campus CLARION

THE A Publication of School of Journalism University of Nairobi

Issue No. 2JUNE 2013 Loud and Clear

UoN Student Makes A Mark in Afro Fusion Music

The Potato &Coca-Cola Phenomenon

Death by Abortion

Journey In Search of Identity

Other Stories Inside:Campus Diva

It Wasn’t Me...

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ContentsDeath by Abortion

Conserving The Environment, A Foreing Concept?

Potato And Coca Cola Phenomenon

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OTHER STORIES INSIDEElection 2013......................................1Campus Diva ....................................4Cyber Hate Speech ..........................5Journey In Search of Identity............7The Right Place...................................9Confessions, Kinyeru’s Style..............10

Editor In ChiefMagdaline KaJenjo

Sub-EditorsGeorge TubeiEdward OpanyEzekiel Mwabili

WritersPhilip MaosaGladys WangariEsther Oanda

PhotographersGeorge Tubei

Design & LayoutEzekiel Mwabili

MarketingEdward Opany

Contactscampusclarion@gmail.comwww.issuu.com/campusclarionmaga-zine.comwww.campusclarion.blogspot.com

Editor’s Heart“Don’t let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning.” These have been the words that have been an encouragement to me on the journey towards the publication of this second edition of the campus clarion.

It really has been a rough path getting to where we are now and quite honestly I was filled with a great sum of fear such as where will we get articles, how much better will it be than the previous edition, will people be supportive and so to see this magazine come to life really, is more than a dream come true for me.

The stories in this publication are going to inspire and motivate our readers to want to be better than who they are. I find that for most of us we want so much out of life that is, the money, cars, good job, flashy Jewelry but it just remains to be what it is, a want. We hardly ever put ourselves out of our comfort zone of sleeping late into the morning, partying all weekend long, actually working towards our dreams forgetting that to get something you never had you must do something you have never done.

So whether it is farming, selling second hand clothes, starting a club with your friends to secure something that will benefit all of you, do not give up your hustle. It is not about what people are saying about you, it all depends on your end goal the vision which when you achieve gives you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Enjoy your read.

As we are all aware Kenya has been going through its election period this march, and throughout this whole period people have been torn in various ways, if you are active in

social media you can bare me witness that people were harsh towards one another mostly through their com-ments, updates which were mostly based on anger to-wards one another and feelings of hatred and betrayal based on which candidate one supported. People were so negative about the country itself and how the leadership always fails and how we are soon going to be declared a failed state but there is one important thing that people forgot throughout all this, which is that Kenya is one and is our plan A,B,C we have no option but to love one another. Kenya is blessed in so many ways and the sooner we start appreciating this, the better. With our new president already announced I just wanted to give us a few reasons why Kenya is great and why we should choose to love it and not focus on tribes, gender or race but appreciate the blessings that God has bestowed upon us. First off we have one of the best climates in the world, I mean come on we have never experienced any ex-treme weather in the form of cyclones, tsunamis and year in and out we get tourists from around the world who come here just to experience this good weather isn’t that a reason to cel-ebrate. Our athletes are also another reason to love our coun-try. This great men and women give us a sense of pride each year and it’s never a matter of what tribe they are, but what they achieve for the country ,when they go do us proud in the marathons and the Olympics we are at a point where our na-tional anthem is even being confused for the Olympics theme song because our athletes never fail us isn’t that a great reason

to celebrate this lovely country ? We have amazing tourist sites, we are the official home of the wildebeest migration, so come on now isn’t that something to celebrate about?Kenyans are some of the friendliest creative and innovative people apart from the famous M-pesa mobile money transfer that is now being rolled out worldwide, a Kenyan recently won the Nokia 1 million award for the most innovative software program design. Equity bank is also a global case study on how banking can empower the poor all this have one common factor that and not based on tribe or county but on the fact that are Kenyan created. So what if we choose to look at our nation as what we can achieve together and not tribe and gender or county we would be very far. Kenya is our country and like our national anthem says may we dwell in unity peace and liberty and for this to happen justice must be our shield and defender. So the silent war that we have within us or the feelings of ‘hatred’ should just die off because every day we interact with one an-other, joke around with one another tackle problems together and it is only during election period that we become so aware of our ethnic background and that kills us as a nation so may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty.

Elections 2013 and reactions on

Social Media

The Campus Clarion News | Trends

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By Magdaline Kanjejo

The Campus Clarion News | Cover Story

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As young artistes try their lack in more funky and urban genres of music, one University of Nairobi has ventured into a field of Afro fusion, usu-ally associated with more mature audiences. Don Abbih Nguma, a third year Journalism student at UoN’s school of journalism, dons several

shambalas and a couple of silver rings which act as his trade mark. With a semi acoustic guitar permanently slung on his shoulder, Don describes his entry into the music arena as natural call which he eagerly answered. “I was in class four when I was asked by the teacher on duty to lead a song during the assembly session. I later joined the church choir . All through, people kept complimenting my voice, that’s when I knew that my fate was already sealed. Music was me and I was music,” says Abbih.He managed to record his first song – a peace song for a political rally – when he was in form two but due to lack of regulation the song was stolen by another artiste who claimed the credit. He is currently working on a mini album composed of four songs; Nimekubali, kawaida, the love song, and first love, which he plans to release soon. Due to piracy, he prefers to perform his songs live with the help of his band “the unveiled band” which consist of ten members. The band has produced a few songs including ‘what about tomorrow?’ which earned the members an invite to Kenya’s BBC station to perform.“Live music pays a lot than recording your songs in CDs which require an investment. Having a band to back you up is also a plus for live performance,” adds Abbih. Great vocals, passion and personality has seen him perform in events such as the East Africa music awards, “Amani kwanza” a peace event organized by Ghetto Radio and several high profile events held at the National Museum. Abbih was one of the artistes that was unveiled at the ‘unveiled concert’ last month where notable artistes including Guardian Angel and Samukat entertained fans. However the path to stardom hasn’t been with its share of challenges. Notably, he singles out lack of support from his dad and an unfair music industry that is hard to break into as a budding artiste“My dad initially never supported my music but I forged on. Thank God he is starting to warm up to my music now to the point of surprising me by attending some of my shows. The music industry is another thing all together…it doesn’t appreciate upcoming artiste. Promoters won’t bet on you if you not an established artiste so getting a show is really hard.” Music has seen him mingle and dine with the who is who in the music industry and share the stage with big names like Kwame Rigiii whom he considers a mentor but his encounter with the renowned producer R-Kay tops the list. “My highest moment was when I had a chance to talk with R-Kay who really inspired me. He is so humble and creative. I felt like my prayer had been answered…just talking to him has really influenced my music.”Attending evening classes allows him to focus on his music during the day as well as juggle his side hustle of printing and selling t-shirts. His +254 brand of tshirts and wall drapes is particularly popular with students because they are cost-friendly. He actively uses his face book account ‘Don Abbih Nguma’ to reach out to his growing fan base and clients alike. But he says the investment he has made in music is starting to pay off. “Music pays well especially if you are an established artiste but depending on the number of shows we get and from my hustles in a month, I can make Sh30,000 to 40,000”He has big plans for the future including a budding relationship. “At the moment I am single, but I am starting to see someone so we are taking things slowly. I hope to have at least two albums, start a music academy and do a number of collabos with big names and be a household name allover Africa,” says the ambitious artiste.In his free time he likes watching movies, hanging out with friends and sipping his favorite drink of blackcurrant and fresh mango juice. He offers a quick advice to those interested in venturing into the world of music“Passion alone will not make you an artiste but passion with a sense of direction is impor-tant. Use other peoples mistakes as a guiding rope and strive to be original in you music,” advices Abbih.

