RIP Garissa Comrades; We Shall Never Forget You as Kenya Is Unbowed

RIP Garissa Comrades; We Shall Never Forget You as Kenya Is Unbowed

THE NUMBERS

148: The estimated death toll in Garissa Massacre

4: The number of Al-Shabaab militia that raided Garissa University College

1998: The year Al-Qaeda linked bombers killed over 200 people in Nairobi

T

he grisly massacre 148 of Garissa University College students has hit the Kenyan society hard yet Kenya remains resilient and determined to foster unity among religious and ethnic divides. The wanton shooting of innocent students by four Al Shabaab militants who were reportedly killed is the highest number of death toll by way of terror since the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi which left over 200 civilians and foreigners dead in its wake.

I condole with the victims of the untold suffering that I do not want to say I understand because I never will. I cannot be in their shoes. They are the best suited to explain the extent and intense of the suffering they went through.

Yet Kenyans remained steadfast in praying for and supporting the victims of the disaster in their small ways. Our US friends also came in handy to help out. US President Barrack Obama assured Uhuru Kenyatta that his visit to Kenya will not be cancelled due to the terrorist attacks. The Pope telegrammed Kenyan Catholic Archbishop His Eminence Cardinal John Njue to express his sympathies with Kenyans in this time of grief.

President Kenyatta declared three days of mourning in which our national flag will flay half-mast in remembrance and honour of the 148 students massacred in Garissa.

But it is a most sad tale that people would rather forget. Some students vowed never to return to North Eastern again. Garissa Governor Nathif Jama termed the exodus as an unfortunate move.  The university that is a constituent college of Moi University was set to earn a charter this year so that it can effectively become the first fully chartered public university in the Northern Corridor. I don’t want to believe that the dreams of the university and the people of North are dashed. They will rise again. The nightmare will ease and the institution will bounce back.

The education unions are proposing the college to be converted to a military base, I hear. I don’t think it is the right thing. There is already a separate KDF camp in Garissa. Let the university be. The Opposition ought to back off on their incessant pressure to have Kenya withdraw its troops from Somalia.  Our forces are doing great in stabilizing Somalia and a peaceful Somalia is a major economic boost for Kenya and its neighbours.

As for al Shabaab militants and their sympathisers, you will never succeed in driving a wedge between and among Kenyans. We are more united that ever.

I urge the security agents to take preventive measures against the Al-Shabaab rather than waiting for the attacks to happen in order to prevent human cost of war and loss of property. Rest In Peace Garissa Comrades; We Shall Never Forget You as Kenya Is Unbowed.

Special Mention to my cousin Mami aka Kasyoo Peter Isombo. May your soul rest in eternal peace!

Comrades last supper; the moments we will cherish for ever

Comrades last supper; the moments we will cherish for ever

B

eer has a way of sobering otherwise drunk chaps up. It opens up the Pandora box. It is a lid that uncorks an uncanny can of worms. Suddenly the comrades and lecturers opened up.

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

musyokangui02@gmail.com

I never expected that it would be that big. The last supper of media class was held at Godka Hotel beginning 7 pm and everyone was dressed the part. The dinner lingerie was marching the relaxed atmosphere of the famous hotel known for couple proposals and other confessions. It is more like the British Queen who got engaged in a Mount Kenya hotel soon before Kenya attained independence. She was also pronounced heir apparent thus receiving the good news from our very own tourist destination overlooking a mountain elevated 5,199 feet above the sea level. The snow capped tip pitted against thundering sky, lightning space and incessant rains was the perfect blessing from God that our event was endorsed by the Highest Power.

The photo session was spontaneous. Crowds hogged camera limelight like moths upon a lantern. Night vision was essential to capture the whole group. But in some cases it was a matter of luck and the more trials and shots yielded the stunning shots. Exclusive fun.

