Those we did not finish university with

Those we did not finish university with

T

o make love they did with the business of storytelling. Like deflowering a virgin, both became attached in the hip like Siamese twins.

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

Chuka University Media Class 2015 with Dean Dr. Ngugi King'ara, and lecturers Samson Raiji and Henry Nabea

Today marks the end of the academic journey we started four years ago.  It has been long and eventful. I remember the first class when Ms. Kimani asked us to introduce ourselves by names, where we came from and if we really wanted to study Media Studies and if no what would we have pursued.

Some lad said Maths. He was told that in the entire Media Studies syllabus there is not a single calculus unit. Enoch Odhiambo would have studied political science or law. It’s good that most comrades said that they had mass media as their first love.  And to make love they did to the business of storytelling. Like breaking a virgin, both became attached in the hip like Siamese twins.

56 JOURNALISTS

Then in the course of our course some comrades bowed out. Some gracefully while others without a goodbye. Our class still remains the largest media class ever since the inception in Chuka University. At 56 and having lost quite a number on the way, the class could as well be the first draft of Jesus Christ’s disciples numbering 72.

We still keep in touch with comrades who left. Luckily, none of them had a permanent bid but some situational matter that informed either their transfer or being left behind. I am sorry I should have known my friends by names. I just remember the physical appearance of some yet I can’t quite get their full names and addresses.  Painfully, some since they left I have never heard from them.

Jael Odindo and her lady friend were a curious pair. They walked inseparably. From class to hostels to market to pavilion and Chuka. Many thought they came from the same family but truth is one came from Kisumu County and another from Homa Bay. Jael used to wear a cap. She looked like someone I knew. She was some of those people you see from far and you confuse for a lookalike then you fondly call their name only to be embarrassed that they are genes apart.  At such moments I blamed men for their DNA generosity. Yet I knew that this close semblance is the hallmark of God’s uniqueness that cannot be plagiarized.

Somewhere between the sophomore and third year we had to accept that Rehema and Ms. Njeru will not proceed with us. Rehema did not quite complete her exams so she could not get the Dean’s stamp to continue to the next class without taking those exams. That plus the lethargy and bureaucracy of public university conspired to have her left behind.

As for Ms. Njeru she was a star that topped the class. The Akorino girl wore a pressed dress and a kitambaa (head scarf) that closely wrapped her hair and partially hid her ears.  We believed she was conservative but equally thought she had a speed dial direct to Heaven. She never talked much but her transcript did the rest of explanation.

“If the death of one person is a tragedy then the death of a million is a statistic.- Saying

I was hanging around with a friend at Chuka University’s main gate when Njeru came and greeted us warmly before excusing herself to be directed to the office of the dean. She said she wanted to write a letter to the dean seeking a deferment.  It was a sad moment as we showed her the way and wished her the best. She missed some semesters so she couldn’t keep up with us. But she was exceptionally bright. When third years heard that she was joining them they were shaken. A frontrunner of first class, the third years were anxious that she will up the bar unnecessarily.  As for Media Class Of 2015, those who vied for first class heaved a heavy sign of relief and counted one more challenge out of the way. It was good riddance to them.

So Rehema and Njeru will be finishing their college studies a year after we left. But better late than never.

SHIFT OF BALANCE OF POWER

Remember that Steve Mbego namesake? Steve McOguttu transferred to Maseno University. We chat on Facebook. The self styled diplomat had an English tweng’ that spoke of some urbane upbringing. Add that to the Luo lifestyle and you get a sophisticated lad who had a polished tongue and muscular body. I remember when news broke that Dr. Ngugi is single and he and Mbego offered him to adopt them. He just adjusted his glass frames and waved.

That brings me to Mercy Kubai. She was the most experienced and senior most student in our class. A close buddy of Class Reps Susan Wangari and Gloria Makau, and herself a Sociology Class Rep, there were at least three centres of power in a class that was big enough to fill a hall and corridors. Common courses were that inconvenient. But look how far we have come.

Mercy worked with Muuga FM and Radio Citizen. I listened to her reports from Habari za Wanahabari Kutoka Mikoani (Provincial Correspondent News) presented by Mohamed Juma Njuguna after 7 pm news bulletin. She went to complete her studies at KeMU.

Although Psychology exam was one of the cheapest to be administered to media class, it ended up swallowing one of us; Doreen Chepkong’a. It was claimed that she cheated and fate had its way. She had to leave us after a few semesters of trial. I wonder what took Senate so long to pass the verdict. Doreen lost time and credibility, but my silent prayer is that she managed to pick herself up after the tragedy.

AWESOME ARMY

Elsewhere, some comrades have died and we painfully buried them. One I remember passed away when comrades were fundraising for his medical bill at Kenyatta National Hospital. Another got shot at a nearby university ostensibly going to visit his girlfriend although another version said he had stolen a laptop and defied the grace period of a student who consulted a witch doctor to declare 14 days of either returning the PC or dying mysteriously. The latter became the fate. Others, just like some Kenyans died in road accidents. They say if the death of one person is a tragedy then the death of a million is a statistic.

The 56 brave soldiers who finished the race and kept the faith like Paul I salute all of you. My hat is off. Respect. You’re awesome. To those who still have a few battles to go keep your eyes on the prize and defy distractions. You will have the last laugh. Comrade Power!

Musyoka is a writer, blogger and a journalist