Greg Adero

HOW TO PIRATE WITHOUT DISGUSTING YOUR HOST (context of Moi University Main Campus) Greg Adero Did you miss a room? Are you too poor to afford rentals at Talai stage or commute from Cheptiret or Kesses? Then you have to pirate. Comrades who had done this successfully before knows how to do it but to the new pirates, this is how to begin pirating, what your host expects from you, the dos and don’ts of pirating. If you follow strictly, then the semester will be very smooth and will end without you having squabbles. BE CLEAN . This is the first thing you need to consider when you’re living in someone’s room. Even if your host keeps dirty utensils for a week, try to be different. Try and mop the room at least twice a week and keep the utensils clean. Do not hang your dirty clothes anywhere in the room and in case you find the room mopped, try and remove your shoes before you get in. BE GENEROUS . However poor you are, be ready to provide at least some cash for quick lunch, coins for p

NCHI YA MIGOMO Katiba ya Kenya inamruhusu mtu yeyote kuandamana au kufanya mgomo ili kuelezea malalamishi yake au kutoa shinikizo. Kinachoshangaza ni kwamba nchini Kenya migomo imekuwa ni jambo la kawaida na katika kila sekta ya wafanikazi, tumeshuudia mgomo.Tukianza na walimu, wauguzi na madaktari, wafanyikazi wa vyuo pamoja na wanafunzi na kila mfanyikazi amewahi kushiriki mgomo kupitia maandamano au hata mgomo baridi. Swali ni je, mgomo unapotokea hasa wa wafanyikazi wa umma, ni nani huathirika zaidi? Walimu wamekuwa na migomo tangu nizaliwe wakipigania ongezeko la mishahara.Walimu hao wanaposusia kazi wakilalamikia malipo duni, wanawaacha wanafunzi ambao ni watoto wa wakenya wenzao masikini bila kufunzwa.Wakubwa serikalini wanaoshinikizwa hawana cha kupoteza kwa sababu watoto wao husomea shule za kibinafsi na hata nje ya nchi. Kwa hivyo hapa, masikini anamnyima masikini mwenzake elimu. Kwa muda mrefu, watu wengi walimheshimu daktari na muuguzi na watu wengi walitama

COLLABORATION; COWARDLY BUT WISE GREG Adero Its said that cowards live longer and history proves this. When the British invaded Kenya in the 1880s, African communities reacted by either resisting or collaborating with the British. Of course none of the Africans was happy with the British inversion due to land alienation, racial discrimination, forced labour, forced taxation amongst other evils brought by the white man, some communities still chose to ally and welcome them. It could have been seen as a cowardly, egocentric and traitorous move by the African chiefs but to me it was a wise and a strategic move, for if you can’t beat them, simply join them. I bigin with Nabongo Mumia of the Wanga. Apart from now having a whole county (Mumias) named after him, Nabongo Mumia benefited himself and the entire Wanga clan a great deal. He was made a Paramount chief for the whole of western Kenya and got protection by the British from attacks of neighbours like Nandi, Bukusu and L

THE IGNORED REALITY ABOUT ETHNICITY AND EMPLOYMENT GREG ADERO This article could promote tribalism among those who turn a blind eye to the veracity of our societal set up today. It would fascinate criticism from idealists and zealots. However, it would bring logic to the broad minded readers. Negative ethnicity in public institutions has been the subject matter in the recent past after being evoked by the succession dispute of the Moi University Vice Chancellor. It’s a war between the locals and the non-locals but speaking generally, the locals could be having a point. The whole story can be explained by the play Shackles of Doom by Butere Girls High School back in 2013. The play is set up in the country of Kana whose neighbors arrive in Kana with offers. First, they offer a beautiful lady Wamaitha as a wife to Lopush. In exchange, true Kanas give their land as bride price. In order to foster their relationship further, the neighbors promise to build them an oil refin

BANNING AND BURNING IN KENYAN SCHOOLS I The Kenyan educational sector has undergone several changes in the recent past. With most experts appealing for change of the educational system, some have also argued that the major problem is not the 8-4-4 system but the curriculum. Again, the changes that have been brought up to help the situation have proven to be more poisonous to the sector. Barely a year since the appointment of Dr Fred Matiang’i as the Cabinet Secretary of education, he has been applauded for various reforms and at the same time slated for some. It all begun by the banning of remedial classes and holiday tuition as they were termed as ways by which teachers exploit parents and the learners get overworked.  It’s this year also that we saw ranking of candidates and schools in the national examinations being abolished. This was a strategy to reduce unhealthy competition leading to exam cheating in the national exams and to avoid traumatizing the candidates who fail. In ad