UoN Student Makes A Mark In Afro Fusion MusicBy George Tubei

Death by Abortion

Over 300,000 Kenyan women die annually while conducting abortion.Out of 380 pregnant women 190 face an unwanted pregnancy, 110 face pregnacy related

prblems, 40 undergo an unsafe abortion, 30 are in-jured or disabled and 1 woman dies from pregnancy related problems. This means that out of the total 380 pregnacies only 9 will be carried to full term and successfully delivered. That’s not even a quar-ter. This staggering number of abortions is appaling. Now I am not against the pro-choice actors or any of those staunch religious women who have minor strokes every time someone curses. I like many of my age mates finally remember church locations during weddings and funerals, or when upcountry because of grandma who still believes you can only find God in the church and to argue otherwise just shows how you have grown horns. To eliminate a number that is equvalent to all occupants of Nakuru County is no small fit. Imagine that applied to a whole city! The situation is definitely worse in areas where women are yet to embrace education. Ignorance on the effects of abortions is still wide spread as many still con-sider it a taboo topic. During the voting in of the new constitution there was finally some sort of a national debate on it. The only problem was that it was used as a fighting sword with no one actually looking at it as it should be. No one really asked the whys of it, only battalions of people who were for and against. When the referundum was over the debate was qicky tucked away like a nasty dirty hanky that should not be aired in public. This problem is however not going anywhere, and continuing to bury our heads in the sand will simply not make the problem dissappear. We are not waiting

out a storm. If you close your eyes at a lion coming at you, trust me, it will eat you. Just because you cannot see it, doesn’t mean the same applies to it. The most common reasons for abortions are not having means to support the baby and pregnancy as a result of rape. All these are pretty solid reasons. However, not enough in the constitution which only legalizes arbotion if in the opinion of a trained professional there is need for emergency treatment or life or health of a mother is in danger. What then of the trauma of the raped pregnant girl stigmatized by her family for the situation, given that some families actually blame the girl for it. Should us as society condemn her more by ensuring she carries the result of her torture and near death experience to term, and then let it be a constant reminder for the rest of her life. Is this what justice is about? What of the innocent unborn, child should he/she be terminated while the sin is not their own? It is a catch 22 situation. The impact of abortion in development is undeniable. The sheer loss of human beings is in itself detremental to the present and future workforce of the country. The breakdown of the family unit as result compromises the overall national unity and psychology; even worse is the stigma placed on it that ensures many do not acknowlege its existence and therefore fail to take any steps in tackling the problem. There needs to be a forum to address this issue where everyone on board is openminded. In my opinion the article 43(1) and (2) respectively needs to be ex-panded to allow other special circumstances. Afterall it is one of the many ways to ensure our women stop dying in dark alleys at the mercy of quacks. At the moment however 822 will die today, and tommorow and the day after that unless urgent measures are taken. Whether the country values its women,only time will tell.

The Campus Clarion News | Health

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By Esther Oanda

• Unintended pregnancies account for almost half of all pregnancies.

• 4 out of 10 unintended pregnancies end in abortion.

• Out of total number of pregnancies 24% end in abortion.

• Four women ages 15-44, two out of every hundred have an abortion

• For women choosing aborion, 52% are under 25.

• Women who have never been married account for 2/3rds of all abortion

Abortion facts and statistics

Source www.AboutUS.com/WomenIssues

Most of us have heard of The Cam-pus Divas story that has been making the rounds in most media houses. Well just in case some

haven’t heard of the scandalous stories about campus ladies that have been doing their rounds on social media, it is said that most ladies in campus sell themselves to rich men in exchange for luxuries such as apartments in leafy suburbs, payment of their school fees as well as other nice-ties that come with dating wealthy men. These ladies reach out to these ‘rich’ men through social media where a page has been created to specifi-cally target and ‘hook up’ these women with the rich men. The page has great details of each lady including age, campus and exactly the type of man she wants. Granted that this kind of activity exists in some campuses, the way in which it was publicized and advertised stirred a lot of emotions amongst people. It was established that the current generation has gone nuts and lack any kind of integrity if they can publicly expose their sexual innuendos on social media without any shame or remorse. The whole incident spread the moral decay that exists so openly in today’s society. In the past such things were never displayed so publicly, we knew they happened but in the dark of the night and in top secrecy but here were these women who were openly displaying their desires for wealthy men and posting explicit photos of themselves while at it. It was believed by most people until pictures of friends of friends started appearing without their knowledge that the truth on ‘The campus Divas’ was exposed to be nothing but a hoax. The page was cre-ated by some idler who apparently had been dumped by his girlfriend for a rich man and his revenge was to create a page demeaning campus ladies and mak-ing them seem like heartless gold diggers with no aim in life rather than minting money from rich old men. The guy did not expect to get as much publicity as he did and when it came,he felt the need to make his page more interesting by just randomly picking pictures of people and posting them as divas looking for men. The sad bit is that these ladies weren’t aware that their reputation was being tarnished since the pictures were being posted without their knowledge. Despite the fact that some of the pictures were of an explicit nature which made them all the more believ-able and qualified for divas on the ‘hunt’, it turned out

that most of the pictures were just personal pictures or posted on their walls but not for use to get men in exchange for school fees since most of them weren’t even campus students in the first place. This just like in many stories on prostitution in most public cam-puses, had parents in a bind with some opting not to take their young girls to public campus due to the dis-turbing stories and the fact that sudden independence tends to make young impressionable adults follow the crowd. The campus union has taken in to their stride to clear the tarnished name of public campus in regard to prostitution which has been their biggest headache. This matter has to be taken as urgency to save the face of public universities’ image and also those who are affected which in this case are the ladies. It is encouraging to see Student’s Unions such as SONU at the University of Nairobi trying their best to discour-age careless remarks on Campus ladies like the one made by an aspiring women’s representative recently at which she had to clarify. This might just be a small step but it’s a step aimed at rectifying the bad name that has been associated with campus students and especially ladies.

