University of Nairobi main campus:

WATER SHORTAGE IN ONE OF THE CAMPUSES OF KENYA’S PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSTY
By Maritim Kipngetich

PHOTO: Students queuing for water outside hall 10. Water shortage hit the University six days ago.

Students of the University of Nairobi’s Main Campus have threatened to go on strike because of shortage of water in their hostels for the past six days.

The students have been forced to put up with stinking toilets in their hostels and they fear that they may contact waterborne diseases.

The students have been compelled to skip their clean up duties. They no longer bath, yet they are required to attend classes within stipulated time.

 “The last time I bathed was Sunday morning. Since then I have not got water to even wash my face,” Justus Siele, a second year second semester economic student, said.

The students are supposed to prepare food in their hostels, but this has been affected. They buy readymade food from their tuck shops.

“The last time I cooked food in my room was last Friday. I would cook on Sunday, but water came for about 30 minutes and disappeared till now,” Justus said.

He further said the state of their toilets is worrying. He urged the University management to urgently fix the problem.

“We are tired of queuing, waiting a drop of dirty water from one of the taps we have in hall 10 (one of the hostels at the University). The situation is now intolerable and the University seems reluctant to address the issue,” John Mwangi, a fourth year pharmacy student, said.

The Student Welfare Authority Customer Relations Officer, Mr. Zadock Opole, said there was a pipe breakdown near Serena Hotel and the effort to rectify it failed.

“There is a pipe failure near Serena Hotel and the problem has been corrected twice. Initially, a new pipe was fixed but it was stolen later during the night,” he said.

Mr. Zadock further said the Maintenance Department at the University has procured a new pipe and they will fix it as soon as possible.

The water shortage has also been experienced in the University’s washrooms found in the library and the washrooms found within Hyslop Building. Some have been closed down.

RAILA AND POLITICS:

RAILA IS STILL RELEVANT TO KENYA’S POLITICS

By Maritim Kipngetich 

Raila Odinga’s political mileage is important in the Kenya’s politics. He has served in different capacities ranging from being the leader of different parties over time, being in charge of different ministries and being the second Kenya’s Premier after losing 2007 election where he was running for presidency.

Raila’s political relevance started way back in 1982 when he was cited as one of the key architects of a coup deter which aimed at ousting the then President Daniel Moi from power. He was jailed for six years and later released. After his release, Mr. Raila (pictured) never stopped politics as he agitated for multi-partism in Kenya. That also became a threat to his life and he opted to seek asylum in Norway where he stayed for some time before he came back and contested to be a Member of Parliament of Langata constituency where he represented until 2013.
The question is, is Raila still relevant to today’s politics in Kenya even after losing three presidential elections?
Raila is still an intoxicating public figure today. He is a newsmaker. Whether he is inside the country or not, he is the news of the day.

Whenever opposition doyen Raila Odinga sneezes, the side opposite catches a cold. Despite being declared the loser in last year’s election, Mr Odinga remains the centre of gravity of Kenya’s politics. Mr Odinga bestrides Kenya’s political landscape like a colossus. Newspapers and TV stations carry his mug at the drop of a hat. He’s not only the news. He sells them. He’s loved and loathed in equal measure. But not even his most ardent haters can afford to ignore him.

The challenges in his coalition have never shaken him. Instigation started early this year when the ODM party (the party with many supporters in the coalition_ Cord) was to have internal elections. The election was later disrupted by security officers (popularly known as men in black) hired by the party to supplement other state security officers. The latest wrangle in the party is the one which involved the party director who was stormed out of the party by angry Members of the County Assembly of Nairobi County; he was accused of being a jubilee mole.

Kenyans can never imagine politics without the name Raila being mentioned. Though critics want him resign to pave way for other young leaders to carry the flag of the coalition in future elections, they still find it elusive to find someone who can replace him.

The chances of him being a presidential candidate in the next general election is high since there is no one so far ready to take over from him.

22-STOREY TOWER AT UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI|

PHOTO BEHIND:: 22-storey tower under construction at the University of Nairobi's main campus. Architects fear that the tower may make the two buildings beside it to sink. PHOTO/ MARITIM KIPNGETICH/ SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

22-STOREY TOWER UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI ENDANGERS OTHER BUILDINGS

By Maritim Kipngetich

The current 22-storey tower under construction at the University of Nairobi’s main campus may endanger other buildings adjacent to it, the architects have said.

The tower, which is situated in between Mahatma Gandhi Wing and Education Building, may weaken the soil in the base of the two old buildings (Mahatma and Education buildings).

Furthermore, the building, which is currently in its 16^th floor in construction, is said to be at the top of a river. It is said that there used to be a river which ran all the way from Chiromo Campus, about one kilometre west of the university,  and it used to pass beneath the proposed tower.

