A university with a difference

On 8th of November 2012 was all joy and jubilation for the first year students who had camped at the student center to hear from then the chancellor professor Bethwell Allan Ogot of their university life in campus. Many had worked hard in high school with the aim of getting into the university; their dreams came true when they attained a minimum aggregate to enable them obtain slots in campus.

Professor Allan Ogot began by congratulating students for their efforts of making it to Moi University, he said Moi University is the only institution with a “difference” mmh as though   I had not heard him properly; the professor went on praising   this institution as the only place one can ever dream to be because of how they mentor students. Every student who was orientation left happily because of the promising words from the VC. But whoops! Day by day the environment started changing; students pursuing arts courses were often seen crowding at the lecture halls to the extent of others standing outside and listening to the lecturer who is not even audible. What a mess! One would ask, did the university know the capacities that these lecture halls are supposed to accommodate? Anyway notwithstanding that, students started witnessing power blackouts over a couple of days something that is now a common phenomenon.

As though this was not  enough the 4^th year students  of the school of arts have often been seen demonstrating because they have never gotten their transcripts  since they began their course in first year, furthermore  there is always  a norm of every group of students to  go  for the longest holiday possible before they are accommodated back in session.

The administration is well satisfied with the running of the university while the rights of the students are infringed, is this what they meant by branding it the university of a difference?        

TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION AFFECTS STUDENTS

More than half of students across the surveyed five Kenyan Universities text and check their social networks in class mainly because of what they term as 'boring lessons'. Texting is the most popular distraction technique while eight percent admit they regularly play games when they should be listening, Peter Lochonyang’, a lecturer of Economics and Statistics in Moi Universty, has surveyed 777 students in five universities across the  country on how they have used digital devices in the classroom. The students are  from Moi University (School of Arts and Social Sciences), University of Eldoret, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology , Kenyatta University and Egerton University. Around two thirds of the student  use phones, tablets and laptops for ‘non-classroom purposes’ up to ten times during a typical university's academic day, while 15 per cent admit this figure is closer to 30 times. Among the top reasons why students do check their devices so regularly is to stay connected and fight boredom that’s at 55 per cent. Less than half say the devices are used for classwork. Texting is the most popular distraction technique at 86 per cent, while 68 per cent say they use their phones to check personal emails. Two thirds use social networks, 38 per cent surf the web and eight percent admit to playing games when they should be studying. Despite eight out of ten students admitting their devices are distracting, fewer than five per cent consider it to be a ‘very big’ distraction. "I don’t think students take it as a problem," said Mr. Peter Lochonyang’. "They think it’s part of their lives. It is an automatic behaviour on the part of so many people – they do it without even thinking about it." The lecturer says students normally have their laptops open even when they’re not taking notes. Some might have two screens open – Facebook and their notes. This study shows that more than two thirds of students in Moi University alone own smartphones, while a third send and receive an average of 1000 text messages per month. Are you among the students?

Students demand for their security after their colleague’s killing.

Students of Moi University Main Campus yesterday  clashed with anti-riot police after a colleague was found dead in a bush.

In a standoff that lasted about four hours, thousands of students prevented officers from taking the body of Ms Charity muthoni  Maina of the school of arts and social sciences to the mortuary by demanding the ambulance of  the university to  carry the body  of the deceased and the buses to escort students. these  led to the deflating the tyres of a police vehicle.

The officers eventually dispersed the students using tear gas and shooting in the air. The students accused officers based at Kesses Police Station of doing nothing about insecurity. The body of the third year student was finally taken to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.

In a written statement, the deputy Vice-Chancellor professor Nathan o. ogechi outlined some  measures to curb  security by directing security personnel and police patrols at night, he also added  that the school  will liaise with the landlords at the stage where students stay to clear bushes around their hostels and put up street lights, the DVC  also in his letter assured the comrades to house all female students inside the university  and promised to liaise with NACADA to have all the bar restaurants around the university to be closed at specific times. Professor ogechi said the university is yet to establish long term measures to address accommodation challenges.

The vice chancellor professor Richard mibey today in the morning passed his heartfelt condolences the students strongly appealed to the students to calm down and maintain peace even as the investigations are still underway to determine the cause of death of charity muthoni and make  the final report as soon as possible will be to students.  