By Wangari Kamau

‘The campus Divas’ was exposed to be nothing but a hoax.

The Campus Clarion News | Social Media

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• Someone can go out and easily create a fakesocialmediaprofile?

• Someone can completely fake their em-ployment history and professional accom-plishments?

• Employees are putting a wealth of informa-tion(proprietary,sensitiveandconfidential)insocialmediaprofiles.

• Information gathered from your employ-ee’sprofiles,posts,andonlineprofessionaldiscussions, is being used for a variety of business purposes other than what was intended?

• Firms exist whose sole purpose is to gather competitive business intelligence about your company!

Social Media Facts

Campus Diva

If the pen is mightier than the sword today’s com-puter keyboard may be mightier than a switch-blade drone, more destructive than a junkie with unsteady finger holding a machine gun, cyber-

space today can as well be the most dangerous place to be in the world surprisingly just like a fire it can be a good servant and a bad master at the same time as was the case witness during the Arab spring where youths used to congregate in the social media where they raised their grievances and finally topped their dic-tatorial regimes, cyber space offered them anonymity and a platform the mainstream media could not, how then could such a thing be so dangerous at the same time? Anonymity is derived from the Greek word “an-onymia” meaning ‘without a name’ or ‘namelessness’ given such a scenario in cyberspace many users then tend to abuse their freedom of expression and engage in cyber-space vices such as hate speech, insults sending threatening messages to other users etc know-ing too well they are untraceable and can do what they want at will. Kenya is arguably leading the race in Africa as the country poised to be the next silicon savannah hence the threat of cyber space vices is even greater. During the just concluded general election hate speech in cyberspace reared its ugly head again as Ken-yans took to the social media to settle their scores all along while the presidential case dubbed “democracy in trial” was still in court, since independence tribalism has been a menace in Kenya thanks to bad leadership who bank on their tribal cocoons to stay in power and cyberspace was the battleground to ascertain who indeed was the kingpin when it came to tribalism. Kenya may not have experienced the PEV as was the case in 2007 during this year general election but truth be told PEV was taken to cyberspace where Kenya was repeatedly burned to ashes not once or twice but severally where even the African emissaries lead by Koffi Annan could not access in order to preach peace or hold medita-tions talks. Kikuyu’s were pitted against Luo’s, Luhya’s against Kalinin’s etc multiple pages of one tribe against another tribe was created as user members liked it and join the bandwagon of spreading hate speech with abandon not giving a hoot whether indeed what they were saying was true or mere myths, The National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) and the Hon. Bitange Ndemo warned they will crack the whip to no avail a perfect case of a tooth-

less bulldog, I was then left to wonder going by extensive research conducted by sociologist which shows that quiet a high number of kikuyu ladies have been married to our brothers from the lake what happen to children born from these marriage? Will they side with luo or kikuyus when they sign in to social media? The university of Nairobi boost of being the old-est and biggest university in Kenya having churn out several dons with first class degrees you would think the learned fellows will be better but you are quiet wrong every student became a temporarily political scientist from Harvard and a hate monger who was determined to show that he she has evidence that the election was free & fair or was rigged the university social site “comrades forum” was reduced to a site where name calling and dirty insults was the qualifica-tions one needed to possess to join.

Students stated in no certain terms that they were ready to fight to their deaths should the case not be on their favor, making me won-der what university they attended I mean any political scientist pro-fessor worth his/her salt will tell you no mat-ter what community the presidents comes from

it’s only his/her few close cronies who usually benefit. Moi served for 24years but millions of Kalenjin’s today still live below a dollar a day Kibaki came and left and still millions of kikuyus live in IDPS camps, the former prime Minister Raila Odinga as much as he claimed he was in touch with the common Wanjiru(Kenyan) Kibera is still the same place it was ten years ago and a family in Bondo sleep hungry. The Permanent Secretary of Information Hon. Dr. Bitange Ndemo stated that mobile operators usually stop over 300,000 hate text messages in a single day alone, has it really come to these? Why aren’t we in a state of war then if we really hate each other so much? Is the cyber anonymity the new toy Kenyans can’t get enough off? Whenever we go online we should always think before we liked that page before we post that comment please re-read it and imagine your mum, dad, priest, principal or lecturer reading it and imagine their emotions the Federal Investigation Bureau FBI estimate that in near future the most wanted fugitive will be the one using a mouse & a keyboard who enjoy anonymity and access the rest of the world in a click of a button and it sure may be a Kenyan going by our cyber-space trends. All in all Kenya is a beautiful country that we shouldn’t risk burning whether online or in real life.

The Campus Clarion News | Social Media

Cyber Hate SpeechBy Geroge Tubei

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The Campus Clarion News | Health & Nutrition

I don’t see the need of going so far, let’s go to the nearest restaurant,” he complained. “Welcome and enjoy yourselves,” uttered the two waitresses dressed in short black skirts,

white blouses and red half coats; standing at the door. “This is what is called a warm welcome,” Eddie said with a grin of instant satisfaction. Gladly, we held the menu that introduced as to the name of the eating place, ‘African Dishes Inlet.’ The waiter was already standing beside me with a note-book and a pen on his hand. Quickly, I flipped through and selected ‘matoke’ (cooked bananas) accompanied with pineapple fruit juice to wash them down. “Bring me chips masala with salad and don’t forget a half liter Coca-Cola,” Eddie blurted. My eyes were still fixed at him, wondering why he had decided to order that. Anyway, that brings me to my quest, why chips and soda? I am always fasci-nated by the rampant springing up of fast food restau-rants, which offer the kind of food my friend ordered. Are they called ‘fast foods’ because of the fast prepara-tion or the time taken for customers to finish eating? I have nothing against fast foods (actually I do) though I am amazed at the extent to their popular-ity has cut across all boards: from cradle to adult. The marriage between chips and soda has been in existence for a very long time, and I have no reason to believe that it can be broken asunder. To begin with, I am less of ardent fun of this combination. Nevertheless, there are several reasons being floated as to why it is en-deared by many.

If my memory serves me right, as I was growing up the potato product was the cheapest food which was going for as low as five shillings. Automatically, this prompted many to buy since one never had to cook it; all you had to do was save a few coins and them from the road side cafes. This salient characteristic is still exhibited presently. If you happen to walk into any restaurant whether in your home area or in town, whereby the menu consisting of less than ten food items is pinned on the wall; (like five of the items are soft drinks) this type of food is the most affordable ranging from fifty shillings to a hun-dred depending on the restaurant.