Media class is funny and unpredictable as Mr. Matundura kept saying “nyinyi ni watu wa ajabu sana”. They have baffled lecturers and colleagues alike. This day was no different. The raw talent was on display yet again. If you thought Gaza Group was only a nuisance that sat at the back to make noise during lectures and conspired to cheat in exams think again. Simo, Nesh, Marto, Andy, Anto are the cast that has entertained the university fraternity with witty comedy. Today they pulled a poem that left the class in stitches. Simo scripts in unwritten language. Anto has diversified in emceeing and now he is venturing into fulltime acting. Goodluck bro and team.

A section of comrades having a good time

Who ever saw Chris bending on one knee and saying those elusive four words? Will you marry me! Lily went speechless; her dimples sinking and eyes getting wet. The crowd dared the love birds to seal the union with a passionate smooch. Unexpectantly, they only hugged and shook hands like business associates in a contract. The incident broke many a heart. Jilted lovers whispered whether what was unfolding was a Mexican soap opera or if indeed it was real. It later turned out that it was acting-much to the relief of the disappointed secret admirers of the pair.

The speech session was uplifting. The alumni were in the house and presented an up-close and personal testimony of their mistakes and mileages since they graduated. They underscored the need for patience and resilience in success. That networking is the best way to both create and seek jobs.  We were glad they were full of humility and are still the same comrades we shared lecture halls with as undergrads many moons ago.

Beer has a way of sobering otherwise drunk chaps up. It opens up the Pandora box. It is a lid that uncorks an uncanny can of worms. Suddenly the comrades and lecturers opened up. They became themselves. Who knew Kobia was so good in ballet? He swung Fleare with flare that left comrades cheering. The applause was deafening shouts of dares that pulled the pair to the stage yet again to do their thing, as it were.

Fleare ruled the stage with her coastal warmth. She attempted without success to pull lecturer Raiji to the floor. He just sat at the high chair sipping something clear in his fancy glasses. Time was not yet. However, Dean Dr. Ngugi surprised the crowd when he shot to the stage for a jig. He was rolling smoothly. Break-dancing even. Fleare was milking every moment of her 15 minutes of glorious fame. It was a sight to behold. Cameras clicked and flicked under dazzling multicoloured lights that revealed the other side of the comrades that has been hidden for four years.

Papa played cool for so long. I wondered what he was thinking about. He sat at an isolated table with a few comrades poring through smartphones and tabs sharing photos via WhatsApp and Bluetooth. Everything was going on well until Congolese tunes blasted the speakers. Papa shot up and grabbed someone with a curvaceous future behind her and raised his belt. Rhumba has a way of making the elders young again. It presents an opportunity for them to relive their heydays once more. So papa got an opportunity to turn back the clock to the early 90s when he was in campus.

Caribbean hits left Simo and Anto yelling message! message! message!. They listened attentively as a patient letting an injection sink in. Like their very lives hang on the line of Reggae. Lecturer Raiji too succumbed to the charm of Africans in Diaspora seeking a reconnection with their roots. The flowing dreadlocks of Jamaican hit stars lured him to the stage. He didn’t know how and when he joined a band of dancers circling in rounds with a fist raised in the air shouting destiny! destiny! and liberty.

Maryjones was privileged to convince Raiji leave the high chair and cosy counter to hit the floor. She danced so well. It was good for burning calories and loosening up after a busy semester of about ten course units. A perfect break before end semester exams. Jones then retreated to me and we gyrated a little before Raiji “intervened” with a shout that I am killing her. I did not think so since Jones enjoyed-begging for more. Same for Jennifer, Fleare , Ann and others. Even Zain.

The queen of stunts was Annmarie. Clad in suspenders, shorts and braids, she twerked and gyrated without friction. A marathoner of entertainment, we checked out at 4 am and left her and team still hooked up. Raiji offered to take us home for free. He was our designated driver. The best.

Bed, blankets and bad moods. Woke up four hours later to prepare for debate @2pm in SGT1. See you there.

The writer is a blogger at musyokangui.blogspot.com and a Fourth Year Communication and Media student at Chuka University.