SPORTS FOR STRESS RELINQUISH

Students playing volleyball at pavilion field near the school of engineering

Moi University has an arena of sports activities ranging from athletics, table tennis, football, volleyball, hand ball and rugby among others. These sports are meant to nurture their talents as well keep their body fit.  Clinton  Mutali the MUSO director for sports  says student s are supposed  to participate in sports activities to nurture their talents which eventually can be a good career one will earn a living with if passion and seriousness are considered. Clinton says most of the students participate in games within the school to calm the stress escalating from impromptu involvements. Either 35 percent out of 40 percent have broken relationships that still hurts them, 3 percent with problems of class work and 2 percent have home conflicts and poor background issues. Ann kahiga a psychiatrist at Moi university hospital advises students with psychiatric problems to participate fully in sports to revoke their stress and keep their body healthy. Everyone should do some practice regardless of the state he/she is in to either release off the workload to settle the brains  or even be flexible enough to respond to issues with ultimatum.

“Invest in the science complex laboratory “

A building at upper hill next to the Moi university administration block

It is a building that was stated in the year 1998 by world bank following a requisition by Moi university management of the need of a well-established science complex lab to enable students pursuing science courses have  enough practical’s  before getting into the field,  the construction was to be completed within two  years according  to Philip Chirchir the university  designing  officer  but then money was fraudulently  misused by senior directors  of the university.  Professor Barasa in his letter yesterday advised the management to put measures in place to wind up the building to ease congestion of students in a small laboratory at the school of biological science which serves students from the faculty of social science, biological science, engineering and education science. If this is done then Moi University will have their students doing more of practical’s unlike theories which they are used to.   

Fire tragedy at c-houses yesterday night.

A burning fence yesterday night at c- houses following an electricity blackout.

Angry students yesterday lit up the fire to burn the fence bordering their houses in response to power blackout that has lasted two days. The Cyprus fence burned down quickly something that led to an emergency call of fire extinguishers to help cub the menace. Celeb kenga, the finance director, was among the people who spilled water to the increasingly spreading fire. Students claimed to take a stun action against the management of the school if efforts will not be made in addressing the issue which appear to be a tragedy not only at c- houses but also at Soweto hostels where electric black-out is seen as a norm. many students cook from their rooms and therefore it becomes difficult for them to afford buying meals from the mess when there is a blackout because of the little money they are given by their parents to sustain them throughout the semester. It saddens to have the students in a “university of a difference”   going without meals for a couple of days. The relevant persons concerned should come and address this issue once and roll.  

Crusade at the stage

A session of praise and worship at the crusade

“Repent your sin for Jesus is coming soon” was the theme of the event. Many students turned up for what they believed getting born again. the preacher senior arch bishop Paul onjoro graced the function which lasted for 3 days, he laid hands on the sick, the broken hearted and those facing financial constraints.-this was evident on Sunday when several brethren stood on the podium to testify their miracles, Sarah Magusu a 3^rd year student taking a bachelors of arts degree in special needs received her sight and expressed her joy of seeing the new earth. Sarah said it is good to trust in the lord and constantly pray to him. it is a crusade that has left a holistic environment in Moi university with few individuals getting to fracas to drink alcohol  and ladies dressing modesty for they have decided to adhere to the bible teachings. Will the students uphold   these Christian virtues even after the full blast crusade is over?        

Moi university students celebrate Valentine’s Day.

        A picture showing flowers for sale in a boot of a car at the student center.

People celebrate valentine’s every 14^th day of the month of February. Couples and tender age teenagers uphold romance throughout the day. It is a day either a man or a lady buys a gift to his/her loved one. In Moi university students dressed red t-shirts while many were spotted purchasing rose flowers for their loved ones, as though this was not enough many ended up taking their girlfriends to refreshment places to take beer. Jacktone Wamalwa a bachelors of education arts student in his second year recalls how he over enjoyed and ended up spending all the cash he had in the  bank account in keeping  his sweetheart happy. At around 9.00pm many ladies geared towards hostel H for a common “reason” which could be seen on their forehead, a number of them slept at this hostel to seal the joy of the day.   

hasten the investigation process...

the criminal investigation department revealed to the public that the car used to mask kabete mp belonged to  our neighboring country Uganda,that alone is a milestone towards revealing the truth of who the owner is? the government should liaise with Uganda government and expose the cocoons who are after the lives of senior Kenyan politicians. their has been a series  of deaths to to members of high profile in Kenya  and unless an effort is made our country may  continue loosing people who are greatly serving the society in various capacities.

grant them security......

the kenya national union of teachers insists on transfer of teachers from the most insecure areas to regions that are well secure.its upon  the government to ensure that every kenyan is secure regardless of race , gender or religion.the government should beef up security for the safety of kenyan teachers who are doing these country a greater deal.