Because of expansion of the city and the much needed space for construction of buildings, the river got extinct and it is believed to be in existence underground.

There is a stream which flows down from Chiromo campus, but it disappears at the university’s graduation square. It is said that the stream is part of the large river which used to flow through the university especially via an area where the current tower is situated.

Initially, when Mahatma Gandhi Wing was under construction, the architects were careful not to increase floors in the building. It is said that they knew the soil underground was weak and the building would collapse.

The tower, which is expected to house Vice Chancellor’s suite, administrators’ offices and several lecture halls with the capacity of 60 to 500 students, will be completed early next year.

DIGITAL MIGRATION:

Untold Details Behind Digital Migration in Kenya

By Maritim Kipngetich

Digital migration in the media houses  has been the subject before the court since last year December. The three giant media houses which include the Royal Media Services, the Nation Media Group and the Standard Media Group are opposed to the issue since the tender was given to foreign companies. However, the discussion never arose from tendering process only, it also emanated from restrictions which media houses will get from signal distributors.

In analogue terrestrial television, the broadcaster develops content, such as news; rolls out transmission infrastructure; maintains the infrastructure; owns the transmission infrastructure; and transmits the content that the broadcaster has developed. However, in digital terrestrial television, the equation changes, as the broadcaster is now restricted to developing content, while a different market player, the signal distributor, is licensed to carry and distribute the content so developed. Under the digital terrestrial television, the signal distributor owns the transmission infrastructure, and only transmits the content as developed by the broadcaster, to the end-users. In this scheme, frequencies are given to the signal distributor and not the broadcaster, and the broadcaster, or content developer, pays a fee for the transmission effected by the signal distributor       

Unlike with analogue terrestrial television, the broadcasters, in digital terrestrial television would not need a nationwide reach on the basis of allocated frequencies and transmitters, as the signal distributor would be licensed in that regard. The nationwide reach of a broadcaster would no longer be dependent on the transmission capacity, or number of allocated frequencies. The effect of these changes would be to level the field for all players in the industry, and to enhance efficiency in the utilization of frequencies benefits. A signal distributor operated as a mere conveyor-belt.  It acts this way in that it will majorly play the role of submitting developed content from the broadcaster to the final consumers- audience.

The decision of what to broadcast at some point will depend on the signal distributor in that it has a mandate to cut off what would be broadcast in case the content is unsuitable or during state of emergency issued in accordance with the law. However, the broadcaster will still enjoy advertising revenue fee.

FUND DRIVES AND POLITICIANS:

POLITICIANS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE DURING FUNDS DRIVE, THE PEOPLE SAY
By Maritim Kipngetich

PHOTO: Deputy president William Ruto during funds drive in Kwale County. Some politicians have accused some Jubilee government's titans as the key architects of harambees despite the law denying them to do so.

Harambee, pulling together of resources for social development, has been used since independence to collect funds to assist in building schools, hospitals, churches, paying school fees and paying hospital bills. Politicians have been traversing the country donating millions of shillings in harambees despite the current constitution denying them to do so. Members of Parliament have been accused of using harambee for political mobilization.
The provision in the constitution which does not permit politicians to participate in harambees has rekindled a heated debate among the members of the public.The people said that there are orphans and children from poor families who are bright in school and they do not have money for school fees.
“People are not equal. Some are orphans who need support. Despite that many people especially in Kenya are not employed and they don’t have funds to take their children to school. The politicians are the only people who can contribute large sum of money in harambees. So if they are denied to participate then many children from less-endowed families will not be able to attend school,” Philip Moseti, Information, Communication and Technology expert, said.
He also said harambees has assisted in clearing high medical bills.
“Hospital bills of some people can run as high as three million shillings. Do you think ordinary citizens will be able to raise millions of shillings during fund raising? One politician can contribute as high 500 thousand shillings during harambee which ordinary citizen can never contribute,” he said.
He, however, added that there are some Members of Parliament (MPs) who solicit funds from government institutions and philanthropies and they cannot use them during harambees.
“Politicians who seek funds from other state officers and government institutions are supposed to be questioned. Some never use those monies in harambees,” he added.
Philip said Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) should probe politicians who contribute millions of shillings in harambees during weekends and not those who contribute genuinely from their pockets.
“The politicians that are over-generous and are donating millions of shillings every weekend; those are the ones EACC should investigate not MPs who generously contribute to their constituents,” he said.
Kimingichi Wapende is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi and he said MPs want to be allowed to contribute during fund drives so that they ask for more salaries.
“Contribution of money during harambees by politicians was the subject of debate before the current constitution was passed. MPs are notoriously known for demanding for salary increment in the name of they attend several fund raising in their constituencies,” Kimingichi said.
Asked if he has been a beneficiary of harambee, he said he could not remember. He, however, said he has been contributing money during fund raising held in his home village in Webuye.
James Mashomba is a cashier at the University of Nairobi students’ cafeteria and he said some politicians use money from their pockets.
“There are politicians who are not corrupt and they contribute money to their constituents from their own salaries. It should not be generalized that all politicians are using money from questionable sources,” James said.
He added that politicians are expected to give back to their constituencies after they have been elected. He said voters expect politicians to participate in development projects.
“It depends on individual. If some are using the initiative for personal aggrandisement it is so sad. Politicians also need political mileage to maintain their support and position,” James said.
James said the politicians are supercilious people who want to be known when they contribute money, so that they maintain their influence over the masses.
“When they contribute the world must know so that it can, in turn help them during election to grab many votes,” he said.
Charles Wesonga, a third year Pharmacy student at the Technical University of Kenya (TU-K), said many people have benefited from harambee projects which were initiated by politicians and the constitution should be amended to allow politicians contribute in harambees.
“Many people were educated in harambee schools and treated in hospitals put up through fund raising which were mainly the ideas of politicians. We should not continue to suffer behind a law that is not applicable in our circumstances,” Charles said.
He added that pulling together of resources by people and their leaders, has assisted many, including him, who would not be able to access education.
“For my case I survived with funds from harambee when I was in secondary school. We held harambee four consecutive years because my parents would not be able to pay my school fees. I was in national high school which annual fees were as high as 120,000 shilling per year,” he said.
Some politicians maintain that harambees are there to stay and they have been participating in harambees despite the existence of the law which banns them from doing the same. They are agitating for constitutional amendment not to be included as state officers so that they participate in fund drives. They said political titans in the Jubilee government have been going round the country to attend funds drive and the constitution does not permit them to do so.