Universities are the main sources of skilled enthusiastic and competent manpower for almost all the organisations in both private and public sector.Furthermore, each one of us expects to be employed at the end of our schooling.  However, the current trends on Kenyan universities have reached a worying heights. Most possible employers are losing confidence in these institutions. Any time students engage in acts of hooliganism, employers remain startled if they are expected to employ the same goons they see rioting for minor complains. Of course nobody would be wiling to employ a thug. When you use social media or any other public forum to expose your school for rampant exam cheating,  you are not safe either. The image and reputation of the whole students fraternity is ruined. Nobody would be willing to employ an illiterate graduate or a half backed who survived on mwakenya all his years. At times when university students are focused on the media unable even to express themsel

MOHAMMAD ALI: BORN CHAMPION      The American boxing Legend Mohamed Ali passed away on 3rd June at the age of 74. Ali born Casseus Marcellus led a life worth celebrating and his name will remain alive over generations. Ali was not only a sports champion but also an icon in the fight against racism, human rights and protects his religion. Apart from being the only world’s three time lineal world Heavyweight Champion, Ali has left a legacy in several fields.     Casseus Marcellus was named after his father but he converted into Islam and changed his name to Mohamed Ali in 1975. His first expression of strong Muslim Faith was when he refused to be conscribed into the American army to fight in the Vietnam. He was quoted saying that war was against the Holy Quran unless declared by Allah, and he cannot take part in a war against Christians or non-believers.   Out of the ring, Ali was in the forefront in fighting racism and uniting blacks. Again in terms of joining the army to fight

REIMBURSEMENT IN CAMPUS   LEADERSHIP If one wants to utilize fully the campus opportunities and resources legally and illegally, getting into campus leadership is always the easiest preference. Campus leadership has seemed to become very vital especially to the politicians, their tribesmen and to the University Administration. At least every campus administration has an influence in student elections so that the status quo in the Administration can be maintained. Besides that, the student leaders who risk all their resources and their lives during the campaigns always have a reason to smile when they get to power. First, they make sure that all the wealth they used for campaigns are reacquired. This is done by making proposals for projects which never take place eventually. A security director proposes for a security awareness project of 300 k but uses only 50 k and pockets the rest. In some University since time immemorial, the secretary generals have always used the Students Org

MENTAL SLAVERY Most people are aware of only physical slavery which majorly ended many years ago. However, aspect of mental slavery have continued to subsist amongst men and women, young and old, literate and illiterate, rich and poor people. One gets into mental captivity when he or she gets misinformed about self and real world. He or she becomes unable to differentiate how things are and how things should be. Most of the times the victim lives in fantasy world. This form of self slavery is more sinister than even physical slavery because the captives never realize their situation. Mental slavery is another form of emotional thinking rather than rational thinking. Here, one is guided by his emotions but not his mind. A lady who decides to be a single mother because good men no longer exist falls under this category. She is enslaved by misconceptions that all men are unfaithful, arrogant and violent. Maybe due to past experiences and the environment, she commits the fallacy that a

POLITICIANS ARE MISUSING COMRADES POWER As MUSO election are looming, Politicians around are already up on their feet to seek recognition. They are always in the forefront in doing anything for their selfish interests. These politicians are taking advantage of comrades’ situations and campus events to seek a political platform. After inciting us to fight last year, these people are out once again to cause tribulations so that their influence can be felt amongst the comrades. Unfortunately, they are using comrades’ power to pursue their personal interests. When the schools of Education and Arts and Social Sciences were out demanding for their marks last month, it was purely a peaceful demonstration for academic reasons. However, we saw them take over the peaceful demonstration and changed the subject from academic to political. We watched as they denied the MUESA and SASS officials to address the crowd at the student centre. We saw them disorganize the DVC and Admin envoy several

A hero is not necessarily a winner. He or she might not be the beneficiary of his efforts. He could be a looser and a reject but the courage he takes to approach issues that other men are afraid of makes him be called so. Most Kenyans have lived to appreciate and enjoy Kenya’s political developments when it comes to democracy, freedom of speech and human rights protection. But the fact remains that men behind these developments still remain unnoticed. These are great people who ensured Kenya remained Kenya especially during the first three decades of independence. Rtd. C.G.S Gen. Mahmoud Mohammed. He was the Chief of General Staff during the attempted coup of 1st August 1982 against Moi government. By then, Moi was in Kabarak when Senior Private Ochuka became the president for six hours. Mahmoud together with the General Service Unit (GSU) managed to neutralize the rebellious forces. He managed to correct the earlier message in KBC that the government had been overthrown. Again he