FUGITIVE

You do know I am just a fugitive, right?

No, I don’t deny it.

But tell me,

Is that why in me you only see a cog?

Is that why you keep distance?

I don’t belong with you, right?

You’re not going to help me, are you?

You’re not going to show me a place to hide.

You’re only sending me away

By harsh words that kill my spirit.

You know I haven’t eaten for a century now

I am not ashamed of that

That’s why I come seeking for bread

So at least I can get the strength to run faster and further

But why do you look at me grudgingly?

Like you don’t want me to have a taste of your bread of life

Like it is me you’re fighting against

Like I will take a bigger share

Like I will not eat with manners

Oh! Of course, I have no table manners

Because I am starving

I will not waste even a hint of this bread

You can see how filthy I am

And what tatters I’m dressed in

I know it’s not in your place to make me clean

And you might not have extra cloths to give

But at least you can show hospitality

And direct me to the Cleaner of filth

And show me where I can get something to wear

Or are you just scared that I might stain your pearl white cloths?

Or you just like keeping your space?

Maybe I’m wrong in my thought

Maybe it was not your intention to scare me away

Maybe all this was never about me

Everything you said in my presence

Everything you did in my presence

Were all just about you and your journey

Trying to gather more strength in sojourning

Maybe you said something else;

But it is what I heard that scared me away

Maybe you did something else

But it is what I saw that abased my zeal

So then I guess you should probably borrow my eyes and ears

So we’ll see and hear the same.

Then you’ll know how much I am in pain.

You know this bread of life you received free

And free you should give

These clean pearl white cloths you have

Did not cost millions of dollars

Neigh, all they costed was grace; the grace of God.

And you’re morally obliged to share the grace

Not choose in your heart who does or doesn’t deserve it

You can only speak because the good God gave you a mouth

And a mighty voice, that is heard miles away

So whatever you speak should give hope to the lost and weak

Not scare them away from the peace we all seek

I know this poem will arouse questions in your pure mind

And regardless of what you might think;

I did not write this poem to raise controversies

I did not write it to show my prowess

I did not write it to unmask you bad side

No, not even to attack your weaknesses

But I felt lending you my eyes and ears would at least help

And make me get closer to the end of my running

Because it is you; just you on the way

And maybe it’s not you, but that deceiver the devil

So now you can tell him I am done with my tyrant of a master: sin

WHEN I WAS A CHILD

Now that I am an adult, memories of childhood storm my head, and I just don’t know how to treat them. I will be a liar if I say that I don’t miss my childhood, or that I hate how I was in my childhood. But I have now grown up, not just my size has changed, but the way I view things too.

When I was a child, I thought the worst thing that would happen to someone was death. I dreaded death, with all my body, heart and soul. Nothing would scare better than the thought of dying. I wouldn’t just imagine ‘suffocating’ in a coffin, then in a grave. I wouldn’t imagine departing from mama’s ugali, and saying goodbye to moulding with mud. But when I grew up, I learnt that death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to anyone, but one of the best. I thought death brings a pause to all the good things in life, but I now know that death is the cessation of all the bad things in life. I now know that in death, I will be in a peaceful sleep, without having to struggle with sin, without having to struggle with myself. Death will keep me away from the hatred of my enemies, from friends who pretend to love me but don’t. Death will keep my away from struggling to be someone I am not. Death will keep me away from all the evils that happen in the face of this world. Indeed, death is not as bad as I thought. However, that doesn’t disqualify it from being saddening. Anyway, however saddening it may be, it should not be if I did not just die in Christ, but lived in Christ too. So now I know, that when abiding in Christ, death is not the worst thing that can ever happen to me.

When I was a child, I thought death came as a result of some yucky things that people did. I thought it was a punishment that served them right. Neigh, I never thought death was meant for people like me or anyone in or next to my family. Even my friends were good people, who were never meant to die so easily. I thought it was by our own power that we evaded death’s firm grip. But as I grew up, I have seen death show off her might right beside me. I have seen people, colleagues, friends, companions, people who have trodden in the same paths as I, people who have walked straighter paths than I, being shaken off the world like they don’t matter at all, like they don’t have any worth, like they’re the yucky fellows. Death has come closer and closer. It has knocked at the doors of my family, though the door has never been opened. And now that I have grown, I know that death is not a punishment for the yucky mistakes we commit, and we cannot evade it by our own might. I have known that when death knocks at anyone’s doors, it is not in our place to keep the door shut, but the Lord’s. That’s why I have greatly been humbled, knowing the life that I live is but borrowed, not mine at all, and when the owner asks for it, I will be at no position to object.