Media Centre Five L-R Ann Wanjau, Musyoka Ngui, Joyce Kabura, Terry Njuguna and Martin Wachira

Obama finally eats a humble pie and decides to visit Kenya

Obama finally eats a humble pie and decides to visit Kenya

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

musyokangui02@gmail.com

U

S President Barrack Obama has finally humbled himself and expressed intention of visiting Kenya in July for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi.

Obama has in the past bypassed Kenya in his global tours and it is a welcome move that he will manage to visit his “motherland” since he was elected the president of the US. After taking office in 2008, Kenyans had a lot of hope in their distant cousin who disappointed them.

Ironically, it is under Obama when the Kenyan -US ties have been severed most in recent history particularly with regard to the ICC cases Kenya faces in the Hague. Luckily, Kenya has proven the US and indeed the world wrong that it can hold peaceful elections and decide on their own destinies without undue influence. The Western Europe and America warned Kenyans in the runners up to the 2013 general elections that choices have consequences but Kenyans went ahead and defied that warning. Kenya is perceived to be facing East with China shaping up to be Kenya’s main trading partner to the detriment of the West and US.

President Obama will definitely seek to solidify his friendship with Kenya and Africa. He will also get an opportunity to reconnect with his roots. As a result, America should not issue unnecessary travel advisories to Kenya since this will hurt our economy which has already been battered by the recent terror attacks believed to be conducted by the Al-Shabaab. As a big brother, America should help Kenya in sharing intelligence not advising tourists against visiting Kenya for holidays. If Kenya was unsafe Obama would not have decided to pay us a visit in July.

Without a doubt Nairobi is rising to be the regional economic capital and a key player in Africa. Obama should remember to bring ideas home on how to build Africa given entrepreneurship is a cog in economic growth and development.

Once again, Obama welcome home. Even the prodigal son was received by his father after sinning against him by squandering his inheritance.

Candid Interview I granted John Ndiritu

 Candid Interview I granted John Ndiritu, Third Year BA Communication and Media student in Chuka University

Tell us your name and a little bit of your background

I am Musyoka Ngui. A fourth year student studying a BA Communication and Media. I am the second born in a family of five boys. I don’t have a sister. Our mother taught us cooking at an early age in case she is not around we take care of ourselves. I am a good cook by situation.

Tell us a little about your blog

Faculty of Arts and Humanities Dean Dr. George Ngugi King’ara inspired me with blogging. He used to send us assignments on his World FilmHouse blog (Chuka University Resource Centre) blog and I asked him how I can set up my own site. He guided me on the options available and the rest is history.

I started blogging in May 2013 and since then I haven’t looked back. I like commenting on topical issues and also have a knack for youth issues. No wonder I named my blog Youth Issue (musyokangui.blogspot.com)

My blog was intended to earn me experience in writing and after clearing campus I want to start my own commercial website where I will be able to earn income.

From my voluntary blog I got exposed to a lot of issues and sold an idea to an OLX dealer who liked my articles and contracted me to write for his website at 1.5 US$ between September and December last year. I resume writing for him on April 16 this year –immediately after clearing I have a job waiting for me. He pays via MPESA.

What inspired you into writing?

My mother and my high school English teacher at Makueni Boys’. My mother used to give me literature to read and write compositions about what I understood. As early as when I was in Standard Eight I had read most William Shakespeare’s books like Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice. I also read other texts she bought for my elder brother for school set books.

My high school English teacher was called Mr. Geoffrey Ndolo. We nicknamed him bica which is Sheng’ for biscuits because he used to reward us with biscuits when we answer Cloze Tests. My friends Fred Wambua and Patrick Mwania and I used to get the test correct and emerged top. He bought us quarter breads which really inspired us to read and write in English.

What is your greatest flaw?

I am addicted to surfing and can spend a lot of time in the internet trawling and downloading stuff even when I have more important things to do. Sometimes I can’t help I can’t help it.

Do you think writing ability is something a person has or does not? Or do you think is something one can learn?