I am slightly saddened for stumbling upon the fact that many Kenyans are not acquainted with food diversity. For instance, in my prime years, our house menu revolved around maize meal products: ‘chapati,’ and ‘ugali’, with an accompaniment of green grams and kale respectively. If in any case we strayed from the regular, then it was eggs that would grace the meal. (Eggs were my favorite) That is a weakness shared by many. I am cer-tain that you will attest to this: Walk in any restaurant (sorry, I mean the ones you sit on cushioned seats instead of long stools like most of the hotels in town), get a hold of the menu and run through it. Predomi-nantly,97% of the foods listed might be unknown to you, for example spring rolls although I do know what it is. As a result of your lack of knowledge, you won’t place an order of what you have never eaten much less heard of it. Moreover, the waiter is right there waiting for your order so you decide to solve your catch twenty two situation by ordering what any ordinary; and un-informed Kenyan would, ‘chipo’ na soda. (Chips and soda) However you top up that awful order with a sausage. In case you never knew, that is the kind of order familiar to all waiters and waitresses; so they don’t have to write it down. However, they will pretend to jot it down some feeling disappointed while the rest throwing a punch of victory. This is because in their ‘clique’ they had made a bet on what your order will be by just observing you when you make your entrance. My dear brethren, I betroth thee with all the love in the world; please attempt to be familiar with other different foods.

The Potato And Coca-Cola PhenomenonBy Philip Maosa

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Coke and potatoes, the most affordable food ranging from 50-100/-

Nairobi is a city with a good number of street children. You find them everywhere. I have them outside my home; I find them surrounding the city. Obviously their lives

are miserable, often short and violent. Their lives are full of infections, brutality, accidents. I know of a boy in Nairobi who sleeps in a small building that houses an electric transmission station. One day when the rain water enters that little building he will be electrocuted as if he has been sleeping in an electric chair. I have asked him Insisted that he lives. But he refuses “It’ is my house,” he says death does not worry me.” The lives of the street children are miserable but it does not mean that these children enter the street for the same reasons. Every child has his or her specific reason. Every street child has his or her specific reason for living in the street. Make no mistake about that. Many of them have chosen this life because the streets are better than whatever

they have run away from. Every child has a story. So I shall choose one of them and I introduce you to Richard. When I first met him he was about eight years old. He had come from nowhere and had found himself into a group of children from who sorted out the parking outside a restaurant close to my home at that time. There was something special about Richard may be his eyes, his calmness, and a sense of him being an old man even though he was a child. Whatever it was we got some kind of contact from the first time we met. I started to ask him questions and I soon realize that whatever answer was a lie. After a couple of months he had in his story buried his mother twice, let her live again and she abandoned him while she ran off with another man. He knew nothing about his father. But the one night a serious traffic accident occurred close to the ruins of a house where he was sleeping and the next day he told me a story about how his father had been killed long time ago in a car accident. There were indeed no limitations to Richard’s

imaginative forces. He told me wonderful stories that eventu-ally did not say anything about him: He told me hoping that I would be moved and give him more money. I suppose it took several months before he felt any confidence in me, at least not grow up people. He was indeed a street- child because of the post election violence that rocked the country. His parents were gone, dead or alive, he did not know. He had lost contact with his brothers and sisters and in his memory the reminiscence of his childhood was so weak that he could not even remember the name of his native village. The only thing was so sure that he came from somewhere in the mid-dle of the country that could be understood because of the language he spoke. It took time but one day I finally understood we had reached something that eventually could be called friendship. It was when I could ask him about his dream. What did he long for? If he tried to foresee the future, what did he want to see? I must admit that what he said surprised me. I have to confess that I could never in my life have imagined what the answer would be to the question of what he wanted most from life. I might have been able to if I had though a little deeper, but I did not. What change in his misery was most welcome? I thought he would say that the most of all wanted a mother, the resurrection of a family, a home, clothes, shoes, school a decent food, health. But the answer was completely different. Richard said something that I shall never forget as long I live. So what was his answer? He said “What I want most of all is an identity card with my photo and my name. That shows that I am I and not exchangeable.”Even though I at the time, realized why he had answered that way, I asked him. “Why?” “Why is it so important?” He looked at me with that special look of being a bit bored having to answer stupid questions instead of doing things like washing cars and

earning a bit of money. He said “You cannot understand anything about anything if you don’t know who you are.” I think it is important that we all reflect upon the wisdom of

Richard. I believe he is right. Poverty and Education, yes, but before that comes the question of identity, which is probably very profound and basic for someone to believe in educa-tion that knowledge, can help you. A nobody will never ever bother to learn. And he will never ever bother to learn to read so that he can understand why his life is miserable. The ID card, the civil right of anyone to know who he or she is, the feeling of not being a nobody in a society of nobodies, yes, I believe, Richard is right. Without feeling your identity, why should you even bother to confront your life with arms of education? I do not know what Richard is doing today. On e day he just disappeared. Someone said he had gone to see his mother. I, wonder which of them, the mothers he had created in a dream of his real mother. If she was still alive. I hope he found her. And I hope that one day he will have an ID card in his pocket.

A Journey In Search Of IdentityBy Edward Opany

The Campus Clarion News | Life

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You cannot understand anything about anything if you don’t know who you are.

By Esther Oanda

The Campus Clarion News | Environment

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Environmental conservation is least in the agenda of most Kenyans and you don’t even need to take a tour of the city to agree with me. Even the newly built Thika Superhigh-

way that every Kenyan proudly refers as super has not been spared. More recently, there have been pictures doing rounds on the media on road signs plastered with political campaign posters much to the chargin of drivers. The alleys even right in the middle of the CBD smell of stench and human urine. Actually lets just say urine; I am no biologist and have no interest in verifying that kind of matter (pun intended). This uncleanliness follows you even in the pub-lic transport. A friend of mine once sat on gum and some spilled juice. She was so traumatized that everytime she enters a vehicle she has to inspect it. This as expected really gets to the nerves of the touts. It does raise eyebrows of some fel-low passengers too but she no longer cares because walking around town looking like your bladder let go just because some careless person could not hold his drink is not an expe-rience one wants to relive. Hotels are not any better either. There is a fly in my soup is not the start of a bad joke, ladies and gentlemen; It is a fact. There is a fly in the soup, in the tea, on the meat or whatever else you might order. Why wouldn’t there be when the floors are flooded with dirty water, soup, bones and even at times spit. In some cases even the walls manage to get dirty, the explanation of this I am yet to actually find. Speaking of walls, public toilets are the shame of our country. For lack of better things to do, I guess, some folks find time to write on them and the doors. Sometimes they even go ahead and sign with their own matter. Honestly I don’t think any sane man would do this. So pychologists take note, there are plenty of customers right outside this facilities. Who said there are no jobs? Others simply either for lack of aim or outright mischief dot their business on the floor; yet Again psychologists or police? If the late Nobel Laurette Prof. Wangari Maathai would see us now she would have wept for sure. It is an open secret that trees are still being fallen in some parts of the country. The politicking on the survival of forests such as the Mau is definitely a step back into the past. The tree planting spirit is not yet fully embraced as many still see it as a luxury to most it is Something done on television by the who is who around town. Infact in certain schools the countable trees available are those planted by visitors for show.Within the last 5 years we have lost many animas to poach-ing. Africa is one of the top suppliers of ivory. Keeping in mind that tourism is the backbone of the Kenyan economy; one cannot overstate the grave implications of this. The dead animals are left to rot in the wild emitting foul smell to those visiting the parks and the coastal beaches are not spared either, Lines of litter literally run alongside the shore. The Pirates Beach which is one of the most popular is an exam-ple of this. It is a straight out of a horror movies scene. You have to jump the dirt to get the ocean.