When I was a child, I believed that the luckiest people are the ones who lead the most comfortable lives: those that have everything they need at their disposal, those that eat the most delicious of meals every single day, they that face no problems in life, they who never fall sick, they who never lack, they who live in bungalows, they who have the best phones. But now I have grown up, and I know that these are not the luckiest people in life, but the least fortunate of all. For my Bible tells me, “Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”—James 1:2-3. Yea, now I know for sure, that they that live a life of struggles, always facing the ups and downs of life, always wishing they had more in life, always sickling, always suffering, they are the luckiest people. I now know, that when life pushes you to the wall, you shouldn’t mumble, but appreciate. I now know that whenever I fall sick, I shouldn’t cry, but thank God, because all these misfortunes make me a lucky person.

When I was a child, I knew the people who loved me most are the ones that gave me physical gifts and presents. I thought that love could only be revealed in material things. That is why I at times hated the people who loved me most, and treasured those that I meant nothing to them. I should have known that the ones that love you will be concerned with your spiritual and mental growth and not just material gain. But now that I have grown up, I know that the people who love you most, are the ones that can come to you at your most subtle times, when you feel like you just need to be alone, far apart from the world, whisper to you words and leave, words that speak deep to your soul, even if you don’t respond. I now know that they are the ones who are always there to catch you when you’re falling, not to pick you up after falling. They are the ones who never see you as an asset, the ones who never want to use for their own personal gain, then say, “what are friends for?” I now know that they are the ones who give you hope when there’s none in sight, the ones who are your reason to look forward to the next day.  I now know that the people who love you most are the ones who will give you joy at all cost, even if it means sacrificing their own.

When I was a child, I knew the best gift anyone could ever give you was money to buy ‘mandas’ or ‘mandas’ itself, or any other thing that wouldn’t last but would soon be consumed. As I’ve said, I actually believed those are the ones who loved me. But now that I am old, I know that the best gift anyone can ever give you is the one that lasts a lifetime. Of course, nothing material lasts for a lifetime. That is why the best gift that someone can give to you is nothing physical. I now know that the best gift someone can give you is a message of the gospel, a message that brings deliverance that last a lifetime. When lost in the world, with no salvation in sight, there is nothing that we may ever be in need of than a simple message, whispered to the ear, and to the heart, that proclaims salvation unto the lost. When entangled by sin, the best gift anyone can ever give us is the message of the good news of free salvation by faith.

When I was a child, I thought money is the only good thing that anyone can get from anything. You know what that means? That every human effort, every human thought, every human action, everything we ever do is all for money and everything it can buy, because for me, money was the answer to every question in life. Did I even think of the million and one things that money cannot afford? Did I even know of the billion things whose values cannot be measured in monetary terms? Economists would say, I gave everything in life a cardinalist approach. Well, I was just a child. But now that I have grown, at least I know that money is not the best thing that I should base all my efforts on. I know that living my true purpose is of greater worth than accumulating all the wealth in this world. I have known that being an inspiration to just one person is much more valuable than earning a million shillings a day. Yea, now I know, that not everything we do is about money, and money is not the only good thing that can come out of something.

When I was a child, I was terribly scared of tomorrow. I always hoped the world would always remain the same. I never wanted tomorrow to come, because during the holidays, I knew every tomorrow was a day closer to school. Again, I knew every tomorrow was a day closer to the end of the world; another thing that I was so scared of and least wanted to think about. But now, tomorrow is my greatest desire. Because in tomorrow lies my only hope. Hope of correcting the mistakes I made today and yesterday. Hope that the road will rise up to meet me, and that I get all that my heart always desires. Hope that I will wake up to a peaceful and politically stable nation. Hope that I will wake up to see a smile on my mom’s face. Hope that I will wake up to live a totally new life. Yea, I am now old, not a child anymore, and now that I know, my life is no longer the same.

By Vincent Owino

A LETTER TO ALL FRESHERS.

Mister and miss fresher, after a few weeks in the university, how does it feel? It must be very interesting being in the university, isn't it? The beautiful environment, wonderful buildings you never saw in your high school, free internet, 'hot' chics and 'cool' dudes, and of course, absolute freedom. Wow! It's amazing. 
Up to now, you should have noticed how the other students are utilizing the freedom they have in campus. I don't deny it should be utilized. In fact, it should be utilized maximally. It may be the highest degree of pretense to deny that having no teacher or prefect pushing you to do this and that is a good feeling. Even better, being away from the parents' tight rules. I will boldly say and be responsible for it; utilize the freedom maximally!
One thing you should always remember, however, is that you aren't the first to join campus, neither are you the last. In that case, there is no real peculiarity in you joining campus. Therefore, make sure that the manner in which you utilize the freedom will be unique and different from the way all others have used it.
With a positive mindset, this would translate to not taking drugs as many have always used the freedom to take drugs, not gambling, stealing , hooking or involving yourself in any other criminal activity. Similarly, I know one thing you really desired about campus is the ready availability of ladies and lack of restriction on the interactions. Please my friend, there is no pleasure in sleeping with every beautiful girl you come across, neither is there in establishing 'love' relationships in them.