It’s both. Writers can be made and are also born.  But I daresay those who enjoy the art combine both although you can learn writing and still be better than even talented writers. For me I don’t think I am a born writer. I learned it from people and also discovered writing late in life. In primary school I only spoke and wrote in Kikamba but when I found good teachers and colleagues they made me a better person.

What process do you use to develop your writing?

I research a lot. My library is full of PDFs, Word Documents, documentaries and other forms of literature which I refer.

Since I mostly comment about current affairs, I read newspapers especially online before commenting on my blog or in the national dailies like The Standard and Daily Nation or Taifa Leo.

I type my own work so I am the first editor of my scripts. I assign critical pieces to professionals such as my cousin Mary Kyambi who is an MBA and a literature teacher.  I also forward my scripts to lecturers like Dr. Ngugi King’ara, Messrs Samson Raiji and Henry Nabea. Currently, Kiswahili lecturer Enoch Bitugi Matundura is working on publishing an anthology and he edited my short story which he promised to publish. I also observe things to get a story out of the immediate environment.

Is there anything you have in your bucket list?

Yes, travelling the world and working for a reputable media house like Al Jazeera or CNN.

Why writing and how is the going?

I started writing as a hobby. As the cliché goes, a good writer is also good in reading. So if you want to be a prolific writer, read intensively and extensively.

I have published a lot in various scales. Apart from blogging and freelancing, I won a coveted essay writing competition called Youth for Democracy Innovations Awards organized by the UNDP in 2012 which I scooped KES.120,000. I was the best in Kenya. I emerged second runners up in an environmental essay writing competition called Juatenda organized by Volunteers For Africa and Medeva. I also reviewed Chinua Achebe’s book The Trouble with Nigeria and was published in Saturday Nation’s literature magazine Weekend in July 2014. I am also the outgoing Editor In Chief of the campus magazine Varsity Post. My blog was also mentioned among the top five read blogs in Chuka University by chukauni.com, an entrepreneurial start-up by a colleague called Steve Mbego who works for the County Review.

I am also working on a novel I started writing in 2009. Hopefully by the end of this year it will be rolled off the presses.

Currently I am working on a UNESCO essay writing contest and another by the Competition Authority of Kenya.

What plans do you have in the future as a journalist?

I want to start my own commercial blog this May to earn good money as well as employ a few people. I will also be on the lookout for mainstream media jobs on both television and newspapers. I think I can make an excellent investigative journalist.

I also intend to go for MA in Journalism and Communication as a work student.

Who influences you most? Why?

I admire John -Allan Namu and Mohamed Ali of KTN for their courage in covering stories and pursing the truth. I also admire Dennis Onsaringo for his meticulous investigative pieces on crime. He investigates Case Files on KTN.

What advice would you give to upcoming writers?

Never give up. Write, write and write.

Is there a downside to what you do?

Sometimes the computer screen can strain my eyes and develop itches and fatigue. Typing at times is tedious.

Describe yourself in three words

I am a writer, blogger and journalist- as my Twitter account states.

What are the perks of becoming a personality like you?

People respect you. Some colleagues think I know a lot but in reality I am just humble and get clueless when they consult me on matters I have no idea about. You also get to be trusted and famous.

Some people just ambush me asking me if I am the guy they read or a reincarnation. Others are baffled by my diminutive figure yet have a big personality.

What would you teach anyone who wants to walk in your shoes?

Develop a passion in what you do; whatever it is. Live your dream and be you. Most importantly, seek happiness and peace with God and His Creation.

What do you do?

I am a student winding up my studies in BA Communication and Media at Chuka University.

What is your driving force?

My girl who encourages me to keep on despite her being hard to impress but gives me unfailing support. I also have a desire to tell the truth and make a difference in the lives of others-however little. That satisfies me.

You write stories that appear in the national dailies. What is your secret?

I don’t have a secret. I just write something topical and am published. I am also very consistent and don’t give up even when sometimes the newspapers do not publish my articles. I write more and more.