To be fair though, there is some effort being put in environ-ment conservation. The UNEP is spearheading. Other actors include school clubs, some city councils and teachers. How-ever more needs to be done to ensure the country success-fully does what most developed countries have managed to do in terms of keeping the cities clean and preserving forests. In fact I there should be law ordering all to plant atleast 50 tree each per year. Let us love our environment and it all starts with an individual effort. So that habit of comfortably throwing a soda bottle out of your car or matatu window or dropping sweet wraps on the road side should be something of the past.

Conserving The Environment, A Foreign Concept?

A tree nursery at the Chiromo Campus, an initiative to restore natural forest sponsored by Mitsubishi Com-pany Limited Yokohama

A section of Nairobi river polluted with flimsy plastic bags which are commony used for wrapping goods.

“If the late Nobel Laurette Prof. Wangari Maathai would see us now she would have wept for sure.”

9

The Campus Clarion News | Careers

I remember each time after reading those motiva-tional books, written either by a religious mentor or someone who’s a guru at his profession, having a deep muse followed by a mental pep talk and a

resolutions list. I gave up the books. Maybe this may explain the blank state of my mind each time a friend or acquaintance goes like; “Law! Why are you doing Law?” Each time this happens I get a little upset with myself, why don’t I have the right answer? I guess I give an uncon-vincing reply because the other party ends up making the suggestion that, “you should do something you like, some-thing you won’t end up regretting”. “I like Law! I had a deep conviction that lead me to make it my first choice in 2010! I just don’t remember what that driving force was…” Life in school, or rather campus (school sounds lame), is definitely not what most of us expected, at least not what I expected. Let it be noted that this is NOT a complaint. I had in mind that Law School would be an archaic building with zombie-like book-worms, bent no doubt due to the weight of their backpacks, roaming the dull corridors and eventually each of us admitted would be turned into such. I was in the process of psychologically preparing myself for this phenom-enon before I set foot at campus; bracing myself for four years of ceaselessly reading enormous volumes of hard cover books, and the aging that comes with it. Here I am, several months into Law School, alive and kicking and most importantly happy! None of those stereo-typic thoughts I had of Law School are true, well, the school isn’t too old. The studies are not as burdensome as I had expected but of course there are the few boy and girl geni-uses who are ever-reading the beautiful textbooks (and might I add expensive) who make me doubt this. It is when I am pondering on whether I am too relaxed that I begin question-ing why I am studying Law. It is important not to just be good at what you are do-ing but also have a reason for doing it; you will derive more pleasure if you do. First year, second semester and I am content with my academics but still the nerving question

wouldn’t quit haunting me. I got my answer and thank God for that because if there is something I needed to keep me in check it is it.The revelation came to me on a hot Saturday morning at the KHRC (Kenya Human Rights Commission) offices. I recall being utterly bitter that morning for the conductor not having stopped me at the right stage; I had missed a Ngong hiking trip for such! Our job at KHRC was simple enough, just to sit in on a lawyer offering legal advice to people. Before the ad-vocate reported I got the chance of going through some of the cases he would address and my earlier ugly mood disap-peared, being replaced by a most somber one. The advocate was quite well versed; he’d read through the ‘clients’ details, pose a few questions, maybe ‘consult’ with us (the students of Law), then give them the legal way forward. The case of one elderly couple caught my attention, sobered me up and made me realize I was at the right place; this is why I had picked it as my first choice. The old man was the first to speak; his voice really low I had to not only use my ears but I also tried lip reading. They had just received a court decree to clear out of the land they had lived in for 35 years. The good advocate relayed to us that nothing could be done in their case; it seemed they had missed crucial court hearings where the judgment against them had been passed. The old lady’s voice shook as she put the blame on their previous law-yer for not keeping them informed. I felt my eyes well up and remembered what it was that had led me to doing this course.I will not go into how I vow to become a human rights lawyer and not a money-loving corporate one but I shall say this…I am in the right place.

The Right PlaceBy Esther Kariuki

10

The Campus Clarion News | Life

Kinyeru is a good buddy of mine. He’s not like Ochola. Ochola won’t speak unless he is spoken to. Kinyeru is a storyteller. This is why I like him. So every time I am bored

plenty, I seek him out for a good conversation. Of course, I don’t believe half the things he says. You wouldn’t believe them either, but his tales are fascinat-ing. Like the one he told me the other day. But maybe I should first tell you a tad more about this guy Kinyeru. He isn’t much news - at least not when you introduce brains into the equation. Thankfully, what he lacks in that department, is more than made up for by his high wattage voice box. It is both loud and unstoppable. This has the advantage of always guaranteeing him audience (both willing and unwilling). Soon one learns his head is full of ideas, all jostling with each other in an effort to be verbalized first. Ndashara is where he calls home. If you have no idea on which planet this township is, you can go and hang yourself. And please resist the temptation to ask Kinyeru be-cause he will hang you himself. He particularly dislikes peo-ple who do not know where Ndashara is, though he pretends it is poor geographers in general that he hates. He tells me he holds a lot of sway down there. There aren’t many folks in that hood who have come as close to attaining a university degree as he has, which starts off the story he told me the other day. It all started when he received his KCSE results, he had not only passed; he had done so with colours that could only be described as flying. He turned into an overnight village hero. The village babes could have given anything in exchange to just shaking his hand. One such babe was Wangu. She was beautiful, Kinyeru told me, his voice almost a whisper. All boys and most men in their neighborhood had at one point or another been in the long queue behind her…. But Wangu was a focused girl who knew what she wanted, and she was determined to get it. While Kinyeru found it easy to admit he had a particular fondness for Wangu, he denied having had any intentions before the hug. He had hugged her on the day his neighbours came to celebrate his success. Or she had hugged him, as he preferred to describe it. Having been some sort of Christian in high school, Kinyeru, had previously been the recipient of a number of hugs of one form or another from his sisters in Christ. Yet theirs had been awkward and shaky