Most campus relationships normally turn out to be infatuations simply due to lack of seriousness and faithfulness. Why don't you identify a serious partner and settle down with him or her in a serious relationship? What satisfaction will having a taste of all the girls in campus give you? Remember irresponsible sex is one mistake with so many repercussions glued to it. Feeling that you are an exception is what psychologists call 'neuro-stupidity'. Drugs can lead you to permanent insanity. Alcohol use, despite the amount you use, is totally harmful to your health. Should I even talk of betting? You already know what it has caused to so many students who, some, have even committed suicide. Please find another means of getting your own income. If you can't, minimize your expenditure.


Pause, take a minute of silence, reflect back to your village, your home, your family, your parents, your siblings. How is the village? How is your family? How is your home? What of your parents and siblings? Do they look like they need you? Of course they do. Why then do you want to disappoint them? 
Consider all the young minds in the village who look up to you since you have made it. Will you mislead them? What of your peers who always admire you since they never made it to where you are, will you let them mock you? Your teachers who always gave you the best and are now expecting you to be a shining citizen, will you disappoint them? Remember your parents and siblings who have sacrificed a lot to let you learn. Consider how hopeful they are on you, will you kill their only hope? Instead of the campus changing you, why don't you change it?


Now you know that you're more than your own. The decisions you make not only affect you but many others, that some you may never even know. The campus doesn't need to change you, it needs you to change it. The best way to change it is being an example yourself. FREEDOM COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY. 

This article is particularly addressed to freshers but anyone who finds it important can read it.
(Please Share this article with others.)

Is 'Beautiful' same as 'Hot'?

It is really a hell of a task to be a man. Men come across beauties, and beauties of beauties, but for goodness’ sake, they can’t just have all of them. The real task is not just in choosing the best, but in distinguishing who is beautiful from who is just ‘hot’.

Every girl wants that prestigious title ‘hot chic’ more than anything. Denying her that is worse than denying her life itself. I don’t know how good it is to be called that, neither do I understand its importance. Girls will always work so hard to be called that. They will do anything to get those make-ups that will award them that prestigious title, even if it means going for them in hell. Well, it’s not their fault. Every man wants his girlfriend to be called that too. Moreover, it is the ‘hot chics’ that take first place in winning the ‘hearts’ of the campus boys, and conquering the pockets of ‘sponsors’.

I admit that life would not be as interesting as it is if every girl was not working tirelessly to obtain this noble title. It’s not every day you’d get to see a woman’s thighs, barely covered just a few inches from the waist, or a well exposed cleavage. With everybody acting as if it is normal to see these unscrupulous behaviours, life must be very interesting. It is funny how everyone has forgotten the meaning of private parts, or even if they exist. Is it not madness for a man to courageously walk in company of his partner, dressed in lucid clothes, barely covering what they are supposed to cover? Anyway, a wise man will tell you, “modernization is a change we all desire, and we have to accept the effects that comes with it, if we are to accept the benefits it brings.” After all, these are what make life interesting.

The efforts to be ‘hot’ are totally misguided because girls think they are actually making themselves more beautiful. With every contemptuous act justified, with every bogus dress allowed, with every ‘private part’ exposed, we are left with no other way to save our society but to learn the difference between being ‘hot’ and being ‘beautiful’. Did you know that a beautiful lady is not the same as a ‘hot chic’? Consider this, which man ever calls his wife ‘hot chic’? That would be too disrespectful. This is a term used only by boys referring to their bimbo girlfriends, with whom their relationship has no future. Every man wants to marry a beautiful woman, and not a ‘hot chic’. As much as beautiful and hot may grammatically mean the same thing, they mean totally different things in the real world.

From the dressing, reasoning, speech, behavior, it is possible to tell if a lady is beautiful, or ‘hot’. I hope we are in agreement that beauty is not just defined by physical appearances. One intelligent lady once said, “My dress, my choice. I don’t dress to impress your masculinity, I dress to express your feminity”. She was right, just that men will never view it that way, and by expressing her feminity, she will not keep herself from impressing the men’s masculinity. Thus, expressing her feminity and impressing masculinity mean the same thing. What exactly would a ‘hot chic’ do? Of course, she’ll be the one to express her feminity, thus impressing masculinity. However, a beautiful girl dresses to suppress her feminity, thus suppressing masculinity. It profits you nothing to impress every man that sees you. Gaining every man’s attention in the streets does not make a girl special, but degrades her personality, ask around. ‘Hot chics’ are attractive to men, yes, but only for a temporary pleasure, nothing more. Men view them as nothing better than a bimbo groupie, a slut or a whore.

What is beauty without brains? Nothing. We’ll have to agree again that having brains is not just referring to academic excellence. ‘Hot chics’ are the ones that will always give in to every seduction, so long as there is material gain in the end. They do not care for their own bodies. They never think of the aftermath of their decisions, for they are so consumed with their materialistic nature. However, the beautiful girl reasons out and weighs options. She makes choices that are not just good for her, but for her future too. She cares for her body, and respects herself, in every way. In the manner she carries out herself, she expresses the perfection of her feminity, not in some unscrupulous dressing modes.

