health status.
There were different stalls for different health departments including; optical, dental, general physician, height and weight, BMI, pressure and sugar/ diabetes. HIV/AIDS testing and counseling was also available for students.
A law in Kenya was passed to make testing and counselling for HIV a private matter and a personal decision. Therefore the stall for HIV testing had to be secluded in a private space where nobody could eavesdrop or see the counselor or the patient. It took place in the DCCC offices.
Students turned up in large numbers to test for HIV after the seclusion on the testing center. This is due to the fact that the testing center was secluded and therefore the privacy encouraged students to get tested.
This was a strategic move by DCCC since over the years the HIV testing has always been done in the open and most of the time students did not show up due to fear and embarrassment.