affairs; all of them combined had lasted far shorter than Wangu’s single hug .At the end of the day , Kinyeru, could forget neither her nor her thinly veiled demonstration of af-fection. The following weekend found Kinyeru sauntering in Wan-gu’s company along the babbling Igoko stream. He did not plan it, he told me.Wangu had sent a friend of his to tell him that she needed to speak with him. In the absence of the hot joints we Nairobians take for granted, a cool shade along the luxuriant banks of an unpolluted stream suffices as a suitable venue for a date back in the village. As they strolled, Wangu held him in ways that left little doubt about her intentions. Only when they finally sat down in the shade did it finally dawn on him that he was falling, indeed had fallen, deeply in love with his neighbour’s daughter. The events that followed the romantic assembly under the tree happened far too quickly for Kinyeru’s taste. A further meeting was scheduled, this time in Kinyeru’s own room behind his mother’s iron roofed house. The objec-tive, Wangu said, was to be away from the malevolent eyes of the public that might inflict injury upon the young scion of their love. Being a Sunday, his mom was away in church and dad too deep in his drink at the shopping centre to care about goings on at home. One thing led to another and Kinyeru found himself doing exactly what his mother had been telling him not to do. For a while, both he and Wangu were elated, until when a few weeks later, she sought him out to inform him about certain irregularities in her biological schedule which she thought might interest him. “You see, I just couldn’t say I was the one. I mean it was going ruin my whole sorry life.” Kinyeru told me. “They told the chief. The chief told my old man. So I was summoned by all of them. Wangu’s mother was there too. She’s a widow. I figured it was going to be no use to act dumb. The kid was almost obviously going to look like me anyway. I told them I wouldn’t be surprised if what Wangu had in there was my offspring, but then there were other young men in the neighborhood. It could have been their tot as well. Dad told me to stop being foolish. Said I’d been careless and should be ready to carry my cross”. I reckoned I was caged. He threatened not to pay my college fees so that I’d stay home and fend for my young family. I wanted to run. “But the chief was a sensible man, not a hypocrite like my father. He understood full well that these things happen. So under his stewardship we got into some kind of neat arrangement. They made me promise I was going to tie the knot with Wangu after school. She and her mother were going to take care of the kid and all that. Dad would also chip in a dime or two. Heck! It was his grandkid anyway. He was going to pay my fees too. The chief convinced him. I said it was okay by me. Well, it wasn’t, it couldn’t have been, but what choice did I have? None! So when we sit down and chat, mate, always know I got a tale.” He said finally, dusting the seat of his trousers after sitting too long on the dusty bench. This one I believed. It was him.

It Wasn’t Me... Confession Kinyeru StyleBy Edward Opany

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The Campus Clarion News | Social Event

University of Nairobi was the place to be during the Korean galore. Glamour, dances, songs and total fun was what was happening at the education theater in university of Nairobi

main campus, the theater hall was packed to the brim by screaming students who couldn’t sit still as they were drove into a frenzy by the super charged performances of several dances crew in the house including the magicians, wapiwapi & safari cats who did what the know best ‘danc-ing’ with abandon. The event first of its kind in Kenya ensured that gospel music icon Ruff tone was in attendance and perform his fa-mous track “muigulu” forcing the many Koreans in attendance to switch off their smart phones and hit the floor, several high dignitaries were also in attendance including the Korean ambas-sador and his wife. Korean galore is about infusing Korean culture in Ken-ya society through arts as well as maintains good relations be-tween Kenya and Korea. it was organized by friends of Korea which comprised of Kenyan students who are learning Korea in collaboration with the embassy of Korea, and Samsung was the sponsor of the event.Several dance crews battle it out for the ultimate price of a three months holiday in Korea representing Kenya in the K-pop worldwide competition, apart from having fun students also had a chance to sample Korean cuisine and sharpen their wits in the quiz challenge as well as try out their luck with the riffle tickets while those talented and bold enough trilled the crowd with their vocals in the song category which saw grace from safari cats emerge the winner. The lovely, beautiful, & lively Naledi Khan was the MC of the event and did a marvelous job while at it making guys droll every time she sauntered onto the stage to announce the next crew on stage, she describe the event as a total success and a major boost to her mc career since the Korean galore was actually her first gig“I initially under estimated the success of this event, but seeing

how it rolled out was a complete success, the support from the students and staff couple with the performance from the dance crews, songs, poetry, I can’t wish it to have gone any other way” The Korean embassy had prior to this event organized an event in the ambassadors residence where other ambas-sadors wives could try out various Korean attires and cuisine but the K-pop competition was the first of its kind the visibly beautiful MC explains “Korean galore is mainly about selling Korean culture to Kenyan societies through arts while K-pop is a worldwide competition first of its kind in Kenyan soil”Several winners of the lucky riffle tickets also went home with various Samsung goodies and also got a chance to sample Ko-rean & Japanese cuisine. Nyama Choma was not forgotten and dully included in the riffle & Seraphine a 4th year law student at parklands was the holder of the winning ticket “I am so happy because apart from winning a ticket to eat tasty Nyama Choma, I also emerge as the winner in the quiz challenge so my Friday has been total fun”Magicians emerge the winners in the dance category and won the ultimate price of a three month trip to Korea where they will be representing Kenya in the K-pop competition, magicians which is a dance crew from Dandora comprises of 20 children below the age of 18, Michael njunguna who is their leader and trainer describe their success as only possible through commit-ment, sacrifices & passion for dancing and giving back to the society “I am so happy because the work of my hands has final-ly paid off, & we can’t wait to board that plane to go to Korea where we hope to represent Kenya fully; furthermore seeing dreams of these hardworking children come true through arts is humbling keeping in mind how tough growing in Dandora can be”Michaels hopes to start an arts school where children from Dandora can get a chance to nurture their different talent in arts and snub social evils.

Korean Galore held in UoN

His excellency Korean Ambassadour to Kenya Chan-Woo Kim and his wife during the event

K - Pop preliminary Contest, a world wide dancing competition held for the first time in Kenya The Magician dancing troupe who emerged

the winners

By George Tubei

12

The Campus Clarion News | Health

NOT BEING AWARE OF HEART ATTACKS symp-toms can be dangerous. Often times people experiencing a heart attack are unsuspecting, and wait many hours before seeking help. By being educated on heart attack signs you can save the life of a friend, family member, or your own.Not all people experiencing a heart attack feel sudden, excru-ciating pain. While some heart attacks come on powerfully and unexpectedly, most begin mildly and slowly, causing little pain. According to New York cardiologist David Brongo, M.D., Nyack Hospital Chief of Cardiology, Columbia Doc-tors of the Hudson Valley, the tell-tale signs of a heart attack include:• Discomfort felt in the middle of the chest that lingers more than a few minutes, or disappears and then returns.•Discomfort or pain in other places of the upper body: one or both arms, stomach, jaw, neck, or back.• Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain.• Cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness. The more of these signs you are experiencing, the

more likely it is that you are having a heart attack. Women are more likely than men to experience back or jaw pain, short-ness of breath, or nausea and vomiting. Some women feel no chest pain at all, but may well be experiencing a heart attack. Women could misinterpret heart attack signs for less severe health issues like the flu or acid reflux. It is imperative not to drive yourself to the hospital, have someone else drive you. By contacting, emergency medi-

cal personnel can begin life-saving treatment during the trip to the emergency room. It is imperative to listen to your body and not disre-gard chest pain. Receiving quick treatment can be the differ-ence between life and death.Earlier this month, a study revealed that women could cut their risk of heart attack by one-third by eating three or more servings of blueberries or strawberries a week. The sugges-tion is probably because these foods are high in anthocyanins.