I don’t know what it is to be a woman, that is what every lady out there will tell me. I really don’t. But I do know that being a decent woman is not about chasing everything that will acquire one the mediocre title of ‘hot chic’, but conducting oneself as someone worthy of being called a beautiful woman. I do know that it is beautiful women that our society needs, and not the so called ‘hot chics’, and that’s what every lady out there should know. Now go ahead and tell me, “You know you’ve never been a girl Vincent, you don’t know what it means to be a girl”, and I readily agree.

YOU BREATHE FREE OXYGEN, HE DOESN'T!

How much do you pay for the oxygen you breathe? How much does it cost you to stay alive? John Nyakundi’s story is really supposed to bring everyone to the concession of the gift of life that God has bestowed on them. Paying for every last mole of oxygen he breathes, carrying an oxygen tank everywhere, Mr. Nyakundi doesn’t find it so easy staying alive as majority do.

It is shocking how Kenyans have reacted to the story of a man, who carries an oxygen tank to a polling station, to vote, with the hope of making Kenya a better place for him, his family and for every other Kenyan. With a voter turnout of 79%, I am pretty sure there are millions of people who chose not to vote despite being of good health and without any disability. Neigh, blaming them for letting bad leaders take to office won’t do justice to one voter in Dandora Primary School, who despite being dependent on an oxygen tank to breathe, chose to leave his house to choose the leaders who would make this country a better place, for all of us.

Did you know that the only thing Mr. Nyakundi has is hope? Hope that the leaders that his vote elected would change his current situation. Hope that even though he may not really recover, his children would have the best education and secure a brilliant future? Hope that the hospital bills and cost of drugs would become affordable so that people like him can receive the best medication. The hope that through his move, every Kenyan out there, breathing free air, would learn what a privilege they have. It is that hope that got him from his bed, and drove him from his house to go and vote on the 8^th of August 2017. It wasn’t always that way two years ago however. Mr. Nyakundi did fend for himself. He did provide for his family. He took care for every life he brought to this world, and he cared for every other person that God put into his hands. Yea, until he was diagnosed with COPD, that is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Mr. John Nyakundi has six children, five of which are still schooling. One in Kabete Technical Training College, another just finished form four and is soon to join college, another currently in form four, another in class eight and the last in class five. You must be thinking these kids have got sponsors or donors or something. Neigh, they’ve got none of those. They are fully, and I mean fully, dependent on their mother, who earns only from her small business. Who pays the bills in this house? Who pays the rent? Who buys food? Who else would? This is too much on this woman. She has to do all this by herself, since COPD declared her husband bed-ridden. Do you have any idea how much electricity an oxygen cylinder consumes? She has to pay all that bill at the end of the month by herself.

It is Mr. Nyakundi’s first born daughter, Mary Kemunto, that ensures that he stays alive. After finishing her degree in Chuka University last year, she has devoted herself to ensure that her father stays alive. She runs a small business, from which she buys her dad’s drugs and pays for all his medication. Mary realizes the value of her father’s life, and for that, her father has lived to be an inspiration to many, and a living testimony that God is merciful unto men. Kenyans need to ask themselves one question. Do we really think it was an accident that Mr. Nyakundi lived to vote, or that is still alive? No, it is according to God’s divine purpose, so that people like me, and you may realize the value of the oxygen we breathe for free.

Mr. John Nyakundi was such an inspiration to this country, he was such a blessing to this nation, such a direct sermon unto the entire world. I’m not saying he’s the first to walk with an oxygen tank, but I’m saying his determination and hope are unheard of among all who have ever walked with such oxygen tanks. How have Kenyans repaid such a virtue? Sad to say, even after John’s story storming the media, the government hasn’t heard of it yet. The politicians he was so determined to vote for haven’t heard of such a man before. They never read his story on the papers, never even saw it. Every private or public company wishing to give back to the society haven’t heard of this story yet. But I do wonder, how did a ‘githeri man story’ spread so fast, making the man so rich within days? Yet the story of a man in need of help is neglected and seen as less important. No, that is not the Kenya we want. I am not asking for politicians money to satisfy my endless wants, but I am appealing to the masses to have mercy on a patriot, so one day he would say, “How lucky I was to be born a Kenyan”.

Take a minute and think of this for a moment. What if you were to pay for every bit of oxygen you breathe? What if it were you, not John Nyakundi? What would you want others to do for you? How would you want others to view your problem? As less important than the githeriman’s problem? John Nyakundi needs you to do just exactly that; what you would expect others to do for you. We need support, support for John Nyakundi, and for his family. The hashtag is #IStandWithJohnNyakundi. Share and do everything you can to ensure John gets better. M-PESA pay bill number coming soon. 