STUDENTS' EATING HABIT:

EATING HABITS AMONG STUDENTS IN CAMPUS

By Maritim Kipngetich
Having something to eat may not be an easy task among some university students. The students have had to survive with meager Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) loans during their time in school. Having three meals a day among some students is a luxury.
The students said the only time they can have three meals a day is when they receive funds from Helb. Other days of the semester, they have to survive with the money from their parents.
Davis Karori is a second year economic student at the University of Nairobi and he said his parents have to send him maize flour from home every Friday.
“I normally receive maize flour from home every Friday and that has enabled me to survive throughout the week. My parents saw it better to send me flour because my home is in Kiambu which is about 80 kilometres from the university,” he said.
He added that his uncle is a matatu driver who operates the route from Kiambu town to Nairobi and he has been assisting him in delivering maize flour free of charge.
“My uncle is a driver. He has helped me a lot in bringing flour from home. My parents cannot afford transport and I am very grateful to my uncle Sammy,” he said.
Despite the fact that Davis receives flour from home everyday, he has other challenges like buying vegetables which he says it cost him 100 shillings per day.
Asked whether he has received Helb loan, he said he received only ones when he was in first year and since then he has been applying but he cannot succeed.
“It is an elusive moment when you are visited by a friend and you don’t have anything to give him or her to eat,” Davis said.
Davis said he is better than his roommates since he can have a meal three times a day. He said two of his colleagues have had to survive by skipping lunch time meals.
“I am far much better than other students I live with in my room. They mostly cook at 4:00p.m so that they can avoid cooking for supper,” he said.
Mike Mutai, popularly known as double m, said they had to pressurize a roommate, who used to mix sugar and chocolate in cold water and take every morning, to buy a kettle heater.
“We had to force him to buy a kettle heater so that he can use to boil water to make breakfast,” Mike said.
Mike said, his roommate never cooks meals in the room instead he buys food from the university cafeteria
“The only place he can have food is in the school restaurant,” he said.
Although some students survive with little food they get, there are some who come from well-endowed families and they can afford to buy any type of meal they want. Those students have money to spend and therefore they can even change the diet whenever they wish to or when they have visitors.
“When I am with my girlfriend I can spend as much as 500 shillings per meal. I should provide her a decent meal because she deserves it,” Gedison Mwangi, a first year Bachelor of Arts student, said.
Mwagi said he spends not less than 150 shillings per meal.
“There is no day I have used less than 150 shillings per meal not unless it is breakfast which sometimes cost me 120 shillings,” he said.
He added that he has never used the university cafeteria because he thinks that it provides simple food. Instead he prefers having meals in the hotels outside the university. He said he also likes when he cook in his hostel room.
“I rather cook in my room than have meals in the cafeteria. In many instances I buy foodstuffs from Uchumi Supermarket and keep them in my room so that I cook whenever I feel like cooking,” he said.