Knowing The Signs Of Heart Attack Can Save Your Life

SMOKING AND HEART ATTACKMost people associate cigarette smoking with breathing problems and lung cancer. But did you know that smoking is also a major cause of heart disease for men and women?A person’s risk of heart attack greatly increases with the number of cigarettes he or she smokes. Smok-ers continue to increase their risk of heart attack the longer they smoke as well. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than non-smokers. Women who smoke and also take birth control pills increase several times their risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and peripheral vascular disease.Cigarette smoke not only affects smokers. When you smoke, the people around you are also at risk for developing health problems, especially children. Environmental tobacco smoke (also called passive smoke or secondhand smoke) affects people who are frequently around smokers. Secondhand smoke can cause chronic respiratory conditions, cancer, and heart disease.

It is imperative to listen to your body and not disregard chest pain.

By Edward Opany

The Campus Clarion News | Sports

13

It’s been long since our women soccer teams have been given recognition. Our football administra-tors have always concentrated on the men’s league leaving our beloved sisters in turmoil of executing

their talent. Much credit goes to (MYSA) Mathare youth sports association who even in difficult circumstances brought the revolution of women soccer in Kenya. The Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) established in 1987 has become one of the popular football teams in Kenya. The group incorporates community building ac-tivities in its sports; MYSA has previously been nominated Nobel Peace Prize. While the MYSA is known for its men’s football leagues. The women’s team was established in 1992. The women’s team has been able to transcend cultural bar-riers by engaging in, and being successful in a sport that has been traditionally male dominated Second the women’s foot-ball team has led to a change in some of the stereotypes that have been associated with women living in the slums. MYSA is situated in one of Kenya’s capital city’s Mathare slums, and because of its location many of the chil-dren are from poor backgrounds. It is estimated that Mathare holds between half a million to a million people, and that 70 percent of the households are single parent families with mothers generally raising kids. In recent years, MYSA has received recognition for its innovativeness and involvement in community activities such as environmental work and HIV/

AIDS. The group, for example, received the United Nations Environmental Program award for environmental innovation. The Mathare girl’s league changed cultural norms that associated football with boys by participating in the Norway cup finals, the world’s largest youth football tourna-ment in 1998 and 2000. Secondly MYSA is also an illustration of how involvement in sports can also act as a tool for social change, especially in Africa. As we celebrate the Mathare united women’s team we pay tribute to their chairman Bob Munro who has acted as a father figure for the development of women soccer, as He’s initiative has been positive because many teams have emu-lated the Mathare united philosophy and more teams have been established. Next month we look forward to celebrate yet another team participating in the league so that together we can celebrate their achievements.

Celebrating Our Women Soccer Clubs

MathareYouthSportsAssociationwomenteamcelebratingthevictoryofEastAfricaTournament.

Women’s FIFA World Cup has been played since the early 1990s and has become one of the most popular forms of spectator soccer in the United States since its inaugural season. The tourna-ment is hosted every four years. The next Women’s World Cup was scheduled to be hosted by Germany in 2011, with the slogan, “The Beautiful side of 20Eleven.” The slogan plays on the saying “the beautiful game” and the fact there are 11 players on the field.

World Cup Soccer Facts | eHow http://www.ehow.com/

By Stephen Omondi

The Campus Clarion News | Communication

14

For a while now PR has moved steadily towards securing a seat on the board. The fact that reputational damage is a huge business risk means that the role of PR in the organisation

is now more critical than ever before. The PR industry will continue to play a key role not only in the market-ing mix but as custodians of their client’s reputation. However, the industry still has a lot of work to do on the perception and value of public relations. The distortion lies in PR people who position themselves as specialists but in fact fall short in industry knowledge. The public, CEOs, financial and marketing managers have a different perception of what we do and therefore a misperception of our true value. To illustrate this, some clients still believe that PR is event management. This is merely a PR tactic and we need to continue challeng-ing these types of skewed perceptions through educating the market about the true value of public relations especially in Africa. PR professionals need to embrace all communica-tions channels as the technology and consumer landscape evolves. We need to embrace digital and social media in all our communications strategies, for ourselves and our clients. Social media is no longer new media but something that is a part of what we do. In essence social media is another channel — a way of reaching, communicating and engaging with stakeholders. Those that say traditional PR is becoming extinct do not properly understand the role and value of PR. In fact, now more than ever, communications pro-fessionals are required to advise and guide the organisation on building positive relationships and protecting their repu-tation with all their stakeholders, especially with the plethora of communication channels available. It is becoming even harder for companies to reach their stakeholders due to a multitude of different media. People are consuming media differently and with the rise of social media platforms, companies are finding it even harder to identify which medium is the most effective in reaching

their stakeholders. The key role for PR firms, today and in the future, is to create a digital communications and reputation man-agement strategy within its existing offering to clients. As crafters of the brand and company messages, as well as custodians of a brand’s reputation, PR companies must take the lead in this arena. There is also a huge opportunity to provide the publishing industry with content – something that is sorely lacking due to declining budgets and resources. Content driven campaigns are not only through the written word but also pictorial, video or audio. We as an industry need to em-brace visual and multimedia communications in our arsenal of talents to provide communication in a format that goes beyond the written word. We need to continue educating clients on the value of public relations, gain their understanding of the tools/channels used and why what we recommend will work, why certain channels won’t work etc. In the social media world it is key for us as an industry to position the value of these channels where they are most appropriate – not recommend a one size fits all approach. The PR professional of the future needs to be multi-talented and multi-skilled in order to truly provide an advisory role to their clients. This means understanding business, strategy and reputation management. It also means understanding digital channels, social media and the future of publishing. It means being able to think beyond tactical implementation and have an understanding of what is best for the business and brands to meet required goals.

PR’s Digital MakeoverMeans It’s More Crucial Than Ever

~Social Media~In essence social media is another channel — a way of reaching, communicating and engaging with stake-holders.