THE VALUE OF HONESTY.

THE VALUE OF HONESTY

In Kenyan universities, students are forewarned that if they fail in their examination, they’re given one more chance to sit the paper, and in case they fail twice, they’re sent back home. I was told the same during my orientation when I joined university. This got me thinking, ‘why would someone be sent home just because he/she can’t do well in exams? Why wouldn’t he just remain in school and finally graduate with a dismal grade, like high school?’

There is this classmate of mine who says he’ll pay someone to sit the Calculus examinations for him, and that he cannot strain himself to prepare yet there are other easier means of passing. I don’t blame him. Back in high school, we misinterpreted the principal’s advice of approaching an exam as a group and instead did exam as a group. We never wanted to stand by ourselves in the face of an examination. Perhaps, we had no clue what being honest in exam benefits. We had no knowledge of the impact of a genuine result in someone’s life. Many, despite being past high school, still don’t understand why they should be honest at least with themselves, if not with the examiner.

I did my exams (KCSE) in 2015, hence it may seem quite erroneous for me to advice someone in matters of honesty. Well, I’m not trying to defend myself, but as a matter of fact, I cannot tell whether or not I deserved what I got, but I did work hard enough to attain it. Now the fallacy that a 2015 candidate knows nothing about honesty in examinations leaves me out, because I actually do know, and there are many more who know too.

What worries me is whether people understand the importance of being honest, especially in examination? Kenyan education system has totally lost meaning because of dishonesty in examination. People no longer understand the purpose of education, as much as they don’t understand their own purposes in life. My mom is a teacher, and she often tells me that there are some kids that the teachers at times brand as ‘impossible pupils’. This is to mean that they cannot by any means benefit from classwork. What worries me is that these kids are not sent out of school, not because the teachers like their presence in school, but because their parents will swallow you alive seeing that you’re destroying their kid’s future. Despite that, will the government sit aside and watch pupils being sent from school because they can’t keep up with classwork? And will the government contain a school head who consistently produces dismal results? If you thought there is any other reason why exam cheating is the anthem of Kenyan schools, think again.

It won’t be so easy to convince a form one kid to study hard if he/she is ever willing to pass the final examinations. After all, the Matiangi era will soon end, and Kenya will go back to its times. Leave alone this, you should ask me how hard it was when I was in form one, to tell a fellow the importance of studying. Fortunately, or unfortunately, all these fellows, even the ones whose faces never met with the face of a book unless a teacher is in class, are now in universities. It is not their fault. Why should I strain myself with reading, yet I know it is not going to help me in life? I only need to pass my exams, and there are better and easier means of passing. The only reason why people go to school therefore is to pass the exam, and get a certificate showing that you went to school and passed, because that is what the parents want.

People need to realize that education is not only found in schools. People need to understand that formal education is not the only option for success in life. One’s inability to do well in class is not inability to succeed in life. One’s success in class is not necessarily success in life. Have you ever wondered why universities is the home of every immoral practice today? It’s because they’re filled with people who are better elsewhere other than the universities. These people don’t comprehend the relationship between themselves and formal education, in short class is not their thing. They don’t see meaning in whatever they go for in the universities, hence they end up engaging in such idle activities.

A society without farmers is incomplete, a society without police officers and soldiers is incomplete, a society without watchmen is incomplete, a society without ‘boda boda’ riders is incomplete. Certainly, pastors and religious leaders are also an important part of the society? If everyone had a degree, wouldn’t the president be driving himself? If everyone became a doctor, wouldn’t the people be starving? If everyone becomes a teacher, who would have been pilots, or engineers. The society needs every kind of person, despite gender or intelligence quotient. There is therefore no point in forcing someone to become what he/she is not meant to be.

You could have cheated in high school examination and qualified for a very good course in college, where you will still cheat to defend your chance, but your degree may not be very helpful to you if that is not what you were born for. You could be straining someone with a degree in Economics and Statistics yet this person can go out there and become a very good farmer. Someone could be struggling cheating to finish a degree in Medicine yet he/she can get out there, start a business, and become a millionaire. Cheating in examination to prevent ourselves from facing the university senate for goodbye sentiments is not just injustice to the lecturer, or the university, but injustice to our country, to ourselves and to our Creator, who hates sin like political opponent.

Time has come for us to reform our country and the world. Change begins with just you and me. If you’re a medicine student who is heavily dependent on the other side of the examination paper, think of the many patients who will die while you’re looking for your notes to refer to how he/she can be helped. This finance student who does not attend classes, because there are easier ways of passing, please think of how poorer you’ll make our country become when you will boldly squander millions of public funds, because you never learnt to effectively manage funds. Cheating yields the procurement graduate who will purchase a single wheelbarrow at a hundred thousand Kenya shillings.

I realized that universities send home students who can’t do well in class because they know that there are other things that this person can do and succeed in. Why do you struggle with Calculus knowing that is not your taste? Go for your taste. If you didn’t know, then get it from me, a genuine result is a genuine life, and a genuine life is a better nation; what we’ve been fighting for since we got recolonized by the black colonizer. You are the change, make a move!

WRITERS GUILD CHUKA UNIVERSITY LAUNCH.

The Writers Guild Kenya, on Sunday 2^nd April 2017, launched its seventh chapter, that is the Chuka University chapter. The day marked the beginning of a new era for writers in Chuka University, as they received motivational and very inspiring speeches from the guests present. It was a day that will be difficult to forget not only by the writers in Chuka University, but also by every other person who attended the occasion.

The event seemed to have hit a concrete wall when it was approaching 3.00p.m yet not a single invited guest was seated in the venue, while the stipulated time for the start was 2.00p.m. However, the reasons for the lateness were acceptable, as philosophers would say, “in an impossible situation, no one is held responsible”. A few minutes to three, students and members were already seated, listening to the music while waiting for the onset of the program. The fact that they all were delighted at the day was inevitably evident.

The patron, Mr. Adol Gogo first arrived just a few minutes to three, and patiently sat and waited with humility for the arrival of other guests. A few minutes past three, the chief guest, Mr. Gabriel Dinda, accompanied by Ms. Diana Achieng of Kenyatta University alighted and were immediately lead to SGT1- Chuka University for the activity.  It didn’t take long before Mr. Brian Nyagol arrived, and soon the program would begin.

To begin the event, the club’s treasurer, David Mwangi, led in prayer after which everyone was welcomed to the event by the chairperson of the club, Vincent Owino. To get everybody relaxed, the event was started off by a performance from Izzoh, a rapper and student at Chuka University, followed by another lively performance by Darues Warren, a dancehall musician, student and a writer. There were many other performances from Bella, a poet, Jimmy Yvone, a poet, Marquez, a poet and spoken word artist, and a guest performer Kaburu, a spoken word artist.

The speeches were the climax of the day, beginning with the chair informing the Chuka University fraternity about the steps Writers Guild Chuka had made so far, and what to expect from the group,
now that it was being launched. The patron then emphasized about the importance of academic-related writing, and that writers should not only focus on creative writing but also academic and educative writing. His speech preceded Ms. Diana’s, who reminded the audience about why they should know themselves. Ms. Diana emphasized on the fact that people should have perfect knowledge of themselves and that they should be able to describe themselves in distinct words when asked to. She also reminded them that people should always go for whatever they want in life.

After the interesting speech by Ms. Diana, VibeCampo CEO, Mr. Brian Nyagol took over the

podium, and ended up leaving his audience scratching their heads and meditating upon his words. He began by describing a brief history of Writers Guild Kenya, which pointed out to one fact, that nothing comes so easily; every good thing involves serious hard work, trials and failures, critical thinking and making hard decisions. He then touched on various issues that affect comrade’s lives and encouraged them to develop strong positive personal brands. Mr. Brian also advised the audience to do something that can make them unique, and to always be smart in everything they do.

The final speaker of the day, Mr. Gabriel Dinda did it in a style. He began by telling exactly how the Writers Guild Kenya began and what inspired him to start the company. He stressed on the fact that we should always prepare for challenges, and that nothing comes so easily. After realizing about the problem of stealing of articles by media editors, he saw darkness in the writing industry, and he had just two options, either to complain of the

darkness, or to create light to outdo the darkness, and he chose the latter, hence the existence of Writers Guild Kenya. He also urged the writers to be very serious with their writing, since there are so many writers, but good writers are few. He showed the audience about the importance of being good time managers and how so many people in Kenya today earn from writing. He also led the members in singing the national anthem, after which the club was officially launched.

These speeches left the audience inspired, motivated and re-energized, and afterwards the group registered six new members. The event was closed by a vote of thanks from the group’s secretary, Humphrey Muriuki, who also emphasized on the fact of self-discovery and appreciated everyone who attended the event. He then prayed and the meeting was dissolved, and the people proceeded to a photo session. The day was more awesome than any writer can ever write. It is worth staying in my memory for ever.

A MESSAGE TO MY AFRICAN SISTERS

MY AFRICAN SISTER!

There’s something unique about African ladies. I don’t know if I’m the only one who considers African ladies to be the most beautiful. I’m not being a racist but there are unique features I have observed in my African sisters that I must address. I’m an African, a patriotic citizen of Kenya, but this doesn’t mean I despise people from other races, no, not at all. I am an advocate of equality, justice and freedom from all social evils, including racism.

Over the past few years, I have observed that Europeans, Americans, Indians, Asians, among other foreigners who dwell in Kenya enter marriages with Kenyans. This is true, isn’t it? Have you ever wondered why? Maybe you don’t need to. Our African sisters are born with a natural ability to perfectly take care of a husband. They know exactly the parts to play in a man’s life. They know that marriage is not just about love, it’s more than love. I can’t dare think that these people can never find women in their countries who can match the African beauties. It is the care, the ‘more than just love’ attribute that attracts them to my African sisters. Big up African Ladies.   