By Ezekiel Mwabili

15

The Campus Clarion News | Short Story

I wish the dust clouded the southern skies as the yellow ball rises from the east. I wish I was awakened by the ground shaking, as the tracks drove to us. It is vain to wish, but only those who hopped have come this far.

This rag is no good to a body bag and maybe today they will bury me in it. Day by day it gets heavier to carry, day by day my shoulders hurt as it hangs on me. If I could I would throw away this stick, but my back cracks like rusty hinges, yet I am in my mid- twenties. I dream big, I dream to meet the tracks. I dream like my father’s father. The yellow ball rolls over the sky but burns from the ground. The sand bakes my boney feet but not my dream, so I walk, I walk on. I only wish the yellow ball shone with darkness and blind my faint eyes, so my heart would not have to hope for better scenes, my heart will not lose hope but die in peace. I feel weak today, but I will walk, maybe the tracks will meet us on the way. My eyes play tricks on me and from a distance I see water. Then I remember my professor’s words ’’ a man will lose his mind on an empty belly’’. The vultures fly close by and I know we still have a long way before we meet the tracts. I could cry but they will lick my face dry, so I will rest on this shade, just for a while, and reflect on my father’s arrogance and rigid heart, that sent a nation on a walk to the Promised Land. I woke up alone. No trails, the winds swept them away. I only wanted to rest not die! They should have woken me up! But again they are not far, they walk slow, and even no one knows where they go.

This on the ground is my mother, I will not disturb her. She is resting too, just maybe to reflect on her duty as my father’s advi-sor; the nation’s lady. When my brother whispered,’ dust!’’ I knew then my eyes did not play tricks on me. But these tracks are not white. They do not have a blue flag. They are like those my father drove in his grey, green spotted uniform with a red hat. These are not the tracks in my dreams. They are not what my father’s father told me about. My father walks forward to meet the head-track, but no one comes to meet him. The tracks speak a language, I only under-stand, and when I tell my father we are not to cross past the tracks he clenches on his stick not, not to fall but wishing it had bullets. If only my father did not gamble to get more, then we would all be home. There is the barbed wire, there is the other side, and there is where the white tracks with blue flags are. I watch my father play his last act to force his way to the other side. Had my mother woken up from her rest she would have stopped him. All they carried were barrels of fuel, and guns. I came a long way to give up, and so did my father. He did what he knew to do best. With my father’s nature but without his nurture, I try too, and if I am to fall like him, then what better death but to die getting to my dream. Now tagged like my father’s farm animals, I am led through the barbed wire gate. I sit waiting, waiting to get to the other side, where the tracks are. Up in these skies are no vultures, and as the sky turns orange from the east, I am no one in a new country.

Walking to Meet the Tracks

The World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to inform the international community that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. This day reminds people that many journalists brave death or face jail to bring daily news to the public. The World Press Freedom Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993 as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. This seminar took place in Namibia in 1991 and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media. The Windhoek Declaration called to establish, maintain and foster an independent, pluralistic and free press. It empha-sized the importance of a free press for developing and main-taining democracy in a nation, and for economic development. World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually on May 3, the date on which the Windhoek Declaration was adopted. Although World Press Freedom Day has only been cel-ebrated since 1993, it has much deeper roots in the United Na-tions. Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that everyone “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions

without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. Each year since 1997, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is awarded to honor the work of an individual or an organization defending or promoting freedom of expression, especially if it puts the individual’s life at risk. The award is named after a journalist murdered in 1986 after de-nouncing drug barons. Last year it was awarded posthumously to a Russian investigative reporter who was murdered in a contract-style killing in 2006.

The World Press Freedom DayBy Edward Opany

Then I remember my professor’s words ’’ a man will lose his mind on an empty belly’’

By Erick Mbogholi

A MARRIAGE MADE BY ME

Go after what you wantWith all your heartThat is the reason why you are aliveFor the thrill, the challenge and the drive

And as you go for what you wantWorktomakeyourselfthebestfitkeeperofwhat you wantFrom the inside outLet your inner you out

And as you go after what you wantTake time and discover what you deserveAnd let the two come togetherThat is enough to be your motivation forever

I’m not saying it’s easyI’mnotsayingthattearswon’tflowfreelyLike all marriages it won’t be a joyride all throughBut the end result will keep you going through

Selfworth,selfcontrol,fulfillmentTo these I make my commitmentTo show that what I want and what I deserveCancometogetherandmakemehappy.

The Campus Clarion News | Leisure

By Samantha Wairimu

POEM CARTOONS

JOKESThree men: an editor, a photogra-pher, and a journalist are covering apoliticalconventioninMiami.They decide to walk up and down thebeachduringtheirlunchhour.Halfway up the beach, they stum-bleduponalamp.Astheyrubthelamp a genie appears and says “Normally I would grant you three wishes, but since there are three of you, I will grant you each one wish.”Thephotographerwentfirst.“Iwould like to spend the rest of my lifelivinginahugehouseinSt.Thomaswithnomoneyworries.”The genie granted him his wish and senthimonofftoSt.Thomas.Thejournalistwentnext.“Iwouldlike to spend the rest of my life liv-ing on a huge yacht cruising the Mediterranean with no money worries.”Thegeniegrantedhimhiswish and sent him off to the Medi-

terranean.Last, but not least, it was the edi-tor’sturn.“Andwhatwouldyourwishbe?”askedthegenie.“I want them both back after lunch”repliedtheeditor,“thedeadline for tomorrow’s newspa-perisinabouttenhours.

A lecturer teaching medicine was givingaclassoomobservation.Hetookoutajarofyellowliquid.“This,”heexplained,“isurine.Tobe a doctor, you have to be ob-servant of color, smell, sight, and taste.”After saying so, he dipped his fingerintothejarandputitintohismouth.Hisclasswatchedinamazement,mostindisgust.Butbeing the good students that they were, the jar was passed, and one byone,theydippedtheirfinger

into the jar and put it into their mouths.After the last student was done, thelecturershookhishead.“Ifanyof you had been observant, you would have noticed that I put my secondfingerintothejarandmythirdfingerintomymouth.”

3drunkguys’enterdataxi.Thetaxi driver knew that they were drunk so he started the engine & turneditoffagain.Thensaid,“Wehavereachedyourdestination”.The 1st guy gave him money & the2ndguysaid“Thankyou”.The3rdguyslappedthedriver.Thedriver was shocked thinking the 3rd drunkknewwhathedid.Butthenheasked“Whatwasthatfor?”.The 3rd guy replied, “Control your speed next time, you nearly killed us!”

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride

it, but in the end; there it is.-Winston Churchill

16

MOULINE

ONYANGO

PART

TIME

MODEL

FROM

UON

Mouline Onyango, a journalism student at the University of Nairobi and a part time model, she owns

a fashion page called fashion republic-aonfacebook.