I have no problem with an African becoming a good and loving wife to a foreigner, neither do I criticize the fact that they make very good wives. I do have a problem with these African sisters of mine being consumed by being a lady that it hinders them even from critical thinking and reasoning by themselves. The attitude of “I’m just a girl, please do this for me” is what I hate in you my African sister. When you think that you’re a woman and that you have the right to be subjected to lighter activities, you’re wrong. When you think that some activities or priorities are only meant for the men, you’re wrong. When you think that being a woman means being dependent on a man your entire life, you’re wrong. When you think that life is a smooth line where everything just happens, or somebody makes them happen for you, you’re terribly wrong my sister.

Tegla Lourupe Peace Academy, she's an advocate of peace.

I don’t deny that women should be subjects to their husbands, they should, for that was actually God’s original plan during creation. The Bible clearly states that women should respect their husbands, of what benefit is it to defy this? But no phrase in the Bible states that women should be totally dependent on their husbands, or that women have no free will, or that women should be subjected to lighter activities. Women have the same chances in the society as men. Ladies have the same opportunities in the society as the young men. In fact, policies implemented by the government such as setting university cut-off points for girls to be lower than that of boys should be discouraged and abolished. It makes our sisters weaker, because they think even the government recognizes the fact that they’re weaker than boys (I’m not referring to physical strength here). 

My African sister, I know you’re very beautiful, you can never forget that of course. I have no problem with your beauty. But I do have a problem with you being consumed with your beauty that you spend 50% of your time grooming yourself. You have a boyfriend, or a husband, he already loves you, what does it benefit you to be sexually attractive or ‘hot’ to every other man? When you’re consumed with your beauty, I will not lie to you, you will not think and your reasoning will be wanting. That is when you end up posting on your social media walls, “I like being myself, don’t judge me” just because a friend has questioned your dressing, or “Me, myself and I, self-love” accompanied with a photo of your booty. I have no problem with the posts on your social media walls, but I do have a problem with the content, because it discloses everything that goes on in your egocentric ‘feministic’ mind.

Opportunities present themselves equally to men as to women. If you ever thought you’ll have a special advantage just because you’re a lady, think again. If anything has been deceiving you that you just have to work a little because you’re a lady, I’m sorry. Think about this, who is that employer who will choose a beautiful woman instead of a competent, fruitful and promising young man. My sister, your beauty is only important to you and your husband/ boyfriend. I can’t imagine how lost you are if you ever think of using your beauty and or body to obtain favors from employers and/or other important people. Anything that is obtained in unlawful way will be lost in a miserably and shameful way, your job or whichever kind of favor you obtain by means of giving away your body is not an exception. You have to work tirelessly hard just as men do. There are ladies who have made it in the fields you fear getting into, in the activities you fear trying. You can too, only if you burry your gender.

Prof. Wangari Maathai.

Think of Ada Lovelace, the very first computer programmer to exist, she developed the ADA programming language, despite being a lady. Do you know Grace Hopper, the Mathematics professor who developed the COBOL programming language? Bringing things closer home, consider Wangari Maathai, Kenyan-born environmentalist, pro-democracy activist and women’s rights campaigner, who was awarded the Nobel Prize. Don’t forget Tegla Loroupe, the Kenyan athlete who held the women marathon record and won several prestigious marathons, who has now become a very influential advocate of peace. If you want sit back and relax and wait for things to be done for you, think of Martha Karua, the outstanding politician who can be courageous enough to compete with seven men for presidency. Think of Malala Yousafzai, the 20-year-old Indian Pakistani schoolgirl who defied threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education, and has now become a global advocate for women’s rights especially the right to education. These are some of the features I admire in the woman who raised me, Monica Ogweno. She deserves to be mentioned among strong and powerful women, big up mama.

Grace Hopper, the developer of COBOL programming language.

Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer

Tegla Lourupe, the athlete.

Monica Ogweno, the strong woman who raised me.

Finally, my African sisters, we part ways when you cannot effectively balance your emotions and your reasoning. Men are considered to be better critical thinkers than women because they never let their emotions come before their brain. I do say the difference between men and boys is that men control their bodies while boys are controlled by their bodies. Now the difference between a woman and a girl is that women can effectively balance their emotions with their reasoning while girls can’t. Just as it is not strange to find a 35-year-old boy, it isn’t strange to find a 40-year-old girl. When your emotions control you, you render yourself a servant of the body, and your reasoning becomes totally unemployed. When you try to reason too much and take not heed of your emotions, you lose your womanhood. Being a woman means considering the two, and balancing them, and ignoring any whenever it is necessary.

Martha  Karua, the confident female Kenyan politiian

Malala Youszfzai, the Indian feminist.

My African sister, if you can make the necessary corrections, you will become an ideal woman, not just a good wife, but a good member of the society. You will become an embodiment of true feminism; a feminist who understands what womanhood means, the one who advocates for gender equality to mean gender equality, not favor for women even when they don’t deserve. Don’t worry, don’t doubt yourself, change is real and inevitable, you can change.

THE SECRET OF CAMPUS SURVIVAL

Many people today believe that campus is the place where every kind of immorality is found. I don’t deny this, in fact it is more than a belief, it is a fact. Our campuses and immorality today are matrimonially joined and live together in harmony. They are inseparable. That is why university education has lost its meaning and purpose. It destroys a person more than it builds. It is for this reason that so many students today graduate with degrees they never joined university to study. I know you know as well as I do how much immorality has consumed our campuses today, but the question is, is everyone who goes though university immoral? Not at all. There are people who walk out of the university very free from the bondage of immorality. This is not very difficult, is it?

As I will always say, no one else, but God, is in control of your life or lifestyle. You are the supreme ruler of your destiny, thus whichever the level you want to reach in life, wherever you want to be in the near future, you should realize that it is you to get yourself there. However, there are some ill-mannered people, who have lost hope in life and the only thing they are after in life is increasing the population in the land of hopelessness. These are the people who have forced our university into a marriage with immorality. They have robed us of our future, our hope and they are slowly taking away our lives. It is close to impossible to stay away from such people in campus because they occur in every brand. Their main objective is just to get company in their land of hopelessness. They are pretenders, it may turn out to be someone you least expect. Despite this, there are people who manage to stay away from such people. These are some of the secrets of avoiding being a citizen of the hopeless nation;

     1.      Silence.

After graduating from high school, I know you must be very eager to join campus, if you qualified, that is. You must be very eager to enjoy that freedom everyone talks about. You must have been very eager to go to those bashes you were told by an alumnus who had joined campus, or befriend one of the beauties in campus. I’m not asking you not to, I’m asking you to refrain from putting them into words. Being silent keeps you secure from these people. When you’re silent, it is difficult to tell what you’re thinking. You may really be longing to ask a senior student to tell you how campus bashes always are, but don’t, because if you do, you’ll be putting yourself into a trap. Take some time to know people, beware of what they’re capable of, before disclosing your mind to them. You must learn to suffer in silence. If there’s a girl you really admire, wait, keep silent about it, let it be clear to you what kind of person she is.

     2.      Develop a Positive Brand.

Since you’re joining a new institution, with new people, you have the chance to develop whichever brand you want to have. You have a chance to change for the better. If you’re someone who had been enslaved by peer influence and immoral practices, you have your freedom and you need to choose what to do with it. Developing a positive brand means giving yourself an image of an upright person, even if you know you’re not one, and you actually become what you behold. This will protect you a lot from the ambassadors of immorality. Maybe you’re doubting, but ask yourself this, who will ask you to join him for beer if you’re always that serious fellow glued to his books, or Bible? Or who will approach that girl who is principled and sticks to those dreams and goals she has? Who is that who will be interested in a sexual relationship with a girl who is always smartly dress, not walking half-naked? The brand you develop is very important. What people perceive you to be is what will attract evil fellows to you or send them away from you. Developing a brand is just the first step, you must struggle to maintain the positive brand, if you want to graduate with the degree you joined the university to take.

   

      3.      Pray Persistently

As much as we can successfully stay away from people who will lure us into immorality, we can never stay away from ourselves. We may as well lure ourselves into these immoral activities. We can control ourselves, but not with our own ability. This is why so many fall into the potholes of evil, because they try to fight them on their own. Every single person who successfully completes campus education and graduates pure will always testify that God played the most important role. You must have at one moment felt the presence of God, right? When you pray to Him for guidance, He won’t fail you, He will give you the ability to control yourself. Unless you acknowledge God’s divine ability to help you control yourself, don’t be surprised to find yourself in the land of hopelessness.

     4.      Know and Respect Yourself

Do you know who you are? Have you mastered your destiny? Do you know where you come from, your background, your family? Well, I know you do. I beg you not to forget these things. If you will forget who you are, your family, your background and what you want in life, then you won’t know your worth. You won’t even know what is good for you and what isn’t. You will give the hopeless easier time to confuse you with their lies. If you really know yourself, you actually will respect yourself. If you respect yourself, I know it will be a great shame to have your mind aligned just towards girls, drugs, fornication, or such kind of immoral activities. If you do respect yourself, you will find it very difficult to have your hair look like those of a non-reasonable ‘weed’ addict, or to walk half naked in the name of being fashionable and modern. Self-respect will keep you confident throughout your university education, and you will safely graduate with the degree you joined for.

These are not very difficult things to do, are they? I know they are not. Even if they are, you can sacrifice anything to save your future, can’t you? These are some of the secrets that will help you survive in campus. Please try them, I hope you’ll make it through. All the best dear one.